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. 21 CHAP. III. Shakspeare, after leaving School, follows his Father's Trade — Statement of Aubrey — Probably present in his Twelfth Year at Kenelworth, when Elizabeth visited the Earl of Leicester — Tradition of Aubrey concerning him — Whether there is reason to suppose that, after leaving his Father, he was placed in an Attorney's Office, who was likewise Seneschal or Steward of some Manor — Anecdotes of Shakspeare — Allusions in his Works to Barton, Wilnecotte, and Barston, Villages in Warwickshire — Earthquake in 1580 alluded to — Whether, after leaving School, he acquired any Knowledge of the French and Italian languages. 34 CHAP. IV. Shakspeare married to Anne Hathaway — Account of the Hathaways — Cottage at Shottery — Birth of his eldest Child, Susanna — Hamnet and Judith baptized — Anecdote of Shakspeare — Shakspeare apparently settled in the Country. 59 CHAP. V. A View of Country-Life during the Age of Shakspeare — Its _Manners and Customs_ — Rural Characters; the Country-Gentleman — the Country-Coxcomb — the Country-Clergyman — the Country-Schoolmaster — the Farmer or Yeoman, his Mode of Living — the Huswife, her Domestic Economy — the Farmer's Heir — the Poor Copyholder — the Downright Clown, or Plain Country-Boor. 68 CHAP. VI. A View of Country-Life during the Age of Shakspeare — _Manners and Customs continued_ — Rural Holidays and Festivals; New-Year's Day — Twelfth Day — Rock-Day — Plough-Monday — Shrove-tide — Easter-tide — Hock-tide — May-Day — Whitsuntide — Ales; Leet-ale — Lamb-ale — Bride-ale — Clerk-ale — Church-ale — Whitsun-ale — Sheep-shearing Feast — Candlemas-Day — Harvest-Home — Seed-cake Feast — Martinmas — Christmas. 123 CHAP. VII. A View of Country-Life during the Age of Shakspeare — _Manners and Customs_, continued — Wakes — Fairs — Weddings — Christenings — Burials. 209 CHAP. VIII. View of Country-Life during the Age of Shakspeare, continued — _Diversions_ — The Itinerant Stage — Cotswold Games — Hawking — Hunting — Fowling — Fishing — Horse-racing — The Quintaine — The Wild-goose Chase — Hurling — Shovel-board — Juvenile Sports — Barley-breake — Parish-Top. 246 CHAP. IX.