Last Wills of Shakespeare vs John Heminges (owner of the Globe theater)

[GreatGazoo]

I research early 17th century London. In 1600 the population of London was between 100,000 and 200,000 people, comparable to Albany NY or Ventura CA now. For me the rabbithole started with Henry Hudson (1565-~1611). Researching the patrons, courtiers, explorers and printers that surround Hudson was much more interesting than I expected. It is fairly easy to connect various people via the printing industry which was extremely small at that time. England was the last of the colonial powers to get the printing press and even then there were few of them; less than 60 presses operated by less than 25 printers.

Illiteracy was as high as you might expect, between 75 and 90% so the customer base for printers was fairly limited. Playing cards were a profitable product for printers. Quartos of plays much less so. Plays (and all other writing) was censored. Cards of course were not (but they were taxed draconically, whole other rabbithole). Hudson had four writers on his last voyage, two of whom expected to write about their voyage. Others were familiar enough with the records of the successful (unpunished) Jamestown mutiny to skew the story of their mutiny to match it. There was enormous overlap between the London theater business and London-based exploration and navigation. For example Walter Raleigh wrote history books and poems including one that was published in 1599 and 1612 as being by "W. Shakespeare".

This era is when early modern English begins. The arrival of printing prompted standardization of the untamed and polyglot spoken English of the 16th century. The King James bible is commissioned in 1604 and printed in 1611. The Shakespeare canon is edited in 1622 and printed in 1623. Both are fairly understandable to modern English speakers so it is fascinating to read the more personal documents of the era, in part because we can!

Few people care about Henry Hudson but Shakespeare is another matter. Several weeks ago it was announced that the footprint of the underground Catholic safehouse that Shakespeare bought in 1613 had been confirmed. The mainstream coverage of this mostly skips over the juicy parts of this matter perhaps because they raise some difficult questions. Worse, they spin the purchase of this radical property as being simply 'Shakespeare wanted a home close to work' which contradicts the traditional biography which has always asserted that Shakespeare ceased writing after 'The Tempest' and left London in 1613.

So what the heck was really going on? In the wake of the Gunpowder Plot and the resulting escalation in the persecution of crypto Catholics, how could one of the most famous and high profile Londoners so openly tie himself to the Catholic underground? We can look at the Last Will of William Shakspeare for clues as many have done but I think the real payoff comes from comparing it to the Last Will and Testament of John Heminges, the owner and business manager of the Globe and Blackfriars theaters. Shakspeare's Will was not discovered until 1747 and it was withheld from the public for another 100+ years. It was mistranscribed, likely intentionally, to soften or obscure his adversarial relationship with his wife Anne. But now, thanks to digital media, the document is available for all to see and read: https://shakespearedocumented.folger.edu/resource/document/william-shakespeares-last-will-and-testament-original-copy-including-three

Note that the Folger museum has mislabeled the document as "William Shakespeare's last will and testament" despite there being no testament. As a researcher I struggle to understand why so much of Shakespeare scholarship is inaccurate and why these practices are not only accepted but embraced, defended and repeated. This is easily the most personal document we have for the man. No letters, journal, diaries, or marginalia has been found despite intense an on-going searches such as the one that turned up more on the Blackfriars safehouse above. The plays, poems and sonnets have nothing to do with Shakspeare's personal life while the Last Will shows us his personal priorities and his personality. Some excerpts:

March 25, in the 14th year of the reign of James now king of England and the 49th year of Scotland, 1616

In the name of god, Amen. I, William Shackspeare of Stratford upon Avon in the county of Warwick, gent., in perfect health and memory, God be praised, do make and ordain this my last will...

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Judith one hundred and fifty pounds of lawful English money to be paid unto her in manner and form following...

