AND

HIS FRIENDS;

OR,

" THE GOLDEN AGE" OF MERRY ENGLAND.

His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him, that Nature might stand up,
And say to all the world-This was a man!

JULIUS CÆSAR.

He was not of an age, but for all time.

BEN JONSON.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:
HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER,

GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.

1838.

PRINTED BY W. WILCOCKSON, ROLLS BUILDINGS, FETTER LAXE.

TO

THE ADMIRERS

OF

"Honie-Tong'd Shakspeare,”

AND OF THE OTHER ILLUSTRIOUS SPIRITS OF

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ENGLAND,

THESE VOLUMES,

WITH TRUE AUMBLENESS,

AND ENTIRE DEVOTEDNESS TO THE SUBJECT,

ARE RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,

BY

THEIR FELLOW. WORSHIPPER,

AND VERY OBEDIENT SERVANT,

THE AUTHOR.