| Simon Forman's Diary | |
Dr. Forman's Account of Four Shakespeare Plays
Simon Forman attended productions of four of Shakespeare's plays and his thorough accounts of the performances aid scholars in dating the dramas and uncovering discrepancies in the published texts. The minor details of Simon Forman's narratives are sometimes erroneous, but they nonetheless give modern readers an impression of what it would be like to be an audience member in Shakespearean England. Reprinted below are the relevant excerpts from Simon's record-books. Please note that I have modernized the spelling.
Macbeth at the Globe, 20 April 1610
In Macbeth at the Globe, 1610, the 20 of April, Saturday, there was to be observed, first, how Macbeth and Banquo, two noble men of Scotland, riding through a wood, there stood before them three women fairies or nymphs, and saluted Macbeth, saying three times unto him, "Hail, Macbeth, King of Codon; for thou shall be a King, but shall beget no kings," etc. Then said Banquo, "what all to Macbeth, and nothing to me?" "Yes", said the nymphs, "hail to thee, Banquo, thou shall beget kings, yet be no king"; and so they departed and came to the country of Scotland to Duncan, King of Scots and it was in the days of Edward the Confessor. And Duncan had them both kindly welcome, and made Macbeth forthwith Prince of Northumberland, and sent him home to his own castle, and appointed Macbeth to provide for him, for he would sup with him the next day at night, and did so.
And Macbeth contrived to kill Duncan and through the persuasion of his wife did that night murder the King in his own castle, being his guest; and there were many prodigies seen that night and the day before. And when Macbeth had murdered the king, the blood on his hands could not be washed off by any means, nor from his wives hands, which handed the bloody daggers in hiding them, which by means they became both much amazed and affronted. The murder being known, Duncan's two sons fled, the one to England, the other to Wales, to save themselves. They being fled, they were supposed guilty of the murder of their father, which was nothing so.
Then was Macbeth crowned kings; and then he, for fear of Banquo, his old companion, that he should beget kings but be no king himself, he contrived the death of Banquo, and caused him to be murdered on his way as he rode. The next night, being at supper with his noble men whom he had to bid to a feast, to the which also Banquo should have come, he began to speak of noble Banquo, and to wish that he were there. And as he did thus, standing up to drink a carouse to him, the ghost of Banquo came and sat down in his chair behind him. And he, turning about to sit down again, saw the ghost of Banquo, which fronted him so, that he fell into a great passion of fear and fury, uttering many words about his murder, by which, when they hard that Banquo was murdered, they suspected Macbeth. Then MackDove fled to England to the kinges sonn, and soon they raised an army and cam to Scotland, and at Dunstonanse overthrue Macbeth. In the meantime, while MacDove was in England, Macbeth slew MackDove's wife and children, and after in the battle MackDove slewe Macbeth. Observe also how Macbeth's queen did rise in the night in her sleep, and walked and talked and confessed all, and the doctor noted her words.
The Winter's Tale at the Globe, 15 May 1611
Observe there how Leontes, the king of Sicilia, was overcome with jealousy of his wife with the king of Bohemia, his friend, that came to see him. How he contrived his death, and would have had his cupbearer to have poisoned him: who have the king of Bohemia waning thereof and fled with him to Bohemia.
Remember also how he sent to the oracle of Apollo, and the answer of Apollo -- that she was guiltless and that the King was jealous, etc.; and how, except the child was found again that was lost, the King should die without issue. For the child was carried into Bohemia and there laid in a forest and brought up by a shepherd. The King of Bohemia's son married that wench. And how they fled into Sicilia to Leontes. The shepherd, having shown the letter of the nobleman by whom Leontes sent away that child and the jewels found about her, she was known to be Leontes' daughter, and was then sixteen years old.
Remember also the rogue that came in all tattered like Coll Pixie; how he feigned him sick and to have been robbed of all that he had. How he cozened the poor man of all his money. And, after, came to the sheep-shearing with a pedlar's pack and there cozened them again of all their money. How he changed apparel with the King of Bohemia's son, and then how he turned courtier, etc. Beware of trusting feigned beggars or fawning fellows.
Cymbeline at the Globe, 1611 (unspecified date)
Remember also the story of Cymbeline, king of England, in Lucius' time. How Lucius came from Octavius Caesar for tribute; and, being denied, sent Lucius with a great army of soldiers, who landed at Milford Haven, and after were vanquished by Cymbeline, and Lucius taken prosioner. All by means of three outlaws: of which two of them were the sons of Cymbeline, stolen from him when they were but two years old by an old man whom Cymbeline banished. He kept them as his own sons twenty years with him in a cave.
And how one of them slewe Cloten, the Queen's son, going to Milford Haven to seek the love of Imogen, the King's daughter, whom he had banished also for loving his daughter. How the Italian that came, from her love [from love of her], conveyed himself into a chest; and said it was a chest of plate sent, from her love and others, to be presented to the King. In the deepest of the night, she being asleep, he opened the chest and came forth of it. And viewed her in bed and the marks on her body; took away her bracelet, and after accused her of adultery to her love.
In the end, how he came with the Romans into England and was taken prisoner. And after revealed to Imogen, who had turned herself into man's apparel and fled to meet her love at Milford Haven and chanced to fall on the cave in the woods where her two brother were. How by eating a sleeping dram they thought she had been dead, and laid her in the woods, the body of Cloten by her, in her love's apparel that he left behind him. And how she was found by Lucius, etc.
Richard II at the Globe, 20 April 1611
Remember therein how Jack Straw by his overmuch boldness, not being politic nor suspecting anything, was suddenly at Smithfield Bars stabbed by Walworth, the mayor of London. So he and his whole army was overthrown. Therefore, in such a case or the like, never admit any party without a bar between; for a man cannot be too wise, nor keep himself too safe.
Also remember how the duke of Gloucester, the earl of Arundel, Oxford and others, crossing the King in his humour about the duke of Ireland and Bushy, were glad to fly and raise an host of men. Being in his castle, how the duke of Ireland came by night to betray him with three hundred men; but having privy warning thereof kept his gates fast and would not suffer the enemy to enter. Which went back again with a flea in his ear, and after was slain by the earl of Arundel in the batle.
Remember also, when the duke (Gloucester) and Arundel came to London with their army, King Richard came forth to them, met them and gave them fair words; and promised them pardon and that all should be well if they would discharge their army. Upon whose promises and fair speeches they did it. And, after, the King bid them all to a banquet and so betrayed them and cut off their heads, etc., because they had not his pardon under his hand and seal before, but his word.
Remember therein also, how the duke of Lancaster privily contrived all villainy to set them together by the ears; and to make the nobility to envy the King, and mislike of him and his government. By which means he made his own son king, which was Henry Bolingbroke.
Remember also how the duke of Lancaster asked a wise man whether himself should ever be king; and he told him No, but his son shuold be a king. When he had told him, he hanged him up for his labour, because he should not bruit it abroad or speak thereof to others.
This was a policy in the commonwealth's opinion, but I say it was a villain's part and a Judas kiss to hang the man for telling him the truth. Beware by this example of noblemen of their fair words, and say little to them, lest they do the like by thee for thy goodwill.
REFERENCES
Brooke, Tucker. Shakespeare of Stratford. New Haven, Yale UP, 1947.
Holzknecht, Karl J. The Backgrounds of Shakespeare's Plays. New York: American Book Company, 1950.
Lee, Sir Sidney. A Life of William Shakespeare. New York: Dover Publications, 1968.
Rowse, A. L. Simon Forman. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1974.
