For my brest is decayd."
—Armonye of Byrdes.
Halliwell's "Archaic and Provincial Words."—W. D. Cooper.
[46] [In danger of debt, i.e. in the power of any man on account of debt.]
[47] [i.e. Let them consider how, &c.]
[48] [i.e. By God's arms.]
[49] [I warrant you, as far as madness is concerned. Mr Cooper proposed to read from mad; but the alteration appears to me unnecessary.]
[50] [Fortunes are always exaggerated.]
[51] [Nearer.]
[52] This was a proverbial expression. See Heywood's "Proverbs" and "Taming of the Shrew," act ii., sc. I. Backare probably means Back there! or Go back!—Cooper. [The meaning is, clearly enough, that Gawin Goodluck must retreat from his courtship.]