Updates
February 2, 2017: In London Review of Books, February 2, 2017, "How Do We Know Her? by Hilary Mantel; essay on Margaret Pole: The Countess in the Tower, by Susan Higginbotham, August, 2016.
- Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury
- a Plantagent
- daughter of a Duke; niece of two kings: Edward IV and Richard III
- father: Shakespeare's "false, fleeting, perjured Clarence" who died in the Tower of London at the age of 29
- mother: the great heiress Isabel Neville, died in 1476 after giving birth to a fourth child;
- after Richard III seized the throne, he sent Margaret and her brother to Yorkshire; they were of use to him; their maternal family, the Nevilles, commanded allegiance in the north
- after Richard III was killed, Margaret came to court under the new regime; in 1486 she attended the christening of Arthur, the first Tudor prince; there are only glimpses of her in these years: "my lady Margaret of Clarence"
- granddaughter of the Earl of Warwick, "the Kingmaker"
- born in 1473; survived under the first Tudor and thrived under the second, until she and her family, long suspected of plots against the regime, were destroyed
- "above 80 years old" (others said she was 90) when Henry VIII had her beheaded; in fact, she was 67
- seven years after the execution (by drowning) of her father, her uncle Richard III was defeated at Bosworth by Henry Tudor
- her brother was Edward, Earl of Warwick, who at age 12, was a pretender to the throne; crowned at Dublin; many pretenders to the throne during Henry VII's reign; children of those in the tower by Richard III could have escaped; said they were the real heirs to the throne
Original Post
Perhaps one of the most fascinating books I have ever read is Brenda James' The Truth Will Out: Unmasking the Real Shakespeare, softcover, 2006).
It was one of the few hardcover books I ever bought and worth every penny. I heartily recommend it to anyone curious about the real author who signed his name as William Shakespeare.
I bring it up again because I see Brenda James has another book out, Henry Neville and The Shakespeare Code. It has only two reviews on Amazon.uk and only two reviews at Amazon.com (US). I was tempted to overlook this book based on one review at the UK site, but after reading the first review at the US site, this is a "must-have" book.
There is no question in my mind that Brenda James has stumbled upon the real Shakespeare. But the myths are too well established for this to change the teaching in high schools around the world, at least in my lifetime.
***************************
The Truth Will Out
Brenda James
Note: These are my notes from my journal. Do not use them for your research -- factual and typographical errors, as well as copyright / plagiarism issues.
Brenda James:
Sir Henry Neville – facility at languages and master of disguise – probably a spy while ambassador to France; much of Shakespearian plays include disguise, spies, etc (275)
Neville felt the Queen (Elizabeth) did NOT like him (he ended up in the Tower).
I’m re-reading Brenda James’ The Truth Will Out – of course I have read no other books on Shakespeare of this subject (authorship) so perhaps I am lulled by only one half of the story. However – this is almost like comparing creation with evolution. Science teaches that which can be tested: creation cannot be tested. Likewise, other than the works, a will and a bit (a very small bit) of his bio, we know nothing of Shakespeare – he wrote nothing else and he signed nothing else except his will. His plays/sonnets just appeared – as he would say – “out of thin air” – creation.
On the other hand, much is known about Sir Henry Neville (for the good researcher) and he left a lot behind in writings – he was Queen Elizabeth’s ambassador to France, and he was an entrepreneur – a partner in the Virginia Company – the traders setting up shop in Virginia. The works of “Shakespeare” can be “tested” against Sir Henry Neville; nothing can be “tested” against Shakespeare.
Wow –
“Touching - often used in diplomatic circles and in Henry V, pp. 297 – 298.
“Bruits” (partially substantiated rumors) – often used in diplomatic circles but seldom elsewhere – Henry I, p. 302.
