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Show SHAKESPEARE'S WILL GIVES WIFE 'SECOND BED' AND FURNITURE tales, with the exception of a copyhold copy-hold tenement, were "freehold. Under such condition Ids wife was entitled to a dower. She provided for amply "by the clear and undeniable unde-niable operation of the English law." Of the lands, houses and gardens gar-dens which Shakespeare inherited from his father she was assured the life interest of a third : Of the capital message called New Palace, the best house in Stratford, which Shakespeare purchased in 1507, she was assured the same life interest from the moment of the conveyance. In the most probable case, as both Shakespeare and his wife lived affectionately, the legal provision of dower would have been regarded as the natural and proper arrangementso arrange-mentso Datural and usual as not to be referred, to in a will. Shal speare lies buried beneath the chancel chan-cel of the fine old parish church at Stratford. William Shakespenre and Ann Hathuway had three children, two daughters and a son, Susanna, Judith Ju-dith and Hamnett, says the Arkansas Arkan-sas Thomas Cat iu discussing Shakespeare's will. Hamnett died in 1506, twenty years before his father, but the two daughters survived sur-vived the Bard of Avon. Shakespeare Shakes-peare was bmled on April 15, 1010. His eldest daughter, Susanna, married mar-ried Dr. Hall, an eminent physician in Stratford, in 1607, and died in 1G40. Judith married Thomas Quincy, a thriving tradesman, in February, 1610, just shortly before her father' death, and died in 1622. Shakespeare's will is dated March 25, the year of his death. The poet mentions his youngest daughter, Judith, first In his. will, bequeathing to her 150 pounds ".of lawful English Eng-lish money," with the proviso that she must surrender all "her estate aud right that shall descend or come unto her in Stratford-on-Avon unto my daughter, Susanna Hall, and her heirs forever." This sum was to be paid at once, and at the expiration of three years she was to receive another 150 pounds. To his oldest daughter he willed his Stratford residence, "called the New Palace, wherein I now dwell ;" two houses in Henly street, and all barns, stables, lands, etc., at Stratford, Strat-ford, a well as all other real estate es-tate in London and elsewhere which should ,be' -In his possession at the time of his death, and in case of her death to go to her heirs. The most peculiar part of Shakespeare's Shake-speare's ' will : came . immediately after' these ; bequests to his daughters, daugh-ters, in which", in .another paragraph he says ' "I give, unto my wife my; second best bed, iwith the furniture." This is fjtbe only mention1 of Anlnl, Hathaway in the will, and just why the poet compelled her to be satisfied satis-fied with only the second best bed it would be impossible to explain, nor how Ann subsisted after the death of her husband, for she survived sur-vived him several years. Shakespeare bequeathed to Judith his broad silver gilt bowl. And all the rest of the goods, chattels, leases, leas-es, plate .jewels and household stuff whatsoever he bequeathed to his son-in-law, John Hall, in which was probably Included! -the "first ' best bed." Hall and Suzanne were, .the executors, ofthe will. -; j ' ; '-- . . ! Thtite'jw8 been, a .great amotta'nC of contixiHrty'.Ks, .fy 'wiy' Shakespeare cut jpi lris wife infills wiil,;'bfit Charf&-Knight, In his "Wiliiam Shakespeare i -A - Biography'- states that -it-Was' no' I doubt'' the object .of Shakespeare by this will to perpetuate' perpe-tuate' C"a "faihil:'efate!." 'His es-Vii.M'.ib es-Vii.M'.ib "i -n : . i . ' 1 |