Henry Wriothesley 3rd Earl of Southampton and the Tower Portraits

An illustrated pdf of this presentation is available at this link drive.google.c...
Please join me in my investigation of the two portraits of Henry Wriothesley which depict him in the Tower of London. I trace the circumstances of his imprisonment, and what happened during his time there and afterwards. I then take a close look at two paintings of him in the Tower, addressing several questions. When were they painted? Why are there two of them? and what are the messages? and how did they get where they are today? It's a fascinating tale.

[@lynwebb2810]

Henry Wriothesley is my ancestor and your research has opened my eyes, and can now see him in a new light and much more detail. Thank you so much for your detailed research and most interesting presentation. I will watch with interest for further talks.

[@TheSeedpearl]

Thankyou David Shakespeare for a very interesting set of videos. I am a history buff but never studied English history. Being born and educated in India and now in Canada. All I know I have learned by watching TV documentaries or shows. In recent years I have been watching vlogs such as yours. I do appreciate the time you take to get all the details and you offer very convincing arguments. I have been sharing your information with others and hope you get more subscribers. Great work..thank you.

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hello there, Many thanks for your kind comments. I am so pleased you are enjoying the presentations. My aim has been to bring the stories to a wider audience to stimulate thought and discussion. Kind regards David

[@danielplantagenet8385]

This is what I call quality content!!!!

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hi Daniel, Many thanks, much appreciated. regards David

[@danielplantagenet8385]

@@davidshakespeare1767 you’re welcome! Fascinating stuff!

[@jwoolman5]

I was waiting impatiently for information about the cat since I first saw the picture. Glad you finally provided it! Cat and dog sightings in the background are a major part of the KZbin viewing experience. I can believe the cat managed to get into the tower as legend described. One cat long ago baffled me by occasionally appearing on the ledge of the upstairs window, meowing to be let in. It seemed like quite an impossibly risky acrobatic feat to drop from the roof (which she could access in various known ways) down to the metal window awning and somehow onto the ledge. The answer was revealed when I saw her scrambling up to the neighbor’s roof via their tv antenna support, which on both our houses was like a kind of narrow metal ladder to a cat. Mine was right next to that upstairs window. If I hadn’t seen her do it on the neighbor’s house, I never would have believed it was possible. So with cats, definitely where there’s a will, there’s a way.

[@jrbanks2983]

😄... where there's a Will, Nice one.

[@snowcreek7156]

I am a newbie to all, “this”, but gobbling up all I can about these intriguing characters. I’ve studied early American history for decades, but much is missing on who those people really were. So I went across the pond, digitally, to discover more, what a world that opened up. The research, DS and others, like Waugh and Anthony put forth is captivating, intriguing and much is simply mind blowing. Thank you for all the work and videos, it’s greatly appreciated. I am never bored, delving into the lives of these fascinating men and women.

[@johnanthony8653]

In the Sonnets Dedication, the name "Mr. W.H." is printed on line 3 and is the 9th word. "W.H." is simply Henry Wriothesley's initials read right to left, like Hebrew. The offset 'r' in "Mr." is a clue. Using Gematria, R = 17. In Hebrew, the letter 'M,' or Mem, is equivalent to 40. Reading the entire word right to left: H W 17 40. Again, it's on the 3rd line and is the 9th word. If Henry Wriothesley, the 3rd Earl of Southampton, had been King he would've been Henry IX. 1740 connects him to Edward de Vere. Also, in the 'Venus and Adonis' dedication, the 3rd line begins with the word "Rose," which is the 18th word. In addition to being Henry IX, Wriothesley would've been the 18th Earl of Oxford.

[@marymcgonigal9087]

I also wonder whether the cat is symbolic of ‘survival’, in a variety of ways. Nine lives and all that. In fact you might check for the number 9 in the paintings, 3x3. The letters of the quotation contain many Latin numbers eg C L V and so on. WS is not just William Shakespeare but also Wriothesley and Southampton.

[@ronroffel1462]

Another superb look at the mysteries of English Renaissance portraiture. The layout of the inscription (1:03:08) hides a gematria sum puzzle. If you add the number values of the I, N, and S in the top inscription since they have no other letters below them, you get the sum of 40. Also, the sum of the digits in 602 and 603 is 17. At 1:03:25 I noticed that if you added the number 8 to the gematria value of the J next to it (it has a downward curving tail, so it is not the number 1) which is 9, to the number 3 at the base of the triangle created by following the lines in the inscription as done in the video, you get the sum of 20 which in gematria is equal to the letter v. At 1:05:27 I noticed that David's right-hand V seems to encompass the letter C. If you add the gematria value of the 2 v's (40) to the gematria value of c (3), you get 43, which is equal to VV in the Latin Alphabet Repeating Count which is an extension of simple gematria by cycling through the alphabet assigning numbers to each iteration. I believe one allusion to de Vere is chance, two may be a coincidence, but three times in one portrait seems to have been planned. Thanks for another great video.

