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PLEASANT

Conceited Comedie

CALLED,

Loues labors lost.

Asitvvas prefented before her Highnes
this laft Christmas.

Newly corrected and augmented
By W. Shakespere.

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Imprinted at London by WW. for Cutbert Burby.

Robert Tofte's "The Month's Mind of a Melancholy Lover" appeared this year, with important allusions to this play :

"Love's Labour Lost, I once did see a play

Y-cleped so, so called to my pain," etc.

(cp. Preface to Love's Labour's Lost).

The First Part of Henry IV. was issued this year (and a revised edition, "newly corrected," the following year, and again in 1604, 1608, 1615).

Shakespeare acted in Ben Jonson's Every Man in His Humour, produced in September by the Lord Chamberlain's Company. According to a tradition recorded by Rowe, Shakespeare was answerable for the acceptance of the piece. His name is placed first in the list of original performers of the play.

Some interesting correspondence directly mentioning Shakespeare belongs to this year:-(i.) from Abraham Sturley, formerly bailiff, to his brother or brother-in-law in London, containing these words " This is one special remembrance from our father's motion. It seemeth by him that our countryman, Mr. Shakespeare, is willing to disburse some money upon some odd yardland or other at Shottery, or near about us: he thinketh it a very fit pattern to move him to deal in the matter of our tithes. By the instruction you can give him thereof, and by the friends he can make therefore, we think it a fair mark for him to shoot at, and would do us much good"; (ii.) from the same writer to Richard Quiney (father of Thomas Quiney, afterwards Shakespeare's son-in-law), at the time (November 4) staying in London, negotiating local affairs, probably seeking to obtain relief for Stratford from some tax. Sturley writes that Quiney's letter of October 25 had stated " that our countryman Mr. Wm. Shak. would procure us money," ""which I like," he continues," as I shall hear when, and where, and how; and I pray let not go that occasion if it may sort to any indifferent conditions"; (iii.) on the very day when Quiney had written the letter which called forth this reply from

is known to exist:loving good friend and countryman Mr. Wm. Shake"-the only letter addressed to Shakespeare which Sturley, he had also addressed a communication "to my

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Facsimile of a letter from Richard Quiney to Shakespeare, soliciting a loan, 1598.

"Loveinge countryman, I am bolde of yow as of a ffrende, craveinge yowr helpe with xxx£. Uppon Mr. Bushells and my securytee, or Mr. Myttons with me. Mr. Rosswell is nott come to London as yeate, and I have especiall cawse. Yow shall ffrende me muche in helpeing me out of all debettes I owe in London, I thancke God, and much quiet my mynde, which wolde not be indebted. I am nowe towardes the Cowrte, in hope of answer for the dispatche of my buysenes. Yow shall nether loase creddytt nor monney by me, the Lorde wyllinge; and nowe butt perswade yowrselfe soe, as I hope, and yow shall nott need to feare, butt, with all heartie thanckfullenes, I wyll holde my tyme, and content yowr ffrende, and yf we bargaine farther, yow shal be the paie-master yowrselfe. My tyme biddes me hestene to an ende, and soe I commit thys [to] yowr care and hope of yowr helpe. I feare I shall nott be backe thys night ffrom the Cowrte. Haste. The Lorde be with yow and with vs all, Amen! Ffrom the Bell in Carter Lane the 25 October 1598.

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1599. In the early part of this year Shakespeare was at work on Henry V. In the Prologue of Act V. (lines 30-35) he alluded directly to Essex, "the general of our gracious empress," who left London on March 27 of this year for Ireland to suppress Tyrone's rebellion:"Were now the general of our gracious empress, As in good time he may, from Ireland coming, Bringing rebellion broachèd on his sword, How many would the peaceful city quit

To welcome him!"

Essex returned on September 28, and was put on his trial for neglect of duty, and imprisoned. At the time when Shakespeare wrote the Prologue in question it was

'The new Post Office Savings Bank has been built on the site of the Bell Inn in Carter Lane. A tablet has been placed on the building commemorating Quiney's stay there when he wrote this letter" the only letter extant addressed to Shakespeare, and the original is preserved in the Museum at his birthplace, Stratfordupon-Avon. This tablet was placed upon the present building by leave of the Postmaster-General, 1899."

not yet foreseen that the expedition would fail. The Earl of Southampton, Shakespeare's friend, accompanied Essex.

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Richard Burbage and his brother Cuthbert built up, from the ruins of the old "Theatre," the Globe Theatre on the Bankside, to which Shakespeare probably referred in the opening chorus of Henry V. (this wooden O). Between 1595 and 1599 we have notices of Shakespeare's Company acting at "the Curtain" and "the Theatre."

Shares in the receipts of the Globe were leased out, for twenty-one years, to "those deserving men, Shakespeare, Hemings, Condell, Philips, and others."

Another application was made this year to the College of Heralds-this time for a " recognition" of the arms formerly assigned, and for permission to impale and quarter the coat of the Ardens of Wilmcote. The object of the petition was evidently to link the Ardens of Wilmcote with the great Arden family of Warwickshire. This was refused, and the arms of another Arden family-of Cheshire were suggested. Shakespeare and his family ultimately assumed the Shakespeare arms without adding the Arden coat.

The second quarto-the true version-of "Romeo and Juliet," "newly corrected, augmented and amended" was issued this year (re-issued in two editions in 1609).

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William Jaggard published the piratical "Passionate Pilgrim" "by W. Shakespeare (cp. Preface). “I know" wrote Heywood in his " Apology for Actors" (1612) "he was much offended with M. Jaggard that (altogether unknown to him) presumed to make so bold with his name." (In this year, 1612, a third edition appeared, with Shakespeare's name omitted from the titlepage of some copies.)

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1599. A play on the subject of " Troilus and Creswas taken in hand by Dekker and Chettle for the Earl of Nottingham's company.

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