A Day In The Life Of Philip Henslowe

The date is the 10th of March, 1598. It is sunny outside, but also a little bit damp and windy. We are in a house in Southwark, London. This house used to belong to the bailiff to Viscount Montague. However after the bailiff died, Philip Henslowe- whom the bailiff originally employed as a servant- married the bailiff’s widow. With the fortune that came along with her, Henslowe developed into an intelligent business man and became a significant owner of Southwark property. It is approximately nine o’clock in the morning and Henslowe has just woke up. This is a late morning for him. He gets out of bed, and indulges in some Canary wine and Manchet bread with his wife, who has already been up for over an hour. While he enjoys his breakfast his servants get him dressed, barbered, and ready to go. Today Henslowe is wearing a slashed velvet doublet, brocade venetians, silk hose, a band (ruff), and his favorite leather boots (without heels). Before leaving the house he makes sure that his sleeves are neatly trussed to his doublet with points. He always likes to look his best.

Before heading off to the theatres, Henslowe stops at one of his Bankside brothels to collect some mon

He does not have to travel far because the Rose is located in Bankside of Southwark. On the 10th of January in 1587 Henslowe and John Cholmley, another South London business man, signed an agreement to build a playhouse in Bankside and run it together for eight years. However, Cholmley died before that agreement was up Henslowe had been working alone until he became partners with Edward Alleyn, Henslowe’s step daughter Joan’s husband. Immediately upon his arrival Alleyn greets Henslowe. They briefly discuss their thoughts to build a playhouse north of the city to compete with the Globe. There is no time to complete this lengthy in-depth conversation now because it is time to watch the Admiral’s Men rehearse Thomas Dekker’s Phaethon. Henslowe is pleased with what he sees and makes a list of the inventory of all the properties for the Admiral’s Men:

Henslowe leaves the theatre and takes a walk to the other side of Bankside. There is a merchant there who has helped him with many projects before. He shows him this list and finds that if he makes a deposit this man can get eight of these items. He will need to go elsewhere for the others. He gives the man his deposit and begins to walk away when he spots a familiar face down the street. He yells to get the man’s attention, “Ben Jonson?!” There is no response. “Ben Jonson, is it you?” To this the gentleman turns around. It is in fact Ben Jonson. Henslowe was surprised to see Jonson since he had been in jail for the past year. At the Swan Theatre in July of 1597, The Isle of Dogs - a play written by Thomas Nashe and Ben Jonson- was performed. This performance caused quite a racket and the Privy Council ordered the play to be instantaneously suppressed for incitement to rebellion. All of the actors, including Jonson, were arrested. With that in mind, Henslowe took a good look at him and inquired about the incident. Jonson informed him that he had just recently got out and that this

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