Actus Tertius, Scena Prima, Sogliardo, Punt., Carlo.
_Sog_. Nay I will haue him, I am resolute for that, by this Parchment Gentlemen, I haue ben so toil'd among the Harrots [meaning _Heralds_] yonder, you will not beleeue, they doe speake i' the straungest language, and giue a man the hardest termes for his money, that euer you knew.
_Car_. But ha' you armes? ha' your armes?
_Sog_. Yfaith, I thanke God I can write myselfe Gentleman now, here's my Pattent, it cost me thirtie pound by this breath.
_Punt_. A very faire Coat, well charg'd and full of Armorie.
_Sog_. Nay, it has, as much varietie of colours in it, as you haue seene a Coat haue, how like you the Crest, Sir?
_Punt_. I vnderstand it not well, what is't?
_Sog_. Marry Sir, it is your Bore without a head Rampant.
_Punt_. A Bore without a head, that's very rare.
_Car_. I, [Aye] and Rampant too: troth I commend the Herald's wit, he has deciphered him well: A Swine without a head, without braine, wit, anything indeed, Ramping to Gentilitie. You can blazon the rest signior? can you not? . . . . . . . . . . . .
_Punt_. Let the word be, _Not without mustard_, your Crest is very rare sir.
Shakspeare's "word" that is his "motto" was--non sanz droict--not without right--and I desire the reader also especially to remember Sogliardo's words "Yfaith I thanke God" a phrase which though it appears in the quartos is changed in the 1616 Ben Jonson folio into "I thank _them_" which has no meaning.
Next we turn to Shakespeare's "As you like it." This play though entered at Stationers' Hall in 1600 and probably played quite as early is not known in print till it appeared in the folio of 1623. The portion to which I wish to refer is the commencement of Actus Quintus, Scena Prima.
_Clow_. We shall finde a time _Awdrie_, patience gentle Awdrie.
_Awd_. Faith the priest was good enough, for all the olde gentlemans saying.
_Clow_. A most wicked Sir _Oliver, Awdrie_, a most vile _Mar-text._ But _Awdrie_, there is a youth heere in the forrest layes claime to you.
_Awd_. I, I know who 'tis: he hath no interest in mee in the world: here comes the man you meane.
_Clo_. It is meat and drinke to me to see a clowne, by my troth, we that haue good wits, haue much to answer for: we shall be flouting: we cannot hold.