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5 .X

MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS,

LEGAL INSTRUMENTS,

THE TRAGEDY OF KING LEAR,

AND

A SMALL FRAGMENT OF HAMLET,

FROM THE ORIGINAL MSS. OF

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE,

1

■•''>. A-

■'.'ifi

!>

^^::i>,^^r^:,

MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS

AND

LEGAL INSTI^lfMENTS."

UNDER THE HAND/AlifD SSAt ;-0F:J\| • /.*•

TFILLIAM SHAKSPEARE:

INCLUDING THE TRAGEDY

CF

KING LEAR,

AND A SMALL FRAGMENT

HAMLET,

FROM THE ORIGINAL MSS.

IN THE POSSESSION OF

SAMUEL IRELAND,

OF NORFOLK STREET.

. " Quod optanti Divum promittere nemo

•• auderet, volvenda dies en attulit ultro."

^N. IX. 6.

lonDon t Printed by Cooper and Graham, Bow Street, Covent Garden. Publirtied by Mr. Egerton, Whitehall; Meflrs. White, Fleet Street ; Mcffrs. Leigh and Sotheby, York Street, Covent Garden; Mr. RobsoxV, and Mr. Fa ulders New Bond Street; and Mr. Sael, oppolue St. Clement's Church.

' ?79^ • -,

I

1

MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS

AND

LEGAL INSTRUMENTS

UNDER THE H\ND AND SilAt, .OF.; ;

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE:

INCLUDING THE TRAGEDY

CF

KING LEAR,

AND A SMALL FRAGMENT

OF

HAMLET,

FROM THE ORIGINAL MSS.

IN THE POSSESSION OF

SAMUEL IRELAND,

OF NORFOLK STREET.

-" Quod optanti Divum promittere nemo ^^ ,_ ...„„„ j»

•• AUDERET, VOLVENDA DIES EN ATTULIT ULTRO.

y£N. IX. 6.

Printed by Cooper and Graham, Bow Street, Covent Garden. Publiflied by Mr. Egerton, Whitehall; MeflTrs. White, Fleet Street ; Meffrs. Leigh and Sotheby, York Street, Corent Garden; Mr. Robson, and Mr. Fa uLOERi New Bond Street; and Mr. Sael, oppofite St. Clement's Church.

PREFACE.

The Editor of this Volume here prefents the Public with a part of that valuable treafure of our Shakspeare, which, having been by accident difcovered in MS., has fince been depofited in his hands. From the firft moment of this difcovery to the prefent hour, Mr. Ireland has inceflantly laboured, by all the means in his power, to inform himfelf with refpedl to the validity of thefe in- terefting papers.

Throughout this period there has not been an ingenuous charad:er, or difinterefted individual, in the circle of Literature, to whofe critical eye he has not been earneft, that the whole fhould be fubje6ted. He has courted, he has even challenged, the critical judgment of thofe, who are beft (killed in the Poe- try and Phrafeology of the times in which Shak- fpeare lived; as well as thofe, whofe profeffion or courfe of ftudy has made them converfant with ancient deeds, writings, feals and autographs. Wide and extenfive as this range may appear, and it includes the Scholar, the Man of Tafte, the Anti- quarian, and the Herald, his enquiries have not refted in the clofet of the Speculatift; he has been

<S.3'330i

vi PREFACE.

equally anxious that the whole fliould be fubmitted to the pradical experience of the Mechanic, and be pronounced upon by the paper-maker, &c., as well as the Author. He has ever been defirous of placing them in any view, and under any light, that could be thrown upon them; and he has, in confequence, the fatisfad:ion of announcing to the Public, that, as far as he has been able to collect the fentiments of the feveral clafTes of perfons above referred to, they have unanimoufly teftified in fa- vour of their authenticity; and declared, that, where there was fuch a mafs of evidence, internal and external, it was impofliblQ, amidft fuch various fources of detediion, for the art of imitation to have hazarded fo much without betraying itfelf; and, confequently, that thefe Papers can be no other than the produ5iion of Shakfpeare hinifelf.

It may be expedied, that fomething be faid by the Editor, of the manner in which thefe papers came into his hands. He received them from his fon, Samuel- William- Henry Ireland, a young man then under nineteen years of age; by whom the difcovery was accidentally made at the houfe of a gentleman of conliderable property.

Amongft a mafs of family papers, the Contrails between Shakfpeare, Lowine, and Condelle, and

PREFACE. vii

the Leafe granted by him and Hemynge to Michael Frafer, which was firft found, were difcovered ; and foon afterwards the Deed of Gift to WiUiam Henry Ireland, (defcribed as the friend of Shak- fpeare, in confequence of his having faved his hfe on the river Thames, when in extreme danger of being drowned) and alfo the Deed of Truft to John Hemynge, were difcovered. In purfuing this fearch he was fo fortunate as to meet with fome deeds very material to the interefts of this gentle- man, and fuchas eftablifhed, beyond all doubt, his title to a confiderable property: deeds of which this gentleman was as ignorant, as he was of his having in his poffeffion any of the MSS. of Shak- fpeare. In return for this fervice, added to the confideration that the young man bore the fame name and arms with the perfon who faved the life of Shakfpeare, this gentleman promifed him every thing relative to the prefent fubjed, that had been or fhould be found either in town, or at his houfe in the country. At this houfe the principal part of the papers, together with a great variety of books, containing his MS. notes, and three MS. plays, with part of another, were difcovered.

Fortified as he is with the opinion of the unpre- judiced apd intelligent, the Editor will not allow that it can be prefumption in him to fay, that he

viii PREFACE.

has no doubt of the truth and authenticity of that, which he lays before the Pubhc. Of this fad: he is as fully fatisfied, as he is with the honour that has been obferved towards him throughout the whole communication made to him upon this fub- je6l. So circumftanced, he fhould not feel juftitied in importuning or any way requeuing a gentleman, to whom he is known only by obligation, and not perfonally, to fubje6t himfelf to the impertinence and licentioufnefs of literary curiofity and cavil, unlefs he fliould himfelf voluntarily come forward. But this is not all. It was not till after the mafs of papers received became voluminous, that Mr. Ireland had any idea of printing them: he then applied to the original polTefTor for his per- miffion fo to do; and this was riot obtained but under the ftrongeft injun(5tion, that his name ihould not appear. — This injund;ion has, through- out all the flages of this bufinefs, been uniformly declared: and, as this gentleman has dealt moil liberally with the Editor, he can confidently fay, that in his turn he has with equal opennefs and candour conducted himfelf towards the Public; to whom, immediately upon every communication made, every thing has been fubmitted without referve.

But, it is faid, that the difclofure of the name

PREFACE. ix

of the gentleman, from whom thefe papers came would remove all doubts, and fettle all men's minds upon the fubjed. He believes, and is confident, that with fome it would. But who is it that fays this ? It cannot be the real Critic, or Antiquarian. He will not fay, that his art or fcience amounts to nothing, and that his lucubrations are idle and ufe- lefs. But if the point cannot finally or fatisfac- torily be decided either by the thing written, its paper or parchment vehicle, or feals appendant, or the other circumftances under which it was intro- duced, and muft depend wholly upon the place and perfon from whom they came, what becomes of the acumen of the Critic, or the fls:ill and labour of the Antiquarian ? By this rule it is a quefbion for another jurifdicftion ; and the occupation of the Critic and Antiquarian is gone.

Many authors, pofTefTed of rare and extraordi- nary talents, have been occafionally imitated; but, fo fuperior and tranfcendant is the Genius of Shakfpeare, that fcarce any attempts to rival or imi- tate him, and thofe too contemptible to notice, have ever been made. With a wit fo pregnant, an imagination fo unbounded, fuch an intuitive know- ledge of the workings of the human heart, fo fim- ple and fo fublime, it feemed, that the feal of

X PREFACE.

heaven had been ftamped on the produdlion of his mind, and that

** Nature herfelf was proud of his defigns, ** And joy*d to wear the dreffing of his Hnes.'*

To the man of tafte, and lover of fimplicity, to the found Critic, it is conceived, upon collating them, it will appear, that the alterations made in the printed copies of Lear are manifeftly introduced by the players, and are deviations from that fpon- taneous flow of foul and fimple dicStion, which fo eminently diftinguifli this great Author, this Child of Nature ; and that the additions and alterations interfperfed, which, in the eyes of the players, were, no doubt, fplendid improvements, have not unfrequently been introduced at the expence of the natural courfe of the narrative, the regular detail of the fad, and uniformity of the author*s flyle; which, whether it is employed on great things or fmall, in exprefling humble or lofty images, is in- variably without labour or effort, and without any thing like hardnefs or inverfion. Thefe too are amongft the reafons that have perfuaded the Editor, that thefe papers are genuine; for, it is prefumed, the MS. here prefented to the Public mufh have been the original, and, probably, the only one by the author.

PREFACE. x'l

Next to the crime of attempting to impofe on others, and inviting them to countenance the im- polition, is the cruel and unmanly charge of taxing another with fo unworthy a defign. To the Editor that charge has been imputed : and to this he can with truth reply, that no confideration fliould, under fuch circumftances, have induced him to pracftife fuch a fraud, had the quality of the thing pretended been ever fo excellent ; and that, had even the poffibility of forging thefe papers been in his eftimation within the reach of art, they never fliould have met the public eye. The contrary opinion having been eftabliihed by the heft and foundeft judgments, he has been emboldened with the fullefl confidence thus to gratify his private wifhes, as well as a duty, which he feels he owes to the Public, in fubmitting them to their infpedion.

' It was the great objed: of the Editor to obtain the fair and free fuffrages of the literary world, that they fliould fee with their own eyes, and judge with their own underftandings ; and with this view he dedicated his time to them. Should it, therefore, be pofTible that either artifice or in- fluence has been ufed to prevent any one from gra- tifying that curiofity, fo natural to the mind of man upon a fubjed: fo interefting, no one can be fo weak as to be at a lofs to aihgn the motive.

1*2.

xiv PREFACE.

and that, inflead of his fimple phrafeology, and fentences framed according to their natural order and conftrudion, the obvious general features of his o\sn writings, there will be found at intervals tumor and gaudy trappings, and hardnefs, and inverlion. •

By way of example, the Editor here lays before the Public one or two inftances : p. 59, line 1 1 53.

*f Stew Tript mee behynde beynge downe in-

** fultedde ravlde ** ande putte onne hymme foe muche 0 the^2^\wt ** Thatte worthyedde hymme ande got te hymme

** prayfes o the Kynge . ** Ande for re the Attempt of thy s hysfofte fub-

** ^Wexployte •* Drewe oune mee here agayne.'*

In the Quarto Edition of 1 608 ; and in the Mo- dern Editions, Act II. Scene II.

** Stew. Tript me behinde, being downe, in-

*' fulted, raild,

** And put vpon him fuch a deale o/^man,

*' That w^orthied him, got praifes of the King,

** For him atteinpting who was felfe fubdued^

•* And in the flechuent of this dread exploit.

" Drew on mee heere againe.**

PREFACE. XV

in the following fcene, in Edgar's fpeech; p. 6^^ line 1 219.

«* Edg Blankette mye loynes twiyie alle myc

*' hayre in Knottes *' Ande inne Adam lyke Nakeddenefle oute face •* The Winde ande perfecutyonne o the Skye/*

In the Quarto Edition of 1608 ; and Modern Edi- tions, Scene III.

Edg Blanket my loines, eJfe all my hair with

knots, And with prefented nakednes out-face •* The winde, and perfecution of the Ikie.*'

Again, in p. 68, line 1433; ^^ ^^"^^ Scene,

** Leave I woud divorce thee fromme thye Mo-

** therres Wombe ** Ande fay e the Motherre was an Adult rejfe.^*

In the Quarto Edition of i6o.8i the fame Scene.

** Lear I woud divorce me from thy mothers

** toombey ** Sepulchring an adult rejfe,**

xvi .PREFACE.

And again, in p. 140, line 275,9.

** Edm Sir I thoughte itte^//^/^;?^ toe fende the

** oulde Kynge *' Toe clofc retennetyonne."

In the Quarto Edition of 1608 j ActV. Scene III.

** Bafl, Sir, I thought it//

* ' To fend the olde a?id miferable King

** To y^?;??^ retention, and appointed guard, ^^

It is not in the vain expedation of recalHng the innovating and critical Genius of the prefent age to the manly plainnefs and iimplicity of their an- ceftors, that this dodrine, fo oppofite to the trade of conjedtural Criticifm, is advanced ; but a hope is indulged by the Editor, that that idea may ever be frefli and indelible in the breafts of his country- men, which one, worthy of being a commentator on the Merits and Genius of Shakfpeare, has fo nobly expreffed, that,

*' Whilft to the fliame of How endeavoring art *' His cafy numbers flow, and that each heart '* Hath from the leaves of his unvalued book •' ThofeDclphiclines with deep imprcflion took,"

PREFACE. xvii

this impreffion may neither be weakened nor ef- faced by the rafli hand of officious friendlhip, or over- weening vanity.

With refped: to the improvement which this copy prefents, Mr. Ireland refts not fo much on the feveral beautiful pafTages here given in addition to the printed copies, as he does on the natural courfe of the dialogue and turn of the thought ; which, injurioufly to the reputation of Shakfpeare, has, he affirms, been frequently in thofe copies diverted and varied to anfwer the purpofes already pointed out. To the intelligent reader it mufl be unnecelTary to enumerate them. The opinion en- tertained by the Author of the copies printed in his own life time, (unlefs it can be Ihewn that this Work is a mere fabrication) is afcertained by the Deed of Truft to John Hemynge, inferted in this work; in which he fays,

** & llio''. they bee everr agayne Impryntedd *' I doe orderr thatt theye bee foe donn from thefe " mye true writtenn Playes & nott from thofe nowe " prynted."

In the Lear three leaves are unfortunately want- ing in the original MS.; thefe the Editor has fupplied from the Quarto Edition of 1608; and

xviii PREFACE."

they will be found in pages 49, 50, 51, 52, 5*3, and 54, marked with inverted commas. The Editor, in the pages following the Preface, has ventured to fiipply fuch words or letters as he con- ceives to have been accidentally the omiffion of the Author in writing this play; and this mode, he flatters himfelf, will be thought preferable to in- ferting them in the body of the work. It may not be improper to add, that in the paper, on which this Play is written, more than twenty different water marks appear.

The Editor informs the Public, that (befides the Play of Vortigern, now preparing forreprefen- tation at Drury-Lane Theatre) another, and more interefting, hiftorical Play has been difcovered amongft the other papers, in the hand writing of Shakfpeare: this will in due time be laid before the public. He likewife acquaints them, that he is in poifelTion of a great part of Shakfpeare 's Li- brary, in which are many books with Notes in his own hand, and thofe of a very curious nature. Some of thefe he, moft probably, will reprint: they exhibit him in a new charadier, — unite with the Bard, the Critic and the Moralift, and difplay an acute and penetrating judgment, with a difpo- iition amiable and gentle as his Genius was tran- fcendant. Such a view of our immortal Poet mufl

PREFACE. xix

prove highly acceptable to every fincere admirer, who w^ill doubtlefs concur with the Editor, that nothing fhoidd be loft, fcarce even

** One drop which fell from Shakfpeare's pen."

c a

Words and Letters fupplied that appear to have been wanting in the MS.

KING LEAR.

for godd read good

for ihs read ihjs : the fame word often occurs in the MS,,

and appears to be an abbreviation zit^xJhouU rcjid not, and after ha've read been for / read Jje : this was the Author's ufual mode of

writing after If read thou n is omitted in Counfayle for ijoiis read ou/VA after a'waye read if for getts rtdid-fetts fof Layerre read Laivyerre n is omitted in couxfayld for rw/jc'?? read nxere omit />r

quere ? if for fyre read ^^'^ for uffe read ra^y^" for our e garde read oerguarde for 930 read S30 for /^/^ read mujie 49, 50/51, 52, 53, and 54. of the MS. are loft, and are here infcrted from the Quarto Edition of 1608, marked with in- verted commas

for bifomme read bofomme

for confayllc read courfaylle

for ijjere read nuhere

for iffe read ijie

after w^'^' read ;;7(7^^

for hafhoure read harboure

for /oo/r read /oci^(?

for ixjithinne read "tv/V^

for 13H0 read 1280, and fo on

for qulyfye 'read qualytye

for z^^- read then

{ox JJmh xt^Ajhall

after mye read far/"

after ^;/^r read ?nanne

the word in Italics is underfcored in the MS.

for fqure read fquire

after /so/^ read rfl/i^if r

Page.

Line.

13.

194'

22,

3^4'

26,

428.

27.

443'

31.

509'

—

520,

Z^y

558'

34.

570,

—

579'

36,

604,

—

612,

37'

634'

643.

40,

682,

43.

738'

44.

759.

48,

930.

—

938,

49».

50,51,

54.

^057.

—

1058,

—

1063,

S^'

1083,

5^

1086,

59'

1138,

61,

^'95'

65'

1274,

—

1380,

6g,

1438'

—

H49'

70,

H75'

—

'475>

71.

1484,

72.

1511,

—

1^17'

—

1518,

fVords and Letters fuppUed that appear to have been wanting in the MS.

for Reg read Rrgan

for Jithe read Jq^Jf

for cmtenawtce read cmntenaunce

after gave read //

after norre r<.ad hujh

after ^-at-^" read hh

a dot over the ; in the MS., the only one that has yet

occurred after njjhore read not r omitted in Jernjing after brjuge read you for thruthe read truthe 0 thys hathe is repeated for faherre read fatherre for apprehejynme read apprehenfyonne for tuores read nvho^es for thoroivinge read thrcwinge after pinnyonne read Z>/ot, and after //^,f read «' for quckemie read quickenne have is repeated for atvri? read njohere ■

1 140 (hould be 2140 : this error in the numeration in the MS. is continued to page 125, where it is refti- fied at 2520 after Brynge read wi? after Jhoud read ///^i? after ^g-aod'^ read Lorde for threale read thereat &htt fromme x^^d. your Jijier after Mother read £flr/^ after muche read co-wf for £^« read ii^j^ a period ufed for fahomme read fathomme after ///(<' read <z after z^^/ read /y^ que. ? (hould not toe read from for ^a//? read Jhould

for w^-zr read w^<f>Y : in fame line, after are read they after //><?/ read ijjhore

Lear fpeaks, but the word Lear is omitted , after on read /A<'^ , for Sycke read ^r^if , after about read ot^ , for remebered read remembered , after Toar^ read /Tj/^tf

Page.

Line.

74»

15+3. ^

—

1552, 1

—

1556, :

—

1558.

77»

1611,

—

i< 17,

81,

1692,

88,

1827,

— .

J831,

91,

1888,

92»

1906,

—

1907,

94»

1940,

—

1941,

9S>

1958,

96,

1984,

98,

2023,

99'

2040,

100,

2055,

103,

21 13,

104,

1 140,

lOv

1 1 64,

106,

1179'

107,

1207,

108,

I2I3»

1221,

IIO>

1252,

112,

1290,

ii5»

1335'

—

I34i>

116,

1361,

118,

1400,

119,

1417.

120,

1432,

H37'

121,

144-2.

122,

1463,

123,

1494.

126,

■ 2S3^'

2544.

2547.

127^

. 2999,

2565,

Words and Letters fupllied that appear to have been wanting in the MS,

Page. Line.

128, 2579* after jcar xtaA hand

131, 26 1+, after luakes fliould not it be read nonu, not hoix) ?

132, 2('>3[, Sihct Leare rta.d Fiaj/

IJ3, 2663, for d read EJ; 2664, for g read Reg; 2666, before Ime read EJm ; ibb"], before 5a//^ read Reg ; 2668, before Noe read £(/ot; 2669, before / read Reg ; 2670, before Feare read £;/-«; 2671, for die read f^Tr//? ; z'^']z,ioT he read Ti6f ; 267 3, for home read Who/ne

134, 2673, for ivihe rc;id nviihe

2689, from this line to 2695, part of the MS. is rornofF, and

the folluwing words are fupplied from the Quarto of 1608; 2689. for /(^ read .-^/^: 2690, for j- re.id ii^/o-; 2692, before Fare read J/if ; 2694, for e read Harde ; 2695, for ^ icadBee

138, 2744t iox Jhahe Xt2.d Jhalle

139, 2754* S.or marde x^'did marke

140, 2 7<')l, {ox boj'omme read blojfomme

141, 27^1, iox dfpo/e xtud dij'pofe

2785,6,7, part of ihe words are loft in the MS., and the follow-

ing words fupplied : 2785, for »7/? read £^« ; 2786, iox lb xt?idAlb ; 2787, for fo- rtad Edm

2788, Albany fpeaks, but tlie name is not inferted

142, 2799, after naught read lefs

281 I, zHxtx Trumpette read then read out this

143, 2812, before Iffe read Herald: and in fame line, {ox qulytye

read qualjtye line 2850 fhould be 2840, but after follows 2860 146, 2894, z{%.tx dydde xeai hate 149, 2964, {ox qucklye X>:2.d ffuicklye 152, 30:5^ {ox <w/Lonne read tvelcomme

3029, for Breathe read Br take

155, 3038, for Freynjds read Frtynds

3048, after of-ff read _/(£■/

HAMLET.

2316, after is read // 2320, Kylle a is repeated.

^een Elizabeth^ s Letter.

WEE didde receive youre prettye Verfes goode Mafterre William through the hands oflF oure Lorde Chambelayne ande wee doe Complemeiite thee onne theyre greate excellence Wee Ihalle departe fromme'Londonne toe Hamptowne forre the holydayes where wee Shalle exped;e thee withe thye befte A(florres thatte thou mayfte playe before ourefelfe toe amufe ulFe bee notte flowe butte comme toe ufle bye Tuefdaye nexte affe the lorde Leifcefterre wille bee withe ulTe

Elizabeth R

Thys Letterre I dydde receyve fromme mye mofte gracyoufe Ladye Elyzabethe ande I doe requelle itte maye bee kepte withe alle care poflyble

W"" Shakfpearc

For Mafter William

Shakfpeare atte the Globe bye Thames

A

Extracls from Mifcellaneous Papers,

Inne the Yeare o Chryfle

FORRE oLire Trouble inne govnge toe Playe before the Lorde Leyceflerre ats houfe and oure greate Expenneces thereuponne 19 poundes

Receyvedde ofs Grace the Summe o 50 Poundes

W"^ Shakfpeare

FORRE oure greate Trouble inne gettynge allc inne orderre forre the Lorde Leycefterres Comynge ande oure Moneyes layde oute there uponne 59 Shyllynges

Receyvedde o Mafterre Hemynge forre thatte Nyghte 3 Poundes

Mafterre Lowinne 2 Shyllynges moure forre hys Goode Servyces ande vvelle playinge

W'^ s.

Note of Hand.

ONE Moneth from the date hereof I doe pro- myfe to paye to my good and Worthye Freynd John Hemynge the fume of five Pounds and five fhilKngs EngHfli Monye as a recompenfe for hys greate trouble in fetthng and doinge much for me at the Globe Theatre as alfo for hys trouble in going downe for me to flatford Witnefs my Hand

W"^ Shakfpere

September the Nynih 1589

RECEIVED of Mafler W™ Shakfpeare the Sum of five Pounds and five . Shillings good Englifh Money thys Nynth Day of Odobcr 1589

Jii° Hemynge

A 3

"Letter to Anna Hatherrewaye

Dcarejfte Anna

AS thou hafte alwaye founde mee toe mye Wordc morte trewe foe thou fhalt fee I have flrydlye kepte mye promyfe I praye you perfume thys mye poore Locke withe thye balmye Eyifes forre thenne in- deede flialle Kynges themmefelves bovve ande paye homage toe itte I doe affure thee no rude hande hathe knottedde itte thye Willys alone hathe done the worke Neytherre the gyldedde bawble thatte envyronnes the heade of Majcflye noe norre honourres mofte weyghtye wulde give mee halfe the joye as didde thyfle mye lyttle w^orke forre thee The feelinge thatte dydde nearefte approache untoe itte was thatte whiche coramethe nyghefte untoe God meeke ande Gentle Chary tye forre thatte Virrtue O Anna doe I love doe I cheryfhe thee inne mye hearte forre thou arte afs a talle Cedarre flretchynge forthe its branches ande fuccourynge fmaller Plants fromme nyppynge.Winneterre orr the boyfteroufe Wyndes Farewelle toe Morrowe bye tymes I wille fee thee tille thenne Adewe fweete Love Thyne everre

W^^ Shakfpeare Anna Hatherrewaye

Verfes' to Anna Hatherrewaye

I

IS there inne heavenne aught more rare Thanne thou fweete Nymphe of Avon fayre Is there onne Earthe a Manne more trewe Thanne Willy Shakfpeare is toe you

Though fyckle fortune prove unkynde Stille dothe fhe leave herre wealthe behynde She neere the hearte canne forme anew Norre make thye Willys love unnetrue

3 Though Age withe witherd hand doe ftryke

The forme mofte fayre the face mofte bryghte

Stille dothe fhe leave unnetouchedde ande trewe

Thy Willys love ande freynfliyppe too

4 Though deathe with neverre faylynge blowe Dothe Manne ande babe alyke brynge lowe Yette doth he take naughte butte hys due Ande flrikes notte Willys hearte flille trewe

5 Synce thenne norre forretune deathe norre Age

Canne faythfulle Willys love affwage

Thenne doe I live ande dye forre you

Thy Willye fyncere ande mofle trewe

heitcr to the Earl of Southampton,

Copye of mye Letter toe hys grace offe Southampton

Mye Lorde

DOE notte efteeme me a fluggarde nor tardyc for thus havynge delayed to anfwerre or rather toe thank you for youre greate Bountye I doe affure you my gracioufe ande good Lorde that thryce I have efTayed toe wryte and thryce mye efforts havebenne fruitleffe I knowe notte what toe fayc Profe Verfe alle all is naughte gratitude is alle I have toe utter and that is tooe greate ande tooe fublyme a feeling for poore mortal Is toe expreffe O my Lord itte is a Budde which Blloffommes BUooms butte never dyes itte cherifhes fweete Nature ande lulls the calme Breafte toe fofte fofte rcpofe Butte mye goode Lorde forgive thys mye departure fromme mye Subjedte which was toe retturne thankes and thankes 1 Doe retturne O excufe mee mye Lorde more at prefente I cannotte

Yours devotedlye and withe due

refpedie

W"^ Shakfpeare

ne Earl of Southampton'' s Anfwer.

Deare Willam

I C ANNOTTE doe lefle than thanke you forre youre kynde Letterre butte Whye deareft Freynd talke foe muche ofFe gratitude * mye offerre was double the Somme butte you woulde accepte butte the halfe thcreforre you neede notte fpeake foe muche onn thatte Subjedlte as I have beene thye Freynd foe will I continue aughte thatte I canne doe forre thee praye commande mee andeyou fhallc fynde mee

Yours yulye the 4

Southampton

To the Globe Theatre

Forre Maft"^ Willam

Shakfpeare

Profejjion of Faith.

I BEYNGE no we offe founde Mynde doe hope

thatte thys mye wyfhe wille atte mye deathe bee

acceeded toe as I nowe lyve in Londonne ande as

mye foule maye perchance foone quitte thys poore

Bodye it is mye defire thatte inne fuche cafe I maye

bee carryed to mye native place ande thatte mye

Bodye bee there quietlye interred wythe as httle

pompe as canne bee ande I doe nowe inne theefe

mye feyrioufe Moments make thys mye profeflione

of fayth and whiche I doe mofle folemnlye beheve

1 doe fyrfte looke toe oune lovynge and greate God

ande toe hys glorioufe fonne Jefus I doe alfoe be-

leyve thatte thys mye weake ande frayle Bodye

wille retturne toe dufte butte forre mye foule lette

God judge thatte as toe hymlTelfe fhalle feeme

meete O omnipotente ande greate God I am fulle

offe Synne I doe notte thynke myfelfe worthye offe

thye grace ande yette wille I hope forre evene the

poore pryfonerre whenne bounde with gallyng Irons

evenne hee wille hope for Pittye ande whenne the

teares offe fweete repentance bathe hys wretched"'

pillowe he then looks ande hopes forre pardonne

thenne rouze mye Soule ande lette hope thatte

fweete cherifher offe allc afforde thee comforte

alfoe O Manne whatte arte thou whye conliderefle

thou thyfelfe thus greatelye where are thye greate

thye boafted attrybutes buryed lofle forre everre

inne colde Deathe. O Manne whye attempteft

Frofcjfton of Faith.

thou toe fearche the greatenefle otfe the Almyghtyc thou dofte butte loofe thye labourre more thou attemptefte more arte thou lofte tille thye poore weake thoughtes arre elevated toe theyre fummite ande thence as Ihowe fromme the leffeeTree droppe ande difTtylle themfelves tille theye are noe more O God Manne as I am frayle bye Nature fulle ofFe Synne yette greate God receyve me toe thye bofomme where alle is fweete contente ande happyneiTe alle is blylTe where difcontentc ifle neverre hearde butte where oune Bonde offe freynd- Ihippe unytes alle Menne Forgive O Lorde alle cure fynncs ande withe thye grete GoodnelTe take ufle alle to thye Breafte O cherilhe uffe like the fweete Chickenne thatte under the coverte ofFe herre fpreadynge Wings Receyves herre lyttle Broode ande hoveringe oerre themme keepes themme harmlelTe ande in fafetye

W" Shakfpeare

B

Letter to Richard Cowley,

Worthye Freynde

HAVYNGE alwaye accountedde thee a Plcafaynte ancle wittye Perfonne ande oiine whofe Companye I doe miiche efteeme I have fente thee inclofedde a whymfycalle conceyte whiche I doe fuppofe thou wilt eafylye difcoverre butte flioudft thou notte whye thenne I fhalle fette thee onne mye table offe loggerre heades

Youre trewe Freynde

Marchc

nynthe

W>" Shakfpcare

Toe Mafterre Richard Cowleye dvvellynge atte oune Mafterre Hollifs a draperre inne the Wattlynge Streete Londonne

Deed of Gift to Ireland.

I WILLIAM Shakspeare of Stafford on Avon butt nowe livyng in London neare untoe a Yard calledd or knowne bye the name of Irelands yarde in the Blackfryars London nowe bcyng att thys preafaunte tyme of founde Mynde ande enjoy inge healthe of bodye doe make ande ordeyne thys as ande for mye deede of Gyfte for inn as as muche as hfe is moufte precyoufe toe alle menne foe flioulde bee thatte perfonne who att the peryle of hys owne fhalle fave thatte of a fellowe Createure Bearyng thys inn Mynde ande havyng beene foe favedde myefelfe I didd withe myne owne hande fyrfle wryte on Papere the conntennts hereof butte for the moure fecurytye ande thatte noe dyfpute whatever myghte happenne afterre mye deathe I have nowe caufedd the fame toe bee written onn Parchemente and have heretoe duly fett and affyxedd mye hande and Seale Whereas onne or abowte the thyrde daye of the lafte monethe beyng the monethe of Augufte havynge withe mye goode freynde Maflerre Wilham Henrye Irelande ande otherres taene boate neare untowe myne houfe afowrefayde wee dydd purpofe goynge upp Thames butte thofe thatte were foe toe conndudte us beynge muche toe merrye throughe Lyquorre theye didd upfette oure fowrefayde bayrge alle butte myefelfe favedd themfclves bye fvvirnmyng

Deed of Gift to Ireland,

for though the Waterre was deepe yette owre be- ynge clofe nygh toe fliore made itte lyttel dyffy- culte for themm knowinge the fowrefayde Arte Mafterre Wilham henrye Irelande notte feeynge mee dydd afke for mec butte oune of the Com- panye dydd anfwerre thatte I was drownynge onn the whyche he pulledd off hys Jerrekynne and Jumpedd inn afterre mee withe muche paynes he draggedd mee forthe I beynge then nearelye deade and foe he dydd fave mye hfe and for the whyche Service I doe herebye give hym as folowithe ! ! ! fyrfle mye writtenn Playe of Henrye fowrthe Henrye fyfthe Kyng John Kyng Leare as all foe mye written Playe neverr yett impryntedd whych I have named Kyng henrye thyrde of Englande alle the profytts of the whych are whollye toe bee for fayde Ireland ande atte hys deathe thenne toe hys fyrfte Sonne namedd alfoe William henrye ande atte hys deathe toe hys brother ande foe onne butte inn case of faylure of IlTiie thenne toe the nexte of kynn ande foe on for everre inn hys lyne Ande I doe alfoe give untoe fayde Ireland the Sum of ten Pounds as a preefaunte oute of the whyche I doe require hym toe buye oune Rynge as a Re- membraunce In Witnelfe whereof I have toe thys mye deede of Guyfte fette mye hand and Scale in the preafaunce of the twoe Witnelles whofe Names

Deed of Gift to Ireland.

are alfoe affyxedd toe the backe hereof thys fyvc ande twentyethe daye of Od:oberre beynge in the Yeare of oure Lorde one thoufande fix hundrethe ande foure ande in the feconde Yeare of oure So- veraygne Lorde Kynge James 1604

William Shahfpearc (L.S.)

Sealed and delyveredd in the prefaunce of us

Jo: Edwards Jos: Byggett

Deede of guyftte from Shakfpearc toe Irelaunde

2 James

Tributary Lines to Ireland.

GIVENNE toe mye moufte worthye

ande excellauntc Freynde Mafterre

William Henrye Irelande inne

Remembraunce of hys havynge

Savedde mye life whenne onne

Thames

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE

Inne life wee wille live togetherre

Deathe

flialle forre a ly telle

parte ufTe butte

Shakfpeares Soiile reftelefle

inne the Grave fhalle uppc

Agayne ande meete hys freynde hys

IRELAND Inne the Blefte Courte of Heavenne

O Modelle of Virretue Charytyes fweetefte Chylde thye Shakfpeare thanks thee Norre Verfe norre Sygh norre Teare canne payntc mye Soule norre faye bye halfe ho we muche I love thee Thyne

W^ SHAKSPEARE

Keepe thys forre mee ande fhoude the Worlde prove fovverre rememberre oune lives thatte loves the ftylle

Agreement with John Lowi?ie

ARTICLES of Agreemente Indented made and Agreed upon the feaventh day of November in the Yeare of the reigne of our foveraigne Lord James by the grace of God King of Englande Scotlande Fraunce and Irelande defendo' of the faythe &c Viz. of England Fraunce and Ireland the fixth And of Scotlande the two and fortieth 2?CttDcne John Lowine of London Gen' of the one pte and William Shakfpeare late of Stratford on Avon in the Co^. of Warwicke Gen', butte who is nowe refydynge in London of the other pte H^xtnciTctJ that the s^ Jn^. Lowine in conlideration of the co- venaunts and agreements herein after contayned doth bind hymfelfe to and with the fayd W" Shak- fpeare for the fpace or term of four Yeares to playe upon the Stage for the s'*. W". Shakfpeare as well thofe Comedyes and Tragedyes which he has al- readye produced as thofe whiche he may at anye tyme hereafter brynge forward ande likewife any other Playes which he the faide W"". Shakfpeare maye at anye tyme caufe to be played not written or compofd bye hymfelfe but whiche are the Writyngs or compofityons of others Ande the s''. W". Shakfpeare his Ex^ Ads^ AlTigns doth here- bye covcnaunte ande agree to and with the s''. Jn". Lowine thatte he the s*^. W'^. Shakfpeare willpayc untoe hym y^ fayd Jn". Lowine the fumme of oune Pounde ande ten Shillings per Week forre hys

Agreement with 'John Lowine.

the s**. J no. Lowines fer vices before menf^. Butte it is herebye agreed thatte in cafe of Sickneffe or anye other Impedyniente thatte maye at anye tyme hereafter happennc thatte thenne the s*^. Jn°. Low- ine fliall notte be called iipone to playe as afore- fayd butte flialle more over receive the fayd Salarye 2Cnt! SaftlpC itte is herebye agreed betweene them thatte in cafe the s'^. Jn**. Lownie Ihoulde at anye tyme breake anye of the Covenaunts herein before agreed iiponne thenne thatte he the s . Jn^ Lowine fhalle paye untoe the s''. W". Shakfpeare the fumme of oune hundred Pounds and the s''. W*". Shakfpeare doth Covenaunte ande declare to and with the s'^. Jn°. Lowine to keepe alle the Covenaunts herein- before agreed upon ande dothe alfoe promife toe paye untoe the fayde Jn°. Lowine the s^. Summe everye Saturdaye duringe the s'*. Terme before twelve offe the Clocke at Nighte %\\ HDitnclTe whereof the s'*. ptyes toe thefe prefants there handes and Seales have interchangeablye fette the daye and Yeare firfte above writtenne

Willam Shakfpeare y?i\ Lo'wine

(L.S.) (L.S.)

Sealed ande dclyvered in the prefence

of

Ro: Willington

Alex: Amcotte 7tl^ Nov: 6^^^ Jam.

Agreement with Henry Con k'llc.

ARTICLES of agreement Indented and agreed upon this tweniieth day of Maye in the Ycare of the Raigne of oiire Soveraigne Lorde James by the grace of God Kingc of Eng- lande Scotlande Fraunce and Irelande defend', of fayth &c Viz^ of Englande Fraunce and Ire- lande the eyghth and of Scotlande the five andc fortyeth 23ctiuccnc Henrye Condclle of Londonne Gen', of tlione p^'^. and W"\ Shakefpeare late of Stratford on Avon in the Co^. of Warwicke Gen': butte novve livinge in Londonne of tother pte 3Bitncirctfj that the s*^. H^. Condelle inConfidera- tion of the Covenaunts and as-reements herein after

o

conteyned doth bynde hymfclfe to and with the Sd. W"". Shakefpeare for the further fpace or terme of three yeares to play upon the Stage for the Sj. W'". Shakfpeare alle Comedyes ande tragedyes whiche he ihe s'^. W*". Shakfptare may at any tyme during the s'^. terme caufe to be played not written or compofed by hymlelfe butte are the Writings or Compofytyons of others Ande the s'^. W"\ Sliakc- fpeare hys Executors Adminiilrators ande AfTigns doth hereby e covenaunte ande agree to ande withe the fayd Henrye Condelle thatte he the fayd Wil- liam Shakefpeare wille paye untoe hym the fayd Henrye Condelle the Summe of oune Founde and oune Shiliyngeper Weeke for hys the fayd Henrye Condelles Services before mentyoned 23iU it is

C

Agreement with Henry Condelle.

herebye agreed thatte in cafe of SicknefTe or any- other Impedymente thatte maye happenne thatte thenne the fayde Henrye Condelle Ihalle notte be called upon to playe as aforelayd butte flialle not- withftandyngc receyve the fayd Salarye %\\^ Etaftlpc it is herebye agreed betweene them thatte in cafe y^ s*^. H^. Condelle fhoulde at any tyme breake anye of the Covenaunts hereinbefore agreed upon then thatte he fhalle paye iintoe the s*^. W"". Shakefpeare the fumme of oune hundred Poundes and the fayd W"". Shakfpeare for hymfelfe hys Ex': Ad^: and afligns doth covenaunt promife ande agree to keepe all the Covenaunts hereinbe- fore agreed upon ande doth alfoe promife to paye hym the fayd H^. Condelle the fayd fumme every Saturdaye durynge the fayd terme before twelve of the Clocke at Nyghte ^ll JOitncffe whereof the fayd pts to thefe Prefents have Interchange- ablye fett theyre hands & Seals the daye & Yeare firft above Writtenne

William Shakfpeare HK Co?jdelle

(L.S.) ■ ' (L.S.)

Scaled and delyvered in the Prefence of

Jn*". Bruce Jn°. Slye

ao*^. Maye 9''': Jam^•

Leafe to MichK Frafer and Eliz^^. his Wife.

C!^3fd^ 5i«ticntmre made the fourteenth daye of July in the yeares of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland Kinge Defendo'" of the fayth viz^ of England France and Ireland the eidit and of Scotland the forty forth $5ctlj)ccne Willam Shakcfpeare of Stratford on Avon in the County of Warwick Gent but now refidynge in London and John Hemynge of Lon- don Gent of thone Pte and Michael Frafer and Elizabeth hys Wife of the othere Pte JDittnclTctft that they the faid Willam Shakefpeare and John Hemynge have demifed leafed graunted and to ferme letten and by thefe prefents do demife grant and to ferme lett unto the faid Mich^ Frafer and Elizabeth hys Wife all thofe his two MelTuages or tenements abutting clofe to the Globe theatre by Black Fryers London fometyme in the tenure or occupation of Henry Holland Gent and late of John Gregory Gent or his affignee or Aflignees And alfo all thofe two Gardens on the North fide of the fame which appertayne or belong thereto and which conteyne fix Acres and an half be they more or lefs And all and fingular Cellars Sollars Lights Eafements Homes Profits Commodityes ~ and appurtenaunts whatfoever to the faid dwelling houfes or tenements belonging or in any wife ap- pertyning €o Ija^JC 5(Inti to ijolti the faid dwel-

C 2

Leafe to MichK Frafcr and Eliz^K his Wife.

ling houfcs tenements and all and fingiilar other the premifes in thefe prefents before ment"^. to be dennifed and part and parcel thereof with their appLirt* unto the faid Mich^ Frafcr and Elizabeth hys Wife their Ex*. Adm'. and Affigns from the Feafl: day of Saint Michael the Archangel which will next come after the date hereof unto and for the ende and terme of fixty foure yeares from thence next enfuing & fiillie to be compleate and ended \vithout impeachm*. of wafte ^ieltlittij and gaping therefore- Yrly and every Year during the faid term unto the faid Willam Shakefpeare & John Hem- ynge the fum of forty and foure Pounds of good Money of Englande to be payd half yrly the next payment to commence on the Feaft day next follow- ing the date of theis Prefents. Provided always that if the s'^. Mich'. Frafer and Eliz'''. hys Wife theyr Ex*. Ad^ or Affigns or any of them do well and truly perform and Keep all & iingular the s*^. covenaunts hereinbefore agreed upon that then it fliall and may be law full to and for the s*^. M'. Frafer and Eliz"\ hys Wife to enter into and enjoy the fame but in cafe of non performance or non paym^ of the fame that then it fhall be lawfulle to & for the s"^. Willam Shakefpeare and John Hcmynge again to have & enjoy the fame %\\t for the better performance of yc cov*'. & agrcem'^ herein Conteyned he the s'^. Mic'. Frafer 6c Eliz'\

Leafe to MiclJ . Frnfer and Eliz'K his Wife.

hys wife do bind themfelves hymfelf & herfelf in the fum of 200'. in cafe of neglecfl or default of any of the agreements herein before conteyned And the s**. W"". Shakefpeare & John Hemynge for themfelves thcyr H% Ex'. Ad*. & Affigns fliail & will clearlye exonerate & difcharge from tyme to tyme the s'^. M^. Frafer & Eliz*^. hys wife from the P4ym^ of fuch Rent & well & fufficientlye keep harmlefs the s''. M'. Frafer & Eliz'"". hys wife theyr Ex^* Ad'r & AiTigns & every of them of & from all incumbres what foe ver by them the s*^. W"". Shakefpeare & Jn°. Hemynge at any tyme before committed or done except the fee or fees to the cheef Lord of the Fremes for or in refpede of his Segnorye onlie to be due & done %\\ luittncfTe whereof the s''. Ptes to thefe Indres Interchanecablie have fett their hands & Scales the daye & yeare firfl above Written ; Anno-Dom (i6ic)

William Sbakfpeare Mic'. Frafer

(L.S.) (L.S.)

Jo: Mcer W'". Danee

14''^ July. 8 Jam^

Deed of Trujl to 'John Hemynge,

I WILLIAM Shakfpeare being of Stratforde on Avon but now living in Londonn doe make and orderr this as and for mye Deede of gifte JJatJing founde miiche wickedncfs amongfte thofe ot the lawe and not Hking to leave matterrs at theyre wills I have herein named a trufly and tried friende who fhall afterr mye dethe execute withe care myne orderrs herein given ^\Xt in cafe I fhoulde att any tyme hercafterr make a IDiil as perrchaunce I fhall in manner of forme I have lefte fome things nott herein given or difpofedd of thatt maye ferve toe fylle upp faid Jl^iH and therebye caufe no hynd- raunce in the Executyonn of thys mye deede of gifte 25ttt fho''. I nott chaunce make a will thenn I doe give all fuche thyngs afs'*. nott herein ment*^. unto mye lovynge Daughterr and herr heyres for everr — Firfte untoe mye dcare Wife I doe orderr as folowithe thatt ihe bee payde withinne oune monthe afterre mye dethe the fomme of oune hondrythe and fowre fcore Pounds fromm the moneys whyche be nowe laynge onn Accompte of the Globe Theatre inn the hands of Mafler John Hcmynge ^tlfoc I doe give herr mye fuyte of greye Vellvett edged withe Silverr tog"^ withe mye lyttelle Cedarr Trunke in wyche there bee three Ryngs oune 1) ttell payntyng of myfelfe in a iilverr Cafe & fevenn letterrs wrottenn to her before oure Mar- ryage thefe I doe beg herr toe keepe fafe if everr

Deed of T^rujl to John Hemynge.

file dydd love me — Toe mye deare Daiighterr who hathe alwayc demeaned henfclfe well I doe give as folowithe the fom.m.e of tvventye Pounds and fevcnne (hyllyngs thys mufte bee payde herr with- inne two Months afterr mye dethe & for rayfyng s^. fumme of 20'. & fevenne fliyllyngs I doe here- bye orderr Mallerr hemynge toe fell mye fliare of the tvvo houfes neare the Globe butt flio^. thatt nott bee enough thenne I doe orderr him toe make itt upp oute of the Moneys inn hys hands onne Ac- compte of the Theatre — I doe allfo give herr mye fuyte of blacke lilke & the Rynge whyche I doe alwaye weare givenne toe mee bye hys Grace of Southampton thys I doe beg herr as flie dothe love mee neverr toe parte fromm Toe mye good Cow- leye whom I muche efleeme & who hathe alwaye loved mee I doe orderr as folowithe thatt Maflerr Hemynge doe paye toe hym the fomme of five Pounds & thatt he doo alfoe delyvcrr toe hymm fromm the Oakenn Cheile att oure Globe Theatre mye Playes hereafterr ment*^. Mye Tempefte Mye Mydfomerrs dreme. Mackbethe. Henrye viii & mye altered Playe of Titus Andronicus all writ- ten bye myefelfe & placed inn s^. Chefle as of ufuage att oure Theatre & fho'^. they bee everr agayne Impryntedd I doe orderr thatt theye bee foe donn from thefe mye true writtenn Playes & nott from thofe nowe prynted all the profytts comynge

Deed of Trufl to John llemynge.

from fuche newe pryntyng thefe 5 are wholly toe belonge toe Cowley e and hys hrs for everre. Toe Mallerr Lowinne ourc belle Adorr I doe orderr as folo withe y^ lyke fomni of 5^ to be p'^. bye Hemynge & thatt hee delyverr toe hyrnm the Playes thatt doc follovve Mye moche adoe aboutc noethynge The Wives of Windfore. Rycharde y" 3'^. as a]lfo mye Coryclanus All thefe 4 I doe give inn fame manner & withe fame powerrsas to Cowleye. Toe Mafterr Conndell who hathe done me manye ferrvices I doe orderr as folowithe thatt hee bee allfo p"^. y^ fomm of 5^ & thatt hee bee forrgivenn y^ debte of 3'. & 9 Ihyllyngs thatt hee dothe owe toem.ee & thatt he Rememberr mee aftcrr mye dethe I doe herebye orderr hymm a plaine Golde Rynge of y' worthe of 20 fhyllyngs Toe mye good Kempe I doe give 3^ & a gold Rynge itt mulle bee lyke Value 20'. Toe Maflerr Bur- bage I give as folowithe from the Chefle afs"^. mye z Playes of Cymbelyne & Othello together withe mye chofe Interrlude nevcrr yctte Impryntedd & wrottenn for & bye defyre of oure late gracyowfe 6c belovedd Quene Elifabethe called y*^ Virginn Quene & playde 3 tymes before herrefelfe ate the Revells y^ profytts fromm pryntyng fame toe bee whollye for s*^. Burbage & hys hrs llioulde hee thynke fyttenne foe toe doe. Toe mye pleafaunte 6c wittye Mallerr Armynne I doe give y'^ fomm

Deed of T^rufl to 'John Hcmynge,

of 5^ toe bee p*'. toe hymmc bye mye Maftcrr Hemynge Toe Mafterr Shancke I doe give 37 fhyllyngs as allfoe a Rynge Value 1 8 fhyllyngs itt mufte allfoe bee of Golde. Toe Mafterr Ryce I doe give 49 fhyllyngs as allfoe mye greene floppd Suyte of Vellvette. Toe Mafter Greggs inn y' Borowgh I doc give y^ fornm of 3'. as allfoe mye two Clothe fuytes whyche bee nowe inn hys howfe. Toe hys little fonne namedd Jonas Greggs I doe give 15 fhyllyngs for yc troble he bathe hadd inn goynge often tymes withe letterrs toe y« Globe All thefe fomms toe bee p*^, bye John Hemynge withinne 3 Moneths afterr mye dethe And laftlye toe mye freyndc John Hemynge who bathe y* manygyng all mye matterrs att ye Globe & toe whofe trufte I give thys mye deede of Guyfte truftyng bee will fee itt faythfullye executed & performe evry thynge accordynge toe mye defyres payinge evry fomm herein ment*^. att y*. fev^ tymes & toe y*" fev^ Perrfons. herein namedd Secondlye thatt hee doe give upp y* fev\ Playes wrytten bye myefelfe & whiche I have herein difpofed of Allfoe thatt hee doe fee y« fev'. Ryngs fuytes & evry otherr thynge givenn accordyng toe mye wifhe. And as a Recompcnce forr y^ troble hee will have in feeynge thys mye deede ryghtlye executedd I doe herebye orderr thatt hee doe take for hymfelf Y fomm of 10^ 6c 20 fhyllyngs toe buye hymm

D

Deed of Tru/l to John Hemynge,

a Golde Rynge I allfoe give hymm oute of s<^. Cheftt y^ Playes folow^. Mye Gentlemenn of Verona alterrd mye Meafure for Meafure Comedye of Errorrs Merrchaunte of Venice Togetherr withe mye newe Playe neverr yette imprynted called Kynge H^. vii thcfe toe bee whollye for s**. J. Hem- ynge And as there wille ftille remayne in hys hands 287^ & 14 fliyllyngs I furtherr orderr hym toe brynge iipp thatt Chylde of whom wee have fpokenn butt who miifte nott be named here & to doe fame I defy re hym toe place owte s'^. Moneye in y^ befte waye he cann doe tylle s*^. Child fliall be of Age fyttenn toe receyve s*^. Moneye & withe whatte fhall comm uppon s**. Moneye foe toe In- trude hym as aforefayde I allfo orderr Mallerr Hemynge toe felle mye three howfcs inn y^ Bo- rowghe & toe putt oute y'. Moneye comynge from fame forr s*'. Childe I allfoe give toe s'^. Chylde y= eyghte Playes thatt bee Itylle inne s'l. Chefte as allfo mye otherr Playe neverr yett Impryntedd called Kynge Vorrtygerne thys as allfo y^ otherr eyghte toe bee whollye forr y^ benyfytte of s"^. Chylde as welle y^ pryntynge as playinge fame and flioulde I chaunce write more as bye Gods helpe & grace I hope toe doe 1 herebye give y^ Profytts of evry Kynde comynge fromm anye fuche newe playes orr otherr V/ryt_yngs unntoe s**. Chylde & hys heires forr everre truftynge toe mye freynde

Deed of Tri(/i to John Hemynge.

John Hemynges honorr and allfo onn hys promys of beynge cloufe of fpeeche inn thys laitc Matterr I have toe thys mye deede of gifte dulye fette mye hande & feaie in the prefaunce of three WitneTes this 23'^. daye of februarye beynge thenynthe Yere of oure foveraygne Lord Kynge James & in y^ Yere of Chrifte 1611

By 7ne William Shakfpeare (L.S.)

Signed Sealed & delyvered in y*^ prefaunce of us

W*". Fenerc Sam^ Jordon W". Leiche

Deede of Guyfte fromm

Shakefpeare toe otherrs

5 James

1611

TRAGEDYE

OF

KYNGE LEARE

Ifse fromme Mafterre Hollinnefhedde I have inne fomme lyttle deparretedde fromme hymme buttc thatte Libbertye will notte I trulle be blamedde bye mye gentle Readerres

W" Shakfpcarc

KYNGE LEARE.

Enterre Kent Glojler ande Ednnmde

Kent I thoughte oiire Kinge had more afFec- tedde the Duke of Albanye thanne Cornwalle

Glo So didde itte everre feeme to ufse Butte no we inne the divyfyonne of the Kyngdomme itte ap-

peares notte which of thefe Dukes he Vakies molle forre Qua-

lytyes are foe weyghd thatte curyofytye inne neytherre canne make choyce of thothers Moietye

Kent Is notte thys youre Sonne Mye Lorde Glo Hys bryngyng uppe Sir hathe layd attc mye Charge I have foe oftenne bluflid toe acknowlegdge hymme thatte lO

,Nowe I am brayzd tot

Kent I doe notte conceyve you Glo Goode Sir thys younge fellows Motherre could uponne the whyche llie became rounde wombd ande hadde

4 K^YNGE LEARE.

indeede Sir a Sonne forre berre cradle eere fhe had a hufbande forre htrre Bedde Doe you nowc fmelle the faidte

Kent I nere canne wifhe the faulte undonne Its Ifilie beynge thufse properre

GIo Butte I have * a Sonne Sir bye orderre of

Lawe olderre 20

bye Yeares thanne thys who is no dearer inne mye

x^ccounte though thys Knave came fomcwhatte fawcylye

intoe the ? World eere he was fente forre yette was hys

Motherre fayre there was cxcellente fporte atte hys makynge Ande the Whorefonne mufte bee acknowleggedde

Knowe you thys Nobleman Edmonne Edm Noe mye goode Lorde Glo Mye Lorde of Kente Ande Rememberre hym hereafterre as my honour- able Freynde EJ771 Mye dutye toe youre Lordfhyppe 30 Kent I mufte love you ande knowe toe fue you

betterre Edm Sir I fhalle ftudye defervynge

* <? is omitted in the MS.

KYNGE LEARE. 5

GIo He hathe beene abfente nyne Ycares ande agayne he Shalle hye hymme The Kynge ifse comynge

Enterre Kynge Cornwalle Albaiiye GoneriUe Reganne Cordelia ande Atlendaunts

Leare Attende the Lordes of Fraunce and

Burgannedye Glo I flialle mye Lorde Glo/Iem Exitte

Leare Meane tyme wee flialle make knowne

oure darkerre Purpofe Give mee the Mappe here Knowe thatte wee have

parcelledde Intoe three oure Kyngdomme Ande tis oure fixt

Intente Toe fhake alle Cares ande Bufynefse fromme oure

Age 40

Difpofynge themme onne Youngerre Strengthes

while w^ee Unburthennd crawle towarde Deathe Oure Sonne

of Cornwalle Ande you oure noe lefse lovynge Sonne of Albanye Thys houre we Ihalle our conflante Will make

knowne Oure Daughterrs feveralle dowerres thatte future

Strife

6 KYNGE LEARE.

Maye bee prevennetedde nowe The Prynce of

Fraunce ande Burgandye Create Ryvalles inne oure Youngerre Daughterres

love Long inne oure Courte have made theyre amo-

roufe fojourne And fhalle ftreyghte be anfweredde Telle me mye Daughterres 50

Synce wee fhalle nowe divcfte ufse both of Rule Cares of State ande Interefle of Terrytorye The whiche of you thenne dothe love ufse mofle Thatte wee oure greatefte bounty maye extende Where nature doth withe meritte Challenge Oure eldefte borne fpeake fyrfte

Gon Sir I love you more thanne Word canne wielde the Matter Dearere thanne eye Syghte fpace ande Libertye Beyonde whatte canne bee valuedde riche or rare Noe lefse thanne life withe beautye healthe grace

honoure As muche as Childe eere lovd or Fatherre founde 60 A love thatte makes breathe poore ande Speeche

unable Naye beyond alle things of fo muche I love you Cor Whatte mufte Cordelia faye Love ande be

filente Leare Of alle thefe boundes fromme thys lync evenne toe thys

KYNGE LEARE. 7

With fliadowaye Foreftes and withe Cham-

pyonnes rich Withe plenneteoufe Riverres ande wide (kirtedde

Meades Wee make thee Ladye To thyne ande Albany s IfTues Bee thys perpetualle Whatte fayes oure feconde

Daughterre Our dearefte Reganne Wife of Comwalle

Reg I am made of thatte felfe Metalle as mye

Syftterre Ande prize mee atte herre worthe In mye true hearte I fynde fhe Names mye veiye deede of Love Onlye flie comes too Ihorte thatte I profefse Myeselfe an Enemye toe alle otherre joyes Whiche the mofle precyoufe fquare of Senfe pro-

fefsefse Ande fynde I am alone felyfytate Inne yoiire dear hyghnefse love Cor Thenne poorc Cordelya Ande yette notte foe fynce I amme fure mye loves More ponnederoufe thanne mye tongue

Leare Toe thee ande thyne heredytarye everre Bee thys ample thirde of oure Kyngdomme Noe lefe inne fpace valydytye ande Pleafure Thanne thatte confeerd onne Gonerylle Nowe

oure Joye Allthough oure lafle ande lealle toe whofe younge

love

8 KYNGE LEARE.

The vines of Fraunce andeMilke of Biirgannedye Strive toe bee Intereile nowe Whatte doe you faye

toe drawe A thirde more opulente thanne youre Syfterres fpeake Cor Nothynge mye Lorde

Leare Nothynge 90

Cor Xoe Noethynge Ler.re Noethynge wille come of noethynge

fpeake agayne Cor Unhappe thatte I amme I cannotte have Mye hearte intoe mye Mouthe I love your Majeftyc Accordynge toe mye bonde noe more norre leffe Leare How nowe Cordelya Looke you mende your Speeche a lyttle Leafte you marre youre Fortunes

Cor Goode mye Lorde You dydde begette mee you bredde mee andc

lovd mee I rettume thofe dutyes backe afs are ryghtc fitte lOO Obeye you love you and mofte honourre you Whye have mye Sii^erres hufbanndes iffe theye fayc Theye love you alle Happylye whenne 1 fhallc

wedde Thatte Lorde whofe hand mufte take mye plyghtc

fhalle carrye Halfe mye love with hymme halfe mye Care andc Dutyc

KYNGE LEARE. 9

Sure I flialle ncverre marrye lyke mye Syfterres Leave Butte goes thye hearte with thyfse Cor Aye mye goode Lorde Leare Whatte foe younge ande fo unnetennederrc Cor Soe Younge mye Lorde ande true no

Leare Lette itte bee foe thye truth thenne bee thye dowerre Forre bye the facredde raydyaunce of the Sunnc The myftyryes of Hecate ande the Nyghte Bye alle the Operatyonnes of the Orbs Fromme whome wee doe exifte ande ceafe toe bee Here I difclaymc alle mye Paternalle care Propinnequitye ande Propertye of bloode Ande afse a Straungerre toe mye hearte ande mee Hold thee fromme ufs forre everre The Barbaroufe

Seythyanne Or hee thatte makes hys generatyonne Mefses 1 20 Toe gorge hys Appetyte fhalle toe mye bofomme Bee as welle neyghbourde Pyityedde ande releyvd As thou mye fometyme Daughterre Kente Goode mye Leiyge Leare Peace Kente Come notte betweene the Dragonne and hys wrathe I lovd herre moufte ande thoughte toe fette mye

refte Onne herre kynde nurfcrye hence ande avoyde mye

fyghte Soe bee mye Grave mye Peace as here I give

c

]o KYNGE LEARE.

Her Fatherres hearte fromme herre call Fraunce who ftyrres 130

Call burgannedye Cornewalle ande Albanye Withe mye twoe Daughterres dowerres dygefle

the thyrde Lette Pride whiche (he calls playnenefTe mar rye herre I doe invefte you joyntelye with mye Powerre Domynyonne Ande alle the large Effedts Thatte troope withe Majeilye Ourfelfe bye Month- lye courfe Withe referrevaytyonne of an hundrcdde Knyghtes bye you toe bee fuftaynd llialle oure abode Make wythe you bye due turne onlye wee ihalle

retayne The Nayme ande alle the addytyonne toe a Kynge the Swaye 140

Revennue Executyonne of the refte Belovedde Sownes bee youres whyche toe conne-

fyrme Thyfse Coronette parte betvveene you

Kent Royal Syre Whom I have everre honourde as a Kynge Lovd as mye Fatherre as mye Mafterre followed Ande as mye Patronne thoughte onne inne mye Prayerres Leare The Bowe is bente there forre awaye

fromme the Shafte Rente Lette itte falle ratherre though the Forke invade

KYNGE LEARE. ii

The Reygonne of mye hearte be thou unmannerlye

Kcnte Whenne Leare is madde whatte wouldft thou doe old Manne i^o

Thinkfl: thou thatte dutye fhalle have dreade toe

fpeake Whenne Powerre toe flatterye bowes Toe Playnnefse honnours bownde Whenne the Kynge falls toe follye referve thye State Ande the befte conlideratyonne checke Thys hydeoufe raflienefse anfwerre mye life mye

Judgemente Thye Youngeste Daughterre dos notte love thee

leaste Norre are those windye heartedde whose lowe

soundes Reverrebe noe hollownefle

Leare Kente onne thye life noe more 1 60

Kefite Mye life I neverre helde butte as a pawne

Toe v^^age agaynste thyne enemy ies nee re feare toe

lose itte Thye safetyc beynge motive Leare Quitte mye Syghte Kente See betterre ande lette mee sty lie remayne The trewe blanke of thyne Eye Leare Nowe bye Apollo Kente Nowe bye Apollo Leare Thou swearste the Goddes inne Vayne

c %

12 KYNGE LEARE.

Leare O vaffalle millecreante i^O

Alb Deare Sir forrebcare

Kente Kylle thye Physycyanne ande thye fee

bestowe Uponne the Soule dysease revoke thye Gifte One whilste I canne vente clammourre frommc

mye'throate Ille saye thou doste Evylle

Lcare Heare mee vile Slave onne thyne Alle-

gyaunce heare mee Thatte thou haste soughte toe make ufse breakc

oure Vowes Whiche wee durfte neverre yette ande with flraynde

Pride Toe come betwixte oure Sennetaunce ard oure

Powerre Whiche neytherre Nature norre oure Place cannc

beare 1 80

Oure Potencye made godde take thye rewarde Five dayes wee doe give thee forre pro vyfy onne Toe keepe thee fromme dyfafterres of the Worlde Ande uponne the fyxthe toe turne thye haytedde

backe Uponne oure Kyngdomme iffe the tenthe daye

followinge Thye banyfhedde trunke be founde inne our

Domynyonnes Thatte momente jfse thye Deathe awaye bye

Apollo

KYNGE LEARE. 13

Thys (hall notte bee revokedde

Kent Fare thee welle Kinge fythe thufsc thou

wilt appeare Fredomme lives hence ande banyllimenteis here 190 The Gods toe theyre deare Shelterre take thee

mayde Thatte jufllye thynkes ande hathe moufte rightlye

fayde Ande youre large Speeches maye youre deedes

. approve Thatte godd Effects maye fprynge fromme Words

of Love Thufse Kente thenne Prinneces biddes you alle

adieu Hele fliape hys oulde courfe inne a Countrye newc

Enterre Glofierre withe Fraunce ande Burgannedye and Atiennedauntes

Cor Heres Fraunce and Burgannedye my$

noble Lorde Leare Mye Lorde of Burgannedye Wee firfte addrefse towarde you who withe thys

Kynge Hathe ryvalld forre oure Daughterre whatte inne

the leafte WiUe you require inne prefente Dowre withe herre 200

14 KYNGE LEARE.

Orre ceafe youre quefte of Love

Bur. Mofte Royalle Majefsetye I wille noe more thanne whatte youre hyghnefse

offerrde Norre wille you tcnderre lefse

Leare Ryghte noble Burgannedye whenne fhe was deare toe ulTe We helde herre foe Butte nowe herre worthe ifse fallenne Sir there Ihe

flands Iffe aught withinne thatte lyttle feemynge Subftance Or alle of itte with oure dyfpleafure peacd 2io Ande noethynge more maye fittelye lyke youre

Grace Shefe there ande fhee ifse youres Bur I knowe noe anfwerre Leare Wille you withe thofe Innefyrmytyes llie owes Unnefreynnededde newe adoppetedde toe oure hatfe Dowrd with oure curfe and flrannegerde with oure

Oathe Take leave or leave herre

Bur Pardonne mee Royalle Sir

Electyonne makes notte uppe onne fuche Conne-

dytyonnes

Leare Thenne leave herre Sir forre bye the

powerre thatte made me 220

I telle you alle herre Wealthe Forre you greate Kynge

KYNGE LEARE. 15

I woulde notte fromme youre love make fuche a

flraye Toe matche you where I hate thereforre be-

feeche you

Toe tume youre lykynge a more worrethyerre waye

Thanne onne a Wretche whome Nature ifse afliamd

Almoftc t*acknowleydge herre

Fra Thys ifse mcile ftrangc

Thatte fhee who butte nowe w^as youre befte Objectte

The argumente of youre Prayfe balme of youre Age

The befte the dearyile flioude inne thys tryce offe

tyme Commyttee a thynge foe monflroufe toe dyf-

mantle 230

Soe many foldes offe favourre fure herre Offence Mufte bee offe fuche unnenaturalle de2:ree Thatte Monfferres itte Or youre fore-voucht af-

fed:yonne Falle intoe taynte whiche toe beleyve offe herre Mufte bee a faythe thatte Reafonne withoute

Mirracle Shoulde neverre plante inne mee

Cor I yette befeeche youre Majeftye Iffe forre I wante thatte glibbe ande Oylye Arte Toe fpeake ande purpofc notte lince whatte I wille

innetende ril doteere I fpeake thatte you make knowne 240

i6 KYNGE LEARE.

Itte ifse noe vycyoufe blotte Murtherre or Foulenefsc Noe unncchafte Actyonne or dyshonorredde Steppe Thatte hathe depry vedde mee of youre Grace ande

favoure Butte fore wante of thatte alone fore whiche I

amme richerre A flille folycytynge Eye ande fuche a Tongue Thatte I amme gladde I have notte though toe have

itte notte Hathe lofte mee inne youre lykynge

Leare Betterre thou hadft notte beene borne Thanne notte toe have pleas d mee betterre

Fra Ifse itte thenne butte thys A tardynefse in

Nature 250

Whiche oft tymes leaves the Hyftorye unnefpoke Thatte itte innetendes toe doe mye Lorde of Bur-

gannedye Whatte faye you toe the Ladye Loves notte Love Whenne tis mingledde withe regardes thatte ftande Aloofe fromme the innetyre poynte wille you have

herre She ilse herfelfe a Dowr^'e

Bitr Royalle Kynge Give butte thatte portyonne whiche yourefelf*

proposd Ande here 1 take Cordelya bye the Hande Dutchefse offe Burgannedye

Leare Nothynge I have fwome ande ftill I am

fyrme

KYNGE LEARE. 17

Bur I amme forrye thenne thatte you have foe

lofte a Fatherre Thatte you mufte lofe a Hulbande

Cor Peace bee withe Burgannedye Synce thatte refpecte ande forretunes are hys love Itte willes nice notte toe bee hys wife

Fra Fayrefle Cordelya thou arte mofte riche

beynge poore Mofle choyce forrefaykenne ande mofte Jovd

defpisd Thee and thye Virretues here doe I feyze uponne Bee itte lawfulle I take uppe whats cafte away 270 O Goddes Tis ftrange thatte fromme theyre coldfl

negledite My love Ihould Kynnedle toe innflaymedde re-

fpede Thyc dowerrelefse Daughterre Kynge throwne toe

mye chaunce Ifse Queene of ufse of ourfe ande oure fayre Fraunce Notte alle the Dukes of wariilie Burregannedye Cannebuye thys unnepryzedde Mayde of mee Bydde themme farewelle Cordelya though unne-

kynde Thou loofefte here a betterre where toe fynde Lea re Take her re Fraunce ande lette herre be

thyne for wee Have noe fuche Daughterre norre fhalle everre

fee 28p

D

1 8 KYNGE LEARE.

