Part 38
_and_] i. e. if.
# 974:
_braver_] i. e. more richly clad.
# 975:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 976:
_Hellgill_] Old eds. “Lethes Pandar:” his name, as we find afterwards, is Dick Hellgill.
# 977:
_thrummed_] Seems here to mean thatched: the father of the Country Wench, speaking of her (act ii. sc. 2), says,
“O, if she knew The dangers that attend on women’s lives, She’d rather lodge under a poor _thatch’d roof_” &c.
_Thrum_ is, properly, the tuft at the end of the warp in weaving.
# 978:
_a loose-bodied gown_] Is frequently mentioned as a common dress of courtesans: so Taylor, the water-poet;
“Her _loose gowne_, for her looser body fit.” _A Whore_, p. 111.—_Workes_, 1630.
# 979:
_bums_] i. e., perhaps, _bum-rolls_: “The ladies also extended their garments from the hips with foxes’ tails and _bum-rolls_ [stuffed cushions],” &c.—Strutt’s _Dress and Habits_, &c. vol. ii. p. 259.
# 980:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 981:
_deny_] i. e. refuse.
# 982:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 983:
_thing_] So ed. 1630. First ed. “things.”
# 984:
_most_] i. e. greatest,—thorough.
# 985:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 986:
_pants_] “Qy. haunts?” says a friend; but I believe the text is right: for the sake of the rhyme, _pants_ is used in the forced sense of—breathes, exists, dwells.
# 987:
_lie_] Old eds. “lyes.”
# 988:
_An Ordinary_] In Middleton’s days (and, I believe, long after,) gambling was carried on at ordinaries. The place of action is not marked in the old eds.
# 989:
_impressure_] Old eds. “impressier.”
# 990:
_skills_] i. e. signifies.
# 991:
_angels_] See note, p. 250.
# 992:
_wears a smock_] Equivalent, I believe, to—is a knave: “the answer of a mad fellowe to his mistresse, who being called knaue by her, replied that it was not possible, for, said he, if you remember yourselfe, good mistresse, this is leape yeare, and then, as you know well, knaues _weare smockes_.”—_Treatise against Jud. Astrol._, &c., by J. Chamber, 1601, p. 113. Compare too vol. iii. p. 81.
# 993:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 994:
_will_] i. e. desire.
# 995:
_knew_] Old eds. “know.”
# 996:
_the Standard_] Of the Standard in Cheapside, which John Wells, mayor in the year 1430, first “caused to be made with a small cistern with fresh water,” &c., an ample account will be found in Stow’s _Survey of London_, b. iii. p. 34, ed. 1720.
# 997:
_Push_] See note, p. 29.
# 998:
_vild_] i. e. vile: see note, p. 94.
# 999:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 1000:
_Push_] See note, p. 29.
# 1001:
_inward_] i. e. intimate.
# 1002:
_beholding_] Is often used for _beholden_ by our early writers.
# 1003:
_slight_] i. e. contrivance, artifice.
# 1004:
_She’d_] Old eds. “She would.”
# 1005:
_keeps_] i. e. dwells.
# 1006:
_fond_] i. e. foolish.
# 1007:
_Thomasine_] Here, and in a subsequent stage- direction, the old eds. designate her “_Quomodoes Wife_,” but in all the other stage-directions, and in all the prefixes to her speeches, “_Thomasine_.”
# 1008:
_look_] Old eds. “lookes.”
# 1009:
_a cast of manchets_] i. e. a couple of small loaves, or rolls, of fine white bread. “A _cast_ of hawks” (a not unfrequent expression) occurs in our author’s _Spanish Gipsy_, act ii., scene 2.
# 1010:
_a custard_] Appears, from several passages in our old writers, to have been a common love-present.
# 1011:
_aunt_] i. e. procuress—in which sense the word often occurs.
# 1012:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 1013:
_sir-reverence_] See note, p. 171.
# 1014:
_my shop is not altogether so dark_, &c.] See note, p. 482.
# 1015:
_cloth_] i. e. hangings.
# 1016:
_virginals_] See note, p. 278.
# 1017:
_Retires_] Old eds. “Exit:” but presently, when called by Quomodo, he replies, “I’m ne’er out a’ the shop, sir.”
# 1018:
_what lack you_] Was the constant address of shopkeepers to customers. In 1628, Alexander Gill was brought before the council for saying, among other things, that the king was only fit to stand in a shop and cry _what do you lack?_
# 1019:
_inward_] i. e. intimate acquaintance.
# 1020:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 1021:
_bedfellow_] It was formerly common for men (even those of the highest rank) to sleep together; and the custom was still prevalent in the time of Cromwell: see the notes of Steevens and Malone on Shakespeare’s _Henry V._ act ii. sc. 2; and Clarendon’s _Hist. of the Rebellion_, vol. vii. p. 34, ed. 1826.
