In the midst of my studies I was arrested by the loss of sight; the papers in this collection are a portion of my projected history.
The title prefixed to this work has been adopted to connect it with its brothers, the “Curiosities of Literature,” and “Miscellanies of Literature;” but though the form and manner bear a family resemblance, the subject has more unity of design.
The author of the present work is denied the satisfaction of reading a single line of it, yet he flatters himself that he shall not trespass on the indulgence he claims for any slight inadvertences. It has been confided to ONE whose eyes unceasingly pursue the volume for him who can no more read, and whose eager hand traces the thought ere it vanish in the thinking; but it is only a father who can conceive the affectionate patience of filial devotion.
CONTENTS.
| PAGE | |
| THE DRUIDICAL INSTITUTION | [1] |
| BRITAIN AND THE BRITONS | [12] |
| THE NAME OF ENGLAND AND OF THE ENGLISH | [24] |
| THE ANGLO-SAXONS | [28] |
| CÆDMON AND MILTON | [37] |
| BEOWULF; THE HERO-LIFE | [51] |
| THE ANGLO-NORMANS | [59] |
| THE PAGE, THE BARON, AND THE MINSTREL | [70] |
| GOTHIC ROMANCES | [81] |
| ORIGIN OF THE VERNACULAR LANGUAGES OF EUROPE | [96] |
| ORIGIN OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE | [111] |
| VICISSITUDES OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE | [128] |
| DIALECTS | [142] |
| MANDEVILLE; OUR FIRST TRAVELLER | [151] |
| CHAUCER | [158] |
| GOWER | [177] |
| PIERS PLOUGHMAN | [183] |
| OCCLEVE; THE SCHOLAR OF CHAUCER | [191] |
| LYDGATE; THE MONK OF BURY | [196] |
| THE INVENTION OF PRINTING | [203] |
| THE FIRST ENGLISH PRINTER | [214] |
| EARLY LIBRARIES | [221] |
| HENRY THE SEVENTH | [228] |
| FIRST SOURCES OF MODERN HISTORY | [234] |
| ARNOLDE’S CHRONICLE | [240] |
| THE FIRST PRINTED CHRONICLE | [243] |
| HENRY THE EIGHTH; HIS LITERARY CHARACTER | [250] |
| BOOKS OF THE PEOPLE | [256] |
| THE DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED BY A PRIMITIVE AUTHOR | [268] |
| SKELTON | [276] |
| THE SHIP OF FOOLS | [285] |
| THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTER OF SIR THOMAS MORE | [289] |
| THE EARL OF SURREY AND SIR THOMAS WYATT | [303] |
| THE SPOLIATION OF THE MONASTERIES | [316] |
| A CRISIS AND A REACTION; ROBERT CROWLEY | [322] |
| PRIMITIVE DRAMAS | [339] |
| THE REFORMER BISHOP BALE; AND THE ROMANIST JOHN HEYWOOD,THE COURT JESTER | [353] |
| ROGER ASCHAM | [359] |
| PUBLIC OPINION | [368] |
| ORTHOGRAPHY AND ORTHOEPY | [381] |
| THE ANCIENT METRES IN MODERN VERSE | [393] |
| ORIGIN OF RHYME | [399] |
| RHYMING DICTIONARIES | [403] |
| THE ARTE OF ENGLISH POESIE | [405] |
| THE DISCOVERIE OF WITCHCRAFT | [413] |
| THE FIRST JESUITS IN ENGLAND | [423] |
| HOOKER | [439] |
| SIR PHILIP SIDNEY | [451] |
| SPENSER | [460] |
| THE FAERY QUEEN | [475] |
| ALLEGORY | [487] |
| THE FIRST TRAGEDY AND THE FIRST COMEDY | [502] |
| THE PREDECESSORS AND CONTEMPORARIES OF SHAKESPEARE | [514] |
| SHAKESPEARE | [529] |
| THE “HUMOURS” OF JONSON | [578] |
| DRAYTON | [584] |
| THE PSYCHOLOGICAL HISTORY OF RAWLEIGH | [590] |
| THE OCCULT PHILOSOPHER, DR. DEE | [617] |
| THE ROSACRUSIAN FLUDD | [642] |
| BACON | [650] |
| THE FIRST FOUNDER OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY | [661] |
| EARLY WRITERS, THEIR DREAD OF THE PRESS,—THE TRANSITIONTO AUTHORS BY PROFESSION | [670] |
| THE AGE OF DOCTRINES | [681] |
| PAMPHLETS | [685] |
| THE OCEANA OF HARRINGTON | [692] |
| THE AUTHOR OF “THE GROUNDS AND REASONS OF MONARCHY” | [709] |
| COMMONWEALTH | [712] |
| THE TRUE INTELLECTUAL SYSTEM OF THE UNIVERSE | [714] |
| DIFFICULTIES OF THE PUBLISHERS OF CONTEMPORARY MEMOIRS | [724] |
| THE WAR AGAINST BOOKS | [738] |
AMENITIES OF LITERATURE.
THE DRUIDICAL INSTITUTION.