Thomas Heywood by Thomas Heywood - HTML preview

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.