for the christening gifts; then four Noblemen | bearing a canopy, under which the Duchess of NORFOLK, godmother, bearing the Child, richly habited in a mantle, &c. Train borne by a Lady: then follows the Marchioness of DORSET, the other godmother, and Ladies. The troop pass once about the stage, and Garter speaks. Gart. Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty princess of England, Elizabeth. Flourish. Enter King and Train. That were the servants to this chosen infant, Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him; Cran. (Kneeling.) And to your royal grace, and Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine, the good queen, My noble partners, and myself, thus pray :- K. Hen. Thank you, good lord archbishop: Elizabeth. Stand up, lord.(The King kisses the Child.) With this kiss take my blessing: God protect Into whose hands I give thy life. [thee! Cran. K. Hen. My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal : Amen. I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady, Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn, In her days, every man shall eat in safety His honour and the greatness of his name Shall see this, and bless heaven. K. Hen. Thou speakest wonders. Cran. She shall be, to the happiness of England, An aged princess; many days shall see her, And yet no day without a deed to crown it. Would I had known no more! but she must die, She must, the saints must have her; yet a virgin, A most unspotted lily shall she pass To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her. Thou hast made me now a man; never, before Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye, "Tis ten to one, this play can never please Explanatory Notes. ૪૪. P. 231, c. 1, 7.9. PROLOGUE. such a show As fool and fight is.] This is not the only passage in which Shakspeare has discovered his conviction of the impropriety of battles represented on the stage. He knew that five or six men with swords, gave a very unsatisfactory idea of an army, and therefore, without much care to excuse his former practice, he allows that a theatrical fight would destroy all opinion of truth, and leave him never an understanding friend. Magnis ingeniis et multa nihilominus habituris simplex convenit erroris confessio. Yet I know not whether the coronation shown in this play may not be liable to all that can be objected against a battle. JOHNSON. Id. 1. 11. (To make that only true we now intend.)] To intend, in our author, has sometimes the same meaning as to pretend, but this line is somewhat obscure. ACT I. SCENE I. P. 231, c. 2, l. 9. --Guynes and Arde:] Guynes then belonged to the English, and Arde to the French: they are towns in Picardy, and the valley of Ardren lay between them. Arde is Ardres, but both Hall and Holinshed write it as Shakspeare does. Id. l. 24. All clinquant,] All glittering, all shining. Clarendon uses this word in his description of the Spanish Juego de Toros. Id. 1. 37. Durst wag his tongue in censure] Censure for determination, of which had the noblest appearance. P. 232. c. 1, .1 That Bevis was believ'd] The old romantic legend of Bevis of Southampton. Id 1 4. the tract of every thing, &c.] The course of these triumphs and pleasures, however well related, must lose in the description part of that spirit and energy which were expressed in the real action. Id 1. 8. the office did Distinctly his full function.] The commission for regulating this festivity was well executed, and gave exactly to every particular person and action the proper place. JOHN SON. Id. l. 13. -element-1 No initiation, no previous practices. Elements are the first prin Id. Id. ciples of things, or rudiments of knowledge. The word is here applied, not without a catachresis, to a person. l. 19 fierce vanities?] Fierce is here, I think, used like the French fier for proud, unless we suppose an allusion to the mimical ferocity of the combatants in the tilt. JOHN SON. 1. 21. That such a keech-] A keech is a solid lump or mass. A cake of wax or tallow formed in a mould, is called yet in some places a keech. There may, perhaps, be a singular propriety in this term of contempt. Wolsey was the son of a butcher, and in The second Part of King Henry IV. a butcher's wife is called-Goody Keech. Id. l. 44. the file-] That is, the list. Id. l. 49. Must fetch him in he papers.] He papers, a verb; his own letter, by his own single authority, and without the concurrence of the council, must fetch him in whom he papers down. Id Out-worths a noble's blood] That is, the literary qualifications of a bookish beggar are more prized than the high descent of hereditary greatness. This is a contemptuous exclamation very naturally put into the mouth of one of the ancient, unlettered, martial nobility. JOHNSON. l. 37. He bores me with some trick:] He stabs or wounds me by some artifice or fiction. Id. l. 48. -from a mouth of honour-] I will crush this base-born fellow, by the due influence of my rank, or say that all distinction of persons is at an end. JOHNSON. Id. 1. 