1 Rank weeds are weeds grown up to great height and strength. What, (says the king,) was he advanced to this pitch? 2 Sir William Blomer (Holinshed calls him Bulmer) was reprimanded by the king in the Star Chamber, for that, being his sworn servant, he had left the king's service for the duke of Buckingham's. 8 The accuracy of Holinshed, from whom Shakspeare took his account of the accusations and punishment, together with the qualities of the duke of Buckingham, is proved in the most authentic manner by a very curious report of his case in East. Term. 13 Hen. VIII. in the year books published by authority, edit. 1597, f. 11, 12. 4 Steevens takes unnecessary pains to explain this phrase. I wonder he could doubt that it was an adjura Have got by the late voyage, is but merely A fit or two o' the face; but they are shrewd ones; That never saw them pace before, the spavin, now? What news, Sir Thomas Lovell ? To think an English courtier may They must either Or pack to their old playfellows: there, I take it, (For, sure, there's no converting of them :) now A long time out of play, may bring his plain-song, Cham. Well said, Lord Sands; Your colt's tooth is not cast yet. 8 The springhalt or stringhult is a disease incident to horses, which makes them limp in their paces. It is a humorous comparison of the mincing gait of the Frenchified courtiers to this convulsive motion. Jonson, in his Bartholomew Fair, uses it : Poor soul, she has had a stringhalt. Ben 9 The text may receive illustration from Nashe's Life of Jacke Wilton, 1594:-At that time (viz. in the court of King Henry VIII.) I was no common squire, no undertrodden torchbearer, I had my feather in my cap as big as a flag in the foretop, my French doublet gelte in the belly, as though, (lyke a pig readie to be spitted,) all my guts had beene pluckt out, a paire of side paned hose that hung down like two scales filled with Holland cheeses, my long stock that sate close to my dock,-my rapier pendant, like a round sticke, &c. my blacke cloake of cloth, overspreading my backe lyke a thorn5 Shakspeare has placed this scene in 1521. Charles backe or an elephant's eare; and in consummation of earl of Worcester was then lord chamberlain, and con- my curiositie, my handes without gloves, all a more tinued in the office until his death, in 1526. But Caven-French,' &c. Mr. Douce justly observes that Sir Tho dish, from whom this was originally taken, places this event at a later period, when Lord Sands himself was chamberlain. Sir William Sands, of the Vine, near Banngetoke, Hants, was created a peer in 1524. He succeeded the earl of Worcester as chamberlain. 6 Mysteries are arts, and here artificial fashions. 7 A fit of the face seems to be a grimace, an artificial cast of the countenance. R mas Lovell's is an allusion to the feathers which were formerly worn by fools in their caps, as may be seen in a print of Jordan's after Voert; and which is alluded to in the Ballad of News and no News: "And feathers wagging in a fool's cap.' 10 i. e. breeches puffed or swelled out like blisters. 11 The late edition of Mr. Boswell reads hold, noticing that held is the reading of the first folio. Your lordship is a guest too. Sir Thomas, To the cardinal's; O, 'tis true; Was he mad, sir? If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me; [Kisses her. This night he makes a supper, and a great one, A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us; Cham. No doubt, he's noble ; mas, We shall be late else: which I would not be, Sands. I am your lordship's. Sands. For my little cure, Hautboys. Enter CARDINAL WOLSEY, attended; and takes his state. Wol. You are welcome, my fair guests; that noble lady, Or gentleman, that is not freely merry, Is not my friend: This, to confirm my welcome; My Lord Sands, The red wine first must rise [Exeunt. In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we shall have SCENE IV. The Presence Chamber in York Enter Lord Chamberlain, LORD SANDS, and SIR The very thought of this fair company Cham. You are young, Sir Harry Guildford. Lov. O, that your lordship were but now con- To one or two of these! Sands. I would, I were; Place you that side, I'll take the charge of this: By my faith, Sands. [Seats himself between ANNE BULLEN and 1 The speaker is now in the king's palace at Bride- 3 i. e. if I may choose my game. them Talk us to silence. Anne. You are a merry gamester, my Lord Sands. Here's to your ladyship: and pledge it, madam, 4 Chambers are short pieces of ordnance, standing almost erect upon their breechings, chiefly used upon festive occasious, being