Page:The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778).djvu/328

[ 312 ] ion, contained in any of the lines in praie of the queen, inconitent with the idea of the whole of the panegyrick on hcr having been compoed in her life-time.

In further confirmation of what has been here advanced to hew that this play was probably written while queen Elizabeth was yet alive, it may be oberved, (to ue the words of an anonymous writer ,) that “ Shakpeare has cat the diagreeable parts of her father’s character as much into hade as poSS undefinedible; that he has repreented him as greatly dipleaed with the grievances of his ubjefts, and ordering them to be relieved; tender and obliging [in the early part of the play] to his queen, grateful to the cardinal, and in the cae of Cranmer, capable of ditinguihing and rewarding true merit.” “ He has exerted (adds the ame author) an equal degree of complaiance, by the amiable lights in which he has hewn the mother of Elizabeth. Anne Bullen is repreented as affected with the mot tender concern for the ufferings of her mitres, queen Catherine; receiving the honour the king confers on her, by making her marchiones of Pembroke, with a graceful humility; and more anxious to conceal her advancement from the queen, let it hould aggravate her orrows, than ollicitous to penetrate into the meaning of o extraordinary a favour, or of indulging herelf in the flattering propect of future royalty.”

It is unneceSS undefinedary to quote particular paSS undefinedages in upport of thee aSS undefinedertions; but the following lines which are poken of Anne Boleyn by the Lord Chamberlain, appear to me o evidently calculated for the ear of Elizabeth, (to whom uch incene was by no means dipleaing) that I cannot forbear to trancribe them:— “ I have perued her well; “ Beauty and honour are in her o mingled, “ That they have caught the king: and who knows yet, “ But from this Lady may proceed a gem, “ To lighten all this ile.”

The Globe play-houe, we are told by the continuator of Stowe’s Chronicle, was burnt down, on St. Peter’s day. In the year 1613, while the play of K. Henry VIII. was exhibiting. Sir Henry Wotton, (as Mr. Tyrwhitt has oberved) ays in one of his letters, that this accident happen-