To all and singular noble and gentlemen of all estates and degrees, bearing arms, to whom these presents shall come; William Dethick, Garter Principal King of Arms of England, and William Camden, alias Clarencieulx, King of Arms for the south, east, and west parts of this realm, send greetings. Know ye, that in all nations and kingdoms the record and remembrance of the valiant facts and virtuous dispositions of worthy men have been made known and divulged by certain shields of arms and tokens of chivalrie; the grant or testimony whereof appertaineth unto us, by virtue of our offices from the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, and her Highness's most noble and victorious progenitors: wherefore being solicited, and by credible report informed, that John Shakespeare, now of Stratford upon Avon, in the county of Warwick, gentleman, whose great grandfather, for his faithful and approved service to the late most prudent prince, king Henry VII. 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 premises, and for the encouragement of his posterity, unto whom such blazon of arms and atchievements of inheritance from their said mother, by the ancient custom and laws of arms, may lawfully descend; we the

said Garter and Clarencieulx 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 cognisance, A falcon, or, with his wings displayed, standing on a wreathe of his colours, supporting a spear armed headed, or steeled silver, fixed upon an helmet with mantles and tassels, as more plainly may appear depicted in this margent; and we have likewise impaled the same with the ancient arms of the said Arden* ^note of Wellingcote; signifying thereby, that it may and shall be lawful for the said John Shakespere, gent. to bear and use the same shield of arms, single or impaled, as aforesaid, during his natural life; and that it shall be lawful for his children, issue, and posterity, lawfully begotten, to bear, use, and quarter, and shew forth the same, with their due differences, in all lawful warlike feats and civil use or exercises, according to the laws of arms, and custom that to gentlemen belongeth, without let or interruption of any person or persons, for use or bearing the same. In witness and testimony whereof we have subscribed our names, and fastened the seals of our offices. Given at the office of arms, London, the
day of
in the forty-second year of the reign of our most gracious sovereign lady Elizabeth, by the grace of God, queen of England, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. 1599.