Chapter 15

[5]By the Stat. 33 Hen. VIII. c. 9, s. 16, a penalty is imposed on certain persons therein mentioned, who should play at the tables, tennis, dice, cards, bowls, clash,coyting, logating, or other unlawful game.

[6]Perhaps a contraction ofsave your reverence.—Steevens.

[7]Fox, in the third volume of his "Acts and Monuments," p. 131, says: "Over and besides divers other things touching M. Rogers, this is not to be forgotten, how, in the daies of King Edward the Sixth, there was a controversie among the Bishops and Clergiefor wearing of priests caps, and other attyre belonging to that order. Master Rogers, being one of that number which never went otherwise than ina round capduring all the time of King Edward, affirmed that he would not agree to that decreement of uniformitie, but upon this condition, that if they would needs have such an uniformitie of wearing the cap, tippet, &c., then it should be decreed withall, that the papists, for a difference betwixt them and others, should be constrained to weare upon their sleeves a chalice with an host upon it. Whereunto if they would consent, he would agree to the other, otherwise he would not, he said, consent to the setting forth of the same, nor ever wearethe cap; nor indeed he never did."

[8]I suppose the "Legenda Aurea," the "Golden Legend" of Jacobus de Voragine.—Steevens.

[9][Intended.]

[10]i.e., Umpires. So Spenser—"For what art thouThat makst thyself hisdaysman, to prolongThe vengeance past?"—Faerie Queene.—S.Adays-man, says Ray, in his "Collection of North Country Words," p. 25, is "an arbitrator, an umpire or judge. For, as Dr Hammond observes in his Annotation on Heb. x. 25, p. 752, the wordday, in all languages and idioms, signifies judgment. Soman's day, 1 Cor. iii. 13, is the judgment of men. Sodiem dicerein Latin is to implead."

[10]i.e., Umpires. So Spenser—

"For what art thouThat makst thyself hisdaysman, to prolongThe vengeance past?"—Faerie Queene.—S.

"For what art thou

That makst thyself hisdaysman, to prolong

The vengeance past?"—Faerie Queene.—S.

Adays-man, says Ray, in his "Collection of North Country Words," p. 25, is "an arbitrator, an umpire or judge. For, as Dr Hammond observes in his Annotation on Heb. x. 25, p. 752, the wordday, in all languages and idioms, signifies judgment. Soman's day, 1 Cor. iii. 13, is the judgment of men. Sodiem dicerein Latin is to implead."

[11]Well content. In Psalm lxxxiii. ver. 8, we have—"And Assur eke is wellapaid,With them in league to be."

[11]Well content. In Psalm lxxxiii. ver. 8, we have—

"And Assur eke is wellapaid,With them in league to be."

"And Assur eke is wellapaid,

With them in league to be."

[12]i.e., in the theological writings ofDuns Scotus, who obtained the title ofDoctor Subtilis.—S.See also note 25 to "The Revenger's Tragedy."

[13][Serious.]

[14]The original copy reads—"With strange guises inventednowlong agoe."But the sense seems to require the negative, which former editors substituted fornow.—C.

[14]The original copy reads—

"With strange guises inventednowlong agoe."

But the sense seems to require the negative, which former editors substituted fornow.—C.

[15]So inHamlet: "The king isa thing of nothing." See the Notes of Dr Johnson, Dr Farmer, and Mr Steevens on that passage, edition of Shakspeare, 1778, vol. 10, p. 336. This play on the words was very common.Again, in "The Humorous Lieutenant," A. iv. S. 6—"Shall, then, that thing that honours theeHow miserable a thing soever, yet a thing still,And, tho'a thing of nothing, thy thing ever."[Dyce's edit. vi. 516.]

Again, in "The Humorous Lieutenant," A. iv. S. 6—

"Shall, then, that thing that honours theeHow miserable a thing soever, yet a thing still,And, tho'a thing of nothing, thy thing ever."

"Shall, then, that thing that honours thee

How miserable a thing soever, yet a thing still,

And, tho'a thing of nothing, thy thing ever."

[Dyce's edit. vi. 516.]

