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Letter of acceptance for the 1905 Apostles' dinner.

Town Mill House, West End, Bruton, Bath, Somerset.—Offers evidence for Kyd’s authorship of King Leir and a version of Hamlet.

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Transcript

Town Mill House, West End,
Bruton, Bath, Somerset.
Mar. 11, ’40.

Dear Sir,

There is not even a moderate likelihood that the Times Lit Sup. would care to insert any letter I chose to send them, though it is a bare possibility that they might forward to you such a missive. I therefore take the liberty, I hope forgiven, upon me to communicate directly with you {1} on the subject broached in the issue of Mar. 9 {2}.

In J. M. Robertson’s Introduction to the Study of the Sh. Canon—a book you must know, since your name appears in it to some purpose—the first of your Leir parallels is noted on p. 387. The inference Robertson drew from it is that Kyd was in part responsible for both Leir & Hamlet, a deduction with which I entirely agree. I carry this conviction farther than Robertson. I believe that the Hamlet First Quarto is almost entirely Kyd’s work. For the play echoes not only the Spanish Tragedy, but others—e.g. Leir, 1 Jeronimo, and Selimus—in which Kyd can be seen to have taken a hand. Simple evidence, in fact, exists for the theory, founded on Nashe’s ‘innuendo’, that Kyd wrote a pre-Shakespearian Hamlet, some of which is embodied in the present play. Did you know, by the way, that “sea-gown”, once-used in Hamlet, is also in Leir?

I have made a close study of Kyd for the past ten years, & the outcome of this is the knowledge that Kyd is a far greater poet & much more prolific than he is generally held to be. I can produce, not one, but hundreds of his lines of which “Shakespeare” afterwards availed himself. You will find some of them at the end of the accompanying reprint from Notes & Queries {3}, in which I have tried to throw light upon Leir’s authorship. I originally intended to include the Hamlet parallel in the list, but rejected it because it did not come up to my standard of consonance. But I think you will agree that it does tend to support the theory of Kyd’s authorship of both Hamlet & Leir.

I see no reason to believe that Shakespeare’s Lear postdates the publication of the old Leir. I am much more inclined to the view that the latter was brought out (although, of course, written some years earlier) on the morrow of the production of Shakespeare’s master-piece, & that its issue was a crude attempt to foist on the public a spurious offspring for a true one. King Leir is surely the play with that name that was entered on S.R. on May 14th, 1594, & of this there may have been earlier editions than the one that has come down to us. That Shakespeare read the old Leir in manuscript is highly probable: it is tolerably certain, if we can assume that the play found its way from the Queen’s to the Chamberlain’s by purchase.

May I end by apologising for the recital of these trifles? for such they must appear to one with so vast and profound knowledge of Shakespearian studies.

Faithfully yours
W. Wells

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{1} Followed by a superfluous full stop, the succeeding words of the sentence having evidently been added as an afterthought.

{2} In a letter by Greg printed in this issue (p. 124) he pointed out that two passages in the old chronicle play King Leir appear to be echoed in Hamlet, and solicited the views of others on the matter.

{3} ‘The Authorship of King Leir’, Notes & Queries, 6 Dec. 1939, pp. 434–8. See also the same writer’s ‘Thomas Kyd and the Chronicle-History’, ibid., 30 Mar. 1940, pp. 218-24, and 6 Apr. 1940, pp. 238-43, and ‘Alphonsus, Emperor of Germany’, ibid., 28 Sept. 1940, pp. 218-23, and 5 Oct. 1940, pp. 236-40.

Ore Place, Hastings. Postmark 24 June 1911 - Is writing an article and would like a list of the reviewed and re-edited versions of 'The Golden Bough' and those articles that represent his views the best; he does not promise to agree with all of his theories. At top is a MS note in R. A. Downie's hand giving the postmark date.

Turf Club, Cairo. "Studies" the Anglo-Egyptians at the Turf Club, Winston Churchill "waltzed" around Lloyd George and Bonar Law in the House of Commons, pleased that America had joined the allies,

Ben Wyvis Hotel, Strathpeffer Spa. Dated 12 July 1915 - Describes their long holiday, in Cirencester, Edinburgh, Kenmore, and Strathpeffer; mentions that the Cambridge University Press has published a school edition of his wife's book 'La Maison aux Panonceaux'; mentions [James Hope] Moulton's loss [his wife Eliza's death] and Moulton's plan to spend a year with the Parsees in India; Macmillan is publishing a book by [Robert] Russell, ['The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India'] which will be valuable; wonders if he has seen [W. H. R.] Rivers' work 'The History of Melanesian Society' he has not read it yet; has improved his Hebrew on holiday.

