Extracted from the Regiftry of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Vicefimo quinto die Martii Anno Regni Domini noftri Jacobi nunc Regis Anglia &c. decimo quarto & Scotia quadragefimo nono, Anno Domini 1616.

IN

N the name of God, Amen. I William Shakspeare of Stratford upon Avon in the county of Warwick, Gent. in perfect health and memory, God be praised, do make and ordain this my laft Will and Teftament in manner and form following; that is to fay:

First, I commend my Soul into the hands. of God my Creator, hoping and assuredly believing, through the only merits of Jefus Christ my Saviour, to be made partaker of life everlasting; and my body to the earth whereof that is made.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Judith ore hundred and fifty pounds of lawful English money, to be paid unto her in manner and form following;

that is to fay, one hundred Pounds in dif charge of her marriage portion within one year after my deceafe, with confiderations after the rate of two fhillings in the pound for fo long time as the same shall be unpaid unto her after my deceafe; and the fifty pounds refidue thereof upon her furrendring of or giving of fuch fufficient fecurity as the overfeers of this my Will fhall like of, to furrender or grant all her eftate and right that shall descend or come unto her after my decease, or that fhe now hath of, in, or to one copyhold tenement, with the appurtenances lying and being in Stratford upon Avon aforefaid, in the faid county of Warwick, being parcell or holden of the Manor of Rowington, unto my daughter Sufannah Hall, and her heirs for ever.

years

Item, I give and bequeath unto my faid daughter Judith, one hundred and fifty pounds more, if fhe, or any iffue of her body, be living at the end of three next enfuing the day of the date of this my Will, during which time my executors to pay her confideration from my decease according to the rate aforefaid: And if fhe die within the said term without iffue of her body, then my Will is, and I do give

if

and bequeath one hundred pounds thereof to my niece Elizabeth Hall, and the fifty pounds to be fet forth by my executors during the life of my fifter Joan Harte, and the use and profit thereof coming, fhall be paid to my faid fifter Joan, and after her decease the fifty pounds fhall remain amongst the children of my faid fifter, equally to be divided amongst them; but my faid daughter Judith be living at the end of the faid three years, or any iffue of her body, then my Will is, and so I devise and bequeath the said hundred and fifty Pounds to be fet out by my executors and overfeers for the best benefit of her and her iffue, and the ftock not to be paid unto her fo long as fhe fhall be married and covert baron; but my Will is that fhe fhall have the confideration yearly paid unto her during her life, and after her decease the faid stock and confideration to be paid to her children, if she have any, and if not, to her executors and affigns, fhe living the faid term after my deceafe; provided that if fuch husband as fhe fhall at the end of the faid three years be married unto, or at. and after, do fufficiently affure unto her and the iffue of her body, land anfwerable

to the portion by this my Will given unto her, and to be adjudged fo by my executors and overfeers, then my Will is, that the faid hundred and fifty pounds fhall be paid to fuch husband as fhall make fuch affurance, to his own use.

faid

Item, I give and bequeath unto my fifter Joan twenty pounds, and all my wearing apparel, to be paid and delivered within one year after my decease; and I do will and devife unto her the house with the appurtenances in Stratford, wherein she dwelleth, for her natural life, under the yearly rent of twelve pence.

Item, I give and bequeath unto her three fons, William Hart, -Hart, and Michael Hart, five pounds apiece, to be paid within after my decease.

one year

Item, I give and bequeath unto the faid Elizabeth Hall all my plate that I now have, except my broad filver and gilt boxes, at the date of this my Will.

Item, I give and bequeath unto the poor of Stratford aforefaid ten pounds, to Mr. Thomas Combe my fword, to Thomas Ruffel, Efq; five pounds, and to Francis Collins of the borough of Warwick, in the county of Warwick, Gent. thirteen pounds fix

fhillings