Was Shakespeare A Secret Catholic? The Evidence Is Mounting…

Telegraph(UK) ^ | December 22nd 2009

[Steelfish]

Was Shakespeare A Secret Catholic? The Evidence Is Mounting…

By Oliver Marre December 22nd, 2009

The Venerable English College in Rome has found documents which may suggest that Shakespeare was a secret Catholic who spent some years in the city. It’s only conjecture – but the news will certainly excite the large number of people who believe that the Bard was a Papist.

Clare Asquith has written a compelling and brilliantly researched book which argues the same point from textual and historical analysis of the plays. Shadowplay is a great read for anyone interested in Shakespeare, in the religious wars of his time or, for that matter, in codes and the hidden meanings within texts.

It’s not fair on the book to suggest it is a Da Vinci Code for thinking people – but it’s every bit as exciting. Today’s announcemnt from Rome that the College’s recorded visit from one “Shfordus Cestriensis” in 1587 implies “Sh(akespeare from Strat)ford (in the diocese) of Chester” is not exactly what would be regarded as a conclusive argument; and I wasn’t wholly convinced by Asquith’s study, either.

[stripes1776]

Wouldn’t it be fun to have Shakespeare write a play about this administration?

He would have lots of material to work with. Lots to laugh at.

[stripes1776]

I have wondered about the sonnet thing. Do we know as a fact that they were TO a man and not FOR a man?

Of the 154 sonnets, the first 126 are addressed to a man. But don't take my word for it. Buy a good annotated version. This will help you to understand the obsolete words and the modern words that had a different meaning in Shakespeare's day, as well as sort out the grammar. (I recommend the edition by the Folger Shakespeare Library. This edition includes some of his other poems as well.)

And another piece of advice: don't rush the reading. You need at least a year to read those sonnets, and two years is better. You need to spend some time with the rhythm and the rhyming and the language. But the time spent is well worth it. Not only will you begin to appreciate Shakespeare's poetic diction, but your experience with the poems will make you a better reader of the plays.

[stripes1776]

You seem to be, in a behind the back kind of way, inferring that Roman Catholics are homosexuals, or some element of Roman Catholicism is homosexual. So I ask you, is this the point you were trying to make? Is that clear enough?

My point is that the argument that Shakespeare was Roman Catholic is specious.

[IrishCatholic]

Well, then. No skin off my nose.
Whether Catholic or not he has gone to meet his maker and what team he batted for is moot.