Note 38 — SHAKESPEARE—A THEORY

But an impresa was much more than this. Imprese were employed in tournaments (e.g.). Puttenham says, “The Greeks call it Emblema, the Italians Impresa, and we a Device, such as a man may put into letters of gold and send to his mistresses for a token, or cause to be embroidered in Scutcheons of arms on any bordure of a rich garment, to give by his novelty marvel to the beholder.” On this matter of the Earl of Rutland’s Impresa (it was Francis Manners, the Sixth Earl for whom the work was executed), see my “Is there a Shakespeare Problem?” pp. 16-21. It is to be noted that in the year 1613, after all the great Shakespearean works had been written, we find Shakspere, the (alleged) great dramatist, then, as we must assume, at the zenith of his fame, engaged with his fellow-actor, Dick Burbage, to work at Lord Rutland’s new Device, for the magnificent reward of 44s.! [Ed.]