Ancient View of the Birthplace of Shakspere. From a Drawing in the King's Library, British Museum. ENGRAVED BY R. LANGTON, MANCHESTER, FOR MR. TWEDDELL'S WORK ON "SHAKSPERE: HIS TIMES AND CONTEMPORARIES." SHAKSPERE: HIS TIMES AND CONTEMPORARIES. BY GEORGE MARKHAM TWEDDELL, EDITOR OF THE STOKESLEY NEWS, AND CLEVELAND REPORTER;" SECOND EDITION, CORRECTED AND ENLARGED BY THE AUTHOR. "The richest period of the English mind, of the greatest men of action and thought PRINTED FOR THE BURY: AUTHOR BY JOHN НЕАР. 12×52.30.8 HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY FROM THE BEQUEST OF EVERT JANSEN WENDELL 1918 [ENTERED AT STATIONER'S HALL.] DEDICATION. * To all true Brethren of that most worshipful, ancient, and widely spread of all Fraternities, the FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, whatever their rank in life, political party, or religious creed, and wherever they may be dispersed around the globe; who have not only been initiated in the body of a Lodge, just, perfect, and regular -subscribed to the Craft funds and noble charities of the Ordermade themselves familiar with the Book of Constitutions, and the By-Laws of the Lodge or Lodges to which they belong-and learnt by heart our sublime ritual,—but who also reduce to daily practice the sacred precepts constantly inculcated from the pedestals when the Lodge is properly tyled not to those false and perjured brethren who, having freely and voluntarily offered themselves as candidates for the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry, and solemnly declared that (unbiassed by the improper solicitations of friends against their own inclinations, and uninfluenced by mercenary or other unworthy motives,) they were prompted to solicit those privileges from a favourable opinion preconceived of the institution, a general desire of knowledge, and a sincere wish to render themselves more extensively serviceable to their fellow-creatures, nevertheless lead mere animal lives, basely false to their Masonic obligations: but to those genuine Masons to whom our distinguishing badge (more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle, and more honourable than the Star and Garter, or any other Order in existence,) is |