Note 1691 — BOOK IV THE PLAY-HOUSES (continued 5)
Reading edition
C. Revels (1601), ind. 138:
‘3. Child ... Here I enter.
1. What, vpon the stage too?
2. Yes: and I step forth like one of the children, and ask you, Would you have a Stool, Sir?
3. A Stoole Boy?
2. I Sir, if you’le giue me sixe Pence, I’le fetch you one.
3. For what I pray thee? what shall I doe with it?
2. O God Sir! will you betraye your Ignorance so much? why, throne your selfe in state on the stage, as other Gentlemen vse Sir’;
All Fools (c. 1604), prol. 30:
if our other audience see You on the stage depart before we end, Our wits go with you all and we are fools.
Isle of Gulls (1606), ind., ‘But come boy, furnish us with stools’.... ‘He [the author] is not on the stage amongst gallants preparing a bespoke Plaudite’.
K. B. P. (1607), ind. 41:
Wife below Rafe below.
Wife. Husband, shall I come vp husband?
Citizen. I cunny. Rafe helpe your mistresse this way: pray gentlemen make her a little roome, I pray you sir lend me your hand to helpe vp my wife.... Boy, let my wife and I haue a cupple stooles.... Come vp Rafe.
It must not be assumed from this burlesque that women usually sat on the stage, even at the private houses.