| Cryptographic Shakespeare |
| Cryptographic Shakespeare |
Fakery at Stratford, Spy Stories
The following articles are from the English Baconiana:
THE STRATFORD-ON-AVON BIRTHPLACE
By Roderick L. Eagle
The flourishing and profitable Shakespeare business at Stratford-on-Avon had its inauguration in the middle of
the eighteenth century when the Shakespeare revival began with the name of the author of the plays assuming, after
more than a century of neglect, a commercial value. Up to that time the inhabitants of Stratford, being for the most
part illiterate, and living very much as they did in Shakespeare's time, had been oblivious of the fact that in London
David Garrick was making a reputation not only for himself, but for the almost forgotten author of Hamlet and the
rest.
The consequence was that travellers began to make the long and arduous journey to Stratford to satisfy their
eyes and imaginations with whatever relics might be preserved relating to its illustrious citizen. But the town had
been taken by surprise, and apart from the monument in the Church, there was little to be seen, as New Place, the
house in which Shakespeare died in 1616, had been pulled down in 1759.
As to the date when the " Birthplace " was first on show no record exists, but it was shortly after the demolition
of New Place and was, no doubt, intended to take its place as an attraction to visitors. There is an account by a
visitor to Stratford in The Gentleman's Magazine in 1760, and it is significant that no birthplace is mentioned among
the buildings of note.
When David Garrick made a pilgrimage to the town in 1769, in preparation for his forthcoming "Jubilee" at
Stratford, he described it as "the most dirty, unseemly, ill-paved, wretched looking town in all Britain " The
Shakespeare industry had not yet been started as "a going concern " but his Jubilee, which lasted three days, was a
means of arousing local interest as to the possibilities of exploiting Shakespeare. The enterprising inhabitants set to
work searching out old furniture or manufacturing "relics" which they considered might prove remunerative
attractions. A search was made for a house which could be shown as the "birthplace ."
The owners of three different premises put forward claims, but this difficult situation was relieved when the
Town Clerk ordered one of them to be demolished as unhabitable. The site ultimately selected as "the most likely
abode" was in Henley Street because it was found to be in the same street as another small property once held by his
father, John Shaksper, though the exact location could not be identified. It was found also that John had purchased
the copyhold of another house in the same street in 1556, and that he was occupying another as late as 1597 for
which he paid rent to the lord of the manor of 1 s. per annum. These three cottages were stated to have had thatched
roofs and mud walls. As we shall show it is doubtful if the fine detached house now shown to visitors at an
admission fee of 2s. 6d. (and which attracts a "gate" of over 350,000 yearly) has any entitlement to be called "the
Birthplace of Shakespeare ."
I have been searching the volumes of The Gentleman's Magazine for allusions to the "Birthplace" and the first I
found was by a visitor in 1769 who described the cottage as "a dilapidated hovel ." There were three contributions to
the magazine between 1791 and 1807, giving amusing information as to the early profiteering in "relics", particularly
"the old oak chair in which Shakespeare sat."
A visitor who signs himself "T.T.S.", writing in 1791, said: "An old oak chair, or more properly I might have said
the remaining part, which tradition has handed down as having been the property of the immortal bard, and which
stood in the very house in which he was born, was sold on November 28th, 1790 by Thomas Hart, the present
occupier of the house, to Major Orlowski (secretary to Her Serene Highness Princess Czartoriska) who, accompanied
by an interpreter, a native of Poland, came to Stratford purposely to purchase it." Hart was happy in receiving for
the relic twenty guineas.When I first visited Stratford, now some time since, I was shown this chair and had the
honour of sitting in it, and the people of the house cut from one of the feet and presented to me a small chip which I
was not virtuoso enouth to preserve as there appeared to me a degree of improbalitly in supposing this chair should
have continued there for nearly two centuries, though fixed to the wall and bearing marks of antiquity; or that it was
the one, as some have supposed, in which our great poet first reposed.
