SECTION 23 - The last days

Summary

In 1597, when Shakespeare bought the New Place, he was in the full tide of popular success. If ever he, like Scott, had dreamt of founding a family, his hopes were frustrated by the death of Hamnet in the preceding year. His motive in the purchase was to provide a home for his wife and daughters, possibly for his parents, now well advanced in years. After 1597 nothing more is heard of John's troubles or occupations. He had his quiet consummation in 1601, and his wife followed him seven years later. Besides William's wife and daughters there remained at Stratford his brother, Richard, and his sister, Joan. Pepys, who was ashamed of the rusticity of his father and sister, was yet drawn often to visit the old home at Brampton. The same ties of affection brought William to Stratford.

In 1597 he had not reached his climacteric in drama. Whether any of his later plays were planned or written at Stratford it is impossible to say. Such documents as tell us of his whereabouts between 1597 and 1611 connect him entirely with London. The tradition noted by John Ward, vicar of Stratford, about 1662–3, that in his elder days he lived at Stratford and supplied the stage with two plays every year is, in respect of the latter statement, to be accepted with caution. After the Tempest (1610–11) it is likely enough that he bade farewell to the London theatre.