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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ... TESTIMONY OF THE FIRST FOLIO In his recent interesting but somewhat conjectural Life of Shakespeare, Dr. Rolfe argues that it is absurd to suppose that Bacon had anything to do with the editing of the Shake-speare Folio of 1623 on the ground that the many typographical errors in that volume show beyond the possibility of a doubt, that the plays in the Folio could not have been carefully revised or seen through the press by any person who had had experience in editing, printing or publishing. He adds: That Francis Bacon could have edited them or supervised their publication is inconceivable--except to a fool or a Baconian. It is to be hoped that the Baconians are duly appreciative of this differentiation--it is a very unusual courtesy. In reply to this a believer in the Baconian editorship of the First Folio might in the first place quote Spedding to the effect that many of Bacon's early works, published during his lifetime and presumably under his supervision, are quite as badly printed as is the Shake-speare First Folio. Next, he might show that, at the time of the appearance of the Folio, Bacon was suffering from the mental distress following what is known as his fall, and that he was very deeply occupied in matters which probably to him, at that period of his life, appeared of much greater consequence, and that whatever share he might have had in the matter was undoubtedly delegated to secretaries. He might also suggest that if Bacon wished to remain unknown in the matter he would have been careful not to have allowed his hand to appear in it, thereby providing Dr. Rolfe with his argument. He might also call attention to the fact that the only literary man who is known to have had any connection with the publication of the Folio was Ben...

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