hUMILITY pRESS
P.O. Box 1595  West Tisbury  Mass. 02575

12        “Shakespeare had to engage.... unusual success.... suggests that he succeeded|
            brilliantly.....” [2]  and “.... the surviving traces of Shakespeare’s life are
            abundant but thin.” [2]  and “.... but no immediately obvious clues to unravel
            the great mystery of such immense creative power.” [2]

13        “.... readers rarely feel closer to understanding.... nothing that provides a clear
            link between the timeless work.... and a particular life.... let alone a mortal of
            provincial genius and modest education.” [12] and  “But no one who responds
            intensely.... can believe that the plays and poems came exclusively from his
            reading.” [2]

18        “Even with this relative abundance of information, there are large gaps in
            knowledge that make any biographical study of Shakespeare an exercise in
            speculation.” [2] and  “.... scholars have reached a reasonably stable
            consensus, but even this time line, so crucial for any biography, is inevitably
            somewhat speculative.” [2]

19        “.... would seem to indicate.... there is no hard and fast proof that
            Shakespeare attended the Stratford grammar school.... coincidence of the
            dates.... make it highly likely.... as in so much else from Shakespeare’s life,
            there is no absolute certainty.” [13]

23        “Let us imagine.....”

24        “.... himself seems.... probably knew how to read.... no doubt began with a
            hornbook.... But probably starting....” [16]

26        “.... Will almost certainly attended.... presumably ran home....“ [5]

27        “No surviving records.... Perhaps.... And perhaps.....” [8]

28        “.... easy to laugh.... not completely absurd.... it is possible....
            may already have....” [6]

29        “.... they would have come.... and they would have....” [2]
            and  “.... he would, presumably.....”

30        “But would he have taken his five-year-old son to see the show? Certainly
            other fathers did.” and “This is probably as close as possible.... everyone
            would have greeted him.... the crowd would have grown quiet.... would have
            stood between his father’s legs.... may have been enough to capture ----.” [10]

31        “.... may have been renewed.... Young Will is likely to have seen....” [2]

36        “.... and perhaps.... eager to play all the parts.” [2] and  “very young boy
            could have amused....stage-struck youth could have seen....”

37        “.... may have drawn.... they could have also seen.... when Will was fifteen....
            could still have seen....”

39        “What might have Will participated in - sword dances.... morris dances.” [29]

41        “.... he seems to have....”

42        “Shakespeare himself had in all likelihood not....” and  “.... whom the
            Shakespeares would probably have known.“

43        “.... but it is certainly conceivable....” and  “Will may have watched
            .... would at the very least.... also likely to have.... would have been
            useful....” [4]

45        “.... an eleven-year-old boy may have.... must have been....” and
            “If a wide-eyed young boy from Stratford did see her, arrayed      in
            one of her famously elaborate dresses.... he would in effect have...” [4]

46        “.... whom he may have first glimpsed.... if not at.... then somewhere....
            imagination was certainly fired.... whether young Will saw them for
            himself or listened to accounts... seem to have left traces in his work.” [7]

47        “.... seems to have remembered.... probably attended....” [11]

48        “.... might well reach back....”

50        “If Shakespeare’s sense of the transforming power.... may be traced back
            .... may very well.... even seems to mimic....” [20]

55        “Though Aubrey’s story.... is implausible.... it is a safe bet.... No doubt he
            wrote.... Perhaps young Will.... he would have been.... brothers presumably
            were.... gloves were presumably bought.... Will could have stayed....“ [30]

56        “.... would have had to travel.... is likely to have taken....”

57        “.... that Will would have heard....“ and “Will must have been....”

59        “It is not clear that anyone.... perhaps they simply liked....” and
            “There is no record of precisely when.... where he must have......”

60        “John Shakespeare must have been good....”

