There was a play first printed in 1600, under the title of "The Weakest goeth to the Wall," the plot of which is taken with much servility from B. Rich's "Farewell to the Militarie Profession," 1581 and 1606, which book also furnished Shakespeare with the plot of his "Twelfth Night."—Collier.
[147] Fine.
[148] See Mr Collins's note to "Troilus and Cressida," [or Dyce's "Shakespeare Glossary," art. Potato.]
[149] "Skirret, Sisarum, quasi skirwort, i.e., sisar-wort. Tiberii Aug. deliciæ: credo potius a Belg. suycker-wortel, idem signante...."—Skinner. Compare Hofman and C. Plinii "Nat. Hist." lib. xix. c. 5.
[150] [An old form of] hangs. See the Glossary to Douglas's "Virgil," voce Hingare [or Halliwell's "Dict." in v.]
[151] The magnet, for in Kent they call the ironstone mine, quasi mineral.—Pegge.
[152] [Martial.]
[153] i.e., Prove defective, fail in my strength: defailler, Fr.—Steevens.
[154] [Edits., army; but the king would scarcely bring an army to such an encounter, even a stage-army.]
[155] When the combat was demanded and allowed, it was the custom for each party to take an oath to the following purport, viz., "that they had not brought into the lists other armour or weapon than was allowed, neither any engine, instrument, herbe, charm, or enchantment, and that neither of them should put affiance or trust in anything other than God and their own valours, as God and the holy Evangelists should help them."—Segar's "Honour Military, &c.," p. 134.