Mr. William Shakspeare, At Home:

TERCENTENARY, APRIL 23, MDCCCLXIV.

SHAKSPEARE'S the world chiefly as a der date for April 26, of William, son cars on

HAKSPEARE'S Tercentenary must here- the Stratford Register of Baptisms appears un

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literary epoch. It has been the means of bring- Shakspere." As baptisms as early as convening out some scores of new works, new editions ient after birth were customary in those days his of old works, and, if not new facts, yet many birthday has been fixed as the 23d, though it is lights for old facts, so that it is not too much quite possible that the fact of that being the day to say that for the first time have we been brought of the tutelary saint of England had something within reach of any personal image of the poet. to do with the tradition. John Shakspeare enPhotography has come into play to bring before joyed prosperity for some years. In 1568 he us every paper connected with him; Palæogra- was promoted to the office of High Bailiff. In phy has ascertained which are real, which spu- 1569 the Queen's players and the Earl of Worcesrious; and Criticism has thoroughly sifted ev- ter's players visited Stratford and performed in cry contemporary line which has been supposed it; the former receiving nine shillings and the by any to have reference to him. As few of my latter one for the entertainment out of the town's readers will ever go through this mass of new funds. 1571 John Shakspeare is alderman, and works which "Mr. Wm. Shakspear of ye Globe" his son William goes to the free grammar-school has just written, through his thousands of aman- then kept by Thomas Hunt, who is also curate uenses now living, and entered at Stationers' of Luddington, a mile or two distant. 1573 Hall this A.D. 1864, it will not be a superfluous and 1574 the "Earl of Leicester's players" and work to give here briefly (alas, that it must al-" "my Lord Warwick's players" visit Stratford. ways be briefly!) the sifted and actual knowledge 1575 Queen Elizabeth's grand historical visit to that we have concerning this man-deferring Kenilworth (thirteen miles from Stratford) atprobable but uncertain, and decidedly mythical, tracted by the gorgeous pageantry of her welstories to later portions of this article, where they come vast crowds from all mid-England. 1577 will be appropriate. It seems to me wisest to and the two following years furnish evidences give the facts in chronological order. of declining fortunes with John Shakspeare. He Verstegan, in his "Restitution of Decayed is irregular in attendance on borough meetings, Intelligence," says: Breakspear, Shakespear, mortgages land, and the sum of 3s. 4d. levied on and the like, have been surnames imposed upon him by the borough is "unpaid and unaccountthe first bearers of them for valour and feats of ed for." However in 1577 he is reported by arms." A certain Mr. Shakespear of Snitter- Dethick, Garter King of Arms, to have had a fiel 1, four miles from Stratford, was "rewarded pattern of his arms (a spear grasped by a falcon) with lands and tenements" "for his faithful and engraved by Clarence Cooke, though he did not approved service to the late most prudent prince bear them until 1597. Just here come in surHenry VII. of famous memory." It was prob-mises about William Shakspeare; that he was ably one of his sons who in 1556 (Oct. 2) pur- withdrawn from school; that he was apprenchased the house in Henley Street now known ticed to a butcher; that he studied in a law ofas the birth-place of his son William Shaks-fice; and many other things, which have too peare. John Shakespeare was a glover and a often been given as history, but of which there farmer. In the same year (June 17) he was is no shadow of evidence. The first definite nosued at court as a glover; and on November 19 tice that we have of him is in 1582, and is he impleaded a neighbor for unjustly detaining Shakspeare's marriage-bond. It was found by 18 quarters of barley. It was probably in the Sir Thomas Phillips in the Worcester registry in following year that he married, for on the 15th 1836. It bears date 28th November, 1582, and of September 1556 there is a baptismal record in it Fulk Sandalls and John Richardson, farmof "Joan Shakespeare, daughter to John Shake-ers, of Stratford, become bound in forty pounds speare." His wife, Mary, was the youngest daugh- (a sum at that time equal to over a hundred now ter by a first wife of Robert Arden, whose father in value) "that William Shagspere, one thone had been groom of the chamber to Henry VII. partie, and Anne Hathwey, of Stratford, in the In the year 1564 John Shakespeare was a mem- dioces of Worcester, maiden, may lawfully solber of the Common hall of Stratford, and did in emnize marriage together," "with once asking that year as such affix his mark to a document of the hall. In the same year, was born his third of 1623. The small portrait below the bust is from an child and first son WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.* In edition of the Sonnets published in 1640; it is apparently copied, with some alteratious, from the Droeshout print. The one on the right is from the Chandos portrait, which can be traced back to the possession of Davenant (born 1605, died 1665), who is said to have claimed to have been the natural son of Shakspeare. The portrait on the left i said to have been painted by Cornelius Jansen. -For illus. trations of the principal scenes and relics at Stratford connected with Shakspeare, see Harper's Magazine for September, 1861.