Thatte face of herfe agayne there forre bee gone Withoute oure love oure Grayce orre benyzonne Come Noble Burregannedye

Fra Bydde farewelle toe youre Syflerres Cor The Jewelles offe oure Fatherre with wafhd Eycfe Cordelya leaves you I knowe you thatte you are And lyke a Syfterre amme moufte loathe toe calle Youre faults as theye are namedde Love welle oure

Fatherre Toe youre profelTedde bofommes I commyte

hymme Butte yette ftoode I vvithinne hys Grayce 290

I woulde prcferre hymme toe a betterre place Soe farewelle toe you bothe

Reg Spare uffc wee knowe oure dutye Gonne Lette youre Studye Bee toe connetente youre Lorde who hath receyved

you Atte fortunes Almes you have obedycnce

fcannetedde Ande welle are worthe the wante thatte you have wantedde Cor Tyme fhall innforme what plyghtedde cunnynge hydes Who coverres faultes atte lafte with fhame derydes Welle maye you profperre 300

Fra Comme thenne fayrefte Cordelya

KYNGE LEARE. ^ 19

Gonne Syfterre itte ifle notte lyttle I have toe faye Offe whatte moufte nearelye appertayncs toe ulTe

bothe I thynke oure Fatherre will hence toe Nyghte Reg Thatts moflie certayne ande with you butte

nexte with ufse Gon Doe you markc how hys Age changes whatte Obferrevatyonne We have made oft hath beene fmalle hee everre

lovd oure Syflerre moufte ande withe whatte fhallowe

Judgemente Hee hathe no we cafte herre ofFe appeares but too grolTelye Reg Thatts the Innefyrmytye ofs Age yette hath he alwayc butte flennederrelye knowne hymfelfe 310

Gonne The befte ande foundefte of hys tyme hath benne butte rafhenefse whiche innefyrme ande cholerycke

Yeares brynge withe themme

Reg Suche unneconneftante ftartes afTe thys of Kentes banylliemente are wee lykelye toe have fromme hymme ^

Go7ine Yette more Commeplemcnte ifTe there twixt Fraunce ande D %

20 KYNGE LEARE.

Hymme praye lette ufTe fytte togetherre iffe ourc

fatherre beare Authorytye whye thyfTe lafte furrennederrc of hys Wille clothe butte offende ufse

SECOUNDE SCEANE

Bajierde comes forrewarde

Bas Thou Nature arte mye Goddefsc toe the

Lawe 320

Mye ferrevycefse ftande bounde Wherrefore flioud I Reile inne the Plague of Cuftomme ande permytte The Curyofytye of Natyonnes toe depryve mee Caufe thatte I amme fome twelve orre foureteene

Moonfhynes Lagge of mye brotherre Whye Baflerde wherefore

bafe Whenne mye dymennefyonnes are as welle comme-

pacte Mye Mynde as generoufe ande mye fhape as true As honelle Manns Ilfue whye brande theye thufse Withe bafe withe bafenefse baflerdye — ^bafe bafe Who inne the lullye ftealthe of Nature take 330 More Compofytyonne ande feyrce Qualytye Thanne dothe withinne a dulle ftayle tyredde Bedde Goe the creatynge a whole trybe of foppes Gotte twixt lleep ande awake Welle thenne

KYNGE LEARE. 21

Legytymyte Edgarre I mufte have youre Lande Oure Fatherres love ilTe toe the bafterrede Edmunde As toe the legytymate fyne worde legytymate Welle mye legytymate ifFe thys Letterre fpcede Ande mye Innevennetyonne thrive Edmunde the

bafe Shallc toe the legytymate I growe I profperre 340 Nowe Goddes ilande uppe forre baflardes

B^nterre Gloucefscterre

Glo Kente banyflid thus ande Fraunce toe innc Cholerre parretedde Ande the Kynge gone toe Nyghte Prefcribd hys

powerre Confynd toe exhybytyonne Alle ifTe gone Uponne the Gadde Edmunde howe nowe whattc Newes Bas Soe Pleafe youre Lordfliyppc none Glo Whye woudfl thou foe eareneflclye cloakc

thatte Letterre i? I knowe noe Newes mye Lorde Glo Whatte Paperre were you readynge B Nothynge mye Lorde 350

Glo Howe foe whye thenne thatte terrible dys- patche of itte noe thynge bathe noe fuche necde toe hyde ittefelfc Comme

22 KYNGE LEARE.

Letts fee ift tis naughte I neede notte Spedades Bas Praye you parredonne mee Sir itte ille buttc fromme mye brotherre ande I have notte alle oere reade ande forre thatte I have perusd Itte fyttes notte youre oere lookynge G/o Give mee the Letterre Sir Bas I fhalle offeynde eytherre toe detayne orre give itte The Connetentes alle inne parte I underflande

themme . Are miiche too blame 360

G/o Lets fee Lets fee I faye Bas I hope forre mye brotherres goode thys was butte anne Efsaye forre proofe offe mye Virretue

G/o Readynge Ths Polycye ande Reverannce of Age makes the Worlde betterre ande keeps oure for- tunes fromme ufTe tille wee cannotte relhflie themme I ginne toe fynde an Idle ande fonde bonnedage inne the

weyghte of agedde tyrannye who fwayes notte as itte hath

powerre butte as tis fufferedde Comme toe mee thatte of

thyfse I maye fpeake more IfFe oure Fatherre woulde fleepe

KYNGE LEARE. 23

tillc I wakd hymme you lliould enjore halfe hys Revennewe forre everre ande bee the belovedde of

youre brotherre Edgar. Soe Soe Confpyracye Sleepe tille I wake hym you lliould enjoye halfe hys Re- vennewe Mye Sonne Edgar hath hee a hand for ths Or a • hearte

toe Fatherre itte Whenne had you ths \\ho broughte itte Bas Mye Lorde itte was notte broughte mee theres the cunnynge oft I founde itte throwne innc atte'"*the Cafemente of mye Clofette

G/o You knowe the Charad:erre toe bee hys 380 B Iffe theyre Importe were godde mye Lorde I durfte fweare itte were hys butte inne refpcdle of thatte I faync

woud thynke twere notte G/o O tis hys

B Tis hys hande mye Lorde butte hys hearte wills Notte the Connctentes

G/o Hath he nere fpoke of ths before Bas Neverre mye Lorde butte hce hathe oft fayde twere fytte thatte Sonnes atte perrefed:e Age and Fathcrrcs

24 KYNGE LEARE.

declynd the Fatherre flioud bee Warde toe the

Sonne Ande hee manage hys Revennevve 390

Glo O Villayne The verye Opynyonne ofs Let-

terre O detefsetedde ande unnenaturalle Villayne worfe thanne bruty fhe Goe feeke hym He apprehende hym where is hee Bas I knowe notte mye Lorde ift fhalle pleafe

you fuflepende awhile youre Innedygnatyonne agaynfte myc

brotherre tille you fynde betterre proofe ofs innetente forre fhoud you vyolentelye proceede agaynfte hymmc myftakynge ofs purpofe itte woude make a greate gappe inne youre honourre ande fhake the hearte

of 400

hys obedyence I dare pawne myne owne life thatte

hee hath writte thys betterre toe knowe mye Love

toe youre honourre ande toe noe otherre dangerre

Glo Thynke you foe

Bas Shoud you judge itte meete I wille place

you where you fhalle heare ufTe conferre onne the affayre Ande bye Auryculayre afsuraunce fynde Satys-

lad:yonne ande with noe longerre delaye thanne thys Evenyngc Glo Edmunde feeke hym oute he is noe fuche

Monfterre

I

KYNGE LEARE. 25

I praye you lette mee well intoe hym ande dot

afterre 4. i o

Youre owne Wifdomme I would unneftate mye-

felfe toe bee inne due refulutyonne

Bas I wille feeke hym Sir and forre the bufy-

nefse acquainte You withe alle ,

Glo The late Eclypfefse inne the Sunne ande

Moone portende noe goode toe ufse though inne herre wifsedomme Nature

reafonnes itte thufse Love cools Freyndefhyppe dyvides ande brotherres

are notte foe Inne Cytyes Mutynyes inne Country es dyfcorde inne

Pallaces Treafonne Ande noe bonde tvvixt Sonne ande Fatherre Thys

Villayne comes underre the predyctyonne thufse thenne ifFe

Sonne agaynft Fatherre the Kynge totterres fromme the byafse

ofFe Nature theres 420

Fatherre agaynfte Chylde Wee have feene the

befte ofFe oure tyme Machynatyonnes treacherye alle ruinoufe

dyforrederres followe ufse difquiettelye toe oure Graves Finde

ths Villayne

E

26 KYNGE LEARE.

Edmunde itte fhalle loofe thee noethynge doe ittc

carefullye Aye Ande the noble ande trewe hearted de Kente

banyflicdde Hys Offence beynge butte Honeftyc Tis flraunge Bas Thys is the excellente fopperye of the

Worlde thatte Whenne wee are fycke inne fortune the furfeytes

off oure owne behavyoure wee make guiltye of oure dys-

afterres Vyllaynes bye nifsefsytye fooles bye compul-

fyonne Knaves 420

ande Thieves bye predomynaunce Drunkards

Lyars ande Adulltererres bye Obedyence toe Planetarye inne-

fluence ande alle thatte wee are eville inne bye dyvine

thrurtyng onne Admyrable evafyonne of mye Whore Mafterre Manne Mye Fatherre componndedde with myej

Motherre Underre Dragonnes Tayle ande mye Natyvytyc

was underre Urfa Magor ^o^ follows itte I amme

rough ande Lecheroufe I Ihould have thatte whiche I ammc

hadde

KYNGE LEARE. 27

the 'inofte Maydennelye Starre ith Fyrmamente tvvinkledde onne mye baflerdyfynge 430

Rdgarre commes forrcit^arde

Patte lyke the Cataftrophe of the old Comedye here

he comes Mye Cue ifle Villaynoufe Melannccholye

lyke Tom O Bediamme O thefe Eclypfes doe

portende

thefe dyvyfyonnes Fa Sol La Mee

Edg How nowe brot-herre Edmunde whye thys

feryoufe

Contemplatyonne

Bas I amme thynkynge of a predydlyonne I

reade thys

otherre Daye onne whatte fhould follow thefe

Eclypfes

ande I promife you the efFecfls he writes of fucceede

unnehappylye butte whenne faw you mye fatherre

lafle 440

Edg The Nyghte gone bye

Bas Spake you withe hymme

Edg I two hours togethcrre

Bas Parretedde you inne goode termes Foiindc

you noe

dyspleafure inne hymme bye worde norre Coun-

tenaunce

, Edg None atte alie

E 2

28 KYNGE LEARE.

Bas Bethynke yourefelfe whereinne you have offenndedde ande praye you forrebeare hys prefence tille the heate of hys dyfpleafure bee quelledde whiche foe rageth inne hymme thatte withe the myfchiefe of

voure perfonne itte woulde fcarcelye allay e 450

E^'ig Some Villayne liathe done mee wronge

Edm Thiats mye fearc Therefore praye you forrebeare tille hys rage goe flowerre ande retyre withe mee toe mye Lodgynge w-here you {liall fytley heare mye Lord fpeake theres mye Keye ande Ihoud you ftyrre praye you goe armedde

Edg Armd Brotherre

Bas I amme noe honefte Manne if there bee anye godde meanynge toe you I praye you thenne 460 awaye

Edg Shalle I heare fromme you anonne

Edm ThulTe doe I ferve inne ths bufynefTc A Creduloufe Fatherre ande a brotherre noble Whofe Natures are foe farre fromme doinge harmes Thatte theye fufpecte none ande onne whofe

honeftye Mye Pradyceffe ryde eafye I fee the bufynelTe Iffe notte bye byrthe thenne lette mee have Landes

bve Witte alle with mee is meete foe I canne fafhyonne ittc

KYNGE LE.\RE. 29

SCEANE THl'RDE

Gvrmenik anit Stewarh comme f^rrc^jyardt

Gmrj Dvdde mve Fatherre ilirke mve Genne-

fonc cfevdvji^e hys foole

Sfrsr I Madammc 470

G&n Bre dare 215 de Xvghte he vrrongs mee E\CTr€ houre he fiafhcs into oune gxoie ciymc or

otherre TfaattE tetts ixfife die atte odds Dc notte innedure ittc Ht? Krehis growe ryatoufe ande bjmfelfe uppe-

brajds ulTe T— - . :rve tiyfle whenne he retturoes fjommc

huntjnge Die notte fpeake with hvmine faye I amme fyckc Ific jou conie flacke of foimerre Serre\yces Yoa £haD doe welk the fault Die anfwene Gmt Hcs comyi^ Mam I heare hymme G«r Piottc omie whaite wean e neglvgence you

pleale 4S0

Idc have itte come toe qiieiH"onDe iffe he dyflvke ittc fctte hjimne toe ome Syflerre our Myndcs lime tbatte aie oimc fcdifhc Age thatte fly lie woud Manage thofe Authorytyes hee hath gyrvenne awaye fone bye mye life olde fooles miifie bee uicddc afTe

30 KYNGE L£ARE.

babyes ande have checkes forre flatteryes whennc theve are feene abufd rememberre whatte I telle you Gent Verye welle Madamme Gon Lette hys Kyghtes have colderre lookes too itte matterres notte whatte comes oft advife thye fel- lowes 490

foe lie write ftraygthe toe mye Syfterre toe lio-lde mye verye courfe goe prepare for dyr^erre

Kente

Ken Iffe butte afs welle I otherre acccntes bor-

rowe thatte carme mye fpeeche defufe thou banyfht Kente iffe thou canft ferve where thou dofl ftande con-

demnedde thye Malterre whom thou lovft fhalt fynde thee

fulle offe laybourre

Enterre Leare

Leave Lette mec notte fl:aye a jotte forre dyn- nerrre goe gette

itte readye how nowe whatte arte thou

Kente A Manne Sir

Leare Whatte doft profeffe whatte wouldft

withe uffe Kente I doe profeffe naughte more thanne I

feme toe bee

KYNGE LEARE. 31

trewe toe hymme thatte woude putte mee inne

trufte toe love hymme thatte ifs honefte toe faye with

hymme thatte ifs wife toe feare Judgemente toe fyghte

whenne I cannotte chufe ande toe eate noe fyflie Leare Whatte arte thou Ke/ite An honefle heartedde fellowc as pore.afs

the Kynge Leare Iffe bee as poore forre a Subjecfte as hee force a Kynge thenne arte poore inndeede butte whatte woudfl thou 5 1 a

Kente Service Leare Who wouldft ferve Kente Youe

Leare Doft knowe mee fellowe Kente Notte I butte you have inne you thatte I woude calle Mafterre

Leare Aye whatts thatte Kente Authorytye Leare Whatte canft thou doc Kente Keepe honefte coufayle ryde runne marre a 520

tayle in the telly nge itte delyverre a playne Meffage bluntlye whatte ordynary^e Mcnne are

32 KYNGE LEARE.

fytte forre thatte an I qualyfyedde inne butte the belle offe mee ifs dylygence Leare Howe olde arte thou Kente Notte foe Yonge toe love a womanne for

fyngynge norre foe olde toe dote onne herre forre anye thynge

I have Yeares onne mye backe fortye ande eyghte Leare Folio we thenne thou fhalt ferve mee anne

I lyke thee no worfe afterre dynnerre Ille notte parte with thee

yette 530

Whatte ho I faye dynnerre wheres mye knave mye foole goe calle mye foole hytherre firra wheres Mye Daughterre

Enterre Stewarde

Stew Soe pleafe you

Lteare Whatte fayes the fellowe there calle the

clotte pole backe mye foole I faye I thynke the Worldes afleepe ho wheres mye munnegrelle

Kente He fayes mye Lorde youre Daughterre

ifs notte welle Lseare Wherefore came hee notte whenne I calld

hymme Ser He annefweredde roundlye thatte he would

notte

KYNGE LEARE. 33

heare He woud nottc 540

Ser Mye Lorde I knowe notte whalte the Mat- ter re iffe butte toe myc judgmenteyoure HyghnefTe ifle notte receyvedde with the affed:yonne you were wonte therfe greate abatemente appeares afs welle inne depennedaunts as innc the Duke hymfelfe ande youre Daughterre

Leare Ha fayft thou foe

Ser Pardonne I doe befeeche mye Lorde IfFe I bee Myfiiakenne forre mye dutye cannotte bee fylente whenne I doe thynke youre HyghnelTe wTongd 550

Leare Thou butte rememberefte mee of myne owne conneceptyonne I have percey veddeafaynte negledie of late whiche I have the ratherre afs mine owne Jealoufe curyofytye I wille looke fartherre intoe itte butte wheres thys foole I ha notte feene hymme thys two dayes

Ser Synce mye Younge Ladyes goynge intoe Fraunce Sir hee hath muche pynd awaye

Leare Noe more of thatte I have notedde ittc goe telle mye daughterre I woulde fpeake wits herre goe too calle hytherre mye foole O you Sir come you hytherre Who am I Syrre ^60

Stew Mye Ladys fatherre

34 KYNGE LEARE.

Leare My Ladys fatherre mye Lords Knave you

whorfonne dog Stew I am none of thys I praye you pordonne

mee mye Lorde Leare Doe you bandy lookes withe me Knave Stezv He notte bee ftrucke mye Lorde Kente Norre trypt neytherre you bafe foote ball

Playerre Leare Fellow I thanke thee thou fervft mee ande

I love thee Kente Come Sir He teache you dyfferences awayc

awaye iffe you wille meafure youre lubberres length agaync tarrye butte awaye you have wifdome 570

Leare No we freyndlye Knave I thaynke thee

theres earneft of thye fervyce

Lnterre Foole

Foole Lette mee hyre hymme too Heres mye

Coxcombe Leare Howe nowe mye prettye Knave how do^

thou Foole Sirra you were befle take mye Coxcombe Kente Whye Foole

Foole Whye forre takynge ownes parte thatts oute of favoure

KYNGE LEARE. 3^

Naye an thou canft notte fmyle as the winde gctts

thout catch colde fliortlye welle take mye Cocks- combe ^80 Whye he hath banyfhd two of daughterres ande done the thyrde a blefTynge agaynft hys wille ifFe thou wilt followe hymme thou mufte needes weare my Cockfcombe how now nunckle woud I hadde two Cockfcombes ande two daughterres

Lea re Whye mye Boye

Jho/e Iffe I gave themme anye ly vynge Ide keepe the Cockfcombe mvefelfe theres myne begge anotherre of thye daughterres

Leare Take heede Syrrah the whyppe 590

Jho/e Truth is a dog thatte mufte toe Kennelle whenne mye Ladye ftandes by th Fyre ande ftynkes

Leare A pcftylente Guile toe mee

foole Sirra He teache thee a fpeeche

Leare Doe

foole Marke itte Unnekle have more thanne thou fhewefte fpeake lefle thanne thou knowefte lende leffe thanne thou owefle ryde more thenne thou goefte leame more thenne thou trowefte leave thye drynke ande thye hope ande keepe 600 inne a doore thenne fhalt thou ha more thanne twoe tens toe a Score

Leare Thys is nothnge foole

36 KYNGE LEARE.

foolc Thcnne ill as the breathe of an unnefedde Layerre You faye mee naught fort canft make noc ufe of Noethynge Unckle

"Leare Whye noe noethnge canne bee made o nothynge • O thourt a bytterre foole folic Doft knowe the difference boye twixt a byttere ande a fweete foole 6io

Leare Noe Ladde teache mee foole Thatte Lorde thatte coufayld thee to give thye Lande awaye Comme place hymme here bye mee doe thou for

hymme liande Thenne foone wilte the fweete ande bytterre foolc appeare Licare DofI: call mee foole boye foole A lie thye Tytles hall: thou gyvenne awaye thatte ,

thou waft borne withe

Kente Thyfle ifte alle toegetherre foole mye

Lorde ■

foole Noe faythe Lordes ande greate Menne wille notte I

lette mee have alle foole toe myefelfe theyle 620 bee fnatchynge give nee an Egge Nunckle ande He give thee two Crownes

KYNGE LEARE. 37

heare Whatte tvvoe Crownes fliall theye bee folk Whye afterie I ha broke the Egge ande eate the meate thenne take the twoe Crownes oth Egge whenne thou clovelle ande gravefle awaye thye Crovvne thenne thou hadfl lyttle witte inne thye baulde Crowne Ictte hymme bee whypt thatte fyndes itte notte foe

Fooles had nere lefle witte inne a Yeare 630

Forre wife menne are growne foppyilie Theye knovve notte howe theyre Witts doe weare Theyre Mannerres are foe Apyfhe

heare Whenne where you wonte toe bee thulTe fulle of Songs Syrra foole I have ufedde itce Nunckle everre fy nee thoud madft thye Daughterres thye Motherre Nunckle forre Whenne thou gavft themme the Rodde theye forre joye dydde weepe Ande I forre Sorrowe fung thatte fuche a Kynge Ihoukle pla;y e a bo peepe I praye thee Nunckle keepe a Schoole Maflerre 640 thatte canne teache thye foole ioQ lye I woulde fayne learne toe lye

heare IfFe you lye lye you flialle bee whipte foole Whatte kynne arte thou ande thye Daughterres theyl ha mee whypt forre fpeakynge trewe ande thou forre lyinge O 1 hadde ratherre be anye

38 KYNGE LEARE.

thynf^e thiinne a folle yette woud I notte bee thou Nunckle thou haft payd thye witte a bothe fydes ande lefte noethynge inne the Myddelle heere commes oune o the Parynges 650

Gonnerylle

heare Howe no we daughterre whatte makes thatte frontlett onne Methynkes you are toe muche a late ith frowne foole Thou waft a prettye fellowe whenne thou cared defte notte forre herre frowne nowe thou arte O withoute a figure I amme a foole thou arte noethynge though voure face byddes mee holde mye peace Yette doft thou faye noethynge Mumme Mumme hee thatte keepes norre Crufte

norre Crumme

Wearye of alle flialle wante forre fome Thatts a

ftieald pefcod

Gon Notte onlye thys foole you are lycened

butte otherre ofte 660

the retynewe doe hourelye carpe ande quarrelle ande

ryotts notte toe bee enneduredde I hadde thoughte

Sir bye makynge thys welle knowne toe you toe have Founde a fafe redrefle butte amme fearefuUe bye youre

KYNGE LEARE. 39

late fpeeche ande Adls thatte you doe protcde thys

courfe whiche iffe you flioulde Sir the faulte wille notte

fcape cennefure norre fhalle redrefTe fleepe whiche inne the tennederre offe a wholefome weale myghte inne

workynge doe you thatte offence thatte elfe were fliame butte

thenne necefTytye mufle calle dyfcreete proceedings 670 foUe Forre you trowe Nunckle the hedge Spar-

rowe fedde the Cookow foe longe thatte itte hadde the heade be

itte younge foe oute wentc the Cannedelle ande wee were lefte

darklynge ILeare Are you oure daughterre Gon Comme Sir I woudde you make ufe offe the

wifdomme whereoffe I knowe you are fraughte ande putte awaye thcfe

dyfpofytyonnes

thatte late have transforremedde you fromme whatte you are foole Maye notte an Afs knowe whenne the Carte drawes the horfe whoope Juffe I love thee

Lteare Dothe anye here knowe mee thyffe iffe notte Leare dothe

40 KYNGE LEARE.

Leare walke thufTe fpeake thufTe where are hys

Eies hys 580

dyfcerrenynges are letharrcgye forre fure tis notte

foe who ift canne telle mee who I amme Ifl Leares

fhadowe fyre I woud learne thatte bye the markes ofFe fo-

vereygntye ande reafonne I fhould bee falfe perrefwadeddc

I hadde

daughterres

Folk Whiche theye wille make anne obedyentc

fatherre LiCare Thye Name fayre Geiinetlewomanne Gon Thys Admyratyonne favourres of otherrc

newe prankes I praye You unnederreftande mye purpofes aryghte as you

are ouldc foe flioud you bee wife heere doe you keepe fourc

hundredde Knyghtes ande Squires Menne foe diforrderre-

lye foe 690

deboyile ande bolde Thatte thyffe oure Courte

innefedledde with theyre mannerres fhcwes lyke a ryatoufe

Inne bee thou defyredde bye herre thatte elfe wille take the

thynge

KYNGE LEARE. 4'

ilie beggs a lytde toe 'dyfquannaytye youre trayne

and a the remaynderre thatte flylle depende toe bee fucha Menne as maye beeforte youre Age ande knowe themmefelves ande you

Leare DafknelTe ande divels faddle mye horfcs

call mye trayne togetherre degenerate baftarde elfe notte

trouble thee yette have I owne daughterre lefte 700

Go?i You flryke mye People ande youre dys-

crrederedde rabble make fervaunts of theyre betterres

Duke commes forrewarde

Leare O Wee thatte toe late repentes ufle O

Sir you are comme Is ittc yore wille Wee prepare anye horfes In-

gratytude thou Marble heartedde feynde More hideoufc

whenne thou fliewefte thee inne a Childe thanne the Sea Monfterre orre detelTetedde Kyte thou lelfen mye trayne ande Menne of choyfe who alle partyculars of dutye knowe O moufte fmalle faulte howe uglye dydfte thou inne Cordelya fliowe thatte 710 wrencht mye verye frame of nature fromme its fyxt

G

42 KYNGE LEARE.

place drewe fromme mye hearte alle love ande addedde toe the galle O I ,eare Leare beate atte thye gate thatte lette thye follye inne ande thye dear judgmente oiite goe goe alle mye People Duke Mye Lorde I amme guiltlefle afs I amme

Ignorante Leare Itte maye bee foe harke Nature heare deare

GoddefTe fufpende thye purpofe iffe thou woudfl: make thys Creature fruitefulle intoe herre wombe conveye fterylytye drye uppe inne herre the Organnes

offe 720

Innecreafe ande lette noe babe fprynge toe honorre

herre butte iffe fhe muile teeme create herre Chylde of

fpleene ande lette itte channelle rynkles onne herre browe of youthe with accente teares turne alle herre paynes toe rude laughterre ande contempte Thatte fliee

mave knovve howe fliarpe ande lyke a Serrepentes toothe

it is toe have a thanklelle Chylde goe goe mye People Duke Nowe Gods thatte wee adore howe comes

thylTe Gofi Afk notte the caufe butte lette hys dyfpo-

fytyonne have the fcope thatte dotage gives itte 730

KYNGE LEARE. 43

Leare Whattc liftye atte a Clappe ande with-

inne a fyrtnyghte too Duke Whats the Matterre Sir Leare Marke mee lie telle the life ande deathe I am me afhamd thou hafl powerre toe lliake mye Mann-

hoode thulTe thatte thefe hotte teares thatte breake fromme mee perreforce flioud make worfe blafts ande Foggs onne the unnetennederre woundynges of a Fatherres ulTe playe thys parte agayne lie plucke ye oute ande cafle you with the Waterres thatte you maye temperre claye Yea tis come toe thys yette ilTe ^40 there oune daughterre lefte whome I amme fure ille kynde ande commeforretable whenne {hee fhalle heare thys of thee with herre Nayles fhele flee thye Wolfyfhe Vifage ande thoulte fynde I fhalle refume the fhape whiche feemynge I have cafle offe YeiTe thou fhalte I warranto thee goes oute

Gon Doe you marke thatte mye Lorde Duke I cannotte bee foe partyalle toe the greate Love I beare thee Conner ille

Gon Praye you connetente whatte Ofwalde hoa You Sir more knave thanne foole afterre youre Mafterre foole Nunckle Leare Nunckle Leare 750

Tarryc take the foole withe thee

G 2

44 KYNGE LEARE.

A Fox whenne oune has caughte herre

Ande fuche a daughtcrre

Should fure love the flaiighterre

Iffe mye Cappe woulde buye a halterre

Soe (halle the foole followe afterre

Gonn Thys Manne hatha hadde goode counfelle A hundredde Knyghtes he maye oureguarde Hys dotage with hys powerres 760

Ande holde oure lives inne Mercye Curane 1 faye

Alb Welle you may feare too farre

Gon Saferre thanne trufte toe farre Whatte he hath uttered I have writte mye fyfterre Iffe llie fuftayne hymme ande hys hundredde

Knvghtes

Whenne I have fhevvd th unfytnefTe

Efiterre Stewarde

How nowe Curane

Haft thou yette wrote thatte Letterretoe mye fyfterre

Ciiran I Madamm.e

Go7i Take thenne fome Companye ande awayc toe horfe Inneforme herre fulle off mye partycularre fcare 770 Ande thereto adde fuche reafonnes of youre owne Affe maye compade itte more Gette you gone Ande haftenne toe youre retynevve

KYNGE LEARE. 45

Thys mylkye gennetlenelTe ande courfe offe yours Though I condemne notte yette underre pardonne You are muche more atte tafke forre wante of

wifdomme Thanne prayfd forre harmfulle myldnefle Alb Welle Welle to th evente

he are Kente Gentlemanne ande fode

Leare Goe you before toe Gloflerre withe thefe

Letterres -780

acquainte mye daughterre noe furretherre withe anye

thinge you knowe thenne commes fromme herrc

demande butte of the Letterre iffe youre dylygencc bcc

drowfye I Ihalle bee there before you

Kente Ille notte fleepe tille I have delyvyreddc

youre Letterre foule IfFe a Mans brayns were inflieeles wert notte inne dangerre offe kybes here I boye

foole Thenne praye thee bee merrye thye witte goes notte ilyppe Ihodde -yOQ

he are Trewe ha ha ha ha

46 KYNGE LEARE.

fook Thoiilt fee thye otherre daughterre wille life thee welle forre though Hies afs lyke thyfTe afs Crabbs

toe an apple yette I canne telle whatte I lyfte Leare Whatte canft telle Boye foole She wille tafte as lyke toe a Crabb-afs does thys thou knowft whye ounes Nofe ftands ith myddelle ons face Lcare Noe

foolc Whye toe ones Eyes of fydes ones Nofe

thatte

whyche Manne cannotte fmelle oute hee maye

fee oute 8 00

Leare I dydde herre wronge

foole dofte knowe howe the Oyfterre makes hys

ihelle Leare Noe

foole Neytherre canne I Yette doe I knowe whye a Snayle has a houfe

Leare Ande whye thatte

foole Toe hyde hys heade inne notte toe give itte awaye toe hys Daughterres ande leave hys homes withoute a Cafe Leare I wille forregette mye Nature foe kynde a Fatherre

KYNGE LEARE. 47

vvhatte hoa there bee mye horfes readye

foole Thye AlTes are aboute thcmme the rcafonne the feafonne 810

Starres are noe more thanne iffe a prettyc rcafonne Leave Caufe theye are notte eyghte fook Werte thou mye foole Nunckle thou fliouldft bee beate forre beynge oulde afore thye tyme Leare Hows thatte

foole Thou fhoudfl: notte ha becne oulde tille thou hadfte beene wife

Leare Lette mee notte bee madde O fweete heaven ne I woud notte bee madde O keepe mee inne temperre

whatte Hoa are the horfes readye

Gent Readye mye Lorde 820

Leare Comme boye

foole She thatts a Mayde nowe ande laughs atte mye deparreture flialle notte be a Mayde longc unlcITc thyngs bee fhorterre

Bajiarde ande Curanne

Bas Save thee Curanne

Cur Ande you Sir I have beene withe yourc fathere

43 KYNGE LEARE.

Ande givehne bymme Notyce

Thatte the Duke off Cornwalle ande Regan hys

diicheffe Wille bee here with hymme thys nyghte Bas How e comes thatte

Cur Naye I Knowe notte you have hearde o the Newes 93^

abroadc of the eare bufiynge Arregumennts Bjs Notte I praye you whatte are theye Ci/y You maye learnne ere longe farewelle Sir Bijj The duke bee here toe Nyghte the betterre befte Thyffe weaves ittefelfe perforce intoe myebufynefle myc fatherre hath fette guarde toe take mye

brotherre And I have oune thynge of a queafye queftyonne Whiche I mfte ad:e briefenelTe ande forretune htlpe mce

Ei^garre

Brotherre a worde O flye thys place Defcennde brotherre I faye mye fatherre watches 940 Innetellygence is givenne where you are hydde You have the goode advantage of the Nyghte Hafl thou notte fpokenne gainfl the duke of

Cornwalle Kno^v'{le thou notte hes corny nge hytherre ith hafte

KYNGE LEARE. 49

Ande Reganne withe hymmc have you nothynge

fayd Uponne youre partye gaynfl: the duke of Albanye Advife thyfelfe I faye

*' Edg. lam fure on't not a word.

** Baflard. I heare my father comming, pardon

" me in crauing, I ** muft draw my fword vpon you, feemme to de-

** fend your felfe, now ** quit you well, yeeld, come before my father,

** light heere, heere, ** flie brother flie, torches, torches, fo farwell j

*' fome bloud drawne ** on me would beget opinion of my more fierce

** endeuor, 1 haue ** feene drunkards do more then this in fport ;

** father, father, ilop, '* ftop, no helpe ?

*' Enter Gloce/ier,

*' Glojf. Now Edmund, where 's the villaine; *' Bafl. Heere ftood he in the darke, his fharpe *' fword out, ** warbling of wicked charmes, coniuring the

** Moone to ftand his ** aufpicious Miflris.

" Gloji. But where is he ?

H

50 KYNGE LEARE.

" Bdjl. Looke fir, I bleed.

** GloJL Where is the villaine, ILd?nundf

*• B.ijt. Fled this way fir, when by no means

'* he coud —

** Glojl. Piirfue him, go after, by no meanes,

" what? " Bdjl. Perfwadc me to the murder of your '* Lordlliip, but that *' I tolde him the rcuengiue Gods, gainfl: Paracides

" did all their *' thunders bend, fpoke with how many fould

*' and llrong a bond *' the child was bound to the father; fir, in a fine,

" feeing how loth- *' ly oppolite I flood to his vnnaturall purpofe,

'* with fell motion *' with his prepared fword, he charges home my

** vnprouided bo- ** dv, launcht mine arme ; but when he faw my

*' befl alarumd fpirits " bold in the quarrels right, rouzd to the en-

** counter, or whether *• gafted by the noife I made, but fodainly he " fled. ** Gloft. Let him fiie farre, not in this Land *' fliall he remaine vn- ** caught and found; difpatch, the Noble Duke *' my mafter, my

\

KYNGE LEARE. 51

** worthy Arch and Patron comes to night, by his

*' authority I will *' proclaime it, that he which findes him fliall

*' deferue our thankes, ** bringing the murderous caytifFe to the flake, he

** that conceales ** him, death.

** Bafi. When I dilTwaded him from his intent,

*' and found him *' pight to do it, with curfl: fpeech I threatned to

'* difcouerhim; he '* replied, Thou vnpoiTcffing bafliard, doft thou

** thinke, if I would * * fland againft thee, could the repofure of any trufl,

** vertue, or *' worth in thee make thy words faith 'd ? no :

** what I Ihould deny, ** as this I would, I, thogh thou didft produce

** my very characfter, *' ide turne it all to thy fuggeftion, plot, a^id

*' damned pretence, and " thou muft make a dullard of the world, if they

*' not thought the ** profits of my death were very pregnant and

** potentiall fpurres to ** make thee feeke it.

** Gloft. Strong and faftened villaine, would he

** deny his letter? H 2

52 KYNGE LEARE.

** I ncuer got him; harke, the Dukes trumpets,

** I know not why he *' comes ; all Ports ile barre, the villaine fliall not

** fcape, the Duke ** muft grant me that : befides, his picture I wil

•• fend fcir and neere, ** that all the kingdome may hauc note of him,

** and of my land, " (loyall and naturall boy) ile worke the meanes

** to make thee capable.

** Enfer the Duke of Cor?iwaIL

•* Corn. How novv' my noble friend,- iince I " came hether, which " I can call but now, I haue heard ftrange newes. *• Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too ** fhort which can •* purfue the offender; how doft my Lord ? " Gloji. Madam, my old heart is crakt, is

" crakt. ** Reg. What, did my fathers godfon feeke •' your life ? he whom ** my father named your Edgar ^

'• Glo/i. I Lady, Lady, fliame would haue it hid. •* Reg. Was he not companion with the ryotous ** Knights that " tends vpon my father?

KYNGE LEARE. 5.5

** Glojl. I know not Madam, tis too bad,

*' too bad. ** Bafl. Yes madam, he was. ** Reg. No maruaile then though he were ill *' affected, ** Tis they haue put him on the old man's death, ** To haue thefe — and wafte of this his reuenues : ** I haue this prefent euening from my filler ** Beene well informed of them, and with fuch

*' cautions, *' That if they come to foiourne at my houfe, ile ** not be there. ** Duke, Nor I, affure thee Regan ; Edmund ^ I ** heard that you haue ** fhewne your father a child-like ofnce. *' Baft. Twas my duty fir. *' Gloft. He did betray his practice, and receiued ** This hurt you fee, ftriuing to apprehend him. " Duke. Is he purfued ? *' Gloft. I my good Lord. ** Duke. If he be taken, he fliall neuer more be ' ' feard of doing ** harme, make your owne purpofe how^ in my

** itrength you pleafe ; ** for you Edmu?id, whofe vertue and obedience

*' doth this iniliant ** fo much commend it felfe, you fhalle be ours, ** natures of fuch deep

54 KYNGE LEARE.

*• truft, we lliall much need, you we firft feizc on. •* Baft. I fhall ferue you truely, how euer elfe. ** Glofi. For him I thanke your Grace. *' Duke. You know not why we came to vifitc

* * you ? ** Regan. Thus out of feafon, threatning darkc *' eide night, ** Occafions noble Glocejler of fome prize, ** Wherein we muft haue vfe of your aduice, ** Our father he hath writ, fohath our fifter, ** Of defences, which I beft thought it fit," Toe anfwerre fromme oure hande the feveralle

Melfengers Fromme hence attende dyfpatche oure goode oulde

freynde Laye comforte toe youre bifomme ande beflowe Youre Needefulle confaylle toe youre bufyneflefs Whiche craves oure inflaunte ufe

do I ferve you Madamme youre Graces are rygthe welcome 1060

Kcnte ande Stewarde

Stew Goode even toe thee freynde arte of thehoufe

Rente I

Stew Were maye wee fette oure horfes

Rente Inne the Mire

Stew Prithee an thou love mee telle mce

KYNGE LEARE. 55

Kenie I love thee notte Stew Whye thenne I care notte forre thee Kente Wail biitte inne Lipfburye Penfolde Idc make thee care forre mee

Slew Wherefore doft thou ufe mee thufs I knowe thee 1070

notte

Kentc Fellowe I knowe thee Stew Whatte dofl' thou knowe mee forre Kejjte A Knave a rafcalle who eates brokenne Meates abafeproudebeggarrelyethreefhewteddehundredde Pounde a whorefonne Glalfe a gazynge fuper-

fynycalle Rogue oune Trunke inneherytynge flave thatte woude bee a bawde inne waye off goode Service ande arte noethynge butte the compofytyonne of a

Knave Cowarde ande Panderre whome I wille beate intoe whyn-

ynge iffe thou denye the fmallefte Syllable of the addytyonne 1080 Stew Whye whatte a Monflrous fellowe thou arte toe rayle onne oune who knowes notte thee norre iffe knowne of thee Kente Brazenne facd Varlette doff denye thou knowff mee iffe

56 KYNGE LEARE.

nottc biitte two dayes fynce I beate thee andc

tript thee before the Kyng drawe you Rogue though itte

bee Nyghte yctte the Moon fhynes thatte I maye a foppe

otFe thee drawe you whore fon cullye drawe

Stew Awaye I have noethynge toe doe with thee

Ke?ite Drawe I faye thou haft Letterres agaynft

the Kynge

ande take Vanytye the Puppetts parte agaynft the

Royaltye 1090

of therre fatherre drawe orre He foe Carbonadoe

youre fhankes drawe thenne I faye

Steiv Helpe ho Mirtherre Helpe

Enter re Edmunde Glojlerre duke ande duchejfe

Baf Howe no we whatts the Matterre

Kente Withe you goodman boye lie fleaflie

you mye younge

Mafterre Duke Peace onne youre Hves he dies thatte

ftrykes agayne Reg The Melfengerre fromme oure Syfterre

ande the Kynge Duke Whats youre difference fpeake

KYNGE LEARE. 57

Stew Im fcarce inne breathe mye Lorde Kente Noe marvaile notte thou haft foe beftird thye Valoure thatte Nature declaymes inne thee the 11 00 Taylorre

Duke Thou arte a ftraunge fellowe a Taylorre

make a Manne Kente Sir a Stone Cutterre orre a Paynterre coud notte ha made hymme foe ille hadde he workd butte oune houre Glos Speake howe grewe the quarrelle Stew Thys ancyente Ruffyan Sir whofe hfe I fpard atte fuite of hys greye Bearde

Kente O Thou Whorefon Zeddc thou unnecef- farye Letterre if you wille give mee leave mye Lorde He treade thys Villayne intoe waterre ande daube the Walls of a Jaques with hymme fpare mye greye mo

Bearde you Wagtayle

Duke Peace beaftlye Knave thou hafte noe Re-

veraunce Kente YeiTe butte angerre has a Pryvyledge Duke Whye arte angrye I fayc Kente That fuch a flave as thys flioud wcare a Sworde

. I

58 KYNGE LEARE.

Thatte wearcs noe honell:ye fiiche fmylynge

Rogues as thee Like Ratts nibble thofe Cordes inne twainc Whiche are toe intrenche ande looilen everyc

fmooth Paffyon Thatte innc the Natures of theyre Lordes rebelle Knowinge noughte hke dayes butte followinge Eache piiffye gale ande varye of theyre Maf- terres 1 1 20

Smoile you mye Speeches as I were a folle Goofe If I hadde thee on Sarum Playne Ide fende thee Cacklynge home toe Camulette Dide Saye arte Mad olde fellowe G/os How fell you oute faye thatte Kc/:/e Noe contraryes holde fuche difference as

I ande fuche a Knave Duke Wereforc dofte call hymme Knave

whats hys Oftence Kc/ite Hys countenaunce lykes mee notte Duke Noenore perchaunce dothe minne orre hers Kente Sir tis mye occupatyonne tobee Playne 1 1 30 I have fcene beCterre faces inne mye Daye Tiianne Hands onne anye Shoulderrc thatte I fee No we before mee atte thys inftaunte

Duke I'hys is a fellowe who havynge beenc ohe prayfJe Forre bluntneffe dothe affecfle a faucyc ruffenefle Noe footh hee cannotte flatterre hce mufte bee playne

KYNGE LEARE. 59

Hce mufle fpeake tr Lithe ande theye wille take

itte foe Iflfe hees notte plaync thefe kynde of Knaves 1

knovve Whiche inne thys playnnelFe has boure more crafte ande far more corrupte Endes thenne twentye

filly e duckynge obfervaunts thatte ftretche they re diityes nicelye 11 40

Kente Sir inne goode foothe Underre the allovvaiince ot yoiire greate Afped:e Whofe innefluence lyke the wreathe of radyente iirc Glytterynge from me Phebiis fronte Duke Whatte meanft thou bye thys Kente Toe goe fromme mye" dyalogue whiche you didde muche dyfeommende Sir I amm.enoe flattererrc hce thatte beguilde you with fmoothe acccnte was a playne Knave which parte I wille notte ade 1 150 though I flioud winne youre dyfplcafurc Duke Wats the offence you gave hymme Steix) 1 nere gave hymme anye itte pleafd the Kynge hys Mafterre Verye late toe flrike atte mee uponne hys mifcon-

ftructyonne Wenne hee conjund: ande flatterynge hys dyf-

pleafure Tript mee behynde beynge downe infultedde rayldc ande putte onnc hymme foe muche o the Manne

I 2

6o KYNGE LEARE.

Thattc worthycdde hymmc ande gotte hymme

prayfcs o the Kynge Ande forre the Attempte of thys hys fofte fubdud

exployte Drevve oune mee here agayne

Kcnte Nonne O thefe Rogues ande fooles butte

Ajax is theyre Knave Duke Whatte ho the ftocks You ftubbornc Mifcreante you unreverente bragarte Welle teache you

Kefite I am toe oulde to learne calle notte youre Stocks for mee I ferve the Kynge onne whofe Employmentes I was

fente toe you You fliould doe fmalle refpecle toe mye Maflerre Stoppynge thus hys Graces Meffengerre

Duke Fetche forthe the ftockes As I have life ande honoure there flialle fitte tille Noone j i no

Reg Tille Nyghte mye Lorde ande alle Nyghte

toe Ke/Ue If I were youre fatherres dog Madam You coud notte ufe mee foe

Reg Sir beynge hys Knave thenne I wille Duke Thys is a fellowe o the Nature oure Sif-

tcrre fpeakes of G/os Lctte mee befecche youre Grace notte to doe foe

KYNGE LEARE. 6i

Hys faulte is niuche ande the goode Kynge hys

Mafterre Wille checke hymme fort thys is fuche meane

Corredtyonne As mofte common trefpafTes are punyflit withe The Kynge mufte take itte ille thatte hcs foe flyghtlye vahid 1 1 So

Iffe you hys Meffenger fhould have thus reftraynd Duke He anfwerre thatte

Reg Mye Sifterre wille receive itte ftille muche worfe Toe have her Gentlemanne abufd aifaultedde For followinge her affayres putte inne hys leggs Come mye Lorde awaye

Glos I amme forrye forre thee freynde tis the Dukes pleafure AVhofe dyfpofytyonne alle the worlde welle knowes Wille notte bee rubd norre flopt yette He intreate for thee Kente doe notte I praye you Sir I have watcht ande travayled harde 1 1 90

Some tyme I wille flcepe the reftc He whifHe For a goodmanns fortune Sir maye growe oute

ats heels Give you goode Morrowe Sir

Glos Inne thys innedeede the Dukes toe blame An I feare tvville bee butte ille looke

62 KYNGE LEARE. '

Kcnte Goode Kynge thatte mufie approve the common lawe Who outc of Heavens benedyd3'"onne comefle Toe the warme Sunne

Approache thou beacon toe thys unnederre Globe Thatte bye thye alle radyaunte beames I maye 1 200 Perufe thys Letterrc fcarce noethynge fees mye

wracke Butte JMiferye I knowe tis fromme Cordelya Who mouile haplye hath beene informed Of mye obfcurd Courfe ande llialle fynde tyme From thys enormous ftate feekynge to give Lofles theyre remedycs alle wearye ande oere watcht Take vantage Heavye Eyes notte toe beholde Thys iliameful lodgynge Farevvelle fortune Smyle ande turne thye weele ounce more

Edgarre

I heare myefclfe proclaymed 1210

Ande bye the happye hollow of a Tree Efcapt the hunte Noe place noe porte is free Thatte guarde ande moufte unneufvalle Vigylauncc Doll notte attende mye takynge while I maye fcape 1 have beethoughte ande wille prcferve myefelfe Bve takynge the bafefte ande poorefte fhape Thatte everre penurye inne contcmpte of Manne

KYNGE LEARE. 63

Broughte neere toe beafle Mye face' He grime

with filthe Blankette mye loynes tvviHe alle mye hayre in

Knottes Ande inne Adam lyke Nakeddenelfe oiite face 1 220 The Winde ande^perfecutyonne o the Skye Thys Country e gives mee proofe ande prefydente Of Bedkim Beggars thatte withe roarynge voyces Ande horrid blows numbered onne theyre lymes Sometvme with lunatycke banns ande thenne with

Prayeres Enforce theyre Charytye poore poore Tom poore

Edgarre Thatte innedeede is fomethynge I amme noethyngc

Ky?jge ande Knyghte

he are Tis flraunge they fhoulde thus departe from hence

Ande notte fende backe mye Meffengerre

Knygthe I dydde heare the Nyghtc before there was 1230

Noe purpofe of hys remove

Rente Alle hayle toe thee noble Maflerre heare How makft thou thys fhame thye paftyme Foole Ha Ha looke he weares crewelle Garterres

Horfes are tyde bye the Heels dogs ande beares

ByetheNeckc Munkyes bye the loynes andeMenne

64 KYNGE LEARE.

Bye the Legs whenne hees fomewhatte over luftye

Thenne he weares woodenne ncatherre Stockes

Lcare Whats hee thatte hathe thye place foe

muche miftooke

Toe fette thee here 124O

Kente Tis bothe hee ande fhee youre Sonne

ande daughterre Leave Noe Kc?7te Yes Lea re Noe I faye Rente I faye Yea Leare Noe noe they woulde notte Itte can-

notte bee Rente Agayne I faye tis evcnne foe Leare Bye Jupiterre I fvveare noe they durft notte do itte Suche outrage is worfe thanne murderre Refolve mee withe alle modefte hafte whiche waye 1 250

Thou mayft deferve or they purpofe thys ufage Commynge fromme uffe

Rente Whenne atte theyre houre my Lorde 1 didde commende youre hyghnelTe Letterres toe

them Eerel was rifenne fromme the place thatte fliewedde Mye dutye Kneelynge came there a reekynge Pofte Stewd in hys hafte halfe breathlelTe pantynge forthe Salutatyonnes fromme Gonerylle hys Miftrelle

KYNGE LEARE. 65

Thenne producd Letterres whiche they foon oere

reade Strayghte fummoned uppe theyre Menne andc tooke horfe 1260

Commanded mee toe followe ande attende the

leyfure Of theyre An fvverre gave mee colde looks Ande Meetynge here the otherre Melfengerre Whofe Errande I perceyvd had poyfond myne Beynge the felfe fame fellowe who of late Dyfplayd foe fawcylye agaynft youre hyghneffe Havynge more Manne thanne Witte drewe He rayfd the houfe youre Sonne ande daughterre Founde thys faiilte vvorthe the fhame whiche here it fufferres 12 70

Leare O howe thys Motherre fwels uppe to- warde mye hearte Hiftorica Paffio — down thou clymynge Sorrowe Thye Elementes belowe where ifle thy daughterre Kente Withinne the Earle Sir withinne Leare follow notte butte ftaye theyre Knyghte Made you noe more offence thanne

thatte you fpeake of Kente Noe How chaunce the Kynge has foe fmalle a trayne foole Hadft beene fette ithe ftocks forre thatte Queftyonne Thou hadfl welle defer vd itte 1380

K

66 KYNGE LEARE.

Kente Whyc foole

foole Wele fende thee toe an Ante whol tcache thee theyres noe labourynge ithe Winterre Alle thatte followe theyre Nofes are ledde bye theyre Eyes

Whenne a greate wheele paces downe the hille loofe thye

holde leafte itte breake thye Necke inne the fcllow-

inge itte butte whenne itte mounte the hille eene thenne lette itte drawe thee Whenne a wife Man gives thee .

betterre counfelle give mee mine agayne Id ha none butte Knaves followe itte fince a foole gives itte Thatte Manne who ferves for gayne Ande followes butte forre forme Wille packe whenne itte begynnes toe rayne Ande leave thee ithe Storme Butte I wille tarrye the foole wille ftaye Ande lette the wife Manne flye The Knaves turnes foole thatte runnes awaye Thenne foole noe Knave perdye

Kente_ Where learnte you thys foole Notte ithe Stockcs

KYNGE LEARE. 67

Leare ande Ghjlerre

Leave Denye toe fpeake withe mee thare fycke

ande wearye Theye traveld harde toe Nyghte paltry e juggle Tis notte foe whatte revoke ande flynge offe Fetche mee a betterre anfwerre

Glos Mye dearefle Lorde You knowe the fierye Qualytye of the Duke How immoveablye fixt he iffe ins courfe

Leare Deathe ande confufyonne Whatte fierye Qualytye whye Gloilerre Glollerre I faye where is the Duke of Corn-

walle 1 410

The Kynge woud fpeake with Cornwalle the deare

fatherre Woulde withe hys daughterre fpeake commands

her fervice Glos Aye mye goode Lorde Leare Fierye Duke telle the hotte duke thatte

Leare Naye butte notte yette may bee hee ifs notte welle Innefirmytye doth ftille neglede alle iffue where toe

oure healthe Is bounde wee are notte ourefelvcs w^henne nature

beynge opprelle Commands the Mynde toe fufferre withe thebodye

He forbeare

K 3

68 KYNGE LEARE.

Ande am fallen oute withe mye more heavyerre

wille Toe take the innedyfpofedde ande fycklye fitte forre

the founde Manne 1420

Deathe onne mye ftate wherefore Ihould he fitte here Thys a6te perfwades mee thatte thys emotyonne Offe the Duke ande herre is pradlife onelye Give me mye Servaunte foorthe Telle the duke

ands wife He fpeake withe themme ande prefentlye too Bidde themme come forthe Orre atte theyre Cham-

berre doore He beate mye drumme tille itte crye fleepe toe deathe

Duke ande Reganne

Leare Goode Morrowe toe you bothe

Duke Alle haylc toe youre Grace

Reg I amme gladde toe fee youre hyghnefTe 1 430

Leare I doe thynke you are I knowe whatte reafonne I have toe thynke foe anne thou Ihoudfl notte bee

gladde I woud divorce thee fromme thy Motherres Wombe Ande faye the Motherre was an AdultrefTe Thye Sillerre is naughte O Reganne (lie hath tiedde Sharpe toothd unnekyndnefle lyke a Vulture here

KYNGE LEARE. 69

I fcarce canne fpeake toe thee thoult notte believe Of whatte bafe qulytye flie is O Regan ne

Reg Praye you Sir take Patyence I have hope You leffe knowe how to Value herre deferte 1 440 Thannc fhe toe flacke inne dutye Leare Saye howe is thatte Reg I cannotte thynke mye Syfterre ithe leafte Woud flacke inne dutye ande oblygatyonne Leare Mye Curfes onne herre Reg O Confydderre Sir you are oulde Nature inne you Hands onne the verye verge ande

confyne You fhould bee ruld ande led bye fome dyf-

cretyorine Thatte dycernes youre Hate betterre the you canne Toe oure Syfterre thenne wee doe praye you make retturne 1450

Ande faye thatte you have wrongd herre

Leare Whatte doft faye aflve herre forregivenefTe Marke you how woud thys become the houfe I doe confefte deare Reganne thatte I amme oulde Onne mye Knees thenne I begge thatte youl

vouch fafe Toe give mee thys Nyghte bedde foode ande Raymente Reg Good Sir noe more thefe are unnefittynge trickes therefore wee praye you goebacke toe oure Syfterre

70 KYNGE LEARE.

Leare Noe Reganne Neverre Neverre She hathe abatedde mee of halfe mye trayne 1 460 Lookt blacke iiponne mee flrucke mee with herre

tongue

Mofte ferpente lyke uponne mye verye hearte Maye alle the fiord vengeance of Heavene falle Onne herre ungratefulle toppe ftryke herre younge

bones You Ayres thatte ftrike withe lameneffe You nimble lyghtnynges darte youre bhndyng

flames Intoe herre fcornfuUe Eies You fenne fuckd Foggs Drawne bye the powerrefulle heate of the funne Innefede herre Beautye ande blaile herre pride Duke O fye Sir 1470

Reg O the blefte Gods youl wifh foe onne mee When the raflie Moode takes

Leare Noe Reganne thou flialt neverre ha mye Curfe Herre Eies are feirce butte thine doe comforte mee Noe Nature (halt notte give toe thee mye Tis notte inne thee toe grudge mye Pleafure Toe CLitte offc mye trayne ande ufe haftye Wordes Ande inne Conckifyonne to oppofe the Boke Agaynil: mye corny nge inne thou betterre knowfl The offyces of Nature bonde of Childhoodc 1480 EiTects otFe Curtefye due ofFe Gratytude Thy halfe offe thys Kyngdomme hall forrcgotte

KYNGE LEARE. 71

Twas I thatte endowedcie thee withe itte Butte who w^aft thatte putte mye ithe Stockes

Stewarde comes forrewarde

'Duke Whatte Trumpettes thatte

Reg I knowt toe bee mye Syfterres Bye Letterre flie fayde ere longe (lie woud bee here Ifle youre Ladye comme

"Leave Thys iffe the Slave whofe eafye borrow d pryde Dwels ithe fyckle Grace offe herre hee followes Oute Varlette fromme mye Syghte 1490

Corn Whatte meaiies youre grace

Gonnerylle

Leare Who commes here hyde mee kynde heavennes I praye IfFe you doe love oulde Menne make itte youre

Caufe Sende downe ande take mye parte Arte notte afliamd to looke uponne thys bearde Whatte Reganne wilt thou take herre bye the hande

Gon Whye notte Sirre How have I offendedde alls notte ofFence Thatte Innedyfcretyonne ande dotage termes ioQ 1^00

72 KYNGE LEARE.

Leare O fydes you are toe toughe wille you

flylle hoLilde Ao-ayne how came mye Manne ithe Stockes Duke I fette hymme there butte hys owne dif-

orrederres Defervd muche lefle advancemente Leare You whatte waft you Reg I praye you fatherre beynge weake fceme foe lite tylle the expyratyonne offe youre Moneth You wille retturne ande fojourne withe mye Syfterre Difbandynge halfe yourc trayne comme thenne

toe mee ['5^0

Beynge nowe fromme home ande cute of Plentye

Whiche iiTe needefulle forre youre entertaynemente

Lea?'e Retturne toe herre ande fiftye Menne

dyfmyfl Noe ratherre I abjure Alle roofes ande chufe Toe wage agaynft the enmytye o the Ayre Toe bee afs Comrade withe the Wolfe ande Owle Whye the hotte bloode of Fraunce thatte

dowerrelelTe Tooke hence oure youngefte borne I coud bee

broughte Toe Knee hys Throne ande fqure lyke penfyonne

begge Toe Keepe bafe life a foote thanne retturne withe

herre Perfwade mee ratherre toe bee a fiave ande Sumpter Toe Thys detelledde Gromme 1520

KYNGE LEARE. 73

Gon Atte youre Choyce Sir

Leare Nowe praye you daughterre doe notte

make mee madde I wille notte trouble thee mye Chylde Farewelle Welle noe more meete noe more fee oune anotherre Stille arte thou mye bloode mye Fleflie ande

daughterre Or ratherre a difeafe thats inne mye fleflie Whiche I mufte needs calle myne thou arte a Byle A Plague fore ande inbofledde Carbuncle Inne mye corruptedde Bloode butte He notte

chyde thee ^530

Lette fliame come whenne itte wille I doe notte

calle itte 1 doe notte bydde the Thunderres beare flioote Norre telle tales of thee toe hygh judgynge Jove Mende whenne thou canft be betterre atte the

Leyfure I wille bee patyente ande wille flaye withe Reganue" Aye myfelfe ande mye hundredde Knyghtes Reg Yette notte foe Sir I looke notte forre you

yette Norre have I thatte whiche befyttes youre welcome Therefore praye you give Eare toe mye Syflerre toe

thofe Thatte myngle reafonne withe youre paflyonne 1540 Naye bee contente ande thynke thatte you are oulde Believe mee Sir flie knowes welle thatte llie does

L

74 KYNGE LEARE.

Leare O Reg iffe thys welle fpokennc jR^^ I dare avoiiche itte Sir fiftye followerres Are welle enoughe wherefore flioiid youneede more Yea orre foe manye fythe thatte bothe charge ande

dangerre Speakes gaynft thatte Niimberre forre howe flioiid

{oe. manye Inne oune houfe ande underre two dyflynd: com-

mandes Holde Amytye tis harde almoflc impoffyble Gon Whye notte mye goode Lorde receive attend aunce ^SS^

Fromme thofe whome fhe calls Servaunts orre from me myne Reg Aye thou fithe trewelye whye notte mye Lorde Weecanne controiilethemmeiffeyoucommetoe mce forre nowe I fpye a dangerre I entreate you Toe brynge butte five ande twentye toe noc more Wille I give place orre coutenaunce Leare I gave you alie

Reg Aye ande inne goode tyme you gave toe Leare Made you mye Guardyans mye de- pofytaryes Butte kepte a refervatyonne toe bee followedde 1 560 With fuche a Numberre whatte mufte I come

toe you "V\' ithe five ande twentye Reganne fliyde you foe

KYNGE LEARE. 75

Reg Aye ande fpeakt agayne mye Lorde I^eare Thofe wickcddde Creatures yette doe fceme welle favoiird Whenne otherres are more vvickedde Notte beynge

the worfle Standes inne fome ranke ofFe prayfe He roe

withe thee Thye fiftye dothe flylle double five ande tvventye Thou arte innedeede twice herre love

Gon Heare mee mye Lorde Whye neede you' five ande twenty e tenne orre five 1570

Toe folio we inne a houfe where twice the numberre Have commande toe tende you Reg Naye whatte needes oune Leare O reafonne notte the deede cure bafefle Beggarres Are inne the poorefte thynge fuperrefluoufe Give iwtte fweete Nature morel:hanne nature needes Mans life ande beallcs are equalle inne cheapenelfe Iffc onelye toe goe warme were gorgeoufe Thenne Nature needes butte halfe the Ladye weares Hcavennes give mee meeke patyence I lacke itte 1580

You fee mee here Ye Gods a poore a poore oulde

Manne AfTe fulle offe g^riefe as ao^e wretchedde inne bothe

o o

life itte bee you thatteflirre Mye daughterres heaites

L 2

76 K7NGE LEARE.

A^^aynvte thcyrc fatherre foole mec notte too muche Toe beare itte tamelye touche mee withe angcrre

0 lette notte Womennes weaponnes waterre droppes Stayne mye Mannes cheekes Noe ye unneturalle

ha<2crs

1 wille poure downe fuche Revenge onne ye bothe Thatte alle the World flialle — lie doe fuche thynges Whatte they are yette I knovve notte butte theye

fhalle bee ^59^

The terrorres o the Earthe you thynke He weepe Noe He notte though I have fulle caufe of weepynge Butte thys mve hearte fhalle breake inne a thou-

fande flawes Eyre I wille weepe O foole foole I flialle goe Madde \^Lcare Kcnle Glojierre ande foole goe oute Duke Lets withdrawe twille bee a Storme Reg Thys houfe is lyttle the oulde Manne ands People Cannotte bee welle beflowedde

Gon Tis hys owne biame hathe putte hymme fromme reile [1600

Reg Thenne hee mufte needes tafte hys follye Forre hymfelfe I wille receyve hymme gladlye Butte notte oune followerre

Duke Soe ftandes the Matterre withe mee Butte where iffe mye Lorde of Glofterre

KYNGE LEARE. 77

Glojl.

crre

Glos The Kynge is inne hygh Rage Ande wille I knowe notte whetherre

Reg Thenne give hymme waye hole leade

hymfelfe Gon Entreate hymme notte mye Lorde to flaye Glo Alacke the Nyghte comes onne ande the bkake Windes Doe forelye riilTclle forre manye aMyle aboute 1610 Theyres nevtherre hedge norre wille ferve forre coverte Reg O Sir toe wilfulle Menne The injuryes they themmefelves doe. procure Mufle ferve themme forre Schoole Mailerres Ihuttc

the doors He iffe attendedde withe a defperate trayne Ande whatte theye maye prompte hymme too

beynge apte Toe have Eare abufd Wifdomme byddes ufle feare

Kente ande Genikmanne

Kente Whatte iffe theyre here befydes foulc

Weatherre Gem Oune myndedde lyke the Weatherre Moufte fowerre ande unnequiettelye 1620

78 KYNGE LEARE.

Kente I knovve thee wheres the Kynge Gent Contendynge withe the fretfulle Elementc V/ho byddes the Wynde blowe Earthe intoe Sea Orre fvveile the <:urleddc waterrcs hove the Maync Thatte thyngs maye change orre ceafe teares hys

white hayre Whiche the impetuoufe blafts with Eyeleffe Rage Catche inne theyre fiirye ande make a nothynge of Strives inne hys iyttle worlde of Manne toe oute

fcorne The adverfe Wynde ande rayne Unnebonnetedde He runnes Ande byddes whatte wille take alle 1630 Ke7ite Butte who ilTe withe hymme Gent None fave the foole who labourrcs toe oute jefte Hys hearte ilrooke innejurycs Kente Sir I doe knowe you Ande wille commende a deare thyngc toe you Theyre ilTe dyvyfyonne though itte bee cladde Withe muLualle cunnynge twixte Alb ande Corn-

walle Ande fromme Fraunce mouite fure theyre comes

a powerre Intoe thys oure featteredde Kyngdomme Theye have fecrette foe inne fome of oure Pourtes 1 640

Ande wille llipwe ulTe ere longe theyre Banncrre Make fpeede therefore toe Dovcrre theyre you flialle fynde

KYNGE LEARE. 79

Some who wille thankeyoumakynge jufle Reporte Offe the ryghteCaufe oureKynge hathc ofFe Playnte Gent He fpeake fartherre withe you Kente Naye doe notte butte take thys Purfe contayncs Thenne if you chance toe fee Cordelya Ande I doubte notte butte you flialle fhcw thys

Ryng Thenne (lie wille telle you whou the fellowe ifie Toe whome thou fpeakft ande dofl; notte as yctte knowe 1650

O ^y^ onne thys Storme He goe feeke the Kynge Ge?it Give mee thy hande haft naughte more

toe faye Kente Butte fewe wordes yette more thanne allc yette Thatte whenne the goode Kynge bee founde The iuckyerre hounde o the two Shalle hollowe the otherre

Leare ande foole

Leare Blowe Windes and cracke youre cheeks

Rage Blowe You Caterackes ande Hurycanocs fpoutc Tylle you have drenchd the Steeples drownd the

Cocks You fulpheroufc ande thoughte executynge

fires 1660

So KYNGE LEARE.

You Oake cleavynge thunderrc Boltes fingc mye

white hcade Thou alle ihakynge Thunderre ftryke flatte ande

make voyde The vafte ande thycke routundytye o the Worlde Cracke Natures Moulde all Germayne fpille at

ounce Thatte forms ungratefulle ande detefledde Manne ' foole O Nunckle Courte holye Waterre inne a

drye houfe Tis betterre thanne rayne waterre oute a doore Inne goode Nunckle ande aike forre a Bleffynge Forre thys ilFe a Nyghte indeede thatte pittyes Ncytherre the heade of Age norre thatte of

follye 1670

he are Grumble thy Belly fulle fpittc fire fpoute

Rayne Norre thunderre fire Rayne Winde are mye

daughterres Noe Noe tis notte you I taike withe unnekyndnefTe I dy vydedde notte twixt you mye Kyngdomme You owe mee noe fublcryptyonne whye thenne

lette falle Youre horryble pleafure ande heare I ftande A weake innefyrme and defpyfedde oulde Manne Yette are ye butte poore fervile minifterres Thatte joyne withe two pernycyoufe daughterres Agaynfle a heade foe oulde ande white O tis

fouie 1680

KYNGE LEARE. 8i

foole Hee thatte has a houfe toe putte hys heade

inne Has innedeede a moufte excellente heade peace Thatte manne who makes hys toe whenne he hys

hearte lliould make Shalle have a Come crye woe ande turae hys fleepe

toe wake Forre neverre yette was there fayre Woemanne Butte fhe made Mouthes ithe GlafTe

Ltcare Noe He bee a Patteme of Virtue ande

Patyence Ande faye nothynge

Kente

Rente Whos there

foole Marrye heares Grace ande a Cod peece 1690 Thats bothe wife manne ande foole

Kente Alas mye Liege ist you here Thofe who love Nyghtes love themme notte fuche

as thefe Syncc I was Manne fuche fheetes ofFe lividde fire Suche burftes of thunderre and fuche groanes of

Winde ande Rayn I rememberre notte toe have hearde

Leare Lette the greate Gods who thunderre cere oure headcs Fynde theyre Enemyes nowe tremble thou wretche

M

82 KYNGE LEARE.

Thatte haft withinne thee undyvulgedde Crymes Hyde thee thou bloudye hande unwhypte of

Juftice ' 1700

Thou Sycophante diftemblerre of Virtewe Andc convenyente feemynge thatte pradyfedde Clofe pente uppe guiltes onnecreduloufe Mens lives Rive youre concealedde Centerres ande begge Grace Offe thefe Create ande thunderynge Summonerres- Butte 1 amme oune more fynnd agaynft thenne

fynnyng Ke/ite Whatte beare headed de my emofte gray a-

foufe Lorde Harde bye here is a hovelle fome frendefhyppe Gaynft thys rude unnecyville tempefte wille itte

lende Rep ofe you here whylft He toe thys harde hoiife 1710 More harde innedeede thanne thatte whereofFe tis

ra} fd Whiche evenne butte n owe deny d mee toe come inne Whenne afkynge afterre you

Leuie O mye Witte gins toe maddenne Come onne mye Boye howe doft mye Boye arte

colde I amme coulde myefelfe Where is the ftrawe goode

fell J) we Tis ftrange howe Qure neceflytyes canne make The vilefte thynges the moufte precyoufe Foole and Knave fliowc mee thenne thye poore

hovelle

KYNGE LEARE. 83

Oune Comerre of mye hearte yette forrowts forre thee i '720

foole He thatte has a lyttle tyne Witte Witheaheyghe hoe the windeande the Rayne MuHe make connetente withe hys forretunes fytte Forre the Rayne itte Raynethe everye a Daye

Glojferre ande Rdmunde

GIos Alacke Alacke Edmunde I lyke notte thys Whcnne I defyrd theyre leave toepittye hymme Theye tooke fromme mee the ufe of myne owne

hoiife Strydtchargd mee onne payne ofFe theyre difplcafure Neytherre toe fpeake orre anye waye fuflayne hymme Edm Moufte Savage ande iinnenaturelle 1730 Glo Goe toe ande faye you noethynge Theres a dyvyfyonne tvvixt the Dukes Ande vvorfe thanne thatte forre I have receyvedde A Lettcrre vvhiche I have lockt inne mye Clofette Thefe innejuryes the Kynge blares wille bee

revengd Forre parte of a Powerre is nov/e Landedde Ande tis fytte wee doe inclyne toe the Kynge He feeke hymme ande privatelye releeve hymme Goe you ande houkle conference withe the Duke

M 2

84 KYNGE LEARE.

Thatte thys myc Charytye bee notie per^ ceyvedde 1 74^

The Kyn<re mye oulde Mallerre fhalle be releivedde Theres fomevvhatte flrange towarde Edg praye bee carefulle Bas Thys Courtefye fromme thee toe thee oulde Kynge Shalle the Duke knowe ande of the Lctterrc too Thys feemes a fayre defervynge ande mufte dravve Thatte toe myefelfe whiche mye fatherre lofes Whiche is naughte more or lefle thanne alle Thus doe younge rife whenne the oulde doe falle

Leare Kentc a?jde Foole

Rente Heres the place mye goode Lorde prayc you enterre . Thys Nyghtes toe ruffe forre Nature toe inne^ dure , 1750

Leave Lette mee alone Kente Praye you mye goode Lorde enterre Leare Wilt breake mye hearte Rente Heavennes witnelTe I hadde rathere breake mine owne

Leare Thynkft thou tis muche thatte thys re- lenteleffe Storme Innevades uffe toe the Skynne tis foe toe thee gutte where the greaterre Malydye iffe fyxte

KYNGE LEARE. 85

The lefTerre ifTe fcarce felte thou woudft fhunne a

Beare Butte ifPe thye flyghte Lwe towarde the ragynge

Sea I -760

Thoudft meete the Beare ithe Mouthe whenne the

Mynds free The Bodys delycate the tempefte inne mye Mynde Dothe fromme mye Sences take alle fedyngt elfe Save vile ande venemoufe innegratytude III notte as iffe thys Mouthe fhoud teare thys

Hande Forre Hftynge foode tot butte I wille punylh yette Ande weepe noe more inne fuche a Nyghte as thys O Reganne Gonerylle youre oulde fatherre Whofe Heart.e lyke openne Chary tye gave you alle O lette mee fliunne thatte forre there MadnelTe

lyes ' 1 770

O ile notte there noe noe

Kcnte Naye goode mye Lorde enterre - Leare Prethee goe inne ande feeke thyne owne

eafe Thys Tempefte wills notte thatte I doe ponderre Onne thyngs would hurte mee more butte Ile goe

inne Poore nakedde wretches where foe ere you are Thatte byde the Peltynge o thys PitylefTe Nyghte Howe flialle youre houfe leile heads ande unfedde

fydes

86 KYNGE LEARE.

Youre loopt ande raggedde Garmentes defende you Fromme Seaibnnes , fuche as thefe O I have tayne 1780

Toe lyttle care o thys take Phyfyck Pompe Expofe thyefelfe toe feele thatie wretches fecle Thatte thou may ft poure onne them me thye Sii-

perfluxe Ande ftiewe the heavennes more jufte

foole Come notte here Nunckle heres a Spiritte O lave mee helpe mee

Kente Thou doft crye afore thou arte hurte Butte give mee thye hande who is there foole A Spirytte oune thatte fays hys Names

poore Tom Kente Whatte arte thou thatte doft grumble ithe Strawe 1790

Comrae fourthe I faye ande anfwerre ftrayghte Edg Awaye the foule feynde followcs mee Through the Iharpe Hawthorne blowe the Windes Hum goe toe thye coulde Bedde ande warmethee

Leare Dydft give alle toe thye Daughterres Ande arte comme toe thys atte lafte

Edg Who ift thatte gives anye thynge toe poore Tom Whome the feynde hathe ledde through fyre ande

flame Ore Sv/orde ore Boggeore whirlpoole ande QiJag- myre 1 800

KYNGE LEARE. 87

Layde Knives ins Pi Howe ande Halterres ins Pue Made hymme proude of hearte toe ryde onne a

Baye trotterre Hathe myhgledde Ratfbayne withe hys Porrydge Ande vaynlye courfe hys fantallyck Shadowe O Toms a coide O doe de dee de doe O BlelFe you fromme Whirle Winde ande Starre

blaftynge Doe poore Tom Charytye whome the feynde vexes Novve nowe coud I ha hj^mme there and there

agayne Leare Whatte ande ha thye daughterres broiighte

thee toe thys paife Whatte couldft fave noethynge woudft give

themme alle foole Naye Butte hee kepte hys Blankette 1810 Elfe wee hadde alle beene fhamd

Leare Nowe maye alle thofe Plagues thatte

hange ithe Ayre Ande gore Menus faults lyghte onne thye daugh- terres Kente He hathe noe daughterres mye goode Sir Leare Deathe I faye noethynge coud ha fubdud

Nature Toe fuche lovvneiTe fave hys kyndlefle daughterres Ifl thenne the falhyonne thatte dyfcardedde fa-

therres Should have foe lyltle mercye onne they re fiellie

88 KYNGE LEARE.

Judycyoufe Sentaunce twas thys flefhe begotte thofe Pelycanne daughterres 182O

Edg Pyllycocke fatte onne Pyllycocke Hille

alloo alloc loo loo foole Thys Nyghte foe coulde foe rawe I feare Toe fooles wille turne bothe Kente ande Leare Twoe are alreadye ande twoe moure Wille turne tbe twoe thenne intoe foure

Edgar Take heede o the foule feynde obeye

thye Parentes Keepe thye worde ande Whore withe Mans fworne

Spoufe Decke notte thye fweete hearte inne proude arraye Leafte otherre Meenne falle a lovynge Toms a

Colde Leare Whatte haft thou beene i S30

Edg A Sevyngmanne proude inne hearte and

mynde Thatte curld myne hayre ande wore Gloves inne

mye Cappe Oune thatte ftepte inne the contryvynge of Lufte Ande wakd toe doe the Ade of DarknelTe Wine lovd I dearelye ande dyce too dearly e Falfe of hearte lyghte of Eare Bloodye handedde Hogge inne flothe Foxe inne itealth Wolfe inne

GreedynelTe Lette notte Womans Sylkes betraye thy poore hearte Keepe foole oute a Brothells hands oute a Placketts

KYNGE LEARE. 89

I'hye Penne fromme Lenderres bookes defye the

foule feynde 1840

Sty lie throLighe the havvthorne blovves the Colde

bleake winde Mumm Mumm Nonnye Dolphynne boye lette

hymme trotte bye Leare Thou werte betterre ithye Grave thenne

thus toeanfwerre Withe bodye bare before the innelemente heavennes Ifle Manne naughte butte thys confyderre hymme

welle Thou owfl: the Worme noe Sylke beafte noe hyde Butte here are three ounes fophyftycatedde Thou unaccomodatedde manne arte the thynge Forre thou arte indeede naughte butte thys A poore bare ande forkedde Anymalle 1 85b

Offe OfFe thenne you Lendynges unbottonne here

Gloflcrre

foole bee contente Nunkee tis naughtye Nyghte toe fy mm e inne Nowe a lyttle fire inne a Wilde feylde Were lyke a Letcherres hearte butte oune lyttle

fparke Ande alle the refte of ounes bodye o life Butte looke here commes a walkynge lire Kdg Thys ilTe the foule Fliberretygybette

N

90 KYNGE LEARE.

He ginnes atte Curfewe ande walkes tylle fyrfle Cocke

Hee fquintes ithe Eye ande makes the hare lyppe

Milledewes the white Wheate ande hurts thys

poore Creature Earthe i860

Swythholde footedde thryce the oulde

Meete the Nyghte Mare ande herre nyne folde

Bydde herre alyghte

Ande herre trothe plyghte

Aroynte thee Whyche Aroynte thee

Kente Howe fares youre Grace

• Leare Whats hee

Kente Whos there whatte feeke ye

Glos Youre names I praye who are you

Edg Poore Tomme who eates the fwimmynge

Frogge ande toade 1 870

Whofe hearte is fierye whenne the feynde rages

Swallowes the oulde Katte ande the ditche dogge

Drynkes the greene mantle fromme the ftandynge

poole

Thatte is whipte fromme tythynge toe tythynge

Thatte is ftockd punyfhd ande immepryfoenedde

Thatte hathe three fuites toe hys backe {yxt Shirtes

tos Bodye

Horfe toe ryde ande Weaponne toe weare

Butte Mice ande Ratts ande fuche fmalle deere

Ha beene Tomms foode thys fevenne longe

Yeare

KYNGE LEARE. 91

Beware mye followerre peace fmilburre peace

feynde 1880

Glos Whatte hathe yoiire Grace noe betterre

Companye Edg Poore Toms a Colde Glos Goe inne withe mee mye dutye cannotte fufferre Inne alle toe obeye yoiire daughterres harde com-

mandes Though theyre innejundyonne bee toe barre mye

doores And lette thys boyfteroufe Nyghte take houlde

o thee Stylle have I comme ande venneterd toe feeke

youre Grace Ande brynge where bothe fyre ande foode are readye Leare Staye fyrfte He talke withe thys Phylofo- pherre Telle mee Poore Tomm whats the Caufe o thun- derre 1 890

Kente Goode mye Lorde take hys ofFerre ande

goe inne a doore Leare He talke a Worde withe thys fayde Learnedde Thebanne Whatte is your Studye

Edg bothe toe prevente the feynde and Kyllc Vermyne

N 2

92 KYNGE LEARE.

Leare Lctte mec afl.e you ounc Worde innc Private

Kente Immeporrctune hymme agayne mye Lorde Forre hys Wittes gynne toe unnefettelle

Glos Canft blame hymme freynde When's daiighterres dot Teeke hys deathe

0 thatte goode Kente hee fayde itte woud bee

thufie 1 900

Helas poore honefte butte banyfiite Manne Thou fayfl: the Kynge grovves madde He telle the

freynde

1 myefejfe amme almouflie madde I had a Sonne Nowe outelawd fromme mye bloode hee foughte

mye life Butte latelye verye lately e 1 lovd hymme freynde Noe fatherre a Sonne dearerre thruthe toe telle thee The Greefe o thys hathe o thys hathe crazd ?7iye

verye Witts Whatte a Nyghte is here I doe befeeche youre grace

Leare O youre mercy e I crye youre mercy e noble Phyloefopherre youre Companye 191Q

Edg The feynde The fcynde Toms a Coldea Colde Gios Innetoe thye hovelle fellowe ande keepe

thee warme Leare Comme thenne weele inne alle Thys waye mye Lorde

He keepe withe hymme withe mye Phylofopherre Kenie Soothe hymme mye goode Lorde and lette hymme take thys fellowe

KYNGE LEARE. 93

Glos Take hymme you onne

Kente Comme Sirra and goa inne withe ufTe

'Leave Aye Aye comme thou goode aiide

learnedde Athenyanne 'Edg Chylde Rowelande toe the daike towerre came 1920

Hys Worde was ftylle fye foe ande fumme I fmelle the Bloude of a brytyflie Manne

Cornczvalle ande Bajlarde

Duke He ha mye Revenge ere I departe thys houfe

Bas Howe mye Lorde I m.aye bee cenfuredde

Thatte Nature inne mee thus gives waye toe

Loyalletye

Duke I doe nowe preceyve twas notte alleto-

getherre

Youre Brotherres evylle dyspofytyonne

Whiche alone dydde make hymme feeke hys deathe

Butte a reproveable badneffe inne hymfelfe

Edm O howe malycyoufe is mye forretune 1930 Thatte I mufte nowe repente forre beynge jufle

Thys is the Letterre thatte does approve hymme An innetellygente freynde ande partye toe Fraunce O heavennes thatte thys hys treafonne were notte Norre 1 hys deteclorre

Duke Goe inne withe mee toe the dutchelfe Edm Iffe thys Paperre dothe fpcake trewe You have myghtye bufynelle inne hande *

94 KYNGE LEARE.

Duke Trewe orre falfe itte hathe made the Earic of Glofterre Seeke oute thee faherre thatte he maye bee ready e 1 940

Forre oure ryghte jufte Apprehefyonne

Edm Anne he fhalle bee founde comforretynge the Kynge Twille more fullye prove oure Sufpytyonnes I wille perfevere inne thys mye Loyalletye Thoughe the conflycStc goe harde tvvixte itte andc mye Bloode Duke I wille laye trufte onne thee Ande inne mye Love thoult fynde a dearerre fatherre

Kente G/os Leare (Edg 'Tg7?i) ande foole

Kente Betterre farre here thanne ithe openne Ayre Alle hys w^itts ha givenne waye toe hys impatyence O goode Sir maye the Gods rewarde youre Kyndnefle Edg Fretterretoe Calles ande tells mee Neroe is anglynge ithe Lake of DarkenefTe

foole Prethee Nunkle IfTe a madmanne a foole orre a Yeomanne

heare Softe goode foole He telle thee a Kynge a

Kynge Edg O the foulde feynde bytes mye backe foote Hees madde thatte truftes toe tameneffe of a Wolfe

KYNGE LEARE. 95

A horfes healthe a Boyes Love a Wores Oatbe "Leare Naye Naye notte foe butte inne the love of Daughterres

0 the vile flie foxes fytte here fapyente Sir i960

Edg Looke w^here fhe ftandes Wanft thou Eyes

alle trye alle Beffye comrne oere the broome toe mee BelTye

The foule feynde hauntes poore Tomme

Hoppe dawnce cryes inne mee forre twoe white

herrynges

Kente howe does youre grace wille you notte

laye downe

Lea7'e Brynge inne the Evydence they fliall bee

Cryd

Sitte you there you are othe CommyfTyonne

Arraygne Arraygne herre tis Gonerylle

1 here take oathe before thys afTernblye

Shee dydde Kyche the poore oulde Kynge herre fatherre ^97^

Butte mye gracyoufe Sirs hadde flie beene a Manne Hee woud notte ha neededde thys youre tryalle

Edg Bleffe thye five Witts O Sir wheres thatte fame Patyence nowe

0 the whiche you dydde foe ofte make boafle £^^My teares begynne toe takehys parte fomuche

1 feare theyle marre mye counterfeytynge

Leare Naye the lyttle doggs too alle barke atte mee Whye Treye Blaunche ande Sweete hearte hytherre boyes

96 KYNGE LEARE.

Edg Tomme Ihalle throvve hys heade atte themme avaunte Curs J980

Bee thou blacke orre Greye orre White Toothe thatte payfonnes anne itte byte O Tomme fhalle make themme weepe ande wayle Forre thorowinge thufle mye heade Doggs leape the hatche nowe alle are fledde Tou Lu Lu Lu comme marche toe wakes ande fayres Bee Merrye bee Merrye poore Toms home is drye Leare Anatomyze thatte Reganne fee whatte inne herre breedes life there caufe inne Nature toe make heartes thuffe 1990

Whatte foe harde ande flintye O noe noe noe You fhoud bee of mye hundred butte youre

Garmente Thatte fuites mee notte welle v* elle lette itte bee

changd Tomm Tomm where dydft fleale thyne Adams Coate Edg Fromme mye Childe anne fliede notte give

itte ,mee Lcare A goode Thefte A goode Thefte welle

fayde Tomm

Kente Nowe mye goode Lorde lye here awhile

Eeare Hufh Hufh make noe noyfe butte drawe

the Curtaynes

Soe Soe foe wele goe toe Supperre ithe mornynge

fo fo 2000

KYNGE LEARE. 97

Glojlerre

GIos Goode Sir where Is the Kynge mye

Mafterre Ke?2tc Heare mye Lorde butte trouble hymme

notte hys Witts are gone Glos Take hymme I praye thee Sir inne thyne

Armes Forre I have oerehearde a Plotte of Deathe uponne

hymme There is a Lytterre tye liymme onne itte ftrayghte Ande fpeede thee towarde Doverre where thou (halt

meete Goode welcome ande Pro tedy onne take thye

mafterre Forre flioudft thou dallye orre delaye oune houre Thyne ande hys life togetherre withe alle thofe Shalle offerre toe defende hymme llande furelye

lofte 2010

Followe mee thatte wille toe fome provyfyonnc Give thee fure ande quicke condudte Come Come awaye quicklye

Cornewalle Regarme Gonerylle Edmunde ande Servantes

Corn Poft fpeedylye toe mye Lorde ycure hufbande

o

98 KYNGE LEARE.

Thys Letterre wille flievve the Frenche Armye

landcdde Goe fecke oute thatte Traytorre Glofleire Howe no we wheres the Kynge

Stew Mye Lorde of Glofterre hath conveyd

hymme hence Ande withe hys Knyghtes hathe fente hymme to-

warde Doverre Theye dydde loudlye talke of armedde freyndes

there 2020

Gon Farewelle fweete Lorde ande Syfterre Corn Edmunde Farewelle Goe feeke thatte

Traytorre Glofterre Pinnyonne lyke Thiefe thenne brynge hymme

before ulTe Though withoute Juftyce we maye pajfTe ons life Yette flialle oure Powerre doe Curtefye toe oure

wrathe Whiche Menne perchaiince maye blame butte

notte comptrolle

Glojlerre

Reg Innegratefulle Foxe tis hee

Glos Whatte meane youre Grace Goode mye Freyndes you are mye Gueftes Doe me noe foule playe 2030

Corn Bynde hymme I faye

KYNGE LEARE. 99

Glas Unnemercyfiille Ladye Corn Toe thys Benche bynde hymme O Villayne thou fhalte fynde

Glos Bye the greate Gods tis ignoeblye done Toe plucke Age thulle bye the Bearde Reg Soe white ande fuche a Traytorre Glos O naughtye Ladye Thefe hay res thatte thou ravi llie fromme mye

Chynne Wille quckenne and accufe thee I amme youre hofte 2040

Ande you withe mercyleffe and Robberres handes Doe ruffle thufle mye markes of Mannehoode Whatte wille you doe

Corn Saye Sir whatte Letterres hadde you fromme Fraunce Whatte Connefederacye hadde you withe thofe Thatte nowe have broke inne uponne our Kyng- domme Reg Toe whome hafle fente the Lunatycke

Kynge Glos I have oune Letterre gueilynglye fette downe Thatte came fromme oune thats of a newtralle hearte Corn O cunnynge 2050

Reg Yea Cunnynge ande moufte Falfe Corn Where haft fente the Kynge o %

100 KVNGE LEARE.

GIos Toe Dovcrre

Corn Ande whye to doverre waft notte chargd

atte perylle GIos O ye have have tyedde mee toe the Stake Ande nowe I needs miifle llaunde the coiirfe Rc^ O Traytorre butte wherefore toe Doverre GIos Caufe thatte I woudde notte fee thye cruelle Nayles Plucke oute hys poore oidde Eyes norre thye feyrce

Syfterre Inne hys annoyntedde fleflie ilycke Boaryflie Phangcs 2o6o

The Sea withe fuche a Storme as hys beare heave Inne Helles blacke nyghte induredde woiid ha

boyedde uppe Ande quenchedde the llelledde fy res Yette porre oulde hearte hee holped the heavennes

toe rayne Jffe Wolves atte thatte flcyrne tyme atte thye Gates

hadde howld Thou fhouldft ha fayde goode Porterre turne the

Keye Butte I fhalle fee Vennegeance ore take fuche Chyldrcnne Corn Seet thou fhalte neverre fellowes houlde the Chayre Onne thefe oukie Eyes of thyne He fette mye foote GIos Twere betterre dye thenne Hve tylle oune bee oulde 20 70

KYNGE LEARE. ici

O Give mee fome hclpe Cruelle Cruclle O yc Gods • ■ ■. ^ ■ -> .

