M. MUMBL. A jolly man it is, I wot well by report, And would have you to him for marriage resort. Best open the writing, and see what it doth speak. C. CUSTANCE. At this time, nurse, I will neither read ne break. M. MUMBL. He promised to give you a whole peck of gold. C. CUSTANCE. Perchance, [t'will] lack of a pint, when it shall be all told. M. MUMBL. I would take a gay rich husband, and I were you. C. CUSTANCE. In good sooth, Madge, e'en so would I, if I were thou.[87] But no more of this fond talk now; let us go in, And see thou no more move me folly to begin; Nor bring me no mo letters for no man's pleasure, But thou know from whom. M. MUMBL. I warrant, ye shall be sure. FOOTNOTES: [38] One of the names of the devil in old morals. --_W. D. Cooper._ [39] [Sheet-anchor.] [40] Impudently vaunting and boasting. "You preserve A race of idle people here about you, _Facers_ and talkers.--_Maids Tragedy_, Act iv., sc. 2. --_W. D. Cooper._ [41] In all probability an alteration to mean Elizabeth, in whose reign the play was printed; for in act iii., sc. 4, M. Merrygreek talks of the "arms of Calais"; and so does R. Roister, act iv., sc. 7. Calais was lost in 5th Mary, and the play was quoted by Wilson in 1551, when Edward was on the throne.--_W. D. Cooper._ [42] [Affirm, agree to it.] [43] [_i.e._, His own white son.] _White boy_ is a common expression of endearment in old plays, and to this day white-headed boy is an expression of fondness in Ireland, though the locks of the individual to whom it is applied may be "black as the raven's plume."--_W. D. Cooper._ [44] [Or glombing, _i.e._, louring. See Halliwell _v. Glombe_.] [45] Voice. "I syng not musycall, For my _brest_ is decayd." --_Armonye of Byrdes._ Halliwell's "Archaic and Provincial Words."--_W. D. Cooper._ [46] [In danger of debt, _i.e._ in the power of any man on account of debt.] [47] [_i.e._ Let _them_ consider how, &c.] [48] [_i.e._ By God's arms.] [49] [I warrant you, as far as madness is concerned. Mr Cooper proposed to read _from mad_; but the alteration appears to me unnecessary.] [50] [Fortunes are always exaggerated.] [51] [Nearer.] [52] This was a proverbial expression. See Heywood's "Proverbs" and "Taming of the Shrew," act ii., sc. I. _Backare_ probably means _Back there!_ or _Go back!_--_Cooper._ [The meaning is, clearly enough, that Gawin Goodluck must retreat from his courtship.] [53] Your mastership.--_Cooper._ [54] Quotha. [55] Some of these are the heroes of romances.--_Cooper._ [56] [A creature of the same country. _Aly_ seems here to be the same as _alyche_. See Halliwell, _v. v. alyche_ and _alye_.]