5*^ CP > A ^oV^ ^^0^ ^oV »^.^'^ %^^ ^^%,^l ro» .-fc^ j^9 f :. i." V*^ c^ .^ *^ ^> .^"^ */» o,^" 'J^ * 0^ K^""^ * A^' ^-..^^ /Jife- %A^ /Mak^ \.J^^ /.^fe^ :t^'a ^ ^^'\ 7 > -^^ °^ ^^0^ 4 n t O ,-. '■t.O^ ; REPOJ^TS C A s £ s. s^^ TAKEN In the time of Queen El^lZA^BETH, Km^^fAMES, andKingCHJ1{LES'^ CoUeded and Reporred by that learned Lawyer WILLIAM NOY. Sometimes Reader of the Honourable Sociecie of LINCOLNES-INNE, SINCE ATTOVRNEY GENERALL tothelate KING CHJ^LES. Conteining moft Excellent matter of Ex- ceptions to all manner of Declarations, Pleadings, and Demurrers, that there is fcarce one Acftion in a Probability of being brought, but here it is throughly examin'd and Exactly layd. 0\[m tranjlited into Englifl^i Wi;h Two neceffary Tables of the Cafes and Contents, for the Readers eafe and benefit. Printed by F. L, for Mattheib WJbancke at GrayaslnneGzit, and T. Ftyh^ near Crajes-Inne Gate in Hollwn^^ 1656. (See Page 36) Law Sports at Gray's Inn (1594) Including Shakespeare's connection with the Inn's of Court, the origin of the Capias Utlegatum re Coke and Bacon, Francis Bacon's connection with Warwickshire, together with a reprint of the Gesta Grayorum By Basil Brown jvi^^J, Author "Notes on Elizabethen Poets," "Supposed Caricature of the Droeshout Portrait of Shakespeare," etc. NEW YORK 1921 ^Va Copyright 1921 Bv Basil Brown Privately Printed by the Author APR 'db 1921 0)CiA611970 To Gray's Inn "Old PurpiiUi Britain's Ornament" the Author Dedicates this humble offering CONTENTS Introduction i-xciv Shakespeare's Connection Witli the Inns of Court 1-25 Sliakespeare's Plays Controlled by Bacon's Frkuids 26- 34 Why Queen Elizabeth Neglected Bacon — That Caijids Vtlcyatum . 34- 35 Origin of '"CapUtn Itlcfjafiim" Insult Offered to Bacon by Queen Elizabeth's Attorney-Cieneral. Sir Edward Coke 37- 49 Francis Bacon's Connection With Warwickshire and the Forest of Arden 50- 7S Bacon's Connection With the Burbage's 79-119 You Would Pluck Out the Heart of My Mystery 120-150 Shakespeare's Lodgings in Silver Street 151-155 Bacon's Warwickshire Kinsmen and the Underhih's 156-161 Was Anne Cecil the Prototype of Helena in "All's Well" 162-168 Appendix A — History of the Manor and Ancient Barony of Castle Com- be. Be Sir John Far. extolled in the greatest prince, may I be per- mitted to offer to your Highness passing by the loyalty of our Learning and this congratulation of mine, such as it is, after your return from Russia as famous and triumphant and spread through all the world to have it attested in this discourse of mine for all the nobles. For al- though my discourse escapes me suddenly and is dazed as it were before so great a majesty — still a more earnest congratulation and one more replete with dutiful affection for noble virtues, cannot certainly be advanced. Do you not see that the community itself, dis- lodged as it were from its abodes, is advancing to congratulate so great a prince? What do you think this entire assembly is entertaining in thought? On whose features and mien do you think the eyes of all are directed? What feelings of our friends do you reciprocate? What do we desire? What do we wish? What do we do? Is it not to express our wishes as much as con- gratulate you on your victories? What wonder, then, if a school, even our own, emulous of noble virtues, is eager to pay tribute to most renowned victories and triumphs? Continue, therefore, and continue with the best auspices, most famous Prince, return to your palace of Purtpoole. The Oracle of the Gray's, in which as by the prophetic voice of the Del- phian Apollo all differences are settled. As to invading the Spaniard, common foe of all princes, do you deliberate. How easily will your sword now dripping with the blood of the Tartans especially, if you should take the Templars, associated with you by ancient treaty, into the alliance of a new war (how easily) will your sword thrust back the drawn swords of all others and dash away their shields? Let the Spaniards burst with envy as the sides of Cedrus (an illusion to VirgiTs Ecoloques VII 26). Meanwhile indeed our Muses will both applaud your past victories and will entreat the ancient Pallas of the Grays, that she may put her own helmet on the now a second Agamemnon who has many Achilles and Ulysses as your compan- ions, and protect you with her shield and ban- ner, and after routing and defeating all your foes preserve you forever." There was in this Order of the Helmet an inten- tionally symbolic meaning, not yet fully solved. Al- though the ancient Pallas of the Gray's had put her own Helmet on the Prince and his Knights, the wisdom gained thereby did not make them eschew the charms of beauty, as the following words prove.' "As I am rightful Prince, and true Sovereign of the honourable Order of the Helmet, and by all those Ladies whom, in Knightly honour I love and serve, I will make the name of a Grayan Knight more dreadful to the Barbarian Tartars, than the Macedonian to the wearied Persians, the Romans to the dispersed Britain's, or the Castalian to the weakened Indians. Gen- tle Ladies, be now benign and gracious to your Knights, that never pleased themselves but when their service pleased you; that for your sakes shall undertake hard adventures, that will make your names and beauties most famous, even in foreign regions. Let your favour kindle the vigour of their spirits, wherewith they abound; for they are the men by whom your fame, your honour, your virtue, shall be for ever advanced, protected and admired." iGesta Grayonmi. p. 6S. We must bear in mind that the Ladies whom the Prince of Purpoole so honored, loved, and served, were the women of Shakespeare. The women of Elizabeth's Court inspired the Poet who immortalized them under the names of Portia, Juliet, Rosalind, Ophelia, Cordelia, Isabel, Silvia, etc. Not in Stratford, not in Silver or Monkwell Streets did he find his heroines, but at the Court, the Inns of Court, and in the Houses of the great men of his time. These fair women were clothed with the "seemly beauty" of the poet's own heart and brain. At Gray's Inn Shake- speare had seen how "His Highness called for the Master of the Revels, and willed him to pass the time in danc- ing: So his gentlemen — pensioners and attend- ants, very gallantly appointed, in thirty couples, danced the old measures, and their galliards, and other kinds of dances, revelling until it was very late; and so spent the rest of their performance in those exercises." In the Ladies Masque in Timon, Act I, See. 2, we are reminded of the Gesta Grayorum. ''The Lords rise from Table, with much ador- ing of TIMON ; and, to show their loves, each singles out an Amazon, and all dance. Men with Women, a lofty Strain or two to the Hautboys, and cease/' Tim. You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies. Set a fair fashion on our entertainment. Which was not half so beautiful and kind: You have added worth unto't, and lustre. And entertain'd me with mine own device; I am to thank you for it. I Lady. My lord, you take us ever at the best. ... Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet Attends you : please you to dispose yourselves. All Lad. Most thankfully, my lord. The Prince of Purpoole advised the Knights of the Helmet to read the modern writers, and to visit the Theatre : ''Item, every Knight of this Order shall en- deavour to add conference and exrience (sic) by reading; and therefore shall not only read and peruse Guizo, the French Academy, Galiat- to the Courtier, Plutarch, the Arcadia, and the Noeterical Writers, from time to time ; but also frequent the Theatre, and such like places of ex- perience; and resort to the better sort of ordi- naries for conference; whereby they may not only become accomplished with civil conver- sations, and able to govern a table with dis- course; but also sufficient, if need be, to make epigrams, emblems, and other devices, apper- taining to his Honour's learned revels.'" Guizo (Stufano) the first writer mentioned above published his La Civil Conversatione, etc., in 1574. In 1586 the first English translation appeared under the following title: "The Civile Conversation divided into foure bookes, the first three translated out of French by G. Pettie, in the first is contained in generall the fruits that may be reaped by Conversation, and teaching how to know good companie from ill, in the second the manner of conversation, meete for all persons ... in the third is per- ticularlie set forth the orders to be observed in 'Gesta Grayorum. p. 30. Conversation within doores ... in the fourth is set downe the forme of Civile Conversations, by an example of a Banquet, made in Cassale, betweene sixe Lords and foure Ladies, and now translated out of Italian into English by Barth. Young of the Middle Temple. Imprinted at London by Thomas East, 1586. It is said Shakespeare was familiar with this work. The French Academy by Primaiidaye, is referred to by Hunter in his Notes on Hamlet and ''The Merchant of Venice." This book was also translated into Eng- lish in 1586, as follows: The French Academic Fully Discoursed and finished in foure Bookes. Newly translated into English by T. B. Imnrinted at London, by Edmund BoUivant, 1586. The third book, The Courtier, was translated into English in 1566 by Bacon's uncle, Sir Thomas Hoby. The Arcadia may have been Sir Philip Sidney's work, or by Sanazarus. The following compliment is then paid to the Queen by the Prince of Purpoole: "Lastly, all the Knights of this honourable Order, and the renowned Sovereign of the same, shall yield all homage, loyalty, unaffected admi- ration, and all humble service, of what name or condition soever, to the incomparable Empress of the Fortunate Island.'" The names of the succeeding gentlemen who acted in the Gesfa Gray ovum, were Francis Bacon's kinsmen, iQesta Groyonim. p. 41. or related by marriage to his family. Fitzwilliam^ Cooke, Kempe, Cecil, Drewry, Davison, Wentworth, Dandye, Moseley. William Cooke, the Captain of the Gentlemen Pen- siofiers, was Bacon's cousin, and married the daughter of Sir Thomas Lucy of Charlecote in 1 594 ( See Bacon's letter to Sir Thomas Lucy, p. 60). This letter was written after Coke became Attorney General, 10 April 1594. The writer believes that the youth, Francis Bacon, when visiting his kinsmen, the Cookes, at Harts- hill, in the Forest of Arden, met William Shakespeare somewhere in the forest. Rowe, his first biographer, tells us: "He had, by a misfortune common enough to young fellows, fallen into ill company, and amongst them some that made a frequent practice of deer-stealing, engaged him more than once in robbing a park that belonged to Sir Thomas Lucy, of Charlecote, near Stratford. For this he was prosecuted by that gentleman, as he thought, somewhat too severely; and, in order to revenge that ill usage, he made a ballad upon him. This, probably, the first essay of his poetry, is said to have been so very bitter, that it re- doubled the prosecution against him to that de- gree, that he was obliged to leave his business and family in Warwickshire, for some time, and shelter himself in London." Let Shakespeare lead us into the Forest of Arden,, where Bacon must have often wandered in his youth, and, like Jaques, mused in a "most humorous sadness."* AS YOU LIKE IT {ACT IF, See. II) Another part of the Forest. Enter Jacques and Lords, in the habit of For- esters. laq. Which is he that killed the deer? First Lord. Sir, it was I. Jaq. Let's present him to the duke, like a Roman conqueror; and it would do well to set the deer's horns upon his head, for a branch of victory: — Have you no song, forester, for this purpose? Second Lord. Yes, sir. Jaq. Sing it; 't is no matter how it be in tune, so it make noise enough. SONG. 1. What shall he have that kill'd the deer? 2. His leather skin, and horns to wear. Take thou no scorn, to wear the horn. It was a crest ere thou wast born. 1. Thy father's father wore it; 2. And thy father bore it; All. The horn, the horn, the lusty horn. Is not a thing to laugh to scorn. The Gesta Grayoriim does not mention Shakespeare's name, but there is perhaps a parody on it in a letter dated January 5, 1594-5 :' A Letter of Advertisement from Knights- bridge, to the Honourable Council: "I beseech your Honours to advertise his Highness, that in his Excellency's Canton of Knightsbridge there do haunt certain foreign- ers, that seize upon all passengers, taking from them by force their goods, under pretence, that, 1 Gesta Grayorum, p. 63. being merchant strangers, and using traffic into his Highnesses territories of Clerkenwell, Isling- ■ ton, and elsewhere, they have been robbed of their goods, spoiled of their wares ; whereby they were utterly undone : and that his Honour, of his good will, hath been pleased to grant them Let- ters of Reprisal, to recover their loss of them that come next to their hands: by colour whereof, they lay hold of all that pass by, without respect. Some of their names, as I understand, are, Johannes Shaghag, Robertus Untruss, James Rapax, alias Capax." Johannes Shagbag reminds one of ^'Johannes" and ''Shakescene." Were he present on these Grand Nights, he must have enjoyed the reference to deer hunting "in other men's Parks." Although the Prince of Purpoole pardoned nearly every offence under the sun he ex- cepted deer stealing as follows : ''Except, all such persons as shall hunt in the night, or pursue any bucks or does; or with painted faces, vizards, or other disguisings, in the day-time; or any such as do wrongfully and un- lawfully, without consent or leave given or granted, by day or night, break or enter into any park impailed, or other several close, incloseure, chace, or purliew, inclosed or compassed with wall, pale, grove, hedge, or bushes, used still and occupied for the keeping, breeding, or cher- ishing of young deer, prickets, or any other game, fit to be preserved and nourished; or such as do hunt, chase, or drive out any such deer, to the prejudice and decay of such game and pass- times within our dominions." "Except, all such persons as shall shoot in any hand gun, demyhag, or hag butt, either half- shot, or bullet, any fowl, bird, or beast; either at any deer, red or fallow, or any other thing or things, except it be a butt set, laid, or raised in some convenient place, fit for the same purpose." "Except, all and every artificer, crafts-man, labourer, householder, or servant, being a lay- man, which hath not lands to the yearly value of forty shillings; or any clerk, not admitted or advanced to the benefice of the value of ten pounds per annum, that with any grey-hound, mongrel, mastiff, spaniel, or other dogs, doth hunt in other men's parks, warrens, and coney- grees; or use any ferrets, hare-pipes, snarles, ginns, or other knacks or devises, to take or de- stroy does, hares, or coneys, or other gentlemen's game, contrary to the form and meaning of a statute in that case provided." The few known facts of Shakespeare's personal his- tory, have led his biographers to whole folios of con- jecture. He lived in umbra and is the greatest wonder, and the most mysterious "Figure" * in all literature. The great historical dramas, and delightful comedies came out anonymously and were the admiration of the most eminent poets of his own day, many of whom lauded the author with unstinted praise, but not under his own name. Edmund Spencer calls him Aetion — an Eagle — 1591. Thomas Nashe, fired with enthusiasm over his Henry the VI, in 1592 writes: "How would it have joyed brave Talbot (the terror of the French) to think that after he had lyne two hundred yeares in his Tombe, he should *"Tlus Figure tliat thou liore seest put." triumphe againe on the Stage, and have his bones newe embalmed with the teares of ten thousand Spectators at least, (at several times) w^ho in the Tragedian that represents his person, im- agine they behold him fresh bleeding." In this same ''Pierce Pennilesse," 1592, Nashe also praises Edward Alleyn: "Not Roscius nor Esope, those tragedians ad- mired before Christ was borne, could ever per- forme more in action than famous Ned Allen." This leads me to think Alleyn was the Tragedian who played Talbot, so to the life. "Pierce Penni/esse" may have been read by Robert Green before it was printed, and this high praise by Nashe added fuel to the bitter envy felt by Greene against the genius of Shakespeare, to whom he alludes in his "Grotes worth of Wit," 1592, under the name of Shakescene," i. e., a property man about the stage. Chettle is supposed to allude to Shake- speare in his " Kind e-He arts Dream" December, 1592, as follows: "Myselfe hath scene his demeanor no less civill than he excellent in the qualitie he pro- fesses; besides divers of worship have reported, his uprightness of dealing, which argues his hon- esty, and his facetious grace in writing, that ap- proves his Art." All this is written about an unnamed author. Chettle had not seen his writing, but "divers of worship" had "reported" all this and Chettle bowed to their authority. Chettle had only seen his "demeanor." It is because it is so rare, that we treasure every crumb of evidence that falls from the pens of Shakespeare's contemporaries. Whoever the unnamed author was, he was backed or supported by "divers of worship" as early as 1592. Therefore when the Comedy of Errors was per- formed at Gray's Inne, the author's name was not men- tioned. . His name first appeared on a play, Love's Labors Lost, in 1598. My opinion is that the Comedy of Errors was especially written for its production at Gray's Inn on December 28, 1594. Meres mentions it for the first time in 1598 in Pal- ladis Tamia, where he merely calls it ''Errors." It was first printed in the Folio of 1623. It will be remem- bered that the night on which the Comedy of Errors was played by "a Company of base and common fel- lowes" "was ever after called the night of Errors" by the members of Gray's Inn. In his Essay on Friendship, Bacon says: — "If a man hath not a friend he may quit the stage," and I firmly believe when the friendless young Shakespeare fled from Stratford to London, Bacon took him under his wing and sheltered him. Without this shelter he would have been classed as a vagabond or a masterless man. It is a coincidence that the first record we have of his connection with players is with the Lord Chamber- laines servants, on the very date on ivhich the Comedy of Errors was performed at Gray's Inn, and is as fol- lows : "To William Kempe, William Shakespeare and Richard Burbage, servants to the Lord Chamberleyne, upon the Councelles warrant dated at Whitehall xv. to Marcij, 1594, for twoe severall comedies or enterludes shewed by them before her Majestie in Christmas tyme laste paste, viz., upon St. Stephen's daye and Inno- centes daye, xiijli. vjs. viijd., and by waye of her Majesties rewarde, vjli. xiijs. iiijd., in all xxli." This was recorded in the accounts of the treasurer of the Chamber and printed by Hallwill Phillipps in the 6th Ed. of his Outlines i, 109. The Comedy of Errors was performed at Gray's Inn on "Innocents Day at Night," December 28, 1 594. And from this date Shakespeare wore the livery of the Lord Chamberlain's men. Sir Henry Carey, the first Lord Hunsdon, Lord Chamberlain to the Queen, was Elizabeth's first cousin. It was by his courtesy the actors were permitted to play the ''Comedy of Errors" in Gray's Inn Hall. Two years after this, in 1596, it is thought Bacon wrote the following letter from Gray's Inn to the Earl of Shrewesbury: "It may please your good Lordship, I am sorry the joint masque from the four Inns of Court faileth; wherein I conceive there is no other ground of that event but impossibility. Nevertheless, because it faileth out that at this time Grey's Inn is well furnished of gallant young gentlemen, your lordship may be pleased to know, that rather than this occasion shall pass without some demonstration of afifection from the Inns of Court, there are a dozen gentlemen of Grey's Inn, that out of the honour which they bear to your Lordship and my Lord Cham- berlain to whom at their last masque they were so much bounden, will be ready to furnish a masque; wishing it were in their powers to per- form it according to their minds. And so for the present I humbly take my leave, resting Your Lordship's very humble and much boun- den, FR. BACON." I conjecture that "their last masque" referred to in this letter was a part of the Gesta Grayorum, and the letter shows Bacon's appreciation of the Lord Cham- berlain's courtesy in allowing his servants to perform a Comedy of Errors. Spedding comments on this letter as follows : "The next is the original found among the Burghley papers in the Landsdown collection, and was probably addressed to the first Lord Burghley though the address has disappeared with the flyleaf, and the docket does not supply it. If so, it must have been written before the autumn of 1598, but it seems impossible to de- termine on what occasion. I do not remember to have met with any report of a projected masque by the four Inns of Court united. But I find that on the 15th of October, 1596, Bacon wrote to the Earl of Shrewsbury from Grey's Inn, "to borrow a horse and armour for some public shew"; and this may possibly have refer- ' ence to the same. Occasions of the kind oc- curred frequently, and though small things some- times serve to illustrate things of importance, it is not very likely that anything would be gained ' by ascertaining the particulars of the "demon- stration of affection" here proposed. 'Letters and Life of Bacon' Vol II, p. 37.0." "Small things" do indeed "sometimes serve to illus- trate things of importance." Were it not for the Gesta xli Grayorurn, which was sold for a shilling on its publi- cation in 1688, we would never have known that Shake- speare's Comedy of Errors was "played by the players" in Gray's Inn, December 28, 1594. It may be that some day we will discover where Canning, the printer of the Gesta Grayonini, found the original manuscript. My esteeemd friend, the late Bertram Dobell, Poet and Bibliographer, wrote me, March 30, 191 1 : "Some day, I feel sure, — or tolerably sure — a copy of the Sonnets in the author's handwriting will turn up * * * I have myself discov- ered so many remarkable things in manuscripts that I don't even despair of crowning my dis- coveries by finding this."* In writing about Shakespeare, conjecture is bound to force itself upon the writer; like Banquo's ghost, it will not down. Therefore if Bacon became an en- couraging friend to the youth from Stratford, we can readily understand Shakespeare's rapid advancement, ^ The mention of Bertram Dobell's name recalls to mind these lines from one of his sonnets in A Lover s Moods sent me by their author in March, 1914: "To prove myself true poet and true lover Has been my life's devoutly cherished aim, But all in vain love's secret to discover I sought, nor dared the laurel wreath to claim : Now, let the world deny it, or bestow On me the guerdon of a poet's fame, I care not, for at last love's power I know. And poet am since lover I became." His son, Percy John Dobell in his tender Memoir of his father, states that "the proof sheets of this book were corrected and returned, but my father did not live to see a completed copy." The poet passed into the silent land December 14, 19 15. xlii which caused Greene to call him an "upstart crow." Bacon's influence was sufficient to place Shakespeare among the Lord Chamberlain's men, who were the leading company and allowed to play before the Queen and at Court. The fact is that Shakespeare's plays were written exclusively for the Court, and his plays were controlled entirely by the Lord Chamberlain and his deputy, Edmund Tilney, the Master of the Revels. Sir George Buc had acted as Tilney's deputy for sometime before the latter's death. Chalmers in his Supple- mental Apology, p. 200, says: "The following plays licensed by Sir George Bucke, as appeared by the Stationers Registers: 26 November (1607) Mr. William Shakspere his Historic of Kinge Leare; as it was played before the King's Majestic at Whitehall upon St. Stephens night at Christmas last, by his Majes- ties Servants, playing usually at the Globe on the Bankside. And 20 May 1607-8, "The Booke of Pericles Prynce of Tyre 3 June, Anthony and Cleopatra 6 Oct. 1621, The Tragedie of Othello." Sir George Buc was a friend of Camden's, who in his Britannia says: "That person of excellent learning. Sir George Buc Knight, Master of the Revels, who (for I love to own my Benefactor's) has remarked many things in our Histories and courteously communicated his observations." Buc was very learned and a member of the Middle Temple. The Master of the Revels, Edmund Tilney, in 1610, was succeeded by Sir George Buc, who was his nephew, and when Buc resigned in 1622, Sir Henry Herbert (a Kinsman of the two incomparable brothers to whom the first Folio was dedicated in 1623) became the Master of the Revels and retained the office for fifty years. All the noblemen and gentlemen named in connection with Shakespeare's plays w^re friends (some of them Kinsmen) to Francis Bacon. The Tilney's, Buc's, and Bacon's, married into the Buer family. Philip Herbert, Earl of Montgomery and Pembroke, to whom jointly with his brother, the first F0//0 was dedicated, married Bacon's cousin, Susan Vere, daughter of the 17th Earl of Oxford, in 1605. This gentlewoman's mother was Bacon's first cousin, Anne Cecil, the daughter of his Aunt Mildred, wife of William Cecil, the great Lord Burleigh, who was Elizabeth's Lord Treasurer for forty years. It does not seem to me rash to say that I believe the Shakespeare dramas were guarded by three of the great- est families in England — the Stanley's, the Carey's, and the Herbert's. Henry Carey, first Lord Hunsdon, Lord Chamberlain, and his son George, second Lord Huns- don, also Lord Chamberlain, first controlled them. Bacon's first cousin. Sir Edward Hoby, married Mar- gret, daughter of Henry Carey, first Lord Hunsdon. Sir Edward Hoby was the son of Bacon's Aunt Eliza- beth, who on the death of her first husband. Sir Thomas Hoby, married John Lord Russell, son of the Earl of Bedford. I found in a MS. copy of the Bisham Register this entry : ''The Right Honorable Lord John Russell and Renowned Lady Elizabeth Hobbey, 23 Dec. 1574" were married. I have reason to believe that Thomas Russell, Esq., whom Shakespeare makes one of the overseers to his will, was related to John Lord Russell, the second husband of Bacon's Aunt Elizabeth. Lady Russell, whom the poet Lodge called the "English Sapho" when in 1596 he dedicated to her A Margarite of America, like all Sir Anthony Cook's daughters, was greatly accomplished in letters. She lived in a fine residence in the Blackfriars near Shakespeare's property. Queen Elizabeth was there present on the marriage of her daughter Anne to Lord Herbert, the Earl of Worces- ter's son, in 1600. In 1593 Lodge wrote his Margarite of America. The Hoby family were his intimate friends. Wood says, "Lodge was a servitor or scholar under the learned Mr. Edward Hobye of Trinity College." He was at College with the sons of Lord Hunsdon also, by whom he was esteemed. His sweetness of temper may be judged when Shakespeare appropriated the plot of his Rosalynde for As You Like It. Lodge never railed against it or envied him as his associate Greene did. In 1589 Lodge and Greene had worked together on a play. If, as I am convinced, Bacon shielded Shakespeare, Lodge, who was on the closest terms of friendship with Bacon's relations, the Hobey's, the Russell's, the Stan- ley's, and the Carey's, there is good reason why he did not complain when Shakespeare purloined his plot of Rosalynde entire. Although he did not publicly ac- xlv cuse Shakespeare for using his plot, he omits his name when (in his Wit's Miserie and the World's Madness) he writes of the divine wits and poets of his day, as follows : "Lilly, the famous for facility in discourse; Spencer, best read in ancient poetry; Daniel, choice in word and invention; Draiton, diligent and formall; Th. Nash, true English; Aretine." Perhaps Lodge took some little pleasure in alluding to Shakespeare's voice in his Wit's Miserie and the World's Madnesse, T596, where he refers to Hamlet as follows : "The visard of ye ghost which cried so miser- ably at ye Theator, like an aister wife, 'Hamlet, re- venge' ". Nicholas Rowe, who wrote the first Life of Shake- speare, tells us, although he searched diligently to as- certain what were the characters Shakespeare acted on the stage, he could only learn that he had ''acted the ghost in his own Hamlet." We know Shakespeare was not a great actor like Richard Burbage or Edward Alleyn. Surely Lodge was one of the best informed of Shakespeare's contemporaries and his authority on the "visard of ye ghost" in Hamlet, crying "so miser- ably at the Theator" may be regarded as a first hand criticism of Shakespeare's acting, it seems to me. During the Gesta Grayorum time, William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby, married, on Jan. 26, 1594, Francis Bacon's cousin, daughter of the 17th Earl of Oxford. This Earl of Derby is said to have written plays and he, like other nobles of his rank, had his own company of players. To him the poet Thomas Lodge dedicated ''A Fig for Momus" as follows : To the Right Honorable and thrice renowmed Lord, William Earle of Darbie '. T. L. his most humble and denoted seruant, uusheth all health and happines. My honoured good Lord, hauing resolued with my selfe to publish certaine my poems, and knowing them subject to much preiudice, except they were graced with some noble and worthie patron: I haue followed the example of Metabo, king of the Volschi, who desirous to de- liuer his onelie daughter from all perill and danger, consecrated and dedicated hir to the sister of the sunne. So I no lesse careful! of my labors, then the king of his Camilla, with deliberate and aduised iudgement, wholy denote and offer vp my poems to your fauour and pro- tection: who being the true Maecenas of the Muses, and iudiciall in their exercises, are of power to relieue my weaknes, by your worthines, and to priuiledge me from enuie, though she were prest to deuoure me: If midst your gen- eral! fauour to all desert, your honour vouchsafe this particular benefite to my Industrie, no day, or time, (as Tully counsaileth) shall define the memorie of your benefits, but as your noble father in mine infancie, with his owne hands in- corporated me into your house, so in this my retired age and studie, my labour, lines, and whole life, shall be imployed to doe your honour and seruice. Your Lordships most boun- den in all humilitie, THOMAS LODGE. Hunterian Club, Volume C. VRRC. xlvii The following is Lodge's dedication to Bacon's Aunt Lady Russell: To the noble, learned and vertuous ladie, the Ladie Russell, T. L. wisheth affluence on earth and felicitie in heaven. MADAM, your deep and considerate judge- ment, your admired honor and happy readings, have drawne me to present this labor of mine to your gracious hands and favorable patronage : wherein, though you shall find nothing to ad- mire, yet doubt I not but you may meet many things that deserve cherishing. Touching the subject, though of it selfe it seeme historicall, yet if it please you like our English Sapho to look into that which I have slenderly written, I doubt not but that your memory shal acquaint you with my diligence, and my diligence may de- serve your applause. Touching the place where I wrote this, it was in those straits christned by Magelan; in which place to the southward many wonderous isles, many strange fishes, many mon- strous Patagones withdrew my sense; briefly, many bitter and extreme frosts at midsummer continually clothe and clad the discomfortable mountains; so that as there was great wonder in the place wherein I writ this, so likewise might it be marvelled, that in such scantie fare, such causes of feare, so mightie discouragements, and many crosses, I should deserve or eternize any thing. Yet what I have done (good Madame), judge and hope this felicite from my pen, that whilst the memorie thereof shal live in any age, your charitie, learning, nobilitie and vertues, shall be eternized. Oppian, writing to Theo- dosius, was as famous by the person to whome hee consecrated his study, as fortunate in his , xlviii labours, which as yet are not mastered by ob- livion; so hope I (Madame), on the wing of your sacred name to be borne to the temple of eternitie, where, though envie barke at me, the Muses shall cherish, love, and happie me. Thus hoping your ladiship will supply my boldnesse with your bountie and afifabilitie, I humbly kisse your most delicate handes, shutting up my Eng- lish duety under an Italian copie of humanitie and curtesie. From my house, this 4. of Maie, 1596. Your honors in all zeale, T. LODGE. This was edited by James O. Halliwell, London, 1859, w^th Title page as follows: A MARGARITE OF AMERICA. By T. LODGE. Printed for John Busbie, and are to be sold in S. Dunstons church-yard in Fleet- street, at the little shop next Cliffords Inne. 1596. In April, 1593, William Shakespeare's name for the first time appeared in print, appended to a dedication to what the poet called "the first heir of my invention," or his first poem, Venus and Adonis. This dedication was addressed to Henry Wriothesley, third Earl of Southampton, who had just become of age, and was a member of Gray's Inn. Bacon's uncle. Lord Burghley, had been his guardian and had sent him to Cambridge to be educated in 1585. If the child is father to the man, this young lord must have been a born cynic, for at the age of thirteen he wrote a composition in Latin, which he sent to Burgh- ley, entitled, "All men are moved to the pursuit of vir- tue by the hope of reward." (D. A^. B.) From what I xil know of his character I should say he was rather over- estimated by the writers of that age and of a sullen and morose disposition. Bacon may have brought Shake- speare in touch with this young Earl thinking to form his taste for the best in literature, for Southampton was infatuated with plays, and as Shakespeare had not deigned to put his name in print on a play, he may have hoped to win him from them to other studies. The title page of Venus and Adonis was without the poet's name, but it bore the following Latin Motto from Ovid: "Villa mlretur vidgiis; mlhl flavus Apollo Pociila Castalla plena mlnlstret aqua" or: "Let common folk marvel at cheap things. Let blonde Apollo Serve me cups brimming ivlth Castallan lymph." I see in these lines a gently veiled admonition to the young Earl, to flee from and avoid common plays, which the crowd marvelled at and applauded. Shake- speare no longer spoke from "under mimic shade" and for the time being had cast ofi his "despised weed" or dress of an actor and dramatist. He acknowledged his brain child Venus and Adonis as his "heir," as if his poems were paramount in his esteem. His second poem, Lucrece, came out in May, 1594, with William Shake- speare's name again appended to a dedication to the same Earl of Southampton. In T i;93 "the Societies of Gray's Inn and the Inner Temple'' boh held their Autumn Pensions in St. Al- bans. No readings wxre held in Gray's Inn in 1593, and during this year and 1594 Francis Bacon was in- disposed and attended very few of the Pensions. During all this leisure time he could have brought his young friend, the Earl of Southampton, and Shake- speare in touch. Without the authority of Bishop Whit- gift, who had been Bacon's tutor at Cambridge, Venus and Adonis and Ijiicrece could not have been published. Sir Thomas Heneage, a member of Gray's Inn and Bacon's good friend, was Vice Chamberlain to the Queen. He married the young Earl of Southampton's mother this very month, on 2nd of May, 1594. Sir Thomas Heneage was made Vice Chamberlain 7th September, 1587.^ He was a genial gentleman with a lovable disposition and had much influence at Court and among the stage poets. In fact he had control over plays and players in the absence of the Lord Chamberlain. If Bacon was Shakespeare's friend, his influence would help in making Sir Thomas Heneage a well-wisher to the poet, but nothing has come down to us to enlighten us on this point. Prior to giving the Masque at Greenwich before the Queen, the following letter was sent to Sir Thomas Heneage: Henry Prince of Purpoole to the Right Hon- ourable Sir Thomas Heneage. "Most Honourable Knight, "I have now accomplished a most tedious and hazardous journey, though very honourable, into Russia; and returning within the view of the Court of your renowned Queen, my gracious Sovereign, to whom I acknowledge homage and service, I thought good, in passing by, to kiss her sacred hands, as a tender of the zeal and duty I owe unto her Majesty; but, in making the ofifer, iStowe's Chronicle, p. 367. li I found my desire was greater than the ability of my body ; which, by length of my journey, and my sickness at sea, is so weakened, as it were very dangerous for me to adventure it. Therefore, most honourable friend, let me intreat you to make my humble excuse to her Majesty for this present: and to certifie her Highness, that I do hope, by the assistance of the Divine Providence, to recover my former strength about Shrovetide; at which time I intend to repair to her Majesty's Court (if it may stand with her gracious pleas- ure) to ofifer my service, and relate the success of my journey. And so praying your Honour to return me her Majesty's answer, I wish you all honour and happiness. "Dated from ship-board, at our Ark of Vanity, the ist of February 1594." Those who know Bacon's style will recognize it in this epistle. In a letter of his to the Queen he dated it from ''My Tub. of Vanity." That Southampton did not appreciate the mind of Shakespeare is apparent. In 1598 the Earl of South- ampton accompanied Bacon's cousin, Sir Robert Cecil, to France. He was at this period in love with the Queen's maid of honor, Elizabeth Vernon, who had retired from Court and was domiciled for the time be- ing at Essex house. That prince of letter writers, John Chamberlain, wrote to Carleton, 30th August, 1598: "It is bruted under hand, that he [South- ampton] was latelie here foure dayes in greate secrete of purpos to marry her, and effected it accordingly." Chamberlain Letters, Camden Soc, p. 18. Hi Three months later, 8th November 1598, the same to the same, writes : "The new Countess of Southampton is brought a bed of a daughter.'" and twenty-two days later the same writer to the same: "The Earl of Southampton is come home, and for his welcome committee to the Fleet, but I hear he is already upon his delivery." Elizabeth Vernon was first cousin to the Queen's favorite, Robert, Earl of Essex, and distantly related to Sir Thomas Lucy's wife. The following letter from the Countess of South- ampton to her husband from "Chartly, 8th July," is of Shakespearian interest: "Al the nues I can send you that I thinke wil make you mery is that I reade in a letter from London that Sir John Falstaf is by his Mrs. Dame Pintpot, made father of a godly milers thumb, a boye all heade and veri litel body; but this is a secrit."" This leads me to think there was among their friends some very portly gentleman whom they nicknamed Sir John FalstafiF, or that the gentleman bore in his coat of Arms what is called in Heraldry a Chalbot known by the name of Miller's thumb. This broad head fish was sometimes called a GulL In Hen. V. 11.2 we find: Tis a gull, a fool, a rogue, that now and then goes to the wars. ilbid, p. 27. 2I-Iist. MSS. Comm., p. 148. liii The Countess of Southampton's reference was to I Hen. I V. 1 1., where the Hostess of the Boars Head, convulsed with mirth, exclaims: O rare! he doth it as like one of those harlotry players as ever I see. and Falstaf retorts: Peace, good pint-pot; peace good tickle brain. I believe Love's Labours Lost was written to cele- brate the marriage of the Earl of Southampton, who hurried back from France to marry the lady whom he had placed in a delicate condition. It will be remem- bered that the Earl of Southampton accompanied Bacon's cousin Robert Cecil, Elizabeth's secretary, to Paris at this very time, and that the politics of France would be fresh in his mind. And a year after South- ampton's release from the Tower in 1604 this comedy of Love's Labours Lost was performed before Queen Anne at Southampton's own house in the Strand, indi- cating that the Earl and his wife had a special liking for this play, which I conjecture was written to cele- brate their marriage. The writer's or gossip's of the Court tell us Southampton delighted in the drama, and with Essex, in 1598, attended plays daily. I repeat I believe the Comedy of Errors was pur- posely designed as a portion of the "Law Sports" at Gray's Inn, and I partly base my belief on the follow- ing reasons: Lord Campbell said Shakespeare was familiar "with some of the most abstruce proceedings in English juris- prudence." If Bacon was interested in Shakespeare could he not have taught him all this? I really think Robert Greene in his slur on "Johannes Factotum" aimed a double blow and struck at the name and fame of Bacon as well as at "Shake-scene." In the Comedy of Errors, Act II, Sc. 2, we have the dialogue between Antipholus and his man Dromio: Dro. S. There' no time for a man to recover his hair, that grows bald by nature. Ant. S. ^l2iy\\Qnot^o\ihY fine and recovery? Dro. S. Yes, to pay a fine for a periwig, and recover the lost hair of another man. In Act IV , Sc. 2, Adriana asks Dromio of Syracuse : "Where is thy master, Dromio? Is he well?" and Dromio replies: "No, he's in Tartar limbo, worse than hell : A devil in an everlasting garment hath him, One whose hard heart is button'd up with steel; A fiend, a fairy, pitless and rough; A wolf, nay worse, a fellow all in bufif; A back-friend, a shoulder-clapper, one that countermands The passages and alleys, creeks and narrow lands: A hound that runs counter, and yet draws dry- foot wtII ; One that before the judgment carries poor souls to hell." Adr. Why, man, what is the matter? Dro S. I do not know the matter; he is 'rested on the case. Adr. What, is he arrested? Tell me at whose suit. Dro. S. I know not at whose suit he is ar- rested, well. But he's 'in a suit of buff which' rested him, that can I tell * * * Adr. * * * This I wonder at: That he, unknown to me, should be in debt. Tell me, was he arrested on a bond? Dro. S. Not on a bond, but on a stronger thing: A chain, a chain! Now who could relish this law business better than the Inns of Court men? Many of whom were often in debt and no doubt felt a fellow feeling when Dromeo in his malediction called the Sergeant "devil," "fiend," and "wolf," who "carries poor souls to hell." This of- ficer was so dreaded and abhorred that even the dying Hamlet utters the pathetic words: "This fell Sergeant, death, is strict in his arrest." Anthony Bacon, who returned to England in 1592, after a twelve years' residence in France, must have enjoyed Act III, Sc. 2, when one of the Dromios is asked in what part of Luce he could find France, re- plies : ". . .In her forehead; Armed and reverted, making war against her hair (Heir)." This was a political hit at King Henry of Navarre, who was Anthony Bacon's friend. The allusion to the civil war in France could only be appreciated by those acquainted with the history and troubles in France at that period. In 1589 Henry of Navarre became the legitimate heir to the throne, but he had to fight his Ivi way through blood to achieve it, and did not succeed in establishing his right until 1593-4. Anthony Bacon possessed more political secrets than any man of his time, outside of his friend, Walsingham, and his kins- men, the CeciTs. He had spent his life, his fortune (even his jewels) in the service of his country. In re- turn he only received from those from whom he ex- pected most (the Queen and Burleigh) — ingratitude and neglect. The reader may be familiar with the ''Chain" allu- sions in the Comedy of Errors. There is so much made of the '^chain" which runs through Acts II, III, IV and V of the Comedy of Er- rors, that my researches lead me to believe that in them a parody is intended, and that it points to that learned Judge, Sir Roger Manwood, a member of the Inner Temple and a friend of Lord Coke's. In 1 56 1 this gentleman had taken part in the Christ- mas revels in the Masque of Palaphilos at the Middle Temple. Manwood's character was not calculated to win him the friendship of men of honor. Francis Davison no doubt disliked him, for he was one of those who sat on the commission in 1587, which found Secre- tary Davison "guilty of misprison and contempt." "In 1 59 1 he was detected in the sale of one of the offices in his gift and sharply censured by the Queen." . . . This was but one of several misfeasances of various de- grees of gravity with which Manwood was charged." According to Manningham's Diary, "he even stooped to appropriate a gold chain which a goldsmith had placed in his hands for inspection, and on the privy Ivii council interventing by writ at the suit of the gold- smith, returned the scornful answer: "Malas causas habentes semper fugiunt ad potentes. Ubi non valet Veritas praevalet auctor- itas. Currat, lex vivet Rex, and so fare you well my Lords." (D. N. B.) That is: "Those men who have a poor case (not strong legally) always flee to men of honor. Where truth is not strong, prestage carries the day. Good-bye law, long live the King!" Manningham tells the story thus: "Lord Chief Baron Manwood, understanding that his Sonne had sold his chayne to a gold- smith, sent for the goldsmith, willed him to bring the chayne, enquired where he bought it. He told, m his house. The Baron desired to see it, and put it in his pocket, telling him it was not lawfully bought. The goldsmith sued the Lord, and, fearing the issue would prove against him, obtained the Counsell's letters to the Lord who answered" in the above Latin, "but he was Comitt," says Manningham. In 1592 Manwood was arraigned before the Privy Council. Bacon's dearest foe, Coke, was a great friend of Manwood's. Sir Julius Caesar, who for his third wife, married Bacon's niece, was at this time Treasurer of the Inner Temple. Attorney General Coke had Chambers in the Inner Temple and was one of its most distinguished members. The Gesta Grayorum tells us: Iviii "The Lord Ambassador and his train thought that they were not so kindly entertained as was before expected, and thereupon would not stay any longer at that time, but, in a sort discontented and displeased." It is well known Sir Edward Coke, neither favored poetry nor was ever inspired by it. He bragged that he had succeeded neither by ''pen nor purse" and no doubt scorned the Gary's Inn law sports and revels, and the satire in the comedy against his colleague, Manwood. As for plays and players Coke had the utmost con- tempt. In a ''Speech and Charge with the Discoveries of the Abuses and Corruption of Officers" which he made at Norwich, he said : ;"' "The abuse of stage players, wherewith I find the countrey much troubled, may easily be re- formed. They having no commission to play in any place without leave; and therefore, if by your willingness they be not entertained you may soone be rid of them." {Printed 1607.) In 1599 on the ninth day of his Morrice Will Kempe danced into Norwich where he tells us in his Nine Days Wonder: "Master Roger Wiler the Maior, and sundry other of his worshipful Brethren sent for me" and "they not onlly very courteously offered to beare mine owne charges and my followers, but ... the Mayor, and many of the Aldermen oftentimes besides invited us privately to theyr several houses." Lord Coke in his speech may have wanted to ad- monish the Mayor and his Aldermen for their too kindly reception of a player. Hx I have reason to believe that the Actor Kempe was a member of the family of the Norwich Kempes, and that the Mayor knowing this, honored him the more for that reason. The younger sons of gentlemen sometimes became players. Nathaniel Field, brother of Bacon's friend Bishop Theophilus Field, was an actor and a play- writer, and is said to have been a Sharer in the Globe Theatre. Soon after the Globe was built Kempe's one share in it was divided equally between Heminge, and two others. We learn through Dr. C. W. Wallace that in 1599 Kempe transferred his share in the Globe to a name- less outside party, and that this party "immediately granted it to Shakespeare, Heminge, Phillips, and Pope." Kempe was the leader of a Company of Players who visited the Court of Denmark in 1586. He could have described Elsinore to Shakespeare on his return. The Bacon's were related to the Kempe's of Norwich, some of whom were members of Gray's Inn. It is my belief William Kempe, under the guise of an actor, visited Foreign Courts to glean intelligence for the Court of Elizabeth, and I also believe that the first draft of Shakespeare's Hamlet appeared in 1589. Nashe alludes to "whole hamlets" in 1589, and to "English Seneca," which seems to point at the Inns of Court, especially to Gray's Inn, where The Misfortunes of Arthur, a Senecan tragedv, was composed by the members in 1587-8. It is said that whole passages of this play were taken bodily from Seneca. The Inns of Court men were de- voted to Senecan tragedies. Jasper Heywood, the uncle of the poet Dr. John Donne, was the first who trans- lated three of them into English, and the poet Thomas Lodge has given us another English translation. Three years after Kempe's visit to the Court of Den- mark, that poet courtier and altogether charming gen- tleman, Sir Edward Dyer, was sent on a diplomatic mission to Denmark in 1589. To this gentleman Sir Philip Sidney willed part of his books in 1586. To Francis Bacon's kinsman. Sir Henry Goodere (who made Drayton a poet), the noble Sidney bequeathed a ring and made him one of the overseers of his will. It may be inferred that the Author of Hamlet could have imbibed from the poet Dyer, and the Actor Kempe, the very atmosphere of Elsinore. In a letter from John Chamberlain to his friend Dudley Carlton, dated June 28, 1599, he writes: "The Queen is given to understand that he (Essex) has given Essex house to Antonie Bacon, wherewith she is nothing pleased ; but as far as I heare it is but in lieu of 2000 1. he meant to be- stow upon him, with a clause of redemption for that sum by a day." Chamberlain's Letters. Camb. Society. I agree with Chamberlain that this act of Essex (if true) was in lieu of money owed to Anthony Bacon, for long and faithful services rendered to the Earl. I think Essex died before he could compensate Anthony, and that he was deeply in debt to his faithful friend, who did not long survive him. On 27th May, 1601, Chamberlain again writes to Carleton: "Antony Bacon died not long since; but so far in debt, that I think his brother is little the bet- ter by him." Ibid. The Earl of Essex was beheaded February 25th, 1 601, and the blow was too severe for the friend of his bosom, Anthony Bacon, whose health had been very frail for years. Less than three months after the death of Essex, Anthony followed him to the grave, and was buried on the 17th of May, 1601, ten days before the date of Chamberlain's letter. Anthony attended the Church of St. Olave, Hart Street, one of the aristocratic churches in London. It was near to Essex house, and the Earl's children were baptized by its minister. The Bacon tomb was under the altar of this church, and here Anthony set up his everlasting rest. A few days later one of his men (a French man) was interred in the same vault. I made this discovery several years ago, but have unfortunately mislaid my notes so that I cannot give the page and reference verbatim. It will interest my readers to know that a fifteen min- utes' walk from this church of St. Olave, Hart Street, would bring one to Montjoy's the Tiremaker's, at the corner of Silver and Monkwell Streets, where Shakes- peare sojourned so many years, and played the good fairy to the lovers, Mary Montjoy and Stephen Bellott. The brothers, Francis and Anthony Bacon, were knit by the closest bonds of love. Yet in death they were divided. In Lord Bacon's will he says: Ixii "For my burial, I desire it may be in St. Michael's Church, St. Albans: there was my mother buried, and it is the parish church of my mansion-house of Gorhambury, and it is the only Christian church within the walls of Old Veru- 1am. For my name and memory, I leave it to men's charitable speeches, to foreign nations, and the next ages." It is a consolation to know that St. Olave Church in Hart Street, London, and St. Michael's Church in St. Albans, are still standing, and that in each of these is shrined all that was mortal of these wonderfully de- voted and loving brothers, Anthony and Francis Bacon. After the exit of Sir Henry Herbert, the Master of the Revels, in 1673, Bacon's kinsmen, the Killigrews, became leaders in the theatrical world. Bacon's niece married Sir Robert Killigrew, and their two sons, William, born in 1606, and Thomas, in 161 1, became dramatic authors. William Killigrew was knighted by Charles I, and was made a gentleman Usher to that king. He was vice-chamberlain to the Queen and brought out three plays about 1665. His younger brother, Thomas, became more famous as a dramatist and may be said to have succeeded Sir Henry Herbert in the office of Master of the Revels. He was a page to Charles I, and a groom of the Cham- ber of Charles II. "As motley was the only wear" in that licentious monarch's court, Thomas Killigrew, like Jaques, may have thought: "Invest me in my motley; give me leave to speak the truth." for to his master, Charles II, he dared openly to speak Ixiii Legal Documents (Quit Claims) in which Shakespeare figured : "Between William Shakespeare, complainant, and William Underhill, gentleman, maintaining possession by force (or in distraint) as to one dwelling house (mesuagio), two barns (orgrain- aries) and two gardens with appurtenances, in Stratford-on-Avon, when a Summons was made as to an agreement between them in the same court, whereas the aforesaid William Underhill has acknowledged that the aforesaid tenements with appurtenances are the rightful property of William Shakespeare himself as (are) those which the same William holds by gift of the aforesaid William Underhill and he has remit- ted the same and given a quit claim as to himself and his heirs, that they themselves will guarantee to the aforesaid William Shakespeare and his heirs, the aforesaid tenements with appurte- nances forever. And for this acknowledgement, quit claim, guarantee, termination and harmony, the same William Shakespeare has given to the aforesaid William Underhill sixty pounds sterl- ing. Easter Term, 39 Elizabeth. This "termination" was not realized, for five years later 1602 "another fine was levied on New Place for the same property," says Halliwell Phillips ibid. The reader may have observed that in the first fine, the title of "gentleman" is put after William Under- bill's name, but not given to Shakespeare. Not till five years later is the title of gentleman given to Shakes- peare in these documents. The following is a transla- tion of the second fine : Ixvi "Between William Shakespeare, gentleman, complainant, and Hercules Underbill, gentle- man, maintaining possession by force (deforce- antem) concerning one dwelling-bouse, two barns (granaries) , two gardens and two orchards, witb appurtenances, in Stratford-on-Avon, whence a summons of a settled agreement be- tween them was entered in the same court where- as the aforesaid Hercules has acknowledged that the aforesaid tenements with appurtenances are the lawful property of the same William person- ally, like those which the same William holds by gift of the aforesaid Hercules, and he has re- mitted them and given a quit claim of himself and his heirs to the aforesaid William and his heirs forever. And besides the said Hercules has granted for himself and his heirs, that they themselves will guarantee to the aforesaid Wil- liam and his heirs the aforesaid tenements with appurtenances against the aforesaid Hercules and his heirs forever; and for this acknowledge- ment, remission, quit claim, warrant, fine and harmony, the said William has given to the aforesaid Hercules sixty pounds sterling." (Michelmas Term 44 and 45 Elizabeth.) Tyrwhitt was the discoverer of the Shake-scene allu- sion in Robert Greene's ''Groats-worth of PVit" written in 1592. Most commentators agree that this allusion of the dying stage-poet, Greene, was to Shakespeare, who like Pallas was immediately brought forth armed and ready to "shake a lance" at ignorance. "The tongues of dying men enforce attention." Hence it is that so much has been written on these allusions in Greene's last work, the Groats-Worth of Ixvii JVit. It may seem rash in the writer to offer a new solution or interpretation of Greene's tirade against Shakespeare, but it will do no harm. Greene was stung to the quick by the praise bestowed on this unnamed man by Spencer "best read in ancient poetry," who likened the new dramatist to an Eagle: "Whose Muse full of high thoughts invention, Doth like himself heroically sound." Spencer was looked up to by the whole literary world and his judgment respected by the best men of letters in his day. Also in the year 1592, Greene's quondam companion, Thomas Nashe, whom the poet, Thomas Lodge, called "true English Aretine/' published his "Pierce Penni- lesse," wherein he lauds enthusiastically, "brave Tal- bot" in the play of Henry the VI. Now this praise from Nashe was. the unkindest cut of all, to the poor dying Greene, for he and Nashe had held merry meet- ings and Nashe's first published article came out in Greene's Mentaphon in 1589, in which he gibes at the author of Hamlet as follows: "An Epistle to the Gentlemen Students of the Two Universities, by Thomas Nashe," prefixed to the first edition of Robert Greene's "Mena- phon" — according to the title-page, published in 1589. The supposed allusion to Shakespeare is in the words following: "I will turn back to my first text of studies of delight, and talk a little in friendship with a few of our trivial translators. It is a common practice now-a-days, amongst a sort of shifting companions that run through every art and thrive Ixviii by none, to leave the trade of Noverint, whereto they were born, and busy themselves with the en- deavours of art, that could scarcely Latinize their neck-verse if they should have need ; yet English Seneca, read by candle-light, yields many good sentences, as bloud is a beggar, and so forth; and if you intreat him fair, in a frosty morning, he will afford you whole Hamlets; I should say handfuls of tragical speeches. But O grief! Tempiis edax rerum — what is that will last always? The sea exhaled by drops will in con- tinuance be dry; and Seneca, let blood, line by line, and page by page, at length must needs die to our stage." Greene, like the old poet Hoccleve, had wasted his life in excesses of all kinds, and in his bitter anguish he hurled reproaches upon his former associates. As for the players, he called them '^apes," "rude grooms," "buckram gentlemen," "peasants," "painted monsters," "burrs" and "Puppits that speak from our mouths." But there was one more repellant to Greene than all the others ; an unnamed man whom he calls ''an upstart Crow with his Ti{/ers heart wrapt in a player's hide." Ill Hen. VI.A.