I'm sorry but: No — there is no reliable evidence that a "Promus Notebook" containing hundreds of Francis Bacon’s handwritten phrases from Shakespeare was found in the British Museum in the mid‑1800s.
Brief background and key points:
The claim appears in some Baconian authorship literature (which argues Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare). It asserts a "promus" (a notebook of phrases) was discovered that matches Shakespeare’s lines.
Major scholarly institutions and mainstream Shakespeare scholarship do not accept this as genuine evidence. No cataloged British Museum (now British Library) discovery from the mid‑1800s fits that description.
Known surviving Bacon manuscripts are limited and catalogued; none support the dramatic claim of a large promus of Shakespearean lines in Bacon’s hand.
Many specific “promus” stories circulated in 19th–early 20th century Baconian circles, but they rely on hearsay, unverified copies, or forged/ambiguous documents.
You are totally wrong. James Spedding found the notebook and wrote about it and published parts of it in his 14 volume "Collected Works" of Bacon. The latest newest and quite recent "Collected Works" of Bacon also incudes it and discusses it as I mention in the article. The Promus is fully accepted in academia as Bacon's private notebook. There is no controversy about that at all. The parallels to Shakespeare are by independent researchers and those are ignored by academia. But the proof is in the pudding.
After reading the work of Alfred Dodds and Peter Dawkins it is easy to see Francis was using the pen name William Shakespeare.
As you suggested he was the son of ELIZABETH 1 who could be rather tyrannical at times so it was better to use another name. Also I believe he wanted the plays to help the people ...ie it was not about him. When we look back at that time it is not helpful to view it with today's ideas as you end up labelling the work propaganda as you have done. It is my understanding Francis was genuinely trying to help his fellow mankind. Thanks for your great article.
Yes I do believe he was the secret son of Elizabeth. There is a whole lot of circumstantial evidence for it and I need to write it up. I have a very dark view of Francis unlike Dodd and Dawkins. I believe he meant to establish the British Empire and “Shakespeare” was designed to be the national poet. I go into it in detail here. https://robertfrederick.substack.com/p/theater-of-espionage-why-is-the-shakespeare?r=1iqqju
I took a 30 week handwriting analysis class and my teacher insisted there was no high level worldly writer known as Shakespeare that Bacon was the author…
Ha! Smart cookie handwriting analysis guy. The evidence for Bacon as author and ringleader of the Shakespeare Hoax is completely overwhelming and ALL the promoters of alternative author candidates like DeVere or North or Sackville or Marlowe or Sydney need to acknowledge that fact and get their guy or gal connected to Bacon. Alexander Waugh said as much, more or less, before he passed.
Bacon was directed byKing James,and put in charge of the scholars translating and creating the King James version of the Bible (1604/1611). In Psalm 46, go down 46 words from the top, and go up 46 words from the bottom. Nuff said.
Re Ben Johnson "who never saw fit to mention Will previously and barely ever mentioned him again." Actually he does seem to have written about him, mocking him in his poem 'On Poet Ape'. Some think he's also lampooned in one of Johnson's plays but I'd have to check on that.
True, but very veiled. I meant he never said, 'chatting up Will last night- he's on a new play' or something, or anything! Such overt the top FULSOME praise in the First Folio and almost nothing else. Ben is a fascinating fellow. Apparently there is evidence he was residing in Gorhambury with BAcon during the time the time before First Folio was printed. They've found letters mentioning it. A. Phoenix again!
There's also Bacon's copy of Holinshed's Chronicles, marked up with relevance to some of the history plays. I was sure I'd seen a facsimile of that book with the double-A headpiece on it, but I couldn't find it again when I looked. Have you come across that?
I'm sorry but: No — there is no reliable evidence that a "Promus Notebook" containing hundreds of Francis Bacon’s handwritten phrases from Shakespeare was found in the British Museum in the mid‑1800s.
