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Roderigo Lopez was a Portuguese Marrano physician. He studied medicine in Salamanca in Spain before escaping the Inquisition and coming to London in 1559 during the early part of Queen Elizabeth’s reign. He became a member of the college of Physicians and was the first house physician at St. Bartholomew’s hospital. From there he was appointed as physician to the earl of Leicester. In England he rose to be a society physician, known to the social elite of his day, including Sir Francis Walsingham; Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and his stepson Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex; William Cecil, Lord Burghley, and his son, Sir Robert Cecil. In 1586, Lopez was appointed body physician to Queen Elizabeth .He was already well known to the Queen because he had risen to prominence at court and was involved in espionage for the government. |
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Lopez worked closely with the earl of Essex who was the Queen’s favourite, and he participated in an
intrigue to secure English intervention on behalf of Dom Antonio and began to work for an understanding
with Spain. After the defeat of the Spanish Armada there was something of a stalemate between
England and Spain. The political scene in England split into two factions - the peace party and
the war party. Lopez was working for both though his sympathies were more with the peace party.
The Queen was aware that he was in secret contact with Spain through Antwerp. When the Earl of Essex,
the leader of the war faction, found out up what Lopez was up to, he was determined to bring him down.
The Queen was against Essex's investigations into Lopez, but this was a time of anti-Spanish feeling and Lopez's Iberian origins made him an easy victim. Eventually the accusations got more and more extreme until he was accused of attempting to poison the Queen. The Spanish court secretly negotiated with him and offered him a large bribe if he murdered the pretender to the throne. In 1594 he was arrested by the earl of Essex for plotting to poison Queen Elizabeth. Lopez confessed when shown the instruments of torture. Lord Burghley ordered a retrial after several stays of execution and Lopez was found guilty: He was hung, drawn and quartered on June 7th 1594 at Tyburn. It has generally been understood historically, especially in accounts of Jewish history that Lopez was innocent, and no doubt known to be innocent. However his negotiations undoubtedly aroused suspicion. In recent years there have been renewed discussions about Lopez’s innocence. David Katz for example is a modern thinker who believes Lopez to be guilty. He claims that Manuel d'Andrada was a spy for King Philip II. He gave Lopez a ring as part-payment for poisoning the Queen. Andrada was recruited as a double agent by Lord Burghley. Essex uncovered the plot. Lopez's Lawyer argued that he and the members of Andrada's gang confessed in order to avoid execution. He'd only taken the money and promised to kill the Queen to trick the King of Spain. David Katz argues there is plenty of evidence that Lopez was a spy and that the motive was money. The act of taking money in return for poisoning the Queen was enough to convict him. In the years after his death, a Lopez character appeared in plays by Thomas Middleton and Thomas Dekker and in Thomas Nashe's Lenten Stuff. However, the most famous portrayal believed to be based on Lopez was Shakespeare’s creation of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, which in the 1870's re-emerged with a production by Henry Irving and Ellen Terry. It is no coincidence that one of the chief characters in the play is named Antonio relating to Lopez’s dealings with Dom Antonio, pretender to the throne of Portugal. In a recent critique of the Merchant of Venice by Palmer the following explanation is given of Shakespeare’s intentions while basing Shylock on Lopez The story of Roderigo Lopez is similar to the story of Shylock, although, according to Palmer "It is not suggested that Shakespeare in portraying Shylock, had any political or social intentions" Both Jews were placed in time where "anti-Semitism was in fashion" and both thrown into court where they would be tried unjustly. The story of Roderigo Lopez sets the tone for The Merchant of Venice. Lopez' incident occurred in 1594, The Merchant of Venice was written only two years later. Anti-Semitism was prevalent during Shakespeare’s' time, and therefore it was as easy for him to make a Jewish man the villain. However, it is this concern with anti Semitism that is crucial to an understanding of Lopez’s innocence, since his story has been seen as a statement of the fate of the Jew at that critical period of Jewish history following the Spanish inquisition which brought Lopez and others like him to England in the sixteenth century. Bibliography Encyclopaedia Judaica The Merchant of Venice – William Shakespeare Web links www.bbc.co.uk/education/beyond/factsheets/ www.shaksper.net/archives/1999/1117>Shakespeare Conference www.open2.net/renaissance2/doing/conspire.html www.campusnut.com/ www.electronicreferences.com/view.php/English/3956.htm |
