Chapter 19
ENTER FALLACE AND FASTIDIOUS BRISK.
FAL. O, master Fastidious, what pity is it to see so sweet a man as you are, in so sour a place! [KISSES HIM.
COR. As upon her lips, does she mean?
MIT. O, this is to be imagined the Counter, belike.
FAST. Troth, fair lady, 'tis first the pleasure of the fates, and next of the constable, to have it so: but I am patient, and indeed comforted the more in your kind visit.
FAL. Nay, you shall be comforted in me more than this, if you please, sir. I sent you word by my brother, sir, that my husband laid to 'rest you this morning; I know now whether you received it or no.
FAST. No, believe it, sweet creature, your brother gave me no such intelligence.
FAL. O, the lord!
FAST. But has your husband any such purpose?
FAL. O, sweet master Brisk, yes: and therefore be presently discharged, for if he come with his actions upon you, Lord deliver you! you are in for one half-a-score year; he kept a poor man in Ludgate once twelve year for sixteen shillings. Where's your keeper? for love's sake call him, let him take a bribe, and despatch you. Lord, how my heart trembles! here are no spies, are there?
FAST. No, sweet mistress. Why are you in this passion?
FAL. O lord, master Fastidious, if you knew how I took up my husband to-day, when he said he would arrest you; and how I railed at him that persuaded him to it, the scholar there (who, on my conscience, loves you now), and what care I took to send you intelligence by my brother; and how I gave him four sovereigns for his pains: and now, how I came running out hither without man or boy with me, so soon as I heard on't; you'd say I were in a passion indeed. Your keeper, for God's sake! O, master Brisk, as 'tis in 'Euphues', 'Hard is the choice, when one is compelled either by silence to die with grief, or by speaking to live with shame'.
FAST. Fair lady, I conceive you, and may this kiss assure you, that where adversity hath, as it were, contracted, prosperity shall not -- Od's me! your husband.
ENTER DELIRO AND MACILENTE. FAL. O me!
DELI. Ay! Is it thus?
MACI. Why, how now, signior Deliro! has the wolf seen you, ha? Hath Gorgon's head made marble of you?
DELI. Some planet strike me dead!
MACI. Why, look you, sir, I told you, you might have suspected this long afore, had you pleased, and have saved this labour of admiration now, and passion, and such extremities as this frail lump of flesh is subject unto. Nay, why do you not doat now, signior? methinks you should say it were some enchantment, 'deceptio visus', or so, ha! If you could persuade yourself it were a dream now, 'twere excellent: faith, try what you can do, signior: it may be your imagination will be brought to it in time; there's nothing impossible.
FAL. Sweet husband!
DELI. Out, lascivious strumpet! [EXIT.
MACI. What! did you see how ill that stale vein became him afore, of 'sweet wife', and 'dear heart'; and are you fallen just into the same now, with 'sweet husband'! Away, follow him, go, keep state: what! remember you are a woman, turn impudent; give him not the head, though you give him the horns. Away. And yet, methinks, you should take your leave of 'enfant perdu' here, your forlorn hope. [EXIT FAL.] -- How now, monsieur Brisk? what! Friday night, and in affliction too, and yet your pulpamenta, your delicate morsels! I perceive the affection of ladies and gentlewomen pursues you wheresoever you go, monsieur.
FAST. Now, in good faith, and as I am gentle, there could not have come a thing in this world to have distracted me more, than the wrinkled fortunes of this poor dame.
MACI. O yes, sir; I can tell you a think will distract you much better, believe it: Signior Deliro has entered three actions against you, three actions, monsieur! marry, one of them (I'll put you in comfort) is but three thousand, and the other two, some five thousand pound together: trifles, trifles.
FAST. O, I am undone.
MACI. Nay, not altogether so, sir; the knight must have his hundred pound repaid, that will help too; and then six score pounds for a diamond, you know where. These be things will weigh, monsieur, they will weigh.
FAST. O heaven!