Item I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Judith one hundred and fifty pounds more if she or any issue of her body living at the end of three years next ensuing the day of the date of this my will,...

unto my said sister Joan 20 pounds and all my wearing apparel... unto her three sons William Hart [name omitted] Hart and Michael Hart five pounds a piece... unto the poor of Stratford aforesaid ten pounds; to Mr Thomas Combe, my sword; to Thomas Russell, Esquire, five pounds; and to Francis Collins...
...
Item I give and bequeath to Hamlett Sadler 26s 8d to buy him a ring; to William Reynolds, gent., 26s 8d to buy him a ring; to my godson William Walker 20s in gold; to Anthony Nash, gent., 26s 8d; to Mr. John Nash, 26s 8d; [interlineated: and to my fellows John Heminge, Richard Burbage, and Henry Condell 26s 8d a piece to buy them rings.]
...
And also all that messuage or tenement with the appurtenances wherein one John Robinson dwelleth, situate, lying and being in the Blackfriars in London near the Wardrobe,...

[interlineated: Item I give unto my wife my second best bed with the furniture.] ...

[signed] By me William Shakspeare

See Transcription > Expand at https://shakespearedocumented.folger.edu/resource/document/william-shakespeares-last-will-and-testament-original-copy-including-three

The John Robinson named there as the current occupant of the Blackfriars safehouse is well documented as part of the Catholic underground. His brother was, at the time of his occupancy, illegally in Rome studying for priesthood. Shakespeare scholars often refer to Robinson as a "tenant" but no rent is specified or collected, unlike what he specifies for his own sister Joan, "the yearly rent of 12 pence". "John Robinson" signs the Will as a witness but we are not sure whether this was the London John Robinson or the Stratford neighbor of the same name. If it is the London Robinson then he is the only London associate of Shakspeare who is documented as having visited him on his deathbed. If it is the neighbor then no one from London came. "Hamnet Sadler" is the Stratford neighbor for whom one of Shakspeare's twins were named; Sadler's wife was named Judith.

No mention of books, playhouses, education for his daughters or grandchildren. His wife Anne is the only person in the document unnamed, and she is added as an afterthought. Specifying only the "second best bed" cuts her off from any claim on anything else. He did this separately with his 1613 Blackfriars purchase also; made sure that she could not have any part of it.

From the time of the release of a transcript of this Will people have wondered why it says nothing about his writing career and does not provide for the education of any of his progeny. Of course it is boilerplate language but it lacks even the hint of the spark of genius we see in the Shakespeare canon. Some scholars dismissed these issues as perfectly normal and not contradicting anything they assert about the biography of Shakespeare. Others who studied as many Playhouse Wills as they could find from this era found it to be an outlier in many respects.

Lastly, here is a transcript of John Heminges' Last Will and Testament. It has everything that seems missing in Shakspeare's Will -- provisions and specifications for his burial (!), love for his wife, the name of his wife, sophistication, fairness, diplomacy, money for books, money for education of his grandchildren and detailed instructions about how to continue his theater business and legacy. About 1600 words, most spellings modernized:

The last Will and Testament of John Heminges

I John Heminges Citizen and Grocer of London being of perfect mind and memory (Thanks be given unto Almight God) yet well knowing and considering the frailty and uncertainty of man’s life do therefore make, ordain and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following first and principally I give and bequeath my soul in to the hands of Almighty God my maker and Creator hoping and assuredly believing through the only meritties death and passion of Jesus Christ my savior and redeemer to obtain remission and pardon of all my sins and to enjoy eternal happiness in the kingdom of heaven.

And my body I Commit to the earth to be buried in Christian manner in the parish Church of Mary Aldermanbury in London as near unto my loving wife Rebecca Heminges who lies there interred and under the same stone which lies there in part over her if the same conveniently may be wherein I do desire my Executor hereinafter named carefully to see my Will performed and that my funeral may be in decent and comely manner performed in the evening without any vain pomp or cost therein to be bestowed.
Item my Will is that all such debts as I shall happen to owe at the time of my decease to any person or person (being truly and properly mine own debts) shall be well and truly satisfied and paid as soon after my decease as the same Conveniently may be. And to that intent and purpose my will and mind is And I do hereby limit and appoint that all my leases, goods, chattels, plate and household stuff whatsoever which I have or shall be possessed of at the time of my decease ([E]xcept the several leases and terms for years which I have in the several Playhouses of the Globe and Blackfriers only. And also except such several parcels of housholdstuff goods and Chattels which I shall hereinafter by theis presentes particularly give and bequeath unto and among my Children to be taken by them or any of them in kind without alteration) shall immediately after my decease be sold to the most and best benefit and advantage that the same or any of them may or can. And that the moneys thereby raised shall go and be employed towards the payment and discharge of my said debts as soon as the same may be converted into moneys and received without fraud or Coven.

