to my godson William Walker twenty shillings in gold; to Anthony Nash,* gent. twenty-six shillings eight-pence; and to Mr. John Nash twenty-six shillings eight-pence; and to my fellowes, John Hemynge ‡, Richard Burbage §, and Henry Cundell, twenty-six shillings eight
pence a-piece, to buy them rings.
Item, I give, will, bequeath, and devise, unto my daughter Susanna Hall, †† for better enabling of her to perform this my will, and towards the performance thereof, all that capital messuage or tenement, with the appurtenances in Stratford aforesaid, called the New Place, wherein I now dwell, and two messuages or tenements, with the appurtenances, situate, lying, and being in Henley-street, within the borough of Stratford aforesaid; and all my barns, stables, orchards, gardens, lands, tenements, and hereditaments whatsoever, situate, lying, and being, or to be had, received, perceived, or taken, within the towns, hamlets, villages, fields, and grounds of Stratford-upon-Avon, Old Stratford, Bishopton, and Welcombe, or in any of them, in the said county of Warwick; and also all that messuage or tenement, with the appurtenances, wherein one John Robinson dwelleth, situate, lying, and being, in the Blackfriars in London near the Wardrobe;++ and all other my lands, tenements, and hereditaments whatsoever; to have and to hold all and sigular the said premises, with their appurtenances, unto the said Susanna Hall, for and during the term of her natural life; and after her decease to the first son of her body lawfully issuing; and to the heirs males of the body of the said first son lawfully issuing; and for default of such issue, to the second son of her body lawfully issuing, and to the heirs males of the body of the said second son lawfully issuing; and for default of such heirs, to the third son of the body of the said Susanna lawfully issuing, and to the heirs males of the body of the third son lawfully issuing; and for default of such issue, the same so to be and remain to the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh sons of her body, lawfully issuing one after another, and to the heirs males of the bodies of the said fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh sons lawfully issuing, in such manner as it is before limited to be and remain to the first, second, and third sons of her body, and to their heirs males; and for default of such issue, the said premises to be and remain to my said niece Hall, and the heirs males of her body lawfully issuing; and for default of such issue, to my daughter Judith, and the heirs males of her body lawfully issuing; and for default of such issue, to the right heirs of me the said William Shakspeare for ever.
Item, I give unto my wife my second best bed, with the furniture.
Item, I give and bequeath to my said daughter Judith my broad silver gilt bowl. of my goods, chattels, leases, plate, jewels, and houshold stuff whatsoever, after my debts and legacies paid, and my funeral expenses discharged, I give, devise, and bequeath to my son-inlaw, John Hall,††† gent. and my daughter Susanna his wife, whom I ordain and make executors
"Anthony Nash was father of Mr. Thomas Nash, who married our poet's grand-daughter, Elizabeth Hall. He lived, I believe, at Welcombe, where his estate lay; and was buried at Stratford, Nov. 18, 1622" Malone.
"Mr. John Nash died at Stratford, and was buried there, Nov. 10, 1623."—Malone.
John Hemynge died in October, 1630.
§ Burbage died in March, 1619.
** Cundell died in December, 1627. For accounts of these three celebrated performers, see Shakspeare's Works, Paris edition, vol. i. p. xcix et seq.
++ Susanna Hall, the poet's favourite daughter, died on the 11th of July, 1649, aged 66, and was buried in Stratford church on the 16th of the same month.
This messuage or tenement was the house which was mortgaged to Henry Walker.
§§ The poet's wife died on the 6th of August, 1629, and was buried between her husband's grave and the north wall of the chancel. A brass plate affixed to her tomb-stone exhibits the following inscription:
"Ubera, tu mater, tu lac vitamq. dedisti,
Væ mihi; pro tanto munere Saxa dabo!
Quam mallem, amoveat lapidem, bonus Angel' ore'
Exeat ut Christi Corpus, imago tua
Sed nil vota valent, venias cito Christe resurget,
Clausa licet tumulo mater, et astra petet."
*** John Hall, M.D. died Nov. 25, 1635, aged 60. His grave-stone in Stratford church is thus inscribed :
"Hallius hic situs est medica celeberrimus arte,
Expectans regni guadia loeta Dei
of this my last will and testament. And I do entreat and appoint the said Thomas Russel, esqr. and Francis Collins, gent. to be overseers hereof. And do revoke all former wills, and publish this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand, the day and year first above written.
Probatum fuit testamentum suprascriptum apud London, coram Magistro William Byrde, Legum Doctore, etc. vicesimo secundo die mensis Junii, Anno Domini 1616; juramento Johannis Hall unius ex. cui, etc. de bene, etc. jurat. reservata potestate, etc. Susanne Hall, alt. ex. etc. eam cum venerit, etc. petitur, etc.
Dignus erat meritis qui Nestora vinceret annis,
Interris omnes, sed rapit æqua dies;
Ne tumulo, quid desit adest fidissima conjux,
Et vitæ comitem nunc quoq. mortis habet."
Acheley (Thomas), a minor poet, 328.
Acting, art of, consummately known to Shakspeare,
206. Parts chiefly performed by him, 207.
Actors, companies of, when first censed, 442.
Placed under the superintendence of the masters of
the revels, ibid. Their renumeration, 443. Pa-
tronized by the court, 444. Days and hours of their
performance, 448. Their renumeration, 452.
Admission to the theatre, in the time of Shakspeare,
prices of, 449.
Egeon, exquisite portrait of, in the Comedy of Errors,
Eschylus, striking affinity between the celebrated
trilogy of, and Shakspeare's Macbeth, 565.
Affection (maternal), exquisite delineation of, 542.
Affections (sympathetic), account of, 181.
Ayale stone, supposed virtue of, 182.
Andrewe (Thomas), a minor poet, 328.
Angels, different orders of, 163. Account of the
doctrine of guardian angels prevalent in Shak-
speare's time, ibid. The supposed agency of angelic
spirits, as believed in Shakspeare's time, critically
analysed, 533.
Angling, notice of books on the art of, 141. Con-
templations of an angler, 142. His qualifications
described, 143. Encomium on, by Sir Henry Wot-
ton, 144. Beautiful verses on, by Davors, 298.
Anglo-Norman romances, account of, 254-258.
Anneson (James), a minor poet, 328.
Antropophagi, supposed existence of, 188. Allu
sions to by Shakspeare, ibid.
Antony and Cleopatra, date of, 574. Character and
conduct of this drama, ibid.
Illustrations of this drama.
Act i. scene 4, 62.
Act ii. scene 3, 164.
Act iii. scene 9, 67.
Act iv. scene 10, 150.
Air, spirits of, introduced into the Tempest, 588.
Alchemistry, a favourite pursuit of the age of Shak-Apemantus, remarks on the character of, 555.
speare, 420.
Alderson (Dr.), opinion of, on the cause of spectral
visitations, 535. His application of them to the
character of Hamlet, 536.
Ale, synonymous with merry making, 85. Different
kinds of Ales, ibid. Leet-ale, 86.
Alehouses, picture of, in Shakspeare's time, 105.
Alfs, or bright and swart elves of the Scandinavians,
account of, 491.
All-Hallow-Eve, festival of, 166.
fluence of fairies, spirits, &c. 167.
Alliterations, in the English language, satirised by
Sir Philip Sidney, 217.
Apes, kept as companions for the domestic fools,
415.
Aphorisms of Shakspeare, character of, 252.
Apparitions, probable causes of, 535.
Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney, critical notice of, 266.
Alluded to by Shakspeare, 277.
Archery, a favourite diversion in the age of Shak-
speare, 431. Encouraged in the reign of Elizabeth,
ibid. Decline of archery, 432.
Supposed in-Arden or Ardern family, account of, 2.
Ardesoif (Mr.), terrific death of, 71.
Ariel, analysis of the character of, 580, 587.
Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, remarks on, 305. His
"Supposes," a comedy, translated by Gascoigne,
457.
