Shakespeare's family
performed before the Queen at Christmas, 1594, seeing that it was ready
to be put upon the boards at the Gray's Inn Revels on the spur of the
moment. I have discussed this at full in my paper, "The Earliest
Official Record of Shakespeare's Name," Berlin (a copy at the British
Museum); also in a long letter to the _Times_, January, 1895.
Page 70.--James Burbage bought the part of a house in Blackfriars from
Sir William More, February 4, 1596, which he afterwards converted into a
theatre. Regarding the quarrel with Allen and "the Theatre" lease, see
the depositions in the case of Burbage _v._ Allen taken at Kelvedon, in
Essex, August, 1600, reproduced in Halliwell-Phillips's "Outlines," i.
350. Further illustration of the earning proportions of players and
proprietors may be learned from the article by Mr. James Greenstreet,
"The Whitefriars Theatre at the Time of Shakespeare" (The New
Shakespearean Society's Transactions, 1888).
Page 77.--In John Combe's will there is mentioned a field in Ingon Lane,
called Parson's Close, or Shakespeare's Close. This may have been one of
the poet's minor purchases, or merely a name come down from Henry's
time.
Page 78.--A petition was sent up to the Lord Chief Justice from the
Corporation of Stratford-on-Avon, to restrain William Combe, Esq., son
and heir of John Combe, March 27, 1616. He overthrew the Aldermen who
came peaceably to hinder his digging, whereof great tumult arose. In
spite of orders to the contrary, he continued his enclosures, and
another petition was addressed to the Privy Council, describing "Mr.
Combe of so unbridled a disposition," etc. On February 14, 1618, a reply
came signed, "Francis Verulam," "Pembroke," "Naunton," "Fulke Greville"
(Wheler Collection, Stratford-on-Avon).
Page 82.--From the town clerk's account of what took place at the Halls
during Shakespeare's lifetime, we are sure that his position must have
been anomalous.
"The Halle, 17 Dec., 45 Eliz. Plays. At this Halle yt ys ordered that
there shalbe no plays or enterludes played in the Chamber, the Guild
Halle, nor in any parte of the House or Courte, from hensforward, upon
payne that whosoever of the Baylif, Aldermen, and burgisses of this
boroughe shall give leave or licence thereunto shall forfeit for everie
offence 10s.
"7 Feb., 1611-12, 45 Eliz."
"... The inconvenience of plaies being verie seriouslie considered of,
with their unlawfulness, and how contrarie the sufferance of them is
against the orders heretofore made, and against the examples of other
well-governed cities and burrowes the Compaine here are contented, and
they conclude that the penaltie of 10s. imposed in Mr. Baker's year, for
breaking of the order shall from henceforth be L10 upon breakers of that
order, and this to holde until the next common council, and from
henceforth for ever, excepted that be then finally revoked and made
void." This was the period of Shakespeare's retirement to
Stratford-on-Avon.
Page 84.--It may be noted as a coincidence that the plays were published
in folio the year of Mrs. Shakespeare's death. Some change among the
leases, or the termination of the connection with his family through the
death of his widow, may have suggested this.
Page 93.--A Robert Hall rented the old School House in
Stratford-on-Avon, and paved the Guild Hall, 1568. A Richard Hall was
churchwarden of St. Nicholas, Warwick, in 1552, who died in 1558, and
among the churchwarden's accounts are notices of Richard Hall the
younger, Nicholas Hall, John, Alice, Simon and "Eme Hall." "Received of
Ric. Hawle the younger for the benevolence that Richard Hawle gave unto
the poor out of his lands in Church Street, World without end," 1566-67.
Richard Hall was churchwarden in 1600 and in 1606 (Churchwarden's
Accounts, St. Nicholas, Warwick, Mr. Richard Savage).
Page 99.--Michael Drayton frequently visited Sir Henry Rainsford at the
Manor House, Clifford Chambers. This gentleman had married Anne Goodyere
of Polesworth, whose parents were Drayton's patrons. She was the "Idea"
of his sonnets. (See introduction to "Michael Drayton," by Oliver Elton,
1895.)
Page 103.--Susanna Hall's signature appears on the settlements of 1639,
and on that of 1647, in which her daughter joined.