And I do hereby will and appoint the moity or one half of the yearly benefit and profit of the several parts whcih I have by lease in the several Playhouses of the Globe and Blackfriars, aforesaid, for and during such time and term as I have therein be from time to time received and taken up by my Executor(s) hereinafter named and by them (him) from time to time faithfully employed towards the payment os such of my proper debts which shall remain unsatisfied and that proportionally to every person and persons to whom I shall then remain indebted until by the said moity or one half of the said yearly benefit and profit of the said parties they shall be paid without fraud or Coven

[ And to the intent and purpose I the said John Heminges by a certain deed or writing in that behalf made, sealed and delivered have already assigned and conveyed the same my parts in the said Playhouses which I hereby limit and appoint shall be first and principally towards the payment of my said debts being properly my own debts which (whereby) I hope if the same parts shall be employed in playing there will be sufficient money in reasonable time raised for payment thereof ]

And if the said moity or one half of the said yearly benefit of my said parts in the said Playhouses shall not in some convenient time raise sufficient moneys to pay my said own debts then my will and mind is and I do hereby limit and appoint that the other moity or half part of the benefit and profit of my said parts in the said Playhouses be also taken up by my said Executor(s) hereinafter named and faithfully from time to time employed and paid towards the speedier satisfaction and payment of my said debts. And then after my said debts shall be so satisfied and paid then I limit and appoint the said benefit and profit arising from my said parts in the said Playhouses and the employment of the same to be received and employed towards the payment of the legacies by me hereinafter given and bequeathed and to the raising of portions for such of my said Children as at the time of my decease shall have received from me no advancement.

And I do hereby desire as well my executor(s) herein after named [as also the Assignees to whom I have so as aforesaid assigned my said parts] to see this my will and meaning herein to be well and truly performed according to the trust and Confidence by me in (them / him) reposed.

Item – I give, devise and bequeath to my daughter Rebecca Smith, now wife of Captain William Smith, my best suit of linen wrought with Cutworke which was her mother’s.

And to my son Smith, her husband, his wife’s picture set up in a frame in my house.

Item – I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret Sheppard, wife of Mr. Thomas Sheppard, my red Cushions embroidered with a bugle which were her mother’s.

Item – I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth, my green Cushions which were her mother’s.

Item – I give and bequeath unto my daughter Merefeild my Cloth of silver stripped Cushions which were her mother’s.

Item – I give and bequeath unto so many of my daughter Merefeild’s and my dqaughter Sheppard’s Children as shall be living at the time of my decease fifty shillings a piece.

Item – I give and bequeath unto my grandchild Richard Atkins the sum of five pounds of lawful money of England to buy him books.

Item – I give and bequeath unto my son in-law John Atkins and his now wife if they shall be living at the time of my decease forty shilling to make them two rings for remembrance of me.

Item – I give and bequeath unto every of my fellows and sharers, his majesties servants which shall be living at the time of my decease the sum of ten shillings a piece to make them rings for the remembrance of me.

Item – I give and bequeath unto John Rice, Clerk of St Saviors in Southwark (if he shall be living at the time of my decease) the sum of twenty shillings of lawful English money for a remembrance of my love unto him.

Item – I give and bequeath unto the poor of the parish of St Mary Aldermanbury where I long lived and wither I have bequeathed my body for burial, the sum of forty shillings of lawful English money to be distributed by the Churchwardens of the same parish where most need shall be.