[16]"Similes habent labra lactucas.A thistle is a sallet fit for an ass's mouth. We use when we would signify that things happen to people which are suitable to them, or which they deserve; as when a dull scholar happens to a stupid or ignorant master, a froward wife to a peevish husband, &c.Dignum patella operculum.Like priest, like people, and on the contrary. These proverbs are always taken in the worst sense.Tal carne, tal cultello, Ital. Like flesh, like knife." [See Hazlitt's "Proverbs," &c., 1869, pp. 33, 263.]

[17][i.e.,Quodest thou, or saidest thou.]

[18][Old copy and Dodsley,mowle. A hairy nowl is a member of the reformed faith, as distinguished from the shaven crowns of the priests.]

[19]Sometimes writtenportas, orportos,i.e.,breviary—Du Cange, inPortiforium. "Portuasses, Mr Tyrwhitt observes (Notes on Chaucer, ver. 13061), are mentioned among other prohibited books in the Stat. 3 and 4 Edw. VI. c. 10. And in the Parliament Roll of 7, Edw. IV. n. 40, there is a petition, that the robbing of Porteous, Grayell, Manuell, &c., should be made felonie without clergy; to which the King answered,La Roy s'avisera."Theportuseis mentioned in Greene's "History of Fryer Bacon and Fryer Bungay." [Works by Dyce, 1861, p. 162—]"I'll hamper up the match,I'll take myportaceforth, and wed you here."

Theportuseis mentioned in Greene's "History of Fryer Bacon and Fryer Bungay." [Works by Dyce, 1861, p. 162—]

"I'll hamper up the match,I'll take myportaceforth, and wed you here."

"I'll hamper up the match,

I'll take myportaceforth, and wed you here."

[20]Makeis used formatethroughout the works of Gower. Shakspeare likewise, if I am not mistaken, employs it in one of his sonnets.—S.

[21][See Hazlitt's "Handbook," 1867, p. 129,v.costume, No. 3. The phrase seems to be used here to signify expensive foreign fashions generally.]

[22]The 4to readsgrace. The alteration by Mr Dodsley.

[23]A proverb.Tu hai mantillo di ogni acqua.—S.

[24]i.e., Theonset.—S.

[25]i.e., God's nails. So afterwards "By his wounds"—"His blood"—without repetition of the sacred name by way of introduction.—S.

[26]In Fox's third volume of "Ecclesiastical History," 1630, p. 799, is an account of one Richard Woodman, who was burnt at Lewes, with nine others, on the 22d of June 1557. The circumstances attending his apprehension resemble those above-mentioned, and seem to be the same as are alluded to by the author of this morality.

[27][i.e., What of this?]

[28]An expression of dislike or aversion used by almost every writer of the times. Ben Jonson'sCynthia's Revels, A. iv. S. 5—"Of all nymphs i' the court,I cannot away with her."Poetaster, A. iii. S. 4—"And do not bring your eating player with you there;I cannot away with her."Bartholomew Fair, A. i. S. 6—"Good 'faith, I will eat heartily too, because I will be no Jew,I could never away withthat stiff-necked generation." [Gifford's edit. iv. 400-1.]

[28]An expression of dislike or aversion used by almost every writer of the times. Ben Jonson'sCynthia's Revels, A. iv. S. 5—"Of all nymphs i' the court,I cannot away with her."

Poetaster, A. iii. S. 4—"And do not bring your eating player with you there;I cannot away with her."

Bartholomew Fair, A. i. S. 6—"Good 'faith, I will eat heartily too, because I will be no Jew,I could never away withthat stiff-necked generation." [Gifford's edit. iv. 400-1.]

[29][Beat him by stratagem. See Halliwell's Diet, inv.]

[30]i.e., I care not. Camden in his "Remains" says, "Iforcenot of such fooleries." Shakspeare has the same phrase.—S.

[31][In that direction sets the tide of opinion. This saying is in Heywood's collection, 1562.]

[32][The usual form of the proverb is, "Need maketh the old wife trot."]

[33][Exertion, effort.]

[34]i.e., Nursed, fostered.—S.

[35]It was a custom at the end of our ancient interludes and plays to conclude with a solemn prayer for the king or queen, the council, the parliament, or the nobleman by whom the players were protected. Many instances are produced by Dr Farmer and Mr Steevens, in their last notes on the epilogue to "Second Part of Henry IV.," and many others might be added. See particularly the conclusion of Fulwell's "Like will to like, quoth the Devil to the Collier," 1368; Wager's "The longer thou livest the more foole thou art;" "King Darius," and others.—Reed.

