Literary Record 17
[From Huntington Library MS, HM 198 part 2.]
Bland (2005a), 165-7, argues that the unfortunate who
has suffered disgrace at Windsor is Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, whose investiture
as
Garter Knight in May 1606 was attended with so much pomp that it angered the King.
By contrast,
Moore (1995) argues that this person was Robert
Devereux, third Earl of Essex, whose colours were white and orange-tawny and who was
who was
forced to declare his impotence at a divorce hearing at Windsor in 1613. The fact
that the two
plays referred to in the poem, "the fawne", John Marston's Parasitaster, or The
Fawn, printed 1606, and the "fleere", Edward Sharpham, The Fleer,
performed 1606 and printed 1607, would have been topical in 1606, but not in 1613,
makes the
1606 date more likely. In the poem 'Bretons Common Talke' probably refers to one of
Nicholas
Breton's compilations (Chambers (1930), 223).
The poem 'appears to have had very limited circulation' (Bland, 2005a, 157) making the reference to Shakespeare private rather than public and
so all the more significant. In his edition Bland adds a full stop after "our heires
shall
heare", but this is not followed below, as this seems to divide a sentence unnecessarily
and
leave the next two lines stranded.
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To Mr: Ben: Ionson.
Neither to follow fashion, nor to showe
My witt against the state, nor that I knowe
Any thing newe (with which I am with childe
Till I have tolde), nor hopinge to be stilde
A good Epistler through the towne (with which
I might be famous), nor with any itch
Like these, wrote I this Letter; but to showe
The Loue I carry, and me thinkes I owe
To you aboue the number, which will best,
In somethinge which I vse not, be exprest.
To write this, I invoke none but the Post
Of Douer, or some carriers pistlinge ghost;
For if this equall but that stile which men
Send cheese to towne with, and thankes downe agen,
'Tis all I seeke for: heere, I would lett slipp
(If I had any in me) schollershippe,
And from all learninge leaue these lines as cleare
As Shakespeares best are, which our heires shall heare
Preachers cite to theire Auditors to shewe
How farr sometimes a mortall man may goe
By the dimme light of Nature. 'Tis to me
An help to write of nothing; and as free
As he whose Text was, God made all; that is,
I meane to speake: what doe you think of his
State, who hath now the last, that he could make
In white and oringe-tawney on his backe
At Windsor? is not his misery more
Then a falne sharers that now keepes a dore?
Has not his state almost as wretched beene
As his that is ordeyned to write the Grinne
After the Fawne, and Fleire, shallbe? as sure
Some one there is allotted to endure
That crosse! There are some I could wish to knowe,
To Loue and keepe with, if they would not showe
Their studies to me; or I wish to see
Their workes to laugh att, if they suffer me
Not to knowe them: and thus I would commerce
With honest Poetes that make scuruy verse.
By this time, you perceiue you did amisse
To leaue your worthier studies to see this,
Which is more tedious to you, then to walke
In a Iewes Church, or Bretons Common talke:
But know I write not these lines to th'end
To please Ben: Ionson, but to please my frend.
(Bland, 2005a, 174-5)