CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Pilgrimages, ancient and modern-Reasons for riding on horseback—The

companions of my journey-Hints for the road-Hertford-Its

staple manufacture-Panfhanger-The River Lea-Luton-Dun-

ftable-Early English church-Winflow-Buckingham-Banbury—

Edgehill.

Page 1

CHAPTER II.

Arrival at Stratford-Firft impreffions-Appearance of Stratford in

Shakefpere's time-Ancient bridge built by Sir Hugh Clopton-

The Shakefpere Inn-The Town Hall-Chapel of Holy Cross-

Grammar School-Parish church-Old houses in Chapel Street-

Street fronts-Priests' college

16

CHAPTER III.

Shakefpere's parentage-His father's ftation and employments-His

mother-The house in which he was born-Reftorations-Portrait

prefented by Mr. W. O. Hunt-Project of planting the garden

with flowers mentioned by Shakespere-Viciffitudes of the house-

Its final preservation as a national relic

26

CHAPTER IV.

The fchool where he was brought up-His fchoolmafters-Prototype of

Sir Hugh Evans, and perhaps of Holofernes.

CHAPTER V.

44

Shottery-Anne Hathaway's home-His marriage and married life 51

CHAPTER VI.

His brothers and fifters-His father's embarraffments-Tradition of his

poaching adventure-External evidence-Internal evidence-Juftice

Shallow-His love of hunting-His punishment and revenge—

Vifit to Charlecote-Harvest home-Shooting a buck-Charlecote

Hall-Lord Macaulay on English domeftic architecture-Charlecote

Church and monuments

58

CHAPTER VII.

The early drama-Myfteries, miracles, moralities-The Elizabethan

Drama-Shakefpere's Introduction to the ftage-Tradition that he

held gentlemen's horfes-His firft employments in the theatre-

Greene's envious allufion to his fuccefs-Chettle's teftimony to his

uprightnefs and courtefy-Meeres' account of his plays-His induf-

try-The profits of actors in his time.

CHAPTER VIII.

78

Elizabethan theatres-Shakefpere's fkill as an actor-His friendship with

Southampton-He is noticed by King James-His plays popular at

court-Venus and Adonis-Rape of Lucrece-His obligations to

Chaucer-The fonnets-Dedication-Mr. F. Victor Hugo's theory

-bis knowledge of good society

· 98

CHAPTER IX.

His annual vifit to Stratford-His careleffnefs of fame-Grant of arms to

his father-Purchase of New Place-Remains of New Place-Fate

of his mulberry tree

124

CHAPTER X.

Social effects of railroads-Shakespere's town and country life-Sources

from whence he obtained the plots of his plays-Wrote for immediate

fuccefs and profit-His friends and focial life in London-Ben Jonfon

-His converfation and bon-mots-Life in the country-Friends at

Stratford-Amusements-His death-His religion-His descendants

-First edition of his works-Dedication .

. 136

CHAPTER XI.

Remaining relics at Stratford-on-Avon-His parish church-His grave—

His monument-Monuments of his family-Font in which he was

probably baptifed-My return home.

. 183

CHAPTER XII.

Ideal of the man-His influence on the national character-Structure

of his plays The Tercentenary Festival-Propofed Shakesperian

Theatre

· 196

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LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

Monument of Shakefpere in the Parish Church, Stratford-on

Shakefpere's Houfe, Stratford-on-Avon; from Henley Street
Shakefpere's Houfe, fhowing the Window of the Room in which

he was born

Living Room in Shakefpere's House

Interior of the Room in which Shakefpere was born

Shakefpere's House, from the Garden. The Garden Seat, a carved

Frontispiece.

24

30

35

37

38

44

52

76

134

Grammar School and Tower of the Guild Chapel, Stratford-on-
Avon

Ann Hathaway's Cottage, Shottery

Charlecote Hall, near Stratford-on-Avon: the Seat of Sir Thomas
Lucy (Juftice Shallow)

Ruins of New Place, Stratford-on-Avon: the Houfe in which
Shakefpere died.

Porch of Parish Church, Stratford-on-Avon

Weft end of the Parish Church, Stratford-on-Avon

Ancient Font in the Parish Church of Stratford-on-Avon, in which

it is believed Shakefpere was baptifed

Monument of Shakefpere, in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey

****

SHAKESPERE.

UNIV ST

***

CHAPTER I.

MANY are the changes which have paffed over England fince Edward the Third was king; and amongst them not the least characteristic is that which may be obferved in the objects, the manner, and the seasons of our pilgrimages. The men of the fourteenth century fought forgetfulness of the evils under which they groaned by adoring at the fhrine of the bold priest who, by paffive refistance, withstood the will of the fierce Norman Conqueror; we try to elevate our minds above the common drudgery of life by seeking Nature where she may be worshipped in her grandest forms, 2 or by treading the ground which has been confecrated by Genius. They rode from every fhire's end of England to kneel at the shrine of Beckett, “the holy, blissful martyr," and to kifs his blood-stained vestments; we take the exprefs train to Warwick, and thence

B