Shakespeare Electronic Conference, Vol. 4, No. 250.  Wednesday, 21 April 1993.
 
From:           Tad Davis <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Wednesday, 21 Apr 93 10:00:34 EDT
Subject: 4.0248  *R&J* Poison; Hamlett Sadler?
Comment:        Re: SHK 4.0248  *R&J* Poison; Hamlett Sadler?
 
> Hamnet Sadler did not sign his name Hamlett as a witness on the will,
> as can be seen very plainly on any facsimilie. There is a possibility
> that he spelled it Hanmet, as N's and M's have a way of looking like
> one another, but there is definitely no "l" in the signature.
 
I hate it when that happens. That's what I get for trying to write
something from memory.
 
John Mucci is right: Hamnet Sadler signed his name Hamnet. What I was
remembering was the bequest itself. On page 2 of the will, Shakespeare
and/or Francis Collins and/or Collins' clerk wrote: "Item I gyve &
bequeath to mr Richard Tyler thelder xxvjs viijd to buy him A Ringe..."
Sometime later, "mr Richard Tyler thelder" was crossed out, and the name
"Hamlett Sadler" was written above the line. (See Chambers, Facts and
Problems, vol. II, p. 172.)
 
The basic point, that the names might have been used interchangeably,
remains.
 
Tad Davis
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