523. _the croune_, i. e. the crown of each man's head; alluding to the
tonsure. It means, do not spoil the tonsure on their crowns, but break
their legs and arms.
531. _cold reed_, cold counsel, unprofitable counsel. So in Chaucer, Nonne
Prestes Tale, B. 4446; see the note. So Shakespeare has '_colder_ tidings';
Rich. III, iv. 4. 536. Cf. l. 759 below.