A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 94

569. At Lee Priory, the seat of Sir Egerton Brydges. Sir Egerton Brydges subsequently decided on selling the entire collection, though entailed, and it was disposed of by Mr. Sotheby, April 12, 1826. In the auction catalogue it is described as "a small but high interesting collection of the Rarest Old Plays in the English Drama." There were, in fact, only 142 lots, of which Jack Juggler and Thersites were 141 and 142, and "The Taming of a Shrew," 1594, No. 109. Mr. Inglis seems to have been the purchaser of all three.

570. "Four Old Plays," 1848, xv.

571. Shoulder.

572. Dastards.

573. Run.

574. _Ilva_ in orig.

575. A sort of helmet.

576. Original has _bere_, _i.e_., bear.

577. See Way's edit, of the "Promptorium" _v_. Crykke.

578. Sheep.

579. A corrupt form of the name of an old romance, printed by Ritson, and in the original French by Hippeau.

580. Hedges.

581. Short.

582. A curious phrase, not met with elsewhere.

583. _i.e., Apart_ or separate.

584. Readiness.

585. Thirteen.

586. This appears to be an allusion to a song beginning with these words.

587. Sung.

588. Spend. For the mere sake of the rhyme.

589. Rend.

590. The error or transposition is perhaps intentional.

591. An error, perhaps equally designed. It was Diomedes, to whom the mythology ascribed this practice.

592. Original has _thus_.

593. Boast.

594. This incident was improved upon in the modern nursery-rhyme of the four-and-twenty tailors and the snail.

595. Original has _the_, perhaps we should read _thou_.

596. Have been lost.

597. Hindereth, troubleth.

598. Fair, impartial

599. Meaning.

600. See "Promptorium," edit. Way, v. Gromaly, and Halliwell's "Dict." v.

Gromyl.

601. This and some of the other names appear to be fanciful. _Forsan_, however, Compton.

602. For _these_, and so a few lines below.

603. Jawbone.

604. Bittern.

605. Baker.

606. Shovel. See Halliwell's "Dict." v. Peel, No. 6.

607. Ham.

608. Ahasuerus.

609. Thropton.

610. Dimsdale, which name is borne by two places, one in Durham, the other in Yorks.h.i.+re.

611. Original has hartelye.

612. Knees.

613. Jane Seymour and Prince Edward, afterwards Edward VI. This fixes the date of the play, though not necessarily of its publication, at least approximately.

END OF VOL. I.