_Then God a mercy, horse, indeed!_' saies Tarlton. The people had much ado to keep peace; but Banks and Tarlton had like to have squared, and the horse by to give aime. But ever after it was a by-word thorow London, '_God a mercy horse!_' and is to this day.” “Tarlton, (as other gentlemen used,) at the first coming up of tobacco, did take it more for fashion's sake than otherwise, and being in a roome, set between two men overcome with wine, and they never seeing the like, wondered at it; and seeing the vapour come out of Tarlton's nose, cried out, 'Fire! fire!' and then threw a cup of wine in Tarlton's face.” With a little variation, Sir Walter Raleigh is reported to have been so treated by his servant. There are some curious old _tobacco papers_ extant representing the fact. It was a jug of beer, not a cup of wine. “Tarlton being at the court all night, in the morning he met a great courtier coming from his chamber, who, espying Tarlton, said, 'Good-morrow, Mr. Didimus and Tridimus.' Tarlton being somewhat abashed, not knowing the meaning thereof, said, 'Sir, I understand you not; expound, I pray you,' Quoth the courtier, 'Didimus and Tridimus are fool and knave.' 'You overload me,' replied Tarlton, 'for my back cannot bear both; therefore take you the one, and I will take the other; take you the knave, and I will carry the fool with me.' And again; there was a nobleman that asked Tarlton what he thought of soldiers in time of peace? 'Marry,' quoth he, 'they are like chimneys in summer.” Tom Brown has stolen this simile. “Tarlton, who at that time kept a tavern in Grace-church-street, made the celebrated Robert Armin * his adopted son, on the occasion of the boy (who was then servant to a goldsmith in Lombard-street) displaying that ready wit, for which Tarlton himself was so renowned. “A wagge thou art, none can prevent thee; And thy desert shall content thee; Let me divine: as I am, So in time thou'lt he the same: My adopted sonne therefore he, To enjoy my clowne's suit after me. “And so it fell out. The boy reading this, loved Tarlton ever after, and fell in with his humour; and private practice brought him to public playing; and at this houre he performs the same, where at the Globe on the Bank-side men may see him.” * Robert Armin was a popular actor in Shakspere's plays. He was associated with him and “his fellowes” in the patent granted by James I. to act at the Globe Theatre, and in any other part of the kingdom. He is the author of “The History of the Two Maids of More-clacke” 4to. 1609, in which he played Simple John in the hospital. His “true effigie” appears in the title-page: as does that of Green (another contemporary actor of rare merit), in “Tu Quoque.”