claim too much for Bacon, into a recognition of the distinction between the literary and artistic styles of the two great men, so different in genius and in aspiration.

The sixteenth century legal students and their friends, or some of them, pronounced in favour of Bacon's 'Councillors,' posterity has preferred Shakespeare's Errors.'

German Shakespeare Jahrbuch. Band 32. April 1896.

XV.

THE INTRODUCTION OF SHAKESPEARE TO QUEEN ELIZABETH.

GREENWICH, DEC. 28TH 1594.

AFTER AN AFTERNOON PERFORMANCE OF A COMEDY.

Persons present: THE QUEEN.

THE EARL OF ESSEX, the Royal Favourite, Master of the Horse. THE EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON, the friendly rival.

WILLIAM LORD BURLEIGH, Prime Minister.

HENRY, LORD HUNSDON, the Lord Chamberlain, and other Lords.

SIR THOMAS HENEAGE, Vice Chamberlain.

SIR WALTER RALEIGH, Captain of the Queen's Guard.

SIR ROBERT CECIL, Privy Councillor, and other Knights.
MASTER EDMUND TILNEY, Master of the Revels.
MASTER FRANCIS BACON, and other gentlemen.

THE COUNTESS OF SOUTHAMPTON (married in the May previous to Sir Thomas Heneage) and other Ladies.

MISTRESS ELIZABETH VERNON and other Maids of Honour.

The chief players who had performed on this occasion, and also on the 26th, William Kemp, William Shakespeare, Richard Burbage, &c, standing in a group below the stage, waiting for orders.

It is suggested that they had played on the 26th A Midsummer's Nights Dream,' and on this afternoon of the 28th the Comedy of Errors.'

THE INTRODUCTION OF SHAKESPEARE TO QUEEN

ELIZABETH.
SCENE I.

The Great Hall in Greenwich Palace.

The Queen having moved from the Chair of State in which she had viewed the play, seats herself at the other end of the Hall, Lords and Ladies gather round her, standing, My Lords and Ladies all, We fain would have your judgment on the play, Before we give our sentence.

The Queen.

Lord Burleigh.

Lord Hunsdon.

It was but meant for pastime.

Mr. E. Tilney.

Earl of Essex.

Let it pass

It is sure
My servants strove to please Her Majesty
And brighten Christmas Revels.

'Twas the best,
That I could find among those offered me
And varied from the other.

Sovereign of Hearts,

When we should laugh.

I think that it is witty, for the wise.
W. Raleigh. A thing to make us laugh.
Lord Hunsdon.
F. Bacon.

Filched from Ægeon unto Dromio.

Earl South. Hear him not, Sovereign! Judge it royally.

1 To William Kempe, William Shakespeare, and Richarde Burbage, Servauntes to the Lord Chamberlayne for two several comedies or enterludes shewen by them before her Majestie in Christmas tyme upcn St. Stephen's Daye, and Innocentes daye, £13 6, 8, and by waye of her Majesties rewarde £6 13 4, in all £20.

(Pipe Office Declared Acc. Treasurer of the Chamber R, 542, f. 207 b), 1594-5.

The Queen. Ha! Didst thou write it?

South.
The Queen.

Heneage.

All.
The Queen.

Bacon.

Nay, my Liege, you jest. Sir Thomas? Dost thou know the author's

name ?

I know, yet ask another, who knows more,
The author is in presence, let him speak!
In presence?

Let us guess.... We oft have heard
That Francis Bacon helps the mummeries
At Gray's Inn Hall, whiles he doth read in Law.
Will he confess to this?

Nay, my great Queen,

I did not, by translating, mistranslate,
I could not write the thing.

It wanteth art,

Grace, Dignity, and all Magnificence;

Nor doth it teach men wisdom.

Lord South. He would have brought some higher theme than

Queen.

Bacon.

mirth,

For he's a preacher born.

Peace, malapert.
For Master Bacon can well speak himself.
"Tis true what Lord Southampton saith, great
Queen.

The Stage being emblem of the life of man
Should ever lead to better purposes―

T. Heneage. Our Master Bacon is too critical;
His logic robs him of our gaiety.

Lord South. For Master Bacon never sees aught good
In other people's work.

Bacon.

South.

Essex (aside).

My Lord, you mock.
Nay Francis, I have heard you read the Law
And heard you talk at dinners in our hall
I've seen your Masques performed, but never

knew

You praise the wit of other wits

My friends,

For my sake cease, and let the talk run smooth.

The Queen.

Bacon (aside). As Thames doth by thy Twick'nam Paradise.
My Lords, cease all contention! Can it be
Our "Shepheard of the Ocean " maketh plays?
Nay, verily Between two voyages

Raleigh.

Heneage.
The Queen.

My mind hath other things to make than plays,
I think Sir Thomas wrote it, by his eyes!
Nay! By my staff of office, nay, not I!

Thou couldst, if so thou wouldst, we know thy

verse.

Sir R. Cecil. My Lord Southampton ever turns and smiles Nodding, I could an if I would.

The Queen.
South.
The Queen.
Lord South.

The Queen.
South.

Didst thou prepare this plot ?

My Lord

Nay, gracious Queen,
And yet I own to some relation to't.
Confess your interest, and we'll forgive.
Being commanded, I confess the truth.
Menæchmi was translated by one friend
And now lies at the printers. Thence this plot
Was woven by another friend, for me.
The Earl of Essex ?

Nay, your Majesty

Not by that Prince of Poets, Lord of Men.
By one of meaner rank.

Essex.

One higher far

In favour on Parnassus !

South.

By my friend

"Tis not the first.

All.
South.

And Poet, who, as patron, honours me.
Not by "Adonis "?

Lady South.
The Queen. You know him, Madame ?
Lady South.

He served me well when my Lord Burleigh

wished

My peevish son should wed his granddaughter.

His the flowing pen,

He bore him well to-day.

Gracious Mistress, yes.

The Queen. He who wrote sonnets wooing him to wed

They should have moved a gentle heart to ruth. Lady South. He worked them well, the fault lay in the ears That would not listen!

South. (mischievously).

The Queen.

Burleigh.

But my mother heard,
She did what she would have me do.

My Lord
Pray check your saucy speech to reverence,
Be a good son; for you are highly blest
That such a mother wedded as she did
And gave you such a father. You need one.
Now let us see the actor who can write

For our amusement.

Bring the players near!

Lady South. (aside to him). With grace, my Lord, as guests

Heneage.

of our great Queen!

(Lord Hunsdon makes a sign and a gentleman
Usher advances leading Burbage and
Kemp, while Shakespeare lags behind.)
Dick and Will Kemp fall back, the Queen

desires

To see which is your poet.

R. Burbage (aside).

Lord South.

The Queen.

Shakespeare.

The Queen.

Now good Will
Put all your mettle into mighty words,
And heaven inspire your tongue!

Will Shakespeare 'tis.
Come nearer, Master Mimic; with your art
You made us merry. Wherefore stole ye this
From Latin Plautus ?

Dread Sovereign, on my knees
I cry your mercy. Call it not a theft,
Who borrows from a foreigner is just,
And sits in fashion's sunshine.

If I choose
To call it theft, and choose now to indict
One for example, just to stop the trick,
Who shall prevent me?