Note return to page 1 [a] anourish.

Note return to page 2 †I can't guess the occasion of the Hemystic, and imperfect sense, in this place; 'tis not impossible it might have been fill'd up with—Francis Drake—tho' that were a terrible Anachronism (as bad as Hector's quoting Aristotle in Troil. and Cres.) yet perhaps, at the time that brave Englishman was in his glory, to an English-hearted audience, and pronounced by some favourite Actor, the thing might be popular, though not judicious; and therefore by some Critick, in favour of the author, afterwards struck out. But this is a meer slight conjecture.

Note return to page 3 †England's.

Note return to page 4 †See the note on the fifth Scene of Act 3.

Note return to page 5 [b] bOtherwhiles.

Note return to page 6 †Gimmals, are rings of double rounds, from gemelli. Wheels one within another.

Note return to page 7 †Peel'd, alluding to his shaven crown, a metaphor from a peel'd orange.

Note return to page 8 †The publick stews were formerly under the district of the Bishop of Winchester.

Note return to page 9 †Damascus. N. B. About four miles from Damascus is a high hill, reported to be the same on which Cain slew his brother Abel. Maundr. Trav. p. 131.

Note return to page 10 * &lblank; If thou wilt. Glou. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back: Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing cloth, I'll use to carry thee out of this place. Win. Do what thou dar'st, I beard thee to thy face. Glou. What? am I dar'd, and bearded to my face? Draw men for all this privileged place. Blue coats to tawny. Priest, beware thy beard, I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly. Under my feet I'll stamp thy Cardinal's hat: In spight of Pope or dignities of church, Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down. Win. Glo'ster, thou'lt answer this before the Pope. Glou. Winchester Goose, I cry a rope, a rope. Now beat them hence, why do you let them stay? Thee I'll chase hence, thou Wolf in Sheep's array. Out tawny coats, out scarlet hypocrite. Here Gloucester's &lblank;

Note return to page 11 [c] cpil'd.

Note return to page 12 * &lblank; to heav'n for grace. The sun with one eye vieweth all the world. Heav'n be thou, &c.

Note return to page 13 * &lblank; a Salisbury to you. Puzel or Pussel, Dolphin or Dog-fish, Your hearts I'll stamp out with my Horses heels, And make a quagmire of your mingled brains. Convey brave, &c.

Note return to page 14 *—[They fight. Tal. Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail? My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage, And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder, But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet. Pucel. Talbot farewel, &c.

Note return to page 15 [d] dtreacherous

Note return to page 16 * &lblank; the white Rose side. Som. Prick not your finger as you pluck it off, Lest bleeding you do paint the white rose red, And fall on my side so against your will. Ver. If I, my lord, for my opinion bleed, Opinion shall be surgeon to my hurt, And keep me on the side where still I am. Som. Well, well, &c.

Note return to page 17 * &lblank; a bloody red. Plan. Mean time your cheeks do counterfeit our Roses, For pale they look with fear, as witnessing The truth on our side. Som. No, Plantagenet, 'Tis not for fear but anger, that thy cheeks Blush for pure shame to counterfeit our Roses, And yet thy tongue will not confess thy error. Plan. Hath not thy Rose a canker, Somerset? Som. Hath not thy Rose a thorn, Plantagenet? Plan. Ay, sharp and piercing to maintain his truth, Whiles thy consuming canker eats his falshood. Som. Well, I'll find friends to wear my bleeding Roses, That shall maintain what I have said is true, Where false Plantagenet dare not be seen. Plan. Now by this maiden &lblank;

Note return to page 18 [a] afashion.

Note return to page 19 * &lblank; death and deadly night. Plan. Good master Vernon I am bound to you, That you on my behalf would pluck a flow'r. Ver. In your behalf still will I wear the same. Lawyer. And so will I. Plan. Thanks, gentle Sir. Come, let us four to dinner; I dare say This quarrel will drink blood another day. [Exeunt. SCENE &lblank;

Note return to page 20 †Falstaff is here introduced again, who was dead in Henry the Fifth, Act 2, Scene 3; the occasion whereof is, that this Play was written by Shakespear before Hen. 4. or Hen. 5. See the last lines of Hen. 5.

Note return to page 21 †glikes or scoffs.

Note return to page 22 †See the note on the fifth Scene of Act 3.

Note return to page 23 * &lblank; aloof at bay. Sell every man his life as dear as mine, And they shall find dear Deer of us, my friends. God and St. George, &c.

Note return to page 24 †Whither my Lord?

Note return to page 25 †lither, smooth, gentle.

Note return to page 26 * &lblank; yield thy breath. Brave death by speaking, whether he will or no: Imagine him a Frenchman, and thy foe. Poor boy, he smiles, methinks, as who should say, Had death been French, then death had died to-day. Come, come, &c.

