Chapter I: Preface

It would be difficult to overestimate the value which must be attached to the plays of Shakespeare in connection with the social life of the Elizabethan age. Possessed of a rich treasury of knowledge of a most varied kind, much of which he may be said to have picked up almost intuitively, he embellished his writings with a choice store of illustrations descriptive of the period in which he lived. Apart, too, from his copious references to the manners and customs of the time, he seems to have had not only a wide knowledge of many technical subjects, but also an intimate acquaintance with the folk-lore of bygone days. How far this was the case may be gathered from the following pages, in which are collected and grouped together, as far as arrangement would permit, the various subjects relating to this interesting and popular branch of our domestic history. It only remains for me to add that the edition of the poet's plays made use of is the "Globe," published by Messrs. Macmillan.

T. F. THISELTON DYER.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE.

I. FAIRIES 1

II. WITCHES 25

III. GHOSTS 43

IV. DEMONOLOGY AND DEVIL-LORE 52

V. NATURAL PHENOMENA 62

VI. BIRDS 97

VII. ANIMALS 161

VIII. PLANTS 201

IX. INSECTS AND REPTILES 250

X. FOLK-MEDICINE 264

XI. CUSTOMS CONNECTED WITH THE CALENDAR 296

XII. BIRTH AND BAPTISM 332

XIII. MARRIAGE 342

XIV. DEATH AND BURIAL 362

XV. RINGS AND PRECIOUS STONES 386

XVI. SPORTS AND PASTIMES 394

XVII. DANCES 424

XVIII. PUNISHMENTS 433

XIX. PROVERBS 444

XX. HUMAN BODY 475

XXI. FISHES 497

XXII. SUNDRY SUPERSTITIONS 505

XXIII. MISCELLANEOUS CUSTOMS, ETC. 521

INDEX 549

FOLK-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE.