The inordinate taste for revolting incidents on the stage was a great feature of the times; the contemporaries of Somerset and his wife were habituated to the excitement of fearful mysteries, of crimes, and sins half-disclosed, yet awful in the dimness of partial discovery. The frequent occurrence of murders, sometimes designedly, “but more often in hasty broils,” in that day, presented subjects which, to us, seem extravagant, but which were highly acceptable to the bravadoes, who, smoking on the stage, brandished their rapiers, and were ready to avenge a quarrel at the sword’s point. In nothing is the difference of manners so marked between those days and these as in the matter of _honour_. In those times, honour was perpetually in every man’s mouth--personal courage was prominently brought forward; and hence, every play had its braggart or its coward; and, as we see in the works of Beaumont and Fletcher,[195] honour had its code, its professional counsel, and its practical paid supporters. But, with this code, this practice, moral courage had little to do; the code of honour drew the main limit of caste, and the burgher and the tradesman were beneath it. So important was it, however, to observe the new code _aux ongles_, that a manual or grammar of its rules was applied to satisfy the captious on nice points. Thus, when _Adorio_, in Massinger’s “Maid of Honour,” laments that his honour and reputation should suffer from having taken a blow in public from _Caldoro_, accompanied with the infamous “mark of coward,” he is referred by _Camillo_, to whom he pours forth his vexation, to Caranza’s “Grammar” for directions, in much the same manner as a lawyer would quote Lord St. Leonards on a point of law--or travellers call on Murray as their authority. Footnote 195: See “Maid’s Tragedy.” When _Adorio_ talks of what he “would do” in the matter, _Camillo_ answers:-- “Never think on’t, Till fitter time and place invite you to it. I have read Caranza, and find not in his Grammar Of quarrels that the injured man be bound To seek for reparation at an hour; But may, and without loss, till he hath settl’d More serious occasions that import him. For a day or two defer it. _Adorio._--You’ll subscribe Your hand to this? _Camillo._--And justify’t with my life. Presume upon’t. _Adorio._--On then; you shall o’errule me.”