JUDGE WILLIS, 1902 "Examination of Edward Blount, one of the printers and publishers of the Shakespeare folio of 1623." DID you never hear that Shakespeare the actor, whom you knew, had nothing to do with the pieces published under his name? I never did. Did you never hear that the name "Shakespeare," that is, with the “e" after the "k," was assumed to cover and conceal the writings of a very great, distinguished man? I never did. Would you be surprised to hear that Lord Bacon The reporter says that as soon as this word escaped from Counsel's lips, the whole Court was convulsed with laughter, in which the jury joined. To save appearances, the learned Judge retired into his private room, as he said, in order to fetch his copy of "Venus and Adonis." His laughter was heard in the hall. "We noticed," says the reporter, " that Mr. Jonson never He seemed deeply moved, and exclaimed, 'What And next?'” smiled. next? On the return of the Judge, the laughter had not quite subsided, and the usher cried "Order, Order." The Judge, on again taking his seat, said to the Counsel for the defence, "I am sorry, sir, your question should have been so received, but you must remember the spectators are human, and that the jury and myself are not free from infirmity. We are, however, quite impartial." The Counsel resumed. Now that this indecent laughter is over, tell me, sir, do you not know that Lord Bacon was the author of the plays contained in the folio volume? I do not know it, and never until now have I heard a doubt cast upon the authorship of Shakespeare. Did you never have any communication from Lord Bacon in respect of the publishing the folio volume ? Never. I never received a paper of any kind from him, nor did I communicate any portion of the manuscript to him. Did not Mr. Benjamin Jonson bring you the manuscripts, or some of them, from which you printed? "My lord, my lord!" said Jonson. Pray be quiet, Mr. Jonson, you will have your turn directly," said the Judge. He did not, nor did he touch any sheet of them. As I have told you, I never communicated with him until I spoke to him about writing some lines for the portrait. Did not Mr. Jonson write the Dedication or Preface? He wrote neither. Heminge and Condell wrote the Dedication, and the Address to the Readers they composed in consultation with myself. Did you not receive money from some one in order to induce you to print the folio? I did not. I looked to the sale, and the sale only, to recoup myself and my co-adventurers. Re-examined.—I myself never touched the manuscripts, nor added a line to them. After they were in my pos sewice, Heminge and Condell never, to my knowledge, altered the manuscripts, nor did any one else. I could, if necessary, have written a Dedication and the Address to the Readers. I wrote a work entitled *A Hospital for Incurable Fools I hope some day such Lospital will be founded The Shakespeare-Bacon Controversy; A Report of The Trial of an Issue in Westminster Hall, 20 June 1627. Read in the Inner Temple Hall, Thursday, May the 29th, 1902, by William Willis, Treasurer of the Honourable This extract is taken from an account of an imaginary suit in connection with the administration of Shakespeare's estate, to determine whether the testator was the author of the plays published under the name of William Shakespeare in the folio volume of 1623. The Dictionary of National Biography states that Edward Blount (A.1588– 1632), the stationer, has been credited on doubtful grounds with the authorship of the very curious Hospitall of Incurable Fooles: Erected in English, as neer the first Italian Modell and platforme as the vnskilful hand of an ignorant Architect could deuise. Printed by Edm. Bollifant for Edward Blount, 1600. TO MY VERY GOOD Friend, mr. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE It's not because I know that you Are really what the World has found you, That I collect and tell anew The tributes that have gathered round you. Of those great souls who turned their powers, As duty-bounden, to your praise, Weave I this little wreath of flowers. You have, I know, a "myriad mind," With thought and rhetoric impassioned, |