estated, established, stationed.
(66) Enter OFFICERS, &c.] The scene being the market-place.
(67) Poor villains, such as were] Old ed. "SUCH AS poore villaines were", &c.
(68) into] i.e. unto: see note †, p. 15.
(note †, p. 15, The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great: "† into] Used here (as the word was formerly often used) for UNTO.")
(69) city] The preceding editors have not questioned this word, which I believe to be a misprint.
(70) foil'd]=filed, i.e. defiled.
(71) I'll have a saying to that nunnery] Compare Barnaby Barnes's DIVILS CHARTER, 1607;
"Before I do this seruice, lie there, peece; For I must HAUE A SAYING to those bottels. HE DRINKETH. True stingo; stingo, by mine honour.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I must HAUE A SAYING to you, sir, I must, though you be prouided for his Holines owne mouth; I will be bould to be the Popes taster by his leaue." Sig. K 3.
(72) plates] "i.e. pieces of silver money." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.).--Old ed. "plats."
(73) Slave] To the speeches of this Slave the old ed. prefixes "Itha." and "Ith.", confounding him with Ithamore.
(74) Lady Vanity] So Jonson in his FOX, act ii. sc. 3.,
"Get you a cittern, LADY VANITY, And be a dealer with the virtuous man," &c.;
and in his DEVIL IS AN ASS, act i. sc. 1.,--
"SATAN. What Vice? PUG. Why, any: Fraud, Or Covetousness, or LADY VANITY, Or old Iniquity."
(75) Katharine] Old ed. "MATER."--The name of Mathias's mother was, as we afterwards learn, Katharine.
(76) stay] i.e. forbear, break off our conversation.
(77) was] Qy. "was BUT"?
(78) O, brave, master] The modern editors strike out the comma after "BRAVE", understanding that word as an epithet to "MASTER": but compare what Ithamore says to Barabas in act iv.: "That's BRAVE, MASTER," p. 165, first col.
(79) your nose] An allusion to the large artificial nose, with which Barabas was represented on the stage. See the passage cited from W. Rowley's SEARCH FOR MONEY, 1609, in the ACCOUNT OF MARLOWE AND HIS WRITINGS.
(80) Ure] i.e. use, practice.
(81) a-good] "i.e. in good earnest. Tout de bon." REED (apud Dodsley's O. P.).
(82) Enter LODOWICK] A change of scene supposed here,--to the outside of Barabas's house.
(83) vow love to him] Old ed. "vow TO LOUE him": but compare, in Barabas's next speech but one, "And she VOWS LOVE TO HIM," &c.
(84) made sure] i.e. affianced.
(85) Ludovico] Old ed. "Lodowicke."--In act iii. we have, "I fear she knows--'tis so--of my device In Don Mathias' and LODOVICO'S deaths." p. 162, sec. col.
(86) happily] i.e. haply.
(87) unsoil'd] "Perhaps we ought to read 'unfoil'd', consistently with what Barabas said of her before under the figure of a jewel-- 'The diamond that I talk of NE'ER WAS FOIL'D'." COLLIER (apud Dodsley's O. P.). But see that passage, p. 155, sec. col., and note ‡.(i.e. note 70.)
(88) cross] i.e. piece of money (many coins being marked with a cross on one side).
(89) thou] Old ed. "thee."
(90) resolv'd] "i.e. satisfied." GILCHRIST (apud Dodsley's O. P.).
(91) Enter BELLAMIRA] She appears, we may suppose, in a veranda or open portico of her house (that the scene is not the interior of the house, is proved by what follows).
(92) Enter MATHIAS. MATHIAS. This is the place, &c.] The scene is some pert of the town, as Barabas appears "ABOVE,"--in the balcony of a house. (He stood, of course, on what was termed the upper-stage.)
Old ed. thus;
"Enter MATHIAS. Math. This is the place, now Abigail shall see Whether Mathias holds her deare or no. Enter Lodow. reading. Math. What, dares the villain write in such base terms?
Lod. I did it, and reuenge it if thou dar'st."
(93) Lodovico] Old ed. "Lodowicke."--See note *, p. 158.(i.e. note 85.)
(94) tall] i.e. bold, brave.
(95) What sight is this!] i.e. What A sight is this! Our early writers often omit the article in such exclamations: compare Shakespeare's JULIUS CAESAR, act i.