[298] Mr Reed was again indebted to the "unworthy" copy of 1655 for the introduction of the name of Harry instead of Ralph, as it is found in the previous editions.—Collier.
[299] Instances of this word, which means almost the same as scramble, are given in a note on Shakespeare's "King Henry V.," sc. 1, edit. 1778.—Steevens.
[300] Hungarian was a cant term then frequently in use. See Mr Steevens's note on "The Merry Wives of Windsor," act i. sc. 3. Mr Tollet ohserves that "the Hungarians, when infidels, overran Germany and France, and would have invaded England if they could have come to it. See Stowe in the year 930, and Holinshed's 'Invasions of Ireland,' p. 56. Hence their name might become a proverb of baseness." [Compare p. 227 ante.]
[301] The &c., means, of course, that Sir John repeats his old saying—"We are all mortal; we'll live till we die, and be merry, and there's an end."—Collier.
[302] Curfew is derived from two French words, couvrir, i.e., tegere, and feu, i.e., ignis. William the Conqueror, in the first year of his reign, commanded that in every town and village a bell should be rung every night at eight o'clock, and that all people should put out their fire and candle and go to bed. The ringing of a bell in the evening is in many places till called ringing the Curfew Bell.
[303] [Compare "Old English Jest Books," i. 31.]
[304] See note to "Grim the Collier of Croydon," [vii. 426.]
[305] [A nautical term for tacking about. See Halliwell's "Dict.," in v.]
[306] The edits., of 1617, 1626, 1631, call them Sir Ralph Clare and Sir Arthur Jerningham.—Collier.
[307] Forbid, prevent.