William Shakespeare is a giant in the world of literature and has achieved almost god-like status in the 500 years since his death. While many hail him as a legendary figure, Shakespeare, as we see him now, may not be the man he actually was. Did you know that there is speculation that the Bard was involved in organized crime? While this idea sounds a bit far-fetched, it may not be completely out of the realm of possibility.

According to Mental Floss, during the 1590s, many of the London theaters often operated as fronts for organized crime. The Lord Mayor of London at the time condemned these playhouses as gathering places for criminals, including “thieves, horse-stealers, and whoremongers.” Accusations against William appeared in 1596 when a dispute erupted between Francis Langley, the owner of The Swan Theatre, and a local magistrate named William Gardiner and his step-son William Wayte.  Threats were made and Shakespeare’s name got dragged into the fray because of his supposed dealings with Langley.

According to Smithsonian, it’s possible that as a new actor, young Willie was forced to deal with some unsavory characters, including Francis Langley. Research shows that Langley had quite the rap sheet and made money by nefarious means. Then you have William Gardiner and William Wayte, who were also criminals in their own right. Though there is evidence that shows that Langley, Gardiner, and Wayte were bad seeds, debate still exists as to the extent of Shakespeare‘s involvement in their dealings.

The company you keep

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