All's Well that Ends Well, probable date of, 542.
Analysis of its characters, the Countess of Rou-
sillon, 543. Helen, ib. Remarks on the minor cha-
racters, ibid
Illustrations of this drama.
Act i. scene 3, 543.
Act ii. scene 1, 52, 85, 547.
scene 2, 69. 77.
scene 5, 547.
scene 7, ibid.
Act iii. scene 2, 398, 543.
Activ. scene 10, 176
scene 12, 437.
All Saints' Day, festival of, 166.
Allot (Robert), "English Parnassus," 347.
Amadis of Gaul (Romance of), popularity of,
265.
Amusements of the fairies, 505.
Amusements, national, in the age of Shakspeare,
enumerated, 120. Account of the itinerant stage,
ibid. The Cotswold games, 123. Hawking, 132.
Hunting, 140. Bird-batting, 141. Fishing, ibid.
Horse-racing, 145. The Quintaine, 146. Wildgoose
chace, 148. Hurling, ibid. Shovel-board, 149.
Shove-groat, ibid. Juvenile sports, 150-152.
Amusements of the metropolis and court, 426.
Card-playing, ibid. Tables and dice, 427. Danc-
ing, 428. Bull-baiting and bearbaiting, 430. Ar-
chery, 431. Frequenting of Paul's Walk, 433.
Sagacious horses, 434. Masques and pageants,
435. Royal progresses, 438. Dramatic perfor-
Anderson (James), a minor poet, 328.
Armin (Thomas), complaint of, against the critics of
his day, 223.
Arms, grant of, to John Shakspeare, 1.
Arras Hangings, in the age of Shakspeare, 401.
Arthington (Henry), a minor poet, 328.
Arthur's Chase, account of, 184.
Arthur's Round Table, a society of archers, account
of, 272.
Arval, or Funeral Entertainment, account of, 116.
Ascham (Roger), complaint of, on the little reward
of schoolmasters, 13. note, 45. Improved the
English language, 214. Remarks of, on the cul-
tivation of classical literature in England, 219;
and of Italian literature, 220. Notice of his
"Scholemaster," 221. His censure of the popu-
larity of "La Morte d'Arthur," 255. Design of
his "Toxophilus," 432.
Aske (James), a minor poet, 328.
Asses Heads, absurd recipe for fixing on the
shoulders of man, 510.
As You Like It, date of, 546. Remarks on the
general structure of its fable, ibid. Analysis of
the character of Jaques, 547.
Illustrations of this drama.
Act. i. scene 2, 146.
Act. ii. scene 1, 179.
scene 7, 26, 396.
Act. iii. scene 2, 402.
scene 3, 281.
scene 4, 270.
Act. iv. scene 1, 281, 421.
Act. v. scene 4, 401, 422.
The Epilogue, 106.
Aubrey, statement of, respecting Shakspeare's being
a butcher, 17. Probability of his account that
Shakspeare had been a schoolmaster, 22. His
character of the poet, 632.
Avale (Lemeke), a minor poet, 328.
Autolycus, remarks on the character of, 577.
Biographical Writers, during the age of Elizabeth,
notice of, 235.
Birds, different modes of taking in the 16th century,
140.
Blackfriars, theatre in, account of, 445.
Black Letter books, chiefly confined to the time of
Elizabeth, 214.
Blenerhasset (Thomas), a minor poet, 328.
ditions made by him to the "Mirrour for Magis-
trates," 340.
Boar's-head, anciently the first dish brought to table,
37.
Boccacio, principal novels of, translated by Paynter,
Bacon (Lord), character of his Henry VII., 232:
and of his "Essays," 249, 251.
Bag-Pipe, the ancient accompaniment of the Mor-Bodenham's (John), “Garden of the Muses,” a col-
ris-dance and May-games, 80.
Baldwyne's "Myrrour for Magistrates," account of
340.
Ballads, early English, notice of a collection of, 278.
Quotations from and allusions to them by Shak-
speare, 279.
Balnevis (Henry), a minor poet, 328.
