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ST.  MICHAEL'S  COLLEGE 
TORONTO  5,  CANADA 


;: 


SPECIMENS 

OF 

EARLY    ENGLISH 

PABT    II 

MORRIS  AND  SKEAT 


VOL.  n. 


HENRY  FROWDE,   M.A. 

PUBLISHER  TO  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  OXFORD 

LONDON,   EDINBURGH 

NEW  YORK 


Cfavcnion  (pvces 

SPECIMENS   OF 

EARLY    ENGLISH 

WITH  INTRODUCTION,  NOTES,  AND  GLOSSARIAL  INDEX 

BY   THE 

REV.   RICHARD   MORRIS,   LL.D. 

AND    THE 

REV.   WALTER  W.   SKEAT,    Lixx.D. 
Part  II,  from   ROBERT  OF  GLOUCESTER  to  GOWER 

A.D.1298  — A.D.  1393 
POUETH    EDITION 


AT    THE    CLARENDON    PRESS 

M^>CCCXCV1II 


OXFORD 

PRINTED  AT  THE  CLARENDON   PRESS 

BY   HORACE   HART,  M.A. 
PRINTER  TO  THE  UNIVERSITY 


MAY  1 6  '1956 


CONTENTS    OF    PART  II. 


PAGE 
Preface ix 

Introduction xiii 

I.  ROBERT  OF  GLOUCESTER. 

(A)  Reign  of  William  the  Conqueror       .        .."••••         i 

(B)  Life  of  St.  Dunstan 19 

II.  METRICAL  ENGLISH  PSALTER. 

Psalm  viii          .........      23 

Psalm  xiv  (xv)  .        .        .        .        .        .        .24 

Psalm  xvii  (xviii)      .        .         .         .         .        .        .25 

Psalm  xxiii  (xxiv)     .        .        .        .        .         .        .29 

Psalm  cii  (ciii)  . 29 

Psalm  ciii  (civ)         .        .        .        .        .        .        .31 

III.  THE  PROVERBS  OF  HENDYNG    .     '  .       .        .       .      35 

IV.  SPECIMENS  OF  LYRIC  POETRY. 

(A)  Alysoun 43 

(B)  A  Plea  for  Pity 44 

(c)  Parable  of  the  Labourers    .        .                 .        .46 
(D)  Spring-time 48 

V.  ROBERT  MANNYNG,  OF  BRUNNE. 

Handlyng  Synne :  The  Tale  of  Pers  the  Usurer      .      50 


VI*  CONTENTS   OF  PART  II. 

VI.  WILLIAM  OF  SHOREHAM.  PAGE 

De  Baptismo 63 

VII.  CURSOR  MUNDI,  OR  CURSUR  o  WERLD. 

The  Visit  of  the  Magi,  and  the  Flight  into  Egypt        69 

VIII.  SUNDAY  HOMILIES  IN  VERSE. 

(A)  From  the  Homily  for  the  Second  Sunday  in 

Advent .       83 

(B)  Homily  for  the  Third  Sunday  after  the  Octave 

of  Epiphany    ......      89 

IX.  DAN  MICHEL  OF  NORTHGATE. 

Sermon  on  Matthew  xxiv.  43         .        .        .        .98 
Pater-noster,  Ave  Maria,  and  Credo     .        .        .105 

X.  RICHARD  ROLLE  DE  HAMPOLE. 

Extracts  from  'The  Pricke  of  Conscience'  .        .107 

XI.  LAURENCE  MINOT. 

(A)  Edward's  Expedition  to  Brabant    .        .  .126 

(B)  The  same,  continued      .        .        .        .  .131 
(c)  The  Landing  of  Edward  at  La  Hogue  .  .134 

XII.  WILLIAM  OF  PALERNE,  OR  WILLIAM    AND    THE 

WERWOLF 138 

XIII.  ALLITERATIVE  POEMS. 

The  Deluge 151 

The  Destruction  of  Sodom 161 

XIV.  SIR  JOHN  MANDEVILLE. 

(A)  Prologue  to  the  Voiage 164 

(B)  The  Begynnyng  of  Machomete       .        .        .168 
(c)  The  Contrees  beyonde  Cathay       .        .        .170 


CONTENTS  OF  PART  II.  Vll 

XV.  WILLIAM  LANG  LAND,  OR  LANGLEY.  PAGE 

Piers  the  Plowman  (Earliest  Version,  or  A-text) : 

Prologus 176 

The  same :  Passus  I 180 

The  same:  part  of  Passus  II  .  .  .  .186 
The  same:  part  of  Passus  III  .  .  .  .188 
The  same:  Passus  V  193 

XVI.  JOHN  BARBOUR. 

The  Bruce:  Extracts  from  Book  VII        .        .    203 

XVII.  JOHN  WYCLIF,  AND  NICHOLAS  HEREFORD. 

(A)  Wyclif 's  Translation  of  St.  Mark's  Gospel : 

cap.  i-vi 2 15 

(B)  Hereford's  Translation  of  Psalms  xiv,  xxiii, 

and  cii        .        •        •        »        •        .231 

XVIII.  JOHN  OF  TREVISA. 

(A)  Description  of  Britain         ....    235 

(B)  The  Norman  Invasion        ,        .        .        -243 

XIX.  GEOFFREY  CHAUCER. 

From  <  The  Man  of  Lawes  Tale '     .        .        .249 

XX.  JOHN  GOWER. 

Confessio  Amantis:    The  Tale  of  the  Three 

Goffers 270 

Confessio  Amantis :  Aeson  regains  his  Youth    .    274 

Notes 283 

Glossarial  Index .        .        .355 


PREFACE 
TO    THE    PRESENT    EDITION, 


AN  intimate  and  thorough  acquaintance  with  a  language 
is  only  to  be  acquired  by  an  attentive  study  of  its  literature. 
Grammars  and  histories  of  literature  are,  at  best,  but  guides, 
and  are  not  always  wholly  trustworthy ;  the  statements  and 
principles  they  contain  need  verification  as  well  as  illustra- 
tion, and  this  necessitates  a  certain  amount  of  familiarity 
with  the  literature  itself. 

In  studying  the  latest  periods  of  the  English  language 
there  is  no  lack  of  materials,  and  the  student  has  it  in  his 
power  to  correct,  by  his  own  reading  and  observation,  any 
errors  of  fact  that  may  occur  in  the  text-books  he  uses. 

With  the  literature  of  the  earlier  stages  it  is  far  otherwise; 
the  printed  editions  of  old  authors  are,  in  many  cases,  on 
account  of  their  rarity  or  price,  inaccessible  to  ordinary 
readers,  who  are  thus  placed  completely  at  the  mercy  of 
their  guides. 

Within  the  last  few  years  this  defect  has  been  in  some 
measure  remedied  by  the  Early  English  Text  Society,  who 
have  issued  many  new  editions  and  reprints  at  a  compara- 
tively moderate  cost;  and  it  may  be  as  well  to  state  here, 
that  the  student  may  find  amongst  their  publications  the 
complete  texts  from  which  the  extracts  quoted  in  Sections 
IX,  XII,  XIII,  XV,  and  XVI  are  taken;  and  amongst  the 


X  PREFACE. 

publications  of  the  Philological  Society  the  complete  text  of 
Hampole's  '  Pricke  of  Conscience'  (Sect.  X). 

The  necessarily  scanty  extracts  which  occur,  even  in  the 
best  manuals  of  English  literature,  are  quite  inadequate  to 
convey  any  clear  notion  of  the  dialect,  grammar,  and  voca- 
bulary of  the  writers  of  the  Early  English  period,  and  hence 
it  is  that  most  students  find  their  information  upon  the 
subject  limited  to  a  list  of  names  of  persons,  places,  and 
dates,  and  some  few  uninteresting  details,  which,  even  in 
these  days  of  competitive  examinations,  are  accepted  as  a 
knowledge  of  English  literature. 

The  aim  of  the  present  work  is  to  supplement  the 
ordinary  text-books,  and  furnish  students  with  abundant 
material  for  making  themselves  familiar  with  the  older  forms 
of  English,  and  so  enabling  them  to  obtain  a  sounder 
knowledge  of  the  language  as  spoken  and  written  at  the 
present  day. 

The  '  Specimens/  which  are  chronologically  arranged, 
may  be  considered  as  types  of  the  English  spoken  during 
the  fourteenth  century.  Not  long  previously,  the  language 
had  undergone  many  changes,  owing  to  the  loss  of  gram- 
matical inflexions  and  a  simplification  of  syntactical  struc- 
ture, and  was  entering  upon  a  new  phase  in  its  history,  in 
which  we  may  trace  a  gradual  approximation  to  its  modern 
representative,  the  English  of  the  present  day. 

The  extracts  have  been  chosen  so  as,  in  most  cases,  to 
present  continuous  narratives  of  considerable  length,  and 
they  embrace  a  variety  of  topics,  amongst  which  may  be 
mentioned  Biblical  translations,  religious  teaching,  proverbs, 
history,  and  romance. 

No  knowledge  of  the  oldest  English  (Anglo-Saxon)  is 
required  before  commencing  the  following  pages,  as  the 
Introduction,  Notes,  and  Glossary  contain  all  that  is  neces- 
sary to  enable  the  student  to  read  the  most  difficult  speci- 


PREFACE.  XI 

mens  with  pleasure  and  profit.  If  the  language  of  the  earlier 
Sections  seem  to  be  too  unfamiliar  to  the  beginner,  the  later 
Sections  may  be  reader.?/. 

In  preparing  a  new  edition  in  1872,  several  modifications 
and  alterations  were  made.  Four  sections  at  the  beginning 
of  Dr.  Morris's  edition  of  1867,  containing  extracts  from  the 
English  Version  of  Genesis  and  Exodus,  the  Owl  and  the 
Nightingale,  the  Lay  of  Havelok  the  Dane,  and  the  Romance 
of  King  Alexander,  were  omitted,  as  belonging  to  a  period 
earlier  than  the  fourteenth  century,  and  being  more  suitable 
for  a  volume  containing  Specimens  of  the  language  of  the 
twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries.  The  Section  containing 
an  extract  from  '  Sir  Gawayn  and  the  Grene  Knyght'  was  re- 
placed by  a  portion  of  Barbour's  *  Bruce';  and  the  extracts 
from  the  'Cursor  Mundi'  and  Wyclifs  Translation  of  St. 
Mark's  Gospel  were  shortened.  The  Chaucer  section,  in 
the  edition  of  1867,  contained  'The  Pardoneres  Tale*  and 
'  The  Prioresse  Tale/  from  the  Harleian  MS.  In  preparing 
the  edition  of  1872,  advantage  was  taken  of  the  recent 
publications  of  the  Chaucer  Society,  to  produce  a  new 
edition  of  the  first  part  of  '  The  Man  of  Lawes  Tale/  in 
which  the  various  readings  were  considered,  and  the  scan- 
sion of  the  lines  carefully  marked. 

The  Notes  also  were  carefully  revised.  Several  of  the 
remarks  on  etymology  were  transferred  from  the  Notes 
to  the  Glossarial  Index  for  the  sake  of  greater  facility  of 
reference,  and  considerable  additions  made  to  the  Notes 
themselves. 

The  Glossarial  Index  was  entirely  rewritten,  in  order  to 
insert  the  references  to  the  passages  in  which  the  harder 
words  occur.  At  the  same  time,  the  various  parts  of  the 
verbs  were  exactly  described,  cross-references  added  to 
account  for  variations  of  spelling,  and  some  hints  as  to 
the  derivations  of  the  words  (partly  taken  from  the  Notes 


xli  PREFACE. 

to  the  edition  of  1867)  were  given,  in  as  concise  a  form  as 
possible. 

The  above  remarks  apply,  as  has  been  said,  to  the  edition 
published  in  1872.  Since  then,  a  new  edition  has  been 
called  for,  and  advantage  has  been  taken  of  the  opportunity 
to  revise  the  whole  work  yet  once  more  in  the  most  careful 
manner.  Several  additions  have  been  made  to  the  Notes, 
but  it  is  chiefly  upon  the  Glossarial  Index  that  most  pains 
have  been  bestowed.  Every  one  of  the  very  numerous  refer- 
ences has  been  verified,  and  more  than  six  hundred  new 
references  added.  The  explanations  of  a  few  words  have 
been  amended  or  more  clearly  expressed,  and  every  pre- 
caution has  been  taken  to  secure  critical  accuracy. 

Wherever  a  form  is  quoted  as  Anglo-Saxon,  Icelandic, 
Swedish,  &c.,  the  spelling  of  it  will  be  found  to  agree  with 
that  given  in  the  Dictionaries,  a  list  of  which  is  given  at 
P-  355«  For  this  purpose,  the  use  of  pocket-dictionaries 
has  often  been  preferred,  with  the  express  object  of  avoid- 
ing the  citation  of  other  than  sufficiently  common  words. 
The  student  will  do  well  to  refer  to  the  authorities  indicated, 
before  rejecting  any  of  the  results  here  given  in  favour  of 
plausible  guesses  of  his  own. 

The  result  of  the  labour  thus  bestowed  upon  the  Glossary 
will,  we  hope,  prove  useful,  as  supplying,  within  a  small 
compass,  a  ready  means  of  ascertaining  the  meanings  and 
modes  of  use  of  all  such  words  as  are  of  most  common 
occurrence  in  the  literature  of  the  Fourteenth  Century. 

Our  thanks  are  due  to  Professor  Mayor,  of  St.  John's 
College,  Cambridge,  for  several  useful  notes  upon  the 
Glossary. 


INTRODUCTION. 


PRELIMINARY  REMARKS. 

§  i.  The  Alphabet.     The  letters  employed  are  the  same 
as  those  employed  now,  with  two  additions,  and  with  some 
variations  in  significance.     The  additional  letters  are  j>  and  f 
3 ;  the  capitals  of  which  are  printed  p  and  3-     Both  of  these  \ 
are  of  frequent  occurrence  in  early  MSS.     The  former  (b) 
signifies   th.     In  our  modern   pronunciation,   we   make   a 
distinction  between  the  initial  sounds  of  thine  and  thin,  a  -f 
distinction  which  in  the  earliest  times  possibly  did  not  exist, 
the  th  in  both  cases  being  sounded  soft,  as  in  thine ;  and  it 
is  remarkable  that  we  still  preserve  this  sound  in  all  our 
oldest  and  commonest  words,  such  as  thou,  the,  that,  there,  x 
then,  and  the  like1.     But  we  often  find  a  distinction  made 
in  the   fourteenth   century.     Some   scribes   used   b  at  the 
beginning  of  fie,  fiat  (the,  that),  and  the  letters  th  at  the 
beginning  of  thin,  thikke  (thin,  thick).     In  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury, this  distinction  was  less  regarded,  and  the  symbol  b 
was  gradually  disused. 

1  See  Appendix  I  to  'Gregory's  Pastoral  Care,'  edited  for  the  Early  English 
Text  Society  by  H.  Sweet,  Esq. 


XIV  INTRODUCTION. 

The  character  3  has  various  powers.  At  the  beginning  of 
a  word  it  is  to  be  sounded  as_y,  so  that  *$ard  is  our  modern 
yard]  in  the  middle  of  a  word  it  had  a  guttural  sound,  still 
represented  in  our  spelling  by  gh,  as  in  Ity  for  light  ;  at  the 
end  of  a  word  it  either  had  the  same  sound,  or  stood  for  z. 
In  fact,  the  character  for  z  was  commonly  made  precisely 
like  it,  although  sparingly  employed ;  yet  we  find  marchaunt^ 
for  marchauntz,  where  the  z,  by  the  way,  must  necessarily  have 
been  sounded  as  s.  This  use  of  the  character  is  French,  and 
appears  chiefly  in  French  words.  In  early  French  MSS.  it  is 
very  common,  and  denotes  z  only. 

The  characters  v  and  u  require  particular  attention.  The 
latter  is  freely  used  to  denote  both  the  modern  sounds,  and 
the  reader  must  be  prepared  at  any  moment  to  treat  it  as 
a  consonant.  Thus  the  words  haue,  hue,  diuerse  are  to  be 
read  have,  leve,  diverse ;  where  it  will  be  observed  that  the 
symbol  appears  between  two  vowels.  The  former  is  used 
sparingly  (except  when  written  in  place  of/"  in  Southern 
MSS.),  but  sometimes  denotes  the  modern  u,  chiefly  at 
the  beginning  of  a  word.  The  following  are  some  of  the 
commoner  examples  of  it,  and  may  as  well  be  learnt  at  once ; 
viz.  vce  or  vse  (use),  -vtier  (utter),  vp  (up),  vpon  (upon), 
vs  (us),  vY  or  "ore  (our),  vche  (each),  miel  (for  uvel,  evil),  and 
the  prefixes  vm-  (around),  vn-  (un-),  "under-  (under-),  and 
vt-  (out-).  It  is  common  to  find,  even  in  well-edited  edi- 
tions of  old  authors,  that  the  v's  and  u's  are  altered  so  as 
to  suit  the  modern  taste;  but  a  very  little  attention  will 
overcome  the  difficulty  occasioned  by  the  old  usage. 

The  letter  J  is  very  rare.  It  is  generally  denoted  by  a 
capital  /;  as  in  Tape,  leoperdie,  Tourney,  fa  jape,  jeopardy, 


INTRODUCTION.         ,  XV 

journey.  The  combination  quh  is  common  in  the  Lowland 
Scottish  dialect,  and  answers  to  the  modern  English  wh  and 
the  Anglo-Saxon  hw\  as  in  quhy  for  why,  A.S.  hwi. 

§  2.  Abbreviations.  The  most  usual  marks  of  contraction 
employed  in  early  books  and  MSS.  are  so  few  that  they  may 
soon  be  learnt.  The  commonest  are  these  following,  their 
expansions  being  denoted  throughout  this  volume  by  the  use 
of  italic  letters. 

A  stroke  over  a  vowel  signifies  m  or  n ;  as  in  su,  hi,  houd, 
meaning  suw,  him,  hound. 

An  upward  curl,  above  the  line,  signifies  er;  as  in  man^, 
s^ue,  for  man<?r,  s<?rue  (serve).  But  if  this  symbol  follows 
the  letter  p,  it  means  re ;  as  in  p^che  for  preche.  It  arose 
from  a  roughly  written  e,  the  letter  r  being  understood. 

A  small  undotted  *  above  the  line  means  ri,  the  letter  r 
being  understood,  as  before;  hence  p'nce,  c'st,  for  prmce, 
crz'st  (Christ). 

A  roughly  written  a  (cu)  in  like  manner  stands  for  ra\ 
as  in  gmce,  p°y,  for  grace,  pray. 

A  curl,  of  a  form  which  arose  from  a  roughly  written  v 
(for  «),  signifies  ur\  as  in  fiie,  'o,  for  tame,  our. 

The  reason  for  the  upward  curl  after/  being  used  for  re, 
arose  from  the  fact  that  there  was  already  a  way  of  writing 
per,  viz.  by  drawing  a  stroke  through  the  tail  of  the  p ;  as  in 
£il,  for  p<?ril.  Sometimes  this  sign  stood  for  par ;  as  in  pty 
for  party. 

A  similar  stroke,  but  curling,  enabled  the  scribe  to  abbre- 
viate pro.  Thus  we  }\wz<£fite,£ue,  for  profile,  praie. 

At  the  end  of  a  word,  the  mark  _j>  signifies   es  or  is\ 


XVI  INTR  ODUC  TION. 

and  the  mark  9  signifies  us;  as  in  wordj  for  worcfcj  or 
wordz>,  and  }>9  for  \us  (thus). 

A  not  very  common  mark  of  contraction  is  fi-  for  com  or 
con ;  as  in  v-fort,  Q-seil,  comfort,  conseil. 

Other  examples  of  contraction  are  q  or  qd  for  quod  or 
quod,  i.  e.  quoth ;  J>fc  for  \a\. ;  |>u  for  |>0u ;  and  ihc,  iftm,  for 
iesus,  iesum  (Jesus,  Jesum),  where  the  h  came  from  the 
Greek  H  (long  e),  and  the  c  from  the  Greek  C  (2,  s). 

§  3.  Pronunciation.  On  this  subject  the  student  may  con- 
sult '  Early  English  Pronunciation/  by  A.  J.  Ellis.  There  is 
reason  to  believe  that  very  considerable  changes  have  taken 
place  since  the  fourteenth  century,  and  that  the  vowels  were 
at  that  time  pronounced  much  more  like  those  which  are 
heard  in  continental  languages,  as  e.g.  in  German,  than  is 
the  case  at  present. 

§  4.  Punctuation.  As  no  marks  of  punctuation  occur  in 
the  early  MSS.,  the  editors  are  responsible  for  the  various 
stops  introduced  into  the  text;  and  the  reader  may,  if  he 
pleases,  disregard  or  alter  them. 

§  5.  Metre.  The  favourite  metre  in  the  fourteenth  cen- 
tury was  that  which  was  made  up  of  riming  couplets,  each 
line  containing  four  accents.  When  perfectly  regular,  it 
consisted  of  eight  syllables,  as, 

Of  mouth  J  of  cha  |  der  dnd  J  soukand  || 

(Sect.  II.Ps.  viii.  5); 

but  the  first  syllable  was  often  omitted,  as  in  the  line  imme- 
diately following,  viz. 

Made  I  J>ou  16f  |  in  il  |  ka  land  || 


INTR  OD  UCTION.  XV11 

Less  regular  lines  admitted  additional  unaccented  syllables. 
In  this  metre  are  written  the  poems  illustrated  in  Sections 
II,  V,  VII,  VIII,  X,  XVI,  and  XX.  The  occasional  intro- 
duction of  shorter  lines  having  only  three  accents,  especially 
in  the  third  and  sixth  lines  of  a  stanza,  produced  a  metre 
which  was  well  suited  for  lines  of  a  lyrical  cast.  See  Sec- 
tions III,  IV,  and  XI  for  examples  of  this.  Not  very  dis- 
similar is  the  metre  in  Section  VI.  The  long  lines  in 
Robert  of  Gloucester  may  be  compared  with  the  Common 
Metre  in  Hymn-books,  as  explained  in  the  note  at  p.  283. 
The  scansion  of  Section  XIX  has  been  carefully  marked, 
and  some  of  the  less  regular  lines  are  pointed  out  in  the 
Notes.  In  Sections  XII,  XIII,  and  XV  we  have  examples 
of  Alliterative  Metre,  which  prevailed  in  the  Western  part  of 
England  during  a  long  period,  and  was  indeed  the  only 
metre  used  in  England  previously  to  the  eleventh  century. 
Here  no  rimes  are  employed  at  all,  but  each  line  is  divisible 
into  two  sections,  as  indicated  by  the  inverted  full-stop.  In 
lines  of  the  most  regular  type,  three  emphatic  syllables 
occur,  two  in  the  former,  and  one  in  the  latter  section,  which 
commence  with  the  same  letter;  as  in 

&  fcriddes  ful  6r£mely  •  on  J>e  66wes  singe.     (XII.  23.) 

Here  the  three  first  emphatic  or  loud  syllables  commence 
with  the  letter  #,  whilst  the  last  loud  syllable  begins  with 
another  letter,  viz.  s. 

Sometimes  the  number  of  loud  syllables  is  increased,  as  in 

t>e  sauor  of  ]>e  sw&e  s^soun  •  &  s<5ng  of  J>e  briddes 

(Id.  29), 

in  which  three  loud  syllables  commencing  with  s  occur  in 
the  first  section. 

VOL.  ii.  b 


XVlll  INTRODUCTION. 

This  metre  is  regulated  chiefly  by  accent  and  emphasis, 
the  number  of  syllables  being  not  much  regarded1. 


§  6.     EARLY  ENGLISH  DIALECTS. 

From  historical  testimony,  and  an  examination  of  the 
literary  records  of  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  centuries, 
we  learn  that  the  English  speech  was  represented  by  three 
principal  dialects2. 

1 .  The  Northern  dialect,  spoken  throughout  the  Lowlands 
of  Scotland,  Northumberland,  Durham,  and  nearly  the  whole 
of  Yorkshire.     Roughly  speaking,  the  Humber  and  Ouse 
formed  the  southern  boundary  of  this  area,  while  the  Penine 
Chain  determined  its  limits  to  the  west. 

2.  The  Midland  dialect,  spoken  in  the  counties  to  the  west 
of  the  Penine  Chain,  in  the  East- Anglian  counties,  and  in 
the  whole  of  the  Midland  district.     The  Thames  formed  the 
southern  boundary  of  this  region. 

3.  The  Southern  dialect,  spoken  in  all  the  counties  south 
of  the  Thames ;  in  Somersetshire,  Gloucestershire,  and  por- 
tions of  Herefordshire  and  Worcestershire. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  Midland  dialect  exercised  an 
influence  upon  the  Southern  dialect  wherever  it  happened  to 
be  geographically  connected  with  it,  just  as  the  Northumbrian 
acted  upon  the  adjacent  Midland  dialects ;  and  this  enables 

1  Various  peculiarities  of  this  metre  are  discussed,  and  a  complete  list 
given  of  all  extant  English  poems  composed  in  it  since  the  beginning  of  the 
thirteenth  century,  in  an  Essay  on  Alliterative  Poetry,  by  the  Rev.  W.  W. 
Skeat,  prefixed  to  vol.  Hi.  of '  The  Percy  Folio  MS.'  ed.  Hales  and  Furnivall. 

2  See  Higden's  account  of  these  dialects,  pp.  240  and  343. 


INTRODUCTION.  XIX 

us  to  understand  that  admixture  of  grammatical  forms  which 
is  to  be  found  in  some  of  our  Early  English  MSS. 

§  7.  These  dialects1  are  distinguished  from  each  other  by 
the  uniform  employment  of  certain  grammatical  inflexions. 

A  convenient  test  is  to  be  found  in  the  inflexion  of  the 
plural  number,  present  tense,  indicative  mood. 

The  Northern  dialect  employs  -est  the  Midland  -en,  and 
the  Southern  -eth,  as  the  inflexion  for  all  persons  of  the  plural 
present  indicative2, 

NORTHERN.     MIDLAND.        SOUTHERN. 

ist  pers.  hop-£?3,  hop-en*,  hop-^,  we  hope. 
2nd  „  hop-w,  hop-en,  hop-eth,  ye  hope. 
3rd  „  hop-es,  hop-en,  hop-eth,  they  hope. 

The  inflexions  of  the  singular  number,  though  no  absolute 
test  of  dialect,  are  of  value  in  enabling  us  to  separate  the 
West-Midland  from  the  East-Midland. 

The  West-Midland  conjugated  its  verb,  in  the  singular 
number  and  present  tense,  almost  like  the  Northern  dialect. 

WEST-MIDLAND.  NORTHERN. 

ist  pers.     hop*,  hop*?3. 

2nd  „        hopest  hopes. 

3rd    „        hop^T,  hop^r. 

The  West-Midland  of  Shropshire  seems  to  have  employed 
the  Southern  inflexion  -est  and  -eth,  as  well  as  -es,  in  the  2nd 
and  3rd  persons  singular  indicative. 

1  The  Northern,  Midland,  and  Southern  dialects  are  sometimes  designated 
as  Northumbrian,  Mercian,  and  West-Saxon. 

2  The  Northern  dialect  often  drops  the  s  in  the  ist  person. 

8  This  -es  occurs  also  in  the  2nd  pi.  imperative  instead  of  -eth. 
*  The  -n  is  frequently  dropped  in  all  persons. 

b  2 


XX  INTR  OD  UCTION. 

The  East-Midland  dialect,  like  the  Southern,  conjugated 
its  verb  in  the  sing.  pres.  indie,  as  follows : — 

ist  pers.  hop*, 
2nd  „      hopes t, 
3rd    „      hopeth. 

Some  of  the  East-Midland  dialects  geographically  con- 
nected with  the  Northern  seem  to  have  occasionally  employed 
the  inflexion  -es  in  the  2nd  and  3rd  pers.  as  well  as  -est  and 
-eth.  It  is  mostly  found  in  poetical  writers,  who  used  it  for 
the  sake  of  obtaining  an  extra  syllable  riming  with  nouns 
plur.  and  adverbs  in  -es. 

The  West-Midland  is  further  distinguished  from  the  East- 
Midland  dialect  in  employing  the  inflexion  -es  for  -est  in  the 
2nd  pers.  sing,  preterite  of  regular  verbs.  We  also  find,  in 
the  West-Midland,  the  terminations  -tis,  -ud,  in  place  of  -es, 
-ed. 

§  8.  The  following  differences  between  the  Northern  and 
Southern  dialects  are  worth  noticing. 

I.    GRAMMATICAL    DIFFERENCES. 

NORTHERN.  SOUTHERN. 

1.  -es  in  all  persons  of  the     -eth  in  the  same. 

pi.  pres.  indie,  and 

2.  -es  in  all  persons  of  the     -e,  -es/,  -eth  (-th)  in  the  same. 

sing.  pres.  indie. 

3.  No  inflexion  of  person  in     Retention  of  the   inflexions 

the   sing,   or  pi.   of  the  -ede,  -edest,  -ede,  sing.;    as 

preterite  indie,  of  regular  ist  Iwede,  2nd  lovedest   3rd 

verbs  in  -ed;  as  ist  laved,  lovede;  -en  (pi.),  as  ist,  2nd, 

2nd  loved,  3rd  loved  (sing.  3rd  loveden. 
and  plural). 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXI 


NORTHERN. 

4.  Dropping  of  final  e  in 

the  pt.  t.  2nd  person  of 
strong  or  irregular  verbs, 
as  spaky  spakest;  segh, 
sawest. 

5.  Infinitives  drop  the  final 

-en  (-e),  as  sing,  to  sing. 

6.  At  for  to,  as  sign  of  the 

infinitive;  e.g.  at  fight, 
to  fight. 

7.  Sal,  suld,  shall,  should. 

8.  Present  or  imperfect  par- 

ticiples end  in  -and  (or 
-ande). 

9.  Omission  of  the  prefix  y- 

or  i-  in  past  participles, 
e.  g.  broken. 

10.  The  final  -en  in  past  par- 
ticiples is  never  dropped. 


11.  No  infinitives  in  -*,  ~ze, 

or  -y. 

12.  No  plurals  in  -en,  except 

eghen,  hosen,  oxen,  schoon. 

13.  The  plurals  childer,  bre- 

ther,  kuy  (ky,  cows),  hend. 

14.  The   genitive   of   nouns 

feminine  in  -es. 


SOUTHERN. 


2nd  person,  pt.  t.,  of  strong 
verbs  ends  in  -e,  as  spek-e, 
spakest;  se$-e,  sawest. 


Infinitives  retain  the  final  -en 
or  -e,  as  sing-en,  sing-e,  to 
sing. 

At  as  a  sign  of  the  infinitive 
is  wholly  unknown  in  this 
dialect. 

Schal,  scholde  (schulde). 

Present  or  imperfect  parti- 
ciples end  in  -inde  (-ing}. 

Retention  of  y-  or  i-  in  past 
participles,  e.g.  y-broke,  y- 
broken  (i-broke,  i-broken). 

The  final  -en  is  often  repre- 
sented by  -e,  e.  g.  y-broke 
=y-broken ;  i-fare  =  i-faren 
(gone). 

Numerous  infinitives  in  -i,  -ie, 
or  -y,  as  hatie,  lovie,  ponky, 
&c. 

A  large  number  of  nouns 
form  their  plurals  in  -en. 

Children,  brethren  (brethren), 
ken  (kuri),  honden  (honde}. 

The  genitive  of  nouns  femi- 
nine in  -e. 


XX11 


INTRODUCTION. 


NORTHERN1. 


15.  No    genitive    plural    in 

-ene. 

1 6.  Adjectives   drop   all    in- 

flexions of  number  and 
case,  except  aller,  alther, 
alder,  of  all;  lather,  of 
both. 

17.  Definite      article     unin- 

flected:  pat  a  demon- 
strative adjective. 

1 8.  J?er,J>ir  (these). 

19.  Ic,  ik,  I. 

20.  Sco,  sho  (she). 

21.  Thai,  thair  (thar),  thaim 

(thani)  =  they,their,them. 
2  2 .  Urs,  yures  (yhoures),  hirs, 
thair s  =  ours,  yours,  hers, 
theirs. 

23.  Absence  of  the  pronouns 

ha,  or  a  =  he ;  him  =  him 
(ace.) ;  wan  =  whom, 
which  (ace.),*  his(hise,is) 
=  them ;  his  (is)  =  her. 

24.  Use    of    hethen  =  hence; 

thethen  =  thence;  whethen 
=  whence. 

25.  Sum  =  as. 

2 6.  At  =  to ;  fra  =  from ;    til 

=  to. 

27.  Conj.  0/=that. 


SOUTHERN. 

Genitive  plural  in  -ene  retain- 
ed as  late  as  A.D.  1387. 

Adjectives  retain  many  in- 
flexions of  number  and 
case. 


Definite  article  inflected ;  ]>at 
(£ef)  the  neuter  of  the  defi- 
nite article,  and  not  a  de- 
monstrative adjective. 

pise,  J>es. 

Ich  (uch). 

Heo  (hi,  hue,  ho). 

Hit  (hi,  heo,  hue),  here  (hire, 
heore],  hem  (heom,  hueni). 

Ure  (vr),  eowere  ($oure,  ore, 
or),  hire,  here  (heore). 

Use  of  the  pronouns  ha  (a), 
hine,  wan,  his  (hise,  is],  his 


Unknown  in  Southern  dialect. 


Unknown  in  Southern  dialect. 
Unknown  in  Southern  dialect. 

Unknown  in  Southern  dialect. 


INTRODUCTION. 


XX1H 


§9.     II.     ORTHOGRAPHICAL    DIFFERENCES. 


NORTHERN. 


2. 
3.  / 


i.a;   as  in  Ian  (bone),  laf 
(loaf). 

as  in  kin,  hil  (hill),  pit. 
as  in  &«£;  so 
(clutch), 
(church), 
croke  (cross), 
r*'&  (kingdom). 
skrike  (screech,  shriek), 
sek  (sack). 
sk  ;  as  in  aske  (to  ask). 

4.  Absence  of  compound 

vowels. 

5.  qu  (qw)  ;  as  in  quat  (what). 
6./;  as  mfel  (fell),/*  (foe). 


5;  as  in 


u;  as  in  £««*,  hul^put. 

ch  ;  as  in  &?«^  ;  so 

douche. 

chirche. 

crouche. 

riche. 

schriche  (schirche). 

zech  (seek). 

ss;  as  in  esse  (to  ask). 

Use  of  the  compound  vowels 

eay  eo  (le,  ue}\ 
hw  (wli)  ;  as  in  hwat. 
V]  as  in  vel,  vo*. 


1  The  Kentish  dialect  substitutes  e  for  w,  as  ken  (kin),  kel  (hill),  pet  (pit). 

2  The  Southern  dialect  of  Kent  seems  to  have  pronounced  ea  as  yea,  as 
we  find  east,  eald  (old),  written  yeast,  yeald. 

3  The  Kentish  dialect  of  the  fourteenth  century,  like  the  modern  pro- 
vincial dialects  of  the  South  of  England,  has  z  for  s,  as  zinge,  to  sing ;  zay, 
say ;  zede,  said. 


OUTLINE    OF    GRAMMATICAL    FORMS. 

§10.     SUBSTANTIVES. 

I.   Formation  of  Plurals: — 

1.  The  suffix  -es  (-is,  -ys)  is  for  the  most  part  the  ordinary 
plural,  especially  in  the  Northern  dialects. 

-us  is  a  West-Midland  variety  of  -es. 

Romance  words  form  their  plurals  in  s  (or  z). 

In  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century,  words  ending  in 
a  liquid — mostly  words  of  more  than  one  syllable — take  -s 
as  the  plural  inflexion. 

2.  In  the  Northumbrian  dialect  no  plurals  in  -en  (-n)  are 
met  with,  except  eghen,  oxen,  hosen,  shoon,  and  fan  (foes).     In 
the  Southern  dialect  -en  is  very  common  side  by  side  with  -es. 

The  suffix  -en  (-n)  represents  (i)  the  oldest  English  -an  (-«), 
as  aschen,  ben  (bees),  chirchen,  eyen,  sterren,  ton  (toes),  &c. ; 

(2)  -u,  as  heveden  (heads),  tren,  sustren,  do^tren,  brethren,  &c. ; 

(3)  -a,  as  honden,  benen,  &c. ;    (4)  -y,  as  ken,  kin  (  =  cy,  pi.  of 
cti,  cow). 

3.  -e  sometimes  occurs  (i)  for  -en,  as  myle,  tymet  bene, 
blosme,  &c. ;  (2)  for  -u,  as  brethre,  childret  &c. 

4.  For  childre,  brethre,  we  find  childer  and  brether  in  the 
Northern  dialect :  defter  =  dehtren  •=  dohtru,  daughters. 

5.  Plurals  formed  by  vowel  change : — men,fet,  tep,  ges,  ky 
(kie] ;  modern  English,  men,  feet,  teeth,  geese,  cows,  &c. 

6.  Some  few  old  neuters  are  flexionless  in  the  plural,  as 
hors,  schep,  der,folk,  swinging,  yr  (years),  hous,pund,  &c. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXV 

II.  Case-endings.  The  genuine  case  singular  is  com- 
monly -es  (-*>,  -ys,  -us).  Father,  brother,  moder,  daughter  are 
found  without  the  genitive  sign,  as  in  the  oldest  English. 

In  the  Southern  dialect  (as  in  Robert  of  Gloucester)  we 
find  many  feminine  substantives  forming  the  genitive  in  -e, 
as  '  queue  fader/  « empresse  sone/  &c. 

The  genitive  plural  is  -es  (-j),  but  the  old  genitive  suffix 
-ene  (oldest  English  -ena]  of  the  n  declension  is  often  met 
with  in  the  Southern  dialect,  as  clerkene,  of  clerks ;  kyngene, 
of  kings ;  childrene,  of  children. 

The  dative  suffix  (singular  and  plural)  is  sometimes  de- 
noted by  a  final  -e,  but  for  the  most  part  the  nominative  and 
dative  have  the  same  form. 

§11.     ADJECTIVES. 

There  are  two  forms  of  the  adjective,  (i)  Definite  (or 
Weak),  (2)  Indefinite  (or  Strong). 

The  definite  form  is  denoted  by  a  final  e,  as  '  the  gode 
man.'  The  plural  is  also  denoted  by  a  final  e,  as  'gode 
frendes.'  This  e  is  often  dropped  towards  the  end  of  the 
fourteenth  century.  In  Chaucer  it  disappears  in  words  of 
more  than  one  syllable,  as  '  mortal  batailles/ 

The  vocative  case  is  denoted  by  the  final  e,  as  '  36  ymge 
men/  <  O  strange  God/ 

The  Norman-French  plural  -es  (-s)  is  not  uncommon, 
mostly  when  the  adjective  follows  the  noun  it  qualifies,  as 
'  wateres  principales,'  '  cosins  germains,'  &c. 

A  few  instances  of  the  genitive  singular  in  -es  occurs  in 
alles,  nones,  when  united  to  kyn ;  as  alleskynnes  =  of  every  kind, 
noskynnes  =  of  no  kind. 

In  the  Northern  dialect  the  genitive  ending  is  dropped; 
hence  the  following  forms,  nakin,  alkin,  sumkin,  whatkin,  &c. 


XXVI  INTRODUCTION. 

This  -kyn  once  belonged  to  the  following  noun  as  suffix, 
not  to  the  adjective. 

The  genitive  plural  suffix  -re  or  -er  (  =  -ra)  occurs  in 
(i)  alre,  alter,  alder,  alther,  genitive  plural  of  al,  (2)  beire, 
genitive  plural  of  lo  =  both. 

Comparison.  The  comparative  is  formed  by  adding 
-ere,  -er  to  the  positive.  In  some  writers  of  the  earlier  part 
of  the  fourteenth  century  we  find  -or,  -ur  for  -er. 

The  superlative  ends  in  -este,  -est\  sometimes  in  -ost. 

Adjectives  and  adverbs  in  -lick  form  their  comparative  and 
superlative  in  -loker  (-liker,  -laker,  -luker],  -lokest  (-likest, 
-lukesf) ;  though  -Iyer,  -lyesi  are  more  common  towards  the  end 
of  the  fourteenth  century. 

Eldre,  lengre,  strengre  have  vowel-change  as  well  as  the 
inflexion  of  comparison:  older,  longer,  stronger,  are  also 
found  (as  in  Chaucer). 

Bet,  leng,  streng  (comparatives),  are  mostly  used  adverbially. 

Irregular  Comparisons : — 

POSITIVE.  COMPARATIVE.  SUPERLATIVE. 

{betre,  betur,  better,  1 
bet,  /  best 

bad,  badder  (Chaucer). 


worst. 


{wers,   wors,   werse,  ] 
worse,  werre,  war,  } 
,  |   J  mare,    more,    mor,  1 
ft      mo,  ma,  j  mest,  most. 


muchel,  mochel 
much, 


lutel,  lytel,  litel,  "I 

I  r      lasse,  lesse,  les,  lest,  leest. 

Shortened  forms  of  the  comparative  and  superlative  are — 
fer  (ferre)  =  farther;  ner  (nerre)  =  nigher,  nearer ;  nest,  next  = 
nighest,  nearest ;  herre  =  higher ;  hest,  hext  =  highest. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXV11 

More  and  most  make  their  appearance  in  the  formation  of 
comparison,  as  mest  gentyl  (Robert  of  Gloucester),  more  hy 
(Robert  of  Brunne). 

§  12.    PRONOUNS. 

PERSONAL  PRONOUNS. 

SINGULAR.  PLURAL. 

Nom.  Ic,  ik,  ich,  uch,        we. 

Gen.    min  (rare)1,  ure,  ur,  our. 

Dat. 


:}me> 


,  __,  us,  ous. 
Ace 

Nom.  bu,  bou,  je,  ye,  yhe. 

Gen.    bin1,  jure,  your,  yhour,  ower. 

a*  I  be,  you,  yhou,  sow,  ow,  ou. 
Ace.  J 

SINGULAR. 

Masc.  Fern.  Neut. 


XT  L'.iJ  fm'»   no>   nue>   neo»   he>  >w    -4. 

Nom.  he,  ha,  a,<  ^hit,  it. 

'  ]_     sco,  sche,  J 

Gen.    his1,  hire,  hir,  his,  hit. 

Dat.     him,  hire,  hir,  him,  hit,  it. 

Ace.     hine,  him,     hire,  hir  ;  is,  hise,  his,  hit,  it. 

PLURAL. 

Masc.  Fern,  and  Neut. 
Nom.  hi,  hii,  heo,  hue,  hy  ;  bei,  bai. 
Gen.    here,  hare,  hire,  heore,  hor,  her,  hir. 
Dat.     hem,  ham,  horn,  heom,  huem  ;  bairn,  bam,  beim,  bem. 
Ace.     hi,  hem,  ham,  horn,  huem  ;  bam,  beim,  bem  ;  hise,  his,  is. 

1  Min,  ])/«,  and  his,  are  used  as  genitives  with  the  prep,  maugre]  in  most 
instances  they  are  merely  possessive  pronouns  ;  ure,  lure,  here,  are  genitives 
when  used  with  an  indefinite  pronoun  ;  as  ure  non,  none  of  us. 


XXV111  INTR  OD  UCTION. 

Uch,  ich  (I),  are  Southern  forms;  ich,  Midland;  ic,  ik, 
Northern.  /  is  used  in  the  Southern  dialect  before  n,  as 
/  nere  =  /  ne  were,  I  were  not. 

Ha  (he)  ;  his,  is  (her,  them)  are  peculiar  to  the  Southern 
dialect. 

Sco,  scho,  pat,  paim,  pam  are  Northern  forms  ;  sche,  pei 
are  Midland  varieties. 

Ho,  hit  (gen.)  are  West-Midland  forms. 

Hine  is  only  found  in  the  Southern  dialect. 

The  pronouns  are  often  agglutinated  to  the  verbs,  as 
Ichot  =  Ich  ivot,  I  know;  Icholle^Ich  wolle,  I  will;  nuly  = 
ne  +  wule  -f  i,  I  will  not,  &c. 

REFLEXIVE   PRONOUNS. 

.SV^is  added  (i)  to  the  personal  pronouns  in  the  nomi- 
native —  -pou  self;  (2)  after  the  dative,  as  Ich  me  self,  pou  pe 
self,  he  him  self.  But  the  genitive  form  often  replaces  the 
dative,  as  /  mi  self,  pou  pi  self,  we  ure  self,  &c. 

Chaucer  uses  the  lengthened  form  seluen,  as  /  myseluen. 

His  self  rarely  occurs  in  Old  English. 

used  as  a  demonstrative  =  same,  very. 


ADJECTIVE  PRONOUNS. 

Min,  pin,  his,  hire  (hir),  our  (ure,  vr),  %ure  (yhour,your, 
ore,  or),  her  (hir,  here,  hare,  hor),  or  pair  (peir). 

Min  and  pin  are  mostly  shortened  to  mi  and  pi.  The 
longer  forms  remain  (i)  before  vowels  and  h,  (2)  when 
used  after  a  noun,  a*s  handes  mine,  (3)  in  the  plural  and 
oblique  cases. 

Hise  is  often  used  as  the  plural  of  his. 

In  addition  to  the  ordinary  possessives  we  find  forms 
(i)  in  -s,  especially  in  the  Northern  dialect;  as  urs,  yures, 
pairs,  &c.  ;  (2)  in  -n,  as  our  en,  your  en,  haren,  &c. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXIX 

DEMONSTRATIVE  PRONOUNS. 

1.  pe  (Definite  Article). — The  definite  article  pe  is  used 
without  inflexion  in  all  cases,  singular  and  plural. 

In  the  Southern  dialect  we  often  find  pane,  pen  (ace. 
sing.). 

The  plural  pa,  po  is  also  in  use  in  the  fourteenth  century ; 
po  often  signifies  those. 

The  article  is  often  agglutinated  to  substantives,  as 
popynioun,  the  opinion ;  peir,  the  air. 

The  ton  and  the  toper,  =  *  thet  on '  and  '  thet  oj>er/  contain 
the  old  neuter  (that)  of  the  definite  article. 

2.  This. — This  is  properly  a  neuter  form:  the  masculine 
pes,  feminine  pues  (peos),  are  rarely  met  with. 

The  accusative  pesne,  pisne  (perne,  Kentish)  is  sometimes 
found  in  the  Southern  dialect. 

This  has  for  its  plural  thes,  these,  theose,  thuse,  thise,  this. 

3.  Compounds  of  -like  (O.  E.  lie]. — (i)  ilk,ylk  =  same1; 
(2)  thylke,  thulke  (Kentish pelliche)  =  the-like,  such;  (3)  swilk, 
swuch,  swich,  as  also  sli,  slik,  sic,  silk  =  so-like,  such. 

INTERROGATIVE  PRONOUNS. 
Masculine  and  Feminine. 

Nom.  who,  wo,  wha,  ho,  huo,  hua,  qua,  quha. 
Gen.    whos,  wos,  quas,  huas,  quhas. 

Dat.  1 

Acc  V  whom,  wham,  worn,  quam,  huam,  warn,  quham. 

Neuter. 

Nom.  and  Acc.  what,  wat,  huet,  quat,  quhat. 
Gen.  and  Dat.  like  the  Masculine. 

1  Ilk  =  i-lik,  that-like,  where  t  is  the  instrumental  case  of  the  base  a,  he, 
that ;  different  from  ilk  when  put  for  eche,  which  is  from  &lc  =  a-lik,  aye- 
like. 


XXX  INTRODUCTION. 

Wheper,  queper,  quheper  =  which  of  two. 
Whilk,  whichy  wuch,  wich,  woch  =  which. 

RELATIVE  PRONOUNS. 

That  is  the  ordinary  relative.  The  genitive,  dative,  and 
accusative  of  who  are  used  as  relatives.  The  who  and  the 
which  are  common  towards  the  end  of  the  fourteenth 
century ;  but  who  is  not  used  as  a  relative  (in  the  nom.  case) 
unless  the  precedes  it. 

INDEFINITE  PRONOUNS. 

1.  Sum,  som  =  some;    plural  some,  sume,  summe,  somme. 
Som  .  .  .  som  -  one  .  .  .  other. 

2.  Ouht,  o^t  =  ought,  aught;  nou^t,  no^t,  nouht,  naut  =  nought, 
naught.     Ouht  =  a  iviht\   a  is  a  particle  which  has  the  force 
of  any,  every ;    cf.  O.  E.  d  =  ever,  aye ;  wiht  -  creature,  thing. 

3.  Man,  men,  me  =  one  (like  Germ,  man)',  as  me  seiih  =  one 
saith.     See  Me  in  the  Glossarial  Index. 

4.  Wha,  who,  who-so  =  one,  any  one ;  whaswa,  who-so,  whose 
=  whosoever ;  eiper,  ayper,  ouper,  owper,  oper  =  either ;  neiper, 

nouper,  noper  =  neither  \ 

5.  Ech,   uch,  ich,  ilk  =  each ;    ever-ilk,  everech,  everich  = 
every.     To  be  distinguished  from  ilk,  same ;  see  note  on  p. 
xxix. 

§13.    VERBS. 
I.    REGULAR,  OR  WEAK  VERBS. 

Weak  verbs  form  their  preterite  tense  by  adding  -ede  (-de, 
-/<?)  to  the  verb.  The  passive  particle  ends  in  -ed  (-d,  -/). 
The  final  e  sometimes  drops  off  in  the  preterite,  leaving  the 
suffix  -ed  (sometimes  -id  or  -ud)  as  the  tense-sign. 

1  The  conjunctions  or  and  nor  are  contracted  from  o]>er  and  nofyer. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXXI 

INDICATIVE  MOOD. 

PRESENT. 

Sing.  Plural. 

1.  lovie,       love,  lovieth,  loveth ;  loven,  love  *. 

2.  lovest,      loves,  lovieth,  loveth ;  loven,  loves. 

3.  loveth,     loves,  lovieth,  loveth;  loven,  love;  loves. 

PRETERITE. 

1 .  lovede,     loved,         loveden,  lovede ;  loved. 

2.  lovedest,  loved,         loveden,  lovede ;  loved. 

3.  lovede,    loved,        loveden,  lovede;  loved. 

SUBJUNCTIVE  MOOD. 

PRESENT. 

Sing,    lovie,  love. 

Plur.    lovien,  loven,  love. 

PRETERITE. 

Sing,    lovede,  loved. 

Plur.    loveden,  lovede,  loved. 

IMPERATIVE  MOOD. 

Sing.      love. 

.  lovieth,  loveth ;  loves, 
love,  lovie  (followed  by  the  pronoun). 

SIMPLE  INFINITIVE. 
lovien,  lovie,  loven,  love. 

GERUNDIAL  (or  DATIVE)  INFINITIVE. 
to  loviene,  lovie,  lovene,  loven,  love. 

1  See  remarks  on  the  Dialects,  p.  xxL 


XXXii  INTRODUCTION. 

PRESENT  PARTICIPLE. 
lovinde,  loving ;  lovende ;  lovande,  lovand. 

PASSIVE  PARTICIPLE. 
iloved,  yloved ;  loved. 

The  simple  infinitive  occurs  after  auxiliary  verbs  without 
the  preposition  to.  It  may  be  used  as  the  subject  or  object 
of  a  verb. 

The  gerundial  infinitive  is  the  dative  of  the  simple  in- 
finitive, and  always  has  to  before  it.  It  is  equivalent  to 
Latin  supines  and  gerunds.  The  gerundial  infinitive  is  used 
in  English  where  a  supine,  or  ut  with  the  subjunctive,  is 
employed  in  Latin. 

On  the  Formation  of  the  Preterite  of  Weak  Verbs. 
Properly  speaking,  the   preterite  is  formed   only  by  the 
suffix  -de,  e  in  -ede  being  the  connecting  vowel  which  joins 
the  tense-suffix  to  the  base. 

1.  In  verbs  with  a  long  radical  vowel  this  connecting 
vowel  disappears,  and  -de  only  is  added  to  the  base,  as  in 
the  following : — 

INFINITIVE.  PRETERITE.  PAST  PART. 

dele,  del-de,  deled,  deld. 

deme,          dem-de,  dem-d. 

lede,  led-de,  lad-de,  led,  lad,  &c. 

2.  When  the  base  ends  in  Id,  nd,  r/,  st,  ht,  //,  &c.,  then 
-de  or  -te  represents  d-de  or  t-te,  as  in  the  following : — 

INFINITIVE.  PRETERITE.  PAST  PART. 

bulden,  bulde,  ibuld. 

sende,  sende,  isend. 

resten,  reste,  irest,  &c. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXX111 

/  often  replaces  d  in  the  fourteenth  century,  as  in — 
sende,  sent(e),  sent, 

wende,  went(e),  went. 

(a)  The  suffix  -d  is  changed  to  -/  after  a  sharp  mute 

(pt  ft  cht  ss,  /,  &c.). 
(b}  ch  becomes  5  (gh)  before  /. 

(c)  nch  becomes  yn  or  in  (rarely  ng)  before  /. 

(d)  ng  becomes  yn  or  in  before  d  or  /. 
Examples : — 

(a)  kepen,  kepte,  ikept. 
lefen,  lefte,  ileft,  &c. 

(b)  cacchen,  cau^te,  icaujt. 
techen,  taujte,  itau;t,  &c. 

(c)  drenchen,  dreynte,  idreynt,  &c. 

(d)  mengen,  meynte,  imeynt,  &c. 

II.     IRREGULAR,  OR  STRONG  VERBS. 

1.  Strong  verbs  differ  from  weak  ones  in  not  adding  any 
tense-suffix,  the  preterite   being   formed   by  vowel- change. 
The  passive  participle  of  strong  verbs  ends  in  -en  (and  by 
loss  of  n,  -e),  as 

PRES.  PRET.  PAST  PART. 

holde,  heold,  held,  iholden,  iholde. 

2.  Many   verbs    have   a   distinct   vowel-change   for   the 
preterite    plural,   identical   with   the   vowel   of  the   passive 
participle,  as 

PRES.  PRET.  SING.  PRET.  PLUR.  PAST  PART. 

binde,  band  (bond),  bunden,  ibunden. 

write,  wrat  (wrot),  writen,  iwriten. 

