Back in the late 16th century one of the foremost playwrights in the land was Christopher Marlowe. Amongst other works, he penned the theatrical play Dr Faustus about a man who sells his soul to the Devil. However, it is rumoured that he had another occupation, that of a government spy. Apparently, just like many others who came after him, he was recruited whilst a student at Cambridge University.
And, also as with many spy stories, the absolute truth still remains hidden in the mists of time or perhaps as a government cover-up. We will now try to unpick some of the given information we have and believe to be true. Some weeks before his death, Marlowe was served with a court warrant for his arrest. This was allegedly for the content of some of his writings which had been described as being heresy. He was summoned to appear before the Privy Council to answer the accusations.
But, before he could appear before the court, he was killed in circumstances which, to this day, are not clear. It was on the evening of the 30th May 1593 and Marlowe, along with three acquaintances, Ingram Frizer, Robert Poley and Nicholas Skeres went to an inn in Deptford near to the south-east bank of the Thames. One of the possibilities is that being drunk, Marlowe and Frizer got into a fight. A knife was produced and Marlowe suffered a fatal wound just above his right eye. Marlowe was just 29 years of age.
Now that might be exactly what did happen, but because the accusations against him had still not be answered, it is possible he was murdered by forces unknown, seeking to get revenge on his apparent heretical writings. However, that is not the end of the intrigue. It seems that the three people with Marlowe that evening were also in the pay of the government and were agents or spies. Could there be another reason of which we are unaware that needed the silencing of Marlowe?
We honestly do not know the answer. There was a court hearing into the death with Frizer being accused of murder. However, he was either found not guilty or did not even appear in court. And that is the way things still stand. The only thing we can take from this to be definitely true and that is the world lost a great playwright at such a young age.
John Pullen 