UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA BO Please keep this card in book pocket u s t ^ a 1 s X s i;.-'! 1 t; ' s iji 1 s ■J 5 u S iX — 'S u 5 ■x r; •' J^ f THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA ENDOWED BY THE DIALECTIC AND PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETIES PR2916 .B3 UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 00010094998 This book is due at the LOUIS R. WILSON LIBRARY on the last date stamped under "Date Due." If not on hold it may be renewed by bringing it to the Hbrary. DATE DUE RET. ^ ^^puMt ^ . DATE DUE RET. sJjJZI mt^ tisrr ii3^ 2 01997 ^}n <^ vt yw J iftRtiW ^ M y—4 -A rfi- EC'06 ■ n Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in 2011 witii funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill I « http://www.archive.org/details/shakespereshomeaOObell rO)-.. SHAKESPERE'S HOME NEW PLACE, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON. :^2a%% w d^rnnttsphtc. " O on a \ S. a Spear. O. Crest a Falcon, wings display'd, A, supporting a Spear in |. O. Granted 20 October, 1596, to John ShaKESPERE, of Stratfird-upon-A'von, in Com. Wan-., Gent., per Will. Dethick." — {Index Coll. Arm.) SHAKESPERE'S HOME AT I mt, STRArPORD-UPON-AVON. Being a Hifiory of the "Great Houfe'' luilt in the Reign of King Hexry VII., ly Sir Hugh Clopton, Knight, and fnlfequently tlie property of William Shakespere, Gent., wherein he lived and died. p^k 1 1 J. C. M. BELLEW. c^oo Imprynted in London, FOR VIRT '' F " P ■ ■ '- \ V r^ CO., r. Amen Corner, Paternoster Row. MDCCCLXIII. TO THE REVEREND GRANVILLE JOHN GRANVILLE, B.C.L., Vicar of Stratford-upon-Avon. My Dear Vicar, Allow me to Dedicate to you the following Account of New Place, which would never have been written but for your hofpitality. To you, and to cur friend, Mr. Hunt, I, and a little circle of friends, have, on two occaiions, been under great obligations in making pilgrimages to Stratford. If you can fpend half-an-hour pleafantly with me, I hope you will receive my little Book as an affurance of my lively recoUettion of the happy hours which I have owed to you. That you may, in recruited health, long live to guard that Shrine which is com- mitted to your keeping, and to enjoy the atieftionate refpe6t of your Parilhioners, and troops of Friends, is. My dear Vicar, The fincere wifli of Your much obliged, J. C. M. BELLEW. Thames Cottage, Hampton, h'e'zv Yearns Day, 1863. PREFACE. |N entering a Continental Cathedral the traveller's attention is arrelled by an iron Corona fludded with burning tapers. They are the humble offerings of devotees. The following pages are my humble offering at the flirine of that intelled:ual edifice, fo vafl in proportion and fo lovely in detail, which our Shakefpere erecfled by his works. Let me fland where the iron Corona does, clofe to the portal, holding my feet in reverence, and not venturing to tread, with any pretence of critical furvey, the long drawn aifles of that flupendous flrudiure which afloniflies and delights the mafter minds of our race. viii Preface. race. I fhall not need to be told that the " farthing-candle ray " is a very appro- priate fimile to charadterife the following pages. It is fo. But let me pray that it be not blown out, or fnuffed out, with cruel heedlelTnefs (puffed, of courfe, it is not likely to be), becaufe, though its quantity of illuminating power be but a '" little " inch of light," fo far as it does extend, I believe it difperfes fome darknefs, and may prove ufeful in giving other pil- grims to the fhrine, a momentary glimpfe of dim diftances, which may excite curioiity, and the deiire to explore their hidden recelTes. In iimple language, I believe a great many fad:s regarding Shakefpere remain to be brought to light ; and that, while the critic or fcholar has little left to fay that is frefli or new regarding his works, the antiquary may have a great deal to difcover and to fay regarding the man. It Preface. ix It is remarkable what a labour of love has been expended by many eminent men of my own profelTion upon the works of the Poet. In their wake I have not dared to follow ; but I fhall have done fome good, I truft, if I deted: a need and point it out, fo that others, wifer, and better than I, may provide for its fatisfa(!?t;ion. The title of my book fuggeils a fubjed: upon which there refhs the darknefs of an almoll pro- found ignorance. What do we know of the man Shakefpere in his home — in his domeftic, fecial, moral charader, in his home alTociations and his home alfo- ciates ; — nay ! what have we cared to know of him in them ? Let not the reader be deceived, and tempted into reading my book by fup- poling that I pretend to lift the veil, and with my tiny taper to illuminate the darknefs. I do not. But / do try to make X Preface. fnake the darknefs vifible ; and to the beft of my opportunities, I have flriven to caft a little light upon fcattered points, and fome few fadts, which I think have not previoufly been publifhed. The ableft and moft learned man would fpeak with modefty and heiitation regarding any work he might publifh re- ferring to Shakefpere. It is with the mofl iincere diffidence that I venture to let the following pages pafs through the Prefs ; but I take courage to do fo from the belief, that every one who will honour me by reading what I have written, will fee that I have . honeftly laboured at the fadls of my fubje<5t, and that the opinions I venture to exprefs, are alfo honeftly put forth. If I extend this Preface to an inordi- nate length, it is from my anxiety to have my object underftood — or, at leaf!:, not mifunderilood. The Preface. xi The Pedigrees introduced in this work have coil: an infinity of labour, which, the uninterefted or uninitiated, would never fuppofe, in glancing over their llatiftical defcents. It would be unfair to criticife them as if they bore the im- primatur of a King-at-Arms= Herald's College will only fmile on them as the produftions of a tyro. So they are. But, whatever amount of light they give, the flint and fteel have been my own. Ut varias ufus vieditando extinideret artes Paulatim, "^ * * * Etjilicis venis aljirufum excuderet ignem. I believe I am turning inquiry in a ufeful, and much negledled dired:ion, by preffing fuch pedigrees upon the conlideration of thofe who are curious in Shakelperian inveftigations. My reafons for fo doing will be found in the body of my work. Whether I have laboured to a purpofe and xii Preface. and done good, or laboured in vain, I leave others to judge. To the Clopton Pedigree I mufi: drav^ particular attention, and efpecially to that branch of it referring to the Combes family. In the Appendix (Article, " Combes ") the reader will learn the difficulties and perplexities encountered : and will, I am certain, give me credit for a painftaking purfuit of my obje6l, and hold me pardonable if I fhould be found hereafter to have made any miftakes. In the Appendix, likewife, will be found many curious fa6ts refled:ing upon the perfons to. whom reference is made, which I confidered could not be legiti- mately introduced into the body of my work. The lingular difcovery made, with regard to the man Bott (Appendix A, p. 341), will explain how it came to pafs that New Place was originally fold. " ^i f'^xcufe, facciije I " If fo, my excufes Preface. xiii excufes mufl: amount to felf-accufation ; but of one thing I do not accufe myfelf, and that is, of thankleffiiefs to the various friends who have given me their help. To Mr. T. Duffus Hardy, Deputy Keeper of PuWic Records ; Mr. Burtt, and Mr, Cole of the Record Office ; to Mr. Planch^ and his confreres at Herald's College ; to the Vicar of Stratford, his Curates, and William Butcher, the Parifh Clerk ; to Mr. Clarence Hopper, in making a variety of refearches for me ; to Mr. Hunt, Tow^n Clerk of Stratford, in patiently enduring my endlefs letters and inquiries ;— to thefe gentlemen, and to a number of others, whofe kindnefs has had my private thanks, (becaufe they objed: to being mentioned here,) I am greatly and fincerely indebted. Let me offer my thanks likewife to another perfon. To John Middleton, Attendant in the Reading-Room of the Britifh Mufeum, not xiv Preface. not only of late, but for years, I have been indebted for conftant attention. I thank him moft heartily ; and think I do myfelf honour when I go a ftep out of my way to mark the obligations, which thofe who frequent the Britidi Mufeum, the Record Office, the Will Office, and all other fuch public inflitutions, owe to the courtefy always extended to readers and fearchers, not only by the fuperior officers of thofe places, but alfo by their humbler affifhants. I ihall be pleafed, if, on clofing my book, any of my readers feel a frelhened intereft in the Man — William Shakefpere; and above all, 1 ihall be befl: fatisfied if thev are led to think with me, that this Prince of Poets was a worthier and better man than we vulgarly account him ; that Shakefpere's Home is a fubjed: deferving our ftudy and refpe6t ; and that he v^as no hypocritical mouther of fine fenti- ments Preface. xv ments, inditing with his pen the nobleft and loftieft teaching, and belying it in the conducfl of his hfe. I conceive that no one can teach effedrively, that which he has not himfelf felt earneftly ; nor until good can be put for evil, and evil for good, can I bring myfelf to think that the purefi: intellec- tual refrefhment of a race thirfling after knowledge, pours from a polluted fource. I picflure Shakefpere to myfelf as an em- bodiment of the manly, honeft, and lofty virtues, which his Mufe delights to crown with honour ; and half my rever- ence for him would be gone if I did not feel morally convinced that the greateft of all human teachers, was not only a Great Man, but alfo a Good Man ! *^;.* As Shakelpere's name has been fpelt by fo many different people in lb many different ways, I may remark that the orthography I have adopted is that of the Grant of Arms in Herald's College, 1,596; believing, as I do, that the fpelling in that document was dictated by ShakelJDere to Dethick. CORRIGENDA. Page 20j. — "no one could," read "no one would." Page 205. — "Gilrow," read " Gildon." Page 218. — " thofe years enjoying," read "thole years as enjoying." Page 230.- — " Revels," read " Revel." NEW PLACE, Stratford-upon-Avon. ;;::\;^;y.5^>:J/oV>:i;^H->i^^^^-^^^^-^>^>>';^^>^>i-^>:V-^>t^^>\->V->^'.'';'>'.'- |N the north fide of this Chapell " was a Fair Houfe, built of brick *' and timber, by the faid Hugh, wherein " he lived in his later dayes and dyed. '' On the fouth fide of which Chapell *' ftands the Grammar School." Thefe words, quoted from Dugdale's ** War- ** wickfliire," and referring to Sir Hugh Clopton, Knt., were, until the other day, the cliief record pofTeiTed by Englifhmen 2 New Place, of the houfe in which WiiHam Shake- ipere alfo "Uved in his later days, and " died." At length the ftones prate of his whereabout, and it feems defirable to lay their information before the public. Every one, even remotely interefted in the fubjed:, is av/are, that a fliort time back, the land on which Shakefpere's houfe was known to have flood (ufually denominated " Shakefpere's Garden," and, as fuch, pointed out to perfons viiiting Stratford-upon-Avon,) was for fale. It is equally well known that an appeal was made to the public by Mr. Halliv/ell [vide The Times, Odiober 15, 1861], and that the plot of land in queftion, was refcued from the grafp of private fpecu- lators, or fhowmen, to be vefted in the charge of truflees, and by them to be preferved for ever — fet apart, and, in effe6t, confecrated to the memory of the man who lived there, happily accordant with Stratford-upon-Avon. with the prayer exprelTed in Garrick's words : — " And may no sacrilegious hand Near Avons hanks he found. To dare to parcel out the land, And limit Shahesperes hallowed ground. For ages free, still be it uncojifined, As Iroad and general as thy boundless mind." As foon as the fympathy of the public for the objed; in queilion was exhibited, the ambition of its promoters expanded as the fubfcriptions increafed ; and nothing lefs than the full and entire recoveiy of the eftate once poiTeiTed by Shakefpere at New Place, would fatisfy thefe ardent and enthuiiaftic individuals. Goldfmith complained (to Dodiley after dinner) that his was an " unpoetic " age." There are many chatterers of the prefent day who repeat the com- plaint, which feems to have become flereotyped for all time. It was a foolifh thought 4 ISlew Place, thought to fay ** an unpoetic age," for every age muft feem to the men of the day matter of fad; and unpoetic. To-day ahvays appears profaic ; yefterday and to- morrow — fubjeds of retrofpe(ftion and anticipation, not objedis in poiTefTion — are the fit themes for poetry. Goldfmith's age, however profaic it may have feemed, gave him good proof of its poetic appre- ciation ; and fo our age (iron age though it may be) gives equally good proof of its admiration for the real poet and for ge- nuine poetry, wherever it finds the one, or reads the other. If the true poet lives in the hearts and memories of his countrymen, how much more the Prince of all the Bards ? There are thofe who will boldly afiert that Shakefpere's works do not attract, and that people generally, care little or nothing about Shakefpere himfelf. It is not to the purpofe in this place to enter into Stratford-iipon-Avo}!. into any difcuffion upon fuch topics. It might, however, be argued that the ftudents of his works have found them- felves compelled (unlefs contented with being guilty of ignorance) to make the Poet's plays the com^panions of the clofet ; and that from the ftudent's clofet the mofl valuable interpretations of his text have iilued of late years. Such an argu- ment would infer that the marvellous creations of the Poet's mind command peculiar refpedt at the prefent time ; and it may be unhelitatingly aiferted, that abundant evidence is forthcoming to prove that this is a fad:. There has not been an era in Englifli litera- ture more fruitful in labours of critical comment upon the text of Shakefpere, and more inquiring into every fort of evidence likely to throw light upon his life and hiftory. It might alfo be argued, that the people of England are iuil: 6 New Place, jufl: as proud of, and juft as interefted in, the fame of their countryman — are juft as anxious to preferve with facred care every relique and memento of the brighteft genius the world has ever produced, as any of their forefathers have been. Cir- cumftances, perhaps, would warrant the affertion that the prefent generation ex- hibits more intereft in him, and more reverence for everything conned:ed with him, than any other fmce his death. The fentiment of George II., that Shakefpere's plays are bombafl, no longer commands courtly acquiefcence ; and the Carlton Houfe fafhion of depreciating his works (particularly by thofe who had never ftudied them) is a fafliion that has had its day. Doubtlefs, the confervative feel- ing of this period with reference to the Poet's birthplace, his laft refidence, and the few reliques connedied with him that furvive, has been operated upon by that Stratford-upo7i-Avon. J that revival of tafte for architecture, and that reverence for niedi^Eval art, which does honour to the reign of Vidioria, and will hereafter fignalife it. The hiftorian will tell how, from the fixteenth to the nineteenth century, the eccleliaftical archi- tediure of England univerfally, and the domeftic generally, became bafer and ftill more bafe ; until, towards the clofe of the Georgian era, it reached a depth of de- gradation (land-marked by the introduc- tion of Roman Cement and Cockney Villas) than which nothing could be more infamous. The fame hiftorian will tell of the great work that Pugin did, of the confequent refufcitation of tafte, and of love for architectural beauty becoming a necelTary part of polite education. He will tell how (as the legitimate accompa- niments of fuch regenerated refinement) the Englifh people awoke to the convic- tion that the fabrics of their churches had 8 New Place, had been at the mercy of Goths and Vandals, and that the mofl interefling hijftorlcal remains of domeftic architefture had been fhameleflly destroyed or barba- roully mutilated. Then came the Refto- ration : a refloration in its particular pro- vince more beneficial and remedial than fome chronological events deiignated by that phrafe have proved. To the therapeutic ipirit, fo happily prevalent in England at the prefent period regarding medieval art, may fairly be attri- buted fomie meafure of the intereft, and a great amount of the funds, which have been fubfcribed to reftore the birthplace of Shakelpere, in Henley Street, at Strat- ford ; and alfo to fave his laft place of refidence from being utilifed for " build- " ing lots," or vulgarifed by any Ipeculative Barnum. For fome months the fubjed: has dropped out of public notice. The terrific calamity Sfratford-tipoji-Avofi. calamity at Hartley Colliery, and the incumbent fubfcriptions of all generous and charitable people, for the widows and orphans of the deceafed ; the heavy viii- tation upon the Queen and country, fol- lowed by the Memorial Fund ; and laft of all, the increafing want of our long- fuifering and brave fellow-countrymen in Lancafhire, calling for the admiration and fympathetic contributions of thofe v/ho can aid them in their dire neceffity, have, for a period, checked any appeals to public fympathy, except thofe of an urgent character. In the face of fjch griefs and fuch wants, it was impoiTible for the Shake- fpere Fund fubfcription lift to keep its place before the public. It has, probably for this reafon, been temporarily with- drawn. If fo, the adl has been judicious. While the fubje6l is in abeyance, it may be well to confider what has been done with lo New Place, with the money fubfcribed, becaufe a judicious expenditure already made, would be the beft bafis of appeal to the public for further moneys to meet future outlays. It is familiar to every one, that Shake- Ipere's refidence at Stratford was called " New Place." There are popular errors in exiftence, both about the place, and the name of the place. It may be accept- able to the reader if a few fafts are thrown together to tell its hillory, which will be no information to thofe who have been interefted in New Place, but may be inflrudiive to many not " read up" in the fubjedt. New Place came from, and returned to, the family of Clopton. The Clop- tons poffelTed it long prior to Shakefpere's time, and repoiTefTed it by intermarriage (fubfequent to Shakefpere's time) with a daughter of Sir Edward Walker. Dugdale (as quoted) flates that the houfe StratJord-upon-Avon. 1 1 houfe was built by Sir Hugh Clopton, of brick and timber. Sir Hugh lived in the reign of Henry VII. The general ap- pearance of the building can be ealily imagined, though there is no drawing of it in exijience. The plate on the oppofite page gives a reprefentation of a houfe built about the fame time that Sir Hugh Clopton erecfled " New Place." It prefents to us the front elevation of " Ockwells," in the paridi of Bray, Berkfhire, at prefent poffeffed by Mr. Grenfell, of Taplow. This houfe is stated to have been built during the reign of Richard III., and is one of the very few fpecimens of domefiic architeBure now remaining of that date. The Great Hall, until lately, was adorned by a beautiful ilained-glafs window, emblazoned with the armorial bearings of Henry VII., and the Duke of Somerfet ; but, in a Ipirit akin to Vandalifm, this moft interefting rem- nant 12 New Place, naiit of antique heraldry has been removed from its proper place, and fixed up in Mr. Grenfell's new houfe, on Taplow Hill. It will not furprife the public, knowinsr this fad:, to learn that Ockwells is turned into an ordinary farm-houfe ; that its architectural interefl and artiflic beauty, as well as antiquity, are apparently unappreciated ; and that its noble hall, with open-worked Gothic roof and oak wainfcoting, is made a ploughboy's lumber-room, filled with agricultural im- plements, ploughs, fpades, facks, barrows, and rakes."* The accompanying drawing of Ockwells has been given in order to prefent a faithful reprefentation of a "great houfe, built of wood and timber," of the time of Henry VII. It is only to be * An unfatisfaftory hiftory of the houfe, accompanied with two admirable drawings of the window referred to, will be found in Lyfon's " Magna Britannica," Berkfnire, Bray^ parilh of. Stratford-iipcn-Avon. 1 3 be regarded as a fpecimen of a period, from which Sir Hugh Clopton's houfe would no doubt differ greatly in detail, but with which it would agree in cha- radler and effe6l. The lovers of " illuflrated works " have been indulged with a plate repre- fenting Shakefpere's houfe at New Place ; but a drawing of a caflle in the air would have been equally authoritative and corre(ft. This is one error concerning New Place that needs to be exploded. No authentic reprefentation of it exifls. When Dugdale ufes the words " brick " and timber," and tells us that the houfe was built in the reign of Henry VII., any one who has vifited Coventry, Chefter, Shrewibury, or the " Mint" at Briflol, will be able, in his mind's eye, to pidture the general appearance of Shakeipere's houfe, with its multiplied gables, its over- hanging eaves, its barge-boards, enriched with 14 New Place, with the Tudor flower-ornament (as at the Coventry Almfhoufe), its proje(fling windows, its ftrong framework of crofs- beamed, black, old Englifh oak forming the ribs or fkeleton of the houfe, the inter- vening fquares built in with brick (pro- bably plaftered over and whitewaihed), its wooden porchway, open-arcaded, with a room above, whofe oriel windows dif- played the falcon and tilting fpear. Of that houfe, which Sir Hugh Clop- ton built, and in which Shakeipere fub- fequently lived and died, not a veftige remained but yeflerday. Like the infub- ftantial pageant (of the Poet's play), not a rack was left behind, as far as any living man could tell. Shakefpere's Barn may, in a certain fenfe, be faid to have exifted up to 1861. In that year a couple of cottages occu- pying that portion of New Place garden which adjoins the theatre on the weft, were Stratford-upon-Avon. 1 5 were taken down, having, in the iirft inftance, been photographed, and then ilripped to the framework of which they were conftrudied. Thefe cottages had been contrived by fubdividing the ancient barn belonging to Shakefpere. On re- moving the thatch, the lath and plafter work from between the beams, and re- ducing the building to its fkeleton flruc- ture, it was found that, in the lapfe of two centuries and a half, all the timbers of the barn had, from time to time, been replaced, with the exception of fome three or four fmall beams. Thefe were the fole remains of the Poet's Barn. The recent purchafe of New Place led to a feries of excavations, and the difcoveries which have refulted, (though not very extenfive,) are extremely inte- refting, and definitely fettle feveral points which, heretofore, have been fubjedis of furmife and ipeculation. The 1 6 New Place, The leading fad:s regarding New Place are thefe : I ft. New Place was built by Sir Hugh Clopton, te?7ip. Henry VIL, circ. 1490. He died in London, 1496, and being a bachelor, devifed it to his great-nephew, William Clopton, who died in 152 1. 2nd. From the Clopton family it paiTed by purchafe to the family of Bott, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, 1563.^' 3rd. By Willian Bott it was refold to Wm. Underbill, within a fhort Ipace of time, between 1563 and 1570.-^- 4th. William Shakeipere purchafed from the Underbill family, for £60, New Place, confifting of " one meffuage, '* two barns, and two gardens, with ** their appurtenances," during the Eafter Term of 1597, in the 39th year of the reign of Queen Eliza- beth, * Appendix A. f Appendix B. Stratford-upon-Avon. ij beth, and the year after his only fon, Hamnet, had died. By him it was repaired, renovated, and jfitted up for his permanent relidence. i^th. March, 1616. Shakefpere made his will, leaving it to his daughter, Mrs. Hall, for life ; after her, to her daughter. The month following, April 23, 1 61 6, his reputed birth- day, he died in this houfe, and was buried two days later, on the 25th, in the 53rd year of his age. It was a happy accident that the reign of Queen Elizabeth had begun before the birth of the Poet, otherwife this country would have loft the mofl: valuable records regarding him. As foon as the Queen afcended the throne, the regiftries of the parifli churches were carefully kept. The Reo-ifler-book of Stratford Church o contains entries both of the baptifm and the funeral of Shakefpere. "1564, 1 8 New Place, "1564, April 26. Gulielmus, Filius "Johannes Shakfpere." But this merely records his baptifm, and not the date of birth, which baptifmal registers have never done, and even now do not, although the value of fuch entries is apparent. The entry of the funeral runs thus : — 1 616, "April 25, Will. Shakfpeare, Gent." 6th. Mrs. Hall fucceeded to the pro- perty, and from her it palTed to her daughter Elizabeth, Lady Barnard. 7th. Lady Barnard (Shakeipere's grand- daughter) according to an indenture dated 20th Odiober, 1652, cove- nanted that New Place fliould be had to the ufe of herfelf and her huiband, John Barnard, during their natural lives, and in default of iffue, fhould be left to the ufe of fuch perfon or perfons as fhe fhould limit or appoint. Lady Barnard executed a will, 29th January, 1669, whereby New Stratford-tipon-Avon. 1 9 New Place was left to Sir John Barnard for his life, and to the ufe of his executors for fix months after his death. Lady Barnard died a few days afterwards, and was buried at Abington, February 17th, 1669. Her will was proved 4th March, 1669. The property continued in the poiTeffion of Sir John until his death in 1673 ; fubfequent to which, according to the provifions of the aforefaid will. New Place was fold. An indenture, dated i8th May, 1675, conveyed it "to bee and " enure to the only ufe and behoofe "of Sir Edward Walker, Knt., " Garter Principall King at Armes," who completed the purchafe for the fum of £i,o6o.''^ He died, as the monument in Stratford Church Hates, the following year — February, 1676. Sth. * Appendix C 20 New Place, 8 th. The only child of Sir Edward Walker, Barbara,* married Sir John Clopton, * A native poet of Stratford, by name John Jordan, and by trade a wheelwright, pubhlhed in 1777 a poem entitled " Welcombe Hills" (which are in the neigh- bourhood of Stratford). In allulion to one of the Clopton marriages — that of Edward (the iffue of the above Sir John and Barbara his wife) with Martha Combe, the lalt perfon of note of the family of John a Combe (Shakefpere's friend) — the poet exclaims : — " Till a late failure in the i/JJie male, Turnd, though unprejudiced, the lineal fcale. An heirefs Comhe, right well to be ally'd. Became the heir ofneighh'ring Clopton s bride." As Mrs. Partheriche, the defcendant of this alliance, will be alluded to, the marriages are here fubjoined, though the Pedigree of Clopton, in extenjb, will be found elfewhere. Sir Edward Walker, I Barbara Walker = Sir John Clopton. Edward Clopton = Martha Combe, last of the line I of John a Combe. Edward Clopton = Martha, d. of Thomas Middleton, I Esq., of Mundham, Surrey. 1^34 56 \ 7 Children Frances Clopton, = John Partheriche, Esq. deceased the last of her while young. family. She sur- vived her husband. D. 1793. Stratford-upon-Avon. 2 1 Clopton, of Clopton, in the pariih of Stratford, and thus New Place returned again into the Clopton family. Sir John deceafed, April 18, 1 71 9. By him New Place was bequeathed 9th. To his younger fon, Sir Hugh Clopton, of the Middle Temple, one of the Heralds of the Col- lege of Arms, and Recorder of Stratford. lotli. Sir Hugh Clopton pulled down New Place, entirely rebuilt it, and died in the ?2ew New Place, 1751, aged 80. — Temp, George II. iith. Sir Hugh's fon-in-law and exe- cutor Henry Talbot (brother of the Chancellor Talbot), fold it to the Rev. Francis Gaftrell, 1753. 1 2th. Gaftrell deftroyed the modern houfe, and razed it to the ground, in 1759. 13th. 22 New Place, 13th. The fubfequent hiftory of New Place — 1775 to 1862 — may be told in a few words. Mrs. Gaftrell fold the property to W. Hunt,"^ Efq., of Stratford, in 1775. 14th. The truftees under the will of W. Hunt, on the 29th Sept., 1790, fold to Charles Henry Huntj-f- Efq., who fubfequently purchafed of Fanny Mortiboys, fpinfter, the adjoining houfe, now known as " Nafhe's "Houfe." + 15th. The affignees of C. H. Hunt, on the 15 th May, 1807, conveyed the whole of the property defcribed upon * Grandfather of W, O. Hunt, Efq., the prefent Town-clerk of Stratford. He was a promoter of the Jubilee of 17*59. Garrick correfponded with him. t The fecond fon of the aforefaid W. Hunt. X It is only during the prefent year that it has been afcertained that this houfe belonged to Thomas Nafne, who married Shakefpere's grand-daughter, Elizabeth Elall. Stratford'iipon-Avon. 23 upon the Ground Plan as " New " Place," including that now occu- pied by the " Theatre," to Edmund Batterfbee and William George Morris, Efqs., Bankers. 1 6th. In January, 1829, the heir-at-law of E. Batterfbee, and the affignees of W. G. Morris, fold off the property in lots. A — including Nafhe's houfe, was pur- chafed by Mifs Lucy Smith. B — the Cottages formed out of Shake- fpere's Barn, were purchafed, the one by Michael Prentice, the other by Thomas Webb. C — the Great Garden (now a Bowling Green), including the ground now occupied by the Theatre, was pur- chafed by Edward Leyton. D — is a flrip of land which formerly belonged to the Clifford Charity, and was 24 New Place, was acquired by an exchange effected by Mr. Gaftrell. It never belonged to the Great Garden in Shakefpere's time, though it has continued a part of it fince Mr. Gaftrell acquired it. E — is a ftrip of Garden at the back of Nafhe's houfe, which always belonged to Nafhe's houfe until 1790, when it was purchafed by C. H. Hunt, and became an integral part of lot A, of which it has ever fince continued a part. F — is the ruins of foundations lately uncovered, in which is identified a fmall portion of Sir Hugh Clopton's " Great Houfe " of Nev/ Place, and a much larger portion of the fecond houfe, built about 1720 (paragraph 10). 17th. In 1834, the faid Edward Leyton purchafed Webb's cottage, and in 1838 he alfo purchafed Prentice's; fo Stratford-upon-Avon. 25 fo that he became polTelTor of the whole of the two lots B and C. 1 8th. On the 23rd of January, 1836, the truftees of the above-mentioned Lucy Smith, under her will, fold the lot A to Mr. David Rice, Surgeon. Some time about this period, be- tween 1836 and 1844, Edward Leyton fold that portion of the Great Garden whereon the Theatre now Hands, for the ereftion of that moft hideous flrucflure. By the knowledge of this fad:, the reader will fee what amount of " vene- " ration " a flaring brick building, raifed lefs than thirty years ago, can claim from the public. 19th. In July, 1844, the only daughter and child of Edward Leyton, con- tradled marriage with Chas. Frederic Loggin. Mr. Leyton then fettled the whole of the remainder of lots B and C 26 New Place, B and C to himfelf for life, to his wife after him for her hfe, and after her, to his daughter, under truftees, for her Hfe, giving them power to fell. 20th. We are thus brought down to the prefent period, and to the laft fales that will ever occur upon the New Place eflate. A was purchafed by Mr. Halli- well, by private con trad:, of the truftees under the will of the above- named furgeon, Mr. Rice, for the fum of d£i,2oo. It was conveyed 2iil March, 1862. B and C were purchafed by Mr. Halliwell, by private contra(ft, of the truftees under the fettlement of Mr. Loggin, for £2,000. They were conveyed February 8, 1862. Accordingly, there ftill remains to be purchafed that piece of ground whereon the theatre flands, fold off from the Great Stratford-upon-Avoj2. 27 Great Garden a few years ago. This " theatre " (fo called) belongs, at the pre- fent moment, to a body of Shareholders, who are prepared to fell their rights — the ground, buildings, &c. — for £1,100. No doubt this purchafe will, at no diftant period, be made ; and then the whole New Place property will belong to the public, veiled in the corporation of Strat- ford, to be preferved by them for ever, for the contemplation and enjoyment of the Engliih people. The above detailed fails have been arranged in paragraphs, fo that the reader may, with greater eafe, carry in memory the changes and chances to which New Place has been fubjedled. The familiar entries in the church books of Stratford regarding Shakefpere's baptifm and burial having been given, it will render the fubje(ft more complete if the 2 8 New Place, the principal fadls regarding his marriage, and the ilTue of that marriage, are added in this place ; for it can fcarcely be doubted that Shakefpere purchafed New Place in order to provide a home for his wife and children during his long abfences in London — a home which he laboured hard to fuftain — a home to which he always retired when the feafons of tem- porary repofe arrived ; when, being fet free from the mental and phylical ex- ertions neceifary to carry on the buiinefs of Blackfriars and the Globe Theatre, he could enjoy (as he ever loved to do) the fweet alTociations of that home, and the delights of the Garden of England — the luxuriant valley of the Avon. Numberlefs efforts have been made to difcover the regiftry of Shakefpere's wed- ding. Up to the prefent time, all fuch efforts have proved vain. The proba- bility — almoft the certainty — is, that it has Stratford-upon-Avon. 29 has long lince periflied. His marriage bond and licenfe (bearing date 1582) are preferved at Worcefter among the archives of the diocefe. They run thus : — " Noverint univerii per prefentes nos * ffulconem Sandells de Stratford in comi- ' tatu Warwici agricolam, et Johannem ' Rychardfon ibidem agricolam, teneri * et firmiter obligari Ricardo Cofm gene- * rofo et Roberto Warmftiy notario pub- ' lico in quadraginta libris bonce et * legalis monetce Anglice folvend, eifdem ' Ricardo et Roberto hoered. execut. vel. * affignat fuis, ad quam quidem folu- * cionem bene et fideliter faciend, obli- * gamus nos, et utrumque noftrum per ' fe pro toto et in folice hcered, executor ' et adminiftrator, noftros firmiter, per ' proefentes ligillis noftris figillit. Bat. ' 28 die Novem. anno regni Domince ' noftrse, Eliz. Dei gratia Anglis, Ffrancs, "et 30 New Place, " et Hibernias Regin^, Fidei Defenfor, " &c., 250." " The condlcion of this obligacion ys fuche, that if hereafter there fhall not appere any lawfull lett or impediment by reafon of any precontrad:, confan- guitie, affinitie, or by any other lawfull meanes whatfoever, but that William Shagfpere one thone partie, and Ann Hathwey, of Stratford, in the dioces of Worcefter, maiden, may lawfully folem- nize matrimony together, and in the fame afterwardes remaine and continew like man and wiffe, according unto the lawes in that behalf provided; and, moreover, if there be not at this prefent time any action, fute, quarrell, or demaund, moved or depending before any judge, ecclefiaflicall or temporall, for and concerning any fuche lawfull lett or impediment; and, moreover, if "the Stratford-upon-Avon. 3 1 " the faid William Shagfpere do not pro- " ceed to folemnizacion of mariadg with " the faid Ann Hathwey without the " confent of his frindes ; and alfo if the " faid William do, upon his own proper *^ coftes and expenfes, defend and fave " harmles, the Right Reverend Father in " God, Lord John, Bufhop of W^orcefter, " and his offycers, for licencing them the " faid William and Ann to be maried " together with once afking of the bannes " of matrimony betwene them, and for " all other caufes which may cnfue by " reafon or occafion thereof, that then " the faid obligacion to be voyd and of " none eifed:, or els to ftand and abide in " full force and vertue." Here follow the fignatures, or marks, of the witnelTes ; the iirfl refembling the attempt that an aged perfon would make to draw a triangle ; the fecond being a clumfy letter C. Two feals are added : the 32 New Place, the one is defaced, the other bears the impreffion *' R. H." Who was " R. H.?" Could this be the feal of the bride's father, Richard Hathaway ? and inflead of the hcenfe being procured in fecrefy, as Mr. ColUer has fuggefted, may it not have been granted with the full know- ledge and confent of Richard Hathaway ? Even fuppoiing that there might be truth in the view which De Quincey and Mr. Collier have taken of this marriage — that it was accompliflied hurriedly and fecretly — fuch an argument would ftrengthen the fuppofition that " R. H." was the bride's father, and that he had accompanied Shakefpere to Worcefter, in order to fee that the licenfe was duly fecured. Such a fuppofition would be moft natural if there was any ground for fcandal, which many perfons have fliown a lingular fancy for infinuating. The " mature young " woman, five years paft her maturity," being Stratford-upon-Avon, 3 3 being " led aftray by the boy with two " and a half years to run of his minority," is obje6tionable to De Quincey's contem- plation. Perhaps the idea is more abfurd than objedtionable. The evidence of " legal documents" — " a ftory fo iignificant and fo eloquent to " the intelligent," — certainly fhows that Shakefpere procured his licenfe, 28 th November, 1582, and that his firft child, Sufannah, was baptifed the following 26th May, 1583. But what then ? Did the mature young woman lead the boy aftray; and did the indignant R. H., on difcovering the truth, infift upon an im- mediate marriage, to hide his child's difgrace ? This would be one way of explaining the procuring of the licenfe; and there might then be great lignificance in the feal of " R. H." appended to the bond ! It has been conclulively fhown, from the 34 New Place, the very reglfters of Stratford, that mar- riages, with the fame " fignificance of " dates " between the church ceremony and the baptifm of the eldeft child, were cuftomary at Stratford. It has alfo been fhown, that they were cuftomary in England, and on the conti- nent ; and before any fcandal was hinted at, as to the purity of the " mature young " woman," it would have been well for the marriage cuftoms of the age, and of people in Shakefpere's rank of life, to have been carefully ftudied. Even in this nineteenth century, there are ruftic parts of northern England, in which the fnort of the iron-horfe has never been heard, where fuch primitive cuftoms ftill furvive, and contrails of marriage are made precifely as they were in Shake- fpere's day. In fuch bucolic, or, as they might be called, " uncivilifed " parts, marriage is Stratford-upon-Avon. 3 5 is ** honourable among all men," and as duly celebrated as the contradl is made. " Is it a cuftom 9 Ay, marry, is '(." It is difficult to underfland how a youth of Shakefpere's age, and of his difpofition, could be fufped:ed of fecretly and fud- denly binding, " in the prayers of holy " church," a connection that he had formed ihamefully. Reverence for the memory of fo great a moralill:, and fo warm a champion of female purity and innocence, fliould prompt every examiner of his life and a61:s, to compare thofe ad:s with the' habits and cufloms of the days in which he lived. Knowing what were the marriage cuftoms common among the folk with whom the poet was early alTociated, and feeing that his marriage was in accordance with their habits, it is moil natural, and certainly moft charit- able, 36 New Place, able, to fuppofe that friends like John Shakefpere and Richard Hathaway fhould be well pleafed for their families to be connecfted in marriage. That Ann Hathaway was older than William Shake- fpere might be her misfortune, but was not her fault. The " mature young "woman" could not help herfelf; and pollibly fhe may have been kept under her father's roof, denied to the fwains of Shottery, waiting until fuch time as young William Shakefpere could, with any propriety, marry. At length the heads of houfes agreed that they might be contradled ; there was a pleafant trip to Worcefter for the licenfe ; " R. H." went to fee that everything was done duly and in order; William and Ann were mar- ried, — and, it is to be hoped, " they lived " happily ever after." We are indebted to the antiquarian. Sir Robert Philipps, for difcovering the bond Stratford-upon-Avon, 37 bond and licenfe in 1836, in the Confif- torial Court of Worcefter. In the original it is full of legal abbreviations, as given in Mr. Knight's Biography. For the fake of fimplicity, the full text, as rendered by Mr. Hallivv^ell, has been adopted above. The probability is, that the ceremony of marriage was performed in the Chapel of Luddington, a hamlet of the parifli of Stratford, at a ihovt diflance from Shot- tery, the relidence of Ann Hathaway, and a place with which the Hathav/ays were conned:ed. The Marquis of Hert- ford, to whom Luddington belonged, informed Malone that he remembered there were tenants of the name of Hath- away on the eftate. One, John Hath- away, farmed part of the eftate as late as 1775. It is alfo worthy of note that the curate of Luddington was the Rev. Thomas Hunt, who was fchoolmafter of Stratford 38 New Place, Stratford School when Shakefpere would almoft certainly be a pupil there.* If the mafter and pupil were good friends, the facft might be a flrong inducement to Shakefpere to be married at Mr. Hunt's church. Licenfes granted for the parifh of Stratford, would, of courfe, be avail- able for all churches and chapels within the pariili, at v/hich marriages were allowed. Luddington Chapel was taken down many years ago, and its regiflers have either been deflroyed or loft. The annexed Pedigree will give all neceffary particulars regarding Shake- ipere's family, his marriage, and his iffue. Writers upon this fubjedl have commonly ftated the marriages and de- fcents in the ordinary letterprefs of their works, which, in fuch matters, is con- fuling. * Mafters of the School : — 1570, Walter Roche ; 1572 to 1577, Thomas Hunt (buried at Stratford, April 12, 1612)3 1580, Thomas Jenkins. THE PEDIGIIEE OF WILLIAM SHAKESPERE. (COMPILED BY J. c. M. liELLLW.) ARDERNE, or ARDEN. WalncAnlcn _ Elt.nor.™' A.. i.i". inct! ihc V VI. and EJrtatd IV., bnnchct of Du.ins ll« 15'h teniury Hicni|ii* it rtpeitedly lound in Th'iocC"ofton'.'M'"Ed "vl" , s'^6. ' Obiit. »7 Ftby,, 1635. j Obii(. March, 1 jtj. n April, islo. Fac(u» E91.?.. AimlwrTlil. BMile/peildiri; de New Robntirden = Aeiic*. => -Hill Atton-Csnitow. WnbouMSSo. Maty Hill. - John Fill wood. John Hill. Uorii (About) isn. BuricHat ^o^. ,j ,,(,. (Ewuior to hi ^'^^'i'^""'*' ' y*' A.ton-C.ntlow. M.rritd« A«*n- moih.r AonM fl!.'rf.d°r Asl^n. °""'' " " Ki:tEi"u.r,o A'^"^"' ^'"-^ Cai'low. A|n«Ardcn-.Will). >co»a. Katharine. - EJ«atd Eikynv Join. - Ed. Lambeit. A(ti>e«. - TliorMt StryiiR. Appnreiilly llic brother Father'* Will. HATHAWAY. RifMfd. Edmund. f. March M. A.May 1,15s Buried ApriU, Bui Died in London. B.ipliicd April 1 7, I Bnptiicd Aprlli {. 1 569 The BhflitMy prnpctiv I'oniinixd in the poitruion oi the Hatha- ■ ■ ' ' -" ■ r. tmtilthc yrar nucliTtr of John Buried Sept. 7. 'SSi. , Taylor, re.idinR in tlic to.,..^ ,. ^ >>,.fior., For .{eo-rtc. PedS^ee ot the late d««nl.^of '■ *" App«i'di'xr''HathaivSy"lM7 ^^^ Thorn*.. = M>reiret B. luly a*, I Sos- ] Buric^f Nov, i». 1 ill letter I'yi - . f.Jan.9,i6j;- El«. J:.nc. Sown. -= Daniel.Smi Dr. John Hall, led Nov. iG, in SiraifoiJ Georpf. = He*iefMi"'- J.iptiM.r I JW:jan.9,i6j;- fi]S. Burled Buried AptiU;), ifi$iS, May}, 1701. ^1 t i i (.eeunduO Shakt'pere. - Ann Prcw. May. Thomu Gtorte - Mary. April 16, 16M- B. Kov-il, t666. j M. April io,ifi(4- March ji, March j, B. AuB.ao, j flu(i«<( Oct. 7, "uriedj-dy^ •■Wido^Harh" ,671. 1673. '1^™" ""*■ ill.Shifcti&crt. IkiptiMd Baptittd Feb. =, t(»4. IJi.rfedJulyi8.Ij49. Buritd Fel! i>l. Thomri.NathcEsq., = Eli»helh HMl. - end. inBille»Iey, near B^iptiied Nov.ii,tii6. BapirKd Feb. 9, 1617- Bapilicd Aii[t.=9. '6t9- •on 01 Amhony Na-be, E»5'. »( Baptited Feb. at, 1608. Sirttfotd, June s, '649. Buried M.y b.'C Bofi.d Feb. ^V, 1638. Bu,i, Apiil 4, 1647. /But.jj. on Feb. 17, 1669, B. ifos. hniEhted by Buiieil in Slratloid Chutcn. SHiiiffa/t Jatilj ntitft. n''"'*Al'-" '""' *H h lareh la, 174»- B»P- M'X '«. '741. I J"ly >. I f- Feb. 1 0,1701. B«r 17^4. fl. Jan. !*.':*»■ Stratj-ord-npon- Avon. 3 9 fuling. Where a Pedigree is fet out, the eye inftrudis the memory much more eafily and diredtly, and for this reafon the prefent method has been adopted. Allufion has been made to a popular error regarding Shakefpere's refidence. Paragraph 10 (p. 21) flates that the houfe in which he hved was pulled down at the commencement of the lafl century. Any reprefentation of that houfe, to be authentic, muft therefore bear date previous to 1719. No fuch plate or pid:ure exifts, and there is no evidence of any fuch having exifled. In order to fatisfy public curiofity, two were invented ; the one pubiifhed by Malone, the other by Samuel Ireland, father of the notorious forger of Vortigern and other Shakefperian MSS. Malone's pifture was a draft upon imagination, drawn by John Jordan, of Stratford, to whom reference has been made. Jordan was perfectly prepared. 