ote again from Lord Penzance's
book as to the suggestion that Shakespeare had somehow or other managed
"to acquire a perfect familiarity with legal principles, and an accurate
and ready use of the technical terms and phrases, not only of the
conveyancer's office, but of the pleader's chambers and the Courts at
Westminster." This, as Lord Penzance points out, "would require nothing
short of employment in some career involving CONSTANT CONTACT with legal
questions and general legal work." But "in what portion of Shakespeare's
career would it be possible to point out that time could be found for
the interposition of a legal employment in the chambers or offices of
practicing lawyers?... It is beyond doubt that at an early period he was
called upon to abandon his attendance at school and assist his father,
and was soon after, at the age of sixteen, bound apprentice to a trade.
While under the obligation of this bond he could not have pursued any
other employment. Then he leaves Stratford and comes to London. He has
to provide himself with the means of a livelihood, and this he did in
some capacity at the theater. No one doubts that. The holding of horses
is scouted by many, and perhaps with justice, as being unlikely and
certainly unproved; but whatever the nature of his employment was at
the theater, there is hardly room for the belief that it could have been
other than continuous, for his progress there was so rapid. Ere long he
had been taken into the company as an actor, and was soon spoken of as a
'Johannes Factotum.' His rapid accumulation of wealth speaks volumes for
the constancy and activity of his services. One fails to see when there
could be a break in the current of his life at this period of it, giving
room or opportunity for legal or indeed any other employment. 'In 1589,'
says Knight, 'we have undeniable evidence that he had not only a casual
engagement, was not only a salaried servant, as may players were, but
was a shareholder in the company of the Queen's players with other
shareholders below him on the list.' This (1589) would be within
two years after his arrival in London, which is placed by White and
Halliwell-Phillipps about the year 1587. The difficulty in supposing
that, starting with a state of ignorance in 1587, when he is supposed
to have come to London, he was induced to enter upon a course of most
extended study and mental culture, is almost insuperable. Still it was
physically possible, provide