The form of the letter a in both these fac-similes [8] was peculiar to that time. It occurs in Shakspere’s second autograph. Why did he thus vary the form? Probably because he followed the copy set for him. Note now the various spellings of his name: In 1582, as a bridegroom, Shagsper. In 1593 and 1594, as a poet, Shakespeare; and the same uniformly as a playwright from 1598 to 1623. but sometimes with a hyphen—Shake-speare. In 1596, as an inhabitant of Southwark, Shaksper. In 1598, as addressed by letter, Shackesper. In 1598, as owner of corn, Shakesper. In 1604, as plaintiff in a suit, Shexpere. In 1604 and 1605, as author of plays performed at Whitehall before King James, Shaxberd. In 1609, as plaintiff in a suit, Shackspeare. In 1612, as plaintiff in a suit, Schackspeare. In 1614, as written by his cousin, Shakspear. In 1616, as twice written in his will, Shackspeare; but in signing the same three times he omits the c in the first syllable, and it is impossible to tell what the last three or four letters are. And although in the two Deeds of 1613 the name is written repeatedly Shakespeare, in signing them he omits the e in the first syllable both times, and varies the termination of the name, just as an illiterate person would be likely to do. But there are more of these various spellings. All the records of Shakspere’s lifetime have been hunted up and printed. From these documents, consisting of deeds, bills of complaint, letters, poems, plays, etc.,— most of which especially concerned either the father or son or both—we extract the following spellings, giving; the dates: [9] Shakspere 1558, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’66, ’69, ’71, ’79, 80, ’83, ’85, ’90, ’96, 1616, ’17. (John Shakspere and all his offspring so registered, except Richard Shaks peer, baptized 1574.) Shaxpere 1558, ’79, 1607, ’08. Shakspeyr 1567, (“Mr.,” meaning John.) Shakysper 1568, (“Mr. John.”) Shackespere 1573, ’89, 1602. Shakespere 1575, ’79, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99,1602, ’04, ’06, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’13. Shackspere 1579, (Deed. “Joannis Shaxpere -j-.”) 1608. Shagsper 1582, (Marriage bond—twice so written.) Shake-scene 1592, (Greene, the playwright, in derision.) Shakespeare 1593-1594, (Poems,) 1596, ’98, 1603, ’05, ’13, (and all Plays from 1598 to 1623.) Shaksper 1596, ’98, 1613, (Signature,) 1616. Shakesper 1598, (Owner of corn.) Shackesper 1598, (Letter from Quiney to Shakspere.) Shakspeare 1601, ’03, ’07, ’12, ’13, ’14, 1623. Shackespeare 1603, ’14, (Agreement.) Shexpere 1604, (Suit for mult sold.) Shaxberd 1604, ’05, (Dramatist, Whitehall.) Shakespear 1605, (Conveyance.) Shakesphear 1605, (Same conveyance.) Shackspeare 1608, ’12, ’14, ’16. Scliackspeare 1612, ’14, (Complaint and agreement.) Shaksp; 1613, (Signature.) Shakspear 1614, (Cousin’s letter.) Shaksp.... 1616, (Signatures to Will.) Shaxper 1616, (“Bell and pall for Mr. Shaxpers dawghter, viii. d.”)