and in a distinct type), added the latter part of his Pedigree to mine. : For the two Pedigrees themselves, they differ materially: mine embracing some biographical notices that may be depended upon, which will at least be of use, I hope, as an index to assist the memory ; and Mr. R. Wheler's extending to names and dates only; and even those names not being spelt (as in mine) according to the Registers and they not only differ as to the limits of their contents, but also, in some degree, in arrangement; being founded upon distinct hypotheses respecting the marriages of Shakspere's father, and the number of children he may have had; and which of them is nearest the truth must remain undecided, till chance discovers testimonies not at present known to exist. two Pedigrees, they will best speak for themselves: Mr. R. Wheler's comprehends more than mine, as to collaterals of the Shakspere connexions, which seemed to me unnecessary, and of conjectural matter, which I considered improper; but with regard to persons of the name of Shakspere, or even of the same name and æra with any of the Shaksperian connexions, between whom, though at present undetected, there may have been some degree of kindred, and some other little matters of peculiar circumstance, or curious concurrence together, mine will be found rather more diffusive than his. My motive for inserting those particulars was to assist future researches into the family-history; and for the same reason I could now communicate some others of the sanie description; of an interesting character, and as yet unpublished, shewing new sources opened for inquiry by the curious, as to the History of the Poet's family. But want of leisure at present compels me to abstain. to either of the modern readings, "SHAKSPEARE" and "SHAKеspĒar," is upon the principle, that the orthography of names, which is arbitrary, should continue certain, and undeparted from, in all ages. But for the difference in spelling, between the names of Ben Jonson and Dr. Joanson, we should have great difficulty in understanding which of them was intended, upon finding them quoted without their primary distinctions. It is a pity that the Stratford Registers extant do not commence till 1558, 20 years after their first institution, as in the Registers of those 20 years, perhaps the testimonies wanting might have been found t. Mr. R. Wheler has cited Gibbon's “ Ìn- My adoption of the antiquated spelltroductio ad Latinam Blazoniam," asing of "SHAKSPERE," in preference stating Church Registers not kept till 1540; and "Jacob's Law Dictionary," as an authority that they were instituted by Lord Cromwell, while he was Vicar-General to Henry VIII. in 1523: Neither of those dates, however, seems to be quite correct; They certainly originated with Lord Cromwell whilst he was Vicar-General; but he was not appointed to that office till the 18th of July, 28th Henry VIII. being in 1536; and his injunction for keeping the Registers is, no doubt truly, recorded to have been issued in Sept. 30 Henry VIII. being in 1538. See Stowe's Chronicle, by Howes, edit. 1631, pp. 573, and 575--6; Gibson's Codex, 229; and Nelson's Rights of the Clergy, title "Register." Cardinal Wolsey did not die till 1530, and till 1529, Cromwell was hardly known; and upon the 28th of July, 1540, (then Earl of Essex) he was beheaded. As to other variances between the * Old English. The orthography of the ParishRegisters, adhered to in the following Pedigree, shews clearly, that THE PATRONYMIC of our Bard was "SHAKSPERE;" and that the sirname of his Children, upon their Baptism, as well as of himself, upon his Burial, was the same, and I think it must be admitted, that " SHAKSPERE" was the most general, and approved mode of spelling the Name, till AFTER the Bard's time. Φιλαρχαιότητας. + If, however, such Registers ever existed, it is possible they may still be extant (though perhaps not known to be so) in the Registry of the Bishop's Court, to which they were annually to be returned: the Canon of James I. under which the present Registers have been preserved, was imperative upon the Parishes to keep and preserve them from so far back only as 1558, the first year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. N. B. The Stratford Registers unfortunately commence only in 1558, which is 20 years after the period of their institution. They are defective from 1641 to 1645, and from March to The sirnames (and especially of the Shaksperes) are here Thomas Shakspere, of Warwick, Yeoman, bargainee, by deed enrolled in Chancery, of Tachbroke, alias Bishop Tachbroke, in Warwickshire, (about four or five miles from Warwick, on the left of the road by Gaydon Inn to Banbury) of 44th Eliz. (1601). Malone's Shakspere, vol. I. part I. p. 172. n. *. A SHAKSPERIAN PEDIGREE, Originally framed from the Extracts from the Stratford-upon-Avon Registers, and other Statements in Malone's edition of Shakspere of 1790; but corrected and extended from information received from the Rev. James Davenport, D. D. vicar of Stratford, and Mr. Robert Bell Wheler, of Stratford, and from information otherwise collected by Φιλαρχαιοτητες. ...... { SHAKSPERE, said to have rendered services toKing Henry VII. and to have had a grant of lands and tenements for it; (see the grant of arms to John his great-grandson of 1599, as printed in the European Magazine, vol. LXX. p. 226.) ...... JOHN SHAKSPERE, of Stratford-uponAvon, Gentleman. These descents are at present involved in complete obscurity, but the wife of the grandson is stated by Mr.R.Wheler to have been a daughter of Alexander Webbe, of Bearley, near Stratford. See Gent. Magazine for Sept. 1816, p. 207. Inferred by the grant of Arms of 1599, to have inherited his great grandfather's real estate. By Rowe (in 1709) called "a dealer in wool," which is not improbable, being the staple commodity of the kingdom, (but query?) Summoned as a juryman of Stratford, Feb. 23, 1557-8. Chamberlain of Stratford, 1563 (April 16th) and 1564. High Bailiff 1569; grant of arms then exemplified, though not now to be found (see Vincent, 157 or 178, No. 23). The right to the grant questioned temp. Eliz. (see MSS. in Heralds' College, W. Z. p. 276, and Europ. Mag. vol. LXX. p. 226.) There said to have been a justice of peace at Stratford, and to have been able to maintain the Arden estate. Excused taxation as an alderman, Nov. 19, 1579. Superseded as alderman Sept.6, 1586. Confirmations of the grant of arms to him, as a gentleman, drawn in 1596, (38th Eliz.) and proofs entered into; wherein it is said he possessed "lands and tenements," and was "of good wealth and substance, 500li. ;" see Vincent, ut supra, and ib. No. 24, and Europ. Mag. LXX. pp. 223 and 225. Confirmation further exemplified 42d Eliz. (1599) impaled with Arden's, of Willin Cote, Warwickshire, (now Wilnecote, near Tamworth, in one instance mis-spelt Wellingcote) see book in Heralds' College, marked R 21, (olim G 13) p. 349, and Europ. Mag. vol. LXX. p. 226. buried at Stratford, Sept. 8, 1601, as " MR. JOHAN'ES SHAKSPEARE," being the FIRST INSTANCE on the Register OF THAT MODE OF SPELLING the name. father, John; being 66 a spiri- Margareta Dec. 2, a a GULIELMUS (anglicèt WILLIAM) SHAKSPERE, ENGLAND'S DRAMATIC BARD SUPREME, born April 23, 1564,bapt. at Stratford, Ap. 26, named in theatrical licence, (passed by writ of privy seal) of May 19, 1603, (see Rymer's Fœdera); purchaser by deed inrolled in Chancery, dated Mar. 10, 16; mortgagor of same property by deed not inrolled, March 11; will dated March 25, 1616; died April 23 following, in 53d year of his age, and bur. at Stratford, as "Will. Shakspere,gent." April 25, Will proved in Doctors' Commons, June 22, following, and registered in Cope, 59; Reputed author and emendator of (at least) 37 plays, besides a large volume of poems, in the brief leisure of a life of 52 years, by the mere force of genius and perseverance, unassisted (as is almost incredibly alledged) by the effects of even a moderate education. Thomas Nash, gent. (of Welcombe) b d |