62        “.... his eldest son must have flown the coop.... must have shaped...” [4]

64        “At a certain point it may have seemed an absurd luxury to have his eldest
            son parsing Latin sentences.” and “Nothing in his works suggests.....”
            and  “.... a scene that must have come quite close....” [6]

66        “.... and it would have served.... must have meant.... children probably
            .... may not have been.... No records survive.... he too probably....” [14]

67        “Is this a further clue.... too late to be reliable as an eyewitness account....”

68        “.... may have never seemed.... it must have amused.... Perhaps like his comic
            character.... hardly a depiction.... perhaps the drunkenness.... seemed....”
            and “.... could have heard - or made it all up.... Perhaps in the wake....” [6]

70        “.... peculiar enough to suggest that it might be authentic.... hard otherwise
            to imagine....” [8]

71        “­­It is easy to imagine....”

72        “.... objective likelihood.... near certainty.... uncanny ability....” [8]

73        “.... provide a clue.... must have been learning....”

75        “Will may have been attracted.... Shakespeare could be the person....
            must have acquired.... could have studied.... could have recited....” [7]

76        “.... could have arrived....”

78        “.... by this time no doubt....”

81        “.... likely told....”

84        “.... no direct relation between the staging.,,, and the renewal of the lapsed
            application.... Art rarely emerges.... might have tried.... that he might have
            it in him.... does not seem entirely random.” and “.... only just about....
            It is possible, of course....” [5]

86        “Will could have dreamed.... was in all likelihood....” [5]

88        “.... gossip about Shakespeare needs to be taken with a grain of salt....
            No one has been able to establish with certainty.... a controversial claim
            .... perhaps two years.... might have ventured....” [15]

100      “.... if Will’s mother.... may have kept.... And if the searchers.... might have
            found.... remains open to question.... himself may have given.... could have
            received....” [30]

102      “This was presumably the.... Perhaps the secret.... might have sensed....
            without ever knowing.... might have overheard..... might have reached....
            strange but plausible.... were presumably all.... may have observed....
            there might be....” [29]

103      “.... could have been asked.... would have been careful.... almost certainly
            .... would have wanted....” [14]

104      “.... would have come.... terms of the will suggest.... at first probably....
            would have immediately brought.... would have enabled.... could have
            passed briefly.... then might have been commended....” [12]

105      “.... if he actually sojourned.... would have been.... perhaps even....” and
            “.... improvisational skill and gifts as an actor are unknown.... if only the
            smallest fraction began to show.... would have lived....” [23]

106      “.... is likely to have sojourned....when Will may have been....
            Will would have performed....” [14]

108      “Was one of those with whom…. Let us imagine…. would have found.... and
            might have even.... there is no signing his voluminous later work....” [11]

109      “If the adolescent knelt down.... perhaps, even in brief encounter, might have
            noticed.... had already no doubt violated.... whether he actually met....” [25]

110      “.... may have registered.... would have taken....” [5]

112      “.... may have encountered....”

113      “.... could easily have.... this suggests.... if he actually saw.... would even then
            have probably.... Houghton’s will suggests.... assuming that he is....” [11]

116      “Perhaps in King Lear.... may have felt.... Will evidently began.... secret
            message..... it is impossible to say.” [4]

118      “If Will returned.... if he agreed to go.... to which he may have been.... But
            even if.... must have represented.... almost certainly leaned....” [18]

119      “.... may have had its roots in.... He would have felt.... So at least one might
            conclude from.... understanding may not have anything to do.... with his lived
            experience at all.” [10]

121      “It is not known if....”

123      “.... it is eminently likely.... may have been grateful.... far more likely....
            perhaps highly reluctant ----.” [16]

125      “..... the state of his feelings.... is not known.... can only be surmised....
            left no direct, personal trace.... or none.... that survives....From this
            supremely eloquent man.... no love letters.... no signs.... no words....”
            and “.... but such a moment, if it ever occurred, would have been
            exceedingly rare.... apparently remained.... entirely possible that....” [24]

126      “It is, perhaps, as much what Shakespeare did not write....”

129      “But it is not clear how much....”

