“ All that is known with any degree of certainty concerning Shakspere is that he was born at Stratford-upon-Avon-married and had children there-went to London, where he commenced actor, and wrote poems and plays—returned to Stratford, made his will, died, and was buried.”—Steevens. “ Along with that tombstone information, perhaps even without much of it, we could have liked to gain some answer, in one way or other, to this wide question : What and how was English Life in Shakspere's time; wherein has ours grown to differ therefrom? In other words: What things have we to forget, what to fancy and remember, before we, from such distance, can put ourselves in Shakspere's place; and so, in the full sense of the term, understand him, his sayings, and his doings?”—CARLYLE. CONTENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS THE BIOGRAPHY. From Original Drawings by W. HARVEY ; the Fac-similes and Autographs by F. W. Fairholt. ......... 13 | 8. Fac-simile of autographs to Corporation Deed ..... 16 11. The Church Avenue............................. ......... 27 | 14. House in Henley Street, about 1820 .............. I painting in the chapel of the Holy Cross......... CHAPTER V.—THE SCHOOLBOY'S WORLD. 20. Village of Aston Cantlow .... ........... 50 | 21. The Fair ... 32. Ruins of Kenilworth in the 17th Century ...... .. 29. Gascoigne ...................................... 81 | 33. Entrance to the Hall............................. 30. The Merry Marriage-Kenilworth Gate ........... 83 84 88 90 |