[111a] It is a pity that the old divines should have indulged, as they often did, in such images as this. Some readers in search of argumentative subtility, some in search of sound Christianity, some in search of pure English undefiled, have gone through with them; and their labours (however heavy) have been well repaid.
[124a] Tilley valley was the favourite adjuration of James the Second. It appears in the comedies of Shakspeare.
[133a] Whoreson, if we may hazard a conjecture, means the son of a woman of ill-repute. In this we are borne out by the context. It appears to have escaped the commentators on Shakspeare.
Whoreson, a word of frequent occurrence in the comedies; more rarely found in the tragedies. Although now obsolete, the expression proves that there were (or were believed to be) such persons formerly.
The Editor is indebted to two learned friends for these two remarks, which appear no less just than ingenious.
[153a] Belly-ache, a disorder once not uncommon in England. Even the name is now almost forgotten; yet the elder of us may remember at least the report of it, and some, perhaps, even the complaint itself, in our school-days. It usually broke out about the cherry season; and in some cases made its appearance again at the first nutting.
[157a] Sir Thomas borrowed this expression from Spenser, who thus calls Queen Elizabeth.
[159a] Humboldt notices this.
[164a] Pragmatical here means only precise.
[181a] It is doubtful whether Doctor Buckland will agree with Sir Thomas that these petrifactions are ram’s-horns and lampreys.