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Summer Days in Shakespeare Land

This ebook was transcribed by Les Bowler. <ANTIMG alt="Cover" title= "Cover" src="images/cover.jpg" /> <ANTIMG alt="The Guild Chapel and Nash’s House" title= "The Guild Chapel and Nash’s House" src="images/fp.jpg" /> <h1>SUMMER DAYS IN SHAKESPEARE LAND</h1> SOME DELIGHTS OF THE ANCIENT TOWN OF STRATFORD-UPON-AVON AND THE COUNTRY ROUND ABOUT; TOGETHER WITH A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE IN WHICH MANY THINGS BOTH NEW AND ENTER- TAINING ARE TO BE FOUND, PRETTILY SET FORTH FOR THE PLEASURE OF THE GENTLE READER; AND WHEREIN CERTAIN FANATICS ARE HANDSOMELY CONFUTED. WRITTEN BY CHARLES G. HARPER, AND FOR THE MOST PART ALSO ILLUSTRATED BY HIM WITH A PEN OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS ARE FROM PHOTOGRAPHS <ANTIMG alt="Logo" title= "Logo" src="images/logo.jpg" /> New York JAMES POTT & COMPANY London: CHAPMAN & HALL, Ltd. 1913 <div class="gapspace"> </div> p. ivRichard Clay & Sons, Limited, BRUNSWICK STREET, STAMFORD STREET, S.E., AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK. <h2>p. vPREFACE</h2> By “Shakespeare Land,” as used in these pages, Stratford-on-Avon and the country within a radius of from twelve to twenty miles are meant; comprising parts of Warwickshire and Gloucestershire, and some portions of Worcestershire which are mentioned by Shakespeare, or must have been familiar to him.  So many thousands annually visit Stratford-on-Avon that the town, and in some lesser degree the surrounding country, are thought to be hackneyed and spoilt for the more intellectual and leisured visitor; but that is very far from being the case.  Apart from such acknowledged centres of Shakespearean interest as the Birthplace at Stratford-on-Avon, the parish church, and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage at Shottery; and excepting such great show-places as Kenilworth and Warwick castles, Shakespeare Land is by no means overrun, and is in every way charming and satisfying.  Stratford town itself, the very centre of interest, is unspoiled; and the enterprise of the majority of Shakespearean pilgrims is of such a poor quality, and their intellectual requirements as a rule so soon satisfied, that the real beauties of the Warwickshire villages and the towns and villages of the Cotswolds are to them a sealed hook.  Except these byways be explored, such an essential side of Shakespeare as that I have touched upon in the chapter “Shakespeare the Countryman” will be little understood. p. viIt is thus entirely a mistaken idea to think the Shakespeare Country overdone.  On the contrary, it is much less known than it ought to be, and would be, were it in any other land than our own.  And Stratford itself has not done so much as might have been expected in exploiting possible Shakespearean interest.  Ancient house-fronts that the poet must have known still await the removal of the plaster which for two centuries or more has covered them; and the Corporation archives have not yet been thoroughly explored. Incidentally these pages may serve to expose some of the Baconian heresies.  If there be many whose judgment is overborne by the tub-thumping of the Baconians, let them turn to some of the extravagances of Donnelly and others mentioned here, and then note the many local allusions which Shakespeare and none other could have written. The Bacon controversy, which since 1857 has offered considerable employment for speculative minds, and is still in progress, is now responsible for some six hundred books and pamphlets, monuments of perverted ingenuity and industrious research misapplied; of evidence misunderstood, and of judgment biased by a clearly proclaimed intention to place Bacon where Shakespeare stands.  These exceedingly well-read gentlemen, profited in strange concealments, have produced a deal of skimble-skamble stuff that galls our good humours.  The veriest antics, they at first amuse us, but in a longer acquaintance they are, as Hotspur says of Glendower, “as tedious as a tired horse, a railing wife; Worse than a smoky house.” This is no place to fully enter the discussion, but we may here note the opinion of Harvey, the great contemporary man of science, on Bacon, the amateur of science.  “My Lord Chancellor,” he said, “writes about p. viiScience like a Lord Chancellor.”  Any one who reads Bacon’s poetry will notice that the poets might have applied the same taunt to his lines. Yet they tell us now, these strange folk, eager for a little cheap notoriety, not only that “Bacon wrote the Greene, Marlowe, and Shakespeare plays,” but that his is the pen that gives the Authorised Version of the Bible its literary grace.  Well, well.  They say the owl was a baker’s daughter; a document in madness. Charles G. Harper. Ealing, August 24, 1912. <h2>p. ixCONTENTS</h2> <table> <tr> <td>  </td> <td>PAGE </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter I </td> <td>1 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">The Beginnings of Stratford-on-Avon. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter II </td> <td>6 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">The Shakespeares—John Shakespeare, Glover, Woolmerchant—Birth of William Shakespeare—Rise and Decline of John Shakespeare—Early Marriage of William. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter III </td> <td>12 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s bride—The hasty marriage—Shakespeare’s wild young days—He leaves for London—Grendon Underwood. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter IV </td> <td>22 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Continued decline in the affairs of John Shakespeare—William Shakespeare’s success in London—Death of Hamnet, William Shakespeare’s only son—Shakespeare buys New Place—He retires to Stratford—Writes his last play, The Tempest—His death. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter V </td> <td>34 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Stratford-on-Avon—It has its own life, quite apart from Shakespearean associations—Its people and its streets—Shakespeare Memorials. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter VI </td> <td>49 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Shakespeare’s Birthplace—Restoration, of sorts—The business of the Showman—The Birthplace Museum—The Shakespearean Garden. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>p. xChapter VII </td> <td>60 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Church Street—The “Castle” Inn—The Guild Chapel, Guild Hall and Grammar School—New Place. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter VIII </td> <td>75 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">The Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-on-Avon. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter IX </td> <td>85 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">The Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-on-Avon (continued)—The Shakespeare grave and monument. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter X </td> <td>92 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">The Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-on-Avon (concluded)—The Shakespeare grave and monument—The Miserere Seats. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XI </td> <td>101 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Shottery and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XII </td> <td>114 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Charlecote. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XIII </td> <td>127 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Shakespeare the countryman. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XIV </td> <td>136 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">The ‘Eight Villages’—‘Piping’ Pebworth and ‘Dancing’ Marston. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XV </td> <td>147 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">The ‘Eight Villages’ (concluded). </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XVI </td> <td>164 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">The ‘Swan’s Nest’—Haunted?—Clifford Chambers—Wincot—Quinton, and its club day. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>p. xiChapter XVII </td> <td>174 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Chipping Campden. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XVIII </td> <td>186 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">A Deserted Railway—Villages of the Stour Valley—Ettington and Squire Shirley—Shipston-on-Stour—Brailes—Compton Wynyates. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XIX </td> <td>195 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Luddington—Welford—Weston-on-Avon—Cleeve Priors—Salford Priors. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XX </td> <td>201 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Evesham. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XXI </td> <td>211 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Broadway—Winchcombe—Shakespearean Associations—Bishop’s Cleeve. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XXII </td> <td>219 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Tewkesbury. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XXIII </td> <td>230 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Clopton House—Billesley—The Home of Shakespeare’s Mother, Wilmcote—Aston Cantlow—Wootton Wawen—Shakespeare Hall, Rowington. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XXIV </td> <td>238 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Welcombe—Snitterfield—Warwick—Leicester’s Hospital—St. Mary’s Church and the Beauchamp Chapel. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XXV </td> <td>254 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Warwick Castle. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>p. xiiChapter XXVI </td> <td>266 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Guy’s Cliff—The Legend of Guy—Kenilworth and its Watersplash—Kenilworth Castle. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapter XXVII </td> <td>283 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Coventry. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Index </td> <td>291 </td> </tr> </table> <h2>p. xiiiLIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> <table> <tr> <td>  </td> <td>PAGE </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Guild Chapel and Nash’s House </td> <td>Frontispiece </td> </tr> <tr> <td>“Shakespeare’s Farm,” formerly the “Ship” Inn, Grendon Underwood </td> <td>19 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chapel Street, Stratford-on-Avon </td> <td>37 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Harvard House                         To face </td> <td>42 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Harvard House: Panel Room </td> <td>44 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-on-Avon </td> <td>46 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Memorial Theatre                      To face </td> <td>48 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shakespeare’s Birthplace </td> <td>50 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Kitchen, Shakespeare’s Birthplace </td> <td>54 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Room in which Shakespeare was born </td> <td>56 