T. TRUSTY. Is her offence so sore?
M. MERRY. And he were a lout, she could have done no more.
She hath call'd him fool, and 'dressed him like a fool,
Mocked him like a fool, used him like a fool.
T. TRUSTY. Well, yet the Sheriff, the Justice or Constable,
Her misdemeanour to punish might be able.
R. ROISTER. No, sir, I mine own self will, in this present cause,
Be Sheriff and Justice, and whole Judge of the laws.
This matter to amend all officers be I shall:
Constable, Bailiff, Sergeant--
M. MERRY. And hangman, and all. [_Aside._
T. TRUSTY. Yet a noble courage and the heart of a man
Should more honour win by bearing with a woman.
Therefore take the law, and let her answer thereto.
R. ROISTER. Merrygreek, the best way were even so to do.
What honour should it be with a woman to fight?
M. MERRY. And what, then, will ye thus forego and lese your right?
R. ROISTER. Nay, I will take the law on her withouten grace.
T. TRUSTY. Or, if your maship could pardon this one trespass--
I pray you, forgive her.
R. ROISTER. Hoh!
M. MERRY. Tush, tush, sir, do not.
T. TRUSTY. Be good master to her.
R. ROISTER. Hoh!
M. MERRY. Tush, I say, do not.
And what! shall your people here return straight home?
R. Roister. Yea, levy the camp, sirs, and hence again each one.
But be still in readiness, if I hap to call;[162]
I cannot tell what sudden chance may befall.
M. MERRY. Do not off your harness, sirs, I you advise,
At the least for this fortnight, in no manner wise.
Perchance in an hour, when all ye think least,
Our master's appetite to fight will be best.
But soft, ere ye go, have once at Custance house.
R. ROISTER. Soft, what wilt thou do?
M. MERRY. Once discharge my arquebus;
And for my heart's ease, have once more with my potgun.
R. ROISTER. Hold thy hands! else is all our purpose clean fordone.
M. MERRY. And it cost me my life!
R. ROISTER. I say, thou shalt not.
M. MERRY. By the matt,[163] but I will have once more with hail-shot.
I will have some pennyworth; I will not lese all.
ACTUS IV., SCÆNA 8.
M. MERRYGREEK, C. CUSTANCE, R. ROISTER, TIB. T., AN. ALYFACE, M.
MUMBLECRUST, TRUEPENNY, DOBINET DOUGHTY, HARPAX.
_Two drums with their Ensigns._
C. CUSTANCE. What caitiffs are those, that so shake my house-wall?
M. MERRY. Ah, sirrah now Custance, if ye had so much wit,
I would see you ask pardon, and yourselves submit.
C. CUSTANCE. Have I still this ado with a couple of fools?
M. MERRY. Hear ye what she saith?
C. CUSTANCE. Maidens, come forth with your tools,
In a ray.
M. MERRY. Dubba-dub, sirrah!
R. ROISTER. In a ray!
They come suddenly on us.
M. MERRY. Dub-a-dub-dub!
R. ROISTER. In a ray!
That ever I was born! we are taken tardy.
M. MERRY. Now, sirs, quit yourselves like tall men and hardy.
C. CUSTANCE. On afore, Truepenny! Hold thine own, Annot!
On toward them, Tibet, for scape us they cannot!
Come forth, Madge Mumblecrust! so, stand fast together.
M. MERRY. God send us a fair day!
R. ROISTER. See, they march on hither.
TIB. TALK. But, mistress--
C. CUSTANCE. What say'st thou?
TIB. TALK. Shall I go fet our goose?
C. CUSTANCE. What to do?
TIB. TALK. To yonder Captain I will turn her loose.
And she gape and hiss at him, as she doth at me,
I durst jeopard my hand she will make him flee.[164]
C. CUSTANCE. On forward!
R. ROISTER. They come.
M. MERRY. Stand!
R. ROISTER. Hold!
M. MERRY. Keep!
R. ROISTER. There!
M. MERRY. Strike!
R. ROISTER. Take heed!
C. CUSTANCE. Well said, Truepenny!
TRUEPENNY. Ah, whoresons!
C. CUSTANCE. Well done, indeed!
M. MERRY. Hold thine own, Harpax! Down with them, Dobinet!
C. CUSTANCE. Now, Madge; there, Annot; now stick them, Tibet!
TIB. TALK. All my chief quarrel is to this same little knave,
That beguiled me last day; nothing shall him save.