40 New Place, prepared, for a coniideration, to invent or compofe, or make himfelf generally ufeful. In iirft publifhing Jordan's reprefentation of New Place, Malone accompanied the drawing with this title, giving it a place in his book, but preferving a complete filence himfelf as to the value or authen- ticity of the drawing : — " New Place, from a drawing in the " margin of an ancient furvey, made by " order of Sir George Carew, (afterwards " Baron Carew of Clopton, and Earl of " Totnefs,) and found at Clopton, near " Stratford-upon-Avon, in 1786." Jordan fubfequently confelTed that he had invented the porch of the houfe ; and Malone himfelf approved of his add- ing Shakefpere's arms, becaufe " they were " very likely to have been there ;" fuggeft- ing, at the fame time, " neat wooden " pales, which might be placed with pro- " priety before the houfe." Ireland, in his Stratford-upon-Avon, 4 1 his work upon the Avon, produced an engraving of the houfe, which he boldly aflerted was authentic, and taken from a drawing in the poiTeffion of Mrs. Par- theriche, of Clopton Houfe, the laft of the Clopton family, which dra'wing, how- ever, had unfortunately been dejiroyed ! His words are as follows : — " I have taken the liberty of giving a '* view of the houfe as it ftood at the " time he relided there, which he did " from the period of his quitting London " till his death. The view is copied ** from an old drawing of one Robert " Trefwells, made in 1599, by order of '* Sir George Carew, afterwards Baron '* Carew of Clopton, and Earl of Totnefs. " It was found in Clopton Houfe in " 1786, and was in the polTeilion of the " late Mrs. Patriche, who was the laft of " the antient family of the Clopton's. '*The drawing, I am informed, is fince **loft 42 New Place, " lofl or deftroyed." Whether deftroyed before Ireland made his copy, he omits to mention ; but it is of no particular con- fequence, as the impudent attempt at impofition betrays itfelf. In the ftatements fet forth by Malone and by Ireland, it is impoffible to over- look thefe facfls : they both aiTert that the drawing was found in the year 1786, and they both ufe the identical words, "made by order of Sir George Carew, " afterwards Baron Carew of Clopton, " and Earl of Totnefs." Three improvements of the ftory are introduced by Ireland, who favours us with the extra information that the draw- ing was made by one Robert Trefwells ; that it was made in 1599, and that it was in the polTeffion of Mrs. Partheriche, the laft of the Cloptons. Defpite thefe addi- tional baits to beguile the public, and give the ftory an increafed air of truth, it is im- poffible Stratford-upon-Avon. 43 poffible to avoid the impreffion that Ire- land was pirating Jordan's invention ; and that while he was pointing a moral for future writers, he was adorning a tale at the moment to anfwer his own purpofes. On comparing the drawings given by Malone and by Ireland, it is palpable that the one is a very slightly altered copy of the other, or that they are both copies of fome third drawing. If a third — poiTibly genuine — drawing had exifted, fuch a.s Malone alTerted, and Ireland re- aiferted, did exift, executed at the inftance of Baron Carew, it is evident that fuch drawing would not have exhibited a porch of Wren's era {temp. Charles II.) fluck in front of a drawing made in 1599 [temp. Elizabeth). But we have Jordan's confefTion that " he added the " porch." A genuine drawing, therefore, in the polTeiTion of Mrs. Partheriche, would have been minus the porch which Jordan 44 New Place, Jordan added, and minus the arms upon that porch, which Malone approved, be- caufe " they were very Hkely to have been " there." What fhall be thought, then, of Ireland's pi6ture, which prefents to us the confelTed impolition praftifed by Jordan, and improved upon by Malone ? There can be very little doubt that Ireland took Malone's drawing, added barge-boards to it, and reproduced it as copied from an original at Clopton Houfe. Two queftions of intereft ftill remain to be afked. Did any fuch drawing ever exifl on the margin of a furvey ? If fuch did not exift, how came it that Malone lent himfelf to the impudent invention of Jordan, and publiflied it as genuine, knowing that in fome refpeits Jordan had " improved " it ? It is hard to believe that any fuch drawing exifted — certainly not as defcribed by Malone, on the authority of Jordan — becaufe Stratford-upon-Avon. 45 becaufe a furvey of his property, made by Lord Carew in 1599, would not be a furvey of other people's eftates. Lord Carew was contemporary with Shake- fpere, and might have known that New Place belonged to him two years prior to the making of the furvey — if fuch were ever made. But whether his lordihip knew this or not, it is moft certain that his furveyors, in making plans and draw- ings of his ellate and the tenements upon it, would not introduce in the " margin " of their furvey" a houfe which, at leail thirty-lix years previoufly, had been fold out of the Clopton family. When it is remembered who and what the " Poet "Jordan" was, and how ready he was to perpetrate any impofition upon the public, it feems moft probable that he invented the " margin of the furvey made by order "of Baron Carew," in order to impofe upon Malone, particularly as the exiftence of fuch 46 New Place, fuch a furvey or plan of a nobleman's eftate was moft likely to exift. But was Malone impofed upon ? Did he believe Jordan's flatement, and regard the drawing as a genuine copy of an ori- ginal reprefentation of Shakefpere's houfe ? Malone may have been predifpofed to be deceived ; he may have received the drawing with credence at iirfl;, as Wal- pole did Chatterton's records of ancient painters ; but when Jordan got to im- proving the houfe, and adorning it with very probable coats-of-arms, it is hard to believe that Malone's faith was blind and unfufpecfting ; while it feems fliil harder to condemn him as particeps crijninis in an attempt to pafs off upon the public, as a "great" Gothic houfe of the time of Henry VII., renovated in the time of Queen Elizabeth (when houfes were ftill built in exacflly the fame ftyle and manner — the only difference being in the Stratford-upon-Avon. 47 the "debafed" details of ornamentation, pinnacles, tracery, &c.), a drawing which only needs to be glanced at, and it is infliantly felf-condemned. A fac-limile of this drawing will be found in Knight's " Biography of Shake- fpere" (note on New Place, p. 501). It has been repeatedly copied and prefented to the public, fo that it feems unneceiTary to give it one more '* lall appearance" in this place. It and the drawing given by Ireland may be called arcades ambo. The plate on the oppoiite page, which accurately reproduces Ireland's, may fafely be regarded as twin-brother to the Jordan- Malone picture, the details being the fame in both, with the fingle variation already noticed. The barge-boards, as feen in the accompanying plate, which Ireland furbifhed up and added to the foiled im- polition of Jordan, may well be compared to the fwaggering attempt of a gentleman, out 48 New Placey out at elbows and deftitute of a change of linen, who feeks to impofe upon the public by mounting a clean collar on a mani- feflly dirty iliirt. The reader has only to examine and compare this picture with the picture of Ockwells to perceive, that though it might pafs mufter for the " oyfter-fhell " Gothic of Horace Walpole's fancy, it is as unlike the genuine domeftic architecture either of Henry VII.'s reign, or the " debafed " of Queen Elizabeth's, as Walpole's lath and plafter toy-fhop at Strawberry Hill was a baftard imitation of the ftyle he pretended to aifed:.* It will be obferved that the " timber and brick " defcribed by * The following letter, written by Horace Walpole, and now among the family papers of the Lord's Dacre, at Belhus, ElTex, has never been made public. It has been kindly placed at the difpofal of the author by Sir Thomas I3arrett Lennard, Bart., and will be read with interell, both as difplaying the fycophantilh ftyle in which Walpole addrelied his fuperiors, and alio his archite£tural tafte : — [^' Strawberry by Dugdale have altogether vanished in Ireland's reprefentation, and that a flat, pafteboard-like uniformity of frontage is prefented, in every refpedl oppofite to the character of true Gothic architedlure, in w^hich the lines are invariably broken up by "Strawberry Hill, July nth, 1777. " I cannot receive joy from Bellhoule, my dear Lord, " without giving it, and without telling your Lordiliip " how particularly kind I took it from Mr. Hardinge, " in acquainting me with his intended marriage, — I had " no right to expetl fuch attention, but by my zealous " willies for his happinefs. When anybody that is " perfe6tly content, as he feems to be, thinks of making " others hfeppy, it is the belt proof of a good heart. " When mifery is communicative, it may flow from " want of pity, comfort, advice, or afliflance ; but when " happinefs is neither infolent nor felfilli, the monitor " mult be benevolence. Without includmg myfelf m " this defcription, I enjoy the fatisfattion your Lordlhip, •' Lady Dacre, Mrs. Harding, and Lord Camden mull " have, in the felicity of lb deferving a young man. " It is talking, too, like an old one, but furely all the " riling young men of the age have not Mr. Harding's " good qualities. Your Lordiliip did me the honour " of inviting me to Bellhoule ; it feemed ungrateful " not to thank you, and yet gratitude was the true " motive of my lilence. I waited till I could tell you "that I could accept the honour of your otler. I " have had company, and various engagements that " prevented me, and am not yet at liberty from the " precarious 50 New Place J by gables, dormer windows, porches, and deep barge-boards, producing fhadows, relief, and infinite variety. Ireland pro- duced this wretched drawing in 1814. Mrs. Partheriche (concerning whom he was fo ignorant that he could not fpell her name corredlly)"^ died in 1792. As the "precarious ftate of H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucefter's " health, and from expedting him and the Duchels in " England.^ " I was ftill more flattered, though very unworthy, " by your Lordlhip's thinking of confulting me on your " improvements at Bellhoufe ; nobody is more attached " to the beauty of your feat, nor fliall fee your additions " with more pleafure, but I have not the vanity to " prefume to dire6t them. You have not only done " everything there with tafte, my Lord, but to my tafle " of ' ancienne nobleire j' and fince cheefemongers can " be peers, I would have the manfions of old barons " powdered with quarterings for diftinftionj and fince " Mr. Adams builds for fo many of thefe, I willi he " would deviate from his llyle of Filigraine, and load " them with the Tufcan order, which admits very " fpeaking columns. " When -^ His Royal Highnefs had married the Countefs Waldegrave, daughter of Sir Edward Walpole, and niece to Horace Walpole. * See quotation, p. 41. Stratford-upon-Avon, 5 1 the fuppofed original pidture was unfor- tunately deftroyed when in that lady's poffeffion, it might feem difficult for any ordinary mortal to make a copy of it in 1 8 14: but difficulties of this fort are trifles eafily furmounted when genius, like another Jofhua, repeats the marvel of Ajalon, and puts back the courfes of time.* Difmiffing both Jordan's invention and Ireland's impofition, there is another matter of error which deferves remark. Theobald alTerts, that when Shakefpere " repaired " When I have a day at command, will Lady Dacre " and your Lordfliip allow me to make uie of your " permiliion, and wait upon you. I will not take that " liberty, however, without alking if my vifit will be " feafonable. I am, my dear Lord, with the trueil " regards, " Your Lordlliip's moft obt. " humble fervant, " Horace Walpole." * Appendix D. 52 New Place, " repaired and modelled " New Place, he gave it that name. This is not the fad:. In the furvey of 1590 we find the fol- lowing entry : — " Villielmus Underhill, " gen. tenet, libere quandam domum vo- " catam the Newe Place cum pertinentiis *' per reddit. per annum, xi^d. fe(ft, cur." Conclufive evidence is thus afforded us, that years before the Poet had any interefl in the property, it was known by the name v/hich has ever continued its " houfehold " words." Sir Hugh Clopton, who built the houfe of New Place, happens to have ftyled it in his will " the Great Houfe ; " and fuch it has been fuppofed was its ordinary appellation. It is a fuppofition in fearch of a reafon. The phrafe feems rather an expreffion on the part of Sir Hugh, applied to his manfion as compared with the general fize and importance of the tenements that furrounded it, than the title of the place itfelf. It well de- ferved Stratford- upoji - Avon . 5 3 ferved the honourable deiignation ; for when Queen Henrietta Maria, at the head of 3,000 foot, 1,500 horfe, belide artillery and waggons, marched from Newark, in June, 1643 (^^ ^^^' progrefs to meet the king at Edge Hill, then pro- ceeding to Oxford), and was met at Strat- ford by Prince Rupert, fhe was condu6ted to New Place as the mofl commodious relidence fitted to receive her Majefty; and here fhe fojourned (as we are iiv formed) " about three weeks." Lefs direcft, but important evidence of the " greatnefs" of New Place is afforded us by a conlideration of the wealth and focial pofition of Sir Hugh Clopton. This Sir Hugh was a member of the ancient family of Clopton, of Clopton, in the parifh of Stratford (Clopton Houfe being about a mile out of Stratford). The family name was derived from the manor, which had been granted to the Cloptons in 54 A^^'Z£^ Place, in the reign of Henry III., fo that Sir Hugh's anceftors had been men of rank and importance for at leaft two hundred and fifty years previous to his time. Sir Hugh became alderman of London, and ferved the office of Lord Mayor in the feventh year of the reign of Henry VIL, 1492. His name ilill Hves freili and green in Stratford ; for out of the abun- dance which he amaffed as a wool-ftapler in London, he not only adorned his native- place with the " Great Houfe," but he endeavoured to beautify the town itfelf, and alfo to benefit it by his charity. In the Guild Chapel of the Holy Crofs, ad- joining New Place, there is a monument which was erected to his memory at the requeft of the Corporation of Stratford, by that Sir John Clopton, his defcendant, whofe marriage with Barbara Walker brought back New Place into the Clop- ton family. The Stratford-upon-Avon. 5 5 The monument tells us of his *' pious " works, fo many and fo great, that they " ought to be had in everlafting remem- " brance, efpecially by this town and parifh." " Fie built ye ilone bridge over Avon, " with ye caufey at ye weft end ; further " manifefting his piety to God and love to " this place of his nativity (as ye centurion " in ye Gofpel did to ye Jewifli nation and " religion by building them a fvnagogue), " for at his fole charge this beautiful " Chappel of ye Holy Trinity was rebuilt, " temp. H. VII., and ye crofs ile of ye " Parifh Church." The infcription further relates his cha- rities to the poor of Stratford and of London: — £100 to poor houfekeepers, 100 marks on their marriage to twenty poor maidens, both in Stratford and Lon- don ; making of bridges and highways ; founding exhibitions at Oxford and Cam- bridge ; leaving money for poor prifoners, money 56 New Place, money to hofpitals, to the Mercers' Com- pany, and " to ye parfon of ye pari(h " where he lived " (a wholefome cuftom that has iingularly fallen into defjetude). After all legacies and expenfes are paid, he leaves the refidue of his goods and chattels to " repairing decayed churches," " mending bridges and highways," " main- " taining poor children at fchool," and in portioning " honefl maidens." " This charitable Gent, died a Batcheler, " 15th Sept., 1496, and was buried in St. " Margaret's Church, Lothbury." The ancient and beautiful altar-tomb among the Clopton monuments in Strat- ford Church, without any t^gy, but with quatrefoil panels, originally fitted with armorial bearings in brafs, is mofl pro- bably ered;ed to his memory, becaufe it ftands on the precife fpot where, accord- ing to his will, he directed that he ihould be buried, had he died at Stratford ; and alfo Stratford-upon-Avon. ^j alfo becaufe the arms carved in the arch above it are thofe of Sir Hugh, dilplayed with the arms of the Corporation of London, of v/hich he was Lord Mayor, of the Mercers' Company, and of the Wool Staplers, to all which bodies he belonged. In corroboration of this probability, vv'hich might be pretty fafely afferted as fad:, any viiitor to the Guild Chapel may obferve on the face of the porch- way, over the arch, a feries of lliields, in receffes. It has been already fhown that this portion of Holy Crofs — the nave and porch — were rebuilt by Sir Hugh Clopton. Accordingly, among the fhields we find, fimilar to the fhields over the monument in the church, the arms of the City of Lon- don, the arms of the Wool Staplers, and the arms of Clopton, quartered with Cockjield (Clopton quartering, a Crofs pat^e, fitchee in the foot ; Cockfield, a lion rampant).* The * Appendix E. 58 New Place, The quarterings agreeing precifely with the difplay in the " Vifitation of Warwick- " fhire," and therefore fomewhat ftrength- ening the affertion of the " Vifitation," that the Cloptons and the Cockfields were te?jip. Edward I. two diftind: famiUes, and not that Walter de Cockfield was a Clopton, who alTumed the furname of Cockfield, which name continued in ufe down to the time of Sir Hugh Clopton's grandfather, te?np. Richard II., after which it difappeared, and Clopton only was ufed. In his Survey of London and Wefi:- minfi:er (under the title */ Mercers "), Stowe alludes to Sir Hugh, as follows: — " Sir Hugh Clopton, all his lifetime a " Bathchelaur, Maior, 1492, buried at St. "Margaret's in Lothbury, 1496. He " dwelt in Lothbury, where long after "was the fign of the Wind- Mill ; and " where Sir Robert Large, fometime " Lord Stratford-upon-Avon. 59 " Lord Maior, had lived before.* This " man was born at Clopton, in Warwick- " fhire, a mile from Stratford-upon-Avon, " where he builded a fair flone bridge of "eighteen arches, and glazed the chancel " windows * This Sir Robert Large (Lord Mayor of London in 1439, died 1441), was the Mercer to whom Caxton was apprenticed when he came to London from the Weald of Kent. Stowe Ihows us that Caxton and Sir Hugh both hved in the fame houfe in Lothbury, and we know they were both members of the Company of Mercers. When we remember that Caxton went over to Ghent and Bruges in the intereft of the Mercers' Company, M'hen the wool trade was fuftering through the quarrel between England and Philip the Good of Burgundy, and that Sir Hugh Clopton was not only the fuccelfor of Sir Robert Large in his houfe and place of bufinefs, but alfo a dillinguilhed member of the Company of Mercers, it feems almoft a certainty that Caxton and Sir Hugh muft have been well known to one another j and it is poUible, perhaps probable, that by Sir Hugh the iirll: books printed in England, "The Game " of Chefs," publilhed 1474, the "Poems of Chaucer," "iEfop's Fables," "Reynard the Fox," and others, would be taken down to his Great Houfe in Stratford, where the wonder and admiration of his neighbours would make the walls echo with the name of Caxton, the introducer of the invention which, in little more than a century later, was to carry forth from that fame houfe the immortal thoughts of him, whole words, winged by Caxton's aid, have tlown from pole to pole. 6o New Place, " windows of the fame Parifli Church " where his arms did ftand. Which, " as WiUiam Smith, fom^etime Rouge " Dragon, hath obferved, differed much "from the coat fet up for him, painted *' in a target, in the Mercers' Hall, "which indeed was the arms of the " Cloptons of Suffolk." Thefe facfts prefent to the mind one of England's worthies, a true Chriftian gentleman in the fullefh and beif fenfe of the phrafe. It is a matter of furprife that a man of fuch excellent parts and charac- ter, and fo intimately connected with the houfe and place where Shakefpere lived, fhould be fo much overlooked, as he is, by writers upon Stratford and its antiquities. It is not, however, upon his genuine nobility of character that we have here to dwell ; but upon his tafte, his love for art, and his delight in architecture. It is fomething more than a fanciful idea Stratford-upon-Avon. 6 1 idea for us to believe that the tafte of Sir Hugh Clopton influenced the mind of Shakefpere. Inilead of a fancy, this feems to be a fad. The "New " Place," which he ereded, was deftroyed fomewhere about 1720, and no repre- fentation of it remains to portray it to us ; but one piece of building, within a dozen yards of the fpot where it ftood, is indicative of Sir Hugh's tafte. The nave of the Guild Chapel was rebuilt by him, at precifely the fame period that Dean Ballhall (then Vicar of Stratford), was rebuilding the chancel of the Parifli Church, to which it is clear that Sir Hugh generouily contributed. Stowe informs us that the perpen- dicular tracery of the windows in this chancel was filled with ftained giafs, at the expenfe of Sir Hugh Clopton, whofe arms Dugdale faw emblazoned upon the glafs. There can be no difficulty in 62 New Place, in conjed:uring what fort of relidence " New Place " mufl have been — how architecturally corred: — how excellent in proportion — how artiflic in delign — how pure in the flyle and detail of its ornamen- tation — how deferving of its mafter's de- lignating it the " Great Houfe " of Strat- ford, when we refer to his will, and com- pare its fpecial provifions for the repairing of churches, the building of bridges, the conftrudiion of highways, with the work that he did himfelf accomplifh in erediing Stratford Bridge, building the nave of the Holy Crofs Chapel, and aiding in the erection of the chancel of the Parifli Church. Thofe portions of the Stratford churches, in which Sir Hugh was inter- efted, are, even amidft the lavifh richnefs of eccleiiafhical architecfture in Warwick- fhire, juftly reckoned fuperb Specimens of the Perpendicular period. Of " New Place " Shakelpere became the Stratford-upon-Avon. 63 the lord and mailer in 1597. The houfe was then rather more than one hun- dred years old. It would need to be " repaired and modelled," particularly as it had belonged to three refpedive families within the half century before Shakefpere purchafed it, and had palTed out of the Clopton family about a year prior to his birth. Of the repairs that he made, v»^e know nothing ; but it is eafy to underftand how much his mind may have been impreifed with the flately beauty of New Place from his earlieft childhood. No inhabitant of Stratford, feeing Sir Hugh's " Great Houfe " and the church that he alfo rebuilt alonglide it, could fail to know them and to admire them, much lefs a boy of Shakefpere's obfervation and appreciative mind. New Place adjoins the Guild Chapel and the Grammar School. There the boy was taught ; and day by day, as he went bounding 64 New Place, bounding forth from school, the firil: obje6t that met his view was Sir Hugh's houfe, next the church. While yet a child of between three and four years of age, a fale took place. He may, on the very day of the fale, have been holding to his nurfe's fide, and making his earliefl obfervations upon men and things, as he palfed the chapel of Holy Crofs, and have feen the family of Underbill arrive to acquire polTefTion of " New Place." All this is perfedlly poffible ; and if this or anything limilar occurred, it might imprefs upon the boy's thoughts that New Place had been fold! Might it not again ? Who can tell, whether in his early days the boy Shakefpere's mind had not been taught by old Sir Hugh's tafle to appreciate and admire the beautiful in art ; had not been fired with ambition to go to London, as Sir Hugh (the pride of Stratford, and its benefador) had done, and Stratford-upon~Avo7i. 65 and by dint of labour and perfeverance to make an independence, and return like him to Stratford, and live honoured and beloved among the townsfolk of his native place ? Who can tell whether this fame boy may not often and often have ftood ruminating under the fhadows of the buttrelTes of Holy Crofs, admiringly examining the gables and cafements, the porch and antique barge-boards of the " great houfe," and refolving, ihould any fale take place there again, if he were a man and had the means, it fhould have but one mafter — one, himfelf poiTeiTed of taftes like Sir Hugh's, who would " repair " and preferve the anceflral manlion ? In any biographies of Shakelpere or hillories of Stratford which may have been written heretofore. New Place has been 66 New Place, been little more than mentioned. A houfe was built upon it at fuch a date, fold at another, purchafed by Shakefpere at another, and in it he died. No one has ever as yet opened the pages of ancient records to tell us much more about it than that it belonged to the Clopton family, and was built by Sir Hugh Clopton. The time has perhaps come when it is defirable that the public fhould become polfelTed of more particulars concerning it ; in fa6l, when every avail- able information {hould be produced to relate its hiftory. That it was Shakefpere's dwelling- place is the caufe of its interefi: in public efleem ; but that interefi will be in no degree decreafed if we know fomethine about the alTociations of the place, and of the family to which it chiefly belonged, efpecially as that family mull have been well PEDIGREE OP THE FAMILIES OP SIR HUGH CLOPTON, Km., AND OP JOHN 1 COMBE; TO THEIR EXTINCTION. IN THE PERSON OF FRANCES CLOPTON-Mks- PARTHERICHE-a.d, 1793. CpiMfnm ,k " VipM«. ,/ W.mMIkn .619;" J Ctufcb. [^';",?.'d?a«"o. T '" """'■■ TmtH v?t;!.,,| - ,,. ■ .1 Srnllgfd =^«.- sSs ^sssm^^^i^ 1:^^... COMBE, o« COMBES. I •'""■"-■ L ^li^^S ^Ck-h. - -,T -,,;,. .?;.;.«■»»».,„ °"J f. J,fc"cl'/ ■s^°;«i,'£"^=?^S^'k! °'^*'''^ I KBYTE. I I ._j ..J ,_....«... .„ .,.^ ™„,. l^;-.^-^-^!^ I KBYTE. I I I tWo'J'WhUrof wnindJtifolSlt 103 loa. )fid dulhio- [ ai 'KiAU'i.tui. )nlMttibr ^ l>k>Tn>>>>"r K^ D>(«bin<. Fn.PlcailiHyilookibi TALBOT. 66 Ne been little more houfe was built u fold at another, p at another, and i has ever as yet ancient records tc about it than the Clopton family, j Hugh Clopton. The time has it is defirable thj become polfeifed concerning it ; in f able information fh relate its hillory. That it was Sh place is the caufe of efteem ; but that ir degree decreafed if about the alTociation: the family to which efpecially as that fan Stratford-upon-Avon. 67 well known to Shakeipere ; and members of it, that were his contemporaries, play no obfcure part in the hiftory of his times. Whoever he may be that under- takes to give the world a true and fuffi- cient account of New Place mufl inform his readers concerning the Cloptons of Clopton Houfe, lince the hiftory of New Place and its varied fortunes is as clofely twined around the Clopton ftem as the ivy around the oak. On the oppolite page will be found a pedigree fet forth, which has appeared abfolutely effential to the accomplishment of the author's purpofe. By reference to it the reader will be able to follow him much more eafily; and in order to fecure perfpicuity — as the fame names are repeated in feveral defcents — thofe have been alphabetically labelled to which it feems necelTary to dired: particular atten- tion. It f a 68 New Place, It has been fhown (p. i6), that New Place was built in the reign of Henry VII., not later than 1490, by Sir Hugh Clopton, formerly Lord Mayor of London (pedi- gree Aa). Sir Hugh was a younger fon of John Clopton, of Clopton — temp. Henry V\., — and being a younger fon, both he and his brother John fought their fortunes as merchants of the Staple, in London. Dying a bachelor. Sir Hugh bequeathed his refidence of New Place to his elder brother's grandfon and heir, William Clopton (Ab), in whom accord- ingly both Clopton Houfe and New Place became veiled. The will of Sir Hugh Clopton, bear- ing date 14th Sept., 1496, was proved at Lambeth on the 4th day of 0(5tober in the fame year. Lie defcribes himfelf therein as " citezein, mercer, and alder- man of London," and delires that if he die in London, or within twenty miles thereof, Stratford-upon-Avon. 69 thereof, he fhould be buried in the church of St. Margaret's, Lothbury ; but if at Stratford-upon-Avon, to be buried in the parifh church there, within the chapel of our Lady, between the altar of the fame and the chapel of the Trinity next adjoining, his body to be brought to ground with four torches and four tapers, and no more. After detailing an agreement with one Dowland and divers other mafons about the building of the chapel of the Trinity, and the tower of a fteeple to the fame, and mentioning his father and mother by name (John and Agnes), there is a difpofition of fundry legacies to cha- ritable and religious ufes to coniiderable length ; after which bequefts to divers individuals ; and, finally, entries relative to the devife of his property, in thefe words : — Item. 70 New Place, Item. — I will as for my landes and rentes all such is of copy holde tliat Thomas Clopton the yonger and I be feoffed in remayne holy to hym and to his heires after my decesse for ever and for lak of issue to the right heires of the lordship of Clopton And to William Clopton I bequeith my great house in Stratford upon Avon and all other my lands and tenements he'inge in Wilmecote in the Brigge towne and Stratford ivith reversion and services and duetes thereunto helonginge remayne to my cousin Wm. Clopton and for lak of issue of hym to remayne to the right heires of the lord- ship of Clopton for ever being heires males Also I will that CC marc that Doctor Balsaie delyvered me be by the advise and discrecion of my executours employed to the use behoofe and moost profitte of the college of Stratford-upon-Avon by the con- sent and advice of the wardeyn with other sadde prestis and honest men of the towne And all such housing and tenementes as I have within the towne of Caleys I will remayn to my cousin Hugh Clopton the elder and also the reversion of the house that I dwell in att Loudon and the termes of the same. By the inquifitlon poji morte?ii upon Sir Hugh Clopton, it appears that he died feised of the following property in Stratford : — De Stratford-upon-Avon, j i De uno burgagio jacente in Chapell strete in Stretfordpredicta ex oposito capelle exparte boriali et de uno dimidio burgagio jacente in Ely strete alias dicta Swynne strete et de uno burgagio in High strete et de uno orreo et gardino jacente in Henley strete et de uno dimidio burgagio jacente in Church strete in Stretfordpredicta et de duobus toftis quatuor virgatis terre quatuor acris prati et viginti acris pasture cum pertinentijs in Brygge- towne in parocbia de Stretford Et quod idem Hugo ante obitum suum fuit seisitus in dominico suo ut de feodo de uno tenemento jacente in Stratford predicta in Rother strete vocato Bulsals place et de uno gardino jacente in Church strete et de uno tenemento jacente in High strete super corneram de le Corne market in quo Johannes Balamy inhabitat et de aleo tenemento in Chapel strete buttante super le Corne market in quo Wolfridus Smyth inliabitat in Stretford predicta.* Thefe documents will fhow that Wil- liam Clopton (Ab), who had inherited the Clopton eftates in i486, received a very * According to this will, it appears that all this property here recited was demifed and let to Roger Paget and Elizabeth his wife, for term of life of the faid Roffer. 72 New Place, very confiderable addition to his patri- mony by the death — ten years later — of his great uncle, in 1496. But, together with this acceffion, he found himfelf mafter of two confiderable manfions, removed little more than a mile from one another ; viz., Clopton Houfe adjoining the town, and New Place within it. Whether this gentleman kept up both the houfes there is no evidence to fliow ; but as we have proof of New Place being let by his fon (B), it feems probable that William Clopton (Ab) contented himfelf with the patrimonial refidence of Clopton, and fet the example which his fon fol- lowed. Having enjoyed his eftate for twenty-five years, he died in 1521, little more being known of him than that for fome offence to the Crown he received a pardon from Henry VIII. By the inquijition pofi morte??j, it ap- pears Stratford-upon-Avon. 73 pears that he was feifed of the following property in Stratford, and retained pofTef- fion of New Place : — In uno burgagio jacente in strata vocata Chapel strete in Stretford super Aven ex parte boriali capelle Sancte Trinitatis in Stratford predicta in comitatu predicto et de uno burgagio jacente in Chapel strete predicta uno capite inde abut- tante versus Hugonem Raynold ex parte Australi et alio capite inde abuttante versus quandam stratam vocatam Shepe strete ex parte Boriali et de uno burgagio jacente in strata vocata High strete in Stratford predicta uno capite abuttante versus fundum Magistri Gilde Sancte Trinitatis de Stratford ex parte Boriali et alio capite inde abuttante versus stratam vocatam Slijstrete ex parte Australi ac de uno burgagio jacente in strata vocata High strete in Stretford predicta uno capite inde abuttante versus tene- mentum Magistri Gilde Sancte Trinitatis predicte ex parte Australi et alio capite inde abuttante versus Willielmum Staffordshire ex parte Boriali Necnon de uno Burgagio jacente in strata vocata Briggestrete in Stratford predicta ac eciam de quodam orreo jacente in strata vocata Henley strete in Stratford predicta ac de quodam shopa jacente in strata vocata TVode strete quam Robertus Gonyatt modo tenet et occupatet de uno burgagio jaceute 74 -^^'^^ Flace, jacentein strata vocata Rother market in Stretford predicta in quo Deouisia Aylys Addua modo inha- bitat ac de uno burgagio jacente in strata vocata Grenhul strete in Stretford predicta in quo Nicholaus Norres modo inbabitat necnon de uno burgagio jacente in strata vocata Church strete in Stretford predicta &c Necnon de alio burgagio ja- cente in Church strete in Stratford predicta in quo Jobannes Asburste modo inbabitat uno capite inde abuttante versus Episcopum Wigornensis ex parte Occidentali et aUo capite inde abuttante versus vicum Regis vocatum Church strete ac de duobus gardinis in Stretford predicta abuttantibus versus Jobem Hubandys ex parte Boriali et versus dictum Magistrum Gilde predicte ex parte Australi nec- non de dimidio burgagio jacente in Elystrete in Stratford predicta nunc dimisso et locato pro quo dam orreo. The above William (Ab) was fucceeded by his fon, bearing the fame name (B), who lived in polTeflion of the combined eftates from 1521 to 1560, at which latter date he died. His will is dated January 4th, and we learn from the in- quilition that he expired on the fame day at Clopton. The death of this William Clopton Stratford-upon-Avon. 75 Clopton (B) brings to light the firft fad: explanatory of the caufes which led to New Place fubfequently becoming the property of Shakefpere. The will bears the name of *' William Bott," one of the attefting witnelTes. There are traces of Botts in the regifter of Stratford, though the author has vainly fearched for fome mention of this perfon, whofe name is on record as one of the practifmg folicitors of Stratford at the period. June 2, 1575. — William^ sonne of Robt. Bott (buried) . September 3, 1576. — Sonne to Edward Botte. July 18^ 1588. — Margery, daughter of Ralph Bottj deceased. January 19, 1591. — Anne Botte, deceased. The probability is that the Botts were only profeflionally connected with Strat- ford, and belonged to fome outlying parifh or hamlet. However this may be, it is certain that William Bott was a lawyer ']6 New Place, lawyer in prad:ice at Stratford,'* and that he was profeffionally engaged by William Clopton of Clopton (B). After his death, the inquilition was taken on the 17th day of June, 2nd of Elizabeth (1560), at Warwyck, and the Jurors found that he died feised (inter alia) in his demefne as of fee — ■ De et in uno tenemento sive burgagio cum pertinentijs in Stratford super Aven in dicto comi- tatu Warr in vico ibidem vocato la Chappell strete modo in tenura sive occupacione Willielmi Bott. The fame inquilition informs us, that the fon and heir William Clopton (C) was at that date " twenty- two years of age. In due courfe of years this William (C) * Attorneys of Stratford about that date : — Mr. Thomas Truffell, Mr. William Court, Mr. Edward Davies, Mr. William Bott, Mr. Richard Spooner, Mr. Richard Symmons. Stratford-upon-Avon. 77 (C) came alfo to die, as the pedigree fhows, in the year 1592. The Book of Adminiftrations, in an entry regarding the goods of this gentle- man, reveals to us not only the bulinefs, but alfo the blood relationfhip between the Cloptons and the Botts ; and thus we receive a complete iniight into a tranfadtion that feems fingular, regarding which no previous writer has given us any information. The following extradt is moil impor- tant :— Octobris, 1597. Duodecimo die emanavit wiLLiELMus commissio Johmini Bott, CLOPTON, PROXIMO CONSANGUINE© Willielmi Clopton, nuper Biasij . . ' ^ . Johanuis, 16C3. dum vixit de Clopton^ m comitatu Warwici, de- functi, habentis, &c.j ad Administratio administrandum bona J u- anfe^^mense ^^^ ct credita ejusdem, per Maij, 1592, Annam Clopton, eius relic- Johanuis, tarn, jam deiunctamj non administrata, 78 New Place, administrataj de bene, &c., in persona Thome White, Bias!j, notarij publici, procurato- ris, legitime constituti, ju- rate. In what way John Bott happened to be "proximo confanguineo" to William Clopton the author muft confefs his pro- found ignorance ; for Heralds' College can give him no relief. No doubt there has been an omiffion in the pedigree, wherever the link between the Botts and Cloptons occurred; but the above ex- trad: places it beyond all queftion that, in Odober, 1597, °^^ John Bott, as the neareft of kin in the male line, after the death of Miftrefs Anne Clopton in 1596, the widow of William, adminiflered the eftate, it is to be prefumed, as the friend and relative of the Countefs of Totnefs, and Anne Clopton, of Sledwick, her lifter, the co-heireftes of the late William Clopton (C). What Stratford-upon-Avon. jg What the connexion between John Bott and William Bott was, the author has not difcovered. They were probably father and fon, or brothers — the latter being the more probable of the two con- jecflures. That they were clofe blood relatives is beyond a doubt. Having dug up thefe fad:s, it will not furprife the moil ordinary mind to find that William Bott, of Stratford-upon- Avon, folicitor, tenant of New Place, relative, and family lawyer to the Clop- tons — witnefs to the will of a father, and advifer to his fucceflbr, aged twenty-two — took an early opportunity of improv- ing upon the chances which fortune had cafl in his way. William Clopton (B) died 1560. William Clopton, the adminiftration of whofe eflate fubfequently in 1597 is referred to above, (C) fucceeded, and in 1563 he was induced to fell New Place to his 8o New FlacCy his late father's tenant, lav/yer, and his own blood relative. The tranfadiions between" Bott and William Clopton were confiderable, for by the indenture which follows it will be feen that Bott had a knack of gaining poflefTion of land belonging to the Clop- ton eftate. Indentur in? Willm Clopton et Willm Bott. CjjtS IntlCntUre made tlie y^"^ daye of Januarje in tlie sy:xte yere of tlie reigne of our souaigne ladye Elizabeth by tlie grace of God quene of England Fraunce and Irelande defender of the faith &c betwene Willm Clopton of Clopton in the countye of War? Esquyer on the one partye and Willm Bott of Stratforde uppon Avon in the said Countye gentleman on the other partye wyt- nesseth that the said Willm Clopton for and in consederacon of and for dyuse somes of money to hym in hande att and before the ensealinge here- of whereof and wherewyth the said Willm Clopton doth acknowledge hym selfe thereof well and trulye satysfyed contented and paid and the said Willm Bott his henes executors and administra- tors thereof clerely acquyted exonated and dys- chardo-ed Stratford- upon - Avon . 8 1 chardged by these pntes liath. gyven and graunted bargained and solde and by these psentes doth clerelye and frelye gyve graunte bargayne and sell to the said Willm Bott all those his three pastures of grounde called the nether Ingon alias Ington and all that his meadowe called Synder meadowe lyinge and beinge in nether Ingon alias Ington in the paryshe of Bisshopps Hampton in the said County e of Warr no we or late in the tenure or occupacon of Rycharde Charnocke and Willm Baylyes of Welon and the assignes of the said Eycharde Charnocke and all that his wynde- myll foure yardes of errable land and twentye and nyne leyes scituate lyinge and beynge in the Feildes of olde Stratforde and in the home nexte adiojminge to the said feildes and all that his meadowe lyinge in Shotterye meydowe nowe or late in the occupacon of John Combes and John Lewys alias Atkyns To have and to holde the said pastures meadowes wyndemylles lande and leys and all and singuler there apptenaunces to the said Willm Bott his heires and assio-nes for eumore to the onlye use and behoufe of the said Willm Bott his heires and assignes for ever And also the said Willm Clopton hath bargayned & solde by these psentes all and all maner of evi- dences deedes wrytinges chers and mynymentes that be touchynge and concnynge onlye the pmisses or any parte or parcell of them and the said evidences dedes wrytinges chers and myny- mentes the said WiUm Clopton couenaunteth and graunteth 82 New Flace, gramitetli by tliese psentes to and wytli tlie said Willm Bott his executors or assignes to delyuer or cause to be delyued to liym the said Willm Bott his executors or assignes before the feaste of Easter next ensuinge the date hereof and fyr- thermore the said Willm Clopton for him his heires executors and administrators couenauntetli and graunteth by these psentes to and Avyth the said Willm Bott that he the said Willm Clopton shall before the feaste of Easter make or cause to be made to the said Willm Bott his heires or as- signes a good suer suffycyente laufull and indefy- cyble estate in the lawe in fee symple of and in the said pastures meadowes leyes of pasture wyndemyll and errable lande wyth all and singu- ler there apptenaunces be yt by fjnie feoflfament clede or dedes inrolled release confirmacon re- couye wyth voucher or vouchers wyth warrantye agaynste all men or wyth out warrantye as cane and shalbe deuysed or aduised by the learned councell of the said Williii Bott his heires or as- signes and furthermore the said Willin Clopton for hym his heires executors and administrators couenaunteth and graunteth by these psentes to and w;/th the said Willm Bott his executors and administrators that the said pastures meadowe wyndemyll and errable lande att the daye of the date hereof be clerelye dyscharged of all and from all former bargaynes sales dowres ioyntors leases statutes mchaunte and of the staple Recognisances iudgementes fynes amcyamentes condem|Dnacons and Stratford'Upon-Avon. and all other cliai'clges and incomberances what- ! soever they be the rentes and suices to the cheife | lorde or lordes of the fee from hensforth dewe and accustomed to be paide onlye excepted and also the said Willm Clopton for hyni his heires executors and administi'ators couenaunteth and graunteth by these psentes to and wyth the said Willm Bott his heires executors and administra- tors that he the said Willm Clopton and Anne his wyffe shall before the fourthe daye of Maye nexte ensuinge the date hereof knowledge a fyne before one of the queues maiestyes iustyces of the Kinges benche or comon place to be levyed be- fore the Queues Justices at Westm of and for the said pastures meadowe wyndemyll leyes of pas- ture and errable lande wyth all and singuler there apptenaunces and also the said Willm Clopton for hym his heires executors and administrators coue- nuauteth and graunteth by these presentes to and wyth the said Willm Bott his heires executors and assignes that he the said Willin Clopton and his heires shall att all tymes hereafter and from tyme to tyme when and as often as he or they shalbe thereunto reasonablye required by the said Willm Bott his heires or assia'nes doo suffer and cause to be done and suffered all and euy suche further acte and actes thinsre and thino'es as shalbe rea- sonablye required by the learned councell of the said Willfn Bott his heires or assignes for the fur- ther assurance and suer makinge of the premisses to the said Willin Bott his heires or assignes for euermore 84 New Place, euermore In wytnesse wliereof eyther party to these psente Indentures in?cliaungeably liave putto there seales the daye and yere firste above wrytten Et memorand qd Pcio die Aprihs anno Supscript pdciis Wills Clopton venit coram dca dna Regina in Cancellaf sua apud Westm et re- cognouit Indentur pdcam et omia et singula in eadem content et spificat in forma supdict. January, in the 6th of Eliz., would be 1563-4 — three months before Shakefpere was born. Upon the authority of Wheler, the author has affumed that the fale of New Place occurred the year previous (1563). Wheler is commonly moil ac- curate, and the above fale gives weight to his affertion, becaufe it proves that Bott was at that time making purchafes from William Clopton. The Fines of 1563 are lilent, though it muft be obferved that there is a total abfence of all Fines in the Record Office for Michaelmas Term of that year ; v/hich is to be accounted for by the fad: that the plague was raging Stratford'tipon-Avon. *^^ raging. It is moft probable that the fale took place at that time ; and that the late Mr. Wheler had met with fome private trace of it for which the author has fruitleflly fearched among public papers. That William Bott purchafed New Place upon fpeculation appears moft probable, becaufe it only remained in his polfefTion for the period of four years. The FineSy Michaelmas Term, 9th Eliz., {how us that the fale by Bott to Under- bill took place at that date. Warr 1567. Hec est finalis concordia fca in Cur Dne Eegine apud Westm in crastino Sci Martini anno regno? Elizabeth dei gra Angt Franc et Hibnie Regine fidei defensoris &c a conqu nono coram Jacobo Dyer Rico Weston Johe Walslie & Rico Harpur Justic et alijs dne Regine fidelib5 tunc ibi psen- tib5 in? Willm Underehyll quer et Willm Botte et Elizabeth uxem eius et Albanu Heton deforc de uno mesuagio et uno gardino cum ptin in Stretford sup Aveu unde ptitum convencois sum fuit 86 New Place, fuit int eos in eadm Cur scilt qd pdci Willms Botte et Elizabeth, et Albanus recogn pdet ten cum ptiii esse jus ipius Willnii Undereliyll ut itt que idem Willms tlet de dono pdcor AVillmi Botte et Eliza- betli et Alloani Et itt remise? et quiet^ clam de ipis Willmo Botte et Elizabeth et Albano et hered suis pdco Willmo Underehyll et hered suis imppm. Et pterea idem. Willms Botte concessit p se et hered suis qd ipi warant^ pdco Willino Undere- hyll et hered suis pdic't^ ten cum ptin cont^ pdcm Willm Botte et hered suos imppm Et ult'ius idem Albanus concessit p se et hered suis qd ipi warant' pdco Willino Underehyll et hered suis pdict teri cum ptin cont^ pdcm Albanu et hered suos imppm Et insup ijdem Willms Botte et Elizabeth concesser p se et hered ipius EHzabeth qd ipi warant pdco Willmo Underehyll et hered suis pdca ten cum ptin cont^ pdcam Elizabeth et hered suos imppm Et p hac recogn remissione quietaclam warant fine et concorclia idem Willins "H Underehyll dedit pdcis Willmo Botte et Elizabeth et Albano quadragiuta libras sterlingor. [Endorsed are the proclamations secundum for- mam statuti.] By this fale New Place was refcued from the hands of a grafping lawyer, and paiTed into the poireffion of a family long connedied UNDERHILL PEDIGREE. tlaiis;h. of Stanley ot Bromwich, co. Staff., Esq. 2nd. Agncsi Haugh. and heires.-! of Thon Over Eatington, Esq, am John Norwood. William Underbill, son and lieir. Ob. s. p. Left his estate 10 bis brothei Edward. Marg;arer. d. ot — Middlei Edgebaston, co, Thomas 'Underbill ot Eatinpton. 01). Oct. 6, 1603. Id. ot Sir John Congrt ot Stretron, co. ot SratFord. Sir Edward Umlerhill. Ob. 13 Nov. 1641. I I I I I J I I I I I 13 sons 7 daughters. (A) ! "William Underhiil otIdlicoteandLoxley. Ob. Marrh 31, 1570. Buried at Eatingtnn. I d. ot Sir JohnCongn of Stretton. I Ob. May 13, 1561. i (B) bhirley. Brokesly, Thomas. Dorothy. William Un.lerhill of Idlicotc, Esq. Born Sept. 1555. Oh. July 7i I597, .(Etat. 41. Buried July 13,1597- Described in the Inq. P.M.as of'Fillongley. Will dated July 6, 1597, Proved Aug. 9. Edward Underbill of Bath Kinston. Ob. inf. Margaret. Anne. ' Edvvaid I.ydval, of Geivonton, in Co. Oxon. Fulkc Underhiil. Ba|.t. Jan. 28, .578. Ob. March I, 159S. 5. J his brother Fulke. (D) I Hercules Underbill of Idlicote,Esq. William = Hester, o( Ludlow. I d.olS. Parke Bapt. March, I587. ot Llandendei (C) I Sir William Underhiil ot Idlicote, Knt. Buried Sept. 25, 1710. and. Margaret, wide Cornelius Van Bom ot London, Mercha Ob. Sept. :8, 1712. CE)| Samuel Underbill, in St. Nicholas Elizabeth. Ohiit. Nov. 15,1585. Buried at Stratford. Catherine, widow of Jonathan Fogg. Oh. 1739. lev. George Hammond, M.A., lector of Hampton Lucy, who ucceeded his uncle, William -ucv, D.D. in 1724. Obiit. Feb. 29, 1760. jE<.66. UNDERI irhill = daiigh. of Si Esq. I of Bromwic ugh. of — Batt Long Compton, co. Wa of Slade Walse = zi ofWolviMarstoke. H of Eati William Underhill, son and heir. Ob. s. p. Left his estate to his brother Edward. erhill = i^ton Margaret, d. of — M Edgebaston Humphrey. John. Thomas Unde of Eating Ob. Oct. 6, I (A) I ! William Underhi of Idlicoteand Loxlei Ob. March 31, 1570. Buried at Eatingtoi Sir Edward Underhill. Ob. 13 Nov. 1 641. Ex quo. the senior branch. 13 S( Fulke UhdeihiU. Bapt. Jan. 28, 1578. Ob. March i, 1598. s. p. I bhirley. Bn rhiU sq. Born Sept. 1555 3, 1597. Described in th II dated July 6, 1597. = Bridget, d. of John, Lord Carleton. B (C) I = Sir William Unc ol Idlicote, K Buried Sept. 25, = Sarah, daugh. of I William Swift of Willia.v. lJi]l. ^ = Catherine, las widow ot Jon< tb. Fogg. Ob. I )n. 4» Stratford-upon-Avon. 87 connected with Eatington, and Idlicote, near Shipfton-upon-Stour. The Under- hills, as the abftrad: of pedigree here- with given fhows, were originally a Staf- fordfliire family, and fettled at Eatington, a few miles from Stratford, on property belonging to the Shirleys."