Fall 2012 Shakespeare Matters page 1 11:4 “Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments...” Fall 2012 Q & A with Hank Whittemore: The Southampton Controversy [Editor’s note: Probably the most controversial issue among Oxfordians is the “PT” theory – did Oxford and Queen Elizabeth have a child together? One of its most passionate advocates is Hank Whittemore, whose 2005 book, The Monument, and his 2010 book, Shakespeare’s Son and His Sonnets, explain his case SF trustee and longtme member Kathryn Sharpe in favor of the theory. The principal purpose of this Q & A is to and Dr. Don Rubin, York University Professor explore some collateral issues raised by the PT theory that, to us, Emeritus of Theatre History, share a comic mo- had not been fully explored.] ment at the Pasadena Conference. Shakespeare Matters: Do you think Oxford and the Queen knew that their son was being raised as the Third Earl of Southampton? Hank Whittemore: I’m not sure if Oxford would have known Huntington Library Tour a High until late 1581, after the eight-year-old Southampton had en- tered Cecil House in London. (If he had been born in May 1574, Point of the 8th Annual Joint of course, he would have turned eight in May 1582.) I think the Queen knew. For sure Burghley knew. I believe a deal had been Conference in Pasadena made between Oxford and Burghley: Oxford would return to his wife Anne Cecil, daughter of Burghley; in return, Southampton by Howard Schumann would be brought to London as a royal ward in Burghley’s cus- tody. Both events occurred virtually at the same time. (The second n exhibit at the Huntington Library of rare books that earl of Southampton was arrested and interrogated in 1581 and focus on Edward de Vere and the authorship question was died in October after his release from the Tower. It looks like he Athe opening event of the 8th annual Joint Conference of was driven to his early death at age thirty-six.) the Shakespeare Oxford Society and the Shakespeare Fellowship. It was one of the high points of the event that took place at the SM: When do you think Southampton himself learned his true Courtyard Pasadena Old Town by Marriott in Pasadena, California, identity? from October 18 to 21. The side trip to the Huntington allowed HW: I believe that Oxford, in his masque that was the origin of conference participants to view books from the vast collection of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1581, urged the Queen through one of the most highly regarded research libraries in the world. Oberon: “I do but but beg a little changeling boy to be my hench- Of those displayed, fifteen books were dedicated to Oxford, com- man.” Although Oxford had been banished from the Court, he was prising about half of the known total of twenty-eight books that back in Burghley’s good graces and would have had the chance were dedicated to him. Among the items available for viewing to spend time with the boy Southampton, perhaps putting him were The Primaleon by Humphrey Llwyd, a Welsh cartographer, in plays performed at Blackfriars and the court. Exactly when author, and Member of Parliament. The book, thought to have and how he would have made Southampton aware of his true influencedThe Tempest, was translated into English by Anthony identity is difficult to hypothesize, but it would seem that part Munday and dedicated by him to Oxford. Another work by Llwyd of the deal with Burghley was that Southampton and Elizabeth (Continued on page 24) (Continued on page 9) page 2 Shakespeare Matters Fall 2012 Letters To the Editors: 6. Completing and launching Noth- the Lone Star Shakespeare Roundtable, ing is Truer than Truth as a second and the other established authorship First, I'd like to thank John Shahan wave of the educational/general and Oxfordian organizations. It would for organizing the SAC dinner at the 8th market campaign. I really believe be great to get some feedback on these Annual Shakespeare Authorship Confer- this is important to focus on. ideas and then perhaps we we can create ence. Lots of good ideas were proposed. a committee as a starting point. Again, To me, one of the most important was 7. Compile a continuing list of pub- thank you all for your commitment. Mark Mendizza's idea of a strategic ap- lic figures who are crossing over proach and a unified PR campaign that and changing the Authorship zeit- Best, we could roll out over the next three geist: Christopher Plummer, Joyce years, beginning with our response to Carol Oates, Vanessa Redgrave. Cheryl Eagan-Donovan the book Shakespeare Beyond Doubt, NOTHING IS TRUER THAN TRUTH and culminating in an event like the SAC 8. Increasing the overall number Controversy Films debate John envisions, timed to coincide of public events devoted entirely or [email protected] with the April 2016 Shakespeare