……obtainedjudgmentfromajuryagainstAddenbrokeforthepaymentofNo。6，andNo。1，5s。0d。costs。"Nowalawyerwouldneverhavespokenofobtaining"judgmentfromajury，"foritisthefunctionofajurynottodeliverjudgment（whichistheprerogativeofthecourt），buttofindaverdictonthefacts。Theerroris，indeed，avenialone，butitisjustoneofthoselittlethingswhichatonceenablealawyertoknowifthewriterisalaymanor"oneofthecraft。"
Butwhenalaymanventurestoplungedeeplyintolegalsubjects，heisnaturallyapttomakeanexhibitionofhisincompetence。"Letanonprofessionalman，howeveracute，"
writesLordCampbellagain，"presumetotalklaw，ortodrawillustrationsfromlegalscienceindiscussingothersubjects，andhewillspeedilyfallintolaughableabsurdity。"
AndwhatdoesthesamehighauthoritysayaboutShakespeare？
Hehad"adeeptechnicalknowledgeofthelaw，"andaneasyfamiliaritywith"someofthemostabstruseproceedingsinEnglishjurisprudence。"Andagain:"Wheneverheindulgesthispropensityheuniformlylaysdowngoodlaw。"Of"HenryIV。，"
Part2，hesays:"IfLordEldoncouldbesupposedtohavewrittentheplay，Idonotseehowhecouldbechargeablewithhavingforgottenanyofhislawwhilewritingit。"CharlesandMaryCowdenClarkespeakof"themarvelousintimacywhichhedisplayswithlegalterms，hisfrequentadoptionoftheminillustration，andhiscuriouslytechnicalknowledgeoftheirformandforce。"
Malone，himselfalawyer，wrote:"Hisknowledgeoflegaltermsisnotmerelysuchasmightbeacquiredbythecasualobservationofevenhisallcomprehendingmind;ithastheappearanceoftechnicalskill。"AnotherlawyerandwellknownShakespearean，RichardGrantWhite，says:"Nodramatistofthetime，notevenBeaumont，whowastheyoungersonofajudgeoftheCommonPleas，andwhoafterstudyingintheInnsofCourtabandonedlawforthedrama，usedlegalphraseswithShakespeare’sreadinessandexactness。Andthesignificanceofthisfactisheightenedbyanother，thatisonlytothelanguageofthelawthatheexhibitsthisinclination。Thephrasespeculiartootheroccupationsservehimonrareoccasionsbywayofdescription，comparison，orillustration，generallywhensomethinginthescenesuggeststhem，butlegalphrasesflowfromhispenaspartofhisvocabularyandparcelofhisthought。Taketheword’purchase’
forinstance，which，inordinaryuse，meanstoacquirebygivingvalue，butappliesinlawtoalllegalmodesofobtainingpropertyexceptbyinheritanceordescent，andinthispeculiarsensethewordoccursfivetimesinShakespeare’sthirtyfourplays，andonlyinonesingleinstanceinthefiftyfourplaysofBeaumontandFletcher。IthasbeensuggestedthatitwasinattendanceuponthecourtsinLondonthathepickeduphislegalvocabulary。ButthissuppositionnotonlyfailstoaccountforShakespeare’speculiarfreedomandexactnessintheuseofthatphraseology，itdoesnotevenplacehiminthewayoflearningthosetermshisuseofwhichismostremarkable，whicharenotsuchashewouldhaveheardatordinaryproceedingsatNISI
PRIUS，butsuchasrefertothetenureortransferofrealproperty，’fineandrecovery，’’statutesmerchant，’’purchase，’
’indenture，’’tenure，’’doublevoucher，’’feesimple，’’feefarm，’’remainder，’’reversion，’’forfeiture，’etc。Thisconveyancer’sjargoncouldnothavebeenpickedupbyhangingroundthecourtsoflawinLondontwohundredandfiftyyearsago，whensuitsastothetitleofrealpropertywerecomparativelyrare。Andbesides，Shakespeareuseshislawjustasfreelyinhisfirstplays，writteninhisfirstLondonyears，asinthoseproducedatalaterperiod。Justasexactly，too;
