Shakespeare of Stratford/The Biographical Facts/Fact 34

by Tucker Brooke

Layout 2

 

XXXIV. SHAKESPEARE BUYS A LARGE TRACT OF ARABLE LAND IN OLD STRATFORD (1602).

Conveyance of one hundred and seven acres from William and John Combe to Shakespeare, May 1, 1602. (Shakespeare Birthplace Museum.)

This indenture made the first day of May, in the four-and-fortieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady, Elizabeth, by the grace of God of England, France and Ireland Queen, Defendress of the Faith, &c., between William Combe of Warwick in the county of Warwick, Esquire, and John Combe of Old Stratford, in the county aforesaid, Gentleman, on the one party, and William Shakespere of Stretford-upon-Avon, in the county aforesaid, Gentleman, on the other party, Witnesseth that the said William Combe and John Combe, for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and twenty pounds of current English money to them in hand, at and before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, well and truly satisfied, contented, and paid, whereof and wherewith they acknowledge themselves fully satisfied, contented, and paid, and thereof and of every part and parcel thereof do clearly exonerate, acquit, and discharge the said William Shakespere, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns for ever by these presents, have aliened, bargained, sold, given, granted, and confirmed, and by these presents do fully, clearly and absolutely alien, bargain, sell, give, grant, and confirm unto the said William Shakespere all and singular those arable lands, with the appurtenances, containing by estimation four yardland of arable land, situate, lying, and being within the parish, fields or town of Old Stretford aforesaid, in the said county of Warwick, containing by estimation one hundred and seven acres, be they more or less; and also all the common of pasture for sheep, horse, kine, or other cattle in the fields of Old Stretford aforesaid, to the said four yardland belonging or in any wise appertaining; and also all hades, leys, tyings, profits, advantages and commodities whatsoever, with their and every of their appurtenances to the said bargained premises belonging or appertaining, or heretofore reputed, taken, known, or occupied as part, parcel, or member of the same, and the reversion and reversions of all and singular the same bargained premises, and of every part and parcel thereof, now or late in the several tenures or occupations of Thomas Hiccoxe and Lewes Hiccoxe, or of either of them, or of their assigns, or any of them; together also with all charters, deeds, writings, escripts, and muniments whatsoever touching or concerning the same premises only, or only any part or parcel thereof; and also the true copies of all other deeds, evidences, charters, writings, escripts, and muniments which do touch and concern the said premises before bargained and sold, or any part or parcel thereof, which the said William Combe or John Combe now have in their custody or hereafter may have, or which they may lawfully get or come by without suit in law; to have and to hold the said four yard of arable land, containing by estimation one hundred and seven acres, be they more or less, and all and singular other the premises before by these presents aliened and sold, or mentioned or intended to be aliened and sold and every part and parcel thereof; and all deeds, charters, writings, escripts, and muniments, before by these presents bargained and sold unto the said William Shakespere, his heirs and assigns for ever, to the only proper use and behoof of the said William Shakespere, his heirs and assigns for ever. . . .^[1] In witness whereof the parties to these presents have interchangeably set their hands and seals, the day and year first above written, 1602.—W. Combe.—Jo. Combe.—Sealed and delivered to Gilbert Shakespere, to the use of the within-named William Shakespere, in the presence of Anthony Nashe, William Sheldon, Humfrey Mainwaring, Richard Mason, John Nashe.

Note. Gilbert Shakespeare was the poet’s younger brother, born in 1566, evidently acting because the actual purchaser was unable to leave London. On March 5, 1610, he witnessed a deed in Stratford. He was probably the ‘Gilbertus Shakspeare, adolescens’ buried, according to the Stratford Register, February 8, 1612. (See no. LV, and Mrs. Stopes, Shakespeare’s Environment, pp. 68 ff., 332 ff.)

1. The document contains nearly a thousand words more of legal redundancy. For the omitted section see Halliwell-Phillipps, Outlines, 1887, ii. 17–19.