CHAPTER XIV. — Postscriptum.
Most fortunately before going to press we were able to see at the Record Office, Chancery Lane, London, the revealing documents recently discovered by Dr. Wallace and described by him in an article published in the March number of Harper's Monthly Magazine, under the title of "New Shakespeare Discoveries." The documents found by Dr. Wallace are extremely valuable and important. They tell us a few real facts about the Householder of Stratford-upon-Avon, and they effectually once and for all dispose of the idea that the Stratford man was the Poet and Dramatist,—the greatest genius of all the ages.
In the first place they prove beyond the possibility of cavil or question that "Shakespeare, of Stratford-upon-Avon, Gentleman," was totally unable to write even so much as any portion of his own name. It is true that the Answers to the Interrogatories which are given by "William Shakespeare, of Stratford-upon-Avon, Gentleman," are marked at the bottom "Wilm Shaxpr," but this is written by the lawyer or law clerk, in fact "dashed in" by the ready pen of an extremely rapid writer. A full size photographic facsimile of this "so-called" signature, with a portion of the document above it, is given in Plate 38, Page 164, and on the opposite page, in Plate 39, is shewn also in full size facsimile the real signature of Daniell Nicholas with a portion of the document, which he signed, above it.
In order that the reader may be able more easily to read the law writing we give on page 167, in modern type, the portion of the document photographed above the name Wilm Shaxp'r, and on the same page a modern type transcript of the document above the signature of Daniell Nicholas.
Any expert in handwriting will at once perceive that "Wilm Shaxp'r" is written by the same hand that wrote the lower portion of Shakespeare's Answers to Interrogatories, and by the same hand that wrote the other set of Answers to Interrogatories which are signed very neatly by "Daniell Nicholas."
The words "Daughter Marye" occur in the portion photographed of both documents, and are evidently written by the same law writer, and can be seen in Plate 38, Page 164, just above the "Wilm Shaxp'r," and in Plate 39, Page 165, upon the fifth line from the top. The name of "Shakespeare" also occurs several times in the "Answers to Interrogatories." One instance occurs in Plate 39, Page 165, eight lines above the name of Daniell Nicholas, and if the reader compares it with the "Wilm Shaxp'r" on Plate 38, Page 164, it will be at once seen that both writings are by the same hand.
[Illustration: Plate XXXVIII Full Size Facsimile of part of "Shakespeare's Answers to the Interrogatories," Discovered by Dr. Wallace in the British Records Office.]
[Illustration: Plate XXXIX. Full Size Facsimile of part of Daniell Nicholas' "Answers to the Interrogatories," Discovered by Dr. Wallace in British Record Office.]
What c'tayne he
. . . . . .
. plt twoe hundered pounds
decease. But sayth that
his house. And they had amo
about their marriadge w'ch
nized. And more he can
ponnt saythe he can saye
of the same Interro for
cessaries of houshould stuffe
his daughter Marye
WILM SHAXPR
TYPE FACSIMILE OF PLATE XXXVIII.
that the deft did beare
ted him well when he
by him the said Shakespeare
his daughter Marye
that purpose sent him
swade the plt to the
solempnised uppon pmise of
nnt. And more he can
this deponnt sayth
is deponnt to goe wth
DANIELL NICHOLAS.
TYPE FACSIMILE OF PLATE XXXIX.
Answers to Interrogatories are required to be signed by the deponents. In the case of "Johane Johnsone," who could not write her name, the depositions are signed with a very neat cross which was her mark. In the case of "William Shakespeare, of Stratford-upon-Avon, Gentleman," who was also unable to write his name, they are signed with a dot which might quite easily be mistaken for an accidental blot. Our readers will see this mark, which is not a blot but a purposely made mark, just under "Wilm Shaxp'r."
Dr. Wallace reads the "so-called" signature as Willm Shaks, but the Christian name is written quite clearly Wilm. And we should have supposed that any one possessing even the smallest acquaintance with the law writing of the period must have known that the scroll which looks like a flourish at the end of the surname is not and cannot be an "s," but is most certainly without any possibility of question a "p," and that the dash through the "p" is the usual and accepted abbreviation for words ending in "per," or "peare," etc.[12]
Then how ought we, nay how arewe, compelled to read the so-called signature? The capital S is quite clear, so also is the "h," then the next mass of strokes all go to make up simply the letter "a." Then we come to the blotted letter,
[Illustration: Plate XL. FACSIMILES OF LAW CLERKS' WRITING OF THE NAME "SHAKESPEARE," FROM HALLIWELL-PHILLIPPS' "OUTLINES OF THE LIFE OF SHAKESPEARE," VOL. 2, 1889.]
this is not and cannot be "kes" or "ks" because in the law writing of the period every letter "s" (excepting "s" at the end of a word) was written as a very long letter. This may readily be seen in the word Shakespeare which occurs in Plate 39 on the eighth line above the signature of Daniell Nicholas. What then is this blotted letter if it is not kes or ks? The answer is quite plain, it is an "X," and a careful examination under a very strong magnifying glass will satisfy the student that it is without possibility of question correctly described as an "X."[13] Yes, the lawclerk marked the Stratford Gentleman's "Answers to Interrogatories" with the name "Wilm Shaxp'r." Does there exist a Stratfordian who will contend that William Shakespeare, of Stratford-upon-Avon, Gentleman, if he had been able to write any portion of his name would have marked his depositions Wilm Shaxp'r? Does there exist any man who will venture to contend that the great Dramatist, the author of the Immortal plays, would or could have so signed his name? We trow not; indeed, such an abbreviation would be impossible in a legal document in a Court of Law where depositions are required to be signed in full.
With reference to the other so-called Shakespeare's signatures we must refer the reader to our Chapter III. which was penned before these "New Shakespeare Discoveries" were announced. And it is perhaps desirable to say that the dot in the "W" which appears in two of those "so-called" signatures of Shakespeare, and also in the one just discovered, is part of the regular method of writing a "W" in the law writing of the period. In the Purchase Deed of the property in Blackfriars, of March 10th 1612-13, mentioned on page 38, there are in the first six lines of the Deed seven "W's," in each of which appears a dot. And in the Mortgage Deed of March 11th 1612-13, there are seven "W's" in the first five lines, in each of which appears a similar dot. The above-mentioned two Deeds are in the handwriting of different law clerks.
