The following Inftrument was tranfmitted to us by John Anftis, Efq; Garter King at Arms: It is mark'd, G. 13. P. 349. [There is alfo a Manufcript in the Heralds Office, mark'd W. 2. p. 276; where notice is taken of this Coat, and that the Perfon to whom it was granted, had born Magiftracy at Stratford upon Avon.] O all and fingular Noble and Gentlemen of all Estates and Degrees, bearing Arms, to whom thefe Prefents fhall come; William Dethick, Garter Principal King of Arms of England, and William Camden, alias Clarencieulx, King of Arms for the South, Eaft, and Weft Parts of this Realm, fend Greetings. Know ye, that in all Nations and Kingdoms the Record and Remembrance of the valiant Facts and virtuous Difpofitions of worthy Men havė been made known and divulged by certain Shields of Arms and tokens of Chivalrie; the Grant or Teftimony whereof apperteineth unto us, by virtue of our offices from the Queen's moft Excellent Majefty, and her Highness's most noble and victorious Progenitors: Wherefore being follicited, and by credible Report informed, that John Shakespere, now of Stratford upon Avon in the County of Warwick, Gentleman, whofe Great Grandfather for his faithful and approved Service to the late moft prudent Prince, King Henry VII. of famous Memory, was advanced and rewarded with Lands and Tenements, given to him in those Parts of Warwickshire, where they have continued by fome Descents in good Reputation and Credit; And for that the faid John Shakespere having married the Daughter and one of the Heirs of Robert Arden of VOL. I. Wellingcote d Wellingcote in the faid County, and alfo produced this his ancient Coat of Arms, heretofore aligned to him whilst he was her Majefty's Officer and Bailiff of that Town. In confideration of the Premifes, and for the Encouragement of his Pofterity, unto whom fuch Blazon of Arms and Atchievements of Inheritance from their faid Mother, by the ancient Custom and Laws of Arms, may lawfully defcend; We the faid Garter and Clarencieulx have affigned, granted, and confirmed, and by these Presents exemplified unto the faid John Shakespere, and to his Pofterity, that Shield and Coat of Arms, viz. In a Field of Gold upon a Bend Sables a Spear of the first, the Point upward, headed Argent; and for his Creft or Cognifance, A Falcon, Or, with his Wings displayed, ftanding on a Wreathe of his Colours, fupporting a Spear armed headed, or feeled Silver, fixed upon an Helmet with Mantles and Taffels, as more plainly may appear depicted in this Margent; And we have likewife impaled the fame with the ancient Arms of the faid Arden of Wellingcote; fignifying thereby, that it may and fhall be lawful for the faid John Shakespere, Gent. to bear and use the same Shield of Arms, fingle or impaled, as aforefaid, during his natural Life; and that it fhall be lawful for his Children, Iffue, and Pofterity, lawfully begotten, to bear, ufe, and quarter, and fhew forth the fame, with their due Differences, in all lawful warlike Feats and civil Ufe or Exercises, according to the Laws of Arms, and Custom that to Gentlemen belongeth, without Let or Interruption of any Perfon or Perfons, for ufe or bearing the fame. In Witnefs and Testimony whereof we have fubfcribed our Names, and faftned the Seals of our Offices. Given at the Office of Arms, London, the in the Forty fecond Year of the Reign of our most Gracious Sovereign Lady Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, Queen of England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. 1599. Day of ΤΟ MEMORY of my beloved the AUTHOR, Mr. WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR, And what he hath left us. O draw no envy (Shakespear) on thy Name, Which, when it founds at best, but ecchoes right; And tell bow far thou didst our Lily out-fhine, Pacuvius, Accius, him of Cordova dead, Of all, that infolent Greece, or haughty Rome As they were not of Nature's family. His Art doth give the Fashion. And, that he Of Of Shakespear's mind and manners brightly shines In each of which he seems to shake a Lance, And make thofe flights upon the Banks of Thames, |