The  2nd  person  singular  of  these  verbs  has  also  this  vowel- 
change,  as  thou  bunde,  &c. 

VOL.  n.  c 


XXXIV  INTRODUCTION. 

3.  The  ist  and  3rd  person  of  strong  verbs  have  no  per- 
sonal suffixes.     That  of  the  2nd  person  was  originally  -e,  but 
-est  often  replaces  it  in  words  of  the  fourteenth  century. 

Hence  the  conjugation  of  the  preterite  is  as  follows : — 

SINGULAR.  PLURAL. 

1.  heold,  held     (I  held),  heold-en,  held-en  (we  held). 

2.  heolde,  helde  (thou  heldest),  heold-en,  held-en  (ye  held). 

3.  heold,  held     (he  held),          heold-en,  held-en  (they  held). 

4.  Both  strong  and  weak  verbs  (when  the  stem  ends  in 
-/,  -d,  -nd,  -s)  have  in  the  3rd  person  singular  present  indica- 
tive -/  for  -tep  or  -dep,  or  even  -ept  as  halt  =  holdej>,  rit  = 
ride]?,  sent  =  sende)>,  rist  =  risej). 

5.  The  2nd  and  3rd  person-endings  are  often  shortened, 
as  lixt  =  Ii3est  (tellest  lies) ;  telp  =  tellej>. 

6.  The  present  or  active  participles  of  all  verbs  end  in 
(i)  -inde,  -ing  (Southern  dialect);   (2)  -ende,  -end  (Midland 
dialect);    (3)   -ancle,  -and  (Northern   dialect,   and   Midland 
dialect  with  Northern  tendencies). 

7.  Passive  Participles  in  the  Southern  and  Midland  dia- 
lects take  the  prefix  i  oiy,  as  i-kept,y-ronnen. 

All  preterites  formed  by  vowel-change,  and  anomalous 
forms-  occurring  in  the  text,  will  be  found  in  the  Glossary. 
Observe  particularly  Habben,  to  have;  Ben,  to  be;  Worpe, 
to  become;  Scholle  (sal),  Scholde  (suld),  shall,  should;  Wol, 
Wolde,  will,  would;  Con,  Coupe,  can,  could;  Mowe,  Mi^te, 
may,  might ;  Most,  Moste,  must.  Note  also  that  the  pres. 
tense,  ist  and  3rd  persons  sing,  of  Wite,  to  wit  or  know,  is 
Wot,  and  the  past  tense  Wiste,  or  Wuste. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXXV 

§  14.     ADVERBS. 
I.     COMPARISON. 

Adverbs  are  compared  by  the  suffixes  -er  or  -re  (com- 
parative) and  -est  (superlative).  Bet,  leng,  streng,  ma  (mo)  are 
shortened  forms  of  the  comparatives  beire,  lengre,  strengre, 
mare  (more). 

II.     ADVERBIAL   PREFIXES. 

A  (before  a  consonant),  an  (before  a  vowel)  most  com- 
monly =  on,  in ;  as  in  anihte  (by  night),  ayr  (yearly),  an-ende 
(lastly),  anon  (in  one,  at  once),  anunder  (under). 

On  ;  as  in  on-rounde  (around). 

In  ;  as  in  in-idel  (in  vain). 

Umbe  (about);  as  in  umbe-stunde  (at  intervals),  umqwile 
(whilom,  formerly). 

Bi,  be  (by) ;  as  in  besides,  bilife  (quickly). 

To;  as  in  to-daie,  to-gedere,  &c. 

For ;  as  mforsoofie  (forsooth). 

At;  as  in  at  erst  (at  first),  ate  or  atte  laste  (lastly),  alien 
ende  (lastly) ;  where  atte  =  at  pe,  at  ten  =  at  pen. 

Occasionally  we  find  a  equivalent  to  the  oldest  English  of, 
as  of  buve,  above ;  of  newe,  newly ;  adown  =  of  dune,  down- 
wards. 

In  fact,  the  prefix  a-  may  have  twelve,  or  even  thirteen, 
interpretations.  We  have  (i)  a- -of,  as  in  adown,  A.S.  of- 
dune:  (2)  a-  =  on,  as  in  around  for  on-rounde :  (3)  a-  =  A.S. 
and-,  G.  ent -,  as  in  along,  A.S.  andlang,  G.  entlang'.  (4)  a-  = 
G.  er-,  Moeso-Goth  us-,  ur-,  as  in  arise,  Mceso-Goth.  ur- 
reisan :  (5)  a-  =  O.  Fr.  es-,  as  in  abash,  from  O.  Fr.  esbahir1 : 

1  Some  make  this  O.  Fr.  es-  the  same  as  the  Lat.  ex-;  at  any  rate,  the 
Lat.  ex-  is  preserved  in  amend,  from  Lat.  emendare,  and  in  afraid,  from  Lat. 
exfrigidart. 

C  2 


XXXVI  INTRODUCTION. 

(6)  a-  =  Fr.  a  (from  Lat.  ad),  as  in  avalanche,  from  Fr.  a  val, 
Lat.  ad  vallem :  (7)  a-  =  Fr.  a-  (from  Lat.  03),  as  in  abridge, 
Fr.  abre'ger,  Lat.  abbreviare1 :  (8)  a-  =  Lat.  a</,  as  in  astrin- 
gent, from  #</  and  stringere\  (9)  0-  =  Lat.  0<5,  as  in  ^zw/,  from 
#3  and  verier  e:  (10)  #-,  shortened  from  Gk.  an  (cf.  an-odyne), 
as  in  a£j/w,  from  Gk.  a,  not,  and  pvcro-os,  depth,  bottom : 
(n)  <z-,  used  (like  ah!}  as  an  interjection,  as  in  alas,  French 
helas:  (12)  a-  =  at,  as  in  ado  from  a/  <&,  Miitzner's  Eng. 
Gram.  ii.  2.  58:  whilst  (13)  aze;0r*  answers  to  O.  E.  iwar, 
G.  gewahr,  making  a-  a  substitute  for  £•<?-. 

The  adverb  ne,  not,  is  sometimes  agglutinated  to  the  verb 
following ;  as  nis  =  ne  is,  is  not ;  na]>  =  ne  haj>,  hath  not ; 
not  =  ne  wot,  know  not,  &c.  We  also  find  nif=  ne  if,  if  not. 

III.     TERMINATIONS, 

1.  Adverbs  that  now  end  in  -ly  formerly  ended  in  -hche 
(-like}.     (The  adjectival  affix  singular  is  -lich,  -lie.) 

2.  Adverbs  are  formed  from  adjectives  by  adding  a  final  -<?, 
as  soth,  sooth,  true ;  sothe,  soothe,  truly 2. 

3.  Many  adverbs  are  cases  of  nouns,  adjectives,  &c.,  e.  g. 
-es  (genitive) ;  alles,  altogether,  of  necessity,  needs ;  aynes, 
against ;  amiddes,  amidst ;  amonges,  amongst ;  bisides,  besides ; 
deathes,  at  death,  dead ;  days,  by  day ;  lives,  alive ;  nedes,  of 
necessity ;  newes,  anew ;  ni^tes,  by  night ;  togederes,  together. 
Enes,  ones,  once ;  hennes,  hence ;  neodes,  needs ;  twies,  twice ; 
thries,  thrice, — are  later  forms  for  en-e,  henn-e  (hennen,  heon- 
an),  neod-e,  twie   (twien,  A.  S.  twfavd),  thrie    (thrien,  A.  S. 
Jirywa).     Also  -urn  (dative),  as  whilom,  seldum,  &c. 

1  Curiously  corrupted  into  ad-  in  the  word  advance,  O.  Eng.  avance, 
which  is  from  the  Lat.  ab  ante. 

z  The  loss  of  the  final  -e  explains  the  modern  use  of  adjectives  for  adverbs, 
as  right  (for  rights')  =  rightly ;  long  (for  longe)  =  &  long  (time). 


INTRODUCTION.  XXX  VI 1 

4.  Other  endings  are  -tinge,  as  allmge,  altogether;    hed- 
linge,   headlong;    grovlinge,  on  the   face,   prone;  flatlinge, 
flatly. 

5.  -en  (-e),  abouten,  about;  befor-en,  befor-n,  before;  buven, 
buve,  above ;  btnnen,  binne,  within ;  with-outen,  without. 

6.  -en  (-<?),  motion  from;  hennen,  henne,  hence;   thennen, 
thanen,   thenne,    thence;    whennen,    wenen,  whenne,  whence; 
which  gave  rise  to  the  later  forms  with  genitive  affix  -es, 
as  hennes,  thennes,  whennes. 

7.  -der,  motion  to;  as  in  hider,  thider,  whtder,  hither,  thither, 
whither. 

Dialectical  varieties : — 

1.  The  Scandinavian  forms  hethen,  hence;  quethen  (whe- 
theri),  whence ;   thethen,  thence ;   sum,  as — are  not  used  in 
the  Southern  dialect. 

2.  The  Northern  dialect  prefers  the  prefix  on-  (o-)  to  a-\ 
as  on-skpe,  asleep ;  o-bak,  aback  ;  on-rounde,  around. 

3.  In  the  West-Midland  dialect  we  find  in-  as  an  ad- 
verbial prefix,  as  in-blande,  together,  mixedly ;  in-lyche,  alike  ; 
in-mydde,  inmyddes,   amidst;    m-monge,  m-monges,  amongst. 
Chaucer  uses  in-fere,  together. 

4.  The   Southern  affix  -tinge  becomes  -tinges  (Sc.  -tins] 
in  the  Northern  dialect,  as  grovelinges,  on  the  face,  prone ; 
handlinges,  hand  to  hand ;  hedlinges,  headlong. 

5.  The  Northern  dialect  employs  -gate  or  -gat  (way)  as  a 
suffix,  as  al-gate,  always ;  how-gate,  how-so ;  thus-gate,  thus 
wise ;  swa-gate,  so-wise,  in  such  a  manner. 

6.  In-with,  within ;  ut-with,  without ;  forwit,  before — are 
peculiar  to  the  Northern  dialect. 


XXXVlll  INTRODUCTION. 

§  15.     PREPOSITIONS. 

The  Northern  dialect  employs  fra  for  the  Southern  fram 
(vram),  Midland  fro,  from ;  at,  til,  before  the  infinitive,  for 
the  Southern  to\  amel,  emel,  for  the  Southern  amiddes,  amid. 
Mide,  mid,  with,  and  toppe  (  -  at-oppe ;  oppe  =  uppe  =  up ;  cf. 
O.  E.  at-above]  above,  are  unknown  to  the  Northern  dialect. 

§  1 6.     CONJUNCTIONS. 

1.  If  takes  a  negative  form  in  the  West-Midland  dialect, 
as  nif=  if  not. 

2.  No-hit  occurs  in  the  Midland  dialect  for  only. 

3.  Warn,    warne  =  unless  ;     and    thofquether  =  thohquether 
(Barbour  has  the  quhethir),  nevertheless — are  unknown  to  the 
Southern  dialect. 

4.  Ac,  but,  is  not  found  in  the  Northern  dialect. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXXIX 


§  17.     CHRONOLOGICAL   TABLE. 

DATE 

1.  (A)  Robert  of  Gloucester's  Chronicle 1298 

I.  (B)  Lives   of  Saints;    see   Furnivall's    edition  (Phil.  Soc.), 

Lives  of  SS.  Brandan  and  Beket  (Percy  Soc.) ;  Popular 

Science,  ed.  T.  Wright about  1300 

II.  Metrical  English  Psalter about  .300 

III.  The  Proverbs  of  Hendyng about  1300 

IV.  Lyric  Poems;  MS.  Harl.  2253 about  1300 

\.  Handlyng  Synne;  by  Robert  Manning,  of  Brunne      .         .  I3°3 

Accession  of  Edward  II 1307 

VI.  Religious  Poems ;  by  William  of  Shoreham      .         .         .    about  1320 

VII.  Cursor  Mundi;  or,  Cursor  o  Werld       ....    about  1320 
Pieces  in  Digby   MS.  86  (Maximian,  Dame  Siriz,   Vox  and 

Wolf,  &c.) about  1320? 

Poem  on  the  Times  of  Edward  II  (Percy  Soc.)  .  .  about  1320? 
Romances,  &c.  in  the  Auchinleck  MS.  (Bevis  of  Hamptoun ; 

Guy  of  Warwick ;  Sir  Tristram;  Seven  Sages,  &c.)  .1320-1330? 
Accession  of  Edward  III  .  .  .  .  i  .  .  '327 

VIII.  Metrical  Homilies        .         .         .  .         .         .   about  1330 

Birth  of  William  Langland 1332 

Alisaunder;  a  fragment,  by  the  author  of 'William  of  Palerne  '   about  1340 
Birth  of  Geoffrey  Chaucer about  1 340 

IX.  Ayenbite  of  Inwyt ;  by  Dan  Michel  of  Northgate       .         .  1340 

X.  Pricke  of  Conscience ;  by  Richard  Rolle  of  Hampole  .    about  1 340 
The  Polychronicon  (in  Latin) ;  by  Ralph  Higden         ,   .         ,  1352 

XI.  Poems  concerning  Edward  III ;  by  Lawrence  Minot         .  1352 

XII.  William  of  Palerne ;  or,  William  and  the  Werwolf         .    about  1355 

XIII.  Alliterative  Poems;  in  MS.  Cotton,  Nero  A.  x  .  before  1360 

XIV.  Voiage  and  Travaile ;  by  Sir  John  Maundeville     .         .  1356 

Morte  Arthure;  in  Alliterative  Verse about  1360 

The  Gest  Historyale   of  the   Destruction   of  Troy;    by  the 

same  author .         .   about  1360 

Sir  Gawayue  and  the  Grene  Knight         .....    about  1360 

XV.  Piers  the  Plowman  (A-text)  ;  by  William  Langlaud          .  1362 
Romaunt  of  the  Rose ;  by  Geoffrey  Chaucer .         .        .         .about  1366? 


xl 


INTRODUCTION. 


DATE 

Boke  of  the  Duchesse ;  by  Geoffrey  Chaucer  .         .         .         .  1369 

XVI.  The  Bruce;  by  John  Barbour 1375 

Accession  of  Richard  II 1377 

Piers  the  Plowman  (B-text) ;  by  William  Langland           .          .  ^377 

XVII.  Translation  of  the  Bible ;  by  John  Wyclif  and  others     .  1370-1380 
Death  of  Wyclif 1384 

XVIII.  Translation  of  Hig den's  Polychronicon ;    by  John  of 

Trevisa 1387 

XIX.  The  Canterbury  Tales ;  by  Geoffrey  Chaucer           .         .  about  1387 

XX.  Confessio  Amantis;  by  John  Gower        .          .         .         .  *393 

Piers  the  Plowman  (C-text)  ;  by  William  Langland          .         .  1393-1394 

Peres  the  Ploughman's  Crede          ......  about  1394 

The  Complaint  of  the  Ploughman,   or  the  Plowman's   Tale ; 

by  the  author  of  the  '  Crede '      .....  about  ^95 

Richard  the  Redeles  ;  by  William  Langland    ....  1399 

Accession  of  Henry  IV 1399 

Death  of  Chaucer 1400 


sU 


I. 

ROBERT  OF  GLOUCESTER'S  CHRONICLE. 

A.D.   1298. 

ROBERT  of  Gloucester,  a  monk  of  the  abbey  of  Gloucester, 
who  lived  in  the  reign  of  Edward  I,  wrote  a  rhymed  Chronicle 
of  England  from  the  Siege  of  Troy  to  the  death  of  Henry  1  1  1 

(1272). 

The  contemporary  MS.  in  the  British  Museum  has  furnished 
the  present  specimen  of  the  chronicler's  language,  which  repre- 
sents the  Southern  dialect  of  Gloucester.  Robert  of  Gloucester 
is  supposed  to  have  been  also  the  author  of  a  metrical  version 
of  the  Lives  of  the  Saints.  A  few  of  these  Lives  (including  the 
Life  of  St.  Dunstan)  have  been  printed  in  '  Early  English  Poems,' 
edited  for  the  Philological  Society  by  F.  J.  Furnivall,  M.A. 
1862. 

The  letters  printed  in  italics  are  denoted  in  the  MS.  only  by 
marks  of  abbreviation.  E.g.  the  er  in  'maist<?rs'  in  1.  7  is  de- 
noted by  an  upward  curl;  see  the  Introduction.  The  raised 
full-stops  shew  where  the  metrical  pauses  occur  in  each  line; 
they  are  written  like  ordinary  full-stops  in  the  MS. 

(A)     Reign  of  William  the  Conqueror. 
From  Cotton  MS.  Caligula  A.  xi.  leaves  107-114. 

MVCHE  aj?  J>e  sorwe  ibe  •  ofte  in  Engelonde, 
As  je  mowe  her  &  er  •  ihure  &  vnderstonde, 
Of  moni  bataile  \a\.  a]>  ibe  •  &  ]>al  men  j?at  lond  nome. 
Verst,  as  je  abbej?  ihurd  •  }>e  emp<?rours  of  Rome, 
VOL.  ii.  11  B 


2  7.      ROBERT  OF   GLOUCESTER. 

Su|?J>e  Saxons  &  Englisse  •  mid  batayles  stronge,  5 

&  su)>J>e  hii  of  Denemarch  •  \a\.  hulde  it  al  so  longe ; 
Atte  laste  hii  of  Normandie  *  }>at  maisters  be])  jut  here, 
Wonne  hit  &  holdej?  jut  •  icholle  telle  in  wuch  manure, 
po  Willam  bastard  hurde  telle  •  of  Haraldes  suikelhede, 
Hou  he  adde  ymad  him  king  •  &  mid  such  falshede —         10 

*  Vor  }>at  lond  him  was  bitake  •  as  he  wel  [hit]  wuste, 
To  wite  hit  to  him  wel  •  &  he  wel  to  him  truste — 
As  \>e  hende  he  dude  verst  •  &  messages  him  sende, 

,     pat  he  vnderstode  him  bet  •  is  dede  vor  to  amende, 

&  Jjojte  on  J?e  grete  oj>  •  \a\.  he  him  adde  er  ydo,  15 

To  wite  him  wel  Engelond  *  &  to  spousi  is  dorter  also  ; 

*  &  hulde  him  ]>er-of  vorewarde  *  as  he  bihet  ek  J>e  kinge, 

&  bote  he  dude  bi-time  he  wolde  •  sende  him  ojtfr  tidinge, 
&  seche  him  out  ar  tuelf  mon}>e  •  &  is  rijtes  winne, 
pczt  he  ne  ssolde  abbe  in  al  Engelond  •  an  hfrne  to  wite  him 
inne.  20 

Harald  him  sende  word  *  '  J>at  folie  it  was  to  truste 
To  such  o|>,  as  was  ido  •  mid  strengj>e,  as  he  wel  wuste ; 
Vor  jif  a  maide  treuj>e  iplijt  •  to  do  an  fole  dede 
Al  one  priueliche  •  wtyoute  hin?  frendes  rede, 
pulke  vorewarde  were  uor  nojt  •  &  watloker  it  ajte  her,       25 
pat  ich  suor  an  o]>,  ]>at  was  •  [\>o] l  al  in  )>i  poer, 
••  Wi})-owte  conseil  of  al  ]?e  lond  *  of  |nng  \a\.  min  nojt  nas. 
p^r-uore  nede  oj)  isuore  •  nede  ibroke  was. 
&  jif  J>ou  me  wolt  seche  in  Engelond  *  ne  be  J>ou  nojt  so 

sturne, 

Siker  ]>ou  be,  ]?ou  ne  ssalt  me  *  finde  in  none  hurne.'  30 

po  Willam  hurde  ]>at  he  wolde  •  susteini  is  tricherie, 
He  let  of-sende  is  kni3tes  •  of  al  Normandie, 
To  conseili  him  in  J>is  cas  *  &  to  helpe  him  in  such  nede ; 

1  Supplied  from  Hearne's  edition. 


7.   (A)  REIGN  OF   WILLIAM  THE   CONQUEROR.        3 

&  he  gan  of  hor  porchas  •  largeliche  horn  bede, 

As  hii  founde  su]?J>e  in  Engelond  •  |>o  it  iwonne  was,  35 

pe  betere  was  toward  him  •  hor  h^rte  uor  jns  cas. 

pe  due  Willam  is  wille  *  among  horn  alle  sede, 

p0t  four  jnnges  him  made  mest  •  bi-ginne  jmlke  dede. 

pat  Godwine,  Haraldes  fad^r  •  to  de]>e  let  do 

So  villiche  Alfred,  is  cosin  •  &  is  felawes  al-so,  4° 

&  uor  Harald  adde  is  oj>  ibroke  •  Jwt  he  suor  mid  is  rijt 

hond, 

pat  he  wolde  to  is  biofye  •  wide  Engelond, 
&  uor  Seint  Edward  him  }ef  •  Engelond  al-so, 
&  vor  he  was  next  of  is  blod  •  &  best  wurj>e  jwr-to, 
&  uor  Harald  nadde  no  rijt  *  bote  in  falshede.  45 

pes  j>inges  him  made  mest  •  biginne  jmlke  dede. 
&  uor  he  wolde  j?at  alle  men  •  iseye  is  trewehede, 
To  ]?e  pope  Alisandre  he  sende  •  in  such  cas  him  to  rede. 
Haraldes  falshede  •  J>o  J>e  pope  ysey  |>ere, 
&  parauntre  me  him  tolde  •  more  ]>an  so}>  were,  50 

pe  pope  asoilede  &  blessede  •  Willam,  &  alle  his 
pat  into  J>is  bataile  •  mid  him  ssolde  iwis, 
&  halwede  is  ban^r  •  ]>at  me  at-uore  him  bere. 
po  was  he  &  alle  his  *  gladdore  J>an  hii  er  were. 
So  j>at  Jns  due  adde  •  a^en  heruest  al  jare  55 

His  barons  &  knifes  *  mid  him  uorto  fare. 
To  ]?e  hauene  of  Sein  Walri  *  )>e  due  wende  J>o 
Mid  j>e  men  f>at  he  adde  •  &  abide  mo. 
After  heruest  }>o  hor  ssipes  •  &  hii  al  preste  were, 
&  [wynd] l  horn  com  after  wille  •  hor  seiles  hii  gonne  aren?, 
&  hiderward  in  jje  se  •  wel  glad  ]?en  wei  nome,  61 

So  )>at  bi-side  Hastinge  *  to  Engelond  hii  come  ; 
Horn  Jjojte  J>o  hii  come  alond  •  jnzt  al  was  in  hor  hond. 

*  Supplied  from  Hearne's  edition. 

B  2 


4  /•     ROBERT  OF   GLOUCESTER. 

As  sone  as  J>e  due  Willam  •  is  fot  sette  alond, 

On  of  is  kni3tes  gradde  •  '  hold  vaste  Willam  nou  65 

Engelond,  uor  \er  nis  •  no  king  bote  ]?ou, 

Vor  siker  ]>ou  be,  Engelond  •  is  nou  )>in,  iwis/ 

pe  due  Willam  anon  •  uor-bed  alle  his, 

P#t  non  nere  so  wod  to  robby  *  ne  no  man<?r  harm  do  ]><?re, 

Vpe  |>e  lond,  ]>at  is1  was  •  bote  horn  }>at  a^en  him  were.       70 

Al  an  fourtene  nijt  '  hii  bileuede  \er  aboute, 

&  conseilede  of  batayle  •  &  ordeinede  hor  route. 

King  Harald  sat  glad  ynou  *  at  Eumvik  atte  mete, 

So  J?at  \er  com  a  messager  •  ar  he  adde  ijete, 

&  sede,  ]>at  due  Willam  *  to  Hastinges  was  icome,  75 

&  is  ban^r  adde  arerd  *  &  ]>e  contreie  al  inome. 

Harald  anon,  mid  grete  herte  '  corageus  ynou, 

As  he  of  nomon  ne  tolde  •  J?ud<rward  uaste  he  drou. 

He  ne  let  no$t  clupie  al  is  folc  •  so  willesfol  he  was, 

&  al  for  in  ]>e  o]>er  bataile  •  him  vel  so  vair  cas.  80 

po  due  Willam  wuste  •  j?at  he  was  icome  so  nei, 

A  monek  he  sende  him  in  message  •  &  dude  as  ]>e  sley, 

pat  lond,  J?at  him  was  ijiue  •  j>at  he  ssolde  him  vp-3elde, 

Ojtfr  come,  &  dereyni  J)e.  rijte  •  mid  suerd  in  J?e  velde. 

5if  he  sede,  J>at  he  nadde  •  none  rijte  J^r-to,  85 

pat  vpe  )>e  popes  lokinge  *  of  Rome  he  ssolde  it  do, 

&  he  wolde  ]?er-to  stonde  •  al 2  wi]?oute  fijte, 

Wer  Seint  Edward  hit  him  jaf  •  &  wer  he  adde  }>er-to  rijte. 

Harald  sende  him  word  a3en  •  ]?at  he  nolde  him  take  no  lond, 

Ne  no  lokinge  of  Rome  •  bote  suerd  &  rijt  hond.  90 

po  hit  ofyer  ne  mi3te  be  •  eij><?r  in  is  side 

Conseilede  &  ^arkede  horn  •  bataile  uor  to  abide. 

pe  Englisse  al  ]>Q  nijt  bi-uore  •  uaste  bigonne  to  siwge, 

&  spende  al  ]>e  ni3t  in  glotonie  •  &  in  drinkinge. 

1  MS.  •  it' ;  Hearne  has  •  hys.' 

8  After  '  al '  Hearne  inserts  '  clene.* 


7.  (A)   REIGN  OF   WILLIAM   THE   CONQUEROR.        5 

pe  Normans  ne  dude  nojt  so  •  ac  criede  on  God  uaste,      95 

&  ssriue  horn,  ech  after  Q\er  •  J>e  wule  ]>e  ni3t  ylaste, 

&  amorwe  horn  let  hoseli  *  mid  milde  herte  ynou. 

&  su]?j>e  J?e  due  wi]>  is  ost  *  toward  j?e  bataiie  drou, 

An  stourcde  he  gan  abide  •  &  is  fortes  rede : — 

'  3e  knijtes/  he  sede,  '  \ai  bej>  •  of  so  noble  dede,  100 

\)at  nere  neu^re  outcome  •  ne  joure  elderne  naj>emo, 

Vnder-stondej)  of  ]?e  kynge1  of  France  *  }>at  jour*  elderne 

dude  so  wo, 

Hou  mi  fader  in  Paris  •  amidde  is  kinedom, 
Mid  prowesse  of  3our<?  fad^res  •  mid  streng]>e  him  ou^rcom. 
Vnderstondej)  hou  joure  elderne  •  ]>e  king  nome  also,        105 
&  held  him  uorte  he  adde  amended  •  }>at  he  adde  misdo, 
&  Richard,  J«rt  was  }>o  a  child  •  i3olde  Normandie, 
pat  was  due  herbiuore  •  &  |>at  to  such  maistrie, 
pat  at  eche  parlement  •  |>at  he  in  France  were, 
pat  he  were  igurd  wij>  suerd  •  \^e  wule  he  wer^  ]>ere,  no 

Ne  J>at  ]?e  king  of  France  *  ne  his  so  hardi  nere, 
Ne  non  atte  parlement  '  \a\.  knif  ne  suerd  bere. 
Vnder-stonde}?  ek  J?e  dedes  •  j>at  |>ulke  Richard  dude  al-so, 
pat  he  ne  owrcom  no^t  kinges  alone  •  ac  wel  more  }>er-to, 
Ac  he  ou^rcom  |?e  deuel  •  &  adoun  him  caste,  115 

To-gadere  as  hii  wrastlede  *  &  bond  is  honden  vaste 
Bihinde  at  is  rugge  •  of  such  prowesse  36  )>enche, 
Ne   ssame   36   no3t   }>at  Harald  •  j>0t  euere   was   of  \u]>er 

wrenche, 

&  bi-uore  3ou  was  uorsuore  •  }>at  he  wolde  mid  is  taile 
Turne  is  wombe  toward  vs  •  &  is  face  in  bataiie.  120 

Vnderstonde])  ]>e  suikedom  *  }>at  is  fad^r  &  he  wro3te, 
&  hii  J>at  mid  him  her^  be])  •  ]>o  hii  to  dej>e  bro3te 
So  villiche  Alfred  mi  cosin  •  &  my  kunesmen  al-so. 

1  So  in  Hearne ;  the  MS.  has '  kunde.' 


0  /.      ROBERT  OF   GLOUCESTER. 

Hou  mijte  in  eny  wise  •  more  ssame  be  ido  ? 
Monie,  \a\.  dude  jmlke  dede  •  56  mowe  her  [to  day]1  ise.  125 
Hou  longe  ssolle  hor  \u]>er  heued  •  aboue  hor  ssoldren  be  ? 
Adrawe]?  3oure  suerdes  •  &  loke  wo  may  do  best, 
pat  me  ise  joure  prowesse  •  fram  est  to  J>e  west, 
Vor  to  awreke  J>at  gentil  blod  •  ]>at  so  villiche  was  inome 
Of  vr  kunesmen,  vor  we  mowe  wel  •  vr  time  is  nou  icome.' 
pe  due  nadde  no$t  al  ised  •  |>at  mid  ernest  gret  131 

His  folc  quicliche2  •  to  be  bataile  sscet. 
A  suein,  }>at  het  Taylefer  *  smot  uorb  bi-uore  jx?r, 
&  slou  anon  an  Engliss  mon  •  bat  a  ban;r  ber, 
&  ef-sone  anojx?r  baneur  •  &  j>e  )>ridde  almest  also,  135 

Ac  him-sulf 3  he  was  aslawe  •  ar  be  dede  were  ydo.' 
pe  uerst  ende  of  is  ost  biuore  •  Harald  mid  such  ginne 
So  bikke4  sette,  bat  nomon  •  ne  mijte  come  wi]>inne, 
WiJ>  stronge  targes  horn  biuore  •  bat  archers  ne  dude  horn 
no$t, 

So  bat  Normans  were  •  nei  to  grounde  ibrost.  140 

Willam  bi])03te  an  qwointise  •  &  bi-gan  to  fle  uaste, 

&  is  folc  uorj)  mid  him  •  as  hii  were  agaste, 

&  flowe  ouer  an  longe  dale  •  &  so  vp  anhey. 

pe  Engliss  ost  was  prout  ynou  •  J>o  he  bis  isey, 

&  bigonne  him  to  sprede  •  &  after  ben  wey  nome.  145 

pe  Normans  wer<?  aboue  be  hul  •  )>e  ofyere  vpward  come, 

&  bi-turnde  horn  aboue  al  eseliche  •  as  it  wolde  be  donward, 

&  be  ojwe  binebe  ne  mijte  no^t  •  so  quicliche  vpward, 

&  hii  wer*  biuore  al  tosprad  •  J>at  me  mi3te  bitwene  hom 

wende. 

pe  Normans  were  ]>o  wel  porueid  •  aboute  in  eche  ende,    150 
&  stones  adonward  slonge  •  vpe  hom  ynowe, 
&  mid  spares  &  mid  flon  *  vaste  of  hom  slowe, 

1  Supplied  from  Hearne.  a  Hearne  has  « Al  ys  folc  wel  atyled.' 

•  MS.  •  hom  sulf/  4  MS. « J»ilke' ;  Hearne  •  tycke.' 


7.   (A)   REIGN  OF   WILLIAM   THE   CONQUEROR.        J 

&  mid  suerd  &  mid  ax  •  uor  hii  |>at  vpward  nome 

Ne  mi3te  no  wille  abbe  of  duwt  •  as  hii  ]>at  donward  come, 

&  hor  vantwarde  was  to-broke  •  j?at  me  mijte  wij>inne  horn 

wewde,  155 

So  |>at  ]?e  Normans  uaste  *  slowe  in  ech  ende 
Of  ]>e  Englisse,  al  uor  no}t  *  ]?at  ]>e  valeie  was  nei 
As  heie  ifuld  mid  dede  men  •  as  }>e  doune  an-hei. 
pe  ssetare  donward  al  uor  nojt  •  vaste  slowe  to  gronde, 
So  j>at  Harald  J>oru  }>en  eie  •  issote  was  dej>es  wounde.       160 
&  a  knijt  )>at  isei  *  ]>at  he  was  to  dej>e  ibro3t, 
&  smot  him,  as  he  lay  binej>e  •  &  slou  him  as  uor  no3t. 
Fram  ]>at  it  was  amorwe  •  ]>e  bataile  ilaste  strong, 
Vor-te  it  was  hei  midou<?rnon  •  &  \ai  was  somdel  long. 
Moni  was  )>e  gode  dunt  •  Jxzt  due  Willam  3ef  aday ;  165 

Vor  j?re  stedes  he  slou  •  vnder  him,  as  me  say, 
Vorpriked,  &  uor-ar«d  aboute  *  &  uor-wouwded  also, 
&  debrused  ajen  dedemen  •  ar  ]?e  bataile  were  ido. 
&  jut  was  Willames  grace  •  J>ulke  day  so  god, 
pat  he  nadde  no  wouwde  war-]?oru  •  he  ssedde  an  drope 

blod.  1 7o 

pus,  lo  1  ]>e  Englisse  folc  *  vor  nojt  to  grou«de  com 
Vor  a  fals  king,  }>at  nadde  no  rijt  •  to  |>e  kinedom, 
&  come  to  a  nywe  louml  •  j>at  more  in  ri3te  was. 
Ac  hor  no)*r,  as  me  may  ise  •  in  pur  ri3te  nas. 
&  ]>us  was  in  Normannes  hond  •  \ai  lond  ibrojt  iwis,          1 75 
pat  anaunter  jif  eu^rmo  •  keu<?ringe  j^r-of  is. 
Of  |?e  Normans  be}>  heyemew  •  J>at  bej>  of  Engelonde, 
&  ]>e  lowemen  of  Saxons  •  as  ich  vnderstonde, 
So  ]>at  je  sej>  in  ei|)er  side  •  wat  rijte  36  abbe]?  \er\.Q ; 
Ac  ich  vnderstonde,  \a\.  it  was  •  ]>oru  Codes  wille  ydo.        180 
Vor  \>e  wule  ]>e  men  of  |>is  lond  •  pur  hej>ene  were, 
No  lond,  ne  no  folc  •  ajen  horn  in  armes  nere ; 
Ac  nou  su)>j>e  |>at  }?et  folc  •  auenge  cristendom,    — 


8  7.      ROBERT  OF   GLOUCESTER. 

&  wel  lute  wule  hulde  •  \>e  biheste  J>at  he  nom, 
&  turnde  to  sleujje  &  to  prute  *  &  to  lecherie,  185 

To  glotonie,  &  heye  men  *  muche  to  robberie ; 
As  ]?e  gostes  in  auision  •  to  Seint  Edward  sede, 
Wu  Yr  ssolde  in  Engelond  •  come  such  wrecchede ; 
Vor  robberie  of  heiemen  •  vor  clerken  hordom, 
Hou  God  wolde  sorwe  sende  •  in  Jris  kinedom.  190 

Bituene  Misselmasse  &  Sein  Luc  •  a  Sein  Calixtes  day, 
As  vel  in  Jmlke  }ere  *  in  a  Saterday, 
In  J)e  }er  of  grace  •  as  it  vel  al-so, 
A  J>ousend  &  sixe  &  sixti  •  J>is  bataile  was  ido. 
Due  Willam  was  )>o  old  •  nyne  &  Jjritti  ^er,  195 

&  on  &  J>ritti  jer  he  was  •  of  Normandie  due  er. 
po  J)is  bataile  was  ydo  •  due  Willam  let  bringe 
Vaire  is  folc,  ]>at  was  aslawe  •  an  er]?e  ]>oru  alle  )>inge. 
Alle  ]>at  wolde,  leue  he  jef  •  ]>at  is  fon  anerjje  brojte. 
„     Haraldes  moder  uor  hire  sone  *  wel  jerne  him  biso3te         200 

...  Bi  messages,  &  largeliche  •  him  bed  of  ire  }>inge, 
To  grant!  hire  hire  sones  bodi  •  anerj>e  'vor  to  bringe. 
Willam  hit  sende  hire  vaire  inou  •  wi)>oute  eny  j>ing  ware- 

uore: 

So  }>at  it  was  }>oru  hire  •  wi]>  gret  honour  ybore 
To  J?e  hous  of  Waltham  *  &  ibrojt  anerjje  ]?ere,  205 

In  )>e  holi  rode  chirche  *  ]>at  he  let  him-sulf  rere, 
An  hous  of  religion  •  of  canons  ywis. 
Hit  was  ]>er  vaire  an  er]?e  ibrojt  •  as  it  $ut  is. 
Willam  ]>is  noble  due  *  J>o  he  adde  ido  al  jns, 
pen  wey  he  nom  to  Londone  •  he  &  alle  his,  210 

As  king  &  prince  of  londe  *  wij>  nobleye  ynou. 
A5en  him  wij)  uair  procession  •  }>at  folc  of  toune  drou, 
&  vnd^meng  him  vaire  inou  •  as  king  of  )>is  lond. 
pus  com,  lo  1  Engelond  •  in-to  Normandies  hond. 

^  &  )>e  Normans  ne  couj;e  speke  )>o  •  bote  hor  owe  speche, 


7.   (A)   REIGN   OF    WILLIAM  THE   CONQUEROR.        9 

&  speke  French  as  hii  dude  atom  •  &  hor  children  dude 
also  teche.  216 

So  \a\.  heiemen  of  J>is  lond  •  }>at  of  hor  blod  come, 
Holde]>  alle  jmlke  speche  *  J>at  hii  of  horn  nome. 
Vor  bote  a  man  conne  Frenss  •  me  tel)>  of  him  lute ; 
Ac  lowe  men  holde]>  to  Engliss  •  &  to  hor  owe  speche  3ute. 
Ich  wene  \er  ne  be]>  in  al  ]>e  world  *  contreyes  none,          221 
pat  ne~holdej>  to  hor  owe  speche  •  bote  Engelond  one. 
Ac  wel  me  wot  uor  to  conne  •  boj?e  wel  it  is, 
Vor  )>e  more  ]?at  a  mon  can  •  ]>e  more  wur]>e  he  is. 
pis  noble  due  Willam  •  him  let  crouny  king  225 

At  Londone  a  midwinter-day  •  nobliche  J>oru  alle  |>ing, 
Of  J>e  erchebissop  of  Eu^rwik  •  Aldred  was  is  name ; 
])er  nas  prince  in  al  J>e  world  •  of  so  noble  fame. 
Of  J>e  heyemen  of  J>e  lond  •  jwit  hii  ne  ssolde  ajen  biteme, 
He  esste  ostage  strong  inou  •  &  hii  ne  ssolde  nojt  wwrne, 
Ac  toke  him  ostage  god  •  at  is  owe  wille,  231 

So  J>£t  ^if  eny  ajen  him  was  '  huld  him  J?o  stille : 
3if  toward  Edgar  A^eling  •  eni  is  h^rte  drou, 
pat  was  kuwde  eir  of  )>is  lond  •  him  huld  j>o  stille  ynou. 
So  ]>at  ])0  J?is  Edgar  •  wuste  al  hem  it  was,  235 

pat  him  nas  no  )>ing  so  god  •  as  to  [fle  j>e]  *  cas, 
His  moder  &  is  sostren  tuo  *  mid  him  sone  he  nom, 
To  wende  a;en  to  )>e  lond  *  fram  wan  he  er  com. 
A  wind  \er  com  J>o  in  J>e  se  •  &  drof  horn  to  Scotlonde, 
So  )>at  after  betere  wind  •  hii  moste  ]>ere  at-stonde.  240 

Macolom  king  of  )>e  lond  •  to  him  sone  hom  drou, 
&  vor  )>e  kuwne  fram  wan  hii  come  •  honoured  hom  ynou. 
So  ]?at  J?e  gode  Margarete  •  as  is  wille  to  [him]  com, 
pe  eldore  soster  of  J>e  tuo  •  in  spoushod  he  nom. 
Bi  hir*  he  adde  an  do3ter  suj>)>e  •  J?e  gode  quene  Mold,       245 

•  So  in  Hearne ;  MS.  '  feky.' 


10  I.      ROBERT  OF   GLOUCESTER. 

pat  quene  was  of  Engelond  •  as  me  aj>  er  ytold, 

pat  goderhele  al  Engelond  •  was  heo  euere  ybore. 

Vor  J?oru  hire  com  suJ>J>e  Engelond  *  into  kunde  more. 

In  |>e  jer  of  grace  a  ]?ousend  •  &  sixti  J>er-to 

King  Macolom  spousede  •  Margarete  so.  250 

Ac1  king  Willam  ]>er-biuore  '  aboute  an  tuo  3er 

Wende  ajen  to  Normandie  •  from  wan  he  com  er, 

As  in  ]>e  verste  3ere  •  ]>at  he  ueng  is  kinedom. 

Ac  sone  a3en  to  Engelond  •  a  Sein  Nicolas  day  he  com, 

&  knijtes  of  bijonde  se  •  &  o]>er  men  al-so,  255 

He  jef  londes  in  Engelond  *  \ai  lijtliche  come  ]>erto, 

pat  jute  hor  eirs  holde}>  •  alonde  monion ; 

&  deseritede  moni  kuwdemen  •  j?at  he  huld  is  fon. 

So  |?at  })e  mestedel  of  heyemen  •  )>at  in  Engelond  bej>, 

Be]?  icome  of  J)e  Normans  •  as  36  nou  ise]>.  260 

&  men  of  religion  •  of  Normandie  al-so 

He  feffede  here  mid  londes  *  &  mid  rentes  al-so. 

So  J>at  vewe  contreies  •  bej>  in  Engelonde, 

pat  monekes  nabbej>  of  Normandie  *  somwat  in  hor  honde. 

King  Willam  bi-Jjojte  him  ek  •  of  ]?e  folc  ]>at  was  uorlore,  265 

&  aslawe  ek  j>oru  him  •  in  |>e  bataile  biuore. 

&  J?ere  as  )>e  bataile  was  •  an  abbeye  he  let  rere 

Of  Sein  Martin,  uor  hor  soulen  •  )>at  }>ere  aslawe  were, 

&  }>e  monekes  wel  inou  •  feffede,  wtyoute  fayle, 

p^t  is  icluped  in  Engelond  •  abbey  of  ]>e  batayle.  270 

pe  abbeye  al-so  of  Cam  •  he  rerde  in  Normandie 

Of  Seinte  Steuene,  ]>at  is  nou  •  ich  wene,  a  nownerye. 

He  bro^te  vp  moni  ofyer  hous  •  of  religion  also, 

To  bete  )>ulke  robberie  •  ]?at  him  ]>o^te  he  adde  ydo. 

&  erles  eke  &  barons  *  J>at  he  made  here  also,  275 

pojte  |>at  hii  ne  come  nojt  •  mid  gode  ri3te  j)^r-to, 

1  So  in  Hearne ;  MS.  '  At.' 


7.   (A)   REIGN  OF   WILLIAM   THE   CONQUEROR.      II 

Hii  rerde  abbeis  &  priories  *  vor  hor  sunnes  }>o, 

As  Teoskesburi  &  Oseneye  •  &  aboute  o]>er  mo. 

King  Willam  was  to  milde  men  •  debon^re  ynou, 

Ac  to  men  ]>at  him  wijj-sede  •  to  alle  sturnhede  he  drou.  280 

In  chirche  he  was  deuout  inou  *  vor  him  ne  ssolde  no  day 

abide, 

pat  he  ne  hurde  masse  &  matines  •  &  euesong  &  ech  tide. 
So  var)>  monye  of  Jns  heyemen  •  in  chirche  me  may  yse 
Knely  to  God,  as  hii  wolde  •  al  quic  to  him  fle, 
Ac  be  hii  arise,  &  abbe))  iturnd  •  fram  }>e  weued  hor  wombe, 
Wolues  dede  hii  nimej)  vorj>  •  ]>at  er  dude  as  lombe.  286 

,<Hii  todrawe}>  j>e  sely  bondemen  •  as  hii  wolde  horn  hulde, 

ywis; 

pey  me  wepe  &  crie  on  horn  *  no  mercy  \er  nis. 
.    Vnne}>e  was  \er  eni  hous  •  in  al  Normandie 

Of  religion,  as  abbey  •  olper  priorie,  290 

pat  king  Willam  ne  feffede  •  here  in  Engelonde 

Mid  londes,  o>\er  mid  rentes  •  J>at  hii  abbe])  her*  an  honde, 

As  me  may  wide  aboute  •  in  moni  contreye  ise, 

Ware-)>oru  |>is  lond  nede  mot  •  ]>e  pou^rore  be. 

King  Willam  adde  ispoused  •  as  God  jef  \a\.  cas,  295 

pe  erles  do$er  of  Flaundres  •  Mold  hire  name  was. 

Sones  hii  adde  to-gadere  •  &  do3tren  boj>e  tuo, 

As  Roberd  |>e  Courtehese,  &  Willam  •  )>e  rede  king  al-so, 

Henry  \>e  gode  king  •  was  jongost  of  echon. 

Do^tren  he  adde  al-so  •  Cecile  het  ]>at  on  300 

pe  eldoste,  j>0t  was  at  Cam  •  nonne  &  abbesse. 

Constance  }>e  o>\er  was  *  of  Brutayne  contesse, 

pe  erles  wif  Alein  •  Adele  jongost  was, 

To  Steuene  Bleis  ispoused  •  as  God  }ef  j>at  cas, 

&  bi  him  adde  ek  an  sone  •  Steuene  was  is  name,  305 

pat  su|?j)e  was  king  of  Engelond  •  &  endede  mid  ssame. 

Macolom  king  of  Scotlond  •  &  Edgar  Aj>eling, 


12  /.      ROBERT  OF   GLOUCESTER. 

pat  best  kunde  in  Engelond  •  adde  to  be  king, 

Hulde  horn  eu^re  in  Scotlond  •  &  poer  to  horn  nome, 

To  worri  vpe  king  Willam  *  wanne  god  time  come.  310 

&  gret  compainie  of  heyemen  •  here  in  Engelonde 

pat  ne  louede  nojt  king  Willam  •  wer<?  }>o  in  Scotlonde, 

Vor  king  Macolom  [alle]1  vnd<?rueng  •  j?at  ajen  king  Willam 

wer<?, 

&  drou  horn  to  him  in  Scotlond  •  &  susteinede  horn  }>ere. 
Vor  Edgar,  is  wiues  bro)*r  •  was  kunde  eir  of  J>is  londe,     315 
So  ]>at  hii  adde  of  boj?e  J>e  londes  •  gret  poeir  sone  an  ho«de. 
Ar  king  Willam  adde  ibe  king  •  volliche  pre  ^er, 
pat  folc  of  Denem^rch  •  ]?at  ]?is  lond  worrede  er, 
Greij>ede  horn  mid  gret  poer  •  as  hii  dude  er  Home, 
&  mid  |?re  hondred  ssipuol  men  •  to  Engelond  hii  come.    320 
Hii  ariuede  in  J?e  nor]?contreye  •  &  Edgar  A]>eling 
&  king  Macolom  wer<?  ]?o  •  glade  )>oru  alle  J>ing. 
To  horn  hii  come  at  Homb<?r  •  mid  poer  of  Scotlond, 
&  were  alle  at  o  conseil  •  to  worri  Engelond. 
Hii  worrede  al  NorJ?homb^rlond  •  &  uorj>  eu^re,  as  hii  come, 
So  ]>at  ]?e  toun  of  Eu^rwik  •  &  ]>e  castel  ek  hii  nome,         326 
&  monye  heyemen  al-so  *  of  J>e  contreie  aboute, 
So  |>at  jjet  folc  binor]?e  *  ne  dorste  nour  at-rpute. 
&  }>o  hii  adde  al  iwonne    J>e  contreie  ]>er  bi-side, 
Hii  ne  come  no  uer  sou]?ward  *  ac  \er  hii  go«ne  abide       330 
Bi-tuene  j>e  wat^r*of  Trente  •  &  of  Ouse  al-so. 
pere  hii  leuede2  in  hor  poer  *  vorte  winter  wer<?  ido. 
pe  king  Willam  abod  is  time  *  vorte  winter  was  al  oute, 
&  }>o  com  he  mid  gret  poer  •  &  mid  so  gret  route, 
pat  hii  nadde  no  poer  •  a5en  him  uor  to  stonde,  335 

Ac  lete  ]>e  king  J>e  maistrie  *  &  flowe  to  Scotlonde, 
&  horn  to  hor  owe  lond  •  J>e  Deneis  flowe  aje*. 


1  Supplied  from  Hearne. 

2  ^i-leuede  ?    Hearne  has  '  byleuede.' 


7.   (A)   REIGN  OF    WILLIAM   THE   CONQUEROR.      13 

pe  king  destruede  }>e  contreie  •  al  aboute  ]?e  se, 

Of  frut  &  of  corne  •  \a\.  \er  ne  bileuede  nojt 

Sixti  mile  fram  j>e  se  •  J>at  nas  to  grounde  ibrojt.  340 

&  al  \a\.  }>e  Deneis  •  no  .mete  ne  fou/zde  J>ere 

Wanne  hii  come  to  worri  •  &  so  J>e  feblore  were. 

So  )>at  5Ute  to  |>is  day  •  muche  lond  \er  is 

As  al  wast  &  vntuled  •  so  it  was  \Q  destrued  ywis. 

King  Willam  adauwtede  *  ]?at  folc  of  Walis,  345 

&  made  hom  bere  him  truage  •  &  bihote  him  &  his. 

pe  seue)>e  jer  of  is  kinedom  *  an  alle  soule  day, 

pe  quene  Mold  is  wif  deide  *  J>at  er  longe  sik  lay, 

In  }>e  $er  of  grace  a  J>ousend  •  &  seuenti  &  J>re. 

Anon  in  jmlke  sulue  jere  *  as  it  wolde  be,  350 

pe  king  Willam,  uorto  wite  *  j>e  wurj>  of  is  londe, 

Let  enqueri  streitliche  •  |>oru  al  Engelonde, 

Hou  moni  plou-lond  •  &  hou  rnoni  hiden  al-so, 

Were  in  eu<?rich  ssir^  •  &  wat  hii  were  wurj>  ]>er-to ; 

&  J>e  rentes  of  ech  toun  •  &  of  }>e  wattes  echone  355 

pet  wor|>,  &  of  wodes  ek  •  J?at  \er  ne  bileuede  none, 

pat  he  nuste  wat  hii  were  worj>  *  of  al  Engelonde, 

&  wite  al  clene  \a\.  wor]>  •  }>er-of,  ich  vnd^r-stonde, 

&  let  it  write  clene  ynou  •  &  \a\.  scrit  dude  iwis 

In  |>e  tresorie  at  Westmmsfre  •  J>er*  [as] l  it  3ut  is ;  360 

So  )>at  vre  kinges  suj>)>e  *  wanne  hii  rau«son  toke, 

Iredy  wat  folc  mijte  jiue  •  hii  fouwde  \ero,  in  hor  boke. 

per  was  bi  king  Willames  daye  •  worre  &  sorwe  inou, 

Vor  no  mon  ne  dorste  him  wtysegge  •  he  wrojte  muche 

w[ij?]  wou. 

To  hom,  \a\.  wolde  is  wille  do  •  debon^re  he  was  &  milde, 
&  to  hom  \a\.  him  wij>-sede 2  *  strong  tirant  &  wilde.          366 
Wo-so  come  to  esse  him  riijt  *  of  eni  trespas, 

1  Supplied  from  Hearne. 

2  MS. '  wi|>  him  sede';  bim  being  expuncted. 


14  /.      ROBERT  OF  GLOUCESTER. 

Bote  he  payde  him  J>e  bet  •  )>e  wors  is  ende  was, 

&  J?e  more  vnrijt  me  ssolde  him  do  *  ac  amowg  o\>ere  na]?eles 

poru-out  al  Engelond  •  he  huld  wel  god  pes ;  37° 

Vor  me  mi3te  here  bi  is  daye  *  &  lede  hardeliche 

Tresour  aboute  &  o]>er  god  •  oueral  ap^rteliche, 

In  wodes  &  in  o>\er  studes  •  so  ]>at  no  time  nas 

pet  pes  bet  isusteined  •  ]>an  bi  his  time  was. 

Game  of  houwdes  he  louede  inou  •  &  of  wilde  best,  375 

&  is  forest  &  is  wodes  •  &  mest  J>e  niwe  forest, 

pat  is  in  Sou]>hamtessir<?  •  vor  jmlke  he  louede  inou, 

&  astorede  wel  mid  bestes  •  &  lese,  mid  gret  wou. 

Vor  he  caste  out  of  house  &  horn  •  of  men  a  gret  route, 

&  bi-nom  hor  lond,  56,  ]>ritti  mile  •  &  more  |>er-aboute,       380 

&  made  it  al  forest  &  lese  •  ]>e  bestes  uor  to  fede. 

Of  pou^re  me[n]  deserited  •  he  nom  lutel  hede. 

p^r-uore  Jw-inne  vel1  •  mony  mis-cheuing, 

&  is  sone  was  }*  r-inne  issote  •  Willam,  ]>e  rede  king ; 

&  is  o  sone,  ]>at  het  Richard  *  cajte  \er  is  dej>  al-so.  385 

&  Richard,  is  o  neueu  •  brec  )><?re  is  nekke  J><?r-to, 

As  he  rod  an  hontej?  •  &  p#r-auntre  is  hors  spwrnde. 

pe  vnrijt  ido  to  poueremen  •  to  such  mesauntore  twrnde. 

Wo-so  bi  king  Willames  daye  •  slou  hert  o]>er  hind, 

Me  ssolde  puke  out  bo}>e  is  eye  *  &  makye  him  pur  blind. 

Heyemen  ne  dorste  bi  is  day  •  wilde  best  nime  no3t,          391 

Hare  ne  wilde  swin  •  J>at  hii  nere  to  ssame  ybro3t. 

per  nas  so  heymon  no«  •  ]>at  him  enes  wi}>-sede, 

pat  me  ne  ssolde  him  take  anon  •  &  to  prison  lede. 

Monye  heyemen  of  j>e  lond  •  in  prison  he  huld  strong,      395 

So  ]?at  muchedel  Engelond  *  jjojte  is  lif  to  long. 