Reg Oune fyde wille mocke anotherre come

totherre tooe • • ■'•'• '.. • .*' •.•':'•. i '•: i A

Ser Holde hymme noc neverre Mye Lorde I ha fervd you fynce I was a Chyldc Butte betterre Service I ha neverre done Thenne nowe to loofe mye houlde

Reg Dydjft thou butte weare a Bearde uponne thye Chynne Ide pkicke itte offe as I dydde thys fame Lordes Fellowe thye Sworde a peafante ftande uppe thufle Ser Oh I amme llayne yette have you oune Eye lefte 2080

Toe fee thys dede onne thye faythefulle Servante

Corn Leafte itte fhoud fee more He prevente itte Oute vyle jcllye wheres thye luflerre nowe

Glos Alls darke ande comfortelelTe wheres mye Sonne Edmunde O where ere thou arte kyndle all fparkes offe nature Ande quitte fuche Sceanes fuch crynge Ades Reg Oute Villayne thou callil onne hymme thatte hates thee Twas hee thatte tolde ufTc of thye Treafonnes Hee whos heartes too goode toe pitye thee

Glos O mye follyes thenne Edgarre was abufd 2090

Forgive mee thatte kynde Gods ande profperre hymme

102 KYNGE LEARE.

Reg Goe thrufte hymme oute atte Gates Ande, lettc hymme- fmelle hys waye toe doverre Thys Slaye'^maye lerve toe fattenne the dunghylle

Edgarre

Edg Betterre thus ande knowne toe bee Con=

temnedde Thenne ftylle contemned ande flatteredde toe bee

worfe The lowefle ande moufte abjedle of Fortunes Slaves IlTe riche ande lives oune inne Efperawnce Welcome thenne thys lyghte Ayre whiche I em- brace Thatte wretche whome thou haile blowne untoe

thee worfle Owes noethynge toe thye Blaftes 21 00

Butte who comes here mye fatherre poorlye ledde O Worlde Worlde O Worlde Butte thatte thye llraunge Mutatyonnes make ufle

hate thee Life woudde nere yeykie toe Age

Oldc Miinne O mye goode Lorde I ha beene

youre Tenaimte Ande youre deare fatherres Thefe fourefcore Yeares Glos Gette thee avvaye goode freynde I prethee

bee gone Thye com fortes canne doe mec noe goode atte alle Butte thee theye maye feverelye hurte 2 no

RYNGE LEARE. 103

Oulde M-anne \ou cannotte fee youre waye Glos I have noe waye ande therefore neede notte Eyes O Mye Sonne Mye Edgarre were arte thou The food of thye abufedde Fatherres wrathe Myghte I butte live toe ha thee inne mye touche Thenne woud I faye I hadde Eyes agayne O Manne Howe nowe whos there Edg Ye Gods who ifl canne faye thatte I amme ■ othe worfte Forre nowe I amme worfe thenne ere I was Ande thys is notte othe worfte forre w^orfe I maye be yette O Manne Tis poore madde Tomme 2 1 20

Glos Thenne is he a Beggarre Manne O Manne Aye madmanne ande Beggarre too Glos He hathe reafonneelfe coud he notte begge Suche an oiine dydde I fee I the lafte Nyghtes

ftorme Whenne mye precyoufe Starres dydde inne thys

Globe Shewe the glarynge Canopye off heavenne Thenne dydde I thynke thys forme Manne a poore

Worme Thenne too dydde I thynke o mye Sonne Edgarre Though mye mynde was thenne fcarce frtynds

w ith hymme Butte helas fynce thatte more have I hearde 21 30

ro4 KYNGE LEARE.

As Flyes are to the wantonnc Boyes are wee to the

Godds Theye nyppe byte ande teaze ulTe ande alle forre fporte Edg Thenne innedeede is mye fooles Trade notte othe worfte BlelTe thee goode Mafterre

GIos Ift the nakedde foole thatte fpeakes O Marine Aye mye goode Lorde G/os Thenne Prithee bee gone forre mye fake Thoulte oretake ulTe here a Myle orre twayne Ithe waye towarde Doverre doe itte forre ancyente love 1 140

Brynge withe the coverynge forre thys nakedde

Soule Whome lie innetreate toe leade mee O Manne Alacke Sir hes madde Glos Hes notte alone thenne Tis the tymes Plague Whenne Madmenne leade the Blynde

0 Manne He brynge hymme the befte Parelle I ha Comme ont whatte wille

Glos Syrrah nakedde fellowe Edg Porre Toms a Colde Glos I praye thenne poore Tomme come hytherre 11 50

Edg Ande yette I wille Bleffe thye fweete Eyes theye bleede

Glos Knowfte the waye towarde Doverre

KYNGE LEARE. 105

Edg Knowt aye aye Style ande Gate horfewaye ande footwaye O poore Tom hathe beene fcard ofs goode Witts

0 bleffe thee thou goode Manne fromme the foule

Feynde GIos Take thenne mye Purfe thou whome the heavennes plague Chaunce twille make thye wretchednefle happyerre Thenne bee itte thyne forre itte cannotte eafc mee Telle mee doft knowe Doverre 1160

Edg Aye mye goode Sir

GIos There is a ClifFe whofe hygh ande bend- ynge heade Lookes raggedde ande fearefulle onne the confynd

deepe Brynge to the brymme othatte felfe fame place Ande He repayre the miferye thou dofte beare Withe fomethynge rycheandeprecyoufe aboute mee Fromme thence departe thenne I fhalle noe lead- ynge neede Edg Give mee thyne Arme Poore Tom flialle leade thee

Gonerylle Bafiarde Stewarde

Gon Wellecome mye Lorde 1 1 yo

1 marvelle oure mylde hufbande meete ufle notte Sirra wheres youre Mafterre

p

io6 KYNGE LEARE.

Stew Madame withinne butte nere was Mannc

foe changd I tolde hymme othe Armye ande hee fmyld I dydde announce youre comynge hee anfwerd the

worfe Offe Glofterres treacherye ands Sonns loyalle fervicc I'henne dydde hee calle mee fotte ande toulde mee Evenne foe thenne thou hafte the wronge fyde oute Thatte hee fhoulde dyllyke beefeemes hymme the

moufje Thatte hee flioud the moufte offennefive

Gon Thenne goe noe furtherre 1180

Tis the cowifhe terrorre of hys Spiritte Backe Edmonde toe mye Brotherre Hallenne hys Mufterres ande connedu(fle hys

powerres I mufte Change Names atte home ande give the

dyftaffe Innetoe mye hufbandes handes Thys truftyc

Servante Shalle palfe twixte ufle eere longe you fhalle heare Anne you dare venneture inne youre owne behalfe A MystrelTes commaunde weare thys ande fpare

fpeeche Declyne youre heade Thys Kyffe ande ift durflc

fpeake 1 1 90

Would ftretche thee fpiryttes innetoe the verye Ayrc Thys conneceyve ande fare the welle

KYNGE LEARE. 107

Edm Youre evenne ithe Rankes of Deathe Gon Thys is Glofterre O the difference twixtc Menne A Womannes ferrevyces toe thee are dewe Mye foote butte ufurpes mye Bodye

Stew Tufhe Madame here commes mye Lorde

Alb O Gonerylle Thourte notte vvorthe thatte

dufce

Whiche the rude winde blowes uponne youre face

Gon Shame mylkye liverd Manne 1200

Thatte hafte a Cheeke forre Blowes ande heade forre

wronges Thatte hafte notte inne the Browes an Eye Dyferrenynge thyne honorre fromme thye fuf- ferynge Alb Looke Looke butte atte thcfelfe thou Divelle Soe horryde inne thee are deforremytyes Thatte thou hafte cleanfd ande made pure the feyndc

M.ejfen7iegerre

Ser Mye goode the Duke o Cornewalles deade Ande bye the hande ofs owne Serrevanntes Twas the puttynge oute Glofterrcs Eyes thatte caufd itte Alb Howe faye you Glofterres Eyes Mefs A Serrevannte thatte he bredde thrylld withe remorfe Oppofd agaynfl the a6le bendynge hys fworde

p 2

io8 KYNGE LEARE.

Toe hys greats Mafterre who threate enragd Flewe onne hymme ande mongft themme felld

hymme deade Butte notte withoute thatte harmefuUe Stroke Whyche fynce hathe pkickd hymme afterre

Jilb O you felfe Judges nowe you doe fynde Howe fwifte ande keenelye the Gods doe venge

themfelves Butte O poore Glollerre lofle hee hys otherre Eye Mcjs Bothe Bothe mye goode Lorde 1220

Madamme thys Letterre fromme craves youre fpeedye anfwerre Gon Owne waye thys belykes mee welle Butte beynge Widowe ande mye Gloilerre withe

herre Maye alle thys Buildynge inne mye fannecye Pkicke uponne herre hatefiille hfe Butte thys newes llylle ftyile wille I reade ande anfwerre Alb Where was hys Sonne whenne theye dydde

take hys Eyes Mefs Mye Lorde I dydde meete hymme ithe

waye backe agayne Alb Knewe hee the wickeddenefle Mefs Mye goode Lorde twas hee thatte in- formd agaynft hymme 1230

Ande dydde onne purpofe quitte the houfe Thatte theyre punyfhmente myghte ha freerre Courfe

KYNGE LEARE. 109

Alb Gloiterre I live Toe thanke forre thatte

Love Whiche thou ffiowdfl the Kynge and toe revenge

thyne Eyes Comme hytherre Freynde ande telle me whatte

more thou knowefte

Corredelya Gentlemanne and Souldyerres

Cor Alacke Alacke tis he Ande madde as the vexte Sea eene no we was he

mette Syngynge alowde ande crovvnedde withe ranke

femytarre 1 240

Withe harde oakes hemlocke Nettles Cuckoo

Flowerres Withe Lillyes Darnelles ande alle idle weedes

thatte growe Sende ftrayghte a Centerye fearche eache Acre Inne the hygh grovvne Feylde ande brynge hymme

toe uffe Hee whofe wifdomme wille helpe inne foftorynge Hys poore bereavedde fenle take alle mye out-

warde worthe Ge?it Meanes there are Madamme the foflerre

Nurfe o nature IfTe thatte whiche youre deare fatherre lackes repofe

no KYNGE LEARE.

Toe provoke the whiche there are manye Sjmples Whofe powerre canne clofe the Eye of an-

guifhe 1250

Cor O you blefte fecrettes O alle you unpub-

lyfhd Vertewes Thatte fromme Motherre doe take theyre ryfe Sprynge withe thefe Teares bee aydaunte ande

remedyate Inne the Goodmannes defyres O feeke feeke forre

hymme Leafle hys unngovernd rage dyiTolve thatte hfe Whyche wantes the meanes toe leade itte

MeJJenegerre

Newes Madamme the Brytyfh Powerres Are marchynge hytherrewarde

Cor Twas knowne before oure Preperatyonne

ftaundes InneExpedatyonne othemme o dere Fatherre 1260 Tis forre thee forre thye bufyneffe thatt I goe

aboute Therefore greate Fraunce mye mournynge ande

importund Teares Hathe pittyedde Noe blowne ambytyonne Noe thyrfte of Conquefte dothe oure Armyes

innevyte

KYNGE LEARE. iir

Butte love deare gentle love ande anne agd Fa-

therres ryte O maye I foone heare ande fee hymme

Reganne Stewards

Reg Butte are mye brotherres Powerres fettc

forthe S Yea Madamme Reg Ande hymfelfe inne Perfonne Slew YelTe Madamme butte withe muche adoe 1 270

Youre Syflerre is farre the betterre Souldyerre Reg Lorde Edmunde fpake notte v^^ithe hymme

atte home Slew Noe Mndamme Reg Whatte dydde importe mye Syllerres Let-

terres toe hymme Stew Thatte I knowe notte Ladye Reg Hee is poiledde hence onne feryoufe Matterre Twas greate Ignoraunce thatte Glofterre dydde live Hys Eyes beynge oute Forre whereere hee arrives Hee dothe move alle heartes agaynfte ufTe Edmunde inne Pittye ofFe hys myferye 1280

Is gone methynkes toe dyfpatch hys nyghtedde

life Ande toe dyscrye the ftrengthe othe Enemye

112 KYNGE LEARE.

Stew I mufle thenne afterre hymme withe thys

niye Letterre Reg Oure Troopes fette fourthe toe morrowe The wayes are dangeroufe twere befte you ftaye with ulTe Stew I cannotte naye I maye notte Madamme Mye Ladye dydde charge mye dutye inne thys bufynelTe Reg Wherefore flioud ilie write toe Edmunde Myghte you notte tranfporte herre Purpofes bye

Worde I love thee muche me lette mee unnefeale the Letterre 1290

Stew Madamme I hadde ratherre Reg I amme fure naye I doe knowe Youre Ladye lykes notte herre hufbande She gave ftraunge Elyadls ande ftrykynge lookes Toe noble Edmunde onne herre lalte beynge heere I knowe you toe bee of herre Bofomme Stew Aye Madamme

Reg Thenne I doe advife you take backe thys Note Mye Lorde beynge deade Edmunde ande I ha

talkd Ande bee dothe fynde mye hande more con- venyente 1300

Whenne youre MyftrefTe flialle have hearde thufle muche

KYNGE LEARE. 113

Defyre herre thatte fhe doe calle herre wifdomme

toe herre See Farewellc llioud you chaunce heare othe blynde

Traytorre

Preferremente falles onne hymme thatte cuttes hymme ofFe

Stew Woud / coud meete hymme

Thenne woud I Ihowe the Partye I doe follovvc

Glojlerre ande Edgarre

G/os, Whenne fhalle I comme toe thatte fame

^ hylle Edg You doe clymbe itte nowe looke howe wee

labourre G/os Methynkes thee founde bee evenne Edg Horryble fleape harke dofle notte heare the Sea 1310

G/os Noe trewelye

Edg Youre otherre Senneres thenne doe growe imperrefed;e The anguilhe o youre Eyes benumbes themme G/os Itte maye bee foe innedeede forre nowe methynkes Thye Voyce is alterd and thou fpeakil betterre

phrafc Thye matterre too is more connefyflente

114 KYNGE LEARE.

Edg Thou arte deceyvedde naughtc iflc there

changd inne mee Save thefe mye Garrementes

GIos Naye naye butte thou arte betterre

fpokenne Edg Comme onne Sir heres the place nowe

ftande fly lie 1320

Howe fearefuUe tis toe cafte ones Eyes foe lowe The Crowes ande Choughes thatte winge the Mid-

v/aye Ay re She we fcarce foe groofe as beetles Halfe waye downe hanges owne thatte gatherres

Samphyre O dreadefuUe Trade methynkes hes noe byggerrc

thans heade The fyslherremenne thatte walke uponne the

beache Are butte as Myce ande yonne talle anchoryngc

Barke Dymynfhd toe a Cocke herre Cocke a Buoye AUeniofte too fmalle forre fy ghte the murmur-

ynge furge Thatteonne thunnumberedde idle Peble chafes^ 3 30 Cannot te bee hearde thuffe hygh He looke noe

more Lcafte mye Brayne turne and the defycyente Syghtc Topple downe headelonge

Glos Sette mee thcnne ene where thou llaiindfl

KYNGE LEARE. 115

Edm Give mee youre hande ande nowe houldc a lyttle Forre you are witheinne oune foote othe extreme

Verge Forre alle beneathe the Moone Ide notte leapc upryghte Glos Thenne here freynde is anotherre Purfe Ande int a Jewelle welle worthc a Foore Mans

takynge Lette goe mye hande Maye Faryes ande the Godds 1340

Profperre itte with thee. Goe thou fartherre offe Bydde mee farevvelle forre I doe wayte thye goynge Edg Thenne fare you welle goode Sir Glos Thankes fare welle with alle mye hearte Edg Whye fhoud I thus tryfle withe hys dyf-

payre Glos Nowe O you myghtye Gods thys worlde I renownce Ande inne youre Syghtes (hake patyentelye Thys mye greate afflydyonne offe Coud I butte beare itte longerre ande notte quarrellc Withe youre myghtye and oppofelefie willes 1350 Whye thenne mye Snuffe ande loathedde parte o

nature fhoud burne ittefelfe cute iffe Edgarre live thenne

blclfe hymme Nowe thenne goode fellowe fare thee welle

ii6 KYNGE LEARE.

Edg Whatte gone Sir thenne farev elle Hadde hee beene where hee thoughte thenne haddc

hee becne robd O Mannes greate treafure hfe bye thys alle hadde

beene parte Hoa there Sir Speake Sir doe you heare yette hee

revives Whatte are you Sir

Glos Awaye Awaye I prithee ande lette mee dye Edg Hadil beene aughte butte Gozemere Fea-

therres Ayre 1360

Soe manye fahomme downe precypytatynge Thoudft fhiverde lyke the bryttle fubftawnce of

anne Egge Butte thou dorte breathe bleedfte notte hafle noe

fubllaunce Canft bee founde Tenne Maftes make notee thys

Altytude Thatte thou hafte perrepennedycularelye felle O thye Ufes a Myracle Ipeake fpeake agayne arte

founde Glo Butte ifl foe have I fallenne or naye Edg Aye fromme thys CLffe thys wonderre o

Nature Whofe Chalkye fydes o;arde thys oure facredde Ifle Gaynllc the rude Sea thatce dothe inne Cholerre 1 3 70 Rage foame ande fpende ittelelfe tyllc itte comme

toe nothynge

KYNGE LEARE.

117

Yea fromme whofe dreade fummyte the ihryllc

o:or2:d Larke Canne norre bee feene norre hearde doe biittc looke uppe Glos Alacke kynde Sir mocke mee notte I ha noe Eyes IfTe wretcheddenefle thenne deprivd o thatte

benyfytte Naye the comforte offe endynge ittefelfe bye deathc Edg Give mee youre Anne uppe howe ift feelil

thou the Leggs Glos too welle too welle

Edg Thys dothe evenne cute doe flraungenelle

ittefelfe

Whatte thynge wafle dydde leave thee onne thys

fummyte 1380

Glos Oune poore ande unneforretunate Baggarre

Edg As I dydde ftaunde heare belowe

Hys Eyes were twoe fulle moones withe a thou-

fande nofes Homes tooe thatte wealkd ande wavd as the

ragynge Sea Therefore bee happye goode fatherre tvvas fomc

feynde Sente bye the Gods too cleare the who make

themme honorrs OfFe mennes impolTybylytyes tis theye have pre- fer vd thee

ii8 KYNGE LEARE.

Glos Yea nowe I dee rememberre I nowe wille beare afflydyonne tylle ittefelfc doc

cr}-e Enough Enough thenne dye The thynge thou fpeakft offe ^390

I dydde take forre manne butte twoude oftymes cryc The feynde The feynde

Edg Beare free ande bee patyente who comes here The faferre fenfe wille notte accomodate Its Mallerre thufTe

Leare

Leare Touche mee notte forre cryinge I ammc

the Kynge Edg O fydc percynge fyghte Leare Nature dothe oute doe Arte I thatte refpedle Thers youre prefTe Moneye thou handlft thee Bowe Lyke Crowe Keeperre drawe a Cloathyerres Yarde 1 400

A Moufe a Moufe Looke looke foftlelye foftelye Heere heere thys peece o toafledde Cheefe wille dot Theres mye Gauntelette He prove itte onne a

gyawnte O Welle flowne Byrde the calle the calle hewgh hewgh Edg O fweete O goode Kynge evenne {ot thenne withe thee

KYNGE LEARE. 119

Leare PalTe PalFe coudft notte fee the Moufe

O Foole Glos I ftioud knowe thatte Voyce heare Ha Gonerylle whatte flatterre thys white

Bearde Ande whenne thee poore dogge dydde fawne ande

lycke thee Dydft beate hymme oute a doere buflle buflle hygh

heavenne i 41O

Thenne faye aye toe mye Aye Noe to mye noe Whenne Rayne dydde wette and Winde made mee

chatterre Whenne woud notte peace atte mye byddynge Twas thenne I fmelte umme thenne I foundc

iimme oute Goe toe they re notte Menne o they re Wordes Theye tolde mee I was alle I was everye thynge Theye lye Theye I amme notte ague proofe

Glos The trycke o thatte Voyce I doe rememberre Ift notte the Kynges

Leare Aye Boye ande everye Inche a Kynge 1420 Whenne I doe flare fee howe mye Subjede quakes Whatte w^as hys caufe I pardonne thatte mans hfe Naughte fave Adulleterye thou flialte notte dye Noe noe the Wrenne goes toote ande the fmalle

gyldedde flye Dos Letcherre onne mye Syghte Lette Copula*

tyonne thrive

120 KYNGE LEARE.

Forrc was notte Glofterres Baftarde Kynderre tos

lathe rre Thanae mye twoe Serrepentes gotte twixte law-

fulle Sheets Thenne tot pelle Melle forre I doe lacke Soul-

dyerres Looke atte yonne Ladye thatte dos fhake atte

Pleafures Name Noe neytherre Fytchewe noe nofre fpoyledde horfe 1430

Goes toot withe moiire ryatoufe Appetyte Downe toe wafte alle Cennetaures butte Womenne

above O fye fye give mee owne ounce o fweete Cy vette Ande mye Apothecarye thers Moneye forre thee Gios O Lette mee KylTe thye hande Leare Fyrfte He wipe itte forre itte fmelles o

Mortalytye Glos O thou ruinedde peyce o Nature O thatte thys greate worlde Ihalle foe weare cute

toe naughte Dofl thou notte knowe mee

Leare I doe rememberre thyne Eyes whye dofl

foe fquinye atte mee

Noe doe the worfle blynde Cupydde I le notte

love 1 440

Reade thys Challenge marke butte the pennynge

ofFe itte

KYNGE LEARE. 121

Glos Were arebutte I cannotte fee Edg Ide iiotte take thys fromme Reporte butte itte is And myne hearte breakes atte itte Leare Reade Reade Glos Whatte withe thefe cafes o Eyes Leare Hoa Hoa you are there noe Eyes I youre heade Norre noe Moneye inne Purfe Youre Eyes thenne are inne heavye Cafe youre Purfe lyghte 145O

Butte thou feeft howe goes thys worlde Glos Yea ande Moufte feelyngelye Leare Thenne arte Madde Oune maye fee howe the Worlde waggs Openne wide thyne Eares thenne thoulte fee enoughe See yond Juftyce rayle agaynft yond fymple theffe Change Places ande no we whiche is juftyce whiche

theefe Thou hafle feene farmerres dogge barke atte Beggarre Glos Evenne foe Sir

Leare Ande thatte felfe fame Beggarre runne

fromme the Curre

There thenne dofle beholde the Image ofFe

Authorytye 1 460

Forre Dogges whenne inne OfFyce myte bee obfervd

Thou Rafcalle Beadle houlde the bloodye hande

R

122 KYNGE LEARE.

Wherefore lafhe foethatte ftryppethyne owne backe Thoult ftrayghte toe herre ande the cryme

commytte Forre the vvhiche thou nowe dofte whyppe herre Through tatteredde Cloathes greate Vices doe

appeare Butte gilte Robes ande furrd Gownes doe hyde alle Withe Goulde thou mayfl: breake the ftronge Cane

o Jurtyce Butte armd inne Ragges a Pygmyes Strawe does

peyrce itte None doe offende noe nonne I le able emme 1470 Goe thou mye freynde ande Scale the accuferres

Lyppes Goe ande withe GlalTe Eyes lyke fcurvye Poly-

tycyanne Seeme toe fee thofe thynges thou dofte notte fee Nowe Nowe pulle offe thefe Bootes harderre

harderre Edg O Matterre ande Reafonne withe madnefle

myxte Leare Naye an thoulte weepe mye forretunes

thenne take mye Eyes I knowe thee welle enoughe thye names Glofterre Thou mufte bee patyente wee came cryinge

hytherre Evenne the fy rfte tyme wee fmelle othe Ayre Wee mewld ande cryd He preache toe thee

Marke 1480

KYNGE LEARE. 123

Glos Alacke Alacke the daye Leare Whenne wee are borne we crye wee are comme Toe thys fayde Stage toe thys fayde Shyppe o fooles O twere delycate Stratagemme toe fhoo A Troope o horfe inne Felte He putte itte inne

proofe Ande whenne I ha flolenne oune thefe Sonne in

Lawes Thenne Kylle Kylle Kylle

Owne Gennetellemanne

Gent Oh here he is laye hande uponne hymme Sir O Sir youre moufte deare Daughterre

Leare Whatte a Pryfonnerre I amme eene

Forretunes foole 1490

Butte ufe mee welle ande ye fhalle ha rannefomme

Naye give mee oune Surgeonne forre Ime cutte

tthe Braynes

Gent Naye goode Sir you fhalle ha anye thynge

Noe Secondes alle myefelfe thys woud make a

Manne Aye aye a manne o Sake toe ufe hys eyes Forre Gardenne warterre Potts He dye bravelye Nowe He bee royalle Comme Comme Ime a Kynge Knowe you thatte Knowe you thatte mye goode Mallerres

R 3

124 KYNGE LEARE.

Gent Aye ande a Royalle owne ande wee obeye

you he are No we thenne theres life int Comme ande ye Ihalle gette itte bye runnynge Sa Sa fa Gent Tliys fyghte were pyteoufe inne the meafneile Wretche Butte tis parte fpeekyngc offe inne a Kynge Butte thou hafte oune daughterre thatte redeemes

alle nature Fromme thatte generalle Curfe Whyche twayne ha broughte Edg Hayle gentle Sir forre foe youre Speeche

byddes mce calle you Gent Sir fpeede you vvhats youre wille Edg Do: you heare oughte of a Battelle towarde Gent Moulle fure eache owne heares thatte

canne dyflynguifli Sounde Edg Butte bye youre favourre ho we neares thotherre Armye 15 lO

Gent Ncere ande onne fpeedye foote The inayne defcrye flaundes inne hourelye thoughte Edg Thankes kynde Sir thats alle Gent Though oure Qucene onne fpecyalle Caufe bee here Herre Armye is movd onne Edg I thanke you Sir Glos O you merrecy f ulle ande everre Gentle Gods

KYNGE LEARE. 125

Take mye breathe fromme mee leafte mye wor-

ferre Spiritte Tempte me agayne toe dye before you pleafe Edg Welle praye you fatherre 25 20

Gios Nowegoode Sir whatte are you Edg Oune moufte poore Manne made tame bye forretunes blovves Who bye arte o knowinge ande feelynge Sorrowes Amm pregnawnte toe goode Pittye Give mee yourc

hande Ande lette mee leade you toe fome byddynge Glos Heartye Thankes heavennes bountye ande Benyzonne Toe boote ande Toe bootc

Stewards

Stew Owne moufte happye ande proclaymeddc Prvze Thatte Eyelefie heade o thyne was framd toe rayfe

mye forretunes Thou oulde ande hardnedde Traytorre breefelyc

thyefelfe furrennederre The fworde is oute thatte mufte deftroye thee 2530 Glos Thenne lette thye freyndelye hande putte

ftrengthe enough toot Stew Wherefore boulde Pefante darft thou fupporte

t26 KYNGE LEARE.

Hence leafte the innefedyonne offe hys Forretunes Take holde onne lette goe hys Arme I faye

Edg Ize notte lette goe Zir vvithoute vurtherre

cayfyonne Stew Vile flave lette goe orre thou dyefte Edg Gange youre Gayte goode Gennetlemanne ande lette poore Volke pafle I bee notte yette zwaggeredde oute a mye life Forre thatte woulde take thee zoe longe as a Vortenyghte . 2540

Naye comme notte neere thoulde Manne keepe

oute ofs waye Orre lis trye anne youre Coflarde orre mye Ballowc bee the harderre Stew Oute thou vile dunghylle Edg He fy eke youre teethe Sir noe matterre vor

youre foynes Stew Slave I amme Slayne O Villayne take my Purfe Iffe thoult thrive burye mee ande give the Letterres Whiche thou fyndft aboute toe Edmunde O Glof-

terre Seeke hymme ithe Englyflie partye o unnctymelye deathe Edg I knowe thee welle oune ferrevyceable Villayne AfTe duteoufe toe the Vices o youre MyflrelTe 2550 Aire baddeneiTe coud defy re

KYNGE LEARE. 127

Glos Whatte is hee deade

Edg Goode fatherre fytte ye downe ande refte

ye awhile Thefe Letterres hee fpeakes offe maye bee mye

freyndes He fearche thefe Pockettes hees deade Ime onlye

forrye Hee hadde none otherre deathes manne lets fee Leave gentle waxetoe knoweoure Enemyes myndes Wee ryppe theyre heartes theyre paperres are more

lawefulle

Reades Leitene

Lette oure recyprocalle Vowes bee remmeberedde

You maye

withe eafe dyfpatche hymme anne youre wille

wante 2 5 60

notte tyme ande place is yours Anne hee bee

Conquerorre naughte canne bee done ande Ime the Pry-

fonerre hys Bedde mye Goale fromme whofe loathedde warmthe

delvverre mee ande fupplye the Place forre youre labourre

Youre anne foe I woude faye Gonerylle

ia8 KYNGE LEARE.

Oh vafte ande dyre fpace O Womannes blackc

Wille ThufTe toe plotte onne Verretuoufe hufbandes life Ande forre Exchange mye owne noe lelTe qualy-

tyedde Brotherre Here He rake uppe the Murtheroufe Lettcherres

Pofte Ande inne tyme withe thys unnegracyoufe Pa-

perre 2570

Stryke the Syghte o thys fayde deathe pradiyfed

Duke Ande tis welle forre hymme thatte o thye deathe

I canne telle

Glos The Kynge is madde ho we flifFe is mye

vile fenfe Thatte itte flande uppe ande ha innegenuoufe

feelynge Betterre I were dyftrade foe fhoud mye thoughtes Bee feverd fromme mye Greefes ande loofe mye

woes Bye wronge Imagynatyonnes o themme

Edg Give mee youre farre offe I heare the beatc

o Drumme Comme fatherre He beflowe you withe a

freynde 2580

KYNGE LEARE. 129

Corredclya Kente Gennetelkmanne

Cor O thou goode Kente howe fhalle I live ande worke Thatte I maye matche the goodnefTe mye lifes too

fhorte Ande evcrye meafure wille fayle mee

Kente Thulle toe bee acknowledgedde is to bee thryce oere payde Alle mye Reporrts are modefte truthe notte clypte butte foe Cor Bee betterre fuitedde thefe Weedes are Memoryes O worferre houres I prithee putte themme offe Kente Pardonne Madamme toe bee knowne fliorretennes myne intente Mye boone I make itte thatte you knowe mee notte Tylle tyme ande I thynke meete 25 90

Cor Thenne beet foe goode Lorde howe dos the

Kynge Gent Madamme fleepes flylle Cor O you Gods cure thys greate breach ins abufedde Nature The untund ande jarrynge Sennefes O winde uppe O thys mye deare mye Chylde changedde fatherre Gent Wilte pleafe youre Majeftye wee wake the Kynge

301 KYNGE LEARE.

Cor Bee youre knowledge ande Ikylle youre Goverrenorres Telle mee is he arrayedde

Leare withe Serrevauntes

Gent I the heavy nefle o fleepe wee dydde at tyre

hymme Bee you bye goode madamme whenne wee doc

wake hymme Forre yette I doe muche doubte hys temmepe-

raunce 2600

Cor O mye deere fatherre lette reflauratyonne

hange Hcrre medycyne onne thefe lyppes ande maye thys

Kyffe Repayre thofe harmes mye Syflerres have inne thyc

Reveraunce made Kente O Kynde o deare Pryncefle Cor Hadde you notte beene theyre Fatherre

thefe white flakes Dyddc challenge theyre Pyttye Was thys a Face Toe bee oppofd agaynfte the jarrynge Windes A Dogge though hee hadde bytte mee flioud nerc

a iloode Thatte fame Nyghte ande dydfle thou mye deere

fatherre 2610

Ande toe hovelle too withe Swine ande. Rogues

forlorne

KYNGE LEARE. 131

Couchd too inne fliorte ande muftye ftrawe Alacke

Alacke Tis wonderre thye life ande wittes hadde notte atte

ounce Concludedde alle hee wakes howe fpeake toe hymme Get2t Madamme doe you forre tis fyttefte Cor Howe does mye Royalle Lorde howe fai'es

youre Majeftye

Leare Doe notte thatte wronge toe take mee

oute othe Grave

Thou arte a Soule inne blyfTe butte I amme bounde

Fyxt onne a Weele o fyre thatte myne owne teares

Doe fadlye fcalde aye aye enne lyke moltenne Leade

Cor Doe you knowe mee Sir 2620

Leare You are a Spiritte I knowe where dydde

you dye Cor Sty lie Stylle farre wyde Gent Hes fcarfe awake leave hymme quiettc

awhile

Leare Where ift I ha beene where amm I fayrc

daye lyghte

I amme fadlye abufd I Ihoud eene dye withe Pyttye

Toe fee anotherre foe I knowe notte whatte toe f lye

I wllle notte fweare thefe bee mye handes lette

mee fee Dothe thys Pynne prycke woud I were affurd o mye Eflate

s 2

132 KYNGE LEAPvE.

Cor O looke onne mee Sir ande houlde yourc

hande Inne benydydyonne oere mee you mufte notte

Kneele 2630

Lcare y doe notte mocke mee Forre 1 amme a verye Foolyflie oulde manne Forefcore ande upvvarde notte oune houre more or

leffe Ande toe bee playne I feare I amme notte inne

perfede mynde Methynkes I flioud knowe you ande tbatte manne Yette amme 1 doubtefulle Forre I amme maynelye

ignoraunte Whatte place thys is ande allc the poore (kylie I have Dothe notte rememberre thele Garrementes norre

doe I knowe Where I dydde fleepe lafle nyghte O doe laugh

atte mee ^

Forre anne I bee a Manne I doe bethynke 2640

Thys fweete Ladye toe bee mye Chylde Corredelya

Cor I amme I amme O tis ihe youre daughterre

Leare Bee thefe teares wette I praye praye you

weepe notte Anne thou hafte poyfonne forre mee I wille drynke

itte I knowe you doe notte love mee forre youre

Syfterres Have as I doe rememberre done mee wronge

KYNGE LEARE. 133

Thou hadft goode caufe forre hate butte theye hadde none Cor O breake notte thee poore daughterres hearte Caufe Caufe o noe noe I ha none I ha none 2650 Leare Whatte amme I thenne inne Fraunce Ke/ite Inne you re owne Kyngdomme Sir Leare O doe notte abufe mee Gent Ka Commeforte madamme hys Rage you fees kylld Defyre hee goe inne ande trouble hymme noe fur- therre Cor Wilte pleafe youre hyghnefle walke Leare Bearc mee thenne O praye you forregettc ande forregive I amme oulde ande foolyflie youre blefTynge I prayc

Edfjiunde 'Regannc Ge?itkmanne Soukdyerres

Edm Alke othe Duke ifs purpofe ftylle- houlde Orre iffe oure Advyces willes hymme toe change hys Courfe 2660

Thenne brynge hytherre hys pleafure

Reg Oure Syflerres manne mufte fure ha myf-

carryedde d Tis toe bee doubtedde Madamme g Nowe fweete Lorde you knowe the goode- nelTe I innetende you Saye thenne moufte truelye doe notte you love myc fyfterre

134 KYNGE LEARE.

Inne honourd Love naughte more

Butte hafte nere founde waye toe the forefennededde

place Noe bye mye honourre I llialle nere ennedure herre fondle herre notte I

praye Feare mee notte 2670

Albanye Gonerylle Souldyerres

elle bee mette oure verye lovynge Syflerre he Kynge is vvihe hys daughterre ande otherres too home the rygourre ofFe oure State forcd toe crye oute Reg Whye is thys reafonnd Gon Combyne ulTe toegetherre gaynfte the Enemye Forre thefe domeftyce broyles are notte the Quef- tyonne here . Alb Lets detyrmyne thenne onne whatte pro-

cedynge Reg Syfterre youle goe withe ufle Gon Noe

Reg Soe tis convenyente praye goe withe ufle 2680 Gon Ho ho I knowe the Ryddelle He goe He goe

Edgarre

Ed Anne youre grace canne fpeake withe ounc foe poore heare mee

KYNGE LEARE. 135

Aib Speake thenne

Edg Before the battayle bee foughte ope thys Letterre IfFe you ha Vidiorye thenne lette the tnimpette

founde Forre though I feeme poore I canne produce A Champyonne thatte wille vouche thatte vvhiche

is there Anne you myfcarrye foe dothe youre bufyneiTe ende lb Staye tylle I ha reade the Letterre g Twas forrebydde butte tyme fervynge lette the heralde crye 2690

Thenne lie appeare agayne Fare thee welle I wille oerelooke thee Paperre

Edmunde

The Enemyes inne Viewe drawe uppe youre Powerres e is the gueile o theyre ftrengthe ande forces e dylygente forre youre hafte is urgedde onne you Aib Thenne wee wille greete the tyme Edm Toe bothe thefe Syfterres have I fwornc mye Love Eache jealoufe othe otherre as thofe ftunge of

Adderre Whiche thenne fhalle I take bothe ounc orre neytherre

136 KYNGE LEARE.

Neytherre canne bee enjoyd whilfle bothe doe

live " 2700

Anne I doe take the Widdowe Gonerylle is madde Ande hardelye Ihalle I carrye oute mye fyde Herre hufbande bevnge alive Novve thenne v/ele ufe Hys Countenaiince forre the Battayle thatte done Lette herre thatte woud bee ryddedevile hys fpcedye

takynge offe Afle forre the mercye he innetendes Leare ande

Corredelya The Battayle done ande Theye withinne our

Powerre Shalle neverre fee hys pardonne Forre mye ftate Standes withe mee toe defende ande notte debate

Edgarre ande Glojierre

Edg Heere Fatherre take the Shadowe o thys

Tree 2710

Forre youre goode hoafle praye thatte the ryghte

maye thrive Ande Iff I retturne agayne He brynge you comforte Glos Grace goe withe you moufte Kynde ande gentle Sir

A

KYNGE LEARE. 137

Edgarre

Edg Awaye avvaye oulde Mannegive mee thye

hande Kynge Leare hathe lofte hee ands daughterre are

taene Glos Thenne noe fuitherre Sir forre owne maye

rotte eene here Edg Whatte inne ille thoughtes agaync Menne

mufte ennedure Theyre goynge hence ande comynge hytherre come

onne Glos Trewe Trewe indeede thou fayfle welle

Edmunde heare Cordelya Captayne ande Sould-

yerres 3720

Edm Some OfFycerres withe fpeede take them me

hence Untylle thofe thatte are greaterre pronounce theyre

wille Cor Wee are notte othe fyrfte thatte have in-

currd worfle Withe befte meanynge Butte tis forre thee oppref-

fedde Kynge I amme elfe forre myefelfe I vvoud outc frowne Falfe Forretunes frowne llialle wee notte fee thefe

Syfterres

138 KYNGE LEARE.

Leare Nowe nowe letts tde Pryfonne there wee

towe wille fynge Lyke Byrdes ithe Cage whenne thou dofte afke

mee bleflynge He kneele downe ande afke o thee forregiveneflfe Soe wele live ande praye ande fynge ande telle oulde

tales 2730

Ande laugh atte guildedde butterreflyes ande heere

poore Rogues Talke o Courte Newes ande wele talke withe

themme too Who loofes ande who winnes whofe inne ande

whos oute Ande take uponne Us the myfterye o thynges Afle ifFe wee were Gods fpyes ande wele weare outc Inne oure walld Pryfonne Packes ande feckes o

greate ounes

Thatte ebbe ande flowe bye lyghtc othe pale facd

Moone

Edfn Take themme awaye

Leare Uponne fuche facryfyces mye Corredelya

The Goddes themmefelves thro we innccenfe 2740

Ha have I thenne caughte thee bee thatte parts ufle

Shalle brynge a Brande fromme heavenne ande fire

uffe hence Evenne lyke Sampfonnes Foxes o wipe thyne Eyes The goode Yeares Ihalte devore themme fleilie

ande felle

KYNGE LEARE. 139

Eere theye fhalle make ulTe weepe weele fee em

ftarvd fyrfte Edm Cemme hytherre Captayne hearke take

thou thys Note Followe themme toe Pryfonne oune Steppe Ive

advauncd thee Ande iffe thou dofte as thys innefl:rud:es thou makft

thee waye Toe noblerre Fortune knowe thou thys Menne are

as the tyme is Ande toe bee tenderre myndedde becomes notte a

Sworde '2750

Thenne faye thoult dot orre thrive bye otherre

meanes Cap Mye Lorde He dot Bas Aboute itte ande write theefelfe happye

whenne tis done Marde I faye inneftauntelye as I ha fette itte downe

Albanye Goncrylle Reganne

Alb Sir you have fhowne thys daye youre Va-

lyaunte flirayne

Ande Forrctune ledde you welle you ha the Captives

Ande I doe require themme ofFe you toe ufe themme

As theyre Meryttes ande oure fafetyc maye bcfle

detcrremyne

T 2

I40 KYNGE LEARE.

Ed?n Sir I thoughte itte fyttenne toe fende the oulde Kynge Toe clofe retennetyonne Whofe Age has Charmes

[2760

Ande Tytle more to plucke the commonne bo-

fomme ons fyde Ande turne oure imprefte Launeffes inne oure Eyes Whiche doe commande themme withe hymme I

fente the Queene Thatte toe Morrowe theye maye bee betterre able Toe appeare where you Ihalle houlde youre Sef-

fyonne Alb Sir I doe houlde you butte as Subjedle o

thys Warre Ande notte a Brotherre

Reg Thatte methynkes is as wee doe lyfte toe

grace hymme Wee myghte ha beene demandedde eere thoudfl:

fpoke thufle farre Hee ledde oure Powerres bore the Commyfyonne

[2770 Bothe of myne owne place ande perfonne The whiche maye welle flaunde uppe toe calle

hymfelfe oure Brotherre Go?i Notte foe hotte ins owne grace hee dothe

exalte hymfelfe More thanne inne youre addytyonne

Reg Withe mye ryghtes inneveftedde hee com- pares the befle

KYNGE LEARE. 141

Alb Thatte were the moufle an hee fhould huf-

band you Reg Jefterres doe oft prove Prophettes Gon Hola thatte Eye thatte tolde you foe lookd

a fquinte Reg Ladye Ime notte welle elfe I flioud anfvverre Edmunde take thou mye Souldyerres Patry- monye 2780

Dfpofe o themme o mee forre alle is thyne Witnefle o Worlde I doe create hymme mye Lorde ande Mafterre Gon Ande meane you toe enjoye hymme Alb The lette alone lyes notte inne youre wille mn Norre inne thyne mye Lorde lb Butte itte dothe halfe bloodyedde fellovve eg Bydde the Drumme ftryke ande mye Ty tie thyne Naye ftoppe heare Reafonne Edmunde I arrefte thee Onne Capytalle Treafonne ande inne thys thye

arrefte Thys guildeddeSerrepente forre youclayme twayne

Syfterres I beare itte ithe Inneterefte o mye Wife 2790 Tis file thats fubconnetradedde toe thys Lorde Ande I herre hufbande contradydle youre Banes Iffe youle marrye tis mye Ladys Love thats be- fpoke Gon Anne inneterrelude

142 KYNGE LEARE.

Alb Thourte armd Glofterre thereforrc lette the Trumpette founde . Ande Ihoud none appeare to prove thye heynous

Treafonnes Theres mye Pledge He makt onne the hearte ere I

tafte Breade Forre thourt inne naughte thanne whatte I have proclaymd thee Reg Sycke o Sycke 2800

Gon An tis notte He neere trufte Miedycyne Edm Thenne theres mye Exchange thatte othe Worlde he is Thatte names mee Traytorre Villayne lyke he lyes Calle bye the Trumpette hee thatte dares approache Onne hymme ande you He mayntayne mye truthe ande honoure

Herade

Alh A heralde trufte toe thye fyngle Virretewe Forre thye Souldyerres alle levyedde inne mye

Name Have alfoe inne mye name tooke theyre dyfcharge Reg Mye Syckneffe growes uponne mee Alb Shcs notte welle conveye herre toe mye Tente 28 lO

Comme hytherre heralde fpeake Trumpette the

KYNGE LEARE. 143

IfFe any Manne o Qulytye orre degree itts o thys Armye wille mayntayne iiponne Edmiin Suppofedde Earle o Glofterre thatte hee is a ma-

nyfoulde Traytorre lette hymme atte thyrde Sounde othe

Trumpette appeare ins defence

Edgarre armedde

Alb Afke hymme whye he appeares onne callc

othe Trumpette

Her Whatte are you youre Name youre Qualytye

Ande whye anfwerre you thys prefent Summonnes

Edg Knowe thenne mye name is lofle bye trea-

fonnes Fangd tooth 1820

Bare knawne ande Cankerre bytte yette amme I

noble As the Adverrefarye I amme toe cope withe Alb Whyche is thatte adverrefarye Edg Whos hee thatte fpeakes forre Edmundc

Earle o Glofterre Bas Hymfelfe whatte fayfte thou toe hymme Edg Drawe thenne anne iffe mye Spceche offende thee noble hearte Thenne lette thyne arme doe thee juftyce here is

myne Forre tis the Pryvyledge o myne honourres

144 KYNGE LEARE.

Myne Oathe ande the profefTyonne I protefte Maiigre thye Strengthe Place Youthe ande Emy-

iiaunce 2830

Defpyfynge thye Vydoryoufe Sworde Thye Valoure ande thee hearte thou arte a Traytorre Falfe toe the Gods thye Fatherre ande thee Bro-

therre Connefpyrynge gaynfte thys illuftryoufe Prynce Ande fromme the extremefte upwarde othe heade Toe thatte diifte thou dofte treade underre foote Thourte a Toade fpottedde Traytorre faye thou noe Thys Sworde thys arme ande mye befte fpyryttes

are bente Toe prove onne thee hearte thatte I faye thou lyefte Ed?)} Mye Wofdomme needes woud ha mee afke

the name 2850

Butte fynce thyne outefyde lookes foe fayre ande

warlyke Bye rule o Knyghthoode I dyfdayne ande fpurne Backe doe I tofle thefe Treafonnes toe the heade Withe the helle hatedde lye oerewhelme the hearte Whyche forre theye yette glaunce bye ande fcarfelye

bruife Thys fworde o myne flialle give themme inltaunte

waye Where theye fhalle refte forre everre

Gon Thys is pradtyfd Glofterre bye the Lawe o

Warre

KYNGE LEARE. 145

Thou wafte notte bounde toe anfwerre anne unne-

knowne oppofyte

Thourte notte vanquifhd butte cozend ande be-

guilde 2860

Alb Shutte thee mouthe dame orre withe thys

Paperre He floppe itte

Houlde Sir thou worfe thanne anye Name reade

thyne Exylle Noe noe I doe fee thou knowfle itte akeadye Go7i Anne I doe the Lawes are myne who dares

arraygne mee Alb Moufte Monftroufe knowfle thou thys

Paperre Edm Aike mee notte whatte I knowe Alb Goe afterre herre flies defperate governe herrc Bas Thatte thou hafte chargd me withe Thatte moufle trewelye I ha done Naye Naye ande muche more too 2870

Butte tyme wille biynge alle oute Tis parte ande foe amme I Butte telle mee who arte thou Thatte hafte thys Foretune onne mee Iffe thourte noble I doe forregive thee

Edg Thenne lets exchange Charytyes Forre I amme noe lelTe inne bloode Thanne arte thefelie Edmunde Iffe more thenne more thoufte wrongd mee Mye Names noe leffe thanne Edgarre 2880

u

146 KYNGE LEARE.

Thee fatherres Sonne ande thye Brotherre

The Gods are jufte ande of oure pleafaunte Vyces

Make inneflrumentes toe plague ufle

Thatte darke ande vycyoufe place

Where hee dydde begette thee

Cofte hymme naughte leffe thans Eyes

Bas Thouil:e fpokenne ryghte moufte trewe

Ande the wheele is nowe comme to us fuUe Cyrclc A/^ 1 dydde bethynke mee

Thatte thye verye gate dydde Phrophefye 2890

A Royalie Noblenefie

I mufte naye wille embrace thee

Ande mye keenefte Sorrowe fplytte mye hearte

IfFe everre 1 dydde thee orre thee fatherre Ed Worthye Prynce I knowt A/6 Where have you hydde yourefelfe Ande howe knowe the Myferyes o youre fatherre

Edg Bye nurfynge themme mye Lorde Lyfte a breyfe tale ande whenne tis toulde O thatte mye fulle hearte woude burfte 29CO

The blodye Proclamatyonne toe Efcape Thatte dydde followe mee foe neere O ourelivcsgreate fweetenelfe Thatte wee the Payne o deathe woud hourelye dye Ratherre thanne dye atte ounce Taughte mee toe fhifte intoe madmannes Ragges Toe afllime a wretched de femmeblaunce Thatte the verye Doggs woud ha dyfclaymd

KYNGE LEARE. 147

Ande inne thys habytte mctte I mye f^ithcrre

Withe hys thofe precyoufe bleedynge Rynges 2910

Theyre precyoufe Stones newe lolle

I became hys guide ande Icdde hymme

Beggd forre hymme favd hymme fromme

dyfpayre Neverre O faulte reveald myefelfe untoe hymme Unnetylle fome halfe houre pall:e whenne I was

armd Notte fure though hopynge thys goode fuccefTe I afkd hys Blellynge and fromme fyrfte toe lafte Tolde hymme off oure tedyoufe Pylgrymage Butte hys poore hearte alreadye flawd Toe weakehelas thys conndAy6le toe fupporte 2920 Twixte thee twoe extremes o PafTyonne Joye ande griefe burfle fmylyngelye

Edm Deare Brotherre thys fpeeche o youres Hathe movd mee ande flialle perrechaunce doc

goode Butte praye you fpeake onne

You looke as you hadde fomethyngc more toe faye A/& Anne there bee more thats more wofulle Thenne Prythee houlde itte inne Forre Ime allmoufte readye toe dylfolve Atte the hearynge o thys ' 2940

u 2

148 KYNGE LEARE.

Ge7itkmanne

Gent Helpe o helpe

Edg Whatte kynde o helpe

Edg Whatte meanes thys Bio dye Knife

Gent O it fmoakes itte came fromme herrc

hearte fhes deade Alb Whos deade fpeake Manne Gent Youre Ladyc ande herre Syfl:erre Bye herre is poifonedde fhe dothe confefle itte Bas Toe thefe twayne Syfterres I was conne- tradedde Ande Novve wee fhalle marrye inne oune In- flaunte 2950

Kente

Alb Produce the bodyes thys Judgemente othc heavennes Dothe make us tremble O is thys hee Butte tyme dothe notte allovve thatte whyche man- nerres urges Kente I amme toe bydde my Kynge and Maf- terre A goode Nyghte whatte is he notte here

Alb Create thynge bye ulle forgotte Speaks Edmunde Wheres the Kynge ande Corredelya dofle fee thys Objed:e Kente

KYNGE LEARE. 149

Kente Alacke Alacke ande howe thus Edm Yette was Edmunde belovedde The oune ande th otherre poyfonnd forre mye fake 2960

Ande afterre flewe herrefelfe

Alb Eene foe coverre theyre faces Ed7n I pante forre life ande yette fome goode I meane toe doe Defpyghte o myne owne vile nature qucklye fende Ande bee briefe int to the Caftle forre mye Wrytte IfTe onne the life o Leare ande Corredelya Naye tarrye notte fend fende fpeedylye

Alb Run Run Ryches are thyne anne thou dofte

fpeede thee Edg Toe whome toe whome muile hee goc Who has the OiFyce fende thee token ne o Re- prieve Edm Welle thoughtc heare take mye Sworde

give itte the Captayne Duke Hafte thee forre thee life Edm He hathe commifTyonne from.me mye Wife ande Mee Toe hang Cordelya ithe Pryfonne Ande laye the blayme atte charge of herre defpayre Duke Ye Gods de fende herre beare hymme hence

I50

KYNGE LEARE.

Leare a?ide Cordelya ins Amies

Leare Howie Howie Howie Howie O ye are

Menne of Stones Hadde I youre Tongues ande Eyes I woud ufe

themme foe 2980

Thatte heavennes hygh frettedde Valte flioud

cracke

0 fhe is gone forre everre 0000

1 knowe whennc oune is deade and whenne ounc

lives Yeffe flies deade as Earthe lende mee a lookyngc

GlafTe Ande iffe herre Breathe dothe myfte or ftayne the

Stone Whye thenne fhe lives butte noe noe tis notte foe Kente Whatte is thys the promyfd ende Leare O thys featherre ftyrres fhe lives an ift bee foe Thatte chaunce redeemes alle forrowcs I ha felte Kente Aye mye goode Mafterre Leare Prethee aw aye I faye 2990

Edgare Tis Kente youre goode oulde freynde Leare A Plague uponne you Murderers Tray- torres alle I myghte ha favd herre butte fhes gone forre everre Cordelya ftaye O flaye yette a lyttle

KYNGE LEARE. 151

Whatte ift thou fayft her Voyce was everre foftc Ande lowe fweete mufyck oere the ryplynge

Streame Qualytye rare ande cxcellcnte inne Womanne

0 Yefife bye heavennes twas I kylld the flave Thatte dydde rounde thye fofte necke the mur-

deroufe Ande damnedde Corde entwine dydde I nottc Syrrah Cap Tis moufte trewe mye Lordes he dydde 3000 Leare Ha dydde I notte fellowe I have feene the Daye Whenne withe mye goode bitynge Fauchyonne

1 woud ha made thcmme fkippe butte I am ouldc

nowe Ande thefe fame Crofles fpoyle mee who are you Myne Eyes are notte othe befte praye ftaye He telle the iiraighte Ke?ite Iffe fortune brag of two flie lovd or hatedde Oune o themme wee nowe beholde Leare Arte thou notte mye Kente Kenie The felfe fame Kente ande youre Servant everre Butte wheres youre Servant Caius

Leare Aye I knowe nowe he iffe a goodc fel- lowe 3^10 Hele flryke ande quicklye hes deade and rottenne

152 KYNGE LEARE.

Kente Noe mye goode Lorde I amme thattc

verye Manne Leare Naye butte lie fee thatte flraighte Kente Thatte have followd youre fad ande de-

cayd Life Leare Welconne goode Kente welcome hytherre Kente Butte noe Manne elfe Alls cheereleffe darke ande deadlye Youre eldefte daughterres have foredoomd them-

felves Ande defperatelye are deade Leare An I thynke foe too Duke He knowes notte whatte he fees tis vaync thatte wee Doe thulTe prefente ufTe toe hymme 3020

Cap Edmunde too is deade mye Lorde Duke Thats butte a trifle goode Lordes knowe oure Innetente Whatte com forte canne fiialle bee applyedde Ande forre ufle wee doe here refygne oure Powerre Leare Ande mye poore fool hangd noe noe thou vile life Wbye flioud horfe dog Ratte ha Life an thou

notte breathe O thenne thou wilte come noe more neverre neverre Praye you undoe thys Button Sir thanks 000 Edg He faynts mye Lorde mye -goode Lorde Leare Breathe ftubborne hearte I prethe breakc

KYNGE LEARE. 155

Edg Looke uppe mye goode Lorde 3030

Kente Vex notte hys Ghofle Praye you lette

hymme paffe

He lykes hymme notte who woiid upon the wracke

O thys Rough World ftretch hymme oute longerre

Edg O he is gone

Kente The wonderre ilTe he hath endurd foe long He butte ufurpt hys hfe

Duke Beare them me Fromme hence cure Pre- fente bufyneffe Is toe generalle woe Freynfds of myc Soule you

twayne Rule inne thys ourc Kyngdomme ande the good ftate fuftayne Kente Thanks Sir butte I goe toe thatte un- knowne Land 3040

Thatte Chaynes each Pilgrim fafte within its Soyle Bye livynge menne moufte fliunnd moufle

drcadedde Stille mye goode maflerre thys fame Journey tooke He calls mee I amme contente ande ftrayght obeye Thenne farewelle Worlde the bufye Sceane is done Kente livd moufle true Kente dyes moufle lykc a Manne Duke The Weyghte of thys fad tyme wee mufte obcye Speake thatte wee notte thatte wxe oughte toe faye

X

156 KYNGE LEARE.

The oldefte moulle have borne wee thatte arc

younge

Shalle nere beholde foe muche norre Hve foe

longe 3050

Here endethe mye Flay offe Kynge Leare

Wm Shakfpearc

1

HAMBLETTE. i

Withe thys differaunce theyre Currauntes turne aryc Ande loofe the nanrie O Adyonne Softe you nowe The fayre Ophelya Nymphe inne alle the

Oryzoones Bee mye Syn lies rememberd 1630

Op Mye goode Lorde Howe does youre honoure thys manye a daye Ham I humblye thanke thee welle welle Oph Mye Lorde I ha remembrances o yours Whyche longe I ha longed toe redeliverre Praye you nowe recey ve themme Ham No No I nere gave you aughte Oph I knov/e ryghte welle mye honourd Lorde you did Ande withe themme Wordes o fo fwete breathe

compofd As made youre Giftes moure Ryche The Perfume gone 1 640

Take thefc agayne forre toe the noble mynde Ryche Giftes waxe poore whenne Giverrss prove unkynd Ham Ka ha Saye arte honefte Oph Mye Lorde *

Ham Are you fayre

Oph Mye Goode Lorde whatte meanes youre honoure

2 HAMBLETTE.

Kynge Howe fares oure Coufynne Hamblette

Haf7i Excellente I fay the i860

O the Camelyonnes dyfhe I eate O the Ayre othe ayre promyfe crammd You cannotte feede Caponnes foe

Ky?ige Thys anfwerre Hamblette is nothyngc Thefe wordes are notte myne

Ham No norre myne nowe my Lorde You playde ounce ithe Unyverrefytye you faye

Polon Aye thatte I dydde ande was countedde a goode Adiorre

Ham Whatte dydfte enadle 1 870

Polofi I dydde enade Julyus Cefarre I was kylld ithe Capytolle Brutus kylld mee

Ha?ji Twas a Brute parte inne hymme toe Kylle foe capytalle a Calfe there

^e Comme hythcrre Hamblette ande fyttc bye mee

Hajii Noe goode Motherre heres mettelle more attractive

Pol Ho doe you marke thatte

Ham Shalle I lye i youre Lappe fwette Ladye

Oph Aye mye Lorde

Ham I meane mye heade onne youre Lappe 1880

HAMBLETTE. 3

forre I meante notte Countrye Matterres

Oph You are merrye mye Lordc

Ham Whatte I

Oph Aye you mye Lorde

Ham O God youre onlye Jygge makerre Forre whatte flioude a Manne doe butte bee merrye Forre marke ho we chearfullyemyeMotherre lookes Ande mye fatherre dyedde whithinne two houres

Oph Naye tis twice twoe Moneths mye Lorde

Ham Whatte foe longe 1870

Naye Naye thenne lette the deville weare blacke Forre I wille have a fuite o Sables O hea vermes whatte dye butte twoe Moneths agoc Ande notte forregottenne yette Thenne theres hope

indede A greate Mans memorye maye outehve hys hfe Bye halfe a yeare butte thenne by youre Ladye Hee mufte builde Churches elfe looke you Hee fhalle fufferre notte thynkynge ont Ande thenne withe Dobyne ande the hobbye horfe Hee ihalle goe goe forre hys Epytaphe i 880

Forre O forre O the hobbye horfe is forgotte

Dumbe ShcTiVe Kynge ande ^leene verye lovynglye thenne

4 HAMBLETTE.

Pol Give oere the Playe i

Kynge Quicke fome lyghte there

Alle Lyghtes Lyghtes 2020

Hdffi Whye lette the ftryckenne Deere goe weepe The hearte unnegalledcle playe ,

Forre fome mufte watche whilfte fome mufte fleepe i Soe runnes the Worlde awaye Woude notte thys ande a forefte o featherres anne the refte o mye forretunes turne Turke Withe mee withe twoe Provyncyalle Rofes onne Mye racedde Shoes gette mee a fellowefliyppe |

Sir inne a crye o playerres

hor Halfe a Share mye Lorde 2030

hmn A Whole onne I Forre thou dofte knowe O Damonne deare Thys Reygne dyfmantled was o Jove hymfelfc ; Ande reygnes heere A verye verye Peacocke

Hor Thou myghtfte ha rymd

Hajn Goode Horatio lie take the Ghoftes Worde Aye werte forre a thoufande Poundes Dydfte notte perreceyve

Hor Verye welle mye Lorde 2040

HAMBLETTE. $

Ham Uponne talke othe Poyfonynge

Hor Aye mye Lorde I dydde note hymme welle

Rofycnros ande Guildennejlarne

Ham Hoa hoa Com me fome Miifycke the Re- corderres Forre anne the Kynge lyke notte the Comedye Whye thenne perchaunce he hkes itte notte perredyc Comme fome mufycke there

Guil Goode mye Lorde voiiche mee oune Worde

Ham Anne whole hyflorye Sir

Giiil The Kynge

Ham Aye Sir whatte o hymme 2050

Guil IfTe ins retyremente marveloufe dyilemperd

Ham V/ithe drynke Sir

Guil Noe Noe Lorde ratherre withe Cholerre

Ham Youre Wifdomme fhould fhevvc itfelfe Moure Riche anne the dydfte fygnyfye thys tos Dodtorre forre mee toe putte hymme Toe hys Purgatyonne woud perrehappes plunge '

6 HAMBLETTE.

Praye you bee rounde withe hymmc

Hamblette 'withinne

Ham Motherre Motherre ^e He warrante you feare mee nottc Whithdrawe I heare hymme comynge

' Hamblette

Ham No we Motherre whats the matterre

^e Hamblette thou hafte thye fatherre muche

offended Ham Naye Motherre you have mye fatherre

muche offended §>ue Come Come you anfwerre withe anne idle

Tongue Ham Goe Goe tis you thatte queftyonne withe

anne idle Tongue 9lue Whye howe nowe Hamblette Ham Welle ande whats the matterre nowe 2300 ^e hafte thou forgotte mee Ham Noe bye Roode notte quite foe You are the Queene youre hufbandesbrotherres wife O woud'e you were notte foe you are mye Motherre §lue Naye He fette thofe toe you thatte canne

fpeake Ham Cornme comme ande fytte you downe

HAMBLETTE. 7

You fhalle notte budge naye naye you goe notte Tille I fette uppe a Glaffe where you maye fee The innermofte parte o you

^e Whatte wilte thou doe thoult notte murderrc mee helpe there hoa helpe 23 10

Pol Whatte hoa helpe helpe

Ham Howe nowe a Ratte Dead forre a ducatte deade

Pol I am flayne

^e Ah me whatte hafte thou done

Ham I knowe notte is notte the Kynge

^e O whatte a rafhe ande bloodye deede is thys

Ham A bloodye deede almofte as bad goode Motherre As kylle a kylle a Kynge ande marrye withe hys Brotherre 2320

^e As kylle a Kynge

Ham Aye Ladye twas mye Worde Thou wretchedde raflie innetrudynge foolc fare-

welle I tooke thee forre thee betterres take thye forretunc Thou fyndfte toe bee too bufye is fome dangerre Leave wringing o youre handes Peace fy tte ye

downe Ande lette mee wringe thatte hearte forre foe I

Ihalle Anne itte bee made o penetrable fluffe Iffe damnedde cuflomme ha notte brazd itte foe

AN

AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT

OF THE

SHAKSPERIAN MANUSCRIPTS, &c;

By W. H. IRELAND.

lon"bon

PRINTED FOR J. DEBRETT,

OPPOSITE BURLINGTON HOUSE, PICCADILLY,

1796.

A N

AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT

OF THE

SHAKSPERIAN MANUSCRIPTS.

An Juflice to the world, and to remove the odium under which my father labours, by publilhing the manufcripts brought forward by me as Shakfpear's^ I think it iieceffary to give a true account of the bufinefs, hoping that whatever may occur in the following pages will meet with favor and forgivenefs, when confidered as the ad of a boy,

B My

( 2 }

My education is no otherwife material to the public, than to fhew that the fchools at Kenjington, Ea/mg, Soho-fquare^ and three years fpent at Amiens^ and the College of Ku in Normandy^ were to qualify me for the law, and at the age of fixteen, I was articled to a gentleman of eminence in New-Inn,

My father having a tafte for old and curi- ous tra£ls, I imbibed a liking for the fame purfuit, and attended much more to book-

ftalls, than to Blackjione, or Coke upon JLittleton.

Frequently after dinner my father would read the different accounts of Shakfpear, and fay, it was wonderful, out of fo many thou- fand lines which he muft have wrote, that no veflige remained but his fignature to the will in the Commons, and his name affixed to the mortgage deed prefented by Mr. Wallh to Mr. Gar rick I this was often repeated, and, with enthufiaftic praifes of Shakfpear, my father would often fay, that if there ever was a man infpired, Shakfpear was that man.

Curiofity

( 3 )

Curiofity led me to look at the fignatures publifhing in Stevens'" s Shakfpear, and it oc- cured to me, that if fome old writing could be produced, and pafTed for Shakfpeafs, it might occafion a little mirth, and fhew how far credulity would go in the fcarch for anti- quities

Having one day purchafed a thin quarto tra6t of the time of Elizabeth, illuminated and bound in vellum, with her arms on the cover, 1 determined on trying an experi- ment with it, and for the purpofe wrote a letter (in imitation of the hand of that period; as from the author of the book, ma- king it the prefentation copy from himfelf to the queen.

I wrote this epiftle with common ink, weakened with water, but found its appear- ance too modern, notwithftduding I deter- mined on fhewing it ; but before I went . home from chambers, where it was contriv'd, I call'd on a book-binder in New-Inn pafTage, of the name of Laurie, and laughingly told B 1 him

(4 )

him what I had contrive dj then, producing the letter, I aik'd him his opinion ? he told me it was well done, and might deceive many.

A young man working in the ihop then faid, he could give me a compofition which would have much more the appearance of old ink ; I begg'd he would, upon which he mixM a few drops of acid with ibme other liquid (ufed in marbling the covers of books) in a vial J then writing a few words on paper, held it to the fire to fhew its effed, when the letters turn'd completely brown. Having procured this, I went back to chambers, arid re-wrote the letter, which I took home and ihewed my father, who thought it genuine. This, and the book I exchanged with him for fome other traft. It was the fir fl thing of the kind I ever attempted, but after I had wrote a great quantity of the Shakfpear manu- fcripts, I thought my firft attempt, fo badly ex- ecuted, that 1 again got it from my father, and deflroyed it, fearing a difcovery.

Soon

C 5 )

Soon after my father went into the coun- try, it being long vocation, I obtained per- miflion of the gentleman with whom I was articled, to accompany him. The laft place we vifited before our return to town, was Stratford upon Avon^ where we remained a- bout ten days ; during which time, my father made eager enquiries concerning Shakfpear^ but acquired little more kno^vledge than thofe who went before him.

We vifited Clopion Houfe^ about a mile from Stratford, the gentleman who occupied it, behaved to us with much civility. On my father faying, he wiflied to know any thing relative to our Bard? the gentleman replied, that had he been there a few weeks fooner, he could have given him a great quantity of his, and his family's letters. My father, much aftonilhed, begged to know what was become of them ? The gentleman's anfwer was, that having fome young partridges which he wish- ed to biing up, he had, for the purpofe, clear- ed out a fmall appartment wherein thefe pa- pers lay, and burnt a large balket-full of them, B 2 he

(6)

he faid they were all rotten as tinder> but to many of them, he could plainly percei\7e the lignature of WtlUam Shakfpear ; and turnhig to his wife, faid to her, '* Don't you remem- ber it my Dear? " Her anfwer waSj " Yes, perfectly well, and you know at the time, I blamed you for deftroying them.** My fa- ther exclaimed, " Good God, Sir ! you do not know what an injury the world has fuftained by the lofs of them-" He then begged per- miffion to fee the Room, which the gentle- man acquiefced in, adding, " If -there are any left Sir, you may have them, for they are but rubbifh, and litter up the place." Ac- cordingly, we proceeded into the chamber, but found no trace of any papers ; and in every other part of the houfe our fearch, proved equally ineffedlual.

