possible) the particulars respecting the life of the "myriadminded Shakespeare'," with which our predecessors were acquainted, or which, from various sources, we have been able, during a long series of years, to collect. Yet, after all, comparing what we really know of our great dramatist with what we might possibly have known, we cannot but be aware how little has been accomplished. "Of William Shakespeare," says one of our greatest living authors of our greatest dead one, "whom, through the mouths of those whom he has inspired to body forth the modifications of his immense mind, we seem to know better than any human writer, it may be truly said that we scarcely know anything. We see him, so far as we do see him, not in himself, but in a reflex image from the objectivity in which he is manifested: he is Falstaff, and Mercutio, and Malvolio, and Jaques, and Portia, and Imogen, and Lear, and Othello; but to us he is scarcely a determined person, a substantial reality of past time, the man Shakespeare"." We cannot flatter ourselves that we have done much to bring the reader better acquainted with "the man Shakespeare," but if we have done anything we shall be content; and, instead of attempting any character of our own, we will subjoin one, in the words of the distinguished writer we have above quoted3, as brief in its form as it is comprehensive in its matter:-"The name of Shakespeare is the greatest in our literature, it is the greatest in all literature. No man ever came near to him in the creative powers of the mind; no man had ever such strength at once, and such variety of imagination." If the details of his life be imperfect, the history of his mind is complete; and we leave the reader to turn from the contemplation of "the man Shakespeare" to the study of THE POET SHAKESPEARE. 1 Coleridge's Table Talk, vol. ii. p. 301.-Mr. Hallam in his "Introduction to the Literature of Europe," vol. iii. p. 89. edit. 1843, somewhat less literally translates the Greek epithet, pvpiovovs, "thousand-souled." 2 Hallam's Introduction to the Literature of Europe," vol. ii p.175. 3 Ibid. vol. iii. p. 89. SHAKESPEARE'S WILL.' Vicesimo Quinto Die Martij Anno Regni Domini nostri Jacobi nunc Rex Anglie &c. Decimo quarto & Scotie xlix Annoq; Domini 1616. T. Wmj Shackspeare In the name of god Amen I William Shackspeare of Stratford vpon Avon in the countie of warr gent in perfect health & memorie god be praysed doe make & Ordayne this my last will & testament in manner & forme followeing That ys to saye First I Comend my Soule into the handes of god my Creator hoping & assuredlie beleeving through thonelie merites 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 & bequeath vnto my Daughter Judyth One hundred & Fyftie poundes of lawfull English money to be paied vnto her in manner & forme followeing That ys to saye One hundred pounds in discharge of her marriage porcion within one yeare after my deceas with consideracion after the Rate of twoe Shillinges in the pound for soe long tyme as the same shalbe vnpaied vnto her after my deceas & the Fyftie poundes Reside we thereof vpon 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 & Right that shall discend or come vnto her after my deceas or that shee nowe hath of in or to one Copiehold tenemente with thappurtenances lyeing & being in Stratford vpon Avon aforesaied in the saied countie of warr being parcell or holden of the mannour of Rowington vnto my Daughter Susanna Hall & her heires for ever Item I Gyve & bequeath vnto my saied Daughter Judith One hundred and Fyftie Poundes more if shee or Anie issue of her bodie be Lyvinge att thend of 1 The following is from an exact transcript of the original Will deposited in the Prerogative office, London, the only difference being that we have not thought it necessary to give the legal contractions of the scrivener: in all other respects, even to the misemployment of capital letters, and the omission of points our copy is most faithful. 2 The word " Martij" is interlined above "Januaj," which is struck through with the pen. Malone (Shaksp. by Boswell, vol. f. p. 601.) states that the word struck through is Februarij, but this is a mistake. 3 Before "Daughter" sonne and was originally written, but struck through with the pen. The words "in discharge of her marriage porcion" are interlined. The word "of" is interlined. 6 The words "that shee" are interlined. three yeares next ensueing the Daie of the Date of this my Will during which tyme my executours to paie her consid eracion from my deceas according to the Rate aforesaied And if she dye within the saied terme without issue of her bodye then my will ys & I Doe gyve & bequeath One Hundred Poundes thereof to my Neece Elizabeth Hall & the Fiftie Poundes to be sett fourth by my executours during the lief of my Sister Johane Harte & the vse and proffitt thereof Cominge shalbe payed to my saied Sister Ione & after her deceas the saied li shall Remaine Amongst the children of my saied Sister Equallie to be Devided 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 & soe I Devise & bequeath the saied Hundred and Fyftie Poundes to be sett out by my executours & overseers' for the best benefitt of her & her issue & the stock not to be paied ynto her soe long as she shalbe marryed & Covert Baron but my I will ys that she shall have the consideracion yearlie paied vnto her during her lief & after her deceas the saied stock and consideracion to bee paied to her children if she have Anie & if not to her executours or assignes she lyving the saied terme after my deceas Provided that if such husbond as she shall att thend of the saied three yeares be marryed vnto or attaine after doe sufficientlie Assure vnto her & thissue of her bodie landes Answereable to the porcion by this my will gyven vnto her & to be adiudged soe by my executours & overseers then my will ys that the saied Cli shalbe paied to such husbond as shall make such assurance to his owne vse Item I gyve & bequeath vnto my saied sister Ione xxli & all my wearing Apparrell to be paied & deliuered within one yeare after my Deceas And I doe will & devise vnto her the house with thappurtenances in Stratford wherein she dwelleth for her natural lief vnder the yearlie Rent of xiid Item I gyve & bequeath" vnto her three sonns William Harte Hart & Michaell Harte Fyve Poundes A peece to be paied within one Yeare after my deceas' her Item I gyve & bequeath unto the saied 1 The words "by my executours and overseers" are interlined. 