"Hermets an heape with hoked staves,
Wenten to Walsingham, and her wenches after.
Great loubees and long, that loth were to swinke,
Clothed hem in copes, to be knowen from other."
[211] Will.
[212] Old copy, than.
[213] In the 14th of Queen Elizabeth, 1572, an Act of Parliament passed, by which very heavy penalties were inflicted on all rogues, vagabonds, and sturdy beggars. Among others, who are therein described and directed to be deemed such, are idle persons going about feigning themselves to have knowledge in phisnomie, palmestrie, or other abused sciences, whereby they bear the people in hand that they can tell their destinies, deaths, and fortunes, and such other like fantastical imaginations. This statute seems to be alluded to here by Diccon, and will serve to confirm the later date of the play; and at the same time prove the forgery of that assigned to it by Chetwood.
[214] Fetched.
[215] Old copy, syme.
[216] "Ut mulieres solent ad mingendum."—S.