Oxford vs. Stratford

‘… for truth is truth though never so old, and time cannot make that false which was once true’

~ Edward de Vere in a letter dated 07 May 1603

‘… for truth is truth To the end of reckoning’ ~ Measure for Measure V. i.

The plays of William Shakespeare are rich in learning and wit. Their author took plots from Chaucer, from works of Roman and English history and from Italian, French and Latin sources that had not yet been translated into English. They display a comprehensive knowledge of law, medicine, astronomy, music, of Italian and French customs and topography, a love of the English language and an eagerness to improve the human condition through wisdom and learning.

They caricature distinguished courtiers such as Lord Burghley (Polonius), Robert Cecil (Richard III) and Christopher Hatton (Malvolio) and are predominantly concerned with kings, courts and the nobility. Looking at the documentary record dating from the lifetime of each – Edward de Vere (1550-1604) and William of Stratford (1564-1616) – the following observations are gleaned.


From a literate, theatre-loving family	Yes	No
Record of early education	Yes	No
Attendance at University	Yes	No
Studied Law	Yes	No
Praised for love of learning	Yes	No
Spoke the French and Italian languages	Yes	No
Owned French and Italian books	Yes	No
Owned English books	Yes	No
Read, spoke and wrote Latin	Yes	No
Known for his love of music	Yes	No
Known for interest in astronomy	Yes	No
Knowledge of Italy	Yes	No
Praised for knowledge of foreign arts	Yes	No
Owned books on medicine	Yes	No
Loved Chaucer and owned his works	Yes	No
Known for love of history	Yes	No
Owned history books	Yes	No
Known for love of English literature	Yes	No
Reformer of the English language	Yes	No
Known to other playwrights	Yes	No
Known to other poets	Yes	No
Known to scholars	Yes	No
Known to Queen Elizabeth I	Yes	No
Known to distinguished courtiers	Yes	No
Could write in Italic hand	Yes	No
Had a sense of humour	Yes	No
Praised for his wit	Yes	No
Educated his children	Yes	No
Connected to public and Court theatre	Yes	Yes
Worked with actors	Yes	Yes
Taught others to recite lines	Yes	No
Connected to a grammar school	Yes	No
Prodigious writer and improviser of verse	Yes	No
Wished to improve the life of others through books of wisdom and learning	Yes	No

On these facts alone the candidacy of William of Stratford as the author of Shakespeare’s plays is a non-starter, while Edward de Vere, whose plays are said by orthodox commentators to be entirely lost, fits the profile of the missing poet ‘Shakespeare’ like a glove. The first complete folio edition of Shakespeare’s works was published in 1623 and dedicated to Edward de Vere’s son-in- law, the Earl of Montgomery. Neither William of Stratford nor any of his family or friends ever claimed that he was a poet, dramatist or writer of any kind.

Oxford vs. Stratford

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