ither to establish or refute. It may, however, not be
unnecessary to mention that Cromwell was born in 1599, and the first
edition of this play [was printed in 1607, and the play itself written
much earlier]. If, therefore, the Protector ever did represent this
character, it is more probable to have been at Huntingdon School.

[183] [Old copies, _scarve_, and so the edit. of 1780. Mr Collier
substituted _change_ as the reading of the old copies, which it is not.
See Mr Brae's paper read before the Royal Society of Literature, Jan.
1871, 8vo edit. 1873, p. 23, et seq.]

[184] Edits., _deeds_. Pegge thought that by _deeds_ was intended Tactus
himself; but it is hard to say how this could be made out, as Tactus
cannot be translated _deeds_, though Auditus might be rendered by
metonymy _ears_.

[185] [Edit., _fear'd_.]

[186] In Surphlet's "Discourses on the Diseases of Melancholy," 4to,
1599, p. 102, the case alluded to is set down: "There was also of late a
great lord, _which thought himselfe to be a glasse_, and had not his
imagination troubled, otherwise then in this onely thing, for he could
speake mervailouslie well of any other thing: he used commonly to sit,
and tooke great delight that his friends should come and see him, but so
as that he would desire them, that they would not come neere unto him."

[187] Hitherto misprinted _conclaves_.--_Collier_. [First 4to,
correctly, _concaves_.]

[188] See Surphlet, p. 102.

[189] [An allusion to the myth of the werewolf.]

[190] [This proverb is cited by Heywood. See Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869,
p. 392.]

[191] [All the editions except 1657, _bidden_, and all have _arms_ for
_harms_.]

[192] Presently, forthwith.

[193] [Edits., _wax_.]

[194] Some of the old copies [including that of 1607] read--

"Here lies the sense that _lying_ gull'd them all."

--_Collier_.

[195] Auditus is here called _Ears_, as Tactus is before called
_Deed_.--_Pegge_. [But see note at p. 349.]

[196] Circles. So in Milton--

"Throws his steep flight in many an airy wheel."

--_Steevens_.

[197] [It is _Mendacio_ who speaks.]

[198] Old copies, _Egyptian knights_. Dr Pegge's correction.

[199] [Edits., _I_.]

[200] [Edits., _safe_.]

[201] A pun; for he means _Male aeger_.--_Pegge_.

[202] The [first edit.] gives the passage thus: _brandish no swords but
sweards of bacon_, which is intended for a pun, and though bad enough,
need not be lost.--_Collier_.

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