Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Epilogue – A Year With The Bard - “Our revels now are ended. These our actors, as I foretold you, were all spirits, and are melted into air, into thin air…”


Epilogue – A Year With The Bard - “Our revels now are ended. These our actors, as I foretold you, were all spirits, and are melted into air, into thin air…

After the summer of 1613, Shakespeare retired permanently to Stratford and perhaps only visited London a couple of times over the next two and a half years. From the “poor player” who made about £35 for the year, he ended his life in comfortable retirement with probably a healthy income from houses, land, tithes (rents on fields and common land), grain storage, the family wool businesses and storage and also some money would come from his share in the King’s Men and some money would come in from his plays. All of this would add up to about £2000 a year when the average wage was about £75. He probably made only about £1200 in 1615. That means that in today’s terms Shakespeare would probably have been making about £800,000 a year in his retirement. So Edward Bond’s image in his 1973 play ‘Bingo – Scenes of Money and Death’ of Shakespeare spending his last days getting money from the new land enclosures in Warwickshire and drinking with visitors from London like his fellow playwrights Ben Jonson and John Fletcher, his poet friend Michael Drayton and his acting buddies John Heminges and Henry Condell, is probably not too far from the truth. He had blown away much of this before his death, since he seemed to have only about £500 on his death bed (including 40 pounds to buy rings for his friends and about 5 pounds for funeral expenses including a stone covering for his grave which was engraved), 3 houses, 3 tenements, plates, crockery, two beds and a sword.

We know that he visited his son-in-law John Hall (who was married to William Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna) from October until November 1614 in London. This probably related to an accusation which John Lane made of adultery against Susanna and the subsequent defamation case brought against John Lane that saw him found guilty of defamation and excommunicated from the local church and the local Stratford community.

Sometime late in January 1616, Shakespeare called to his house his lawyer Francis Collins, to dictate to him an important document. This draft was not completed and so on March 25th, 1616, Shakespeare summoned Francis Collins again to his house, along with Julyus Shawe, John Robinson, Hamnet Sadler and Robert Whattcott. Shakespeare’s last piece of writing was dictated to Francis Collins, witnessed by Shawe, Robinson, Sadler and Whattcott and signed by Will’s now shaky hand. It was not a sonnet, nor a long narrative poem nor a play. It was neither comedy, history or tragedy. It had no profound and poetic thoughts, no characterization, metaphors and imagery. It had very little punctuation and no paragraphing. It was Will Shakespeare’s last will and testament which read as follows:

In the name of god Amen I William Shackspeare, of Stratford upon Avon in the countrie of Warr., gent., in perfect health and memorie, God be praysed, doe make and ordayne this my last will and testament in manner and forme followeing, that ys to saye, ffirst, I comend my soule into the hands of God my Creator, hoping and assuredlie beleeving, through thonelie merites, of Jesus Christe my Saviour, to be made partaker of lyfe everlastinge, and my bodye to the earth whereof yt ys made. Item, I gyve and bequeath unto my [sonne and] daughter Judyth one hundred and fyftie poundes of lawfull English money, to be paid unto her in the manner and forme foloweng, that ys to saye, one hundred poundes in discharge of her marriage porcion within one yeare after my deceas, with consideracion after the rate of twoe shillings in the pound for soe long tyme as the same shalbe unpaied unto her after my deceas, and the fyftie poundes residwe thereof upon her surrendring of, or gyving of such sufficient securitie as the overseers of this my will shall like of, to surrender or graunte all her estate and right that shall discend or come unto her after my deceas, or that shee nowe hath, of, in, or to, one copiehold tenemente, with thappurtenaunces, lyeing and being in Stratford upon Avon aforesaied in the saied countrye of Warr., being parcell or holden of the mannour of Rowington, unto my daughter Susanna Hall and her heires for ever. Item, I gyve and bequeath unto my saied daughter Judith one hundred and fyftie poundes more, if shee or anie issue of her bodie by lyvinge att thend of three yeares next ensueing the daie of the date of this my will, during which tyme my executours are to paie her consideracion from my deceas according to the rate aforesaied; and if she dye within the saied tearme without issue of her bodye, then my will us, and I doe gyve and bequeath one hundred poundes thereof to my neece Elizabeth Hall, and the fiftie poundes to be sett fourth by my executours during the lief of my sister Johane Harte, and the use and proffitt thereof cominge shalbe payed to my saied sister Jone, and after her deceas the saied l.li.12 shall remaine amongst the children of my saied sister, equallie to be divided amongst them; but if my saied daughter Judith be lyving att thend of the saied three yeares, or anie yssue of her bodye, then my will ys, and soe I devise and bequeath the saied hundred and fyftie poundes to be sett our by my executours and overseers for the best benefitt of her and her issue, and the stock not to be paied unto her soe long as she shalbe marryed and covert baron [by my executours and overseers]; but my will ys, that she shall have the consideracion yearelie paied unto her during her lief, and, after her ceceas, the saied stocke and consideracion to be paied to her children, if she have anie, and if not, to her executours or assignes, she lyving the saied terme after my deceas. Provided that yf suche husbond as she shall att thend of the saied three years be marryed unto, or att anie after, doe sufficientlie assure unto her and thissue of her bodie landes awnswereable to the porcion by this my will gyven unto her, and to be adjudged soe by my executours and overseers, then my will ys, that the said cl.li.13 shalbe paied to such husbond as shall make such assurance, to his owne use. Item, I gyve and bequeath unto my saied sister Jone xx.li. and all my wearing apparrell, to be paied and delivered within one yeare after my deceas; and I doe will and devise unto her the house with thappurtenaunces in Stratford, wherein she dwelleth, for her naturall lief, under the yearlie rent of xij.d. Item, I gyve and bequeath unto her three sonnes, William Harte, ---- Hart, and Michaell Harte, fyve pounds a peece, to be paied within one yeare after my deceas [to be sett out for her within one yeare after my deceas by my executours, with thadvise and direccions of my overseers, for her best frofitt, untill her mariage, and then the same with the increase thereof to be paied unto her]. Item, I gyve and bequeath unto [her] the saied Elizabeth Hall, all my plate, except my brod silver and gilt bole, that I now have att the date of this my will. Item, I gyve and bequeath unto the poore of Stratford aforesaied tenn poundes; to Mr. Thomas Combe my sword; to Thomas Russell esquier fyve poundes; and to Frauncis Collins, of the borough of Warr. in the countie of Warr. gentleman, thirteene poundes, sixe shillinges, and eight pence, to be paied within one yeare after my deceas. Item, I gyve and bequeath to [Mr. Richard Tyler thelder] Hamlett Sadler xxvj.8. viij.d. to buy him a ringe; to William Raynoldes gent., xxvj.8. viij.d. to buy him a ringe; to my dogson William Walker xx8. in gold; to Anthonye Nashe gent. xxvj.8. viij.d. [in gold]; and to my fellowes John Hemynges, Richard Brubage, and Henry Cundell, xxvj.8. viij.d. a peece to buy them ringes, Item, I gyve, will, bequeath, and devise, unto my daughter Susanna Hall, for better enabling of her to performe this my will, and towards the performans thereof, all that capitall messuage or tenemente with thappurtenaunces, in Stratford aforesaid, called the New Place, wherein I nowe dwell, and two messuages or tenementes with thappurtenaunces, scituat, lyeing, and being in Henley streete, within the borough of Stratford aforesaied; and all my barnes, stables, orchardes, gardens, landes, tenementes, and hereditamentes, whatsoever, scituat, lyeing, and being, or to be had, receyved, perceyved, or taken, within the townes, hamletes, villages, fieldes, and groundes, of Stratford upon Avon, Oldstratford, Bushopton, and Welcombe, or in anie of them in the saied countie of Warr. And alsoe all that messuage or tenemente with thappurtenaunces, wherein one John Robinson dwelleth, scituat, lyeing and being, in the Balckfriers in London, nere the Wardrobe; and all my other landes, tenementes, and hereditamentes whatsoever, To have and to hold all and singuler the saied premisses, with theire appurtenaunces, unto the saied Susanna Hall, for and during the terme of her naturall lief, and after her deceas, to the first sonne of her bodie lawfullie yssueing, and to the heires males of the bodie of the saied first sonne lawfullie yssueinge; and for defalt of such issue, to the second sonne of her bodie, lawfullie issueing, and to the heires males of the bodie of the saied second sonne lawfullie yssueinge; and for defalt of such heires, to the third sonne of the bodie of the saied Susanna lawfullie yssueing, and of the heires males of the bodie of the saied third sonne lawfullie yssueing; and for defalt of such issue, the same soe to be and remaine to the ffourth [sonne], ffyfth, sixte, and seaventh sonnes of her bodie lawfullie issueing, one after another, and to the heires males of the bodies of the bodies of the saied fourth, fifth, sixte, and seaventh sonnes lawfullie yssueing, in such manner as yt ys before lymitted to be and remaine to the first, second, and third sonns of her bodie, and to theire heires males; and for defalt of such issue, the said premisses to be and remaine to my sayed neece Hall, and the heires males of her bodie lawfullie yssueinge; and for defalt of such issue, to my daughter Judith, and the heires males of her bodie lawfullie issueinge; and for defalt of such issue, to the right heires of me the saied William Shackspeare for ever. Item, I gyve unto my wief my second best bed with the furniture, Item, I gyve and bequeath to my saied daughter Judith my broad silver gilt bole. All the rest of my goodes, chattel, leases, plate, jewels, and household stuffe whatsoever, after my dettes and legasies paied, and my funerall expenses dischardged, I give, devise, and bequeath to my sonne in lawe, John Hall gent., and my daughter Susanna, his wief, whom I ordaine and make executours of this my last will and testament. And I doe intreat and appoint the saied Thomas Russell esquier and Frauncis Collins gent. to be overseers hereof, and doe revoke all former wills, and publishe this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my [seale] hand, the daie and yeare first abovewritten.