But to return to my information. "In February last the interpreter again visited Stratford and said a doubt had
arisen that it was the same chair which she had seen and sat in in the summer of 1790, and requested a certificate
that it was." A certificate was granted signed by Thomas Hart and John Jordan..
Hart was not a credit to the descent from which he claimed. Jordan, who signed this certificater, was a local
forger of ballads, which he said he had "discovered" and which he passed off as having been written by Shakespeare.
His various forgeries were too apparent to be taken seriously.
His "discovery" of Anne Hathaway's Cottage turned out to be his one lasting success. Samuel Ireland and his
son, William Henry, [both famous forgers of Shakespeare plays] were visiting Stratford in 1794, preparing Samuels
book, Picturesque Views on the Warwickshire Avon, published the following year. Jordan led them to the cottage
and Samuel's sketch was reproduced. He was not altogether impressed by Jordan and observed, "I doubt the truth
of the relation."
Ten years after signing his certificate that the chair sold to the princess was a genuine Shakespeare relic, Hart
had replaced it and was then showing "an old armchair in which Shakespeare used to smoke his pipe."
The next allusion to the much resurrected chair occurs in 1801 under the name of J. Collett: " For the information
of those who have never visted the house I shall just add that it is a shabby, mean, lath-and-plaster building. . . but I
am apt to believe the house occupied by the butcher [Hart] is only a part of the original dwellinghouse which
formerly comprehended the adjacent building, which seems to have been separated for the convenience of making
smaller tenements for the habitation of different families"
"As to the furniture, there remains an old armchair in which they tell you he used to smoke his pipe, as also the
identical tobacco stopper which he used on this occasion; but I doubt very much the identity of this article or of the
chair, which latter, I have been informed has been sold and replaced at least twenty times. Yet there are still not
wanting curiosi weak enough to give from five shillings to a guinea for a chip off the old block no bigger than may
be contained in a snuffbox."
Finally we have Mr. D. Parkes who was a visitor in July 1807. From his account we learn that Hart was still
trading as a butcher while dealing in "chips of the old block."
The house is situated in Henley Street and is now divided into two dwellings, one of which is occupied by a
descendent of Joan Hart, sister to the poet, who pursues the humble occupation of a butcher. The adjoining dwelling
has been many years used as a public house known by the sign of The Swan and Maidenhead. In the chimney corner
is an old oak chair, said to have belonged to the poet, but so much mangled by the knives of virtuosi that little of the
original form remains.
Mr. Collet's description of the premises as "shabby" and "mean" is confirmed by a German visitor named Moritz
in 1782 who described the "birthplace" as being "the worst, and one that made least appearance of all the houses in
Stratford." It is only in recent years that the present "Birthplace" Trustees have refrained from exhibiting "an old oak
chair" in which Shakespeare was said to have sat when carousing at the Falcon Inn at Bidford, in spite of the fact that
no proof exists that he ever entered the inn. There was also a desk from the Grammar School called "Shakespeare's
desk", although no record exists that he attended the school, or where he sat if he did. Washington Irving was a
visitor to the "Birthplace" in 1815. He saw "a small and mean looking edifice of wood and plaster." The rooms he
found to be "squalid." More spurious "relics" had been added, even "the sword with which he played Hamlet",
though the part was really played by Richard Burbadge. The lantern with which Friar Laurence discovered the dead
Romeo was also shown.
No wonder Mr. Joseph Skipsey, who was custodian from July 1889, to October 1891, resigned his position
because of the several frauds to which he found himself committed.
