Carlisle ; hints to his prisoner and Aumerle that he has a plot against Henry IV to unfold to them (Hol. iii, 514). (v, 2) his conspiracy is discovered. (v, 3) Bolingbroke threatens his life. (v, 6) 'With clog of conscience and sour melancholy Hath yielded up his body to the grave.'

This abbot has been usually identified with 'William of Colchester,' who was a prisoner at Reigate in 1400, and does not seem to have died until 1420.

French (pp. 39-42), however, points out the improbability of 'the grand conspirator' (v, 6) remaining a mitred abbot, and cites evidence that the abbot of the play was his successor, Richard Harounden, or Harweden. Acc. Holinshed (iii, 516) 'the Abbot' died suddenly, soon after the plot was discovered.

Westminster Hall. The Great Hall of the palace of Westminster was first erected by Edward the Confessor, rebuilt by William Rufus, and again rebuilt, in its present form, by Richard II. The first Parliament held there recorded his deposition. The scene of Rich. II, iv, 1, is laid in W. H.

Westminster, Palace of. "The King your father is at W.' (2 Hen. IV, ii, 4).

'The principal seat and Palace of all the kings of England since the conquest. A great part. was once again burnt in the year 1512 since the which time it hath not been re-edified.' (Stow, Survey, ed. Thoms, pp. 172, 174.)

Westmoreland, Earls of. See NEVILLE, RALPH (1) and (2).

W. H., Mr. The unknown person to whom T. T. (q.v.) dedicated the first edition of Shakespeare's Sonnets in 1609, as being 'their onlie begetter.' A keen controversy has been waged, and is still undecided, as to the person intended by these initials. A detailed account would lie beyond the scope of this work; suffice it to say that the initials have been held to stand for: (a) William Herbert, the family name of the 3rd Earl of Pembroke (1580-1630), to whom the Folio of 1623 was dedicated, and who was a noted patron of literature. The objection to this theory is that 'Mr William Herbert' is an impossible appellation for this nobleman at any stage of his career (see Lee, Life of Sh. pp. 686 ff.); (B) an inversion of 'H. W.,' i.e. Henry Wriothesley (q.v.), but to him a similar objection applies; (7) William Hughes, a purely hypothetical friend of Sh.; this is based on Son. xx, l. 7, where in the original edn. ‘hues' is spelt 'hews'; (d) William Hall, a printer and 'procurer' of MSS., assumed to be the personal friend of T. T.; weighty arguments

in favour of this simple solution of the problem are given by Sir S. Lee (op. cit. pp. 672 ff.), the word 'begetter' being held to bear the meaning of 'procurer' or 'obtainer,' and the 'eternitie promised by our everlasting poet' to the object of his sonnets, being transferred with characteristic magniloquence by Thorpe to the dedicatee.

Wheeson. Quickly's perversion of 'Whitsun'; 2 Hen. IV, ii, 1.

Whey-face. Nonce-name applied by Macbeth to a servant; Macb. v, 3.

Whitefriars. The friary of the Carmelites. On the dissolution of the monasteries the site was occupied by private buildings, and became notorious as 'Alsatia.' It was situated S. of Fleet Street, where the name is still perpetuated in 'W. Street.'

Gloucester orders the body of Henry VI to be taken to W., Rich. III, i, 2. But, acc. Hol. iii, 690, from St Paul's 'he was carried to the Blackfriers.'

Whitehall. A former royal palace, situated between Charing Cross and Westminster. In the 13th cent. it became the property of the Dominican monks (Black Friars) of Holborn, who, later, sold it to Walter de Gray, Abp. of York, who bequeathed it to the see, as the official London residence of the archbishops, and it became known as York House, or Place. On the fall of Wolsey it passed to the crown: 'Sir, You must no longer call it York Place, that's past; For, since the cardinal fell, that title's lost; 'Tis now the King's, and call'd Whitehall' (Hen. VIII, iv, 1).

No part of the original palace, as it existed in Sh.'s days, now remains. More than a hundred performances of Sh.'s plays must have taken place at W. during his lifetime. The great chamber, which served as a theatre, stood in the Horse Guards Avenue. (Wheatley.)

White Hart, The. Name of an inn in Southwark. The Kentish capteine [Cade], being advertised of the king's absence, came first into Southwark, and there lodged at the white hart' (Hol. iii, 634).

through London gates, that you should leave 'Cade. Hath my sword therefore broke

me at the White Hart in Southwark ?' (2 Hen. VI, iv, 8).