forthecorrectnessandproprietywithwhichthesetermsareintroducedhavecompelledtheadmirationofaChiefJusticeandaLordChancellor。"
SenatorDaviswrote:"Weseemtohavesomethingmorethanasciolist’stemerityofindulgenceinthetermsofanunfamiliarart。Nolegalsolecismswillbefound。Theabstrusestelementsofthecommonlawareimpressedintoadisciplinedservice。Overandoveragain，wheresuchknowledgeisunexampledinwritersunlearnedinthelaw，Shakespeareappearsinperfectpossessionofit。Inthelawofrealproperty，itsrulesoftenureanddescents，itsentails，itsfinesandrecoveries，theirvouchersanddoublevouchers，intheprocedureoftheCourts，themethodofbringingwritsandarrests，thenatureofactions，therulesofpleading，thelawofescapesandofcontemptofcourt，intheprinciplesofevidence，bothtechnicalandphilosophical，inthedistinctionbetweenthetemporalandspiritualtribunals，inthelawofattainderandforfeiture，intherequisitesofavalidmarriage，inthepresumptionoflegitimacy，inthelearningofthelawofprerogative，intheinalienablecharacteroftheCrown，thismastershipappearswithsurprisingauthority。"
Toallthistestimony（andthereismuchmorewhichIhavenotcited）maynowbeaddedthatofagreatlawyerofourowntimes，VIZ。:SirJamesPlaistedWilde，Q。C。1855，createdaBaronoftheExchequerin1860，promotedtothepostofJudge
OrdinaryandJudgeoftheCourtsofProbateandDivorcein1863，andbetterknowntotheworldasLordPenzance，towhichdignityhewasraisedin1869。LordPenzance，asalllawyersknow，andasthelateMr。Inderwick，K。C。，hastestified，wasoneofthefirstlegalauthoritiesofhisday，famousforhis"remarkablegraspoflegalprinciples，"and"endowedbynaturewitharemarkablefacilityformarshalingfacts，andforaclearexpressionofhisviews。"
LordPenzancespeaksofShakespeare’s"perfectfamiliaritywithnotonlytheprinciples，axioms，andmaxims，butthetechnicalitiesofEnglishlaw，aknowledgesoperfectandintimatethathewasneverincorrectandneveratfault……
Themodeinwhichthisknowledgewaspressedintoserviceonalloccasionstoexpresshismeaningandillustratehisthoughtswasquiteunexampled。Heseemstohavehadaspecialpleasureinhiscompleteandreadymastershipofitinallitsbranches。Asmanifestedintheplays，thislegalknowledgeandlearninghadthereforeaspecialcharacterwhichplacesitonawhollydifferentfootingfromtherestofthemultifariousknowledgewhichisexhibitedinpageafterpageoftheplays。Ateveryturnandpointatwhichtheauthorrequiredametaphor，simile，orillustration，hismindeverturnedFIRSTtothelaw。HeseemsalmosttohaveTHOUGHTinlegalphrases，thecommonestoflegalexpressionswereeverattheendofhispenindescriptionorillustration。Thatheshouldhavedescantedinlawyerlanguagewhenhehadaforensicsubjectinhand，suchasShylock’sbond，wastobeexpected，buttheknowledgeoflawin’Shakespeare’wasexhibitedinafardifferentmanner:itprotrudeditselfonalloccasions，appropriateorinappropriate，andmingleditselfwithstrainsofthoughtwidelydivergentfromforensicsubjects。"
Again:"Toacquireaperfectfamiliaritywithlegalprinciples，andanaccurateandreadyuseofthetechnicaltermsandphrasesnotonlyoftheconveyancer’soffice，butofthepleader’schambersandtheCourtsatWestminster，nothingshortofemploymentinsomecareerinvolvingconstantcontactwithlegalquestionsandgenerallegalworkwouldberequisite。Butacontinuousemploymentinvolvestheelementoftime，andtimewasjustwhatthemanageroftwotheatershadnotathisdisposal。
