Minsheu thus explains _Primero_:--"_Primero and Primavista_, two games at cards. Primum et primum visum, that is, first and first seene, because he that can show such an order of cards first, winnes the game." [See Dyce's "Shakespeare Glossary," in _v_.] [247] See Note 30 to "The Dumb Knight." [248] [See "Popular Antiquities of Great Britain," ii. 318-19.] So in Dekker's "Belman's Nights-walke," it is alluded to:--"The set at _Maw_ being plaid out." Henslowe in his Diary mentions a play under the title of "The Maw," which probably had reference to the game at cards so called. It was acted on the 14th December 1594. He also names a play entitled "The Macke," under date of Feb. 21, 1594-5; but it is doubtful if they were not the same.--_Collier_. [249] In the old editions this is given as a part of what is said by Anamnestes.--_Collier_. [250] [See Dyce's "Middleton," iii. 106. _There's no ho_, there are no bounds or restraints with them.--_Reed_. They are not to be restrained by a call or ho. The expression is common.--_Dyce_.] [251] Rather Ptolemy.--_Pegge_. [252] _Latten_, as explained by Dr Johnson, is "Brass; a mixture of Copper and Caliminaris stone." Mr Theobald, from Monsieur Dacier, says, "C'est une espece de cuivre de montagne, comme son nom mesme le temoigne; c'est ce que nous appellons au jourd'huy du _leton_. It is a sort of mountain copper, as its very name imports, and which we at this time of day call _latten_." See Mr Theobald's note on "The Merry Wives of Windsor," act i. sc. 1. Among the Harleian MSS. is a tract, No. 6395, entitled "Merry Passages and Jeasts," written in the seventeenth century, [printed by Thoms in "Anecdotes and Traditions," 1839,] in which is the following story of Shakespeare, which seems entitled to as much credit as any of the anecdotes which now pass current about him: "Shake-speare was god-father to one of Ben Jonson's children, and after the christning, being in a deepe study, Jonson came to cheere him up, and ask't him why he was so melancholy? No, faith, Ben (sayes he) not I, but I have been considering a great while, what should be the fittest gift for me to bestow upon my god-child, and I have resolv'd at last; I pr'y thee what, says he? I faith, Ben, Ile e'en give him a douzen good _Lattin_ spoones, and thou shall translate them." [253] _Deft_ is handy, dexterous. So in "Macbeth," act iv. sc. 1-- "Thyself and office _deftly_ show." See note on "Macbeth," edit. 1778.--_Steevens_. [254] [Concert.] [255] [Summoners, officers of the old ecclesiastical court.] [256] [Ignorant of arts.] [257] A _jangler_, says Baret, is "a jangling fellowe, a babbling attornie. _Rabula, ae_, mas. gen. [Greek: Dikologos]_ Vn pledoieur criard, une plaidereau_." [258] This speech is in six-line stanzas, and _beforn_ should rhyme to _morn_, as it does in the old copies, which were here abandoned. --_Collier_.