h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi pebbledrook. I'm subbing your "Shakespeare's Will" entry.

I'm puzzled by it.

You say Shakespeare's will was found in 1747 by Joseph Greene, then go on to say that it is a copy that was found in 1747 by Joseph Green, then talk about the original in the National Archives.

Presumably Shakespeare only signed one will.

- If a copy was made later, did they copy his signature too?
- Was it the original found in 1747 by Joseph Greene?
- If not, where was the one in the National Archives found?
- The different versions of the will now, are they from different copies, are are they from different transcriptions of the same original?

Hi Gnomon

Shakespeare's will first came to light when Joseph Greene discovered a copy of the original (I would guess without signatures). The original will was found later in the archives of the Canterbury Probate records (which I guess confirmed the copy as an accurate record).

The original is now stored at in the national Archives.

Amending the entry to say 'the first discovery of Shaks will was a copy discovered by Joseph Greene'?

And the last question, about the various transcriptions are I would surmise the result of sloppy transcriptions onto the internet from the original now in the National Archive. They have that 'eye jump' explanation where the transcriber has moved from one '16 shillings and eightpence' to another and missed a line in between.

Good luck, and thank you.

Thanks.

You say "The bequests to Anthony and Thomas Nash one or both are missing from some sources." but you don't list any bequest to Thomas Nash yourself.

Aaaaargh. A slip of the brain. It should be Anthony and John Nash.

Actually I am thinking that we could remove the footnote about the different sources as I am inclined to believe that they are simply modern transcription errors onto the interweb and are more confusing than illuminating. I think at the time I was trying to be proper academic and point out that I was aware of the differences in case someone had read an errored transcription.

Have you any pictures to go with this entry? If you send them to the artists, they can pick the best and trim them down to the right size and so on.

If you've nothing, I have a picture of the house in Henley Street which they could use, but you obviously get first preference on this.

I'm finished subbing this now, at A87814966. Would you like to read through it and let me know that you're happy? You should also subscribe to that entry, so that you will be notified when anyone comments on it after it is published.

Once you're happy, I'll send it back to the Editors for a final polish, a picture to be added and for it to be published.

Picture? I have all my work cut out putting text in

Whatever you guys want is fine by me (as long as it isn't a picture of Edward de Vere).

The text looks good to me. Thank you for your input.

Here's the picture I was going to propose to the artists:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eoinmcauley/6704132375/in/set-72157610260536488

It's the house in Henley Street. What do you think?

It's a good pic. It has a relevance to the entry as it is the first piece of Stratford property the Shakespeares bought and certainly the last that remained in family hands.

I have left this a while as I didn't want to appear a 'precious' author, but there are two things I think need to finally tidy the piece.

I Gyve and Bequeath unto her Three Sonnes
William never married. {I think to differentiate the Williams, this should read William Hart}

To Susanna and John Hall
Two gifts only of plate and household stuff are excepted from this general bequest. The siver and gilt bowl {Misspelling of silver}

Thank you again for the opportunity to tell my friends that I am a published author. Sort of.

Hi Pebblederook. Since I've resigned my position of Curator, I can't make these changes for you. You should go to Editorial Feedback (click on Feedback, then Editorial) and start a new conversation there. Call the conversation "EF: Shakespeare's Will". Mention the A number of the entry (it makes it a lot easier for the curators) and what you want done to it. Someone will be along shortly to sort you out.

Will do, thanks again