[273] Cf. a similar passage in Shirley’s Brothers (iii. 1).

[274] In Sidney’s Arcadia.

[275] Cf.  Jonson’s Every Man out of his Humour, II. 1:  “They say there’s a new motion of the city of Niniveh with Jonas and the whale to be seen at Fleet bridge.” (A motion, of course, is a puppet-show.)

[276] This line occurs, word for word, in Shirley’s Bird in a Cage (IV. 1):—­

    ...  “A bird to be made much on.  She and the horse
    That snorts at Spain by an instinct of nature
    Should have shown tricks together.”

[277] An allusion to the game of “barley-break.”

[278] In the MS. the speaker’s name is omitted.  I have chosen Courtwell at a venture.

[279] Holland’s Leaguer was the name of a notorious brothel in Southwark.

[280] The Tell-Tale.  Through the courtesy of the Master, Dr. Carver, I have had an opportunity of examining this play.  It is of no particular interest.  The comic part is very poor, suggesting William Rowley at his worst.  Here are some fair lines, the best I can find:—­

    Fide[lio].  How? dead in prison?

Duke.  Dead, Fidelio:  Things of theire nature, like [a] vipers brood, Kill their owne parents.  But having sett the Court In some good order, my next busines Ys thus disguis’d to overlooke the Camp; For a rude army, like a plott of ground Left to yt selfe, growes to a wildernes Peopled with wolves & tigers, should not the prince Like to a carefull gardner see yt fenct, Waterd & weeded with industrious care, That hee ithe time of pruning nether spare Weeds for faire looks and painted bravery, nor Cut downe good hearbs and serviceable for Theire humble growth:  the violet that is borne Under a hedg outsmells the blossomd thorne That dwells fare higher.

    Fide.  Yare full of goodnes & have layd out much
    In provision for the whole state.

Duke.  My place:  I am overseer And bound to seet provided for by pattent.  For as the sunn, when lesser plannets sleep, Holds his continued progresse on and keepes A watchful eye over the world, so kings (When meaner subjects have their revillings And sports about them) move in a restless herde; The publique safty is theyr privat care.  But now farewell; the army once surveighd Expect mee here.

    Fid.  Your pleasure bee obaid.

[281] A few years ago I suggested in “Notes and Queries” that this unknown author was Cyril Tourneur.  Afterwards I discovered that I had been anticipated by Thomas Lovell Beddoes.  Curiously enough Mr. Fleay had independently arrived at the same conclusion.  Mr. Swinburne (Essay on Chapman) is inclined to attribute the Second Maiden’s Tragedy to Middleton.

[282] The next scene is marked Act 2, Scene 1.