What is now on show as "The Birthplace" bears no resemblance to what previously stood on the site. The
property, much decayed, was practically demolished, and the present detached and imposing house arose on its
foundations between 1857 and 1860. Tradition, dating from the middle of the eighteenth century, claims the western
premises as the birthplace, though there is no proof as to where, in Stratford, Shakespeare's birth took place. Briefly,
the history of this event is as follows:
1556. John Shakspere (as the family name was spelt then), who eight years later was to become the father of
William, was fined for having an offensive heap of offal outside his shop in Henley Street. Here he traded in meat,
skins and wool. It has not been established if he actually resided there or, if he did, whether as owner or tenant. In
this year he purchased a house in Greenhill Street described in a legal document as having "garden and croft." It was,
therefore, a more "desirable residence" than the malodorous premises in Henley Street. This purchase was in the
year before he married and, presumably, this was the house to which he took his bride. In this year also he bought a
house in Henley Street generally referred to as "the woolshop"
1564. William, the eldest son, was born. The actual date is unknown as births were not registered, but he was
baptised on 26th April. He could either have been born in Greenhill Street or in Henley Street (the woolshop).
1575. When William was eleven his father bought the adjoining cottage on the western side of the woolshop. By
an unfortunate mischance it was this western and not the eastern one which was chosen for the birthplace, but his
father certainly did not own the western premises at the time. Nevertheless, a room over the butcher's shop was
selected for the room in which Shakespeare was "born"
1579. An entry occurs in the Stratford Church Register of a marriage between "William Willsonne and Anne
Hathaway of Shotterye." This took place on 17th January.
1582. On 27th November a licence was issued in the Registry of the Bishop of Worcester authorising the
marriage of William Shaxpere to Anna Whateley of Temple Grafton.
1582. On 28th November the Bishop of Worcester insisted upon a marriage bond exempting him from all
liability should there be any irregularity in the speedy marriage of "William Shagspere and Anne Hathwey of
Stratford in the Diocese of Worcester. maiden..." There is no record as to when or where the marriage took place.
Though not mentioned it is sheer assumption that Anne ever lived at Shottery. As Professor George Saintsbury
observed in The History of English Literature (Vol. v, page 165) "we are by no means certain of the identity of
Shakespeare's wife." However, in 1795 the famous cottage became "Anne Hathaway's Cottage", and now attracts
over 250,000 visitors annually at 2s. 6d.
1603. About this time the eastern house was let as an inn and was known as The Swan and Maidenhead.
1616. In April Shakespeare died at New Place. He had bought the house for 60 pounds from William Underhill
in 1597. The house was demolished in 1759.
1769. The "birthplace" was inaugurated and the "birthroom" put on view, for the "Jubilee" arranged by David
Garrick in September.
1806. The property was sold by the occupier, Mr. Hart, for £210 to Thomas Court. Its condition was said to have
been "very decayed"
1847. At a meeting held at Stratford, following the death of Court's widow, a circular was prepared appealing
for funds with which to acquire the "Birthplace of Shakespeare." One speaker moved to amend the wording by the
insertion of the word "probable", but this sally was received in uproar and the motion was lost because, if the public
were doubtful, the money might not be forthcoming.
When the property was auctioned in London it fetched 3,000 pounds in spite of its being in a "deplorable
condition." It was bought by the newly formed Birthplace Committees of Stratford and London and, after extensive
alterations and enlargement, together with the demolition of adjoining properties, was opened for public exhibition.
Only the cellar of the original house remains as it was.
1891. An Act of Parliament incorporated the Trustees and Guardians who, later in this year, bought the cottage
at Shottery for exhibition as having been the home of Anne Hathaway. This, together with the "Birthplace" has a total
yearly "gate" of over half a million at an admission fee of 2s. 6d. About two thirds of these visitors are from overseas.
As the evidence shows that reasonable doubts exist as to the authenticity of both showplaces a public enquiry is
long overdue.
Roderick L. Eagle, 1970
THE SECRET SERVICE IN TUDOR TIMES
By R. L. EAGLE
THE well established fact that Marlowe was an agent employed by Sir Francis Walsingham from 1587 while an
undergraduate at Cambridge, and after he had taken his M.A. degree, until Walsingham's death in 1590, may serve
to kindle interest in those who directed and those who served under them in the secret service. That Sir Thomas
Walsingham, cousin of Sir Francis Bacon, carried on in an unofficial capacity after the latter's death, and was
employing the same men including such as Ingram Frezer, Robert PoIey, Marlowe and Nicholas Skeres (all present
at the "liquidation" of Marlowe at Deptford at the end of May, 1593) is also well attested.