^" The younger fon of Edward Underhill purchafed the eftate of Idlicote, a fhort diftance from Eatington, in the loth year of the reign of Elizabeth (1568), from Ludovic Gre- ville, and fo eftabliflied the junior branch of the Underbills as a family in War- wickfhire. This William (marked A on the pedigree) had a fon, alfo named William (marked B), who married his firil: coufm, Mary, of Eatington. His fons. Sir Hercules and William, were ftaunch and loyal fupporters of the caufe of Charles I., and were compelled to redeem * Appendix F. 88 New Place, redeem their eftate from the Repub- hcans for £1,177 8j. 6d. William Underhill (B) was the perfon by whom the purchafe of New Place was made. By referring to the will of his father (in the Appendix G) it is evident that the Underbills poffeifed property in Stratford-upon-Avon; and therefore the purchafe of New Place by William Underhill is readily under- ftood. His name is repeatedly found among the fines levied about the years 1570 to 1590,^' proving that he was anxious to accumulate as much landed property as he could in the neighbour- hood of Stratford-upon-Avon ; in fa6t, that he was arhbitious to eftablifh the younger branch of the Underbills at Idlicote in as great affluence as the fenior branch at Eatington. It was an ambition deftined * Appendix G. Stratford-upon-Avon. 89 deftined to be difappointed in the perfon of his grandfon (C), who having married Alice, the daughter of Sir Thomas Lucy, of Charlecote, had the misfortune to be- come a widower, and then to become enamoured of a widow, the rehd: of one Van Bommel, a rich Dutch merchant in London. This lady eftranged Sir William from rural life, led him to London, and drew him into commercial Speculation. He embarked in the gunpowder trade ; the mills were blown up, and the pro- perty blown to the winds at the fame time. His fon, Hercules (D), was in- volved, along with his father, and the refult was, that in 1754 the eftate was fold to the Hon. Heneage Legge, by the grandfon Samuel (E), whofe fifter Alice (F) was allied with the family of the Lucys of Charlecote, having married the Rev. George Hammond, Rector of Hampton Lucy, who fucceeded his uncle, William Lucy 90 New Place, Lucy, D.D., in the rectory, 1724. A monument to the memory of Mr. Ham- mond, and Alice Underhill, his wife, may be feen in the veftry of the modernly rebuilt church of Hampton Lucy ; the apfidal eail end of which, lately added by the prefent owner of Charlecote, aided by the genius of Mr. Gilbert Scott, has tranf- formed this church into a fort of fmall cathedral; and, in the midftof the beau- ties and alTociations of Hampton Lucy and Charlecote, has furnifhed the lovers of architecture with a central objed; upon which the eye refts with gratitude to the liberality and tafte of the prefent mailer of Charlecote. From 1567 to 1597 William Under- hill continued the proprietor of New Place.* It is vain at this remote date to fpeculate upon the caufes which led to Shakefpere's * Appendix H. Stratford-upon-Avon. 9 1 Shakefpere's purchafe of New Place. Certainly there was no neceffity for William Underhill to fell any portion of his property. On the contrary, we have the beft proof that he had the delire and ability to increafe his landed eflate ; and we can eilimate its value when we recall the fad: before ftated, that his fon. Sir Hercules, during the Civil War was glad to compound for it, by paying down £1,177. There is one fad: concerning the fale of New Place which is worth noting. It was fold to Shakefpere in the Eafter Term of 1597; and Underhill was himfelf dead and buried July 13th of the fame year. This fad: rather favours the idea that New Place was fold from fome private or perfonal motive to Shakefpere ; for it mofh certainly was not fold as a buiinefs tranfad:ion. William Underhill is known to us as an accumulator of landed pro- perty 92 New PlacCy perty, not as a man who had any necef- fity to part with a fmgle acre of his eftate. It is probable that Shakefpere was acquainted with the Underbills, and it may be that William Underbill was aware of the Poet's defire to polTefs him- felf of the property at New Place. New Place would not be a relidence at v/hich Fulk, or Hercules — the future Sir Her- cules, Royalift, and favourite of King Charles — would be ever likely to reiide, particularly as Idlicote itfelf was fo con- tiguous to Stratford. It will be feen by the pedigree that Fulk died the year after his father, and the inheritance paffed to his brother ' Hercules, a minor. Had Fulk Underbill died the year before his father's death, a reafon for the fale of New Place would have been fupplied us. As it is, the probabilities are flrongly in favour of the belief that Shakefpere was perfonally intimate with the Underbill family Stratford-iipo72-Avon. 9 3 family ; and both Fulk and Hercules^ youths of about feventeen and nineteen years of age, were poffibly anxious that before their father died, the Poet and ad:or fhould be gratified in his willi, and New Place fecured to him. The fails, however, are thefe: in Eafter Term, 1 597, the fale was effected, and on the 13 th of July, William Underbill was buried. The preceding documents the author believes have never before been publifhed ; the following was difcovered by Mr. Halliwell : — Pasch. 39 Eliz. Inter Willielmum Shakespeare quer et Williel- mum Underhill^ generosum cleforc, cle uno mesu- agio^ duobus liorreis, et duobus gardinis, cum pertinentijs, in Stratford super Avon, unde placi- tum conveneionis sum, fuit inter eos, &c. scilicet quod predictus Willielimus Underbill recogn, predicta tenementa cum pertinentijs esse jus ipsius Willielmi Shakespeare ut ilia que idem Willielmus habet de dono predicti Willielmus Underliill, et ill remisit et quietclani de se et hered 94 New Place, liered suis predicto Willielmo Shakespeare et hered suis in perpetuum ; et preterea idem Wil- lielmus Underliill concessit pro se et liered suis quod ipsi waran? predicto Willielmo Shakespeare et hered suis predicta tenementa cum perti- nentijs in perpetuum. Et pro liac &c. idem Willielmus Shakespeare dcdit predicto Willielmo Underhill sexaginta libras sterlingorum. In glancing over thefe dry legal papers, unearthed from the charnel - houfe of hiftory, we are brought into contad; with the adis of men, whofe lives would be unknown had they not been preferved from oblivion by the embalming law. Shakefpere's acquaintances, neighbours, perhaps friends, are brought before us in fuch documents, and in the regifters of parifh churches. Thefe, and their tomb- ftones, are almoft our only fources of information concerning the men and women who were of note and confe- quence in and about Stratford, v/ho mull: have been familiar with the Poet, and who Stratford-upon-Avon. 95 who might, by the labour of a few hours, have left us records of him which would have made the world grateful through all its hours to come. Let us be thankful, however, for pof- feffing records that do furvive the de- fbrudion of time ; and accepting them, if we cannot re-people the paft, at leaft we can catch a glimpfe here and there of forms familiar to the Poet both before and during his New Place life. Among the Special Commiffions taken for the county of Warwick, now pre- ferved in the Record Office, is an in- quilition upon the eftate of Ambrofe, Earl of Warwick, dated 32 Eliz. (1591). The document is very lengthy, and one of very great intereft. Some years back, attention was drawn to it by Mr. Cole, but as yet no antiquary has been found having a publifher of fufficient fpirit to rifk its publication. The 96 New Place, The following epitome of fuch portions as ferve the objed: of the author will be read with intereft. Among the com- miffioners will be obferved the name of Charles Hales, to which the attention of the reader is efpecially directed, for reafons which will appear hereafter. Special Commissions (Co. Warwick) temp. Eliz. Inquisitio capta apud Warvvic'^ et Stratford super Avon sexto die Octobris anno regni domine nostre Elizabetlie Dei Gracia Anglie Francie et Hibernie Regine fidei defensoris &c tricesimo se- cundo coram Fulcone Grevile milite Tlioma Leygli milite Jolianne Puckeringe armigeris servientibus dicte domine Regine ad legem^ Thome Dabridg- court armigerOj et Carolo Hales armigero^ virtute Comissionis dicte domine Regine extra Scaccarium nobis et alijs directe ad inquirendum et super\a- dendum de omnibus et singulis manerijs terris tenemeutis et hereditamentis in comitate predicto nuper Ambrosij comitis Warwicensis Et de quibus- dam articulis eidem Comissioni annexis per sacra- mentum Jobis Turner generosi Ricbardi Wood- ward geuerosi Radulpbi Townesend generosi Jobannis Fulwood generosi Hunifridi Brace Ra- dulpbi Lorde Willielmi Wyatt Jobannis Sadler Ricardi Stratford-upon-Avon. 97 Ricardi Walford Georgij Frauncis Tliome Nosor Willielmi Harbage Georgij Gylobes Willielmi Taylor Thome Warde Joliannis Collins Thome Shackespeee Joliaunis Barrett Thome Goddard Richardi Masters Willielmi Lapworth Thome Preyst Ricardi Williams et Roberti Farefax qui dicunt ut sequitur ^ ;^ 5fC ^ Manerium de Novo Stratford Burgus sive villa de Stratford super Avon cum membris in comitatu Warr^. Smythe strete Thomas Shackespeee tenet per copiam datam xxj die Julij anno xxvij regine Elizabethe unam croftam terre ad edificandum horreum ibidem continentem per estimacionem dimidiam acram terre vocatam Pookecrofte et unum gardinum cum pertinentijs pro termino quinquagenta an- norum et reddit per annum .... iiij^ viij"^ y^ >^ y^ ^^ Vicus vocatus Henley strete Johannes Shackespeee tenet libere unum tenementum cum pertinentijs per redditum per annum vj'' sectam curie vj'^ Idem Johannes tenet libere unum tenemen- tum per redditum per annum xiij*^ sectam curie xiij*^ Vicus 98 New Place, Yicus vocatus le Corne strete et Churclie strete WiLLIELMUS UnDERHILL GENEKOSUS TENET LI- BERE QUANDAM DOMUM VOCATAM THE NeWE PLACE CUM PERTINENTIJS PEE EEDDITUM PEE ANNUM Xij'^ SECTAM CURIE xij'^ \_Note—W''^ Underlain held also in " Walkers strete uniim liorreum &''^^] Manerium de Shotterye reddit custumar tenen a Shotterie Johanna Hatheway vid tenet per copiam ununi messuagium et duas virgatas terre et di- midiam cum pertinentijs per redditum per an- num xsxiij iiij*^ finem et harriotam . xxxiij® iiij'^ Manerium de Rowington cum membris customarij tenentes per copiam curie Thomas Shackespeeb tenet per copiam sibi et lieredibus suis unum croftum cum pertinentijs per redditum per annum ij^ ad festa predicta equaliter finem^ lieriotam^ sectam curie . . ij* Liberi Tenentes Thomas Shackespeee tenet libere unum me- suagium et unam virgatam terre cum pertinen- tijs per redditum per annum &c . . . . s^ x'' Wood end RlCARDUS Shackspeee tenet per copiam ut supra StratJord-upon-Avon. 99 supra ununi cottagium et dimidiam virgatam terre et unam acram pi^ati cum pertinentijs per redditum per annum ad festa predicta equaliter vj^ x'^ finem et sectam cm-ie vj^ x*^ Mulsowe ende Thomas Shackespere tenet per copiam ut supra unum mesuagium et unam virgatam terre cum pertinentijs per redditum per annum ad festa predicta equaliter x* iiij*^ finem et liarrio- tam^ cum accederit, et sectam curie . . x® iiij'^ Georgius Shackespere tenet per copiam ut supra unum cottagium et unum croftum terre cum pertinentijs per redditum per annum ad festa predicta equaliter ij^ finem et sectam curie ij^ Eicardus Shackespere tenet per copiam ut supra unum mesuagium et dimidiam virgatam terre et duas parcellas prati cum pertinentijs per redditum per annum ad festa predicta equ- aliter xiiij^ finem et liarriotam cum accederit xiiij^ At the period of the above inquiiition being held, Shakefpere was twenty-eight years of age. In a fmall town Uke Strat- ford it feems that his family had in- duflrioully " Scattered his Maker's image o'er the land." There 100 New Place, There was a plentiful fupply both of Shakefperes and Hathaways in and about Stratford, not only at that date, but for many years previous. The regifters and records of Rowington and neighbouring pariflies have yielded their evidences to this procreative truth ; but the author believes the following quotations from a Mufler Roll of the 28th Henry VIII. (1537), have not previoufly been pub- liflied:— Warwyke. The certyficatlie of George Throkmerton knyglit John Grevyle Fulke Grevyle Edward Conwey Esquiers and Antony Skynner gent Comyssioners of our souerayne lorde the kings conserninge musters to be taken in the hundred of Bar- lychAvey and liberty e of Pathloe in the county e of Warwyke accordinge to the kinges highnes co@ission to them directed doe certyfie unto your lordships as well the names and surnames of all abell men withine the hundred and libertye afore- said as horses harues bowes arows billys and other thinges defensabell and mete for the warre with the diversitie therof whiche ar in every township of Stratford-upon-Avon. i o i of the said hundred and libertye that ys to save ijc ^ H< * EowiNGTON Able men ther {Inter alios) Thomas Shakespere > Arch [er] Rio : Shakespere * * * Wraxsall Able men ther [Inter alios) Will@ Sakespere >-Arch[er] * * * J Ric : Shakespere * * * Shotery Abell men there John Hathewey >-Arch[er] LoxLEY Abell men ther Matthew Hathewey >-Arch[er] It will have been obferved that William Underhill's father (A), the founder of the Idlicote family, was pofTeffed of an eftate at Loxley, a hamlet about three miles from Stratford. In this place alfo the I02 New Place, the Hathaways flourifhed, for in the will office at Worcester the author found the folio win 2: entries : — 't> 1541. Hathaway, Thomas 1557. Hath way, Simon . 1558. Hatheway, Joan . 1617. Hathway, John . . 1636. Hathway, Richard 1637. Hathway, Richard 1648. Hathaway, Andrew Loxley. Loxley. Loxley. Loxley. Stratford. Stratford. Bellbrougton. Now, although William Underhill (B), the poiTelTor of New Place, had his chief refidence at Idlicote, it feenis probable that New Place was a favourite town- houfe with him ; and equally probable that it was purchafed as a relidence for him during his father's lifetime, as the fale was effecfled by his father, three years prior to his death. That death may have occurred much more fuddenly than was ever anticipated ; and after his father was laid to reft in Eatington church, William Underhill (B) may have been unwilling Stratford-upo7t-Avon. 103 unwilling to retire entirely from a refi- dence that had only been prepared for his reception three years previoully. His focial rank and pofition are fufficiently indicated by the preceding inquilition, wherein he is flyled "generofus;" and the author's reafon for believing that this "William Underbill — generofus" (though actually feated at Idlicote) always kept up his town houfe in Stratford, and occa- fionally flayed there, although never making it a fixed refidence, is drawn from the fa6l, that while the hiilory of the family is to be read in the regifters at Eatington, and the regifters of Strat- ford are almoft filent, it does fo happen that the author has found one baptifmal entry at Stratford, as follows : — November 25, 1585. — Elizabetli, daughter of jMr. William Undrell. The natural inference drawn from this entry being, that during the winter months 104 New Place, months of 1585, the Underhill family removed from Idlicote to their Stratford houfe, at which place it chanced that one of the children was born. We gather from thefe various documents that both at Loxley and in Stratford, William Underhill of New Place was furrounded by Shakefperes and Hathaways. They mufl have been familiarly known to him, and he to them ; for although there was a broad line of focial demarcation be- tween the yeomen and able - bodied " archers," and the " generofus " mafter of New Place, flill we muft remember in the cafe of John Shakefpere and his fon there would not be fuch a feparation, becaufe John Shakefpere had attained a polition in the town fufficiently refpe6t- able to allow of a friendly intimacy exit- ing between the Underbills and his branch of the Shakefpere family. From his childhood in 1567 until 1597 Shakefpere Stratford-upon-Avon. 105 Shakefpere would know William Under- bill, Gent., as the owner of New Place. That he mufl have known him focially, and that Underhill mufh have had fome private and friendly motive in felling New Place to Shakefpere, almoft upon his death-bed, is a conclulion which the date and circumfbances of the fale feem to force upon us. But Shakefpere we know was intimately acquainted with John II Combe, of the " College," and in his will left his fword to Thomas Combe. What of that ? The queftion will be anfwered with the fame explanation which the author would give to the companion queflion, which we can well believe many time- worn lovers of Shakefpere will be inclined to afk : " Why do you burden your book " with a fet of elaborate pedigrees which " no one has given before, and the ufe of " which is not obvious now ? " Let io6 New Place, Let fuch queflions receive this anfwer. Becaufe the writer believes, honeftly and earneftly, that much more fad:, and in- finitely more probability, concerning ShakefJ3ere's life, lies within our reach than is commonly fuppofed. Heraldry and pedigrees may feem to fome perfons very dry ftudy ; but it may fafely be alTerted that, defpite the flippant jokes of modern democratic writers at the expenfe of the Herald's Tabard, and the mediasval, quaint affociations of the College of Arms, that inflitution, the Books of Vifitations, and the heraldic dilplays upon ancient church monuments, are becoming daily more and more valuable as contri- butors to the hiftory of our country. However humorous it may feem to fee the noviis homo of Pie Corner or Pudding Lane aifuming a crefl: to which he has not the remoteft pretenfion, and can fhow no claim, neverthelefs in the S tr afford -lip on- Av 071. 1 07 the very alTumption there is the indica- tion of an EngUfhman's reverence and regard for the ancient landmarks of family and focial hiftory. What does it matter to any one if the inventor of the latefl Delediable Soap or patentee of the Bifurcating-Baltic- Brillle-Brufli, drops in at one of thofe terrific Holborn fhops, v^hich look like medieval menageries for the exhibition of crimfon griffins and uproarious gam- boge lions ; and there, for the fmall charge of 5J-., has his " arms found ? " What though the brindle cat fits and mews a-top his note-paper, curls its tail upon the flap of his envelopes, and fpreads its whifkers over the handles of his ipoons ? Do Garter or Clarenceux lofe their appetites becaufe the vaulting ambition of the fhop has a fneaking love for thefe things, and pays for it in the Queen's taxes, v^ith hair-pov/der and fucli like ? Not io8 New Place^ Not a jot. They know well enough that the honeft citizen would have found his arms at Dodiors' Commons if he could ; and that, pleafe God and his own in- duilry, if he can found a family, fome day or another the brindled cat may have its turn in that direction ! Though the cynic may fmile and fneer at fuch cockney preteniion, and though it has a ludicrous afpedl, neverthelefs it is not all ludicrous. There is fomething genuinely Englifh at the foundation. There is an evidence of the fpirit of homage to antiquity ; of reverence for even the humbleft aiTociation with anything con- nected with the records of the country. As all forms, eccleliaflical or civil, have their meaning and their moral, fo the forms of heraldry — the quainteft of all — are full of the deepeft meaning and intereft. Let the prefent writer make bold to fay that a mofl intenfely interefling book might be, may Stratford-upo7i-Avoji. 109 may, perhaps, be yet written regarding Shakefpere, by colle(5ling together a record of the perfons and the incidents of thofe perfons' hves with whom the Poet muft of neceffity have been affo- ciated. Thefe pages cannot be devoted to fuch an undertaking ; and, there- fore, there will be no further attempt made in them than to indicate the direc- tion in which it feems well that fome one ihould travel. It is by no means impoffible to fur- round Shakefpere with friends and ac- quaintances, concerning whom the world generally knows nothing up to the prefent time. What is the common eflimate of him and of his aifociates ? Vulgarity is ftamped upon the traditional flories regarding his life and fociety. We are told he was apprenticed to a butcher. He was a deer-ilealer. He married a woman in a hurry, 1 1 o New Place, hurry, for a reafon about which the lefs faid the better. He Uved unhappily with his wife, and as an evidence of his in- difference, left her his fecond-befl bed. Lail of all, he died of a fever, caught from a bout of drunkennefs. Poor Shakeipere ! Can any one fhow that there is a fyllable of truth in any of thefe ftories ? Do fuch low-bred vulgarity, immorality, and beaftiality, fuit with the mind of William Shakefpere ? Has he not in his own words fupplied for us the vixen-like revenge which little- nefs, and the worft littlenefs of all, that of goffips, takes upon any real greatnefs of mind and charadier : — " I'll give thee " this plague for thy dowry ; be thou as " chafle as ice, as pure as fnow, thou "fhalt not efcape calumny." Whence do all thefe ftories about our Poet come } Plain, vulgar-tongued folk call Stratford-upon-Avon. 1 1 1 call them — goffip. When ventilated in a fuperior atmofphere, and carried with the beefs and muttons from the fcullery to the dinner-table, the word diffolves into the politer phrafe — tradition. Be it fo ! But what is Tradition ? Tradition is not to be believed ; but always to be confidered. Tradition is a perjured witnefs, who never yet came into court without a lie upon her tongue — for it is a lie to pervert, diftort, exaggerate, or diminifli aught of the truth ; and where, either in the memory of man, or on the pages of hiftory, was there ever a piece of " goffip," *' town's talk," " what everybody fays," " tradition," that did not, on inveftigation, turn out to be gorged with falfehood ? The ftories current concerning Shake- fpere, which the lapfe of ages has confe- crated with the undeferved title of tradi- tion, might well aftonifh any ftranger to Englifh 112 New Place, Englifh habits ; but they are not in the fmallefl degree aftonifhing, when we remember that it is one of the manners and cuftoms of the Engliih to try to knock a man over, the mo- ment he Hfts his head above the herd of his fellow-men. If by abufe and Dander we can blight his fpirit, dull his brain, and break his heart, we give God thanks for having accomplifhed a worthy, Chriftian, and charitable end. But if he ftands the pelting, and wont be put down, there is a time coming when he can be cuffed and cudgelled to any extent. For your genuine lover of flander — the vam- pire of private life — the greateft treat on earth is the " poU-mortem " of a man's character, whom he has followed with envy, hatred, and malice through life. There are Cannibals, even in England, who want a golpel preaching to them far more than their heathen brethren; for while Stratford-upon-Avon. 1 1 3 while the latter whoop and dance around the dead, and then eat the perifhing flelh, the former exultingly leap upon, and until they are lick with furfeit, devour the more than body — the reputation, the life in death, of thofe who lie defencelefs in the grave. There is no need to be furprifed that even mighty Shakefpere's memory has been handed down to us blackened and defamed by goilip. In inverfe ratio, the higher a man attains, the lower and bafer he is likely to be reprefented. An unerring gauge whereby to meafure the value of character and genius againft goffip, in the cafe of Shakefpere, is here fupplied. The ilory — which will hereafter be re- ferred to — re2;ardinff the caufes which led to Shakefpere's death, is generally familiar, and has, as a matter of courfe, been com- monly reported in Stratford. In order to fhow I T 4 New Place, {how how goffip — otherwife tradition — improves as ihe palTes from mouth to mouth, the author lately encountered the ftatement, gravely made to him by a clergyman at Luddington, who had been aiTured of its truth, that *'Shake- " fpere died drunk." That affertion will read to every one as wicked and pre- pollerous as it founded in the ears of the writer. But why wicked and pre- poflerous ? It is the natural refult, and inevitable development of the ftory told in the Rev. Mr. Ward's Diary, which need not be further difcuffed in this place. This piece of goffip of 1862, the author believes precifely to the fame extent that he does any and all of the before-mentioned flories. They all refl upon one balis, and that bafis is a rotten one. A very clever, and, in its way, a very convincing pamphlet, was publifhed a fhort Stratford-upon-Avon. 115 ihort time back, by Charles Holte Brace- bridge, Efq., entitled " Shakefpeare no " Deerftealer," the gift of which is, that Shakefpere did not kill the deer in Charlecote at all, but in Fulbroke Park ; that in fo doing he committed no offence againft the law, or morals, but that he offended Sir Thomas Lucy thereby. Mr. Bracebridge quotes the ftatement of the late Mr. Lucy to Sir Walter Scott, that '•' the park from which Shakefpere ftole " the buck was not that which furrounds " Charlecote.'* Mr, Bracebridge's pamphlet is well worth reading, and he has done good fervice by it to the memory of the Poet. Now as to the value of tradition. Though tradition invariably fpeaks faliely, as in one inftance Mr. Bracebridge has fliown, neverthelefs, though a wretched bad witnefs in court to give evidence, fhe ferves as a very ufeful fign-poft upon the 1 1 6 New Place, the highways of time. She commonly (not always) points to fomething that deferves inquiring into, and indicates the direction in which we ihall find it worth our while to travel. So with regard to the traditions about Shake- ipere : the author believes they are a mixture of abfurdity and of falfehood ; but at the fame time, while rejecting them as at all truftv/orthy, they feem to him to ferve a ufeful purpofe in exciting inquiry, and making us feek for the truth that underlies them. As evil is commonly good perverted, fo falfehood is often the wicked or idle mifreprefenta- tion of fomething true at bottom ; and as good as it is true. Let any one of the fo-called traditions concerning Shakefpere be brought into court, and fearchingly examined, and it will be committed for perjury. But let us take the rambling old ter- centenarian Stratford-upon-Avon. iij centenarian crone at her real value ; go and fit with her in her timber and plafler cottage at Stratford, and liften to her as ihe told her ftory to Betterton, or to Ward, or in her later years to Malone or Stevens, and we ihall thank her, not for what file teaches us, but for fending us off" in the right dire(5lion in purfuit of fomething we have yet to learn. There is Mr. John Shakefpere, in Henley Street — he is a glover, or a butcher, or a " yeoman," or v/ool-dealer ! — what is he ? Can no one fum up all the fuppofed trades or bufineffes, and fay in a word, that they mofl probably mean he was a woolftapler ? Make him of any one of the above trades aftually and folely, and we cannot reconcile the other flatements. But like the variorum readings of the fame names and the fame employ- ments in Shakefpere's days, if we adopt 1 1 8 New Place^ adopt the concluiion that he was a Merchant of the Staple, we fliall eafily be able to underftand his being called both butcher and glover. Coniidering what a ftaple trade gloving was in John Shakefpere's time, in his own county, if he were connected with the mercers in London, he would of neceffity deal in gloves. The polTeffor of land, and the owner of cattle, it is the height of pro- bability that he may have llaughtered his fheep in his own farm-yard, in order to have the fkins properly preferved. Butcher he might eafily be called, and fo might his fon William ; and alfo be reprefented as apprenticed to a butcher, when he was in reality apprenticed to his father. So, again, the ilory about Shakefpere killing an animal, or helping to kill one, may be true in origin, but tradition's reprefentation of it be as untrue, as if one of our princes or peers were nomi- nated Stratford-upon-Avon. 119 nated a " butcher " becaufe he happened to be preient when a ftag's throat was cut. And lb, again, there is the deer ftory. Mr. Bracebridge may be right as far as he goes ; and yet, while tradition points to fome fad: that did occur, he might perhaps, though wanting evidence, and yet in truth, have gone much further. Might not Shakefpere have been out, not merely for fport, but as a matter of buii- nefs ? Might not his father have regu- larly killed, and paid for deer out of Fulbroke Park ? Might not the quarrel v/ith Sir Thomas Lucy have arifen upon this ground ; and an imperious, hot- headed country fquire have attempted to interfere with Shakefpere, thereby making himfelf ridiculous, and henceforward be- coming famous in his folly ? Again, as regards Shakefpere's removal to London. May not that have hap- pened I20 New Place, pened for buiinefs motives ? and may he not, during his whole London career, have benefited by a profitable trade, that gave him the pofition of a gentleman, and conne6ted him v^ith gentlemen ? and alfo enabled him to realife that independence upon which he retired ? It muft never be forgotten that his father was in difficulties about the time when the Poet removed to the metro- polis ; and from that moment we never again hear of, or trace any domeftic anxieties in the houfe of John Shake- fpere. The inference feems conclufive. Look at Shakefpere, in his home-life at Stratford:' is he not continually en- gaged in commercial tranfadtions — buying and felling corn, buying land, farms, ty thes ? Shakefpere was a bufy man — an adiive, thrifty, accumulative man. He was evidently anxious to make money, and to found a family. His will, and the records Stratford-upon-Avon. 121 records of Heralds' College, in his father's grant of arms, prove this. When he became more permanently reiident at Stratford, we find him exhibit- ing the habits of life previoufly contrafted. Men's habits are not changed in mid-life, and new ones aiTumed. What Shake- fpere was at Stratford we have every reafon to fuppofe he was in London ; but whatever the fources of his accumu- lations, whether from one or various fources — the ftage, his plays, and com- mercial enterprifes — we know that he did make money ; and that at a very early time of life he was able to eftablifh himfelf and family in New Place. So far from the vulgar, bafelefs conjecture, that Shakefpere ran off to London to avoid Sir Thomas Lucy having anything to recommend it, it feems to the author as far-fetched and prepofterous, as it is totally devoid of a fcintilla of evidence in its favour. Why 122 New Place, Why ihould we delight in perpetuating fuch miferable fudge ? Why fhould one writer after another, and one generation after another, pafs on, from book to book, and from mouth to mouth, a fet of ftories that would be (divefted of the grand-founding epithet " tradition," and branded with their proper deiignation, — pot-houfe gofTip) rejedled as only fuited to the ideas of tap-room topers ? The term is ufed advifedly. There is the faint, oppreiTive odour of that region — faturated with the ftench of ftale beer, and the defpoiling of men's reputations — about almoft all the " traditions " of Shakefpere. Shakeipere with merry com- panions, over the '^ cheerful bowl," is perpetually being prefented to our notice by tradition. Shakefpere, and "the fcience of drinking (at Bidford) the largefl: quan- tity of liquor without being intoxicated!" Shakefpere dead-drunk, and deeping the night Stratford-iipon- Avon. 123 night through " under the umbrageous "boughs of a crab-tree!" Shakefpere making doggrel verfes at the expenfe of his particular and perfonal friend, at a tavern, faid to have been known by the iign of "the Bear !" Shakefpere drinking too hard at a merry-meeting, and dying thereby of a fever ! Oh ! pundits of our Hterature ! bio- graphers of the greatefh man of all your craft ! lovers of the Saxon tongue ! is it by fuch boozing tales as thefe that ye honour the High Prieft of your profef- lion ? Mufl the incenfe that you offer at his fhrine reek with the coarfe odour of the village politician's and wifeacre's foul tobacco, and ilill fouler breath ? Can no Neibuhr of Englifh record be found fhrong enough and manly enough to cleanfe the ftream of hiftory, by purifying and contemptuous ridicule of this corrupting garbage, polluting every- thing 124 New Place, thing with its poifonous " tradition ? " We are taught to diftruft an autograph of Shakefpere's, and cautioned not to beheve a fcrap of writing to be true, unlefs there is internal corroborative evidence to eftabhfli its authority ! Better, furely, to caution the world againft believing a fcrap of vulgar gofiip, unlefs there is fome internal, and corroborative evidence to eftablifh its authenticity. No one is a jot the worfe or better whether a line of writing be genuine or forged ; but a whole nation is made worfe, — every man who fpeaks the Saxon tongue is worfe, becaufe his confidence and refpedt are fhaken, if he difcover that- the teacher of the higheft, nobleft thoughts — the Poet who fills the heart with admiration for all that is noble and virtuous and honourable in human nature, began life as a thief, fpent it as a vagabond, and ended it as a drunkard ! Softer-fpoken words might be culled from the Stratford- upon- Avon. 125 the didionaiy ; but thefe are the real and limple terms by which, in plain, un- varnifhed fpeech, Shakefpere deferves to be defcribed, if the felf- condemning " traditions " in common currency re- garding him are to be reproduced and re-believed. It may be faid, that the author has met tradition by nothing better than iw^^di.- tion and that any one can draw pictures from imagination. But this would hardly be jufl. Which fort of evidence is more agreeable and acceptable, — that which is probably true becaufe it refts upon con- clulions derived from known fad:s ; or that which is probably untrue, becaufe it refts upon no other foundation than the loofe and ihifting ftories of golTips ? Goffip reprefents Shakefpere as a booz- ing and beer-drinking fellow. Fa6ts do not prove that he was not ; but fad:s provide us with evidences of his energy, labour. 126 New Place, labour, and thrift, leading us to concluiions from thofe fails v/hich convince us he could not pofTibly have been fo. Ex uno difce omries ! Goflip fays he v^as a deer- ftealer in Charlecote Park: fadts now prove that ftatement to be politively falfe, and that if he killed a deer at Fulbroke, Sir Thomas Lucy had no po^^ver to prevent him. Goffip fays he ran away to avoid the knight's difpleafure ; fadls prove that his father was a man in confiderable re- pute, connected with the Mercer's trade, but that he got into difficulties ; and at that precife period we find young Shake- fpere went to London. Fad:s truly do not prove, but they lead us to a reafon- able conclufion bafed upon them, that Shakefpere went to London for good and honeft purpofes ; and that he went as a man of bufinefs, not as a homelefs vagrant is the more probable, becaufe fadts fliow that his father retained pofief- fion Stratford-upon-Avc7i. iiy fion of his relidence, and we hear no more of his troubles ; while in a brief period of time his fon returned to Stratford, able to eflabhfh himfelf in the '* Great Houfe " there. Let us judge of Shakefpere by what we really know of him, however fmall and cir- cumfcribed the amount of our information may be. Rejecting with fcorn the old wives' fables, which other old wives feem to have delighted in perpetuating, it is a fafer and more honourable path to purfue, if we fet out upon a journey in fearch of fadts, and, like Pilgrim, eafe our flioulders of that bundle of fid:ions which have burdened us. Let tradition be a finger- pofl, and nothing more ! If the enthu- iiaflic lovers of the Poet would content themfelves with healthy exercife, they might perhaps find that there are ftill many fad:s waiting to be dug out of ancient records that have been brulhed pall 128 New Place, pafl; by us ten thoufand times, and yet never detedied. The filver mines of Potofi were dilcovered by the tearing aiide of a bramble ; and yet their treafures had laid through the long; centuries clofe to the handling of men. So it may prove that there are treafures of hiflory that have been very clofe to fome among us, v^hich an accident fome day may difclofe. ' Even though it be not fo, the fubjed: is well worth diligent fearch. It feems extraordinary that many of the rapturous admirers of the genius of the Poet perpetuate, as if they were true, ^o many vulgar {landers and goifips regarding the man. If they were true, we might begin to fufped: there is fome- thing after all in that ftrange theory that Shakefpere's plays were never written by Shakefpere, but by Francis Bacon ; be- caufe it would be impoffible to reconcile the man that we (hould picture from the writings Stratford-upon-Avon. 129 writings, with the man that we ihould know in his acfts. In Mr. Charles Knight's moft interefting "Biography of *' Shakefpere " and running commentary upon contemporary hiftory, manners, and habits of the country, a proper and contemptuous protefl is entered againft the ungracious doggrel attributed to Shakefpere, as written at the expenfe of his friend and neighbour John a Combe, an eftimable, worthy, and charitable gentleman, whom tradition has nick- named ufurer! Ufurer ! Let any one read his Will, and it will be feen what a friend the poor of Stratford had in the kind old man who lived among them, and bountifully bequeathed his property for their benefit. The good that he did, has, indeed, been interred with his bones. This ftory, and others, Mr. Knight has difmilTed as they defer ve. It is heartily to be defired that many more of the Poet's 130 New Place, Poet's biographers had done, and would flill do, the fame. Can no other picture of him be drawn? Let us make the attempt. It will be admitted that Shakefpere was a precocious and ambitious youth. Let the motive for his early marriage have been what it may, there was precocity in the ftep. But if we difcard the difhonour- ing fuggeftions that have been made re- garding it, and conlider it as the ad: of a young man who had a folemn and earneft appreciation of the value and purpofe of life, we fhall find that fuch a view of the tranfacflion harmonifes with the whole of Shakefpere'scondudl. Let it be faid — it matters not — that this is taking a very novel view of his condud; : is it not better, when we are attributing motives to a perfon, to try and find good rather than bad ones ? Shakefpere, it is true, needs no apologift, leafh of all the ad- vocacy Stratford-upon-Avon. 131 vocacy of fo feeble a pen as that vv^hich traces thefe lines ; but to furnifh motives for a man's ad:s is a paftime at which all can play an even game ; and therefore the fancy of one man is juft as good as that of another. The Poet's charad:er is read from a totally different point of view in thefe pages to that taken by De Quincey and by many others.* Let it be pardoned, if in love and admiration the author feems prefumptuous when he fays, that he con- liders, in the glorification of the poet, Shakefpere's charad:er has wanted ftaunch and faithful champions, — men "To think no llander; no, nor liften to it." Let the fup-g-eftion above made be enter- tained for a moment, and in what a totally different light do the two momentous ac- tions of the Poet's life prefent themfelves ! ■ — his early marriage, and his early fetting out * Appendix I. 132 New Flace^ out for London to fight circumftance and conquer independence ! Precocity and ambition are herein com- bined. Who shall blame them ? This man commenced life as a good man fhould begin it: there was no *'fowing of wild oats ; " no libertinifm ; no exhauftion of the ftrength of youth amidft the ilews of a metropolis. Let Shakefpere's adts — the fad:s of his life — be weighed againfi; the words of gofTips who never knew him, and the author contends thofe fad:s all go to turn the fcale in his favour. His firft ftep on the threfhold of man- hood argues the fenfe of refponfibility, and the ambition for refpe6tability. It was in the man; and it came out and fliowed itfelf at the earlieft poffible moment.* There * When it was ftated, at p. 31, that there are two feals to Shakefpere's marriage bond, one bearing the impreliion " R.H.," it would have been more corrett to lay there "were," becauie the I'eals have entirely vanilhed, and there is fcarcely a trace of them on the parchment. Stratford-upon-Avon. 133 There is another charadieriftic — the granting of arms to Shakefpere's father. It parchment. Nearly fourteen years have elapied fince the author lall: heard anything of that bond, and it was only by accident that, being in Worcefter lately, he took the opportunity to give it a frelh examination. On doing fo, he compared the text of Mr. Halliwell and Mr. Knight with the original, and found that the copy (given at pp. 29, 30) is perfe£tly correft, while that of Mr. Knight ("Biography," p. 275) contains thefe errors : — " By reafon of any pcontra6t or afhnitie, or by any other," &c., inllead of " by reafon of any pcontraft, confanquitie, affinitie," &c. " May lawfully folemnize mriony," inftead of "may lawfully folemnize mriony together." " Laws in that cafe provided," inftead of " lawes in that behalf provided." With regard to Luddington, as the probable place of Shakefpere's marriage, it may be well to put it on record that there is ftill living an old gentleman, named Pidering, at Colton, near Alcefter, who, when a youth, refided at Luddington. This perfon diftinftly remembers having heard it positively aiferted by the inhabitants of the hamlet that Shakefpere was married in their chapel ; and he alfo remembers the books and regifters of the chapel being burnt in a fire which occurred at his coulin's, the chapelwarden's houfe, at the commence- ment of the pref en t century. [Query. Did Malone ever fearch thofe books?) Mr. Baldwin, who now occupies the farm on Luddington Green, preferves the remains of a Gothic font which belonged to the chapel, as alfo the Black-letter Bible which belonged to the reading-delk, and the key of the porch, which was dug up a few years fince in the garden which now covers the ruins. 134 ' New Place, It is univerfally admitted that this was Shakefpere's a6t ; and that it was he who prompted John Shakefpere's appUcation to Herald's College. It will be obferved upon the Shakefpere Pedigree, that the condition of his ancef- tors and the grants of lands, as recorded in the draft of the pedigree in Herald's College, have been reproduced as corred:, attributing them to the favour of Henry VIL, to whom John Shakefpere's great- grandfather did faithful and approved fer- vice. William Dethick, Garter Principal King-at-Arms, has been charged with granting arms improperly; and Mr. Halli- well particularly dwells upon the fcoring and interlining of the original grant of 1596. It feems to the author that this fcoring and correcftion was moft natural, and that in all probability it occurred from the fad; of the evidence being taken down from the lips of William Shakefpere. Dethick Stratford-upon-Avon. 135 Dethick is not to be charged with the falfehood or mifreprefentation, if any, appearing in the two drafts of arms, dated 1596 and 1599. In both thefe the faithful fervices of the Shakefperes to King Henry VII. is folemnly alTerted ; and it is hard to beUeve that the alTertion is untrue, when it agrees fo well with the probable fettle- ment of the Shakefperes in Warwick- fliire, and was made, almofl beyond doubt, by the Poet perfonally, to Dethick, lince the draft bears date when Shakefpere was buly in London, and the year before he pur chafed New Place — a lignificant fa(fl ! Therefore, on the Pedigree in this book, that flatement is accepted and believed, becaufe the author believes the draft was drawn under information provided by William Shakefpere himfelf ; and he be- lieves likewife that the man, with the chivalric feelings of a gentleman, would have fcorned to tell a lie. It 136 New Place, It has been fuggefted that becaufe, as it will be feen, the Ardens ferved King Henry VII., Shakefpere was confounding his maternal with his paternal anceflors. So that we may take our choice as to whether, in the firft cafe, he was a liar; or, in the fecond, a fool. Plealing alternatives for thofe who relifh them ! But it is to be hoped there are not wanting believers in the candour and truthfulnefs of the Poet ; who, like Mr. C. Knight, in his " Biography," accept with credit the ftatement found in both the drafts, for which we muft hold Shakefpere himfelf refponfible, con- fidently believing that it was fupplied as information by him in the drawing of the iirft draft of 1596, and repeated by Garter King in 1599. But what was the motive for Shake- fpere inftigating his father to obtain this grant ? It can hardly fail to be obvious to . Stratford-upon-Avon. 137 to any mind that is not tortuous. The author believes that the grant was fought with the fame motive that the early mar- riage was contra6led, — that New Place was purchafed, — and that Shakefpere's will, finally, was made. It feems to him that in all thefe things, and in his wonderful mental activity and pofitive labour, there was the one noble, worthy, ambitious motive throughout : Shakefpere wiflied to found a family. He loved from his early days the honoured refpedlability of an Englifli gentleman. He longed and defired that his family fliould achieve a place among the gentry of Warwick- fhire. The ambition that we have feen in the prefent century, at Abbotsford, was precifely what was feen at New Place in 1597. Perhaps there is a more extended parallel between Scott and Shakefpere than this. Was there not the fame hifloric feeling in both thefe men ? Th e 138 New PlacCy The love for antiquity, for defcent, for heraldry, for chivalric ftory and incident, is confpicuous in each of them ! Shake- fpere's plays are hiiloric chronicles ; fo are Scott's novels. They prefent in a popular form, to the entrancement of the people, a moving fpedtacle of events of which many would otherwife be profoundly ignorant. It requires a peculiar fympathy of mind to deal with fuch fubjed:s, — and that thorough fy??ipathy was inbred in the characters of Shakefpere and Scott. No carelefs reader of Shakefpere's works can poffibly mifs obferving the antiquary's tafte that pervades them. Let this be carried in memory, and the pride of anceftry, in the draft of the grant of arms, will be recognifed as his natural charadleriftic, and not as Dethick's invention. It will be obferved that the author treats with abfolute dilbelief and dif- guft Stratford-upon-Avon. 139 guft the " traditions" current concerning the Poet ; and he is impatient of them, becaufe he folemnly believes them to be injurious to the credit which the Man, as diftind: from the Poet, de- ferves to enjoy among his countrymen. He believes that the known and authen- ticated fad:s of Shakefpere's life, taken by themfelves, prefent to us a Charafter to be refped:ed and loved, juft as much as his works do a Poet to be admired. Of thofe leading events of Shakefpere's life which have been fummarifed above, he conceives that, when any mind difengagesitfelf from the mire of tradition, they can only be regarded in one light, — to his honour and fair fame. This is a mighty contrail and contra- di(5lion to the currently-received ftories about ftealing deer, marrying in fliame, and running away to London! But thofe are ftories without confirmation or evi- dence. 