Having, by the many converfations which pafled, imbibed my father's enthufiafm for Sbakjpear, that led me not only to fearch, but alfo to attempt what I fhajl after relate.

We returned to town, I attended cham- bers as ulual ; two perfons being at that time

with

(7)

with me, one foon quitted the law, and Fojier Powell, the well known Pedejirian, who was the other, fhortly after died ; I was then left alone, had it been otherwlfe, I fhould have found no opportunity of writing the papers.

My father would often lavlfh his ufual praifes on Shakfpear, and frequently add, that he would give all his curious books to become poffeffed of a (ingle line of his hand writing.

An idea having ftruck me, that I might perhaps be fortunate enough to find a figna- ture of his, that induced me tp examine a number of deeds and other papers which I met with in the courfe of my refearches : I alfo carefully looked over many ufclefs deeds at chambers, but without fuccefs.

For mere frolick and diveriion, I foon after formed the plan of attempting to imi- tate his hand, and for that purpofe copied out as nearly, as 1 could, the fac fimiles of his name to the will in the Commons, and to the mortgage deed, both of which are to B 4 be

(8 )

be found in Stevefi's Shah/pear ; I alfo took down the heads of the deed, with which I went to chambers, and wrote the leafe be- tween William Shakfpear and yohn Hem- mges, Michael Frafer and Elizabeth his wife, it is erroneous in many refpe£ls, and thofe who have feen it, may recolle£l it's inac- curacy, having ftatcd, " At the GloBe By names,^' On telling this ftory to Mr. Wal- lis, he refered to the copy of the mortgage deed before-mentioned, from which he found I had nearly worded that of Michael Frafer^ and laughingly faid, " It was furprifing how it fhould have efcaped fo many fhrewd obfer- vers." I had before me a law paper of the time of King James, from which I took the flyle of writing, and afterwards affixed the names; it was wrote with the before-mention- ed ink, which I had kept by me, but it's efFe<Sl on parchment was different from that which it had on paper, only giving an appearance of common ink weakened with water. I wrote a deed in preference to any thing elfe, think- ing it would more firmly ftamp the fignaturc as Shakfpear*s»

I took

(9)

I took It home and told my father I had fomething curious tofbewhim, on which I wifhed to have his opinion. After looking over the deed, he allured me, that he thought it genuine. I then begged his acceptance of it, upon which he offered me any of his cu- rious books, I told him, I would receive no- thing.

And here I muft aflure the world, that I had no intention whatever of attempting any thing further, my obje£l was only to give my father pleafure, that wifh accompHflied, I was fatisfied.

However, this deed was fhewn, and was generally believed by thofe who faw it j feveral perfons told me, that wherever it was found, there muft undoubtedly be all the Ma- . nufcripts of Shakfpear fo long and vainly fought for ; my father likewife faid, he was certain that I knew of many more : thus urged, partly by the world, and my own vanity, 1 determined on attempting fomething further.

Having

( 10 )

Having feen Shakfpear's father's Profejfion of Faith, I thought I would attempt to form one for the fon, and as I heard him much cenfured for the invocation to the Saints, and the fuperftitious manner in which it was com- pofed, I refolved on writing the fon*s perfect- ly fimple, wifliing thereby to prove Shakfpear a Proteftant, that having been often a matter of doubt.

I procured a blank fheet of old paper, be- ing the outfide leaf of feveral others, on which accounts had been kept, but not being then acquainted with the water marks of the time, I carefully chofe leaves which had none at all, hearing many gentlemen fay, if there were paper marks, they would go a great way to prove the manufcripts authentic ; I made enquiries, and learn'dthat thajug^ was mod: prevalent in that Day. Accordingly, in all the papers I afterwards produced, I obtained as many marked with the Jugg as I poffibly could, thofewho haveinfpeited the papers, muft remember to have feen it fre- quently occur.

I wrote

( >I )

I wrote the Profeffioti of Faith without making a draft copy, placing before me the fac fimiles I had made, and forming every letter in his name as he might have written them, the reft were from my own imagina- tion ; when compleated, I took it home, all who heard it read, admired the fimpUcy of the ftile.

I was much queftioned as to where it came from ? For fome time I gave no parti- cular anfwer, at length I found it necelTary to fay fomething, and for that purpofe framed the following ftory !

That I had, by mere chance, formed an acquaintance with a gentleman, and being one day at dinner with him, expreffing my partiality for old books, as well as the autographs of great perfonages, I faid, the gentleman appointed me to meet him, and told me I might rummage over a large quantity of old deeds and papers which had defcended to him from his father, who had pra6lifed the law, and acquired a great

fortune

( 'O

fortune ; I added, that tor fome time I ne-* gled):ed calling according to my promife, al* ledging that as he was a young man, he had only meant perhaps to laugh at me; however, one da^ being near the place, curiofity promp- ted me to call ; the gentleman, I faid, was rather angry at my remifsnefs and breach of prorijife, but having made an apology, he permitted me to go into the next room, where I faw a great quantity of papers tied up in bundles, having fearched for fome time, I at length found the deed before mentioned, which I took to the gentleman, who was much aftoniflied, but faid, fince I promifed you all you fhould find worthy your notice, I will not be worfe than my word, then defiring me to make him a copy, he gave it me.

But when 1 had wrote more papers, the world wondered how any man could be weak enough to part with fuch a treafure ; to recon- cile them to a belief of this, I added the follow- ing ftory; that in fearching among my friend's deeds, I had found one which afcertained to him fome property, long a matter of litigation

and

( 13 )

and dlfpute : upon this he promlfed me every thing I fhould find appertaining to Shak/pear^ and further, to flop all enquiries as to his name, (^c. I added, that being a man of large fortune, he did not choofe to undergo the impertinent queftionings of the world, for which reafon, he had bound me on oath, to fecrecy, and the better to ftrengthen this, I hinted, that his father perhaps might have de- tained the papers illegally in the courfe of his pradice, and Ihould his name be known, it would undoubtedly lead to a difcovery, and throw a flur on the honour of his family ; by fuch means, I for fome time flopped all en- quiries..

I fhall now fpeak of Mr. Talbofy who has been fo much talked of in the buiinefs, and explain the reafons. I had- for fome time known him, he was alfo placed with a gentleman oi New Inn ^hut\ns articles expired before I attempted thefe Manufcripts ; he came frequently to chambers, and told me he was certain the deed which I - had given my father was not original, but a pro- duction

( H)

du<5tion of my own ; I mufl: add that he well kneiy I had a facility at copynig old hand writings, having often feen me do fo before I wrote the manufcrlpts ; I firmly denied the charge, but a few days after, whilft I was bufilj employed at writing fome of the papers which I afterwards gave my father, he came in fo inftantaneoufly that he caught me in the fa6t ; no longer able to deny the charge, I bound him to fecrecy, alledglng the anger of my father fhould he know the truth ; he promifed never to betray me, nor can I fay but that he behaved all through the bufinefs with the ftri^left' honour and in- tegrity.— He foon quitted London for Dublin ; on parting, I afTured him that I would cor- refpond and relate what occurred ; this is all Mr. 'TalLofs concern in the affair ; I have already mentioned how I procured the ink ; moft of the old paper was purchafed of a bookfeller of the name of Verey, in Great Mafs Buildings^ Saint Martin's Lane, and the language I mod folemnly declare to be all my own, no perfon having furnifhed me with a fingle idea.

I wrote

(15)

I wrote the letter to Cowley^ thereby wifliing to prove Shakfpear a perfe£l good natured man ; nothing was meant by the pen and ink drawing, however, the world faid it was certainly fome witty conundrum^ as to their not being able to explain it, there is nothing furprlfing in that, for I myfelf do not know it's meaning. My reafons for writing Heminge's note and receipt I cannot at prefent recoiled. — The letter to ^7m Hatherwaye^ his wife, was to fhew his love for her, and that was alfo meant by the lines addrefled to her j as for the lock of hair, it was more a childifh frolic than any ways done to flrengthen the authenticity of the papers.

Having heard of the Lord Southampton's bounty to Shakfpear^ I determined on writing the correfpondence between them on that fubjed ; but, on enquiry, could not learn that any fignature of his Lord(liip*s was in exiftence, I accordingly formed his mode of writing, merely from myfelf, and the better

to

( .6)

to dlfguire it from Shak/pear*s, I wrote the whole with my left hand ; this was done to give more authenticity to the (lory.

I may be faulty as to the exa£l time and order in which the different things were de- livered to my father, but, having kept no account, I truft that will not go to dlfprove the truth of my prefent narration.

Amongft other gentlemen who came to

view the manufcripts were Dr. P /-, and

Dr. iV n ; I was in my father's fludy at

the time they paffed the highefl encomiums on the ftyle of the papers in general ; and I particularly well remember, after having heard read the Frofefjion of Faith, one of them ufed the following words to my father, *' Mr. Ireland, we have very fine things in *' our church fervice, and our litany abounds *' with beauties, but here is a man has dif- *' tanced us alU* I fcarce could refrain from laughter on hearing fuch praifes lavifhed on myfelf, particularly on a compoiltion not even ftudied when wrote, 1 was however

ilruck

( '7 )

ftruck with aftonifhment at having attradled the applaufe of two fuch learned men, then I firfl began to think I had any abilities.

I wrote Queen ElzabetFs letter from her fignature only, which I copied from an origi- nal in my father's poffeffion, this letter was produced to make our Bard appear noticed noticed by the greateft perfonage of his time, and thereby add, if poflible, frefli luflre to his name.

At a broker's in Butcher Row, I one day faw hanging up for fale a coloured drawing, think- hig it might fcrve my purpofe,! purchafed it, and went to chambers, where, having fome water colours, I painted in the letters W* S, and the titles of the feveral plays, Ilikewife in- ferted in the corner, the arms of Shakfpear, but was fo unacquainted with them astomakc thelpearrun the contrary way to what it re- ally (hould do; on the back of this drawing was the figure of a Dutchman, this I altered to the charader of Shy lock, by painting in the knife and fcales. What I conceive the

c defign

( i8 )

defign originally to have rcprefented was the contrafl: of a money getting old father, to a fon fquandering his property in gay ap- parel and diffipation ; the drawing is cer- tainly very old, but the writing, arms, fcalcs knife, &c. were all added by myfelf.

Many perfons having faid, that if the original manufcript of one of his printed plays fhould be found, it would prove whether he wrote all the ribaldry attributed to him ' in the firfl quarto's. — That lead me to write over in the old hand the Tragedy of King Lear, and make alterations where I thought the lines beneath him, one of thefe I (hall quote. After Lear*s death, the Duke offers Kent his fervices, which he refufes : in all the printed copies Kent repeats the following couplet fo much ridiculed,

Kent — I have a journey, Sir, fhortly to go, My mafter calls, and I muft not fay no.

In lieu of which I inferted the following lines. —

** Thanks,

( 19 )

*' Thanks, Sir, but I goto that unknown land, ** Thatchamseach pilgrim faft within It's foil, " By living men moO: (hunued raoft dreaded, " Still my good maftcr this fame journey took, " He calls me,Iamcontent,andftraightobey; *' Then farewell world, the bufy fcene is done, *' Kent lived mod true, Kent dies mod like a " man."

By fuch alterations the world fuppofed that all the ribaldry in his other plays was not written by himfelf but foiftered in by the players and printers, herein it cannot be faid I injured the reputation of Shakjpear, on the contrary, the world thought him a much more pure and even writer than before.

To prove the papers flill more genuine, I wrote the agreements between Lowin and Condell the players. I alfo produced the play houfe receipts, and other accounts, thereby to prove Shakfpear correct in matters of the mod trivial nature. — Among thefe were the receipts for playing before Lord Leicejier, the fum there mentioned was very

c 2 high

( 20 )

high for that period : By this I meant to fliew the efteem in which his company was held before all others, for I knew there were at that time feveral play houfes in London, The ftrings with which I tied the bundles were unravelled from a piece of old tapeftry, part of which 1 left in the hands of Mr. JVallh^ about the fame time I entrufted him with the fecret.

My ink now failed me, I applied a fecond time to the book binder's man, and obtained a larger vial full, the remains of which I have alfo given to Mr. Wallh : thus I con- tinued, and finding fo many join in my father's belief, I thought with Richard, —

" The work went bravely on**

At length I determined on writing a play, and having often obferved a drawing of my father's from a defign of Mortimer Sy on the fubjedl of Rowena prefenting wine to For- tigern, 1 thought this ftory might perhaps

ferve.

(2i )

ferve, and accordingly refer'd to Holinfhed^s Chronicle, which my father had; this I did when no one was prefent, finding it applicable to my purpofe, I planM the ftory of the play, which I afterwards produced : it confifts of more than two thoufand lines. — When alked for the originals, 1 made an- fwer, that my friend would not deliver them till 1 had tranfcribed the whole; thus I gained time to compofe and write the play in the old hand; At the time of it*s completion, I was about nineteen years of age, the world praifed many parts, but faid it was uneven, having the fame errors as are ufually found in many of Shak/pears plays, it was generally thought fuperiour to the worft of his plays, and much inferior to his capital one's; I heard and fmiled at thefe remarks, not a little furprifed that 1 could at fo young an age at all imitate him.

When Mr. T'^/^o/ heard of the play in Jrelami

he coolly wrote, informing me of his furprife

that I had not let him into this fecrct, for to

c 3 fpeak

(22)

fpeak the truth, I had long neglefted cor- refponding according to my promife, having to compofe and write all the before mentioned things ; I lent him word I had attempted and wrote the play ; after this we correfponded regularly, and I always fpoke freely on the fubjed of the manufcripts

I wrote a few leaves of Hamlet, with trivial alteration, as I had done in Lear, I likewife finifhed other receits, and exe- cuted a coloured head of Shakfpear on parchment, round which I affixed the names of feveral players of that day ; I acquired this knowledge by looking into the folio edition of his plays.

As it was the general opinion, that if a defcendant of Shakfpcar^s could be found, he might claim the papers, I determined on proving thata friendfhip had fubfifted between our Bard and fome perfon of the name of Ireland; for that purpofc I wrote the deed of gift, and formed the flory of his faving Shakfpear from *' drowning.'* as I thought

that

\

( 23)

that the heft method of accounting for their great friendfhip, and the bcquefts made to him by Shakfpear, I alfo wrote the tributary lines, and made the drawings of Ireland's houfe ; and to ftop all claims whatever to the papers, I fald, that my friend told me, they originally belonged to one of our anceflors, and that he had given them to me as a mat- ter of right

My reafon for appearing fo much in public, was to make the world think me a giddy thoughtlefs young man, incapable of produ- cing the papers.

Mr. Talht came to England and was much aftonlfhed at the variety of things I had wrote; we deftroyed mutually all our letters on the fubjeft, and agreed, for the future, never to fpeak openly on the bufinefs

As the world began to doubt, 1 begged him to become a party in the ftory, he with much hefitation confented. I then informed my fa- ther, that Mr. Tallfoi was alfo concerned, C 4 upon

( H )

upon which he defired his account of the ma- nufcripts, but Mr. T. not knowing the flory he fhould tell, and fearing to contradid what I might have faid before, informed my father that he would, in a few days, fend a writ- ten account of the whole bufmefs. To this my father very relu£lantly agreed; and pre- vious to Mr, T. leaving town, we planned the ftory which we afterwards fent.

I continued as ufual producing papers of different kinds, partly to add to the mafs which I thought would ftrcngthen their au- thenticity, and partly becaufe the world did not altogether doubt them, and that I found them ilill praifed by the Literati. I alfo wrote manufcript notes on books to about the number of fifty, all which I gave to my father.

Not owing to himfelf only, but frequently urged by other gentlemen, my father deter- mined on publilhing the papers ; I begged he would defift, he made anfwer, that the world fhould not be deprived of fuch a treafurc ; at

length,

( 25 )

length, afraid to tell this narrative, which he would not have believed, and not knowing what ftep to take, I one day, as my laft ef- fort, afllired him, that if he was bent on pub- lifhing the papers it mufl: be done at his own rifk, for that my friend would have nothing to do in the bufinefs ; he gladly replied, that he would take upon himfelf, thus, finding it impoffible to flop him, I was compelled to fufFer the pubUfhing of the papers.

I wrote the deed of truft to John Hem'mg:^ diftantly hinting, that the gentleman who gave the Manufcripts was adefcendant of his, and that his anceflor had not fulfilled the be- quefts mentioned in that deed, but kept them to himfelf; this I alledged was caufc fufficient for the concealment of his name. Had I not been urged to write this Pamphlet, I (hould have compofed the Interlude of the Virgin §lueen^ and the play of King Henry the Seventh, mentioned in the deed of truft

The play of Vortigern was then agreed for, aiiu with much delay brought forward; the

world

( 26 )

world condemned it, but that did not lefllii the fatisfa(£lion I felt in having at fo early an age wrote a piece which was not only afted, but brought forth as the work of the greateft of men.

Mr. Malones very tedious epiftle then ap- peared, the forgery, he fays is weak, and poorly contrived, why then fhould he be- ftow fo much time and labour, and dive into antiquities, or fearch regifters of births, mar- riages, deaths, G?c. and fpin out an Epiftle to Lord Charl^mont of upwards of four hundred pages, to prove, what as he fays, was viflble to the meanefl capacity, but mofl of the time he was confeffedly in a dream.

I wrote the play oi ¥>^\ng Henry the Second, of which I only executed three leaves in the old hand, now in my father's pofleffion ; it was thought by many fupcrior to Vortigern.

At length the world in general accufed my father of being a party concerned in writing

the

V 27 )

the papers, and then I firft began to feel iineafy.

Mr. Talbot* % letter, I mull: here mention, came to hand, containing the flory which we had agreed to tell, and I foon after re- ceived one part of which I have here tran- fcribed, as it goes to prove myfelf alone author of the manufcripts.

6th January, ^79^- Dear Sam,

" It is now a month, I believe, fince I *' wrote to your father a particular account " of the difcovery of Fortigern, with every " thing that has pafled before and fince the

'* the fortunate finding it atH *s; I

" wrote by the fame poft to yourfelf, begged

" you to (hew H the letter I wrote

" your father, and keep a copy yourfelf; now " I think it rather hard I am not favoured " with an anfvver, and that my particular " requell is not complied with. — I afked for " a copy of Fort'igern and Rowena, as cui-

" tailed

( 23 )

*' tailed forreprelentation ; now, Sam^ though

" you negle£l me fo much as to with-hold

" the copy of the play, which you knov\^

•' when in London I had not time to read,

*' and which you may naturally fuppole I

" would wilh to know almoft as I would

*' all Shakfpears works, yet mark how I am

" fituated. and then you will not blame me

** for renewing my requell:; everyone knows

*' here the concern I have with Vortigern

" and Rowena, and every one alks for the par-

*' ticulars ; I then lliow the copy of the letter

" fent your father ; but when I am afked as to

*' the play, and its merits, plot, beauties, (ifc.

" I know nothing. It is much wondered at

" that I can give no account of its coming

*' out; fome afk me if I have not in my

** own pofTefiion any fcrap of the writings of

*' Shakfpear. — So, Sam, I requeft you will

** fend me fome bill, receipt, or letter of

'* his, Csfc. ^c."

By this part of Mr. "Talbot's letter, I mean to prove that he knew nothing of the play of Vortigern, had he aided me in writing it, he

certainly

( 29 )

certainly would not difclalm all knowledge of its merits, plot, or beauties^ He certainly knew the fadt, and that was all j as to his joining in the flory, he did it at my moft earneft requeft, though much againft his own inclination.

A committee of gentlemen was now called to infpedt the manufcripts, and report what they thought concerning their authenticity ; I was obliged to be prefent, many queftions were put to me about the papers, my anfwer was, that I attended there only to exculpate my father from the odium which was heaped .on him, but to anfwer nothing farther; I likewife offered to make oath, that my father was no ways whatever concerned ; but this was over-ruled by fome gentleman prefent. Other committees were held, in which Mr. Talbofs letter was frequently read, and at one of thefe, a petition was drawn up, figned by the committee, ftating my father's fituation with the world, which I was required to de- liver to my friend, when alone, I determined rather than he fhould undergo fo much un- c 14 merited

3°

merited blame, that I would myfelf cume forward with the truth.

I therefore, at the next meeting, fald, that the perfon from whom I had the papers would reveal the fecret to -'>ny two gentlemen of refpe£tability, for that purpofe a lift was made, which I was to flicw my friend, thofe names which he did not approve he was to blot out, but any two of thofe he left ftanding, and who would receive the fecret, to them he would communicate it.

At the next meeting I delivered the lift, having only marked out the names of a few who had been fanguine in their belief of the papers, not liking to hurt their feelings, but of thofe gentlemen whole names I left ftanding, fome were out of town, and others did not choofe to undertake the embafly.

It having been obferved by me, as before flated, that the gentleman was under appre- henfions for his fituation fhould the truth be known, and fome one of the committee fug-

gefting

( 3' )

gefting that he ought to apply for legal ad- vice in the bufinefs, where he might with fafety communicate the affair, I went myfclf to Mr. JValUs., and told him nearly this ftory, under a {lri£l injundion of fecrecy, at the fame time giving him in writing a fhort account of the principal matters herein con- tained, which I wrote before him, as well in the old hand as my own ; he likewife put feveral queftions to me, as to the reafons which lead me to attempt fo many different things, which I immediately anfwered in writing ; it is now five Months fince, and on comparing the reafons given in this account, with thofe left in his hands, they are found to coincide; and to which I refer any perfon who defires to be fatisfied.

Still the world accufed my father of being

a party concerned; This was frequently

mentioned, which rendered him unhappy : He wrote to Mr. Talbot to know if he would make affidavit to the truth of the

ftory, Mr. T anfwered, that \i If I would

join with him he then would make oath, that

no

( 32 )

no one, except us two, and a third perfon, knew the fecret ; this he did, well affured, that I could not enter into any fuch affida- vit, there being no third perfon at all con- cern'd j on my refufal, my father of courfe, laid all the blame on me ; and to prove what 1 have afferted, Mr. Talbot has feveral times been requeued to make the oath alone, but "will not confent.

My father left town during his abfence, I formM the refolution of quitting the houfe, as I could not tell the truth, and live with him after to be a witnefs of his unhappinefs ; be- fides, he complained of the fecret being told to another perfon, and nothimfelf; I there- fore put my part in execution — As a proof of my father's feelings at that time, I infert the following letter which he fent me; thofe who perufe it may conceive a father's anxie- ty, and my embarralkd fituation.

«' It is now more than a week, my dear ** Sarriy (ince I left London^ and not a word

<(

or

(33)

** or a line from you ; in the fituatlon, un- *' fettled as you are, you cannot^ fuppofe but ** that my mind is much agitated, both on ** your account and that of the family.

** I cxpe6led, according to your promife, •* that you would certainly have written to *' me and have pointed out what was your

" plan : And not only fb, but your in-

** tentions with regard to the papers. 1 do

** afliire you, my ftate is truly wretched on

*' both accounts ; I have no reft either night

** or day, which might be much alleviated

*' by a more open and candid condu<St on

" your lide ; furely, if there is a perfon for

" whom you can for a moment feel, it muft

*' be for a parent, who has never ceafed to

** render you every comfort and attention

" from your earlieft moment of exiftence to

** the prefent. — I think you muft fometimes

*' refleft, and place yourfelf in your imagi-

" nation as at a future period of life, having

*' a fon, and being in fuch a predicament as

" I ftand at prefent, and then judging what

" muft be yourjiate of mind, and what muft

" be mine at prefent,

o I do

( 34 )

*' I do not mean reproaches by this letter, " but to aflure you, that if you cannot think ." me your friend, I fear you will be deceived ** in all friendfhips you may in future form. I *' do not recolle£l that any condu£l of mine ** toward you, has been other than that of a ** friend and companion,not that ofa rigid or *' remorfe parent ? It is therefore doubly *' unnatural, that I fliould be found to ap- *• ply for information through any channel ** whatever, when I ought to hear it vo- ** luntarily from yourfelf. You feem to be '* eftranging yourfelf, not only from me, but ** from all your family, and all my acquaint- " ances. Reflefl Avell what you do, and what " determinations you make, for this is the " moment that may, in all probability render *' you comfortable in your future eftablifh- '* ment, and future fituation, or make you an '* alien to happinefs for ever. I have heard ** of my fituation with the world, as to the *' papers, at Readings from many gentlemen " there, who all agree, that my ftate is truly " a pitiable one, and all feem to dread the *' event; I know not the nature of your " oaths and engagements, nor does the world;

"but

( 35 )

" but it is univerfally allowed, that no ob- *' ligation fliould lead a parent into ruin. — *' If the papers are to be eftablifhed as ge- " nuine, why delay to furnifli me with the *' documents fo lately promifed ? But I will *' fay no more on the fubje£l at prefent. — By ** a paragraph in the Sun of T^hurfday laft, ** it Ihould appear, that though I am not in *' the fecret, fome perfons are." The pa- ragraph runs thus " We are at length

*' enabled to form a decijive opinion with re- ** gard to the Manujcripts in the pofleffion ** of Mr. Ireland^ though motives of delicacy *' at prefent prevent us from rendering that *' opinion publick" ! Pray me give a line by *' to-morrow's poft, as I am impatient to hear " from you, and believe me your very fincere ** friend, and afFedloinate father,"

Samuel Ireiana, June 5, Sunday.

D 2 I then

{ 36 )

I then alk'd Mr. Wallis what I could d6 to exonerate my father ; he drew up a pa- per which I fignM, and have here inferted.

In jufllce to my father, and to remove the odium under which he labours refpe^ling the papers pubHfhed by him as the manufcripts of Shakfpeare, I do hereby foleinnly declare, that they were given to him by me as the manufcripts oi Shakfpeare, and that he was totally ignorant and unacquainted with the fource from whence they came, or with any matter relating to the fame, or to any thing fave what was told him by himfclf ; and that he publifhed them without any knowledge, t)r even the fmalleft intention of fraud or im*- polition, but under a firm belief and perfua- fion of their authenticity, as I had given him to underfland they were fo.

W» H, Ireland. 17 January^ ^79^*

( 17^

Still my father was dllTatisfied ; nor would the world believe that he was not concern'd

hi the bufinefs. 1 afterwards wrote him

a letter, confeffing, that I was really the author, of which I kept no copy, or fhould undoubtedly have here inferted it— This prov- ed as ineffe£lual as any thing I before had done, for he ftill thought Shakfpear the au- thor of the papers, and rne totally incapable of writing them.—

I fhall infert a meflage left in writing with Mr. WalUs^ which ilill goes to prove my father a flranger to the whole affair.

*' That 1 infifl on having the affidavit ** drawn up by Sam^ and fign*d and fworn ** before a magiftrate, in order to its being *' fent to Talbot^ and then to be laid before " the public, and I likewife infift on having *' the remainder of the papers fo often pro- " mifed me.'*

The papers which my father here alludes to, and of which he has a lift, were thofe

D 2 which

(38)

which I intended to have written, had not the bufinefs taken fuch a turn as it has done.

I here introduce a fpeech, the original of which, with my various alterations, was delivered, with many other things, to the care of Mr. IVallls, leaving the world to judge of its merits if it poiTeffes any.

On contemplating Wejlminfter Abbey.

** O ! my good lord how irkfome pafled the

'* time, " While in yon porch I did wait your coming; *' Yet as this chryflal arch, this bright heaven '* Doth fhine upon the emeral tipped wave, " And paints upon the deep each paffing

*' cloud; " E'en fo the fmalleft and moft gentle plant *' That waves before the breath of thee fweet

'* heaven, *' To man gives food for contemplation ;

" And

(39)

*' And fliows how foon this blazing frame of

" youth ** Mull fink on Age's chilling icy bed, " And dwindle down to fecond nothingnefs ; *' Look but on yon clock thofe lanky fingers, *' The toiling heralds of fwift winged time, *' Whofe clapper wakens men from drowfy

" fleep ; " Changing the dreary ftillnefs of black night " To days firft infancy, the blufhing morn ; " While bled Aurora rears her purple crefl:, '* And tip-toe ftands, fhaking hergolden hair, ** Eager to vifit the bufy fons of men : ** Her blazing journey ended, down fhe finks, " And fo I liken her to man's ftrange end. " Look on yon pile, under whofe fretted roof, " So many kings have feized the precious

** gem *' Of royalty, and fucked the courtiers *' Lip laboured lies.

" Where are ye now, dead alas and rotten ; " O ! my good lord, let us from hence away, *' This fpot doth fmell too flrong of royal

*' dufl

D 4 '* Throwing

( 4o)

** Throwing its lures to catch the minds of

*' men ; *' Blowing in their ears the feverous blaft ** Of mirths, feafts, merriment, profperity; " Till on a fudden grappling with their fouls, ** Thou knitteft them at once in death eierne*^

This fpeech I meant to have introduced in a play taken from the life of William the Conqueror ; it was to have been fpoke by Earl Kdwyn; who coni'pired againft him in confequence of his tyrannical government : he was to wait near the Abbey in difguife, for Marcarus another confpirator, and there make this fpeech' — The plan of this play, as well as feveral others from Englifi hiftory, I have lately depofited with Mr. Wallis^ to- gether with many other things relating to this bufinefs, where they may be infpedcd by thole whofe curiofity may lead them to re- quire that fatisfadion.

On Thurfday the 1 7th of November I wrote the following letter to Mr. Talbot,

Pr.

(4« )

Dr. Montagus^

** The various things which have paffed " fince I laft wrote to you cannot be here ^' repeated,—-! only beg you will fay nothing *' more about the papers, nor take any trou- *' ble in explaining the bufinefs to my father. " I find it neceffary to keep the world no ** longer ia fufpencc, and am preparing a " circumftantialaccount of the whole, where- '' in 1 fhall inform them of the truth, that I '''am the Author; be allured I will excufe " you in every point for what you have faid •' concerning their authenticity, and take it " all upon myfelf,— you may fuppofe what I *' have undergone to bring me to fuch a " confeilion, after what pafled between us, *' but I find that truth will always prevail.

I remain your's ever,

JV. H, Ireland,

That the world may not fuppofe any thing lurks behind, this expreflion in my letter (after what pafled between us) I ihall ex- plain.

(40

plain its meaning — On Mr. Talbot* s quitting me, I made him a promife, that I would not tell the bufinels on any account, unlefs he was willing, which promife I have not faithfully obferved, this I hope will be excufed, as my peculiar fituation alone caufed the breach of it* —

Before I conclude, I fhall fum up this ac- count, and am willing to make affidavit to the following declarations, as well as to the whole of this narration.

Firft, I folemnly declare that my father was perfectly unacquainted with the whole affair, believing the papers mofl firmly the production oi Shakfpeare,

Scondly^ — That I am myfelf both the author and writer, and have had no aid or (affiflance from any foul living, and that I fhould never have gone fo far, but that the world praifed the papers fo much, and thereby flattered my vanity.

Thirdfyy

(43)

^Thirdly, — That any publication which may appear tending to prove the maniifcripts ge- nuine, or contradict what is here Jlated^ is falfe ; this being the true account.

W, H, Ireland,

Here then I conclude, moft fincerely re- gretting any offence I may have given the world, or any particular individual, trufting at the fame time, they will deem the whole the a£l of a boy, without any evil or bad in- tention, but hurried on thoughtlefs of any danger that awaited to enfnare him.

Should I attempt another play, or any other ftage performance, I fhall hope the public will lay afide all prejudice my condudl may have deferved, and grant me that kind in- dulgence which is the certain inmate of every Englijhmans bofom.

tAoi

Mr. IRELAND^s

Vindication of his Conduft,

RESPECTING

THE PUBLICATION

OF THE

Suppofed Shakfpeare MSS.

fe E I N G

A PREFACE OR INTRODUCTION

T O

A REPLY

TO THE CRITICAL LABORS OF

Mr. M ALONE,

IN HIS

«• ENQUIRY INTO THE AUTHENTICITY OF •• CERTAIN PAPERS, &c. &c."

L ONDON:

fUBLISHED BY MR. FAULDER AND MR. llOBSON, NEW

BOND street; MR. EGERTON, WHITEHALL;

ANP MESSRS. WHITE, FLEET STREET.

1796.

( i" )

ADVERTISEMENT,

X H E following fheets originally formed a part of a work now in confiderable forwardnefs, as a reply to Mr. Malone's critical labors on the fubjedl of the Shakfpeare MSS. The body of this work required confiderable refearch, and, fo large a portion of time for its com- pletion, as t(j render fome further delay unavoidable in the publication of the whole. But this part of the work having been completed and ready for the public eye, I have yielded to the importunities of my friends, who have fuggefted to me the neceflity a,t this moment, oC laying before the public fuch further particulars as relate to my condu£l therein. It will be obfervcd that I have adverted in the courfe of the following pages to Mr. Malone : and if the animadverfions fliould be deemed irrelevant, I truft, that no other apology is neccflary, than the intimation already given, of my having intend- ed this Vindication as an introduction to the work al- luded to, and therefore that it was a more eligible plan, not to make any deviation from the method, I ac firfl: deter- mined upon purfuing.

A recent circumftance, with which the Public i-; vfrcll acquainted, fcems to call for thii Vindication, and

even

( iv )

kven {painful iis it is) to impofe the meafurc updn mtf as a folcmn duty, and obligation. I allude to the public ftatement, made by my Son. The world to which he ha$ appealed, will judge and pronounce upon the triitli bf the allegations, and the weight of the teftimonies, which he has laid before them. 1 beg to allure the public that the refutation of Mr. Malone's book (hall be brought for- ward with all poflible fpeed j in which, whether the pa- pers imputed to Shakfpeare are genuine or hot, it will be clearly (hewn, that he embarked in this enquiry as utter- ly deftitute of the information of a philologift, and the acumen of a Critic, as it will, by his grofs and repeat- ed perfonalities, be manifefted, that his felfifli and inter- cfted views have made him throughout lofe fight of the manners of a Gentleman.

ERRATA;

Page 12, lall line but i, after my rczd friends 12, line JO, after to add //'<? i8, •^— II, for // read tbem 27, — 13, before Frank read yohn ^Oj — ^ I , for fitter into read rnaMe

A VIK-

A

VINDICATION, ^c.

H E moft unequivocal charafVeriftic of an enlightened age, is the licence which is indulged to all, of free communication with the public on doubtful, and controverted fubjefts. There are, indeed, fome queflions, in the difcuffion of Which it will be always difficult to perfuade the ^orld, that mutual toleration is the moft condu- cive to the interefts of truth, and the moft aux- iliary to the operation of human reafon.

But on topics of merely literary reference, that thefe enmities fhould at all exift, muft ap- pear fingular, and even paradoxical. For in li^ tcrary contefts there is fcarcely any appeal to any A paflion.

( ^ )

pafTion. They can neither provoke the hopes, nor vibrate on the fears of mankind, to any confide rable degree. It muft, therefore, be a fatisfaflory reflexion to thofe, who have remark- ed on the hiftory of the human mind, that the mutual hoftilicy, and bigotry, which once deformed the writings of critics and philologifts, is at this moment, with few exceptions, totally cxtinguiflied. Fofterity, when they read the works of Salmafius, or Bentley, will be per- plexed, even in finding motives for a fpirit fo intolerant, and a zeal fo intradable on matters of fuch light, and trivial import.

There are, however, exceptions to a re- mark, fo honorable to the tafte, and liberality of our age. There are ftill fome remnants of that exploded difcipliney which from the difufe into which it has fallen, muft at this time, be highly difgufting to the lovers of Englifh literature. The arrogance of fchoolmen without their learn- ing, the rancour of controverfy without the wit by which it is embellifhed, muft at the prefent

period.

( 3 )

period:, demand the fcverefl, and moft exemplary animadverfion.

Mr. Malone has acquired, it may be faid, fome degree of literary reputation. It is that fort of reputation, to which a laborious and pa- tient frame of mind, in all the departments of literature has its peculiar pretenfions. But nei- ther Mr. Malone, nor any other labourer of the iame defcription, has any privilege of over leap- ing the province, to the drudgery of which a limited capacity has deftined him, while a pa- tient, and charitable world does not deny him the fmall pittance of fame, that arifes out of it. lUdfejactet in aula. Mr. Malone, of all wri- ters, has the flighteft pretenfions to that majef- terial character, he has lately alTumed, and by virtue of which he undertakes not only to dif- cufs, but to decide on literary queftions, as well as to afperfe the moral reputations of thofe, who differ from him in opinion.

The appeal, which I am now about to make A 1 from

r 4 )

from the fcntence, which this gentleman has pafT- ed upon the papers in queftion, primarily origi- nates from that foliciiude to vindicate my own chara6ler, which it muft be naturally fuppofed, I cannot but feel on this occafion. Whether the critical reafonings of Mr. Malone are foiid, or un^'oundcd, wherlier he is entitled to any degree of ;cputatiun, as a philologift, or critic, by the publication of his enquiry, are queftions of which the difcufiion will be podponed, till my anfwer appears before the public. At prefcnt I am merely claiming the attention of the reader to thofe topics, which relate to my own perfonal agency in the tranfadion.

With regard to the manner in which my own charadler is attacked, it will unqueftionably be expeded that I fhould fpeak fully and amply. It is true Mr. Malone deals only in infmuationsj and infinuations, malevolent and flanderous as they are, may eafily be repelled. It is true alfo, that thefe infinuations are conveyed in a manner, which neither refembles the overbearing acute-

ncfs

( s )

nefs of Dr. Bcntley, nor the fubtle poignancy of Bifhop Warburton. But infinuations may be troublefome, and even noxious j beraufe the duUeft being alive may at length, by reiteration and importunity, in feme meafure, atone for the bluntnefs and impotence of the fhafts with which he aflails you. It may indeed be faid that thefe attacks are of a puny and inefFevflual nature, but to remain indifferent to fuch attacks, is a philo- fophy which I have never arrogated; and it would look like a fort of affefted ftoicifm, to appear filent and unmoved, amidft fuch mali- cious and calumniating afperfions.

Through the whole courfe of his pamphlet, Mr. Malone fpeaks of the " Impoftor," and the ** Impoflure." I remem.ber in Mr. Locke, along chapter on words, and the intelledual aflbcia r tions which belong to them. In a well-known cffay on the fublime and beautiful Mr. Locke's dodrine is oppofed ; and it is contended that words are independent of ideas. The author applied this doflrine only to works of tafte, but

particularly

( 6 )

particularly to poetry. But in the fubjcd to which Mr. Malone has extended the theory nothing furely can be more ridiculous than the ufe of words without ideas j and until any thing of the fublime and beautiful be difcovered in the profe of that gentleman, the good fenfe and taile of the world will condemn the ufe of words which are utterly deftitutc of a meaning ; efpe- cially when they arc employed on a fubjeft of reafoning and demonftration. Would not the conduit of that judge be ludicrous as well as indecent, who on a criminal matter, fhould ufe the words traitor, murderer, or thief, in his addrefs to the jury, concerning the evidence before them ? So in the controverfy upon the Shakefpeare MSS it would have been better reafoning, as well as more candid hoftility, to have proved the impoilure before he proclaim- ed the impoflor.

In reply to thefe charges againft me, I fhall lay before the public fome ftriking documents, which will conflitute a mod irrefragable fyftem

of

( 7 )

of evidence in my favor, and furnifh the beft refutation of what has been alledged againft me. 1 fhall firft repeat that which I have told the world already, and then I fhall enter into the itatements, which corroborate and fortify what I have hitherto allcrted.

In the preface to my foho coUedlion of Shakfpeare MSS I ftated all the circumflances relative to them, as minutely as my own know- ledge of them and the dehcacy of my ficuatioi* permitted me, I fhall now repeat the affertion^ with no other addition than my folemn protefta^ tion of its truth.

*' It may be expelled, that fomething fhould " be faid by the editor, of the manner in which " thcfe papers came into his hands. He recei- •< ved them from his Son, Samuel William *' Henry Ireland, a young man, then under " nineteen years of age, by whom the difco- ♦' very was accidentally made at the houfe of a " gentleman of confiderablc property."

" Amongfl

( 8 )

" AiYiongft a mafs of family papers, the " contrafts between Shakfpeare, Lowine and " Condell, and the leafe granted by him and " Hemynge to Michael Frafer, which was firft " found, were difcovered, and foon after the «* deed of gift to William Henry Ireland (dc- •^ fcribed as the friend of Shakfpeare, in con- " fequcnce of his having faved his life on the " river Thames, when in extreme danger of " being drowned) and alfo the deed of truft to '* John Hemynge were difcovered. In purfu- " ing this fearch, he was fo fortunate as to dif- " cover fomc deeds very material to the in- <« terefts of this gentleman, and fuch as efta- " blifhed beyond all doubt, his title to a confi- ** derable property. In return for this fervice, " added to the confideration, that the young " man bore the fame name, and arms, with " the perfon, who faved the life of Shakfpeare, " the gentleman promifed him every thing re- ** lative to the fubjedt, that had been or fliould ** be found either in tov/n or at his country " houfe. At this houfe the principal part of

" the

( 9 )

" the papers, with a great variety of books " containing the MSS notes and three MSS " plays, with part of another were difco- « vercd."

" fortified as he is with the opinion of the " unprejudiced and the intelligent, the editor " will not allow that it can be prefumption in «* him to fay, that he has no doubt of the truth *f and authenticity of that which he lays before " the public. Of this fad he is as fully fatis- " fied, as he is with the honor that has been ** obferved to him upon this fubjeft. So cir- " cumftanced, he Ihould not feel juftified in im» *^ portuning, or any way requefting a gcntle- '' man, to whom he is known only by obliga- « gation, to fubjeft himfelf to the impertinence « and licentioufnefs of literary curiofity and ca- " vil, unlefs he Ihould himfelf voluntarily come " forward. But this is not all. It was not till " after the mafs of papers received, became vo- " luminous, that Mr. Ireland had any idea of

B " printing

( JO )

" printing them: he then applied for his per- " mifllon To to do,* and this was not obtained,. " but vnder the ftrongefl injundion that his " name fliould not appear. This injunction *' has thro' all the ftages of this bufincfs been '^ uniformly declared : and, as this gentleman " has dealt raoft liberally with the editor, he " can confidently fay, that in his turn he has " with equal opcnnefs and candour conducted '* himfelf towards the public, to whom immc- ** diately upon every communication made, " every thing has been fubmitted without " refcrvc."

The information, which induced me to lay this flatement before the public, was derived from written declarations of my fon, and from

* The reader is here requeftcd to underftand, that the application made to the fuppofed original pofieflbr, i^vas not perfonal, but by letters given by him to his fon, to be con- veyed by him, and by anfwers receired, thro' the fame channel,

thofc

i

{ '■ )

thofe of his friend Mr. Talbot, of the Dublin Theatre. I now prefent to the world the ac- count of the difcovery, as it was written by my fon, and which is at this time, in my pofTefTion.

« Novimbe?- loth, 1795.

" I was at chambers, when Talbot called « in, and fhewed me a deed, figned Shakfpeare. ** I was much aftoniihed, and mentioned the *' plcafure my father would receive, could he *' but fee it. Talbot then faid, I might fhew " it. I did not for two days : and at the end " of that term he gave it me. I then prefled *' hard to know, where it was found. After " two or three days had elapfed, he introduced " me to the party. He was with me in the ** room, but took little trouble in fearching. ** I foundafecond deed, and a thi;d, and two '* or three loofe papers. We alfo difcovered " a deed, which afcertained to the party landed " property, of which he had then no knowledge. " In confeqnencc of having found this, he told

B 2 " us,

( I* )

« us, we might keep every deed, every fcrap " of paper relative to Shakfpcare. Little was " difcovered in town, but what was above men- " tioned, but the reft came from the country ; " owing to the papers having been removed from •* London, many years ago.

^^ S. W. H. Ireland."

Being naturally defirous of obtaining the evi- dence of Mr. Talbot, to confirm what had been advanced by my fon, I applied to the former, and received from him an anfwer, froni which I have made the following extrads.

Carmarthen^ November i^y '795? " Dear Sir,

" The gentleman, in whofe pofleflion thefc •^ things were found, was a friend of mines and " by me your Son Samuel was introduced to his " acquaintance. One morning in rummaging " from mere curiofity fome old lumber, confift- " ing of deeds, books, &c. in a clofet of my <* friend's houfe, 1 difcovered a deed with the

" fignature

( '3 )

ff fignature of William Shakfpeare, which in- >* duced me to read part of it, and on reading ^' the words ^' Stratford on Avon" I was con- " vinced it was the famous Englifli Bard: with <f permifTion of my friend (whom I will in future

" call Mr. H ) I carried the deed to Sa-

" muel, knowing with what enthufiafm, he and *' yourfelf regarded the works of that author, " or any trifling article he was poflefTed of; ?' though I was prepared to fee my friend Sa- " muel a little pleafed with what I prefented to " him, yet I did not expeft that great joy he " felt on the occafion. He told me there was " n .thing known of the hand writing of Shak- *^ fpcare, but his fignature to fome deed or will ** in Doctors Commons, and prefled me to carry

" him to H 's houfe, that he might fee,

" if there was amongft the lumber I had fpoken .** of, any other fuch relique. I Immediately ^* complied with his requeft. This was Samuel's " firft introdu6lion. For feveral fuccefTive " mornings we palled fome hours in examining " different papers and deeds, mofl of which

" were

( '4 )

** were ufelefs, and uninterefting. But our *' labor was rewarded by finding a few more ** relating to Shakfpeare. Thefc we took away, " but never without H's permifTion. At lafl " we were fo fortunate as to difcover a deed, '* in which our friend was materially concerned. *' Some landed property, which had been long '* the fubjedt of litigation was here afcertained, " and H's title to it clearly proved. H. now " faid in return for this, whatever you and Mr. <* Ireland find among the lumber, be it what it " may, Ihall be your own (meaning thofe things " which we fhould prize for being Shakfpeare's) " Mr. H. juft before my departure from Lon- " don, ftridly enjoined us never to mention him " as the poffefhr of the papers. Tho' I wilhed " until Sam. fhould have completed his re- " fearches, that little Ihould have been faid on ** the fubjed:, yet I was ignorant, why H. when " the fearch was finifhed, fhould flill wifh his ** name concealed. I thought it abfurd and " could not prevail on him to mention his rea- '* fons i tlio' from fome trifling unguarded ex-

" prefTion

( «5 )

« preflion, I was at laft induced to believe that *' one of his ancellors was a cotemporary of " Shakfpeare in the dramatic profefTion j diat *' as he H. was a man fomewhat known in the " world, and in the walk of high life, he did " not wifh fuch a circumftance Ihould be made " public ; this fufpicion was, as it will prcfently ** appear, well founded. Whilft I was in Dub- " lin, I heard to my great joy and aftonifhment, ** that Sam had difcovcred the play of Vorti- " gern and Rowena, the MS of Lear, &c. " &c. I was impatient to hear every parti- " cular, and principally for that purpofe made *^ my late vifit to London. I found H. what I •^ always thought him, a Man of ftrid honor, « and willing to abide by the promile he made, <* in confequence of our finding the deed, by " which he benefitted fo much. I will now cx- " plain the reafon of H's fecrecy. On account " of your defire to give the world fome explan- " ation of the bufinefs, and your telling me, ** that fuch explanation was necelTary, I re- " ncwcd my entreaties to him, to fuffer us to dif-

" difcovcr

( i6 J

" cover his name, place of abode, and every " circumflance of the difcovery of the papers, " but in vain. I proceeded to prove as well " as I could the folly of its concealment, when " he produced a deed of gift, which he himfelf " had juil found in the clofet, juft before my " departure from London, in January lafl, but " which I had never {ce.n before. By this deed

*^ William Shakfpeare afligned to John ■

" who it feems was really ananceftor of our friend " H. every article contained in an upper room. " The articles were, furniture, cups, a miniature ^ pidure, and many other things j but except- " ing the miniature (v/hich was lately found " and which was a likenefs of Shakfpeare him- " felf ), and the papers, very few of them re- " main in H's hands, and the reft very unfor- " tunately cannot be traced. It is fuppofed too, *' that many valuable papers have been loft, and " are deftroyed, as the whole lumber is never " remembered to have been at all valued or " guarded from the hands of the loweft domef- " tics. "When I parted from you a few weeks

fince

( I? ")

^' fince, H, promifed me that the deed of '« gift above mentioned Ihould be fent you, " firft eraling and cutting out the name of the *' grantee.* I hope, my dear Sir, I have omit- " ted nothing in relating thefe . ircumftances, <* and though this account ir.ay not enable you *^ perfe(5tly to fatisfy many, who from an idle " curiofity would know more, yet the liberal- " minded, I am fure will allow that you have ** juft reafons for with-holding what is, and is to " be concealed. I moft earneftly beg you will ^^ fend me a copy of Vortigern and Rowena, as " foon as it can conveniently be written, with the ** margin marked, according to the curtailment '^ for Stage reprefentation,

« M. Talbot. « S. Ireland, Efy"

* Within a few days after the receipt of the above, the deed of truft alluded to, was brought to me by my Son, without any erafure, as mentioned in the above letter, and was the deed of truft to John Hemynge, inferted in the foiio volume of the Shakfpeare papers.

C Upon

( >8 )

Upon this authority and with this degree of teftimony, I proceeded to the pubUcation of the papers. Yet it may by fome be objedled, that the weight of the whole evidence colleftively taken, is ftill weak and imperfefb, on account of the concealment of the name of the gentle- man alluded to. But what inference does this obje6lion authorife ? It was fuch as entirely to militate againft any fufpicion of fraud in my breafl. For had the papers been forged, I couid not imagine that the fabricators of it would have left that part of its evidence, to which by ordinary minds, and according to ordinary rules of judgment, the greateft weight is ufually at- tributed, fo palpably mutilated, and defecflivc. I could not imagine that it could have been the work of one impofhor, when I confidered the infinite variety of the papers, and the length of time which muft have been confumed on fo ela- borate a fiftion. For it muft have been very extraordinary, that of all thofe who were con- cerned in the impofture, not one fhould have

fuggefted

( '9 )

fuggefted the necefTity of forging completer tcftimonies, refpefling the place, and perfon, in whofe pofleflion they were found.

Befides thefe reafons, coming as they did through the channel of my Son, I could not fufpejfl their authenticity ; and every thing I had remarked of Mr. Talbot during my acquaint- ance with him, placed him in my judgment be- yond even the poflibility of fufpicion, his fairnefs andhonefty in the tranfaftion appeared invariable. A father is not veiy eager to entertain furmifes, that affedt the moral credit of one fo dearly connected with him as his only fon, and when the fame declarations were made by him in the moft folemn and awful manner, before crouds of the moft eminent characters, who came to my houfe, I could not fuffer myfelf to cherifh the flighteft fufpicion of his veracity.

The teftimonies here adduced it were diffi- cult to refift. But thefe were not all by which my conduft was governed in this tranfadtion, C 2 I in-

( 2^0 )

1 invited to my houfe all who wilhcd to gratify their curioficy, by an inljpedion of the papers^ Of thefe, the greater part confilling of the moll celebrated literary charaflcrs this age has pro- duced, expreffed their opinions, not in the phrafe of mere affent,. but in the unequivocal language of a full and overflowing convidion. Some were even defirous of fubfcribing without folici- tation, their names to a certificate, in which, their belief might be formally and permanently" recorded. The firft of this refpedable lift was. the rev. Dr. Parr. I informed this gentleman, that the late James Bofwell, Efq. had requefted my permifTion to annex his name to a certificate, vouching for the validity of the papers and which he drew up for that purpofc. When I fhewcd the Dodor,. at his r^queft what Mr. Bofwell had written the day before, he exclaimed with his charaderiftic energy and manner, that it was too feebly expreffed for the importance of the fubjedi and begged that he might himfclf dic- tate to me the following form of a certificate, to which, he immediately fubfcribed his own name,.

and

( 2' )

and which afterwards received the fignaturcs of the other refpcdable charaders, that are annex- ed to it.

" We whofe names are hereunto fubfcribed " have, in the prefence and by the favor of " Mr. Ireland, infpefted the Shakfpeare papers, " and are convinced of their authenticity/'

Samuel Parr.

John TweddelL

Thomas Burgefs.

John Byng.

James Bindley.

Herbert Croft.

Somerfet.

If. Heard, Garter King of Arms.

F. Webb.

R. Valpy.

James BofwclL*

* Mr. Bofvvell, previous to'figning his name, fell upon his knees, and in a tone of enthufiafm, and exultation, thanked God, that he had lived to witnefs this difcovery, and exclaimed that he could now die in peace.

Lauderdale.

( " 3

Lauderdale.

Rev. J. Scott*

Kinnaird.

John Pinkerton.

Thomas Hunt.

Henry James Pye.

Rev. N. Thornbury.

Jon". Hewlett, Tranflator of old Records^

Common Pleas Office, Temple. Mat. Wyatt. John Frank Newton.

The following is a catalogue of the papers above alluded to, dated

February 25 th, 17^5*

1. Viz. Shakfpeare's profeffion of faith on two fmall fheets of paper.

2. His copy of a letter to Lord Southamp- ton, and Lord Southampton's anfwer.

3. His letter to Richard Cowley, inclofing a curious drawing in pen and ink of himfelf.

4. His

( ^3 )

4. His letter to Anna Hatherwaye, the lady whom he afterwards married, inclofmg a braided lock af his hair.

5. Five poetical ftanzas, addrefled to the fame lady, in his own hand writing.

6. His note of hand, payable one month after date to John Hemynge, for five pounds, and five Ihillings, together with John He- mynge's receipt the day it became due.

7. A leafe of fix acres of land, and two houfes abutting on the Globe Theatre, granted

WL by William Shakfpeare to Michael Frafer, and figned and fealed by the refpeftive parties.

I

8. Deed of agreement between William Shakfpeare and Henry Condell for the weekly payment of a certain fum therein fpecified for the theatrical fervices of the faid Henry Condell, figned and fealed by the refpeftive parties.

9. Deed

( 24 )

9. Deed of agreement between William Shaklpeare and John Lowine for the weekly payment of a certain fum therein fpecified for the theatrical fervices of the faid John Lowine, iigned and fealed by the refpedive parties.

10. A fmall whole length of a tinted draw- ing, fuppofed to be of Shakfpeare in the cha- ra6ter of BalTanio, and on the reverfe fide the whole length of a perfon in the character of Shylock, in its original black frame.

11. An original letter of Queen Elizabeth to Shakfpeare, authenticated by himfelf.

In March 1796, In confequence of Mr. Albany Wallis having recently made a difcovery of fome deeds relative to Shakefpeare and Ire- land, the following Certificate was figned by the gentlemen, whofe names are annexed to it, after having carefully perufed and collated the faid deeds with thofe in my pofleflion.

! " London^

( ^5 )

" Londoriy March, 1796.

" We the underfigned, having infpeded the " following deeds in the poflelTion of Albany " Wallis, Efq. of Norfolk Street, viz.

** A conveyance, dated loth March, 1612, " faid to be from Henry Walker to William " Shakfpeare, William Johnfon, John Jackfon, " and John Hemynges, of a houfe in Black- ** friars, then or late being in the occupation of " one William Ireland -, figned Wm. Shak- *^ fpeare, Jo. Jackfon, and Wm. Johnfon.

'^ And a deed dated loth February, 16 17, *< being a conveyance figned Jo. Jackfon, Wm. " Johnfon, and John Hemynges of the fame " premifesi

** Having alfo Infpeded the following papers « of Mr, Samuel Ireland of Norfolk Street, " viz.

D "A MS.

( ^6 )

" A MS. Play of Lear, a fragment of " Hamlet, a play of Vortigern — feveral deeds, " witnefTed Wm. Shakfpeare — feveral receipts " and notes of difburfements of monies on ac- " count of the Globe and certain Theatres— " familiar letters figned Wm. Shakfpeare, and " other mifcellaneoiis MSS.

" And having compared the hand writing of " the above papers in Mr. Ireland's pofleflion, " with the fignatures of Shakfpeare and He- " mynge to the deed in Mr. Wallis's hands, as « well as with the publiflied Fac-fimiles of the " autographs of Shakfpeare to his laft will and " teilament, and to a deed dated ii Marchy lo *4 Jac. I. which came to the hands of Mr. Wal- '' lis, about the year 1760, among the title deeds " of the Rev. Mr. Fetherftonehaugh, and from " the character and manner thereof, we declare " our firm bcHef in the authenticity of the auto- " graphs of Shakfpeare, and Hcmynge, in the '' hands of Mr. Ireland,

Ifaac

( ^7 )

Ifaac Heard, Gr. K. at Arms.

Francis Webb.

Albany Waliis.

Richard Troward.

Jonn. Hewlett, Tranflator of old Records,

Common Pleas Office, Temple. John Byng.

Francis Tovvnfend, Windfor Herald. Gilbert Franklin, Wimpole Street. Matthew Wyatt, New Inrj. Richard Valpy, Reading. Jofeph Skinner. Frank Newton, Wimpole Street.

It may perhaps be almofl unneceflliry to ftate that I might have obtained innumerable fignatures to each of the certificates, I have laid before the public, had I reforted to any fo- licitations for the purpofe. The very refpec- table lift of fubfcribers to the publication of Shakfpcare's MSS may be adverted to, as a cor- roborating proof in favor of their validity and in juftification of my fending them into tlie worlci , D 2 I Iball

( 28 )

I fhall now prefent to the reader a voluntary depofition formally drawn on ftamped paper, and intended to be taken before a magiftrate by my fon.

" Samuel William Henry Ireland, of Nor- " folk Street, in the pariih of St. Clement " Danes, in the county of Middlefex, Gent. " maketh voluntary oath that fmce the i6th day *f of Dec. 17 94j he this deponent hath at various " times depofited in the houfe of this deponent's " Father, Samuel Ireland, of Norfolk Street " aforefaid, feveral deeds and MSS papers " figned and fuppofed to be written by Wm* " Shakfpear and others. And this deponent " farther maketh oath and faith that the deeds " and MSS papers now open for infpedion, " at his this deponent's father's houfe, are the " fame which he this deponent fo depofited as " aforefaid ; and whereas feveral difputes have " arifcn concerning the originahty of the deeds " and MS papers aforefaid, and whereas Ed- " mond Malone, of Queen Anne Street Eaft, of

" the

( »9 )

** the parlOi of St. Mary-le-Bonc, in the faidi " county of Middlefex, hath publickly advcr- « vertifed or caufed to be advertiled an aiTertion «f to the efied that he, the faid Edmond Ma- « lone, had difcoyered the aboye mentioned «^ papers and MS deeds to be a forgery, which ** aflerticn may tend to injure the reputation of " his the faid deponent's father. Now this de- " ponent farther maketh oath that he this de- '^ ponent's father, the faid Samuel Ireland, hath '^ not, no-- hath any one of the faid Samuel Ire- *' land's family, other than fave and except this " deponent, any knowledge of the manner in ** which he the faid deponent, became pofleiTeci " of the faid deeds or MSS papers afore faid or '* any part thereof, or of any circumftance, or '* circumftances relating thereto.

" S. W. H. Ireland.

" Sworn before me this day of March,

^ 1796.*'

Copied verbatim from the hand writing of my Son.

It

( 3= )

It being thought unneccfiary to enter into a formal depofition upon the fubjefl, my fon was not fworn to what he has here depofed. But Mr. Albany Wallis in May following drew up the advertifement which I have here fub- joined, conceiving it more adequate to the pur- pofe, which was inferted in the True Briton, Morning Herald, and other papers.

« Shakfpeare MSS,

" In juftice to my father, and to remove " the reproach, under which he has innocently " fallen, refpefting the papers pubHfhed by him « as the MSS of Shakfpeare, I do hereby " folemnly declare that they were given to him " by me, as the genuine productions of Shakf- *' peare, and that he was and is at this moment " totally unacquainted with the fource from « whence they came, or with any circumftance « concerning them, lave what he was told by " myfelf, and which he has declared in the *' preface to his publication. With this firm

" belief

( 3' ).

" belief and conviftion of their authenticity, " founded on the credit he gave to me and my '' aflurances, they were laid before the world. " This will.be further confirmed, whenatfome " future period it may be judged expedient to " difclofe the means by which they were ob- " tained.

« S. W. H.Ireland, Jun." Witnefs, Albany Wallis.

Thomas Trowfdale, Clerk to MeiTrs. Wallis and Troward.

Norfolk Street, May 24, 1796.

This is furely very ample teflimony, which my fon has adduced, to cflablifli my innocence of the imputed forgery. I corroborate this tefli- mony by fome further quotations from feveral letters, written by Mr. M. Talbot, already mentioned to myfelf and my family, of which the originals are preferved in my pofTefnon.

Dublin^

( 3^ )

Dublin, I ^th Apr Hi 1796.

** So much do I lament the unfortunate " predicament in which Mr. Ireland is involv- « ed, that I muft do every thing in my power " to extricate him from it, coniiftcnt with my " own honour, and oath. The offer I fhall " make, therefore will, I hope, be accepted " definitively without urging any more propofals, " fmce any others muft of neceflity be declined " by me, though my life were the forfeit for " being fccret. I will make an affidavit jointly " with Sam. " 'That Mr. Ireland is ifwocent of any " forgery imputed to him ; that he is equally as unac- " quaint ed with the difcovery of the papers, as the " world in general f. that he has been only thepub- " lifher of them : and that the fecret is known to " no more than Sam. r/iyfelf, and a third p erf on, ** whc7n Mr. Ireland is not acquainted with*'

If

( 33 )

"If our making this affidavit and the pub- ** lication of it will ferve Mr. Ireland, Sam « and myfelf are both ready to Itand forward."

" If I may venture an opinion, I ftill think •' it probable that the papers are genuine, that " Vortigern may have been one of Shakfpeare's « firft eflays at dramatic vvriting."

" The play of Henry ad I never have feen, " nor the manufcript of Vortigern, nor any " thing relative to it, till I was in London, long " after the latter was in Mr. Sheridan's hands. «f I muft therefore depend on the veracity of " others, as to their coming from the fame " fource as the few manufcripts I faw before I «' left London the firft time."

« Mr. Ireland has defired my opinion re- « fpefling a plan he propofes of making two " gentlemen of refpeftability acquainted with " every circumftance, who are to vouch to the " world for the authenticity of the MSS. E " This

( 3-V ) *' Thib will not be confillcnt with our promilc *' and oath-."

" M. Talbot."

It is worth remarking, that about a week before the receipt of this letter (and ftrange as it may appear, at the particular requefl: of my fon) a committee confiding of twenty-four re- fpecflable gentlemen met at my houfe, for the purpofe of caking into confideration every cir- ciimftance relative to the MSS and the obloquy under which I laboured, in confequence of their publication. This committee met at three dif^ ferent times within the month of April, and my fon v/p.s prefent at each of their meetings j at which he propofed that two refpeftable perfons wiio were not members of the committee, fhould be appointed to receive the foUowing informa- tion.

" The gentlemen are to be inform.ed whence the pa]:eis came, the name of the gentlcmnii, to whom they belonged, by whom

" difcovered,

C 35 )

« difcovered, and in what place, and manner. " The fchedule of thofe that remain behind is " in my father's pofTefTion, which he may fhew, " and which fhall be accounted for by me."

^' S. W. H. Ireland."

Copied verbatim from the above paper in his own hand writing, and in his pre fence read to the Committee.

It muft be obvious that this propofal does |iot concur with Mr. Talbot's opinion, as quoted from his letter above.

The following fchedule, likewifc, was pre- fented to the committee by my fon, accompa- nied with a folemn proteftation, that every article marked with * he had feen, and would in a fhort time be put into my hands : that thofe, which E 2 had

( 36 )

had not this mark, he had only heard were in cxiftence, but that he had not feen them.*

* Play of Richard II. in Shakfpeare's MS,

* Play of Henry IL * of Henry V.

* 62 leaves of K. John,

* 49 leaves of Othello.

* 37 leaves of Richard III.

* 37 leaves of Tinion of Athens,

* 14 leaves of Henry IV.

* 7 leaves of Julius Casfar.

* Catalogue of his books in his own MS^

* Deed by which he became partner of the

Curtain Theatre, with Benjamin Kele, and John Hemynges.

* Two drawings of the Globe Theatre on

parchment.

* Verfes to Q^ Elizabeth.

<«

♦ This fehedule was voluntarily written by my fon, on the loth Jan. 1796, in the prcfcncc of Geo. Chalmers, and J. Reeves, E'qrs.

^ Vcrfcs

( 37 )

* Verfes to Sir Francis Drake.

* Do. to Sir Walter Raleigh.

* Miniature of Shakfpeare fet in filver. Chaucer with his MS notes

Book relative to Q^ Elizabeth do. Euphues with do. Bible with do.

Bochas's Works with his MS notes. Barclay's Ship of Fools do. Hollinflied's Chronicle do. Brief account of his life in his own hand. Whole length portrait, faid to be of him ii> oil.

The committees alluded to, met three times without arriving at any fatisfadory determina- tions ; and as we found it difficult to feledl two perfons to receive the information, my fon had promifed, Mr. Albany Wallis, as a profelTional man, voluntarily offered to be himfelf the depofi- tary of the fecret. This trult, as he fays, he was induced to accept, in order to clear up any doubt in the mind of the fuppofed Gentleman as to

any

( ss )

any pajt of his property tliat might be endangered by foch difclofure. In confequence of tliis, my ion had frequent interviews with Mr. Wallis, But what was communicated, at thofe confer- ences, I have not learned from that gentleman;, notwitxidanding my reiterated importunities, and moil anxious folicitations for that purpoie. His uniform anfwer to thefe folicitations was^, " Do not afk me any queflions. It is not pro- « per that you fhould know the fecret. Keep *< your mind eafy i all will be well in time/'

In fupport of thefe teflimonics, by which my innocence mufl be clearly eftablifhed in the judgments of all, who have the flightcfi: pre- teniions to candor, or found fenfe, I will make another quotation from a letter I received from Mr. Talbot, dated Corkj Sept. i6th5 1796.

« Dear Sir,

" Your lad ItUer to nie fliould have been ^f anfwered fboner, and the prpmjfed affidavit

*' been

( 39 )

" been fent, ii" I could have obtained an anfvvcr *' from your Son to fomething I wrote about *« fome time fince. For without his confenting, *' if not joining in fuch a proceeding, I did " not think myfelf authorifed, in taking any " ftep whatever."

<^ I will do all I can to extricate you from " any difficulties you may labour under, and *' not having heard any thing from your fon> " I will make an affidavit folely. That frora " my intimacy with him, and my own know- •'* ledge of the myftery <?f the MSS you were " innocent of any defign to midead or deceive " the public."

" I beg leave to aiTure you, that I fhall feel " the greateft pleafiire in ftp.nding forward to '^ fcreen you, who are nn innocent fuiTerer."

«'• M. Talbot."

I have now exhibited to the world all the teftimonies of which I am in poficffion, relative

to

( 4° )

to the dlfcoveiy of thefe papers. Whatever imprelTion they are likely to produce, with re- gard to their authenticity, or fpurioufnefs, they who can doubt my innocence in the tranfaftions, after this ftatement mull be hardened with an incurable malice, or an impenetrable incre- dulity. Yet for nearly two years, I have been expofcd to the animadverfions of every half-formed, and puny critic, who has been fo far initiated in the elements of language, as to compofe a mahcious paragraph, and imbibed fo much of the fpirit of his fraternity, as to miftake petulance aad flander for reafon and invelligation.

-b"

Befides thefe evils, I have reafon to com- plain of the low tricks, and artifices, that have been reforted to, in order to excite the public prejudice againfi: the MSS. I allude to the fteps that were taken to preclude the Play of Vortigern from an equitable, and candid hear- ing. In fupport of this afiertion, let me refer the reader to the following advcrdfement, puh-

lilhcd

( 41 )

liflicd by Mr. Malone, nearly three months be- fore his enquiry made its appearance.

*' Spurious Shakfpeare MSS.

" Mr. Malone's detedion of this forgery ** has been unavoidably delayed by the engrav- " ings having taken more time than was ex- " pe6led j but it is hoped that it will be ready ** by the end of this month*

« Feb. i6, 1796."

"With regard to the delay, which the author of the advertifement feems to lament, I am compelled from my own knowledge of engrav- ing, to conclude that it was wholly intentional. I know, and I fpeak with confidence on the fubjed, that with very little diligence the en- gravings, which Mr. Malone has incorredly copied from my publication, would require a very fmall portion of time, for their completion. On the 25th of March, however, the play hav- ing been already advertifcd for the 2d of April, we find the critic, and his fellow labourers the engravers in fuch a ftate of forward nefs that the F publication

( 42 )

publication was advertifed for Thurfday March 31ft, only two days before the intended reprc- fentation of the piece. That it might be abfo- lutely impofTible that the milchi^f fhould not take cffc(fl, in feveral papers of the ill of April, particularly the Oracle, and Morning Herald, two different and elaborate critiques in praife of Mr. Malone's enquiFy made their appearance.

No man can entertain a doubt concerning the purpofes, this well conftru(5ted delay was meant to anfvver. The play was ready for re- prefentatlon. It was to make its appeal to the general judgment ; and to Hand or fall by its decifion. But it was the fcheme of this critic^ to intercept this appeal j to choak, and obftru6t the avenues to the public underftanding, and to overwhelm it with a torrent of ill-founded pre- judices, and anticipated conviiSlions.

I cannot pafs over this part of the fubjeft,. without remarking, that in order to counteract as much as polTible, the mifchief of tlitfe arti- fices,,

( 43 )

fices, I infcrted three days afterwards an advcr- tifement in the papers, in which 1 animadverted in very fevere terms on the temerity of charac- terifing his work, as a detedlion. In reply to this, Mr. Malone inferts a letter in the Gentle- man's Magazine, in which he vindicates him- felf from the charge, in the following words. ** With refped: to the literary temerity afcribcd ** to him (Mr. Malone) in charade rifing his *' work as a deteflion, he has no apprehenfion, " that he Ihall incur any cenfure from the judi- " cious part of mankind, fmee in this point of " view he only benches by the fide of his learned " friend the prefent very refpeftable Lord Bi- " fliop of Salifbury, who 46 years ago publifhed " a defcrvedly admired tra^l, on a fimilar fub- ** ]e&, thus intitled, Milton no Plagiary, or a ** Detection of the forgeries contained in Lau- « der's EfTay, on the imitation of the moderns " in the Paradifc Loft by Milton. By the rev. ^* John Douglas, &c."

I have made this quotation, that the world

F 2 may

( 44 )

may remark the indecent effrontery of drawing an analogy between the rev. Bilhop, and the author of the enquiiy. Not to mention the wide and unmeafurable diftance, between the literary endowments of the two writers, it muft be palpable to every one, that there is no re- femblance at all between the circumftances of Lauder's forgery, and the difcovery of the MSS in my pofleflion.

It is now time for me to clofe this part of the fubjedV. I have fhewn that the manner in which the artifices, of which I complain, have beencondudled, is of fo mean and pufillanimous a nature, that the malice has been of fo low and fo contemptible a fpecies, as to refled very ferious difhonour on him, who has condefcended to make ufe of it, becaufe it may naturally be ima- gined, that a perfon calling himfelf a fcholar and a gentleman, might have had recourfe to wor- thier and more dignified weapons of controverfy.

The other part of this work will be allotted

to

( 45 )

jco an inveftigation of the critical attacks, that have been directed againft the papers, in which I truft that Mr. Malone will be completely re- futed. Perhaps it might be expeded of me, that I Ihould jidvert to the other antagonifts, who have appeared in the field of the contro- verfy. Of the firft of thefe publications, enti- tled ** A Letter to George Steevens, Efq. con- ** taining a Critical examination, &c. &c." As it has been abundantly refuted in a very able pamphlet, entitled " A Comparative Review of '* . the opinion, &c. &c." I ihall fay nothing fur- ther. One Waldron likewifc, has waded into the controverfy, a bad acftor and a worfe critic. Thefe are men, on whom I fhall not animadvert. They who miftake their vanity for their capacity, and fuppofe that they are qualified to perform what they have prefumption to attempt, are a tribe, on whom admonition will be wafted, and rebuke will be fuperfluous.

But I have confined my reafoning to Mr, Malone j becaufe, as he is known to the world

by

( 46 )

by what may be emphatically called his literary hbours on other occafions, fo has he diftinguifh- cd himfelf by the bulk of his criticifms on this. What Dr. Warburton faid of poor Theobald, lie would have faid with infinitely more jufticc of this critic : " That what he read he could **' tranfcribe j but as what he thought, if ** ever he did think, he could but ill exprefs, *^ fo he read on ; and by that means got a cha- « raster of learning, without rifquing the im- *« putation of wanting a better talent.'* In the part, however, which he has taken in this con^ troverfy, he has brought die only literary qua- lity he has, that of patient, and laborious re- fearch, into fufpicion. Whether it be the in- ftinftive property of dulnefs to be dark, and bewildered, in proportion to the efforts it makes to be bright and perfpicuous, or that though he has much reading, he has not enough for the office he has arrogated, it is certain that his book abounds with fo many blunders, and overflows with fo much prefumption, that it fccms a fort of mixed animal, engendered be-.

tween

( 47 )

tvveen a perfevering dulnefs on one f:dc, and an envious mind on the othen

If I fucceed in proving what I have afTert- cd, I fliall do a very efleiltial fervice to litera- ture itfelf. I Ihall have ridded the literary world of a furt of ufurper. I ihall have pulled from his diflatorfhip a man, who has afpired with the moft prefumptuous arrogance to a kind of oracular dignity on thefe matters. I fhall have refcued the underftandings of the public from the dominion of a critic, who, relying on the bulk, of his labours, and the ponderous mafs of his refearches, has attempted to give laws on all topics of literature and criticifm.

But fhould I not effed: this purpofcj I fhall at leaft retire from the public tribunal with the foothing confcioufnefs, of having vindicated my own charader. For I truft I have laid before the world, a mafs of documents, which will ef- fedually lift me above the Itroke of the veno- mous afperfions that have been dire(5i:ed fo per- feveringly againfl: mc. Should the language I

liavc

( 48 )

have occafionally ufed in thefc attacks, appear harfli and irritable, I beg to obferve in my juf- tification, that Mr. Malone's ftridures arc uniformly clothed in the language of alperity and perfonal farcafm ; and fuiely fomc indul- gence ought to be allowed me, if I repel his at- tacks with the fame weapons, and reply to un- juft infmuations in the di6lion of indignant and wounded feelings. It was for the purpofe prin- , cipally of vindicating myfelf that I have ven- tured to make this appeal to the public. I might indeed complain of other misfortunes. I might advert to the pecuniary lofles and the confumption of time, which thefe tranfadlions have led me into. But when the moft valuable of all human benefits, a clear and unfullied character is endangered, I could not but look on every other evil, as of trivial and fubor- dinate con fide ration.

