Haha, who is this ridiculous looking Elizabethan gentleman? Why it's none other than the greatest man of his time, Sir Francis Bacon. It's quite possible that you've never heard the name before, other than there was an artist who shared it also, but this man was surrounded by mystery and controversy, and still is to this day. What did he do to generate such mystery?
To all external apperances, Bacon was a genius. He was student of philosophy, nature, science and law. He was also a great writer and statesman, the greatest of his time probably. His oratory skills were unrivalled as well. He curried such favour with Queen Elizabeth, that it was widely believed then (and still is by many today) that he was her illegitiate son. However, the suggestion which has most firmly attached itself to Bacon, is that he was the true author of Shakespeare's plays. There is a great deal of evidence from that time to indicate that only he and no other could have written such momentous and elaborate works of literary genius.
While there is much evidence to suggest that Bacon was the true author of the Shakesperean plays, there is probably just as much evidence to demonstrate why Shakepseare could not have been the author. The man was a largely ignorant fellow who couldn't possibly have possessed the worldly knowledge and knowledge of court, law and philosophy, which shines through in the plays attributed to him. Unless one assumes that he absorbed information and ideas from those he met, like a sponge, then clearly the plays were conceived and written by another, by a man who did possess the knowledge and intellect. The only man of his time who did, was Sir Francis Bacon! Did Bacon take a slightly promising fresh-faced actor, newly arrived in London, and with the promise of riches, use him as a vehicle to publish plays which quite often contained satirical digs at the nobility, churchmen and monarchy of the period. Plainly, using a stooge, Bacon could air his grievances in public without fear of retribution. I'll bet he had a jolly good laugh in doing so too!
