and Nicholas Bottom and Peter Quince and others, in a barn, for the delectation of the townsmen?  And is not this same play a part of his “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which beggarly play he did sell for L10, and hath not Nicholas Bottom first and always been an ass therein?  Doth he refuse to render to Nicholas Bottom 10 shillings per week when he can get L10 or even L11 for a beggarly play, which is nought unless it be acted?  Many a time hath he paid me from a sponging house; often hath he given me groats for sack, and for purges when sack hath undone me; and did I ever insult him to offer to repay him a penny?  Say to him, remembereth he not when the horses ridden by Duncan and Macbeth upon the stage did break through the floor, who, affrighted, did run howling away, whereby Burbage was aroused and did pick him, William Shakespeare, from among the horses’ feet and save his life?  And now, sweet Will, fie upon thee that thou didst frown upon thy townsman.  Delay not to send me sundry shillings for the publican, who believes you will discharge, as often before, my reckoning.  This, and much more of like tenor, saith Nicholas Bottom to William Shakespeare by your worship’s humble servant,

    John lely.

The letters in the third period bear date in 1609, seven years later than those last quoted.  The first is from Rev. Walter Blaise, who appears to be the clergyman at Stratford-on-Avon.

    Stratford, Feb. 23, 1609.

    To William Shakespeare: 

John Naps, of Greece, who did recently return to his home here from London, safely has delivered to Anne, your wife, the package entrusted to him for carriage.  As your wife hath not the gift of writing, she does desire that I convey to you her thanks for the sundry contents of the hamper.  She hath also confided to me as her spiritual adviser that she did diligently ply John Naps with questions as to his visit to you in London, and that said John Naps, under her interrogatories, has revealed to her much that doth make her sick at heart and weary of life.

Item.  He doth report that you do pass among men as a bachelor, and, with sundry players and men of that ilk, do frequent a house of entertainment kept by one Doll Tearsheet, and do kiss the barmaid and call her your sweetheart.

Item.  He doth also report that you did give to the daughter of the publican at whose house you do now abide, a ring of fine gold, and did also write to her a sonnet in praise of her eyebrows and her lips, and did otherwise wickedly disport with the said damsel.

Item.  He doth further report of you that you did visit, with one Ben Jonson, on the Sabbath-day, a place of disrepute, where were cock-fights and the baiting of a bear, and that with you were two brazen women, falsely called by you the wife and sister of Ben Jonson.