Salisbury's Libels

Salisbury was a smallish man, at five foot four, and a hunchback. Elizabeth referred to him as my pigmy and king james the sixth. He acquired an extraordinary collection of the most powerful offices. But often they were far from gentle. Here lieth the toad was scrawled on salisbury's door frame lintel when essex fell. Another crawly featured him as the camel with its hump. And another declaimed him as a dissembling, smooth faced dwarf. I know your crook back, shapen. Salisbury suffered all his life from these gibes.