James Halliwell: A Life of William Shakespeare (1848), pages 246-272.
[ The story so far: Shakespeare's journeys between London and Stratford, the allegations of his having a son called Davenant, the death of members of his family, records of his existence and then departure from London, stories attributed & anecdotes relating to Shakespeare" ]
No record of the sale of Shakespeare's interest in the Globe and Blackfriars theatres has yet been discovered, but it is presumed he parted with them before his death, for they are not mentioned in his will. It has been well conjectured by Mr. Knight that a tenement in the Blackfriars, purchased by the poet in 1613, had reference to some object connected with his theatrical property. In March, 1612-3, Shakespeare bought a house in the Blackfriars from Henry Walker, "abutting upon a street leading down to Puddle / p.247 / Wharf, on the East part, right against the King's Majesty's Wardrobe." This house had been purchased by Walker
John Robinson's Tenement.
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in October, 1604, from Mathew Bacon, of Gray's Inn. The sum to be paid by Shakespeare for it was £140, but it appears that he paid down only £80 of the purchase-money, and mortgaged the premises for the remainder. It has been somewhat too hastily inferred from this circumstance that Shakespeare was not in a position to furnish the whole sum, but we may more reasonably conclude the transaction had reference to circumstances not now known.*
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*
Mr. Collier ingeniously conjectures that the purchase was made in some way as an accommodation to Heminge and the two other persons joined in the mortgage trust, and this opinion is very likely to be correct, for it is difficult to account in any other manner for Shakespeare's making Heminge a trustee. Heminge did not execute the deed of conveyance, although he is a party named in it, and the estate would have descended in the way directed by Shakespeare's will without the declaration of trust.
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When he had paid off the whole of the purchase-money, he made a lease for a term of years to John Robinson, and a house near St. Andrew's church is still pointed out as having been the property of the great dramatist. Singularly enough, with a trifling exception, the house seems to have been tenanted by the Robinson family till within the last few years ; but one John Robinson, / p.248 / the last of the race, appears to have been unfortunate, and has now resigned his residence to the use of others. At the time of the Gordon riots it was a blacksmith's shop, and the John Robinson of the day had the honour of releasing the shackles from some of the prisoners liberated from the Fleet. So much for the history of the only property in the metropolis that is clearly ascertained to have belonged to Shakespeare.
The counterpart of the original conveyance of the house to Shakespeare is still in existence, and is now preserved in the library of the corporation of the city of London at Guildhall. A very careful copy of it is here given from the original, which possesses great interest as containing one of the very few genuine autographs of the poet that have descended to modern times. A fac-simile of this signature, recently made with the greatest care by Mr. Fairholt, is appended to our transcript. I have also added copies of the mortgage-deed, and the surrender of the trust by Heminge and his co-trustees in 1618, which will furnish the reader with the whole of the particulars relating to this purchase, as far as they are at present known.
[Indenture of Conveyance, 10 March, 1612-3.]
This Indenture made the tenthe day of Marche, in the yeare of our Lord God according to the computacion of the church of England one thowsand six hundred and twelve, and in the yeares of the reigne of our sovereigne Lord James, by the grace of God king of England, Scotland, ffraunce, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. that is to saie, of England, ffraunce and Ireland the tenth, and of Scotland the six and fortith, Betweene Henry Walker citizein and minstrell of London of thone partie, and William Shakespeare of Stratford upon Avon in the countie of Warwick gentleman, William Johnson citizein and vintener of London, John Jackson and John Hemmyng of London gentlemen, on thother partie ; Witnesseth, that the said Henry Walker, for and in consideracion of the somme of one hundred and fortie poundes of lawfull money of England to him in hande before thensealing hereof by the said William Shakespeare well and trulie paid, whereof and wherewith hee the said Henry Walker doth acknowledge himselfe fullie satisfied and contented, and thereof and of every part and parcell thereof doth cleerlie acquite and discharge the saide William / p.249 / Shakespeare, his heires, executours, administratours, and assignes, and every of them, by theis presents hath bargayned and soulde, and by theis presents doth fullie cleerlie and absolutlie bargayne and sell unto the said William Shakespeare, William Johnson, John Jackson, and John Hemmyng, their heires and assignes for ever, all that dwelling house or tenement with thappurtenaunces situate and being within the precinct, circuit and compasse of the late Blackffryers, London, sometymes in the tenure of James Gardyner esquior, and since that in the tenure of John ffortescue gent. and now or late being in the tenure or occupacion of one William Ireland or of his assignee or assignes, abutting upon a streete leading downe to Pudle Wharffe on the East part, right against the Kinges Majesties Wardrobe ; part of which said tenement is erected over a great gate leading to a capitall mesuage which sometyme was in the tenure of William Blackwell esquior deceased, and since that in the tenure or occupacion of the right Honorable Henry now Earle of Northumberland ; and also all that plott of ground of the West side of the same tenement, which was lately inclosed with boordes on two sides thereof by Anne Bacon, widowe, soe farre and in such sorte as the same was inclosed by the said Anne Bacon, and not otherwise ; and being on the thirde side inclosed with an olde brick wall ; which said plott of ground was sometyme parcell and taken out of a great peece of voyde ground lately used for a garden ; and also the soyle whereuppon the said tenement standeth, and also the said brick wall and boordes which doe inclose the said plott of ground ; with free entrie, accesse, ingresse, egresse, and regresse, in by and through the said greate gate and yarde thereunto the usuall dore of the said tenement ; and also all and singuler cellours, sollers, romes, lightes, easiamentes, profittes, commodities, and hereditamentes whatsoever, to the said dwelling house or tenement belonging or in any wise apperteyning ; and the reversion and reversions whatsoever of all and singuler the premisses, and of every parcell thereof ; and also all rentes and yearlie profittes whatsoever reserved and from hensforth to growe due and paiable upon whatsoever lease, dimise or graunt, leases, dimises, or grauntes, made of the premisses or of any parcell thereof ; and also all the state, right, title, interest, propertie, use, possession, clayme, and demaunde whatsoever, which hee the said Henry Walker now hath, or of right may, might, should, or ought to have, of in or to the premisses or any parcell thereof ; and also all and every the deedes, evidences, charters, escriptes, minimentes, and writinges whatsoever, which hee the said Henry Walker now hath, or any other person or persons to his use have or hath, or which hee may lawfullie come by without suite in the lawe, which touch or concerne the premisses onlie, or onlie any part or parcell thereof, togeither with the true coppies of all such deedes, evidences, and writinges as concerne the premisses (amounges other thinges), to bee written and taken out at the onlie costes and charges of the said William Shakespeare, his heires or assignes ; which said dwelling house or tenement, and other the premisses above by theis presents mencioned to bee bargayned and soulde, the said Henry Walker late purchased and had to him, his heires and assignes, for ever, of Mathie Bacon of Graies Inne in the countie of Middlesex gentleman, by indenture bearing date the fifteenth / p.250 / day of October in the yeare of our Lord God one thowsand six hundred and fower, and in the yeares of the reigne of our said sovereigne lord king James of his realmes of England ffraunce and Ireland the second, and of Scotland the eight and thirtith : To have and to holde the said dwelling house or tenement, shopps, cellours, sollers, plott of ground, and all and singuler other the premisses above by theis presentes mencioned to bee bargayned and soulde, and every part and parcell thereof, with thappurtenaunces, unto the said William Shakespeare, William Johnson, John Jackson, and John Hemmyng, their heires and assignes for ever, to thonlie and proper use and behoofe of the said William Shakespeare, William Johnson, John Jackson, and John Hemyng, their heires and assignes for ever. And the said Henry Walker, for himselfe, his heires, executours, administratours, and assignes, and for every of them, doth covenaunt, promisse and graunt to and with the said William Shakespeare, his heires and assignes, by theis presentes, in forme following, that is to saie, that hee the said Henry Walker, his heires, executours, administratours, or assignes, shall and will cleerlie acquite, exonerate, and discharge, or otherwise from tyme to tyme and at all tymes hereafter well and sufficientlie save and keepe harmles, the said William Shakespeare, his heires and assignes and every of them, of for and concernyng the bargayne and sale of the premisses, and the said bargayned premisses and every part and parcell thereof with thappurtenaunces, of and from all and al manner of former bargaynes, sales, guiftes, grauntes, leases, statutes, recognizaunces, joyntures, dowers, intailes, lymittacion and lymittacions of use and uses, extentes, judgmentes, execucions, annuities, and of and from all and every other charges, titles, and incumbraunces whatsoever, wittinglie and wilfullie had, made, committed, suffered, or donne by him the said Henrye Walker, or any other under his authoritie or right, before thensealing and deliverye of theis presents, except the rentes and services to the cheefe lord or lordes of the fee or fees of the premisses from hensforth, for or in respecte of his or their seigniorie or seigniories onlie to bee due and donne.*