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shakespeare’s Signet-ring </td> <td>58 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The “Windmill” Inn </td> <td>61 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Guild Chapel, Guild Hall, Grammar School and Almshouses </td> <td>65 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Schoolmaster’s House and Guild Chapel </td> <td>69 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Head Master’s Desk, Stratford-on-Avon Grammar School                                    To face </td> <td>70 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ancient Knocker, Stratford-on-Avon Church </td> <td>80 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shakespeare’s Monument                    To face </td> <td>86 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Inscription on Shakespeare’s Grave </td> <td>89 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Chancel, Holy Trinity Church, with Shakespeare’s Monument                    To face </td> <td>92 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>A Stratford Miserere: The Legend of the Unicorn </td> <td>100 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shottery </td> <td>103 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Anne Hathaway’s Cottage </td> <td>106 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Living-room, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage </td> <td>109 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Anne Hathaway’s Bedroom </td> <td>112 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lucy Shield of Arms </td> <td>120 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The “Tumbledown Stile,” Charlecote        To face </td> <td>120 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Gatehouse, Charlecote </td> <td>123 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Charlecote </td> <td>125 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>“Piping Pebworth” </td> <td>140 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>p. xiv“Dancing Marston” </td> <td>142 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dining-Room, formerly the Kitchen, King’s Lodge </td> <td>145 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>“Drunken Bidford” </td> <td>149 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The “Falcon,” Bidford </td> <td>150 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>“Haunted Hillborough” (1) </td> <td>151 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>“Haunted Hillborough” (2) </td> <td>153 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>“Hungry Grafton” </td> <td>154 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Hollow Road, Exhall </td> <td>156 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>“Papist Wixford” </td> <td>157 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Brass to Thomas de Cruwe and wife, Wixford </td> <td>159 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>“Beggarly Broom” </td> <td>162 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Clopton Bridge, and the “Swan’s Nest” </td> <td>166 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Clifford Chambers </td> <td>168 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Old Houses, Chipping Campden              To face </td> <td>174 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Market House, Chipping Campden           ,, </td> <td>174 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Grevel’s House </td> <td>177 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Interior of the Market House, Chipping Campden   To face </td> <td>178 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chipping Campden Church </td> <td>182 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Brass to William Grevel and wife, Chipping Campden </td> <td>184 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Compton Wynyates </td> <td>192 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Boat Lane, Welford </td> <td>198 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Bell Tower, Evesham </td> <td>204 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Almonry, Evesham </td> <td>206 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Abbey Gateway, Evesham </td> <td>209 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>High Street, Tewkesbury </td> <td>223 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The “Bear” Inn and Bridge, Tewkesbury </td> <td>227 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Arden House, Home of Shakespeare’s mother, Wilmcote </td> <td>233 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Wootton Wawen Church                      To face </td> <td>234 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shakespeare Hall, Rowington </td> <td>236 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Leicester’s Hospital, Warwick </td> <td>239 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Leicester’s Hospital: the Courtyard       To face </td> <td>240 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Leicester’s Hospital: one of the Brethren    ,, </td> <td>244 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Beauchamp Chapel, Warwick </td> <td>246 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Crypt of St. Mary’s, Warwick </td> <td>248 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Cæsar’s Tower, Warwick Castle </td> <td>263 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Kenilworth Castle: Ruins of the Banquetting Hall </td> <td>278 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Stained Glass Window Inscription </td> <td>289 </td> </tr> </table> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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