David Rhys Williams - Shakespeare Thy Name Is Marlowe

Table of Contents

Other books by David Rhys Williams:

FAITH BEYOND HUMANISM

WORLD RELIGIONS AND THE HOPE FOR PEACE

Appendix I

The Report of the Queens Coroner

This document, dated June 11, 1593, was titled Inquisition of Chancery and was drawn up by William Danby, Gent., Coroner to the Household of our Lady the Queen. The following is a translation of the original version in Latin.

Inquisition indented taken at Deptford Strand in the aforesaid County of Kent, within the verge, on the 1st day of June, 1593, in the presence of William Danby, Gent., Coroner of the Household of our said Lady the Queen, upon view of the body of Christopher Marlowe, there lying dead and slain, upon oath of ... (there are sixteen named witnesses) who say upon their oath that when a certain Ingram Frizer, late of London, and the aforesaid Christopher Marlowe and one Nicholas Skeres and Robert Poley, on the 30th day of May, at Deptford Strand, within the verge, about the tenth hour before noon of the same day, met together in a room in the house of a certain Eleanor Bull, widow, and there passed the time together and dined and after dinner were in quiet sort together there, and walked in the garden belonging to the said house until the 6th hour after noon of the same day and then returned from the said garden to the room aforesaid and there together and in company supped; and after supper the said Ingram and Christopher Marlowe were in speech and uttered one to the other divers malicious words for the reason that they could not be at one nor agree about the payment of the sum of pence, that is, le recknynge there; and the said Christopher Marlowe then lying upon a bed in the room where they supped, and moved with anger against the said Ingram Frizer, upon the words as aforesaid spoken between them; and the said Ingram Frizer then and there sitting in the room aforesaid, with his back toward the bed where the said Christopher Marlowe was then lying, sitting near the bed that is, near the bed and with the front part of his body near the table and the aforesaid Nicholas Skeres and Robert Poley sitting on either side of the said Ingram in such a manner that the same Ingram Frizer in no wise could take flight; it so befell that the said Christopher Marlowe on a sudden and of his malice towards the said Ingram aforethought, was at his back, and with the same dagger the said Christopher Marlowe then and there maliciously gave the aforesaid Ingram two wounds on his head of the length of two inches and of the depth of a quarter of an inch; whereupon the said Ingram, in fear of being slain, and sitting in the manner aforesaid between the said Nicholas Skeres and Robert Poley so that he could not in any wise get away, in his own defence and for the saving of his life, then and there struggled with the said Christopher Marlowe to get from him his dagger aforesaid; in which affray the same Ingram could not get away from the said Christopher Marlowe, and so it befell in that affray that the said Ingram, in defence of his life, with the dagger aforesaid of the value of 12 d, gave the said Christopher then and there a mortal wound over his right eye of the depth of two inches and the width of one inch; of which mortal wound the aforesaid Christopher Marlowe then and there instantly died.

Appendix II

The Queens Pardon of Ingram Frizer

The original is in Latin.

Appendix III

Minutes of the Queens Privy Council

Concerning Marlowes degree, addressed to the authorities of Cambridge University. The Master of Arts degree was granted shortly thereafter.

Whereas it was reported that Christopher Marlowe was determined to have gone beyond the seas to Rheims and there remain, their Lordships thought good to certify that he behaved himself orderly and discreetly whereby he had done her Majesty good service, and deserved to be rewarded for his faithful dealing. Their Lordships request that the rumour thereof should be allayed by all possible means and that he should be furthered in the degree he was to take this next Commencement; because it was not her Majestys pleasure that anyone employed as he had been in matters touching the benefit of his country should be defamed by those ignorant in the affairs he went about.

Appendix IV

Charges of Richard Baines Against Marlowe

The following note was received by the Privy Council on May 29, 1593, and sent to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.

That the first beginning of Religion was only to keep men in awe.

That it was an easy matter for Moses, being brought up in all the arts of the Egyptians, to abuse the Jews, being a rude and gross people.

That Christ was the son of a carpenter and that, if the Jews among whom he was born did crucify him, they best knew him and whence he came.

That Christ deserved better to die than Barabbas, and that the Jews made a good choice, though Barabbas were both a thief and a murderer.

That if there be any God or good Religion then, it is the Papists, because the service of God is performed with more ceremonies, as elevation of the mass, organs, singing men, shaven crowns, etc....

That all Protestants are hypocritical asses.

That if he were put to write a new religion, he would undertake both a more excellent and Admirable method.

That all they that love not Tobacco and Boys were fools.

That all the apostles were fishermen and base fellows, neither of wit nor worth, that Paul only had wit, but he was a timorous fellow in bidding men to be subject to magistrates against his conscience.

That he had as good a right to coin as the Queen of England, and that he was acquainted with one Poole, a prisoner in Newgate, who hath great skill in mixture of metals, and having learned some things from him, he meant, through help of a cunning stamp-maker, to coin French crowns, pistolets, and English shillings.

That if Christ would have instituted the Sacrament with more ceremonial reverence, it would have been had in more admiration.

That Richard Cholmeley hath confessed that he was persuaded by Marlowes reasons to become an Atheist.

These things, with many other, shall by good and honest witness be approved to be his opinions and common speeches, and that this Marlowe doth not only hold them himself, but almost into every company he cometh he persuadeth men to Atheism, willing them not to be afraid of bugbears and hobgoblins and utterly scorning both God and His ministers, as I, Richard Baines, will justify and approve both by mine own oath and the testimony of many honest men, and almost all men with whom he hath conversed any time will testify the same, and as I think, all men in Christianity ought to endeavour that the mouth of so dangerous a member may be stopped.