CONTENTS

PROOF THAT SHAKSPERE COULD NOT WRITE

No handwriting of Shakspere has ever been discoveredexcept five autographs. In March 1613, whenhe was nearly 49 years old, he signed his name to amortgage, and again to a deed relative to the sametransaction. Three years later he subscribed his nameto three briefs or sheets of his will. The five facsimilesare here reproduced:

They are all such signatures as an illiterate person,unaccustomed to write, would be likely to scrawl; and

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