The Staple of News
[...]
Alas, what is it to his scene to know
How many coaches in Hyde Park did show
Last spring, what fare today at Medley’s was,
If Dunstan or the Phoenix best wine has? (Prologue.2.13–16)
[...]
Thomas. But the four cardinal quarters--
Pennyboy Junior. Ay those, Tom--
P. Junior. Who is the chief? Which hath
precedency?
Thomas. The governor o’the Staple, Master
Cymbal.
He is the chief, and after him the emissaries.
First, emissary Court, one Master Fitton.
He’s a jeerer too.
P. Junior. What’s that?
Fashioner. A wit.
Thomas. Or half a wit. Some of them are
half-wits:
Two to a wit, there are a set of ’em.
Then Master Ambler, emissary Paul’s,
A fine-paced gentleman as you shall see walk
The middle aisle. And then my froy Hans Buz,
A Dutchman; he’s emissary Exchange.
Fashioner. I had thought Master Burst the
merchant had had it.
Thomas. No,
He has a rupture; he has sprung a leak.
Emissary Westminster’s undisposed
of yet (1.2.59–74).
[...]
Nathaniel. Sir, I tell her she must stay
And then I’ll fit her (1.4.14b-16a).
[...]
Cymbal. [...] I have the just moiety
For my part; then the other moiety
Is parted into seven. The four emissaries,
Whereof my cousin Fitton here’s for Court,
Picklock for Westminster, with
the Examiner
And Register: they have full parts (1.5.106b-12a).
[...]
Mirth. I remember it, gossip, I went with you. By
the same token, Mistress Trouble-truth dissuaded us, and told us he was a
profane poet and all his plays had devisl inthem. That he kept school upo’
the stage, could conjure there, above the School of Westminster and Doctor Lamb too (1.Int.43–47).
Shunfield. What, Lickfinger, mine old host of
Ram Alley! (2.4.35)
[...]
[...]
P. Senior. Where is’t you eat?
P. Junior. Hard by, at Picklock’s lodging;
Old Lickfinger’s the cook, here in Ram Alley (2.5.112–13).
[...]
P. Canter. No, faith,
Dine in Apollo
with Pecunia,
At brave Dule Wadloe’s, have your friends about you
And make a day on’t (2.Int.126b-29a).
[...]
Fitton. From a right hand, I assure you:
The eel boats here that lie before Queenhithe,
Came out of Holland (3.2.83b-85a).
[...]
Thomas. [Reading.]
The perpetual motion
Is here found out by an alewife in St
Katherine’s,
At the sign o’the Dancing Bears (3.2.105b-07a).
[...]
[...]
[...]
Censure. A notable touch rascal, this old Pennyboy!
Right City-bred!
Mirth. In Silver
Street, the region of money, a good seat for a usurer
(3.Int.1–4).
Tattle. [...] I have had better news from the
bake-house by ten thousand parts, in a morning, or the conduits in
Westminster; all the news of Tuttle Street, and both the Alm’ries, the two
Sanctuaries, long and round Woolstaple, with King’s Street and Cannon Row to boot!
Mirth. Ay, my gossip Tattle knew what fine slips
grew in Gardiner’s Lane, who kissed the butcher’s wife with the cow’s
breath, what matches were made in the Bowling Alley, and what bets won and
lost; how much grist went to the mill, and what besides. Who conjured in
Tuttle Fields, and how many, when they never cam ethere; and which boy rode
upon Doctor Lamb, in the likeness of a roaring lion, that run away with him
in his teeth and has not devoured him yet (3.Int.18–32).
Shunfield. [...] They say there was one of your
coat in Bedlam lately.
Almanac. I wonder all his clients were not
there.
Madrigal. They were the madder sort (4.1.12–14a).
[...]
Picklock. In all the languages in Westminster Hall,
Pleas, Bench or Chancery; fee-farm, fee-tail,
Tenant in dower, ’at will’, ’for term of life’,
’By copy of court roll’, knights’ service, homage,
Fealty, escuage, soccage or frank almoigne,
Grand sergeanty, or burgage (4.4.103–108a).
References
- Jonson, Ben. The Staple of News. Ed. Anthony Parr. Revels Plays. Manchester; New York: Manchester UP, 1999. Print.
This project is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
