"A linen vest, like a surplice, worn by bishops, under their satin robes. The word, it is true, is not obsolete, nor the thing disused, but it is little known."--Nares. ("Lent unto thomas Dowton, the 11 of Aprel 1598, to bye tafitie to macke a _Rochet_ for the beshoppe in earlle good wine, xxiiii s." Henslowe's Diary, ed. Collier, p. 122.) [167] (4to): by. [168] The word "portage" occurs in a difficult passage of _Pericles_, iii. 1,-- "Even at the first Thy loss is more than can thy _portage_ quit With all thou canst find here." If there be no corruption in the passage of _Pericles_, the meaning can only be (as Steevens explained) "thy safe arrival at the port of life." Our author's use of the word "portage" is even more perplexing than Shakespeare's; "Thy portion" would give excellent sense; but, with the passage of _Pericles_ before us, we cannot suppose that there is a printer's error. [In _Henry V_. 3, i, we find 'portage' for 'port-holes.'] [169] Quy. ever? [170] The subst. _mouse_ is sometimes found as an innocent term of endearment, but more often in a wanton sense (like the Lat. passer). [171] 'Felt locks'--matted locks, commonly called "elf-locks": the various forms "felted," "felter'd" and "feutred" are found. [172] 'Stavesucre' (said to be a corruption of [Greek: staphis]. and usually written 'Staves-acre') a kind of lark-spur considered efficacious in destroying lice. Cf. Marlowe's _Dr. Faustus_ (i. 4)-- 'Stavesacre? that's good to kill vermin; then belike, if I serve you, I shall be lousy.' [173] Quy. early-rioting. [174] Ought we to read 'fins'? Webster (_Duchess of Malfi_, ii. 1) has the expression the '_fins_ of her eye-lids'; it is found also in the _Malcontent_ (i. 1), The confusion between the 'f' and the long 's' is very common. [175] Shakespeare uses the verb 'fang' (_Timon of Athens_, iv. 3) in the sense of 'seize, clutch.' [176] Varlet--'the serjeant-at-mace to the city counters was so called,' Halliwell (who, however, gives no instance of this use). [177] 'Trunk-hose' wide breeches stuffed with wool, &c. [178] I can make nothing of this verse: the obscurity is not at all removed by putting a comma after 'rules.' Doubtless the passage is corrupt. [179] _Our rest we set_ in pleasing, &c., i.e., we have made up our mind to please. The metaphor is taken from primero (a game, seemingly, not unlike the Yankee 'poker'), where to 'set up rest' meant to stand on one's cards; but the expression was also used in a military sense. Vid: Furness' Variorum Shakesp., _Rom. & Iul_., iv. 5. [180] In Vol. IX. of the _Transactions of the Royal Historical Society_ is an elaborate paper (since reprinted for private circulation) by the Rev. F.G. Fleay 'On the Actor Lists, 1538-1642.' The learned writer tells us nothing new about Samuel Rowley; but his essay well deserves a careful study. [181] Quy. a _fury's_ face.