Limerick 18: Ode for the De Vere Society

banner - detail, gold doublet neo-Welbeck - De Vere website ode

16 September 2020
· Lauding the new DVS website, with a peek at my picture ·

As the apparel oft proclaims the man, the website oft proclaims the organisation. Until last week the De Vere Society’sI don’t capitalise the d in de Vere but the DVS does, most of the time. I’ll go with their D for this post. online presence has been modest, low-key. Not any longer. They’ve raised their visibility with a complete re-design of deveresociety.co.uk. The new site is copiously informative and quite handsome to look at. I say this not at all because it features a flattering update to my portrait. Perhaps slightly because.

The DVS have graciously permitted me to borrow their neo-Vere. See how they’ve spruced me up.

Welbeck portrait, orig and DVS 2020 updated rendition - De Vere website odeLeft: Welbeck — Right: DVS
The hat was beyond redemption.

The ‘original’ portrait, known as the Welbeck, is actually a 17th-century copy of the now-lost painting I sat for in Paris in early 1575, before heading on to Italy. I was just shy of twenty-five. As I’ve explained elsewhere, prior to my departure from England my wife had obtained my promise to send a portrait home as quickly as possible, so she’d have it to look at while I was away. We both knew I’d be gone a while.
coronet spacer - De Vere website ode

The occasion of the site’s début called for some commemorative verse. Simon Armitage may be Poet Laureate, but I beat him to the punch.

Ode on the launching of the
De Vere Society’s new website

  • Here we are, the Society de Vere
  • Says with their brand new website’s premiere
  • Up to date, re-designed,
  • In its pages you’ll find
  • The life of the true Author, Shake-Speare
  • Oxford’s not the ‘Shakespeare’ widely known,
  • The one Stratford declares as its own.
  • When you learn de Vere’s history
  • Shake-Speare’s no mystery—
  • William? The fable? Outgrown.
  • This the DVS members submit:
  • That the case for de Vere is legit
  • And that doubts with good reason
  • Are not Shakespeare treason
  • But looking for answers that fit
  • All are welcome to join DVS
  • And to Oxford as Shake-Speare say yes
  • Think anew, then discard
  • Stratford’s notional Bard
  • With each person who does, we progress.

©2020 @edevere17 all rights reserved

Go have a look at the shiny new site. You can also find the DVS on Facebook (deveresocietyuk) and Twitter (@deveresocietyuk).

Think anew. Say yes.

Don’t forget to tell them how much you like that portrait.
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More about my travels on the Continent:


Ever thanks to the DVS for allowing me to post the new me.

VERO NIHIL VERIUS