Description:On 24 July 1605, Shakespeare purchased from Ralph Hubaud a lease of part of the Stratford tithes. Some days before, this draft was prepared for perusal by the Stratford Corporation, the tithe owners. It was drawn up, in all probability, by a local lawyer, Francis Collins, who no doubt prepared a draft for Shakespeare too (Collins is later credited with drafting Shakespeare's will). In the top left corner of this first page, the date 24 July 1605, missing from the draft, has been added. The note is signed 'E.M.' for Edmond Malone, the famous late eighteenth-century biographer of Shakespeare, who had discovered the fair copy during his research in the town archives.
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust reference: BRU 15/2/2