It may not be out of place here again to call our readers' attention to the fact that law documents are required to be signed "in full," and that if the very rapid and ready writer who wrote "Wilm Shaxp'r" were indeed the Gentleman of Stratford it would have been quite easy for such a good penman to have written his name in full; this the law writer has not done because he did not desire to forge a signature to the document, but desired only to indicate by an abbreviation that the dot or spot below was the mark of William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon.
Thus the question, whether William Shakespeare, of Stratford-upon-Avon, Gentleman, could or could not write his name is for ever settled in the negative, and there is no doubt, there can be no doubt, upon this matter.
Dr. Wallace declares "I have had no theory to defend and no hypothesis to propose." But as a matter of fact his whole article falsely assumes that "William Shakespeare, of Stratford-upon-Avon, Gentleman," who is referred to in the documents, is no other than the great Dramatist who wrote the Immortal plays. And the writer can only express his unbounded wonder and astonishment that even so ardent a Stratfordian as Dr. Wallace, after studying the various documents which he discovered, should have ventured to say:
Although, forsooth, the matter of his statements
is of no high literary quality and the manner is
lacking in imagination and style, as the Rev.
Joseph Green in 1747 complained of the will, we
feel none the less as we hear him talk that we
have for the first time met Shakespeare in the
flesh and that the acquaintance is good."
As a matter of fact none of the words of any of the deponents are their own words, but they are the words of the lawyers who drew the Answers to the Interrogatories. The present writer, when a pupil in the chambers of a distinguished lawyer who afterwards became a Lord Justice, saw any number of Interrogatories and Answers to Interrogatories, and even assisted in their preparation. The last thing that any one of the pupils thought of, was in what manner the client would desire to express his own views. They drew the most plausible Answers they could imagine, taking care that their words were sufficiently near to the actual facts for the client to be able to swear to them.
The so-called signature "Wilm Shaxp'r," is written by the lawyer or law clerk who wrote the lower part of Shakespeare's depositions, and this same clerk also wrote the depositions above the name of another witness who really signs his own name, viz., "Daniell Nicholas." The only mark William Shakespeare put to the document was the blot above which the abbreviated name "Wilm Shaxp'r" was written by the lawyer or law clerk.
The documents shew that Shakespeare of Stratford occasionally "lay" in the house in Silver Street, and Ben Jonson's words in "The Staple of News" (Third Intermeane; Act iii.), to which Dr. Wallace refers viz., that "Siluer-Streete" was "a good seat for a Vsurer" are very informing, because as we have before pointed out the Stratford man was a cruel usurer.
Dr. Wallace's contention that Mountjoy, the wig-maker, of the corner house in Silver Street where Shakespeare, of Stratford-upon-Avon, Gentleman, occasionally slept, was the original of the name of the Herald in Henry V.[14] really surpasses, in want of knowledge of History, anything that the writer has ever previously encountered, and he is afraid that it really is a measure of the value of Dr. Wallace's other inferences connecting the illiterate Stratford Rustic with the great Dramatist who "took all knowledge for his province."
Dr. Wallace's "New Shakespeare Discoveries" are really extremely valuable and informing, and very greatly assist the statements which the writer has made in the previous chapters, viz., that the Stratford Householder was a mean Rustic who was totally unable to read or to write, and was not even an actor of repute, but was a mere hanger-on at the Theatre. Indeed, the more these important documents are examined the clearer it will be perceived that, as Dr. Wallace points out, they shew us that the real William Shakespeare, of Stratford-upon-Avon, gentleman, was not the "Aristocrat," whom Tolstoi declares the author of the plays to have been, but was in fact a man who resided [occasionally when he happened to revisit London] "in a hardworking family," a man who was familiar with hairdressers and their apprentices, a man who mixed as an equal among tradesmen in a humble position of life, who referred to him as "One Shakespeare." These documents prove that "One Shakespeare" was not and could not have been the "poet and dramatist." In a word these documents strongly confirm the fact that
[Illustration: Plate XLI. Facsimile of the Dedication of Powell's "Attourney's Academy," 1630]
CHAPTER XV. — APPENDIX.
The facsimile shewn in Plate 41, Page 176, is from "The Attourney's Academy," 1630. The reader will perceive that the ornamental heading is printed upside down. In the ordinary copies it is not so printed, but only in special copies such as that possessed by the writer; the object of the upside-down printing being, as we have already pointed out in previous pages, to reveal, to those deemed worthy of receiving it, some secret concerning Bacon.
In the present work, while we have used our utmost endeavour to place in the vacant frame, the true portrait of him who was the wonder and mystery of his own age and indeed of all ages, we have never failed to remember the instructions given to us in "King Lear":—
Speak less than thou knowest."
Our object has been to supply exact and positive information and to confirm it by proofs so accurate and so certain as to compel belief and render any effective criticism an impossibility.
It may however not be without advantage to those who are becoming convinced against their will, if we place before them a few of the utterances of men of the greatest distinction who, without being furnished with the information which we have been able to afford to our readers, were possessed of sufficient intelligence and common sense to perceive the truth respecting the real authorship of the Plays.
Viscount Palmerston, the great British statesman, used to say that he rejoiced to have lived to see three things—the re-integration of Italy, the unveiling of the mystery of China and Japan, and the explosion of the Shakespearian illusions.—From the Diary of the Right Hon. Mount-Stewart E. Grant.
Lord Houghton (better known as a statesman under the name of Richard Monckton Milnes) reported the words of Lord Palmerston, and he also told Dr. Appleton Morgan that he himself no longer considered Shakespeare, the actor, as the author of the Plays.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the eminent British critic and poet, although he assumed that Shakespeare was the author of the Plays, rejected the facts of his life and character, and says: "Ask your own hearts, ask your own common sense, to conceive the possibility of the author of the Plays being the anomalous, the wild, the irregular genius of our daily criticism. What! are we to have miracles in sport? Does God choose idiots by whom to convey divine truths to man?"
