mortgage deed. This, also was found among Mr. Featherstonehaugh's evidences, and in I796 was in the hands of Mr. Wallis, who lent it to Malone to print in his often-quoted "Inquiry." Here the signature is, beyond all cavil or suspicion, William Shakspeṝ, where the mark above is the usual abbreviation of the period for the final e.[1]
To these we have now to add the autograph before us, in Florio's volume, which so unquestionably decides in favour of Shakspere, that in this manner I shall beg leave in future to write it; since I know no reason why we should not sooner take the poet's own authority in this point, than that of his friends or printers.[2]
At the same time it must be admitted, that if we disregard the form traced by the poet's own hand, the whole weight of printed evidence of his time (with few exceptions), is in favour of Shakespeare[3] as still adhered to by Mr. Collier; whose recent discoveries and publications on the subject of Shakspere and his writings,[4] entitle him to the hearty thanks of every admirer of our great dramatic writer, both in England and abroad.
- ↑ See Malone, PI. ii. No. x. Query, what has become of this document?
- ↑ To those deeply interested in the subject, it may be as well to add, that the name of our poet, both at his baptism and burial, in the Stratford Register, is spelt Shakspere, and so are the names of other members of his family, between the years 1558 to 1593; and in the marriage licence, recently discovered in the Consistorial Court of Worcester, it is spelt Shagspere, which, in effect, is the same thing.
- ↑ See the evidence summed up, but not without many inaccuracies, in "Another Essence of Malone," 8vo. 1801, pp. 73, 96, which was published anonymously by Geo. Hardinge.
- ↑ "New facts regarding the Life of Shakespeare," &c. 12mo. 1835; and "New Particulars regarding the Works of Shakespeare," l2mo. 1836.