Norfolk Street, November, i7<j6.

F I N I S.

A"N

INVESTIGATION

O F

Mr. Mdone's Claim to the Charadter

O F

SCHOLAR, or CRITIC,

Being an Examination of his

INQUIRY INTO THE AUTHENTICITY.

OF TH E

Shakfpeare Manufcripts, &c,

B Y

SAMUEL IRELAND.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY R. FAULDER, NEW BOND STREET;

T. EGERTON, WHITEHALi; T. PAYNE, MEWS GATE;

AND WHITES, FLEET STREET.

PREFACE.

I

SHOULD not have been defirous of reviving a controverfy, which has for feme time ceafed to occupy the public attention ; or of entering into a difcuflion which the illi- beral part of the world has caught at, for the purpofe of indulging its natural propenfity to malevolence; and which a vain, weak, inter- efted, and illiberal individual has ufed for the purpofe of invading the peace of a private family, by introducing topics to which that difcuflion has no reference whatfoever. But I felt I had a right to expofe the incompeten- cy of Mr. Malone as a man of learning, upon

a 2 the

W PREFACE.

the only fubjed which he affecls to know 5 and I more ilroDgly felt it a duty to expofe his unvvorthy, and difingenuous conduct, as a Man. This object has led me into inqui- ries which could not be purfued without con- iiderable diligence and labor. Yet though I have entered into minute refearches, for the purpofe of controverting the pofitions of this Gentleman, I have fcrupuloufly abftained from the declaration of any opinion refpcdiing the authenticity of the nianufcripts them- felves. I prefume not to difturb the judg- ments of the public, if they have formed any, relative to the origin of the papers. The truth may probably be afcertained at fome future period, when literary animofities fhall have fabfided, and the queftion fhall have been taken up by lefs interefted and more temperate enquirers.

It may be expelled of me upon this occa- fion, to fay fomething upon a narrative and confefTion recently laid before the public.

And

PREFACE. V

And near to me as by the ties of nature the author of that narrative is, it muft be with fincere regret that I feel myfejf compelled to announce that he withdrew himfelf from my houfe and family in the beginning of June, 1796, that during this period, no intercourfe beyond a fliort communication at two dif- ferent times, but neither of them under my roof, in the prefence of third parties has fub- fifted between us. Whatever meafures there- fore, he has taken, relative to the elucidation of the fubje^l, and of whatever interpreta- tion his conducl may be fucceptible, cannot in the lead affe6l me ; fince he has been nei- ther open to the remonftrances, nor influen- ced by the admonitions, which the moral and natural authority of a parent might have fuggefted on my part. And as to his con- feffion, whether it receives credit, or whether it be altogether difbelieved, it does not afFe6l the argument which I have offered in this tract. I have merely confidercd the reafon-

ings

vi PREFACE.

ings of Mr. Malone on the refpedlivc topics, which have arifen out of the coiitroverfy. I have attempted to prove that he is a bad rea- foner, and a futile critic, and that the gene- ral inference, which he has drawn as to the authenticity of the manufcripts (whether true in fad or otherwife) is by no means eflablifhed by that mode of proof which he has adduced, and the arguments he ha§ iifed.

AN

A N

INVESTIGATION, &c

J- H E greateft difficulty which I have to en- counter, in my examination of Mr. Malone's work, is that which arifes ftom the fuperfluous matter, with which it abounds. The advantage which that author derives, from this redundant and defultory method of purfuing his fubjefV, is very obvious. If he does not overpower his adver- faries, he at leaft overwhehns his readers. They, who take up the book, not indeed from its bulk, but from the amplitude of its materials, are dif- pofed to feel a prcpofTefiion in its favours for where much labor has been obvioufly beftowed, fome learning is necefTarily inferred. Thus the greater part of its readers are ftupified into afienr^ and are perplexed into acquiefcence j becaufe they are willing to give the author credit for having proved that, which their own indolence will not fyfFcr them to examine.

A Before

( ^ )

Before however, the opinions of any critic are examined, it is proper to fee, whether he has any right to maintain an opinion at alh On what grounds does the critical competence of Mr. Ma- lone reft ? In the beginning of his work he de- clares that he refufed to infpefb the papers ; that he rejefled every invitation for that purpofe. He has himfclf pleaded his own difquaHfication.

All human opinion is the refult of antecedent enquiry ; and any opinion on any fpecific queftion, may be pronounced folid, or ill founded, accor- ding to the means and opportunities, which he who maintains it has had of enquiring into the evidence relative to it. Different queftions require different evidence, and are tried by different fenfes ; but on queftions concerning certain vifible and material inflruments, infpeclion is the only ftandard to which reference is to be made. The eye alone examines into the evidence, becaufe it is only by the eye, that minute analogies can be remarked, and comparifons of colors, fhades, and refem- biances fairly and accurately made. Mr. Malone fays that he difdained to try this queftion by per- fonal infpeclion. He rejeded the only fair, and fatisfa<ftory method of arriving at a judgment up- on the papers. Mr. Malone has therefore proved himfelf very incompetent to pronounce concerning

their merits.

It

TO AN

N QJJ I R Y, ^c.

i HE greatcft difficulty which I have to en- counter, in my examination of Mr. Malone's work, is that which arifes from the fuperfluous matter, with which it abounds. The advantage which that author derives, from this redundant and defultory method of purfuing his fubjeifV, is very obvious. If he does not overpower his adver- faries, he at lead overwhelms his readers. They, who take up the book, not indeed from its bulk, but from the amplitude of its materials, are dif- pofed to feel a prepofTeffion in its favour; for where much labor has been obvioufly beftowed, fome learning is neceflarily inferred. Thus the greater part of its readers yield a ftupid aflent, and are too much perplexed into acquiefcence j becaufc they are willing to give the author credit for having proved that, which their own indolence will not fuffer them to examine.

A Before

( "- )

Before however, the opinions of any critic arc examined, it is proper to ke, whether he has any right to maintain an opinion at all. On what grounds does the critical competence of Mr. Ma- lone reft ? In the beginning of his work he de- clares that he refufed to infped the papers j that he rejeftcd every invitation for that purpofe. He has himfelf pleaded his own difqualification.

All human opinion is the refult of antecedent enquiry ; and any opinion on any fpecific queftion, may be pronounced folid, or ill founded, accor- ding to the means and opportunities, which he who maintains it has had of enquiring into the evidence relative to it. Different queftions require different evidence, and are tried by different lenfes ; but on queftions concerning certain viftble and material inftruments, infpeftion is the only ftandard to which reference is to be made. The eye alone examines into the evidence, becaufe it is only by the eye, that minute analogies can be remarked, and comparifons of colors, fhaeits, and refem- blances fairly and accurately made. Mr. Malonc lays that he difdained to try this queftion by pcr- fonal infpedion. He rejefted the only fliir, and fatisfaftory method of arriving at a judgment up- on the papers. Mr. Malone has therefore proved himfelf very incompetent to pronounce concerning their merits.

It

( 3 )

h is worth while to remark the words of Mr. Malone on this curious topic. " I very early re- " folved" he fays " not to infpe6l them at the " houfe of the poffelTor, and I was glad to find " that my friends Dr. Farmer, and Mr. Stevens " had made the fame determination -, from an ap- " prehenQon that the names of perfons, who *' might be fuppofed more than ordinarily con- " vcrfant with the fubjecl of thefe MSS might " give a countenance to them, to which from the " fecrecy that was obfcrved relative to their dif- " covery, they were not intitled." " I was un- *• willing that my name Hiould directly or indi- " redllv give the fmalleft fan6bion to thefe papers."

Upon this arrogant remark of Mr. Malone, I have only to obferve, that had I imagined that Mr. Maione's infycElion of them would have gi- ven any fanftion to the papers, I fliould certainly have deemed it advantageous to my own intereft to have invited him. But Mr. Malone, and I are of a different fentiment with regard to the lanftion, v^hich his infpcflion would afford them. Of Dr. Farmer I had a different opinion, and I was defirous he fliould examine them. Dr. Parr wrote him a long letter in my houfe, prefling him to come to London for this purpofe, and urging him to view the papers as a duty he owed to himfelf and the world. I mention this to (liew, A 2 that

( 4 )

that I did net fhrink from the fcrutiny of thofc who, convenant with thefe fubjeds could have infpefbed them with an eye of intelligence.

But, in point of fact, did Mr. Malone re- fufe as he infinuates, to infpe6l thefe pretended originals ? I am at ifTue with him on the fa£r. Mr. Maione v/as not invited to infpedl the M3S, but notwiihilanJing his afiertion to the contrary, he betrayed a more thsn ordinary fclicitude to fee them, both by letter, and by the mofl prefTing application to various perfons : thefe felicitations were fruitlefs, he was informed that he could not be permitted to fee the papers, nor would they be fuffered to pafs out of my pofTelTion into any hands j unlefs I fl:iould receive the commands of any part of the royal family, who might exprefs a wifli to fee them.

Notvv'ithftanding this information through ano- ther channel (that, to which he alluded in his note, p. 22), he earneftly intreated a friend to procure Lord Southampton's letter, and fomiC of the other papers to be brought up to his houfe at a dated time, in order that he might compare them with other documents in his pofTeiTion : re- quefting that his name might not even be men- tioned, as having made the rcqueft.

The inflrument through which this intrigue was to be carried on, was my fon ; and I will leave the

condiift

( 5 )

conduft of Mr. Malone, in refortir.g to fuch an ar- tifice, with no other comment, than that which muft naturally arife from the mere flatement of the circumftance.

From what I have faid upon this topic, it muft neceflarily be inferred, that Mr. Malone is not always accurate in the ftatement of his fafls. There is a fimilar inaccuracy in the very begin- ning of his work. He there ftates that liis friend Lord Charlcmont fublcribed to the v/ork, at the requcft of a gentleman v/ho furniilied him with a fplendid profpeclus of it: ; and " that if Lord " Charlemont had knovv^n as much of it as he now " docs, he would not have given his nan^ic or his « money to the publication." In reply to this, I can poffitively affert, that I never made any peribnal application for fubfcriptions to his Lord- fliip, or any other perfon whatever. The fad is, that Mr. Rowley, (I believe a member of the Iriin Parliament), called upon m.e to infpect the papers^ and requefted me to put down his name as a lubf-r:- ber, and the name of Lord Charlemont ; at the fame time this gentleman remarked that his noble friehd was not a beUever in the authenticity of the paper.s. I have ftated this trivial circumftance to fl-iew that the infinuation of Mr. Malone is not founded on truth ; that his Lordftiip was not impo- fcd upon by any reprefmtations, titherinthe pro-

fjx'flus

( « )

Ipeclus or by any ether channel ; but that he vo- luntarily fuLlcribedj with a declaration that he was not a believer.

Before I proceed to follow Mr. Malone, ac- cording to the diftribmion he has made of the fubjeft, I would v/ilh the reader to obferve the temper, with which it fhould feem he fat down to the enquiry. In the firit pages of his work, there is as profuie a portion of egotifm and vanity to be obferved, as I ever remarked in any literary controverfy. His own capacity, as an illuilrator of Shakfpeare, his own pollefiion of the docu- ments relative to the bard, feem to be the only ftandard, by which he tries the merits of the con- troverted papers. He feems to have entered into the difpute, as if every thing that belonged to Shakfpeare was his own exclufive property ; and that any thing relative either to the life, or the writings of that immortal poet which proceeded from any other fource, was an infringement of his ov/n appropriate and inconteftablc privileges. He fays with a modefcy peculiar to himfelf, " 1 truft *' I fliall not be charged with any idle vanity, a " v»-eaknefs, if I at all know myfelf, mofl; foreign " from my nature and difpolition." After this profeflion of diffidence, it is amufing to follow the critic into the minute detail v/ith which he favours his readers, of all that he has done as a commen- tator

( 7 )

tator of Shakfpeare ; a detail, in comparifon of which Mr. Vicary's panegyric on his incomparable teres, or Mr. Packvvood's eulogium on his own ra- zors, is the very refinement of modefly and deli- cacy. He is perpetually ringing in the ears of the reader, the ancient documents of which he is in poffefTion. But till thefe documents are laid be- fore the world, and an opportunity of examining tlicir force, and authenticity be prefented to the public, it is furely a little too unreafonable to ex- peft that they fliould be allowed to be the only teft, by which all enquiries of this nature are to be ex- amined. When the twenty ponderous volumes, with which the public is threatened make their ap- pearance, we fiiall th.cn be able to judge concer- ning the ineftimable treafures of jjie critic. In the mean while, the ftate of mind in which the author of the enquiry has entered into the inveftigation, mufl appear not to be very difintcrefted, when he virtually confefTes that he has entered into it, on no other principle, and with no other feeling but that of an offended pride, and an unreafonable vanity, which has tauglit him to imagine that the very name of Shakfpeare is not to be pronoun- ced without his licence or indulgence.

I Ihall now follow Mr. Malone, according to the method in which he propofed to examine the fubjed". The firfl article which he has feledted

for

( S )

for aniinadverfionj is v/hat he is plcaled to call the pretended letter from Queen Elizabeth to

Shidifpeare.

" Wee diddi receive youre prettye verfes " goode Mafterre Wiiiiam through the hands of " cure Lorde Charabelayne ande wee doe com- " plemente thee onne theyr greate excellence. "^ Wee flialle departe fromme Londonne toe Hamp- '• VJwnQ forre the holidayes where wee fhalle ex- *' pecle thee withe thye belle adlorrs thatte thou •** mayfle playe before ourefeife toe amufe uffc bee *' notte fiowe butte comme toe uffe bye Tuefdaye " nexte, afie the Lord Leiceflerre wille bee withe " usse."

Elizabeth R.

" For Mafcer William Shakfpeare, atte the " Globe bye Thames."

" Thys letterre I dydde reccyve fromme mye " mofte gracyoufe Ladye Elyzabethe, ande I doe " requefbe itte maye bee kepte v/ithe alle care « poffyble."

W. Shakfpeare.

This letter Mr. Malone profefles to try ac- ^ cording to three different tellimonies ; the or- thography

( 9 )

thography, the phrafcology, the date, and the dif- fimilitude of the hand writing. But previous to his entering on the fubjefb, according to this plan of difquifition, he indulges himfelf with a few preliminary remarks ; which though they arc rather curious in themfclves, than illuftrative of the fub- jed, it may be fomev/hat amufing to examine. With much folemnity we are referred to what the critic flyles the archetype of this pretended letter, and the model on which it was conftruded. It cannot be denied, that Mr. Malone would have made a very important difcovery, had he (tumbled upon any antient form of a letter, of which diis let- ter from Elizabeth, was the indifputable im.itation or counterpart. But the refemblance muft be complete ; if it is not complete, no inference can be drawn from it. No loofe analogies, no gene- ral fimilitude, nothing fhort of a perfed identity will juftify any inference of this nature. Yet what is the ground, on which Mr. Malone fuppofes that this letter had an archetype or model, from which it was derived ? Why, it feems that in the year 17 lO, Bernard Lintot pubhfhed an edition of Shakfpeare's plays, and that in the preface to that publication, it was for the firft time mention- ed that " King James I. honored Shakfpearc " with an amicable letter written with his own " hand, and that this letter remained long in the

B " hands

( lO )

" hanJs of Mr. D'Avenant, as a credible perlbn " then living could well teilify." Sir William D'Avenant having died intcflate and ihfolvent, and his goods having been fcized by his creditors, this letter was unfortunately loft, and I fear will never be recovered. Here we have the germ and firfc principle of the letter from Elizabeth to Shak- ipeare, now before us.

So then, becaufc King James wrote a letter to Shakfpeare, ic is to be inferred that Elizabeth could not v/rite one alio. If Mr. Malone believes that King James coukl condefcend to write to Shakfpeare, furely ^fortiori it may be prefumed, that Elizabeth, whom the hiftorians defcribe as havinsf more condefcenfion of manners than her fucceffor, might v/rite to her favorite poet, in the iamiliar terms of the preceding letter. Then our critic is pleafed to obferve, that the fabricator of thele papers could have had no archetype (except her fign munual), for the hand writing of Queen Elizabeth ; and therefore that the imitation is ckimfily executed. Widi regard to this objedion, I can poTitively alTcrt that there are in many pri- vate, and public colledions, a variety of papers^ moft unqueftionably the hand writing of Elizabeth; that I have in my own poffeffion many fpccimens of this kmd ; an.l that he mud have been a very ftupid fabricator, who could not find autographs

*of

( II )

of the Queen's fign manual, and execute tlie tranfcript with fufficient exaflnefs for his purpofe. But I would wifh the reader to compare the auto- graph, which appeared in my publication, and to which Mr. Malone applies the terms " irregularity, '•' and licentioufnefs," with that which he himfclt' has exhibited. Surely the difference is fo minute that it would be the height of abfurdicy, to build an objection upon it. For when this fac-fimile is compared with that of Mr. Malone's, there is no other difference to be found, but what might be difcovercd in the hand writing of any perfon what- ever, when the difference of time and circumfLances is taken into confideration. At one time, the Queen may be fairly fuppofed to have written with the grcateft care and exaftnefs j at another, cur- rente calamo j and yet the fpecimens may bear a general refemblance to each other. Mr. Malone fays, that he " has perufed from the time of Ilenry " IV. I will not fay feveral hundreds, but fevcral " thoufand deeds, and other MSS." But I much doubt, whether if he had fcen them, he could have underftood them, j as I have been credibly informed that he cannot eafily or readily, dccypher the com- mon hand writing even of the time of Henry VIII. We now come to the orthography. Our critic obferves that the fpelling of this letter, as well as 0^ the other papers, is not only, not the orthogra- B 2 phy

( ■» )

phy of Elizabeth, or of her time, but is for the moft part the orthography of no age whatfocver. He then animadverts on the redundancy of vowels and confonants in the Shakfpeare papers ; and has exhibited fpecimens of orthography from the time of Chaucer to near the end of the fixteenth cen- tury. In p. 74, we are favored with a lift of words in the MSS that it is faid are not to be found fo Ipe'it any where elfe. Now it unfortunately hap- pens that; in the vocabulary that follows, exam- ples of moft of them are adduced. And though Elizabeth did not fpell the word and or for with the e final ande, fcrre, yet in a letter of hers to Mary, for which fee Curiofities of Litera- ture, vol. 2, p. 306, there are the following inftan- ces of her ufmg the e final, and of other fpelling which feems to correfpond with the fac fimile of her letter, riche, greate, beinge, dothe, afkinge, thinge, defiringe, feife, wiche, mynde, towarde, outwarde, hathe, bothe, ende, longe, &c. &c. I fhall take the liberty in my turn, not to quote from the time of Chaucer, but to exhibit fpecimens of fpelling during the period, on which we arc imme- diately occupied, in which it will be obferved that this redundancy of fpelling, was very common in thofe times. In proof of this from many hundred inftances the followifig are feleded as fufRcient teftimonies.

Thp

( >3 )

The words marked thus * are introduced in Malone's table of inftances to prove the fpuri- oufnefs of the Queen's letter, under an infinua- tion that they are no where eife to be found. Ob- lerve, the inftances here quoted are from printed books i and no doubt but in MSS of that day, many more inftances might be adduced.

Adieu. From Nicol's Elizabeth's Progrefs. p. 2, and in Churchyard's Pleafant Comedy. My dearc, adieu.

* Atte. See Mafon's Eflay on Defign in Gar- dening, p. 172, and 182. See alfo Sir Richard Guyldford's Pylgry mage towards J herufalem, folio 43, printed 151 1.

Att. Lodge, vol. 2, p. 148. Awcnfuers, (for anfwers). Lodge's Illuftra- tions, vol. 2, p. 182.

* Andc. See Percy's Ballads, 4 Ed. 1794, p. 136, and 137, and Notes in p. 94, and 95.

Ande. See Gentleman's Magazine for May 1796.

Ande. See Lodge's Illuftrations, vol. i. p. 22.

Archcblsfhop. ditto, vol. i, p. 301.

Brofle of doggs, (for brace of dogs), ditto, vol. 2. E 204.

Bee, (for be). Elizabeth's Progrefs, vol. 2, p. 60.

Bee. ditto, Pennant's London, p. 151.

* Before. Alviarie, 1580.

Bufliopp.

( '4 )

Builiopp^ Lodge, vol. 2, p. 48

Bawbles. See Life and Reign of Richard II. printed in 1681, p. 228, line 17.

Baubles.' See Cymbeline, and in a Note by Stevens to the 9ifl: Sonnet in Malcne' s own Edition.

Ckppe. Elizabeth's Tranfiation of Seneca. See Nugs Antiquce.

Contsmpne. ditto.

Contyncwaunce. ditto.

Clowdes. ditto.

Comhavvendemente. From an ancient MS re- lative to the Howard family, in the 15th, century.

Cuntree, (for country). See Lodge, vol. 2, p. 43. From Elizabeth's own hand writing.

Clenged, (for cleaned;. I^pdge, vol. 2, p. 10 1.

Canne. ditto, p, 249.

Cuppe. ditto, p. 252.

Cownfaille. ditto, p- i83.

Coockoes. See Elizabeth's Progrefs, vol. 2,

^ Doe. FJizabcth's Progrefs, vol. 2, p. 62, and in State Papers, p. 316.

* Doe. Water Poet, Pennant's London, and Stafford's Niobe.

Doonn, (for done), ditto, p. 316.

Doone, (for ditto), ditto, p. 155.

Daindgeroofly. ditto, vol. 3, p. 22.

Dyflcreete. ditto, vol. 2, p. 67.

Dov.'btte. diuo, vol. 3, p. 26.

Dyflavej

( 15 )

Dyflave, (for deceive), ditto, vol. 2, p. 256. Depelyer, (for deeper), ditto, vol. 1. p. 185. Dramme. George Gafcoine's Works. Doompes, (for dumps), ditto. Determynacions. Burleigh's State Papers, p. 321.

Exequuted. See Lodge, vol. 2, p. 39.

Exampell. ditto, p. 183.

Erre. ditto, p. 221.

Empploye. vol. 2, Lodge, p. 162.

Ferre, (for far), ditto, p. 5.

* Forre. See the Fflores of Ovide, printed in 1 5 13, and V/aidron's Literary Mufeura, printed in 1792,

Forbydde. Lodge, vol. 2, p. 250.

Fowerttien, (for 14). ditto, p. 144.

Faythebrekynge. vol. 3, p. 59.

Farre. See Conveyance from Walker to Shakfpeare.

Farre. See Nicol's Progrefs, in Verfes on the Coronation of Ann Bolcyn.

Fryndefhippe. Warton's Hiftory of Englifli Poetry, vol. 3, p. 423.

* Goode. Lodge, vol. i, p. 306. Gonne. ditto, p. 47.

Gracioofs, (for gracious), ditto, p. 75- Grace. Frequently applied to Queen Eli- zabeth, in Nicol's Progrefs.

Gemme.

( i6 )

Gcmmc. Nicol's Churchyard's Pkafant Con- ceits, p. 5.

Hellpe. Lodge, 1570, N. p. '25.

Hufc, (for ufe). Sec a MS letter from the Mayor of Doncaller, in the Shrewlbuiy Papers, in the Heralds College.

Howfe. Lodge, p. 38.

Horsfkeippar. ditto, p. 53.

Lladd anny. ditto, 120. '

HoriTe. Letter from the Lords of the Coun- cil to E. of Shrewfberry, 1596. Lodge, vol. j^

p. 34-

Hee. Brown's Paftorals, p. 2.

I ame, (for I am). Lodge, vol. 2, p. 32.

I mooft, (for I muft). ditto, p. 123.

Juftycefnyppe. ditto, vol. 3, p. 27.

Jerkins of Velvet. Elizabeth's Progrefs, p.

53, among Remarkable Events in 1559.

Knaifferie, (for knavery). Lodge, ditto, p. 79.

Lordfliyppe. ditto, p. 33.

LiefFetenant. Nicol's Churchyard, p. 35,

Myfcontentydde. Lodge, folio 47. 1559.

Mee. ditto, p. 19.

Manne. ditto, p. 249.

Mee. Taylor, Water Poet, 245

Metier for Mailer. Burghlcy's State Papers,

445.

■ Monncth.

( "7 )

Monneth, (for month). Lodge, vol. i, p. 3^6, 343.

Nues, (for news). Lodge, vol. 2, p. 64.

Nuers evyn, (for new years evening), ditto, 115.

Nyte, (for night), ditto, 200.

Nicnttien, (for nineteen), ditto, 144.

Nee. ditto, 161.

Ourfelfe. Henry VIIL Preface to his Seven SacramentSj printed by Bartelet, i543> ?• 2 and

98.

* Oure. La Vieux, Nat. Brev. p. 219, 1580. One, (for on). Malone's Prologomena, p.

484, vol. 2.

Onne, (for one). State Papers, p. 166.

* Off. Lodge, vol. I. 128. Patronne. ditto, p. 48. Purffe. ditto, 204. Putte. ditto, ditto, 250. Purpoffe. ditto, 54.

PrycefTe, (for prices), ditto, 151. Rangk, (for rank). Lodge, vol. 2, p. 47. Redynefse, Elizabeth's Tranflation of Se- neca. See Nugse Antiquse.

Sonne. Lodge, vol. 2, p. 3. Synnes. ditto, 16. Shoolde. ditto, 2^. Sowne. ditto, 48.

C Seemcs.

( «8 )

Seemes. ditto, 435.

Soomerz, (for Summers). Sec Gafcoignc's Works. Princely Pleafures of Kenilworth Caftle.

Shee. Taylor, Water Poet, p. 258.

Starre. Elizabeth's MSS. Pennant.

Thenne. Lodge, vol. i. p. 78.

Toowardcs. ditto, p. 29.

Tenne. ditto, p. 144.

Uppe. ditto, p. 158.

Ufie, (for ufe). See Darell's Account of Grievous Vexations of feven Perfons of Lanca^ fhire.

Vertuouoofe. Lodge, vol. 3, p. 28.

Veu, (for view). Spenfcr.

Viewe. Queen Elizabeth's Progrefs, p. 2.

WytnefTes. Lodge, p. 344.

WoorlTc, (for worfe). Lodge, vol. 2, p. 15.

Woolde. ditto, p. 19.

Warres. ditto, p. too.

* Wee. Elizabeth's Progrefs, vol. 2, p. 62.

* Wee. Taylor, Water Poet, p. 195.

* Wee. State Papers, p. j^o.

* Wee. Stafford's Niobe, printed in 161 1.

* Where. See Barrett's Alvearie, 1580.

* Withe. Bacon's State Papers, p. 315. Yett. Lodge, vol. 2, p. ;^^.

Yee. Brown's Paftoral, B. 2, p. 8.

* Yourre. iS'^9} ^-^ Eodge, p. 47.

If

( ^9 )

If Mr. Malone wants MS proofs of a bad ^d indefinite mode of fpelling, fpecimens enouo-h may be found in his jd vol. of Prologomena, p. 447, and in his extrafls from a vol. of Henflowe's Notes, and Theatrical Accounts from 1597, to j6oj.

Mulomurco, for Mulamulluco, Spanes, for Spanifh. Malltufe, for Malta. Poope, for Pope. Tamberzanne, for Tamberlane. Gelyon, for Julian. Janeway, for January. Burdocks, for Bourdcaux. Konkerer, for conqueror. Heafter, and Afheweros, for Efther, and Aha*' /ueras.

Camdew, for Candia.

Foftofle, for Fauftus.

Grefyan, for Grpcian,

Umers, for humors.

Anteckes cootes, for anticks coats.

Pygge, for Pfyche.

Anlhente, for ancient.

Serpelowes, for furplice.

Dowlfen, for dauphin.

Fayeton, for Phaeton,

C 2 Mought,

( 20 )

Mought, for mouth.

Apelles, for apples.

Bengemyri; for Benjamin.

Hoate, for hot.

One, for on.

Aclycians, for additions.

Hinchlow, a proper name, for HenHowc.

Fower, for four. p. 493, ditto

Twooe, for two.

From the catalogue I have given, I prefume that Mr. Malone's objedion to the letter of Eli- zabeth on the grounds of its orthography, being irreconcileable to the orthography of the age, is completely invalidated. But our critic lays much emphafis on the ohjedlionable fpelhng of the word Maflerre, and remarks that the fpellin^ of the word at that period was Maijier. Yet not- withftanding the decifive tone of this afiertion, he himfelf produces an inftance in p. 377, of his appendix, of its being fpelt Mafter.

In the Padon Letters, ad vol. p. 292, he like- wife confelTes that it is fpelt Maftyr, and in the Burleigh State Papers it is Mefler; fo that if it appears that the orthography of this word was fiuduating and variable, and depended on the ha- bits of the different perfons who ufed it, no pofi- tive objection againft any fpecific mode of fpelling

( 21 )

it, is at all fair or well grounded. Mr. Maionc likewife remarks on the fpeiling of chambelayne, and objects to the omiflion of the letter r, obfer- ving at the fame time, that if the queen had omitted any letter it would have been the m. I reply to this, that he ought to have known that the word was derived from the French chafnbelan, and therefore that the letter m could not have been omitted, as there was no r in the French orthography. Befides might not the r have been omirted by accident ? As to his exception alfo t3 the fpeiling of Londonue, which he fays was never fo fpclt, I refer him to Elizabeth's Progref?, p. 2jr, vol. 2, where the orthography flands as in the letter Londonne : But there is another objeftion, and that it feems is a fatal one, to tiie unfortunate fpeiling of Hamptowne. Is it to be fuppofed, fays Mr. Malone, that this learned queen who knew eight languages, Ihould be fuch a dolt as not to know the orthography of a v/ord fo familiar to her ? But, I would afk, whether a man pretending like Mr. Malone, to be fo convcrfant in thefe matters, does not in fome fort anfwer to the defcription of dolt ? Who has not obferved tlie in- finite licence of orthography, which charafterifed our language at this period ? Who has not re- marked, I do not fay, the numerous deformities, but the capricious diverficy of fpeiling in alinoft every

book

( " )

book of the time ? For a ftriking illuftration of the licentiouihefs of Englifli orthography at thet period, I refer to a letter (in the Courtiers Aca- demy printed in 1557)^ written by the learned Sir John Cheeke, to his joving friend Mailer Thomas Hoby.

In the preface to Upton's Fairy Queen, is the following remark on this fubjed, as far as concerns the orthography of manufcripts. " The truth is, " that the printers and corredors of the prefs^ " thought themfelves much wifer in this kind of " lore, than either the poet or his editors." See alfo Mafon's recent publication of Occleeve's Poems, from a MS bought by him at Leigh and Sotheby's, in which the editor remarks in his preface, p. 17 and 18. " That there is a degree " of uncertainty in all that can be faid about afcer- " taining the ftate of our language at former pe- « riods.'*

Rowe on this fubjeft fays, in his account of the life, &c. of Wm. Shaklpcare, — diat '^ we arc " to confider him as a man that iiyed in a ftate of ^' almofc univerfal licence and ignorance, there was *'^ no efbabliihed judge, but every one took the <^ liberty to write according to the dictates of his *' own fancy, &c. &c.

For a peculiar and indefinite manner of fpelling, I refer the reader to Queen Elizabeth's Progrefs

by

( 23 )

by Nicols> where in aUrofl every page tny obfer- vations *Vill be amply corroborated 3 he produces inftances in which the fame word has ei2;ht dif- ferent modes of orthography. In his note, p. 7 1> the word court is fpelt in the following different modes, corte, court, coorte, courte, courght. With re- gard to Hamptowne, it is very fingub.r, notv/ith- ftanding the pofitive manner in which Mr, Malone aflerted that it was uniformly fpelt Hampton, thdt he himfelf has given an inftance of Hamptoivn, befides, which I have myfelf fecn, Wintown, Cranfbown,, Floptown, and Milfingtiov.'n ; and it would be very extraordinary if ihc final c, fhould in this word be repugnant to the analogy of the language, when it forms the final letter of many hundreds of names of places after the fyllable ion. But we are now come to a mifnomer, compared with which all the others it feems are trivial, that is, the fpelling of Leycefterre, for Leyceflicr. Then, to fhew how fairly and legibly that noble- juan always wrote his name, we are referred to the fac-fimile of his autograph, given us by Mr. Malone ; but furely he v/ould not wifli us to con- clude, that all the autographs of the fame individual will neceflarily be equally fair and legible. Are the various autographs, for inftance, in the Britifli Mufeum, all of them equally fair and legible ? and if one fpecific autograph be Icfs legible than

the

( M )

the other, who will infer that it is therefore a forgery ? Yet Mr. Malone is completely ignorant of the mode of fpeliing the name at the period v/ith which \ve are concerned. In page 72, he fays, that the true orthography is Leycefteri in the fame page he repeats more pofitiveiy ftil), that " this nobleman himfelf always wrote it " Leyceder;" again he fays, in the fame page, that *' he uniformly wrote it Leyceiler." In di- rect refutation of thefe pofitive and dogmatical affertions, let me refer to the privy council book of that period, from which the following cxtrafts are made, and by which it appears, that from January 19, to May 5, the name is not once fpelt Leycefter as Mr. Malone Hates.

19 January, 1506, E. of Leicejiery prefenc In council.

21 January, d:tto*

11 January, ditto, and 10 on always the fame fpeliing.

I April, 15B7, E. of Leyccjire^ prefent. Same day, E. of Leuejier.

22 April, 1587, M. o( LeiceJlrCi prefent.

23 April, 1587, ¥.. o^ Leycejlrey prefent.

25 April, 1587, E. o( Leicejiery prefent. Same day, E. of LeicsfirCy prefent.

26 April, 15B7, E. oi Leicejlrey prefent. Same clay, E. of Leicejiery prefent.

5 May,

( i5 )

5 May, 1587, E. of LeycefteVy prefent. 18 June, 1587, E. of LeicefteVi prefent.

Having brought forward fo many MS proofs, I fhall now refer the reader to Burleigh's State Pa- pers, p. 527, where it is fpelled Leceftery in the fame work, p. 543, it Hands Leiccjlrcy p. 545, it is Lecejlre\ in the Annals of Elizabeth's Reign, publifhed 1625, it is invariably printed Lcicefter. To fhew that it was not ufual in thofe times to Ipell thefe names with ltri6t uniformity, in Bur- leigh's Papers, p. 543, Northfolcky ftands for Nor- folk; in tlie fame page Norfolcky and in the following page Norfolk, as it is ufed at this day. In p. 546, of the fame book. Lord Shrewsbury's name is fytlx. Scherujbereis -y In p. 560, he is addrefled by the queen as lieutenant in her own hand, Therlc of Shrewjhery. It would be an endlefs, and a very unedifying labour, to point out thefe varieties. It is fufficient to have cited thefe inftances, t3 Hiew that Mr. Malone is utterly ignorant of the matters, on which he fpeaks with fo much pre- fiimption and arrogance.

From the difcuflion of this curious topic which I have juft clofed, it will be remarked, how un- fettled and capricious the orthography of our language was at the period alluded to. The fpeci- mens I hav<^ quoted, will demonftrate the abfurdity

D of

( 26 )

of Ipeaking in a tone of decifion on thefe fubjects, or of drawing general inferences from fpecific in- fiances.

Bur wc are now come to confider Mr. Malone^s exceptions to the Language and Phrafeology of the MSS. The firft peculiarity, which he notices, is the word pretty, which he fays was not the phrafe of the time. Here we have only an afltrtion, which like the others, that Mr. Malone's book overflows with, is of the fame fallacious, and fee- bie nature. The word pretty was in general ufe, at this period, and is ufed by all the writers, who were cotemporary with Shakfpeare, as well as by Shakfpearc himfelf.

** For to a pretty ear fhe tunes her tale.**

Venus, and Adonis,

" He that hath feen the fvireet Arcadian boy, " Wiping the purple from his forced woumJ;

" His prettie tears betokening his annoy,

" His flghs, his cries, his falling on the ground." Thomas Lodge's Scillas Metam. 1589.

** An yvorie fliadow'd front, wherein was wrapped " Thofe />rt'/-'/V boures, where graces couched lie."

Ibid.

No

( 27 )

** No more my glances play with him fo pret'ie."

Ibid.

" Too tratterous pretie for a lover's vleu."

Ibid.

'' Whofe pretie tops with five fweet rofes ends."

Ibid.

<* That of their teares, there grew a pretie brook."

Ibid.

" Some pretie witnc/Te to the {landers by. "

Ibid.

*' Delicious fhine her pretie eyes. "

Ibid.

« Pretty wit."

As you like it.

A Prety and Plealant Poeme of a whole Game of Chefs, is the title of a book printed in 1597.

After thefe inftances, efpecially as he allows Shakfpeare, and Ralegh to have ufed pretty tales, can this critic doubt whether the epithet was ap- plied to written compofitions .''

Thefe references miift be more than are ftridly

neceffary to overthrow Mr. Malonc's exception.

D 2 Eut

( "-« )

But he like fome iinfkilful horfeman, it Ihould feem, is prepared for a fall, and has provided againft it. '* I enter my proteft" fays he, " againft the triumph of thofe, who may produce " anticnt examples of the ufage of words to " which I obje6t." This is curious. He at- tempts to prove the fpurioufnefs of the MSS, by fhewing that the words ufed in them, were not the words or phrafe of the period to which the pa- pers are attributed. Yet he enters his proteft againft every argument that upholds the oppofite pofition. An ingenious mode of logic truly, and one that is calculated to fave a world of argument on every fubjedt to which it is applied. But let us hear his ov/n jyftitication of it. "If" fays he, " out of four objedions, only one fhould be " found incontrovertible, it will eftablifh the fpu- ^ rioufnefs of the piece as well as four hundred." Surely it cannot be expefted that a ferious anfwer can be given to fuch a grols, and palpable abfur- dity ; efpecially where it has been ftiewn to be im- poflible, that any reliance can be placed upon any fuch objeAions. A crown lawyer who on a cafe of high treafon, after calling a lift of v/itneffes in fup- port of the charge, all of whom had been proved contradiftory, and incompetent, would furely be extremely ridiculed if he were to exclaim j that if one wirnefs could be produced whofe evidence

could

( ^-9 )

could not be difproved, the contradictions, and perjuries of the others were to have no weight at all with the jury.

Then our critic proceeds to ftart objections againft the words co'Mplement, and excellence. With regard to the former, he objeds to ils ufe as a verb adive, which he fays ** was never known in " this fenle, in that age, nor for fome time aftcr- " wards." In refutation of this, I would refer the reader to Florio's Ptalian Diftionaty, 1611, where it is plainly ufed as a verb aftive ; comple- mentare to complement, and compire to \:St ccmplc- mentSj or ceremonies.

Mr. Malone obferves on this topic, that till fome inftance be produced againll him Tie has ^ right to affume that it did not exift. I have here adduced a decifive evidence of its exiftence. By the fame right, and on the fam.e principle the pub- lic are threatened with an edition of Shakfpeare in twenty volumes ^ where perhaps, after filling up whole pages with ufelefs references as he has done here, it v/ill end in an avowal of his igno- rance, and the text will be left to fome plain and unfophifticated underftanding to reftore what has been defaced by the prefumptuous ignorance, and unfeeling drudgery of the commentator.

Now for the worcf excellence. Mr. Malone de - nies that it fignificd the purity or goodnefs of

written

( 30 )

•written compofitions. But if the reader will turn to Barrett's Aivearie, 1580, and to Florio already quoted, he will fee that the word is unqueftionj.bly, ufed in the fenfe to which he objects ; and furely if the epithet has this fignification, it is the height of abfurdity to fuppofe that it might not be applied to written compc iitions, as well as to any other fubftantive to which adjectives are ufually applied : I will however produce another inflance in the fe- cond fong in Brown's Paftorals, v/here he fpeaks decidedly of the excellence of art.

In the Overthrow of Stage Plays in 1600, p. 25, we are told that *' Nero being tickled with '' defire of prayfe, and loving to heare men ap- " prove his playing on the ftage with clapping of " their hands and crying out excellent, excellent V

Two months after the publication of Mr. Ma- lone's niafs of hyper-criticifm, he correds himfelf in the Gentleman's Magazine, as to the word excel- lence-y and declares that " he had, had reafon fincc *' to believe that the word was thus ufed in Shak- " fpeare's time." It is furely a fingular circum- ftance, that the critic after affcrting in the mod decifive tone that the word was not ufed in the above fenfe, fhould without any apology or confef- fion of his own rafhnefs, retraft his affertion. It puts us in mind of the gentleman mentioned in the

Spcdlator,

( 31 )

Spe^lator, who knocked a man down in the ftreec, and then very civily begged his pardon.

The next cbjeftion is to the word curejelfe. He fays that when ufed with tne pcrfonal pronouns or prenominal adjeftives, it was always written fe- parately. I fhali cite inftances as iifual to refute the objection. Ourjelfe. PTenry VIII. 's preface to his own facraments printed by Bartelet, 1354, p. 2, and 93. Himfelf. Argument to the firfl: edition of Shakfpeare's Rape of Lucrece, 1594. InR. Whiteford's Worke for Houfeholders, 1530, " hide, and give moll diligence to ov^tr yourefelfe " and all youres, &c. that goth before.'' My/elf e, Venus, and Adonis, 1600, See Supplement to Johnfon, and Stevens edition. Thyjelf twice writ- ten in ditto, p. 441, ditto. ThemfelveSy ditto, p. 411. Itjelfj Sonnets, p. 95. In Chriftophcr Middleton's Hiftorie of Heaven, 1596, we find " for proofe whereof he fees how greate beafts " bow and humbly caft themjelves at wife mens « kttr

'* Then thinkes he unto hmfelfe, &c." Hym- felfe. See Barclay's Batayle of Jugurth, 32 B.

But Mr. Malone willies a dlftindion to be drawn between manufcripts, and printed books, and obferves tliat the united words of ourfelfe is not to be found in the manufcripts of the age. In reply, I obfcrve tliat from the various citations

I Iiave

( r- )

I have made from prinred books, it may very ca- fily be inferred, thac they were joined in the ma- nufcripts, from which the books were printed. For though in a few initances, whether from the care-- leflhefs of the compofitor, or any other caufe, the printed copy might differ from the MS, yet it is hardly poffible to fuppofe that this deviation v/ould take place in the various books I have juft in- ftanced.

What follows in the catalogue of Mr. Ma- lone's objections, is the exception he is pleafed to take againft the word arauzey which in its pre- fent fenfe, he fays is perfeftly modern. In fup- port of this exception, he refers us as ufual, to hi-s old friends, the didcionaries ; among which he feems to have made many very elaborate refear- ches. Then he ainujes us with a lift of names, fuch as Barret, Cotrave, Buliekar, and Sherrwood, in none of whofe works he has been able to find the controverted v/ord ufed in the fenfe to which it is now applied. By fome fingular fatality in the critical labors of Mr. Malone, he feems always to look in the wrong place, for that, which perhaps when he looks after, he wiflies not to find. For had he turned to Florio's Italian Dictionary, which I have before had occafion to quore, he would have feen the word with the very fenle an- nexd to it, which he fo pofitively fiys did not be-

loR":

i 33 )

long to it at that time. " To amufej trattenere, tener a hada.

Before I clofe this topic, I cannot refrain from indulging myfelf in a fingle remark, on the habit fo peculiar to Mr. Malone, of citing di6lionaries and lexicons in fupport of his objeftions- He feems to have paid more devotion to Barret, Cotgrave, Cawdrey, Bullokar, Sherwood, Cock- ram, Philips, Cole, and Kerfy, than to the Nine Mufes : and he looks on their works as authorities, from which no appeal can pofTibly be had. But it requires litdc reflexion to know that thefe au- thorities are at bed defedive j they cannot contain all the varieties and obliquities of language. Of fome, the works were profeffedly confined and par- tial ; and others brought to the tafk, fcanty and im- perfe6b materials. The beft diflionary does not contain all the words in ordinary and vernaculac ufe J and fo vaft is the extent of human didtion, and fo inadequate is the induflry of man to traverfe the whole field of language, that the moft faga- cious of them all have complained, that their la- bour is frequently circumfcribed, and their pur- pofes perpetually defeated. Mr. Herbert Croft fays, that Dr. Johnfon, who is the beft lexicogra- pher the age has produced, has omitted thoufands of words, not merely of different fignifications. I have made this obfervation to fhew, that if Mr.

E Malone

( J4 )

Malcne is iuccefsful when he refers to didtionarieS in fupport of his objeftions to the ufe of words j the authority on which he attempts to refute is fometimes queftionable, and always imperfedl. But I have done more than this. I have fliewn even from the diflionaries, to which he is fo fond of appealing, that the words he excepts againft, are uniformly ufed in the very fenfe which he de- nies them.

We are now to confider, what our critic calls the incongruous circumftances attending the letter, the fuperfcription, the negative date, &c. Firll he objedbs to the fuperfcription. " For Mafter " Wm. Shakfpeare atte the Globe by Thames." " So that" he fays, in a ftyie of banter, " the " "mefienger was to find out on which fide of the " Thames, north, or fouth, the theatre lay." Surely there is fomething too frivolous in this ob- je<51;ion to be noticed with ferioufnefs ; for was it at ali more neceffary that the fuperfcription of her majefty's letter fliould minutely point out the fide of the Thames to which it was directed, than that a letter to David Garrick, fhould have been fuper- fcribed to Dfury Lane Theatre on the eaft fide of Brydges Street. With regard to the negative date of this letter, though I can pofitively alTert that there never was a date upon it, as has been malicioufly infinuated, n is only from conjecture that I afcribc

to

( 35 )

to it, that of 1588. It has alfo been Infinuated -that Lord Leicefber wr.s dead, when this letter was written. It will be obferved however, that this is mere conje6ture. I have alfo my conjec- tures on the fubje<fi. The public will judge which is the raoft probable. In 1587, Lord Leicefter went out a fecond time to the Low Countries, for the purpofe of raifing the fiege which was then carrying on againft Skiys. He returned it is well known, in difgrace with the privy council, on account of the mifcarriage of his enterprize. But a fliort time after he was reftored to the fwour of her majefty. In July 1588, when the Armada arrived in the channel, Leicefter was appointed general at Tilbury fort, commanding 1000 horfe, and 22000 foot. After various engagements from J 2th July, to 3 1 ft of the fame month, the Armada was difperfed and purfued by the Englifh. Soon after this defeat, the queen went to St Paul's in public proceffion ; and general thankfgivings were offered up in commemoration of that glorious event; and there is every reafon to conclude, that Ihe was not inattentive at that period to her favo- rite amufement, theatrical exhibitions.

If any authority is allowed to the memoirs of Robert Gary, E. of Monmouth, in Nicol's Eliza- beth's Progrefs, it feems *' that plays, mafques, and «* tournaments were fmall branches of thofe many E 2 " fpretiding

( 36 )

" fpreading allurements, which Elizabeth made " ufc of to draw to herfelf the afFedions, and ad- " miration of her fubjcds. She appeared at them " with dignity, eafe, grace, and affabihty." Now from every authority it appears, that the Earl of Leiccfter, from that time July jift, was in perfe6t health, and continued fo to the period of his death, which, according to D'Arcey in his Hifiory and Annals of Queen Elizabeth, happened on the 14th of December, 1588. Stowe's Cronicle how- ever, publifhed in tlie year 1590, fays, " on the 4th " of September, 1588, deceafed Robert Dudley, " Earl of Leycefter, Lord Steward of her Majeily's " Houfehold, he. &c. at Cornbury in Oxford- " fhire, from v/hence he was conveyed to his caf- " tie at Kenil worth, and from thence to Warwick, " where he was honorably interred." Admitting therefore that he died on the 4th of September, there was a fufficient interval of time, for his ufual attendance on the Queen at theatrical reprefenta- tions. Upon the bypothefis of the date 1588, a re - ference to Aggas's map of London in 1568, to Vertue's map in 1560, and to that of Braun, and Haugenburgius in 1573, proves nothing to the purpofe. Yet I might refer to a map publillied by Mr Pennant in his Hiftory of London, which is a copy of one publiflied in the year 1563. In this map, there is to be fccn on the Bank-fide, a

theatre.

( 37 )

theatre, which is fet down as " Shakfpeare's play- " hoiife." Now though this is evidently an ana- chronifm, (Shakfpeare not being born till 1564), yet it appears that a theatre flood which exadlly correfponds to the place, where the Globe Theatre is fuppofed to have been built.

In order tp corroborate his reafonings our cri- tic ftates, that " he difcovered a contradl made *' the 8th of January 1599- 1600, between Philip " Henflowe and Edward Alleyn the player, on the " one part, and Peter Strcete a carpenter on the ** other, for building the Fortune Play Houfe, *^ near Golden Lane, which afcertained the di- <^ menflons and plan of the Globe Theatre, there " called the late ereded Play Houfe on the Bank- " fide, &c. &c. and I have lately difcovered" he continues, " a bond executed by Burbage the " piayer to this very Peter Streete, on the 2 2d " Dec, 1593." So then, the whole reafoning comprehended in this detail, is nothing more than this ! Peter Streete a carpenter, in 1599, entered into a contract with Henflowe, and Alleyn, to build the Fortune Play Houfe. It is aflferted, that this very carpenter in the year 1593, had executed with Burbage of the Globe Theatre, a bond for performance of covenants. It is likewife aflerted^ that the articles of agreement referred to in this bond, probably related to the building of the

Glob^u

( 33 )

Globs Theatre, and might fix the building of it at 1593 or 94. Now it is very obvious, that is, a reafoni'^.g ex hypothesis which u equally the pri- vilege of both parties on controverfies of this na- ture. Thefe articles of agreement might relate to any other concern in the life of Burbage, as well as to his connection with this theatre j or* it might relate to the repairs of the theatre, or to any other tranfadion of the fame nature. But all that I wifh to fhew is, that amidft fuch a vari- ety of conjedtures, the conclufion of Mr. Malone, that " the Globe Theatre did not exifl: at the " time to which this letter muft be referred," is wholly unauthorized and unfounded.

We have alfo fome curious objeftions to the life of the word theatre^ on the grounds of its not being a word of the age. He fays that it Ihould have been called the Globe Play Houfe, not the Globe Theatre. But I could produce innume- rable illuftrations, to falfify this affertion, not only from his cotemporary v/riters, but even from Shakfpeare himfelf. In this inftance better autho- rity indeed cannot be produced, than from Mr. Malone's Prologemena, vol. 2, p. 162, &c. where, in Stockwood's Sermon, publifhed 1578, cited in a note, on the fubjecfh of the Curtain Theatre, it is faid *' I know not how I might with the godly " learned, cfpecially more difcommend the gor-

" geous

( 39 )

" geous playing-place erefted in the fields, than *' to term it, as they are pleafed to call it a The^ " atre." Again Mr. Malone favs in the fame paQ;e of his Prologemena, that there were feven principal 'Theatres, and four that were called " public ^^ Theatres y We refer him like wife to his own notes PaJJim for the general ufe of the word.

" As in a Theatre, the eyes of men, " After a well grac'd a6tor leaves the ftage, *' Are idly bent on him, that enters next, " Thinking his prattle to be tedious, &:c.

Richard 2d. A. 5. S. 2.

" This wide and univerfal Theatre " Prefents more woeful pageants, &c. As you like it.

So Mafter Reynold's anfwere unto Mafter D. Reynolds, concerning Theatre fights, ftage playes, &c. printed 1600. Again in the fame book. Theatres, fights, and playes, p. i< Lord Bacon alfo ufes it in the difputed fenfc. " So as they all ** flood up as in a Theatre, viewing this fight."

We are next told that the queen could not pofilbly have been at Hampton Court during the holy-dayes, which were generally the times of theatrical exhibitions. Thofe holidays are flatcd

by

( 40 )

by Mr. Malonc, to be Chriflmas, Twelfth-tidcr, Candlemas and Snrove-tide. But it might be afked, were there no holidays in Bartholomew-^ tide ? And is it unreaibnable to fuppofe, that the queen gave orders for the afting of plays during that fefrival, which was celebrated in the month of Auguft ?

Our critic proceeds to afTert that the refidence of the queen is afcertained by the regifters of the privy council. Now, fays he, " From the " beginning of December, 1587, to the 8th July " 1588, fhe refidcd at Greenwich. On that day " fhe went to Richmond, where fhe remained to the " end of July." Now what appears from the Privy Council Books ? Allowing that fhe was at Greenwich on the 26th of December, 1587, fhe was at the Star Chamber, the 6th of February, 1588, on the i6tli of April, fhe was at Hackney; on the 14th of July, 1588, fnCj^was at Richmond -, and on Julythe3ifl, at St. James. Thefe flatements which I have faithfully taken from the Privy Council books, wholly difprove the afTertions of Mr. Ma- lone. But his grand argument is, that during thefe periods, her majefty was not at Hampton. But furely, it cannot be denied, that the queen might have commanded plays to be acfted at other times, as v^-ell as at the fefttvals, enumerated by

Mr,

( 4> )

Mr. Malonc, allowing for the fake of argument, his ftatements to be corredly made.

The next objedlion is, that the great poet, at the time to which this letter is referred, is fup- pofcd to be an eftablifhed a<5lor, and the manager of a troop of adtors. And then it is faid, " that his " firft excurfion to the metropolis could not hr.ve " been before 1586, or 1587." Granting this ftatement to be corredl, it will be feen that he was now twenty-four years and a half old, being born in April 1564. Now what reafon is there to conclude from any thing that appears in tlie hif- tory of his life, that at this age, his talents as an adtor had not attrafted the notice and received the patronage of his royal miftrefs ? Then it feems our commentator has written an hiftory of the EngHPn ftage, in the future edition of which it will be fliewn, that it is highly improbable that Shakfpeare fhould have produced a fingle drama, till fomc time after the period of 1586. Granting this probability to be well founded, docs it ne- ceffarily follow, that he had not the management of the theatre at the time alluded to, or that he had not written the pretty verfes to Elizabeth, to which her majefty's letter refers ?

But to fhew that our bard had not written any of his fublime produ6lions at the above period, it is obfervcd, that none of his works are alluded to

F by

( 42 )

by Nafhe, or Puttenham -, the former of whom was the author of an epiftle to the imiverfities, in which he reviews all the celebrated poets of the ,time, and the latter of the art of poetry ; and that by neither of thefe writers, who piiblifhcd in the year 1589, is Shakfpeare at all referred to as a dramatic poet. In reply to this, I obferve, that no omiflion of this nature in the works of cotemporary writers at all proves that Shak- fpeare W35 not an author of reputation at that time, becaufe there arc many inftances in which fimilar omiffions and equally remarkable may be obferved ; it is an extraordinary circumftance, that Brown in his Britannia's Paitorals, publifhed 16 13, in the very zenith of Shakfpeare's reputation as a dramatic poet, fhould have given a panegy- rical enumeration of all the principal poets who flourifhed about that time, Ihould not have once mentioned the very name of our immortal drama- tift. He begins with Sydney, p. ^6^ folio edition ; then alludes to Chapman, with the eulogium of '* learned Shepherd " next Drayton, as a " Second '• Quid;*' Ben Johnfon, he charaflerifcs thus,"

*^ Johnfon, whom not Seneca, tranjcends his " vjorth of praife."

" He likcwife mentions Daniel, Brooke, Da* vies, Withers, &c. &c.

But

( 43 )

But in this catalogue of poetical perfonages, the name of Shakfpeare is not once alluded to. It is no lefs extraordinary, that Sir William Tem- ple, the moft accompliflied writer of his age, in his enumeration of the epic poets of mo- dern Europe, had entirely overlooked the im- mortal name of John Milton. In one word, no truth is more completely demonftrated to thofe who have made thefc rcfearches, than the fcantinefs and barrennefs of materials re- lative to the biography of Shakfpcare's time, and nothing feems to me a mere convincing proof of it, than this circumftance ; that after all the enquiries which have been direded to this fubjeil, we know fo little of Shakfpeare's theatrical life, that we are not even informed about the charaders, in which he appeared on the ftage.

In a flyle of banter, with which Mr. Mdone is fometimes difpofed to diverfify, though it does not embeliiih, the ferious dullnefs of his work, that the note annexed by Shakfpeare to the letter in queftion, *^ is more like the pund:ilious exadlncfs " of a merchant, or attorney, thrm the well known ^* negligence of the modefl and carelefs Shak- ^' fpeare." But the critic fhould have known, that this paper was in itfelf of a curious nature ; that the rnoft negligent pcrfon, who had received a let- F 2 tcr

( ^4 )

ter from his fovcreign, would naturally trcafure it up as a valuable token of royal condefcenfion, and as the moft flattering tribute, that could be paid to the genius of an author.

Of the fame nature is the remark, that it is improbable that the " pretty verjes" fhould have been loft, while the profe was fo carefully pre- ferved. The obfervation is fo very frivolous that it can fcarcely afFed the queftion before us. But it is furely the very climax of folly, to form any conjedures concerning the lofs of papers, or their prefervation. Shakfpeare might pro- bably fet an higher value on the profe of his royiU miftrefs, than on his own poetry j and the piece, which he addrefTed to her, though cxprefled in a complimentary ftyle, might h,t of fo flight a na- ture, that neither Shakfpeare himfelf, who was uniformly negligent of his poetical reputation, nor any of his cotemporaries, might think it neceflTary tp tranfmit it to poflierity. It is idle, however to frame conjedtures concerning the prefervation, or lofs of papers, circumftances, vvhich are governed by caufes of fuch various, and incidental opera- tions.

In a note Mr. Malone has favoured the readers of his work, with a fliort poem addreflfed to Queen Elizabeth by Shakfpeare, in the mock-heroic Itylc. He has exhibited it in order to fliew the world,

that

( 45 )

that a critic can occafionally write verfes, as v/ell as notes. But I fear, that the tendency, the mean- ing, and the conilrudtion of the hnes^ will perplex and bafHe the ingenuity of all who may attempt to find either tendency, meaning, or condru'iion in them. This is furely very gratuitous foliy in the commentator. No one called for the diTplay of poetical talent in a man, whofe province is as remote from poetry, as the notes wliich he fibri- cates, are foreign from the infpi ration of die text be attempts to illuftrate. Why fhould he have leaped over the fence, which has hitherto fecured the facred ground of poetry, from the unhallowed intrufions of thofc, v/ho labour in the humble, though ufeful departments alUgned to compikrs and commentators ?

" But," fays the critic " in the name which " has been exhibited as the hand-writing of the *' queen, there are no lefs than fix grofs errors. Now reader, what is the firft error ? Why, " that " it is too fmall for the period, to which it mud " be referred." Here then we fee the wonderful art of the critic exhibited to perfecftion. At the diftance of two centuries he can afcertain the gage and dimenfions of a fignature ; and with a nice and accurate meafurement, fix tlie precife pe- riod at which it v»as written, by the fize and bulk gf the letters. Mr. Malone is polTefied of her

majefty's

( 46 )

maicily's autographs in the firft, fifth, tenth, and fifteenth years of her reign; :-:ni it appears from thefe, that her hand-writi.ig gradually enlarged as ihe advanced in life, and that in the year; 1587, or 1588, it was at lead a fourth, perhaps a third larger than when ihe came to the throne. God fave the mark ! and could not this ingenious critic by the fame rule, afcertain the fize of that of her maids of honour, and ladies of her bed chamber, and fix its progreffion, and dimenfions, as they ad- vanced in life r But to fpeak ferioufly. How is it poiTible to decide on the exaft fize of a hand- writing of any perlbn, and by that fix the cxadl: period of his life at which it was written ?

The fecond error, it that the autograph inclines fideways, whereas the genuine autograph is bolt upright. Here the critic again reforts to his won- derful rule for meafuring her m^jefty's autograghs. Now it happens unfortunately, that Mr. Malone's fpecimens of the autographs are not holt upright. and, if as he remarks, the flourifh is always obferved under the firfl letter, in order to make a complete £, how comes it, that in the Mufeum Vefpafian, P, there is a letter from the queen with her fig- nature, of which the flourifh does not interfedi the letter, and leaves it therefore as complete an F as in the fac-fimile of the Shakfpeare MSS. I have in my pofTenion eight unqueftionable autographs of

' this

( 47 )

this princefs> to official papers, in which this flou- rifli uniformly interfedts the firft letter; I mention this circumftance merely to Ihew, that as it is fo notorious that fhe was accuftomed to write her name in the method alluded to, that if the imputed forger had followed any model, (and how could he have forged her name unlefs he did), that the par- ticularity muft have necefiarily flruck him.

Now we come to the fourth blunder, viz. in the a of the autograph. I can fcarccly condefcend to remark on an objeftion which is fo minute and frivolous, that it almoft implies a degradation of underftanding to have difcerned it. Let me quote the palTage. " In the early part of her reign fhe " formed the dire<5b ftroke of that letter like other ** perfons: but by degrees it became higher than the " circular part j nor was it ever open or looped at *' the top, &c. &c. This oxquifite minutenefs of remark, is highly amufing in our commentator ; it reminds usof Malvolio, who Was not in the lead more accurate in the difcovery of his lady's hand-writing. " By my life this is my lady's hand : thefe be her " very c's, her u's, and thus makes fhe her great " P's; it is in contempt of queflion, her hand."

Of the fame nature are the other objeftions which follow, relative to the b of her majefty's hand. The argument has nothing in it that makes ^n appeal to the tafte, curiofity, or judgment of the

reader

( 43 )

reader. I fiiall difinifs it with a very little com- ment. I would, however, afk hovv any critic can afcertain the precife form, in which an individual writes a name, cr fram.es a v/ord, and lay down a peremptory and determinate opinion upon fueh a fubjeft. He who writes his name at one time in one mc^.nner, will write it again in another; and I believe, that it is abfolutely impoflible, that the lame words, or letters fliould be framed in exatft rcfemblancc to each other, in tlie ordinary habit's of writing. When we write our names, we do not make fac-fimiles from any preceding model : be- lides the whole weight of the objeflion, will over- throw the argument which Mr. Malone labors co cftablilh i for had the fpecimens exhibited in the Shakfpeare MSS, correfponded with fuch minutenefs, to the uniform, and well known fignatures of Queen Iilizabeth, thefe would be prwia facie, a prefumption of fraud. The queen never wrote her name at different times, in the fame form and modification of the letters. It is impofilble that Ihe couk). But if the auto- graphs afcribed to her, fhouki be found exadlly iri 11 ze and form, to anfwer to any fpecific fpecimeri of her fign m.anual, it would neccffarily give birth to a fi-ifpicion of impodure and fabrication. I remember the trial of a difputed will, where in anf.vcr to a claim that was fct up, it was obferved

by

( 4d )

by the council, that the name in the will fo ex- a<ftly correfponded to the kriown method in which the deceafed wrote his name, that no further ob- jefcion could be had to it. In reply to this, it was very judicioufly remarked on the other fide, that the very circumftance alledged to be in favor of the will, was totally deftru6live of it j inafmuch as no perfon ever wrote his name twice exa.6\ly in the fame way. In fupport of this remark, a perfon in court was defired to write his own name feveral times on a fheet of paper, which he did, and on prefenting it to the bench, the deviation was fo very obvious, that the will was entirely fet afide upon the very grounds, which appeared fo incon- teflably in its favour.

Bur before I clofe this part of the fubjedl, I will juft advert to the alphabet adduced by Mr. Malone in his firft plate. Now in this very alphabet it is obfervable that the letters deviate materially from the two extra6ls made from the Cotton MSS, in the Mufeum. In the fame ex- trads the letters differ from each other j particu- larly the letter (t), in which there are no fewer than five obvious deviations. The extrads alio dif- fer from the letter of the qiteen in the Herald's Col- lege, nor do they differ lefs from one written by her, before (he came to the throne, in the Mufeum. See Vefpafian, f 3. p. 20. I would here admonifh G Mr.

( 50 )

Mr. Malcnc, \\'hen he publiihes any future fac-fi- miles, to be more correfl in copying from the originals before him -, becaufe the flighted infpec- tion will convince any one who compares them, that he has been intentionally incorredl in the fac- fimile he has publifhed.

Our critic, it mufl be obferved in exhibiting thefe comparifons, takes it for granted that the fpecimens he difplays are genuine. But I have reafon to entertain doubts concerning their au- thenticity. When I infpefled thefe papers in the Mufeum, in the prefence of a gentleman univer- fally allowed to be a competent judge of thefe matters, we urged an objedlion before two other official gentleman who vcrl'ed as they may be fup- pofed to be therein, were not at that time able to anfwer. The objetlion was, that the letter N be- ginning, " I thanke you good Harry," &:c. Sec. difcovered a reverfe, or an imprefilon on the blank page oppofite to it againll which It was fol- ded, of the whole body of the letter, as well as the queen's fignature. This appearance, certainly a very extraordinary one to be produced by com- mon ink, is not only obfcrvable in the body of the letter, which was prepared by a clerk, but alfo in the fignature ; fo that if this is to be confidered as a genuine inftrument it is evident, her majefty and the fccrctary or clerk mull have ufed the fame

ink ;

( 5> )

ink ; which is not very eafy to fuppofc, even if the ink were fuch, as was ever known to be in common ufe. Another objedlion to the opinions of Mr. Malone, as to the authenticity of thcfe papers, is, the circumftance of the letters being placed in a colleflion of a totally different nature, and called " The Book of Border Matters till the " year 1583." The laft objecflion is, (and it is a material one), that there is written in one of the leaves, " One of the bundles I bought of Mr. Thtl- " lifsy Who this Mr. Phillips was, probably we fhall be informed by Mr. Malone, upon fome future occafion. Perhaps he was one of the friends, who correfponded on matters of antiquity v/ith Sir Hans Sloane, and received from his cre- dulous employer, commifllons fimiliar to thofe al- luded to in an ingenious epiftle, addrefled fome years ago to that great antiquary.

An Epiftolary Letter to Sir Hans Sloane,

Since you, dear doilor fav'd my life To blefs by turns & plague my wife, In confcience Pm oblig'd to do, Whatever is enjoin'd by you : According to your own command, That I fliould fearch the weftern land, J^'or curious things of every kind, And fend you all that I could find.

G 2 I \x

( 5^ )

I've ravag'd air, earth, fea, and caverns, IVTen, women, children, town, and taverns, And greater rarities can (hew. Then Greft/am's College ever knew; Which carrier Dick fhall bring you down, Next time his waggon comes to town. Firft then obferve, and you ftiall fee A very, very rarity ; It is the true authentic fcore. On which King David us'd to pore, And gain'd fuch wond'rous approbation, Ke was firft fiddle of the nation.

I've got three drops of that fame fliower. Which Jove in Danaes lap did pour, From Carthage brought, the fword I'll fend, Which brought Queen Dido to her end. The ftone whereby Goliah died, Which cures the head-ach, well applied. The fna'icc-fkin, which you may believe, The devil caft, 'vho tempted eve. A fig leaf apron, 'tis the fame. That Adam vfore to hide his (hame, But now wants darning ; I've befide The blow by which poor Abel died ; A whetfl-one worn exceeding fmall. Time us'd to whet his fcytbe withal. The pigeon ftuff'd, which Noah fent To tell him when the waters went. A feather from the honcft raven, That brought Elijah fcraps from heav'n. A buU-rufli taken from the cradle, In which young Mofes us'd to paddle.

St.

( 53 )

St. Dunftan's tongs, which ftory (hews.

Did pinch the devil by the nofe.

With a knife-point fu!l of that fait,

Lot's wife was turn'd to, for the fault.

Which fince is grown fo very common.

Who has it not, cannot be woman,

The very fhaft, which all may fee,

That Cupid (hot at Anthony ;

And which above the reft 1 prize,

A glance of Cleopatra's eyes.

Fringe work compos'd of thofc rich threads.

Broke at the lofs of maidenheads j

]Rare, curious things, by Leicefter fccn.

And fhewn him by a virgin-queen ;

At leaft to him or Howard (hewn.

Things never heard of •

Some drains of eloquence, which bung

Jn Roman times, on Tully's tongue i

Which lay conceal'd, and loft had been,

But Cowper found them out again ;

A goad which nightly us'd will prove,

A certain remedy for love.

As Moore cures worms in ftomachs bred,

I've pills cure maggots in the head.

With the receipt too, how to make 'em.

To you I'll leave the time to take 'em,

I've got a ray of Phoebus (hine.

Found in the bottom of a mine.

A lawyer's confcience, large and fair.

Fit for a judge himfelf to wear.

I've a choice noftrum, fit to make

An oath a church- man will not take ;

In

( 54 )

In a thumb-phial you (hall fee,

Ciofe cork'd fome drops of honefty ;

Which after fearching kingdoms round

At lalt were in a cottage found j

An antidote, if fuch there be,

Againft the charms of flattery.

1 han't collected any care.

Of that, there's plenty ev'ry v/here ;

But after wond'rous labor fpeiit,

I've got one grain of rich content.

It is my wifli, it is my glory.

To furnifli your nick-nackatory ;

I only beg, whene'er you (hew 'em,

You'll teil your friends, to whom you owe 'em ;

Which may your other patients teach,

To do, as has done.

Yours,

T. H. (edges.)

We now return to the critic, whofe next topic relates to " extracts from miscellaneous

" PAPERS, A NOTE OF HAND, AND A RECEIPT."

Under this head we have a mod curious difqulii- tion concerning the fpelling of the poet's name. " The fabricator of thefe papers is faid to have *' been led into his miftake by Mr. Steevens, and ^^ Myjelf.'' Then we have a long and as ufual a very tedious ftory about this miftake ; hew in the year 1776, Mr. Steevensy and Myjelf traced the three fignatures in the will j how two of them appeared

Shakjpsrey

( 55 )

Shak/perCj but: a third appearcvd to have an a in the iecond fyllable. *• Accordingly "jue have Jo exhibited *' the -poet's name ever fince. I had no luf- '* picion," fays the critic, " of my miftake, till <' about three years ago, &c." From this ftate- ment, it fecms that thefe ftupendous critics re- pofed on this error for near twenty years, till after having dekided the pubHc during that period, and receiving the hint from another perfon, one of them refolves to examine the original (which he might and ought to have done before) again, and this enquiry putting it once more into his brain, to afcertain iiis error, if any error there ivas^ rela- tive to the name, before he pubhfned his new edition of Shakfpeare.

Then the commentator, on an infpedion of fome papers, recently difcovered by Mr. Albany Wallis, appears to have redified his miftake, and allows that the name fhould be fpelled'Shakfperc. Yet notwithftanding his having fet himlelf right in his miftake, with an inftindive prediie6tion for his own blunder, he continues to write it Shakfpeare. Why he does fo, will appear for reafons afTigned in " My life of him.'' Still " harping upon my " daughter," the Tiventy volumes rcyal oBavo. Upon the whole it muft appear that the manner of .Shakfpeare's fpelling his ovv^n name refts only on grounds of probability. For when we confider,

as

( 50 )

as I have more than once been obliged to remark, the extreme licence which at this period, and for fome time after prevailed in the orthographies both of MSS, and of printed copies i it is fcarcely poffible to pronounce upon this fubjedt. In proof of this, I refer the reader to his will in the Prerogative Office, in the body of which it will be feen that his name is thus fpelt Shacks

Jfeare. But furely it is the moft provoking effrontery to afierr, that the neccflary confe- quence of his having three or four years before his death, written his own name Shah-

JperSy is a certain proof of the forgeries of the papers ; when we know that during his life, his cotemporaries always fpelt his name Shakefpeare, and that he himfclf from the year 1594, till his deceafe, ufed the fame orthography in each of the various editions of his Lucrece, and his Venus and Adonis. But continues our Critic, " whether " I am right or wrong, it is manifeft that he " himfelf wrote it Shakfpere :" yet let us hear the conclufion : The conclufion is, that thofe papers in which a different orthography appears, muft be forgeries. I anfwer that the papers are not forge- ries, becaufe the orthography in this refpefb is dif- ferent. The reafon why Mr. Malone himfclf^ maintains his former fprlling, is that there is no

orrginai

( 57 )

orig'nal Mamifcript letter, of his name. If there- fore there is this incertitude concerning the name, who can put his finger on any fpecific fpelHng of it and fay that is not the genuine one ? I may fay, in the fame words which Mr. Malone has ufed, ia, juftification of his own fpelHng, that when any original letter or MS of Shakfpeare's fhall ever be difcovercd, then and not till then, will the ortho- graphy in my MSS be difproved.

In p. 121, Mr. Malone fays, that his engraver defired him to furnilh him with an archetype for one of the concluding letters, viz. (r) : and that he inadvertently took down the firfl MS that came to hand, and pointed out to him a German (r). Here wc fee, that Mr. Malone himfelf can be occafion- ally guilty of interpolation, though he has fa thorough an abhorrence of Forgers i he takes down an old German MS, in order to furnifh a fac-fimile of Shakfpeare's hand-writing ! ! Now with regard to the ufe of the Chancery r in the Shakfpeare MSS of which he complains j he fays, " that now and then, a fignature may be " found in which it occurs j but in the ordinary " or fecretary hand I have never met with it." He has never met with it. This is admirable ! And how is the reader to cftimate this fort of rea- foning ? Every one who has examined the topics, on which I have been fpeaking, mufl; have had

H abundant

( 58 )

abiindam pfoof of th^ fiender claims which this critic has to a blind confidence in his own opihioris, and afTertions.

For the long or chancery r, as he has never met with it, I refer him to Wright's Court-hand, Reftcred, (a book, the authority of which can- not be doubted) there he will find that this ob- jeftionable letter has been in conftant ufe fince Henry the fourth's time, as by reference to many records of more antient date, it will appear to have been for many centuries previous to that period.

It is very curious, that in p. 250, he tells us,, that Lowine the player, never had his name ex- hibited with inCy as the final letters. But the proof of this ! Why, " he never met with it.'* Of the critical accumulations of this gentleman in his intended life of Shakfpeare, I know no- thing at prefent, but from what he has inti- rrtated to the public, concerning them, I hope that he v/ill not foltow his old and favorite mode of reafonrng, in concluding things not to be in ex- igence v/hich he himfelf^ has vet met with. On this head, I fiiall content myfelf with afferting, that I have met with (what he ought to have feen) the namfe of Lcwine in the lift of aftors, prefixed to the firft folio edition of the im- rtiortal breathings of that mufe, who is about to be mangled and lacerated, in twenty pon-

ponderous

( 59 )

derous volumes, fo fully announced by the inde- fatigable compiler.

I might refer the reader to the different varia- tions in the fac-fimiles, which the critic himfelf has exhibited j were I not confcious, that the labor of following Mr. Malone through the long labyrinth of abfurdicy, in which he involves himfelf and his reader, muft have been already intolerable and difgufting. But what does tlie whole argument amount to ? Why, it proves that taking for granted, that thefe papers are forgeries; Mr. Malone 's blunders were in fa6t the fources, from which they were derived. What muft the world think of a man, Ihould it appear by fome hidden evidence now in the womb of time, that the whole mafs of papers was an impofture, when it is his own confelTion, that the moft prominent features of it were derived from his errors ?

