cut; sometimes referring to the subject matter | Hurd, finding the passage in the complete ediof the ballad, sometimes giving a portrait of tion of Daniel's 'Civil Wars,' published in 1609, the queen. These fugitive productions, Gifford and not, perhaps, being aware of the earlier says, "came out every term in incredible num-edition, considered that Daniel had imitated bers, and were rapidly dispersed over the kingdom, by shoals of itinerant syrens."

Windsor Castle, supposed to be written in 1546, 28 SCENE IV.—“ In that Jerusalem shall Harry we have the following passage:

HISTORICAL.

ACT V.

mouth." We here see, that the exclamation "by cock and pye," was not of the class of IN a little book of great popularity, originally oaths from which Hotspur might choose " a published in 1601, entitled, 'The Plaine Man's good mouth-filling oath." Steevens supposes Pathway to Heaven,' by Arthur Dent, we have that the service-book of the Romish church the following passage:-" I know a man that being denominated a Pie, the oath had reference will never swear but by cock or py, or mouse- to that, and to the sacred name. Douce has, foot. I hope you will not say these be oaths. however, given the following very ingenious exFor he is as honest a man as ever brake bread.planation of the origin of the word :-" It will, You shall not hear an oath come out of his no doubt, be recollected, that in the days of

410

ancient chivalry it was the practice to make solemn vows or engagements for the performance of some considerable enterprise. This ceremony was usually performed during some grand feast or entertainment, at which a roasted peacock or pheasant, being served up by ladies in a dish of gold or silver, was thus presented to each knight, who then made the particular vow which he had chosen, with great solemnity. When this custom had fallen into disuse, the peacock, nevertheless, continued to be a favourite dish, and was introduced on the table in a pie, the head, with gilded beak, being proudly elevated above the crust, and the splendid tail expanded. Other birds of smaller value were introduced in the same manner, and the recollection of the old peacock-vows might occasion the less serious, or even burlesque, imitation of swearing, not only by the bird itself, but also by the pie; and hence, probably the oath by cock and pie, for the use of which no very old authority can be found."

It is scarcely necessary to add, that it is agreeable to a horse to be curried, and that, therefore, to curry favel, applied to a courtier, or a sycophant, is to bestow such attentions as may bespeak good offices.

SCENE I." The wearing-out of six fashions,

would wear out in four terms, or two actions. This particularity, may, perhaps, be taken as another proof of Shakspere's technical knowledge, and fondness for legal allusions.

32 SCENE II.-" Not Amurath an Amurath succeeds."

The following valuable note is communicated by a friend :

"Amurath is generally supposed to be Murad, and no Murad ever did succeed another;-not that it is of much consequence-but Amurath, in Greek 'Auvgas, is Emēēr, the Greek being pronounced as eë. In old books the Sultan is sometimes called "the Amyrath," and the style of Mohammed II. in the Greek version of his treaty with the Genoese of Galata is—

«Εγώ ὁ μέγας Αυθέντης, καὶ μέγας ̓Αμυρᾶς ὁ Σουλτανός Μίχμετ Μπέη, υἱὸς τοῦ μεγαλοῦ Αὐθεντοῦ xaì 'Apvçã roû Zovλravoũ Movgás Mrín.'

"I the great Effendi and great Emeer, the Sultan Machomet Bey, son of the, &c.-Mourad Bey.' So that we find Amurath in the same sentence as distinct from Mourad."

33 SCENE III." Do nothing but eat, and make good cheer."

Every lover of Shakspere must recollect that most exquisite passage in the Twelfth Night,' which describes the higher species of minstrelsy that had found an abiding place in the hearts of the people:

"Give me some music:-but that piece of song,

That old and antique song we heard last night,
Methought it did relieve my passion much;
More than light airs, and recollected terms,
Of these most brisk and giddy-paced times.
Mark it, Cæsario; it is old, and plain:
The spinsters and the knitters in the sun,
And the free maids that weave their thread with bones,
Do use to chaunt it; it is silly sooth,

And dallies with the innocence of love,
Like the old age."