D. DOUGH. Down with this little quean, that hath at me such spite!
Save you from her, master, it is a very sprite.
C. CUSTANCE. I myself will mounsire grand captain undertake.
R. ROISTER. They win ground!
M. MERRY. Save yourself, sir, for God's sake!
R. ROISTER. Out, alas! I am slain; help!
M. MERRY. Save yourself!
R. ROISTER. Alas!
M. MERRY. Nay, then, have at you, mistress.
R. ROISTER. Thou hittest me, alas!
M. MERRY. I will strike at Custance here.
R. ROISTER. Thou hittest me!
M. MERRY. (_aside._) So I will.
Nay, mistress Custance.
R. ROISTER. Alas! thou hittest me still.
Hold!
M. MERRY. Save yourself, sir!
R. ROISTER. Help! out alas! I am slain.
M. MERRY. Truce, hold your hands! truce, for a pissing while or
twain.[165]
Now, how say you, Custance, for saving of your life,
Will ye yield, and grant to be this gentleman's wife?
C. CUSTANCE. Ye told me he loved me; call ye this love?
M. MERRY. He loved a while, even like a turtle-dove.
C. CUSTANCE. Gay love, God save it! so soon hot, so soon cold.
M. MERRY. I am sorry for you: he could love you yet, so he could.
R. ROISTER. Nay, by Cock's precious, she shall be none of mine.
M. MERRY. Why so?
R. ROISTER. Come away, by the matt, she is mankine.[166]
I durst adventure the loss of my right hand.
If she did not slee her other husband.
And see, if she prepare not again to fight!
M. MERRY. What, then, Saint George to borrow, our Lady's knight?
R. ROISTER. Slee else whom she will, by Gog, she shall not slee me.
M. MERRY. How then?
R. ROISTER. Rather than to be slain, I will flee.
C. CUSTANCE. To it again, my knightesses! down with them all!
R. ROISTER. Away, away, away! she will else kill us all.
M. MERRY. Nay, stick to it, like an hardy man and a tall.
R. ROISTER. O bones, thou hittest me! Away, or else die we shall.
M. MERRY. Away, for the pash of our sweet Lord Jesus Christ!
C. CUSTANCE. Away, lout and lubber, or I shall be thy priest!
[_Exeant Om._[167]
So this field is ours; we have driven them all away.
TIB. TALK. Thanks to God, mistress, ye have had a fair day.
C. CUSTANCE. Well, now go ye in, and make yourself some good cheer.
OMNES PARITER. We go.
T. TRUSTY. Ah, sir! what a field we have had here.
C. CUSTANCE. Friend Tristram, I pray you be a witness with me.
T. TRUSTY. Dame Custance, I shall depose for your honesty.
And now fare ye well, except something else ye would.
C. CUSTANCE. Not now, but when I need to send, I will be bold.
[_Exeat._
I thank you for these pains. And now I will get me in.
Now Roister Doister will no more wooing begin. [_Ex._
FOOTNOTES:
[138] Welfare. Udall uses the word in this sense in his letter to the
Cornish men.--_Cooper._
[139] In seriousness.
[140] In jest.
[141] Disliked or resented. See "Antony and Cleopatra," act iii.,
scene 4.--_Cooper._
[142] So in "The Maid's Metamorphosis," 1600; "In vain, I fear, _I
beat my brains_ about." These expressions have the same signification
as the "_Cudgel thy brains no more about it_," of the _First
Gravedigger_ in "Hamlet."--_Cooper._
[143] A pitiful, worthless fellow. See "Winter's Tale," act ii., sc.
3.--_Cooper._
[144] No matter.
[145] These words, not in the old copy, are necessary for the
rhyme.--_Cooper._
[146] His entrance is not marked in the original.--_Cooper._
[147] Cuff. In Tim Bobbin's "Glossary of the Lancashire Dialect," a
_coil_ is explained by "a lump raised on the head by a blow." See also
Brockett's "Glossary of North Country Words."--_Cooper._
[148] [Passion.]
[149] _I can._ See _ante_.
[150] Slower, graver.
[151] Now, once for all.
[152] _i.e._, So fierce. A sow at certain seasons is said _to go to
brim_--
"They foughten _breme_ as it were bolles two."
--_Cooper._ Chaucer, _Knight's Tale_, line 1701.
[153] Allow.
[154] A sheep. Cotswold (pronounced Cotsold) is an old word for a
sheepcote. Hence the name of the hills in Gloucestershire.--_Cooper._
[155] To assemble. It is used by Bacon in his "History of Henry the
Seventh," p. 68, fol. 1629.--_Cooper._
[156] [Old copy, _and_.]