With the fame mifcrofpic powers of criticifm, our objedor obferves, that Shakfpeare " when in " health v/rote a fmall hand, as was the general " mode at that time, and that this is not the cafe « with the forged MSS." What proof does Mr- Malone adduce ? Where is it manifeil that he wrote this fmall hand ? For, that he did not write in that way, is unqueftionably proved by his auto- graphs to the will, and to thofe which nrc now in

H 2 Mr.

( 6o )

Mr. Walls's pofTefTion, the only genuine fpecl- mtriis he ;id nts tint are to be! found.

We are told, tha- in the froje^ed H.ttory CF THE StagEj the critic h?.s afrcn '"i^^-^ fht pay- ment of a play at courts and that i ^aid for each reprefentation there, in the reign of Elizabeth, was no more than ten pounds. He fiys, that he has found this from authenric dociimenLs. To tuf-fc authentic documents, however, he has forgotten t ) refer us. We muft ftill give him credit^ for that v/hich in all difcufiions of this nature, muft De held an indifpenfable duty ; I mean, a reference to th& document?, on which an affertion refts. Then Ml'. Maloiie points out the abiurdity of Lord Lei- cefter's paying to the adors thirty-one pounds more than v;as charged to him. The weaknefs of this fpecies of objeclions, v/hich are multiplied through the whole work of our commentator, is very ap- parent. Was it an unufual thing, at that period, that a nobleman y/ho lived in the magnificence and fplendor of Lord Leicefter, fhould pay for a favorite amiifement, and to his favorite ador, no more, than the mere literal expences, that were incurred ?

But as another denotation of forgery, it is re- marked, that the poet is reprefented in the MSS to be fo ignorant, as not to know an earl's proper title: and then we are informed^ that " your

" grace"

( 6i )

^^ grace" is the iifual mode of addrels to dukes ; bur that the circumftance of its being applied to Leicefter, is a proof of the papers being forged. But it is worth while to obferve, that Mr. Malonc himfelf readily acknowledges, that the title was not confined to dukes, but that it was applied indif- criminately to the kin<^, and the princes of the blood. Now it fliould feem from this very cir- cuni fiance, that the mode of addrefs was not con- fined to dukes ; and we well know, that it is neither the appropriate tide of king, or queen, nor of the princes and princefies of the blood ; your majefty being the ftyle of the one, and their high- nelTes of the other. So, that here we have a proof of the licence, and latitude of its application ; and there is no reafon to conclude, that it never was ufed to individuals of inferior rank, to the per- ' fonages alluded to.

Befides Mr. Malone's argument is precifeiy this i that the moft common addrefs to peers of the degree of dukes, being that of " your grace," it follows that Shakfpeare according to the MSS, mutt have been groffly ignorant of the ftyle, in which noblemen were addrefird. Now, if ever a conclufion was completely difclaimed by the prc- mifes, it is this, which Mr. Malone has hazarded. The very circumftance of, your grace., not being generally lb applied, might probpi)ly be the reafon

of

{ «1 )

of Shakfpeare's ufing it here. Had Shakfpeare been a courtier, and familiarized to the phrafc and accents of high rank, it was furely the moft inno- cent, and natural flatteiy he coukl ufe, to addrefs his patron in a ftyle, fuperior to that, y/hich was literally appropriated to him. Or, if he was not habituated to the lanQ;uage of the court on thefe occafions (which as far as appears from his educa- tion, and life, is the moft probable hypothecs), it is more likely ft ill, that he would ufe the language of flattery in his addrefs to Leicefter. it was natural for hv.w to apply a title, in which if he erred, he erred on the lafe fide, and which the inherent wcaknefs of our nature vvould rather approve, as the tribute of a zealous though in- correct obeifance, than the ill-placed compliments of untutored rufticity.

This hyper-critic now obie(fts to a tranfaftion in which Lowine is concerned which appears in the i-cceiprs of Shakfpeare. It ftates, that at the time this Mafter Lowine v^as rewarded " forre "his good fcrvyces, ande well playinge, he was '' iuft twelve years of age, and docs not r^ppear to '* liave joined the company till after the accefnon " of King James." But as ufual, Mr. Malonc brings forwardno proof, which unqueftionablyafcer- tains the time of his joining the company, fo that no inference againft the MSS is to be drawn from what

he

( 63 )

he is pleafed to aflert. That he might have at that time performed the part of Arthur in King John, or the Duke of York in Richard the third, will eafily be admitted j or that he might have oc- calionally taken female chara6lers, which we know at that time were performed by young men. Be- fides it appears from the MSS, that only the fum of two fliillings is fet down for Mafter Lowine, a fum, very inadequate indeed to the fervices of an older performer, but which on the grounds of his extreme youth, was perhaps a fufficient falary.

We now come to the note of hand of John He^ myngey not HemyngeSj as our fagacious commentator has it*.

" One moneth .from the date hereof, I doc " promyfe.to paye to my good and worthye freynd " John Hemynge, the fum of five pounds and " five fhillings, Englifh moneye, as a recompenfe «* for hys greatc trouble, in fettling and doingc " much for me at the Globe Theatre, as alfo for " hys trouble in goinge downe for me to Statford.

Witnefs my hand, Wm. Shakfpere.

September the nynth, 1589.

* See Appendix to Malone, where Heinlr.gcSy and lie- mynge, occur in the fame deed and as the fame pcrfon.

On

( 64 )

On another paper is the following receipt, which is attached to the note of hand by three pieces of wax.

" Received of Mafter Wm. Shakfpeare, the " fiTm ot five pounds and five (hillings, good En- ** glifli money, thys nynth day of Odlober, 15B9.

•* Jn". Hemynge."

As to thQ fignature of the poet, differing in

this note from the reft laid before the public, and

for the ^' firft and laft time fpelt in his own genuine

•' manner;" I have it in my power to fhew many

inftances, in which the name is fpelt in this mode,

in feveral other papers which I have not publifhed ;

I have however, amply fhewn in a former partof this

volume, the unfettied and indeterminate flate of our

old orthography; and the numerous variations,

which at that time it admitted. With regard to

the alledged difference of hand-writing in the

figno.tures, the fpecimens will be found with a

very flight examination, to differ from each

ctlier, in the fame degree only as the fignature

of the f.unc individual would at different times.

And what ftrefs can properly be laid 'upon a

point fo minute and frivolous as the accidental

omiffion of the letter (r) in Stratford ? Did Mr.

Malone himfclf never omit a letter in the hafte

and negligence of writing ?

But

( 65 )

But the obfervations, in which I Ihall next follow him, are very extraordinary. " Need I " call your attention" fays the critic, to the " fum of five guineas, here in fa&y though not in " words promifed to be paid ?" Now let any one turn to the receipt, and fee how far the ftatement is true and corre6t in mere point of fafb. Does it appear that the fum of five guineas is promifed to be paid ? The accidental fum paid for the fpe- cified fervices being five pounds and five fhillings ; who fhall fay, that the fum of five guineas is reprefented in the receipt ? For inftance in the cxtraft, Mr. Malone has given us, from the Royal Houfchold Eftablifhm.ents, p. 2^^^ ^^^^ joiner's fee is fet down 19/. igs. od. and the record 16/. 1 6 J. %d. Will any one fay that the former of thefe fums reprefented nineteen guineas, and the other fixtecn guineas and eight pence ? Now unfor- tunately for the argument, it will appear from his own Prologomena, vol. 2, p. 254. in the account of monies received by Phil. Henflowe, that there is this ftatement

" 26 of Defember, i59i>" " Received at the Jege of London iii/. : viu, : or/."

and were it not a fubjcd: beneath attention, I make no doubt, that I could produce from antient records innumerable inftances of the fame nature ;

I equally

( 66 >

equally fenfelefs, and fa&al to his own caiife, is the afk-rtion, that xxi jQ^iilhngs, or cv fnillings was the moft ufual mode of writing. Now the bell anfwer to this, will be to refer him to the Prolo- gomena, where it appears from the fame extradls^ 1591, that the accounts were kept in pounds^ fniliings, and pence. In fliort, it comparatively occurs in very few inftances, where the accounts kept in fliillings are above the number of xx.

A great emphafis is laid on the fac-fimrle of Hemynge's hand-writing, which the moment he faw it, the critic inftinctively pronounced not to be genuine. Then we find him groping about' tlie Prerogative Office, where he did not find what he- looked for i though as I have before obferved from good authority, that had he been fuccefsfol in hi^ fearchj.he could not have decyphered them. But we are informed, that to prove the Hemynge fhould have been Hemmges -, he was furniflied from Mr. A. Wallis with a deed of John Heminges, dated Feb. 10, 16 17-18, and of which he has given an. autograph in plate 2,- in which- he has fagacioufly difcovered, that " there is no more fimilitude be- "' tween the two fignarures, than Hebrew, or Chi- " nefc chara6lers have to Englifh." And here let me requeft.thc reader to attend to this difcovery, and obferve the critic caught in his own net.

On Wednefday 30th of December 1795? Mr.

Waliis,

( 67 )

Wallls, accompanied by Mr. Troward, rcquelled to fee me upon particular bufinefs. When they entered the room, Mr. Wallis apparently in a jocole manner, and direfting his hand to his .pocket, exclaimed, " I have fomething here that ^' win deftroy the validity of your Shakfpcare " papers." He then produced the deed quoted by Mr. Malone, figned John Heminges, which I obferved was totally unlike the fignature of Hemynge, I had laid before the public. Mr. Wallis was then fhewn four receipts or memo- randums, figned John Heminges, (which exaflly correfponded with the hand-writing in his deed), •one of which flood in this form, dated in the year •J 602-3.

" Hadde fromm Mailer Shakfpeare for ufe of •*' the Curtayne, the fomm of fortenn fliillings."

dated

Odobree 12, 1602.

Thefe four receipts are thus indorfed, " Payde

-" as hereinn mentyonedde, Wm. S." and are

wrapped in another paper, on which is written

" Receipts forre moncyes givenne toe mee bye

" the ialle Heminges onne accounte o the Cur-

" tayne Theatre."

Wm. S.

I 2 Among

( 68 )

Among thefe papers, there are at lead twenty other memorandums, or difburfements of monies, in which this perlbn, Heminges is always diftin- guijfhed as the tall Heniingcs of the Curtain Theatre, from the Hemynge I have laid before the world in my publication. Befides thefe documents I have the fame Heminges as a fubfcribing witnefs to feveral parchment deeds, with Shakfpeare and others. Now in confequence of Mr. Waliis having in his polTeffion the deed before mentioned, I was vvcll aware, that it would be a high dainty to our critic, to have ar> opportunity of nibbling at the parchment ; I therefore, requefted that gentleman very earneftly, that Mr. Malone might be per- mitted to copy, or make any other ufe of this deed, that he might think proper. I was defirous alio of putting fome deeds of my own into his h^nds, v/hich I knew he would very willingly copy as proofs againft me ; but out of motives of mere compaffion, I defifted from my intention. Well, Mr. Waliis politely permitted him to take a copy of the deed, and in confequence, in Plate 2, No. 6, he has moil affurediy given the autograph with coniiderable fidelity. It is amufmg, therefore, to fee him like a whale rolling about in the depths of his own blunders: and entering. into an elaborate proof to fliew that he s final was in common ufe at that time, to account for its being written He- minges,

( 69 )

ffii/!ges. But this Is another proof of his ignorance, of the orthography of proper names at that time, even as they were printed. Had he looked to the editor's dedication prefixed to the firil folios, he would have there found the name thus fpelled, without tile s final Ilcininge. And fo indefinite was the orthography at that period, that in the lift of Adtors in the fame vol. he is called Heminges. In p. 140 of Mr. Malone's work, he fays, tliat Heminge was niarried to Rebecca Niicll, widow. Now, as a proof tliat this ingenious gentleman cannot read, I would remark, that the original MS has it Rebecca Knell, widdow. Then in a ftyle of banter in which he is not very fuc- cefsful, he attacks poor Heminge witii want of gallantry in leaving his wife to go down to Stafford.

Are then the attachments of our amorous commentator fo clofely rivetted, that in the fecond year of his marriage, no urgency of bufinefs fliould divert him from the arms and the bed of his niif- trefs, even for a few nights ? ajid with regard to his objeftion to the accidental ufc of Statford, I cannot help obferving the curious changes which he rings upon the objeftionable authority, when in one fentence he finds fault with their being redun- dant, at another, with their being deficient in the letters. But, as he fays p. 13 z,, " I will leave this

to

I

( 70 )

JO be determined " by iome one better verfed in *' decypnering nonienicj th n I am."

Mr. M-Uo;iC now comes lO an objeftion, on which by die afliftance of feme ingenious friend, he has bten enabled very amply t> expatiate. Very luckily, he fays, that he has difcovered tiie form of a promifTory note at that period, and as the note among the MSS does not conform in every refpe£t to it, he very lagacioufly concludes, that it was forged for the occafion. Lee us obferve the fpe- cimen given by Mr. Malone.

Mem. *' That I Gabrell Spencer the 5th of *' Aprell have borrowed of Philippe Henflowe *' the fum of thirtie fhellynges in redy money to ^' be payed unto him agayne, zv/i/^n he Jhall dciicnde *' yt. I faye borrowed xxxs.

" Gabrieel Spencer."

This is copied as Mr. Malone ftater, from Henflowe's MS Regifter.

Then he gives an inflance of a note or bill of debt, payable one month after date.

" The I and twentieth daye of Septtember, " a thoufand fix hoandard, borrowed of Mr. ■"^^ Henfhlowe in redii monie the fom of fortie

" flieilings

( 71 )

«' fuellings to be paid the tv/entie dale of Oftobcr " next foUeinge the date herof, in witneis herof, " I let to my hand,

" John Duke."

Another form was, — " Received 30 die Ja-

" nuarii 1598 of die fum of to bee re-

" payed unto him, or his affignes upon the laft of " Febuary, next enfuinge, whereof I bind me, mv *■' heires, executors, and adminiftrators." None of thefe it is faid, whether entered in the book of the lender, or written on feparate Hips of paper, were indorfable over, nor coukl an ac- tion at law be maintain&d on them.

To this lafb obfervation, I take no exception. I do not contend that the memorandums in the Shakfpeare MSS were legal or transferable fecu- riti'es. All I contend for i^s, that there can be no decifive proof that this form of acknowledgem.ent of a debt, or a promifc to repay it, might not have been ufed at that time, notwithftanding what is faid to difprove or invalidate it, either by Mr. Malone htmfelf, or by his ingenious friend.

But the two authorities ciafh with each otiier, and according to ail the rules of ftridl: reafoning,

as

( r- }

2S well as of {Irid evidence, are miittmlly deftnic- tiv'c of the feveral proofs they adduce. In the elaborate hiftory of proniifTory notes, which is thrown into the lumber of an appendix, mftcad of framing a ccnnc6ted fyftem of argument in his text, it is laid down as a fort of axiom, that in the ueriod on which we are occupied, it was eflential to eV-ery infcrument of this kind, that it fhoiild contain a claufe to ejCprefs the fealingof the paper. For inllance. '^ In witnefs whereof I fet to my «' feale, Sec." It Is obfervable that this is alfo taken from Henflowe's Rej^ifter. Now in the bill of debf, which Mr. Malone himfclf has exhibited, there is no fuch claufe as this inferted, nor does it appear that the inftrument was fealed by the party, who was bound by it. Here then are tvvo con- tradiiftory authorities. The ingenious friend fays that every inilrument muft haye been fi-aled, and that none exifted without it. The critic himfelf produces a fpecimen, wjierc there is no claufe re- lative to feaiing at all; and what is very remark- ;.'.ble, both of them feem to hav'e been exploring liie fame records ; and each produces a fpecimen^ which talfmes and invalidates that of the other.-

Mr. Lvlalone from the nature of his ol^jedion, annears to me entirely ignorant of the law, hif-- lctv, and commerce, of the country. He does nor confider that the antient ufages of a bill or

promife

( 73 )

pi-omife to pay, or to do any thing, becaufc there was by ftatute law, no definite and prefcribed form of writing them, on that very account, were by confeqiience uncertain and variable. He feems to fuppofe that the origin and ufe of notes was not prior to the ftatuces which made them nego- tiable, viz. the ftatutes 9th and loth, William 3d, and 3d and 4th, Anne, c. 51. Thefe ftatutes firft made them negotiable, but it is reafonablc to fuppofe that they were in exiftence before this pe- riod, as the 9th and lotbj William and Mary, c. 7, which, " is entitled an aft for the better payment " of inland bills of exchange," prefcribes no fpecific form, but merely creates provifions to give them a legal negotiation and cffeft.

Without the aid of the dull reafoning in the appendix, I am ready to acknowledge, that the promiffory note did not exift legally at this period, and I am alfo ready to allow, that among mer- chants, it was not the ufual mode of giving fecu- rities, or of acknowledging debts. Among thofe, who were engaged in commerce, it is natural to fuppofe, that no inftrument would be in general ufe, but what was recognized by law. But the fame reafoning does not apply with equal force to tranfadions between individuals. It is fta- ted, that the want of thefe promiflfory notes, &c. was very feverely felt in the mercantile world, and K the

( 74 )

the incor^venknce of fealcd obligations a coftfhJeF- able, matter of complaint. This, inconvenience muft have been much more fcverely experienced in the pecuniar)^ intercoyrfes of thofe, v^^ho did not ftand in a mercantile relation to each other. By confequcn'ce therefore, fome mode of. acknow- ledging., the receipt of monies on one hand, or of promifing to spay thtm on the other> would natu- rally be reforted to, where a mutual confidence exifted. The notes &c. in the Shakfpeare MSS pierely relate to a private tranladlion between two very intimate friends. The fums were fmall, and neither of the parties thought it neceffary to clothe their coiitrads in tlie inconvenient fhape of flridt legal rules. This very often happens at the prc- lent moment. I have myfelf often ken. the vowels I, O,. U, with the fum of money annexed -, and this has been the only acknowledgement between the parties, and that to a very confiderable amount. As thefe papers are not put into circulation, they are frequently kept in a dcflc or drawer, by way of a mere private memorandum.

Havi-ng difmiffed this topic, on which I truft that the remarks I have made, will be equally clear and fatisfaftory, I now proceed to the letter to Anna Hatherway. Here Mr. Malone invokes Venus, her fon and all the loves, and the graces, Tlie firil time I believe, fo ill-omened an-

invo-

( 7S )

invocation was ever addrefTed to thefe perfonages. Commentators, and critics are n t in greneral the ardent votaries, nor the fcwoured choice of the beautiful divinity. Nor is it very uCuv.l to invoke the infpiration of this goddefs, to fubjeds of re- condite and abftrufe rcfearches into black letter, from whence the illuminations of genius, and taite, and fcience are neceflarily excluded. But leaving this ridiculous topic, let us attend to the objections the critic takes to the letter, I haye alluded to. The letter is as follows.

'^ Deareftc Anna

" As thou hafte alwaye founde mee toe mye '■^ worde mofte trewe foe thou fhalt fee I havee ** ftryftlye kepte mye promyfe 1 pray you per- " fume thys mye poore locke withe thye balmye " kyfles forre thenne indeede fhalle Eynges " themmefelves bowe ande paye homage toe itte. '* I doe alTure thee no rude hande hathe knottedde " itte thye Willy's alone hathe done the worke " Neytherre the gyldedd bauble thatte envyronnes " the heade of majeftye noe norre honourres mod " weyghtye would give mce halfe the joye as didde " thys mye lyttle worke forre thee The feelinge " that ^ydde nearefle approache untoe itte was " thatte whiche commethe nyghefte untoe God " meeke ande gentle chary tye forre thatte virtue

K 2 " O !

( 76 )

" O ! Anna doe I love doe I chcryfne thee innc " myc hearre forre diou art ass a talk cedarr.", " ftretchynge forthe its branches and fuccoiiryngc " the fmallere plants frome nyppynge winneterre " orr the boyfteroufc windes Farewelle toe " morrowe bye tymes I will iee thee tillc thennc " Adewc fweete Love.

" Thync everre. " Wm. Shakfpeare."

*' Anna Hatherrewaye."

Upon the internal ftyle of the letter, as it is natural to cxped:, the critic makes no obfervation. Of the folid fenfe, with which it abounds, the marks of a pregn nt intellefb which it difplays, and the beauty of its diftion, and imagery, he takes no cognizance. He is ftill apid minima. With a tafte fimilar to his, who in examining the beauties of an ancient temple, ihould ihfpeft the ftoncs of which it was built, and analyze the n»ortar which cemented them together, he attempts to pick out a flaw in the orthography, and fuper- fcription. Or, to ufe a more ludicrous compari- fon as Prior has it of a twelfth-cake

He is but an idle dreamer^

Who leaves tne pye, to gnaw the ftreamcr.

As a fpecimcn of this " obfcurc diligence,'^

I would

( 77 )

I would jUfl: point out the frivolous exception to the letter, on the fcore of its omitting in the fuperfcription the ufual prepofitions For and To. I leave this exception without commenting upon it. Then we are told, by way of farther objeflion, that the lady was chriftencd plain Anne not Jn^a-, and that her name was not Hatherwayc but, Hathaway.

I have not examined parifh regiflcrs, nor looked into mouldy records, to afcertain the prcr- cife m.anner, in which fhe was chriftc-ned. But this does not interfere with the argument, for names are not always pronounced with the pro- nunciation which was ufed at the ehriftening. Bc- fides there are innumerable inftances, in which vernacular names are pronounced with a Roman termination. But this advocate for the fame of the immortal bard, according to the chara6ler he has arrogated to himfelf, might have recoUefted that names were frequently written in this mode by Shakfpeare himfelf, in feveral of his dramas. Let him look to his Taming the Shrew.

*' Thou art to me as fecret and as dear,

** As Anna to the Qiieen of Carthage was."

A6t. 2. Sc. 4.

flave we not alfo Ifabella, for Ifabcl ? Ma-

riana

C 78 )

riana for Marianne, in Meafure for Meafure ? Kathar'ma in the T.iming of the Shrew. Maria m Love's Labour Loft. Ditto, Twelfth Night. For Anna Queen of Great Britain, fee Taylor the Water Poet, fed. p. nt^o. Anna Mar iaEikouttviWey and Henrietta Maria, daughter of Thomas Savage Vilcount Rock Savage, both born the end of the 16th, or the beginning of the 17th century. Thefe inftances I am furniOied with by F. Town- fend, Efq. Vv^indfor Herald.

Again we find in the Parifh Regifter of St.

Botolph Birhopfgate, " Anna • one of the

• •^ nunnies maides of St> Mary Spital, buried 20th '■' or Odcber, 1613. ihefe inflances, will I think> fhev/ to convidion the frequent uie of theft- names, ol Jnna in particular, of which Mr, Ma- '?Gne lias dogmatically faid that in -plain froje^ no example Q?.n be produced in the fixteenth century. Yet furejy the ieitcr to Anne Hatherwaye is not plain proic. If that can only be called poetry, which is exprefTed in certain metre, and cadence, this is certainly profe, and probably this gentlema{i has no other criterion to diftinguilh between poe- try, and prole. But if by poetry, be meant that, which breathes infpiration, and is clothed in a iort of numerous diftion though not regular verfifica- tion, then the letter I am fpeaking of, is furely a poetical compofition.

With.

C 79 )

With regard to the exceptionable fpelling of Hatherrewaye, I fhall not trefpafs much on the attention of the reader, by entering into minute difquiiition concerning it. This only I will re- mark, as far as the remark can apply to the fub- je(5t of the MSS, that Ben Jonfbn's name is fre- qirently written in papers which I have in my pof- feffion, Johnfonne, and even the name of Har- court, wliofe name is fo fpelled in a printed book, intitled, a Voyage to Guiana, has in a note im- mediately under it, in the very hand-writing of the Shakfpeare MSS, the word fpelt Harrccotirte. Now, not to lay any emphafis on tiie queftion of the authenticity or impofture of the papers, is not this unufual mode of orthography as reccn^ cileable to the one as to the other hypothefis ? for', what forger in his fenfes would have betrayed (o grofs an improvidence, as to difplay errors, which mufl have direftly militated againft his own pur- pofes. And though our critic is fo very con-* fident, that the erroneous orthography of this name, is a fufficient proof of the impofture, it is no ftronger proof to a candid mind than the fpelling of Lowine, Leyccfterre, or Shakfpeare in feveral oppoiite and contradictory ways.

But, fays Mr. Malone, had the addrefs been " myjweet Anne," inftead of dearejl, it might have pafTed well enough. In fupport of this frivolous

remark.

( 8o )

rtmark, he cites Sir John Harrington, who* begins his letter to his lady, dated December 27, 1602, with the words " Sweet Mall." In reply to this, I fliall refer Mr. M^lonc to Lodge's Illiiftrations, V/here he will find in vol. 2. p. 102, in thf Earl of Derby's letter, the ivords *' Deareft Friend,'^ ufed in 15S9: again in the lame volume p. "2^ we (hail find " Dearefie Py." In Nicol's Eliza- beth's Progrefs, p. 7, in Churchyard's Pleafaunt Comedie, " My Deere, adiew.

But to quit the fubjetl, we will fcfer this critic to his own quotations, particularly in p. 56, where Sir Philip Sidney addrefles his Sifter, *' To my deare Lady and Sifter the Gounteffe of ■**' Pembroke." But it is of all labours^ the raoft wearifome, and certainly the leaft inftfu(ftive, to occupy our underftandings about I'uch miferable trafh. In a note, it is obferved by the critic, that the forgery is proved by the fadt, namely, of mif- nomers, orthographies, &c. notwithftanding the reafons that might be adduced in fupport of themi

Admirable reafoning 1 But how my good cri- tic, is this fait proved ? Is it by itiy Lady Bar-" nard's Will, or by the old Parilh Regifter, which cctntains the marriage of a perfon, who is not even known to belong to that family ? Let us leave himj however, to Kis regifters and prerogative in- dexes.

Now

( 8» )

Now with regard to the orthography of the poet's name (once more to recur to this topic) can any rational man concludcj that Heminge and Gondelli the editors and printers of Shakfpeare's Works, were forgers, becaufe they fpelt his name Shakefpeare ? though in the only admitted auto- graphs of the bard, he himfelf wrote it Shakfperc and Shakfpeare. And by the fame reafon in the inftance before us, namely, the fpelling of Hather- Waye, can the orthography of her name, not as it was written in her own hand, but as it was found in the will of a defcendant, in the third degree of generation from her^ be according to any found principles of logic, or evidence^ confidered as a forgery ?

But not content with digrefTing from his fub- jc(5l by invocations to Venus, and the Graces, wc now find our critic introducing his political opinions into the controverfy before us. In truth, there feems fome little ingenuity in the mode of pfoce- dure. Which he has adopted; He Teems to have known, that if all the refearches he has expended on the fubje6l, the minute, and laboured criticifms he has purfUed, for the purpofe of invalidating the MSS, fhould be but little attended to, and their efFedt on the queftion but flightly efti mated, to in- troduce his political tenets, and to fhew a fedi- tious tendency in fome palTagc of the MSS would

L excite

( 8i )

excite a powerful, and efficient prejudice againd them. For this purpofe, he introduces himfelf as a zealous royalift i and has felefled a pafTage of the above letter, to which he imputes a feditious con- flrudtion. The words which he marks out as a contemptuous allufion to royalty are thofe of " gyl- " dedde hawbles." Let me, however, requefl the reader to perufe the pafiage. None, but the mod fervile courtier, can furely take an exception to any phrafe of this kind. In calling the crown a gilded bawble, Shakfpeare only repeated, what he has frequently faid in his dramas. Who is there that will mark out for animadverfion every fcnti- ment, which concerns the emptincfs of royalty, and that occurs not only in this poet, but which muft occur in the works of all, who have ftudied hu- man life, and drawn rational refleclions from the perufal of it ? Who for inflance, could make this, objeflion to the fpeech of Richard II.

— Within the hollow crown

That rounds' the mortal temples of a king, Keep? death his court, and there the antic fits, Scoffing hjs ftate, and grinnirjg at h« pomp, &c.

Adi. 3. Sc. 4.

Still purfuing his digreflion, Mr. Malone at- tempts

( 83 )

tempts to give an eulogium on the character of X^jeen Elizabeth. As he has provoked the fub- je<f>, I truft, that a flight obfervation on the cha- rafter of this princcfs, will be allowed me in my turn. It is intimated by Mr. Malone, that time may have abated rhe fplendor of her name, Per- liaps there is no better proof than this, that the Iplendor of her charafler was temporary and ad- ventitious, rather than durable and folid. The moft unequivocal tell, to which the general policy or perfonal charadter of a fovereign can be brought, is the eftimare of a fair, and unbialTed pofterity j becaufe it is an eftimate, into which no temporary prepofTeflions, no heats of party, or fadion can poffibly enter. It is indeed fomewhat remarkable that the example of this princefs, whom every liiftorian has reprefented to have been more tena- cious, of the royal prerogative, and more avaricious of arbitrary fway, than any of her predcceffors, ihould be held up as an obje^fl of fuch ardent ve- neration. I know not how to account for it, but by attributing it to the new failiioned propenfity, not only to contemplate with complacency, but even with admiration, thoic periods of our hiftory, in which the liberties of the people were the moft over looked, or defpifcd. Mr. Malone in his abhorrence of regicide, ought not to have forgot the cruel murder of the Scottifh Queen, in which a lawful ' ■ L 2 and

( 84 )

and aimiablc fovereign was depofed by the artful, and jealous policy of the princefs, of whom he is fo violently enamoured. The reign of this queen, howeverj was profperous, in the wars fhe entered into, and the commerce of the country was confi- derably extended at that period. This will account for the predileftions to this princefs. So true is it that a combination of profperous circumftances, will throw a fort of magnificence over a govern- ment, the adminiftration of which is uniformly conducted on the mo(l arbitrary, and tyrannical principles. With regard to the " deteftable doc- " trines of modern republicans," which our critic feems fo thoroughly to apprehend, I fhall only ob- ferye that if the caule of regular governments, has no better fupport, than the pen of an half informed and cloudy commentator, it Hands m a {late deplorably precarious, and dilToluble.

But to return to the verbal objedions of the critic. On the ufe of the word " bawble," in the Iptter to Anna Hatherwaye, he obferves, that he has lome doubt, whether the word had obtained that fignification, fo early as the middle of the reign of Elizabeth. He doybts whether it was ufed at that time, though in the foregoing fentencc, he allows that it bears the very fenfe affixed to it in feveral of our poet's plays. Why, however, the world is to be fatisfied with the doubts of this

gentleman.

( 85 )

gentleman, I am a*t a loi's to dilcoyer, and I anr equally perplexed to difcern upon what principles his doubts, unaccompanied as they are even with the fhadow of an argument, can operate againit piy reafonings. In p. 14. we have produced in- ^2n es uffivjient to ihew that the word Bc.whle was jn ufe in Elizabeth's time, and long before that period, and was applied exadrly in the lenfe, in which it is ufed in the MSS. In Cymbeline, a play the commenrator Ihould certainly have had fom.e knowledge oG we find

" Richer tlian u'oing nothing, for a hauhle^ " Prouder than rufthog in unpaid for fdiC."

Another inflance I fhall here adduce, (though it js fcarcely necefTary) to prove the word was in very common ufe in 1633. In the index of words pre- fixed to Butler's Englifh Grammar printed in that year, and which confifts of only twelve leaves, wc find under letter B. To Babble, Garrio, a Ba-wble^ Nugamentum.

With regard to the objection, that gilded is an unfuitable epithet to diadem, and tliat Shaklpeare muft have known that the diadem always confiilcd of real gold, I Ihall make but one obfervatiijn. It is evident from the fcnfe to which it is applied in the letter before us, that the epithet, ** gilded" was

ufed

( S6 ) ,

iifed in a derogatory manner, in order to degrade the value of the objedt to which he alludes. It is a figure in rhetoric, which Quintillian and Tully call the imminutio; and had Mr. Malone read the works of either of thefe writers, he would not furely have tried a mere metaphorical dic- tion, by the teft of rigid truth, to which it is abfurd to bring either figurative, or rhetorical exprefTion,

In-order to fhew, however, that the prevalent opinions of our author's age, were inconfiftent v/ith the fentiment in the letter to Anne Hatherwaye, Vw'e have many quotations from Shakfpeare'. But hov; loofc unconnected exrra6ls from various plays, can demonfhrate the real fentiments of the author, I cannot difcover. When Shakfpeare wrote his dramas, he w^ould naturally put into the mouths of his theatrical perfonages, the fentiments which ivere the mofl congenial to their refpccftive cha- racters. He knew, that unlefs he was governed by this principle, the unity of charafter and atflion, which is the mod prominent merit of Shakfpeare, would be violated and deilroyed. He attributed, therefore, to his dramatic agents, their appropriate expreflions. When a bifhop fpeaks, Shakfpeare provided him v/ith the language of paffive fub- miflion to the reigning authority which it is natural for a bifliop to utter. In the lips oi his fove-

reigns.

( By )

feigns, he has put the did ion of a confcious, and dignified fuperiority ; in thofe of his courtiers, the maxims of phant and accomodating fcrvihtv. Hence it is, that in the wiitings of Shakfpeare, it is eafy to feledl pafiages, in which the moft fervile, and fubmifTive principles are inculcated. But on the other hand, it is by no means difficult to find fen- timents, which breathe the fpirit of a proud and dignified independence. Pafiliges of this kind may be found in Julius C^far, and in many other plays, where it was necefiary for the prefervation of that unity of charafter, which appears in all his dramas, that appropriate fentiments and exprel- fion fhould be ufed.

But we have alfo an objedion to the ufe of the word ^'' cedar," and to the phrafe " fjrrethou arte as " atalle cedarre ftretchynge forthe its branches and " fuccourynge fmaller plants from me nypyngge " winterre, or the boyfteroufe windes. It is laid " that an umbrageous multitude of leaves, inftead " of fuccowlng deftroys all vegetation under it.*' This is not true. Mr. Malone has proved himfelf not only ignorant of natural hiftory, but even incapable of the moft obvious reflection. Vege- tation, every one knows, requires air ; this is evident from the propenfity, which naturalifts have obferved in all plants, and fhrubs, to bend towards the air, when they are fituatcd in places,

which.

C «« )

which do not admit a general circuLitiori and dif*- fufion of tha. ilui J. Bu: we are yet to learn, that the fheiter of a tr^^e is unfavourable to the growth of fmaller ihruljs and phnts. Ivy^ Jefiamine, the Rofe-tree, and Ever-gre-ens, fiourilh always in the Ihade. Tins would-be critic here finds fault with what he cannot underftand. I muft firft remind him of the maxim of the fchools, " Nullum *' fimile eft idem," or to tianfiate it to him, ^' That which refcmbles any thing, dannot be the '■^ fame." If he finds fault with the above beautiful pafiage, what will he lay to the fol- lowing effort of a great mafter ? " My love is " as the cyprefs in the garden, like the horfe in " the chariots of Theffaly." I muft now inform this God of Letters, that, if a refemblance is exa6t throughout, it Is not any longer, poetically fpcaking a fimile. Has he forgot the objeftion againft Ad- difon's angel, or does he not know it ? Perhaps he may not» But to anfwer him incontrovertibly, at leaft in his own way, I affert, that fome ever- greens and other plants will thrive beneath the Ihady branches of trees ; and that in moft counties famous for the produftion of apples, in order to lave ground, grain is fown in the orchards, which does not fcem to fiourilh the lefs from being fo fi- tuated : and, lail of all, he muft be requefted to perufc the lines in queftion again, and he will find^

that

( 89 )

that in them the' cedar is fuppofed only to defend the fmaller plants " fromme nyppynge winnctcrre, *' or the boyfteroufe windes j" and not to fuccour vegetation, as he milbnderftood them. It is ra- tional to infer, that when they arc protected from the cold blafts, and in fouthern climates fro».\i the intenfe rays of the funj they would be more likely to thrive in their young and tender ftatc. That vegetation, however, does flourifli under thi« fpe- cies of covering, is evident from the immenfe quantity of underwood, or low fhrubs, which will be obfcrvf d in all woods and forefts, where there is a great deal of fhade, and protection afforded iheoT by the larger trees. Leaving however, this ipecies of digrcITion, let us now examine the vcrfcs ty Shakfpcare, to Anna Hatherwaye.

** Is there inne heavenne aught mofe rare ** Thannc thou fweete nymphe of Avon fayre, ** Is there onne earthe a manne more trewc, *' Thanne Willy Shakfpeare Is to you.

*' Though fyckle fortune prove unkyndc

" Still dothe {he leave herre wealthe behynd^

*' She neere the hearte canne forme anew ,

" Norre make thye Willy's love untrue4

" Though age withe withered hand doe ftryke, " The forme mofte fayre the face mofte bryghte, " Stllle dothe flie leave untoucheddc and trewe " Thy Willy's love andc frietidfhippe too.

M " Though

( 90 )

*' Though dcathe with neverre faylynge blovve

** Dothe Manne and babe alyke brynge lowe

" Yette doth he take naughte buUe hys due

" Andc flrikes notte Willy's hearte ftill trewei,

?* Synce tbenne norre forretune death norre age " Canne faythfulle Willy's love affuagc "• Then doe I live aiide dye forre you *' Thy Willye fyncerc ande moft trewe."

The firft verbal exception to thefe llanzas, is the ufe of " Heavenne" as a dyflillablc. The exception is founded on the authority of Spenfer. " In his letter to Gabriel Harvey, April 1580'* *« Heaven being ufed fliort as one fyllable, when it is " in verfe ftretched with a diaftole, is like a lame " dog that holdeth up one leg. In our poet's ge-- '^ nuine compofitions, we never find any fuch hob- " bling metre,"^ obferves the commentator on Shak- fpearc. To what purpofe ho* has read this great inafter will be feen, from the fpecimens I Hiall ad- duce, to fhcw that it is ufed indifcriminately as a difTylable and monyfyllable in various paflages of his plays.

The means, ihat Heaven yi^ilds mull be embraced, And not neglected ; elfe if Heaven would. And we would not Heavn's offer, we rcfufe lihc proffered nieans of fuccour, and redrefs.

Kin^; Rlchiird II. Aci 3. Sc. 2.

--Oh'

( 91 )

-•— Oh ! you are men of ftones,

Had I your tongues, and eyes, I'd ufc them fo, ¥rhat Heaven*^ vault fliould crack : (he's gone fgr ever. V Lear. A6t. 5.

Now let the rain of Heaven wet this place, To wa/h away my woeful monuments.

Henry VI. Part 2. A&. 3.

By Heaven I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring From the hard hands of peafants, their vile trafh By any indireflion.

Julius Csfar, A<Sl. 4.

The Sun not yet thy fighs from Heaven clears,

Romeo and Juliet, Aft. 2. Sc. 3.

Why e'en in that was Heaven ordinant. Hamlet, Aft. 5.

He finds the joys of Heaven here on earth. Merchant of Venice.

I cannot 'twixt the Heaven^ and the Main Defcry a fail.

Othello, Aft. 2.

I have tow'rd Heaven breath'd a ftcrct vow, Othello, Aft, 2.

M 2 By

( r- ;

J5y Heaven X will ne*et Cdmti in ydur b?.<t, Untill I fee the King.

Merchant <jf Vci*.i^e, AfV, g.

Study is like the Heaven''^ gloriou? Sun.

Love's Labour "Loft, K€t. i,

Thefe earthly Godfathers of Hidvtn^s lights, ibid.

Heaven would in little {hew Therefore Heaven's nature's charg'd.

As You Like it. A^r. 3. j?t.

Hymen from Heaven brought her. ibid.

Make Heaven drowfy with the HariTiony, Love's Labour Loft.

And Beauty's creft becomes the Heavens well. ibid.

What peremptory eagle-fighted eye Dares look upon the Heaven of her brow. Love's Labour Loft.

In vaine do men

The fleavens of their fortunes fault accufC' Spenfer.

Looke

( 93 )

Lookc wheti the Heavem are to jufticc beat. Ibid.

The funne that meafures Heaven all day long At night doth bath his fteeds, th' ocean waves among.

Ibid.

At laft the golden Orietitall gate Of greateft Heaven gan to open fayre. And Phoebus frelh as bridegioome to her mate. Came dauncing forth, fhaking his dewie haire. And hudes his gliftering beamcs through gloomie ajTC.

Ibid.

Now the golden Flefpcrus

Was mounted hie in toppe of HeaverCz^ fheem.*.

Ibid.

It was the time, when reft foft Aiding downe

From Heavtn^s height, into man's hcavie e^'es

Ibid.

Her angel's face

As the great eye of Heaven (hined bright.

Ibid.

What fo the Heavtns in this iecrct doorabe. Ordained have, how can fraile fiefhy wight Forecaft, but it muft jiceds to ifTue come.

Ibid.

Why have I quoted Acfe inftanc<?s ? 1 have

quoted

( 94 )

quoted them to fhew that this gentleman, who wc ought to fuppofe, is too convcrfant with Shak- fpcare, net to ha^^e met with thcfe paflages, has nisdc an zfC^rv.on, which every page nlmoft of this ;iiTthor fairifies and deflroys. It were to be wifhed rhiJt th'iz critic :ir>d hiftcrU- of Lowine, could be riicCc to icnov/ fomcthin{? about what he writes, before ht begins fcribbliPig, he would then con- rrive. lo get feme underftanding of the author of whom he fpeaks. He would then know that Spenfer has taken this licence in as large a latitude aS any oi his neighbours,

^" Like as s. tender role in open plains '•* Dirpreds the glory of her leaves gaye."

This is dilatation, this is diaftole with a v^cu- izeance. But what reliance in any rcfpcift, is to be had in the genius of vocabulary and difcionary ? old and new, from Romeus and Juliet to Samuel Johnfon, he has written and read " a world of ** wordes j" but v/hat does he know in any refped of the ufe of them ? that he knows nothing of the meafurc of either Shakfpearc or Spenfer, is here demonftrated, and yet he dreams that he is as familiar with them as his glove, and, as if they were fworn companions. We have feen that thofe who are utterly incapable of reafoning, car^ very

glibly

( 95 )

glibly enumerate and run over the names of ow old logicians -, and Cockeran or Coles may hejp him to the meaning of the words, lyftolc and dia- llole, whom no fchooling, no drudgery, no reading or tranfcribing, can make feel the harmony of numbers.

Not long after the critic's publication of his enquiry, we find him recanting his alTcrtion, and proclaiming his ignorance through the medium of the Gentleman's Magazine, acknowledging that he recollects the ufe of the word in Macbeth.

" Hear it not Duncan, for it is a knell,

*' That fuminons thee to Hcavai^ or io HeH.

And does this retractation atone for the teme- rity of making bold, and unfupported blunders, on a fubjcfl to which one might imagine from hi% peculiar ftudy and avocation, he would have paid a ftricSter and more diligent attention. It appears rather extraordinary, that a commentator on Shak- fpeare, fliould convi^ft himfclf of having never read him.

The next paper in the order purfucd by Mr. Malone, is the ^

Letter from Shakfpeare to the

Earl of Southampton ;

and the

Earl's anfwcr.

Here

( 96 )

Here vvc come once more to afTertions, urged if pofilble with encreafed arrogance, and more de- ilituce than ever of proof, or reafon» It is faid, that there is not a fingle circumilance belonging tt> thefe letters, that does not deted and cxpofc the impoilure. But the reader will fmile, when he obferves the extraordinary mode, in which this alTeveration is attempted to be maintained. The reafoning is not fpecifically applicable to the let- ters before us, but comprehends the whole of the fubjeCt, It does not merely attach fufpicion to this part of the Shaklpeare documents, but over- whelms in one indifcriminate torrent of refuta- tion, the intire collection of manufcripts altogether. What is this irrefiftable argument ? Stripping it of its ufclefs incumbrance of words, and bringing it into a narrow compafs, it is precifely this. /, Edinund Malone, having been employed on a life of Sthakjfearc for tivo years pajiy and ivith the aid of au.tkeu!ic and indijpitahlc documents^ (whick the "jjorldkas notyetfeen) having overturned every tradi^ tionaljUry, ccncerning Shakjpeare for near a century pajl (vjhich is yet to be proved) not being unccn- vcrfant vfith the fuhje^ly ' do pronounce thcje MSB to hejpiirioi'.s.

Mr. Malone is pleafed to confider thefe letters as formed on fome archetype, or received tra- (Ution concerning Shakfpeare. The letters in

queftion.

( 97 )

queftion, he afcribes to a tradition, tranfmitted from Sir William Davenant to Mr. Rowc, that Lord Southampton gave our author no lefs a fum than one thoufand pounds. But how is this ad of patronage and liberality difproved ? Why Mr. Malone is poflTcfled of indifputable documents, which prove what ? that this liberality muft have been greatly magnified, and that the ftory in all its parts cannot be true. Now let me requeft the reader to obferve, in the firll place that thefe in- d'tjputahle documents are not produced ; that ac- cording to equitable rules of reafoning, diereforr they have no weight at all in the prefent argument. In the fecond place, giving the critic credit for his indifputable documents^ and allovving that they prove the liberality of Southampton to have been exaggerated in this tradition, as far as the queftion relates to the letters before us, they prove nothing at all, becaufe thefe letters fpecify no fum, but allude merely to an indefinite, though great aft of bounty from the Earl to his friend Shakfpeare. But it is diverting to hear the critic prefcribe, in what order the correfpondence would have been conduced, had the poet received the mark of munificence from his noble patron, Firft, fays he, Lord Southampton's letter would fpecify the fum, which he had given, as a tribute to the talents of the great bard, and then we fliould have fee ij the

N poet's

( 98 )

poet's letter of thanks. On what grounds, does Mr. Malone afTert that fuch would have been the natural order of correfpondencc ? Muft it have neceffarily happened, that this bounty was coni- muiii^ated by a letter, or if it was communicated, by letter, might not this letter have been loft ? But the inference which the commentator draws from the letters appearing in this order, is, thar ^ fpecific fum muft have been mentioned, and that the fabricator was well avv'are, " that Jcme inqui- " fitive refsarcher like myjelfj' would be pofleflec- of documents, which would immediately afcertain the bounty to have been very different from the fum fixed upon. Here we are again naufeated withthofe eternal references to his documents, with which Mr. Malone has tormented his readers, al- moft in every page of his work. In anfwer how- ever to thefe objeftions, let me alk, whether it is abfoli-tely inconfiftent with the laws of human pro- bability, that a nobleman of diftinguifhed rank, and more diftinguifhed for his patronage of inge- nious and deferving men, ftiould beftow on an au- thor, Lke Shakfpeare, a great, and fignal muni- ficence ? And whether the bard, while all the emotions of grautude were ftruggling in his breaft, might net exprefs his feelings in the letter, which for the fecond time I here prefent to the public, together with the earl's reply.

Copyc

( 99 )

Copye of mye letter toe hys grace offe Sou- thampton.

Mye Lorde

Doe notte eftcemc mc a fluggarde nor tardyc for thus havynge delayed to anfwcrre or rather toe thank you for youre greate bountye I doe alTure you my gracioufe and good lorde that thryce I have cflayed toe wryte and thryche mye efforts have beenc fruitleffe I know notte what toe faye Profe Verfe alle all is naughte gratitude is all I have toe utter and that is tooe great and toot fublyjne a feel- ing for poore mortalls toe exprefs O my lord itte is a budde which blloffommes blloms but never dyes itte cherilhes fweete nature and lulls the calme Breaft to fofte fofte repcfe Butte mye goode lorde forgive thys mye departure fromme mye fubjcde which was toe returne thankes and thankes I doe returne O excufe mee mye lord more at prefentte i cannotte

Yours devotedlye and with due rcfpe<5lc Wm. Shakfpeare

Lord Southampton's anfwer. Dearc Willam

I cannotte doe leffe than thanke you forre

youre kynde letterre butte whye deareft Frcynd

N 2 talkc

( loo )

talke lo much offe gratitude mye offerrc was double the fommc butte you woulde accept buttc the halfe therefore you ncede notte fpeake foe muche on thattc fubjedte as I have beenc thyc freynde foe I will continue aughte that I can doc rbrre thee pray commande mee and you ihall fynde mc

Yours Southampton.

[Superfcribed]

*' To the Globe Theatre

« For Mafter William

" Shakfpeare."

To tilt' orthographyi the objeftion of Mr. Ma- lone is the fame, as that which I confidered in the former part of this work. As to the addre^ of " Your Grace" the reafonings I have urged, on its ufe in the other letters, will apply with the fame force to that, which is now under our confideration.

Infliead of " Mye Lorde" with which the letter commences, it Hiould have beei* Right Honorable I fhall not enter at large into this objedlion, bccaufc this gentleman in the fubfequent fentence has faved me the trouble of adverting to it, by acknow- ledging tliat " Right Honorable'' was not the only mode of that time, the other being fometimes ufed. Wl:iat credit is due to a writer, who in the

'•'cry

( loi )

very fame fcnrence hazards the mod unqualified aflertions, and the compkteft rctratflations to annuh and falfify them ?

The part of the letter, which next falls under our critic's animadverfion, are the following words *f thryce I have cflayed toe write, and thryce mye " efforts have been fruideffe." Thefe, he fays, are borrowed from Ovid.

" Ter conata loqui, ter fletibus ora rigavlc." But in a ftyle of f-ircaftic contempt, he obfcrves, that he entirely acquits the author of ever having read Ovid, and that he was indebted to Milton's imitation of his favorite poet.

" Thrice he eflaycd, and thrice, in fpight of fcorn, " Tears fuch as Angels weep barft forth."

There is perhaps no office in criticifm, which is more truly contemptible, than that to which Mr. Malone, and other commentators have afpired ; I mean, that of tracing the didion of one author into that of another. They are a fort of Bow-ftreet runners in literature. They are employed in fcarching for ftolen goods, where ever their fagacity, which is not of the higheft kind, may dired them. No fubjeft of criticifm therefore has been more abufed, and none has been undertaken h^ weaker, or n^ore taftelefs illultrators. I do not

deny.

( lol )

deny, that the comparifon of parallel beauties, and the difplay of (Iriking refemblances in differ- ent writers may contribute to good tafte and to literature -, nor can I deny, that this talk has been executed by deep, and accomplifhed critics. But thefe great men have often allowed too liberal a fcope for their own fancies and caprices on thefe topics ; fo that others, of no critical pretenfion, and no critical fagacity, have been feduced by their ex- :imple, and have exerted their unpr6fitable dili- gence, in following the fuggeftions of their own underftandings, which no ray of genius, or taftc- ever condefcended to vifit.

Hence it is, that thefe gentlemen have been {o often flattered with the noilon of having made a wonderful difcovery, if they ftumble on a fingle word, or a fingle phrafe, v/hich through the twi- light of a confufcd memory, they think they have feen in other authors. One of Shakfpeare's com- mentators (I forget whether it was Mr. Malone) when the great bard puts into the mouth of one of his characters " Go before I'll follow, finds it out to be an allufion to a paffage in Terence" I prce tc- fequar. And Dean Swift fomewhere adverts to one of thefe fagacious critics, who in order to prove that lie was indebted for his Talc of the Tub, to a French book entitled Combat des Livres, iiuestl^e i^hrafes " If I mi/rememhr ^of," and" lam

" ajfured*'

( lOj )

« a^uredy* which he fays, he found in the French author. Thefe taftelefs commeniatiors are the yery plague and bane of literature ; and arc a for^ of poifonous weeds that grow up in the fweeteft flowers of ParnalTui ; as Lucretius cxprefles it on jinother occafion.

Eft etiam in magnis Helecpnis montibus arbor Floris odore homincm tetro confacta necarc.

But to return to the phrafe before us. Is there any reafon to fuppofe, that Milton found the arche- type of his own exprefTion in Ovid j or that Shak- i*peare in this, (or his forgcr>, fnould have copied from Milton ? Is not the repedtion of the word *' thrice," a common figure in rhetoric ? Did Dry- den copy from either of thefe poets, when he ex- claims in his ode to St. Cecilia,

*' And thrice he routed all his foes, " And thrice he flew the flaln."

This is furely a fpecies of criticifm, which is founded on principles, fo vague, and indefinite, that no rational man would ever propofe it, as a tcft, to which a controverfy of the prcfent nature Ihould be brought. It is, however, curious to attend to the perfonal farcafras of the critic, when he fays that he " perfe^ily acquits the authcr of

" ha'v'mg

( I04 )

'^ having read Ovid." Had Mr. IVTaloTie been able to read Homer, he would have found this mode of exprefiion was his originally, bi^t of this " I entirely acquit kim"

Whether Mr. Malone is intimately acquainted m\\\ the fuppofed forger oi thefe papers or not, the farcafm is lame and impotent, to whatever quarter it might have been dircflcd. Whether tlie perfoR, alluded to^ has read Ovid or not, if knj fuch perfon exifts, which Mr. Malone has not proved, it v/ould be impolTible to alcertain. But lor my own part, I fliould prefer as a critic, and a fchoiar, the man, who never peruled a fmgle line 'A Ovid, to him, who after all his reading, has neither fenfibility to feel, nor capacity to under- fcand that which he has read. 1 fnould prefer the man, who neither disfigures, nor defaces the lite- rature, v/hich lies within his reach, to him, whofe knowledge is only acquired by rummaging the in- dexes, fettling the punftuations, or exploring the dates of the wridngs that furround him.

Mr. Malone then finds another palTage in this obnoxious letter, viz. when the poet tells his pa- tron that " gratitude is a budde which blloffomies, «' bilooms, butte never dyes ; itte cherifhes « fweetc nature, ande lulls the calme breafle toe *^ fofte, fofte repofe." Not to employ ourfelves any further with the orthography, an which fo

much

( I05 )

much has been faid already, the gcod fenfc of the pafiage is, I think but {lightly affedled by mc cri- tic's objedion. He infinuatcs that Shakfpeare was too good a naturalifl not to know, that a bud firft blooms, and then blolToms. And fo it may be in Ireland, but in England, we are accuflomed to fay, that a tree firft bloflbms, but continues in bloom. Admitting the critic to be right, it is juftified by the figures, Hyfteron and Pro- tcron.

*' There I was bred and born."

Then we have a piece of elaborate hyper- cri- ticifm, to prove that Dr. Warburton ufed the words " lulls our overwearied nature to repofe," in one of his notes on Shakfpeare, and that this pafTage in the letter was plagiarized from it. Here, how- ever, I Ihall leave Mr. Malone to his own triumph, and Ihall only obferve, that it is a coincidence which might eafily be accounted for, by thofe, who have the flighteft obfervation, or good (eafc. The fame emotions will generally fpeaking, didate nearly the fame language. Shakfpeare in dcfcri- bing the foothing cffcdl of gratitude in the breaft that chcrifhes it, could not find a combination of wordsmore fuitcd to him, than thofe at which our commentator is difpofed to cavil : and Dr. War- O burton,

( io6 )

burton, when he iought to convey an idea of that, v/hich frees and difengages the mind from care, would as naturally exprefs himfelf in the fame dic- tion. If Mr. Malonc's be found criticifm, the greater part of human compofition is a plagiarifm it being impofiible to avoid cafual coincidencies or even ftriking refemblanccs, where there exifts an uniformity of circumftances, and an identity of feeling in the different writers.

Mr. Malone next obferves, that the conclufioa of the letter is completely modern J " Oh, excufe *• me, mye lorde, more at prefentc I cannorte." " Yours devotedlye and with due refpefte" He objecfls to " at prefente" and to " '■joUhdue' ^' ref-pecfe,'" which he fiys are equally modern, as well as objectionable. Mr. Malone on this topic, obferves, that there is a fafhion, in the Ityle, and co.nciufion of letters. I agree with him, to the full extent of his obfervation. But does it follow, that this fafiiion prefcribes preciiely the fame terms and the fam.e phrafes ? Certainly not. The forms which at this time, prevail in letter-writing, either in the addrefs, or the conclufion, vary widely from each other. One man, fiys, " your humble fer- '« vant: another your devoted and obliged humble '' fei-vanr," through an infinite variety of modi'ica- riou.s. Now is it not very uniliir reafoning, in refer- TJngto r!:e forri;S of thu- times, on wifich we arc nov;

occupied,

< 107 )

occupied, to fct down any deviation from a fpccific form, which might have prevailed at that period, as a forged, and unauthentic document ? But, fays Mr. Malone, the letter will notpafs for thecompofitionof our poet, till an example be produced of a perfon in fo low a fituation, as that of a -player ^ prefuming to conclude a letter to a nobleman with the modern familiar afliirance of attachment, ''^ Yours moft " devotedly." In reply to this, let me afl<, whether Shakfpeare, at the time, he is fuppofed to have written this letter, ftood in the mere rank and efti- mation of a " foor playet- ?" Does not the critic know, that he was a poet, as well as adtor ; and that in every age, and period, the man of genuis, has been exalted almoft to an equality with the pa- trons, that have encouraged and aflifted him ? I contend therefore, that without any impropriety, and confidently with the relations that fubfifted be- tween him, and Southampton, Shakfpeare might make ufe of the form, in which he fubfcribed his letter to that nobleman.

Now for the anfwer of the Earl to this epiftle. The firft verbal objedlion to the letter is urged againft the flyle of addrefs " Deare William." Here as ufual, Mr. Malone didatcs what was the precife mode of beginning a letter, at the time oi which we are fpeaking. With regard to its being imcompatible with tlie immeafurable diftancc, at

O 1 whicb

( io8 )

which Shakfpeare ftood from Lord Southampton, I affirm again, that there is nothing in the fami- harity of addrcfs at all irreconcileable to the fpecica of connexion, between our bard and his noble patron. The great have in all times lived in ha-^ bits of familiarity with enlightened and ingenious men, and this is not the only inftanccj in which this famiiiarity is obfervable. But why Ihould I re- peat an obfervation, which I have been compelled fo frequently to make, concerning the temerity oT laying down any precife or determinate form of exprefTion, as the only mode, which prevailed at a fpecific period of time, is it polTible for Mr. Ma- lone, or any other anLiquary, to have examined -^ thoufandth part of the letters, v/ritten at that time r Why therefore, fhould he draw fuch particular and minute conclufions, from fuch general and indefi- nite premifes. Mr. Malone, knows as well as any body, that though there are general charadteriflical forms of exprelTion, that belong to every age, that there will always be minute exceptions and deviations from habits, however fettled, and ella- blifhed. Bcfides, we are loft in a world of uncer- tainty on this fubjecl, when we attempt to frame a pofitive, and dogmatical opinion upon it. And perhaps, fo little do we know concerning it, that the very fpecimens, which Mr. Malone adduces to decide on the prevailing praflice of the time

may

( I09 )

may only be in fadV, deviations, ?.nd exceptions from the general rule, of which the records and monuments, may have been deftroyed by time, and accident.

In page 107, I remarked upon the familiar terms of addrcfs ufed at the period we arc now Ipeaking of, and amongft the reft, I inftanced « Dearefte friende" 1589; " Deareftc Py ;" and again " My Deere Adicw." In the concluding fentencc of the letter, the objc6lor has the thread- bare animadverfion of its being too familiar, con- fidcred as the language of a nobleman to a player. Need I again recall the reader of this work, to the peculiar fpecies of relation which fubfifted be- tween thefc eminent men. Why docs Mr. Ma- lone, by applying to Shakfpeare the mere cha- ra6ler, and dcfignation of the player, overlook altogether his greater diftindtion of a poet ; and not of a poet only, but of one, whom every age does not fee, and to whom the world is naturally, and irrefiftibly difpofed to pay a fort of homage, that is allied to idolatry. If, however, after what has been faid upon this fubjeft, it is at all necef- fary, to quote authorities in fupport of the epif- tolary ufages, which we have been difcuITing, I will refer to Burleigh's State Papers, where it appears that the mode of ending letters, was capricious, and variable. '• Your aflurcd loving friend" in a

letter

( no )

letter to Sir William Cecil j " Yours always af- " fured, Secretary Petrc to Secretary Cecil." Your ov/n alluredly, from the fame perlbn, and an infinite number of modifications, all which difier confiderably from each other.

Next follows a minute examination, refpefting the fignature SciUhampton. I will quote the critic's own words. In the reign of Elizabeth," fays he, " as your lordiliiip knows, noblemen in their fig- *' natures, ufually prefixed their chriftian name to <* their titles ; as their ladies, and my lords, the " bifiiops, do at this day." But it is worth while attending to the refcrvations in which Mr. Malone whenever he finds his general pofition untenable, endeavours to lh'=lter himfelf He fays this was r'u! ordinary praclicc, though a few peers deviated from that mode, aud fubfcribed their ti- tles onh>^ So completely miilaken, however, in his general propofirion is the fagacious commtti- tator, that he will find a double proportion of in- Itances againft him, if he had taken tlie trouble of making refearches into the fubject. I refer to the Shrewfbury MSS in tiie College of Arms, where diere will be found with innumerable others, the following inilances againft the remark of Mr. Malone.

Nottingham

( III )

Kottiiigham Siiftblk

Howard Devonfliirc

Stafford Northumberland

Lumley • Lifle Pembroke Salilbury

Cranbournc Feneloii.

If it is neffary to refer to an earlier period, ice Burleigh's State Papers, p. 442, &c. &c. where it will be obfcrved, that there are fevcn exam- ples of the Duke of Norfolk's letters having the llgnature of Norfolk. In the fame work, p. 507, and 520, Lord Boyd, figns only Boyd. In page 537 and 552, there is the fimple fignature of " Lumley." In 568 Pembroke, and 569 Arun- dell. I fliall bring forward no other documents on a fubjecl, which a very few authorities will illuftrate, it would be only an unprofitable but la- borious idlenefs to expatiate. As to the affertion that Lord Southampton uniformly figned H. Sou- thampton, it is obfervable, that it is fupportcd by no other proof than the two fpecimens from the liar leian Colledlon, and no argument therefore can be adduced to prove that he never wrote his name in any other mode. De npparentibiis i^ non exist entibus, e^dem est ratio. I obferve alfo, that in the eyes o- the molt eminent antiquaries, rhei'e papers hear little or no refembl;nce to the hand-writing of the age.

Lcu

( »» )

Let me urge the reader to examine how far my afTertion is grounded on fad, by an infpedtion of the fpecimcns, publifhcd by Mr. Malonc. The reader who cafts his eye over the two fpecimcns of this nobleman's hand-writing in the plate, which rhis gentleman has publifhcd, will obferve as wide a difilmikrity in the fize and form of the letters* and in the fignature efpecially, as would be ob- ferved, in the hand-writing of two diftindt indivi- duals. Now where there are two autographs only? and in each of thcfe the fignatures differ, how can any man endued with common fenfe, pofTitively affirm either of them fpecifically to be the ordi- nary mode, in which the nobleman alluded to, wrote his name ? To fum up his objecEtions to the letter, the critic is pleafed to call the whole " falfc ^'^ and hollow" a miferable, bungling, nonfenfical forgery. Has Mr. Malonc, entered into any rea- fonings upon the internal merits of thcfe letters ? If he has not, (as the reader has had ample oppor- tunity of remarking) difcufTed them, and duly con- fidered their ftyie and beauty, but has picked out the little exceptions againil them, on the fcore of ortho- graphy, and epiflolary ufage, this choice and ele- gant combination of epithets is contemptible, and ridiculous.

The profefTion of faith next prefents itfclf, as a ftibjefl for Mr. Malone's animadverfion. Pafllng

over

( 113 )

over the date, and orthography, the fiirft topic,' on which our critic enlarges, is grounded on the af- fumption of its being derived, in the fame man- ner as fome other of the documents, from fome fuppofed model or archetype. It was formed, fays he, " on a confeffion of faith written by one John " Shakfpeare, which I (Mr. Malone) publiflied " in the end of the year 1790." This paper how- ever from fubfequent circumftances turns out not to be genuine j fo that for the fecond time the gen- tleman himfelf acknowledges that his own blunders and confufion refpefting a document, he imagined to be authentic, have proved the fource of future forgeries of a fimilar kind. From the confelTions, however, which the critic is accuftomed to make, from time to time, upon this fubjefl, it Ihould feem, that he has much to anfwer for, at the pub- lic tribunal, for the confident publication of impof- turcs, which at one time, he is pleafed to obtrude on the world, and at another fhamelefsly to retrad, and difavow.

But I Ihall take the liberty of exhibiting to the world, what the fagacious gentleman, ftyles a myflical rhapfody.

PRO-

( IH )

PROFESSION OF FAITH.

I bcynge nowe offe founde Mynde doe hope thatte thys mye wyflie wiUc atte my deathe bee ac- cccded too as I nowe lyve in Londonne ande as mye foule maye perchance foone quitte diys poore Bodye it is mye defire thatte inne i'uch cafe I maye bee carry ed to mye Native place ande thatte mye Bodye bee there quictlye interred wythe as httle pompe as canne bee ande I doe nowe inne theele mye feyrioufe Moments make thys mye profcfiionc of fayth and whiche I doe moft folcmnlye beUeve I doe fyrfle looke toe oune lovynge and greate God ande toe liys glorioufe fonne Jefus I doe alfo beleyve thatte tiiys mye weake and frayle Bodye wille retturne toe dufte but forre mye foul lettc God judge diatte as toe hymfelfe ihalie fecme meete O cmini-potentc ande greate God I am fulle offe Synne I doc nottc thynkc myfelfc worthye offe thye grace ande Yette wille I hope forre evene the poore pryfonerre whenne boiindc witli gallyng Irons evenne hee willc hope for Pittye and whenne the teares offe fweet repentance bathe hys wretched pillowe he then looks and hopes forre pardonne

then p. G

thenne rouze mye Soule and lette fiope *thattc

fweete chcriilier offe alle afforde thee comforte alfoe

O Manne whatte arte thou vvhye confiderefte thou

thyfelfe thus grately where are thy great thye boaft-

"cd attrybutes buryed lofte forre everre innc coldc

Deathe O Manne why attempted thou toe fcarche

the greatnefle otfc the Almightye thou dofte butte

loofe thye labourre more thou attemptcfte more

arte thou iofte tille thye poore weake thoughtcs

arre elevated toe theyre fummite ande thence as

fnowe fromme the leffee Tree droppe ande dif-

ftylle themlelvcs tille theye are noe more O God

Manne as I am frayle bye Nature fulle offe Synnc

yette greate God receyve me toe thye bolbmmc

where alle is fweete contente ande happynefie alle

is blyfle where difcontent iffe neverre hearde buttc

where oune Bonde offe freyndfhippe unytes alle

Menne Forgive O Lorde alle cure Synnes ande

withe thye grete Goodneffe take uffe alle to thye

Breafte O cherifhe uffe like the fweete Chickenne

thatte under the Coverte offe herre fprcadynge wings

Receyves herre lyttle Broode and hoeverynge

oerre themme keepes themme harmleffc ande in

faferye.

W". SHAKSPEARE.

P 2 Wih

( ii6 )

„ ,, }^kk fefpeft tQ the incidental oblervation of tlijs orthography, and phrafeology, to which he tarings the fame thread-bare and Icnfelefs exceptions I refer to what I have fo amply obfcrved in a for- mer part of thi? work. But the internal char^^c- terifiip of it,, , the finiple effuftons of a fmcerc |)iet;|r which it breathes^ and the folcnm and digni- fied didion it every where diiplays, are not, I trull, aff'eded by the taftelefs abufe of fach a critic as Mr. Malone. There are however fome minute particu- larities of phrafeology, on which as he has be- i^owc4 a confiderable portion of obfervation, it behoves me by no means to difregard.

The firft pafTage felecled for remark, is the allufion to the Chickeny that fpreads her wings for the proteclion of her brood. That it fliould have been fuggcfled by the paifage in the New Tefta- ment, vv-ill not operate as a deduction from its beauty as a compofition, of from the proof in favor of its authenticity. As to the inapplicabi- lity of the word " chicken^' on which fome ftrefs is laid, I Ihall not detain my readers with minute, and frivolous remarks on the diflindion between a hen, and a chicken. Without, however, taking up the fubjed as a matter of Natural Hiftory, it mult be obvious to all, that the word Chicken is a general term for the male and female fpecies of this fowi i and in this fenfe, none but the molt

deter-

( 117 )

determined, and incorrigible caviller can find any feult with the corredlnefs of the cXpreflion. Be- fore however I quit this part of our fubjecl, I would proteft againft a propofition, laid down by Mr. Malone, with his cliarad-eriftic confidence, that thefe apparent departures from verifimilitudc, on which he has alluded arc obvious artifices, to give an -air of authenticity to the whole, on the principle that a forger would have carefully avoided them. Now, I would aik, whether this mode of procedure has been followed by forgers in general ? Have they not, in all the inftances, we have at prcfcnt on record, diligently endeavoured, tf> throw the veil of truth, and probability over their produftions. Mr. Malone might with equal rea- ibn, contend that he who forged a bank-note, and avoided o\\ refemblance or analogy to his arche- type would be as ingenious and fuccefsful as if he had imitated the afpeft and charafterillics of that, which he wifhed to reprefent.

Wc now come to another verbal topic, 1 mean, the exception to the ufe of the word accede, as not being the phrafe of the age, in which Shak- fpeare flourilhed. Here is an opportunity of triumph to the critic. A word, which bears not a general and acknowledged acceptation in tlic time, to which it is afcribcd, he immediately fcizes as his natural prey. At what period, tiie word ac^

cede

( ii8 )

cede in its prefent interpretation, firfl glided into iilc", it is impoflible to afccrtain, nor has the ob- je6lor himfelf attempted to prove. I will not turn to the lexicons, and gloflaries of the age. Thefe arc not authorities, for the life of words, which are always implicitly to be followed, Moft unqucf- tionably in thofc days, as in the prefent, terms were ufed, which the compilers of dictionaries ei- ther overlooked or refufed to recognize. How many words at thip- time may be found in the cor- recVft writers, which it would be in vain to hunt for in any diilionary, or glofiary exifting, words ho\vevcr, which though ihey are deftitute of autho- rity or prfCirdcnr, are flill juftilied by the analogy, and principles of the language. Befides who has coined nf w words with greater licence than Shak- ipeare ? But I will not reft on the probability, that Lhc verb accede was in ufe at this time i be- cailfe the fccondary and derivative word (accefs) had obtained the fame conftrudion. I will do more, I will fliew from the authority of Florio's, didionary publifhcd in i6ii, that the word '^' acccdere i" to accede^ to ajfent unto, was known, and conftantly in ufe at that time. Ano- ther proof of the ignorance of the commentator, as to the ufe of words in the time of Shak- iJ3eare. I cannot take my leave of this topic, widiout bcfeeching the reader, to compare the

Profeflion

( 119 )

Profeflion of Faith, which I have publiPned, with that edited by Mr. Malone in the year 1-90. The ridiculous canr, and jargon with which this detected impofture overflows, forms the moft ftriking con- trail to the fublime and pious fimplicity, which conftitutes the prominent merit of the former compofition. In his critical animadverfions on the beauty of its ftyle, I am willing to be at ifliic with fuch a writer as this gentleman ; when I may fhelter myfelf under the refpedtable authority (with many others) of the venerable Dr. Jo. Warton, who onperufingit, obferved with much energy, " thai ^'^ though there were many beauties in the liturgy of our '* churchy yet this compofition far furpajfed them all !'^ The next piece, on which Mr. Malone cm- ploys his critical powers, is the letter from Shak- fpeare to Richard Cowley, a loiv a^ior, as he is called, that played the part of Verges in Much Ado About Nothing ? That a pcrfon, who per- formed the character was necefTarily a low actor, is a ver)' unfair infinuation. Would any man be bold enough to call Mr. Garrick a loiv aclor^ becaufe he played Scrub, or 7\bcl Drugger ? And where is the hiftory of Cowley to be found to juitify Mr. Malone in his alTertion that Cowley was a /o:c; ..aElor^ except from the fuppoficion of his pliying in Much Ado About Nothing ? His theatrical powers might indeed be limited, but it is very

probrjblc

( 120 )

probable, that he might have held in private life, that fair and honorable eftimation, that might have entitled him to the honour of our poet's friendfliip. What the critir, however objects to more parti- cularly in this paper, are the two words " ivittyc " and whimficaiy* in the following pafTage. Ha« " vinge alwaye accountedde thee a pleafauntc and " wittye perfonne and oune whofe companye I doc " much eftecivie, I have fent thee inclofedde a " whimficalle conceyte."

To the word " wittye'* it is objeded, that in our author's time, it was ufcd exclufively in the fenfe of cunnmg, Ihrewdnefs, and applied to the intelleftual powers in general. In anfwer to this, I refer the commentator of Shakfpeare, to Shak- {peare himfelf

Val. " Sir Thurlo borrows his wit from your " ladyfiiip's looks, and fpends what he ^' borrows kindly ia your company.

Two Gent, of Verona.

Aa. 2, s. 4.

" That I had iny good wit out of the ♦* Hundred merry talec."

Much Ado About Nothing.

Aft. 2, S. I.

In

( 121 )

In the fifth afl of the fame play Claudio fays to Benedict, " we are high proof melancholy, and " would fain have ic beaten away. Wilt thou ufc " thy wit ?

"What does this mean, but a requcfl:, that Benedift would exert his powers of humour to difpel the melancholy, of which he complained ?

Again, in As You Like It, A<51 5. Sc. i.

William. *' Ay^ Sir, I have a pretty wit"

And in Second Part of Henry V. Sc. 4, Fal- ftafF fays

" I am not only witty in myfeif, but the caufe that " wit is in other men."

Thefe quotations are fiifficient to fhew, that the word was ufed at that time, in the peculiar fenfe, which Mr. Malone's obje(5tion denies it, as well as in the more general and enlarged interpretation.

Upon the word " whymJicaUe" we have refer- ences to the di(flionaries of Cotgrave, Cole, and the other lexicographers of the critic. I fliall fpcak very little on this head. Di(5tionaries never admit words, which have not been in received and cftablilhed ufc. Now, I do not contend that the objeded word had arrived at this general accepta- tion, before the time of Shakfpeare, or had ob- tained fuch a general currency, as to introduce it into the compilations of Mr. Malone's literary Q^ favorites.

( 122 )

favorites, Cole and Cotgravc. But every word muil Jiave had its birth, and firft introdudion into the language. Dr. Johnfon traced this word no higher than Addiibn. Addifon would probably, have referred him to fome fource, whence he deri- ved it, and that fource would probably have led to another. So that if it is impoflible to point out the precife period, of its primary introdudion, the prefumptive argument is as much in my favor, as in that of Mr. Malone ; as it is equally as fair to afcribe t!ie firft ufe of it to Shakfpeare, as to any other writer.

But it was an innovation by no means incon- fiftent with the principles of our language. All de- rivative languages like the Englifh, are in a ftate of perpetual progrefllon. Hence new words, at the mere difcretion of a popular \vriter have been derived from the latin. Subftantives and verbs require their feveral adjedives ; and everyone, in the unfettled periods of our didion, thought him- felf endued with a licence to derive adjedives from nouns, in general ufe,, controlled by no other rule, than the common analogies of die tongue. The word ivhimi a contradicn probably of whim- ivham^ was ufed at that time in the fenfe applied to ivhimfical. It has been before cbfervcd, that Shalifpeare availed himfelf of the privilege of coining new words 3 and when fo convenient a

phrafe.

