[242] Pebble-stones. A cobble in the north signifies a pebble. To cobble is to throw stones. See Ray.—S.
[243] By nature.—S.
[244] This passage evidently shows that music playing between the acts was introduced in the earliest of our dramatic entertainments.
[245] [Altered by Dodsley. Old edition has thing.]
[246] Curtal is a small horse; properly one who hath his tail docked or curtailed. So, in Dekker's "Villanies discovered by Lanthorne and Candlelight," &c., 1620, sig. H.: "He could shewe more crafty foxes in this wild goose chase, then there are white foxes in Russia; and more strange horse-trickes plaide by such riders, then Bankes his curtal did ever practise (whose gambals of the two were the honester)."
[247] A naval phrase. The gib is the gib-sail. To set a sail, is also the technical term.—S.
[248] [Abominable.]
[249] Friar Rush is mentioned in Reginald Scot's "Discoverie of Witchcraft," 1584, p. 522: "Frier Rush was for all the world such another fellow as this Hudgin, and brought up even in the same schoole; to wit, in a kitchen: insomuch as the selfsame tale is written of the one as of the other concerning the skullian, which is said to have been slaine, &c. For the reading whereof I referre you to Frier Rush his storie, or else to John Wierus 'De præstigiis demonum.'"
[250] Old copy, no.
[251] Old copy, on.