Shakespeare's family
hope of yowr helpe. I feare I shall nott be backe thys night ffrom the
Cowrte. Haste. The Lorde be with yow and with us all, Amen. From the
Bell in Carter Lane the 25th October, 1598. Yowrs in all kyndeness Ryc.
Quyney.
"To my loveinge good frend and contreymann Mr. Wm. Shackespere deliver
thees."[151]
And Shakespeare then befriended the man whose son was to marry his
daughter. The reply seems to have been as prompt as satisfactory, for on
the very same day Quiney wrote to his brother-in-law Sturley, who
replied on November 4: "Your letter of the 25th of October came to my
hands, the last of the same at night per Greenway,[152] which imported
that our Countryman Mr. William Shakespeare would procure us money;
which I will like of, as I shall hear when and where and how; and I pray
let not go that occasion, if it may sort to any indifferent conditions."
It is evident that Shakespeare had at some time or other associated
himself with Burbage's company. Now, James Burbage, "was the first
builder of playhouses" who had planned in 1576, and in spite of evil
report and professional rivalry, of municipal and royal restrictions,
legal and other expenses, had successfully carried on "The Theatre" in
Finsbury Fields. In 1596 he had purchased the house in Blackfriars,
against the use of which as a theatre was sent up to the Privy Council a
petition, which Richard Field signed.[153] The Burbages let this house
for a time to a company of "children," but eventually resumed it for
their own use, and in it placed "men-players, which were Hemings,
Condell, Shakespeare," etc. On Burbage's death in 1597, there was a
dispute about "The Theater" lease, and his sons transferred the
materials to Southwark, and built the Globe in 1599. On the rearing of
the Globe at heavy cost, they joined to themselves "those deserving men
Shakespeare, Hemings, Condell, Philips and others, partners in the
Profits of what they call the House, but making the leases for
twenty-one years hath been the destruction of ourselves and others, for
they, dying at the expiration of three or four years of their lease, the
subsequent yeares became dissolved to strangers, as by marrying with
theire widdowes, and the like by their children." (See the papers
concerning the shares in the Globe, 1535: 1. Petition of Benfield,
Swanston and Pollard to the Lord Chamberlain Pembroke (April). 2. A
further petition. 3. The answer of Shank. 4. The answer of C. Burbage,
Winifred, his brother's widow, and William his son. 5. Pembroke's
judgment thereon (July 12). 6. Shanke's petition (August 7). 7.
Pembroke's final decision.)[154]
Burbage, Shakespeare, Condell, Hemings had been housekeepers with four
shares each. These originally died with the owner, but in later years
could be inherited. Shakespeare's income therefore arose from:
1. Possibly some small sum allowed him by Richard Field and the
publishers for various editions of his poems, as well as the liberality
of the Earl of Southampton on their account.
2. Direct payments by the proprietors for altering and writing plays.
Shares in their publication he never seems to have had.
3. His share as a player of the money taken at the doors.
4. His share as a partner in the house of the money taken in the
galleries, etc.
5. His share of royal largesse in performances before the Queen, or
similar gifts from noblemen.[155]
6. His share of performances in various performing tours.
And thence he acquired money enough to buy New Place; to appeal to the
heralds for his father's coat of arms, and to pay the costs; to contest
the Lamberts' claim through successive applications for Asbies; and to
buy land and tithe leases. The death of his only son Hamnet did not
deter him in his earnest efforts to regain social position, and to
restore the fortunes of his family. An almost exact parallel may be
found in the efforts and aims of Sir Walter Scott. But Shakespeare,
having borne the yoke in youth, had acquired the experience and prudence
necessary to steer himself past the dangers of speculation and the
rashness of exceeding his assured income, which proved fatal to the less
severely-trained novelist.
In May, 1602, he purchased from the Combes for L320 about 107 acres of
land near Stratford-on-Avon, of which, as he was not in the town, seisin
was granted to his brother Gilbert. On September 28, 1602, Walter Getley
transferred to him a cottage and garden situated in Chapel Lane,
opposite the lower gardens of New Place, quite possibly intended for the
use of his brothers. It appears from the roll that he did not appear at
the Manorial Court in person,[156] then held at Rowington, there being a
stipulation that the estate should remain in the hands of the lady of
the manor, the Countess of Warwick, until he appeared to complete the
transaction with the usual formalities. On completing these, he
surrendered the property to his own use for life, with remainder to his
two daughters, a settlement rearranged afterwards in his will. It is
mentioned as in his possession in a subsequent subsidy roll of the
town.[157]
The only time in which he touched politics and State affairs he was
unfortunate. There is no doubt he must have trembled at the time of the
Essex Conspiracy, not only for his friend Southampton's life, but even
for his own; for Philips, the manager of his company, was called before
the Privy Council to account for the performances of the obnoxious play
of "Richard II."
The danger passed. Probably the Privy Council thought it futile to
attack the "Puppets." Nevertheless, after fulfilling their engagements
they hastened from the Metropolis.[158] Some of his company went to play
in Scotland, as far north as Aberdeen.[159] I am inclined to think
Shakespeare went with them. The scenery in "Macbeth"[160] suggests vivid
visual impressions, and the favour of James VI. must have been secured
_before_ his accession to the throne of England, for almost the first
act the King did on his arrival at the Metropolis, May 7, 1603, was to
execute a series of Acts that practically gave his company a monopoly.