[157] [Abide by the bargain.]
[158] _i.e._, Be not reconciled to her.--_Cooper._
[159] A small gun, perhaps a corruption of _popgun_.--_Cooper._
[160] The exit and re-entry of Dobinet are not marked in the old
copy.--_Cooper._
[161] To protect or guard. In "Richard II.," act i., sc. 3, the
expression is--
"Mine innocency and Saint George to thrive!"--_Cooper._
[162] T. Trusty is the prefix to this and the following line in the
old copy, but it must be an error.--_Cooper._
[163] [Put for _mass_, as _Gog_ for _God_, &c.]
[164] [An idea perhaps borrowed from the interlude of "Thersites,"
where we have the ludicrous incident of the snail. Udall has drawn
Ralph Roister Doister somewhat on the model of "Thersites," except
that in Roister Doister the man's good nature and singleness of
character win our regard, whereas the other is a contemptible braggart
without any redeeming trait.]
[165] See "Two Gentlemen of Verona," act. iv., scene 4.--_Cooper._
[166] _Mankind_ is used by Shakespeare and other writers of his time
as an adjective, in the sense of masculine.--_Cooper._
[167] So in the old copy, but Ralph, Mat., Dob., and Harpax, only go
out; lower down, the _exeat_ of course applies to T.
Trusty.--_Cooper._
ACTUS V., SCÆNA 1.
GAWIN GOODLUCK, SIM. SURESBY.
G. GOOD. Sim. Suresby, my trusty man, now advise thee well,
And see that no false surmises thou me tell.
Was there such ado about Custance, of a truth?
SIM. SURE. To report that I heard and saw to me is ruth;
But both my duty, and name, and property,[168]
Warneth me to you to show fidelity.
It may be well enough, and I wish it so to be,
She may herself discharge, and try her honesty;
Yet their claim to her, me-thought, was very large,
For with letters, rings, and tokens they did her charge.
Which when I heard and saw, I would none to you bring.
G. GOOD. No, by Saint Mary, I allow thee[169] in that thing.
Ah sirrah! now I see truth in the proverb old:
All things that shineth is not by and by pure gold.
If any do live a woman of honesty,
I would have sworn Christian Custance had been she.
SIM. SURE. Sir, though I to you be a servant true and just,
Yet do not ye therefore your faithful spouse mistrust;
But examine the matter, and if ye shall it find
To be all well, be not ye for my words unkind.
G. GOOD. I shall do that is right, and as I see cause why.
But here cometh Custance forth; we shall know by and by.
ACTUS V., SCÆNA 2.
C. CUSTANCE, GAWIN GOODLUCK, SIM. SURESBY.
C. CUSTANCE. I come forth to see and hearken for news good;
For about this hour is the time, of likelihood,
That Gawin Goodluck, by the sayings of Suresby,
Would be at home; and lo! yond I see him, I.
What, Gawin Goodluck! the only hope of my life,
Welcome home, and kiss me your true espoused wife.
G. GOOD. Nay, soft, dame Custance; I must first, by your licence,
See whether all things be clear in your conscience.
I hear of your doings to me very strange.
C. CUSTANCE. What! fear ye that my faith towards you should change?
G. GOOD. I must needs mistrust ye be elsewhere entangled,
For I hear that certain men with you have wrangled
About the promise of marriage by you to them made.
C. CUSTANCE. Could any man's report therein your mind persuade!
G. GOOD. Well, you must therein declare yourself to stand clear,
Else I and you, dame Custance, may not join this year.
C. CUSTANCE. Then would I were dead, and fair laid in my grave.
Ah! Suresby, is this the honesty that ye have,
To hurt me with your report, not knowing the thing?
SIM. SURE. If ye be honest, my words can hurt you nothing;
But what I heard and saw, I might not but report,
C. CUSTANCE. Ah, Lord, help poor widows, destitute of comfort!
Truly, most dear spouse, nought was done but for pastance.
G. Good. But such kind of sporting is homely daliance.
C. CUSTANCE. If ye knew the truth, ye would take all in good part.
G. GOOD. By your leave, I am not half well-skilled in that art.
C. CUSTANCE. It was none but Roister Doister, that foolish mome.
G. GOOD. Yea, Custance, better (they say) a bad excuse than none.
C. CUSTANCE. Why, Tristram Trusty, sir, your true and faithful friend,
Was privy both to the beginning and the end.