MACI. What! do you sigh? this is to 'kiss the hand of a countess', to 'have her coach sent for you', to 'hang poniards in ladies' garters', to 'wear bracelets of their hair', and for every one of these great favours to 'give some slight jewel of five hundred crowns, or so'; why, 'tis nothing. Now, monsieur, you see the plague that treads on the heels o' your foppery: well, go your ways in, remove yourself to the two-penny ward quickly, to save charges, and there set up your rest to spend sir Puntarvolo's hundred pound for him. Away, good pomander, go! [EXIT FASTIDIOUS. Why here's a change! now is my soul at peace: I am as empty of all envy now, As they of merit to be envied at. My humour, like a flame, no longer lasts Than it hath stuff to feed it; and their folly Being now raked up in their repentant ashes, Affords no ampler subject to my spleen. I am so far from malicing their states, That I begin to pity them. It grieves me To think they have a being. I could wish They might turn wise upon it, and be saved now, So heaven were pleased; but let them vanish, vapours! -- Gentlemen, how like you it? has't not been tedious?
COR. Nay, we have done censuring now.
MIT. Yes, faith.
MACI. How so?
COR. Marry, because we'll imitate your actors, and be out of our humours. Besides, here are those round about you of more ability in censure than we, whose judgments can give it a more satisfying allowance; we'll refer you to them. [EXEUNT CORDATUS AND MITIS.
MACI. [COMING FORWARD.] Ay, is it even so? -- Well, gentlemen, I should have gone in, and return'd to you as I was Asper at the first; but by reason the shift would have been somewhat long, and we are loth to draw your patience farther, we'll entreat you to imagine it. And now, that you may see I will be out of humour for company, I stand wholly to your kind approbation, and indeed am nothing so peremptory as I was in the beginning: marry, I will not do as Plautus in his 'Amphytrio', for all this, 'summi Jovis causa plaudite'; beg a plaudite for God's sake; but if you, out of the bounty of your good-liking, will bestow it, why, you may in time make lean Macilente as fat as sir John Falstaff. [EXIT.
THE EPILOGUE
AT THE PRESENTATION BEFORE QUEEN ELIZABETH
BY MACILENTE.
Never till now did object greet mine eyes With any light content: but in her graces All my malicious powers have lost their stings. Envy is fled from my soul at sight of her, And she hath chased all black thoughts from my bosom, Like as the sun doth darkness from the world, My stream of humour is run out of me, And as our city's torrent, bent t'infect The hallow'd bowels of the silver Thames, Is check'd by strength and clearness of the river, Till it hath spent itself even at the shore; So in the ample and unmeasured flood Of her perfections, are my passions drown'd; And I have now a spirit as sweet and clear As the more rarefied and subtle air: -- With which, and with a heart as pure as fire, Yet humble as the earth, do I implore [KNEELS. O heaven, that She, whose presence hath effected This change in me, may suffer most late change In her admired and happy government: May still this Island be call'd Fortunate, And rugged Treason tremble at the sound, When Fame shall speak it with an emphasis. Let foreign polity be dull as lead, And pale Invasion come with half a heart, When he but looks upon her blessed soil. The throat of War be stopt within her land, And turtle-footed Peace dance fairy rings About her court; where never may there come Suspect or danger, but all trust and safety. Let Flattery be dumb, and Envy blind In her dread presence; Death himself admire her; And may her virtues make him to forget The use of his inevitable hand. Fly from her, Age; sleep, Time, before her throne; Our strongest wall falls down, when she is gone.