John Bright, the eminent British statesman, declared: "Any man that believes that William Shakespeare of Stratford wrote Hamlet or Lear is a fool." In its issue of March 27th 1889, the Rochdale Observer reported John Bright as scornfully angry with deluded people who believe that Shakespeare wrote Othello.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great American philosopher and poet, says: "As long as the question is of talent and mental power, the world of men has not his equal to show.... The Egyptian verdict of the Shakespeare Societies comes to mind that he was a jovial actor and manager. I cannot marry this fact to his verse."—Emerson's Works. London, 1883. Vol. 4, p. 420.
John Greenleaf Whittier, the American poet, declared: "Whether Bacon wrote the wonderful plays or not, I am quite sure the man Shakspere neither did nor could."
Dr. W. H. Furness, the eminent American scholar, who was the father of the Editor of the Variorum Edition of Shakespeare's Works, wrote to Nathaniel Holmes in a letter dated Oct. 29th 1866: "I am one of the many who have never been able to bring the life of William Shakespeare and the plays of Shakespeare within planetary space of each other. Are there any two things in the world more incongruous? Had the plays come down to us anonymously, had the labor of discovering the author been imposed upon after generations, I think we could have found no one of that day but F. Bacon to whom to assign the crown. In this case it would have been resting now on his head by almost common consent."
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, who wrote under the pseudonym of Mark Twain, was,—it is universally admitted,—one of the wisest of men. Last year (1909) he published a little book with the title, "Is Shakespeare dead?" In this he treats with scathing scorn those who can persuade themselves that the immortal plays were written by the Stratford clown. He writes, pp. 142-3: "You can trace the life histories of the whole of them [the world's celebrities] save one far and away the most colossal prodigy of the entire accumulation—Shakespeare. About him you can find out nothing. Nothing of even the slightest importance. Nothing worth the trouble of stowing away in your memory. Nothing that even remotely indicates that he was ever anything more than a distinctly common-place person—a manager,[15] an actor of inferior grade, a small trader in a small village that did not regard him as a person of any consequence, and had forgotten him before he was fairly cold in his grave. We can go to the records and find out the life-history of every renowned race-horse of modern times—but not Shakespeare's! There are many reasons why, and they have been furnished in cartloads (of guess and conjecture) by those troglodytes; but there is one that is worth all the rest of the reasons put together, and is abundantly sufficient all by itself—he hadn't any history to record. There is no way of getting around that deadly fact. And no sane way has yet been discovered of getting round its formidable significance. Its quite plain significance —to any but those thugs (I do not use the term unkindly) is, that Shakespeare had no prominence while he lived, and none until he had been dead two or three generations. The Plays enjoyed high fame from the beginning."
We are told in Sydney Whitman's "Personal Reminiscences of Prince Bismarck," pp. 135-6, that in 1892, Prince Bismarck said, "He could not understand how it were possible that a man, however gifted with the intuitions of genius, could have written what was attributed to Shakespeare unless he had been in touch with the great affairs of state, behind the scenes of political life, and also intimate with all the social courtesies and refinements of thought which in Shakspeare's time were only to be met with in the highest circles."
"It also seemed to Prince Bismarck incredible that the man who had written the greatest dramas in the world's literature could of his own free will, whilst still in the prime of life, have retired to such a place as Stratford-on-Avon and lived there for years, cut off from intellectual society, and out of touch with the world."
The foregoing list of men of the very greatest ability and intelligence who were able clearly to perceive the absurdity of continuing to accept the commonly received belief that the Mighty Author of the immortal Plays was none other than the mean rustic of Stratford, might be extended indefinitely, but the names that we have mentioned are amply sufficient to prove to the reader that he will be in excellent company when he himself realises the truth that
A NEUER WRITER, TO AN EUER READER. NEWES.
Eternall reader, you haue heere a new play, neuer stal'd with the Stage, neuer clapper-clawd with the palmes of the vulger, and yet passing full of the palme comicall; for it is a birth of your braine, that neuer under-tooke any thing commicall, vainely: And were but the vaine names of commedies changde for the titles of Commodities, or of Playes for Pleas; you should see all those grand censors, that now stile them such vanities, flock to them for the maine grace of their grauities: especially this authors Commedies, that are so fram'd to the life, that they serve for the most common Commentaries, of all the actions of our Hues shewing such a dexteritie, and power of witte, that the most displeased with Playes are pleasd with his Commedies.....
And beleeue this, that when hee is gone, and his Commedies out of sale, you will scramble for them, and set up a new English Inquisition. Take this for a warning, and at the perrill of your pleasures losse, and Judgements, refuse not, nor like this the lesse, for not being sullied, with the smoaky breath of the multitude.[16]
ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA.
Footnote to page 45. There was a forest of Arden in Warwickshire.
Footnote to page 51. This Richard Quyney's son Thomas married 10th February 1616, Judith, William Shakespeare's younger daughter, who, like her father, the supposed poet, was totally illiterate, and signed the Register with a mark.
Footnote to page 62. In 1615, although nothing of poetical importance bearing Bacon's name had been published, we find in Stowe's "Annales," p. 811, that Bacon's name appears seventh in the list there given of Elizabethan poets.
ERRATA.
P. 29. For "line 511" read "line 512."
P. 81. For "Montegut" read "Montegut."
For "Greek for crowned" read "Greek for
crown."
P. 93 & 94. For "Quintillian" read "Quintilian."
P. 133. For "Greek name" read "Greek word."
PROMUS OF FOURMES AND ELEGANCYES BY FRANCIS BACON.
PREFACE TO PROMUS
To these Essays I have attached a carefully collated reprint of Francis Bacon's "Promus of Formularies and Elegancies," a work which is to be found in Manuscript at the British Museum in the Harleian Collection (No. 7,017.)