66. tion. Id. l. 79. sincere motions,] Honest indigna - suggests-] Suggests, for excites. Id. c. 2, l. 9. and the best heart of it.] Heart is not here taken for the great organ of circulation and life, but, in a common and popular sense, for the most valuable or precious part. Id. l. 10. stood i'the level,] To stand in the level of a gun is to stand in a line with its mouth, so as to be hit by the shot. Id. l. 68. --front but in that file-] i. e. I am merely on a level with the rest, and step in the same line with them Id l. 71. You know no more than others: &c.] That is, you know no more than other counsellors, but you are the person who frame those things which are afterwards proposed, and known equally by all. P. 234, c. 1, 7. 7. tractable obedience, &c.] i. e. Things are now in such a situation, that resentment and indignation predominate in every man's breast over duty and allegiance. Įd. l. 20. There is no primer business.] No matter of state more urgent. "If I am Id. l. 27. Traduced by ignorant tongues," &c. MALONE ld. l. 31. We must not stint-] To stint is here to stop, to retard. Id. 1. 33. To cope- To engage with, to encounter. The word is still used in some counties. Id. l. 37. --once weak ones,] Once is here used Hitting a grosser quality,] The worst actions of great men are commended by the vulgar, as more accommodated to the grossness of their notions. JOHNSON. Id. 1. 52. From every tree, lop, -]. Lop is a Id. c. 2, l. 44. The duke being at the Rose, &c] This house was purchased about the year 1561, by Richard Hill, sometime master of the Merchant Tailors' company, and is now the Merchant Tailor's school, in Suffolk-lane. P. 235, c. 1, l. 4 --so rank?] Rank weeds, are weeds grown up to great height and strength. What, says the king, was he advanced to this pitch? JOHNSON. Id. 44. - by day and night.] This, I believe, was a phrase anciently signifying-at all times every way, completely. The king's words, however, by some critics have been considered as an adjuration. I do not pretend to have determined the exact force of them. STEE is what we now term a grimace, an artificial cast of the countenance. Id. 1. 63. A springhalt-] The stringhalt, or springhalt, is a disease incident to horses, which gives them a convulsive motion in their paces. Id. c. 2, l. 3.- leave these remnants Of fool, and feathers,] An allusion to the feathers which were formerly worn by fools in their caps. Id. l. 10. - blister'd breeches,] i. e. breeches puff'd, swell'd out like blisters. The modern editors read-bolster'd breeches, which has the P. 236, c. 1, l. 62. - chambers lischarged.] A chamber is a gun which stands erect on its brecch. Such are used only on occasions of rejoicing, and are so contrived as to carry great charges, and thereby to make a noise more than proportioned to their bulk. They are called chambers because they are mere chambers to lodge powder; a chamber being the technical term for that cavity in a piece of ordnance which contains the combustibles. Some of them are still fired in the Park, and at the places opposite to the parliament-house when the king goes thither. Id. c. 2, l. 47. -take it.] That is, take the chief place. Id. l. 56. unhappily] That is, unluckily, mischievously. Id. 1. 66. 1 were unmannerly, to take you out, And not to kiss you.] A kiss was anciently the established fee of a lady's partuer. ACT II. SCENE I. P. 237, c. 1, l. 32. "To have brought,"-MALONE. Id. c. 2. 1 44 --no black envy Shall make my grave.] Shakspeare, by this expression, meant no more than to make the duke say, No action expressive of malice shall conclude my life. The sense will then be, (whether quaintly or poetically expressed, let the reader determine) no malicious action shall close my grave, i. e. attend the conclusion of my existence, or terminate my life; the last action of it shall not be uncharitable. STEEVENS. P. 238. c. 1, l. 31.- —strong faith-] Is great fidelity. SCENE II. Id. c. 2, 1. 48. Into what pitch he please.] The mass must be fashioned into pitch or height, as well as into particular form. The meaning is, that the cardinal can, as he pleases, make high or low. P. 239, c. 1, 7. 9. have great care I be not found a talker.] I take the meaning to be, Let care be taken that my promise be performed, that my professions of welcome be not found empty talk. JOHNSON, Id. l. 18. -so sick though,] That is, so sick, as he is proud. 