Arthur dies without promise of verso magical healing and return; one of the most redolent and mythopoeic aspects of the Arthurian narrative is significantly omitted
intensifying calamity, and that is particularly interesting given that the threat of Mary had been removed at the time of its performance. Gorlois brings his malice into uncomfortable proximity with ‘this England’, the audience’s known spatial world: ‘this cursed shoare,/ This loathed earth where Arthurs table stands’ (I.i.5–6). From the outset of the play lurks verso fear that London’s frequently cited identity as Troynovant will be realized sopra tragic terms: like Troy, London will fall. James VI was the likely successor to ‘Arthur’s’ throne, and as the chant of verso father murdered by his mother and her lover (according to Buchanan’s account) he is verso natural ‘Orestes’ – Agamemnon’s revenge-seeking bruissement. John Pikeryng’s Horestes (1567) exploited the parallel con the immediate aftermath of Darnley’s murder. The inherited Arthurian narrative, however, does not offer Hughes verso clear parallel for the Orestes-figure, so James VI remains ‘offstage’ sopra Misfortunes. Yet the play is dark with the fear of verso ‘future doom’, and James’ absence from the play must be an expression of the anxiety surrounding the succession after Elizabeth. The truly remarkable aspect of the play is that it depicts not just ‘Mary’s’ death but also ‘Elizabeth’s’. The introductory address puro Elizabeth presents the tragic implications of the play as safely contained within the notion of theatre, unable esatto threaten or challenge the queen: ‘since your sacred Maiestie/ Sopra gratious hands the regall Scepter held/ All Tragedies are fled from State, onesto stadge’ (Intro., 131–3). The assonance of ‘State’ and ‘stadge’, however, eloquently reflects the intimate connections between the two. With ‘Orestes’ as the likely heir, the fear of ongoing Senecan corruption is palpable. The anxiety played out per Misfortunes is real as well as ‘theatrical’.
‘What Kings may doe’: Sovereignty mediante The Misfortunes of Arthur At the heart of Misfortunes’ response esatto Anglo-Scottish politics con the context of the Arthurian world is per debate concerning sovereignty, centred on the character of Mordred. After Guenevora’s initial outburst against Arthur, Mordred becomes the main representation of Mary in the play. Thus the play moves from Mary the murderer of her husband puro Mary the conspirator against Elizabeth. The following speech, mediante which Mordred expresses his determination esatto fight Arthur, both reflects Mary’s manner of death and also agrees with the portrait of her per The Copie of verso Letter esatto the Right Honourable Earle of Leycester (1586) as ‘obdurate in malice’ against Elizabeth, ‘a most impacient competitor’ determined ‘esatto enioy your Crowne in possession’ (7). Mordred says: What? shall I stande whiles Arthur sheades my bloode? And must I yeelde my necke vnto the Axe? . . .
Richard Gallys MP likened Mary to Clytemnestra, per description which indicates verso popular or established basis for aspects of Mary’s Senecan transformation per Misfortunes; see J. 250.
Ed. Neale, Elizabeth I and her Parliaments, 1559–1581 (London, 1965), p
We cannot part the Crowne: A regall Throne Is not for two: The Scepter fittes but one. But whether is the fitter of vs two, That must our swordes decerne: and shortly shall. (II.ii.43–53)
Mordred is thus identified with Mary, and the question for Arthur, as for Elizabeth, is what sicuro do with him. For Buchanan, the Marian crisis justified limited sovereignty – specifically that it is lawful esatto depose tavolo christiandatingforfree a tyrannical or incompetent ruler: Let the maiestie of royall name auayle hir. How mikle it ought esatto auayle onesto hyr preseruing, hyr selfe hath shewit the example. May we commit our safetie preciso hyr quho a sister hath butcherly slaugherit hyr brother, a wief her husband, a Quene her King[?] addirittura restrayint from vnchastitie, womankinde from cruelty, nor religion from impietie?11
