Folk-lore of Shakespeare Part 113

WAR-CRY. "_G.o.d and Saint George!_"-the common cry of the English soldier when he charged the enemy. "Richard III." (v. 3). The author of the "Old Arte of Warre," printed in the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's reign, formally enjoins the use of this cry among his military laws (p. 84): "Item. That all souldiers entring into battaile, a.s.saulte, skirmishe, or other faction of armes, shall have for their common cry-word, 'Saint George, forward, or upon them, Saint George!' whereby the souldier is much comforted to minde the ancient valour of England, which with that name has been so often victorious; and therefore he who upon any sinister zeale shall maliciously omit so fortunate a name, shall be severely punished for his obstinate, erroneous heart and perverse mind."

"_Havoc!_" To cry "havoc" appears to have been a signal for indiscriminate slaughter. The expression occurs in "King John" (ii. 1): "Cry havoc, kings!" In "Coriola.n.u.s" Menenius says (iii. 1):

"Do not cry havoc, where you should but hunt With modest warrant."

And in "Julius Caesar" (iii. 1):

"Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war."

"_Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!_" This was the ancient cry of the English troops when they charged the enemy. It occurs where the conspirators kill Coriola.n.u.s (v. 6).

_Leet-Ale._ This was the dinner provided for the jury and customary tenants at the court-leet of a manor, or "view of frank-pledge,"

formerly held once or twice a year, before the steward of the leet.[991]

To this court Shakespeare alludes in the "Taming of the Shrew" (i. 2), where the servant tells Sly that in his dream he would "rail upon the hostess of the house," and threaten to "present her at the leet."

[991] See page 312.

Aubrey, in his MS. History of Wilts.h.i.+re, 1678, tells us, too, how "in the Easter holidays was the Clerk's ale for his private benefit, and the solace of the neighbourhood."