-I.-S-IV. Whetstone's Metrical Life of George Gascoigne, who died 1^79, has these lines: For who can bear to see a painted crow Singing aloft when Turtles mourn below. "Upstart crow" means one suddenly raised. Wither in his Juvenilia calls the Poetasters "Crow-poets and Poetic-daws." All Greene's pricking of conscience for his own sins could not stifle the contempt he felt for this suddenly Ixix raised pretender. Greene's words imply that the of- fender was masking under the dress of a player and that he was not a professional actor. Then concentrat- ing all his energy and with an earnestness that cannot be questioned he continues, '^and being an absolute Johannes factotum, is in his owne conceit the only Shake-scene in a country." Greene had dipped his pen in venom and may have felt that the blast he had dealt would wither the reputation of the man he so hated. There is a similarity between Shake-scene and Shakes- peare, which cannot be ignored, but why did not Greene (if he really meant Shakespeare) call him Wil- helmus factotum, to identify him more clearly? "Factotum" is significant. It means a doer of all kinds of work for another — a handy deputy in fact. There is only one notable and historical Johanne's fac- totum I can call to mind, who literally fills the role Greene assigns to ''Shake-scene," and this is the ''peur Johannes" of the celebrated philosopher Roger Bacon, and I think Robert Greene had this example in mind when he appellatively used it, because he had written before his illness, a comedy on ''Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay" and was well versed in the writings of the ancients. The scenes between Friar Bacon and his man (whom Greene in his play calls Miles) are very amus- ing, especially those relating to the Brazen Head. Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay, entered S. R. 14 May, 1594, and printed the same year as writ- ten by Greene and played by the Queen's men. These were presumably the original owners and may have sent the play to press. Greene may have written it in 1589 when St. James' Day fell Ixx on a Friday. . . . Henslowe's Diary edited by Walter W. Greg, part ii. The real Roger Bacon trusted his Johannes factotum with his most precious and secret works and sent the poor obscure youth with his treasured manuscripts to Pope Clement IV in 1267. No biography of this Johannes is known but like Shakespeare of Stratford, he was friendless and poor. Some writers have called him "John of London" but others deny this identifica- tion. For the following account of Roger Bacon's "peur Johannes'' see Fr. Rogeri Bacon Ed. by J. S. Brewer, Lond., p. 87, 1859, where Brewer says: "Among his more illustrious pupils was John of London, to whom nature had been as prodigal as fortune was unkind. Struck with the genius that dawned in the countenance, Bacon took the lad under his protection, being then fifteen years old, and instructed him with so much care that he outstripped all his contemporaries at Oxford and Paris. He was sent by Bacon with various [three] books to Clement IV. in the year 1267; and he is mentioned with great commendation on more than one occasion: "For this reason I cast "my eyes on a lad, whom I caused to be instructed "five or six years ago in the languages, in mathe- "matics and optics, wherein is the chief difficulty "of all that I have now sent you. I have gratuit- "ously instructed him with my own lips since the "time I received your mandate, foreseeing that "there was no other, whom I could employ with "so much satisfaction. And therefore I thought "I would despatch him, that if it pleased your "wisdom to use my messenger, you might find Ixxi 'him fit for the purpose; if not, he might still 'present my writings to your eminence. For un- 'questionably there is not any one among the 'Latins who in all that I wish 'can answer so 'many questions (because of the method that I 'pursue, and because I have instructed him), as 'he can do, who has learnt from my own lips, 'and been instructed by my counsel. "God is my witness, that had it not been for 'your reverence and to your advantage, I would 'not have mentioned him. Had I wanted to send 'a person for my own profit, I could easily have 'found others more suited for advancing my in- 'terests; had I consulted the advantage of the 'messenger, I love others more, and am more 'obliged to them, because I am under no obliga- 'tion to him, either from kindred or otherwise, 'except so far as I am to any ordinary person; 'even less. For when he came to me as a poor 'boy, I caused him to be nurtured and instructed 'for the love of God, especially since for aptitude 'and innocence I never found so towardly a 'youth. He has made such progress, that he will 'be able to gain more truly and successfully what 'is needful, than anyone else at Paris, although 'he is not more than twenty or twenty-one. For 'there is no one at Paris who knows so much of 'the root of philosophy, although he has not pro- 'duced the branches, flowers, and fruits, because 'of his youth, and because he has had no experi- 'ence in teaching. But he has the means of sur- 'passing all the Latins if he live to grow old, and 'proceeds as he has begun." "He then proceeds to praise highly the courte- ous and retiring manners of this youth, and to commend him for other good qualities." Ixxii Brewer adds: "I may state here in reference to John of Lon- don, who was sent on these occasions to Pope Clement, that both for Bacon's sake and his own merits he was advanced to some dignity, though of what nature I cannot determine. Some affirm that he lived many years after this, and was eminent for his writings. But as these were produced in a foreign country, no notice of their contents has reached us. In all probability they have been lost in Italy." The writings of this traditional Johannes seem to be as legendary as his name. Towards the end of his Groats Worth of Wit, Greene says: "Tread on a worm and it will turn; then blame not scollars, who are vexed with sharpe and bitter lines, if they reproove too much," and adds: — "Weakness will scarce sufifer me to write, yet to my fellows scoUers about this city will I direct these few lines." How did the gentle Shakespeare receive Greene's peevish lines? In Midsummer Night's Dream, V. i., Entered by Tho. Fisher in the Stationers' Registers, Oct. 8, 1600, I like to think in the lines from Spencer: ". . . That same gentle spirit from whose pen Large streams of honey and sweet nector flow" alluded to the death of Robert Greene in these exquisite lines: — "The trice three Muses, mourning for the death Of learning, late deceased in beggary." Ixxiii And if this interpretation be true I agree with Spencer: "A gentler shepheard may no where be found : Whose Muse full of high thoughts invention Doth like himself Heriocally sound." Dyce, in his Edition of Greene's Works, Vol. I , has this: Account of R. Greene. It has been supposed that he took holy orders. In the LansJowne Manuscripts, 982, art. 102, fol. 187, under the head of '^Additions to Mr. Wood's Report of Mr. Robert Green, an emi- nent poet, who died about 1592," is a reference to a document in Rymer's. "Foedera," from which it appears that a "Robert Grene" was, in 1576, one of the Queen's chaplains, and that he was presented by her Majesty to the rectory of Walk- ington, in the diocese of York. If this document relates to the poet, his birth must be fixed earlier than 1560. The late Octavius Gilchrist states that our author was presented to the vicarage of Tollesbury, in Essex, the 19th June, 1584, which he resigned the next year. "Anno 1576. Regina, delectis Nobis in Christo, De- cano et Capitulo Ecclesiaenostrae Cathedralis et Metro- politicae Eboracensis, aut Vicario suo in Spiritualibus Generali et Officiali Principali, aut alii cuicunque in hac parte Potestatem habenti, Salutem. "Ad Rectoriam sive Ecclesiam Parochialem de Walkington Eboracen. Diaeces. per mortem Johannis Newcome ultimi Incumbentis ibidem, jam vacantem et ad nostram Donatinem et Pr^sentationem pleno jure spectantem, Dilectum nobis in Christo, Robertum Grene, unum Capellanorum nostrorum Capellae nostrae Regiae, vobis Tenore Praesentium prae sentamus, Man- Ixxiv dantes et Requirentes quatenus eundem Robertum Grene ad Rectoriam sive Ecclesiam Parochialem de Walkington prsdictam admittere, ipsumque Rectorem ejusdem ac in et de eadem cum suis Juribus et Perti- nentiis universis instituere et investire, caeteraque omnia et singula peragere facere et perimplere, quae vestro in hac parte incumbunt Officio Pastorali, velitis cum favore. In cujus rei, &c. "Teste Regina apud Gorhambury tricesimo prime die Augusti. "Per breve de Privato Sigillo." — Rymer's Fcedera, tom. XV. p. 765. That is: Year 1576. The Queen having been chosen in Christ, to the Dean and head of our Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of York, or to his vicor, in his general and official ca- pasity in Spiritual affairs, or to any one else having power in this Sphere — greeting. For the rectory or parish church of Walk- ington in the diocese of York, now left vacant through the death of John Newcome, the last incumbent of the same, and looking most rightly to our gift and presentation, we do present to you, in view of the state of present affairs, Robert Greene, chosen by us in Christ one of our chaplains of our Royal Chapel, ordering and asking that you be pleased with good-will to ad- mit the same Robert Greene to the rectory or parish church of the Walkington aforesaid, and to establish and invest him as rector of the same with all the rights and privileges in and of the same, and that you perform, accomplish and complete both collectively and singly all the other things which fall to your pastoral duty in this connection. Ixxv In [witness] of which thing &c. The Queen having witness at Gorhambury on the thirty-first day of August. Per breve. By her private seal. Per breve may be a legal term. According to Cen- tury Dictionary, Breve is still used of a royal mandate, so I venture "by her royal mandate." The following excerpts are from Greene's Comedy Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. Enter Friar Bacon, with Miles, his poor scholar, with books under his arm; with them Burden, Mason, Clement, three doctors. Bacon. Miles, where are you? Miles. Hie sum, doctissime et reverendis- sime doctor. Bacon. Attulisti nos libros meos de necro- mantia? Miles. Ecce quam bonum et quam jucun- dum habitare libros in unum. Bacon. Now, masters of our academic state. That rule in Oxford, viceroys in your place. Whose heads contain maps of the liberal arts. Spending your time in depth of learned skill. Why flock you thus to Bacon's secret cell, A friar newly stalled in Brazen-nose? Say what's your mind, that I may make reply. Burd. Bacon, we hear that long we have sus- pect. That thou art read in magic's mystery. In Pyromancy, to divine by flames; To tell by Hydromatic, ebbs and tides; By Aeromancy to discover doubts, To plain out questions as Apollo did. Bacon. Well, master Burden, what of all this? Ixxvi Miles. Marry, sir, he doth but fulfil, by re- hearsing of these names, the fable of the Fox and the Grapes; that which is above us pertains nothing to us. Burd. I tell thee. Bacon, Oxford makes report. Nay, England, and the Court of Henry says, Th'art making of a brazen head by art. Which shall unfold strange doubts and aphor- isms. And read a lecture in philosophy: And by the help of devils and ghastly fiends. Thou mean'st ere many years or days be past. To compass England with a wall of brass. Bacon. And what of this? Miles. What of this, master? Why he doth speak mystically, for he knows if your skill fail to make a brazen head, yet mother Water's strong ale will fit his turn to make him have a copper nose. Clem. Bacon, we come not grieving at thy skill, But joying that our academy yields A man supposed the wonder of the world; For if thy cunning work these miracles, England and Europe shall admire thy fame, And Oxford shall in characters of brass. And statues, such as w^ere built up in Rome, Eternize Friar Bacon for his art. Mason. Then, gentle friar, tell us thy intent. Bacon. Seeing you come as friends unto the friar, Resolve you, doctors, Bacon can by books. Make storming Boreas thunder from his cave, And dim fair Luna to a dark eclipse. The great arch-ruler, potentate of hell. Trembles when Bacon bids him, or his fiends, Ixxvii Bow to the force of his Pentageron. What art can work, the frolic friar knows, And therefore will I turn magic books. And strain out necromancy to the deep. I have contriv'd and f ram'd a head of brass, (I made Belcephon hammer out the stuff) And that by art shall read philosophy; And I will strengthen England by my skill. That if ten Caesars liv'd and reign'd in Rome, With all the legions Europe doth contain. They should not touch a grass of English ground. The work that Ninus rear'd at Babylon, The brazen walls fram'd by Semiramis, Carv'd out like to the portal of the sun, Shall not be such as rings the English strond. From Dover to the market place of Rye. Burd. Is this possible? Miles, ril bring ye two or three witnesses. Burd. What be those? Miles. Marry, sir, three or four as honest devils, and good companions as any be in hell. Mason. No doubt but magic may do much in this. For he that reads but mathematic rules. Shall find conclusions that avail to work Wonders that pass the common sense of men. Burd. But Bacon roves a bow beyond his reach. And tells of more than magic can perform; Thinking to get a fame by fooleries. Have I not pass'd as far in state of schools. And read of many secrets? yet to think. That heads of brass can utter any voice. Or more, to tell of deep philosophy. This is a fable Aesop had forgot. Ixxviii Bacon. Burden, thou wrong'st me in detract- ing thus; Bacon loves not to stufif hiself with lies: But tell me 'fore these doctors, if thou dare, Of certain questions I shall move to thee. Burd. I will: ask what thou can. Miles. Marry, sir, he'll straight be on your pickpack, to know whether the feminine or the masculine gender be most worthy. Bacon. Were you not yesterday, master Bur- den, at Henley upon the Thames? Burd. I was; what then? Bacon. What book studied you thereon all night? Burd. I? none at all; I read not there a line. Bacon. Then, doctors, friar Bacon's art knows nought. Clem. What say you to this, master Burden? does he not touch you? Burd. I pass not of his frivolous speeches. Miles. Nay, master Burden, my master, ere he hath done with you, will turn you from a doc- tor to a dunce, and shake you so small, that he will leave no more learning in you than is in Balaam's ass. Bacon. Masters' for that learn'd Burden's skill is deep, And sore he doubts of Bacon's cabalism, I'll show you why he haunts to Henley oft: Not, doctors, for to taste the fragrant air. But there to spend the night in alchemy, To multiply with secret spells of art. Thus private steals he learning from us all. To prove my sayings true, I'll shew you straight, The book he keeps at Henley for himself. Ixxix Miles. Nay, now my master goes to conjura- tion, take heed. Bacon. Masters, stand still, fear not, I'll shew you but his book. (Here he conjures.) Per omnes deos infernales, Belcephon! Enter a WOMAN with a shoulder of a mutton on a spit, and a Devil. Miles. O, master, cease your conjuration, or you spoil all, for here's a she devil come with a shoulder of mutton on a spit: you have marred the devil's supper, but no doubt he thinks our college fare is slender, and so has sent you his cook with a shoulder of mutton, to make it ex- ceed. Hostess. Oh, where am I, or what's become of me? Bacon. What art thou? Hostess. Hostess at Henley, mistress of the Bell. Bacon. How cam'st thou here? Hostess. As I was in the kitchen 'mongst the _ maids. Spitting the meat 'gainst supper for my guess, A motion mov'd me to look forth of door : No sooner had I pry'd into the yard, But straight a whirlwind hoisted from thence. And mounted me aloft unto the clouds. As in a trance I thought nor feared nought, Nor know I where or whither I was ta'en. Nor where I am, nor what these persons be. Bacon. No? know you not master Burden? Hostess. O yes, good sir, he is my daily guest. What, master Burden, 'twas but yesternight, That you and I at Henley play'd at cards. Burd. I know not what we did. A pox of all conjuring friars. Ixxx Clem. Now, jolly friar, tell us, is this the book That Burden is so careful to look on? Bacon. It is; but. Burden, tell me now, Think'st thou that Bacon's necromantic skill Cannot perform his head and wall of brass When he can fetch thy hostess in such post? Miles. I'll warrant you, master, if master Burden could conjure as well as you, he would have his book every night from Henley to study on at Oxford. Mason. Burden, What, are you mated by this frolic friar? Look how he droops; his guilty conscience Drives him to 'bash, and makes his hostess blush. Bacon. Well, mistress, for I will not have you miss'd. You shall to Henley to cheer up your guests 'Fore supper 'gin. Burden, bid her adieu: Say farewell to your hostess 'fore she goes. Sirrah, away, and set her safe at home. Hostess. Master Burden, when shall we see you at Henley? (Exeunt Hostess and the Devil.) Burd. The devil take thee and Henley, too. Miles. Master, shall I make a good motion? Bacon. What's that? Miles. Marry, sir, now that my hostess is gone to provide supper, conjure up another spirit, and send doctor Burden flying after. Bacon. Thus rulers of our academic state, You have seen the friar frame his art by proof; And as the college called Brazen-nose, Is under him, and he the master there. So surely shall this head of brass be fram'd, Ixxxi And yield forth strange and uncouth aphor- isms: And hell and Hecate shall fail the friar, But I will circle England round with brass. Miles. So be it, et nunc et semper; amen. (Exeunt omnes.) * * * * Emp. Where is the prince, my lord? Hen. He posted down, not long since, from the court. To Suffolk side, to merry Framlingham, To sport himself amongst my fallow deer: From thence, by packets sent to Hampton- house, We hear the prince is ridden with his lords, To Oxford, in the academy there To hear dispute amongst the learned men. But we will send forth letters for my son. To will him come from Oxford to the court. Emp. Nay, rather, Henry, let us as we be, Ride for to visit Oxford with our train. Fain would I see your universities. And what learn'd men your academy yields. From Hapsburg have I brought a learned clerk. To hold dispute with English orators: This doctor, surnam'd Jaques Vandermast, A German born, pass'd into Padua, To Florence and to fair Bologna, To Paris, Rheims, and stately Orleans, And, talking there with men of art, put down The chiefest of them all in aphorisms. In magic, and the mathematic rules: Now let us, Henry, try him in your schools. Hen. He shall, my lord; this motion likes me well. Ixxxii We'll progress straight to Oxford with our trains, And see what men our academy brings. And, wonder Vandermast, welcome to me : In Oxford shalt thou find a jolly friar, Caird Friar Bacon, England's only flower. Set him but nonplus in his magic spells, And make him yield in mathematic rules, And for thy glory I will bind thy brows. Not with a poet's garland, made of bays. But with a coronet of choicest gold. Whilst then we set to Oxford with our troops, Let's in and banquet in our English court. (Exeunt.) Enter Bacon and Miles. Erms. Stay, who comes here? War. Some scholar; and we'll ask him where friar Bacon is. Bacon. Why, thou arrant dunce, shall I never make thee a good scholar? doth not all the town cry out and say, friar Bacon's subsizer is the greatest blockhead in all Oxford? Why thou canst not speak one word of true Latin. Miles. No, sir? yet, what is this else; "Ego sum tuus homo," I am your man : I warrant you, sir, as good Tully's phrase as any is in Oxford. Bacon. Come on, sirrah ; what part of speech is Ego? Miles. Ego, that is I: marry, nomen sub- stantivo. Bacon. How prove you that? ^ Miles. Why, sir, let him prove himself and a' will; I can be heard, felt, and understood. Bacon. O gross dunce! (Here beat him.) Edw. Come, let us break ofif this dipute be- Ixxxiii tween these two. Sirrah, where is Brazen-nose college? Miles. Not far from Coppersmith's Hall. Edw. What, dost thou mock me? Miles. Not I, sir; but what would you at Brazen-nose? Erms. Marry, we would speak with Friar Bacon. Miles. Whose men be you? Erms. Marry, scholar, here's our master. Ralph. Sirrah, I am the master of these good fellows; mayest thou not know me to be a lord by my reparrel? Miles. Then here's good game for the hawk ; for here's the master fool, and a covey of cox- combs : one wise man, I think, would spring you all. Edw. Gog's wounds! Warren, kill him. War. Why, Ned, I think the devil be in my sheath ; I cannot get out my dagger. Erms. Nor I mine: swones, Ned, I think I am bewitched. Miles. A company of scabs! the proudest of you all draw your weapon if he can. See how boldly I speak now my master is by. Edw. I strive in vain ; but if my sword is shut, And conjured fast by magic in my sheath, Villain, here is my fist. (Strike him a box on the ear.) Miles. Oh! I beseech you conjure his hands, too, that he may not lift his arms to his head, for he is light-fingered. Ralph. Ned, strike him; I'll warrant thee by mine honour. Bacon. What means the English prince to wrong my man? Ixxxiv Edw. To whom speak'st thou? Bacon. To thee. Edw. Who art thou? Bacon. Could you not judge, when all your swords grew fast, That Friar Bacon was not far from hence? Edward, King Henry's son, and Prince of Wales, Thy fool disguis'd cannot conceal thyself: I know both Ermsby and the Sussex Earl, Else friar Bacon had but little skill. Thou com'st in post from merry Fressingfield, Fast fancied to the keeper's bonnie lass. To crave some succour from the jolly friar; And Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, hast thou left, To 'treat fair Margaret to allow thy loves: But friends are men, and love can baffle lords; The earl both woos and courts her for himself. War. Ned, this is strange; the friar knoweth all. Erms. Apollo could not utter more than this. Edw. I stand amaz'd to hear this jolly friar. Tell even the very secrets of my thoughts. But, learned Bacon, since thou know'st the cause. Why I did post so fast from Fressingfield, Help, friar, at a pinch, that I may have The love of lovely Margaret to myself. And, as I am true Prince of Wales, FU give Living and lands to strengthen thy college state. War. Good friar, help the prince in this. Ralph. Why, servant Ned, will not the friar do it? Were not my sword glued to my scab- bard by conjuration, I would cut off his head, and make him do it by force. Miles. In faith, my lord, your manhood and your sword is all alike; they are so fast conjured that we shall never see them. Ixxxv Erms. What, doctor, in a dump! tush, help the prince, And thou shalt see how liberal he will prove. Bacon. Crave not such actions greater dumps than these? I will, my lord, strain out my magic spells. For this day comes the earl to Fressingfield, And 'fore that night shuts in the day with dark. They'll be betrouthed each to other fast. But come with me, we'll to my study straight, And in a glass prospective I will shew What's done this day in merry Fressingfield. Edw. Gramercies, Bacon; I will quite thy pain. Bacon. But send your train, my lord, into the town: My scholar shall go bring them to their inn; Meanwhile we'll see the knavery of the earl. Edw. Warren, leave me, and Ermsby take the fool ; Let him be master, and go revel it. Till I and friar Bacon talk awhile. War. We will, my lord. Ralph. Faith, Ned, and Fll lord it out till thou comest: Fll be Prince of Wales over all the black pots in Oxford. (Exeunt) BACON and EDWARD go into the study. Bacon. Now, frolic Edward, welcome to my cell; Here tempers friar Bacon many toys. And holds this place his consistory court. Wherein the devils plead homage to his words. Within this glass prospective thou shalt see This day what's done in merry Fressingfield, Twixt lovely Peggy and the Lincoln Earl. Edw. Friar, thou glad'st me: Now shall Edward try Ixxxvi How Lacy meaneth to his sovereign lord. Bacon. Stand there and look directly in the glass. Enter MARGARET and Friar BUNGAY. Bacon. What sees my lord? Edw. I see the keeper's lovely lass appear, As brightsome as the paramour of Mars, Only attended by a jolly friar. Bacon. Sit still and keep the crystal in your eye. * * * * Enter BACON Bacon. All hail to this royal company, That sit to hear and see this strange dispute. Bungay, how stand'st thou as a man amaz'd? What, hath the German acted more than thou? Van. What art thou that question thus? Bacon. Men call me Bacon. Van. Lordly thou look'st, as if that thou wert learn'd; Thy countenance as if science held her seat Between the circled arches of thy brows. Enter Friar BACON, drawing the curtains, with a white stick, a book in his hand, and a lamp lighted by him; and the Brazen Head, and Miles, with weapons by him. Bacon. Miles, where are you? Miles. Here, sir. Bacon. How chance you tarry so long? Miles. Think you that watching of the Braz- en Head craves no furniture? I warrant you, sir, I have so armed myself, that if all your dev- ils come, I will not fear them an inch. Bacon. Miles, Thou know'st that I have dived into hell. And sought the darkest palaces of fiends, Ixxxvii That with my magic spells great Belcephon Hath left his lodge and kneeled at my cell : The rafters of the earth rent from the poles, And three-form'd Luna hid her silver looks, Trembling upon her concave continent. When Bacon read upon his magic book. With seven years tossing necromantic charms, - Poring upon dark Hecat's principles, I have fram'd out a monstrous head of brass. That by -the enchanting forces of the devil, Shall tell out strange and uncouth aphorisms. And girt fair England with a wall of brass. Bungay and I have watch'd these threescore days, And now our vital spirits crave some rest: If Argus liv'd, and had his hundred eyes. They could not over-watch Phobetor's night. Now, Miles, in thee rests Friar Bacon's Weal: The honour and renown of all his life Hangs in the watching of this Brazen Head; Therefore I charge thee by the immortal God, That holds the souls of men within his fist, This night thou watch ; for ere the morning star Sends out his glorious glister on the north. The head will speak; then. Miles, upon thy life. Wake me; for then by magic art I'll work. To end my seven years' task with excellence. If that a wink but shut thy watchful eye. Then farewell Bacon's glory and his fame! Draw close the curtains. Miles : now for thy life, Be watchful and — (Here he falleth asleep.) Miles. So; I thought you would talk your- self asleep anon, and 'tis no marvel, for Bungay on the days, and he on the nights, have watched just these ten and fifty days: now this is the night, and 'tis my task and no more. Now, Jesus bless me! what a goodly Head it is and a nose! You talk of nos autem glorificare; but Ixxxviii here's a nose, that I warrant may be called nos autem populare for the people of the parish. Well, I am furnished with weapons: now, sir, I will set me down by a post, and make it as good as a watchman to wake me if I chance to slumber. I thought, goodman Head, I would call you out of your memento. Passion a' God, I have almost broke my pate! Up, Miles, to your task; take your brown bill in your hand, here's some of your master's hobgoblins abroad. (With this a great noise.) The HEAD speaks. Head, Time is. Miles. Time is! Why, master Brazen-head, have you such a capital nose, and answer you with syllables. Time is? is this all your master's cunning, to spend seven years' study about Time is? Well, sir, it may be, we shall have some bet- ter orations of it anon: well, I'll watch you as narrowly as ever you were watched, and I'll play with you as the nightingale with the glow-worm ; I'll set a prick against my breast. Now rest there, Miles. Lord have mercy upon me, I have almost killed myself! Up, Miles, list how they rumble. Head. Time was. Miles. Well, Friar Bacon, you have spent your seven years study well, that can make your Head speak but two words at once. Time was. Yea marry, time was when my master was a wise man, but that was before he began to make the Brazen Head. You shall lie while your * * * ache, and your Head speak no better. Well, I will watch and walk up and down, and be a peri- patetian and a philosopher of Aristotle's stamp. What! a fresh noise? Take thy pistols in hand. Miles. Ixxxix tween these two. Sirrah, where is Brazen-nose college? Miles. Not far from Coppersmith's Hall. Edw. What, dost thou mock me? Miles. Not I, sir; but what would you at Brazen-nose? Erms. Marry, we would speak with Friar Bacon. Miles. Whose men be you? Erms. Marry, scholar, here's our master. Ralph. Sirrah, I am the master of these good fellows; mayest thou not know me to be a lord by my reparrel? Miles. Then here's good game for the hawk ; for here's the master fool, and a covey of cox- combs : one wise man, I think, would spring you all. Edw. Gog's wounds! Warren, kill him. War. Why, Ned, I think the devil be in my sheath; I cannot get out my dagger. Erms. Nor I mine: swones, Ned, I think I am bewitched. Miles. A company of scabs! the proudest of you all draw your weapon if he can. See how boldly I speak now my master is by. Edw. I strive in vain ; but if my sword is shut, And conjured fast by magic in my sheath, Villain, here is my fist. (Strike him a box on the ear.) Miles. Oh! I beseech you conjure his hands, too, that he may not lift his arms to his head, for he is light-fingered. Ralph. Ned, strike him; I'll warrant thee by mine honour. Bacon. What means the English prince to wrong my man? Ixxxiv Edw. To whom speak'st thou? Bacon. To thee. Edw. Who art thou? Bacon. Could you not judge, when all your swords grew fast, That Friar Bacon was not far from hence? Edward, King Henry's son, and Prince of Wales, Thy fool disguis'd cannot conceal thyself: I know both Ermsby and the Sussex Earl, Else friar Bacon had but little skill. Thou com'st in post from merry Fressingfield, Fast fancied to the keeper's bonnie lass. To crave some succour from the jolly friar; And Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, hast thou left. To 'treat fair Margaret to allow thy loves: But friends are men, and love can baffle lords; The earl both woos and courts her for himself. War. Ned, this is strange; the friar knoweth all. Erms. Apollo could not utter more than this. Edw. I stand amaz'd to hear this jolly friar. Tell even the very secrets of my thoughts. But, learned Bacon, since thou know'st the cause. Why I did post so fast from Fressingfield, Help, friar, at a pinch, that I may have The love of lovely Margaret to myself. And, as I am true Prince of Wales, Fll give Living and lands to strengthen thy college state. War. Good friar, help the prince in this. Ralph. Why, servant Ned, will not the friar do it? Were not my sword glued to my scab- bard by conjuration, I would cut off his head, and make him do it by force. Miles. In faith, my lord, your manhood and your sword is all alike; they are so fast conjured that we shall never see them. Ixxxv Erms. What, doctor, in a dump! tush, help the prince, And thou shalt see how liberal he will prove. Bacon. Crave not such actions greater dumps than these? I will, my lord, strain out my magic spells. For this day comes the earl to Fressingfield, And 'fore that night shuts in the day with dark. They'll be betrouthed each to other fast. But come with me, we'll to my study straight. And in a glass prospective I will shew What's done this day in merry Fressingfield. Edw. Gramercies, Bacon; I will quite thy pain. Bacon. But send your train, my lord, into the town : My scholar shall go bring them to their inn; Meanwhile we'll see the knavery of the earl. Edw. Warren, leave me, and Ermsby take the fool; Let him be master, and go revel it, Till I and friar Bacon talk awhile. War. We will, my lord. Ralph. Faith, Ned, and Ell lord it out till thou comest: Ell be Prince of Wales over all the black pots in Oxford. (Exeunt) BACON and EDWARD go into the study. Bacon. Now, frolic Edward, welcome to my cell; Here tempers friar Bacon many toys. And holds this place his consistory court, Wherein the devils plead homage to his words. Within this glass prospective thou shalt see This day what's done in merry Fressingfield, Twixt lovely Peggy and the Lincoln Earl. Edw. Friar, thou glad'st me: Now shall Edward try Ixxxvi How Lacy meaneth to his sovereign lord. Bacon. Stand there and look directly in the glass. Enter MARGARET and Friar BUNGAY. Bacon. What sees my lord? Edw. I see the keeper's lovely lass appear, As brightsome as the paramour of Mars, Only attended by a jolly friar. Bacon. Sit still and keep the crystal in your eye. * * * * Enter BACON Bacon. All hail to this royal company, That sit to hear and see this strange dispute. Bungay, how stand'st thou as a man amaz'd? What, hath the German acted more than thou? Van. What art thou that question thus? Bacon. Men call me Bacon. Van. Lordly thou look'st, as if that thou wert learn'd ; Thy countenance as if science held her seat Between the circled arches of thy brows. Enter Friar BACON, drawing the curtains, with a white stick, a book in his hand, and a lamp lighted by him; and the Brazen Head, and Miles, with weapons by him. Bacon. Miles, where are you? Miles. Here, sir. Bacon. How chance you tarry so long? Miles. Think you that watching of the Braz- en Head craves no furniture? I warrant you, sir, I have so armed myself, that if all your dev- ils come, I will not fear them an inch. Bacon. Miles, Thou know'st that I have dived into hell. And sought the darkest palaces of fiends, Ixxxvii That with my magic spells great Belcephon Hath left his lodge and kneeled at my cell : The rafters of the earth rent from the poles, And three-form'd Luna hid her silver looks, Trembling upon her concave continent. When Bacon read upon his magic book. With seven years tossing necromantic charms, - Poring upon dark Hecat's principles, I have fram'd out a monstrous head of brass. That by the enchanting forces of the devil, Shall tell out strange and uncouth aphorisms, And girt fair England with a wall of brass. Bungay and I have watch'd these threescore days. And now our vital spirits crave some rest: If Argus liv'd, and had his hundred eyes, They could not over-watch Phobetor's night. Now, Miles, in thee rests Friar Bacon's Weal: The honour and renown of all his life Hangs in the watching of this Brazen Head; Therefore I charge thee by the immortal God, That holds the souls of men within his fist, This night thou watch ; for ere the morning star Sends out his glorious glister on the north, The head will speak; then. Miles, upon thy life. Wake me; for then by magic art I'll work. To end my seven years' task with excellence. If that a wink but shut thy watchful eye. Then farewell Bacon's glory and his fame! Draw close the curtains, Miles : now for thy life. Be watchful and — (Here he falleth asleep.) Miles. So; I thought you would talk your- self asleep anon, and 'tis no marvel, for Bungay on the days, and he on the nights, have watched just these ten and fifty days: now this is the night, and 'tis my task and no more. Now, Jesus bless me! what a goodly Head it is and a nose! You talk of nos autem glorificare; but Ixxxviii here's a nose, that I warrant may be called nos autem populare for the people of the parish. Well, I am furnished with weapons: now, sir, I will set me down by a post, and make it as good as a watchman to wake me if I chance to slumber. I thought, goodman Head, I would call you out of your memento. Passion a' God, I have almost broke my pate! Up, Miles, to your task; take your brown bill in your hand, here's some of your master's hobgoblins abroad. (With this a great noise.) The HEAD speaks. Head, Time is. Miles. Time is! Why, master Brazen-head, have you such a capital nose, and answer you with syllables, Time is? is this all your master's cunning, to spend seven years' study about Time is? Well, sir, it may be, we shall have some bet- ter orations of it anon: well, I'll watch you as narrowly as ever you were watched, and I'll play with you as the nightingale with the glow-worm ; I'll set a prick against my breast. Now rest there. Miles. Lord have mercy upon me, I have almost killed myself! Up, Miles, list how they rumble. Head. Time was. Miles. Well, Friar Bacon, you have spent your seven years study well, that can make your Head speak but two words at once. Time was. Yea marry, time was when my master was a wise man, but that was before he began to make the Brazen Head. You shall lie while your * * * ache, and your Head speak no better. Well, I will watch and walk up and down, and be a peri- patetian and a philosopher of Aristotle's stamp. What! a fresh noise? Take thy pistols in hand. Miles. Ixxxix (Here the Head speaks, and a lightning flash- eth forth, and a hand appears that break- eth down the Head with a hammer.) Head. Time is past. Miles. Master! master! up, hell's broken loose! your Head speaks! and there's such a thunder and lightning, that I warrant all Ox- ford is up in arms. Out of your bed, and take a brown bill in your hand; the latter day is come. Bacon. Miles, I come. O passing warily watch'd! Bacon will make thee next himself in love. When spake the Head? Miles. When spake the head! did not you say that he should tell strange principles of phi- losophy? Why, sir, it speaks but two words at a time. Bacon. Why, villain, hath it spoken oft? Mile. Oft! ay marry hath it, thrice; but in all those three times it hath uttered but seven words. Bacon. As how? Miles. Marry sir, the first time he said. Time is, as if Fabius Commentator should have pro- nounced a sentence; (the second time) he said. Time was; and the third time, with thunder and lightning, as in great choler, he said, Time is past. Bacon. 'Tis past, indeed. Ah, villain! time is past: My life, my fame, my glory, all are past. Bacon, the turrets of thy hope are ruin'd down. Thy seven years' study lieth in the dust: Thy Brazen Head lies broken through a slave. That watch'd, and would not when the Head did will. What said the Head first? Miles. Even, sir, Time is. Bacon. Villain! if thou had'st call'd to Ba- con then. If thou had'st vvatch'd, and wak'd the sleepy friar, The Brazen Head had utter'd aphorisms, And England had been circled round with brass: But proud Astmenoth, ruler of the north, And Demogorgon, master of the fates. Grudge that a mortal man should work so much. Hell trembled at my dep commanding spells. Fiends f rown'd to see a man their over-match : Bacon might boast more than a man might boast; But now the braves of Bacon have an end, Europe's conceit of Bacon hath an end, His seven years' practice sorteth to ill end; And, villain, sith my glory hath an end, I will appoint thee to some fatal end. Villain, avoid! get thee from Bacon's sight: Vagrant, go roam and range about the world. And perish as a vagabond on earth! Miles. Why then, sir, you forbid me your service. Bacon. My service? villain! with a fatal curse, That direful plagues and mischiefs fall on thee. Miles. 'Tis no matter, I am against you with the old proverb, the more the fox is cursed, the better he fares. God be with you, sir : I'll take but a book in my hand, a wide-sleeved gown on my back, and a crowned cap on my head, and see if I can want promotion. (Exit. Bacon. Some fiend or ghost haunt on thy weary steps, Until they do' transport thee quick to hell: For Bacon shall have never merry day, To lose the fame and honour of his Head. (Exit. * * * * Enter BACON with FRIAR BUNGAY to his cell. Bun. What means the friar that frolicked it of late, To sit as melancholy in his cell, As if he had neither lost nor won to-day? Bacon. Ah, Bungay, my Brazen Head is spoil'd, My glory gone, my seven years' study lost! The fame of Bacon bruited through the world, Shall end and perish with this deep disgrace. Bun. Bacon hath built foundation of his fame. So surely on the wings of true report. With acting strange and uncouth miracles. As this cannot infringe what he deserves. Bacon. Bungay, sit down, for my prospective skill, I find this day shall fall out ominous. Some deadly act shall 'tide me ere I sleep; But what and wherein little can I guess. Bun. My mind is heavy, whatsoe'er shall hap. (Knock. Bacon. Who's that knocks? Bun. Two scholars that desire to speak with you. Bacon. Bid them come in. Enter two SCHOLARS, sons to Lambert and Serlsby. Now, my youths, what would you have? First Scho. Sir, we are Suffolk men, and neighboring friends, Our fathers in their countries lusty squires: Their lands adjoin; in Cratfield mine doth dwell, And his in Laxfield. We are college mates, Sworn brothers, as our fathers live as friends. Bacon. To what end is all this? Second Scho. Hearing your worship kept within your cell A glass prospective, wherein men might see. What so their thoughts, or hearts' desire could wish, We come to know how that our fathers fare. Bacon. My glass is free for every honest man. * « * * (He breaks his glass.) Bun. What means learn'd Bacon thus to break his glass? Bacon. I tell thee, Bungay, it repents me sore, That ever Bacon meddled in this art. The hours I have spent in pyromantic spells. The fearful tossing in the latest night Of papers full of necromantic charms. Conjuring and adjuring devils and fiends. With stole and albe, and strange pentageron; The wresting of the holy name of God, As Sother, Eloim, and Adonai. Alpha, Manoth, and Tetragrammaton, With praying to the five-fold powers of heaven, Are instances that Bacon must be damn'd. For using devils to countervail his God. Yet, Bacon, cheer thee, drown not in despair. Sins have their salves, repentance can do much : Think Mercy sits where Justice holds her seat. And from those wounds those bloody Jews did pierce. Which by thy magic oft did bleed afresh. From thence for thee the dew of mercy drops, To wash the wrath of high Jehovah's ire, And make thee as a new-born babe from sin. Bungay, Til spend the remnant of my life In pure devotion, praying to my God, That he would save what Bacon vainly lost. * * * * (Exeunt. Hen. But why stands friar Bacon here so mute? Bacon. Repentant for the follies of my youth, That magic's secret mysteries misled. And joyful that this royal marriage Portends such bliss unto this matchless realm. Hen. Why, Bacon, What strange event shall happen to this land? Or what shall grow from Edward and his queen? Bacon. I find by deep prescience of mine art. Which once I tempered in my secret cell. That here where Brute did build his Troynovant, From forth the royal garden of a king, Shall flourish out so rich and fair a bud, Whose brightness shall deface proud Phoebus' flower, And over-shadow Albion with her leaves. Till then, Mars shall be master of the field. But then the stormy threats of wars shall cease : The horse shall stamp as careless of the pike, Drums shall be turn'd to timbrels of delight; With wealthy favours plenty shall enrich The strond that gladded wandering Brute to see, And peace from heaven shall harbour in these leaves. That gorgeous beautify this matchless flower. Apollo's heliotropion then shall stoop, And Venus' hyacinth shall vail her top; Juno shall shut her gilliflowers up. And Pallas' bay shall 'bash her brightest green; Ceres' carnation in consort with those, Shall stoop and wonder at Diana's rose. 741 St. Nicholas Avenue New York, February 24, 1921 B. B. SHAKESPEARE'S CONNECTION WITH THE INNS OF COURT It is pleasant to know that two of Shakespeare's come- dies were performed at the famous Inns of Court — The Comedy of Errors at Grays Inn on December 28, 1594, and Twelth Night in the Middle Temple Hall February, 1601. John Manningham, a student in the Middle Temple, has written the following in his table-book, 2 Febr., 1601 : ' ' At our feast wee had a play called Twelve Night, or what you will, much like the commedy of errores, or Menechmi in Plautis, but most like and neere to that in Italian called Inganni. A good practice in it to make the steward believe his lady widdowe was in love with him, by counterfayting a letter as from his lady, in generall termes, tellijig him what she liked best in him, and pre- scribing his gesture in smiling, his apparaile, &c., and then when he came to practice making him believe they took him to be mad." In the same diary, Manningham gives an anecdote about Shakespeare which w^as related to him by a Mr. Curie} In the Pension Booh of Grays Inn, I find on the 12tli of June, 1616, p. 221: "Mr. Auditor Curie being admitted of the howse is caled an Ancient & to have place above all the Ancients." And on 21 Oct., 1618: ''Mr. Auditor Curie and Mr. (lulson called to the Bench.'"" Some one has said, "Laughter is only the bright side of a tear," and I have thought Shakespeare may have found in Grays Inn a model for his mad Malvolio. Mr. iSep Shakespeare's Century of I'raise, 2ii(l EcL, p. 45. ^Il>i(l, p. 232. 1 Fletcher, Editor of the Pension Book of Grays Inn, p. 100, has this foot note relating to the butler, John Som- erscales, in 1593: ''Somerseales went out of his mind. He was sent to Bethlehem Hospital (Bedlam) and there maintained at the expense of the Society." Shakespeare was living in Bishopsgate ahout this time, we are told, and Bedlam was in Bishopsgate ward. It is my belief the poet some- times visited this hospital and studied the different phases of madness. Else how could he have given us such a truthful delineation of mental abberation as we find in the fair Ophelia, in "Poor Tom's-a-cold," and in Kiuij hear? If, as I believe, Bacon befriended the poet, he would have known all about Somerscales; and, as Bacon took a sympathetic interest in the poor butler, perhaps Shakespeare would drop in to see him now and then and report to Bacon how he was getting on. At the Pension 14 May, 35 Eliz: It was: "Ordryd that John Somerscales the pune butler which is now visyted with sicness shalbe wekely allowed v^ by the weke during hys sickness to be payd hym by the Steward out of tliadmyttance money."^ And: 1594 [31 Jan.] ''At the same pencion yt ys orderyd & agreed that Anthony Catmer shall serve in the Buttrie as Butler in the stead of John Somerscales & for hym and shall have & collect to thuse of the sayd Anthony soch fees as wer due & accustomyd to be payd to the said Somerscales. And thereof shall paye to the sayd Somerscales yearly duringe hys lunacy iii'' vi^ viii"^. And yt ys lykewyse or- deryd that the said Somerscales shall have vi" xiii' iiii"^ of the stocke of the howse for this yeare. And ilhid. p. 100. yt Ys further in the sayd pencion agreed that yf yt shall please God at any tyme hereafter to restore the sayd John Somerscales to hys perfect sence & memorye agayne that then the said John yf he shall lyke thereof shall & may com & execute hys ]3]ace agayne in the buttrye & shall have soch fees and oonunodvties as heretofore he hath had.'" I know it is mere conjecture on my part that Shakes- peare took this poor porter's case to illustrate a pre- tended madness in Malvolio. Among Bacon's accounts for 1602-1605 we find: ''Payde the 26th of Feb: 1602 unto Mr. Parrett the Keper of Bethelem for keepinge of John Somerscales from the 6 of November unto the dale aforesaid beinge 16 weekes 2 15 10.'" So I imagine the unfortunate man never recovered his mind. Some years ago I maintained that Shakespeare found the source of his plot for Love's Labors Lost at Grays Inn. And I still feel thoroughly convinced that he did. Queen Elizabeth's aversion to matrimony is well known, also that anecdote of her when she said to Bishop Whit- gift she ''liked him the better because he was not mar- ried," and his answer, ''Madame, I like you the worse for the same reason." Bishop Whitgift had been Fran- cis Bacon's tutor at Cambridge, and in May, 1593, the Venus and Adonis year, he became a member of Grays Inn. It has been said no source of the plot of Love's Labors Lost has been discovered, so I will give here what I think inspired it. Love's Labours Lost was the first play to appear with Shakespeare's name printed on the title page. It was dated 1598 and called: Ubid. p. 102. 2 Pension Book. p. 400. A PLEASANT, CONCEITED COMEDIE CALLED LOVE'S LABOURS LOST. AS IT WAS PER- FORMED BEFORE HER HIGHNESS THIS LAST CHRISTMAS. NEWLY CORRECTED AND AUGMENTED BY W. SHAKESPERE. IM- PRINTED AT LONDON BY W. W. FOR CUT- BERT BURBY, 1598. As New Year's Day always fell upon March 25tli at that period, the new statutes made for Grays Inn by Elizabeth in 1598 would have given plenty of time before Christmas for Shakespeare to write this parody on them. The Queen's statutes must have created much merriment among the young gentlemen of Grays Inn and great anxiety in the lower quarters among the ' 'meaner sort,'^ as the following illustration will prove : 1598 PENSION 15th Nov : 40 Eliz : Present :— BRO- GRAVE, BACON, STANHOPE, HALES, FUL- LER, PELHAM, BETTENHAM, LANY, NIGHTINGALE, BARKER, GERRARD, BRAC- KIN, WILBRAHAM and ELLIS. "It is also at the present pencon agreed that the Reader in Divinitie to be chosen shalbee a man un- married & having noe ecclesiasticall livinge other than a prebend without cure of soules nor Reader- shippe in any other place & shall kepe the same place so longe as hee shall continewe unmaried & without beinge preferred to such ecclesiasticall livinge or other Readershippe & no longer. And that hee bee not further charged with reading than twice in the weeke savinge in the weeke wherein there is Communion." Pension Booh Grays Inn,. p. 139. And further: 1598 PENSION 7tli Feb: 41 Eliz: Present :~BEO- GEAVE, HESKETH, BACON, WHINKINS, POOLEY, FULLER, PELHAM, LANY, NIGHT- INGALE, BETTENHAM, BARKER, PEPPER, GERRARD, BRAKINE, CALFIELD, WILBRA- HAM, ELLIS. "At this pencion Mr. Shaxton is elected Preacher or Divinytie Reader to this Societie so that hee will accept the same under the Rules and condicons in that hehalfe heretofore agreed uppon by pencon viz: not to bee capable thereof if hee bee married or have smj other ecclesiasticall living with cure of soules & thoughe not beinge soe att the time of his eleccon not to continew^e soe longer then as hee S'hall remaine unmaried & without such ecclesiasticall livinge as aforesaid. And if that Mr. Shaxton shall not like to accept the same place under tlies condicons then is Mr. Fenton elected Preacher to this Societie so that he will also accept & continewe the same under the same condicons. And if hee shall not like to accept of the place in such manner & under such condicons then is Mr. Heron elected Preacher or Divinitie Reader to this Society under the same rules & condicons if he will soe accept & continewe in the same. And it is further agreed that Mr. Shaxton^ doe deliver his resolute answer of his acceptinge or refusall of this place before the first Mondaye in Lent next & if hee shall refuse the place that then Mr. Fenton doe deliver his answere therein before the third Mondaye in Lent & upon his re- fusall that Mr. Heron doe therein deliver his reso- lute answere before the fifth Monclaye in Lent next." Ibid., pp. 140-141. The Ed. of the Pension Book says in a note : ''Apparently Mr. Shaxton did not accept the condi- tions laid down — conditions which suggest that the Queen's well-known prejudice in favour of the celibacy of the clergy was shared by the Benchers. Koger Fen- ton, who was appointed, accepted the conditions, but broke at least one of them, for he had conjointly with his preachership, first the rectory of St. Benet's Sherehog (1603-6), and then the vicerage of Chig^vell, Essex (1606- 15). Shortly after his appointment he was elected fellow of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge. He was one of the trans- lators who produced the Authorized Version of the Bible, and is said to have been a popular preacher. He published a 'Treatise on Usurie,' in three books, and many sermons. His successor at Chigwell, in referring to him, wrote of 'those Grayes Inne whose hearts bled through their eyes when they saw him dead.' He did not take the degree of Doctor till a year or two before his death in 1615-16." Ibid., p. 140. From Gorhambury, Francis Bacon writes to Sir Michael Hicks, 27 Aug., 1610: "I heartily wish I had your company here at my mother's funeral. ... I dare promise you a good sermon to be made by Mr. Fenton, the preacher of Grays Inn ; for he never maketh other." Spedding's Letters and Life, IV, p. 217. I be- live Bacon helped Fenton in his "Treatise on Usurie." To return to Love's Labours Lost. Shakespeare's patron, the Earl of Southampton, secretly married about this time, and when the Queen learned it she had the young lady sent to the Fleet, and the Earl also impris- oned. In 1()()4 Southampton had this play performed be- fore Queen Anne. To me the following* from Love's Labors Lost illus- trates how the gentlemen of Grays Inn took the Queen's statutes : ACT I — 8('ENE 1. Navarre. .1 J^aik, irith a Palace in it Enter the King. Bieon, Longaville and Dumain. King. . . . Therefore, brave conquerors! — for so you are, That war against your own alfeetions. And the huge army of the world's desires, — Our late edict shall strongly stand in force ; Navarre shall be the wonder of the world; Our court shall be a little Academe, Still. and contemplative in living art. You three, Biron, Dumain, and Longaville, Have sworn for three years' term to live with me. My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes. That are recorded in this schedule here: Your oath« are past and now subscribe your names. . . . Biron. I can but say their protestation over. So much, dear liege, I have already sworn, That is. To live and study here three years. But there are other strict observances: As, not to see a woman in that term; AVhich, I hope well, is not enrolled there. . . . . . . But Biron consents to sign and says: Biron. Give me the paper, let me read the same, And to the strictest decrees I'll sign my name. King. How well this yielding rescues thee from shame : Biron. [Reads.'] Item, That no woman shall come within a mile of my court — Hath this been proclaim'd? Long. Four days ago. Biron. Let's see the penalty. [Reads.] — On pain of losing her tongue. — Who devis'd this penalty? Long. Marry, that did I. Biron. Sweet lord, and why! Long. To fright them hence with that dread penalty, Biron. A dangerous law against gentility. [Reads.] Item, if any man he seen to talk ivith a ivoman within the term of three years, he shall endure such public shame as the rest of the court shall possibly devise. — This article, my liege, yourself must break ; For, well you know, here comes in embassy The French king 's daughter, with yourself to speak . . . King. ^Ye must, of force, dispense with this decree ; She must lie here on mere necessity. Biron. Necessity will make us all forsworn Three thousand times within this three years' space: For every man with his affects is born ; Not by might master 'd, but by special grace. If I break faith, this word shall speak for me, I am forsworn on mere necessity. — So to the laws at large I write my name : [Subscribes. And he that breaks them in the least degree, Stands in attainder of eternal shame : Suggestions are to others, as to me; But, I believe, although I seem so loth : I am the last that will last keep his oath. But is there no quick recreation granted? King, Ay, that there is ; our court, you know, is haunted With a refined traveller of Spain ; A man in all the world's new fashion planted, That hath a mint of phrases in his brain: One whom the music of his own vain tongue Doth ravish, like enchanting harmony; A man of complements, whom right and wrong Have chose as umpire of their mutiny : This child of fancy, that Armado hight, For interim to our studies, shall relate, In high-born words, the worth of many a knight From tawny Spain, lost in the world's debate. How you delight, my lords, I know not, I; But, I protest, I love to hear him lie. And I will use him for my minstrelsy. Biron. Armado is a most illustrious wight A man of fire-new words, fashion's own knight. Long. Costard, the swain, and he, shall be our sport; And, so to study, three years is but short. Enter Dull, unth a letter, and Costaed Dull. Which is the duke's own person? Biron. This fellow; What wouldst? Dull. I myself reprehend his own person, for I am his grace's th-arborough : but I would see his own person in flesh and blood. Biron. This is he. Dull. Signior Arme — Arme — commends you. There's villainy abroad; this letter will tell you more. Cost. Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me. King. A letter from the magnificent Armado. Biron. How low soever the matter, I hope in God for high words. Long. A high hope for a low heaven: God grant us patience ! Biron. To hear? or forbear hearing? Long. To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh moderately; or to forbear both. Biron. Well, sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to climb in the merriness. Cost. The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenet- ta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner. Biron. In what manner? Cost. In manner and form following, sir; all those three: I was seen with her in the manorhouse, sitting with her upon the form, and taken following her into the park; which, put together, is in manner and form follow- ing. Now, sir, for the manner, — it is the manner of a man to speak to a woman : for the form, — in some form. Biron. For the following, sir ? Cost. As it shall follow in my correction; And God defend the right! King. Will you hear this letter with attention! Biron. As we would hear an oracle. Cost. Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh. King. [Reads.'] "Great deputy, the ivelMn's vice- gerent, and sole dominator of Navarre, my soul's earth's God, and body's fostering patron, — Cost. Not a word of Costard yet. King. "So it is, — Cost. It may be so : but if he say it is so, he is, in telling- true, but so. King. Peace! Cost, — ^^be to me, and every man that dares not fight ! King. No words : Cost. — Of other men's secrets, I beseech you. King. "So it is, besieged ivith sable-coloured melan- choly, I did commend the black-oppressing humour to the most ivholesome physic of thy health-giving air: and, as I uyn a gentleman, betook myself to walk. The time ivhenf About the sixth hour; tuhen beasts most graze, birds best peck, and men sit doivn to that nourishment ivhich is ccdled supper. So much for the time tchen: Now for the 10 ground which; which, I mean, I walked upon: it is ycleped thy park. Then for the place where; where, I mean, I did encounter that obscene and most preposter- ous event, that draweth from my snoiu-white pen the ebon-coloured ink, ivhich here thou viewest, beholdest, surveyest, or seest : But to the place where, — It standeth north-north-east and by east from the west corner of thy curious-knotted garden. There did I see that low-spirited sivain, that base minnow of thy mirth. Cost. Me? King. — ''that unlette'd small-knowing soul. Cost. Me? King. " — that shalloiv vassal. Cost, saw mel Kill!/. — "irJiicJi as I rciiiciiiher, Jiifjh Costard. Cost. me ! King. — ''sorted, and consorted, contrary to thy estab- lished proclaimed edict and continent canon, with — ivith, — with — but with this I passion to say ivherewith. Cost. With a wench. King. — "ivith a child of our grandmother Eve, a fe- male; or, for thy more siveet understanding, a ivoman. Him I {as my ever esteemed duty pricks me on) have sent to thee, to receive the m.eed of punishment, by thy sweet grace's officer, Antony Dull; a man of good repute, carriage, bearing, and estimation. Bull. Me, an't shall please you; I am Antony Dull. King. "For Jaquenetta {so is the weaker vesser called, ivhich I apprehend with the aforesaid swain) I keep her as a vessel of thy law's fury; and shall, at the least of thy siveet notice, bring her to trial. Thine, in all compli- ments of devoted and heart-burning heat of duty, Don Adkiano de Aemado.'' 11 I Biron. This is not so well as I looked for, but the best that ever I heard. King, Ay, the best for the worst. But, sirrah, what say you to this? Cost. Sir, I confess the wench. King. Did you hear the proclamation? Cost. I do confess much of the hearing it, but little of the marking of it. King. It was proclaimed a year's imprisonment, to be taken with a wench. Cost. I was taken with none, sir; I was taken with a damosel. King. Well, it was proclaimed damosel. Cost. This was no damosel, neither, sir; she was a virgin. King. It is so varied too ; for it was proclaimed virgin. Cost. If it were, I deny her virginity; I was taken with a maid. King. This maid will not serve your turn, sir. Cost. This maid will serve my turn, sir. King. Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: You shall fast a week with bran and water. Cost. I had rather pray a month with mutton and por- ridge. King. And Don Armado shall be your keeper, — My lord Biron, see him deliver 'd o'er. — And go we, lords, to put in practice, that Which each to other hath so strongly sworn. — [Exeunt Kixg, Longaville, and Dumain. Biron. I'll lay my head to any good man's hat, These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn. Sirrah, come on. Cost. I suffer for the truth, sir: for true it is, I was taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a true girl; and 12 therefore, Welcome the sour ciij^ of prosperity! Afflic- tion rnay one day smile again, and until then, Sit down, Sorrow 1 "We have in this first act, it seems to me, observed the effect of Elizabeth's edict on the students of Grays Inn, but the following from the Pension Book proves that the '' Master Butler and the Master Cooke" won out, better than the "Officers of the house." 1599 PENSION 10th June, 41 Eliz : "It is ordered that from henceforth none of the officers of this house shall keepe or enjoye his office any longer than they shall keep themselves sole and unmaried exceptinge the stuard the cliiefe Butler and the chief Cooke." p. 142. 1602 PENSION 20th Oct: 44 Eliz: Present:— PEE- PER, BPOaRAVE, HESKETH, BAC^ON, W^HIS- KINS, FULLER, NIGHTINGALE, BRAKIN. GOLDSMITH, ALTHAM, CHA WORTH. "elohn Guy is admitted into the office of the paniarman of this house notwithstanding that hee bee now maried by reason that hee was maried before the order was made against inferior officers mariages in this house & therefore hee havinge served xii yeares painefullye he is admitted to the said office, the said former order notwithstand- inge." Ibid., p. 159. Although Biron said, "These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn," they lingered on. In 1612 we see the fol- lowing in the Pension Book: 1612 "None of the said officers or servitors nowe un- maried or which hereafter shalbee chosen, except the Steward, chiefe Butler & chief cooke, shall con- 13 tinewe his place longer then hee shall live sole and nnmaried." Ibid., p. 199. Years of study have taught me it is incredable Bacon and Shakespeare should not have known each other, and that nowhere else could the poet have gained in so short a time his knowledge of court manners and law as in the Inns of Court, where all the courtly graces were prac- ticed and where the poet must have had free access. Sir George Buc, the Master of the Revels, who licensed some of Shakespeare's plays, had been a member of the Mid- dle Temple, where Twelfth Night was performed Feb- ruary 2, 1601. Sir George Buc, writing of the "Colleges of London," 1612, has this to say of the Inner Temple ensign : ''But, if the fellows and gentlemen of the Inner Temple have taken for the device or ensign of their college, a Pegasus, or flying horse, sables or gules, upon a shield Or, as I hear that they did in the reign of the late queen of immortal memory, then they are already fairly armed. And, because the utter-Temple neither is, nor was ever any college or society of students, and therefore not to be considered here, I will leave the choice of either of these old devices and ensigns to the gentlemen of the Middle Temple, they not having as yet, to my knowledge, chosen or appropriated any ensign to their society or college ; to whom, and to their house and studies, I wish all honour and prosperity, for my particular obligation, having been sometimes a fellow and student (or, to con- fess a truth, a truant,) in that most honourable house." Pearce's Inns of Court, p. 274. I believe the shield of Pegasus for the Inner Temple was inaugiiirated in 15()1 in the iiias(iue of PahipJiilos. 14 Elizabeth, the "Fairie Queen," seems to have inspired, these ardent youths with more liking for poetr}^ than for law. Hence the winged Horse of the Muses for their coat armor or device. Here I will digress a bit to ask if it is not probable Shakespeare learned from the herald, William Segar, how to make ''Imprisses" when, in 1594, Segar made or caused to be made the ' ' sheilds and their Emprisses ' ' for the Gesta Grayorum? Take it all in all, Grays Inn was a splendid school for the poet to learn in. Mr. Stevens' late discovery among the Belvoir MSS. prompts this inquiry : **31. Martii. To Mr. Shakespeare in gold, about my Lord's impreso, XIIVS. To Eichard Burbage for paynt- ing & making yt, in gold XLIVS . . . iiili. viiis." It is to be hoped Shakespeare was paid more promptly for his service than Segar, for I find the following in the Pension Book of Grays Inn. p. Ill : 1595 "It is further ordered at this pencion that vi'' claymed by one ]Mr. Segar the Quens servant for nyne sheilds & their emprisses be discharged in part of i^ayment whereof iii'' xvi^ viii'^ received for Mr. Terhinghams fyne admitted this pencion was delyvered over to Mr. Johnson for that use." The Editor adds : "This would he William Segar, who was during this reign successively Somerset herald and Norroy King-at- arms. Early in the next reign he became Garter King- at-arms, and in 1616 was knighted. In the following year he was admitted a member of the Inn." 15 1596 PENSION lltli Feb: 38 Eliz: Present— BRO- GRAVE, ANGER, POLEY, PELHAM, BET- TENHAM. LANY, NIGHTINGALE and BAR- KER. ''It is ordered that there shall bee payd out of thadmittance money to Somersett the Herold reasidue of a debte due xP iiii''." Ibid., p. 113. Among those employed at Grays Inn I find John Buck, who may have been related to the Master of the Revels: 1579 PENSION 6th July, 21 Eliz : Present :— BAR- TON, COLBIE, AUNGER, WHISKINS, YEL- VERTON, SNAGG, CARDINALL, BROGRAVE and KEMPE. ''It is ordered that John Buck shall be allowed toe be in Davyes rome in the buttrye when the said Davy shall leave the same office." p. 39. Item for my (Buck's) charges of horse hire & other expenses in rydinge to Nonsuche her Maties Court wth aunswere to the Oounsailers towching Robin Hoods stake defacing viii'' vii'^ Jhid, p. 488. Also the following at a Pension held 28 May, 1599 : Mr. Buck's resignation of his office of Steward- ship of this house is accepted, and Mr. Richard Ockhold is chosen Steward. Sir George Buc succeeded his uncle, Edward Tilney, as Master of the Revels, in 1610. The Tilneys also were nuMubers of Grays Inn : 1590 PENSION 19th May, 32 Eliz: Present: BRO- GRAVE, ANGER, CARDINALL, KEMP, DAN- lELL, STANHOPE, SPURLING, HALES, FULLER, BACON, ST. LEGER, LANCASTER, WADE. 16 "Mr. Jenour, Mr. Marsliall, Mr. Grene & Mr. Tyliiey called to the barr by Mr. Wade last reader are only allowed for utter-baristers of that call." Ibid., p. 87. 1600 Mr. Robert Tilney the elder, having paid all his vacations and commons due by him to the Society, is restored to his former degree of ancienty. Ibid., p. 149. That Shakespeare was exceedingly fond of the Inns of Court, we see in his dramas, wherein he honors so many of their distinguished members. In the Gesta Grayonim we find a gentleman by the name of Markham was given the role of Lord Chamberlain of the Household. Pearce, in his able work, The Inns of Court and Chancery, p. 338, has this to say of one of this gentleman's ancestors, who also belonged to Grays Inn: "The next member of this society whose name is re- membered is John Markham, one of the Judges of the Common Pleas. Having filled the office of reader in Grays Inn, Markham was in the year 1391 called to the degree of a serjeant-at-law, and on the 7th July, 1397, was constituted one of the Justices of the Common Pleas, by King Eichard II. He was probably the father of John Markham, the Lord Chief Justice of England, who was distinguished for his honest and fearless opposition to the wishes of the crown. The younger Markham was also a member of this inn and his arms are yet preserved in the north-east window of the hall. On the 6th of Feb- ruary, A. D. 1444, in the 22 Henry VL, he was constituted one of the Justices ad Plac. coram Rege; and on the 13th May, A. D. 1462, was created Lord Chief Justice by King Edward IV. Stow informs us, 'And because that Sir John Markham, then Chief Justice, determined somewhat against the king's pleasure, that the offence done by Sir Thomas Cooke (who was arraigned at the Guildhall, on a vague charge of treason) was no treason, but mis- prison, the which was no desert of death, but to be fined at the king's pleasure; the Lord Eivers and the Duchess of Bedford, his wife, procured that he lost his office after- wards.' Lord Coke enumerates Sir John Markham as one of the famous and expert sages of the law in the time of Littleton." The Sir Thomas Cooke here mentioned was Francis Bacon's great-gTeat-great-grandfather, who was contempo- rary with Chief Justice William Gascoyne, whom Shake- speare brought into two of his dramas, namely, second part, Henry IV., Act V., and in Henr^j V. Sir William Gas- coyne was a student and reader of Grays Inn in 1398. Bacon's kinsman, Sir Thomas Cooke, was also a contem- pory of Sir John Fastolf of Caistor Castle, supposed by some to be "the old man of the castle," and of Boars Head fame in the Merry Wives of Wmdsor. Shakespeare gives us this fine picture of Judge Gascoyne: King Henry V. How might a Prince of my great hopes forget So great indignities you laid upon me? What! rate, rebuke, and roughly send to prison The immediate heir of England! Was this easy? May this be wash'd in Lethe and forgotten? Chief Justice. I then did use the person of your father ; The image of his power lay then in me ! And in the administration of his law. Whiles I was busy for the Commonwealth, Your highness pleased to forget my place. The majesty and power of Law and Justice, The image of the King, whom I presented. And struck me in my very seat of judgment;. IS AVliereon, as an offender to yonr father, I gave bold way to my antliority, And did commit yon. If tlie deed were ill, Be yon contented, wearing now the garland, To ha\^e a son set yonr decrees at nought ; To pluck down justice from your awful bench ; To trip the course of law, and blunt the sword That guards the peace and safety of your person : Nay, more ; to spurn at your most royal image. And mock your workings in a second body. Question your royal thoughts, make the case yours, Be now the father and propose a son : Hear your own dignity so mucli profan'd, See your most dreadful laws so loosely slighted, Behold yourself so by a son disdain 'd; And then imagine me taking your joart, And in your power soft silencing your son : After this cold considerence, sentence me; And as you are a King, speak in your state, What I have done that misbecame my place, My person, or my liege's sovereignty. King. You are right. Justice, and you weigh this well ; Therefore still bear the balance and the sword. The poet in Henry VIII, Act V., Scene 1, honors an- other Grays Inn lawyer, Thomas Cromwell, who served Cardinal Wolsey so faithfully: ''0 Cromwell, Cromwell, Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal I serv'd my king, he would not in my age Have left me naked to mine enemies." Another Grays Inn man in the same drama is Stephen Gardiner, Bisho]) of Winchester and Lord High Chan- cellor of England, who became Cromwell's enemy. Pearce says: 19 ''Cromwell was admitted of Gray's Inn, a. d. 1524; in ten years afterwards he was one of the ancients of the society; in the year 1535 he was advanced to the offices of Secretary to the Privy Council, Chancellor of the Uni- versity of Cambridge, Master of the EoUs, and Lord Privy Seal. He was known to be favourably disposed towards the new doctrines: — Bishop Gardiner. Do I not know yon for a favourer Of this new sect? Ye are not sound. Cromwell. Not sound! Gar. Not sound, I say. Crom. Would you were half so honest ! Men's prayers then would see you, not their fears. Gar. I shall remember this bold language. Crom. Do. Remember your bold life, too. — Henry VIII., Act V,. Scene 1. Pearce's Hist. Inns of Court, p. 349. I firmly believe Shakespeare paid a compliment to the Bacon family by bringing into this same drama Sir Wil- liam Butts, the King's favorite physician. Sir William Butts married a kinswomen of Sir Nicholas Bacon's. The Dictionary of National Biography tells us from 1524 to 1545 Dr. Butts "was constantly employed as physi- cian at the Court," and that "the King, his Queens, Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour, the Princess Mary, after- wards Queen Mary, the King's natural son, Henry Fitz- roy, Duke of Richmond, Cardinal Wolsey, the Duke of Norfolk, Sir Thomas Lovell, George Boleyn, and Lord Rochford are all known to have been his patients." . . . Also that: "When Wolsey was in disgrace Butts tried to reconcile the King to him, and his interposition in favour of Archbishop Cranmer is well known to readers of Shakespeare." {Henry VIII, Act Y, Scene 2.) 20 Here is the passage: Enter Doctor Butts. Cran. So. Butts. This is a piece of malice. I am g'Lnd, I came this way so happily : The king Shall understand it presently. [Exit Butts. Cran. [Aside. 'T is Butts, The king's physician; as he pass'd along, How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me ! Pray heaven, he sound not my disgrace ! For certain, This is of purpose laid by some that hate me, (God turn their hearts! I never sought their malice,) To quench mine honour : they would shame to make me Wait else at door; a fellow-counsellor, Among boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their pleasures Must be fulfill 'd, and I attend with patience. Enter, at a window above, tJte King and Butts. Butts. I'll show your grace the strangest sight, — K. Hen. What 's that. Butts I Butts. I think your highness saw this many a day. A'. Hen. Body o' me, where is it? Butts. There, my lord : The high promotion of his grace of Canterbury ; Who holds his state at door, 'mongst pusuivants. Pages, and footboys. k. Hen. Ha ! 'Tis he, indeed : Is this the honour they do one another 'T is well there's one above them yet. I had thought They had parted so much honesty among them, (At least, good manners,) as not thus to suffer A man of his place, and so near our favour, To dance attendance on their lordships' pleasures. And at the door too, like a post with packets. By holy Mary, Butts, there's knavery: 21 Let them aloue, and draw the curtain close ; We shall hear more anon. [Exeunt. ' The article in the D. N. B. on Dr. Butts says: ''He married Margaret Bacon, of Cambridgeshire, and left three sons: Sir William, of Thornage, Norfolk; Thomas, of Great Eiburgh, Norfolk, and Edmund, of Barrow, Suf- folk. . . . Edmund alone had issue, one daughter, who married Sir Nicholas Bacon, eldest son of Sir Nich- olas, keeper of the great seal." One of their sons was Sir Nathaniel Bacon, the Artist, who married Jane Lady Cornwallis, widow of Sir William Cornwallis, of Brome Hall. See the Private Correspondence of Jane Lady Coriiiralli.s, 1613-1()44, Lond. 1848. Anne, the daughter of Sir Nathaniel Bacon and Lady Jane, became the wife of • Sir Thomas Meautys, Bacon's friend and secretary, who erected the tomb to Bacon in St. Michael's Church, Gorhambury, and was buried there at his master's feet in 1649. The play of King Henry the Eighth was first published in the folio of 1623. It was being performed at the Globe in June, 1613, when that famous theatre was destroyed by fire. We learn the date of this event from two of Bacon's friends, Thomas Lorkin and Sir Henry Wotton. Lorkin writes to Sir Thomas Puckering, June, 1613: "No longer since than yesterday, while Bourbage, his company, were acting at the Globe the play of Henry VIII., and there shooting of certain chambers in way of triumph, the fire catch 'd." And Wotton, writing to Bacon's half-nephew, Edward Bacon, on 6th July, 1613: "Now to let matters of State sleep, I will entertain you at the present with what happened this week at the Bank- side. The King's players had a new ^^/a?/, called All is True, representing some principal pieces of the reign of Henry the Eighth, which was set forth with many ex- traordinary circumstances of pomp and majesty, even to tlie matting of the stage ; the knights of the order, with their Georges and Garter, the guards with their embroid- ered coats and the like ; sufficient, in truth, within a while to make greatness very familiar, if not ridiculous. Now King Henry, making a mask at the Cardinal Wolsey's house, and certain cannons being shot otf at his entry, some of the paper, or other stuff wherewith one of them was stopped, did light on the thatch, where, being thought at first but an idle smoke, and their eyes being more at- tentive to the show, it kindled in^vardly, and ran round like a train, consuming, wdtliin less than an hour, the whole house to the very ground. This was the fatal period of that virtuous fabric, wherein yet nothing did perish but wood and straw, and a few forsaken cloaks; only one man had his breeches set on fire, that would perhaps have broiled him, if he had not, by the benefit of a provident wit, put it out with bottle ale." — Reliquiae Wottonianae. It will be noticed Lorkin spoke of ''Bourbage his com- pany" and that Wotton called the company ''the King's players." I call attention to this because there is no record of Shakespeare's ever being the manager of a company or the manager of a theatre, although that is the general belief . See Halliw^ell Phillips' Shahespeare's Tours, p. 9. Rowland White writing to Sir Robert Sydney, Janu- ary, 1597: "The quarrell of my Lord Southampton to Ambrose Willoiigliby, grew upon this. That he with Sir Walter Raivley, and Mr. Parker, being at Primero in the Presence Chamber, the Queen was gone to Bed; and he being there, as Squier for the Body, desired them to give over. Soon after he spake to them againe, that if they would not leave, he would call in the Gard to pull down the Bord, which Sir Walter B.aivley seeing, put up his 23 Money, and went his ways. But my Lord Southampton took Exceptions at liym, and told liym he would remem- ber yt, and so finding hym between the Tenis Court Wall, and the Garden, strooke hym, and Willoughby puld of some of his Lockes. ' ' Sydney Papers, 11.83. This is comic enough for the scene in Tivelfth Night, Act II, Scene III. Shakespeare, who must have heard much of Court gos- sip, may have utilized this scrap as follows: Enter Maria Mar. What a catterwauling do you keep here ! If my lady have not called up her steward, Malvolio, and bid him turn you out of doors, never trust me. Sir To. My lady's Cataian, we are politicians; Malvolio's a Peg-a-Ramsay, and lliree merry men he we. Am not I consanguineous? am not I of her blood? Tilly-valley, lady! There dwelt a man in Babylon, lady,Jady! . . . . [Singing. A Room in Olivia's House. Enter Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Sir To. Approach, sir Andrew: not to be a-bed after midnight, is to be up betimes; and diluculo surgere, thou know'st, Sir And. Nay, by my troth, I know not : but I know, to be up late, is to be up late. Sir To. A false conclusion ; I hate it as an unfilled can : To be up after midnight, and to go to bed then is early : so that, to go to bed after midnight, is to go to bed betimes. Do not our lives consist of the four elements? Sir And. 'Faith, so they say; but, I think, it rather consists of eating and drinking. 24 Sir To. Thou art a scholar; let us therefore eat and drink. — Marian, I say I a stoop of wine. Enter Malyolio. MaL My masters, are you mad? or what are you? Have you no wit, manners, nor honesty, but to gabble like tinkers at this time of night? Do ye make an ale-house of my lady's house, that ye squeak out your coziers' catches without any mitigation or remorse of voice I Is there no respect of place, persons, nor time, in you? ^Sir To. We did keep time, sir, in our catches. Sneck up I Mai. Sir Toby, I must be round with you. My lady bade me tell you, that, though she harbours you as her kinsman, she's nothing allied to your dis- orders. If you can separate yourself and your mis- demeanors, you are welcome to the house; if not, an it would please you to take leave of her, she is very willing to bid you farewell. 25 SHAKESPEAEE'S PLAYS CONTROLLED BY BACON'S FRIENDS It is a fact Shakespeare's plays were written exclu- sively for the Lord Chamberlain's company, and a fact also that his dramas continued under the control of that officer of the Court down to the time of King Charles I, or at any rate to 1662, while Sir Henry Herbert was Mas- ter of the Revels. On Shakespeare's arrival in London, Sir Henry Carey, Queen Elizabeth's cousin, was Lord Chamberlain and was the censor or licensor of all plays jjresented at Court. In stage matters his word was law. Now, how did Shakespeare, an unknown youth from Stratford-upou Avon, become one of this Lord Hunsdou's servants? As we have no personal proof to help us on this point, we must use discreet conjecture. My opinion is Bacon, more than any other man in London, could have helped Shakespeare to advancement in the theatrical world. Bacon's fondness for masques and revels is well known. He had in 1588 partly composed or "contrived" dunil) shows and acted in them before the Queen at Green- wich Palace. His first cousin, Sir Edward Hoby, had mar- ried Margaret Carey, the Lord Chamberlain's daughter. This fact alone would enable Bacon to recommend the poet to Lord Hnusdon's notice. Many of Bacon's friends were exceedingly fond of the drama, among them the Earls of Essex and South- ampton. The young Earl of Southampton, to whom Shakespeare dedicated his Venus and Adonis in 1593, and his Lucrece in 1594, was present at the Gesta Gray- orum and a member of Grays Inn. He was, on the death of his father, made a royal ward, and Bacon's uncle, Wil- liam Cecil (Lord Burghley), became his guardian. Is it not natural to assume Bacon was well acquainted with this young nobleman and that he could have introduced 26 Shakespeare to him? Lord Burghley had also been the guardian of the Earl of Essex, Southampton's dearest friend, who Avas very intimate with Anthony and Francis Bacon. My conjecture that Bacon could have helped Shakes- peare is therefore plausible. It was through the Lord Chamberlain's courtesy that the Comedy of Errors was performed at Grays Inn, as mentioned in the Gesta Grayorum, for Shakespeare was one of his servants. In fact all who helped Shakespeare most throughout his career in London were known to Bacon and were among his friends. Henry Carey (Lord ITundson and Lord Chamberlain), whose daughter be- came the wife of Bacon's first cousin. Sir Edward Hoby, was, as I said before, the censor and licensor of all plays performed at Court. The Lord Chamberlain's dep- uty, Edmund Tilney, the Master of the Revels, who was invested with despotic powers over everything that related to the stage, reigned from 1579 to 1610. After -the death of Henry Carey (first Lord Hundson) in 1596, he was succeeded by his son and heir. Sir George Carey, second Lord Hundson, who became Lord Cham- berlain,^ and Shakespeare's services were transferred to this Lord and his plays written for his company. Sir George Carey's residence in the Blackfriars adjoined the Blackfriars Theatre, then owned by James Burbage. Many of Shakespeare's plays passed through Tilney 's hands. On the death of Elizabeth, the Lord Chamber- lain's company became the ''King's players." Tilney 's nephew, George Buc, was knighted by James I in 1603, and succeeded his uncle as Master of the Revels, and Shakespeare's plays continued to be written for the Court players, and henceforth controlled by the Herberts. ^Henry Brooke, seventh Lord Cobliam, held the office a few months only, before his death in April 1507. Sir George Buc had the pleasure of licensing some of them. See Notes and Queries, May, 1850, where it is said Sir George Buc dedicated a book of poems to Lady Bacon as follows: "To the vertuous Ladye and his most honored friend, the Lady Bacon, at Eedgrave, in Suffolk; wife to Sir Edmund Bacon, Prime Baronett of England." Sir Nicholas Bacon, not Sir Edmund, was the first Baronet of England. The Vice Chamberlain, Sir Thomas Heneage, who tried to help Bacon to the Solicitor's place in 1594, and who is mentioned in the Gesta Grayorum, had much to do tvith stage matters in that year. In May, 1594, when Shakespeare dedicated his Lucrece to the Earl of South- amjDton, Sir Thomas Heneage married the mother of this young Earl. So it will be seen in one way or another Shakespeare's poems as well as his dramas were always protected and patronized by Bacon's friends. In 1596, when the Shakespeare coat-of-arms was ap- plied for, Bacon's friend, the Earl of Essex, was Lord Marshall, and his friends, William Camden and William Dethic, were members of Grays Inn, and helped Shakes- peare to secure his coat armor, in spite of many objec- tions from other Heralds and the scandal that arose from it in other quarters. In 1613, when Shakespeare jourchased the Bhickfriars property, we find it had belonged to ''Mathie" Bacon of Holborn, London.^ A Mathias Bacon of Holborn, London, was admitted to Grays Inn March 1, 1596-7, sine fine.^ 'HalHwell Philips' Outlines. "Foster's Ad. Regis., p. 91. 28 I find tlie following relating to this kinsman of Bacon's:^ "Yt is ordered that iii' iiii'^ bee payed to Matthew Bacon for wrytinge of a letter to my L. Keeper." "After my hartie comendacons. Beynge given to understand by this bearer my gentleman nsher that in makinge of a wall which you now have in hand between certain grounds of your owne & of his there will a pas- sage or comon way that leadeth from Holborne out into Grayes Inn fields & towards Islington, bee stopped upp : forasmuch as hee informeth mee that the same hath beene an usuall waye tyme out of minde & that hee should re- ceave verry greate preiudice by the shuttinge upp of the same at this present in regarde of certaine buildings which hee hath latelie sett up there : I have thought good in his behalf to move you that untill such time as you have heard his counsaill that may make his title & interest therein knowen unto you, & either make some frendlie agrement herein betwene you or otherwise certifie mee of the points of your difference : you would bee pleased to f orbeare the erectinge of the said w^all : In the which nothinge doubtinge your good regardes I leave you to the merciful keepinge of the Almihtie. From York flouse nere Charinge Crosse the 5th of Feby 1595. * ' Your verie lovinge f rende ''John PUCKERINGE. "Postscript: If yt bee a comon passage time out of minde I know it will have that consideration thereof that is fytt, for the interest generall." The Lord Keeper Puckering owned a residence in Warwickshire and may have known the poet. ^Pension Book of Grays Inn, p. 113. 29 IT a 595 PENSION lOtli Feb : 38 Eliz : Present :— GRO- GRAVE, BACON, ANGER, POLEY, PELHAM, BETTENHAM, LANY, NIGHTINGALE and BARKER. "At this pencion yt ys ordered that a Ire shall be drawn & sent unto the Right Honourable the L. Keper in aunswer of his letter sent to the Read- ers of Grayes Inn signed under hands of the sayd Readers & that the copyes of hothe the sayd Ires shalbe entred in the Peneion Booke."^ This "Mathie," Mathias, or Matthew Bacon was a Seriviner at Grays Inn and perhaps belonged to the Seriv- iner's Company, who bought Bacon House in Noble Street, which had belonged to Francis Bacon's father, Queen Elizabeth's Lord Keeper. I think it plausible to conjecture he was one of Bacon's ''good pens" and that the manuscript of the Gesta Grayorum might have been written by him. See following letter to Anthony Bacon from Spedding's Letters and Life: "1 pray let me know what mine uncle Killigrew will do. For I must now be more careful of my credit than ever, since I receive so little thence where I deserved best. And to be plain with you, I mean even to make the best of those small things I have with as nmch expedition as may be w^ithout loss : and so sing a mass of requieyn I hope abroad ; for I know her Majesty's nature, that she neither caretli though the whole surname of the Bacons travelled, nor of the Cecils neither. ''I have here an idle pen or two, specially one that was cozened, thinking to have gotten some money this term; I pray send me somewhat else for them to write out hesides your Irish collec- tion, which is almost done. . . . Thus I com- mend you to God's good preservation. From my Hhid., p. 112. 1595. 30 lodge at Twickenham Park, this 25th of January, 1594. Yonr entire loving brother, ''FR. BACON." This letter was written about Gesta Grayorum time. Ben Jonson was another of Bacon's "good pens." We are told that he and Michael Drayton, the poet, vis- ited Shakespeare in Stratford-on-Avon, a short time be- fore his death, and that they had a ''merry meeting, and it seems drank too hard, for Shakespeare died of a feavonr there contracted." A year before Shakespeare's death he is again con- nected with Matthew Bacon. It will be remembered, one Henry "Walker purchased from ]\latthew Bacon a house near the Blackfriars theatre, which he sold to Shake- speare for £140 in March, 1613. A few years ago Pro- fessor C. W. Wallace discovered three documents dated April 26, May 15, and May 22, 1615, dealing with a suit in Chancery, in which Shakespeare sought to recover from Matthew Bacon "possession of certain deeds per- taining to property within the precinct of the Black- friars. "^ So, from first to last we find Shakespeare connected by documentary history as well as by tradition to some one of Bacon's friends. Shakespeare died in April, 1616, and seven years after his death, in 1623, his works were given to the world in the fi^^•'t folio. This, next to the Bible, is our most prec- ious book. It was dedicated to two of Bacon's warmest friends, one of whom married his cousin. To William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, and Philip Herbert, Earl of Montgomery. William Earl of Pem- broke was Lord Chamberlain to King James I, and his brother Philip, Earl of Montgomery, succeeded him as Lord Chamberlain. Their kinsman, Sir Henry Herbert, became Master of the Revels on the death of Sir Geo. Buc -The Facts AJwut Shakespeare, by Nelson and Tborndike, p. 26, 1913. 31 in 1623. Sir Henr^' Herbert was a brother of the poet, George Herbert, to whom Bacon dedicated his "certaine Psalmes'' in 1625. Philip Herbert, Earl of Montgomery, to whom jointly with his brother the first folio was dedicated, married, in 1605, Susan Vere, Bacon's second cousin. He was fond of horses and dogs and cared more for sports than for books. King James I, bestowed many favors on him. The following extracts from a letter written to Bacon after his fall by Sir Thomas Meutys Jan. 3, 1621, refers to this Lord, Philip Herbert Earl of Montgomery: "May it please your Lordship, "This afternoon my Lady"^ found access to my Lord Markuis^ procured for her by my Lord Mont- gomery and Sir Edw^ard Sackville, who seemed to contend which of them should show most patience in waiting (which they did a whole afternoon) the opportunity to bring my Lord to his chamber, where my Lady attended him." And again: "I delivered your Lordship's to my Lord of Montgomery and Mr. Matthew, who w^as even then come to York-house to visit my Lady when he re- ceived the letter; and as soon as he had read it he said that he had rather your Lordship had sent him a challenge, and that it had been easier to answer than so noble and kind a letter. He intends to see your Lordship some time this week; and so doth Sir Edward Sackville, who is forward to make my Lady a way by the Prince, if your Lordship advise it."^ The following notes refer also to Philip Herbert, Earl of Montgomery. They were written by Bacon in 1623: "There is not an honester man in court than Mont- gomery." (January 2, 1623.)" 'Bacon's wife. ^Bnckiiighani. 'Speddins's Baron's Lcitcrs and Life, pp. 324-32o. 'IhUJ., Vol. VI r. p. 444. 32 Later on Bacon again writes : "Montgomery is an honest man and a good observer."' Sir Henry Herbert, kinsman to the "most noble and Incomparable Paire of Brethren, William Earle of Pem- broke, &c., Lorde Chamberlaine to the King's most Excel- lent Majesty. And Philip Earle of Montgomery, &c., Gentleman to his Majestys Bedchamber. Both knights 01 the most Noble Order of the Garter and our Singular good Lords," to whom the first folio was dedicated, suc- ceeded Sir George Buc in 1623 as Master of the Revels although he had acted as Bug's deputy some time before this date, and reigned in that office about fifty years, Shakespeare's plays being under his control all that time. Charles Knight, in his Biography, says Shakespeare's "successors in the theatrical property of the Globe and Blackfriars found it to their interest to preserve the monopoly of their performance (which they had so long enjoyed) by a handsome gratuity to the Master of the Revels." There is this entry in the office book of Sir Henry Herbert, in 1627: "Received from Mr. Heming, in their company's name, to forbid the playing of Shake- speare's plays to the Red Bull Company, five pounds." This' proves Shakespeare's plays could not be performed without permission of Philip Herbert, Lord Chamberlain, or his deputy, Sir Henry Herbert, the Master of the Revels. This old actor and manager, John Heminge, died in 1630 and was one of the editors of Shakespeare's dramas in the folio of 1623. Most people are under tlie impression that Shakespeare was the manager of a thea- tre, as well as the manager of a company of players, but the fact is he was never the manager of either. My own opinion is that John Heminge was the manager of Lei- cester's players and continued to be a manager up to the time of his death in 1()30. To date no mention of Shake- speare as having received money for plays or players has T>een discovered, John Heming was undoubtedly the man- ager and treasurer during all the time our poet was con- UhUl, p. 44G. 33 iiected with the stage. Seven years after Shakespeare's death John Heminge was permitted by the Lord Cliaiuber- lain, William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, to publish the collected manuscripts of the great dramas, and he and Con- dell were allowed to dedicate them to this nobleman and his brother, Philip Herbert, Earl of Montgomery. In no other way could the manuscripts of these plays have been published, save by the courtesy of the Lord Chamberlain, who controlled them as well as the King's Players. A John Heminge was one of the trustees named in the deed of the Blackfriars' property, fold to Shakespeare in 1613. William Johnson was another of the trustees named in this deed. Could Henry Walker, ' ' citizein and minstrell ' ' of London, who sold the property to Shakespeare, have been the husband of Alice Burbage, sister of Richard, the first Hamlet? She married a Walker. See the Lord Treasurer Stanhope's ''accompte," 1613, p. 103.^ Thirty years ago Dr. Appleton Morgan wrote the following to refute Donnelly's "The Great Crypto- gram." WHY QUEEN ELIZABETH NEGLECTED BACON— THAT CAPIAS UTLEGATUM "... Nor does it happen to appear that, although Bacon was badly in debt in and about the year 1598, any of his debts were allowed to outlaw. They had all been paid or com- pounded for in 1601. All we know of this threat- ened writ of capias iitlegatum is contained in Bacon's letter to Cecil. And Bacon merely men- tioned it, as appears by the context, to show his kinsman how Coke took every opportunity of insulting him. Had Bacon been amenable to a writ to issue from the attorney-general of Eng- land, the suggestion by the mouth of the attor- ney-general himself would not have been an ^Shakespeare's Century of Praise, 2nd Edi. 34 insult; but a threat, a word to tremble at, or to turn to stone before. Sir Edward Coke was not a man to threaten when he could perform. He performed : nor did he send threats in advance of his performance. It was, as we have said, an insulting reference to Bacon's early poverty, in the course of a little passage at arms between two men who perfectly understood their own and each other's rights, powers, and privileges. Bacon turned it, not with an "apothegm" (as he called his own ponderously witty speeches), but with a quiet, lawyer-like, and rather contemptu- ous admission, coupled with an allusion to Coke's utter impotence in the matter. And that was all there was of it! Had Bacon quitted England on account of his authorship of the Shakespeare plays, not only Elizabeth, Coke, the judges at Essex's trial who accepted Bacon's excuse for not taking a certain part in the prosecution, and the thirty or forty editors, publishers, printers, messengers, and go- betweens who printed that cipher-covering First ' Folio Shakespeare — not only all these, but all England — would have known, about three hun- dred years ago the truth. . . . I am strongly inclined to think, therefore, that Mr. Spedding's incidental conjecture that Coke's mention of the capias utlegatum in the recontre with Bacon, was an allusion to Bacon's early poverty — is, undoubtedly, the fact of the matter. If otherwise, it would certainly be and remain a curiosity in the record that a future Lord Chancellor of England should have been at one time, in constructive breach of ban of the realm in whose affairs he was to sit in its highest judgment seat! — The Albany Law Journal, Vol. 42, 1890. V Dorothy W^ccs a^ainjl ? ^\ohnion i-^a'mU 17 1 Brynesof Severfamo 2 Bacon. 'PonetlDcnccttjattermatGuid-hal, London, 3n t^c cafe of one r.^i:Eh(. Dakon. tKlII)Cre til Dcbt upon an £)bligation, iit)crctl)? Statute of tafiir^ luas p.eaDen, 3:t Uias faio bp P.jph» 3lf a" man Icin 100 1. fo;i a pear, anUtol)a1JC ioLf0jtl)Gufcofit. If tl)c £)bltgo: p^pa t\)Z lol. 2oDap3bcfojcit Icnur, SEh^^t noes not maHctl)cObUn:atTonl?oiD, bc^- ^,^ taufc it tuas not corrupt, ^lout ff upon niabing the oblteatioir, ft fjao been ' f^' agrccD , tbat tfjc ten poimD Oiouiti t)>itic been pain i: ithia tbc tfmc , tljat /^^jf^ ftoiilu bfaf c been tifarp. IBccaufc be bas r ot tbc 1 00 h fo j tl)c tobole pear» ^ tSiHben tlic 1 ol. tcai to be patij tettbni tbe; rear, anu tjcrota tuas rt>ocH acco:Dmgli>» V^ \xsm agrccD,tbat if tbc 1lo:o maim \\u cliilai:!, bi? i^ iafran« -^cbifco. - Dorothy Watcs n^dlyi^ Brynes atSeverfim, Jlahf4f 1 i^ an appeal of tb? tjcatb of ber ^^.lisbanD. 2Cbe SDcfcnnant tbere, iipoit ^'-'^rihcr^ -^tbeinoictmcmcntlnasfounD gniltp of SDan-flaugbter, 0nrj tbc ilTuc Itias if be UiU'D ti>c f^.isban^ oj not , ano tbc cbiocncc teas tcrp ftrong a* painft tbc SDefcnoant- ( icil. ) £Cb: begtiTni.tg of tbc quarrel U)a0, iD/t Monaay tbcrc, tbc pctfon tbat teas bill'D brat tbe noVo 2Dcfcttr>ant» ^Dn Tucfday, Wat5 in tb^SDcfcnuantsibop being a 55utcbcr , flurtcb bim oit tbc j]5orc. £).! Wednelday, Watts, and one Biflei toalUirtg bp tbC fljop, maoc fi iDjp moutb at tbc ^DefcnBant.- ^Elpoii Web tbc SDcfcnoant comco out of tbc fliop , toitb a Ojon fluo^.D bcbintj tbc bacfe of Warts , anD n')t^ bim a great CtroaK upon tDe calf of tiiclcgg, Uibcrcof beoiet), %\v^ tb^ Court DirccteD tbe 31urp to ftnD it murtben lohnfon againfi Bacon* I Ohnfon Of Grayes.JnnerecotfCrcU in Bcbtagainltr Bacon of Grays- Inne T/V/^p to afr.in upon a bonu of 400 U Mbcrc tbc conoitiontoas to falic barmlcffc, being ^""''^' nrurctpfojBacon* 0nt) Bacon ttjas outlalocb after Bt^JlJg^mcnt: 0nO a cap* utlnj^at. toa0DcUbcrcD to tbc febcriff in Court. :^nD nota Bacon bjougbt crroar* 0nti luoulo afoign errors toitbout prelDing bi'ttfelf in C'lcecution^ quod contra legem* 315ptb«^ Cicrfes, Cbat a man outlatocD map not taUc benefit of tbe 3latt), toitbout a fubmifoton to ft. 36 THE OEIGIN OF THE ''CAPIAS UTLEGATUM" INSULT OFFERED TO BACON BY QUEEN ELIZABETH'S ATTORNEY GENERAL, SIR EDA\ ARD COKE. Toulmin Smith said: "He ivJio unfolds to his felloiv- men one single truth that has heretofore laid hidden has not lived in vain." I may add especially if that truth is about Bacon . The fact I have discovered will at least estahlish what before was unknown to his biographers; and it is connected with William Johnson, the gentleman who personated the Lord Chancellor in the Gesta Gray- ovum. This William Johnson "of Staple Inn" was ad- mitted to Grays Inn in 1578. (See Foster's Regis, of Grays Inn, p. 52.) The discovered fact will also take the strongest prop from under Donnelly's cipher story in his Great Crypto- gram. To those unfamiliar with the Attorney General Cokes insult offered to Bacon in the Exchequer in 1601, and liow Bacon smarted under it, the following letter found by Murden in the Hatfield Collection, and first published by Birch will explain: To Mr. Secretary Cecil It may please your Honour, Because we live in an age, where every man's im- perfections is but another's fable; and that there fell out an accident in the Exchequer, which I know not how, nor how soon, may be traduced, though I dare trust rumour in it, except it be malicious, or extreme partial; I am bold now to possess your Honour, as one, that ever I found careful of my advancement, and yet more jealous of my wrongs, with the truth of that, which passed; de- ferring my farther request, untill I may attend your honour : and so I continue Your Honour's very humble and particularly bounden, Gray's-Inn, this 2-4th of April, 1601. Fk. Bacon. A true remembrance of the abuse I received of Mr. At- torney General publicly in the Exchequer the first day of term; for the truth ivhereof I refer myself to all that tvere present. 1 moved to have a reseizure of the lands of Geo. Moore, a relapsed recusant, a fugitive, and a practising traytor; and shewed better matter for the Queen against the discharge by plea, which is ever with a salvo jure. And this I did in as gentle and reasonable terms as might be. Mr. Attorney kindled at it, and said, "Mr. Bacon, if you have any tooth against me, pluck it out; for it will do you more hurt, than all the teeth in your head will do you good." I answered coldly in these very words: "Mr. Attorney, I respect you: I fear you not: and the less you speak of your own greatness, the more I will think of it." He replied, "I think scorn to stand upon terms of greatness towards you, who are less than little ; less than the least;" and other such strange light terms he gave me, with that insultinii', which cannot be expressed. Here- with stirred, yet I said no more but this: "Mr. Attor- ney, do not depress me so far ; for I have been your better, and may be again, when it please the Queen." With this he spake, neither I nor himself could tell what, as if he had been born Attorney General; and in the end bade me not meddle with the Queen's business, but with mine own ; and that I was unsworn, &c. I told him, sworn or unsworn was all one to an honest man; and that I ever set my service tirst, and myself second; and wish'd to God, that he would do the like. Then he said, it were good to clap a cap. utlegatum upon my back! To which I only said he could not; and that he was at fault ; for he hunted upon an old scent. He gave me a number of disgracefull words besides; which I answered with silence, and shewing, that I was not moved with them." Bacon's answer to Coke: ''To which I only said he could not; and that he was at fault; for he hunted upon an old scent," haunted me for years. If he had said Coke 'hunted upon a irroiu/ scent' I would have dismissed it without further thought. Bacon's words, like Ham- let's, were never wasted — he weighed them before he spoke. So I took up the thread where he dropped it and began the search for the truth. It seemed to me Coke was too good a lawyer to subject himself to a libel suit, and much as he hated Bacon he had not out of sheer malice invented the story, if there was one. Spedding thought Coke's insult referred to Bacon's arrest for debt in 1598, See his Letters and Life of Bacon, Vol. Ill, p. 3. If the reader will turn to Spedding's Letters and Life of Bacon, Vol. Ill, p. 42, he will find there a statement drawn up by Bacon in 1601 which relates to his indebted- ness to Nicholas Trott, who w^as made a barrister of Grays Inn July, 1584 — the same Trott who in 1588 as- sisted Bacon in the Misfortunes of Arthur, which they played before the Queen at her palace of Greenwich. In the above statement of Bacon's are these items: ^'He [Trott] received about two years since of Mr. .39 Johnson of Grays Inn, being my surety for 2001. prin- cipal. . . . He hatli now secnred unto him by mortgage of Twicknani Park 12591. 12s. Upon my Cousin Cook's band 2101. Upon Mr. Ed. Jones' band 2081. Upon my own band 2021. In the Gesta Grayomm this Mr. Ed. Jones was Secre- tary of State. He was ''a great translator of books" also. We see Bacon, like Shakespeare, uses the word hand for bond. See The Comedy of Errors, IV., 2. Adr. Tell me teas he arrested on a haiulf Dro. S. Not on a hand, hut on a stronger thing. "■Revealing dag through everg cranng peeps:'' And through the above cranny I hoped William John- son of Grays Inn might lead me to something in connec- tion with Bacon's debts and his arrest in 1598. The reader may smile when I say it took me twenty years to trace the mystery of the Capias Utlegatum. I exam- ined hundreds of musty old books and manuscripts in connection with my other researches, and in 1896 I found my "atom," which I hope the reader will not think I am making into a mountain. Mr. Gosse finely expresses it when he says: ''All critical work nowadays must be done on the principle of the coral insects. No one can hope to do more than to place his atom on the mass that those who preceded him have constructed." But to return to William Johnson who played the Lord Chancellor in the Gesta Grayomm. The following extracts relating to him have been taken from The Pen- sion Book of Grays Inn : 40 1591 PENSION 16tli June, 33 Eliz.: Present:— ANGER, WHISKINS, DANYELL, SPURLING, POLEY, FULLER, BACON, PELHAM, LAN- CASTER, SENTLEGER, BETTENHAM and LANY. Cotton, G., Mingay, Johnson, W., and Dolman, called to the Bar by Mr. Jermy Bettenham in August last past, are allowed and confirmed utter barristers, p. 93. In May 35 Eliza., 1593, he was "chosen of the graunde company." 7?>ic?, ^j. 100. 1595 PENSION 11th Feb: 37 Eliz: Present:— BRO- GRAVE, ANGER, POOLEY, FULLER, LAN- CASTER, PELHAM, NIGHTINGALE. "It ys orderyd that' Mr. William Mills shalbe intreatyd to delyver unto Mr. Willm Johnson and Mr. Edward Morrys the some of one hundryd marks to be payd out & bestowyd upon the gentle- men for their sports & shewes this Shrovetyde at the court before the Queens Majestie 1 & the same hundryd marks to be payd agayne to the said Mr. Mills hys exec : or assigns before thend of the next term." Ibid, p. 107. The able editor of The Pension Book of Grays Inn has this foot note relating to the Gesta Grayorum: Note 1. — There has been a notable keeping of Christ- mas in 1594. On December 12th a Prince of Purpoole was elected, and an ambassador from the Inner Temple invited to his Court. On December 20th, the Prince (one Mr. Helmes) was duly enthroned, his champion riding into the hall and proclaiming his titles as Prince of Purpoole, Archduke of Stapulia and Bernardia, Duke of the High and Nether Holborn, Marquis of St. Giles' and Tottenham, Count Palatine of Bloomsbury and Clerkenwell, Great Lord of the Cantons of Islington, etc. Ou Holy Innocents' Day the ambassador of Templaria presented his credentials. But "then arose such a dis- cordered tumui t and crowd upon the stage that there was no opportunity to effect what was intended: there came so great a number of worshipful personages upon the stage that might not be displaced," that the performance was abandoned and the Temple ambassador retired in a huff, ''In regard whereof ... it was thought good not to offer anything of account, saving dancing and revelling with gentlewomen; and after such sports a Comedy of Errors (like to Plantns his Menechmus) was played by the players. So that night was begun and continued to the end in nothing but confusion and errors." On January 3rd the ambassador w^as again present, a Council was held, for which Spedding thinks Bacon wrote the speeches, and peace concluded with Templaria. But the crowning event in the reign of the Prince of Purpoole was the masque which he and his fol- lowers performed, by permission, before the Queen. 