And further the saide Henry Walker, for himselfe, his heires, executours, and administratours, and for every of them, doth covenaunt promisse and graunt to and with the said William Shakespeare, his heires and assignes, by theis presentes in forme following, that is to saie, that for and notwithstanding any acte or thing donne by him the said Henry Walker to the contrarye, hee the said William Shakespeare, his heires and assignes, shall or lawfullie maye peaceablie and quietlie have, holde, occupie and enjoye the said dwelling house or tenement, cellours, sollers, and all and singuler other the premisses above by theis presentes mencioned to bee bargayned and soulde, and every part and parcell thereof with thappurtenaunces, and the rentes, yssues, and profittes thereof, and of every part and parcell thereof, to his and their owne use receave perceave take and enjoye from hensforth for ever without the lett, troble, eviccion or interrupcion of the said Henry Walker, his heires, executours or administratours or any of them, or of or by any other person or persons which have, or may before / p.251 / the date hereof pretende to have, any lawfull estate, righte, title, use, or interest, in or to the premisses or any parcell thereof, by from or under him the said Henry Walker. And also that hee, the said Henry Walker, and his heires, and all and every other person and persons and their heires, which have or that shall lawfullie and rightfullie have or clayme to have any lawfull and rightfull estate, right, title, or interest, in or to the premisses or any parcell thereof, by from or under the said Henry Walker, shall and will from tyme to tyme and at all tymes from hensforth, for and during the space of three yeares now next ensuing, at or upon the reasonable request and costes and charges in the lawe of the said William Shakespeare, his heires and assignes, doe make knowledge and suffer to bee donne made and knowledgede all and every such further lawfull and reasonable acte and actes, thing and thinges, devise and devises in the law whatsoever, for the conveying of the premises, bee it by deed or deedes inrolled or not inrolled, inrolment of theis presentes, fyne, feoffament, recoverye, release, confirmacion, or otherwise, with warrantie of the said Henry Walker and his heires against him the said Henry Walker and his heires onlie, or otherwise without warrantie, or by all any or as many of the wayes, meanes, and devises aforesaid, as by the said William Shakespeare, his heires or assignes, or his or their councell learned in the lawe shalbee reasonablie devised or advised, ffor the further, better, and more perfect assurance, suertie, suermaking and conveying of all and singuler the premisses, and every parcell thereof, with thappurtenaunces, unto the saide William Shakespeare, his heires and assignes, for ever, to th'use and in forme aforesaid ; And further that all and every fyne and fynes to bee levyed, recoveryes to bee suffered, estates and assurances at any tyme or tymes hereafter to bee had made, executed or passed by or betweene the said parties of the premisses, or of any parcell thereof, shalbee, and shalbee esteemed, adjudged, deemed, and taken to bee, to thonlie and proper use and behoofe of the said William Shakespeare, his heires and assignes, for ever, and to none other use, intent, or purpose. In witnesse whereof the said parties to theis indentures interchaungablie have sett their seales. Yeoven the day and yeares first above written.
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Wm. Johnsonn.
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Jo. Jacksonn.
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Sealed and delivered by the said William Shakespeare, William Johnson, and John Jackson, in the presence of Will Atkinson.*
Ed. Overy.
Robert Andrewes Scr.
Henry Lawrence, servant to the same scr.
[Mortgage made by Shakespeare, 11 March, 1612-3.]
This Indenture made the eleventh day of March, in the yeares of the reigne of our Sovereigne Lorde James, by the grace of God, king of England, Scotland, Fraunce, and Ireland, defender of the Faith &c. that is to say, of England, Fraunce and Ireland the tenth, and of Scotland the six and fortieth, Between William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon in the countie of Warwick, gentleman, William Johnson, citizen and vintener of London, John Jackson, and John Hemyng of London, gentleman, of thone partie, and Henry Walker, citizen and minstrell of London, of thother partie : Witnesseth, that the said William Shakespeare, William Johnson, John Jaekson, and John Hemyng, have demised, graunted and to ferme letten, and by theis presentes do demise, graunt, and to ferme lett unto the said Henry Walker, all that dwelling house or tenement, with thappurtenaunces, situate and being within the precinct, circuit and compasse of the late Black ffryers, London, sometymes in the tenure of James Gardyner, esquire, and since that in the tenure of John Fortescue, gent., and now or late being in the tenure or occupation of one William Ireland, or of his assignee or assignees, abutting upon a streete leading downe to Puddle Wharfe, on the East part, right against the Kings Majesties Wardrobe ; part of which said tenement is erected over a greate gate leading to a capitall messuage, which sometyme was in the tenure of William Blackwell, esquire, deceased , and since that in the tenure or occupation of the right honourable Henry now Earle of Northumberlande : and also all that plott of ground on the West side of the said tenement, which was lately inclosed with boords on two sides thereof, by Anne Bacon, widow, so farre and in such sorte as the same was inclosed by the said Anne Bacon, and not otherwise, and being on the third side inclosed with an old brick wall ; which said plott of ground was sometyme parcell and taken out of a great voyde peece of ground lately used for a garden ; and also the soyle whereupon the said tenement standeth, and also the said brick wall and boords which doe inclose the said plott of ground, with free entrie, accesse, ingresse, and regresse, in, by, and through, the said great gate and yarde there, unto the usual dore of the said tenement, and also all and singular cellors, sollers, romes, lights, easiamentes, profittes, commodities, and appurtenaunces whatsoever to the said dwelling-house or tenement belonging or in any wise apperteyning : to have and to holde the said dwelling-house or tenement, cellers, sollers, romes, plott of ground, and all and singular other the premisses above by theis presentes mentioned to bee demised, and every part and parcell thereof, with thappurtenaunces, unto the said Henry Walker, his executours, administratours, and assignes, from the feast of thannunciacion of the blessed Virgin Marye next coming after the date hereof, unto thende and terme of one
/ p.253 / hundred yeares from thence next ensuing, and fullie to be compleat and ended, withoute impeachment of or for any manner of waste : yelding and paying therefore yearlie during the said terme unto the said William Shakespeare, William Johnson, John Jackson, and John Hemyng, their heires and assignes, a pepper corne at the feast of Easter yearly, yf the same be lawfullie demaunded, and noe more ; provided alwayes, that if the said William Shakespeare, his heires, executours, administratours, or assignes, or any of them, doe well and truelie paie or cause to be paid to the said Henry Walker, his executours, administratours or assignes, the sum of threescore pounds of lawfull money of England, in and upon the nyne and twentieth day of September next coming after the date hereof, at, or in, the nowe dwelling-house of the said Henry Walker, situate and being in the parish of Saint Martyn near Ludgate, of London, at one entier payment without delaie, that then and from thenesforth this presente lease, demise and graunt, and all and every matter and thing herein conteyned (other then this provisoe) shall cease, determine, and bee utterlie voyde, frustrate, and of none effect, as though the same had never beene had ne made, theis presentes or any thing therein conteyned to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. And the said William Shakespeare, for himselfe, his heires, executours, and administratours, and for every of them, doth covenaunt, promisse and graunt to and with the said Henry Walker, his executours, administratours, and assignes, and everie of them, by theis presentes, that he the said William Shakespeare, his heires, executours, administratours or assignes, shall and will clearlie acquite, exonerate, and discharge, or from tyme to tyme, and at all tymes hereafter, well and sufficientlie save and keepe harmless the said Henry Walker, his executours, administratours, and assignes, and every of them, and the said premisses by theis presentes demised, and every parcell thereof, with thappurtenaunces, of and from all and al manner of former and other bargaynes, sales, guiftes, grauntes, leases, jointures, dowers, intailes, statuts, recognizaunces, judgmentes, executions, and of and from all and every other charge, titles, troubles, and incumbrances whatsoever by the said William Shakespeare, William Johnson, John Jackson, and John Hemyng, or any of them, or by their or any of their meanes, had, made, committed or done, before thensealing and delivery of theis presentes, or hereafter before the said nyne and twentieth day of September next comming after the date hereof, to bee had, made, committed or done, except the rentes and services to the cheef lord or lords of the fee or fees of the premisses, for or in respect of his or their segnorie or seignories onlie, to bee due and done.