InwhatportionofShakespeare’s（i。e。，Shakspere’s）careerwoulditbepossibletopointoutthattimecouldbefoundfortheinterpositionofalegalemploymentinthechambersorofficesofpracticinglawyers？"
Stratfordians，asiswellknown，castingaboutforsomepossibleexplanationofShakespeare’sextraordinaryknowledgeoflaw，havemadethesuggestionthatShakespearemight，conceivably，havebeenaclerkinanattorney’sofficebeforehecametoLondon。Mr。CollierwrotetoLordCampbelltoaskhisopinionastotheprobabilityofthisbeingtrue。Hisanswerwasasfollows:"Yourequireustobelieveimplicitlyafact，ofwhich，iftrue，positiveandirrefragableevidenceinhisownhandwritingmighthavebeenforthcomingtoestablishit。Nothavingbeenactuallyenrolledasanattorney，neithertherecordsofthelocalcourtatStratfordnorofthesuperiorCourtatWestminsterwouldpresenthisnameasbeingconcernedinanysuitasanattorney，butitmightreasonablyhavebeenexpectedthattherewouldbedeedsorwillswitnessedbyhimstillextant，andafteraverydiligentsearchnonesuchcanbediscovered。"
UponthisLordPenzancecommends:"ItcannotbedoubtedthatLordCampbellwasrightinthis。Noyoungmancouldhavebeenatworkinanattorney’sofficewithoutbeingcalleduponcontinuallytoactasawitness，andinmanyotherwaysleavingtracesofhisworkandname。"ThereisnotasinglefactorincidentinallthatisknownofShakespeare，evenbyrumorortradition，whichsupportsthisnotionofaclerkship。Andaftermuchargumentandsurmisewhichhasbeenindulgedinonthissubject，wemay，Ithink，safelyputthenotionononeside，fornolessanauthoritythanMr。GrantWhitesaysfinallythattheideaofhishavingbeenclerktoanattorneyhasbeen"blowntopieces。"
ItisaltogethercharacteristicofMr。ChurtonCollinsthathe，nevertheless，adoptsthisexplodedmyth。"ThatShakespearewasinearlylifeemployedasaclerkinanattorney’sofficemaybecorrect。AtStratfordtherewasbyroyalcharteraCourtofRecordsittingeveryfortnight，withsixattorneys，besidesthetownclerk，belongingtoit，anditiscertainlynotstrainingprobabilitytosupposethattheyoungShakespearemayhavehademploymentinoneofthem。Thereis，itistrue，notraditiontothiseffect，butsuchtraditionsaswehaveaboutShakespeare’soccupationbetweenthetimeofleavingschoolandgoingtoLondonaresolooseandbaselessthatnoconfidencecanbeplacedinthem。Itis，tosaytheleast，moreprobablethathewasinanattorney’sofficethanthathewasabutcherkillingcalves’inahighstyle，’andmakingspeechesoverthem。"
ThisisacharmingspecimenofStratfordianargument。Thereis，aswehaveseen，averyoldtraditionthatShakespearewasabutcher’sapprentice。JohnDowdall，whomadeatourofWarwickshirein1693，testifiestoitascomingfromtheoldclerkwhoshowedhimoverthechurch，anditisunhesitatinglyacceptedastruebyMr。HalliwellPhillipps。（Vol。I，p。11，andVol。II，pp。71，72。）Mr。SidneyLeeseesnothingimprobableinit，anditissupportedbyAubrey，whomusthavewrittenhisaccountsometimebefore1680，whenhismanuscriptwascompleted。
Oftheattorney’sclerkhypothesis，ontheotherhand，thereisnotthefaintestvestigeofatradition。IthasbeenevolvedoutofthefertileimaginationsofembarrassedStratfordians，seekingforsomeexplanationoftheStratfordrustic’smarvelousacquaintancewithlawandlegaltermsandlegallife。ButMr。