Bruits – also a word often used in “Shakespeare”, p. 302
“David Hume, the Scottish philosopher, was later to note that Neville’s was the best and liveliest diplomatic style he had ever read. It may also be seen just how frequently Neville changes his spelling – he will happily spell the same word differently on the same page.” P. 303 and more
Dates
- Shakespeare: 1564 – 1616
- Henry Neville: 1562 – 1615 (birth date somewhat uncertain, 1562 or 1564, but 1562 more likely)
- Sir Francis Bacon: 1561 – 1626
- Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford: 1550 – 1604
1623: seven years after his death, a folio appears – The First Folio – does not mention his family in Stratford. No copies of the folio or his works left with his family – though it would not have mattered – his 2 daughters were illiterate!!
This reminds me of Gribbon’s book on evolution – human predecessor – I need to find that book to see how he phrased the question (see top of p. 3).
At this point, I don’t think anyone truly believes that this Stratfordian wrote the plays/sonnets – the question is, who did? The latter is the only question.
Brenda James: 3-fold argument
- Shakespeare: his own education – “none”
- Shakespeare – career as a writer; impossible to have experienced royal life which is center of so many of his plays [no evidence he was a writer]
- Shakespeare – ages, and the plays evolve – do the plays evolve with someone else? p. 3
The Bellot-Mountjoy deposition – discovered by American husband / wife team Charles Wallce (1865 – 1932) and Hilda Wallace; nine years in London (1907 – 1916) – pored over 5 million documents at the Public Record Office. 1909 – discovered the B-M lawsuit –“the sixth known signature of William Shakespeare, and the last to be discovered prior to the end of the 20th century” – p. 19Tyre-maker (tire-maker): women’s wig-like headdresses (the English word for the automobile "tire" comes from the English "wig-like headdress."
Mountjoy – where Shakespeare lodged for two years – 1602 – 1604 – near the end of his life – he left London in 1611.
As I read and re-read Brenda James, I am really struck by her research – there is just no way – in my mind – anyone can debate here. Again, there is nothing known about Shakespeare – he is created – there is nothing to teach (like creation); there is nothing to learn, there is nothing to test about Shakespeare himself.
1581, the will of Alexander Houghton – mentions a “Shakeshaft” – if so – 17 y/o – Lea, Lancashire – what was Shakespeare doing there??
Brenda James destroys this trivial bit of “evidence for Shakespeare" – even if it were true – so what? It’s only about how a man entered the acting world.
1596: “Shakespeare” named in criminal suit (32 y/o) – inconsequential piece of trivia – adds nothing.
James notes that a) Shakespeare is the most researched playwright ever; and, b) those 3 items above are the only significant items which “have been learned about Shakespeare of Stratford since the late Victorian period.” (p. 25)
“The totality of Shakespeare’s written works in his handwriting remains as it was in 1910: six known signatures, all on legal documents.” (p. 25)
Brenda James lays down the challenge to Stratfordians:
1) the evidence for Shakespeare as a writer is more than meager -- it is non-existent. Find some proof (that he was a writer).
2) If any new important information is found, it is “likely to relate in great part to the subject of [her] book and his relationship with the true author of Shakespeare’s works.” (p. 27)
3) The third point “to be made against S. of S. as the author is the complete lack of any nexus between his life and the evolutionary development of his plays: the two appear to be so wholly unconnected that it is difficult that they truly converge at any point.” (p. 27)
“S” – 4 phases –
- The young playwright, c. 1588 – 1594 (24 – 30 years of age), comedies and romances
- The author of triumphalist plays, c. 1595 – 1600 (31 – 36 years of age)
- The great tragedian, c. 1601 – 1606 (37 – 42 years of age)
- The ‘problem plays,” c. 1606 – 1613 (42 – 49 years of age): emphasizing the necessity of forgiveness before reaching a final reconciliation, even a return to earlier forms, as in The Tempest and Henry VIII.
(Earlier she noted the authorship debate – most open debate – is in American, not Britain. This allows American authors a chance to “invade” Brit Lit turf – will American researchers take the lead? This should be fun to watch –
S.’s son Hamnet died 1596 – immediate plays –“his most joyous work – Falstaff, Rosaline & Orland, Beatrice & Benedick, and Sir Toby Belch.” All plays in which Falstaff appears – written between 1597 – 1599 – immediately after death of S.’s son.
