[254] The earliest reference I have yet found to the "Cup at Newmarket" is in Shirley's Hyde Park, v. 1.
[255] The exact date of his death is unknown; he was dead before the performance of Ben Jonson's Bartholomew Fair (1614).
[256] "Merlin. The falco aesalon of Linnaeus, a small species of hawk; sometimes corrupted into murleon. It was chiefly used to fly at small birds, and Latham says it was particularly appropriated to the service of ladies."—Nares.
[257] Thomas Heywood gives an account of the "great ship" in his "True description of his Majesties Royall Ship built this yeare 1637 at Wool-witch in Kent," &c. 1637. 4to.
[258] "Back side" = back yard.
[259] A wild cat.
[260] This scene was added, as an afterthought, at the end of the MS. In the body of the MS. we find only "A song ith taverne. Enter Thomas."
[261] The stage direction is my own.
[262] All that I know at present of Mr. Adson is that he published in 1621 a collection of "Courtly Masquing Ayres."
[263] A corruption of "save-reverence": we usually find the form "sir-reverence."