papers involved in a lawsuit. From them we learn a little about Shakespeare's financial affairs, but nothing about the identity of the poet and the actor. (43)

1612. Shakespeare's name appeared in a bill of complaint respecting the Stratford tithes. (44)

1612-3, March 10. William Shakespeare, together with William Johnson, John Jackson, and John Hemming, bought a house and grounds near the Blackfriars Theatre. (45)

1612-3, March 11. William Shakespeare, together with William Johnson, John Jackson, and John Hemming, mortgaged the Blackfriars property to Henry Walker, from whom they had bought it. (46)

1613, March 31. "Mr. Shakespeare" received forty-four shillings from the steward of the Earl of Rutland "about my Lord's Impreso." (Richard Burbage, on the same day, received the same sum for "painting and making it in gold.") (47)

1614, July. John Combe of Stratford died, bequeathing to William Shakespeare five pounds. (48)

1614, Oct. 28. William Shakespeare and Thomas Greene of Stratford obtained a deed indemnifying them against any injury from the enclosing of the common lands in Stratford. (49)

1614, Nov. 17. Entry in Thomas Greene's diary (Greene was town-clerk of Stratford): "My cousin Shakespeare coming yesterday to

towne, I went to see him how he did. He told me that they assured him they meant to inclose no further than to Gospell Bush, and so up straight (leaving out part of the Dingles to the Field) to the Gate in Clopton hedge, and take in Salisbury's piece, and that they mean in April to survey the land, and then to give satisfaction, and not before; and he and Mr. Hall say they think there will be nothing done at all." (50)

1614, Dec. 23. From the same: "A hall. Letters written one to Mr. Mannering, another to Mr. Shakespeare, with almost all the company's hands to either. I also wrote of myself to my cousin Shakespeare the copies of all our acts, and then also a note of the inconveniences would happen by the enclosures." (50)

1614-5, Jan. From the same: "Mr. Replyngham, 28 Octobris, article with Mr. Shakespeare, and then I was put in by T. Lucas." (50)

1614-5, Jan. 11. From the same: "Mr. Mannering and his agreement for me with my cousin Shakespeare." (50)

1615, Sept.

From the same: "Mr. Shakespeare telling J. Greene I was not able to bear the enclosing of Welcombe." (50)

(The notes from Greene's diary have been deemed worth printing in full, because they are the most intimate and personal contemporary records of William Shakespeare known.)

1615, April 26. William Shakespeare was

one of six petitioners to Lord Chancellor Egerton praying him to compel Matthew Bacon to deliver up papers concerning their title to various houses and lands within the precinct of Blackfriars. (May 15. Answer of Matthew Bacon. May 22. Order of the court directing the surrender of the papers to the pe

titioners.) (51)

1616, Feb. 10. Judith Shakespeare married Th. Quiney. (52)

1616, March 25. Date of Shakespeare's will. (53)

1616, April 23. William Shakespeare was buried. (54)

It will be observed that not one of the records printed in this chapter evidences any connection between William Shakespeare of Stratford and the William Shakespeare of the great plays. It is true that William Shakespeare of Stratford acted in some of the plays bearing the name William Shakespeare or Shake-speare on the title-page. But it is not true that this similarity and at times identity of names has left any trace in any known surviving contemporary record to the effect that any one supposed the Stratford Shakespeare to be other than an actor or a man of affairs. It may be that documents will some time show that such a connection existed. Till they do, we cannot make it for them.

CHAPTER FOUR.

SHAKESPEARE'S WILL.

It seemed interesting to print Shakespeare's will, for two reasons: first, it is the only extant autographed document which may be assumed to have been composed by, or phrased under the direction of, William Shakespeare; and, second, because it might reasonably be expected that the identity of the actor with the dramatist would in it be disclosed or at least indicated. A careful perusal of this composition, however, will afford no clew.

"Vicesimo quinto die Martii, anno regni domini nostri Jacobi, nunc regis Anglie, &c. decimo quarto, et Scotie xlix° annoque Domini,

1616.

"T. Wmi. Shakespeare.—In the name of God, amen! I William Shakespeare, of Stratfordupon-Avon in the county of Warr. gent., in perfect health and memory, God be praised, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say, First, I commend my soul into the hands of God my Creator, hoping and assuredly believing, through the only merits of Jesus Christ, my Saviour, to be made partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth

whereof it is made. Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Judith one hundred and fifty pounds of lawful English money, to be paid unto her in manner and form following, that is to say, one hundred pounds in discharge of her marriage portion within one year after my decease, with consideration after the rate of two shillings in the pound for so long time as the same shall be unpaid unto her after my decease, and the fifty pounds residue thereof upon her surrendering of, or giving of such sufficient security as the overseers of this my will shall like of to surrender or grant, all her estate and right that shall descend or come unto her after my decease, or that she now hath, of, in or to, one copyhold tenement with the appurtenances lying and being in Stratford-upon-Avon aforesaid in the said county of Warr., being parcel or holding of the manor of Rowington, unto my daughter Susanna Hall and heirs forever. Item, I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Judith one hundred and fifty pounds more, if she or any issue of her body be living at the end of three years next ensuing the day of the date of this my will, during which time my executors to pay her consideration from my decease according to the rate aforesaid; and if she die within the said term without issue of her body, then my will is, and I do give and bequeath one hundred pounds thereof to my niece Elizabeth Hall, and the fifty pounds to be set forth by my executors during the life of my sister Joan Hart,