# 1022:
_Gum_] Old eds. here, and afterwards in this scene, “Goome:” but see p. 437.
# 1023:
_walk_] i. e. depart.
# 1024:
_Brainford_] A common corruption of Brentford.
# 1025:
_take up a commodity of cloth_] Many passages in our early writers might be cited to shew how common a custom it was for needy gallants to take up _commodities_, i. e. wares which they were to convert into ready money. Brown paper (which Quomodo presently mentions,) was an article frequently taken up; see Steevens’s note on Shakespeare’s _Measure for Measure_, act iv. sc. 3; and ginger, pins, packthread, &c. &c., are also found in the strange list of _commodities_.
# 1026:
_grow diseased_] i. e. become uneasy.
# 1027:
_i-wis_] i. e. certainly, truly. There can be no doubt that the word is an adverb.
# 1028:
_foot-cloths_] See note, p. 396.
# 1029:
_take me with you_] i. e. understand me fully.
# 1030:
_where_] i. e. whereas.
# 1031:
_brown paper_] See note, p. 450.
# 1032:
_as late our graceless dames_] The allusion here is probably to the execution of Sir Everard Digby, who, for his share in the gunpowder plot, was drawn, hanged, and quartered, at the west end of St. Paul’s Church, 30th January, 1606: see Stow’s _Annales_, p. 882, ed. 1631.
# 1033:
_wale_] i. e. texture; properly, the ridge of threads.
# 1034:
_quo’_] i. e. quoth.
# 1035:
_wold_] Old eds. “wilde.”
# 1036:
_bedfellow’s_] See note, p. 448.
# 1037:
_price_] Qy. “piece:” see p. 452.
# 1038:
_Push_] See note, p. 29.
# 1039:
_logs yet to keep Christmas with_] The bringing in and burning of the log, a huge piece of fire-wood, was (at least in the country) an important ceremony on Christmas eve. It was lighted with a piece of the last year’s brand: see the poem entitled _Ceremonies for Christmasse_ in Herrick’s _Hesperides_, p. 309, ed. 1648.
# 1040:
_Poultry and Wood-street_] See note, p. 392.
# 1041:
_before_] Old eds. “_with the cloath_:” but see his first speech as Idem, p. 460.
# 1042:
_he_] i. e. Quomodo: so ed. 1630. First ed. “we.”
# 1043:
_a proper springall_] i. e. a handsome youth. Old eds. “_a proper_, springfull.”
# 1044:
_What do ye lack_] See note, p. 447.
# 1045:
_he_] i. e. he who.
# 1046:
To her speeches in this scene, and in all the subsequent scenes where she appears, is prefixed “_Curt._” i. e. courtesan; and in the stage-directions after this scene, she is called “_Courtesan_” or “_Harlot_.”
# 1047:
_the tailor points it_] When this play was written, women’s gowns were usually made by men.
# 1048:
_tirewoman_] i. e. cap-maker, milliner.
# 1049:
_Hellgill’s Servant_] Old eds. “One.”
# 1050:
_toy_] See note, p. 378.
# 1051:
_Fath._] Old eds. “Sho.”
# 1052:
_risse_] i. e. risen.—Ed. 1630, “rissen:” but the other form frequently occurs.
# 1053:
_and_] Old eds. “_and_ a.”
# 1054:
_Clubs, clubs_] Was the cry which called forth the London apprentices when any fray arose.
# 1055:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 1056:
_Byrlady_] See note, p. 365.
# 1057:
_mother_] See note, p. 186.
# 1058:
_aloof off_] See note, p. 427.
# 1059:
_merely_] i. e. absolutely.
# 1060:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 1061:
_cast of manchets_, &c.] See notes, p. 444.
# 1062:
_aunt_] See note, p. 444.
# 1063:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 1064:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 1065:
_banes_] i. e. bans.
“Whenere my heart Love’s warmth but entertaines, O Frost! O Snow! O Haile forbid the _Banes_.” HERRICK’s _Hesperides_, p. 42. ed. 1648.
# 1066:
_likes_] i. e. pleases.
# 1067:
_in Paul’s_] See note, p. 418.
# 1068:
_spirits_] See note, p. 421.
# 1069:
_a warning-piece_] So old eds.: but qy. “a warning: peace!”
# 1070:
_know_] So ed. 1630.—First ed. “knew.”
# 1071:
_knew_] Old eds. “know.”
# 1072:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 1073:
_lecher_] Old eds. “leather.”
# 1074:
_a_] So ed. 1630. Not in first ed.
