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." If so, it would have been performed by the Gentlemen of Gray's Inn.
Probable Genre(s)
Royal Entertainment / masque (if part of the Gesta Grayorum).
Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues
Gesta Grayorum, or, The history of the high and mighty prince, Henry Prince of Purpoole ... who reigned and died, A.D. 1594 : together with a masque, as it was presented (by His Highness's command) for the entertainment of Q. Elizabeth, who, with the nobels of both courts, was present thereat. (London: Printed for W. Canning, 1688).
References to the Play
No references to this "letter" known.
Critical Commentary
The Folger catalogue entry notes that this fragment is "Not included in Gesta Grayorum, 1688, nor in J. Nichols’ Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, nor in Gesta Grayorum, edit. by Desmond Bland, 1968."
For What It's Worth
The Gesta Grayorum has often been ascribed to Francis Bacon, Francis Davison and others; it is not clear who may have authored the fragment comprising Folger MS V.a.190.
Works Cited
Site created and maintained by David McInnis, University of Melbourne; updated 15 April 2012.