... must be this very Mountebank expected._ One may
remember Rochester's unpenetrated masquerade as Alexander Bendo,
high above 'the bastard race of quacks and cheats,' and Grammont's
account of all the courtiers and maids of honour flocking for
lotions and potions of perpetual youth to the new empiric's lodgings
'in _Tower-Street_, next door to the sign of the _Black Swan_, at a
Goldsmith's house.' In the _Works of the Earls of Rochester,
Roscommon and Dorset_ (2. vols. 1756), there is a rough cut of
Rochester as a charlatan delivering a speech to the assembled crowd.
On the platform also stands his attendant, a figure dressed in the
diamonded motley of Harlequin.
p. 126. _in querpo._ A Spanish phrase, _en cuerpo_ = without a
cloak; in an undress or disguise.
+Act I: Scene ia+
p. 133 _old Adam's Ale._ A very ancient colloquialism for water. In
Scotland 'Adam's wine' and frequently merely 'Adam'. Prynne in his
_Sovereign Power of Parliament_ (1648), speaks of prisoners 'allowed
only a poor pittance of Adam's ale.' cf. Peter Pindar (John Wolcot),
_The Lousiad_, Canto ii, ll. 453-4:--
Old Adam's beverage flows with pride
From wide-mouthed pitchers in a plenteous tide.
+Act II: Scene i+
p. 141 _a Pageant._ Here used to signify a platform or low scaffold.
+Act III: Scene i+
p. 157 _the Royal Sovereign._ In a Navy List of 1684 the _Royal
Sovereign_ is classed as one of the 'Nine First Rate' vessels. 1545
tons, 100 guns at home, 90 guns abroad, 815 men at home, 710 men
abroad. In 1672 her commander was Sir Joseph Jorden. An authority on
nautical matters whom I have consulted informs me that less men and
fewer guns were carried to relieve the top hamper of the ship in a
sea-way. Most vessels then were inclined to be top heavy, and
although able to carry all their guns in the narrow seas, yet when
going foreign were glad to leave ten behind, well knowing they would
soon lose by scurvy or disease numbers of their crew apart from
losses in battle. Although these ships were pierced with ports for,
say, 100 guns, it did not follow they always carried so many, as a
complete broadside could be fired by running the gun carriages
across from one side to another before the fight, so she would not
be so heavy above and not so liable to roll and spoil the aim of the
guns.
p. 159 _Bezolos mano's, Seignior._ Senor, beso las manos. = Sir,
I
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