GLOSSARY
ABATE, cast down, subdue ABHORRING, repugnant (to), at variance ABJECT, base, degraded thing, outcast ABRASE, smooth, blank ABSOLUTE(LY), faultless(ly) ABSTRACTED, abstract, abstruse ABUSE, deceive, insult, dishonour, make ill use of ACATER, caterer ACATES, cates ACCEPTIVE, willing, ready to accept, receive ACCOMMODATE, fit, befitting. (The word was a fashionable one and used on all occasions. See "Henry IV.," pt. 2, iii.4) ACCOST, draw near, approach ACKNOWN, confessedly acquainted with ACME, full maturity ADALANTADO, lord deputy or governor of a Spanish province ADJECTION, addition ADMIRATION, astonishment ADMIRE, wonder, wonder at ADROP, philosopher's stone, or substance from which obtained ADSCRIVE, subscribe ADULTERATE, spurious, counterfeit ADVANCE, life ADVERTISE, inform, give intelligence ADVERTISED, "be --," be it known to you ADVERTISEMENT, intelligence ADVISE, consider, bethink oneself, deliberate ADVISED, informed, aware; "are you --?" have you found that out? AFFECT, love, like; aim at; move AFFECTED, disposed; beloved AFFECTIONATE, obstinate; prejudiced AFFECTS, affections AFFRONT, "give the --," face AFFY, have confidence in; betroth AFTER, after the manner of AGAIN, AGAINST, in anticipation of AGGRAVATE, increase, magnify, enlarge upon AGNOMINATION. See Paranomasie AIERY, nest, brood AIM, guess ALL HID, children's cry at hide-and-seek ALL-TO, completely, entirely ("all-to-be-laden") ALLOWANCE, approbation, recognition ALMA-CANTARAS (astron.), parallels of altitude ALMAIN, name of a dance ALMUTEN, planet of chief influence in the horoscope ALONE, unequalled, without peer ALUDELS, subliming pots AMAZED, confused, perplexed AMBER, AMBRE, ambergris AMBREE, MARY, a woman noted for her valour at the siege of Ghent, 1458 AMES-ACE, lowest throw at dice AMPHIBOLIES, ambiguities AMUSED, bewildered, amazed AN, if ANATOMY, skeleton, or dissected body ANDIRONS, fire-dogs ANGEL, gold coin worth 10s., stamped with the figure of the archangel Michael ANNESH CLEARE, spring known as Agnes le Clare ANSWER, return hit in fencing ANTIC, ANTIQUE, clown, buffoon ANTIC, like a buffoon ANTIPERISTASIS, an opposition which enhances the quality it opposes APOZEM, decoction AFFERIL, peril APPLE-JOHN, APPLE-SQUIRE, pimp, pander APPLY, attach APPREHEND, take into custody APPREHENSIVE, quick of perception; able to perceive and appreciate APPROVE, prove, confirm APT, suit, adapt; train, prepare; dispose, incline APT(LY), suitable(y), opportune(ly) APTITUDE, suitableness ARBOR, "make the --," cut up the game (Gifford) ARCHES, Court of Arches ARCHIE, Archibald Armstrong, jester to James I. and Charles I. ARGAILE, argol, crust or sediment in wine casks ARGENT-VIVE, quicksilver ARGUMENT, plot of a drama; theme, subject; matter in question; token, proof ARRIDE, please ARSEDINE, mixture of copper and zinc, used as an imitation of gold-leaf ARTHUR, PRINCE, reference to an archery show by a society who assumed arms, etc., of Arthur's knights ARTICLE, item ARTIFICIALLY, artfully ASCENSION, evaporation, distillation ASPIRE, try to reach, obtain, long for ASSALTO (Ital.), assault ASSAY, draw a knife along the belly of the deer, a ceremony of the hunting-field ASSOIL, solve ASSURE, secure possession or reversion of ATHANOR, a digesting furnace, calculated to keep up a constant heat ATONE, reconcile ATTACH, attack, seize AUDACIOUS, having spirit and confidence AUTHENTIC(AL), of authority, authorised, trustworthy, genuine AVISEMENT, reflection, consideration AVOID, begone! get rid of AWAY WITH, endure AZOCH, Mercurius Philosophorum
