Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- List of Abbreviations
- Acknowledgements
- Editorial Procedures
- Introduction
- Part I Roots 1548–1562
- Part II Youth 1562–1571
- Part III Emancipation 1571–1574
- Part IV Exploration 1574–1576
- Part V Alienation 1576–1579
- Part VI Intrigue 1579–1580
- 37 Oxford vs. Sidney
- 38 Oxford vs. Leicester
- 39 Table, Gallery, Garden
- 40 Atheist
- 41 Sodomite
- 42 Prophet
- 43 A Passing Singular Odd Man
- 44 Oxford's Folly
- 45 Literary Patronage (1)
- 46 Oxford's Players (1)
- Part VII Sedition 1580–1581
- Part VIII Release 1581–1585
- Part IX Reiteration 1586–1591
- Part X Renewal 1592–1595
- Part XI Re-engagement 1595–1599
- Part XII Decline 1600–1604
- Part XIII Aftermath 1604–1613
- Notes
- Appendix: Oxford's Letters and Libel Documents
- Bibliography
- Index
- Liverpool English texts and Studies
39 - Table, Gallery, Garden
from Part VI - Intrigue 1579–1580
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- List of Abbreviations
- Acknowledgements
- Editorial Procedures
- Introduction
- Part I Roots 1548–1562
- Part II Youth 1562–1571
- Part III Emancipation 1571–1574
- Part IV Exploration 1574–1576
- Part V Alienation 1576–1579
- Part VI Intrigue 1579–1580
- 37 Oxford vs. Sidney
- 38 Oxford vs. Leicester
- 39 Table, Gallery, Garden
- 40 Atheist
- 41 Sodomite
- 42 Prophet
- 43 A Passing Singular Odd Man
- 44 Oxford's Folly
- 45 Literary Patronage (1)
- 46 Oxford's Players (1)
- Part VII Sedition 1580–1581
- Part VIII Release 1581–1585
- Part IX Reiteration 1586–1591
- Part X Renewal 1592–1595
- Part XI Re-engagement 1595–1599
- Part XII Decline 1600–1604
- Part XIII Aftermath 1604–1613
- Notes
- Appendix: Oxford's Letters and Libel Documents
- Bibliography
- Index
- Liverpool English texts and Studies
Summary
On the testimony of Henry Howard, Charles Arundel, and Francis Southwell, Oxford railed against Leicester and the Queen all the time he was confined to residence at Greenwich in the latter months of 1579. Here Oxford strikes what was perhaps his most characteristic pose: presiding at a well-furnished table, flanked by male companions, high in his cups, firing satirical salvos and witticisms, enlisting his guests in his conspiratorial fantasies. Nothing and nobody was off limits.
Evidence that Oxford allowed scandalous talk at his table, whether at Greenwich, Westminster, or elsewhere, comes from his own pen, among charges against Arundel in January 1581 (LIB-2.2.1/4):
a littell before Christmas at my lo[d]ginge in Westmester [=Westminster] Swift [=Thomas or Hugh Swift] beinge present and George Gyfford talkinge of the order of liuinge by mony and [the] dyfference betwien that and revenu by land, he [=Arundel] sayd at the last if George Gyfford could make [=assemble] thre thousand pound he wowld set him in to a course whear he ne[e]d not care for all England and theare he showld liue more to his content and wythe more reputatione then ever he dyd or myght hope for in England and they wowld make all the cowrt wonder to heare of them. Wythe diuers other braue and glorious speches whearat George Gyfford replyd Gods blud Char[l]es whear is this. he answerd yf yow haue thre thousand pound or can make it he could tell the other saying as he thought he could find the means to make thre thousand pound. that speache finished withe the cominge in of supper …
Dangerous conversation ceased when servants entered with food. Arundel recalled the same discussion:
… I remember well beinge at the Earl of Oxfords lodgeinge in Westminster we fell in talke, of travell and travellers how a Ientill man [=gentleman] that wold travell myght live and after what sorte that had three thowsan powndes in his purse and my opinion was, that beinge but a private man no man leveid [=lived] more gallantlie in the cort, and for this matter I referre my spechees to report of Mr Gifford and Mr Swifte
Arundel softens the topic of conversation into a discussion of travel rather than voluntary exile. He ends with a cut against Oxford, for living ‘more gallantly’ than any other.
Arundel further portrays Oxford at table as a garrulous inebriate (LIB-4.3/2):
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- Monstrous AdversaryThe Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, pp. 203 - 208Publisher: Liverpool University PressPrint publication year: 2003