New-York tribune., 1902-01-28
SHAKESPEARE AND BACON
NOTES ON THE OLD CONTROVERSY By
WILLIAM WINTER

inquiry with reference to the idle and foolish
notion that Shakespeare's plays were written by
any other hand than his own. but only to pre-
sent few suggestions by way of general con-
sideration of the Shakespeare Bacon contro-
versy, long ago started in America and recently
renewed in England which, perhaps. may be
useful to the student Of those authors, who.-
much it may annoy him. or grieve him.
necessarily, sooner later. comes upon this de-
plorable matter: for already more books and
papers have been written about this theme than
even about the secret Of Junius or the mystery
Of the Iron Mask
Francis Bacon, born in 1861, and William
Shakespeare born IN 1864. were contemporaries.
The birth Of Bacon preceded that of Shakespeare
by three years and Bacon survived Shakespeare
ten years. Shakespeare was born in Stratford-
upon-Avon. Bacon born in London.
Shakespeare went 10 London about 1886 81.
Bacon after having studied at Trinity College.
Cambridge. went 10 Paris in 1913. in the train
OF Sir Anias Paulet, Minister to the court of
France. and, even at the early age of seven
teen. employed in the public service.
Bacons father. Sir Nicholas Bacon. Lord Keep
er of the Great Seal. died in 1919 aged sixty
nine, and Bacon. returning to- London, in the
following year. became student Of the law, at
Gray's Inn. where he remained for about ten
that was his position when Shakespeare became
resident of the capital. Bacon rose rapidly in
the legal profession, and obtained much bus-
ness. In 1880 he was appointed Counsel EX-
traordinary TO the Queen. In 1898 he
elected 10 Parliament. and he sat in every Parli-
ament that was convened in the course of the
ensuing twenty-eght years. Shakespeare's Lon
don life and Bacon's London life proceeded side
by side, from about 1857 till, practically. the
end Of Shakespeare's career; but. far as
known. each of these great walked
separate path. No evidence has been adduced
TO prove, to indicate. that they met.
though there is some believe that
Bacon was acquainted with some of the writings
Of Shakespeare and that he borrowed from them
both thoughts and phrases-as indeed he did from
other sources. both ancient and contemporary.
Shakespeare was married at eighteen, his widow
surviving him seven years. Bacon was married
at forty, his widow surviving him twenty years.
Shakespeare actor and "a dramatist.
Bacon was lawyer. orator and politician.
Shakespeare wrote poetry, and wrote in Eng
lish. Bacon wrote prose aside from few paltry
hymns. and mostly wrote in Latin. Shake
speare's vocabulary contains 81. 900 words.
Bacons vocabulary is estimated at less than
10000. CThat of Milton is only 10000 Shake
speare prospered in theatrical business gained
friends to whom he was loyal, bought the princi-
pal house at Stratford, and, at some time be-
tween the autumn Of 1909 and the summer of
1911, retired TO his native place, to pass his
closing years in peace. Bacon advanced steadily
in public life was knighted, made Attorney
General. sworn of the Privy Council was
intrusted with the Great Seal, being vested with
the great Office of Chancellor was created a
peer of the realm-first as Baron Verulam and
then Viscount st. Albans,-turned against
his best friend and great benefactor the Earl
of Essex (whom he fatally prosecuted when liv-
ing and elaborateiy DETAINED when dead) and
finally, disgraced and degraded Q621) for
taking bribes the Judgment seat. Shake
speare died in 1916 and was buried in the
chancel of Trinity Church, Stratford, where
shortly after his interment his greatness and
his fame author were blazoned above his
tomb. Bacon died in 1926. and was buried In
the chancel of St. Michael's Church, Gorham-
bury, st. Albans,-not distant from the spacious
park that was once his patrimonial estate: the
ruins Of his fathers mansion are still visible
there.
Shakespeares intellectual activity was pro-
digious, but it took the direction of Poetry and
the Stage Bacon's intellectual activity was
scarcely less fertile but it took the direction of
Moral Science, Mental Philosophy, and the Law
His first book. a collection of Essays. was pub
lished in 1897, when he thirty-six years old
In 1903 he published his Advancement of
Learning. In 1910 appeared his Wisdom Of
the Ancients." The third edition of his ESSAYS
much extended, appeared in 1912. His "Novum
Organum," written in Latin. designed to con-
Eist Of six parts this publication containing but
two. was published in 1920 In 1922 he pub
lished his History of the Reign Of Henry VII
and in 1923 appeared, in nine books. under the
title DE Augmentis Scientarium." a Latin
version. augmented. Of his Advancement of
Learning" He also. in part. recompiled the
Laws Of England. and he turned some of the
Psalms Of David into very ordinary English
verse. Bacon's works were collected in five
quarto volumes in 1766. and again In IT'S: and
other editions have since appeared-the stand
ard. superseding Basil Montagu's edition being
that edited by SPEEDING. who devoted thirty
years TO the work. and who wrote a. biography
OF the great Chancellor. the best that is extant
Shakespeare's works,-including 154 sonnets
two or more elaborate poems and thirty-seven
plays.-extend over the period from about 1888
till 161e The first title page on which his name
appears is that Of Loves Labour's Lost" 1880
His latest play, which. it is conjectured was. in
part. written by John Fletcher (whose style
seems perceptible in it, was Henry VIII"
1612-'13 The occupations pursuits, motives
ambitions, achievements, temperaments, char
acteristics and methods of Bacon and Shake
speare stand in the strongest possible contrast:
yet the student of men diverse and of works
so inharmonious is asked to believe,-not on
evidence which can be weighed, but on infer
ence from vague theoretical fancifu surmises.
that Shakespeare was a wretched fraud who
wrote anything, while Bacon both
poet and lawyer. a colossal and universal
-.h wit