140 New Place, dence, and the author holds they are pofi- tively irreconcilable with the proved and authentic facfts of Shakefpere's life, which uniformly exhibit him as an induftrious, high-minded, afpiring citizen, and a man ambitious of taking rank with the families of Englifh gentry. We are informed by Rowe, who gives the ftory on the authority of Sir William Davenant, that Lord Southampton, out of his great friendfhip for Shakefpere, pre- fented him with £1000, to enable him to make a purchafe for which he had a mind. This gift is fuppofed to have been made fome time fubfequent to the year 1593, when "Venus and Adonis" was publilhed, and dedicated to his lordfhip ! We float aloft into a higher and purer atmofphere when we pid:ure our Shake- fpere winning and holding fuch an "elpe- cial friend," — being focially connected with fuch a man as Southampton ; and befriended Stratford- upon- Avo?i . 141 befriended by William and Philip Herbert, Earls of Pembroke and Montgomery. Something too much has been written about the inferior pofition of the Poet ; and that pofition has been kept down by the everlafting low-lived flories with which his name has been begrimed. Shakelpere's genius needs no eulogies. It were to paint the lily to laud that. But Shake fpere — the man, the citizen, the high- minded poliflied gentleman, ambitious of pofition and afferting his title to affociate with gentlemen — this is a perfon of whom we have heard too little. From all that his biographers have commonly put be- fore us, we might naturally conclude that he was a fort of dramatic penny-a-liner, fcribbling by day from neceffity — at the point of the literary bayonet — the pen — a certain amount of "copy," the value of which was unknown to himfelf, and de- lighting at night in the fottiih fociety of taverns. 142 New Place, taverns. It may be that on thefe pages this pid:ure of him is expofed in a broader and more glaring light than the public are accuftomed to fee it in. The author alferts that it is the true light ; and be- lieves that the focial and moral portraiture of the man, as painted by "tradition" (fifh- wives'gofiip),is as grofs andprepofterous as he alfo believes every one of thofe daubs, (Chandos or otherwife), which are foifted on the public as likeneiTes of the phyfical man, are like fign-painters' portraits, having far lefs relation to the original than the " Saracen's Head " had to Sir Roger de Coverley. Is there not more fatisfadtion in contemplating Shakefpere as the efpecial friend of Southampton, than as regarding him as the *' hale-fellow, well-met" com- panion of the fwilling chaw-bacons of " Piping Pebworth, Dancing Marfton," &c. &c. ? Talk of reverence for this mighty man's Stratford-upon-Avon. 143 man's works ! — it feems there is plenty of lack of reverence for the man himfelf. Let us afk ourfelves, when we prate about our love for the " Immortal Bard," where we find anything to juftify our bafe-born traditional rubbiih about that Immortal Man ? Shakefpere could not have acquired the independence he did, had he not been a fober, cleanly-living, thrifty man. Shakefpere could not have inftigated his father to acquire that coat-of-arms, had he not been an ambitious man : ambitious in the pureft and beft fenfe of that word — ambitious to raife himfelf in focial pofi- tion and refped;. Shakefpere would not have completed the purchafe of fuch a property as New Place, and have made it his permanent refidence, unlefs he had been what we now call commercially " a thoroughly refpediable man," anxious to take his place 144 AT'^te' Place, place amongfl gentlemen, and to be efteemed as " generofus " in his own county. Every known JaB of his life goes to fupport thefe affertions. Let fad: be weighed in the fcale with fable, and the meafure of the man will give us for refult a character to refped:, as well as a genius to admire. Something has been faid in allulion to Heraldry. There is one fource of indired: information regarding Shakefpere which has never as yet been thoroughly examined. Authors and biographers have riddled through the lieve of criticifm every grain of dire6l evidence regarding him, known of, and available. Clofe Rolls, Records, Inquiiitions, Regifters, have furrendered their lilent teftimonies. But Fines, Leafes, Sales, Births, Deaths, and Marriages, while they give us dired: and poiitive know- ledge, do not give that indired: teili- mony Stratford-upon-Avon. 145 mony to be gathered from contemporary alTociation. A Pedigree, quaint and for- mal as it may look, when well read and ftudied, may yet be found to guide the antiquary's fearch in fome dired;ion rich with indiredt, and leading perchance to the most direct, evidence regarding the Poet. As thefe lines are being penned, there lie before the writer twelve hundred clofely-written foolfcap Iheets of War- wickshire pedigrees and family hiilories, compiled by the late Rev. Thomas Warde, Vicar of Wefton-under-Wetherley and of Barford, Warwickfhire. They are a part of the labour of a long life of an enthuli- aftic antiquary's refearch. They are inter- fperfed with pen-and-ink fketches of an- cient Warwickfhire timber-houfes, many of which are now deftroyed ; and their pages are crowded with the mofl intereft- ing family and local records, fuch as have not 146 New Place, not been colledled together by any one lince Sir W. Dugdale publifhed his famous book, defpite its numerous errors. When the author iirft perufed this MS., his intention was to quote from it largely ; but he has relinquifhed that idea, partly becaufe to do fo properly would have involved the publication of a work of magnitude ; and partly becaufe in doing fo it would have been robbing the MS. itfelf of riches, which, in the author's opinion, would have been like rifling the tomb of the dead of its treafure. Whole and undefiled the Rev. Mr. Warde's MS. fhall remain, until fuch time as its pre- cious and iingularly interefting pages can be given entire to the public; though that portion of the public which takes interell in fuch matters will grieve to hear that the documents now confided to the author's charge do not form more than a quarter of the number which once exifted, and perifhed Stratford-upon-Avon. 1 47 periflied in a fire in London fome years ago. From the pages of the fragment of twelve hundred fheets ftill preferved, many items of information contained in this volume have been gathered ; and a ftore of detail regarding the Lucys, Underhills, Combes, Boughtons, Shirleys, Cloptons, Carews, Grevilles,Throckmortons, and others who lived in Shakefpere's time, has proved to the author the value of the opinion he now exprelTes, as to the wide field of indired: evidence ftill to be explored, calculated to convey moft interefting in- formation, that may lead to a far more perfed: knowledge of Shakefpere himfelf than the prefent age poiTefi^es. The names juil: given (and many others of the Warwickfhire gentry might be added), when we ftudy them by the help of the College of Arms, are found linked together by intermarriages, bringing be- fore us curious and interefting fad:s elfe- where 148 New Place, where unattainable ; and repeopling the paft by fuch aid, we are enabled to fur- round Shakefpere with the forms and figures of men and women who, in the nature of things, muft have known him well, and been known by him. The names of Sir Thomas Lucy, William Combe, Sir Thomas Throckmorton, and Fulke Greville pafs before us as Mem- bers for the county of Warwick. By turning to the Clopton Pedigree, we find John Combe married to Rofe Clopton, of Clopton.* On the tomb of Judith Combe, in Stratford, we find the arms of Combe quartered with Underbill, and the hiftory of the two families puts before us the intermarriages. In the fame way we learn of the alliance between the daugh- ter of Sir Stephen Hales, the contem- porary of Shakefpere, and Edward Combe. Again, * Appendix .T. Stratford-upon-Avon. 1 49 Again, the grandfon of Thomas Underhill married the daughter of Sir Wilham Lucy. And again, Jocofa, or Joyce Clopton (three years younger than Shakefpere, born 1568), married George Carew, afterwards Earl of Totnefs. Thefe were people alTociated with Stratford, with many of whom Shakefpere muil have been familiar. The Combes, the Under- bills, the Cloptons, the Carews, it may be alTerted without any hefitation, were his friends. What does the world know of thefe people ? It has heard John Combe libelled as a ufurer; and been told that he was Shakefpere's friend until the Poet lampooned him. It has learned that the Earl of Totnefs was a brave foldier. And this is all. The evidence of John Combe's regard for Shakefpere has paled before a doggrel verfe. The evidence of Shakefpere's "attachment to the Combes has been made nothing of. The 150 New Place, The fad: that Lord Totnefs, living at Clopton Houfe, was a man of letters and an author, has efcaped notice beyond the record of the fadt itfelf. And the ftory that Lord Southampton prefented Shake- Ipere with £1000 to complete a purchafe on which he had fet his heart, has never, it is believed, been pointed at the acquire- ment of New Place. When people have been fufficiently naufeated with the fentimental rubbiili with which the prefs has teemed about the " Immortal Bard," and when the tap-room talk, yclept tradition, has been poured out into the gutter with its kin- dred dregs, the healthy and honeft re- fearches of the good and true fearchers of this age after fad:, will lead to the gather- ing of new materials for writing the hif- tory of Shakefpere. \\\ fo doing it will be well to furround him with the focial fad:s of Stratford at the time when he lived, having Stratford-upon-Avon. 151 having ftripped him of the fables of half a century after he died. It is furely more pro- fitable to know the perfons among whom he dwelt, than to liften to the loofe llate- ments of people that he never faw. In- quiries about his contemporaries may bring us to difcover fomething about him ; but if they never teach us anything pofitive as to his hiftory, there is fome fatisfadiion in contemplating the men and women who had the privilege of his acquaintance. Let us glance at one or two of the Stratford worthies of the Shakefperian age. There were three houfes which we of the prefent generation would give much to have refcued from deftrudiion : New Place, the Poet's home ; the College of Stratford, the home of his friend John a Combe ; Clopton Houfe, the home of the Cloptons and Carews. Of thefe three, two have utterly perifhed : the third, Clopton 152 New Place, Clopton Houfe, exifts as it was recon- ftrudied by Sir Edward Walker (F) in the time of Charles II. Happily one morfel of the original houfe, built in the time of Henry VIL, has been fpared. It Hands at the back of the prefent manlion, and was a porch-way entrance acrofs the ancient moat. One hundred and forty years have paffed away fince a Sir Hugh Clopton (H), and withal a Herald of the College of Arms, deftroyed the houfe in which Shakefpere died. The prefent generation, therefore, has been robbed of nothing which it has contemplated and poiTeiTed. Not fo with the College. That venerable ftrudture, erected in the reign of Edv/ard III. by Ralph de Stratford, Bifhop of London, and adjoin- ing the yard of Stratford Church, was fhamefuUy deftroyed within the memory of living men. This monaftic eftablifh- ment had been " embellifhed " at the front Stratford-upon-Avon. 153 front towards the church, with Georgian facing ; but at the back it flill retained many of its mediaeval archite6lural features. Unfortunately, in the year 1796, it was fold to one Edmund Batterfbee, a man who had made money in Manchefter, and curfed Stratford by fettling there. The MS. records in the author's truft, allude to the College as follows : — "In 1797, the furniture of this " manfion, the College, was difpofed of " by auction, together with a colledlion " of paintings. Many of them were very " curious, ancient, and valuable ; and " fome very interefting family portraits, *' which were, unfortunately for the " antiquary, fold and difperfed. Whole " lengths of Queen Elizabeth, Charles II. " and his Queen, Louis XIII. and his " Queen. Charles II. and his Queen, " Louis and his, are now in the Town " Hall 154 New Place^ " Hall at Lichfield, having been purchafed " for a trifle each, for Mr. Green's " mufeum in that town, and lince its " being difcontinued, thefe pictures — ?iot ^"^ finding a piirchafer! — have been all " hung up in the Town Hall. Full " length paintings of George, Prince of " Denmark, George I., and II. alfo de- *^ corated this antique maniion. A large "piece, bearing the date 1641. A half- " length portrait of Juxon, Bifhop of " London, who attended the unfortunate " King Charles I. to the fcaffold. This " painting very likely was an original, as " the pious Bifliop, at the time of the " ufurpation of Cromwell, retired to his " houfe at Little Compton, in Gloucef- " terfhire, which is not far from Strat- ** ford. A very beautiful half-length " portrait of Lady Radnor, and innunie- " rahle family portraits ! and others too ** numerous to mention. "This Stratford-upon-Avon. 155 " This venerable manlion, — which had " exifted through a lapfe of 446 years, *' and lince the fuppreflion of the rehgious " houfes in the reign of Henry VIII. " had been the reiidence of feveral very " honourable families, — was now doomed " to fall, and its ancient walls to be " pulled down to the ground, though the " whole of the manfion was in perfed: " repair, and fome parts of it fitted up in " the modern ftyle by its purchafer, who " very unfortunately had purchafed it. " Being an entire ftranger to the town of *' Stratford, having lately purchafed the " houfe Handing near the large gates of '* the entrance to the church, where he *' refided, and having more money than " any regard for venerable antiquity, or " any refped: for antiquarian lore, or the " ancient pofTefibrs of this noble manfion, *' he, tradefman-like, — for he was a Man- " chefter tradefman, — not liking that the " ground 156 New Place, " ground facing his own houfe fhould be " encumbered with fuch an old anti- " quated building, determined to have the " whole pulled down, like Mr. Gaftrell, " who deftroyed the famous mulberry- " tree. By the taking down of this an- " cient pile the town of Stratford had to ** lament the deprivation of one of the *' chief and greateft ornaments. But Mr. *' Batteribee, regardlefs of public opinion, ** and deiirous of the land on which it " flood, to make ufe of part for a kitchen- " garden and the reft for pafture for his " cattle, deftroyed the whole of the old *' College in 1800. Sic tranfit, &c." The above quotation has been made in full, that the reader may have a fpecimen of the ruthlefs manner in which, little more than half a century ago, the raoft interefting family reliques were difperfed, and the houfe in which Shakefpere had Ipent many an hour wdth the Combes and the Stratford-upon-Avon. 157 the Cloptons was deftroyed ! Can it be that when old fwords, and halberds, and rufting antiquities were turned out with the pots and kettles, Shakefpere's fword went along with them ? It is quite pojjible, Pafs we on now to Clopton Houfe, which, happily, remains. As before ftated, one remnant of the antique Shakelperian edifice ftill fbands : the re- mainder of the manfion being Carolean. Neftling under the weilern fweep of Wel- combe Hills, the flopes rich with verdure, dotted with copfes, and fhadowed with ancient trees, among which the deer feed, flands Clopton Houfe. As we look upon that folitary remnant of the Tudor Houfe, we feel a thrill of pleafure in the con- vid:ion that under its portal Shakeipere and his friends muft have pafTed fcores of times. The moat ran dired:ly in front of it, and was a few years back difturbed, in order 158 New Place, order to lay fome modern foundations. Various trifling reliques of by-gone days v/ere recovered, and among others three fack~bottles of ftunted form, made of the coarfeft glafs. Two of them had the crefl of Combe upon them. There is a theme for a reverie ! Sack from the Col- lege, taken up to the Houfe! Was it an offering from John a Combe to Lord Totnefs ? Was it a fpecial prefent at fome Chriftmas time, when the lips of the Lady Joyce or the Poet pledged the cup, and did honour to the " Boar's " Head ? " Who can tell ? The empty bottles funk in the mud of a moat for centuries come back to light, and tell us on what friendly terms the families of Combe and Clopton were, in the days when they pledged the toaft in fack.* There * One of theie bottles is now in poirelfion of the author. From the length of time that it has been buried, it has acquired thole prifmatic colours which grow upon glafs under the foil. Stratford-upon-Avon. 159 There is but one place left which, in its reliques and affociations, brings Shake- Ipere vividly back to the imagination, and that is Clopton Houfe ! We enter its noble hall, with recefTed bay-window full of the Clopton coats of arms, and running our eyes round the walls we light upon the manly, maffive head of George Carew, Lord Totnefs. There hangs his portrait as frefli, and in as fine prefervation as the day it was painted.* There, too, are numerous members of the Clopton family — Joyce, the Countefs, venerable men, and noble ladies, coming down in fucceffion to Mr. and Mrs. Partheriche. There is a fplen- did original of the " Lady Elizabeth," Cromwell's * There are two portraits of Lord Carew at Clopton Houfe. The one here referred to came from Alien Hall, Birmingham ; the other, which has always been in the houfe, hangs in one of the galleries. Both piftures feem to have been painted at one date, and the treatment is the fame ; but the Alton is in far the beft prefervation. i6o New Place ^ Cromwell's mother : and a moft intereil- ing painting of the river front of White- hall Palace in the days of the Stuarts. Among a multitude of others, is a beau- tiful portrait of Sir Edward Walker, wear- ing his badge of Garter King. In turning over the papers and MSS. of Clopton Houfe the author met with an ancient written and emendated copy of the third part of " Jewel's Apology ! " What ftory could this manufcript tell! It is in the handwriting of the time of Mary and Elizabeth, Whofe was the book ? Could it ever have belonged to Jewel himfelf, or was it made for fome member of this Clopton family ? Who can guefs ? Perhaps the moft precious book of all at Clopton is a fmall volume by Richard Pynfon — a colled:ion of Statutes. It is as complete and perfed; as the day it ilTued from the prefs of the King's Printer. This Stratford-upon-Avon. 1 6 1 This book tranfports us back to Shake- fpere's own times. It was in his day exadlly what we fee it now. Whence it came, whofe it was, none can tell. But it is among the old books and papers of fuch a place as Clopton that we befl: like to meet with fuch a book. Tumbling about in unknown nooks and corners there may yet be found other fuch, and more dired; evidences connected both with the Poet's period and the Poet himfelf. Here, at leaf!:, is one book pub- lifhed before Shakefpere's birth, which we iind preferved not only in Warwickshire, but in the very houfe with which all his circle of friends is affociated. Let the fad: fpeak for itfelf. From the houfes let us glance at their mailers and miftreffes ! Much ftrefs has been laid upon heraldic refearch, and the author, — it may be fome- what boldly, but, neverthelefs, very fm- cerely, — 1 62 New Place, cerely, — has exprelTed not merely his opinion about the value of heraldic re- cords, upon which there needs no opinion to be exprelTed ; but his conviction that there is yet much knov/ledge to be gained from refearches, to v^hich a comparifon of the Warwickfhire pedigrees of Shake- fpere's age, v^ould lead the inquirer. In preparing thefe pages for the Prefs, the examination of the Vilitations has led the author again and again upon the track of information of which he was previouily in utter ignorance. May not the fame refult await other inquirers ? Moreover, we experience a frefhened interefl when we gain a knowledge of the perfons who furround the Poet in familiar intercourfe. That marriage reg-ifter — " 1561. June 4. — Joliannes Combes, Generosus, " et Rosa Cloptonne " — brings Shakefpere into connexion with the great folk at Clopton from his earlieft years. Stratford-upon-Avon. 163 years. Rofe was married the year after her father died, and her brother ¥/illiam had come into polTelTion. She was mif- trefs of the College during the firfl: fifteen years of the Poet's life, and as fhe watched him growing, and fawhim attain his fourth year, ihe would hear the news from the Houfe that her brother's wife had brought him a little girl — duly chriflened Jocofa or Joyce. This was the future Countefs. The Poet would be juft old enough to remember her being born, the year after William Underbill, Efquire, had come to refide at New Place. The boy and girl grew up to man's and woman's eftate, familiar with the fame people and having the fame friends. In 1575, Queen Eliza- beth arrived at Kenilworth, and Mafter Langham, in his letter to Mailer Martin defcribing the Queen's vifit, difcovered -that " Olid Hags, prying into every place, " are az fond of nuelltiez az yoong girls " that 164 New Place, " that had never feen Coourt afore." Then did the men of Coventree make petition that they '* moought renue now " their old Storical Sheaw," — " of late " laid dooun they knoe no cawz why, " onlefs it wear by the zeal of certain " theyr preacherz. Men very commend- " able for their behaviour and learning, " and fweet in their fermons, but fome- " what too four in preaching awey theyr " Paftime."* Among the young girls who had never feen Court afore we may probably reckon Joyce Clopton, for the author has dif- covered, among the pedigree MSS. in his cuftody, that at an early age Joyce was appointed * A curious MS. copy of the celebrated "Letter " wherein part of the Entertainment unto the Queen'z "Majefty at Killingwoorth Caftl : in Warwickflieer in "this Soomerz Progred, 1575, is fignitied," is in the author's poffelhon. The writer notes " this manufcript "is valuable." The author's name is given, Langhani. Mr. Knight calls him " the entertaining coxcomb, " Laneham." Stratford- iipon-Avo?:. 165 appointed a Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth, being " a great favourite and " remarkable for her virtues." Moil likely the Queen iirfl faw the little girl, aged feven, on this memorable occa- fion, when William Clopton (C), her father, came to Kenilw^orth to do honour to Leicelfer. However this may be, the lithe Joyce muft have been brought about the Queen's perfon at a very youthful period, for young George Carew, a Cap- tain in the army, met her, made love to her, and married her without her father's knowledge when fhe was 1 9 years of age ! '* Mr. Clopton was greatly difpleafed " with his daughter's marriage with Cap- '' tain Carew, which was without his " knowledge and confent, and intended to " dilinherit her. But upon an accidental " meeting and converfmg with Captain " Carew, he found him a man of fuperior " genius and fine addrefs, which quali- " fications 1 66 New Place, '' iications fo effectually recommended *' him to his favour that he was recon- " ciled, and fettled his eftate at Clopton, " which was very coniiderable, upon him " and his daughter." By reference to the Pedigree, it will be found that Clopton House was in the poffeffion of three perfons during the whole of Shakefpere's life. William Clopton (C) inherited it three years before the Poet's birth, and enjoyed it until 1592, when Shakefpere was 28 years of age. Joyce and her huiband fucceeded, and long outlived the Poet. In thefe three perfons we have indi- viduals of rank, importance, and intel- le6lual power. The traditions which affociate Shakefpere with Clopton Houfe would be of little value, were it not that they are iinger-pofts dired:ing us to in- quiries which give us every confidence that he was fo affociated. The Combes, Cloptons, Stratford-upon-Avon. 167 Cloptons, Underhills, Boughtons (of Lawford), we find linked together by family ties and focial bonds. In the midfl of them, in the " Great Houfe," that had belonged to the families of two of them, Shakefpere refided. It is a happy, plea- fant pidiure that the mind creates for itfelf, as in imagination it repeoples the College, and New Place, and Clopton Houfe, and the neighbouring refidences of Idlicote and Boughton, We feem to fee our Shakefpere enjoying, and enjoyed in, fuch fociety. When we turn to the Pedi- gree, and learn what was the character and fame of George Carew, Eai:l of Tot- nefs, we can conceive in the brave foldier's periods of leave and repofe how greatly he would appreciate fuch converfation as he might find in New Place. Carew was himfelf an author, and efleemed a literary character in his day. Being fent by James I., in 1609, on an embally to 1 68 New Place, to France, he drew up on his return a relation of the Hate of that country, and gave portraitures of Henri Quatre, and of the principal people about the Court. He alfo wrote the " Pacata Hibernia" a hiftory of the wars in Ireland, which Bifhop Nicholfon fays contained the tran- fadiions of three years of much fighting, in Munfter, from the latter end of the year 1599 to the death of Queen Elizabeth. He alfo tranllated into Englifh a hiftory of Irifli affairs, written by Maurice Regan, a fervant of the King of Leinfler, in the year 11 71; the MS. of which work was formerly in the library of the Duke of Chandos. Without purfuing the records of pedi- grees further, it is to be hoped that enough has been brought forward to anfwer the queftion at page 105, which the author fuppofed being put to him. It is true there is no pofitive and dired: evidence Stratford-upon-Avon. 169 evidence that Shakefpere ever aiTociated with many of the perfons that have been named. Heaven forbid that there ever fhould be found any direcSt evidence that he aiTociated with any of the perfons into whofe fociety he is degraded by tradition ! But which is the truftier of the two — the fair and natural conclulions which the mind draws from the contemplation of contemporaneous fadis ; or the idle, loofe, and fhifting ftories of perfons who had never feen the Poet, or could fpeak a word from their own knowledge ? Shakefpere's charadier, read by the offenfive taper-light of village goffip, is not the character which the ftudent of his works would exped: to meet, and be miferably difappointed if he did not meet. The weights and meafures of con- fcience — the things flie approves, or dif- approves — have one eternal, unchanging flandard. In every age there is the fame 170 New Place, fenfe of right and wrong, clean and un- clean, fober and diflblute. Shakefpere either was or was not a man to love and refpedi, as well as a Poet to admire. If he fank fo low as to have his paftime with tipplers and drunkards, then our diminished regard tarnilhes the bril- liancy of our admiration. But if there is abfolutely no evidence whatever to prove aught againft the man ; if deer flealing, and vagabondiling, and hard drinking are unfupported by a lingle eftablifhed, proved fad; ; and if, on the contrary, they are iingularly at variance with what are the know72 faBs of this great man's life, it is but juft to his memory, and giving him the honour which is his due, if we fcout with contempt the wrencings of tap-tubs and the vulgar goffip of clow^ns. The view of Shakefpere's life and character which the writer takes, is not drawn from imagination, prefent- in^ Stratford-upon-Avon. 171 ing an outline which will admit of no faults. It is eafy to mount a Pe- gafus, and foar aloft on the wings of grandiloquent words about his genius, and his poetry, and his dramatic fkill. It is the profaic, and not the fentimental, view of the man Shakefpere with which thefe pages are engaged. It is Shake- fpere's Home which is their concern. Planting our feet on a few acres of land, under the fliadow of Holy Crofs, in Stratford, the obje(5l is to know as much as poffible about that home hiflorically and focially, and to know what the man was who inhabited it. His ambition to acquire poffeffion of New Place was as honourable and laud- able as it feems natural. Was not John Shakefpere, the Poet's father, engaged in the fame trade as the great Sir Hugh Clopton, however wide the difference in the extent of their dealings ? That Great Houfe 172 New Place, Houfe had been the London mercer's home. It had belonged to the man who made his money in Old Jewry and the Cheape. Before Shakefpere fet out for London, when his father was in dif- iiculties, he very probably took a linger- ing look at the houfe, — took courage from the memory of the man who had lived in it, — and fet out for London town v/ith a ftern determination to win inde- pendence himfelf, and return to live in Stratford, enjoying it. Let us review the circumflances of his life, and we fhall find all this is moft natural, and harmo- nifes with what we know are ja5ts. His running away to London, like a thief, to cfcape Sir Thomas Lucy, is a wretched, crack-brained llory, bafed upon no fa6t whatever ; but invented folely to tiy and make out a reafon for Shakefpere's going, when a natural and fufficient reafon laid clofe at hand. Lord Stratford-upon-Avoji. 173 Lord Southampton gave him £1000 to complete fome purchafe he greatly defired. There was a purchafe com- pleted, and probably completed in a hurry, for the vendor fold in Eafter term, and was dead in July ! May not Lord South- ampton's money have been given for this particular purpofe ? And when Shake- fpere was fettled at New Place, what are the evidences, the faBs, we know of him ? They uniformly go to prove that he was a careful, induftrious, money- making man, feeking to acquire property and to found a family. His proper ambition is difcoverable in every move- ment of his life : in his acquirement cf New Place ; in his grant of arms by the College ; in his will ; in his various pur- chafes of property ; and, laft of all, in the fociety of the perfons with whom we conclude, both by poiitive and alfo by indired; evidence, that he alTociated. As 174 A^^w Place, As we tread the garden of New Place, and recall the mighty dead that once trod that fame plot of earth, and called it his, let thofe who love to think of him as the Poet, think of him alfo as the Gentleman. The idle talk of men who never knew him has wafted down to us unproved and difcreditable ftories. At his threfhold, when we enter New Place, let us ihake them, with the duft, from off our feet. Shakefpere's honell', anxious life deferves better from us than a readi- nefs to hear him defamed. As we tread his garden let us think of him, and judge of him by what we know of him. It is not much, indeed, but it may fome day be more. Such evidence as we have, all tells in his favour. It prefents to us a man with goodly ambition railing him- felf and his family to prefent indepen- dence, and to everlafting fame. It pre- fents to us a cautious, careful labourer — a Stratford'Upon-Avon. 175 a painftaking artift, a moft fkilful anato- mift of human nature. It prefents to us no hurried fcribbler of plays, careleiTly throwing off, without an idea of their beauty, the teeming imaginations of his brain, as it has been impudently afferted ; but a man who chaftened his mufe with fevere caftigation, and applied himfelf through life with unhalting felf-devo- tion, not only to feek out the treafures of thought, but to polifh, and fet his gems in fuch marvellous frameworks of plot, as in Othello, Lear, Hamlet, and Macbeth, that the world has gazed thefe three hundred years with admiration and de- light upon his wondrous workmanfliip. And when we tread his garden let us think of him as the greateft, loftieft teacher of mankind who has ever fpoken with uninfpired lips. "There are," faid Watfon, Bifhop of Llandaff (to the late Duke of Rutland, when retiring from his tutorship). 1^6 New Place, tutorfhip), " two books to adhere to in " your future life ; one is the Book of the " Child of God ; the other the Book of "the Child of Nature." From Shakefpere's House at New Place, many of the pages of that book went forth to the world; and in that garden, among its trees and flowers, their thouehts were meditated. Let us honour his memory where his very prefence feems to overfhadow us. " A gleam of day Ugh tfet JVill gild the cloud of eve ; And the foul's light linger yet O'er the place itfighed to leave.'' In writing about Shakefpere, inches of fad: have been fringed with acres of conjecture. When once an author has entered upon the field of conjed:ure he can wander along at his will, unchecked and Stratford-upon-Avon. ijj and unhindered ! But if conjed:ure is fuggeflive of inquiry, where inquiry may not have been fufficiently made, perhaps it is not altogether worthlefs. Where did Shakefpere obtain his knowledge ? That quelliion has been afked by every ftudent of his works, and has never yet been fatisfad:orily anfwered. Ben Jonfon aflerted that he had " fmall Latine, and leiTe Greeke," by which, it is to be prefumed, he meant to ftate that Shakefpere had received the rudiments of a clafTical education, without being diifinguiihed as a fcholar. Such a conclufion might be fairly arrived at from a ftudy of his plays. But though he might not have been able to tranflate the Medea or Antigone with eafe, it does not admit of a doubt, that in fome way or other, and at an early age, he muft have read extenlively — perhaps indifcrimi- nately. At 178 New Place, At eighteen he married. The youth, whether he was a lawyer's clerk, or appren- ticed to bulinefs, had iinifhed his curri- culum at fchool before that event. We are confequently reduced to the neceffity of confidering his " education " (techni- cally fo called) as iinifhed when he was feventeen years of age. Had he acquired the mafs of information with which his mind was ftored, previous to that date ? or, during the labours of author and ad:or in London, did he find time to purfue the cultivation of his mind, as well as to inform himfelf of the data and hiftorical fa6ls regarding any par- ticular play which he was going to write ? A diftinguiflied magiftrate of the prefent day once anfwered the writer of thefe lines (on his exprefTing furprife at the minutely accurate information difplayed by a popular novelift regarding the local hiflory and hiftorical records of a place he had Stratford-upon-Avon. 179 had never viiited), ** Oh ! give a man a " fortnight at the Britifh Mufeum and he "will get up any period or place you " pleafe." No doubt there is much truth in this remark ; but, impr'unis^ Shakefpere had no Britifh Mufeum to which he could refer ; and, in the next place, the know- ledge he difplays in Romeo, Hamlet, Macbeth, or any of the plays, the plots of which he borrowed from hiftorical books, trad:s, or ftories he had read, is of a very much deeper and profounder chara(^er, than refults from curfory reading. It is not the knowledge of a " common-place " book," or a " cram," but the refult of keen obfervation and clofe ftudy. Not in the technical, but in the broadefl fenfe of the term "education," infuffi- cient inquiry has been made, as to how, or by what means, Shakefpere became felf-educated ? for it does not admit of difpute that his profound knowledge of human i8o New Flace, human nature, and his marvellous capa- city for the acquifition of facfts, were the refult of felf-cultivation. No grammar fchool of King Edward VI. inftrudied a boy's mind as Shakefpere's mind was inflrudted. Conjecture fpeculates as to how he gained his information ? Suggeftion, with a furmife, may inquire whether the hiftory of the " Guild " at Stratford has ever been narrowly fcruti- nifed, with a view to arriving at a con- clufion. Shakefpere's lines in the Third Ad: of the Twelfth Night have been repeatedly quoted : — Maria. Hes in yellow Jtocldngs. Sir Tob\. And crofs-gartered. Maria. Moji villmnoujly ; like a pedant that keeps a fchool I the church. Whether Shakefpere had his own pre- ceptor before his mind's eye, may be doubted ; but there can be no doubt that he S>tratford-upon-Avon. 1 8 1 he alludes to a cuftoni of his time, which had come under his own obfervation, which was the very common habit of holding public fchools in the Lady chapels, or chancels of churches which had for- merly been conned;ed with monaftic eftab- lifhments. There are many perfons alive who have belonged to fchools kept in the church — as,forinftance,theQueen Elizabeth School, which was held in the Lady chapel of St. Mary Redcliffe at Briftol, and in which they received their education. Schools in the church were not uncommon. The fchool at St. Alban's continues to be held in the Lady chapel of that ftupendous Nor- man abbey, to the prefent hour. A fchool was kept (perhaps ftill is) in the Triforium of Chrifl Church, Hants. The college fchool at Worcefter alfo has been held in a noble hall within the Cathedral precindts. A long lift of fuch fchools in the church might 1 82 New Place, might be given. But there is one re- markable fadt connedled with them ; they have, as a general rule, been eftabliihed or held in the Lady chapels, or chapels of fupprefled monaftic inftitutions, and not in buildings that were parochial churches before the Reformation. In conne(flion with thefe fupprelTed monafteries, or cells, there were frequently valuable libraries, rich in ancient chronicles, tales of the wars, hiftories of royal heroes and valiant knights, as well as in the lives of the faints, miifals, and breviaries. Such an eilablifliment was the Guild of the Holy Crofs. Henry VIII. fupprelTed its conventual charadler. His fon Ed- ward VI. ered:ed it into a grammar fchool. The Corporation records of Stratford prove that the chancel of the Guild Chapel was ufed as a " fchool i' the church," and it is altogether uncertain whether fuch ufe was continuous or temporary. Mr. Halli- well Stratford-upon-Avon. well and others imagine it was temporary, founding their opinions upon probabilities as they fuggeft themfelves to their minds from an examination of the Corporation books. The items of allowances there alluded to in 1568 are: — " for repayryng " the fcole ; " " for drellyng and fweepyng " the fcole houfe ; " " for ground and " fellynge in the olde fcole ; " ** for takyng " doun the foller over the fcole." Mr. Halliwell comments upon this — "This " lad entry would alone feem to prove " that the fchool was not then in the '•' chapel, but in another building." The difference in the terms of deligna- tion feems to warrant the opinion that there may have been an intended dif- tindtion between the "fcole" and "olde " fcole." The ufe of the word " olde " appears to fignify that there were two fchool -rooms, or places of teaching, belonging to the one " Grammar School," anfwering 184 New Place, anfwering probably to what is called in the prefent day, the upper and lower fchool. And if the chancel of the Guild Chapel had lately been appro- priated for fcholaflic purpoles, it was very natural in the Chamberlain's accounts, to defcribe the fchool-room in the monaftic buildings of the ancient guild as " the " olde fcole." It was the trueft defcrip- tion, for the fame place had been " a ** fcole " for fifty-two years previous to the fuppreffion of the monafteries, having been founded in the laft year of the reign of Edward IV., 1482, by a Thomas Jolyffe, under charge and control of the Guild of the Holy Crofs. There is another entry and date in the Corporation books, of great importance. In February, 1594, an order diredls, that there fhall be no fchool kept in the chapel from that date. It will be fair to conclude, that up to that year, from the new Stratford-upon-Avon. 185 new foundation of the fchool in the 7th year of the reign of Edward VI., 1553, the Guild Chapel had been ufed for fchool-teaching ; and in all probability about that date, the "olde fcole" had fuch additional accommodation given to it, that it was no longer necelTary to appro- priate the Guild Chapel to fuch a pur- pofe. Whether it was habitually ufed as a fchool from 1554 to 1594 (as the Lady chapel of St. Alban's ftill is, and St. Mary Redcliife was until lately), is of no great moment, becaufe diftind: evidence proves, that, whether occafionally or habitually » to fuch ufe it was devoted during the years when Shakefpere was at fchool, and (fuppofmg he continued at fchool until he was fixteen) for fourteen years fubfequently. It may yet be difcovered that greater impreifions were produced upon the mind of the boy Shakefpere by the advan- tages 1 86 New Place, tages he derived from the " fchool i' the " church," than have ever been fuggeiled by commentators upon his life! Many obfcurities have of late years been cleared up, by a careful perufal of documents hitherto negledted. There are polTibly in exiftence many documents, which, if difcovered, would throw a flood of light upon the buflnefs of his manhood and his authorihip, that remain for the prefent fhrouded in obfcurity. Probably enough, on that night in June, 1613, when Burbage was performing Heiiry VIII. in the Globe Theatre, Blackfriars, and the thatched roof catching fire, the entire building was deftroyed, many MSS., plays, and note- books of the Poet's, may have perifhed in the flames, which would have fet at reil: the unfatisfacflory quefl:ion — How did Shakelpere acquire his varied, profound, and alfo defultory knowledge ? The Stratford-upon-Avon. 187 The inquiry feems to force us to one or other of two conclulions : either he enjoyed peculiar advantages from the "fchool i' the church" which could not be derived from the ordinary crofs- gartered pedants' routine of Hie, Hcec, Hoc, or he muft have been enabled, by Lord Southampton, or fome other influential perfon, to obtain accefs to a library in London. At the prefent moment, in the utter abfence of all direct evidence upon the fubjed:, we are thrown back upon pro- babilities, and the indirect internal evi- dence of Shakefpere's writings. They appear to bear a twofold witnefs in favour both of Stratford and London ; but fuch knowledge as fo bufy a man could acquire in London, was much more likely to be obtained for the occafion, and ftudied in hillories and chronicles hurriedly, in order to conArud: the plots of his pieces, than to be of that profound and equally dif- curiive 1 88 New Place, curfive characfler, which remains to the prefent time the admiration and equally the puzzle of the world. In the plays which we know that Shakefpere wrote, when one of the " owners " or " partners " of the Globe Theatre, and in the full ftrain of mental and phyiical exertion, we do find an immenfe amount of that " knowledge of a period " before alluded to, which is rather the bufinefs of a fearcher of records, than of a fhudent of literature. This, after all, is the mere Ikeleton of a play. The flefh and life that clothe thofe dry bones of history, could not be fo read-up or crammed. The plays of Henry IV. and Henry VI. may ferve for example. No Garter- King-at-Arms, no F.S.A. could fupply us with more accurate knov/ledge of defcent and pedigree, than do fuch fpeeches as thofe of Mortimer (Firfi: Part Hefiry VI., A(fl ii.), and of the Duke of York (Second Part Stratford-upon-Avon. 189 Part Henry VI., Ad: ii.). No hiflorian could fketch charader more admirably, or render narrative more tranfparent, than do the princes and prelates who fpeak in A61 iv. Second Part of Henry IV. But while fuch knowledge might have been ftudied for the purpofe, let it be remem- bered that this fame Ad: is world-famous for a knowledge of a very different cha- rader — a knowledge of human nature, exhibited in the two phafes of high and or- dinary life, — King Henry and the Prince ; and Juflice Shallow, Falftaff, and Bar- dolph, — in itfelf fufficient to have eftab- lilhied the fame of a humorift or fatirift of any age. It is not a queftion of pro- bability, but a known fad, that Shake- fpere did model the fkeletons of many of his plays upon the chronicles which he read while adively occupied at the Globe Theatre. Still, that does not account for the flefh, and blood, and life, with which 190 New Place, which they are quickened; and in order to do fo, it feems neceffary to retrace our fteps to Stratford, and to attribute them to a precocious acquifitive- nefs, as well as natural quicknefs of obfer- vation. Quicknefs of obfervation feems neceifarily allied with the keeneft fenfe of the ludicrous. The traditions of Strat- ford concerning the Poet's humour, 77iay well be triijied when we read his plays ; and when we regard him as a fatirift of the follies of mankind, in comparifon with the fatiriflis of modern times, their attacks are but as the prick of a bodkin or a pin, compared with the flaying of a fcalping-knife ! Shakefpere's knowledge was two-fold : it was the moil: wonderful that any human being has ever exhibited, regarded as knowledge refulting from obfervation ; but it was alfo knowledge acquired by reading and ftudy. In him every one recog- nifes Stratford-upon-Avon. 191 nifes the ftudent as well as the obferver. When did he ftudy ? Where did he fhudy ? A great amount of his know- ledge of life, as exhibited in his ruflic charadiers and clowns, was, we know, the photographing of perfons with whom he had come in contad: in Warwickshire ! There alfo mod probably was his ftudy ! It has been afterted that, towards the clofe of his life, he regularly retired to Strat- ford for the purpofe of writing his plays. The alTertion carries with it every proba- bility, and it is likely enough the truth, that at Stratford he was habitually a ftu- dent to the very clofe of his career. If the Te??ipeji or Henry VIII. were the laft plays he wrote, he muft have been fuch. We may well incline to the belief, when we remember the touching farewells of Profpero and Wolfey to that power which they had fo long exercifed. Shakefpere himfelf might be ipeaking to 192 New Place, to us in the "long farewell," or in the lines : — " 77/ break my ftaff. Bury it certain fathoms in the earth, And deeper than did ever plummet fowid, r II drown my hooky It is not, however, with the clofe but with the commencement of his career, that we have to do. Was not Stratford the fchool- houfe of his life ? Did not his mind, — - with a precocity fuch as has been exhibited in Milton and Chatterton, and for which Lord Byron was nervoully anxious that the world fhould give him credit, — eagerly and thirftily drink at the fources of fuch knowledge as were capable of being reached in his youthful years ? Though it may feemingly be a very unfatis- fad:ory manner of anfwering a queftion, to put another; neverthelefs, when every lover of Shakefpere has afked, and will continue to afk until the queftion is anfwered, " Where did the Poet gain his " diverlified Stratford-upon-Avon. 193 *"' diveriiiied learning?" it may not be altogether ufelefs to reply to fuch in- quirers — Have you not palTed over, with- out fufficiently fearching confideration, the days that were fpent at " the fchool i' the '•'church?" Have you thoroughly in- vefligated the charad:er of that fchool, and of the Guild of the Holy Crofs, with which it was originally incorporated ? Have you fatisfied yourfelves, whether, in that very church, Shakefpere might not have found thofe fources of knowledge which he evidently found fomewhere and fomehow ? Between the date when King Henry VIII. fuppreifed the monaftic eftablifh- ment in 1536, to the date of his fon, Edward VL, reviving the School of the Guild in 1553, only feventeen years inter- vened. Thofe years were long enough to complete the work of difperiion or deftru(ftion among the libraries of abbeys that 194 New Place, that were themfelves reduced to ruins, but no fuch ruin overtook the Guild of the Holy Crofs. It was not an eftablifh- ment of fufficient importance to be ruined, and accordingly it changed hands, and followed the deftinies of the Reforma- tion. What became of its furniture — its chattels — above all, its books ? Was there any library conned:ed with the Free School of the Guild? If fo, what object could there be for the officers of Henry VIII. to deftroy it, or difperfe it? The problem as to where Shake- fpere gained his extenfive knowledge, can never be folved until inquiries in this direction fhall be — if ever — fatisfadtorily anfwered. The ground, to the befh belief of the author, is almoft, if not