Rory Clements - Revenger

kine:cattle

king pest:the plague

kirtle:outer petticoat or skirt; the garment under the mantle

knell:bell-tolling to mark a death

languishing sickness:depression or any illness where energy is lost

lawn:a fine linen, resembling cambric

lewd:immoral and worthless

light-heeled:wanton, loose

link:torch made of tow and pitch (or wax and tallow), carried in the street at night

linsey-woolsey:thin flax-wool material, usually of inferior quality, or a dress made of the material

maling cord:rope for tying packs onto horses

malkin:a kitchen slut or an effeminate man

manchet:high-quality wheaten bread flour or a small round loaf of the same

mark:monetary unit-two-thirds of a pound

maund:to beg

maunderer:professional beggar

meet:suitable, appropriate

mercer:dealer in textiles, especially expensive ones

miasma:foul vapors, unwholesome air carrying disease

mistress of the game:prostitute, brothel madam

mittimus:letter from a justice of the peace or other authorized official committing a person into custody (an arrest warrant)

mixen, midden:dunghill

mooncalf:born fool, simpleton

mortbell:funeral bell

motion-man:puppet-master

murrain:plague

murrey:dark, blood red

musket:long-barreled weapon, fired using a stand and capable of penetrating armor. A heavier version of the arquebus, using same matchlock principle.

Mussulman:Muslim

netherstocks:stockings, tights, hose

occupy:euphemism for copulate

ordinary:eating house, pub

ostler:person who attends horses at an inn

pack-saddle:saddle for carrying goods

palfrey:lady’s horse

palliasse:straw mattress

pantoufles:slippers

petronel:heavy pistol carried in the belt, used especially by cavalry

philtrous powder, philter:love potion or charm

pike, pikestaff:long-handled weapon with a sharp point

pikeman:man who carries a pike

pizzle:male member

platter:flat dish of pewter or wood

poniard:small, slim dagger

postern:back door or gate; small private door-distinct from the main entrance

powder:gunpowder

powder corns:grains of gunpowder

prigger of prancers:horse thief

projector:agent provocateur

puckrel:witch’s familiar spirit; imp

pursuivant:state officer with power to enforce warrants

pynner:coif with two long strips on either side for fastening (worn by women of quality)

quean:slut, whore

quent merchant:pimp

reiver:plunderer from across the border. From reave-to rob (archaic Scots).

revenger:one who takes vengeance

rich-guarded:richly embroidered

roarer:one who swears a lot; a loudmouth, bully, roisterer

ruffler:sturdy beggar or rogue claiming to be an ex-soldier

runagate:vagabond, fugitive, renegade

rutter:navigators’ chart showing prominent coastal features; or a swindler

scarlet whore of Babylon:Roman Catholic church (as seen by Protestants)

sconce:(1) small fortress; (2) lantern or candlestick with screen to keep from wind; (3) a bracket candlestick fixed to the wall

scryer:crystal-ball gazer, fortune-teller

scutes:small fishing boats

searcher, Searcher of the Dead:pathologist (person appointed to view dead bodies and to make report upon the cause of death)

seminary:Catholic priest from one of the European seminaries

smock:(1) shift or under-petticoat; (2) wench, derogatory term for a woman

snaphaunce:early flintlock weapon from Germany

snout-fair:handsome

solar:upper room with large window to let in sunlight

sotweed:tobacco-worth its weight in silver, says the seventeenth-century historian John Aubrey

souse:pickled pork, especially ears and trotters

sovereign:gold coin of varying values up to thirty shillings

stairs, water-stairs:landing stage on river

stayed him:stopped him in his tracks

stew:brothel

Stilliard, Steelyard:London premises of the Hanseatic merchants, from German Stalhof (warehouse)

stomacher:ornamental covering for chest or abdomen, worn under the lattice of a bodice (also called foreparts)

stones:testicles

stow you:shut up

stranger:foreigner, immigrant

strumpet:loose woman

subtlety:exquisite, sugary dish, often ornamental

sumpter:packhorse or mule; beast of burden

swain:young man; a lover or suitor, particularly rustic

swive:to copulate

tables:backgammon

tallow:cheap, smelly, smoky candle wax made of sheep fat

tilt-boat:large rowing boat with an awning (tilt)-a river taxi

tipstaff:sheriff’s officer; constable or bailiff

Tom o’Bedlam:madman or ex-inmate of Bedlam

tow:strands of flax, hemp, or jute used in torches

toy:(1) trifle or small object; (2) whim

trencher:large, flat plate of wood

trillibub:bag of guts, entrails

trug:slut, whore

trugging-house:brothel

turnkey:jailer, gaoler

unspotted lamb of the Lord:a Puritan

vaulting-house:brothel

verinshe:superior tobacco from Venezuela

viol:stringed instrument of five to seven strings, played with a bow

wainscot:paneling

wanton:lascivious, immoral

wattle, wattlework:twigs and poles for building; wickerwork. Used with daub.

wheel-lock:matchless gun. A serrated steel wheel is spun against a plate-the resultant sparks ignite the gunpowder.

wherry:light rowing boat used to ferry goods and people on rivers; a large river barge

whittawer:a glover, one who works with white leather

Winchester geese:prostitutes (Southwark, where many whores plied their trade, was largely owned by the Bishops of Winchester.)

wink at:to overlook an indiscretion

wit:cleverness

yard:male member

After a career in national newspapers, Rory Clements now lives with his family in an old farmhouse in Norfolk, England, and writes full-time. Martyr and Revenger are the first two novels in a planned series featuring intelligencer John Shakespeare.