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was doubtless, in Queen Elizabeth's reign, a dwelling of note, when compared with the low wattled cottages that the lower order of people then inhabited.

Be it our first duty, then, to inspect

THE POET'S BIRTH-PLACE,

And so, proceeding from the cradle to the grave, we shall notice in succession the spots in and about Stratford interesting most especially by their association with his time-enduring name.

Tradition has long pointed out the timbered house on the north side of Henley-street as that in which John Shakespeare resided when his illustrious son was born, and this statement may be said to be all but absolutely proved by a deed dated 1596, discovered by Mr. Halliwell, in which this identical house is mentioned as being in "the tenure and occupation of John Shakespeare."* We can therefore, as Mr. Halliwell says, "safely regard the humble dwelling now secured to the country by the praiseworthy efforts of committees formed at Stratford and London, as the earliest home of our great dramatic poet." But this was not the copyhold tenement purchased by his father in 1556, which has never been shown to have been his residence. The Shakespeare

* A fac-simile of this interesting document is given in Mr. H.'s folio Shakespeare.

+ Halliwell's Life of Shakespeare, 8vo., pp. 33, 34.

property in Henley-street, on which were situated the two houses purchased by John Shakespeare for £40 in 1575, is clearly the locality of Shakespeare's youth; and in the fine levied on that occasion, it is described as consisting of "two messuages, two gardens, and two orchards, with their appurtenances."

Shakespeare's father was what would be now called a respectable man: he had been a glover, and became a wool-dealer and farmer, married a woman with some little property, who was a nominal co-heiress of the Arden family; and at one time was certainly a man of substance, for in 1565 he was an alderman, and high bailiff of Stratford in 1568. In one of these houses he

probably lived till his death.

William Shakespeare was here born, it is said, on St. George's day, April 23, 1564, and it is certain was baptised on April 26th, according to the register-book of Stratford. The old font has been removed from the church, and is broken up, but a fragment yet remains in the possession of Mr. Heritage, builder. It may be doubtful, however, whether Shakespeare was actually christened at it, as domestic baptisms were common at that time. The poet was the eldest son of his parents, who had in all seven other children. So, as Mr. Knight remarks, in alluding to Shakespeare's early youth,

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when he was five years old, that most precious gift to a loving boy was granted, a sister, who grew up

Her maiden name was Mary Arden, the youngest daughter of Robert Arden of Wilmecote.

with him. When he was ten years old he had another brother to lead by the hand into the green meadows. Then came another sister, who faded untimely; and when he was grown into youthful strength, a boy of sixteen, another brother was born."

Shakespeare's father died in 1601, and the property in Henley-street then passed to the dramatist, whose sister, Joan Hart, resided in one of the houses until her death. The Hart family remained in possession until 1806, when William Shakespeare Hart sold the houses, &c., to Mr. Thomas Court, from whose family they have now been sold to the united committees of Stratford and London for the benefit of the nation at large. Its original features have been somewhat altered since purchased by the elder Shakespeare, and the two messuages have become three tenements, one of which was long a public house, known by the sign of the Swan and Maidenhead, and latterly faced with brick.

On catching sight of the low but honoured roof from whence came forth the man whose writings were for all time, the general impression certainly is that the dwelling is but an humble one. It must, however, be remembered that the house fell into hands continually becoming poorer, and thus its dimensions were curtailed. Besides this, the property was purchased by Shakespeare's father, and at this time but few houses in country towns exceeded one story in height. fact, as may be seen from humbler ancient dwellings yet remaining in Stratford, there was usually only an apartment with attic windows above the ground floor.

In

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