When it is proved, however, that a gentle process might have been employed with equal success, let the actual cautery be rejected, or applied to the remarks of him who has fo freely used it. STEEVENS.

421

ADDENDA,

&c.

Vol. H. P. 80. Add to Lift of detached Pieces of Criti. cism:

82. Remarks on Shakspeare. By Edward Dubois. Printed in “The Wreath, contposed of Selections from Sappho, Theoeritus, Bion, and Mofchus," &c. Svo. 1802.

83. An Attempt to illustrate a few Passages, in Shakespeare's Works. By J. T. Finegan. 8vo. 1802.

IBID. Plays altered from Shakspeare, add:

P. 152. The Merchant of Venice, a Comedy, altered from Shakspeare, by Dr. Valpy, and aețed at Reading School, October, 1802. 8vo.

P. 161. King John, an hiftorical Tragedy, altered from Shakspeare, by Dr. Valpy, and acted at Reading School. 8vo. 1800.

IBID. The Second Part of King Henry the Fourth, altered from Shakspeare, by Dr. Valpy, and acted at Reading School. 8vo. 1801.

IBID. P. 197. Add to “ England's Mourning Garment," &c. the name of the author, viz. Henry CHETTLE.

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Vol. IV. P. 442. MIDSUMMER-Night's DREAM. Add to Mr. Steevens's note :

At a banquet given by Ralph Freman, Lord Mayor of London, to the King and Queen, 9 Car. I. 1633, at Merchant Taylors' hall, the ceremonial of which is set forth in Chauncy's Hertfordshire, p. 123, the musick of the tongs is introduced ; and from the manner in which it is mentioned, could not be of very agreeable sound, though well adapted to the delicacy of Bottom's ears. In the proceflion it is said, “ These horsemen had for their musick about a dozen of the best trumpeters in their , liveries founding before them ; after whom came the antimalkers, representing cripples and beggars, on the poorest leaneft jades the dirt carts could afford, who had their musick of keys

and tongs, and the like snaping, and yet playing in a confort before them; the variety and change from such noble musick and gallant horses as went before unto the proper musick and pitiful horses of these cripples made the greater divertisement."

REED,

Vol. V. P. 351. TwelfȚh Nļght.

the bed of Ware in England.] This enormous piece of furniture which, as well as the bells of St. Bennet's, cannot be said to be introduced with much propriety in Illyria, is still existing, and as much an object of curiosity as it was two centuries ago. It is also mentioned at the conclusion of Decker and Webster's Northward Hoe, 1607. REED.

Vol. VI. P. 23. Much ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

Baldrick.] “A lelt, from the old French word baudrier, a piece of dressed leather girdle, or belt, made of such leather; and that comes from the word baudroyer, to dress leather, curry or make belts. Monsieur Menage says, this comes from the Italian baldringus, and that from the Latin balteus, from whence the Baltick sea has its name, because it goes round as a belt. This word baudrier among the French sometimes fignified a girdle, in which people used to put their money. See Rabelais, ļII. 37. Menag. Orig. Franc. Somn. Di&t. Sax. Nicot. Dict." Fortescue Aland's note on Fortescue, on the Difference

" between an absolute and limited Monarchy, 8vo. 1724, p. 52.

REED. Vol. IX. P. 386. Winter's TALE. Add to note 5 :

One of the almanacks of Shakspeare's time is now before me. It is entitled, “Buckmynster, 1599. A prognostication for the yeare of our Lorde God MD.XCVIII. Conteyning certaine rules and notes for divers uses, and also a description of the three eclipses, and a declaration of the state of the foure quarters of this yeare, and dayly disposition of the wether for every day in the same. Done by Thomas Buckmynfter. Anno etatis suæ 66. Imprinted at London by Richard Watkins and James Roberts." REED.

Vol. XI. P, 82. King RICHARD II, Add to note 8:

Evelyn says, “ Amongst other things, it has of old been observed, that the buy is ominous of some funest accident, if that be so accounted which Suetonius (in Galba) affirms to have happened before the death of the monster Nero, when these trees generally withered to the very roots in a very mild winter;

and much later ; that in the year 1629, when at Padua, preceding a great peftilence almost all the Bay trees about that famous university grew sick and perished : Certo quafi præfagio, says iny author, Apollinem Mufafque, fubfequenti anno urbe illa Lonarum literarum domicilio excel'uras.” (Sylva, 4to. 1776, p. 396.) REED.

91

Ibid. P. 432. FIRST PART OF KING HENRY THE FOURTH. Line 4, Mr. Ritson's note. For contradiction read contrac. tion.

1

I take this opportunity of expressing my concurrence with Mr. Ritson's sentiments on this subject, and of declaring my opinion that the tradition of Falstaff having been originally Old. castle is by no means disproved. The weight of real evidence appears to me to be on the side of Fuller, who lived near enough to the time of Shakspeare to be accurately informed, and had no temptation to falsify the real fact. To avoid fatiguing the reader with a long train of facts and arguments, it may be fufficient to rely on two authorities which have been too flightly attended to, if they may be said to be noticed at all. The first is Weever, writing at the very period, who describes Oldcastle as Shakspeare does Falstaff, as the page of Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, (see Vol. XII. p. 123,) a circumstance which could hardly have happened if Falstaff had not originally been Oldcastle. The other is Nathaniel Field, a player in Shakspeare's company, who might have acted in the play himself, who could pot be mistaken, and who expressly refers to Falstaff by the pame of Oldcastle. (See p. 95.) Against these testimonies and others what has been opposed ? May I not say, conjecture and inference alone? Conjecture, I admit, very ingeniously suggefted, and inference very subtilly extracted; but weighing no thing against what is equivalent to positive evidence. Reed.

Vol. XII. P. 184. Second PART OF KING HENRY IV.

- for thin drink doth so over-cool their blood, and making many fish meals, that they fall into a kind of male green-fickness, and then when they marry, they get wenches.] This ludicrous remark is gravely and seriously introduced by Hippocrates in his Treatise on Diet, (Lib. I. $ 20,) “ and it is observed," says Dr. Falconer, “ in many parts of the East Indies at this day, where they drink no wine, that the number of women exceeds that of men very considerably." Falconer on the Influs ence of Climate, &c. 4to. p. 248. REED.

Vol. XVI. P. 267. JULIUS CÆSAR.

He had a fever when he was in Spain.] This passage Dr. Falconer observes is a true copy from nature, and shows how an ague may produce cowardice, even in Cæsar himself. Falconer on the Influence of Climate, &c. 4to. p. 163. Reed.

IBID. P. 352. Add to note :

Since writing this note I have met with several instances which satisfy me of the truth of Mr. Malone's observation. I thereo fore retract my doubt on this subject. Reed. Vol. XIX. P. 296. OTHELLO. Add to note 4:

Coloquyntida," says Bullein, in his Bulwark of Defence, 1579, is most bitter, white like a baule, full of seedes, leaves lyke to cucummers, hoat in the second, dry in the third degree.” He then gives directions for the application of it, and concludes, «. and thus 1 do end of coloquyntida, which is most bitter, and must be taken with discretion. The Arabians do call it chandell."

REED,

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