The folios at present known are numbered from 83 to 132, and are supposed to have been written about A.D. 1594-6, because folio 85 is dated December 5th 1594, and folio 114, January 27 1595.
The pagination of the MS. is modern, and was inserted for reference purposes when the Promus was bound up in one volume together with certain other miscellaneous manuscripts which are numbered from 1 to 82, and from 133 onwards.
A facsimile of a portion of a leaf of the Promus MS., folio 85, is given on pages 190-91, in order to illustrate Bacon's handwriting, and also to shew his method of marking the entries. It will be perceived that some entries have lines //// drawn across the writing, while upon others marks similar to the capital letters T, F, and A are placed at the end of the lines. But as the Promus is here printed page for page as in the manuscript, I am not raising the question of the signification of these marks, excepting only to say they indicate that Bacon made considerable use of these memoranda.
"Promus" means larder or storehouse, and these "Fourmes, Formularies and Elegancyes" appear to have been intended as a storehouse of words and phrases to be employed in the production of subsequent literary works.
Mrs. Pott was the first to print the "Promus," which, with translations and references, she published in 1883. In her great work, which really may be described as monumental, Mrs. Pott points out, by means of some thousands of quotations, how great a use appears to have been made of the "Promus" notes, both in the acknowledged works of Bacon and in the plays which are known as Shakespeare's.
Mrs. Pott's reading of the manuscript was extremely good, considering the great difficulty experienced in deciphering the writing. But I thought it advisable when preparing a reprint to secure the services of the late Mr. F. B. Bickley, of the British Museum, to carefully revise the whole of Bacon's "Promus." This task he completed and I received twenty-four proofs, which I caused to be bound with a title page in 1898. There were no other copies, the whole of the type having unfortunately been broken up. The proof has again been carefully collated with the original manuscript and corrected by Mr. F. A. Herbert, of the British Museum, and I have now reprinted it here, as I am satisfied that the more Bacon's Promus—the Storehouse—is examined, the more it will be recognised how large a portion of the material collected therein has been made use of in the Immortal Plays, and I therefore now issue the Promus with the present essay as an additional proof of the identity of Bacon and Shakespeare.
[Illustration: Plate XLII. Facsimile of portion of Folio 85 of the Original MS of Bacon's "Promus." see page 199]
[Illustration: Plate XLIII. Portrait of Francis Bacon, from a Painting by Van Somers. Formerly in the Collection of the Duke of Fife]
Folio 83, front.
Ingenuous honesty and yet with opposition and
strength.
Corni contra croci good means against badd, homes
to crosses.
In circuitu ambulant impij; honest by antiperistasis.
Siluj a bonis et dolor meus renouatus est.
Credidj propter quod locutus sum.
Memoria justi cum laudibus at impiorum nomen
putrescet
Justitiamque omnes cupida de mente fugarunt.
Non recipit stultus verba prudential nisi ea dixeris
quaee uersantur in corde ejus
Veritatem erne et noli vendere
Qui festinat ditari non erat insons
Nolite dare sanctum canibus.
Qui potest capere capiat
Quoniam Moses ad duritiam cordis uestri permisit
uobis
Obedire oportet deo magis quam hominibus.
Et vniuscujusque opus quale sit probabit ignis
Non enim possumus aliquid aduersus ueritatem sed
pro ueritate.
Folio 83, front—continued.
For which of y'e good woorkes doe yow stone me
Quorundam hominum peccata praecedunt ad judicium
quorundam sequuntur
Bonum certamen certauj
Sat patriae priamoque datum.
Ilicet obruimur numero.
Atque animis illabere nostris
Hoc praetexit nomine culpam.
Procul o procul este prophani
Magnanimj heroes nati melioribus annis
Folio 83, back.
Ille mihi ante alios fortunatusque laborum
Egregiusque animi qui ne quid tale videret
Procubuit moriens et humum semel ore momordit
Fors et uirtus miscentur in vnum.
Non ego natura nec sum tam callidus vsu.
aeuo rarissima nostro simplicitas
Viderit vtilitas ego cepta fideliter edam.
Prosperum et foelix scelus, virtus vocatur
Tibi res antiquas laudis et artis
Inuidiam placare paras uirtute relicta.
Iliacos intra muros peccatur et extra
Homo sum humanj a me nil alienum puto.
The grace of God is woorth a fayre
Black will take no other hue
Vnum augurium optimum tueri patria.
Exigua res est ipsa justitia
Dat veniam coruis uexat censura columbas.
Homo hominj deus
Semper virgines furiae; Cowrting a furye
Di danarj di senno et di fede
Ce ne manco che tu credj
Chi semina spine non vada discalzo
Mas vale a quien Dios ayuda que a quien mucho
madruga.
Quien nesciamente pecca nesciamente ua al infierno
Quien ruyn es en su uilla
Ruyn es en Seuilla
De los leales se hinchen los huespitales
Folio 84, front.
We may doe much yll or we doe much woorse
Vultu laeditur saepe pietas.
Difficilia quae pulchra
Conscientia mille testes.
Summum Jus summa injuria
Nequiequam patrias tentasti lubricus artes.
Et monitj meliora sequamur
Nusquam tuta fides
Discite Justitiam moniti et non temnere diuos
Quisque suos patimur manes.
Extinctus amabitur idem.
Optimus ille animi vindex laedentium pectus
Vincula qui rupit dedoluitque semel.
Virtue like a rych geme best plaine sett
Quibus bonitas a genere penitus insita est
ij iam non mali esse nolunt sed nesciunt
Oeconomicae rationes publicas peruertunt.
Divitiae Impedimenta virtutis; The bagage of
vertue
Habet et mors aram.
Nemo virtuti invidiam reconciliauerit praeter
mort ...
Turpe proco ancillam sollicitare Est autem
virtutis ancilia laus.
Si suum cuique tribuendum est certe et venia
humanitati
Qui dissimulat liber non est
Leue efficit jugum fortunae jugum amicitiae
Omnis medecina Innouatio
Folio 84, front—continued.
Auribus mederi difficillimum.