The outpouring of snatches of old songs by Master Silence, in this hour, when the taciturnity stimulant which wine afforded to his memory, of a feeble intellect was overwhelmed by the (which is four terms, or two actions.)" is a truly poetical conception. In his prosaic In the time of Shakspere the law terms re- moments the worthy Justice is contented to gulated what we now denominate the season. echo his brother of the quorum:-" We shall The country gentlemen and their families then all follow, cousin." But when his "merry heart" came up to town to transact their business and expands in "the sweet of the night," he unto learn the fashions. "He comes up every ravels his fag-ends of popular ditties with a term to learn to take tobacco, and see new volubility which not even the abuse of Pistol motions." (Ben Jonson, 'Every Man out of his can stop. Beaumont and Fletcher, in 'The Humour.') Falstaff computes that six fashions | Knight of the Burning Pestle,' have a character,

Old Merry-thought, who "evermore laughs, and | Edward II. (See Warton's History of English dances, and sings;" and he introduces himself to us with :

"Nose, nose, jolly red nose,

And who gave thee this jolly red nose." The humour of Old Merry-thought is little better than farce; but the extravagance of Silence is the richest comedy, from the contrast with his habitual character. The snatches which Silence sings are not the

"light airs, and recollected terms, Of these most brisk and giddy-paced times," but fragments of old ballads that had been long heard in the squire's hall, and the yeoman's chimney-corner-" old and plain." For example, the expression,

""T is merry in hall, when beards wag all," may be found, with a slight alteration, in the poems of Adam Davy, who lived in the time of

Poetry,' section 6.) In the Serving Man's Comfort,' 1598, we have this passage, descriptive of the merriment in which the retainers of the great partook, in the time of Elizabeth :"Grace said, and the table taken up, the plate presently conveyed into the pantry, the hall summons this consort of companions (upon payne to dine with Duke Humphrey, or to kiss the hare's foot) to appear at the first call; where a song is to be sung, the under song or holding whereof is, 'It is merry in hall, where beards wag all."" The concluding line, before the command to " carry Master Silence to bed," is a portion of the old ballad of Robin Hood and the Pindar of Wakefield :'

"All this beheard three wighty yeomen,

'Twas Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John:
With that they espy'd the jolly Pindar
As he sate under a throne."

HISTORICAL.

In the 'Studies of Shakspere,' p. 164, we have mentioned the story told by Sir Tomas Elyot, in his book of 'The Governor,' of the committal of Prince Henry to the Fleet by the Lord Chief Justice. This tradition was believed (perhaps upon the authority of Elyot) by Sir Edward Coke and Sir John Hawkins; and was referred to by them in legal arguments. The anecdote, as detailed by Elyot, is very amusing:

"With which answer the prince nothing appeased, but rather more inflamed, endeavoured himself to take away his servant. The judge considering the perilous example and inconvenience that might thereby ensue, with a valiant spirit and courage commanded the prince upon his allegiance to leave the prisoner and depart his way; at which commandment the prince being set all in a fury, all chafed, and in a terrible manner, came up to the place of judgement, men thinking that he would have slain the judge, or have done to him some damage: but the judge sitting still without moving, declaring the ma

an assured and bold countenance, had to the prince these words following:

"A good Judge, a good Prince, a good King. "The most renowned prince, King Henry V., late king of England, during the life of his father, was noted to be fierce and of wanton courage.jesty of the king's place of judgement, and with It happened that one of his servants whom he favoured well, was for felony by him committed arraigned at the King's Bench: wherefore the prince being advertised, and incensed by light persons about him, in furious rage came hastily to the bar, where his servant stood as a prisoner, and commanded him to be ungyved and set at liberty. Whereat all men were abashed, reserved the chief justice, who humbly exhorted the prince to be contented that his servant might be ordered according to the ancient laws of this realm; or if he would have him saved from the rigour of the laws, that he should obtain, if he might, of the king his father his gracious pardon, whereby no law or justice should be derogate.

