Mercuries of furthest regions,
Diurnals writ for regulation
Of lying, to inform the nation.
p. 259 flam, humbug. cf. South’s Sermons (1737), II, xii, p. 443. Conscience (1692). ‘All pretences to the contrary are nothing but cant and cheat, flam and delusion.’
p. 260 Hackney. A whore. Cotgrave (1611), Bringuenaudée, a common hackney. Stapylton’s Juvenalls Satyrs (1647), III, 76: —’And hackney-wenches that i’ th’ Circus stand’. Hudibras, III, i, 811-2:—
That is no more than every lover
Does from his hackney-lady suffer.
p. 261 Twelve was the lucky. Tom is quoting from The Happy Night, a piece which may be found in Vol. I of the Works of the Earl of Rochester (1756), and in the early pseudo-Amsterdam editions. The following note is generally appended: ‘The late Duke of Buckinghamshire was pleased to own himself the Author of this Poem.’
p. 262 _fisking and giggiting. Both these words have practically the same signification, i.e., to frisk or scamper about heedlessly, cf. Rules of Civility (1675), in Antiquary (1880):—’Madam … fisking and prattling are but ill ways to please.’
To giggit is a very rare verb. The N.E.D. only notices it as a modern
U.S.A. colloquialism, quoting Old Town Folks ‘While the wagon and uncle
Liakim were heard giggiting away.’
p. 263 Rakeshame. A common word for a profligate in the 17th century. cf. Bishop Montagu, Diatribae (1621), ‘Such roysterers and rakeshames as Mars is manned with.’
p. 269 whipping Tom. The use of a whipping boy punished for another’s fault is well known. Barnaby Fitzpatrick served that office for the young Edward VI, and Mungo Murray for Charles I.
p. 273 Intelligence. Newspaper; diurnal. ‘Letters of Intelligence’ was an early and common name for a periodical. In 1662 we have A Monthly Intelligence Relating the Affaires of the People called Quakers. No. I, August—September 1. (The only number.) In 1665, Publick Intelligence, No. i, 28 November, 1665. By Sir Roger L’Estrange. (One number.)