Virtual Grub Street: Thomas Churchyard to Sir Christopher Hatton. July 20, 1581.

Thomas Churchyard was born around 1520, in Shrewsbury, on the Welsh boarder. He was quite well educated for his class and time. Cajoling his inheritance out of his father before his majority, he set off, lute in hand, to be a courtier. The experience was not pleasant but somehow he managed to be taken on as a servant of the Earl of Surrey. Upon the earl’s execution by Henry VIII, Churchyard took up soldiering in the Low Countries. After many Falstaffian adventures, he was taken on by Surrey’s 16 year old nephew, Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford. After calling the young earl a “cur” he was released. He returned to the Royal Court decrying the earl who done him wrong.

Here we find him writing Hatton — at this point, Vice-Chamberlain to the Royal Household and member of the Privy Council — for the third time in a month. In the first letter he has taken refuge at Berwick castle and writes to ask for the Queen’s forgiveness for serious breaches of trust. In the second letter, he writes from Marshalsea prison where he is being held on a charge of manslaughter. In this letter he begs the Vice-Chamberlain for money to pay debts he has been accused of owing by creditors who can now verify his whereabouts, in the Marshalsea prison, in order for the authorities to execute their outstanding warrants. Also, presumably, to pay the charges for food and lodging at the prison — then a feature of incarceration.

There are even more Falstaffian behaviors and adventures to be found in my book Edward de Vere's Retainer Thomas Churchyard: the Man Who Was Falstaff (2017)[1].

My dutie most humbly remembered, your Honor knoweth my calamitie; long letters purchase small benefitt, as the weight of my sorrow sheweth; God and good men must helpe, and in the number of the good yourselfe is one, in my poore judgment, that maye and will do what may most relieve me. I beseech you, then, weigh my afflictions, and so worke as the world may behold your integritie and upright dealing, to God's glory and your owne immortall fame. I lye in myserie, stayned in credit, cutt off from the world, hated of some that loved me, holpen of none, and forsaken of all, for what juste cause I knowe not. My distresse is great, my calling simple and not able to avayle any thing without the assistance of your goodness; for God's sake brynge me to my answer, and as you shall see it fall out my accusers can prove nothing against me, vouchsafe me speedie remedie, or at least the justice of the lawe and the benefit of my countrie, and if I have failed of my dutie willinglie, let me feele the price of it. I crave no pardone, but humbly sue for favorable expedition, for the which I appeale to your honorable judgment, and praye for your good successe in all your desyres. From the Marshalse, the 20th July, 1581.

Your Honor's in all faithfull devotion,

T. Churchyard.

Source: Queen Elizabeth and her times: original letters (1838). II.145.

[1] Purdy, Gilbert Wesley. Edward de Vere's Retainer Thomas Churchyard: the Man Who Was Falstaff (2017). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077LVLXY2/