In witnesse whereof the said parties to theis indentures interchangeablie have sett their seales. Yeoven the day and years first above written.
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Wm. Shakspere. |
Wm. Johnson. |
Jo. Jackson
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Ensealed and delivered by the said William Shakespeare, William Johnson, and John Jackson, in the presence of
Will. Atkinson.
Ed. Overy. |
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Robert Andrews scr.
Henry Lawrence, servant to the said scr.
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/ p.254 /
[Declaration of Trust, 10 Feb. 1617-18.]
This Indenture, made the tenth day of ffebruary in the yeres of the reigne of our sovereigne Lord James, by the grace of God kinge of England, Scotland, ffraunce and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. that is to say, of England, ffraunce, and Ireland, the fifteenth, and of Scotland the one and fiftith ; Between John Jackson and John Hemynge of London, gentlemen, and William Johnson, citizen and vintiner of London, and thone part, and John Greene of Clements Inn in the County of Midd. gent. and Matthew Morryes of Stretford upon Avon in the County of Warwick gent. of thother part ; Witnesseth, that the said John Jackson, John Hemynge, and William Johnson, as well for and in performance of the confidence and trust in them reposed by William Shakespeare, deceased, late of Stretford aforesaid, gent., and to thend and intent that the lands tenemts and hereditamts hereafter in theis presents mencioned and expressed, may be conveyed and assured according to the true intent and meaning of the last will and testamt of the said William Shakespeare, and for the some of ffyve shillings of lawfull money of England to them payd, for and on behalf of Susanna Hall, one of the daughters of the said William Shakespeare, and now wife of John Hall of Stretford aforesaid gent. before thensealling and delivery of theis presents, Have aliened bargained sold and confirmed, and by theis presents doe and every of them doth fully cleerely and absolutely alien bargaine sell and confirme unto the said John Greene and Matthew Morry, their heires and assignes for ever, All that dwelling house or tenemt with thappurtenaunces scituat and being within the precinct, circuite, and compase of the late Black-frieres, London, sometymes in the tenure of James Gardyner esquier, and since that in the tenure of John ffortescue gent. and, now * or late being in the tenure or occupacion of one William Ireland or of his assignee or assignes, abutting upon a street leadinge downe to Puddle Wharfe, on the east part, right against the kings Mats warderobe, part of which tenemt is erected over a great gate leading to a capitall messuage which sometymes was in the tenure of William Blackwell esquier deceased, and since that in the tenure or occupacion of the right Honorble Henry Earle of Northumberland, and also all that plot of ground on the west side of the said tenemt, which was lately inclosed with boords on twoe sides thereof by Anne Bacon widdow, soe farr and in such sort as the same was inclosed by the said Anne Bacon, and not otherwise ; and being on the third side inclosed with an ould brick wall ; which said plot of ground was sometymes parcell and taken out of a great peece of voyd ground lately used for a garden ; and also the soyle whereupon the said tenemt standeth ; and also the said brick wall and boords which doe inclose the said plot of ground, with free entry, access, ingres, egres, and regres, in by and through the said great gate and yarde there unto the usuall dore of the said tenemt; and also all and singuler
/ p.255 /
cellers sollars roomes lights easem
ts profitts comodyties and hereditam
ts whatsoever to the said dwelling house or tenem
t belonging or in any wise apperteyning, and the revercion and revercions whatsoever of all and singuler the premisses and of every parcell thereof ; and also all rents and yerely profitts whatsoever reserved and from henceforth to grow due and payable upon whatsoever lease demisse or graunt, leases demises or graunts, made of the premisses or any parcell thereof ; and also all thestate, right, title, interest, property, use, clayme, and demaund whatsoever, which they the said John Jackson, John Hemynge, and William Johnson, now have or any of them hath or of right may, might, shoold, or ought to have in the premises : To have and to holde the said dwelling howse or tenem
t, lights, cellers, sollers, plot of ground, and all and singuler other the premisses above by theis presents mencioned to be bargained and sold, and every part and parcell thereof, with thappurtenaunces, unto the said John Green and Mathew Morrys their heires and assignes for ever, to the use and behoofes hereafter in theis presents declared mencioned expressed and lymitted, and to none other use, behoofe, intent, or purpose : That is to say, to the use and behoofe of the aforesaid Susanna Hall for and during the terme of her naturall life, and after her deceas to the use and behoofe of the first sonne of her body lawfully yssueing, and of the heires males of the body of the said first sonne lawfully yssueing ; and for the want of such heires to the use and behoofe of the second sonne of the body of the said Susanna lawfully yssueing, and of the heires males of the body of the said second sonne lawfully yssueing ; and for want of such heires to the use of the third sonne of the body of the said Susanna lawfully yssueing, and of the heires males of the body of the said third son lawfully yssueing ; and for want of such heires, to the use and behoofe of the fowerth, fiveth, sixt, and seaventh sonnes of the body of the said Susanna lawfully yssueing, and of the severall heirs males of the severall bodyes of the said fowerth, fiveth, sixt, and seaventh sonnes, lawfully yssueing, in such manner as it is before lymitted to be and remeyne to the first, second, and third sonnes of the body of the said Susanna lawfully yssueing, and to their heires males as aforesaid ; and for default of such heires, to the use and behoofe of Elizabeth Hall daughter of the said Susanna Hall, and of the heires males of her body lawfully yssueing ; and for default of such heires, to the use and behoofe of Judyth Quiney now wife of Thomas Quiney of Stretford aforesaid vintner, one other of the daughters of the said William Shakespeare, and of the heires males of the body of the said Judyth lawfully yssueing ; and for default of such yssue, to the use and behoofe of the right heires of the said William Shakespeare for ever. And the said John Jackson, for himself, his heires, executors, administrators and assignes, and for every of them, doth covenaunt, promise, and graunt, to and with the said John Green and Mathew Morrys and either of them, their or either of their heires and assignes, by theis presents, that he the said John Jackson, his heires, executors, administrators or assignes, shall and will from tyme to tyme and at all tymes hereafter within convenient tyme after every reasonable request to him or them made, well and sufficiently save and keepe harmles the said bargained premisses, and every part and parcell thereof, of and from all