"Pat. I., Jac. I., p. 2, m. 4. Pro Laurentio Fletcher et
Willielmo Shakespeare et aliis.[161]
"James by the grace of God, etc., to all Justices, Maiors,
Sheriffs, Constables, Hedboroughs, and other our Officers
and lovinge Subjects, Greetinge. Knowe ye that wee, of our
Speciall Grace, _certeine knowledge_ and mere motion, have
licensed and authorized, and by these presentes doe license
and authorize theise our Servaunts, Laurence Fletcher,
William Shakespeare, Richard Burbage, Augustyne Philippes,
John Hemings, Henrie Condell, William Sly, Robert Armyn,
Richard Cowly, and the rest of their Associates Freely to
use and exercise the Arte and Facultie of playing Comedies,
Tragedies, Histories, Enterludes, Morals, Pastoralls,
Stage-plaies, and such others like as theie have alreadie
studied or hereafter shall use or studie, as well for the
Recreation of our loveinge Subjects as for our Solace and
Pleasure, when wee shall thincke good to see them, during
our pleasure; and the said Commedies, Tragedies, Histories,
Enterludes, Moralls, Pastoralls, Stage-playes, and
suchelike, to shewe and exercise publiquely to their best
Commoditie, when the Infection of the Plague shall decrease,
as well within theire nowe usuall House called the Globe
within our Countie of Surrey, as also within anie Toune
Halls or Moute Halls, or other convenient Places within the
Liberties and Freedom of anie other Cittie, Universitie,
Toune or Boroughe whatsoever, within our said Realmes and
Dominions.
"Willing and commanding you and everie of you, as you tender
our Pleasure, not onelie to permit and suffer them herein,
without anie your Letts, Hindrances, or Molestations, during
our said Pleasure, but also to be aiding and assistinge to
them if anie Wrong be to them offered, and to allow them
such former Curtesies as hath been given to men of their
Place and Qualitie; and also what further Favour you shall
shewe to theise our Servaunts for our sake, Wee shall take
Kindlie at your Handes. In witnesse whereof, etc.
"Witnesse our selfe at Westminster the nynetenth Daye of
Maye.
"PER BREVE DE PRIVATO SIGILLO."
[The privy seal for this issued on May 17.]
As James made more stringent the laws concerning "vagabonds," as he took
from the nobles the power of patronage of players, reserving it only for
the Royal Family, this passport gave enormous power to the players,
favoured by the King in Scotland.
Shakespeare's early patron, the Earl of Southampton, had been released
from the Tower on April 10, and had gone to meet his new Sovereign,
doubtless speaking a good word for the company of players. His later
patron, the Earl of Pembroke, was recalled to Court favour. The King
visited him in his royal progress August 30 and 31, 1603, and held his
Court at Wilton, Winchester,[162] and Basing during most of October,
November,[163] and December, during which time the players were summoned
on December 2. "To John Hemyngs on 3rd December, for a play before the
King, by the King's men at Wilton, and for coming from Mortlake in
Surrey, L30."[164]
On March 15, 1603-1604, the King's players were summoned to the
Triumphant Royal Procession, received robes for the occasion, and took
rank at Court[165] with the Grooms of the Chamber. Henceforth
Shakespeare's genius revelled in the opportunities fortune had made for
him, and in the taste he had himself educated. The world appreciated his
work the better "that so did take Eliza and our James."[166] The snarls
of envy witnessed his success; the eulogiums of admirers perpetuated his
appreciation. On May 4, 1605, Augustine Phillips died, leaving by will
"to my fellow William Shakespeare a thirty-shilling piece in gold." In
July of that year (July 24, 1605) Shakespeare completed his largest
purchase, in buying for L440 the unexpired term of the moiety of the
tithe-lease of Stratford, Old Stratford, Bishopton, and Welcombe.
In that year John Davenant took out the lease of the Crown Inn at
Oxford, where the following year his son William was born. Gossip,
supported, if not originated, by himself, suggests that William Davenant
was the son rather than the godson of Shakespeare, an unfounded slander
disposed of by Halliwell-Phillipps.
On June 5, 1607, Susanna Shakespeare married Dr. Hall. Elizabeth, their
only child, and the only grandchild Shakespeare saw, was born in
February, 1607-1608, and in September of that year John Shakespeare's
widow--Shakespeare's mother--died.
It is probable Shakespeare returned home to his mother's funeral, as he
was chief godfather on October 16 to the William Walker of Stratford to
whom he bequeathed 20s. in gold in 1616. In 1608 and 1609 Shakespeare
instituted a process for debt against John Addenbroke and his security
Hornebie. His attorney was his cousin, Thomas Greene, then residing,
under unknown conditions, at New Place. In the latter year he instituted
more important proceedings concerning the tithes. The papers of the
complaint by Lane, Green, and Shakespeare to Lord Ellesmere in 1612,
concerning other lessees, give details of the income he derived
therefrom.[167]
In 1610 he purchased 20 acres of pasture-land from the Combes to add to
his freeholds. The concord of the fine is dated April 13, 1610, and, as
it was acknowledged before the Commissioners, he is believed to have
been in Stratford at the time. In a subscription list drawn up at
Stratford September 11, 1611, his name is the only one entered on the