according to stratfordian authority h n gibson frequently cited in this very article the controversy began with john marston and joseph hall in which view was even more fully affirmed by stratfordian authorities garnett and gosse over fifty years previously according to stratfordian richard simpson arguably the most intelligent stratfordian aside from j payne collier in nineteenth century stratfordian criticism the shakespeare authorship controversy began with robert greene's farewelle to follie c but not actually published til and according to dowden of trinity shakspere's most popular academic biographer ever and others writing in it began with the publication of narcissus registered fall but the only know surviving copy is dated the author named either oxford or bacon as the author this crap about a nineteenth century origin of the authorship controversy should as reedy well knows for we patiently instructed him on the subject nearly ten years ago should go back on the compost heap from which it has once again only recently re emerged