Alexander Dyce, A General Glossary to Shakespeare's Works

favour generally meant “a love-token” ( “A favour worn, munusculum amoris indicium.” Coles's Lat. and Engl. Dict. ), consisting of a glove to be worn in the hat, a scarf, etc.; but, as Steevens remarks, “it was anciently the custom to wear gloves in the hat on three distinct occasions, viz. as the favour of a mistress, the memorial of a friend, and as a mark to be challenged by an enemy:” “Rosaline, you have a favour too,” LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2. 30 ; “this favour thou shalt wear,” LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2. 130 ; “a' wears next his heart for a favour,” LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2. 702 ; “give a favour from you,” ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, v. 3. 74 ; “wear it as a favour,” RICHARD II., v. 3. 18 ; “Here, Fluellen; wear thou this favour for me” HENRY V., iv. 7. 148 ; (the glove which Henry pretended he had plucked from the helmet of Alencon), “given him for a favour,” HENRY V., iv. 7. 167 ; “the favour of his lady,” THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN, iv. 2. 138 ; “By favours several,” LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2. 125 ; “change you favours too,” LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2. 134 ; “the favours most in sight,” LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2. 136 ; “Therefore change favours,” LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2. 292 ; “The ladies did change favours,” LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2. 468 ; “Your favours, the ambassadors of love,” LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2. 766 ; “fairy favours,” A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM, ii. 1. 12 ; “Seeking sweet favours,” A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM, iv. 1. 46 ; “let my favours hide thy mangled face,” 1 HENRY IV., v. 4. 96 ; “the painted favours of their ladies,” THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN, ii. 2. 11 ; “A thousand favours from a maund she drew,” A LOVER'S COMPLAINT, 36 (where Steevens strangely failed to see that the words, Of amber, crystal, and of beaded jet, describe the favours, and not, as he supposed, the maund or basket).