The Facts About Shakespeare Part 10

3

THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE IN LONDON preserves the following: record of the purchase by John Shakespeare of two houses on Henley Street, Stratford-on-Avon (L. 8); record of a mortgage on an estate at "Awston Cawntlett" given to Edmund Lambert by John and Mary Shakespeare (L. 9); Bill of Complaint brought by John Shakespeare against John, son of Edmund Lambert, respecting an estate at Wilmecote, near Stratford (L.

15); Ms. accounts of the Treasurer of the Chamber, "To Willm. Kempe, Willm. Shakespeare & Richarde Burbage, servaunts to the Lord Chamberleyne, upon the Councelles warrant dated at Whitehall xv^to Marcij 1594 for twoe severall Comedies or enterludes shewed by them before her Majestic in Christmas tyme laste paste, viz: upon St.

Stephens daye and Innocentes daye xiij.li. vj.s. viijd., and by waye of her Majesties rewarde vj.li. xiii.s. iiijd. in all xx.li." (L. 25); record of the purchase of New Place by Shakespeare (L. 32); papers in a Chancery suit relating to the estate at Wilmecote mortgaged to Edmund Lambert, and consisting of a Bill of Complaint by John and Mary Shakespeare against John Lambert for his refusal to accept 40 and reconvey the property to the complainants, John Lambert's answer, and the replication of John and Mary Shakespeare to the answer (L. 35); a subsidy roll showing William Shakespeare as a defaulter in respect of a tax of five s.h.i.+llings, October, 1596, and of thirteen s.h.i.+llings and four pence, October, 1598, based on an a.s.sessment made about 1598 or 1594, when the poet was living in St. Helen's, Bishopsgate, and paid after he had moved to Southwark (_Athenaeum_, March 16, 1906, and L. 42); Royal Warrant for a Patent and the Patent itself (May 19, 1603) licensing the company of actors, "Laurence Fletcher, William Shakespeare, Richard Burbage, Augustine Phillippes, John Hemmings, Henrie Condell, William Sly, Robert Armyn, Richard Cowly and the rest of their a.s.sociates" as the King's Servants (L. 87, 88); the Accounts of the Revels at Court in the reigns of Elizabeth and James, containing entries showing performances at Court of "The Moor of Venis," "The Merry Wives of Winsor," "Mesur for Mesur" by "Shaxberd," "the plaie of Errors" by "Shaxberd," "Loves Labours lost," "Henry the fift," and "the Martchant of Venis" by "Shaxberd" (twice, being "againe commanded by the Kings Ma^tie"), all in 1604 (O.S.), of "the Tempest" and "y^e winters nightes Tayle" in 1611, all by the King's men, and of the performance before the Court at Wilton, Dec. 2, 1603 (L. 96, 133, _Notes in the History of the Revels Office under the Tudors_, ed. by E. K. Chambers, and _Supposed Shakespeare Forgeries_, by Ernest Law); record of the purchase in 1610 of an estate in Old Stratford and Stratford-on-Avon by Shakespeare from William and John Combe (L. 127); three doc.u.ments in a Chancery suit relating to the owners.h.i.+p of property in Blackfriars, April 26, May 15, May 22, 1615 (C. W. Wallace in _Englische Studien_, April, 1906, and Preface to New Edition of Lee's _Life_, xxii ff.); the grant for cloaks for the King's entry into London, March 15, 1604 (Ld. Chamberlain's Papers, No. 600); the doc.u.ments in the law suit among the heirs of Richard Burbage (1635), relating to the owners.h.i.+p of the Globe and the Blackfriars theaters, and giving much information on the value of theatrical shares, actors' salaries, etc. (H.-P. i. 312-319); and the doc.u.ments in the lawsuit of Bellots _vs._ Mountjoy (1612), including Shakespeare's deposition (_New Shakespeare Discoveries_, C. W. Wallace, _Harper's Magazine_, March, 1910).