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hello Ron, Very many thanks for that. I will take very close look at it. I knew there must be something else there. kind regards David

[@tamarrajames3590]

Excellent catch…and I agree regarding intent. The five bands of coral beads might represent epsilon in the Latin alphabet…being E. there may yet be more. The colons may indicate count backs to relevant letters, which was a common cipher, I have yet to try it and see if it disclosed anything (I’m too busy getting caught up) but will have a go at it once I’m up to date.🖤🇨🇦

[@davidfaulkner8201]

I have seen a picture of this portrait in a book I have on the Tower Of London .I always took it out to be a " pity " portrait of an aristocrat . We obviously can not judge a painting at face value . I am amazed how you bring history to life in a whole new way. New questions about Elizabeth the 1st ! Thank You ! And keep up the good work.

[@maryoleary5044]

Excellent

[@deadinteresting8905]

Fascinating stuff! I have missed your other work since the Pregnancy Portrait, glad to see you have returned and been busy... I must catch up!

[@barbaraprest783]

Thank you for all your hard work - l have enjoyed your series 👏👏

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hello Barbara, thanks for your support. It makes the hard work worthwhile. Regards David

[@lancemanfredi6123]

Fabulous research; superb presentation.

[@zantlozantlom4752]

You accomplished an amazing feat of research! Please note a few other interesting items that some excellent researchers with youtube channels in your comments did not know or chose not to include. According to Jacob Roberts, the number 17 stands for "R" or Rosacrucion but also H in Reverse cipher or the Double Tau, and "Rex" in Elizabethan Short Cipher. Please take a look at portraits done by Tiberio Tenelli, an admitted alias of Bacon, to see resemblances in style and colors (Nicholas Hilliard was another Bacon painter aliases.) The letter by Southampton's eloquence touched me. Many high born people were forced to be publicly or in writing be less than solicitous when it came to the plight faced by those caught in the web in order to spare their own necks. Bacon was forced by threat of death by Elizabeth to prosecute Essex. He states that it remained his "greatest folly." Elizabeth was well known to show clemency after letting those who were taken to the tower had the opportunity to realize their mistakes and ask for her mercy. Essex (her own son) was ordered quickly beheaded by Rober Cecil (who felt James the best replacement for the aging and infirmed queen) in private instead of publicly, as was customarily such cases, so she couldn't change her mind or release him. James IV was the younger brother of Sir Francis Bacon, the true legitimate heir, secretly being that his mother was also Mary Queen of Scots, and his father was King Francis II of France, Deceased. Bacon stepped aside for love of James, feeling he made a better leader for England. I haven't had the chance to decrypt the ciphers on the plaque, but I see enormous possibilities of the portrait being painted by Bacon with respect to his use of color, style, and the text matching other paintings of his (I'm also a painter and can make those observations,) including the Cambrige "Marlowe" painting. By the way Marlowe was also an alias of another, yet to be published, famous person of the time. Keep the videos coming as we all remain astounded by the depth of the analysis you perform. Thank you!

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hello zantlo, Many thanks for your insightful comments. My whole aim in this is to make people think and take things further. I will certainly follow the leads that you suggest. It has been a real privilege for me to study these wonderful paintings at very close quarters. Kind regards David

[@helenmorrell2717]

Totally loving your series of videos. Just discovered them and I don’t want them to end. Amazing amount of research and awesome presentation. Please keep them coming!

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Thanks Helen, Much appreciated

[@mart7812]

Your presentations are like the finest of fine wines David but I need to prepare myself first. Its only a Tuesday! Something for the weekend to look forward to.

[@Jeffhowardmeade]

I recommend shrooms or peyote. It'll make more sense that way.

[@ronroffel1462]

@@Jeffhowardmeade Still going at it, are we? Are you that angry at the mounting evidence against the Stratford-man-theory of authorship that you have to make snide comments on each new Oxfordian video?

[@sisikar455]

Sehr interessant, vielen Dank! Wunderbarer, bereichernder Vortrag!

[@Northcountry1926]

Warm Greetings and my sincere thanks for your insightful presentation !

