The Trial Of John Shakespeare

A classic play on the story of financial problems
and risk of charging usury by John Shakespeare,
the father of William Shakespeare (1530-1601)
John Shakespeare was the father of William Shakespeare
the sensational playwright of England. In the year 1570 A.D
when William was thirteen years old, a friend named Walter
Mussum visited John in his house at Stratford-upon-Avon in
England to loan a sum of £220. John was persuaded to loan
this money to Mussum at an interest rate of 25% despite that
he knew he was charging usury. Sin of usury was punishable by
fines and forfeiture of ones property according to the laws of
the church and the kingdom of England in medieval period.
When the secret of this deal licked into the ears of the church
authorities, John resorted to stay away from church services on
Sundays. The church issued a warrant of arrest on John, and he
was brought before the Father on charges of usury and other
practices of illegal wool trade. John was later tried in the court
of the Queens Bench in Stratford-upon-Avon.