Whitmore, Walter. D.P. 2 Hen. VI. iv, 1] is given the D. of Suffolk as his prize; he will take no ransom, and the Duke is startled at hearing the name of 'Walter,' since it has been predicted that by 'water' he must die; Whitmore leads Suffolk away, and returns with his dead body.

Nothing is known of Whitmore, who seems, nevertheless to be a historical character; he speaks of bearing arms, as a gentleman, and is reminded by Suffolk of the days when he was, in a humble capacity, the Duke's attendant. The Whitmores of Cheshire and Shropshire were a very ancient family. In The Contention the name is given as 'Water Whickmore.'

Whitsun, adj. Pertaining to Whitsuntide, the season of Pentecost, i.e. the week succeeding the seventh Sunday after Easter. Games and sports of all kinds, especially the morris-dance, were celebrated at this

season.

Perdita says, 'Methinks I play as I have seen them do In Whitsun pastorals' (Wint. T. iv, 4); the Dauphin refers to England 'busied with a Whitsun morris-dance' (Hen. V, ii, 4); 'Wednesday in Whitsun week' (2 Hen. IV, ii, 1). (See WHEESON.)

Widow. D.P. Tam. Sh. (iv, 2) Hortensio declares that he will wed a rich widow, 'Ere three days pass.' (iv, 5) mtd. v, 2] (at Lucentio's banquet) flouts H., and is chided by Katharina for her frowardness.

The corresponding character in The Taming of A Shrew is Emelia, Alfonso's 3rd daughter.

Widow of Florence, An Old. D.P. All'8 Well. iii, 5] keeps the hostel of St Francis, and welcomes Helena as a pilgrim; complains of Bertram's importunate suit to her daughter Diana. iii, 7] though her estate is fallen, she was well born-in fact, a Capulet, for so her daughter signs her petition to the King (v, 3); accepts gifts from Helena for furthering her design of substituting herself for Diana. iv, 4] is thanked by Hel. v, 11 accompanies Hel. and Di. to Marseilles. v, 3 enters the royal presence with Diana; later, returns with Helena.

Will. Name of a prentice; 2 Hen. VI, ii, 3. As a forename: 'Will Squele' (2 Hen. IV, iii, 2). As Sh.'s own name: 'My name is W.' (Son. cxxxvi; also apparently punned upon in Son. cxxxv).

William (1). D.P. A. Y. L. 'A clown, in love with Audrey' (Rowe). v, 1] discovers Audrey in Touchstone's company, and, intimidated by the latter, submissively departs.

William (2). A relative of Shallow's, 'at Oxford'; 2 Hen. IV, iii, 2.

William (3). Shallow's cook; 2 Hen. IV, ▼, 1.

William (4). As a forename. 'W. Page,' 'W. Visor,' 'Sir W. Stanley,' 'W., Lord Hastings,' 'Sir W. Stanley,' 'Sir W. Brandon,' 'Sir W. Blomer' (qq.v.).

William of Hatfield. 2nd son of Edward III; died in childhood. 'W. of H. died without an heir' (2 Hen. VI, ii, 2).

William of Windsor. 6th son of Edward III; died young; erroneously referred to as the 7th and last son, 2 Hen. VI, ii, 2, following Hol. iii, 657.

Williams, Michael. D.P. Hen. V. 'A soldier in the King's army.' iv, 1] disputes hotly, the night before Agincourt, with the King, whom he does not recognize; they exchange gloves, and W. vows to strike the man who claims the glove he will be wearing in his cap. iv, 7] is questioned by the King as to the glove he is displaying, and is sent on an errand; (the King gives Fluellen W.'s glove, telling him it is Alençon's, and that if any man challenge it he is a friend to A.'). iv, 8] meeting Fl., W. sees the glove and forthwith strikes him; Fl. cries out that he is a traitor; the King appears, and unfolds the jest, exhibiting the fellow glove; W. pleads his ignorance of Henry's identity, and urges that 'offences come from the heart'; he is rewarded with a gloveful of crowns, and is offered a shilling by Fluellen.

'The name of W. occurs frequently in the Stratford Corporation Records' (French, p. 328).

