Letter from Henry, Prince of Purpoole, to the Great Turk (Folger MS V.a.190)
Historical Records
Folger Shakespeare Library MS fragment
(Reproduced by permission of the Folger Shakespeare Library)
Two small leaves exist as Folger MS. V.a.190:
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| Folger V.a.190, cover: "29. To ye Greate Turke" | Folger V.a.190, reverse (blank) | Folger V.a.190, letter |
The Letter from Henry, prince of Purpoole, to the Great Turk contains two leaves, one marked with the addressee ("To ye Greate Turke"), the other bearing the contents of the letter itself. The letter reads:
Henricus PPs
Turke
Thy proud and insolent demand came into our Princly hands but not a Nuntio was seene that durste avowe the bearing of it. The respectless manner of thye Embassee and thy hauty arrogance we take notice of with as high disdaine as may spring from the inborne magnanimity of a Prince, And as much we slight it: Know our resolucion is to maintaine our right in bearing of the Crescent. For thy threatened hostility we entertaine it thankfully and accept of it as of thy triumphes to congratulate our late installment. We have given command to our Admirall to waite thy coming and give the entertainment on the Sea, thy better receiving at thy landing shal be our neerer Care. Farewell and weare thy three Moones till we make them make upp the fower quarter = Changes of our Crescent
From our Pallace of Portpoole
27 December
Theatrical Provenance
The Folger catalogue entry notes that "A Henry Helmes was prince of Purpoole in the 1594 Christmas revels" and suggests that this fragment was "Probably part of the entertainment provided in the Gesta Grayorum, 1594-1595."
Probable Genre(s)
If part of the Gesta Grayorum, this piece would be considered a Royal Entertainment, and probably performed by the Gentlemen of Gray's Inn.
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