/ p.256 / and all manner of former bargaines, sales, guifts, graunts, leases, statuts, recognizaunces, joynctures, dowers, intayles, uses, extents, judgemts, execucions, annewyties, and of and from all other charges, titles, and incombraunces whatsoever, wittingly and willingly had, made, comitted, or done by him the said John Jackson alone, or joynctly with any other person or persons whatsoever ; except the rente and services to the cheiffe lord or lords of the fee or fees of the premisses from henceforth to be due, and of right accustomed to be done, and except one lease and demise of the premisses with thappurtenaunces heretofore made by the said William Shakespeare, together with them the said John Jackson, John Hemynge, and William Johnson, unto one John Robinson, now tennant of the said premisses, for the terme of certen yeres yet to come and unexpired, as by the same whereunto relacion be had at large doth appeare. And the said John Hemynge, for himself, his heires, executors, admistrators, and assignes, and for every of them, doth covenaunt, promise, and graunt, to and with the said John Greene and Mathew Morrys, and either of them, their and either of their heires and assignes, by theis presents, that he the said John Hemynge, his heires, executors, admistrators, or assignes, shall and will from tyme to tyme and at all tymes hereafter, within convenient tyme after every reasonable request, well and sufficiently save and keepe harmles the said bargained premisses, and every part and parcell thereof, of and from all and all manner of former bargaines, sales, guifts, graunts, leases, statuts, recognizaunces, joynctures, dowers, intayles, uses, extents, judgmts, execucions, annewyties, and of and from all other charges, titles, and incombraunces whatsoever, wittingly and willingly had, made, comitted, or done by him the said John Hemynge alone, or joynctly with any other person or persons whatsoever, except the rentes and serviee to the chieffe lord or lords of the fee or fees of the premisses from henceforth to be due and of right accustomed to be done, and except one lease and demise of the premisses with thappurtenaunces heretofore made by the said William Shakespeare, together with them the said John Jackson, John Hemyng and William Johnson, unto one John Robinson, now tennant of the said premisses, for the terme of certen yeres yet to come and unexpired, as by the same whereunto relacion be had at large doth appeare. And the said William Johnson, for himself, his heires, executors, administors and assignes, and for every of them, doth covenaunt, promise, and graunt, to and with the said John Green and Mathew Morryes, and either of them, their and either of their heires and assignes, by theis presents, that he the said William Johnson, his heires, executors, admistrs or assignes, shall and will from tyme to tyme and at all tymes hereafter within convenient tyme after every reasonable request, well and sufficiently save and keepe harmles the said bargained premisses, and every part and parcell thereof, of and from all and all manner of former bargaines, sales, guifts, graunts, leases, statutes, recognizaunces, joynctures, dowers, intyales, uses, extents, judgements, execucions, annewyties, and of and from all other charges, titles, and incombraunces whatsoever, wittingly and willingly had made comitted or done by him the said William Johnson alone, or joyntly with any other person or persons whatsoever, except the rents and service to the cheiff lord or lords / p.257 / of the fee or fees of the premisses from henceforth to be due and of right accustomed to be done, and except one lease and demise of the premisses with thappurtenaunces heretofore made by the said William Shakespeare, together with them the said John Jackson, John Hemynge, and William Johnson, unto one John Robinson, now tennant of the said premisses, for the terme of certen yeres yet to come and unexpired, as by the same whereunto relation be had at large doth appeare. In witnes whereof the parties aforesaid to theis presente indentures have interchaungeably sett their hands and sealls. Yeoven the day and yeres first above written, 1617.
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Jo. Jackson. |
John Heminges. |
Wm. Johnson.
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Sealed and delyvered by the
within named John Jackson
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in the presence of |
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Roc. Swale.
John Prise. |
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Sealed and delyvered by the withinamed William Johnson in the presence of
Nickolas Harysone.
John Prise.
Sealed and delyvered by the withinamed John Hemynges in the presence of
Matty Benson.
John Prise.
Memorand. that the xj.
th day of ffebruarye in the yeres within written, John Robinson, tenant of the premysses withinmencioned, did geve and delyver unto John Greene withinnamed to the use of Susanna Hall withinnamed five pence of lawfull money of England in name of Attornment in the presence of
Matt. Benson.
John Prise.
by me Richarde Tylor.
Not very long before Shakespeare purchased this tenement in the Blackfriars, he was engaged in a lawsuit respecting the share in the tithes he had bought in 1605. The following draft of a bill to be filed before Lord Ellesmere informs us that some of the lessees refusing to contribute their proper shares of a reserved rent, a greater proportion than was right fell to Lane, Greene, and Shakespeare. The / p.258 / result of the suit is not stated, but the draft is important, as declaring the exact value of Shakespeare's income derived from these tithes.
In Canc. bill, Richard Lane et al. quer., Dominus Carewe et al. deff.
To the Right Honorable Thomas Lord Ellesmere, lord Chauncellour of England.
In humble wise complaininge, shewe unto your honorable good Lordshipp your dayly oratours Richard Lane of Awston in the cownty of Warwicke esquire, Thomas Greene of Stratford uppon Avon in the said county of Warwicke esquire, and William Shackspeare of Stratford uppon Avon aforesaid in the said county of Warwicke gentleman, that whereas Anthonie Barker clarke, late warden of the late dissolved Colledge of Stratford uppon Avon aforesaid in the said county of Warwicke, and Gyles Coventrey late subwarden of the same colledge, and the chapter of the said colledge, were heretofore seised in their demesne as of fee in the right of the said colledge, of and in divers messuages, lands, tenements and glebe lands, scituate, lyeinge, and beinge within the parishe of Stratford uppon Avon aforesaid, and of and in the tythes of corne, grayne, and haye, and of and in all, and all manner of tythes of wooll, lambe, and all other small and pryvye tythes and oblacions and alterages whatsoever, cominge groweinge aryseinge reneweinge or happeninge within the whole parishe of Stratford uppon Avon aforesaid, And beinge soe thereof seised by their indenture beareinge date in or about the seaventh day of September in the six and thirtyth yeare of the raigne of our late soveraigne lord of ffamous memory Kinge Henry the Eight sealed with their chapter seale, they did demise, graunte and to fferme lett (amongst divers mannors, and other messuages lands tenements and hereditaments) unto one William Barker, gentleman, nowe deceassed, the aforesaid messuages, tenements, and glebe lands, scituate, lyeinge, and beinge within the said parishe of Stratford uppon Avon aforesaid, And the aforesaid tythes of corne grayne and hay, and all and all manner other the said tythes of wooll, lambe, and smale and pryvie tythes, oblacions and alterages whatsoever ; To have and to hould from the feast of Ste. Michaell tharchangell then last past, for and duringe the terme of ffourescore and twelve yeares thence next and immediatly followeinge, and fully to be compleate and ended, By vertue of which demise the said William Barker entred into the said demised premisses, and was thereof possessed for all the said terme of yeares,* and being soe thereof possessed of such estate, terme, and interest, the said estate, terme, and interest of the said William Barker, by some sufficient meanes in the law afterwards,† came unto one John Barker, gent., by vertue whereof the said John Barker entred into the
/ p.259 /
same premisses soe demised to the said William Barker, and was thereof possessed for and duringe the residue of the sayd terme of yeares then to come and not expired, and being soe thereof possessed, he the said John Barker in or aboute the xxij.th yeare of the raigne of our late soveraigne lady Queene Elizabeth, by sufficient assureance and conveyance in the lawe, did assigne assure and convey over unto Sir John Huband knight, synce deceassed, the said messuages, lands, tenements and glebe lands, scituate lyeinge and beinge within the said parishe of Stratford uppon Avon, and all and singular the tythes before specified, and all his estate, right, tytle and interest and terme of yeares of and in the same : To have and to hould for and dureinge all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares then to come and not expired, reservinge uppon and by the said assureance and conveyance the annuall or yearely rente of xxvij.li. xiij.s. iiij.d. of lawfull money of England at the ffeasts of Ste. Michaell tharchangell and thannunciacion of our blessed lady Ste. Mary the Virgin, by even and equall porcions, In and by which said assureance and conveyance (as one Henry Barker gent. executour of the last will and testamente of the said John Barker, or administratour of his goods and chatteles, or otherwise assignee of the said rente from the said John Barker, hath divers and sundry tymes given forth ; and of which, yf the said rente of xxvij.li. xiij.s. iiij.d. or anie parte thereof shall happe at anie tyme to be unpaid, the tenaunts of the said premisses as he sayeth shall find) there was, by some sufficiente meanes, good and sufficiente provision causion and securyty hadd and made, that yf the said annuell or yearely rentes or any parte thereof, should be behind and unpaid in parte or in all after eyther of the said ffeaste dayes wherein the same ought to be paid by the space of fforty dayes, beinge lawfully demaunded at the porch of the parishe churche of Stratford aforesaid, That then yt should and might be lawfull to and for the said William Barber his executours administratours and assignes, into all and singuler the said messuages, lands, tenements, glebe lands and tythes, and other the premisses soe assured and assigned unto the said Sir John Huband, to enter, and the same to have again repossesse and enjoy as in his or their former estate ; By vertue of which said assignemente assureance and conveyance soe made to the said Sir John Huband, he the said Sir John Huband entred into all and singuler the same premisses soe assigned unto him, and was thereof possessed for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares then to come, and not expired, under the condicion aforesaid, and subjecte to the forfeyture of all the said terme to him assured and conveyed, yf defaulte of paymente of the aforesaid rente xxvij.li. xiij.s. iiij.d. happened to be made contrary to the true entente and meaninge of the said provision and security in and uppon the same assureance soe hadd and made : And whereas sythence the said assureance and conveyance soe made to the said Sir John Huband, all the said assigned premisses are of divers and sundry parcells and by divers and sundry severall sufficiente meane assignements and under estats deryved under the said assurances and conveyance soe made unto the said Sir John Huband, for very great summes of money and valuable consideracions, come unto and nowe remayne in your said oratours, and other the persons hereafter in theis presents named, and they have / p.260 / severall estats of and in the same parcells, as followeth ; That is to saie, your oratour Richard Lane an estate or interest for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of and in the tythes of corne and grayne of and in the barony of Clopton, and the village of Shottery, being of and within the parishe of Stratford uppon Avon, of the yearely value of lxxx.li. and of and in divers messuages lands tenementes and other hereditaments in Shottery aforesaid and Drayton, within the said parishe of Stratford uppon Avon, of the yearely value of x.li. by the yeare ; and your oratour Thomas Greene an estate or interest for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of and in one messuage with thappurtenaunces in Old Stratford of the yearely value of three pownds ; and your oratour William Shackspeare hath an estate and interest of and in the moyty or one half of all tythes of corne and grayne aryseinge within the townes villages and ffields, and of and in the moity or half of all tythes of wool and lambs, and of all small and privy tythes, oblacions, and alterages arisinge or increasing in Old Stratford, Bishopton, and Welcome, being in the said parishe of Stratford, or within the wholl parishe of Stratford uppon Avon aforesaid, for and during all the residue of the said terme, beinge of the yearely value of threescore pownds ; and the right honorable Sir George Carewe knight, Lord Carewe of Clopton, hath an estate and interest for the terme of nyneteene yeares or thereabouts yet to come of and in the tythes of corne grayne and hay aryseinge in the village and fields of Bridgetowne in the said parishe of Stratford uppon Avon of the value of xx.li., and your oratour the said Richard Lane an estate of and in the same, in reversion thereof, for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares then to come and not expired ; and Sir Edward Grevill knight the reversion of one messuage at Stratford aforesaid, after the estate of one John Lupton therein determined, for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares, beinge of the yearely value of fforty shillings or thereabouts ; and Sir Edward Conway, knight, hath an estate and interest for and duringe the residue of the said terme of and in* the tythes of corne grayne and haye of Loddington, another village of and within the said parishe of Stratford uppon Avon, of the yearely value of xxx.li.†