Let him be the judge, and for me testify.
G. GOOD. I will the more credit that he shall verify;
And because I will the truth know, e'en as it is,
I will to him myself, and know all without miss.
Come on, Sim. Suresby, that before my friend thou may
Avouch thee the same words, which thou did'st to me say.
[_Exeant._
ACTUS V., SCÆNA 3.
CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE.
C. CUSTANCE. O Lord! how necessary it is now of days,
That each body live uprightly all manner ways;
For let never so little a gap be open,
And be sure of this, the worst shall be spoken.
How innocent stand I in this for deed or thought,
And yet see what mistrust towards me it hath wrought.
But thou, Lord, knowest all folks' thoughts, and eke intents;
And thou art the deliverer of all innocents.
Thou didst help the advoutress,[170] that she might be amended;
Much more then help, Lord, that never ill intended.
Thou didst help Susanna, wrongfully accused,
And no less dost thou see, Lord, how I am now abused.
Thou didst help Hester, when she should have died;
Help also, good Lord, that my truth may be tried.
Yet, if Gawin Goodluck with Tristram Trusty speak,
I trust of ill-report the force shall be but weak;
And lo! yond they come, sadly talking together:
I will abide, and not shrink for their coming hither.
ACTUS V., SCÆNA 4.
GAWIN GOODLUCK, TRISTRAM TRUSTY, C. CUSTANCE, SIM. SURESBY.
G. GOOD. And was it none other than ye to me report?
T. TRUSTY. No; and here were ye wished, to have seen the sport.
G. GOOD. Would I had, rather than half of that in my purse.
SIM. SURE. And I do much rejoice the matter was no worse.
And like as to open it I was to you faithful,
So of Dame Custance honest truth I am joyful.
For God forfend that I should hurt her by false report.
G. GOOD. Well, I will no longer hold her in discomfort.
C. CUSTANCE. Now come they hitherward: I trust all shall be well.
G. GOOD. Sweet Custance, neither heart can think, nor tongue tell,
How much I joy in your constant fidelity.
Come now, kiss me, the pearl of perfect honesty.
C. CUSTANCE. God let me no longer to continue in life,
Than I shall towards you continue a true wife.
G. GOOD. Well, now to make you for this some part of amends,
I shall desire first you, and then such of our friends
As shall to you seem best, to sup at home with me,
Where at your fought field we shall laugh and merry be.
SIM. SURE. And, mistress, I beseech you take with me no grief:[171]
I did a true man's part, not wishing your repreef.
C. CUSTANCE. Though hasty reports, through surmises growing,
May of poor innocents be utter overthrowing,
Yet because to thy master thou hast a true heart,
And I know mine own truth, I forgive thee for my part.
G. GOOD. Go we all to my house, and of this gear no more.
Go, prepare all things, Sim. Suresby; hence, run afore.
SIM. SURE. I go. [_Ex._
G. GOOD. Good. But who cometh yond? Master Merrygreek?
C. CUSTANCE. Roister Doister's champion; I shrew his best cheek.
T. TRUSTY. Roister Doister's self, your wooer, is with him too.
Surely some thing there is with us they have to do.
ACTUS V., SCÆNA 5.
M. MERRYGREEK, RALPH ROISTER [_to them_], GAWIN GOODLUCK, TRISTRAM
TRUSTY, C. CUSTANCE.
M. MERRY. Yonder I see Gawin Goodluck, to whom lieth my message.
I will first salute him after his long voyage,
And then make all things well concerning your behalf.
R. ROISTER. Yea, for the pash of God.
M. MERRY. Hence! out of sight, ye calf,
Till I have spoke with them, and then I will you fet.
R. ROISTER. In God's name.[172]
M. MERRY. What, master Gawin Goodluck, well-met;
And from your long voyage I bid you right welcome home.
G. GOOD. I thank you.
M. MERRY. I come to you from an honest mome,
G. GOOD. Who is that?
M. MERRY. Roister Doister, that doughty kite.
C. CUSTANCE. Fie! I can scarce abide ye should his name recite.
M. MERRY. Ye must take him to favour, and pardon all past;
He heareth of your return, and is full ill aghast.
