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Tekst 12 Mystery of murder is solved

by Amelia Hill head. Frizer drove the dagger into Marlowe’s head, above the right eye. Death was instantaneous. THE DEATH of Christopher ‘It has come down to us as a Marlowe is one of the most brawl,’ said Mei Trow, a scholar enduring mysteries of literary and author of Who Killed Kit history. Now a new twist to the Marlowe? ‘Except it did not tale has been uncovered by an happen that way. It was an author who claims to know why elaborate fabrication to cover up the playwright was murdered. the murder.’ Marlowe died at 29 in a tavern The truth, Trow maintains, was brawl. Historians have claimed his discovered in a document in the death was an accident, or a British Museum, indicating that premeditated killing designed to members of the then Privy protect a high-ranking member of Council, the highest court in the the Elizabethan government. Some land, were atheists – a heresy in have even said the killing was Elizabethan law that was punished faked to allow Marlowe to escape with execution. ’s portrait at his political enemies. Trow believes Marlowe Corpus Christi College, Cambridge New research, however, backs discovered the truth about four the theory that his death was Council members: William Cecil, be a clearer denunciation of the ordered by the higher echelons of Baron Burghley; his son Robert Machiavellians who ran society – and claims to reveal the Cecil; Lord Henry Howard and Elizabethan England? secret behind it. Baron Henry Carey Hunsdon. The four subjects of his taunts, Marlowe, a spy, counter-spy, ‘Marlowe had evidence of their Trow maintains, had to silence atheist, homosexual and heretical and blasphemous views,’ Marlowe ‘because of what he government critic, was fêted for Trow said. ‘Exactly how he found knew’. Frizer, Keres and Poley his plays, including , out we cannot know, but as the were promised immunity from , Edward II and winter of 1592-93 turned into prosecution if they carried out the Dr Faustus. In the official version spring Marlowe was becoming murder, a claim supported by the of his death, Marlowe was ever more outrageous.’ fact that all were cleared after a murdered in 1593 after spending In January 1593 Edward II was short trial and granted titles and the day smoking and playing performed, slipping past the positions of wealth and influence. backgammon with , censor, despite a general Trow said: ‘Marlowe was a Nicholas Keres and acknowledgement that Marlowe maverick, a rebel, a whistle- in , south London. Shortly had used the play to hint at his blower. In the paranoia of the after the four had eaten supper, knowledge. ‘The play’s Edward II Elizabethan police state, great men Marlowe and Frizer quarrelled is clearly used to symbolise bent the law to their own ends. over who was to pay the bill. Elizabeth, while Burghley and the Many suffered as a result; Marlowe grabbed Frizer’s dagger, Cecil clan are represented by Marlowe was only the most slashing at him wildly about the Gaveston,’ said Trow. ‘Could there famous of them.’

‘The Observer’

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Tekst 12 Mystery of Marlowe murder is solved

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