Act v. scene 4., i. 288. ii. 159.

The Epilogue, i. 218.

_Aubrey_, statement of, respecting Shakspeare's being a butcher, i. 36. Probability of his account that Shakspeare had been a schoolmaster, 45. His character of the poet, ii. 615.

_Avale_ (Lemeke), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 676.

_Autolycus_, remarks on the character of, ii. 500.

B

_Bacon_ (Lord), character of his Henry VII., i. 476., and of his "Essays," 512. 517.

_Bag-Pipe_, the ancient accompaniment of the morris-dance and May-games, i. 164, 165.

_Baldwyne_'s "Myrrour for Magistrates," account of, i. 708, 709.

_Ballads_, early English, notice of a collection of, i. 574-576. Quotations from and allusions to them by Shakspeare, 577-593.

_Balnevis_ (Henry), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 676.

_Bandello_, principal novels of, translated by Paynter, i. 541. His novels wholly translated by Warner or Webbe, 543.

_Banquets_, where taken, in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 144.

_Barksted_ (William), encomiastic verses of, on Shakspeare's Venus and Adonis, ii. 30.

_Barley-Break_, verses on, i. 309. How played, 310. Poetical description of, 311. Scottish mode of playing, 312.

_Barnefielde_ (Richard), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, works of, i. 676, 677. Character of his affectionate shepherd, 677. _note_ [677:A]. Verses of, on Shakspeare's Venus and Adonis, and Lucrece, ii. 29.

_Barnes_ (Barnabe), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 677. Character of his Sonnets, _ibid._ _note_ [677:B].

—— (Juliana), the book of St. Alban's of, reprinted by Markham, i. 70. _note_. Dedication of it, _ibid._ Account of the edition, with extracts, 71, 72. _notes_. The treatyse of Fishing not written by her, 290. and _note_. Different editions of this work, 291.

_Baronets_, order of, when created, ii. 527. Their arms, 528.

_Barry's_ "Ram Alley," illustrated, i. 224.

_Barson_ or Barston, village, allusion to by Shakspeare, i. 51.

_Bastard_ (Thomas), notice of the epigrams of, i. 677. and _note_.

_Batman_ (Stephen), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 677.

_Batman_'s translation of "Bartholome de Proprietatibus Rerum," well known to Shakspeare, i. 485.

_Bear-baiting_, a fashionable amusement in the age of Elizabeth, ii. 176. Prices of entrance to the bear-gardens, 178.

_Beards_, fashions of, in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 102, 103.

"_Beards Wag all_," the proverb of, explained, i. 143, 144.

_Beaufort_ (Cardinal), dying scene of, i. 390.

_Beaumont_ (Sir John), critical notices of, as a poet, i. 601, 602. His elegiac tribute to the memory of the Earl of Southampton, ii. 17, 18. How far he assisted Fletcher, 558.

_Beaumont and Fletcher_, illustrations of the plays of, Custom of the Country, i. 477. Fair Maid of the Inn, i. 329. Knight of the Burning Pestle, i. 477. ii. 282. _note_. Playhouse to Let, ii. 282. _note_. Scornful Lady, i. 224. Woman Pleased, act iv. sc. 1. i. 172, 173.

_Beauty_, exquisite taste for, discoverable in Shakspeare's works, ii. 616-618.

_Bedchambers_, furniture of, in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 117.

_Belemnites_, or Hag-Stones, supposed virtues of, i. 367.

_Belleforest_'s and _Boisteau_'s "Cent Histoires Tragiques," a collection of tales, notice of, i. 544.

_Bells_, why tolled at funerals, i. 232-234. Worn by Hawks, 268.

_Beltein_, or rural sacrifice of the Scotch Highlanders on May-day, i. 152.

"_Bel-vedere_, or the Garden of the Muses," a collection of poems, critical notice of, i. 725, 726. List of contributors to it, 726, 727.

_Benefices_ bestowed in Elizabeth's time on menial servants, i. 92.

_Betrothing_, ceremony of, i. 220-223.

_Betterton_ (Mr.), visits Stratford, in quest of information concerning Shakspeare, i. 34.

_Beverley_ (Peter), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 677.

_Bevis_ (Sir), of Southampton, notice of, i. 565. Allusions by Shakspeare to the romance of, 565, 566.

_Bezoar_ stones, supposed virtues of, i. 367.

_Bibliography_, cultivated by Queen Elizabeth, i. 428. Influence of her example, 433. Account of eminent bibliographers and bibliophiles of her court, 433-436.

_Bidford Topers_, anecdote of them and Shakspeare, i. 48-50.