G. GOOD. I am right well content he have with us some cheer.
C. CUSTANCE. Fie upon him, beast! then will not I be there.
G. GOOD. Why, Custance, do ye hate him more than ye love me?
C. CUSTANCE. But for your mind, sir, where he were, would I not be.
T. TRUSTY. He would make us all laugh.
M. MERRY. Ye ne'er had better sport.
G. GOOD. I pray you, sweet Custance, let him to us resort.
C. CUSTANCE. To your will I assent.
M. MERRY. Why, such a fool it is,
As no man for good pastime would forego or miss.
G. GOOD. Fet him to go with us.
M. MERRY. He will be a glad man. [_Ex._
T. TRUSTY. We must, to make us mirth, maintain him[173] all we can.
And lo, yond' he cometh, and Merrygreek with him.
C. CUSTANCE. At his first entrance, ye shall see I will him trim.
But first let us hearken the gentleman's wise talk.
T. TRUSTY. I pray you, mark, if ever ye saw crane so stalk.
ACTUS V., SCÆNA 6.
R. ROISTER, M. MERRYGREEK, C. CUSTANCE, G. GOODLUCK, T. TRUSTY, D.
DOUGHTY, HARPAX.
R. ROISTER. May I then be bold?
M. MERRY. I warrant you on my word.
They say they shall be sick, but ye be at their board.
R. Roister. They were not angry, then?
M. MERRY. Yes, at first, and made strange;
But when I said your anger to favour should change,
And therewith had commended you accordingly,
They were all in love with your maship by and by;
And cried you mercy, that they had done you wrong.
R. ROISTER. For why no man, woman, nor child can hate me long.
M. MERRY. We fear (quod they) he will be avenged one day;
Then for a penny give all our lives we may.
R. ROISTER. Said they so indeed?
M. MERRY. Did they? yea, even with one voice.
He will forgive all (quod I). O, how they did rejoice!
R. ROISTER. Ha, ha, ha!
M. MERRY. Go fet him (say they), while he is in good mood;
For have his anger who lust, we will not, by the rood!
R. ROISTER. I pray God that it be all true, that thou hast me told,
And that she fight no more.
M. MERRY. I warrant you; be bold.
To them, and salute them.
R. ROISTER. Sirs, I greet you all well.
OMNES. Your mastership is welcome.
C. CUSTANCE. Saving my quarrel,
For sure I will put you up into the Exchequer.
M. MERRY. Why so? Better nay. Wherefore?
C. CUSTANCE. For an usurer.
R. ROISTER. I am no usurer, good mistress, by His arms.
M. MERRY. When took he gain of money, to any man's harms?
C. CUSTANCE. Yes, a foul usurer he is, ye shall see else.
R. ROISTER. Did'st not thou promise she would pick no mo quarrels?
[_To Merr._
C. CUSTANCE. He will lend no blows, but he have in recompense
Fifteen for one, which is too much of conscience.
R. ROISTER. Ah dame! by the ancient law of arms, a man
Hath no honour to foil his hands on a woman.
C. CUSTANCE. And where other usurers take their gains yearly,
This man is angry, but he have his by and by.
G. GOOD. Sir, do not for her sake bear me your displeasure.
M. MERRY. Well, he shall with you talk thereof more at leisure.
Upon your good usage he will now shake your hand.
R. ROISTER. And much heartily welcome from a strange land.
M. MERRY. Be not afeard, Gawin, to let him shake your fist.
G. GOOD. O, the most honest gentleman that e'er I wist.
I do beseech your maship to take pain to sup with us.
M. MERRY. He shall not say you nay, (and I too by Jesus,)
Because ye shall be friends, and let all quarrels pass.
R. ROISTER. I will be as good friends with them as e'er I was.
M. MERRY. Then, let me fet your quire, that we may have a song.
R. ROISTER. Go.
G. GOOD. I have heard no melody all this year long.
M. MERRY.[174] Come on, sirs, quickly.
R. ROISTER. Sing on, sirs, for my friend's sake.
D. DOUGH. Call ye these your friends?
R. ROISTER. Sing on, and no mo words make. [_Here they sing._
G. GOOD. The Lord preserve our most noble Queen of renown,[175]
And her virtues reward with the heavenly crown.
C. CUSTANCE. The Lord strengthen her most excellent Majesty,
Long to reign over us in all prosperity.
T. TRUSTY. That her godly proceedings, the faith to defend,
He may stablish and maintain through to the end.
M. MERRY. God grant her, as she doth, the Gospel to protect,
Learning and virtue to advance, and vice to correct.
R. ROISTER. God grant her loving subjects both the mind and grace
Her most godly proceedings worthily to embrace.
HARPAX. Her highness most worthy councillors God prosper,
With honour and love all men to minister.