Bissopes  &  abbodes  were  •  to  is  wille  echon, 

&  jif  Jwzt  eni  him  wraj>]?ede  •  adou«  he  was  anon. 

1  SoinHearne;  MS.  'wel.' 


7.   (A)   REIGN  OF   WILLIAM  THE  CONQUEROR.      15 

pre  si}>e  he  ber  croune  ajer  •  to  Midewinfcr  at  Gloucestre, 

To  Witesonetid  at  Westminstre  •  to  Ester  at  Wincestre.    400 

pulke  festes  he  wolde  *  holde  so  nobliche, 

Wi]>  so  gret  prute  &  wast  •  &  so  richeliche, 

pat  wonder  it  was  wenene  it  com   •   ac,  to  susteini  sucA 

nobleye, 

He  destruede  J?at  pouere  folc  *  &  nom  of  horn  is  preye, 
So  |>at  he  was  riche  him-sulf  •  &  }>0t  lond  pouere  al  out.    405      <*~ 
Sturne  he  was  ]>oru-out  al  •  &  heiuol  &  prout. 
SuiJ>e  Jrikke1  mon  he  was  •  &  of  grete  streng]?e, 
Gret-wo/wbede  &  ballede  •  &  bote  of  euene  lengj>e. 
So  stif  mon  he  was  in  armes  *  in  ssoldren,  &  in  lende, 
pat  vnnej?e  eni  mon  •  mijte  is  bo  we  bende,  410 

pat  he  wolde  him-sulf  vp  is  fot  *  ridinge  wel  vaste, 
Li3tliche,  &  ssete  also  •  mid  bowe  &  arblaste. 
So  hoi  he  was  of  body  ek  •  \a\.  he  ne  lay  neu^re  uaste 
Sik  in  is  bed  vor  non  vuel  *  bote  in  is  dej>-vuel  atte  laste. 
As  he  wolde  some-time  •  to  Normandie  wende,  415 

Al  jxzt  ajt  was  in  Engelond  •  he  let  somony  in  ech  ewde 
To  Salesburi  to-uore  him  •  j?at  hii  suore  him  alle  \erz 
To  be  him  triwe  &  holde  •  J>e  wule  he  of  londe  were, 
p^r-to  he  nom  gret  peine  of  horn  •  &  fram  Salesburi  to  Wijt 
He  wende,  &  fram  )>anene  •  to  Normandie  rijt.  420 

&  }>e  wule  he  was  out  of  Engelond  •  Edgar  Aj>eling 
(pat  rijt  eir  was  of  Engelond  *  &  kuwde  to  be  king)2 
Made  is  3onge  soster  •  as  God  }ef  )?at  cas, 
Nonne  in  |>e  hous  of  Romeseye  •  Cristine  hir<?  name  was. 
pat  folc  com  j>o  of  Denem^rch  •  to  Engelond  sone,  425 

&  robbede  &  destruede  •  as  hii  were  iwoned  to  done. 
pat  word  in-to  Normandie  •  to  king  Willam  com. 
So  gret  poer  of  Jmlke  lond  •  &  of  France  he  nom 

1  MS.  '  Jnlke' ;  Hearne,  '  tycke.' 

*  MS.  transposes  the  latter  parts  of  lines  421  and  422. 


1 6  I.      ROBERT  OF   GLOUCESTER. 

Mid  him  in-to  Engelond  •  of  kni3tes  &  squiers, 

Speremen  auote  &  bowemen  •  &  al-so  arblasters,  430 

p0t  horn  ]>O3te  in  Engelond  •  so  muche  folc  neu^re  nas, 

pat  it  was  wonder  ware-J>oru  *  isousteined  it  was. 

Hii  of  Denemarch  flowe  sone  •  vor  hii  nadde  no  poer, 

Ac  )>et  folc  of  blonde  se  •  bileuede  alle  her, 

pat  vnne]>e  al  ]?at  lond  *  sustenance  horn  vond.  435 

&  J>e  king  horn  sende  her  &  \er  '  aboute  in  Engelond 

To  diu<?rse  men,  to  finde  horn  mete  *  more  \&n  hor  poer 

was, 

So  ]?at  in  ech  manure  *  J?at  lond  destrued  was : 
Frut  &  corn  \er  failede  •  tempestes  \er  come, 
pondringe  &  li^tinge  ek  •  ]>at  slou  men  ilome.  440 

Manne  orf  deide  al  agrounde  •  so  gret  qualm  \er  com  f>o. 
Orf  failede  &  eke  corn  •  hou  mi3te  be  more  wo  ? 
Seknesse  com  ek  among  men  •  J>at  aboute  wide, 
Wat  vor  hong^r,  wat  uor  wo  *  men  deide  in  ech  side, 
So  \a\.  sorwes  in  Engelond  *  were  wel  mony-volde.  445 

pe  king  &  ofyer  richemen  •  wel  lute  j^r-of  tolde, 
Vor  hii  wolde  eu<?re  abbe  ynou  •  wanne  ]>e  pou<?re  adde  wo. 
Sein  Poules  chirche  of  Londone  *  was  ek  vor-barnd  )>o. 
King  Willam  to  Normandie  •  J>o:jte  suj>]?e  atte  laste, 
He  sette  is  tounes  &  is  londes  •  to  ferme  wel  vaste,  450 

Wo-so  mest  bode  )>eruore  *  &  }>ei  a  lond  igranted  were 
To  a  man  to  ber*  jj^ruore  *  a  c<?rtein  rente  bi  ^ere, 
&  ano]?^r  come  &  bode  more  *  he  were  inne  anon, 
So  J>at  hii  ]>at  bode  mest  •  brojte  out  monion. 
Nere  ]je  vorewarde  no  so  strong  •  me  bo^te  is  out  wij>  wou, 
So  ]?<2t  ]>e  king  in  such  manure  •  sulu^r  wan  ynou.  456 

po  he  adde  iset  is  londes  so  •  mid  such  tricherye 
So  heye,  &  al  is  oj*r  }>ing  •  he  wende  to  Normandi«, 
&  }?ere  he  dude  wowe  ynou  •  mid  sla^t  &  robberye, 
&  nameliche  vpe  }>e  king  of  France  •  &  vpe  is  cowpainie, 


7.    (A)   REIGN   OF    WILLIAM   THE   CONQUEROR.      If 

So  |>at  in  )?e  toun  of  Reins  •  king  Willam  atte  laste,  461 

Vor  eld  &  uor  trauail  •  bigan  to  febli  vaste. 

pe  king  Phelip  of  France  •  ]>e  lasse  ]>o  of  him  tolde, 

&  drof  him  to  busemare  •  as  me  ofte  de}>  J>an  olde. 

'  pe  king,'  he  sede,  '  of  Engelond  •  halt  him  to  is  bedde,    465 

&  lij>  mid  is  grete  wombe  *  at  Reins,  a  child-bedde.' 

po  king  Willam  hurde  J?is  •  he  made  him  sowdel  wro|>, 

Vor  edwit  of  is  grete  wombe  •  &  suor  ano»  }>is  oj> : 

'  Bi  ]>e  vprisinge  of  Ih&ru  Crist  *  }if  God  me  wole  grace 

sende, 

Vorto  make  mi  chirchegong  •  &  bringe  me  of  j>is  bewde,^;© 
Suche  wiues  icholle  mid  me  lede  •  &  such  lijt  atten  ende, 
pat  an  hondred  |>ousend  candlen  •  &  mo  icholle  him  tewde  V 
Amidde  is  lond  of  France  •  &  is  prute  ssende, 
pat  a  sori  chirgegong  ic^cholle  him  make  •   ar  \o.h  ]>anne 

we[nde].' 

Vorewarde  he  huld  him  wel  inou  •  vor  to  hiruest  anon,     475 
po  he  sey  ]>at  feldes  were  *  vol  of  corne  echon, 
Al  J>e  contreie  vol  of  frut  •  warnie  he  mtye  mest  harm  do, 
He  let  gadery  is  knijtes  •  &  is  squiers  al-so, 
&  J>at  were  is  wiues  •  j?at  he  wij>  him  ladde. 
He  wende  him  in-to  France  •  &  f>e  contreie  ou^r-spradde, 
&  robbede  &  destruede  *  him  ne  imjte  noting  lette.  481 

pe  grete  cite'  of  Medes  •  su]?])e  afure  he  sette, 
Vor  me  ne  mi3te  no  chirchegong  •  wi]?oute  lijte  do. 
pe  cite*  he  barnde  al  clene  •  &  an  chirche  al-so 
Of  vr  leuedi,  ]>at  ^r-inne  was  •  &  an  au«cre,  Codes  spouse, 
pat  nolde  vor  no  ]>ing  •  fle  out  of  hire  house.  486 

&  monimow  &  woffzman  ek  •  \er  vel  in  meschauwce, 
So  ]?at  a  sori  chirchegong  •  hit  was  to  |?e  king  of  France. 
King  Willam  wende  ajen  •  ]>o  al  ]?is  was  ido, 
&  bigan  sone  to  grony  •  &  to  febly  al-so,  490 

Vor  trauail  of  ]>e  voul  asaut  •  &  vor  he  was  feble  er, 

VOL.  II.  0 


1  8  /.      ROBERT  OF   GLOUCESTER. 

&  parauntre  vor  wreche  al-so  •  vor  he  dude  so  vuele  \er. 

po  he  com  to  Reins  a^en  *  sik  he  lay  sone, 

His  leches  lokede  is  stat  •  as  hor  ri3t  was  to  done, 

&  iseye  &  sede  also  *  ]?at  he  ne  mi3te  ofscapie  no^t.  495 

p^re  was  sone  sorwe  ynou  *  amo«g  is  men  ybro3t, 

&  he  him-sulf  deol  inou  *  &  sorwe  made  al-so, 

&  nameliche  uor  J>e  muche  wo  •  \a\.  he  adde  aner)>e  ydo. 

He  wep  on  God  vaste  ynou  •  &  criede  him  milce  &  ore, 

&  bihet,  3if  he  moste  libbe  •  \a\.  he  nolde  misdo  nawmore. 

Er  he  ssolde  )>at  abbe  ydo  •  vor  it  was  )>o  late  ynou.  501 

Atte  laste,  ]>o  he  isei  •  ]?at  toward  is  ende  he  drou, 

His  biquide  in  )>is  manure  *  he  made  biuore  is  dej>. 

Willam,  ]>e  rede,  al  Engelond  •  is  sone  he  bi-quej?, 

pe  3ongore,  al  is  porchas  •  ac,  as  lawe  was  &  wone,  505 

Normandie,  is  eritage  *  he  }ef  is  eldoste  sone, 

Roford  ]>e  Courtehese  •  &  Henry  ]?e  jongoste  }>o 

He  biquej)  is  tresour  •  vor  he  nadde  sones  nawmo. 

He  het  dele  ek  pou<?remen  •  muche  of  is  tresorie, 

Vor  he  adde  so  muche  of  horn  •  inome  in  robberye.  510 

Chirchen  he  let  rere  al-so  •  &  tresour  he  3ef  ynou, 

To  rere  vp  J>e  chirche  of  France  •  Jwrt  he  barnde  wij?  wou. 

pe  prisons  he  let  of  Engelond  •  deliu<?ry  echone, 

&  of  Normawdie  al-so  *  |>0t  \er  ne  leuede  none. 

po  deide  he  in  |>e  3er  of  gr^ce  •  a  }>ousend,  as  it  was,         515 

&  four  score  &  seuene  •  as  God  3ef  }>at  cas. 

He  was  king  of  Engelond  •  four  &  tuenti  3er  al-so, 

&  due  ek1  of  Normandie  •  vifty  jer  &  tuo. 

Of  elde  he  was  nyne  &  fifty  3er  •  \>o  God  him  3ef  such  cas. 

pe  morwe  after  Seinte  Mari  day  *  ]?e  later,  ded  he  was.      520 

In  )>e  abbey  of  Cam  •  iburr<?d  was  ]?is  king; 

&  Henry  is  $onge  sone  •  was  at  is  buriing, 


So  in  Hearne  ;  MS.  '  er.' 


v  . 

At* 


7.   (B)    THE  LIFE   OF  ST.  DUNSTAN.  19 

Ac  no)><?r  of  is  o]>er  sones  •  VOT  in  France  J>o 

Roford  Courtehese  was  •  in  worre  &  in  wo ; 

&  Willam  anow  so  is  fackr  •  Engelond  him  bi-quej),  525 

He  nolde  no^t  abide  •  vorte  is  fad^r  dej>, 

Ac  wende  him  out  of  Normandie  •  ano«  to  Engelo#de, 

Vorto  nime  hastiliche  *  seisine  of  is  londe, 

pat  was  him  J?o  leu^re  •  J>an  is  fad^r  were, 

So  |>at  \er  nas  of  is  sones  •  bote  j>e  jonge  Henry  ]>ere.       530 


(B)     From  the  '  Life  of  St.  Dunstan! 

The  following  legend  of  St.  Dunstan's  adventure  with  the 
Devil  is  in  the  same  dialect  as  the  *  Reign  of  William  the 
Conqueror';  see  p.  i. 

Harleian  MS.  2277,  leaf  51. 

SEINT  Dunstan  was  of  Engelond  •  icome  of  gode  more ; 

Miracle  our*  Lou^rd  dude  for  him  •  er  he  were  ibore. 

For  \>o  he  was  in  his  moder  wombe  •  a  Candelmasse  day, 

per  folc  was  at  churche  ynouj  •  as  to  )>e  tyme  lay, 

As  hi  stode  mid  here  lijt  *  as  me  doj>  jut  nou,  5 

Here  lijt  aqueynte  oueral  •  here  non  nuste  hou ; 

Her  rijt  hit  brende  suy]>e  wel  •  &  her  rijt  hit  was  oute. 

pat  folc  stod  in  gret  wonder  •  &  also  in  grete  doute, 

And  hi  speke  ech  to  ojx?r  •  in  whiche  manure  hit  were, 

Hou  hit  queynte  so  sodeynliche  •  J>e  lijt  \a\.  hi  bere.  10 

As  hi  stode  &  speke  Jwof  *  in  gret  wounder  echon, 

Sei«t  Dunstanes  moder  tap^r  •  afure  wor)>  anon, 

pat  heo  huld  on  hire  hond  •  heo  nuste  whannes  hit  com. 

pat  folc  stod  &  bihuld  •  &  gret  wonder  ]>erof  nom ; 

Ne  non  nuste  wannes  hit  com  •  bote  }>urf  oure  Lou^rdes  grace. 

pc-r-of  hi  tende  here  lijt  •  alle  in  j?e  place.  16 

0  2 


'2,0  I.      ROBERT  OF   GLOUCESTER. 

What  was  \>at  oure  Lou<?rd  Crist  *  ]>e  li^t  fram  heuene  sende, 

&  ]>at  folc  ]>at  stod  aboute  •  here  tap<?res  ]>erof  tende, 

Bote  of  ]>at  holi  child  •  \ai  was  in  hire  wombe  ]?ere, 

Al  Engelonde  scholde  ]>e  bet  beo  ili^t  •  \a\.  hit  ibore  were  1  20 

pis  child  was  ibore  116036  hondred  $er  •  &  fyue  &  tuenti  arijt, 

After  \a\.  oure  suete  Lou^rd  •  in  his  moder  was  alijt, 

pe  furste  3er  of  \>e  crouning  •  of  ]?e  king  Adelston ; 

His  moder  het  Kenedride  •  his  fader  Herston. 

po  J>is  child  was  an  vrj>e  ibore  •  his  freond  nome  ]?<?rto  hede, 

Hi  lete  hit  do  to  Glastnebury  •  to  norischi  &  to  fede1,          26 

To  teche  hi??i  eke  his  bileue  •  pa.ter-noster  &  crede. 

pe  child  wax  &  wel  ij>e:j  •  for  hit  moste  nede. 

Lute  5eme  he  nom  to  J>e  wordle  •  to  alle  godnisse  he  drou3 ; 

Ech  man  ]>at  hurde  of  him  speke  •  hadde  of  him  ioye  ynou}. 

PO  he  was  of  manes  wit  •  to  his  vncle  he  gan  go,  31 

PC  archebischop  of  Canterbury  •  seiwt  Aldelm  \a\.  was  ]>o, 

pat  makede  wi]>  him  ioye  ynouj   •   &  euer<?  ]>e  lenger<?  ]?e 

more, 

po  he  863  of  his  godnisse  •  &  of  his  wyse  lore. 
For  deynt^  }>at  he  hadde  of  him  •  he  let  him  sone  bringe      35 
Bifore  j? e  prince  of  Engelond  •  Adelstan  |>e  kynge. 
pe  kyng  hiztf  makede  ioye  ynou3  •  &  gr^ntede  al  his  bone, 
Of  what  J)inge  so  he  wolde  bidde  *  if  hit  were  to  done. 
po  bad  he  him  an  abbei  •  Jwzt  he  was  for]?  on  ibrojt, 
In  )>e  toun  of  Glastnebure  •  Jwzt  he  ne  wornde  him  nojt.        40 
pe  king  gr^ntede  his  bone  *  &  after  hi?n  also, 
Edmund  his  broj^r,  }>at  was  king  •  in  his  poer  ido. 
To  Glastnebury  wende  sone  •  }?is  gode  man,  seint  Dunstan, 
po  beye  J>e  kynges  hi/ra  jeue  leue  *  Edmund  &  Adelstan. 
Of  J>e  hous  of  Glastnebure  •  a  gret  ordeynour  he  was,          45 
&  makede  moche  of  gode  reule  *  \>at  neuer  er  among  hew 

nas. 

1  MS.  •  fete.' 


7.    (B)    THE  LIFE   OF   ST.  DUNSTAN.  21 

Ac  \>at  hous  was1  furst  bigonne  •  four  hondred  jer  bifore, 

&  eke  j>reo  &  vyfti  •  er  seint  Dunstan  were  ibore. 

For  \er  was  ordre  of  monekes  •  er  seint  Patrik  com, 

&  er  semt  Austyn  to  Engelonde  •  brou3te  Cristendom  ;       50 

&  seint  Patrik  deide,  tuo  hondred  *  &  tuo  &  vyfti  jer, 

After  J>0t  oure  suete  Leuedi  •  oure  Lou^rd  here  ber. 

Ac  none  monekes  \er  nere  furst  •  bote  as  in  hudinge  echon, 

&  as  men  \a\.  drowe  to  wyldernisse  •  for  drede  of  Godes  fon. 

Seint  Dunstan  &  seint  Adelwold  *  as  oure  Louml  hit  bisay, 

T-ordeyned  to  preostes  were  •  al  in  one  day.  56 

p<?r-aft<?r  sone  to  Glastnebury  •  seint  Dunstan  anon  wende, 

He  was  abbod  \er  ymaked  •  his  lyf  to  amende. 

&  for  he  nolde  bi  his  wille  •  no  tyme  idel  beo, 

A  priuei  smyb]?e  bi  his  celle  •  he  gan  him  bisep.  60 

For  whan  he  moste  of  oreisouns  •  reste  for  werinisse, 

To  worke  he  wolde  his  honden  do  •  to  fleo  idelnisse. 

S^rui  he  wolde  poure  men  •  be  wyle  he  mi$te  deore, 

Al  )>e  dai  for  ]>e  loue  of  God  •  he  ne  kipte  of  hem  non  hure. 

&  whan  he  sat  at  his  wore  \er  •  his  honden  at  his  dede,    ~  65 

&  his  hurte  mid  Ihesu  crist  •  his  moub  his  bedes  bede ; 

So  \a\.  al  at  one  tyme  •  he  was  at  breo  stedes, 

His  honden  }>er,  his  hurte  at  God  •  his  moub  to  bidde  his  bedes ; 

p^rfore  J>e  deuel  hadde  of  him  •  gret  enuye  &  onde. 

O  tyme  he  cam  to  his  smyj?j?e  •  alone  him  to  fonde,  70 

Rijt  as  ]>e  sonne  wende  adoun  •  rijt  as  he  WOwman  were, 

&  spac  wi|)  him  of  his  wore  •  wi)>  [a]  lajinge  chere, 

&  seide  \a\.  heo  hadde  wi|>  him  •  gret  wore  to  done ; 

Treoflinge  heo  smot  her  &  \er  •  in  anoj^r  tale  sone. 

'pat  holi  man  hadde  gret  wonder  •  Jwzt  heo  was.  &  Jwe         75 

He  sat  longe  &  bijio^te  him  •  longe  hou  hit  were. 

He  bi|?o3te  him  ho  hit  was  •  he  dro^  for])  his  tonge, 

&  leide  in  J?e  hote  fur  •  &  spac  faire  longe, 

1  MS.  \>a\ ;  but  «  was '  makes  better  sense. 


22  /.      ROBERT  OF   GLOUCESTER. 

Forte  ]>e  tonge  was  al  afure  •  &  sij>]>e,  stille  7110113, 

pe  deuel  he  hente  bi  ]?e  nose  •  &  wel  faste  drou; ;  80 

He  tuengde  &  schok  hire  bi  J>e  nose  •  \a\.  ]?e  fur  out-blaste ; 

pe  deuel  wrickede  her  &  }>er  •  &  he  huld  euere  faste. 

He  $al  &  hupte  &  drou}  aje  •  &  makede  grislich  bere, 

He  nolde  for  al  his  bi^ete  •  Jxzt  he  hadde  icome  )>ere. 

Mid  his  tonge  he  snytte  hire  nose  •  &  tuengde  hire  sore,      85 

For  hit  was  wi]?-inne  J>e  ny^te  •  he  ne  mijte  iseo  nomore. 

pe  schrewe  was  glad  &  blij>e  ynou3  •  J?o  he  was  out  of  his 

honde, 

He  fle3  &  gnzdde  bi  }?e  lifte  •  ]?«t  me  hurde  in-to  al  ]>e  londe : 
'  Out !  what  haj>  J>e  calewe  ido  •  what  haj>  J?e  calewe  ido !' 
In  ]>e  contr^i  me  hurde  wide  •  hou  J>e  schrewe  gradde  so.  90 
As  god  ]?e  schrewe  hadde  ibeo  •  atom,  ysnyt  his  nose, 
He  ne  hi3ede  no  more  ]>iderward  *  to  hele  \i\rn  of  ]>e  pose. 


II. 

METRICAL   ENGLISH   PSALTER. 

BEFORE   A.D.   1300. 

THE  following  extracts  are  from  the  Northumbrian  Psalter  in 
the  Cotton  MS.  Vespasian  D.  vii,  which  was  written  about  the 
middle  of  the  reign  of  Edward  II.  The  language,  however,  is 
much  earlier,  and  represents  the  speech  of  Yorkshire  and  the 
Northumbrian  dialect  in  the  latter  half  of  the  thirteenth  century. 
This  Psalter  was  published  by  the  Surtees  Society  in  1843-7, 
together  with  an  Anglo-Saxon  one. 

Nothing  whatever  is  known  concerning  the  authorship  of  this 
version  of  the  Psalms  ;  but  it  was  evidently  made  from  the  Latin 
Vulgate. 

The  numbers  of  the  Psalms  and  verses  are  the  same  as  in  the 
Vulgate.  A  later  version  of  Psalms  xiv.,  xxiii.,  and  cii.  will  be 
found  in  Section  XVII. 

PSALM  vni. 

2  LAUERD,  oure  Lauerd,  hou  selkouth  is 
Name  J>ine  in  alle  land  J>is. 

For  vpehouen  es  |>i  mykelhede 
Ouer  heuens  ]?at  ere  brade. 

3  Of  mouth  of  childer  and  soukand  5 
.Made  )>ou  lof  in  ilka  land, 

For  j>i  faes ;  }>at  ]>ou  fordo 
pe  faa,  )>e  wreker  him'vnto. 

4  For  I  sal  se  }>ine  heuenes  hegh, 

And  werkes  of  Jnne  fingres  slegh ;  10 

pe  mone  and  sternes  mani  ma, 
pat  }>ou  grounded  to  be  swa. 


24  II.      METRICAL  ENGLISH  PSALTER. 

5  What  is  man,  }>at  }>ou  mines  of  him  ? 
Or  sone  of  man,  for  }>ou  sekes  him  ? 

6  pou  liteled  him  a  litel  wight  15 
Lesse  fra  j>ine  aungeles  bright ; 

With  blisse  and  mensk  ]?ou  crouned  him  yet, 

7  And  ouer  werkes  of  j?i  hend  him  set. 

8  pou  vnderlaide  alle  Jjinges 

Vnder  his  fete  ]>at  ought  forthbringes,  20 

Neete  and  schepe  bathe  for  to  welde, 
Inouer  and  beestes  of  J>e  felde, 

9  Fogheles  of  heuen  and  fissches  of  se, 
pat  forthgone  stihes  of  Jje  se. 

10  Lau<?rd,  our  Lauml,  hou  selkouth  is  25 

Name  ]?ine  in  alle  land  }>is. 

PSALM  xiv  (xv). 

1  LAIIE/?D,  in  |?i  telde  wha  sal  wone  ? 
In  Jn  hali  hill*  or  wha  rest?  mone  ? 

2  Whilke  J>at  incomes  wemles, 
And  ai  wirkes  rightwisenes ; 

3  pat  spekes  sothnes  in  hert  his,  5 
And  noght  dide  swikeldome  in  tung  his, 

Ne  dide  to  his  neghburgh  iuel  ne  gram; 
Ne  ogaines  his  neghburgh  vpbraiding  nam. 

4  To  noght  es  led*  lither  in  his  sight ; 

And  dredand  Laumi  he  glades  right,  10 

He  }>at  to  his  neghburgh  sweres, 
And  noght  biswikes  him  ne  deres. 

5  Ne  his  siluer  til  okir  noght  es  giuand ; 
Ne  giftes  toke  ouer  vnderand. 

pat  does  J>ese  night  and  dai,  i5 

Noght  sal  he  be  stired  in  ai. 


II.      PSALM  XVII  (XVI I  I).  25 

PSALM  xvn  (xvm). 

2  I  SAL  loue  ]>e,  Lau^rd,  in  stalworthhede ; 

3  Lau^rd,  mi  festnes  ai  in  nede, 
And  mi  toflight  J?at  es  swa, 
And  mi  leser  out  of  wa, 

Lauerd,  mi  helper  j>at  es  alle,  5 

And  in  him  ai  hope  I  salle. 

Mi  schelder,  and  of  mi  hele  home, 

And  mi  fonger  ai  |>er-forne. 

4  Louand  Lauerd  ealle  sal  I, 

And  fra  mi  faas  be  sauf  for-]>i.  10 

5  Vmgaf  me  sorwes  of  dede ; 
Vmgriped  me  weeles  of  quede. 

6  Soreghes  vmgaf  me  of  helle ; 
Bisied  me  snares  of  dede  ful  felle. 

7  In  mi  drouing  Lauerd  called  I,  15 
And  to  mi  God  cried  I  witerli ; 

And  he  herd  fra  his  hali  kirke  mi  steuen, 
And  mi  crie  in  his  sight  in  eres  yhode  euen, 

8  Stired  and  quoke  J>e  erthe  J>are, 

Groundes  of  hilles  todreued  are ;  20 

And  }>ai  ere  stired  []?]of  Jjaim  be  lath, 
For  |>at  he  es  with  |>aim  wrath. 

9  Vpstegh  reke  in  his  ire, 

And  of  face  of  him  brent  j?e  fire ; 

Koles  }>at  wan?  dounfalland  25 

Kindled  ere  of  him  glouand. 

10  He  helded  heuens,  and  doune  come  he; 
And  dimnes  vnder  his  fete  to  be. 

1 1  And  he  stegh  ouer  Cherubin,  and  flegh  \>zxe ; 

He  flegh  ouer  fetheres  of  windes  ware.  30 

12  And  he  set  mirkenes  his  lurking  lang, 


26  77.      METRICAL   ENGLISH  PSALTER. 

His  telde  to  be  in  his  vmgang  ; 
Mirke  watres  J>at  war*  of  hewe, 
In  J>e  kloudes  of  \>e  skewe. 

13  For  leuening  in  his  sight  cloudes  schire  35 
Forthyheden,  haile,  and  koles  of  fire. 

14  And  Lau^rd  thonered  fra  heuen,  and  heghest  sire 
Gaf  his  steuen ;  haile,  coles  of  fire. 

15  And  he  sent  his  arwes,  and  skatered  ]>a; 
Felefalded  leuening,  and  dreued  ]>am  swa.  40 

1 6  And  schewed  welles  of  watres  ware, 

And  groundes  of  ertheli  werld*  vnhiled  are, 
For  ]>i  snibbiwg,  Lau<?rd  myne ; 
For  onesprute  of  gast  of  wreth  |>ine. 

17  He  sent  fra  hegh,  and  vptoke  me;  45 
Fra  many  watres  me  nam  he. 

1 8  He  outtoke  me  j?ar*  amang 
Fra  mi  faas  )>at  war  sa  strang, 
And  fra  J>a  me  |>at  hated  ai ; 

For  samen  strenghj>ed  ouer  me  war  |>ai.  50 

19  pai  forcome  me  in  daie  of  twinging; 
And  made  es  Lau^rd  mi  forhiling. 

20  And  he  led  me  in  brede  to  be ; 
Sauf  made  he  me,  for  he  wald  me. 

21  And  foryhelde  to  me  Lau^rd  sal  55 
After  mi  righ[t]wisenes  al  ; 

And  after  clensing  of  mi  hende 
Sal  he  yhelde  to  me  at  ende. 
2  2  For  waies  of  Lauml  yemed  I, 

Ne  fra  mi  God  dide  I  wickedly.  60 

23  For  al  his  domes  in  mi  sight  ere  )>a, 
And  his  rightwisenes  noght  put  I  me  fra. 

24  And  I  sal  be  with  him  wemmeles, 
And  loke  me  fra  mi  wickednes. 


II.      PSALM  XVII  (XVIII).  27 

25  And  Lau^rd  to  me  foryhelde  he  sal  65 
After  mi  right wisnes  al, 

And  after  clennes  of  mi  hend  swa 
In  sight  of  eghen  his  twa. 

26  With  hali  halgh  bes  of  J>e ; 

With  man  vnderand,  vnderand  be.  70 

27  With  chosen,  and  be  chosen  )>ou  sal; 
With  il-torned,  and  il-tornest  al. 

28  For  j)ou  meke  folk  sauf  make  sal  nou; 
And  eghen  of  proude  meke  sal-tou. 

29  For  J?ou  lightes  mi  lantern  bright,  75 
Mi  God,  mi  mirkenes  light. 

30  For  in  )>e  be  I  outtane  fra  fanding  al, 
And  in  mi  God  sal  I  ouerfare  }>e  wal. 

31  Mi  God  vnfiled  es  his  wai ; 

Speche  of  Lau^rd  with  fire  es  ai  80 

Fraisted ;  forhiler  es  he 
Of  al  )>at  in  him  hopand  be. 

32  For  wha  God  bot  Lauml  we  calle; 
Or  wha  God  bot  our  God  of  alle  ? 

33  Lauml,  J>at  girde  me  with  might,  85 
And  set  vnwemmed  mi  wai  right ; 

34  pat  set  mi  fete  als  of  hertes  ma, 
And  ouer  heghnes  settand  me  swa ; 

35  pat  leres  mi  hend  at  fight  nou, 

And  mine  armes  als  brasen  bow  set  J>ou.  90 

36  And  J>ou  gaf  me  forhiling  of  hele  of  \>e, 
And  J>i  right  hand  onfanged  me ; 

And  J>i  lare  in  ende  me  rightid  al, 
And  J>i  lare  it  me  lere  sal. 

37  pou  tobreddest  mi  gainges  vnder  me,  95 
And  mi  steppes  noght  vnfest  }>ai  be. 

38  I  sal  filghe  mi  faas,  and  vmlap  j>a ; 


28  77.      METRICAL   ENGLISH  PSALTER. 

And  noght  ogaintorne  to  J>ai  wane  swa. 

39  I  sal  J>am  breke,  ne  stand  J?ai  might; 

pai  sal  falle  vnder  mi  fete  dounright,  100 

40  And  }>ou  girde  me  with  might  at  fight  in  land, 
And  vnderlaide  vnder  me  in  me  riseand, 

4 1  And  mi  faas  obak  ]?ou  gaf  me  nou ; 
And  hatand  me  forlesed  |>ou. 

42  pai  cried,  ne  was  j?at  sauf  made  ought,  105 
To  Laumi,  and  he  herde  J?am  noght. 

43  And  I  sal  gnide  [)>am]  als  dust  bi-for  winde  likam ; 
Als  fen  of  gates  owai  do  j?am. 

44  Outtake  fra  ogainsaghes  of  folk  ]>ou  sal ; 

In  heued  of  genge  me  set  with  al.  no 

45  Folk  whilk  I  ne  knewe  serued  to  me; 
In  hering  of  ere  me  boghed  he. 

46  Outen  sones  to  me  lighed  )>ai, 
Outen  sones  elded  er  ]?ai ; 

And  ]?ai  halted  ]?ar<?  ]>ai  yhode  115 

Fra  J)ine  sties  ]?at  er^  gode. 

47  Lawrd  Hues,  and  mi  God  blissed  be  ; 
And  God  of  mi  'hele  vphouen  be  he. 

48  God  J>at  giues  wrekes  me  to, 

And  vnders  folk  vnder  me  so,  120 

Mi  leser  artou,  night  and  dai, 
Fra  mi  faes  ben  wrathful  ai, 

49  And  fra  in  me  risand  vpheue  sal-tou  me ; 
Fra  wicke  man  outtake  me  to  fle. 

50  For-Jn  in  bir]?es  sal  I  to  )>e  schryue,  125 
Lau^rd,  and  to  }>i  name  salm  sai  mi  Hue. 

5 1  Heles  of  his  king  mikeland, 
And  als  swa  mercy  doand 
To  his  crist,  }>at  es  Dauid, 

And  to  his  sede  til  in  werld  |>ar  wid.  130 


II.      PSALM  XXIII  (XXIV).  39 

PSALM  xxm  (xxiv). 

1  OF  Lau^rd  es  land  and  fulhed  his ; 
Er]>eli  werld,  and  alle  J>ar-in  is. 

2  For  ouer  sees  it  grounded  he, 
And  ouer  stremes  grained  it  to  be. 

3  Wha  sal  stegh  in  hilk  of  Lau^rd  winli,  5 
Or  wha  sal  stand  in  his  stede  hali  ? 

4  Vnderand  of  hend  bidene, 
And  J>at  of  his  hert  es  clene ; 

In  vnnait  ]?at  his  saule  noght  nam, 

Ne  swar<?  to  his  neghburgh  in  swikedam.  to 

5  He  sal  fang  of  Lauird  blissing, 
And  mercy  of  God  his  heling. 

6  pis  es  J)e  strend  of  him  sekand, 
pe  face  of  God  lacob  laitand. 

7  Oppenes  your  yates  wide,  15 
Yhe  )>at  princes  ere  in  pride ; 

And  yates  of  ai  vphouen  be  yhe, 
And  king  of  blisse  income  sal  he. 

8  Wha  es  he,  king  of  blisse  ?  Lau<?rd  strang 

And  mightand  in  fight,  Lauml  mightand  lang.         20 

9  Oppenes  your  yates  wide, 
Yhe  ]>at  princes  ere  in  pride  ; 
And  yates  of  ai  vphouen  be  yhe, 
And  king  of  blisse  income  sal  he. 

10  Wha  es  he  J>e  king  of  blisse  J?at  isse?  25 

Lau^rd  of  mightes  es  king  of  blisse. 

PSALM  cii  (cm). 

1  BLISSE,  mi  saule,  to  Lauml  ai  isse, 

And  alle  J>at  with-in  me  ere  to  hali  name  hisse. 

2  Blisse,  mi  saule,  to  Lauml  of  alle  thinges, 


30  II.      METRICAL  ENGLISH  PSALTER. 

And  nil  forgete  alle  his  foryheldinges. 

3  pat  winsom  es  to  alle  ]>ine  wickenesses»  5 
pat  heles  alle  J>ine  sekenesses. 

4  pat  bies  fra  steruing  }>i  lif  derli, 

pat  crounes  ]?e  with  rewj>es  and  with  merci. 

5  pat  filles  in  godes  Jn  yherninges  al, 

Als  erne  }>i  yhouthe  be  newed  sal.  10 

6  Doand  mercies  Lauerd1  in  land, 
And  dome  til  all<?  vnright  tholand. 

7  Kouthe  made  he  to  Moises  his  waies  wele, 
His  willes  til  sones  of  I[s]rael. 

8  Rewful  and  mildeherted  Lauml  gode,  15 
And  mildeherted  and  langmode. 

9  Noght  wreth  he  sal  in  eu^rmore, 
Ne  in  ai  sal  he  threte  jjar-fore. 

10  Noght  after  our  sinnes  dide  he  til  vs, 

Ne  after  our  wickenes  foryheld  vs  }>us.  20 

1 1  For  after  heghnes  of  heuen  fra  land, 
Strengh]>ed  he  his  merci  ouer  him  dredand. 

1 2  Hou  mikle  estdel  stand  westdel  fra, 
Fer  made  he  fra  vs  oure  wickenes  swa. 

13  Als  rewed  es  fadre  of  sones,  25 
Rewed  es  Lauerd,  }>ar<?  he  wones, 

Of  J>a  }>at  him  dredand  be ; 

14  Fore  our  schaft  wele  knawes  he, 
Mined  es  he  wele  in  thoght 

pat  dust  er<?  we  and  worth  noght.  30 

15  Man  his  daies  ere  als  hai, 

Als  blome  of  felde  sal  he  welyen  awai. 

1 6  For  gaste  thurghfare  in  him  it  sal, 
And  noght  vndrestand  he  sal  with-al ; 

1  MS.  '  Larued.' 


n.    PSALM  en  (cm).  31 

And  knawe  namare  sal  he  35 

His  stede,  whare  J>at  it  sal  be. 

17  And  Lauerdes  merci  cure  dwelland, 
And  til  ai  our  him  dredeand ; 

And  in  sones  of  sones  his  rightwisenes, 

1 8  To  |>as  )>at  yhemes  witeword  his;  40 
And  mined  sal  J>ai  be,  night  and  dai, 

Of  his  bodes  to  do  J>am  ai. 

19  Lau^rd  in  heuen  grained  sete  his, 
And  his  rike  til  alle  sal  Lau<?rd  in  blis. 

20  Blisses  to  Lauerd  with  alle  your  might,  45 
Alle  his  aungels,  J>at  ere  bright ; 

Mightand  of  thew,  doand  his  worde  swa, 
To  here  steuen  of  his  saghs  ma. 

21  Blisses  to  Lauerd,  alle  mightes  his, 

His  hine,  J>at  does  }>at  his  wille  is.  50 

22  Blisses  Lauerd,  with  wille  and  thoght, 
Alle  J?e  werkes  J>at  he  wroght. 

In  alle  stedes  of  his  lau<?rdschipe  ma, 
Blisse,  mi  saule,  ai  Lauerd  swa. 

PSALM  cm  (civ). 

1  BLISSE,  mi  saule,  Lauerd  nou ; 
Lauerd,  mi  God,  swith  mikel  ertou. 
Schrift  and  fairehed  schred  }>ou  right; 

2  Vmlapped  als  kicking  with  light, 

Strekand  heuen  als  fel  with  blis ;  5 

3  pat  hiles  with  watres  ou^restes  his ; 
pat  settes  J>in  vpsteghing  kloude, 

pat  gaas  ouer  fetheres  of  wyndes  loude  ; 

4  pat  makes  J>ine  aungels  gastes  flighand, 

And  ])in  hine  fire  brinnand ;  10 

5  pat  groundes  land  ouer  sta)>elnes  his, 


32  II.      METRICAL  ENGLISH  PSALTER. 

Noght  helde  sal  in  werld  of  werld  ]>is. 

6  Depnes  als  schroude  his  hiling  alle, 
Ouer  hilles  his  watres  stand  salle. 

7  Era  )>i  snibbing  sal  J?ai  fle,  15 
For  steuen  pf  J>i  thoner  fered  be ; 

8  Vpsteghes  hilles  and  feldes  doungas, 
In  stede  whilk  j?ou  grounded  to  }>as. 

9  Mere  set  }>ou  whilk  ouerga  ]>ai  ne  sal, 

Ne  tz/rne  to  hile  J?e  land  with-al.  20 

10  pat  outsendes  welles  in  dales  ma, 
Bitwix  mid  hilles  sal  watres  ga. 

1 1  Drink  sal  alle  bestes  of  felde  wide, 
Wilde  asses  in  ]>ar  thrist  sal  abide. 

1 2  Ouer  ]?a  wone  sal  foghles  of  heuen,  25 
Fra  mid  of  stanes  gif  sal  }>ai  steuen. 

13  Fra  his  ouermastes  hilles  watrand, 

Of  fruite  of  his  werkes  rilled  bes  J>e  land. 

14  Forthledand  hai  to  meres  ma, 

And  gresse  to  hinehede  of  men  swa,  30 

pat  ]>ou  outelede  fra  erthe  brede. 

15  And  hert  of  man  faines  wyne  rede, 
pat  he  glade  likam  in  oyele  best, 
And  brede  ]>e  hert  of  man  sal  fest. 

1 6  Be  fullefilled  sal  trees  of  felde  ilkan,  35 
And  ]>e  cedres  of  Yban, 

Whilk  he  planted  with  his  hand. 

17  pare  sal  sparwes  be  nestland, 
Wilde  haukes  hous-leder  of  )>a. 

1 8  Hilles  hegh  til  hertes  ma,  40 
And  }>e  stane,  bi  dai  and  night, 

Vntil  irchones  es  toflight. 

19  He  made  J>e  mone  in  times  lang; 
pe  sunne,  it  knew  his  setelgang. 


ii.    PSALM  cm  (civ).  33 

20  pou  set  mirkenesses,  and  made  es  night  gode ;        45 
In  it  sal  forthfare  alle  bestes  of  wode ; 

21  Lyoun  whelpes  romiand  ]>at  |?ai  reue  swa, 
And  seke  fra  God  mete  vnto  J>a. 

2  2  Sprungen  es  sunne  and  samened  ere  J>ai, 

And  in  ]>ar  dennes  bilouked  sal  be  al  dai.  50 

23  Oute  sal  man  ga  vnto  his  werke, 
And  til  his  wirkeing  til  euen  merke. 

24  Hou  mikeled  ere,  Lau^rd,  ]>me  werkes  ma; 
Alle  in  wisedome  made  J?ou  |>a : 

Ilka  land  fulfilled  es  it  55 

With  ]nne  aght  thurgh  J>i  wit. 

25  pis  see  mikel  and  roume  til  hende, 
par  wormes,  of  whilk  es  nan  ende ; 
Bestes  smaller  with  ]>e  mare. 

26  pider  schippes  sal  ouerfare;  60 
pis  dragoun  )>at  )>ou  made  biforn, 

For  to  plaie  with  him  in  skorn. 

27  Alle  fra  J>e  )>ai  abide, 

pat  ]?ou  gif  }>am  mete  in  tide. 

28  Giueand  ]>e  to  |>am,  gedre  ]>ai  sal;  65 
pe  oppenand  J>i  hand  with-al, 

Alle  sal  ]>ai,  mar<?  and  lesse, 
Be  fulfilled  with  ]>i  godenesse. 

29  pe  sothlik  turnand  J>i  likam, 

pai  sal  be  dreued ;  )>e  gast  of  ]>am  70 

pou  salt  outbere,  and  wane  sal  }>ai, 
And  in  )>air  duste  sal  turne  for  ai. 

30  Outsend  \>i  gaste  and  made  ]>ai  sal  bene, 
And  new  saltou  ]>e  face  of  erthe  bidene. 

31  Be  blis  of  Lamrd  in  werld  J>is,  75 
And  faine  sal  Lau^rd  in  werkes  his, 

32  pat  bihaldes  land,  and  to  qwake  makes  it; 
VOL.  u.  D 


34  II-      METRICAL  ENGLISH  PSALTER. 

pat  neghes  hilles,  and  ]>ai  smoke  yhit. 

33  I  sal  sing  to  Lau<?rd  in  mi  lif  for-]>i, 

I  sal  salme  to  mi  God  hou  lang  am  I.  80 

34  Winsome  to  him  be  mi  speche  al, 
I  sothlik  in  Lau^rd  like  sal. 

35  Wane  sinful  fra  erthe,  and  wik  }>at  isse, 

Swa  ]?at  J>ai  noght  be :  mi  saule,  Lau^rd  blisse. 


III. 

THE  PROVERBS  OF  HENDYNG. 

A.D.    1272-1307. 

THE  following  illustrations  of  English  proverbial  philosophy  in 
the  thirteenth  century  are  taken  from  MS.  Harleian  2253.  They 
are  printed  in  '  Reliquiae  Antiquae'  (ed.  Wright  and  Hallivvell), 
vol.  i.  pp.  109-116,  and  in  J.  M.  Kemble's  appendix  to  'The 
Dialogues  of  Salomon  and  Saturn*  (jElfric  Society),  1848.  The 
dialect  is  Southern  intermixed  with  some  few  Midland  peculi- 
arities. A  few  readings  are  added  from  MS.  Camb.  Gg.  i.  i. 

[MS.  Harl.  2253;  leaves  125 — 127.] 

1  Mon  |>at  wol  of  wysdam  heren, 
At  wyse  Hendyng  he  may  lernen, 

pat  wes  Marcolues  sone ; 
Gode  J>onkes  &  monie  J>ewes 
Forte  teche  fele  shrewes,  5 

For  ]>at  wes  euer  is  wone. 

2  I«ra  Crist,  al  folkes  red, 
pat  for  vs  alle  }>olede  ded 

Vpon  j?e  rode-tre, 

Leue  vs  alle  to  ben  wys,  10 

Ant  to  ende  in  his  seruys  1 

Amen,  par  charite* ! 
'  God  beginning  make]?  god  endyng ;' 

QuoJ>  Hendyng. 

D  2 


36  777.      PROVERBS   OF  HENDYNG. 

3  Wyt  &  wysdom  lurneb  jerne,  »5 
Ant  loke  bat  non  ober  werne 

To  be  wys  &  hende ; 
For  betere  were  to  bue  wis 
pen  forte  were1  fob  &  grys, 

Wher-so  mon  shal  ende.  20 

'  Wyt  &  wysdom  is  god  warysoun ;' 

Quo]>  Hendyng. 

4  Ne  may  no  mon  \a\.  is  in  londe, 
For  nobyng  bat  he  con  fonde, 

Wonen  at  home,  &  spede  25 

So  fele  bewes  for  te  leorne, 
Ase  he  ]>at  hab  ysoht2  jeorne 

In  wel  fele  ]>eode. 
*  Ase  fele  ]>ede,  ase  fele  bewes ;' 

Quo))  Hendyng.  30 

5  Ne  bue  bi  child  neuer  so  duere, 
Ant  hit  wolle  vn]?ewes  lerne, 

Bet  hit  o]>er-whyle ; 
Mote  hit  al  habben  is  wille, 
Woltou,  nultou,  hit  wol  spille,  35 

Ant  bicome  a  fule. 
'  Luef  child  lore  byhouej? ;' 

Quoj>  Hendyng. 

6  Such  lores  ase  |>ou  lernest. 

After  ]>at  J>ou  sist  &  herest,  4o 

Mon,  in  ]>yne  5ou|>e, 
Shule  ]>e  on  elde  folewe, 
Boj>e  an  cue  &  amorewe, 

&  bue  J>e  fol  cou]?e. 

1  'where' in  MS.;  Camb.  'weri.'  2  MS.  ha«'yso])t    ;  Camb.  'isowt.' 


111.      PROVERBS   OF  HENDYNG.  37 

'  Whose  jong  lerne]>,  olt  he  ne  lese}> ;'  45 

Qwo}>  Hendyng. 


9  Me  may  lere  a  sely  fode, 
pat  is  euer  toward  gode, 

WiJ)  a  lutel  lore ;  65 

3ef  me  nul  him  former  teche, 
penne  is  herte  wol  areche 

Forte  lerne  more. 
*  Sely  chyld  is  sone  ylered ;' 

Quo}>  Hendyng.  70 

10  3ef  }>ou  wolt  fleysh*  lust  outcome, 
pou  most  fiht1  &  fle  ylome, 

WiJ>  eye  &  wi}>  huerte ; 
Of  fleyshlust  come]>  shame ; 
pah2  hit  jnmche  J>e  body  game,  75 

Hit  doj>  ]>e  soule  smerte. 
'Welfyht3,  j>atwelfly]>;' 

Qwoj)  Hendyng. 

1 1  Wis  mon  halt  is  wordes  ynne ; 

For  he  nul  no  gle  bygynne,  80 

Er  he  haue  te/rapred  is  pype. 
Sot  is  sot,  &  J*2t  is  sene ; 
For  he  wol  speke  wordes  grene, 

Er  J?en  hue  buen  rype. 

'  Sottes  bolt  is  sone  shote ;'  85 

Q«o]>  Hendyng. 

1 2  Tel  J>ou  neuer  ]>y  fomon 
Shome  ne  teone  \a\.  J>e  is  on, 

pi  care  ne  ]>y  wo  ; 

MS.  has  '  fist.'        a  MS.  has  '  >a>  '  i  Caiub.  •  >owh.'        3  MS.  has  '  (y\>i 


38  777.      PROVERBS   OF  HENDYNG. 

For  he  wol  fonde,  jef  he  may,  90 

Bobe  by  nyhtes  &  by  day, 

.  Of  on  to  make  two. 
*  Tel  f>ou  neuer  by  fo  bat  ]>y  fot  akeb ;' 

Qwob  Hendyng. 

13  3ef  bou  hauest  bred  &  ale,  95 
Ne  put  j>ou  nout  al  in  J>y  male, 

pou  del  hit  sum  aboute. 
Be  bou  fre  of  by  meeles, 
Wher-so  me  eny  mete  deles, 

Gest  bou  nout  wib-oute.  100 

'  Betere  is  appel  yjeue  ben  y-ete ;' 

Quo))  Hendyng. 

14  Alle  whyle  ich  wes  on  erbe, 
Neuer  lykede  me  my  werbe, 

For  none  wynes  fylle;  105 

Bote  myn  &  myn  owen  won, 
Wyn  &  water,  stok^  &  ston, 

Al  go]?  to  my  wille. 
'  Este  bueb  oune  brondes ;' 

Quo])  Hendyng.  no 

15  3ef  j)e  lacke]>  mete  oj>er  clo]?1, 
Ne  make  ]?e  nout  for-|?y  to  wro]?1, 

pah 2  ]?ou  byde  borewe ; 
For  he  \ai  haue}?  is  god  ploh3, 
Ant  of  worldes  wele  ynoh,  115 

Ne  wot  he  of  no  sore  we. 
'  Gredy  is  |>e  godles ;' 

Q[u]o}>  Hendyng. 

1  MS.  has  'clojn,  'wro}>t';  Camb.  '  clo])e,'  '  wrothe.'          2  MS.  has  '  }>aj).' 
3  MS.  has  '  plo)> ' ;  Camb.  •  plouh.' 


III.      PROVERBS   OF   HENDYNG.  39 

16  3ef  J>ou  art  riche  &  wel  ytold, 

Ne  be  ]>ou  noht1  J?arefore  to  bold,  120 

Ne  wax  )>ou  nout  to  wilde ; 
Ah  ber  )>e  feyre  in  al  )>yng, 
&  }>ou  miht  habbe  blessyng, 

&  be  meke  &  mylde. 
*  When  )>e  coppe  is  follest,  ]?enne  ber  hire  feyrest ;' 

Quo})  Hendyng.  126 

•  •  •  •  • 

19  pah  ]>ou  muche  ]>enche,  ne  spek  J>ou  nout  al;      140 
Bynd  }>ine  tonge  wij)  bonene  wal ; 

Let  hit  don  synke,  J>er  hit  vp  swal ; 
penne  myht2  bou  fynde  frend  oueral. 
'  Tonge  brekej)  bon,  &  nad  hire-seine  non ;' 

QuoJ>  Hendyng.  145 

20  Hit  is  mony  gedelyng, 

When  me  him  3eueJ>  a  lutel  J>yng, 

Waxen  wol  vn-saht 8. 
Hy  telle  he  dej>  wel  by  me, 
pat  me  jeuej)  a  lutel  fe,  150 

Ant  owe))  me  riht  naht. 
'  pat  me  lutel  3eueJ>,  he  my  lyf  ys  on ;' 

Quo])  Hendyng. 

2 1  Mon  J)at  is  luef  don  ylle, 

When  J)e  world  goj)  after  is  wille,  155 

Sore  may  him  drede ; 
For  3ef  hit  tyde  so  \a\.  he  falle, 
Men  shal  of  is  owen  galle 
Shenchen  him  at  nede. 

'  pe  bet  }>e  be,  }>e  bet  ])e  byse ;'  160 

Q«o}>  Hendyng. 

MS.  has  •  nojrt.'  a  MS.  has  •  myj>t.'  8  MS.  has  '  vn  saj>t.' 


40  ///.      PROVERBS   OF  HENDYNG. 

2  2  pah  \>e  wolde  wel  bycome 
Forte  make  houses  roume, 

pou  most  nede  abyde, 

Ant  in  a  lutel  hous  wone,  165 

Forte  JXDU  fele  \a\.  ]>ou  mone1 

WiJ)-outen  euel  pryde. 
'  Vnder  boske  shal  men  weder  abide ;' 

Quo]>  Hendyng. 

23  Holde  ich  nomon  for  vnsele,  170 
Ctyerwhyle  ]?ah  he  fele 

Sumjjyng  \a\.  him  smerte : 
For  when  mon  is  in  treye  &  tene, 
penne  here])  God  ys  bene 

pat  he  byd  myd  herte.  175 

'  When  }>e  bale  is  hest,  ]>enne  is  ]>e  bote  nest ;' 
Quo])  Hendyng. 

24  Drah2  ]>yn  hond  sone  a^eyn, 
3ef  men  ]>e  do])  a  wycke  ]>eyn, 

per  J>yn  ahte  ys  lend ;  180 

So  J>at  child  wij?-drawe]>  is  hond 
From  ]>e  fur  &  )>e  brond, 

p<2t  haj)  byfore  bue  brend. 
<  Brend  child  fur  drede]>;' 

Q«o|?  Hendyng.  185 

25  Such  mon  haue  ich  land  my  clo)>, 
pat  ha)>  maked  me  fol  wroj), 

Er  hit  come  a3eyn. 
Ah  he  ]?at  me  ene  serue))  so, 
Ant  he  eft  bidde  mo,  190 

He  shal  me  fynde  vnfeyn. 
'  Selde  come]?  lone  lahynde  horn ;' 

Quo]>  Hendyng. 