1601 – S.’s father dies – son/father close – but S. left nothing in memoriam to his father (aged 70). We would not know of father's death except for a routine 2-line entry in the parish register (p. 29).
“C-Dedicatees” of the First Folio –
- William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke
- Essex Rebellion, 1601: an attempt to compel Queen Elizabeth to name a Protestant to the throne; failed miserably; Essex executed; Southampton jailed for life in the Tower; Sir Henry Neville jailed (both subsequently released).
Richard II: about deposing an English king – played at 40 theaters the eve before the revolution; Shakespeare neither arrested nor interviewed.
While Henry Neville, after a failed Essex rebellion and jailed, was writing Hamlet (1602), Troilus and Cressida (1602 – 03), the real Shakespeare was buying 127 acres of land in Old Stratford.
Remember: “the great divide of 1601” – perhaps the question that drove Brenda James and the answer that ultimately solved the authorship question.
Sir Francis Bacon, d. 1626 – lived way too long after last play written (p. 31)
Earl of Oxford, d. 1604 – died too soon – at least one play yet to be written
Primary sources.
Documents requiring more study:
The Tower Notebook of 1602; held by the Lincolnshire Record Office! – p44ff.
Almoner = an official distributor of alms.
Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn QE
Probably outlined Henry VIII about 1601 – 1603 (Tower Notebook) – not written or performed until 1613 – probably co-written with John Fletcher
Halle’s Chronicles (p. 50ff) – a copy bought in 1990!! (p. 50) 16th century work – English history universally regarded as one of the major sources of S.’s history plays. (Maybe more influential than Holinshed’s Chronicles. Wow – serendipity and coincidence of Keen’s purchase of a copy of Halle’s Chronicles and subsequent connection with the Worsley family (Sir Richard Worsley Henry Neville’s son-in-law!). Worsley’s may have been friends with the Herberts – patrons of the First Folio (p. 51).
Bacon and Neville: The Northumberland Manuscript (p. 51) – discovered in 1867 in mansion of the Dukes of Northumberland –
“honorificabiletudine”
(Love’s Labour’s Lost) – probably dates from 1598 – 1599 (p. 52)
“provenance” = the place of origin or earliest known history of something; is the chronology of the ownership, custody or location of a historical object;
Provenance unknown
No Duke of Northumberland related to Sir Francis Bacon. But –
But family tree – John Nevill, Lord Latimer, the very man mentioned in the “coronation” extract from the Tower Notebook (p. 52/45) was a distant relative of Henry Neville. John Neville was father of Katherine (d. 1585) who married Henry Percy. Katherine and Henry had son who married sister of Early of Essex / Essex uprising!!
So, Brenda James’ book so far:
- argument that S’s character and background precluded his ability to write a play
- three (3) primary sources as documentary evidence of a) The Tower Notebook of 1602; b) Halle’s Chronicles with marginalia in hands of a family associated with Neville; and, c) Northumberland Manuscript (Bacon, Neville, Shakespeare) found in mansion of dukes of Northumberland – found in 1867 – family related to Nevilles – and very close relationship (by marriage) to Earl of Essex (of the Essex uprising)
- the rest of the book will concern full biography of Sir Henry Neville and point-by-point linking his life with Shakespeare’s works.
- extremely well-educated, from a wealthy and powerful family, top govt servant, spoke French as well as English
- 1577 – 1581 (or 1578 – 1582) [see p. 69 15 – 19 years of age; or age 13 – 17] – grand tour of continent – particularly Italy and France – with Oxford scholar – purpose – procure books and manuscripts for Merton library. An academic tour.
