A glimpse into Shakespeare's last will
 

by Andrew Scott

The will is written in the clerical hand of that period, on three sheets of paper, fastened together at the top. The poet's name is signed at the bottom of the first and second sheet and his final signature, "By me William Shakespeare" is near the middle of the third sheet.

He has spelt his name as William Shakespeare and not William Shakespeare: the letter 'e' after the letter 'k' is missing. Throughout the will he has spelt his name in this manner. A notable feature in his will is that Shakespeare has misspelt several words therein and this is somewhat surprising.

Generally William Shakespeare is described to have been a person in dire economic straits but according to his last will we see that he was a fairly rich individual leading a prosperous life particularly in the last stages of his life. In his last will Shakespeare also mentions some former wills he had made and says: "I do revoke all former wills and publish this to be my last will."

Beginning

We see that shakespeare in his last will had tried to distribute his hard earned wealth among his family members and some members of the public with whom he had a close contact during the last stages of his life. He had appointed two faithful friends, Thomas Russell and Francis Collins, to oversee the execution of his will.

He begins the will saying: "In the name of God Amen! I William Shakespeare of Stratford Upon on Avon, in the country of Warr, in perfect health and memory, god be praised, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in the manner and form following: First I commend my soul unto the hands of God my creator, hoping and assuredly believing, through the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour,to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth whereof it is made."

He details what is to be given to his daughter in the following manner: "I give and bequeath unto my daughter Judith, 150 pounds of lawful English money, to be paid unto her in the manner and form following.

That is to say, one hundred pounds in discharge of her marriage portion within one year after my decease, with consideration after the rare of two shillings in the pound so for so long a time as the same shall be unpaid unto her after my decease, with consideration after the ......

He gives and additional 150 pounds to his daughter Judith and says: "I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Judith 150 pounds more if she, or any issue of her body, be living at the end of three years next ensuing the date of this will......

And if she dies within the said term without issue of her body, then I do give and bequeath 100 pounds thereof to my niece, Elizabeth Hall, and fifty pounds to be set forth by my executors during the life of my sister Johane Harte."

Listing the other things to be given to his sister he says: "I give and bequeath unto my said sister Jone, all my wearing apparel, to be paid and delivered within one year after my decease; and I do will and devise unto her the house with the apperturnances in Stratford, wherein she dwelleth, for her natural life."

And in his will Shakespeare also apportions five pounds each to his sister's sons and says: "I give and bequeath unto her three sons, William Harte, Thomas Harte and Michael Harte five pounds a piece, to be paid within one year after my decease.... I give and bequeath unto the said Elizabeth Hall all my plates, except my broad silver and gilt bole (bowl), that I now have at the date of this my will."

Friends

He had also allocated money for the poor of Stratford and some other close friends. He says: "I give and bequeath unto the poor of Stratford aforesaid ten pounds.

To Mr. Thomas Combe my sword; to Thomas Russell, five ponds; and to Francis Collins of the Borough of Warr, in the country of Warr, 13 pounds six shillings, to be paid within one year after my decease....

I give and bequeath to Hamlet Sadler to buy him a ring; to William Reynolds, to buy him a ring; to my grandson, william Walker, in gold; to Anthony Nashe and to Mr. John Nashe, and to my fellows, John Hemmings, Richard Barbaged and Henry Cundell, a piece to buy rings."

Much of his wealth was given to his daughter Susanaa Hall "For better enabling of her to perform this my will and towards the performance thereof, all that capital messauage or tenements, with the apperturnences thereof, in Stratford aforesaid.... all my barns, stables, orchards, gardens, lands, tenements and heredi-tenements."

In addition to money he had also given several useful items. The furniture and his second best bed were given to his wife and in his will be says: "I give unto my wife my second best bed, with the furniture and I bequeath to my daughter Judith my broad silver gilt bole.

All the rest of my goods, chattels, leases, plate, jewels, and household stuff whatsoever, after my debts and legacies paid, and my funeral expenses discharged, I give devise and bequeath to my son-in-law, John Halland, and my daughter Susanaa, his wife."

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