Item – My will and mind is and I do hereby limit and appoint that the several legacies and sums of money by me herein before bequeathed to be paid in money to raised and taken out of the yearly profit and benefit which shall arise or be made by my several parts and shares in the several Playhouses called the Globe and Blackfriars after my debts shall be paid with as much speed as the same conveniently may be.

And I do hereby will, require and charge my Executor(s) hereinafter named especially to take care that my debts first and then those legacies be well and truly paid and discharged as soon as the same may be raised by the sale of my goods and by the yearly profits of my parts and shares and that my estate may be so ordered to best profit and advantage for the better payment of my debts and discharge my legacies before mentioned with as much speed as the same Conveniently may be according as I have herein before in this presents [ and in the deed or writing before mentioned ] directed and appointed the same to be without lessening, diminishing or undervaluing thereof Contrary to my true intent and meaning herein declared. And for the better performance thereof my will, mind and desire is that said parts of the said Playhouses should be employed in playing the better to raise profit thereby as formerly the same have been and yielded good yearly profit as by my books will in that behalf appear. And my will and mind is and I do hereby ordain limit and appoint that after my debts, funerals and legacies shall be paid and satisfied out of my estate that then the residue and remainder of my goods, Chattel and Credits whatsoever shall be equally parted and divided to and amongst such of my Children as at the time of my decease shall be unmarried or unadvanced and shall not have received from me any portion in marriage or otherwise further then only for their education and breeding part and partlike.

And I do hereby ordain and make my son William Heminges to be the Executor(s) of this my last Will and Testament requiring them (him) to see the same performed in and by all things according to my true meaning herein declared.

And I do desire and appoint my Loving friends Mr. Burbage and Mr. Rice to be the Overseers of this my last Will and Testament praying them to be aiding and assisting to my said executor with their best advice and counsel in the execution thereof.
And I do hereby utterly revoke all former Wills by me heretofore made and do publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal the day and year first written above.

John Heminges

[jmbar2]

1. Fascinating finds

Heminges' will sounds like it was written in consultation with accountants and estate attorneys - very well planned and thought out. The purchase of rings in both wills is curious. Was this a traditional parting gift at the time?

I was curious about wills from the past and found this site:
https://transcribedwills.co.uk

End of life planning was more well-developed than I had expected.

Thanks for an interesting post.

[GreatGazoo]

2. Yes mourning rings were common in Wills

Heminges was the business manager for the Globe and Blackfriars. Also ran the beer concession at the Globe. His position in the Grocers Guild had him overseeing the weighing of coal and other goods for the City of London. So he was always concerned with accounting.

He was highly literate and worked with lawyers to defend his daughter Thomasina's 1615 lawsuit against him to acquire more shares of the playhouses. That lawsuit btw includes the only surviving mentions of Shakespeare as a co-owner of the Globe and Blackfriars and is the basis of accounting for his shares in each. How Shakespeare disposed of his shares between their mention in 1615 and his passing in April 1616 remains a mystery. Shakespeare's Will was penned by the law clerk of Francis Collins, was substantially updated and was apparently suppressed for 110 years after its discovery in 1747. When it was finally released to the public, people saw that the mourning rings for Burbage, Heminges and Condell was written in between other lines on the third page.

Heminges and Shakespeare were analogous to the upper middle class. Both were businessmen and their Wills reflect their wealth and access to lawyers. Estate planning for lower classes was less involved and could default to things like dower rights. In London but not in Stratford, dower rights asserted that the wife of the deceased was to receive 1/3 of the estate. Stratford became a predominantly Puritan town and the Puritans often treated men and women as equals albeit with prescribed gender roles. Confusingly this equality seems to have precluded acceptance of the dower rights convention seen elsewhere in England.

Will have a look at your link. Thanks for that!

[jmbar2]

4. I find old wills interesting because they offer such a detailed look into the daily lives of people in the past.

The Domesday Book showed how paltry the possessions were of even fairly "middle class" people, and the value placed on what would be thrown away today - clothing, pots, straw mattresses. I was surprised to see inclusion of clothing and beds in the wills of the Shakespearean era. They must have been pretty nasty.

