A remarkable discovery by Professor Matthew Steggle of the University of Bristol sheds new light on William Shakespeare’s family and the previously unknown faith of his sister, Joan. Through digital analysis of a rare 17th-century religious text, Professor Steggle has revealed Joan Shakespeare as the true author of a document long attributed to their father John.
The document in question, a religious tract expressing a fervent Catholic faith, was unearthed around 1770 hidden within the rafters of Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. This discovery held immense significance at the time. Catholicism was a forbidden religion in Elizabethan England, with practitioners risking torture and persecution. The document, if authentic, would have indicated that John Shakespeare, William’s father, was a secret Catholic – a detail that would have significantly altered perceptions of the playwright’s family history.
However, the document subsequently vanished, leaving behind a cloud of doubt. Early Shakespearean scholars believed it to be genuine but attributed it to John. Later researchers, questioning its authenticity, dismissed it as a forgery.
Professor Steggle’s research employed the power of digital resources to bring clarity to this historical mystery. By meticulously examining digital copies of the Shakespeare document and leveraging online archives like Google Books, he was able to locate early editions of the Italian source text, “The Last Will and Testament of the Soul.” These digital resources, unavailable to previous researchers, proved to be the key.
The analysis revealed several crucial details. Firstly, the Italian text postdated John Shakespeare’s death in 1601. Secondly, the content and style of the Shakespeare document closely mirrored the Italian source material. This new evidence pointed towards a different Shakespeare sibling – Joan – as the possible author.
Joan Shakespeare, born five years after William, remained in Stratford-upon-Avon throughout her life. While overshadowed by her famous brother’s literary achievements, very little is known about her. Professor Steggle’s research not only identifies her as the author of the religious document but also offers a glimpse into her faith. The document’s expressions of Catholic devotion suggest that Joan, unlike her father, may have secretly adhered to the outlawed religion.
“There are only seven surviving documents from Joan’s lifetime that even mention her by name,” explains Professor Steggle. “Virginia Woolf’s famous essay, ‘Shakespeare’s Sister,’ explored the concept of lost voices from history, and Joan has become an embodiment of that idea. For centuries, her voice remained unheard, while her brother’s words have been endlessly studied. This discovery allows us to finally hear a whisper from Joan herself.”
The document offers poignant excerpts that illuminate Joan’s faith and anxieties. She expresses her willingness to accept death and her gratitude for God’s blessings. She also invokes the Virgin Mary and Saint Winifred, a saint revered by women for her resistance to unwanted advances, as intercessors for her soul. These details further reinforce the notion of Joan as the author, grappling with her faith in a world hostile to Catholicism.
Professor Steggle’s groundbreaking research not only rewrites the narrative surrounding a long-lost document but also sheds light on a previously unknown aspect of William Shakespeare’s family history. More importantly, it offers a rare glimpse into the life and faith of Joan Shakespeare, a woman whose voice has echoed through the centuries, finally finding expression through the power of digital scholarship.
The research, published in the journal Shakespeare Quarterly, is part of Professor Steggle’s work on a biography of Shakespeare.
Source: University of Bristol