- 6 well-educated daughters of whom he was particularly fond! Strong sisters of his own; wife – one of the famous “Cooke girls” of Gide Hall, who were known as the most educated ladies in England
- distant relationship with Wm Shakespeare through Shakespeare’s mother Mary Arden whose family claimed a relationship with the Barons Bergavenny (Neville’s grandfather)
- Neville – lifelong friend / ally of Lord Southampton, Wm Shakespeare’s patron – they were imprisoned together – remember Southampton the patron of the person who wrote the works!
- Southampton and Neville – fellow directors of the London Virginia Company
- Neville’s nickname in later years was Falstaff. Falstaff’s original name: Old Castle – obvious pun on Neville (new ville) – and it goes on and on … p. 59ff – Hamlet was about the Essex rebellion (wrote in the Tower); Measure for Measure – 1st play after leaving the Tower (1603, freed by James I); references his experience in the Tower.
- 7 – 8 years after he died, Neville’s family apparently commissioned Ben Jonson to coordinate the writing of the dedicatory material for the First Folio. The family procured a prestigious position for Jonson at Gresham College (London) – founded by Neville’s great uncle.
Chapter 3
Nevilles – a major power in the north of England – rivaled the Pericles (whey they intermarried). Also married into royalty – a descendant of John of Gaunt (Lancaster). “Neville was thus related to ALL the kings and MOST of their senior liegeman depicted in Shakespeare’s history plays.” (p. 60)
Harleian Collection (from wiki:
The Harleian Library, Harley Collection, Harleian Collection and other variants is one of the main "closed" collections of the British Library in London (formerly the library of the British Museum.
The collection is 7660 manuscripts, including 2200 illuminated manuscripts, more than 14,000 original legal documents; and more than 500 rolls.
It was formed by Robert Harley (1661–1724) and his son Edward (1689-1741). In 1753, it was purchased for £10,000 by the British government. Together with the collections of Sir Robert Cotton (the Cotton library) and Hans Sloane (the Sloane library) it formed the basis of the British Museum's collection of manuscripts, which moved to the new British Library in 1973.Harleian Collection dating from 1652 – Neville family already in decline, but previous 500 years, the Nevilles – men:
- Duke Bedford
- Marquis Montacute
- 15 earls
- 2 Archbishops (Neville) of York!!
- 2 bishops (Neville)
- many (too many to count) Lords and barons
- 100 knights Bachellors (sic)
- many knights of the Noble Order of the Bath
- Neville, queen of England (Anne/Richard III)
- also first wife of Edward Plantagenet, Prince of Wales, the only son of Henry VI
- Lady Cecily Neville the Duchess of York, mother of King Edward IV, Richard III
- From these, 7 lineally descended kings of England, two queens of Scotland, 2 queens of France, 1 queen of Spain, 1 queen of Bohemia. Princess Lady Cecily – a great aunt to Sir Henry Neville, late Lord of Abergavenny and to Sir Henry Neville, late of Billingbeare in Berkshire. Cecily – great-grandmother to King James I, the father of King Charles. “And this honor cannot be said of any other English family.”
“The Wars of the Roses, however, marked the apogee of the power and influence of the Nevilles, with many choosing the losing side in that seemingly interminable conflict.” (p. 61) – probably made longer by the nefarious Woodvilles.
Family tree. Henry Neville can trace his history back to Henry VIII, most likely. (Elsewhere, some suggestion that Sir Henry was an illegitimate son of Henry VIII; if so, a stepsister of Queen Elizabeth, and Sir Henry would have had senior rights to kingship.)
No true feudal system in England like that on the continent – close relationship between aristocracy and wealthy merchant class! (p. 68)
Birthdate of Sir Henry Neville not known for sure – 1561 – 1564. In 1577, matriculated at Merton College, 20 Dec 77, he was said to be 15 (but doubts, because he was baptized May, 1564 – why so late? – already 2 y/o?
Learned at least 41 different kinds of handwriting (p. 69) corresponding with the various secretary, court, and italic scripts used across Europe at the time.
