It is pleasant to be able to begin a book on such a controversial subject
by expressing thanks to people whose views differ considerably from
my own. Mr. Edward D. Johnson, the present President of the Francis
Bacon Society, is one to whom I should like to acknowledge a particular
debt: not only has he sent me many of his own books and pamphlets, he
has furnished me with some insight into the Baconian mind by means
of a correspondence lasting many months. It is to him that I owe the
occasion of my first counter-arguments against certain Baconian
positions, arguments that I have developed in the Critical part of this
book.

Another Baconian, Mr. J. S. L. Millar, W.S., kindly sent me a
pamphlet of his own, and I must acknowledge a similar kindness on the
part of Mr. William Kent, F.S.A., one of the Vice-Presidents of the
Shakespeare Fellowship, a body primarily but not exclusively concerned
with advocating the claims of the Earl of Oxford. The Fellowship has
an excellent library, which I was very glad to make use of. I should
like to express here my grateful thanks to the Hon. Librarian, Miss
Ruth M. D. Wainewright, for her kind attention and courtesy.

On his visit to England during 1956, Mr. Calvin Hoffman, advocate
of the claims of Christopher Marlowe, kindly favoured me with an
answer to one or two questions of fact. For the gift or loan of books, I
must thank Mr. William Margrie, whose views are similar to mine;
Mr. John Atkins; my former colleague, Mr. R. E. Kellett; and my
collaborator in research, Mr. Maurice Hussey.

In the History part of this book, I should, quite frankly, have been
lost without Mr. Hussey's co-operation. Many of the foreign works
on the question, and some of the minor theories, were unknown to me
until I had the results of his research. He himself would like to thank,
on our joint behalf, the Librarian of the Shakespeare Memorial Library,
Birmingham, for the loan of invaluable books and a microfilm; and the
University Library, Cambridge, for the kindness of their staff upon
innumerable matters. A personal note of thanks (Mr. Hussey adds) is
also due to Mr. Morris Shapira of Downing College, Cambridge, and
to Mr. W. G. Moore of St. John's College, Oxford. Needless to say,
Mr. Hussey is not responsible for any mistakes I may have made in the
writing of this book.

R. C. C.

May 1957

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