Note E42 — 10.
Reading edition
"Legem pone," a curious old proverbial or cant term for ready money.
"There are so manie Danaes now a dayes, That love for lucre, paine for gaine is sold; No true affection can their fancie please, Except it be a Iove, to raine downe gold Into their laps, which they wyde open hold; If legem pone comes, he is receav'd, When vix haud habes is of hope bereav'd." —The Affectionate Shepheard, 1594.
"But in this there is nothing to bee abated, all their speech is legem pone, or else with their ill custome they will detaine thee."—G. Minshul, Essays in Prison.