A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xi Part 73

[158] The story here alluded to (for the notice of which I am obliged to the kindness of Mr Steevens) is to be found in Stubbes's "Anatomie of Abuses," 1595, p. 43. The reader will excuse the length of the quotation. "But amongst many other fearful examples of G.o.ds wrath against pride, I would wish them to set before their eies the fearful judgment of G.o.d showed upon a gentlewoman of Antwerpe of late, even the 27 of Maie, 1582, the fearful sound whereof is blowne through all the world, and is yet fresh in every mans memory. This gentlewoman, being a very rich merchantmans daughter, upon a time was invited to a bridal or wedding, which was solemnised in that towne, against which day she made great preparation for the pluming of herself in gorgeous aray: that as her body was most beautiful, faire, and proper, so her attire in every respect might be answerable to the same. For the accomplishment whereof, she curled her haire, she died her lockes, and laid them out after the best manner: she colloured her face with waters and ointments; but in no case could she get any (so curious and dainty she was) that could startch and set her ruffes and neckerchers to her minde: wherefore she sent for a couple of laundresses, who did the best they could to please her humors, but in any wise they could not: then fell she to sweare and teare, to curse and ban, casting the ruffes under feete, and wishing that the devill might take her when shee did weare any neckerchers againe. In the meane time (through the sufferance of G.o.d) the devill transforming himselfe into the shape of a young man, as brave and proper as she in every point, in outward appearance, came in, faining himself to be a woer or sutor unto her: and seeing her thus agonized, and in such a pelting chafe, he demaunded of her the cause thereof, who straight way told him (as women can conceal nothing that lieth upon their stomacks) how she was abused in the setting of her ruffes; which thing being heard of him, he promissed to please her mind, and so tooke in hande the setting of her ruffes, which he performed to her great contentation and liking; insomuch as she, looking herselfe in a gla.s.se (as the devill bad her) became greatly inamoured with him. This done, the young man kissed her, in the doing whereof, hee writh her neck in sunder, so she dyed miserably; her body being straight waies changed into blew and black colours, most ugglesome to beholde, and her face (which before was so amorous) became most deformed and fearfull to looke upon. This being knowne in the cittie, great preparation was made for her buriall, and a rich coffin was provided, and her fearfull body was laid therein, and covered very sumptuously. Foure men immediately a.s.sayed to lift up the corpes, but could not moove it; then sixe attempted the like, but could not once stirre it from the place where it stood. Whereat the standers by marvelling, caused the coffin to be opened to see the cause thereof: where they found the body to be taken away, and a blacke catte, very leane and deformed, sitting in the coffin, setting of great ruffes, and frizling of haire, to the greate feare and woonder of all the beholders."--_Reed._ [Stubbes was fond of these examples. Compare "Shakespeare Society's Papers," iv. 71-88.]

[159] _i.e._, During the Court's progress, when the king or queen visited the different counties.--_Steevens._

[160] _i.e._, Licentiously.

[161] A wine mentioned in the metrical romance of the "Squyr of Low Degre"--

"Malmesyne, Both _ypocra.s.se_ and vernage wine."

--_Steevens._ [See Hazlitt's "Popular Poetry," ii. 51.]

[162] _Shrove Tuesday_ was formerly a holiday for apprentices. So in Ben Jonson's "Epicaene," act i. sc. 1, it is said of Morose, "he would have hanged a pewterer's _'prentice_ on a _Shrove Tuesday's_ riot, for being o' that trade, when the rest were quit."

On _Shrove Tuesday_ in the County of Suss.e.x (and I suppose in many others) apprentices are always permitted to visit their families or friends, to eat pancakes, &c. This practice is called _shroving_.

"Apollo Shroving" is the name of an old comedy, written by a schoolmaster in Suffolk [William Hawkins], to be performed by his scholars on _Shrove Tuesday_, Feb. 6, 1626-7.