2 The words "the stock" are interlined. 3 The words "to be" are interlined. After "Baron" the words "by my executours & overseers" are erased with the pen. 5 The words "the house" are interlined. 6 The first sheet ends with the word "bequeath," and the testator's signature is in the margin opposite. After "deceas" follow these words, struck through with the pen, "to be sett out for her within one yeare after my deceas by my execu tours with thadvise and direccions of my overseers for her best profitt vntill her mariage and then the same with the increase thereof to be paied vnto:" the erasure ought also to have included the word "her," which follows "vnto." Elizabeth Hall' All my Plate (except my brod silver & gilt bole2) that I now have att the Date of this my will Item I gyve & bequeath vnto the Poore of Stratford aforesaied tenn poundes to Mr Thomas Combe my Sword to Thomas Russell Esquier Fyve poundes & to Frauncis Collins of the Borough of warr in the countie of warr gentleman thirteene poundes Sixe shillinges & Eight pence to be paied within one Yeare after my Deceas Item I gyve & bequeath to Hamlett Sadler xxvis viijd to buy him A Ringe to William Raynoldes gent xxvjs viijd to buy him a Ringe to my godson William Walker xx3 in gold to Anthonye Nashe gent xxvjs viijd & to Mr John Nashe xxvjs viijd & to my Fellowes John Hemynges Richard Burbage & Henry Cundell xxvjs viijd Apeece to buy them Ringes" Item I Gyve will bequeath & devise vnto my Daughter Susanna Hall for better enabling of her to performe this my will & towardes the performans thereof All that Capitall messuage or tenemente with thappurtenances in Stratford aforesaid Called the new place wherein I nowe Dwell & two Messuages or tenementes with thappurtenances scituat lyeing & being in Henley streete within the borough of Stratford aforesaied And all my barnes stables Orchardes gardens landes tenementes & hereditamentes whatsoeuer scituat lyeing & being or to be had Receyved perceyved or taken within the townes Hamletes Villages Fieldes & groundes of Stratford vpon Avon Oldstratford Bushopton & Welcombe or in anie of them in the said countie of warr And alsoe All that messuage or tenemente with thappurtenances wherein One John Robinson dwelleth scituat lyeing & being in the blackfriers in London nere the Wardrobe & all other my landes tenementes & hereditamentes whatsoeuer To have & to hold All & singu ler the saied premisses with their appurtenances vnto the saied Susanna Hall for & during the terme of her naturall lief & after her deceas to the first sonne of her bodie lawfullie yssueing & to the heires Males of the bodie of the saied first Sonne lawfullie yssueing & for defalt of such issue to 1 The words "the saied Elizabeth Hall" are interlined above her, which is struck through with the pen. 2 This parenthesis is an interlineation. 3"Hamlet Sadler" is an interlineation above Mr. Richard Tyler thelder, which is erased. 4 The words" to William Raynoldes gentleman xxvjs viijd to buy him A Ringe" are interlined. 5 After xxvjs viija" in gold was originally written, but erased with the pen. 6 The words " & to my Fellowes John Hemynges Richard Burbage and Henry Cundell xxvjs viijd to buy them Ringes" are interlined. 7 The words "for better enabling of her to performe this my will & towardes the performans thereof" are interlined. 8 The words in Stratford aforesaid" are interlined. the second Sonne of her bodie lawfullie issueinge & 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 & 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 & Remaine to the Fourth1 Fyfth sixte & Seaventh sonnes of her bodie lawfullie issueing one after Another & 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 & Remaine to the first second & third Sonns of her bodie & to their heires Males And for defalt of such issue the saied premisses to be & Remaine to my sayed Neece Hall & the heires Males of her bodie lawfullie yssueing & for defalt of such issue to my Daughter Judith & the heires Males of her body lawfullie issueinge And for defalt of such issue to the Right heires of me the saied William Shackspeare for ever Item I gyve vnto my wief my second best bed with the furniture3 Item I gyve & bequeath to my saied Daughter Judith my broad silver gilt bole. All the rest of my goodes Chattel Leases plate Jewels & household stuffe whatsoeuer after my Dettes and Legasies paied & my funerall expences discharged I gyve devise and bequeath to my Sonne in Lawe John Hall gent & my Daughter Susanna his wief whom I ordaine & make executours of this my Last will and testament And I doe intreat & Appoint the saied1 Thomas Russell Esquier & Frauncis Collins gent to be overseers hereof And doe Revoke All former wills & publishe this to be my last will and testament In Witness whereof I have herevnto put my hands the Daie & Yeare first aboue written. Witnes to the publishing hereof Fra: Collyns Julyus Shawe John Robinson Hamnet Sadler Robert Whattcott "By me William Shakspeare. Probatum corā Magr. Willim 1 After "Fourth" the word sonne was first written, but erased with the pen. 2 The second sheet ends with the word "heires," and the signature of the testator is at the bottom of it 3 The words "Item I gyve vnto my wief my second best bed with the furniture" are interlined, 4 The words "the saied" are interlined. 5 The word "hand" is interlined above scale, which is erased with the pen. |