Suspitio fragilem fidem soluit fortem incendit
Pauca tamen suberunt priscae vestigia fraudis
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
Mors et fugacem persequitur virum.
Danda est hellebori multo pars maxima avar [is]
Folio 84, back.
Minerall wytts strong poyson and they be not
corrected
aquexar.
Ametallado fayned inameled.
Totum est majus sua parte against factions and
priuate profite
Galens compositions not paracelsus separations
Full musike of easy ayres withowt strange concordes
and discordes
In medio non sistit uirtus
Totem est quod superest
A stone withowt foyle
A whery man that lookes one way and pulls another
Ostracisme
Mors in Olla poysonings
Fumos uendere.
[Sidenote up the left margin oriented at ninety degrees to the text:
FOURMES COMERSATE]
Folio 85, front.
Dec. 5, 1594.
Promus
// Suauissima vita indies meliorem fierj
The grace of God is woorth a faire
Mors in olla F
// No wise speech thowgh easy and voluble.
Notwithstanding his dialogues (of one that giueth
life to his speach by way of quaestion). T
He can tell a tale well (of those cowrtly giftes of
speach w'ch. are better in describing then in
consydering) F
A goode Comediante T (of one that hath good
grace in his speach)
To commend Judgments.
// To comend sense of law
// Cunyng in the humors of persons but not in the
condicons of actions
Stay a littell that we make an end the sooner. A
// A fooles bolt is soone shott
His lippes hang in his light. A. T
// Best we lay a straw hear
A myll post thwitten to a pudding pricke T
// One swallo maketh no sumer
L'Astrologia e vera ma l'astrologuo non sj truoua
// Hercules pillers non vltra. T
// He had rather haue his will then his wyshe. T
Well to forgett
Make much of yourselfe
Folio 85, front—continued.
Wyshing yow all &c and myself occasion to doe
yow servyce
// I shalbe gladd to vnderstand your newes but none
// rather then some ouerture whearin I may doe
// yow service
// Ceremonyes and green rushes are for strangers T
How doe yow? They haue a better question in cheap side w'lak ye
// Poore and trew. Not poore therefore not trew T
Folio 85, back.
Tuque Inuidiosa vestustas. T
Licentia sumus omnes deteriores. T
Qui dat nivem sicut lanam T
Lilia agri non laborant neque nent T
Mors omnia solvit T
// A quavering tong.
like a cuntry man that curseth the almanach. T
Ecce duo gladij his. T
Arnajore ad minorem. T
In circuitu ambulant impij T
Exijt sermo inter fratres quod discipulus iste non
moritur T
Omne majus continet in se mjnus T
Sine vlla controuersia quod minus est majore
benedic ... T
She is light she may be taken in play T
He may goe by water for he is sure to be well
landed T
// Small matters need sollicitacion great are remem-
bred of themselues
The matter goeth so slowly forward that I haue
almost forgott it my self so as I maruaile not
if my frendes forgett
Not like a crabb though like a snaile
Honest men hardly chaung their name. T
The matter thowgh it be new (if that be new wch)
hath been practized in like case thowgh not in
this particular
I leaue the reasons to the parties relacions and the
consyderacion of them to your wysdome
leaue me in liberty
// It is in vayne to forbear to renew that greef by
// speach w'ch the want of so great a comfort must
// needes renew.
// As I did not seeke to wynne your thankes so your
// courteous acceptacion deserueth myne
// The vale best discouuereth the hill T.
// Sometymes a stander by seeth more than a plaier T.
The shortest foly is the best. T.
// I desire no secrett newes but the truth of comen
newes. T.
// Yf the bone be not trew[17] sett it will neuer be well
till it be broken. T.
// Cheries and newes fall price soonest. T.
You vse the lawyers fourme of pleading T.
// The difference is not between yow and me but
between your proffite and my trust
// All is not in years some what is in howres well
spent. T.
// Offer him a booke T
// Why hath not God sent yow my mynd or me your
// means.
// I thinke it my dowble good happ both for the
obteynyng and for the mean.
// Shutt the doore for I mean to speak treason T.
I wysh one as fytt as I am vnfitt
I doe not onely dwell farre from neighbors but near
yll neighbors. T
Folio 86, front—continued.
// As please the paynter T.
Receperunt mercedem suam. T.
Secundum tidem vestram fiet vobis
Ministerium meum honorificabo
Folio 86, back.
Beati mortuj qui moriuntur in domino
Detractor portat Diabolum in lingua T
frangimur heu fatis inquit ferimurque procella
Nunc ipsa vocat res
Dij meliora pijs erroremque hostibus illum
Aliquisque malo fuit vsus in illo
Vsque acleo latet vtilitas
Et tamen arbitrium que, rit res ista duorum.
Vt esse phebi dulcius lumen solet
Jam jam cadentis
Velle suum cuique est nee voto viuitur vno
Who so knew what would be dear
Nead be a marchant but a year.
Blacke will take no other hew
He can yll pipe that wantes his vpper lip
Nota res mala optima
Balbus balbum rectius intelligit
L' agua va al mar
A tyme to gett and a tyme to loose
Nee dijs nee viribus equis
Vnum pro multis dabitur caput
Mitte hanc de pectore curam
Neptunus ventis impleuit vela secundis
A brayne cutt with facettes T
T Yow drawe for colors but it prooueth contrarie
T Qui in paruis non distinguit in magnis labitur.
Every thing is subtile till it be conceyued
Folio 87, front.
That y't. is forced is not forcible
More ingenious then naturall
Quod longe jactum est leviter ferit
Doe yow know it? Hoc solum scio quod nihil scio
I know it? so say many
Now yow say somewhat.s. euen when yow will; now
yow begynne to conceyue I begynne to say.
What doe yow conclude vpon that? etiam tentas
All is one.s. Contrariorum eadam est ratio.
Repeat your reason.s. Bis ac ter pulchra.
Hear me owt.s. you were neuer in.
Yow iudg before yow vnderstand.s. I iudg as I vnderstand.
You goe from the matter.s. But it was to folow yow.