ChurtonCollinshasnottheleasthesitationinthrowingoverthetraditionwhichhasthewarrantofantiquityandsettingupinitssteadthisridiculousinvention，forwhichnotonlyistherenoshredofpositiveevidence，butwhich，asLordCampbellandLordPenzancepointedout，isreallyputoutofcourtbythenegativeevidence，since"noyoungmancouldhavebeenatworkinanattorney’sofficewithoutbeingcalleduponcontinuallytoactasawitness，andinmanyotherwaysleavingtracesofhisworkandname。"AndasMr。Edwardsfurtherpointsout，sincethedaywhenLordCampbell’sbookwaspublished（betweenfortyandfiftyyearsago），"everyolddeedorwill，tosaynothingofotherlegalpapers，datedduringtheperiodofWilliamShakespeare’syouth，hasbeenscrutinizedoverhalfadozenshires，andnotonesignatureoftheyoungmanhasbeenfound。"
Moreover，ifShakespearehadservedasclerkinanattorney’sofficeitisclearthathemusthaveservedforaconsiderableperiodinordertohavegained（if，indeed，itiscrediblethathecouldhavesogained）hisremarkableknowledgeofthelaw。
Canwethenforamomentbelievethat，ifthishadbeenso，traditionwouldhavebeenabsolutelysilentonthematter？
ThatDowdall’soldclerk，overeightyyearsofage，shouldhaveneverheardofit（thoughhewassureenoughaboutthebutcher’sapprentice）andthatalltheotherancientwitnessesshouldbeinsimilarignorance！
ButsucharethemethodsofStratfordiancontroversy。
Traditionistobescoutedwhenitisfoundinconvenient，butcitedasirrefragabletruthwhenitsuitsthecase。ShakespeareofStratfordwastheauthorofthePlaysandPoems，buttheauthorofthePlaysandPoemscouldnothavebeenabutcher’sapprentice。Anyway，therefore，withtradition。ButtheauthorofthePlaysandPoemsMUSThavehadaverylargeandaveryaccurateknowledgeofthelaw。Therefore，ShakespeareofStratfordmusthavebeenanattorney’sclerk！Themethodissimplicityitself。BysimilarreasoningShakespearehasbeenmadeacountryschoolmaster，asoldier，aphysician，aprinter，andagoodmanyotherthingsbesides，accordingtotheinclinationandtheexigenciesofthecommentator。ItwouldnotbeintheleastsurprisingtofindthathewasstudyingLatinasaschoolmasterandlawinanattorney’sofficeatthesametime。
However，wemustdoMr。Collinsthejusticeofsayingthathehasfullyrecognized，whatisindeedtolerableobvious，thatShakespearemusthavehadasoundlegaltraining。"Itmay，ofcourse，beurged，"hewrites，"thatShakespeare’sknowledgeofmedicine，andparticularlythatbranchofitwhichrelatedtomorbidpsychology，isequallyremarkable，andthatnoonehasevercontendedthathewasaphysician。（HereMr。Collinsiswrong;thatcontentionalsohasbeenputforward。）Itmaybeurgedthathisacquaintancewiththetechnicalitiesofothercraftsandcallings，notablyofmarineandmilitaryaffairs，wasalsoextraordinary，andyetnoonehassuspectedhimofbeingasailororasoldier。（Wrongagain。Why，evenMessrs。GarnettandGosse"suspect"thathewasasoldier！）Thismaybeconceded，buttheconcessionhardlyfurnishesananalogy。Totheseandallothersubjectsherecursoccasionally，andinseason，butwithreminiscencesofthelawhismemory，asisabundantlyclear，wassimplysaturated。Inseasonandoutofseasonnowinmanifest，nowinreconditeapplication，hepressesitintotheserviceofexpressionandillustration。Atleastathirdofhismyriadmetaphorsarederivedfromit。Itwouldindeedbedifficulttofindasingleactinanyofhisdramas，nay，insomeofthem，asinglescene，thedictionandimageryofwhicharenotcoloredbyit。Muchofhislawmayhavebeenacquiredfromthreebookseasilyaccessibletohimnamely，Tottell’sPRECEDENTS（1572），Pulton’sSTATUTES（1578），andFraunce’sLAWIER’SLOGIKE（1588），workswithwhichhecertainlyseemstohavebeenfamiliar;butmuchofitcouldonlyhavecomefromonewhohadanintimateacquaintancewithlegalproceedings。
