Shakespeare of Stratford/The Biographical Facts/Fact 13
XIII. DRAFT OF GRANT OF ARMS TO SHAKESPEARE’S FATHER (1596).
Rough draft, preserved in Heralds’ College, London, of arms devised for John Shakespeare by William Dethick, Oct. 20, 1596.
NON SANZ DROICT Shakespere, 1596.
To all and singular, noble and gentlemen, of what estate or degree bearing arms, to whom these presents shall come, William Dethick, alias Garter, principal king of arms, sendeth greetings. Know ye that whereas by the authority and ancient privilege and custom pertaining to my said office of principal king of arms from the Queen’s most excellent majesty and her highness’ most noble and victorious progenitors I am to take general notice and record, and to make public demonstration and testimony, for all causes of arms and matters of gentry throughout all her Majesty’s kingdoms and dominions, principalities, isles, and provinces to the end that as some by their ancient names, families, kindreds, and descents have and enjoy sundry ensigns and [coats] of arms, so other for their valiant facts, magnanimity, virtue, dignities, and deserts may have such marks and tokens of honor and worthiness whereby their name and good fame shall be [the better known] and divulged and their children and posterity in all virtue to the service of their prince and country [encouraged]. Being therefore solicited and [by] credible report informed that John Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon in the county of Warwick, whose parents and late antecessors were for their valiant and faithful service advanced and rewarded by the most prudent prince King Henry the Seventh of famous memory, sithence which time they have continued in those parts in good reputation and credit, and that the said John having married Mary, daughter and one of the heirs of Robert Arden of Wilmcote in the said county, Esq. In consideration whereof and for encouragement of his posterity, to whom these achievements may [?] descend by the ancient custom and laws of arms, I have therefore assigned, granted, and by these presents confirmed this shield or coat of arms; viz., Gold on a bend sable a spear of the first, the point steeled, proper; and for his crest or cognizance a falcon, his wings displayed, argent, standing on a wreath of his colors, supporting a spear—gold—steeled as aforesaid, set upon a helmet with mantels and tassels as hath been accustomed and more plainly appeareth depicted on this margent. Signifying hereby that it shall be lawful for the said John Shakespeare, Gent., and for his children, issue, and posterity at all times convenient to make show of and to bear blazoned the same achievement on their shield or coat of arms, escutcheons, crest, cognizance or seals, rings, signets, pennons, guidons, edifices [?], utensils, liveries, tombs, or monuments, or otherwise, at all times in all lawful warlike facts or civil use and exercises, according to the laws of arms without let or interruption of any other person or persons. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and fastened the seal of my office endorsed with the signet of my arms, At the Office of Arms, London, the xx. day of October, the xxxix. [ie. 38th] year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth, by the grace of God Queen of England, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, etc. 1596.
Note. The document quoted above is a very rough draft, with many interlineations. Dethick made a copy of it, introducing some unimportant verbal changes, which is also in the Heralds’ Office, but the fairer copy is badly torn in two places. Bracketed words in the transcript above are supplied from the second copy. Both documents give on the margin a pen and ink sketch of the arms assigned to Shakespeare. The second draft has the following notes added at the bottom:
This John hath a pattern thereof under Clarenc. Cooke’s hand in paper xx. years past. A justice of peace, and was bailiff, officer, and chief of the town of Stratford-upon-Avon xv or xvi years past. That he hath lands and tenements of good wealth and substance, 500 li. That he mar—(remainder missing).
Good facsimiles of both papers are provided in Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, edited by J. J. Howard, Second Series, vol. i, p. 109 (1886).
It is reasonably conjectured that the motive for John Shakespeare’s effort thus to establish his social position came from the poet, and that it reflects the latter’s ambition and worldly prosperity. Other wealthy actors—e.g. Augustine Phillips and Thomas Pope of Shakespeare’s company—assumed arms to which they appear to have had no hereditary right. A contemporary herald, Ralph Brooke, mentions Shakespeare as one of twenty-three persons charged with obtaining coats of arms to which they were not entitled. (For an answer to this accusation see Mrs. Stopes, Shakespeare’s Family, pp. 22 f.) The arms here granted are displayed on the monument above Shakespeare’s grave and on the tombstone of his daughter Susanna. For a later document granting heraldic honors to Shakespeare see no. XXVI.