In 1593, Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis, and in 1594, his Rape of Lucrece, issued from the press, both being dedicated to Henry Wriothesly, Earl of Southampton, who on the publication of the first poem, had not attained his twentieth year. The acquaintance between Shakespeare and this amiable and accomplished nobleman, originating probably in the fondness of the latter for theatrical exhibitions,54 appears to have

And this not all, but that which kills me most,
When he recounts his losses and false fortunes,
The weakness of his state so much dejected,

Not as a man repentant, but half mad
His fortunes cannot answer his expence,

He sits, and sullenly locks up his arms;
Forgetting heaven, looks downward; which makes him
Appear so dreadful that he frights my heart:
Walks heavily, as if his soul were earth;
Not penitent for those his sins are past,
But vex'd his money cannot make them last:
A fearful melancholy, ungodly sorrow!"

54 Lord Southampton's mother, soon after the death of her husband, married Sir Thomas Heneage, treasurer of the chamber, an office, which of course, brought him into connexion with actors and dramatists, and which most probably, led to the young nobleman's acquaintance with Shakespeare. Throughout life, Southampton retained his love for the drama. Rowland Whyte tells Sir Robert Sidney, in a letter dated 1599; "My lord Southampton and lord Rutland came not to the Court [at Nonesuch]. The one doth but very seldome; they pass away the Tyme in London merely in going to Plaies euery Day." Sidney Papers, ii. 132. In 1601, Southampton was induced to join the conspirators at Essex house; and it is worthy of remark, that, the afternoon preceding the rebel

ripened quickly into familiar friendship. Rowe relates, that on one occasion the generous patron presented the poet with a thousand pounds, that he might be enabled to complete a purchase which he wished to make. Such excessive liberality is perhaps not inconsistent with Southampton's sincere regard for Shakespeare, and enthusiastic admiration of his genius; yet, when we consider that the sum in question was equivalent to five thousand pounds in our own day, we may be allowed to suspect that tradition has considerably magnified the gift.

But whatever might have been the extent of Southampton's bounty, to it must the rapid rise of Shakespeare's fortunes be in great measure ascribed, and not to any emoluments he could have derived from the stage either as actor or author. That in 1596, he possessed a share in the Blackfriars' Theatre, is ascertained by the very curious document now to be mentioned. It is an address from the Lord Chamberlain's players55

lion, the Play of the deposing Richard II. was played before them. Southampton died at Bergen-op-Zoom, 1624, in his fifty-second year.

54 Rowe says "he had been assured that the story was handed down by Sir William D'Avenant, who was probably very well acquainted with his [Shakespeare's] affairs." Life of Shakespeare.

55" To the right honourable the Lords of her Majesties most honourable Privie Councell.

"The humble petition of Thomas Pope, Richard Burbadge, John Hemings, Augustine Phillips, William Shakesd

to the Privy Council, entreating that they might be permitted to carry on the repairs of, and to continue their performances in, that house; and it was drawn up in consequence of a petition from the inhabitants of the Liberty to the same authorities, praying that the players might not be allowed to complete their work upon the theatre, and that their farther performances in that quarter might be prevented. In the enumeration of the principal actors at the commencement of their address, the peare, William Kempe, William Slye, Nicholas Tooley, and others, servaunts to the Right Honorable the Lord Chamberlaine to her Majestie.

"Sheweth most humbly, that your Petitioners are owners and players of the private house, or theatre, in the precinct and libertie of the Blackfriers, which hath beene for many yeares used and occupied for the playing of tragedies, commedies, histories, enterludes, and playes. That the same, by reason of its having beene so long built, hath fallen into great decay, and that besides the reparation thereof, it has beene found necessarie to make the same more convenient for the entertainment of auditories coming thereto. That to this end your Petitioners have all and eche of them put down sommes of money, according to their shares in the said theatre, and which they have justly and honestly gained by the exercise of their qualitie of stage-players; but that certaine persons, (some of them of honour) inhabitants of the said precinct and libertie of the Blackfriers have, as your Petitioners are infourmed, besought your honourable Lordshipps not to permitt the said private house any longer to remaine open, but hereafter to be shut up and closed, to the manifest and great injurie of your petitioners, who have no other meanes whereby to maintain their wives and families, but by the exercise of their qualitie as they have heretofore done. Furthermore, that in the summer season, your Petitioners are

name of Shakespeare is the fifth, and from its position, we may form a conjecture as to the rank which he at that time held in the There is reason to believe that this counter-peticompany. tion of the players was successful.

Another proof of Shakespeare's prosperity is contained in a letter, addressed to him in 1598 by Richard Quyney, of Stratford, requesting the loan of thirty pounds,57 which in those days was no inconsiderable sum. Of the many epistles which our

able to playe at their new built house on the Bankside calde the Globe, but that in the winter they are compelled to come to the Blackfriers; and if your honorable Lordshipps give consent unto that which is prayde against your Petitioners, they will not onely, while the winter endures, loose the meanes whereby they now support them selves and their families, I ut be unable to practise them selves in anie playes or enterludes, when calde upon to perform for the recreation and solace of her Matie and her honourable Court, as they have beene heretofore accustomed. The humble prayer of your Petitioners therefore is, that your honorable Lordshipps will grant permission to finish the reparations and alterations they have begun; and as your Petitioners have hitherto been well ordred in their behaviour, and just in their dealings, that your honourable Lordshipps will not inhibit them from acting in their above namde private house, in the precinct and libertie of the Blackfriers, and your Petitioners, as in dutie most bounden, will ever pray for the increasing honor and happinesse of your honorable Lordshipps."

This valuable document was first given to the public in Collier's Hist. of English Dram. Poet. i. 298, from a copy preserved in the State Paper Office.

57

'Loving Contrymen, I am bolde of yow as of a frende, craveing your helpe wth xxxlb. uppon Mr. Bushell and my

poet must have received this alone remains; and it was undoubtedly written by the father of the Thomas Quyney, who was afterwards the husband of Shakespeare's youngest daughter. The applicant, as its style plainly shows, entertained no dread of a denial.

Though his occupation obliged him to reside

securytee, or Mr. Myttens with me. Mr. Rosswell is not come to London, as yeate, & I have especiall cawse. Yow shall frende me muche in helpeing me out of all the debeits I owe in London. I thanck god, and muche quiet to my mynde wch wolde not be indebited. I am now towards the Cowrte in hope yr answer for the dispatche of my Buysenes. Yow shall nether loose creddytt nor monney by me, the Lorde wyllinge; & nowe butt pswade your selfe soe as I hope & yow shall nott need to feare but with all hartie thanckfullnes I wyll holde my tyme & content yowr frend, & yf we Bargaine farther, yow shall be the paie mr your selfe. My tyme bidds me to hasten to an ende, & soe I comitt thys [to] your care & hope of yowr helpe. I feare I shall nott be backe this night from the Cowrte. haste. the Lorde be with yow & wth us all. amen. ffrom the Bell in Carter Lane the 25 october 1598.

Yowrs in all kyndenes,
Ryc. Quyney.

"To my Loveing good frend & contryman, Mr. Wm. Shackesp'e thees.”—Malone's Life of Shakespeare, p. 485. (Shak. by Boswell, ii.)

The following extracts from letters, written about the same time, by Abraham Sturley, of Stratford, to Mr. Richard Quyney, then in London, also show the flourishing circumstances and the influence of Shakespeare:

"This is one speciall remembrance, from ur fathrs motion. It seemeth bi him that or countriman Mr. Shaksp'e is willing to disburse some monej upon some od yardeland or other att Shottrj or neare about us. he thinketh it a very fitt