150      “How or why he took this momentous step is unclear....”

152      “This is only a metaphor.... not evidence....” [see Circularities this page]

155      “..... seems to have recycled every word..... every person.... every experience
            .... it is difficult.... to explain the enormous richness of his work.... he may
            .... have buried.... the traces of an intense fear....” [7]

156      “.... might not have been able... story might have served... Even if he was
            altogether untouched... even if he had plunged... if there were no questions...”

158      “.... Will would at the very least have.... if the.... family link.... would clearly
            have been.... clues that suggest....” [8]
            and “.... had evidently read....” [10]

159      “.... seems to have influenced....”

160      “.... seemed to regard.... could have heard.... would have known.... If the
            Shakespeares harbored.... would have had....” [7]

161      “.... must have been.... may have run afoul.... Perhaps he had.... perhaps he
            learned of another.... that happened to be....” [5]

162      “.... most intriguing possibility.... was not likely to have stood in.... may have
            had a place.... And if this were the company.... he would have had....“
            and “If any of these companies.... would have had.... even if he promised....
            would inevitably have seemed.... he might have been hoping....
            If Shakespeare felt.... he could only hope.... Assuming that Shakespeare
            attached himself.... it is not likely that.... If in June 1587 he was taken on....
            would have continued.... perhaps providing.... would have given.... must
            have felt....” [49]

166      “.... and if he had traveled.... could conceivably have seen.... is virtually certain
            \.... may also have had....” [30]

167      .... may have been... was certainly... not in an immediately obvious way....” [3]

168      “.... in all likelihood....”

169      “.... seems to have been....”

172      “.... may first set foot.... in all liklihood.... Perhaps.... in any case, would have
            wanted.... would have marched.... might well have been.... would certainly
            have....” [15]

173      “.... must have realized.... If he had spent.... would already have.... would have
            been....” and   “.... may have caused.... has since made it difficult to understand
            who he was. Where are his personal letters? Why have scholars.... failed to
            find.... why did he choose not to write his name.... what.... is there no direct
            access to his thoughts.... Why is everything he wrote.... couched in a way that
            enables him to hide his face....? [11]

174      “.... boxes of papers that may have been left to his daughter.... (or) sold off and
            .... burned. Possibly.” [3]

177      “.... but evidently he....”

179      “Whether or not Shakespeare went out of his way....”

183      “Probably it had.... perhaps carefully sketched.”

184      “Any young actor.... must have felt.... who would.... pass the hat.... may have
            collected the pennies....” [5]

188      “.... probably as a hired actor....” and “.... seems to have grasped....”

189      “.... almost certainly saw.... and he probably went.... It may have indeed....
            perhaps the first.... appears to have had....” [4]

190      “.... may have grasped if he had not already begun.... that he was not likely to
            become....” [3]

191      “He must have said to himself something like, ‘You are not in Stratford
            anymore.’” [!!!!] “.... it must have seemed.... Perhaps at one of these....” [2]

192      “.... must have been intensified.... would no doubt have written.... would have
            been decisively different.” [3]

193      “.... Marlowe must have followed.... Shakespeare had no comparable resources
            .... friend in London who probably played....” [4]

194      “.... Field.... must have owned books.... as a poet Shakespeare.... does not seem
            to have associated that fame with the.... printed book .... (or).... plays on the
            printed page.... let alone assuring the accuracy of the editions. He never, it
            seems, anticipated.... the technology he must have glimpsed.....” [14]
            and  “When the door opened, Shakespeare would have seen.... How
            Shakespeare came to the idea of writing.... is not known. Perhaps.... may have
            been invited.... writers may have welcomed.... Perhaps he began....
            Alternatively, he may have been.... it is quite possible that Shakespeare’s
            friend may have owned copies....” [37]

198      “Nashe, who may have been one of Shakespeare’s collaborators.... was not an
            objective witness. But even if.... in all likelihood....” [6]

199      “If before his success.... had not already met Marlowe, he would have certainly
            .... and would have met many of the other playwrights - poets as they were
            called....” [3]

200      “.... most likely, in an inn.... and quite possibly found.... Marlowe.... Watson....
            Lodge.... Peele....Nashe.... Greene.... Kyd.... Lyly.... seems to have been held at
            a distance....” [8]  [Those names; gives one the chills!]