BABION, baboon BABY, doll BACK-SIDE, back premises BAFFLE, treat with contempt BAGATINE, Italian coin, worth about the third of a farthing BALARD, horse of magic powers known to old romance BALDRICK, belt worn across the breast to support bugle, etc. BALE (of dice), pair BALK, overlook, pass by, avoid BALLACE, ballast BALLOO, game at ball BALNEUM (BAIN MARIE), a vessel for holding hot water in which other vessels are stood for heating BANBURY, "brother of __," Puritan BANDOG, dog tied or chained up BANE, woe, ruin BANQUET, a light repast; dessert BARB, to clip gold BARBEL, fresh-water fish BARE, meer; bareheaded; it was "a particular mark of state and grandeur for the coachman to be uncovered" (Gifford) BARLEY-GREAK, game somewhat similar to base BASE, game of prisoner's base BASES, richly embroidered skirt reaching to the knees, or lower BASILISK, fabulous reptile, believed to slay with its eye BASKET, used for the broken provision collected for prisoners BASON, basons, etc., were beaten by the attendant mob when bad characters were "carted" BATE, be reduced; abate, reduce BATOON, baton, stick BATTEN, feed, grow fat BAWSON, badger BEADSMAN, PRAYER-MAN, one engaged to pray for another BEAGLE, small hound; fig. spy BEAR IN HAND, keep in suspense, deceive with false hopes BEARWARD, bear leader BEDPHERE See Phere BEDSTAFF, (?) wooden pin in the side of the bedstead for supporting the bedclothes (Johnson); one of the sticks of "laths"; a stick used in making a bed BEETLE, heavy mallet BEG, "I'd -- him," the custody of minors and idiots was begged for; likewise property fallen forfeit to the Crown ("your house had been begged") BELL-MAN, night watchman BENJAMIN, an aromatic gum BERLINA, pillory BESCUMBER, defile BESLAVE, beslabber BESOGNO, beggar BESPAWLE, bespatter BETHLEHEM GABOR, Transylvanian hero, proclaimed King of Hungary BEVER, drinking BEVIS, SIR, knight of romance whose horse was equally celebrated BEWAY, reveal, make known BEZANT, heraldic term: small gold circle BEZOAR'S STONE, a remedy known by this name was a supposed antidote to poison BID-STAND, highwayman BIGGIN, cap, similar to that worn by the Beguines; nightcap BILIVE (belive), with haste BILE, nothing, empty talk BILL, kind of pike BILLET, wood cut for fuel, stick BIRDING, thieving BLACK SANCTUS, burlesque hymn, any unholy riot BLANK, originally a small French coin BLANK, white BLANKET, toss in a blanket BLAZE, outburst of violence BLAZE, (her.) blazon; publish abroad BLAZON, armorial bearings; fig. all that pertains to good birth and breeding BLIN, "withouten --," without ceasing BLOW, puff up BLUE, colour of servants' livery, hence "-- order," "-- waiters" BLUSHET, blushing one BOB, jest, taunt BOB, beat, thump BODGE, measure BODKIN, dagger, or other short, pointed weapon; long pin with which the women fastened up their hair BOLT, roll (of material) BOLT, dislodge, rout out; sift (boulting-tub) BOLT'S-HEAD, long, straight-necked vessel for distillation. BOMBARD SLOPS, padded, puffed-out breeches BONA ROBA, "good, wholesome, plum-cheeked wench" (Johnson) -- not always used in compliment BONNY-CLABBER, sour butter-milk BOOKHOLDER, prompter BOOT, "to --," into the bargain; "no --," of no avail BORACHIO, bottle made of skin BORDELLO, brothel BORNE IT, conducted, carried it through BOTTLE (of han), bundle, truss BOTTOM, skein or ball of thread; vessel BOURD, jest BOVOLI, snails or cockles dressed in the Italian manner (Gifford) BOW-POT, flower vase or pot BOYE, "terrible --," "angry --," roystering young bucks. (See Nares) BRABBLES (BRABBLESH), brawls BRACH, bitch BRADAMANTE, a heroine in 'Orlando