. William Shakespere : a biography. son residing in the imme-diate neighbourhood of Stratford. In 1578 he had been High Sheriff. At the periodwlieti the deer-stealing may be supposed to have taken place he was seeking to be210 A BIOGKAIliV. member for the county of Warwick, for wliicli he was returned in 1584. Hewas in the habit of friendly intercourse with the residents of Stratford, for in1583 he was chosen as an arbitrator in a matter of dispute by Ilamnet Sadler,tlie friend of John Shakspore and of his son. All these considerations tend,we tliink, to sliow that the uupiobable deer-stealing
. William Shakespere : a biography. son residing in the imme-diate neighbourhood of Stratford. In 1578 he had been High Sheriff. At the periodwlieti the deer-stealing may be supposed to have taken place he was seeking to be210 A BIOGKAIliV. member for the county of Warwick, for wliicli he was returned in 1584. Hewas in the habit of friendly intercourse with the residents of Stratford, for in1583 he was chosen as an arbitrator in a matter of dispute by Ilamnet Sadler,tlie friend of John Shakspore and of his son. All these considerations tend,we tliink, to sliow that the uupiobable deer-stealing tradition is based, likemany other stories connected with Shakspere, on that vultrar love of the mar-vellous which is not satisfied with the wonder which a being eminently endowedhimself presents, without seeking a contrast of profligacy, or meanness, or jcrno-rance in his early condition, amongst the tales of a rude generation who cameafter him, and, hearing of his fame, endeavoured to bring iiim as near as mightbe to [Ohaileote Uouse. From Avenue.] Charlcote, then, shall not, at least l)y us, be surrounded by unplea-^ant asso-ciations in connexion with the name of Shakspere. It is, perhap<^, the mostinteresting locality connected with that name; for in its great features it isessentially unchanged. There stands, with slight alteration, and those in goodtaste, the old mansion as it was reared in the days of Elizabeth. A broadavenue leads to its fine gateway, which opens into the court and the principalentrance. We would desire to people that hall with kindly inmates; to ima-gine the fine old knight, perhaps a little too puritanical, indeed, in his latterdays, living there in peace and happiness with his family ; merry as he oughtto have been with his first wife, Jocosa (whose English name, Joyce, soundethnot quite so pleasant), and whose epitaph, by lier husband, is honourable aliketo the deceased and to the survivor.* We can picture him plantmg the .<^econ
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookpublisherlondon, booksubjectshakespearewill