1  MS.  '  mowe.'  2  MS.  •  DraJ) ' ;  Camb.  •  drawe.' 


777.      PROVERBS   OF  HENDYNG.  41 

26  3ef  J>ou  trost  to  borewyng, 

pe  shal  fayle  mony  J>yng,  195 

LoJ>  when  ]>e  ware ; 
3ef  J?ou  haue  J>in  oune  won, 
penne  is  ]>y  treye  ouergon, 

Al  wyjvoute  care. 

*  Owen  ys  owen,  &  oj>er  mennes  edne]> ;'  200 

Quo])  Hendyng. 

27  pis  worldes  loue  ys  a  wrecche, 
Whose  hit  here,  me  ne  recche, 

pah  y  speke  heye ; 

For  y  se  \a\.  on  broker  205 

Lutel  recche  of  J>at  o)>er, 

Be  he  out  of  ys  e^e. 
'  Fer  from  636,  fer  from  herte ;' 

Q#oJ>  Hendyng. 

29  Moni  mon  sei|>,  were  he  ryche, 
Ne  shulde  non  be  me  ylyche 

To  be  god  &  fre ;  220 

For  when  he  ha}>  oht  bygeten, 
Al  }>e  fredome  is  fo^eten 

Ant  leyd  vnder  kne. 
1  He  is  fre  of  hors  J>at  ner  nade  non ;' 

Quo])  Hendyng.  225 

.  .  •  .  • 

32  Mon,  \a\.  muntej)  ouer  flod, 
Whiles  Jxrt  J>e  wynd  ys  wod 

Abyde  fayre  &  stille  ; 

Abyd  stille,  3ef  ]?at  |>ou  may,  245 

&  jjou  shalt  haue  an  o]?er  day 

Weder  after  wille. 


42  777.      PROVERBS   OF  HENDYNG. 

1  Wei  abit  \a\.  wel  may  ]>olye ;' 

[Quo])  Hendyng.] 

33  pat  y  telle  an  euel  lype,  250 

Mon  J)#t  do])  him  in-to  shype 

Whil  J>e  weder  is  wod ; 
For  be  he  come  to  ]>e  depe, 
He  mai  wrynge  hond  &  wepe, 

Ant  be  of  drery  mod.  255 

'Ofteraprewejj;' 

Quo])  Hendyng. 


39  Riche  &  pore,  3onge  &  olde, 
Whil  36  habbe])  wyt  at  wolde, 

Seche])  ore  soule  bote ;  300 

For  when  36  wene})  alrebest 
Forte  haue  ro  &  rest, 
pe  ax  ys  at  ]>e  rote. 
'  Hope  of  long  lyf  gyle})  mony  god  wyf ;' 

Quo])  Hendyng.  305 

40  Hendyng  sei])  so])  of  mony  ])yng : 
lesu  crist,  heuenne  kyng, 

Vs  to  blisse  brynge : 
For  his  sweet  moder  loue, 
pat  sit  in  heuene  vs  aboue,  310 

3eue  vs  god  endynge.     Amen. 


IV. 

SPECIMENS   OF   LYRIC   POETRY. 

ABOUT    A.D.   I3OO. 

THE  following  short  poems  are  from  the  same  MS.  and  in  the 
same  dialect  as  the  *  Proverbs  of  Hendyng.'  They  have  been 
printed  in  '  Specimens  of  Lyric  Poetry,'  edited  by  T.  Wright, 
M.A.,  for  the  Percy  Society;  London,  1842. 

'  [From  Harl.  MS.  2253 ;  leaf  63,  back.] 

(A)    ALYSOUN. 

Bytuene  Mershf  &  Aueril 
When  spray  biginne]>  to  springe, 

pe  lutel  foul  ha]>  hire  wyl 
On  hyre  lud  to  synge ; 

Ich  libbe  in  louelonginge  5 

For  semlokest  of  alle  j?ynge, 
He  may  me  blisse  bringe, 

Icham  in  hire  baundoun. 
An  hendy  hap  ichabbe  yhent, 
Ichot  from  heuene  it  is  me  sent,  10 

From  alle  wymmen  mi  loue  is  lent 

&  lyht  on  Alysoun. 

On  heu  hire  her  is  fayr  ynoh, 
Hire  browe  broune,  hire  e^e  blake, 

Wi)>  lossum  chere  he  on  me  loh ;  is 


44  IV-      SPECIMENS   OF  LYRIC  POETRY. 

Wij>  middel  smal  &  wel  ymak* ; 
Bote  he  me  ^vvolle  to  hire  take 
Forte  buen  hire  owen  make, 
Longe  to  lyuen  ichulle  forsake, 

&  feye  fallen  adoun.  to 

An  hendy  hap,  &c. 

Nihtes  when  y  wende  &  wake,  25 

For-]?i  myn  wonges  waxej?  won ; 

Leuedi,  al  for  J>ine  sake 
Longinge  is  ylent  me  on. 
In  world  nis  non  so  wyter  mon 
p<zt  al  hire  bounte*  telle  con ;  30 

Hire  swyre  is  whittore  ]>en  ]>e  swon, 

&  feyrest  may  in  toune. 
An  hend<?,  &c. 

Icham  for  wowyng  al  forwake, 
Wery  so  water  in  wore  ; 

Lest  eny  reue  me  my  make, 
Ychabbe  y-jyrned  jore.  40 

Betere  is  J?olien  whyle  sore 
pen  mournen  euermore. 
Geynest  vnder  gore, 

Herkne  to  my  roun. 
An  hendi,  &c.  45 

(B)     A  PLEA  FOR  PITY. 

Wi|>  longyng  y  am  lad, 
On  molde  y  waxe  mad, 
A  maide  marre)>  me ; 
Y  grede,  y  grone,  vn-glad, 
For  selden  y  am  sad  5 


IV   SPECIMENS  OF  LYRIC  POETRY.      45 

pat  semly  forte  se ; 

Leuedi,  J>ou  rewe  me ! 
To  rou)>e  )>ou  hauest  me  rad; 
Be  bote  of  j>at  y  bad, 

My  lyf  is  long  on  ]>e.  10 

Leuedy  of  alle  londe, 
Les  me  out  of  bonde, 

Broht  icham  in  wo ; 
Haue  resting  on  honde, 
&  sent  J>ou  me  ]>i  sonde,  15 

Sone,  er  )>ou  me  slo  ; 

My  reste  is  wi]>  )>e  ro : 
pah  men  to  me  ban  onde, 
To  loue  nuly  noht  wonde, 

Ne  lete  for  non  of  }>o.  20 

Leuedi,  wi]>  al  my  miht 
My  loue  is  on  J>e  liht, 

To  menske  when  y  may ; 
pou  rew  &  red  me  ryht, 
To  dej>e  |>ou  hauest  me  diht,  25 

Y  deje  longe  er  my  day ; 

pou  leue  vpon  mi  lay. 
Treujje  ichaue  J>e  plyht, 
To  don  J>at  ich  haue  hyht, 

Whil  mi  lif  leste  may.  30 

Lylie-whyt  hue  is, 

Hire  rode  so  rose  on  rys, 

pat  reue]>  me  mi  rest. 
Wymmon  war  &  wys, 
Of  prude  hue  berej>  J>e  pris,  35 


46  IV.      SPECIMENS   OF  LYRIC   POETRY. 

Burde  on  of  j?e  best ; 

pis  wommon  wone}>  by  west, 
Brihtest  vnder  bys : 
Heuene  y  tolde  al  his 

pat  o  nyht  were  hire  gest.  40 

(C)     PARABLE  OF  THE  LABOURERS. 

Of  a  mon  Matheu  J>ohte, 
po  he  }>e  wynjord  whrohte, 

Ant  wrot  hit  on  ys  boc ; 
In  marewe  men  he  sohte, 
At  vnder  mo  he  brohte,  5 

Ant  nom  ant  non  forsoc  ; 
At  mydday  ant  at  non 
He  sende  hem  J>ider  fol  son, 

To  helpen  hem  wij?  hoc ; 

Huere  foreward  wes  to  fon  10 

So  ]?e  furmest  heuede  ydon, 

Ase  )>e  erst  vndertoc. 

At  euesong  euen  neh, 
Ydel  men  5et  he  seh 

Lomen  habbe  an  honde;  15 

To  hem  he  sayde  an  heh, 
ptft  suy}?e  he  wes  vndreh 

So  ydel  forte  stonde. 
So  hit  wes  bistad, 
fat  nomon  hem  ne  bad,  20 

Huere  lomes  to  fonde ; 
Anon  he  was  by-rad, 
To  werk  j)0t  he  hem  lad, 

For  nyht  nolde  he  nout  wonde. 


IV.   SPECIMENS  OF  LYRIC  POETRY.      47 

Huere  hure  a  nyht  hue  nome,  25 

He  \a\.  furst  ant  last  come, 

A  peny  brod  &  bryht ; 
pis  o}>er  swore  alle  &  some, 
p0t  er  were  come  wi]>  lome, 

pat  so  nes  hit  nout  ryht ;  30 

Ant  swore  somme  vnsaht, 
\)at  hem  wes  werk  by-taht 

Longe  er  hit  were  lyht  ; 
For  ryht  were  )>at  me  raht 
pe  mon  \a\.  al  day  wraht  35 

pe  more  mede  a  nyht. 

penne  sei]>  he  ywis, 

'  Why,  na]j  nout  vch  mon  his  ? 

Holde]?  nou  or  pees ; 

A-way !  J>ou  art  vnwis,  40 

Tak  al  J>at  J>in  ys, 

Ant  fare  ase  foreward  wees, 
3ef  y  may  betere  beode 
To  mi  latere  leode, 

To  leue  nam  y  nout  lees ;  45 

To  alle  ]?at  euer  hider  code 
To  do  to  day  my  neode, 

Ichulle  be  wra]>j>e-lees/ 

pis  world  me  wurche]>  wo, 

Rooles  ase  J>e  roo,  50 

Y  sike  for  vn-sete ; 
Ant  mourne  ase  men  do))1  mo, 
For  doute  of  foule  fo, 

Hou  y  my  sunne  may  bete. 

1  MS.  'dob.' 


48  IV.      SPECIMENS  OF  LYRIC  POETRY. 

pis  mon  J>at  Matheu  $ef  55 

A  peny  ]>at  wes  so  bref, 

pis  frely  folk  vnfete ; 
3et  he  syrnden-more, 
Ant  saide  he  come  wel  ^ore, 

Ant  gonne  is  loue  for-lete.  60 

(D)     SPRING-TIME. 
Lenten  ys  come  wi])  loue  to  toune, 
Wijj  blosmen  &  wi]?  briddes  roune, 

p0t  al  j)is  blisse  bryngej) ; 
Dayes-e3es  in  J>is  dales, 
Notes  suete  of  nyhtegales,  5 

Vch  foul  song  singe]), 
pe  ]>restelcoc  him  J>reteJ?  oo, 
Away  is  huere  wynter  wo, 

When  woderoue  springe]) ; 
pis  foules  singe]?  ferly  fele,  10 

Ant  wlyte])  on  huere  wynter  wele, 

pat  al  ])e  wode  rynge}). 

pe  rose  rayle])  hire  rode, 
pe  leues  on  J>e  lyhte  wode 

Waxen  al  wi])  wille ;  15 

pe  mone  mandej>  hire  bleo, 
pe  lilie  is  lossom  to  seo, 

pe  fenyl  &  ]>Q  fille ; 
Wowes  J)is  wilde  drakes, 
Miles  murge})  huere  makes  ;  20 

Ase  strem  \a\.  strike})  stille, 
Mody  mene}),  so  do})1  mo, 
Ichot  ycham  on  of  ])O, 

For  loue  \a\.  likes  ille. 
1  MS. '  doh.' 


IV.      SPECIMENS   OF  LYRIC  POETRY.  49 

pe  mone  mande]>  hire  lyht,  25 

So  doj>  ]?e  semly  sonne  bryht, 

When  briddes  singe])  breme ; 
Deawes  donkej?  }>Q  dounes, 
Deores  wi]>  huere  derne  rounes, 

Domes  forte  deme ;  30 

Wormes  wowe]?  vnder  cloude, 
Wymmen  waxej>  wounder  proude, 

So  wel  hit  wol  hem  seme, 
3ef  me  shal  wonte  wille  of  on : 
pis  wunne  weole  y  wole  forgon,  35 

Ant  wyht  in  wode  be  fleme. 


VOL.  n. 


V. 

ROBERT  MANNYNG,  OF  BRUNNE. 

A.D.   1303. 

ROBERT  MANNYNG,  commonly  called  Robert  of  Brunne  (from 
his  birthplace,  Brunne  or  Bourn  in  Lincolnshire,  seven  or  eight 
miles  from  Market  Deeping),  was  born  about  A.D.  1260,  and  died 
about  1340.  In  the  year  A.D.  1303  he  translated  William  of 
Waddington's  'Le  Manuel  des  Pechiez'  into  English,  under  the 
title  of  '  Handlyng  Synne.' 

Between  the  years  1327  and  1338,  Mannyng  also  translated  the 
French  rhyming  chronicle  of  Piers  (or  Peter)  de  Langtoft  into 
English  verse,  at  the  request  of  Dan  Robert  of  Malton,  prior  of 
the  Gilbertine  order,  of  which  Mannyng  was  a  canon. 

The  following  tale,  from  '  Roberd  of  Brunne's  Handlyng  Synne,' 
which  was  edited  for  the  Roxburghe  Club  by  F.  J.  Furnivall, 
M.A.  (London,  1862),  is  here  printed  from  the  manuscript. 

The  Tale  of  Per s  the  Usurer. 
[Harleian  MS.  1701,  leaf  37,  back.] 

Seynt  Ion*,  }>e  aumenere,  5575 

Sey]>  Pers  was  an  okerere, 

And  was  swy]>e  coueytous, 

And  a  nyguw  and  auarous, 

And  gadred  pens  vnto  store, 

As  okerers  don<?  aywhore.  5580 


V.      HANDLYNG  SYNNE.  51 

Befyl  hyt  so  vp-on  a  day 

pat  pore  men  sate  yn  j>e  way, 

And  spred  hen?  hatren  on  here  barme 

A3ens  j>e  sonwe  |>at  was  warme, 

And  rekened  ]?e  custome  houses  echon*,  5585 

At  whych  ]>ey  had  gode,  and  at  whyche  non* ; 

pen?  J>ey  hadde  gode,  f>ey  preysed  weyl, 

And  )>ere  J>ey  hadde  noght,  neu<?r  a  deyl. 

As  ]?ey  spak  of  many  what, 

Come  Pers  for])  yn  J>ar  gat,  5590 

pan  seyd  echon^  j?at  sate  and  stode, 

1  Here  comjj  Pers  ]>at  neuer  dyd  gode/ 

Echon^  seyd  to  olper  jangland, 

pey  toke  neu^r  gode  at  Pers  hand ; 

Ne  non*  pore  man  neuer  shal  haue,  5595 

Coude  he  neu^r  so  weyl  craue. 

One  of  hem  began  to  sey, 

*  A  waiour  dar  y  wy]>  ^ow  ley 

pat  y  shal  haue  sum  gode  at  hym, 

Be  he  neu^r  so  gryl  ne  grym/  5600 

To  ]>at  waiour  J>ey  grauwted  alle, 

To  jyue  hym  a  jyft,  ;yf  so  my3t  befalle. 

pys  man  vp-sterte  and  toke  ]>e  gate 

Tyl  he  com  at  Pers  jate ; 

As  he  stode  stylle  and  bode  ]?e  quede,  5605 

One  com  vtilh  an  asse  charged  wz't^  brede; 

pat  yche  brede  Pers  had  boght, 

And  to  hys  hous  shuld  hyt  be  broght. 

He  sagh  Pers  come  j?<?r-wz't^-alle, 

pe  pore  J>oght,  now  aske  y  shal.  5610 

*  Y  aske  |>e  su#z  gode,  pur  charyte, 
Pers,  3yf  )>y  wyl  be.' 

Pers  stode,  and  loked  on  hym 

E  2 


52  V.      ROBERT  MANNYNG,  OF  BRUNNE. 

Felunlyche  wz't^  y}en  grym. 

He  stouped  down  to  seke  a  stone,  5615 

But,  as  hap  was,  ]?an  fonde  he  none. 

For  ]?e  stone  he  toke  a  lofe, 

And  at  )>e  pore  man  hyt  drofe. 

pe  pore  man  hente  hyt  vp  belyue, 

And  was  }>erof  ml  ferly  bly]>e.  5620 

To  hys  felaws  faste  he  ran 

WVt/$  |>e  lofe,  J?ys  pore  man. 

'  Lo/  he  seyd,  '  what  y  haue 

Of  Pers  jyft,  so  God  me  saue  !' 

'  Nay/  ]?ey  swore  by  here  J>ryft,  5625 

'  Pers  3aue  neu^r  swych  a  ^yft.'         ^ 

He  seyd,  '  36  shul  weyl  vndyrstonde 

pat  y  hyt  had  at  Pers  honde ; 

pat  dar  y  swen?  on  )>e  halydom 

Her*  before  $ow  echon<?/  5630 

Crete  merueyle  had  j?ey  alle 

p#t  swych  a  chauwce  my;t  hym  befalle. 

pe  ]?rydde  day,  )>us  wryte  hyt  ys, 

Pers  fyl  yn  a  grete  syknes ; 

And  as  he  lay  yn  hys  bedde,  5635 

Hym  }>oghte  weyl  ]>at  he  was  ledde 

Wz'tA  one  ]>at  aftyr  hym  was  sent 

To  come  vn-to  hys  lugement. 

Before  }>e  luge  was  he  broght 

To  3elde  acouwte  how  he  hadde  wroght ;  5640 

Pers  stode  ful  sore  adrad, 

And  was  a-bashed  as  [a]  mad, 

He  sagh  a  fende  on  ]>e  to  party 

Bewreyyng  hym  ful  fekwly ; 

Alle  hyt  was  shewed  hym  before,  5645 

How  he  had  lyued  syn  he  was  bore ; 


V.      HANDLYNG   SYNNE.  53 

And  namely  euery  wykked  dede 

Syn  fyrst  he  coude  hym-self  lede ; 

Why  he  hem  dyd,  and  for  what  chesuw, 

Of  alle  behoue])  hym  to  3elde  a  resouw.  5650 

On  J>e  tourer  party  stode  men  ful  bry^t, 

pat  wulde  haue  saued  \\yrn  at  her<?  my3t, 

But  )>ey  myghte  no  gode  fynde 

pat  my3t  hym  saue  or  vnbynde. 

pe  feyre  men  seyd,  *  what  ys  to  rede  ?  5655 

Of  hym  fynde  we  no  gode  dede 

pat  God  ys  payd  of, — but  of  a  lofe 

pe  whych  Pers  a[t]  }>e  pore  man  drofe ; 

3yt  jaue  he  hyt  wzt^z  no  gode  wylle, 

But  kast  hyt  aftyr  hym  wzU  ylle ;  5660 

For  Goddys  loue  3aue  he  hyt  no3t, 

Ne  for  almes-dede  he  hyt  had  ]>oght. 

NoJ>eles,  ]>e  pore  man 

Had  )>e  lofe  of  Pers  )>an/ 

pe  fende  had  leyd  yn  balauwce  5665 

Hys  wykked  dedes  and  hys  myschauwce ; 

pey  leyd  ]>e  lofe  a^ens  hys  dedys, 

pey  had  no^t  elles,  J>ey  mote  nedys. 

pe  holy  man  tellej>  vs  and  seys 

pat  )>e  lofe  made  euen  peys.  5670 

pan  seyd  J>ese  feyre  men  to  Pers, 

'  3yf  )>ou  be  wys,  now  ]?ou  leres 

How  }>ys  lofe  }>Q  helpe]>  at  nede 

To  tylle  }>y  soule  wzU  almes-dede.' 

Pers  of  hys  slepe  gan  blynke,  5675 

And  gretly  on  hys  dreme  gan  J>ynke, 

Syghyng  wz't^  mornyng  chere, 

As  man  j?at  was  yn  grete  were, 

How  |>at  he  acouped  was 


54  V.      ROBERT  MANNYNG,  OF  BRUNNE. 

With  fendes  fele  for  hys  trespas,  5680 

And  how  ]>ey  wulde  haue  dampned  \\yrn  J>ere, 

3yf  mercy  of  lesu  Cryst  ne  were. 

Alle  |?ys  yn  hys  herte  he  kast, — 

And  to  hym-self  he  spak  at  ]?e  laste, — 

1  pat,  for  a  lofe,  yn  eueyl  wylle,  5685 

Halpe  me  yn  so  grete  perel, 

Moche  wide  hyt  helpe  at  nede 

WzU  gode  wyl  do  almes-dede.' 

Fro  ]>at  tyme  ]?an  wax  Pers 

A  man  of  so  feyr*  maners,  5690 

pat  no  man  my3t  yn  hym  fynde 

But  to  ]>e  pore  bo)>e  meke  and  kynde ; 

A  mylder  man  ne  my^t  nat  be, 

Ne  to  ]>e  pore  more  of  almes  fre ; 

And  reuful  of  herte  also  he  was,  5695 

pat  mayst  J?ou  here  lere  yn  )>ys  pas. 

Pers  mette  vp-on  a  day 

A  pore  man  by  ]>e  way, 

As  naked  as  he  was  bore, 

pat  yn  \>e  see  had  alle  lore.  5700 

He  come  to  Pers  Jjere  he  stode, 

And  asked  hy^z  sum  of  hys  gode, 

Sumwhat  of  hys  clojjyng, 

For  J>e  loue  of  heuene  kyng. 

Pers  was  of  reuful  herte,  5705 

He  toke  hys  kyrtyl  of,  as  smert, 

And  ded  hyt  on  J?e  man  aboue, 

And  bad  hym  were  hyt  for  hys  loue ; 

pe  man  hyt  toke  and  was  ful  bly]>e  j 

He  3ede  and  solde  hyt  asswyj>e.  5710 

Pers  stode  and  dyd  beholde 

How  ]>e  man  ]>e  kyrtyl  solde, 


V.      HANDLING   SFNNE.  55 

And  was  ]?arwz*t£  ferly  wro)>e 

pat  he  solde  so  sone  hys  clo]>e  ; 

He  myijt  no  lenger  for  sorow  stande,  5715 

But  5ede  home  ful  sore  gretand ; 

And  seyd,  '  hyt  was  an  euyl  sygne, 

And  )>at  hym-self  was  nat  dygne 

For  to  be  yn  hys  preyere, 

perfor  nolde  he  J>e  kyrtyl  were/  5720 

Whan  he  hadde  ful  long  grete, 

And  a  party  \ero>i  began  lete  ; — 

For  comuwlych  aftyr  wepe 

Fal  men  sone  on  slepe, — 

As  Pers  lay  yn  hys  slepyng,  5725 

Hym  )>oght  a  feyre  sweuenyng. 

Hym  )>oght  he  was  yn  heuene  lyjt, 

And  of  God  he  had  a  syght 

Syttyng  yn  hys  kyrtyl  clad, 

pat  ]>e  pore  man  of  hym  had,  5730 

And  spak  to  hym  ful  myldely : — 

1  Why  wepest  ]>ou,  and  art  sory  ? 

Lo,  Pers/  he  seyd,  '  J>ys  ys  )>y  cloth. 

For  he  solde  hyt,  were  )>ou  wroth ; 

Know  hyt  weyl,  $yf  |>at  ]>ou  kan,  5735 

For  me  J>ou  5aue  hyt  ]>e  pore  man ; 

pat  )>ou  $aue  hym  yn  charyte*, 

Eu<?ry  deyl  ]?ou  3aue  hyt  me/ 

Pers  of  slepe  oute-breyde, 

And  J>oght  grete  wuwder,  &  se]>en  seyd,  5740 

'  Blessyd  be  alle  pore  men, 

For  God  almy5ty  loue]>  hem  ; 

And  weyl  ys  hem  )>at  pore  are  her*, 

pey  are  wzU  God  boj?e  lefe  and  der^, 

And  y  shal  fonde,  by  nyjt  and  day,  5745 


56  V.      ROBERT  MANNYNG,  OF  BRUNNE. 

To  be  pore,  jyf  bat  y  may.' 
Hastly  he  toke  hys  kateyl, 
And  }aue  hyt  to  pore  men  echedeyl. 
Pers  kalled  to  hym  hys  clerk 

pat  was  hys  notarye,  and  bad  hym  herk: —  5750 

'  Y  shal  be  shewe  a  pryuyte', 
A  byng  bat  bou  shalt  do  to  me ; 
Y  wyl  bat  bou  no  man  hyt  telle; 
My  body  y  take  be  here  to  selle 
To  sum  man  as  yn  bondage,  5755 

To  lyue  yn  pouert  and  yn  seruage ; 
But  bou  do  bus,  y  wyl  be  wroth, 
And  bou  and  ]>yne  shal  be  me  loth. 
3yf  J?ou  do  hyt,  y  shal  be  jyue 

Ten  pownd  of  gold  wel  wzU  to  lyue;  5760 

po  ten  pownd  y  take  be  here, 
And  me  to  selle  on  bonde  maner*; 
Y  ne  recche  [not]  vn-to  whom, 
But  onlych  he  haue  be  crystendom ; 
pe  raunsuw  ]>at  bou  shalt  for  me  take,  5765 

parfore  ]>ou  shalt  sykernes  make 
For  to  3yue  hyt  blebely  and  weyl 
To  pore  men  Query  deyl, 
And  wz't^holde  ]>erof  no  ]?yng, 

pe  mountoufts  of  a  ferj?yng/  5770 

Hys  clerk  was  wo  to  do  |>at  dede, 
But  only  for  manas  and  for  drede. 
1  [For  drede  Pers  made  hym  hyt  do, 
And  dede  hym  plyghte  his  trouthe  j^er-to. 
Whan  hys  clerk  had  made  hys  othe,  5775 

Pers  dede  on  hym  a  foule  clothe ; 

1  Lines  199-204,  being  omitted  by  the  Harleian  MS.,  are  supplied  from 
Mr.  Furnivall's  edition. 


V.      HANDLYNG  SYNNE  57 


Vnto  a  cherche  bo]>e  ]>ey 

For  to  fulfylle  hys  wyl  yn  dede.] 

Whan  }>at  J>ey  to  J>e  cherche  com, 

*  Lorde  1  '  )>oght  j?e  clerk,  '  now  whom  5780 

My^t  y  fynde,  J>ys  yche  sele, 

To  whom  y  my3t  selle  Pers  wele  ?  ' 

pe  clerk  loked  euery  where, 

And  at  J>e  last  he  knew  where 

A  ryche  man  [was]  |>at  er  had  be  5785 

Specyal  knowlych  euer  betwe, 

But  Jmrgh  myschauwce  at  a  kas 

Alle  hys  gode  y-lore  was  ; 

'  3ole'  }ms  j>at  man  hyghte, 

And  knew  }>e  clerk  wel  be  syghte.  5790 

pey  spak  of  olde  a-queyntau«ce, 

And  3ole  tolde  hym  of  hys  chauwce. 

1  3e/  seyde  J>e  clerk,  '  y  rede  )>ou  bye 

A  man  to  do  J>y  marchauwdye, 

pat  J>ou  mayst  holde  yn  seruage  5795 

To  restore  weyl  ]>yn  dammage.' 

pan  seyd  3ole,  '  on  swych  chaffare 

Wulde  y  feyn  my  syluer  ware.' 

pe  clerke  seyd,  *  lo  one  here, 

A  trew  man  an  a  dubonure,  5800 

pat  wyl  serue  )>e  to  pay, 

Peyneble,  al  }>at  he  may. 

'Pers'  shalt  }>ou  calle  hys  name, 

For  hym  shalt  J>ou  haue  moche  frame. 

He  ys  a  man  ful  gracyous  5805 

Gode  to  wywne  vn-to  )>yn  hous, 

And  God  shal  ^yue  J>e  hys  blessyng, 

And  foysyn,  yn  alle  ]?yng.' 

pe  clerk  3aue  alle  hys  rau«su» 


58  V.      ROBERT  MANNYNG,  OF  BRUNNE. 

To  ]>e  pore  men  of  J>e  tou#, —  5810 

Plenerly,  alle  ]?at  he  toke, 

Wy]>helde  he  nat  a  fer]>yng  noke. 

pe  emp<?rour<?  sent  hys  messageres. 

Alle  aboute  for  to  seke  Pers, 

But  )>ey  ne  my^t  neu^r  herd  5815 

Of  ryche  Pers,  J>e  tollers, 

Yn  what  stede  he  was  nome, 

No  whydyrward  he  was  become ; 

No  ]?e  clerk  wuld  telle  to  none 

Whydyrward  ]?at  Pers  was  gone.  5820 

Now  ys  Pers  bycome  bryche, 

pat  er  was  bo]>e  stoute  and  ryche. 

Alle  ]?at  euer  any  man  hym  do  bad, 

Pers  dyd  hyt  wzU  hert  glad. 

He  wax  so  mylde  and  so  meke,  5825 

A  mylder  man  ]>urt  no  man  seke ; 

For  he  meked  hym-self  over  skyle 

Pottes  and  dysshes  for  to  swele. 

To  grete  penaurcce  he  gan  hym  take, 

And  moche  for  to  fast  and  wake,  5830 

And  moche  he  loued  j?olmodnesse 

To  ryche,  to  pore,  to  more,  to  lesse. 

Of  alle  men  he  wuld  haue  doute, 

And  to  here  byddyng  mekly  loute ; 

Wulde  J>ey  bydde  hym  sytte  or  stande,  5835 

Eu<?r  he  wulde  be  bowande  ; 

And  for  he  bare  hym  so  meke  and  softe, 

Shrewes  mysdede  hym  ful  ofte, 

And  helde  hym  folted  or  wode 

For  he  was  so  mylde  of  mode.  5840 

And  ]>ey  )>at  wer^  hys  felaus 

Mysseyd  hym  most  yn  her*  sawes ; 


V.      HANDLYNG   SYNNE.  59 

And  alle  he  suffred  here  vpbreyd, 

And  neu<?r  naght  aijens  hem  seyd. 

3ole,  hys  lorde,  wel  vndyrstode  5845 

pat  al  hys  grace  and  hys  gode 

Com  for  J>e  lone  of  Pers 

pat  was  of  so  holy  maners  ; 

And  whan  he  wyst  of  hys  bounte*, 

He  kalled  Pers  yn  pryuyte* :  5850 

'  Pers/  he  seyd,  '  J>ou  were  wurj>y 

For  to  be  wurscheped  more  J>an  y, 

For  ]>ou  art  weyl  wz't/fc  lesu, 

He  shewej>  for  j>e  grete  vertu ; 

parfor  y  shal  make  pe  fre,  5855 

Y  wyl  ]>at  my  felaw  }>ou  be/ 

par-to  Pers  granted  noght 

To  be  freman  as  he  besoght ; 

He  wulde  be,  as  he  was  ore, 

Yn  J>at  seruage  for  evermore.  5860 

He  Ranked  J>e  lorde  myldely 

For  hys  grete  curteysy. 

Syj>J>en  lesu,  Jmrgh  hys  my^t, 

Shewed  hym  to  Pers  syjl, 

For  to  be  stahvorjie  yn  hys  fondyng  5865 

And  to  hym  haue  loue-longyng. 

'  Be  nat  sorowful  to  do  penauwce ; 

Y  am  w*'t£  J>e  yn  euery  chauwce ; 

Pers,  y  haue  mynde  of  ]>e, 

Lo,  here  }>e  kyrtyl  ]>at  ]>ou  jaue  for  me  ;•  5870 

parfor  grace  y  shal  }>e  sende 

Yn  alle  godenesse  weyl  to  ende/ 

Byfyl  ))at  seriauwtes  and  squyers 

pat  were  wunt  to  serue  Pers, 

Went  yn  pylgrymage,  as  yn  kas,  5875 


60  V.      ROBERT  MANNFNG,  OF  BRUNNE. 

To  ]>at  cuntre*  ]>ere  Pers  was. 

3ole  fill  feyre  gan  hem  kalle, 

And  preyd  hem  home  to  hys  halle. 

Pers  was  ]>ere,  J?at  yche  sele, 

And  eiurychone  he  knew  hem  wele.  5880 

Alle  he  serued  hem  as  a  knaue, 

pat  was  wunt  here  seruyse  to  haue. 

But  Pers  nat  jyt  |>ey  knew, 

For  penauwce  chauwged  was  hys  hew ; 

Nat  for)>y  ]?ey  behelde  hym  fast,  5885 

And  oftyn  to  hym  here  ysen  J?ey  kast, 

And  seyd,  '  he  j?at  stonte  here 

Ys  lyche  to  Pers  tollere.' 

He  hydde  hys  vysege  al  ]?at  he  my}! 

Out  of  knowlych  of  here  sy:jt ;  5890 

No]?eles  ]>ey  behelde  hym  more 

And  knew  hym  weyl,  al  ]>at  were  J>ore, 

And  seyd,  '  3ole,  ys  ^one  |>y  page  ? 

A  ryche  man  ys  yn  ]?y  seruage. 

pe  emperoure  boj^e  fer  and  nere  5895 

Ha}>  do  hym  seche  }>at  we  fynde  her<?.' 

Pers  lestned,  and  herd  hem  spekyng, 

And  ]?at  ]>ey  had  of  hym  knowyng ; 

And  pryuyly  a-wey  he  nam 

Tyl  he  to  ]?e  porter  cam.  5900 

pe  porter  had  hys  speche  lore, 

And  heryng  also,  syn  he  was  bore ; 

But  ]?urgh  J>e  grace  of  swete  lesu. 

Was  shewed  for  Pers  feyre  vertu. 

Pers  seyd,  '  late  me  fur]?  go.'  5905 

pe  porter  spak,  and  seyd  '  30.' 

He  |>at  was  def,  and  doumbe  also, 

Spak  whan  Pers  spak  hym  to. 


V.      HANDLING   SFNNE.  6 1 

Pers  oute  at  J>e  jate  wente, 

And  ]>edyr  sede,  ]>ere  God  hym  sente.  5910 

pe  porter  $ede  vp  to  J>e  halle, 

And  ]?ys  merueyle  tolde  hem  alle ; 

*  How  J?e  squyler  of  ]>e  kechyn, 

Pers,  J>at  hap  woned  here-yn, 

He  asked  leue,  ry^t  now  late,  5915 

And  went  fur])  out  at  ]>e  sate. 

Y  rede  5ow  alle,  seuej?  gode  tent, 

Whederward  j?at  Pers  ys  went. 

With  lesu  Cryst  he  ys  pryud, 

And  J?at  ys  shewed  weyl  on  me.  5920 

For  what  tyme  he  to  me  spak, 

Out  of  hys  mouj)  me  J>oght[e]  brak 

A  flaffzme  of  fyre  bryght  and  clere, 

pe  flautfzme  made  me  bo]?e  speke  and  her* ; 

Speke  and  here  now  bo]>e  y  may,  5925 

Blessed  be  God  and  Pers  to  dayl' 

^e  lorde  and  J?e  gestes  alle, 

One  and  o]>er  J>at  were  yn  halle, 

Had  merueyle  ]?at  hyt  was  so, 

pat  he  myjte  swych  myracle  do.  5930 

pan  asswype  Pers  ]>ey  soght, 

But  al  here  sekyng  was  for  no3t;     • 

Neu<?r  Pers  |>ey  ne  fou«de, 

Nyjt  ne  day,  yn  no  stounde ; 

For  he  j?at  toke  Ennok  and  Ely,  5935 

He  toke  Pers,  jmrgh  hys  mercy, 

To  reste  w/Uoutyn  ende  to  lede, 

For  hys  meknes  and  hys  gode  dede. 

Take  ensample  her<?  of  Pers, 

And  partej)  wzU  J>e  pore,  36  okerers,  5940 

For  jow  shal  neuer  come  loye  w*U-yn«e, 


62  V.      ROBERT  MANNYNGj  OF  BRUNNE. 

But  56  leue  fyrst  )>at  synne ; 

And  3yue  to  almes  J>at  yche  j?yng 

pat  ;e  haue  wune  wy]>  okeryng. 

Now  wz't^  God  leue  we  Pers ;  5945 

God  jyue  vs  grace  to  do  hys  maners  1 


VL 

WILLIAM   OF   SHOREHAM. 

A.D.  1307 — 1327. 

WILLIAM  OF  SHOREHAM,  so  called  from  Shoreham,  near  Ot- 
ford  (about  four  miles  and  a  half  from  Sevenoaks),  was  originally 
a  monk  of  the  Priory  of  Leeds,  in  Kent,  but  was  appointed  vicar 
of  Ghart-Sutton  by  Walter,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  in  1320. 
He  translated  the  entire  Psalter  into  English  prose  about  the 
year  1327.  His  short  poem  'De  Baptismo'  (a  copy  of  which  is 
contained  in  *  The  Religious  Poems  of  William  de  Shoreham,' 
edited  for  the  Percy  Society  by  T.Wright,  M.A.,  London  1849) 
is  here  copied  from  the  Additional  MS.  17,376  in  the  British 
Museum.  The  dialect  of  course  is  Southern. 

De  Baptismo. 

1  CRISTENDOM  his  ]>at  sacrement 
pat  men  her  ferst  fonge]>  ; 

Hit  openej)  ous  to  J?e  heuene  blisse 
pat  many  man  after  longe]? 

Wei  sore ;  5 

For  who  ]>at  entre)>  }>er, 
He  his  sauff  euere-more. 

2  Nou  ferst  ich  wille  telle  3011 
Wet  may  be  )?e  materie, 

Wer-inne  cristning  may  be  mad*,  10 

pat  bringe])  ous  so  merie 

To  honoure. 

Hi3t  mo3t  be  do  ine  kende  water, 
And  non  ojjer  licour. 


64  VI.      WILLIAM   OF  SHOREHAM. 

3  per-fore  ine  wine  me  ne  may,  15 
Inne  sij?ere  ne  inne  pereye, 

Ne  ine  Jang  J?at  neuere  water  nes 
porj  cristning  man  may  reneye, 
Ne  inne  ale  ; 

For  )>ei  1  hi^t  were  water  ferst,  ao 

Of  water  nej?  hit  tale. 

4  Ne  mede,  ne  forj>e,  no  oj>er  licour 
pat  chaungejj  wateres  kende, 

Ne  longe|>  nau}t  to  cristendom, 

pa$t  some  foles  hit  wende  25 

For  wete  ; 

For  suich  is  kendeliche  hot, 
|?er  no  feer  hit  ne  hete  2. 


5  Ac  water  is  kendeliche  cheld, 

pa3  hit  be  warmd  of  fere  ;  30 

per-fore  me  mey  cristni  )>er-inne, 
In  whaut  time  falj>e  a  3ere 

Ofyse; 

So  mey  me  nau^t  in  ewe  ardauwt, 
pat  ne}>  no  wateris  wyse.  35 

6  Al-so  me  may  inne  sealte  se 
Cristny  wel  mitte  beste  ; 

And  eke  inne  o]>ere  sealte  watere, 
Bote  me  in  to  3  moche  keste  4 

Of  sealte  ;  4o 

For  jef  |>at  water  his  kende  lest, 
pat  cristning  stant  te-tealte. 

1  MS.  •  Jrie.'  3  MS.  •  heute.' 

3  MS.  «  into.'  *  MS.  '  keschte.' 


VI.      DE  BAPTISMO.  65 

7  Ac  jyf  ]>er  were  y-mengd  licour 
Oj>er  wid  kende  watere, 

Ich  wo^t  wel  }>rinne  to  cristnye  45 

Hit  nere  nefur  )>e  betere  ; 

Ac  wonde ; 

For  bote  |>at  water  his  kende  haue, 
pat  cristnynge  may  naujt  stonde. 

8  In  water  ich  wel  \>e  cristny  her  50 
As  Gode  him-self  hyt  di}te ; 

For  mide  to  wessche  nis  no]>ynge 
pat  man  come]>  to  so  li^te, 

In  londe  ; 

Nis  non  J>at  habben  hit  ne  may  55 

pat  habbe  hit  wile  founde. 

9  pis  bej?e  ]?e  wordes  of  cristning 
Bi  }>yse  Englissche  costes : 

*  Ich  cristni  ]>e  ine  ]?e  Uader  name, 

And  Sone  and  Holy  Gostes' —  60 

And  more, 

'  Amen !'  wane  hit  his  ised  J>ertoe, 
Conferme|>  |>et  ]?er-to-fore. 

10  pe  wordes  scholle  be  ised 

Wi]?e-oute  wane  and  eche ;  65 

And  onderstand,  hi  111036 l  bi  sed 
In  alle  manere  speche 

Ine  lede; 

pat  euerich  man  hi  sigge  moje1 
And  cristny  for  nede.  70 

1  MS.  '  more/ 
VOL.  II.  F 


66  VI.      WILLIAM  OF   SHOREHAM. 

1 1  Ac  ^if  man  scholde  i-cristnid  be 
pat  nej)  none  deaj?es  signe, 

pe  pope  forte  cristny  hyne 
So  nere  nau^t  te  digne 

pe  leste ;  75 

per-fore  hi  be]?  in  cherche  brou3t, 
To  cristny  of  ]?e  preste. 

12  Ac  he  ]?at  }if  so  large  water 
pe  fend  fram  ous  te  reaue, 

In  nede  for  to  cristny  men,  80 

3ef  alle  men  ileaue 

Atfelle; 

Olepi  me  mot  hym  depe  ine  Jje  water, 
And  eke  j?e  wordes  telle. 

13  And  wanne  hi  cristneb  ine  |>e  founjt,  85 
pe  prestes  so  }>ries  duppe]), 

In  }>e  honur  of  J>e  Trinit^, 
Ac  gode  3eme  kepe]? 

pe  ned, 

On  time  a  cloj>e  ]>at  water  ikest,  90 

Ac  ope  J>e  heuede  te  bede. 

14  Ac  water  ikest  an  oj>er  loue1 
Cristnej)  ]?e  man  alyue, 

Ac  hit  his  sikerest  in  ]?e  heeued 

per  be)>  J>e  wittes  fyue ;  95 

Wei,  broker, 

Ne  non  ne  may  icristned  be, 
Ar  56  his  boren  of  moder. 

1  halve? 


VI.      DE  BAPTISMO.  6j 

1  5  3et  gret  peryl  hy  vndergo)>e 

pat  cristnej)  twyes  enne,  100 

O]?er  x  to  jeue  asent  }>er-to, 
Oj?er  for  loue  of  kenne 

For-hedej), 

Wanne  child  arijt  cristnyng  hej>, 
And  )>at  o{>er  nau3t  for-bedej>.  105 


1  6  Bote  hi  J>is  conne,  hit  his  peril 
To  j>ise  medewyues; 
For  ofte  children  scheawij?  quike, 
I-bore  to  schorte  lyues, 

And  deye]>;  no 

Bote  hi  arijt  i-cristned  be, 
Fram  heuene  euere  hi  weye]>. 

17  Ac  5if  ]?at  child  icristned  his, 
Ac  2  me  fot,  as  3  me  hit  wene)>, 
pise  habbe]?  forme  ]>er-of  115 

A  Latin  ]>at  ham  geinej)  4 

Tedepe; 

And  ich  schel  seggen  hit  an  Englisch, 
Nou  J>er-of  neme  36  kepe  ; 

1  8  pe  prest  take])  )>at  ilke  child  120 

In  his  honden  by-thuixte, 
And  seij),  '  ich  ne  cristni  j?ei  nau^t, 
3ef  J>ou  ert  icristned, 

Eft-sone; 

Ac  jyf  ]?ou  nart,  ich  cristni  |>e  ;'  125 

And  dej>  J>at  his  to  donne. 

1  MS.  •  Orer.'  a  MS.  •  At.f 

*  MS.  '  at.'  *  MS.  •  genie])/ 

F  2 


68  VI.      WILLIAM   OF  SHOREHAM. 

19  Ac l  3et  J>er  bej>  cristnynges  mo, 
Ac  no  man  ne  may  dijtti ; 

For  hi  beb  Godes  grace  self, 

Men  of  gode  wil  to  rijti 2  13° 

And  wynne, 

Wanne  hi  wolde  icristned  be, 
And  mo^e 3  mid  none  ginne. 

20  pat  on  his  cleped  cristning  of  blode, 

Wanne  suche  bledeb  for  Criste ;  135 

pat  ober  of  be  Holi  Gost, 
pat  moje  mid  none  liste 

Be  icristned ; 

And  deyej)  so,  wanne  hi  beb  deede, 
In  heuene  hi  beb  igistned.  140 

21  pe  children  atte  cherche  dore 
So  be]?  yprimisined ; 

And  |>at 4  hi  bee)>e  eke  atte  fount 
Mid  oylle  and  creyme  alyned, 

AlfaylleJ>;  145 

Hi^t  worj?e)> 5  cristnyng, 
And  ]>at  child  )>er-to  hit  auaillej). 

1  MS.  '  At.'  a  At  the  end  of  the  line  is  written  the  word  •  ine  ' 

8  MS.  'more.'  *  For  '  }>at'  we  perhaps  ought  to  read  '  but.' 

5  '  worchej>'  is  written  at  the  side  in  the  MS. 


VII. 

CURSOR  MUNDI,  OR  CURSUR  O  WERLD. 

ABOUT   A.D.   1320. 

THE  'Cursor  Mundi'  is  a  metrical  version  of  Old  and  New 
Testament  history,  interspersed  with  numerous  mediaeval  legends. 
It  is  of  great  length,  and  has  never  yet  been  printed.  It  seems 
to  have  been  a  very  popular  book  with  our  forefathers,  and  one 
MS.  has  the  following  rubric : — 

«  This  is  the  best  book  of  all, 
The  Course  of  the  World  men  do  it  call.' 

There  are  several  MSS.  of  this  work,  but  the  Cottonian  MS. 
Vespasian  A.  iii.,  in  the  Northumbrian  dialect,  has  furnished  the 
following  extract 

The  Visit  of  the  Wise  Men,  and  the  Flight  into  Egypt. 

FRA  he  (Christ)  was  born  be  dai  thritteind, 

pai  offerd  him,  )>aa  kinges  heind, 

Wit  riche  giftes  bat  bai  broght. 

pat  *  he  was  born  bot  bat  yeire  noght, 

And  sum  sais  bot  be  nest  yeire  5 

Foluand,  and  sum  wit  resun  sere 

Sais,  [tua]  yere  efter  bai  com. 

lohn  Gilden-moth  sais  wit  bis  dome, 

pat  he  fand  in  an  aid  bok, 

pis  kinges  thre  bar  wai  bai  tok  10 

1  We  should  perhaps  read  '  Yet.' 


70  VII.      CURSOR   MUNDI. 

A  tuelmo[n]th  ar  J>e  natiuite', 

For  elles  moght  not  kinges  thre 

Haf  raght  to  ride  sa  ferr  ewai, 

And  com  to  Crist  J?at  ilk  dai. 

He  sais  ]?at  in  }?e  bok  he  fand  15 

Of  a  prophet  of  Estrinland, 

Hight  Balaam,  crafti  and  bald, 

And  mikel  of  a  stern  he  tald, 

A  sterne  to  cum  }>at  suld  be  sene, 

Was  neu^r  nan  suilk  be-for  sua  scene.  20 

Vs  telles  alsua  lohn  Gildenmoth 

Of  a  folk  ferr  and  first  vncuth, 

Wo;mand  be  ]>e  est  occean, 

pat  bi-yond  J>am  ar  wo?mand  nan. 

Amang  squilk  was  broght  a  writte,  25 

O  Seth  J>e  name  was  laid  on  it ; 

O  suilk  a  stern  ]?e  writt  it  spak, 

And  of  ]>ir  offerands  to  mak. 

pis  writte  was  gett  fra  kin  to  kin, 

pat  best  it  cuth  to  haf  in  min,  30 

pat  at  ]>e  last  j>ai  ordeind  tuelue, 

pe  thoghtfulest  amang  ]>am  selue, 

And  did  ]?am  in  a  montain  dern, 

[Biseli]  to  wait  ]?e  stern. 

Q#<?n  ani  deid  o  ]?at  dozein,  35 

His  sun  for  him  was  sett  again, 

Or  his  neist  }>at  was  fere. 

Sua  ]?at  eu^r  J>an  ilk  yere 

Quen  ]>air  corns  war  in  don, 

pai  went  in-to  \a\.  montaine  son,  40 

par  )>ai  offerd,  praid,  and  suank, 

Thre  dais  no)>er  ete  ne  dranc ; 

pus  thoru  ilk  oxspring  ]>ai  did, 


VII.      THE   VISIT   OF   THE  MAGI. 


Til  at  J>e  last  J>is  stern  it  kyd. 

pis  ilk  stern  J>am  come  to  warn, 

Apon  \a\.  mont  in  forme  o  barn, 

And  bar  on  it  liknes  of  croice, 

And  said  to  J>aim  wit  man[ne]s  woice, 

pat  ]?ai  suld  wend  to  luen  land. 

pai  went,  and  tua  yeir  war  wakand. 

pe  stern  we«t  forth-wit,  ]>at  ]>am  ledd, 

And  ferlilic  )>an  war  }>ai  fedd, 

pair  scrippes,  quer  |>ai  rade  or  yode, 

pam  failed  neuer  o  drinc  ne  fode. 

pir  kinges  rides  forth  J>air  rade, 

pe  stern  alwais  |>am  forwit  glade. 

pai  said,  *  far  we  mi  to  yond  king, 

pat  sal  in  erth  haf  nan  ending l ; 

pis  king  we  sal  be  offrand  mi, 

And  honur  him  wit  truthes  tru ; 

Al  ]>e  kinges  o  ]>is  werld 

For  him  sal  be  quakand  a»  ferd/ 

pai  folud  o  ]?is  stern  J>e  leme, 

Til  jjai  come  in-to  Jerusalem ; 

Bot  fra  J>ai  come  )>ar  als-suith, 

pe  stern  it  hid  and  can  vnkyth, 

Thoru  ]>e  might  of  sant  Drightin, 

For  Herods 2  sak  his  wtyerwin. 

pat  wist  J>of-que]?er  ]>e  kinges  noght, 

Bot  wend  haf  funden  ]>at  ]>ai  soght. 

pai  toke  J>air  gesting  in  ]?e  tun, 

And  spird  him  efter  vp  and  dun ; 

Bot  )>e  burgeses  o  )>e  cit^ 

Thoght  ferli  quat  Jns  thing  suld  be ; 


45 


55 


60 


70 


1  MS.  '  na  ncnding.' 


MS.  •  Horods 


72  VII.      CURSOR   MUNDI. 

pai  asked  quat  J>ai  soght,  and  J>ai  75 

Said,  '  a  blisful  child,  par  fai, 

He  sal  be  king  of  kinges  all*, 

To  hend  and  fete  we  sal  him  falk ; 

Sagh  we  an l  stern  \al  ledd  us  hidir/ 

pan  J?ai  gedir  J>am  to-gedir,  80 

And  spak  hir-of  wit  gret  wondring ; 

And  word  cum  til  Herod  J>e  kyng, 

p<2t  par  was  suilk  kynges  cummun, 

And  in  }>at  tun  gesteniwg  had  nummun. 

Quen  he  j?is  tij?and  vndir-stod,  85 

Him  thoght  it  no}>er  fair  na  god, 

For  wel  he  wend,  ]>at  ful  o  suik, 

To  be  put  vte  of  his  kingrike  ; 

And  did  he  suith  to-samen  call 

pe  maisters  of  his  kingrik  all,  90 

And  fraind  at  ]>aim  if  ]?ai  wist, 

Quar  suld  he  be  born,  ]?at  Crist, 

pat  suld  j?e  king  of  lues  be. 

pai  said,  '  in  Bethleem  lude/ 

For  )>e  prophet  had  written  sua,  95 

And  said  '  ]>ou  Bethleem  luda, 

pof  J>ou  be  noght  J?e  mast  cite*, 

pou  es  noght  lest  of  dignit^ ; 

O  ]>e  sal  he  be  born  and  bred, 

Mi  folk  of  Israel  sal  lede.'  100 

Herod  J?aa  kings  cald  in  dern, 

And  spird  }>am  quen.  |>ai  sagh  J;e  stern ; 

*  Gais/  he  said,  '  and  spirs  well  gern, 

And  quen  yee  funden  haf  ]?e  barn, 

Cums  again  and  tels  me,  105 

For  wit  wirscip  I  will  him  se.' 
1  MS. '  na.' 


VII.      THE    VISIT  OF   THE  MAGI.  73 

'  Sir/  ]>ai  said,  *  J>at  sal  be  yare.' 
Qwm  J>ai  went  in  ]>air  wai  to  far, 
And  left  Herod,  ]>at  fals  felun, 

pe  stern  ]>ai  sagh  be-for  ]>am  bon ;  no 

And  herbi  semis,  sua  thine  me, 
Sagh  nan  it  hot  ]>a  kinges  thre ; 
Bituix  J>e  lift  aw  J>e  erth  it  glade, 
Sua  fair  a  stern  was  neuer  made ; 
Right  fra  J>e  tun  of  lerusalem  115 

It  ledd  J>am  in-to  Bethleem ; 
Vte  ouer  |>at  hus  ]>an  stode  )>e  stern, 
par  lesus  and  his  moder  wern. 
pai  kneld  dun  and  broght  in  hand, 
Ilkan  him  gaf  wor]?i  offrand.  120 

pe  first  o  ]?am  )>at  lasp^r  hight, 
He  gaf  him  gold  wit  resuw  right, 
And  j?0t  was  for  to  sceu  takning 
O  kynges  all  Jxzt  he  was  kyng. 

Melchior  him  com  ]>air  neist —  125 

Heid  he  was,  bath  Godd  and  prist — 
Wit  recles  forwit  him  he  fell, 
pat  agh  be  brint  in  kirc  to  smell ; 
It  es  a  gum  *  \>at  cums  o  firr. 