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hello Robert, Warm greetings to you too. I am glad you enjoyed the presentation. Regards David

[@laurenpiantino8312]

Enthralling, fascinating video, as always from you. I had to watch it over two days, since life and responsibilities, work etc took over at times; but I was eager to get back to it. A heck of a lot of work, research, time and effort go into your videos, and they always hold me spellbound. You have a very perceptive and intuitive mind, and your premises on these mysteries are always compelling. Please keep on with what you do; can't wait for your next video. :)

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Many thanks Lauren, It is indeed hard work and time consuming, but there is so much out there to discover. Working on the next one at present. Kind regards David

[@spiderlady1943]

So much to learn from your enlightening research and excellent presentation. Thank you :)

[@damsel72]

Fabulous channel. Thank you for sharing all your research. 🎃

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hello there, Glad you are enjoying it. Makes the hard work worthwhile. regards David

[@ariellehart9312]

Fascinating! Thank you!

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hello Arielle, Many thanks for your feedback. It makes all the hard wok worthwhile. Regards David

[@beagru5706]

🦁Thank you very much for shearing this precious knowledge 😻🐾

[@beavisburzum1280]

Thank you for your interesting work and sharing this with us

[@davidshakespeare1767]

That's a pleasure, there is till plenty to come. Kind regards David

[@NostromoJames]

Very interesting doc. From Portugal, Lisbon. Thank you!

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hello Tico, Glad you enjoyed it. Regards David

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

About 6 hours ago I stumbled across your vids n have been glued to my screen ever since. I disagree with you about several things, but am impressed by your research and reasoning. You've also presented me with some new ideas and theories which will occupy my mind for days. Thank you.

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hello Bilinda, Many thanks for your comments. my aim has been to bring these topics to a wider audience. They are usually aired in rather erudite circles and are impenetrable to the non specialist. Obviously having laid out arguments I am happy to stick out my neck on drawing possible conclusions, Many of which may be wide of the mark. That's not the point though, it is to open people's eyes and minds in order to draw their own conclusions . I am so happy that has been the case in yourself. Kind regards David

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

@@davidshakespeare1767 I've had an almost life long interest and love of history, particularly mediaeval and early modern history. I think I'm more widely read and interested than most other non scholars so I don't find your presentations impenetrable at all. Actually I don't think they'd be so even to someone with little knowledge, because of your skilled writing and presentation. I'm also an addicted bibliophile with firm views on WS so you've given me new rabbit holes in which to get lost! I'm really glad to have found your channel and thank you for sharing your knowledge. Obviously, I've liked and subbed!

[@justme-tj3jt]

I've been watching a few of your videos today and have subscribed. Wonderful stuff and very thought provoking. Thank you and a happy 2024 to all.

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Many thanks for your kind comments. They make the hard work worthwhile.regards David

[@hilarychandler3621]

Once again, a great addition to this series! If I may, I think there is further to contemplate in the presence of the cat. I agree that the egyptian cat reference is farfetched esp for the period- but the symbol of a king is a lion! Cats are notoriously silent and watchful, and this one has a very intense gaze, almost a glare- suggesting that whoever is viewing the painting should take note they are under observation from behind the scene. It lends both a feeling of protection- it is at the window- guarding henry's back as it were, and also an affectionate bond- and we know it is feminine. Might the cat infer another feminine presence who was in the background?;) it is interesting the cat happens to be named 'Tricksy''- a playful name, but not a playful looking cat!

[@jrbanks2983]

Also...about cats, in those days... Even large estates & castles of those times had to battle mice n rats. If an Earl or high ranking person were in the Tower, even later in a more comfortable room (to heal) door locked... Perhaps a cat achieves 3 main purposes: 1) make rodents disappear 2) to provide emotional relief when petted & purring 3) if someone comes to clean up after the cat n feed it, it could be an extra way to slip him a small note, hope? Simple musings.

[@hilarychandler3621]

I just watched a youtube video on the siblings and cousins of Elizabeth I, which has a plethora of images of her half siblings, legitimate and not, but all of whom were kept close inside the royal household.You have mentioned several of them in your videos. It would be interesting to look at Henry W. alongside them.

[@hilarychandler3621]

it is called- Henry VIII's OTHER children-

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hi Hilary, thanks for your comment. My simple way of comparing faces is really just a guide to allow you to look at the similarity or differences in the geometry. It is helpful comparing images of the same person but unlikely to be of great value looking at relatives. regards David

[@marymcgonigal9087]

If you add the numbers under the In Vinculis Invictus quote, they come to 39 which reduced, 3+9 = 12, which reduced, 1+2=3

[@stephenjablonsky1941]

How fascinating! A panoply of puzzles and mysteries. The deeper you dig the more trouble you are in. If Elizabeth was supposedly The Virgin Queen, just how many kids did she produce?

