The Gesta Grayorum, printed
in 1688 from a manuscript apparently passed down from the 1590s is an
account of the Christmas revels by the law students at Gray's Inn in
1594. In the text reproduced below the references to the High and
Mighty Prince, Henry Prince of Purpoole, our Prince of State, are to
the mock prince crowned for the occasion from among the students, a
sort of prince of misrule. The document is important for its clear
reference to Shakespeare's company--the players--and unmistakable
references to Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, performed
on this night of December 28, 1594 ("Innocents-Day"). It also contains
an enigmatic references to (perhaps) certain elements in Love's Labour's Lost which are also reproduced below. This text is from the public domain copy of the Gesta Grayorum edited by W. W. Greg at the Internet Archive.
I have corrected some of the OCR errors in the TXT version, but
otherwise left the text as it appears in the work mounted at that
site.
The Gesta is helpful in dating the The Comedy of Errors
by establishing the date of its first known performance, but, of
course, it could have been in existence from the late 1580s (as T. W.
Baldwin argued in William Shakspere Adapts a Hanging), or even earlier (as argued by Peter Alexander in Shakespeare's Life and Art). R. A. Foakes in his Arden 2 edition of The Comedy of Errors
thoroughly discusses the dating quandries provoked by The Comedy of
Errors, and indeed Shakespeare's four early comedies, Errors, Two
Gentlemen, Shrew and Love's Labour's Lost.
The text from Gesta Grayorum
The next grand Night was intended to be upon Innocents-Day at Night
; at which time there was a great Prefence of Lords, Ladies, and
worfhipful Perfonages, that did expect fome notable Performance at that
time ; which, indeed, had been effected, if the multitude of Beholders
had not been fo exceeding great, that thereby there was no convenient
room for thofe that were Actors ; by reafon whereof, very good
Inventions and Conceipts could not have opportunity to be applauded,
which otherwife would have been great Contentation to the Beholders.
Againft which time, our Friend, the Inner Temple, determined to fend
their Ambaffador to our Prince of State, as fent from Frederick
Templarius, their Emperor, who was then bufied in his Wars againft the
Turk. The Ambaffador came very gallantly appointed, and attended by a
great number of brave Gentlemen, which arrived at our Court about Nine
of the Clock at Night. Upon their coming thither, the King at Arms gave
notice to the Prince, then fitting in his Chair of State in the Hall,
that there was come to his Court an Ambaffador from his ancient Friend
the State of Templaria which defired to have prefent Accefs unto His
Highnefs ; and fliewed his Honour further, that he feemed to be of very
good fort, becaufe he was fo well attended ; and therefore defired that
it would pleafe His Honour that fome of his Nobles and Lords might
conduct him to His Highnefs's Prefence ; which was done. So he was
brought in very folemnly, with Sound of Trumpets, the King at Arms and
Lords of Purpoole making to his Company, which marched before him in
order. He was received very kindly of the Prince, and placed in a Chair
befides His Highnefs, to the end that he might be Partaker of the
Sports intended. But firft, he made a Speech to the Prince, wherein he
declared how his excellent Renown and Fame was known throughout all the
whole World ; and that the Report of his Greatnefs was not contained
within the Bounds of the Ocean, but had come to the Ears of his noble
Sovereign, Frederick Templarius where he is now warring againfl the
Turks, the known Enemies to all Christendom; who having heard that His
Excellency kept his Court at Graya, this Chriftmas, thought it to ftand
with his ancient League of Amity and near Kindnefs, that fo long hath
been continued and increafed by their noble Anceftors of famous Memory
and Defert, to gratulate his Happinefs, and flourifhing Eftate ; and in
that regard, had fent him his Ambaffador, to be refiding at His
Excellency's Court, in honour of his Greatnefs, and token of his tender
Love and Good Will he beareth to His Highnefs; the Confirmation whereof
he efpecially required, and by all means poffible, would ftudy to
increafe and eternize: Which Function he was the more willing to
accomplish, becaufe our State of Graya did grace Templaria with the
Prefence of an Ambaffador about thirty Years fince, upon like occafion.