[36][Interest.]

[37][Not in the old copy.]

[38]One of the names of the devil in old morals.—W. D. Cooper.

[39][Sheet-anchor.]

[40]Impudently vaunting and boasting."You preserveA race of idle people here about you,Facersand talkers.—Maids Tragedy, Act iv., sc. 2.—W. D. Cooper.

[40]Impudently vaunting and boasting.

"You preserveA race of idle people here about you,Facersand talkers.—Maids Tragedy, Act iv., sc. 2.—W. D. Cooper.

"You preserve

A race of idle people here about you,

Facersand talkers.—Maids Tragedy, Act iv., sc. 2.

—W. D. Cooper.

[41]In all probability an alteration to mean Elizabeth, in whose reign the play was printed; for in act iii., sc. 4, M. Merrygreek talks of the "arms of Calais"; and so does R. Roister, act iv., sc. 7. Calais was lost in 5th Mary, and the play was quoted by Wilson in 1551, when Edward was on the throne.—W. D. Cooper.

[42][Affirm, agree to it.]

[43][i.e., His own white son.]White boyis a common expression of endearment in old plays, and to this day white-headed boy is an expression of fondness in Ireland, though the locks of the individual to whom it is applied may be "black as the raven's plume."—W. D. Cooper.

[44][Or glombing,i.e., louring. See Halliwellv. Glombe.]

[45]Voice."I syng not musycall,For mybrestis decayd."—Armonye of Byrdes.Halliwell's "Archaic and Provincial Words."—W. D. Cooper.

[45]Voice.

"I syng not musycall,For mybrestis decayd."—Armonye of Byrdes.

"I syng not musycall,

For mybrestis decayd."

—Armonye of Byrdes.

Halliwell's "Archaic and Provincial Words."—W. D. Cooper.

[46][In danger of debt,i.e.in the power of any man on account of debt.]

[47][i.e.Letthemconsider how, &c.]

[48][i.e.By God's arms.]

[49][I warrant you, as far as madness is concerned. Mr Cooper proposed to readfrom mad; but the alteration appears to me unnecessary.]

[50][Fortunes are always exaggerated.]

[51][Nearer.]

[52]This was a proverbial expression. See Heywood's "Proverbs" and "Taming of the Shrew," act ii., sc. I.Backareprobably meansBack there!orGo back!—Cooper.[The meaning is, clearly enough, that Gawin Goodluck must retreat from his courtship.]

[53]Your mastership.—Cooper.

[54]Quotha.

[55]Some of these are the heroes of romances.—Cooper.

[56][A creature of the same country.Alyseems here to be the same asalyche. See Halliwell,v. v. alycheandalye.]

[57]Tertius e cœlo cecidit Cato.Juv.,Sat.ii., 40.—Cooper.

[58][Kindred, parentages.]

[59]I give thee thanks.—Cooper.

[60]Feats or deeds, from the Latinfactum, "And rattle forth hisfactsof war and blood."—Marlowe's "Tamburlaine the Great," Part I., 1590.—Cooper.

[61][This word has escaped Nares and others. But it is merely a colloquialism forlove, and is in that sense still in familiar use.]

[62][Guessed.]

[63]The word "here," which is not in the original, seems necessary to complete the metre and rhyme.—Cooper.

[64]Jack Mumblecrust is the name of one of the beggars who dine with Sir Owen Meredith: "Peace! hear my lady. Jack Mumblecrust steal no more penny loaves."—Patient Grissel, act iv., sc. 3. It is also a name given to the widow Minever by Captain Tucca in Dekker's "Satiromastix." Madge Mumblecrust is mentioned in the MS. comedy of "Misogonus," 1577.—Cooper.

[65]Scolding. "Whur, to snarl like a dog."—Bailey.

[66]"Soft fier makes swet malt"; see "The Marriage of Wit and Wisdom," edited by Halliwell, p. 13.—Cooper.

[67][The throat, which we still familiarly termred lane.]

[68]Songs introduced in our old plays are often not found in the printed copies. Some of those in this piece, are, however, given at the end, and others are introduced in the body of the play. In the above instance, perhaps, only an air was to be hummed.—Cooper.

[69]The termsSirrahandSirappear to have been frequently applied indifferently both to male and female. In Whetstone's "Promos and Cassandra," 1578, Grymball says to his mistress—"Ah,syr, you woulde belike let my cocke-sparrowes go."—Cooper.