so contrived as to carry great Anne. You cannot show me. Sands. I told your grace, they would talk anon. [Drum and trumpets within: Chambers discharged. IVol. What's that? Cham. Look out there, some of you. (Exit a Servant. And, pray, receive them nobly, and conduct them A noble company! what are their pleasures? pray'd charges, and make a loud report. They had their name from being little more than mere chambers to lodg powder; that being the technical name for that cavity in a gun which contains the powder or combustible mar ter. Cavendish, describing this scene as it really oc curred, says that against the king's coming were lai charged many chambers, and at his landing they wer all shot off, which made such a rumble in the air that was like thunder.' To tell your grace ;-That, having heard by fame This night to meet here, they could do no less, Say, lord chamberlain, To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure ACT II. They have done my poor house grace; for which SCENE I. A Street. Enter two Gentlemen, I pay them A thousand thanks, and pray them take their plea Your grace, There's fresher air, my lord, In the next chamber. K. Hen. Lead in your ladies, every one.-Sweet partner, I must not yet forsake you.-Let's be merry ;Good my lord cardinal, I have half a dozen healths meeting. Even to the hall to hear what shall become 1 Gent. I'll save you 1 Cavendish, from whom Stowe and Holinshed copied their account, says that the cardinal pitched upon Sir Edward Neville, a comely knight of a goodly personage, that much more resembled the king's person in that mask than any other,' upon which the king plucked down his visor and Master Neville's also, and dashed out with such a pleasant cheer and countenance, that all noble estates there assembled, seeing the king to be there amongst them, rejoiced very much.' 2 i. e. waggishly, mischievously. 3 A kiss was anciently the established fee of a lady's The custom is still prevalent among country partner. people in many parts of the kingdom. 4 According to Cavendish, the king, on discovering himself, being desired by Wolsey to take his place under the state or seat of honour, said that he would go first and shift his apparel, and so departed, and went straight into my lord's bedchamber, where a great fire 2 Gent. 1 Gent. Yes, indeed, was I. 2 Gent. there ? Pray, speak, what has happen'd? 1 Gent. You may guess quickly what. Is he found guilty? 1 Gent. Yes, truly he is, and condemn'd upon it. 2 Gent. I am sorry for't. 1 Gent. So are a number more. duke 2 Gent. But, pray, how pass'd it? was made and prepared for him, and there new appa. relled him with rich and princely garments. And in the time of the king's absence the dishes of the banquet were cleane taken up, and the tables spread with new and sweet perfumed cloths.-Then the king took his seat under the cloth of estate, commanding no man to remove, but set still as they did before. Then in came a new banquet before the king's majesty, and to all the rest through the tables, wherein, I suppose, were served two hundred dishes or above. Thus passed they forth the whole night with banquetting,' &c. 5 Thus in Autonio and Mellida : Fla. Faith, the song will seem to come off hardly. Catz. Troth, not a whit, if you seem to come off quickly. Fla. Pert Catzo, knock it, then.' 6 Either produced no effect, or produced only ineffectual pity. At his return, 1 Gent. 2 Gent. The mirror of all courtesy ;'1 Gent. Stay there, sir, 2 Gent. Let's stand close, and behold him. And, if I have a conscience, let it sink me, But those, that sought it, I could wish more chris Lov. I do beseech your grace, for charity, Buck. Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you, my prayers 1 The report in the Old Year Book, referred to above, thus describes him. Car il fut tres noble prince et prudent, et mirror de tout courtesie. 2 The old copy reads Sir Walter. The correction is justified by Holinshed. Sir William Sands was at this time (May, 1521) only a knight, not being created Lord Sands till April 27, 1527. Shakspeare probably did not know that he was the same person whom he has already introduced with that title. The error arose by placing the king's visit to Wolsey (at which time Sir William was Lord Sands) and Buckingham's condemnation in the same year; whereas the visit was made some years afterwards. 3 Evils are forcie. 4 Thus in Lord Sterline's Darius : 'Scarce was the lasting last divorcement made Betwixt the bodie and the soule." 5 Johnson observes, with great truth, that these lines are remarkably tender and pathetic. 