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Who Wrote Shakespeare?

Donald Ostrowski (ed.)

in Who Wrote That?: Authorship Controversies from Moses to Sholokhov

This chapter concentrates on the Shakespeare authorship controversy. It examines the correlation between the literary persona that is the author of the Shakespearean corpus with the historical ... More

This chapter concentrates on the Shakespeare authorship controversy. It examines the correlation between the literary persona that is the author of the Shakespearean corpus with the historical persona that is William of Stratford. It also talks about the English schoolteacher named J. Thomas Looney, who created a profile of the author of the Shakespearean corpus based on the contents of the plays and poetry. The chapter looks into Looney's proposal that Edward de Vere is the author of the Shakespearean corpus. It also discusses the “New Criticism,” which is an approach to literature that intentionally ignores authorship or authorial intent as well as social and cultural context in favor of deep readings of the text and an aesthetic appreciation of its structure and perceived meaning.Less

Progenitors

in Monstrous Adversary: The Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

This chapter sketches Edward de Vere's progenitors. Edward's mother, Margery, Countess of Oxford, was the daughter of Sir John Golding, of the tiny rural village of Belchamp St Paul's, Essex. The ... More

This chapter sketches Edward de Vere's progenitors. Edward's mother, Margery, Countess of Oxford, was the daughter of Sir John Golding, of the tiny rural village of Belchamp St Paul's, Essex. The John de Vere who became the 16th earl was born in or about 1516. On 2 July 1536, about the age of twenty, he married Dorothy Neville, second daughter of Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland. Dorothy bore him two daughters: Katherine, born about 29 September 1538; and Faith, who died in swaddling clothes. After Dorothy's death in 1548, Earl John took a commoner as his next wife. At the time of her marriage in 1548, Margery Golding was at least twenty–two. Margery must have been very beautiful, very sexy, or both, for the 16th Earl married her under circumstances that imply reckless passion.Less

The Earl is Dead

in Monstrous Adversary: The Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

This chapter details events before and after the death of John de Vere, 16th Earl of Oxford. On 3 August 1562 John de Vere died, in his mid–forties, at Castle Hedingham (Peerage). Prior to this, on 1 ... More

This chapter details events before and after the death of John de Vere, 16th Earl of Oxford. On 3 August 1562 John de Vere died, in his mid–forties, at Castle Hedingham (Peerage). Prior to this, on 1 July the Earl signed a marriage contract, called an indenture of covenants, between his twelve–year–old son, on the one part, and Elizabeth or Mary Hastings, younger sisters of Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon, on the other part. The indenture provided that on his eighteenth birthday (which would fall on 12 April 1568) Edward should choose for wife whichever of the two Hastings sisters he might prefer at the time. The contents of the Earl's last will and testament are also discussed.Less

Introduction

in Monstrous Adversary: The Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

This introductory chapter begins with a discussion of why Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford remains an object of curiosity for cultural and literary historians. It then considers posthumous ... More

This introductory chapter begins with a discussion of why Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford remains an object of curiosity for cultural and literary historians. It then considers posthumous accounts of Oxford, including Bernard M. Ward's documentary biography, The Seventeenth Earl of Oxford, 1550–1604, From Contemporary Documents (1928). Ward embraced the hypothesis that Oxford was Shakespeare, but confined overt speculation to interstitial chapters which he called interludes.Less

Infancy and Childhood

in Monstrous Adversary: The Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

This chapter describes Edward de Vere's infancy and childhood. Edward was born on Saturday 12 April 1550, probably at Castle Hedingham. Like Oxford heirs before and after, the child was styled Lord ... More

This chapter describes Edward de Vere's infancy and childhood. Edward was born on Saturday 12 April 1550, probably at Castle Hedingham. Like Oxford heirs before and after, the child was styled Lord Bolbec, derived from Isabel de Bolebec, wife of the 3rd Earl. Lord Bolbec grew up in rural Essex, his nurses and servants supervised by the Countess Margery.Less

First Blood

in Monstrous Adversary: The Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

This chapter presents an account of the time Oxford killed a man. On Wednesday 23 July 1567, in the back yard of Cecil House, seventeen–year–old Oxford killed Thomas Brincknell, an undercook in the ... More

This chapter presents an account of the time Oxford killed a man. On Wednesday 23 July 1567, in the back yard of Cecil House, seventeen–year–old Oxford killed Thomas Brincknell, an undercook in the Cecil household. Between seven and eight o'clock that evening, Oxford was in the yard with Edward Baynam, a Westminster tailor, practicing the science of defence with rapiers. Whether deliberate or by accident, the Earl's foil pierced the thigh of the unarmed man, and Brincknell was dead before midnight. The coroner's report stated that Brincknell, who was drunk, ran and fell upon the point of the Earl of Oxford's foil. Oxford got off scot free but had the distinction of being the first man in England known to have killed another by the ‘unmanly’ thrust of a rapier beneath the girdle.Less

The Education of Lord Bolbec

in Monstrous Adversary: The Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

This chapter describes the education of Edward de Vere, Lord Bolbec. Lord Bolbec's tutor from the age of eight was Thomas Fowle, of St John's College, Cambridge, who had attained his BA in 1550, and ... More

This chapter describes the education of Edward de Vere, Lord Bolbec. Lord Bolbec's tutor from the age of eight was Thomas Fowle, of St John's College, Cambridge, who had attained his BA in 1550, and his MA in 1553. In October 1558 Lord Bolbec entered Queens' College in Cambridge. Boys were admitted to Cambridge colleges not because they were intellectually precocious, but because their families could afford to lodge them under the supervision of college dons, just as other well–heeled boys joined noble or royal households. Lord Bolbec's name disappears from college records after March 1559, nor did he receive a BA with his classmates in Lent 1562. His subsequent education seems to have been supervised by Sir Thomas Smith.Less