Our Prince made him this Anfwer, That he did acknowledge that the great
Kindnefs of his Lord, whereby he doth invite to further degrees in firm
and Loyal Friendfhip, did deferve all honourable Commendations, and
effectual Accomplifhment, that by any means might be devifed ; and that
he accounted himfelf happy, by having the fincere and ftedfaft Love of
fo gracious and renowned a Prince, as his Lord and Mafter deferved to
be efteemed ; and that nothing in the World fhould hinder the due
Obfervation of fo inviolable a Band as he efteemed his Favour and Good
Will. Withal, he entred into Commendations of his noble and courageous
Enterprizes, in that he chufeth out an Adverfary fit for his Greatnefs
to encounter with, his Honour to be illuftrated by, and fuch an Enemy
to all Christiendom as that the Glory of his Actions tend to the Safety
and Liberty of all Civility and Humanity ; yet, notwithstanding that he
was thus employed, in this Action or honouring us, he mewed both his
honourable Mindfulnefs of our Love and Friendfhip, and alfo his own
Puiffance, that can afford fo great a number of brave Gentlemen, and fo
gallantly furnifhed and accomplimed : And fo concluded, with a Welcome
both to the Ambaffador himfelf, and his Favourites, for their Lord and
Mailer's fake, and fo for their own good Deferts and Condition.
When the Ambaflador was placed, as aforefaid, and that there was
fomething to be performed for the Delight of the Beholders, there arofe
fuch a difordered Tumult and Crowd upon the Stage, that there was no
Opportunity to effect that which was intended : There came fo great a
number of worshipful Perfonages upon the Stage, that might not be
difplaced ; and Gentlewomen, whofe Sex did privilege them from
Violence, that when the Prince and his Officers had in vain, a good
while, expected and endeavoured a Reformation, at length there was no
hope of Redrefs for that prefent. The Lord Ambaffador and his Train
thought that they were not fo kindly entertained, as was before
expected, and thereupon would not ftay any longer at that time, but, in
a fort, difcontented and difpleafed. After their Departure the Throngs
and Tumults did fomewhat ceafe, although fo much of them continued, as
was able to diforder and confound any good Inventions whatfoever. In
regard whereof, as alfo for that the Sports intended were efpecially
for the gracing of the Templarians it was thought good not to offer any
thing of Account, faving Dancing and Revelling with Gentlewomen; and
after fuch Sports, a Comedy of Errors (like to Plautus his Menechmus)
was played by the Players. So that Night was begun, and continued to
the end, in nothing but Confufion and Errors; whereupon, it was ever
afterwards called, The Night of Errors.
This mifchanceful Accident forting fo ill, to the great prejudice of
the reft of our Proceedings, was a great Difcouragement and
Difparagement to our whole State ; yet it gave occafion to the Lawyers
of the Prince's Council, the next Night, after Revels, to read a
Commiffion of Oyer and Terminer, directed to certain Noblemen and Lords
of His Highnefs's Council, and others, that they would enquire, or
caufe Enquiry to be made of fome great Diforders and Abufes lately done
and committed within His Highnefs's Dominions of Purpoole, efpecially
by Sorceries and Inchantments ; and namely, of a great Witchcraft ufed
the Night before, whereby there were great Diforders and Mifdemeanours,
by Hurly-burlies, Crowds, Errors, Confufions, vain Reprefentations and
Shews, to the utter Difcredit of our State and Policy.
The next Night upon this Occafion, we preferred Judgments thick and
threefold, which were read publickly by the Clerk of the Crown, being
all againft a Sorcerer or Conjurer that was fuppofed to be the Caufe of
that confufed Inconvenience. Therein was contained, How he had caufed
the Stage to be built, and Scaffolds to be reared to the top of the
Houfe, to increafe Expectation. Alfo how he had caufed divers Ladies
and Gentlewomen, and others of good Condition, to be invited to our
Sports; alfo our deareft Friend, the State of Templaria, to be
difgraced, and difappointed of their kind Entertainment, deferved and
intended. Alfo that he caufed Throngs and Tumults, Crowds and Outrages,
to difturb our whole Proceedings. And Laftly, that he had foifted a
Company of bafe and common Fellows, to make up our Diforders with a
Play of Errors and Confufions ; and that that Night had gained to us
Difcredit, and itfelf a Nickname of Errors. All which were againft the
Crown and Dignity of our Sovereign Lord, the Prince of Purpoole.
