William Shakespeare, Attorney at Law. "As were our England in reversion his, And he our subject's next degree in hope." Falstaff, speaking of Mrs. Ford and his conquest of her, tells to what advantage he will employ the relation existing between them : — "I will be cheaters to them both and they shall be exchequers to me." "Cheater " was, in Shakespeare's day, a corruption of " escheater." A petitioner has just made complaint to Suffolk, mistaking him for the Lord Pro tector. The cause of complaint is then stated by Suffolk: — "What's here [reads] against the Duke of Suf folk for enclosing the common of Melford?" The following is the only occasion where Shakespeare employs the word " trust " in the sense of a delivery of property to one for the benefit of another: Helicanus, assuring the peers of Tyre of the king's departure, says : — His sealed commission left in trust with me Doth speak sufficiently he's gone for travel." And thus wc look at another face of the literary prism, only to be dazzled by the
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glare of intellectual light which it reflects. When man attempts to analyze inspiration, his labors end with a sigh. Note. — The following is a list of real property terms to be found in Shakespeare's works. Many of these words occur in sentences of very slight legal significance; others with more force and effect. The number of t me* they occur is indicated by the figures following the words Attaint Attainder . Attest ... Bond ... Certificate Cancel Condition Conveyance Covenant ( battel Common Commons Capable Coverture Deed . Demise Descend Descent Disclaim Dower
Dowry Eject Kntail Kntry Equity E-tate Executor Fee (in land) Fee (to atty.) Fee Farm Fee simple F'ine and recovery
4 3 5 48 10
9 2
8 3 3 1 1 2 5 1
4 3 3 20 24 1
3
57 27 1 1
5 3
Fealty . Forfeit Forfeiture Heir . Heir apparen Indenture Inheritance Land service Landlord Lease . Livery Lineal descent Jointure Manor Precedent Privity Praemunire Ratify Remainder Rent Reversion Seal Security Sufferance Tenant Tenure Title . Tenement Ward . Warranty Waste
4 3S to 122
6 8 12
3 2
if. 2
3 3
