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fact that 〃by 1592 （according to the best authority； Mr。 Grant
White） several of the plays had been written。 'The Comedy of
Errors' in 1589； 'Love's Labour's Lost' in 1589； 'Two Gentlemen
of Verona' in 1589 or 1590；〃 and so forth； and then asks； 〃with
this catalogue of dramatic work on hand 。 。 。 was it possible
that he could have taken a leading part in the management and
conduct of two theaters； and if Mr。 Phillipps is to be relied
upon； taken his share in the performances of the provincial tours
of his companyand at the same time devoted himself to the study
of the law in all its branches so efficiently as to make himself
complete master of its principles and practice； and saturate his
mind with all its most technical terms？〃
I have cited this passage from Lord Penzance's book； because
it lay before me； and I had already quoted from it on the matter
of Shakespeare's legal knowledge； but other writers have still
better set forth the insuperable difficulties； as they seem to
me； which beset the idea that Shakespeare might have found them
in some unknown period of early life； amid multifarious other
occupations； for the study of classics； literature； and law； to
say nothing of languages and a few other matters。 Lord Penzance
further asks his readers： 〃Did you ever meet with or hear of an
instance in which a young man in this country gave himself up to
legal studies and engaged in legal employments； which is the only
way of becoming familiar with the technicalities of practice； unless
with the view of practicing in that profession？ I do not believe
that it would be easy； or indeed possible； to produce an instance
in which the law has been seriously studied in all its branches；
except as a qualification for practice in the legal profession。〃
This testimony is so strong； so direct； so authoritative；
and so uncheapened； unwatered by guesses； and surmises； and
maybe…so's； and might…have…beens； and could…have…beens； and must…
have…beens； and the rest of that ton of plaster of Paris out of
which the biographers have built the colossal brontosaur which
goes by the Stratford actor's name； that it quite convinces me
that the man who wrote Shakespeare's Works knew all about law and
lawyers。 Also； that that man could not have been the Stratford
Shakespeareand WASN'T。
Who did write these Works； then？
I wish I knew。
…
1。 From Chapter XIII of THE SHAKESPEARE PROBLEM RESTATED。
By George G。 Greenwood； M。P。 John Lane Company； publishers。
IX
Did Francis Bacon write Shakespeare's Works？ Nobody knows。
We cannot say we KNOW a thing when that thing has not been
proved。 KNOW is too strong a word to use when the evidence is
not final and absolutely conclusive。 We can infer； if we want
to； like those slaves。 。 。 。 No； I will not write that word；
it is not kind； it is not courteous。 The upholders of the
Stratford…Shakespeare superstition call US the hardest names they
can think of； and they keep doing it all the time； very well；
if they like to descend to that level； let them do it； but I
will not so undignify myself as to follow them。 I cannot call
them harsh names； the most I can do is to indicate them by terms
reflecting my disapproval； and this without malice； without venom。
To resume。 What I was about to say was； those thugs have built
their entire superstition upon INFERENCES； not upon known and
established facts。 It is a weak method； and poor； and I am
glad to be able to say our side never resorts to it while there
is anything else to resort to。
But when we must； we must； and we have now arrived at a
place of that sort。 。 。 。 Since the Stratford Shakespeare
couldn't have written the Works； we infer that somebody did。
Who was it； then？ This requires some more inferring。
Ordinarily when an unsigned poem sweeps across the continent
like a tidal wave whose roar and boom and thunder are made up of
admiration； delight； and applause； a dozen obscure people rise up
and claim the authorship。 Why a dozen； instead of only one or
two？ One reason is； because there are a dozen that are
recognizably competent to do that poem。 Do you remember
〃Beautiful Snow〃？ Do you remember 〃Rock Me to Sleep； Mother；
Rock Me to Sleep〃？ Do you remember 〃Backward； turn； backward； O
Time； in thy flight！ Make me a child again just for tonight〃？ I
remember them very well。 Their authorship was claimed by most of
the grown…up people who were alive at the time； and every
claimant had one plausible argument in his favor； at leastto
wit； he could have done the authoring； he was competent。
Have the Works been claimed by a dozen？ They haven't。
There was good reason。 The world knows there was but one man on
the planet at the time who was competentnot a dozen； and not
two。 A long time ago the dwellers in a far country used now and
then to find a procession of prodigious footprints stretching
across the plainfootprints that were three miles apart； each
footprint a third of a mile long and a furlong deep； and with
forests and villages mashed to mush in it。 Was there any doubt
as to who made that mighty trail？ Were there a dozen claimants？
Where there two？ Nothe people knew who it was that had been
along there： there was only one Hercules。
There has been only one Shakespeare。 There couldn't be two；
certainly there couldn't be two at the same time。 It takes ages
to bring forth a Shakespeare； and some more ages to match him。
This one was not matched before his time； nor during his time；
and hasn't been matched since。 The prospect of matching him in
our time is not bright。
The Baconians claim that the Stratford Shakespeare was not
qualified to write the Works； and that Francis Bacon was。
They claim that Bacon possessed the stupendous equipmentboth
natural and acquiredfor the miracle； and that no other
Englishman of his day possessed the like； or； indeed；
anything closely approaching it。
Macaulay； in his Essay； has much to say about the splendor
and horizonless magnitude of that equipment。 Also； he has
synopsized Bacon's historya thing which cannot be done for the
Stratford Shakespeare； for he hasn't any history to synopsize。
Bacon's history is open to the world； from his boyhood to his
death in old agea history consisting of known facts； displayed
in minute and multitudinous detail； FACTS； not guesses and
conjectures and might…have…beens。
Whereby it appears that he was born of a race of statesmen；
and had a Lord Chancellor for his father； and a mother who was
〃distinguished both as a linguist and a theologian： she
corresponded in Greek with Bishop Jewell； and translated his
APOLOGIA from the Latin so correctly that neither he nor
Archbishop Parker could suggest a single alteration。〃 It is the
atmosphere we are reared in that determines how our inclinations
and aspirations shall tend。 The atmosphere furnished by the
parents to the son in this presen