On either Friday April 22nd or Saturday April 23rd 1616, Michael Drayton and Ben Jonson arrived from London and either took William Shakespeare out to celebrate his 52nd birthday or had considerable alcohol delivered by cart from the local tavern to Will's house. Then as the Vicar of the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford relates in his diary:
"Shakespeare, Drayton, and Ben Jonson had a merry meeting and it seems drank too hard, for Shakespeare died of a fever there contracted."

Another possible cause of Shakespeare’s death could have been Typhus, since a new outbreak seemed to happen in Stratford around this time. C. Martin Mitchell, uses the death mask made of Shakespeare, his will and last signatures to conclude that Shakespeare died of cerebral hemorrhage or apoplexy.

William Shakespeare probably died in his own bed on his 52nd birthday on Saturday April 23rd 1616 late in the evening. His own son-in-law John Hall, who was a doctor, probably pronounced him officially dead. I do not know exactly why Shakespeare left his “second best bed" to his wife but I would like to think that this was their matrimonial bed and rich in sentimental significance. On Monday April 25th, probably around 11 am since this was the custom at this time of year, William Shakespeare was buried in the chancel of the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. A stone slab with engraving covering was probably added a few days later when the carving was completed. It is Shakespeare’s final epitaph and it includes a final curse to those who wish to disturb the remains of William Shakespeare:
Good frend for Iesvs sake forbeare,
To digg the dvst encloased heare.
Bleste be ye man yt spares thes stones,
And cvrst be he yt moves my bones.


I have thoroughly enjoyed my 'Year With The Bard. I have blogged approximately 300,000 words on Shakespeare (about 50,000 are direct quotes from Shakespeare so I have written about 250,000 words). I have blogged on 199 occasions this year about Shakespeare’s plays and poems. I had almost 19,000 views of the blog to date. The most popular blog has been the one on ‘Taming of the Shrew’ followed by the one on the Sonnets where I blogged about Sonnet 18 “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day…” The joint third place in popularity were the blogs on ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’ followed in fifth place by the blogs on ‘Macbeth’ and sixth place for ‘The Tempest’. November 25th was the day when the blog received the most views (for ‘The Tempest’).

About 58% of my views were done in Australia, 19% in the United States and 5% in Russia (both places where I don’t know anyone). This is followed by about 3% in both Germany and China and about 1.5% in the United Kingdom, India, France and South Korea. All in all I got hits from people in 62 countries on six continents.

My favourite plays to re-read were ‘Macbeth’, ‘Hamlet’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘King Lear’ and these were also the hardest and most enjoyable to blog about.

So some final stats on Shakespeare:
·      Shakespeare wrote about 845,000 words
·      Shakespeare wrote between 36 to 39 plays and co-wrote 1 or 2 plays
·      About 50% of Shakespeare’s plays are comedies, 25% are tragedies and 25% are histories
·      Shakespeare invented about 28,820 new words
·      Outside of common words like articles such as “the”, the word which Shakespeare uses the most is “sweet” which appears 840 times in his complete works.

The final words should rest with William Shakespeare himself who once gave the character of the melancholic Jacques in ‘As You Like It’, the following now famous ‘seven ages of man’ speech:
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

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