[224] The three kings of Cologne are supposed to have been the wise men who travelled unto our Saviour by the direction of the star. To these kings several writers have given the names of Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar; but Sir Thomas Browne, in his "Vulgar Errors," has a whole chapter concerning them, in which he doubts all the principal facts in the account of them. See B. vii., c. 8. The celebrated Thomas Coryat, when at Cologne, took some pains to collect many circumstances relative to these kings, with which he hath filled several pages of his book; and to which those who are desirous of further information on the subject must be referred. [225] Two. [226] A crowd is a small fiddle. Hence the name of _Crowdero_, in Hudibras. _Crowded_ means--made a musical noise.--_S._ [227] This oath occurs again, act v., sc. 2-- "Yet shall ye find no other wight save she, _by bread and salt_." From the following passage, in Nash's "Lenten Stuff," 1599, it may be inferred that it was once customary to eat _bread and salt_ previous to the taking an oath: "Venus, for Hero was her Priest, and Juno Lucina the Midwife's Goddess, for she was now quickened, and cast away by the cruelty of Æolus, took _bread and salt_, and eat it, that they would be smartly revenged on that truculent, windy jailor," &c. [228] [Brat.] [229] Counsel or advice. So in act iv., sc. 2-- "Therefore I _reed_ you three, go hence and within keep close." Again-- "Well, if ye will be ordered and do by my _reed_." Again, act v., sc. 2-- "And where ye sat, he said full certain, if I would follow his _reed_." Again, in Erasmus's "Praise of Folie," by Chaloner, sig. D 3: "Vnles perchaunce some would chuse suche a souldiour as was Demosthenes, who folowying Archilocus the poetes _rede_, scarse lookynge his enemies in the face, threw downe his shelde and ranne awaie, as cowardly a warriour as he was a wyse oratour." The old version of the singing Psalms also begins in this manner-- "The man is blest that hath not bent To wicked _rede_ his ear." [230] _i.e._, Gladly know. So in Shakpeare's "Antony and Cleopatra," act i., sc. 1-- "In which I bind, On pain of punishment, the world to _weete_, We stand up peerless." The [form] _weet_ is also used by Spenser and Fairfax.