Link with mathematics – SHN enjoyed mathematics; “… remarkably, the earliest surviving record we have of “William Shakespeare” being praised for anything was his proficiency at mathematics.” (p. 75)
Neville’s well-documented association with astronomers. (p. 76)
Continental tour – 1578 – 1582 (16 – 20 y/o); half of S’s plays were set on the continent, particularly in Italy.
Neville on the grand tour – must have taken copious notes – “a collector of phrases”
Chapter 4
Becoming William Shakespeare, 1582 -1594 20 – 34 y/o
1582: returns from the continent (about 20 years old)
1583: visits Scotland (with Earl of Essex!)
1584: MP for New Windsor (~ 22 y/o); rest of his life (except one 3-year period) – MP
Remember his wife: Anne Killegrew
The Killegrews
Landed, wealthy Cornish family
Father of Anne Killegrew – also a secret agent, a diplomat
Relationship between Neville and Shakespeare (p. 95)
The Ardens (Mary Arden – S’s mother) used the same coat of arms as the Beauchamps, Earls of Warwick.
Miscellaneous:
“The Nevilles, Killigrews, Cookes, Hobys, and Sidneys were always much more sympathetic with women and their plight than many other noble families of the time, as well as being considerably more aware of their intellectual abilities.” –p. 101.
After the tetralogy of his family (Henry VI and Richard III); then poems – Venus and Adonis, The Rape of Lucrere –
Then the seven comedies – the Italinate comedies – seven plays in the four years after 1593 – all except two categorized as “comedies” – set in places he had visited in Italy.
- Titus Andronicus
- The Two Gentlemen of Verona
- The Comedy of Errors
- The Taming of the Shrew
- Romeo and Juliet
- Love’s Labour’s Lost – set in France
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream – set in Greece
Chapter 5
The Road to the Top, 1595 – 1599
Most productive four years – 8 plays – the period ended when he was sent to France.
During this period –
- plays more profound
- created his most popular character, Falstaff
- his most patriotic play, Henry VI
Shylock – very unusual name – it is unknown among Jews – (or anyone else) – but there is a Shurlock Row in Berkshire – just 2 miles NE of Billingbear Park which Neville knew very well!!
[tire-maker: wigs – p. 109]
Merchant of Venice – most agree it is in response to the Rodrigo Lopez affair (executed 1594) – defended or gave publicity to Earl of Essex in his role in the trial and execution of Lopez – Jewish physician to QE – had attempted to kill QE on behalf of Spain.
The Falstaff Plays
Discussion of Falstaff – most famous comic character, a lovable clown – Neville aware of the need for a charismatic hero – “a man on horseback’ to rescue England.
Just before the Falstaff plays –
- King Richard II
- King John
1 Henry IV – first play featuring Falstaff. Arguably S’s most satisfyingly single play.
TMWOW – lots to say about it (p. 117 – 118).
Then – the two final plays of this period – 2 Henry IV and Henry V – considered two of his best-known plays (p. 119).
Neville (as Shakespeare) explains why he banished Falstaff in 2 Henry IV and relived England’s greatest military triumph against France in Henry V (p. 122). Hails Essex as a hero (p. 122).
Chapter 6:
Ambassador to France
1599 – 1600
Could he have written 2 -3 plays while in France?
Julius Caesar, 1599, probably written before he left for France.]
In France:
- As You Like It
- Twelfth Night
- Much Ado About Nothing – probably written earlier
As You Like It – probably in France – makes sense – written while Neville was in France. From wiki:
A pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio, 1623.
The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility. As You Like It follows its heroine Rosalind as she flees persecution in her uncle's court, accompanied by her cousin Celia to find safety and, eventually, love, in the Forest of Arden. [Think the Ardenne's Forest on the continent.]
In the forest, they encounter a variety of memorable characters, notably the melancholy traveller Jaques [the melancholy Shakespeare exiled to France] who speaks many of Shakespeare's most famous speeches (such as "All the world's a stage" and "A fool! A fool! I met a fool in the forest").