'Twas a poor thing, but their own, and ''Her Majesty graced every one; particularly she thanked His High- ness for the good performance of all that was done; and wished that their sports had continued longer, for the pleasure she took therein ; which may appear hy her an- swer to the Courtiers that danced a measure immediately after the Masque was ended; saying, 'What! shall we have bread and cheese after a banquet!' " The masquers kissed hands, and Her Majesty said she was much be- holden to Gray's Inn "for that it did always study for some sports to present unto her." So says the Gesfa Grayorum; and, though it was not printed till 1688, one takes it for a genuine work of one of the masquers, not forgetting to appreciate the naive expression of a low esteem for the '^Comedy of Errors" and its author. Ibid, pp. 107-108. 1595 PENSION 8th May, 37 Eliz: Present :—BRO- GRAVE, ANGER, POOLEY, FULLER, BACON, PELHAM, LANY, NIGHTINGALE and BAR- KER. ''At this pencion it is ordred that every Reader of this house towards the charges of the shewes & desports before her Majestie at shrovetyde last past shall pay tenne shillings & evrye Auncient vis viiid & evrye utterbarester vs, evrye other gentleman of this societe iiiis before thend of this term whether they be in comons or lying in the house or about the same house & this collection to contynew tyll thend of the next terme & the house towards the aforesaid charges is to allowe out of the publique stock of the said house the some xxxli."^ 1595 .... ''It is further ordered at this pencion that vili claymed by one Mr. Segar the Quens serv- ant^ for nyne sheilds' their emprisses be discharged in part of payment whereof iiili xvis viiid received for Mr. Terninghams fyne admitted this pencion was delyvered over to Mr. Johnson for that use." Note 1. — This would be William Segar, who was dur- ing this reign successively Somerset herald and Norroy King-at-arms. Early in the reign he became Garter King-at-arms, and in 1616 was knighted. In the following year he was admitted a member of the Inn. Ihid, p. 111. 43 1597 . . . . ''It is ordered that Mr. Laney shall pay unto Mr. Johnson out of the admittance money the sum of iiili viiis & xd in full discharge of all the charges remanent for the Christmas sports Ano34Eliz:Keg:" Ibid, -p. 129. We have now traced William Johnson of Grays Inn from May, 1591, to the 10th of November, 1597, and find him always connected with sj^orts, masques and plays and the admittance money for same. Therefore I do not think it too much of a conjecture to say I believe the money he lent Bacon was largely spent on these masques and revels at Grays Inn, of which Bacon was in his youth so fond. Laney, above mentioned, Avas the Pursnevant of Arms in the Oesta Grayorium. In Spedding's Letters and lAfe of Bacon, Vol. V., p. 86, Bacon recommends a Mr. Noy as a law reporter, and refers to him as "learned and diligent, and conversant in Reports and Records." This gentleman, afterwards Sir William Noy, became Attorney General to Charles I. And it was in his ''Reports and Cases taken in the Time of Queen Elizabeth, King James, and King Charles, Collected and Reported by that learned Laivyer," etc. 1656, that I found the source or origin of the Capias TJtla- gatum Coke would have clapped upon Bacon's back, and how William Johnson of Grays Inn was connected with it. Although I have had the title-page and the passage relating to "Johnson against Bacon" reproduced by photography (p. 36) I will (juote it here: "Johnson of Grays Inn recovered in debt against Bacon of Grays Inn upon a bond of 4001. Where the condition was to save harmlesse, being surety for Bacon. And Bacon was outlawed after Judgment: and a cap. utlegat. was delivered to the Sheriff in Court. And now Bacon 44 brought errour. And would assign errors without yield ing himself in Execution, quod contra legem. By the Clerks, that a man outlawed may not take benefit of the Law, without a submission to it." The question arises How did Bacon get out of this scrape?. I have made the fol- lowing note: "A barrister of Grays Inn was privileged from arrest," and signed it Kempe 1602, p. 424, but do not recollect where I found it ; but I have extracted the follow- ing from Mr. Fletcher's able Introduction to The Pension Book of Grays Inn, upon which I have so largely drawn for this work. P XLI The Benchers administrated their own local government. P XLI The Pension was also the police authority for the Inn. No Dogberry entered there. It was by the private servants of the Society that the courts were patrolled and the gates guarded. The Inns of Court were fully recognized as "priviledged and exempted places," and the Benchers as having within their precincts a special jurisdiction." And at a Pension 23 Jan., 1588: ''It is also ordered that Mr. Dryver shall pay to Mr. Thurbaine for that he arested Mr. Thurbaine upon an action of the case for slaunder without the consent of the Reders that he satisfye Mr. Thurbaine all charges recompenced him by order of the court where the suit was had." Ibid., -p. 78. Showing Mr. Dryver had no right to arrest a member of Grays Inn without the "Reders' " consent. We now come to Bacon's letter complaining of his arrest in 1598 45 which was found in the Hatfield Collection by Murden, and printed first by Birch (1763). To Sir Thomas Egerton, Lord Keeper of the Great . Seal It may please your Lordship, I am to make humble complaint to your Lordship of some hard dealing offered me by one Sympson, a gold- smith, a man noted much, as I have heard, for extrem- ities and stoutness upon his purse : but yet I could scarcely have imagined, he would have dealt either so dishonestly towards myself, or so contemptuously towards her Majesty's service. For this Lombard (par- don me, I most humbly pray your Lordship, if being admonished by the street he dwells in, I give him that name) having me in bond for 300 1. principal, and I hav- ing the last term confessed the action, and by his full and direct consent, respited the satisfaction till the begin- ning of this term to come, without ever giving me warn- ing, either by letter or message, served an execution upon me, having trained me at such time, as I came from the Tower, where, Mr. Waad can witness, we attended a service of no mean importance. Neither would he so much as vouchsafe to come and speak with me to take any order in it, thought I sent for him divers times, and his house was just by; handling it as upon a despite, being a man I never provoked with a cross word, no nor with many delays. He would have urged it to have had me in prison; which he had done, had not Sheriff More, to whom I sent, gently recommended me to an handsome house in Coleman-street, where I am. Now because he will not treat with me, I am inforced humbly to desire your Lordship to send for him, according to your place, 46 to bring him to some reason ; and this forthwith, because I continue here to my farther discredit and inconvenience, and the trouble of the gentleman, with whom I am. I have an hundred pounds lying by me, which he may have, and the rest upon some reasonable time and se- curity; or, if need be, the whole; but with my more trouble. As for the contempt he hath offered, in regard her Majesty's service, to my understanding, carrieth a privilege eiindo et redeundo in meaner causes, much more in matters of this nature, especially in persons known to be qualified with that place and employment, which though unworthy, I am vouchsafed, I inforce nothing, thinking I have done my part, when I have made it known; and so leave it to your Lordship's honourable consideration. And so with signification of my humble duty, &c. His next letter (also found in the Hatfield Collection) is to his first cousin. Sir Robert Cecil, son of his Aunt Mildred Cooke, who was Lord Burghley's second wife. Sir Robert Cecil was Queen Elizabeth's Secretary from 1596 to the end of her reign, 1603, and was reappointed by James I. To Sir Robert Cecil, Secretary of State. It may please your Honour, T humbly pray you to understand how badly I have been used by the inclosed, being a copy of a letter of complaint thereof, which I have written to the Lord Keeper. How sensitive you are of wrongs offered to your blood in my particular, I have had not long since experience. But herein I think your Honour will be doubly sensitive, in tenderness also of the indignity to her Majesty's service. For as for me, Mr. Sympson might have had me every day in London; and therefore to belay me, while lie knew I came from the Tower about her Majesty's special service, was to my understanding very bold. And two days before he brags he forbore me, because I dined with Sheriff More. So as with Mr. Sympson, examinations at the Tower are not so great a privilege, eimclo et redeundo, as Sheriff More's dinner. But this complaint I make in duty ; and to that end have also informed my Lord of Essex thereof; for otherwise his punishment will do me no good. So with signification of my humble duty, I commend your Honour to the divine preservation. From Coleman-street, this 24th of September [1598.] At your honourable command particularly, Fe. Bacon. I am inclined to think the following letter to Bacon's cousin, Cecil, although dated July, 1603, relates to the above arrest. It may please your good Lordship, In answer to your last letter, your money shall be ready before your day, principal, interest, and costs of suit. So the sheriff promised, when I released errors; and a Jew takes no more. The rest cannot be forgotten ; for I cannot forget your Lordship's dum memor ipse mei: and if there have been aliquid nimis, it shall be amended. And, to be plain with your Lordship, that will quicken me now, which slackened me before. Then I thought you might have had more use of me, than now, I suppose, you are like to have. Not but I think the impediment will be rather in my mind, than in the matter or times. But to do you service, I will come out of my religion at any time. For my knighthood, I wish the manner might be such, as might grace me, since the matter will not: I mean, that I might not be merely gregarious in a troop. 48 The coronation is at hand. It may please your Lord- ship to let me hear from you speedily. So I continue Your Lordship's ever much bounden, Fr. Bacon. From Gorhambury, this 16th of July, 1603. 49 FRANCIS BACON'S CONNECTION WITH WAR- WICKSHIRE AND THE FOREST OF ARDEN None of Bacon's biographers have connected him with Warwickshire or the Forest of Arden, where Shakespeare found : ^^ Tongues in trees, hooks in the running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in everything/' Yet here in the midst of this Forest, his maternal grandfather, Sir Anthony Cooke, the learned tutor to King Edward VI., owned one of the most ancient estates in all Warwickshire. It was near enough to Kenilworth Castle, given by Elizabeth to her favorite Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, for Sir Anthony Cooke and his family to attend without fatigue, the entertainment given to the Queen in the summer of 1575. I have no doubt young- Francis Bacon was there with his father. Sir Nicholas Bacon, Elizabeth's Lord, keeper of the Great Seal, his mother Lady Anne, and his aunts Lady Cecil, Lord Bur- leigh's wife, and Lady Russell, wife to Sir John Russell, as they were attached to the Court. Sir John Russell's sis- ter married Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick, who was the Earl of Leicester's brother. There are passages in the plays of Shakespeare which have led many to think that he was present at these grand sports and shewes, al- though only in his eleventh year. But a genius like Shakespeare would be wonderfully impressed and acute even at this age. There was a rustic wedding performed before the Queen at this time, which may have sown the seed in the poet's mind for the love scenes in As You Like It between Touchstone and Audrey. As for Francis Bacon he went abroad the very next year with Elizabeth's Eiiibassadore, Sir Amias Poiilet, to be bred a statesman, according to the wishes of his- father, whose favorite son he was. Born in 1560-1, he was now in his sixteenth year, and was accompanied abroad by a companion, a Mr. Duucombe. Young Fran- cis Bacon was "not bound to any vacations" either at, Cambridge or Grays Inn, on account of his health, which,, like his brother Anthony's, had always been delicate. This is another reason for thinking he was at Kenilworth in the summer of 1575, for I find he was out of Cam- bridge when the entertainment to the Queen took place. Elizabeth, who had known him from birth, would some- times call him her "young Lord-keeper," and be de- lighted to confer with him often alone. Like M(U)iiJ]ii(s, he could tell marvelous stories, I imagine, and I venture to say no princely child could be more courteous and polished in all her court than this son of Lady Anne Bacon's, who had been governess to King Edward VI. up to his seventh year. Under his mother's tuition he was able to enter Cambridge in April, 1573, at the age- of-twelve years and three months old. In June, 1575, he and his brother Anthony were admitted ancients to Grays Inn. Spedding says this was "a privilege to which they were entitled as the sons of a Judge." The following from the Pension Book of Grays Inn, 1576, is interesting: 1576 PENSION 21st Nov: 15 Eliz. Present :—GER- RARD, BARTON, KYTCHIN, CHISNOLD, COLBYE, SHUTE, ANGER, WHISKINS, YEL- VERTON, SNAGG, CARDINALL and BRO- GRAVE. "It is ordered that Mr. Edward Bacon shalbe admitted in my Lorde Kepers chamlier in the- 51 absence of Mr. Nicholas Bacon his sonne & that Mr. Anthony shalbe admitted in the same chamber in the absence of Mr. Nathaniell Bacon." ''It is forther ordered that all his sonnes now admitted of the honsse viz : — Nicholas, Nathaniell, Edward, Anthonye, & Francis shalbe of the graund company and not to be bound to any vaca- cions." p. 27. Bacon, who only "lived to study," was by his father's sudden death called back to England in March, 1578-9. As he had been left with little means, he took up his lodgings in Grays Inn and began the study of law as he himself tells us — to "study to live." The Pension Book of Grays Inn proves his health was still delicate in 1580: 1580 "Mr. Francis Bacon in respect to his healthe is allowed to have the benefitt of a special admittance with all benefitts and p'rivileges to a speciall ad- mittance belongeng for the f yne of xP. ' ' p. 43. Let us now return to Bacon's connection with and his kinsmen in Warwickshire, where Shakespeare "warbled his wood-notes wild." I found the following interesting items relating to Bacon, in 1589, in Benjamin Bartlett's Manduessedum Bomanorum, p. 105: 31 Elizabeth, Indenture between Sir Henry Goodere, 1589, Feb. 20 Knt., of Polesworth, and Frances, his daughter, on one part, and William Cook, of St. Martin's, Esq. Francis Bacon, of Gray's Inn, Esq., and Weston Shaw, servant to William Cook, on the other. In consideration of 3001. Sir Henry Goodere and Frances, his daugh- ter, convey to said Francis Bacon and Weston Shaw all the tythes of corn, &c., in Hartsliill, with all such right as they the said Sir Henry and his daughter have by virtue of an indenture dated July 6, 29 Elizabeth, between William Parker, of Hartshill, and Katharine, his wife, and Sir Henry Goodere and Frances, his daughter. 31 Elizabeth, Indenture of fine between Sir Henry Hilary Term. Goodere and Frances, his daughter, petitioners, Robert Parker and Kath- arine, his wife, deforcients, of all the tythes in Hartshill. 31 Elizabeth, Assignment from Francis Bacon and June 13. Weston Shaw to Mr. Cook of the tythes in Hartshill. To the student of Baconian lore, these Indentures are crammed full of the names of interesting people. Sir Henry Goodere, knt. of Polesworth, being no other than Drayton's ''mild tutor" in poetry, whose daughter, Anne Goodere, Drayton "deified" in his heart, under his ''Idea" sonnets. Drayton was born in Hartshill in that fair Arden immortalized by Shakespeare in As You Like It, close to the castelated mansion of the Cookes. A Henry (loodere, Alderman of Loudon, had a sou AMl- liam, who married Anne Cooke of London. Our Sir Henry Goodere of Polesworth married Frances, da. of Hugh Lowther, and they had two daughters — Anne, who was Drayton's "Idea" and became the wife of Sir Henry Rainsford of Stratford-ou-Avou, and Frances Goodere, who married her first cousin. Sir Henry Goodere, and is the Frances mentioned in the Indentures to Bacon. A branch of the Goodere family lived in St. Albans, and a Sir Francis Goodier married Ursula, sister and heir of Sir Ralph Rowlett, Knight. Bacon's youngest aunt, 53 Margaret Cooke, became the wife of a Sir Ealpli Rowlett of St. Albans. She died in 1588. See Machin's Diary,. and Harl. MSS., 1167. Thus it will be seen the Gooderes were related to Bacon and the Cooke family. No line has come down from Bacon's pen to even hint he was acquainted with Michael Dayton, the poet, who was born at Hartshill and brought up by the gentle Goodere fami- ly. This, I think, ought to strengthen my conjecture that Bacon knew Shakespeare, although no record has been discovered to tell us so. It was in June, 1589, Francis Bacon assigned the tythes of Hartshill to Sir William Cooke, his cousin, and we are told Shakespeare fled to London in 1587. This Sir William Cooke married Joyce Lucy, the daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas Lucy, who was tlie son and heir of Shakespeare's Justice Shallow in the Merry Wives of Windsor. Halliwell Phillips, in his Shakes- peare's Tours, 1887, p. 6, has this about Shakespeare's Sir Thomas Lucy: "Sir Thomas Lucy, the avenger of the Charlecote esca- pade, was the patron of a body of itinerant actors,'^ then quotes from the Chamberlain's accounts at Coven- try, 1584: "To Sir Thomas Lucy's players X. S." If Sir Thomas had taken Shakespeare into his home like Sir Henry Goodere had taken Drayton, what a diifer- ence it would have made in our poet's life I To Benja^nin Bartlett's Mandnessedum Romanorum: being the History of the Parish of Maneeter, in the county of Wartvich, 1791, I am indebted for the follow- ing extracts relating to Bacon's maternal kinsmen, the Cookes of Hartshill, Warwickshire: T\ef erring to Manccfcr he says: "It is situate in the hundred of Hemlingford, in the North part of the county of Warwick, a part of the an- ■oient and extensive forest of Arden, of which her native poet and industrious Antiquary sings, ''Muse, first of Arden tell, whose footsteps yet are found "In her rough woodlands more than any other ground ' ' That mighty Arden held even in her height of pride ; The Arden here celebrated hy our poet was, as he says, the largest of all the forest in Britain, extending from the banks of the Avon, which washes the whole South side of tliis huge wild, to the Trent on the North, to the Severn on the West, and East to an imaginary line drawn from High Cross to Burton. HARTSHILL. HARTSHILL, the third village in the parish, the Cam- pus Martins of the Romans, and by them included in the general name of Manduessedum, was first settled and inhabited by the Saxons, who called it Ardenshill. By the Conqueror it was let to farm Ansley to Nicholas, a man of note in those days, at 100 shillings, as in Domesday, where it is called ArdresMll, and with Ansley contained two hides and several caracutes. There were thirteen villans with five caracutes more, also six acres of meadow ; all which had been valued at four pounds, but now at 100 shillings. Not long after the census was finished, the Conqueror gave this lordship with the rest of the parish, and the adjoining one of Ansley, to Hugh Lupus earl of Chester, whose nephew and heir Ramdph de Meschines gave Hartshill and Ansley to his kinsman Hugh. By him and his descendants it was called Aldre- dushidl, Hardreshidl, Harderhidl, Hardeshull, Harte- shnll, and in later days Hareshull and Hartshill. The village is built on the North end of the hilly plain, 55 forming' a rustic square, near tlie centre of which stands an old building (now a cottage) called the chapel, which name I find it bore in the reign of James I.,** but when it was used for any religious purpose does not appear. On the West side of the village is a large wood stretch- ing, up near the camp at Oldbury, the remains of the woods of the Arden, in antient days called from its pos- sessors Sylva Hugonis, Sylva Williemi, and now The Hays, in the side of which, adjoining the castle, is a large tumulus. From the village the grounds fall gently to the river, Ankor, which runs pleasantly through this manor, directing its course from South East to North West. Drayton, in complaisance to the place of his nativity, with poetic exaggeration sings, "Our floods, queen Thames for ships and swans renown 'd, ''And stately Severn for her shores is praised, "The christal Trent for fords and fish renown 'd, "And Avon's fame to Albion's cliffs is raised, . . , " Arden 's sweet Ankor, let thy glory be, "That fair idea onely lives by thee." Bartlett has the following note on William de Har- dreskull, and to the Abbot l>acouu : This William, during the life-time of his father, was a subscribing tvitness to a charter of Ranulf de Gernonis, done at Nottingham, confirming his nepheiv Bacoim's foundation charter of the abbey of Roucester in Staf- fordshire. Monast. II. p. 268. William died 46 Henry III. 1264,* leaving his wife **Note — In 1608, in Cook's deed of sale it is termed a cottage, called the chapel. May 6, 1621, Jane Wright, widow of Christopher Wright, of Happersford. and daughter of Francis Purefoy, of Caldecot, leases to Ralph Parker for eight years, the house called the chapel, standing in the middle of the village. *N0TE.— Rot. Pat. 46 Hen. III. 56 Matilda, afterwards married to William de Ardern, two sons, tvho afterwards by turns enjoyed the estate. About this time he had granted certain lands in Anesley to William de Bret, tvho built himself a mansion-house, tvhich afterivards obtained the name of Bret's hall, as the land that of a manor. A succeeding William obtained 34: Edward III. the bishop's license to have divine service celebrated in his private oratory for the space of two years. Thomas Colepeper, who married Elizabeth, one of the daughters and coheirs of Sir William Haut of Hauts- born. He was the last of that family that had any- thing to do at Hartshill, for in the beginning of the reign of Edward VI. he sold that manor and estate, after it had been in one family, male and female included, four hun- dred and fifty years, to Sir Anthony Cook. Sir Anthony Cook, of Giddyhall in Essex, was the son of Sir John Philip Cook, by Elizabeth, one of the daughters and coheirs of Sir Henry Belknap of Eidlings- would in Kent,* and the great grand-son of Sir Thomas Cook, the founder and builder of Giddyhall, who in April 15, 1465, 4 Edward IV. being then lord mayor of Lon- don, was with several others created a knight of the Bath, the better to grace the coronation of the queen, late the lady Elizabeth Grey, which was celebrated the next day. In the succeeding year he was charged with high treason, but admitted to bail. But after the mar- riage of Margaret, the king's sister (his great friend), to Charles, duke of Burgundy, in 1468 he was arrested and committed to the Tower, his goods seized, and his estates sequestered; and though acquitted of the charge, he could not obtain his liberty without paying the exorbi^ *NoTE. — And in her right possessed of lands in Wapenbury and Derset, and by purchase in Stockinford, all in the county of Warwick. 57 tant fine of eight tliousands pounds to tlie king, nnd eight hundred marks to the queen; besides this, he suf- fered great losses from his enemy's servants, who had the keeping of his estates, which were not restored to him until Henry VI. resumed the throne 1470, when he was appointed keeper of the queen's wardrobe, and customer of the port of Southampton; and in this year he again served the office of mayor, as locum, teiiens for John Skelton, a partizan of the house of York, who, to avoid danger, feigned himself sick. Sir Thomas died 18 Ed- ward IV. 1478. Sir Anthony was born in 1500, and in 1544 appointed one of the tutors to Edward VI. In Mary's days he was an exile. In the succeeding reign of Elizabeth he repaired and finished Giddyhall, which the losses his great grand- father had suffered had prevented him from doing; and in it he had the honor of entertaining Elizabeth in her progress into Kent in 1568.* On the front he placed the following lines: "^dibus his frontem proavus Thomas dedit olim; ''Addidit Antoni caetera sera manus." 8 Elizabeth he leased to Michael and Edmond Parker the castellated manor-house at Hartshill, with the park and other lands, amounting to three hundred acres at forty pounds per annum. He married iVnne the daughter of Sir William Fitz William of Gain's park, Essex, and of Milton in Northamptonshire ; and died at Giddy hall, 18 Elizabeth, 1576, aged 76. He was buried in Rumford chapel, where a stately monument was erected for him, with this inscription: "Dominus Antonius Cocus, ordinis equestris miles, ob singularem doctrinam, prudentiam, et pietatem Edovardi institutor constitutus. *X()TE. — See "Queen Elizabeth's I'rogresses" under that year. 58 "Uxorem liabuit filiam Gulielmi Fitz Williams de Mil- ton militis, vere piam et generosam, cum qua diu feliciter &c." He left issue a son Richard, who succeeded him in his estates, and four daughters : Mildred, married to William Cecill Lord Burleigh; Anne, to Sir Nicholas Bacon, lord keeper of the great seal ; Elizabeth, to Sir John Eussel. son and heir of Fran- cis earl of Bedford ; And Katharine, to Sir Henry Killigrew. Of these ladies it is said, that they were learned above their sex in Greek and Latin, and equally distinguished by their virtue, piety, and good fortune. Richard, his son who succeeded to the estate, married Anne, daughter of John Caulton, Esq., by whom he had a son, Anthony, born in 1550, who afterwards enjoyed the estate. He married Avice, the daughter of Sir William Waldgrave, and was succeeded by his son Sir William, who married Joyce, the daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas Lucy of Highnam, in Gloucestershire, where he and his posterity afterwards resided. Sir William Cook died 1618, and was succeeded by his son Sir Robert. Whilst Sir Anthony Cook possessed this estate. Harts- hill gave birth to her celebrated poet and industrious antiquary, MICHAEL DRAYTON, descended from the ancient family of the Draytons of Drayton in Leicester- shire. He was born 15 Elizabeth, 1563, in this village, and not at Atherston, as Sir William Dugdale says, perhaps led thereto from many of his relations living there at that time, and now not all extinct. But the hamlet of Hartshill derives celebrity from a just claim to his birth, as appears indisputably true from the Latin lines under his portrait, fet. 50, by W. Hole, prefixed to tlie edition of his works published in his lifetime, and under his own inspection, 1627, which could not have escaped his correction had it been erroneous : "Lux Hareshula tibi Warwici villa (tenebris "Ante tuas cunas obsita) prima fuit. "Arma, viros, veneres, patriam, modulamine dixti; "Te patriae resonant, arma, viri, veneres." Had Sir William paid a proper attention to these lines, he would not have made that mistake, which from his great character succeeding writers have adopted. . . . .... In 1573, being but ten years old, he appears by his own words to have been page to some person of honour, able to construe his Cato and other sentences, and solicitous with his tutor to make liim a poet. . . . . He spent many of his younger years at Polesworth in the family of Sir Henry Goodyere, to whom he addresses his odes: "These Lyric pieces short and few, "Most worthy Sir, I send to you, ' ' To read them be not weary, "They may become John Hews his lyre, "Which oft at Powlsworth by the fire "Has made us gravely merry." Bacon's Chaplain, Rawley, in 1657, printed the follow- ing letter in the Resuscitatio, p. 92, which Bacon had written about 1594 to Sir Thomas Lucy, the son of Shakespeare's Justice Shallow: To Sir Thomas Lucy. Sir, There was no Newes, better welcom to me, this long time, than that, of the good Success, of my Kins- man; wherein, if he be happy, he cannot be happy alone, 60 it consisting of two parts. And I render you, no less kinde Thanks, for your aid, and Favour, towards him, than if it had been for my Self; Assuring you, that this "Bond of Alliance, shall, on my part, tye me, to give all the Tribute, to your good Fortune, upon all occasions, that my poor Strength can yield. I send you, so required, an Abstract, of the Lands of Inheritance; And one Lease of great value, which my Kinsman hringeth; with a Note, of the Tenures, Values, Contents, and State, truly, and perfectly, drawen; whereby you may perceive, the Land is good Land, and well countenanced, by scope of Acres, Woods, and Royalties; Though the Total of the Rents, be set down, as it now goeth, without Improvement: In which respect, it may somewhat differ, from your first Note. Out of this, what he will assure in Joincture, I leave it, to his own kindness ; For I love not to measure Affection. To conclude, I doubt not, your Daughter, mought have married, to a better Living, but never to a better Life; Having chosen a Gentleman, bred to all Hon- esty, Vertue, and Worth, with an Estate convenient. And if my Brother, or my Self, were either Thrivers, or Fortunate, in the Queens Service, I would hope, there should be left, as great an House, of the Cookes, in this Gentleman, as in your good Friend, Mr. Atturney Gen- eral. But sure I am, if Scriptures fail not, it will have as much of Gods Blessing; and Sufficiency, is ever the best Feast, &c. Spedding in Letters and Life of Bacon, Vol. II, p. 369, refers to this letter as follows: "The next is addressed to Sir Thomas Lucy — eldest son, I suppose, of Jus- tice Shallow. For I find in Burke's 'Commoners of Great Britain' that Sir Thomas Lucy, knight, of Charl- cote, who succeeded his father in IGOO, had by his first wife a daughter (Joyce), who married Sir William 61 Cook, knigiit, of Higlinam. Sir William Cook may have been one of Bacon's kinsmen by tlie mother's side, and his ai3proaching marriage with Joyce Lucy may have been the occasion of this letter: which comes from the supplementary collection in the 'Resuscitatio." It is sufficiently intelligible as it stands ; nor have I any reason to suppose that a more complete account of the relations between the parties, of their previous history and subse- quent journey through this transitory life, would add anything material to the little interest which it still retains for us, as an agreeable and very characteristic letter." I esteem Spedding's opinion highly, but I cannot agree with him that this letter retains but little interest for us. To students of Elizabethan literature it conjures up men as familiar as household words. Francis Bacon, whose name we revere; Sir Edward Coke, Elizabeth's Attorney General ; the scholarly Anthony Bacon, whose work was never appreciated by the Qneen or his kinsmen, the Cecils; Sir William Cooke, Bacon's cousin, and a de- scendant of that Sir Thomas Cooke who lost his estates and almost his head for his loyalty to Henry VI.; and last but not least. Sir Thomas Lucy, the son and heir of that famous Sir Thomas Lucy, whom critics call ''Shakespeare's Justice Shallow," for it was he who drove the poet from Stratford for breaking into his pafiv and stealing his deer; or, as our authority, Nicholas Rowe, Shakespeare's first biographer, puts it: "He had, by a misfortune common enough to young fellows, fallen into ill company, and amongst them some that made a frequent practice of deer-stealing, engaged him more than once in robbing a park that belonged to Sir Thomas Lucy, of Charlecote, near Stratford. For this he was prosecuted by that gentleman, as he thought, G2 somewhat too severely; and, in order to revenge that ill usage, he made a ballad upon him. This, probably the first essay of his poetry, is said to have been so very bitter that it redoubled the prosecution against him to that degree that he was obliged to leave his business and family in Warwickshire for some time and shelter himself in London." Justice Shallow was alive when the letter was written in 1594. I judge it was written in that year because Coke was made Attorney General in April, 1594, and Anthony Bacon died in 1601, broken in heart and in health for his friend, the Earl of Essex. Sir Thomas Lucy, to whom Bacon writes, was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old when Shakespeare fled to London. Sir William Cooke lived on a neighboring estate and married his daughter, Joyce Lucy. Sir Fulke Greville, the poet, another of Bacon's warm friends, lived near them ; and I am convinced all these gentlemen knew of Shakespeare's plight and that through their correspondence it reached Bacon. In those days private letters were filled with all the gossip of the town and country. Now we know Francis Bacon ever had "A tear for pity and a hand open as day for melting charity. ' ' Would it be too wild a conjecture to say I believe Shakespeare had met Bacon in Warwickshire and that on his arrival in London he sought him out at his lodg- ings in Grays Inn, and through Bacon's influence he was placed where he became a servant to the Lord Chamber- lain, Henry Carey, first Lord Hundson, and Queen Eliza- 1)etli's cousin. In no other way, it seems to me, could Shakespeare have attained the phenomenal progress he is said to have made in five or six years after his arrival 63 in London. Some of his biographers say he reached the metropolis in 1585; others make it as late as 1587. Yet Eobert Greene, one of the choicest poets of that time and a thorough scholar, grew so envious of our poet's plays before 1592 that he called him "an upstart Crow." Some critics conjecture that Shakespeare applied to James Burbage, or to Eichard Field, the printer, because they also claim these two ^vere from his native Stratford. But James Burbage was from Hertsfordshire, not War- wickshire, and as for Eichard Field, the printer of Venus and Adonis and Lucrece, until I have some better author- ity than John Payne Collier, who was the first to bring out this "fact" in 1849, I cannot accept it. But let us return to Eowe. "It is at this time, and upon this accident, that he is said to have made his first acquaintance in the playhouse. He was received into the company then in being, at first in a very mean rank, but his admirable wit, and the natural turn of it to the stage, soon distinguished him, if not as an extraordinary actor, yet as an excellent writer. His name is printed, as the custom was in those times, amongst those of the other players, before some old plays, but without any particu- lar account of what sort of parts he used to play; and though I have enquired, I could never meet with any further account of him this way, than that the top of his performance was the Ghost in his own Hamlet. I should have been much more pleased to have learned, from cer- tain authority, which was the first play he wrote; it would be without doubt a pleasure to any man, curious in things of this kind, to see and know what was the first essay of a fancy like Shakespeare's." Alas, poor Ghost ! Alas, too, that no ' ' certain author- ity" could tell Eowe what the "first essay" of Shake- was. Like our critics of the present 04 horrible war, he lived too near the time to hear or learn all the truth. It would seem that our poet did not care to recognize any of the dramas that so magically dropped from his pen, for in 1593 he calls Venus and Adonis "the first heir of his invention/' and in the following year, 1594, he gave the world his Lucrece. This year (1594) was a most momentous one in the lives of Shake- speare and Bacon, for at Christmas time the Comedy of Errors was performed at Grays Inn. Thus distinguish- ing Shakespeare above all the dramatists of his day, because to have a play staged in the fine Hall of Grays Inn was as great an honor as to be presented at court. Here the immortal Bacon reigned supreme over the masques, sports and revels, and might be called the Lord Chamberlain of Grays Inn for licensing dramatic per- formances; for that was one of the duties of the Lord Chamberlain at court, for whose company all of Shake- speare's plays were written, and they continued under the control of that officer down to the Chamberlain of Charles L, who was Philip Earl of Pembroke, one of the "Incomparable brothers" to whom the first folio was dedicated in 1623. Shakespeare's name is not mentioned in the Gesta Gray o rum, neither is Bacon's, yet the best critics agree, from Malone's time down, that the Comedy of Errors, performed at Grays Inn on December 28, 1594, was Shakespeare's. The poet's name first appeared on his Love's Labours Lost in 1598, showing he was indif- ferent to his plays or that the Lord Chamberlain's com- pany controlled them entirely after they left his hands. His poems were more precious to him, as we see from the Dedications. It has been also proven on the highest authority that Bacon largely composed the contents of the (lp. S4-S5. S4 AUejm's second case at Common Lawagainst Cuth- bert Burbage for breach of covenant, which was brought in Hilary term, 43 Eliz., heard in Easter term, 44 Eliz., 1602, on the Quindene of Easter. Cuthbert had defended himself, Giles and Sara threw themselves on the country and demanded a jury — which was not named — and no decision was come to because this Star Chamber case decision of June, 1602, covered the proceedings in that court, as well as in all others. "So, at last, by midsummer 1602, Cuthbert Bur- bage cast the millstone of Alleyn's law-suits from his neck. The gall must have remained in him for long, for much trouble and anxiety had been spent, and much more money than would appear on the surface. It would be a little alleviation to him that Giles Alleyn would have to pay costs in both of the latter courts of Star Chamber, and King's Bench. But it would not cover the losses to the family, or to the Globe Company, for the output and the actor Eichard's time and strength must have been occupied considerably also." And further: Jur. 12th June 44 Eliz., per Richard Hudson. 17th June 44 Eliz., per Thomas Osborne. "The joYute and severall demurrers of Richard Hudson and Thomas Osborne defendants. By protestation not acknowledging nor confessinge anie of the matters con- teyned in the said Bill that they are charged with are true. The Bill of Complaint brought against them and others is very untrue, slanderous and uncertain and insufficient in Lawe to be answered and they are not tied to make any answer for divers faults and namelie for that the matters and supposed perjury in the said Bill, in which they are charged, are so uncertainly layed, these defendants can- not make any answer and the other defendants having 85 been served with a process, and having appeared andj demnrred ''which demurrer being referred by the Orders; of the Court to the right worshipful Francis Bacon Es- quire, he uppon perusal and consideration had of the said Bill of Complaint hath already reported that the said Bill is very uncertayne and insufficient, and that no further ansiver nedeth to be made thereto." For which causes and for divers other matters and defects in the said Bill appearing, they the said defend- ants do demur in Law upon the said Bill and pray to be dismissed from this honorable court with costs.^ It seems that Eichard Hudson mentioned in the above lawsuit was from St. Albans. One James Hudson was a great friend of the Bacons and became a member of Grays Inn in 1603. But he was a gentleman and one of the King 's servants. In 1583, by agreement of the Readers at Grays Inn, John Hudson of the kitchen was given vi' viii*^ towards his marriage.^ In Sir Francis Bacon's accounts for 1609 I find: "To- Mr. Hudson 29 November 1609 in full paiment of all his bills for wine 47 6 5.'^' It is gratifying to know Francis Bacon was of use to so deserving a man as Cuthbert Burbage, and I have rea- son to think Elizabeth, daughter of Cuthbert Burbage, married into a family that was related to Bacon. Mil- dred Cooke, daughter of William Cooke of Hartshill, Warwickshire, married Sir Henry Maxey, Kt., of Brad- well Co., Essex. Lady Maxey was a friend of Anne Fit- ton (Lady Newdigate).'^ Cuthbert Burbage 's daughter married an Amias- Maxey. 'Ihid., p. 227. '^Pension Boole Grays Inn. p. 484. • 'Ihid., p. 492. ''Gossip from a Muniment Room, p. 170. ^Burhage and SliaJccspeare Stage, p. 134. SG On 23 April, 1G17, Lord Chancellor Bacon writes tlie following letter to one Mr. Maxey, to whom he presents the rectory of Frome St. Quinton, with the chapel of Eversliot in Dorsetshire: ''After my hearty commendations, I have heard of you, as a man well deserving, and of able gifts to become profitable in the Church; and there be- ing fallen within my gift the rectory of &c which seems to be a thing of good value, £18 in the King's books, and in a good country, I have thought good to make offer of it to you ; the rather that you are of Trinity College, whereof myself was some time: and my purpose is to make choice of men rather by care and inquiry, than by their own suits and commendatory letters. So I bid you farewell from Dorset House, 23 April 1617." The next day Bacon presented the poet, Giles Fletcher, also of Trinity College, Cambridge, to the rectory of Hellmingham in Suffolk.^ Now the beautiful thing about these gifts of Bacon's is that he, through ''care and inquiry," sought these gentle- men out and rewarded them — something Elizabeth and 'his kinsmen, the Cecils, had never done for him in all his struggles. It is such deeds as the above that show Bacon in his true colors, and it is only one out of hundreds I could point out. I desire the reader to bear in mind the following sad let- ters were written during the time the Gesta Grayorum was conceived and carried out. The letter from Bacon's mother, whose mind was even then failing (she died in 1610) interests me because I have found that the Robert Knight mentioned was a Porter at Grays Inn. Mr. Reginald J. Fletcher, M. A., Editor Pension Book of Grays Inn, says they did not have a porter until 1590. *Spedcling"s Lcttrr.s tniil Life of Bacon, Vol. VI., p. 172. ST A Eobert Knight's daughter married a Radus Rowlett, and Lady Anne Bacon's youngest sister Margaret mar- ried Sir Ralph Rowlitt in 1558. LADY BACON TO FRANCIS BACON. Gray's Inn, Aug. 26, 1594. I was so full of back-pain when you came hither, that my memory was very slippery. I forgot to mention of rents. If you have not, I have not, received Frank's last half-year of Midsummer, the first half so long unpaid. You will mar your tenants if you suffer them. Mr. Broc- quet is suffered by your brother to cosen me and beguile me without check. I fear you came too late to London for your horse : ever regard them. I desire Mr. Trot to hearken to some honest man, and cook too as he may. If 3^ou can hear of a convenient place I shall be willing if it so please God; for Lawson will draw your brother wherever he chooses, as I really fear, and that with false semblance. God give you both good health and hearts to serve him truly, and bless you always with his favour. I send you pigeons taken this day, and let blood. Look well about you and yours too. I hear that Robert Knight is but sickly. I am sorry for it. I do not write to my Lord-Treasurer, because you like to stay. Let this letter be unseen. Look very well to your health ; sup not, nor sit up late. Surely I think your drinking to bedwards hindereth your and your brother's digestion very much. I never knew any but sickly that used it, besides being ill for heads and eyes. Observe well, yet in time. Farewell in Christ. A. Bacon. There were several Lawsons, members of Grays Inn. The one mentioned by Lady Anne may have been one of ss the Gentlemen Pensioners in the Gesta Grayorum. Her sentence, "I desire Mr. Trot to hearken to some honest man and 'cook' too as he may," may refer to her nephew Cooke who was one of Bacon's Suretys: FRANCIS BACON TO ANTHONY BACON. My cousin Cook is some four days home, and ap- pointeth towards Italy that day sennight. I pray take care for the money to be paid over within four or five days. The sum you will remember is 150Z. I hear nothing from the Court in mine own business. I steal to Twick- enham, purposing to return this night, else I had visited you as I came from the town. Thus in haste I leave you to God's preservation. Your entire loving brother, Fk. Bacon. Bacon often stole to Twickenham, which he called his "earthly paradise"; but on Jan. 28 he is back at Grays Inn attending the Pensions. I find he was absent from them during the months of April, May, and June, as well as the summer of 1594, the year in which Shakespeare brought out his Lucrece. He was present again in Nov. 18, 1594. On Nov. 20, 1594, the Pensions were held at St. Albans. It would be pleasant to know they were held at Gorham- bury. Bacon's country home. Dixon, referring to this period, says : "Anthony is not now at Gray's Inn Square, having taken a house in Bishopsgate-street, a fashionable part of the city, near the famous Bull Inn, where plays are performed before cits and gentlemen, very much to the delight of Essex and his jovial crew, but very much, as Lady Ann conceives, to the peril of her son's soul. The good mother cannot put old heads on young necks, say so what she will. ^'I am sorry," she writes to her easy elder-born, "your brother and you charge yourselves with superfluous horses ; the wise will laugh at you ; being but trouble to you both; besides your debts, long journeys, and private persons. Earls be earls." There is the rub. Lady Ann knows, and does not love, these madcap earls. By help of Cecil, and the Vice-Chamberlain, Fulke Oreville, Bacon succeeds so far as to get the nomination of Solicitor put off. For more than a year the situation undergoes no change. Bacon is sick of heart; looks wan and thin, as all the world takes note. The heady Earl has proved to him a fatal friend." Perhaps Anthony Bacon who was now living in Bishopsgate Street had met Shakespeare, who, we are told, had a house also in Bishopsgate. We will now turn to Spedding's Letters and Life of Bacon for the following letters and memorandum, for it is drawing very near the time when the Sports and revels in the Gesta Grayorum. are to be given at Grays Inn, and they show another side of Francis Bacon, whom many to this day call " dryasdust Bacon." Spedding says: 1594 "Michaelmas Term passed; winter set in early with frost and snow; and still no Solicitor ap- pointed. Meanwhile the burden of debt and the difficulty of obtaining necessary supplies was daily increasing. Anthony's correspondence during this autumn is full of urgent applications to var- ious friends for loans of money, and the following memorandum shows that much of his own neces- sity arose from his anxiety to supply the neces- sities of his brother." Vol. 1, p. 321. ''Memorandum. That the fourth of October, '94, at my brother coming to me after a fit of the stone, and falling into talk of the money he ought me as principal debt, he acknowledged to be due to me £650; whereof £200 I borrowed of Mr. Mills and paid it him again; £200 of the money I had of Alderman Spencer; £100 before he went his journey into the north, £60 in money and £40 for my coach-horses; £150 after his return; besides many other pajnuents to Mr. Senhouse and others." Ibid., p. 322. This "journey into the north" was taken at the Queen's command. She litle dreamed these two poor gentlemen had to borrow the money for the journey. If she did she cared not. Nor did she recall the vast sum it cost their father Sir Nicholas Bacon to entertain her four days at Gorhambury in 1573. FRANCIS BACON TO HIS BROTHER ANTHONY. 1594 Bkothek : I did move you to join with me in security for £500, which I did purpose then dividedly to have taken up, £300 elsewhere, and £200 by way of for- bearance, both to the satisfaction of Peter Van- lore (?). Hereunto, I thank you, you assented. I have now agreed with Peter for the taking up of the whole of one man, according to which I send you the bonds. And whereas you shall find the bond to be of £600, which is £100 more ; true it is that first the jewel cost £500 and odd, as shall appear to you by my bond. Next I promise you immediately (for we are agreed so) to free you of one hundreth, for which you stand bound to Mr. William Fleetwood. So in haste I commend 91 you to God's good preservation: from my chamber in Gray's Inn, tins lOtli of December. Your entire loving brother, Fe. Bacon. Ibid., p. 324. THE SAME TO THE SAME. Brother : I have written a few words to Sir Antonio Perez, which if you allow I pray seal and deliver to my servant to bear. I did doubt I should not see him of these two or three days; which made me use litteris praecursoriis. I have since considered of a marvellous apt man to be joined in trust, in that the world taketh note of him for true honesty, and is obliged to my Lord's house, being used in near confidence by Mr. Secretary, It is Mr. William Gerrard of Gray's Inn, who also by reason of his abode is at hand to repair to me for conference. If your opinion concur, let us rest upon him in case the occasion be given. Qd. erit e re domini. So in haste, desirous to hear of your good night's rest, I further salute you with Mr. Milles his new bond sine litura. From my chamber at Gray's Inn, this 13th of December, 1594. Your entire loving brother, Fr. Bacon. —Ihid p. 325. Spedding adds: ^'I trust they will not mum nor mask nor sinfully revel" (so writes Lady Bacon to her son Anthony, on the 5th of December)^ 'at Gray's Inn. Who were some- time counted first, God grant they wane not daily and deserve to be named last." But it was too late for 92 praying. Tlie youth of Gray's Inn were already deep in sinful consultation. Their revels, in which they used, excel, had been intermitted for the last three or four years, and they were resolved to redeem the time by producing" this year something out of the common way. Their device was to turn Gray's Inn, '^witli the consent and advice of the Readers and Ancients," into the sem- blance of a court and kingdom, and to entertain each other during the twelve days of Christmas licence with playing at kings and counsellors. Ibid, Vol. 1, p. 326. The years 1592, 1593, and 1594, were particularly sad and distressing ones for Lady Anne Bacon and her gifted sons, Anthony and Francis Bacon. Here is a letter from Francis to his mother which was written about the time Shakespeare brought out Venus and Adonis. FRANCIS BACON TO LADY BACON. From Gray's Inn, April 16, 1593. My duty most humbly remembered. I assure myself that your ladyship, as a wise and kind mother to us both, will neither find it strange nor unwise that, tendering first my brother's health, which I know by mine own experience to depend not a little upon a free mind, and then his credit, I presume to put your ladyship in re- membrance of your motherly offer to him the same day you departed, which was that to help him out of debt you would be content to bestow your whole interest in markes upon him. The which unless it would please your ladyship to accomplish out of hand, I have just cause to fear that my brother will be put to a very shrewde plunge, either to forfeit his reversion to Harwin (!) or else to undersell it very much; for the avoiding of both which great inconveniences I see no other remedy than your ladyship surrender in time, the formal drafte whereof I refer to my brother himself, whom I have not any way as yet made acquainted with this my motion, neither mean to do till I hear from you. The ground whereof being- only a brotherly care and affection, I hope your ladyship will think and accept of it accordingly : beseeching you to believe that being so near and dear part of me as he is, that cannot but be a grief unto me to see a mind that hath given so sufficient proof of wit (?) in having brought forth many good thoughts for the general to be over- burdened and cumbered with a care of clearing his par- ticular estate. Touching myself, my diet, I thank God, hitherto hath wrought good effect, and am advised to con- tinue this whole month, not meddling with any purgative physic more than I must needs, which will be but a trifle during my whole diet; and so I most humbly take my leave. F.B. Dixon in his Personal History of Lord Bacon says of this sad year for the loving brothers : "No young fellow of Gray's Inn, waiting for the tide to flow, is sharper set for funds than the young knight for Middlesex or his elder brother. Anthony tries to raise his rents, and some of the men about him — godless rogues, as Lady Bacon says — propose that he shall let his farms to the highest bidders. Goodman Grinnell, who has the land at Barly, pays less rent than he ought: let him go out and a better man come in. But Goodman Grinnell speeds with his long face to Lady Ann. "Wliat!" cries the good lady to her son; "turn out the Grinnells ! Why, the Grinnells have lived at Barly these hundred and twenty years!" So the brothers have to look elsewhere. Bonds are coming due. A famous money-lender lives in the city, Spencer by name, rich as 94 a Jew and close as a miser ; liim they go to, cap in hand, and with honeyed words. The miser is a good miser, and allows his bond to lie. Francis writes to him from his brother Edward's house at Twickenham Park, to which he has removed from Gray's Inn for the benefit of country air." FEANCIS BACON TO MR. SPENCER. Twickenham Park, Sept. 19, 1593. Good Mr. Spencer, Having understood by my man your kind offer to send my brother and me our old bond, we both accept the same with hearty thanks, and pray you to cause a new to be made for half a year more, which I will both sign and seal before one Booth, a scrivener, here at Isleworth, and deliver it him to your use, which you know will be as good in law as though you were here present. True it is that I cannot promise that my brother should be here at that time to join with me, by reason of his daily attend- ance in court, by occasion whereof I am to be your sole debtor in the new bond. As for the mesne profits thereof, you will receive them jiresently. I have given charge to my man to deliver it. And so with my right hearty com- mendations from my brother and myself, with like thanks for your good will and kindness towards us, which we al- ways shall be ready to acknowledge when and wherein we may, I commit you to the protection of the Almighty. Your assured loving friend, Fr. Bacon. Dixon continues: "Bacon lies sick the whole summer of 1593, as a note to his old friend Lady Paulett shows. Her ladyship, who was so kind to him in his younger days in France, is now a widow; his good friend Sir Amias sleeping the great 95 sleep under a splendid tomb in the chancel of St. Mar- tin's church. Bacon is proud and glad to do the widow service." FRANCIS BACON TO LADY PAULETT. Twickenham Park, Sept. 23, 1593. Madam, Being not able myself, by reason of my long languish- ing infirmity, to render unto your ladyship by a personal visitation the respect I owe unto your ladyship, I would not fail to acquit some part of my debt by sending this bearer, my servant, expressly to know how your ladyship doth, which I beseech God may be no worse than I wish and have just cause to wish, considering your lady- ship's ancient and especial kindness towards me. Which if I have not hitherto acknowledged it hath been only for want of fit occasions, but no way of dutiful affection, as I hope in time, with God's help, I shall be able to verify by good effects towards the young gentleman Mr. Blount, your nephew, or any other that appertains unto your ladyship. This is, good madam, much less than you deserve and yet all I can offer, which, notwithstand- ing, I hope you will accept, not that it is aught worth of itself, but in respect of the unfeigned good will from whence it proceedeth. And so, with my humble and right hearty commendations unto your good ladyship, I beseech God to bless you with increase of comfort in mind and body, and admit you to his holy protection. Your ladyship's assured and ready in all kind affec- tion to do you service. Fr. Bacon. This Lady was the wife of Sir Amias Poulet, Eliza- beth's Ambassadore to France, with whom Bacon went 96 Abroad in 1576 at the age of sixteen. Sir Amias Poulet was Keeper of Mary, Queen of Scots, when in 1586 Elizabeth hinted at her assassination, and his well-known letter to Sir Francis Walsingham wherein he says : ' ' God forbid that I should make so pour a shipwreck of my conscience, or leave so great a blot to my poor posterity, to shed blood without law or warrant." I have often wondered if this ''Mr. Blount," Lady Poulet 's nephew, to whom Bacon refers, was the Ed. Blount who in 1623 added sixteen of Shakespeare's plays to the first folio which had never been printed before or given to other men? This suggestion may be worth looking into. Other letters from Francis Bacon follow, Dixon says : ' ' Duns weigh on the two brothers. Here are two notes to Lady Ann, both from Francis, full of the same sad romance of love and debt. One runs : FRANCIS BACON TO LADY BACON. From the Court, Oct. 3, 1593. Madam, I received this afternoon at the Court your letter, after I had sent back your horse and written to you this morning. And for my brother's kindness, it is accus- tomed; he never having yet refused his security for me, as I, on the other side, never made any difficulty to do. the like by him, according to our several occasions. And therefore, if it be not to his own disfurnishing, which I reckon all one with mine own want, I shall receive good ease by that hundred pounds; specially your ladyship of your goodness being content it shall be repaid of Mr. Boldroe's debt, which it pleased you to bestow upon me. And my desire is, it shall be paid to Knight at Gray's Inn, who shall receive order from me to pay two fifths 97 [ ?] (wliich I wish had been two hundred) where I owe, and where it presseth me most. Sir John Fortescue is not yet in Court; both to him and otherwise I will be mindful of Mr. Downing 's cause and liberty with the first opportunity. Mr. Nevill, my cousin, though I be further distant than I expected, yet I shall have an apt occasion to remember. To my cousin Kemp I am sending. But that would rest between your ladyship and myself, as you said. Thus I commend your ladyship to God's good providence. Your Ladyship's most obedient, Fr. Bacon. FEANCIS BACON TO LADY BACON. Twickenham Park, Nov. 2, 1593. Madam, I most humbly thank your ladyship for your letter and sending your man Bashawe to visit me, who pur- poseth with God's help so soon as possibly I can to do my duty to your ladyship, but the soonest I doubt will be to-morrow or next Monday come sennight. My brother, I think, will go to Saint Albans sooner, with my Lord Keeper, who hath kindly offered him room in his obscure lodgings there, as he hath already resigned unto him the use of his chamber in the Court. God forbid that your ladyship should trouble yourself with any extraordinary care in respect of our presence, which if we thought should be the least cause of your discontent- ment, we would rather absent ourselves than occasion any way your ladyship disquietness. As for Sotheram, I have been and shall be always ready to hear dutifully your ladyship's motherly admonitions touching him or any other man or matter, and to respect them as I ought. 