A web-based edition of early seventeenth-century political poetry from manuscript sources. It brings into the public domain over 350 poems, many of which have never before been published.

D6 Robert E. of Salisburie. Libellous Anagram on Cecil


Notes. This anagram, which presumably circulated in London news circles, was mentioned in passing in a marginal note John Chamberlain added to a copy of the anti-Cecil poem “Two R:R:rs twoe Crookebacks of late ruled Englands helme”. “Burs” probably means “burse”, purse or shop, hence making a reference to Cecil’s role as Lord Treasurer.


Robert E. of Salisburie. The anagram wherof is a silie burs.1



Source. PRO SP 14/69/67:I (transcribed in Chamberlain 1.356, n. 34)

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1   ‘Burs’probably has a double meaning here. Literally it is ‘burse’, purse or shop, and thus a reference to Salisbury’s role as royal treasurer. But ‘burse’ was also contemporary slang for the scrotum. <back>