SPECTATOR 117.
Page 54.
4. neuter. Neutral, Cf. Shakespeare, Richard II., II. iii. 159, 'Be it known to you I do remain as neuter.'
engaging. Pledging. Cf. Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, III. ii. 264:
I have engaged myself to a dear friend.
6. determination. Decision. Cf. Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, III. ii. 258, 'He humbles himself to the determination of justice.'
15. particular. Individual. Cf. Shakespeare, All's Well that Ends Well, I. i. 97:
That I should love a bright particular star.
Page 65.
7. applied herself. Cf. Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, v. 2. 126:
If you apply yourself to our intents,
where the word is used in a somewhat different sense. It is now used reflexively only in the sense of applying oneself to the performance of an action.
8. Otway, the poet and playwright, died in 1685. The quotation is from his play of The Orphan, II. i. The first line should run:
Through a close lane….
36. palmed. Foisted, falsely attributed.
Page 60.
16. tabby. Brindled or sometimes female, as opposed to tom-cat. The meaning is derived from the word tabby, a name for watered silk.
28. a bounty. The concrete sense of this word has been lost.
33. trying experiments with her. Testing her by ordeal.
Page 57.
1. Sir Roger's doubtfulness on the subject of witchcraft was not exceptional. In 1664 Sir Thomas Browne had assisted in the condemnation of a witch. In 1711 there were two executions for witchcraft, and in 1712 Jane Wenham was sentenced, but afterwards pardoned. In 1716 there were again two executions, and although the Act was repealed in 1736, an old woman was done to death by the mob as late as 1751.
3. bound her over to. sc. appear at.
14. commerce and familiarities with the devil or evil spirits.