Shakespeare: His Life, Art, and Characters, Volume I. | Page 3

gloves and wool were apt to be united as articles of
trade.
I must next trace, briefly, the career of John Shakespeare as a public
officer in the Stratford corporation. After holding several minor offices,
he was in 1558, and again in 1559, chosen one of the four constables.
In 1561, he was a second time made one of the four affeerors, whose
duty it was to determine the fines for such offences as had no penalties
prescribed by statute. The same year, 1561, he was chosen one of the
chamberlains of the borough, a very responsible office, which he held
two years. Advancing steadily in the public confidence, he became an
alderman in 1565; and in 1568 was elected Bailiff, the highest honour
the corporation could bestow. He held this office a year. The series of
local honours conferred upon him ended with his being chosen
head-alderman in 1571; which office also he held a year. The rule being
"once an alderman always an alderman," unless positive action were
taken to the contrary, he retained that office till 1586, when, for
persevering non-attendance at the meetings, he was deprived of his
gown.
After all these marks of public consequence, the reader may be
surprised to learn that John Shakespeare, the father of the world's
greatest thinker and greatest poet, could not write his name! Such was
undoubtedly the fact; and I take pleasure in noting it, as showing, what
is too apt to be forgotten in these bookish days, that men may know
several things, and may have witty children, without being initiated in
the mysteries of pen and ink. In the borough records for 1565 is an
order signed by nineteen aldermen and burgesses, calling upon John
Wheler to undertake the office of Bailiff. Of these signers thirteen are
markmen, and among them are the names of George Whately, then
Bailiff, Roger Sadler, head-alderman, and John Shakespeare. So that
there was nothing remarkable in his not being able to wield a pen. As
Bailiff of Stratford, he was ex officio a justice of the peace; and two
warrants are extant, granted by him in December, 1568, for the arrest of
John Ball and Richard Walcar on account of debts; both of them
bearing witness that "he had a mark to himself, like an honest,
plain-dealing man." Several other cases in point are met with at later
periods; some of which show that his wife stood on the same footing

with him in this respect. In October, 1579, John and Mary Shakespeare
executed a deed and bond for the transfer of their interest in certain
property; both of which are subscribed with their several marks, and
sealed with their respective seals.
John Shakespeare's good fortune seems to have reached its height about
the year 1575, after which time we meet with many clear tokens of his
decline. It is not improbable that his affairs may have got embarrassed
from his having too many irons in the fire. The registry of the Court of
Record, from 1555 to 1595, has a large number of entries respecting
him, which show him to have been engaged in a great variety of
transactions, and to have had more litigation on his hands than would
now be thought either creditable or safe. But, notwithstanding his
decline of fortune, we have proofs as late as 1592 that he still retained
the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. From that time
forward, his affairs were doubtless taken care of by one who, as we
shall see hereafter, was much interested not to let them suffer, and also
well able to keep them in good trim. He was buried September 8, 1601;
so that, supposing him to have reached his majority when first heard of
in 1552, he must have passed the age of threescore and ten.
On the maternal side, our Poet's lineage was of a higher rank, and may
be traced further back. His mother was MARY ARDEN, a name
redolent of old poetry and romance. The family of Arden was among
the most ancient in Warwickshire. Their history, as given by Dugdale,
spreads over six centuries. Sir John Arden was squire of the body to
Henry the Seventh; and he had a nephew, the son of a younger brother,
who was page of the bedchamber to the same monarch. These were at
that time places of considerable service and responsibility; and both the
uncle and the nephew were liberally rewarded by their royal master. By
conveyances dated in December, 1519, it appears that Robert Arden
then became the owner of houses and land in Snitterfield. Other
purchases by him of lands and houses are recorded from time to time.
The Poet's maternal grandfather, also named Robert, died in 1556. In
his will, dated November 24th,