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_.
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