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Stratford tithes
July 24,
1605

ER 27/2

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Title:  Stratford tithes
Date: July 24, 1605
Repository: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Call number and opening: ER27/2
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Stratford tithes
Item Date
July 24, 1605
Repository
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Call Number
ER 27/2

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The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has graciously contributed images under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommerical ShareAlike 4.0 International license.  Visitors may download, link to and cite the images for personal research only. Any further use, including, but not limited to, unauthorized downloading or distribution of the images, commercial or third party use, is strictly prohibited. Visitors must contact the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to request additional use, at: images.scla@shakespeare.org.uk

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Title:  Stratford tithes
Date: July 24, 1605
Repository: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Call number and opening: ER27/2
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Item Title
Stratford tithes
Item Date
July 24, 1605
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The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Call Number
ER27/2

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Title:  Stratford tithes
Date: July 24, 1605
Repository: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Call number and opening: ER27/2
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Stratford tithes
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July 24, 1605
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ER27/2

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Title:  Stratford tithes
Date: July 24, 1605
Repository: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Call number and opening: ER27/2
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Stratford tithes
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July 24, 1605
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ER27/2

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Title:  Stratford tithes
Date: July 24, 1605
Repository: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Call number and opening: ER27/2
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Stratford tithes
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July 24, 1605
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Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
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ER27/2

Institution Rights and Document Citation

 

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The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has graciously contributed images under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommerical ShareAlike 4.0 International license.  Visitors may download, link to and cite the images for personal research only. Any further use, including, but not limited to, unauthorized downloading or distribution of the images, commercial or third party use, is strictly prohibited. Visitors must contact the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to request additional use, at: images.scla@shakespeare.org.uk

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Title:  Stratford tithes
Date: July 24, 1605
Repository: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Call number and opening: ER27/2
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Robert Bearman, "Assignment from Ralph Hubaud of Ipsley, esquire, to William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon, gentleman, of a lease of a half-share of the great tithes of Old Stratford, Welcombe and Bishopton, and the lesser tithes of the whole parish," Shakespeare Documented, https://doi.org/10.37078/518.

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, ER 27/2. See Shakespeare Documentedhttps://doi.org/10.37078/518.

In the summer of 1605, by means of the deed shown here, Shakespeare was able to raise the very considerable sum of £440 to purchase from Ralph Hubaud a half-share in a lease of a portion of the Stratford tithes. As a form of property, this differed from his purchase of land three years earlier but the purpose was the same: to provide Shakespeare, and his family, with a further reliable source of investment income. In order to establish Hubaud’s right to assign the lease to Shakespeare, a series of complicated transactions, reaching back to 1544, were recited, each introduced with the word “Whereas.”

Tithes, in the sense used here, originated in early medieval England as the parishioners’ payment of a tenth part of their total agricultural produce to the parish priest. In pre-Reformation times the right to collect tithes in many parishes passed into the hands of religious houses, who then appointed a vicar, paid him out of the proceeds of the sale of the produce, and kept any surplus to augment their funds. During the reigns of Henry VIII (1509-1547) and Edward VI (1547-1553), these religious houses were suppressed, and their tithes and other landed possessions confiscated. The government then began to sell off this property, including tithes, to anyone willing to pay the necessary price. Although those purchasing a right to parish tithes were often required to make some provision for maintaining the vicar and the church, the right to collect such tithes, in effect, passed out of the control of the church into lay hands.

In pre-Reformation Stratford, the parish church of Holy Trinity came to be served by a Warden (later Dean) and body of priests housed in an adjacent College. The college was endowed over the years with extensive property, including the right to the parish tithes. The setting up of collegiate churches, as they were known, was a common development in many medieval towns; at the Reformation, however, they were deemed to be religious houses and, like the monasteries, were suppressed and their property confiscated by the Crown. This is what happened in Stratford. In 1553, the Crown granted to the newly-formed Corporation the ownership of a portion of these tithes (the great tithes, on grain and hay, for Old Stratford, Bishopton and Welcombe, and what became known as the “lesser” tithes, on wool, lambs and other minor produce such as eggs and dairy produce of the whole parish), valued at £34 a year. This income was to be used to pay the vicar and curate annual salaries of £20 and £10 respectively, and to find a house for the vicar.

