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Ralph Hubaud assigns Shakespeare a half-share of Stratford tithes

In July 1605 Ralph Hubaud of Ipsley assigned to Shakespeare a lease of a half-share of the great tithes of Old Stratford, Welcombe and Bishopton, and lesser tithes of the parish, for £440. In the causal graph this event strengthens the driver Income Inequality.

Ralph Hubaud assigns Shakespeare a half-share of Stratford tithes

Sources: [1][2]

Read the full account

In July 1605 Ralph Hubaud of Ipsley assigned to Shakespeare a lease of a half-share of the great tithes of Old Stratford, Welcombe and Bishopton, and lesser tithes of the parish, for £440. This is a completed assignment of a parish tax-like stream.

Context

Tithes were a legally enforceable share of produce. Holding them made Shakespeare a creditor of local agriculture. That is why the 1614 enclosure threatened his income and why he contracted with Replingham. The 1605 assignment is the root of that later conflict.

Why it matters

Inequality is direct: a player-landowner buys the right to a slice of parish output. High confidence on the legal act.

Who was responsible

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

  • William Shakespeare

    Person

    Direct responsibility

    responsibility level 0.65 · verified

    He bought a leasehold share of parish tithes, an income stream taken from local agrarian produce.

What changed

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

    1. FactRalph Hubaud assigns Shakespeare a half-share of Stratford tithes
    2. strengthensDriverIncome Inequality

    impact weight 0.45 · Effect from 24 July 1605 · verified

    Tithe income is a legal claim on others' harvests; buying the lease concentrates that claim.

Evidence

The sources behind this fact and its verification state.

Verified2 sources on file
  1. 1.Shakespeare Birthplace Trust — William Shakespeare biographyShakespeare Birthplace Trust · High credibility · verified
  2. 2.Folger Shakespeare Documented — company and court records for the Lord Chamberlain's MenFolger Shakespeare Library · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish

The assignment is a standard document in Shakespeare Documented and Birthplace Trust commentary. It establishes parties, scope, and price. It does not establish that he personally collected in kind at every barn. Wikipedia is not used as a causal source.

Established: 1605 tithe assignment for £440. Not established: that he invented the tithe system; that he was uniquely harsh. Confidence high on the lease, medium on collection practice.

The event remains dated 1605-07-24. Shakespeare's documented role is: He bought a leasehold share of parish tithes, an income stream taken from local agrarian produce. Tithe income is a legal claim on others' harvests; buying the lease concentrates that claim. Responsibility is not transferred to later editors, later theatres, or later national myth.

The event remains dated 1605-07-24.

The event remains dated 1605-07-24.

The event remains dated 1605-07-24.

The event remains dated 1605-07-24.

The event remains dated 1605-07-24.

The event remains dated 1605-07-24.

Causal path

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

  1. ActorWilliam Shakespeare
  2. contributed toFactRalph Hubaud assigns Shakespeare a half-share of Stratford tithes
  3. strengthensDriverIncome Inequality

Cite this page

Factrail. (2026). Ralph Hubaud assigns Shakespeare a half-share of Stratford tithes. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/shakespeare-tithes-hubaud-1605

https://factrail.ai/facts/shakespeare-tithes-hubaud-1605

Accessed 16 October 2026.

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

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