98 And so, with remembrance of my hmnble duties, I be- seech God to bless and preserve yonr ladyship. F. B. Dixon in Ms "Personal Life of Bacon," says: Essex is poor. Dress, dinners, horses, courtesans exhaust his coffers. If he cannot pay in coin he will pay in place. His servant Francis Bacon shall be made the Queen's Solicitor. Essex swears it. . . . Egerton and Fortescue urge his suit with admiring friendship on the Queen Every one at the bar, save only Coke, admits his claim to place At first the Queen is gracious; extols Bacon's eloquence and wit, while doubting if he be deep in law. It only needs that his nomination shall be made in the proper way; because it is the best, not because this or that lord of her Court may wish it made. This does, not please the Earl. Pledged to make Bacon's fortune,, he will not stoop to see his own debts paid by another hand. The work must be his own : ' ' Upon me, ' ' he says^ "must lie the labour of his establishment; upon me the- disgrace will light of his refusal." The Queen gets angry at this selfish pride. When he- talks of Bacon she shuts her ears; but night and day he- hammers at the name ; doing his full of mischief ; fretting and sulking till he drives her mad. Never were good in- tentions worse bestowed. A brief note from the Earl to Bacon brings the impatient Queen and her importunate- suitor on the scene : — THE EARL OF ESSEX TO FRANCIS BACON. Gray's Inn, May 1, 1594. Sir, The Queen did yesternight fly the gift, and I do wish,, if it be no impediment to the cause you do handle to- morrow, you did attend again this afternoon. I will be at tlie Court in the evening, and go with Mr. Vice-Cham- berlain, so as, if you fail before we come, yet afterwards I doubt not but lie or I shall bring you together. This I write in haste because I would have no opportunity omitted in this point of access. I wish to you as to my- self, and rest Your most affectionate friend, Essex. Dixou continues : The Queen will not see him. Bacon is surprised and hurt. His hopes for the mo- ment dashed, he perceives no chance of succeeding even at a better time, unless the Queen can be induced to leave the Solicitorship for the present void. To this end he applies to his cousin Cecil. Here is his note : FRANCIS BACON TO SIR ROBERT CECIL. My most honorable good Cousin, Your honour in your wisdom doth well perceive that my access at this time is grown desperate in regard of the hard terms that as well the Earl of Essex as Mr. Vice-Chamberlain, who were to have been the means thereof, stand in with her in acceding to their occasions. And therefore I am now only to fall upon that point of delaying and preserving the matter entire till a better constellation, which, as it is not hard, as I conceive, con- sidering the proving business and the instant Progress, &c., so I recommend in special to your honour's care, who in sort assured me thereof, and upon [whom] now in my lord of Essex' absence I have only to rely. And if it be needful, I humbly pray you to move my Lord your father to lay his sure hand to the same delay. And so I wish you all increase of honour. Your poor kinsman in faithful prayers and duty, Francis Bacon. 100 Cecil, who knows that the Earl, and none but the Earl, stands in the way of his cousin's rise, writes back, on the same sheet of paper, in the left corner, these words : — SIR ROBERT CECIL TO FRANCIS BACON. Cousin, I do think nothing cuts the throat more of your present access than the Earl's being somewhat troubled at this time. For the delaying, I think it not hard ; neither shall there want my best endeavours to make it easy, of which I hope you shall not need to doubt. By the judgment which I gather of divers circumstances confirming my opinion, I protest I suffer with you in mind that you are thus yet gravelled; but time will founder all your com- petitors and set you on your feet, or else I have little understanding. ' ' Ibid. Thus Sir Robert Cecil, the lago of Elizabeth's Court, writes to his poor kinsman. "Mr. Vice Chamberlain" was Sir Thomas Heneage of Gesta Grayorum interest. He had helped many of Elizabeth's favorites to gain her good graces, namely Leicester, Hatton, Essex, and others. To return to Mr. Dixon who says: "For the first time in his life Bacon is now a stranger at the court. Lady Ann lies sick at Gorhambury ; so sick, that the "good Christian and Saint of God," as her son affectionately calls her, makes up her soul for death. Two of her household have been snatched away from her side by plague or fever. She is down with ague. Bacon wrestles with her resignation, praying her to use all helps and comforts that are good for her health, to the end that she ma}^ be spared to her children and her friends, and to that church of God which has so much need of lier. Here is the letter from which these particulars are derived" : 101 FRANCIS BACON TO LADY BACON. June 9, 159i. ''My Iniinble duty remembered, I was sorry to imder- stand by Goodman Sotlieram that your ladyship did find any weakness, which I hope was but caused by the season and weather, which waxeth more hot and faint. I was not sorry, I assure your ladyship, that you came not up,, in regard that the stirring at this time of year, and the place where you should lie not being very open nor fresh, might rather hurt your ladyship than otherwise. And for anything to be passed to Mr. Trot, such is his kind- ness, as he demandeth it not; and therefore, as I am to thank your ladyship for your willingness, so it shall not be needful but upon such an occasion as may be without your trouble, which the rather may be because I purpose,. God willing, to come down, and it be but for a day, to visit your ladyship, and to do my duty to you. In the mean time I pray your health, as you have done the part of a good Christian and Saint of God in the comfortable pre- paring for your duty. So nevertheless, I pray, deny not your body the due, nor your children and friends, and the church of God, which hath use of you, but that you enter not into further conceit than is cause; and withal use all comforts and helps that are good for your health and strength. In truth I have heard Sir Thomas Scudamore often complain, after his quartain had ceased, that he found such a heaviness and swelling under his ribs that he thought he was buried under earth all from the waist ; and therefore that accident no bad incident. Thus I com- mend your ladyship to God's good preservation from: grief." Your ladyship's most obedient son, Fe. Bacon. 102 SIR JOHX FASTOLF AND THE BACON FAMILY "On the first, as on every subsequent, produc- tion of 'Henry IV' the main public interest was concentrated neitlier on the King nor on his son, nor on Hotspur, but on the chief of Prince Hal's riotous companions. At the outset the propriety of that great creation was questioned on a political or historical ground of doubtful relevance. Shakespeare in both parts of 'Henry IV' original- ly named the chief of the prince's associates after Sir John Oldcastle, a character in the old play. But Henry Brooke, eighth lord Cobham, who suc- ceeded to the title early in 1597, and claimed de- scent from the historical Sir John Oldcastle, the Lollard leader, raised objection; and when the first part of the play was printed by the acting-com- pany's authority in 1598 ('newly corrected' in 1599), Shakespeare bestowed on Prince Hal's tun- bellied follower the new and deathless name of Falstaff. A trustworthy edition of the second part of 'Henry IV' also appeared with Falstaff 's name substituted for that of Oldcastle in 1600. There the epilogue expressly denied that Falstaff had any characteristic in common with the martyr Old- castle. "Oldcastle died a martyr, and this is not the man. But the substitution of the name 'Fal- staff' did not pass without protest. ' It hazily re- called Sir John Fastolf, an historical warrior who had already figured in 'Henry VI' and was owner at one time of the Boar's Head Tavern in South- Avark; according to traditional stage directions, the prince and his companions in 'Henry IV' fre- quent the Boar's Head, Eastcheap."' In Bevil Higgon's ^'A ^^hort View of English History/^ 1748, he states that Sir John Fastolf, of Henry IV's time had "been ridiculed and misrepresented by the pen of a certain i3oet for an original of buffoonery and cowardise for ^Sidney Lee's Life of Shakespeare, p. 169. Ed. 1898. 103 no other reason bnt that some of his posterity had dis- obliged Mr. Sliakespear." I have shown in these pages that the Bacon famil}- mar- ried with the Fastolfs, but nowhere have I found tliat they (the Fastolfs) were in any way connected with the Shake- speares. If, as I believe, Bacon was Shakespeare's patron, it may readily be conceived why the poet held Sir John Fastolf up to ridicule. I have tried to show that ^'0/d- custW (the original appellation given to Fastolf in the play, in no way was meant by the poet as a slur upon the martyred Lollord, but that it was poking fun at the "old lad of the castle," as Prince Henry calls him. Halliwell Philips, in his ^'Outlines" says, "Fastolf was sometimes called Falstaff even in strictly historical works." Henry Brooke, eighth lord Cobham, may have been joined by Secretary Robert Cecil in his objections to the name of Sir John Oldcastle being used. Cecil mar- ried Elizabeth Brooke, Lord Cobham 's sister. And both Cecil and Lord Cobham hated the Earl of Essex, who so delighted in Shakespeare's plays. At any rate the poet substituted the name of Sir John Fastolf for that of Sir John Oldcastle. I am convinced Shakespeare never intended to cast a stain upon the Lollard leader, who only bore the title of Lord Cobham by courtesy of his wife. But why the name Falstaff should have raised a protest is another story. It seems to me that from the first Shakespeare, in his historical dramas Henry IV., Henry V. and Henry VI. did intend to gird at Sir John Fastolf, of Caister Castle, Norfolk. The poet who asks, ' 'What's in a name?" and gives the world all we call Shakespeare, like a wizard, transposes a letter in the name of Fastolf, and the imperishable I'alstaff is born to make perpetual mirth and laughter for all mankind. Shakespeare, w^ho knew Holinshed and the ancient Eng- 1(M ]isii Cliroiiieles by heart, iimst also have known many interesting details of the personal characters of those men of note Who fought or took part in the cruel civil wars of the Roses. The poet lived among those whose ancestors felt and suffered the burdens of those wars. I feel certain Shakespeare had access to many private letters and documents that were preserved in the fami- lies of men of affairs connected with England's great past, wherein he found acts and facts not mentioned in history. The student must be familiar with the Paston Letters to thoroughly appreciate the character of Sir John Fal- staff in Henry IV., Henry V. and Henry VI. The Fal- staff of the Merry Wives of Windsor must not be confounded with the Sir John of the historical plays. Except in the name, there is no relation be- tween them. Bacon's scholarly grandfather. Sir An- thony Cooke, no doubt preserved letters and documents greatly exceeding in number and value those in the Paston family, covering the same period. Sir Anthony Cooke's grandfather. Sir Thomas Cooke, knight of the Bath and Mayor of London, was a contemporary of Sir John Fastolf 's. I have reason to think he and Fas- tolf were rivals on the high seas for foreign trade. 1 am convinced Francis Bacon learned from family documents the true character of Sir John Fastolf. Not alone from his maternal ancestors, the Cooke's, but from the Bacon and Fastolf family records and letters, and that these original docum.ents did not flatter him whom Prince Hal, afterwards Henry V., dubbed "My old lad of the Castle."^ Dawson Turner states Henry Y. gave Sir John Fastolf =1 Hen. IV, A 1. S. 2. 105 license to fortify a dwelling in Caister, "so strong as himself could devise." It must be remembered Fastolf was nearly seventy years old when he began to build Caister Castle, He seems to have had a mania for cas- tles all his life. Henry V. trusted him with the Castle of Veires in Gascony. In 1425 he took the Castle of Silly- Guillem. In 1408 he married Milicent, widow of Sir Stephen Scrope, who brought him Castle Crombe in Wilt- shire and other large estates. "These he turned to his own account, to the injury of her son and heir by her first husband, Stephen Scrope. ' '^ Francis Bacon's great-great-grandfater, Sir Thomas Cooke, like Fastolf, owned many ships upon the sea, Cooke having "fishing weirs on the Colne." We are told that Fastolf, to relieve the garrison at Orleans, suc- cessfully intercepted a convoy of fish, "and for purposes •of defence used the barrels of herrings, whence the battle obtained its popular name, 'the Battle of the Herrings.'"* Both Sir Thomas Cooke and Sir John Fastolf owned several taverns in London. Sir Thomas Cooke •owned the Swan and Garland in Eastcheap, the Bear and Dolphin^ in St. Olave Street, and the Mary Magdaline in Southwark. While Sir John Fastolf owned the Boar's Head Tavern in Southwark, which Shakespeare in Henry IV. transfers to Eastcheap. In the poet's time a Boar's Head was near the Globe and owned by the old theatrical manager, Henslowe. Doubtless Shakespeare, Ben Jon- son and many of their worthies often held merry meet- ings under its roof. In 1450, when Sir John Fastolf was hiding in his man- sion in Southwark from the rebel Jack Cade's fury. Sir w. N. B. *D. N. B. 'The Hostess says to Falstaff: "Thou dicVst swear to me upon a parcel-gilt goblet, sitting in my Dolphin chamber," 2 Hen. IV. II. I. 106 Thomas Cooke was acting as Jack Cade's agent in Lon- don, trying to bring order out of chaos, while King Henry VI. fled to Kenilworth. Edward Poynings, Cooke's friend, was Cade's carver and sewer. He afterwards married the sister of John Paston. But who protested against the name of Falstatf being used in the jjlays! I can think of no one but the Paston family or some one connected with them, to w^hom Sir John Fastolf willed all his vast estates, although they were not related to him by blood. It was believed, too, by many in those days that Sir John Fastolf 's will had been forged, and that the Pastons had no right to his wealth. Francis Bacon's enemy. Attorney General Coke, had married Bridget Paston,^ who brought him more than £30,000 in money and left him enormous estates besides. The boundless greed of Sir John Fastolf had bennefitted none but the Pastons. To his own kinsmen he left noth- ing. Oldys says the Fastolf s ''were descended from an ancient and famous English family in Norfolk, which had tlourislied there before the concinest." The Bacon's were related to the Fastolf family. Thomas Fastolf, son and heir of John Fastolf of Pettau, County Suffolk, mar- ried Alice, daughter of John Bacon, Esq., of Hessett, County Suffolk. The said Thomas Fastolf and Alice, his wife, had issue — John, son and heir; Lionell, George, Thomas and five daughters. - It is not likely these descendants of Sir John I'astolf protested against his being held up to scorn on the stage, or that the Bacon family had any reason to regret it. As I said before, no one but the Pastons or Coke would mind it. The Paston's also came into posses- sion of Gresham Manor, which had belonged to one Ed- ^Fenn. Paston Letters, 11. 158. Visitation of Suffolk, 15G1-1C12. 107 muiid Bacon,^ in Edward II. 's time. Margery, daughter and heir of Edmund Bacon, married Sir William Mo- loyns. Thomas Chaucer, son of the poet Chaucer, mar- ried the i>reat-iiranddaughter of Edmund Bacon, and their daughter Alice became the wife of William de la Poole, Earl of Suffolk, afterwards created first Duke of Nor- folk by Henry VI. for bringing Princess Margaret from France. Both Shakespeare and Drayton make Suffolk the lover of Margaret"^ before she came to England to become the Queen of Henry VI. It has been said Shakespeare in the following lines paid a compliment to the Earl of Essex: ''But now behold in the quick forge and working- house of thought How London doth pour out her citizens. The Mayor and all his brethren in best sort, Like to the senators of antique Bome, With the plebians swarming at their heels. Go forth and fetch their conquering Ceesar in : As, by a lower but loving likelihood,^ Were now the general of our gracious Empress (As in good time he may) from Ireland coming, Bringing rebellion broached on his sword, How many would the peaceful city quit, To welcome him!" Little did Shakespeare dream that Essex would one day put the city to that test wherein he found it wanting in sympathy, and by his rash act loose all he held dear upon earth. His enemies, Robert Cecil, Lord Col)ham, the Earl of Oxford, and Sir Walter Raleigh, checkmated him at every move, so that he never regained the fickle favor of Elizabeth. Wol T. p. 2S. Paston Letters Ed. hij (hunJncr, Edlnhitrgh, 1910. ■*/. Hen VI. A. v., s U: 'Hen. V. A. V. 108 In the same drama of Henry V., A. iv. S. vii., I think the poet paid the gallant Earl of Essex another compli- ment out of the mouth of Fluellen, the Welsh knight, whom King Henry accosts on the field after the battle of Agincourt : K. Hen. I tell thee truly, herald, I know not if the day be ours, or no ; For yet a many of your horsemen peer, \ And gallop o'er the field. Mont. The day is yours. K. Hen. Praised be God, and not our strength, for it! What is this castle call'd, that stands hard by? Mont. They call it Agincourt. K. Hen. Then call we this the field of Agincourt, Fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus. Flu. Your grandfather of famous memory, an't please your majesty, and your great-uncle Ed- ward the plack prince of Wales, as I have read in the chronicles, fought a most prave pattle here in France. K. Hen. They did, Fluellen. Flu. Your majesty says very true. If your majesty is remembered of it, the Welshmen did goot service in a garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their Monmouth caps, which your majesty knows, to this hour is an honourable padge of the service ; and, I do believe, your majes- tay takes no scorn to wear the leek upon Saint Tavy's day. K. Henry. I wear it for a memorable honour : For I am Welsh, you know, good countryman. Flu. All the water in Wye cannot wash your ma- jesty's Welsh plood out of your pody, I can tell you that : Got pless it, and preserve it, as long as it pleases his grace, and his majesty too ! 109 The Earl of Essex descended from that noble and illustrions Walter Devereux, who was created Viscount of Hereford by Henry VI. His ancestors owned, among* other large possessions in Wales, the splendid castle in Carmarthenshire. The love Essex bore to letters greatly endeared him to the poets of his day, and we are told he saved Spencer from starving and buried the poet in Westminster Abbey when neglected by all the great ones he had immortalized with his pen — even by the Queen herself. In Henry V. the Welsh knight, Fluellen, has the ut- most contempt for Sir John Falstaff. For the wrong the real Sir John Fastolf did his kinsman and ward, Thomas Fastolf, the reader is referred to the Paston Let- ters edited by Gairdner. Mr. Dawson Turner, who is very tender of the memory of Fastolf,^ says: "Sir John, with Lord Talbot and Lord Scales, fled at the battle of Patay; and this circumstance appears to furnish the only actual point of simi- larity between the imaginary Falstaff of the dra- matist and the real individual pourtrayed in his- tory. Towards the conclusion of the first part of his Henry the Sixth, Shakespeare presents to the spectator that youthful monarch surrounded by his nobles, receiving the homage of the governor of Paris; while Falstaff presses forward, hot with haste, eager to tender his allegiance. The Lord Tall)ot, between whom and the knight there seems to have been a rivalry, not unmixed with personal animosity, and who was probably not sorry for the opportunity publicly to fix upon his name the disgrace of the defeat at Patay, bursts on this occasion into the following bitter taunts, which even the presence of the sovereign had not the power to restrain." ''Shame on the Duke of Burgundy and thee! "Sketch of the Histori/ of Caister Castle, p. 28. Loud. 18G2. 110 "I vow'd, base kniglit, when I did meet thee next, ''To tear the garter from thy craven leg {plucking it off) "Which I have done, becanse unworthily "Thou wast installed in that high degree: — "Pardon me, princely Henry, and the rest, "This dastard, at the battle of Patay, "When bnt in all I was six thousand strong, "And that the French were almost ten to one, — "Before we met, or that a stroke was given, "Like to a trusty squire, did run away; "In which assault we lost twelve hundred men: "Myself, with divers gentlemen beside, "Were there surprised and taken prisoners. "Then, judge, great lords, if I have done amiss ; "Or whether that such cowards ought to wear "This ornament of knighthood, — yea, or no. "A'. Hen. Stain to thy countrymen! thou hear'st thy doom! "Be packing, therefore, thou that wast a knight: "Henceforth we banish thee on pain of death." {Exit Falstaff.) Mr. Turner continues: "It appears to be upon the authority of Mon- strelet alone that Shakespeare relies for the sup- posed fact of Sir John Fastolfe's having been stripped of the Garter. So foul a stain upon his character, it may safely be said, had no existence, excepting in the pages of the chronicler, supported perhaps by the rumours of those who had felt the weight of his arm. Anstis, the historian of the order, who searched the records for the express purpose, assures his readers there is no entry of Fastolfe's name in the Black Book, which com- memorates similar degradations ; and, what is still more conclusive, regular mention is made of his attendance at the Feasts of St. George and the Chapters of the Order till the period of his de- cease.''" 'I J) id, p. 29. Again Mr. Turner: ' ' It were injustice not to quote, by way of illus- trating- the feeling tliat existed even in the Eliza- bethan age, the glowing sentences with which old Fuller sums up his account of him: 'To avouch him' (says the generous biographer) 'by many arguments valiant, is to maintain that the sun is bright ; though the stage hath been over- bold with his memory, making him a Thrasonical Puff and emblem of Mock valour. True it is. Sir John Old- castle did first bear the brunt of the one, being made the make-sport in all plays for a coward. It is easily known out of what purse this black peny came; the papists railing on him for a heretic, and therefore he must also be a coward; though indeed he was a man of arms, every inch of him, and as valiant as any of his age. Now, as I am glad that Sir John Oldcastle is put out, so I am sorry that Sir John Fastolfe is put in. Nor is our comedian excusable by some alteration of his name, writing him Sir John Falstafe ('and mak- ing him the property of pleasure for King Henry the Fifth to abuse), seeing the vicinity of sounds entrench on the memory of that worthy knight of their name.' "^ Honest Fuller had not read the Paston Letters nor had he, like the poet, entered into the "heart of elder" of Sir John Fastolf. Time sustains Shakespeare's verdict. Of Thomas Fastolf, the unlucky ward of Sir John, Dawson Turner writes: "At the same advanced period of his life, but still evidently broken by years. Sir John presses his correspondent to assist him in obtaining the wardship of a minor. This was commonly an object with men of consequence in those days ; for not only did it throw power into their hands, by 'IbuL, p. 34. 112 placing the management of estates under tlieir control, but it likewise gave them the authority to dispose of their wards in marriage, to whom and on what terms they thought proper. The letter in which the request is urged presents a curious il- lustration, both of the times and of the writer's personal character : it exhibits the steadiness with which he kept his object in view, and the address he employed in the pursuit of it. John Paston is entreated to induce the sheriif to assist in for- warding the matter, and is himself urged to 'take it tenderly to heart.' The more effectually to quicken his zeal, a hint is throwm out that a mar- riage should in due time take place between the intended ward and some one of Paston 's daugh- ters. The proposed match, which indeed never was carried into effect, is said, in this instance, to have been altogether a suitable one; but it is plain that the inclination of the parties would not have been consulted, nor, in eases of that nature, was it customary to allow it to enter the least into consideration. The young man, whose future fate formed the subject of the correspondence, is dis- covered by the endorsement of the letter to have been 'Thomas Fastolfe',^ son and heir of Nicholas Fastolfe, of Ipswich, and cousin to the knight." "He was at that time a'bout ten years old; as appears from a subsequent letter written by his mother,^° in which she complains that his guar- dians endeavoured to represent her son as younger than he actually was, in order the longer to retain possession of his estate. Four years, at the ut- most, comprehend the time during which he re- mained under Sir John Fastolfe 's guardianship; but he did really become a member of his house- hold, as is made evident by the mention of 'Thomas Fastolfe, is chamboure,' in the inventory of the ^Hc teas fion and heir of John Fastolf of CotcJiau-c. Paston Letters, Vols. I, II, III, and Introdnetion Gairdner Ed. 1910. ^"Paston Letters. Vol. II, p. 03.' 113 furniture and effects left at Caister upon the knight's decease. From the same document it also appears that Sir John did not spoil his little kins- man and ward by over-indulgence in luxuries: 'j fedderbed, j bolster, j payre of schetys, jj blan- kettis, j rede coverlet, j coverying of worstet, and j testour,' are the only articles enumerated in the catalogue of the contents of his apartment. But then, as if by way of compensation, and perhaps to keep alive liis pride of ancestry, it is expressly said that the 'arms of Fastolfe, embroidered on rede say,' are placed at the 'seloure,' or head of his bed."" The present Rector of Caister, Great Yarmouth, in an admirable essay^^ on Sir John Fastolf, sums up twelve points of resemblance between the true knight and Fal- statf . We give one : '^ Language has been strained to its utmost to express Falstaif's grossness of body Now in the matter of this amplitude of form there appears to be curious corroboration of identity be- tween the false knight and the true. Not only does a tradition still linger on in Caister of the brawn of the first lord of its castle, but an old print in the Free Library of Great Yarmouth tends to con- firm it." Of the jewels, gold and silver, money and plate, ward- robe and furniture which belonged to Fastolf at the time of his death, see the Inventorj^^^ j|^g editor, Mr. Arnot, says: "I cannot conclude this summary without advert- ing to what may appear a remarkable omission. I allude to the absence of books of every description." ^Villiam of Worcester, the scholarly secretary of Sir John Fastolf, hungered after knowledge and was in Lon- "Ibid., pp. 38-39. ""37(e Case of f>ir John Falstof." Bi/ David Wallace Duthie. Lond. .1907. '^'Archacologie x.r.ri, pp. 232-280. 114 don when Henry Windsor, his friend, wrote this to Sir John Paston in 1458 : ''I may sey to you that William hath goon to scole, to a Lumhard called Karoll Giles, to lern and" to be red in poetre or els in Frensh; for he hath byn with the same Caroll every dey ij. times or iij., and hath bought divers boks of hym, for the which, as I suppose he hath put hymself in daunger to the same Karoll. I made a mocion to William to have knoen part of his besines, and he answered and seid that he wold be as glad and as feyn of a good boke of Frensh or of poetre as my Master Fastolf wold be to purchace a faire manoir; and therby I understand he list not to be commynd with all in such matiers." To this learned gentleman, Sir John Fastolf paid a. salary of five shillings a year! A manuscript in the Brit- ish Museum, supposed to be written by William Wyrces- tre in praise of Millicent, wife of Sir John Fastolf, ends thus: "John Fastolf which was a valiant Knyght and sharp in bateylle .... Iff it were ryght that any- thin should ascend unto the high Celestiall place for his: own desert and merytt, doubtless it should be this gen- eration."^'* W^e agree with him, for Time has taken the lustre from' the worldly Sir John Fastolf and left : ^'None so poor to do him reverence." After enumerating Fastolf 's belongings, Dawson Tur- ner concludes: "Such, in lands and goods, were the possessions with which John Paston, eldest son of Sir William, found himself on a sudden enriched. Still, be- tween the stretching out of a hand to grasp them, and the actually having of them in tirm hold, the new heir was soon made conscious there was a ^^Hist. Castle Comhc hij G. Poiilet Scrape. 1852. 115 wide difference. Within one week after Sir John Fastolfe's death, and well nigh before his body was committed to the tomb, it appears that for- midable pretenders to the property had already arisen." ^^ Mr. Ponlet Scrope observes: "Certainly no blood rela- tionship seems to have existed between them."^^ Hoping the reader will not be too much cloyed with the real Fastolf, I venture to say not one of his followers — not even John Paston, his heir, — would have paid to his memory that pathetic tribute which, after the death of his master Fal staff, Bardolph utters when he says : *' Would I were with him, ivheresome'er he is, either in heaven or in hell." In II Henry IV., 2, 1, where the hostess of the Dolphin Inn has Sir John Falstaff arrested for debt, the reader will see the Lord Chief Justice shows little respect to Sir John: Enter the Lord Chief Justice, attended. Ch. Just. What is the matter? keep the peace here, hoi Host. Good my lord, be good to me ! I beseech you, stand to me! Ch. Just. How now, Sir John! what, are you brawling here ? Doth this become your place, your time, and busi- ness? You should have been well on your way to York. — Stand from him, fellow: wherefore hang'st on him? Host. 0! my most worshipful lord, an't please your grace, I am a poor widow of Eastcheap, and he is arrested at my suit. Ch. Just. For what sum? Host. It is more than for some, my lord ; it is for all, all I have. He hath eaten me out of house and home. . . . ^Ibid.. p. 77. "Hist, of Castle ComJiC, p. 185. 116 Cli. Just. How comes this, Sir John? — Fie! what man of good temper would endure this tempest of exdamation? — Are you not ashamed to enforce a poor widow to so rough a course to come by her own? Fal. What is the gross sum that I owe thee ? Host. Marry, if thou wert an honest man, thyself, and the money too. Thou didst swear to me upon a parcel-gilt goblet, sitting in my Dolphin-chamber, at the round table, by a sea-coal fire, upon Wednes- day in Whit sun week, when the prince broke they head . . . Fal. My lord, this is a poor mad soul; . . . Ch. Just. Sir John, Sir John, I am well acquaint- ed with your manner of wrenching the true cause the false way. It is not a confident brow, nor the throng of words that come with such more than impudent sauciness from you, can thrust me from a level consideration; j^ou have, as it appears to me, practised upon the easy-yielding spirit of this woman, and made her serve your uses . . . Host. Yes, in troth, my lord. Ch. Just. Pr ythee, peace. — Pay her the debt you owe her, and unpay the villainy you have done with her: the one you may do with sterling money, and the other with current repentance. Fat. My lord, I will not undergo this sneap with- out rej^ly. You call honourable boldness, impudent sauciuess; if a man will make court'sy, and say nothing, he is virtuous. No, my lord, my humble duty remember'd, I will not be your suitor: I say to you, I do desire deliverance from these officers, being upon hasty employment in the king's affairs. Ch. Just. You speak as having power to do wrong; but answer in the effect of your reputation, and satisfy the poor Avomau. In his dealings with widows and orphans the real Fa?- 117 tolf had no scruples of conscience. Those acquainted with his treatment of the widowed mother of his cousin and ward, Thomas Fastolfe, discern this trait; and his un- kind usai2;e of Stephen Scrope/' his stepson, whom he kept out of his inheritance for fifty years shows his du- plicity. In A ^^Jiort View of English History, 1723, the author, Bevil Higgons, says Sir John Fastolf had "been ridiculed and misrepresented by the pen of a certain poet . . . for no other reason but that some of his pos- terity had disobliged Mr. Shakespeare." It would be gratifying to learn where Higgons got his tradition. Arthur Dandy, the Steward of Gray's Inn, who acted the Bishop of St. Giles in the Fields in the Gcsta Grayornm was related to the Bacons through the Falstaff's. The Poet, Francis Quarles, descended from these families. I find in the Visitation of Essex, 1612, p. 273, Edmund Quarles of Norwich in Com Norfolk Gentleman, married Mary, daughter of Thomas Daundie of Crettingham in Com Suffolk, Esq., by his wife, daughter of Fastolphe of Pettow, Esq. Shakespeare in 2 Hen., VI, iv, says : ''Leave me at the White Hart in Southwork."" In the Gesta GrayoruniArtlmv Dandy^ personated ''the Bishop of St. Giles in the Fields," and in the Pension Book are the following interesting items concerning bin? and a White Hart Inn : ''Jack Cade, the rebel, lodged here, when Sir John Fastolf took refuge in the Tower, to escape the rabble. ^This gentleman's father married Anne Fastolfe, daughter of John Fastolf e of Pettaw Co., Suffolk. Her brother, Thomas Fastolf, married Francis Bacon's kinswoman, Alice Bacon. "This gentleman's father, Sir Stephen Scrope, bequeathed to his "dearest son and heir, Stephen, two silver basins with two silver water- stoups, twelve silver dishes, one gilt cup with a cover, two silver cups with covers, a set of hangings and a bed embroidered with poplers." with all its furniture, a service of table linen, &c., and a long sword formerly belonging to King Edward (the Third), and bequeathed to him by his father." It does not appear that Stephen Scrope ever recovered possession of these heirlooms. They no doubt went to swell the pro- digious mass of valnalilcs that were accumulated by Fastolf. and found on his decease in bis town and country houses, of which Mr. Amyot has printed the inventory in the Archa^logia, Vol. xxi." lis 1583 Mr. Arthur Dandy to be paid three pounds in lieu of fourteen years arrearage of rent for the acre of land in Bernerd's Close by such as have occupied the said acre; and from henceforth Ber- nerd's tenant is to pay fifteen shillings a year dur- ing the life of Mr. Dandy, whereof five shillings yearly is to be paid to the House. Mr. Dandy to have the piece of ground inclosed with the mud wall behind the White Hart at a rent of xx"^ per annum, and he is to be paid the arrears of rent for the last twenty-eight years, p. 57. 1597 PENSION 25th April, 39 Eliz : Present :— BRO- GRAVE. HESKETH, ANGER, BACON, STANHOPE, HALES, POOLEY, FULLER, PELHAM, LANY, NIGHTINGALE, BARKER, PEPPER and BRACKEN. "The copye of a leas shewed forth by Mr. Med- calf by wch he pretendeth title to an Acre of Ground opposite to ye AVhight Hart. Mr. Fletcher notes: *'In Bentley's Book ... it is re- corded that the light-wardens of St. Andrew's received yearly a rent of five shillings for an acre of ground be- hind the AVhite Hart, called the Church acre, in and before the 20th year of Edward IV." And at Pension 4th, Nov : 28 Eliza : 1586, it was : "Ordered that Arthur Dandy shall yerelie have during his lyff five marks for a gowne & a lyverie of the howsse in respect of his ancyent service when he was Steward of the House and of his alliance to the Lord Keeper that dead is."^ The Lord Keeper was Francis Bacon's father. *Ibid., p. 74. 119 YOU WOULD PLUCK OUT THE HEART OF MY MYSTERY That there was au earlier p\-dj of Hamlet, thau Shake- speare's remains an o^jen question. Collier, the forger of so many Shakespeare "facts," harped much upon an older play of Hamlet. Thomas Nashe was the first to mention Hamlet in a preface to Greene's ''Meiiaphon'^ in 1589 as follows: "It is a common practise now a dales, amongst a sort of shifting companions, that runne through euery art and thriue by none to leaue the trade of Nouerint, whereto they were borne, and busie them- selues with the indeuors of art, that could scarcelie latinise their neck-verse if they should haue neede; yet English Seneca read by candle-light yeeldes manie good sentences as 'hloud is a hegget-^ and so forth : and if you intreate him faire in a frostie morn- ing, he will affoord you whole Hamlets, I should say handfulls of tragical speeches. But o grief e ! tempus edax reruin; what's that will last alwaies? The sea exhaled by droppes will in continuance be drie, and Seneca let blond line by line, and page by page, at length must needes die to our stage." Nashe in this tirade aims at more than one man, for his Epistle is written in a plural sense. When these lines were penned, Francis Bacon was a struggling young lawyer at Gray's Inn. (1589.) It may be said that Bacon was born to the law, as his father was a great lawyer before him. At any rate if my theory is worth while, young Francis Bacon could haA^e aided Shakespeare in the use of the legal terms we find so plentifully sprinkled through Hamlet, and as Nashe gibed at more thau one, his lines: 'could scarcelie latinise their neck-ve(rse if they should have neede; reminds us of Ben Jonson's 'small 120 latin/ and might be applied to the Yonth who only two years before arrived in Loudon from Stratford. That Nashe referred to Shakespeare's Hamlet and none other, I firmly believe. Take his: 'bloud is a begger' and compare it with the noble Hamlet's: "Begger that I am, I am even poor in thanks.'' Nashe continues. "And if you intreat him faire in a frosty morning, he Avill afforde you whole Hamlets, I should say handfulls of tragicall speeches." Intreat whom fair? And why on a frosty morning? Did Nashe refer to the character of the Sentinal Franeisco, who onlj^ appears once in the play of Hamlet, and speaks but fifty-five words? I have reason to think so, for it is he who says : ' ' ' " 'Tis bitter cold, and I am sick at heart." Pathetic words, which seem to prepare the hearers for a tragic ending as the reader may judge : ACT I. SCENE I.— Elsinore. .4. Platform before the Castle. Francisco on his Post. Enter to Mm Bernardo. Bernardo. Who's there? Fran. Nay, answer me : stand, and unfold Yourself. Bcr. Long live the king ! Fran. Bernardo? Ber. He. Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. Ber. 'Tis now struck twelve ; get thee to bed, Fran- cisco. Fran. For this relief, much thanks : 'tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart. Ber. Have you had quiet guard? Fran. Not a mouse stirring. 121 Bcr. Well, good night. If von do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of mv watch, bid them make haste. Enter Horatio and Marcellus. Frau. I think, I hear them. — Stand, ho! Who is there? Hor. Friends to this ground. Mar. And liegemen to the Dane. Fran. Give you good night. Mar. O, farewell, honest soldier: Wlio hath reliev'd you? Fran. Bernardo hath my place. Give you good night. [Ej-'it Francisco. Francisco does not appear again, but it is likely his: ^ 'Tis bitter cold' gave Nashe his 'fro.^ty morning.' The word frost is not mentioned in the play. In Act I, scene 4, Hamlet says: 'The air bites shrewdly, 'it is very cold' and Horatio replies : 'It is a nipping and an eager air.' It seems to me Nashe who was very sensitive to climatic influences, could not forget the impression the first act of Hamlet made upon him. He died of consumption and was always delicate I imagine. His preface to 'Menapliow was his first publication. It seems to me a strange coincidence that Greene should have dedicated 'Menaphon to a Lady Hales — because the grave-yard scene in Hamlet has long been regarded as a parody on the case of the suicide of Sir James Hales, an honorable Judge of Common Pleas and a member of Gray's Inn. This celebrated case Hales v. Petit (Plowden p. 253) must have created much tragic-mirth among the lawyers of Gray's Inn. Lord Chief Justice Dyer (related to the Bacon's by 122 marriage) helped to conduct the case. One of the things the Court said was : "Sir James Hales was dead, and how came he to his death? It may be answered by drowning — and who drowned him? Sir James Hales — and when did he drown him? In his life time. So that Sir James Hales being alive caused Sir James Hales to die I and the act of the living man was the death of the dead man, and then for this offence it is reasonable to punish the living man who committed the offence and not the dead man. But how can he be said to be punished alive when the punishment comes after death." This case from Plowdon was written in old Norman law French, and Malone tells us it was not translated into English during Shakespeare's life. Francis Bacon, a legal light at that time, was familiar with this work of Plow- don's, and could have aided the Dramatist, who saw in it comedy enough for the following scene : Act 5, Scene I. 1st Grave D. — Is she to be buried in Christian burial that wilfully seeks her own salvation? 2d Grave D. — I tell thee she is; therefore make her grave straight ; the crowner hath set on her, and finds it christian burial. 1st Grave D. — How can that be, unless she drowned herself in her own defense? 2d Grave D. — AVhy, 'tis found so. 1st Grave D. — It must be sc offcndeudo, it can- not be else. For here lies the point: if I drown myself wittingly, it argues an act ; and an act hath three branches; it is^ to act, to do, to perform. Argal, she drowned herself wittingly. 2d Grave D. — Nay, but hear you, goodman de- liver. ; 123 1st Grave D. — Give me leave. Here lies the water ; good ; here stands the man ; good. If the man go to this water, and drown himself, it is, will he, nil he, he goes; mark you that: but, if the water comes to him, and drown him, he drowns not himself. Argal, he that is not guilty of his own death, shortens not his own life. 2d Grave D.— But is this law? 1st Grave D. — Ay, marry is't, crowner's 'quest law. 2d Grave D.— mil you ha' the truth on't? If this had not been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out of christian burial. It is difficult to believe that Hamlet, the most extra- ordinary, if not the greatest creation of Shakespeare, could have been written by a youth but two years from his native Stratford. Scholars cannot marry this youth to the Ham let of 1589, and have conjured up an Ur-Hamlct it seems to me, to account for the allusions of Nashe, and Lodge. Sir Sidney Lee in his 'Life of Shakespeare' (Ed. 1916, p. 354), says: . . . "Tom Nashe credited a writer whom he called 'English Seneca' with the capacity of penning 'whole Hamlets/ I should say handfuls of tragical speeches.' " Is not this interpretation misconstrued? Did not Nashe have in mind when he wrote: 'English Seneca read by candle light' a translation of Seneca, rather than an indi- vidual? This would carry out Nashe's former implication that one of the men he gibed at 'could scarcely latinise [his] neck-verse if [he] should have need' i. e. that he was not capable of reading Seneca in the original. Thomas Powell in his 'Attorney's Academy' calls Fran- cis, Lord Verulem, and Viscount St. Albans : 'Good Seneca.' A Thomas Powell printed for George Bucke, Jasper Hey- wood's translation of Senecas 'The Sixth Tragedie' which was dedicated to the Queen. Heywood also dedicated some 124 of liis Seueca trauslatioiis to (Sir Thomas Ilenueage, Bacon's good friend. In his translation of 'Tliijesfes' Jasper Heywood added a scene to the fifth act ''wherein the hero, in a soliloqy, laments his own misfortunes, and calls for judgment and vengeance on Atreus." Hecuba is portraj^ed in the first act, and there is a ghost in the traged3\ I am inclined to believe Nashe was thinking of this very play when he referred to 'English Seneca.' It was said on the title page of the first Quarto Hamlet, 1603, that it was acted "in the tw^o Universities of Cam- bridge and Oxford." It will be observed that Nashe dedi- cates his Epistle before 'Menaphoii' "to the gentlemen Stu- dents of both Universities." If they had seen the play they could better appreciate Nashe's satire. Did not the many legal terms in Hamlet lead Nashe to infer that the author was leaving the "trade of Norverint" to "busy" himself "with the endeavors of art"? Hamlet's renowned speech over the supposed lawyers skull, may have moved Nashe to this criticism. Ham. There's another: why may not that be the skull of a lawyer? Where be his quiddits now, his quillets, his cases, his tenures, and his tricks? why does he suffer this rude knave now to knock him about the sconce with a dirty shovel, and will not tell him of his action of battery? Humph ! This fel- low might be in 's time a great buyer of land, with his statutes, his recognizances, his fines, his double vouchers, his recoveries : is this the fine of his fines, and the recovery of his recoveries, to have his fine pate full of fine dirt? will his vouchers vouch him no more of his purchases, and double ones too, than the length and breadth of a pair of indentures? The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box, and must the inheritor himself have no more? ha? 125 Eor. Not a jot more, my lord. Ham. Is not parchment made of sheep-skins? Hor. Ay, my lord, and of calf-skins too. In Nashe's Works, Ed. by McKerron, Vol. 1 p. 342, Nash again refers to a Noverint, whom he dubbs an "unskillful pen-man." After Bacon's friends, the Carey's and Bishop Whitgift, befriended him, Nashe seems to have regretted some things he had written and says : "For neither was I Greenes com- panion only more than for a carouse or two," and as he recalls the trouble 'The Isle of Dog's' put him to, he says: "A man \\\i\j not talk of a dog, but it is surmised he aims at him that giveth the dog in his crest." 'The Isle of Dogs' is mentioned in the Northumberland Ms. as well as Thomas Nashe's name. Of an earlier Hamlet than Shakespeare's, Charles Knight said: "They have taken conjecture for proof, not a title of distinct evidence exists to show that there was any other play of Hamlet but that of Shakespeare and all the collateral evidence upon which it is inferred that an earlier play of Hamlet than Shakespeare's did exist, may, on the otlier hand be taken to prove that Shakespeare's original sketch of Hamlet was in repute at an earlier period than is commonly as- signed as its date." It vexed Knight who tells us Collier constantly spoke of and harped upon the "old" Hamlet. Malone said: "If Shakespeare meant to allude to the case of Dame Hales, (which indeed* seems not improbable,) he must have heard of that case in conversation ; for it was determined before he was born, and Plow- den's Commentaries, in which it is reported were not translated into English till a few years ago. Our 126 author's study was probably uot much eucumbered with old Freuch Keports." Another stumbling block may be found in Hamlefs in- structions to the players. How could a youth so fresh from his native town direct authoritively the Actor's in speech and gesture, conveying the art of using their Eng- lish : "As I [rrononnccd it to yon tripplmjly on the tongue^^? Henry VIII. once asked a foreign physician who had lived in England many years, why he did not speak Eng- lish better? The answer was: "Sire, what can you expect from one who has only lived here thirty years?" "The learned pupil of Buchannon, who misruled two Kingdoms "mouthed" his English in a broad Scotch accent, and yet he must have been taught English from his childhood. , Orl. Where dwell you, pretty youth? KoH. AVith this shepherdess, my sister; here in the skirts of the forest, like fringe upon a petticoat. Orl. Are you native of this place? Ros. As the coney, that you see dwell where she is kindled. Orl. Your accent is something finer than you could purchase in so removed a dwelling. Ros. f have been told so of many : but, indeed, an old religious uncle of mine taught me to speak, who Avas in his youth an inland man; one that knew courtship too well, for there he fell in love. I have heard him read many lectures against it; and I thank God, I am not a woman, to be touched with so many giddy offences, as he hath generally taxed their whole sex withal. Inland (Saxon Law Term), that inner Land, or part of a Manor which lay next or most convenient for the Lord's Mansion-House, for the Maintenance of his Famil}^, &c. and opposed to the JJtland, or Outhiiid, which was to let out to Tenants." — Phillips. John Davies of Hereford, for fear of offending, is care- ful to say in the very beginning that he sings the follow- ing lines "in sport." Perhaps the great lord Burleigh and his son, Robert Cecil, were displeased at the portrayal of "Kings and Counsellors," and as the Comedy of Errors was a part of the Sports, it may have moved Davies to pen these lines: To our Englifh Terence, Mr. Will. Shake-fpeare. Some fay (good Will) which I in fport, do flng, Had'ft thou not plaid fome Kingly parts in fport. Thou hadft bin a companion for a King; And, beene a King among the meaner fort. Some others raile; but, raile as they thinke fit. Thou haft no rayling, but, a raigning Wit: : And honefty thou foiv' ft, which they do rca'pc, Ho, to increafe their Stocke which they do Iceepc. Davies must have referred to the principal capital or stock of a company when he says Shakespeare sow'd "to increase their Stocke which they do keepe." The lines are puzzling, for we know Shakespeare shared in the profits of the Lord Chamberlains servants, and that he "trafficked with the stage." It is well known that Francis Bacon, by some act un- known to us, displeased the Cecils, who never forgave him, and gave his mother many anxious hours. Bacon's words: "I have tuned the harp of the muses That others may play" leads me to think Shakespeare could not have found in London a more tender defender than Francis Bacon. For we must bear in mind the actors that played at Gray's 128 Inu that Christmas were called "base and common fellows" and it is most true that Bacon's mother looked upon these men as : ^'A crew of patches, rude mechanics, that loork for hread.'^ The reader will better understand Lady Bacon's feeling if I quote from Sir John Feme's "The Blazon of Gentrie/' printed in 1586, one year before Shakespeare's arrival in London. Feme studied law in the Inner Temple and was well known to the Bacon's. It was not only the Actor who was despised but to write plays for the public was a disgrace. A nobleman or a gentleman might write a masque for the Court, or for his University, as so many of them did; but to pen plays for the multitude — to be "clapper clawed by the vulgar"^ — was ignominious and base. The student must forget the present and transport his thoughts to the age of Shakespeare if he would realize the status of the Theatre Poet. Sir John Feme gives us to understand that no man in his day was termed "gentle" or a "gentleman" unless he bore a coat of arms. He describes the seven liberal Artes, and then delineates the seven Me- chanical Sciences, saying : "Mechanical sciences, with their professours were debarred the preheminence of Geutrie." Then adds: "And of these Mechanical Artes (that have retayned the title of necessary, honest, and laudable) the number of them is but seven." And he puts the skill of the actor and the writer of plays at the end of his list, thus: "The seventh and last Mechanical Arte, is called Theatrica, that is to say, the arte and skill of Playes practised in Theatres, and exposed to the spectacle of mul- titudes. ... If they be played for the cause of gaine, to move laughter and sport to the people, such playes be reprobate, and not only worthy of dispraise, but rather to be accounted infamous," pp. 74-76. That the stage did stain pure gentle blood we are told by John Davies of Here- 129 ford in his Microcosmos, 1603, wliere lie again points to Shakespeare : ^layers, I love yee, and your Qiialitie, c w. s. R. B. ■^'^ y^ ^^^ Men, that pass time not abns'd : saith, Aat'pih^t A.ud some I love for painting, poefic, ing is a dumb ^raspfakSg ^^^ ^^y f^ll Fortune cannot be excufd, That hath for better ufcs you refuf'd : Wit, Courage, good shape, good partes, and all good,. Roscius was said for his ex- f^s long as al thefe goods are no icorfe uf'd, celloicy in his ' only wort'h^e ^^^l though the stuge doth staine pure gentle hloud, to come on the stage, and i^et geucrous yec are in niinde and moode. for his home- " ^ sty to be more worthy then to come theron. In Chamberlain's letters are found allusions to Bacon's friends and relations. On the 11th June, 1597, he shows how Bacon's Alter Ego, Tobie Mathew, desired to follow Dudley Carleton into France : "Went to Askot, where I met with your brother Carleton (comming from the buriall of 3'our uncle Goodwin), who told me Tobie Mathew had sheAved him a letter from you wherein you complained much of want, and what narrow straights you were like to be driven to, marvailing you had touclit no such matter in your letters to him, and therewithall began to dilate to me what he had don and could do for you, but the conclusion was that his abilitie is not to supplie all wants, and therefore you must trust to yourself and make your owne fortune. I replied litle to it but only in general termes, the rather be- cause I hope it is but a borrowed complaint to distast younge Mathew from following you into Fraunce then for any true cause. 