However, tithe owners, especially by the mid-sixteenth century, did not necessarily collect the tithes. Instead, owners often rented this right to tenants for a fixed sum, leaving the tenants free to make what profit they could beyond their annual rent. This is where Stratford’s complications begin, as unravelled in the early clauses of the transfer of this right to Shakespeare in 1605. In 1544, Anthony Barker, the last dean of the College, had leased nearly all the College’s property, including Stratford’s tithes, to his relative William Barker, to hold for 92 years at an annual rent of just over £120. Despite the Crown’s suppression of the College and the confiscation of its property, as described above, this lease was allowed to stand. At first William Barker paid the £120 rent to the Crown but, after the College property was sold off in lots, the rent became divided up as well. Therefore, after 1553, Barker and his descendants were obligated to pay the Stratford Corporation £34 a year in rent (the value of the tithes, formally belonging to the College, that it had been granted) for the remainder of the 92-year lease. 

By 1580, the original 1544 lease of all the College property had descended to John Barker, who then assigned his interest in it to Sir John Hubaud, subject to an annuity of £27 13s. 4d. to Barker and his descendants. Hubaud also took over the obligation to pay the £120 rent, now divided between several “landlords,” including the £34 to the Stratford Corporation. Under the terms of Hubaud’s will of 1583, the situation became even more confused. Hubaud divided the portion of the 1544 lease relating to the Corporation tithes between his brother Ralph Hubaud and his “cousin,” George Digby. For the remainder of the 92-year term, Ralph Hubaud and Digby were therefore each obliged to pay £17 (half of the £34 rent) to the Corporation, and £5 to the Barkers as their share of the annuity.

In 1605, Shakespeare contracted to buy Ralph Hubaud’s lease of half the Stratford tithes, subject to the same payments: £17 to the Corporation and £5 to the Barkers. A few years later Shakespeare’s portion of the tithes was said to be worth £60 a year, which after deductions to the Corporation and the Barkers, would have left him with an annual surplus in the region of £40. In about ten years Shakespeare would thus have made back the £440 he paid Hubaud. For the remaining twenty-one years of the 1544 lease the £40 surplus would have been clear profit. In fact, £60 is a conservative figure. When the other half of the tithes (as bequeathed to George Digby and later acquired by Thomas Greene) was re-let in 1619, the annual rent was set at £90, over five times the £17 which Greene had been paying.

The document shown here, in which this earlier history of the lease is laboriously outlined, is Shakespeare’s copy. It was therefore signed by Ralph Hubaud and handed to Shakespeare, or at least his representatives. It is not known whether Shakespeare was present or whether he, or his agent, was obliged to sign any document that Hubaud retained. The witness list confirms the circle Shakespeare was moving in at the time. As in 1602, the principal witness was Anthony Nash. Given that the Hubaud and Nash families were linked by marriage, Anthony may have acted as a local go-between in the negotiations leading up to Shakespeare’s purchase. In fact, Hubaud was then elderly; he died within six months of the sale, at which time, as recorded in the inventory taken on his death, Shakespeare still owed him £20, probably part of the purchase price. This remaining £20 is good evidence of Shakespeare’s creditworthiness amongst the local gentry and Hubaud’s willingness to allow some latitude over the terms of payment.

Of the other witnesses, William Hubaud was clearly a relative of the vendor, probably his brother, but of more interest is the lawyer, Francis Collins. He was acting for Shakespeare on this occasion, as a draft of the tithe conveyance is apparently in his hand.

Edward Malone, the Shakespearean scholar, appears to have referenced this assignment during his researches in the Stratford Corporation archives in the 1790s, as he included its date (July 24, 1605) on an accompanying, undated draft. It would appear that R.B. Wheler, a local antiquary, subsequently removed the finished assignment, as it thereafter came down to us as part of his papers. However, the fact that the bond is still in the Corporation archives confirms that the assignment itself was also once there. That it did not remain in Shakespeare’s possession amongst his other title deeds is explained by the fact that by a deed of 1625 (BRU 8/17/18), John Hall and his wife, Shakespeare’s daughter, surrendered the lease to the Corporation, together with the bond of £800. 

Semi-diplomatic transcription

ER 27/2

[On two membranes, fastened at the foot]
[membrane 1]

This Indenture made the ffoure & twentythe daye of Iulye in the yeares of the Raigne of our Soueraigne Lorde Iames by the grace of god of Englande Scotlande, ffraunce & Irelande Kinge Defender of the ffayeth &c.