Furioso' BRADLEY, ARTHUR OF, a lively character commemorated in ballads BRAKE, frame for confining a norse's feet while being shod, or strong curb or bridle; trap BRANCHED, with "detached sleeve ornaments, projecting from the shoulders of the gown" (Gifford) BRANDISH, flourish of weapon BRASH, brace BRAVE, bravado, braggart speech BRAVE (adv.), gaily, finely (apparelled) BRAVERIES, gallants BRAVERY, extravagant gaiety of apparel BRAVO, bravado, swaggerer BRAZEN-HEAD, speaking head made by Roger Bacon BREATHE, pause for relaxation; exercise BREATH UPON, speak dispraisingly of BREND, burn BRIDE-ALE, wedding feast BRIEF, abstract; (mus.) breve BRISK, smartly dressed BRIZE, breese, gadfly BROAD-SEAL, state seal BROCK, badger (term of contempt) BROKE, transact business as a broker BROOK, endure, put up with BROUGHTON, HUGH, an English divine and Hebrew scholar BRUIT, rumour BUCK, wash BUCKLE, bend BUFF, leather made of buffalo skin, used for military and serjeants' coats, etc. BUFO, black tincture BUGLE, long-shaped bead BULLED, (?) boiled, swelled BULLIONS, trunk hose BULLY, term of familiar endearment BUNGY, Friar Bungay, who had a familiar in the shape of a dog BURDEN, refrain, chorus BURGONET, closely-fitting helmet with visor BURGULLION, braggadocio BURN, mark wooden measures (" --ing of cans") BURROUGH, pledge, security BUSKIN, half-boot, foot gear reaching high up the leg BUTT-SHAFT, barbless arrow for shooting at butts BUTTER, NATHANIEL. ("Staple of News"), a compiler of general news. (See Cunningham) BUTTERY-HATCH, half-door shutting off the buttery, where provisions and liquors were stored BUY, "he bought me," formerly the guardianship of wards could be bought BUZ, exclamation to enjoin silence BUZZARD, simpleton BY AND BY, at once BY(E), "on the __," incidentally, as of minor or secondary importance; at the side BY-CHOP, by-blow, bastard
CADUCEUS, Mercury's wand CALIVER, light kind of musket CALLET, woman of ill repute CALLOT, coif worn on the wigs of our judges or serjeants-at-law (Gifford) CALVERED, crimped, or sliced and pickled. (See Nares) CAMOUCCIO, wretch, knave CAMUSED, flat CAN, knows CANDLE-RENT, rent from house property CANDLE-WASTER, one who studies late CANTER, sturdy beggar CAP OF MAINTENCE, an insignia of dignity, a cap of state borne before kings at their coronation; also an heraldic term CAPABLE, able to comprehend, fit to receive instruction, impression CAPANEUS, one of the "Seven against Thebes" CARACT, carat, unit of weight for precious stones, etc.; value, worth CARANZA, Spanish author of a book on duelling CARCANET, jewelled ornament for the neck CARE, take care; object CAROSH, coach, carriage CARPET, table-cover CARRIAGE, bearing, behaviour CARWHITCHET, quip, pun CASAMATE, casemate, fortress CASE, a pair CASE, "in --," in condition CASSOCK, soldier's loose overcoat CAST, flight of hawks, couple CAST, throw dice; vomit; forecast, calculate CAST, cashiered CASTING-GLASS, bottle for sprinkling perfume CASTRIL, kestrel, falcon CAT, structure used in sieges CATAMITE, old form of "ganymede" CATASTROPHE, conclusion CATCHPOLE, sheriff's officer CATES, dainties, provisions CATSO, rogue, cheat CAUTELOUS, crafty, artful CENSURE, criticism; sentence CENSURE, criticise; pass sentence, doom CERUSE, cosmetic containing white lead CESS, assess CHANGE, "hunt --," follow a fresh scent CHAPMAN, retail dealer CHARACTER, handwriting CHARGE, expense CHARM, subdue with magic, lay a spell on, silence CHARMING, exercising magic power CHARTEL, challenge CHEAP, bargain, market CHEAR, CHEER, comfort, encouragement; food, entertainment CHECK AT, aim