Ralph Brooke's compilation of arms granted by William Dethick: copy with the arms of "Shakespeare the player"

This manuscript contains a depiction of Shakespeare’s arms that clearly refers to William, rather than to his father, John. The coat of arms is labeled “Shakespeare the player by Garter.” (Garter refers to the heraldic title of William Dethick, who granted the arms to John Shakespeare). The coat of arms and inscription are on folio 28 and are possibly in the handwriting of a later owner of the manuscript, John Lucas, who signs his name to the volume in 1642. The reference to Shakespeare as a player (that is, an actor) is in keeping with the derogatory way in which Brooke, sometimes misleadingly, depicts other holders of coats of arms as tradesmen, rather than honorable and land-holding gentlemen. In fact, it appears that the scribe first wrote "Shakespeare the playes by Garter," and then struck-through the "es" and added an "er" above, to correct it to player.

While the last three pages of the manuscript most likely date from 1642, the remainder of the manuscript is in an earlier, italic, hand, which has not yet been identified. A comparison of each page suggests that the manuscript is a revised copy of a slightly earlier version, Folger MS V.a.156, in Brooke's hand, and that the scribe added additional arms from other notes by Brooke. It also appears that it was the source for a later copy, Folger MS V.a.350, in the handwriting of the herald Peter Le Neve and another, as yet unidentified herald. 

The image of Shakespeare's arms was first reproduced in an essay by Clive Cheesman, Richmond Herald, “Grants and Confirmations of Arms,” in Heralds and Heraldry in Shakespeare’s England (Donington: Shaun Tyas, 2014), p. 90.