صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

time my executors are 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 her executors during the life of my sister Joan Hart, and the use and profit thereof coming shall be paid to my said sister Joan; and after her decease the said fifty pounds shall remain amongst the children of my said sister, equally to be divided amongst them; but if my said daughter Judith be living at the end of the said three years, or any issue of her body, then my will is, and so I devise and bequeath the said hundred and fifty pounds to be set out by my executors and overseers for the best benefit of her and her issue, and the stock not to be paid unto her so long as she shall be married and covert baron; but my will is that she shall have the consideration yearly paid unto her during her life; and after her decease, the said stock and consideration to be paid to her children, if she have any, and if not, to her executors and assigns, she living the said term after my decease; provided that if such husband, as she shall at the end of the said three years be married unto, or at any time after, do sufficiently assure unto her and the issue of her body lands answerable to the portion by this my will given unto her, and to be adjudged so by my executors and overseers, then my will is, that the said 1507. shall be paid to such husband as shall make such assurance, to his own use. Item, I give and bequeath unto my said sister Joan 201., and all my wearing apparel, to be paid and delivered within one year after my decease; and I do will and devise unto her the house, with the appurtenances, in Stratford, wherein she dwelleth, for her natural life, under the yearly rent of 12d. Item, I give and bequeath unto her three sons, William Hart, (Thomas) Hart, and Michael Hart, 57. apiece, to be paid within one year after my decease. Item, I give and bequeath unto the said Elizabeth Hall all my plate, except my broad silver and gilt bowl, that I now have at the date of this my will. Item, I give and bequeath unto the poor of Stratford aforesaid, 107.; to Mr. Thomas Combe, my sword; to Thomas Russell, Esq., 57.; and to Francis Collins, of the borough of Warwick, in the county of Warwick, gentleman, 131. 6s. 8d., to be paid within one year after my decease. Item, I give and bequeath to Hamlett Sadler 263. 8d., to buy him a ring; to William Reynolds, gent., 26s. 8d., to buy him a ring; to my godson William Walker, 20s. in gold; to Anthony Nash, gent., 26s. 8d., and to Mr. John Nash, 26s. 8d., and to my fellows John Hemynge, Richard Burbage, and Henry Candell, 26s. 8d. apiece, to buy them rings. Item, I give, will, bequeath, and devise unto my daughter Susannah Hall, for better enabling 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, namlets, villages, fields, and grounds of Stratford-upon-Avon, Old Stratford, Bushopton, and Welcombe, or in any of them in the aforesaid 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 singular, the said premises with their appurtenances, unto the said Susannah 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 Susannah, lawfully issuing, and to the heirs males of the body of the said 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 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.f Item, I give and bequeath to my said daughter Judith, my broad silver-gilt bowl. All the rest of my goods, chattels, leases, plate, jewels, and household stuff whatsoever, after my debts and legacies are paid, and my funeral expenses discharged, I give, devise, and bequeath to my son-in-law John Hall, gent., and my daughter Susannah, his wife, whom I ordain and make executors of this last will and testament. And I do entreat and appoint the said Thomas Russell, Esq., and Francis Collins, gent., to be overseers hereof, and dó 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.

By me, WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

*This was a purchase so late as 1613. The house itself, "abutting upon a street leading down to Puddle Wharf, on the east part," is still pointed out near St. Andrew's Church.

+ This bequest, so far from indicating small esteem on the part of the bequeather towards its object, was the ordinary mode, on the contrary, of expressing especial affection. As to her maintenance, Shakspeare's widow was provided for by a dower, without any mention in the will.

The memorial erected over the remains of Shakspeare is a flat stone, bearing this inscription :

Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare,
To digg the dust enclo❜ased heare:
Blest be ye. man yt. spares thes stones,

And curst be he yt. moves my bones.

On the north wall of the chancel, about five feet from the floor, is erected a monument to Shakspeare, the work, before 1623, of Gerard Johnson, an eminent sculptor of that period, who has represented the bust of the poet with a cushion before him, a pen in the right hand, and the left resting upon a scroll. The bust was originally coloured, probably after life, the eyes being represented as light hazel, the hair and beard auburn, the dress a scarlet doublet, over which was a loose black gown without sleeves. In 1748 it was repainted, the old colours being faithfully imitated; but in 1793, Mr. Malone was permitted to perpetrate the monstrosity of having it all daubed over with white paint, by a common house-painter. Beneath the bust are inscribed these

lines:

JUDICIO PYLIUM, GENIO SOCRATEM, ARTE MARONEM,
TERRA TEGIT, POPULUS MERET, OLYMPUS HABET.
STAY PASSENGER, WHY GOEST THOU BY SO FAST?
READ IF THOU CANST, WHOM ENVIOUS DEATH HATH PLAST
WITHIN THIS MONUMENT, SHAKSPEARE WITH WHOME
QUICK NATURE DIDE; WHOSE NAME DOTH DECK Y TOMBE
FAR MORE THEN COST; SITH ALL Y! HE HATH WRITT,
LEAVES LIVING ART, BUT PAGE, TO SERVE HIS WITT.

OBIIT ANO Do 1616.
ÆTATIS 53, DIE 23 AP.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« السابقةمتابعة »