The Isle Of Dogs, Play

A satrirical comedy it was reported to the authorities for being a "lewd plaie" full of seditious and "sclanderous matter". Nashe was later to call it "an imperfit Embrion of my idle houres" and admitted only to writing the introduction and first act with Jonson finishing it.

It was performed in July, probably by the Pembroke's Men at the Swan Theatre in Paris Gardens . Richard Topcliffe , head of Queen Elizabeth's secret police, quickly had writs for arrest issued by the Privy Council . Three of the principal players ( Gabriel Spenser , Robert Shaa , and Ben Jonson) were arrested and sent to Marshalsea Prison . Nashe's home was raided and his papers seized but he himself escaped. He later wrote that he had given birth to a monster - "it was no sooner borne but I was glad to runne from it."

There was a general repression of the theatre with the closure of all play houses on 28 July and Topcliffe interrogated the prisoners personally. Jonson recalled that he said nothing but "I and No". They tried to place two informers ( Robert Poley and Parrot) with him; those two are referred to in his Epigram 59 ''Of Spies''.

The Isle Of Dogs is a location in London on the opposite bank of the Thames to Greenwich , home of a royal palace, Placentia , where indeed the Privy Council met. However it also had a reputation as being an unhealthy swamp where river sewage would accumulate. It is also mentioned in another play part written by Jonson, '' Eastward Hoe '' ( 1605 ). Jonson was also arrested in connection with that other play. Nashe also referred to the location in '' Summers Last Will '':

"Here's a coyle about dogges without wit. If I had thought the ship of fooles would have stayed to take in fresh water at the Ile of dogges I would have furnished it with a whole kennel of collections to the purpose."

The image of the Isle of Dogs conjured up a society ruined by envy, and Nashe also refers to Sirius the dog star in ''Summers Last Will'' in relation to the dog days of July. Richard Lichfield was to taunt Nashe with this in his '' The Trimming Of Thomas Nash Gentleman ''.

The play is also referred to in the Anonymous play, '' The Returne From Parnassus (II) '', which suggests that the Queen herself was satirised. Other evidence also suggests that Henry Brooke , 8th Lord Cobham may have been the butt of the satire. In 1596 his father William Brooke attained the position of Lord Chamberlain , which immediately affected the Lord Chamberlain's Men , a play company who then had to style themselves the Lord of Hunsdon and his servants. In his role as Lord Chamberlain, Cobham exercised control over the revels and the play companies. Cobham was satirised by Shakespeare in 1596 with the character of Falstaff who appeared in '' Henry IV ''. Originally the character was called Oldcastle , an ancestor of Cobham, and after his intercession, the Queen Elizabeth asked Shakespeare to change the name to Falstaff.

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The Isle Of Dogs, Play