altogether, unbroken ground. Whether the readers of thefe pages will feel the fame conviction that he does, it is not for him Stratford-upon-Avon. 195 him to know; but, while the moil: in- terefting of all inquiries regarding the life of Shakelpere ftill waits for an anfwer, the author has convinced himfelf, that if that anfwer is ever rendered, it will come from Stratford, and not from London ; — it will prove that William Shakefpere, while a fchool-boy, with little Latin and lefs Greek, had neverthelefs a thirft for know- ledge in his own mother-tongue, a love for acquiring information of the mofl diverfiiied character, and a marvellous power, or natural gift, for hiving his ftore in the cells of memory, and bringing forth that knowledge, " fweeter than honey or " the honeycomb," whenever it was re- quired. With a convicflion, which nothing but abfolute evidence to the contrary would ever fhake, the author feels morally certain that at the " fchool i' the church " Shakefpere had free accefs to fome valu- able ftore of books, whether belonging to 196 New Place^ to the Guild proper, or to the fchool of the Guild, or to fome other library that was contiguous and eaiily accef- lible ; and that from the fame fources at which the thirfting fchool-boy drank, the man, in his occaiional and eventually permanent retirement, drank alfo. Per- haps there may have been a peculiar charm and attracftion for this teacher of mankind in fettling at New Place, becaufe its gables and cafements were {hadowed by the glorious architecJIure of that Holy Crofs Chapel, wherein he had dif- covered, and ever after fondly fought, thofe filent teachers — dear and precious books! — the unquarrelling friends, the un- changing companions, the charmers whofe charms never fade; — alike welcome to the man in the zenith of literary fame, and to the fchool-boy with fatchel and Ihining morning face, eagerly feeking (as King Edward named the mailer of the Stratford School) Stratford-upon-Avon. 197 School) the Pedagogue and "the fchool " i' the church." Though the remains are very fcanty that ferve to give us any information regarding Shakefpere, it is fomewhat remarkable that one of the moft valuable relics connedted with him ihould have belonged to his library. One book of Shakefpere's, with his autograph on the fly-leaf, exifts. It is Montaigne's Effays. Amidft the goffip of literature with which the modern Prefs abounds, it is no fmall teftimony to the worth of fuch books as Montaigne's Eflays, and Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, that they ftand without rivals to the prefent hour ; approached only by Hallam, by D'Ifraeli's "Curioflties of Literature," and one or two other works of like characfter, but unfurpaifed by any, in their own quaint 198 New Place, quaint and captivating flyle of hiftorical anecdote. That Montaigne fhould be a favourite author with Shakefpere will be readily understood by any one who has ftudied the minds of the two men. They were both fatirifts of the eccentricities of human nature. They had both a relifh for conceits. They were both philo- fophers of life. We can well imagine that Montaigne would be as valued on the fhelves of New Place, as Charles Lamb defcribes a new book to have been valued, when it was at laft acquired after the careful ftoring of every fpare farthing, and carried home in triumph to his fifter ! Shakefpere's one book ! And fuch a book ! What more humorous, in- ftrudlive, entertaining, and improving companion could a man need than Montaigne's ElTays ? Leaving to Mr. Emerfon Stratford-upon-Avo7i. 199 Emerfon and Mr. St. John the talk of apologifing for the occafionally eccentric tendency of the Gafcon's fancy — remem- bering the fafhion of the times in which he hved, and the vernacular even of courts and kings, v^hich in modern days would make the hair of fociety ftand on end — we might be permitted to arrange in imagi- nation the bookihelves of New Place, and with the lingle vertebra of a library — Montaigne's Effays — proceed to the formation of the body of Shakefpere's iirefide literature, as ProfelTor Owen con- ftrudls an animal upon the authority of a bone. Aftoniihing as the number of works is which Caxton contrived to produce be- tween the publication of the " Game of " Chefs," in 1474, and his death in 149 1 — the year before Sir Hugh Cloptoii was Lord Mayor of London — equalling as much as five thoufand clofely printed folio pages, this leaping of the giant in the womb of time 200 New Place, time (as Mr. Hallam called it) was nothing in comparifon with the produdiion of books during the feventy years that inter- vened between the date of Caxton's death and Shakefpere's birth. The great printer's favourite apprentices, Pynfon and Wynkyn de Worde, had between them publiflied more than iix hundred volumes at the end of the iirft quarter of the fix- teenth century. When once the prelTes had been eftabliihed at Oxford and other large provincial towns, the ilTue averaged feventy-five volumes a year. So that, by the clofe of the century when Shake- fpere modelled and furniflied his houfe at New Place, he had the pick of ten thoufand volumes publifhed in the Englifh tongue, and could adorn his ftudy either with Cranmer's Bible, publiflied by Graf- ton, or with one of John Day's ; or with that edition of 1551 for which Tindall was ftrangled, and his body burnt. In addition Stratford-upon-Avon. 201 addition to this, the retirement of Strat- ford would be enlivened for him by the arrival of " Mercuries " or " Flying " Couriers," in which the latefl intel- ligence from Town would be recorded, and he might fee what Heminge and Burbage were about at the Globe. When fpeculations are hazarded as to the knowledge of S'hakefpere, and its fources, it is delirable to have fadts of this defcription recalled to mind. We ordi- narily labour under the impreffion that books were very fcarce in Shakefpere's days; and if we may take Lord Macaulay's celebrated picture of England's country houfes in the time of Charles II. as fome- thing like the truth, we may make a pretty fair guefs at what would be the amount of intellediual food enjoyed by the gentry and fquires of Warwickfhire jufl one century earlier. If, between 1660 and 1665, " the difficulty and ex- " penfe 202 New Place, " penfe of carrying large packets from " place to place was fo great that an ex- " tenfive work was longer in making its " way from Paternofler Row to Devon- " fhire or Lancafhire than it now is in " reaching Kentucky," .... and " few " Knights of the Shire had libraries fo " good as may now perpetually be found " in a fervants' hall," the fubje(5l of rural intellediuality would be depreffing in- deed, on glancing backwards one hundred years prior to fuch Boeotian darknefs, were it not that the crab-like movement in this inftance would be pofitive progrefs, lince there can be no queftion that learning degraded in England between the dates 1560 and 1660. Upon Shakefpere's claffical knowledge, or maftery of languages, there is little to be faid, or that needs to be faid fince the publication of Dr. Farmer's (the Mailer of Emmanuel College, Cambridge,) " E% Stratford-upon-Avon. 203 " EiTay on the Learning of Shakefpere." That exhauftive pamphlet, Malone can- didly admitted, was overwhelming in its evidence, and concluiive, that the Poet's claffical plays and poems were not con- ftrudled upon a knowledge of the claffic authors, but upon tranflations of thofe authors. Whether Ben Jonfon ever uttered the flighting words attributed to him or not, he would be a rampant enthufiaft indeed who would dare to con- travene the truth of the words them- felves. Nothing can be more concluiive of Shakelpere's mere fchoolboy know- ledge of Latin than his abfurd mifquo- tation from Lily's Grammar of a line which, for the purpofe of example, is given one way in the grammar, but runs very differently in the " Eunu- " chus " of Terence, from which, had our Poet really been quoting, he would have quoted correctly. In the 204 New Place, the Taming of the Shrew, we read (Ad; i. Scene i) — Tkanio. Mafter, it is no time to chide you now ; ^JJeSiion is not rated from the heart : If love have touched you, naught remains hutfo, — " Redinie te captum quam queas ndnimo." In the original (" Eunuchus," I. i. 29) the paflage jftands thus : — Phcedkia. Nee quid agam,fcio. Parmeno. Quid agas? Niji ut te redimas captum quam queas Minimo : Ji nequeas paululo, at quanti queas Et ne te afflictes. Phcedria. Itanefuades, iffc, kEfc. The truth was that Shakeipere had learnt Lily's Grammar at fchool (with its " Epiftle " and directions by Cardinal Wolfey). We have no poflible reafon for fup- poling that he ever pretended to fcholar- fhip. He put into the mouth of Tranio a line with which, in his day, every fchoolboy was familiar ; but from whence derived. Stratford-upon-Avon. 205 derived, it is very probable, Shakefpere neither knew nor cared. Probably, with his keen humour, no one could have en- joyed a laugh more than he, could he have liflened to the rubbifh which Shake- fperian " fcholars " have talked about the claffical knowledge of a man who was too honell even to pretend to any fami- liarity with the Greek and Latin poets. The well-worn ftory of Mr. Hales, of Eton, filtering through the works of Rowe, Dryden, and Gilrow, is equally honourable to Mr. Hales, and probably clofe to the truth. Rowe writes : " In a converfation be- " tween Sir John Suckling, Sir William " D'Avenant, Endymion Porter, Mr. " Hales, of Eton, and Ben Jonfon, Sir " John Suckling, who was a profefied " admirer of Shakefpere, had undertaken " his defence againft Ben Jonfon with " fome warmth ; Mr. Hales, who had " fat 2o6 New Place, " fat ftill for fome time told them, " * That if Mr. Shakfpeare had not read " * the ancientSy he had likewife not jiolen " * anythijig from them ; and that if he " * would produce any one topic k finely " * treated by any one of them, he would " * undertake to fhow fomething upon the '* ^ fame fubject at leaf as well written by " ' Shakfpeare: " Fifteen years before Rowe's Life of Shakefpere had been publifhed, Gildon's Letters and EiTays (in 1694) told the ftory. *' The enemies of Shakefpere " would by no means yield him fo much " excellence : fo that it came to a refo- '' lution of a trial of Ikill upon that fub- '* je6t. The place agreed on for the dif- " pute was Mr. Hale's chamber at Eton. " A great many books were fent down by " the enemies of this Poet ; and on the *' appointed day, my Lord Falkland, Sir " John Suckling, and all the perfons of " quality Stratford-upon-Avon. 207 " quality that had wit and learning, and " interefted themfelves in the quarrel, " met there ; and, upon a thorough dif- " quiiition of the point, the judges, " chofen by agreement out of this learned " and ingenious alTembly, unanimoully " gave the preference to Shakfpeare, " and the Greek and Roman poets were '^ adjudged to vail at leaft their glory in " that to the Englifli hero." Dryden's allufion to the ftory (" ElTay " on Dramatic Poefy," 1667,) is as fol- lows : " The conlideration of this made " Mr. Hales, of Eton, fay, * that there " * was no fubjed: of which any poet ever " * writ, but he would produce it much " * better done by Shakfpeare.' " The " ever-memorable " John Hales was a fcholar of diftinguifhed European reputation, and, therefore, he muft have been as familiar with the Greek and Latin poets as with Shakefpere. He was one of 20 8 New Place, of thofe ripe and broadly read fcholars — not thick as blackberries even in the nine- teenth century — who are as familiar with the poetry of their own country as with that of the ancients. Hiftory has alTured us of this : and how very few there are like him ! How very few thofe who can " cap verfes " in that higheft range of literary knowledge, where Terence, Horace, Sophocles, and Euripides, can be inftantly anfwered by the quotation of a kindred line from Spenfer, Shakefpere, or Milton. Hales was one of thefe few athletes of fcholarfhip, and therefore his opinion is worthy of all confideration, while his celebrated victory deferves to make him, as Malone prayed he might remain, " ever-memorable." The mental gymnaftics thus performed in Mr. Hale's room at Eton, feem to point out very diftindlly the ftrength and the weaknefs of Shakelpere ! " If he "had Stratford-upon-Avon. 209 " had not read the ancients ! " What then ? Mr. Hales knew he had not. Deeply read himfelf in the claflics, he knew that his favourite was not fo. But, what then ? Point out any moral, any philofophic refle(flion, any noble and elevating fentiment, produced by the ancient poets, and " I will produce it " much better done by Shakfpeare," faid Mr. Hales. From the crucible to which Dr. Far- mer fubjedled the writings of Shakefpere, they came forth purged from that alloy of filly eulogy which was a drofs, giving to the Poet what never belonged to him, and depreciating the pure coinage uttered by his brilliant brain. The marvel of Shakefpere's works is in the beauties that are all his own. The prodigality of his genius may in fome degree be eftimated when one of England's greatefl fcholars challenges the ancient poets, and declares himfelf 2IO New Place, himfelf ready to " cap " any fentiment of their verfe by a limilar fentiment, equally well or better exprelfed in Shakefpere. And who, in the trial, wins the victory ? Let it be granted frankly that Shakefpere, in writing his Troilus and Crejjtda, followed Caxton's Hif- tory of Troy ; that he borrowed from Plutarch ; that he read Hollinfhed in order to confl:ru6t 'Richard III. ; that he lludied a tranilation of Belleforeft before he wrote Hamlet I — Let the fame fort of fad:s be quoted againft Henrv IV., Richard II., and all the hif- torical plays : and what does it amount to ? Both' the clofet and the ftage are witnelfes to the truth, that the more " hiftorical " the Poet is — the more he depends upon and adheres to chroni- cles or legends — the lefs powerful he is. Thofe plays are the leaft popular which are the moil hiftorical, for the limple reafon that Stratford-upon-Avon. 2.i\ that where he has to trace the hiftory of a reign in the cramped Hmits of a play, he is neceffarily fettered, and the fc ope of the Poet's fancy is more or lefs fubje6led to the inevitable rehearfal of facfts. How different is it in the unapproached per- fection of treatment, progrelTive develop- ment of plot, and poetry of didlion in Othello and Macbeth. In thofe, as in Hamlet, and Ro?72eo, and King Lear, a fcheme of the play has been derived from ancient writers, or tranilations, but nothing more. The genius of the Poet has been left free to portray character, and to clothe fentiment with words as no other poet ever did. There is every difference between learn- ing and language. Shakefpere's know- ledge was not a knowledge of language, but it was the knowledge of learning. It is highly probable that he never derived a fingle clafHcal incident, allufion, or ftory 212 New Place, ftory, dired: from a clailical author. It is equally probable that he never in his life read a Greek play, and knew no more of Terence than he had learnt of him in Lily's Grammar ! The more we realife thefe fa(fls (for they are fadis), and the more furpriling the learning of the Poet becomes, he does not thereby fink, but rather rifes in our admiration. We ftrip him of pre- tenfions — pojl-mortem honours to which he laid no claim — and regard him folely as what he is, the Poet of England, and uttering in Englifh verfe the thoughts gathered from, or fuggefled by, Englifh literature. We have feen that there were ten thoufand volumes publifhed in Englifli during the century in which he flou- riflied, and that every year contributed largely to the information of ftudious men. Whatever truth there may be in Macaulay's Stratford-upon-Avon. 21 2 Macaulay's flridtures upon the ignorance prevailing in the reign of Charles II., the bulinefs of Shakefpere's life involved read- ing and fludy. And although it is true that the circulation of books in the rural diftricfts of England may have been very flow, fliill this objection would not be any impediment to Shakefpere, who, living conftantly in London, and travelling to and fro between Stratford and town, would have ample opportunity to take down with him into the country any books which he wifhed to read. Chro- nological tables of the order in which his plays were written, founded upon internal evidence, dates of performance, or of publication, have frequently been pub- lifhed. Such tables are after all conjec- tural, and it is no proof of the date when a play was written, to learn when it was printed or played. In the abfence of demonftration, the conjedlures of Malone 214 ^^'^ Place, Malone and Chalmers attribute, the one feven, the other eleven plays to Shake- fpere prior to his purchafe of New Place in 1597. The far more fatisfadlory, becaufe poiitive, fa(fls which Mr. C. Knight gives us, fliow that only three plays had been publifhed prior to 1597. With a very trifling amount of excep- tion it may, therefore, be ftated that the mafs of his plays were written during his tenancy of New Place ; and all the greateft, without doubt, during the latter period of his life. Within fixteen years thirty-four plays of Shakefpere's were either printed or fpoken of in print, giving us an average of two plays a year ; their aftual publication, or dired: alluiion to them in particular years, being as follows : — In T 597 . . . .3 Plays. ., 1598 . . • . 8 „ „ 1600 . . . . 5 „ ., 1602 . . . . 3 » In Stratford-upon-Avon. 215 In 1603 .... I Play. „ 1604 .... I „ 1607 . . . .2 „ 1609 . . . .2 „ 1611 ... .2 „ 1613 .... I It is very remarkable that, according to this hft, the Poet worked the hardeft during the year he became poiTelTed of New Place, and for the four or five years fubfequent. Itfeems natural to conclude that Shakefpere purchafed New Place with a view to making it his literary fand:um ; for it is impoilible to refifl: con- necting with the purchafe, the fecundity of his pen. Let us only confider the charadier of work in which he was em- ployed when in London, and let any man fo engaged anfwer whether it would be poffible for Shakefpere, regularly employed at Blackfriars or the Globe, rehearfmg and performing, to ftudy the plots and pro- duce the MSS. of eight or five tragedies and comedies per annum. If he could have 21 6 New Place, have done fo, he would have been a far greater prodigy than the world has ever yet accounted him. Such an Herculean labour of mind and body is beyond the capacity of any human being. But if we attach the purchafe of New Place to Shakefpere's fuccefs as a play- writer, and contemplate him withdrawing there from the excitement and buftle of Blackfriars to produce the Merchant of Venice, and Midfummer Nighfs Dream, then that garden, and the flender remains of the foundations of his houfe feem to be- come doubly precious to Englifhmen. As time wears on his labours flacken; but almofl to the end he continues bringing forth from the treafures of his mind the immortal works which gild his fame. The opinion of many writers has been that Shakefpere was undomefticated, and that he rarely viiited Stratford. Humbly, but confidently, the writer embraces a diredily Stratford-upon-Avon. 2.1 j dired;ly oppolite opinion. To him it appears impoffible that Shakefpere could have accompUfhed the Uterary work he produced, immerfed in the bufinefs and diftradting engagements of Blackfriars or the Globe. Circumftances feem to give credit to the fuppolition that a larger amount of his time was fpent at New Place than is commonly eftimated; and as to his being undomefticated, or un- happy in his home, fuch an uncharitable and purely conjed:ural idea has not even as much refpe6tability as the mare's-neft which De Quincey difcovered in the marriage licenfe. The minds that give welcome to the one notion will, moft likely, cherifh the other. Inllead of Shakefpere redding in Lon- don and occafionally vifiting Stratford, it may be much nearer the truth to fay that he lived the latter years of his life chiefly at New Place, and only vifited London at thofe 2 1 8 New Place, thofe periods of the year when his prefence was abfolutely necelTary. The probabiU- ties are ftrongly in favour of this opinion, and there is no evidence to the contrary. For the lafl eighteen years of his Ufe he is prefented to our imagination as the mafter of New Place. He is not to be regarded during thofe years enjoying retirement and repofe, hke many of the great men who have followed him in his profellion, as Garrick at Hampton, John Kemble at Laufanne, or Macready at Sherborne and Cheltenham. The " filver livery of advifed age," which it was permitted the two iiril — and long may it be allowed to the third — to wear, was never donned by Shakefpere. He died in the frelhnefs and vigour of life ; and, as we know of a certainty, con- tinued actively employed until the clofe of his exigence. It is faddening to think how little alTociated with his private life remains Stratford-upon-Avon. 2 1 9 remains to us. A letter, a will, a deed, a book— and that is all ! How different the fate of the mailer and his apprentices. There are happily preferved to us the chief incidents in the life of Garrick ; and many articles of perfonal property be- longing to him, which are highly prized. When Shakefpere was dead a hundred years, fcarce a trace of him remained. A few ftories gathered from goffips hung about his track in Stratford ; but anything adiually aifociated with him would have been as hard to difcover there, as the Philofopher's Stone. The hundred years was only juft completed, when the houfe in which he had lived and died was razed to the ground. The defcendants of his filler, Joan Hart, as the pedigree {hows, have reached down to our own days. Poifibly fome of them may ftill exill in the neighbourhood of Tewkefbury or Gloucefler. To Joan he bequeathed not only 220 New PlacCy only his houfe in Henley Street, and twenty pounds, but alfo " all my wearing " apparel." What would the world now give to fee a fuit of wearing apparel that had been worn by Shakefpere ? If the coat of Napoleon in the Louvre, or of Nelfon in Greenwich Hofpital, attracts the attention of tens of thoufands, what would be the value of and intereft in the black gown, " garded with velvet and faced with " cony ;" the ruddy coloured hofe, the caf- fock, the jerkin, the " fryze bryches," the rapier, and " the hat of a certain kind of " fine haire, fetched from beyond the feas, " which they call * bever hatte.' "P'^' Shakefpere's wardrobe muft have been flocked with articles of this defcription. They were all left to his fifter ; and his fifter's defcendants certaitily furvived to the * Fairholt's " Coflume in England," p. 216 (i860, Ed.) Stratford-upon-Avon. 221 the end of the laft century. It would have feemed natural for them to have preferved fome of the coftume of the Poet, but there is not a trace of anything of the fort. In the fame way he bequeathed to Mr. Thomas Combe his fword. The pedigree fhows us how the Combe pro- perty palTed into the Clopton family, by the marriage of Martha Combe with Edward Clopton. What would his countrymen not give to recover Shake- fpere's fword ? Its prefervation would have been moft eafy. If the fword of the Conqueror could be preferved in the family of the late Sir Godfrey Webfter, with the Roll of Battle, down to the middle of the laft century, and only then perifhed through the misfortune of a iire, why could not the Combes and Cloptons have preferved Shakefpere's fword ? Why might it not have been depofited ere this in 222 New Place, in fome national treafury ? If there is an article of ufe which has the quality of defying accident and time, it is a fword. Very probably Shakefpere's fword ftill exifts, but has been loft or fold ! Who knows whether it may not have been among the furniture and chattels fold off by Mr. Batterfbee, previous to the demolition of Stratford College, the relidence of the Combes ? What became of the broad filver-gilt bowl bequeathed to Judith Shakefpere — Mrs. Quiney ? What became of the " chattels, plate, jewels, and houfehold " ftuff " bequeathed to Dr. Hall and Mrs. Hall ? Thefe would naturally de- fcend to Lady Barnard ; and at her deceafe would continue in the ufe of Sir John Barnard, until his death in 1673. Neither Lady Barnard's will, nor the indenture relating to her property, make any men- tion of Shakefpere's heir-looms. The broad Stratford-upon-Avon. 223 broad filver-gilt bowl, the plate, the jewels, all vanifli from fight. Articles of this defcription do not perifh or con- fume away. They may exift now in as excellent prefervation as in 1 6 1 6 ! If fo, what has become of them ? Unlefs the filver bowl was fold by the Quineys, and melted down, it would mofl probably be engraved with a creft, or a monogram, or fome device whereby it could be recognifed. Is it yet too late to inftitute a fearch for fuch an invaluable relic of the Poet ? A man of Sir John Barnard's ftation would naturally leave plate, jewels, and property, to his heirs or relatives. It is faid that this family has died out within a very fhort time at Abingdon, in Berkjlnre. If fuch is the facfl, family heir-looms do not defcend to the grave : they pafs to fome one. If the inquiry has not yet been diligently made, it is well worth while to know in what di- rection 224 New Placey rediion the Barnard property has gone ; and to trace — failing dired: male defcent — the female ilTue, and the marriages which may have carried property into other families. It feems impoffible but that Elizabeth Hall mull have inherited the plate and jewels which belonged to her grandfather ; and as fhe makes no direct mention of them in her will, it is natural to fuppofe they continued in polTeiTion of her hulband. We fee Shakefpere's perfonal property divided among his children and his lifter : to one his wardrobe is bequeathed, to another his plate, to another his broad iilver bowl, and to Thomas Combe his fword ! It is hard to believe that a man valued during his lifetime as Shakefpere was, and immortalifed fo quickly after his death, Ihould be held in the leaft efteem by thofe of his own houfehold. It is hard to think that no one belonging to Stratford-upon-Avon. 11^ to him fhould delire to preferve the me- mentoes which he had particularly be- queathed to them in his will. And yet the fa6t flares us in the face that not a lingle heir-loom of the Poet has been handed down, by any one branch of his family, to the prefent day ! All, all are loft and gone, fave one book, the prefervation of which has been purely accidental! Rowe, who acknowledges himfelf in- debted to Betterton for a confiderable part of the palTages relating to the Poet's life introduced in his Biography (publifhed 1709), informs us that Betterton's "vener- " ation for the memory of Shakefpere . . . " engaged him to make a journey into " Warwickshire, on purpofe to gather " up what remains he could of a name " which he had in fo great veneration." Confidering that Betterton was born in 1635 — the fame year in which Dr. John 226 New Place, John Hall died — and that his daughter furvived until 1669, when Betterton was thirty-four years of age, — and conlidering alfo that fhe was eight years of age when her grandfather died, and therefore per- fecflly able to fpeak of him from her own recollection, — it does feem extraordinary that the remains which Betterton went to Stratford to gather up were fo fcanty. He would find Shakefpere's children all dead, but his refidence in the pofieffion of his grandchild, who, though living at Abington, was probably an occafional vifitor to her property in Stratford. Had he even made her acquaintance, with what a fund of information might Rowe's Life have been enriched ! and what treafures conne(fled with the Poet might have been chronicled, and poffibly preferved, through his intereft ! But the fates feem to have ordered it otherwife. The Poet had not been dead twenty years Stratford-upon-Avon. 227 years when Betterton was born ; and within half a century of Shakefpere's deceafe, this venerator of his memory probably viiited Stratford. From that place he does not feem to have brought back with him a lingle memento of the Poet ; or to have feen his fword, his lilver bowl, his books, or any of his chattels, at a defcription of which the ears of every antiquary in England would now tingle, while to recover one of them would make any prefent difcoverer famous. Fifty years, and the treafures of the Poet were unnoticed or unknown ! One hundred years, and the domellic aflb- ciations of his pupil and interpreter, David Garrick, are as frefhly and care- fully preferved as if he had been in their midft yefterday ! Within a mile of one another, at Hampton and Hamp- ton Court, are two relidences, which, fo 228 New Place, fo long as they exifl, will be for ever alTociated with Shakelpere and Garrick. Thanks to Mr. Peter Cunningham's timely difcovery in the Audit Office of the "Revel's Booke," we now know when " Shaxberd's " Plate of Errors, his Mar- chant oj Venis, his Mefur for Me fur, and his Merry Wives of Winfor, were per- formed before James I. We know with certainty of two noble chambers — and thofe royal chambers — in which Shake- fpere was feen and heard, and of none other ; for though it would be almofl a profanity to difturb the tradition which identifies the houfe in Henley Street, Stratford, as the birthplace of the Poet, there is no abfolute certainty of fuch being the cafe. The Banqueting Houfe, at Whitehall, and the mifnamed " Wol- " fey's Hall," at Hampton Court, wherein Shakefpere's company performed before the king in the winters of 1603 and 1604, are Stratford-upon-Avon. 229 are chambers for ever aflbciated with the hiftory of England ; and not among their minor aflbciations is the recollection that in them the King of England liflened to the Poet's plays — faw the Poet him- felf as one of the players — and " be- " ftowed efpecial honour upon Shake- " fpere," in " an amicable letter." The letter was in the pofleffion of Sir William Davenant as reported, and there feems no reafon to queftion the truth of the reports But whether it be true or not, there is no queftion regarding the enadiment of the tragedies and comedies before the Court at Whitehall and Hampton. We are thus enabled to interweave the memory of our Poet with two ftru(5lures utterly diffimilar in archite(5tural detail, but each a princely pile, and each clofely con- nedled with the moll: ftirring events of hiftory. Prince Charles, a child of four years of 230 New Place, of age, may have fported at the King's knee, and witnelTed the deed of blood done by the Moor in the fame hall through which he was to pafs to a darker deed of blood years afterwards. The hiftory of that Palace of Whitehall is familiar to every fchoolboy, but not fo familiar that of the two halls which have adorned the Palace of Hampton Court. For contraft, for light and fhade in hiftorical painting, what four pidlures of funfhine and fhower could be more dramatic than a vigorous reprefentation of Wolfey's Banqueting Hall, as it muffc have appeared when he entertained the French ArhbalTador, — when the Court Revels was held there after the acceffion of James, and Shakefpere performed in the hall which now occupies the fame fite as Wolfey's, which was moft probably defigned by him, but not erected until the 22nd Henry VIIL, fix years after the Cardinal Stratford-upon-Avon. 231 Cardinal had left the Palace for ever; — and on the oppofite or fliadowed fide of the pidiure, when Mary inhabited the Court, liftening to the malTes and prayers of her priefts, praying for her fafe deliverance of an heir to the throne of the realm, v^hich was never deftined to be born ; or when Cromwell, in his domeftic gloom, paced up and down that Hall, liftening to the mufic of the " box of whiftles," which Puritanic opinion thought too Popifh for the chapel of Magdalen College, but was a fit inftrument, erefted in the Minftrel's Gallery at Hampton, to foothe the throbbing breafi; of the Lord Protestor. George Cavendifh defcribes Wolfey's entertainment to the Ambafi"ador of Francis I. Nearly three hundred bed- rooms were fitted up to receive his fuite, each provided with a bafin and ewer of filver, wine and beer vefi^els of filver, bowls, goblets, and filver fconces. At 232 New Placet At the banquet, boufFets ftretched acrofs the end of the Hall, having fix fhelves one above the other, crow^ded with gold and filver plate. During the fecond courfe the Lord Cardinal came in, booted and ipurred, and giving all welcome, took a golden bowl filled with hypocras, and drank to the health of his Sovereign Lord and of the King of France. What a contraft to the fpecflacle witneiTed on the fame Ipot in the following century, when the King-killer, quivering with emotion as his child lay dead in an ad- joining chamber, wandered in his foli- tude about that Palace ! There Mary likewife had wandered in her folitude ! and there, too, Charles had paiTed fome of his bittereft days ! Strange affociations thefe, with the Hall in which Shakefpere and his company had performed before Charles's father, and perchance in Charles's prefence ! The Stratford-upon-Avon. 233 The deftrudtion of New Place, and the lofs and deflrudlion of every article of perfonal property that the Poet be- queathed to his family, excepting one book, — Florio's tranflated edition of Mon- taigne (1603), with his fignature in- fcribed, — muft for ever remain a matter of the deepeft regret. We only know of fix fignatures of Shakefpere. All,fave one, are appended to legal documents. The auto- graph in Montaigne is the only fcrap of writing by the Poet which afTociates us with him in his literary life. However valuable his fignature may be, a far higher value attaches to his writing in a book that was one of his companions and friends, and poffeffed a place in his home, than the mere execution of a hard, dry, legal document. A very interefi:ing account of Shakefpere's copy of Mon- taigne was written by Sir Frederick Madden, which ftates that it was pur- chafed 234 New Place, chafed in 1838 for the Britifh Mufeum, from the Rev. Edward Pattefon, of Eaft Sheen, and had belonged to his father, the Rev. Edward Pattefon, of Smeth- wick, near Birmingham, by whom, pre- vious to the year 1780, the volume ufed to be exhibited as a treafure, on account of its containing the autograph of Shake- fpere. In other words, the book and its autograph were fhown with pride, and not for f ale, prior to Ireland's forgeries, and the vulgar attempts to imitate Shakefpere's lignature by fuch impoftors as Jordan, " the Poet of Stratford,'' fave the mark ! Sir Frederick Madden fays, and fays properly, " the prefent autograph chal- " lenges and defies fufpicion." The book of itfelf is interefting, apart from its con- ned:ion with Shakefpere ; and as it is a treafure which can only be inlpedied by fpecial leave, it may be well to publifh its title. THE THE E S S A Y E S, MORALL, POLITIKE, AND MILLITARIE DISCOURSES, LO: MICHAELL DE MONTAIGNE, KNIGHT, Of the Noble Order of St. MichaELL, and one of the GENTLEMEN IN Ordinary of the French King, Henry the Third, his Chamber. (***) Firfl: written by him in French, and Now done into Engli/h By By him that hath inviolably vowed his labours to the ^ternitie of their Honors, Whofe names he hath feverally infcribed on thefe his confecrated Allares. To the Right Honoralle LUCIE, CO : OF BEDFORD, and LADIE ANNE HARRINGTON, Her Ho. Mother. C^E ^tconli %aa%t. To the Right Honorable ELIZABETH, CO: and OF RUTLAND, LADY PENELOPE RICHE. Clje CI)trlf aSoofic. To the Right Honorable LADIE ELIZABETH GREY, and LADIE MARIE NEVILL. JOHN FLORIO. 5[ Printed at London, by Val, Sims and Edwakd Blount, dwelling in Paules Churehyard. 1603. Stratford- upon - Avon, 237 That Shakefpere was familiar with this tranflation is put beyond all doubt by the fad; that, in Ad ii.. Scene 2, of the Tempeji, he quotes from it almoft word for word : — " r the commonwealth, I would ly contraries Execute all things : for no kind of traffic IFould I admit ; no name of magiftrale ; Letters fliould not be known ; riches, poverty. And vfe of fervice, none ; contra6i, fuccejjion. Bourn, hound of larid, tilth, vineyard, none ; No ufe of metal, corn, or wine, or oil; No occupation ; all men idle, all; And women too ; hut innocent and pure." The palTage thus quoted, in Florio, Book i.. Chap. 30, runs as follows : — Speaking of a newly difcovered country, which he calls Antartick France, Mon- taigne obferves : — " It is a nation — would " I anfwer Plato — that hath no ki?2d of " traffike ; no knowledge of letters ; no in- *•' telligence of numbers ; no name of " magijirate, nor of politike fuperioritie ; " 720 ufe of fervice, of riches, or of poverty; " no contracts ; no fuccefpons ; no divi- " dences ; 238 New Place, " dences ; no occupation^ but idle ; no " refped: of kindred, but common ; no " apparell, but naturall ; no manuring of " lands ; no ufe of wine, come, or " mettle^' &c. That the volume in queftion belonged to a library in Shakeipere's time, its binding fhows, particularly in the Tudor-fafhioned fleur-de-lis and crown ornamentation with which the leather is ftamped. That the volume belonged to Shake- ipere himfelf, the autograph which " challenges and defies fulpicion " proves. Having re-afierted Sir Frederick Mad- den's words, it would be unfair not to quote the following pafTage from Mr. Halliwell's "Life of William Shake- " Ipeare," pp. 280-81 : — " It is unnecelTary to fay that many alleged autographs " of Shakefpeare have been exhibited ; but forgeries of " them are fo numerous, and the continuity of defign, " which a fabricator could not produce in a long docu- " ment, is fo eafy to obtain in a mere fignature, that the " only fafe courfe is, to adopt none as genuineon internal " evidence Stratford- upon- Avon. 239 " evidence. A fignature in a copy of Florio's tranfla- " tion of Montaigne, 1609, is open to this objeftion. " The verbal evidence as to its exiftence only extends " as far back as 1780, after the publication of Stevens' " fac-limile of the laft autograph in the will, of which " it may be a copy with intentional variations." Mr. Halliwell's general accuracy makes an error, in what he fays of this book, remarkable; and excites the fufpicion that, in his fcepticifm, he may have difdained to give the book that honourable conli- deration which it really deferves. He fays, " tranllation of Montaigne, 1609." The title above given will fhow that the date is 1603. The error is hardly worth notice in itfelf, but well worth it when fallen into by a gentleman to whofe painftaking and fearching accuracy we are fo greatly indebted. It awakens an impreffion that Florio's Montaigne may be worthy of a clofer examination than it has yet received, and may perhaps con- tain more interefting evidence in favour of its having belonged to Shakefpere than has 240 New Place, has as yet been fhown. For inftance. Sir Frederick Madden, in his defcription of the book, notices the manufcript notes which are found in it, and the quotations and references on the fly-leaves at the be- ginning and ending of the volume. He ftates that he had at lirfl: hoped thefe notes might have proved to be in the handwriting of Shakefpere, but on ex- amination he concluded they were written at fome period later than Shakefpere's time, though not much later, as the chara(fter of the writing proves. There Sir Frederick leaves the matter. But it is well worth while to take the book in hand, and re- fume its examination at the point where Sir Frederick has dropped it. On the fly-leaf are Italian quotations, references to the clafllc poets, and references tofub- jedis in the book. Thefe prove that the writer was a literary man and a clafllcal fcholar. Taking up the references, and turning Stratford-upon-Avon. 24.1 turning to the body of the work, we find the margins annotated in feveral places, and Montaigne's Latin quotations veri- fied or corrected. Sometimes a wrong author's name is given : if fo, the anno- tations corred: the prefs. Sometimes a quotation is given without the name of the author : if fo, the annotation throws in " Livy," "Virgil," or fome other clafiical name — fuch a book, fuch a line. We are thus put beyond all doubt that the writer was fome fcholar who had the clafiical poets, as v/e fay, at his fingers' ends. But here comes the marvel of the matter. Upon the edges of the leaves is printed with pen and ink the name A. HALES. Hales ! Is it pofilble that the con- nediion of that name with ShakeljDere entirely efcaped the recolledlion of Sir Frederick Madden, and all other exami- ners of the book ? Did no one remem- ber the Poet's champion at Eton, who Lord 242 New Place, Lord Clarendon declared " was one of the " leaft men in the kingdom, and one of " the greateft fcholars in Europe." Sir Frederick is perfe(flly corred: in ftating that the orthography in the volume, though not Shakefpere's, belongs to a date of the Shakefperian age. When we link together thefe fad:s — that Mr. Hales, of Eton, was the Poet's enthuiiaftic ad- mirer ; that he was a profound fcholar, and therefore the very man who would fupply the names of claffic authors to quotations, and corred: errors of reference to them, or infcribe on a fly-leaf a parallel palTage from fome Italian poet ; that if there was afale of Shakelpere's goods and chattels at New Place, his books would be precifely the memorials of the man which Mr. Hales would covet and pur- chafe ; that a volume containing his autograph would be a prize eagerly fought and religioully preferved ; that fuch Stratford-upon-Avon. 243 fuch a work would be read and annotated by Mr. Hales with the intenfeft pleafure; and that the name " Hales" is acftually in- fcribed upon the edges of the leaves, — it does feem that a ftrong teftimony to the value of the book has been overlooked, and that a moft interefting piece of in- ternal evidence as to its hiftoric value has been unappreciated. It is true that it falls fhort of abfolute proof; but the links of the chain couple themfelves fo natu- rally, and the probabilities are fo flirongly in favour of this book having belonged to Mr. Hales, that if fuch evidence re- commends itfelf to the minds of thofe who read thefe pages, Florio's Mon- taigne muft be regarded henceforth with a heightened intereft ; andjuft as we re- gard the book from having pafTed into the poffefTion of fuch a man as Mr. Hales, muft its prefervation by him be an additional teftimony — if fuch were needed — 244 AT'^w Place, needed — in favour of the authenticity of the autograph of Shakefpere. Let Hales be " ever-memorable," faid Malone, becaufe of his defence of Shake- fpere. Will he not deferve to be " ever- " memorable," indeed, if it fhould prove that to his love and reverence we are in- debted for the prefervation of the only known article of property that belonged to Shakefpere ? Thoroughly convinced of the genuine- nefs of the autograph, and ftrongly impreiTed with the belief that after Shakefpere's death his goods and chattels were fold, and that this book palTed into the polTeffi'on of Mr. Hales, of Eton, Florio's Montaigne is regarded by the author as the folitary " In memoriam'" of New Place. New Place is fwept away; the great houfe has vanifhed; the Poet's fword is loft ; the plate and jewels are deftroyed or fold, or loft likewife ; the broad Stratford-upon-Avon. 245 broad lilver-gilt bowl is — melted down perhaps ; but one treafure is fpared to us, better than plate or jewels, becaufe it is affociated with the Poet's play of the Tempeft, — becaufe it bears his autograph, — becaufe, being a book, it is a memento moil: kindred to him who has given to the world, fuperior to all other produdls of the human intelled:, the Book of books, — and becaufe, having belonged to his library, we know how he mufc have valued it — " Me, poor vian ! my lilrary IVas dukedom large enough.'' The attention of the reader has been elpecially called to the name of " Charles " Hales," as one of the commiffioners of the inquilition for inquiry regarding the eftate of Ambrofe, Earl of Warwick. It will be obferved that in Shakefpere's time a Charles Hales is connected with Strat- ford. Then a John Hales is peculiarly interefted 246 New Place, interefted in upholding the Poet's fame ; and on a book bearing his autograph the name **A. Hales" is found infcribed. A viiit to Heralds' College, and a little of the "Old MortaUty" fpirit of mural refearch in Canterbury, Warwick, and Somerfet, gives us information of confider- able intereil, and feems to the author to add value to the folio of Montaigne. The fad: is, the Hales family was con- neded with Snitterfield, and one branch of it was feated there both before and after Shakefpere's time. This diftin- guiflied ftock, which yielded fo many fervants to the Crown in the high offices of the law, belonged, ex Jiirpe, to Can- terbury, and may be traced as located at the Dane John, or Dungeon, of that city, at Hales Place, at Tenterden, and elfe- where. By reference to the appended Pedigree, it will be feen how the junior defcents of this houfe became feated at Coventrv, PEDIGREE OF HALES. "'n »: OiTon or thr Eichtiiii>. Hriplitn llincy. •■■■'-""^'•"•ft..|rt;;.':ti.';,> "' _J llwlty-iipon-ThJimr'. Ilumphitr \Mt*t — Jojrr, J.otibrllanbtr.--BthcT IIiImi *• rl inh.ntid rht Piiorr, Co- 1 U>uti>L ofHiuJIrr, W«n Stratford-upon-Avo7i. 247 Coventry, at Newland near Coventry, and at Snitterfield. John Hales (A) ac- quired the celebrated Priory of Coventry, which Angularly enough had been granted by patent of Henry VIII., dated 28th July, 37th anno., to John Combes, Efq., and Richard Stansfield, their heirs, &c. From them it paffed to this John Hales, in the 15 th of Elizabeth. He died feifed thereof, leaving it to John, his nephew (B), fon of his brother Chriilopher, who, it will be obferved, had married the daughter of Lucy of Charlecote. If the reader will glance over this Pedigree, it will be obferved that the Halefes, Lucys, and Combes became con- nected by marriages between their fami- lies ; and it is of fome intereft to find that fuch a magnificent monallic ellablifh- ment as the Priory of Coventry — magni- ficent even in the wreck that remains of it to the prefent time, converted as it is to 248 New Place, to be a home for the poor — belonged to the father or grandfather of John a Combe, and after him to the Halefes of Warwick- fhire. The reader will perhaps accufe the author of taking him a heavy ride acrofs heraldic country to arrive at a very fimple fad:. But in thefe matters of refearch there is no royal road to knowledge, and it is only by patient fearch that we arrive at a knowledge of fads calculated to throw light on fubjeds like the prefent. The pedigree of Hales, if given in all its branches, would require the infertion of an immenfe map-like fheet in this place, and therefore it is neceffary to exclude fuch branches as are not con- neded with the hiftory of Shakelpere. As the Halefes wandered away from Kent to Warwickshire, to Coventry, to Snitter- field, to Newland, fo one of the branches took root in Somerfetfhire, at a place called ^ »-:i < to CO W w s o O < O w o I— ( p w w K us K X j: rt a Ph -C o rt S M re f-H O "be a o = o hsw K ^ a 0-5 3h - o — c ffi 4 ^ Bi Z *J*1 U3 U) K z ^ n > O o o^ o\ 2 1— > H •^ "^ IE O CiJ Ul i^ ? § »— 1 S h < 0- o a. < S >H oi r; ; — 5^ O O -Q o S mo — X UJ c.E Stratford-upon-Avoji. 