Brief background and key points:
The claim appears in some Baconian authorship literature (which argues Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare). It asserts a "promus" (a notebook of phrases) was discovered that matches Shakespeare’s lines.
Major scholarly institutions and mainstream Shakespeare scholarship do not accept this as genuine evidence. No cataloged British Museum (now British Library) discovery from the mid‑1800s fits that description.
Known surviving Bacon manuscripts are limited and catalogued; none support the dramatic claim of a large promus of Shakespearean lines in Bacon’s hand.
Many specific “promus” stories circulated in 19th–early 20th century Baconian circles, but they rely on hearsay, unverified copies, or forged/ambiguous documents.
Why do you require major scholarly institutions to verify the truth of something. Just look at what the writer presented. Then make up your own mind.
You are totally wrong. James Spedding found the notebook and wrote about it and published parts of it in his 14 volume "Collected Works" of Bacon. The latest newest and quite recent "Collected Works" of Bacon also incudes it and discusses it as I mention in the article. The Promus is fully accepted in academia as Bacon's private notebook. There is no controversy about that at all. The parallels to Shakespeare are by independent researchers and those are ignored by academia. But the proof is in the pudding.
After reading the work of Alfred Dodds and Peter Dawkins it is easy to see Francis was using the pen name William Shakespeare.
As you suggested he was the son of ELIZABETH 1 who could be rather tyrannical at times so it was better to use another name. Also I believe he wanted the plays to help the people ...ie it was not about him. When we look back at that time it is not helpful to view it with today's ideas as you end up labelling the work propaganda as you have done. It is my understanding Francis was genuinely trying to help his fellow mankind. Thanks for your great article.
Yes I do believe he was the secret son of Elizabeth. There is a whole lot of circumstantial evidence for it and I need to write it up. I have a very dark view of Francis unlike Dodd and Dawkins. I believe he meant to establish the British Empire and “Shakespeare” was designed to be the national poet. I go into it in detail here. https://robertfrederick.substack.com/p/theater-of-espionage-why-is-the-shakespeare?r=1iqqju
Propaganda works especially well on those who don’t like to see evil.
I took a 30 week handwriting analysis class and my teacher insisted there was no high level worldly writer known as Shakespeare that Bacon was the author…
Ha! Smart cookie handwriting analysis guy. The evidence for Bacon as author and ringleader of the Shakespeare Hoax is completely overwhelming and ALL the promoters of alternative author candidates like DeVere or North or Sackville or Marlowe or Sydney need to acknowledge that fact and get their guy or gal connected to Bacon. Alexander Waugh said as much, more or less, before he passed.
Bacon was directed byKing James,and put in charge of the scholars translating and creating the King James version of the Bible (1604/1611). In Psalm 46, go down 46 words from the top, and go up 46 words from the bottom. Nuff said.
Nuff said true dat
Re Ben Johnson "who never saw fit to mention Will previously and barely ever mentioned him again." Actually he does seem to have written about him, mocking him in his poem 'On Poet Ape'. Some think he's also lampooned in one of Johnson's plays but I'd have to check on that.
He couldn't stand the guy.
True, but very veiled. I meant he never said, 'chatting up Will last night- he's on a new play' or something, or anything! Such overt the top FULSOME praise in the First Folio and almost nothing else. Ben is a fascinating fellow. Apparently there is evidence he was residing in Gorhambury with BAcon during the time the time before First Folio was printed. They've found letters mentioning it. A. Phoenix again!
“On Poet Ape?” like, Gorillaz?
Well yes, kind of -- to ape as in to imitate.
Well yes, kind of -- to ape as in to imitate.
There's also Bacon's copy of Holinshed's Chronicles, marked up with relevance to some of the history plays. I was sure I'd seen a facsimile of that book with the double-A headpiece on it, but I couldn't find it again when I looked. Have you come across that?
I have heard of it but I think the book disappeared. The best Bacon researcher right now is A. Phoenix. She's off the scale. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPMwkcxLjXo