By the following passage in "The Alchemist," act v. sc. 2, it seems as though Pimlico had been the name of a person famous as the seller of ale—
"Gallants, men and women,
And of all sorts tag rag, been seen to flock here
In threaves these ten weeks as to a second Hogsden
In days of Pimlico and Eye-bright."
—[Gifford's edit., 1816, v. 164.]
Pimlico, near Westminster, was formerly resorted to on the same account as the former at Hoxton.
[191] Derby ale has ever been celebrated for its excellence. Camden, speaking of the town of Derby, observes that "its present reputation is for the assizes for the county, which are held here, and from the excellent ale brewed in it." In 1698 Ned Ward published a poem entitled, "Sots' Paradise, or the Humours of a Derby Alehouse; with a Satire upon Ale."
[192] i.e., Pleases me. See note to "Cornelia" [v. 188.]
[193] Henslowe, in his Diary, mentions a play [by Martin Slaughter] called "Alexander and Lodwicke," under date of 14th Jan. 1597, and in Evans's "Collection of Old Ballads," 1810, there is a ballad with the same title, and no doubt upon the same story.—Collier. [It is the same tale as "Amis and Amiloun." See Hazlitt's "Shakespeare's Library," 1875, introd. to "Pericles.">[
[194] So in "King Kichard III."—
"Thou troublest me: I am not in the vein."
—Steevens.