Early Teens

in Monstrous Adversary: The Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

This chapter focuses events during Edward de Vere's early teen years. Long before his seventeenth birthday, which occurred on 12 April 1567, Oxford developed deeply rooted habits of self–importance ... More

This chapter focuses events during Edward de Vere's early teen years. Long before his seventeenth birthday, which occurred on 12 April 1567, Oxford developed deeply rooted habits of self–importance and fiscal extravagance, spending heavily on clothes, personal weapons, horses, and retainers. On 7 May 1565 Countess Margery requested that monies from family properties be guarded by friends during her son's minority, fearing that her son's extravagance will pose a danger to the livery of his estates six years hence.Less

Oxford's Literary Circle

in Monstrous Adversary: The Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

This chapter considers the possible existence of a literary ‘circle’ with Oxford as patron. This is based on Thomas Watson's publication of a collection of verse in 1582, which included a dedication ... More

This chapter considers the possible existence of a literary ‘circle’ with Oxford as patron. This is based on Thomas Watson's publication of a collection of verse in 1582, which included a dedication to Oxford. The chapter also presents a 16 April letter to Walsingham, where Mauvissière sought protection for Rocco Bonetti; and a July 1582 letter where John Lyly, having fallen out with Oxford, asked Burghley to intercede on his behalf.Less

London Wardship

in Monstrous Adversary: The Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

This chapter describes Edward de Vere's wardship. On 3 September 1562, the 16th Earl's servants rode the forty–odd miles to London to bring the heir to a new home. Like most children of the English ... More

This chapter describes Edward de Vere's wardship. On 3 September 1562, the 16th Earl's servants rode the forty–odd miles to London to bring the heir to a new home. Like most children of the English upper classes before and since, Oxford had lived with surrogate parents from a young age, including Cambridge dons at eight, and Sir Thomas Smith at nine. Now, at twelve, he became a ward of Sir William Cecil, the Queen's Principal Secretary and Master of Wards, at Cecil House on the Strand. Oxford's wardship would last nine years, until 1571, when he would attain his majority.Less

Best Friends

in Monstrous Adversary: The Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

This chapter focuses on Oxford's best friends. These include Henry Howard, Oxford's elder by ten years, was born on 25 February 1540, the second son of Lady Frances Vere (Oxford's aunt) and of Henry ... More

This chapter focuses on Oxford's best friends. These include Henry Howard, Oxford's elder by ten years, was born on 25 February 1540, the second son of Lady Frances Vere (Oxford's aunt) and of Henry Howard, eldest son of the 3rd Duke of Norfolk. The second of Oxford's companions was Charles Arundel. His mother was Margaret Howard, sister to the tragic Catherine, whereby Charles would claim cousinship with Queen Elizabeth, Henry Howard, Oxford, Sussex, Edward Stafford (English ambassador to France 1583–90), and Anne Vavasor. The third of Oxford's close friends is more elusive, but evidence suggests that it was Francis Southwell, one of the sons of Sir Robert Southwell, Master of the Rolls under Edward VI.Less

Restless Youth

in Monstrous Adversary: The Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

This chapter details events that occurred after Oxford's eighteenth birthday on 12 April 1568. These include the death of Countess Margery on 2 December 1568, who was buried at Earls Colne, alongside ... More

This chapter details events that occurred after Oxford's eighteenth birthday on 12 April 1568. These include the death of Countess Margery on 2 December 1568, who was buried at Earls Colne, alongside her first husband. The indenture signed by the 16th Earl before his death, required his son, on his eighteenth birthday, choose for wife either Elizabeth or Mary Hastings. The day came and went with no known interest on either side. Oxford remained at Cecil House, joined by twelve–year–old Edward, Lord Zouch, whose wardship would last until 1577. Some of Oxford's preoccupations in his twentieth year are also revealed in expense accounts certified by John Hart, Chester Herald, over three successive quarters from 1 January to 30 September 1570.Less

Oxford's Letters

in Monstrous Adversary: The Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

This chapter describes Oxford's surviving correspondence. These can be roughly divided into five groups: personal letters 1563 to 1604, mostly to William and (later) Robert Cecil (44); draft ... More

This chapter describes Oxford's surviving correspondence. These can be roughly divided into five groups: personal letters 1563 to 1604, mostly to William and (later) Robert Cecil (44); draft interrogatories, January 1581 (2); personal memoranda, 1591 to 1597 (4); letters on Cornish tin–mining 1595 to 1599 (18); and memoranda on the same 1595 to 1599 (9). Seventy–four items are entirely in Oxford's italic hand, while two are partly and one entirely in the hand of an amanuensis. The total number of words surviving from Oxford's pen surpasses 50,000.Less

Necromancer

in Monstrous Adversary: The Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

This chapter details Oxford's involvement in necromancy. Oxford's conjuring seems to have occurred either at the residence of Sir George Howard, Masters of the Armoury, or at the little house by the ... More

This chapter details Oxford's involvement in necromancy. Oxford's conjuring seems to have occurred either at the residence of Sir George Howard, Masters of the Armoury, or at the little house by the tiltyard, at Greenwich, perhaps as early as the summer of 1570. The necromancy attributed to Oxford by Howard and Arundel conforms to types illustrated in contemporary documents. Instructions for ‘copulation with a female spirite’ occur in a Folger manuscript dated circa 1580: ‘the maner to maik a bande to bynd the vij sisters of the fayeres’. Oxford is credited with the assumption that the magician's goal is not so much pleasure as knowledge — particularly knowledge of the future.Less