Under Colour of thefe Proceedings, were laid open to the View, all
the Caufes of note that were committed by our chiefefl Statesmen in the
Government of our Principality ; and every Officer in any great Place,
that had not performed his Duty in that Service, was taxed hereby, from
the higheft to the loweft, not fparing the Guard and Porters, that
fuffered fo many difordered Perfons to enter in at the Court-Gates :
Upon whofe aforefaid Indictments, the Prifoner was arraigned at the
Bar, being brought thither by the Lieutenant of the Tower (for at that
time the Stocks were graced with that Name;) and the Sheriff
impannelled a Jury of Twenty four Gentlemen, that were to give their
Verdict upon the Evidence given.
...
Shortly after this Shew, there came Letters to our State from
Frederick Templarius ; wherein he defired, that his Ambaffador might be
difpatched with Anfwer to thofe Things which he came to treat of So he
was very honourably difmiffed, and accompanied homeward with the Nobles
of Purpoole : Which Departure was before the next grand Day. The next
grand Night was upon Twelfthday at Night; at which time the wonted
honourable and worfhipful Company of Lords, Ladies and Knights were, as
at other times, affembled ; and every one of them placed conveniently,
according to their Condition. And when the Prince was afcended his
Chair of State, and the Trumpets founded, there was prefently a Shew
which concerned His Highnefs's State and Government : The Invention was
taken out of the Prince's Arms, as they are blazon'd in the beginning
of his Reign, by the King at Arms. Firft, There came fix Knights of the
Helmet, with three that they led as Prifoners, and were attired like
Monfters and Mifcreants. The Knights gae the Prince to underftand, that
as they were returning from their Adventures out of Ruffia, wherein
they aided the Emperor Ruffia, againft the Tartars t they furprized
thefe three Perfbns, which were confpiring againfl His Highnefs and
Dignity: and that being apprehended by them, they could not urge them
to difclofe what they were : By which they refting very doubtful, there
entred in the two Goddeffes, Arety and Amity; and they faid, that they
would difclofe to the Prince who thefe fufpected Perfons were; and
thereupon shewed, that they were Envy Malecontent and Folly : Which
three had much mifliked His Highnefs's Proceedings, and had attempted
many things againft his State; and but for them two, Fertile and United
Friendfhip, all their Inventions had been difappointed. Then willed
they the Knights to depart, and to carry away the Offenders ; and that
they themfelves fhould come in more pleafing fort, and better befitting
the prefent. So the Knights departed, and Fertile and Amity promifed,
that they two would fupport His Excellency againft all his Foes
whatfoever, and then departed with moft pleafant Mufick. After their
Departure, entred the fix Knights in a very ftately Mask, and danced a
new devifed Meafure ; and after that, they took to them Ladies and
Gentlewomen, and danced with them their Galliards, and fo departed with
Mufick. Which being done, the Trumpets were commanded to found, and
then the King at Arms came in before the Prince, and told His Honour,
that there was arrived an Ambaffador from the mighty Emperor of Ruffia
and Mofcovy, that had fome Matters of Weight to make known to His
Highnefs. So the Prince willed that he fhould be admitted into his
Prefence ; who came in Attire of Russia, accompanied with two of his
own Country, in like Habit.
This
is sophomorish stuff, as one might expect. The previous two night's
Shakespeare's company had performed at court (there is a dating problem
with court payments to Shakespeare's company noted on December 26 and
28--there is also a payment noted to the Admiral's men on December
28--the night of Errors--so the second payment to Shakespeare's company
was probably misdated and should be assigned to the 27th--see R. A.
Foakes, The Comedy of Errors, p. 115-116). Fresh from court, they
descend, the next night of the 28th to be engulfed in this confusion
and uproar among the (most likely drunken) legal students. Ah, show
biz. It is little wonder that Shakespeare expresses such reservations
about his profession. It must have stung the rising gentle
Shakespeare to be numbered among "base and common Fellows."
.
It is small, but erudite, being more challenging than most modern
introductions, but more rewarding as well. It ought to be a required
prerequisite to Shakespeare studies.