A Warwickshire Scandal: Sir Thomas Lucy and the Date of "The Merry Wives of Windsor"

Abstract

Shakespeare's composition of the Anne Page and Fenton subplot of The Merry Wives of Windsor may have been inspired by, or at least influenced by, his undoubted knowledge of the scandalous elopement in 1600 of Elizabeth Aston, the favourite granddaughter of Sir Thomas Lucy, with the Warwickshire man John Sambach. These topical events, their likely fame, their aftermath and their potential impact on Shakespeare are traced. Parallels and anti-parallels with the play are shown. The impact of the acceptance of the theory of influence on the dating and on the interpretation of the play is discussed. (Author abstract