201      “... so-called university wits, whom... Shakespeare would have encountered...”

202      “At the time Shakespeare would have met him.... he was probably....”

206      “.... relations to Greene.... might at first have been.... might have sensed....”

207      “.... he probably collaborated.... and probably used him.... may initially have
            found.... doubtless showed.... It is possible that.... Alternately.... In either case
            .... to suggest that the group.... may at first have....” [6]

208      “The group would probably have been....”

209      “Shakespeare may have sensed.... it would be surprising if.... No doubt he was
            not.... did not likely solicit.... just as he seems....” [10]

210      “.... it is possible to imagine.... grasped, in all likelihood.... Though they may
            occasionally.... they probably thought.... was confident, in all likelihood....
            must also have seemed.... suggests that he was already....” [10]

214      “.... did not directly answer.... must have quietly done something....”

215      “.... parodies only suggest that Shakespeare was, after all, a human being....”

216      “Perhaps Shakespeare had participated....”

220      “Here as elsewhere, Shakespeare’s actual world gets into his work, but most
            often in a distorted, disguised, or re-imagined form.”

221      “He himself must have been.... what he have originally intended....”

224      “.... and he may, as Greene himself seems to imply.... if Shakespeare took what
            he could.... if, as an artist he took....”

226      “.... rumors.... that perhaps he had.... must have had....”

227      “That seems to be the sound.... would have been.... as usual the precise link is
            missing, probably irretrievably, but the social ambiguity of the theater would
            certainly have helped to make such a meeting possible.... Southampton.... was
            evidently one of these....” [6]

228      “.... could easily have gone.... likeliest time.... would have been.... may have
            taken....” [7]

229      “.... lesson to Southampton seems clear enough.... Clapham may have taken....
            but it is more likely that.... poem suggests.... It is possible that.... an actor who
            was a promising young poet.” [5]

230      “Whoever noticed would have been carefully watched.... might well have had
            .... would help to account for.... presumably, though not certainly.... But if in
            fact these poems were written for....”

231      “.... is thought to be a portrait....“

232      “If the opening poems.... seem.... Could Shakespeare have.... There is no way
            of achieving any certainty.... generations of feverish research, no one has been
            able to offer more than guesses, careful or wild, which are immediately
            encountered.... by other guesses.” [12]

233      “If even to identify the young man of the first seventeen sonnets as
            Southampton is rash, to attempt to name these other figures is beyond
            rashness. In part, the problem is an inability, at this distance in time, to
            answer key questions. Who constitutes Shakespeare’s.... circle.... Over how
            long a period.... were these poems written? Did Shakespeare place them in the
            order.... Did he approve of their publication? To what degree are the poems
            directly confessional? [10]   [Well, you could always ask around.]

237      “A proposal to write.... would have seemed like a gift from the gods.... written
            as if to order.... signs that.... Perhaps the very relationship.... made it plausible
            for someone to suggest....”

240      “Probably written in late 1592, very close to the time he may have written....
            clearly a bid for patronage.... free-spending nobleman might care.... may well
            have been sincere.... Apparently indifferent....” [10]

241      “Even if Southampton had.... and even if.... and, of course, these are merely
            speculations.... could have well have been uncertain.... It was as if, in his late
            twenties.... decided to start afresh.... as if he had not written anything before.”

242      “.... could have appealed to.... How otherwise would it be possible....”

254      “---- and there must have been many who courted him. It would have been
            quite another thing ----.”

