Thus Bulleyn,
speaking
of
a knavish ostler, says, "I did see him ones aske blessyng to xii
godfathers at ones.
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
= The word is of rare occurrence.
Gifford quotes _Timon of Athens_ 1. 2: 'Let me stay at thine
apperil, Timon;' and refers to _Mag. La._, _Wks._ 6. 109: 'Faith, I
will bail him at mine own apperil.' It occurs again in _Tale Tub_,
_Wks._ 6. 148: 'As you will answer it at your apperil.'
=5. 5. 10, 11 I will leaue you To your God fathers in Law.= 'This
seems to have been a standing joke for a jury. It is used by
Shakespeare and by writers prior to him.
Thus Bulleyn,
speaking
of
a knavish ostler, says, "I did see him ones aske blessyng to xii
godfathers at ones.
" _Dialogue_, 1564.'--G.
The passage from Shakespeare is _Merch. of Ven._ 4. 1. 398:
In christening, shalt thou have two godfathers:
Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten more,
To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.
Cf. also _Muse's Looking Glass_, _O. Pl._ 9. 214: 'Boets!
I had rather zee him remitted to the jail, and have his twelve
godvathers, good men and true contemn him to the gallows.'