Note return to page 27 †giglot, a Drab, Strumpet.

Note return to page 28 †Charms sow'd up, from &grp;&gre;&grr;&gri;&graa;&grp;&grt;&gro;, to sowe. Ezek. xiii. 18. Woe to them that sowe pillows to all armholes, to hunt souls.

Note return to page 29 * Why, for my King: Tush, that's a wooden thing. Mar. He talks of wood: it is some carpenter. Suf. Yet so my fancy, &c.

Note return to page 30 *&lblank; captivate ere now. Suf. Lady, wherefore talk you so? Mar. I cry you mercy, 'tis but Quid for Quo. Suf. Say, gentle Princess, &c.

Note return to page 31 *York. Alanson! that notorious Machiavel! It dies &lblank;

Note return to page 32 †This and the third part were first written under the Title of The Contention of York and Lancaster: printed in 1600; but since vastly improved by the Author.

Note return to page 33 ‡Vide Hall's Chron. fol. 66, year 23. Init.

Note return to page 34 * &lblank; peaceful words? York. For Suffolk's Duke, may he be suffocate, That dims the honour of this warlike Isle: France should &c.

Note return to page 35 * &lblank; unto the main. War. Unto the main? Oh father, Main is lost, That Main, which by main force Warwick did win, And would have kept, so long as breath did last: Main-chance, father, you meant, but I meant Main, Which I will win from France, or else be slain.

Note return to page 36 †Or, (as in the later editions) of my master.

Note return to page 37 *&lblank; Southwel, &c.

Note return to page 38 †York. Lord Buckingham, methinks you watch'd her well; A pretty plot, well chose to build upon. Now, pray my lord, let's see the devil's writ. What have we here? [Reads. The Duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose; But him out-live, and die a violent death. Why, this is just, Aio te Æacidem Romanos vincere posse. Well, to the rest: Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk? By water shall he die and take his end. What shall betide the Duke of Somerset? Let him shun castles, Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains, Than where castles mounted stand. Come, come, my lords, These oracles are hardly attain'd, And hardly understood. The King is now &c.

Note return to page 39 †This repetitiion of the prophecies, which is altogether unnecessary after what the spectators have heard in the Scene immediately preceding, is not to be found in the first editions of this Play.

Note return to page 40 †i. e. scarcely.

Note return to page 41 [a] aenvious.

Note return to page 42 †harm.

Note return to page 43 ‡This line is not in the old edition.

Note return to page 44 [b] baukward wind.

Note return to page 45 * &lblank; office unto thee. The pretty vaulting sea refus'd to drown me, Knowing that thou wouldst have me drown'd on shoar With tears as salt as sea, through thy unkindness. The splitting rocks &c.

Note return to page 46 †In the first edition it is my ring.

Note return to page 47 ‡This verse is omitted in all but the first old edition, without which what follows is not sense. The next line also, Obscure and lowly swain—King Henry's blood! was falsely put into the Captain's mouth.

Note return to page 48 †a sallet, by corruption from cælata a helmet (says Skinner) quia galeæ celatæ fuerunt.

Note return to page 49 †First printed under the title of The true Tragedy of Richard Duke of York, and the good King Henry the Sixth; or the second part of the Contention of York and Lancaster. 1600.

Note return to page 50 [a] athe sour adversaries.

Note return to page 51 [a] aVid Hall. 3 year of Edw. 4. sol. 5. It was hitherto falsely printed Richard.

Note return to page 52 [a] aSirrah.

Note return to page 53 [a] aSt. John.

Note return to page 54 [b] bbetter.

Note return to page 55 †The twelve following beautiful lines added after the first editions.

Note return to page 56 ‡This line is restor'd from the first edition.

Note return to page 57 [c] cmean.

Note return to page 58 †Frank'd up to fatting.] A Frank is an old English word for a Hogsty. 'Tis possible he uses this metaphor to Clarence, in allusion to the Crest of the family of York, which was a Boar. Whereto relate those famous old verses on Rich. 3d. The Cat, the Rat, and Lovel the Dog Rule all England under a Hog. He uses the same metaphor in the last Scene of Act 4.

Note return to page 59 ‡mischief.

Note return to page 60 [d] dKeeper.

Note return to page 61 †The four following lines have been added since the first edition.

Note return to page 62 †In the common editions the Keeper is made to hold the Dialogue with Clarence, 'till this line. And here Brakenbury enters, pronouncing these words: which seem to me a reflection naturally resulting from the foregoing conversation, and therefore continu'd to be spoken by the same person; as it is accordingly in the first edition.

Note return to page 63 [c] epassionate.

Note return to page 64 * &lblank; for the deed, O! know you yet, he doth it publickly, Take not, &c. This line interpolated since the first edition.

