ealm heavy damages and an
imprisonment of the body, in that you have in unholy ways trifled
with her affections, contrary to the statute in such cases provided.
She especially avers that you did, two days before Michaelmas, swear
to her on a parcel gilt goblet that you did love her alone, and did
then give to her a bracelet of price. But yesterday, as she was
bargaining with a yeoman named Christopher Sly, from Stratford, for
the purchase of a spotted pig of his own fattening, the said Sly did
reveal to her that you were his friend, and that you had wife and
children in your native town where he dwelt. We beg you to
straightway name to us your solicitors, that we may confer with them
and attend to the issuance of the writs.

I have aimed to select from the letters sent me only those bearing on
some trouble tending to cause sleeplessness on the part of the poet, but
make an exception in case of a letter of Sir Walter Raleigh, next in
chronological order, which refers to matters of general interest.

The Mermaid, March 20, 1609.

To WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE:

Full well do I know, my dearest Will, that often hast thou wondered
of the fate of thy L50, which, with a hundred times as much of mine
own, was adventured to found an empire in America. Great were our
hopes, both of glory and of gold, in the kingdom of Powhatan. But it
grieves me much to say that all hath resulted in infelicity,
misfortune, and an unhappy end. Our ships were wrecked, or captured
by the knavish Spaniards. Our brave sailors are perished. As I was
blameworthy for thy risk, I send by the messenger your L50, which
you shall not lose by my over-hopeful vision. For its usance I send
a package of a new herb from the Chesapeake, called by the natives
tobacco. Make it not into tea, as did one of my kinsmen, but kindle
and smoke it in the little tube the messenger will bestow. Be not
deterred if thy gorge at first rises against it, for, when thou art
wonted, it is a balm for all sorrows and griefs, and as a dream of
Paradise. And now, my sweet Will, whom my soul loveth, why comest
thou not as of yore to the "Mermaid," that I may have speech with
thee? Thou knowest that from my youth up I have adventured all for
the welfare and glory of our Queen Elizabeth. On sea and on land and
in many climes have I fought the accursed Spaniards, and a