EXPLANATION O F THE CANT TERMS Ufed in this PLAY. Autem mort] a woman married; for autem, in the Beggars language, is a church. Dekkar's Belman, Sign. E. Bowfing in the ale-house. Cafon] "beef. Clapper dudgeons] beggars born. See p. 44. Couch a bog fhead] lie down afleep. Cib] the fomach. Ibid. So Crowfe] crowfe is a north-country word, fignifying fprightly, merry. in the third Pageant of The Chefter Whitfun Plays, MSS. Harl. 2013. cattes crowfe, "Here is a rotten, there a moufe." Alfo, in The Coarfe North Country Proverb. "As crowfe as a new-washen louse.” S. Darkman] the night. D.] a young wench undebauched. Dekkar's Belman, Sign. D 4 Doxy] a ftrumpet. Ibid. Sign. E. Gage] a quart-pot. Ibid. Sign. N. Gan] a mouth. Ibid. Sign. N. Gentry cofe's feaft] gentleman's feaft, Glaziers eyes. Ibid. Grunter] pig. Sign. N. Harman beck] a constable. Ibid. Ker a houfe. Ibid. Pannum] bread. 443 Dekkar's Belman, Sign. N, Ibid. Sign. N. Ibid. Sign. N. Patrico] amongst beggars, is their prieft; every hedge being his parish; every wandering harlot and rogue his parishioners. The fervice is only the marrying of couples; which he does in a wood, under a tree, or in the open field: and the folemnity of it, fays Dekkar, is this:-"The "parties to be wedded, find out a dead horfe, or any other beaft, and "tanding one on the one fide, and the other on the other, the Patrico bids them live together till death them part; and so, shaking hands, "the wedding-dinner is kept at the next alehouse they stumble into; "where the mufick is nothing but knocking with cannes, and their "dances none but drunken brawles." Rum boofe] wine. Ibid. Sign. N. Salmon] or rather falomon, the Beggars Oath. Ibid. Sign. Tg. Skew] a cup. Ibid. Sign. N. Skipper] a barn. Ibid. Stampers] fhoes. Ibid. Strummel] Araw. Ibid. Tib of the buttery] a goofe. Toure] fee, look out. Upright man] See a Defcription of an Upright Man, Dekkar's Belman of London, C 4. Walking morts] are older than doxies, and profefs themselves to be widows. See Dekkar's Belman, Sign. E. |