In 1616 William Shakespeare bequeathed to Anne Hathaway, his wife since 1582, his “second best bed” together with its furniture, the drapes and coverings. It seems that this was not a slight since the second best bed would have been their matrimonial bed, the best bed being reserved for guests and usually left to the male heir.
My aunt gave me photocopy today of a will of one of our ancestors, Agnes Wheyman. The will is dated 1574, about forty years earlier. A few months ago I listened to Germaine Greer’s fierce rebuttal of previous views of Shakespeare’s marriage to an illiterate older seductress who got pregnant and forced 18-year-old William into a shotgun marriage and became a shrewish companion he despised, and her circumstantial arguments that instead Ann Hathaway remained the love of his life, a love poignantly marked by the gift of that second best bed. I’d like to read her book now, to find out more about the life of women then.
In the name of God. Amen. The XVI
day of February 1574. I, Agnes
Wheyman of Denyngton within the diocese
of Norwich, wydowe, being sick and diseased
But of hale mynd thanks I give unto
Allmighty God and mak my testament
and last will in forme following. First
I commend my soule to Almighty God
my Creator and Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour
and my body to be buryed in the church
yarde of Denyngton. Item I give
and bequeath unto Rose Wheymond my daughter
my bedsted with the featherbed and bolster
and all other things as it now standeth.
Item for that the said Rose
did lay out 12s [shillings] to redeem my cowderon [cauldron]
home again I give her also the
said cowderon. Item I give to my
sone Robt. Wheymond my charger
Item I give unto Margery my daughter
my best gowne. Item I give and
bequeath unto Edward Wheymand
my sone a round stole [stool] and
a quishen [cushion]. And all the Rest of
my goods and chatells and whatsoever
they be I give and bequeath to the
said Rose whome I do ordeyne and make
to be my sole executrice
and she to see this my last will and
testament
X
In witness wherof I have sent my mark these being witnes
Alice Marshall
Robt. Bagot
Christfer Hersant
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December 3, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Stavros
What a special gift. An ancestor talking to you over the span of centuries. I especially liked the part where she thanks Almighty God despite being sick and dying. She sounds strong, in charge, even on her deathbed. I like her.