That is to saye of Englande ffraunce & Irelande the Thirde & of Scotlande the Eighte & Thirtythe Betweene Raphe Hubaude of Ippesley in the Countye of Warr’ Esquier on thone parte And William Shakespear of

Stratforde upon Avon in the sayed Countye of Warr’ gentleman on thother parte Whereas Anthonye Barker Clarke late warden of the Colledge or Collegiate Churche of Stratford upon Avon aforesayed in the sayed countye of Warr’

& Gyles Coventrie subwarden there And the whole Chapiter of the same Late Colledge by their Deade Indented Sealed with their Chapter seale Dated the Seaventh daye of September in the Sixe & Thirtyth yeare

of the Raigne of the late kinge of famous memorie kinge Henrye the Eighte Demysed graunted & to farme Lett (amongste diuerse other thinges) vnto one William Barker of Sonnynge in the countye of Bark’ gentleman All & All manner of

Tythes of Corne Grayne Blade & Heye yearelye & from tyme to tyme Comynge encreasinge Reneweinge Arrysinge groweinge yssueinge or Happeninge or to bee had receyved perceyved or taken out vpon of or in the townes villages

Hamletts groundes & ffyeldes of Stratforde upon Avon Olde Stratforde Welcombe & Bushopton in the sayed Countye of Warr’ And Alsoe All & All manner of Tythes of Wooll Lambe & other small & pryvie Tythes oblacions obvencions

alterages mynumentes & offeringes whatsoever yearelye & from tyme to tyme cominge encreasinge reneweinge or happeninge or to bee had receyved perceyved or taken within the parishe of Stratforde upon Avon aforesayed in the sayed

Countye of Warr’ by the name or names of All & singuler their Mannors Landes Tenementes Meadowes pastures feedinges woodes vnderwoodes Rentes Reuercions services Courtes leetes Releeves wardes marriages harriottes perquisites of Courtes liberties Iurisdiccions

and all other hereditamentes with all & singuler other rightes commodities & their Appurtenaunces togeather with all manner of Parsonages Gleebe Landes Tythes Alterages oblacions obvencions mynumentes offeringes & All other issues proffittes Emolumentes & Advantages

in the Countye of Warr’ or Worcester or elsewhere whatsoever they bee vnto the sayed then Colledge Apperteyninge The mancion house & the Scite of the sayed Colledge with their Appurtenaunces within the precinctes of the walls of the sayed Colledge

vnto the sayed warden & subwarden onelye excepted To have & to holde All the sayed Mannors Landes Tenementes & all other the premisses with all & singuler their Appurtenaunces (excepte before excepted) vnto the sayed Colledge belonginge

or in Anie wyse Apperteyninge vnto the sayed William Barker his Executors & Assignes from the feast of St Michaell tharchangell then Laste paste before the Date of the sayed Indenture vnto thend & terme of ffourescore & Twelve yeares

then nexte ensueinge yeldinge & payeinge therefore yearelye vnto the sayed warden & subwarden & their Successors att the sayed Colledge Cxxijl xviijs ixd of lawfull money of Englande as more playnely appeareth by the sayed

Indenture and whereas Alsoe the Reuercion of All & singuler the sayed premisses (Amonge other thinges) by vertue of the Acte of Parliament made in the ffyrst yeare of the Raigne of the late soueraigne Lorde kinge Edwarde the Sixte for

the dissolucion of Chauntries Colledges & ffree Chappels or by somme other meanes Came to the handes & possession of the sayed Late kinge Edwarde And whereas the sayed late kinge Edwarde the Sixte beinge seised as in Right of his Crowne of Englande of & in the

Revercion of All & singuler the premisses by his Lettres Patentes bearinge date the Eight & twentyth daye of Iune in the Seaventh yeare of his raigne for the Consideracion therein expressed did gyve & graunte vnto the Baylief & Burgesses of Stratforde aforesayed & to

their Successors Amonge other thinges All & All manner of the sayed Tythes of Corne graine & Heye Comynge encreasinge or Arrysinge in the Villages & ffyeldes of Olde Stratforde We1combe & Bushopton aforesayed in the sayed Countye of Warr’ then or Late

in the tenure of Iohn Barker & to the late Colledge of Stratforde vpon Avon in the sayed countye of Warr’ of late belonginge & Apperteyninge & parcell of the possessions thereof beinge And alsoe All & All manner of the sayed Tythes of wooll Lambe & other smalle

