SHAKESPEARE’S MONUMENT AT STRATFORD-ON-AVON _Frontispiece_ (1616–1623?) COPY OF THE TITLE-PAGE OF “LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST,” 12 1598. The earliest title-page in which Shakespeare’s name is given as the author of the work. _From_ J. O. HALLIWELL-PHILLIPPS’ _Outlines of the Life of Shakespeare_ FACSIMILE OF THE AUTOGRAPH SIGNATURE “BY ME WILLIAM 47 SHAKSPEARE.” From one of the Three Sheets of his Will, dated _March_ 25, 1616. _From_ SIR SIDNEY LEE’S _Shakespeare’s Life and Work_. _By permission of_ Messrs. SMITH, ELDER & Co. FACSIMILE OF MARK-SIGNATURE OF JOHN SHAKESPEARE, THE POET’S FATHER. From a Deed of Conveyance, dated _January_ 26, 1596 _From_ J. O. HALLIWELL-PHILLIPPS’ _Outlines of the Life of Shakespeare_ FACSIMILE OF MARK-SIGNATURE OF JUDITH SHAKESPEARE, THE POET’S SECOND DAUGHTER, AFTERWARDS MRS. THOMAS QUINEY _From_ J. O. HALLIWELL-PHILLIPPS’ _Outlines of the Life of Shakespeare_ THE MONUMENT IN DUGDALE’S “HISTORY OF THE 178 ANTIQUITIES OF WARWICKSHIRE” (1656) _With permission of_ JOHN MURRAY, Esq. THE CAREW MONUMENT IN STRATFORD CHURCH 180, 181 THE CAREW MONUMENT AS REPRESENTED IN DUGDALE’S “HISTORY OF THE ANTIQUITIES OF WARWICKSHIRE” (1656) FROM VERTUE’S ENGRAVING OF THE MONUMENT (1725) 185 _With permission of_ JOHN MURRAY, ESQ. LONDON IN THE YEAR 1610, SHOWING THE GLOBE THEATRE 298 IN THE FOREGROUND _From_ J. O. HALLIWELL-PHILLIPPS’ _Outlines of the Life of Shakespeare_ INTRODUCTION THE theory that Francis Bacon was, in the main, the author of “Shakespeare’s plays,” has now been for fifty years before the learned world. Its advocates have met with less support than they had reason to expect. Their methods, their logic, and their hypotheses closely resemble those applied by many British and foreign scholars to Homer; and by critics of the very Highest School to Holy Writ. Yet the Baconian theory is universally rejected in England by the professors and historians of English literature; and generally by students who have no profession save that of Letters. The Baconians, however, do not lack the countenance and assistance of highly distinguished persons, whose names are famous where those of mere men of letters are unknown; and in circles where the title of “Professor” is not duly respected.