and Mary Combe widowe and William Combe gent. and John Combe gent. or some or one of them an estate for the terme of sixe yeares or thereabouts yet to come of and in the other moyty or half of the tythes of corne and grayne aryseinge within the townes villages and ffields of Old Stratford aforesaid, and Bishopton and Welcombe in the said parishe of Stratford, and of and in the moyty or half of all tythes of wooll and lambe and of all small and pryvy tythes oblacions and alterages ariseinge or encreasinge in or within the wholl parishe of Stratford uppon Avon aforesaid, of the yearely value of lx.li. (and of and in the tythes of corn, grayne and hay of Ryon Clifford, within the parishe of Stratford aforesaid, of the yearely value of x.li.) ; and the said Thomas / p.261 / Greene an estate of and in the reversion of the same moyty of all the same tythes of corne and grayne, and wooll and lambe, and small and privie tythes, oblacions and alterages, for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of ffourescore and twelve yeares which after the ffeast day of thannunciacion of our blessed lady Ste. Mary the Virgin which shalbe in the yeare of our Lord God 1613 shalbe to come and unexpired, and John Nashe gent. an estate of and in the tythes of corne, grayne, and haie aryseinge within the village and fields of Drayton within the parish of Stratford aforesaid, of the yearely value of xx. marks for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares. [and Anthonie Nashe gent. an estate for divers yeares yet to come of and in the other moyty or half of all the said tythes of wool and lambe and smale and pryvie tythes, oblacions, and alterages, of the yearly value of xx.li. and Anne Huband widowe an estate in the same moytye for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares then to come and not expired* ]; and John Lane gent. an estate for and duringe all the residue of the said terme, of and in one hereditamente in Stratford aforesaid, heretofore called Byddles Barne, lately made and converted into divers and sundry tenements or dwellinge howses, and divers other messuages or tenements, of the yearely value of viij.li. or thereabouts ; and Anthonie Nashe an estate of and in one messuage or tenemente in Bridgstreete in Stratford aforesaid of the yearely value of ffoure pownds, for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of yeares yet to come ; the said William Combe and Mary Combe widowe, mother of the said William, or one of them, an estate of and in divers cottages and gardens in Stratford, and of and in ffyve leyes of pasture in Ryen-Clifford in the said parishe of Stratford, and of and in certayne lands or leyes in their or one of their closse or enclosure called Ste. Hill in the same parishe, of the yearely value of ffyve pownds or thereabouts, for and during all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and unexpired ; the said John Combe an estate of and in . . . . . . of the yearely value of . . . . . for and during all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and unexpired ; Thomas Barber gent. an estate of and in . . . . . . of the yearely value of . . . . . . for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares† ;
Daniell Baker gent. an estate of and in the tythes of Shottery meadowe and Broad Meadowe within the said parishe, of the yearely value of xx.li. for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and unexpired ; John Smyth gent. an estate of and in divers messuages, tenements, barnes, and gardens in Stratford uppon Avon aforesaid, of the yearely value of viij.li. by the yeare, for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and unexpired ; Frauncis Smyth the younger gent. an estate of and in two barnes and divers messuages and tenements with the appurtenaunces in the parishe of Stratford aforesaid, of the yearely value of xij.li., for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of / p.262 / lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and unexpired ; William Walford draper an estate of and in two messuages or tenements lyinge and beinge in the Chappell Streete in Stratford uppon Avon aforesaid, of the yearely value of xl.s. for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and unexpired ; William Courte gent. an estate of and in two messuages or tenements in the Chappell streete in Stratford uppon Avon aforesaid, of the yearely value of iij.li. for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and unexpired ; John Browne gent. an estate of and in one messuage in Bridge streete aforesaid, in Stratford uppon Avon aforesaid of the yearely value of iiij.li. for and duringe all the residue of the same terme of lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and unexpired ; Christopher Smyth of Willmecott an estate of and in one messuage with the appurtenaunces in Henley Street in Stratford uppon Avon aforesaid, of the yearely value of iiij.li. for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and unexpired ; Thomas Jakeman* an estate of and in one yard land in Shottery aforesaid in the parishe of Stratford aforesaid, of the yearely value of x.li. for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and unexpired ; and Richard Kempson of Bynton one yard land and a halfe in Bynton of the yearely value of eight pounds for and during all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and unexpired ; Stephen Burman an estate of and in one yard land and a half in Shotterey aforesaid in the parishe of Stratford aforesaid, of the yearely value of xv.li., for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and not expired ; Thomas Burman an estate of and in half a yard land in Shottery in the parishe of Stratford aforesaid, of the yearely value of v.li. for and dureinge all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and not expired; and William Burman and the said Thomas Burman, executors of the last will and testament of one Stephen Burman late deceassed, an estate of and in one tenemente in Church Streete in Stratford aforesaid, of the yearely value of iij.li. for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and unexpired ; Thomas Horneby an estate of and in the messuage wherein he nowe dwelleth in Stratford uppon Avon aforesaid by the yearely value of iij. li. x.s. for and duringe all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares yet to come and not expired ; Thomas Hamond, John ffifiold, William Smarte, Thomas Aynge, Thomas Holmes, Edward Ingram, Richard Ingram, Thomas Bucke, Thomas Gryffin, Edward Wylkes,† . . . . Brunte widowe, Thomas Vicars, Roberte Gryffin, Phillipp Rogers, . . . . Peare widowe . . . . . . Younge widowe, and . . . . . Byddle, have every of them severall estats for all the residue of the said terme of lxxxxij. yeares, some of them of and in severall messuages with thappurtenaunces, and others of them of and in severall shopps
/ p.263 /
barnes and severall gardens, every of the said severall messuages and parts of the premisses wherein they severally have such estats, beinge of the severall yearely values of three pownds, by the yeare or thereabouts ; and by reason of the said severall estats and interests soe respectyvely beinge in the said Lord Carewe, Sir Edward Grevill, Sir Edward Conway,*
and in your said oratours, and in the said Mary Combe, William Combe, John Combe, John Lane, Anthonie Nashe, Thomas Barber, Daniell Baker, John Smyth, ffrauncis Smyth, John Nashe, William Burman, Thomas Burman, John Lupton, Thomas Horneby, Thomas Hamond, John ffifield, William Smarte, Thomas Aynge, Thomas Holmes, Edward Ingram, Richard Ingram, Thomas Bucke, Thomas Gryffin, Edward Wylkes, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brunte, Thomas Vicars, Roberte Gryffin, Phillipp Rogers, . . . . . . . . ffletcher, . . . . . . Peare, . . . . . . Younge, and . . . . . . Byddle, every of them, and every of their executours and assignes, ought in all right, equity, reason, and good conscience, for and duringe the severall respectyve contynuances of their severall respectyve interests, estats, and termes in the premisses, and according to the severall values of the said severall premisses soe enjoyed by them, and the rents they doe yearely receyve for the same, to pay unto the executours, administrators, or assignes of the said John Barker, a ratable and proportionable parte and porcion of the same annuell or yearely rente of xxvij.li. xiij.s. iij.d. by and uppon the said assureaunce and conveyance soe as aforesaid by the said John Barker made unto the said Sir John Huband reserved and payable ; But soe yt is, yf yt may please your honorable good lordshippe, that the said Lord Carewe, Sir Edward Grevill, Sir Edward Conway, Mary Combe, William Combe, or anye other of the said partyes, at anie tyme synce the said assurances and conveyances soe made and derived from or under the said interest of the said Sir John Huband, for that uppon or by the deeds of their severall under estats or assignements unto them made, they, or those under whom they clayme (excepte the said Mary Combe, Thomas Greene, William Combe, John Combe, and William Shackspeare, whoe only are to pay for tythes of their said severall moytyes before specified v.li. and noe more yearely duringe their said respectyve interests), were not directed nor appoynted nor anie covenants by them or anie of them, or anie other under whom they or anie of them doe clayme (excepte touchinge the said severall yearely ffyve pownds soe to be paid for the said moytyes) were made, whereby yt might appeare howe much of the same rente of xxvij.li. xiij.s. iiij.d. ought to be paid for every of the said severall premisses (excepte concerning the said moityes) could never yet be drawen to agree howe to paye the residue of the said rente, or be brought to paye anie precise parte or porcion at all towards the same ; but divers of them, beinge of great ability, doe divers tymes forbeare and deny to pay anie parte at all towards the same (except the persons before excepted only as touchinge the said severall ffyve pownds for their said severall moytyes), alledging and saieinge, / p.264 / Lett them that are affrayd to forfayte or loose their estats looke to yt, and amongst them see the said rente be truely and duelye paid, for they doubte but they shall doe well enough with the executours and assignes of the said Jo. Barker ; further excusinge their not paieinge anie rent at all for the residue of the premisses other then the said moytyes, by sayeinge that yf they could find anie thinge in anie of their deeds of assignments or conveyaunces chargeinge them precisely with any part thereof, or in any wise declaringe howe much they are to pay, they would