& pryvie tythes oblacions & Alterages whatsoeuer within the parishe of Stratford vpon Avon aforesayed & to the sayed late Colledge of Stratforde vpon Avon belonginge or apperteyninge & then or Late in the tenure of William Barker or of his Assignes And the

Revercion & Revercions whatsoeuer of all & singler the sayed Tythes & euerye parte & parcell thereof And the Rentes Revenues & other yearelye proffittes whatsoeuer Reserved vpon anye Demise or graunte of the sayed Tythes or anie parte or parcell thereof And whereas

Alsoe the interest of the sayed premisses in the sayed originall lease mencioned and the interest of Certein Copieholdes in Shotterie in the parishe of Stratford aforesayed beinge by good & lawfull Conveyans & Assurance in the Lawe before that tyme conveyed

& Assured to Iohn Barker of Hurste in the sayed countye of Berk’ Hee the sayed Iohn Barker by his Indenture bearinge date the ffoure & twentyth daye of Iune in the twoe & twentythe yeare of the Raigne of the late Queene Elizabeth for the

Consideracions therein specifyed did gyve graunte Assigne & sett over vnto Sir Iohn Hubaude Knightes brother of the sayed Raphe Hubaude All & singuler the sayed laste mencioned premisses And all his estate right title & interest that hee then had

to come of in & to all & singuler the sayed premisses and of all other Mannors Messuages landes Tenementes gleebe landes tythes oblacions Commodities & proffittes in the sayed originall lease mencioned for & duringe All the yeares & terme then to come vnexpired in the sayed

originall lease (exceptinge as in & by the sayed laste mencioned Indenture is excepted) as by the same Indenture more att large maye Appeare To have and to holde All & singuler the sayed recyted premisses excepte before excepted to the

sayed Sir Iohn Hubaude his Executors and Assignes for & duringe the yeares then to come of & in the same yeldinge & payeinge therefore yearelye after the ffeast of St Michaell tharchangell nexte ensuenge the Date of the sayed laste mencioned Indenture

for & duringe all the yeares mencioned in the sayed first mencioned Indenture then to come & not expired vnto the sayed Iohn Barker his executors Administrators and Assignes one Annuall or yearelye Rente of Twentye Seaven Poundes Thirteene shillinges ffoure

Pence by the yeare to be yssueinge & goeinge out of All the Mannors Landes Tenementes Tythes & hereditamentes in the sayed Indenture specyfied To bee payed yearlye to the sayed Iohn Barker his executors Administrators & Assignes by the sayed Sir Iohn Hubaude

his executors Administrators & Assignes Att the ffeastes of the Anunciacion of our Ladye & St Michaell tharchangell or within ffortye dayes after the sayed ffeastes in the Porche of the parishe Churche of Stratford aforesayed by even porcions And further

payeinge Doeinge and performinge All suche other Rentes dutyes & servyces as att anie tyme from thencefourth & from tyme to tyme for and duringe the terme aforesayed should become due to anie personne or personns for the same premisses or anie parte thereof and

thereof to discharge the sayed Iohn Barker his executors & Administrators And yf yt shoulde happen the sayed Twentye Seaven Poundes thirteene shillinges ffoure pence to bee behinde & vnpayed in parte or in All by the space of ffortye dayes nexte after anie of the

sayed ffeastes or daies of payement in which, as is aforesayed it ought to bee payed beinge lawfullie asked That then yt shoulde bee lawfull to & for the sayed Iohn Barker his executors Administrators & Assignes into All & singuler the premisses with their Appurtenaunces & euerye

parte & parcell thereof to reenter & the same to have againe as in his or their former righte And that then & from thenceforthe the sayed recyted Indenture of Assignement and euerye Article Covenaunte Clause provisoe & Agreement therein conteyned on the parte

