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hereditaments whatsoever, situate, lying, and being, or to be had, received, perceived, or taken within the towns, hamlets, 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 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.

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*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 y'. 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.

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SCENE.-Windsor, and the parts adjacent.

ACT I.

SCENE I-Windsor. Before Page's House.

Enter JUSTICE SHALLOW, SLENDER, and SIR* HUGH EVANS. Shal. Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star-chamber matter of it: if he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire.

Slen. In the county of Glo'ster, justice of peace, and coram. Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and Cust-alorum.t

Slen. Ay, and ratolorum too; and a gentleman born, master parson; who writes himself armigero; in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, armigero.

Shal. Ay, that we do; and have done any time these three hundred years.

Slen. All his successors, gone before him, have done't; and all his ancestors, that come after him, may: they may give the dozen white luces in their coat.

Shal. It is an old coat.

* A title formerly appropriated to chaplains.

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+ Custos rotulorum.

Eva. The dozen white louses do become an old coat well; it agrees well, passant: it is a familiar beast to man, and signifieslove.

Shal. The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old coat.
Slen. I may quarter, coz?

Shal. You may by marrying.

Eva. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it.
Shal. Not a whit.

Eva. Yes, py'r*-lady; if he has a quarter of your coat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my simple conjectures: but that is all one: If Sir John Falstaff have committed disparagements unto you, I am of the church, and will be glad to do my benevolence, to make atonements and compromises between you.

Shal. The Councilt shall hear it; it is a riot.

Eva. It is not meet the Council hear a riot; there is no fear of Got in a riot; the Council, look you, shall desire to hear the fear of Got, and not to hear a riot; take your vizaments in that. Shal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the sword should end it.

Eva. It is petter that friends is the sword, and end it: and there is also another device in my prain, which, peradventure, prings goot discretions with it: There is Ann Page, which is daughter to master George Page, which is pretty virginity.

Slen. Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and speaks small§ like a woman.

Eva. It is that fery verson for all the 'orld, as just as you will desire; and seven hundred pounds of monies, and gold, and silver, is her grandsire, upon his death's-bed, (Got deliver to a joyful resurrections!) give, when she is able to overtake seventeen years old: it were a goot motion, if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and desire a marriage between master Abraham and mistress Anne Page.

Shal. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound? Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny. Shal. I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts. Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is good gifts. Shal. Well, let us see honest master Page: Is Falstaff there? Eva. Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar, as I do despise one that is false; or, as I despise one that is not true. The knight, Sir John, is there; and, I beseech you, be ruled by your well-willers. I will peat the door [knocks] for master Page. What, hoa! Got pless your house here!

Page. Who's there?

Enter PAGE.

Eva. Here is Got's plessing, and your friend, and justice Shallow and here young master Slender; that, peradventures, shall tell you another tale, if matters grow to your likings.

Page. I am glad to see your worships well: I thank you for my venison, master Shallow.

Shal. Master Page, I am glad to see you; much good do it The Court of Star-chamber.

* By our.

+ Advisement.

§ Soft.

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