Illustrations of Shakspeare, and of Ancient Manners: / with Dissertations on the Clowns and Fools of Shakspeare; on a Collection of Popular Tales Entitled Gesta Romanorum; and on the English Morris dance.

by Francis Douce

[KING JOHN.]

ACT I.

Scene 1. Page 19.

Bast. Good den, sir Richard.

See former note, p. [139].

Scene 1. Page 26.

Bast. ... Basilisco like.

This braggadocio character must have been very popular, as his oaths became proverbial. Thus in Fennor's Compter's commonwealth, 1617, 4to, we have, "three-pil'd, huge Basilisco oaths that would have torn a roring-boyes eares in a thousand shatters."

ACT II.

Scene 1. Page 39.