The opening scene in this scene contains a reference to the
possibility of some short of settlement being reached between the King of
Hungary on one hand and all the Dukes on the other hand. The speech seems to be
an allusion to certain contemporary events. Perhaps the reference here is to
King James’s negotiations for a settlement with Spain. Peace negotiations had
been started in the autumn of 1603. In May 1604, a conference opened at Hampton
Court, attended by delegates from Spain and Austrian Netherlands. A draft
treaty was prepared in July; and in August 1604, James ratified it by oath.
Between May and August 1604, therefore, his prescription of peace with Spain
had become a matter of special public concern. In the opening dialogue of this
scene Lucio’s companions express some anxiety at that approaching end to the
war that had been going on. Their anxiety is due to the fact that many
gentlemen, who had anticipated a profitable career as soldiers, would now have
to remain out of work if the war came to an end. There is a contemporary
allusion in Mistress Overdone’s anxiety. The following speech by her is
noteworthy: “Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the
gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk.” Mistress Overdone’s complaints
links a numbers of factors pertaining to the winter of 1603-04; the continuance
of the war with Spain; the plague in London; the treasons, trials, and
executions at Winchester in connection with the plots by Raleih and others; and
the slackness of trade in the deserted capital (deserted because of the
plague). Another topical allusion occurs in Pompey’s telling Mistress Overdone
that the government has issued a proclamation according to which all house in
the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down. A proclamation dated the 16th
September 1603 had actually been issued by the British government ordering the
dismantling of houses and rooms in the suburbs of London as a precaution
against the spread of the plague by dissolute and idle persons. The measure,
which was strictly enforced during the following months, led to numerous
brothels and gambling houses being pulled down on the outskirts of the city
(Though the action of the play has been set in Vienna, it is really London and
England Which Shakespeare has in mind).
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