FOOTNOTES:
[523] Frisco puts on Vandal's cloak.
[524] Heigham pretends that he is a dealer in glasses.
[525] Another name for a clown or fool.
[526] [A proverbial expression, of which this appears to be the earliest occurrence in print. Its import is not particularly clear; but see Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 128.]
[527] i.e., For luck in his undertaking.
[528] Playing upon the words hose and shoes.
[529] A common expression in old writers, indicating that some party has not been treated with sufficient respect. M is short for Master, and Frisco addresses himself to the Bellman, who had merely called him Frisco. Thus, in "Eastward Ho!" act iv. sc. 1, Quicksilver asks, "Must Golding sit upon us?" To which the constable replies, "You might carry an M under your girdle."
[530] The copy of 1616 has it as it is here reprinted, but the two later editions read, O no, so he may catch a fall, as if replying to Mathea.
[531] This expression seems to be proverbial, and Nash or Lilly (for the authorship is disputed) used it as the title to one of the Mar Martin tracts. Skelton, in his poem, "Speak Parrot," has the expression, "Parrot must have an almond." It is met with in Middleton's "Spanish Gipsy," act ii. sc. 1; in Ben Jonson's "Magnetic Lady," act v. sc. 5; in Dekker's "Fortunatus," act i. sc. 1, and various other plays. The lines from Butler are in point with reference to the latter part of the line, a rope for parrot.
Could tell what subtlest parrots mean;
What member 'tis of whom they talk,
When they cry "rope" and "walk, knava, walk."
[532] [A play on the double meaning of the word cushion.]
[533] In all the quartos this line is given to Walgrave: it appears to belong to Heigham, as Harvey speaks next.
[534] Old copies, not.
[535] Old copies, join, as.
[536] Maw is a game at cards, frequently mentioned in old writers. [Probably the four was the best card.]
[537] Of course, coming down upon the stage first, as the preceding dialogue takes place while the lovers are below and the ladies above.
[538] Even.
[539] Now called Cannon Street.