"Shall be in water writ, but this in marble." STEEVENS. This reflection bears a great resemblance to a passage in Sir Thomas More's History of Richard III. whence Shakspere undoubtedly formed his play on that subject. Speaking of the ungrateful turns which Jane Shore experienced from those whom she had served in her prosperity; More adds, “ Men use, if they have an evil turne, to write it in marble, and whoso doth us a good turne, we write it in duste." More's Works, bl. let. 1557, P. 59. PERCY.

206.

-he did it ;] The old copy reads,

-that did it.

STEEVENS.

215. solemnly tripping one after another,] This whimsical stage-direction is exactly taken from the old copy. STEEVENS.

229. This to my lord the king.] So, Holinshed, p. 939: -perceiving hir selfe to wax verie weak and feeble, and to feele death approaching at hand, caused one of hir gentlewomen to write a letter to the king, commending to him hir daughter and his, beseeching him to stand good father unto hir; and further desired him to have some consideration of hir gentlewomen that had served hir, and to see them bestowed in marriage. Further that it would please him to ap

point that hir servants might have their due wages,

and a yeares wages beside." 300. My wretched women

-deserve

STEEVENS.

A right good husband; let him be a noble. I would read the last line only with a comma:

A right good husband, let him be a noble; i. e. though he were even of noble extraction.

WHALLEY.

A right good husband, let him be a noble.] Let him be, I suppose, signifies,. even though he should be; or, -admit that he be. She means to observe that, nobility superadded to virtue, is not more than each of her women deserves to meet with in a husband. STEEVENS.

ACT V.

Line 4. NOT for delights;] Gardiner himself

is not much delighted. The delight at which he hints, seems to be the king's diversion, which keeps him in attendance. JOHNSON.

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 shew such an order of cards first, wins the game. Minshieu's Guide into Tongues, col. 575.

Fiij

GREY.
So,

So, in Woman's a Weathercock, 1612:

"Come, will your worship make one at primero ?' Again, in the Preface to The Rival Friends, 1632: ❝ ——when it may be, some of our butterfly judgments expected a set at maw or primavista from them." STEEVENS.

16. Some touch of your late business :- -] Some hint of the business that keeps you awake so late.

35. in religion.

JOHNSON. -mine own way ;- -] Mine own opinion JOHNSON. 44. Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments,] Trade is the practised method, the general course.

JOHNSON.

Trade has been already used by Shakspere with this meaning in King Richard II.

"Some way of common trade.”

I have

STEEVENS.

Incens'd the lords o' the council, that he is

51.

A most arch heretick,

-] This passage,

according to Shakspere's licentious grammar, may mean-I have incens'd the lords of the council, for that he is, i. e. because.

56.

STEEVENS

-broken with the king;] They have broken silence; told their minds to the king.

JOHNSON.

61. He be convented.. -] Convented is summoned,

STEEVENS.

convened. 93. Enter Sir Anthony Denny.] The substance of this

and

and the two following scenes is taken from Fox's Acts and Monuments of the Christian Martyrs, &c. 1563.

"When night came, the king sent Sir Anthony Denie about midnight to Lambeth to the archbishop, willing him forthwith to resort unto him at the court. The message done, the archbishop speedily addressed himselfe to the court, and comming into the galerie where the king walked and taried for him, his highnesse said, "Ah, my lorde of Canterbury, I can tell you newes. For divers weighty considerations it is determined by me and the counsaile, that you tomorrowe at nine of the clocke shall be committed to the Tower, for that you and your chaplaines, as information is given to us, have taught and preached, and thereby sown within the realme such a number of execrable heresies, that it is feared the whole realme being infected with them, no small contention and commotions will rise thereby amongst my subjects, as of late daies the like was in divers parts of Germanie, and therefore the counsell have requested me for the triall of the matter, to suffer them to commit you to the Tower, or else no man dare come forth, as witpesse in these matters, you being a counsellor."

"When the king had said his mind, the archbishop kneeled down, and said, "I am content if it please your grace with al my hart, to go thither at your highness commandement; and I most humbly thank your majesty that I may come to my triall, for there be that have many waies slandered me, and now this way I hope to trie myselfe not worthie of such reporte."

"The

"The king perceiving the man's uprightnesse, joined with such simplicitie, said, "Oh Lorde, what maner a man be you? What simplicitie is in you? I had thought that you would rather have sued to us to have taken the paines to have heard you and your accusers together for your triall, without any such indurance. Do not you know what state you be in with the whole world, and how many great enemies you have? Do you not consider what an easie thing it is to procure three or foure false knaves to witnesse against you? Thinke you to have better lucke that waie than your maister Christ had? I see by it you will run headlong to your undoing, if I would suffer you. Your enemies shall not so prevaile against you; for I have otherwise devised with myselfe to keep you out of their handes. Yet, notwithstanding, to-morrow when the counsaile shall sit, and send for you, resort unto them, and if in charging you with this matter, they do commit you to the Tower, require of them, because you are one of them, a counsailer, that you may have your accusers brought before them without any further indurance, and use for your selfe as good persuasions that way as you may devise; and if no intreatie or reasonable request will serve, then deliver unto them this my ring (which then the king delivered unto the archbishop), and saie unto them, if there be no remedie my lords, but that I must needes go to the Tower, then I revoke my cause from you, and appeale to the kinges owne person by this token unto you all, for (saide the king then unto the archbishop) so soone as

they