Jaques provides a sharp contrast to the other characters in the play, always observing and disputing the hardships of life in the country.
Historically, critical response has varied, with some critics finding the work of lesser quality than other Shakespearean works and some finding the play a work of great merit.
The play features one of Shakespeare's most famous and oft-quoted speeches, "All the world's a stage", and is the origin of the phrase "too much of a good thing". The play remains a favourite among audiences and has been adapted for radio, film, and musical theatre.
The piece has been a favorite for famous actors on stage and screen, notably Vanessa Redgrave, Juliet Stevenson, Rebecca Hall, Helen Mirren, and Patti LuPone in the role of Rosalind and Alan Rickman, Stephen Spinella, Kevin Kline and Stephen Dillane in the role of Jaques.
Chapter 7
The Catastrophe, 1601 – 3
The Essex Rebellion
Connection with Richard II
Hamlet in the Tower, 1601 – 1602
Was Ophelia meant to be Lady Neville? Possibly, but also possibly not – look at comments of “strong women” in the Neville family, p. 151.
Engraving by Tycho Brahe with words Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern is sent to Henry Neville, p 151.
Neville, continued, pl 151
Hamlet’s celebrated delay reflects Neville’s own difficulties in committing to the Essex rebellion. Neville was likely suicidal in the Tower.
A gap of about a year between Twelfth Night – just before the Tower – and Hamlet – in the Tower – needed a year to regain balance.
Shakespeare’s own Hamnet (or Hamlet) names for his godfather – a baker on High Street, Stratford, The son was born in 1858, 3 or 4 years before Shakespeare wrote anything. Hamnet and Hamlet an odd coincident and nothing more.
Other plays written in the Tower:
- Troilus and Cressida
- All’s Well That Ends Wells
- Possibly also in the Tower, Othello (the 2nd of his 4 great tragedies).
Chapter 8
Freedom and Disappointment, 1603 – 1608
Regained freedom, his titles, and property in 1603 – but no high position of power in King James I administration – Neville was highly disappointed.
Shakespeare never produced a tearful elegy and tribute to the memory of QE!! “By repute at least, Shakespeare was one of QE’s favorite playwrights, making his silence all the stranger.” (p. 161)
Well, it makes sense, then, when one “knows” that Sir Henry Neville is Shakespeare and Sir Henry Neville’s imprisonment due to QE.
The first of the post-Tower plays, Measure for Measure a very dark comedy – the first of the so-called “problem plays”.
After the Tower, and after a period of recovery, increasingly involved in joint stock trading companies, such as London Virginia Company (p. 170)
Increasingly in need of money.
1604 – 1608: three of his greatest tragedies – Macbeth, King Lear, and Anthony and Cleopatra and three other tragedies: Timon of Athens, Coriolanus, and Pericles, Prince of Tyre.
Macbeth – probably 1606 – de Vere died in 1604. Glaveis Castle (p. 174)
King Lear, 1607 (de Vere died in 1604). Biography of Henry Neville, “by 1608 Neville was having serious financial difficulties caused in part by his having three daughters who needed husbands and dowries.” – p. 174. Wow!
Wow – the association of Cordelia’s name with Cordell Annesley whose two sisters wanted their father declared insane so they could inherit the estate – a family related to Neville’s activities at the time!!
Chapter 9
Towards Closure: The Last Plays, the Sonnets and the Parliamentary “Undertaker”
1609 – 1615
Cymbeline (1609)
Cym: Welsh cwm
Cym beli ne: born in the valley of the Beli (Bell). Beli was the Celtic god from whom Billingbear (Neville’s home) got its name.
A character named Posthumous – but it was a real person – a Hoby who lived at Bisham Abbey – the Neville’s ancestral home.
Bisham was only two miles from Billingbear, and the Hobys and Killigrews (his wife Anne Killigrew) were related; Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, is buried at Bisham Abbey.
