A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Viii Part 102

[187] _Palliard_ is to be found in Dryden's "Hind and Panther:"

_palliardize_ is not in very common use among our old writers. Dekker, in his "Bellman of London," 1616, sig. D 2, gives a description of a _Palliard_. Tuck's exclamation looks as if it were quoted.

[188] In the old copy, Scarlet and Scathlock are also mentioned as entering at this juncture, but they were on the stage before.

[189] The _mistake_ to which Warman alludes is, that Friar Tuck takes part with Robin Hood, instead of a.s.sisting the Sheriff against him.

[190] This incident, with some variations, is related in the old ballad of "Robin Hood rescuing the Widow's _three_ sons from the Sheriff, when going to be executed." See Ritson's "Robin Hood," ii. 151.

[191] The old copy has a blank here; but whether it was so in the original MS., whether a line has dropped out by accident, or whether it was meant that Much should be suddenly interrupted by Robin Hood, must be matter of conjecture.

[192] So printed in the old copy, as if part of some poetical narrative.

[193] i.e., _Gang_. So written by Milton, Jonson, and many of our best authors.

[194] [Old copy, _all your_.]

[195] [Old copy, _never wife_.]

[196] [Old copy, _in a loath'd_.]

[197] [Own, from the Latin _proprius_.]

[198] _To lie at the ward_ was, and is still, a term in fencing; thus Fairfax, translating the fight between Tancred and Argantes in the 6th book of Ta.s.so's "Jerusalem Delivered," says--

"Close _at his surest ward_ each champion _lieth_."

--"G.o.dfrey of Bulloigne," 1600.

[199] The _exit_ of Salisbury is not marked, but it of course takes place here.

[200] It seems singular that the author of this play should confound two such persons as the Shoemaker of Bradford, who made all comers "vail their staves," and George-a-Greene, the Pinner of Wakefield; yet such is the case in the text. The exploits of both are celebrated in the play of "The Pinner of Wakefield" (in Dyce's editions of Greene's Works), which seems to have been popular. Nevertheless Henslowe in his MSS. speaks of George-a-Greene as one dramatic piece, and of "The Pinner of Wakefield"

as another, as if they were two distinct heroes. See "Malone's Shakespeare," by Boswell, iii. 300. Munday also makes Scathlock and Scarlet two separate persons. [Munday does not confound the Pinder of Wakefield with the Bradford hero, for he expressly distinguishes between them; but he errs in giving the latter the name of George-a-Greene.]

[201] To _record_, as applied to birds, is synonymous to the verb to _sing_: thus in "The Spanish Tragedy," act ii.--

"Hark, madam, how the _birds record_ by night."

Shakespeare so employs the word in his "Two Gentlemen of Verona," act v.

sc. 4, and in the notes upon the pa.s.sage more than sufficient instances are collected.

[202] The 4to reads "the lawless _Rener_" [the _n_ being misprinted for _u_].

[203] _Mort_ was the old cant word for a _wench_, and was synonymous with _doxy_, which is still sometimes in use. An explanation, for such as require it, may be found in Dekker'a "Bellman of London," ed. 1616, sig. N.

[204] Mr Todd, in his "Dictionary," thus explains the word _belive_: "Speedily, quickly; it is still common in Westmoreland for _presently_, which sense, implying a little delay, like our expression of _by and by_, was formerly the general acceptation of the word." Spenser uses it not unfrequently--

"Perdie, Sir Knight," said then the enchanter _b'live_, "That shall I shortly purchase to your bond."

--"Faerie Queene," b. ii. c. iii. st. 18.

[205] _Manchet_ is fine white bread: _panis candidior et purior_.

[206] It seems agreed by the commentators on the word _proface_ (which Shakespeare uses in "Henry IV. Part II.," act v. sc. 3), that it means in fact what Robin Hood has already said: "Much good may it do you." It is disputed whether it be derived from the French or the Italian; Mr Todd gives _prouface_ as the etymology, and Malone _pro vi faccia_, but in fact they are one and the same. It occurs in "The Widow's Tears," act iv. sc. 1, where Ero is eating and drinking in the tomb. [Compare Dyce's "Shakespeare," 1868, Gloss, in v.]

[207] The 4to terms them _poting_ sticks, and so sometimes they were called, instead of _poking_ sticks. They were used to plait and set ruffs.

[208] The old copy here repeats, in part, the preceding stage direction, viz., _Enter Friar like a pedlar, and Jenny_, which must be an error, as they are already on the stage; in fact, only Sir Doncaster and his armed followers enter. The _exit_ of Robin Hood, with Marian and Fitzwater, is not noticed.

[209] i.e., Thrive.

[210] The rhyme is made out by reading _certainly_, but the old copy, [which is printed as prose.] has it _certain_.

[211] This stage direction, like many others, is not marked.

[212] So in "Henry VI. Part III." act iii. sc. 3: "Did I _impale_ him with the regal crown?" This use of the word is common.

[213] [Old copy, _light_.]

[214] See Mr Steevens' note on "Henry VIII.," act v. sc. 3.

[215] These two lines clearly belong to the Prior, though the old copy omits his name before them.

[216] i.e., Vengeance.

[217] [Old copy, _Souldans_.]

[218] In the old copy _soldiour's_.

[219] See Mr Gifford's note (6) to "The Maid of Honour," Ma.s.singer's Works, iii. 47, for an explanation of the origin and use of this expression of contempt. See also Malone's remarks upon the pa.s.sage in "Twelfth Night," act iii. sc. 4: "He is a knight dubb'd with an unhatch'd rapier and on _carpet_ consideration."

[220] On the standard by which Leicester was attended on his entrance, no doubt the crest of that family, viz., a bear and ragged staff, was represented. To this the queen refers when she exclaims--

"Were this _bear_ loose, how he would tear our maws."

[221] [Old copy, _Bear, thou hast_. Leicester was accompanied by his ancient, whose entrance is marked above.]

[222] _Quite_ is frequently used for _requite_: as in Ma.s.singer's "Old Law," act ii. sc. 2--

"In troth, Eugenia, I have cause to weep too; But when I visit, I come comfortably, And look to be so _quited_."

[223] Although the old copy mentions no more at the beginning of this interview than _Enter Leicester, drum and ancient_, yet according to this speech he must either have been more numerously attended, or some of his followers came upon the stage during his dispute with the king and queen.

[224] The return of Leicester and Richmond, after their _exit_ just before, is not mentioned in the 4to.

[225] [Old copy, _Come off, off_.]

[226] _Guests_ were often formerly spelt _guess_, whether it were or were not necessary for the rhyme.