See note 6 to "The Hog hath lost his Pearl," _post_. The custom in London, I believe, is almost abolished; it is, however, still retained in many parts of the kingdom. [See "Popular Antiquities of Great Britain," by Hazlitt, i. 47, where it is said] that "at Newcastle upon Tyne the great bell of St Nicholas' Church is tolled at twelve o'clock at noon on this day; shops are immediately shut up, offices closed, and all kinds of business ceases; a sort of little carnival ensuing for the remaining part of the day." Again: the custom of frying pancakes (in turning of which in the pan there is usually a good deal of pleasantry in the kitchen) is still retained in many families in the north, but seems, if the present fashionable contempt of old custom continues, not likely to last another century. The apprentices whose particular holiday this day is now called, and who are on several accounts so much interested in the observation of it, ought, with that watchful jealousy of their ancient rights and liberties (typified here by pudding and play) which becomes young Englishmen, to guard against every infringement of its ceremonies, and transmit them entire and unadulterated to posterity!" [A copious account of this subject will be found in "Popular Antiquities of Great Britain," i.

37-54.]

[163] [Edits., here and below, _Mal go_.]

[164] [Clotted].

[165] A term of vulgar abuse. So Falstaff says, "Away, you scullion!

you _rampallian_! you fustilarian!"--"2d Part of Henry IV." act ii.

sc. i. See also Mr Steevens's note on the pa.s.sage.

[166] _i.e._, Cupid. "_The bird-bolt_," Mr Steevens observes (note on "Much Ado about Nothing," act i. sc. 1), "is a short, thick arrow, without point, and spreading at the extremity so much as to leave a flat surface, about the breadth of a shilling. Such are to this day in use to kill rooks with, and are shot from a cross-bow."

[167] A _pa.s.sion_ was formerly a name given to love-poems of the plaintive species. Many of them are preserved in the miscellanies of the times. See in "England's Helicon," 1600, "The Shepherd Damon's _Pa.s.sion_," and others.

[168] [A common form of _Walter_ in old plays and poetry. Joyce intends, of course, a _jeu-de-mot_.]

[169] [This pa.s.sage seems to fix with tolerable clearness the meaning of the word _caroch_ and the kind of vehicle which was intended.

Compare Nares, 1859, in _v._]

[170] [_i.e._, This business succeed.]

[171] This street, Stow observes, in his time, was inhabited by wealthy drapers, retailers of woollen cloths, both broad and narrow, of all sorts, more than any one of the city.

[172] "_Dole_ was the term for the allowance of provision given to the poor in great families" (Mr Steevens's note to "The Winter's Tale,"

act i. sc. 1). See also the notes of Sir John Hawkins and Mr Steevens to "The First Part of King Henry IV.," act ii. sc. 2. Of this kind of charily we have yet some remains, particularly, as Dr Ducarel observes, "at Lambeth Palace, where thirty poor persons are relieved by an alms called the DOLE, which is given three times a week to ten persons at a time, alternately; each person then receiving upwards of two pounds weight of beef, a pitcher of broth, a half quartern loaf, and twopence in money. Besides this _dole_, there are always, on the days it is given at least thirty other pitchers, called by-pitchers, brought by other neighbouring poor, who partake of the remaining broth, and the broken victuals that is at that time distributed.

Likewise at Queen's College in Oxford, provisions are to this day frequently distributed to the poor at the door of their hall, under the denomination of a DOLE."--[_Ducarel's_] "_Anglo-Norman Antiquities, considered in a Tour through part of Normandy_," p. 81.

[173] Fine.

[174] So in Ben Jonson's "Epicaene," act i. sc. 2, one of the negative qualities which Morose approved in Cutbeard was _that he had not the knack with his shears or his fingers_, which, says Clerimont, "in a barber, he (Morose) thinks so eminent a virtue, as it has made him chief of his council."