We do not undertake to decide between the score of modes of spelling the poet's name. He himself undoubt edly wrote it Shakspere. In quoting from documents we follow the originals; elsewhere we simply adopt the more usual form, Shakspeare.-The portraits on the opposite page are those which have the best claim to genuineness. At the top is the Stratford bust, shown from three points of view. At the bottom is Drochout's print from the folio

of the bannes." The document also bears the seal of R. H. (Richard Hathaway.) The very careful investigations made into this document in the light of the law customs of the time leave no doubt whatever that the marriage was made under urgency, and that the forty pounds were to indemnify the minister in case of fine for marrying with only once asking bans. The seal of R. H. gives a suspicion of coercion to the marriage also. And when we read in the Stratford register that in "1583, May 26th, Susanna, daughter to William Shakspeare" was baptized-this being about six months after marriage-the conclusion is forced upon us that Shakspeare, in marrying this woman, who was seven years his senior, atoned for the error of a passionate moment.

tyger's heart wrapped in a player's hide, supposes
he is as well able to bombast out a blank verse
as the best of you, and being an absolute Johan-
nes Factotum, is, in his own conceit, the only
Shake-scene in a country." This shows that in
1592 our poet was of sufficient consequence to
excite the jealous ire of rivals. The charge
of plagiarism probably refers to the fact that
Greene's "Pandosto, the Triumph of Time"
(1588) seems to have given the plot for the "Win- -
ter's Tale ;" and Lodge's "Rosalind, Euphue's
Golden Legacy" (1590) for "As you like it.”
The parody of the italicized passage in the
quotation from Greene, on the line in the
Third Part of Henry VI., Act i. Sc. iv., “Oh,
tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide," is
plain.

Ann Hathaway lived at Shottery, a mile from 1596. The burial entry of Stratford records: Stratford, and was without any claim to blood "1596, August 11th, Hamnet filius William so gentle as that of the Ardens with whom Shakspere." 1597.-"At the term of Easter, Shakspeare was connected on his mother's side. in the 39th year of the reign of Queen ElizaIn 1585 the Register of Baptisms mentions: beth," by "a plea of covenant" between "Will"February 2. Hamnet and Judith, sonne and iam Shakespere, gentleman," and "William Undaughter to William Shakspere." Thus before derhill, gentleman," the former became possessed he has reached his majority he has a family of "one messuage, two barns, two gardens, and about him, and his father's fortunes are failing; two orchards, with appurtenances, in Stratfordwhich probably, much more than any prosecu-upon-Avon," for which he gave "to the aforetion for deer-stealing, sends him to London. said William sixty pounds sterling." The house From this time Ann Hathaway disappears from this history until 1608. It was certainly about this time (1585) that he went to London, and highly improbable that he took his wife and children with him. The personal footprints of Shakspeare in London are very faint, the Elles-opsgate, and in the list of actors in Ben Jonmere papers, alleging a connection with Blackfriars Theatre, and other things again discovered by Collier, having been proved barefaced forgeries. The sifting of the supposed contemporary notices of him have rendered it certain that the passage in Spenser's "Tears of the Muses" containing the line,

"Our pleasant Willy, ah! is dead of late," referred probably to Sir Philip Sidney (whom Spenser calls "Willy" elsewhere-a name at that time for any pastoral poet), certainly not to Shakspeare, who was unknown when it was published (1590), certainly not dead or retired. Of actually contemporary notices but one remains probable at this time, and this is in Greene's "Groatsworth of wit bought with a Million of repentance," in which it is nearly certain that it is Shakspeare who is stigmatized as "an upstart crow, beautified in our feathers, that with his

By the Kings
Matis, plaiers

By his Matis
plaiers

By his Mati".
plaiers

By his Matis.
plaiers

on this property had been built by Sir Hugh Clopton in the reign of Henry VII., and was called "the great house," but Shakspeare (æt. 33) called it New Place. In 1598 we find Shakspeare living in the parish of St. Helen's, Bish

son's Every man in his Humor the poet's name stands first. At and from this time contemporary and generally complimentary notices of Shakspeare in verses and plays are frequent; and his own plays had a great popularity. There is no evidence, though much assertion, of his being a popular actor. Dr. Johnson's hypothesis of his holding horses at the door of the Globe Theatre is utterly baseless-the Globe being reached by boats. At just what time he went to Stratford to live it is impossible to say: his last appearance on the stage, of which there is any record, was in 1603, in Ben Jonson's Sejanus. But before this we find him mixed up with business affairs at Stratford: e.g. 1598 "Pd. to Mr. Shaxpere for one lod of stone x d." 1604.

Hamlet was this year published by James Roberts. In the “Accounts of the Revels at Court" the following entries appear:—

Hallamas Day, being the first of Nov., A play in the banketinge House att Whitehall,
called the Moor of Venis. (1604.)

The Sunday following, A play of the Merry Wives of Windsor. (Nov. 4, 1604.)

On St. Stevens night in the hall a play, Mesur for Mesur. (Dec. 26, 1604.) Shaxberd.
On Innosents night the play of Errors. (Dec. 28th, 1604.) Shaxberd.

