uchmos the two publishing¬ G. Steevens, delineavit 1776. Item, I give unto my wife my second best bed, with the furniture.9 Item, I give and bequeath to my faid daughter Judith my broad filver gilt bowl. All the rest of my goods, chattels, leases, plate, jewels, and houfhold stuff whatsoever, after my debts and legacies paid, and my funeral expences discharged, I give devise, and bequeath to my fon-in-law, John Hall, gent. and my daughter Susanna his wife, whom I ordain and make executors of this my last will and teftament. And I do entreat and appoint the said Thomas Ruffel, esq. 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. By me William Shakspeare. 9-my second best bed, with the furniture.] Thus Shakspeare's original will. Mr. Theobald and the other modern editors have been more bountiful to Mrs. Shakspeare, having printed instead of these words, -my brown best bed, with the furniture." MALONE. It appears, in the original will of Shakspeare, (now in the Prerogative-Office, Doctor's Commons,) that he had forgot his wife; the legacy to her being expressed by an interlineation, as well as those to Heminge, Burbage, and Condell. The will is written on three sheets of paper, the two laft of which are undoubtedly subscribed with Shakspeare's own hand. The first indeed has his name in the margin, but it differs somewhat in spelling as well as manner, from the two fignatures that Probatum fuit teftamentum fuprafcriptum apud London, coram Magistro William Byrde, Legum Doctore, &c. vicefimo fecundo die menfis Junii, Anno Domini 1616; juramento Johannis Hall unius ex. cui, &c. de bene, &c. jurat. refervata poteftate, &c. Susanne Hall, alt ex. &c. eam cum venerit, &c. petitur. &c. follow. The reader will find a fac-fimile of all the three, as well as those of the witnesses, oppofite this page. STEEVENS. The name at the top of the margin of the first sheet was probably written by the scrivener who drew the will. This was the conftant practice in Shakspeare's time. MALONE. By me William Shakespeare.] This was the mode of our poet's time. Thus the Regifter of Stratford is figned at the bottom of each page, in the year 1616: "Per me Richard Watts, Minifter." These concluding words have hitherto been inaccurately exhibited thus: " -the day and year first above-written by me, William Shakspeare." Neither the day, nor year, nor any preceding part of this will, was written by our poet. By me," &c. only means-The above is the will of me William Shakspeare. MALONE. 2 3 -Fra. Collins,] See p. 157. MALONE. Julius Shaw, was born in Sept. 1571. He married Anne Boyes, May 5, 1594; and died at Stratford in June 1629. 4 MALONE. John Robinson,] John, son of Thomas Robinson, was baptized at Stratford, Nov, 30, 1589. I know not when he died. MALONE. 3- Hamnet Sadler.] See p. 158. MALONE. THE DEDICATION OF THE PLAYERS. TO THE MOST NOBLE AND INCOMPARABLE PAIRE OF BRETHREN, WILLIAM, Earle of PEMBROKE, &c. Lord Chamberlaine to the Kings moft Excellent Majeftie; AND PHILIP, Earle of MONTGOMERY, &c. Gentleman of his Majesties Bed-chamber. Both Knights of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and our fingular good LORDS. RIGHT HONOURABLE, WHILST we studie to be thankfull in our particular, for the many favors we have received from your L. L. we are falne upon the ill fortune, to mingle two the most diverse things that can be, feare, and rashnesse; rafhnesse in the enterprize, and feare of the fucceffe. For, when we value the places your H. H. fustaine, wee cannot. but know the dignity greater, than to descend to the reading of these trifles: and, while we name them trifles, we have deprived ourselves of the de fence of our dedication. But since your L. L. have been pleased to thinke these trifles something, heretofore; and have profequuted both them, and their authour living, with so much favour; we hope that (they out-living him, and he not having the fate, common with some, to be exequutor to his owne writings) you will use the same indulgence toward them, you have done unto their parent. There is a great difference, whether any booke choose his patrones, or find them: this hath done both. For fo much were your L. L. likings of the several parts, when they were acted, as before they were published, the volume asked to be yours. We have but collected them, and done an office to the dead, to procure his orphanes, guardians; without ambition either of felfe-profit, or fame: onely to keepe the memory of so worthy a friend, and fellow alive, as was our SHAKSPEARE, by humble offer of his playes, to your most noble patronage. Wherein, as we have justly observed no man to come neere your L. L. but with a kind of religious addresse, it hath bin the height of our care, who are the presenters, to make the present worthy of your H. H. by the perfection. But, there we must also crave our abilities to be confidered, my lords. We cannot goe beyond our owne powers. Country hands reach forth milke, creame, fruits, or what they have: and many nations (we have heard) that had not gummes and incenfe, obtained their requests with a leavened cake. It was no fault to approach their 6 Country hands reach forth milk, &c. and many nationsthat had not gummes and incense, obtained their requests with a leavened cake.) This seems to have been one of the commonplaces of dedication in Shakspeare's age. We find it in Morley's Dedication of a Book of Songs to Sir Robert Cecil, 1595: "[ have prefumed (fays he) to make offer of these fimple compofi |