reproof at CHEQUIN, gold Italian coin CHEVEIL, from kidskin, which is elastic and pliable CHIAUS, Turkish envoy; used for a cheat, swindler CHILDERMASS DAY, Innocents' Day CHOKE-BAIL, action which does not allow of bail CHRYSOPOEIA, alchemy CHRYSOSPERM, ways of producing gold CIBATION, adding fresh substances to supply the waste of evaporation CIMICI, bugs CINOPER, cinnabar CIOPPINI, chopine, lady's high shoe CIRCLING BOY, "a species of roarer; one who in some way drew a man into a snare, to cheat or rob him" (Nares) CIRCUMSTANCE, circumlocution, beating about the bush; ceremony, everything pertaining to a certain condition; detail, particular CITRONISE, turn citron colour CITTERN, kind of guitar CITY-WIRES, woman of fashion, who made use of wires for hair and dress CIVIL, legal CLAP, clack, chatter CLAPPER-DUDGEON, downright beggar CLAPS HIS DISH, a clap, or clack, dish (dish with a movable lid) was carried by beggars and lepers to show that the vessel was empty, and to give sound of their approach CLARIDIANA, heroine of an old romance CLARISSIMO, Venetian noble CLEM, starve CLICKET, latch CLIM O' THE CLOUGHS, etc., wordy heroes of romance CLIMATE, country CLOSE, secret, private; secretive CLOSENESS, secrecy CLOTH, arras, hangings CLOUT, mark shot at, bull's eye CLOWN, countryman, clodhopper COACH-LEAVES, folding blinds COALS, "bear no --," submit to no affront COAT-ARMOUR, coat of arms COAT-CARD, court-card COB-HERRING, HERRING-COB, a young herring COB-SWAN, male swan COCK-A-HOOP, denoting unstinted jollity; thought to be derived from turning on the tap that all might drink to the full of the flowing liquor COCKATRICE, reptile supposed to be produced from a cock's egg and to kill by its eye -- used as a term of reproach for a woman COCK-BRAINED, giddy, wild COCKER, pamper COCKSCOMB, fool's cap COCKSTONE, stone said to be found in a cock's gizzard, and to possess particular virtues CODLING, softening by boiling COFFIN, raised crust of a pie COG, cheat, wheedle COIL, turmoil, confusion, ado COKELY, master of a puppet-show (Whalley) COKES, fool, gull COLD-CONCEITED, having cold opinion of, coldly affected towards COLE-HARBOUR, a retreat for people of all sorts COLLECTION, composure; deduction COLLOP, small slice, piece of flesh COLLY, blacken COLOUR, pretext COLOURS, "fear no --," no enemy (quibble) COLSTAFF, cowlstaff, pole for carrying a cowl=tub COME ABOUT, charge, turn round COMFORTABLE BREAD, spiced gingerbread COMING, forward, ready to respond, complaisant COMMENT, commentary; "sometime it is taken for a lie or fayned tale" (Bullokar, 1616)
COMMODITY, "current for --," allusion to practice of money-lenders, who forced the borrower to take part of the loan in the shape of worthless goods on which the latter had to make money if he could COMMUNICATE, share COMPASS, "in --," within the range, sphere COMPLEMENT, completion, completement; anything required for the perfecting or carrying out of a person or affair; accomplishment COMPLEXION, natural disposition, constitution COMPLIMENT, See Complement COMPLIMENTARIES, masters of accomplishments COMPOSITION, constitution; agreement, contract COMPOSURE, composition COMPTER, COUNTER, debtors' prison CONCEALMENT, a certain amount of church property had been retained at the dissolution of the monasteries; Elizabeth sent commissioners to search it out, and the courtiers begged for it CONCEIT, idea, fancy, witty invention, conception, opinion CONCEIT, apprehend CONCEITED, fancifully, ingeniously devised or conceived; possessed of intelligence, witty, ingenious (hence well conceited, etc.); disposed to