WequiteagreewithMr。CastlethatShakespeare’slegalknowledgeisnotwhatcouldhavebeenpickedupinanattorney’soffice，butcouldonlyhavebeenlearnedbyanactualattendanceattheCourts，ataPleader’sChambers，andoncircuit，orbyassociatingintimatelywithmembersoftheBenchandBar。"
Thisisexcellent。ButwhatisMr。Collins’sexplanation？
"Perhapsthesimplestsolutionoftheproblemistoacceptthehypothesisthatinearlylifehewasinanattorney’soffice（！），thathetherecontractedaloveforthelawwhichneverlefthim，thatasayoungmaninLondonhecontinuedtostudyordabbleinitforhisamusement，tostrollinleisurehoursintotheCourts，andtofrequentthesocietyoflawyers。Onnoothersuppositionisitpossibletoexplaintheattractionwhichthelawevidentlyhadforhim，andhisminuteandundeviatingaccuracyinasubjectwherenolaymanwhohasindulgedinsuchcopiousandostentatiousdisplayoflegaltechnicalitieshaseveryetsucceededinkeepinghimselffromtripping。"
Alameconclusion。"Noothersupposition"indeed！Yes，thereisanother，andaveryobvioussuppositionnamely，thatShakespearewashimselfalawyer，wellversedinhistrade，versedinallthewaysofthecourts，andlivingincloseintimacywithjudgesandmembersoftheInnsofCourt。
Oneis，ofcourse，thankfulthatMr。CollinshasappreciatedthefactthatShakespearemusthavehadasoundlegaltraining，butImaybeforgivenifIdonotattachquitesomuchimportancetohispronouncementsonthisbranchofthesubjectastothoseofMalone，LordCampbell，JudgeHolmes，Mr。Castle，K。C。，LordPenzance，Mr。GrantWhite，andotherlawyers，whohaveexpressedtheiropiniononthematterofShakespeare’slegalacquirements……
Hereitmay，perhaps，beworthwhiletoquoteagainfromLordPenzance’sbookastothesuggestionthatShakespearehadsomehoworothermanaged"toacquireaperfectfamiliaritywithlegalprinciples，andanaccurateandreadyuseofthetechnicaltermsandphrases，notonlyoftheconveyancer’soffice，butofthepleader’schambersandtheCourtsatWestminster。"This，asLordPenzancepointsout，"wouldrequirenothingshortofemploymentinsomecareerinvolvingCONSTANTCONTACTwithlegalquestionsandgenerallegalwork。"But"inwhatportionofShakespeare’scareerwoulditbepossibletopointoutthattimecouldbefoundfortheinterpositionofalegalemploymentinthechambersorofficesofpracticinglawyers？……Itisbeyonddoubtthatatanearlyperiodhewascalledupontoabandonhisattendanceatschoolandassisthisfather，andwassoonafter，attheageofsixteen，boundapprenticetoatrade。Whileundertheobligationofthisbondhecouldnothavepursuedanyotheremployment。ThenheleavesStratfordandcomestoLondon。Hehastoprovidehimselfwiththemeansofalivelihood，andthishedidinsomecapacityatthetheater。Noonedoubtthat。Theholdingofhorsesisscoutedbymany，andperhapswithjustice，asbeingunlikelyandcertainlyunproved;butwhateverthenatureofhisemploymentwasatthetheater，thereishardlyroomforthebeliefthatitcouldhavebeenotherthancontinuous，forhisprogresstherewassorapid。Erelonghehadbeentakenintothecompanyasanactor，andwassoonspokenofasa"JohannesFactotum。’Hisrapidaccumulationofwealthspeaksvolumesfortheconstancyandactivityofhisservices。Onefailstoseewhentherecouldbeabreakinthecurrentofhislifeatthisperiodofit，givingroomoropportunityforlegalorindeedanyotheremployment。’In1589，’saysKnight，’wehaveundeniableevidencethathehadnotonlyacasualengagement，wasnotonlyasalariedservant，asmayplayerswere，butwasashareholderinthecompanyoftheQueen’splayerswithothershareholdersbelowhimonthelist。’This（1589）wouldbewithintwoyearsafterhisarrivalinLondon，whichisplacedbyWhiteandHalliwell