4

THE SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM IN STRATFORD-ON-AVON contains several doc.u.ments of importance: record of the conveyance in 1602 of an estate in Old Stratford from William and John Combe to William Shakespeare (L. 79, H.-P. II, 17-19); extract from the Court Rolls of the Manor of Rowington, transferring from Walter Getley to William Shakespeare certain premises in Chapel Lane, Stratford-on-Avon (L. 81); the conveyance to Shakespeare from Ralph Hubande of the residue of a lease of a moiety of the t.i.thes of Stratford-on-Avon, Old Stratford, Welcombe, and Bishopton (L. 99); the diary of one Thomas Greene, containing a reference to the dispute as to the inclosing of common lands (reproduced in facsimile in C. M. Ingleby's _Shakespeare and the Enclosure of Common Fields at Welcombe_, 1885).

5

THE BRITISH MUSEUM possesses the Ms. diary of John Manningham of the Middle Temple, which, under the date of Feb. 2, 1601, records a performance of _Twelfth Night_, and the anecdote recorded above, p. 44 (L. 77; Ms. Harl. 5353, ed. Camden Soc., p. 39); also the Mortgage Deed from Shakespeare to Henry Walker on the property in Blackfriars conveyed to Shakespeare and others on the day previous, March 10, 1612/13.

6

THE BODLEIAN LIBRARY AT OXFORD has the Ms. diary of Dr. Simon Forman describing performances of _Winter's Tale, Cymbeline_, and _Macbeth_ in 1610 and 1611 (L. 128; Ms. Ashmol. 208, fol. 201_b_); and the Accounts of Lord Stanhope of Harrington, Treasurer of the Chamber to James I, containing the following entry: "1613, May 20. Item paid to John Heminges uppon the cowncells warrant dated att Whitehall xx^o die Maii 1613 for presentinge before the Princes highnes the La: Elizabeth and the Prince Pallatyne Elector fowerteene severall playes viz ... Much adoe abowte nothinge ... The Tempest ... The Winters Tale, S^r John Falstafe, The Moore of Venice ... Caesars Tragedye ... All w^ch Playes weare played within the tyme of this Accompte, viz p^d the some of iiij.

(xx.) xiij.li. vj.s. viij.d.

[Page Heading: Biographical Doc.u.ments]

"Item paid to the said John Heminges uppon the lyke warrant dated att Whitehall xx^o die Maij 1613 for presenting sixe severall playes viz.

one playe called ... And one other called Benidicte and Betteris all played within the tyme of this Accompte viz p^d ffortie powndes And by waye of his Ma^tis rewarde twentie powndes In all ... lx li." (L. 138; Ms. Rawl. A. 239).

7

THE EPISCOPAL REGISTER OF THE DIOCESE OF WORCESTER contains the bond given by Sandells and others for the marriage of Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway (L. 12).

8

THE LIBRARY OF THE GUILDHALL IN LONDON has the indenture prepared for the purchaser in the sale of the house in Blackfriars on March 10, 1613, by Henry Walker to William Shakespeare and others (L. 136). The indenture held by the seller is in the library of Mr. Marsden J. Perry, Providence, R. I.

9

THE PRINc.i.p.aL PROBATE REGISTRY, Somerset House, London, contains Shakespeare's Will, which runs as follows:

[Page Heading: Shakespeare's Will]

[10]VICESIMO quinto die [Januarii] _Martii_, anno regni domini nostri Jacobi, nunc regis Angliae, &c., decimo quarto, et Scotiae xlix^o, annoque Domini 1616.

