Notes and Queries, Number 64, January 18, 1851

CONTENTS.
In my last communication on the subject of Henry VIII. , I referred to certain characteristic tricks of Fletcher's style of frequent occurrence in that play, and I now beg leave to furnish you with a few instances. I wish it, however, to be understood, that I advance these merely as illustrative specimens selected at random; as there is scarcely a line of the portions of the play I assume to be Fletcher's but would furnish some evidence to a diligent student of this writer's style: and that, although I think each separate instance as strongly characteristic of Fletcher as it is unlike Shakspeare, it is only in their aggregate number that I insist upon their importance.
The first instance to which I call attention is the use of the substantive one in a manner which, though not very uncommon, is used by no writer so frequently as Fletcher. Take the following:—
So great ones. — Woman's Prize , II. 2.
And yet his songs are sad ones. — Two Noble Kinsmen , II. 4.
and the title of the play, The False One .
Compare with these from Henry VIII. :—
This night he make a supper, and a great one. —Act I. 3.
Shrewd ones. — Lame ones. — so great ones. — Ibid.
I had my trial,
And must needs say a noble one. —Act II. 1.