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Shakespeare of Stratford

(D) 9 Jan. [1615]. Mr. Replingham, 28 Octobris, articled with Mr. Shakspear, and then I was put in by T. Lucas.[1]

(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[2] 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.


LXV. FRIENDLY CHANCERY SUIT OF SHAKESPEARE AND OTHERS CONCERNING DOCUMENTS RELATING TO HIS PROPERTY IN BLACKFRIARS (1615).

(A) Petition of Shakespeare and other owners of property in Blackfriars to compel Matthew Bacon to

    testing against enclosures, is preserved (cf. Mrs. Stopes, Shakespeare’s Environment, p. 337). The two letters to Shakespeare are lost.

  1. This alludes, of course, to Shakespeare’s agreement with Replingham (see previous document). T. Lucas was one of the witnesses to it.
  2. This may be a slip of the pen for ‘he’ (Shakespeare).