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Appendix
Act 4 scene 1. The Trial scene in the Merchant of Venice, Some passages are highlighted in red for their possible relation to the case of Lopez |
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SCENE I. Venice. A court of justice. Enter the DUKE, the Magnificoes, ANTONIO, BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SALERIO, and others DUKE What, is Antonio here? ANTONIO Ready, so please your grace. DUKE I am sorry for thee: thou art come to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch uncapable of pity, void and empty From any dram of mercy. ANTONIO I have heard Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate And that no lawful means can carry me Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose My patience to his fury, and am arm'd To suffer, with a quietness of spirit, The very tyranny and rage of his. DUKE Go one, and call the Jew into the court. SALERIO He is ready at the door: he comes, my lord. Enter SHYLOCK DUKE Make room, and let him stand before our face. Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice To the last hour of act; and then 'tis thought Thou'lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange Than is thy strange apparent cruelty; And where thou now exact'st the penalty, Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh, Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture, But, touch'd with human gentleness and love, Forgive a moiety of the principal; Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, That have of late so huddled on his back, Enow to press a royal merchant down And pluck commiseration of his state From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never train'd To offices of tender courtesy. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. SHYLOCK I have possess'd your grace of what I purpose;
And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn
To have the due and forfeit of my bond:
If you deny it, let the danger light
Upon your charter and your city's freedom.
You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have
A weight of carrion flesh than to receive
Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that:
But, say, it is my humour: is it answer'd?
What if my house be troubled with a rat
And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats
To have it baned? What, are you answer'd yet?
Some men there are love not a gaping pig;
Some, that are mad if they behold a cat;
And others, when the bagpipe sings i' the nose,
Cannot contain their urine: for affection,
Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood
Of what it likes or loathes. Now, for your answer:
As there is no firm reason to be render'd,
BASSANIO This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, To excuse the current of thy cruelty. SHYLOCK I am not bound to please thee with my answers. BASSANIO Do all men kill the things they do not love? SHYLOCK Hates any man the thing he would not kill? BASSANIO Every offence is not a hate at first. SHYLOCK What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice? ANTONIO I pray you, think you question with the Jew: You may as well go stand upon the beach And bid the main flood bate his usual height; You may as well use question with the wolf Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops and to make no noise, When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven; You may as well do anything most hard, As seek to soften that--than which what's harder?-- His Jewish heart: therefore, I do beseech you, Make no more offers, use no farther means, But with all brief and plain conveniency Let me have judgment and the Jew his will. BASSANIO For thy three thousand ducats here is six. SHYLOCK What judgment shall I dread, doing Were in six parts and every part a ducat, I would not draw them; I would have my bond. DUKE How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none? SHYLOCK What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?
You have among you many a purchased slave,
Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules,
You use in abject and in slavish parts,
Because you bought them: shall I say to you,
Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?
