Master Joshua Sylvester, gentleman; Master Thomas Decker, gentleman, M. John Fletcher gentleman, M. John Webster gentleman, M. Thomas Heywood gentleman, M. Thomas Middleton gentleman, M. George Withers."

There is nothing here to be learned about Shakespeare nor about the identity of the poetdramatist and the actor from Stratford.

(27)

Since we can find no contemporary allusion definitely declaring the two Shakespeares to be one and the same, it is not improbable that they were not regarded as the same. At least we cannot exhibit, as evidence that the identity existed, the passages quoted in this chapter.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

EVIDENCES FROM THE PLAYS AND

POEMS.

In this chapter I have printed such documents as deal directly with the plays and poems published under the name William Shakepeare during the life time of William Shakespeare of Stratford. It did not seem useful to try to make a list of the quartos with their dates, nor did it seem wise to attempt to select from the plays and poems any so-called "selfrevealatory" or "autobiographical" passages. The preface, dedicatory letters, and records herein included show no connection between the actor and the playwright. This is the last link in our chain of negative evidence.

1593. In "Venus and Adonis," the dedication "To the Right Honorable Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, and Baron of Titchfield," William Shakespeare, who signed himself "Your honor's in all duty," wrote:

"Right Honorable, I know not how I shall offend in dedicating my unpolished lines to your Lordship, nor how the world will censure me for choosing so strong a prop to support so weak a burden, only if your Honor seem but pleased, I account myself highly praised, and vow to take advantage of all idle hours till I have honored you with some graver labor.

But if the first heir of my invention prove deformed, I shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather: and never after ear so barren a land for fear it yield me still so bad a harvest, I leave it to your Honorable survey, and your Honor to your heart's content, which I wish may always answer your own wish, and the world's hopeful expectation." (1)

There is nothing to be learned here about the identity of the Stratford actor with the poet. 1594. In the dedication to "The Rape of Lucrece," William Shakespeare, addressing again the Earl of Southampton, and signing himself as before, wrote:

"The love I dedicate to your Lordship is without end: whereof this pamphlet without beginning is but a superfluous moiety. The warrant I have of your honorable disposition, not the worth of my untutored lines makes it assured of acceptance. What I have done is yours, what I have to do is yours, being part in all I have, devoted yours. Were my worth greater, my duty would show greater, meantime, as it is, it is bound to your Lordship; to whom I wish long life still lengthened with all happiness." (2)

There is nothing to be learned here about the identity of the Stratford actor with the poet.

1600. Entry at Stationers' Hall: ... "Two books, the one called Much Ado about Nothing, the other the second part of the History of King Henry the IVth with the humors of

Sir John Falstaff, written by Mr. Shakespeare."

(3)

1604. In the Accounts of the Revels at court in the reigns of Elizabeth and James, for the whole year 1604 and part of 1605, "Shaxberd" appears as the poet "which made the plays" "Measure for Measure," "The Play of Errors," and "A Merchant of Venice." The authenticity of the insertion of this name has been questioned. It is needless to say that, even if the records are true ones, there is nothing to be learned here about the identity of the Stratford actor with the writer of the dramas. (4)

1607. Entry at Stationers' Hall: "A book called Mr. William Shakespeare his history of King Lear as it was played before the King's majesty at Whitehall." (5)

...

1609. Entry at Stationers' Hall: "Entered. . . a book called Shakespeare's Sonnets." (6)

1609. The Quarto of "Troilus and Cresseida" was published this year, with the name William Shakespeare on the title-page and with the following unsigned preface. The caption was "A Never Writer to an Ever Reader." It read:

"Eternal reader, you have here a new play, never staled with the stage, never clapperclawed with the palms of the vulgar, and yet passing full of the palm comical; for it is a birth of your brain, that never undertook anything comical vainly; and were but the vain

names of comedies changed for the titles of commodities, or of plays for pleas, you should see all those grand censors, that now style them such vanities, flock to them for the main grace of their gravities; especially this author's comedies, that are so framed to the life that they serve for the most common commentaries of all the actions of our lives, showing such a dexeterity and power of wit, that the most displeased with plays are pleased with his comedies. And all such dull and heavywitted worldlings as were never capable of the wit of a comedy, coming by report of them to his representations, have found that wit there that they never found in themselves, and have parted better witted than they came; feeling an edge of wit set upon them more than ever they dreamed they had brain to grind it on. So much and such favored salt of wit is in his comedies, that they seem (for their height of pleasure) to be born in that sea that brought forth Venus. Amongst all there is none more witty than this: and had I time I would comment upon it, though I know it needs not (for so much as will make you think your testern well bestowed), but for so much worth as even poor I know to be stuffed in it. It deserves such a labor, as well as the best comedy in Terence or Plautus. And believe this, that when he is gone and his comedies out of sale, you will scramble for them, and set up a new English Inquisition. Take this for a warning, and at the peril of your pleasure's loss and