| Page. | |
| Francis Bacon, from a Miniature by Oliver | Frontispiece. |
| Francis Bacon (aged 18), from a Miniature by Hilliard | 4 |
| Francis Bacon as Lord Chancellor (Vansomer) | 12 |
| Francis Bacon as Lord Chancellor | 16 |
| Francis Bacon’s Monument in St. Michael’s Church | 20 |
| Sir Nicholas Bacon, Portrait and Autographs | 24 |
| Anna Lady Bacon, Mother of Francis Bacon | 32 |
| Sir Nathaniel Bacon | 36 |
| St. Michael’s Church | 44 |
| Queen Elizabeth | 48 |
| Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex | 52 |
| Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester | 56 |
| Frontispiece to Sylva Sylvarum | 60 |
| Frontispiece to Novum Organum | 68 |
| Gorhambury, Three Views, 1568, 1795, 1821 | 72 |
| William Shakespeare, The Droeshout Etching | 80 |
| William Shakespeare, The Chandos Portrait | 84 |
| William Shakespeare, The Bust at Stratford-on-Avon | 96 |
| Shakespeare’s House | 108 |
| Chancel of Trinity Church (Stratford-on-Avon) | 112 |
| Shakespeare Autographs | 116 |
| Ann Hathaway’s Cottage at Shottery | 120 |
| Dr. Owen’s Wheel for Deciphering | 128 |
About This Book
A critical examination of the claim that Francis Bacon authored the plays traditionally attributed to Shakespeare, surveying the personalities, published works, and historical records of both men. The author tests Baconian arguments and ciphers, scrutinizes proponents' methods and alleged cryptographic revelations, contrasts stylistic and temperamental evidence, and traces the development of authorship theories. Case studies address claimed parallels, proposed collaborations, and biographical misconceptions about the playwright. The work concludes by weighing documented facts and interpretive leaps, arguing that the balance of evidence supports the conventional attribution while exposing persistent fallacies in Baconian reasoning.