Note return to page 65 †This necessary line is restor'd from the old edition.

Note return to page 66 * &lblank; and save your souls. Which of you, if you were a Prince's son, Being pent from liberty, as I am now, If two such murtherers as your selves came to you, Would not intreat for life, as you would beg Were you in my distress. 1 Vil. Relent? &c. These lines are not in the old edition.

Note return to page 67 * &lblank; intreat for me, A begging Prince what beggar pities not? 2 Vil. Look behind you, my lord. 1 Vil. Take that, &c.

Note return to page 68 [a] aredeem.

Note return to page 69 [b] bmore.

Note return to page 70 [c] cne'er-changing night.

Note return to page 71 [d] dmoan.

Note return to page 72 [e] ewoes.

Note return to page 73 * &lblank; forth complaints: All springs reduce their currents to mine eyes, That I being govern'd by the watry moon, May send forth plenteous tears to drown the world. Ah, for my husband &lblank;

Note return to page 74 [f] fLondon

Note return to page 75 †London was anciently call'd Camera regia.

Note return to page 76 [a] asimple.

Note return to page 77 [b] blivelihood.

Note return to page 78 [c] cmeerest.

Note return to page 79 [d] draging.

Note return to page 80 [e] eintend.

Note return to page 81 †From hence to the words—Thou troublest me, I am not in the vein— have been left out ever since the first editions, but I like them well enough to replace them.

Note return to page 82 [a] alike to.

Note return to page 83 †Bishop of Ely.

Note return to page 84 * &lblank; and my sweet son. Dutch. Dead life, blind sight, poor mortal living ghost, Woe's scene, world's shame, grave's due, by life usurp'd, Brief abstract and record of tedious days, Rest thy unrest on England's lawful earth, Unlawfully made drunk with innocent blood. Queen. Ah that thou would'st, &c.

Note return to page 85 [a] a &lblank; saints pray, To have him suddenly convey'd away.

Note return to page 86 * &lblank; in thy company? K. Rich. Faith none but Humphry Houre, that call'd your grace To breakfast once, forth of my company. If I be so, &c.

Note return to page 87 †This long speech is not in the edition of 1598, or that of 1602, but added by the Author since.

Note return to page 88 [b] bvail.

Note return to page 89 [c] clow.

Note return to page 90 * &lblank; too shallow, and too quick. Queen. O no, my reasons are too deep and dead; Two deep and dead, poor infants in their grave, Harp on it still shall I, 'till heart-strings break. K. Rich. Harp not on that string, madam, that is past. Now by my George, &c.

Note return to page 91 [d] dkingly.

Note return to page 92 [e] ehim.

Note return to page 93 [f] fhim.

Note return to page 94 * &lblank; to wail it in their age. Swear not by time to come, for that thou hast Misus'd ere us'd, by times ill-us'd o'er-past. K. Rich. As I intend, &c.

Note return to page 95 [g] gdesires.

Note return to page 96 †[Frank'd up.] See the note on Act I. Scene IV. of this play.

Note return to page 97 †I have placed these lines here as they stand in the first editions, the rest place 'em three speeches before, after the words Sir William Brandon, you shall bear my standard: interrupting what there follows: The Earl of Pembroke, &c. I think 'em more naturally introduced here, when he is retiring to his tent and considering what he has to do that night.

Note return to page 98 [a] anoise.

Note return to page 99 * &lblank; No; yes, I am; Then fly—what, from my self? great reason; why? Lest I revenge. What? my self on my self? I love my self. Wherefore? for any good That I my self have done unto my self? O no. Alas, I rather hate my self, For hateful deeds committed by my self. I am a villain; yet I lie, I am not. Fool, of thy self speak well—Fool do not flatter. My conscience hath, &c.

Note return to page 100 * &lblank; no soul will pity me. Nay, wherefore should they? since that I my self. Find in my self no pity to my self. Methought, the souls of, &c.

Note return to page 101 * &lblank; butchers to the sire: All this divided York and Lancaster, Divided in their dire division. O now let, &c.

Note return to page 102 [a] asons.

Note return to page 103 †The old romantic legend of Bevis of Southampton.

Note return to page 104 †no rudiment or beginning.

Note return to page 105 ‡ketch, from the Italian Caicchio, signifying a Tub, Barrel, or Hogshead. Skinner.

Note return to page 106 †he papers, a verb; His own letter, by his own single authority and without the concurrence of the Council, must fetch in Him whom he papers down. I don't understand it, unless this be the meaning.

Note return to page 107 [b] bcount.

Note return to page 108 [a] alife, honour, name, and all

Note return to page 109 † i. e. Tender, from Cheverillus, a young Cock, a Chick.

Note return to page 110 [a] atheir.

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