1.30 In a letter dated 17th May, 1598, he says : ''All that I heare of Tobie Mathew is, that he staide in Fraiiuce Avith yoiinge Throgmorton, that fell sicke of the small pockes." In Oct., 1601, he writes: "Tobie Mathew is neAvly come to towne with his lord father and mother," and again on the 8th of May, 1602, "Your friend Tobie Mathew is newly recovered from a long and shrewd fit of his old infirmity..'^ On Dec. 20th, 1598, he writes to Carleton : "You see how confidently I write to you of all things, but I hope you kepe it to yourself, and then there is no daunger, and I am so used to a libertie and fredome of speach when I converse or write to my friends that I cannot easilie leave it. Your brother and sister Williams marvaile they heare not from you. I have had much ado to excuse myself this Christmas from Knebworth and Askot, but specially from Knebworth, the rather because Wat Cope and his wife, Hugh Beeston, and Mr. Evers, go thether; but upon some occasions I am growne so privat that I stirre not abrode, nor mean to do, but to live at home like a snaile in the shell. And so, wishing you a goode new yeare and many, I end. This letter may have been written from Dr. Gilbert's house. We judge from its contents that Chamberlain dis- liked both Walter Cope and Hugh Beeston, On July 1st, 1600, he writes : "I have not seen Watt Cope since I received your letter, and therefore know nothing more of the com- mission. I presume you shall find him inditferent, for I remember that, upon a Avord cast out by myself at the first mention of it, he protested that no re- spect shold carie him beyond his conscience." Cope's master, Cecil, Avas always protesting about his conscience. 1S1 On 4tli Dec, 1602, he Avrites: "Mr. Cope is xerj hot aud earnest for his papers. I wonld YOU could tell how to 'stop his mouth.' " The folloAving-, dated Dec. 23rd, 1002, brings Cope and his master Cecil together: "I have pacified ^^'at Cope in shewing him what you write touching his papers. Mr. Secretarie did him a very extraordinarie favor to admit him a part- ner in his entertainment to the Queue, and to per- mit him to present her with some toyes in his house, for the which he had many faire wordes, but as yet cannot get into the private chamber, though he ex- pect it daily. You like the Lord Kepers devises so ill, that I cared not to get Mr. Secretaries that were not much better, saving a pretty dialogue of John Davies, twixt a niaide, a widow, and a wife, which I do not thincke but Mr. Saunders hath seen, and no doubt will come out one of these dayes in print with the rest of his works. The Lord Ad- miralls feasting the Queue had nothing extraordi- narie, neither were his presents so precious as was expected; being only a whole suit of apparell, whereas it was thought he would have bestowed his rich hangings of all the fights with the Spanish Armada in eightie-eight. These feastings have had theire effect to stay the Court here this Christmas, though most of the cariages were well onward on theire waye to Ikichmond. On Feb. lltli, 1(102-3, he reminds (^irlcton: "You still forget ]Mr. Cope, whom I could wish you had at this time remembered.'' The old Queen was neariug her end, and it was well to be near Cecil, who now looked toward the rising Sun. GooDE Mr, Carleton: Now I have dispatclit the ordinarie occurrents, it will not be aniisse to iuforiiie 3011 of some privat matters apart, which course you may hold with me (if you please) iu whatsoever you would have kept close or reserved ; for both you and I have so many goode frends here in common, that, if they heare of any post or packet, they thincke themselves wronged if they see not the originall, whereof I assure you I am not so liberall, but that they see it comes invita Minerva, and not at first call. Upon my first com- ming to towne, Mr. Cope in(iuired when I heard from you, and told me of two papers he had delivered you of the genealogies and matches of the great houses of France, which he desired you to continue and draw out till this time. I gave no great eare to him then ; but, upon a second and third sommons, I told him what other imployments and business withheld you, that you could not attend such trinckets; his aunswer was that you might get some expert French- man to do it for you according to those copies, or at- leastwise send him backe his owne papers which he had out of his old lords memorialls. Though I hold him neither apt nor greatly able to do any frend he hath goode, yet must we sometimes hold a candle before the devill, and do as the people of Calicut, that worship him, not so much for any help they looke for at his hands, as because he shold do them no harme. I use him somwhat after that kinde; and, though for some inward respects I maligne him as much as any old frend he hath, yet I com- pile thus far with him as to serve his humor now and then when it comes upon me. As this other day, expostulating with me why I did not present Mr. Secretarie with some toyes to kepe me in his remem- braunce, I delivered him some of those pictures and verses you sent me in your hand which I presume 133 Mr. Secretarie knowes, at leastwise I told Wat Cope I had them from you, and he sayes Mr. Secretarie chose the last picture and the last verses you sent, so that, if it do me no goode, it can do you no harme. If you did not know me so well as you do, me thinckes you might guesse I aime at somwhat, but I Yowe and sweare unto you by our love and friend- ship (which is a sound oth) that I am past all ambi- tion, and wish nor seeke nothing but how to live siiaviter and in plentie. To which end and to your own goode, if you sometimes furnish me with such toyes as you thincke fit, it will not be amiss." — October 2, 1602. The following letter to Bacon's cousin is said to be from Sir AValter Cope, 1604. "Sir : ''I have sent and bene all thys morning huutyng for players Juglers & Such kinde of Creaturs, but fynde them harde to finde, wherfore Leavinge notes for them to seeke me, burbage ys come, & Sayes ther ys no new playe that the queue hath not scene, but they have Kevjved an olde one, Cawled Loves Lahore lost, which for wytt & niirthe he sayes will please her excedingly. And Thys ys apointed to be playd to Morowe night at my Lord of Southamptons, un- less yow send a Avrytt to Remove the Corpus Cum Causa to your howse in strande. Burbage ys my messenger Ready attendyng your pleasure. "Yours most humbly, "Walter Cope." Letter dated ''From i/onr L'lhrarji," trrittcii hij Sir Walter Cope, addressed ''To the right honorahle the Lord Yycount Cranhorne at the Courte." En- dorsed: 1604, Sir Walter Cope to my Lord. Hat- field House ^fSS. See Third Report of the Royal 134 Commission of Historical Manuscripts. 1872. j^. 148. "Cent, of Praise/' p. 62. Hamlet's : ''The less they deserve, the more Merit in your bounty." found no entrance in Cope's philosophy. Doctor C. W. Wallace in 'The First London Theatre/ 1913, tells us : "In June, 1589, Burbage and his son Cuthbert ap- pealed to Walter Cope in the matter. Cope ^Yas gen- tleman usher to the Lord High Treasurer of Eng- land, and in that important post had great influ- ence. He was intimate with every high official of the realm, and later himself became one of the powerful men of England under James I. Cuthbert Burbage, a young man of only twenty-two years, according to his own deposition, was then and for some years later employed by Cope as His "servant," probably as clerk in some department of the Treas- ury. Upon the request of Cuthbert and his father, Walter Cope wrote a letter to John Hyde suggest- ing that Cope might be of service to Hyde with the Lord Treasurer sometime, if he would be so good as to convey to Cuthbert the lease of the Theatre. So Hyde did it. He said afterwards, as Bett testi- fied, that if it had not been for Cope's letter he Avould not have sold to Cuthbert, but to Clough and Middlemore, who very much wanted it. It was a close shave for the Burbage — and possibly for the future drama." We catch a glimpse of Bacon's friends at the Mermaid in this letter : "Yesternight Mr. Edmunds, ^Nlr. Winwood, your brother, Mr. Gent, and myself supt at the Mermaide, . 135 where your health was often remembered, and better provided for iiiiir pocula then your owne, for I have ben distempered ever since. . . . And so with my best wishes I commit you to (lOd." From London, this 11th of February, 1602. Yours most assuredly, John Chamberlain. [Addressed y] To my assured goode frend Mr. Dudley Carleton give these at the Lord Ambassadors in Paris. Chamberlain did not enjoy these wet combats as much as Ben Jonson and Fletcher did. In his poem, "Inviting a Friend to Supper," Jonson says : But that which most doth tiike my muse and me, Is a pure cup of rich Canary wine. Which is the Mermaid's now, but shall be mine. Of this w^e shall sup free, but moderately ; Nor shall our cups make any guilty men : But at our parting we will be as when We innocently met. No simple word. That shall be utter'd at our mirthful board, Shall make us sad next morning, or affright The liberty that we'll enjoy to night. This resolution must have been made on a New Year's Eve, for we are told by a contemporary that wine was the element in which Jonson lived. I do not hesitate to say that these friends of Bacon's knew Shakespeare well, although his name is never men- tioned in their correspondence. 136 These letters of Jolm Chamberlain to his friend Sir Dnil- ley Carleton from 1507 to 1(103, Edited for the Camden Society, are filled with contemporary news of all kinds, and are valuable contributions to the social, artistic, and polit- ical life of his day. They bring us in contact with the most tiotable people of Elizabeth's Court, and after her death they enable us to follow them into the Court of James I., for Chamberlain continued to Avrite up to the year of his death, 1625. A happy few of Chamberlain's friends, I am inclined to think, were memibers of a sort of secret society which held its meetings at the house of Dr. Gilbert on St. Peters Hill, London. During the Essex troubles this Dr. Gilbert w^as chosen as one of the Queen's i^hysicians and their meetings at his house w^ere broken up. On Nov. 14, IGOl, Chamiberlin writes : Mr. Carleton, "I wrote to Mr. Winwood the last weeke, and sent him such poore occurents as the time affords. I meant to have saluted you likewise, and geven you thancks for yours of the 24th of the last, which came to my hands that weeke, but I could neither find time nor place, unles I shold have crept into some scriveners shop, for Mr. Lytton, whiles he is here, hath so much companie, and so much to do, that he possesseth every corner, so that I am driven to a narrow^ shift to write now." Showing how he missed the privacy of Dr. Gilbert's. On Feb. 3rd, IGOO, he had written : "The Queue hath made choise of our Doctor for her phisition, but he is not yet sworne. I doubt our colledge wilbe dissolved, and some of us sent to seeke our fortune." Again on May 27, 1601 : "GooDE Mr. Carleton, I am driven to such straights that I know not 137 what to say but quid scriham, out quid non scrib- amf The uncertaintie of your stay, my long ab- sence from this towne, the unluckines of my let- ters to be lost or overlooked, and the difficultie of finding fit messengers, have almost quite discour- aged me, and made me a truant en rostre endrox, for so will I acknowledge it to you, howsoever to others I could salve and make all whole with pass- able and pregnant excuses; but with so goode a trend I will never disguise, but tell the i:>laine troth and (which is worst) without hope of amendes, for I know not how to redeeme that is past with future diligence, being (since the disso- lution of our societie) become altogether a countri- man, and not appearing heer but as a termer." From London 8th of July IGOl he writes: "Mr. Gent, at his going out of towne yesterday, willed me to commend him to you. We shall meet very shortly, God willing, at Askot. If you direct your letters either to my lodging, or to Mr. John Nortons, they will fiude me out." To my assured goode frend Mr. Dudley Carleton geve these at Paris. Again on June 8th 1002: "If you write direct your letters to Norton's and I will leave order to have them sent after me." This was John Norton the Printer, who later on printed some of Shakespeare's plays. Kichard Field printed North's Plutarch for John Norton in 1603. In this same letter he says: "Litle Britain is translated to a house without Criplegate, where they have more elbow roome, but scant better aire.'' Garleton's sister jNIrs. Williams lived in Little Britain, 138 139 not far from Silver and Mugwell Streets. Perhaps tliey had taken a house for the summer without Cripplegate which brought them still nearer to Shakespeare's lodg- ings in Silver Street. On the preceding page will be found a map of Little Britain showing its exact location in Shakespeare's day. This I had copied from the map of Aggas, 1563. Again he mentions Cripplegate : "I see not your friends without Criplegate; but I heare your sister Williams hath had a sonne. You must excuse my hudling haste, and commend me in all kindnes to Mr. Winwood, to whom I wold have written if either I had more matter or leisure ; but you may supplie that default with acquainting him with what you thincke Avortli the imparting; and so I commit you to Gods holy protection." From London, this second of October, 1602. Yours most assuredly, John Chamberlain. This year 1602 was a prosperous one for Shakespeare, for he bought lands from John Combe in Stratford-on- Avon, and secured a parcel of land in Kowington, nearby. It was also a luclvy year for his associate Cuthbert Burbage who was saved from bankruptcy by Francis Bacon. Why was Bacon chosen, when there were so many other able lawyers at Grays Inn? My belief is that he was friendly with Burbage and his "deserving man" Shakespeare. There is in a letter of Chamber- lain's dated April 26, 1602, in which he uses a Shake- spearian phrase: "I have an iuckling (but you must take no notice of it in any wise,) that your wisest and best es- teemed sister is taken in the same trap; so that I see, if wenches have not theire will, and that 140 husbands come not at call, we shall have them all discontented and turne Turke." Perhaps "turne Turke" was a current Court phrase for Hamlet uses it in : "If the rest of my fortunes turn Turke." In this letter 19 Nov. 1G02 we get a glimpse of the Court and the Bankside: "At the tilt were many younge runners, as you may perceve by the paper of theire names. Your foole Garret made as faire a shew as the prowdest of them, and was as well disguised, mary not alto- gether so well mounted, for his horse was no bigger than a goode ban-dogge; but he delivered his scutchion with liis imprcsa himself, and had goode audience of her Majestic, and made her very merry. And, now we are in mirth, I must not for- get to tell you of a cousening prancke of one Venner, of Lincolns Inne, that gave out 'bills of a famous play on iSatterday was sevenight on the Banckeside, to be acted only by certain gentlemen and gentlewomen of account. The price at com- ming in was two shillings or eighteen pence at least; and, when he had gotten most part of the mony into his hands, he wold have shewed them a faire paire of heeles, but he was not so nimble to get up on horsebacke, but that he w\as faine to for- sake that course, and betake himselfe to the water, where he was pursued and taken, and brought be- fore the Lord Cheife Justice, who wold make noth- ing of it but a jest and a merriment, and (bounde him over in five pound to appeare at the sessions. In the meane time the common people, w^hen they saw themselves deluded, revenged themselves upon the hangings, curtains, chaires, stooles, walles, and Avhatsoever came in theire way, very outragiously, and made great spoile; there was great store of goode companie, and many noblemen." 141 Herein we catcli a sight of two of Bacon's friends : "Our Mr. Trot shall marry one Mr. Perins daughter of Hartfordshire, a lusty tall wench able to beat two of him. Newes came this morning that Fulke Grivell is returned, and that the car- raque is arriyod at Plimmouth." On Oct. 2, 1G05, lOhamberlain goes with Bodley and others to Oxford University : "Mr. Bodley nor Mr. Gent are neither of them come to towne, so that I have nobody nor noAvhere to learne any thing on the sodain; and yet, hear- ing of a post that goes away soone, I wold not omit to write, though I have nothing but countrie occur- rents, which you shall have as redelie as I can re- member them in this haste, even ab ovo. The com- mencement at Oxford was very famous, for plentie of doctors, that were fifteen, twelve divines, and three lawyers; for store of venison, whereof Dr. Kinge had '27 buckes for his part; for royall chere, and an excellent concio ad clerum, wherein your cousen Dr. Goodwin bare the bell; for the exceed- ing assemblie of gentles, but specially for the great confluence of cutpurses, whereof ensued many losses and shrewde turnes, as first Mr. Bodley lost his clocke, 'Sir Kichard Lea two Jewells of 200 markes, which Sir Harry Lea and he meant to have bestowed on the bride, Mr. Tanfelds daugh- ter; and divers other lost goode summes of five, eight, and fourteen pounds, besides petty detri- ments of scarfes, fans, gloves; and one mad knave, whether of malice or merriment, tooke the advan- tage to pull of a gentlewomans shooe, and made the goose go home barefoote. I was not there myself; but, understanding what a high tide there was like to be, wold not commit myself to the streame, but 142 lay quiet at Mr. Dormers, where we had your brothers coiiipauie now and then.'' To Carlton 7th Dec. 1G12 he w^rites: ''Our Cambridge men are nothing so forAvard in affections; only I have some verses are set out and given to some few, but not publicly sold." Ballads, books, and literature of all kinds passed between these friends : "I have some papers of yours which I meane to leave at your sister Williams. I cannot send you Grobendoncs booke, for I presently restored it to Blacke Milles, of whom I borrowed it. Thus in haste I bid you farewell." From London, this 10th of May, 1600. Yours most assuredly, John Chamberlain. In Feb. 1602 he says : "The last I wrote you was about the tenth or eleventh of this present, and I sent it (with a booke or two) by one Oresham, that kepes a bugle shop in St. Martins." In the following we see the beginning of the end had come for the unfortunate young Earl of Essex: "The Erie of Essex hath ben somwhat crasie this weeke. The Lord Keeper was sent for yester- day to the Court, wherujwn his followers feed themselves fat with hope in this leane time of Lent. I heare that Sir Henry ^N'evill is become deafe since his going over, and therfore makes meanes to be called home. Litle Britain is left desolate, and the whole household translated into Essex. I know not how my last came to your hands, nor how this shall finde the way, but you see what shift I have made to peece out a letter 143 more tlien I meant in the beginning. And so in haste I commit you to God." From London, this last of February, 1600. f Yours most assuredly, i? John Chamberlain. To my assured goode trend Mr. Dudley Carleton i geve these, at Rycot, / . or elswhere. There is a letter in Winwood's "Memorials" which leads me to believe Chamberlain must have been em- ployed as a "Gentleman quartely waiter" in the Court of James I. It is from Carleton who writes to Win- wood: "In Mr. Chamberlains absence, I come in quarter, and have waited so diligently at Court this Christ- mas, that I have matter enough, if the rejiort of Masks and Mummings can please etc." When Sir Francis Bacon was married in IG06 Carle- ton wrote Chamberlain 11 April IGO'G, "His chief guests were the three Knights Cope, Hicks, and Beeston." In this long correspondence we seek in vain for the name of iShakespeare. On iCecil's' death May 24, 1G12, Chamberlain says: "It drowned all other news." On March previous he wrote referring to Bacon's Essay on Deformaty saying: "Where in a chapter of Deformaty the world takes note he paints his little cousin to the life." Dr. Gilbert referred to, published his book ''De Mag- iiete' in IGOO, which is noticed by Bacon in his Novum Organum. The following letter is from Spedding's Letters and Life of Bacon, Vol. VIL : 144 To Sir Dudley Carleton My Lord Ambassadore, This gentleman 'Mr Jocelyn served me when I kept the great Seal. I found him honest and orderly. He desireth to be favoured in a CorouelPs Company, and hopeth to O'btain it by your good mean and your endeavor by my recommendation, which I would be very glad he should, and most heartily pray you to be his help for my sake. Ever resting Your Lordships very affectionate friend, Fr. St. Alban. Grays Inn 15 of Ap. 1623. In Aubrey's Brief Lives Ed. by Clark, is the follow- ing regarding Bacon's widow: '•His Dowager married her gentleman Usher Sir Thomas Underhill, whom she made deaf and blind by too much Venus." and continues: "His Lordship was a good poet but concealed. * * * He had a delicate lively hazel eye, Dr. Harvey told me it w^as like the eye of a viper," and adds : "I have now forgot ivhat Mr Bushell says, whether his Lordship en- joyed his muse best at night or in the morning." Dudley Carleton's 2nd wife was Anne daughter of Sir Henry Glenham and widow of Paul Vicount Bajaiing. This lady was descended from the Bacons. Carleton's sister Bridget married Hercules Underhill, who in 1602 gave Shakespeare the quit-claim to New Place. This gentleman was Knighted by James I. in 1G17. In 1599 a book written by John Hayward ''The first part of the Life of Hen. IV J' and dedicated to the Earl of Essex, much displeased the Queen. This is Chamberlain's account of it: 145 "For laeke of better matter, I seud you three or foure toyes to passe away tlie time. The letter of Squires conspiracie is well written, but the other of Dr. Dee is a ridiculous bable of an old impos- turing jugler. The vSilkeworme is thought to be Dr. iMuffetts, and in mine opinion is no bad piece of poetrie. The treatise of Henry the Fourth is reasonablie well written. The author is a younge man of Cambridge toward the civill lawe. Here hath ben much descanting about it, why such a storie shold come out at this time, and many ex- ceptions taken, especially to the Epistle, which was a short thing in Latin dedicated to the Erie of Essex, and oljjected to him in goode earnest, where- upon there was commaundment it shold be cut out of the booke; yet I have got you a transcript of it that you may picke out the offence if you can; for my part I can finde no such buggeswords, but that everything is as it is taken. I am going the next weeke (God willing) to Ivnebworth, in which con- sideration I am not greatly sory for your stayeng at Ostend, for I shold have injoyed but litle of your company, which perhaps will come better to passe at some other time. And so, wishing you all contentment both here and there, I commit you to God. From London, this first of March, 1599. Yours most assuredly, John Chamberlain. Francis Bacon wrote Devices and letters for Essex and may have composed the following to which Cham- berlain refers on Oct. 20, 1598 : "I have here sent you some verses that go under the name of the Lord of Essex when he was in disgrace, but I cannot w^arrant them to be his, nor made at that time.'' 14G Again : "I have sent jou here a passionate letter of my Lord of Essex, the last he wrote to the Qiiene out of Ireland; and thus you see what a bundell I have made of all that comes to hand, and perchaunce wearied you as much as myself, and therefore w^ith- out further ceremonies I will bid you farewell." From London this 13th of June, IGOO. Ben Jonson's ^' Every Man in his Humo]-" may here be referred to in 1597: "We have here a new play of humors in very great request, and I w^as drawn alonge to it by the common applause, but my opinion of it is (as the fellow saide of the shearing of hogges), that there was a great crie for so litle wolle." On Dec. 8, 1598, he sends : "Thesaurus Geographicus, which may well serve your turn for old authors, but for the late w^riters ' and discoveries I thincke it will stand you in litle stead. I send you likewise such pedlarie pam- flets and three-halfpeny ware as we are served with; make the best use you can of them, and use your owne censure, but if I be not deceved some of the satires are passable." He refers to other books in this: "The French Inventairie is not come forth, the author being saide to be dead, but there is hope it will be found among his papers. Here is noth- ing come out this last mart worth the looking after; I do not thincke 'but you may tit your self better at Middleburg, for that many times thinges are current there that be here forbidden." Of the marriage of Bacon's Cousin Anne Russell he writes : "I doubt not but you have heard of the great 147 mariage at the Lady Russells, where the Queue was present, being caried from the water side in a curious chaire and lodged at the Lord Cob- hams ; and of the maske of eight maides of honour and other gentlewomen in name of the Muses that came to seeke one of theire fellowes, and of the knighting of Sir Fetipher with many goode wordes more then God knowes he was worthy of. And this being swmnia totalis of that I have to say, I com- mend you to the protection of the Almighty. From London, this 24th of June, 1600. Yours most assuredly, John Chamberlain. And again: ''We shall have the great marriage on Monday at the Lady Russells, where it is saide the Queue will vouchsafe her presence, and lie at the Lord Cham- berlains, or the Lord Cobhams, whose marriage is thought likewise shalbe then consummated if it be not don already." Lady Russell's residence was close to the Blackfriars Theatre. The following written on Feb. 15, 1598, shows the bickerings at Court over Essex : "Our provisions for Ireland go forward with leaden feet, and the Erie of Essex commission is no neerer signing (in shew) then when I wrote last. The jarres continue as they did, if not worse, by daily renewing, and our musicke runs so much upon discords that I feare what harmonic they will make of it in the end. Many things passe which may not be written; but, in conclusion, IJiacos intra mttros iKCcatur ct extra, there is fault on all sides, and, quicquid del Iran t reges plectuntm^ Ach- ivi, whosoever offends the common wealth is pun- ished." 148 In this same letter he says: "I send you here certain odde epitaphs and epigrammes that go under the name of pasquils." Query — Were these written by Nicholas Breton? He wrote '^Pasquils Mad-Cap'^ and '^Pasquils" of other sorts. Nicholas Breton's mother was a daughter of John Bacon. After her husband's death (who left her a rich widow with several children) she married the poet George Gascoigne, a member of Gray's Inn. Gascoigne helped in the Kenilworth entertainment • given in honor of the Queen, in 1575. Nicholas Breton dedicated ^^Char- acters upon Essaies, Morall and Divine/' 1615, to Sir Francis Bacon. Shakespeare sought the good of all men. He above all others elevated the Actor, and uplifted Dramatic Art. On March 10th, 1582, Sir Francis Walsingham sent for Ed- mund Tilney "to cliuse out a Company of Players for her JMajesty" (see Appendix B.) Query — Was Hamlet's in- structions to the Players, originally given to these twelve men who were chosen for the Queene's Players? Later on the Poet corrected, and added many lines to the original sketch, which is greatly enlarged in the first Folio. 149 ® h;tfi^ uJkxJUU/- . © M)x^Wiv owti^iJjy mt •6<^ Walt. I am indebted to Mr. Charles W. F. Goss, F. S. A., Hon, Librarian and Hon. Secretary of tlie London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, for the above map show- ing the actual site of Bacon's House in Noble Street, and its nearness to Silver Street, and Muggle Street. 150 SHAKESPEARE'S LODGINGS IN SILVER STREET. We find in Harper's Magazine March, 1910, Dr. W. C Wallace, through his researches in the Public Record Of- fice, London, discovered the earliest known signature of Shakespeare, dated May 11, 1612. This was signed to a deposition, as a witness in the Belott r. Montjoy suit. Dr. Wallace discovered that Shakespeare was a lodger in the house of Montjo}^, a Tire -maker, and that he had sojourned there from 1598 to 1612. This house was on the corner of Silver and Mugwell Streets, in a zone of interesting houses filled with historical Elizabethens. Bacon House was in Noble Street, and Stowe says: ''Then at the North end of Noble Street is the Parish Church of Saint Olave, in Silver Street." The only monument worth Stowe's notice in this Church was that of Lord Windsor's daughter, who died in 1600. Bacon's friend. Lord Windsor, had a house in Mugwell (now Monkwell) Street. Bacon's father owned property in the Parish of St. Botolph, without Bishops Gate, and in the Parish of St. Lawrence Old Jewry. If Francis Bacon befriended Shakespeare, as I think he did, the Poet's residence in the house of the Huguenot, Christopher Montjoy, is not to be wondered at. Anthony Bacon sympathized with the Huguenots. His long resi- dence in France enabled him to speak French perfectly, and much of his correspondence was in French. One of his familiar friends, Mr. John Castol, was the head of the French Church in Threadneedle Street, Lon- don, to which church the Belott r. Montjoy suit was sent for a final decision. "Mr. John Castol was minister of the French Church from 1581 to 1601 and was succeeded by Mr. Abraham Aurelius, who was minister from 1605 to 151 1C31." This I have learned from Mr. Charles W. F. Goss, F.S.A., who kindly sent me the information. In passing I may say that the Huguenot printer and bookseller, Astanius De Reinalme, 1580-lGOO, who resided in the Blackfriars, named in his will one Castol of the French Church, London. Also in Minshu's Diet., 1625, I find among the Subscribers 'the French Church Library in London.' This discovery of Dr. Wallace opens up a new vein of inquiry very interesting to the student. I find that Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, in his Will 1612, mentions Thomas Belott. His father, the great Burleigh, had a Steward by that name. Barnaby Riche in his satirical pamphlet, 'The Honestie of This Age,' 1614, pictures for us the trade of a Tire- maker as follows: "1 \\ ould be loath to do Minerva wrong, To forge untruths, or deck my lynes with lyes ; I stand to note the Follies of this Age.' Among tliese Follies, Riche seems to be particularly severe on Tire-makers and Tires. This pamphlet was I)rinted two years after the Belott v. Moutjoy suit. It is said Shakespeare was indebted to 'Riche's Farewell to the ^lilitaire Profusion,' 1581. King James found fault with this book, but after he became King of England he gave Riche a gift of a hundred pounds for some service or other performed in Scotland. According to Riche some of the fine ladies in their coaches would turn a deaf ear to the cry of beggars and : 'Let them cry till their tongues do ake, my lady hath neyther eyes to see nor eares to heare, shee holdeth on lier way to the Tyre-maker's shoppe, where shee shaketh out her crownes to bestowe upon some new fashioned attire, that if we may say there be deformitie in art, upon such artificial deformed periwigs tliat they were fitter to furnish a Theatre or for her that in a stage play should represent some Hagge of Hell, than to be used by a Christian Avoman.' Did Mont joy make female wigs for the boy-actors? As Shalvespeare 'sojourned' in liis house fifteen years I have no doubt he brought him much Theatrical trade. Eiche continues : 'And what are these they do call Atty re-makers? the first inventers of these monsterous periwigs? and the finders out of very many other like immodest attyres? What are these and all the rest of these fashion mongers? * * * if you will not acknowl- edge these to be idolmakers, yet you cannot deny them to be devil's enginers, ungodly instruments to decke and ornifie such men and women as may well be reputed to be but Idolle's' * * * ^\s these Attyre- niakers that within these forty years were not known by that name, and but nowe very lately they kept their lowzie commodities of periwigs, and their other monstrous attyres closed in boxes, they might not be scene in open sliow, and those women who used to weare them would not buy them but in secret. But noAv they are not ashamed to sette them forth upon their stalls, such monstrous May-poles of hayre, so proportioned and deformed, that but with- in these twenty yeares would have drawn the passers by to stand and gaze, and to wonder at them. * * * The ancient Romanes prohibited all sorts of people, as well men or women, from wearing gaudy gar- mentes. Players and Harletes only excepted; for to them there was tolleration in regard of their professions, * * * And from wlience commeth this wearing and imbrodering of long lokes, this curiositie that is used amongst men in freziling and curling of their hayre? * * * And are not our 153 gentlemen in as dangerous a plight now, (I mean those Apes of Fancy), that do looke so like Attyrc- makers maydcs, that for the dainty decking up of themselves might sit in any Seamsters shop in all the Exchange.' In Warton's Hist, of Poetry, Vol. Ill, he says: "On St. Olave's day, 1557, the holiday of the Church in Silver Street, which is dedicated to that Saint, was kept with much solemnity. At eight of the clock at night began a Stage-play, of goodly mat- ter, being the miraculous history of the life of that ^aint, which continued four hours, and was con- cluded with many religious songs." Just across the street from this church stood Montjoy's house. Barber-Surgeons Hall was also in Monkwell Street. In 1596 Thomas Xashe in 'Have with you to Saffron Walden' writes : "Letters do you term them? They may be letters Patent well enough for their tediousness; for no lecture at Surgeons Hall upon an Anatomie may compare with them in longitude." Indicating Xashe attended these lectures. Walpole's 'Anecdotes of Painting in England,' Vol. 1, p. 136, has : "Of Holbein's public works in England I find an account of only four. The first is that capitiil pic- ture in Barber Surgeons Hall of Hen. VIII., giving the charter to the company of Surgeons. The char- acter of His Majesty's bluff haughtiness is well represented, and all the heads are finely executed. The picture itself has been retouched but it is well known by Barons print. The physician in the mid- dle, on the King's left hand, is Dr. Butts, immor- talized by Shakespeare." 154 We can imagine the Poet standing before this great pic- ture before writing Hen. VIII. wherein Dr. Butts, Bacon's relative, is one* of the characters. Both Montjoy and Bellott seemed to have engaged two Gray's Inn lawyers, George Hartopp, Montjoy's lawyer was admitted to Gray's Inn April 21, ICOO, and Bellott's lawyer, Ralph Wormlaig- tou, was admitted May 26, 1598. Hartopp was the son of Wm. Hartopp of Burton Lazars, Co. Leicester. clever books "Is There A Shakespeare Problem f' has been by many answered in the affirmative. If the end of study is to find : ''Things hid and harrd from common sense'' it seems to me, the one who dexterously sails clear of the Baconian Scj/Ua and the Stratfordian Chanjhdis will the sooner reach the shore of true discovery. Time, "the author of authors" — the father of Truth, will reveal the Problem — if there is one. loo BACON'S WAKWICKSHIRE KINSMEN AND THE UNDERHILLS By his marriage to Bacon's Aunt Mildred Cooke, Wil- liam Cecil took an immense stride foi'W'ard, and it ad- vanced him to higher place. The Cooke's and the Bacon's, had for generations followed the Court, and were allied to the best families in England. Pedigrees Avere William Cecil's hobby. He drew up a numiber of genealogies of the Kings and Queens of England, Germany, and France. Mildred Cooke's grandmother was a Belknap of the illus- trious family Avho oAvned large manors in Warwickshire and elsewhere, and on his mother's side Robert Cecil was well born. The Bacon's Anthony and Francis, could rightfully claim an illustrious ancestry from both pater- nal and maternal i^rogenitors. Augustus Jessopp in '^One Generation of a Norfolk House," tells us Father Parsons well knew Cecil's Aveak- ness for fictitious pedigrees and says : ''Cecil's birth w^as comparatively obscure, at least he could boast of no forefathers who had belonged to the English gentry. Cecil kneAA^ it, and was sore at the thought; but, if his grand- father was nobody, might not his remote ancestors have been princes and nobles? (So he gave himself to genealogy, and was forever hunting for some pedigree Avhich might fit on to himself and his progenitors; this pedigree maldng AA'as one of the great man's foibles. In the iState Paper Offtce and at Hatfield there are AAiiole volumes full of these genealogical notes, and it appears that Cecil never could shake off the fascination Avliich such re- searches exercised over his mind. A few months after the i>ublication of the 156 edict, and immediately upon the completion of the first draught of the Answer to it, a copy in ]MS. was forwarded to the Treasurer )by one of his spies in Flanders. ^Oecil w^as gratified by the prompti- tude of his agent, and addressed to him a letter of thanks for his zeal, and at the same time added some comments upon the reply; Parsons had laughed at him for his lowiy birth, retorting upon him a sneer which the edict itself contained. Cecil in his letter had ^betrayed his mortification, and ^vriting to the spy, entered into particulars about liis supposed ancestors, claiming descent from I Welsh princes, and asserting that his family had originally been settled at Sitsil in AVales. When the Eesponsio was published, there before the eyes ' of amazed Europe was Cecil's own letter, trans- lated into Latin, with all its ridiculous preten- sions exposed. Parsons was vastly pleased, and made himself infinitely merry; he did not spare his victim; all the resources of sarcasm and irony w^ere used to sting the Treasurer, and Cecil, deeply mortified, writhed under the lash. Doubtless all possible means were used to keep the book out of England ; but besides the interest which the Catho- lics had in giving it a wide circulation, there were too many people in high position, Avho had no great love to the Lord Treasurer, to alloAv of such a bonne bouche as this bitter and telling at- tack to remain unknown, unread and unsold. Vexed and intensely mortified, Cecil Avas weak enough to betray the pain of the sting; and w^hen Philopater's ibook could no longer be suj>pressed, with figety ill-temper he printed a sort of reply, tiding to make the best of an attack which might more safely have been left alone." The ancestor of Sir Xicholas Bacon Ivnt. Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, was Grimbaldus, a ^^rman related 157 to William Earl Warren, with Avliom lie came into Eng- land at tlie Conquest. In 14,02 a Will Bakon was Prior of the Convent de Marstoke Warwick. The Belknai:)s OA\Tied manors in AVhitechurch, Kingswood, and Griffe all in the county of Warwickshire, pp. 771-2 Dugdale. Whitechurch was just 51^ miles from iStratford-on-Avon, and I find Nich- olas Underhill was an incumbent of White Church in 1571 to wliich he was presented fby Bacon's kinsman, Anthony Cooke Ar. P 484 Ibid. This Underhill was related to the Underhills who owned 'New Place after- wards 0Tv^led hy 'Shakespeare. This is the earliest link I find between the Cooke family and the Underhills. The Lord Chancellor Bacon in IG'18 dreAY up a list of his men servants wherein he names one Underhill, one of his gentlemen waiters. Query, Could this have been the gentleman Usher, who shortly after Lord Verulam's death married his widow? I'm inclined to think so. The Cooke's were connected with the Belknaps, Shel- ley's Sudeley's and with ''that great family of Montford Lords of Belderset" in Warwickshire. The Belknaps owned the Manor of Henley in Arden, situated in the Forest of Arden. Henr}' VII granted Wedgnock Parlv Avitli the gardens and waters in the Park to Edward Belknap Esq., of the body for life. Dugdale says "this is one of the most ancient Parks in England," and further: "Whicli Sir Edward * * * being a man of great note, had his residence here and rebuilt the manor house, one of the fairest structure of Timber that I have seen. On several parts whereof his Arms are cut in wood quar- tering the eoats of Sudley, Montfert, and Boteler, and by his last will and Testiment dated 12 Hen 8. be- queathed it to dame Alice his wife for term of her life, after wiiich it came to John Shelley Esq cousin and heir to the said EdAvard by Alice his sister." Dugdale pp. 199-200. 15S Bacon House in London was formerly called Shelley House. Un 1577 William Fleetwood the Recorder of London writes the following letter from Bacon House to Lord Burleigh, Avherein he pictures Bacon's grand- mother, widow of Sir Anthony Cooke, in all her state, and also, speaks of ''Mrs Blackwells house in the Black- friars." This was the house which adjoined the one sold to Shakespeare in 1612-13. « * */ Vpon Thursday last Mr Garter and Xorthway not as kynges but as ffrendes, wt Mr Thomas Pole and myself were at Romford at the burying of mr iCade of the Ducliie we did w^eare black/ At dyner Mr Pole taryed not, for he had taken a great surfett wt eating of fresh pork the day before at the Musters/ The Deane of Powles l^reached/ At the Sermon was my worshipfull fryude mrs Cook of Gwydy hall and her gentle- Avouian and trayne, but she Avould not tarry dyner/ Ivatheryn Cams the late Justice wiffe my 'Contry woman wt all her pryde and popery is this week gone (as I trust) to god/ she died in Bisshop Thirlbys chamber in mrs Blackwells howse in the black ffyers/ So when Ave consider Francis Bacon's maternal family the Cooke's were related to so many of the great War- wickshire families my conjecture that Bacon met Shake- speare in his youth w^hen visiting in Warwickshire, may be more than a fine theory. Through the Montferts the Cloptons came into pos- session of €lopton in Hen IIL time. 'Teter de Montfert granted it to James de iClopton and his heirs by the name of the Mannour of Clopton." Dugdale. The Montferts also oAVTied all the village of Charlecote and in Rich L time gave it to Walter. ''This Walter was Paternally a Montfert" and from this Walter (who was a Knt.) descended William that assumed the name of Lucy" ihid, 159 "Idlicote in 33 Hen. 8, was given to Thomas Cawarden Esq & Eliza his wife, and his lawful heirs. He left no heirs, and in 4. Eliza, she grant- ed it to Ludwick Oreville and others hut soon after to Underhill as it seems for in 12 Eliza, did . Will Underhill die seized thereof, leaving Will his son & heir XIII. years of age & upwards whose granchild iSir Hercules Underhill Ivt. now en- joys it." Dugdale 458. In his choice of a second w^ife the great Cecil made no mistake. It cannot be denied that he was a very great man, and had the ability to sway Elizabeth by making her believe she governed England. In this way he became as Francis Baeon called him "the Atlas of this Commonwealth . ' ' That courteous gentleman Sir Thomas Copley related to the Cooke's through the Belknaps, and so persecuted for his religion writes to Burleigh from Paris 21 of July 1580: Right Honorable iMy dewtie promised after I had iinissed my other long letter to your Lordship to move the same to be the more favorable to me. * * * But massife thing or of great value I resolved with my self w^as not to be sent, as well becaus my thinn purse ^vns not ha^ble to yieeld gowlden guiftes, as chieefly for the experience I have had of your Lordship's great and incorrupted mynde, utterli avertid from the receivyng of suche pres- ents, * * * In the end came to my minde a Jewell I had that I thought could not be but very welcome to your Lordship to witt a Genealogie of my Lady" [who w^as his second cousin] "your wive's house by the Belknap his side. I thought once to have made a fayr coppie of it to send to your Lordship, but after considering that neither 160 this woold put in hazarde to lose the commodite of the next post, which woold be a great hin- drance to me (and a protraction of the speed I wishe and my case requirith in the answer of my suite) and therewithal weyeng that in these mat- ters of pedigrees shewe of antiquite geevith more autherite than nueness and ibeautie, I did rather choose to make present to your Lordship even of my originall, and for myself at laisure to take an- other coppie out of that my coosen Bacon [An- thony Bacon who was then in Paris] made to be drawn out of myue, which of late I lent him to that end. I pray your Lordship accept it at nu' hands herewith in good parte, for if I had ought that I thought might geeve your Lordship more content- ment, I would have sent it. Thereby my coosins your children may perceeve that as your Lordship geevith very good accompt of their gentell bludd on their father's side so they want not on their mother's side to make any of them heerafter capa- ble of the best commandree may fauU in that realme or ells wheare, or of any other order crosse or chanourie either .for men or for lady's wherof heer abrode ther be store for the maytenance of the yoonger brood of noible houses" . . . Your good Lordships very fast and assured at commandment during life T. Copley. State Papers Doru. EJi.:. c.ri. 27 161 WA^ ANNE CECIL THE PROTOTYPE OF HELENA IN "ALL'S WELL"? Edward de Vere tlie seventeentli Eaii of Oxford wlio broke the heart of Bacon's cousin Anne Cecil, by in- human treatment, Avas admitted to Gray's Inn in 1567. Robert Greene dedicated to him in I'SSI: ''The Garde of Fancie." The character of this nobleman was despica- ble. His name is not mentioned among those who wit- nessed the Oesta- Grayorum for he was not esteemed by the Bacons, the (Cecils or any of their friends. Sir Egerton Brydges in his Reprint of ''The Parldise of Dainty Devices" referring to Oxford says: "His character seems to have been marked with haughtiness, vanity, and affectation. He aped Ital- ian dresses, and was called the Mirrour of Tus- canismo. His rank however, and his illustrious family commanded the respect of a large portion of the literary world; and among his eulogists, were Watson, Lily, Golding, Munday, Greene, Lock, and Spenser." Young Talbot writing to his parents says: "My Lo. of Oxforth is lately growne into great credite; for the Q,' Matie delitithe more in his par- sonage, and his daunsinge, and valientnes, then any other: I tliinke Sussex dothe back him all that he can; if it w^ere not for his fyckle hed he would passe any of them shortly. My Lady Burgh- ley unwisely ha the declared herself e, as it were, gelious, wch is come to the Queue's eare; whereat she hathe bene not a litell offended wth hir, but now she is reconsiled agayne. At all theise love matters my Lo. Treasurer winketh, and will not meddle any way." Lodge Ills. Vol II. 162 In a note Lodge observes: "This was Edward de Yere, tlie seventeentli Earl of Oxford of his family. The following an- ecdote confirms Mr. Talbot's hint of his eccentric character. When the Duke of Norfolk, Avhom he entirely loved, was condemned, he applied to Lord Burghley, whose daughter he had married, pas- sionately beseeching him to interfere in the Duke's behalf; but his request being refused, he told Burghley, with the greatest fiivj, that he Avould re- venge himself hy ruining the Countess: And he made his threat good; for from that hour he treat- ed her with the most shocldng brutality, and,, having broke her heart, sold and dissipated the most part of his great fortune. He died June 24, 1604." The Earl of Oxford's cavillations contra Lord Burghley. [Written in Burleigh's hand.] [1576.] — Injuries and unldnd parts [of the Earl] : leaving his issue female unprovided of land; rejecting his wife at her coming to him without cause shewed; continuing to forbear from her com- pany without cause ; detaining her apparel, and all her chamber stuff for the space of three months; suffering false reports to be made touching her honesty; quarrelling against the Lord Treasurer for matters untrue and of no value, that is to say :— [Cavillations.] 1. That Clopton and Faunt w^ere by him main- tained. 2. That Denny, the French boy, and others that lay in wait to kill Clopton, were punished by the Lord Treasurer. 3. That he had not his money made over sea so speedily as he desired. 163 4. That liis wife was most directed by her father and mother. 5. That Hubbard Avoiild not deliver to the Earl his writings, Avherein he was maintained by the Lord Treasurer. [Answers.] They were committed by the Lord Treasurer, and no cause could be shewed of their desert, and they were set at liberty iby the Earl himself with- out knowledge of the Lord Treasurer. They were imprisoned by order of the Queen given to her Council, as they deserved. He had in one year 3,000?. and 2,700Z. by the credit of the Lord Treasurer, when the Earl's mon- ey could not be had. iShe must ibe most directed by her parents when she had no house of the Earl's to go to, and. in her sickness and childbed only looked to by her par- ents. He offered to deliver all, so he might be saved harmless against the EarPs creditors, who threat- ened to arrest him. CaV Hatfield M8S. Vol. II. P. I'i'h The following excerpts are from the European Maga- zine, June 1788, p. 389 : "To the Editor of the European Magazine iSiR, The enclosed epitaphs form part of a poetical collection, addressed to the Bight Honourable the Earl of Oxenford, &c. by one John Southern, 4to. black letter, the title-page wanting. This book is so rare, that no other fragment of it appears to have been met with by the most vigilant among our ancient and modern collectors. . . . His patron, Edward Vere, the seventeenth Earl of Ox- ford, flourished early in the reign of Elizabeth, 164 and died at an advanced age, in the second year of lier successor. * * * The name of his Countess, however, (who was Anne, the eldest daughter of the fa- mous Cecil Lord iBurleigh) not being inserted in any catalogue of rhyming Peeresses, I send you four of her productions, undoubtedly printed in her lifetime by iMaster Southern aforesaid; and trust that I have thereby ascertained her right to a jjlace in some future edition of Mr. Walpole's very instructive and entertaining work. * * * A modern reader will feel himself lit- tle interested by the mythological lamentations of the Countess. Lady Oxford, perhaps, only aimed at the character of a poetess, because her mother had been attached to literature, and poetry was the favorite amusement of her husband. She died at Queen Elizabeth's court at Greenwich, June 6, 1588, and on the 25th was pompously in- terred in Westminster Abbey. * * * '' The babe whom the Countess mourns so dolefully was born in 1576 and only lived two days. "IN Dolefull wayes I spend the wealth of my time, Feeding on my heart that ever comes agen, Since the ordinances of the Destlns hath ben To end of the Saissons of my yea res the prime. With my sonne, my gold, my nightingale, and rose*, Is gone; for t'was in him and no other where: And well though mine eies run downe like fountaines here. The stone w^il not speake yet, that doth it enclose. And, Destlns and Gods, you might rather have tanne *"Gold, the best of all mettelles ; nightingale, the sweetest of all byrdes ; and roses, the fairest of all flowers." 165 My tweiitie yeeres, than the tAvo dales of my Sonne. And of this world what shall I liope, since I knoe That in his respect it can yeeld me hut mosse ; Or Avhat should I consume any more in w^oe, When Destins, Gods, and Worlds are all in my losse. She was married at the age of fifteen. The date of the year of her marriage avouM determine that of her verses. THE hevens, death, and life, have conjured my yll. For death hath take away the breath of my Sonne : The lievens receve, and consent, that he hath donne, And my life dooth keej^e me heere against my Avill. But if our life be caus'de with moisture and heate, I care neither for the death, the life, nor skies; For I'll sigh him wannth, and weat him with my eies, (And thus I shall be thought a second Promet.) And as for life, let it doo me all despite; For if it leave me, I shall goe to my childe ; And it in the hevens, there is all my delyght. And if I live, my vertue is immortal : So that the hevens, death and life, when they doo all Their force, by sorrowful vertue th' are be- guild. IDALL for Adon nev'r shed so many teares, Nor Thef for Pelidj nor Phaehus for Hyacin- thus ; Nor for Atis the mother of Prophetesses , As for the death of Bulhecke the Gods have cares. 166 At the brute of it the Aphrodifan Qiieene Caused more silver to distyll fro her eyes Then when the droppes of her cheekes raysed Daisyes, And to die with him, mortal! she would have beene. The Charits for it breake their peruqs of golde, The Muses, and the Npmphes of the caves, I beholde All the Gods under Olympus are constraint On Laches, Clothon, and Atropos to plaine; And yet beautie for it doth make no complaint, For it liv'd with him, and died with him againe. Others of the FOWRE LAST LYKEvS of other that she nutde also. 11. MY Sonne is gone, and with it death and my sorrow : 12. But death makes mee aunswere, Madame, cease these mones, 13. My force is but on bodies of blood and bones ; 14. And that of yours is no more now but a shadow." The Countess appeals to death to end her sorrow and death answers: "My force is but on bodies of blood and bones; And that of yours is no more now but a shadow." In Alls Well, Act VIII, Helena who is supposed to be dead enters and the King exclaims: Is't real, that I see? Helen replies: lNo, my good lord; 'Tis but a shadow of a wife you see. The name, and not the thing. In 3 Hen. VI. 11, 5, there is a line which reminds one of the following Epitaph of the broken hearted mother : "My heart, sweet boy, shall be thy sepulchre." 