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accurate knowledge of the law。 Therefore； Shakespeare of
Stratford must have been an attorney's clerk！ The method is
simplicity itself。 By similar reasoning Shakespeare has been
made a country schoolmaster； a soldier； a physician； a printer；
and a good many other things besides； according to the
inclination and the exigencies of the commentator。 It would not
be in the least surprising to find that he was studying Latin as
a schoolmaster and law in an attorney's office at the same time。
However； we must do Mr。 Collins the justice of saying that
he has fully recognized； what is indeed tolerable obvious； that
Shakespeare must have had a sound legal training。 〃It may； of
course； be urged；〃 he writes； 〃that Shakespeare's knowledge of
medicine； and particularly that branch of it which related to
morbid psychology； is equally remarkable； and that no one has
ever contended that he was a physician。 （Here Mr。 Collins is
wrong； that contention also has been put forward。） It may be
urged that his acquaintance with the technicalities of other
crafts and callings； notably of marine and military affairs； was
also extraordinary； and yet no one has suspected him of being a
sailor or a soldier。 （Wrong again。 Why； even Messrs。 Garnett
and Gosse 〃suspect〃 that he was a soldier！） This may be
conceded； but the concession hardly furnishes an analogy。 To
these and all other subjects he recurs occasionally； and in
season； but with reminiscences of the law his memory； as is
abundantly clear； was simply saturated。 In season and out of
season now in manifest； now in recondite application； he presses
it into the service of expression and illustration。 At least a
third of his myriad metaphors are derived from it。 It would
indeed be difficult to find a single act in any of his dramas；
nay； in some of them； a single scene； the diction and imagery of
which are not colored by it。 Much of his law may have been
acquired from three books easily accessible to himnamely；
Tottell's PRECEDENTS （1572）； Pulton's STATUTES （1578）； and
Fraunce's LAWIER'S LOGIKE （1588）； works with which he certainly
seems to have been familiar； but much of it could only have come
from one who had an intimate acquaintance with legal proceedings。
We quite agree with Mr。 Castle that Shakespeare's legal knowledge
is not what could have been picked up in an attorney's office；
but could only have been learned by an actual attendance at the
Courts； at a Pleader's Chambers； and on circuit； or by
associating intimately with members of the Bench and Bar。〃
This is excellent。 But what is Mr。 Collins's explanation？
〃Perhaps the simplest solution of the problem is to accept the
hypothesis that in early life he was in an attorney's office （！）；
that he there contracted a love for the law which never left him；
that as a young man in London he continued to study or dabble in
it for his amusement； to stroll in leisure hours into the Courts；
and to frequent the society of lawyers。 On no other supposition
is it possible to explain the attraction which the law evidently
had for him； and his minute and undeviating accuracy in a subject
where no layman who has indulged in such copious and ostentatious
display of legal technicalities has ever yet succeeded in keeping
himself from tripping。〃
A lame conclusion。 〃No other supposition〃 indeed！ Yes；
there is another； and a very obvious suppositionnamely； that
Shakespeare was himself a lawyer； well versed in his trade；
versed in all the ways of the courts； and living in close
intimacy with judges and members of the Inns of Court。
One is； of course； thankful that Mr。 Collins has appreciated
the fact that Shakespeare must have had a sound legal training；
but I may be forgiven if I do not attach quite so much importance
to his pronouncements on this branch of the subject as to those
of Malone； Lord Campbell； Judge Holmes； Mr。 Castle； K。C。； Lord
Penzance； Mr。 Grant White； and other lawyers； who have expressed
their opinion on the matter of Shakespeare's legal acquirements。
。 。 。
Here it may； perhaps； be worth while to quote again from
Lord Penzance's book as to the suggestion that Shakespeare had
somehow or other managed 〃to acquire a perfect familiarity with
legal principles； and an accurate and ready use of the technical
terms and phrases； not only of the conveyancer's office； but of
the pleader's chambers and the Courts at Westminster。〃 This； as
Lord Penzance points out； 〃would require nothing short of
employment in some career involving CONSTANT CONTACT with legal
questions and general legal work。〃 But 〃in what portion of
Shakespeare's career would it be possible to point out that time
could be found for the interposition of a legal employment in the
chambers or offices of practicing lawyers？ 。 。 。 It is beyond
doubt that at an early period he was called upon to abandon his
attendance at school and assist his father； and was soon after；
at the age of sixteen； bound apprentice to a trade。 While under
the obligation of this bond he could not have pursued any other
employment。 Then he leaves Stratford and comes to London。 He
has to provide himself with the means of a livelihood； and this
he did in some capacity at the theater。 No one doubt that。 The
holding of horses is scouted by many； and perhaps with justice；
as being unlikely and certainly unproved； but whatever the nature
of his employment was at the theater； there is hardly room for
the belief that it could have been other than continuous； for his
progress there was so rapid。 Ere long he had been taken into the
company as an actor； and was soon spoken of as a 〃Johannes
Factotum。' His rapid accumulation of wealth speaks volumes for
the constancy and activity of his services。 One fails to see
when there could be a break in the current of his life at this
period of it； giving room or opportunity for legal or indeed any
other employment。 'In 1589；' says Knight； 'we have undeniable
evidence that he had not only a casual engagement； was not only a
salaried servant； as may players were； but was a shareholder in
the company of the Queen's players with other shareholders below
him on the list。' This （1589） would be within two years after
his arrival in London； which is placed by White and Halliwell…
Phillipps about the year 1587。 The difficulty in supposing that；
starting with a state of ignorance in 1587； when he is supposed
to have come to London； he was induced to enter upon a course of
most extended study and mental culture； is almost insuperable。
Still it was physically possible； provided always that he could
have had access to the needful books。 But this legal training
seems to me to stand on a different footing。 It is not only
unaccountable and incredible； but it is actually negatived by the
known facts of his career。〃 Lord Penzance then refers to the
fact that 〃by 1592 （according to the best authority； Mr。 Grant
White） several of the plays