The phrase 'to take forth their patternes' is somewhat obscure, and
seems to have been forced by the
necessity
for a rhyme.
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
' Dutch weavers had been imported into England as early as
the reign of Edward III. (see Howes, p. 870 a), and in the year 1563
great numbers of Netherlanders with their wives and children fled
into England owing to the civil dissension in Flanders (Howes, p.
868 a). They bore a reputation for hard drinking (cf. _Like will to
Like_, _O. Pl._ 3. 325; Dekker, _Non-dram. Wks._ 3. 12; Nash,
_Wks._ 2. 81, etc.).
The phrase 'to take forth their patternes' is somewhat obscure, and
seems to have been forced by the
necessity
for a rhyme.
Halliwell
says that 'take forth' is equivalent to 'learn,' and the phrase seems
therefore to mean 'take their measure,' 'size them up,' with a view
to following their example. It is possible, of course, that actual
patterns of the Dutch weavers or tailors are referred to.
=1. 1. 63 Custome-house key.= This was in Tower Street
on the Thames side. Stow (ed. Thoms, pp. 51. 2) says that the
custom-house was built in the sixth year of Richard II. Jonson
mentions the place again in _Every Man in_, _Wks._ 1. 69.
