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"This work
undertakes to demonstrate, not only that
William Shakespeare did not, but that Francis
Bacon did, write the plays and poems. It
presents a critical view of the personal
history of the two men, their education,
learning, attainments, surroundings, and
associates, the contemporaneousness of the
writings in question in prose and verse, an
account of the earlier plays and editions,
the spurious plays, and "the true original
copies." It gives some evidence that Bacon
was known to be the author by some of his
contemporaries. It shows in what manner
William Shakespeare came to have the
reputation of being the writer. It exhibits a
variety of facts and circumstances, which are
strongly suggestive of Bacon as the real
author. A comparison of the writings of
contemporary authors in prose and verse,
proves that no other writer of that age, but
Bacon, can come into any competition for the
authorship. It is recognized that the
evidence drawn from historical facts and
biographical circumstances. are not in
themselves alone entirely conclusive of the
matter however suggestive or significant as
clearing the way for more decisive proofs, or
as raising a high degree of probability; and
it is conceded, that, in the absence of more
direct evidence, the most decisive proof
attainable is to be found in a critical and
thorough comparison of the writings
themselves, and that such a comparison will
clearly establish the identity of the author
as no other than Francis Bacon."
--
NATHANIEL HOLMES
1884, The Authorship of
Shakespeare,
Bibliography
of the Bacon-Shakespeare Controversy, ed.
Ivy- man, p. 28.
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