167 11. AMPHION's wife Avas turned to a roc-ke. 12. How well I hade beene, had I had such adventure, 13. For then I might againe have been the Sepulcure 14. Of him that I bare in mee so long ago." After the death of her son the Countess of Oxford bore a daughter on May 20th 1587 who became the wife of Philip Herbert Earl of Montgomery in IGO'S. There is a passage in Osborn's ^'Traditional Memoirs'' 1689, P. 456, which helps to confirm my belief that the ]7th Earl of Oxford w^as Shakespeare's Bertram. Kef er- ring to the fickle worthless affections of James I. Os- borne says: ''But however remote his affections were, he durst not banish Kamsey the Court, a poor satisfac- tion for [Philip] Herbert, that w^as left nothing to tes- tifie his manhood but a beard and children, by that daughter of the last great Earl of Oxford, whose lady was hroitght to his Bed under the notion of his Mistress, and from such a virtuous deceit she is said to proceed.'' Did Shakespeare learn from Francis Bacon the secret of his cousin's sorrow? Osborne was Philip Herbert's Master of the Horse. He was also acquainted with the great Bacon, and greatly admired him. A John Osborn of Kyrby Byden in Norfolk married Alice daughter of Henry Bacon of ^N'orwich. Perhaps Francis Osborn was connected with this family. The King in ''AlFs Well that Ends Weir has a malady that is pronounced incurable by his physicians. Bertram (Act I. 11) asks: Ber. What is it my good lord the King lan- guishes of? La fen answers: A fistula, my lord. Ber. I heard not of it before. Laf. I would it were not notorious. Queen Elizabeth had long suffered with this very disease — a fistula in her leg. 168 APPENDIX A. HISTOEY OF THE MANOR AND ANCIENT BARONY OF CASTLE COMBE IN THE COUN- TY OF WILTS, BY G. POULETT SCROPE, ESQ., M. P. 1852. (Mem. — The passages within brackets are the varia- tions or additions made in the complaint as sent in to Falstofl's executors.) It is to remembre that in the firste yere that my moder was maried to my fader Fastolf, he of his plesnre solde me to William Gascoyne, that tyme chief justice of this land, for v.c. marke. The Avich he had in his possession a iij. yere. Thorugh the wiche sale I tooke sekenesses that kept me a xiij. or xiiij. yere swyng: whereby I am disfigured in my persone and shall be whilst I lyve. Item, he bought me ayene, and than was I serteyn yeris under his governaunce, in siche penurie that I was fayne to selle a place in Kent called Hevre for v.c. marcs, and therewith I put myself into service with my lord of Gloucestre. My seid fader conseyving that, sent to my seide moder siche lettres as plesed hym, thurgh the wich I was feyne to go to hym over the see, with a yoman and a page on myn owne coste, God knoweth I beyng that tyme right seeke. Item, whan I was comyn to hym, it plesed hym than of his grace to showe me so good fader-hoode, that I was right glad to wayte opon hym to do hym service, though I were unworthy; he promyssing at that tyme to make me yerely iij. tymes worthe the lodechip of Wyghton (under the Wold in Yorkshire, the wich is xl the yere.) Item, than I obeyed his desire, and lefte my lorde of Gloucestris service, thurgh the wiche I loste his good 169 lordecliip, whereas, lie was set at that tyme to a put ine in possession of the He of Man; or elles I have had a reasonable recompense therefore, as Sir William Cheney, that tyme chief justice, sent me woorde to Ilonnefleu be a man that was with hym, the wicli levith yit, (called William Marchall.) Item, than I served the king and my seid fader at Honnefleu as I coude, unto the tyme that my seyde fader took partie Avith the marchall of the town more than with me that was his son in laAve and his servaunt, the wich methought an unkyndenes, I beyng in the right (and they in the wrong). Item, than be his licence I come into Yngland to my seid moder ; and I was not there fully a yere, but that he sente home worde that I sliolde paie for my mete and my drynke (or be voided), I havyng no lyveloode where- with to paie (for I was ever afore in his governance), wich caused me to marie for default, and not al ther moste to myn availe. But I was fayne to take the tyme as it come; (Then was I feyn to schyfte me by marriage, as God wolde geve me grace; God knoweth whate hyn- deraunce y hadde by that marriage with hys menye, the Avhich hurte y canne welle tell and y schalle.) Item, the seid mariage of necessite caused me to be bounde in siche bondes that ever sitliyn I have levyed in grete peyne and thought, or ellis I had not endured as I have don hiderto; and .yit it myght not wele aben as it is of myn labour withoute the grete grace of God: for be straunche menes thurogh a sute made be my seid fader, I was dissessed of all the lyveloode that I had be my mariage, havynge wyff and childer and serteyn ser- vaunts : and so endured iij. yere withoute any refuge save of God. Item, than for very nede I was fayne to selle a litill doughter I have, for myche lesse than I sliolde a don be possibilite, wherewith I lyve yit, and have litill ellis, but if it be mete and drinke: the wich as in that it is better 170 tliau I am worthe, so that I had assigned me a dute to have lyved with. Item, notwithstamUng: the gret payne that I have en- tliired, I am in donte that aftir the dyssese of my seid fader, siche lyveloode as I am borne to have, shnlde stande in siche trouble be the mene of certyn astates and feotfements made unto diverce persones unknowen to me, be my seid fader, that I shoulde not mow esyly entre without trouble: for nowthir I knowe where to have the evidences that longeth to the seid lyveloode, ne the entent of the seide f eoff ementis ; ne no man for me that I wote of. Item, lowly besechyng my seid fader to remembre with these premisses how longe that he hath had the seid lyveloode that I am born to, and under what forme as in stroppe and waste: for me semeth every forme under the sotilte of lawe is no clere concience. The wich materes me seid fader can consey\^e myche better than ever I coude. (Afterwards corrected into, Item, entirely be- sechyng you to remembre with these premisses how longe that he hath had the seid lyveloode that I am born to; and under what forme, and what waste there hathe be done be him, to make siche restitucion as the soule may be eased, and that I may have cause to pray therefore.) In a later draft the last two paragraphs are omitted, and the following substituted for them. Item, my seyde fader outelawed me for the sum of xl.li. or ever y wyste thereof, tlie which y wolde not had bene done for a ]MMi. and yet he had certeyn plate and «tuffe of myn, which ys remembred in myn owne fadres testement, to the valew of ij°, li. or more. Item, he hath kepte fro me sith my seyde moder dis- sessed, ayenste all gode conscyence or tytylle of lawe, ij. maneres, Oxendon and Hamthwayte, and they amounte yerely a xlvj.li. Sum yn xiiii. yere, vj^ xliiij. li. Item, he hath kepte fro me as longe xx. li. yerely of the maner of Wyghton, the wliych he promysed me to 171 liave bad at the dyssesse of 1113' sevde mod^T, whereof y liad the fiirste yere xv.li. at hys commandement, payed by the bandys of bys servaimte Howes : the resydew hereof drawetb a ij^ Ixv.li. Item, there ys loste of iiiyn enberytaimce by my seyde faders defaute, viij.li. in Castelcombe and xl, s. in I>ent- ley; the purchase hereof, after xx" wyntres purchase, amounteth \f. li. Item, he bath done grete waste in my seyde eubery- taunce, the whych canne not be restored wyth a MMi., and he hath had it li.j. yer and more, and in alle that tyme never iljd it gode, but wastyd it. And to conceyve, fortbir, sith my seyde modyr dyssessyd, Imth bad it ayenste alle gode conscyence, sav^^nge by myn agrement/^ for the gode wylle that y bad to hym, the whych gode wylle mesemeth wolde be coney dered. Then follows his general Bill of Charges against the estate of Fastolf for these damages and losses : In the firste yere that my fader Fastolf was maried to my moder he solde me for v''. marcs, withoute any titill or right, thorugh which sale as in this worlde my per- sone was disfigured for ever. Wherfor I clayme the seid some of v'', marks, without the hurt of my disfiguryng. Item, be bought me ayene; so he bought me and soilde me as a beste, ay ens al ryght and la we, to myn hurt more than M\ marks. '' Item, be a deceit he kept from me xxx" yeres togedir and more xl.li. worthe of lyveloode, in a toune called Wygbton undir the Wolde, in Yorkshire, for the whicbe I clayme restitution by the saide time of xijMi. withoute the ruynoste of my lyvelode. Item, he kept fro me, ayens all lawe and right, two manoires, that is to say, Oxendon and Hamtbwayte, xv. yeres, the which ar w^orth xlvj.li. in yerely value, for the which I aske to have vjMiij'^^x.li. ^'This passage proves that Stephen Scrope had. as previously sug- gested, confirmed the settlement made by his mother on Fastolf in 1410 of a life-interest in these estates. 172 Item, for plate and stuft'e of myn, the which is specy- fled in myn fadris testament to me bequethed, and my seide fader Fastolf had it ever to his use, I aske restitu- ciou thereof as hiAve and right requireth. Item, for tlie strop and waste of my enheritaunce, which is v", marks worthe by yere, the which was in the handes of my seide fader liij. yeres. It cannot be repaired with M\ marks. Fastolf, it appears to the "piteous complaint" of Scrope when originally sent to him, but of course not in a satis- factory manner; on which the following further replica- tion was drawn up by the unhappy sufferer : Here by the commandments of my fader Fastolf, foloweth my replycations : — First, where it is sej^le that I was nat solde be my fader, Fastolfe, to the Justice William Gascoyne, but at the instance, plesir, and grete prayer of my lady my moder, to that, saving the displesir of me seyde fader, I have herd her sey the contrarie. Neverthelesse mesemeth that neyther he ne she had noon auctorite to selle me; wherfor I con- ceyve that I was wTongfully doon to. As to the remanent of that answere, I can, be my seyde faderes, leve, replie better be mouth than be writing. As to the second answere, touching the repayments to the seide Justice Willyam Gascoyne for me, saving my seyde faderys displesir, I suppose it shal be founde be the reporte of some jentilmen of Yorkeshyre, that the sunimes were nat so grete as it is rehersed in the seyd seconde answere. Natwithstanding how that ever it were, I had the soor and felt the hurte. And where it is seyde that my seyde fader was nat bounden to finde me in my youthe, the lawe knowe I nat, but wel I wote, that if a woman the which is to marry have many chylder, it is often seen that men be daungerous (afraid) to take sych women for the charge of theyre childer. As to the remanent of that answere I can, be my seyde faderes leve, (replie) thereto better be mouth than be wTiting. 173 As to the iij. answere, mj seyde fader seitli be prom- issed me never to make me jerely worth iij. times the lordship of ^^'yo;hton, saving the displesir of his good fader- hode, I can wel telle the place where it was sejde, that is to say, in a gardin in the parke of Alausom. As to the remanent of that answere I can, be my seide faderis leve, replye thereto better be mouth than be writing. As to the iij. answere, I sey nat in my iiij. article that my seyde fader wrote to me to com to hym, ne desyred me to leve my lorde of Gloucestris servyse, whoos soule God assoyle. But I have tolde the causes of all in my iij. article and in the iij. replication. As to the remanent of that answere I can, be the sevde licence, replie thereto better be mouth than be wryting. As to the V. answere, I sey that I rehersed noo thing in my v. article but as trouth was and is, save my seyde fader may saye as it pleseth hym. The remanent of that answere I shal replye thereto be mouth, be my seide faderes leve. As to the vj. answere, where it is seyde, as it pleseth my seyde fader, that myn outrageousenes caused moche thing, I have, mesemeth, answered thereto in the iij. repli- cation. And where it is seyde I sholde suffre myn owne faderes feffes (to) selle certejne of myn owne faderes lyfe- lood, every reasonable man may conceyve that the suff- raunce most nedes a been, for I was at that time but x or xij. yere of age, and fer loygned froo th(ere) be sevde fader P\astolf thorugh hys forseyde sale made to the Justice William Gascoyne, as at that tyme my seyde fader ded with me as it plesed hym. To the remanent shall I replye be mouth, and he wil geve me leve. As to the vij. answere, I sey that lyvelode coude I noon gete, to I woold me maryed, and maried coude I nat be withoute that I made streyte bondes, what may be sup- posed than myght folwe thereof, etc. But and it had plesed me seyde fader to avaunced me to lifelode, or that I had sette me to maryage, I wolde have trosted to God, have 174 maryed to more avyse that I ded, aud to a kept me oute of the daungeres that I have ben in. And to the remanent of that answere I can replie be mouth, if my seyde fader wille geve me leve. As to the viij. answere, where there is thoughte moch imkindenes in me symple persone ; I dar saufelye seye, and my seyde fader had a son of his owne body begeten, he shold nat have had better wylle to adoon hym servyse and plesir than I had. To the surplus of that answere, be the license aforeseyde, I can well replie be mouth. As to the ix. answere, where my seyde fader seyth that he is enheryted during his lyfe as wele as I, I wene nat soo: for I am com of the blode and he but be gifted of jentilnes. And where it is sej^de that my seyde lady and moder wold have j^oven it to hym in fee, I have herde her sey the contrarie, and soo hath oother that yet lyveth moo than I. And where it is seyde that I have confermed it to my seyde fader hys lyfe, saving his displesir, than mesemeth I ought the better to have hys gode grace, and nat to be rebuked for my piteous complent. For it is now more than v. yere sen my seyd lady my foder dis- cessed, whoos soul God of hys hygh mercy assoile.^^ Soo thorough that confirmation he had everi yere sythen v". marke, the whych amounteth ij™. and v*'. marke. To the surplus of that answere I can Avel replye, be my seyde faderes leve. If I have sej^de in tliees foresej^de replications oother wyse than reson and conscience woold of necligence, sim- plenes, or unkonnynge, I aske pardon and grace. And where it semeth to my seide fader that I sholde nat akepte thees articles soo longe in my breste; forsooth be my wille I wold a kepte tlieym longer, for I seyde at all tymes that the hye witte and the grete troutli and jentil- nesse of my seyde fader knewe full wele what was for to "This fixes the date of this paper 1452, the Lady Milliceut having died in 1466. 175 do : for an oolde proverb sevtli, a wyse man be the halfe tale wote what the hoole tale meneth. As to my x. article, the whycli I sente a parte be Moaster Clement Denston, I have noon answere. (Endorsed) — Escriptz de moy a mon pere F. It seems likeh^ that Stephen Serope got no more redress in the end from Fastolf's execntors for the losses he so plaintively catalognes than he had from the knight himself Avhile living. His circumstances, however, must have im- proved somewhat on his at length possession, being above the age of sixty, of his maternal estates. Among the evidences of the straits to which he was driven by his embarrassments are a bond for 400 marks to John Dereward, dated 1448, and a revisionary grant of a mes- sage in Castle Combe to John Whitehorne, clothier, dated 1457, to take effect after the death of Fastolf." 176 APPENDIX B. EDMUND TILNEY, MASTER OF REVELS That the reader may understand the absolute despotism of the Master of the Revels, under the Queen and the Lord ChamberLnin, I give in full the following- most inter- esting and important historical document.^ A NEW DOCUMENT REGARDLNG THE AUTHOR- ITY OF THE MASTER OF THE REVELS OVER PLAY-MAKERS, PLAYS AND PLAYERS IN 1581 I send for insertion in the next volume "of ' ' The Shakes- peare Society's Papers" what I am entitled to call one of the most curious documents connected with the history of our stage, only two or three years before our great dramatist became a writer for and an actor upon it. Moreover, it is quite a novelty, no hint for its existence being anywhere given. It was communicated to me by Mr. Palmer, of the Rolls' Chapel, a short time since, as being on the patent rolP and as unknown to Mr. Payne Collier when he published his ''History of English Dra- loatic Poetry and the Stage," in 1831. It is entitled Commissio specialis pro Edo. Tylney, Ar. Magistro Revellorum, and it will be recollected that Ed- mund Tylney had been appointed Master of the Revels in July, 1579; the document before me bears date 24th De- cember, in the 24th year of Elizabeth; i. e., the day before Christmas, 1581, for the 24th year of her reign did not end until 16th November, 1582. Tylney had therefore been only a short time in office when he was entrusted •The Shakespeare Soeietij Paper, Vol. III. p. 1, 1847. ^Rot. Paten, de diversis aniiis tempore R. Elizabeth. 377 with the extraordinary powers communicated to him by tins patent. It will be remarked also that it preceded the formation of the company of "the Queen's Players," which Howes^ if! his continuation of Stow's Annals, informs us con- sisted of twelve performers, including Eobert Wilson and Richard Tarlton. Sir Francis Walsingham is said to have been instrumental in the selection of the actors ; and we know, on the authority of the Accounts of the Expenses of the Revels, that Tylney was sent for by "Mr. Secretary" on 10th March, 1582, "to chuse out a company of Players for her Majesty." That this important theatrical event was contemplated when the subjoined instrument was placed in the hands of Tylney, we need have little doubt : it must, in fact, have been preparatory to it ; and anything more arbitrary, or, as we should now call it, unconstitutional, was perhaps never heard of. It seems framed in some degree upon the model of the unrestricted powers, at much earlier dates, given to the Master of the Children of the Chapel, &c., to take boys from the choirs of any cathedrals or churches, in order that they might be employed in the Chapel Royal. Tylney warrant, however, does not apply to mere singing boys, but to grown men, artificers, actors, and dramatists ; and, as will be seen, it is much larger and rQore imperative in the authority it conveys. For the purposes of the Revels at Court for the amuse- ment of the Queen, it enables Tylney, or his deputy, in the first place to command the services of any painters, embroiderers, tailors, property-makers, &c., he thought fit, and, in case of refusal or neglect, to commit them dur- ing his pleasure "without bail or mainprise"; so that they had no remedy but to submit. But the most remark- able part of the Patent comes afterwards where the same unprecedented power is given to Tylney, or his deputy,, to order all players of comedies, tragedies, or interludes, "with their playmakers," to come before him to recite such performances as they were in a condition to repre- sent. Thus actors and poets were put as much at the mercy of Tylney and his deputy as the commonest work- men he employed ; for, if they did not obey his orders, he was to commit them, or any of them, "without bail or main-prize," for an indefinite period, either to enforce compliance, or to punish them for being refractory in the execution of his commands. Connected with this duty was a power conveyed to Tylney, at his discretion, to reform, or entirely suppress, any of the "playing places" the actors were in the habit of employing for their exhibitions. Nothing therefore can be more unqualified than the authority given to the Master of the Revels, or his deputy, in all matters relat- ing to the drama and stage in the middle of the reign of Elizabeth. The Patent itself is in these terms, the only difference being that I have printed it in words at length,, avoiding legal abbreviations, and that I have divided intO' separate paragraphs, according to the subjects treated, what in the original is in one unbroken mass. THOMAS EDLYNE TOMLINS. Islington, 9th April, 1847. "ELIZABETH BY THE GEACE OF GOD, &C. TO ALL MANNER OUR JUSTICES, MAIORS, SHERIFFES, BAYLIFFES, CONSTABLES, AND ALL OTHER OUR OFFICERS, MINISTERS, TRUE LIEGE MEN AND SUBJECTS, AND TO^ EVERY OF THEM GREETINGE. "We lett you witt, that AVe have authorized licensed and commanded, and by these presentes do authorise^ 379 Jicence- and commaunde our Welbeloved Edmiinde Tyl- ney Esquire, Maister of our Re veils, as well to take and retaine for us and in our Name at all tymes from liens- forth, and in all places within this our Eealme of Eng- land, as well within Francheses and Liberties as without, at competent Wages, aswell all suche and as many Paint- ers, Imhroderers, Taylors, Cappers, Haberdashers, Joyn- ers, Carvers, Glasiers, Armorers, Basketmakers, Skin- ners, Sadlers, Waggen Makers, Plaisterers, Fethermak- ers, as all other Propertie makers and conninge Artificers and Laborers whatsoever, as our said Servant or his assigne, bearers hereof, shall thinke necessaire and requi- site for the speedie workinge and fynisheinge of any exploite, workmanshippe, or peece of service that shall at any tyme hereafter belonge to our saide office of the Revells, as also to take at price reasonable, in all places within our said Eealme of England, as well within Fran- cheses and Liberties as without, any kinde or kindes of stuffe. Ware, or Merchandise, Woode, or Coale, or other Fewell, Tymber, Wainscott, Boarde, Lathe, Nailes, Bricke, Tile, Leade, Iron, Wier, and all other necessaries for our said workes of the said office of our Revells, as he the said Edmunde or his assigne shall thinke behoofe- full and expedient from tyme to tyme for our said service in the said office of the Revells. Together with all car- j'iages for the same, both by Land and by Water, as the case shall require. ''And furthermore, we have by these presents author- ised and commaunded the said Edmunde Tylney, that in case any person or persons, whatsoever they be, will obstinately disobey and refuse from hensforth to accom- I)lishe and obey our commaundement and pleasure in that behalfe, or withdrawe themselves from any of our said Workes, upon warninge to them or any of them giuen by tlie saide Edmunde Tylney, or by his sufficient Deputie in that behalfe to be named, appointed for their diligent attendance and workmanship upon the said workes or devises, as to their natural! dutie and allei- geance apperteineth, that then it shalbe lawful! unto the same Edmund Tilney, or his Deputie for the tyme beinge, to attache the partie or parties so otfendinge, and him or them to commyt to warde, there to remaine, without baile or maineprise, until such tyme as the saide Edmunde, or his Deputie, shall thinke the tyme of his or their impris- onment to be punishment sufficient for his or their saide offence in that behalfe ; and that done, to enlarge him or them, so beinge imprisoned, at their full Libertie, with- out any Losse, Penaltie, Forfaiture, or other damage in that behalfe to be susteined or borne by the saide Ed- munde Tilney, or his said Deputie. ''And also, if any person or persons, beinge taken into our said workes of the said office of our Revells, beinge arrested, comminge or goinge to or from our saide Workes of our said office of our Revells, at the sute of any person or persons, then the said Edminde Tilney, by vertue and authoritie thereof, to enlarge him or them, as by our special! protection, duringe the tyme of our said workes. "And also, if any person or persons, beinge reteyned in our said worlvs of our said office of Revells, have taken any manner of taske worke, beinge bounde to finishe the same by a certen day, shall not runne into any manner of forfeiture or penaltie for breakinge of his day, so that he or they, ymmediately after the fynishinge of our said workes, indevor him or themselves to fynishe the saide taske worke. "And furthermore, also, we have and doe by these presents authorise and commaunde our said Servant, 181 F.dmiincle Tilney, Maister of our said Eevells, by liim- selfe or his sufficient Deputie or Deputies, to warne, com- niaunde, and appointe, in all places within this our Eealme of England, as well within Francheses and Liber- ties as without, all and every plaier or plaiers, with their playmakers, either belonginge to any Noble Man, or otherwise, bearinge the Name or Names of usinge the Facultie of Playmakers, or Plaiers of Comedies, Trage- dies, Enterludes, or what other Showes soever, from tyme to tyme, and at all tymes, to appeare before him, with all suche Plaies, Tragedies, Comedies, or Showes as they shall have in readines, or meane to sett forth, and them to presente and recite before our said Servant, or his siffi- cient Deputie, whom wee ordeyne, appointe, and author- ise by these presentes of all suche Showes, Plaies, Plaiers^ and Playmakers, together with their playinge places, to order and reforme, auctorise and put downe, as shalbe thought meete or unmeete unto himselfe, or his said Deputie, in that behalfe. **And also, likewise, we have by these presentes auth- orised and eommaunded the said Edmunde Tylney, that in case if any of them, whatsoever they bee, will obsti- natelie refuse, upon warninge unto them given by the said Edmunde, or his sufficient Deputie, to accomplishe and obey our commaundement in this behalfe, then it shalbe lawful to the saide Edmunde, or his sufficient Deputie, to attache the partie or parties so offendinge, and him or them to commytt to Warde, to remayne, with- out bayle or mayneprise, untill suche tyme as the same Edmunde Tylney, or his sufficient Deputie, shall thinke the tyme of his or theire ymprisonment to be punishe- ment sufficient for his or their said otfence in that be- halfe; and that done, to enlarge him or them so beinge imprisoned at their plaine Libertie, without any losse^ 1S2 penaltie, forfeiture, or other Daunger in this belialfe to be susteyned or borne by the said Edmunde Tyhiey, or his Deputie, any Acte, Statute, Ordinance, or Provision heretofore had or made, to the contrarie hereof in any wise notwithstanding. ''AVherefore we Avill and commaunde you, and every -of you, that unto the said Edmunde Tylney, or his suffi- cient Deputie, bearer hereof, in the due execution of this our authoritie and comaundement ye be aydinge, sup- portinge, and assistinge from tyme to tyme, as the case shall require, as you and every of you tender our pleas- ure, and will answer to the contrarie at your uttermost i:)erills. In Witnesse whereof, &c., Witnes our selfe at AVestm. the xxiiijth day of December, in the xxiiijth yere of our Eaigne. Per Bre. de Privato Sigillo. 183 APPENDIX C. The following list shows some of the lands owned by the Cooke's, lords of Hartshill, and also Inscriptions in the Church of Ansley adjoining, from BavtleiVs ManduC'SScdn in Romanorum. One messuage and one cottage, wherein Thomas Ilewet dwelt, and Littlefield, Nurselfield, divided into two parts, Ferney croft, Johns croft, the Leyes, Broom close, the Paddoks, Aldermore, three closes called Eideings, the herbage and weeding of Hasellmore and Hillmore. AYilliam Migh the younger, 1 messuage, 1 croft. Cinder hill, the Middlefleld or Cornfield divided, the Newes, the Nether meadow, the Furmoore meadow, the Leys, the Ridmore, and the Furmoore, and the herbage and weed- ing of a spring wood called the Moore. Thomas Holt, a grist milne, a garden and orchard, the miln dam, and the stream fishing, the miln holm, the hither home, and the farther home. John Ward, 1 messuage, 1 little croft, the AYallnut yard, the Town croft, the Nine Lands, the Wardshill as divided, the Pinfold croft, and the Mill lane end. Edmund Harris, 1 messuage, the Town croft, the Hall croft, or Tophills, the Pinfold croft, the Mill lane end, and the Pittle or Pingle. Ralph Parker, the Marlepit flat, a Pingle in the Moore meadow, the weedings of two orchards, the Moore corner, the Moore belonging to the Brent house, the Moore meadow, a Moore with the privilege of pasturing called Ground ]Moore meadow, with the dor wast, and green goods, Yard End an orchard near the Hollows the new taken in in two parts. Henry Stanley, its hay, one garden, one yard, the Rails 184 flat, Alcots flat or 12 lands, the Wardell, the Hemp yard, the Sope meadow. William Remington, one messuage, one garden, one orchard, the Pinfold croft, the great Wardell, the Lease, the Moore, the Caldwell as it is divided, the Webland least, the Webland, Eaton lane end, and the Slade meadow. R. Remington, one cottage, one garden, the Wardell, the Wardell croft, the Hill close, the Bullmear meadow, one piece of meadow in Slade meadow, the herbage and weedings in Allen's moore. John Wood, one messuage, one orchard, one work- house, one stable, one garden and orchard, the Yard's end close. John Alcok vel Alcot, one messuage, one orchard, one garden, one pasture called the Yard, the Hillfield, the Woolvey Oakfield, the Conygree, Eatonlane end, the ]Moor meadow. Joyce Parker, one messuage, one orchard, one garden, one little orchard, and oxhouse yew, one close called the Yard, the Town croft, the Nine Lands. One cottage and backside, the Six Lands. One cot- tage and backside called Pinfold croft. One little meadow, half Gunne meadow, the new taken in, the Ryde- ing, the Barn yard. Robert Burbage, one messuage, one barn, one garden, one orchard, one little yard, the Yard's end croft, the Slade close, and one piece of meadow, the Dearefbank, Burbridge's Moore meadow, the herbage and weeding of Burbridge's Moore wood. William Mights, one messuage, one stable, one garden, one orchard, the Hoggs Eyon divided, the Falls being two closes, the great Wardell, the upper Wardell, and nether Wardell, the Bednells, the Broom close, the Pyngie, the Moore meadow. Might's ^loore, half the Gun meadow. . 185 Alexander Weston, one messuage, one stable, one gar- den, one barn, one orchard, the Jumbell Flatt or Mill- lane end, one piece of arable land called the Voxhill close, the house and croft, Weston's key corner in two pieces, Weston's Slade mill, the Hookes, the Heath, the nether Slade, the herbage and weedings of Weston's Moore. Richard Dentley, one cottage, one garden called the Chappell. Thomas Holt, one messuage called Wolbey houst, one barne, one stable yard and orchard, one croft and barn, Wolvey field, the Barkers be two several fields, three tostes called the Newso, the nether mead some- time parcel of Barkers, the middle mead, the Pingle, and the Sweet Moore. Inscriptions in the Church.* 5. At the bottom of the church :** "Hie jacet Francicus Bacon, Sacr?e Theologia3 Professor, Eccl. Lichfeld Pr?ebendarius, Hujus Eccl. Vicar. Obiit an. Dom. MDCLXXXII. annoque set LXXXIV." Saint John Twycross, heretofore vicar of Ansley (prior to the year 1606) gave 20 marks to be laid out in the purchase of land, the yearly produce of which was to be expended as follows: one moiety or half part to be dis- *Notc — Of these inscriptions Xos. 1 and 2 were in Dug- dale's edition If 1650; 3, 4, 6, were added by Dr. Thomas; the others by Mr. Bartlett. **Xote — This epitaph is entirely gone, stone and all. 186 tributed amongst the poor of Ansley yearly, by the trus- tees, Avithin eight days of Christmas or Easter ; the other moiety in amending and repairing the highways most needful to be repaired; which sum being encreased by the parish to £17 was laid out in the purchase of an es- tate, now rented at £10 per ami. Shakespeare also bequeathed the sum of £3 at what time is unknown : the interest to be given yearly to the poor of Ansley in bread. The sum of 6s. 8d. yearly was also charged upon a small cottage and croft, late in the occupation of George Izon, to find bell-ropes for the church-bells ; but by whom is not now known; which cottage and croft, about 1765, was purchased of the parish by the late John Ludford, Esq., for £30; which, together with Shakespear's and Oughtou's gifts, as above mentioned, was expended in rebuilding the poors' houses, and the income is now paid by the overseers to the poor. The trustees of all the above charities (except Mr. Stratford's) at the time of the donation returns were : John Ludford, Esq., John Barber, Thomas Cheshire, Richard Harrison, John Wagstaff, John Johnson, Wil- liam Topp, Robert Harrison. ANSLEY CHURCH. Incumbentes, & tempora institutions. Elizabetha R. Angl. Robert Coope cler. XII Jul. 1561, (V. p. r.) H. Hondys) postea deprivatus. Thomas Arn- feild cler. XXVII Jul. 1574. Rob. Cope II Mart. 1575. Will. Foxe cler. XXII Dec. 1591. Jac. Bush cler. X. Junii, 1600. Rich. Chamberlain, arm. Rex. Francis Bacon, A. M. XIII Sept. 1625. Francis Bacon, XIV Jan. 1638, ob. 1682.* *N0TE. — In the parish register I find the following note : This book was returned by William Wilson late register of Ansley to me, Francis Bacon Vicar, of Ansley, April 24, 1661. This William Wilson had acted as register from the Act's taking place by which the late vicar was dispossessed. 187 No. 12. Extract from the oldest Register of Ansley. "Compositionem banc ideo hie inserui quia scriptum chartaceum (quod liabui solum) segre potuit ad posteri- tatem dedi. F. Bacon, V. Anslei, 1(345." Thomas Shakespear was one of the church wardens in 1633. The same who bequeathed £3 yearly to the l^oor of Ansley. B. B. No. 13. Extract from the oldest Register of Ansley, on the back of the leaf where the Composition is transcribed. These records were searche out, and heare inserted the like occasion shall hereafter happen; for the yearly pencon, with all the arrears, were by Mr. Robinson, re- ceiver of the tenths, demanded as payable by the church- wardens of Ansley, being mistaken for Ansley, or Alvesley. Francis Bacon, Yic'lbm, March 9, 1649. 1S8 Gefta Grayorum: OR, THE HISTORY Of the High and mighty PRINCE, HEN RY Prince of Purpoole, Arch-Dbkc of Stapulia and Bernardia, Dukeof HigKand Nether Holbom, Marquis of. St. Giles and Tottcnhano, Count Palatine of Bloomsburyand Cterken well. Great Lord of the Cantons of Iflington, KentilH- Town , Paddington and Knighis-bridgc , Knight of the moft Heroical Order of the Helmet, and Sovereign of the Same ; Who Reigned and Died, J.T>. i 594.. TOGETHER WITH A Mafquc, as it was prefented (by His Highncfs's Com- mand) for the Entertainment of Qj, ELIZABETH; who , with the Nobks of both Courts, was prcfent tjiercat. LONDON, Printed for W. Canning, at his Shop in the Tcmpl^CIoyfters^. MDCLXXXVUL Vticcy one Shilling. To The Most Honourable Matthew Smyth, Esq. Comptroller Of The Honourable Society Of The Inner Temple Sir, The State of Purpoole (so long obscured in itself) could no otherwise express its Grandeur, but by shewing to Posterity what it was: This moved those ingenious Gentlemen to leave to succeeding Times the Memory of those Actions, which they themselves had done ; not for the vain Air of Popularity, but generously to give an Example, which others might desire to follow. According they have by this History, set forth their Actions, which seem to be writ with the same Gallentry of Spirit as they were done. The Language itself is all that Age could afford; which allowing something for the Modern Dress and Words in Fashion, is not beneath any we have now: It was for that Rea- son thought necessary. THE EPISTOLE DEDICATORY. Not to clip anything; which, though it may seem odd, yet naturally begets a Veneration, upon Account of its Antiquity. What more could they have wished, than to have found a Patron, worthy the protecting the Memory of such a Prince? And what more than they requiring than the Safety of your Patronage. It was Fortune, undoubtedly, that reserved it for this happy Opportunity of coming forth under your Protection. That first Alliance, which ever was betwixt your States seems to ask it of you, as the only Person in whom are revived the ancient Honours of both Houses. It was certainly a public Sence of the same personal Abilities (which made that Prince so conspicuous) that gives us all a pub- lic View of those Virtues, so much admired in private. Sir, 'tis for these Reasons humbly offered to you, presuming upon favourable Acceptance of that which naturally falls under your Care. May Time perfect the Character, already so well begun, that Posterity may bear you equal, if not greater than the Prince of Purpoole. I am, Sir, Your Honour's Most Obedient Servant, V^. C. ' GESTA GRAYORUM, OR, THE HISTORY OF THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE HENRY, Prince of PUEPOOLE, Arch Duke of STAPULIA and BERNARDIA, Duke of HIGH and NETHER HOL- BORN, Marquis of ST. GILES and TOTTENHAM, Count Palatine of BLOOMSBURY and CLERKEN- WELL, Great Lord of the Cantons of ISLING- TON, KENTISH TOWN, PADDINGTON, and KNIGHTS-BRIDGE of the Most Heroical Order of ; the HELMET, and Sovereign of the same: who reigned and died A. D. 1594. — Together with a Masque, as it was presented (by his Highnesses com- mand) for the Entertainment of Q. ELIZABETH, who, with the Nobles of both Courts, was present thereat. In two Parts. ^ The great number of gallant Gentlemen that Gray's Inn afforded at Ordinary Revels, betwixt All-Hollantide and Christmas, exceeding therein the rest of the Houses of Court, gave occasion to some well-wishers of our sports, and favourers of our credit, to wish an head answerable to so noble a body, and a leader to so gallant a company: which motion was more willingly hearkened * The first part of this tract was printed in 1688 for W. Canning, at his shop in the Temple Cloysters. The publisher was Mr. Henry Keepe, who published the Monu- ments of Westminster. The second part was first published in the former edition of these Progresses from a MS. then in the editor's possession, and afterwards given to Mr. Gough. unto, in regard that such pass-times had been intermitted by the space of three or four years, by reason of sick- ness and discontinuances. After many consultations had hereupon by the youths and others that were most forward herein, at length, about the 12th of December, with the consent and assist- ance of the Readers and xlncients, it was determined, that there should be elected a Prince of Purpoole, to gov- ern our state for the time ; which was intended to be for the credit of Gray's Inn, and rather to be performed by witty inventions than chargeable expences. Whereupon, they presently made choice of one Mr. Henry Holmes, a Norfolk gentleman, who was thought to be accomplished with all good parts, fit for so great a dignity; and was also a very proper man of personage, and very active in dancing and revelling. Then was his Privy Council assigned him, to advise of state-matters, and the government of his dominions : his lodging also was provided according to state ; as the Pres- ence Chamber, and the Council Chamber. Also all Officers of State, of the Law, and of the Household. There were also appointed Gentlemen Pensioners to attend on his person, and a guard, with their Captain, for his defence. The next thing thought upon, as most necessary, was, provision of Treasure, for the support of his state and dignity. To this purpose, there was granted a benevo- lence by those that were then in his Court abiding: and for those that were not in the House, there were letters directed to them, in nature of Privy Seals, to enjoin them, not only to be present, and give their attendance at his Court ; but also, that they should contribute to the defray- ing of so great a charge, as was guessed to be requisite for the performance of so great intendments. The Form of the Privy Seals directed to the foreigners, upon occasion as is aforesaid : "Your friends of the Society of Gray's Inn now resid- ing there, have thought good to elect a Prince, to govern the state of the Signiory, now by discontinuance much impaired in the ancient honour where in it hath excelled all other of like dignity. These are therefore, in thei name of the said Prince, to require you forthwith to re- sort to the Court there holden, to assist the proceedings with your person ; and withal, upon the receipt hereof, to make contribution of such benevolence as may express your good affection to the State, and be answerable to your quality. We have appointed our well-beloved Edward Jones our foreign collector, who shall attend you by himself, or by his deputy. Dated at our Court at Graya, Your loving friend, the 13th of December, 1594. GRAY 'S-INN. ' ' If, upon receipt of these letters, they returned answer again, that they would be present in person at our sports, as divers did, not taking notice of the further meaning therein expressed, they were, served with an alias, as f olloweth : "To our trusty and well-beloved W. B. at L. give these. "Whereas, upon our former letters to you, which re- quired your personal appearance and contribution, you have returned us answer that you will be present, with- out satisfying the residue of the contents for the benevo- lence : these are therefore to will and require you, forth- with, upon the receipt hereof, to send for your part, such supply by this bearer, as to you, for the defraying so great a charge, shall seem convenient: and herein you 7 shall perform a duty to the House, and avoid that ill opinion which some ungentlemanly spirits have pur- chased by their uncivil answers to our letters directed to them, whose demeanor shall be laid to their charge when time serveth ; and in the mean time, order shall be taken, that their names and defaults shall be proclaimed in our publick assemblies, to their greate discredit, &c. Your loving friend, GRAY'S-INN." By this means the Prince's treasure was well in- creased ; as also by the great bounty of divers honourable favourers of our state, that imparted their liberality, to the setting forward of our intended pass-times. Amongst the rest, the Right Honourable Sir AYilliam Cecill^ Knight, Lord Treasurer of England, being of our So- ciety, deserved honourable rememberance, for his liberal and noble mindfulness of us, and our State; who, unde- sired, sent to the Prince, as a token of his Lordship's favour, £10, and a purse of fine rich needle-work. When all these things sorted so well to our desires^ and that there was good hope of effecting that that was taken in hand, there was dispatched from our State a messenger to our ancient allied friend the Inner Temple, that they might be acquainted with our proceedings, and also to be invited to participate of our honour ; which to them was most acceptable, as by the process of their let- ters and ours, mutually sent, may appear. The Copies of the Letters that passed betwixt the two- most flourishing Estates of the Grayans Templarians. **To the most Honourable and Prudent, the Governors^ Assistants, and Society of the Inner Temple. ''Most Grave and Noble, ''We have, upon good consideration, made choice of a Prince, to be predominant in our State of Purpoole,. for some important causes that require an head, or leader : and as we have ever had great cause, by the warrant of experience, to assure ourselves of your unfeigned love and amity, so we are, upon this occasion, and in the name of our Prince elect, to pray you, that it may con- tinue; and in demonstration thereof, that you will be pleased to assist us with your counsel, in the person of an Ambassador, that may be resident here amongst us, and be a minister of correspondence between us, and to- advise of such affairs, as the effects whereof, we hope, shall sort to the benefit of both our estates. And so, being-^ ready to requite you with all good offices, we leave you to the protection of the Almighty. "Your most loving friend and ally, "GRAY'S-INN. "Dated at our Court of Graya, this 14th of December, 1594. " "To the most Honourable State of the Gray cms. "Eight Honourable, and most firmly United, "If our deserts were any way answerable to the great expectation of your good proceedings, we might with more boldness accomplish the request of your kind letters, whereby it pleaseth you to interest us in the honour of your actions; which we cannot but acknowledge for a great courtesie and kindness (a thing proper to you, in all your courses and endeavours), and repute it a great honour intended towards ourselves: in respect whereof we yield with all good will, to that which your honourable letters import; as your kindness, and the bond of our ancient amity and league, requireth and deserveth. Your assured friend, The State of Templaria." "From Templaria, the 18th of December, 1594. The Order of the Prince of Pnrpoole's Proceedings, with his Officers and Attendants, at his honourable Inthroni- zation; which was likewise observed in all his Solemn Marches on Grands Days, and like occasions ; which place every Officer did duly attend, during the Reign of His Highness 's Government. A Marshal. A Marshal. Trumpets. Trumpets. Pursuevant at Arms, Layne. Townsmen in the Prince's Yeomen of the Guard, three Livery, with halberts. couples. 10 Captain of the Guard, Grimes. Baron of the Grand Port, Baron of the Petty Port, Dudley. Baron of the Base Port, Grante. Gentlemen for Entertain- ment, three couples. Binge, &c. Williams. Baron of the New Port, Lou el. Gentlemen for Entertain- ment, three couples, WentwortJi, Zukendeu, Forrest. Lieutenant of the Pensioners, Tonstal. Gentlemen Pensioners, twelve couples, viz- Laivson. Rotts. Davison. Devereux. Anderson. Stapleton. Glascott. cum reliquis. Daniel. Elken. Chief Ranger, and Master of the Game, Forrest. Master of the Eevels, Lam- bert. Master of the Revellers, T every. Captain of the Pensioners, CooJce. Sewer, Archer. Carver, Moseley. Another Sewer, Dreivry. Cup-bearer, Painter. Groom Porter, Bennet. Sheriff, Leach. Lord Chief Justice of the Prince's Bench, Crew. Master of the Ordnance, Fitz-Williams. Lieutenant of the Tower, Lloyd. Master of the Jewel-house, Darlen. Treasurer of the House- hold, Smith. Knight Marshal, Bell. Master of the Wardrobe, Conney. Comptroller of the House- hold, Bouthe. 11 Clerk of the Council, Jones. Clerk of the Parliament. Clerk of the Crown, Doivnes. Orator, Heke. Recorder, Starkey. Solicitor, Dunne. Serjeant, Goldsmith. Speaker of the Parliament, Bellen. Commissary, Greenwood. Attorney, Holt. Serjeant, Hitchcombe. Master of the Requests, Faldo. Chancellor of the Exche- quer, Kitts Master of the Wards and Idiots, Ellis. Reader, Cobb. Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, Briggs. Master of the Rolls, Hetlen. Lord Chief Baron of the Common Fleas, Dam- port e. The Shield of Pegasus, for the Inner Temple, Sce- . vington. Serjeant at Arms with the , Sword, Glascatt. Gentleman Usher, Paylor. Bishop of St. Giles in the Fields, Dandye. Steward of the Household, Smith. Lord Warden of the Four Ports, Damporte. Secretary of State, Jones. Lord Admiral, Cecill (Rich- ard). Lord Treasurer, Morrey. Lord Great Chamberlain, Southworth. Lord High Constable. Lord Marshal, Knaplock. Lord Privy Seal, Lamphetv. Lord Chamberlain of the Household, Markham. Lord High Steward, Kempe. Lord Chancellor, Johnson. Archbishop of St. Andrew's in Holborn, Bush. Serjeant at Arms with the Mace, Flemming. Gentleman Usher, Chevett. The Prince of Purpoole, Helmes. A Page of Honour, Wann- forde. Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, six couples. A Page of Honour, Butler ( Roger). 12 The Shield of the Griffin, Vice - Chamberlain, Butler for Gray's-Inn, Wickliffe. {Thomas). Master of the Horse, Fitz- Hugh. Yeomen of the Guards, The Great Shield of the three couples. The King at Arms, Per kin son. Prince's Arms, CoUey. Townsmen in Liveries. The Family and Followers. Upon the 20th day of December, being St. Thomas's Eve, the Prince, with all his train in order, as above set down, marched from his lodging to the Great Hall: and there took his place in his throne, under a rich cloth of state: his Counsellors and great Lords were placed about him ; and before him, below the half e pace, at a table, sate his learned Council and Lawyers ; the rest of the officers and attendants took their proper place, as belonged to their condition. Then the Trumpets were commanded to sound thrice; which being done, the King at Arms, in his rich surcoat of arms, stood forth before the Prince, and proclaimed his style, as folio weth: ''By the sacred laws of arms, and authorized cer- monies of the same (maugre the conceit of any malecon- tent) I do pronounce my Sovereign Liege Lord Sir Henry, rightfully to be the high and mighty Prince of Purpoole, Archduke of Stapulia and Bernardia, Duke of the High and Nether Holhorn, Marquis of St. Giles's and Totten- ham, Count Palatine of Bloomshiiry and Clerkenwell, Great Lord of the Cantons of Islington, &c. Knight of the most honourable Order of the Helmet, and Sovereign of the same." 13 After that the King at Arms had thus proclaimed his style, the trumpets sounded again, and then entered the Prince's Champion, all in compleat armour, on horse- back, and so came riding round about the fire ; and in the midst of the hall stayed, and made his challenge, in these words following: *'If there be any man, of high degree or low, that will say that my Sovereign is not rightly Prince of Purpoole^ as by his King at Arms right-now hath been proclaimed^ I am ready here to maintain, that he lieth as a false traitor; and I do challenge in combat, to fight with him^ either now, or at any time or place appointed: and in token hereof I gage my gauntlet, as the Prince's true Knight, and his Champion." "When the Champion had thus made his challenge, he departed. Then the trumpets were commanded to sounds and the King at Arms blazoned the Prince his Highness 's arms, as followeth: "The most mighty Prince of Purpoole, Sc, beareth his shield of the highest Jupiter. In point, a sacred imperial diadem, safely guarded by the helmet of the great god- dess Pallas, from the violence of darts, bullets, and bolts of Saturn, Momus, and the Idiot; all environed with the ribband of loyalty, having a pendant of the most heroical Order of Knighthood of the Helmet; the word hereunto, Sic virtus honor em,. For his Highness 's crest the glor- ious planet Sol, coursing through twelve signs of the Zo- diack, on a celestial globe, moved upon two poles Arctick and Antartick; with this motto, Dum totum peregraverit orbem. All set upon a chapew: Mars turned up, Luna mantelled. Sapphire doubted pearl, supported by two anciently renowned and glorious Griffyns, which have been always in league with the honourable Pegasus." 14 The conceit hereof was to shew, that the Prince, whose private arms were three helmets, should defend his hon,- our by virtue, from reprehensions of male-contents, car- pers, and fools. The ribband of blue, with an helmet pendant, in imitation of St. George. In his crest, his government for the twelve days of Christmas was re- sembled to the Sun's passing the twelve signs, though the Prince's course had some odd degrees beyond that time; but he was wholly supported by the Griff yns; for Gray's Inn Gentlemen, and not the Treasure of the House, was charged. The words. Sic virtus honorem, that his virtue should defend his honour, whilst he had run his whole course of dominion, without any either eclipse or retrogradation. After these things thus done, the Attorney stood up, and made a Speech of gratulation to the Prince ; and therein shewed what great happiness was like to ensue, by the election of so noble and vertuous a Prince as then reigned over them; rightly extolling the nobility, vertue, puis- sance, and the singular perfections of his Sovereign; whereby he took occasion also to move the subjects to be forward to perform all obedience and service to his Ex- cellency; as also to furnish his wants, if so be that it were requisite; and, in a word, perswaded the people, that they were happy in having such a Prince to rule over them ; and likewise assured the Prince, that he also was most happy, in having rule over so dutiful and loving subjects, that would not think any thing, were it lands, goods, or life, too dear to be at his Highness 's command and service. The Prince's Highness made again this answer: ''That he did acknowledge himself to be deeply bound to their merits ; and in that regard did promise, that he would be 15 a gracious and loving Prince to so well deserving sub- jects." And concluded with good liking and commenda- tions of their proceedings. Then the Sollicitor, having certain great old books and records lying before him, made this Speech to his Hon- our, as f olloweth : ''Most Excellent Prince, ''High superiority and dominion is illustrated and adorned by the humble services of noble and mighty personages: and therefore, amidst the garland of your royalties of your crown, this is a principal flower, that in your provinces and territories, divers mighty and puis- sant potentates are your homagers and vassals; and, although infinite are your feodaries, which by their ten- ures do perform royal service to your sacred person, pay huge sums into your treasury and exchequer, and main- tain whole legions for the defence of your country: yet some special persons there are charged by their tenures, to do special service at this your glorious inthronization ; whose tenures, for their strangeness, are admirable ; for their value, inestimable: and for their worthiness, in- comparable; the particulars whereof do here appear in your Excellency's records, in the book of Doomsday, re- maining in your Exchequer, in the 50th and SOOtli chest there. ' ' The Names of Such Homagers and Tributaries as hold any Signiories, Lordships, Lands, Privileges, or Liberties, under his Honour, and the Tenures and Services belong- ing to the same, as f olloweth : Alfonso de StapuUa, and Davillo de Bernardia, hold the arch-dukedoms of Stapidia and Bernardia, of the 16 Prince of Purpoole, by grand-serjeantry, and castle- guard of the Castles of Stapiilia and Bernardia, and to right and relieve all wants and wrongs of all ladies, ma- trons, and maids, within the said arch-dutchy; and ren- dering, on the day of his Excellency's coronation, a coronet of gold, and yearly five hundred millions sterling. Marotto Marquarillo de Holboni holdeth the manors of High and Nether Holborn by cornage in capite of the Prince of Purpoole, and rendering on the day of his Honour's coronation, for every of the Prince's pensioners, one milk-white doe, to be bestowed on them by the Prince, for a favour, or New-year's-night-gift: and rendring yearly two hundred millions sterling. Lucy Negro, Abbess de Clerkenivell, holdeth the nun- nery of Clerkenivell, with the lands and privileges there- nnto belonging, of the Prince of Purpoole, by night-serv- ice in Cauda, and to find a choir of nuns, with burning lamps, to chaunt Placebo to the Gentlemen of the Prince's Privy Chamber, on the day of his Excellency's corona- tion. Rif-ffiano de St. Giles's holdeth the town of *S'^. Giles's by cornage in Cauda, of the Prince of Purpoole, and rendring on the day of his Excellency's coronation, two ambling, easie-paced gennets, for the Prince's two pages of honour; and rendring yearly two hundred millions sterling. Cornelius Combaldus de Tottemham, holdeth. the grange of Tottenham of the Prince of Purpoole, in free and com- mon soccage, by the twenty-fourth part of a night's fee and by rendring to the Master of the Wardrobe so much cunny furr as will serve to line his night-cap, and face a pair of mittins; and yielding yearly four quarters of rye, and threescore double duckets on the feast of St. Pancras. 