Sends Vol III [not included] of 'The Life' [George Eliot's Life as related in her Letters and Journals] which he asks Sidgwick to read. Refers to 'the old association' between the latter and Eliot. Intends to send the volume off to press as soon as possible. States that no one outside his own family, aside from Lord Acton, has yet seen it. Claims that he shall feel it 'greatly strengthened by [Sidgwick's] revision' and does not know anyone 'whose judgment [his] wife wd. have trusted more.'

Refers to a conversation they had had the previous night about an opinion of his [Maine's], expressed in his Ancient Law, about '[Jus Gerrtium]'; believes he has 'found it at p. 59.' Quotes a sentence, which claims that the confusion between [Jus Gerrtium], or Law Common to all Nations, and International Law, is entirely modern. Mentions passages in Livy, to which Sidgwick had referred and continues discussion of the meaning of [Jus Gerrtium]. Refers to a statement in his book in relation to International Law, and to proceedings described in Livy I.22 and I.32. The latter, he claims, 'have some resemblance to the diplomacy of the 17th century in formality...' States that he cannot deny that 'if this later Roman law [Jus] had been under this [ ] of writing about a world like ours, they might possibly have used [Jus Gerrtium] for International law', but is somewhat uncertain of this, since he suspects that '[Jus Gerrtium], in the ear of a Roman lawyer had always a shade of special technical meaning, derived from association with the Edict of the Praetor Peregrinus, with Market law rather than with Public law.' Apologises for troubling Sidgwick.

Hotel Alwin, Gloucester Road, South Kensington [on mourning stationery] - Congratulates him on receiving the [Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur]; reminisces on their youth and her friend Tiny [Christina McCall Frazer]; describes her husband's [Charles'] sudden death.

(Bibliog. 108).

24pp. paginated draft.

Witham, Somerset. - Has been a 'shamefully long time' replying to Trevelyan's letter, and apologises: the letter reached him just before his exams, when he was working very hard and all his spare time was taken up with rehearsals [for the Balliol Players' tour of the "Curse of the House of Atreus", using Trevelyan's translation of the "Oresteia". Now has time for the first time to write, on the way from Wells to Corfe. Hopes that Trevelyan will be able to come and see them at Winchester; thinks they will be performing in the Warden's Garden; does not know the name of the agent, but if Trevelyan is in Winchester he will be sure to see their posters up. The performance in Wadham College, which he regrets was the only one in Oxford, was 'excellent'; they then travelled to Bath a week later. The lorry they had hired broke down at Chippenham, with three of the company: the others had already arrived in Bath and got everything ready, and it was not until the performance time had arrived and they were 'insane with anxiety & fury' that they received a telephone message letting them know what had happened. Explains how they managed to cut the play to perform it 'in flannel trousers and shirt sleeves'; coming on ;again & again in different parts, male & female'. The "Agamemnon" was 'most comic' since the 'poor man who was leading the chorus' could only remember 'about one speech in three' from when he had taken the part last year. The audience were very kind; some of them even came to Wells last night to see the performance done properly. It went very well there and at Glastonbury; the audience at Wells was over 300, though they had been told it was 'impossible' to get an audience there for anything, and the setting in the Bishop's Palace garden was 'perfect'. Is not playing Agamemnon this year as he is 'wanted in the chorus', but is still the lead Choephore as well as Apollo, which was 'thrust' on him at the last moment. The costumes are 'perfectly lovely', and the whole thing is 'infinitely better than last year'. The breeches arrived safely; thanks Trevelyan for sending them.

Woodhill Cottage, Shamley Green, Guildford. - Very sorry for not writing before to thank Bob for his Christmas greetings and poems [this year's "From the Shiffolds"?]. which they both appreciate; they enjoyed reading the poems together. Is much looking forward to re-reading. Sends best wishes for a 'better New Year' to all at the Shiffolds.

22 Sussex Villas, W. - Would be very grateful if she and Bob can do anything to persuade their friends to subscribe to the "Independent [Review]"; can send 'as many more of these circulars' as they can 'usefully dispose of'. Calls the news about Charles and Molly [their engagement] 'a good job'.

The Athenaeum, Pall Mall, S.W.1. - Glad that Bob thinks well of "Manin [and the Venetian Revolution of 1848]": his judgments are among those George really values; 'very jolly' of him to read it aloud, and George is glad it stood the test. Agrees that there is 'much to be said and thought about the "federal question"', especially since 'United Italy is in many ways a disappointment with the break down of free government'. Is however sure that the south and centre of Italy could not have 'established and maintained free government, or even civilised government' without the north, and thinks that union was inevitable since there was 'no real provincial patriotism', apart from among the Piedmontese. In the same way, he believes that if Germany is now 'broken up into States' it will come together again some day.