willingly as is fitt pay such rate and porcion as they were soe bownd unto, but because they find noe such matter to charge them (excepte the said parties excepted, which by the deeds of their estats are directed for the said severall moytyes to pay the said severall yearely rents of v.li. apeece), therefore they will not pay anie thinge at all towards the said residue of the said rente of xxvij.li. xiij.s. iiij.d. untyll by some legall course or proceedinge in some courte of equity yt shalbe declared what part or porcion in reason and equity every severall owner of the said severall premisses owght to pay towards the same, and be judicially ordered thereunto, which lett them that thinke that a good course endevour to bringe to passe, when they shall see good, or words to such lyke effecte ; soe as your oratours, their said respectyve estats and interests of and in their said severall premisses aforesaid and the estats of divers of the said partyes, which would gladly pay a reasonable parte towards the said rente, but doe nowe refuse to joine with your said oratours in their then said suite, for feare of some other of the said parties which doe soe refuse to contrybute, doe remayne and stand subject to be forfeyted by the negligence or willfullnes of divers or anie other of the said partyes, which manie tymes will pay nothinge, whereas your oratours Richard Lane and William Shackspeare, and some fewe others of the said parties, are wholly, and against all equity and good conscience, usually dryven to pay the same for preservacion of their estats of and in the parts of the premisses belonginge unto them, and albeyt your said oratours have taken great paynes and travayle in entreatinge and endevoringe to bringe the said parties of their owne accords, and without suite of lawe, to agree every one unto a reasonable contribucion towards the same residue of the same rente of xxvij.li. xiij.s. iiij.d. accordinge to the value of suche of the premisses as they enjoy, and onely for their respectyve tymes and termes therein, yet have they refused and denied and styll doe refuse and deny to be perswaded or drawen hereunto, and some of them being encoraged, as yt should seme, by some frendly and kind promise of the said Henry Barker, assignee of the said John Barker, that they should find favour, thoughe their said estats should be all forfeyted, have given yt forth that they should be glade and cared not a whitt yf the estats of some or all the said premisses should be forfeyted, for they should doe well enough with the sayd Henry Barker. In tender consideracion whereof, and for soe much as yt is against all equytye and reason that the estats of some that are willinge to paye a reasonable parte toward the said residue of the said rente of xxvij.li. xiij.s. iiij.d. havinge respecte to the smalnes of the values of the things they doe possesse, should depend uppon the carlesnes and frowardnes or other practices of others, / p.265 / which will not paie a reasonable parte or anie thinge at all toward the same, and for that yt is most agreeable to all reason, equity and good conscience, that every person, his executors and assignes, should be ratably charged with a yearely porcion toward the said residue of the said rente, accordinge to the yearely benefitt he enjoyeth or receaveth, and for that your oratours have noe meanes, by the order or course of common lawes of this realme, to enforce or compell anie of the said partyes to yeald anie certayne contrybucion towards the same, and soe are and styll shalbee remediles therein, unles they may be in that behalf relieved by your Lordshipps gracious clemency and relyef to others in such lyke cases extended ; May yt therefore please your good lordshippe, the premisses considered, and yt beinge also considered that very manie poore peoples estats are subjecte to be overthrown by breach of the condicion aforesaid, and thereby doe depend uppon the negligences, wills, or practices of others,*
and shall contynue in doubte to be turned out of doores, with their wives and familes, thorough the practice or wilfullnes of such others, to write your honorable lettres unto the said Lord Carewe, thereby requiringe him to appeare in the highe Courte of Chancery to answere to the premisses, and to graunte unto the said oratours his Majesties most gracious writts of subpena to be directed unto the said Sir Edward Grevill, Sir Edward Conway, and other the said parties before named, and to the said Henry Barker, whoe claymeth under the right and tytle of the said John Barker, and usually receyveth the said rente in his owne name, and usually maketh acquittances upon the receipt thereof, and under his owne hand and in his owne name, as in his owne right, and usually maketh acquittances of divers parts thereof, thereby commandinge them and every of them at a certayne day, and under a certayne payne therein to be lymitted, to be and personally appeare before your good lordshippe in his highnes most honorable Court of Chancery, fully, perfectly, and directly to awnswere to all and every the premisses, and to sett forth the severall yearely values of the severall premisses soe by them enjoyed, and to shewe good cause whie a comission should not be awarded forth of the said most honorable courte for the examininge of witnesses to the severall values aforesaid, and for the assessinge, taxinge, and ratinge thereof, that thereuppon yt may appeare howe much everye of the said parties, and their executors, administrators, and assignes, for and duringe their said severall respectyve estats and interests, ought in reason proporcionably to pay for the same towards the said residue of the said yearely rente of xxvij.
li. xiij.
s. iiij.
d. that the same may be ordered and established by decree of your most honorable good Lordshippe accordyngly, and the said Henry Barker to awnswere to the premisses, and to sett forth what estate or interest he claymeth in the said rente of xxvij.
li. xiij.
s. iiij.
d. and also to shewe good cause whie he should not be ordered to accept the rents ratably to be assessed as aforesaid, and to enter onely into the tenement
/ p.266 / and estate onely of such persons which shall refuse or neglect to pay suche parte of the said rente, as by your most honorable order there shalbe sett downe and rated uppon them severally to paye, and further to stand to and abide such further and other order and direccions touchinge the premisses as to your good Lordshipp shall seeme to stand with right equity and good conscience. And your Lordshipps said oratours shall dayly pray unto thalmightie for your Lordshipps health with dayly encrease in all honour and happines.
Endorsed, Lane, Greene, et Shakspeare com.
W. Combe et al. respond.
The same year witnesseth the destruction of the Globe Theatre by fire,* but it is not known whether Shakespeare was still a proprietor in that establishment. If this circumstance did not affect his pecuniary affairs, it is most likely that many of his manuscripts were then lost, and perhaps may have thus prevented the first collected edition of his works being as complete as could have been desired. The fire of London, and several fires at Stratford, may also afterwards have destroyed some of the poet's writings and copies of his plays ;†
yet it is extremely difficult to account for their total disappearance, and I cannot help thinking that letters of Shakespeare must still be preserved in some obscure recesses. Not a scrap of any of his plays in his own handwriting is known to be preserved, but a contemporary manuscript of one was recently found in the archives / p.267 / of Sir Edward Dering, a discovery which gives earnest of others of a similar kind.*
In the year 1614 Shakespeare was occupied on business relating to certain proposed enclosures in the common lands near Stratford, which were vehemently, and in the end successfully, opposed by the corporation. The following are memoranda in which the claims of the owners of the property are set forth, the land here mentioned as Shakespeare's being part of that which he had purchased of William and John Combe in 1602 :
5 Septembris, 1614.
Auncient ffreeholders in the ffields of Old Stratford and Welcombe.
Mr. Shakspeare 4 yard land, noe common nor grownd beyond Gospell-bush, nor grownd in Sandfield, nor none in Slow-hill-field beyond Bishopton, nor none in the enclosures beyond Bishopton.
Thomas Parker in right of his wief half a yard land, noe land in Sandfield ; qu. if Gospell-bush and Slow-hill-field ; but hath common over all the fields.
Mr. Lane in Perrye's occupacion half a yard land : hath some land beyond Gospell-bush, and hey in Welcombe-meadow.
Sir ffrauncys Smyth 19 or 20 ridges in the ffields, wherof 6 in Watt-ffurlong neer Welcombe-medow, noe common, j. sleshing upon Johnsons gate, 5 at the upper end of the Dingles, and 5 sleching upon Mr. Nashe's inclosures.
Mace 21 or 22 lands or therabouts, most of them lying in Sandfield, wherof 4 shetting upon the 4 elms into Bruncle way.
And 5 leys in the Hame.
Arthur Cawdrey half a yard lande.
Mr. Wright, vicar of Bishopton, 4 leys in the Hame.
The lease of the tithes which Shakespeare purchased in 1605 would also have been affected in value had the projected enclosures been carried into effect. This was probably the chief reason that caused the poet to exert himself so / p.268 / energetically on the subject, and with a careful regard to his interests, the following agreement appears to have been executed in anticipation of the enclosure being made :
Coppy of the articles with Mr. Shakspeare.
