Page:Shakespeare of Stratford (1926) Yale.djvu/49

Shakespeare of Stratford ''most excellent majesty and her Highness’ most noble and victorious progenitors. Wherefore being solicited and by credible report informed that John Shakespere, now of Stratford-upon-Avon in the county of Warwick, gent., whose parent, great-grandfather, and late antecessor for his faithful and approved service to the late most prudent prince King H. 7. of famous memory was advanced and rewarded with lands and tenements given to him in those parts of Warwickshire, where they have continued by some descents in good reputation and credit; and for that the said John Shakespere having married the daughter and one of the heirs of Robert Arden of Wellingcote in the said county and also produced this his ancient coat of arms heretofore assigned to him whilst he was her Majesty’s officer and bailiff of that town:—In consideration of the premisses and for the encouragement of his posterity, unto whom such blazon of arms and achievements of inheritance from their said mother by the ancient custom and laws of arms may lawfully descend, we the said Garter and Clarentieulx have assigned, granted, and confirmed, and by these presents exemplified, unto the said John Shakespere and to his posterity, that shield and coat of arms, viz., in a field of gold upon a bend sables a spear of the first, the point upward headed, argent; and for his crest or cognizance a falcon with his wings displayed, standing on a wreath of his colors, supporting a spear headed or and steeled silver, fived upon a helmet with mantels and tassels as more plainly may appear depicted on this margent. And we have likewise upon another escutcheon impaled the same with the ancient arms of the said Arden of Wellingcote, signifying thereby that it may and shall be lawful for the said John Shake''-