_Bieston_ (Roger), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 677.

_Biographical Writers_, during the age of Elizabeth, notice of, i. 482.

_Birds_, different modes of taking in the 16th century, i. 287. By means of stalking-horses, 288. Bird-batting described, 289.

_Blackfriars_, theatre in, account of, ii. 209, 210.

_Black Letter_ books, chiefly confined to the time of Elizabeth, i. 438.

_Blenerhasset_ (Thomas), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 677. Additions made by him to the "Mirrour for Magistrates," 709.

_Boar's-head_, anciently the first dish brought to table, i. 76. Ceremonies attending it, 201. Verses on, _ibid._ 202.

_Boccacio_, principal novels of, translated by Paynter, i. 541.

_Bodenham's_ (John), "Garden of the Muses," a collection of poems, i. 725. Critical notice of, 726. List of contributors to it, 726, 727.

_Bodley_ (Sir Thomas), an eminent book collector, notice of, i. 433. Observation of King James I. on quitting the Bodleian library, 434.

_Bolton_ (Edward), critical notice of his "_Hypercritica_: or Rule of Judgment for writing or reading our Historys," i. 465, 470-471.

_Bond_ (Dr. John), an eminent Latin philologer, i. 454.

_Booke of St. Albans_, curious title and dedication of Markham's edition of, i. 70. _note_. Rarity of the original edition, 71. _note_. extract from, _ibid._, 72. _note_.

_Book of Sports_, account of, i. 173, 174.

_Books_, taste for, encouraged by Queen Elizabeth, i. 428. 433-435. Were anciently placed with their leaves outwards, 436. Were splendidly bound in the time of Elizabeth, 432. and _note_, 436. Hints on the best mode of keeping books, 436, 437. Remarks on the style in which they were executed, 437, 438.

_Boors_, or country clowns, character of, in the 16th century, i. 120-122.

_Boots_, preposterous fashions of, in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 106, 107.

_Bourcher_ (Arthur), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 677.

_Bourman_ (Nicholas), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 677.

_Boys_ (Rev. John), an eminent Grecian, notice of, i. 454.

_Bradshaw_ (Thomas), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 677.

_Brathwait_'s English Gentleman cited, i. 258, 259.

_Brathwayte_ (Richard), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 677.

_Brawls_, a fashionable dance in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 173. Different sorts of, _ibid._

_Bread_, enumeration of different kinds of, in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 127.

_Breeches_, preposterous size of, in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 104. and _note_.

_Breton_ (Nicholas), critical notice of the poems of, i. 602, 603.

_Brewer_'s "Lingua," illustration of, i. 477.

_Brice_ (Thomas), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 678.

_Bridal Bed_, why blessed, i. 226.

_Bride_, custom of kissing at the altar, i. 225. Supposed visionary appearances of future brides and bridegrooms, on Midsummer-Eve, 332-334. and on All-Hallow-Eve, 344-347.

_Bride Ale_ (Rustic), description of, i. 227-229.

_Britton_ (Mr.), remarks of, on the monumental bust of Shakspeare, ii. 619, 620.

_Broke_ (Arthur), account of his "Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet," ii. 359. and _note_.

_Brooke_ (Christopher), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 678.

_Brooke_ (Thomas), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 678.

_Broughton_ (Rowland), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 678.

_Browne_'s (William), Britannia's Pastorals, quotations from, illustrative of ancient customs:—on May-day, i. 155. Critical notice of his merits as a poet, 603, 604, 605. Causes of his being neglected, 605.

_Brownie_, a benevolent Scottish fairy, account of, ii. 330-336. Resemblance between him and Shakspeare's Puck, 351.

_Brutus_, character of, ii. 492.

_Brydges_ (Sir Egerton), on the merits of Lodge, as a poet, i. 633-635. Estimate of the poetical character of Sir Walter Raleigh, 640-642. Critical observations of, on the "Paradise of Daintie Devises," 714, 715. And on "England's Helicon," 721-723.

_Bryskett_ (Lodowick), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, notice of, i. 678. and _note_. [678:B]

_Buck_ (Sir George), a minor poet in the time of Shakspeare, i. 678.

_Buchanan_'s "Rerum Scoticarum Historia," character of, i. 477.

_Bull-baiting_, a fashionable amusement in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 176, 177.

_Bullokar_'s "Bref Grammar for English," notice of, i. 455, 456. His innovations in English spelling, satirised by Shakspeare, 472.

_Burbadge_, the player, notice of, i. 417.