[69]The termsSirrahandSirappear to have been frequently applied indifferently both to male and female. In Whetstone's "Promos and Cassandra," 1578, Grymball says to his mistress—

"Ah,syr, you woulde belike let my cocke-sparrowes go."—Cooper.

[70]A corruption of the sacred name.

[71]Scolded. It sometimes meansruinedordestroyed.—Cooper.

[72][This song is quoted in "A Pore Helpe," probably printed many years before "Ralph Roister Doister." See Hazlitt's "Popular Poetry," ii., 260. It therefore seems likely that in this, as in other cases, Udall introduced a song popular at the time, and the composition of some one else.]

[73]i.e., "I had not so much, I wot not when: never since I was born, I ween." She here speaks a rustic dialect.—Cooper.

[74]Her re-entrance is not marked.—Cooper.

[75][Orig. reads,what.]

[76]Joke.—Borde,bourd, orboord, as the word is spelled by Spenser, means a jest or sport; from the FrenchBourde—"Of old adventures that fell white,And some ofbourdesand ribaudry."—Lay le Freine.SeeToone's Glossary.—Cooper.

[76]Joke.—Borde,bourd, orboord, as the word is spelled by Spenser, means a jest or sport; from the FrenchBourde—

"Of old adventures that fell white,And some ofbourdesand ribaudry."—Lay le Freine.SeeToone's Glossary.—Cooper.

"Of old adventures that fell white,

And some ofbourdesand ribaudry."

—Lay le Freine.SeeToone's Glossary.—Cooper.

[77]Seriously whispering—"And in his ear himroundedclose behind."—Faerie Queene, Book iii., Canto 10.—Cooper.

[77]Seriously whispering—

"And in his ear himroundedclose behind."—Faerie Queene, Book iii., Canto 10.—Cooper.

"And in his ear himroundedclose behind."

—Faerie Queene, Book iii., Canto 10.—Cooper.

[78][Apparently intentional nonsense fornobis miscebetur miserere.]

[79][Formake.]

[80]God's wounds.

[81]Music.So often used of old.—Cooper.

[82]A copse or bush. See "Tempest," act iv., sc. 1."And everyboskybourn from side to side."—Milton.—Cooper.

[82]A copse or bush. See "Tempest," act iv., sc. 1.

"And everyboskybourn from side to side."—Milton.

—Cooper.

[83][Appearance,quasisemblety, semblance.]

[84][Should we not readfute? See Halliwell inv.]

[85]See the second song at the end of the play.—Cooper.

[86]The wordspouseis here used forbetrothed lover.—Cooper.

[87]The idea is borrowed from Alexander's celebrated reply to Parmenio.—Cooper.

[88]A night has passed between the first and second acts.—Cooper.

[89]A tune: generally a mournful one.

[90]A flageolet.

[91]A lute, or guitar.

[92]"What have ye of the Lord Dakers?He maketh vsJacke Rakers;He says we are but crakers."—Skelton'sWhy come ye not to Court?See also the same author's "Speke Parrot."—Cooper.

[92]

"What have ye of the Lord Dakers?He maketh vsJacke Rakers;He says we are but crakers."—Skelton'sWhy come ye not to Court?

"What have ye of the Lord Dakers?

He maketh vsJacke Rakers;

He says we are but crakers."

—Skelton'sWhy come ye not to Court?

See also the same author's "Speke Parrot."—Cooper.

[93]Passe-temps, pastime, sport. So in act iv., sc. vi.—"Do ye think, Dame Custance,That in this wooing I have meant ought butpastance?"Again, act v., scene 2—"Truly, most dear spouse, nought was done but forpastance."—Cooper.

[93]Passe-temps, pastime, sport. So in act iv., sc. vi.—

"Do ye think, Dame Custance,That in this wooing I have meant ought butpastance?"

"Do ye think, Dame Custance,

That in this wooing I have meant ought butpastance?"

Again, act v., scene 2—

"Truly, most dear spouse, nought was done but forpastance."—Cooper.

"Truly, most dear spouse, nought was done but forpastance."

—Cooper.

[94][Shaken.]

[95][In the original, D. Doughty is made to go out.]