Phillippsabouttheyear1587。Thedifficultyinsupposingthat，startingwithastateofignorancein1587，whenheissupposedtohavecometoLondon，hewasinducedtoenteruponacourseofmostextendedstudyandmentalculture，isalmostinsuperable。
Stillitwasphysicallypossible，providedalwaysthathecouldhavehadaccesstotheneedfulbooks。Butthislegaltrainingseemstometostandonadifferentfooting。Itisnotonlyunaccountableandincredible，butitisactuallynegativedbytheknownfactsofhiscareer。"LordPenzancethenreferstothefactthat"by1592（accordingtothebestauthority，Mr。GrantWhite）severaloftheplayshadbeenwritten。’TheComedyofErrors’in1589，’Love’sLabour’sLost’in1589，’TwoGentlemenofVerona’in1589or1590，"andsoforth，andthenasks，"withthiscatalogueofdramaticworkonhand……wasitpossiblethathecouldhavetakenaleadingpartinthemanagementandconductoftwotheaters，andifMr。Phillippsistobereliedupon，takenhisshareintheperformancesoftheprovincialtoursofhiscompanyandatthesametimedevotedhimselftothestudyofthelawinallitsbranchessoefficientlyastomakehimselfcompletemasterofitsprinciplesandpractice，andsaturatehismindwithallitsmosttechnicalterms？"
IhavecitedthispassagefromLordPenzance’sbook，becauseitlaybeforeme，andIhadalreadyquotedfromitonthematterofShakespeare’slegalknowledge;butotherwritershavestillbettersetforththeinsuperabledifficulties，astheyseemtome，whichbesettheideathatShakespearemighthavefoundtheminsomeunknownperiodofearlylife，amidmultifariousotheroccupations，forthestudyofclassics，literature，andlaw，tosaynothingoflanguagesandafewothermatters。LordPenzancefurtheraskshisreaders:"Didyouevermeetwithorhearofaninstanceinwhichayoungmaninthiscountrygavehimselfuptolegalstudiesandengagedinlegalemployments，whichistheonlywayofbecomingfamiliarwiththetechnicalitiesofpractice，unlesswiththeviewofpracticinginthatprofession？Idonotbelievethatitwouldbeeasy，orindeedpossible，toproduceaninstanceinwhichthelawhasbeenseriouslystudiedinallitsbranches，exceptasaqualificationforpracticeinthelegalprofession。"
Thistestimonyissostrong，sodirect，soauthoritative;
andsouncheapened，unwateredbyguesses，andsurmises，andmaybeso’s，andmighthavebeens，andcouldhavebeens，andmust
havebeens，andtherestofthattonofplasterofParisoutofwhichthebiographershavebuiltthecolossalbrontosaurwhichgoesbytheStratfordactor’sname，thatitquiteconvincesmethatthemanwhowroteShakespeare’sWorksknewallaboutlawandlawyers。Also，thatthatmancouldnothavebeentheStratfordShakespeareandWASN’T。
WhodidwritetheseWorks，then？
IwishIknew。
1。FromChapterXIIIofTHESHAKESPEAREPROBLEMRESTATED。
ByGeorgeG。Greenwood，M。P。JohnLaneCompany，publishers。
IX
DidFrancisBaconwriteShakespeare’sWorks？Nobodyknows。
WecannotsayweKNOWathingwhenthatthinghasnotbeenproved。KNOWistoostrongawordtousewhentheevidenceisnotfinalandabsolutelyconclusive。Wecaninfer，ifwewantto，likethoseslaves……No，Iwillnotwritethatword，itisnotkind，itisnotcourteous。TheupholdersoftheStratfordShakespearesuperstitioncallUSthehardestnamestheycanthinkof，andtheykeepdoingitallthetime;verywell，iftheyliketodescendtothatlevel，letthemdoit，butI
willnotsoundignifymyselfastofollowthem。Icannotcallthemharshnames;themostIcandoistoindicatethembytermsreflectingmydisapproval;andthiswithoutmalice，withoutvenom。