Bandello, principal novels of, 263.
Banquets, where taken, in the age of Shakspeare,
Barley-Break, verses on, 150. How played, 151
Barnefielde (Richard), a minor poet, works of
328.
Barnes (Barnabe), a minor poet, 328.
Baronets, order of, when created, 590. Their arms,
ibid.
Barry's "Ram Alley," illustrated, 109.
Barson or Barston, village, allusion to by Shak-
speare, 25.
Bastard (Thomas), notice of the epigrams of, 328.
and note.
Batman (Stephen), a minor poet, 328.
Bodley (Sir Thomas), an eminent book collector,
notice of, 212. Observation of King James I
on quitting the Bodleian library, 212.
Bolton (Edward), critical notice of his "Hypercri-
tica," 232.
Bond (Dr. John), an eminent Latin philologer, 222.
Booke of St. Albans, curious title and dedication of
Markham's edition of, 34, note. Rarity of the
original edition, 34. note, extract from, ibid. 35.
note.
Book of Sports, account of, 84.
Books, taste for, encouraged by Queen Elizabeth,
209, 211. Were anciently placed with their
leaves outwards, 213. Were splendidly bound in
the time of Elizabeth, 211. and note, 213. Hints
on the best mode of keeping books, 213. Re-
marks on the style in which they were executed 213.
Boors, or country clowns, character of, in the 16th
century, 58.
Boots, preposterous fashions of, in the age of Shak-
speare, 398.
Batman's translation of "Bartholome de Proprieta-Bourcher (Arthur), a minor poet, 328.
tibus Rerum," well known to Shakspeare, 236.
Bear-baiting, a fashionable amusement in the age
of Elizabeth, 429. Prices of entrance to the
bear-gardens, 430
Beards, fashions of, in the age of Shakspeare.
103
"Beards Wag all," the proverb of, explained, 69.
Beaufort (Cardinal), dying scene of, 190.
Beaumont (Sir John), critical notices of, as a poet.
291. His elegiac tribute to the memory of the
Earl of Southampton, 358. How far he assisted
Fletcher, 604.
Bourman (Nicholas), a minor poet, 328.
Boys (Rev. John), an eminent Grecian, 221.
Bradshaw (Thomas), a minor poet, 328.
Brathwait's English Gentleman, 126.
Brathwayte (Richard), a minor poet, 328.
Brawls, a fashionable dance in the age of Shakspeare,
428.
Bread, enumeration of different kinds of, 407.
Breeches, preposterous size of, 397.
Breton (Nicholas), poems of, 292.
Brewer's "Lingua," illustration of, 232.
Brice (Thomas), a minor poet, 328.
Bridal Bed, why blessed, 110.
Beaumont and Fletcher, illustrations of the plays of.
Custom of the Country, 232-Fair Maid of
the Inn, 160.-Knight of the Burning Pestle, 232,
479.-Playhouse to Let, ibid.-Scornful Lady,
109.-Woman Pleased, act iv. sc. 1. 84.
Beauty, exquisite taste for, discoverable in Shak-Bride Ale, description of, 111.
speare's works, 632.
Bride, custom of kissing at the altar, 110. Sup-
posed visionary appearances of future brides and
bridegrooms, on Midsummer-Eve, 161. and on All-
Hallow-Eve, 167.
Belemnites, or Hag-Stones; supposed virtues of
178.
Belleforest's and Boisteau's "Cent Histoires Tragi-
ques," 264.
Bells, why tolled at funerals, 113. Worn by Hawks,
Bellein, or rural sacrifice of the Scotch Highlanders
on May-day, 74.
"Bel-vedere, or the Garden of the Muses," 348.
Benefices bestowed in Elizabeth's time on menial
servants, 44.
Betrothing, ceremony of, 107.
Beverley (Peter), a minor poet, 328.
Bevis (Sir), of Southampton, notice of, 274.
Bezoar stones, supposed virtues of, 179.
Bibliography, cultivated by Queen Elizabeth, 209.
