Shakespeare of Stratford/The Biographical Facts/Fact 64

by Tucker Brooke

Layout 2

 

LXIV. NOTES OF THOMAS GREENE CONCERNING SHAKESPEARE’S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE PROPOSED ENCLOSURES AT WELCOMBE (1614-1615).

MS. notes by Greene, Town Clerk of Stratford, Shakespeare’s cousin and attorney. (Shakespeare Birthplace Museum.)

(A) 5 Septembris, 1614.

Ancient Freeholders in the Fields of Old Stratford and Welcombe. Mr. Shakspeare: 4 yard land.^[1] No common nor ground beyond Gospel Bush; no ground in Sandfield, nor none in Slow Hill Field beyond Bishopton, nor none in the enclosure beyond Bishopton.

(B) Jovis [Thursday] 17 Nov. [1614]. My cousin Shakspeare coming [?] yesterday to town, I went to see him how he did.^[2] He told me that they assured him they meant to enclose no further than to Gospel Bush, and so up straight (leaving out part of the dingles to the field) to the gate in Clopton hedge, and take in Salisbury’s piece [?]; and that they mean in April to survey the land, and then to give satisfaction and not before; and he and Mr. Hall say they think there will be nothing done at all.

(C) 23 Dec. [1614]. A Hall.^[3] Letters written, one to Mr. Mannering, another to Mr. Shakspeare, with almost all the company’s hands to either. I also writ of myself to my Cousin Shakspear the copies of all our acts, and then also a note of the inconveniences would grow [?] by the enclosure.^[4]

(D) 9 Jan. [1615]. Mr. Replingham, 28 Octobris, articled with Mr. Shakspear, and then I was put in by T. Lucas.^[5]

(E) On Wednesday, being the 11th day [of January, 1615]. At night Mr. Replingham supped with me, and Mr. W. Barnes was to bear him company, where he assured me before Mr. Barnes that I should be well dealt withal, confessing former promises by himself, Mr. Mannering, and his agreement for me with my Cousin Shakspeare.

(F) Sept. [1615]. W. Shakespeare’s telling J. Greene that I^[6] was not able to bear the enclosing of Welcombe.

Note. Combe’s high-handed effort to appropriate common property led to violent opposition from the burghers of Stratford. The quarrel was carried to the Privy Council of England and finally resulted, a couple of years after Shakespeare’s death, in the discomfiture of Combe and the overthrow of the projects for enclosure. The best account of the affair is that of Mrs. Stopes, Shakespeare’s Environment, pp. 81 ff. and 336 ff.

1. This is the land bought by Shakespeare from the Combes. See documents XXXIV and LII.
2. Greene was in London at this time, but returned to Stratford before the date of the next note (Dec. 23), Shakespeare evidently remaining in the city.
3. I.e. meeting of the Stratford town council.
4. The letter of the Stratford corporation to Mannering, testing against enclosures, is preserved (cf. Mrs. Stopes, Shakespeare’s Environment, p. 337). The two letters to Shakespeare are lost.
5. This alludes, of course, to Shakespeare’s agreement with Replingham (see previous document). T. Lucas was one of the witnesses to it.
6. This may be a slip of the pen for ‘he’ (Shakespeare).