No More Learning

I have no doubt that the
'Chronicle,' of which Merecraft speaks, is Hall's, and the passage
the following: 'It semeth to many men, that the name and title of
Gloucester, hath been vnfortunate and vnluckie to diuerse, whiche
for their honor, haue been erected by creacion of princes, to that
stile and dignitie, as Hugh Spencer, Thomas of Woodstocke, sonne to
kyng Edward the third, and this duke Humfrey, which thre persones,
by miserable death finished their daies, and after them kyng Richard
the iii. also, duke of Gloucester, in ciuill warre was slaine and
confounded: so y^t this name of Gloucester, is take for an vnhappie
and vnfortunate stile, as the prouerbe speaketh of Seianes horse,
whose rider was euer unhorsed, and whose possessor was euer brought to
miserie. ' Hall's _Chronicle_, ed. 1809, pp. 209-10. The passage in 'the
Play-bookes' which Jonson satirizes is at the close of _3 Henry VI. _ 2.
6:

_Edw. _ Richard, I will create thee Duke of Gloucester,
And George, of Clarence: Warwick, as ourself,
Shall do and undo as him pleaseth best.
_Rich. _ Let me be Duke of Clarence, George of Gloucester;
For Gloucester's dukedom is too ominous.

The last line, of course, corresponds to the _'Tis fatal_ of
Fitzdottrel. Furthermore it may be observed that Thomas of
Woodstock's death at Calais is referred to in Shakespeare's _K.
Rich. II.
_; Duke Humphrey appears in _2 Henry IV. _; _Henry V. _;
and _1_ and _2 Henry VI. _; and Richard III. in _2_ and _3 Henry
VI. _ and _K. Rich. III. _ _3 Henry VI. _ is probably, however, not
of Shakespearean authorship.

=2. 4. 15 a noble house. = See Introduction, p. lxxiv.

=2.