Winter’s Tale: 1610 – 1611 – one of his last – winding down as a playwright
Most important: relationship between the sonnets and The Tempest (p. 183)
What I like about Brenda James – she is very analytical – looks at the dates of the author’s life. She connects the dots. She is a very close reader (see the words from Act I, Sc II, The Winter’s Tale, p 182) – very close reading. How many others have seen this?
See p. 185 – 186.
Adventurer: in English commercial law, an investor in a major commercial enterprise involving risks (echo: venture capitalist) … investors in the second London Virginia Company were repeatedly described in its royal charter as “adventurers.” – wow
I like her thoughts about dedication to the sonnets – but it does seem to be a stretch at times. Interesting – the sonnets –a small pamphlet only 13 copies known to survive today; 5 pence each; maybe at most 200 were printed (1609)
In 1640 – re-printed – sonnets re-arranged and bowdlerized – “her” substituted for “him” throughout.
The first London Virginia Company – 1606 – Captain John Smith founded Jamestown. Sir Henry Neville a member of the council.
The second London Virginia Company charter, 1609 – (sonnets published in 1609).
The sonnets (p. 191): first 13 (or 17) appear to be addressed to a much-admired young man (“fair youth”) who is enjoined by the poet to marry and have children.
The Tempest – his last substantial play, 1610 or 1611.
References the famous shipwreck of the Sea-Venture, 1609, on way to Jamestown (second London Virginia Company) – wrecked on Bermuda – manuscript event circulated among the council (Neville wa a member) but it was not published for general/wide release until 1625.
A 1610/1611 play by “Shakespeare” ipso facto rules out Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, as the real author (p. 196).
The Strachey Letter: letter to the council of the second London Virginia Company about the shipwreck of the Sea-Venture on Bermuda in 1609 on way to Jamestown –
Chapter 10
Life After Death
Died 1615.
His grandson and namesake, henry Neville was the first to translate Machiavelli into English.
Contemporary writers simply said “play by Shakespeare” – since that was on the title page – but no biography ever accompanied the printed play (p. 205).
The deification of Shakespeare was incredibly slow – did not occur until 1769 – 5 years after his 200th (birthday) anniversary – Stratford Jubilee – mastermind of David Garrick, “the great actor.” (p. 205).
The first biography of William Shakespeare – not more than 40 pages long did not appear until 1709! A preface to a new edition of Shakespeare’s works.
Even S.’s famous will had not been seen by a writer or a scholar until 1747 and not published anywhere until 1763,
First Folio – 1623 – 8 years after Neville’s death, 7 after S.’s. Gigantic – 908 pages – 36 plays, 18 of where were previously unpublished.
Why was Neville not credited?
Who organized the First Folio?
Why was it produced when it was?
1) Organizer
Ben Jonson
Probably paid by the Neville family
Jonson and Neville: met at the Mitre Club (maybe earlier)
The portfolio (First Folio) is dedicated to the Earl of Pembroke – the Earl was Ben Jonson’s patron!!
Ben Jonson – known as the first Poet Laureate – though the title did not formally exist yet.
Family tree – Henry and Sir Richard Worsley.
Henry’s favorite daughter married Richard Worsley, he died suddenly in 1621. She toys with idea of a folio.
His son Henry and his favorite daughter might have had copies of the 18 previously unpublished plays (Shakespeare’s daughters – who could not read – never would have kept documents!!).
Cost of First Folio: 1 pound which = 7,000 lbs today. About 1,000 (maybe only 750) were printed. 200 survive – about 250,000 pounds today to print it.
Dedication to two brothers:
- Wm Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke
- Philip Herbert, 1st Earl of Montgomery and 4th Earl of Pembroke
It was Ben Jonson’s idea to make William Herbert, Chancellor Oxford University; and, Philip, Gentleman of the Bedchamber
What a coincidence – QE died 24 March 1603
The new year (calendars then) started 25 March – she died the last calendar day of 1603.
The Tower Notebook dated 1602.
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