Shakespeare coat of arms
John Shakespeare, a glover from Stratford-upon-Avon, made enquiries about securing a coat of arms around 1575. He possibly met the herald Robert Cooke when Cooke visited Warwickshire that year. Cooke may have designed the pattern later granted to the family. John had served as bailiff and possessed the social standing required for such a request. Nothing came of the initial attempt, likely due to economic difficulties. These applications were expensive and often failed without sufficient funds. In 1596, the application was renewed by John or his son William on behalf of the family. As the eldest son, William could make a request for his family to be granted a coat of arms. At the time, William had enough money to pursue this goal. He hoped for support from influential men like Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, and Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. Two drafts of the grant document from 1596 written by herald William Dethick have been preserved. The drafts show minor differences and would have formed the basis for the official letters patent. A late 17th-century copy exists though the original no longer survives. Paleographer Charles Hamilton suggests William wrote the drafts himself if they are indeed examples of his handwriting. Heraldry scholar Wilfrid Scott-Giles proposes changes seen on the drafts resulted from discussions between William and the heralds.
The 1596 drafts define the shield with gold background and a black diagonal bar called a bend sable. On that bar sits a spear of gold with a silver head described as steeled argent. The crest features a falcon with wings displayed in silver standing on a wreath of colors supporting another gold spear. This spear is steeled as previously mentioned and set upon a helmet with mantles and tassels. Added to the design is what appears to be a motto reading Non Sanz Droict in old French meaning Not without right. No evidence shows the Shakespeares ever used this motto despite Warwickshire County Council adopting it later. The motto was first written incorrectly as Non, Sanz Droict meaning No, without right before being corrected. A simple sketch accompanies the text description in the grant documents. The 1602 version by William Smith Rouge Dragon preserves these elements for posterity. The visual components remain consistent across surviving drafts despite minor variations. These specific details form the official record of the Shakespeare family arms granted in 1596.
Scholar Katherine Duncan-Jones connects the falcon to Henry Wriothesley's coat of arms which displays four silver falcons or hawks. She proposes the colors imply the Shakespeare family included crusading knights in their history. The spear resembles a silver-tipped golden pen according to some interpretations. Heraldry scholar Scott-Giles states the design has no obvious meaning beyond the connection between the spear and the family name. The falcon with shaking wings could refer to an interest in hunting within the family tradition. Some theories suggest the design dates back to when William was a boy making any connection to Wriothesley unlikely. The spear serves as an allusion to the family name itself while the falcon adds symbolic weight. John Shakespeare's qualifications were noted during disputes over the validity of the grant. The combination of gold and black creates a striking visual contrast on the shield. This heraldic arrangement reflects both personal ambition and family heritage through carefully chosen symbols.
In 1602 Ralph Brooke challenged coats of arms approved by Dethick including Shakespeare's own grant. Brooke claimed the Shakespeares did not qualify for such honors and that the design resembled existing arms too closely. Dethick argued there was sufficient distinction and highlighted John Shakespeare's qualifications against these claims. The dispute appears resolved in Dethick's favor though details remain unclear from surviving records. Brooke served as a rival to Dethick and used this opportunity to question multiple grants simultaneously. The challenge tested the validity of armorial bearings granted under questionable circumstances. No formal record exists documenting how the resolution occurred or what penalties might have applied. The outcome allowed the Shakespeare coat of arms to stand despite Brooke's objections. This legal battle highlights tensions within the College of Arms regarding proper heraldic standards. The controversy demonstrates how easily noble status could be contested even after official approval.
The coat of arms appears on the seal of William's daughter Susanna Hall who inherited the family line. It can partly be seen on the wax seal of Elizabeth Barnard's will as her mother's daughter. Elizabeth Barnard was the playwright's last surviving descendant carrying forward the family name. Hamnet, William's only son with Anne, died at age 11 just months before the application received approval. With no son to inherit the honor, William wrote about fruitless crowns in Macbeth ten years later. A draft document from 1599 requested combining the Shakespeare arms with those of Mary Arden's higher-ranked family. They wanted the Arden family's coat of arms to descend to their children but this required John's grant first. A more prestigious branch of the Arden family was requested yet stricken from the final version. Similar coats of arms were granted to people named Shakespeare in 1858, 1918, and 1946 when the baronetcy formed. These later grants preserved elements of the original design while adapting them for new generations.
A speech in Richard II written around 1595 mentions a lance and falcon possibly inspired by William's dealings with heralds. The falcon appears most frequently among birds mentioned throughout his plays. Ben Jonson alluded to the coat of arms in Every Man out of His Humour published in 1599. In that comedy rustic Sogliardo purchases a coat of arms and receives the motto Not without mustard instead. Claudius Marcus wears the Shakespeare coat of arms in Star Trek episode Bread and Circuses from 1968. The British sitcom Upstart Crow made John's desire and William's application recurring plot points until granting it in Wild Laughter in the Throat of Death. These fictional works reference historical details while adding creative interpretations for modern audiences. The coat of arms continues appearing in literature and media long after its official creation. Such depictions keep public interest alive regarding this particular family's heraldic history.
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Common questions
When did John Shakespeare apply for a coat of arms?
John Shakespeare made enquiries about securing a coat of arms around 1575. The application was renewed in 1596 by John or his son William on behalf of the family.
What does the Shakespeare coat of arms look like?
The shield features a gold background with a black diagonal bar called a bend sable. A spear of gold with a silver head sits on that bar, and the crest displays a falcon standing on a wreath supporting another gold spear.
Who designed the Shakespeare coat of arms grant document?
Herald William Dethick wrote two drafts of the grant document from 1596 which have been preserved. Paleographer Charles Hamilton suggests William wrote the drafts himself if they are indeed examples of his handwriting.
Why did Ralph Brooke challenge the Shakespeare coat of arms in 1602?
Ralph Brooke claimed the Shakespeares did not qualify for such honors and that the design resembled existing arms too closely. He served as a rival to Dethick and used this opportunity to question multiple grants simultaneously.
How is the Shakespeare coat of arms connected to Henry Wriothesley?
Scholar Katherine Duncan-Jones connects the falcon to Henry Wriothesley's coat of arms which displays four silver falcons or hawks. She proposes the colors imply the Shakespeare family included crusading knights in their history.