# 1075:
_come_] Old eds. “comes.”
# 1077:
_proceeded in both the counters_] See note, p. 392.
# 1078:
_bachelors_] So ed. 1630.—First ed. “batchler.”
# 1079:
_Much_] See note, p. 257.
# 1080:
_Fal._] Qy. _Easy_?
# 1081:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 1082:
_Easy_] Qy. _Fal._?
# 1083:
_bring_] So ed. 1630.—First ed. “ring.”
# 1084:
_gossip_] i. e. sponsor.
# 1085:
_bands_] Old eds. “bonds:” the words were formerly used indiscriminately: see note, p. 245.
# 1086:
_Byrlady_] See note, p. 365.
# 1087:
_owe_] i. e. own.
# 1088:
_a dark shop’s good for somewhat_] The city tradesmen were frequently twitted about the darkness of their shops. “What should the city do with honesty?... Why are your wares gumm’d; _your shops dark_,” &c.—BROME’s _City Wit_, act i. sc. 1. (_Five New Playes_, 1653.)
# 1089:
_recullisance_] i. e. (I suppose) recognisance: _cullisen_ frequently occurs as a corruption of _cognisance_: see Gifford’s note on B. Jonson’s _Works_, vol. ii. p. 36.
# 1090:
_blue beadles_] The dress formerly worn by beadles was blue: so Taylor, the water-poet;
“The very _blue-coate Beadles_ get their trash By whips and rods, and the fine firking lash.” _Anagrams and Satyrs_, p. 254—_Workes_, 1630.
# 1091:
_as before_] See p. 481.
# 1092:
_bedfellow_] See note, p. 448.
# 1093:
_disguised as before_] See p. 481.—Old eds. “_his disguised spirits_.” see note, p. 421.
# 1094:
_i-wis_] See note, p. 451.
# 1095:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 1096:
_a bow wide_] A term in archery—when the arrow flew a bow-length wide (on one side or other) of the mark.
# 1097:
_let_] i. e. hinderance.
# 1098:
_vild_] See note, p. 94.
# 1099:
_spirits_] See note, p. 421.
# 1100:
_slight_] See note, p. 441.
# 1101:
_I’ll have ’emlopt_, &c.] Something seems to have dropt out before these words.
# 1102:
_laugh and lie down_] See note, p. 269.
# 1103:
_toy_] See note, p. 378.
# 1104:
_beaten_] i. e. trite.
# 1105:
_take on_] i. e. grieve bitterly.
# 1106:
_searchers_] i. e. persons appointed officially to examine bodies, and report the cause of death.
# 1107:
_spirits_] See note, p. 421.
# 1108:
_the great_] i. e. the gross.
# 1109:
_brave_] i. e. richly dressed.
# 1110:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 1111:
Immediately before these exclamations the old eds. have a stage-direction (a warning for the bell-ringer and performers to be in readiness), “_A Bell Toales, a Confused crie within_.” The bell, of course, does not toll till the Boy has been sent to “bid ’em ring out.”
# 1112:
_reap’t_] Old eds. “reape it.”
# 1113:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 1114:
_mought_] i. e. might.
# 1115:
_and_] i. e. if.
# 1116:
_passion_] i. e. sorrow.
# 1117:
_ringing_] See p. 493.
# 1118:
_the hospital boys_] Compare Brome: “He is indeed my brother, and has been one of the true blew _Boyes of the Hospitall; one of the sweet singers to the City Funeralls_ with a two penny loafe under his arme.” _The City Wit_, act iii. sc. 1.—(_Five New Playes_, 1653.)
# 1119:
_censure_] i. e. opinion.
# 1120:
_I’ve_] Old eds. “I have.”
# 1121:
_One_] So ed. 1630. First ed. “Ont.”
# 1122:
_hear_] So ed. 1630. First ed. “feare.”
# 1123:
_lewd_] i. e. vile, base.
# 1124:
_A coffin brought in_, &c.] The stage-direction in the old eds. is, “_A counterfet Coarse brought in, Tomazin and al the mourners equally counterfeit_:” but we find there (see next page) a subsequent stage-direction, “_Pointing after the_ coffin.”
# 1125:
_T.’s Moth._] The old eds. (which do not mark her entrance) merely prefix “_Moth._” to her speeches.
# 1126:
_cousin_] i. e. kinsman, relation: in Shakespeare, Olivia calls her uncle Toby _cousin_ (_Twelfth Night_); and the king says,
“But now my _cousin_ Hamlet and my son.”
I suspect that the word was sometimes used (and perhaps is so in the present passage) as a familiar address to a person who was not related to the speaker.
# 1127:
_I’ve_] Old eds. “I have.”—The line is the second of a couplet.
