How did Shakespeare change his will?

Answer 1

Because his younger daughter Judith had got engaged to a bit of a Jack the Lad called Thomas Quincey who ran a pub in Stratford. Thomas had a child by another woman in the town which caused a big scandal. It then turned out he hadn't got a license for the marriage and he and Judith were excommunicated (a serious punishment).

So he cut Thomas out of his will altogether. SHAME

Answer 2

Shakespeare's will shows that a number of provisions were added after the first draft was prepared by the lawyer drawing it up, and some words deleted.

The changes were:

• Changing the date from January to March
• Deletion of the words "my son-in-L"
• Addition of the phrase "in discharge of her marriage portion" re: gift to Judith.
• Deletion of the words "by my executors and overseers" from trust for Judith.
• Deletion of "to be set out for her within one year after my decease by my executors with the advice and directions of my overseers for her best profit until her Marriage and then the same with the increase thereof to be paid unto her" from gift to his sister Joan.
• Addition of the words "the said Elizabeth Hall (except my broad silver bowl)" to gift of silver plate, changing beneficiary from his sister Joan to his granddaughter Elizabeth
• Deletion of "Master Richard Tyler the elder" and replacing with "Hamlett Sadler".
• Addition of "to William Reynolds, gent. 26 s 8 d. to buy him a ring."
• Deletion of words "in gold" from gift to John Nash
• Addition of "to my fellows John Heminges, Richard Burbage and Henry Condell 26s 8d each to buy them rings."
• Addition of "for better enabling of her to perform this my will and towards the performance thereof" to the gift of New Place to his executrix and daughter Susanna Hall, as well as the clarifying words "in Stratford aforesaid"
• Addition of "I give unto my wife my second best bed with the furniture"

Answer 3

Shakespeare gave his wife his second-best bed. People have long thought that this was an unusual gift--why not the best bed? Scholars now think there are two reasons for this: the best bed was the guest bed, but the second-best bed was the marriage bed, the bed that William and Anne had shared. It therefore had sentimental value. In addition, the Shakespeares put up a pile of money to lure Dr. John Hall as a husband to Susannah, and this marriage settlement probably included the best bed.

Answer 4

Shakespeare left his wife his second-best bed in his will. This is weird because he didn't leave anybody his first-best bed. However, most of his stuff was supposed to go to his daughter Susanna so presumably she got it. Also the second-best bed may have been Will and Anne's bridal bed and thus sentimental.

Answer 5

that he didn't really write hisown will. he had a group of people to write it for him.

Answer 6

William left the second bed to his wife.

This was the marriage bed; the best bed was in the guest bedroom.

Answer 7

It's about three pages of dense, crabbed writing. You can read it at the related link.