ton, co. Beds.

[299] See "The Shakespeares of Essex." by Augustus Charles Veley,
Registrar of the Archdeaconry of Essex, _Essex Archaeological Society's
Magazine_, vol. iii., p. 70, 1865.

[300] See my article in the _Athenaeum_, April 23, 1892, entitled
"Pre-Shakespearean London Shakespeares."

[301] 40 Chayney.

[302] Auditors' Patent Books, vol. vi., 1538-1553. Thomas Shakespeare,
formerly minister of Colebray, in the parish of St. Mildred's, in the
ward of Bread Street, London, on September 1, 2 Ed. VI., received a
patent for 100 shillings per annum. There is no absolute proof, but
every probability, that this is the same Sir Thomas Schaftespeyr
mentioned in the will of Joan Jons of Bristol, and other Bristol Wills.
See the abstract contained in the "Great Orphan Book," and Book of Wills
in Council House at Bristol, 1886, by the Rev. J. P. Wadley, Rector of
Naunton Beauchamp.

[303] Admin. Vicar-General's Books, No. 268, 1574-1583.

[304] Lay Subsidies, Essex, 111/575.

[305] Lay Subsidies, Essex, Rochford, 112/602, 112/634, 112/642.

[306] Subsidy Rolls, Chelmsford, Essex, 112/707, do. 112/708.

[307] Subsidy Rolls of several Hundreds in Essex, a paper book, 246/19.

[308] _Notes and Queries_, Third Series, vi. 324, and French,
"Shakespeareana Genealogica," p. 541.

[309] _Notes and Queries_, Third Series, vi. 324, and French,
"Shakespeareana Genealogica," p. 541. Mr. C. G. Dickenson tells me his
will is at Canterbury, v. 52, f. 36.

[310] Registers of Sutton Valence, Kent, kindly sent by a correspondent.

[311] "Misc. Gen. et Herald," New Series, i. 143.

CHAPTER XIV

LONDON SHAKESPEARES

By far the most interesting search can be made in London, that great
centre where congregate representatives of all the families and counties
of the kingdom.

It is strange that a William was one of the earliest recorded burials in
the registers of St. Margaret's, Westminster. "William Shakespeare was
buried April 30, 1539." A comparatively modern hand has written against
this the foolish scribble, "Query if this be the poet or not?" He may
have been in the service of the Court, but there are no signs that he
was a man of wealth. In the churchwardens' account[312] he was only
charged 2d. for the candles at his funeral, a common charge, but not for
great people. He may have been the son of the fifteenth-century William,
or of Peter of Southwark, and father or brother of Roger the royal
yeoman.

The