25 June, 1597 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: 25 | tt at bellendon | 00 | 07

In modern English: 25^th [June, 1597] ... total at Belin Dun ... 7 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June, 1594.

The company has brought back Belin Dun more quickly than usual, waiting only a week and a half to return this venerable play to the stage. The box office is wretched, though.

What's next?

There will be no blog entry tomorrow because 26 June was a Sunday in 1597 and the players did not perform. Henslowe's Diary ... as a Blog! will thus return on the 27th, for a week that will include a new play. See you then!

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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15 June, 1597 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: 15 | tt at bellendon | 00 | 13

In modern English: 15^th [June, 1597] ... total at Belin Dun ... 13 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June, 1594.

The company has again waited three weeks to return this venerable play to the stage. The box office is only slightly higher, remaining unimpressive.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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20 May, 1597 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: 20 | tt at bellendon | 00 | 10

In modern English: 20^th [May, 1597] ... total at Belin Dun ... 10 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June, 1594.

After a spell of performing Belin Dun weekly, the company has now waited three weeks to return it. Unfortunately, the box office has declined.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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28 April, 1597 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: 28 | m^r pd | R at bellendon | 001 | 00

In modern English: 28^th [April, 1597] ... Master paid ... Received at Belin Dun ... £1 [i.e. 20 shillings]

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June, 1594.

The company has been performing Belin Dun about once a week since its return to the repertory. After a decline last week, today's result is higher again.  

Today's entry also includes a note that Henslowe paid the license for the Rose to the Master of the Revels; you can read more about this in the entry for 8 November, 1595.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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19 April, 1597 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: 19 | tt at belendon | 00 | 09

In modern English: 19^th [April, 1597] ... total at Belin Dun ... 9 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June, 1594.

The company has waited just over a week to restage Belin Dun. But on its third performance after its return to the repertory, the box office is already disastrous. 

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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11 April, 1597 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: Ap^rell 1597 | 11 | 11 | tt at belendon | 01 | 00

In modern English: 11^th April, 1597 ... total at Belin Dun ... £1 [i.e. 20 shillings]

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June, 1594.

The company has waited nearly a fortnight to try Belin Dun again after its surprise return over Easter. The results are solid but do not suggest overwhelming joy. 

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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31 March, 1597 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: m^r pd | 31 | tt at belendon | 01 | 15 

In modern English: Master paid ... 31^st  [March, 1597] ... total at Belin Dun ... £1 and 15 shillings [i.e. 35 shillings]

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Here's a surprise! Today, for the first time since July, the Admiral's Men have performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June, 1594.

Belin Dun cannot be kept down. Once a very popular play, it gradually declined until the company ceased performing it back in November, 1594. They returned it for a single performance in July, 1596. Now, it's back again. 

As before, the long wait seems to have returned London's enthusiasm for the play: it has drawn an audience that half-filled the Rose, although that might be caused in part by the festive atmosphere of Easter Week.

Today's entry also includes a note that Henslowe paid the license for the Rose to the Master of the Revels; you can read more about this in the entry for 8 November, 1595.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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16 July, 1596 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 11 of July 1596 ... R at bellendon ...  xxxv^s

In modern English: [16^th] July, 1596 ... Received at Belin Dun ... 35 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Here's a surprise! Today, for the first time in a year and a half, the Admiral's Men performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June.

It had looked as though the company had abandoned Belin Dun. For a long time it had been reliably popular, but then had gradually declined until the company ceased performed it back in November, 1594. Now, they seem to have decided to experiment with bringing it back. 

The experiment has paid off, as the long wait seems to have returned London's enthusiasm for the play; it has drawn an audience that half-filled the Rose, a good result in this rather bleak fortnight. 

What's next?

For some reason, Henslowe records no performance tomorrow, and 18 July was a Sunday. Henslowe's Diary ... as a Blog! will thus return on the 19th for a week that will end in catastrophe.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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15 November, 1594 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 15 of novmbȝ 1594 ... R at bellendon ...  xij^s

In modern English: 15^th November, 1594 ... Received at Belin Dun ... 12 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, for what will be the last time for a while, the Admiral's Men performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June.

This will be Belin Dun's last performance for a long time: it will not return to the Rose for many months. The play was introduced back in June, and became one of the most popular plays at the Rose, being performed very frequently and to reliably solid box office. But gradually, as with all these plays, it has become stale with repetition, and after seventeen performances the actors have decided to let it rest for a while.

Below is a graph showing the fortunes of Belin Dun since its first performance at the Rose. It shows how reliable the play was for a long time, before nosediving quite recently.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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2 November, 1594 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 2 of novembȝ 1594 ... R at bellendon t ...  vij^s

In modern English: 2^nd November, 1594 ... Received at Belin Dun ... 7 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men once again performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June.