The Walsingham cousins had very close ties of affection and interests. One has only to study Thomas Watson's
"Meliboeus," described on the titlepage as "An Eglogue upon the Death of the Right Honorable Sir Francis
Walsingham Late principall Secretarie to Her Majestie, and of her Honourable Privie Councell." It was printed in
1590 in Latin and English. The Latin version is dedicated to Sir Thomas Walsingham, and the English version to Lady
Frances Sidney, the daughter of Sir Francis. In the "Eglogue" the Queen is Diana, Sir Francis is "Meliboeus", Sir
Thomas speaks as Tityrus, and Watson as "Corydon". Both Sir Francis and Sir Thomas are declared to be patrons of
learning and literature.
In 1581, Sir Francis Walsingham was sent to Paris to negotiate a treaty with France which was calculated to
destroy any agreement between France and Spain which would be dangerous to England. Watson's "Eglogue" makes
it clear that Sir Thomas accompanied his cousin, and that Watson was also there, e.g.: Tityrus (i.e., Sir Thomas)
Thy tunes often pleas'd mine eare of yoare,
When milkwhite swans did flocke to heare thee sing,
Where Seine in Paris Makes a double shoare,
Paris thrice blest if shee obey her King.
Why was the poet Watson in the company of the Walsingham cousins? Was he, like Marlowe, assisting in the
secret service? Were there still more poets and dramatists using their intelligence as agents in return for patronage?
This appears to be highly probable for there is proof of yet another poet and playwright, Anthony Munday, being
similarly engaged. One fact which has come to light is that in 1582, Munday had been hunting Catholics with
success. We can learn that from his publication, "A Discoverie of Edmund Campion and his Confederates." There is
no evidence known as to Munday's employer, but he went to Rome to spy on English Catholics, and to learn what
he could to their detriment, and then betray them (see Dictionary of National Biography).
Literature was not a profession in those days. There was no living to be made from the writing of books or
poems. There was no such thing as a "reading public" for those who could read were an extremely limited and
favoured few. Even the writing of plays was miserably rewarded as we can see from Henslowe's diary. But the
authors were intelligent and welleducated men, and what is more likely than for them to use their talents in
employment for gathering political information? No doubt it was the Privy Council who employed Munday to carry
out his successful detection of the Popish conspiracy in 1582, and who had previously sent him to Italy to spy on the
English Catholics residing in the northern cities. On his return journey Munday had exhausted his funds while
passing through France and had to make a diversion to Paris where he was given money by the British Ambassador
to enable him to reach England. He would not have been so favoured had he not been on official business.
We do not know the names of all those who collected information for Walsingham from France, Italy, Spain and
the Low Countries. Naturally, as secret service agents, they did not come into prominence. but from 1567 onwards
Walsingham was supplying Burleigh with lists of names of those hostile to the Queen and the Government. In 1568,
he put the secret service on an organised basis. The chief cipher expert was Thomas Phelippes, but another cipher
expert employed by Walsingham was Anthony Standen, who worked for Essex after his patron's death.
So clever was Standen that he was knighted and Walsingham procured for him from the Queen a pension of
£100 yearly. i.e., at least £8oo today. Standen's information for Essex was sent in letters to Anthony Bacon and he
used numerals for letters. Some of these are preserved at Lambeth Palace and were printed in "Memoirs of The
Reign of Queen Elizabeth" by Thomas Birch, D.D., in two volumes printed in 1754. I would particularly refer to Vol.
I, p. 139. in the hope that somebody may be able to find the key to the cipher. All I can gather is that the Queen is
6589, Essex is 7! Besides Robert Poley, Walsingham employed Gilbert Gifford (a Catholic traitor) and Thomas
Harrison in the discovery of the Babington plot. There were probably others. Walsingham was kept well informed by
his agents in Spain as to the preparations for the Armada and the invasion of England--even to the minutest details
of men and armaments.
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