6 Shakspeare, by this expression, probably meant to make the duke say, No action expressive of malice shall Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux, Buck. Nay, Sir Nicholas, Yet I am richer than my base accusers, for't. My noble father, Henry of Buckingham, And give your hearts to, when they once perceive But where they mean to sink ye. All good people, And when you would say something that is sad,19 That were the authors. close my life. Enry is elsewhere used by Shakspeare for malice or hatred. Unless with Warburton we read 'mark my grave; a very plausible emendation of an error easily made; and which has indeed happened in an instance in King Henry V. Act ii. Sc. 2, where the old copy erroneously reads: To make the full fraught man and best endued With some supicion.' 7 The name of the duke of Buckingham most generally known was Stafford; it is said that he affected the surname of Bohun, because he was lord high constable of England by inheritance of tenure from the Bohuns. Shakspeare follows Holinshed. 8 I now seal my truth, my loyalty, with blood, which blood shall one day make them groan. 9 This expression occurs again in Othello :- 10 Thus also in King Richard II. : Tell thou the lamentable tale of me, 2 Gent. This secret is so weighty, 'twill require | And with what zeal! For, now he has crack'd the A strong faith' to conceal it. 1 Gent. I do not talk much. 2 Gent. Let me have it; I am confident: You shall, sir: Did you not of late days hear 1 Gent. Yes, but it held2 not: 2 Gent. But that slander, sir, 1 Gent. 2 Gent. I think, you have hit the mark: But is't That she should feel the smart of this? The cardinal 'Tis woful. league Between us and the emperor, the queen's great nephew, He dives into the king's soul; and there scatters These news are every where; every tongue speaks And every true heart weeps for't: All, that dare open The king's eyes, that so long have slept upon Suf. And free us from his slavery. Nor. We had need pray, If the king please; his curses and his blessings We are too open here to argue this; Let's think in private more. For me, my lords, I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed; SCENE II. An Antechamber in the Palace. En-As I am made without him, so I'll stand, ter the Lord Chamberlain, reading a Letter. Cham. My lord,—The horses your lordship sent for, with all the care I had, I saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished. They were young, and handsome; and of the best breed in the north. When they were ready to set out for London, a man of my lord cardinal's, by commission, and main power, took 'em from me; with this reason,-His master would be served before a subject, if not before the king: which stopped our mouths, sir. No, his conscience Has crept too near another lady. 'Tis so; Suf. Pray God, he do! he'll never know himself else. Nor. How holily he works in all his business! 1 Great fidelity. 2 Steevens erroneously explains this passage, saying infeld is to believe: “it held not here rather means it not sustain itself,' the rumour did not prove true. So in King Richard III. Act ii. Sc. 2 :- Doth the news hold of good King Edward's death? 3 See The Winter's Tale, Act i. Se. 2. note 8. 4 It was the main end or object of Wolsey to bring about a marriage between Henry and the French king's ester, the duchess of Alençon. 5 The meaning is, that the cardinal can, as he pleases, make high or low. Nor. Let's in ; And, with some other business, put the king him : Excuse me; The king hath sent me other-where: besides, Nor. Thanks, my good lord chamberlain. [Exit Lord Chamberlain. NORFOLK opens a folding-door. The King is discovered sitting, and reading pensively. Suf. How sad he looks! sure, he is much afflicted. K. Hen. Who is there? ha? Nor. 'Pray God, he be not angry. K. Hen. Who's there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves Into my private meditations? Nor. A gracious king, that pardons all offences K. Hen. You are too bold: Go to; I'll make ye know your times of busi These the person who was to be discovered (as Henry in the present case,) drew back just at the proper time. Norfolk has just said 'Let's in; and therefore should himself do some act in order to visit the king. This, indeed, in the simple state of the old stage, was 6 The stage direction in the old copy is singular-not attended to; the king very civilly discovering him'Exit Lord Chamberlain, and the king draws the cur- self. See Malone's account of the Old Theatres, in Mr. tain, and sits reading pensively.'-This was calculated | Boswell's edition, vol. ii. |