Chapter LXVIII: Act II: SCENE 1. Page 39

ELL. His mother shames him so, poor boy, he weeps.

CONST. Now shame upon you, whether _she_ does, or no!

Mr. Ritson proposes to read, _whether_ he _does or no_! i. e. _whether he weeps or not_; and he adds that Constance, so far from admitting, expressly denies that she shames him. It may be answered, that this reading is _equally_ objectionable; for Constance admits also that her son wept. In either case there is ambiguity; but the words as they stand are infinitely more natural, and even defensible, according to common usage.

SCENE 1. Page 44.

K. JOHN. Have brought a _countercheck_ before your gates.

Mr. Steevens thinks this one of the _old_ terms used at chess, but none such occurs in any of the treatises on that game. It is presumed to be simply a military word. Thus the Bastard afterwards asks, "shall a silken wanton brave our fields and find no _check_?" and we still say, "the enemy has received a _check_."

SCENE 1. Page 47.

K. PHI. Command the rest to stand.--_God, and our right_!

An English motto is here improperly put into the mouth of a Frenchman. Richard the First is said to have originally used DIEU ET MON DROIT.

SCENE 2. Page 64.

K. PHI. ... Young princes close your hands

AUST. _And your lips too_; for, I am well assur'd,
That I did so, when I was first assur'd.

The kiss was a part of the ceremony of affiancing. Thus in _Twelfth night_:

"A contract of eternal bond of love,
Attested by the _holy close of lips_."

See the note in page 67.