Come to the poynt.s. why I shall not find yow thear
Yow doe not vnderstand y'e poynt.s. for if I did.
Let me make an end of my tale.s. That which I
will say will make an end of it
Yow take more then is graunted.s.
you graunt lesse then is prooued
Yow speak colorably.s. yow may not say truly.
That is not so by your fauour.s. But by my reason
it is so
Folio 87, back.
It is so I will warrant yow.s. yow may warrant me
but I thinke I shall not vowche yow
Awnswere directly.s. yow mean as you may direct
me
Awnswere me shortly.s. yea that yow may coment
vpon it.
The cases will come together.s. It wilbe to fight
then.
Audistis quia dictum est antiquis
Secundum hominem dico
Et quin[18] non novit talia?
Hoc praetexit nomine culpa
Et fuit in toto notissima fabula celo
Quod quidam facit
Nee nihil neque omnia sunt quae dicit
Facete nunc demum nata ista est oratio
Qui mal intend pis respond
Tum decujt cum sceptra dabas
En haec promissa fides est?
Proteges eos in tabernaculo tuo a contradictione
linuarum.
[Greek: prin to thronein katathronein epistasai]
Sicut audiuimus sic vidimus
Credidj propter quod locutus sum.
Quj erudit derisorem sibj injuriam facit
Super mjrarj ceperunt philosopharj
Folio 88, front.
Prudens celat scientiam stultus proclamat stultitiam
Querit derisor sapientiam nee invenit eam.
Non recipit stultus verba prudentie nisi ea dixeris
quae sunt in corde ejus
Lucerna Dej spiraculum hominis
Veritatem eme et noli vendere
Melior claudus in via quam cursor extra viam.
The glory of God is to conceale a thing and the
glory of man is to fynd owt a thing.
Melior est finis orationis quam principium.
Injtium verborum ejus stultitia et novissimum oris
illius pura insania
Verba sapientium sicut aculej et vebut clavj in
altum defixj.
Quj potest capere capiat
Vos adoratis quod nescitis
Vos nihil scitis
Quod est veritas.
Quod scripsj scripsj
Nolj dicere rex Judeorum sed dicens se regem
Judeorum
Virj fratres liceat audacter dicere apud vos
Quod uult seminator his verborum dicere
Folio 88, back.
Multe te litere ad Insaniam redigunt.
Sapientiam loquiraur inter perfectos
Et Justificata est sapientia a filijs suis.
Scientia inflat charitas edificat
Eadem vobis scribere mihi non pigrum vobis autem
necessarium
Hoc autem dico vt nemo vos decipiat in sublimi-
tate sermonum.
Omnia probate quod bonum este tenete
Fidelis sermo
Semper discentes et nunquam ad scientiam veritatis
pervenientes
Proprius ipsorum propheta
Testimonium hoc verum est
Tantam nubem testium.
Sit omnis homo velox ad audiendum tardus ad
loquendum.
Error novissimus pejor priore.
Quecunque ignorant blasphemant
Non credimus quia non legimus
Facile est vt quis Augustinum vincat viderit vtrum
veritate an clamore.
Bellum omnium pater
De nouueau tout est beau
De saison tout est bon
Dj danarj di senno et di fede
Ce ne manca che tu credj
Di mentira y saqueras verdad
Folio 89, front.
Magna Civitas magna solitude
light gaines make heuy purses
He may be in my paternoster indeed
But sure he shall neuer be in my Creed
Tanti causas sciat ilia furosis
What will yow?
For the rest
It is possible
Not the lesse for that
Allwaies provyded
Yf yow stay thear
for a tyme
will yow see
what shalbe the end.
Incident
Yow take it right
All this while
Whear stay we? prima facie.
That agayne. more or less.
I find that straunge It is bycause
Not vnlike quasi vero
Yf that be so Best of all
What els
Nothing lesse
Yt cometh to that
Hear yow faile
To meet with that
Bear with that
And how now
Folio 89, front—continued.
Of grace
as if
let it not displease yow
Yow putt me in mynd
I object, I demaund I distinguish etc.
A matter not in question
few woordes need
much may be said,
yow haue
well offred.
The mean the tyme
All will not serue
Yow haue forgott nothing.
Causa patet
Tamen quaere.
Well remembred
I arreste yow thear
I cannot thinke that
Discourse better
I was thinking of that
I come to that
That is iust nothing
Peraduenture Interrogatory.
Se then how (for much lesse)
NOTE.—This folio is written in three columns. The first two are printed
on page 209, and this page forms the third column. The first line, "Of
grace," is written opposite the sixth line on page 209, "What will yow?"
Folio 89, back.
Non est apud aram Consultandem.
Eumenes litter
Sorti pater equus vtrique
Est quoddam [sic] prodire tenus si non datur vltra.
Quem si non tenuit magnis tamen excidit ausis
Conamur tenues grandia
Tentantem majora fere praesentibus equum.
Da facilem cursum atque audacibus annue ceptis
Neptunus ventis implevit vela secundis
Crescent illae crescetis Amores
Et quae nunc ratio est impetus ante fuit
Aspice venturo laetentur vt omnia seclo
In Academijs discunt credere
Vos adoratis quod nescitis To gyue Awthors thear due as yow gyue Tyme his
dew w'ch is to discouuer troth.
Vos graeci semper pueri
Non canimus surdis respondent omnia syluae
populus volt decipi
Scientiam loquimur inter perfectos
Et Justificata est sapientia a filijs suis Pretiosa in oculis domini mors sanctorum ejus
Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.
Magistratus virum iudicat.
Da sapienti occasionem et addetur ej sapienta
Vite me redde priorj
I had rather know then be knowne
Folio 90, front.
Orpheus in syluis inter Delphinas Arion
Inopem me copia fecit.
An instrument in tunyng
A yowth sett will neuer be higher.
like as children doe w'th their babies when they haue
plaied enowgh wth them they take sport to
undoe them.
Faber quisque fortune suae
Hinc errores multiplices quod de partibus vitae
singuli deliberant de summa nemo.