1d. l. 21. one have at him."-MALONE. Id. 1. 32. Have their free voices ;] The construction is, have sent their free voices; the word sent, cheveril-] Is kid skin, soft lea Pluck off a little ; &c.] i. e. let us Id. c. 2, 1. 2. Wait in the presence.] i. e. in the presence chamber. Id. 1. 29. Envy and base opinion set against them] I would be glad that my conduct were in some public trial confronted with mine enemies, that envy and corrupt judgment might try their utmost power against me. JOHNSON. Id. 1. 74. For her sake that I have been, &c.] For the sake of that royalty which I have heretofore possessed. P. 243, c. 1, l. 61. superstitious to him?] That is, served him with superstitious attention; done more than was required. Id. c. 2, 1. 33. If I have us'd myself-] i. e. behaved myself. urge. SCENE II. Id. l. 78. - contrary proceedings,-] Private practices opposite to his public procedure. P. 244, c. 1, T. 26. Trace the conjunction!] To trace, is to follow. still further divest preferment of its glare, let Id. l. 48. And force them-] Force is enforce, us descend yet lower, and more upon a level with your own quality. P. 240, c. 1, l. 27. More than my all is nothing, &c.] More than my all is nothing, for my prayers and wishes are of no value, and yet prayers and wishes are all I have to return. Id. l. 36. I shall not fail, &c.] I shall not omit to strengthen, by my commendation, the opinion which the king has formed. is it bitter? forty pence, no.] Forty pence was, in those days, the proverbial expression of a small wager, or a small sum. Money was then reckoned by pounds, marks, and nobles. Id. l. 58. For all the mud in Egypt: The fertility of Egypt is derived from the mud and slime of the Nile. SCENE IV. Id. l. 78. -Sennet,] Dr. Burney (whose General History of Music has been so highly and deservedly applauded) undertook to trace the etymology, and discover the certain meaning of this term, but without success. Mr. Malone thinks it was no more than a flourish, or sounding. Id. c. 2, l. Ï2. —— pillars ;] Pillars were some of the ensigns of dignity carried before cardinals. P. 241, c. 1, l. 34. —— and make my challenge,] Challenge is here a law term. The criminal, when he refuses a juryman, says-I challenge him. Abhor and refuse are also law terms. ld. l. 54. -— gainsay—] i. e. deny. Id. 1. 68. You sign your place and calling,] To sign here is to show, to denote. By your outward meekness and humility, you show that you are of an holy order, but, &c. Id. c. 2, l. 25. could speak thee out)] had tongues capable of speaking out thy merits; i. e. of doing them extensive justice. Id. l. 33. ——although not there At once and fully satisfied.)] The sense, which is encumbered with words, is no more than this-I must be loosed, though when so loosed, I shall not be satisfied fully and at once; that is, I shall not be immediately satisfied. JOHNSON. Id. l. 39. "that might"-MALONE. Id. l. 52. The passages made toward it :] i. e. closed, or fastened. P. 242. c. 1, 1.7. -hulling in The wild sea-] That is, floating without guidance; tossed here and there. Id. l. 35. In it be memoriz'd.] To memorize is to make memorable. Id. l. 52. He is return'd, in his opinions ;] Cranmer, says Suffolk, is returned in his opinions, i. e. with the same sentiments which he enter tained before he went abroad, which (sentiments) have satisfied the king, together with all the famous colleges referred to on the occasion-Or perhaps the passage (as Mr. Tyrwhitt observes) may mean-He is return'd in effect, having sent his opinions, i. e. the opinions of divines, &c. collected by him. P. 245, c. 1, l. 30. Yet fil'd with my abilities:] My endeavours, though less than my desires, have fil'd, that is, have gone an equal pace with my abilities. Id. l. 49. notwithstanding that your bond of duty. Besides the general bond of duty, by which you are obliged to be a loyal and obedient subject, you owe a particular devotion of yourself to me, as your particular benefactor. Id. l. 54. that am, have, and will be.] Perhaps the meaning is, that, or such a man, I am, have been, and will ever be. Id. l. 60. against the chiding flood,] i. e. the resounding flood. Id. c. 2, l. 22. To Asher-house,] Asher was the ancient name of Esher. Id. 1. 22. my lord of Winchester's,] Shak speare forgot that Wolsey was himself bishop of Winchester, unless he meant to say, you must confine yourself to that house which you possess as bishop of Winchester. Asher, near Hampton-Court, was one of the houses belonging to that bishopric. Id. 1. 69. "That in the way." &c.-MALONE. Id. l. 79. To be thus jaded-] To be abused and ill treated, like a worthless horse: or perhaps to be ridden by a priest ;-to have him mounted above us. P 246, c. 1, l. 2. And dare us with his cap, like larks.] It is well known that the hat of a cardinal is scarlet; and that one of the methods of daring larks was by small mirrors fastened on scarlet cloth, which engaged the attention of these birds while the fowler drew his net over them. Id. l. 18 Worse than the sacring bell,] The little bell which is rung to give notice of the Host approaching when it is carried in procession, as also in other offices of the Romish church, is called the sacring or consecration bell; from the French word, sacrer. P. 246, c. 1, l. 54. Your holy hat to be stamp'd on the king's coin.] This was certainly one of the articles exhibited against Wolsey, but rather with a view to swell the catalogue, than from any serious cause of accusation; inasmuch as the archbishops Cranmer, Bainbrigge, and Warnham were indulged with the same privilege. Id. l. 59. to the mere undoing- Mere is absolute. Id. 1. 72 - of a præmunire.] It is almost unnecessary to observe that præmunire is a barbarous word used instead of præmonere. Id. c. 2, l. 22. and their ruin,] Their ruin is their displeasure, producing the downfall and ruin of him on whom it lights. Id. 1. 68. in open,] i. e. in a place exposed on all sides to view. P. 247, c. 1, l. 6. interest. make use-] i. e. make Id. l. 42. Had I but serv'd my God, &c.] This sentence was really uttered by Wolsey. But it was a strange sentence for him to utter, who was disgraced for the basest treachery to his king in the affair of the divorce: but it shows how naturally men endeavour to palliate their crimes even to themselves. Id. c. 2. l. 16. he stepp'd before me, happily, For my example.] Happily means, on this occasion, fortunately. Id. l. 26. stages. with easy roads,] i. e. by short Id. 1. 44. Of an unbounded stomach,] i. e. of unbounded pride or haughtiness. ld. l. 45. one, that by suggestion Ty'd all the kingdom:] i. e. he was a man of an unbounded stomach, or pride, ranking himself with princes, and by suggestion to the king and the pope, he ty'd, i. e. limited, circum scribed, and set bounds to the liberties and properties of all persons in the kingdom. P. 249, c. 2. 1. 30. The model of our chaste loves,] Model is image, or representative. ACT V. SCENE I. P. 250. c. 1, 7. 9. --at primero -] Primero and Primavista, two games at cards, H. I. Primera, Primavista. La Primiere, G. prime, f. Prime veue. Primum, et primum visum, that is, first, and first seen: because he that can show such an order of cards first wins the game. Minshew's Guide into Tongues, col. 575. Incens'd the lords o'the council, that he is, &c. A most arch heretic.] This passage, according to the old elliptical mode of writing, may mean - I have incens'd the lords of the council, for that he is, i. e. because. 1d. 1.60. broken with the king;] They have broken silence: told their minds to the king Id. 1. 65. He be convented.] Convented is summoned, convened. Id. c. 2, l. 16. "Would not," &c. -MALONE. ld. l. 61. You a brother of us, &c.] You being one of the council, it is necessary to imprison you, that the witnesses against you may not be deterred. Id. c. 2, l. 26. at a window above.] The suspicious vigilance of our ancestors contrived windows which overlooked the insides of chapels, halls, kitchens, passages, &c. Some of these convenient peepholes, may still be found in colleges, and such ancient houses as have not suffered from the reformations of modern architecture. Id. 1. 40. They had parted, &c.] We should now say-They had shared, &c. i. e. had so much honesty among them. Id. l. 46. draw the curtain close ;] i. e. the curtain of the balcony, or upper stage, where the king now is. Id. 1. 74 and capable Of our flesh, few are angels: &c.] If this passage means any thing, it may mean, few are perfect, while they remain in their mortal capacity; i. e. while they are capable [in a condition] of being invested with flesh.-Mr. Malone reads thus: "In our own natures, frail, incapable: Of our flesh," &c. P. 252, c. 1, l. 18. The upper Germany, &c.] Alluding to the heresy of Thomas Muntzer, which sprung up in Saxony in the year 1521 and 1522. Id l. 26. - --a single heart,] A heart void of duplicity or guile. Id. l. 62. your painted gloss, &c.] Those that understand you, under this painted gloss, this fair outside, discover your empty talk and your false reasoning. Id. c. 2, l. 28. This is the king's ring. It seems to have been a custom, begun probably in the dark ages, before literature was generally dif fused, and before the regal power experienced the restraints of law, for every monarch to have a ring, the temporary possession of which invested the holder with the same authority as the owner himself could exercise. The pro |