IX
“MRS. SHAXSPERE” IN THE LAW COURTS
It is well known that William Shakespeare, his family, and his friends were frequently connected with lawsuits in Stratford-on-Avon; but it has not yet been noted that his mother also appeared, in one case at least, under conditions not quite clear.
Among the Miscellaneous Documents, Stratford-on-Avon, Vol. VI, is a narrow strip of paper numbered 168. It begins:
Jurie between Robert Reed, plaintiff, and John Sadler, defendant, in a pley of trespas committed.
List of Jury: Phyllyp Grene; Ralph Lourd; Valentyne Taunt, Jur.; Robert Byddell, Jur.; Rychard Dyxson; William Wyat, Jur.; Rychard Boyse; Hough Piggon, Jur.; Edmund Watt; Rychard Taylor, Jur.; Nycholas James, Jur.; George Perey; Thomas Sharpe, Jur.; Humphrey Wheeler; Thomas Brydges; Jullyan Shawe, Jur.; Robert Wylson; John Knyght; William Tetherton; Rychard Pinck; George Mase, Jur.; Wylliam Slater, Jur.; George Rose, Jur.; Thomas More, Jur.
This seems to be the case described in the same volume of Miscellaneous Documents, VI, No. 176. Robert Reade was a surgeon. John Gibbes was dangerously wounded 10th June 37 Eliz. John Sadler, his intimate friend and neighbour, summoned Robert Reade, and promised him £10 if he should cure Gibbes. This sum Sadler refused to pay after the cure had been effected.
At the foot of the page, apparently unconnected with the above, is another entry:
Capiat Rychard Jumpe at the suit of Johne Coocke in assumpsione for cecurytie for iiiˡⁱ viˢ viiiᵈ to paye at Stratford fayre next.
Endorsed upside down, and hence on the back of the later entry, appears
Maria Shaxspere, Jur.