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Richard the Third livery.' The Quarto reading here is more obvious, but feebler.

The jealous o'erworn widow. Elizabeth Woodville was born in 1437, so that her age at this time would be at least about forty. She had been married before she became Edward's wife, a fact which seems to intensify Richard's hate. Cf. line 92 below, which does not confirm the accusation of jealousy.

an 't. Pope's modernization has been followed in preference to the 'and' of the early editions.

abjects. 'outcasts,' the more usual sense, is perhaps the meaning here. Cf. also Henry VIII. I. i. 126, 127: 'and his eye revil'd Me, as his abject object.'

widow. The word is used contemptuously, as in 81 above. I.e. the Widow Grey, whom King Edward IV has taken to wife.

lie for you. With probably a quibble on the other meaning of 'lie.'

play. The reading of the Quarto is 'prey.'

Saint John. Quarto, 'Saint Paul.' Elsewhere in the play Richard's favorite oath is by Saint Paul.

Anne. The historical Lady Anne did not attend Henry VI's funeral; and the dialogue between her and Richard is Shakespeare's invention. 'The dead corps, on the Ascension euen [May 22, 1471], was conueied with billes and glaues pompouslie from the Tower to the church of saint Paule, and there, laid on a beire or coffen bare faced, the same in presence of the beholders did bleed: where it rested the space of one whole daie. From thense he was caried to the Blackfriers : and, on the next daie after, it was conueied in a boat vnto the monas-