_Burial_, ceremony of, i. 232. Tolling the passing-bell, _ibid._ 233, 234. Lake wakes, described, 234-236. Vestiges of, in the north of England, 237. Funeral entertainments, 238. Garlands of flowers sometimes buried with the deceased, 240, 241. Graves planted with flowers, 242-244.

_Burns_, poetical description by, of the spells of All-Hallow-Eve, i. 346.

_Burton_ (William), critical notice of his "History of Leicestershire," i. 481.

_Burton_'s apology for May-games and sports, i. 174. Invective against the extravagance at inns, 219. His list of sports pursued in his time, 247. Portrait of the illiterate country gentlemen of that age, 430, 431. Eulogium on books and book collectors, 434, 435. The popular song of "Fortune my Foe," cited by him, 577.

_Burton on the Heath_, allusion to, by Shakspeare, i. 50.

_Bust_ of Shakspeare, in Stratford church, originality of, proved, ii. 620. Its character and expression injured through Mr. Malone's interference, 621.

_Buttes_ (John), "Dyets Dry Dinner," curious extract from, ii. 218.

_Byrd_'s (William), collection of "Tenor Psalmes, Sonets, and Songs, of Pietie," &c. account of, i. 731.

_Byron_'s (Lord), "Siege of Corinth" illustrated, ii. 411.

C

_Cæsar_. See _Julius Cæsar_.

_Caliban_, remarks on the character of, ii. 506. 523. 525.

_Camden_ (William), character of his "Annals," i. 477.

_Campbell_'s "Pleasures of Hope," character of, i. 599.

_Campion_ (Thomas), critical notice of his "Observations on the Art of English Poesie," i. 468, 469.

_Canary Dance_, account of, ii. 175.

_Candlemas-day_, origin of the festival, i. 138. Why called "Wives' Feast Day," _ibid._ Ceremonies for Candlemas-eve and day, 139, 140, 141.

_Capel_ (Mr.), Erroneous notions of, concerning Shakspeare's marriage, i. 62. His text of Shakspeare, one of the purest extant, ii. 48. _note_.

_Caps_ worn by the ladies, in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 95.

_Carbuncle_, imaginary virtues of, i. 396. Allusions to it, _ibid._ 397-399.

_Cards_, fashionable games of, in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 169, 170. Were played in the theatre by the audience before the performance commenced, 217.

_Carew_ (Richard), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 679.

_Carew_'s "Survey of Cornwall," notice of, i. 481.

_Carols_ (Christmas), account of, i. 197-202.

_Carpenter_ (John), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 679.

_Castiglione_'s "Cortegiano" translated into English, i. 453.

_Chair_ of Shakspeare, purchased by Princess Czartoryskya, i. 22, 23.

_Chalkhill_ (John), critical notice of the poems of, i. 605. 607. Singular beauty of his pastorals, 606.

_Chalmers_ (Mr.), probable conjecture of, on the authenticity of Shakspeare's will, i. 15, 16. His hypothesis, concerning the person to whom Shakspeare addressed his sonnets, disproved, ii. 61, 62. Examination of his conjectures respecting the date of Romeo and Juliet, 357, 358. Of Richard III. 370, 371. Of Richard II. 376. Of Henry IV. Parts I. and II. 379. Of the Merchant of Venice, 385. Of Hamlet, 391. Of King John, 419. Of All's Well that Ends Well, 422, 423. His opinion on the traditionary origin of the Merry Wives of Windsor controverted, 435, 436. His conjecture on the date of Troilus and Cressida, 438. Of Henry VIII. 442. Of Timon of Athens, 444. Of Measure for Measure, 452. Of King Lear, 457. Of the Tempest, 500-503. Of Othello, 528. Of Twelfth Night, 532, 533.

_Chapman_ (George), critical merits of as a poet, i. 607, 608. His tribute to the memory of the Earl of Southampton, ii. 17. Estimate of his merits as a dramatic poet, 569, 570.

_Characters_, notice of writers of, in the age of Elizabeth, i. 509-511. Sketch of the public and private character of Queen Elizabeth, ii. 146-151. and of James I. 151, 152. Of Shakspeare's drama, remarks on, ii. 545.

_Charlcott-House_, the seat of Sir Thomas Lucy, notice of, i. 402.

_Charms_ practised on Midsummer-Eve, i. 331-333. On All-Hallow-Eve, 344-347. Supposed influence of, 362-365.

_Chaucer_, poetical description of May-day by, i. 153. Illustration of his "Assemblie of Fooles," 379, 380, 381. Description of the carbuncle, 396. Alluded to, by Shakspeare, ii. 79. Allusions by Chaucer to fairy mythology, 313. 317.

