his dramatic renown, and
at the age of thirty-six was the ripest philosopher in the world, knowing
more about the secret impulses of the human heart than any other man.

I could see a great change in his life and thought; for a shade of settled
melancholy characterized his action, since the death and burial of Spenser,
and the downfall of Essex and Southampton, through the vengeance of Cecil
and Bacon, jealous courtiers, who poisoned Queen Elizabeth against the most
noted Lords of her court.

Shakspere's theatrical company became involved in the conspiracy of Essex,
and an edict was issued against the Blackfriars and Globe playhouses
performing their dramatic satires. Children players took their places.

Through the particular vengeance of Lord Bacon, charges of treason were
trumped up against Essex, the former benefactor of Bacon, and in due course
the head of Essex went to the block in February, 1601.

Thus perished one of the brightest, bravest and loftiest peers of England,
a victim to the spleen, hate and tyranny of the ugly Elizabeth, a woman
without conscience or morality, when her personal interest was involved.
She shines out as one of the greatest and most infamous queens of history,
and so long as lofty crime is remembered she will remain on the top
pedestal of royal iniquity.

In the course of our classical and historical readings, William had become
very much interested in the tragic story of Amleth or Hamlet as told by the
Danish writer, _Saxo_--and _Seneca_, the great Roman, in his story of
_Cornelia_ gives the same tragic tale, while Garnier, the French dramatist,
as well as Kyd, the friend of Shakspere, made plays out of the tragic
history of the Prince of Denmark.

But it was left for my friend William to gather up the historical bones of
the ancient story, and articulate them into a breathing, living,
passionate, divine being, whose lofty words and phrases should go sounding
down the centuries, thrilling and reverberating in the soul-lit memory of
mankind.

The supernatural or spiritual part of creation had ever a fascinating
influence upon the Bard of Avon, and all the outward manifestations of
nature were infallible hints to him of the inward sources of the Divine,
and an absolute belief in the immortality of the soul! His own mind was the
best evidence of divinity!

Night after night in the winter of 1600, William would read over, and
ponder upon "scraps of thought," that he had at various