r the Poet's death. for the most part, by Betterton the expressly for that ineteen years after actor before 1660, died in 1710. At own. It is to be erton's authorities scertain, however, were accessible in and daughter, lived cer, till 1670; and had known Shakewhich Betterton g was added till I most industrious rought to light a n very important, in our own day with very great cess; though, unby him has been 1 whom there is lliwell has given o the same task, stock. on the paternal his grandfather. ks of brave old n Warwickshire KESPEARE, who 1552. He was age three miles akespeare living there in 1550, and occupying a house and land owned by An entry in a Court Roll, dated April, 1552, ascertains There is ample proof that at this period his affairs time. For several years after, his circumstances continued Several other particulars have been discovered, which go UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LIBRARIES thirty-eight persons out of a population of about four hundred. None of the Shakespeare family are found am its victims. Large draughts were made upon the char of the town on account of this frightful visitation. August, the citizens held a meeting in the open air, f fear of infection, and various sums were contributed for relief of the poor. The High-Bailiff gave 3 s. 4 d., the he alderman 2 s. 8d.; John Shakespeare, being then onl burgess, gave 12 d.; and in the list of burgesses there w but two who gave more. Other donations were made the same cause, he bearing a proportionable share in the We have seen that in June, 1556, John Shakespeare termed a glover. In November of the same year he found bringing an action against one of his neighbours unjustly detaining a quantity of barley; which natura infers him to have been more or less engaged in agric tural pursuits. It appears that at a later period agricult was his main pursuit, if not his only one; for the to records show that in 1564 he was paid three shillings for piece of timber; and we find him described in 1575 a "yeoman." Rowe gives a tradition of his having been considerable dealer in wool." It is nowise unlikely th such may have been the case. The modern divisions labour and trade were then little known and less regarde several kinds of business being often carried on togeth which are now kept distinct; and we have special pro that gloves and wool were apt to be united as articles trade. I must next trace, briefly, the career of John Shakespea as a public officer in the Stratford corporation. After hol ing several minor offices, he was in 1558, and again in 155 chosen one of the four constables. In 1561, he was a se ond time made one of the four affeerors, whose duty it wa to determine the fines for such offences as had no penaltie prescribed by statute. The same year, 1561, he was chose one of the chamberlains of the borough, a very responsibl office, which he held two years. Advancing steadily in th of about fourteen y are found among upon the charities ful visitation. In the open air, from contributed for the 38. 4 d., the headbeing then only a rgesses there were ons were made for ble share in them. Shakespeare was same year he is his neighbours for ; which naturally ngaged in agriculperiod agriculture ne; for the town ree shillings for a cribed in 1575 as is having been "a ise unlikely that lern divisions of nd less regarded; ried on together, ve special proof ted as articles of ohn Shakespeare ion. After holdid again in 1559, 61, he was a sechose duty it was had no penalties 1, he was chosen very responsible g steadily in the public confidence, he became an alderman in 1565; and in After all these marks of public consequence, the reader John Shakespeare's good fortune seems to have reached its height about the year 1575, after which time we meet LINIVERSITY OF MICHICAN | IRRARIES with many clear tokens of his decline. It is not in able that his affairs may have got embarrassed fro having too many irons in the fire. The registry Court of Record, from 1555 to 1595, has a large nu of entries respecting him, which show him to have engaged in a great variety of transactions, and to hav more litigation on his hands than would now be th either creditable or safe. But, notwithstanding his de of fortune, we have proofs as late as 1592 that he still ret the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. From time forward, his affairs were doubtless taken care of b who, as we shall see hereafter, was much interested n let them suffer, and also well able to keep them in good He was buried September 8, 1601; so that, supposing to have reached his majority when first heard of in 155 must have passed the age of threescore and ten. On the maternal side, our Poet's lineage was of a hi rank, and may be traced further back. His mother MARY ARDEN, a name redolent of old poetry and roma The family of Arden was among the most ancient in V wickshire. Their history, as given by Dugdale, spr over six centuries. Sir John Arden was squire of the 1 to Henry the Seventh; and he had a nephew, the son younger brother, who was page of the bedchamber to same monarch. These were at that time places of siderable service and responsibility; and both the uncle the nephew were liberally rewarded by their royal ma By conveyances dated in December, 1519, it appears Robert Arden then became the owner of houses and lan Snitterfield. Other purchases by him of lands and houses recorded from time to time. The Poet's maternal gr father, also named Robert, died in 1556. In his will, d November 24th, and proved December 17th, of that y he makes special bequests to his "youngest daughter Ma and also appoints her and another daughter, named A "full executors of this my last will and testament." the whole, it is evident enough that he was a man of g e. It is not improb mbarrassed from his The registry of the has a large number y him to have been ons, and to have had. uld now be thought standing his decline that he still retained -citizens. From that taken care of by one eh interested not to p them in good trim. that, supposing him heard of in 1552, he and ten. age was of a higher - His mother was oetry and romance. st ancient in War Dugdale, spreads squire of the body phew, the son of a bedchamber to the me places of con both the uncle and their royal master. 19, it that appears houses and land in nds and houses are s maternal grand In his will, dated 7th, of that year, t daughter Mary," nter, named Alice, testament." On as a man of good landed estate. Both he and Richard Shakespeare appear Mary Arden was the youngest of seven children, all of UNIVERSITY OF MICHICAN LIRD |