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Discover the surprising story of Shakespeare’s will.

William Shakespeare’s will was written 400 years ago in brownish iron gall ink over three large paper folios, each signed by the pen of Britain’s greatest playwright himself. Over the years, Shakespeare’s will has generated many different interpretations of his family life and his death. He famously left his wife Anne their ‘second best bed’ but was this a snub, or in fact an act of love from a dying man? Join The National Archives’ collections specialist Amanda Bevan for a closer look at the will which shows the efforts Shakespeare made to secure a lasting financial legacy for his family.

Secrets of The National Archives showcases some of the most notable documents and stories from the collection. From iconic documents such as Domesday, to hidden gems, discover The National Archives’ unique and rich collection and explore history as it really happened.