Lettice, Leicester, Queen Elizabeth, these three names appear in
The Shepheardes Calender published in 1579 anonymously.
In 1578, Lettice Knollys (1543-1634) secretly married to Robert Dudley (1532-1588), Earl of Leicester, who was adored by Queen Elizabeth. Lettice was then banished from court. Leicester's wife Amy Robsart died in 1560 (possibly murdered by Leicester so that he could woo the Queen). Lettice's husband Essex died in 1576.
Lettice as Lettice Knollys
The name Lettice appears only twice in March. In the gloss as "Lettice) the name of some country lass," and as a comment to Thomalin, "Lettice to vex light, That scornfully looks askance."
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| Lettice was scorned to be Countess of Leicester |
WILLYE to THOMALIN:
Tho shall we sporten in delight,
And learn with Lettice to vex light,
That scornfully looks askance,
Tho will we little Love awake,
That now sleepeth in Lethe lake,
And pray him leaden our daunce.
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| The Shepheardes Calender (1579) |
Original Spelling (no impact to anagram)
Tho shall we sporten in delight,
And learne with Lettice to wexe light,
That scornefully lookes askaunce,
Tho will we little Loue awake,
That nowe sleepeth in Lethe lake,
And pray him leaden our daunce.
Thomalin as Leicester, Lettice's Husband
Thomalin's first appearance in the book is in March, same as Lettice. He was entangled with some love affair.
But more particularly[1] I think, in the person of Thomalin is meant some secret friend, who scorned Love[2] and his knights so long, till at length himself was entangled, and unwares[3] wounded with the dart of some beautiful regard, which is Cupid's arrow.
[1] particularly:: this word is mainly used to build Lettice and Leicester; think provides the needed k for Knollys. This line defines Thomalin as Earl Leicester.
[2] scorned Love:: his love with Lettice was scorned.
[3] unwares:: without warning; unexpectedly, suddenly (OED 1). regard:: Amy Robsart was the some beautiful regard.
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| [1] A line to define the person Thomalin |
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| [3] Lettice and Leicester's love was scorned. |
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| [5] The suspicious death of Robsart was some beautiful regard. |
Besides the three names, Calender contains only other two real names, Philip Sidney and Gabriel Harvey (without Edmund Spenser). Sidney's The Lady of May (1578 or 1579) tells also the story of Leicester and the Queen. Phoenix and Turtle has the same story and logic. The Shepheardes Calender started the art of anagrammatism to seal true names.
Morrell, the Imagined Leicester
Thomalin appears again in July, together with Morrell, who sit in the hill, proud and ambitious, "Such as Morrell is here imagined to be." It hints that Morrell is not a true but imagined person.
This Æglogue is made in the honour and commendation of good shepherds, and to the shame and dispraise of proud and ambitious Pastors. Such as Morrell is here imagined to be.
THOMALIN:
Is not thilk same a goatherd proud,
that sits on yonder bank,
• pastors:: one who exercises protecting care or guidance over a number of people (OED n. 3); the nobles.
• Such as Morrell is here imagined to be:: the first description of Morrell, usually with anagram to seal the role's true name.
• thilk same:: the same person, a hint that Thomalin and Morrell are the same.
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| Morrell, the imagined Earl of Leicester |
Morrell, the other side of Thomalin, enticed Thomalin to climb higher (to our Lady's bower), i.e., to marry Queen Elizabeth, something Leicester had tried for many years.
MORRELL:
Of Synah can I tell thee more,
and of our Lady's bower:
But little needs to strew my store,
suffice this hill of our.
