1740, made extensive alterations on it, and modernized its aspect both internally and externally. Sir Hugh's son-in-law, Henry Talbot, brother to the Lord Chancellor Talbot, sold New Place, about the year 1754, to the Rev. Francs Gastrell, Vicar of Frodsham, in Cheshire. Of this reverend gentleman we fear it must be said that

"The motions of his spirit were dull as night,

And his affections dark as Erebus."

66

He must have known that he had the honor to own a house which was dear to Stratford and sacred to all England; and yet, in a fit of paltry rage at being forced to pay a poor's-rate on it though he resided a part of the year at Lichfield, he declared, in the year 1759, that New Place should never be assessed again, and forthwith razed the building to the ground, sold off the materials, and took his departure from Stratford amidst the execrations of its inhabitants. Nor was this the only offence of this same Mr. Gastrell he had committed three years before another act of sacrilege hardly less atrocious. Shakespeare planted with his own ha.id, in 1609, or thereby, in the garden at New Place, a mulberry tree, which grew to a goodly size, and produced abundant fruit. "The planting of this tree by Shakespeare," says Malone, "is as well authenticated as anything of that nature can be. The Rev. Mr. Davenport informed me that Mr. Hugh Taylor, the father of his clerk, who was in 1790 eighty-five years old and an alderman of Warwick, told him that he lived, when a boy, at the next house to New Place; that his family had inhabited the house for almost three hundred years; that it was transmitted from father to son, during the last and present century, that this tree (of the fruit of which he had often eaten in his younger days, some of its branches hanging over his father's garden) was planted by Shakespeare; and that till this was planted there was no mulberry tree in that neighborhood." A similar tradition was preserved in the Clopton family; and in 1742 Sir Hugh Clopton entertained the two celebrated actors, Garrick and Macklin, under the flourishing and time-honored branches. The aforesaid Vicar of Frodsham, however, the Rev. Francis Gastrell, took a dislike to the tree, on account of its popularity, which exposed his reverence to frequent requests to permit strangers to see it. This interruption to his own ease was intolerable; so the leaden-souled priest, who had never drawn one breath of inspiration in the garden where Shakespeare had walked, ordered the tree, in the year 1756, when it was at its full growth, and of remarkable beauty, to be cut down and cleft into pieces for firewood. When the assertion is made that a man may do what he likes with his own, it may be well to remember that the slave-owner lashes the negro to within an inch of his life, and that the Rev. Francis Gastrell cut down Shakespeare's mylberry tree and demolished his house.

After his purchase of New Place and the adjacent lands, Shakespeare's relationships with Stratford became closer and more constant. There is evidence that he at one time thought of buying a messuage at Shottery, in remembrance, perhaps, of his youthful days of love-making there. He farmed some land in the immediate vicinity of Stratford, which was probably managed for him by his brother Gilbert. The books of the local Burgh Court show that decrees were once or twice issued at Shakespeare's

instance for the price of corn and other farm produce owing to him. In the year 1596 application was made to the Herald's College for a grant of a coat of arms to John Shakespeare; and there can be little doubt that this was done at the instigation of his eldest son. The grant was not obtained till 1599. It bears in gremio that the reason for conceding it were that John Shakespeare's great-grandfather had done "faithful and approved service to the late most prudent prince, King Henry VII.;" that lands and tenements had been given for his services, which had continued in the family since; and that the said John Shakespeare had married the daughter and one of the heirs of Robert Arden of Wellingcote, a gentleman of worship." In consideration of these premises, "and for the encouragement of his posterity, unto whom such blazon of arms and achievements of inheritance from their said mother, by the ancient customs and laws of arms, may lawfully descend," a shield and coat of arms were asigned. The arms of the Shakespeare family were,-in a field of gold upon a bend sable, a spear of the first, the point upwards, headed argent; and for a crest or cognizance, a falcon with his wings displayed, standing on a wreath of his colors, supporting a spear headed or steeled silver. These arms were impaled upon another escutcheon with "the ancient arms of the said Arden of Wellingcote," and the whole were surmounted by the motto, "Non sanz droict."