& behalf  of the sayed Iohn Barker his executors Administrators & Assignes to bee performed should Ceasse & bee vtterlie voyde & of none effeet with diuerse other Covenauntes grauntes Articles & Agreementes in the sayed Indenture of Assignementes specified to bee

observed & performed by the sayed Sir Iohn Hubaude his executors & Assignes As in & by the sayed Recyted Indenture it doth & maye Appeare And whereas the sayed Sir Iohn Hubaude did by his deade Obligatorie bynd himself and

his heires to the sayed Iohn Barker in A greate some of money for the performance of All & singuler the Covenauntes grauntes Articles & Agreementes which on the parte of the sayed Sir Iohn Hubaud were to bee observed & performed conteyned & specyfied as well

in the sayed recyted Indenture of Assignement as alsoe in one other Indenture bearinge the date of the sayed recyted Indenture of Assignement made betweene the sayed Iohn Barker on thone partie and the sayed Sir Iohn Hubaude on thother partie

As by the sayed deade obligatorie more att large it doth & maye appeare And whereas Alsoe the sayed Sir Iohn Hubaude by his laste will & testament in Writinge did gyve & bequeath vnto his Executors amongst other thinges the Moytie

or one half of All & singuler the sayed Tythes as well greate as smalle before mencioned to bee graunted to the sayed Baylyffe & Burgesses of Stratford for & duringe soe longe tyme & vntill of the yssues & proffittes thereof soe much as with other thinges in his sayed will to that

purposse willed Lymitted or Appointed shoulde bee sufficient to discharge beare & paye his funeralls debtes & legacies And alsoe by his sayed laste will and testamendid gyve & bequeath the other moytie or one half of the sayed Tythes vnto the sayed Raphe

Hubaude & his assignes duringe All the yeares to come in the sayed ffirst mencioned Indenture & not expired payeinge the one half of the Rentes & other Charges dewe or goeinge out of or for the same That is to saye the one half of Tenne

poundes by yeare to bee payed to the sayed Iohn Barker over & aboue the rentes thereof reserved vpon the sayed originall lease for the same As by the sayed will & testament more playnelye Appeareth This Indenture nowe witnesseth

that the sayed Raphe Hubaude for & in consideracion of the somme of ffoure Hundred & ffourtye Poundes of lawfull Englishe money to him by the sayed William Shakespear before thensealinge & deliuerye of thees presentes well & truelye contented & payed whereof &

of everye parte & parcell whereof hee the sayed Raphe Hubaude dothe by thees presentes acknowledge the Receipt And thereof & euerye parte & parcell thereof dothe clerelye acquite exonerate & discharge the sayed William Shakespear his Executors and Administrators for

ever by thees presentes hathe demised graunted Assigned & sett over & by thees presentes dothe demise graunte Assigne & sett over vnto the sayed William Shakespear his executors & Assignes the xxxx Moytie or one half of All & singuler the sayed

Tythes of Corne grayne blade & Heye yearelye & from tyme to tyme cominge encreasinge Reneweinge Arrysinge groweinge issueinge or happenynge or to bee had receyved perceyved or taken out of vpon or in the Townes villages hamlettes groundes

& ffyeldes of Stratforde Olde Stratforde Welcombe & Bushopton aforesayed in the sayed Countye of Warr’ And Alsoe the xxxx Moytie or one half of All & singuler the sayed Tythes of wooll Lambe & other smalle & Pryvie Tythes Herbage oblacions obvencions

Alterages mynimentes & offeringes whatsoeuer yearelye & from tyme to tyme cominge encreasinge reneweinge or happeninge or to bee had receyved perceyved or taken within the parishe of Stratforde vpon Avon aforesayed And Alsoe the Moytie or one half

of All & All manner of Tythes as well greate as smalle whatsoeuer which were by the laste will & testament of the sayed Sir Iohn Hubaude Gyven & bequeathed to the sayed Raphe Hubaude Arrysing encreasinge reneweinge or groweinge within the sayed

parishe of Stratford vpon Avon And whereof the sayed Raphe Hubaude hath att anie tyme heretofore been or of right ought to have been possessed or wherevnto hee nowe hath or att anie tyme hereafter should have Anie estate right or interest

in possession or Reuercion And All thestate right tytle interest terme claime & demaunde whatsoeuer of the sayed Raphe Hubaude of in & to all & singuler the premisses hereby lastelye mencioned to bee graunted & assigned & euerie or anie parte or parcell thereof And

the Reuercion & Reuercions of all & singuler the sayed premisses And All & singuler Rentes & yearely proffyttes Reserved vpon Anie demise graunte or Assignement thereof or of anie parte or partes thereof heretofore made (The Pryvie Tythes of Luddington

