Act v. scene 2., i. 580.

_Mufflers_, an article of female dress in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 95.

_Mulberry-tree_, when planted by Shakspeare, ii. 599, 600. Cut down, ii. 584. _note_.

_Mulcaster_ (Richard), notice of the grammatical labours of, i. 455.

_Muncaster_ (Richard), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 693.

_Munday_ (Anthony), notice of his Versions of "Palmerin of England," i. 547. "Palmerin d'Oliva," and "Historie of Palmendo," 548. List of his poems, 693, 694.

_Murdered_ persons, blood of, supposed to flow on the touch or approach of the murderer, i. 372, 373.

_Murray_ (David), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 694, and _note_.

_Music_ of the Morris-dance and May-games, i. 164, 165. Description of the music of the fairies, ii. 342, and _note_. Shakspeare passionately fond of music, 390.

"_Myrrour of Knighthood_," a popular romance, alluded to by Shakspeare, i. 570.

_Mythology_ of the ancients, a favourite study in the time of Elizabeth and James I., i. 419. Critical account of the fairy mythology of Shakspeare, ii. 302-337.

N

_Name_ of Shakspeare, orthography of, ascertained, i. 17-20.

_Nash_ (Thomas), "Quarternio" of, cited, i. 260-262. His quarrel with Harvey, 458. His books, why scarce, _ibid._ Character of him, 459. 486.

_Nashe_'s "Choosing of Valentines" cited, i. 251.

_Natural History_, works on, translated in the time of Shakspeare, i. 485.

_Needlework_, admirable, of the ladies, in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 146. and _note_, 153.

_Newcastle_, Easter amusements at, i. 149.

_Newspapers_, origin of, i. 506.

_Newton_ (Thomas), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 694.

_Newton_'s "History of the Saracens," notice of, i. 476.

_New-Year's Day_, ceremonies observed on, i. 123. Presents usually made then, 124. Account of those made to Queen Elizabeth, 125, 126.

_Nicholson_ (Samuel), a minor poet in the time of Shakspeare, i. 694.

_Niccols_ (Richard), critical notice of the poetical works of, i. 637, 638. Additions to the "Mirrour for Magistrates," 709, 710.

_Nightmare_, poetical description of, i. 348, _note_. Supposed influence of St. Withold, against it, 347-349.

_Nixon_ (Anthony), a minor poet of the age of Shakspeare, i. 694.

_Noises_, sudden and fearful, supposed to be forerunners of death, i. 361.

_Norden_ (John), notice of the topographical works of, i. 480, 481. And of his poetical productions, 694.

_Novels_ (Italian), account of, translated in Shakspeare's time, i. 538-544. List of those most esteemed in the 15th and 16th centuries, 544, _note_.

_Nutcrack Night_, i. 341.

O

_Oberon_, the fairy king of Shakspeare, derivation of his name, ii. 337, _note_. Analysis of his character, 337-340.

_Ockland_'s ΕΙΡΗΝΑΡΧΙΑ _sive Elizabetha_, a school-book in Shakspeare's time, account of, i. 26.

_Omens_, prevalence of, in Shakspeare's time, i. 349-351. Warnings of danger or death, 349-354. Dreams, 354. Demoniacal voices, 355. Corpse-candles, and tomb-fires, 358. Fiery and meteorous exhalations, 360. Sudden noises, 361, 362.

_Ophelia_, remarks on the affecting madness of, i. 589-591. And also on Hamlet's passion for her, ii. 394-396.

_Ordinaries_, account of, in the age of Shakspeare, ii. 134, 135.

_Oriental_ romances, account of, i. 531-538. Allusions to them by Shakspeare, 568, 569.

_Orthography_ of Shakspeare's name, i. 17-20. Instances of want of uniformity in, 19. _note_.

_Othello_, probable date of, ii. 527, 528. General remarks on this drama, 529. Vindication of it from the extraordinary criticism of Mr. Steevens, 529, 530. On the execution of the character of Othello, 530. Iago, 531. And Desdemona, _ibid._

_Passages of this tragedy illustrated in the present work._