Toresume。WhatIwasabouttosaywas，thosethugshavebuilttheirentiresuperstitionuponINFERENCES，notuponknownandestablishedfacts。Itisaweakmethod，andpoor，andIamgladtobeabletosayoursideneverresortstoitwhilethereisanythingelsetoresortto。
Butwhenwemust，wemust;andwehavenowarrivedataplaceofthatsort……SincetheStratfordShakespearecouldn’thavewrittentheWorks，weinferthatsomebodydid。
Whowasit，then？Thisrequiressomemoreinferring。
Ordinarilywhenanunsignedpoemsweepsacrossthecontinentlikeatidalwavewhoseroarandboomandthunderaremadeupofadmiration，delight，andapplause，adozenobscurepeopleriseupandclaimtheauthorship。Whyadozen，insteadofonlyoneortwo？Onereasonis，becausethereareadozenthatarerecognizablycompetenttodothatpoem。Doyouremember"BeautifulSnow"？Doyouremember"RockMetoSleep，Mother，RockMetoSleep"？Doyouremember"Backward，turn，backward，O
Time，inthyflight！Makemeachildagainjustfortonight"？I
rememberthemverywell。Theirauthorshipwasclaimedbymostofthegrownuppeoplewhowerealiveatthetime，andeveryclaimanthadoneplausibleargumentinhisfavor，atleasttowit，hecouldhavedonetheauthoring;hewascompetent。
HavetheWorksbeenclaimedbyadozen？Theyhaven’t。
Therewasgoodreason。Theworldknowstherewasbutonemanontheplanetatthetimewhowascompetentnotadozen，andnottwo。Alongtimeagothedwellersinafarcountryusednowandthentofindaprocessionofprodigiousfootprintsstretchingacrosstheplainfootprintsthatwerethreemilesapart，eachfootprintathirdofamilelongandafurlongdeep，andwithforestsandvillagesmashedtomushinit。Wasthereanydoubtastowhomadethatmightytrail？Werethereadozenclaimants？
Wheretheretwo？Nothepeopleknewwhoitwasthathadbeenalongthere:therewasonlyoneHercules。
TherehasbeenonlyoneShakespeare。Therecouldn’tbetwo;
certainlytherecouldn’tbetwoatthesametime。IttakesagestobringforthaShakespeare，andsomemoreagestomatchhim。
Thisonewasnotmatchedbeforehistime;norduringhistime;
andhasn’tbeenmatchedsince。Theprospectofmatchinghiminourtimeisnotbright。
TheBaconiansclaimthattheStratfordShakespearewasnotqualifiedtowritetheWorks，andthatFrancisBaconwas。
TheyclaimthatBaconpossessedthestupendousequipmentbothnaturalandacquiredforthemiracle;andthatnootherEnglishmanofhisdaypossessedthelike;or，indeed，anythingcloselyapproachingit。
Macaulay，inhisEssay，hasmuchtosayaboutthesplendorandhorizonlessmagnitudeofthatequipment。Also，hehassynopsizedBacon’shistoryathingwhichcannotbedonefortheStratfordShakespeare，forhehasn’tanyhistorytosynopsize。
Bacon’shistoryisopentotheworld，fromhisboyhoodtohisdeathinoldageahistoryconsistingofknownfacts，displayedinminuteandmultitudinousdetail;FACTS，notguessesandconjecturesandmighthavebeens。
Wherebyitappearsthathewasbornofaraceofstatesmen，andhadaLordChancellorforhisfather，andamotherwhowas"distinguishedbothasalinguistandatheologian:shecorrespondedinGreekwithBishopJewell，andtranslatedhisAPOLOGIAfromtheLatinsocorrectlythatneitherhenorArchbishopParkercouldsuggestasinglealteration。"Itistheatmospherewearerearedinthatdetermineshowourinclinationsandaspirationsshalltend。Theatmospherefurnishedbytheparentstothesoninthispresentcasewasanatmospheresaturatedwithlearning;withthinkingsandponderingsupondeepsubjects;andwithpoliteculture。Ithaditsnaturaleffect。
ShakespeareofStratfordwasrearedinahousewhichhadnouseforbooks，sinceitsowners，hisparents，werewithouteducation。
