An Important Statement from Trixie the Cat!
Brothers and Sisters of The Shakespeare Code
Your Cat writes to you on a subject of the utmost gravity….
In 1933, a Past Master Mason called Alfred Dodds published a book entitled…..
‘Shakespeare: Creator of Freemasonry: Being a Remarkable Examination of the Plays and Poems, Which Proves Incontestably That These Works Were Saturated in Masonry, That Shakespeare Was a Freemason and the Founder of the Fraternity‘
As you can imagine, the Academic World at the time roared with laughter.
But never forget!
The number of Views that The Shakespeare Code has enjoyed to this date stands at:
397, 520!!!
But when our Chief Agent, in 1971, submitted his Finals Long Essay to the English Faculty at Cambridge University he was equally derided.
In fact he was instructed by his Supervisor NOT to submit it – an injunction Stewart ignored.
He had no other essauy to submit!
And what was so shocking? Stewart’s assertion that, from his study of the Sonnets, William Shakespeare was Bi-Sexual!
THIS IS NOW A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED!!!
(almost)
The Code, as Brothers and Sisters well know, is a great admirer of John Dover Wilson – who sadly came to the Sonnets too late in life.
He famously said that you needed more than one lifetime to understand them…
Dover Wilson argued that Shakespeare was intimately tied up with the Earl of Southampton’s circle of friends – and many of his plays were a debate with Southampton and Essex about the wisdom (or otherwise) of their plot to overthrow Queen Elizabeth.
Sadly he was mocked and derided by his nemesis W.W. Greg….
…….a textual scholar who hated real life to be brought into Shakespeare Studies – an attitude that was still around during our Chief Agent’s time at Cambridge University.
Greg described Dover Wilson’s ideas about Shakespeare as “the careerings of a not too captive balloon in a high wind”.
THE HORROR IS DOVER WILSON LISTENED TO HIM!
He even went as far to withdraw his ideas – saying he no longer believed in them.
BUT HE WAS RIGHT!
Dover Wilson believed that ‘Macbeth’ was first performed in Scotland in 1599 in an attempt to involve King James VI in the Essex Plot. The Code believes this is true – and has been developing these ideas on this blog and in a film script.
We believe that Shakespeare fled to Scotland after the Essex Plot failed – and became an intimate friend of King James VI.
The two men influenced each others thinking.
For example, both wrote poems comparing their male lovers to the fabulous Phoenix Bird…
The Code also believes that Shakespeare was up in Scotland earlier – in 1594 – as part of the English party to celebrate the baptism of Prince Henry at Stirling Castle.
The Earl of Sussex represented Queen Elizabeth.
He was part of the Southampton-Essex circle – and his men had performed ‘Titus Andronicus’ at the Rose Theatre earlier that year.
Originally King James was to include a live lion in the masque – they had one in Stirling Castle! – but dropped the idea because he thought the women would be frightened….Shakespeare, of course, recycles this in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’….
‘You ladies you whose gentle hearts do fear
The smallest monstous mouse that creps
May now perchance to quake and tremble here
While lion rough in wildest rage doth roar
Then know that I as Snug the joiner am…’
King James had built a replica of the Temple of Solomon at Stirling Castle….
….together with a Vault.
He staged pageants where the Templar Knights defeated the Turks – and wandered round dressed as a Templar Knight….
Recent research suggests that Freemasonry has its roots in Scotland – and was developed both by King James VI and his Master of Works, William Schaw……
…….who is known as ‘The Father of Freemasonry’. He designed the Temple at Stirling Castle.
The Temple of Solomon – both before its completion and after its destruction – is the setting for many Masonic rites – as is the Temple’s ‘Sacred Vault’.
Were Masonic Rites performed there in 1594? And was Shakespeare in attendance?
The Code will try to answer these questions – but in a ‘synchronistic’ way….
When Your Cat was on her Rehabilitation Programme she became very attracted to Muscular Christianity – and started to become a bit of a Church Cat.
Among the churches she visited was St. Mary le Strand……
……designed in 1714 by a young Scottish Freemason – and Jacobite! – called James Gibbs……
…….known to friends as ‘Signor Gibbi’.
Your Cat fell in love with the Church – and dragged the Code’s Chief Agent along with her – and he fell in love with it too. So much so that he became a member of the Parish Church Council there – and a Trustee!
Stewart became fascinated by the Church’s history – particularly a symbol in the apse….
He had a ‘hunch’ about it – as he does with most of his research – and followed it up.
The result is the Posts – ”Is St. Mary le Strand a Jacobite Church’ – Parts I, II and III – which will follow in the next few days…..
Jacobitism leads to Freemasonry leads to Scotland leads to James VI leads to William Shakespeare himself!
So Brothers and Sisters- please check for new posts – and above all
ENJOY!!!
‘Bye now!!
The Shakespeare Code 