joke; of opinion, possessed of an idea CONCEIVE, understand CONCENT, harmony, agreement CONCLUDE, infer, prove CONCOCT, assimilate, digest CONDEN'T, probably conducted CONDUCT, escort, conductor CONEY-CATCH, cheat CONFECT, sweetmeat CONFER, compare CONGIES, bows CONNIVE, give a look, wink, of secret intelligence CONSORT, company, concert CONSTANCY, fidelity, ardour, persistence CONSTANT, confirmed, persistent, faithful CONSTANTLY, firmly, persistently CONTEND, strive CONTINENT, holding together CONTROL (the point), bear or beat down CONVENT, assembly, meeting CONVERT, turn (oneself) CONVEY, transmit from one to another CONVINCE, evince, prove; overcome, overpower; convict COP, head, top; tuft on head of birds; "a cop" may have reference to one or other meaning; Gifford and others interpret as "conical, terminating in a point" COPE-MAN, chapman COPESMATE, companion CORV (Lat. Copia), abundance, copiousness CORN ("powder - "), grain COROLLARY, finishing part or touch CORSIVE, corrosive CORTINE, curtain, (arch.) wall between two towers, etc. CORYAT, famous for his travels, published as 'Coryat's Crudities' COSSET, pet lamb, pet COSTARD, head COSTARD-MONGER, apple-seller, coster-monger COSTS, ribs COTE, hut COTHURNAL, from "cothurnus," a particular boot worn by actors in Greek tragedy COTQUEAN, hussy COUNSEL, secret COUNTENANCE, means necessary for support; credit, standing COUNTER. See Compter COUNTER, pieces of metal or ivory for calculating at play COUNTER, "hunt --," follow scent in reverse direction COUNTERFEIT, false coin COUNTERPANE, one part or counterpart of a deed or indenture COUNTERPOINT, opposite, contrary point COURT-DISH, a kind of drinking-cup (Halliwell); N.E.D. quotes from Bp. Goodman's 'Court of James I.: "The king...caused his carver to cut him out a court-dish, that is, something of every dish, which he sent him as part of his reversion," but this does not sound like short allowance or small receptacle COURT-DOR, fool COURTEAU, curtal, small horse with docked tail COURTSHIP, courtliness COVETISE, avarice COWSHARD, cow dung COXCOMB, fool's cap, fool COY, shrink; disdain COYSTREL, low varlet COZEN, cheat CRACK, lively young rogue, wag CRACK, crack up, boast; come to grief CRAMBE, game of crambo, in which the players find rhymes for a given word CRANCH, craunch CRANTON, spider-like; also fairy appellation for a fly (Gifford, who refers to lines in Drayton's "Nimphidia") CRIMP, game at cards CRINCLE, draw back, turn aside CRISPED, with curled or waved hair CROP, gather, reap CROPSHIRE, a kind of herring. (See N.E.D.) CROSS, any piece of money, many coins being stamped with a cross CROSS AND FILE, heads and tails CROSSLET, crucible CROWD, fiddle CRUDITIES, undigested matter CRUMP, curl up CRUSADO, Portuguese gold coin, marked with a cross CRY ("he that cried Italian):, "speak in a musical cadence," intone, or declaim(?); cry up CUCKING-STOOL, used for the ducking of scolds, etc. CUCURBITE, a gourd-shaped vessel used for distillation CUERPO, "in --," in undress CULLICE, broth CULLION, base fellow, coward CULLISEN, badge worn on their arm by servants CULVERIN, kind of cannon CUNNING, skill CUNNING, skilful CUNNING-MAN, fortune-teller CURE, care for CURIOUS(LY), scrupulous, particular; elaborate, elegant(ly), dainty(ly) (hence "in curious") CURST, shrewish, mischievous CURTAL, dog with docked tail, of inferior sort CUSTARD, "quaking --," " -- politic," reference to a large custard which formed part of a city feast and afforded huge entertainment, for the fool jumped into it, and other like tricks were played. (See "All's Well, etc."