S_y_dney S_i_dney. Spen_s_er Spen_c_er. Jonson Johnson Jhonson. Dekker Dekkar. Markeham Markham. Sylv_i_ster Sylv_e_ster S_i_lvester. Sackwill Sackuil. Fitz Geffrey Fitzjeffry Fitz Jeffr_a_y. France Fraunce. Mid_l_eton Mid_d_leton. G_u_ilpin G_i_lpin. Achelly Achely Achilly Achillye. Dra_y_ton Dra_i_ton. Danie_l_ Daniel_l_. Dav_i_s Davi_e_s. Marlo_w_ Marlo_we_. M_a_rston M_u_rston. Fair_e_fax Fa_ir_fax. K_i_d K_y_d. Yet, it is remarkable, that in this collection of diversities, our dramatist's name is uniformly spelt Shakespeare: in whatever manner this celebrated name may have been pronounced in Warwickshire, it certainly was spoken in London, with the _e_ soft, thus, Shak_e_speare: in the registers of the Stationers' Company, it is written, Shakes_pere_, and Shakes_peare_." Chalmers's Supplemental Apology, p. 129, 130. A curious proof of the uncertain orthography of the poet's surname among his contemporaries and immediate successors, may be drawn from a pamphlet, entitled, "The great Assizes holden in Parnassus by Apollo and his Assessours: at which Sessions are arraigned, Mercurius Britannicus, &c. &c. London: Printed by Richard Cotes for Edward Husbands, and are to be sold at his shop in the Middle Temple. 1645. qto. 25 leaves." In this rare tract, among the list of the jurors is found the name of our bard, written William _Shakespeere_; and in the body of the poem, it is given _Shakespeare_, and _Shakespear_. _Vide_ British Bibliographer, vol. i. p. 513. CHAPTER II. THE HOUSE IN WHICH SHAKSPEARE WAS BORN—PLAGUE AT STRATFORD, JUNE 1564—SHAKSPEARE EDUCATED AT THE FREE-SCHOOL OF STRATFORD—STATE OF EDUCATION, AND OF JUVENILE LITERATURE IN THE COUNTRY AT THIS PERIOD—EXTENT OF SHAKSPEARE'S ACQUIREMENTS AS A SCHOLAR. The experience of the last half century has fully proved, that every thing relative to the history of our immortal dramatist has been received, and received justly too, by the public with an avidity proportional to his increasing fame. What, if recorded of a less celebrated character, might be deemed very uninteresting, immediately acquires, when attached to the mighty name of Shakspeare, an importance nearly unparalleled. No apology, therefore, can be necessary for the introduction of any fact or circumstance, however minute, which is, in the slightest degree, connected with his biography; tradition, indeed, has been so sparing of her communications on this subject, that every addition to her little store has been hitherto welcomed with the most lively sensation of pleasure, nor will the attempt to collect and embody these scattered fragments be unattended with its reward. The birth-place of our poet, the spot where he drew the first breath of life, where Fancy