--T. WMI. SHACKSPEARE

In the name of G.o.d, Amen! I William Shackspeare, of Stratford upon Avon in the countie of Warr., gent., in perfect health and memorie, G.o.d be praysed, doe make and ordayne this my last will and testament in manner and forme followeing, that ys to saye, ffirst, I comend my soule into the handes of G.o.d my Creator, hoping and a.s.suredlie beleeving, through thonelie merittes, of Jesus Christe my Saviour, to be made partaker of lyfe everlastinge, and my bodye to the earth whereof yt ys made. Item, I gyve and bequeath unto my [sonne and][11] daughter Judyth one hundred and fyftie poundes of lawfull English money, to be paied unto her in the manner and forme foloweng, that ys to saye, one hundred poundes _in discharge of her marriage porcion_ within one yeare after my deceas, with consideracion after the rate of twoe s.h.i.+llinges in the pound for soe long tyme as the same shalbe unpaied unto her after my deceas, and the fyftie poundes residwe thereof upon her surrendring _of_, or gyving of such sufficient securitie as the overseers of this my will shall like of, to surrender or graunte all her estate and right that shall discend or come unto her after my deceas, or _that shee_ nowe hath, of, in, or to, one copiehold tenemente, with thappurtenaunces, lyeing and being in Stratford upon Avon aforesaied in the saied countye of Warr., being parcell or holden of the mannour of Rowington, unto my daughter Susanna Hall and her heires for ever.