Bot  Attropa  gaf  gift  o  mir,  130 

A  smerl  o  selcuth  bitturnes, 
pat  dedman  cors  wit  smerld  es, 
For  roting  es  na  better  rede ; 
In  taken  he  man  was  suld  be  dede. 
O  ]>ir  thre  giftes,  sais  sum  bok,  135 

At  ans  all  thre  he  tok, 
Ful  suetlik,  wit  smiland  chere, 
Biheild  j>aa  giftes  riche  and  dere. 
1  MS.  •  gun.' 


74  VII.      CURSOR  MVNDI. 

Joseph  and  Maria  his  spuse, 

Ful  fair  ]>ai  cald  ]?am  til  huse,  140 

Fair  J>ai 1  did  ]?air  conrai  dight ; 
Wit  J>e  child  war  ]>ai  J?at  night 
Wit-vten  pride  ;  pe  soth  to  tell, 
Had  j?ai  na  bedd  was  spred  wit  pell  ; 
Bot  |>at  J?ai  faand,  wit-vten  wand,  145 

pai  tok  and  thanked  Godd  his  sand ; 
Ful  fain  war  ]?ai,  ]?ai  sua  had  spedd. 
paa  kinges  thre  ar  broght  to  bedd, 
Thre  weri  kinges  o  ]?air  wai, 

pe  feirth  a  child,  wel  mare  ]?an  J>ai ;  150 

pat  wist  }>ai  wel  and  kyd  wit  dede, 
Ful  wel  he  wil  }>am  quit  ]>air  mede. 
pai  had  in  wil  }>at  ilk  night, 
To  torn  be  Herods  als  ]?ai  hight, 
Bot  quils  |?ai  slepand  lai  in  bedd,  155 

An  angel  com  |>at  ]?am  for-bedd 
To  wend  ]>am  bi  him  ani  wai, 
(For  he  was  traitur,  fals  in  fai), 
A-noj;er  wai  }>at  ]?ai  suld  fare. 

pe  morun  quen  ]>ai  risen  ware,  160 

And  ]>ai  had  honurd  J>ar  ]>e  child, 
pai  tok  ]>air  leue  at  Mari  mild, 
And  thanked  Joseph  curtaisli 
O  |>air  calling  and  herbergeri ; 

paa  kinges  ferd  a-noj>er  wai.  165 

Q«<?n  ]>at  Herods  herd  ]?er-of  sai, 
Ful  wrath  he  wex,  }>at  wrangwis  ki«g, 
And  herd 2  him  driuen  al  til  hewing. 
He  sett  his  waites  bi  j?e  stret, 

If  j?ai  moght  wit  j?aa  kinges  mett,  170 

1  MS.  'jai.'  a  Read  '  held,'  as  in  three  other  MSS. 


VII.      THE   VISIT  OF   THE  MAGI.  75 

He  co/wmandid  son  ]>ai  suld  be  slan, 

If  J?ai  moght  oj>er  be  ou^r-tan. 

Bot  Godd  wald  not  }>ai  mett  j>aw  wit; 

pai  ferd  al  sauf  in-to  }>air  kyth. 

Quen  Herods  sagh  he  moght  not  sped,  1 75 

Sua  wa  was  him  ]>at  he  wald  wede ; 

For  ]>at  his  wil  sua  moght  not  rise, 

He  thoght  him  wenge  on  o}>er  wise. 

He  made  a  purueance  in  hi, 

pat  mani  saccles  suld  it  bij ;  180 

For  he  moght  find  nan  wit  sak, 

On  ]>e  sakles  he  suld  ta  wrake. 

Qua  herd  euer  ani  slik 

Purueance  sa  ful  o  suike, 

pat  for  |>e  chesun  of  a  barn  185 

Sua  mani  wald  jxzt  war  for-farn  ? 

He  cowmandid  til  his  knyghtes  kene 

To  sla  ]>e  childer  al  be-dene, 

Wit-in  ]>e  tun  of  Bethleem ; 

And  vtewit  mani  barntem  190 

Did  he  sacclesli  o  lijf, 

Ful  waful  made  he  mani  wijf. 

Wit-in  j>e  land  left  he  noght  an 

O  tua  yeir  eild,  ]>at  he  ne  was  slan ; 

Tua  yeir  or  less,  I  tel  it  yow,  195 

For  sua  he  wend  to  sla  lesu ; 

All  for  noght  can  he  to  striue, 

Moght  he  noght  lesu  bring  o  Hue 

Ar  he  self  wald,  )>at  mighti  king ; 

To  ded  it  moght  naman  him  bring,  200 

And  not  yeitt  J?an  \>at  he  ne  suld  rise, 

Al  at  his  aun  deuise. 

It  was  a  mikel  sume  o  quain 


7  6  VII.      CURSOR  MUNDI. 

O  ]?aa  childer  J?at  war  slain ; 

An  hundret  fourti  four  thusand  205 

Thoru  lesu  com  to  lijf  lastand. 

Bot  seuen  dais  for- wit,  we  rede, 

Ar  Herod  had  gert  do  J>is  dede, 

par  Joseph  on  his  sleping  lai, 

An  angel  Jms  til  him  can  sai :  210 

*  Rise  vp,  losep,  and  busk  and  ga, 

Maria  and  ]>i  child  al-sua, 

For  yow  be-houes  mi  all  thre 

In  land  of  Egyp[t]  for  to  fle ; 

Rise  vp  ar  it  be  dai,  215 

And  folus  forth  }>e  wildrin  wai ; 

Herod,  \a\.  es  ]>e  child l  fa, 

Fra  nu  wil  sek  him  for  to  sla ; 

pare  sal  yee  bide  stil  wit  J>e  barn, 

Til  \a\.  I  eft  cum  yow  to  warn/  220 

Son  was  loseph  redi  bun, 

Wit  naghtertale  he  went  o  tun, 

Wit  Maria  mild,  and  |?air  meine*, 

A  maiden  and  J>air  suanis  thre, 

pat  seruid  |?am  in  ]?air  seruis ;  225 

Wit  }>aim  was  nan  bot  war  and  wis ; 

For[j>]  sco  rad,  ]?at  moder  mild, 

And  in  hir  barm  sco  ledd  hir  child, 

Til  J>ai  come  at  a  coue  was  depe 2. 

par  J>ai  }>am  thoght  to  rest  and  slepc ;  230 

par  did  J>ai  Mari  for  to  light, 

Bot  son  |>ai  sagh  an  vgli  sight. 

Als  j?ai  loked  ]>am  biside, 

Vte  o  ]>is  coue  ]>an  sagh  J>ai  glide 

Mani  dragons,  wel  sodanli ;  235 

1  MS.  •  clild.'    So  also  '  clilder'  in  1. 188.  a  MS.  '  dipe.' 


VII.      THE  FLIGHT  INTO  EGYPT.  77 

pe  suanis  )>an  bi-gan  to  cri. 

Quen.  lesus  sagh  J>am  glopnid  be, 

He  lighted  of  his  moder  kne, 

And  stod  a-pon  |>aa  bestes  grim, 

And  |>ai  ]>am  luted  vnder  him.  240 

pan  com  J?e  pr0pheci  al  cler 

To  dede,  ]>at  said  es  in  Sauter : 

'  pe  dragons,  wona«d  in  J>air  coue, 

pe  Lauerd  agh  yee  worthli  to  lofe  V 

Itsus  he  went  be-for  J>am  J?an,  245 

Forbed  j>am  harm  do  ani  man. 

Maria  and  Joseph  ne-for-J)i 

For  J)e  child  war  ful  dreri ; 

Bot  lesus  ansuard  ]>aim  onan : 

'  For  me  drednes  haf  nu  yee  nan,  250 

Ne  haf  yee  for  me  na  barn-site, 

For  I  am  self  man  al  p 0rfite, 

And  al  }>e  bestes  J>at  ar  wild 

For  me  most  be  tame  and  mild/ 

Leon  yode  J>am  als  imid,  255 

And  pardes,  als  ]>e  dragons  did, 

Bifor  Maria  and  Joseph  yede, 

In  right  wai  }>am  for  to  lede. 

Q«m  Maria  sagh  }>aa  bestes  lute 2, 

First  sco  was  gretli  in  diite,  260 

Til  lesus  loked  on  hir  blith, 

And  dridnes  bad  hir  nan  to  kith. 

'  Moder/  he  said,  *  haf  ]>ou  na  ward, 

No)>er  o  Icon  ne  o  lepard, 

For  )?ai  com  noght  vs  harm  to  do,  265 

Bot  }>air  seruis  at  seme  vs  to/ 

Bath  ass  and  ox  []?]at  wit  )>am  war, 

MS.  'lufe';  see  1.333.  3  MS. 'dute';  see  1.  240. 


78  VII.      CURSOR   MUNDI. 

And  bestes  J?at  |?air  harnais  bar 

Vte  o  lerusalem,  J?air  kyth, 

pe  Icons  mekli  yod  J>am  wit,  270 

Wit-vten  harm  of1  ox  or  ass, 

Or  ani  best  j?at  wit  J>am  was. 

pan  was  fulfild  ]?e  pr^pheci, 

p<2t  said  was  thoru  leremi, 

'  Wolf  and  we]>er,  leon  and  ox,  275 

Sal  comen  samen,  and  lamb  and  fox.' 

A  wain  ]?ai  had  J?air  gere  wit-in, 

pat  draun  was  .wit  oxen  tuiii. 

Forth  ]>air  wai  ]?ai  went  fra  )>an, 

Wit-vten  kithing  of  ani  man.  280 

Maria  forth  |)am  foluand  rade, 

Gret  hete  in  wildernes  it  made  ; 

0  gret  trauail  sco  was  weri, 
A  palme-tre  sco  sagh  hir  bi ; 

Joseph  sco  said,  '  fain  wald  I  rest,  285 

Vnder  J?is  tre,  me  thine  wer  best.' 

'  Gladli/  said  he,  '  \a\.  wil  resun ;' 

Son  he  stert  and  tok  hir  dun. 

Qw<?n  sco  had  sitten  ]?ar  a  wei, 

Sco  bihild  a  tre  was  hei,  29° 

And  sagh  a  frut  )>ar-on  hingand, 

Man  clepes  palmes  in  \a\.  land. 

1  Joseph/  sco  said,  '  fain  wald  I  ete 
O  ]jis  frut,  if  I  moght  gete ;' 

'  Maria,  me  thine  ferli  o  J>e  295 

pat  se  ]>e  gret  heght  o  J>is  tre ; 
pe  frut  hu  suld  man  reche  vnto, 
pat  man  his  hand  mai  to  nan  do  ? 
Bot  I  site  for  an  o]>er  thing, 
i  MS. « or.' 


VII.      THE  FLIGHT  INTO  EGYPT.  ^9 

pat  we  o  water  has  nu  wanting ;  300 

Vr  water  purueance  es  gan, 

And  in  ]ns  wildernes  es  nan, 

Na)>er  for  vs,  ne  for  vr  fee, 

Ne  for  nan  of  vr  meineY 

lesus  satt  on  his  moder  kne,  305 

Wit  a  ful  blith  cher  said  he, 

'  Bogh  J>ou  til  vs  suith,  ]?ou  tre, 

And  of  jn  frut  ]>ou  giue  vs  plenteV 

Vnnethe  had  he  said  J>e  sune, 

Quen  |>e  tre  it  boghed  dune,  310 

Right  to  Maria,  his  moder,  fote, 

pe  crop  was  euening  to  )>e  rote. 

Qfc«?n  all  had  eten  frut  i-nogh, 

Yeit  it  boghud  dun  ilk  bogh, 

Til  he  wald  comand  it  to  rise,  315 

pat  gert  it  lute  in  his  seruis. 

To  j>at  tre  |>an  spak  I«u : 

1  Rise  vp,'  he  said,  '  and  right  }>e  nu, 

I  wil  ])ou,  fra  nu  forward, 

Be  planted  in  min  orcherd,  320 

Amang  mi  tres  o  paradise, 

pat  ]?ou  and  J>ai  be  of  a  prise ; 

Vnder  ]>i  rote  |>ar  es  a  spring, 

I  wil  }>at  vte  J>e  water  wring ; 

Mak  vs  a  well,  for  mine  sake,  325 

pat  all  mai  plente*  o  water  take.' 

Wit  }>is  stert  vp  j>e  tre  stedfast ; 

Vnder  J?e  rote  a  well  vte-brast, 

Wit  strand  suete,  and  clere,  and  cald ; 

All  dranc  i-nogh,  ilkan  }>at  wald,  330 

Wit  all  j?e  bestes  in  }>at  place, 

pai  loued  ai  Drightin  of  his  grace. 


8o  VII.      CURSOR   MUNDI. 

Apon  ]?e  morn,  quew  it  was  dai, 

And  J>ai  ware  busked  to  J>air  wai, 

lesus  him  turnd  to  J>e  tre,  335 

And  said,  '  ]?ou  palme,  I  comand  |>e, 

P#t  o  ]>i  branches  an  be  scorn, 

And  wit  mine  angel  hej>en  born, 

To  planted  be  in  paradise, 

par  mi  fader  mirthes  es/  340 

Vnnethes  he  had  |?is  word  spoken, 

An  angel  com,  a  bogh  was  broken, 

And  born  awai  it  was  alson ; 

His  comanmewt  was  noght  vndon, 

pe  bugh  til  heuen  wit  him  he  bar.  345 

pai  fell  in  suun,  al  \a\.  J>ar  war, 

For  angel  sight  j?ai  fell  dun  mad ; 

lesus  ]>an  said,  '  qui  er  yee  rade  ? 

Quer  it  es  sua,  yee  wat  it  noght 

pat  handes  mine  ]?is  tre  has  wroght  ?  350 

And  I  wil  nu  |?is  ilk  tre 

Stand  in  paradis,  to  be 

To  mi  santes  in  sted  of  fode, 

Als  in  )>is  wai  to  yow  it  stode/ 

Styen  forth  ]>ai  ferd  }>air  wai,  355 

And  Joseph  can  to  I^u  sai, 

'  Lau^rd,  ]>is  es  a  mikel  "hete, 

It  greues  vs,  it  es  sua  grete  ; 

If  J?ou  redes  }>at  it  sua  be, 

We  wil  ]>e  wai  ga  be  ]>e  se,  360 

For  }>ar  es  tuns  in  for  to  rest, 

p<zt  we[i]  to  ga  me  thine  it  best.' 

'  loseph,  nu  dred  J>e  noght  I  sai, 

For  I  sal  mak  }>e  scort  J>i  wai, 

pat  J>ou  on  thrittd  dais  long  365 


VII.      THE  FLIGHT  INTO  EGYPT.  8l 

Ionic's  sal  haf  hot  a  dai-gang.' 

Als  J>ai  togedir  talked  sua, 

pai  loked  }>am  on  ferru/ra  fra, 

And  sun  began  ]>ai  for  to  see 

O  land  of  Egypt  sum  cite*.  37° 

pan  [J>]ai  wex  ful  glad  and  blith, 

And  come  ]?am  till  a  cite*  suith ; 

par  )>ai  fand  nan  o  }>air  knaing, 

pat  ]?ai  cuth  ask  at  )>air  gesting. 

In  }>at  siquar  ]?ai  come  to  tun,  375 

Was  prastes  at  J>air  temple  bun 

To  do  )>e  folk,  als  }>ai  war  sete, 

Ma  saerifies  to  j>air  maumet. 

Bot  Maria  ner  was  gesten  ]?ar, 

To  se  J>at  kirck  hir  sun  sco  bar ;  3§o 

Q«m  sco  was  cuwmen  jwzt  kirck  wit-in, 

Man  moght  a  selcuth  se  to  min, 

pat  al  J>air  idels,  in  a  stuwd, 

Grouelings  fel  vnto  ]>e  grund, 

Dun  at  ]?e  erth  all<?  war  J>ai  laid.  385 

pan  come  J?e  propheci  was  said, — 

'  Quen  he,'  it  sais,  '  |>e  Lau^rd  sal 

Cum  til  Egypt  \  ]>air  idels  all 

Sal  fall  dun,  als  ]>ai  war  noght, 

pe  quilk  J>ai  wit  J>air  handes  wroght.'  390 

O  \a\.  tun  was  a  lau^rding, 

Quen  him  was  tald  o  ]>is  tij>ing, 

He  gadir[d]  folk  and  duelled  noght, 

And  to  )>e  temple  he  )>am  broght ; 

For  to  wreke  }>am  was  he  bun,  395 

pat  })us  did  cast  )>air  goddes  dun. 

1  MS.  «  egypti.' 
VOL.  II.  G 


82  VII.      CURSOR   MUNDI. 

Q#<?n  he  )>am  sagh  in  temple  lij, 

Hijs  godds  and  his  maumentri, 

He  com  to  Maria  wit-vten  harme, 

par  sco  hir  child  bar  in  hir  arme ;  400 

Honurand  for-wit  him  he  fell, 

And  til  his  folk  ]ms  he  can  tell : 

'  pis  child,  if  he  ne  war  Godd  Almight, 

Vr  godds  had  standen  al  vpright ; 

Bot  for  he  es  Godd  mighti  sene,  405 

Vres  ar  fallen  don  be-dene ; 

Q#0t  dos  or  goddes  or  mai  do  ger, 

Bot  we  ne  wark *  }>e  wisliker ; 

pe  wrick 2  of  him  sua  mai  we  dred, 

Als  wittnes  on  vr  eldres  dede,  410 

Hu  it  be-tide  to  Pharaon, 

Wit  al  his  folk  he  was  for-don ; 

For  ]>ai  wald  noght  apon  him  tru, 

Sua  ful  o  might  and  o  wrtu, 

Al  ]>ai  drund  in  )>e  se;  415 

I  tru  on  him,  alsua  do  yee.' 

Was  noght  a  temple  or-quar  in  tun, 

ptft  J>ar  ne  fel  sum  idel  dun. 

1  MS. 'wrick.'  *  MS.«warfc.' 


VIII. 

SUNDAY  HOMILIES   IN  VERSE. 

ABOUT    A.D.   1330. 

THE  following  portions  of  some  curious  Homilies  and  Tales, 
in  the  Northumbrian  dialect,  illustrating  mediaeval  preaching,  are 
taken  from  '  English  Metrical  Homilies/  edited  by  John  Small, 
M.A.,  Edinburgh,  1862,  from  a  MS.  in  the  Library  of  the  Royal 
College  of  Physicians  at  Edinburgh.  The  extracts  have  been 
compared  with  MS.  Gg.  5.  31  in  the  Cambridge  University 
Library. 

(A)   From  the  Homily  for  the  Second  Sunday  in  Advent. 

\Tbe  Signs  of  the  Doom.} 
Pages  25-33. 

EOT  for  Crist  spekes  of  takeninge, 

That  tithand  of  this  dom  sal  bringe,  100 

Forthi  es  god  that  I  you  telle 

Sum  thing  of  thir  takeninges  snelle1: 

Sain  Jerom  telles  that  fiften 

Ferli  takeninges  sal  be  sen 

Bifor  the  day  of  dom,  and  sal  105 

Ilkan  of  thaim  on  ser  dai  fal. 

The  first  dai,  sal  al  the  se 

Boln  and  ris  and  heyer  be 

1  Camb.  '  fell*.' 

O  2 


84  VI1I.    (A)   HOMILIES  IN   VERSE. 

Than  ani  fel  of  al  the  land, 

And  als  a  felle l  up  sal  it  stand ;  1 10 

The  heyt  thar-of  sal  passe  the  felles 

Bi  sexti  fot,  als  Jerom  telles ; 

And  als  mikel,  the  tother  day, 

Sal  it  sattel  and  wit  away, 

And  be  lauer  than  it  nou  esse,  115 

For  water  sal  it  haf  wel  lesse. 

The  thride  dai,  mersuine  and  qualle 

And  other  gret  fises  alle2 

Sal  yel,  and  mak  sa  reuful  ber 

That  soru  sal  it  be  to  her.  120 

The  ferthe  day,  freis  water  and  se 

Sal  bren  als  fir  and  glouand  be. 

The  fift  day,  sal  greses  and  tres 

Suet  blodi  deu,  that  grisli  bes. 

The  sexte  day,  sal  doun  falle  125 

Werdes  werks,  bathe  tours  and  halle. 

The  seuend  day,  sal  stanes  gret 

Togider  smit  and  bremly  bete. 

And  al  the  erthe,  the  achtande  day, 

Sal  stir  and  quac  and  al  folc  flay 3.  130 

The  neynd  day,  the  fels  alle 

Be  mad  al  euin  wit  erthe  salle. 

The  tend  day,  sal  folc  up  crep, 

Als  wod  men,  of  pittes  dep. 

The  elleft  day,  sal  banes  rise  135 

And  stand  on  graues  thar  men  nou  lies. 

The  tuelft  day,  sal  sternes  falle. 

The  thretend  day,  sal  quek 4  men  dey  alle, 

1  Camb.  '  hylle.'  2  Camb.  «  othir  fys,  gret  and  small.' 

8  Camb.  '  flay';  printed  text  '  slay.'  *  Camb.  omits  *  quek.' 


VIII.    (A)    THE  SIGNS   OF   THE  DOOM.  85 

Wit  other  ded  men  to  rise, 

And  com  wit  thaim  to  gret  asise.  140 

The  faurtend  day,  at  a  schift 

Sal  bathe  brin,  bathe  erthe  and  lift. 

The  fifetende  day,  thai  bathe 

Sal  be  mad  newe  and  fair  ful  rathe ; 

And  al  ded  men  sal  vp  rise1,  145 

And  cum  bifor  Crist  our  iustise. 

Than  sal  Crist  dem  als  king  ful  wis, 
And  ger  the  sinful  sare  grise ; 
Sa  grisli  sal  he  to  thaim  be, 

That  thaim  war  leuer  that  thai  moht  fle  150 

Fra  that  dom  that  he  sal  dem 
Than  al  this  werd ;  sa  bes  he  brem 
Till  thaim  that  sinful  cumes  thar, 
And  forthi  sal  thai  gret  full1  sar, 
And  say,  'alias,  that  we  war  bornl  155 

Shamlic  haf  we  us  self  forlorn/ 
Than  salle  thair  wike  dedes  alle 
Stand  and  igaines  thaim  kalle, 
And  with  thair  takening  ber  witnes 
Of  thair  sin  and  thair  wiknes.  160 

Of  mikel  soru  sal  thai  telle, 
For  Satenas  wit  feres  felle, 
To  bind  thaim  he  sal  be  ful  snelle, 
And  bremli  draw  thaim  till  helle, 
Thar  thai  sal  euermare  duelle,  165 

And  wafullic  in  pines  welle, 
And  endeles  of  soru  telle. 

This  bes  thair  dom  that  her  in  sin 
Ligges,  and  wil  thair  sin  noht  blin  ; 

1  '  vp'  in  1.  145,  and  '  full'  in  1.  154  are  supplied  from  Camb. 


86  VIII.    (A)  HOMILIES  IN   VERSE. 

Bot  wald  thai  think  on  domes  dai,  170 

Thaim  bird  lef  thair  plihtful  play. 

Alias !  alias !  quat  sal  thai  say 

Bifor  him,  that  miht-ful  may1, 

Quen  al  the  men  that  was  and  esse 

Sal  se  thair  sines  mare  and  lesse,  175 

And  al  the  angeles  of  the  heuin, 

And  ma  fendes  than  man  mai  nefen  ? 

Igain-sawe  may  thar  nan  be, 

Of  thing  that  alle  men  may  se. 

Of  this  openlic  schauing  180 

Hauis  Godd  schawed  many  tak[n]ing, 

Of  a  tak[n]ing2  that  I  haf  herd  telle, 

That  falles  wel  til  our  godspelle. 

Narracio.     [Talc  of  a  Monkl\ 

A  blak  munk  of  an  abbaye 

Was  enfermer  of  all,  I  herd  say3,  185 

He  was  halden  an  hali  man 
Imange  his  felaus  euerilkan ; 
An  cloyster  monk  loued  him  ful  wel, 
And  was  til  him  ful  speciel, 

For  riuelic  togider  drawes  190 

Faithe  lufreden  god  felawes4. 
Fel  auntour  that  this  enfermer 
Was  sek,  and  he  that  was  til  him  der 
Com  to  mak  him  glad  and  blithe, 
And  his  lufredene  til  him  to  kithe ;  195 

He  asked  him  hou  he  him  felid, 

1  Camb.  '  /£at  alle  myghtes  may.' 

2  Camb.  'takynyng';  but  'takyng'  in  the  previous  line. 

3  Camb.  *  Was  in  a  farmery,  als  I  hard  say.' 
*  Camb.  •  Faythefulle  frendes  &  felaus.' 


VIII.    (A)    TALE   OF  A   MONK.  87 

And  he  his  stat  alle  til  him  telld, 

And  said,  '  ful  hard  fel  I  me, 

To  dede  I  drawe,  als  ye  mai  se/ 

His  felau  was  for  him  sary,  200 

And  praied  him  ful  gern  forthie, 

That  yef  Godd  did  of  him  his  wille, 

That  he  suld  scheu  his  stat  him  tille. 

This  seke  monk  hiht  to  com  him  to, 

Yef  he  moht  get  lef  thar-to :  205 

'  I  sal/  he  said,  '  yef  I  may, 

Com  to  the,  my  stat  to  say.1 

Quen  this  was  sayd,  he  deyed  son, 

And  his  felau  asked  his  bon, 

And  prayed  Godd,  for  his  mercye,  210 

That  he  suld  schew  him  openly, 

Other  wakand  or  slepand, 

Of  his  felaw  state1  sum  tithand. 

And  als  he  lay  apon  a  niht, 

His  felaw  com  wit  lemes  liht,  215 

And  tald  him  bathe  of  heuin  and  helle. 

And  he  prayed  he  suld  him  telle 

His  state,  and  he  said,  '  wel  far  I 

Thoru  the  help  of  our  Lefdi, 

War  scho  ne  hafd  ben,  I  hauid  gan  220 

To  won  in  helle  wit  Satan,' 

His  felau  thoht  herof  ferly, 

And  asked  him  quarfor  and  qui, 

And  sayd,  *  we  wend  alle  wel  that  thou 

Haued  ben  an  hali  man  til  nou :  225 

Hou  sal  it  far  of  us  kaytefes, 

That  in  sin  and  foli  ly[f]es, 

Quen  thou,  that  led  sa  hali  life, 

1  Camb.  omits  '  state.' 


88  VIII.    (A)   HOMILIES  IN   VERSE. 

Was  demed  tille  hell  for  to  drife?' 

Quen  this  was  said,  the  ded  ansuerd,  230 

And  tald  his  felaw  hou  he  ferd, 

And  said,  '  son,  quen  I  gaf  the  gaste, 

Till  my  dom  was  I  led  in  haste, 

And  als  I  stod  my  dom  to  her 

Bifor  Jesus,  wit  dreri  cher,  235 

Of  fendes  herd  Ic  mani  upbrayd, 

And  a  hoc  was  bifor  me  layd, 

That  was  the  reuel  of  sain  Benet, 

That  Ic  hiht  to  hald  and  get. 

This  reul  thai  gert  me  rapli  rede,  240 

And  als  I  red,  sar  gan  I  drede, 

For  ouerlop  moht  I  mac  nan ; 

Bot  of  the  clauses  euerilkan 

Yald  Ic  account,  hou  I  thaim  held, 

And  my  consciens  gan  me  meld ;  245 

It  schawed  thar  ful  openlye 

That  I  led  mi  lif  wrangwislie, 

For  in  the  reul  es  mani  pas, 

That  than  igain  me  casten  was, 

Quar-thoru  almast  haued  I  thare  250 

Ben  demid  til  helle  for  to  fare. 

Bot  for  I  lufed  wel  our  Lefdye 

Quil  I  lifd,  Ic  hafd  forthie 

Ful  god  help  thar,  thoru  hir  mercy. 

For  scho  bisoht  Crist  inwardlie  255 

That  I  moht  in  purgatorie 

Clens  mi  sin  and  mi  folye. 

Forthi  hop  I  to  far  ful  welle, 

For  mi  soru  sal  son  kele ; 

Forthi,  my  frend,  I  prai  the,  260 

That  thou  ger  felaus  prai  for  me.' 


VIII.     (B)    THE  STILLING   OF   THE   TEMPEST.       89 

Quen  this  was  said,  awai  he  went, 

And  his  felawe  ful  mikel  hhri  ment, 

And  efter  this  siht  mani  a  dai 

Gert  he  for  his  sawell  prai.  265 


(B)     A  Homily  for  the  Third  Sunday  after  the  Octave  of 
Epiphany. 

[The  Miraculous  Stilling  of  the  Tempest  on  the  Sea  of  Galilee.} 
Pages  134—144. 

Sain  Matheu  the  wangeliste 

Telles  us  todai,  hou  Crist 

Schipped  into  the  se  a  time, 

And  his  decipelis  al  wit  him. 

And  quen  thair  schip  com  on  dep,  5 

Jesu  seluen  fel  on  slep, 

And  gret  tempest  bigan  to  rise, 

That  gert  the  schipmen  sar  grise. 

Thai  wakned  Crist,  and  said  yare, 

'  Help  us,  Lauerd,  for  we  forfare  V  10 

And  Crist,  als  mihti  Godd,  ansuerd 

And  said,  '  foles,  qui  er  ye  fered  ?' 

Als  qua  sai[d],  '  Godd  es  in  this  schip, 

That  mai  wel  saue  this  felauschip.' 

And  Crist  comanded  wind  and  se  15 

To  lethe,  and  fair  weder  [to] 2  be. 

An  sa  fair  weder  was  in  hie, 

That  al  his  felaues  thoht  ferlie, 

And  said,  '  quatkin  man  mai  this  be  ? 

Til  him  bues  bathe  winde  and  se/  20 

1  Printed  '  sofare';  Camb.  '  fore  fare."  a  '  to'  supplied  from  Camb. 


90  VIII.    (B)   HOMILIES  IN   VERSE. 

This  es  the  strenthe  of  our  godspelle, 
Als  man  on  Ingelis  tong  mai  telle. 

Al  hali  kirc,  als  thine  me, 
Mai  bi  this  schippe  takened  be, 
That  Crist  rad  in  and  his  felawes,  25 

Imang  dintes  of  gret  quawes. 
For  schip  fletes  on  the  flode, 
And  hali  kirc,  wit  costes1  gode, 
Fletes  abouen  this  werldes  se, 
Flouand  wit  sin  and  caitifte ;  30 

God  cresten  men  er  hali  kirc, 
That  Goddes  wil  wille  gladli  were. 
This  schip  ful  gret  wawes  kepes ; 
And  Crist  tharin  gasteli  slepes, 
Quen  he  tholes  god  men  and  lele,  35 

Wit  wic  men  and  fals  dele2, 
That  betes  thaim  wit  dede  and  word 
Als  se-bare  betes  on  schip-bord. 
For  wit  ensampel,  mai  we  se 
That  al  this  werld  es  bot  a  se,  40 

That  bremli  bares  on  bane  wit  bale, 
And  gret  fisches  etes  the  smale. 
For  riche  men  of  this  werd  etes 
That  pouer  wit  thair  trauail  getes. 
For  wit  pouer  men  fares  the  king  45 

Riht  als  the  quale  fars  wit  the  elringe3, 
And  riht  als  sturioun  etes  merling, 
And  lobbekeling  etes  Sperling, 
Sua  stroies  mare  men  the  lesse, 
Wit  wa  and  werldes  wrangwisnes ;  50 

And  schathe,  that  lesse  tholes  of  mare 

1  Camb.  '  gostes.'  a  Camb.  '  Wyth  wyked  men  and  fals  to  dell. 

8  Camb.  'herynge.' 


VIII.    (B)   THE  STILLING   OF   THE   TEMPEST.        $1 

Smites  als  storm  of  se  ful  sare. 

And  forth!  that  Crist  tholes  this, 

Ite  sembeles  that  he  slepand  is  ; 

Bot  thai  that  thol  thir  strange  stowres,  55 

Thai  waken  Crist  and  askes  socoures 

Wit  orisoun,  that  es  prayer, 

That  wakenes  Crist,  and  gers  him  her 

Al  thair  wandreth  and  thair  wrake, 

And  wit  his  miht  he  geres  it  slake.  60 

For  rihtwis  cristen  man  praier 

Es  til  Jesus  sa  lef  and  dere, 

That  quat-sa-euer  we  ask  tharin, 

And  we  be  out  of  dedeli  sin, 

Our  Lauerd  grauntes1  it  us  son,  65 

Yef  sawel  hel  be  in  our  bon. 

For  yef  we  prai  God  that  he 

Grant  that  igain  our  sawel  be, 

Us  au  to  thine  na  ferlye 

Thoh  Godd  it  warnes  ouertlye.  70 

For  bi  ensampel  mai  we  se 

That  praier  mai  unschilful  be ; 

Als  ef  thou  prai  Godd  that  he 

Apon  thi  fais  venge  the ; 

Thi  praier  es  igain  his  wille,  75 

Forthi  wil  he  it  noht  fulfille ; 

Or  yef  thou  prai  efter  catele, 

That  es  igain  thi  sawel  hele ; 

Or  efter  werdes  mensc  and  miht, 

That  geres  foles  fal  in  pliht ;  80 

Or  ef  thou  praye  him  that  he  lethe2 

Thi  fandinges  and  thi  wandrethe, 

1  Printed  '  grannies.'  a  Printed  'leche';  Camb.  •  leth.' 


92  VIII.    (B)   HOMILIES  IN   VERSE. 

That  dos  in-to  the  sawel  gode, 

Yef  thou  it  thol  wit  milde  mode, 

Wit  resoun  mai  thou  Godd  noht  wite,  85 

Yef  he  the  silc  askinges  nite  ; 

For  yef  he  graunt  the  thi  schathe, 

Thou  war  noht  lef  til  him,  bot  lathe. 

Forthi  es  godd  that  we  him  praye 

Thing  that  our  sawel  hele  mai ;  90 

For  ar  we  bigin  our  prayer, 

Wat  he  quarof  we  haf  mister. 

Bot  for  our  godspel  spekes  of  se, 
Quarbi  this  werld  mai  bisend  be, 
Forthi  wil  I  schaw  other  thinges,  95 

That  er  apert  biseninges 
Bituixe  this  wlanc1  werld  and  se, 
This  werldes  welth  to  do  fle. 
Bi  salte  water  of  the  se 

Ful  gratheli  mai  bisend  be  100 

This  werldes  welth,  auht,  and  catel, 
That  werdes  men  lufes  ful  wel  ; 
For  salte  water  geres  men  threst, 
And  werdes  catel  geres  men  brest. 
The  mar  thou  drinkes  of  the  se,  105 

The  mare  and  mar  threstes  the2; 
And  ai  the  richer  that  man  esse, 
The  mar  him  langes  efter  riches. 
And  in  se  dronkenes  folc  ful  fele, 
And  sua  dos  men3  in  werdes  catele;  no 

For  water  drunkenes  the  bodie, 
And  catel  the  sawel  gastelie ; 
For  catel  drawes  man  til  helle, 

1  Camb.  '  wankyll.'  2  Printed  '  ye/ 

1  •  men'  supplied  from  Camb. 


VIII.    (B)    TALE   OF  A    USURER.  93 

Thar  wattri  wormes  er  ful  felle, 

And  of  thir  wormes  wil  I  telle  115 

A  tal,  yef  ye  wil  her  mi  spelle. 

Narracio.     \flale  of  a  Usurer .] 

An  hali  man  biyond  the1  se 
Was  bischop  of  a  gret  cite* ; 
God  man  he  was,  and  Pers  he  hiht. 
And  thar  bisyd  woned  a  kniht,  120 

That  thoru  kind  was  bond  and  thralle, 
Bot  knihthed  gat  he  wit  catalle2. 
This  catel  gat  he  wit  okering, 
And  led  al  his  lif  in  corsing ; 
For  he  haunted  bathe  dai  and  niht  125 

His  okering,  sine  he  was  kniht, 
Als  fast  as  he  did  bifore, 
And  tharwit  gat  he  gret  tresore. 
Bot  Crist,  that  boht  us  der  wit  pine, 
Wald  noht  this  mannes  sawel  tine,  130 

Bot  gaf  him  graz  himself  to  knaw, 
And  his  sin  to  the  bischop  schaw. 
Quen  he  him  schraf  at  this  bischop, 
This  bischop  bad  him  haf  god  hop, 
And  asked  him,  yef  he  walde  tac  135 

Riht  penanz,  for  his  sinful  sac. 
« Ful  gladli  wil  I  tac,'  he  said, 
The  penanz  that  bes  on  me  laid ;' 
And  the  bischop  said,  '  thou  sal  mete 
A  beggar  gangand  by  the  strete ;  140 

And  quat-als-euer  he  askes  the, 
Gif  him ;  this  sal  thi  penanz  be/ 

1  '  the'  supplied  from  Camb. 

8  Camb.  '  catalle';  printed  copy  'catelle.' 


94  VIII.    (B)  HOMILIES  IN   VERSE. 

And  ful  wel  paid  was  this  kniht, 
For  him  thoht  his  penanz  ful  liht. 
And  als  he  for  hamward,  he  mette  145 

A  beggar  that  him  cumly  grette, 
And  said,  '  lef  sir,  par  charite*, 
Wit  sum  almous  thou  help  me.' 
This  kniht  asked  quat  he  wald  haf ; 
'  Lauerd,'  he  said,  '  sum  quet  I  craue.'  150 

'  Hou  mikel/  he  said,  '  askes  thou  me  ?' 
'  A  quarter,  lauerd,  par  charite*.' 
This  kniht  granted  him  his  bone, 
And  gert  met  him  his  corn  sone. 
This  pouer  man  was  will  of  wan,  155 

For  poc  no  sek  no  hauid  he  nan, 
Quarin  he  moht  this  quete  do  ; 
And  forthi  this  kniht  said  him  to, 
*  This  quete  I  rede  thou  selle  me, 
For  ful  pouer  me  thine  the.'  160 

The  pouer  said,  *  layth  thine  me 
To  selle  Goddes  charite', 
Bot  len  me  sum  fetel l  tharto, 
Quarin  I  mai  thin  almous  do.' 
And  he  ansuered  and  said,  '  nai,'  165 

For  al  that  this  beggar  moht  sai, 
And  said,  '  this  corn2  thou  selle  me, 
For  fetil  wil  I  nan  len  the.' 
The  beggar  moht  na  better  do, 
Bot  said  this  corn  igain  him  to,  170 

And  toe  thar-for  fif  schilling, 
And  went  him  forthe  on  his  begging. 
Quen  this  corn  to  the  kniht  was  said, 

1  Camb.  '  vessell.'  2  '  corn'  supplied  from  Camb. 


VIII.    (B)    TALE   OF  A    USURER.  95 

He  did  it  in  an  arc  to  hald, 

And  opened  this  arc  the  thrid  daye,  175 

And  fand  tharin,  selcouthe  to  saye, 

Snakes  and  nederes  thar  he  fand, 

And  gret  blac  tades  gangand, 

And  arskes,  and  other  wormes  felle, 

That  I  kan  noht  on  Inglis  telle.  180 

Thai  lep  upward  til  his  visage, 

And  gert  him  almast  fal  in  rage, 

Sa  was  he  for  thir  wormes  ferde ; 

Bot  noht  forthi  that  arc  he  speride, 

And  to  the  bischope  in  a  ras  185 

He  ran,  and  tald  him  al l  his  cas. 

The  bischop  sau  that  Godd  wald  tak 
Of  this  man  sin  wrethful  wrac. 
And  said,  '  yef  thou  wil  folfille 
Wit  worthi  penanz  Goddes  wille,  190 

And  clens  wit  penanz  riht  worthi 
Al  thi  sinnes  and  thi  foli, 
I  red  that  thou  self  the  falle 
Nakid  imang  tha  wormes  alle, 
No  gif  thou  of  the  self  na  tale,  195 

Bot  bring  thi  sawel  out  of  bale. 
Thoh  tha  wormes  thi  caroin  gnawe, 
Thi  pynes  lastes  bot  a  thrawe ; 
And  than  sal  thi  sawel  wende 
To  lif  of  blis,  witouten  ende.'  200 

This  okerer  was  selli  radde 
To  do  that  this  bischop  him  badde, 
Bot  of  mercy  haft  he  god  hop, 
And  gern  he  prayd  the  bischop, 

1  •  al'  supplied  from  Camb. 


96  VIII.    (B)   HOMILIES   IN   VERSE. 

And  said,  '  lef  fader,  I  prai  the,  205 

That  thou  prai  inwardli  for  me, 

That  God  gif  me  his  graz  to  fang, 

One  my  bodi,  this  penanz  strang/ 

The  bischop  hiht  this  man  lelye, 

To  prai  for  him  riht  inwardlye.  210 

This  man  went  ham,  thoh  he  war  rad, 

And  did  als  his  bischop  him  badde ; 

For  imang  al  thir  wormes  snelle, 

Als  nakid  als  he  was  born,  he  felle. 

Thir  wormes  etc  that  wreche1  manne,  215 

And  left  nathing  of  him  bot  ban. 

The  bischop  went  in-to  that  toun, 
Wit  clerkes  in  processioun, 
And  come  into  this  knihtes  wanes, 
And  soht  ful  gern  his  hali  banes,  220 

And  til  this  forsaid  arc  he  yod, 
And  opened  it  wit  joiful  mod, 
And  riped  imang  tha  wormes  lathe, 
Bot  nan  of  thaim  moht  do  him  schathe, 
And  forthe  he  gan  tha  banes  draw,  225 

And  thai  war  als  quite  als  snaw. 
Quen  al  tha  banes  out  tan  ware 
Tha  wormes  gert  he  brin  ful  yare, 
And  bar  thir  bannes  menskelye, 
And  fertered  thaim  at  a  nunrye ;  230 

Thar  Godd  schewes  mirakelle  and  miht, 
And  gifes  blind  men  thar  siht ; 
And  croked  men  thar  geres  he  ga, 
And  leches  seke  men  of  wa, 
And  schewes  wel,  wit  fair  ferlikes,  235 

1  Printed  '  wrethe' ;  Camb.  « wreched.' 


VIII.    (B)   HOMILIES   IN   VERSE.  97 

That  thas  banes  er  god  relikes. 
This  tal  haf  I  nou  tald  here, 
To  ger  you  se  on  quat  maner 
That  the  mar  catel  that  man  haues, 
The  mar  and  mare  his  hert  craues ;  240 

And  namlic  thir  okerers, 
That  er  cursed  for  thair  aferes ; 
Bot  yef  thai  her  thair  lif  amend, 
Thai  wend  til  wormes  witouten  end, 
That  sal  thaim  reuli  rif  and  rend  245 

In  helle  pine  witouten  end. 
That  wist  this  bischop  witerlye, 
And  forthi  did  he  quaintelye, 
Quen  he  gert  wormes  ets  this  man, 
To  yem  his  sawel  fra  Satan.  250 

For  wormes  suld  his  sawel  haf  rended, 
Quar-sa-euer  it  suld  haf  lended, 
Yef  he  no  hauid  wel  ben  scriuen, 
And  his  caroin  til  wormes  giuen. 
Bot  for  his  fleis  was  pined  here,  255 

His  sawel  es  now  til  Godd  ful  dere, 
Thar  it  wones  in  plai  and  gamen, 
Godd  bring  us  thider  alle  samen.    Amen  I 


VOL.  ru 


IX. 

DAN   MICHEL  OF  NORTHGATE. 
A.D.  1340. 

IN  the  year  1340,  Dan  Michel  of  Northgate  (Kent), 'a  brother 
of  the  cloister  of  St.  Austin  of  Canterbury/  translated  into  Eng- 
lish the  French  treatise  '  Le  Somme  des  Vices  et  des  Vertus'  by 
Frere  Lorens(A.D.  1279),  under  the  title  of 'The  Ayenbite  of 
Inwyt'  (Remorse  of  Conscience).  This  work  is  preserved  in  the 
Arundel  MS.  57,  which  also  contains  two  short  Sermons,  prob- 
ably turned  into  the  Kentish  dialect  by  the  same  writer. 

These  Kentish  productions  are  the  most  valuable  specimens 
which  have  been  preserved  of  the  Southern  dialect  in  the 
fourteenth  century.  They  were  edited  for  the  Early  English 
Text  Society  by  Dr.  Morris  in  1866,  with  the  title,  '  Dan 
Michel's  Ayenbite  of  Inwyt,  or  Remorse  of  Conscience.' 

The  following  Sermon  was  known  in  English  long  before  Dan 
Michel's  time.  A  thirteenth-century  version  of  it,  entitled 
'  Sawles  Warde,'  is  printed  in  'Early  English  Homilies'  (ed. 
Morris,  Early  English  Text  Society,  1867),  at  p.  245. 

Sermon  on  Matthew  xxiv.  43. 
[See  Morris's  edition,  p.  263.] 

UOR  to  sseawy  J>e  lokynge  of  man  wy]>-i;me.  J>ellyche 
ane  uorbysne  /  oure  Ihord  iesu  crist  zay]>.  'pis  uorzoj>e 
ywyte]).  J>et  yef  |>e  uader  of  }>e  house  wyste  huyche  time 
l>e  J>yef  were  comynde :  uor-zoj>e  he  wolde  waky  /  and  nolde 


IX.      SERMON  ON  MATTHEW  XXIV.  43.  99 

najt  ])olye  J>et  me  dolue  his  hous.'     Be  ]>ise  uader  of  house  5 
me  may  onderstonde  /  \>e  wyl  of  skele.     to  huam  be-longej) 
moche  mayn6.     po^tes.  and  his  besteriinge.  wyt.  and  dedes  / 
ase  wel  wy]>-oute :  ase  wyj>-inne.    ]>et  is  to  zigge  /  huych 
mayne'  /  to  moche  slac  /  and  wylles-uol  ssel  by :  bote  yef 
}>e  ilke  uaderes  stefhede  hise  strayny  /  and  ordayny.     Vor  10 
zo])e  yef  he  hym  a  lyte  of  his  bysyhede  wyj>-dra3}>:    huo 
may  zigge  /  hou  Jjojtes.  e}en.  earen.  tonge.  and  alle  o)>re 
wyttes :   become])  wylde.     Hous.  is  inwyt  /  in  huychen  ]>e 
uader  of  house  wonej).  })e  hord  of  uirtues  gadere)>.     Vor 
huych  hord:  J>et  ilke  zelue  hous  ne  by  y-dolue  /  he^lyche  15 
he  wake)>.      per  ne  is  najt  on  ])yef:   ac  uele.  ac  to  eche 
uzrtue:  ech  vice  wayte]).     paries  he^lyche  by  ]?e  J>yeue:  is 
onderstonde  J>e  dyeuel.  a-ye  huam  and  his  kachereles  /  J)e 
ilke  zelue  uader  /  J^les  yef  he  ne  were  najt  onlosti:    his 
hous  mid  gr^ate  streng};e  wolde  loky.    pe  uader  of  j>e  house  /  20 
ate  uerste  guoinge  in  :   he  zette  sle^e  /  to  by  doreward. 
))et  y-knauj)  huet  is  to  uorlete :  and  huet  ys  to  wylny.  huet 
uor  to  bessette  out  of  ]>e  house,  huet  uor  to  onderuonge 
into  Jje  house.    Nixt  ]?an :  ha  zette  streng])e.  ])et  )>e  vyendes  / 
}>et  sle}  j)e  zent  to  zygge  /  to  keste  out :  strengj?e  wyj)droje.  |>et  25 
his  uoule  lostes  wyj)-droje :  and  wy])-zede.   Rijtnesse  uorzoj>e 
ssel  zitte  amydde  /  }>et  echew  his  ojen  yef)).     Hueruore: 
huyche  time  J>e  j)yef  is  comynde  /  me  not.  ac  eche  tyme 
me  ssel  drede.     pise  zuo  y-di3t :  najt  longe  to  }>e  wakynde 
j)e  slep  of  zenne  benymj).     Vor  al  J)et  lyf  is  to  waky.     Zome  30 
messagyers  slejj)e  ssel  lete  in.  J>et  zome  Binges  mo3e  telle  / 
}>et  me  may  a-waki  myde.     pus  j)e  messagyer  of  dya))e  acsej) 
inguoynge:   he  is  onderuonge.     Me  him  acse])  huo  he  ys. 
huannes  he  com]),  huet  he  he})  yso3e.     He  ansuerej).  he 
ne  may  na3t  zigge :  bote  yef  ])er  by  r^liche  clom.     Huych  35 
y-graunted :   J)us  he   begyn)).      '  Ich  am  drede  /  and  be- 
})enchinge  of  dyaj)e.  and  dyaj)  [is]  comy[n]de :  ich  do  you  to 

11   2 


100  IX.      DAN  MICHEL   OF  NORTHGATE. 

wytene/  Sle3]>e  spec]?  uor  alle.  and  acsej).  *  And  huer  is 
nou  )>e  ilke  dya]>.  and  huanne  ssel  he  come  ?'  Drede  zay|>. 

40 '  Ich  wot  wel  )>et  he  ne  abyt  na^t  to  comene  /  and  nye3 
he  is.  ac  )>ane  day  /  o]?er  )>ane  tyme  of  his  comynge  :  ich 
not.'  Sle3)?e  zay)).  'And  huo  ssel  come  myd  hyre?'  Drede 
zay)).  'A  }>ouzend  dyeulen  ssolle  come  mid  hire,  and 
brenge  mid  ham  /  greate  bokes  /  and  bernynde  hokes  / 

45  and  chaynen  auere/  Slej^e  zayjj.  *  And  huet  wyllej?  hy  do 
mid  alle  J>an?'  Drede  zay)).  '  Ine  ]?e  bokes  bye]?  y-write 
alle  }>e  zewnen  of  men.  and  hise  brenge))  /  J>et  be  ham  hi 
111036  ouercome  men.  of  huychen  J>e  zewnes  }>erinne  byej? 
ywryte.  )>et  bye]?  to  hare  ri3te.  Hokes  hi  brenge})  /  ])et  j)O 

50  |)et  bye})  to  hare  ri3te  ouercome)) :  hire  zaulen  be  streng})e : 
of  )>e  bodye  dra3e))  out.  and  hise  bynde})  mid  ]>e  chaines  / 
and  in  to  helle  hise  dra3e))/  Sle3))e  zay)).  *  Hua/mes 
comste?'  Drede  zay}).  'Vram  helle/  Sle3))e  zay)).  'And 
huet  is  helle.  and  huet  yse3e  ))e  ine  helle?'  Drede  zay)). 

55  '  Helle  is  wyd  /  wy))-oute  metinge.  dyep  /  wy)?-oute  botme. 
Vol  of  brene  on-))olyinde.  Vol  of  stenche  /  wy[)?]oute  com- 
parisoun.  per  is  zor3e.  ]>er  is  ))yesternesse.  )>er  ne  is  non 
ordre.  )?er  is  groniynge  wy))-oute  ende.  ))er  nev  is  non 
hope  of  guode.  non  wawtrokiynge  of  kueade.  Ech  J>et 

60  ))erinne  is :  hate))  him  zelue :  and  alle  o])ren.  per  ich  yze3 
alle  manyere  tormens.  J»e  leste  of  alle  /  is  more  )>a«ne  alle 
])e  pynen  ))et  mo3e  by  y-do  ine  ))ise  wordle.  per  is  wop. 
and  grindinge  of  tej?.  ))er  me  ge))  uram  chele  in  to  greate 
hete  of  uere.  and  buoj)e  on))olyinde.  pere  alle  be  uere  / 

65  ssolle  by  uorbernd.  and  myd  wermes  ssolle  by  y-wasted  / 
and  na3t  ne  ssolle  wasti.  Hire  wermes  /  ne  ssolle  na3t 
sterue.  and  hare  ver  ne  ssel  neure  by  ykuenct.  No  rearde 
ne  ssel  ))er  by  y-hyerd  /  bote.  wo :  wo.  wo  hy  habbe)) : 
and  wo  hy  grede)).  pe  dyeules  tormentors  pyne)).  and  to- 

70  gydere  hy  bye))  y-pyned.  ne  neure  ne  ssel  by  ende  of  pyne : 


IX.      SERMON  ON  MATTHEW  XXIV.  43.  IOI 

o|?er  reste.      pellich  is  helle  /  an   a  ]?ousend   zy]>e  worse. 
And  }>is  ich  yzej  ine  helle  /  and  a  |>ousendzij?e  more  worse, 
pis  ich  com  uor  to  zygge  you/    Slejj^e  zay)>.  '  God  wet  ssolle 
we  do.     Nou  bro]>ren  and  zostren  y-hyrej>  my  red.  and  yue]> 
youre.     Bye])  sleje.  an  wakej)  ine  youre  bedes  /  porueynde  75 
guodes.    najt  onlyche  beuore  gode :   ac  be-uore  alle  men.' 
polemodness  zay]).  'Do  we  to  worke  godes  nebsseft  /  ine 
ssrifte  /  and  ine  zalmes  :  glede  we  hym.  byej>  sobre  /  and 
wakye))  /  uor  youre  uo  J;e  dyuel  /  ase  ]>e  lyoun  brayinde 
gej>  aboute  J>an  :    J>et  he  wyle  uor-zuelje/      Streng]?e  zay]).  go 
'  Wy]?stonde])  hym :   stronge  ine  byleaue.     Byej?  glede  ine 
god.    Clo]>e]>  you  mid  godes  armes.  }>e  hauberk  of  ry3t.  |>ane 
sseld  of  beleaue.    nyme}>  J>ane  helm  of  helj>e.   and  }>e  holy  . 
gostes    zuord:    ]>et    is    godes    word.'      Ry3[t]nesse    zay]). 
'  Lybbe  we  sobreliche.  ryfjtjuollyche  an  bonayrelyche.     So-  85 
brelyche :   ine  ous  zelue.    ryjtuollyche :   to  oure  emcristen. 
bonayrelyche  :    to  god.    }>et  we  nolle])   ]?et  me  do  to  ous 
zelue:  ne  do  we  hyt  na3t  to  oj>ren.  and  ]>et  we  wyllej?  j>et 
me  do  to  ous  zellue  :  do  we  hit  to  oj>re  men.  and  uor  zoj>e  }>et 
is  ri3t.'     Sle3|)e  zay]?.  '  per  is  ano]>er  wy]>-oute  ]>e  gates  uayr.  90 
and  gled.  hit  ]?ingj>  }?e[t]  he  bre[n]g]>  glednesse.'     Ry3[t]- 
nesse  zayj>.  '  onderuongej)  hym.  be  cas  he  ous  ssel  gledye. 
uor  J>es  ilke  uerste :   gratlyche  he  ous  hej>  y-mad  of-dret.' 
Sle3|?e  zayj)  to  }>e  messagere.     '  Guo  in.  and  huo  ]>ou  art. 
and   hua«nes   ]?ou  comst.   and   huet  ]>ou  hest  yzo3e :    zay  95 
ous/     pe  messagyr  zayj).   '  Ich  am  loue  of  lyue  eurelest- 
ynde.  an  wylnynge  of  J>e  contraye  of  heuene.     Yef  ye  me 
wyllej?  y-here :  habbej)  amang  you.  clom  /  and  reste.     Na3t 
uor  zoj)e  amang  gredynges  and  noyses:   ych  ne  may  by 
yherd/     Ri3(t]uolnesse  zay]).  'Yef  we  longe  godes  drede  /  100 
and  be-])enchinge  of  dya]>e  were  stille :   ry3t  hit  is  /  }>et  ]>e 
spekinde  /  wel  more  we  by  stille/     Wylningge  of  }?e  lyue 
wy])-oute  ende  /  zay]).     '  peruore  bye])  stille  /  and  yhere}) 


102  IX.      DAN  MICHEL   OF  NORTHGATE. 

myd  wylle.      Ich  come  uram  heuene.   and  belliche  binges 

105  ich  y-ze$  per.  pet  no  man  ne  may  dyngneliche  zigge. 
pa3les  zom|>yng  ich  wylle  zigge :  ase  ich  may.  Ich  yze3 
god.  ac  be  ane  sseawere  ine  ssede. 