( 123 )

phrafe, as the adjedive n^ whim, held out a temp- tation, it is natural to fuppofe, that he did not refill it. We have indeed an inftance in which Shakfpeare has ufed the word whimpkdj when fpeaking of Cupid.

" This whi'mpledy whining, purhlindy wayward boy.'*

Dr. Johnfon fuppofcs it to come from whim- per, which has the fime meaning, as whine. Now befides the abfurdity of charging this beautiful paflage with fo grofs a tautology, it is contrary to the principles of our language, to fuppofe that whimpefm its participle will be wh'nipled. It is not natural to fuppofe that it is compounded of " whim-led,'" which fignifies " humorous, fantaf- *« tical" &c ? So that, if this conje6lure be pro- bable, there can remain fcarcely a doubt concer- ning the general acceptation of the word, and it is no violent conjed:ure to fuppofe, that Shakfpeare might have given a common word the ufual ter- mination of an adjedlive. I have now trefpafTed confiderably on the patience of the reader, in fol- lowing Mr. Malone through the greater part of the intricate labyrinth of verbal objeftions, in which he has involved the fubjed. But much remains to be faid upon the other documents, againft which our critic is pleafed to take exceptions. What next prefents itfelf to our confideration, is the

Q^z DEED

( in ) 1

DEED of GIFT To William Henry Ireland.

Mr. Malone obfcrves farcaftically, that this is the firft deed he ever perufed, where a ftory was fo regularly and circumftantially told. Now it is worthy of remark, that the critic has prefented the deed in fo defedive and mutilated a form, that it is impoffible to pronounce with precifion concerning it, from his ftatement of it. The be- ginning of the deed runs thus. '* I William " Shakfpeare of Statford on Avon but nc^w livyng " in London ncare unntoe a yard calledd or knowne " bye the name of Irelands yarde in the Black- " fryars London nowe beyinge att thys preafaunte " tyme of found mynde" &c. &c. " I didde " with my own hande fyrfte wryte on Papere the " contents hereof butte for the moure lecurytyc " ande thatte noe difpute whatever myghte hap- « penne after my death," &:c. Here then is an an- fwer to every objedion, that may be grounded on the informality of the deed, namely, the confef- fion made by Shakfpeare himfelf of his having written it in the manner, which his own mind fug- gefled to him.

But the firft objeftion is an anachronlfm, which it feems, Mr. Malone has found in the Inftrument.

Shakfpeare

C 1^5 )

Shakfpearc in this deed, it is faid, dcfcribcs hini- feJf as living at Blackfryars in Odober, 1604. But it is manifeft, fays Mr. Malone, that the King's fervants were not then poffefled of the Blackfryars. What does this prove, allowing the objeflion in point of fa6t to be valid ? Why it does not falfify a fyJlable of what appears on tlic face of the deed. If the Theatre was not at Blackfryars, might not the poet have refided in that part of the metropolis ? Nothing that con- tradidts fuch a fuppofition, can be found in the hiftory of his life.

Let us attend to the remark upon the circuni- cumftance recorded in the deed, of the accident on the Thames. Whether Shakfpeare could fwim, fays the fagacious gentleman, I have no means of afcertaining. Now it is rather furprizing, that he who could take the gage, and dimenfions of Eli- zabeth's hand-writing, and could afcertain with fuch accuracy the progreflive fizes, to which it ex- panded as ilie advanced in life, fhould not be able to inform the World, whether Shakfpeare was an adept in fwimmlng, and point out the place, where he fwam, and the diftance to which his art would enable him to fwim. I think it however extremely probable, fays the critic from the admirable lines in the Tempeft, that he was well acquainted witii that ufcful art. Can any remark be more truly

abfurd ?

( I^^6 )

abfiird ? Does it necefT-'rily foilo^Vj tliat Shak- fpcare was vcrled in the myileries of every art, occiioation, or mvfcerv^ to which he has aHuded in his writings ? It is a fa<fl that the poet Thomfori was perfectly unacquainted with the fcience ot fv;imming, which he has defcribed with fuch glow- ing eloquence, and with fuch minute accuracy. It is then infinuated, as an incongruous and contra- diftory circumftance, that none of his friends, nor the boatmen, but only W. FI. Ireland fliould have attempted his refcue. Does Mr. Malone fuppofe that every boatman, wlio nivigates a fmarll boat on the Thames is verfed in the art of fv/im- min*?:? I am afraid were Mr. M. hi mfclf to de- pend on fuch aiTi'Hance, were a fimilar accident to befjl him, that his ipecific gravity would very ibon reach the bottom of the river, efpecially if he had a bundle of h.is notes on Shakfpeare in his pocket. But as to the affected banter of firripping off his jerkyn, &c. Let me afk whether any one, who had the fmallefl degree of firmnefs, at fuch a moment, or the fiightefl regard for the life of ano- ther, would make an attempt of this nature with- out throwing off the incumbrances of drefs as quickly as he could, vvhich at that time were very heavy, and would neceffarily have obfl:ru61:ed the the action of his limbs on fuch an occafion \

As to the word utjit, which Tvlr. Malone ctT\-

fures.

( ^27 )

furcSj as a word of modern growth, die only grounds on which it is objcded to are, diat it is not to be found in Johnfon's Dictionary, and diat he (Mr. M.) has not met with it. To thefe objedions I anfwer that Dr. Johnfon, it is well known, has omitted feveral hundred words in general accepta- tion. Mr. Herbert Croft g:ocs fo far as to fav thou- ilinds. As to the objection, I fliould be afhamcd ferioufly to refute the abfurd pofition tliat the critic lays down, that no word can he genuine^ ix:itk zvhich he himjelf is unacquainted.

Faffing over the ufelefs difquifition, which Mr. Malone has protruded into his work, concerning the William Henry Ireland mentioned in the <^tzQ.y we are once more arrived at verbal difcufTions. In a conveyance to Shakfpeare (now in the pofleflion of Mr. Wallis) the tenement which he purchafcd, fays the critic, is defcribed, as having been " fome- " tymes in the tenure of James Gardyner, Efquire, " and fince that in the tenure or occupation of one " William Ireland, or of his afiignecs or affigns." Now mark the ingenuous inference of the critic. " From the prefix one^ the v/ant of the addition '^ of Gent, and the word occupatlony which at " that time was a word, that denoted trade, I had " no doubt that lie was a tradefman." A piece of m.ore contemptible critlcifm, than the accepta- tion_> which is applied to the v.'ord cccupatlon. by

Mr.

( 128 )

Mr. Malone, never difgraced the pages of any man, who pretended to criticifm, or literature. The word occupation did at the period to which 1 am alluding, as well as at the prefent time, mean no- thing more, than that r'le houfe was occupied by the perfon alluded to. As to the infertion of the double name of William Henry Ireland, on which the prcfumption of fraud is grounded by Mr. Ma- lone, I would obferve, that if, as Mr. Malone fuppofes, the forger had copied the authentic deed in which there was only a fingle chriftian name, he muft: have been extremely inexpert, and blindly flupid in the fabrication, had he not made his copy with a drifter accuracy.

Then we are informed, that in the laft century and long after it, perfons of the firft rank, in Eng- land contented themfelves v/ith one chriftian name. It feems that our laborious inveftigator has looked into lifts of the Houfe of Commons, into the ca- talogue of Baronets created by King James, among the Knights of the Bath, nay that he has pried into fcveral parliaments, and that no fuch diftinc- tion as a two-fold chriftian name is to be found. What is to be faid to all this ? my only reply, fhall be the citation of authorities.

" Richard Maria Dumville, Efq. born anno 1603." " Huntingdon Haftings Corney, Efq. anno 1603."

" Anna

( 129 )

Anna Maria Eftoufleville, ditto." " Thomas Maria Wingfield, ap. temp. Ed- ward 6th."

The above names were communicated to me by favor of Francis TownfcnJ, Efq. Windfor Herald.

In a " true report of a late Pradife, &c." by Barnabie Riche, 1582, in quarto, black letter, the name of Captain Thomas Maria Wingfield will be found, and is n;oft probdbly the perfon, before mentioned. In the Sheldon Pedigree will be obferved Henrietta Marii, daughter of Thomas Savage, Vif. Rock Savage, born 1618. In the vvill of Sir John White, of Tucksford, in the reign of James the ift, the following name appears as a Witnefs. *' Welbecke Marke Browneley." In LyJon\ Environs of London, vol. 3, p. "i, it is obferved, that the following baptifmal entry is in the Hornfcy Regifter. " Lucius F. Thomje " Guliclmi ex Louifa Maria, bap. 4. May 1637." Now if Louifa Maria had a fon in May 1637, it is mofi: probable that flie was chriftened about the period of the Dramatic Poet. I am alfo furnifhcd by Mr. Bekz of the Heralds College, with the chriftian name of Mark Antony, tho' the firname cannot be found. If there is need of further re- ference, I will cite the name of Henry Frederic,

R fon

( 130 )

ion of James the Firfl:. Nay I will refer to a ftrR earlier date.. la Lyfon's Environs, vol. 3, p. ii^ we fhall find as far back as the year 1416, an in- fcripti n i;i Hendon Churchy to the memory of " John Arte Hevyn."

Surely thefe citations will be fufHcient for my purpofe. In faft, the ufc of the tv/o-fold chriftian names, fo policively and dogmatically objected to by Mr. Malone, mufi: have been a matter of fuch nndeniable notoriety, that I know not which is the mod aftoniHiing, the unaccountable ftupidity of the perfon who overlooked thefe evidences, or his unpaialled effrontery in making fuch an aflertion.

When Mr. Malone obferves in this excep- tionable deed of gift, that the written Plays of Henry IV. Henry V. King John, King Lear, &c. are named in the conveyance, he triumphantly ex- claims, with his ufual arrogance and inaccuracy,, that the Lear was not written till after October 24,: 1604, The extreme ignorance, difplayed in this pofitlon, is almofl intolerable. He perfifts in- faying that the Play was written after James was proclaimed king, and that was not on the i/\.th of March 1602-3, ^^^ ^^ thei^th of 05lohcr 1604. So much for accuracy of dates I In reply to this, I quote Camden's Elizabeth, Book 4, p. 661. whicli will clearly prove the ignorance 01 the critic on thisfubjecft.

'' On

( 131 )

" On the 24th of March, 1602-3, being " the Eve of the Annunciation of the BkiTcd " Virgin, fhe (Qiieen Elizabeth) W2S called out " of the prifon of her earthly body, &c. kc. « The fad mifs which fhe left of herfelf to the " Efiglifh, was much Itflened by the great hope " conceived of the vertues of King James her " fuccefTour, who a few hours after w.ij pro- " claimed Kingy with the joyfuil jQiouts and ac- " clamations of all the people."

" The King" (James of Scotland) " being *' '"arrived to the 36th year of his reign, continued " a good correfpondence with Qiieen E izabeth, " as the only way to fecurc his fucccffion, Ihe « having a little before her death, (which hap- " pened on the 24th of March 1602) declared " him her fucccflbr. Whereupon he was the same " DAY at Whitehall proclaimed King of England^ " Scotland, France and Ireland, with great Ac- ^* clamations."

Sandford's Hiftory of England, Book VII. Chap. I. p. 554.

As to the fatal objetSlion of the indorfement

of the words 2 James, which it Ihould feem is

a decifive proof of the forgery, let me remind the

reader, that it is by no means improbable, that

R 1 thr

( >3i )

the f^ecds were indorfed, a very long period att'^r they were executed, and upon the beft autlir ricy I lt;un that deeds of that period were feldoir. indor- fed at the time they were drawn. I have (hewn tlic c'ccd to many antiquaries, and to perfons of tliC law, verfed in the learning of thefe Papers, who h;ive confii'med this remark, Thefe are all the obfervations, which I fliall make upon the deed, v/hich Mr Malone has feledted as the pe- culiar viftim to his exceptions. What I have faid, will I truft, b:: found to comprize all that it behoves me to fay upon the fubje(f\. I do not take the defence of the Inftrument upon me any fur- ther, than by proving the allegations of Mr. Ma- lone to be fallacious, and unfounded. And it is a rule in logic, that when the negative is difproved, the contrary propofition is eftablifhed.

Now for the Tributary Lines to Ireland.

" Oh model of Virtue Charity's fweeteft " Child, thy Shakfpeare thanks thee '• Nor Verfe, nor Tear can *' paint my Soul nor fay by *' half how much 1 love thee."

" I beg pardon," exclaims Mr. Malone, (who among other caprices, has nfFecled a (^yle of gal- lantry) " of ail the young ladies cf Great Britain

" and

( >J3 )

" and Ireland; there is not one of them, fi'teen *' years old, who would not produ:€ a better cf— " fufion after reading the firft novel, thar feh into " their hands." I f. lemnjy wilh, th.it this gen- tleman, may never have ftronger reaf ns to beg pardon, and deprecate the anger of the fex, than the fuppofition, for which he apologizes.

But the next objefiion.^ble arcicl.% is the vl^w of Wm. Henry Ireland's houfc, and coat of arms, &c. It is objeiflionable on account merely on the word Fie'iVf being vWiolly unknown, as he fays at the time, in the fcnfc of a delineature of a houfe, &c. on canvas, paper, or copper. Then as ufual, he tells us where he has fcarched ; and the autho- rities of lexicographers, and vocabularies, into which he has examined : though all this does no- thing at all, but exhibit an iTuIlration of the in- flinft, with which this gentleman is endowed, of never looking into the proper places.

In Florio's Italian Di61:i >nary printed 1611, veduta or "uijla has the Engiilh fenfe annexed " any " fight, view, or prof]:)e(51:," with other fynoncmes of the fame tendency. It is ackn nvledged by Mr. Malone, that in this fenfe the word was ufed in French fo early as the fixteenth century ; and it is not therefore, an afTumption to fuppofe that it fliould have crept into our idiom, much earlier, than the period, to which Mr. Malone attributes it. I fay

nothinr:

( 134 )

nothing about the allufion to the fciirce from which this I-Iaberdafhcr, as he is contemptuouily termed, derived his armorial bearings. We all know, that fome of the moft antient families in this coun- try fprung originally from the commercial depart- ments of life i and perhaps were we to examine the original fountain, whence Mr. Malone derived the arms of his own family we fliould not find them more honorably or unequivocally obtained.

We will now fay a fcv/ v/ords on the two co- loured drawings, reprefenting the charaders of BafTanio, and Shylock : and here, for the firft time, we are furprized v/ith a modefl confeffion on the part of the objector, that he had never fccn, what he objects to, and that if he had I'ccn them, he was not entitled by any knov/ledge of the arc to decide upon them. In oppofition to his affer- ticn, that he " has received information from un- " queflionable judges, that they are drawings of *' a recent date," I would obfcrve, that waving my ovv'n pretenfions to an accurate knowledge of thefe matters, -I appealed to the judgem.ent of Artifts whom I looked upon as the moft competent to pronounce on the fubjcil. The uniform opi- nion of thefe perfons vv'as, that they vvere the ge- nuine produdlions of the times, to Vvhich they are imputed. In the courfe of fcveral months* during which' the drawings remained in my pof-

feflion,

( ^3S )

re/Tion, I difcovercd an illegible hand-writing, buc I was never able to decypher ir. On fhewing it however to Mr. Hewlet of the Temple, whom I have mentioned in my preface, that gentleman with the affidance of glaffe^, difcovered the name of Johannes Hofkins, a pcrfon who at a later period we are told by the late Lord Orford and other writers, became an artift of great merit.

AGREEMENT

Between Shakspeare andLowiNE.

On this head, it appears, that the papers of a Mr. Henflowe, laid before the public in Mr. Ma- Jone*s laft edition 1793 of Shukfpeare, are appealed to, in oppofition to the validity of the agreement now under confideration. Now, upon the hypothe- fis of the forgery of the papers, does it not appear very fingular, even to the Critic himfelf, that the fabricator fhould not have relbrted to thefc valuable treafures of Mr. Henflowe, efpecially as the greater part of them had been circulated in a book, which might be found in every book-ftall through the country ?

Hov/ever the principal objefllon is, that John Lowin tho' he fays " his name was fometimes writ- " ten Le win, never is to be found Lowine." Is it not ftrange, that Mr. Malone, the commentator on Shakfpc-arc Ihould fo heedlefsly convi6l himfelf of

never

( 136 )

never havino: looked into the firfl folio Edition of the Great Bard, publiihed 1623. Let me then in- form him, that in the lift of the afters, he would have found this man's name fpelt in the objeflion- able manner. " J'^hn Lowine." This is furely a bad fpecimcn of Mr. Malone's accuracy. In his clafical way we mny fay, ab uno crimine dijce omnes. When Mr. Malone again quotes a learned lan- guage, I would exhort him to be aware of the diftinElicns cf genders, though it is a fpecies of learning, in which I am informed, he is not mi- nutely verfed. For omnes read omnia, as I have before remarked.

The word Compcfition is objected t^, as to the acceptation that it bears in the agreement, I (hall refer to no other authorities to juftify the fenfe, but that which Mr. Malone himfelf has cited in a note. « Simple is the device, and the compcfition " meane." Epift. Ded. to Mother Hulbard's Tale, 1590. No one who reads this pafTage, can qucftion the inapplicability of the quotation.

AGREEMENT

Between Shakspeare and Condell.

The firft topic that occurs on this head in the Ihape of an objcdion, is the thread-bare obfervation on the denotation of a guinea " as oune pounde

^' and

( 137 )

*■' and ounc flilllynge per week." 1 Ihall not reiter- ate the reafonings, on which I have entered in a former part of the work, but I fhall gladly leave Mr. Maione to the enjoyment of the fulleft tri- umph that his vanity can derive from fo trivial and fenfelcfs a cavil.

It fecms very furprizing to Mr. Maione, that the falary which Lov/ine received at the theatre, fhould have exceeded that of Condell, who ftood fo high in the eilimation of Shakfpeare and whofe name (lands as a patentee immediately after that of Heminges. Whatever might be the rank which Condell held in the friendlhip of the bard, his merits as an adlor might have been very infignifi- cant. It is reafonable to prefiime that the players were rewarded according to their profefTional ta- lents at that time, as at prefent. Shakfpeare him- felf we are taught to believe was by no means a good ador ; and his name might flill ftand firft as a principal patentee in the Theatre.

Then we are reminded that from the terms of the agreement by which he covenants " for three <« years to play upon the ftage, for the faid Wm " Shakfpeare alle Comedyes ande Tragedyes ** which he the faid Wm Shakfpeare may at any " tyme during the faid terme cauje to he flayed net " written or com'pofed by himfelf hutte are the ivri^ *' tings or com^ojytyons of others j from which we muft

S fuppofc

( ijS )

fuppofe that he would never fuffer one of his owtt " pieces to be performed in his own playhoufe, or " that he bore fuch enmity to Condell, that he had " made a fixed refokition that he this adlor fhould " not difcharge any part in them." This is the con- clufion into which our critic willies to precipitate j

his readers. But is it an improbable fuppofition m

that the covenant was a feparate agreement, for ^

the exprefs performance of the plays that were not written by himfelf, and that thofe of his own com- pofition therefore, had been the fubjefls of a dif- tindt and fpecific agreement. We are then fa- voured with another conclufion of the ingenious gentleman, conceived in the true flyle and genius of his profound criticifms. This remark only amounts to this, that he infers the deed of Con- dell to be fpurious, and that Condell could not have ufed the peculiar fort of autograph in the MS becaufe he himfelf in the courfe of his favorite re- fearches Into Parifli Veftries and Charnel Hoiifes, has not flumbled upon that ador's autograph.

As to the indorfement of the deed (not to ob- ferve that the indorfement might have been pro- bably made many years after the deed) to the Englifh form of which Mr. Malone obje<51:s, I fliall refer the reader to fcveral authentic deeds now in the pofiefTion of a gentleman, to whom I have the liberty of referring, fhould any particular

enquiry

( 139 )

enquiry be made on this head. Amongft thefe is ,.an Englijh Indorjement in the following deed, viz. A Deed of Gift made in the 22d year of the reign of Henry VI. by John Cannyeforde to John Wol- fele of landed property at Trowbridge Wilts. The Deed is in Latin, and Cannyeforde is there dcfcribed Clericus \ and the indorfement is as follows. " John " Kannyeforde Clark:' There isalfo another deed of gift dated 28th Edward HI. in Latin from Wm. Heye to Philippo le Schephurde, and it is indorfcd in Englifh thus " 28th Edward third, Phi. Ic " Schephurd." Among innumerable other deeds with the citation of which I fhall not overwhelm the faculties of the reader, I have fclefted thefe, which I truft will {hew very fully that there are exifting indorfements in Englifh to deeds of the period, on which we are now occupied.

The Leafe to Michael Frafer next comes un- der animadverfion. Upon this head I fliall not detain the reader very long. But I might advert with juftifiable fcverity to the farcaftic allufion made by the critic to the perlbns who fubfcribed to the work. Their rank in life and the literary reputation of the greater part, whofe names adorn the catalogue, are far above the reach of any ri- dicule that Mr. Malone can dired againft them. But the critic's principal objection is this \ th.at the Glebe on the Southivark fJc cf the ThamcSy is de-

S 2 fciibcd

( 140 )

icribed to be by Black Friars^ London. Upon this fubjefl I lliall fay but little \ not feeling it my duty to difcourfe at large upon ail the wire-fpun and trivial cavils that a critic like Mr. Malone is able to bring forward. I produced the deed in the prefence of many intelligent perfons, who were of opinion that the word {hy^ Ihould be conftrued with a greater latitude of meaning, than Mr. Malone feems to allow it ; and that it figni- fies general vicinity, rather than a ftricl proximity. And here I will make one general obfervation, which the candid reader will apply to other parts of the MS. I would remark that amongft a mul- tifarious mafs of papers, like thofe in my pof- feflion, it would be abfurd to fuppofe that fomc would not furnifli matter of petty quibble, and exception to thofe minds, which are not fuffi- ciently comprehenlive to embrace general argu- ments, or purfue general reafonings upon thefe lubjeds.

And now we are approaching that, which Mr. Malone llyles to be worfe than the " thickeft " Cimmerian darknefs," the deed of truft to John Hemynges. They who are converfant with the critic's powers of illuftrating and penetrating ob- fcurities, will be rather furprized that he Ihould have any objection to that, with which he is 'io very familiar. Every animal is endued with na- tural

( '41 )

tural orgahs adapted to the element in which it lives ; and I have always thought, that black letter criticks and commentators who feem to breathe only in darknefs, never enjoyed repofe 'till they had brought their author's fenfe and meiining to the mift and obfcurity of their own underftandings and apprehenfions.

But let us endeavour to (late concifcly one or two of Mr. Malone's objedions. The firft is, that the deed lets out with informing us, that aj. the time at which the deed is dated, Shakfpearc liad not yet returned into the count' y. The deed of mortgage in the next year (March loth and nth, 1612-13) is adduced by Mr. Malone to in- validate the pofition. On this head I have only to remark that the objecElion is not fupported by the mortgage deed J becaufe the intervening year would have afforded Shakfpeare ample time for the retirement to which the critic refe-'s.

Then it is animadverted on, as improbable, that the deed Ihould have opened in thefe words, *^ having found muche wickednefs amongfl; thofe *' of the lawe, &c." very unlikely fays Mr. Ma- lone, that he fhould have had fo low an opinion of lawyers, when he was in habits of friendfliip withfeveral members of that profcfiion. What in- congruity and what inconfiftency is there in this ? Why does Mr. Malone inftr, that bccaufi* our

bard

( 142 )

bard had a few connexions in that profeflion, for whom he had the higheft efteem and refpeft, he could not have entertained a general imprefllon againfl the character of the body in general ? The obje6tor ought to have known alfo, that tlicre are a variety of pafiages in the works of Shak- fpeare, in which he has put into the mouths of his perfonages many very fevere and ftriking ani- madverfions on the body, againfl which Mr. Ma- lone thinks it impoffible, that he could have im- bibed any diflike or prepofTefTion.

Thefe are fpecimens of his reafonings upon the deed of truft to Pleminges, with which I fup- pofe the reader will be perfe(51:ly fatisfied. He has Indeed favoured us with many other obferva- tions, drawn from the armoury of antiquarian and legal refearches, with which I fhall not condefcend to interfere. My purpofe was not that of pur- fiiing Mr. Malone through all the dark avenues and fubreraneous apartments of the gothick edifice of reafoning, which he has erected with fuch infi- nite labour and diligence.

Mr. Malone, p. 300, with refpect to the child mentioned in the dced^ to whofe ufe the eight plays are appropriated, fays that he " prefumes the " child to be Shakfpearc's god-fon young William " D'Avenant; and " I fear," fays he, •* that I am ** anhverable for his havins; been brought for-

<« ward."

( 143 )

" ward." So that the critic acknowledges him* fclf guilty of what has not been laid to his charge, viz. of having brought a bantling into the world. I fincerely hope that Mr. Malone will have the grace to erafe the confefTion of the illicit and wan- ton ways of which he pleads guilty, in his future editions of Shakfpearc.

But becaufe I have not entered into nil the abftrufe arguments, in which he has bewildered himfelf and his readers, it would be an unfair in- ference to draw, that I have not fucceeded in the objedt of this work, which was that of expofing the greater part of the fallacies, errors, fophifms, and impertinent cavils with which he has attempted to impofe on the world, in the fliape of critical in- veftigations. Let the topics I have feledled, fcrve 35 a general fpecimen of the ftyle of his writing and the force of his arguments. Let the public judge by the articles I Ha>c examined, of the reft

of thofe broken wares and mouldy commodities,

he has expofed to fale.

I have now finifhed my obfervations on that

part of Mr. Malone's work, which refpedts the

deeds and documents. I fliall now only trefpafs

on the patience of the reader> with a few remarks

on the Lear and the Hamlet.

Here the Critic fcts out with an ingenuous

avowal of his being utterly difqualified for the di(-

cufTiOJi

( 144 )

cuflion of the fubjc(5t. He obferves that he has not collated a fingle line of the Lear, except one fpeech ; and that life would be too fhort for the €xnminati:>n of fuch tralh, when a fingle glance is fufficcnt to fliew it to be a plain and palpable for- gery. Yet it might be imagined, that he whofc whole life has been fpent in the taik, to the drud- gery of which he now takes fuch an extraordinary averfion, would not have fek much repugnance to the minute and flender inquiries of collating, and exploring the pafiages on which he notwithftanding prefumes to give a decifive, and oracular opinion. " Three words" fays he, " will fuffice on the fub- " je61:." Yet thefe three words, multiplying themfelvcs like the polypi, are made to fill nearly twenty pages of his volume.

As to the fingle paflage he has felcded, I iliall fay a few words.

Jib. " Whats the matterre Sir."

Leave. " Marke mee He tell the life and death I amme *' nihamed thou haft povvcrre to fliake mye manhood " thuile, that thefe hotte teares that breake fromme mee *' perforce fhould make worfe blafts and foggs " onne the unnetennedere woundinges of a fatherres curfe *' Eyjfc playe thys part agayne He plucke ye cute and cafte " yeu with the waterres that you maye temperre clave.' '

Allowing Mr. Malone the incorredlnefs of the fpeech as it fiood, I by no means admit it to be

a fair

( ^45 )

a fiiir ftandard by which the reft is to be efti- matcd.

In the fixth line, after the word fathers, curje is unqueftionably omitted, and in the next line ujje is an error inftead of Eyjfe, as it ftands in the MS. Thefe are errors of tranfcription for which I am alone accountable, but if the reader with thefe cor- reftions will perufe the pafiage, I am perfuaded that it will appear in a light totally different, if not a real emendation of the vulgar text.

But let me befeech the reader to attend to the following lines in the MS (the fpeech of Kent in the laft fcene), which Mr. Malone obferves that any fchool boy might have written.

Kente. " Thanks Sir batte Igoe toe thatte unknownc lande. *' Thatte chaynes each Pilgrim rafte within its foyle " Bye livynge menne mode ftiunn'd moufte dreadeddc " Stille mse goode mafterre this fame journey tooke " He calls me I amme contente and ftrayght obeye *' Thcnne farcA-elle worlde the bufye fceane is done ^' Kente liv'd moufte true Kentc dyes moufte lyke a " manne."

I make no comment upon thefe lines, though I cannot abftain from remarking, that he who compares this emendation with the following fpeech of Kent, as it exlfts in the other editions,

T *M haue

( 146 3

" I hauc a journey, Sir, fliortly to go ;

•* My mafter calls me, I muft not fay, no."

and does not pronounce it to be replete with pathos and energy, muft refign all pretenfions to critical difcernmpnt as well as poetical tafte. The above pafTage has received the commendations of all who have read itj and it is much more eafy, after the fpecimen he has given us of his tafte and eru- dition, to fuppofe that Mr. Malone is not endued with the flightefl particle of either, than that the beft fcholars of the age fliould have given their lufFrage in favor of lines, which any fchool boy mioht have written.

We are next told, as an objedtion to the pa- pers, that the method of numbering the lines, is unauthorized by the ufage of Shakfpeare and the time in which he wrote. Here we have once more an unauthorized aflertion. Is Mr. Malone to impofe the'tenet of the Pythagorean School on his difciples ? Is every pofition, which falls from his pen, to be received with implicit rev^ercnce, o;.i matters of controverfy like the prefent? Has this gentleman in his polTefllon any of the original MSS of Shakfpeare, to ihew the fpecific ufage of the bard in this relpe^t .^ ^. If he has not, upon what ground does his. inference reft ?. The fame obfervatlon will apply tor the circumftance.of the

'• plays.

( H7 )

plays, having been written on one fide only of the paper. It may be further remarked, that at that time, theie ufages muil have been variable, and uncertain, and I would obferve that as far as the latter objeftion goes it is invalid, becau'e many of the MSS. in my pofleffion contain the writing on both fides, which Mr. Malone pofitively aiferts, the quality of the paper would not admit of

At the clofe of thefc remarks, we are prefented with an argument, whicji it would furely perplex our modern logicians, and thofe who are verfed in the prevailing forms of reafoning, to analyze, and examine. " The outworks being demolillied the " fort mufV furrender," in plain Englifh, ha- ving laid down in a mafs of accumulated affertion, that the other writings, whether lOve letters, ad- drefles to his patron, or copies of verfes, are a coUedion of unintelligible nonfenfe, the Play of Vortigern, which he had not read, nor feen, nor examined, muft be unintelligible nonfenfe like- wife. This is the new fafhioned fyllogifm, with which the garrulous commentator has finiflied his obfervations on the fubjeft of the amended plays, lately prefented to the world. I have adverted to it, that the reader may fee the uniform tenor of the learned gentleman's reafoning, and obferve the admirable correfpondence and unity of flruc- Uire and defign, that prevails through the whole

r 3 of

( 148 )

of his inquiry from the firft to the laft page of his book.

As to the whole length portrait of Shakfpeare in oil, and the uncut two firft folios, farcaftically al- luded to by Mr. Malone, I have nothing to remark farther, than that the communication was made to me by my fon, and that all the information I ever received concerning them, refts on his authority. As a proof of Mr. Malone's accuracy with refpedl to the fadbs advanced in his book, he talks (in a note), of a letter in which Shakfpeare fpeaks highly of For tiger?; and infifts on a larger price for th^ copy- right of it than his bookfeller was v/illing to give Kim. On this I have to rem.ark, that the letter alluded to, does not fpecify Vortigenty nor does It bear any appearance of its alluding to that play at all. This will ferve for as good a fpecimen of the critic's faculty of dreaming, as rha: with which ht has favoured us at the concluiion of his volume.

To Ihew the facility, with which an impofture of this kind might be condu<5led, the critic cites an inftance of his own patience and labor, in the execution of a tafk which he prefcribed tohim- felf, of copying out the whole poem of Romeus and Juliet, in three days. This however proves only what the laborious texture of Mr, Malone's mind is capable of fuftaining. It is a capacity which I do not mean to deny him in common,

with

C H9 )

with every ftatnner's apprentice and clerk in the kingdom. With the fame pains and diligence he might have copied the Iliad, without being able to interpret a fingle charadler of the Greek language, or Euclid's works, without knowing a fingle propofition in mathematics. But does this inftance of perfevenng dulnefs apply to the mafs of papers before usj in which hot only manual jnduftry, but manual dexterity, and identity of fic- tion, and no ordinary powers of mind are uni- fornly difplayed, upon the hypothefis of its being an impofture ?

But this colledion of remarks, egotifms, and conjectures at length feems to approach its termi- nation. Mr. Malone has difplayed all the varieties of the human faculty in the courfe of his enquiry : he has been the critic, the wit, the antiquary, the fcholar, the man of gallantry. But what ought to exhibit the lingular dexterity of Mr. Malone in adling the feveral parts he has afTumed, is the circumftance that nature has denied him all the qualities requifite for the talk ; juft as it would be a furprlfmg feat of dexterity, if a man were to dance the rope without legs ; for he is at once a critic without tafte, a poet without imagination, a fcholar without learning, a wit without humour, an antiquary without the leaft knowledge of anti- quity, and a man of gallantry j zi'ithoui

But

( 150 )

' ' But the art in which he poffefles a truly admi- rable faculty, is that of Dreaming. Over dreams he poflelfcs an unlimited dominion j and he feems like i\\t God of Dreams in Virgil, furrounded with all the drowfy powers and agents, which thronged in the eternal abode of filence and fleep.

After having tried the powers of his art in lulling his readers to fleep, through the courfe of feveral hundred pages, he concludes with a long account of his own dream, which for the amufe- ment of my readers, I fliall attempt to analyze and examine.

' In a collection of marvellous ftories, known by the name of Wanlcy's Wonders of the littleWorld, as well as in Quevedo's celebrated vifions, we have many very remarkable ftories of dreams. But the dream of Mr. Malone is fo extraordinary, that it out- wonders all the wonders, that ever were recorded in any book whatever. Dreams are faid to be copies of our waking imprefTions. This dream is therefore the more wonderful, as it cannot pcfiibly be prefamcd to be a copy of any -waking imprcfllon, that ever vifited the under- ilanding of Mr. Malone, for he dreams, Gentle Reader, that he is tranfported to ParnafTus, and fit- ting as counfel for Shakfpeare, among Apollo and his nine Sifters ! ! ! and it is not to be fuppofed that this gentleman had ever any waking notions of

jnaking

( 'J« )

making an cxcurfion to ParnafTus, and he is too modefl and deficient to obtrude himfelf into the fociety of nine ladies, with whom he has fo flight an acquaintance.

Then after a beautiful and fanciful defcripflon of the immortal bards in Elyfium, who it feems were employed in pradifmg upon their fiddles, the dreamer at laft finds out the great dramatic poet playing at bowls with Spencer, Suckling and Hales. What is more remarkable ftill, he finds him out by his refemblance to a pifture in the polTcfTion of the Duke of Chandos, " ^hree copies " ofwhichareinmypojfejjion," Here however, the dreamer, has : forgot what one of his fraternity has ,fo fully proved with fo much ingenuity and learnino;, -namely, that it bears no refemblance at all to the authentic engraving of Droefhout, which has re- ceived the teflimony of Ben Jonfon. But that our immortal bard, who was the plaintiff in the fuit, ;;,(}n the trial of. which Mr. Malone was en- gaged as counfel, fhould be playing a game at bowls, is another aftonifliing proof of the extraor- dinary gift of dreaming, with which the critic is endued. Virgil defcribes the departed fpirits in Elyfium as occupied in the concerns and amufe- ments with which they were gratified when alive. But the peep of our critic into thofe regions, will ;;|br the future, correfl: the error o( the antient jny-

tholof^v,

( IS* )

tKoiOgv, from which Virgil derived his notitDii, Unlefs Mr. Malone intends to gratify the world "with a trafl to prove from fome of the documents in his pojfdjfiony that Shakfpeare, Strckiing and Spencer were very fond of playing at the game of bowls or, nine-pins.

But perhaps it is quite as remarkable that Shakfpeare fliould have required the afliftance of a counfel to appear in his behalf before Apollo and the Mufes ; and that he fhould have fent for Mr. Malone from the other world to undertake his defence. If it was necefiary the caufe fhould have been entrufted to a commentator, Apollo might have found out a crowd of cridcs, black letter com- pilers, and lexicographers, nay his old friends, Corgrave, Minchen, -Barret and Phillips. But one might have thought that amongft: the fa- cred groiipes, that thronged in thofc teleftial re- gions, there would be no dearth of advocates in the caufe of fo diHinguiihed a bard. Milton, Spenfer, Cowley and Pope, would -fuJ^ely have been called into court inftead of Mr. Malone, to proted the violated rights and the facred reputa- cion of a member of their own corporation, wh& one would have thought has fufFered too much from the difputes of critics and commentators, tb fecly much upon their effo-rts ifi his'taufe.

•Here I ciofe my obfe^v'atio'ns on^the dreatn 6t

Mr.

( >J3 )

Mr. Malonc ; and in the courfc of this pamphlet, I hope I fliall have proved, that as a critic and a fcholar, Mr. Malone is entitled to an equal degree of attention, whether he dreams or whether he is awake.

And here I would exhort the reader not to confider me as an advocate for the authenticity of the controverted MSS. The talk of refuting the rcafonings of Mr. Malone is diftindt from that of cftablilhing either the affirmative or negative pro- pofition on this doubtful and myfterious queftion. I wi(h to defend the caufc of literature and of found criticifm, which arc efFcftually wounded if dogmatic aflertions, infmuations, and mifrepre- fcntations are allowed to triumph over folid and fubftantial invcftigation. It would be a labour infinitely above my ability, though the very at- tempt would ennoble the meaneft capacity, melio- rlhus humeris fuftinendum, to dcftroy the fpirit of vague and conjeftural criticifm, which has rava- ged the fields of poetry, imagination and fcience. How far I have fucceeded, is a point on which I Ihall not prefume to determine ; and I clofe the fubjcft with the fatisfaftory confcioufnefs, that in appealing to the world, I have laid the merits of my caufe, before that tribunal, which will not fuflfer the voice of truth to be overwhelmed and cxtinguiihed.

. F jr N I S.

ADDENDA.

X H E word Majler, which Mr. Malonc fays was never thus fpelt in the time of Elizabeth, will be found in the title to. " Forte/cue's new Book U Commendation of the Laws of England^ printed in 1599, " Written in Latin by the learned and right honorable Majler Fortefcue, Knt."

Grafton's Chronicle, printed in 1569, has in the Epiftle Dedicatory to Sir William Cecil, Knt. the Word, Majier/hip and Maijler/hip, thus differ- ently fpelt in the fame page.

For inftances of double Chriftian names, I am favored with the following, fince this work was printed.

Henry Roger Boyle, died in 1615 : See Ly- fon's London, Vol. 4, p. 365.

Eyton John Seymour : See Vifitation of Berkfhire.

IVilliam Robards Smithi anno 1604, Blomfield't Norfolk, Vol. 3, p. 584.

ERRATA.

f'gtZU line 8,/«r 1354, rMii534.

32, — i9) for Cotravc, read Cotgrave. Bullekari t!»i BuUokar

and In Sherrwood, dele thefecond r. 35, la/i line but l-wo, for in, read or to. |6, — JO, for Croniclc, read Chronicle. 43i •— ai, <i/>fr hii woik, rM</ he fays, £t, — 16, y^r fimiliari r^tfi Qmilar. 8t, — 3, ybr rationai, rMi/ rational. i|6, — 19, /tfr Hubatd rr«</ Hubbaid.

k

LETTER

TO THE

Rev. RICHARD FARMER, D.D.

MASTER OF EMANUEL COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE j RELATIVE TO THE EDITION OF

SHAKSPEARE,

PUBLISHED IN M DCC XC. AND SOME LATE CRITICISMS ON THAT WORK.

By EDMOND MALONE. Efq.

'a ju u ^

Jllter rixator dt lanafeepe caprina Propugnat, nugis armatus ; fcilicety ut non Sit mihi prima fides y et <vere quod placet y ut non Acriter elatrem, pretium atas altera Jordet, Hon.

• QUEM OPINIO PROPRIiE PERSPICACI^,QUA 81 BI

VIDETUR ERRORE5 QUOSDAM A NI M A D VERTI SSE, DE STATU MENTIS DETURBAVIT. B. Jonfon.

LONDON:

Printed for G. G. J. and J. Robinson, Paternoster-Row; T. Payne, at the Meuse-gate j and R. Faulder, in Bond Street.

MDCCXCil.

)^.

■ I

A

LETTER

T O

The Rev. Dr. FARMER, &c.

MY DEAR SIR,

TiHOUGH you have long left the primrofe ■path of poetry and criticifm, for more grave and important ftudies, you will, 1 am confident, very cheerfully fpend an hour with me in tra- verfing the old Shakfpearian field, where we have fo often expatiated on " the ever-fruitful fubjefl" of our great dramatick poet and his Commentators.

"When I firft undertook to give an edition of his Works, it did not appear to me fo arduous a tafk as I found it. After devoting feveral years to their revifal and elucidation, I had the honour to prefent my edition to the publick in November, 1790, and immediately afterwards fet B out

( 2 )

out on a vifit to feme very dear friends in Ire- land, whom I had not feen for a long time. During my flay there, I was not a little pleafed to learn from every quarter that my work had not been difapproved of by the publick ; and on my return to England laft fummer was ftill more highly gratified by your warm, and I fear too partial, approbation of my la- bours ; by that of Mr. Burke, whofe mind is of fuch a grafp as to embrace at once the grcateft and the minuteft objedls, and who, in the midft of his numerous and important avocations, has always found time for the calmer purfuits of philofophy and polite literature j by that of the moft amiable and judicious friend whom wc and the publick have lately had the irrepa- rable misfortune to lofe. Sir Jofhua Reynolds j of that excellent critick and profound fcholar. Dr. Jofeph Warton; and of many others, whole encomiums would ftamp a value on any lite- rary performance. "When I mention thefe re- Ipeded names, let me Ihelter myfelf under the example of the great poet who preceded me in this undertaking :

" Well-natured Garth inflam'd with early

praife, •* And Congreve lov'd, and Swift endur'd

my bys."

With

( 3 )

With this detail, I am fenfiblc, the publick has very little concern j nor is it obtruded on them from any idle vanity, but merely as a neceflary introdudlion to the following pages.

The fubjeft on which I am now to trouble you, has one very unpleafing circumflance at- tending it J that I cannot difcufs it without in- troducing myfelf as a principal figure on the canvas. It is, I truft, unnecelTary to afiure you, who have known me fo long, that it is the laft fubject which I fhould have chojm \ it has, as you will fee, been forced upon me. However, though from the nature of the difquifition it is impoflible for me to keep where I wifh to remain, in the back ground, I will promife not to detain you long from much more important and interefting topicks.

Almoft all the copies of my edition having been fold, an anonymous writer, at the end of fifteen months, finding it a fubjedt of fufficient notoriety to procure feme attention to an in- veftive againft it in the form of a pamphlet, has lately thought fit to ififue one from the prels, fraught with the ufual materials of hyper- criticifm ; that is, duly furnifhed with unblufh- ing cavil, faife argument, and falfe quotation ; B a with

( 4 )

with

" captious art,

" Andfnip-fnapfhort, and interruption fmart, " And deinonftration thin, and thefes thick> " And major, minor, and conclufion quick."

Our late excellent friend. Dr. Johnfon, ufed to fay, that an author might be fatisfied with the publick approbation, when his name was able to carry double. In this refpe6t therefore this writer fliould feem to have intended me a compHment, and as fuch I accept it; though I have not vanity enough to fuppofe that I can fuilain llich a heap of rubbifh as has been raked Up, to furnifli the number of pages neceflary for the occafion.

I will not ftain my paper by tranfcribing any part of the vulgar ribaldry with which this produdion abounds. Let it reft with the low ibcieties among whom it has been picked up, and in the bookfeller's warehoufe, where, •with other neglefted trafh, it will long re- •main in undifturbed repofe. But as two or three favls have been mentioned, which, how- ever diftorted or difcoloured, have fomething like the femblance, though nothing of the reality, of truth, I fhall detain you for a Ihort time, folely with a view of obviating the effe6t which is fometimes produced by filent con- tempt and unrefuted mifreprefentation. Our

inimitable

( 5 )

inimitable poet, who on moft occafions is our befl in{lru(9:or, you renaember, advifes us, not to " give advantage

" To flubborn criticks, apt, without a themcy " For depravation."

The firft fa6l that I lliall take notice of, is contained in the following paragraph :

" Mr. Malone, in the year 17 80, when pub- lifhing a Supplement to Shakjpeare of plays which he never wrote*, modeftly remarked, that

• This Supplement contained feveral additional com- ments on the author ; a corrcft edition of all his poems, then for the firll time faithfully printed from the original co- pies, and illuftrated with notes ; and feven plays which had been imputed to him. Thefe I was fo far from publifiiing as Shakfpeare's, that I exprefsly declared in the preface that of five of them I did not believe a fmgle line to have been written by him ; and my decifion has been fully confirmed by the manufcripts which I have fmce difcovered in Dul- wich College, in which the names of the four authors of Sir John Oldcajile (a play printed in 1600, with Shakfpeare's name at full length in the title-page,) are luckily preferved. — See the late edition of Shakfpeare, Vol. f. P. II. Emendatims and Additions y p. 317.— The ^iW-tt^ meaning, however, as honeft Sir Hugh E-vans fays, luasgood ; for from the words — " A Supplement to S\\7ik.{^tixe.ofplnjsrwhich he never ivrote," the reader would naturally conclude, 1. that this Supplement contained plays only ; and 2. that the editor was weak enough to believe them to be the produdions of our author, <!nd to afcribe to him ivhat he never lurote.

B 3 ' by

( 6 )

' by a diligent Collation of all the old copies thitherto* difcovered,and the j jdicious reftoration of ancient readings, the text of this author feemed then finally fettled.' Since that period, however, he has been labouring ' with unCeafing folicitude,' for the fpace of 'eight years,' to con- vince the publick that he had, if not direflly afferted the thing which was not, at leaft gone a little further than was confiftent with the cxad Hate of the cafe. For, if the text had been already diligently collated with all the old copies, why Ihould he make fuch a parade of having collated it himfelf ? If it had not been fo collated, why Ihould he fay it had ? Thisfa<5tis therefore manifeft, upon Mr. Malone's own evi- dence, that the text of Shakfpeare had never been collated, whether diligently or not, with all or any of the old copies, by any perfon before Mr, Malone."

Twenty fix years have now elapfed fince Mr. Steevens ifllied out propofals for publilh- ing the plays of Shakfpeare, of which in that period he has given the publick three editions, each of them elaborated with his utmoft care and diligence. The year 1766, in which his propofals firft came forth, fhould be doubly dear

* To this quainttiefs a line of Martial may bewell applied: *** — male cum recitai^ incipit efit tKus."

6 to

( 7 )

to every intelligent reader of this poet; not only as the era when that gentleman firft un- dertook the arduous talk of illuftrating his dra- mas by the contemporary writers, a tafk which he executed with great ability, but becaufe the moft conclufive Eflay* that ever appeared on a fubjefb of criticifm, was then ' written, and the long-agitated queftion concerning the learn- ing of Shakfpeare was for ever decided. In the year 1780, fourteen years after Mr. Stee- vens's work was firft undertaken, and two years after the fecond edition of it had appeared, I pub- lifhed a Supplement to that edition in two vo- lumes, in the preface to which is the para- graph above quoted. Having a very high opinion of the diligence, acutenefs, and learning of Mr. Steevens, to whom all the admirers of Shak- fpeare have great obligations, I in common with the reft of the publick confidered myfelf as much indebted to his labours ; and therefore did not then hefitate to fay that the text of the author on which he had been above twelve years employed, Jeemed to be finally fettled. If I had ufeda ftill ftronger phrafe,fome allowance might be made for the partiality of friendfhip, and for that refped which is due from every fcholar to ac-

* An EJfay on the Learning of Shakfpeare, by the Re\-. Richard Farmer; publilhed in January, 1767 ; reprinted, wiUi great additions, in the fame year.

B 4 knowledged

( 8 )

knowlcdged abilities and learning. But I claim no fuch allowance j for I faid only what I flriftly and fincerely thought. Not choofing however to Ipeak confidently and pofitively of a nnatter concerning which I could not be certain, I ufed the words — ^^feems now finally fettled." I had not then undertaken to publifh an edition of Shak- fpeare, nor regularly collated a fingle play of that author with the authentick copies. Wheri my admiration of his innumerable beauties led me to undertake an edition of his works, I then thought it my duty to exert every faculty to make it as perfefb as I could j and in order to enfure a genuine text, to collate word by word every line of his plays and poems with the original and authentick copies i a talk equal- ly new and arduous. By this laborious procefs I obtained one thousand six hundred and

FIFTY FOUR EMENDATIONS of the teXt; that

is, I found that the text of this author, not- withftanding all the well-employed diligence and care of the late editors in correfting the errors of former copies, and rcjedling the adul- terations introduced in the fecond folio and the fubfequent imprefTions, flill remained corrupted in fixteen hundred and fifty four places, and I corre6bcd it accordingly j not as that word is fometimes underflood, by capricious innova- tion, or fanciful conjecfture, but by the reflora-

tiori

( 9 )

tion of the poet's words, as they are found in the only copies of authority.

We are now, however, told, that from this collation but little advantage has been derived ; and, as a, proof of this aflertion, it is dated, that in collating one hundred thousand lines (for fuch nearly is the nunaber of lines in thefe plays) I have not always been equally attentive ; that in this tedious labour (wonderful to tell !) I have been guilty of eight errors ! ! fo that it appears, that I have only corredted the plays of this author in one thoufand fix hundred and fifty-four places, and might have correded them in one thoufand fix hundred andfixty-two. Of thefe eight addi- tional reflorations I fhall very gladly avail my- felf in the quarto edition of this poet's works, which I am now about to put to the prefs * ;

and

^ While foreign countries can boaft of magnificent impref- fions of the works of their celebrated authors, a fplcndid edition of the Plays and Poems of our great dramatick poet, with the illuftrations which the various editors and commen- tators have furnifhed,is}et zdejideratum'xn Englifh literature. 1 had ten years ago fketched out a plan for fuch an edition, and intend immediately to carry a fimilar fcheme into ex- ecution. It is a'moft unneceflary to add, that the fame gra- tuitous zeal which induced me to undertake the former edi- tion, will accompany t}iis revifal of it ; and that no dili- gence

( lo )

and if from any quarter, however unrefpeftable, others Ihall be added to that number, they fhall be accepted in like manner; but I do not expe(5t that will be the cafcj as it is probable, if any fur- ther difcoveries of the fame kind could have been made, they would have been pointed out. Dum ftlenty clamant, — Dr. Johnfon has juftly obferved, that a difcurfive mind cannot be al- ways kept fteadily fixed on evanefcent truth. I never flattered myfelf fo far as to fuppofe, that in this long work " the indifpofed and fickly fit" Ihould not fometimes render me unequal to the tafk ; that what happens to all mankind, occa- fional languor and temporary inability, (hould not affed me like other mortals: I refolved, however, to make the beft exertions in my power ; and fometimes flattered myfelf that by this procefs, which had never before been at- tempted, and a long acquaintance with the writei-s of Shakfpeare's age, I fhould be able to improve on all the former editions of this author j but in the moment of the moft fan- guine hope I could not fuppofe that in this col-

gence or care of mine fhall be wanting to render this new edition of m7 work, which is to be ornamented withengrav. in<y%, and to be printed in fifteen volumes, royal quarto, wor^ thy of our greateft Englifh poet. — The firft two volumes are iatended to be publidied next year.

lation

( " )

lation my vigilance ftiould have been over* watched only in eight inftances j nor, without fo decifive a proof as the malignant induftry of a petty adverfary has fumifhed, could I have believed it. I fay eight inftances j for though thirteen over-fights have been enumerated, fve of them have no foundation in truth.

I. The firft of thefe is in ^he Two Gentlemen of Veronay Vol. I. p. 154.

Speed. Item, Ihe cany^w.

Latmce. That's as much as to fay, can fhc fo?

" Both the folios," fays this redoubted cri- tick, " rt?idi—'foWj which is manifeftly re- quifite. Probably, however, the editor may fuppofey^'o; and/o to have the fame pronunci- ation."

With the fecond folio, here cited, or any other corrupted copy of our author, I have no concern. The firft and only authentick copy of this play printed in folio, in 1623, (for there is no quarto,) reads, if letters are to be enumerated, not fow, but fowe. When a quibble is intended, the word in the old copy is often intentionally mifpelr, in order

to

( 12 )

to mark it more plainly to the reader. In the prefent inftance, however, this may not have been the cafe, for the word few was varioufly fpelt in Shakfpeare's time, and Mikon writes it, though ]m\>roptr\y j/ow. Throughout my edi- tion, as is mentioned in my preface, I have not adhered to ancient fpelling, but adopted that which is now generally ufed, and which I con- fidered as juft. I have done fo in this inftance. With refped to the fimilarity of found between few znd foy there can be no doubt, from the paf- fage before us, but that the two words were pronounced alike in Shakfpeare's days, as they are at prefent by all who do not deviate from re- ceived modes from affedtation or ignorance.

a. Vol. II. p. 71. Meajure for Meafure.

" Let me hear you fpeak further.'" " Both editions — farther, a word entirely different from further, though too frequently confounded with it by ignorant perfons,"

Here is a queftion merely of propriety in fpelling, and whenever 1 have any doubts on that fubjeft I fhall take counfel from fome other preceptor than this critick. In the authentick copy of 1623, the word is very frequently " " '^ fpek

( 13 )

{ptXx. farther J for which, on the ground already mentioned, I have given further^ becaufe that appears to me to be the true mode of fpelling this word ; and Dr. Johnfon, whofe authority is fomewhat higher than this anonymous wri- ter's, was of this opinion*. The two words were undoubtedly ufed indifcriminately by Shakfpeare, who certainly did not give himfelf much concern about grammatical difquifi- tions.

3. The third fuppofed error, for which I am not anfwerable as an overfight in collating the old copies, is in Vol. II. p. 151. The Comedy of Errors.

" If it be, fir, pray eat none of it.'*

It is a mere error of the prefs. The pro- noun /(I pray, eat none of it,) I find, on looking into my papers, was inadvertently omitted by the compofitor at the prefs, as the metre of the line fhews.

4. Vol. If. p. 190. Ibidem.

" And much different from the man he was."

" The folios (we are told) read — And much, trnch different."

* See his DiSt, in v. further.

The

( 14 )

The fingle remark here neceflary to be made is, that thefa5t is not Jo. The only authentick copy of this play, the folio of 1623, which is now before me, exhibits the line as I have printed it.

5. Vol. II. p. 477. A Midjummer -Night's Dream.

" Through the foreft have I gone, 'But Athenhn found I none.'*

€t

** Jll the old editions (we are again in- ftrufted) read— >^."

Here we have another inftance of dogmatical and prefumptuous ignorance ; and the fame fhort anfwer will ferve. The fa5t is not Jo. The copy of A Midjummer-Night's Bream, printed by Fidier, which is in feme places preferable to tiiat printed by Roberts, which laft appears to have been followed in the folio, reads— "found I none," as I have printed the line.

The eight reftorations which I am now en- abled to add to thofe I have already made in the text, are thefe : In Vol. I. p. 80, 1 have in- advertently followed former editors in printing *'iUhou be pleas'd," for — " \iyou bepleas'd i" in p. 140 of the fame volume, " more precious," for — "?;?o/? precious j" in p. 1 5 5, " I cannot\\t\^"

for

( IJ )

foT'^" camot /help j" in p. 174., ^' this paper," ** for his paper;'* in Vol. II. p. 70, Jhould, for Jhall i in p. 143, difpos*d, for beftow'dy in p. 157, " Ay, let none enter," for—" Ay, and let none enter j" and in p. 190, therefore^ for thereof.

It is not an incurious fpeculation to confider how many errors the writer to whom I am in- debted for the above lift, would have been guilty of in collating and printing one hundred thoufand lines. He tells us himfelf that fome remarks which he publifhed a few years ago, *' have been reprefented as the moft incorreft publication that ever appe ared, and that, from the lift of errata in the book itfelf, and the ad- ditional one given in another pamphlet, the charge does not feem to be without foundation." We have leen that in collating thirteen pafTages he has committed, if not three, certainly two errors ; if therefore he had undertaken to collate one hundred thoufand lines, his inaccuracies according to the moft moderate calculation would only have amounted to about fifteen Thousand.

The next high crime and mifdemeanor with which the late editor of Shakfpeare is charged,

is.

( i6 )

is, that in his preface he has proved the editor of the fecond folio, printed in 1632, to have been entirely ignorant of Shakfpeare's phrafe- ology and metre, and the book, itfelf of no au- thority whatfoever ; yet moft ftrangely and inr confidently he has adopted fome emendations of the text from that corrupted copy. To the firft part of this charge I plead guilty, but am at a Jofs to know under what penal ftatute it fhould be clafTed. To this minute critic indeed, who alfo publiihed in 1783 fome remarks on Mr. Steevens's edition of Shakfpcare, (in which that gentleman, Dr. Johnfon, and others, were treated with juft as much decency and refpc6b, as our late ingenious and learned friend Mr, Warton had been in another forgotten pam- phlet,) to him it was a very ferious grievance ; for he appears to have fet up for a hypercritick on Mr. Steevens, without a fingle quarto copy of our author's plays, and, I fufpect, without being polTefTed of the only authentick folio edition. If that was the cafe, to depreciate the vitiated folio on which he was generally obliged to depend, was to rob him of the only tool with which lie could carry on his trade, and to place him in the ftate in which poor Parfon Adams would have found himfelf, if his hoft had convinced him that his folitary half-guinea was a counterfeit.

With

( 17 )

With refpefl to the other part of the charge, it is certainly true that while almoft every page of the fecond folio is disfigured by printer's blunders, and arbitrary and capricious devia- tions from the original copy, the editor of that book has in a few places correded fuch mani- fefl errors of the prcfs in the elder copy, as could not efcape a perfon of the mod ordinary capacity, who had been but one month conver- fant with a printing- houfe. Of rhefe correftions, fuch as they are, (to the knowledge of which the obje^lor was led by my own notes,) a pom- pous lift has been made from the late edition, for the purpofe of Ihewing an inconfiftency in the editor : but in the courfe which 1 have fol- lowed, when the matter is truly ftated and exa- mined, the fmalleft inconfiftency will not be found.

To afcertain whether the fecond complete edition of our author's plays was authentick, which had never been attempted before, was, in forming the text of thofe plays, of the higheft confequence. Hence it was that I employed a good deal of labour on that point, as may be ken by turning to my preface, where the examination of that queftion takes up no lefsthan twenty-three pages *i and I may ven-

* Pref. pp. xix — xlii,

C ture

( i8 )

turc to fay, without any fear of being refuted^ that I have proved, not by dogniatical affertion, but by a minute enumeration of particular paf- fages, that book to be of no authority whatfo- ever. How fo wild a notion as that it was of any authority, fhould ever have been entertained by any one but the writer whofe mifreprefen- tations I am now expoftng, is perfectly un- accountable. The fecond edition of a printed book can only derive authority from its being printed vyich the author's laft correftions, or from fomemore corre6t manufcript of his work than that from which the firft edition was print- ed. From whence fhould the authority of the lecond fblio be de;^ived ? We know that Shakfpeare did not correcSt his manufcripts for the prefs, even for the firft edition v/hicli was publiflied in 1623: — where then were the corrections which were made in the fecond^ found? Can it be believed, that the printer or editor, who did not, as 1 have proved incon- trovertibly, examine one of the quarto printed plays*, which were then common in every hand, fliould have hunted after the manufcripts from which the firft folio was in fome cafes

* Pref, to the late editioa of Shakipeaie, p. xxvii,

note 4.

printed,

( >9 )

phnted, and which it is highly probabJe wei*^ deftroyed at the prefs ; or that any diligence ihould at the end of nine years have recovered their foiled and nnutilated fragments ? Such a fuppofition is as wild and chimerical, as many of that editor's arbitrary interpolations. This fancy fhould feem to have originated from its having been thrown out in fome modern pub- lication, the title of which I have forgottCQ, that Heminge and Condell, the editors of the firft folio, were frohably likewife editors of the fe- cond, which appeared in 1632; an afTertion tvhich, before the two books had been minutely examined and compared, and before the time of their refpedtive deaths had been afcertained, ftiight pafs current enough ; but unluckily for this theory, after a long fearch in the Preroga- tive Office, I difcovered the wills of both thefe aftors, and have fhewn that Condell died in 1627, and Heminge in the year iS^o*.-^^ On this fubjefl, however, we are not obliged to have recourfe to inferences from dates, or to conje(5ture, in order to prove that all the cor- reftions, emendations, or interpolations of that copy (by whatever name they may be called) were arbitrary and capricious. The nume-

*HiJiorical Account of the Englijh Jiage, pp. I90. 199,

C 2 rous

( 2° )

rous proofs which I collefted for this purpole^ were given ex abundanti. Ifinftead of fhewing that the editor, not knowing that the double comparative was the connmon phrafeology of Shakfpcare's time, had fubfticuted for it a more grammatical form, giving us morejafei morewov- thy and 'rnore rich, for more Jafer^ more worthier and more richer -, chat he did not know that the double negative was the common and authori- zed language of that age * ; that when the be- ginning of a line in the elder copy was acci- dentally omitted at the prefs , inftead of at- tempting to cure the defeft in the right place, he added fome words at the end of the line, and by his addition made the paflage nonfenfe f j that he was utterly ignorant of his author's elliptical language, as well as of his metres — if inftead of all thefe proofs and many others to the fame point, I had produced only one of them, it would have been fufficient for my purpofe, and the old adage — ex una dijce omnes would have fupplied the reft.

* As in The Comedy of Error Sy Aft III. fc. H. ** }lor to her bed no homage do I owe ;" inftead of which we have in the fecond folio,

*' Nor to her bed a homage do I owe."

+ Pref. to the late edit. p. xxxi,

Notwith-

( 2< )

"Notwithftandlng, however, all that I have now dated, you know there are fome men in the world, who will not relinquilh their old mtimpftmus ; who when once they have taken up a particular notion, adhere to it with unconquerable pertinacity, and cannot be ar- gued out of it : With fuch men, neither the de- cifive circumftance I havejuft now mentioned, (the death of our poet's friends, Heminge and Condell, before the end of 1630,) nor the unanfwerabie proofs which I have accumu- lated of the ignorance and temerity of the editor of the fecond folio, will have the fmalleft weight, or at all depreciate its credit: and if they (hould ever be allowed to fcribble in the mar- gin of Shakfpeare, notwithft.inding thcfe ac- cumulated proofs we fhould without doubt be reminded, whenever occafion offered, that "Such is the reading of that moft excellent and invaluable book the fecond folio edition of our author's plays; a reading which Mr. M. has not been afhamed to own that he has adopted, though he has exprefsly denied the au- thenticityof the book".

And now let me add a word or two 0.1 the

lubjcd of inconfiftency. Though I proved

this book of no authority whatfoever, does it

therefore follow that I was precluded from

C 3 adopting

( " )

adopting the few emendations ofmanifeft errors of the prefs, which, amidft fome thoufand in- novations and corruptions, were m^de by the editor; and which, if they had not been made by him, would unqueftionably have been made by fome other perfon ? The plan which I adopted for my edition, as far as relates to the text, was very fimpk. I began by afcertaining what were the authentick copies. I then formed my text upon thofe copies; from which (with the exception mentioned in m.y preface) I never knowingly deviated without apprizing the rea- der by a note. All emendations therefore which were admitted, from v^hatever quarter taken, are regularly afcribed to him by whom they were made ; a piece of juftice which had not been done in former editions : and neither the caprice of an editor or commentator, or his general inability for his tafk, prevented me from adopting corre<5tions fuggefted by him, if they were manifeftly right. Thus, fome emenda- tions have been taken even from Pope and Hanmer, as well as from the editor of the fe- cond folio ; though all thefe editors have with almoft equal licentioufnefs corrupted the au- thor's text ; but they are adopted, not becaufe their books are of any authority^ but becaufe the emendations themfelves are evidently juft;

for

( ^3 )

for the editor of the fecond folio, as foon as his book is proved not to be authentick, can rank only by the fide of any other conjedlurer, com- mentator, or verbal critick. And on the fame ground, if the moft obfcure and contemptible pamphleteer ftiould fugged a happy correflion of any defperate paflage, manifeftly corrupt, to the propriety and reflitude of which every in- telligent reader muft at once aflent, it would have a claim to attention, however little refped fhould be due to the quarter from whence it came. With how much caution however I have proceeded in this refped, my book will Ihew.

If the fecond folio had been of any authority, then all the capricious innovations of that copy (in which defcription I do not include the in- numerable errors of the prefs) mud have been adopted ; but being once proved not to be au- thentick, then in the cafe of a pafTage undoubt- edly corrupt in the original and authentick co- pies, we are at liberty to admit an emendation fuggefted by any later editor or commentator, if a neater and more plaufible corre6lion tlian that furnifhed by the fecond folio j and tliis I have done more than once.

C4 Oil

{ 24 )

On comparing two of the quarto editions of King Richard III. I found that there were in the latter no lefs than twenty-fix errors of omif- fion j and indeed errors of omifllon are, I believe, more frequent than almoft any other in the ancient copies of this author. I have proved in various inflances, that when a word was omitted or corrupted in the firft folio, the editor of the fecond either left the paflage as he found it, or cured the defeat at random, and according to his fancy, in thofe plays of which we have quarto copies, where the true word, which in fa6b was omitted or corrupted, may be found.* There cannot therefore be the fmalleft doubt that all the emendations made by this editor in the other plays alfo, of which there are no quarto copies, were merely con- jedlural. Being fuch, they fland precifely on the fame ground with the emendations fug- gelled by any later editor or commentator j and as they are often very injudicious in confe- quence of the editor's extreme ignorance of Shakfpeare's phrafeology and metre, they ftand frequently on a worfe ground, and have a lefs title to be adopted.

* Pref. to the late edition, pp. xiv. xv. xxvii. n. 4 ; XXX. xxxi.

The

I

The few correftlons which have been taken from that copy, on the principle juft now mentioned,* have been pompoufly difplayed ;

alift

* Such as, in The Tempejl,

" fuch ijlanders,'''

inftead of the erroneous reading of the autheptick copy,— •* fuch ijlands.."

In The Tiuo Gentlemen of Verona,

** and I a iheep."

for •* and IJheep.'*

Jbidtm, ** — — you have tejlern*d mcJ** for " " you have cejiern^d mt.**

In Mea/ure for Meafure,

** The princely Angelo.'* for ** The prenzie Angelo."

Jiid, *' — — ache, penury, and imprifonment.'* for " — — ache, perjury, and imprifonment."

J6id, *' was affianced to her ly oath,

for ** was affianced /o her oath.

In The Comedy of Errors,

** Gave helpful welcome ."

for *• Gave i&^<»//^«/ welcome——.'*

Ibid. " And as a bed I'll take thee, and there lie." inllead of" And as a bud, &c."

Ihii,

( »6 )

a lift of them having been coUeded from my own volumes, without the aid of which it docs

not

Jhid, «' Mailer, if>o« do—." inftead of " Mafter, // do —.'*

In jis you like it,

«' .. ■■ that which had too mutb." for *' — — that which had too mujl.^*

Ibid. *' Let me h better acquainted with thee, for ** Let me better acquainted with thee.

In The Taming of the Shreiv, *' Were Ihe as rough — .'* for ** Were fhe is as rough — .'*

Il/id. *' As much news as fhou <wzlt.'* for *' As much news as ovi// thou.''*

Jbid. " Whither awny, and at?/;'^rf is thy abode." for *' Whither away, 2.vidiiJohithet is thyabode."

In AWs 'vjtll that ends 'well, *t __ — captious and intenible fieve — for " ■ captious and intemible fieve."

In T'welfih Nighty " Let thy tongue tang with arguments of llate^ for *' Let thy tongue longer, 8cc.

In Macbeth,

*< before thy here-approach."

for «« htiort they \icxe z^'^xodiz^.

^

In

( 47 )

not appear that it could have been made, at leaft it never was made before the late edition was

publilhed.

In King John,

*' • " to hurt his mafler, no man elfe." inftead of " — — to hurt his mafter, no mans elfe."

In King Uenry VIIL *< Good man, thole joyful tears fhew thy true heart** infteadof '* Good man, thofe joyful tears fhew thy true heart s^

A few more emendations of n,carly the fame kind might be added, which together with the above are legularly noticed in the late edition. The interpolations, omiffions, and corruptions of every kind in the fecond folio, (of which the fiftieth part has not been noticed) amount, on the other hand, tojeverai iheuj'ands*

I may add, that of the veiy few emendations fome- what lefs obvious than the above, which I have admitted, and which do not, I think, amount to fix, I find every day fome reafon to doubt- Juft as my edition \Vas iffuing from the prefs, I found that with the other modern edi- tors I had improperly adopted a word which had been unneceflarily fupplied by this editor, from his not attend- ing to Shakfpeare's elliptical language. The paffage is ii> A Mid/ummer-Night' s Dream, Aft I. fc. i.

" Ere I will yield my virgin patent up *' Unto h,Js lord(hip, whofe unwilhed yoke " My foul confents not to give fovereignty."

i. e*

( 28 )

publifhed. By turning over the pages of my work, as I have conftantly noticed fronn whence every emendation was taken, this lift was eafily formed j but it has been exhibited with that inac- curacy which might have been expeftedj for in The Merchant of Venice, A6t II. fc. iii. I am re- prefented as having adopted a corrupt reading found in the fecond folio, (" If a chriftian did not play the knave, and get thee," &c.) though I have exprefbly written a note to fhew that this reading was the offspring of ignorance in the

i. e. to give fovereignty ^0. See Append, to the late edition, p. 577. Here the fecond folio reads — /o whofe univip^dyokt. Sec. and we are told it is a moft valuable corredlion. — So I have incautioufly, with the other modern editors, accepted, from the fame book, *' heady murder," in K. Henry V. inftead of " headly murder," the corrupt reading of the old copy ; but the true reading is un- doubtedly— deadly murder. So, in Macbeth :

♦' With twenty mortal murders on their crowns."

And in Titus Androniais a word which has been fup- plied by the fame editor, and too haftily accepted, has this moment caught my eye :

" Was there none elfe in Rome to make a ftale 0/—."

Of, which is not found in the old copy, was intro- duced from the fame inadvertence which led to the cor- ruption of the palTage above quoted from A Midfummer- Night's Dream. See late edit. Vol. VII. p. 128, n. 8 ; Vol. VIF. p. ^72, n. 3 ; aad Vol. IX. p. 469, n. 3.

editor

( 29 )

editor of that book ; in K. John, Ad II. fc. ii. I am reprefented as having adopted a corrupt reading introduced by the fame editor, — " run on," inftead of the authentick reading — roam on ; in a paflage in King Henry V. Adb III. fc. i. I am untruly reprefented as reading with the fame copy, — " You nobleft Enghfh j" and ftill further y (fave reverence, as our author fays, of the word,) to fhew the amazing acutenefs and unerring accuracy of this hypercritick, the paf- fage is dated as being in the Firft Part of King Henry IV. as another paffage which is quoted from Meafurefor Meafure, is to be found in The Comedy of Errors.

As a few trifling emendations made by the ignorant editor of the fecond foHo, have been adopted, fo on the principle already ftated the very few obfervations of this Remarker that were entitled to any notice, have been admitted into the lace edition. Thefe adopted remarks are to be found, fays their author, " in Vol. II. II, 256,491, 507 i 111.27,77,316, 394 J IV. 497> 504; VI. 146, 273 J V. 459 J [which is correaiy placed after Vol. VL] VIII. 634." And here we have another Ipecimen of this Re- marker's extraordinary accuracy ; for lo ! nei- ther in p. 256 of Vol. 11. nor in p. 316 of

Vol.

( 3° )

Vol. in. is there any thing of his ; and ift p. 27 of Vol. III. I am fo far from adopting his comment, that I have maintained a pofition di- reftly fubverfive of it.

I fliall now, my dear Sir, trouble you with a very few more words.— In The Two Gentle^ men of Verona, p. 120, I have inferted twd notes of my late moft refpedlable friend Mr. Tyrrwhitt, in which he proves that Shakfpeare fometimes takes a liberty in extending certain words to complete the meafure.* Thus, in The Comedy of Errors^

" Thefe are the parents to thefe children.'^

" where, (fays be,) fome editors, being unnc- cefTarily alarmed for the metre, have endea- voured to help it by a word of their own,— «

*' Thtk plainly are the parents to thefe children."

" So, (he adds,) country is made a trifyllable.

T. N.Aa. I. fc. ii. " The like of him. Know'ft thou this country ?'' Rememhrance, quadrifyllable.

T. N. A(5t. I. {c, i, *' And lading in her fad remembrance.'*

* Mr. Upton had made the fame remark. See his Cri- thai Obfewations on Shakfpeare, 2d edit. p. 372.

yingry.

( 31 )

An^y^ trifyllable. Timon, Ad III. fc. v. '* But who is man, that is not angryT Henry y trifyllable. Rich. III. Aa. II. {q. iii. *' So flood the (late when Henry the Sixth—"

2 Henry VI. A61. II. fc. ii. *' Crown 'd by the name of Henry the Fourth.** And fo in many other pafTages. Monjirousy trifyllable. Macb. Ad. IV. k, vi. " Who cannot want the thought how w^»/?r5«j—.'*

Othello, Adl. II. fc. iii. ** *Tis monfiroiis. lago, who began it ?'* England^ trifyllable. Rich. II. Aa.IV. fc. i. " Than Bolingbroke return to England.** NohleTy trifyllable. Coriol. Ad. III. fc. ii. " You do xht nobler. Cor. I mufe my mother

It would be quite unneceflary to add that Shakf- peare intended that the words children, country, monJirouSy fhould in thefe places be pronounced childerenycounteryymonjlerousy if the oppugnerof this dodrine had not had the folly to reprelent fuch a notion as chimerical and abfurd; imagining him- felf (as it fliould feem) fupremely comical, when 6 he

.^^

( 32 )

he exhibits words of this kind at full length, — Engle-andi noble-ery wrangle-ingy/wor-en, a-runis, how-ersj &c. Had he been at all acquainted with our elder poets, he would have known that this pronunciation was fo comnnon, that, words formerly having been frequently fpelt by the ear, we often find thefe words written as Shaklpeare ufed them ^Jower^ howerjjiery^c.

The inftances given above are but a few of thofe which Mr. Tyrwhitt has collefted, to prove a pofition which is incontrovertible. He might have produced many more. Thus, in The Two Gentlemen of Verona^ Ad. II. fc. iv.