249 called High Church. To this branch the "ever-memorable John" belonged. His life is familiar to Eton and Oxford men, and to perfons interefted in Laud, and the Royalift troubles. It is not generally known ; and therefore a few words on the fubje6t may not be in- opportune, as John Hales has always appeared to the author to have beer the iirft fcholar in England who recognifed, as it deferves to be recognifed, the genius and tranfcendent fuperiority of Skakelpere to all the poets of ancient or modern days. He was, as the Pedigree fliows (A), the lixth fon of John Hales, of High Church (B), and was born in 1584. He matriculated at Corpus Chrifli College, Oxford, April 16, 1597, and took his B.A. July 9, 1603 ; was elecfted Fellow of Merton, Od:ober 13, 1606; took his M.A. in 1609 ; and was admitted Fellow of Eton, May 24, 161 3. He accompanied 250 New Place, accompanied Sir Dudley Carlton to the Hague as his chaplain, and was admitted to the Synod of Dort, with reference to which he wrote his " Golden Remains." His connecflion with the Synod gave a flrong Arminian turn to his opinions, and, as he himfelf exprelTed it, he " bid " John Calvin good-night." In February, 16 19, John Hales re- turned from the Synod, and took up his reiidence in England; but his peculiar theological opinions rendered him ob- noxious to Laud, who fummoned him to a lengthened interview, in 1638, at Lambeth Palace, when, by mutual expla- nations. Laud and Hales became recon- ciled, fo that a very fhort time afterwards the Archbifliop, at a public dinner, pre- fented Hales to a canonry at Windfor, into which he was inftalled June 27, 1639, though in 1642 he was ejecfled from the fame. About the time of Laud's Stratford' upon - Avon . 251 Laud's death, 1644, he retired from his rooms in Eton College, and took up his refidence in a private chamber in Eton, where he concealed himfelf for a quarter of a year, in order to preferve the College books and keys, of which he was Burfar. He lived upon bread and beer, and in his concealment was fo near the College, that he ufed to fay, " thofe who fearched " for him might have fmelt him if he " had eaten garlick." He refufed to take the Covenant, and was confequently regarded as a malignant, and ejected from his fellowfliip at Eton. There are many conflidiing ftories about his poverty, and the dire neceiTity in which he was com- pelled to fell, for £700, a part of his library to Cornelius Bee, a London book- feller. This ftatement, however, obtains weight from the confirmation of Dr. Pearfon, who wrote the preface to " Golden Remains." John 252 New Place, John Hales died May 19, 1656, and was buried in Eton College Chapel-yard, where a monument was erected to his memory by P. Curwen, Efq., and in 1765 an edition of his works was pub- lished, edited by Lord Hailes. The following extradis from his will, taken from the Eton College Regifter, are interefting : — " I, John Hales, of Eton^ &c. fee, do dispose '' of the small remainder of my poor aud broken " estate in manner and form following : — 1st. I " give to my sister. Cicely Combes, ,£5 " Moreover all my Greek and Latin books I give " to my most deservedly beloved friend, William " Salter of Richkings, Esq All my English " books, together with the remainder of all moneys, " goods, and utensils whatsoever, I give and be- " queathe to Mrs. Hannah Dickenson of Eton, '' widow, relict of John Dickenson, lately deceased. " In whose house ... I have for a long time been " with great care and good respect entertained — "^ and her I do by these presents constitute and or- " dain my sole executrix As for my funeral, " I ordain that at the time of the next Evensong " after my departure my body be laid in the " Church-yard Stratford-upon-Avon. 253 " Church-yard of the Town of Eton, ... in plain " and simple manner, without any Sermon, or '^ ringing of the Bell, or calling of the people " together, without any unseasonable commessa- " tion or compotation, . . . for as in my life I have " done the Church no service, so I will not that in '' my death the Church do me any honour." It will be obferved in the above de- tailed fa(fts, that John Hales had taken his degree at Corpus Chrifti College thirteen years before Shakefpere died, and that he was a Fellow of Eton three years prior to that event. Alfo, that — doubtlefs owing to the family connexion with Snitteriield — Cicely Hales, his lifter, had married into the family of Combe ; and laftly, that John Hales's younger brother was named Anthony Hales (C). When we come to put all thefe fads together, there can be little doubt as to the origin of John Hales's peculiarly flrong intereft in Shakefpere ; and the ink-printed name A. HALES, on the edges of the leaves of the 254 New Place, the copy of Montaigne, gives additional value to that already mofh valuable volume ; becaufe we gather from that name, and from the fcholarly comments and notes in the book, that John Hales, after Shakelpere's death, had pofleffion of this work, — had annotated it with his own erudition, — and that from him the book pafled to the polTeiTion of his brother Anthony ! It appears to the author that this circumftantial evidence is as con- vincing as any fuch evidence can be, fhort of a pofitive entry on the fly-leaf to that effed:. That the book fhould have re- mained in families connefbed with War- wickshire, is' mofl: natural ; and that it fhould belong to a clergyman in the fame neighbourhood in 1780, is precifely what we fhould exped:. Let it be remem- bered that Mr. Pattefon exhibited the book to his friends as bearing the Poet's iignature for no mercenary purpofe, and with Sfratford-upon- Avon. 255 with no view of making a fale of it. He valued it as it deferved, and facredly preferved it. His fon was induced to part with it to the Britidi Mufeum, be- caufe it was urged on him that fuch a book ought to be depoiited in the Na- tional library. The reader, and particularly the anti- quary, will pardon this lengthened diver- sion regarding the " ever-memorable " John " and his family ; for, believing, as the author does, that the name A. HALES has enticed him into a refearch which he would otherwife have over- looked, fo he believes it has furnifhed additional evidence in fupport of Sir Frederick Madden's paper, and — if fuch were needed — confirmed the authenticity of the autograph in the only remaining book that belonged to the Poet. Until faith can be driven by over- powering proofs into the wildeft infidelity, let 256 New Place, let us cling to the belief that the auto- graph is genuine, and that this volume did belong to our Shakefpere. Should that laft plank, which floats us over the gulf of feparation that has gone on widening for more than three hundred years, ever drift away, and leave us utterly cut afun- der from the domeftic life of the man, we fhall ftill have, in two of the Palatial Halls of England, monuments that muft be for ever aflbciated with the genius and glory of the High Prieft: of literature. A mile away from the Hall in which Shakefpere charmed his King and the Court, is the Villa to which one of his chief interpreters, David Garrick, retired, after leaving his profeffion. It is now fafl approaching a century flnce he too Ihuffled off this mortal coil ! Half a century after Shakefpere's death, all the tangible affociations conned:ed with him feem to have perifhed, or to have been removed from Stratford-upon-Avon. 257 from Stratford ! Not fo at Garrick's Villa, when a whole century is well-nigh complete lince his death. His Villa, his garden, his river-iide pleafure-grounds, his temple erected to Shakefpere, re- main as he left them. There is the lawn H^irting the Thames, overhung with noble trees, which Garrick fliowed with delight to Dr. Johnfon, and re- ceived from the Doctor, as he farveyed the beauty of the fcene, the moraliling rejoinder, "Ah, David, thefe are the " things that make Death terrible ! "* There is the tunnel under the road, fug- gelled by the Dodtor ; — "Well, David, " if you cannot get over the road, " try and get under it." There is the drawing-room with the Chinefe-pat- terned * This anecdote was told me by. the Rev. Edward Phillips, of Surbiton, to whofe family Garrick's Villa now belongs. The llory is affociated with the place, and is pollibly now publilhed for the firft time. 258 New Place, terned papering, the palm-tree fafliioned fireplaces, the chairs and fofas, exadlly as he left them. There is his bedroom, with its prefies, its furniture, its bed, and chintz hangings, fo long delayed in paffing the Culloms, that David aiTured his Ma- jefty's officers Mrs. Garrick was breaking her heart over their delay. Could Gar- rick return to Hampton and re-vifit his home to-morrow, he would find it, its furniture and appointments, as if he had only left it yefterday. The reveren- tial fpirit in which this Villa has been prefer ved, and the furniture of Garrick's drawing-room and bedroom refpecCted, is above all praife. In the lapfe of tim.e, through whatever hands the property may pafs, let us hope that centuries to come will find thefe chambers exadily as they are now, at the clofe of the fi_rfi: century fince the great tragedian's death. But how painful is the contrafl between Stratford-upon-Avon. 259 between the confervative acftion exhibited at Hampton, and the deplorable, nay, wicked, negled:, which prevailed at Stratford ! A volume of fuch intereft and import- ance as Montaigne's " EiTays," publifhed in 1603, is precifely the fort of work which we fliould exped: to find on Shake- fpere's bookfhelf. Florio's tranilation recommends itfelf becaiife it is a tranjla- tion, iince it has been fatisfadtorily proved to us that Shakefpere's knowledge was largely, if not entirely, gathered from tranilations of Claffical, French, and Italian authors ; and, moreover, — the charadier of Montaigne's mind being peculiarly cal- culated to intereft Shakefpere, — had the volume in queflion bearing his autograph not exifted, it might with fome confi- dence be argued that a tranilation of fuch a fam_ous author, publiflied about 1603, by a near relative of Ben Jonfon's, with whom 26o New Place, whom Shakefpere was probably per- fonally familiar, would be precifely the fort of book of which the Poet would poflefs himfelf, and in which we fhould expedl to find his autograph. Let a catalogue of all the books publifhed in or about that date be placed before any one familiar with Shakefpere's cafl of mind, and it may be alTerted, without fear of contradiction, that were he about to make a purchafe out of the lot, one of the firil he would feled; would be Montaigne. Here, at the threfnold, our curiofity to learn fomething of the favourite books which the Poet may have had about him is cut fliort. We know nothing of the fources of his learning beyond fuch internal evidence as his plays and poems afford. If they carry us over the threfhold, they take us no further. They favour us with no glimpfe of the fanc- tum — Stratford-upon-Avon. 261 turn — of the reading-ftand, the work- table, the inkhorn, or the book-prefs. What early advantages Shakefpere pof- felTed — whether from the fchool " i' the *' church/' or other fources — continue a profound myftery up to this time; though there yet remain quarters for inquiry where fome information might be ga- o o thered. The earliefl: reliable evidence of Shakefpere's being in London dates in 1589, when he was twenty-five years of age. It is poffible he may have been con- nedled with London for a year or two previouily, but certainly not longer. Until he was twenty-three or four he refided at Stratford ; and this fad: fupports the opinion that it was in Stratford the whole groundwork of his knowledge was obtained, as it was in Stratford, in later life, that the 9:reateft achievements of his genius were accompliflied. Imagi- nation alone can aid us to pidiure him at New 262 New Place, New Place when he was comparatively wealthy, able to purchafe property and tythes in Old Stratford, Welcombe, and Bifhopton, and to carry on profitable tranfadions in corn or wool. In his home he had but one child, Judith, who remained unmarried until the year pre- vious to his death ! Poor Hamnet, her twin-brother, died the year before they moved into New Place ! Mrs. Shakeipere and this daughter were his confliant com- panions. His other daughter and her hufband, Dr. Hall, lived hard by, and had made a grandfather of him when he was only forty-four years of age. A grandfather ! when many Engliflimen, as Johnfon exprelTed it, " having liifked " with the dogs," are only beginning to think about marriage, now-a-days ! The glimpfes we catch of him as he paiTed along the laft ftage of his life are very few, and fcarcely take us into his home. The Ancient Chalice and Paten of Bishopton, From ivhich ShakesPERE is /aid to hat-e recei'ued the Holy Communion. (It will be observed that the lid of the Chalice, when inverted, forms the Paten, upon the top of which is engraved the date, 1571). Face p. 262. Stratford-upon-Avon. 263 home. Buiinefs tranfactions connecfled with his purchafes at Stratford or in London; the poiTeffion of corn; a vifit to London in 1614 to oppofe the enclofure of lands at Stratford, — thefe and a few other fadis of a Uke character are all the in- formation reo^ardino^ him that has reached us. There is infinitely more fatisfacftion in muling over a couple of lines in Rowe's Life, becaufe their ftatement depends upon Betterton's inquiries, made at Stratford a few years after Shakefpere's death. He fpent his later days " in eafe, retirement, *' and the converfation of his friends." The words may be applied to the laft years both of Shakefpere and of Milton. In retirement and (poor though Milton was) at eafe, and enjoying the conver- fation of their friends, their countrymen mufl: love to contemplate England's moft illuftrious fons — the Epic and Dramatic Laureates of the Saxon tongue. Of the domeftic 264 New Place, domeftic fcene at Bunhill Fields we know enough to be enabled to pid:ure it. We even know that Milton enjoyed his even- ing pipe while joining in the firefide talk. We know his daily habits ; his hours of ftudy ; his writings in London and at Chalfont. It is poiTible that Milton, in that year 1614, when Shakefpere was in town, may have it&n him pafs down Bread Street, Cheapfide, to the " Mer- *' maid Tavern," — that patriarch of London Clubs — there to enjoy a fhoup of liquor and a jefl with rare Ben Jon- fon. And yet, while a mafs of the mofh intereftino; information exifts re2;ardino: the life of the younger of thefe poets, who were actually contemporaneous, nothing furvives to admit us into the home and fociety of him who Milton calls ** our " wonder and aftonifliment " — '''' Dear fun of memorij, great heir of fame,'' There are two circumflances conned:ed with Stratford-upon-Avon. 265 with his laft days at New Place with which we are acquainted. " In perfed; *' health and memoryj God be praifed," he had his Will drafted 25th January, 161 6. February loth, his daughter Judith married Thomas Quiney. We are led to conclude that the Will was probably drawn up in January with refer- ence to his daughter's marriage ; and that fubfequent to the wedding, Shakefpere was feized with fome fudden illnefs, which led to the execution of the Will on the 25th day of March. Thefe few fadls, occurring in the firft three months of the year 161 6, conftitute the entire knowledge we polfefs of the clofmg days of Shakefpere's life. Forty years after his death, the then vicar of Stratford, Mr. Ward, jotted down fome of the fcories current in the place regarding the Poet. Among others, he flated, *' Shakefpear, Drayton, and Ben Jhonfon "had 266 New Place, " had a meny meeting, and, itt leems, " drank too hard, for Skakefpear died of " a feavour there contracted." When v/e remember that Shakefpere died in the prime of life, and that he was in perfed: health and memory twelve weeks prior to his deceafe, it feems likely enough that fever was the caufe of death. The wedding of Judith would perfed:ly account for Ben Jonfon and Drayton beinj; his companions at Stratford at fuch a time, though no evidence has as yet been produced to prove Jonfon's where- about at that date. The ftory of drinking too hard is fufceptible of explanation in the fame way ; and it is eafy to be under- ftood how the conviviality of a wedding party at New Place would be converted, on the tongues of goffips, into " hard " drinking at a merry meeting." Village ftories and traditions, as it has been already admitted, are worthy of con- fideration Stratford-upoj2-Avon. 267 fideration, but not of trull:. They are feldom abfolutely true in themfelves, and yet they almoft always direft the hiftoric inquirer in the right direction to arrive at truth. Traditions are like photographs — difliorting the prominent features of the fubjedts they reprefent. Accepting the reverend vicar's ftory as a Stratford tradition, told him in the rough-and- ready phrafeology of the place, and tran- llating the meaning of *' hard drinking " into the joyous feftivity which would be naturally obferved at fuch a period as the wedding of the Poet's daughter, v/hen friends like Ben Jonfon and Drayton were gathered around the board of their old companion, to drink to the health and happinefs of the bride and bridegroom, — we have a domeftic pidiure prefented to us of the laft days of Shakelpere, as happy in itfelf as it is probable from its confonance with his charad:er. Though 268 New Place J Though the pidiure is the bareft l]<:etch, yet its touches are true to nature ; and all, fave one, we know to be true in fad:. That one, (the coarfenefs of its colouring toned down), harmonifes well with the reft, and gives completenefs to the outlines. Let fancy fill in the canvas, and the autumn days of the Poet's life be painted in the golden tints of nature's own autumn time, in which funninefs and fadnefs fo myf- terioufly blend. Pleafant it is to think that the happinefs of New Place was not lliadowed by any tedious or agoniiing licknefs. There was no lingering difeafe, no protra6led pain. " In perfedl health " and memory, God be praifed," our Shakefpere lived until his iifty-fecond year. He enjoyed his Merry Chriftmas, and the converfation of his friends. Then came the preparations for the wedding. New Place was all alive. Mrs. Shake- fpere's fecond-beft bed, like enough, was aired Stratford-upon-Avon. 269 aired and made up for the arrival from town of Ben Jonfon. Shakefpere thought the time befitted that he fliould make his Will, which was accordingly drafted. The great garden was neatly trimmed, no doubt, and the borders of fnowdrops and crocufes fringed the beds about the mulberry tree. The wedding- day arrived. Parfon Rogers, the vicar, appeared in his beft cafTock, bands, and tippet; and robed in clean wdiite linen furplice, leaned against the tomb of John a Combe, book in hand, until the wed- ding party came. Coaches in Stratford were unknown ; but -' Shm-hj — stately — two ly tivoj' the train of relatives and friends pro- ceeded from New Place to the church. The merry marriage-bells rang out their welcome, and William Shakelpere, lead- ing Judith through troops of friends, prefented 270 A^6"ic' Place, prefented her at the altar to the vicar, and gave the woman to the man. There v/ere no fignatures of witneiTes to the ceremony necellary, eUe had we feen, perchance, Shakefpere's and Rare Ben's upon the fame page of the Regifter. The ceremony over, and the vicar un- robed, the whole party left the church. It was the laft time Shakefpere entered it alive, and the laft time he left it ! The wedding of his child brought him there that day : about nine weeks afterwards his children attended in the fame place at his funeral ! But on that marriage morn none dreamt of, or anticipated, the im- pending lofs which not New Place only, or Stratford, but England and her litera- ture, were to fuffer. The marriage tables were fpread ; the cakes and ale were plen- tiful ; and Parfon Rogers, garnifliing his periods with Latinity, after the fafhion of his day, told how one of old time, in a little StratJord-upon-Avon. 2ji little town of Galilee, had blefled with His prefence that marriage-feaft at v/hich the " water faw its Lord, and bluihed ! " " MeanivhUe the day Jlnlzs fajl , the Jun isfet, And in the lighted hall the guefts are met ; The leautiful looked lovelier in the light Of love, and admiration, and delight." It was a merry, happy evening in Strat- ford ! No doubt the Haiefes, and the Quineys, the Hathaways, " my Coufin " Green," Thomas Combe, and all the lads and lafTes of the varied Shakefpere connexion, as far as Warwick, had col- lected at New Place to celebrate the wedding, — to " dance and eat plums ; " to be merry with the " round " and ** wooing dance," and to trip it lightly to the fcirring notes of '* John, come kifs " me now !" Subftituting Ben Jonfon for ** Couiin Capulet," the Poet's own words beft ferve our purpofe to imagine the fcene : — " JFelcome, 272 New Place, " JVeJcnme, gentlemen ! ladies that have their toes Unplagued ivitli corns will have a bout with you : — Ah ah, my wiftrejes ! which of you all Will 710 w deny to dance? . I liavefeen the day That I could tell A u'liifpering tale in a fair lady's ear. Such as would pleafe ! — 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone. Come, iMificians, play. A hall ! a hall ! give room, and foot it, girls. More light, ye knaves! and turn the tahles up. And quench the fire, the room is groicn too hot. — Nay , Jit, nay , Jit, good Coujin Capulet, For you and 1 are paft our dancing days ! '' So, while they went on with the dance, and joy was unconfined, we can imagine thefe pat res cotifcripti of Stratford, ga- thering together in a knot, and the "natural wit" of Shakefpere, goaded into point and brilliancy by Ben and Drayton, burfting forth into corrufcations of fancy ! Then the reminifcenfes of London life, of Blackfriars and the Globe, would come up, and the experiences of thefe wits would aftonifli and delight their country friends. Shakefoere could tell many an anecdote of kings and courts, of Whitehall and Stratford-upon- Avon. 273 and Hampton ; and, perhaps, among the jovial pledges of the fupper, Ben Jonfon might let flip fomething about Gunpow- der Plot. Such a " merry-meeting " — the celebration of his daughter's wedding- day — we have fufficient reafon for fup- poiing, prefents us to Shakefpere at New Place, in health and vigour, for the lafl: time. A fever feized him. A few brief days of ficknefs intervened. Gradually the ilrength of the hale man fuccumbed before the invading enemy. Necellity compelled the Will to be figned. Gloom polTelfed the lately happy, feftive, houle. At Chapel Street corner, with whifpered words and folemn head-iliaking, the friends of the dying man told their worft fears. Then there was another gathering ! In Holy Crofs, moft like, the Church's prayers were heard for him who lay a-dying. By his bedfide Vicar Rogers would fhand, calming the woes 274 New Place, woes of the living, and pointing to the hopes of the dying ; while gradually — but painleflly as fever does its work — the laft enemy ftole in among the group, and the windows of New Place were dark- ened, and the doors were fhut, and the keepers of the houfe trembled, and the mourners went about the ftreet, becaufe man goeth to his long home ! " The " reft is filence ! " -s&:,it0s: As Stratford-upon-Avon. 275 As regards the identification of Shake- fpere's refidence, there is a popular error. Many writers, and even fome of the latell, alTert that the Sir Hugh Clopton who fucceeded to New Place in 171 9, " repaired and beautified it, and built a " modern front to it." This flatement is repeated in numerous works down to the prefent day. It is not a mere error ; it is more than an error, for it is totally untrue. The evil refulting from it is, that defcribers of New Place, whofe works are efpecially read by vifitors to Stratford, have betrayed the public into a very undeferved amount of regret for the deftrud:ion of the Rev. Francis Gaftrell's houfe, in 1759; that being the houfe to which T 2 276 New Place, which a " modern front " is reprefented to have been added ; the original ftrufture of Sir Hugh Clopton being encafed within it, jufl as the monaftic Zion Houfe is enclofed within that ponderous ducal pile on the banks of the Thames, which looks like a " Union " outfide, and is decorated as an Italian Villa inlide. Thoufands of perfons have mourned Mr. Gaftrell's deftruilivenefs, caring nothing for the " modern front," but grieving over the antique interior, where Shake- fpere was fuppofed to have lived and died. It is defirable that the public fhould be fet right concerning this miflake, and underftand, that, about the year 1720, one Sir Hugh Clopton utterly demolifhed the fabric which another Sir Hugh Clopton, about the year 1490, had erecfled. It was not a " modern front," but an entirely new houfe, which was ere£led about 1720; and it was this ftrudlure (of the Dutch Stratford-upon-Avon. 277 Dutch William or Queen Anne's ftyle of building) which, devoid of all hiftorical alTociation, the ruthlefs Gaftrell razed to the ground.* Reprefentations of this houfe are ex- tant. They only need to be examined, and the eye learns inilantly that a com- plete rebuilding, and not a " modern "fronting," muft have occurred in or about 1720. Upon the ground-floor the hall door occupied the centre, flanked right and left with three windows. On the firft-floor a row of {qv^vl win- dows were difplayed, the central one opening into a fmall balcony. The three centre windows and the doorway, flightly projedling, were furmounted by a pedi- ment, containing the crefl: and motto of the Cloptons, " Loyavte Mon. Honnevr^'' in the tympanum. The * Appendix K. 278 New Place^ The middle of the roof was occupied with a fquare platform, furrounded by a wooden balullrade, as frequently feen in houfes of the period. Rufticated flone- workjin long and fhort blocks, ornamented the corners of the houfe, and a projecting Claffic cornice, with dentile decoration, gave a finidi to the roof. On the oppofite page this houfe is reprefented. In it Mr. Garrick and his friends were enter- tained at the time of the Jubilee, in 1769. It was what audioneers call a fubftan- tial family manlion, very fquare, very fiat, very red, and in its flat-topped roof, with wooden baluftrades, clofely related to the flyle of ftruClures delighted in by the King of pious and immortal memory. About Kenfington, Chifwick, and Hammerfmith, any number of **fuitable " refidences," built at the fame date, may be feen, generally confpicuous as Colle- giate Stratford-upon-Avon. 279 giate fchools, or Claffical and Commer- cial academies. However ponderous, raw, and felf- afferting the architecture of that period may be, let it be confeffed that it is in- finitely grander, more ftately, and more real than that pretentious ftyle now pre- valent in London, in which '* whatever is, '' is not," and a muddy ftucco is falved over the carcafes of houfes to make them look what they are not — fubftantial. The name of the Rev. Francis Gaftrell was execrated in Stratford. He com- mitted great offences againfl the town. This perfon appears to have been the fon of Dr. Gaftrell, Bifliop of Chefter, and to have held the living of Frodfham, in the diocefe of Chefter. He married Jane, the daughter of Sir Thomas Afton, Bart., whofe family was feated at Afton, in Chefhire. At Stow Houfe, Stow, a fuburb of Lichfield, about half 2 8o New Place, half a mile to the eafi: of the Cathedral, lived Elizabeth Aflon, fifter to Mrs. Gaftrell, and, as is ufual with fpinfters when arrived at a mature age, commonly defignated " Mrs. Aflon." Subfequently to the Rev. F, Gaftrell's death, his widow lived on Stow Hill, in a houfe adjoining her fifler's. Letters addreifed by Dr. Johnfon to this lady are given in Bofwell's Life, as alfo feveral to Mrs. Afton. With both thefe ladies Johnfon had been intimately acquainted from his earliefl; years ; and the intimacy continued until the day of his death. ■ The following paragraphs from one of his letters will give the reader fufficient evidence of the terms on which Johnfon lived with thefe friends : — "Bolt Court, Fleet Street, "January 2, 1779. "Dear Madam, " Now the New Year is come, of which I willi you "and dear Mrs. Gaftrell many and many returns, it is "fit that I give you Ibme account of the paftyear. " In Stratford-upon-Avon. 281 " In the beginning of it I had a difficulty of breathing, " and other ilhiefs, from which, however, I by degrees " recovered, and from which I am now tolerably tree. . . " But the other day Mr. Prujean called and left word " that you, dear madam, are grown better ; and I know " not when I heard anything that pleafed me fo much. '■ I Ihall now long more and more to fee Lichfield, and *' partake the happinefs of your recovery. Now you *' begin to mend, you have great encouragement to take " care of yourfelf. " Do not omit anything that ran conduce to your " health, and when I come I Ihall hope to enjoy with " you and dearett Mrs. Gaflrell many pleafing hours. "Do not be angry at my long orailiion to write," &c. &c. &c. " Madam, " Your moll: humble fervant, "SAM. JOHNSON." There is an old man, by name Mr. Thomas Barnes, now hving in Bird Street, Lichfield, who has entered his ninety-iirft year. He was born at Chorley, near Lichfield, the firft week in February, 1772. He was brought up a wig-maker, and may be faid to have followed his trade up to the prefent time. Mr. Barnes is in the enjoyment of all his faculties, able to garden, and while gardening to recur with the greatefl clearnefs of memory 282 New Place^ memory to the events of his early hfe. He is perhaps the only perfon living who can fay that he remembers Dr. Johnfon. Mr. Barnes informed the author that he clearly recolledis Mrs. Afbon and Mrs. Gaftrell living at Stow ; and that he re- members feeing the Dod:or walking with thefe ladies in Boar Street, Lichfield, op- pofite the Town Hall. Mr. Barnes was alfo well acquainted with Mr. Peter Garrick, brother of the tragedian, whofe houfe was fituate in Lichfield, on the fite now occupied by the newly-eredled Literary Inftitution and Probate Office. Mr. Barnes had no perfonal acquaint- ance with DoOiOY Johnfon or his female friends, Mrs. Afton and Mrs. Gaftrell, for whom, it is beyond queftion, the Dodior entertained the warmeft and moft fincere friendlinefs of feeling. In glancing round the walls of Lich- field Cathedral, on the north fide of the great Stratford-upoji- Avon. 283 great weft door in the nave, and above the door of the fouthern tranfept, there ftill ftand tablets to the memory of Mrs. Aflon and Mrs. Gaftrell. "Still," be- caufe it would be well, for the fake of the architedlure, if thofe unfightly and un- harmonious lumps of mafonry had been removed, in the late elaborate reftorations at Lichfield, to fome lefs confpicuous pofitions. Lichfield Cathedral, as it now appears, will be contemplated for genera- tions to come as a monument whereby to recall the Epifcopate of Dr. Lonfdale. The lover of church architecture will ponder over and revel in the regenerated lovelinefs of that exquifite gem of art ; and in admiration of the fpirit and muni- ficence with which the clergy and gentry of the diocefe have gathered round their venerated Diocefan, in carrying out the glorious work which has been accom- plifhed, contrail it painfully with fome of its 284 New Place, its lifter edifices, where Cathedral bodies are much richer, and far more able, but apparently much lefs willing, to encounter the facrifices necelTary for much-needed reftorations. To wit — look at Durham, a Golden See ! That monarch of all Norman piles is ftill disfigured with filthy white-wafh and yellow-walh. The con- dition of its nave is a difgrace to any Cathedral chapter; and, as if to prove that ecclefiaftical barbarians ftill furvive, thofe ftupendous pillars — the glory of the Palatinate — have very lately been out- raged by having gliftening lead gas-pipes nailed to .their fides, furmounted with fittings and {hades of the commoneft and moft vulgar defcription ! As it will be necefi^ary to fay a few words refpedling Mrs. Gaftrell with re- gard to the deftru6tion of the mulberry- tree, it may be the moft chivalric if we anticipate her blame by founding her praife. Stratford-upon-Avon. 285 praife, and adminifter the antidote before the bane. The following infcription on her monument in Lichfield Cathedral is a grandiofe fpecimen of teftamentary gratitude : — "J. G. died 06lober 30, 1791, aged 81. " Sacred to the memory of Jane, daughter of Sir " Thomas Allon, of Afton, Baronet, and widow of the " Kev. Francis Gaftrell, Clerk, who, to the laft moments " of her hfe, was conllantly employed in atls of fecret " and extenlive charity, and on her death bequeathed " to numerous benevolent inftitutions a confiderable " portion of her property. This monument was ere6ted " by her live nephews and three nieces, who partook " equally and amply of her bounty. "Let not thy alms, the holy Jesus cried, Befeen of men, or dealt with confcious pride ; Sojhall the Lord, ivhofe eye pervades the Ireajt, For thee inifold the vianjions of the hlefi. " O' er her whofe life this precept held in view, A friend to want, when each falfe friend withdreir ; May thefe chajie lines, to genuine worth ajjigiid. Pour the full tribute of a grattful mind. " Siveet as at noontide' s ful try beam, thejliower. That fieals refrejhing o'er the wither dfower, Her filent aid, by foothing pity givn. Sank through the heart, the dew of gracious heaven, " Deeds fuch as thefe, purejhade,f]tall ever bloom. Shall live through time and glow beyond the tomb. Through thee, the orphan owes parental care. Bends the glad knee, and breathes the frequent prayer ; Through 286 New Place, Through thee the del-tor,from defpondencc Jlcd, Clafps his fond lahes, and hails his native Pied ; Through thee, the^flave, unbound his majjive cliain, Shouts tvith new joy, and lives a wan again; Through thee, thejdvage on a dijiant Jhore His Saviour hears, and droops with doubt no more. " O thou who lingering here, flialt heave thejigh, The warm tear trembling on thy penfive eye. Go, and the couch of hopelefs forrow tend. The poor man's guardian, and the widoiv s friend ; Go, and the path which Aston lately trod. Shall guide thy footlieps to the throne of God." The Rev. Francis Gaftrell appears to have had a great defire to acquire property in, and alfo about, Stratford. It does not feem that he intended to make New Place a permanent refidence, but merely a temporary retreat for pleafure and repofe. In .his garden ftood " Shakefpere's " Mulberry-tree," v^hich all vilitors to Stratford w^ere curious to fee and fit under. Mr. Gaftrell's temper was forely tried by the perpetual invalions of thefe vilitors, and in his fpleen he fent forth the fiat to cut it down — " with Gothic bar- " barity," as Bofwell remarks. Dr. John- fon Stratford-upon-Avon. 287 foil told him Mr. Gaflrell did fo " to vex " his neighbours." Bofwell adds, " His "lady, I have reafon to believe, on the ^^ fa?ne authority , participated in the guilt " of what the enthufiafts of our immortal " bard deem almofl: a fpecies of facrilege." This facrilege took place in 1756, only three years after Gajftrell became poffeifor of New^ Place. The wood of the mulberry-tree was purchafed by Thomas Sharp, of Stratford, watch and clock maker, who manufac- tured it into boxes, goblets, and a variety of articles for fale. Twelve rings made out of the wood were manufa6lured for the Jubilee, 1769. A few valuable mementoes ftill remain, highly prized, and carefully treafured. Among thefe, the Shakefpere chair now in the poifefTion of Mifs Burdett Coutts, and purchafed by her for £300, is the moil valuable. The medallion on the back 288 New Flace, back of this chair was carved by William Hogarth. There is the mulberry cup, which was ufed by Mr. Garrick, and held in his hand when he fang his own fong at Stratford : "Behold this fair goblet, 'twas carved from the tree, IFIiicli, my fweet Shakefpere, was planted by thee! As a relic I kifs it, and bow at thejlirine, What comes from thy hand mi ft he ever divine: AllJhaLl yield to the mulberry -tree. Bend to thee, ^ Bleft mulberry : Matchlefs was he, JVho planted thee, And thou, like him, immortal be!" Etc. etc.* W. O. Hunt, Efq., Town-clerk of Stratford, pofleiTes a drawing-room table made * The following receipt for the fale of mulberry- tree wood to Garrick is intereiling : — " ^th July, 1762. " Received of David Garrick, Esq., by the hands " of Lieutenant Eufebius Silvefter, Two Guineas in " full for four pieces of Mull-berry tree, which, witii " the other pieces of the fame tree, I lately delivered " to the faid Mr. Silvefter for the ule of the faid Mr. " Garrick, I do hereby warrant to be part of the " Mulberry Stratford-upon-Avon. 289 made of walnut, the top of which is beautifully inlaid with wood from the mulberry-tree. The device is unufual, being formed by a feries of thin rounds, into which a branch of the tree mufl have been fawn. A block of wood occupies the centre of the table, the rounds encircle it, and fucceflive circles con- tinue being defcribed, until they reach the exterior frame of walnut within which they are comprehended. The heart of the tree, and the varying rings of the wood, being feen in every round, a piece of furniture has been manufadiured which' is artiftic as a fpecimen of geome- trical " Mulberry Tree commonly called Shakefpeare's tree : " and laid to be planted by him ; and lately cut down " in the Rev. Mr. Gattrell's, late Sir Hugh Clopton's, " gardeUj in Stratford-upon-Avon. " Wltnefs my haml— GEO. WILLES. " JFitnefs hereto — Wm. Huxt, Attorney in Stratford. John Paytox, Mnjter of the White Lion there." 290 New Place, trical cabinet-making, and invaluable in its hiftorical afTociations. This table be- longs to a gentleman who beft deferves to pofTefs it, both on account of the un- flagging enthuiiafm he has exhibited in everything that has reference to Shakefpere (efpecially of late in fecuring New Place to the public) ; and alfo on account of the urbanity he has fhown viiitors to Stratford, who have had the honour of being introduced to him. In 1759 what was thought a greater, but was in reality a minor offence, was committed. Being compelled to pay the alfefTment for the poor at Stratford, as well as at Lichfield, his fixed refidence, Gaftrell vowed that New Place Ihould never be affefled again, and pulled it down. This has been regarded as an unpardon- able crime. It was not (o in reality, be- caufe the houfe had no connedlion with the Poet, as has been fliown. There can be Stratford-upon-Avon. 291 be little doubt that had Homer, Dante, TafTo, and Shakefpere all lived in that felfsame houfe it would have mattered nothing to the Rev. Mr. Gaftrell. He would have deftroyed it, whatever had been its affociations. Even among clergymen, particularly the perverfe and obftinate, paffion often dominates veneration. The Rev. Francis Gaftrell's difpoiition is a ftudy ; but it is one which cannot be now purfued. It may be allowable, how- ever, to hint, that inquiry may juftify Johnfon's communication to Bofwell. Mrs. Gaftrell pofTibly did more than " participate in the guilt ; " and in the murder done upon the mulberry-tree it may hereafter appear that flie was the Lady Macbeth, iniligating the reverend Thane to deeds of " Gothic barbarity." A Diary written in Scotland by Mr. Gaftrell has lately been prefented (among other 292 New Place, other gifts) to the embryo, " Stratford " Mufuem." Hereafter the pubUc will have accefs to this hitherto private MS. It tells nothing of Stratford ; but being a diary, it reveals fomething of the ftyle of thought of the man, A very common- place and unpoetic ftyle of thought it is, but harmonious with what we fhould conceive fuch a man would be. It may not be gallant to the fair fex, but never- thelefs fomething near the truth, to con- jedure that Mr. Gaftrell has been abufed over much : that, as in all great crimes, fo in the mulberry-tree flaughter, " there was " a woman in it," aiding, abetting, and, as Johnfon fays, " participating in the " guilt." Malone, in writing to Dr. Davenport, of Stratford, May, 1788, quotes a letter received from a lady at Lichfield, who alTerts that it was Mrs. Gaftrell, and not her huft)and, who cut down the mulberry-tree. In the fame letter Stratford-upon-Avon. 293 letter, Malone's correfpondent gives him a hiftory of Mrs. Gaftrell's latefh perform- ance at Lichfield. Her Iioufe on Stow Hill had been let to a lady at the rental of £100. The lady had been very kind to the poor in the neighbourhood. Mrs. Gaftrell having had fome difagreement with her tenant, took meafures to turn her out, and determined that the poor JJjouId derice no benefit froin that hoiife again, which llie refolved fliould remain empty. Malone's correfpondent, in great wrath, fays, that Mrs. Gaftrell is *' little better " than a fiend." In this report there is a coincidence that cannot efcape obfervation. The fame feeling which prompted the deftruction of the houfe at Stratford, in order that it might never again be afi^efi^ed for the relief of the poor, likewife prompted the clofing of the houfe at Stow Hill, Lich- field, that the poor might derive no further 294 New Place, further afliflance from thence. It is hardly, poffible to refifl: the concluiion which the pecaHarity of thefe circum- fhances fuggefts ; and delpite Johnfon's friendly regard for Mrs. Gaflrell, we muft remember that it is from his ov/n Hps we hear of that lady's participa- tion in her hufband's a6ls. She was undoubtedly a paiTionate and imperious woman ; and if the whole truth were known, it feems very probable that the inftigation to the a6l, if not the carrying it into execution, both in felling the tree and deftroying the houfe, is attributable rather to Mrs., than to Mr., Gaflrell. It has been difcovered that there was a Chancery Suit pending between Mr. Gaflrell and the Corporation, ftrengthen- ing a fufpicion that hot blood was roufed. The public at this moment knows little of the merits of the Gafhrell cafe, or the amount of provocation under which StJ'atford-upon-Avon. 295 which that irrafcible divine fufFered. If all the charges againft him regarding the deflrudlion of the mulberry tree were proved, and he were found guilty as the real criminal, neverthelefs he cannot be found guilty, as he commonly has been, of deftroying Shakefpere's houfe, — limply becaufe Shakefpere's houfe did not exift for him to deftroy. From thefe fa(fls above ground, we now defcend to difcoveries recently made below ground. During the fpring of 1862, that portion of the garden of New Place fronting the main ftreet. Chapel Street, on the weft, and bounded by Chapel Lane on the fouth, was excavated to the extent of about fixty feet fquare. The workmen, having cleared away the foil 296 New Piacey foil and debris over this large Ipace to the depth of eight or ten feet, came upon a feries of foundations. Some very interefting fadts have been difcovered. The leading and moft manifeft are, that tw^o fets of foundations exift. The one muft be thofe of the manfion built in the Georgian era, ci?