[p. 235] a Venice Curtezan. Venice, the home of Aretine and Casanova, was long famous for the beauty and magnificence of her prostitutes. This circumstance is alluded to by numberless writers, and Ruskin, indeed, maintains that her decline was owing to this cause, which can hardly be, since as early as 1340, when her power was only rising, the public women were numbered at 11,654. Coryat has some curious matter on this subject, and more may be found in La Tariffa delle Puttane di Venegia, a little book often incorrectly ascribed to Lorenzo Venicro.
Act II: Scene i
[p. 245] They enter at another Door. Vide note Rover I, Act II, I, p. 30.
Act III: Scene i
[p. 263] Beso los manos, signor. = Beso las manos, señor.
[p. 265] Don John. The famous hero of Lepanto died, not without suspicion of poison, in his camp at Namur, 1578. Otway introduces him in Don Carlos (1676).
Act III: Scene ii
[p. 271] Souses. A slang term for the ‘ears’. cf. The Roundheads, Act II, I, ‘a pair of large sanctify’d Souses.’
[p. 271] Butter-hams. Apparently from Dutch boterham = a slice of bread and butter. The two narrow strips of trimming on either side of the cloak.
[p. 272] a Rummer of a Pottle. A jug or goblet holding one pottle = two quarts.