For a second time in a row, the company has now left the once-reliable Belin Dun unperformed for three weeks before returning to it. The box office is now absurdly bad, among the worst ever recorded at the Rose. Surely it's time to put this play out of its misery?

What's next?

There will be no blog entry tomorrow, because 3 November was a Sunday in 1594, and the players did not perform. Henslowe's Diary ... as a Blog! will thus return on 4 November for a week that will include a new play.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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14 October, 1594 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 13 of octobȝ 1594 ... R at bellendon ...  xxij^s

In modern English: [14^th] October, 1594 ... Received at Belin Dun ... 22 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men once again performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June.

The company has now left the once-reliable Belin Dun unperformed for three weeks before returning to it. The box office continues to slide gradually toward unacceptable levels.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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25 September, 1594 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 23 of septmbȝ 1594 ... R at bellendon ...  xxvj^s vj^d


In modern English: [25^th] September, 1594 ... Received at Belin Dun ... 26 shillings and sixpence

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men once again performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June.

The company has left Belin Dun unperformed for a fortnight, but this has not had much impact on its box office, which remains below average, albeit not catastrophically so.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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12 September, 1594 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 11 of septmbȝ 1594 ... R at bellendon ...  xxiiij^s vj^d


In modern English: [12^th] September, 1594 ... Received at Belin Dun ... 24 shillings and sixpence

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men once again performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June.

Belin Dun continues to be performed almost weekly, but despite a small uptick today, its box office is not what it once was. It's a play that has had its day.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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31 August, 1594 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 29 of aguste 1594 ... R at belendon ...  xx^s vj^d


In modern English: [31^st] August, 1594 ... Received at Belin Dun ... 20 shillings and sixpence

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men once again performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June.

Belin Dun continues to be performed weekly, but its box office continues to slide downward as well. This former stalwart of the Rose is now struggling.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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21 August, 1594 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 19 of aguste 1594 ... R at bellendon ...  xxj^s 

In modern English: [21^st] August, 1594 ... Received at Belin Dun ... 21 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men once again performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June.

The company last performed Belin Dun a week ago. Until today, Belin Dun had seemed to be a reliable workhorse of the company's repertory, but it has now achieved a disappointing box office that may be a worrying sign that it is beginning to lose its shine.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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12 August, 1594 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 10 of aguste 1594 ... R at bellendon ...  xxxiij^s 

In modern English: 12^th August, 1594 ... Received at Belin Dun ... 33 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men once again performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June.

The company has left Belin Dun rest for a week and a half before restaging it, and it is continuing to produce comfortably average box office. The play is becoming one of the reliable workhorses of the company, which must be a relief for the company after the disappointments of the normally reliable Marlowe plays last week.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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31 July, 1594 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 31of Julye 1594 ... R at bellendon the ...  xxvij^s 

In modern English: 31^st July, 1594 ... Received at Belin Dun ... 27 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men once again performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June.

The company last performed Belin Dun just under a week ago, when it had received unexpectedly impressive box office, far higher than normal. Today, its takings have returned to normality, being just under the average. Whatever caused the brief burst of enthusiasm for this play, it did not last.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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25 July, 1594 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 25 of Julye 1594 ... R at bellendon ...  xlviij^s 

In modern English: 25^th July, 1594 ... Received at Belin Dun ... 48 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men once again performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June.

After a brief respite, the company has now gone back to its habit of performing Belin Dun every few days - the last performance of it was only five days ago.  And that decision has paid off handsomely, with a box office far above the average! Exactly why the theatre was so busy today is hard to know, but the actors must have been relieved after a fairly humdrum week.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

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20 July, 1594 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 20 of Julye 1594 ... R at bellendon ...  xxvij^s 

In modern English: 20^th July, 1594 ... Received at Belin Dun ... 27 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men once again performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June.

Previously, the players had been performing Belin Dun approximately once every four days, but this time, they have left it alone for over a week. Perhaps the intention was to increase the audience's appetite for seeing the play again, but if so, the plan did not really work: it received exactly the same box office that the previous outing did. The public seems reliably OK with Belin Dun, whenever it's performed.

What's next?

There will be no blog entry tomorrow, because 21 July was a Sunday in 1594, and so the players did not perform. Henslowe's Diary ... as a Blog! will thus return on the 22nd, for a week that will include a mixture of classic and more recent plays. See you then!

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!

11 July, 1594 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 11 of Julye 1594 ... R at bellendon ...  xxvij^s 

In modern English: 11^th July, 1594 ... Received at Belin Dun ... 27 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men once again performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June.

The players are continuing to perform Belin Dun approximately once every four days. The play is still earning solid box office, but it is strange that they are staging it more frequently than some of the other, equally reliable plays in their repertory. Could the reason be that the play is relatively new and the players want to get more comfortable at performing a play that promises to be a long-lived success?

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!