[p. 333] Wills’ Coffee-house. vide Vol. III, Preface, The Lucky Chance, p. 187, and note on that passage (p. 484). [ Cross-Reference: The Lucky Chance]
[p. 334] his Third Day. vide Vol. III, Preface, The Lucky Chance, p. 187, and note on that passage (p. 484). [ Cross-Reference: The Lucky Chance]
[p. 334] old Adam. vide Vol. I, The Rover, Part II, p. 133, and note on that passage (p. 446). [ Cross-Reference: The Rover]
[p. 334] The Country Justice’s Calling. vide supra, The Widow Ranter, p. 265. Dalton’s Country Justice, and [note] on that passage.
Act II: Scene i
[p. 341] by Inch of Candle. An auction where bids are taken so long as an inch of candle burns, the last bid before the flame expires obtaining the lot.
[p. 342] a Termer. Originally a frequenter of the law courts, and as many came up from the country to London during term time on legal business, it occasionally (as here) signified an unsophisticated stranger. In Dryden’s Sir Martin Mar-All (1667), i, Mrs. Millicent, newly arrived from Canterbury, replies to Lady Dupe’s greeting, ‘I came up, Madam, as we country-gentlewomen use at an Easter term, to the destruction of tarts and cheese cakes, to see a new play, buy a new gown, take a turn in the Park, and so down again to sleep with my forefathers.’ In Mountford’s farce, Dr. Faustus (4to 1697, but produced at the Theatre Royal November-December, 1685, or very early in 1686), we have Scaramouch asking what practice the Doctor has, and Harlequin replies: ‘Why his Business is to patch up rotten Whores against the Term for Country Lawyers and Attorneys Clerks; and against Christmas, Easter, and Whitsun Holidays, for City Apprentices.’ cf. Southerne’s Oroonoko (1696), i, I, when Charlot Welldon says to her sister Lucia, ‘Nay, the young Inns-of-Court beaus, of but one Term’s standing in the fashion, who knew nobody but as they were shown ’em by the orange-women, had nicknames for us.’ More often a Termer meant ‘A person, whether male or female, who resorted to London in term time only, for the sake of tricks to be practised, or intrigues to be carried on at that period.’ —(Nares.)
Act II: Scene ii
[p. 347] Sa. i.e. Save us! Sir Morgan has a frequent exclamation ‘God sa me!’ God save me! The abbreviation is early and frequent.
Act III: Scene i