Why sweat they under burthens? let their beds
Be made as soft as yours and let their palates
Be season'd with such viands? You will answer
'The slaves are ours:' so do I answer you:
DUKE Upon my power I may dismiss this court, Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here to-day. SALERIO My lord, here stays without A messenger with letters from the doctor, New come from Padua. DUKE Bring us the letter; call the messenger. BASSANIO Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all, Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood. ANTONIO I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground; and so let me You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, Than to live still and write mine epitaph. Enter NERISSA, dressed like a lawyer's clerk DUKE Came you from Padua, from Bellario? NERISSA From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace. Presenting a letter BASSANIO Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? SHYLOCK To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there. GRATIANO Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew, Thou makest thy knife keen; but no metal can, No, not the hangman's axe, bear half the keenness Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee? SHYLOCK No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. GRATIANO O, be thou damn'd, inexecrable dog! And for thy life let justice be accused. Thou almost makest me waver in my faith To hold opinion with Pythagoras, That souls of animals infuse themselves Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter, Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam, Infused itself in thee; for thy desires Are wolvish, bloody, starved and ravenous. SHYLOCK Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud: Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall To cureless ruin. I stand here for law. DUKE This letter from Bellario doth commend A young and learned doctor to our court. Where is he? NERISSA He attendeth here hard by, To know your answer, whether you'll admit him. DUKE With all my heart. Some three or four of you Go give him courteous conduct to this place. Meantime the court shall hear Bellario's letter. Clerk [ Reads ]
DUKE You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes: And here, I take it, is the doctor come. Enter PORTIA, dressed like a doctor of laws Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario? PORTIA I did, my lord. DUKE You are welcome: take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference That holds this present question in the court? PORTIA I am informed thoroughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? DUKE Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. PORTIA Is your name Shylock? SHYLOCK Shylock is my name. PORTIA Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; Yet in such rule that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you as you do proceed. You stand within his danger, do you not? ANTONIO Ay, so he says. PORTIA Do you confess the bond? ANTONIO I do. PORTIA Then must the Jew be merciful. SHYLOCK On what compulsion must I? tell me that. PORTIA The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, That, in the course of justice, none of us Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea; Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there. SHYLOCK My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond. PORTIA Is he not able to discharge the money? BASSANIO Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart: If this will not suffice, it must appear That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you, Wrest once the law to your authority: To do a great right, do a little wrong, And curb this cruel devil of his will. PORTIA It must not be; there is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established: 'Twill be recorded for a precedent, And many an error by the same example Will rush into the state: it cannot be. SHYLOCK A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel!
PORTIA I pray you, let me look upon the bond. SHYLOCK Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. PORTIA Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd thee. SHYLOCK An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice. PORTIA Why, this bond is forfeit; And lawfully by this the Jew may claim A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful: Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond. SHYLOCK When it is paid according to the tenor. It doth appear you are a worthy judge; You know the law, your exposition Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law, Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear There is no power in the tongue of man To alter me: I stay here on my bond. ANTONIO Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment. PORTIA Why then, thus it is: You must prepare your bosom for his knife. SHYLOCK O noble judge! O excellent young man! PORTIA For the intent and purpose of the law Hath full relation to the penalty, Which here appeareth due upon the bond. SHYLOCK 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks! PORTIA Therefore lay bare your bosom. SHYLOCK Ay, his breast: So says the bond: doth it not, noble judge? 'Nearest his heart:' those are the very words. PORTIA It is so. Are there balance here to weigh The flesh? SHYLOCK I have them ready. PORTIA Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. SHYLOCK Is it so nominated in the bond? PORTIA It is not so express'd: but what of that? 'Twere good you do so much for charity. SHYLOCK I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. PORTIA You, merchant, have you any thing to say? ANTONIO But little: I am arm'd and well prepared.
Give me your hand, Bassanio: fare you well!
Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;
For herein Fortune shows herself more kind
Than is her custom: it is still her use
To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,
To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow
An age of poverty; from which lingering penance
Of such misery doth she cut me off.
BASSANIO Antonio, I am married to a wife Which is as dear to me as life itself; But life itself, my wife, and all the world, Are not with me esteem'd above thy life: I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all Here to this devil, to deliver you. PORTIA Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by, to hear you make the offer. GRATIANO I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love: I would she were in heaven, so she could Entreat some power to change this currish Jew. NERISSA 'Tis well you offer it behind her back; The wish would make else an unquiet house. SHYLOCK These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter; Would any of the stock of Barrabas Had been her husband rather than a Christian! [ Aside ] We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sentence. PORTIA A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine: The court awards it, and the law doth give it. SHYLOCK Most rightful judge! PORTIA And you must cut this flesh from off his breast: The law allows it, and the court awards it. SHYLOCK Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare! PORTIA Tarry a little; there is something else. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; The words expressly are 'a pound of flesh:' Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate Unto the state of Venice. GRATIANO O upright judge! Mark, Jew: O learned judge! SHYLOCK Is that the law? PORTIA Thyself shalt see the act: For, as thou urgest justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest. |
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