Vtilitas magnos hominesque deosque efficit auxilijs
quoque fauente suis.
Qui in agone contendit a multis abstinet
Quidque cupit sperat suaque illum oracula fallunt
Serpens nisi serpentem comederit non fit Draco
The Athenians holyday.
Optimi consiliarij mortuj
Cum tot populis stipatus eat
In tot populis vix vna fides
Odere Reges dicta quae dici iubent
Nolite confidere in principibus
Et multis vtile bellum.
Pulchrorum Autumnus pulcher
Vsque adeone times quern tu facis ipse timendum.
Dux femina facti
Res est ingeniosa dare
A long wynter maketh a full ear.
Declinat cursus aurumque uolubile tollit
Romaniscult.
Vnum augurium optimum tueri patriam
Bene omnia fecit
Folio 90, back.
Et quo quenque modo fugiatque feratque laborem edocet.
Non vlla laborum o virgo nova mi facies inopinave surgit;
Omnia praecepi atque animo mecum ante peregi.
Cultus major censu
Tale of y'e frogg that swelled.
Viderit vtilitas
Qui eget verseter in turba
While the legg warmeth the boote harmeth
Augustus rapide ad locum leniter in loco
My father was chudd for not being a baron.
Prowd when I may doe any man good.
I contemn few men but most thinges.
A vn matto vno & mezo
Tantene animis celestibus ire
Tela honoris tenerior
Alter rixatur de lana sepe caprina
Propugnat nugis armatus scilicet vt non
Sit mihi prima fides.
Nam cur ego amicum offendam in nugis
A skulter
We haue not drunke all of one water.
Ilicet obruimur numer[o].
Numbring not weighing
let them haue long mornynges that haue not good
afternoones
Cowrt howres
Constancy to remayne in the same state
Folio 90, back—continued.
The art of forgetting.
Rather men then maskers.
Variam dans otium mentem
Spire lynes.
Folio 91, front.
Veruntamen vane conturbatur omnis homo
Be the day never so long at last it ringeth to
even-song.
Vita salillum.
Non possumus aliquid contra veritatem sed pro veritate.
Sapie[n]tia quoque perseueravit mecum
Magnorum fluuiorum navigabiles fontes.
Dos est vxoria lites
Haud numine nostro
Atque animis illabere nostris
Animos nil magne laudi egentes
Magnanimj heroes nati mehioribus annis
AEuo rarissima nostro Simplicitas
Qui silet est firmus
Si nunquam fallit imago
And I would haue thowght
Sed fugit interea fugit irreparabile temp[us]
Totum est quod superest
In a good beleef
Possunt quia posse videntur
Justitiamque omnes cupida de mente fugaru[nt]
Lucrificulus
Qui bene nugatur ad mensam sepe vocatur
faciunt et tedi[urn finitum?][19]
Malum bene conditum ne moveas
Be it better be it woorse
Goe yow after him that beareth the purse
Tranquillo quilibet gubernator
Nullus emptor difficilis bonum emit opsonium
Chi semina spine non vada discalzo
Folio 91, back.
Quoniam Moses ad duritiem cordis permi [sit] vobis
Non nossem peccatum nisi per legem.
Discite Justitiam monit;
Vbj testamentum ibi necesse est mors intercedat
testatoris
Scimus quia lex bona est si quis ea vtatur legitime
Ve vobis Jurisperitj
Nee me verbosas leges ediscere nee me Ingrato
voces prostituisse foro.
fixit leges pretio atque refixit
Nec ferrea Jura Insanumque forum et populi
tabularia vidit
Miscueruntque novercae non innoxia verba
Jurisconsultj domus oraculum Civitatis
now as ambiguows as oracles.
Hic clamosi rabiosa forj
Jurgia vendens improbus
Iras et verba locat
In veste varietas sit scissura non sit
Plenitude potestatis est plenitudo tempestatis
Iliacos intra muros peccatur et extra
Prosperum et felix scelus virtus vocatur
Da mihi fallere da iustum sanctumque viderj.
Nil nisi turpe iuuat cure est sua cuique voluptas
Hec quoque ab alterius grata dolore venit
Casus ne deusne
fabuleque manes
Folio 92, front.
Ille Bioneis sermonibus et sale nigro
Existimamus diuitem omnia scire recte
Querunt cum qua gente cadant
Totus mu[n]dus in malingo positus
O major tandem parcas insane minori
Reall
forma dat esse
Nee fandj fictor Vlisses
Non tu plus cernis sed plus temerarius audes
Nec tibj plus cordis sed minus oris inest.
Invidiam placare paras virtute relicta
[Greek: ho polla klepsas oliga douk ekpheuxetai]
Botrus oppositus Botro citius maturescit.
Old treacle new losanges.
Soft fire makes sweet malt.
Good to be mery and wise.
Seeldome cometh the better.
He must needes swymme that is held vp by the chynne.
He that will sell lawne before he can fold it.
Shall repent him before he haue sold it.
No man loueth his fetters thowgh they be of gold.
The nearer the church the furder from God.
All is not gold that glisters.
Beggers should be no chuzers.
A beck is as good as a dieu vous gard.
The rowling stone neuer gathereth mosse.
Better children weep then old men.
Folio 92, back.
When bale is heckst boote is next.
Ill plaieng w'th short dag (taunting replie).
He that neuer clymb neuer fell.
The loth stake standeth long.
Itch and ease can no man please.
To much of one thing is good for nothing.
Ever spare and euer bare.
A catt may looke on a Kyng.
He had need be a wyly mowse should breed in the
cattes ear.
Many a man speaketh of Rob. hood that neuer shott
in his bowe.
Batchelers wyues and maides children are well
taught.
God sendeth fortune to fooles.
Better are meales many then one to mery.
Many kisse the child for the nurses sake.
When the head akes all the body is the woorse.
When theeues fall owt trew men come to their good.
An yll wynd that bloweth no man to good.
All this wynd shakes no Corn.
Thear be more waies to the wood then one.
Tymely crookes the Tree that will a good Camocke be.