Willoughby, William de. 5th Baron Willoughby de Eresby, K.G. (ob. 1409). Became an adherent of Bolingbroke (Hol. iii, 498).

D.P. Rich. II. ii, 1] denounces Richard's exactions, and throws in his lot with the rebel nobles. (ii, 2) his defection announced to the Queen. ii, 3] joins Bolingbroke near Berkeley. iii, 1] p.m.; at Bristol.

Wilson, Jacke. The name, evidently that of the actor, given (Ff) for 'Musique' or 'Balthasar' in the st. dir. 'Enter Prince,' etc., M. Ado, ii, 3.

Wiltshire, Earl of (1). See SCROPE, STEPHEN LE.

Wiltshire, Earl of (2). James Butler (142061), 5th E. of Ormonde; Lancastrian; created E. of Wiltshire 1449; Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland 1453-5; fought at Wakefield, Mortimer's Cross, and Towton; beheaded and attainted. Acc. Hol. iii, 643, at St Albans he 'left the king alone, and with a number fled awaie.' The Marq. Montague (John Neville), showing his sword after the battle of St Albans, exclaims: 'Here is the Earl of Wiltshire's blood, whom I encountered as the battles joined' (3 Hen. VI, i, 1).

Wiltshire, Sheriff of. See LONG, HENRY.

Windsor. On the Thames. W. Castle was rebuilt by Edward III. St George's Chapel, the chapel of the Knights of the Order of the Garter, was begun by Edward IV and completed by Henry VIII. Windsor Forest was the favourite hunting-ground of the Court in the 16th cent., and is referred to as such by Surrey, Tottel's Miscellany (1557) (Arber, p. 14).

In M.W.W. the scene is laid in, or near, W. throughout. 'Never a woman in W. knows more of Anne's mind that I do' (i, 4); 'what tempest . threw this whale [Falstaff] ashore at W.' (ii, 1); 'when the Court lay at W.' (ii, 2); mtd., ib. (2); 'all the officers in W.,' 'coming with half W. at his heels,' 'I would not have your distemper for the wealth of W. Castle' (iii, 3); 'W. forest,' 'mock him home to W.' (iv, 4); ‘a W. stag,' 'W. chimneys,' 'W. Castle,' 'W. wives' (v, 5); mtd., ib. (2).

1 Hen. IV: 'our council we will hold at W.' (i, 1). 2 Hen. IV: 'a singing-man of W.' (ii, 1); 'gone to hunt at W.,' 'why are thou not at W. with him?' (iv, 4). 1 Hen. VI: 'Henry, born at W., lose all' (iii, 1), so predicted by Henry V of his son, Hol. iii, 581. See also WILLIAM OF WINDSOR.

Windsor, Old. A village about 2 m. S.E. of Windsor. A royal residence of Saxon kings. Granted by Edward the Confessor to the monastery of St Peter's, Westminster. The site of the palace is unknown. The name 'Old Windsor' was first used in the reign of King John. 'Old W. way, and every way but the town way' (M.W.W. iii, 1).

Wingfield. In Derbyshire. One of Lord Talbot's titles was 'Lord Cromwell of W.' (1 Hen. VI, iv, 7).

Wingham. See BEST.

Winter, Season of. (As an adj., and when merely denoting passage of time, e.g. 'six winters,' the word is here excluded.) See HIEMS.

Characteristics of the season :

