Which English philosopher did Henry Seymour believe authored plays under the pseudonym of William Shakespeare?
Baconian theory of Shakespeare authorship The Baconian theory of Shakespearean authorship holds that Sir Francis Bacon, philosopher, essayist and scientist, wrote the plays which were publicly attributed to William Shakespeare. Various explanations are offered for this alleged subterfuge, most commonly that Bacon's rise to high office might have been hindered were it to become known that he wrote plays for the public stage. Thus the plays were credited to Shakespeare, who was merely a front to shield the identity of Bacon.
The Spanish Maze The Spanish Maze is a lost Jacobean stage drama whose author is unknown. It was performed at the court of King James I on 11 February 1605 by The King's Men, the acting company of William Shakespeare. It was one of ten plays performed there during the 1604-1605 holiday season, including seven by Shakespeare and two by Ben Jonson, and the only one of the ten now lost. A few scholars have suggested that "The Spanish Maze" was an early version of Shakespeare's "The Tempest".