Vol.1:no.1 "Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments..." Fall 2001 A Golden Book, bound richly up From the Editors: Comparing Chapman’s words in Bussy Oxford is d’Ambois with Ashbourne portrait images Shakespeare: By Barbara Burris ©2001 n George Chapman’s play, The Revenge of Bussy D’Ambois, an unsuccessful imitation of Hamlet published in 1613, the main character, Clermont D’Ambois, describes with any questions? Iglowing praise a “famous Earle” as he was seen traveling from Italy to Germany; ending his first newsletter of the Shakespeare 1 with the words, “And t’was the Earle of Oxford.” Fellowship comes off the press at a And yet Clermont—who is modeled after Hamlet—also attacks Oxford and his poetry Tmomentous crossroads in intellec- and “works” in an earlier speech, which includes an amazingly detailed description of the tual history. The paradigm has shifted. The book in the Ashbourne portrait of Shake-speare: intellectual revolution adumbrated in 1920 by the man with the funny name has finally, As these high men doe, low in all true grace, in the wake of Charlton Ogburn’s The Mys- Their height being privilege to all things base. And as the foolish Poet that still writ terious William Shakespeare (1984) and All his most selfe-loved verse in paper royall, subsequent events, come of age. The pro- Or Partchment rul’d with Lead, smooth’d with verbial handwriting is on the wall: an over- the Pumice; whelming preponderance of circumstan- Bound richly up, and strung with Crimson tial evidence, much of it accumulated only strings; in the last 25 years, supports the “Looney” Never so blest as when hee writ and read theory identifying Edward de Vere, 17th The Ape-lov’d issue of his braine; and never But joying in himselfe; admiring ever. Earl of Oxford, as the man behind the Shake- Yet in his workes behold him, and hee show’d speare myth. “Shakespeare” matters —in Like to a ditcher. So these painted men, spite of, and sometimes because of, the fact All set on out-side, looke upon within, that he’s a rose by some other name. And not a pezzants entrailes you shall finde Welcome, therefore, to the first issue of More foule and mezel’d, nor more sterv’d of Shakespeare Matters. We aren’t going to minde. ( Lines 184-195, II,i; emphasis added) 2 bore you with all the reasons why, in Octo- ber 2001, we’ve struck off on this new This speech about the high-born Poet is Shakespeare adventure. The most impor- crammed with references that link the Poet tant reason is the simple one given by the and his richly bound book to the book held by title of our publication. Shakespeare Mat- Courtesy, Folger Shakespeare Library the nobleman in the Ashbourne Shake-speare ters. That’s what we care about—and, The Ashbourne portrait (owned by the portrait, and which identify him with Edward frankly, we don’t care a fig for those lost th Folger Shakespeare Library) has been a de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford. Further evi- souls who still adhere to the 19 -century point of contention within the Oxfordian dence of this connection is to be found in biographical tradition in which movement for the past 60 years. Romeo and Juliet, where Lady Capulet speaks Shakespeare is a bland, colorless, of a book “That in gold clasps locks in the uncontroversial, boringly predictable golden story”.3 writer of commercial potboilers. These passages in Chapman’s and Shake-speare’s plays add another layer of evidence In fact, if you’ve followed the recent to the January 1940 Scientific American report on Charles Wisner Barrell’s infra red and history of the authorship question in pub- X-ray examination of the Shake-speare Ashbourne portrait—an examination which lications such as the Shakespeare Oxford revealed that the portrait had been over-painted, and beneath the over-painting was the real Newsletter, you’ve noticed that a corre- Shake-speare: Edward de Vere the 17th Earl of Oxford.4 sponding premise—that Edward de Vere The Ashbourne portrait (pictured above) is one of the key points of contention in the was too notorious, by one criteria or an- (Continued on page 12) (Continued on page 3) page 2 Shakespeare Matters Fall 2001 Letters: Fellowship Home Page To the Friends of the Shakespeare Fellow- and discussion boards ship: As part of the establishment of the require signups and passwords. Shakespeare Fellowship, long-time The Fellowship Home Page should be The formation of the Shakespeare Fel- Oxfordian Marty Hyatt has agreed to ad- up and running in its first incarnation by the lowship is, without question, the most ex- minister an Internet discussion bulletin time our first subscribers are reading this. citing development in the Oxfordian move- board as part of the new Shakespeare The page will feature some of the usual fare ment this year. I am enthusiastic about