[158] [Old copy, your.]

[159] [In the old copy this direction is unnecessarily repeated in detail.]

[160] [The direction inserted on p. 107 is repeated in full in the 4to.]

[161] This is in some sort a parody upon the well-known proverb, which is thus given by Ray—­

    “Many talk of Robin Hood, that never shot in his bow,
     And many talk of Little John, that never did him know.”

It is also found in Camden’s “Remains,” by Philpot, 1636, p. 302, though the two lines, obviously connected in sense, are there separated. [See also Hazlitt’s “Proverbs,” 1869, p. 276.]

[162] This sort of verse, from the frequent use of it made by Skelton in his poems, acquired the name of Skeltonic or Skeltonical.  According to the manner in which the poet’s character is drawn, he could not avoid falling into the use of it, even out of its place, in the course of the play; and of this a singular instance is given after the capture and discovery of Ely, when Sir John Eltham, in one of the interlocutions, complains of Skelton that in performing the part of Friar Tuck he fell—­

                       “Into the vein
    Of ribble-rabble rhimes Skeltonical.”

In 1589 was published a tract with the following curious title—­

“A Skeltonical salutation,
Or condigne gratulation,
And just vexation
Of the Spanish nation;
That in bravado
Spent many a crusado
In setting forth an Armado
England to invado.”

The whole piece is in this kind of verse.  A copy of it is in the British Museum.

Puttenham, speaking of poetry of this sort, says:  “Such were the rimes of Skelton (usurping the name of Poet Laureat), being in deede but a rude, rayling rimer, and all his doings ridiculous; he used both short distances and short measures, pleasing onely to the popular eare; in our courtly maker we banish them utterly.”—­Arte of English Poesie, 1589, p. 69.

[163] Matilda is here, and elsewhere, called Marian, before in fact she takes that name; and after she has assumed it, in the course of the play she is frequently called Matilda.

[164] [Old copy, Into.]

[165] Jest is used in the same sense in “The Spanish Tragedy,” act i., where the king exclaims—­

    “But where is old Hieronimo, our marshal? 
    He promis’d us, in honour of our guest,
    To grace our banquet with some pompous jest.”

Dr Farmer, in reference to the line in “Richard II., act i. sc. 3—­

    “As gentle and as jocund as to jest,”

quotes the above passage from “The Spanish Tragedy” to show that to jest, “in old language, means to play a part in a mask.”

[166] [Old copy, my.]

[167] [Old copy, place.]