And suche parte of the Tythe Heye & pryvie Tythes of Bushopton as of Right doe belonge to the vicar Curate or minister there for the tyme beinge Alwayes excepted & foreprised) To have & to holde All & euerye the sayed Moytie

or one halfe of All & singuler the sayed Tythes before in & by thees presentes lastelye mencioned to bee graunted & Assigned & euerye parte & parcell of them & euerye of them And All thestate righte tytle & intereste of the sayed Raphe Hubaud of in &

to the same And All other thaforedemised premisses & euerye parte & parcell thereof (except before excepted) vnto the sayed william Shakespear his Executors & Assignes from the Daye of the Date hereof for & duringe the Residewe of the sayed terme of

ffourescore & Twelve yeares in the sayed first recyted Indenture mencioned & for suche & soe longe terme & tyme & in as large ample & benefyciall manner as the sayed Raphe Hubaude shoulde or oughte enjoye the same yeldinge & payeinge

therefore yearely duringe the Residewe of the sayed terme of ffourescore & Twelve yeares which bee yet to come & vnexpired the Rentes hereafter mencioned in manner & forme followeinge That is to saye vnto the Baylyffe & Burgesses of Stratford aforesayed

& their Successors the yearelye Rent of Seaventeene poundes Att the ffeastes of St Michaell tharchangell & the Anunciacion of blessed Marye the virgin by equall porcions And vnto the sayed Iohn Barker his Executors Administrators or Assignes the Annuall or yearelye rente

of ffyve Poundes Att the ffeaste dayes & place lymitted appointed & mencioned in the sayed recyted Indenture of Assignement made by the sayed Iohn Barker or within ffortye dayes after the sayed feaste dayes by even porcions As parcell of the sayed Annuall Rent of

twentye Seaven Poundes Thirteene shillinges foure pence in the sayed Assignement mencioned And the sayed Raphe Hubaude dothe by thees presentes for him his heires executors & Administrators Covenaunte & graunte to & with the sayed William Shakespear

his executors administrators & Assignes That Hee the sayed Raphe Hubaude Att the tyme of thensealinge & delyverye of thees presentes hath & att the tyme of the first Execucion or intencion of anie execucion of Anie estate by force of thees presentes shall have

full power & lawfull & sufficient Aucthoritie certeinlie suerlye & absolutelie to graunte demise Assigne & sett over All & euerye the sayed moyties or one Halfe of All & singulee the sayed Tythes & other the premisses before in thees presentes lastelye

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mencioned to bee Assigned & sett over & euerye parte & parcell thereof vnto the sayed william Shakespear his executors & assignes accordinge to the true meaninge of thees presentes And Alsoe that the sayed william Shakespear his executors Administrators or assignes shall &

maye from tyme to tyme & att all tymes duringe the Residewe of the sayed terme of ffourescore & Twelve yeares yet to come & vnexpired for the yearelye seuerall Rentes aboue by thees presentes reserved peaceablie lawfullye & quietlie have holde

occupie possesse & enjoye All & euerye the sayed Moyties or one halfe of All & singuler the sayed Tythes of Corne graine blade Heye woolle lambe & other smalle & pryvie Tythes herbage oblacions obvencions offeringes & other the premisses before by thees presentes graunted &

assigned & euerye parte & parcell thereof (excepte before excepted) without anie lett trouble entrie distresse claime deniall interrupcion or molestacion whatsoeuer of the sayed Raphe Hubaude his executors Administrators or Assignes or of anie other personne or personns havinge

or clayminge to have or which att anie tyme or tymes hereafter shall or maye have or claime to have anie thinge of in or to the afore graunted premisses or anie parte thereof by from or vnder the sayed Raphe Hubaud his executors Administrators or Assignes

or anie of them or by from or vnder the sayed Sir Iohn Hubaude or by their or anie of their meanes consent forfeiture act or procurement And without anie Lawfull lett trouble distresse claime denyall entrie or demaunde whatsoeuer other then for the sayed yearely

rent of Twentye seaven poundes thirteene shillinges ffourepence by the sayed recyted assignement reserved of the sayed Iohn Barker his executors Administrators or Assignes or anie of them or of anie personne or personns clayeming from or vnder them or anie of them Thestate

