FOOTNOTES:
[351] The edition of this play in 1636 omits the word wench, and therefore it was not found in the last reprint under the care of Mr Reed. It is now inserted from the copy of 1611.—Collier.
[352] Terms of the chase. Mussers are hiding-holes, or lurking-places; from the Fr. musser, to hide, conceal, &c.
[353] i.e., As brave a man.
[354] [Edits., Q, the letter having been written probably by the transcriber of the play for press to save trouble. A Q is a farthing in the old college books.]
[355] I imagine an allusion is here intended to the buff coats of the Serjeants belonging to the Counter. See p. 330.
[356] These lines are the conclusion of many old songs. Several instances are produced by Mr Steevens, Sir John Hawkins, and Mr Tyrwhit, in their notes on "Twelfth Night," act ii. sc. 3.
Again, in "Laugh and Lie Downe," 1605, sig. E 4: "He plaied such a song of the three merry men, that had the dittie beene in a strange language, I should have been puzzled in the musick."
[357] [This allusion occurs also in Wybarne's "New Age of Old Names," 1609, p. 12, and in "The Return from Parnassus," 1606, (ix. 103).]
[358] Another proof that the edit. of 1636 only was followed by Mr Reed. The first 4o has it—"Why so: these are tricks," &c., and not "there are tricks," as in the second 4o.—Collier.
[359] [See Dyce's Shakespeare, 1868, v. 178, and "Glossary," v. Fifteens. A fifteen was a levy made in subsidies, amounting to a fifteenth of the personalty; but here the phrase almost seems to be used loosely, in the sense of extortion.]
[360] i.e., Head.
[361] [Old copies, O.]
[362] This is proverbial. [See Hazlitt'e "Proverbs," 1869, p. 84], The Scots say, a young man's wonderling. See "Collection of Scots Proverbs," 8o, 1721, by James Kelly, who observes it is used as an argument to induce a young girl to marry an old man.
[363] To bear in hand was a common phrase, signifying to keep in expectation or dependence. In Dr Walter Pope's "Life of Bishop Seth Ward," 1697, p. 104, is the following passage: "My Lord, I might bear you in hand; a western phrase, signifying to delay or keep in expectation, and feed you with promises, or at least hopes, that I should cure you in some competent time," &c.
Again, in Fennor's "Compter's Commonwealth," p. 47: "I have seen divers gentlemen come into prison (after they have laine a fortnight or three weekes at some of their houses, at an excessive rate) without either cloake, sword, or hat, which the sergeants have got from them, onely bearing them in hand that they will get them baile."
And in Ben Jonson's "Volpone," act i. sc. 1—
"Still bearing them in hand,
Letting the cherry knock against their lips.
And draw it by their mouths and back again."
The phrase frequently occurs in Shakespeare.
[364] [So forward.]
[365] Intimate, on familiar terms. See note to "The Spanish Tragedy" [v. 168]
[366] An allusion, seemingly, to a popular saying. See Hazlitt's" Proverbs," p. 190.
[367] Terms of legerdemain.
[368] [Merchants.]
[369] These words, bell, book, and candle, refer to the mode of excommunication in the Romish Church. In "King John," act iii. sc. 3, the Bastard says—
"Bell, book, and candle shall not drive me back,
When gold and silver becks me to come on."
Dr Grey, in his "Notes on Shakespeare," i. 284, has given the ceremonial on pronouncing an excommunication, by which it appears that in the performance of this office three candles were to be extinguished in the different parts of it. In Archbishop Winchelsea's sentences of excommunication, anno 1298 (see Johnson's "Ecclesiastical Laws," vol. ii.), it is directed that the sentence against infringers of certain articles should be "throughout explained in order in English, with bells tolling and candles lighted, that it may cause the greater dread; for Laymen have greater regard to this solemnity than to the effect of such sentences."
[370] All amort here and in other places signifies melancholy. So in Greene's "History of Friar Bacon," 1594—
"Shall he thus all amort live malecontent."
Again, in "Wily Beguiled," 1606—
"Why, how now, Sophos, all amort? still languish in love?"
[ix. 305]. And in the "Contention between Liberality and Prodigality," 1602, the author makes an addition to this French expression not usually found in English—
"What, is there none that answers? Tout a-la-mort?"
[viii. 335.]—Collier.
[371] [Prevent. See note at p. 18 of vol. vii.]
[372] i.e., Contrive it. The word is still sometimes used in the same sense.
[373] All after the words O rare invention has been hitherto given to Throat without any notice, and although both the quartos assign it to Beard, who, as appears subsequently, had advanced the sum he mentions.—Collier.
[374] So in "The Country Captain," by the Duke of Newcastle, 1649, p. 51: "When these wordes of command are rotten, we will sow some other military seedes; you beare a braine and memory."
Again, the Nurse, in "Romeo and Juliet," says—
"Well I do bear a brain."
See Mr Steevens's note on this last passage.