Page 104.--"15th Dec., 1648. Tithes: Mrs. Elizabeth Nashe for Shottery
Corne Tithes, being of the yearly value of one hundred pounds, L5."
"28th June, 1650. Mrs. Elizabeth Barnard for Shotterie Corn tythes of
the yearly value of one hundred and twentie pounds, L6." (Wheler's
Notes, Stratford-on-Avon.)
Page 107.--There are many Bagleys in the parish registers of St.
Martin's-in-the-Fields, and also Hathaways. It _may_ be they were
connections.
Page 110.--Halliwell-Phillipps states that in the "Coram Rege Roll of
1597, Gilbert Shakespeare is named as one of those standing bail for a
clockmaker of Stratford"; and adds that he is described as "Haberdasher
of St. Bridget's Parish, London." Through the kind permission of the
Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, I have been allowed to go through
their books at leisure, and find that there is no trace of a Shakespeare
anywhere, and in the sixteenth century, no trace even of a _Gilbert_,
except "Gilbert Shepherd," who took up his freedom in 1579. Neither is
there any trace of him in the registers of St. Bridget's or St. Bride's,
nor in the Subsidy Rolls, but in both places appear Gilbert Shepherd. I
am, therefore, forced to the conclusion that Halliwell-Phillipps misread
"Shepherd" as "Shakespeare." See my article in the _Athenaeum_, Dec. 22,
1900, "John Shakespeare, of Ingon, and Gilbert of St. Bride's."
Page 112.--William Hart, the hatter, died a week before his
brother-in-law, probably of the same epidemic. Joan Hart, his widow,
survived till November 4, 1646. Their eldest son William was an actor.
(See Royal Warrant, May 17, 1636; Halliwell-Phillipps, i. 129.) In
William Hewitt's "Visits to Remarkable Places," 1839, he mentions
Stratford and a boy whom he had noticed from his likeness to the poet.
He turned out to be a descendant of his sister Joan Hart, and was called
William Shakespeare Smith (_Notes and Queries_, 5th Series, VIII. 475).
Probably the same referred to on page 109.
Page 116.--Thomas Shakespeare seemed to have been somewhat like Henry in
character. He was entered on the Court Roll at a rental of L4 in 1563.
"At the Court 31st March, 23 Eliz., he incurred a penalty of 4d. for not
having and exercising bows; for not wearing cappes 4d.; for leaving his
swine unringed in the fields 12d." He appears also as a juror several
times in court.
Page 121.--Mr. Rylands' "Records of Rowington" supply many details, as,
for instance:
"In 1576, a lease by feoffees, among whom was Thomas Shakespeare, was
granted Richard Shakespeare of Rowington, weaver of the 'Tyinges.'"
In the same year a lease of "the Harveys" was granted to "Elenor
Shakespeare, widow, of Rowington," 20 Feb., 18 Eliz.
The customary rent of Rowington, 1605, mentions "Thomas Shakespeare, one
close, 2/; one tofte and 16 acres, 13/4; one messuage, etc., 10/4."
"George Shakespeare, one cottage and 2 acres, 2/."
"Richard Shakespere, one messuage, half a yd land (14
acres), 14/."
"John Shakespeare, one cottage and one quarter yd land (9
acres), 6/8."
The Court Rolls, 1633, give:
"Imprimis of Jane Shaxper for default of sute of court
fined, 4d."
"Thomas Shaxper, vitler, for breaking assize of ale and
beer, 4d."
"1634, Richard Shaxper, for encroaching on common, 2d."
"1647, fine of admittance to land, Thomas Shaxper, 6/8."
"Exchequer lay subsidies," Thomas in 1595, 1598, 1599,
"assessed on goods valued L4,8/."
"Lay subsidies 1668," Thomas, "assessed on land, 30/ and
4/."
In 1674 John Shakespeare, in the name of the other tenants of Rowington,
was empowered to bring an action against enclosures.
A grant of a fee of 20/ a year by will of Humphrey Shakespeare, 1794,
was payable out of premises in Kingswood.
This cottage was the subject of a lawsuit in which Jane Lord and John
Slye _v._ Humphrey Shakespeare and one Culcup were at variance. Humphrey
had a 200 years' lease, and left it to the poor of the parish.