256      “.... two.... poets.... evidently locked....“

257      “He would have immediately understood....“

267      “Current scholarly consensus holds.... probably wrote.... then probably....“ [4]

269      “They must have known.... They may have liked.... there may be....” [3]

270      “.... he may, for example, have seen.... could well have been....” [3]

271      “Shakespeare may have long had it in mind.... He may not have known any
            Jews, but he would have certainly known usurers.... where he had
            evidently....”and “Shakespeare himself seems to have been....” [5]

276      “Was William Shakespeare in this crowd? and  “If Shakespeare did personally
            witness it ----“

277      “.... could well have triggered....”

278      “Was Shakespeare attracted.... Did he admire.... or was he sickened.... only
            evidence in the play that Shakespearer wrote.... suggests.... it seems....” [10]

280      “.... device not found in Shakespeare’s source.... may have personally
            witnessed.... could have read....” [4]

283      “Did Shakespeare know.... Perhaps he surely believed....” [2]

286      “.... that may have helped....”

288      “.... may have received.... It is possible.... or he may have been....”

289      “.... may have accompanied.... may well have stayed.... must have been writing
            .... must have learned.... may have already died.... presumably saw.... must at
            one point have had....”  [10]

290      “.... he might have.... seem to reflect....” and  “.... there may be a trace....”

291      “Whether in the wake.... was probably....”
            and  “No doubt the ready cash.... it must have seemed....”

294      “.... has certainly seen.... probably.... may well have acted in it..... would have
             had....” [4]

295      “Whether or not.... seems to have stayed.... somehow stored.... likely had the
            .... It is impossible to determine.... whether he sat.... as clearly he did.... had
            also certainly read.... and probably....” [25]

296      “.... it would have been reasonable.... to conclude.... It must have seemed likely
            .... but it would have seemed scarcely probable....” [7]

302      “Was it at this moment.... conceived of the possibility.... possibly his own
            father.... did not grasp it all at once, then certainly....” [4]

304      “.... probably already reached....”

308      “If Hamlet was written.... one shock might have been.... friend, and possible
            lover....” [4]

309      “.... it seems likely.... strategy it seems.... and perhaps.... seems to have....” [5]

310      “.... would certainly have.... might have led.... could have set....”
            and  “.... must have preyed.... difficult to attribute.... particularly difficult to
            attribute.... in all likelihood.... may have ventured....” [7]

311      “.... must have already been.... suggests.... must have been at work.... may well
            have been.... may well have reopened.... that had never properly healed....
            If the tragedy.... if it can be traced.... something must have made.... may have
            been on the wall.... almost certainly....” [8]

312      “.... undoubtedly returned.... would have met.... must have stood.... perhaps by
            the father himself.... could have seen....” [6]

317      “If this delicate subject.... “ “.... may well have urged.... he likely wanted....
            did William angrily shake his head or instead.... Did he tell his father.... Did he
            say.... must have still been...” [6]

320      “.... would have experienced.... nothing.... suggests.... probably....” [5]

321      “.... must have attended.... name would have turned up.... did he believe....
            works suggest.... may have felt....” [4]

322      “.... must have conjured.... and perhaps too his own....”

327      “Shakespeare could have heard.... or seen it.... or read a.... almost certainly
            been.... could have been struck.... perhaps with....” [6]

329      “.... evidently found....”

330      “There is no evidence.... that Shakespeare laid out his money for books....” [4]

331      “Shakespeare seems to have been.... It seemed to him.... it is perhaps....”

332      “If he were anywhere near.... would have had....”
            and  “.... one that seems to have.... interested Shakespeare.”

334      “.... whether Shakespeare stood in the crowd.... or heard about it.... seems to
            have stuck.... It was probably.... did the king recall.... But Shakespeare must
            have seen, or heard about.... He conjured them up....” [8]

335      “.... could have approached.... would have seen.... he would have found ----.”

337      “.... would have had to think hard.... Shakespeare seems to have....” [4]

338      “.... is almost certainly....” 

339      “.... they evidently decided....”