Better is the last smile then thefirst laughter.
No peny no pater noster.
Every one for himself and God for vs all.
Folio 93, front.
Long standing and small offring.
The catt knowes whose lippes she lickes.
As good neuer a whitt as neuer the better.
fluvius quae procul sunt irrigat.
As far goeth the pilgrymme as the post.
Cura esse quod audis.
[Greek: Erga neon Bomlai de meson enchai de geronton.]
Taurum tollet qui vitulum sustulerit.
Lunae radijs non maturescit Botrus.
Nil profuerit Bulbus; y'e potado will doe no good.
Dormientis rete trahit The sleeping mans nett draweth.
ijsdem e literis efficitur Tragedia et Comedia.
Tragedies and Comedies are made of one Alphabett.
Good wyne needes no bush.
Heroum filij noxae.
The sonnes of demy goddes demy men.
Alia res sceptrum alia plectrum
fere danides.[20]
Abore dejecta quivis ligna colligit.
The hasty bytch whelpes a blind lytter.
Priscis credendum.
We must beleeue the wytnesses are dead.
Thear is no trusting a woman nor a tapp.
Folio 93, back.
Not onely y'e Spring but the Michelmas Spring.
Virj iurejurandi pueri talis fallendj.
Ipsa dies quandoque parens quandoque noverca est.
Vbj non sis qui fueris non esse cur velis viuere.
Compendiaria res improbitas.
It is in action as it is in wayes; comonly the nearest
is the fowlest.
Lachrima nil citius arescit.
woorke when God woorkes.
A shrewd turn comes vnbidden.
Hirundines sub eodem tecto ne habeas.
A thorn is gentle when it is yong.
Aut regem aut fatuum nasci oportet (of a free jester).
Exigua res est ipsa Justitia.
Quae non posuistj ne tollas.
Dat veniam coruis vexat Censura columbas.
Lapsa lingua verum dicit.
The toung trippes vpon troth.
The evill is best that is lest [best?] knowen.
A mercury cannot be made of every wood (bvt
priapus may).
Princes haue a Cypher.
Anger of all passions beareth the age lest [best?].
One hand washeth another.
Iron sharpeth against Iron.
Folio 94, front.
Eyther bate conceyte or putt to strength.
faciunt et sphaceli Immunitatem.
He may be a fidler that cannot be a violine.
Milke the staunding Cowe. Why folowe yow the
flyeng.
He is the best prophete that telleth the best fortune.
Garlike and beans
like lettize like lips.
Mons cum monte non miscetur.
Hilles meet not.
A northen man may speake broad.
Haesitantia Cantoris Tussis.
No hucking Cator buyeth good achates.
Spes alit exules.
Romanus sedendo vincit.
Yow must sowe w'th the hand not w'th the baskett.
Mentiuntur multa cantores (few pleasing speches
true).
It is noth if it be in verse.
Leonis Catulum ne alas.
He cowrtes a fury.
Dij laneos habent pedes (They leaue no prynt).
The weary ox setteth stronger.
A mans customes are the mowldes whear his fortune
is cast.
Folio 94, back.
Beware of the vinegar of sweet wyne.
Adoraturj sedeant.[21]
To a foolish people a preest possest.
The packes may be sett right by the way.
It is the Cattes nature and the wenches fault.
Coene fercula nostre.
Mallem conviuis quam placuisse cocis.
Al Confessor medico e aduocato.
Non si de tener [tena?] il ver celato.
Assaj ben balla a chi fortuna suona.
A yong Barber and an old phisicion.
Buon vin Cattina testa dice il griego.
Buon vin fauola lunga.
good watch chazeth yll aduenture.
Campo rotto paga nuoua.
Better be martyr then Confessor.
L'Imbassador no porta pena.
Bella botta non ammazza vecello.
A tender finger maketh a festred sore.
A catt will neuer drowne if she see the shore.
Qui a teme [temor?] a lie.
He that telleth tend [tond?] lyeth is eyther a foole
himself or he to whome he telles them.
Che posce a [ci?] Cana pierde piu che guadagna.
Folio 95, front.
Ramo curto vindimi lunga
Tien l'amico tuo con viso suo.
Gloria in the end of the salme
An asses trott and a fyre of strawe dureth not
Por mucho madrugar no amanece mas ayna
Erly rising hasteneth not y'e morning.
Do yra el Buey que no are?
Mas vale buena quexa que mala paga
Better good pleint then yll pay
He that pardons his enemy the amner shall haue
his goodes
Chi offendi maj perdona
He that resolues in hast repentes at leasure
A dineros pagados brazos quebrados.
Mas uale bien de lexos que mal de cerca.
El lobo & la vulpeja son todos d'vna conseja
No haze poco quien tu mal echa a otro (oster before)
El buen suena, el mal buela.
At the trest of the yll the lest
Di mentira y sagueras verdad
Tell a lye to knowe a treuth
La oveja mansa mamma su madre y agena
En fin la soga quiebra por el mas delgado.
Quien ruyn es en su villa ruyn es en Sevilla
Quien no da nudo pierde punto
Quien al Ciel escupe a la cara se le buelve
Covetousenesse breakes the sacke
Dos pardales a tua espiga haze mala ligua
Folio 95, back.
Quien ha las hechas ha las sospechas.
La muger que no vera no haze larga tela
Quien a las hechas ha las sospechas.
Todos los duelos con pan son buenos.
El mozo por no saber, y el viejo por no poder dexan
las cosas pierder.
La hormiga quandose a de perder nasiente alas
De los leales se hinchen los huespitales.
Dos que se conoscan de lexos se saludan.
Bien ayrna quien mal come.
Por mejoria mi casa dexaria
Hombre apercebido medio combatido
He caries fier in one hand and water in the other
To beat the bush while another catches the byrd
To cast beyond the moone
His hand is on his halfpeny
As he brues so he must drinke
Both badd me God speed but neyther bad me wellcome
To bear two faces in a whood
To play cold prophett
To sett vp a candell before the devill
He thinketh his farthing good syluer
Folio 96, front.