[243] [Compare Chappell's "Pop. Music," 8o edit., p. 118.]
[244] Tartarian seems to have been a cant word for a thief. In "The Wandering Jew," 1640, p. 3, the Hangman says, "I pray (Mr Jew) bestow a cast of your office upon me (a poor member of the Law), by telling me my fortune, whether I shall die in my bed or no, or what else shall happen to me; and if any thieving Tartarian shall break in upon you, I will with both hands nimbly lend a cast of my office to him."
[245] Before the use of carpets was introduced into England, it was customary to strew the floors of rooms with rushes. This practice is often mentioned.
So in "Arden of Feversham," 1592—
Ales. In vaine we strive, for here his blood remains.
Mos. Why, strew rushes on it, can you not?
Again, in Ben Jonson's "Cynthia's Revels," act ii. sc. 5: "That all the ladies and gallants lye languishing upon the rushes, like so many pounded cattle i' the midst of harvest," &c.
And in Dekker's "Bel-man of London," sig. B 4: "The windowes were spread with hearbs, the chimney drest up with greene boughes, and the floore strewed with bulrushes, as if some lasse were that morning to be married."
See also Holinshed's "Chronicle," vol. ii. p. 1706, [and compare a passage at p. 177 of present vol.]
[246] So in "The Merchant of Venice" Stephano says of Portia—
"My mistress will before the break of day
Be here at Belmont: she doth stray about
By holy crosses, where she kneds and prays
For happy wedlock hours"