" And that hath dazzled my reafon's light i — "

where the ignorant editor of the fecond folio, not perceiving that dazzled was ufed as a trifyl- lable, {dazzle-ed) has departed from the original copy, and reads-—

" And that hath dazzled yo my reafon's light,"

Again, in CoriolamiSy Adl. I. fc. ix,

" As you have been ; that's for my country.'*

And had he not chofen to confine himfelf to words in which /, or r, is fubjoined to another confonant, the following inftances of words ex- tended for the fake of the metre, might have ^ been added :

In

( 33 )

In The Comedy ofErrorSy Aft. v. ^c. i. " This week he hath been heavy, /o^r, fad."

(where in the original copy we find the word

four written as Shakfpeare intended it to be

pronounced,— yo«;^r ; ) and in the fanne play,

" I'll nneet you at that place fome houri hence."

for which in the fecond folio we have

" I'll meet you at that place fome hour, fify hence.'*

Again, in K. Johriy A61:. I. fc. i.

" Kneel thou down, Philip, but rife »?orf great."

Again, in JWs Well that Ends Well, Ad. IL fc. iii.

" And is not like thcftre. Honours thrive — ".

In all thefe cafes, this hypcrcritick thinks he has completely overturned the doftrine con- tended for, by writing the words at full length, — dazzle-edi counte-ry ^ Jou-eVy fi-er , &c. a fpe- cies of confutation entirely new. Chauceriz- ing morCi and exhibiting it thus, — mo-rcy he feems to think extremely humorous. The old Englifh name, Gorcy and the furname of a no- ble family, Gvwer, might have taught him D better.

( 34 )

better. More and pour as eafily become mo-er znd pow-er, as/our and hour become fow-er and how-er-y and arrrij by a vulgar provincial pro- nunciation not yet wholly difufed becomes a-runty as eafily as alarm is converted into a/a- rum ; two words that undoubtedly had the fame etymology. — But of thefe verbal dif- quifitions enough.

Let us now examine the complaint to which thefe notes of Mr. Tyrwhitt's have given birth. " The editor" [i. e. Mr. M.] we are told, '* has inferted both Mr. Tyrwhitt's notes, without taking notice of the conclufive reply already made to the latter." This reply, I muft in- form you, appears to have been made by this fagacious remarker himfelf Hinc ilia lacryma. — But how ftands the fa6t ? The comedy of ^The Two Gentlemen of Verona was printed in the year 1786. It fhould feem therefore not to have been a crime of very great magnitude not to have fubjoined to Mr. Tyrwhitt's note a reply to it which was made two years after- wards, viz. in 1788. It might however, we {hall perhaps be told, have been inferted iq the Appendix. But unluckily to this there was an unfurmountable objeftion j which was, that the editor had originally refolved not to encum- 6 ber

(35 )

ber his page with any ufelefs comment, and the conduftve reply in queftion appeared to him unworthy of notice.

Mr. Tyrwhitt's remark, which I have in part recited, makes it iinneceflary for me to take any further notice of the unfounded obfervations that have been made relative to the licence which Shakfpeare has occafionally taken in his metre. For that licence, which it fliould be remembered he has taken in common with his contemporaries, he alone is anfwerable. If an editor in exhibiting his works has religioufly adhered to the original and authentick copies, admitting with the greateft caution occafional corredions of manifeft errors, he has done his duty, as far as concerns the text ; and need give himfclf little concern about the illiberal cen- fures of thofe who, like the prefent hypercritick, from ignorance of the poet's metre arraign his editor, for not having in various inftances " en- deavoured to help it by a word of his owtiy' or by that which would have been equally impro- per, an incerpolation of Pope or Hanmer, or the editor of the fecond folio.

The anonymous writer, who has occafioned my prefent addrefs to you, feems to think that

D 2 \Lt

( 36 )

he has an cxclufive privilege to all the nonfenfc to which the commentaries produced by the late editors of Shakfpeare have given rife. On this ground, a remark in anfwer to one of Dr. Johnfon's in the firft a(5t of Troilus and Cref- ftda, having been (lightly noticed in the late edition, this monopolizer will have it that he muft have been meant; and no fuch remark being in fad found in his book, with his wonted decorum he charges the editor with forgery. But ftrange as it may appear, moll true it is, that there are others now living capable of writing remarks on Shakfpeare and his editors, befide himfelf, though not with fuch a total difregard of decency ; and that the obfervation in queftion appeared among fome Remarks on Mr. Steevens's edition, which were pub- lifhed in a mifcellaneous volume, in 1785.

One other paflage only of this elegant and modeft performance remains to be noticed. In the firft volume of the late edition of Shak- ipeare I have mentioned that a pamphlet, which is now avowed by this writer as his produflion, was fupprefled after its original pub- lication, from modejly as it fhould feem; and that afterwards it was once more given to the world by its author. NGtbingy fays the -fond

parent

( 37 )

parent, can he more incorre^l than this Jiatement, The truth isy that after a few copies had got abroad, the further fale was delayed^ for fpecial purpofes, for a week, at the end of which the publication was continued. — Such, I think, is the fubftance of this ^ip, for fo this writer choofes to denominate fome of his flirewd and faga- cious remarks, though he does not deal much either in cranks or wanton wiles. The differ- ence between being fupprejjed for a certain time, and the fale being delayed, after the original publica- tion, for a week, is not very eafily difcovered. The modejly, however, afcribed to the author, it muft be owned, he utterly difavows. — The grievance flated on this occafion muft imme- diately remind you of that complained of by the well-known Edmund Curl, who faid Mr. Pope had treated him very unfairly in telling the publick that he had been tofs'd in a blan- ket, when all the world knew that he had only been tofs'd in a rug.

Though from a very careful peruful of many contemporary writers, I was enabled to make very large additions to the former comments on our author, and took at leaft as much pains in illuftrating his obfcurities as in afcertaining his text, you will obferve that

I have

( 38 )

I have not taken notice of any remarks that have been made on the commentaries which I had the honour of fubmiting to the publick in my late edition. While I was em- ployed in preparing them for the prefs, I gave the various fubjedls treated of, the ftrifteft at- tention. They are before the publick, and by its judgment they muft ftand or fall. I fhall not enter into any difcuflion or controverfy with " occafional criticks" or " criticks by pro- fefTion," in order to fupport them.— It is curious that what Dr. Warburton faid near fifty years ago, fhould be flill true of the greater -part of the criticifms to which the la- bours of his fucceflbrs have given rife : "—as to all thofe things which have been publifhed under the titles of Effays^ Remarks^ Objervalions, i^c. on Shakfpeare," — they " are abfolutely be-, low a ferious notice. *"

I have many apologies to make for having taken up fo much of your time, and will now releafe you. I cannot, however, conclude, without noticing one other charge brought againft the late editor of Shakfpeare, which is

* Mr. Tyrwhitt's Obfer'vatiom publifhed in 1766, and Mr. Mafon's Commer.ts\n 1785, are an exception.

perfedly

( 3?» )

perfectly novel. « The reciprocal good opinion" (we are told) "which the publick and Mr. Malone appear to entertain of each other, does both parties infinite honour." It is, I believe, the firfl time that the good opinion of the publick has ever been ftated as a matter of reproach to him who has had the good fortune to obtain it. If by my hum- ble labours I had any title to fuppofe the pub- lick had been pleafed and benefited, I Ihould confider myfelf as having obtained the beft reward which it has to beftow, or the fons of literature ought to afpire to. — To have me- rited publick approbation, muft to an ingenuous mind ever afford a pleafure which the cavils of criticifm cannot diminifh; and which no- thing can fo much augment as the difappro- bation of the ignorant, the envious, the petulant, and the vain.

I am, my dear Sir,

Your very affeftionate friend. And humble fcrvant,

EDMOND MALONE.

Qji»en-Anne.Strekt,East,

A

COMPARATIVE REVIEW

OF THE

OPINIONS

or

MR. JAMES BOA DEN,

^Editor of the Oracle) In February, March, and April, 1795;

AND OF

JAMES BOA DEN, ESQ.

(Author of Fontainville Foreft, and of a Letter to George Steevens, Efq.)

In February, T796,

RELATIVE TO

THE SHAKSPEARE MSS,

BY A FRIEND TO CONSISTENCY.

——NIL FUIT UNQJJAM

SIC IMPAR SIBI

HOR.

lonDon:

raiNTBD FOR G. SAEL» NO. I92, STRAND; A^fD Snip nv

MESS. WHITES, FLEET STREET; ECF.RTOK,

WHITEHALL; AND FAULDER,

BOND STREET.

[Price 2S, ]

A

COMPARATIVE REVIEW, he.

YT is not becaufe the ftyle or the matter of -■' Mr. Boaden's Critical Examination of the Shakfpcare MSS. appears topoffefs any intrinfic merit, that it is made the fubjcd: of coniidera- tion in the following pages. Much lefs is this flight attempt dilated by any apprehcnfion that the authenticity of thofc MSS. will be ma- terially affected, either by the arguments of fuch an examiner, or the dete6lion of his fo-» phiftry. But when an individual pretends to diredt the tafle of the public, when, relying on the fancied ingenuity and importance of his criticifm, he attempts to depreciate real merit, it becomes, at leaf!;, necefTary to examine the j)urity of his motivcSj and the confiftency of his conduct.

The authenticity of the MSS. in the hands

of Mr. Ireland, muft ultimately be referred to

a higher tribunal, and undergo a trial, from

B which

( ^ )

which the Author of this Effay doubts not they will derive additional luftre, and more perma- nent credit. They mull ultimately Hand or fall, according as they fhall anfwer the feverefl teft of critical invefiigation ; but that decision mufl, for the prefcnt, be delayed, becaufe the hofl of enidite commentators ivill not fee thenif left they fhould be convinced.

In the mean while, a champion has ftepped forth, of too little confequence, either from ability or rejyuf nf ion,* io give ferions cilarm to thofe who feel intcreficd in that fuccefs of the MSS. which truth feems to demand. — To prevent, however, any bias which the pub- lic mind may receive from the exertions of an unanjtoercd opponent, however contemptible, his condemnation is here drawn from his own mouth : and it is prefumed, that fuch a proof of inconfiftency and impotence will fhew him to be totally unworthy of attention, and will enal^le Mr. Ireland to go forward undifturbed in eftablifhing the authenticity of his valuable MSS. by the fure teflimony of intrinlic excel- lence and indubitable fa6l.

Mr. Boadcn, in a letter recently addreffed to Mr. Steevcns, relative to the MSS. in the

* The writer means only to fpeak Qf Mr. Eoaden'5'

■literary reputationr

hands

( 3 )

hands of Mr. Ireland, lays claim to the charac- ter of lincerity, from the apparently frank and open avowal of the favourable impreflion which thofe MSS. at firil made upon him, together with the very different opinions which he now entertains. Such a flatement, on tiie firil view, appears like the dictate of candour ; but in order to fubftantiatc it, the caufes of this total change of fentiment ihould be accurately detailed, and ihould be proved to be adequate to the efix^cls which they are faid to have pro- duced. If this fhall not appear to be the cafe in Mr. Boaden's inftance, if his arguments, (or rather attempts at argument) fhall be found totally nugatory, and if the reaibns for com- mendation lliall remain in full force, or even acquire additional Itrcngth, ivhilji the cntic avows a determined hoftility ; wliat kind of opinion can we form of his abilities or integrity? Muft we not luppofe that fome pcrfonal pique or petty rclentmcnt lurks in his mind, or that fome flrange caprice has perverted his inlellccl ? In fhort, mu/l we not conclude that the man who thus lieps forward as a public- cenjhr, is himfelf liable to tlie imputation either of igno- rance or malevolence ?

It is a circumllance very favourable to the MSS. i\\?ii\\\t fight of tium has ieidom faiK d to

( 4 )

produce at Jeajl a cpfiviSfion of their authenticity. In Mr. Boaden it did more, it produced an " enthufiafm" — '^ a tremor of the pureft de- " iight :" and for days, and vveeks, an^ ?npnth§ after he had feen them, he retained fuch a perT fuafion of their excellence, as (in the language of his own paragraph) " made all fcepticifm " ridiculous." But all this, it now feems, was error ! an error, however, which is excufed by the confideration, that " credulity is no dif- >*^ grace," and " that Urong enthuliafm is " eager to believe." *

Let us paufc for a moment, to conlider what thefe inftances are, in which credu- lity is thus pardonable ; and of wbat nature is the belief fo induced by enthufiafm. — AlTured- ]y Mr. Boaden will not alTert that credulity would be pardonable in the cafe of an im- pofturc, bearing on its very fnrface the llamp of fallhood— or, that an enihufiafm Jlrong enough to enforce fuch a belief, would be engendered by trifling ability, or Juperjic'ial excellence.— A little contideration will fliew us, that where circumftances occurflattcring to long-contracted habits, and to firmly-rooted judgment, there, and there only, enthufiafm is likely to be

r See a letter to Geo, Stcevens, Efq. p. i and z.

fi:rong ;

( 5 ) Urong ; there, and there only, belief will pro- bably be eager. Such enthufiafin and fuch belief can only be overlet by lirongcr appeals to the fame j^affion, or to the fame jadgmcnt.

Mr. Boaden is very liberal in acknowledging in his pamphlet, (what indeed he could not deny, becaufe it would have remained recorded againft him in his news-paper,) that he was at iirft ftrongly afFe<51cd in favour of the MSS. ; neither does he deny that he admired their flyle, di.c5lion, and poetical fpirit; but he leaves us to difcover by what new light, by what cogency of argument, that which was ojice diftinguifhed for " the utmofl: delicacy of *' paflion, and poetical fpirit," became after- wards " worthy of no other notice, than that *^ of being metrically fmooth ;" — that which was " rationally pious, and grandly exprcflcd," became *^ execrable jargon," the '* puerile *' quaintnefs, and idiomatic poverty of a me- *' thodift rhapfody." In order, therefore, to account for fo lingular a ph£nnomenon of men- tal verfatility, and to teach Mr. Boaden (fhould lie real!) be ignorant,) the nature of l»is intcl- leclual progrels, I ihall take the liberty of flating a few plain and limple fa(5ls.

I I Ix'gii!

( 6 )

I begin by premifing, that Mr. Boaden is the declared Editor of the Oracle, a daily paper, to which he naturally \Yifhes to attach as much conlequencc as poflible. With this laudable defign in view, as it Ihould feem, (for we find his paper, from that period, conftantly enriched with his remarks on the Shakfpeare MSS.) he paid a vifit to Mr. Ireland, on the 14th of Fe- bruary, 1795, to infpeft what he called " the *' invaluable reraains of our immortal bard." — What, and how liberal his reception was, the public was informed by the following para- graph, which appeared in the Oracle, Feb. 16,

1795-

" Shakfpeare MSS. — By the obliging polite- *^ nefs of Mr. Ireland, of Norfolk- ft reet, the *' conduBor of this ^aper^ is enabled to gratify, *' in a general way, the public curiofity. To ** partic^ularife would be frandident- arid vn- *' gratefid. Betides the Lear and Vortigern, *^ there are various papers, the domejiica fa^a *' of this great man's life, difcovered.

'* k. letter to the lady he afterwards married, *' dijiinguijked for the ntmoji delicacy of pajjion,

* For attributing to Mr. Boaden the paragraphs which ap- peared in tl->€ Oracle relative to the Shakfpeare MSS. I have one umple reafon, viz. that he was the only perjon concerried in the direction of that paper that ever 'vicixicd them.

" a7id

( 7 )

*' and poet'ical Jp'ifit. It inclofes a lock of his *^ hair, allb prel'crvcd.

*•' A profeffion of his religious fiiilh, ratio- *' 7ial]_y pious, and grandly exprejjed.

** Some poetical complimenls, and poetical " exercifes of fancy, amongft the company at " whofc head lie is numbered. Devifcs of *^ land ; receipts for money advanced, 8cc. and '' a ditcovery relative to I;ord Southampton, *' isolnch ive forbear to anticipate, reflecting im- " mortal honour upon the bounty of the one, " and the modelly of the other. It is the in- " tention of Mr. Ireland to publifh the firft '^ volume, with fac-fimiles, if pollible, by the " King's bivih-day ; the fccond volume proba- "*• bly within the following j^ear : and now, to " this new information, we have only to add, *' that tlie conviBioti produced upon our mhui^ is '' fuc/i as to make all fceptici/iu ridiculous, and •' when we follow the lentiments of Dr. Jofeph ''^ Wharton, %ve have no fear of our critical or- *'' tliodoxyT

The fame paper of the .21ft contained fur- ther obfei-vations to this eifed : *' When we " were favoured with a fight of thcfc invalua- *' ble remains, we promifed the poirellbr that '•^ no- face ring ajiiniadv erf ions, iv fit ten by tho/e

( 8 )

^"^ ivlio had nev^rfeen them, fhould pafs without *^ reply, and probably reproof. One gentle- " man makes himfelf merry with a Profellion *' of Faith from Shakfpeare; he fhall be rc- " duced at once to the plea of Ignoramus, — > " there happens to he tnd'ifputahle proof that this " tvas the cuftom of the age, nay, that other '' members of the fame family had done fo.

** But an objedlion, has been urged trium- *^* phantly by thofe zvho have not /ten, that a " gentleman who had been accuftomed to the " hand writing of that period, was yet unable " to read them.

" The writer of this article is ready to prove " his acquaintance with the hand writing of ^^ .Elizabeth's reign, in the firft inftancc, and to " read once more the MSS. in the fecond. — As " to the filly fluff about the Poet's Courtfhip « and the Lock of Hair, with recollection of " fimilar feelings and hmilar gifts —

" We cannot but remember fuch things were, " And were moll: precious to us "

" The man who cannot, fhould never truft <' himfelf with the fubjed of Shakfpeare's life, « fhould never by a touch ' pollute the page of " infpiration.'

On

( 9 )

On the 26th of February, Mr. Boaden called a fecond time on Mr. Ireland, again exprcirt-d his convi6lion of the authenticity of the MSS. and took fo deep an intereO in their fuccels, as to fend on the following day, a letter (of which I among others have been favoured with a hght) which is only remarkable for the officious zeal with which he endeavors to make himfelf a party in the ultimate fuccefs of the MSS, an extract will be fufficient to latisfy the reader —

*« My dear Sir,

*' Though I fpoke from memory *' when I laid that Hunl'don was Lord Cham- " berlain of Elizabeth's houlchold, it was cor- *^ re6lly flated — Henry Carey, whom the created " a baron in the firft year of her reign, had the " charge of her perfon at court — and to fccure *^ us as to the required date, he was with her ** at the Tilbury Camp, in the year 1588, and

" had there the care of her perfon. 1 tliink

" this ample fatisfa6tion upon the fubjedl, and " lofe no time in fending it. This, or any *' deeper inquiry, will be but a poor return for the " favour of jour uurefcrved couimunication.'''

On the 28th appeared the following:

C ** The

a lo )

« The MSS. of Shakfpeare.

" The public look up to us for a faithibl '^ account of thefe important papers — what wo " have opportunity to examine, we fhall, from " time to time, report with the 7nq^ fcnipulous ^^ fidelity. We have read a confiderahle ■portion '« of the MSS. Lear. — In the title page, the '* Great Bard profeffes to have taken the ftory «' from Hollinfhead, and has, in the true fpirit " of modefty, apologized for the liberty he took *« in departing from the exa6l flatements of *« the Chronicle. — There is a letter from ** Queen Elizabeth to Shakfpeare, when the ^* Poet was manager of the Globe, command- " ing him with his beft players to play before *•* her, and thanking him for fome verfes which "her Majefty much admired.— We think it " vuiU he clearly proved that all the degrading '* nonfenfe, of his holding horfes, &.C. will be " found utterly fictitious, and that this great *' man was the Garrick of his age, careffed fot ^' his powers by every one great and illuflrious, *' the gentle friend of genius, and moil excellent <* in the quality he profefl'ed — "

On the 23d of April, this paragi-aph ap- peared—

*' The

( " )

*^ The Shakfperiana, which have been {o ** luckily diicovered are nozv crmfuhred as ge- ** fm'ing by aU^ but thofej who illiberally refufe ** to he convinced by infpedionJ^

For fo long a period as this, a period of more than two months, at leaft, was Mr. Boaden, (a director of the public tafte, and a playwright) deceived, nay (if we regard his own account) rendered the parti/an of ** impofture,'* and that too, by " one of the moil bungling per- " formances of the kind ever exhibited." — Du- ring ail this time, did Mr. Boaden never " reflect ,*' inhis clofet upon c'lrciimftances recorded f' * Did he never think of the orthography, the nne, the tye, and the whole language, " Jo clogged ** and confounded by unnecejfary letters? ^^ Or, if his " eager enthufiafm kept him fo long ** in a delirium of blind admiration ; " on what was that enthufiafm founded? Was it, that *' in the Lear, the MSS. follows the worfi read-' <* /W, where the readings are various ? that it " cuts the iknot of dlficulties which a legitimate •* copy would naturally untie, and that ils interpo- *^ lations are not in the manner of Shakfpearcf"'\' or w^as it from " the juvenileftyle^ of the letter

♦ See Letter, Page a. f Idem, P. jfj.

C a !•

( "^ )

to Anna Hatlierwaye, the " fiatyiefi'''' ancl ** weaknefs'''' of that to Lord Southampton, or "*' the execrable jargon ' of the profcffion of Faith ?—

If Mr. Boaden can reconcile all thefe con- tradictions, if he can prove that ahfurdtty is a 7iaticral fource of achmrat'ion, or that an " intel^ ** Vigent'''' critic could be for months deceived by " an unlkilfully executed and manifeft delu- *' lion," we fhall be then ready to concede fo much to his ingenuity as to lilten patiently to his comments; or, perhaps, even to compare his Vort'igern with the play which is about to appear. If the only objections which Air. Boaden now brings forward were chronological doubts, or hiilorical fcepticifm — if he had been content to allow to the MSS. the fame literary excellence, which they at firft appeared to him lb eminently to polTcfs, there would have been at leafl a conjijttmcy in his efforts — ^but in thus heaping Pelion upon Ofla, in thus going beyond his Itrength, ^e but out-herods Herod, and

" murders impoflibility, to make,

'* What fliould be faint work."

The preceding obfervations have fufficiently proved how admirably Mr. Boaden is fitted for

( '3 )

tbc tafk he has undertaken, and how well he has confidered the Poet's advice —

*' Sumite materiam, vcjftris qui fcribitis ajquam, " Viritus."

The remainder of thefe pages, fhall be de- voted to the fpecific arguments which he al- ledges, and whofe intrinfic merit fliall be accu- rately flated and fairly examined.

Prcvioufly, however, to entering upon this difcullion, it may not be amils to obfcrve gene- rally upon the queflion of literary impoflurc, that in all known attempts of the kind, the conducl of the parties concerned hath been diametrically oppofite to that of the pof- iieffor of the MSS. in queftion — in the former cafes, the reader will invariably find all fearch to have been eluded, all documents withheld, >(fave in the inftance of Chatterton, * whofe for- geries would have remained lefs impeachable, without them) in every feature he will per- ceive evident defe6ls of llylc, palpable ana- chronifms, and confiflency — only in error. —

* See an account of the fmall bit of parchment pro- liuced to Catcott of Briflol, in Gregory's Life of Chatter- ton— and Mr. H. Croft's Love and Maduefs.

Let

•( 14 )

Let him then turn his eye to the circumflance of 'Mr. Ireland, and he will find, that that gentleman has not only tiot eluded all fearch, but has invited, nay encouraged the moji rigO" rous fcrutiny. He has fuffered the ableft anti- quaries, and mofl learned men in other refpe(9:s, to examine the MSS. whenever they pleafed — he has Ihut his doors to no man. And what, let me alk, is the refult of this invitation to fcrutiny ? not a difcovery of defe6ls, nor a con- vicStion of impoflure, — but an almofl mmn'i- nious attention to their authenticity ; and all this, notwithflanding the MSS. and their accom- paniments, conlift of more than 10,000 lines, in the hand writing of the Bard himfelf, more than a hundred volumes (as it fhould feem part of his library) with MSS. annotations ; beiides deeds and legal inflruments, in great number I

From thefe circumftances, I think it fair to in- fer, that no doubts can arifc as to their validity, but in the minds of thofe perfons whofe want of candour or honejiy, or whole literary defperation will not fufFer them to infpe^l, left they be forced (which they alTuredly, in my opinion, would be) to believe in them,

I return to Mr. Boaden, who in the opening of his letter juftly ftates, that the ultimate de-

cifioii

( «5 )

clfion upon the authenticity of the MSS. muft depend on their " internal evidence." This candid profeflion, however, is contradi6led in effect y by nearly three pages of indired inhnu- ation againft the concealment of a fadl, which it is allowed on all hands is nugatory. — It is of no importance to the world at large, in what family, or by what means the writings of our divine Bard may have been difcovered ; tliey need no pedigree and efcutcheon to prove their defcent, the ftamp and animation of their au- thor is to be found in their Hyle, di6lion, and fentiment. Thefe it is impoflible to forge —

Pindarum quifquis ftudet Imitari lule ceratis ope Daedalea Nititur pennis. Hoa-

And it is little to be feared that the fame age which could produce fuch performances as Fontainville Foreft, and the Secret Tribu- nal, fnould give birth even lo the faint image of a Shakrpearc. But in order to obviate every idea of an improbability that fuch wri- tings fhould ac^lually cxift in the prefent day, I will quote an authority which Mr. Boadcn will not probably difputc— that of Mr. Malone,— who conjectures that fome " Letters at leajl^* were left by our Bard, and alfo traces, four or

( i6 )

five fources ffom whence information relative to them may be derived. The families to which I allude, are thofc of Mr. Bagley, executor of Lady Barnard, (the grand-daughter and lafl de- fcendant of Shakfpeare) and of Henrj^ Gilbert, Thomas Higgs, and Samuel Cc^ton, Efquires, "who married the three daughters (by a former wife) of Sir John Barnard. '« * I know not," fays Mr. Malone, " whether any defcendants of " thefe, be now living: but if that fhould be *' the cafe, among their papers may poffibly be *' found fome fragment or other relative to " Shakfpeare."

I do not pretend to decide whether it was in any one of thefe families that the MSS. were found by Mr. Ireland, but I ilate this as an authority whioii ought to have w^eight, at leall with the friends of Meff. Malone and Steevens, «/" the general prohahUlty of fuch a d'tjco- verj.

The circum (lances, however, ftated by Mr. Ireland, would rather induce us to conclude that the MSS. came from a fource where family reafons required a concealment of their origin. — *

* Johnfon'a and Steevens's Edition. Vol. I. p. 40. laft Edit.

It

( '7 )

ft might be, that the gentleman in queflion wa3 not very proud of his defcent, or that the man- ner in which the papers came into his family, reflects no great honor on his anceftr)-, or^ indeed, reaions by no means derogatory to his honor (though^ perhaps, affecting his feelings in a particular way < might induce him to bury his name in oblivion. Thefe, are the mere fup- pofitions of an unbiiiff'd judgment, for the only ' knowledge I have of Mr. Ireland, origi- nated purely in his being the fortunate polTeflbr of thefe MSS. and the only means I have of forming a judgment on his condu6t, were fup- plied by his candour and liberality in fubmitting them to general infpe6tion.

The * idle remarks on Mr. Ireland's fon, and his friendfliip with Mr. Talbot, need no further comment than that, if (as Mr. Boaden infi- nuates) that friendfhip were in any way difturbed by the publication of the MSS. fuch a rupture would ht fatal to a forgery of any kind. —

At length we come to fomething like a re- gular attack on the MSS. themfelves— which (as far as fuch a farrago can be reduced to any thing like order) is reducible to thefe heads,

* See Mr. B.'s pamphlet, p. 4.

D via.

( i8 )

vii. Obje(^ions againft their appearance and orthography 5 tbofe againft the Hyle and fen- timent; and thofe drawn from chronological and Iiiftorical confiderations.

The MSS. which were fhewn Mr. Boaden were (as he ftates) * fuch as to " Jiartle upon '^ the very furf ace an Intelligent reader^'' yet he be- held them, with -f the " tremor of the pureft "delight" — touched " the invaluable relics " with reverential refpe61:, and deemed even 7 exigence dearer, as it gave him fo refined a *' fatisfactipn." This enthufiafm then could only arife from the merit of ihe conipofttion, and, muft have been deflrpyed, if he had known any thing of the orthography of that age, or in- deed, had pofielTed the fmalleft antiquarian knowledge. It was at leaft tivo months before. Mr. Boaden difcovered that the orthography, was ** after no received fyllero," " was not ** uniformly particular,'* and " that it fet at " defiance the fpelling of all periods."' — This- addition to his information Mr. Boaden has very lately acquired, and I congratulate him, as I do any learner, upon his progrefs in fcience. But —

* Mr. B.'s pamphlet, p. 13. f Ibid. p. z.

" A little

( '9 )

** A little learning is a dangerous thing,

*' Drink deep, or tafle not of the facred fpring."

I would advife him to profecute bis iludies with a little more accuracy, and he will find that his objections will vanilb, as his know- ledge increafes. •

The orthography of that age was, indeed, little reducible to any fixed ftandard, and end- lefs varieties crept into general cuflom, accord- ing to the different caprices and difcordant judgment of individuals. Bat that a vatl fuper- fluity of letters is generally obfervable, no man at all converfant with antient writings can doubt. In a MS. collection of poetry, by Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper in the reign of Elizabeth, which was fhcwn me a few days ago. by a gentleman of high reputation in the law, I find the folUvo ing couplet:

** And what rewardc for this agayne^ " But capt and knee off feelye menne,"

And the following ludicrous ftory of a jelicr and friar, which I will give at Icngtli.

D 2 *' Of

( ao )

•r' Of a Jester a)id a Friar,

^^ Kperte Marchannte feekinge to lowte,

*' A feelye Fryar in a greate dovte,

*' Sayde Maf. Fryer I marvel! ?nutchey

*' Whye to the Crofle yoiu doe foe crowche.,

" And to the Gallowes crofTes tooe

" Of the like fuhfiaunce yow doe not foe.

" Sir quoth the Fry?r as muche mufe I

** What is the caufe and reafon vchye

*' My Miftrefle yor. wife being throweout

" As well beneathe as her fayre fnowte

*' One felf mettell, what meaneth thjs,

" Her lyppes not hyfpes yow ufe to kys."

Among the fame collc6lion is a copy of ^ letter from Queen Elizabeth to Sir Amias Pau- lettj in which I find the words

" Condem^ne *' far re

'^ Ballaunce ^' paffelnge,

" Merritte " mayn^eyne,

*' hldde hur, &c.

The following inllances have been afforded me from the mofi: authentic records—

*' o^fenned''^ " foomm''*

** occafionnes'''' f^yt^

^* heerc"

( 21 )

" hiereuppon'' Jonne

" geloufe " thmne

** orr^" ma?in

*' onne"^ thermne

Mr. Malone has prefented the public * with a deed by Shakfpeare, concerning a houfe of one Ireland's, found in the Featherftonaugh family, the orthography of which bears a ftri- king affinity to the deed of gift to Ireland, among the prefent MSS. We find therein the terms- — " of thone, of thother partyc— • *' graunted and to Ferme letten — a voydc peece *^ of Ground-— thannunciacion, covenaunt, '' without deUie — promiiTe and graunt, cleerlie " acquite — guiftes, &c."

It is unnecefTary to fwell this publication, or to tire the reader with more numerous examples of what no one can doubt, that at a time when the Englifh language knew fo little of accuracy, a great diverlity of orthography muft neceflarily have obtained — one obfervation may not, how- ever, be amifs. The prefs being yet in an infant ftate, and the learning of the age, being confined in a great meafure to the printers, they

■* See Johnfpn's and Steevens's Ed. p. 90.

took

( ^^ )

took the liberty of dcp-irting from the copy before them, v;hcnever they thought themfelves capable of improving the orthography, and in fome cafes perhaps ihe arrangement.

Tliat this is no fpeculative idea, may be ea- •fiily proved by a com^ar'ifon of any MSS. with a fiiUication of that age ; which will manifeltly prove the fuperior purity of the latter. Thus, it Ihould feem, that if any thing like a ftandard of orthography exilted at that time, it mufthavc been exclulively amongft the printers.

As corrohoratwe proof, we may obierve, that the Lear, and all the papers m the hand writing of Shalifpeare ?.rtoi fimiJar orthography, but that they differ In this refpc3 from the other MSS. more particularly from thofe, apparently drawn up by profeffional men.

It feems probable that in any attempt at for- gery, a ftudloiLs Identity in the conftru6tion of words would be preferved ; but in the MSS. we meet with fuch diverfity as may naturally be fuppofed to arifc from cafual circumftances — ► thus, the fignature " Elizabeth'^ in her own hand is conformable to the modern ortho- graphy, and to her exiiling autographs, whilft

in

c n >

in the note attached to the fame letter, it is fpelt agreeably to Shakfpeare's general redundancy of letters, " Eljzabethe.^''

;,It may not, perhaps, be ftri6lly within the fcope of this publication, (which was merely to do away any unfavourable impreflions relative to the puhlijhed papers) to draw an inilance from fome of thofe, which tliongli unpuhUJhed, Mr.. Ireland liberally difplays. It feems, therefore, very appofite to the prefent purpofe, to obferve, tjiat the name of Spenfer, the Poet, was fpelt \n his life-time, and in feveral editions of his works, in two ways — the one with an s, th^i other with a c, in the lail fy liable, — and in af MS. not^ ot>y Shakfpeare, in the edition of 1590, " by Edmund Spenfer^''' the name Spen- cer occurs^—fo little Vv'as the regard paid by Shakfpeare to the fetters of cuftom, and fo flight his attention '' in the fpontaiieous flow " of foul," to fo mjferable an obftacle as the

arrangement or accumulation of letters!

<* Half the labour (fays Mr. B.) beftowed upon '* unneceflary letters would have cleared away " the myftery," — but this is a labour more likely to be felt by the compolitor or editor of a journal, than by a Shakfpeare, to whom the drudgery of corredtion had been labour indeed. 5 With

a u )

Witti the confiftency of a frigid critic Mr. fi. ' blames the Poet at one time for a negls6f of- attentlo-n to his MSS. by the om'ijjion of pm6iuation'^ ' and at another, for his fcrupulous care in nwii- hering the lines. This is, indeed, the Wortn reviling the Oak. — We may further obferv<J^' that thefe fd6fs, in themfehes, furnifh llron^ arguments againji impojiure* Would a forger incumber himfelf with unneceffary letters after the fatal model of Chatterton ? — Would- he not rather have ftudioufly avoided the rock on which that youth fpUt? Would he not follow the orthography as carefully as he- muft have done the character of the MSS. of that age ? Or is it to be fuppofed that he would in one inftance lay himfelf open to dete6Hon by omitting the labour of punctuation, whe'ti' in another he fubmittcd to th& unnecejfary and futile drudgery oi Vi\rCi\sx2X\ovi\ >■■ ':.'-'

With refpe6l to the fuppolition of forgery, drawn from the appearance of the papers/'^ find little ftated by Mr. B. worthy of remark. He is told, indeed by the frjl artifts of the country that " they have no doubt but that the' *' pen and ink drawings are modern." ' Who-" are thefe artifvs ? and what particular art is it they exercifc .? If the liberal and enlightened

pro-

( 25 )

profeflbrs of painting * be allude^! to, they will not certainly pronounce fo dccifroe a verdi^, efpecially on the ground of profejfional know- ledge.

The coloured drawings of BafTanio and Shy- lock perfectly refemble the inferior produ<5^ions of that age, and the name *' J. Holkin?,'* which appears on the former, is that of an arliji of that day, though it muft undoubtedly be confidered as one of his earlieft attempts. I have heard it rumoured as an objection, that at the time of Elizabeth there were no tinted draivhigs^ which the above are denominated. Nothing, however, is more certain, than that at and be- fore that time the firfl mafters ufcd, in their Iketches, the method of tinting adopted by Hofkins, — in proof of my aflertion, I refer the reader to the Iketches of Julio Romano and

* Thofe painters, whom the author of this review has con- fulted, and who are not probably inferior to any whom Mr. B. may have applied to, uniformly agree that the productions in queftion bear, in their appearance, nothing contradidory to the known hiftory of painting. — Thiey are at a lofs to deter- mine hoiM the untutored Jketcbcs of the Bard himfelf, fliould htfulje^ed to the rigid rules of critical invejiigation. A nide outline with a pen and ink muft in all ages be nearly the fame, the only difference is to be found in the fkill of the perfonncr, and the difference of his materials.

E Titian

( »6 )

Titian "before, and of Reubens in the time of

Shak/peare,

Mr. Boaden declares * that the fignature to il^e Deed of Gift " totally departs from the " authentic fignature of the Poet," to which broad aflertion, we have merely to oppofe the tejiimony of our fenfes. If ever a conformity ap- peared between different examples of the fame hand writing it is to be found in this fame deed when compared either with the other -^ auto- graphs in Mr. Ireland's poffeffion, or with the fac fimiles of Shaklpeare's name contained in the iafl edition of J Johnfon's and Steevens's work — a comparifon which any gentleman has it in his power to make.

* Letter, p. 46.

f The comparifon of fignatures I3 not always fatisfaftory proof of authenticity, on account of diverfities which occur in the fame perfon's writing at different times. In the Britifk Mufeum are to be feen three fignatures, unaccompanied by any date, of the earls of Southampton ; one of the father, and two faid to be of the fon, the friend of Shakfpeare ; the two latter on comparifon appear to be widely different from each other, and from Mr. Ireland's MSS.

In general, however, fignatures, though agreeing perhaps upon the vjhole^ have fome Indi'vldual difHnftions more or lefs minute, according to the different circumftances whicii may have affeded them.

% Letter, pu 103.

We

( ^1 )

Wc are next treated, In the letter to Mr. Steevens, with the old ftory O. C. P. which the author terms " pithy and profitable" — That he has found it frofitaUe I muft fuppofe, fince he has fold it to the public, both in his Neivf- fapr and Pamphlet-, but as to the '* pith" I am yet at a lofs to difpover it, except t!iat it feems levelled generally againfi all old wriliyigs* I will, in return, take the liberty of relating a fad, which feems to apply forcibly to the quef- tion of authenticity in the Shakfpeare MSS.

A claim, not long ago, was fet up, in a court of juflice, in fupport of whicli, deeds and other papers, with more than twenty fignatures, fliid to be of the fame hand writing, were adduced. The counfel on the other fide finding, on ex- amination, that every one of thefe fignatures exaeily coincided, defired the witnefs who pro- duced them to fign his name twenty times on a Iheet of paper which he gave him for the pur- pofe— when, although a general fimilarity of character per\'aded the whole, each fignaturc evidently bore a fpecific diftin6lion — this cir- cumftance dete(5led one of the blackefi: attempts at forgery that ever occurred. Let us no\\' try the MSS. in Mr. Ireland's poflefiion by this teft; we fhall find the fignatures, and indeed the hand writing in general, not in the fiiff ^ fj^ formality

( =8 )

formality of a copyift, but in the carelefs bafte of an original; not in a lludied uniformity, but C'>nlaining a Jirong though general rejem- hlance.

One deed or one letter may be forged, perhaps, with tolerafcjle accuracy, elpecially by a perfon who has the prototype before him; bat \vho can fuppofe that the fame perfon fhould be equally Jkilled in forgeries of fo many different hinds, and 0^ Jo vaji an extent? The Numbei^ of documents would be alone, I fhould think, a very flrong authenticating circumftance, lince every additional paper would furnifh an addi- tional opportunity of detedlion: but Variety fuperadded to Number makes the talk of ini- poiture next to an impoffibdlty. This Variety is to be feen among the prefent MSS. in it's greatclt latitude. We here behold Verses, Deeds, Letters, Memorandums, Drawings, and publifhed Books — ^We fee them in every llage of prcfervation — from the e^ctreme of neatnefs to that of decay — ;We find them modi- fied by all the cafualties of time ^nd accident — in one cafe, the Ink retains it's original freih- nefs; in another, it is almoft illegible; in a third, it appears to have corroded the paper, and in fome inftances to have produced the

lingular

( »9 )

/ingular effect of blanching the paper round the edge of the letters. *

lyct us hear then no more of the pitiful infinu- fitians that the polTefTor of thefe MSS. " draws, *' engraves,"" that " he has a tajie for the black *' letter,'* &c. — ^Were his fkill and abilities ten times fuperior to what I doubt not he polic^fcs, it would be difficult to imagine him capable of fuch a verfatility &/ talent.

Mr. Boaden certainly has not evinced his ** intelligence" as a critic, in his oblcrvations on the forfn and femhlancc of the MSS. What ihall we fay of him, when he difcufles the fpirit and genius of their Jlyle? He, who would judge the bard of nature, fhould himfelf at kail participate his feelings^ fhould have caught a breath of that vivid infpiration, a fpark of that poetic fire, a beam from that frenzied eye,

^' Which glanced from Heav'n to Earth, from " Earth to Heaven."

Afk you if the intelligent critic above men- tioned anfwers to that defcription ? — turn to

* This circumftancp may be accounted for on chemical

principles; I have been informed by a gentleman of vcr\Mu- perior information in this kind of fubjed — tliat only tint: can have produced the prefent effeH.

3 Fon-

( 30 )

" Fontainville Foreft," judge " the Secret " Tribunal," examine the profejfed imitafion of '^ Shakfpeare in his Vortigern — " Wearj^ ftale, ** fiat, and unprofitable!" But let us hear his peculiar ophtion of the Bard — the charader of his mufe (if we would believe this oracle of criticifm) " is not fimplicity\^

The writer, who above all others could

" With rapture glow, with pity move,

** Roufe with revenge, or melt with love;"

who touched the manners in comedy, as he did the morals in tragedy, with fo fine a ftroke, and {o difcriminating a genius, ivas not Jimple! Mr. Boadcn has found, I ■^\:c{MU\e,,{omcJ7{/}iJiahle cri~ ticifm on a particular pafTage or two, where the illuflrious Shakfpearehas fallen fromhimfelf, (for who is all perfeci?) and degenerated into weak- nefs ; and upon this ground has ventured to pafs judgment upon the characfer of Shakfpeare's micfe. After this, fhall we be furprifed to find fimilar judgment pervade the detail of his criti- cifm f It had been afferted by Mr. Ireland that Shakfpeare's ftyle was without effort — that the aflertion was corre6ty we have hiftorical proof

( 31 )

m the celebrated * anecdote of Ben. Johnfon, or if that were infufficient, we need but exercife an unprejudiced judgment in the perufal of his works — urged by the impctuolity of his imagi- nation, he was continually hurrying onward to the grand and finking objects of his poem, he touched the inferior parts with as carelefs, as he did the iynportant ones with a mafierly hand,— and in all cafes his errors were rather thofe of hafle than of formality. Writing thus, and writing with genuine fimpUcity , he was fometimes incorre6l, and this incorreitnefs at once gave room for his own fubfequent alterations, and furnifhed the players and printers with an ex- cufe (in their opinion) for producing thofe heaps of fiagc trafh with which they encumbered his works. " He might have written (fays Ma- " lone) without a hlot,\ and three or four years ** afterwards, he might have impofed additional " fcenes alfo ivifhout a blot.''

Whether Mr. Ireland's MSS. be or be not the mofl corre£i tranfcript that Shakfpeare ever made of his Lear, it feems probable that it contains none of the foreign interpolations,

* See in Johnfon's and Steevens's edition, Rowe's Life of Shakfpeare.

f Johnfon's and Steevens's Ed. p. 46.

though

( z^ )

tliough it may poffibly want the fubfequent re= trenchments and even additions of the Bard himfelf. Mr. B. is enabled to decide that the writer of this MS. at frji ufed only the fecond folio edition, " although in the coujfe of the play " he acquires evidently a copy of Butler's *« quarto of 1608. — '^ The folio of 1623 he^ " does not appear to have feen^ The abfur- dity of the remark is too evident to need a com- ment. The difcordance of the MSS. hoth from the folio and quarto, proves, in my idea, that it was taken from neither, lince the author of a forgery would at leaft have been confiftent when he had a choice of fubjedls to copy from. I freely acknowledge that one or two inftances of infe- riority in Mr. Ireland's MSS. would not appear to me to aifeft it's authenticity — Do we not know that Shakfpeare himfelf almofl re-wrote Romeo and Juliet ?

But if we come to the particular iriftances cited by Mr. Boaden, we Ihall behold in a ftronger light his critical powers, and be enabled to form a fpecial judgment of the abilities of this cenfor-general.

Cordelia, it is faid, could never be made io annoimce the entrance of her fuitors — might we not purfue a cgntrary mode of argument, and

believe

( 33 )

believe that this was one of thofe mafterly touches of nature in which Shakfpeare fo emi- nently excelled, but which often evaporate under the grofs touch of editors and commen- tators ? The perfevering and humble obedience of Cordelia might induce her after all the harjh treatment of her father, io{hew\iev{c\fjlillpro?fipt in the performance, even of the moft trtfiitig duty, and it would be coniiftcnt with her gen- tlenefs, on the approach of ftrangers to conceal every mark of difquiet and domefiic.uneafinefs.

Of the pafTages " altered;* as Mr. B. chufcs to exprefs himfelf, we have now a copious de- tail, and though ! by no means think it necef- fary to eftablifh the MSS. that they lliould al- ways contain the beji reading, I think I can clearly prove that they do not " invariably follow the worfi;' and that Mr. B. at leaft in many inftances has been very unfortunate in fele6ling the objeds of his criticifm. As it is very pro- bable that Shakfpeare, who wrote as it were ^^ flans fede in uno;' did not always flop to numerate his fyllables, or to puui^uate his pe- riods (certainly not the latter) we may conclude that his tranfcript would not, in every inflancc, divide the verfes exaSlly as metre required — A word, or fyllable might be fubjoined to the aul of one line, which the eye of a reader, at all

( 34 i

converfant with the fubjeft might eafily carry forward to the fucceeding line.

Upon this view of the fubject, though I own with a great degree of diffidence, I have ven- tured to give the execration of L.ear, from the MSS. vf lih fuch fun6iuation^ and arrangement as I fhould imagine it to have really received in performance.

** It may be fo — hzxken Nature ! hear dear Goddefs !

*' Sufpend thy purpofe, if thou wouldeft make

*' This creature frightful ! — into her womb convey

" Sterility!

*' Dry up in her the organs of increafe:

" And let no babe fpring thence to honour her.

" But if fhe muft teem, rrfdi/* her child of fpleen ;

** And let it channel wrinkles, on her brow

*' Of youth, with accent tears ; turn all her pains

*' To laughter and contempt; that fhe may know

*' How fharp and like a lerpent's tooth it is,

** To have a thanklefs child." •

The deviations from the MSS. " hearken* in the firil:, and ^' wouldefi " in the fecond line, are only fuch fyllabic extenfion aS a fpeaker would almoU unavoidably introduce. The infertion of thence or fome fuch word, in the fixth line, and the omiflion of ncde, before laughter in the tenth, infer, perhaps, a more fcrupulous atten- tion to metre than that age was remarkable for,

and

( 35 )

and the word create in the feventh line, may, by a very common licence, be allowed to pafs as two fhort fyllables or one long one.* The break in the fourth line feems juflitied by the fenfe, and is perfe611y confonant to the ftyle of Shakfpeare in many parts of this fame play — the word accent for Jharp^ in the ninth, is at leail equal to cadent it's modern fubftitute.

It will perhaps be objedled, that the necejjlty of fuch alterations implies a defed in the MSS. but the fame confideration feems to Jlrengthen their authenticity; for however incorrect an author may be in his original tranfcript, it is hardly to be conceived that a forger would vo' luntarily expofe himfelf to critical ohje£lion, by unneceffary fuperfluity or omiflion.

The fecond quotation of Mr. B. feems to cflablilh the probability of hafle in fome in- ftances of Shakfpeare's writing, by the iotro- du<Slion of " play this part again," which fhould be marginal, into the text,

* Mr. Malone obferves that the words father, brother, mo- ther, and many of fimilar found, were ufed by Shakfpeare as monofyllahles. See note in fc. 4. aft 3 of Lear, page 154. Johnfon and Steevens's laft edition. ^

P ^. The

( 36 )

The MSS. prefent us with this beautifiul idea,

" Kill thyphyfician, and the fee beftow " Upon the yoa/-difeafe."

Calling to. immediate recolle(£Vion the " mind ** dijeafed'" of Macbeth, bat which Mr. Boaden with equal delicacy of talle, and accuracy of judgment, would change to " the foid difeafe. This may have been one of the corrections which occurred to him from " the reile<5lion ** in his clofet upon circumjiances recorded^ and '^ by applying to things the rule of Chronology^''

I pafs over feveral paffages felecled by Mr. B. merely as fpecimens of incorreftnefs, to come to thofe, on which he attempts to difplay his critical powers. On the paflage

*' Trutli's a dog that muft to kennel, while my lady Irach " may (land by the fire and ftink."

A learned * emendation is offered of broach for hrach — Mr, Boaden is, perhaps, ignorant

that

- ;♦ In thefe emendations Mr. B. feems ttf be by no means fortunate, a little further on he offers to correft the words ** diflblution of ftandpig armies " by fubftituting ** amities.**

. Now

( 37 )

that hrach, from the Italian braced, is applied to hitches of the hunting kind.

« Edgar. Hound or fpaniel brache or lym."

A^l 3. Sc. 9.

It does not appear that the fenfe would neceffarily require either of thofe words. Yet if any be adopted, it cannot be Mr. Boa- den's, however ingenious his conjeclure may appear.

Not more fortunate is the critical acumen dif- played on the line

*' And with Adam-like nakednefs, cut-face " The wind and perfecution of the Iky."

" The obje6lion againft the 77ietre may be an- fwered by inftances of the ufe of the dadylic foot in this very/peech, as well as in other parts of Shakfpeare.

" Edgar. Sometimes with lunatic banns, fometimes with prayers."

And in Othello : *' To counfel Caflio to this parallel courfe.'*

Now this paflage, if genuine, muft require the former ex- preflion, becaufe that part of the fpeech all'ided to is an enu- meration of political evils— " dearth," " tuvifions in ftate," &c. among which, the diflblution of a long ftandiiig army is

to be reckoned of the highefl importance.

With

( 38 )

With regard to ihcfenje, Mr. B. feems to lup- pofe that there muft cxifl in the meaning of the pi;ot a fimilar confulion to that which muft have entered hib own head : when Edgar hkens his nakednejs to that of Adam^ it by no means follows, that the limilitude muji aljo be applied to the weather,

Edgar, in his foliloquy, exclaims —

" Poor Tom !— Poor Edgar !

" That indeed is fomething — / am nothing /"

Which our critic Jagacioufly blames, as atl imprudent difclofare of his name to the winds on a folitary heath % and yet he recommends the common reading, againft which the fame objec- tion lies :

*' Poor Turlegood Poor Tom !

*' That fomething, yet Edgar, I nothing am."

The diiFerence, however, in poetical excel- lence, feems to be much in favour of the for- mer, as the immediate tranfition from poor Tom to poor Edgar, is more pathetic, and more con- fonant to the natural flow of feeling. In this arrangement too, the words " that indeed is *' fomething," feem' juflly ^/)/)/if>^ to the recol h8ion of his former lituation ; if we follow the 3 other

( 39 )

other reading, we Ihall be led into the abfurdil^ of fuppofing him to fet a value upon tlic ftatc of " a Bedlam beggar."

From thefe and fome limilar compaiiions, in which the reader will not, perhaps, be always of the fame opinion with the critic^ Mr. B. concludes, that to read the new puhlication^ was a *^ fource of ajlonijhment and laughter T — AJion'iJh- rnent at fuch a decilion mull be felt by every one who has confulted thofe paragraphs of the Oracle, which we have fele^led— and laughter will pro- bably be the confeqnencc of ohferi'tng fuch an m- confiflency, in the different opmions of the fame writer.

The omifftons of the MSS. come next to be confidered ; but as thefe, however plainly proved, will afford no conclufroe argument, I pafs over them, to conlider what Mr. B. calls the '* lold and hazardous interpolations." A few words in the dialogue of Lear and Edgar are firft cited, which are not probably of the higheft poetical merit, yet cannot certainly be decided not to he Shakfpeares,

The other inftances I fhall give in tlicir or- der. Firft, the defcription of Dover cliff :

This

( 40 )

V " This cliff, this wonder of nature, " Wbofe chalky fides guard this our facred ifle " 'Gainft the rude fea, that doth in choler " Rage, foam, and fpend itfelf, till't come to nothii^."

The pathetic exclamation of Lear—

" Ha, Goneril ! what flatter this white beard? ** And when the poor dog did fawn and lick thee, *' Didfl beat him out of doors ? "

His tender recollection of Cordelia's good qualities, and his revenge for her death, both conceived in terms highly poetical— «-

" Her voice was ever foft '' And low— Jkvecf mujic o'er the rifling fiream ! ** O yes, by Heavens ! 'twas I kill'd the flave, " That did round thy foft neck the murderous *' And damned cord entwine."

" Inftance the lifl,'' is the fpeech of Kent, preferving in the moment of death, all his charaderiflic firmnefs and fidelity.

" Thanks, Sir ; but I go to that unknown land, *' That chains each pilgrim faft within its foilj *' By living men mojijhunn'd, mojl honoured. " Still my good mafter this fame journey took ; *' He calls me, I am content, and flraight obey. *' Thf^njareivcll, world, the ^K_^yr^«e is done ; *' Kent lived moji true"— Kent dies viojl like a man.'*

Each

( 4- )

Each of thefe fpecimcns pofTefTes fufficlent merit to recommend itfelf to reai judges of poe- try. They are not, perhaps, the 7noft fnijhcd of Shakfpeare's produtlions ; but they befpeak themfelves \o truly his^ that (to retort Mr. Boaden's aflertion on another occalion), " he " who can beheve thefe Hnes to be interj>oh~ " tions, has neither tafte in fcntiment, nor dif- *^ cernment in compofition."

With fuch fentiments, we fliall, no doubt, fully fubfcribe to the authenticity of Shakfpeare's lignature at the end of this play : and when we recollect how long it ivas after Mr. Boaden iirfl faw the MSS. before he doubted^ we fhall with difficulty believe that they could have been fuch *' an unlkjlfully executed and manifeftdelulion."

It is hnpoJJlUe that fo Jagacious a critic could have been mifled at firft, by MSS. contain- ing fo many " grofs impurities :" we mud, therefore, fuppofe, that he is one of thofe who can

.- " difpute*

" Confute, change fides, and ftill confute :'»

and that either his former or his frefent profef- fions were the producSlion of ingenuily, the f^orilve exercife of deceptive talent. The diffi-

G culty

( 4^ )

culty is, to decide, when Mr. B. is mjeft, and when in earnejl ; ivhat his meaning is, or whe- ther he has any meaning at all.

" Quo teneam vultus mutantemProteanodo?"

If there be any fixed Jlandard hy which to try hh tajie, it muft be found in his own poeti- cal etfufions. But here again we are at a lofs. He furely could not intend ferioujly to produce, as imitations of Shakff>eare, his * Voriigern and Rowetia ; — the defpicable nonfenfe which he puts into the mouths of his heroes, may ferve, perhaps, in his opinion, as a burlefque upon fome other production ; but as he has chofen to prefent them tv:ice to the public, he may fojfthly conceive that they fojfefs fome in- irinfic merit. In deference to fuch an opinion, we will fele6t two or three fpeeches.-— Hengift is 'made to defcribe, with much precifion and exa^nefs, the origin and nature of his expedi- tion :—

*' Moft noble King, from Germany we come, " And Saxony, the province of our birth ; " Th' occafion is, to tender our afliftance ** Even XiXiio youy or to fome o//j^r Prince."

* SteExfra^s at the end of Mr. B's Letter.

With

( 43 )

With equal judgment this accurate Prince thus verfifies the calendar, in giving an account of his religion —

" For cur rcUgisn^ K.ing» know, that nve iK>orJljip

*' JVodcH efpecially, who gives name

" To thefonrih day of every 'week of time.

" Next to him we adore the goddefs Frea^

** From whom i\\t Jixth day claims its honoured name."

«« We^ivorJIiip, Woden r—vJonderfuUyw ell i This is, indeed, a mouthful of alliteration ! Nor is Vortigern behind hand in depth of obfervation and elegance of manners :

« Warriors, I need not fpend the time *

*' In vain and anpty falutations — Courtejy « Should ftill be found in courts ; or they muft change «' Their nature, and that gentle power its name.

Ohejamfatis ! " If thcle were intended as « bones for a critic cur," they are " delicate « ones, indeed." But if Mr. Boaden has been «* flattered" into a belief that " they merit to he « colUaed-r if he adduces them in the hope that they will eclipfe the true Vortigern ; or if he thinks they, in the " mod trifling degree, « referable the great poet ;" it would be ufelcfs to wafte words upon the fubjea, fuch ahjurdity is out of the reach of argument. One circura- flance, however^ Relative to their publication, G 1 ^^^°^^

( 44 )

fecm"S to dcfervc Jeriom animadvcrfion : from the equivocal manner of their appearance, the public was left to fuppofc that they were a6tually extradled from Mr, Ireland'' s MSS, and that gentleman lay under the hnputation of palming upon the world this " execrable jargon," as the produdlion of Shakfpeare.

The critical obfervations of Mr. Boaden on iiho-Jlyle of the remaining Papers will be beil anjwered by recalling the reader's attention to the paragraphs in the Oracle relative to Xhefame produdlions.

LETTER TO ANNA HATHERWAYE.

ORACLE.

this letter is " diftinguifh- **. ;ed for the utmoft delicacy *' "/ p^J^oHy and poetical *'/pirit."

JAMES BOADEN, ESQ^

" This letter muft, if ge- " nuine, have been written *' at fixteen years of age.— *' The expreflions have no' ** thing of the charaHer of our *' profcy in that period of our *' literature. The verfes " (that follow in Mr. Ire- *' land's publication) are wor- *' thy of no other notice, than " that they are meiricalTf " fmooth." Page 40. of a Letter to G. Steevens, Efq.

LETTER

( 45 )

lETTER TO LORD SOUTHAMPTON.

ORACLE.

JAMES BDADEN, ESQ^

*' A difcovery relative to " The judicious critic at " Lord Southampton, re- " once perceives the modern. *' flecking immortal Ijcnour " colouring of didlion, and •* on the bounty of the one, " flow of language." Page " and the modefty of the 42. ** other. The cor.viftion ** produced upon our mind is *^ fuch as to make zWfcepti- ** cifm ridiculous"

Qusere, Are we to underftand that Mr. Boaden is 7iot a judicious critic, or that he has only hecojne Jo ivithin thefe few months ? If th« latter, it might be ferviceable to the public, to divulge iht fecret of fo fudden an acquifition of judgment.

The profession of FAITH.

ORACLE.

" A profeffion of his rell- *' gious faith, rationally pious *' JiCid grandly cxprejjid r*

JAMES BOADEN, E?Q^

" Nothing but the pueriU " guaintnefs and l.'omatic " poverty of a method Ji rhap- « fody ! Exquijitc nonftnfe f ♦' Execrable jargon I" P. 4*f

43^ 44-

It

( 46 )

It may be of ufe to conlider what Mr. B. thus calls exquifite iionfenfe, and execrable jargon.—- The palliiges alluded to, are the following fublime and pathetic effufions of piety : —

* " Yet will I hope, for even the poor prifo- *' ner, when bound with galling irons, even he *' will Jiope for pity ; and when the tears of *' fweet repentance bathe his wretched pillow, he *' then looks and hopes for pardon."

" Great God, receive me to thy bofom, '^ where all is fweet content and happinefs ; all *' is blifs : where difcontent is never heard \ but '■^ where one bond of friendfhip unites all men \ ** Forgive, O Lord, all our fms ; and with thy *' great goodnefs take us all to thy breafi'*

It feems that Mr. B. is difpleafed with the metaphors of " fnow diftilling from the leafy *' tree," and of " the chicken, that under the *' covert of her fpreading wings receives her *' little brood." They are both perfectly ror- re6fy Snow diftils rapidly ^ though almoft infenfi^ hly from the leafy tree, as the mind links under the contemplation of a fubje<£l too mighty for it's grafp : and a more exquilitely beautiful picture of parental tendernefs cannot ealily be conceived than that of the Mother-Bird hover-

* See Profeflion of Faith, in Mr. Ireland's folio publication.

( 47 )

ing over lier young, and anxioufly protecting tliem' from injury. Thcfe interclnng pictures cannot jufrly be faid to pofTels *' the modeiii *« colouring of di6lion and flow of language,'* at leaft, if we are to form a judgment of modern p'oduct'ions by thofe of the Iwninary before us. He, it is true, deals in metaphors, but certainly of a different Jiamp from thofe above quoted ; in his pamphlet, after he has fufFercd us " to '' drink of the rivers^' he " delights our ears *' with the roaring of its fall," which is un- doubtedly making a very ceconom'ic ufe of a poetical figure ; and in defcribing *' the cloudy *^ incruftat'ions of a gem/' he difplays an equal knowlcdgeo^ Metaphor andMineralogy. Were we to wander beyond the limits of his pamphlet,— were we to refer to the drama tic works of this great man, we fhould find in every page troj)es of a new and fmgular nature ; fome where found pre- vail over fenfe, and others where the found and the fenfe were alike confufed, firange and incom- prehcnfible. We fliould find * " Mewling Mam- <' ?nets at the nurfe's breaft," " Soldiers ^m/- <« lating innumerable wounds," *' Heavy clouds '' in fummer's haunches," and «^ Ci{^om which f' no earthly breajh may e'er withfiand ;" to-

* See Secret Tribunal, and extrafts from Vortigern in •JMr. B.'s pamphlet,

gether

( 48 )

gether with others ahke novel and amullng; yet this is the Knight errant, fo flrenuous for *' the credit of Enghfh/iif<?r<2/«r£r," — ih^Artliegal, who by one itroke of his critic fword is to lay in ruins the fabrick of poetical impoflure I

Thus far we have followed Mr. B. in his crU ileal mvejligation of the papers themfelves, — let us now accompany him to the " myflerious *' clofet^'' where his ^' doubts were firfl accu- *' mulated" from *•'• refieBlons upon c'lrciimjlances *' recorded/' — Here it feems is his ftrong hold, here he " applies to things the rnle of chrono- ** logy," and *' to ^^r/owi- the r^^or^^i of biogra- ^^ phy ;" — ^here, he weighs in the balance the hitherto " invaluable relics," and lo ! they are found wanting !

*' In what manner diltrufl iirfl entered his mind," Mr. B. thinks it " unnecejfary to flate." We may, however, entertain a different opinion, if we imagine that any thing like perfotiality en- tered into his motives. Whether this were, or were not the cafe, may probably appear " from •* the refle(51:ion" in our own " clofet" upon the following fa6ls, which, though not " recorded^ iLXtJirt^Jy true.

On

( 49 )

On the day on which Mr. Ireland*s puhllca- tion of the MSS. appeared (the 24th of Decem- ber) Mr. Boaden fent to borrow it, in " order (profejfedly) to make extracts for his newfpafer. 'The former gentleman not defiring fuch fup- forty declined this very friendly offer ; and Mr, B. therefore fent to Mr. White, of Fleet-ftreet, who, ignorant of his intentions, lent him the vo- lume. The appearance of an extras in the Oracle of the next day, difcovered this not very polite proceeding to Mr. Ireland, who, on making it known to Mr. White, that gentleman begged Mr. B. to return the book, which he did, ac- companied by a note, wherein he thanks Mr. White for a view of " the moft Jplendid impofi- " tion he had ever beheld."

It is pojftble that thefe circumftances may have given rife in the mind of Mr. B. to a degrez of petulant animofity, which is ever iinfavourahle to the exercife of judgment, and which may even pervert the moft Jiriking and palpable evidence. But leaving all conlidcrations of a perfonal na- ture, let us come to the chronological and hijlori- cal objections : thefe arc (j[uefiions of fad, and afford a certain^ fpecial ground of argument. We will begin with the letter fent by Queen

H Elizabeth,

(5° )

Elizabeth, in her own hand-writings to Shak- ipearc,

• QUEEN ELIZABETH'S LETTER.

" In the outfet of this examination" there is *^ a vifml prefumption in favor of this letter," from the agreement of the lignature with the known autographs of that Queen. — So far Mr, Boaden.

There is alfo another prefumption in it's fa- vor from the known patronage afforded to our poet by her Majefty, who, according to Rowe,* '' not only had his plays adVed before her, but ^^ gave him many gracious marks of her favour. ^^ This letter appears, and very naiurally, without a date ; but I fhall prefume to give it the date of 1388, for reafons which will prefently appear. At that time Shakfpeare was about twenty-four years of age, (being born in April 1564) and it is triumphantly afked hovo he couldy& cafily have rifen into notice, and have been engaged in the direction of a company of players. In anfwer to this, I fhall obferve (with the Editor of the Oracle) that the old " Story of Shakfpeare's

* See Rowe's Life of Shakfpeare in Johnfon and Steevens's l^fl edition,

. " holding

C 51 )

'* holding horfes" at the play-houfe door, fecms to deferve very little credit ; and that he moll probably rofe, " like the Garrick of his age," to immediate and diflingaifhed notice. Such at leaft are the joint opinions * of the nnnotators, MefTrs. Malone and Stecvcns, who fuppofe (I think very rationally) that Shakfpeare, when lie fed the fwy of Sir Thomas Lacy, while >r/ very young, might find an eafy admittance to th.e Itage, having a town/man (if not relation) of the name of Green, then a player of fome eminence ; and if fo, is it all furprifing that the fupcriority of his talents fhould Iiavc enabled him very foon to take a leading part in the management of the Theatre ? -f-

Thus it appears that it is far from improhahle that Elizabeth fhould write to Skakfpeare to come with '' his hejr a^ors, to wait upon her. But it is added, " the Lord Leicefler will be " with us." Now, fays Mr. B. the lateji period at which this Lord could have attended '* Holh- " day fooleries was in the year 1 58s."-^Strangc

* See page 63, Johnfon and Steevcns's laft edition.

f Since writing the above, I am informed, that within thefe few days, a deed has been difcovered which will put this matter beyond all queftion^ and which will in dne time be laid before xhe pHhlic at large !

H 3 indeed \

( 5^ )

indeed ! that this " inteUigeni critic * Ihould have " applied to things the rule of chronology" fo imperfeclly. I will venture to remind him of the tranfa6\ions of the year 1588. On the; 3ifl of July, the terrible Armada, which had fo long threatened our ifland, was feen for the Jaji time flying before our victorious fleet — within a day or t%vo after the Queen entered London in folemn proceflion, attended by the Lords Hunf- don and Leicetler. — Each of thefe noblemen had attended her at the camp, at Tilbury ; the former having the command of 34,000 foot and 200ohorfe,and the latter of 22,000 foot and 1000 horfe ; and being bath "jtry high in her coTifidsnce^ they, no doubt, participated in the entertain- ments which were fo abundantly difplayed upon the occaflon. The expreflion of pihlic joy on this glorious event \srz.s not confined to one mode of rejoicings nor to a fhort duration of enjoy- ment. Plays, Balls, and every kind of enter- tainment were exhibited throughout the kingdom for a confiderMe length of time ; and it is very probable that it was upon this occafion^ that Shakfpeare was honoured with the favor of his Royal Miftrefs.

There is one more objcClion, which may ferve as a fpecimen of Mr. Boaden's " Logic nevet "perverted by /o/Z/i^/z."— The Gloh$ Theatre

was

( 53 )

wd.s not built //// 1596/ Indeed! and how is this proved ? Why truly by a contra^ in 1599 to build a Playhoufc like that newly -ere^ed one, called the Globe.

Now, as Playhoufes do not arife with the celerity of mulhroom?, I wifh to know liow Mr. Boaden ,^roves *' to devKmJlrationy that the exa£l term oi three yeais is fpecified by the words " ne^joly- ** ereBed'^ or why it may not equally well re- fer to ten, nay to twenty or thirty years back ?

In 1588L0D0 wi \is. ) fays Mr. B. was then t'welvB years old, and fagacioufly infers that " he cmdd not a<9: any part, forgetting the characters of Arthur^ Rutland^ &c." On further examinatiort wefhall find this "cery circimjiance io be m fin^or of the MSS. ; for we there ilud 2S. fet down, as ^ prefenty to JhOjlowiue, whole youth aione could occafion ihc fmallnefs of the fum, iince in 1609, -at the age of thirty-three, he received a falary of thirty Jhillijigs per week.

The promiifory note to Heming is dated 1 3 S9, it mentions work done at the Globe, thus agree-

i7ig

( 54 5

hig with the fuppofitions necelTary to" under- Itand the other papers ; but agreement of thk kind is not the chara6ler of impolliire ; one cannot believe that fo many authorities fhould bear together upon one ^oint, and that the offspring of faljhood.

We meet with no other chronological objec- tions until we come to the deed of gift to Ireland; here indeed we have, as before, good round ajfertion, but nothing like proof. This deed contains a bequeft of the play of Lear, among others, and is dated Ot.7oZ'^r 25, 1604; but we are told that the Lear was not then written, an. argument, certainly very conviticing, if it had the lea^ foundation. How- ftands the fa6l I Mr, Malone * fhrewdly guefles, mark gueffes^ that it was not written till after the acceflion of James the Firft to the crown of England, which happened, fays Mr. Boaden, on the 24th of OBoher 1604 ; but which happened,/"/)'^ Hifioryy on the 24th of March 1602-3. So much foi" accuracy of dates, and Ik^ill in comparifon !

* See Attempt to afcertain the Chronology of Shakfpeare'5 Plays, by Malone. Johnfon and Steevens's laft edit. vol. i.

It

( 55 )

It has been infidioufly rumoured that Mr. Ireland claimed the MSS. in his poilcirion, as being lineally defcended fvom the friend of Shakfpeare. I had the curiofity to afk Mr. Ireland if fuch a rumour were well founded, and received for anfwer^ that fo ahfurd an idea never entered his mind, and had merely been circulated for the purpofe of cafiing an odium upon the MSS.

The term five pounds five Shillings, mHem'mgs receipt, has been objeded to, as not being then ufed in computation — ^how juftly, will appear by the following extracts, from the collection of ordinances and regulations for the government of the Royal Houfehold from the reign of Edw. III. down to William and Mary, pub- liftied by the Society of Antiquaries in 1790*

Elizabeth. £> -J- ^'

Page 2^$ — Joyner's fee 19 19 o

. -..-^Record 16 16 8 &c.

Having thus purfued the ^' critical examina- '' tion of the MSS." into all its branches ; having fcrupuloufly examined the evidence, mternal and external, and weighed every ob- jedlion fuperfichd, literary, and chronological, wbidi has been adduced againfl them— I beg

leave

( 56 )

leave to draw a few general conclulions from the 'whole, both with refpc6l to the MSS. them- /elves, and to the manner in which they have been examined by Mr. Boaden. On the latter point, it feems evident that the perfon who has fo violently oppofed their authenticity, is by n9 means qualified for the office he has undertaken.

With no hiowledge of his fubje6l (as it after- wards appeared in his pamphlet) he was ori- ginally profiife in his commendation, and offi- cioujly delirous of defending what needed not his feeble fupport. With eq^ital rajimefs he then veered to the oppofiteftde, and commenced an attack on what is far fiiperior to his hoftility — Who, then, cany«^am//v admire that T^^'^^i/y, which after two months acquaintance with the MSS. could difcover, that upon the veryfurface^ their appearance and orthography were fuch as to " flartU an Intelligent obferver." We are amazed at the chronological accuracy which, after long meditation in " the clofet," found out dif- cordances that in fa(.9 did not exifl — but our afto- nifhment is raifed to it's acitie on obferving the deep literary experience, and critical acumen, which difcoYcred the fatne productions to be at once animated with the genius of a Shakfpeare, and not to rife ahove the ftyie of '^ a methodift rhapfody." What ahfurdity and contradi^ien f

1 fan-

( i1 )

r Sincerely hope, however, that M^ were the onfy defects of niihd, which gi?.-ve hirth to Mr. .6.oaden*s Pamphlet. Ignorance is excitjabh^ but if a f&nfation' of envious jealouf)', or malignant enlmofity fhouldhave di6lated this outrage upon the chara^er of Mr. Ireland, and upon the produBlons of Shakfpeare, it would merit not coriteinpt, but the' moll peirfedl^ abhoitenbci btWis the public 'fnuil judgis^na^hough they .will laugh at the impotent efiufions of ioify, 'they wilV treat with a jujfmfrfgnati'on the efforts of calumny— UM.X. BoaclM'S'ai'm ]^c i\\^ of 'candid criticifm, and fair invefligation,' 'miim As'lie rhay havc'^rr^i/^ h^ will efcapeTevere ani- madverfion ; but 1f he or anV "mother perfon bef found to have carried on an hifullous'hojluity, io have circulated ?«^/<Vio«5- and imfounded reports, and to have inflituted a prejudiced and violent oppofition againft the liberal d'lfcuffion of the fuhUB, their ailioiis fhould be repreflcd by the mier^ojltion oi ciutlihrity\

It has been reported that a party is now forming to obflrua the juft exercife of publtd judgment, in it's d^tifioii on the phyof King Vortigern (whofe meril: or demerit it is impol - 'l^tle that thofr''6:'fi(f^ha'Ve not feen It can be .-r- ^zl:jr//it'tf 'itvV/^j by 'means''of tumult and vio- lence—'fhould fuch an attempt, fo bafe, fo ih-

I fulling

( i8 )

fultlng to the underftandings of a Britifh au- dience, be made, it will no doubt be repelled by a generous indignation — and will recoil with ten-fold fhame upon the heads of its infli- gators.

The juflice, the common juft'ice^ due to Mr. Ireland, as ,an individual, is not in the cafe of this difcovery, the only, nor perhaps the cliief point. — It is the caufe of Englifh literature, the caufe of genius and of truth, that is at ftake ! They aj-e clofely interelled in the decilion upon the MSS. and therefore the lovers oi them will bp anxious that the fcrutiny fhould be carried on fully y hut, fairly — that no arts of delufion ihould be ufed to prejudice the public mind, but that ignorance Ihould be detected and faUejioo^ unmajked, . . r . ,

Although fully perfuaded of the excellence of the MSS. the author will not prejume to aflert their authenticity, 'till theyfliall h.2C7C fully pajfed the ordeal of deep fcienfific invefligation. In the interim, he cannot quit the fubjedl without obferving that they bear fuch ftrong marks of truth as cannot htjhaken\>y trifling objedlions— it is the chara^eriflic of impofture to reft its defence on few points, and on them, ftudi- «ufly to av9id difcujfion — every fource of /«-

( 59 )

quiry is a fource of doubt, and every ftep in the progrefs of examination is intncate, perplexed, and uncertain. The reverfe is the charatleriftic of Mr. Ireland's conduct. The variety of the MSS. has given occalion to every /pedes of evi- dence, each of which has been feduhujly invefti- gated by all thofe who were interefted in their fuccefs — each proof feemed to corroborate the others, and to give to the whole a fpirit of conliftency and firmnefs fcarcely ever attainable by falfehood.

FINIS.

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