[MR] Death of Christopher Marlow

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

On this day in 1593, English playwright and possible spy Christopher (Kit)
Marlow (b. 1564) was killed in a brawl. Or was he?

Marlow was author of several famous plays, including *Tamburlaine* and
*Faustus*, as well as books of poetry he either wrote himself or
translated. He is believed to have collaborated with Shakespeare on *Henry
VI*.  Marlow is suspected of being a spy, but also a blasphemer and
heretic. He certainly led a colorful, but controversial life.

The circumstances of Marlow's death, and the reasons behind it, have been
disputed by scholars and lay theorists almost since it happened. In 1925 a
coroner's report surfaced. According to the report, Marlow attacked a
servant named Ingram Frizer with Frizer's own dagger and was stabbed in the
face during the struggle. Two other men involved were Nicholas Skeres and
Robert Poley. All four  were associated with the Walsinghams, and Skeres
and Poley were suspected of being secret agents. Skeres and Poley were also
known as informers and liars, and all three men had unsavory reputations.
But then Marlow's own reputation was pretty shady too.

The question remains, was Marlow set up for assassination by someone about
whom he knew too much, or was this just a drunken brawl that got out of
hand? I doubt that we will ever know.

A summary of Marlow's life and death is found at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Marlowe .

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Keeping Merry Rose relevant and in business for 16 years.