Lyly's Euphues. the Anatomy Of Wit had already been published in 1579 and his Euphues and His England the next year. Both were #1 best sellers. At the time of this letter, Lyly had written the most celebrated prose works of his times. Euphuism would inform many of the finest English works for over a decade to come, including those of Shakespeare.
He had probably become a private secretary to Oxford shortly after the publication of the first book. The second had been dedicated:
To the Right Honourable my
very good Lorde and Maister, Edward de Vere,
Earle of Oxenforde, Vicount Bulbeck, Lorde of
Escales and Badlesmere, and Lorde great
Chamberlaine of England, lohn Lyly
wisheth long lyfe, with encrease
of Honour.
“It is endorsed,” says Warwick Bond, “presumably by Burleigh's secretary, 'Julij 1582, John Lilly to my L.', and superscribed”:
To
ye right honorable, ye L[ord] Burleigh, L[ord] high Treasurer of
England.
My duty (right honorable) in most humble manner remembered. It hath pleased my Lord upon what colour I cannot tell, certain I am upon no cause, to be displeased with me, ye grief whereof is more then the loss can be. But seeing I am to live in ye world, I must also be judged by the world, for that an honest servant must be such as Caesar would have his wife not only free from sin, but from suspicion. And for that I wish nothing more than to commit all my ways to your wisdom, and the devises of others to your judgment, I here yield both my self and my soul, the one to be tried by your honor, the other by the justice of god. and I doubt not but my dealings being sifted, the world shall find white meal, where others thought to show coarse bran. It may be many things will be objected, but that any thing can be proved I doubt, I know your L[ordship] will soon smell devises from simplicity, truth from treachery, factions from just service. And god is my witness, before whom I speak, and before whom for my speech I shall answer, that all my thoughts concerning my L[ord] have been ever reverent, and almost religious. How I have dealt god knoweth and my Lady can conjecture, so faithfully, as I am as unspotted for dishonesty, as a suckling from theft. This conscience of mine maketh me presume to stand to all trials, either of accounts, or counsel, in the one I never used falsehood, nor in the other dissembling, my most humble suit therefore unto your L[ordship] is that my accusations be not smothered and I choked in the smoke, but that they may be tried in the fire, and I will stand to the heat. And my only comfort is, that he that is wise shall judge truth, whose nakedness shall manifest her nobleness. But I will not trouble your honorable ears with so many idle words only this upon my knees I ask, that yor L[ordship] will vouchsafe to talk with me, and in all things will I show myself so
honest, that my disgrace shall bring to your L[ordship] as great marvel, as it hath done to me grief, and so thoroughly will I satisfy every objection, that your L[ordship] shall think me faithful, though unfortunate. That your honor rest persuaded of mine honest mind, and my Lady of my true service, that all things may be tried to ye uttermost, is my desire, and the only reward I crave for my just, (aye, just I dare term it) service. And thus in all humility submitting my Cause to your wisdom and my Conscience to ye trial. I commit your L. to the Almghty.
Your L[ordship's] most dutifully to command
Jhon Lyly.
for that I am for some few days going into the country, if your L[ordship] be not at leisure to admit me to your speech, at my return I will give my most dutiful attendance, at which time, it may be my honesty may join with your L[ordship's] wisdom and both prevent, that [which] neither, would allow. In the mean season what color soever be alleged, if I be not honest to my L[ord] and so mean to be during his pleasure, I desire but yor L[ordship's] secret opinion, for as I know my L[ordship] to be most honorable, so I beseech god in time he be not abused. Loath I am to be a prophet, and to be a wiche[?] I loath.
Most dutiful to command,
Jhon Lyly.
Whatever had been the matter, Oxford purchased the lease to Blackfriars theater and worked together with Lyly ⸻ to whom he soon signed it over ⸻ to put on the first of the plays history clearly recognizes as “Elizabethan”: plays by Lyly, Marlowe, Peele and Oxford himself. In the process, Lyly also became a vice-master of the Boys of St. Paul's, who, performed the plays together with the Children of the Royal Chapel.
All of this (and more) suggests the precarious situation of even the most talented servant with the highest connections (such as Burghley). It comes as no surprise that Lyly was reputed by his fellow writers to smoke like a chimney.
Also at Virtual Grub Street:
Shakespeare CSI: Sir Thomas More, Hand-D. April 22, 2023. “What a glory to have an actual hand-written manuscript from the greatest English writer of all time!”
Edward de Vere Birthday Backgrounder: April 12 (2023). April 7, 2023. "Edward De Vere was born April 12th, in the year 1550, at Hedingham Castle, in Essex, to John De Vere, the 16th Earl of Oxford, and his second wife Margery De Vere (née Golding)."
Edward de Vere in the Lives of his Daughters. February 27, 2023. "At least they take some comfort from their belief that De Vere had no demonstrable relationship with his daughter, the Countess of Montgomery, Susan de Vere."
- Shakespeare’s Character Names: Shylock, Ophelia, etc. July 13, 2021. “The name Ophelia was, by all indications, quite rare in the 16th century.”
A 1572 Oxford Letter and the Player’s Speech in Hamlet. August 11, 2020. “The player’s speech has been a source of consternation among Shakespeare scholars for above 200 years. Why was Aeneas’ tale chosen as the subject?”
- Check out the Shakespeare Authorship Article Index for many more articles and reviews about this fascinating time and about the Shakespeare Authorship Question.
- Check out the Letters Index: Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford for many letters from this fascinating time, some related to the Shakespeare Authorship Question.
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