avorable circumstances, no more than an annuity of L38; and the
refusal of persons who claimed an interest in the other moiety to
acknowledge the full extent of their liability to the Corporation
led that body to demand from the poet payments justly due from
others. After 1609 he joined with two interested persons, Richard
Lane of Awston, and Thomas Greene, the town clerk of Stratford,
in a suit in Chancery to determine the exact responsibilities of
all the tithe-owners, and in 1612 they presented a bill of
complaint to Lord Chancellor Ellesmere, with what result is
unknown. His acquisition of a part ownership in the tithes was
fruitful in legal embarrassments.

_Shakespeare inherited his father's love of litigation, and
stood rigorously by his rights in all his business relations._ In
March, 1600, he recovered in London a debt of L7 from one John
Clayton. In July, 1604, in the local court at Stratford, he sued
one Philip Rogers, to whom he had supplied since the preceding
March malt to the value of L1 19_s._ 10_d._, and had on June 25th
lent 2_s._ in cash. Rogers paid back 6_s._, and Shakespeare
sought the balance of the account, L1 15_s._ 10_d._ During 1608
and 1609 he was at law with another fellow-townsman, John
Addenbroke. On February 15, 1609, Shakespeare, who was apparently
represented by his solicitor and kinsman, Thomas Greene, obtained
judgment from a jury against Addenbroke for the payment of L6 and
L1 5_s._ costs, but Addenbroke left the town, and the triumph
proved barren. Shakespeare avenged himself by proceeding against
one Thomas Horneby, who had acted as the absconding debtor's
bail.'

The same author gives the following statement as to his reputation for
_sportive adventure_[30]:

'Hamlet, Othello, and Lear were _roles_ in which he [Burbage]
gained especial renown. But Burbage and Shakespeare were popularly
credited with co-operation in less solemn enterprises. They were
reputed to be companions in many _sportive_ adventures. The sole
anecdote of Shakespeare that is _positively known to have been
recorded in his lifetime_ relates that Burbage, when playing Richard
III., agreed with a lady in the audience to visit her after the
performance; Shakespeare, overhearing the conversation,
anticipated the actor's visit and met Burbag