Shakespeare of Stratford/The Biographical Facts/Fact 36

by Tucker Brooke

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XXXVI. SHAKESPEARE BUYS A COTTAGE AND LAND OPPOSITE NEW PLACE (1602).

(A) Record in the court rolls of the manor of Rowington of surrender of title by Walter Getley to Shakespeare, September 28, 1602. (Shakespeare Birthplace Museum.)

Rowington.—Visus franci plegii cum curia baronis prenobilis domine Anne, Comitisse Warwici, ibidem tentus vicesimo octavo die Septembris, anno regni domine nostre Elizabethe, Dei gracia Anglie, Francie et Hibernie regine, fidei defensoris, etc., quadrigesimo quarto, coram Henrico Michell, generoso, deputato scenescallo Johannis Huggeford, armigeri, capitalis scenescalli ibidem. Ad hanc curiam venit Walterus Getley, per Thomam Tibbottes, juniorem, attornatum suum, unum customariorum tenencium manerii predicti, predicto Thoma Tibbottes jurato pro veritate inde, et sursum reddidit in manus domine manerii predicti unum cotagium, cum pertinenciis, scituatum, jacens et existens in Stratford-super-Avon, in quodam vico ibidem vocato Walkers Streete alias Dead Lane, ad opus et usum Willielmi Shackespere et heredum suorum imperpetuum, secundum consuetudinem manerii predicti; et sic remanet in manibus domine manerii predicti, quousque predictus Willielmus Shakespere venerit ad capiendum premissa predicta. In cujus rei testimonium predictus Henricus Michell huic presenti copie sigullum suum apposuit die et anno supradictis.—Per me, Henricum Michell.^[1]

(B) From survey of customary tenants and rents in Manor of Rowington (1603–1604).

In Stratford, parcel of the Manor there . . . William Shakespere likewise holdeth one cottage and one garden by estimation a quarter of an acre and payeth rent yearly 2s. 6d.

[Also a similar note in a survey dated Aug. 1, 1606, which gives the yearly nominal rent as 2s. ]

Note. Shakespeare thus acquired a ‘copyhold’ title in accordance with old feudal law, the property in question being held as part of the Manor of Rowington, of which the Countess of Warwick, widow of Ambrose Earl of Warwick, was lady of the manor. The property consisted of a quarter acre of land with a cottage, facing the lower grounds of New Place and standing on Chapel Lane (formerly called Walker’s Street). Shakespeare secured possession of the property, which he bequeathed to his daughter Susanna. For further details see Mrs. Stopes, ‘Shakespeare, Homager of Rowington’ in Shakespeare’s Industry, pp. 267 ff.

1. ‘View of frank pledge, with the court baron of the noble Lady, Anne Countess of Warwick, held in the same place on the 28th day of September in the 44th year of the reign of our lady Elizabeth . . . before Henry Michell, Gent., deputy seneschal for John Huggeford, Esq., chief seneschal there. To this court came Walter Getley through his attorney, Thos. Tibbotts, Jr., one of the customary tenants of the aforesaid manor, the aforesaid T. Tibbotts being put on oath, and he restored into the hands of the lady of the aforesaid manor a cottage, with its appurtenances, situated, lying, and existing in Stratford-on-Avon, in a certain street there called Walker’s St. or Dead Lane, to the benefit and use of Wm. Shackespere and his heirs forever, according to the custom of the aforesaid manor; and so it remains in the hands of the lady of the aforesaid manor till the aforesaid W. Shakespere shall come to receive the aforesaid premises. In testimony of which the aforesaid H. Michell has affixed his seal to the present copy on the day and year aforesaid. By me, Henry Michell.’