Margaret Demorest Sonnet Annotations: Sonnets 123 and 124
Item Metadata
Title
Margaret Demorest Sonnet Annotations: Sonnets 123 and 124
Date Created
1968
Subject
Shakespeare, William, -- 1564-1616 -- Sonnets; Sonnets, English -- History and criticism
Description
The following transcription of Demorest's annotations was selected and transcribed by Casper College student and Archives staff member Grace MacPherson in January of 2024.
SONNET 123
Reads like Fisher’s defiance at trial of Cath–denial of his sign. supporting the King ’29
Maybe joins old records + disputes of virginity with more recent scandals–Cath. + E.-- ’28
E’s wish to have lasting memorial
“It is not in your power, great a Queen as you are, to make me love you less.”
Maybe code is reverse + double 1564
Catherine’s brief[?]--’28?
Fisher’s denial ’29
Line 5
Brief: vs. Bull of Julius
Line 8
We before have heard them told: alteration
Line 11
Lie: Essex claimed letters falsified
SONNET 124
Henry Gas[illegible]--Sup. of Jesuits, tried–Gunpowder Plot–complicit
One of key sonnets: Love of Eng. above all trifles[?]
Contemp events:
(Tyler: Essex uprising)
(Chambers: disgrace + Essex returns from Ireland, 1598)
(Beeching: Reference to Gunpowder Plot of 1605)
His love is not limited to specific, singular, but rises above.
It’s Mary’s motto[:] In my end is my beginning
Hatson murder of Henry Valois, King of France
Line 1
Child of state: Essex term
Lines 9-10: not limited to temporary fanaticism
SONNET 123
Reads like Fisher’s defiance at trial of Cath–denial of his sign. supporting the King ’29
Maybe joins old records + disputes of virginity with more recent scandals–Cath. + E.-- ’28
E’s wish to have lasting memorial
“It is not in your power, great a Queen as you are, to make me love you less.”
Maybe code is reverse + double 1564
Catherine’s brief[?]--’28?
Fisher’s denial ’29
Line 5
Brief: vs. Bull of Julius
Line 8
We before have heard them told: alteration
Line 11
Lie: Essex claimed letters falsified
SONNET 124
Henry Gas[illegible]--Sup. of Jesuits, tried–Gunpowder Plot–complicit
One of key sonnets: Love of Eng. above all trifles[?]
Contemp events:
(Tyler: Essex uprising)
(Chambers: disgrace + Essex returns from Ireland, 1598)
(Beeching: Reference to Gunpowder Plot of 1605)
His love is not limited to specific, singular, but rises above.
It’s Mary’s motto[:] In my end is my beginning
Hatson murder of Henry Valois, King of France
Line 1
Child of state: Essex term
Lines 9-10: not limited to temporary fanaticism
Type
Text
Creator
Demorest, Margaret; Shakespeare, William
Language
ENG, LAT
Is Part Of
Margaret Demorest Papers, CCA 10.2011.01 WyCaC US. Casper College Archives and Special Collections.
Identifier
CCA 10.2011.01_Demorest_Sonnets_123_124
Format
PDF
Original Format
Written Annotations
Citation
Demorest, Margaret; Shakespeare, William, “Margaret Demorest Sonnet Annotations: Sonnets 123 and 124,” Goodstein Foundation Library Western History Center Digital Collections, accessed August 19, 2025, https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/items/show/9640.