Item, I gyveand bequeath unto my saied daughter Judith one hundred and fyftie poundes more, if shee or anie issue of her bodie be lyvinge att thend of three yeares next ensueing the daie of the date of this my will, during which tyme my executours are to paie her consideracion from my deceas according to the rate aforesaied; and if she dye within the saied tearme without issue of her bodye, then my will ys, and I doe gyve and bequeath one hundred poundes thereof to my neece Elizabeth Hall, and the fiftie poundes to be sett fourth by my executours during the lief of my sister Johane Harte, and the use and proffitt thereof cominge shalbe payed to my saied sister Jone, and after her deceas the saied l.^_li._ shall remaine amongst the children of my saied sister, equallie to be divided amongst them; but if my saied daughter Judith be lyving att thend of the saied three yeares, or anie yssue of her bodye, then my will ys, and soe I devise and bequeath the saied hundred and fyftie poundes to be sett out _by my executours and overseers_ for the best benefitt of her and her issue, and _the stock_ not _to be_ paied unto her soe long as she shalbe marryed and covert baron [by my executours and overseers]; but my will ys, that she shall have the consideracion yearelie paied unto her during her lief, and, after her deceas, the saied stock and consideracion to bee paied to her children, if she have anie, and if not, to her executours or a.s.signes, she lyving the saied terme after my deceas. Provided that yf suche husbond as she shall att thend of the saied three years be marryed unto, or att anie after (_sic_), doe sufficientlie a.s.sure unto her and thissue of her bodie landes awnswereable to the porcion by this my will gyven unto her, and to be adjudged soe by my executours and overseers, then my will ys, that the said cl.^_li._ shalbe paied to such husbond as shall make such a.s.surance, to his owne use. Item, I gyve and bequeath unto my saied sister Jone xx.^_li_ and all my wearing apparrell, to be paied and delivered within one yeare after my deceas; and I doe will and devise unto her _the house_ with thappurtenaunces in Stratford, wherein she dwelleth, for her naturall lief, under the yearlie rent of xij.^_d._ Item, I gyve and bequeath unto her three sonnes, William Harte, ... Hart, and Michaell Harte, fyve pounds a peece, to be paied within one yeare after my deceas [to be sett out for her within one yeare after my deceas by my executours, with thadvise and direccions of my overseers, for her best profitt, untill her mariage, and then the same with the increase thereof to be paied unto her]. Item, I gyve and bequeath unto [her] _the saied Elizabeth Hall_, all my plate, _except my brod silver and gilt bole_, that I now have att the date of this my will. Item, I gyve and bequeath unto the poore of Stratford aforesaied tenn poundes; to Mr. Thomas Combe my sword; to Thomas Russell esquier fyve poundes; and to Frauncis Collins, of the borough of Warr. in the countie of Warr. gentleman, thirteene poundes, sixe s.h.i.+llinges, and eight pence, to be paied within one yeare after my deceas. Item, I gyve and bequeath to [Mr. Richard Tyler thelder] _Hamlett Sadler_ xxvj.^_s._ viij.^_d._ to buy him a ringe; to _William Raynoldes gent., xxvj.^s. viij.^d. to buy him a ringe_; to my G.o.dson William Walker xx^_s._ in gold; to Anthonye Nashe gent., xxvj.^_s._ viij.^_d._; and to Mr. John Nashe xxvj.^_s._ _viij.^d._ [in gold]; _and to my fellowes John Hemynges, Richard Burbage, and Henry Cundell, xxvj.^s. viij.^d. a peece to buy them ringes_. Item, I gyve, will, bequeath, and devise, unto my daughter Susanna Hall, _for better enabling of her to performe this my will, and towards the performans thereof_, all that capitall messuage or tenemente with thappurtenaunces, _in Stratford aforesaid_, called the New Place, wherein I nowe dwell, and two messuages or tenementes with thappurtenaunces, scituat, lyeing, and being in Henley streete, within the borough of Stratford aforesaied; and all my barnes, stables, orchardes, gardens, landes, tenementes, and hereditamentes, whatsoever, scituat, lyeing, and being, or to be had, receyved, perceyved, or taken, within the townes, hamletes, villages, fieldes, and groundes, of Stratford upon Avon, Oldstratford, Bushopton, and Welcombe, or in anie of them in the saied countie of Warr. And alsoe all that messuage or tenemente with thappurtenaunces, wherein one John Robinson dwelleth, scituat, lyeing and being, in the Blackfriers in London, nere the Wardrobe; and all my other landes, tenementes, and hereditamentes whatsoever, To have and to hold all and singuler the saied premisses, with theire appurtenaunces, unto the saied Susanna Hall, for and during the terme of her naturall lief, and after her deceas, to the first sonne of her bodie lawfullie yssueing, and to the heires males of the bodie of the saied first sonne lawfullie yssueinge; and for defalt of such issue, to the second sonne of her bodie, lawfullie issueinge, and [of] to the heires males of the bodie of the saied second sonne lawfullie yssueinge; and for defalt of such heires, to the third sonne of the bodie of the saied Susanna lawfullie yssueing, and of the heires males of the bodie of the saied third sonne lawfullie yssueing; and for defalt of such issue, the same soe to be and remaine to the ffourth [sonne], ffyfth, sixte, and seaventh sonnes of her bodie lawfullie issueing, one after another, and to the heires males of the bodies of the saied fourth, fifth, sixte, and seaventh sonnes lawfullie yssueing, in such manner as yt ys before lymitted to be and remaine to the first, second, and third sonns of her bodie, and to theire heires males; and for defalt of such issue, the said premisses to be and remaine to my sayed neece Hall, and the heires males of her bodie lawfullie yssueinge; and for defalt of such issue, to my daughter Judith, and the heires males of her bodie lawfullie issueinge; and for defalt of such issue, to the right heires of me the saied William Shakspeare for ever. _Item, I gyve unto my wief my second best bed with the furniture._ Item, I gyve and bequeath to my saied daughter Judith my broad silver gilt bole. All the rest of my goodes, chattels, leases, plate, jewels, and household stuffe whatsoever, after my dettes and legasies paied, and my funerall expenses dischardged, I give, devise, and bequeath to my sonne in lawe, John Hall gent., and my daughter Susanna, his wief, whom I ordaine and make executours of this my last will and testament. And I doe intreat and appoint _the saied_ Thomas Russell esquier and Frauncis Collins gent, to be overseers hereof, and doe revoke all former wills, and publishe this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my [seale] _hand_, the daie and yeare first abovewritten.

By me WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

Witnes to the publys.h.i.+ng hereof, FRA: COLLYNS,[12]

JULYUS SHAWE, JOHN ROBINSON, HAMNET SADLER, ROBERT WHATTCOTT.