^ca 1720; the other thofe of Shakelpere's own houfe — the " Great Houfe" v^hich Sir HuQ-h built circa 1490, and in which both he and the Poet "lived and died." Upon this fite there never have been more than the two houfes in queflion. For the fake of diftindiion, let thefe houfes be deiignated refpedlively, the " Great Houfe " and the " Clopton Houfe." It is eafy to diftinguifli the foundations of the one from the other, becaufe the lines of walls in the Clopton Houfe at certain points meet, and interfedt the walls of the Great Houfe (efpecially in the foundations Stratford-upon-Avon. 297 foundations abutting on Chapel Lane). Where they io meet and interfed:, the Clopton foundations are built over and acrofs thofe of the Great Houfe. Again : the materials of the Great Houfe are for the moft part ftone, which fuch foundations — built nearly 400 years ago — commonly were. The materials of the Clopton Houfe are red brick, and in many places the plafter upon the walls of the offices in the bafement is Hill perfect ; and not only perfed:, but fhows the coloured outline of the ftaircafe, leading from the offices up to the firfl- floor, as clean and black as if it had been painted yefterday. Various evidences prove the date of this portion of the foundations. Firft. The bricks of which the party- walls are built have that bright red colour, and are fet together with that peculiar clofenefs and fharpnefs of edge, which 298 New Place, which particularly chara(flerife the period of William, Anne, and George I. Secondly. The condition of the plafter and painting ihows that they belong to a houfe which muft have been inhabited at a comparatively recent period. Thirdly. The evidences of habitation revealed in the Clop ton foundations prove that they were portions of Gaftrell's houfe, and verify the ftory of its fudden deflruftion. The kitchen iire-place was found quite perfed:, and the afh-pit filled with the cinders of the coals that may have cooked Mr. Gaftrell's dinner in Stratford the day before he demoliflied the houfe. A great variety of trifling domeflic evidences of this fort abound, fhowing that thefe " Clopton " founda- tions are the bafement ftory of a houfe of modern ufe, and that the houfe itfelf muft have been ereded during the lafh century. Laft Stratford-upon-Avon. 299 Lafl: of all, the ground above thefe foundations when dug out proved to be a debris of plafter- of- Paris mouldings, cornices, and decorations belonging to the flyle of ornament commonly intro- duced in the houfes of the reigns of Anne and the iirfl Georges. When the w^alls of the houfe were knocked down, this plafter work was buried in the ruins ; but it is now carefully arranged in an adjoining houfe for infpediion. There cannot be a doubt about the foundations of the Clopton Houfe (1720) being identified. From them we turn to the much fmaller but far more interefting remains of the Great Houfe. It is evident that the Great Houfe was not reltored with a " modern front," becaufe there are two diftind: ground plans ; and the Clopton Houfe founda- tions (as already Hated) run afkew to thofe of 300 New Place, of the Great Houfe, interfedling them at very acute angles. It is alfo evident that in laying the w^alls of the Clopton Houfe a great portion of the foundations of the Great Houfe v^ere cleared av^ay entirely, and that thofe only were left untouched w^hich there V7as no neceffity to move. Confequently the foundations of the Great Floufe in which Shake- ipere lived are comparatively fmall in extent. The following fadls are illuflrative : — Firfl. In two feparate places Tudor mullions have been difcovered, built into the Clopton foundations, fhowing that fome of the material of the Great Houfe was cleared out and ufed again in laying the external foundations of the modern one. Secondly. In that portion of the Clopton foundations where the kitchens and offices flood, the ground exhibits no traces CHAPEL LAME -2M □ TFT '/CM/^y-'-'- H C". lip Ks i^ LZ] 1=1 b [^ -'^^ o > n H NASH'S HOUSE KEY TO THE PLAN FOUNDATIONS: GREAT HOUSE AND CLOPTON HOUSE. A. Ancient Well of the Great Houfe. B. Well, lately difcovered, which appears to have belonged to Nalh's Houfe. C. Kitchen Fire-place. D. Piece of proje6ling Ancient Wall, belonging to Shakefpere's, i.e. the Great Houfe; conjectured to be the Foundation of the Entrance Porchway. E. The External Wall of the Ancient Great Houfe, terminating in N, a Fire-place of the Clopton Houfe. F. The Site of Nafti's Houfe : with Ancient Foun- dations. G. The Crown of the Vaulting depofited in one of the Offices. H. The Pofition at which the Ancient Mullions have been built into the Clopton Foundations. I, K, L, M. Cellar Windows in the Clopton Foun- dations. N. Fire-place in one of the Offices of ditto. O. Ditto. Stratford-upon-Avon. 301 traces of ancient walls, although it is almofl certain that the Great Houfe en- tirely covered this lite, lince the frontage to Chapel Street, between Chapel Lane on the north, and NafTi's Houfe (the next plot of land on the fouth, where a refi- dence now ftands, but which never be- longed to New Place), Is not more than iixty feet In length. Two apparent exceptions prefent them- felves, viz., a piece of ancient wall which, extending under the ftreet, protrudes in- wards into the main wall of the Clopton foundations; and a few feet removed from it, in one of the offices, there are the re- mains of the crown of a vaulting. Both thefe Interlopers, looking ftrangely out of place, are at firfl fight a complete puzzle. Why they were fuffered to abide where they now affert themfelves, and are un- doubtedly In the way, is the natural con- jediure. The 302 New Place, The portion of wall that projeds from the foundations (and outward, under the footpath of Chapel Street) is palpably, both from pofition and conftrudtion, part of the Great Houfe, and may probably be one of the foundations of the porch- way or entrance of the Great Houfe, which would neceffarily require to be very flrong, if above the porch (with its ponderous oak beams, and its elaborately carved arcades) there rofe an overhanging chamber, with oriel window command- ing the ftreet. This is mere conjecture, which, though it feems probably corred:, muft be taken for what it appears worth. The crown of the vaulting obtrufively thrufling iftelf into one of the Clopton offices would be a marvel and a myf- tery, fuppoling it to belong to the Great Houfe; but, with all humility, it may be queilioned whether it ever did ! May it not, after all, be one (and the only one) Stratford-upon-Avon. 303 one) mafs of vaulting, which did not break afunder when that reverend Sam- fon pulled down a domeftic Gaza about the ears of his enemies — the Philiftines of Stratford ? May not this conglome- rate have quietly dropped from its vaulted eminence to the humble pofition on the floor which it now occupies, and (inftantly covered in with lighter materials) have efcaped being daihed afunder ? This fuppofition, if it be corred:, would folve a difficulty of which there has, as yet, been no fatisfadiory folution offered. AfTuming it to be true, the remains of Shakefpere's Houfe would be the above- mentioned (porch) wall, and the main walls of the Great Houfe adjoining Chapel Lane, which the Clopton walls were built acrofs, and interfedied, but which remain in their original folid con- dition. Thefe main walls are preferved the entire depth of the houfe, commen- cing 304 New Place, cing from the frontage at the jun6tion of Chapel Street and Chapel Lane, and running eaflward along Chapel Lane. Having reached the extreme point to which foundations run in that dirediion (about forty-five feet in depth), they turn at a right angle northward, and continue about twenty feet, when they encounter a fire-place of the Clop ton Houfe, built over and upon them, in which they be- come lofl, and are no farther traceable. Thefe, then, are the very walls of the very houfe in which William Shakefpere lived and died. They are inconfider- able, it is true, but neverthelefs far more extenfive than any one could have dared to hope ; for when we confider that two houfes have occupied this fite, and (as is evident) the foundations of the former were in a great meafure cleared away in order to lay the foundations of the latter, — moreover, when we recall the paffionate Stratford-upon-Avon. 305 paffionate vexation which caufed the fud- den and total demolition of the latter, it is a matter of no fmall fatisfad:ion to dif- cover at leajl fixty feet of the indifputable and veritable foundations of the Great Houfe that Sir Hugh Clopton erecfted nearly four hundred years ago, furviving the ravages of time and the work of man's deflrudiivenefs, exhumed and once more brouo;ht to lig-ht in the middle of the nineteenth century ; fo that all who reverence the name and memory of the greatefl genius of the world, may identify, and, for themfelves, examine the walls of the houfe in which our Shakefpere lived and died. In the midil of thefe foundations there has been iimultaneoully revealed an objedl of peculiar interefl. It is " Shakefpere's " Well" — the ancient well of New Place. When the labourers made the difcovery in digging out the foundations, it was choked 306 New Place, choked with the debris of the Gaftrell ruins. The well was cleared out, and its quoiningftones were found to be as perfect as ever. On the 5th of Auguft, 1862, another well, equally as ancient, and, if poffible, in a better ilate of prefer vation as to its mafonry, was difcovered in the em- bankment under Nafh's Houfe, at the ex- treme northern limit of the New Place plot. Two wells attached to the fame houfe feem ufelefs ; and therefore it may be conjedlured, that although this latter well is now within the boundaries of New Place, it may, at fome diflant period, have belonged to, and been enclofed in, the adjoining freehold, " Nafli's Houfe," w^hich is now included in the New Place eftate. On the morning after the clear- ance, Shakefpere's well had filled with feveral feet of the pureft and moft deli- cious fpring water. From the bountiful fupply of this fpring, every traveller can now Stratford-upon-Avon. 307 now flake his thirft, and drink of the fame well from which the Poet drank. In the courfe of the excavations a few articles have been dug up, of no parti- cular interefl: or value. At the bottom of the well, a peculiarly primitive flat - candlefl:ick, with long, fliraight handle, and very fmall fl:and for the candle, was found. A bone-handled knife, with metal ornaments of an antique character. A number of tobacco-pipe bowls of the time of Charles II. ; the bowls very fmall, and the clay imprefl^ed at the elbow with the name of the manufad:urer, " Robt. Leo;or." Figured tiles belonging to a pavement ; glafs ; and various pieces of iron-work, much corroded. Thefe, and a vafl: amount of fmall arti- cles of domefl:ic ufe, have been found among the debris, which are all colle6ted together 3o8 New Flace, together at Nafh's Houfe for the anti- quary's examination and difcuffion. Among them there may perchance be fome trifling objedis as ancient as the time of Shakefpere ; but it would be almoft idle to hope that the riddling of the vaft amount of earth which has been difplaced will bring to light any objed:s of real value, or capable of being affo- ciated with the Poet's tenancy of New Place. All Stratford-upon-Avon. 309 All the boundaries of Shakefpere's Gar- den — including the ** Great Garden " — have been afcertained, and proved by the title-deeds (nearly 1 00 in number) of the furrounding properties. The vv^hole of this Nev7 Place eflate is now purchafed and fecured to the public, with the ex- ception of one plot occupied by a con- venticle-like brick building, entitled "The " Theatre." This ftru^ture has neither age, appearance, utility, nor alTociation to recommend it to the public. The fpot where it ilands was never occupied by any former theatre ; the building be- longs to the prefent century. As a build- ing it is to the lad degree ugly, and might be miftaken for a village Bethel or Ebenezer ! 3IO New Place, Ebenezer ! It is an obftrucflion and eye- fore in Shakefpere's Garden ; added to which, to complete its condemnation, it is not a theatre at all ! Having been con- verted into a fort of lecflure-hall or public room, it fuits the purpofes either of a Police Court or County Court in the morn- ing, and of Ethiopian Serenaders, Con- jurors, and Travelling Wonders at night ! The building belongs to fhareholders, who are willing to fell the property for £i,ioo. In due time it is to be hoped that this hideous fabric will be purchafed and fwept away, fo that New Place may be reftored to its former condition as a garden, and preferved as fuch for ever. The name of a theatre in Shake- fpere's Garden, catches the ear, and fug- gefts that it muft be conne(5led with the traditions of the place. It is apparent that this ftrud:ure has no claim to the antiquary's confideration. There is but one Stratford-upon-Avon. 31 j one building in Stratford that is in any- way affociated with the pafl: — and that is a barn. A barn is ftill pointed out in which Mrs. Siddons is faid to have per- formed in her youth. The tradition is probably true, becaufe not only was the company of her father, Roger Kemble, accuftomed to perform in Warwickfhire, but her grandfather, Mr. Ward, was in the habit of acfting at Stratford. On the 9th September, 1746, this gentleman gave a benefit performance in the (then) Town Hall, in order to procure funds for repainting the buft of Shakefpere on the monument in the church, and reftoring the original colours. The play enabled was Othello^ accompanied with a Pro- logue written for the occafion by the Rev. Jofeph Greene. Through Ward, a diftinguifhed man- of the prefent gene- ration was connected with a remote dramatic era : the late Charles Kemble, with 312 New Place, with whofe perfon and performances thoufands ftill among us were familiar, was Ward's grandfon ; and the grand- father was an adior in the days of Bet- terton. At one of his benefits in Dub- Un, the celebrated Peg Woffington made her firfi- appearance, according to the ftatement in Boaden's "Life of Kemble," though his ftatement " errs in particu- " larity ; " for while it fixes the date as April 25th, 1760, the records of the quiet little church at Teddington tell us that on the 3rd of that month, in that fame year. Peg Woffington had left life's flage for ever, and was interred on that day, aged 42. The miflake made by Boaden arofe from his confufmg the year of Wofiington's death with the year of her firft appearing for the benefit of Charles Kemble's grandfather. The hall in which Ward produced Othello, for the purpofe of refloring the monument at Stratford Stratford-upon-Avon. 3 1 3 Stratford, no longer exifls ; fo that the barn which is aiTociated with the name of Mrs. Siddons, feems to be the fole remaining building in the town within which the plays of the Poet were reprefented in the days that are gone and the years that are fled. At the commencement of this work it was contended that as great a venera- tion is felt for Shakefpere by the prefent generation as by any that preceded it. It mufl, at the fame time, be admitted that the age is eminently prad:ical. With a revived and increafingly fpreading tafte for the Beautiful, the men of the Iron age demand that the Beautiful fhall be combined with the Ufeful. Englifli- men are ever ready to give their money in honour of a great name ; but they ftipulate that it fliall not be wafled on ufelefs 3 1 4 New Placey ufelefs architedlure or unprofitable objedls. It has been the purpofe of this work to fhow what ufe has been made of the money already provided by the public. New Place in its integrity has been fe- cured. Shakefpere's Garden is beyond any rifks from future fales. The lite of the GreatHoufe has been difcovered. The few remains of foundations have been brought to light. The garden, as yet in a diilurbed fhate, will prefently be cleared and re- ftored to its former ufe. Once again, and for ever, it will be Shakefpere's Garden. In this, a good work has been accom- plifhed. Much is done; but much remains to do. To complete the work well begun, public aid will be necelTary, and for that aid the public muft be fought. It might be well if thofe who were con- cerned in the various purchafes of New Place, and have examined all the titles and records connected with it, were to give to Stratford-upon-Avon. 3 1 5 to the world a detailed hiftory of them, accompanied by the fuUeft plans and illufhrations of the property as it exifted when put into trufl in 1861. Hereafter fuch a work, which this fmall volume makes no prefumptuous pretence of un- dertaking, would be of the higheft value. There are very few men among us com- petent to perform it ; but among the few, Mr. Halliwell has had rare advantages in his conne6tion with the purchafes of New Place, which no one elfe has en- joyed. To him the public feem to have a right to look for that fair and faithful hiftory- — that compilation of the facfls re- garding New Place, which have hitherto been obfcure or unknown, but muft now be beft: known to him. The objed: with which thefe pages have been written, will be fully accompliflied if they fucceed in attradiing public notice to the good work fo far done, and in Simu- lating 3i6 New Place, lating the aid which is necelTary to com- plete the full redemption of the Poet's property. New Place mufl for ever be affociated with the memory of Shake- Ipere ; and the mere fight of foundation walls belonging to the houfe in which he lived and died, cannot fail to excite the deepeA intereft in the minds of all who are attracted to the fpot by hearing of the recent difcoveries. But intereft having been excited, and curiolity having been gratified, a prad-ical purpofe will be required, fooner or later, to fupport the fentiment, under the influence of which, Shakefpere's countrymen have purchafed his garden. We are often affured that " opportunity is everything." If not everything, it is unqueftionably a great thing; and with regard to the fubjed: under confederation, opportunity has re- folved to do her beft in lending it a help- ing hand. The Stratford-upon-Avon. 3 1 7 The fwiftly approaching year 1 864 will be the Tercentenary Jubilee of the Poet's Birth. Nearly a century ago (in 1769), the celebration of his nativity was held in Stratford under the direction of David Garrick. A lillier or more ufelefs exhibi- tion was never witnefled. Defpite the ex- citement which it created at the moment in Stratford, there feem to have been fome of the inhabitants who fpoke of it in contemptuous language, for the " Gar- " rick Correfpondence " reveals a palTage of letters between the Rev. Mr. Jago,* of Snitterfield, and George Garrick, the brother of the tragedian, fhowing that the latter had refented fome uncompli- mentary animadverfions of Mr. Jago's upon Garrick and the Jubilee. The brother's refentment was a necelTary re- fult, for never was there a more devoted brother * Appendix. L. 31 8 New Place, brother than was George Garrick to David. A charming illuflration of this is afforded us in the "tender pleafantry" of Charles Bannifter at the time of Garrick's demife. Whenever George v^as abfent from Drury Lane for any length of time, on returning, his invariable queftion to the hall-porter was, "Has my brother wanted " me ? " It eventuated that the brothers died within a few days of one another. David Garrick expired at his houfe on the Terrace, Adelphi, early on Wednef- day morning, January 20th, 1779, and was buried in Poet's Corner on the ifl of Februaiy. On the 3rd of February George Garrick expired. When the re- port reached Drury Lane, Bannifter ob- ferved, " His brother wanted him ! " But the admiration and affecflion of George for David could not draw the filing of the Rev. Mr. Jago's cutting obfervations. Their fting lay in their truth Stratford-upon-Avon. 319 truth. Garrick in one of his letters wrote, " When I was buiied about that " foolifh hobby-horfe of mine, the Ju- " bilee ! " His language is as corred: a defcription of it as could be given, though the wet weather kindly interfered to prevent the greateft abfurdity of the programme — the " pageant proceffion " of Shakefpere's principal characters. " Owing to the tremendous downpour of rain, that pageant was never perpetrated at the Jubilee, albeit, there is in the Town Hall of Stratford, a iire-fcreen which gives an amazing pictorial illuflration of the proceffion ; and there is alfo a tradi- tion that Mrs. Siddons perfonated Venus in the Jubilee proceffion. The fcreen in queftion — although it reprefents a difplay that never took place, — is well worthy of contemplation. Painted by fome village artift, it is as grotefque and amuling a pro- duction as any one with a keen fenfe of the 320 New Place, the ludicrous, would wifh to contemplate. Diftant be the day when the Corporation of Stratford remove from their Hall, this humorous reprefentation of an hiflorical event that never took place ! With reference to Mrs. Siddons appear- ing as Venus in the proceffion of the Jubilee, it is true that fhe did perfonate that part, but not at Stratford. Owing to the proceffion being wafhed out of the programme, it was dramatifed the follow- ing October (1769), at Drury Lane, by Garrick, who introduced into it the fongs and the odes that had been given in the Stratford Amphitheatre. We read of it, " Such was the magnificence of the " fcenery, and the effect given through- " out the piece, that it was fo far efta- " blifhed in public favour as to caufe its " being repeated during the feafon for " upwards of 100 nights." It was not even upon this occalion that Stratford-upon-Avon. 321 that Mrs. Siddons exhibited as Venus, nor, until 1775, — the feafon before Gar- rick's final retirement, and that of her firfl appearance at Drury Lane. Garrick re- vived the fpeSiacle of the Jubilee Procef- fion during the feafon, and the Lady Ann who had trembled in terror before his glance of reproach in the great fcene of Gloiler's wooing, was call to perfonify Venus. Mrs. Siddons, in her Autograph Recollections, alludes to the Jubilee per- formance : — '* He (Garrick) would fome- " times hand me from my own feat in ^^ the green-room to place me next to his " own. He alfo felefted me to perfonate " Venus at the revival of the Jubilee. '■'■ This gained me the malicious appella- " tion of * Garrick's Venus,' and the ladies " who fo kindly beftowed it on me, ruflied " before me in the laft fcene, fo that if he *' (Mr. Garrick) had not brought us for- " ward with him, with his own hands, '* my 322 New Placey " my little Cupid, (the fubfequent auto- '* biographer Thomas Dibdin), and my- " felf, whofe appointed lituations were in " the very front of the ftage, might have " as v^ell been in the Ifland of Paphos. " Mr. Garrick would alfo flatter me by '' fending me into one of the boxes when " he ad:ed any of his great characters." Such are the facfts which conne6l the name of Mrs. Siddons with the Jubilee Proceffion, there being no conned:ion at all with the celebration at Stratford, at which, neverthelefs, flie might have been prefent; for two years previoufly (Feb- ruary 12, 1767), Mifs Kemble (aged twelve), and her brother, John Philip (aged ten),* had appeared in the parts of the Princefs Elizabeth and the Duke of York, * John Philip Kemble was born at Prefcot^ in Lan- calhire, February, 1757. The author was, Ibme years fince, curate of Prefect, and a frequent vifitor of the hum- ble folks who now inhabit the houfe in which Kemble lirlt Stratford- upon - Avon. 323 York, in the theatre at Worcefler, in Havard's tragedy of Charles the Firjl, which, though unknown to the modern ftage, was at one time highly popular, and fo afFed:ing, that when the part of Charles was performed at Hull by Cum- min gs, the early rival of Kemble, his im- perfonation of the miferies of the King fo overwhelmed Mifs Terrot, the daugh- ter of a garrifon officer, that her emotions caufed her inftantaneous death. The Stratford Jubilee was celebrated for three days : Wednefday, Thurfday, and Friday, the 6th, 7th, and 8th of firft faw light. Like many houfes in the neighbour- hood, it is buik of the prevaiUng red landftone, and is whitewaflied. It has iblidity enough to laft for cen- turies to come. In former years, when Prefect was the tirll town out of Liverpool on the coaching road, thou- fands of travellers would pals by the door of John Kemble's birthplace. It ftands in the "Lovver Road," going from the market-place of Prefcot to the neigh- bouring railway ftation of Rainhill j and the good man of the houfe ufed to take pride in Ihowing the bed- room " i' which th' great a£tor cum i'th' wuld, welly nigh gang a 'undred yeear." 324 New Place, of September, 1769. The town was thronged with vilitors from London and the furrounding counties. There were prefent, among others — The Duke of Manchefter. Duke of Dorfet. The Earl of Northampton, v Earl of Hertford, J ■c^^ *^r /^^ v^/?" ' > And their Counteffes. Earl or LarJiile, Earl of Denbigh, Earl of Shrewlbury, Lord Beauchamp, Lord Grofvenor, Lord Windfor, Lord Catherlough, Lord and Lady Spencer, Lord and Lady Archer, Lord and Lady Craven j and a large number of Baronets, Members of Parliament, and County gentlemen. Conned:ed with the drama there were — David Garrick, and his brother George, Mr. Foote, Mr. Colman, Mr. Macklin, Mr. and Mrs. Yates, Mr. Rofs (Edinbro), Mr. Lee (Bath), and about one hundred and feventy adlors and Stratford- upon- Avon . 325 and adireffes of minor repute from the London theatres. Among other notabilities prefent was James Bofwell. Dr. Johnfon was ftay- ing with the Thrales, at Brighton, and could not be induced to honour the Jubilee with his prefence. Bofwell fays, " I was very forry that I had not his " company with me at the Jubilee in ** honour of Shakefpeare, at Stratford- *' upon-Avon, the great Poet's native " town. Johnfon's connediion both with " Shakefpeare and Garrick founded a " double claim to his prefence, and it ** v/ould have been highly gratifying to " Mr. Garrick. Upon this occafion I " particularly lamented that he had not " that warmth of friendfhip for his ** brilliant pupil which we may fup- ** pofe would have had a benignant " effecfl on both. When almoft every " man of eminence in the literary ** world 326 New Place, '* world was happy to partake in this " feftival of Genius, the abfence of *^ Johnfon could not but be wondered at " and regretted." Perhaps the verdid; of pofterity may be the reverfe of Bofwell's. The " Great " Cham " was not partial to buffoonery, and it is probable that he kept away from Stratford becaufe he would not en- courage his " brilliant pupil " aftride of his " foolifh hobby horfe."'^ Johnfon had no * A number of letters regarding the Jubilee of 1769, addrelled by Garrick to Mr. Hunt, of Stratford (grandfather of the prefent Town Clerk), are in exift- ence. In one of them Garrick fays: — "I heard yefler- " day, to my furprife, that the country people did not " feem to relilh our Jubilee, that they looked upon it to " be Popilli, and that we lliould raife ye d 1, and " would not. I fuppofe this may be a joke, but after " all my trouble, pains, labor, and expenfe for their " fervice and the honour of yr county, I Ihall think it " very hard if I am not to be received kindly b^' them ; " however, I Ihall not be the firft martyr for my zeal. " I am, dear Sir, " Always in a hurry, but yours fincerely, "D. GARRICK." " Pray tell me fincerely what common people fay." Stratford-upon-Avon. 327 no tafle for mafquerading, which Bofwell had. The occalion was propitious. During the day he appeared in the (Ireets of Stratford with the words •* Corlica Bofwell " difplayed in large letters round his hat ; and at the evening entertainment he exhibited himfelf as a Corlican Chief, with " Vi'va la Liberta" infcribed on the front of his cap ! John- fon's prefence at fuch fooling, would have been ??itich to be regretted. The only portions of the Jubilee which deferve record, were the performance, in Stratford Church, of Dr. Arne's Oratorio of 'Judith, under the direction of Arne himfelf, for which he received a payment of £60 from Garrick; and the Oration pronounced by Garrick, in the Amphi- theatre. The Odes, which were partly fpoken by him, and partly fung, con- tain nothing to recommend them to our perufal ; but one palTage from the " Oration 328 New Place, " Oration in honour of Shakefpere, <« written and ipoken by Mr. Garrick," may fitly be reproduced. Alluding to the " ufes " and opportunities of life, at the clofe of his oration, Garrick faid, — " In thefe fields, where we are pleafed " with the notion of doine him honour, " he is mouldering into duft. ' Deaf the pr ah' d ear, and mute the tuneful tongue.' " Flow awful is the thought ! Let me *^ paufe. If I fpeak, it muil be in my " own charadler and in yours. We are *^ men ; and we know that the hour " approaches with filent but irrefiflible " rapidity, when we alfo fhall be duft. " We are now in health and at eafe ; but " the hour approaches when we fhall be ** fenfible only to ficknefs and to pain, — ^' when we fhall perceive the world gra- *' dually to fade from our fight, and clofe " our eyes in perpetual darknefs." Ten Stratford-upon-Avon. 329 Ten years fubfequently the world had faded from Garrick's fight. Time's courfe is fo rapid, that another centenary Jubilee is clofe at hand. What men of eminence in the literary world, what nobles or princes of the land, will colled: at Strat- ford — and in what manner the Jubilee is to be conduced — mufh ihortly be con- fidered. It may, however, be fuggefted to thofe interefted in the reftoration of New Place, and to thofe who will arrange the programme of the Jubilee, that they jfliould remember Garrick's folemn pero- ration on the "ufes" of life, and, elpecially in this practical age, determine upon foliciting public fympathy and fupport in April, 1864, for practical purpofes, and not for a frivolous pageant to the memory of a great man. The befc honour which can be paid to his memory will be the promotion of objects ufeful to the body of men in connexion with whom 330 New Place, whom Shakelpere made his name and fame. That the Tercentenary of his birth ihould be celebrated at his birthplace is a propriety which every one will recog- nife ; but what muji be there, may alfo be elfewhere. There is no reafon why the people of the Metropolis fhould not commemorate the occafion, as well as the fele6t few whofe time and means will allow them to congregate at Stratford. Such a double celebration feems almofh a certainty. But, whatever be the form of feflival held, whether in London or in Stratford, the age we live in, warns all fenlible men againft the repetition of any fuch mumming as took place under Gar- rick's programme of 1769. Foote, who was prefent, has given us his definition of that occaiion : — " A Jubilee is a public " invitation, circulated by puffing, to go " poft without horfes, to a borough " without Stratford- upon- Avon. 331 " without reprefentatives, governed by " a mayor and aldermen who are no " magiftrates, to celebrate a great poet, " whofe own works have made him im- " mortal, by an ode without poetry, " mufic without melody, dinners with- " out victuals, and lodgings without " beds ; a mafquerade, where half the " people are bare-faced ; a horfe-race up " to the knees in water ; fireworks extin- " guifhed as foon as they were lighted ; " and a gingerbread amphitheatre, which, " like a houfe of cards, tumbled to pieces " as foon as it was finiflied." Foote's cauflic humour, if not true in its defcrip- tion of the Jubilee, is perfecftly true in outline ; the grotefque colouring of the pi(5lure is its only untruth. It is devoutly to be wifhed, that the follies of 1769, may be a warning to the people of 1864. To begin and end with a fhow, and to accomplifh no permanent good. 332 New Place, good, Is not confonant with the tafte of the prefent day. Whether at Stratford or in London, or at both places, the Tercen- tenary celebrations muft feek the public fympathy on behalf of fome public good. If there were but the one celebration at Stratford, it might be well to devote all the funds coUedied, to the completion of the propofed purchafes, the laying-out of New Place Gardens, and the erec^tion of fome monumental ftrudiure, commemorative of the purchafe and of the 300th celebration of the Poet's Birth, but, while beautiful as a piece of architec- ture, at the fame time a ftrucSlure that iliould be practically ufeful for literary purpofes, and a benefit to Stratford and the nation. In the Metropolis, the refults of a Jubilee celebration, might probably be devoted to fome other object. It appears natural, that the objed: fhould be Metro- politan ; and if fuggeftions were wanted, numberlefs Stratford-upon-Avon. 333 numberlels fchemes, without doubt, would quickly be propofed. But it ihould never be forgotten that the Jubilee is in honour of Shakefpere, and that thofe have the beft claim to enjoy the benefits of the public largefs, who, in this day and gene- ration, follow the calling of the man, to whofe honoured memory, the commemo- ration is dedicated. True it is, there are many who profefs a confcientious difapproval of the drama, and who, neither diredtly nor indirectly, would encourage the " poor player." It may be a fubje(5t of regret — but, neverthelefs, it is a fa6l which cannot be denied — that fome perfons affed; to condemn the works of Shakefpere himfelf. With this undoubted fa6l in mind, it will be defirable, having due refped: to tender confciences and hopelefs prejudices, to prefent fome objedt for pub- lic fympathy at the Jubilee, which may, if pofTible, difarm all cavil and objeftion. If 334 New Place, If the depredators of Shakefpere, and the difapprovers of the profeffion to which he belonged, be taken on their own ground — and, for the fake of argu- ment it be momentarily granted that the Puritanical view of the drama is its righteous and proper eifimate ; in the fame proportion that its influence is af- ferted to be evil and deftrud:ive, muft the fympathies and folicitude of fuch perfons, if fincere in their belief, be aroufed on behalf of one helplefs clafs connedied with Shakefpere's profeffion. Whatever the player may be, the player's child muffc be an objed: of concern to all who are interefted in the education of the young ; — but he muft be doubly fo to thofe, whofe duty it is, in the fin- cerity of their principles, to attempt the refcue of that child, from influences which they believe deflru(flive of its foul's w^elfare ! It Stratford-upon-Avon. 335 It is to be hoped that the fubjed: of education would prefcnt a common ground, whereon diverfities of opinions might meet to accomplifh, a truly Chrif- tian and beneficial objedl. In the abundant philanthropy of the prefent age, fchools and inftitutions have fprung up on every fide, wherein the greater the degradation of the young, the greater the fympathy of the pro- fefi^ed religious world ! The fallen, the friendlefs, the erring, and the outcaft, have been the recipients of Chrifiiian compafiion and folicitude. Every right- feeling perfon mufi: pray that God's blef- fing may proted: and profper our Ragged Schools, our Reformatories, our Peni- tentiaries, and that they may, in their profperity, refleft blefilngs on the heads of all earnefi: men and women, who, in their fupport, have pradically evinced the firfl of Chrillian virtues. But there are fpheres 336 New Place, fpheres in life, removed alike from abfo- lute want, and affociation with crime ; where fympathy is not lefs needed, and where refpecflable poverty — that owes no man anything — fhrinks from feeking aid, and values felf-dependence with as honourable a love, as the wealthieft and nobleft of the land ! Among Shakefpere's profelTional de- fcendants, there are many fuch, who, owing to the fmallnefs of their falaries, are hindered from procuring for their progeny that found teaching which every Englifh child fhould enjoy ; and who, conftrained'by need, are compelled to in- troduce their offspring in their early years to fubordinate fituations in the theatres, at a time when the child's moral and phyfi- cal conilitution require, the one bring- ing up in the way it fhould go, the other, the vigour derived from regular habits, early riling, early reft, and unbroken repofe. Stratford-upon-Avon. 337 repofe. It is unneceffary to point out that the oppolite of all this, is the in- evitable refult of engaging a child in the arduous bulinefs of a theatre. The intel- led: is left untrained, the ftrength of the body is fapped and undermined, and it is to be feared that in a calling peculiarly open to temptation, moral deterioration may frequently accompany phylical ex- hauftion. In that Royal College which has been honoured with the patronage of, and has been watched over with interefl by, the higheil perfonages in the realm, the de- iign of the promoters is underftood to be, not only the provifion of homes for de- cayed actors and adlreifes, but alfo the completion of a Dramatic College in the fuller fenfe of the phrafe, wherein child- hood and old age may be alTociated — wherein Spring and Winter m.ay flourifh together, and both put forth their feafon- able 33^ New Place, able flowers. Some of the nobleft of Old England's charities exhibit this touching union ; and never has the fatirifh of this age more tenderly moved the hearts of his readers, than in that paiTage of the Newcomes, where the aged brother of the Charter Houfe, liftens to the chapel-bell calling the fchoolboys to their prayers, and replies to his own folemn fummons, ^^Adfum!'' The Char- ter Houfe is one of many iimilar foun- dations fcattered about the land. It was a happy thought on the part of thofe who were moft earneft: in inftitu- ting the Dramatic College, to delire that, within the boundaries of the fame inftitu- tion, a fchool for the player's child fhould be ered:ed hard by the homes of thofe who had fallen into the fere and yellow leaf. The homes are completed, but this good work has not yet been begun ! Is there not, in fuch an undertaking, a beneficial Stratford-upon-Avon. 339 beneficial and charitable objed:, to which the profits of a Metropolitan Tercen- tenary celebration of Shakefpere's na- tivity might be dedicated ? The educa- tion of the children of adiors can be ob- jed:ed to by none, and is a righteous and goodly aim, that may properly be approved by all ! It v^ould be a great v^ork accompliflied — a work of genuine and prad:ical honour to the memory of the Poet, if on a Izi- tival, which can only be celebrated by every third generation, a fufficient fund were raifed for building and endowing with a few " Shakefpere Scholarfhips," a Dramatic College School, wherein the children of the hard-worked and humbly- falaried artifts could be provided with found and liberal education, fitting them, when adults, to take their choice of other callings in life than thofe of their parents, if fo difpofed ; but, under any circum- ftances 340 New Place. fiances, preferving them in their child- hood, from the turmoil, fatigue, prema- ture conftitutional decline, and inevitable precocity, of baby adors, and Thefpian phenomena. By the erediion of fuch a fchool, Shakefpere's Jubilee, in 1864, would be made a genuine and abiding Jubilee in the families of hundreds of our country- men, who are painflaking, ftriving, and refped:able men, — who would blefs, with grateful hearts, the friends that fympathife with them in their narrow circumftances, — friends that abhor the aiTumption ' of patronage, and cordially embrace a rare opportunity of fhowing concern and care for the player's children, on the feftival which commemorates that red-letter day in England's calendar, when, three hundred years ago, fweet Shakelpere was himfelf a child ! APPENDIX. ri;^:^:^J:^:^^^^^:^;^;^>ic^;\c>ic:^c:^^^:^;^:l<:^;^:\Ci\^^;l=5^^^^.=^ A — page l6. The Family of Bott. Though confiderable information has been difcovered in the preparation of this work regarding the Botts, as given at pp. 75 to 8^, neverthelefs, I have not thought it worth while to purfue my inquiries far into their hiflory, as I fhould had there been anything of intereft as regards Shakefpere hkely to be arrived at by the refearch. It will be obferved that I have fpoken in ftrong language regarding W. Bott 3 and, at p. 86, have called him a "grafping lawyer." From the evidence which has come into my polFeffion in refearches regarding the fales of New Place, I find that Bott mull have been a thoroughly unprincipled, pettifogging attorney, doing all the dirty work of Stratford and its neigh- bourhood. His character oozes out through the medium of the following proceedings taken in the Star Chamber {temp. Elizabeth) ; and however meagre the details may be, Hill new light is difcernible regard- ing fome members of his family and his polition with reference to W. Underbill. By the Bill of Complaint we are informed that John Harper, of Henley-on-Arderne, co. Warwick, who was polTeffed of certain lands and tenements in Henley, Ownall, Wotton, and Whitley, in the county aforefaid, was in danger of being taken in execution under a diftrefs at the ibit of Sir Edward Allon, Knight. Under which circumflances, being himfelf a plain and fimple- fimple-minded man, he was induced to feek the allift- ance of W. Bott, of Stratford, a man of about fifty years of age, and reputed of fome experience and abihty, to advife him properly. Bott had two fons and three daughters, and finding his chent polfeiled of fome fubftance, akhough under age, made up a match between him and his daughter Ilabel ; and further, on the loth of April, 1563, devifed a deed of feoffment, whereby Harper Ihould affure to him and others, in fee fimple, all his lands to certain ufes, unknown to the petitioner, but as far as he con- ceives, to the ufe of petitioner and wife, and their heirs, &c., with remainder to one of Bott's fons, pro- mifing to extricate him from his difficulties, alleging it was for the better advancement of his wife; and that the faid deed was only a conveyance of his goods, and " that hecaufe the goods remained in the houfe, he " muji make livery of them by the ring of the door.'* The unfulpeding youth fell into the fnare, being eafily led to do whatever his father-in-law inlT:ru6ted him, who, not content with this, if we may believe the allegations of the petitioner, forged, erafed, and altered other deeds concerning the faid conveyance ; indeed, in the preamble of the bill, which we mufl bear in mind was framed probably fome fix or feven years after (Mrs. Harper being dead in the interim, without children), he denounces him as " a man " clearly void of all honefty , fdelity , or fear of God, and " openly detected oj divers great and notorious crimes, as, " namely, felony, adultery, whoredom, falfehood, and "forging, a procurer of the di/inherij'on of divers gentle- " men your Majesty's fuljeSis, a common larretour, and " Jiirrer of fedition amongji your Majefy's poor fub- "jeSisr This nefarious proceeding, executed without the content or privity of petitioner, places him in the pofition that he cannot leafe his lands, &c., without Bott's confent, and that, in point of fa£t, he is only tenant thereto for life. Having thus wrefted peti- tioner's tioner's poflellions, he withholds too the evidences and muniments of the fame — the contents, and even the number of which are utterly unknown to petitioner. He prays, therefore, a writ of fubpena for W. Bott perfonally to appear and anfwer thefe charges. Thus far the complainant's ftatement. Bott denies the fafts alleged as flanders emanating from complainant and his adherents, and declares that if the premifes were true, it were determinable at common law, and not in the court of Star Chamber, ftating that about lix years ago, complainant being a minor, did marry his daughter Ifabel, at which time he promifed on arriving at twenty-one he would make her a jointure ; but inllead thereof, becoming improvi- dent, he mortgaged his lands, and fell into difficulties. Thereupon, coming to his father-in-law in tears, he befought his aUiliance, which he readily promil'ed on thefe conditions, viz., that he Ihould allure his eliate, or rather the portion left unfquandered, to himfelf and wife, or the longell liver of them, then to their iffue, failing which, to the various fons and daughters of the faid Bott in fucceliion, for which defendant undertook to fatisfy Sir Edward Alton and divers other creditors. The catalogue of crimes hurled at his reputation he meets by a covintercharge, and declares it to be by the "falfe and malicious procureirient of one William Under- " hill and Rowland IVhelar, which that the faid dtfen- " dant is ready to aver a?7d prove that the faid Underhill " is a firrer of f edition, and of a. very evil confcience, " andfo vieet to join with the faid IFhelar, a very common " barretour and a vagabond." Further, he denies the truth of the ftatement about his own procurement of the marriage, for the complainant was married three or four years before the aft'air of Sii" Edward Afton. All the other charges he denies in totoferiatim. The replication of Harper denies the ftatement about the jointure, and that whatever mortgage he made, which would be but trilling, was at Bolt's infti- gation. The debts, too, as paid by defendant, were of no no magnitude ; fome eight pounds would cover the whole, including that of Sir Edward Afton, in difcharge of which defendant yet detaineth £g, which petitioner recovered againfl; Sir Edward, and detains moreover a fum of 40 marks which he promiled to give with his daughter as her dowry, &c. So far from W. Underhill being meet to be matched with any vagabond, he is, on the contrary, " a gentle- " rnaii of a worjliipful calling in his country, and very " well known to all honeji men to he of good efdmation, " and of very good name, report, and credit, a maintainer " 'if JHJ^^'^^> '^^d a reprefjer of evil doers." That Sir Edward Afton's fuit againll petitioner was commenced long before his marriage, is alfo untruly alleged. The rejoinder by Bott denies generally the truth of the ftatements in the foregoing replication, and fays further that he never did promife complainant any bigger fum than £20, which he did pay before they went to the church to be married, and avers that com- plainant is maintained and fupported in his flanders by the faid W. Underhill and his companion, Rowland Whelar, as named in the anfwer. By taking the year 1563 as the date of the marriage, or thereabouts, and adding fix years, the time noted by Bott in his anfwer, the probable date of thefe pro- ceedings would be about 1569. It will be feen at p. 77, that there was a near relationlhip at one period between the Botts and the Cloptons. In the Domeftic Correfpondence, Eliz., vol. cxxxvii., art. 68, anno. 1580, among the Gentlemen and Freeholders in the Countie of Warwick appears, " Hundred of Hemlingford, " George Bott." In another fimilar work appears, " Solyhull, " George Boote." (Intended for Bott, as there was a family fo named at Solyhull at that date.) From From various traces of the name, cropping-up in this way, I have latisfied myl'elf that an extenlive family of the Botts was fcattered about Warwickfhire in Shakefpere's time; and if it were worth while, a very Ihght inquiry in the parifh regifters in the neighbour- hood of Stratford would probably fupply abundant evi- dence concerning them. There was a moment when I entertained the fufpicion that the Botts had been mixed up with fome foul play perpetrated in the Clopton family, in the time of William and Anne Clopton. On perufing the following documents, any reader would naturally fuppofe, as I at tirlf did, that a William Clopton, and Anne his wife, living about the years 1580 to 1589, would be the William and Anne marked " C " upon the Pedigree, more efpecially as the circumrtance of this William Clopton dying without an heir, gives countenance to the allegations in the following Bill of Complaint. I had not then compiled the Clopton Pedigree, and confequently was not aware that William Clopton (C) lived until 1592, and that Kent well, in Suffolk, was no part of the property of that branch of the Clopton family feated at Clopton, Warwicklhire. This proves the neceffity for an inti- mate acquaintance with family pedigrees when we deal with public records, otherwife a confounding of perfons may ealily arife, fuch as in this inllance would be molt natural, where we find documents relating to perfons of particular names at a fixed date, and then difcover that perfons of the fame names — man and wije — and at the fame date, lived in another county. Bill of Complaint of Anne Clopton, &c.* " Showing that her late huiband, William Clopton, " Efq. * Proceedings in Chancery, temp. Eliz., C. c. 13, No. 3. Date inscribed on the top, 12 May, 1589. Counts ot three doiumtnts only, the answer ot the defendants not appearing to be extant. " Elq., of Kentwell, in county of Suffolk, leafed fundry "manors and lands to William Clopton of Groughton, " and another, to pay ^'40 per annum for the fame, "&c. &c. Thomas Clopton (a brother of the half " blood to the faid William, complainant's late hulband) " ufed fubtle means to obtain the lands from the right " heirs, perfuading the faid William Clopton who was "enfeebled by long licknefs, to difinberit his next heirs, " and to convey his whole eftate to the faid Thomas " Clopton, inducing him to make his will by the which " he left only one legacy of very fmall amount to one " of his fervants, and nothing to his wife or his lifters, "or fifters' children, &c. &:c. Prays a writ of fubpoena, " &c. &c., as Thomas Clopton, William Clopton of " Groughton, and John Bowfell, the other defendant, "have procured the property to be conveyed to them- " felves, and have made themfelves mafters of all." Replication of Anne Clopton to the Anfwer of William Clopton and John Bowfell : " States that John Bowfell, defendant, was fervant " to William Clopton, complainant's late hulband, and " that during his long continued illnefs it was inlinuated " by defendants to William Clopton, that Anne his "wife, and one Thomas Smith, a nephew of William " Clopton, employed poifon, whereupon llie defired that "Ihe might go away from him for fome little time, "until he were recovered and better perfuaded con- "cerningfuch llander; to which her hulband replied " that Thomas Clopton was a bad, lewd fellow, and "ufed fuch fpeeches of her as were not decent to " rehearfe. Finally, flie went to the houfe of one " Lady Pelham, of Suffex, and there abode until " Edward Lovell, now fervant to Thomas Clopton, " adminiftered a potion to William Clopton, which "was a purgative or fuch like, from the effefts of " which he died, whereas had it happened during her "relidence with him, llie would have been charged as "acceffory to his death." The The Rejoinder of Thomas Clopton, Efq., and John Bowiell, to the above Rephcation of Anne Clopton : " Denies the allegations attributing her leaving to the " indifcreet behaviour of complainant, and unnatural " dealing towards her late hulband, whom llie neither " loved nor obeyed 3 condemns the ftatement about " Lovell as llander ; depofes to the perfett ftate of " the faculties of William Clopton, and his powers of "memory and appetite, &c." B — page 16. It would appear from the mention in this place "between 1563 and 1570," that there is fome uncer- tainty about the date of fale by W. Bott to W. Under- bill, whereas the exaft date, Michaelmas Term, 1567, is given with a copy of the Fine at p. 85. The truth is, that when paragraph 3rd, p. 16, was ftereotyped, I had not difcovered the Fine given at p. 85 ; and rather than cancel the page, I preferred to make the corredion in this place. C— page 19. The general reader had better be warned, particu- larly if he Ihould be a reader of Malone, againft falling into the error into which that author, in the original edition of his Shakefpere's Works, would betray him. The ftatement there made, both as to the Nalh pedigree, and as to the manner in which New Place palTed from owner to owner, is completely erroneous. The fa6t is well known to every Shakefperian fcholar but it may be as well to fet it forth diftinttly. Malone fays — "Sir "Sir John Clopton, Knt. (the father of Edward " Clopton, Efq., and Sir Hugh Clopton), who died at "Stratford-upon-Avon in April, 17 19, purchafed the " eftate of New Place, etc., fome time after the year " 1685, from Sir Reginald Forfter, Bart., who married "Mary, the daughter of Edward Nalh, Efq., coulin- "german to Thomas Nafh, Efq., who married our "poet's grand-daughter, Eliz. Hall. Edward Nalh "bought it after the death of her fecond hufband, " Sir John Barnard, Knt. By her will, fhe dire6ted "her truftee, Henry Smith, to fell the New Place, "etc. (after the death of her hulband), and to make " the firlf offer of it to her coufin, Edward Nafh, "who purchafed it accordingly. His fon, Thomas " Naih (whom, for the fake of diftinftion, I Uiall call the "younger), having died without iifue in Auguft, 1652, "Edward Nafh, by his will, made on the 16th March, " 1678-9, devifed the principal part of his property to "his daughter Mary, and her hulband, Reginald "Forfter, Efq., afterwards Sir Reginald Forfter 5 but " in confequence of the teftator's only referring to a " deed of fettlement executed three days before, with- "out reciting the fubftance of it, no particular mention "of New Place is made in his will. After Sir John " Clopton had bought it from Sir Reginald Forfter, he "gave it by deed to his younger fon. Sir Hugh, who " pulled down our poet's houfe and built one more "elegant on the fame fpot." Malone's errors in the above paflTage are extraor- dinary, becaufe they are not only errors as to pedigree, but errors as to fales and purchafes, which the fmalleft amount of inveftigation would have proved to him to have been incorrett. It is eafy to let him right upon the pedigree, but impolfible to conceive how he could be lb milled as to make the feries of egregious blunders which will appear in the above extratt when it is compared with the correal ftatement, in par. 7, p. 19. I give the pedigree which was accepted by Stevens and Malone lirft, and then the correit one. By the firft "gave Mr. Ireland his firil information on which " he created his vifionary falfehood (the Shakefpere " forgeries)." Ditto, 1809, September, p. 885. — "It is conje6hared " that many of his (Jordan's) tales refpe6ting Shake- " fpere were from his own inventive genius." E— page 57. The Clop ton Arms. The porch of the Chapel of the Holy Crofs has been allowed to fall into fuch a Hate of decay, that only one of the four fliields which once adorned it can now be read. It is the one bearing the arms of London. The Ihields, as they originally appeared, are given by Dugdale, and could eafily be rellored. A beautiful coat of the Cloptons will be found infide the chapel, adorning the porch at the entrance. It is unfortunately buried under the clumfy and offenfive gallery which has been ere6led over the line of the fcreen whicu originally divided the chapel from a fmall ante-chapel. Holy Crofs is one of the moll painful fpecimens of plallerers', painters', and carpenters' church reftoration. Its pews and fittings are moll fubftantial, moft fervice- able, and moft deteftable. It is well known to every one acquainted with the building, that its walls are adorned with a feries of frefcoes of the moft interefting defcription. Thefe have been carefully hidden under coats of yellow walh. Everything that the Corporation of Stratford could do to difguife this venerable pile, has been done. The ancient oak fcreen has been hidden behind the gallery: the exquifite ftonework of the porchway has been mutilated ; and all that the moft barbaric Proteftant tafte could accomplifh to convert the building into the appearance of a comfortable conventicle, has been thoroughly thoroughly carried out. There are only three features, internally, of this building, that carry us back in imagination to Sir Hugh Clopton's time. lit. His fnield and quarterings, which have happily efcaped deftruftion on one lide of the doorway. 