show. As examples merely, and to show
the possible change in sense made by a
single wrong letter, I will quote one or
two instances:--

`Were they not _forc'd_ with those that should be ours,
We might have met them darefull, beard to beard.'
_Macbeth_, v. 5.[9]


[9] Collier's MS. corrector substituted _farc'd_ for _forc'd_.


The word _forced_ should be read _farced_,
the letter _o_ having evidently dropped
down into _a_ box. The enemy's ranks
were not _forced_ with Macbeth's followers,
but _farced_ or filled up. In Murrell's
_Cookery_, 1632, this identical word is used
several times; we there see that a
farced leg of mutton was when the meat
was all taken out of the skin, mixed with
herbs, etc., and then the skin filled up
again.

`I come to thee for charitable license . . .