Who granted Shakespeares fathers coat of arms?
, the chief of the British College of Heralds in 1596, an office known as “Garter King-of-Arms,” was a greedy fellow named Sir William Dethick. He granted the petition; the fee (quoted elsewhere as “50 guineas,” a coin that hadn’t been invented yet) does not appear to be on record. Since it was likely more of a bribe than an official fee, this is hardly surprising.