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hi Stephen, Fascinating isn't it? We will probably never know the answer. Judging by my dealing with the curators of pictures for the royal palaces, I suspect more is known than we are led to believe. All we can do is lay out the possibilities and keep an open mind. Regards David

[@stephenjablonsky1941]

@@davidshakespeare1767 I'm with you.

[@EverTheTwain]

I love your videos. Why is the painting titled "Earl of Southampton" if he was Mr. Wriothesley in the tower, having lost his peerage and the rest?

[@tamarrajames3590]

Perhaps it was added after he regained his position.🖤🇨🇦

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hello Emma, His title was restored as one of the first acts of James 1st. So he was back to being an Earl before he was released. regards David

[@mishantonia]

Most enjoyable

[@erminiapassannanti842]

Hello David, yours is an amazing channel. I would love to discuss with you about Henry Wriothesley 3rd Earl of Southampton and his relation to the sonnets. How can we communicate?

[@doctortimepmd3339]

The order of the garter that's a masonic order, five pointed crown on a cross that's a masonic bible and they where even put on the back cover where it belongs.

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hello there, Very many thanks for your observations. That ties in very nicely. regards David

[@ronroffel1462]

The five points on a coronet is for an earl. But I have never heard that the Order of the Garter was masonic.

[@zantlozantlom4752]

I believe that The Order of the Garter has been shown to have many significant similarities to what evolved into Freemasonry. Their members overlapped as well (secretively of course.)

[@nativevirginian8344]

The key to understanding any of this, and the Shakespeare controversy, is Hermeticism, Templars, Masonry & Rosicrucianism. If people don’t know any background on that they don’t get it. John Dee should also be mentioned. Hermeticism is rampant in some of the plays. As far as Elizabeth’s children, she was a human being & it was absolutely possible. I have come to believe the 3rd Earl Southampton was Elizabeth’s child. She could punish him but not execute him. Probably trusted Burghley to tell James to let him go when she was gone. I’m sure Burghley knew all of the truth of E1’s offspring. Imagine letting someone off the hook for treason against herself, that would have looked bad on her part, he had to stay in prison until she was gone (Henry Neville was in the tower with Southampton, & he has been put forward as a candidate for Shakespeare also). Keep digging y’all, it’s all fascinating! Especially in light of the Q-17 stuff since 2017. Are the Templars activated to save the world now? 😎

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hello there, Many thanks for your insightful comments. You are spot on about the secret societies in which the Elizabethans were involved. It was almost certainly the Freemasons who held the secret of Edward de Vere being buried in Westminster Abbey. His secret number were 17 and 40. The monument to Shakespeare was erected in 1740, and sponsored by high ranking masons. kind regards David

[@jwrigley100]

Really interesting series. Thank you. One thing - Trixie seems like a peculiarly modern name for a sixteenth century cat. Would it be short for something? And if so, what? Bellatrix is the only thing I can think of and that seems like it might have implications, no?

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hi Heath, The name came from original source material, so I think it was genuine. It could also be a shortening of Beatrix. or Patricia. Regards David

[@jwrigley100]

@@davidshakespeare1767 Yes - Beatrix sounds very likely. I guess Trixie is an older name than I realised. Thanks.

[@tamarrajames3590]

I can’t but think that the painting of his portrait whilst imprisoned in the tower had to be a political statement in general. The copy with its added painting of the tower and the inscription might well have been directed at the new King by way of showing him to be no threat. The original, still carries clues for the eyes of Initiates, and may have been intended to seek aid from any fellow Initiate who saw it, and was in a position to render aid. I agree with you that the shape of the windowpanes and the book tie are not relevant…being common to most buildings that had glass windows. The cat may hold more significance than simply speaking to his softer side. Cats have a long association with the mystical through many cultures. It’s being black and white could relate to that constant balance between light and dark, with the chest bib (covering the heart) being white, or pure. The main body of the cat is dressed in black, as is the man…united in mourning the death of the Queen. There is a very old saying, “a cat can look at a King”. The direct, almost accusatory gaze of the cat brings it to mind, either directing its gaze upon the wrongs done by the Queen…or pointing to the royal lineage of the subject. The subtle changes in the face, which render it more like his accepted Mother may well have been intended to downplay any perceived similarity of features to the Queen. It may also have been exaggerated in length to convey a more dolorous countenance, and to give the impression of weight loss and frailty brought about by his illness or his mourning. I found this very interesting, thank you again David…Tamarra.🖤🇨🇦

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hello Tamarra, many thanks for your thoughtful comments. As I'm sure you know my whole aim is to get people thinking. regards David

[@tamarrajames3590]

@@davidshakespeare1767 You certainly achieve your aim. You present such tantalizing threads for one to follow. You make a good case for the possibilities of a history not fully explored. It is a wonderful puzzle. Thank you…Tamarra.🖤🇨🇦

[@zantlozantlom4752]

Tamara, I find your observations on point. Thank you for adding your comments.