Influence of her example, 211. Account of emi-
nent bibliographers and bibliophiles of her court,
211.
Bidford Topers, anecdote of them and Shakspeare,
Bieston (Roger), a minor poet, 328.
Britton (Mr.), remarks of, on the monumental bust
of Shakspeare, 634.
Broke (Arthur), account of his "Tragicall Historye
of Romeus and Juliet," 512.
Brooke, (Christopher) a minor poet, 329.
Brooke (Thomas), a minor poet, 329.
Broughton (Rowland), a minor poet, 329.
Browne's (William) Britannia's Pastorals. quota-
tions from, 75. Critical notice of his merits as a
poet, 292.
Brownie, a benevolent Scottish fairy, account of,
500. Resemblance between him and Shakspeare's
Puck, 510.
Brutus, character of, 573.
Brydges (Sir Egerton), on the merits of Lodge, as a
poet, 07. Estimate of the poetical character
of Sir Walter Raleigh, 310. Critical observations
of, on the "Paradise of Daintie Devises," 342.
And on "England's Helicon," 346.
Bryskett (Lodowick), a minor poet, 329.
Buc (Sir George), a minor poet, 329.
Buchanan's "Rerum Scoticarum Historia," character
of, 232.
Bull-baiting, a fashionable amusement in the age of Characters, writers of, in the age of Elizabeth, 248.
Shakspeare, 429
Bullokar's "Bref Grammar for English," 222. His
innovations in English spelling, satirised by Shak-marks on, 598.
speare, 230.
Burbage, the player, notice of, 203.
Burial, ceremony of, 113. Tolling the passing-
bell, ibid. 114. Lake-wakes, described, 100.
Vestiges of, in the north of England, 116. Funeral
entertainments, 116 Garlands of flowers some-
times buried with the deceased, 117. Graves
planted with flowers, 118.
Burns, poetical description by, of the spells of All-
Hallow-Eve, 168.
Burton (William), critical notice of his "History of
Leicestershire," 234.
Burton's apology for May-games and sports, 84.
Invective against the extravagance at inns, 107.
His list of sports pursued in his time, 120. Por-
trait of the illiterate country gentlemen of that age,
210. Eulogium on books and book collectors, 212.
-Bust of Shakspeare, in Stratford church, originality
of, proved, 634. Its character and expression
injured through Mr. Malone)s interference, ibid.
Buttes (John),
Dyets Dry Dinner," 450.
Byrd's (William), collection of "Tenor Psalmes,
Sonets, and Songs, of Pietie," &c. 350.
Byron's (Lord) "Siege of Corinth"
538.
Caliban, remarks on the character of, 580, 588.
Camden (William), character of his "Annals," 232.
Campbell's "Pleasures of Hope," 290.
Campion (Thomas), critical notice of his "Observa-
tions on the Art of English Poesie," 228.
Canary Dance, account of, 429.
Candlemas-day, origin of the festival, 67. Cere-
monies for Candlemas-eve and day, ibid.
Capel (Mr.), Erroneous notions of, concerning Shak-
speare's marriage, 30.
Caps worn by the ladies, 393.
Carbuncle, imaginary virtues of, 193.
Cards, fashionable games of, in the age of Shak-
speare, 426 Were played in the theatre by the
audience before the performance commenced,
Carew (Richard), a minor poet, 329.
Carew's "Survey of Cornwall,” 234.
Carols (Christmas), account of, 96.
Carpenter (John), a minor poet, 329.
Castiglione's "Cortegiano" translated into English,|
221.
Chair of Shakspeare, purchased by Princess Czar-
toryskya, 11.
Chalkhill (John). critical notice of the poems of,
294,
Sketch of the character of Queen Elizabeth, 413.
and of James I. ibid. Of Shakspeare's drama, re-
Charlcott-House, the seat of Sir Thomas Lucy, no-
tice of, 196.
Chaucer, poetical description of May-day by, 74.
Illustration of his "Assemblie of Fooles," 185.
