In this fascinating collection of essays, Francis Bacon and James Spedding provide a unique glimpse into the cultural and political lives of the Elizabethan era. They offer a first-hand account of the elaborate and often extravagant entertainments held by the nobility, shedding light on the customs, values, and aspirations of the English Renaissance. Drawing on contemporary sources, Bacon and Spedding illustrate the ways in which performance, pageantry, and literature were used as instruments of power and social distinction. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.