[@tamarrajames3590]

@@zantlozantlom4752 My pleasure. David always gets me thinking, and as I have an education in matters of the various mystical orders and lodges through history, it is great fun to examine with an eye toward the hidden, or esoteric symbolism. Thank you Zantlo.🖤🇨🇦

[@jwoolman5]

So maybe photoshopping and filters actually go back a lot longer than we thought, just done manually by the artist.

[@MsDormy]

I wouldn’t underestimate the ingenuity of cats to find their owners!

[@kernowlady1]

I have always been fascinated by history, particularly the Tudors and the Elizabethan periods. My only complaint is that I find it hard to hear your voice. Can you please speak up a little bit.

[@davidshakespeare1767]

Hello Dianne, Sorry about that. I use a high quality microphone and the sound levels seem fine at my end after recording. I will adjust the levels upwards in the next video. It is about the Rainbow Portrait. Kind regards David

[@maryoleary5044]

The ring looks like the same stone type as the lady in the pregnancy portrait wears

[@MrAtsyhere]

@ Minute 1:05:40 the W shape ALSO highlights VI VI VI which in Roman Numerals is 666

[@connoroleary591]

Southampton was most likely the beautiful youth that Shakespeare and Marlowe praised in their published poems: Venus and Adonis and Hero and Leander. Shakespere's sonnets were not published until 1609, but before publication, they were handed around privately amongst discerning readers. King James was well read and was highly appreciative of male beauty. He may have read some of the sonnets and might have been curious to meet Southampton; but when he saw how time and imprisonment had turned his beauty into "a tattered weed of small worth held" simply lost interest in him. I don't believe Elizabeth could have given birth to Southampton in secret. People gossip and after what happened to her own mother and step mothers', Elizabeth would have been imbued with an attitude to sex that would fill her with horror. In cold weather, she shared beds with her Ladies in Waiting and if she required intimacy, she could safely have found it there. The letters written by Southampton are very eloquent. Would it be possible for a program to compare the vocabulary in the letters with that of Shakespeare? Maybe he asked Shakespeare help him to write letters pleading for mercy? Thank you for a very interesting and thoughtful analysis.

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

Off topic slightly but I notice @20:30 King James says if money will ease the prisoner's suffering, Southampton should give it. James doesn't offer even though the sentence starts off sounding as if he is going to!

[@maryoleary5044]

Like the "stay awake" 😄😁

[@maryoleary5044]

'A rose by any other name'

[@betttrbeth]

The hairline. The de Vere daughters had a widow’s peak, Southampton kind of does too.

[@CamdenEllisor]

Edward de veres mistress has a portrait with the same ring and glove off There are other notable people wearing the same ring and other portraits Edward has it in one

[@andersaxmark5871]

The little ice age began in the early 14th century and reached its peak in the middle of the 17th.

[@muffin6369]

And we're supposed to believe that this common Shakespeare would have sent sonnets to a NOBLEMAN he doesn't even know. You know who it was Edward De Vere 17th Earl of Oxford. HANDS DOWN!!

[@MsDormy]

I have just watched an amazing vid called 'the incalcuable genius of John Dee' in which the presenter gives ciphers in various Shakespeare title pages etc, using gematria and geometry, showing that the 17th Earl of Oxford was the poet, while Dee hid the magical ciphers in the printed pages. You may have seen this, but if not - it's quite incredible.

[@SklLLLY]

@@MsDormy but what about Bacon?! Lol

[@janel342]

This ‘common’ Shakespeare had noblemen sitting in the gentlemens’ rooms watching his plays. Maybe even drinking with them after?

[@martind349]

Do you know why they say beware the Ides of March? because there are things even the fates will spare February.

[@maryoleary5044]

Slings ...(and arrows of outrageous fortune) Sorry 😊

[@susy1472]

Thst painting looks like Henry 7ths painting toe. Especially wjen they bring it to life or the sctor portraying him on the Tudars.

[@tonidickson341]

are you saying Elizabeth 1 gave birth to this man at 40?