& interest of the Lorde Carewe of in & to the Tythes of Bridgtowne & Ryen Clyfforde & the interest of Sir Edwarde Grevill knight of & in the Moytie of the Tythe Heye woolle lambe & other smalle & pryvie Tythes oblacions obvencions offeringes & proffittes before by thees

presentes graunted & assigned vnto the sayed William Shakespear which is to endure vntill the feast of St Michaell tharchangell ^next ensueinge the date hereof & noe longer onelye excepted & foreprised And the saycd Raphe Hubaude doth by thees presentes for him his heires

executors & Administrators Covenaunte & graunte to & with the sayed William Shakespear his executors Administrators & Assignes That All & euerye the sayed Moyties of the sayed Tythes before mencioned to be graunted to the sayed William Shakespear & other the premisses (except before

excepted) nowe are & soe from tyme to tyme & att All tymes hereafter duringe the Residewe of the saied terme of ffourescore & Twelve yeares yet to come & unexpired according to the true meaninge hereof shalbe remaine & Contynewe vnto the sayed

William his executors or Assignes Free & Clere & freelye & clerelye acquyted exonerated & discharged or well & sufficientlie saved & kept harmelesse of & from All & All manner of bargaines sales guiftes Assignementes leases Recognizances ^statutes mercheant & of the Staple

outlaries Iudgementes execucions titles troubles Charges encumbraunces & demaundes whatsoeuer heretofore had made done comitted omitted or suffered or hereafter to bee had made done comitted omitted or suffered by the sayed Raphe Hubaude Sir Iohn

Hubaude & Iohn Barker or anie of them their or anie of their executors administrators or Assignes or anie of them or by anie personne or personns whatsoeuer Clayminge by from or vnder them or anie of them or by their or anie of their meanes Act title

graunte forfeiture consent or procurement (except before excepted) And Alsoe that hee the sayed Raphe Hubaude his executors administrators & assignes shall & will from tyme to tyme & att all tymes duringe the space of Three yeares next ensueing vpon

reasonable Requeste & att the Costes & Charges in the lawe of the sayed William Shakespear his executors or assignes doe performe & execute & cause permitt & suffer to bee done performed & executed All & euerye suche further & reasonable Acte & Actes

thinge & thinges devyse & devyses in the Lawe whatsoeuer bee yt or they by anie meane course Acte devise or Assurans in the lawe whatsoeuer As by the sayed William Shakespear his executors or assignes or his or their learned Councell

shalbe reasonablie devised advised or Required for the Confirmacion of thees presentes or for the further or more better or firmer Assurans suertye suermakinge & Conveyeinge of All & singler the premisses before by thees presentes demised & assigned or ment

or intended to bee demised & assigned & euerye parte & parcell thereof vnto the sayed William Shakespear his executors & assignes for & duringe all the residewe of the sayed terme of ffourescore & twelve yeares which bee yet to come & vnexpired According to the tenor & true

meaninge of thees presentes Soe as the sayed the sayed Raphe Hubaude his executors or Assignes bee not hereby compellecl to travell from Ippesley aforesayed for the Doeinge thereof And the sayed William Shakespear doth by thees presentes for him his heires

executors & administrators Covenaunte & graunte to & with the sayed Raphe Hubaude his executors administrators & assignes That hee the sayed William Shakespeare his executors administrators or assignes shall & will duringe the Residewe of the sayed terme of ffourescore &

twelve yeares which bee yet to comme & vnexpired yearelie content & paye the seuerall rentes aboue mencioned videlicet Seaventene poundes to the Baylief & burgesses of Stratford aforesayed & fyve poundes to the sayed John Barker his

executors or assignes att the dayes & places aforesayed in which it ought to bee payed accordinge to the purporte & true meaninge of thees presentes And thereof shall & will discharge the saied Raphe Hubaude his executors Administrators &

assignes In witnes whereof the partyes abovesayed to thees presentes interchangeablie have sett their seales the Daie & yeare ffyrst aboue Written

[signed across tag, with fragments of seal] Raff Hubaud

[endorsed]
Sealed & deliuered in the presence of [who sign] William Hubaud, Anthony Nasshe, Francis Collyns

 

Written by Robert Bearman

Last updated May 19, 2020