Thomas Greene’s notes on the progress of the proposed enclosures at Welcombe include five references to William Shakespeare’s involvement

[BRU 15/13/29 verso]

Vpon the moweing of Welcombe Medowe M^r William Combe opphis eatyng vpp the grasse thereof which hadd wont to be preserved vntill Michaelmas to help their wheat soweing.

25 Julii. Commyng from Glouc[ester] [?] Peter Rosewell nere Marston told me that William Combe hadd sent Sir Edward Greville a fatt wether & ment to vse Sir Ar Edward Greville: favour to Sir Arthur Ingram to buy the Royalty of old Stratford for M^r Combe for better furthryng his enclosure & to end the difference between Peter Roswell & him.

26 William Combe & Thomas Combe rod to Mylcott to Sir Arthur Ingram to Mylcott :
Easter terme his payeing for 2 bylles
one agaynst Hiccox [?] Replingham the other . agaynst M^r Barker [?] Browne.
William Combe payd for the wrytyng of the bylles & for draweing them & soe M^r Dastons man told Edmund Rawlyngs.

8 Augusti Sir Henry Smyth & others their puttyng vpp the peticion for eatyng vpp Welcomb Welcombe medowe w[i]th sheepe.
    1615                                     Sept  William Shakspeares tellyng John Greene that I
    14 Aug M^r Barker dyed.     was not able to he beare the enclosemge of Welcombe
   
5. Sept. his sendyng James for the executours of M^r Barker concerning to agree as ys sayd with them for M^r Barkers inf interest.

10 Sept M^r William Barnes told his vncle in my hearyng at Clyfford that M^r Combe hadd bought their interest & gave them x^s in earnest & was to pay xl^li 

12 Sept. ffrancis Boice & John Samwell at my house told me of M^r William Combe syttyng at his. being appoynted to look of be taken of him by holder 6^d & of John Yate iiii^d for their pyggs before they could have them forth of the pownde & howe that ffrancis Aynge was dryven to sue a Replevyn:

16. Sept. 1615 Sir Henry Raynsford repeated to me howe that he hadd told M^r John Nashe howe that M^r William Combes best way was to agree with me & that M^r William Combe therevppon se went to Sir Henry & thanked him for his kyndnes therein & told Sir Henry that he would gyve me satisfaccion so as I would procure the townes consent & that M^r Combe told him that Henry Smyth would lett him have the his Land lying within the enclosure the Towne being compounded witha withall & that Arthur Cawdrey answered him that he would never consent without the. Towne & that he hadd a house & other things more profitable to him them th his Land was: & that he hadd rather loose his Land then loose their goodwilles & Sir Henry also nowe told me that Peter Rosewell hadd spoken with him & then within this few dayes & told him that thoughe M^r Combe have bene at Mylcott yet he shalbe sure never to have any royalty there & that he would sue M^r William Combe in accions of trespas vpon trouer for carryeing away his Corne and will alsoe sue Thomas Combe vpon a bond of xl^li 400^li for that he enjoyeth not the doales there but hadd his Corne soe carrydd away & will sue William Combe in the Starre Chamber for ryotts & alsoe seek relief in equity against M^ris Hyatt: & fyn .& told Sir Henry Raynsford that Sir Edward Greville would stick to him: & that Sir Arthur Ingram would goe was gone into the North with Riche merchants & would perhapps sell there & buy all the Royalties at Stratford: & my answer touchyng my self was that seeing my advantage touching, M^r Manwayryng I would be gladd to see what composicion in reddy money he would offer me for otherwise I would not deale with him. Sir Henry alsoe told me howe M^r Combe sayd he should dymys dymynyshe my tythes . 30^s. per annum there. by the [?] harrowing of his ground at Ingon :
    [marginal notes against this entry] Arthur Cawdrys speeche.
    William Combe his Ryotts about Peter Rosewell his Corne.
    Dimynish my tyethes 30^s per annum

21. Sept. M^r Collyns told M^r R G [?] that William Combe would have a Commission of Concealments & then gett a yere of the come & sayd questyons whether the yeres tythes did passe the rents payd in lieue of Tythes.

22. Sept. 1615. Sir Henry Raynsford told me that M^r Combe hadd spoken with him & sayd he would not agree with me vnles he agreed with all the rest & that he sayed he would ly down lay downe all his Land to pasture nowe & at 2 yeres end yt would yeld him as much proffyt as otherwise & that he would plough at Ryon & by that meanes he might lay down his land in the Common ffyelds.
    [marginal note against this entry] ploweing at Ryon Clyfford

28 Sept. M^r Nashe & Thomas Greene offryng the tax for the poore to M^r Combe he woId not signe yt vnles I might be as much as himself as x^s on a mark or thereabouts: & then R G told me of his quarrellyng with Thomas Greenes man about diggyng clay in the wastes

.6. Octobris. T Lucas his being at the Hall about his money.
    [marginal note against this entry] Wastes