The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 10.0670  Sunday, 18 April 1999.

[1]     From:   Melissa D. Aaron <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
        Date:   Friday, 16 Apr 1999 14:25:57 -0500
        Subj:   Re: SHK 10.06643 Re: Elizabeth I

[2]     From:   Laura Fargas <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
        Date:   Saturday, 17 Apr 1999 02:18:57 -0400 (EDT)
        Subj:   Re: SHK 10.06643 Re: Elizabeth I


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Melissa D. Aaron <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Friday, 16 Apr 1999 14:25:57 -0500
Subject: 10.06643 Re: Elizabeth I
Comment:        Re: SHK 10.06643 Re: Elizabeth I

>Another (or related) from Ben Jonson's CONVERSATIONS with Drummond (Ben
>Jonson, COMPLETE POEMS,  ed. Parfitt, p. 470)
>
>"That she had a membrana on her. which made her incapable of man, though
>for her delight she tried many.  At the coming over of Monsieur, there
>was a French surgeon who took in hand to cut it, yet fear stayed her
>..."
>
>Robin Hamilton

I understand that this is a rare but actual medical condition and is
still cured as the French surgeon proposed.  What certainly would be
interesting is if Elizabeth I was one of those rare women who have a
retractable hymen.  This might make her claims to be a Virgin Queen
prevaricating but true-though I must underline that such is pure
speculation on my part, and I trust not in execrable taste.

Melissa D. Aaron
University of Michigan

[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Laura Fargas <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Saturday, 17 Apr 1999 02:18:57 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: 10.06643 Re: Elizabeth I
Comment:        Re: SHK 10.06643 Re: Elizabeth I

> Another (or related) from Ben Jonson's CONVERSATIONS with Drummond (Ben
> Jonson, COMPLETE POEMS,  ed. Parfitt, p. 470)
>
> "That she had a membrana on her. which made her incapable of man, though
> for her delight she tried many.  At the coming over of Monsieur, there
> was a French surgeon who took in hand to cut it, yet fear stayed her
> ..."
>

O coming-it-way-too-rare Ben Jonson!

I remember reading, but regrettably cannot now cite the specific source,
that the Queen's torturer, Topcliffe, used to regale his victims with
lascivious stories of how he would intimately fondle the Queen.  I'm
pretty sure the source was the narrative of a Catholic priest who
survived his time with Topcliffe and gave a history within a few years
thereafter, but cannot recall the name.

Laura Fargas

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