Part 32 (1/2)

[Footnote 45: A hanger-on to n.o.blemen, who are distinguished at the university by gold ta.s.sels to their caps; or in the language of the present day, a _tuft-hunter_.]

[Footnote 46: _If he could order his intentions_, first edit.]

[Footnote 47: Minshew calls a tobacconist _fumi-vendulus_, a _smoak-seller_.]

[Footnote 48: _Cento_, a composition formed by joining sc.r.a.ps from other authors.--_Johnson_. Camden, in his _Remains_, uses it in the same sense. ”It is quilted, as it were, out of shreds of divers poets, such as scholars call a _cento_.”]

[Footnote 49: _Firing_, first edit.]

[Footnote 50: In the hope of discovering some account of the _strange monster_ alluded to, I have looked through one of the largest and most curious collections of tracts, relating to the marvellous, perhaps in existence.

That bequeathed to the Bodleian, by Robert Burton, the author of the _Anatomy of Melancholy_. Hitherto my researches have been unattended with success, as I have found only two tracts of this description relating to Germany, both of which are in prose, and neither giving any account of a monster.

1. _A most true Relation of a very dreadfull Earthquake, with the lamentable Effectes thereof, which began upon the 8 of December 1612, and yet continueth most fearefull in Munster in Germanie. Reade and Tremble. Translated out of Dutch, by Charles Demetrius, Publike Notarie in London, and printed at Rotterdame, in Holland, at the Signe of the White Gray-hound_. (Date cut off. Twenty-six pages, 4to, with a woodcut.)

2: _Miraculous Newes from the Cittie of Holt, in the Lords.h.i.+p of Munster, in Germany, the twentieth of September last past, 1616, where there were plainly beheld three dead bodyes rise out of their Graves admonis.h.i.+ng the people of Judgements to come. Faithfully translated (&c.

&c.) London, Printed for John Barnes, dwelling in Hosie Lane neere Smithfield, 1616_. (4to, twenty pages, woodcut.)]

[Footnote 51: It was customary to work or paint proverbs, moral sentences, or sc.r.a.ps of verse, on old tapestry hangings, which were called _painted cloths_.

Several allusions to this practice may be found in the works of our early English dramatists. See Reed's _Shakspeare_, viii. 103.]

[Footnote 52: _Beller_, first edit.]

[Footnote 53: _Hale_, first edit.]

[Footnote 54: Calais sands were chosen by English duellists to decide their quarrels on, as being out of the jurisdiction of the law. This custom is noticed in an Epigram written about the period in which this book first appeared.

”When boasting Bembus challeng'd is to fight, He seemes at first a very Diuell in sight: Till more aduizde, will not defile [his] hands, Vnlesse you meete him vpon _Callice sands.”

The Mastive or Young Whelpe of the olde Dog. Epigrams and Satyrs._ 4to, Lond. (Printed, as Warton supposes, about 1600.)

A pa.s.sage in _The Beau's Duel: or a Soldier for the Ladies_, a comedy, by Mrs. Centlivre, 4to, 1707, proves that it existed so late as at that day. ”Your only way is to send him word you'll meet him on _Calais sands;_ duelling is unsafe in England for men of estates,” &c. See also other instances in Dodsley's _Old Plays,_ edit. 1780, vii. 218; xii. 412.]

[Footnote 55: Strict devotees were, I believe, noted for the smallness and precision of their ruffs, which were termed _in print_ from the exactness of the folds. So in Mynshul's _Essays,_ 4to, 1618. ”I vndertooke a warre when I aduentured to speake in _print,_ (not in _print as Puritan's ruffes_ are set.)” The term of _Geneva print_ probably arose from the minuteness of the type used at Geneva. In the _Merry Devil of Edmonton_, a comedy, 4to, 1608, is an expression which goes some way to prove the correctness of this supposition:--”I see by thy eyes thou hast bin reading _little Geneva print;”_--and, that _small ruffs_ were worn by the puritanical set, an instance appears in Mayne's _City Match,_ a comedy, 4to, 1658.

”O miracle!

Out of your _little ruffe,_ Dorcas, and in the fas.h.i.+on!

Dost thou hope to be saved?”

From these three extracts it is, I think, clear that a _ruff of Geneva print_ means a _small, closely-folded ruff,_ which was the distinction of a nonconformist.]