its Fellowship Home Page (located at: for any Internet Home Page, such as FAQs, membership, heartened by the high prin- www.ShakespeareFellowship.orgwww.ShakespeareFellowship.org) links to other sites of interest, and current ciples that have led to its formation, and am Hyatt, along with Shakespeare Matters news on all things Shakespeare and most impressed with the calibre of the co-editor William Boyle, co-founded the Shakespeare-authorship related. people who have spearheaded this effort to first Oxfordian Listserv—Evermore—back One exciting feature that will be avail- rescue our hopes from the despair born of in 1994. Evermore eventually became the able immediately is the full text of J. Tho- the impotence and inaction that have para- Phaeton discussion group, now managed mas Looney’s Shakespeare Identified, avail- lyzed and aborted, for years, so many pos- by Nina Green of Canada. able for searching—and if you wish, down- sibilities and opportunities that might have Hyatt is also responsible for establish- loading. Spread the word! The book, pub- been spawned and succored by its prede- ing the Usenet discussion group lished in 1920, is in the public domain, and cessor organization. humanities.lit.authors.shakespeare in we encourage its distribution to as wide an The Shakespeare Fellowship promises 1995, a group on which authorship is al- audience as possible by anyone wishing to to become an active home and intellectual ways a hotly debated topic. copy it or forward it to a friend. The Fellow- treasury for the nurture and support of Present plans call for the site to have ship will soon be offering its own printed scholarship that one day will lead the world one or two all-comers discussion boards edition of Looney, with an Introduction by to recognize Edward de Vere as the author on the gateway page, accompanied by links Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. of the Shakespeare canon. to any number of private boards for mem- Look to the Fellowship Page for other With all good wishes and support, bers only, available to explore issues in such online text ventures in the near future, smaller, more focused groups, or available such as Dorothy and Charlton Ogburn’s Professor Daniel Wright for teachers to set up groups for their own This Star of England, and Sir George Director students and other students around the Greenwood’s The Shakespeare Problem The Edward de Vere Studies Conference country. Private boards would, of course, and The Shakespeare Problem Restated. Portland, Oregon 10 September 2001 Shakespeare Matters Subscriptions to Shakespeare Matters are Published quarterly by the $30 per year ($15 for online issues only). To the Editors: The Shakespeare Fellowship Family or institution subscriptions are $45 per year. Patrons of the Fellowship are $75 and up. Send subscription requests to: I for one am quite excited about the Editorial Offices formation of the Shakespeare Fellowship. P.O. Box 263 The Shakespeare Fellowship Somerville, MA 02143 Oxfordians have long needed a forum that P.O. Box 561 Belmont MA 02478 takes advantage of the full capabilities of Co-Editors: the Internet, in terms of research forums, Dr. Roger Stritmatter, William Boyle The purpose of the Shakespeare Fellowship archiving Oxfordian research online, and is to promote public awareness and acceptance generally making the Oxfordian case in a Contributing Editors: of the authorship of the Shakespeare Canon by Mark Anderson, Dr. Charles Berney, Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford (1550- more effective form to a world-wide audi- Charles Boyle, Dr. Felicia Londre, 1604), and further to encourage a high level of ence. There are many projects waiting in Dr. Anne Pluto Elisabeth Sears, scholarly research and publication into all Richard Whalen, Hank Whittemore, the wings for support. aspects of Shakespeare studies, and also into the Dr. Daniel Wright history and culture of the Elizabethan era. The Shakespeare Fellowship promises The Society was founded and incorporated Phone (Somerville, MA): (617) 628-3411 to provide the opportunity for these projects Phone (Northampton, MA): (413) 585-8610 in 2001 in the State of Massachusetts and is to gain the support they need to get off the Fax (Somerville, MA): (617) 628-4258 chartered under the membership corporation ground and make a significant contribu- email: [email protected] laws of that state (nonprofit status pending). All contents copyright ©2001 Dues, grants and contributions are tax- tion to Shakespeare scholarship. The Shakespeare Fellowship deductible to the extent allowed by law. Mark Alexander Shakespeare Matters welcomes articles, essays, commentary, book reviews, letters and news items. Woodside, California Contributions should be reasonably concise and, when appropriate, validated by peer review.