"that former fabulous story, Being now seen possible enough, got credit, That Bevis was believed;" that is, _so_ that the old romantic legend became credible. In _2 Henry VI._, after the words (ii. 3. 89), "have at thee with a downright blow," some editors add from the old play on which this is founded: "as Bevis of Southampton fell upon Ascapart," a giant whom he was said to have conquered. Figures of Bevis and Ascapart formerly adorned the Bar-gate at Southampton, as shown in the cut on the next page; but when the gate was repaired some years ago they were removed to the museum. _Adam Bell and Clymme of the Clough_ (that is, of the Cliff) figure in a popular old ballad, which may be found in Percy's _Reliques_. _The woolen statute-caps._ Caps which, by Act of Parliament in 1571, the citizens were required to wear on Sundays and holidays. The nobility were exempt from the requirement, which, as Strype informs us, was "in behalf of the trade of cappers"--one of sundry such "protection" measures in the time of Elizabeth. Compare _Love's Labour's Lost_, v. 2. 282: "Well, better wits have worn plain statute-caps." As Knight intimates here, the law was a very unpopular one. [Illustration: THE BAR-GATE, SOUTHAMPTON] _The Wife of Bath's husbands._ Alluding to the _Wife of Bath_, one of Chaucer's Canterbury pilgrims. In the prologue to her tale, she says of her husbands (of whom she had five in succession):-- "I governed hem so wel after my lawe, That eche of hem ful blisful was and fawe [fain, or glad] To bringen me gay things fro the feyre." That is, as she goes on to explain, they were glad to bring her presents from the fair to keep her in good humor, as otherwise she was apt to treat them "spitously," or spitefully. _Where a coxcomb will be broke._ That is, a head will be broken; but it should be understood that this does not mean a fractured skull, but merely a bruise sufficient to break the skin and make the blood flow. Shakespearian critics have sometimes misapprehended this and similar expressions. In _Romeo and Juliet_ (i. 2. 52), where the hero says, "Your plantain-leaf is excellent for that" (referring to a "broken shin"), Ulrici, the eminent German commentator, thinks that he must be speaking ironically, as plantain "was used to stop the blood, but not for a fracture of a bone." Compare _Twelfth Night_, v. 1. 178, where Sir Andrew says: "He has broke my head across and has given Sir Toby a bloody coxcomb too." =Page 206.=--_Junkets._ The word here means sweetmeats or delicacies. _Properties._ In the theatrical sense of stage requisites, such as costumes and other equipments and appointments. _Incurious._ Not _curious_, in the original sense of _careful_; not fastidious, and therefore pleased with these inferior actors. _And possess._ The subject of _possess_ is omitted, after the loose fashion of the time, being obviously implied in _rustics_. Compare _Hamlet_, iii. 1. 8:--