'Like w.'s

drops from eaves of reeds' (Temp. v, 1); 'rough w.' (T.G.V. ii, 4); an open room and good for w.' (M. for M. ii, 1); 'human mortals want their w. here,' 'angry w.' (M.N.D. ii, 1); 'cooled by the same w.' (M.V. iii, 1); 'churlish chiding of the w.'s wind' (A.Y.L. ii, 1); ‘a lusty w., Frosty but kindly' (ib. ii, 3); 'No enemy But w. and rough weather' (ib. ii, 5); 'together, As the w. to foul weather' (ib. v, 4); 'w. tames man, woman, and beast' (Tam. Sh. iv, 1); 'w. In storm perpetual' (Wint. T. iii, 2); 'the red blood reigns in the w.'s pale' (ib. iv, 3); rosemary and rue keep . . . savour all the w.,' 'flower of w.,' 'trembling w.' (ib. iv, 4); 'a Poland w.' (Com. Err. iii, 2); 'sap-consuming w.' (ib. v, 1); 'as humorous as w.,' a summer bird Which ever in the haunch of W. sings' (2 Hen. IV, iv, 4); mtd., Hen. V, iii, 3; 'w.'s cold' (2 Hen. VI, i, 1); ‘barren w.' (ib. ii, 4); 'that w. should cut off our spring-time' (3 Hen. VI, ii, 3); 'cold biting w.' (ib. iv, 8); 'w.'s powerful wind' (ib. v, 2); 'When great leaves fall, the w. is at hand' (Rich. III, ii, 3); 'nor more willingly [the swallow] leaves w.' (Timon, iii, 5); ‘[leaves] with one w.'s brush fell from their boughs' (ib. iv, 3); 'quake in the present w.'s state' (Cymb. ii, 4); 'furious w.' (ib. iv, 2); 'in w. with warm tears I'll melt the snow' (T. And. iii, 1); summer with your w. mixed' (ib. v, 2); 'w. kills the flies' (Per. iv, 4); 'w.'s not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way,' the ant teaches that 'there's no labouring in the w.' (Lear, ii, 4); 'the w.'s flaw' (Haml. v, 1); 'poor as w.' (Oth. iii, 3); 'w. meads' (Lucr. 1218); 'rough w.' (ib. 1255); mtd., P.P. xii; mtd., Son. ii; 'hideous w.' (ib. v); 'w.'s ragged hand' (ib. vi); mtd., ib. ii, xiii, xviii, lvi, xcvii, xcviii, civ.

Winter personified: 'none of you will bid the w. come To thrust his icy fingers in my maw' (John, v, 7); 'churlish w.'s tyranny' (2 Hen. IV, i, 3); ‘shrinking slaves of w.' (Cymb. iv, 4); 'April on the heel of limping w.' (Rom. J. i, 2). Represented on the stage: see HIEMS.

Tedium of winter: 'a sad tale's best for w.' (Wint. T. ii, 1); 'story, at a w.'s fire' (Macb. iii, 4); 'w.'s tedious nights' (Rich. II, v, 1); 'well could I curse away a

w.'s night' (2 Hen. VI, iii, 2); 'Let Aesop fable in a w.'s night' (3 Hen. VI, v, 5); 'watch'd the w.'s night' (ib. v, 7).

Metaphorical: 'a nun of w.'s sisterhood' (A.Y.L. iii, 4); 'the w. of our discontent' (Rich. III, i, 1); 'death, that w.' (Hen. VIII, iii, 2); Achilles, kissing Cressida after Nestor, exclaims, 'I'll take that w. from your lips' (Tr. Cr. iv, 5); "Tis deepest w. in Lord Timon's purse' (Timon, iii, 4); 'for his [Antony's] bounty, There was no w. in it' (Ant. Cl. v, 2); 'lust's w.' (V.A. 802).

Winter's Tale, The. (In F,: 'The Winters Tale.' The acts and scenes are numbered.) PUBLICATION. First appeared in the Folio of 1623.

DATE OF COMPOSITION. Uncertain, but attributed to 1610-11 by the great majority of critics. Dr Forman notes in his Booke of Plaies a performance at the Globe on May 15,

1611.

SOURCE OF THE PLOT. Based on a novel by Robert Greene (1588) at first named Pandosto and later Dorastus and Fawnia. Autolycus is Sh.'s creation. In Pandosto Bellaria (Hermione) dies of grief.

The progressive interest of the play, malgré the vast hiatus for which Sh. himself thought it necessary to apologise, is well sustained: but the catastrophe is hurried, and the Queen's reanimation beyond all human credibility. Yet it acts well, and the whole is pleasing and effective on the stage.' (Hartley Coleridge, Essays (1851), ii, 148.) For Mrs Lennox's violent attack on the play see her Sh. Ill. (1753), ii, 75. One of the best-acting of our author's plays' (W. Hazlitt). It may be called the gentlest of Sh.'s plays' (J. Masefield). It is perhaps the last complete play that Sh. wrote' (E. Dowden).

Witches, Three. D.PP. Macb. i, 1] plan to meet Macbeth 'ere set of sun.' i, 3] devise revenge on a sea-captain; hail Macb. as Thane of Glamis and of Cawdor, and 'king hereafter'; Banquo they hail as ancestor of kings. iii, 5] are rebuked by Hecate for acting without her authority. iv, 1] brew a 'hell-broth,' and are joined by H.; exhibit to Macb. certain apparitions and vanish. See HECATE.