celebra- partially to Authorship. I'm think- tions. ing of a campaign to get gain some Mark has graciously offered to assist space even in orthodox Shakespeare in the development of a strategic plan. Festivals. We've tried to come up with a prelimi- nary set of outcomes toward which we 9. Creating the guerilla marketing can all work in concert to achieve. Here campaign that was talked about at are some suggested goals with measures our Beckman Brainstorm. toward which the whole movement could work: We defer to the existing leader- ship of the Shakespeare Fellowship, the 1. Increase dramatically the num- Shakespeare Oxford Society, the Shake- ber of signers to Declaration by cre- speare Authorship Roundtable, the SAC, ating well coordinated campaign to do so. Shakespeare Matters Subscriptions to Shakespeare Matters are Published quarterly by the $50 per year ($25 for online issues only). Family or institution subscriptions are $75 per year. 2. Increase the number of accred- The Shakespeare Fellowship Patrons of the Fellowship are $100 and up. ited college/high school courses Please address correspondence to: Please send subscription requests to: devoted to authorship. Packaging Editorial Offices: curriculum. Distributing. P.O. Box 66083 The Shakespeare Fellowship Auburndale, MA, 02466 P.O. Box 66083 3. Increase the worldwide media Auburndale, MA, 02466 Editor: coverage of authorship in general Alex McNeil The purpose of the Shakespeare Fellowship by creating, sharing and working a is to promote public awareness and acceptance Design Editor: of the authorship of the Shakespeare Canon by media list of responsive journalists/ Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford (1550-1604), curators/bloggers. Roger Stritmatter and further to encourage a high level of schol- arly research and publication into all aspects of Contributing Editors: Shakespeare studies, and also into the history and 4. Increase the web presence in Mark Anderson, Lynne Kositsky, Howard culture of the Elizabethan era. general of the authorship issue by Schumann, The Society was founded and incorporated making sure all existing sites are Dr. Felicia Londre, in 2001 in the State of Massachusetts and is William Boyle, Richard Whalen. chartered under the membership corporation laws connected and actively expanding. of that state. It is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit Phone (Auburndale, MD): (617) 244-9825 (Fed ID 04-3578550). email: [email protected] Dues, grants and contributions are tax-de- 5. Increasing the number screen- All contents copyright ©2012 ings/sales of Last Will. & Testament ductible to the extent allowed by law. by encouraging all stakeholders to Shakespeare Matters welcomes articles, essays, commentary, book reviews, letters and news items. contact their local schools. Maybe Contributions should be reasonably concise and, when appropriate, validated by peer review. The views expressed incentivising. by contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Fellowship as a literary and educational organization. Fall 2012 Shakespeare Matters page 3 From the President Reinventing Ourselves by Tom Regnier ’d like to thank the Shakespeare Fellow- Last Will. & Testament, by Lisa Wilson in fact, has responded to a challenge from ship for the trust it has shown in me and Laura Wilson Matthias, a thoroughly John Shahan of the Shakespeare Author- Iby asking me to serve as its president professional product that will continue ship Coalition to prove, beyond doubt, for the coming year. I intend to prove wor- to keep the Oxfordian thesis alive in the that the man from Stratford wrote the thy of that trust. I wish to commend and public’s mind. As if that weren’t enough, plays. The SBT plans to publish a book thank Earl Showerman for the wonderful Cheryl Eagan-Donovan will follow up with next year called Shakespeare Beyond job he has done as president for the last Doubt. I expect that Oxfordian and other three years. It is an honor to follow in his anti-Stratfordian groups will have a great footsteps. The Board of Trustees has also We had so many outstand- deal to say in response to show that there welcomed three able new members very is considerable room for doubt. recently: Michael Morse, Don Rubin, and ing presentations at our Please be sure to renew your mem- William Ray. Along with our other trust- Pasadena conference in bership with the Shakespeare Fellowship ees, Earl Showerman (who remains on when you get your renewal notice around the Board), Bonner Miller Cutting, Alex October that singling out the beginning of the year. That way, you’ll McNeil, Ben August, and Kathryn Sharpe, be assured of staying informed on all the we hope to keep moving the Fellowship any particular ones for latest books, films, and other news on the forward during the next year.