The Shakespearean sonnets are believed to have been written in 1590, and made
public in 1598. If this is true, de Vere would have been forty and Shakespeare
twenty-six. Sonnets 62, 73 and 138 show that it was an older person the author. It
is also believed that de Vere hinted his name in the sonnets. For example, Sonnet
76 states, "That every word doth almost tell my name." When the letters of "every
word" are rearranged to EYWORD VER, they resemble EDWARD DE VERE.

We can find de Vere's guardian, Lord Burghley (powerful man in England) being satirized as Polonius in "Hamlet".

In 1586 Edward de Vere received the extraordinary gift of an annuity of 1000L  per year from Queen Elizabeth I. Clearly he was doing something that she felt required compensation. What was it? What could that have been? Probably writing the plays she so dearly loved.

The author's background and education as revealed by his works: Shakespeare's works were written by someone with an instinctively aristocratic outlook, who had detailed familiarity with hunting with horses, hawks, and hounds, who had traveled in France and Italy, who possessed considerable legal knowledge, who had completely assimilated the first two years of the university curriculum, and who seems to have had some military and nautical experience. These things are true of the Earl of Oxford.

Most of the Sonnets address a handsome young man, promising him immortality through verse.  Shakespeare says that he is lame in Sonnets 37 and 89 --Oxford was lame. Shakespeare repeatedly speaks of being involved in shame and disgrace, which makes sense coming from an aristocrat who violated the rules of his caste, but makes no sense coming from Shakspere. Shakespeare complains of poverty in several sonnets, but speaks of his jewels in 48 and of his rich clothes in 146, which makes sense coming from an earl who was relatively poor, but not from a successful man like Shakspere.

Christopher Hatton, Vice-Chamberlain, is satirized as Malvolio ("ill Will") in Twelfth Night. Hatton's letter to Queen Elizabeth is even parodied in the play. (Hatton was one of Oxford's most highly placed enemies.)

Oxford's coat of arms bears a lion shaking a spear.

At court Oxford was known as "Spear-shaker" because of his skill at tournaments and his crest showing a lion brandishing a spear.

He is known to have written, produced and acted in plays and masques. He was lease-holder of the BlackfriarsTheatre. He operated his own theatrical company, Oxford's Boys, as well.

De Vere travelled to Italy in the 1570s. It has recently been documented that the Earl built a house in Italy during his travels.
 
 

|BACK|