SIDNEY LEE. FOOTNOTES: [vii:1] This volume bore the title, _Studies of Shakspere: introductory volume, containing A History of Opinion on the Writings of Shakspere; with the Chronology of his Plays_. The book in this form seems now to be difficult of access. No copy of it is in the British Museum Library. I acquired a copy for a few pence many years ago. CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE BY SIDNEY LEE v SOME NOTES ON SHAKESPEARE’S REPUTATION 1 PART I “THESE THREE HUNDRED YEARS” THE FIRST PERIOD 1596 Francis Meres 35 1598 Richard Barnfield 36 1599 John Weever 37 1610 John Davies 38 1614 Thomas Freeman 39 1622 William Basse 40 1623 Anonymous 41 1623 Ben Jonson 42 1623 Hugh Holland 45 1623 John Heminge and Henrie Condell 46 1623 Leonard Digges 47 1627 Michael Drayton 48 1630 John Milton 49 1632 I. M. S. 50 _a._ 1633 John Hales 53 1637 Sir William D’Avenant 54 _c._ 1637 Anonymous 55 1639 Thomas Bancroft 57 1647 George Daniel 58 1651 Samuel Sheppard 59 _c._ 1661 Thomas Fuller 61 1662-7 Samuel Pepys 62 1664 Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle 64 1667 John Dryden 66 1668 John Dryden 67 1672 Anonymous 69 1675 Edward Phillips 71 1680 Thomas Otway 72 1681 “A Person of Honour” 74 1693 Sir Charles Sedley 75 THE SECOND PERIOD