Unrelated, but interesting to history nerds... Have you ever read the Book of Margery Kempe? It is one of my favorites.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Margery_Kempe

Several things I found delightful about the stories in her book: She was somewhat of a kook, with no filters. She reminds me of the character Hyacinth Bouquet from Keeping up Appearances. . She writes about enjoying a lusty early life, bearing 14 children before having a mystic conversion of some sort. She left them with her husband in a cooperative agreement to go on a mission to Jerusalem.

She was prone to "fits" of some sort, which nearly got her burned as a witch. The book provides a lot of detail about the tourism/pilgrimage industry of the time - costs, routes taken, conditions of various countries along the way (Rome was in turmoil), and the tourist facilities in Jerusalem.

Her piety, fits, and obnoxiousness so troubled the other people on the tour that they tried several times to abandon her along the way. But she always found her way back. It's a very funny tale. Highly recommend.

[GreatGazoo]

6. Had not heard of that book

The journey and group dynamics sound interesting, especially because it is her thoughts and experiences. In the era I am studying, Dr. John Dee is a similar figure. A polymath. Best known for scrying, horoscopes, alchemy, medicine and some legit science. Was accused of necromancy.

[Gaugamela]

3. Mere speculation, but it's possible Shakespeare had suffered a stroke before he wrote or dictated

his will. He died at age 52. This could explain why his will is so terse and unrevealing; Shakespeare struggled to communicate it, and those around him understood he meant no disrespect. He may have died before his London colleagues could have been notified, hence their absence in Stratford at his deathbed.

[GreatGazoo]

5. Certainly he anticipated his own passing so it seems

safe to assume that he had some kind of health issue. His Will is three pages, each written and revised separately over a period of months. I don't think a stroke would explain how his wife, his business partners and burial arrangements get left out. He is being aided by the clerk of lawyer Francis Collins and likely Collins himself and they are working from common boilerplate language and sections used in wills.

Scholars have suggested that the will was drafted in January (1616), then revised and partially redrafted on March 25 to reflect the change in the marital status of his daughter Judith. She married Thomas Quiney just over a month earlier, on February 10. At the top of the first leaf January is crossed out and replaced with March. On the same leaf, a reference to Shakespeare's son-in-law is altered to his daughter, Judith. On the second leaf a section making provisions for Judith "until her marriage" is deleted. Thus it is thought that the first leaf was entirely rewritten and then revised, and that the second and third leaves were merely revised.

https://shakespearedocumented.folger.edu/resource/document/william-shakespeares-last-will-and-testament-original-copy-including-three

His relationship with Anne is documented as strained from the very beginning. Anne Hathaway was 26, pregnant and from a wealthy family when Shakespeare hastily married her. He was 18YO and his father's finances were more precarious, kind of boom and bust. Their first child, Susanna, is born six months after their November 1582 marriage. The twins are born in 1585 and named not for grandpa John or father William, but for Hamnet and Judith Sadler, neighbors. Hamnet Shakspeare dies in 1596 at age 11 and they have no more children despite having the wealth, time and social pressures to do so. The Shakespeare line dies out with childless granddaughter Elizabeth Barnard, daughter of Susanna, in 1670 so there are no direct descendants of William and Anne Shakespeare.

Travel between Stratford and London, about 100 miles, took about 3 days by horse or 5 days on foot. How much time they spent together is unknown but the assumption is they were often separated for weeks at a time.

More directly, and unexplained by health issues, is that Shakespeare took very specific steps in 1613 to prevent his wife from having any rights or claims on the Blackfriars property. And infamously, his last minute insertion of the line "I give unto my wife my second best bed with the furniture" can in no reasonable way be seen as commenting positively on the end of their relationship. The most generous interpretation I can fathom is that Anne's family was wealthy and she would likely have been okay without the houses, chattel, leases, tithes and money he leaves to Susanna. The most ungenerous interpretation would be that 'second best bed' specifically alludes to infidelity.

All of which is to say that ill health in early 1616 does not explain his emotional and physical distance from Anne as documented throughout their relationship.