Probatum coram magistro Willielmo Byrde, legum doctore comiss. &c.

xxij^do. die mensis Junii anno Domini 1616, juramento Johannis Hall, unius executorum, &c. cui &c. de bene &c. jurat. reservat. potestate &c. Susannae Hall, alteri executorum &c. c.u.m venerit pet.i.tur, &c.

(Inv. ex.)

[10] The words which have been erased are put between brackets; those which have been interlined are printed in italics.

[11] So Lambert, Halliwell-Phillipps reads "sonne in L."

[12] Francis Collyns was the lawyer at Warwick who prepared the will, of which the draft only was executed, no time being possible for an engrossed copy.--Note by Lambert.

[Page Heading: Biographical Doc.u.ments]

10

THE HERALDS' COLLEGE has the two drafts of a grant of arms to John Shakespeare in 1596 (Ms. Vincent. Coll. Arm. 157, arts. 23, 24); and the confirmation of the grant in 1599 (L. 30, 55). For further details on the matter of the coat of arms, see _Herald and Genealogist_, i. 510, and for facsimiles, _Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica_, 2d ser.

1886, i. 109. On the criticism of the herald's complaisance in the matter of the Shakespeare and similar grants, see Preface to New Edition (1909) of Lee's _Life_, pp. xi-xv.

11

THE STATIONERS' REGISTER, accessible in the _Transcript_ edited by E.

Arber, 5 vols. 1875-94, contains the records of the entries of those of Shakespeare's works which were registered either with or without his name. The Shakespearean entries are gathered out of the great ma.s.s contained in these volumes by Lambert, Fleay, Stokes, H. P., _Chronological Order of Shakespeare's Plays_, 1878, Appendix V, and others.

12. MISCELLANEOUS

The literary allusions to Shakespeare in the sixteenth and earlier seventeenth centuries have been collected in _Shakespeare's Century of Praise_, revised and reedited by J. Munro as _The Shakespeare Allusion Books_, London, 1909.

Greene's attack in _Greenes Groatsworth_ will be found in its context in his works, ed. A. B. Grosart, 1881-1886, and Chettle's Apology in his _Kind Hartes Dreame_, Percy Society, 1874.

_The Historical MSS. Commission's Report on the Historical MSS. of Belvoir Castle_, IV. 494, contains the entry from the Belvoir Household Book as to Rutland's "impresa." See also _Times_, December 27, 1905, and Preface to New Edition of Lee's _Life_, pp. xvi-xxii.

13. EXTRACTS FROM MERES'S _PALLADIS TAMIA_, 1598

As the Greeke tongue is made famous and eloquent by _Homer_, _Hesiod_, _Euripedes_, _aeschilus_, _Sophocles_, _Pindarus_, _Phocylides_ and _Aristophanes_; and the Latine tongue by _Virgill_, _Ovid_, _Horace_, _Silius Italicus_, _Luca.n.u.s_, _Lucretius_, _Ausonius_ and _Claudia.n.u.s_: so the English tongue is mightily enriched, and gorgeouslie invested in rare ornaments and resplendent abiliments by sir _Philip Sidney_, _Spencer_, _Daniel_, _Drayton_, _Warner_, _Shakespeare_, _Marlow_ and _Chapman_.

As the soule of _Euphorbus_ was thought to live in _Pythagoras_: so the sweete wittie soule of _Ovid_ lives in mellifluous & hony-tongued Shakespeare, witnes his _Venus_ and _Adonis_, his _Lucrece_, his sugred Sonnets among his private friends, &c.

As _Plautus_ and _Seneca_ are accounted the best for Comedy and Tragedy among the Latines, so _Shakespeare_ among y^e English is the most excellent in both kinds for the stage; for Comedy, witnes his _G?tlem?

of Verona_, his _Errors_, his _Love labors lost_, his _Love labours wonne_, his _Midsummers night dreame_, & his _Merchant of Venice_: for Tragedy, his _Richard the 2, Richard the 3, Henry the 4, King Iohn, t.i.tus Andronicus_, and his _Romeo_ and _Iuliet_.