The witnesses summoned by the concoctors of the gigantic fraud which Mr. William Henry Smith would have us believe was perpetrated with reference to these dramas, are certainly of quite an opposite character to what we should have anticipated. They were all honourable persons, although the work they had in hand was the most dishonourable and ignominious that could well be conceived. Strange infatuation! that the workers in this iniquity, contrary to the general rule, should have been high-minded men, of birth and position. First and foremost amongst them stands Ben Jonson,-“rare Ben Jonson," the bosom friend, the fellow dramatist, the constant companion of Shakespeare. Ben Jonson knew the bard of Avon well; he appreciated his merits, and comprehended his mighty superiority, as we learn from many of his sayings and criticisms that have escaped the ravages of time; and his evidence is so valuable that we shall avail ourselves of it anon. But Ben Jonson also knew Baconthe man and the author-and understood what a mighty figure he made in the realms of Literature. In "Timber, or Discoveries," he says:—

"I have ever observed it to have been the office of a wise Patriot, among the greatest affairs of the State, to take care of the Commonwealth of Learning. For Schools, they are the Seminaries of State: and nothing is worthier the study of a Statesman, than that part of the Republick, which we call the advancement of Letters. Witness the case of Julius Cæsar, who, in the heat of the civil war, writ his books of Analogy, and dedicated them to Tully. This made the late Lord St. Alban entitle his work, Novum Organum. Which though by the most of superficial men, who cannot get beyond the title of Nominals, it is not penetrated, nor understood: it really openeth all defects of Learning, whatsoever, and is a book,

Qui longum noto scriptori porriget ævum.

My conceit of his Person was never increased toward

him, by his place, or honours. But I have, and do reverence him for the greatness that was only proper to himself, in that he seemed to me ever, by his work, one of the greatest men, and most worthy of admiration, that had been in many Ages. In his adversity I ever prayed that God would give him strength: for Greatness he could not want. Neither could I condole in a word or syllable for him; as knowing no accident could do harm to virtue; but rather help to make it manifest."

Most assuredly Ben Jonson would not have penned the commendatory verses upon William Shakespeare which we before quoted, nor have written this eulogium on Francis Bacon, when both of these great men were in their graves, had they committed the vile fraud with which, after more than two centuries of honourable renown, they are so unjustly charged. The irritable jealousy of Jonson's nature would have exploded at the great wrong done to him and others, and he would have burst forth in an eloquent invective against both the transgressors.

Let us proceed to consider evidence of a similar kind that is crowding upon us. On turning to the next page, we encounter "the Epistle Dedicatorie." addressed and worded:

It is thus

"To the most noble and incomparable paire of Brethren, William Earle of Pembroke, &c. Lord Chamberlaine to the King's most excellent Maiesty, and Philip Earle of Montgomery, &c. Gentleman of his Maiestie's Bed-Chamber. Both Knights of the most noble order of the Garter and our singular good Lords.

"RIGHT HONOURABLE,—Whilst we studie to be thankful in our particular, for the many favors we have received from your L. L. we are falne upon the ill fortune, to mingle two the most diverse things that can bee, feare, and

rashnesse; rashnesse in the enterprize, and feare of the successe. For, when we valew the places your H. H, sustaine, we cannot but know their dignity greater, then to descend to the reading of these trifles: and, while we name them trifles, we have depriv'd our selves of the defence of our Dedication. But since your L. L. have beene pleas'd to thinke these trifles something, heeretofore; and have prosequuted both them, and their Authour living, with so much favour: we hope, that (they outliving him, and he not having the fate, common with some, to be exequutor to his owne writings) you will use the like indulgence toward them, you have done unto their parent. There is a great difference, whether any Booke choose his Patrones, or finde them: This hath done both. For, so much were your L. L. likings of the severall parts, when they were acted, as before they were published, the volume ask'd to be yours. We have but collected them, and done an office to the dead, to procure his Orphanes, Guardians; without ambition either of selfeprofit, or fame: onely to keep the memory of so worthy a Friend, and Fellow alive, as was our Shakespeare, by humble offer of his playes, to your most noble patronage. Wherein, as we have justly observed, no man to come neere your L. L. but with a kind of religious addresse; it hath bin the height of our care, who are the Presenters, to make the present worthy of your H. H. by the perfection. But, there we must also crave our abilities to be consider'd, my Lords. We cannot go beyond our owne powers. Country hands reach foorth milke, creame, fruites, or what they have and many Nations (we have heard) that had not gummes and incense, obtained their requests with a leavened Cake. It was no fault to approch their Gods, by what meanes they could: And the most, though meanest, of things are made more precious, when they are dedicated to Temples. In that name therefore, we most humbly consecrate to your H. H. these remaines of your servant Shakespeare; that what delight is in them, may

be ever your L. L. the reputation his, and the fault ours, if any be committed, by a payre so caerfull to shew their gratitude both to the living, and the dead, as is

"Your Lordshippes' most bounden,

"JOHN HEMINGE.
"HENRY CONDELL."

Our readers will naturally enough ask who the noblemen were, thus freely appealed to; and what kind of persons put forth the appeal? The answer is simple enough the former were amongst the highest in the land, and the latter were just those very individuals most intimately acquainted with the private life and affairs of the poet, for whose works they besought patronage and favour. It will be sufficient for our present purpose to obtain some particulars concerning one of the noblemen thus addressed, the highest in rank, station, and authority; and having satisfied ourselves upon this point, to pass on to other matters.

The most distinguished of the noble pair who are said to have treated the author of these dramas with so much favour, while living, was William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, justly regarded as the glory of his age. His mother was Mary, the sister of that true mirror of chivalry, Sir Philip Sydney. She died in 1621, and Ben Jonson, in seeking to do honour to her memory, composed one of the most beautiful epitaphs in any language:

"Underneath this marble hearse
Lies the subject of all verse:
Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother:
Death, ere thou hast slain another,
Wise, and fair, and good as she,
Time shall throw a dart at thee."

In 1609 Lord Pembroke was appointed governor of Portsmouth, and in 1615 he was made Lord Chamberlain of the household. He was also elected Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and enjoyed the confidence

of all classes of the community. Wood says, "His mind was purely heroic, often stout, but never disloyal."* That biographer continues:- "He was not only a great favourer of learned and ingenious men, but was himself learned;" and he was well known as the author of several small poems. He died in 1630. In Clarendon's magnificent Portrait-Gallery this nobleman occupies a most prominent position. Thus is he delineated :—

66

William, Earl of Pembroke, was a man of another mould and making, and of another fame and reputation with all men, being the most universally loved and esteemed of any man of that age; and having a great office in the court, he made the court itself better esteemed, and more reverenced in the country. And as he had a great number of friends of the best men, so no man had ever the wickedness to avow himself to be his enemy. He was a man very well bred, and of excellent parts, and a graceful speaker upon any subject, having a good proportion of learning, and a ready wit to apply it, and enlarge upon it; of a pleasant and facetious humour, and a disposition affable, generous, and magnificent. He was master of a great fortune from his ancestors, and had a great addition by his wife, another daughter and heir of the Earl of Shrewsbury, which he enjoyed during his life, she outliving him but all served not his expense, which was only limited by his great mind, and occasions to use it nobly.

He was a great lover of his country, and of the religion and justice, which he believed could only support it; and his friendships were only with men of those principles. And as his conversation was most with men of the most pregnant parts and understanding, so towards any who needed support or encouragement, though unknown, if fairly recommended to him, he was very liberal. And sure never man was planted in a court, that was fitter * Athenæ Oxonienses.