"Sir, remember yourself. I keep here the place of the king your sovereign lord and father, to whom you owe double obedience: wherefore eftsoones in his name, I charge you to desist of your wilfulness and unlawful enterprise, and from henceforth give good example to those which hereafter shall be your proper subjects. And now, for your contempt, and disobedience, go you to the prison of the King's Bench, whereunto I commit you, and remain ye there prisoner until the pleasure of the king your father be further known.' With which words being abashed, and also wondering at the

The circumstances which preceded the death of Henry IV., including the story of the prince removing the crown, are thus detailed by Holinshed:

marvellous gravity of that worshipful justice, | world; wherefore I, as your next heir apparent, the noble prince laying his weapon apart, doing took that as mine own, and not as yours. Well reverence, departed and went to the King's fair son, said the king (with a great sigh), what Bench as he was commanded. Whereat his right I had to it, God knoweth. Well, quoth servants disdained, came and shewed to the the prince, if you die king, I will have the king all the whole affair, whereat he a whiles garland, and trust to keep it with the sword studying, after as a man all ravished with glad- against all mine enemies, as you have done. ness, holding his eyes and hands up towards Then, said the king, I commit all to God, and heaven, abraided with a loud voice: 'O merciful remember you to do well; and with that turned God, how much am I bound to your infinite himself in his bed, and shortly after departed to goodness, specially for that you have given me God, in a chamber of the Abbots of Westminster a judge who feareth not to minister justice, and called Jerusalem. We find, that he was taken also a son who can suffer semblably and obey with his last sickness, while he was making his justice."" prayers at Saint Edward's shrine, there as it were to take his leave, and so to proceed forth on his journey: he was so suddenly and grievously taken, that such as were about him feared lest he would have died presently; wherefore, to relieve him, if it were possible, they bare him into a chamber that was next at hand belonging to the Abbot of Westminster, where they laid him on a pallet before the fire, and used all remedies to revive him: at length he recovered his speech and understanding, and perceiving himself in a strange place which he knew not, he willed to know if the chamber had any particular name, whereunto answer was made, that it was called Jerusalem. Then said the king, landes be given to the Father of Heaven, for now I know that I shall die here in this chamber, according to the prophesy of me declared, that I should depart this life in Jerusalem."

"In this fourteenth and last year of King Henry's reign, a council was holden in the White Friars in London, at the which, among other things, order was taken for ships and galleys to be builded and made ready, and all other things necessary to be provided, for a voyage which he meant to make into the Holy Land, there to recover the city of Jerusalem from the infidels. The morrow after Candlemas-day, began a Parliament which he had called at London; but he departed this life before the same Parliament was ended: for now that his provisions were ready, and that he was furnished with all things necessary for such a royal journey as he pretended to take into the Holy Land, he was eftsoones taken with a sore sickness, which was not a leprosy (saith Master Hall), as foolish friars imagined, but a very apoplexy. During this, his last sickness, he caused his crown (as some write) to be set on a pillow at his bed'shead, and suddenly his pangs so sore troubled him, that he lay as though all his vital spirits had been from him departed. Such as were about him, thinking verily that he had been departed, covered his face with a linen cloth. The prince his son being hereof advertised, entered into the chamber, took away the crown, and departed. The father being suddenly revived out of that trance, quickly perceived the lack of his crown, and having knowledge that the prince his son had taken it away, caused him to come before his presence, requiring of him what he meant so to misuse himself: the prince with a good audacity answered, Sir, to mine, and all men's judgements, you seemed dead in this

We close our Historical Illustrations with a passage from Holinshed, descriptive of the change of life in Henry V.:

"This king was the man that, according to the old proverb, declared and shewed in what sort honours ought to change manners; for immediately after that he was invested king, and had received the crown, he determined with himself to put upon him the shape of a new man, turning insolency and wildness into gravity and soberness: and whereas he had passed his youth in wanton pastime, and riotous misorder, with a sort of misgoverned mates, and unthrifty playseers, he now banished them from his presence (not unrewarded, nor yet unpreferred), inhibiting them, upon a great pain, not once to approach, lodge, or sojourn, within ten miles of his court or mansion: and in their places he elected and chose men of gravity, wit, and high policy."