In the same year (1604) we find William | year, "William Shakespere, of Stratford-upponShakespeare bringing an action against Philip Rogers, in the Court of Stratford, for £1 15s. 10d., the price of malt delivered to him at different times. 1605.-On the 24th of July of this

Avon" bought from Ralph Hubande the unexpired portion of a 92 years lease dating from 1544, of the tithes of Stratford for the sum of £440-which was as much as thrice the same

sum now-from which, as from many other circumstances carefully noted by his biographers, his comfortable pecuniary condition is justly argued. In this year too Augustine Philips, a

By his Matis plaiers

By his Matis. plaiers

By his Matis. plaiers

Betwin Newers day and Twelfe day a play of Loves labours Lost (1605)

On the 7 of January was played the play of Henry the Fift (1605) Shaxberd.

On Shrove Sunday, a play of the Marchant of Venis (Mar. 24th, 1605) Shaxberd.
On Shrovetusday, A play cauled The Marchant of Venis, againe commanded by the
King's Matie. (Mar. 26th. 1605)

By his Matis.
plaiers
1606.—In a survey of Rowington Manor,
William Shakspeare is noted as holding the
house near New Place. 1607.-Susanna, æt.
24, Shakspeare's eldest daughter, was married
to Dr. John Hall, of Stratford. On the last day
of the same year the poet's youngest brother,
Edmund, was buried at Southwark, entered on
the register as "a player." 1608, Sept. 9, the
Stratford Register notes the burial of the poet's
mother, "Mayry Shaxpere, Wydowe." Oct.
16th the poet stands sponsor for his "godson
William Walker" (to whom in his will he leaves
“20s. in gold”). In the same year Hallam
says "The Yorkshire Tragedy," put on the stage
in 1604, was published with Shakspeare's name;
doubtless a trick, but showing that his name was
a taking one with the public. It is in this year
also that we meet once more the name of Shaks-ing.
peare's wife. Thomas Whittington, shepherd to
Richard Hathaway, dying, leaves in his will
"unto the poor of Stratford 40s. that is in the
hand of Anne Shaxpere, wyfe unto Mr. Wyllyam

Shaxpere, and is due debt unto me, being paid to mine executor by the said Wyllyam Shaxpere or his assignees." Old legal forms of bequests similar to this indicate that such dispositions were made of small sums where payment was never expected, or had been often refused. 1609.-"Shakesperes Sonnets. Never before imprinted. At London, by G. Eld, for T. T., and are to be sold by John Wright, dwelling at Christ Church-gate, 1609," is the title of a small quarto which contains 154 Sonnets, and "A Lover's Complaint." In the Stationer's entry T. T. is explained as Tho. Thorpe. March 15, Shakspeare issues against John Addenbrooke, Stratford, for £6 of debt and 24s. damages and costs; and, he not being found, prosecutes his surety Thomas Horneby on the 7th June follow1611.-In a list of donations "colected towards the charge of prosecutyng the bill in parliament for the better repair of high waies &c." Shakspeare's name is found. In the "Account of Revels at Court" are the following entries:Hallomas Nyght was presented att Whitehall before the Kinges Matie, a play called The Tempest (Nov 1, 1611)

By the King's players The King's players 1612. The Stratford Burial Register contains: "February 4. Rich: Shakspere."

The 5th of November: A play called The Winter Nightes Tayle (1611)

1613.-A letter from Thomas Lorkin, dated "London, this last day of June 1613," says: "No longer since than yesterday, while Bourbege his companie were acting at the Globe the play of Henry) VIII., and there shooting of certain chambers in way of triumph, the fire catched and fastened upon the thatch of the house, and there burned so furiously as it consumed the whole house and all in lesse than two hours, the people having enough to doe to save themselves." There is no evidence that any loss came to Shakespeare by this, or that any of his MSS. were lost.

1614.-John Combe, bailiff for the Earl of Warwick, died, and in his will bequeathed "to Mr. William Shackspere, five pounds." In the Stratford Chamberlain's accounts we have for this year: "Item: for one quart of sack, and on quart of clarett winne geven to a preacher at the Newe Place, xxd." 1616, Feb. 10, Judith, the poet's youngest daughter, æt. 31, was married to Thomas Quincy, vintner, Stratford. And further on in this year we have on the Stratford Register this momentous entry:

1616. April 25. WILL. SHAKSPERE, Gent.

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Of the circumstances of his death we know nothing. A tradition extant forty-five years after his death asserts, Shakespear, Drayton, and Ben Jonson, had a merrie meeting, and itt seems drunk too hard, for Shakespear died of a feavour then contracted." But this is mere tradition.

On the 3d of February, 1617, we know that Dr. John Hall, Shakspeare's son-in-law, was inhabiting New Place. But what of his wife? We have that singular interpolated clause of his will: "Item: I give unto my wief my second best bed with the furniture," which Mr. Howard Staunton gives us too good reason to believe was in that day a method of showing contempt. But there is an intimation in the register of burial that she may have married again after Shakspeare's death: "Mrs. James" being coupled by a brace with "wife of William Shakespear," by association with whom she at least had the grace or pride to wish to be remembered. Mr. James was a shoemaker of Stratford. Shakspeare's wife survived him seven years, and was buried by his side. The mystery of their relation will probably never be satisfactorily cleared away; but the evidence looks very much as if the poet had been unhappy in his domestic life.

The first edition of Shakspeare's works ap