MADE BY SHAKSPEARE, THE following is a transcript of a deed executed by our author three years before his death. The original deed, which was found in the year 1768, among the title deeds of the Rev. Mr. Fetherstonhaugh, of Oxted, in the county of Surry, is now in the poffeffion of Mrs. Garrick, by whom it was obligingly transmitted to me through the hands of the Hon. Mr. Horace Walpole. Much has lately been said in various publications relative to the proper mode of spelling Shakspeare's name. It is hoped we shall hear no more idle babble upon this subject. He spelt his name himself as I have just now written it, without the middle e, Let this therefore for ever decide the question. It should be remembered that to all ancient deeds were appended labels of parchment, which were inferted at the bottom of the deed; on the upper part of which labels thus rising above the rest of the parchment, the executing parties wrote their names. Shakspeare, not finding room for the whole of his name on the label, attempted to write the remaining letters at top, but having allowed himself only room enough to write the letter a, he gave the matter up. His hand-writing, of which a fac-fimile is annexed, is much neater than many others, which I have feen, of that age. He neglected, however, to scrape the parchment, in consequence of which the letters appear imperfectly formed. He purchased the estate here mortgaged, from Henry Walker, for 140l. as appears from the enrolment of the deed of bargain and sale now in the Rolls-Chapel, dated the preceding day, March 10, 1612-13. The deed here printed shows that he paid down eighty pounds of the purchase-money, and mortgaged the premises for the remainder. This deed and the purchase deed were probably both executed on the same day, (March 10,) like our modern conveyance of Lease and Release. MALONE. THIS INDENTURE made the eleventh day of March, in the yeares of the reigne of our Sovereigne Lorde James, by the grace of God, king of England, Scotland, Fraunce, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. that is to say, of England, Fraunce and Ireland the tenth, and of Scotland the fix-and-fortieth; Between William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon, in the Countie of Warwick, gentleman, William Johnson, Citizen and Vintener of London, John Jackson, and John Hemyng of London, gentlemen, of thone partie, and Henry Walker, Citizen and Minstrell of London, of thother partie; Witnesseth, that the faid William Shakespeare, William Johnson, John Jackfon, and John Hemyng, have demised, graunted, and to ferme letten, and by theis presents do demise, graunt, and to ferme lett unto the said Henry Walker, all that dwelling house or tenement, with thappurtenaunts, situate and being within the precinct, circuit and compaffe of the late Black ffryers, London, sometymes in the tenure of James Gardyner, Esquire, and fince that in the tenure of John Fortescue, gent. and now or late being in the tenure or occupation of one William Ireland, or of his affignee or affignees; abutting upon a streete leading downe to Puddle Wharfe, on the east part, right * against the kings Majesties Wardrobe; part of which said tenement is erected over a greate gate leading to a capitall messuage, which sometyme was in the tenure of William Blackwell, Esquire, deceased, and fince that in the tenure or occupation of the right honourable Henry now Earle of Northumberlande: And also all that plott of ground on the west side of the same tenement, which was lately inclosed with boords on two fides thereof, by Anne Baton, widow, so farre and in such forte as the same was inclosed by the faid Anne Baton, and not otherwise; and being on the third fide inclosed with an old brick wall; which said plott of ground was sometyme parcell and taken out of a great voyde peece of ground lately used for a garden; and also the foyle whereupon the said tenement standeth; and also the said brick wall and boords which doe inclose the faid plott of ground; with free entrie, accesse, ingreffe, and regreffe, in, by, and through, the said great gate and yarde there, unto the usual dore of the said tenement: And also all and fingular cellors, follers, romes, lights, easiaments, profitts, commodities, and appurtenaunts whatsoever to the said dwellinghouse or tenement belonging or in any wife apperteyning: TO HAVE and to HOLDE the faid dwelling-house or tenement, cellers, follers, romes, plott of ground, and all and fingular other the premisses above by theis presents mentioned to bee demised, and every part and parcell thereof, with thappurtenaunts, unto the faid Henry Walker, his executors, administrators, and affignes, from the feast of thannunciacion of the blessed Virgin Marye next coming after the date hereof, unto thende and terme of One hundred yeares from thence next ensuing, and fullie to be compleat and ended, withoute impeachment of, or for, any manner of waste : YELDING and paying therefore yearlie during the faid terme unto the said William Shakespeare, William Johnson, John Jackson, and John Hemyng, their heires and affignes, a pepper corne at the feast of Eafter yearly, yf the fame be lawfullie demaunded, and noe more. PROVIDED alwayes, that if the faid William Shakespeare, his heires, executors, adminiftrators or affignes, or any of them, doe well and trulie paie or cause to be paid to the said Henry Walker, his executors, administrators, or affignes, the sum of threefcore pounds of lawfull money of England, in and upon the nyne and twentieth day of September next coming after the date hereof, at, or in, the nowe dwelling-house of the said Henry Walker, fituate and being in the parish of Saint Martyn neer Ludgate, of London, at one entier payment without delaie; That then and from thenesforth this presente lease, demise and graunt, and all and every matter and thing herein conteyned (other then this provifoe) shall cease, determine, and bee utterlie voyde, fruftrate, and of none effect, as though the fame had never beene had, ne made; theis presents or any thing therein conteyned to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. And the said William Shakespeare for himselfe, his heires, executors, and adminiftrators, and for every of them, doth covenaunt, promisse and graunt to, and with, the faid Henry Walker, his executors, administrators and affignes, and everie of them, by theis presentes, that he the said William Shakespeare, his heires, executors, administrators or affignes, shall and will cleerlie acquite, exonerate and discharge, or from tyme to tyme, and at all tymes hereafter, well and suffi : cientlie save and keepe harmless the said Henry Walker, his executors, administrators, and affignes, and every of them, and the faid premisses by theis presents demised, and every parcell thereof, with thappurtenaunts, of and from all and al manner of former and other bargaynes, sales, guiftes, graunts, leases, jointures, dowers, intailes, statuts, recognízaunces, judgments, executions; and of, and from, all and every other charge, titles, troubles, and incumbrances whatsoever by the faid William Shakespeare, William Johnson, John Jackson, and John Hemyng, or any of them, or by their or any of their meanes, had made, committed or done, before thensealing and delivery of theis presents, or hereafter before the said nyne and twentieth day of September next comming after the date hereof, to bee had, made, committed or done, except the rents and fervits to the cheef lord or lords of the fee or fees of the premisses, for, or in respect of, his or their segnorie or seignories onlie, to bee due and done. IN WITNESSE whereof the said parties to theis indentures interchangeablie have sett their seales. Yeoven the day and years first above written, 1612 [1612-13]. * John Heming did not sign, or feal. MALONE. |