In Holinshed, ii, 170, the prophecy (i, 3) is made by 'three women of strange and wild apparell, resembling creatures of elder world. Afterwards the common opinion was that these women were either the weird sisters, that is the goddesses of destinie, or else some nymphs, or fairies. The revenge on the sea-captain is paralleled (Hol. ii, 149) by the bewitch. ment of King Duff.

The weird sisters are as true a creation of Sh.'s as his Ariel and Caliban,-fates, fairies and materializing witches being the elements. They are wholly different from any representations of witches in the contemporary writers, and yet presented a sufficient external resemblance to the creatures of vulgar prejudice to act immediately upon the audience. (S. T. Coleridge, Notes on Macbeth.)

Withold, St. Theobald's emendation of 'Swithold' in Lear, iii, 4 (Ff; 'swithald,' Qq). Tyrwhitt suggests that St Vitalis is thus named. The name occurs in Tr. R. I, 11, ll. 5-6: 'Sweet Saint Withold of thy lenity, Defend us from extremity,' where the metre suggests the contracted form.

There are at least three saints named Vitalis, the earliest having been probably martyred under Nero.

Wittenberg. Town in Saxony; famous for its association with Luther and the early Reformation. Its university was founded in 1502. Hamlet resolves to go 'back to school in W.'; his mother dissuades him; Horatio has just returned thence, Haml. i, 2.

As the university is clearly implied by 'school,' an anachronism is obvious.

Wolsey, Thomas (c. 1475–1530). Cardinal and statesman; Abp. of York 1514; accompanied Hen. VIII to the Field of the Cloth of Gold 1520; supported Henry's claims to his divorce from Katharine of Arragon, but incurred Anne Boleyn's dislike in consequence of delay in the proceedings (due really to Card. Campeggio), and a bill of indictment was preferred against him; he was pardoned, and retired to Cawood Castle, where he was soon afterward arrested for treason, on false information, and died at Leicester on his way to London.

:

It is said that the Cardinal's father was one Robert Wulcy (or Wolsey), a butcher, of Ipswich, but Holinshed (iii, 917) quotes Edmund Campian's opinion that 'he was a man undoubtedly borne to honour: I thinke some princes bastard, no butchers sonne; exceeding wise; faire spoken; high minded; full of revenge vitious of his bodie; lofty to his enemies, sought his freendship wonderfull courteous; a ripe were they never so big; to those that accepted and scholeman; thrall to affections; brought a bed with flatterie; insatiable to get, and more princelie in bestowing, as appeareth by his two colleges at Ipswich and Oxenford [Hen. VIII, iv, 2] . . . a great preferrer of his servants, an advancer of learning, stout in everie quarell, never happie till this his overthrow. Wherein he showed such moderation, and ended so perfectly, that the houre of his death did him more honor than all the pompe of his life passed.'

D.P. Hen. VIII. i, 1] prepares to examine the D.of Buckingham's surveyor (Hol. iii,862); the Cardinal and the Duke eye one another disdainfully. i, 2] the Queen accuses W., in council, of having devised grievous exactions, productive of disloyalty; W. defends himself as having been only responsible as single voice,' and urges that if statesmen are to be swayed by malevolent or ignorant critics, they might as well be 'state-statues'; (he privately tells his secretary to spread it abroad that the taxes are remitted through the Cardinal's intercession); takes part in the royal examination of the Duke's surveyor.

(i, 3) his liberality noted. i, 4] receives the King at a sumptuous entertainment at York Place (Hol. iii, 921). (ii, 1) his hatred of the Emperor alleged (Hol. iii, 906). ii, 2] (the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk comment on his pride and ambition); W. presents Campeius to the King; later, presents Gardiner (Hol. iii, 907); is questioned by Campeius about Dr Pace (q.v.). ii, 4] is openly accused by Katharine of being her enemy, and repudiates the charge (Hol. iii, 908); appeals to Henry to exonerate him; the King declares that W. ever 'wish'd the sleeping of this business' (Hol. iii, 907). iii, 1] in company with Card. Campeius, urges Katharine to yield to the King's wishes. iii, 2] (letters from Wolsey to the Pope, urging reasons against the royal divorce, have fallen into Henry's hands; see RUTHALL); (80l.) W. declares that the King shall not marry Anne Boleyn (Hol. iii, 909); Henry reminds him of the honours and favours he has bestowed upon him, and, handing him papers, departs in anger; W. finds that the papers are his own letters to the Pope, and a private inventory of all his wealth; is ordered 'to render up the great seal' (Hol. iii, 909); listens to a rehearsal of the articles against him by the lords present (Hol. iii, 912); (sol.) 'bids farewell' to all his greatness; in an interview with Cromwell, confesses that ambition had been the true cause of his ruin, and wishes he had served God better (Hol. iii, 909). (iv, 1) mtd. (iv, 2) the circumstances of his death described (Hol. iii, 917); he is characterized by Griffith, following Campian's account (vide supra).