Description of the carbuncle, 193. Alluded to, by
Shakspeare, 386. Allusions by Chaucer to fairy
mythology, 493, 495.
Chester (Robert), a minor poet, 329. Critical no-
tice of his "Love's Martyr," 349.
Chettle (Henry), a minor poet, 329.
Children, absurdity of frightening by superstitious
tales, 154. Notice of legendary tales, of their
being stolen or changed by fairies, 498.
Chivalric Amusements of Shakspeare's age, described,
Chivalry, influence of, on the poetry of the Eliza-
bethan (age, 289. Allusion to it, by Shakspeare,
386.
Chopine or Venetian stilt, 394.
Chrismale Cloth, account of, 113.
Christenings, description of, 112.
Christian IV. (King of Denmark), drunken entertain-
ment given to, 406.
Christian Name, the same frequently given to two
successive children in the age of Queen Eliza-
beth, 3.
Christmas Brand, notion concerning, 68.
Christmas, festival of, 94. Of Pagan origin, ibid.
Ceremony of bringing in the Christmas block, ibid.
Houses decorated with ivy, &c. on Christmas-Eve.
95. Origin of this custom, 96. Custom of singing
carols in the morning, ibid. Gambols, anciently in
use at this season, 98-100 note. Poetical descrip-
tion of, by Herrick, 100, and by Sir Walter Scott,
101. At present how celebrated, 101.
Church-Ales, account of, 86.
Churles and gentlemen, difference between, 34.
Church-yard (Thomas), critical notice of the poems
of. 205.
Chute (Ant.), a minor poet, 329.
Chronological list of Shakspeare's plays, 469.
Cinthio (Giraldi), principal novels of, 264.
Citizens of London, dress of, 400.
Clapham (Henoch), a minor poet of the age of Shak-
speare, 329.
Classical literature, diffusion of, in the reign of Eli-
zabeth, 13. Fashionable among country gentle-
men, 40. Cultivated generally, 219. The knowledge
of Greek literature greatly promoted by Sir Tho-
mas Smith, Sir Henry Savile, and Dr. Boys, 221.
Latin literature promoted by Ascham, Grant, Bond,
Rider, and others, 222.
Chalmers (Mr.), probable conjecture of, on the
authenticity of Shakspeare's will, 7. His hypo-
thesis, concerning the person to whom Shakspeare Cleanliness, attention of Shakspeare's fairies to, 507.
addressed his sonnets, disproved, 377. Ex-Cleaton (Ralph, a clergyman), character of, 45.
amination of his conjectures respecting the date of Cleopatra, remarks on the character of, 574.
Romeo and Juliet, 512. Of Richard III., 518. Of
Richard II., 521. Of Henry IV., Parts 1. and II. 522.
Of the Merchant of Venice, 525. Of Hamlet, 529.
Of King John, 541. Of All's Well that Ends Well,
542. His opinion on the traditionary origin of the
Merry Wives of Windsor controverted, 548. His
conjecture on the date of Troilus and Cressida, 549.
Of Henry VIII., 551. Of Timon of Athens, 552.
Of Measure for Measure, 556. Of King Lear, 558
Of the Tempest, 577. Of Othello, 591. Of Twelfth
Night, 592.
Claudio, remarks on the character of, in Measure for
Measure, 557.
Chapman (George), critical merits of as a poet, 294.
His tribute to the memory of the Earl of Southamp-
ton, 358.
Estimate of his merits as a dramatic
poet, 609.
Clergymen, anciently styled Sir, 43. Picture of
country clergymen in the age of Elizabeth, 44.
Their degraded state under James I. ibid. The
younger clergy, chiefly schoolmasters, 45. Bishop
Hall's picture of their depressed state, 46. Prohí-
bited from hawking, 126. note.
Clerk-ale, notice of, 86.
Cloten, remarks on the character of, in Cymbeline,
Clothes, materials of, in the age of Elizabeth, 391.
How preserved, ibid.
Clown (country), character of in the 16th century,
Coaches, when first introduced into England, 415,
Extravagant number of, ibid.
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