It was probably between the years 1606 and 1608 that Shakespeare transferred his head-quarters from London to Stratford. There is evidence of his being occasionally in London after 1608; but he ceased to appear upon the stage prior to that year. He was one of the actors in Ben Jonson's "Sejanus," which was produced at the Globe in 1603; but he did not perform in the same author's "Volpone,” which was brought out in 1605. In 1604 the London theatres were closed for a time on account of the plague; and it is likely that Shakespeare then went to Stratford. In a diary written in 1662 by the Rev. Mr. Ward, Vicar at Stratford, the author says," Mr. Shakespeare frequented the plays all his younger time, but in his older days he lived at Stratford, and supplied the stage with two plays every year, and for that had an allowance so large that he spent at the rate of £1,000 a-year."

Some events which took place in the Shakespearian circle early in the seventeenth century must have occasioned alternate pain and pleasure. In September, 1601, his father died; in June, 1607, his daughter Susannah married Dr. John Hall; on the last day of the same year he buried, at the Church of St. Saviour's, Southwark, his youngest brother Edmond, who died at the early age of twenty-seven, after a brief career as an actor; in February, 1608, he became a grandfather by the birth of a daughter to Mrs. Hall; in the September following he lost his mother, Mary Arden or Shakespeare; and on 4th February, 1613, his brother Richard, who was ten years his junior, was buried at Stratford.

The

Among the plays which Shakespeare wrote between the years 1606 and 1613 are generally included "Macbeth." " Julius Cæsar," " Antony and Cleopatra,' Coriolanus." "The Winter's Tale," 66 Othello," Twelfth Night," and "The Tempest." It is believed by Thomas Campbell, De Quincey, and others, that the "The Tempest," was his last play; and, as Campbell says, this gives it “a sert of sacredness." Camp

bell further suggests that Shakespeare may be regarded as in some sort typifyed in Prospero, the potent and benevolent magician, who moved within that circle "none durst tread but he;" and De Quincey, following up the same idea, conjectures that it was with a prophetic feeling of the end that Shakespeare makes Prospero "solemnly and forever renounce his mysterious functions, symbolically break his enchanter's wand, and declare that he will bury his books, his science, and his secrets

'Deeper than did ever plummet sound.'"

It is not within the scope of the present biographical sketch to enter into any critical analysis of Shakespeare's separate plays; but if "The Tempest was written in his forty-ninth year, it affords the completest evidence that his fancy retained all its freshness. None of his creations are more original than Caliban and Ariel, none more beautiful than Miranda, none more lofty than Prospero. It is difficult to say that "The Tempest" is finer, as a romantic drama, than "As you Like It," "Cymbeline," or "The Winter's Tale," but it takes rank with these, and is as luminous with poetry as any of them.

The last eight or nine years of Shakespeare's life were probably among the happiest which he spent on this "bank and shoal of time." His mind was matured, his passions were softened, the fever of expectation was over; he had won his position, he had fulfilled the mission which the Almighty had assigned to him. And with how much tranquil earnestness had he done his work! He had involved himself in no hatreds; stood aloof from all brawls and cavillings. Party spirit was unknown to him; polemics distasteful. His works betray neither political nor religious bias; yet they teach, with the force almost of inspiration, the duties we owe to society, and the homage that is due to religion. The advantages and the disadvantages of the democratic, the aristocratic, and the monarchical elements, both in a state and in men, are treated by him with the utmost impartiality. He fights a noble battle against class prejudices. He delights in showing sympathy for the poor and the destitute, and "he makes the mighty of the earth, who have forgotten poverty, remember it in their own adversity." His patriotic love for “our sea-walled garden,”

"This precious stone set in the silver sea,”

and the grand words in which he has given expression to the sentiment have quickened the pulses of hundreds of thousands of his countrymen. His religion is catholic, not sectarian. He teaches that the service of God is above the service of all lords and princes. He never alludes to the great truths of Christianity except with the most profound reverence. When Angelo says to Isabella

the answer is,

"Your brother is a forfeit of the law."

Why, all the souls that
And He that might the
Found out the remedy.

"Alas! alas!
were, were forfeit once,
'vantage best have took,
How would you be

If He which is the top of judgment should
But judge you as you are? O, think on that,
And mercy then will breathe within your lips,
Like man new made."

"Shakespeare contented himself," says his loving and intelligent com imentator, Mr. Cowden Clarke, "with the simple mission of teaching mankind a cheerful reliance upon the mercy and benevolence of our good God; to be just and kind to all men; to seek out the good in things evil, and not after the new philosophy, to ferret out whatever of evil may lurk in things good. He strove to make men wiser and better, and therefore happier.'