[175] The spirit of enterprise which had been raised and encouraged in the reign of Elizabeth was extremely favourable to the reputation of those adventurers who sought to mend their fortunes by encountering difficulties of any kind in a foreign country. Stukeley and the Sherleys appear to have been held in great estimation by the people in general. The former was a dissolute wretch, born in Devonshire, who squandered away his property in riot and debauchery; then left the kingdom, and signalised his valour at the battle fought at Alcazar in Barbary, in August 1578, where he was killed. See an account of him in a ballad, published in Evans's "Collection," 1777, ii. 103; also the old play [by Peele] ent.i.tled, "The Battle of Alcazar, with the death of Captain Stukeley," 4, 1594. Of the Sherleys there were three brothers, Sir Anthony, Sir Robert, and Mr. Robert; Sir Anthony was one of those gallant spirits who went to annoy the Spaniards in their West Indian settlements during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He afterwards travelled to Persia, and returned to England in the quality of amba.s.sador from the Sophy, in 1612. The next year he published an account of his travels. He was by the emperor of Germany raised to the dignity of a count; and the king of Spain made him admiral of the Levant Sea. He died in Spain after the year 1630. Sir Robert was introduced to the Persian court by his brother Sir Anthony; and was also sent amba.s.sador from the Sophy to James I., but did not arrive until the accession of his successor; when, on his first audience with the king (February, 1626), the Persian amba.s.sador, then resident in England, in the king's presence, s.n.a.t.c.hed the letters which were brought by him out of his hands, tore them to pieces, and struck him a blow on the face; at the same time declaring him an impostor and the letters forgeries. Charles, being unable to discover the truth of these charges, sent both the amba.s.sadors back to Persia, with another from himself; but all three died in the course of the voyage. The eldest brother was unfortunate.

[176] [In the edits, this pa.s.sage is thus exhibited--

"SPEND. For your pains.

SER. I'll take my leave of you.

SPEND. What, must you be gone too, Master Blank?"

[177] Alluding to Stukeley's desperate condition when he quitted England. [I think it alludes to nothing of the kind, but to the numerous pamphlets which were printed about this time on the state of Barbary, and Staines's idea of emigrating there and enlisting as a soldier. A MS. note in former edit, says, in fact: "_i.e._, suggested to me the necessity of making my fortune in Barbary, being no longer able to stay here."]

[178] [A hit. Scattergood thought it was some superior tobacco brought by Longfield from home.]

[179] [See Dyce's "Shakespeare Glossary," 1868, _v._ Novum, and "Popular Antiquities of Great Britain," ii. 323. Edits., _Novum_ (a common corruption).]

[180] A _bale of dice_ is the same as a _pair of dice_. So in Ben Jonson's "New Inn," act i. sc. 3--

"For exercise of arms a _bale of dice_, Or two or three packs of cards, to show the cheat, And nimbleness of hand."

And in Marston's "What You Will," act iii. sc. 1--

"Marquesse of Mumchance, and sole regent over a _bale of false dice_."

[181] Thus we learn from Melvil's Memoirs, p. 165, edit. 1735, that the Laird of Grange offered to fight Bothwell, who answered that he was neither earl nor lord, but a baron, and so was not his equal. The like answer made he to Tullibardine. Then my Lord Lindsey offered to fight him, which he could not well refuse. But his heart failed him, and he grew cold on the business.--_Reed._

[182] _i.e._, Tothill Fields.--_Steevens._

[183] A _cue_, in stage cant, is the last words of the preceding speech, and serves as a hint to him who is to speak next. See Mr Steevens's note on "A Midsummer's Night's Dream," act iii. sc. 1. [But here it means the plot which has been concerted between Geraldine and the others (including Joyce), for inducing Gertrude to relent.

[184] [Edits., _his_.]

[185] Query, _Tax_.--_Gilchrist._

[186] [Old copy, _that_.]

[187] [Rash must be supposed to have conferred with Geraldine, and to have arranged with him the device, which they here proceed to execute.]

[188] [Geraldine is to feign death.]

[189] So Otway, in "The Orphan"--

"'Tis heaven to have thee, and without thee h.e.l.l.

--_Steevens._

[190] At Hoxton. There is a tract ent.i.tled, "Pimlyco, or, Runne Red Cap. 'Tis a Mad World at Hogsdon," 1609.

By the following pa.s.sage in "The Alchemist," act v. sc. 2, it seems as though _Pimlico_ had been the name of a person famous as the seller of ale--