2nd. The tracery of the windows. 3rd. A beautiful piece of mediaeval iron-work — the handle of the priefts' door, pafling from the chancel to the garden formerly occu- pied by the priells' houfes, attached to the prelent grammar fchool. The fooner the Corporation of Stratford fet about a rertoration of this chapel — clean the walls and reproduce the frefcoes ; remove the frightful and ufe- lels gallery blocking up the lovely tower arch ; reilore the fcreen to its proper place, and fit up the building with open benches and ttalls — the more it will be to their credit. Inftead of introducing the following fafts in the Clopton Pedigree, I have referved them to be inferted here. It will have been feen that on the death of Mrs. Partheriche, the Clopton Houfe Eftate paffed under her will to Charles Boothby ScrimlLer, Efq. (I), who took the name of Clopton. The Pedigree Ihows that he was the Ion of Anne Clopton, who married Thomas Boothby, Efq., and the heir-at-law of Mrs. Partheriche at her deceafe. According to the provi- fions of that lady's will, in default of iffue the eftate was to pafs to Edward Ingram, Esq. (K, Pedigree), the fon of Barbara Clopton and Alhton Ingram ; and, in cafe of default, to his brother John or his heirs, all of whom were tenants for life. In cafe of no ilfue in any of thefe families, the eftate was to pafs to one Anthony Clopton, of Ireland, who had perfuaded Mrs. Parthe- riche that he was defcended from the Clopton family. C. B. Scrimilier Clopton died 1815, without ilfue ; Edward Ingram died 1818, without iffue ; John Ingram died, aged 90, November 20, 1824, without iffue. The faid Anthony Clopton died in like manner without iffue. The eftate then came to a Mrs. Noel (L). (L), a liller of the above C. B. Scrimlher Clopton. She, being next heir to the eftate, during its pofleliion by the above-named John Ingram Clopton (for, by the will, every poffelfor was bound to affume the name of Clopton) fold the reverfion to Charles Meynell, Efq., for ^''10,000 in money, and an annuity of :^^300 per annum; the <^^i 0,000 being to pay the debts of her brother Charles Boothby, who, having been greatly embarraffed, committed fuicide. Charles Meynell, Efq., the purchafer of the reverfion, died in 1815, leaving two fons and a widow, Elizabeth, who married Samuel Stoddart, Efq. ; and they con- jointly, by a decree of the Court of Chancery, fold Clopton Houfe and eftate for s€^o an acre, the purchafe- money(379 acres) amounting to ^5^13,9753 the buildings on the eftate being further valued at ,^781. The timber fold for ^^548 ; and the Clopton pews, in Strat- ford church, with two fmaller ones, for ^'1003 the Clopton meadow, for ^1,500; and the furniture and FAMILY PICTURES IN THE HOUSE, for ,^^55 ! ! ! The whole were purchafed for ^16,959 155. 6d., by George Loyd, Efq., of Welcombe, Stratford, in Oftober, 1830. Mr. Loyd died in July, 183 1, leaving the Clopton and Welcombe eftate to his brother, John Gamaliel Loyd, Efq., for his life, and afterwards to his nephew, Charles Warde, Elq., the prefent poirelfor. There were fome legal difficulties, owing to the non-completion of the purchafe prior to Mr. Loyd's death, which were fet r'ght by an order in Chancery, but they are of no intereft to the public. The above fafts furnilh thofe who may be interefted in the fubjetl with a correct account of the hands through which the Clopton eftate has pafled fince the extintlion of the dirett defcent, as traced upon the Pedigree, down to the prefent moment. F— page 8; F — page 87. Underhill. The hiftory of the lettlement of the Underhill family at Eatington, near Stratford, is curious and amuiing. The fatts now related are gathered from the elaborate notice of Eatington and of the Shirley family contained in the MSS. of the late Rev. Mr. Warde. The Pedigree I have given fliows that the Underhills came originally from \S olverhampton. They fettled at Eatington in the tirfl year of the reign of Henry VIII., owing to John Underhill marrying for his fecond wife one Agnes Porter, of Eatington. This John obtained a leafe for 80 years of the manor of Eatington, from Sir Ralph Shirley, Knight. This was an amorous knight, who married in fucceffion four wives, — the lafl in the year 1514. This lady, a daughter of Sir Robert Shetlield, bore him a fon, Francis, who was left father- lefs in the Hrll: year of his life — January, 1517. Being very much his own matter, before he was of age this foolifh youth married a widow, the relitt of Sir John Congreve, of Stretton, county Statlbrd, and likewife the daughter of his guardian. Sir John Gitlard. The widow Congreve brought with her to her young hutband's home two daughters by her late fpoufe, Elizabeth and Urfula Congreve. By turning to the Underhill Pedigree, it will be feen that the two fons of Edward Underhill, of Eatington, eventually married thele two young ladies, and the reader will not be furprifed to hear what followed. By a leafe, dated April 28, 1541, the above-named Francis Shirley was induced to grant the whole of his ancient Warwicklliire property, except the right of prelentation to the church of Nether Eatington, to Edward Underhill and his eldeft Ion, Thomas, for a term of 100 years. Ihis leale was the caule of much unplealantnels and ot a long feries of lawluits, which were were not finally determined until the year 1652. The Underhills were accufed of having ohtained this valu- able leafe of the Shirleys' lands by the procurement of the mother of the young ladies, Dorothy Congreve, who had married Francis Shirley. The following extrafts, made from depofitions taken at Shipfton-upon- Stour, illuftrate the times, and the chdra6ters of Francis Shirley and his wife : — "Ralph Brokelby, of Sholbye, in the county of " Leicefter, Efq., being examined, depofed — " That Francis Shirley did not meddle in the ' management of his eflate, only in his horfes, hounds, ' and deer in his park at Staunton, wherein he took ' great delight ; but referred the relidue to be ordered, ' and for the moft part to be difpofed of, by the faid 'Dorothy his wife, and her friends, who ruled the ' fame, and efpecially his hofpitality and houfekeeping, ' with great frugality and worlliip, to her lingular com- ' mendation, as well for prefervation of his woods, ' keeping his houfe in good repair, and all other ' things whatfoever. From fuch converfation and deal- ' ings as he had with and for the faid Francis Shirley, ' and his fon, John Shirley, he judged that Eatington 'be now {{61^) worth ,^'200 per annum more than ' the 40 marks paid for it (by the Underhills). More- ' over, he depofeth, that Thomas Underbill, and Eliza- ' beth his wife, did make an attempt to have had ' from Francis Shirley the P'ee farm of the manor of ' Eatington for ,^'200 in money, wherein they had ' prevailed if they had not been providently prevented ' by John Shirley, and further he gave his advice to ' John Shirley fo to do." Defpite the litigation, the fenior branch of the Underhills retained poiieffion of Eatington until the expiration of the leafe, in 1641, when the heir removed to Upthrop, in the parifh of Alderminfter, county of Worcefter, During the reign of Elizabeth, the profperity of the Underhills was at its height} and it was in Shakefpere's time time that they acquired lands in and about Stratford^ and in numerous pariihes about Eatington. Our intereft, in tliis work, is directed to the junior brancli of the family, and therefore the fenior line has not been given in the Pedigree. The founder of this junior line was William (A), (the younger Ion of the above-named Edward), who married one of the lifters Congreve — Urfula. He was the father of William Underbill (B), who purchafed New Place from Bott, and fold it fubfe- quently to Shakefpere. Concerning thefe perfons, I have gathered Ibme interefting information, which will iliow their conneftion with the county, and particu- larly with Stratford-upon-Avon. (S.P.O. Domeftic Correfp. Elizabeth, vol. cxxxvii. art. 68, 69). Art. 68. — "A Booke of the Names of the Gentlevien and Freeholders in the Countie of Warwick. 1580." " Hundred de Kington : * * * * The. Undrill, gent. * * * * " Hundred de Barlichway : * * * * Wm. Clopton, Efqr. -X- * * * V/m. Underbill, gent. * * * * John Coomes, gent. * * * * John Shakefpeare. * * * * Thomas Shakfpeare. * * * * John Shakfper. * * * * Art. 69. — 35^ Appendix. Art. 69, — Another Book, intituled, "A Booke of the Names and Dwelling-places of the Gentlemeri and Free- holders in the Countie of Warwick. 1580." (Under Idlicote, no Underhills are placed ; the names of Richd. Hall and Wm. Merlliall occurring only.) " AUington Inferior : * * * * The. Underhill, gent. * -x- •«■ * " Stretford-upon-Avon : * * * -x- Wm. Claptun, Efquier. * * * * John Shaxper. * * * * Wm. Underhill, gent. -x- * •){• -h " Rowington : •X- -x- * * Tho. Shaxpere. ■)t * * * The following documents, an abftraft of the will of William Underhill (A), and the will in full of his fon (B) — Shakefpere's Underbill — feem to me to com- plete all the information regarding this family which it is neceffary to publilli. G — page G— page 88. AlftraB of JFill of TFiUiam Underhill. {Vide Pedigree, A). William Underhill makes his will on the ift day of December, anno. 12 Eliz. (1569), and delbribes himlelf therein as of " Newbold Revell, in Com: Warr. " Gent."* In the firft place he exprelfes his deiire to be buried by his dearly beloved wife, in the parilh of Nether Eatington. He then proceeds to exprefs his intentions as to the difpofition of his property, as fol- lows : — To his heir, &c., the third part of all his manors, lands, and tenements ; the reft (the manor of Idlicote being held in capite) to his executors, with all " leafes, goodes, cattell, plate, and houfehold ftutFe," to fulfil the intents and meaning of his will, and to bring- up his children. He prohibits moft emphatically to his heirs the alienation of his lands, except for their lives, their wives' lives, or leafes for xxj years. Prohibits his fon, W. Underhill, froai marrying before the age of twenty- four, without the confent of his brother Shirley, brother Brokelby, brother Thomas Underhill, and brother Congreve, or their heirs, &c., &c. In the event of his fon dying, or going about to alienate or fell his lands, he provides that they Ihall pafs * I find that the manor of Idlicote was ah'enated hy Louis Greville to William Underhill (A), in the loth of Eliz., and that in the following year the same Louis Greville alienated to the same William Underhill the manor of Loxley. It will be observed that on the Pedigree I have described this William (A), as of Idlicote and Loxley, while in his will he describes himself as of " Newbold Revell." The above facts will ex- plain the reason. He was commonly known, when he made his will (1569), as Underhill of Newbold Revell, the Idlicote and Loxley property having been acquired only during the two years previous. pals to teflator's brother, John. The properties in the will enumerated are the manor of Idhcote, lands and tenements in Idlicote, Coxley, and HoUington, lands in Kington-Baffet, Barton, Meryden, Alfpathe, and Efenell, in the county of Warwick aforelaid. The teftator mentions a brother Humphrey. Alfo a brother Thomas, and the faid Thomas's fon, Francis (his god- fon), as follows : — "■ And alfo I do give to my brother Thomas, untell his " fon Frauncis Underbill my godlbn be of the age of " xxiii] yeres and then only to the faid Frauncis and to " the heires males of the very body of the faid Frauncis " lawfully begotten as is aforelaid and with like condi- " cion and untill fuch time as is aforefaid all my landes " and tenementes with their appurtenances in Hafelor " Stretfordc-upon-Aven and Drayton in the county of " Warwick and in the parifh of Wolverhampton in " the county of Stafford " &c. Two more fons of his brother Thomas are alfo men- tioned, viz., George and Humphrey. Alfo Humphrey, fon of his brother John. Teftator mentions by name his three daughters, Dorothy, Margaret, and Anne, to each of whom there is a bequeft of g£^QO. To his fon William, he leaves his fignet of gold. To each of his daughters "o?ie filver fponej" to Dorothie her mother's wedding-ring and one bracelet of gold ; to his fecond daughter, " my late mofi: loving wife " Newport's* wedding-ringe ;" to my youngeft daugh- ter, " a little chain of gold, and one other of my lirfl " wife's ringes." Legacies are bequeathed to his brother John's chil- dren, * This was his second wife, who had pre-deceased him little more than a year, her will (which was made by license of her husband) having been proved on the 28th of January, 1569. She was the widow of Richard Newport, of Heming- ham, by whom she had a son, John, and four daughters, Con- stance, Elizabeth, Ursula, and Mary. Appendix. 359 dren, to his lifter Dalby's children, to his fifter AVyke- ham's children, and to his lifter IMynola. Allulion is made to an Elizabeth Underhill, his god- daughter, his filler Wynifred's daughters, and his lifter Tamer's daughters. He provides, in the event of any dilficulty ariling about the interpretation of his will, that it Ihall be referred to the judgment and arbitration of his friend, Sir James Dier, Lord Chief Juftice of the Common Pleas. He ftrenuoully urges more than once (reiterating the fame defire at the conclulion) the non-aliena- tion of his lands, and particularly requefts that his daughters do not throw themfelves away in mar- riage ; and Ihoald they marry contrary to his deter- mination and appointment, or "offend and myfufe " themfelfes in carnall or adulterous lyvyng and the " fame be duely proved " that then the portions and bequefts allotted them Ihall be null and void. This will was proved at London on the loth day of April, A.B. 1570, the teftator having departed this life, according to the inqiii/itio?i poji mortem, on the lall day of March preceding. H — page 90. The Will of IViUiam Underhill. {Vide Pedigree, B.) " |tt tl)« |Iam£ of ^ob %mm WH^LIAM UNDER- " hill" of Idlicott in the countie of Warwicke " Efquier beinge of perfeS minde and memorie did as " well in the lixth daie of Julie anno donfmi 1597 as " at divers other tymes or at leall once in the tyme of " his licknes whereof he died make and declare his " laft will and tellament nuncupative in manner and " forme foUoweing or the like in elfeft viz. Firll he " revoked all former wills and teftamentes by him " made " made or declared and willed that his daughter Do- " rothie Ihold have for her parte five hundred poundes " and all her Jewells and that his younger daughter " named Valentine Ihold alfo have other five hundred " poundes Likewife he willed that his eldeft fonne " Foulke Underhill Ihold have all his landes and that " in reijarde thereof if he lived he Ihould be charge- " able to perform all fuch promifes and grauntes as " fhall at anie tyme hereafter appeare to be made by " him the faide William Underhill in his life time for " which he had received monie And further he " willed that if the faide Foulke Underhill Ihould " happen to die, then his next heire that Ihall inherite " fhold be chargeable to performe the fame his pro- " mifes and grauntes. Alfo he willed that everie of his "■ other fonncs ihould have two hundred poundes a peece. " Likewife he the fame William Underhill declared " that he had oweinge unto him two thoufande poundes " for the which he had fpecialties. And that one " Mailer Ballet owed unto him threefcore and tenne " poundes for which he had nothing to Ihewe. Lalllie " he conflituted and appointed Mailer George Sherley " Efquier and Mafter Thomas Sherley his brother " executors of the fame his laft will and teftament and " humblie defired that it wold pleafe them to take " uppon them the execution thereof. And this his faide " lall will and tefiament he foe made and by worde " declared in the prefence of divers credible witneiTes. " Proved at London, on the 9th day of Auguft " AD 1597, by the oath of Alexander Serle " notary public, the proftor of George Sherley " Efq. and Thomas Sherley, the executors " above named." It will be obferved that in the above will of W. Un- derhill (B), he leaves two members of the Shirley family his executors ; from which we may gather that the difpute between the Shirleys and fenior branch of the the Underbills of Eatington did not afteft the junior branch at Idlicote. For thole who are fond of church-hunting, and reading heraldic achievements, Eatington offers peculiar attractions. It is the burial-place of the diftinguifbed families of Shirley and Ferrers, and is rich in monu- mental remains. There are memorials likewife to feveral of the Underbills. Edward Underbill, whofe Ions married the twin Congreves, is thus remembered — " Here lyetb buried under this ftone Edward " Underbill, fometime gentleman of this Town, " with Margaret, fometime his Wife : which Edward " diifeafed this world the fifth day of November, " A.D. M.D.XLVI. " On whofe folly s Jhefu have mercy. Amen.'' Thomas, the eldefl: fon of the above, and Elizabeth Congreve, his wife, are alfo held in memory, with a very lengthy infcription, of which the following is but a fmall part. Iheir monumental virtues are immenfe : " Here lyeth buried the bodyes of Thomas Under- ' bill, of this Towne, Efquier, and Elizabeth his wife, ' who lived married together in perfect amitie about ' 65 years, and had iflue between them xx children : ' viz. XIII fons, and vii daughters She dyed ' 34 Junii, An. D. 1603 5 and he the 6th day of Odo- ' ber next after ' God they feared : God theyferved: God they loved: " and to God they dyed." As far as this book is concerned, the moft interefting of all the monuments is that of the William Under- bill (A) from whofe fon Shakefpere purchafed New Place. The infcription runs as follows • — " Here lyeth William Underbill of the Inner " Temple of London, gentleman: of Edward Underbill, '' Efquier, fecond fon ; and Urfula his dearly beloved " wife 362 Appendix, " wife, youngefl. daughter of John Congreve of Stret- " ton, in Com. Staft'. Efquier, whofe Hfe was a fpeftacle '•' unto all honell, virtuous, and obedient wifes: Ihe dyed " the xiiii'" day of May, An : Dom : M.D. L.X.I. " Upon whofe fouls Chrifl have inercy. Ame?7." (No date is given of the death of this William Underhill (A) ; but the period is fixed by the proving of his will in April, 1570, as above.) I— page 131. De Qidncey. De Quincey's article on Shakefpere in the old edition of the " Encyclopaedia Britannica," is probably known to a comparatively fmall number of perfons. Probably had he been alive at this time, and having fuch an article to write, he would not have produced the one in queftion ; probably, alio, in his complete works, now iffuing from the prefs, and fo beautifully got up, we Ihall never find the article in queltion. But the well- worn phrafe is painfully applicable, " literce fcriptce manent." Whatever fuch a man as De Quincey might write, is fure to leave its mark; and therefore, when a giant hits a giant's blow, we mull look for the necef- fary contufion. De Quincey ufed his lirength to bruife the reputation of Shakelpere ; and it is a very forry apology, when you have disfigured a man, to beg his pardon, and fay you did not intend to hit fo hard. The refult of De Quincey's article has been precifely what anyone might expe6t. Men who have never read that article, perhaps never heard of it, have received through other channels of information the imprellion made by De Quincey. In this way, minds receive pre- judices which no regret on the part of the writer of an article article can prevent. I can quite believe that it De Quincey could, years ago, have torn out from the pages of the Encyclopaedia his article on Shakefpere, he would have done lb. But that can never be done ; and though it be lupprelTed in his works, or otherwile huddled away, it cannot be obliterated from the pages of the work in which it remains, unailailable. For this reafon I have dwelt upon it, and referred to it, hoping that the attention of thofe who read thefe pages may thereby be drawn to the fubjeft, and that a proper antidote may be adminillered to the baneful influence which fuch an article as De Quincey's has had, and would Hill have if treated with lilence. It is far more healthy and more jull to drag it into the open day, point to its injurious paragraphs, and fay openly — Thefe words ought never to have been written ; they are unjuftifiable; they are the mere conjeflures of a man who mulf have regretted writing them, and who never would have written them had he acquainted himlelf thoroughly with the cuftoms of the times in which Shakefpere lived. I give one extraft from De Quincey to fliow how he wrote, and to explain the tone alfumed by me in the body of this work. He is commenting on the marriage bond (pp. 29, "What are we to think of this document? Trepi- " dation and anxiety are written upon its face. .... " As the daughter of a fubllantial yeoman, who would " expetl fome fortune in his daughter's fuitor, llie (Anne "Hathaway) had, to fpeak coarfely, a little outliv^ed " her market. Time, fhe had none to lofe. William " Shakefpere pleafed her eye, and the gentlenefs of " his nature made him an apt fubjeft for female bland- " illiments — poliibly for female arts. Without imputing " to this Anne Hathaway anything fo hateful as a " fettled plot for enfnaring him, it was eafy enough " for a mature woman, armed with fuch inevitable " advantages of experience and of felf-polfeffion, to " draw " draw onward a blufhing novice, and, without direftly " creating opportunities, to place him in the way of " turning to account fach as naturally offered. " Young boys are generally flattered by the conde- " Icending notice of grown-up women," &c " Once, indeed, entangled in fuch a purfiait, any perfon " of manly feelings would be fenfible that he had no " retreat ; that would be to infult a woman grievoufly — - " to wound her fexual pride — and to infure her lafting " fcorn and hatred. Thefe were confequences which " the gentle-minded Shakefpere could not face. He " purfued his good fortunes, half perhaps in heedleff- " nefs, half in defperation, until he was routed by the " clamorous difpleafure of her family upon firft dlfco- '■' vering the fituation of their kinfwoman. For fuch " a fituation there could be but one atonement, and " that was hurried forward by both parties, whillt, out " of delicacy towards the bride, the wedding was not " celebrated in Stratford, where the regilfer contains "no notice of* fuch an event." (and much more to the fame effeft). The reader will now underftand the emphafis ufed in various portions of this book ; and will, perhaps, wonder with me that Shakefpere's was not too honoured a name to be dealt with fo flippantly by a famed author in a great national work. Let it be faid of the above, that it is — every fyllable — an unfapported and degrading conjefture ; that the motives and the a6ts are the bafe inventions of De Quincey's own imagination j and that the man who ufes his pen to hurt the fair fame of the dead in fuch a falhion, were he twenty times the author and writer that De Quincey was, deferves the fevereft condem- nation. J — page i48_ J — page 148. CLOPTON PEDIGREE. Combe, or Combes. To work out the Combe Pedigree, and to bring it down correttly to the union between the heirels Martha Combe and Edward Ciopton, has coft me an amount of labour, which none but thofe acquainted with the difficukies of fuch work will give me credit for. By the courtefy and kindnefs of Herald's College, I was enabled to take a copy of the pedigree contained in "Vincent's Warwicklhire " (1619). This book was prefented by Sheldon to the College in 1684, and is always regarded as a moft trullworthy guide. Having polfelfed myfelf of this, I next confulted all the Vilitations and MSS. at the Britilh Mufeum which would give any light on the fubje6i:, and next I ran- facked the regifters of Stratford Church. I have at lalt compiled that Pedigree which will be found on one part of the " Ciopton " flieet. In the main features of this Pedigree I have thought it my duty to accept the authority of Vincent, but I con- fefs I do lb with great hefitation, being unable (except upon a conjecture which I have embodied in the Pedi- gree) to reconcile the conlii6ting evidence of Vincent's MS. and the unbending entries which I find in the Stratford Regifter. To thofe who are curious in fuch matters this fub- jecl cannot fail to be interefting, and therefore I will go into it fully. After having gone over the Stratford Regifter with great care, and aflilled by Mr. Butcher, the Parifh Clerk, who has revif^d all my quotations, I find the fol- lowing to be the whole of the entries with regard to the Combes family about the dates with which we are intereiled. Alarriaiycs. Marriages, 1561. Auguft 27. — Johannes Combes^ generofus, et Rofa Cloptonne. Burials. i_573. April 4. — Jone, filia Johannis Combes. 1575. April 8. — Francis, Ibnne to Mr. John Combs. 1576. June II. — FranciSjibnne to Mr. John Combes. 1577. January 29. — John, Ibnne to Mr. John Coombes. 1579. Oa. 14. — Millrels Role, wife to Mr. John Combes. 1584. Feb. 2. — Will, fonne to Mr. John Combes. 1584. May 24. — Miftrefs Elizabeth, wife to Mr. John Combes. 1614. July 12. — Mr. John Comles, gentleman. We naturally alk, who was this Mr. John Combes ? On turning to the infcription upon the altar tomb of John a Combe, in the chancel of Stratford Church, we find it terminating in this fafhion. After enumerating the bequefts of the deceafed, it concludes, — " Ye wich " increafe he apoynted to be diftributed towards the " reliefe of ye almes-people theire. More he gave to " the poore of Stratford Twenty LI." What does that 51 mean? Can it be intended to denote the age of John a Combe at the time of his death ? Probably not ; but if not, what pollible mean- ing can it have ? The reader will foon fee the interell of this inquiry. There is no evidence, that I am aware of, to tell us at what what age John a Combe died; and there are, unfor- tunately, lb many Combes in the Pedigree named "John," that we are in great danger of confufing one with another. John a Combe, Shakel'pere's friend, is commonly reputed to have been an old man at the time of his death ; but he is alfo reported to have been an old bachelor. In a MS. given by Mr. Hunter in his New lilurtrations, we read of " an old gentleman, " a batchelor, Mr. Combe, upon whofe name the " poet," &c., &:c. Alfuming that John a Combe was an old bachelor, who was the John with all the children ? The Pedigree lliows us that there was another John Combe, living at Warwick, but he had married one Johanna Murcote, and therefore he could not be the hulband of Rofe Clopton, married in 1561, and dead in 1579, nor yet of " Millrefs Elizabeth," who died in 1584. We are driven, therefore, to the neceflity of trying to fhow that one of the above-named ladies was the wife of Jolui a Combe's father. This is what Vincent fets forth in his Pedigree, and it is fupported by a note of Malone's. He fays, "Mr. Combe married Mrs. Rofe " Clopton, the youngeft daughter of William Clopton "of Clopton, Efq. [it was old John who married Rofe " Clopton^, Augull 27, 1561 ; and therefore was, pro- "bably, when he died, eighty years old." As Vincent was a Warwicklhire man, and had full opportunity of acquainting himfelf perlbnally with the hiftories of the families he catalogued in his Vilitation, we feem bound to conclude that John a Combe's father (John of Stratford) was the hulband of Rofe Clopton. The regifter above quoted Ihows that Ihe lived in wed- lock from 1561 to 1579. During that period, four children of Mr. John Combe's were interred in Stratford Church, viz., Jone, Francis, Francis, John. They evidently were Rofe Clopton's otfspring, and died in infancy ; but of them there is no mention made in Vincent's Pedigree. I have introduced introduced thefe names with dotted lines, according to heraldic cuftom, to fignify that the defcent is doubtful, though there cannot be any doubt upon the point, becaule the evidence of the Stratford regifter is over- powering : and therefore in the above omiffions, Vin- cent's Pedio^ree at Herald's College mull be i'o far incorrect. But Vincent inftrufts us that " old John" took Rofe Clopton for hhfecofid u-ife, and that his celebrated fon, John a Combe, was the third olfspring of the firll marriage with Jocofa, the daughter of Edward Blount, of Kidderminfter. It will be feen, on reference, that there were four children by that marriage. AfTuming that Jocofa Blount died the year prior to her hulband's fecond marriage, and that her children were born one year after the other, llie could not have been married later than 1555 (moft probably the date would be two or three years earlier) ; and alluming that " old "John" was twenty years of age when he married, it would give his date of birth about 1535. It is moll likely that he was born Ibmewhat earlier, but as mar- riages were contratted in very young years in thole days, we could hardly conjefture his birth as prior to 1532. At the death of his fecond wife, therefore, he would be about 47 years of age, and not at all too old to marry for the third time. That he did fo teems almoll certain, becaufe we are encountered with the entry, in 1584, " Mirtrefs Elizabeth, wife to Mr. John " Combes." It is quite pollible that this lady might have been the wife of John a Combe, for at that date he was probably five and twenty years of age. But as John a Combe is univerfally reported to have been an old bachelor, this cannot be corrett. We have no alternative, therefore, but to conclude that " old John" did marry for the third time, after the death of Rofe Clopton, and that " Mitlrefs Elizabeth " was the mother of the child '•'Will," who was buried February 2, 1584. It was only three months afterwards that the mother followed the child to the grave, and therefore it appears probable probable that the child's birth and death coll: the mother her life alio. With the entry of " Miftrefs "Elizabeth's" funeral, all knowledge of "old John," as far as I am acquainted, ends. I am at a lofs to uaderlland why Malone guelTes "old John" as probably " eighty years old when he died,' limply becaufe he married his lecond wife, Rofe, in 1561, at which date he was poflibly about thirty years of age — probably fomewhat younger. Difproportionate alliances as to years were not talhionable in thofe days ; and we can with certainty conclude that "old John" muft have been a youthful bridegroom when he married Rofe, becaufe, in 1561, flie mulf have been quite a girl, lince her eldeif brother, William Clopton (C), was only born in 1537, and was therefore but twenty-four years of age when his lifter, the third younger than himfelf, was married. Rofe could not have been more than eighteen or nineteen when fhe married John Combe ; and it is not likely that a girl of eighteen, in thofe days, would marry a man many years older than herfelf. It is quite pollible that " old John" may have lived until he was eighty years of age. If lb, he only died four or five years before his fon, John a Combe. The regifter of Stratford is totally lilent on the fubjeft, and I can find no trace there of his death or burial. He may polfibly have been interred at Aftley, from whence his family came. It will be feen that on the Pedigree I have, with the dotted lines of doubt, fiipplied " old John's" third marriage, and the burial both of his wife and his child, concerning whom Vincent is altogether filent. I con- clude his Pedigree miiji be defeSiivc, becaufe the Strat- ford regifters will admit of no queftions or doubts 5 their entries are abfolute and conclulive evidence. I confefs I have had, and ftill have, Ibme doubts as to the correttnefs of Vincent in reprefenting John a Combe as the third child of Jocofa Blount — "Old "John's" firll: wife; though I dare not venture to call in quefiion his pedigree, becaufe it clears up one great great difficulty which has never before been explained, and in this relpe6t is evidently correft. Thofe who have fludied John a Combes' Will cannot fail to have been ftruck with the manner in which he conllftently fpeaks of his " brother John and his children," though he alfo fpeaks of his " Coiijin Thomas Covile,'' and fubfequently calls him " my laid nephew, Thomas " Combe." " Item. I will and bequeath and devife to my Cousin " Thomas Combe, &c.," . . . . " that he the faid "Thomas Combe, his heirs and affigns, fhall yearly and " every year for every year for ever pay to a learned " preacher twenty ihillings to make a fermon twice a " year at Stretford Church, &c., &c.," . . . . " and if " my faid Nephew Thomas Combe .... ihall or " do not pay the faid twenty fhillings yearly to a " preacher," &c. There can be no queftion as to the perfon here de- fcribed, nor to the millake in the drafting of the Will, calling him in the one inftance Coufin, and in the other Nephew. Having difcov^ered one fuch miftake, I was led to fuf- pe6l that the term "brother" might be alfo open to fome fuch explanation, becaufe, though it was conftantly the cuftom, after the death of one child, to chriften another by the fame Chriflian name (as we fee in the cafe of the infants "Francis," the fons of " Old John"), neverthe- lefs, we fhould hardly expe6t to find two brothers living and both bearing the fame title. Vincent's pedigree explains the matter at once. We there fee that thefe Johns, though both fons of" Old John," were, never- thelefs, only half-brothers — the one being the child of Jocofa Blount, the other of Rofe Clopton. Hence at their chriftenings each received the name " John ; and when John a Combe was making his Will, it was very natural for him to fpeak of " my brother John." Having thus fairly acknowledged Vincent's ftrength and authority, I will frankly allow that I have only weaknefs to oppofe to him in fupport of my doubts and and hefitations. I have undoubtedly proved one of two things. Either Vincent's Pedigree is incorre£t in not having fupplied us witli the names of Rofe Clop- ton's children in full, and with " Old John's " third marriage, and the name both of his wife and child ; or he has altogether dropped out of notice fome John Combe, of Stratford, and a member of this family, whofe ^\■ife and family are proved by the regifter to have exilled. The difficulty might eafily be folved if we entertained the idea of John a Combes having once married — his children having died — and that he was left a widower, inllead of being a bachelor. This would make things fmooth at once ; but unfortunately every fort of evi- dence and tradition agrees with the pedigree in making John a Combe always and ever a bachelor. We mull conclude, therefore, that Vincent altogether overlooked " Old John's " third marriage. May he not, pollibly, have confounded the one John with the other, and have made John a Combe by miftake the fon of Jocofa Blount, rather than of Rofe Clopton ? There is a ftrong impreliion on my mind that I have feen it Hated that John a Combe was the fon of Rofe Clopton. If the figures LI upon his tomb are intended to indicate his age, he mj/Ji have been; for reckoning from 1562, the year after Rofe Clopton was married, to the year in which John a Combe died, he would have been 5^^ ^t^ ^^e date of his death, July, 1614; added to which, it muft be remarked that Vincent's Pedigree does make a " John Combe " to have been Rofe Clopton's eldefl: child, only it reprefents him as the " brother John," and makes John a Combe the fon of the firft wife. As regards the property or the defcent coming down to Martha Combe, wife of Edward Clopton, it matters not whether Vincent is right or wrong. The point is of fome intereft to thofe who are endeavouring to put together the fafts and alfociations of Shakefpere's day, and to trace out the precife relations of thofe perlbns anions' among whom he moved in focial friendfliip and in- timacy. As I faid before, I know my pofition is weak, and Vincent's very ftrong. I fubmit, theiefore, to his authority, with the ftrongell inchnation to difpute it. When John a Combe died, in 1614, he could ?iot, under any cir cum fiances, have been an old man. I cannot calculate him, though the fon of Jocofa Blount, to have been more than fixty at his death. Should it, how- ever, at any time appear that the figures on his tomb denote his real age, it would be a fingular coincidence to find that both Shakefpere and his attached friend died in their fifty-fecond year 3 and thofe figures would alfo efl:ablifh the fatt that John a Combe came of the Clopton race, and mufl have teen the fon of R(fe Clop ton. K— page 277. In cafe the reader fliould have a curiofity to fee a houfe exa6tly like New Place in the lail century, I may mention that the new line of railway between Waterloo Station and London Bridge has lately dif- clofed one. In palling along Union Street, in the Borough, in the narrow part, where the feries of arches runs dole to the back of the houfes on the left (going towards Loudon Bridge), there is a fmall ftreet, called Gravel Lane. In that flreet I lately came upon the houfe referred to, and as it is precifely fimilar, even in fmall details, to the prints of New Place (1720), it may be an object of intereft to fome of my readers. As it ftands clofe into the angle where the Chatham and Dover Railway, going to Blackfriars Bridge, croffes the extenfion line from Waterloo to London Bridge, and the A6t of Parliament gives powers to purchafe this property, it may be well to draw attention to this interelling old houfe, before the iron Vifigoths fweep it away. It belongs to George Vaughan, Efq., of Weftbourne Terrace, and has been in polfefiion of his family family tor a confiderable period. Mr. Vaughan's tenants, J. H. and G. T. James, hatters, have a worthy affeftion for the old — old place, which ftands an ancient landmark in the midft of modern buildings. Over the doorway, upon a lozenge, is the following infcription : — y D. H. 1703- J C E The old leaden tank bears date, ' ^l ' 1609. The broad llaircafe and the panelled rooms are care- fully prelerved, with the exception of the oak out of one of tlie rooms, which Mr. Vaughan has lately, and very properly, removed to preferve it, in cafe he ihould be compelled to part with his cherilhed houfe. Gravel Lane leads down to the Thames, and to the lite of the Globe Theatre. The following fails, therefore, become interefting. Mr. James remembers, when he was a boy, fome forty years ago, that rows of elm trees Ikirted the lane ; and he can recall the fa6t of an aged carman in the employ of Meflrs. Vaughan, telling him about the year 1820, that when he was a youth, in taking the carts down to the Thames, he was obliged to pulh the hulhes and brambles out of the way to enable the cart to pafs. Thefe fa6ls are llriking, becaufe they prove that the land behind the Globe Theatre retained the fame rural chara6ler to the end of the laft century which it mull have familiarly prefented to the eyes of William Shakefpere. There was, until a few n:ionths ago, a large garden at the back of Gravel Lane Houfe. It is now being built upon by the piers of the Chatham and Dover railway arches. In it, from time to time, many relics have been dug up. Of courfe there are many houfes around London of the fame charafter and date as this houfe, but none in the dire6lion where it ftill exifts. I have not, however, feen anywhere a houle fo 374 Appendix. lb exa£tly correfponding to the elevation of New Place (1720). It is the verilimiiltude ; and, therefore, if the Londoner wifhes to fee what New Place was like at that date, he has only (before it is too late) to take a walk over Southwark Bridge, and penetrate the now denfely-populated and uninviting heart of the Borough, called Gravel Lane. L— page 317. The Rev, R. Jago is buried in the fide aifle of the nave of Snittertield Church, of which he was Vicar. As a poet, he was well and defervedly known about Stratford, and many of his produftions obtained a much wider popularity. He lives in the pages of " Elegant " Extra£ts." One of the bell parodies in the Englilh language, upon Hamlet's Ibliloquy, "To be or not to " be," will be found in that work. It was written by Mr. Jago, and defcribes the miferies of a would-be poet longing after bays. It commences, " To print, " or not to print," and while adhering nioft clofely to the language of Shakefpere, admirably depi6ls the fears and hopes of the depreffed rhymeller, working up to this climax — " Thus critics do make cowards of us all." Mr. Jago died in 1781, iEt. 69. HATHAWAY, M, (See Shakespere Pedigree.) It appeared to me perfe6tly unneceffary to encumber the Shakefpere Pedigree with the defcents of the Hath- aways down to their extinction — in the Shottery branch — during the prefent century. To any one curious on the fubjeft, the Stratford regifters will always fupply an abundant fund of information. I I have contented myfelf, thereJore, by merely intro- ducing in ShakeTpere's Pedigree thofe names which were ablblutely neceffary to Ihow the connexion with him by marriage ; and in this place I have collected together Inch material as leems to me valuable, in order to prelerve a corrett record of the latefi: delcents of the Shottery family, and of the way in which the property palled from them to its prel'ent owner. As no one has previoully undertaken to do what I have thus done, I believe that the following information will not only be valuable on the inllant, but in fonie few years hence will become very valuable to the antiquary, who will thank me for refcuing from oblivion many details which in another generation would have been lolt for ever. I am under obligation to Mr. William Thompfon, of Stratford, the prefent owner of Ann Hathaway's Cottage, and alfo to his folicitors, for the prompt manner in which they laid the title-deeds open to my inl'peftion, and for the manner in which they fhowed themfelves anxious to give me any information they poirefled. Though Mr. Thompfon is yet a very young man, it was exceedingly agree- able to me to tind that the Shottery property had come into the pofleflion of a gentleman who thoroughly appreciates its hilloric alTociations, and affures me of his intention to preferve the fabric from fpoliation or decay. My thanks are alfo due to Mrs. Baker, of the Cottage, who, I truft, will have no reafon to regret the length of time that we puzzled together in her kitchen over the old family Bible, until we got the Pedigree correct, as far as her knowledge went. It muft, indeed, be a Iburce of unending regret to this good v/oman, when ihe recalls from day to day her father's fale of the houle, which belonged for centuries to the long line of her ancellors. It was a bitter necellity; and every vilitor to Ann Hathaway's Cottage mull feel with her, and for her. By the help of Mrs. Baker, Mr. Thompfon, his lawyer, and the parilh clerk, I have been enabled to put 376 Appendix. put together the accompanying Pedigree. By reading it through, and then peruling the abltrafts I have made of deed, in Mr. Thompfon's polTeihon, the reader will be put in polleffion of tlie hiftory of the Hathaway family during the laft hundred years. AlftraBs of Title Deeds, ^c, regarding Ann Hathcnray' s Cottage, Shottery. I. Will of John Hathaway of Shottery (Pedigree, A). " Bequeathes to Urfula Good, now Urfula Kamill, " $s., payable 12 months after the deceafe of my " mother, Sarah Hathaway. " Alfo to my tiller, Jane Hathaway, now Jane "Webb (B), the fum of Twenty Pounds. "Alfo all Freehold Lands, z.e. in fee fimple, to my " loving mother, Sarah Hathaway, during her life 3 and " after her deceafe, I devife the laid " To my three fifters, Sarah Hathaway (C), Elizabeth "Hathaway (D), and Sufannah Hathaway (E), and " their heirs. "And I hereby nominate my mother, Sarah Hatha- "way (L), executrix, &c. " I have hereunto let ray feal this 7th day of Auguft, "in the 17th year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, " George IL "Proved April 3, 1746." a. Will of Sarah Hathaway (C), dated May 3, 1779. " I give, devife, and bequeath unto my brother-iu- " law, William Taylor (F), and Sufannah (E), his wife, " during their joint lives, and the life of the longeft " liver of them, all that my third part or Ihare of and " in a mefluage or tenement, lands, hereditaments, and " premifes which I may die feized or poffelTed of or " entitled unto, lituate at Shottery aforefaid, in the " poffellion of the faid William Taylor, or elfewhere — "and vm HATHAWAY. {The Laler Defienis ,J- Ihi, Family, from Us ExIiiiClim in llie Dir.a Malt- Line.) I (A) John Hatlnwav- c.l '' 71I1 ihv .il All; Elizabeth = — Slandlcy Hathaway j of Chipping Campdet CO. of Gioucwtcr. (G) Richard Slandley = Maiy. Sarah'*^' By her will, proved at Worcester, Ott. 13, 1785, she bequeaths tlic premiscH at Shottery to h nephew, John Halhawa Taylor. Tiiyfor. I (I) John Hathaway Taylor. Bapt. Dec. 18, 1747- Obiit. Julyii, i8ig. Will dated July, 18. iSifi. Proved Sept. 9th, 1S20. Mary Hamp n( Lud.lington. Ob. ;an„a,» 7, 183s. Lived at S is di-alh. Tlii,Wil I (K) William Taylo J!. Julyii, 1771 Oh. M.iyil, 184 tery, at the Cottage, unt rieil at Stratford. 1 Taylor «nld the Cotta- After her death theCottagc ^3^ divided into three parts. Jntil then, there had only iccn one entrance — at what is low the hack of the premises. John. = B. May ao, 1779. Obiit. — at Shottery. Buried at Stratford, .Sept. s, iSaS. Mt. ^g. I I I >livinr.