May we not imagine him once more among the woods round Stratford, or upon the turfy uplands, weaving into shape the scenes of "Macbeth or Julius Cæsar," or filling his imagination with "Cleopatra," "Coriolanus," or "Othello?" May we not follow him home to his wife and children, all unconscious of his fine frenzies, his lofty meditations, but looking on with smiles as he takes his grandaughter in his arms, and re membering, perhaps, his lines,—

"Thy grandsire lov'd thee well;

Many a time he danc'd thee on his knee.
Sung thee asleep, his loving breast thy pillow;
Many a matter hath he told to thee

Meet and agreeing with thy infancy"?

In such scenes as these may we not fancy him asking himself the question,

"Hath not old custom made this life more sweet
Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods
More free from peril than the envious court?".

Or saying to some pleasant neighbor,

So we'll live,

And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh
At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues
Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too,
Who loses and who wins; who's in, who's out;
And take upon 's the mystery of things,
As if we were God's spies?

During the four last years of Shakespeare's life few traces of him can be discovered. In 1614 there was a great fire in Stratford, which aided by a strong wind, consumed in less than two hours fifty-four dwellinghouses; but New Place was not one of them. On the roth of February, 1616, which was to be the year in which he was to be withdrawn from the world, his younger daughter, Judith, was married to Mr. Thomas Quiney. This event, with other considerations, probably led to his making his Will, which was executed on the 25th March following; he being then "in perfect health and memory."

His Will is one of the very few private and personal writings of Shakespeare which have came down to us, and it has therefore been thought right to give it entire at the end of this Introduction. The fol

lowing particulars of the document are worthy of note:-First, The devout spirit in which it commences,-" I commend my soul into the hands of God my Creator, hoping and assuredly believing, through the only merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour, to be made partaker of life everlasting; and my body to the earth whereof it is made." Second, The bequest of a handsome marriage portion to his daughter Judith, and a further bequest of the like amount in the event of her surviving three years from the date of the Will, which she did. Third, A legacy of twenty pounds (equal to about 100 of present money) to his sister Joan Hart, together with all his wearing apparel, and the house in which she dwelt. Fourth, Small legacies to each of Joan Hart's three sons. Fifth, All his plate, except his "broad silver and gilt bowl," to his granddaughter Elizabeth Hall. Sixth, A legacy of a sum of money to the poor of Stratford; of his sword to Mr. Thomas Combe, who was then in his twenty-seventh year, and was the son of an old acquaintance, John Combe; and of ten small sums to ten intimate friends, to buy them rings," in memoriam, among which friends were Hamlet or Hamnet Sadler, who had been godfather to Shakespeare's only son,-William Walker, to whom Shakespeare had himself been godfather,-Anthony Nash, the father of Mr. Thomas Nash, who afterwards married the poet's granddaughter, and “ 'my fellows," that is, his brother actors, John Hemings, Richard Burbage, and Henry Condell. Seventh, A bequest to his daughter Susannah Hall of "that capital messuage or tenement" called the New Place, together with other two tenements in Henley Street, and "all my barns, stables, orchards, gardens, lands, tenements, and hereditaments whatsoever," in Stratford-upon-Avon, Old Stratford, Bishopton, and Welcombe, and the messuage or tenement "in the Blackfriars in London, near the Wardrobe," and to the oldest lawful son of her body, whom failing, the next oldest in regular succession; whom all failing, to his granddaughter Elizabeth Hall, and the heirs male of her body; whom failing, to his daughter Judith, and the heirs male of her body; whom failing, to his heirs whatsoever. Eighth, A legacy to his wife of his "second-best bed with the furniture." Ninth, A legacy of his "broad silver gilt bowl" to his daughter Judith; and, Tenth, A bequest of all the rest of his "goods, chattels, leases, plate, jewels, and household stuff whatsoever," after payment of his debts, and legacies, and funeral expenses, to his son-in-law John Hall, who, along with his wife Susannah, are appointed executors.

The leading feature of this Will is the desire manifested in it to found a family by a strict entail of almost the whole real estate in favor, first, of the heirs male of his elder, and, next, of his younger daughter, his only son having predeceased. This desire, however, was frustrated by the death of Susannah Hall with no issue except Elizabeth, who died child-less, and by all Judith Quiney's children predeceasing her, so that the estates were scattered after the second generation.-There is another peculiarity of the Will, which has attracted even more attention-namely, that it bequeathes to his wife only a second-best bed, and that, as origi nally written out, she was not mentioned in it at all, the bequest being introduced by an ex post facto interlineation. Malone drew unpleasant conclusions from this, which, however, seem groundless. Mr. Charles