102 Reasons

“I swear by God’s body, I’d rather that my son should hang than study letters. For it becomes the sons of gentlemen to blow the horn nicely, to hunt skillfully and elegantly, carry and train a hawk. But the study of letters should be… go to article

  Some ideas on the current state of SAQ affairs Oxfordians claim to have assembled their contentions into a theory built from first principles by using a mass of circumstantial evidence. But are their claims reasonable or do… go to article

This page is brought to you by the Number 17. And 16. And 18 and 19. And with the kind help of our friends at The Folger Library.   Seventeen is magic to Oxfordians. They see it everywhere in Shakespeare’s work, enwoven in the… go to article

Faced with Sir Thomas More, a patchwork production by a rabble of commoners, which “like the toad … wears yet a precious jewel in his head”—a scene of Shakespeare’s—the Oxfordians have had to re-invent his lordship yet again. … go to article

I. Alexander Waugh has trumpeted the Second Coming; has bespoken his morning coat, and seen the invitations tastefully engraved, a gilded boar on each. The Oxfordians are all a-flutter. Dr. Roger Stritmatter (author of the last… go to article

Stylometry takes a step forward In the face of such methodological shortcomings, conflicting opinions, and duelling analyses, what is one to think? An obvious explanation is that to- day’s orthodox scholars, including all the… go to article

“By Shakespeare's time the possibilities for a politically critical drama had been transformed by the emergence of professional repertory companies which despite their residual status as royal servants derived their economic strength from… go to article

In the race to complete a list of 100 reasons why Oxford did or did not write Shakespeare's plays, Hank Whittemore's site has taken a strong lead in the final straight and now looks certain to beat us to the magic figure. We are becalmed… go to article

 The Oxfordian pick has struck gold again, an occurrence that seems to happen with astounding regularity, yet for some reason the nuggets found never seem to get past the assay office.This time the treasure lode is an article by the… go to article

Dating William STRACHEY’S ‘A TRUE REPORTORY OF THE WRACKE AND REDEMPTION OF SIR THOMAS GATES’: A comparative textual study In their article published in the September 2007, Review of English Studies, Roger Stritmatter and… go to article

A famous modern poet used to sacrifice every year a Statius to Virgil’s manes; and I have indignation enough to burn a D’Ambois annually to the memory of Jonson.John Dryden's poor opinion of Chapman's most famous plays is not widely shared… go to article

Does converting to Oxfordianism increase your appreciation of the work, as many Oxfordians claim? Nat Whilk likens it to ketchup on gourmet cooking, creating such an accurate picture of how faint praise can damn creative effort, we decided… go to article

  Alexander Waugh has trumpeted a great Oxfordian discovery. In The Spectator (2 November 2013), he wrote: “I clearly see that my work for the Earl of Oxford cannot be much longer required.” Lawrence Nowell… go to article

A pontification too far The Spectator. Alexander Waugh's Diary. November 2, 2013 Alexander Waugh's Diary is a sparse but rather good echo of Auberon Waugh's brilliant diary in Private Eye. With more than one entry a year and a bit more… go to article

'So does recreating 17th century seating and atmosphere allow any similar revelations about the text? On the basis of The Duchess of Malfi, the main discovery is the influence of the lighting on the writing'Mark Lawson The… go to article

“We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.” The Book of Common Prayer In the spring of 1579, Gilbert Talbot wrote his father, the Earl of Shrewsbury: “It is but vain to trouble your Lordship with such shows as… go to article

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.    "Now they are all on their knees," An elder said as we sat in a flock    By the embers in hearthside ease. We pictured the meek mild creatures where   … go to article

Alexander Waugh has trumpeted a great Oxfordian discovery. In The Spectator (2 November 2013), he wrote: “Researching a new book on Shakespeare’s sonnets, I stumbled upon an astonishing piece of hitherto unnoticed evidence in… go to article

There's not very much demand for this device, it has to be admitted. In fact I can't see it making its reserve on ebay. The range of poetry on which it operates successfully just isn't big enough to make it useful. It's perfect for the… go to article

Revving it up Reverend William Covell’s Wikipedia entry states that he “took part in the controversy about how far the newly-reformed Church of England should abandon the liturgy and hierarchy of the past, to which debate… go to article

“I freeze and burn, love is bitter and sweet, my sighs are tempests and my tears are floods, I am in ecstasy and agony, I am possessed by memories of her and I am in exile from myself.”  Francesco Petrarca*… go to article

Isola Vulcano was, until recently, the Oxfordian’s location of choice for Prospero’s Island. Not much can really be concluded from isolating the actual location but Oxfordians think it’s important to tie locations to the Earl’s Italian… go to article

Click bottom right to advance the slides. This was a Lovely day in late September. All argument aside, this is the way to arrive in Venice. Not over the Bridge and into the terrible car parks. There's ample parking here and regular… go to article

Can Shakespeare’s true identity be worth all the effort that has been expended on supporting all the different candidates in the authorship debate?  Well, you might as well ask why does anything matter? Does the difference between… go to article

The Painful Predicament of Pericles (for Oxfordians) Pericles is often seen as the runt of Shakespeare's litter. Although apparently popular with contemporary audiences, for reasons unknown it was not deemed worthy of a reprint in the… go to article

One of the features of a number of martial arts is that they rely, not on ones own strength but on turning one's opponents strength against them. Similarly, it is always a pleasure when one can turn anti-Stratfordian arguments against… go to article

In the English theatre, 1610-1611 was the Year of the Bear.As this tale is a late romance, it begins with an earlier tragedy. In Purchas his Pilgrimes, a mariner called Jonas Poole recounts his seventh voyage to the Arctic.  On 30 May… go to article

A Factual Desert. Biographical and autobiographical readings of Shakespeare’s sonnets feature on both sides of the authorship debate. In order to give meaning beyond a literal reading, a narrative is sought. Since the… go to article

While flicking through my pictures of the Mid-West, I came across the bright colours you see here on a very dull day. In Mitchell, South Dakota, there is a palace built of corn cobs. A large temple with ornate freizes done in coloured… go to article

The smoking gun, proving who did and who didn’t write Shakespeare, has been found in the hand of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford. Is that an authorship candidate who just bit the dust?  Ironically, it is de Vere himself… go to article