I went to Nether Ettington to seek the tomb of Edward Underhill. This property has belonged to the Shirleys for a thousand years; but it was let to the Underhills for a long lease of ninety-nine years, and many of their tombs remain there still, among which is the reproduction of the tablet to the memory of Anthony Underhill with the notable verses. I could not find the tomb of this special Edward carried from Pillerton. But there is one “to the memory of Thomas Underhill of this town, Esq., and Elizabeth his wife, who lived married together in perfect amity above 65 years, ... and died in 1603.” As they had thirteen sons and seven daughters, it is not remarkable that their family should have spread to many neighbouring parishes.
“Athenæum,” 19th September 1908.
FOOTNOTES:
[16] See Heath, f. 37 a.
[17] Reg. 32 and 62 b, Fletcher.
[18] I was told by the Vicar that the family of Hemmings claims to have been Parish Clerks for 500 years. The last one died in 1885.
XI
SHAKESPEARE AND THE WELCOMBE ENCLOSURES
A NEW DETAIL IN HIS LIFE
Among the many direct references to Shakespeare contained in the records of Stratford-on-Avon, perhaps none has been discussed more frequently than his relation to the enclosures which his high-handed neighbour William Combe wished to make at Welcombe. But the discussion has not always led to a study of all the papers concerning it. Those who try to belittle Shakespeare assert that he secured himself from loss by making conditions with Mainwaring and Replingham (who were acting for Combe), and then let the poor of Stratford bear the loss of their ancient common as they might. But there are a great many facts to be known concerning these enclosures which are not reckoned with by the general readers of Shakespeare’s so-called “Lives.” A few of these must now be noted to lead up to the point I wish to record.
On 7th September, 1544, Anthony Barker, steward of the dissolved College of Stratford-on-Avon, granted to William Barker, gent., certain messuages, lands, and tithes of Stratford, hitherto belonging to the College, for a period of ninety-two years. This may or may not have been legal, but the transfer has never been questioned. In time this grant was inherited by John Barker, who in 22 Eliz. sold the bulk of his estate to Sir John Huband, reserving to himself a yearly rent of £27 13s. 4d., with the condition that if any part of that rent were left unpaid for forty days, he could enter and retake possession of all until the end of his term.
The charter granted by Edward VI to the Corporation of Stratford-on-Avon settled on it the tithes for the support of the refounded school and almshouses, and I have not at present time to discuss the complex relations between the town and Barker’s lease. Dr. Ingleby is entirely wrong in his account of the tithes, which were not owned only by Shakespeare and Greene. They were sold by Sir John Huband in 1605, either directly or indirectly, to a large number of holders, among whom was Shakespeare, who was said to hold a “moietie”; but this by no means represented a half, as we might be inclined to read it, even of the tithes, and the “property” consisted, beyond the tithes, of houses, cottages, and fields. It may help the consideration of the question to note the chief holders.