Vicesimo octavo die Octobris, anno Domini 1614. Articles of agreement indented [and] made betwene William Shackespeare of Stretford in the County of Warwick gent. on the one partye, and William Replingham of Great Harborow in the Countie of Warwick gent. on the other partie, the daye and yeare abovesaid.
Item, the said William Replingham for him, his heires, executors, and assignes, doth covenaunte and agree to and with the said William Shackespeare, his heires and assignes, That he the said William Replingham, his heires or assignes, shall, uppon reasonable request, satisfie content and make recompence unto him the said William Shackespeare or his assignes, for all such losse, detriment, and hinderance as he the said William Shackespeare, his heires and assignes, and one Thomas Greene gent. shall or maye be thought in the viewe and judgement of foure indifferent persons, to be indifferentlie elected by the said William and William, and their heires, and in default of the said William Replingham, by the said William Shackespeare or his heires onley, to survey and judge the same to sustayne or incurre for or in respecte of the increasinge of the yearlie value of the tythes they the said William Shackespeare and Thomas doe joyntlie or severallie hold and enjoy in the said fields or anie of them, by reason of anie inclosure or decaye of tyllage there ment and intended by the said William Replingham, and that the said William Replingham and his heires shall procure such sufficient securitie unto the said Wiliam Shackespeare and his heires for the performance of theis covenaunts, as shal bee devised by learned counsell ; In witnes whereof the parties abovsaid to theis presents interchaungeablie their hands and seales have put, the daye and year first above wrytten.
Sealed and delivered in the presence of us,
Tho. Lucas.
Jo. Rogers.
Anthonie Nasshe.
Mich. Olney.
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A calamitous fire had happened at Stratford in the previous summer, and the corporation alleged the distress of the poorer classes on that account as a reason their sufferings should not be increased by the enclosure. They sent their clerk, Thomas Greene, to London on this business, and, in / p.269 / some memoranda by him on a folio sheet in the possession of Mr. Wheler, he thus notices a conversation he had with Shakespeare on the subject.
1614. Jovis, 17 No. My cosen Shakspear comyng yesterdy to town, I went to see him how he did. He told me that they assured him they ment to inclose no further than to Gospell Bush, and so upp straight (leavyng out part of the dyngles to the ffield) to the gate in Clopton hedg, and take in Salisburyes peece ; and that they mean in Aprill to survey the land, and then to gyve satisfaccion, and not before ; and he and Mr. Hall say they think ther will be nothyng done at all.
Greene returned to Stratford about a fortnight after this date, and, continuing his notes, he informs us that letters were sent by the corporation to Shakespeare and to Mainwaring, a person in the household of Lord Ellesmere. The letter addressed to Mainwaring is still in existence, detailing the inconveniences the projected enclosures would occasion ; but that to Shakespeare is unfortunately lost. A petition on the subject was presented to the Privy Council, and in 1618 an order was made, not only forbidding the enclosure, but peremptorily commanding that some steps which Combe actually seems to have commenced in it should be at once retraced. The other memorandum of Greene's is as follows :
23 Dec. A hall. Lettres wrytten, one to Mr. Manyring, another to Mr. Shakspear, with almost all the company's hands to eyther. I also wrytte myself to my cosen Shakspear the coppyes of all our acts, and then also a not of the inconvenyences wold happen by the inclosure.
The relationship between Greene and Shakespeare has not been correctly ascertained, but the former may have been a son of Thomas Green alias Shakspere, who was buried at Stratford on March 6th, 1589-90. Green was not an unusual name in the neighbourhood, but it appears from the register of Aston Cantlow that a family of the / p.270 / name resided at Wilmecote, where Shakespeare's parents had landed interests. The following entry occurs in the early register of burials for that village : 1587-8. The iij.th day of January was bureyd Robertus Grene de Wylmecto. Perhaps a more careful search might discover the period and the circumstances under which the two families became connected with each other.
The Stratford records contain no further notice of Shakespeare before his death in 1616, but the following entry, which occurs in the Chamberlains' accounts for 1614, appears to show that the religious devotion which characterised his descendants had already exhibited itself,—
Item, for on quart of sack and on quart of clarrett winne, geven to a preacher at the Newe Place - - - - - xx.d.
and the notice is of more importance than might be at first supposed, for it seems to give a decided negative to the incredible assertion of Davies (p. 123), that Shakespeare died a papist. The poet may possibly have become piously inclined in his latter days, but I think most direct testimony is against such an opinion, and the epitaph on his daughter seems to imply the contrary,—
Witty above her sexe, but that's not all,
Wise to salvation was good Mistriss Hall.
Something of Shakespeare was in that, but this
Wholy of Him with whom she's now in blisse.
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Most biographers have represented Shakespeare as an epitaph writer during his retirement at Stratford, not merely of jocular epigrams like that on Combe, but of compositions of a more serious description. I shall give these with their authorities, merely observing that to attribute them to his pen implies a deterioration of power for which no one has assigned a sufficient reason. In Dugdale's collection of monumental inscriptions for the county of Salop, taken in / p.271 / 1663 (a MS. in the Herald's College), is given the inscription upon a tomb in Tonge church to the memory of Sir Thomas Stanley, who died in 1576, upon the east and west ends of which respectively are the following verses, written, according to Dugdale, "by William Shakespeare, the late famous tragedian."
Aske who lyes here, but do not weepe,
He is not dead, he doth but sleepe.
This stony register is for his bones,
His fame is more perpetuall than these stones,
And his own goodness, wth himself being gone,
Shall live when earthly monument is none.
Not monumentall stone preserves our fame,
Nor skye-aspiring piramids our name ;
The memory of him for whom this stands
Shall outlive marble and defacers' hands :
When all to time's consumption shall be given,
Stanley, for whom this stands, shall stand in heaven !
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Another epitaph, of far less merit, on Elias James, who was perhaps one of a family of that name who resided at Stratford, has been assigned to Shakespeare on the authority of an early manuscript in Rawlinson's collection in the Bodleian Library :
An Epitaph.
When God was pleas'd, the world unwilling yet,
Elias James to Nature payd his debt,
And here reposeth : as he liv'd he dyde,
The saying in him strongly verefide,—
Such life, such death : then, the known truth to tell,
He liv'd a godly life, and dyde as well.
Wm. Shakspeare.
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In the accounts of Lord Harrington, Treasurer of the Chamber to James I. for 1613, the titles of several plays of Shakespeare occur as having been presented before Prince Charles, the Lady Elizabeth, and the Prince Palatine Elector, the two latter having left England in the April of that year. / p.272 / Many other dramas were also played in the presence of the illustrious foreigners, but the following entry is the only one in which any of Shakespeare's are mentioned. The original MS. of these accounts is preserved in the Bodleian Library, in Rawlinson's collection, A. 239 :*
Paid to John Heminges uppon the councells warrt., dated at Whitehall, xxº. die Maii 1613, for presentinge before the Princes Hignes, the La. Elizabeth, and the Prince Pallatyne Elector, fowerteene severall playes, viz. one playe called Filaster, one other call'd the Knott of Fooles, one other Much Adoe abowte Nothinge, the Mayeds Tragedie, the Merye Dyvell of Edmonton, the Tempest, a Kinge and no Kinge, the Twins Tragedie, the Winters' Tale, Sr. John Falstafe, the Moore of Venice, the Nobleman, Cæsars Tragedye, and one other called Love lyes a Bleedinge, all wch playes weare played wthin the tyme of this accompte, viz. pd. the some of iiij. (xx).xiij.li. vjs. viij.d.