Ich  yzej  pe  ilke  onspekynde  /  an  on-todelinde  mageste 
of  pe  holy  trinyte*.  be-gynnynge  /  ne  ende  ne  hep.     Ac  and 

no  ly^t  per-inne  wonej)  /  pet  me  ne  may  na3t  come  to.  Vra^ 
po  lyjte  byep  y-porsse  mine  e^en.  /  and  pe  zy3pe  ]>yester. 
Hyt  ouergej)  uorzope  alle  wyttes  /  and  alle  zy3pes.  pe  ilke 
bry3[t]nesse.  and  pe  ilke  uolnesse.  pa3les  a  lytel  ich  yze^ 
oure  Ihord  iesu  crist  /  ine  031  half  zittinde.  pet  is  to  zygge : 

1 15  ine    pe   lyue   wyp-oute   ende  regnynde.      pa3  he  ouer  alle 
.  sseppes   by  zuo   uayr :    pet   ine   him  wylnep   pe    angles   to 
zyenne.      Yet  nou  pe  wounden  and  pe  toknen  of  ]>e  pas- 
sion he  he];  ine  his  bodye.  huermyde  he  ous  bo3te.  be-uore 
|>e  uader  uor  ous  stant  uor  to  bydde.     Ich  y-zej  nyxt  iesu 

120  crist  ]>e  ilke  blisfolle  mayde  /  and  moder  J>e  ilke  zodes1  / 
and  oure  Ihordes  iesu  cristes  /  myd  alle  wor]?ssipe  and 
reuerence  /  y-nemned  marie  /  ine  |>e  wonderuolle  trone 
zittynde  /  aboue  alle  ]?e  holy  ordres  of  angles  /  and  of 
men:  an-he3ed.  hire  zone  iesus  uor  ous  byddinde.  and  to 

125  huam  hi  is  uol  of  merci.  Ac  }>e  ilke  wonderuolle  mageste'  / 
and  ]>e  bri3tnesse  of  j?e  moder  /  and  of  \>e  zone  :  ich  ne 
my3te  na3t  longe  ]?olye  /  ich  wente  myne  zi^e  uor  to  yzi  / 
J?e  ilke  holy  ordres  of  ]>e  gostes:  pet  stonde]>  beuore  god. 
of  huichen  pe  eureiestinde  holynesse  of  ]>e  zijpe  of  god  / 

1 30  an  of  j?e  loue.  ne  hit  ne  ssel  lessi :  ne  hit  ne  ssel  endi  / 
ac  cure  wexe  and  blef}>.  Ac  na3t  pe  ilke  degrez  /  and 
dingnetes  /  heryinges  alsuo  /  huyche  hyre  makyere  hy 
berej?  no  man2  uollyche  penche  /  ne  na3t  ne  may  by  yno3 
to  telle.  perefter  }>e  profetes  ich  y-zej.  and  ]>e  patr/arkes 

»35  wonderlyche   glediynde   ine   blisse.  uor  pet   hy  yze3en  ine 

1  '  godes '  or  '  zones '?  a  Probably  '  may'  should  be  supplied  here. 


IX.      SERMON  ON  MATTHEW  XXIV.  43.  103 

goste :  uolueld  hy  yze]>.  J>et  ine  longe  anoy  onderuynge  / 
|>et  ouet  of  blysse  wyj>-oute  ende  chongeden.  Ich  y-zej 
|>e  apostles  ine  tronen  zittynde.  ]>e  tribz  /  and  J>e  tongen  / 
alle  preste.  and  of  poure  /  and  of  zyke :  zuo  blisuolle  and 
holy  /  of  oure  Ihord  iesu  crist  /  and  zuo  he$Q  /  ynoj  140 
alneway  ich  am  wondrinde.  Ich  y-ze3  /  ac  uollyche  ich 
ne  myfsjte  al  yzy  /  ]>e  innumerable  uelajrede  of  J?e  holy 
martires  /  mid  blisse  and  worj>ssipe  /  y-corouned.  J?et  be  ]>e 
pinen  of  }>ise  time  /  huyche  hi  beren  to  j?o  blisse  /  }>et  wes 
ysseawed  ine  ham:  hy  come  ]?erto.  Hyre  holynesse  /  and  145 
hyre  blysse :  long  time  ich  me  lykede.  Ich  yzej  to  J>e 
blyssede  heape  of  <:<?»fessours.  amang  huam  /  men  apostles  / 
and  techeres  /  )>et  holy  cherche  mid  hare  techinge  wereden. 
and  alsuo  uram  alle  heresye  /  wy[]>]-oute  wem  habbe}> 
yclenzed:  sseawe]?.  and  hy  uele  habbe]>  y-tajt.  ssynej?  ase  150 
sterren  /  ine  eurelestynde  wy[J>]-oute  ende.  per  bye}> 
Monekes  }>et  uor  claustres  /  and  uor  strayte  cellen.  wel 
moche  /  an  clyerer  j?anne  )>e  zonne :  habbej)  wonyinges. 
Vor  blake  and  uor  harde  kertles  /  huyter  }?ane  |>e  snaw. 
and  of  alle  zofthede  /  and  nesshede  /  clojnnge  habbe]>  an.  155 
Vram  hare  ejen  /  god  wype]>  alle  tyeres.  and  J>ane  kyng 
hy  ssolle  ysy  ine  hys  uayrhede.  Alast  /  to  ]>e  uelasrede  of 
maydynes  ich  lokede.  of  huychen  /  blysse  /  ssep)>e  /  agray- 
}>inge  /  and  melodya.  huyche  none  mannes  speche :  dingne- 
lyche  may  telle.  And  hy  zonge  ]?ane  zang:  J>et  non  oj?er  160 
ne  may  zynge.  Ac  and  ]?e  zuete  smel  ine  hare  regyon  / 
zuo  zuete  ys:  )>et  alle  manyre  zuete  smelles  ouercomj). 
And  to  hare  benes :  oure  Ihord  arist.  to  alle  o)>ren : 
zittinde  he  Ihest/  Sle^jje  zay}>.  '  Hyt  lykej)  )>et  ]>ou  zayst. 
Ac  uor  of  echen  of  j>e  holy  ordres  /  wondres  )>ou  hest  165 
y-zed :  we  byddej)  |>et  J>ou  zigge  ous  /  huet  is  hare  dede 
in  mennesse  /  and  huet  is  ]>e  o?«uers[ac]ion  of  uelajrede : 
zay  ous/  pe  wylny[n]gge  of  \>e  lyue  wy}>-oute  ende  zayj). 


104  **•      DAN  MICHEL   OF  NORTHGATE. 

1  Vor  zo)?e  ich  wylle  zygge.     pe  dede  of  alle  ine  mennesse  / 

1 70  ys  zeueuald.  Hy  lybbe]>.  hy  smackej>.  hy  louyej>.  hy  bye)> 
glede.  hy  heryej?.  hy  byej>  zuyfte.  hy  bye]>  zikere.'  Slejjje 
zay]>.  '  paj  ich  zomdel  }>is  onderstonde :  uor  ham  j?et 
Iheste))/  of  echen  zay.'  Wylnynge  of  ]>e  lyue  wy[J>]-oute  ende 
zayj>.  '  Zuo  by  hyt.  Hy  lybbe]>  be  lyue  wyj>-oute  ende. 

•  75  wyj>-oute  enye  tyene.  wy[]>]-oute  enye  lessinge.  wy]>-oute  enye 
wy}>stondynge.  Hyre  lyf  is  ]?e  zy3J?e  and  |>e  knaulechynge 
of  J>e  holy  trinyte\  ase  zayj>  oure  Ihord  iesus.  J>is  is  J>et  lyf 
wy]?-oute  ende  /  ]>et  hy  knawe  ]>e  zo]?e  god  /  and  huam  J>e 
zentest  iesu  crist.  and  ]>eruore  ylyche  hy  bye]>  /  uor  hy 

1 80  y-zyej>:  ase  he  is.  Hy  smacke)>  ]>e  redes  and  J>e  domes  of 
god.  Hy  smackej)  )>e  kendes  /  and  J?e  causes  /  and  )>e 
begynny[n]ges  of  alle  }>ynges.  Hy  louyej>  god  wy|>-oute  enye 
comparisoun.  uor  |>et  hy  wytej>  huerto  god  his  he}>  y-bro3t 
uor]).  hy  louye]?  ech  o]?ren :  ase  ham  zelue.  Hy  bye]>  glede 

'85  of  god  onzyginde.  hy  bye}>  glede  of  zuo  moche  of  hare 
O3ene  holynesse :  and  uor  ]>et  ech  louej?  o]>ren  ase  him 
zelue.  ase  moche  blisse  he}>  ech  of  o]?res  guode:  ase  of 
his  ojene.  peruore  by  ziker  /  uor  eurych  he}>  aseuele 
blyssen :  ase  he  he|>  uela3es.  and  aseuele  blissen  to  echen : 

»9°  ase  his  ojene  of  alle.  and  ]?eruore  eureich  more  louej> 
wyjjoute  comparisoun  god :  J>et  hym  and  o]?re  made  / 
}>anne  him  zelue  /and  alle  o]>re.  More  hy  bye]>  glede 
wy]>-oute  gessynge  of  godes  holynesse :  ]>anne  of  his  ojene  / 
and  of  alle  o]>re  myd  hym.  Yef  ]?anne  on  onnea]>e  nym]> 

'95  al  his  blisse.  hou  ssel  he  nyme  zuo  uele  and  zuo  manye 
blyssen?  And  }>eruore  hit  is  yzed.  guo  into  ]?e  blysse  of 
}>yne  Ihorde.  na3t  }>e  blisse  of  }>ine  Ihorde  /  guo  in  to  ]>e. 
uor  hy  ne  may.  perefter  /  hy  herie}>  god  wy]>-oute  ende  / 
wy]>-oute  werynesse.  ase  hyt  is  y-wryte.  Lhord  /  y-blyssed 

200  by  )>o  ]?et  wonyej)  ine  ]>yne  house  /  in  wordles  of  wordles : 
ssolle  [hy]  herye  ]>e.  Zuyfte  hy  byej.  uor  huer  }>et  }>e  gost 


IX.      SERMON  ON  MATTHEW  XXIV.  43.  105 

\vyle  by:   uorzoj^e  )>er  is  )>et  body.      Alle  hy  byeb  my[j]t- 
uolle.     Zykere   hy  bye)>   of  zuyche   lyue.    of  zuo   moche 
wysdome.    of  zuo  moche  loue.    of  zuo  moche  blysse.    of 
zuyche  heryinge.  of  zuyche  holynesse.   }>et  non  ende.   non  205 
lessynge.    non  uallynge  doun  ssolle  habbe.      Lo  alyte  ich 
habbe  yzed  to  you.  of  Jjan  bet  ich  yzej  ine  heuene.     Na3t 
uor  zobe  ne  may  zigge  /  ase  ich  yzej  /  ne  na}t  ase  hy 
byej? :    ne  my3te  ysy.'     Sle3J>e  zayb.  '  Vorzobe  ine  heuene 
we  onderstonde|>  bet  bou  were,  and  zo]>  ])ing  ber  bou  yse3e.  210 
and  zoj)  bou  hest  y-zed.'     Strengbe  zayb.  '  Huo  ssel   ous 
todele  uram  cristes  loue  ?  tribulacion.  ober  zo^e.  and  oj>re. 
zykere  byeb.  uor  noj>er  dyab  /  ne  lyf.  and  obre/     Ry$t  zayb. 
'  Do]?  out  bane  uerste  messagyer.  hyt  ne  is  na3t  rijt  }>et  he 
bleue  ine  J>e  house  /  myd   ]>e   ry3tuolle.     Vor   ry3[t]uolle  215 
loue :   de|>  out  drede.*     Streng]?e  zay]>.  '  guo  out  drede.  )>ou 
ne   sselt  na3t  by  ine  oure   stedes.'      Drede   zay]>.   '  Huet 
habbe  ich  mis-do1,    ich  uor  guode  zede/      Temperancia 
zayj).  '  BroJ)[r]en  and  zostren  /  ich  zigge  to  you.  nawmore 
smacky  /  J>awne  be-houe}>.  ac  smacke  to  sobrrte'.   pou  drede  /  220 
guo  out  myd  guode  wylle.    )>ole  J>ane  dom  /  ]>et  rijt  he]> 
y-demd.    be    auenture    ]>e    my3t    eft    by  onderuonge.    yef 
wylnynge   of  lyf  wyj>-oute   ende   /  o[?erhuyl  let  of.'      pe 
makyere  zay)>.     pus  /  jms  /  nou  ssel  eurich  hys  heuynesse  / 
ssake  a-way  /  uram  drede  /  to  J>e  loue  of  j?e  heuenelyche  225 
contraye  him-zelue  wende.     Zuo  by  hit. 

[The  following  interesting  extracts  are  from  the  same  work ; 
see  Morris's  edition  of  the  *  Ayenbite  of  Inwyt,'  p.  262.] 

Pater  Nosier. 

Vader  oure  J?et  art  ine  heuenes  /  y-haljed  by  J>i  name, 
cominde  |>i  riche.  y-wor)>e  ]>i  wil  /  as  ine  heuene :  and  ine 

1  MS.  repeats ' do'  thrice,  with  a  point  after  it  each  time. 


106  IX.      DAN  MICHEL   OF  NORTHGATE. 

er)>e.  bread  oure  echedayes  :  yef  ous  to  day.  and  uorlet  ous 
cure  yeldinges :  ase  and  we  uor-letej>  oure  yelderes.  and  ne 
230  ous  led  na^t :  in-to  uondinge.  ac  vri  ous  vram  queade.  zuo 
by  hit. 

Aue  Maria. 

Hayl  Marie  /  of  jxmke  uol.   Ihord  by  mid  J>e.   y-blissed 
|>ou  ine  wymmen.    and  y-blissed  ]>et  ouet  of  J>ine  wombe. 
235  zuo  by  hit. 

Credo. 

Ich  leue  ine  god  /  uader  almi5ti.  makere  of  heuene  /  and 
of  erj?e.  And  ine  iesu  crz'st  /  his  zone  on-lepi  /  oure  Ihord. 
}>et  y-kend  is  /  of  ]>e  holy  gost.  y-bore  of  Marie  Mayde. 
y-pyned  onder  pouns  pilate.  y-nayled  a  rode.  dyad,  and 

240  be-bered.  yede  doun  to  helle.  )>ane  }>ridde  day  a-ros  uram  J?e 
dyade.  Stea}  to  heuenes.  zit  a]?e  ii^t  half  of  god  }>e  uader 
al-misti.  Cannes  to  comene  he  is  /  to  deme  }>e  quike  /  and  J?e 
dyade.  Ich  y-leue  ine  ]>e  holy  gost.  holy  cherche  general- 
liche.  Mewnesse  of  hal^en.  Lesnesse  of  ze/mes.  of  ulesse 

245  arizinge.  and  lyf  eurelestinde.  zuo  by  hyt. 


X, 

RICHARD  ROLLE  DE  HAMPOLE. 

ABOUT   A.D.  1340. 

RICHARD  ROLLE  de  Hampole,  commonly  called  Hampole, 
was  (according  to  some)  an  Augustine  monk  of  the  Priory  of 
Hampole,  about  four  miles  from  Doncaster;  but  he  seems 
merely  to  have  lived  in  that  neighbourhood  as  a  hermit.  He 
died  in  the  year  A.D.  1349.  He  was  the  author  of  a  prose 
version  of  the  Psalms,  with  a  Commentary,  portions  of  the  Book 
of  Job,  and  some  very  excellent  prose  treatises,  as  yet  inedited. 
About  1340  he  wrote,  both  in  English  and  Latin,  a  poem  called 
'  The  Pricke  of  Conscience.'  The  English  version  of  this  poem, 
in  the  Northumbrian  dialect,  has  been  edited  from  MSS.  in  the 
British  Museum,  by  Dr.  Morris,  for  the  Philological  Society, 
London  1863.  The  following  selections  are  taken  from  the 
Cotton  MS.  Galba  E.  ix. 

The  Pricke  of  Conscience. 

\The  Wretchedness  of  Man's  Birth.] 

[Lines  432—439-] 

ALLE  mans  lyfe  casten  may  be, 
Prmcipaly,  in  ]?is  partes  thre, 
pat  er  thir  to  our  vndirstandyng, 
Bygynnyng,  midward,  and  endyng.  435 

per  thre  partes  er  thre  spaces  talde 
Of  |>e  lyf  of  ilk  man,  yhung  and  aide. 


108  X.      RICHARD  ROLLE  DE  HAMPOLE. 

Bygynnyng  of  mans  lif,  \a\.  first  es, 
Contenes  mykel  wrechednes ; 

[Lines  464—509.] 

And  [when  man}  was  born  til  J?is  werldys  light, 

He  ne  had  nouther  strenthe  ne  myght,  465 

Mouther  to  ga  ne  yhit  to  stand, 

Ne  to  crepe  with  fote  ne  with  hand. 

pan  has  a  man  les  myght  j>an  a  beste 

When  he  es  born,  awd  es  sene  leste ; 

For  a  best,  when  it  es  born,  may  ga  47° 

Als-tite  aftir,  and  ryn  to  and  fra ; 

Bot  a  man  has  na  myght  j?ar-to, 

When  he  es  born,  swa  to  do ; 

For  ]>an  may  he  noght  stande  ne  crepe, 

Bot  ligge  and  sprawel,  and  cry  &  wepe.  475 

For  vnnethes  es  a  child  born  fully 

pat  it  ne  bygynnes  to  goule  and  cry ; 

And  by  ]?at  cry  men  may  knaw  J?an 

'Whether  it  be  man  or  weman, 

For  when  it  es  born  it  cryes  swa ;  48° 

If  it  be  man,  it  says  '  a,  a/ 

pat  j>e  first  letter  es  of  J>e  nam 

Of  our  forme-fader  Adam. 

And  if  ]?e  child  a  woman  be, 

When  it  es  born,  it  says  '  e,  e.'  485 

E  es  J>e  first  letter  and  }>e  hede 

Of  }>e  name  of  Eue  J>0t  bygan  our  dede. 

parfor  a  clerk  made  on  ]>is  manere 

pis  vers  of  metre  \a\.  es  wreten  here : 

Dicentes  E  uel  A  quotquot  nascuniur  ab  Eua.  490 

*  Alle  ]>as/  he  says,  '  \a\.  comes  of  Eue, 

fat  es  al  men  J>at  here  byhoues  leue, 


X.      PR1CKE   OF  CONSCIENCE.  109 

When  J>ai  er  born,  \vhat-swa  |>ai  be, 

pai  say  outher  "  a,  a,"  or  "  e,  e."  * 

pus  es  here  )>e  bygynnyng  495 

Of  our  lyfe  sorow  and  gretyng, 

Til  whilk  our  wrechednes  stirres  vs, 

And  J>arfor  Innocent  says  Jnis : 

Omnes  nascimur  eiulantes,  vt  nature  nostre  miseriam 

exprimamus. 

He  says,  *  al  er  we  born  gretand, 
And  makand  a  sorowful  sembland, 
For  to  shew  ]?e  grete  wrechednes 
Of  our  kynd  }>at  in  vs  es.'  505 

pus  when  )>e  tyme  come  of  our  birthe, 
Al  made  sorow  and  na  mirthe  ; 
Naked  we  come  hider,  and  bare, 
And  pure,  swa  sal  we  hethen  fare. 

[Lines  528—555.] 

pus  es  a  man,  als  we  may  se, 

In  wrechednes  borne  and  caytefte*, 

And  for  to  life  here  a  fon  dayse,  530 

parfor  lob  }>us  openly  sayse  : 

Homo  natus  de  muliere,  breui  uiuens  tempore,  repkiur 

multis  miserijs. 

He  says,  '  Man  \a\.  born  es  of  woman, 
Lyfand  short  time,  to  ful  fild  es  ]>an  535 

Of  many  maners  of  wrechednes/ 
pus  says  lob,  and  swa  it  es. 
Alswa  man  es  borne  til  noght  elles 
Bot  to  trauayle,  als  lob  yhit  telles : 
Homo  nascitur  ad  labor  em,  sicut  auis  ad  uolatum* 
He  says,  '  Man  es  born  to  trauaile  right 
Als  a  foul  es  to  |>e  flight.' 


110  X.      RICHARD  ROLLE  DE  HAMPOLE. 

For  littel  rest  in  ]ns  lyf  es, 

Bot  gret  trauayle  and  bysynes ;  545 

Yhit  a  man  es,  when  he  es  born, 

pe  fendes  son,  &  fra  God  es  lorn, 

Ay  til  he  thurgh  grace  may  com 

Til  baptem  and  til  cristendom ; 

pus  may  a  man  his  bygynnyng  se  550 

Ful  of  wrechednes  and  of  caytifte*. 

[The  Middle  of  Man's  Life.] 

pe  tother  part  of  J>e  lyf,  men  calles 

pe  mydward,  aftir  \ai  it  falles, 

pe  wilk  reches  fra  J>e  bygynnyng 

Of  mans  lyfe  vn-til  J>e  endyng.  555 

{Man  is  like  a  Tree.] 
[Lines  662 — 707.] 

A  man  es  a  tre,  }>at  standes  noght  hard, 

Of  whilk  J>e  crop  es  turned  donward, 

And  ]>e  rote  to-ward  )>e  firmament, 

Als  says  )>e  grete  clerk  Innocent.  665 

Quid  est  homo,  secundum  formam,  nisi  quedam  arbor 
euersa,  cuius  radices  sunt  crines ;  truncus  est 
caput  cum  collo ;  stipes  est  pectus  cum  aluo,  rami 
sunt  ulne  cum  tibiis ;  frondes  sunt  digiti  cum 
articulis ;  hoc  est  folium  quod  a  uento  rapilur,  et 
stipula  [gue]  a  sole  siccatur. 

He  says,  '  What  es  man  in  shap  bot  a  tre 

Turned  vp  }>at  es  doun,  als  men  may  se  ? 

Of  wnilk  J>e  rotes,  )>at  of  it  springes, 

Er  }>e  hares  J>at  on  J?e  heued  hynges;  675 

pe  stok,  nest  J>e  rot  growand, 

Es  J>e  heued  with  nek  folowand ; 


X.      PRICKE   OF   CONSCIENCE.  1  1 1 

pe  body  of  J>at  tre  |>arby 

Es  }>e  brest  with  J>e  bely ; 

pe  bughes  er  }>e  armes  with  J>e  handes,  680 

And  J>e  legges,  with  ]>e  fete  ]>at  standes; 

pe  braunches  men  may  by  skille  calle 

pe  tas  and  }>e  fyngers  alle ; 

pis  es  J>e  leef  J>at  hanges  noght  faste, 

pat  es  blawen  away  thurgh  a  wynd-blaste,  685 

And  j?e  body  alswa  of  J>e  tre, 

pat  thurgh  J>e  son  may  dried  be/ 

A  man  ]>at  es  yhung  and  light, 

Be  he  neuer  swa  stalworth  a/zd  wyght, 

And  comly  of  shap,  lufly  and  fayre,  690 

Angers  and  yuels  may  hym  appayre, 

And  his  beute'  and  his  streng[t]h  abate, 

And  mak  hym  in  ful  wayk  state, 

And  chaunge  alle  [his]  fayre  colour, 

pat  son  fayles  a#d  fades,  als  dos  jje  flour.  695 

For  a  flour  J>at  semes  fayre  &  bright 

Thurgh  stormes  fades,  &  tynes  j>e  myght 

Many  yuels,  angers,  and  mescheefes, 

Oft  comes  til  man  }>at  here  lyues, 

Als  feuyr,  dropsy  and  launys,  700 

Tysyk,  goute  and  other  maladys, 

pat  hym  mas  streng[t]h  &  fayrnes  tyne, 

Als  grete  stormes  dose  a  flour  to  dwyne ; 

parfor  a  man  may  likend  be 

Til  a  flour  J>at  es  fayre  to  se,  705 

pan,  son  aftir  ]>at  it  es  forth  broght, 

Welkes  a«d  dwynes  til  it  be  noght. 


X.      RICHARD  ROLLE  DE  H AMP  OLE. 

[Length  of  Man's  Life.'] 

[Lines  728 — 829.] 

In  ]>e  first  bygynnyng  of  )>e  kynd  of  man, 
Neghen  hundreth  wynter  man  lyfed  )>an, 
Als  clerkes  in  bukes  bers  witnes ;  730 

Bot  sythen  by-corn  mans  lyf  les, 
And  swa  wald  God  at  it  suld  be ; 
For-whi  he  sayd  ]?us  til  Noe : 
Non  per  mane  bit  spiritus  meus  in  homine  in  elernum, 

quia   caro   est,   erunt  dies   illius   centum   viginti 

annorum. 

*  My  gast,'  he  says,  'sal  noght  ay  dwelle 
In  man,  for  he  es  flesshe  and  felle ; 
Hys  days  sal  be  for  to  life  here  740 

An  hundreth  and  twenti  yhere/ 
Bot  swa  grete  elde  may  nane  now  bere, 
For  sythen  mans  lyfe  bycom  shortere, 
For-whi  ]>e  co/raplection  of  ilk  man 
Was  sythen  febler  J>an  it  was  J?an ;  745 

Now  es  it  alther-feblest  to  se, 
parfor  mans  life  short  byhoues  be ; 
For  ay  ]?e  langer  ]>at  man  may  lyfe, 
pe  mare  his  lyfe  sal  hym  now  griefe, 
And  j?e  les  him  sal  thynk  his  lyf  swete,  750 

Als  in  a  psalme  says  }>e  pr0phete : 
St   autem   in  potentatibus  octogynta  annit  et  amplius 

eorum  labor  et  dolor' 
'  If  in  myghtfulnes  four  scor  yher  falle, 
Mare  es  ]>air  swynk  a«d  sorow  with-alle/  755 

For  seldom  a  man  ]>at  has  ]>at  held 
Hele  has,  and  hiw-self  may  weld ; 
Bot  now  falles  yhit  shorter  mans  dayes, 


X.      PRICK E   OF  CONSCIENCE.  113 

Als  lob,  }>e  haly  man,  Jms  says : 

Nunc  paucitas  dierum  meorum  finietur  breui.  760 

*  Now/  he  says,  '  my  fon  days  sere 

Sal  enden  with  a  short  tym  here.1 

[Old  Age.] 

Fone  men  may  now  fourty  yhere  pas, 

And  foner  fifty,  als  in  somtym  was  j  765 

Bot  als  tyte  als  a  man  waxes  aide, 

pan  waxes  his  kynde  wayke  &  calde, 

pan  chaunges  his  complexcion 

And  his  maners  &  his  condicion ; 

pan  waxes  his  hert  hard  and  heuy,  770 

And  his  heued  feble  and  dysy ; 

pan  waxes  his  gast  seke  and  sare, 

And  his  face  rouncles,  ay  mare  &  mare ; 

His  mynde  es  short  when  he  oght  thynkes, 

His  nese  ofte  droppes,  his  hand  stynkes,  775 

His  sight  wax[es]  dym  ]?at  he  has, 

His  bak  waxes  croked,  stoupand  he  gas ; 

Fyngers  and  taes,  fote  &  hande, 

And  alle  his  touches  er  tremblande. 

His  werkes  forworthes  \a\.  he  bygynnes ;  780 

His  hare  moutes,  his  eghen  rynnes ; 

His  eres  waxes  deef,  and  hard  to  here, 

His  tung  fayles,  his  speche  es  noght  clere ; 

His  mouthe  slauers,  his  tethe  rotes, 

His  wyttes  fayles,  and  he  ofte  dotes ;  785 

He  es  lyghtly  wrath,  awd  waxes  fraward, 

Bot  to  turne  hym  fra  wrethe  it  es  hard ; 

He  souches  &  trowes  sone  a  thyng, 

Bot  ful  late  he  turnes  fra  }>at  trowyng ; 

VOL.  II.  1 


114  x-      RICHARD  ROLLE  DE  HAMPOLE. 

He  es  couatous  and  hard  haldand,  790 

His  chere  es  drery  a#d  his  sembland ; 

He  es  swyft  to  spek  on  his  manere, 

And  latsom  and  slaw  forto.  here ; 

He  prayses  aid  men  and  haldes  ]?a#z  wyse, 

And  yhung  men  list  him  oft  despyse ;  795 

He  loues  men  }?at  in  aid  tyme  has  bene, 

He  lakes  ]>a  men  ]>at  now  er  sene ; 

He  es  ofte  seke  a«d  ay  granand, 

And  ofte  angerd,  a«d  ay  pleynand ; 

Alle  ]>ir,  thurgh  kynd,  to  an  aid  man  falles,  800 

pat  clerkes  pn?pertes  of  eld  calles. 

Yhit  er  ]?ar  ma  J?an  I  haf  talde, 

pat  falles  to  a  man  )>at  es  aide. 

pus  may  men  se,  wha-so  can, 

What  J>e  condicions  er  of  an  aid  man.  805 

[The  End  of  Man's  Life.] 

pe  last  ende  of  mans  lyfe  es  hard, 

pat  es,  when  he  drawes  to  ded-ward. 

For  when  he  es  seke,  and  bedreden  lys, 

And  swa  feble  )>at  he  may  noght  rys, 

pan  er  men  in  dout  and  noght  certayn  810 

Wethir  he  sal  euer  couer  agayn. 

Bot  yhit  can  som  men,  ]>at  er  sleghe, 

Witte  if  he  sal  of  ]?at  yuel  deghe 

By  certayn  takens,  als  yhe  sal  here, 

pat  byfalles  when  jje  ded  es  nere;  815 

pan  bygynnes  his  frount  dounward  falle, 

And  his  browes  heldes  doun  wyth-alle ; 

pe  lefte  eghe  of  hym  j?an  seines  les 

And  narower  ]>an  j?e  right  eghe  es ; 

His  nese,  at  ]>e  poynt,  es  sharp  &  smalle,  820 


X.      PRICKE   OF   CONSCIENCE.  1 15 

pan  bygynnes  his  chyn  to  falle ; 

His  pouce  es  stille,  with-outen  styringes, 

His  fete  waxes  calde,  his  bely  clynges. 

And  if  nere  )>e  dede  be  a  yhung  man, 

He  ay  wakes,  awd  may  noght  slepe  }>an ;  825 

And  an  aide  man  to  dede  drawand 

May  noght  wake,  bot  es  ay  slepand ; 

Men  says,  al  ]>ir  takens  sere 

Er  of  a  man  )>at  }>e  dede  es  nere. 

[The  World.     Lines  1211 — 1292.] 

pe  world  here  who-so  wille 

Vn-to  four  thinges  may  liken  by  skille. 

First  J>e  world  may  lykend  be, 

Mast  properly,  vn-to  j?e  se ; 

For  ]>e  se,  aftir  )>e  tydes  certayn,  1215 

Ebbes  and  flowes,  and  falles  agayn, 

And  waxes  ful  ken,  thurgh  stormes  \a\.  blawes, 

A«d  castes  vp  and  doun  many  gret  wawes ; 

Swa  castes  J?e  world,  thurgh  fauour, 

A  man  to  riches  and  honour ;  1220 

And  fra  ]>at  agayn  he  castes  hym  doun 

Til  pouert  and  to  tribulacioun. 

And  J>a  er  J>e  grete  stormes  kene, 

Awd  ]?e  wawes,  J>at  in  )>e  world  er  sene. 

Yhit  may  ]?e  world  here,  ]>at  wyde  es,  1225 

Be  likend  to  a  wildernes, 

pat  ful  of  wild  bestes  es l  sene, 

Als  lyons,  libardes,  &  wolwes  kene, 

pat  wald  worow  men  bylyue, 

A«d  rogg  J>am  in  sender  and  ryue ;  1230 

1  MS.  'er.' 

1  2 


Il6  X.      RICHARD  ROLLS  DE  HAMPOLE. 

Swa  ]?e  world  es  ful  of  mysdoers, 
And  of  tyrauntes  |?at  men  ofte  ders, 
pe  whilk  er  bisy,  nyght  and  day, 
To  nuye  men  in  alle  J?at  ]?ai  may. 
pe  world  alswa  may  lykend  be  1235 

Til  a  forest,  in  a  wilde  cuntre*, 
pat  es  ful  of  thefs  and  outlawes, 
pat,  cowmonly,  til  forestes  drawes, 
pat  haldes  pases,  &  robbes  and  reues 
Men  of  J>at  ]>ai  haue,  &  noght  J>am  leues ;  1 240 

Swa  es  ]>e  world  here  J?ar  we  duelle, 
Ful  of  thefs,  j?at  er  deuels  of  helle, 
pat  ay  vs  waytes,  and  er  bysy 
To  robbe  vs  of  our  gudes  gastly. 
pe  world  may  yhit,  als  yhe  sal  here,  1245 

Be  lykend,  on  |>e  fierth  manere, 
To  a  feld  ful  of  batailles 
Of  enemys,  \a\,  ilk  day  men  assayles. 
For-why  here  we  er,  on  many  wyse, 
Alle  vmset  with  sere  enmys,  1250 

And,  speciali,  with  enmys  thre, 
Agaynes  wham  vs  by-houes  armed l  be  : 
pa  er  ]>e  world,  ]>e  fende,  our  flesshe, 
pat,  to  assayle  vs  here,  er  ay  freshe ; 
And  ]>arfor  byhoues  vs,  day  and  nyght,  1255 

Whilles  we  lif  here,  agayn  ]?am  fight. 
pe  world,  als  clerkes  vnderstandes, 
Agayn  vs  fightes  with  twa  handes, 
With  }>e  right  hand  &  pe  left ;  Jjere  twa 
May  be-taken  bathe  wele  and  wa ;  1260 

pe  right  hand  es  welthe,  als  I  halde, 
And  ]>e  left  hand  es  angre  calde ; 
1  MS.  'armeud.' 


X.      PRICKE  OF  CONSCIENCE. 

For  J>e  world  assayles  sum  men  awhile 

With  ]>e  right  hand,  ]>am  to  bygile, 

pat  es  welth,  als  I  sayde  before,  1265 

Of  worldly  riches  and  tresore  ; 

And  assayles  men,  nyght  and  day, 

With  ]>e  left  hand,  ]>am  to  flay, 

pat  es,  with  angre  and  tribulacion, 

And  pouert  a«d  persecution,  1270 

pe  whilk  J>er  clerkes  ]>e  left  hand  calles 

Of  J>e  world,  ]>at  ofte  sythes  falles. 

Bot  with  ]>e  world  comes  dam  fortone, 

pat  ayther  hand  may  chaung  sone ; 

For  sho  turnes  obout  ay  hir  whele,  1275 

Vp  and  doune,  als  many  may  fele ; 

When  sho  hir  whele  lates  obout-ga, 

Sho  turnes  sum  doune  fra  wele  to  wa, 

And,  eft  agaynward,  fra  wa  to  wele ; 

pus  turnes  sho  obout  oft  hir  whele,  1280 

pe  whilk  ]>ir  clerkes  noght  elles  calles, 

Bot  happe  or  chaunce,  J>at  sodanli  falles, 

And  ]?at  men  haldes  here  noght  elles,  f 

Bot  welthe  and  angre  in  whilk  men  dwelles. 

parfor  worldly  happe  es  ay  in  dout,  1285 

Whilles  dam  fortune  turnes  hir  whele  about. 

Angre  men  dredes  awd  walde  it  fle, 

And  in  welthe  men  wald  ay  be  ; 

Bot  parfit  men,  }>at  J>air  lif  right  ledes, 

Welthe  of  )>e  worlde  ay  flese  and  dredes ;  1290 

For  welthe  drawes  a  man  fra  )>e  right  way 

pat  ledes  til  ]>e  blisse  ]?at  lastes  ay. 


Il8  X.      RICHARD  ROLLE  DE  H AMP  OLE. 

*i— _ 
[Lines  1412—1473.] 

pe  life  of  ]?is  world  es  ful  vnstable, 

And  ful  variand  and  chaungeable, 

Als  es  sene  in  contrarius  manere, 

By  }>e  tymes  and  vedirs  awd  sesons  here.  1415 

For  ]>e  world  &  worldis  life  to-gider 

Chaunges  and  turnes  oft  hider  &  ]?ider, 

And  in  a  state  duelles  ful  short  while, 

Vnnethes  ]?e  space  of  a  myle. 

And  for-]>i  J>at  J>e  worlde  es  swa  vnstable,  1420 

Alle  )>at  men  sese  J>ar-in  es  chaungeable ; 

For  God  ordayns  here,  als  es  his  wille, 

Sere  variaunce,  for  certayn  skille, 

Of  }>e  tyms,  and  wedirs,  and  sesons, 

In  taken  of  |?e  worldes  condicions,  1425 

pat  swa  vnstable  er  and  variande, 

pat  ful  short  while  may  in  a  state  stande. 

For  God  wille  men  se,  thurgh  swilk  takens  sere, 

How  vn- stable  ]>is  world  es  here, 

Swa  ]>at  men  suld  mare  drede  and  be  abayste        1430 

Ouer-mykel  in  J>e  world  here  to  trayste. 

Ofte  chaunges  ]>e  tymes  here,  als  men  wele  wate, 

Als  ]?us ;  now  es  arly,  now  es  late, 

Now  es  day,  now  es  nyght, 

Now  es  myrk,  now  es  light;  1435 

And  J>e  wedirs  chaunges  awd  J>e  sesons, 

pus  aftir  ]>e  worldes  condicions ; 

For  now  es  cald,  now  es  hete, 

Now  es  dry,  and  now  es  wete; 

Now  es  snaw,  hail,  or  rayn,  1440 

And  now  es  fair  wedir  agayn ; 


X.      PRICKE   OF   CONSCIENCE.  lig 

Now  es  )>e  wedir  bright  and  shynand, 

And  now  waxes  it  alle  domland ; 

Now  se  we  |>e  lyfte  clere  and  faire, 

Now  gadirs  mystes  awd  cloudes  in  |>e  ayre.  1445 

Alle  J>er  variance  to  vnderstande, 

May  be  takens  of  J>is  world  swa  wariande ; 

And  yhit  er  |>ar  other  ma  takens  sere 

Of  ]>e  vnstablenes  of  Jns  lif  here. 

For  now  es  mirthe,  now  is  murnyng,  1450 

Now  es  laghter,  and  now  es  gretyng  ; 

Now  er  men  wele,  now  er  men  wa, 

Now  es  a  man  frende,  now  es  he  faa ; 

Now  es  a  man  light,  now  es  [he]  heuy, 

Now  es  he  blithe,  now  es  he  drery ;  1455 

Now  haf  we  ioy,  now  haf  we  pyn, 

Now  we  wyn,  &  now  we  tyn ; 

Now  er  we  ryche,  now  er  we  pur, 

Now  haf  we  or-litel,  now  pas  we  mesur ; 

Now  er  we  bigg,  now  er  we  bare,  1460 

Now  er  we  hale,  now  seke  and  sare  ; 

Now  haf  we  rest  &  now  trauail, 

Now  we  fande  our  force,  now  we  fail ; 

Now  er  we  smert,  now  er  we  slawe, 

Now  er  we  hegh,  now  er  we  la  we ;  1465 

Now  haf  we  ynogh,  now  haf  we  noght, 

Now  er  we  a-bouen,  &  now  doun  broght  ; 

Now  haf  we  pees,  now  haf  we  were, 

Now  eese  vs  a  thyng,  now  fele  we  it  dere ; 

Now  lofe  we,  now  hate ;  now  saghtel,  now  strife.      1470 

per  er  J>e  maners  here  of  )>is  lyfe, 

pe  whilk  er  takens  of  vnstablenes 

Of  |>is  worldis  lyfe,  jjat  chaungeable  es. 


130  X.      RICHARD  ROLLE  DE  H AMP  OLE. 

«^ — . 
[Death.     Lines  1818—1829.] 

Four  skilles  I  fynd  writen  in  som  stede, 

Why  men  suld  specialy  drede  |>e  dede ; 

An  es  for  J>e  dede-stoure  swa  felle  1820 

pat  es  mare  payne  ]>an  man  can  telle, 

pe  whilk  ilk  man  sal  fele  with -in, 

When  ]?e  body  and  J>e  saule  salle  twyn. 

Another  es  for  ]>e  sight  J>at  he  sal  se 

Of  deuels,  ]?at  about  hym  ]>an  sal  be.  1825 

pe  thred  es  for  the  acount  J>at  he  sal  yheld 

Of  alle  his  lyf,  of  yhouthe  and  elde. 

pe  ferth  es,  for  he  es  vncertayne 

Whether  he  sal  wend  til  ioy  or  payne. 

[Lines  1836—1851.] 

First  aght  men  drede  ]>e  ded  in  hert, 

For  |?e  payn  of  J?e  dede  ]>at  es  swa  smert, 

pat  es  ]>e  hard  stour  at  ]>e  last  ende, 

When  ]>e  saule  sal  fra  ]>e  body  wende ; 

A  doleful  partyng  es  )>at  to  telle,  1840 

For  |>ai  luf  ay  to-gyder  to  duelle ; 

Nouther  of  J?am  wald  other  for-ga, 

Swa  mykel  lof  es  by-twen  J>am  twa ; 

And  J>e  mare  Jxzt  twa  to-gyder  lufes, 

Als  a  man  and  his  wyfe  ofte  praies,  1845 

pe  mare  sorow  and  murnyng 

By-houes  be  at  ]?air  departyng. 

Bot  }>e  body  and  )>e  saul  with  ]>e  lyfe 

Lufes  mare  samen  J>an  man  and  his  wyfe, 

Whether  J?ai  be  in  gude  way  or  ille,  1850 

And  J>at  es  for  many  sere  skylle. 


X.      PRICKS   OF  CONSCIENCE.  121 

[Lines  1884 — 1929.] 

Dede  wil  na  frendshepe  do,  ne  fauour, 

Ne  reu^rence  til  kyng,  ne  til  emp<?rour,  1885 

Ne  til  pape,  ne  til  bisshope,  ne  na  prelate, 

Ne  til  nan  other  man  of  heghe  estate, 

Ne  til  religiouse,  ne  til  na  seculere, 

For  dede  ouer  al  men  has  powere. 

And  thurgh  )>e  dede  hand  al  sal  pas,  1890 

Als  Salamon  says,  \>zt  wyse  was : 

Communionem  mortis  scito. 

1  Knaw  ]>ow/  he  says,  '  ]?at  J>e  dede  es 

Comon  to  al  men,  bathe  mare  &  les.'  1895 

pus  sal  dede  visite  ilk  man, 

And  yhit  na  man  discryue  it  can, 

For  here  lyues  nan  vnder  heuen-ryke, 

pat  can  telle  til  what  J>e  ded  es  lyke. 

Bot  )>e  payn  of  dede  );at  al  sal  fele  1900 

A  philosopher  ]ms  discriued  wele ; 

For  he  lykend  mans  lyf  til  a  tre 

pat  war  growand,  if  it  swa  mught  be, 

Thurgh  a  mans  hert  &  swa  shuld  sprynge, 

pat  obout  war  lapped  with  )>e  hert  strynge,  1905 

And  ]?e  croppe  out  at  his  mouth1  mught  shote, 

And  to  ilk  a  ioynt  war  fested  a  rote ; 

And  ilk  a  vayne  of  ]?e  mans  body 

Had  a  rote  festend  fast  ]>ar-by. 

And  in  ilk  a  taa  and  fynger  of  hand  1910 

War  a  rote  fra  )>at  tre  growand, 

And  ilk  a  lym,  on  ilk  a  syde, 

With  rotes  of  J?at  tre  war  occupyde ; 

1  MS.  '  mught.' 


122  X.      RICHARD  ROLLE  DE  H AMP  OLE. 

Yf  ]?at  tre  war  tite  pulled  oute 

At  a  titte,  with  al  J>e  rotes  oboute,  1915 

pe  rotes  suld  )>an  rayse  J?ar-with 

Ilk  a  vayn  &  ilk  a  synoghe  and  lith. 

A  mare  payne  couthe  na  man  in  hert  cast 

pan  ]?is  war,  als  lang  als  it  suld  last; 

And  yhit  halde  I  J>e  payne  of  dede  mare,  1920 

And  mare  strang  &  hard  J>an  ]>is  payn  ware. 

pos  a  philosopher,  when  he  lyfed, 

pe  payn  of  ]?e  dede  here  discriued. 

parfor  ilk  man,  als  I  byfor  sayde, 

Aght  to  drede  ]>e  bitter  dedes  brayde,  1925 

For  bathe  gode  &  ille  sal  it  taste ; 

Bot  ille  men  aght  drede  it  maste, 

For  dred  of  ded  mast  pyns  wyth-in 

A  man  ]>at  here  es  ful  of  syn. 

[Lines  2216—2233.] 

pe  secund  skil,  als  byfor  es  redde, 

Why  J?e  dede  es  swa  gretely  drede, 

Es  for  J>e  grisly  syght  of  fendes 

pat  a  man  sal  se,  when  his  lyf  endes. 

For  when  j?e  lyf  sal  pas  fra  a  man,  2220 

Deuels  sal  gadir  obout  hym  ]?an, 

To  rauissche  ]>e  saul  with  |>am  away 

Tyl  pyne  of  helle,  if  J>ai  may. 

Als  wode  lyons  J>ai  sal  ]?an  fare 

And  raumpe  on  hym,  and  skoul,  &  stare,  2225 

And  grymly  gryn  on  hym  and  blere, 

And  hydus  braydes  mak,  hym  to  fere. 

pai  sal  fande  at  his  last  endyng 

Hym  in-to  wanhope  for  to  bring, 


X.      PRICKE   OF  CONSCIENCE.  123 

Thurgh  thretynges  ]>at  ]>ai  sal  mak,  2230 

And  thurgh  ]>e  ferdnes  J>at  he  sal  tak. 
Ful  hydus  sightes  J?ai  sal  shew  hym, 
pat  his  chere  sal  make  grisly  a//d  grym. 

[Lines  2300—2311.] 

For  ]>ai  er  swa  grisely,  als  says  )>e  buke,  2300 

And  swa  blak  and  foule  on  to  loke, 

pat  al  J>e  men  here  of  mydlerd 

Of  }>at  sight  mught  be  aferd ; 

For  al  J>e  men  here  of  J>is  lyfe 

Swa  grysely  a  sight  couth  noght  descryfe,  2305 

Ne,  thurgh  wyt,  ymagyn  ne  deme, 

Als  ]>ai  sal  in  tyme  of  dede  seme ; 

Ne  swa  sleygh  paynter  neuer  nan  was, 

pogh  his  sleght  myght  alle  other  pas, 

pat  couthe  ymagyn  of  J>air  gryslynes,  2310 

Or  paynt  a  poynt  aftir  J^ir  liknes. 

[Lines  2334—2355.] 

Bot  I  wille  shew  yhow  a  party 

Why  J>ai  er  swa  foul  and  grisly ;  2335 

For  sum  tyme,  when  ]>ai  war  bright  angels 

Als  )>a  er  }>at  now  in  heuen  duels, 

Fra  j>0t  blisful  place,  thurgh  syn,  }>ai  felle, 

And  bycome  ]>an  foule  deuels  of  helle, 

And  horribely  defygurd  thurgh  syn,  2340 

pat  ]?ai  war  wyth  fild,  and  hardend  J>arin. 

For  war  ne  syn  war,  )>ai  had  ay  bene 

Bright  aungels,  als  )>ai  war  first  sene  ; 

And  now  er  j>ai  made  foule  awd  vgly 

T[h]urgh  fylyng  of  )>air  syn  anly;  2345 


124  x-      RICHARD  ROLLE  DE  H AMP  OLE. 

pan  es  syn  mar  foule  &  wlatsome 

pan  any  deuel  |>at  out  of  helle  may  come  ; 

For  a  thyng  es  fouler  ]?at  may  file, 

pan  ]>e  thyng  )>at  it  fyles,  &  mare  vile ; 

parfor  says  clerkes  of  grete  cuwnyng,  2350 

pat  syn  es  swa  foule  and  swa  grisly  thyng, 

pflt  if  a  man  mught  properly  se  his  syn 

In  ]?e  kynd  lyknes  ]?at  it  falles  be  in, 

He  shuld  for  ferdnes  titter  it  fle 

pan  any  deuel  )>at  he  mught  se.  2355 

[Lines  2364—2373.] 

Syn  ]?e  deuel  ]?us  has  tane  his  vglines1 

Of  ]>e  filth  of  syn,  ]?at  swa  filand  es,  2365 

pan  aght  )>e  saul  of  synful  with-in 

Be  ful  foule,  )>at  es  alle  sloterd  in  syn. 

parfor  a  man  aght,  war-so  he  wendes, 

Mare  drede  syn  )>an  J>e  syght  of  fendes, 

pat  sal  aper  til  hym  at  his  dede-day;  2370 

Bot  his  syn  he  sal  se  fouler  J>an  ]>ay, 

Of  whilk  he  wald  noght  hym  right  shrife, 

Ne  repent  hym  here  in  his  lyfe. 

[Heaven.     Lines  7813 — 7824.] 

Alk  manere  of  ioyes  er  in  J>at  stede. 

pare  es  ay  lyfe  with-outen  dede ; 

pare  es  yhowthe  ay  with-outen  elde,  7815 

pare  es  alkyn  welth  ay  to  welde. 

pare  es  rest  ay,  with-outen  trauayle ; 

pare  es  all<?  gudes  )?at  neuer  sal  fayle; 

1  MS.  « vnglines.' 


X.      PRICKS   OF  CONSCIENCE.  125 

pare  es  pese  ay,  with-outen  stryf  ; 

pare  es  alk  manere  of  lykyng  of  lyfe ;  7820 

pare  es,  with-outen  myrknes,  lyght ; 

pare  es  ay  day  and  neuer  nyght, 

pare  es  ay  somer  full*  bryght  to  se, 

And  neuer  mare  wynter  in  j?at  centre. 


XI. 

LAURENCE  MINOT. 
A.D.  1352. 

LAURENCE  MINOT  lived  and  wrote  about  the  middle  of  the 
fourteenth  century.  He  composed  eleven  poems  in  celebration 
of  the  following  battles  and  exploits  of  King  Edward  III : — 
The  Battle  of  Halidon  Hill  (1333);  the  taking  of  Berwick;  two 
poems  on  Edward's  expedition  to  Brabant  (1339);  the  Sea-fight 
of  Swine  at  the  mouth  of  the  West  Scheldt  (1340) ;  the  Siege  of 
Tournay  (1340);  the  Landing  of  Edward  at  La  Hogue  (1346); 
the  Siege  of  Calais  (1346);  the  Battle  of  Neville's  Cross  (1346); 
the  Sea-fight  with  the  Spaniards  off  Winchelsea  (1350);  and  the 
Capture  of  Guisnes  (1352). 

These  poems,  all  in  the  Northumbrian  dialect,  are  printed  in 
*  Political  Poems  and  Songs  relating  to  English  History,'  vol.  i., 
edited  by  T.Wright,  M.A.  (for  the  Record  Commission),  London 
1859.  The  extracts  comprise  the  two  poems  on  the  expedition 
to  Brabant,  and  part  of  that  on  the  landing  at  La  Hogue. 

Political  Songs. 
[From  Cotton  MS.  Galba  E.  ix.] 

(A) 

How  Edward  \e  king  come  in  Braband, 
And  toke  homage  of  all  \>e  land. 

GOD,  ]>at  schope  both  se  and  sand, 
Saue  Edward,  king  of  Ingland, 
Both  body,  saul  and  life, 
And  grante  him  ioy  withowten  strif  1 


XI.    (A)  POLITICAL  SONGS.  12J 

For  mani  men  to  him  er  wroth,  5 

In  Fraunce  and  in  Flandres  both ; 

For  he  defendes  fast  his  right, 

And  ]>arto  lesu  grante  him  might, 

And  so  to  do  both  night  and  day, 

pat  yt  may  be  to  Goddes  pay.  10 

Oure  king  was  cumen,  tre[w]ly  to  tell, 

Into  Brabant  forto  dwell  ; 

pe  kayser  Lewis  of  Bauere, 

pat  in  J>at  land  )>an  had  no  pere, 

He,  and  als  his  sons  two,  15 

And  o]?er  princes  many  mo, 

Bisschoppes  and  prelates  war  J>are  fele, 

pat  had  ful  mekill  werldly  wele, 

Princes  and  pople,  aid  and  $ong, 

Al  ]>at  spac  with  Duche  tung,  20 

All  j>ai  come  with  grete  honowre, 

Sir  Edward  to  saue  and  socoure, 

And  proferd  him,  with  all  }>ayre  rede, 

Forto  hald  J>e  kinges  stede. 

pe  duke  of  Braband,  first  of  all,  25 

Swore,  for  thing  }>at  might  bifall, 

pat  he  suld  both  day  and  night 

Help  sir  Edward  in  his  right, 

In  toun,  in  feld,  in  frith  and  fen. 

pis  swore  )>e  duke  and  all  his  men,  30 

And  al  J>e  lordes  ]>at  with  him  lend, 

And  )>arto  held  J>ai  vp  ]?aire  hend. 

pan  king  Edward  toke  his  rest, 

At  Andwerp,  whare  him  liked  best ; 

And  ]>are  he  made  his  mend  playne,  35 

pat  no  man  suld  say  ]>are-ogayne. 