Thismayhavehadaneffectupontheson，butwedonotknow，becausewehavenohistoryofhimofaninformingsort。Therewerebutfewbooksanywhere，inthatday，andonlythewelltodoandhighlyeducatedpossessedthem，theybeingalmostconfinedtothedeadlanguages。"AllthevaluablebooksthenextantinallthevernaculardialectsofEuropewouldhardlyhavefilledasingleshelf"imagineit！ThefewexistingbookswereintheLatintonguemainly。"ApersonwhowasignorantofitwasshutoutfromallacquaintancenotmerelywithCiceroandVirgil，butwiththemostinterestingmemoirs，statepapers，andpamphletsofhisowntime"aliteraturenecessarytotheStratfordlad，forhisfictitiousreputation’ssake，sincethewriterofhisWorkswouldbegintouseitwholesaleandinamostmasterlywaybeforetheladwashardlymorethanoutofhisteensandintohistwenties。
AtfifteenBaconwassenttotheuniversity，andhespentthreeyearsthere。ThencehewenttoParisinthetrainoftheEnglishAmbassador，andtherehemingleddailywiththewise，thecultured，thegreat，andthearistocracyoffashion，duringanotherthreeyears。Atotalofsixyearsspentatthesourcesofknowledge;knowledgebothofbooksandofmen。ThethreespentattheuniversitywerecoevalwiththesecondandlastthreespentbythelittleStratfordladatStratfordschoolsupposedly，andperhapsedly，andmaybe，andbyinferencewithnothingtoinferfrom。ThesecondthreeoftheBaconiansixwere"presumably"spentbytheStratfordladasapprenticetoabutcher。Thatis，thethugspresumeitonnoevidenceofanykind。Whichistheirway，whentheywantahistoricalfact。
Factandpresumptionare，forbusinesspurposes，allthesametothem。Theyknowthedifference，buttheyalsoknowhowtoblinkit。Theyknow，too，thatwhileinhistorybuildingafactisbetterthanapresumption，itdoesn’ttakeapresumptionlongtobloomintoafactwhenTHEYhavethehandlingofit。Theyknowbyoldexperiencethatwhentheygetholdofapresumption
tadpoleheisnotgoingtoSTAYtadpoleintheirhistorytank;
no，theyknowhowtodevelophimintothegiantfourleggedbullfrogofFACT，andmakehimsituponhishams，andpuffouthischin，andlookimportantandinsolentandcometostay;andasserthisgenuinesimonpureauthenticitywithathunderingbellowthatwillconvinceeverybodybecauseitissoloud。
Thethugisawarethatloudnessconvincessixtypersonswherereasoningconvincesbutone。Iwouldn’tbeathug，notevenif
butnevermindaboutthat，ithasnothingtodowiththeargument，anditisnotnobleinspiritbesides。IfIambetterthanathug，isthemeritmine？No，itisHis。ThentoHimbethepraise。
Thatistherightspirit。
They"presume"theladseveredhis"presumed"connectionwiththeStratfordschooltobecomeapprenticetoabutcher。
Theyalso"presume"thatthebutcherwashisfather。Theydon’tknow。Thereisnowrittenrecordofit，noranyotheractualevidence。Ifitwouldhavehelpedtheircaseany，theywouldhaveapprenticedhimtothirtybutchers，tofiftybutchers，toawildernessofbutchersallbytheirpatentedmethod"presumption。"
Ifitwillhelptheircasetheywilldoityet;andifitwillfurtherhelpit，theywill"presume"thatallthosebutcherswerehisfather。Andtheweekafter，theywillSAYit。
Why，itisjustlikebeingthepasttenseofthecompoundreflexiveadverbialincandescenthypodermicirregularaccusativeNounofMultitude;whichisfathertotheexpressionwhichthegrammarianscallVerb。Itislikeawholeancestry，withonlyoneposterity。
Toresume。Next，theyoungBacontookupthestudyoflaw，andmasteredthatabstrusescience。Fromthatdaytotheendofhislifehewasdailyinclosecontactwithlawyersandjudges;