Fascinating new theory. Henry Neville as Shakespeare--including a 1602 notebook which belonged to Neville while imprisoned in the Tower. The notebook, according to Brenda James and William Rubenstein (Rubenstein a professor of the University of Wales) "includes background notes for the procession in Henry VIII," 11 years before the play was produced.

Also, as a director of the London Virginia Company, Neville had access to a 20,000 word letter on the 1609 Bermuda shipwreck, a letter which likely formed a major source for The Tempest.

Neville lived c1562-1615.

Other evidence--no time to detail it now.

Anybody heard anything, positive or negative, on this theory?