In a previous article in Shakespeare Survey I presented some facts about a George Wilkins who kept a tavern in Cow Cross, or Turnmill Street, and was probably the minor dramatist and pamphleteer. It also seemed likely that he was the man who gave evidence with Shakespeare in the Belott-Mountjoy suit. This hypothesis is completely confirmed by another deposition made by Wilkins which has recently come to light. This deposition is in a Chancery suit, and is much longer than that already known. The deponent is undoubtedly the victualler of Turnmill Street, and his two signatures match that of the friend of Belott and Mountjoy. The deposition itself, together with an account of the circumstances of the case, forms the principal material of the article which follows.

First, however, it will be convenient to refer to other new information about George Wilkins. Most of it is contained in an article by Professor Mark Eccles. He shows that the Wilkins of Turnmill Street was closely connected with people of the theatre. When this important evidence is added to that already known, it becomes virtually certain that the victualler was also the dramatist. He also adds to our knowledge a case of 1602, in which Wilkins was charged to keep the peace towards one Richard Story. More detailed and amusing is the account of a suit of 1614, when Wilkins's wife Katherine sued a neighbour for calling her a bawd: 'Thy husband may goe home by home with his neighbours.'