Perhaps never before has anyone attempted to write a life of the poet with so little allusion to his plays and poems. My reason is clear; it is only the genealogical details of certain Warwickshire families of which I now treat, and it is only as an interesting Warwickshire gentleman that the poet is here included.
are held in 1389.
The family of Shakespeare appears in the "Register of the Guild of Knowle,"[1] a semi-religious society to which the best in the county belonged:
1457. Pro anima Ricardi Shakespere et Alicia uxor ejus de Woldiche.[25]
1464. Johanna Shakespere. Radulphus Shakespere et Isabella uxor ejus et pro anima Johannæ uxoris primæ. Ricardus Schakespeire de Wroxhale et Margeria uxor ejus.
1476. Thomas Chacsper et Christian cons. sue de Rowneton. Johannis Shakespeyre de Rowington et Alicia uxor ejus.
1486. 1 Hen. VII. Thomæ Schakspere, p aiaei. Thomas Shakspere et Alicia uxor ejus de Balsale.
Mr. Yeatman has studied the Court Rolls of this period. It is to be wished he had published his book in two volumes, one of facts and one of opinions. He says that the earliest record of the Court Rolls of Wroxall[26] is one dated 5 Henry V. (1418). It is a grant by one Elizabeth Shakspere to John Lone and William Prins of a messuage with three crofts. (The
