How far the author is qualified for the due execution of his design, remains for the public to decide; but it may, without ostentation, be told, that his leisure, for the last thirty years, has been, in a great decree, devoted to a line of study immediately associated with the subject; and that his attachment to old English literature has led him to a familiarity with the only sources from which, on such a topic, authentic illustration is to be derived.
He will likewise venture to observe, that, in the style of criticism which he has pursued, it has been his object, an ambitious one it is true, to unfold, in a manner more distinct than has hitherto been effected, the peculiar character of the poet's drama; and, lastly, to produce a work, which, while it may satisfy the poetical antiquary, shall, from the variety, interest, and integrity of its component parts, be equally gratifying to the general reader.
Hadleigh, Suffolk,
April 7th, 1817.
CONTENTS
OF
THE FIRST VOLUME.
| PART I. | |
| SHAKSPEARE IN STRATFORD. | |
| CHAP. I. | |
| Birth of Shakspeare—Account of his Family—Orthography of his Name. | Page [1] |
| CHAP. II. | |
| The House in which Shakspeare was born—Plague at Stratford, June 1564—Shakspeareeducated at the Free-school of Stratford—State of Education,and of Juvenile Literature in the Country at this period—Extent of Shakspeare'sacquirements as a Scholar. | [21] |
| CHAP. III. | |
| Shakspeare, after leaving School, follows his Father's Trade—Statement ofAubrey—Probably present in his Twelfth Year at Kenelworth, whenElizabeth visited the Earl of Leicester—Tradition of Aubrey concerninghim—Whether there is reason to suppose that, after leaving his Father, hewas placed in an Attorney's Office, who was likewise Seneschal or Stewardof some Manor—Anecdotes of Shakspeare—Allusions in his Works toBarton, Wilnecotte, and Barston, Villages in Warwickshire—Earthquakein 1580 alluded to—Whether, after leaving School, he acquired anyKnowledge of the French and Italian languages. | [34] |
| CHAP. IV. | |
| Shakspeare married to Anne Hathaway—Account of the Hathaways—Cottageat Shottery—Birth of his eldest Child, Susanna—Hamnet andJudith baptized—Anecdote of Shakspeare—Shakspeare apparently settledin the Country. | [59] |
| CHAP. V. | |
| A View of Country-Life during the Age of Shakspeare—Its Manners andCustoms—Rural Characters; the Country-Gentleman—the Country-Coxcomb—theCountry-Clergyman—the Country-Schoolmaster—theFarmer or Yeoman, his Mode of Living—the Huswife, her DomesticEconomy—the Farmer's Heir—the Poor Copyholder—the DownrightClown, or Plain Country-Boor. | [68] |
| CHAP. VI. | |
| A View of Country-Life during the Age of Shakspeare—Manners and Customscontinued—Rural Holidays and Festivals; New-Year's Day—TwelfthDay—Rock-Day—Plough-Monday—Shrove-tide—Easter-tide—Hock-tide—May-Day—Whitsuntide—Ales;Leet-ale—Lamb-ale—Bride-ale—Clerk-ale—Church-ale—Whitsun-ale—Sheep-shearingFeast—Candlemas-Day—Harvest-Home—Seed-cakeFeast—Martinmas—Christmas. | [123] |
| CHAP. VII. | |
| A View of Country-Life during the Age of Shakspeare—Manners and Customs,continued—Wakes—Fairs—Weddings—Christenings—Burials. | [209] |
| CHAP. VIII. | |
| View of Country-Life during the Age of Shakspeare, continued—Diversions—TheItinerant Stage—Cotswold Games—Hawking—Hunting—Fowling—Fishing—Horse-racing—TheQuintaine—The Wild-goose Chase—Hurling—Shovel-board—JuvenileSports—Barley-breake—Parish-Top. | [246] |
| CHAP. IX. | |
| View of Country-Life during the Age of Shakspeare, continued—An Accountof some of its Superstitions; Winter-Night's Conversation—PeculiarPeriods devoted to Superstition—St. Paul's Day—St. Swithen's Day—St.Mark's Day—Childermas—St. Valentine's Day—Midsummer-Eve—Michaelmas—AllHallow-Eve—St. Withold—Omens—Charms—Sympathies—SuperstitiousCures—Miscellaneous Superstitions. | [314] |
| CHAP. X. | |
| Biography of Shakspeare resumed—His Irregularities—Deer-stealing inSir Thomas Lucy's Park—Account of the Lucy family—Daisy-hill, theKeeper's Lodge, where Shakspeare was confined, on the Charge of stealingDeer—Shakspeare's Revenge—Ballad on Lucy—Severe Prosecution bySir Thomas—never forgotten by Shakspeare—this Cause, and probablyalso Debt, as his Father was now in reduced Circumstances, induced himto leave the Country for London about 1586—Remarks on this Removal. | [401] |
| PART II. | |
| SHAKSPEARE IN LONDON. | |
| CHAP. I. | |
| Shakspeare's Arrival in London about the Year 1586, when twenty-twoYears of Age—Leaves his Family at Stratford, visiting them occasionally—HisIntroduction to the Stage—His Merits as an Actor. | [413] |
| CHAP. II. | |
| Shakspeare commences a Writer of Poetry, probably about the year 1587, bythe composition of his Venus and Adonis—Historical Outline of PoliteLiterature, during the Age of Shakspeare—General passion for Letters—Bibliography—Shakspeare'sAttachment to Books—Philology—Criticism—Shakspeare'sProgress in both—History, general, local, and personal,Shakspeare's Acquaintance with—Miscellaneous Literature. | [426] |
| CHAP. III. | |
| View of Romantic Literature during the Age of Shakspeare—Shakspeare'sAttachment to, and Use of, Romances, Tales, and Ballads. | [518] |
| CHAP. IV. | |
| View of Miscellaneous Poetry during the same period. | [594] |