128  X7.      LAURENCE  MINOT. 

His  mon£,  ]>at  was  gude  and  lele, 

Left  in  Braband  ful  mekill  dele ; 

And  all  ]?at  land,  vntill  \>is  day, 

Fars  J>e  better  for  J>at  iornay.  40 

When  Philip  ]>e  Valas  herd  of  Jns, 

parat  he  was  ful  wroth  i-wis ; 

He  gert  assemble  his  barounes, 

Princes  and  lordes  of  many  tounes. 

At  Pariss  toke  J>ai  J>aire  counsaile,  '45 

Whilk  pointes  might  ]?am  moste  availe ; 

And  in  all  wise  J>ai  ]?am  bithoght 

To  stroy  Ingland,  and  bring  to  noght. 

Schipmen  sone  war  efter  sent, 

To  here  j?e  kinges  cumandment ;  50 

And  J>e  galaies  men  also, 

pat  wist  both  of  wele  and  wo. 

He  cuwand  j?an  J>at  men  suld  fare 

Till  Ingland  and  for  no  thing  spare, 

Bot  brin  and  sla  both  man  and  wife,  55 

And  childe,  }>at  none  suld  pas  with  life. 

pe  galay  men  held  vp  ]>aire  handes, 

And  thanked  God  of  |>ir  ttyandes. 

At  Hamton,  als  I  vnderstand, 

Come  J>e  gaylayes  vnto  land,  60 

And  ful  fast  ]>ai  slogh  and  brend, 

Bot  noght  so  mekill  als  sum  men  wend. 

For,  or  ]>ai  wened,  war  J>ai  mett 

With  men  )>at  sone  ]?aire  laykes  lett. 

Sum  was  knokked  on  ]?e  heuyd,  65 

pat  ]>e  body  ]?are  bileuid; 


XI.     (A)   POLITICAL  SONGS.  129 

Sum  lay  stareand  on  l?e  sternes, 

And  sum  lay,  knoked  out  j>aire  hernes ; 

pan  with  ]?am  was  none  o]?er  gle, 

Bot  ful  fain  war  ]?ai  ]>at  might  fle.  70 

pe  galay  men,  ]>e  suth  to  say, 

Most  nedes  turn  ano}>er  way ; 

pai  soght  }>e  stremis  fer  and  wide, 

In  Flandres  and  in  Seland  syde. 

pan  saw  J>ai  whare  Cristofer  stode,  75 

At  Armouth,  opon  J>e  flude, 

pan  wen[te]  ]>ai  ]?eder  all  bidene, 

pe  galayes  men,  with  hertes  kene, 

Viij.  and  xl.  galays,  and  mo, 

And  with  J>am  als  war  tarettes  two,  80 

And  oj>er  many  of  galiotes, 

With  grete  noumber  of  smale  botes ; 

All  J>ai  houed  on  ]?e  flode 

To  stele  sir  Edward  mens  gode. 

Edward  oure  king  ]>an  was  noght  J>ere,  85 

Bot  sone,  when  it  come  to  his  ere, 

He  sembled  all  his  men  full  still, 

And  said  to  ]?am  what  was  his  will. 

Ilk  man  made  him  redy  ]>en, 

So  went  \>e  king  and  all  his  men  90 

Vnto  ]>aire  schippes  ful  hastily, 

Als  men  ]>at  war  in  dede  doghty. 

pai  fand  ]>e  galay  men  grete  wane, 

A  hundereth  euer  ogaynes  ane ; 

pe  Inglis  men  put  )>am  to  were  95 

Ful  baldly,  with  bow  and  spere ; 

VOL.  II.  K 


130  XI.      LAURENCE  MINOT. 

pai  slogh  ]?are  of  ]?e  galaies  men 

Euer  sexty  ogaynes  ten  ; 

pat  sum  ligges  $\t  in  }>at  mire 

All  heuidles,  with-owten  hire.  too 

pe  Inglis  men  war  armed  wele, 

Both  in  yren  and  in  stele ; 

pai  faght  ful  fast,  both  day  and  night, 

Als  lang  als  j?am  lasted  might. 

Bot  galay  men  war  so  many,  105 

pat  Inglis  men  wex  all  wery ; 

Help  ]?ai  soght,  hot  }?are  come  nane, 

pan  vnto  God  J?ai  made  j^aire  mane. 

Bot  sen  ]?e  time  ]?at  God  was  born, 

Ne  a  hundreth  jere  biforn,  no 

War  neuer  men  better  in  fight 

pan  Ingliss  men,  whils  J>ai  had  myght. 

Bot  sone  all  maistri  gan  }>ai  mis ; 

God  bring  }>aire  saules  vntill  his  blis ! 

And  God  assoyl  ]>am  of  )>aire  sin,  115 

For  J>e  gude  will  J>at  ]?ai  war  in !    Amen. 

Listens  now,  and  leues  me, 

Who-so  lifes,  ]>ai  sail  se 

pat  it  mun  be  ful  dere  boght 

pat  ]nr  galay  men  haue  wroght.  120 

pai  houed  still  opon  )>e  flode, 

And  reued  pouer  men  j?aire  gude ; 

pai  robbed,  and  did  mekill  schame, 

And  ay  bare  Inglis  men  J>e  blame. 

Now  lesus  saue  all  Iwgland,  1 25 

And  blis  it  with  his  haly  hand !     Amen. 


A'/.    (B)  POLITICAL  SONGS.  131 

(B) 

Edward,  cure  cumly  king, 
In  Braband  has  his  woning, 
With  mani  cumly  knight ; 
And  in  ]>at  land,  trewly  to  tell, 

Ordanis  he  still  forto  dwell  5 

To  time  he  think  to  fight. 

Now  God,  )>at  es  of  mightes  maste, 

Grant  him  grace  of  J>e  Haly  Gaste, 

His  heritage  to  win ! 

And  Mari  moder,  of  mercy  fre,  10 

Saue  oure  king  and  his  menje' 

Fro  sorow  and  schame  and  syn  1 

pus  in  Braband  has  he  bene, 

Whare  he  bifore  was  seldom  sene, 

Forto  praie  ]>aire  iapes ;  15 

Now  no  langer  wil  he  spare, 

Bot  vnto  Fraunce  fast  will  he  fare, 

To  confort  him  with  grapes. 

Furth  he  ferd  into  France, 

God  saue  him  fro  mischance  ao 

And  all  his  cuwpany  I 

pe  nobill  due  of  Braband 

With  him  went  into  )>at  land, 

Redy  to  lif  or  dy. 

pan  ]>e  riche  floure-de-lice  2* 

Wan  )?are  ful  litill  prise, 

Fast  he  fled  for  ferde ; 

pe  right  aire  of  j>at  cuntre* 

Es  cumen,  with  all  his  knightes  fre, 

To  schac  him  by  |>e  berd.  30 

K  2 


132  XI.      LAURENCE  MINOT. 

Sir  Philip  J?e  Valayse, 

Wit  his  men  in  J?o  dayes, 

To  batale  had  he  thoght ; 

He  bad  his  men  J>am  puruay 

With-owten  lenger  delay,  35 

Bot  he  ne  held  it  noght. 

He  broght  folk  ful  grete  wone, 

Ay  seuyn  oganis  one, 

pat  ful  wele  wapnid  were  ; 

Bot  sone  whe[n]  he  herd  ascry  40 

pat  king  Edward  was  nere  j?arby, 

pan  durst  he  noght  cum  nere. 

In  ]?at  morni[n]g  fell  a  myst, 

And  when  oure  I[n]gliss  men  it  wist, 

It  changed  all  J>aire  chere ;  45 

Oure  king  vnto  God  made  his  bone, 

And  God  sent  him  gude  confort  sone, 

pe  weder  wex  ful  clere. 

Oure  king  and  his  men  held  J>e  felde 

Stalwortly,  with  spere  and  schelde,  50 

And  thoght  to  win  his  right, 

With  lordes,  and  with  knightes  kene 

And  oj>er  doghty  men  bydene, 

pat  war  ful  frek  to  fight. 

When  sir  Philip  of  France  herd  tell  55 

pat  king  Edward  in  feld  walld  dwell, 

pan  gayned  him  no  gle ; 

He  traisted  of  no  better  bote, 

Bot  both  on  hors  and  on  fote 

He  hasted  him  to  fle.  60 


XI.    (B)    POLITICAL   SONGS.  133 

It  semid  he  was  ferd  for  strokes, 

When  he  did  fell  his  grete  okes 

Obout  his  pauilyoune ; 

Abated  was  J>an  all  his  pride, 

For  langer  ]>are  durst  he  noght  bide,  '65 

His  bost  was  broght  all  doune. 

pe  king  of  Berne  had  cares  colde, 

pat  was  ful 1  hardy  and  bolde 

A  stede  to  vmstride, 

pe  king  als  of  Nauerne,  70 

War  faire  feld  in  J>e  ferene, 

paire  heuiddes  forto  hide. 

And  leues  wele,  it  es  no  lye, 

pe  felde  hat  Flemawgrye 

pat  king  Edward  was  in,  ^ 

With  princes  )>at  war  stif  ande  bolde, 

And  dukes  }>at  war  doghty  tolde 

In  batayle  to  bigin. 

pe  princes,  J>at  war  riche  on  raw, 

Gert  nakers  strike  and  truzrcpes  blaw,  80 

And  made  mirth  at  )>aire  might; 

Both  alblast  and  many  a  bow 

War  redy  railed  opon  a  row, 

And  ful  frek  forto  fight. 

Gladly  J>ai  gaf  mete  and  drink,  85 

So  J?at  jjai  suld  J?e  better  swink, 

pe  wight  men  }>at  ]?ar  ware. 

Sir  Philip  of  Fraunce  fled  for  dout, 

And  hied  him  hame  with  all  his  rout ; 

Coward,  God  giff  him  care  1  90 

1  MS.  •  fur.' 


134  XI.      LAURENCE  MI  NOT. 

For  J?are  ]?an  had  ]?e  lely  flowre 

Lorn  all  halely  his  honowre, 

pat  sogat  fled  for  ferd ; 

Bot  oure  king  Edward  come  ful  still, 

When  |>at  he  trowed  no  harm  him  till,  95 

And  keped  him  in  J>e  berde. 

(Q 

How  Edward  at  Hogges  vnto  land  wan, 
And  rade  tburgb 1  France  or  ever  be  blart. 

Men  may  rede  in  Romance  right 

Of  a  grete  clerk  J>at  Merlin  hight ; 

Ful  many  bokes  er  of  him  wreten, 

Als  ]?ir  clerkes  wele  may  witten ; 

And  jit  in  many  prm6  nokes  5 

May  men  find  of  Merlin  bokes. 

Merlin  said  Jms  with  his  mowth, 

Out  of  |>e  north  into  ]>e  sowth 

Suld  cum  a  bare  ouer  ]?e  se, 

pat  suld  mak  many  man  to  fle ;  10 

And  in  J?e  se,  he  said  ful  right,, 

Suld  he  schew  ful  mekill  might ; 

And  in  France  he  suld  bigin, 

To  mak  )>am  wrath  ]?at  er  J>arein, 

Vntill  J?e  se  his  taile  reche  sale,  15 

All  folk  of  France  to  mekill  bale. 

pus  haue  I  mater  forto  make, 

For  a  nobill  prince  sake ; 

Help  me  God,  my  wit  es  thin ; 

Now  Laurence  Minot  will  bigin.  20 

1  MS.  •  thigh." 


XI.    (C)   POLITICAL   SONGS.  135 

A  bore  es  broght  on  bankes  bare, 

With  ful  batail  bifor  his  brest  ; 

For  lohn  of  France  will  he  noght  spare 

In  Normondy  to  tak  his  rest, 

With  princes  J>at  er  proper  and  prest.  25 

Alweldand  God,  of  mightes  maste, 

He  be  his  beld,  for  he  mai  best, 

Fader,  and  Sun,  and  Haly  Gaste. 

Haly  Gaste,  ]>ou  gif  him  grace 

pat  he  in  gude  time  may  bigin,  30 

And  send  to  him  both  might  &  space 

His  heritage  wele  forto  win  ; 

And  sone  assoyl  him  of  his  sin, 

Hende  God,  ]>at  heried  hell. 

For  France  now  es  he  entred  in,  35 

And  J?are  he  dightes  him  forto  dwell. 

He  dwelled  J>are,  }>e  suth  to  tell, 

Opon  J>e  coste  of  Normondy. 

At  Hogges  fand  he  famen  fell, 

pat  war  all  ful  of  felony ;  4o 

To  him  ]?ai  makked  grete  maistri, 

And  proved  to  ger  J>e  bare  abyde. 

Thurgh  might  of  God  &  mild  Mari, 

pe  bare  abated  all  J>aire  pride. 

Mekill  pride  was  J>are  in  prese,  45 

Both  on  pencell  and  on  plate, 

When  ]?e  bare  rade  with-outen  rese 

Vnto  Cane  J?e  graythest  gate. 

pare  fand  he  folk  bifor  ]>e  jate 

Thretty  thowsand  stif  on  stede.  50 

Sir  lohn  of  France  come  al  to  late ; 

pe  bare  has  gert  ]>aire  sides  blede. 


136  XI.      LAURENCE  MINOT.    • 

He  gert  [J>am]  blede,  if  ]>ai  war  bolde, 

For  J>are  was  slayne  and  wounded  sore 

Thretty  thowsand  trewly  tolde,  55 

Of  pitaile  was  ]?are  mekill  more ; 

Knightes  war  )>are  wele  two  score 

pat  war  new  dubbed  to  j>at  dance ; 

Helm  and  heuyd  )>ai  haue  forlore, 

pan  misliked  lohn  of  France.  60 

More  misliking1  was  ]>are  ]?en, 

For  fals  treson  alway  ]>ai  wroght ; 

Bot  fro  J>ai  met  with  Inglis  men, 

All  ]>aire  bargan  dere  )>ai  boght. 

Inglis  men  with  site  ]>am  soght,  65 

And  hastily  quit  |?am  ]?aire  hire, 

And  at  J>e  last  forgat  J?ai  noght, 

pe  toun  of  Cane  ]>ai  sett  on  fire. 

pat  fire  ful  many  folk  gan  fere, 

When  J>ai  se  brandes  o-ferrum  flye ;  70 

pis  haue  |?ai  wonen  of  |>e  were, 

pe  fals  folk  of  Normundy. 

I  sai  3ow  lely  how  |?ai  lye 

Dongen  doun  all  in  a  daunce ; 

paire  frendes  may  ful  faire  for]>i  75 

Pleyn  J>am  vntill  lohn  of  France. 

Franche  men  put  ]?am  to  pine 

At  Cressy,  when  J>ai  brak  ]?e  brig, 

pat  saw  Edward  with  both  his  ine. 

pan  likid  him  no  langer  to  lig ;  80 

1  MS. « misliling.' 


XI.    (C)   POLITICAL   SONGS.  137 

Ilk  Inglis  man  on  o)>ers  rig, 

Ouer  ]>at  water  er  J?ai  went ; 

To  batail  er  |>ai  baldly  big, 

With  brade  ax  and  with  bowes  bent. 

With  bent  bowes  J>ai  war  ful  bolde,  85 

Forto  fell  of  ]>e  Frankisch  men ; 

pai  gert  tham  lig  with  cares  colde, 

Ful  sari  was  sir  Philip  }>en. 

He  saw  j>e  toun  o-ferrum  bren, 

And  folk  for  ferd  war  fast  fleand ;  90 

pe  teres  he  lete  ful  rathly  ren 

Out  of  his  eghen,  I  vnderstand. 

pan  come  Philip,  ful  redy  dight, 

Toward  j>e  toun  with  all  his  rowt, 

With  him  come  mani  a  kumly  knight,  95 

And  all  vmset  |>e  bare  obout. 

pe  bare  made  )?am  ful  law  to  lout, 

And  delt  J>am  knokkes  to  ]>aire  mede : 

He  gert  J>am  stumbill  |?at  war  stout ; 

pare  helpid  now)>er  staf  ne  stede.  100 

Stedes  strong  bileuid  still 

Biside  Cressy  opon  |>e  grene. 

Sir  Philip  wanted  all  his  will, 

pat  was  wele  on  his  sembland  sene. 

With  spere  and  schelde  and  helmis  schene,  105 

pe  bare  J>an  durst  j>ai  noght  habide. 

pe  king  of  Berne  was  cant  and  kene, 

Bot  )>are  he  left  both  play  and  pride. 


XII. 

THE  ROMANCE  OF  WILLIAM  OF  PALERNE, 

OR,  WILLIAM    AND   THE  WERWOLF. 
A.D.  1350-1360. 

ALL  that  is  known  concerning  the  author  of  the  English  ro- 
mance of  '  William  of  Palerne,'  or  '  William  and  the  Werwolf,'  is 
that  his  Christian  name  was  William,  and  that  he  translated  his 
work  (with  frequent  additions  of  his  own)  from  the  French 
romance  of  'Guillaume  de  Palerne'  (William  of  Palermo)  at  the 
command  of  Humphrey  de  Bohun,  Earl  of  Hereford,  nephew  to 
King  Edward  II,  who  died  A.D.  1361. 

The  poem  in  its  English  form  is  supposed  by  Sir  F.  Madden  to 
have  been  written  about  the  year  1350.  The  dialect  is  Midland 
(possibly  Shropshire). 

The  same  author  translated  from  the  Latin  a  portion  of  the 
'  Romance  of  Alexander,'  of  which  only  a  fragment  is  extant. 

The  poem  was  first  edited  by  Sir  F.  Madden  for  the  Rox- 
burghe  Club,  London,  1832  ;  and  re-edited  in  1867  for  the  Early 
English  Text  Society  (together  with  the  'Alexander'  fragment) 
by  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Skeat,  with  Sir  F.  Madden's  assistance,  from 
the  unique  MS.  (No.  13)  in  the  library  of  King's  College,  Cam- 
bridge. 

TT  it  bi-fel  in  ]>at  forest  •  )>ere  fast  by-side, 

\er  woned  a  wel  old  cherl  *  ]>at  was  a  couherde, 
}>at  fele  winterres  in  }>at  forest  *  fayre  had  kepud  5 

Mennes  ken  of  \>Q  cuntre  •  as  a  comen  herde ; 


XII.       WILLIAM  OF   PALERNE.  139 

&  fus  it  bitide  fat  time  •  as  tellen  oure  bokes, 

}>is  cowherd  comes  on  a  time  •  to  kepen  is  bestes 

Fast  by-side  f  e  borwj  •  J>ere  f  e  barn  was  inne. 

fe  herd  had  with  him  an  hound  •  his  hert  to  li^t,  10 

forto  bayte  on  his  bestes  *  wanne  f  ai  to  brode  went. 

]>e  herd  sat  fan  wif  hou#d  •  ajene  fe  hote  sunne, 

Noujt  fully  a  furlong  •  fro  fat  fayre  child, 

cloustand  kyndely  his  schon  •  as  to 1  here  craft  falles. 

fat  while  was  fe  werwolf  •  went  a-boute  his  praye,  15 

what  behoued  to  f  e  barn  •  to  bring  as  he  mi^t. 

fe  child  fan  darked  in  his  den  •  dernly  him  one, 

&  was  a  big  bold  barn  •  &  breme  of  his  age, 

For  spakly  speke  it  couj>e  tho  •  &  spedeliche  to-wawe. 

Louely  lay  it  a-long  *  in  his  lonely  denne,  20 

&  buskede  him  out  of  f  e  buschys  •  fat  were  blowed  grene, 

&  leued  ful  louely  •  fat  lent  grete  schade, 

&  briddes  ful  bremely  •  on  fe  bowes  singe. 

what  for  melodye  j>at  fei  made  •  in  f  e  mey  sesoun, 

fat  litel  child  listely  •  lorked  out  of  his  caue,  25 

Faire  floures  forto  fecche  *  J>at  he  bi-fore  him  seye, 

&  to  gadere  of  J>e  grases  •  fat  grene  were  &  fayre. 

&  whan  it  was  out  went  •  so  wel  hit  him  liked, 

]>e  sauor  of  f  e  swete  sesouw  •  &  song  of  J>e  briddes, 

j>at  [he]2  ferde  fast  a-boute  •  floures  to  gadere,  30 

&  layked  him  long  while  •  to  lesten  J>at  mer|)e. 

fe  couherdes  hound  fat  time  •  as  happe  by-tidde, 

feld  foute  of  ]>e  child  *  and  fast  fider  fulwes ; 

&  sone  as  he  it  8613  •  sofe  forto  telle, 

he  gan  to  berke  on  fat  barn  •  and  to  baie  it  hold,  35 

fat  it  wax  neij  of  his  witt  •  wod  for  fere, 

and  comsed  fan  to  crye  *  so  kenly  and  schille, 

1  MS.  •  afto.' 

a  Read  '  that  it  ferde,'  or  '  be  ferde.'— Sir  F.  Madden. 


140  XII.       WILLIAM  OF  PALERNE. 

&  wepte  so  wondei  fast  •  wite  )>ou  for  sothe, 

}>at  ]?e  son  of  J>e  cry  com  •  to  the  cowherde  euene, 

J>at  he  wist  witerly  it  was  •  ]>e  voys  of  a  childe.  40 

J>an  ros  he  vp  radely  •  &  ran  ]?ider  swij>e, 

&  drow  him  toward  }>e  den  •  by  his  dogges  noyce. 

bi  ]>at  time  was  ]?e  barn  •  for  bere  of  J>at  hou?zde, 

drawe  him  in  to  his  den  •  &  darked  j?er  stille, 

&  wept  euere  as  it  wolde  •  a-wede  for  fere ;  45 

&  euere  ]>e  dogge  at  j>e  hole  •  held  it  at  a-baye. 

&  whan  ]>e  kouherd  com  Jridfwje1  *  he  koured  lowe 

to  bi-hold  in  at  ]>e  hole  •  whi  his  houwd  berkyd. 

]?anne  of-saw  he  ful  sone  •  J>at  semliche  child, 

]>at  so  loueliche  lay  &  wep  •  in  J>at  lofli  caue,  50 

closed  ful  komly  •  for  ani  kud  kinges  sone, 

In  gode  clones  of  gold  •  a-grej>ed  ful  riche, 

wij>  perrey  &  pellure  •  pertelyche  to  |>e  ri$ttes. 

]>e  cherl  wondred  of  J>at  chauwce  •  &  chastised  his  dogge, 

bad  him  blinne  of  his  berking  •  &  to  |?e  barn  talked,        55 

acoyed  it  to  come  to  him  •  &  clepud  hit  oft, 

&  foded  it  wi]>  floures  •  &  wi]>  faire  by-hest, 

&  hi3t  it  hastely  to  haue  •  what  it  wold  serne, 

appeles  &  alle  j?inges  •  ]?at  childern  after  wilnen. 

so,  forto  seij  al  J>e  so]?e  •  so  faire  }>e  cherl  glosed,  60 

]>at  |?e  child  com  of  J?e  caue  •  &  his  criynge  stint. 

}>e  cherl  ful  cherli  )>at  child  •  tok  in  his  armes, 

&  kest  hit  &  clipped  •  and  oft  crist  J?onkes, 

J>at  hade  him  sent  J>o  sonde  •  swiche  prey  to  finde. 

wijtliche  wi]?  ]?e  child  •  he  went  to  his  house,  65 

and  bi-tok  it  to  his  wif  •  tijtly  to  kepe. 

a  gladere  wommow  vnder  god  •  no  mi^t  go  on  er]?e, 

J>an  was  ]>e  wif  wi|>  ]?e  child  *  witow  for  soj>e. 

1  Read  '  thidere.' — Madden, 


XII.       WILLIAM  OF  PALERNE.  14! 

sche  kolled  it  ful  kindly  •  and  askes  is  name, 

&  it  answered  ful  sone  •  &  seide,  '  william  y  hijt.'  70 

}>an  was  ]>e  godwif  glad  *  and  gan  it  faire  kepe, 

J>at  it  wanted  noujt  •  ]>at  it  wold  haue, 

J?at  ]?ei  ne  fond  him  as  faire  •  as  for  here  state  longed, 

&  J?e  beter,  be  ye  sure  •  for  barn  ne  had  }?ei  none 

brou3t  for}>  of  here  bodies  ;  •  here  bale  was  j>e  more.        75 

but  sojjly  J>ai  seide  J>e  child  *  schuld  weld  al  here  godis, 

Londes  &  ludes  as  eyer  •  after  here  lif  dawes. 

but  from  ]>e  cherl  &  J>e  child  *  nov  chaunge  we  cure  tale, 

For  i  wol  of  J?e  werwolf  •  a  wile  nov  speke. 

\"\  rhanne  }>is  werwolf  was  come  •  to  his  wlonk1  denne, 
&  hade  broujt  bilfoder  •  for  ]?e  barnes  mete,          81 
|>at  he  hade  wonne  with  wo  •  wide  wher  a-boute, 
}>an  fond  he  nest  &  no  neij  •  for  nou3t  nas  }>er  leued. 
&  whan  ]>e  best  |>e  barn  missed  *  so  balfully  he  g[r]innej?2, 
}>at  alle  men  vpon  molde  •  no  mi^t  telle  his  sorwe.  85 

For  reuliche  gan  he  rore  *  &  rente  al  his  hide, 
&  fret  oft  of  J?e  erj>e  •  &  fel  doun  on  swowe, 
&  made  J>e  most  dool  •  ]>at  man  mijt  diuise. 
&  as  ]>e  best  in  his  bale  •  J>er  a-boute  wente, 
he  fond  \>e  feute  al  fresh  •  where  forj>  ]>e  herde  90 

hadde  bore  ]>an  barn  •  beter  it  to  jeme. 
wijtly  |>e  werwolf  •  |>an  went  bi  nose 
euene  to  ]?e  herdes  house  •  &  hastely  was  ]>are. 
|)ere  walked  he  a-boute  )>e  walles  •  to  winne  in  5131 ; 
&  at  |>e  last  lelly  *  a  litel  hole  he  findes.  95 

J>ere  pried  he  in  priuely  •  and  p<?rtiliche  bi-holdes 
hov  hertily  ]?e  herdes  wif  •  hules  ]>at  child, 
&  hov  fayre  it  fedde  •  &  fetisliche  it  ba]?ede, 
&  wrou3t  wij>  it  as  wel  •  as  jif  it  were  hire  owne. 

1  Miswritten  «  wolnk.'  a  See  note. 


142  XII.       WILLIAM   OF   PALERNE. 

Jeanne  was  ]>e  best  bltye  i-nov  •  for  )>e  barnes  sake,          100 

For  he  wist  it  schold  be  warded  •  wel  Jeanne  at  ]>e  best. 

&  hertily  for  )>at  hap  *  to-heuene-ward  he  loked, 

&  jjroliche  Bonked  god  •  mani  J>ousand  si)>es, 

&  se]?]>en  went  on  is  way  •  whider  as  him  liked ; 

but  whiderward  wot  i  neuer  •  witow  for  so}>e.  105 

ak  now|?e  36  ]>at  arn  hende  •  haldes  ow  stille, 

&  how  ]>at  best  j>erwe  bale  •  was  brou3t  out  of  kinde, 

I  wol  $ou  telle  as  swi]?e  •  trewly  ]?e  so)>e. 

\\  Werwolf  was  he  no«  •  wox  of  kinde, 

ac  kome/z  was  he  of  kun  •  ]>at  kud  was  ful  nobul ; 
For  J?e  kud  king  of  spayne  *  was  kindely  his  fader.         1 1 1 
he  gat  him,  as  god  jaf  grace  *  on  his  ferst  wyue, 
&  at  ]?e  burj)  of  j>at  barn  •  )>e  bold  lady  deyde. 
sij?J>en  j>at  kud  king  so  *  bi  his  conseyl  wrout, 
another  wif  j>at  he  wedded  •  a  worchipful  ladi,  115 

]?e  princes  doujter  of  portingale  *  to  pmie  }>e  sojje. 
but  lelliche  |>at  ladi  in  3ou]>e  •  hadde  lerned  miche  schame, 
For  al  ]?e  werk  of  wicchecraft  •  wel  y-nou^  che  coujjje, 
nede  nadde  3he  namore  •  of  nigramauncy  to  lere. 
of  coninge  of  wicche-craft  •  wel  y-nou3  3he  cou^de,         120 
&  brauwde  was  )>at  bold  quene  •  of  burnes  y-clepud. 
]?e  kinges  furst  child  was  fostered  *  fayre  as  it  ou3t, 
&  had  lordes  &  ladies  •  it  louely  to  kepe, 
&  fast  gan  }>at  frely  barn  •  fayre  forto  wexe. 
]?e  quene  his  moder  on  a  time  •  as  a  mix  J>ou3t,  125 

how  faire  &  how  fetis  it  was  •  &  freliche  schapen. 
&  J)is  ]?anne  j)oujt  sche  ]?roly  *  |?at  it  no  schuld  neu^r 
kuuere  to  be  king  )>er  •  as  J>e  kinde  eyre, 
whille  J>e  kinges  ferst  sone  •  were  j?er  a-liue. 
[>an  studied  sche  stifly  •  as  stepmoderes  wol  alle,  130 

to  do  dernly  a  despit  *  to  here  stepchilderen ; 


XII.       WILLIAM  OF   PALERNE.  143 

Fe|?li  a-mong  foure  schore  *  vnne)>e  findestow  on  gode. 

but  truly  ti3t  hadde  ]?at  quene  *  take  hire  to  rede 

to  bring  }>at  barn  in  bale  •  botles  for  euer, 

j>at  he  ne  schuld  wi3tli  in  J>is  world  •  neuer  weld  reaume. 

a  noynemerct  anon  sche  made  •  of  so  grete  streng]?e,      136 

bi  enchauwmews  of  charmes  •  }>at  euel  chaunche  hire  tide, 

]>at  whan  J?at  womma«  J^r-wijt  •  hadde  ]>at  wor[]>]li  child 

ones  wel  an-oynted  J>e  child  *  wel  al  a-bowte, 

he  wex  to  a  werwolf  •  wi3tly  ]>er-after,  140 

al  ]>e  making  of  maw  •  so  mysse  hadde  ^he  schaped. 

ac  his  witt  welt  he  after  •  as  wel  as  to-fore, 

but  lelly  o)>er  likeness  •  ]>at  longe]>  to  maw-kynne, 

but  a  wilde  werwolf  *  ne  wait  he  neu*r  after. 

&  whanne  )>is  witty  werwolf  •  wiste  him  so  schaped,       145 

he  knew  it  was  bi  J>e  craft  •  of  his  kursed  stepmoder, 

&  jjoujt  or  he  went  a-way  •  he  wold,  ^if  he  mi3t, 

wayte  hire  sum  wicked  torn  •  what  bi-tidde  after. 

&  as  bliue,  boute  bod  •  he  braydes  to  ]>e  quene, 

&  hent  hire  so  hetterly  •  to  haue  hire  a-strangeled,          150 

]?at  hire  deth  was  neij  di3t  •  to  deme  )>e  so)>e. 

but  carfuli  gan  sche  crie  *  so  kenely  and  lowde, 

]>at  maydenes  &  mi3thi  men  •  manliche  to  hire  come, 

&  wolden  brusten  J>e  best  •  nad  he  be  )>e  lijttere, 

&  fled  a-way  J?e  faster  •  in-to  ferre  londes,  155 

so  j?at  pertely  in-to  poyle  •  he  passed  ]?at  time, 

as  )>is  fortune  bi-fel  •  J?at  i  told  of  bi-fore ; 

Jms  was  this  witty  best  *  werwolf  ferst  maked. 

but  now  wol  i  stint  a  stounde  •  of  J>is  Sterne  best, 

&  tale  of  )>e  tidy  child  •  ]>at  y  of  told  ere.  160 

Jms  passed  is  pe  first  pas  •  of  ]>is  pris  tale, 
&  je  J>at  louen  &  lyken  •  to  listen  a-ni  more, 
alle  wijth  on  hoi  hert  •  to  ]>e  heij  king  of  heuene 
preieth  a  pater  noster  •  priuely  )>is  time 


144  xn>       WILLIAM   OF  PALERNE. 

for  J>e  hend  erl  of  herford  •  sir  humfray  de  bowne,          165 

]>e  king  edwardes  newe  •  at  glouseter  bat  ligges. 

For  he  of  frensche  j>is  fayre  tale  •  ferst  dede  translate, 

In  ese  of  englysch  men  •  in  englysch  speche ; 

&  god  graunt  hem  his  blis  •  J>at  godly  so  pray  en  1 

Leue  lordes,  now  listenes  •  of  bis  litel  barn,  170 

}>at  be  kinde  kowherde-wif  *  keped  so  fayre. 
jhe  wissed l  it  as  wel  or  bet  •  as  jif  it  were  hire  owne, 
til  hit  big  was  &  bold  •  to  buschen  on  felde, 
&  coube  ful  craftily  •  kepe  alle  here  bestes, 
&  bring  hem  in  be  best  lese  •  whan  hem  bi-stode  nede,  175 
&  wited  hem  so  wisly  *  })at  wanted  him  neiw  one. 
a  bowe  al-so  bat  bold  barn  •  bi-gat  him  bat  time, 
&  so  to  schote  vnder  be  schawes  •  scharplyche  he  lerned, 
bat  briddes  &  smale  bestes  •  wi|>  his  bow  he  quelles 
so  plenteousliche  in  his  play  •  bat,  pertly  to  telle,  180 

whanne  he  went  horn  eche  m'3t  *  wi)>  is  droue  of  bestis, 
he  com  him-self  y-charged  •  wi]>  conyng  &  hares, 
wib  fesaufls  &  feldfares  *  and  ober  foules  grete  ; 
bat  be  herde  &  his  hende  wif  •  &  al  his  hole  meyne 
bat  bold  barn  wij>  his  bowe  *  by  )>at  time  fedde.  185 

&  jit  hadde  fele  felawes  •  in  be  forest  eche  day, 
jong  bold  barnes  •  bat  bestes  al-so  keped. 
&  blibe  was  eche  a  barn  •  ho  best  mi:jt  him  plese, 
&  folwe  him  for  his  fredom  •  &  for  his  faire  J>ewes. 
for  what  bing  willam  wan  •  a-day  wib  his  bowe,  190 

were  it  fevered  foul  •  or  foure-foted  best, 
ne  wold  bis  william  neu^r  on  •  wib-hold  to  him-selue, 
til  alle  his  felawes  were  ferst  •  feffed  to  here  paie. 
so  kynde  &  so  corteys  *  comsed  he  J>ere, 
bat  alle  ledes  him  louede  •  bat  loked  on  him  ones;          195 
&  blesseden  bat  him  bare  •  &  broujt  in-to  ]?is  worlde, 

1  MS.  '  wist';  but  elsewhere  in  the  poem  the  form  is  '  wissed.' 


XII.      WILLIAM   OF  PALERNE.  145 

so  moche  manhed  &  murj>e  •  schewed  }>at  child  euere. 

Hit  tidde  after  on  a  time  •  as  tellus  oure  bokes, 
as  |;is  bold  barn  his  bestes  •  blyj>eliche  keped, 
|>e  riche  emp^rour  of  rome  •  rod  out  for  to  hunte  200 

In  |>at  faire  forest  •  fei]?ely  for  to  telle, 
wij>  alle  his  menskful  meyne  •  }>at  moche  was  &  nobul. 
Jjan  fel  it  hap  J?at  |>ei  fouwde  •  ful  sone  a  grete  bor, 
&  huntyng  wij>  hou«d  &  horn  *  harde  alle  sewede. 
J?e  emp^rowr  entred  in  a  wey  •  euene  to  attele  205 

to  haue  bruttenet  |>at  bor  •  at l  ]>e  abaie  se]?j>en ; 
but  missely  marked  he  is  way  •  &  so  manly  he  rides, 
}>at  all  his  wies  were  went  •  ne  wist  he  neuer  whider  ; 
so  ferforjj  from  his  men  •  fej>ly  for  to  telle, 
|>at  of  horn  ne  of  hound  -  ne  n^t  he  here  sowne,  210 

&,  boute  eny  liuing  lud  •  left  was  he  one. 
j>emp<?rour  on  his  stif  stede  *  a  sty  for])  |?anne  takes 
to  herken  after  his  hou#des  •  oj>er  horn  schille ; 
so  komes  \er  a  werwolf  •  rijt  bi  }>at  way  |>enne, 
grimly  after  a  gret  hert  *  as  ]>at  god  wold,  215 

&  chased  him  Jmrth  chauwce  •  )>ere  ]?e  child  pleide, 
|>at  kept  ]?e  kowherdes  bestes  •  i  carped  of  bi-fore. 
]>empm)ur  ]>anne  hastely  •  ]>at  huge  best  folwed 
as  stiffuly  as  is  stede  mijt  *  strecche  on  to  renne ; 
but  by-}>an  he  com  by  ]>at  barn  •  &  a-boute  loked,          220 
\>e  werwolf  &  ]>e  wilde  hert  *  were  a-weye  bo]?e, 
}>at  he  ne  wist  in  Jns  world  •  w[h]ere  jjei  were  bi-come, 
ne  whiderward  he  schuld  seche  •  to  se  of  hem  more, 
but  }>anne  bi-held  he  a-boute  •  &  J>at  barn  of-seye, 
hov  fair,  how  fetys  it  was  •  &  freliche  schapen;  225 

so  fair  a  sijt  of  seg  •  ne  sawe  he  neuer  are, 
of  lere  ne  of  lykame  •  lik  him  nas  none, 
ne  of  so  sad  a  semblant  •  |>at  euer  he  say  wty  ei3yen. 

1  MS.  '&';  but  cf.  1.46. 
VOL.  II.  L 


146  XII.       WILLIAM  OF  PALERNE. 

]>emp<?rour  wend  witerly  *  for  wonder  of  )>at  child, 

]>at  fei3]>ely  it  were  of  feyrye  •  for  fairenes  ]?at  it  welt,      230 

&  for  ]?e  curteys  cuwtenauwce  •  ]?at  it  kudde  )>ere. 

Ri^tly  j?enne  j>empm)ur  '  wendes  him  euene  tille, 
]?e  child  comes  him  agayn  •  &  curtesliche  him  gretes. 
In  hast  j?emp*rour  hendely  •  his  gretyng  him  seldes, 
and  a-non  ri3ttes  after  •  askes  his  name,  235 

&  of  what  kin  he  were  kome  •  komanded  him  telle. 
]>e  child  Jeanne  soberliche  seide  •  '  sir,  at  joure  wille 
I  wol  ;ow  telle  as  tyt  •  trewely  alle  ]?e  so|>e. 
william,  sire,  wel  y  wot  •  wi3es  me  calles ; 
I  was  bore  here  fast  bi  •  by  J>is  wode's  side.  240 

a  kowherde,  sire,  of  J>is  kontrey  *  is  my  kynde  fader, 
and  my  menskful  moder  •  is  his  meke  wiue. 
J>ei  han  me  fostered  &  fed  •  faire  to  |>is  time, 
&  here  i  kepe  is  kyn  •  as  y  kan  on  dayes ; 
but,  sire,  by  crz'st,  of  my  kin  •  know  i  no  more.'  245 

whan  Ipemperour l  hade  herd  •  holly  his  wordes, 
he  wondered  of  his  wis  speche  •  as  he  wel  mijt, 
&  seide,  '  ]?ow  bold  barn  •  biliue  i  ]>e  praye, 
Go  calle  to  me  ]>e  cowherde  •  )>ow  clepus  ]>i  fadere, 
For  y  wold  talk  [wij>]  him 2  •  tij?inges  to  frayne/  250 

*  nay,  sire,  bi  god/  qua])  |>e  barn  •  '  be  36  ri3t  sure, 
bi  crz'st,  ]?at  is  krowned  •  heye  king  of  heuen, 
For  me  now  harm  schal  he  haue  •  neuer  in  his  Hue !' 
'  ac  p^rauenture  ]>urth  goddis  [grace]3  •  to  gode  may  it  turne, 
For-])i  bring  him  hider  •  faire  barn,  y  preye.'  255 

'  I  schal,  sire,'  seide  J>e  child  •  *  for  saufliche  y  hope  * 

1  Mis  written  '  }?empour.' 

8  The  sense  and  cadence  of  the  line  seem  to  require  '  with '  before  '  him.' 
—Maddtit. 

3  Read  '  thurth  goddis  grace' — Madden. 
*  MS.  '  for  y  saufliche  y  hope,'  where  there  seems  to  be  a  y  too  much. 


XII.       WILLIAM   OF   PALERNE.  147 

I  may  worche  on  jour  word  •  to  wite  him  fro  harm/ 

'  ja,  safliche/  seide  }>emperour  '  '  so  god  }if  me  ioie  !' 

J>e  child  witly  ]?anne  wende  •  wty  oute  ani  more, 

comes  to  ]>e  couherdes  hows  •  &  clepud  him  sone;         260 

For  he  fei^liche  wen[d] *  •  J>at  he  his  fader  were  2 ; 

&  seide  J>an,  ' swete  sir  •  s[o]  jou  criste  help ! 

Go)>  yond  to  a  gret  lord  *  ]>at  gayly  is  tyred, 

&  on  J>e  feirest  frek  •  for  soj>e  J>at  i  haue  seie ; 

and  he  wilnes  wijtli  *  wij>  jou  to  speke ;  265 

For  godis  loue  goj>  til  him  swij?e  •  lest  he  agreued  wex/ 

'  what?  sone,'  seide  ]?e  couherde  •  '  seidestow  i  was  here  ?' 

'  ja,  sire,  sertes,'  seide  j?e  child  •  '  but  he  swor  formest 

J>at  je  schuld  haue  no  harm  •  but  hendely  for  gode 

he  praide  jou  com  speke  wij>  him  •  &  passe  a-jein  sone/ 

}>e  cherl  grocching  forj>  goj>  *  wij>  ]?e  gode  child,  271 

&  euene  to  J>emp<?rour  •  |>ei  etteleden  sone. 

|>emp<?rour  a-non  rijt  *  as  he  him  of-seie, 

clepud  to  him  ]>e  couherde  •  &  curteysly  seide ; 

'  now  telle  me,  felawe,  be  j)i  feijj)  •  for  no  j?ing  ne  wonde, 

sei  \>ou  euer  J)empfrour  •  so  J?e  crist  help?'  276 

'  nay,  sire,  bi  crist,'  qua)>  j?e  couherde  *  '  ]>at  king  is  of 

heuew, 

I  nas  neuer  jet  so  hardi  •  to  nejh  him  so  hende 
j)ere  i  schuld  haue  him  seie  •  so  me  wel  tyme/ 
'  sertes,'  jjan  seide  }>emp^rour  *  *  )>e  so]?e  forto  knowe,     280 
J>at  y  am  ]>at  ilk  weijh  •  i  wol  wel  }>ou  wite ; 
al  j?e  regal  of  rome  •  to  rijtleche  y  weld. 
J>erfore,  couherde,  i  ]?e  coniure  •  &  comande  att  alle, 
bi  vertu  of  ]?ing  }>at  }>ou  most  *  in  j>is  world  louest, 
|>atow  telle  me  tijtly  •  truly  j?e  sojje,  285 

whejj^r  ]>is  bold  barn  •  be  lelly  )>in  owne, 
o j>er  comen  of  oj?er  kin  •  so  }>e  crist  help ! ' 

1  See  note.  a  MS.  •  where.' 

L  2 


XII.       WILLIAM  OF  PALERNE. 

}>e  couherd  comsed  to  quake  •  for  kare  &  for  drede, 

whanne  he  wist  witerly  •  bat  he  was  his  lorde, 

&  biliue  in  his  hert  be-bout  •  }if  he  him  gun  lye,  290 

he  wold  prestely  p^rceyue  •  pertiliche  him  bout. 

ber-fore  trewly  as  tyt  •  he  told  him  be  sobe, 

how  he  him  fond  in  bat  forest  •  bere  fast  bi-side, 

clothed  in  comly  closing  •  for  any  kinges  sone, 

vnder  an  holw  ok  •  }>urth  help  of  his  dogge,  295 

&  how  faire  he  hade  him  fed  •  &  fostered  vij  winter. 

'  bi  crz'st/  seide  bemp<?rour  *  '  y  con  be  gret  bonke, 

bat  |>ou  hast  [seide] x  me  be  sobe  •  of  bis  semly  childe, 

&  tine  schalt  bou  nou^t  |>i  trawayle  •  y  trow,  at  be  last ! 

ac  wend  schal  it  wi]j  me  •  witow  for  sobe,  300 

Min  hert  so  harde  wilnes  •  to  haue  bis  barne, 

bat  i  wol  in  no  wise  •  bou  wite  it  no  lenger.' 

whan  bemp^rour  so  sayde  •  sobe  forto  telle, 

be  couherde  was  in  care  •  i  can  him  no-bing  wite 2. 

ac  witerly  dorst  he  nou^t  werne  •  be  wille  of  his  lord,      305 

but  grauwted  him  goddeli  •  on  godis  holy  name, 

Forto  worchen  his  wille  •  as  lord  wij?  his  owne. 

whan  william,  bis  wor]>i  child  •  wist  J>e  sobe, 

and  knew  j?at  )>e  cowherde  •  nas  nou3t  his  kinde  fader, 

he  was  wi3tliche  a- wondered  •  &  gan  to  wepe  sore,        310 

&  seide  saddely  to  him-self  •  sone  ]>er-after, 

'  a !  gracious  gode  god !  •  JJQU}  grettest  of  alle  ! 

Moch  is  ]>i  mercy  &  J>i  mijt  *  |>i  menske,  &  )?i  grace  ! 

now  wot  i  neu^r  in  ]>is  world  *  of  wham  y  am  come, 

ne  what  destene  me  is  di}t  •  but  god  do  his  wille  1          315 

ac  wel  y  wot  witerly  •  wijj-oute  ani  faile, 

to  )>is  maw  &  his  meke  wif  •  most  y  am  holde  ; 

For  J>ei  ful  faire  han  me  fostered  •  &  fed  a  long  time, 

1  Read  '  thou  hast  seide  me  the  sothe.' — Madden. 
8  MS. 'white.* 


XII.       WILLIAM  OF   PALERNE.  149 

j?at  god  for  his  grete  mijt  *  al  here  god  hem  3eld. 

but  not  y  neuer  what  to  done  •  to  wende  |>us  hem  fro,  320 

}>at  han  al  kindenes  me  kyd  •  &  y  ne  kan  hem  jelde !' 

'  bi  stille,  barn/  qua]?  ]?emp£rour  •  '  blinne  of  ]>i  sorwe, 

For  y  hope  ]>at  hal  )?i  kin  *  hastely  here-after, 

jif  ]?ou  wolt  3eue  J>e  to  gode  *  swiche  grace  may  ]>e  falle, 

}>at  alle  ]>i  frendes  fordedes  •  faire  schalstow  quite/         325 

'  3a,  sire,'  quajj  J>e  couherde,  '  3if  cnst  wol  •  j?at  cas  may 

tyde, 

&  god  lene  him  grace  •  to  god  man  to  worj>e.' 
&  j?an  as  tit  to  J>e  child  •  he  taujt  )>is  lore, 
&  seide, '  ]>ou  swete  sone  •  se)>J?e  ]?ou  schalt  hennes  wende, 
whanne  jjou  komest  to  kourt  •  amowg  ]>e  kete  lordes,      330 
&  knowest  alle  ]?e  ku]>)>es  •  )?at  to  kourt  langes, 
bere  ]?e  boxumly  &  bonure  •  J>at  ich  burn  ]>e  loue. 
be  meke  &  mesurabul  •  noujt  of  many  wordes, 
be  no  tellere  of  talis  •  but  trewe  to  ]>i  lord, 
&  prestely  for  pore  men  •  profer  ]?e  euer,  335 

For  hem  to  rekene  wi)>  J?e  riche  *  in  rijt  &  in  skille. 
be  feijtful  &  fre  *  &  euer  of  faire  speche, 
&  seruisabul  to  ]>e  simple  •  so  as  to  ])e  riche, 
&  felawe  in  faire  manere  •  as  falles  for  J>i  state ; 
so  schaltow  gete  goddes  loue  •  &  alle  gode  mennes.       340 
Leue  sone,  })is  lessouw  •  me  lerde  my  fader, 
)>at  knew  of  kourt  ]?e  |>ewes  •  for  kourteour  was  he  long, 
&  hald  it  in  J>i  hert  •  now  i  ]?e  haue  it  kenned ; 
]>e  bet  may  ]>e  bi-falle  •  ]>e  worse  bestow  neuere.' 

pe  child  weped  al-way  •  wonderliche  fast,  345 

but  }>empm)ur  had  god  game  •  of  }>at  gomes  lore, 
&  comande  \>e  couherde  •  curteysli  and  fayre, 
to  heue  vp  J>at  hende  child  •  bi-hinde  him  on  his  stede. 
&  he  so  dede  deliuerly  •  jjoujh  him  del  J?ou3t, 
&  bi-kenned  him  to  crist  •  ]>at  on  croice  was  peyned.     350 


150.  XII.       WILLIAM  OF  PALERNE. 

f  anne  fat  barn  as  biliue  •  by-gan  for  to  glade 

fat  he  so  realy  schuld  ride  *  &  redeli  as  swife 

Ful  curteisle  of  f  e  couherde  •  he  cacces  his  leue, 

&  seffen  seyde,  '  swete  sire  •  i  bes[e]che  3011  nowfe, 

For  godes  loue,  gretes  ofte  •  my  godelyche  moder,        355 

fat  so  faire  ha]?  me  fed  *  &  fostered  till  nowfe. 

&  lellyche,  jif  our  lord  wol  •  fat  i  liif  haue, 

sche  ne  schal  nou^t  tyne  hire  trauayle  •  treuly  for  sof  e. 

&  gode  sire,  for  godes  loue  *  also  gretef  wel  oft 

alle  my  freyliche  felawes  •  |>at  to  fis  forest  longes,  360 

han  p^rtilyche  in  many  places  •  pleide  wif  [me]  ofte, 

hugonet,  &  huet  •  fat  hende  litel  dwerf, 

&  abelot,  &  martynet  •  hugones  gaie  sone ; 

&  fe  crzsten  akarin  •  fat  was  mi  kyn  fere, 

&  fe  trewe  kinnesman  *  fe  payenes  sone,  365 

&  alle  ®\er  frely  felawes  •  fat  fou  faire  knowes, 

fat  god  mak  hem  gode  men  •  for  his  mochel  grace.1 

of  f e  names  fat  he  nemned  •  f emp^rour  nam  hede, 

&  had  gaynliche  god  game  •  for  he  so  grette  alle 

of  his  compels  fat  he  knew  •  so  curteysliche  &  faire.       370 

&  fan  be-kenned  he  f  e  kouherde  *  to  crzst  &  to  hal  alwes, 

&  busked  forf  wif  fat  barn  •  bliue  on  his  gate. 

fe  kouherde  kayred  to  his  house  •  karful  in  hert, 

&  neij  to-barst  he  for  bale  •  for  f  e  barnes  sake. 

&  whan  his  wiif  wist  •  wittow  for  so]>e,  375 

how  fat  child  from  here  warde  •  was  wente  for  eu^r-more, 

f  er  nis  man  on  f  is  mold  •  fat  mijt  half  telle 

f  e  wo  &  f  e  weping  •  fat  womman  made. 

sche  wold  haue  sleie  hire-self  }?ere  •  sof  ly,  as  bliue, 

ne  hade  fe  kind  kouherde  •  conforted  here  f  e  betere,     380 

&  pult  hire  in  hope  to  haue  •  gret  help  f  er-of  after. 


XIII. 

ALLITERATIVE   POEMS. 

ABOUT    A.D.   1360. 

AUTHOR  unknown  —  Dialect  West-Midland  (Lancashire). 

The  following  extracts  are  from  *  Early  English  Alliterative 
Poems,'  edited  for  the  Early  English  Text  Society  by  Dr.  Morris, 
London,  1864;  of  which  a  second  and  revised  edition  was  pub- 
lished in  1869.  The  latter  is  here  followed. 

These  poems  are  preserved  in  the  unique  Cotton  MS.  Nero  A. 
x.,  written  about  the  close  of  the  fourteenth  century. 

The  symbol  3  is  used  to  represent  both  y,  gh,  and  z.  In  the 
first  case  it  commonly  begins  a  word,  and  in  the  last  commonly 
ends  one.  The  symbol  t3  has  the  force  of  ss  or  j«,  sounded  like  z. 

The  Deluge. 
[Lines  235-544.] 


EOT  )>at  olper  wrake  |>at  wex  •  on  wy^e}  hit  Iy3t  235 

pur3  j?e  faut  of  a  freke  •  ]>at  fayled  in  trawj>e, 

Adam  i»-obedyent  •  ordaynt  to  blysse  ; 

per  pryuely  in  paradys  •  his  place  watj  de-vised, 

To  lyue  J?er  in  lykyng  •  ]?e  lenj>e  of  a  terme, 

&  ]>e»ne  en-herite  J>at  home  •  ]>at  auwgele^  for-gart.         240 

Bot  jmrj  }>e  eggywg  of  cue  •  he  ete  of  an  apple, 

pat  en-poysened  alle  peple^  •  J>at  parted  fro  hem  boj>e, 

For  a  defence,  }>at  watj  dyjt  •  of  dry3tyn  seluen, 

&  a  payne  ]>er-on  put  •  &  pertly  halden. 

pe  defence  wat3  \>e  fryt  •  |>at  }>e  freke  towched,  245 


152  XIII.      ALLITERATIVE  POEMS. 

&  J>e  dom  is  ]?e  de|?e  •  ]>at  drepe3  vus  alle. 

