I just received this handwritten note from Will:

[Aristus]

Mastr Robert o'th Subterranean Advocates of Self Rool:

I'm to Stratford for perhaps a fortnight, for to visit the huzziff and the little ones. I bring a fyne gift with me Anne shall surely bee fond of: I have commissioned a joiner for to prodoos a fyne bed & all necc. furniture, bedcloth's, &c., &c. This shall be our Best Bed at New Place for the lodging & comfort of all our honor'd guests. I look to my sweet brethren of The King's Men, visitors to Stratford, &c., &c., and always counting of course, your dear self, my good Robin. The second-bestt bed remains that given unto my wyfe for our weddyngg. And O! Robin! A cold territory it has becom since my time in London. Anne laments my long travails away from home, and laments even more my return from them. 'Tis true, sweet Robin, Susannah my girl is the onliest begetter of our marriage! As she was begott'n also by it!

But I shall harp no more on that string. I have left in your care my heart's desire for your missive upon this Satur-day direct. And we shall be merry when I return, for cakes and ale will all spring from my purse! Take with you my lover's embrace, good wishes for your continued health, &c., &c.

Your obn't servant,

Wm. Shakspere, gent.
New Place
Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Puzzling out Will's curlicued Secretary hand was a chore. But I think I got it all. So there will be an edition of WSTFTD this weekend. See you then.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Ah, my dear Aristus...

This is a wonderful note, one to treasure forever!

I am looking forward to this weekend's version of WSTFTD...

[Aristus]

2. Well, if nothing else, it explains the "second-best bed" controversy

from Will's will:



The superscription above line 9, page three of the will: 'I give unto my wyfe my second best bed with the furniture'

[elleng]

3. Hand in hand we come

Christopher Robin and I
To lay this book in your lap.
Say you're surprised?
Say you like it?
Say it's just what you wanted?
Because it's yours---
Because we love you.

[Aristus]

5. Yeah, Will calls me 'Robin'.

It was a common enough diminutive for Robert back in the Elizabethan Era. It kind of became a name on its own, and common for girls, too. Like a lot of names we consider 'female' names, like Leslie, Vivian, Marion, Florence, etc, it started out as a man's name.

[In_The_Wind]

4. Wonderful news!

[Aristus]

6. Will didn't say as much, but I'm sure he'll want to party with his DU ladies

when he returns from Stratford. He does like to make merry...

I'll tell him you said 'hi'.

[pinboy3niner]

7. From just a quick scan, I gather that Will is...

...Batman?

[Aristus]

8. Cute.

No, 'Robin' is just his nickname for me. A common Elizabethan variant of Robert.

[sheshe2]

9. If Will is buying~ then I will be there!

And we shall be merry when I return, for cakes and ale will all spring from my purse!

Hi Aristus.

[Aristus]

10. Hello, sheshe2!

[sarge43]

11. Robin, might you persuade Will to act a scene from one of his play or read a sonnet?

I'm sure after a round or two, he would.

[Aristus]

12. Aw, sarge. You can call me Bob if you want to. How long have we known each other?

Oh Will needs little encouragement to recite when he's in his cups.

And he's shameless with the ladies; especially dark-haired ones. He'll recite one of his famous sonnets, and she'll look up at him, eyes shining. And he'll ask: "Fancy that, did you, love? Came up with that this instant, I did. Just for you!"

And there are few women who don't go ga-ga over his Warwickshire accent...

[sarge43]

13. Some while, darlin'.

I'll stay with Robin; it suits you.

Will liked and, more importantly, understood women. Even the hard cases, like Lady Mac, were fully realized, not clichés.

Aye, he lied like a Frenchman, but, Bloody Mary, he was a charmer, he was.

[Aristus]

14. There are rumors he had something going on with Henry Wriothsely.

But I think he was just currying favor with a wealthy patron in order to secure commissions for his Sonnets.

If he slept his way to the top, well, it did give us matchless poetry, and superior theater.

[sarge43]

15. Not sleeping his way to the top, more like gathering data.

Mining the human experience for the raw material to turn into gold.