The Prima Facie Case for Shakespeare The links from First Folio to Stratford

The following are historical facts, dismissed or claimed to be non-existent by all doubters of Shakespeare. They form the basis for the conclusion that William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon was the author of work published under his name in the First Folio in 1623.

The prima facie case does not offer absolute, 100% certainty—it does establish a presumption in support of the conclusion. This conclusion admits only one hypothesis. Shakespeare of Stratford is the author. It may be overcome, but only if there is contrary factual evidence that serves to rebut the conclusion. Supposition, speculation and guesswork are not acceptable. Claiming the evidence has been suppressed or destroyed by a conspiracy is not acceptable.

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1 - title pages

William Shakespeare’s name is listed as author on the title page or dedications of numerous plays and poems published from 1593 (Venus and Adonis) onwards.

Creator: William Shakespeare. Title: Venus and Adonis. Vilia miretur vulgus: mihi flauus Apollo. Pocula Castalia plena ministret aqua. Date: London : Imprinted by Richard Field, and are to be sold [by John Harrison] at the signe of the white Greyhound in Paules Church-yard, 1594. Repository: The British Library, London, UK.

More Shakespeare Title Pages.

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2 - sharer in lord chamberlain’s and king’s men

Many of the plays were identified as having been performed by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men or the King’s Men. Contemporary records show that William Shakespeare was a sharer in these playing companies.

The publisher of the first edition was Andrew Wise, who registered his right to the title on October 20, 1597. In the late 1590s, no stationer was selling more Shakespeare than Wise, who acquired and published what would become the three most popular Shakespeare plays in print—Richard III, Henry IV, Part 1, and Richard II—all of which he published multiple times in a few years around the turn of the century. The title page of the first edition does not name an author, but when Wise published the second edition the next year, he added the name “William Shake-speare,” an indication that Wise thought attribution would help sell the play. Second edition title page. The copy shown above is held at the Folger Shakespeare Library, and is one of five known to exist according to The English Short Title Catalogue.

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3 - well-documented relationship

Shakespeare’s relationship with his fellow sharers—Richard Burbage, John Heminges, Henry Condell, Augustine Phillips, and others, as well as fellow householder Cuthbert Burbage—is well documented

The paper notebook shown here names William Shakespeare as a recipient of 4½ yards of red cloth in anticipation of King James’s coronation progress, granting Shakespeare substantially the same recognition as the rest of the twenty-eight players named in the Lord Chamberlain’s account book. This is one of many documented connections between Shakespeare and Bankside theatreland.

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4 - named in will of fellow player

Shakespeare was named as a “fellow” of Phillips in Phillips’ will when he died in 1605, along with other members of the King's Men company (left of the page, 5th line from the bottom).

Augustine Phillips was a long-time member of the same playing company as William Shakespeare—the Lord Chamberlain’s and later the King’s Men. Phillips’ will, dated May 4, 1605, provides insight into two important aspects of the company’s operations. First, it provides a nearly complete roster of the King’s Men in May 1605. Second, provisions of the will provoked lawsuits which help document the history of the Globe playhouse. Other 17th Century Legacies.

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5 - fellow player named as trustee

Heminges was a trustee for “William Shakespeare of Stratford Vpon Avon in the Countie of Warwick gentleman” in the purchase of London property. Heminges later transferred the property to Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna.

In March 1613 William Shakespeare and three associates agreed to purchase the Gatehouse of the former Dominican priory in London known as “Blackfriars” from Henry Walker for the sum of £140. The indenture of bargain and sale is dated March 10. The same group agreed to a mortgage, dated March 11, for the property in the amount of £60, implying that the buyers put up only £80 at the time of sale. A well-documented purchase.

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6 - left money to fellow players in will

Shakespeare left Heminges, Burbage and Condell money to buy mourning rings in his will.

The registered copy of Shakespeare’s last will and testament is shown here. The original will was probated on June 22, 1616, and entered in the register shortly thereafter. After Shakespeare's death in April 1616, one or both of his executors—Susanna and John Hall—delivered his will to the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, in London, for probate, and to be copied into a parchment register. The will was probated in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury rather than in Warwickshire because Shakespeare owned property in more than one county: the Blackfriars gatehouse in London, in addition to his various properties in Warwickshire.

Shakespeare's family, legal and property records.

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7 - shakespeare gent.

The playwright was entitled to be referred to as “Gent.” - “M.” - or “Mr.”, a title that would apply to an individual whose family was entitled to bear arms.

M. William Shak-speare: his True Chronicle Historie of the life and death of King Lear and his three Daughters. With the unfortunate life of Edgar, sonne and heire to the Earle of Gloster, and his sullen and assumed humor of Tom of Bedlam. As it was played before the Kings Maiestie at Whitehall vpon S. Stephans night in Christmas Hollidayes. By his Maiesties seruants playing usually at the Gloabe on the Banckeside. A “Gent.” in deed.

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8 - the ONLY shakespeare gent.

Only William Shakespeare of Stratford had that distinction during that time period—no other William Shakespeare qualified.

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9 - a worthy fellow

Heminges and Condell state that the works in the First Folio were written by “so worthy a friend and fellow...as was our Shakespeare”.

Other contemporary references and accounts of Shakespeare.

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closing statement

The evidence demonstrates that William Shakespeare of Stratford was the author of the works.

He was named on the title pages of works published during his lifetime; he was a gentleman, entitled to be referred to as “M.”, “Mr.” or “gent.”, all of which were applied to the author in print and other extant records; and he had a well-documented personal and business relationship with the King’s Men playing company (formerly the Lord Chamberlain’s Men), and particularly with John Heminges and Henry Condell, compilers of Shakespeare’s First Folio, who named Shakespeare their "friend and fellow."