[381] [Pox].

[382] [Old copy, had.]

[383] [Old copy, hath.]

[384] [The inn, mentioned in the former scene, must be supposed to remain, as Tenacity presently goes up to it, and knocks at the gate.]

[385] [Fired?]

[386] [Old copy, than.]

[387] [Wretches.]

[388] [Old copy, Yoo.]

[389] [Old copy. That.]

[390] [Dance.]

[391] [Then.]

[392] [Paltrily.]

[393] A term of contempt for a woman.  The hostess has entered the kitchen of the inn in the cook’s absence, and finds matters not quite satisfactory.

[394] Old copy adds, and Dandelyne; but it is evident from the close of the preceding scene, that the Hostess does not quit the stage.

[395] See Halliwell in v.; but the explanation there given hardly suits the present context, where the word appears to be used in the sense of a term, a period.

[396] Apparently part of the song; its meaning is not clear.

[397] [Reward].

[398] [Pet.]

[399] [Welcome.]

[400] [This is one of the elegant terms which are exchanged between Gammer Gurton and Mother Chat.]

[401] [Although Tom is marked in the old copy as entering at the commencement of the scene, be does not really come in till now.]

[402] [Old copy adds, and Fortune; but Fortune does not enter now:  she is in her castle, and presently calls to Vanity from a window.]

[403] [Although it appears from what immediately follows that Vanity had assembled Fortune’s vassals, we are not necessarily to conclude that the latter enter here.  They would rather wait outside.]

[404] [Bull-calf.]

[405] [Orig. reads, fat fatox.]

[406] [This seems merely a word coined for the sake of the rhyme.]

[407] [Of courtesy.]

[408] [Swoon.]

[409] [Old copy, net.]

[410] [Old copy, to emloy.]

[411] [In the old copy this direction is given (very imperfectly) thus:  The constables make hue and cry.]

[412] [In the old copy this passage is thus exhibited—­

    HOST. Where dwell these constables?

    CON.  Why? what’s the matter, friend, I pray?

    HOST. Why, thieves, man, I tell thee, come away. 
    Thieves, i’ faith, wife, my scull, my Iacke, my browne bill.

    CON.  Come away quickly.

    HOST. Dick, Tom, Will, ye hoorsons, make ye all ready and haste. 
    But let me heare, how stands the case? [A pace after.

Where the confusion in the distribution of the speeches seems tolerably evident.  The constable made hue and cry, in order to raise the country, and make a levy of such persons as were bound to assist.

[413] [Old copy, to.]