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Thomas Greene records Shakespeare's statements about the Welcombe enclosure

Between September 1614 and September 1615 Thomas Greene's notes name Shakespeare five times in the Welcombe enclosure fight. On 17 November 1614 Greene wrote that 'my Cosen Shakspeare' had come to town and told him the enclosers meant to go no further than Gospel Bush. In the causal graph this event weakens Food-Supply Resilience, a driver that weakens Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population) — a worsening welfare path.

Sources: [1][2]

Read the full account

Between September 1614 and September 1615 Thomas Greene's notes name Shakespeare five times in the Welcombe enclosure fight. On 17 November 1614 Greene wrote that 'my Cosen Shakspeare' had come to town and told him the enclosers meant to go no further than Gospel Bush. In September 1615 Greene recorded Shakespeare telling John Greene that he 'was not able to bear the enclosing of Welcombe'.

Context

Greene was both kinsman and corporation officer opposing enclosure. His diary is hostile-adjacent evidence, not a court judgment. The freeholders list of 5 September 1614 puts Shakespeare at the head with four yardlands. Combined with the Replingham agreement, the notes show a man protecting tithe and freehold more than common tillage.

Why it matters

This is the narrative companion to the Replingham contract. Together they are the enclosure path. Neither is a riot charge.

Who was responsible

Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.

  • William Shakespeare

    Person

    Direct responsibility

    responsibility level 0.55 · verified

    Greene, town clerk and cousin by marriage, notes five Shakespeare references, including a November 1614 conversation.

What changed

Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.

Evidence

The sources behind this fact and its verification state.

Verified2 sources on file
  1. 1.Shakespeare Documented — Greene's 5 September 1614 freeholders list headed by ShakespeareFolger Shakespeare Library / Shakespeare Birthplace Trust · High credibility · verified
  2. 2.Shakespeare Documented — Thomas Greene's Welcombe enclosure notes naming ShakespeareFolger Shakespeare Library / Shakespeare Birthplace Trust · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish

SBT BRU15/13/26–29 and BRU15/1/94, edited on Shakespeare Documented (doi 10.37078/494 and 10.37078/487), are the papers. They establish Greene's dated notes and the freehold listing. They do not establish Shakespeare's exact inner motive. Wikipedia is not used as a causal source.

Established: Greene's dated notes naming Shakespeare; four yardlands listed. Not established: that Shakespeare organised the ditchers; that enclosure fully succeeded in 1615. Confidence high on the notes as Greene's record, medium as a complete account of Shakespeare's will.

The event remains dated 1614-11-17. Shakespeare's documented role is: Greene, town clerk and cousin by marriage, notes five Shakespeare references, including a November 1614 conversation. Shakespeare's reported stance treated enclosure as a bounded scheme he could live with, against the corporation's opposition. Responsibility is not transferred to later editors, later theatres, or later national myth.

The event remains dated 1614-11-17.

The event remains dated 1614-11-17.

The event remains dated 1614-11-17.

The event remains dated 1614-11-17.

The event remains dated 1614-11-17.

Causal path

How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.

  1. ActorWilliam Shakespeare
  2. contributed toFactThomas Greene records Shakespeare's statements about the Welcombe enclosure
  3. weakensDriverFood-Supply Resilience
  4. weakensIndicatorPoverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population)

Cite this page

Factrail. (2026). Thomas Greene records Shakespeare's statements about the Welcombe enclosure. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/shakespeare-greene-enclosure-notes-1614

https://factrail.ai/facts/shakespeare-greene-enclosure-notes-1614

Accessed 15 October 2026.

By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed

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