Act iv. scene 3., i. 371.

_Machin_ (Lewis), "The Dumb Knight" of, illustrated, ii. 31. _note_.

_Madmen_, in Shakspeare's plays, remarks on, i. 587. Characteristic madness of Edgar, in the play of Lear, 588. Affecting madness of Ophelia in Hamlet, 589-591. Contrast between the madness of Lear and Ophelia, ii. 396. The madness of Edgar and Lear considered, 462-464.

_Madrigals_, collections of, in the time of Shakspeare, i. 730-733.

_Magic_, state of the art of, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, ii. 509, 510. Notice of eminent magicians at that time, 511-514. Different classes of magicians, 515. Prospero, one of the higher class, _ibid._ Description of his dress and spells, 515-517. Mode of conjuring up the spirits of the dead, 518-520. Different orders of spirits under magical power, 521-526.

_Maid Marian_, origin of, i. 161. One of Robin Hood's associates in the May-games, _ibid._ 162.

_Malone_ (Mr.), opinion of, on the authenticity of John Shakspeare's will, i. 15. On the probability of William Shakspeare's being placed with an attorney, 43-45. His conjecture as to the person to whom Shakspeare's sonnets were addressed, ii. 61. Refuted, 62-73. Strictures on his inadequate defence of Shakspeare's sonnets, against Mr. Steevens's censure, 74, 75. Conjecture of, as to the amount of Shakspeare's income, 225. Ascribes Pericles to him, 265. His opinion on the date of Love's Labour's Lost, 289. On the spuriousness of Henry VI. Part I., 293. His able discrimination of genuine from the spurious passages, 295. On the probable date of Romeo and Juliet, 357, 358. Of the Taming of the Shrew, 364. Of Richard III. 370. Of Henry IV. Parts I. and II., 379. Of Hamlet, 391. Of King John, 419. Of All's Well That Ends Well, 422, 423. On the date of Troilus and Cressida, 438. Of Henry VIII. 442-445. Of Timon of Athens, 446, 447. Of Measure for Measure, 452. Of King Lear, 457-459. Of The Tempest, 500-503. Of Othello, 527, 528. Of Twelfth Night, 535. Strictures on his splenetic censure of Ben Jonson, 578. _note_. Remarks of, on the epitaphs ascribed to Shakspeare, 607. and _note_. Character and expression of the poet's bust injured through his interference, 621. His illustrations of Shakspeare cited, _passim_.

_Malory_ (Sir Thomas), account of his translation of the romance of "La Morte D'Arthur," i. 524.

_Mandrake_, fable concerning, i. 374.

_Manners_ of the metropolis during the age of Shakspeare, ii. 149. Influence of Elizabeth and James I. upon them, 153, 154. Credulity and superstition, 154. Love of strange sights, 155. Passion for travelling, 156. Love of Gaming, 157. Duelling and quarrelling, 158, 159. Lying and gossipping, 159, 160. Complimentary language, 160-162.

_Manning_ of hawks, i. 266, 267. _note_.

_Manningtree_, celebrated for its fairs and stage plays, i. 251.

_Mansions_ of country squires and gentlemen, in Shakspeare's age, description of, i. 72-74.

_Mantuanus_, Eclogues of, probably one of Shakspeare's school books, i. 27. _note_. Quoted and praised by him, _ibid._ Translations of them noticed, 28. _note_.

_Marbeck_ (John), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 692.

_Marlow_ (Christopher), character of, as a poet, i. 635, 636. And as a dramatic writer, with specimens, ii. 245-248. His wretched death, 249, and _note_. His "Passionate Shepherd," cited by Shakspeare, i. 578.

_Marston_ (John), biographical notice of, i. 636. Character of his satires, 637. Estimate of his merits as a dramatic poet, ii. 567, 568. His "Scourge of Villanie," cited and illustrated, ii. 160.

_Mark's Day_ (St.), supposed influence of, on life and death, i. 323.

_Markham_ (Gervase), a miscellaneous writer in the time of Shakspeare, biographical account of, i. 505. List of his works, 506, 507. _notes_. Their great popularity, 506, 507. Notice of his "Gentleman's Academie, or Book of St. Alban's," i. 70. _note_. 257. _note_. Dedication to, 70. His difference between churles and gentlemen, 71, 72. _note_. His edition seen by Shakspeare, 71. _note_. Directions of, for an _ordinary_ feast, 80. _note_. His explanation of terms in hawking, 267-269. _note_. On different sorts of hounds, 283, 284. Description of the qualifications of an angler, 294-296. Notice of his "Discource of Horsemanshippe," 299. _note_. Precepts for learning to ride, 299, 300. List of his poems, 692, 693. His address to the Earl of Southampton, ii. 17. _note_.

_Marriage_, ceremony of, in Shakspeare's time, i. 223. Procession, _ibid._ 224. Rosemary strewed before the bride, 224. Ceremonies in the church, 225. Drinking out of the bride cup, _ibid._ 226. Blessing the bridal bed, _ib._ Description of a rustic marriage, 227-229. How celebrated in the North of England in the 18th century, 229. _note_.

_Martial_, epigram of, happily translated, i. 690. _note_.

_Martinmas_, or the festival of St. Martin, i. 190. Winter provision then laid in, _ibid._ Poetical description of, 191-193. Universally observed throughout Europe, 191. Allusion to this day, by Shakspeare, 193.

_Martin Mar-Prelate_, notice of, i. 457.

_Mascall_'s (Leonard), "Booke of Fishing," notice of, i. 291, and _note_.

_Masks_ generally used in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 95.

_Masques_, splendid, in the age of Shakspeare, account of, ii. 187-190. Allusions to them by Shakspeare, 191-193. Unrivalled excellence of Ben Jonson's masques, 578.

_Massinger_ (Philip), merits of, as a dramatic poet, considered, ii. 561, 562.

Illustrations of several of his plays, viz.

City Madam, i. 75. ——, Act ii. scene 1., i. 180. Guardian, i. 262, 263. Virgin Martyr, i. 310.

_Master of the Revels_, office of, when instituted, ii. 202. The superintendance of the stage and of actors, committed to them, 203. Players sometimes termed children of the revels, 204.

_Maxwell_ (James), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 693.

_May-Day_, anciently observed throughout the kingdom, i. 152. A relic of the Roman Floralia, _ibid._ Poetical description of, in Henry VIII.'s time, 153. Cornish mode of celebrating, _ibid._ How celebrated in the age of Shakspeare, 154, 155. Allusions to it by the poet, 155, 156. Verses on, by Herrick, 156, 157. Morris-dances, the invariable accompaniment of May-day, 157, 158. Robin Hood and his associates, when introduced, 159-163. Music accompanying May-games, 164, 165. Introduction of the hobby-horse and dragon, 156. Description of the May-games, as celebrated in Shakspeare's time, 167-171. Opposition made to them by the Puritans, and their consequent decline, 171-173. Revived by King James's "Book of Sports," 173, 174. Their gradual disuse, 174, and _note_.

_Maying_, custom of going a Maying, i. 155. Verses on, 156, 157.

_Mayne_'s "City Match," illustration of, i. 388.

_Maypole_, ceremony of setting up described, i. 154.

_Measure for Measure_, probable date of, ii. 452. Its primary source, 453. Analysis of its characters, 454-456.

_Passages of this drama illustrated in the present work._