Act 5 — BLURT, MASTER-CONSTABLE.

225Blvrt, Master-Constable. Or The Spaniards Night-walke. As it hath bin sundry times priuately acted by the Children of Paules.

———— ———— Patresq; severi

Fronde comas vincti coenant, et carmina dictant.

London, Printed for Henry Rockytt, and are to be solde at the long shop vnder S. Mildreds Church in the Poultry. 1602. 4to.

This drama was reprinted (without notes, or any attempt to rectify the errors of the old copy,) in a volume of rare occurrence, edited by Chetwood, and entitled A Select Collection of Old Plays, Dublin, 12mo. 1750.

“Blurt, master constable” (equivalent to—A fig for the constable!) was a proverbial phrase: see English Prouerbs, p. 14 (first series), appended to Howell’s Lexicon Tetraglotton, 1660. Gifford thinks that Ben Jonson alludes to Middleton’s comedy in a Tale of a Tub, where Hilts says, “You’ll clap a dog of wax as soon, old Blurt.” Works, vol. vi. p. 158.

226DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

Duke of Venice.

Hippolito, brother to Violetta.

Camillo, in love with Violetta.

Baptista, Bentivoglio, Virgilio, Asorino, Venetian gentlemen.

Curvetto, an old courtier.

Fontinelle, a French gentleman, taken prisoner by Camillo.

Lazarillo de Tormes, a Spaniard.

Doyt, page to Hippolito.

Dandyprat, page to Camillo.

Truepenny, page to Violetta.

Pilcher, page to Lazarillo.

Frisco, servant to Imperia.

Blurt, master-constable.

Slubber, a beadle, his clerk.

Woodcock, a watchman.

Friar.

Gentlemen, Servingmen, Watchmen, &c.

Violetta, sister to Hippolito.

Imperia, a courtesan.

Trivia, Simperina, her attendants.

Ladies.

SCENE, Venice.

227BLURT, MASTER-CONSTABLE.