SHAKESPEARES FROM THE REGISTER OF ROWINGTON.
"1616, Mar. 16. Baptisms: Thomas Shaxspere, son of William
Shaxspire."
"1619, Ap. 28. William Shakespeare, son of John
Shakespeare."
"Aug. 13. William Shakespeare, son of Thomas Shakespeare."
"1621, Aug. 18. Thomas Shaxper, son of Thomas Shaxper."
"Nov. 4. Elizabeth, dau. of John Shaxper."
"1622, William Shaxpere was Churchwarden."
"1624, April 26. Clement Shaxpire, son of John Shaxpire,
bapt."
"July 23. John Sheldon and Jone Shaxspear married."
"1630, Ap. 4. Baptisms: Elizabeth Shaxspeare, d. of Thomas
Shaxspire."
"1633, Ap. 20. Thomas Shaxspeare, son of Thomas Shaxspeare."
"1634, Dec. 30. Thomas Shakspeare, son of John Shaxspeare."
"1635, May 5. Burial: John Shakespear buried."
"1637. Baptisms: July 18, Mary, dau. of Thomas and Elizabeth
Shakesper."
"1638, Aug. 17. Burial: Christopher Shakspeare buried."
"1639, Mar. 8. Baptism: John, son of John Shakespeare and
Mary bapt.
"William Shaxspere Churchwarden."
"1640, Aug. 3. Burials: Anne, d. of Thomas Shakespeare,
buried."
"1641, April 10. Thomas Shakespear, son of Thomas Shakespear
and Margaret, bur."
"Oct. 30. Mary, daughter of Thomas Shakespear, buried."
"1642, Feb. 14. Thomas, son of John Shakespeare, buried."
"1643, June 14. Clement, son of John Shakespeare, buried."
"1645, Sept. 18. Anne Shakespeare, widowe, buried."
"1646, July 12. William Shakespeare buried."
"July 24. The wife of William Shakespeare buried."
"Feb. 20. William Shakespeare, senior, buried."
"Mar. 8. Thomas Shakespeare buried."
"1647, Sep. 20. Mary, dau. of William Shakespeare, junior,
and Elizabeth his wife, buried."
"Oct. 1. Elizabeth, d. of John Shakespear, buried."
"Nov. 4. Elizabeth, dau. of William Shakespeare, jun., and
Margaret his wife."
"1649, Oct. 5. William Shakspeare, junior, buried."
"1650, Dec. 25. John Shakespeare, junior, buried."
"1651, Mar. 3. Widow Shakspeare buried."
[A gap in the registers.]
"1662, Feb. 17. John, sonne of John Shakspeare of Kingswood,
bapt."
"1663, Mar. 29. Thomas, son of John Shakspeare of ye hill,
bapt."
"1664, Feb. 8. Josiah, sonne of John Shakespeare of ye hill,
bap. Feb. 8, buried Feb. 17."
"1665, Ap. 3. Richard, son of John Shakespeare of Kingswood,
bapt."
"1665, Dec. 3. Mary, dau. of John Shakespeare, bapt."
"1666, Mar. 18. John Shakspeare of Kingswood brook buried."
"1667, Aug. 6. Old William Shakespeare of Brookfurlong
buried."
"Nov. 23. Margaret Shakespeare of Whitehall, widdow, buried.
John Shakesper Churchwarden."
"1668, June 1. Samuel, son of John Shakespeare and Rebecca,
his wife, bapt., buried June 6."
"June 28. Rebecca, wife of John Shakespeare of the Hill,
buried."
"1669, Nov. 20. Old Thomas Shakespeare of Whitley Elme,
buried."
"1670, Sep. 29. Widdow Shakespeare of ye Hill buried."
"Oct. 20. Thomas Shakespear the weaver was buried."
"1672, Ap. 9. Ann, dau. of Mr. Shakespeare of ye Hill,
bapt."
"1676, Mar. 18. (Mary) the wife of Thomas Shakespeare, of
Lowston End, buried."
"1677, April 21. Widdow Shakespeare of Whitley Elme,
buried."
"1679, July 31. William Shakespeare and Alice Jennings