THE WISE-WOMAN OF HOGSDON FOOTNOTES.
[1] bale pair.
[2] twenty marks a mark was worth 13s. 4d.
[3] cross coins bearing a cross on the reverse, hence various quibbles.
[4] Gracious Street i.e. Gracechurch Street.
[5] “&c.,” here and elsewhere, means that the actor may add more to the same effect, if he please.
[6] to intend i.e. attend to.
[7] fancy love.
[8] say nay, and take them “maids say nay, and take it,” was a proverbial saying.
[9] conceit idea.
[10] I’ll be with thee to bring... in this phrase—of which Dyce says that no satisfactory explanation has been given—“to bring,” has apparently the force of “wholly” or “thoroughly.”
[11] little whiting-mop young whiting.
[12] a Sir John a priest.
[13] queasy squeamish.
[14] fore-speaking bewitching; or, possibly, prophesying.—Halliwell.
[15] ’recting a figure the practice of astrology.
[16] Erra Pater usually the name of a certain mythical astrologer of the “Wandering Jew” type; sometimes, however, as here, applied to an almanac.
[17] Statute of Winchester the celebrated Statute passed in 1285: to what clause in the Statute reference is made is not clear.
[18] cutting Dick a bully of the time: “cutting” often has the sense of “swaggering.”
[19] sad serious.
[20] be with you i.e. God be with you.
[21] the Counter there were two prisons of this name, one in Wood Street, the other in the Poultry.
[22] tasted her tested her disposition.
[23] Jack Drum’s entertainment “Tom or John Drum’s Entertainment, a phrase signifying ill-treatment, or turning an unwelcome guest out of doors.”—Halliwell.
[24] Sir Boniface “sir” was applied to all University men who had taken their B.A. degree.
[25] nidgets idiots.
[26] no bones i.e. no difficulties.
[27] ready with a wet finger i.e. with as much ease as any light substance is caught up by moistening one’s finger.
[28] catched a clap met with a mischance.
[29] common gossips sponsors.
[30] tell count over.
[31] pocas palabras “few words.”
[32] murrey a dark red colour.—Halliwell.
[33] play at hoodman-blind blind man’s buff.
[34] in a woe sorrowful.
[35] bobbed tricked.
[36] fitters pieces.
[37] a toy whim.
[38] choke-pear ... popering a pear brought from Poperingues in Flanders; the choke-pear was a coarse variety.
[39] cope chop or exchange.
[40] the woman killed with kindness an obvious allusion to Heywood’s own masterpiece.
[41] Bristowe stone more usually called a “Bristol diamond.”
[42] branched figured.
[43] limit i.e. appoint.
[44] I was, sir, of Peterhouse there is a tradition that Heywood himself was a Fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge.
[45] I proceeded in Oxford i.e. to his degree, his college, as he tells us, being Brazenose.
[46] Genes Genoese.
[47] Lusty Juventus there is an old interlude entitled Lusty Juventus, printed about the year 1560.
[48] St. George’s Fields ... Tuttle, Finsbury he mentions three well-known duelling resorts.
[49] Stafford law “he has had a trial in Stafford Court” was a way of saying “he has been beaten or ill-treated,” Cotgrave. Florio uses the expression “Stafford-law”=braccesca licenza.
[50] apply thou defend yourself.
[51] i.e. much good may it do you!
[52] beso las manus kiss the hands.
[53] Sir Pandarus Pandarus was the prince of go-betweens; hence the word “pander.”
[54] colour excuse.
[55] brock a term of contempt; a brock is a badger.
[56] Cheap Cross at Cheapside, with a statue of the Virgin on it. It was removed in 1643, by Puritan influence, on account of the reverence which it received from Catholics.
[57] take me with you i.e. let me understand.
[58] jack crafty fellow.
[59] It is to be understood that the occupants of the various inner rooms see and hear all that transpires between Young Chartley and Luce without being themselves seen or heard.
[60] Is not a speech lost here?
[61] i.e. on pain of losing his blessing.