Woncot. Local pronunciation of 'Woodmancote,' a village in Gloucestershire ; 2 Hen. IV, v, 1. See VISOR.

Arbitrarily changed by Malone to 'Wincot' (q.v.) ; 'Woncote,' Q.

Woodstock. For 'Gloucester'; Rich. II, i, 2, Q1,2,3,4.

Woodstock, Thomas of. See THOMAS OF WOODSTOCK.

Woodville, Anthony (c. 1442-83). Baron Scales and 2nd E. Rivers; son of Richard W. (q.v.); styled Lord S. (1462) through his marriage with Elizabeth, Baroness S. in her own right (3 Hen. VI, iv, 1); succeeded as E. Rivers in 1469; with Edw. IV in exile ; made governor to Prince Edward; on the death of Edw. IV, he was executed, on a charge of treason, by the orders of Richard, D. of York, then Protector; 'a right honourable man, as valiant of hand as politike in counsell' (Hol. iii, 714).

D.P. 3 Hen. VI. iv, 4] is told by his sister, Q. Elizabeth, that Edward IV is a prisoner, and is urged to flee (cf. Hol. iii, 675). (Historically, the King had been captured a year before.)

D.P. Rich. III. i, 3] is upbraided by Gloucester for thwarting him and bringing him into contempt. ii, 1] is reconciled to Hastings (in st. dirs., F1, the same as 'Rivers,' who is also named). ii, 2] urges that Prince Edward should be crowned; agrees to his 'little train.' (ii, 4) imprisoned at Pomfret (Hol. iii, 715). iii, 3] is taken to execution; recalls Q. Margaret's curse. (v, 1) mtd. (v, 3) his ghost appears to Richard before Bosworth.

After ii, 1, 1. 67 (in Ff, but not in Qq), there follows : 'Of you, Lord Woodville and Lord Scales of you'; but these are merely other titles of Lord Rivers, already mtd.

Woodville, Elizabeth. See ELIZABETH (1).

Woodville, or Widvill, Richard. Constable of the Tower; by command of Henry Beaufort, Bp. of Winchester, refused to open the gates to the Duke of Gloucester (Hall, p. 130) (created Baron Rivers in 1448; his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married Edward IV).

D.P. 1 Hen. VI. (Styled 'Lieutenant of the Tower.') i, 3] resists Gloucester, as above. Queen E.'s 'kindred' (Rich. III, i, 3, 1. 67) were numerous; Richard W. had 13 children.

Worcester, City of. In the Lady Chapel of the cathedral King John was originally buried, and in the reign of Henry VIII his body was removed to the choir, where the tomb now stands.

'Hen. At W. must his body be interred, For so he willed it' (John, v. 7); 'there is more news: I learn'd in W. as I rode along [on the way to Shrewsbury]' (1 Hen. IV, iv, 1). 'Worster' in John, v, 7 F1,8

Worcester, Earl of. See PERCY, THOMAS. Worm, Don. Nonce-name applied to Conscience by Benedick; M. Ado, v, 2.

Wriothesley, Henry. 3rd E. of Southampton (1573-1624). He proceeded to St John's College, Cambridge, at the age of twelve, and graduated as M.A. when he was sixteen ; shortly afterward he was graciously received at Elizabeth's Court, and became a favourite of Essex. He early became a patron of literature; John Florio was his tutor in Italian, and the intimacy of his relations with Sh.who was some years his senior-is beyond dispute. Venus and Adonis (1593) and Lucrece (1594) are both inscribed 'To the Right Honourable Henry Wriothesl(e)y, Earl