[See also "Popular Antiquities of Great Britain," 1870, ii. 340.] [216] Alluding to the quaint speeches anciently delivered by fantastic characters during pageants and processions, such as that of the Lord Mayor, those at the entry of foreign princes, &c. The speakers were usually placed on _conduits_, _market crosses_, and other elevated situations.--_Steevens._ [217] [According to some, a person who kept a tavern at or near Hoxton, but according to others, a place in that neighbourhood remarkable for selling ale. This is a doubtful matter. The ales of Pimlico, near London, are still famous.] See "Pimlyco, or Runne Red cap, 'tis a mad world at Hogsden," 1609. [As only one copy of it is known, it might be rather difficult to _see_ it.] [218] [See Dyce's "Shakespeare Glossary," in _v._ A _whiffler_ was originally a player on a _whiffle_ or fife in a procession, and hence was a name applied to the boys who walked (generally with flags) in the procession on Lord Mayor's Day.] _Bachelors whifflers_ should properly be _young men_ free of the company. They attend on the Lord Mayor's Day, and are supposed to be out of their apprenticeships the preceding year. They are considered by the company they belong to pretty nearly in the same point of view as a gentleman considers the upper servants he keeps _out of livery_.--_N._ In some companies, I am well informed, the children are named _The Whiflers_.--_Reed_ (note altered). [219] See note p. 248 to this play. [220] [A piece of wit on the part of Plotwell, who meant slyly to insinuate that Timothy was fit to be begged for a fool, a custom which was once common, and does not require explanation.] ACT III., SCENE I. _+Bright+, +Newcut+, +Plotwell+, +Roseclap+, hanging out the picture of a strange fish._[221] +Bright.+ 'Fore Jove, the captain fox'd[222] him rarely. +Rose.+ O sir, He is used to it: this is the fifth fish now That he hath shown thus. One got him twenty pound. +New.+ How, Roseclap? +Rose.+ Why the captain kept him, sir, A whole week drunk, and show'd him twice a-day. +New.+ It could not be like this. +Rose.+ Faith, I do grant This is the strangest fish. Yon I have hung His other picture in the fields, where some Say 'tis an o'ergrown porpoise; others say 'Tis the fish caught in Cheshire; one, to whom The rest agree, said 'twas a mermaid. +Plot.+ 'Slight! Roseclap shall have a patent of him. The birds Brought from Peru, the hairy wench,[223] the camel, The elephant, dromedaries, or Windsor Castle, The woman with dead flesh, or she that washes, Threads needles, writes, dresses her children, plays O' th' virginals with her feet, could never draw People like this. +New.+ O, that his father were At home to see him! +Plot.+ Or his mother come, Who follows strange sights out of town, and went To Brentford to a motion.