# 1128:
_I’ve_] Old eds. “I have.”
# 1129:
_I’ve_] Old eds. “I have.”
# 1130:
_No eye offends us: let this kiss_, &c.] An imperfect couplet: see note, p. 424.
# 1131:
_with writings_] The old eds. add, “_having cousned Sim Quomodo_.”
# 1132:
_I’ve_] Old eds. “I have.”
# 1133:
_Enter Thomasine_, &c.] Old eds. “_Enter Quomodoes wife marryed to Easie_:” see note, p. 443.
# 1134:
_I’ve_] Old eds. here and in the next line but two, “I have.”
# 1135:
_agen_] See note, p. 416.
# 1136:
_Enter Officers_, &c.] The old eds. have no stage- direction here. From the words which presently follow, “This is the other,” it seems that Falselight had been previously taken into custody; and as they both afterwards make their appearance together at the justice’s house, I have thought it best to despatch them thither in company.
# 1137:
_lands_] Old eds. “lands.”
# 1138:
_as before_] See p. 496.
# 1139:
_Saint Antling’s_] For an account of the church and parish so called, see Stow’s _Survey of London_: “First you have the fair Parish Church of St. Anthonines, in Budge Row (more vulgarly known by the name of St. Antlins),” &c.—B. iii. p. 15, &c. ed. 1720.
# 1140:
_byrlady_] See note, p. 365.
# 1141:
_owe_] i. e. own.
# 1142:
_hither_] So ed. 1630. First ed. “thether.”
# 1143:
_beset_] i. e. perplexed, embarrassed.
# 1144:
_Who’s this? ’Tis_] First ed. “_Whose? tis_.” Ed. 1630, “_Whose? this_.”
# 1145:
_Had-land_] Is given as two distinct words in the old eds.: but compare our author’s _Trick to catch the Old One_, act i. sc. 2, where the Host says to Witgood, “what’s the news, bully _Had-land_?”
# 1146:
_Enter Officers_, &c.] The only stage-direction of the old eds. in this scene is, “_Enter Lethe with Officers, taken with his Harlot_:” that the additions which I have made to it are necessary, the following scene will shew.
# 1147:
_’Twixt_] Old eds. “Betwixt.”
# 1148:
_I’m_] Old eds. “I am.”
# 1149:
_lewd_] See note, p. 498.
# 1150:
_does it_] These words ought perhaps to be thrown out.—In several parts of this scene the corruption of the text has affected the metre.
# 1151:
_resolve_] i. e. convince, satisfy.
# 1152:
_Sale._] Old eds. “_Gent._:” for which I have substituted _Salewood_, who, as we may gather from act iii. sc. 5 (see p. 484), was privy to the design of exposing Lethe.
# 1153:
_vild_] See note, p. 94.
# 1154:
_lashes_] So ed. 1630. First ed. “lastes.”
# 1155:
_Sale._] See note, p. 510.
# 1156:
_His own mother_, &c.] Before this speech something seems wanting.
# 1157:
_Mistress_] So ed. 1630. First ed. “Maister.”
# 1158:
_again_] i. e. against.
# 1159:
_defy_] i. e. reject, renounce.
# 1160:
_Shortyard, we banish thee; it is our pleasure_] Old eds. “_Shortyard we banish_, ’tis _our pleasure_.”—I may remark that, though the guilty are deservedly punished, the judge administers justice somewhat arbitrarily in this scene, which is evidently supposed to pass in a private dwelling.
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Transcriber’s Note
The footnote scheme used lettered references, repeating a-z. On numerous of occasions, letters were skipped or repeated. The resequencing of notes here resolves those lapses. Footnotes on occasion are themselves footnoted. For uniqueness, these are referenced as, for example, ‘35A’.
One unanchored footnote at p. 239 l. 10 was mentioned at the bottom of that page, glossing the word ‘precept’. That anchor has been added as 239.10.
An errata section was prepated by the Editor and included in this first volume, which provides additions and corrections to all five volumes in this set. The relevant sections will be repeated at the end of the Transcriber’s note of each subsequent volume.
Stage directions, except for entrances, can be:
in-line in the middle of a line and delimited with ‘[ ]’,
end of line right-justified on the same line where there is room, with only the leading ‘[’,
next line right-justified on the following line, where there is insufficent room, with a hanging indent.
The same convention is followed here. Since this version is wider than the original, most directions are on the same line as the speech.
Entrances were centered and separated slightly from lines above and below. This is rendered here as a full blank line.
Other errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original.
51.8 the end of serving[ /-]men: Added. 65.9 LYS. We’re for you, sir[,/.] Replaced. 343.5 [a/A]nd a loft above Replaced.