[17] Without any sufficient reason, and to the evident injury of the metre, of which the author has nowhere been very careful, he here and elsewhere preferred the Spanish word capricho, to the English word caprice.—Collier.
[18] Dodsley and Reed very absurdly gave this line to Don Fernando, when it is evidently a reply by Don Julio to the request of his friend. The old copy did not mislead the former editors.—Collier.
[19] Cauls are little membranes, found on some children, encompassing the head, when born. The vulgar opinion has generally been, that every person possessed of one of these cauls, whether originally belonging to him, or obtained by purchase, would be fortunate, and escape dangers. "Lampridius tells us, that the midwives sold cauls at a good price to the advocates and pleaders of his time; it being an opinion, that while they had this about them, they should carry with them a force of persuasion which no judge could withstand: the canons forbid the use of it, because some witches and sorcerers, it seems, had abused it."—See ["Popular Antiquities of Great Britain," 1870, iii., 139-42.]
Sir T. Brown ("Vulgar Errors," b. v., ch. 21) quotes "the life of Antonius delivered by Spartianus" on the subject. The caul, a "sillyhow" (as Sir T. Brown terms it), is still considered a preservative against danger, and especially against drowning. Notices of the sale of them used to be daily posted on the Royal Exchange, and they are bought by captains of ships and others going to sea, and great prices given for them. The Times newspaper of March 17, 1827, has the following advertisement:—"A child's caul, well worth £20, to be sold for £14. Apply at Academy," &c.—Collier.
[20] He calls him Sir Galor in reference to the character this knight sustained in the old romances. He was sometimes known by other names.—Collier. [More properly, Sir Galaor. He was a brother of Amadis of Gaul.]
[21] [Old copy, lady whom, which injures the metre. The latter, however, is not very regular or correct in this play.]
[22] Herself, omitted by Dodsley and Reed.—Collier.
[23] Almost omitted by Dodsley and Reed.—Collier.
[24] [Old copy into.]
[25] Or pantofle. In "Damon and Pithias" [iv. 67,] we have seen it called pantacle.—Collier.