was made a Knight of the Carpet, at Westminster, on the 2d of October, 1553, the day after Queen Mary's coronation: and I met with a list of all who were made so at the same time, in Strype's Memorials, vol. iii. Appendix, p. 11. See Anstis's Observations on the Knighthood of the Bath (Lond. 172%), p. 50. Upon the accession of "Queen Mary to the throne, a commission was "granted to the earl of Arundel, empowering him to "make knights, but WITHOUT any additional title, "within two days after the date of that patent: which "" were the two days preceding her coronation. In " pursuance hereof, we find the names of the knights "created by him, according to the stated form of "creating knights of the Bath; and the variety of the "ceremonies used, so distinctly related, that it parti"cularly deserves to be consulted in the appendix." So that Mr. Anstis plainly considers them as being only a species of Knights of the Bath, though without any additional title. If so, the appellation of Knights of the Carpet might be only popular; not their strict or proper title. This, however, was sufficient to induce Shakspeare (who wrote whilst they were commonly spoken of by such an appellation) to use that term in contrast to a knighthood conferred upon a real soldier, as a reward of military valour. For this valuable note I am happy to confess my obligations to JAMES BURROW, Esq. of the Temple, F. R. S. and F. S. A. Greene uses the term-Carpet knights, in contempt of those of whom he is speaking; and in The Downfal of Robert Earl of Huntington, 1601, it is employed for the same purpose: "soldiers, come away; "This Carpet-knight sits carping at our scars." STEEVENS. 52 —I have not seen such a virago.] Virago cannot. be properly used here, unless we suppose Sir Toby to mean, I never saw one who had so much the look of woman, with the prowess of man. JOHNSON. 53 —o'erflourish'd by the devil.] In the time of Shakspeare, trunks, which are now deposited in lumberrooms, or other obscure places, were part of the furniture of apartments in which company was received. I have seen more than one of these, as old as the time of our poet. They were richly ornamented on the tops and sides with scroll work, emblematical devices, &c. and were elevated on feet. STEEVENS. 54 I am afraid this great lubber the world will prove a cockney.] That is, affectation and foppery will overspread the world. JOHNSON. 55 In this uncivil and unjust extent] Extent is, in law, a writ of execution, whereby goods are seized for the king. It is therefore taken here for violence in general. JOHNSON. 56-bay-windows-] A bay-window is the same as a bow-window; a window in a recess, or bay. The following instances may support the supposition: "We are simply stock'd, with cloth of tissue " cushions "To furnish out bay-windows." Chaste Maid in Cheap-side, 1620. So in Cinthia's Revels by B. Jonson, 1601. -"retiring myself into a bay-window, &c." Again, Stowe's Chronicle of Hen. IV. "As Tho. Montague rested him at a bay window, a gun was levell'd, &c." So in a small black-letter book, entitled, Beware the Cat, 1594, written by Maister Streamer: "I was lodged in a chamber, which had a faire bay-window opening into the garden." So in Haywood the Epigrammist : " All Newgate windowes, bay-windows they be, "All lookers out there stand at bay we see." STEEVENS. 57 —I am for all waters.] A phrase taken from the actor's ability of making the audience cry either with mirth or grief. WARBURTON. I rather think this expression borrowed from sportsmen, and relating to the qualifications of a complete spaniel. JOHNSON. A cloak for all kinds of knavery; taken from the Italian proverb, Tu hai mantillo da ogni acqua. SMITH. I am rather of the opinion of Mason and Mr. Henley that the Clown here means by waters, the colour of the different precious stones. "I have played Sir Topas well, you say; I can play any other part, or a stone of any other water, just as much to advantage." 58 Maintain no words with him,] Here the Clown in the dark acts two persons, and counterfeits, by variation of voice, a dialogue between himself and Sir Topas.-I will, sir, I will, is spoken after a pause, as if, in the mean time, Sir Topas had whispered. JOHNSON. 59 Like to the old vice,] Vice was the fool of the old Moralities. Some traces of this character are still preserved in puppet-shows, and by country mummers. JOHNSON. This character was always acted in a mask; it probably had its name from the old French word vis, for which they now use visage, though they still retain it in vis à vis, which is, literally, face to face. STEEVENS. 60-interchangement of your rings;] In former days the wife gave also a ring to the husband, in the celebration of marriage. 61 -case?] Case is a word used contemptuously for skin. We yet talk of a fox case, meaning the stuffed skin of a fox. 62 JOHNSON. -a pavin,] This dance is mentioned by Beaumont and Fletcher in the Mad Lover: "I'll pipe him such a pavan." And in Stephen Gosson's Schoole of Abuse, containing a pleasaunt invective against Poets, Pipers, &c. 1579, it is enumerated, as follows, among other dances: |