_Chester_ (Robert), a minor poet, of the age of Shakspeare, i. 679. Critical notice of his "Love's Martyr," 728.

_Chettle_ (Henry), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 679.

_Children_, absurdity of frightening by superstitious tales, i. 317. Notice of legendary tales, of their being stolen or changed by fairies, ii. 325-327.

_Chivalric Amusements_ of Shakspeare's age, described, i. 553-556.

_Chivalry_, influence of, on the poetry of the Elizabethan age, i. 596. Allusion to it, by Shakspeare, ii. 79.

_Chopine_ or Venetian stilt, notice of, ii. 98.

_Chrismale or Chrism-Cloth_, account of, i. 231.

_Christenings_, description of, i. 230, 231.

_Christian_ IV. (King of Denmark), drunken entertainment given to, ii. 124, 125.

_Christian Name_, the same frequently given to two successive children in the age of Queen Elizabeth, i. 4. _note_.

_Christmas Brand_, superstitious notion concerning, i. 140.

_Christmas_, festival of, i. 193. Of Pagan origin, 194. Ceremony of bringing in the Christmas block, _ibid._ 195. Houses decorated with ivy, &c. on Christmas-Eve, 195, 196. Origin of this custom, 196. Custom of singing carols in the morning, 197. Gambols, anciently in use at this season, 202-205, 206. _note_. Poetical description of, by Herrick, 206. and by Mr. Walter Scott, 207, 208. At present how celebrated, 208. _note_.

_Church-Ales_, account of, i. 177, 178.

_Churles_ and gentlemen, difference between, i. 71, 72.

_Church-yard_ (Thomas), critical notice of the poems of, i. 608, 609.

_Chute_ (Anthony), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 679.

_Chronological list_ of Shakspeare's plays, ii. 261, 262.

_Cinthio_ (Giraldi), principal novels of, translated in the time of Shakspeare, i. 543.

_Citizens_ of London, dress of, in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 110, 111.

_Clapham_ (Henoch), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 679.

_Classical literature_, diffusion of, in the reign of Elizabeth, i. 28. Fashionable among country gentlemen, 82. Cultivated generally, 449, 450, 451. The knowlege of Greek literature greatly promoted by Sir Thomas Smith, and Sir Henry Savile, 453.; and Dr. Boys, 454. Latin literature promoted by Ascham, Grant, Bond, Rider, and others, 454, 455.

_Claudio_, remarks on the character of, in Measure for Measure, ii. 455.

_Cleanliness_, attention of Shakspeare's fairies to, ii. 346, 347.

_Cleaton_ (Ralph, a clergyman), character of, i. 92.

_Cleopatra_, remarks on the character of, ii. 493.

_Clergymen_, anciently styled _Sir_, i. 87-90. Picture of country clergymen in the age of Elizabeth, 90, 91. Their degraded state under James I. 92, 93. The younger clergy, chiefly schoolmasters, 94. Bishop Hall's picture of their depressed state, 95. Prohibited from hawking, 259. _note_.

_Clerk-ale_, notice of, i. 176.

_Cloten_, remarks on the character of, in Cymbeline, ii. 468.

_Clothes_, materials of, in the age of Elizabeth, ii. 91. How preserved, _ibid._ 92.

_Clown_ (country), character of in the 16th century, i. 120-122.

_Coaches_, when first introduced into England, ii. 146. Extravagant number of, used by the great, 147.

"_Cock and Pye_," explanation of the phrase, i. 554.

_Cockayn_ (Sir Aston), epigram of, on Wincot-ale, i. 48, 49.

_Cock-fighting_, a favourite sport in Shakspeare's age, i. 145. Awful death of a cock-fighter, 146. _note_.

_Cocks_, throwing at, a barbarous sport on Shrove-Tuesday, i. 145. and _note_. Ridiculed by Hogarth, _ibid._; and now completely put down, 146.

_Colet_'s (Dean), Grammatical Institutes, notice of, i. 26.

_Combe_ (Mr. John), satyrical epitaph on, by Shakspeare, ii. 605. His character, _ibid._

_Combe_ (Mr. Thomas), notice of, ii. 629. _note_. Bequest to him by Shakspeare, 629.

_Comedy_, "_Gammer Gurton's Needle_," the first ever performed in England, ii. 227.

_Comedy of Errors_, probable date of, ii. 286. Mr. Steevens' opinion that this drama was not wholly Shakspeare's, controverted and disproved, 287, 288. Superior to the Menæchmi of Plautus, whence its fable is borrowed, 286-288. Exquisite portrait of Ægeon, 288. General observations on this drama, 288, 289.

_Passages of this drama, which are cited and illustrated in the present work._