Again, about the time of the publication of the Shakespere Folio, 1623, Matthew acknowledged in a letter without date, the receipt of a “great and noble favor,” and added the following: “P. S.—The most prodigious wit that ever I knew, of my nation and of this side of the sea, is of your Lordship’s name, though he be known by another.” BACON IDENTIFIED AS THE CONCEALED POET IGNOTO Spenser’s “Faery Queen” was begun in 1582, and published in 1590. The Dedication to Sir Walter Raleigh is dated 23 January, 1589 (i. e., 1590.) Raleigh in return praised the poem in two Sonnets. These, together with five other versified encomiums by “Hobynoll” (Gabriel Harvey,) “R. S.,” “H. B.,” “W. L.,” and “Ignoto,” are prefixed to Spenser’s work. In 1599 “The Passionate Pilgrim,” a collection of twenty-one sonnets, songs, etc., was published with the name of W. Shakspere on the title page. The authorship of several of the pieces is disputed. In regard to No. xviii. “My flocks feed not,” Mr. Halliwell-Phillipps, says: “There is a somewhat brief version of this song in the collection of Madrigals, etc., by Thomas Weelkes 1597, this person being the composer of the music, but not necessarily the author of the words. A copy of it as it is seen in the Passionate Pilgrim also occurs in England’s Helicon, 1600, entitled ‘The Unknowne Sheepheards Complaint,’ and is there subscribed _Ignoto._” Again, in regard to No. xx, “Live with me and be my love,” the same author, says: “The first of these very pretty songs is incomplete, and the second, called ‘Love’s answer,’ still more so. In England’s Helicon, 1600, the former is given to Marlowe, the latter to _Ignoto_; and there is good reason to believe that Christopher [30] Marlowe wrote the song, and Sir Walter Raleigh the nymph’s reply; for so we are positively assured by Isaac Walton, who has inserted them both in his Complete Angler under the character of ‘that smooth song which was made by Kit Marlowe, now at least fifty years ago; and an answer to it which was made by Sir Walter Raleigh in his younger days:—old fashioned poetry but choicely good.’ Both these songs were exceedingly popular and are afterwards found in the street ballads. The first is quoted in the Merry Wives of Windsor.” Again, in regard to No. xxi, “As it fell upon a day,” Mr. Halliwell-Phillipps, says: