Description:In 1605, William Shakespeare had acquired a sub-lease of a share in the Stratford tithes, part of property once belonging to the Stratford College, but subject to a rent of £5 to the chief lessee. Five years later, he, and '(Richard Lane of Alveston and Thomas Greene of Stratford-upon-Avon)' who had acquired shares in the tithes, brought an action against several other people, including William Combe, Lord Carew and Sir Edward Grevill, alleging that they were not paying their share of rent for other College property acquired in the same way, leaving Shakespeare and his fellow plaintiffs to bear the whole burden.
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust reference: BRU 15/2/11, p. 1