Enter NORTHUMBERLAND. Welcome, my Lord: What is the news? The next news is, I have to London sent The manner of their taking may appear [Presenting a paper. Boling. We thank thee, gentle Percy, for thy pains; And to thy worth will add right worthy gains. Enter FITZWATER. Fitz. My Lord, I have from Oxford sent to The heads of Brocas, and Sir Bennet Seely; Right noble is thy merit, well I wot. Enter PERCY, with the Bishop of Carlisle. Percy. The grand conspirator, Abbot of West- With clog of conscience, and sour melancholy, Thy kingly doom, and sentence of his bride. More than thou hast, and with it joy thy life; So, as thou liv'st in peace, die free from strife: For though mine enemy thou hast ever been, High sparks of honour in thee have I seen. Enter EXTON, with Attendants bearing a coffin, Exton. Great King, within this coffin I present A deed of slander, with thy fatal hand, Boling. They love not poison that do poison need, Nor do I thee; though I did wish him dead, To wash this blood off from my guilty hand: March sadly after; grace my mournings here, In weeping after this untimely bier, [Exeunt, SELECTION OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NOTES EXTRACTED FROM THE BEST COMMENTATORS TO THE PLAYS OF WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE. VOLUME VIII. NOTES TO KING JOH N. ** The Troublesome Reign of King John was written in two parts, by W. Shakspeare and W. Rowley, and printed 1611. But the present play is entirely different, and infinitely superior to it. POPE. The edition of 1611 has no mention of Rowley, nor in the account of Rowley's works is any mention made of his conjunction with Shakspeare in any play. King John was reprinted in two parts in 1622. The first edition that I have found of this play in its present form, is that of 1623, in folio. The edition of 1591 I have not seen. JOHNSON. Dr. Johnson mistakes when he says there is no mention in Rowley's works of any conjunction with, Shakspeare. The Birth of Merlin is ascribed to them jointly; though I cannot believe Shakspeare had any thing to do with it. Mr. Capell is equally mistaken when he says (Pref. p. 15.) that Rowley is called his partner in the title-page of The Merry Devil of Edmonton. There must have been some tradition, however erroneous, upon which Mr. Pope's account |