[288:A] For specimens of the doggrel verse which preceded and accompanied the era of the Comedy of Errors, see Reed's Shakspeare, vol. xx. pp. 462, 463.
[288:B] The addition of the twin servants to their twin masters, doubles the improbability, while it adds to the fund of entertainment.
[289:A] Reed's Shakspeare, vol. ii. p. 262.
[290:A] Reed's Shakspeare, vol. ii. p. 264.
[291:A] Vide Chalmers's Supplemental Apology, pp. 281, 282.; and Douce's Illustrations, vol. i. p. 238.
[291:B] Vol. i. p. 498-9, edit. 1598.
[291:C] Reed's Shakspeare, vol. vii. p. 151. note; and Chalmers's Supplemental Apology, p. 283.
[292:A] Vide Reed's Shakspeare, vol. iii. p. 355. note.
[293:A] An Essay on the Dramatic Character of Sir John Falstaff. 8vo. 1777, p. 49.
[293:B] Reed's Shakspeare, vol. ii. p. 241.—It is conjectured by Mr. Malone, that Shakspeare, for the advantage of his own theatre, having written a few lines in The First Part of King Henry VI., after his own Second and Third Part had been played, the editors of the first Folio conceived this a sufficient warrant for attributing it, along with the others, to him, in the general collection of his works. Vol. xiv. p. 259. His prior supposition, however, "that they gave it a place as a necessary introduction to the two other parts," especially if we consider the great popularity which it had enjoyed, and the general ignorance of the audience in historical lore, will sufficiently account, in those lax times of literary appropriation, for its insertion and attribution.