sideration wherof,] and for the encouragement of his posterite, to whom auncyent custom of the lawes of Arms may descend I the said Garter . . . of Arms have assigned graunted and by these presentes confirmed [this shield or cote of arms] viz: Gould on a bend sable a speare of the first, [the poynt] steeled, argent, and for his creast or cognizance a faulcon his winges displayed argent standing on a wrethe of his coullors, supporting a speare gould steeled as aforesaid, sett upon a healmett with mantelles and tasselles as hath been accustomed and doth more playnely appear depicted in this margent. Signefieng hereby and by the authoritie of my office aforesaid ratifying that it shalbe lawfull for the said John Shakespeare gent. and for his children yssue and posterite at all times and places convenient to beare and to make shewe of and make demonstracion of the said blazon or atchevement upon theyre shields targets or escucheons cotes of arms creasts cognizances penons guydons seales ringes signettes edefices buildings utensils lyveries tombes or monumentes or otherwyse [at all tymes] for all lawfull warrlyke factes or civile use or exercises, according to the lawes of Armes and customs that to gentlemen belongeth without lett or interruption of any [other] person or persons for use or bearinge the same. Yn witnesse and perpetual remembrance hereof I haue hereunto subscribed my name and fastened the seale of my office endorzed with the signett of my Arms. At the office of Arms London the xx.th day of October in the xxxviiith yeare of the reigne of our Soveraigne Lady Elizabeth by the Grace of God Quene 1 Proper. of England, ffrance and Ireland. Defender of the Faithe &c. 1596. At the bottom of the second draft follows: This John hath a patierne therof under Clarence Cookes hand in paper xx years past. A Justice of peace, and was baylefe, officer, and cheffe of the towne of Stratford uppon Avon xv or xvj years past. That he hathe landes and tenementes of good wealth and substance, 500 li. That he mar[ried a daughter and heyre of Arden, a gent of worship].1 31 1596. Title-page of "Venus and Adonis." VENUS AND ADONIS. Vilia miretur vulgus: mihi flavus Apollo Imprinted at London by R. F. for John Harison. 1596. [16m0.] 32 1597. Easter [Ap. 6] Foot of the fine levied on the purchase of New Place from William Underhill. (Public Record Office.) (1st Fine.) Inter Willielmum Shakespeare querentem et Willielmum Underhill, generosum, deforciantem, de uno mesuagio, duobus horreis, et duobus gardinis cum pertinentiis in Stratford Super Avon unde placitum conventionis summonitum fuit inter eos in eadem curia 1 The words in brackets are now missing. 33 34 Scilicet quod predictus Willielmus Underhill recognovit predicta tenementa cum pertinentiis esse jus ipsius Willielmi Shakespeare ut illa quæ idem Willielmus habet de dono predicti Willielmi Underhill et illa remisit et quietumclamavit de se et hæredibus suis predicto Willielmo Shakespeare et hæredibus suis imperpetuum; et præterea idem Willielmus Underhill concessit pro se et hæredibus suis quod ipsi warantizabunt predicto Willielmo Shakespeare et hæredibus suis predicta tenementa cum pertinentiis imperpetuum: et pro hac recognitione remissione quieta clamantia warantia fine et concordia idem Willielmus Shakespeare dedit predicto Willielmo Underhill sexaginta libras sterlingorum. (Pasch. 39 Eliz.) Entries at Stationers' Hall: 1597, 29° Augusti. Andrew Wise. Entred for his copie by appoyntment from Mr Warden Man, The Tragedye of Richard the Second. 1597, 20 Octobr. Andrewe Wise. Entred for his copie, under thandes of Mr Barlowe and Mr Warden Man, The tragedie of Kinge Richard the Third, with the death of the Duke of Clarence. 35 1597, November 24. Papers in a Chancery suit respecting an estate at Wilmecote, Michaelmas Term, 1598. (Public Record Office.) John and Mary Shakespeare complainants and John Lambert son of Edmund Lambert, the poet's maternal uncle, defendant. The original Bill opens thus: To the righte honorable Sir Thomas Egerton knighte lorde keeper of the greate seale of Englande: In most humble wise complayninge sheweth unto your good lordshippe your dailye oratours John Shakespere of Stratford upon Avon in the county of Warwicke and Mary his wief that whereas your saide oratours were lawfully seised in their demesne as of fee so in the righte of the saide Mary of and in one messuage and one yard land with thappurtenaunces lyinge and beinge in Wylmecote in the saide county: And they beinge thereof so seised for and in consideration of the some of fowerty pounds to them by one Edmunde Lamberte of Barton on the Heath in the said countie paide your saide oratours were contente that he the saide Edmunde Lamberte shoulde have and enjoye the same premises untill suche tyme as your sayde oratours did repaie unto him the saide some of fowertie pounds, &c. [It is not necessary to set out this Bill in extenso. It recites seisin in fee by the complainants of Wilmecote, the mortgage thereof for £40 to Edmund Lambert, his entry into possession, and receipt of the rents and profits for three or four years; the tender to E. Lambert by the complainants of the said sum of £40, and redemption of the property, the refusal of E. Lambert to accept payment or reconvey the same except on payment of other sums also due to him from them, the death of said E. Lambert and entry of John his son and heir, the like tender to John, and his refusal and wrongful retention of the title-deeds, and also his having made over certain interests in the said property to other persons, so that the complainants cannot tell against whom to bring their action for recovery of the property, and the said J. Lambert is of great wealth and ability, with many friends and allies among the gentry and freeholders of the county, whereas the complainants are of small wealth and very few friends and alliance, and ending with the usual prayer for subpoena and answer, November 24, 1597. The Answer of John Lambert pleads that the complainants have already filed their bill heretofore which the defendant has already answered, but the complainants have not proceeded to hearing, admits the mortgage to his father Edmund Lambert by indenture dated 14th November, 1578, reciting the proviso for redemption and enfeoffment of Edmund, and levy of a fine in favor of him sur cognizance de droit as by the chirograph of the said fine did appear, and denying the tender or payment of the said £40 on Michaelmas Day, 1580, reciting the death of his father and descent of the property to himself the son, and pleading generally that by failure to repay the money the complainant is barred from re-obtaining possession of the property which had been leased by the complainants' own demise, but in consequence of its near expiry, and consequent greater value of the reversion the complainants endeavour to get further monies out of the defendant, and that defendant is consequently entitled to enjoyment of the property, and denying that any deeds have wrongfully come to his hands, and praying for dismissal of the suit with costs against the complainant. 24th November, 1597. Replication of John and Mary Shakespeare to the said answer. |