"In this contribution to our knowledge of Shakespeare and his acquaintances in Southwark, I have confined my attention chiefly to the poet and to William Gardiner and his stepson William Wayte, reserving Francis Langley for fuller treatment elsewhere. For convenience to the reader, in reproducing Elizabethan documents I have for the most part modernized spellings, and added some punctuation. The intricacies and repetitions of obsolete legal language offer difficulties enough without the gratuitous obstacle of a chaotic orthography. For the chapter on Gardiner's life the documents of control will be found in the appendix chronologically arranged." -- preface, page xiii.