Note 438 — SCENE II.

apple-squire] In a note on Hall’s Satires, 1824, p. 8, the editor remarks: “This cant phrase has been erroneously explained as meaning a pander or pimp. The fact is, that it meant what is in modern slang called a flash-man: a squire of the body had the same meaning.” No doubt one of its meanings was a kept gallant; but it generally signifies, as in our text, a pimp. Greene, enumerating the professors of the “sacking law,” mentions “The Bawd; if a man, an Apple squire.” Notable Discouery of Coosenage, 1592, sig. c 2. See also the fourth line of the song in our author’s Fair Quarrel, act iv. sc. 4.