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Go here. I will study it more carefully when I have time.

“http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-the-will.htm";

He didn’t leave his wife his bed. He left her his “second” best bed. (Gads)

Anyway, he didn’t appear to be passing the hat at some street corner. Other than his “second” best bed, he didn’t leave his wife with anything. Maybe she ended up with a tin can at some corner.

As you will see if you read the link you posted, it says:

It is, however, understood that it would have been her right, through English Common Law, to one-third of his estate as well as residence for life at New Place

His wife would have gotten a considerable amount of property. And a very comfortable end to her life living at the house New Place.

Shakespeare bought New House in Startford-upon-Avon in 1597 for £60. New House was the largest and most elegant house in his home town of Stratford. That is where his wife would have spent the remaining days of her life.

The website you linked to does not mention who the property went to, but it shows Shakespeare gave away around £500 in cash. The average house today costs $250,000.00, but Shakespeare bought the best place in town, rather upscale. So let's say that £60 purchase would be equivalent to $350,000.00. So a British pound back then would be worth around $5800.00 in today's dollars. So the equivalent of £500 would a little under $3 million. And that is just the cash. It does not take into account of the property which is not mentioned in the will, but would have been distributed according to English common law.

So, we have established that Shakespeare died a very wealthy man. And his wife would have been spent her last days in great material comfort.