OMNES. God grant the nobility her to serve and love,
With all the common'ty, as doth them behove!
AMEN.[176]
Certain Songs[177] to be sung by those which shall use this Comedy
or Interlude.
_The Second Song._
_Who so to marry a minion wife,[178]
Hath had good chance and hap,_
_Must love her and cherish her all his life,
And dandle her in his lap,_
_If she will fare well, if she will go gay,
A good husband ever still,
Whatever she lust to do or to say,
Must let her have her own will,_
_About what affairs soever he go,
He must show her all his mind,
None of his counsels she may be kept fro,
Else is he a man unkind._
_The Fourth Song._
_I mun be married a Sunday;
I mun be married a Sunday;
Whosoever shall come that way,
I mun be married a Sunday._
_Roister Doister is my name;
Roister Doister is my name;
A lusty brute I am the same;
I mun be married a Sunday._
_Christian Custance have I found;
Christian Custance have I found;
A widow worth a thousand pound:
I mun be married a Sunday._
_Custance is as sweet as honey;
Custance is as sweet as honey;
I her lamb, and she my coney;
I mun be married a Sunday._
_When we shall make our wedding feast,
When we shall make our wedding feast,
There shall be cheer for man and beast;
I mun be married a Sunday.
I mun be married a Sunday, &c._
_The Psalmody._
_Placebo dilexi.
Master Roister Doister will straight go home and die,
Our Lord Jesus Christ his soul have mercy upon:
Thus you see, to-day a man, to-morrow John.[179]
Yet, saving for a woman's extreme cruelty,
He might have lived yet a month, or two, or three;
But in spite of Custance, which hath him wearied,
His maship shall be worshipfully buried.
And while some piece of his soul is yet him within,
Some part of his funeral let us here begin.
Dirige. He will go darkling[180] to his grave;
Neque lux, neque crux, nisi solum clink;
Never genman so went toward heaven, I think.
Yet, sirs, as ye will the bliss of heaven win,
When he cometh to the grave, lay him softly in;
And all men take heed by this one gentleman,
How you set your love upon an unkind woman;
For these women be all such mad peevish elves,
They will not be won, except it please themselves.
But, in faith, Custance, if ever ye come in hell,
Master Roister Doister shall serve you as well._
_Good night, Roger, old knave; farewell, Roger, old knave;
Good night, Roger, old knave; knave, knap.
Ne quando. Audivi vocem. Requiem æternam._
_The Peal of bells rung by the parish Clerk and Roister Doister's four
men._
_The first Bell, a Triple._ When died he? When died he?
_The second._ We have him! We have him!
_The third._ Roister Doister! Roister Doister!
_The fourth Bell._ He cometh! He cometh!
_The great Bell._ Our own! Our own!
FINIS
FOOTNOTES:
[168] [Peculiar place or function.]
[169] _i.e._, I approve of your conduct. See "Second Part of Henry
IV.," act iv., sc. 2; "King Lear," act ii., sc. 4; and Romans, c.
xiv., v. 22.--_Cooper._
[170] Adulteress, from the old French _advoultrer_. In Cartwright's
"Ordinary," act iv., sc. 5, the _Constable_ says, "I'll look there
shall be no _advoutry_ in my ward."--_Cooper._
[171] _i.e._, Bear me no ill-will.
[172] With these words R. Roister evidently retires.--_Cooper._
[173] Encourage him. So in the epistle to Gabriel Harvey, prefixed to
Spenser's "Shepherd's Calendar": "The Right Worshipfull Maister Philip
Sidney is a speciall favourer and _maintainer_ of all kinde of
learning."--_Cooper._
[174] The exit and re-entry are not marked.--_Cooper._
[175] [It seems probable that this prayer at the end was intended for
Queen Elizabeth, not for her predecessor. The original prayer, if
there was one, on the first presentation of the comedy, may have been
suppressed in favour of one to suit the new circumstances.]
[176] Ancient interludes frequently ended with a prayer, which it was
the custom of the players to deliver kneeling.--_Cooper._
[177] These are the songs referred to in the body of the Comedy.
[178] A _pet_ or _darling_ wife.--_Cooper._
[179] [Query, _Sir John_, _i.e._, the priest, to say the requiem. See
Hazlitt's "Proverbs," p. 414.]
[180] ["So out went the candle, and we were left darkling," "King
Lear," i. 4; Dyce's 2d edit. vii. 269.]
GAMMER GURTON'S NEEDLE.