The Southwark bear-baiting arena was a popular sporting venue outside of London. In 1597 Lope de Vega brought his latest mistress, Nell Lumley, to observe the sport. While there she ran into another mistress, Martha Brock. The confrontation between the two caused both to leave de Vega. A year later, de Vega and a number of other Spanish soldiers were imprisoned in the arena, following the overthrow of Hapsburg rule in England and the restoration of Queen Elizabeth.