(or Tom), subs. phr. (old).—Ill-treatment; ignominious dismissal: cf. STAFFORD LAW.
1579. GOSSON, The Schoole of Abuse, 22 (ARBER’S ed.). Plato when he sawe the doctrine of these Teachers, neither for profite, necessary, nor to be wished for pleasure, gave them all DRUMMES ENTERTAINMENT, not suffering them once to shew their faces in a reformed common wealth.
1587. HOLINSHEAD, History of Ireland, B. ii., col. i. cit. cap. His porter or other officer durst not for both his ears give the simplest man that resorted to his house, TOM DRUM’S ENTERTAINMENT, which is, to hale a man in by the head, and thrust him out by both the shoulders.
1592. GREENE, Groatsworth of Wit, in Works, xii., 129. And so giving him JACKE DRUMS ENTERTAINMENT, shut him out of doores.
1594. NASHE, The Unfortunate Traveller, in Wks. v. 26. I would give him JACKE DRUMMES ENTERTAINMENT, and send him packing.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, All’s Well that Ends Well, iii. 6. 41. If you give him not JOHN DRUM’S ENTERTAINMENT, your inclining cannot be removed.
1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Festin. Il a esté au festin de Martin baston. He hath had a triall in Stafford Court, or hath received JACKE DRUMS INTERTAINMENT.
1630. TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Workes.
| Not like the ENTERTAINMENT of JACKE DRUM, | |
| Who was best welcome when he went his way. |
1626. Apollo Shroving [quoted by NARES]. It shall have TOM DRUM’S ENTERTAINMENT, a flap with a fox-tail.
1649. TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Wandering to see the Wonders of the West. Where the hostess being very willing to give me the courteous ENTERTAINMENT OF JACK DRUM, commanded me very civilly to get out of doors, for there was no room for me to lodge in.
