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all that meffuage or tenement, with the appurtetenances, wherein one John Robinfon dwelleth, fituate, lying, and being, in the Blackfriars in London near the Wardrobe; and all other my lands, tenements, and hereditaments whatfoever; to have and to hold all and fingular the faid premises, with their appurtenances, unto the faid Sufanna Hall, for and during the term of her natural life; and after her decease to the first son of her body lawfully iffuing, and to the heirs males of the body of the said first son lawfully iffuing; and for default of fuch iffue, to the second son of her body lawfully iffuing, and to the heirs males of the body of the faid fecond fon lawfully ifsuing; and for default of fuch heirs, to the third fon of the body of the faid Sufanna lawfully iffuing, and to the heirs male of the body of the faid third fon lawfully iffuing; and for default of fuch iffue, the fame fo to be and remain to the fourth, fifth, fixth, and seventh fons of her body, lawfully iffuing one after another, and to the heirs males of the bodies af the faid fourth, fifth, fixth, and feventh fons lawfully iffuing, in fuch manner as it is before limited to be and remain to the firft, fecond, and third fons of her body, and to their heirs males;

8 that meffuage or tenement - in the Blackfriars in London near the Wardrobe;] This was the house which was mortgaged to Henry Walker. See p. 98.

By the Wardrobe is meant the King's Great Wardrobe, a royal houfe near Paddle Wharf, purchafed by King Edward the Third from Sir John Beauchamp, who built it. King Richard III. was lodged in this houfe in the fecond year of his reign. See Stowe's Survey, p. 693, edit. 618. After the fire of London this office was kept in the Savoy; but it is now abolished. MALONE.

and for default of fuch iffue, the faid premises to be and remain to my faid niece Hall and the heirs males of her body lawfully ifsuing; and for default of fuch iffue, to my daughter Judith, and the heirs males of her body lawfully iffuing; and for default of fuch iffue, to the right heirs of me the faid William Shakspeare for ever.

Item, I give unto my wife my fecond beft bed, with the furniture.9

Item, I give and bequeath to my faid daughter Judith my broad filver gilt bowl. All the reft of my goods, chattels, leafes, plate, jewels, and houf hold-ftuff whatfoever, after my debts and legacies paid, and my funeral expences discharged, I give, devife, and bequeath to my fon-in-law, John Hall, gent. and my daughter Sufanna his wife, whom I ordain and make executors of this my laft will and teftament. And I do entreat and appoint the faid Thomas Ruffel, Efq. and Francis Collins, gent. to

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my fecond beft bed, with the furniture.] Thus Shakfpeare's original will. Mr. Theobald and the other modern editors have been more bountiful to Mrs. Shakspeare, having printed instead of thefe words, "my brown best bed, with the furniture." MALONE.

It appears, in the original will of Shakspeare, (now in the Prerogative-Office Doctors' Commons,) that he had forgot his wife; the legacy to her being expreffed by an interlineation, as well as thofe to Heminge, Burbage and Condell.

The will is written on three fheets of paper, the two laft of which are undoubtedly fubfcribed with Shakspeare's own hand. The firft indeed has his name in the margin, but it differs fomewhat in fpelling as well as manner, from the two fignatures that follow. STEEVENS.

be overfeers hereof. And do revoke all former wills, and publifh this to be my laft will and teflament. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand, the day and year first above-written.

By me' William Shakspeare.

Witness to the publishing hereof.

Fra. Collyns,'
Julius Shaw,*

John Robinson,'

Hamnet Sadler,"

Robert Whattcott.

Probatum fuit teftamentum fuprafcriptum apud London, coram Magiftro William Byrde. Legum Doctore, &c. vicefimo fecundo die menfis Junii, Anno Domini 1616; juramento Johannis Hall unius ex. cui, &c. de bene, &c. jurat. refervata poteftate, &c. Sufanne Hall, alt. ex. &c. eam cum venerit, &c. petitur. &c.

The name at the top of the margin of the firft sheet was probably written by the fcrivener who drew the will. This was the conftant practice in Shakspeare's time. MALONE.

By me William Shakspeare.] This was the mode of our poet's time. Thus the Regifter of Stratford is figned at the bottom of each page, in the year 1616, "Per me Richard Watts, Minifter." Thefe concluding words have hitherto been inaccurately exhibited thus: "the day and year firft above-written by me, William Shakspeare." Neither the day, nor year, nor any preceding part of this will, was written by our poet. By me," &c. only means The above is the will of me William Shakspeare. MALONE.

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Fra. Collins.] See p. 106. MALONE.

Julius Shaw] was born in Sept. 1571. He mar

ried Anne Boyes, May 5. 1594; and died at Stratford in June 1629. MALONE.

$ -John Robinfon.] John, fon of Thomas Robinson, was baptized at Stratford, Nov. 30, 1589. I know not when he died. MALONE.

6 Hamnet Sadler.] See p. 107.

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MALONE:

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Earl of PEMBROKE, &c. Lord, Chamberlaine to the Kings moft Excellent Majeftie;

AND

PHÍ L I P

Earle of MONTGOMERY, &c. Gentleman of his Majefties Bed-chamber.

Both Knights of the Moft Noble Order of the Garter, and our fingular good LORDS.

RIGHT HONOURABLE,

WHILST we ftudie to be thankfulf in our particular, for the many favors we have received from your L. L. we are falne upon the ill fortune, to mingle two the moft diverse things that can be, feare, and rashnesse; rashnesse in the enterprize, and feare in the fucceffe. For, when we value the places your H. H. fuftaine, wee cannot but know the dignity greater, than to defcend tọ the reading of thefe trifles: and, while we name them trifles, we have deprived ourselves of the VOL. I.

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