that is annexed to the person of their lord and transferable by deed from one owner to another. Thus it will be seen that there were mannors in gross“ and „villeins in gross" and Dumain says, My loving lord, Dumain is mortified; The grosser manner of these world's delights Love's Labour's Lost. Act 1 Scene 1. and, considering that Shakspeare so frequently plays upon words, I have thought that a double meaning may be intended in this passage. If, in the passages I have selected, (see Archiv passim) it should be considered that Shakspeare uses the terms "manner" and mannor, respectively, in a double sense, it would then be of little consequence whether the word is spelt with "e" or "o,“ because the mention of the one word is intended to suggest to the mind the other word, which is similar in sound but different in meaning. I may here mention that the word „manner“ sometimes appears, in our old Law Books, instead of "mannor," apparently as a misprint, the compositor having, probably, mistaken a badly formed „,0" in the manuscript for "e.“ Borachio. Sweet prince, let me go no farther to mine answer; do you hear me, and let this count kill me. I have deceived even your very eyes: what your wisdoms could not discover, these shallow fools have brought to light; who, in the night, overheard me confessing to this man, how Don John, your brother, incensed me to slander the lady Hero; how you were brought into the orchard, and saw me court Margaret in Hero's garments; how you disgraced her, when you should marry her. My villainy they have upon record; which I had rather seal with my death, than repeat over to my shame the lady is dead upon mine and my master's false accusation; and, briefly, I desire nothing but the reward of a villain. : Much ado Act 5 Scene 1. „Also, every villein is either a villein by title of prescription, to wit, that he and his ancestors have been villeins time out of mind of man; or he is a villein by his own confession in a court of record (Litt. sec. 175.)“ Every villein is, either by prescription or confession, servi aut nascuntur, aut fiunt. By prescription, either regardant to the mannor, etc. or in gross. In gross, either by prescription, or by granting away a villein that is regardant, or by confession. (Co. Litt. 118 a.) Fit etiam servus liber homo per confessionem, in curiâ regis fact'. (Bract. lib. I. cap. 6.) Record cometh from the Latin recordari to remember, and signifies an authentic and uncontroulable testimony in writing, contained in Rolls of parchment, and preserved in Courts of Record, and of them it is said monumenta, quae nos recorda vocamus, sunt veritatis et vetustatis vestigia. (Co. Litt. 118 a Cowell Interpr.) We reckon three sorts of Records, viz. a Record Judicial, as attainder, etc. a Record ministerial upon oath, as an office or inquisition found, and a Record made by convevance and consent, as a fine or deed enrolled, or the like. (Cowell Int.) I do not however consider it is at all certain that Shakspeare alludes to a man who was a villein by his own confession in a Court of Record," because, I can recall another passage in which Shakspeare refers to ill deeds being recorded; King Richard. What more remains? Northumberland. No more, but that you read (Offering a paper.) These accusations, and these grievous crimes, Must I do so? and must I ravel out My weaved-up follies? Gentle Northumberland, Would it not shame thee in so fair a troop, To read a lecture of them? Richard II. Act 4 Scene 1. but he refers to what Do yet be and also because Borachio does not use the participle confessing" in connection with the word "record" or "villainy," gherry and Verges overhead him say in the street Scene act 3; cause the word „villainy" is used in connection with the word "record" and moreover, because Leontes afterwards, in the same Scene, says," Leontes. Which is the villain? Let me see his eyes, Borachio. If you would know your wronger, look on me. Leontes. Art thou the slave, that with thy breath hast kill'd Mine innocent child? connecting, with the word villain, the word slave, a substantive descriptive of the servile condition of tenants in villenage, who were mere bond slaves to the Lord, therefore I have thought it worth while to submit this passage to the consideration of the Society. Shakspeare frequently connects the term villain with other words which and which seem to be used as, descriptive of the base, servile condition of tenants in villenage; are, Cleopatra. Slaves, soul-less villain, dog! O rarely base. Antony and Cleopatra Act 5 Scene 2. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences, ere thou be pardoned. Cost. Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full stomach. Thou shalt be heavily punished. Arm. Cost. I am more bound to you than your fellows, for they are but lightly rewarded. Arm. Take away this villain; shut him up. Moth. Come, you transgressing slave; away. Love's Labour's Lost Act 1 Scene 2. I cannot find those runagates: that villain Bel. Those runagates! Means he not us? I partly know him; 'tis Cloten, the son o' the queen. I fear some ambush. I saw him not these many years, I know 'tis he. We are held as outlaws: Hence. My tailor made them not. Clo. Thou precious varlet, Cymbeline Act 4 Scene 2. And in these passages Cleopatra and Cloten use the substantive „Have“ and the adjective "base" in connection with the term villain, which in the English Law signified a person in a base servile condition, who was a mere bond slave to the Lord. Orleans. The sun doth gild our armour up, my lords. yine Dauphin. Montez à cheval: my horse! valet! lacquey, ha! Henry V. Act 4 Scene 2. Valect, valet, or vadelect, valettus vel valecta, qui juxta Dominum vadit seu ministrat. It is a French word: a servitor or gentleman of the Privy Chamber, according to Camden: In the accounts of the Inner Temple it is used for a Bencher's Clerk or servant: The Butler of the House corruptly calls them varlets: (Kennett's Gloss. Cowell Interpr.) | Troilus and Cressida Act 1 Scene 1. Scene III. Glostershire. The Garden of Shallow's House. Enter Falstaff, Shallow, Silence, Bardolph, the Page, and Davy. Shallow. Nay, you shall see mine orchard: where, in an arbour, we will eat a last year's pippin of my own graffing, with a dish of carraways, and so forth come, cousin Silence; and then to bed. Falstaff. 'Fore God, you have here a goodly dwelling, and a rich. Shallow. Barren, barren, barren; beggars all, beggars all, Sir John: marry, good air. Spread, Davy; spread, Davy; well said, Davy. Falstaff. This Davy serves you for good uses; he is your serving man, and your husbandman. Shallow. A good varlet. Now sit A good varlet, a good varlet, a very good varlet, Sir John. mass, I have drunk too much sack at supper down, now sit down; Come, cousin. 2. Henry IV. Act 5 Scene 3. And Shallow, seems to apply the term varlet to Davy, in the sense of one qui juxta Dominum vadit seu ministrat. Valet or vadlet was anciently with us as in France, also a name specially denoting young gentlemen, although of great descent or quality, although it be now with us and them given to those of the rank of yeomen. And so was it taken under Henry the sixth with us, as we see in the statute of his three and twentieth year (Cap. 15) touching the choice of knight's of the Shire. They must be (saith the statute) either knights, ou autrement tielx notables esquiers, gentilhommes, del nativitie des mesmes les counties come soient ables destre chevalier, et nul home destre, tiel chivalier que estoite en le degree de vadlet et desouth. And it is but the same word which is become to be varlet, and signifies sometimes as knave now doth, Thersites. That same Diomed's a false-hearted rogue, a most unjust knave; I will no more trust him when he leers, than I will a serpent when he hisses: he will spend his mouth, and promise, like Brabler the hound; but when he performs, astronomers foretell it; it is prodigious, there will come some change; the sun borrows of the moon, when Diomed keeps his word. I will rather leave to see Hector, than not to dog him: they say, he keeps a Trojan drab, and uses the traitor Calchas' tent: I'll after. Nothing but lechery! all incontinent varlets! Troilus and Cressida Act 5 Scene 1. Thersites That dissembling abominable varlet Diomed, has got that same scurvy doting frolish young knave's Sleeve of Troy there, in his helm. Act 5 Scene 4. Although both of them anciently names of civil degree or service only: as among divers other testimonies, in an old little glossary of nomina graduum (Ms. apud Moretonum Lambard, eq. Aurat.) of about two hundred years since the words are, garconet little boy, garcon knave, varleton grome, varlet yeoman, gentilhome gentleman etc. (Selden. Tit. Hon.) The reader will perceive that Thersites calls Diomed a most unjust knave and afterwards a varlet. name, Shakspeare sometimes seems to use the term varlet, as an opprobrious And tell me thou naughty varlet, tell me, where hast thou been this month. 1. Henry IV. Act 2 Scene 4. Mrs. Page. Hang him dishonest varlet! we cannot misuse him enough. or as Selden says signifying as knave now doth. Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet: the time is yet to come, that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child. Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her. Escal. Which is the wiser here? Justice or Iniquity? Is this true? Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was married to her! If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer. Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee. Escal. If he took you a box o' the ear, you might have your action of slander too. Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it. pleasure I should do with this wicked caitiff? What is 't your worship's |