Behind the author W.C. of "Polimanteia" hides an outstanding polymath,
both artistically gifted and self-confident. -
The author seems to be identical with [a pseudonym] W.Clarke " to whom John Davies dedicated his epigram 143[most likely : Marlowe [alias Shakespeare/ and alias other pseudonyms]
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"Scourge of Folly" (1611: John Davies of Hereford)
»Polimanteia"(1595) by „W.C.“ would probably be completely forgotten today (similar to "Willobie his Avisa" 1594) if it had not remained of some literary historicall interest because of the first mentioning ever (!) of “literary Shake-speare" (and "Lucrece").
In the 19th century an expert proposed in W.C. »William Cowell” a graduate of the University of Cambridge". With higher plausibility, however W.C. stands for the pseudonym "William Clarke (or Clerke)" who treated the issue of illegitimate descent in "The Triall of Bastardie" 1594.
A few years later (1598) a certain T.B. ("Thomas Bastard") in his book "Chrestoleros Seven bookes of Epigrames” made it seem plausible that behind the two shortcuts (W.C. and T.B.) the same poet was concealed, whom the subject of his own lineage was driving around…
In the 19th century an expert proposed in W.C. »William Cowell” a graduate of the University of Cambridge". With higher plausibility, however W.C. stands for the pseudonym "William Clarke (or Clerke)" who treated the issue of illegitimate descent in "The Triall of Bastardie" 1594.
A few years later (1598) a certain T.B. ("Thomas Bastard") in his book "Chrestoleros Seven bookes of Epigrames” made it seem plausible that behind the two shortcuts (W.C. and T.B.) the same poet was concealed, whom the subject of his own lineage was driving around…
Epigr.143
About William Clarke:
What do we know about the background of W.C., William Clarke (or Clerke) ? In »The Scourge of Folly« (1611) John Davies has described him highly condensed and informative in Epigramm 143 (s. Faksimile). There we learn: He is
(1) »The sole fast friend of Elbo-clokes«. indicative of a person, permanently writing at his desk
(2) with the »Countenance of obsolete Buskins« (SOED „buskin“ ambiguous fig./trans.: the tragic vein, tragedy )
(3) with »the grace of velvet Day-capps«, indicative of a clerk[Clarke],lawyer/scholar, there are many reasons to assume that Marlowe has been at the London Court of Innes
(4) »remarkable for mellowed wisdome« , an Attribute applicable to Marlowe/Shakespeare but hardly on Clarke [H.Petowe: »Marlow admir'd, whose honey-flowing vaine.«
(5) »abounding in his private-publike printed Poetry;« applicable to Marlowe/Shakespeare but not on Clarke
(6) »sententious Apothegmes at meales«
(7) »Maister« W.Clarke, The Master title M.A. can be evidenced for Marlowe, not for Clarke
(8) »attending without processe the Starre-chamber«), [20.Mai 1593] A warrant was issued by the Church's Star Chamber for the poet's [Marlowe's] arrest on charges of heresy, which carried the death penalty.-
(9) »Clarke, Thou hast wit at all« well known for Marlowe/Shakespeare, not for a W.Clarke
(10) »in thy Staff’s Head«,[SOED Staff arch.ME†,b a speare or launce, something which serves as a support or stay): Notice the wordplay with »Staffe,Stafs,Staffs,etc (a character, a letter, a body of persons
(11) »Yea, may interre thee too, when thou art dead« indicating that he himself is already interred and dead
(12) »And in distresse it is a Staffe of Staye«) indicating that he will permanently remain the shaft of a staff bearing the [name Shake-]speare(?) -
(13) »Thy Silver-Head‘s worne out with Wisdomes cares« Notice the multiple repetition of »silver« head /haire ( indicative of SOED (1594) : Eloquent sweet-spoken," [Marlowe/alias Shakespeare 1611 at the age of 47)].
(14) »but at a stay stands thy Stafs silver Head: «
(15) »As thy Stafs silver Head is covered« , it fits to Marlowe, difficult to interprete for Clarke
(16) So hide it (Clarke) with Silke (as fit, as fine). Indicative of a continued necessity Marlowe's to hide himself,
(17) »Sith it shewes all the hidden wit in thine): the hidden creative genius is compatiple with Marlowe/Shakespeare
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(1) »The sole fast friend of Elbo-clokes«. indicative of a person, permanently writing at his desk
(2) with the »Countenance of obsolete Buskins« (SOED „buskin“ ambiguous fig./trans.: the tragic vein, tragedy )
(3) with »the grace of velvet Day-capps«, indicative of a clerk[Clarke],lawyer/scholar, there are many reasons to assume that Marlowe has been at the London Court of Innes
(4) »remarkable for mellowed wisdome« , an Attribute applicable to Marlowe/Shakespeare but hardly on Clarke [H.Petowe: »Marlow admir'd, whose honey-flowing vaine.«
(5) »abounding in his private-publike printed Poetry;« applicable to Marlowe/Shakespeare but not on Clarke
(6) »sententious Apothegmes at meales«
(7) »Maister« W.Clarke, The Master title M.A. can be evidenced for Marlowe, not for Clarke
(8) »attending without processe the Starre-chamber«), [20.Mai 1593] A warrant was issued by the Church's Star Chamber for the poet's [Marlowe's] arrest on charges of heresy, which carried the death penalty.-
(9) »Clarke, Thou hast wit at all« well known for Marlowe/Shakespeare, not for a W.Clarke
(10) »in thy Staff’s Head«,[SOED Staff arch.ME†,b a speare or launce, something which serves as a support or stay): Notice the wordplay with »Staffe,Stafs,Staffs,etc (a character, a letter, a body of persons
(11) »Yea, may interre thee too, when thou art dead« indicating that he himself is already interred and dead
(12) »And in distresse it is a Staffe of Staye«) indicating that he will permanently remain the shaft of a staff bearing the [name Shake-]speare(?) -
(13) »Thy Silver-Head‘s worne out with Wisdomes cares« Notice the multiple repetition of »silver« head /haire ( indicative of SOED (1594) : Eloquent sweet-spoken," [Marlowe/alias Shakespeare 1611 at the age of 47)].
(14) »but at a stay stands thy Stafs silver Head: «
(15) »As thy Stafs silver Head is covered« , it fits to Marlowe, difficult to interprete for Clarke
(16) So hide it (Clarke) with Silke (as fit, as fine). Indicative of a continued necessity Marlowe's to hide himself,
(17) »Sith it shewes all the hidden wit in thine): the hidden creative genius is compatiple with Marlowe/Shakespeare
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Thus Epigramm 143 outlines in a highly condensed fashion (1-17) a scholar , who holds a series of positions ,who had to attend without processe the Star chamber (only known for Marlowe 1593), who is remarkable for his mellowed wisdom, abounding in private-public poetry , but who had to hide himself , a great hidden wit…. . All this cannot be assigned to an unknown "W.C.[William Clerke].
A proposal: behind the author W.C. of "Polimanteia" hides an outstanding polymath, both artistically gifted and self-confident. - most likely : Marlowe [alias Shakespeare/ and alias other pseudonyms]
A proposal: behind the author W.C. of "Polimanteia" hides an outstanding polymath, both artistically gifted and self-confident. - most likely : Marlowe [alias Shakespeare/ and alias other pseudonyms]