[96][Perhaps a sort of allusion to the proverb, To go to Rome with a mortar on one's head.]

[97]A Lombard's touchstone, to try gold and silver. See "Richard III.," act iv., sc. 2.—Cooper.

[98]A proverbial expression, relating to a still common practice.—Cooper.

[99]Tib and Annot would seem to enter here.—Cooper.

[100]A fit usually means the division of a ballad, but here it is to be understood as a song.—Cooper.

[101]i.e.,Abidethe consequences, rue, or suffer for. See "A Midsummer Night's Dream," act iii., sc. 2.—Cooper.

[102]Truepenny goes out here, but the old copy omits hisexit.—Cooper.

[103][Original,her.]

[104][Shield.]

[105]A fool or blockhead. See act v., scenes 2 and 5. "Cough me a fool" is common in old plays.—Cooper.

[106]A bird-bolt, a short, thick arrow, with a blunt head, chiefly made use of to kill rooks. It appears to have been looked upon as an emblem of dulness. So in Marston's "What you Will," 1607—"Ignorance should shootHis gross-knobb'dbird-bolt."

[106]A bird-bolt, a short, thick arrow, with a blunt head, chiefly made use of to kill rooks. It appears to have been looked upon as an emblem of dulness. So in Marston's "What you Will," 1607—

"Ignorance should shootHis gross-knobb'dbird-bolt."

"Ignorance should shoot

His gross-knobb'dbird-bolt."

[107][Chop-logic.]

[108]"The divell is in th'orloge, the houres to trye:Searche houres by the sun, the devylls dyall will lie."—Heywood'sProverbs.—Cooper.

[108]

"The divell is in th'orloge, the houres to trye:Searche houres by the sun, the devylls dyall will lie."—Heywood'sProverbs.

"The divell is in th'orloge, the houres to trye:

Searche houres by the sun, the devylls dyall will lie."

—Heywood'sProverbs.

—Cooper.

[109]A jostle.

[110]Mocked or devised for a lout. See "First Part of Henry VI.," act iv., scene 3.—Cooper.

[111]A proverbial expression of heedless jollity. See the Induction to the "Taming of the Shrew," whereSlyexclaims: "Paucas pallabris; let the world slide; Sessa!"—Cooper.

[112]See the Psalmody at the end of the Comedy.—Cooper.

[113]Executor.

[114]See the end of the Comedy.—Cooper.

[115][Swoon.]

[116][Original,courage.]

[117]Voice.

[118]Walking with an air or swing.

[119]Formerly applied to any kind of obeisance, either of man or woman.—Cooper.

[120][Original gives this line to Merrygreek.]

[121]The re-entry is not marked in the old copy.—Cooper.

[122]See the fourth song at the end of the Comedy.—Cooper.

[123]i.e., If you will have us, have us.—Cooper.

[124]This is the passage quoted by T. Wilson in his "Rule of Reason, conteinyng the arte of Logique," printed by Grafton in 1551.—Cooper.

[125][Jesus.]

[126]In faith: from the French,foy.—Cooper.

[127]In earnest—heartily. So in Marlow's "Rich Jew of Malta," 1633, act ii., sc. 3 [sign. E 2,verso]—"I have laugh'da goodto see the cripplesGoe limping home to Christendome on stilts."—Cooper.

[127]In earnest—heartily. So in Marlow's "Rich Jew of Malta," 1633, act ii., sc. 3 [sign. E 2,verso]—

"I have laugh'da goodto see the cripplesGoe limping home to Christendome on stilts."—Cooper.

"I have laugh'da goodto see the cripples

Goe limping home to Christendome on stilts."—Cooper.

[128]This expression, though now generally used to denote some little lapse of time, formerly signifiedimmediately. It is so used still in the North of England.—Cooper.

[129]With difficulty—scarcely. See "Second Part of Henry the Sixth," act ii., sc. 4.—Cooper.

[130][Since.] The re-entrance of Merrygreek is not marked in the old copy.—Cooper.

[131][Time.]

[132]Earlier.Rath, forearly, occurs in Chaucer and in Milton.—Cooper.

[133]Plundering—"Whichpollsand pills the poor in piteous wise."—Cooper.—Faerie Queene, Book v., canto 2.

[133]Plundering—

"Whichpollsand pills the poor in piteous wise."

—Cooper.—Faerie Queene, Book v., canto 2.

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