that "inheritance" could hardly be
talked of. He seems to have indeed supported all the family, as there is
no trace[135] of any of them, except Edmund the player, engaging in any
trade or profession. Whether his mother resided in Henley Street or at
New Place is not clear. There is nothing further known of her save the
register of her burial: "September 9th, 1608, Mayry Shaxspere Wydowe."

No sepulchre or memorial of her has come down to our time. We only know
that somewhere in the consecrated ground by Stratford Church lies the
dust of John Shakespeare and Mary Arden, the parents of the poet.

[Illustration: SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTH-HOUSE BEFORE THE RESTORATION IN
1857.]

FOOTNOTES:

[120] Stratford-on-Avon Chamberlain's Accounts, April 29, 6 Edward VI.

[121] Stratford-on-Avon Baptismal Register.

[122] All these references are from the Chamberlain's Accounts, and
accounts of the Halls at Stratford-on-Avon. Those who have not had
access to them may refer to Halliwell-Phillipps's "Outlines," i. 29; ii.
179 _et seq._

[123] Worcester administration bonds, 1561. _Notes and Queries_, 8th
Series, xii. 413.

[124] This statement is, however, evidently erroneous.

[125] Roll for Stratford, Longridge MS.

[126] Stratford Borough Records.

[127] The first notice of municipal employment of players appears during
his year of office, the Queen's Company and that of the Earl of
Worcester having performed before the council. A case was tried at the
Warwick assizes, Easter, 11 Elizabeth, concerning the tithes of
Rowington, and John Shakespeare, of Stratford-on-Avon, was on the
jury.--Ryland's "Records of Rowington."

[128] See Chamberlain's accounts for "the expenses of Mr. Queeney in
London," also for the expenses of the dinner given to Sir Thomas Lucy
and others, at which Quiney and Shakespeare presided.

[129] In 1579 he buried his daughter Anne "with the pall and the great
bell." On May 3, 1580, his youngest child Edmund was christened.

[130] "At this halle William Smythe and Richard Court are chosen
Aldermen in the places of John Wheler and John Shaxspere, for that Mr.
Wheler doth desire to be put out of the company, and Mr. Shaxspere doth
not come to the Halles when they be warned, nor hath not done of long
tyme."--Borough Reports. It is noteworthy that he was never fined for
absenting himself as others were.

[131] Controlment Rolls, 29 Elizabeth, Stratford-on-Avon.

[132] State Papers, Domestic Series, Eliz