340      “It is probably no accident.... story seems too good.... must have smelled....
            felt it had to....” [5]

341      “Some playwright affiliated with the King’s Men.... perhaps Shakespeare
            himself.... and here too Shakespeare is a possibility.... they may have wanted
            they may have noted ----.”

342      “.... obviously behooved.... a playwright as well as a courtier.... There may
            have been an understanding.... principal playwright.... Shakespeare may not
            have been merely passing through Oxford by chance.... may have been there
            on assignment.... would have been useful.... but it did not answer the key
            questions....” [6]

343      “.... and which Shakespeare could easily have.... He would have heard.... may
            well have read.... would have heard of and perhaps directly known....” [7]

344      “.... Shakespeare would have learned....”

346      “He may also have gone out of his way.... could have inquired.... He could also
            have read....” [4]

348      “.... seems to have noted them carefully, and he may have observed....”

350      “Why should Shakespeare have risked.... Why for that matter....”

351      “.... the question of why Shakespeare’s imagination.... he grasped.... He and his
            company would.... They would.... And they would....” [4]

353      “But it seems, from allusions....”

355      “There is no record of the king’s response, but Shakespeare’s company never
            fell from its position as the King’s Men.” 

356      “Shakespeare seems to have begun....” and “Once again, there is no easy,
            obvious link between what Shakespeare wrote.... and the known circumstances
            of his life.” 

357      “Shakespeare might well have been set to thinking.... Whether or not.... was
            singularly alert.... This seems at first.... seems the wildest and strangest....” [4]

361      “The limited evidence that survives suggests....”

362      “.... seems to have an affinity.... How many rooms he rented.... is unknown....
            seems to have furnished.... could have hidden things away – books....”
            and “Perhaps he was.... perhaps he hated.... For whatever reason Shakespeare
            seems to have.... and he was clearly determined....” [4]

364      “.... real estate investments was apparently.... who must.... in any event....”
            and  “.... he may simply have....”

365      “Or perhaps he regarded the players.... must have been heavily involved....
            workload must have been staggering.... He would have had.... We have no idea
            of.... but it must have been..... Presumably he appeared.... and he probably....
             it must have been exhausting....” [6]
            and “We do not know if Shakespeare went....”

366      “.... but it must have become....”

367      “His death was probably not caused.... must have clouded.... would certainly
            have....”

368      “.... must have annoyed.... And it must have annoyed.... must have found....”

370      “.... he probably wrote.... was probably also.... as if Shakespeare had....” [3]

371      “Where is Shakespeare in this.... he seems playfully to....”

372      “.... from time to time he seems to....”

373      “.... Shakespeare seems to have handpicked....”

374      “.... if they reflect what Shakespeare felt....”

376      “.... but it might have made sense.... What did it mean.... Why, if he is
            implicated.... might he feel compelled.... as if he were asking....” [4]

377      “Perhaps too he had.... or had come to.... But if he fully knew.... figure....
            suggests.... that he may have decided.... must have been with him.... he must
            have long harbored....”

378      “How could Shakespeare give all of this up? The answer is that he couldn’t, at
            least not entirely. When he actually.... is not known.... He may have....”

379      “.... does not seem to have.... He may have arranged....”
            and   “Did Anne know.... or was it.... We do not know, but all signs indicate....
            news would have reached....” [4]

381      “.... would not have wished.... may well have,,,, must have liquidated,,,, as
            seems likely.... would have made.... must have seemed....” [6]

382      “.... seems to have thought.... may have drawn.... Perhaps it was precisely....
            could have expected to....” [5]

384      “.... may have had.... he would be dead.” [2]

385      “.... seems highly implausible.... may have felt.... he is unlikely to.... had
            probably been.... must have learned of.... for reasons unknown....”

387      “.... could have taken place is not inconceivable.... probably not to be trusted....
            it may only.... the probable sense of....” [10]

389      “.... or perhaps a decision was made.... rather it would be.... Perhaps
            Shakespeare was drawn.... seems to lie.... It cannot be an accident....” [5]