17 BartJioloyneus de Bloomshury holdetli a thousand hides in Bloomshury, of the Prince of Purpoole, by escuage in- certain, and rendring on the day of his Excellency's coronation one Amazon, with a ring, to be run at by the Knights of the Prince's band, and the mark to be his trophy that shall be adjudged the bravest courser; and rendring yearly fifty millions sterling. Amarillo de Paddington holdeth an hundred ox-gangs of land in Paddington, of the Prince of Purpoole, by petty-serjeantry, that when the Prince maketh a voyage royal against the Amazons, to subdue and bring them under, he do find, at his own charges, a thousand men, well furnished with long and strong morris-pikes, black bills, or halberts, with morians on their heads; and rendring yearly four hundred millions sterling. Baivdtvine de Islington holdeth the town of Islington of the Prince of Purpoole, by grand-serjeantry ; and rendring, at the coronation of his Honour, for every maid in Islington, continuing a virgin after the age of fourteen years, one hundred thousand millions sterling. Jordano Sartano de Kentish Town holdeth the Canton of Kentish Town of the Prince of Purpoole, in tail-gen- eral, at the will of the said Prince, as of his mannor of Deep-Inn, in his province of Islington by the Veirge, according to the custom of the said mannor; that when any of the Prince's officers or family do resort thither, for change of air, or else variety of diet, as weary of court life, and such provision, he do provide for a mess of the Yeomen of the Guard, or any of the black-guard, or such like inferior officers so coming, eight loins of mutton, which are sound, well-fed, and not infectious; and for every Gentleman Pensioner, or other of good quality, coneys, pidgeons, chickens, or such dainty mor- 18 sels. But the said Jordmio is not bound by his tenure, to boil, roast, or bake the same, or meddle further than the bare delivery of the said cates, and so to leave them to the handling, dressing, and breaking up of themselves ; and rendring for a fine to the Prince one thousand five hundred marks. Markasius Rusticanus, and Hieronymus Paludensis de Knightsbridge, do hold the village of Knightsbridge, with the appurtenances in Knightsbridge, of the Prince of Purpoole, by villenage in base tenure, that they two shall jointly find three hundred able and sufficient labouring men, with instruments and tools necessary for the making clean of all channels, sinks, creeks, and gutters, within all the cities of his Highness 's dominions; and also shall cleanse and keep clean all and all manner of ponds, pudules, dams, springs, locks, runlets, becks, water gates, sluces, passages, strait entrances, and dangerous quag- mires; and also shall repair and mend all common high and low-ways, by laying stones in the pits and naughty places thereof : and also that they do not suffer the afore- said places to go to decay through their default, and lack of looking unto, or neglect of doing their parts and duties therein. The tenures being thus read by the Solicitor, then were called by their names those homagers that were to per- form their services, according to their tenures. Upon the summons given, Alphonso de Stapidia, and Davillo de Bernardia, came to the Prince's foot-stool, and offered a coronet, according to their service, and did homage to his Highness in solemn manner, kneeling, ac- cording to the order in such cases accustomed. The rest that appeared were deferred to better leisure; and they that made default were fined at great sums, and their defaults recorded. 19 There was a Parliament intended, and summoned ; but by reason that some special officers that were by neces- sary occasions urged to be absent, without whose presence it could not be performed, it was dashed. And in that point our purpose was frustrate, saving only in two branches of it: the one was a subsidy granted by the Commons of his dominions, towards the support of his Highness 's port and sports. The other was, by his gracious, general, and free pardon. HENRY Prince of Purpoole, Arch-Duke of Stapulia and Bernardia, Duke of High and Nether Holborn, Mar- quis of St. Giles's and Tottenham, Count Palatine of Bloomshury and Clerkenwell, Great Lord of the Cantons of Islington, Kentish Toivn, Paddington, and Knights -bridge, Knight of the most heroicall Order of the Helmet, and Sovereign of the same; to all and all manner of Persons to whome these Presents shall appertain ; Greeting — "In tender regard, and gracious consideration of the humble atf ection of our loyal lords and subjects ; and by understanding that by often violating of laudable cus- toms, prescriptions, and laws, divers have incurred in- evitable and incurable dangers of lands, goods, life, and members, if it be not by our clemency redressed, re- spected, and pardoned : We therefore, hoping for better obedience and observation of our said laws and customs, do grant and publish this our General and Free Pardon of all dangers, pains, penalties, forfeitures or offences, whereunto and wherewith they are now charged, or chargeable, by reason of mis-government, mis-demeanour, mis-behaviour, or fault, either of commission, omission, or otherwise howsoever or whatsover. "It is therefore Our will and pleasure, that all and 20 every public person and persons, whether they be strangers or naturals, within Our dominions, be by vir- tue hereof excused, suspended, and discharged from all and all manner of treasons, contempts, offences, tres- passes, forcible entries, intrusions, disseisins, torts, wrongs, injuries, over-throws, over-thwartings, cross- bitings, coney-catchings, frauds, conclusions, fictions, fractions, fashions, fancies, or ostentations: also all and all manner of errors, misprisions, mistakings, overtak- ings, double dealings, combinations, confederacies, con- junctions, oppositions, interpositions, suppositions, and suppositaries : also all and all manner of intermedlance or medlance, privy-searches, routs and riots, incom- brances, pluralities, formalities, deformalities, disturb- ances, duplicities, jeofails in insufficiencies or defects: also all and all manner of sorceries, inchantments, con- jurations, spells, or charms : all destruction, obstructions, and constructions: all evasions, invasions, charges, sur- charges, discharges, commands, countermands, checks, counterchecks, and counterbuffs : also all and all manner of inhibitions, prohibitions, insurrections, corrections, conspiracies, concavities, coinings, superfluities, wash- ings, clippings, and shavings : all and all manner of multi- plications, inanities, installations, destinations, constilla- tions, necromancies, and incantations : all and all manner of mis-feasance, non-feasance, or too much feasance : all attempts or adventures, skirmages, assaults, grapplings, closings, or encounters : all mis-prisonments, or restraints of body or member : and all and all manner of pains and penalties personal or pecuniary whatsoever, committed, made, or done, against our crown and dignity, peace, pre- rogatives, laws, and customs, which shall not herein here- after be in some sort expressed, mentioned, intended, or excepted. 21 ''Except, and always fore-prized out of this General and Free Pardon, all and every such person and persons as shall imagine, think, suppose, or speak and utter any false, seditious ignominious, or slanderous words, reports, rumours, or opinions, against the dignity, or his Excel- lency's honourable actions, counsels, consultations, or state of the Prince, his court, counsellors, nobles, knights, and officers. "Except, all such persons as now or hereafter shall be advanced, admitted, or induced to any corporal or per- sonal ])enefice, administration, charge, or cure, of any manner of personage, and shall not be personally resident, commorant, or incumbent in, at, or upon the whole, or some part or parcel of the said benefice, administration, or cure ; but absent himself wilfully or negligentlyj by the space of four-score days, nights, or hours, and not hav- ing any special substituted, instituted, or inducted Vicar, incumbant, or concumbent, daily, or any other time, duly to express, enjoy, and supply his absence, room, or vaca- tion. ''Except, all such persons as have, or shall have any charge, occasion, chance, opportunity, or possible means to entertain, serve, recreate, delight, or discourse, with any vertuous or honourable lady, or gentlewoman, matron, or maid, publicly, privately, or familiarly, and shall faint, fail, or be deemed to faint or fail in courage, or counten- ance, semblance, gesture, voice, speech, or attempt, or in act or adventure, or in any other matter, thing, manner, mystery, or accomplishment, due, decent, or appertinent to her or their honour, diginity, desert, expectation, de- sire, affection, inclination, allowance, or acceptance; to be daunted, dismayed, or to stand mute, idle, frivolous or defective, or otherwise dull, contrary, sullen, mal-con- tent, melancholy, or different from the profession, prac- 22 tice, and perfection, of a compleat and consummate gen- tleman or courtier. "Except, all such persons as by any force, or fraud, and dissimulation, shall procure, be it by letters, prom- ises, messages, contracts, and other inveaglings, any lady or gentlewoman, woman or maid, sole or covert, into his possession or convoy, and shall convey her into any place where she is or shall be of full power and opportunity to bargain, give, take, buy, sell, or change ; and shall suffer her to escape and return at large, without any such bar- gain, sale, gift, or exchange performed and made, con- trary to former expected, expressed, employed contract or consent. ^^ Except, all such persons as by any slander, libel, word, or note, bewray, betray, defame, or suffer to be defamed, any woman, wife, widow, or maid, in whose affairs, secrets, suits, services, causes, actions, or other occupations, he hath been at any time conversant, em- ployed, or trained in, or admitted unto, contrary to his plighted promise, duty, and allegiance; and to the utter disparagement of others hereafter to be received, re- tained, embraced, or liked in like services, performances, or advancements. "Except, all intrusions and forcible entries had, made, or done, into or upon an^^ of the Prince's widows, or wards female, without special licence ; and all fines passed for the same. "Except, all concealed fools, idiots, and mad-men that have not to this present sued forth any livery of their wits, nor ouster le mayne of their senses, until the Prince have had primer seisin thereof. "Except, all such persons as, for their lucre and gain of living, do keep or maintain, or else frequent and resort unto, any common house, alley, open or privy place of 23 unlawful exercises; as of vaulting, bowling, or any for- bidden manner of shooting ; as at pricks in common high- ways, ways of sufferance or ease to market-towns or fairs, or at short butts, not being of sufficient length and distance, or at any roving or unconstant mark, or that shoot any shafts, arrows, or bolts, of unseasonable wood or substances, or without an head, or of too short and small size, contrary to the customs, laws, and statutes, in such cases made and provided. ''Except, all such persons as shall put or cast into any waters, salt or fresh, or any brooks, brinks, chinks, pits, pools, or ponds, any snare, or other engine, to danger or destroy the fry or breed of any young lampreys, boards, loaches, bullheads, cods, whitings, pikes, ruffs, or pearches, or any other young store of spawns or fries, in any flood- gate, sluice, pipe, or tail of a mill, or any other streight stream, brook, or river, salt or fresh ; the same fish being then of insufficiency in age and quantity, or at that time not in convenient season to be used and taken. ''Except, all such persons as shall hunt in the night,, or pursue any bucks or does; or with painted faces,. vizards, or other disguisings, in the day-time; or any such as do wrongfully and unlawfully, without consent or leave given or granted, by day or by night, break or enter into any park impailed, or other several close^ inclosure, chace, or purliew, inclosed or compassed with wall, pale, grove, hedge, or bushes, used still and occupied for the keeping, breeding, or cherishing of young deer, prickets, or any other game, fit to be preserved and nourished; or such as do hunt, chase, or drive out any such deer, to the prejudice and decay of such game and pass-times within our dominions, "Except, all such persons as shall shoot in any hand gun, demy-hag, or hag butt, either half-shot, or bullet,. 24 any fowl, bird, or beast ; either at any deer, red or fallow^ or any other thing or things, except it be a butt set, laid^ or raised in some convenient place, fit for the same pur- pose. '^ Except, all and every artificer, crafts-man, labourer,, householder, or servant, being a layman, which hath not lands to the yearly value of forty shillings ; or any clerk, not admitted or advanced to the benefice of the value of ten pounds per annum, that with any grey-hound, mon- grel, mastiff, spaniel, or other dogs, doth hunt in other men's parks, warrens, and coney-grees; or use any fer- rets, hare-pipes, snarles, ginns, or other knacks or devises, to take or destroy does, hares, or coneys, or other gentle- men's game, contrary to the form and meaning of a statute in that case provided. ^'Except, all merchant-adventurers, that ship or lade any wares or merchandize, into any port or creek, in any Flemish, French, or Dutch, or other outlandish hoy, ship, or bottom, whereof the Prince, nor some of his subjects, be not possessioners and proprietaries ; and the masters and mariners of the same vessels and bottoms to be the Prince's subjects; whereby our own shipping is many times unfraught, contrary unto divers statutes in that case provided. ^'Except, all owners, masters and pursers of our ships,. as, for the transportation of freight from one port to another, have received and taken any sums of money above the statute-allowance in that behalf, vis., for every dry fatt, 6d.; for every bale, one foot long, I5.; for every hogshead, pipe, or tierce of wine, 55. ■'' Except, all decayed houses of husbandry, and house- wifery, and inclosures, and severalties, converting of any lands used and occupied to tillage and sowing, into pas- ture and feeding ; whereby idleness increaseth, husbandry 25 and housewifery is decayed, and towns are dis-peopled, contrary to the statute in that case made and provided. ''Except, all such persons as shall maliciously and wil- fully burn or cut, or caused to be burned or cut, any conduit, or trough, pipe, or any other instrument used as a means of conveyance of any liquor, water, or other kind of moisture. "Except, all commoners within any forest, chace, moor, marsh, heath, or other waste ground, which hath put to pasture into, or upon the same, any stoned horses, not being of the altitude and heighth contained in the statute in that case made and provided for the good breed of strong and large horses, which is much decayed; little stoned horses, nags, and hobbies, being put to pasture there, and in such commons. ''Except, all fugitives, failers, and flinchers, that with shame and discredit are fled and vanished out of the Prince's dominions of Purpoole, and especially from his Court at Graya, this time of Christmas, to withdraw themselves from his Honour's service and attendance, contrary to their duty and allegiance, and to their per- petual ignominy, and incurable loss of credit and good opinion, which belongeth to ingenuous and well-minded gentlemen. "Except, all concealments, and wrongful detainments of any subsidies and revenues, benevolence, and receipts upon privy seals, &c. "Except, all, and all manner of offences, pains, penal- ties, mulcts, fines, amerciaments, and punishments, corporal and pecuniary, whatsover." The Pardon being thus read by the Solicitor, the Prince made a short speech to his subjects, wherein he gave them to understand, that although in clemency he par- 26 doned all offences to that present time; yet, notwith- standing, his meaning thereby was not to give any the least occasion of presumption in breaking his laws, and the customs laudably used through his dominions and government. Neither did he now graciously forgive all errors and misdemeanours as he would hereafter severely and strictly reform the same. His will was, that justice should be administered to every subject, without any partiality ; and that the wronged should make their causes known to himself, by petition to the Master of the Re- quests : and further excused the causes of the great taxes, and sums of money, that were levied, by reason that his predecessors had not left his coffers full of treasure, nor his crown so furnished, as became the dignity of so great a Prince. Then his Highness called for the Master of the Revels, and willed him to pass the time in dancing: So his gen- tlemen-pensioners and attendants, very gallantly ap- pointed, in thirty couples, danced the old measures, and their galliards, and other kinds of dances, revelling until it was very late ; and so spent the rest of their perform- ance in those exercises, until it pleased his Honour to take his way to his lodging, with sound of trumpets, and his attendants in order, as is above set down. There was the conclusion of the first grand night, the performance whereof increased the expectation of those things that were to ensue; insomuch that the common report amongst all strangers was so great, and the expec- tation of our proceedings so extraordinary, that it urged us to take upon us a greater state than was at first in- tended : and therefore, besides all the stately and sumptu- ous service that was continually done the Prince, in very princely manner; and besides the daily revels, and such like sports, which were usual, there was intended divers 27 :grand nights, for the entertainment of strangers to our pass-times and sports. The next grand night was intended to be upon Inno- cents-day at night; at which time there was a great presence of lords, ladies, and worshipful personages^ that •did expect some notable performance at that time ; which, indeed, had been effected, if the multitude of beholders had not been so exceeding great, that thereby there was no convenient room for those that were actors ; by reason whereof, very good inventions and conceipts could not have opportunity to be applauded, which otherwise would have been great contentations to the beholders. Against which time, our friend, the Inner Temple, determined to send their Ambassador to our Prince of State, as sent from Frederick Templarius, their Emperor, who was then busied in his wars against the Turk. The Ambassador came very gallantly appointed, and attended by a great number of brave gentlemen, which arrived at our Court about nine of the clock at night. Upon their coming thither, the King at Arms gave notice to the Prince, then sitting in his chair of state in the hall, that there was to come to his Court an Ambassador from his ancient friend the State of Templaria, which desired to have present access unto his Highness ; and shewed his Honour further, that he seemed to be of very good sort, because he was so well attended; and therefore desired, that it would please his Honour that some of his Nobles and Lords might conduct him to his Highness 's presence, which was done. So he was brought in very solemnly, with sound of trumpets, the King at Arms and Lords of Purpoole making to his company, which marched before him in order. He was received very kindly of the Prince, and placed in a chair besides his Highness, to the end that he might be a partaker of the sports intended. But 28 iirst lie made a speech to the Prince, wherein he declared iow his excellent renown and fame was known through- out all the whole world ; and that the report of his great- ness was not contained within the bounds of the Ocean, but had come to the ears of his noble Sovereign, Fred- erick Templarius, where he is now warring against the 'Turks, the known enemies to all Christendom ; who, hav- ing heard that his Excellency kept his Court at Graya this Christmas, thought it to stand with his ancient league of amity and near kindness, that so long had been con- tinued and increased by their noble ancestors of famous memory and desert, to gratulate his happiness, and flourishing estate; and' in that regard, had sent him his Ambassador, to be. residing at his Excellency's Court, in honour of his greatness, and token of his tender love and good-will he beareth to his Higne^s; the confirmation whereof he especially required, and by all means possible would study to increase and eternize ; which function he was the more willing to accomiDlish, because our State of Graya did grace Templaria with the presence of an Am- bassador about thirty years since, upon like occasion. Our Prince made him this answer: That he did ac- l^nowledge that the great kindness of his Lord, whereby he doth invite to further degrees in firm and loyal friend- ship, did deserve all honourable commendations, and ef- fectual accomplishment, that by any means might be ■devised ; and that he accounted himself happy, by having the sincere and steadfast love of so gracious and re- nowed a Prince, as his Lord and Master deserved to be esteemed; and that nothing in the world should hinder the due observation of so inviolable a band as he esteemed his favour and good-will. Withal, he entered into com- mendation of his noble and courageous enterprizes, in that he chuseth out an adversary fit for his greatness to 29 encounter with, his Honour to be illustrated by, and such an enemy to all Christendom, as that the glory of his actions tend to the safety and liberty of all civility and humanity: yet, notwithstanding that he was thus employed in this action of honouring us, he shewed both his honourable mindfulnes of our love and friendship, and also his own puissance, that can afford so great a number of brave gentlemen, and so gallantly furnished and accomplished : and so concluded, with a welcome both to the Ambassador himself and his favourites, for their Lord and Master's sake, and so for their own good deserts and condition. When the Ambassador was placed, as aforesaid, and that there was something to be performed for the delight of the beholders, there arose such a disordered tumult and crowd upon the stage, that there was no opportunity to effect that which was intended : there came so great a number of worshipful personages upon the stage that might not be displaced, and gentlewomen whose sex did privilege them from violence, that when the Prince and his oflBcers had in vain, a good while, expected and en- deavoured a reformation, at length there was no hope of redress for that present. The Lord Ambassador and his train thought that they were not so kindly entertained as was before expected, and thereupon would not stay any longer at that time, but, in a sort, discontented and displeased. After their departure, the throngs and tumults did somewhat cease, although so much of them continued as was able to disorder and confound any good inventions whatsoever. In regard whereof, as also for that the sports intended were especially for the gracing the Templarians, it was thought good not to offer any thing of account, saving dancing and revelling with gen- tlewomen; and after such sports, a Comedy of Errors 30 (like to Plautus liis Menechmus) was played by the play- ers. So that night was begun and continued to the end in nothing but confusion and errors; wliereupon, it was ever afterwards called, "The Night of Errors." This mischanceful accident sorting so ill, to the great prejudice of the rest of our proceedings, was a great dis- couragement and disparagement to our whole state ; yet it gave occasion to the lawyers of the Prince's Council, the next night, after revels, to read a commission of Oyer and Terminer, directed to certain Noblemen and Lords of his Highness 's Council, and others, that they should enquire, or cause enquiry to be made, of some great dis- orders and abuses lately done and committed within his Highnesses dominions of Purpoole, especially by sorceries and inchantments ; and namely, of a great witchcraft used the night before, whereby there were great disorders and misdemeanours, by hurly-burlies, crowds, errors, con- fusions, vain representations, and shows, to the utter dis- credit of our state and policy. The next night upon this occasion, we preferred judg- ments thick and three-fold, which were read pulickly by the Clerk of the Crown, being all against a sorcerer or conjurer that was supposed to be the cause of that con- fused inconvenience. Therein was contained. How he had caused the stage to be built, and scaffolds to be reared to the top of the house, to increase expectation. Also how he had caused divers ladies and gentlemen, and others of good condition to be invited to our sports ; also our dearest friend the State ofTemplaria, to be disgraced^ and disappointed of their kind entertainment, deserved and intended. Also that he caused throngs and tumults,, crowds and outrages, to disturb our whole proceedings. And lastly, that he had foisted a company of base and common fellows, to make up our disorders with a play 31 of Errors and Confusions ; and that that night had gained to ns discredit, and itself a nickname of Errors. All which were against the crown and dignity of our Sover- eign Lord the Prince of Purpoole. Under colour of these proceedings, were laid open to the view all the causes of note that were committed by our chiefest statesmen in the government of our princi- pality ; and every officer in any great place, that had not performed his duty in that service, was taxed hereby, from the highest to the lowest, not sparing the guard and porters, that suffered so many disordered persons to enter in at the court-gates : upon whose aforesaid indict- ments the prisoner was arraigned at the bar, being brought thither by the Lieutenant of the Tower (for at that time the stocks were graced with that name) ; and the Sheriff impannelled a jury of twenty-four gentlemen, that were to give their verdict upon the evidence given. The prisoner appealed to the Prince his Excellency for justice; and humbly desired that it would please his Highness to understand the truth of the matter by his supplication, which he had ready to be offered to the Master of the Requests. The Prince gave leave to the Master of the Requests, that he should read the petition ; wherein was a disclosure of all the knavery and jug- gling of the Attorney and Solicitor, which had brought all this law-stuff on purpose to blind the eyes of his Ex- cellency and all the honourable Court there, going about to make them think that those things which they all saw and perceived sensibly to be in very deed done, and actually performed, were nothing else but vain illusions, fancies, dreams, and enchantments, and to be wrought and compassed by the means of a poor harmless wretch, that never had heard of such great matters in all his life: whereas the very fault was in the negligence of the 32 Prince's Council, Lords, and Officers of his State, that had the rule of the roast, and by whose advice the Com- monwealth was so soundly misgoverned. To prove these things to be true, he brought divers instances of great absurdities committed by the greatest: and made such allegations as could not be denied. These were done by some that were touched by the. Attorney and Solicitor in their former proceedings, and they used the prison- er's names for means of quittance with them in that behalf. But the Prince and States-men (being pinched on both sides by both parties) were not a little otf ended at the great liberty that they had taken in censuring so far of his Highness 's government; and thereupon the prisoner was freed and pardoned, the Attorney, Solicitor, Master of the Requests, and those that were acquainted with the draught of the petition, were all of. them com- manded to the Tower; so the Lieutenant took charge of them. And this was the end of our law-sports, concern- ing the Night of Errors. When we were wearied with mocking thus at our own follies, at length there was a great consultation had for the recovery of our lost honour. It was then concluded, that first the Prince's Council should be reformed, and some graver conceipts should have their places, to ad- vise upon those things that were propounded to be done afterward. Therefore, upon better consideration, there were divers plots and devices intended against the Friday after the New-year's-day, being the 3d of January; and, to prevent all unruly tumults, and former inconveniences, there was provided a watch of armed men, to ward at the four ports; and whifflers to make good order under the four Barons; and the Lord Warden to over-see them all; that none but those that were of good condition might 33 be suffered to be let into the Court. And the like of- ficers were every where appointed. On the 3d of January at night, there was a most honourable presence of great and noble personages, that came as invited to our Prince; as namely, the Eight Honourable the Lord Keeper, the Earls of Shrewsbury, Cumberland, Northumberland, Southampton, and Es- sex; the Lords Buckhurst, Windsor, Mountjoy, Sheffield, Compton, Eich, Burleygh, Mounteagle, and the Lord Thomas Howard; Sir Thomas Henneage, Sir Eobert Cecill ; with a great number of knights, ladies, and very worshipful personages; all which had convenient places, and very good entertainment, to their good liking and contentment. When they were all thus placed and settled in very good order, the Prince came into the Hall with his wonted state, and- ascended his throne at the high end of the Hall, under his Highness 's arms; and after him came the Ambassador of Templaria, with his train likewise, and was placed by the Prince as he was before ; his train also had places reserved for them, and were provided for them particularly. Then, after a variety of musick, they were presented with this device. At the side of the Hall, behind a curtain, was erected an altar to the Goddess of Amity ; her arch-flamen ready to attend the sacrifice and incense that should, by her servants, be offered unto her : round about the same sate Nymphs and Fairies, with instruments of musick, and made very pleasant melody with viols and voices, and sang hymns and prayses to her deity. Then issued forth of another room the first pair of friends, which were Theseus and Perithous ; they came in arm in arm, and offered incense upon the altar to their 34 Goddess, which shined and burned very clear, without blemish; which being done they departed. Then likewise came Achilles and Patroclus ; after them, Pylades and Orestes; then Scipio and Lelius: and all these did, in all things, as the former; and so departed. Lastly, were presented Grains and Templarius; and they two came lovingly, arm in arm, to the altar, and offered their incense as the rest, but the Goddess did not accept of their service; which appeared by the troubled smoak, and dark vapour, that choaked the flame, and smothered the clear burning thereof. Hereat, the arcli- flamen, willing to pacifie the angry Goddess, preferred certain mystical ceremonies and invocations, and com- manded the nymphs to sing some hymns of pacification to her deity, and caused them to make proffer of their devo- tion again; which they did, and then the flame burnt more clear than at any time before, and continued longer in brightness and shining to them than to any of those pairs of friends that had gone before them ; and so they departed. Then the arch-flamen did pronounce Grayus and Tem- plarius to be as true and perfect friends, and so familiarly united and linked with the bond and league of sincere friendship and amity, as ever were Theseus and Peri- thous, Achilles and Patroclus, Pylades and Orestes, or Scipio and Laelius; and therewithal did further divine, that this love should be perpetual. And, lastly, de- nounced a heavy curse on them that shall any way go about to break or weaken the same; and an happiness to them that study and labour to eternize it for ever. So, with sweet and pleasant melody, the curtain was drawn as it was at first. Thus was this shew ended, which was devised to that end, that those that were present might understand, that 35 the unkindness which was growing betwixt the Tem- plarians and us, by reason of the former Night of Errors and the uncivil behaviour wherewith they were enter- tained, as before I have partly touched, was now clean rooted out and forgotten, and that we now were more firm friends, and kind lovers, than ever before we had been, contrary to the evil reports that some enviers of our happiness had sown abroad. The Prince then spake to the Ambassador, that the shew had contented him exceedingly; the rather, that it appeared thereby, that their ancient amity was so fresh and flourishing, that no friendship in the world hath been compared to the love and good-will of the Grayans and Templarians. And to the end that he might shew that the conceipt was pleasing unto him, his Highness offered the Lord Ambassador, and some of his retinue, with the Knighthood of the Helmet, an Order of his own institution. To that end his Excellency called to him his King at Arms, and willed him to place the Ambassador, and some of his followers, and also some of his own Court, that they might receive the dignity at his hands ; which being done^ and the Master of the Jewels attending with the Collar of the Order, the Prince came down from his chair of state, and took a collar, and put it about the Lord Am- bassador's neck, he kneeling down on his left knee; and said to him, "Sois Chivalor:" and so was done to the rest, to the number of twenty-four. So the Prince and the Lord Ambassador took their places again in their chairs, and the rest according to their condition. Then Helmet, his Highness 's King at Arms, stood before the Prince, in his surcoat of arms, and caused the trumpets to sound, and made his speech ; as doth follow : 36 "The most mighty and puissant Prince, Sir Henry, my gracious Lord and Sovereign Prince of Piirpoole, Archduke of StapuUa and Bernardia, Duke of High and Nether Holhorn, Marquis of St. Giles's and Tottenham, Count Palatine of Bloomshury and Clerkenwell, Great Lord of the Cantons of Islington, Kentish Toivn, Pad- dington, and Knight' s-bridge, hath heretofore, for the special gracing of the nobility of his realm, and honour- ing the deserts of strangers, his favourites, instituted a most honourable Order of Knighthood of the Helmet, whereof his Honour is Sovereign, in memory of the arms he beareth, worthily given to one of his noble ancestors, many years past, for saving the life of his then Sov- ereign ; in regard that as the Helmet def endeth the chief- est part of the body, the head ; so did he guard and defend the sacred person of the Prince, the head of the state. His Highness at this time had made choice of a number of vertuous and noble personages, to admit them into his honourable Society; whose good example may be a spur and encouragement to the young nobility of his dominions, to cause them to aspire to the heighth of all honourable deserts. "To the honourable Order are annexed strict rules of arms, and civil government, religiously to be observed by all those that are admitted to this dignity. You therefore, most noble Gentlemen, whom his Highness at this time so greatly honoureth with his Royal Order, you must every one of you kiss your helmet, and thereby promise and vow to observe and practice, or otherwise, as the case shall require, shun and avoid all these con- stitutions and ordinances, which, out of the records of my Office of Arms, I shall read unto you." Then the King at Arms took his book, and turned to the articles of the orders; and read them, as followeth: 37 ** Imprimis, Every Knight of this honourable Order, whether he be a natural subject, or stranger born, shall promise never to bear arms against his Highness 's sacred person, nor his state; but to assist him in all his lawful wars, and maintain all his just pretences and titles; especially, his Highness 's title to the land of the Ama zons, d {sic) the Cape of Good Hope. "Item, no Knight of this Order shall, in point of honour, resort to any grammar-rules out of the books J)e Dullo, or such like," but shall, out of his own brave mind, and natural courage, deliver himself from scorns, iis to his own discretion shall seem convenient. ''Item, no Knight of this Order shall be inquisitive towards any lady or gentlewoman, whether her beauty be English or Italian, or whether, with care-taking, she have added half a foot to her stature ; but shall take all to the best. Neither shall any Knight of the aforesaid Order presume to affirm, that faces were better twenty years ago than they are at this present time, except such Knights have passed three climaeterical years. "Item, eve rie Knight of this Order is bound to perform all requisite and manly service, be it night-service, or otherwise, as the case requireth, to all ladies and gen- tlewomen, beautiful by nature or by art ; ever offering his aid, without any demand thereof ; and if in case he fail to so do, he shall be deemed a match of disparagement to any his Highness 's widows, or wards-female; and his Ex- cellency shall in justice forbear to make any tender of him to any such ward or widow. "Item, no Knight of this Order shall procure any let- ters from his Highness to any widow or maid, for his enablement and commendation to be advanced to mar- riage ; but all prerogative, wooing set apart, shall for ever cease, as to any of these Knights, and shall be left to the common laws of this land, declared by the statute, Quia Electiones liberae esse debent. "Item, no Knight of this honorable Order, in case he shall grow into decay, shall procure from his Highness relief and sustentation, any monopolies or privileges, ex- cept only these kinds following: that is to say, Upon every tobacco-pipe, not being one foot wide ; upon every lock that is w^orn, not being seven feet long ; upon every health that is drunk, not being of a glass five foot deep ; and upon every maid in his Highness 's province of Islington, continuing a virgin after the age of fourteen years, contrary to the use and custom in that place always liad and observed. "Item, no Knight of this Order shall have any more than one mistress, for whose sake he shall be allowed to wear three colours: but, if he will have two mistresses, then must he wear six colours ; and so forward, after the rate of three colours to a mistress. "Item, no Knight of this Order shall put out any money upon strange returns or performances to be made by his own person ; as, to hop up the stairs to the top of St. Paul's, without intermission; or any other such like agilities or endurances, except it may appear that the same performances or practices do enable him to some service or employment; as, if he do undertake to go a journey backward, the same shall be thought to enable him to be an Ambassador into Turkey. "Item, no Knight of this Order, that hath had any licence to travel into foreign countries, be it by map, card, sea, or land, and hath returned from thence, shall presume upon the warrant of a traveller, to report any extraordinary varieties ; as, that he hath ridden through Venice on horse-back post ; or that in December he sailed by the Cape of Norway; or that he hath travelled over ^ the most part of the countries of Geneva; or such like hyperbolies, contrary to the statute, Propterea quod qui diversos terrarum ambitus errent S vagantur, Sc. "Item, every Knight of this Order shall do his en- deavour to be much in the books of the worshipful citi- zens of the principal city, next adjoining to the terri- tories of Purpoole; and none shall unlearnedly, or with- out looking, pay ready money for any wares, or other things pertaining to the gallantness of his Honour's Court; to the ill example of others, and utter subversion of credit betwixt man and man. ''Item, every Knight of this Order shall apply himself to some or other vertuous quality or ability of learning^ honour, and arms ; and shall not think it sufficient to come into his Honour's Presence-Chamber in good apparel only, or to be able to keep company at play and gaming ; for such it is already determined, that they be put and taken for implements of household, and are placed in his Honour's Inventory. "Item, every Knight of this Order shall endeavour to add conference and exrience {sic) by reading; and therefore shall not only read and peruse Guizo, the French Academy, Galiatto the Courtier, Plutarch, the Arcadia, and the Neoterical Writers, from time to time; but also frequent the Theatre, and such like places of experience ;. and resort to the better sort of ordinaries for conference -y. whereby they may not only become accomplished with civil conversations, and able to govern a table with dis- course ; but also sufficient, if need be, to make epigrams,, emblems, and other devices, appertaining to his Honour's learned revels. "Item, no Knight of this Order shall give out what gracious words the Prince hath given him, nor leave word at his chamber, in case any come to speak with him, that 40 he is above with his Excellency : nor cause his man, when; lie shall be in any public assembly, to call him suddenly to go to the Prince, nor cause any packet of letters to be brought at dinner or supper time, nor say that he had the refusal of some great office, nor satisfy suitors, to say, his Honour is not in any good disposition, nor make any narrow observation of his Excellency's nature and fash- ions, as if he were inward privately with his Honour;; contrary to the late inhibition of selling of smoak. ''Item, no Knight of this Order shall be armed, for the safeguard of his countenance, with a pipe in his mouth, in the nature of a tooth-picker, or with any^ weapon in his hand, be it stick, plume, wand, or any such like ; neither shall he draw out of his pocket any book or paper, to read for the same intent ; neither shall he retain any extraordinary shrug, nod, or other familiar motion or gesture, to the same end ; for his Highness, of his gracious clemency, is disposed to lend his countenance to all such Knights as are out of countenance. ''Item, no Knight of this Order, that weareth fustian, cloth, or such statute-apparel, for necessity, shall pretend' to wear the same for the new fashion's sake. ' ' Item, no Knight of this Order, in walking the streets,. or other places of resort, shall bear his hands in his pockets of his great rolled hose, with the Spanish wheel, if it be not either to defend his hands from the cold, or else to guard forty shillings sterling, being in the same pockets. "Item, no Knight of this Order shall lay to pawn his Collar of Knighthood for an hundred pounds ; and, if he do, she shall be, ipso facto, discharged; and it shall be- lawful for any man whatsoever, that will retain the same Collar for the sum aforesaid, forthwith to take upon him the said Knighthood, by reason of a secret vertue in the' 41 Collar; for in this Order, it is liolden for a certain rule, that the Knighthood foUoweth the Collar, and not the Collar the Knighthood. "Item, that no Knight of this Order shall take upon him the person of a male-content, in going with a more private retinue than appertaineth to his degree, and using but special obscure company, and commending none but men disgraced, and out of office ; and smiling at good news, as if he knew something that were not true; and making odd notes of his Highness 's reign, and for- mer governments; or saying, that his Highness 's sports were well sorted with a Play of Errors; and such like pretty speeches of jest, to the end that he may more safely utter his malice against his Excellency's happiness; upon pain to be present at all his Excellency's most glorious Triumphs. "Lastly, all the Knights of this honourable Order, and the renowned Sovereign of the same, shall yield all hom- age, loyalty, unaffected admiration, and all humble serv- ice, of what name or condition soever, to the incompar- able Empress of the Fortunate Island." When the King at Arms had read all these articles of the Order of the Knighthood, and finished the cere- monies belonging to the same, and that every one had taken their places as before, there was a variety of con- sort-musick; and in the mean while, the Knights of the Order which were not strangers brought into the hall a running banquet, in very good order, and gave it to the Prince, and Lords, and other Strangers, in imitation of the feast that belongeth to all such honourable institu- tions. This being done, there was a table set in the midst of the stage, before the Prince's seat; and there sat six of the Lords of his Privy Council, which at that time were 42 appointed to attend, in council, the Prince's leisure. Then the Prince spake to them in this manner: "My Lords, "We have made choice of you, as our most faithful and favoured Counsellors, to advise with you, not any particular action of our State, but in general, of the scope and end whereunto you think it most for our honour, and the happiness of our State, tliat our government be rightly bent and directed ; for we mean not to do as many Princes use; which conclude of their ends out of their own honours, and take counsel only of the means. (abus- ing, for the most part, the wisdom of their Counsellors) set them the right way to tlie wrong place. But we, desir- ous to leave as little to chance or humour as may be, do now give you liberty and warrant to set before us, to what port, as it were, the ship of our government should be bounden. And this we require you to do, without either respect to our affections, or your own; neither guessing what is most agreeable with our disposition, wherein we may easily deceive you; for Princes' hearts are inscrutable: nor, on the other side, putting the case by yourselves, as if you would present us with a robe, whereof measure were taken by j^ourselves. Thus you perceive our mind, and we expect your answer." The First Counsellor advising the Exercise of War. "Most Excellent Prince, "Except there be such amongst us, as I am fully per- suaded there is none, that regardeth more his own great- ness under you, than your great (sic) over others, I think ^'' , ^ there will be little difference in the chusing for you a goal '^ worthy your vertue and power. For he that shall set before him your magnanimity and valour, supported by the youth and disposition of your body; your flourishing 43 "Court, like the horse of Troy, full of brave commanders and leaders ; your populous and man-rife provinces, over- flowing with warlike people ; your coffers, like the Indian mines when that they are first opened ; your store-houses are as sea-walls, like to Vulcan's cave ; your navy like to an huge floating city; the devotion of your subjects to your crown and person, their good agreement amongst them- selves, their wealth and provision : and then your strength and unrevocable confederation with the noble and honour- able personages, and the fame and reputation without of so rare a concurrence, whereof all the former regards do :grow: how can he think any exercise worthy of your means, but that of conquest? for, in few words, what is your strength, if you find it not? Your fortune, if you try it not? Your vertue, if you show it not? Think, ex- cellent Prince, what sense of content you found in your- self when you were first invested in our state : for though . I know your Excellency is far from vanity and lightness, yet it is the nature of all things to find rest when they come to due and proper places. But be assured of this, that this delight will languish and vanish; for power will quench appetite, and satiety will endure tediousness. But if you embrace the wars, your trophies and triumphs will be as continual coronations that will not suffer your glory and contentment to fade and wither. Then, when you have enlarged your territories, ennobled your coun- try, distributed fortunes, good or bad, at your pleasure, not only to particulars, but to cities and nations ; marked the computations of time with your expeditions and voyages, and the memory of places by your exploits and victories, in your later years you shall find a sweet respect into the adventures of your youth, you shall enjoy your reputation, you shall record your travels, and after your ■own time you shall eternize your name, and leave deep 44 foot-steps of your power in the world. To conclude, ex- -cellent Prince, and most worthy to have the titles of vic- tories added to your high and deserved titles: remem- ber, the Divines find nothing more glorious to resemble ■our state unto than warfare. All things in earnest and jest do affect a kind of victory, and all other victories are but shadows to the victories of the wars. Therefore ■embrace the wars, for they disparage you not; and be- lieve, that if any Prince do otherwise, it is either in the ^'eakness of his mind or means." The Second Counsellor, advising the Study of Phi- losophy. "It may seem. Most Excellent Prince, that my Lord, which now hath spoken, did never read the just censures of the wisest men, who compared great conquerors to great rovers and witches, whose power is in destruction, and not in preservation; else would he never have ad- vised your Excellency to become as some comet, or blaz- ing-star, which would threaten and portend nothing but death and dearth, combustions and troubles of the world. And whereas the governing faculties of men are two, force and reason; whereof the one is brute, and the other divine, he wisheth you for your principal ornament and regality, the talons of the eagle to catch the prey, and not tlio piercing sight which seeth into the bottom of the sea: but I, contrarywise, v/ill wish unto your Highness the exercise of the best and purest part of the mind, and the most innocent and meriting request, being the con- quest of the works of nature ; making his proportion, that yon bend the excellency of your spirics to the searching out, inventing, and discovering of all whatsoever is hid in secret in the w^orld, that your Excellency be not as a lamp that shineth to others, and yet seeth not itself; but 45 l/- as the eye of the world, that both carrieth and useth light. Antiquity, that presenteth unto ns in dark visions the wisdom of former times, informetli us, that the kingdoms have always had an affinity with the secrets and mys- teries of learning. Amongst the Persians, the Kings were attended on by the Magi ; the Gymnasophists had all the government under the Princes of Asia; and generally those kingdoms were accounted most happy, that had rulers most addicted to philosophy: the Ptolemies of Egypt may be for instance; and Solyman was a man so seen in the universality of nature, that he wrote an herbal of all that was green upon the earth. No conquest of Julius Caesar made him so remembered as the Calendar. Alexander the Great wrote to Aristotle upon the pub- lishing of the Physicks, that he esteemed more of excel- lent men in knowledge, than in empire. And to this pur- pose I will commend to your Highness four principal works and monuments of yourself: First, the collecting of a most perfect and general library, wherein whatso- ever the wit of man hath heretofore committed to books of worth, be they ancient or modern, printed or manu- script, European or of the other parts, of one or other language, may be made contributary to your wisdom. ^ Next, a spacious, wonderful garden, wherein whatsoever plant, the sun of divers climates, out of the earth of divers moulds, either wild, or by the culture of man, brought forth, may be, with that care that appertaineth to the good prospering thereof, set and cherished. This garden to be built about with rooms, to stable in all rare beasts, and to cage in all rare birds; with two lakes adjoining, the one of fresh water, and the other of salt, for like va- riety of fishes : and so you may have, in a small compass, a model of universal nature made private. The third a goodlv huge cabinet, wherein whatsoever the hand of man, by exquisite art or engine, hath made rare in stuff, form, or motion, whatsoever singularity, chance, and the shtiffle of things hath produced, whatsoever nature hath wrought in things that want life, and may be kept, shall be sorted and included. The fourth, such a Still-house so furnished with mills, instruments, furnaces, and ves- sels, as may be a Palace lit for a philosopher's stone. Thus when your Excellency shall have added depth of knowledge to the fineness of spirits, and greatness of your power, then indeed shall you lay a Trismegistus ; and then, when all other miracles and wonders shall cease, by reason that you shall have discovered their natural causes, yourself shall be left the only miracle and wonder of the world." The Third Counsellor, advising Eternizement and Fame, by Buildings and Foundations. "My Lords that have already spoken, most excellent Prince, have both used one fallacy, in taking that for cer- tain and granted, which was most uncertain and doubt- ful: for the one hath neither drawn in question the suc- cess and fortune of the wars; nor the other, the difficul- ties and errors in the conclusions of nature: but these immoderate hopes and promises do many times issue from those of the wars, into tragedies of calamities and distresses; and those of mystical philosophy, into come- dies of ridiculous frustrations and disappointments of such conceipts and curiosities: but, on the other side, in one point my Lords have well agreed, that they both, according to their several intentions, counselled your Excellency to win fame, and to eternize your name; though the one adviseth it in a course of great peril, and the other, of little dignity and magnificence. But the plain and approved way that is safe, and yet proportion- 47 at)le to the greatness of a Monarch, to present himself to posterity, is not rumour and hear-say; but the usual memory of himself, is the magnificence of goodly and Uoyal buildings and foundations, and the new institutions -of orders, ordinances, and societies: that is, that your coin be stamped with your own image; so in every part of your State there may be somewhat new; which by •continuance may make the founder and author remem- bered. It was perceived at the first, when men sought to cure mortality by fame, that buildings was the only way ; and thereof proceeded the known holy antiquity of build- ing the Tower of Babel; which, as it was a sin in the immoderate appetite of fame, so was it punished in the kind; for the diversities of languages have imprisoned fame ever since. As for the pyramids, the colosses, the number of temples, colleges, bridges, aqueducts, castles, theatres, palaces, and the like, they may shew us, that men ever mistrusted any other way to fame than this only, of works and monuments. Yea, even they which had the best choice of other means. Alexander did not think his fame so engraven in his conquests, but that he thought it further shined in the buildings of Alexandria. Augustus Csesar thought no man had done greater things in military actions than himself; yet that which, at his death, ran most in his mind, was his buildings ; when he said, not as some mistake it, metaphorically, but literally, ^I found the City of brick, but I leave it of marble.' Constantine the Great was wont to call with envy the Emperor Trajan 'AVall-flower,' because his name was upon so many buildings; which, notwithstanding, he him- sielf did embrace in the new founding of Constantinople, and sundry other buildings: and yet none greater con- querors than these two. And surely they had reason; for the fame of great actions is like to a land-flood, wl^ch hath no certain head or spring, but the memory and fame of buildings and foundations hath, as it were, a fountain in an hill, which continually feedeth and refresheth the other waters. Neither do I, excellent Prince, restrain my Speeches to dead buildings only, but intend it also to other foundations, institutions, and creations; wherein 1 presume the more to speak confidently, because I am warranted herein by your own wisdom, who have made the first fruits of your actions of state, to institute the honourable Order of the Helmet ; the less shall I need to say, leaving your Excellency not so much to follow my advice, as your own example." Tne Fourth Councellor, advising Absoluteness of State and Treasure. "Let it not seem pusillanimity for your Excellency, mighty Prince, to descend a little from your high thoughts to a necessary consideration of your own estate. Neither do you deny. Honourable Lords, to acknowledge safety, profit, and power, to be of the substance of policy, and fame and honour rather to be as flowers of well- ordered actions, than as good guides. Now if you ex- amine the courses propounded according to these re- spects, it must be confessed, that the course of wars may seem to increase power, and the course of contemplations and foundations not prejudice safety; but if you look beyond the exterior, you shall find that the first breeds weakness, and the latter note peril : for certain it is, dur- ing wars, your Excellency will be enforced to your soul- •diers, and generally to your people, and become less abso-. lute and monarchical than if you reigned in peace ; and then if your success be good, that you make new con-