Al  in  mesure  &  me})e  •  wat3  mad  ]?e  vengiau«ce, 

&  efte  amended  wiU  a  mayden  •  ]>at  make  hade  neu*r. 

Bot  in  J>e  Jjryd  watj  for|>rast  •  al  ]>at  J?ryue  schuld, 

per  wat3  malys  mercyles  •  &  mawgre  much  scheued ;         250 

pat  wat3  for  fytye  vpon  folde  •  \a\.  j?e  folk  vsed, 

[p]at  )>en  wonyed  in  J?e  worlde  •  wi't^-outen  any  mayst^rj. 

Hit  wern  j?e  fayrest  of  forme  •  &  of  face  als, 

pe  most  &  \>e  myriest  •  |?at  maked  wern  euer, 

pe  styfest,  ]?e  stalworjjest  •  J>at  stod  eu*r  on  fete,  255 

&  lengest  lyf  in  hem  lent  •  of  ledej  alle  tyer ; 

For  hit  was  ]?e  forme-foster  •  |?at  ]?e  folde  bred, 

pe  a]?el  auwceterej  suwej  •  J>at  ad«m  watj  called, 

To  wham  god  hade  geuen  *  alle  ]>at  gayn  were, 

Alle  J)e  blysse  boute  blame  *  J>at  bodi  myjt  haue,  260 

&  jjose  lykkest  to  ]>e  lede  *  J>at  lyued  next  aft(?r, 

For-)?y  so  semly  to  see  •  sy]>e«  wern  none. 

per  wat$  no  law  to  hem  layd  •  bot  loke  to  kynde, 

&  kepe  to  hit,  &  alle  hit  cors  •  clanly  ful-fylle ; 

&  |>ewne  fouwden  ]>ay  fylj>e  *  in  fleschlych  dede^  265 

&  controeued  agayn  kynde  •  contrard  werkej, 

&  vsed  hem  vn-]?ryftyly  •  vchon  on  o]>er, 

&  als  with  o\>er,  wylsfully  •  vpon  a  wrange  wyse. 

So  ferly  fowled  her  flesch  •  J?at  |?e  fendefj]  loked, 

How  ]?e  defter  of  pe  dou}>e  •  wern  dere-lych  fayre,  270 

&  fallen  in  felajschyp  wz't^  hem  *  on  folken  wyse, 

&  en-gendered  on  hem  ieauwtej  •  wzU  her  lapej  ille. 

pose  wern  men  mepelej  *  &  ma3ty  on  vrpe, 

pat  for  her  lodlych  layke^  *  alosed  j?ay  were. 

He  watj  famed  for  fre  *  fat  fejt  loued  best,  275 

&  ay  ]>e  bigest  in  bale  •  J>e  best  watj  halden. 

&  |>e«ne  euele3  on  er|?e  •  ernestly  grewen, 

&  multyplyed  mony-folde  •  i«-monge3  mankynde, 


XIII.       THE   DELUGE. 

For  J>at  \>e  m^ty  on  molde  •  so  marre[d]  )>ise  o\er, 

pat  ]>e  wyje  )>at  al  wrojt  •  ful  wroj>ly  bygywnej.  280 

When  he  knew  vche  centre*  •  corupte  in  hit  seluen, 

&  vch  freke  forloyned  •  fro  |>e  ryjt  wayej, 

Felle  temptande  tene  •  towched  his  hert ; 

As  wyje,  wo  hym  with-iwne  •  werp  to  hy m  seluen : 

'  Me  for-Jjywke}  ful  much  •  J>at  euer  I  mon  made,  285 

Bot  I  schal  delyu^r  &  do  away  •  J>at  doten  on  Jns  molde, 

&  fleme  out  of  ]?e  folde  •  al  ]>at  flesch  were}, 

Fro  j?e  burne  to  J>e  best  *  fro  bryddej  to  fyschej  ; 

Al  schal  dou«  &  be  ded  *  &  dryuen  out  of  erj>e 

pat  euer  I  sette  saule  i«ne  •  &  sore  hit  me  rwe$  290 

pat  ever  I  made  hem  my  self ;  •  bot  if  I  may  her-afte r, 

I  schal  wayte  to  be  war  •  her  wrenche}  to  kepe/ 

pewne  in  worlde  watj  a  wy$e  *  wonyande  on  lyue, 

Ful  redy  &  ful  ryjtwys  •  &  rewled  hyw  fayre ; 

In  jje  drede  of  dryjtyn  •  his  dayej  he  vsej,  295 

&  ay  glydande  wyth  his  god  •  his  grace  wat}  |>e  more, 

Hym  watj  ]>e  nome  Noe  •  as  is  innoghe  knawen, 

He  had  ]>re  ]>ryuen  su«e}  *  &  |>ay  jjre  wyuej ; 

Sem  so|>ly  ]?at  on  •  )>at  o]>er  hy^t  cam, 

&  ]>e  iolef  lapheth  •  wat}  gendered  j?e  ]>ryd.  300 

Now  god  in  nwy  •  to  Noe  con  speke, 

Wylde  wrakful  wordej  •  in  his  wylle  greued : 

'  pe  ende  of  alle-kynej  flesch  •  )>at  on  vr|?e  meuej 

Is  fallen  forjj-wyth  my  face  •  &  forjw  hit  I  ]?enk ; 

Wz'tA  her  vn-worj>elych  werk  •  me  wlate}  wz't^-iwne,  305 

pe  gore  }>er-of  me  hatj  greued  *  &  |)e  glette  nwyed ; 

I  schal  strenkle  my  distresse  *  &  strye  al  to-geder, 

Bo)>e  ledej  &  londe  •  &  alle  }>at  lyf  habbe}. 

Bot  make  to  ]?e  a  manciouw  •  &  J>at  is  my  wylle, 

A  cofer  closed  of  tres  *  clanlych  planed;  310 

Wyrk  wonej  ftrinne  •  for  wylde  &  for  tame, 


154  Kill.      ALLITERATIVE  POEMS. 


&  J?emie  cleme  hit  \vilh  clay  •  comly  wz't#-i«ne, 

&  alle  ]?e  endentur  dryuen  •  daube  wz't^-outen. 

&  ]>us  of  len]>e  &  of  large  •  ]?at  lome  }>0u  make  ; 

pre  hundred  of  cupyde}  •  ]>ou  holde  to  ]?e  len]?e,  315 

Of  fyfty  fayre  ou*r-j>wert  •  forme  ]?e  brede  ; 

&  loke  euen  J>at  |>yn  ark  •  haue  of  he}j>e  ]>rette, 

&  a  wyndow  wyd  vpon  •  wro}t  vpon  lofte, 

In  ]>e  compas  of  a  cubit  •  kyndely  sware, 

A  wel  dutande  dor  •  don  on  J>e  syde  ;  320 

Haf  halle}  |>er-i»ne  *  &  halke}  ful  mony, 

Bo]?e  boske}  &  bowrej  •  &  wel  bouwden  pene}  ; 

For  I  schal  waken  vp  a  water  •  to  wasch  alle  j?e  worlde, 

&  quelle  alle  ]?at  is  quik  •  wzU  quauende  flode}. 

Alle  ]?at  glydej  &  got^  •  &  gost  of  lyf  habbe:j,  325 

I  schal  wast  with  my  wrath  •  J>at  wons  vpon  vr|?e  ; 

Bot  my  forwarde  wz't^  ]?e  •  I  festen  on  |?is  wyse, 

For  )xm  in  reysouw  hat^  rengned  *  &  ry3twys  ben  euer  ; 

pou  schal  enter  ]>is  ark  •  wz't^  J>yn  a]?el  barne3, 

&  j?y  wedded  wyf  ;  •  with  ]?e  J>ou  take  330 

pe  make}  of  ]>y  myry  sune^  ;  •  )>is  meyny  of  ajte 

I  schal  saue  of  mownej  saulej  •  &  swelt  j?ose  o]>er. 

Of  vche  best  J>at  berej  lyf  *  busk  ]?e  a  cupple, 

Of  vche  clene  comly  kynde  •  enclose  seuen  make}, 

Of  vche  horwed,  in  ark  •  halde  bot  a  payre,  335 

For  to  saue  me  ]>e  sede  •  of  alle  ser  kynde}  ; 

&  ay  ])0u  meng  wztA  ]>Q  male}  *  J>e  mete  ho-beste}, 

Vche  payre  by  payre  •  to  plese  ayj?^r  ojj^r  ; 

Wi'tA  alle  ]>e  fode  )>at  may  be  fourcde  *  frette  J>y  cofer, 

For  sustnauwce  to  yow  self  •  &  also  )?ose  otyr.'  340 

Ful  gray]?ely  got}  )>is  god  man  •  &  dos  gode}  hestes, 

In  dry}  dred  &  dauwger  •  )?at  durst  do  non  o}>er. 

Wen  hit  wat}  fettled  &  forged  •  &  to  \>e  fulle  grayj>ed, 

pewn  con  dry}ttyn  hym  dele  •  dry}ly  ]?yse  worde}  ; 


XIII.      THE   DELUGE.  155 

4  Now  Noe/  quod  cure  lorde  •  '  art  ]>0u  al  redy  ?  345 

Hat3  ]>ou  closed  ]>y  kyst  *  wz'tA  clay  alle  aboute?' 

1  3e,  Lorde,  \vi\h  ]>y  leue'  •  sayde  |>e  lede  [>e»ne, 

'  Al  is  wrojt  at  ]>i  word  •  as  ]>ou  me  wyt  lante;.' 

'  Enter  in  J>e#n,'  q«<?^  he  •  '  &  haf  ]?i  wyf  wz't/$  J>e, 

py  ]>re  suwe^  wzU-outen  ]?rep  •  &  her  }>re  wyue} ;  350 

Bestej,  as  I  bedene  haue  •  bosk  }>er-inne  als, 

&  when  36  arn  staued  styfly  •  steke3  yow  Iperinne ; 

Fro  seuen  daye$  ben  seyed  •  I  sende  out  by-lyue, 

Such  a  rowtande  ryge  •  |>at  rayne  schal  swy]>e, 

pat  schal  wasch  alle  J?e  worlde  •  of  werke3  of  fylj>e ;  355 

Schal  no  flesch  vpon  folde  •  by  fonden  onlyue ; 

Out-taken  yow  a3t  •  in  ]>is  ark  staued, 

&  sed  )>at  I  wyl  saue  •  of  J>yse  ser  bestej.' 

Now  Noe  neuer  styste3 a  •  J»at  niy3[t]  he  bygy«ne3, 

Er  al  wer  stawed  &  stoken  •  as  J»e  steuen  wolde.  360 

Thewne  sone  com  J?e  seuenj>e  day  •  when  samned  wern  alle, 

&  alle  woned  in  }>e  whichche  *  }>e  wylde  &  ]>e  tame. 

pew  bolned  ]>e  abyme  •  &  bonke3  con  ryse, 

Waltes  out  vch  walle-heued  •  in  ful  wode  stremej, 

Wat3  no  brywme  J>at  abod  •  vnbrosten  bylyue,  365 

pe  mukel  lauande  logh*  •  to  |>e  lyfte  rered. 

Mony  clustered  clowde  •  clef  alle  in  clowtej, 

To-rent  vch  a  rayn-ryfte  •  &  rusched  to  ]>e  vrjje, 

Fon  neu«?r  in  forty  dayej  •  &  J>ew  |>e  flod  ryses, 

Ou^r-walte3  vche  a  wod  •  &  ]?e  wyde  felde3 ;  370 

For  when  |>e  water  of  ]>e  welkyn  •  wiW  )?e  worlde  mette, 

Alle  j?at  deth  mo3t  dry3e  *  drowned  J>er-i»ne ; 

per  wat3  moon  forto  make  •  when  meschef  was  cnowen, 

pat  no3t  do  wed  bot  J>e  deth  •  in  |?e  depe  stremej. 

Water  wylger  ay  wax  *  wone3  J>at  stryede,  375 

Hurled  in-to  vch  hous  •  hent  )>at  ]>er  dwelled 2. 

1  styntej?  a  MS.  'dowelled.' 


156  XIIL      ALLITERATIVE   POEMS. 

Fyrst  feng  to  ])e  fly3t  •  alle  J>at  fle  my3t, 

Vuche  burde  \vtih  her  barne  *  ]?e  byggy^g  J>ay  leuej, 

&  bowed  to  ]?e  hy3  bonk  •  ]?er  brentest  hit  were  *, 

&  heterly  to  ]?e  hy3e  hylle3  •  ]?ay  [hjaled  on  faste ;  380 

Bot  al  wat3  nedle}  her  note  •  for  never  cow}>e  stynt 

pe  roje  raynande  ryg  •  [&]  ]?e  raykande  wawej, 

Er  vch  bo]>om  watj  brurd-ful  •  to  ]?e  bonke3  egge^, 

&  vche  a  dale  so  depe  •  ]?at  deemed  at  )>e  brynke3. 

pe  moste  mouwtay«e3  on  mor  •  ]>e»ne  wat3  no  more  dry^e, 

&  tyr-<m  flokked  ]?e  folke  •  for  ferde  of  ]?e  wrake.  386 

SyJ?en  ]?e  wylde  of  j>e  wode  *  on  }>e  wat^r  flette  ; 

Suwme  swywmed  }>er-on  •  J>at  saue  hemself  trawed, 

Suwme  sty3e  to  a  stud  •  &  stared  to  |?e  heuen, 

Rwly  wyth  a  loud  rurd  •  rored  for  drede.  390 

Harej,  hertte^  also  •  to  ]>e  hy^e  ru;men, 

Bukke3,  bausene3,  &  bule3  •  to  ]?e  bonkke3  hy3ed, 

&  alle  cryed  for  care  •  to  J>e  ky«g  of  heuen, 

'  Re-cou^rer  of  ]>e  creator'  •  J)ay  cryed  vchone, 

pat  amounted  j?e  mase 2  •  his  mercy  watj  passed,  395 

&  alle  his  pyt^  departed  •  fro  peple  ]>at  he  hated. 

Bi  ]>at  |>e  flod  to  her  fete  •  flo3ed  &  waxed, 

pen  vche  a  segge  863  wel  •  ]>at  synk  hyw  byhoued ; 

Frende3  fellen  i«-fere  •  &  farmed  togeder, 

To  dry3  her  delful  deystyn^  •  &  dy3en  alle  samen ;  400 

Luf  Ioke3  to  luf  '  &  his  leue  take3, 

For  to  ende  alle  at  one3  •  &  for  euer  twywne. 

By  forty  daye3  wern  faren  •  on  folde  no  flesch  styryed, 

pat  jie  flod  nade  al  freten  •  wz't£  fe3tande  wa3C3 3, 

For  hit  clam  vche  a  clyffe  •  cubiter  fyftene,  405 

Ouer  ]?e  hy3est  hylle  •  J>at  hurkled  on  erj>e. 

pe«ne  mowrkne  in  J>e  mudde  •  most  ful  nede 

1  MS.  '  wern.'  2  MS.  '  \>c  masse  >e  mase.' 

waghez  =  wawes,  i.  e.  waves. 


XI II.      THE  DELUGE.  157 

Alle  }>at  spyrakle  w-spranc l  '  no  sprawlywg  awayled, 

Saue  )>e  haj?el  vnder  hach  •  &  his  here  strauwge, 

Noe,  ]>at  ofte  neuened  •  ]>e  name  of  oure  lorde,  410 

Hyw  a^t-su/fl  in  |>at  ark  •  as  a)>el  god  lyked, 

per  alle  lede^  in  lome  •  lenged  druye. 

pe  arc  houen  wat3  on  hy3e  •  wzU  hurlande  gote;, 

Kest  to  kythej  vncou}>e  •  ]>e  clowdej  ful  nere. 

Hit  watered  on  )>e  wylde  flod  •  went  as  hit  lyste,  415 

Drof  vpon  ]>e  depe  dam  •  in  d&unger  hit  semed, 

With-outew  mast,  ojw  myke  •  o]*r  myry  bawelyne, 

Kable,  ofyer  capstan  •  to  clyppe  to  her  ankre:j, 

Hurrok,  Q\er  hande-helme  •  hasped  on  roj?<?r, 

Ofyer  any  sweande  sayl  •  to  seche  after  hauen,  420 

Bot  flote  forthe  wzt^  J>e  flyt  *  of  \>e  felle  wyndej ; 

Wheder-warde  so  ]?e  water  •  wafte,  hit  reboimde. 

Ofte  hit  roled  on-rouwde  *  &  rered  on  ende, 

Nyf  oure  Lorde  hade  ben  her  lode^-mon  •  hew  had  luwpen 

harde. 

Of  t>e  len]>e  of  noe  lyf  •  to  lay  a  lei  date,  425 

pe  sex  hundreth  of  his  age  •  &  none  odde  jerej, 
Of  secouwde  monyth  •  j?e  seue«|>e  day  ry^te^, 
To-walten  alle  ]>yse  welle-hedej  •  &  ]>e  wat^r  flowed, 
&  Jjryej  fyfty  ]?e  flod  •  of  folwande  dayej, 
Vche  hille  watj  \>er  hidde  •  wzU  y}?e3 2  ful  graye ;  430 

Al  wat}  wasted  J>at  ]>er  wonyed  •  }>e  worlde  wz't#-i»ne, 
per  euer  flote,  o>\er  flwe  •  o]>er  on  fote  jede, 
That  ro^ly 3  wat}  ]>e  remnauwt  •  |;at  ]?e  rac  dryuej, 
pat  alle  gendre3  so  ioyst  *  wern  ioyned  wyth-iwne. 
Bot  quen  j?e  lorde  of  ]?e  lyfte  •  lyked  hymseluen  435 

For  to  mywne  on  his  mon  •  his  meth  j?at  abyde3, 
pe«  he  wakened  a  wynde  •  on  wattere3  to  blowe ; 
pewne  lasned  J>e  llak 4  •  }>at  large  wat3  are, 

1  in-sprang?  2  MS.  '  yre3.'  s  rwly?  4  So  in  MS. 


158  XIII.      ALLITERATIVE   POEMS. 

pen  he  stac  vp  J>e  stange}  •  stoped  }>e  welle^, 

Bed  blywne  of  ]>e  rayn  •  hit  batede  as  fast,  440 

pewne  lasned  ]>e  103  •  lowkande  to-geder. 

After  harde  daye3  wern  out  •  an  hundreth  &  fyftd, 

As  J>at  lyftande  lome  •  luged  aboute, 

Where  ]>e  wynde  &  ]>e  weder  •  warpen  hit  wolde, 

Hit  sa3tled  on  a  softe  day  •  synkande  to  grouwde ;  445 

On  a  rasse  of  a  rok  •  hit  rest  at  ]?e  laste, 

On  ]>e  mouwte  of  mararach  *  of  armene  hilles, 

pat  ojw-wayej  on  ebrv  •  hit  hat  ]>e  thanes. 

Bot  Jjaj  |>e  kyste  in  ]>e  crage3  •  were l  closed  to  byde, 

3et  fyned  not  }>e  flod  •  ne  fel  to  })e  bo]?eme3,  450 

Bot  ]>e  hyjest  of  ]>e  egge3  •  vnhuled  were l  a  lyttel, 

pat  J?e  burne  bywne  borde  •  byhelde  ]>e  bare  erj>e ; 

pewne  wafte  he  vpon  his  wyndowe  •  &  wysed  }>er-o\ite 

A  message  fro  |)at  meyny  •  hem  moldej  to  seche, 

pat  watj  ]>e  rauen  so  ronk  •  ]>at  rebel  wat^  euer ;  455 

He  wat^  colored  as  J>e  cole  •  corbyal  vn-trwe  ; 

&  he  fongej  to  \>e  flyjt  •  &  fawnej  on  \>e  wynde3, 

Houe3  hy3e  vpon  hy3t  •  to  herken  tyj>y«ges. 

He  crouke3  for  comfort  •  when  carayne  he  fynde3 

Kast  vp  on  a  clyffe  •  |?er  costese  lay  drye ;  460 

He  hade  J?e  smelle  of  )>e  smach  •  &  smolt<?  ]>eder  sone, 

Falle3  on  j>e  foule  flesch  •  &  fylle3  his  wombe, 

&  sone  3ederly  for-3ete  •  jister-day  steuen, 

How  ]?e  cheuetayn  hym  charged  •  ]>at  J?e  kyst  3emed. 

pe  rauen  rayke3  hym  forth  •  |>at  reches  ful  lyttel  465 

How  alle  fode3  ]?er  fare  •  elle3  he  fynde  mete ; 

Bot  }>e  burne  by«ne  borde 2  •  |?at  bod  to  hys  come, 

Banned  hym  ful  bytt<?rly  •  wz't^  best^  alle  samen  ; 

He  seche3  an  o>\er  sonde3mon  •  &  sette3  on  ]>e  douwe 3  ; 

Brywge3  )>at  bry3t  vpon  borde  *  blessed,  &  sayde,  470 

1  MS.  •  wern.'  8  MS.  Morde';  see  1.  452.  3  For  '  douene.3 


XIII.      THE   DELUGE.  159 

*  Wende,  worj>elych  wy^t  •  vus  wone^  to  seche, 

Dryf  ou<?r  }>is  dywme  water  •  if  }>0u  druye  fynde3, 

Brywg  bodworde  to  bot  •  blysse  to  vus  alle ; 

pa$  ]?at  fowle  be  false  •  fre  be  ]?0u  euer.' 

Ho  wyrl«-  out  on  J>e  weder  •  on  wywge}  ful  scharpe,  475 

Dre^ly  alle  a  longe  day  •  \ai  dorst  neu<?r  ly:jt ; 

&  when  ho  fyndej  no  folde  •  her  fote  on  to  pyche, 

Ho  vmbe-kestej  |>e  coste  •  &  ]?e  kyst  seche^, 

Ho  hittej  on  }>e  euentyde  •  &  on  J?e  ark  sittej ; 

Noe  ny/»mes  hir  anon  •  &  naytly  hir  staue^.  480 

Noe  on  anoj^r  day  •  nyffzme^  efte  J?e  dovene, 

&  byddej  hir  bowe  ou«?r  ]>e  borne  *  efte  bonke^  to  seche ; 

&  ho  skyrme5  vnder  skwe  •  &  skowtej  aboute, 

Tyl  hit  wat^  ny3e  at  ]>e  na3t  *  &  noe  ]>en  sechej. 

On  ark  on  an  euentyde  •  houej  |>e  downe,  485 

On  stamyn  ho  stod  •  &  stylle  hym  abyde^  ; 

What !  ho  bro^t  in  hir  beke  •  a  bronch  of  olyue, 

Gracyous\y  vmbe-grouen  •  al  vft\.h  grene  leue^ ; 

pat  watj  })e  sywgne  of  sauytd  •  \a\.  sende  hew  oure  lorde, 

&  ]>e  sa3tly«g  of  hyw-self  •  wz't^  \>o  sely  beste^.  490 

pe«  wat^  j?er  ioy  in  J>at  gyn  •  where  luwpred  er  dryjed, 

&  much  comfort  in  j>at  cofer  •  )>at  watj  clay-daubed. 

Myryly  on  a  fayr  morn  •  monyth  ]>e  fyrst, 

pat  fallej  formast  in  J>e  3er  •  &  )?e  fyrst  day, 

Lede3  lo^en  in  J>at  lome  •  &  loked  J>fr-oute,  495 

How  ]?at  watt^rej  wern  woned  •  &  ]>e  worlde  dryed. 

Vchon  loued  oure  lorde  *  bot  lenged  ay  stylle, 

Tyl  J>ay  had  tyjjywg  fro  )>e  tolke  *  ]>at  tyned  hem  }>er-inne  • 

pew  godej  glam  to  hem  glod  •  J?at  gladed  hem  alle, 

Bede  hem  drawe  to  )>e  dor  •  delyu^r  hem  he  wolde ;  500 

pew  went  ]>ay  to  |?e  wykket  •  hit  wait  vpon  sone, 

BOJJC  ]>e  burne  &  his  barnej  •  bowed  ]>er-oute ; 

Her  wyuej  walkej  hem  wyth  •  &  )>e  wylde  after, 


l6o  XIII.      ALLITERATIVE  POEMS. 

proly  ]?mblande  in  jjronge  •  }>rowen  ful  ]>ykke. 
Bot  Noe  of  vche  honest  kynde  •  nem  out  an  odde,  505 

&  heuened  vp  an  auter  *  &  haljed  hit  fayre, 
&  sette  a  sakerfyse  }>er-on  '  of  vch  a  ser  kynde, 
pat  wat}  comly  &  clene  •  god  kepe}  non  o]>er. 
When  bremly  brened  }>ose  beste}  •  &  ]>e  brej>e  rysed, 
pe  sauowr  of  his  sacrafyse  •  so}t  to  hym  euen  510 

pat  al  spedej  &  spylle}  •  he  spokes  wzt/£  |?at  ilke 
In  comly  comfort  ful  clos  •  &  cortays  wordej : 
'  Now,  noe,  no  more  •  nel  I  neuer  wary 
Alle  }>e  mukel  mayny  [on]  molde  •  for  no  mawne^  sy/mej, 
For  I  se  wel  )>at  hit  is  sothe  •  )>at  alle  mawne^  wytte}          515 
To  vn-)?ryfte  am  alle  )>rawen  •  vfiih  jjojt  of  her  hertte^, 
&  ay  hat3  ben  &  wyl  be  •  jet  fro  her  barnage ; 
Al  is  )>e  mynde  of  ]>e  man  •  to  malyce  enclyned, 
For-Jjy  schal  I  neuer  schende  •  so  schortly  at  ones, 
As  dysstrye  al  for  mane}  sywne  •  [in]  dayej  of  J>is  er]?e.      520 
Bot  waxej  now  &  wende^  forth  •  &  worjje}  to  monye, 
Multyplyej  on  |>is  molde  •  &  menske  yow  by-tyde. 
Sesouwe}  schal  yow  neuer  sese  •  of  sede  ne  of  heruest, 
Ne  hete,  ne  no  harde  forst  •  vmbre  ne  dro3J?e, 
Ne  )>e  swetnesse  of  somer  •  ne  ]>e  sadde  wynter,  525 

Ne  |?e  nyjt,  ne  ]>e  day  •  ne  ]?e  newe  3ere3, 
Bot  euer  rewne  restlej  •  rengnej  je  ]>er-inne.' 
p<?rwyth  he  blessej  vch  a  best  *  &  byta^t  hem  J>is  er]?e. 
pe»  watj  a  skylly  skyualde  •  quen  scaped  alle  ]?e  wylde ; 
Vche  fowle  to  J>e  flyjt  •  }>at  fyj^erej  my^t  serue,  530 

Vche  fysch  to  ]>e  flod  •  J>at  fywne  cou]>e  nayte, 
Vche  beste  to  ]?e  bent  •  J>at l  bytes  on  erbej ; 
Wylde  worme^  to  her  won  •  wryj>e3  in  ]>e  erj>e; 
pe  fox  &  ]>e  folmarde  •  to  ]>e  fryth  wyndej, 
llcitles  to  hyje  hej>e  •  harej  to  gorstej,  535 

1  MS.  •  feat  pat.' 


XIII.      THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  SODOM.  l6l 

&  lyouwe;  &  lebardej  •  to  )>e  lake-ryfto, 

Hernej  &  hauekej  •  to  ]?e  hyje  roche^  ; 

pe  hole-foted  fowle  •  to  J>e  flod  hyjej, 

&  vche  best  at  a  brayde  •  ]?er  hy/rc  best  lykej ; 

pe  fowre  freke}  of  \>e  folde  •  fonge}  J>e  empyre.  540 

Lo !  suche  a  wrakful  wo  *  for  wlatsuw  dedej 

Parformed  J>e  hyje  fader  *  on  folke  pat  he  made  ; 

pat  he  chysly  hade  cherisched  •  he  chastysed  ful  harde 1, 

In  de-voydywge  ]>e  vylanye  *  \a\.  venkquyst  his  J>ewej. 


The  Destruction  of  Sodom. 
[Lines  947-972.] 

pe  grete  god  \n  his  greme  •  bygy«ne3  onlofte ; 

To  wakan  wederej  so  wylde  •  )>e  wynde3  he  calle3, 

&  )>ay  wroj>ely  vp-wafte  •  &  wrastled  togeder, 

Fro  fawre  half  of  ]>e  folde  •  flytande  loude.  950 

Clowdej  clustered  bytwene  •  kesten  vp  torres, 

Pat  J>e  ]>ik  |>uwder-])rast  •  ]>irled  hem  ofte. 

pe  rayn  rueled  adouw  •  ridlande  j?ikke, 

Of  felle  flau«kes  of  fyr  •  &  flakes  of  soufre, 

Al  in  smolderande  smoke  •  smachande  ful  ille,  955 

Swe 2  aboute  sodamas  •  &  hit  sydej  alle, 

Gorde  to  gomorra  •  ]>at  ]>e  grouwde  lansed ; 

Abdama  and  syboym  •  }>ise  ceteis  alle  faure, 

Al  birolled  wyth  j>e  rayn  *  rostted  &  brewned, 

&  ferly  flayed  J>at  folk  •  J>at  in  pose  fees  lenged.  960 

For  when  j>at  j>e  helle  herde    )>e  houwdej  of  heuen, 

He  watj  ferlyly  fayn  •  vnfolded  bylyue ; 

pe  grete  barrej  of  )>e  abyme  •  he  barst  vp  at  onej, 

pat  alle  J>e  regiou«  to-rof  •  in  riftes  ful  grete, 

1  MS.  '  hardec.'  8  sweyed  ? 

VOL.  II.  M 


1  62  XIII.      ALLITERATIVE   POEMS. 

&  clouen  alle  in  lyttel  cloutes  *  )>e  clyffej  aywhere,  965 

As  lance  leue}  of  ]>e  boke  •  )>at  lepes  in  twywne. 

pe  brethe  of  )>e  brynston  •  bi  J?at  hit  blende  were, 

Al  ]?o  citees  &  her  sydes  •  sunkken  to  helle. 

Rydelles  wern  }>o  grete  rowtes  *  of  renkkes  wzU-i«ne, 

When  )>ay  wern  war  of  J?e  wrake  •  \a\,  no  wy$e  achaped  ;    970 

Such  a  $omerly  5arm  •  of  jellywg  ]>er  rysed, 

per-of  clatered  ]>e  cloudes  •  }>at  kryst  my5t  haf  raw]?e. 


[Lines  1009  —  1051.] 

Suche  a  ro]?u»  of  a  reche  *  ros  fro  J?e  blake, 

Aske}  vpe  in  j>e  ayre  •  &  vselle^  J?er  flowen,  1010 

As  a  fornes  ful  of  flot  •  ]?at  vpon  fyr  boyles, 

When  bry$t  bre^nande  brondej  *  ar  bet  Jj^r-an-vnder. 

pis  watj  a  uengau«ce  violent  •  J>at  voyded  J>ise  places, 

pat  foundered  hatj  so  fayr  a  folk  •  &  ]>e  folde  sonkken. 

per  faur*  citees  wern  set  •  nov  is  a  see  called,  1015 

pat  ay  is  drouy  &  dym  •  &  ded  in  hit  kynde, 

Bio,  blubrande,  &  blak  •  vnbly}>e  to  neje, 

As  a  stynkande  stanc  •  |>at  stryed  sywne, 

pat  euer  of  sywne  &  of  smach  •  smart  is  to  fele  ; 

For-}>y  )>e  derk  dede  see  *  hit  is  demed  eu^r-more,  1020 

For  hit  dede}  of  de]>e  •  duren  ]?ere  jet. 

For  hit  is  brod  &  bojjewle}  •  &  bitter  as  ]>e  galle, 

&  nojt  may  lenge  in  )?at  lake  •  |>at  any  lyf  bere3, 

&  alle  |>e  costej  of  kynde  •  hit  combrej  vchone  ; 

For  lay  }>er~on  a  lump  of  led  •  &  hit  on  loft  flete},  1025 

&  folde  }>er-on.  a  lyjt  fy]>er  '  &  hit  to  fou/zs  synkke^. 

&  \er  [)?at]  wat^r  may  waiter  *  to  wete  any  er]>e, 

Schal  neufr  grene  }>er-on  growe  •  gresse  ne  wod  naw]#r. 

If  any  schalke  to  be  schent  •  wer  schowued  }>er-inne, 

paj  he  bode  in  |>at  bo]?em  •  bro)?ely  a  monyth,  1030 

He  most  ay  lyue  in  j>at  loje  •  in  losywg  eu^r-more, 


XIII.      THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  SODOM.  163 

&  neifcr  dryje  no  dethe  •  to  dayes  of  ende. 

&,  as  hit  is  corsed  of  kynde  •  &  hit  coostej  als, 

pe  clay  J>at  clenges  }>er-by  •  am  corsyes  strong, 

As  alum  &  alkaran l  •  ]>at  angre* 2  am  bo]>e,  1035 

Soufre  sour,  &  sau^dyu^r  •  &  ojwr  such  mony ; 

&  Jjer  waltej  of  ]>at  water  •  in  waxlokes  grete, 

pe  spuniande 3  aspaltouw  •  ]?at  spysere}  sellen ; 

&  suche  is  alle  }>e  soyle  •  by  ]>at  se  halues, 

pat  fel  fretes  ]>e  flesch  •  &  festred  4  bones.  1040 

&  ]?er  ar  tres  by  ]>at  terne  •  of  traytowres  [kynde], 

&  J>ay  borgouwe}  &  beres  •  blomej  ful  fayre, 

&  j?e  fayrest  fryt  •  J>at  may  on  folde  growe, 

As  orenge  &  o]>er  fryt  •  &  apple  garnade ; 

Also  red  &  so  ripe  •  &  rychely  hwed,  1045 

As  any  dom  my3t  deuice  •  of  dayntye5  oute ; 

Bot  quen  hit  is  brused,  olper  broken  •  o]>er  byten  in  twy«ne, 

No  worldej  goud  hit  wyth-iwne  *  bot  wydowande  5  askes ; 

Alle  ]>yse  ar  teches  &  tokenes  *  to  trow  vpon  jet, 

&  wittnesse  of  }>at  wykked  werk  •  &  J>e  wrake  after,  1050 

pat  cure  fader  forferde  •  for  fylj>e  of  }>ose  ledes. 

1  alkatran?  *  augre  =  aigre?  8  spinnande? 

*  festres  ?  B  MS.  '  wy«dowande.' 


M  2 


XIV. 

SIR   JOHN   MANDEVILLE. 
A.D.  1356. 

SIR  JOHN  MANDEVILLE  was  born  about  A.D.  1300,  commenced 
his  travels  in  the  year  1322,  and  wrote  an  account  of  them  in 
English  in  the  year  1356.  He  died  in  November  1371  or  1372. 
The  following  extracts,  in  the  Midland  dialect,  are  copied  from 
'The  Voiage  and  Travaile  of  Sir  John  Maundeville,'  edited, 
from  the  edition  of  1725,  by  J.  O.  Halliwell,  London,  1839. 
This  edition  was  founded  on  the  Cotton  MS.  Titus  G.  xvi. 

The  Prologue. 

[Corrected  by  Cotton  MS.  Titus  C.  xvi.] 
[Pages  1-5.] 

FOR  als  moche  as  the  lond  be3onde  the  see,  that  is  to 
seye,  the  holy  lond,  that  men  callen  the  lond  of  promys- 
sioun,  or  of  beheste,  passynge  alle  othere  londes,  is  the  most 
worth!  lond,  most  excellent,  and  lady  and  sovereyn  of  alle 
5  othere  londes,  and  is  blessed  and  halewed  of  the  precyous 
body  and  blood  of  oure  Lord  Ihesu  Crist ;  in  the  whiche  lond 
it  lykede  him  to  take  flesch  and  blood  of  the  virgyne  Marie, 
to  envyrone  that  holy  lond  with  his  blessede  feet ;  and  there 
he  wolde  of  his  blessednesse  enoumbre  him  in  the  seyd 


XIV.    (A)   PROLOGUE  TO   THE   VOIAGE.  165 

blessed  and  gloriouse  virgine  Marie,  and  become  man,  and  10 
worche  many  myracles,  and  preche  and  teche  the  feyth  and 
the  lawe  of  crystene  men  unto  his  children ;    and  there  it 
lykede  him  to  suffre  many  reprevynges  and  scornes  for  us ; 
and  he  that  was  kyng  of  heuene,  of  eyr,  of  erthe,  of  see,  and 
of  alle  thinges  that  ben  conteyned  in  hem,  wolde  alle  only  15 
ben  cleped  kyng  of  that  lond,  whan  he  seyde,  Rex  sum 
ludeorum,  that  is  to  seyne,  /  am  kyng  of  lewes ;  and  that 
lond  he  chees  before  alle  other  londes,  as  the  beste  and 
most  worthi  lond,  and  the  most  vertuouse  lond  of  alle  the 
world  :  for  it  is  the  herte  and  the  myddes  of  alle  the  world :  20 
wytnessynge  the  philosophere,  that  seyth  thus:    Virtus  re- 
rum  in  medio  consistit :  that  is  to  seye,  the  vertue  of  thinges  is 
in  the  myddes ;  and  in  that  lond  he  wolde  lede  his  lyf,  and 
suffre  passioun  and  deth,  of  lewes,  for  us;  for  to  bye  and 
to  delyvere  us  from  peynes  of  helle,  and  from  deth  with-  25 
outen  ende ;  the  whiche  was  ordeynd  for  us,  for  the  synne 
of  oure  formere  fader  Adam,  and  for  cure  owne  synnes  also : 
for  as  for  himself,  he  hadde  non  evylle  deserved:    for  he 
thoughte  nevere  evylle  ne  did  evylle :  and  he  that  was  kyng 
of  glorie   and   of  ioye,  myghte  best  in  that   place   suffre  30 
deth,  because  he  ches  in   that   lond,  rathere  than  in  ony 
othere,  there  to  suffre  his  passioun  and  his  deth;    for  he 
that  wil  pupplische  ony  thing  to  make  it  openly  knowen,  he 
wil  make  it  to  ben  cryed  and  pronounced  in  the  myddel 
place  of  a  town,  so  that  the  thing  that  is  proclamed  and  35 
pronounced  may  evenly  strecche  to  alle  parties :  right  so  he 
that  was  formyour  of  alle  the  world,  wolde  suffre  for  us 
at  Jerusalem,  that  is  the  myddes  of  the  world;  to  that  ende 
and  entent,  that  his  passioun  and  his  deth,  that  was  pup- 
plischt  there,  myghte  ben  knowen  evenly  to  alle  the  parties  4° 
of  the  world.     See  now  how  dere  he  boughte  man,  that  he 
made  after  his  owne  ymage,  and  how  dere  he  ajenboght 


1 66  XIV.      SIR  JOHN  MANDEVILLE. 

us,  for  the  grete  love  that  he  hadde  to  us,  and  wee  nevere 
deserved  it  to  him.  For  more  precyous  catelle  ne  gretter 

45  raunsoun  ne  myghte  he  put[te]  for  us  than  his  blessede 
body,  his  precious  blood,  and  his  holy  lyf,  that  he  thralled 
for  us ;  and  alle  he  ofTred  for  us,  that  nevere  did  synne. 
A!  dere  God,  what  love  hadde  he  to  us  his  subiettes,  whan  he 
that  nevere  trespaced  wolde  for  trespassours  suffre  deth ! 

50  Right  \vel  oughte  us  for  to  love  and  worschipe,  to  drede 
and  serven  such  a  lord;  and  to  worschipe  and  preyse 
such  an  holy  lond  that  brought  forth  such  fruyt,  thorgh 
the  whiche  every  man  is  saved,  but  it  be  his  owne  defaute. 
Wei  may  that  lond  ben  called  delytable  and  a  fructuouse  lond, 

55  that  was  bebledd  and  inoysted  with  the  precyouse  blode  of 
cure  Lord  Ihesu  Crist;  the  whiche  is  the  same  lond,  that 
oure  Lord  behighte  us  in  heritage.  And  in  that  lond  he 
wolde  dye,  as  seised,  for  to  leve  it  to  vus  his  children. 
Wherfore  every  gode  cristene  man,  that  is  of  powere,  and 

60  hath  whereof,  scholde  peynen  him  with  alle  his  strengthe 
for  to  conquere  oure  right  heritage,  and  chacen  out  alle  the 
mysbeleevynge  men.  For  wee  ben  clept  cristene  men,  after 
Crist  oure  fader.  And  }if  wee  ben  right  children  of  Crist, 
wee  oughte  for  to  chalenge  the  heritage  that  oure  fader  lafte 

65  us,  and  do  it  out  of  hethene  mennes  hondes.  But  now 
pryde,  covetyse,  and  envye  han  so  enflawmed  the  hertes  of 
lordes  of  the  world,  that  thei  are  more  besy  for  to  disherite 

•  here  neyghbores,  more  than  for  to  chalenge  or  to  conquere 
here  right  heritage  before-seyd.  And  the  comoun  peple, 

70  that  wolde  putte  here  bodyes  and  here  catelle  for  to  con- 
quere oure  heritage,  thei  may  not  don  it  withouten  the 
lordes.  For  a  semblee  of  peple  withouten  a  cheventeyn  or 
a  chief  lord,  is  as  a  flok  of  scheep  withouten  a  schepperde ; 
the  which  departeth  and  desparpleth,  and  wyten  never  whider 

75  to  go.     But  wolde  God,  that  the  temporel  lordes  and  alle 


XIV.    (A)  PROLOGUE    TO   THE    VOIAGE.  167 

worldly  lordes  weren  at  gode  acord,  and  with  the  comoun 
peple  wolden  taken  this  holy  viage  over  the  see.  Thanne 
I  trowe  wel  that,  within  a  lityl  tyme,  oure  right  heritage 
before-seyd  scholde  be  reconsyled,  and  put  in  the  hondes 
of  the  right  heires  of  Ihesu  Crist.  80 

And  for  als  moche  as  it  is  longe  tyme  passed,  that  ther 
was  no  generalle  passage  ne  vyage  over  the  see ;  and  many 
men  desiren  for  to  here  speke  of  the  holy  lond,  and  han 
there-of  gret   solace   and   comfort;    I   lohn   Maundevylle, 
Knyght,  alle  be  it  I  be  not  worthi,  that  was  born  in  Englond,  85 
in  the  town  of  Seynt  Albones,  and  passed  the  see,  in  the 
3eer  of  oure  Lord  Ihesu  Crist  Mill.  ccc.  &  xxij.,  in  the  day  of 
Seynt  Michelle  \  and  hider-to  have  ben  longe  tyme  over  the 
see,  and  have  seyn  and  gon  thorgh  manye  dyverse  londes, 
and  many  provynces  and  kyngdomes  and  iles ;    and  have  90 
passed  thorghout  Turkye,  Ermonye  the  litylle  and  the  grete, 
Tartarye,  Percye,  Surrye,  Arabye,  Egypt  the  high  and  the 
lowe l ;  thorgh  Lybye,  Caldee,  and  a  gret  partie  of  Ethiope  ; 
thorgh  Amazoyne,  Inde  the  lasse  and  the  more,  a  gret  partie ; 
and  thorgh-out  many  othere  iles,  that  ben  abouten  Inde  ;  95 
where  dwellen  many  dyverse  folk,  and  of  dyverse  maneres 
and  lawes,  and  of  dyverse  schappes  of  men.     Of  whiche 
londes  and  iles  I  schalle  speke  more  pleynly  hereafter.     And 
I  schalle  devise  3ou  sum  partie  of  thinges  that  there  ben, 
whan  tyme  schalle  ben,  after  it  may  best  come  to  my  mynde;  100 
and  specyally  for  hem,  that  wille  and  are  in  purpos  for  to 
visite  the  holy  citee  of  lerusalem  and  the  holy  places  that  are 
thereaboute.     And  I  schalle  telle  the  weye,  that  thei  schulle 
holden  thider.     For  I  have  often  tymes  passed  and  ryden 
that  way,  with  gode  companye  of  many  lordes  :    God  be  105 
thonked. 

And  jee  schulle  undirstonde,  that  I  have  put  this  boke 
1  From  '  Surrye'  to  '  lowe'  is  omitted  in  the  printed  editions. 


l68  XIV.     SIR  JOHN  MANDEVILLE. 

out  of  Latyn  into  Frensch,  and  translated  it  a$en  out  of 
Frensch  into  Englyssch,  that  every  man  of  my  nacion  may 

no  understonde  it. 

But  lordes  and  knyghtes  and  othere  noble  and  worthi  men, 
that  conne  not  Latyn  but  litylle,  and  han  ben  be^onde  the 
see,  knowen  and  understonden  }if  I  seye  trouthe  or  non, 
and 1  jif  I  erre  in  devisynge,  for  fo^etynge,  or  elles ;  that  thei 

115  mowe  redresse  it  and  amende  it.  For  thinges  passed  out 
of  longe  tyme  from  a  mannes  mynde  or  from  his  syght, 
turnen  sone  into  fo^etynge :  because  that  mynde  of  man 
ne  may  not  ben  comprehended  ne  withholden,  for  the  freeltee 
of  mankynde. 

(B)     PART  OF  CAP.  XII. 

Of  the  begynnyng  of  Machomete. 
[Pages  139-1 42.] 

And  566  schulle  understonde  that  Machamete  was  born 
in  Arabye,  that  was  first  a  pore  knave  that  kepte  cameles, 
that  wenten  with  marchantes  for  marchandise;  and  so  be- 
felle,  that  he  wente  with  the  marchandes  in-to  Egipt :  and 
5  thei  weren  thanne  cristene  in  tho  partyes.  And  at  the 
desertes  of  Arabye,  he  wente  into  a  chapelle  where  a 
eremyte  duelte.  And  whan  he  entred  into  the  chapelle, 
that  was  but  a  lytille  and  a  low  thing  and  had  but  a  lityl 
dore  and  a  low,  than  the  entree  began  to  wexe  so  gret 
10  and  so  large  and  so  high,  as  though  it  had  ben  of  a 
gret  mynstre,  or  the  }ate  of  a  paleys.  And  this  was  the 
firste  myracle,  the  Sarazins  seyn,  that  Machomete  dide  in 
his  jouthe.  After  began  he  for  to  wexe  wyse  and  riche, 
and  he  was  a  gret  astronomer :  and  after,  he  was  governour 

1  From  '3if  I  seye'  to  '  and'  is  omitted  in  the  printed  editions. 


XIV.  (B)  THE  BEGYNNYNO  OF  MACHOMETE.  169 

and  prince  of  the  lond  of  Corrodane ;  and  he  governed  it  15 
fulle  wisely,  in  such  manere,  that  whan  the  prince  was  ded, 
he  toke  the  lady  to  wyfe,  that  highte  Gadrige.     And  Macho- 
mete  felle  often  in  the  grete  sikenesse,  that  men  callen  the 
fallynge  evylle :  wherfore  the  lady  was  fulle  sory,  that  evere 
sche  toke  him  to  husbonde.     But  Machomete  made  hire  to  20 
beleeve,  that  alle  tymes,  whan  he  felle  so,  Gabriel  the  angel 
cam  for  to  speke  with  him ;    and  for  the  gret  light  and 
brightnesse  of  the  angelle,  he  myghte  not  susteyne  him  fro 
fallynge.      And  therfore   the   Sarazines   seyn,  that  Gabriel 
cam  often  to  speke  with  him.     This  Machomete  regned  in  25 
Arabye  the  seer  of  oure  Lord  Ihesu  Crist  .vi.  c.  &  x. ;   and 
was  of  the  generacion  of  Ysmael,  that  was  Abrahames  sone, 
that  he  gat  upon  Agar  his  chamberere.     And  therfore  ther 
ben  Sarazines  that  ben  clept  Ismaelytenes ;  and  summe  Aga- 
ryenes,  of  Agar :  and  the  othere  propurly  ben  clept  Sarra-  30 
zines,  of  Sarra :  and  summe  ben  clept  Moabytes,  and  summe 
Amonytes,  for   the   .ij.   sones   of  Loth,  Moab   and  Amon, 
that  he  begatt  on  his  doughtres,  that  weren  aftirward  grete 
erthely  princes.      And  also  Machomete  loved  wel  a  gode 
heremyte,  that  duelled  in  the  desertes,  a  myle  fro  Mount  35 
Synay,   in    the   weye    that    men    gon    fro   Arabye    toward 
Caldee,  and  toward  Ynde,  o  day  iourney  fro  the  see,  where 
the  marchauntes  of  Venyse  comen  often  for  marchandise. 
And  so  often  wente  Machomete  to  this  heremyte,  that  alle 
his  men  weren  wrothe :  for  he  wolde  gladly  here  this  here-  40 
myte  preche,  and  make  his  men  wake  alle  nyght :  and  ther- 
fore his  men  thoughten  to  putte  the  heremyte  to  deth :  and 
so  befelle  upon  a  nyght,  that  Machomete  was  dronken  of 
gode  wyn,  and  he  felle  on  slepe ;  and  his  men  toke  Macho- 
metes  swerd  out  of  his  schethe  whils  he  slepte,  and  there-  45 
with  thei  slowgh  this   heremyte,  and   putten  his  swerd  al 
blody  in  his  schethe  ajen.     And  at  morwe,  whan  he  fond 


170  XIV.      SIR   JOHN  MANDEVILLE. 

the  heremyte  ded,  he  was  fulle  sory  and  wroth,  and  wolde 
have  don  his  men  to  deth :  but  thei  alle  with  on  accord 

50  [seyde],  that  he  himself  had  slayn  him,  whan  he  was 
dronken,  and  schewed  him  his  swerd  alle  blody:  and  he 
trowed  that  thei  hadden  seyd  soth.  And  than  he  cursed 
the  wyn,  and  alle  tho  that  drynken  it.  And  therfore  Sarra- 
zines,  that  ben  devout,  drynken  nevere  no  wyn :  but  summe 

55  drynken  it  prevyly.  For  ^if  thei  dronken  it  openly,  thei 
scholde  ben  repreved.  But  thei  drynken  gode  beverage  and 
swete  and  norysshynge,  that  is  made  of  Galamelle :  and  that 
is  that  men  maken  sugre  of,  that  is  of  right  gode  savour: 
and  it  is  gode  for  the  breest.  Also  it  befalleth  sumtyme, 

60  that  Cristene  men  becomen  Sarazines,  outher  for  povertee  or 
for  symplenesse,  or  elles  for  here  owne  wykkednesse.  And 
therfore  the  archiflamyn  or  the  flamyn,  as  oure  e[r]che- 
bisshopp  or  bisshopp,  whan  he  resceyveth  hem,  seyth  thus, 
La  ellec  olla  syla,  Machomet  rores  alia  V  that  is  to  seye,  There 

65  is  no  God  but  on,  and  Machomete  his  messager. 

(C)     CAP.  XXVI. 

Of  the  Contrees  and  Ties  that  ben  beionde  the  lond  of  Cathay ;  and 
of  the  Frutes  there ;  and  of  xxij  Kynges  enclosed  within  the 
Mountaynes. 

[Pages  263-269.] 

Now  schalle  I  seye  $ou  sewyngly  of  contrees  and  yles,  that 

ben  bejonde  the  contrees  that  I  have  spoken  of.     Wherfore 

I  seye  jou,  in  passynge  be  the  lond  of  Cathaye,  toward  the 

high  Ynde,  and  toward  Bacharye,  men  passen  be  a  kyng- 

5  dom  that  men  clepen  Caldilhe ;  that  is  a  fulle  fair  centre. 

And  there  groweth  a  maner  of  fruyt,  as  though  it  weren 
gowrdes :  and  whan  thei  ben  rype,  men  kutten  hem  a-to, 

1  Rather,  La  Ilia  ilia  Allah,  we  Mubammed  Resul  Allah. 


XI y.    (C)    THE   CONTREES  BEFONDE   CATHAY.      LJ J 

and  men  fynden  with-inne  a  lytylle  best,  in  flesch,  in  bon 
and  blode,  as  though  it  were  a  lytille  lomb  with-outen  wolle. 
And  men  eten  bothe  the  frut  and  the  best :   and  that  is  a  10 
gret  merveylle.      Of  that  frute  I  have  eten;   alle-though  it 
were  wondirfulle :   but  that  I  knowe  wel,  that  God  is  mer- 
veyllous  in  his  werkes.      And  natheles  I  tolde  hem  of  als 
gret  a  merveyle  to  hem,  that  is  amonges  us :   and  that  was 
of  the  Bernakes.      For  I  tolde  hem,  that  in  oure  contree  15 
weren    trees,   that   baren    a    fruyt,   that    becomen    briddes 
fleeynge  :  and  tho  that  fallen  in  the  water,  lyven ;  and  thei 
that  fallen  on  the  erthe,  dyen  anon :  and  thei  ben  right  gode 
to  mannes  mete.      And   here -of  had   thei   als   gret  mer- 
vaylle,  that  summe  of  hem  trowed,  it  were  an  inpossible  20 
thing  to  be. 

In  that  contre  ben  longe  apples,  of  gode  savour  ;  where-of 
ben  mo  than  an  .c.  in  a  clustre,  and  als  manye  in  another : 
and  thei  han  grete  longe  leves  and  large,  of  »ij.  fote  long 
or  more.  And  in  that  contree,  and  in  other  contrees  there  25 
abouten,  growen  many  trees,  that  beren  clowe-gylofres  and 
notemuges,  and  grete  notes  of  Ynde  and  of  Canelle  and  of 
many  other  spices.  And  there  ben  vynes  that  beren  so 
grete  grapes,  that  a  strong  man  scholde  have  ynow  to  done 
for  to  bere  o  clustre  with  alle  the  grapes.  In  that  same  30 
regioun  ben  the  mountaynes  of  Caspye,  that  men  clepen 
Uber  in  the  contree.  Betwene  tho  mountaynes,  the  lewes 
of  .x.  lynages  ben  enclosed,  that  men  clepen  Goth  and 
Magoth  :  and  thei  mowe  not  gon  out  on  no  syde.  There 
weren  enclosed  .xxij.  kynges  with  hire  peple,  that  dwelleden  35 
betwene  the  mountaynes  of  Sythye.  There  Kyng  Alisandre 
chaccde  hem  betwene  tho  mountaynes,  and  there  he 
thoughte  for  to  enclose  hem  thorgh  werk  of  his  men. 
But  whan  he  saugh  that  he  myghte  not  don  it,  ne  brynge 
it  to  an  ende,  he  preyed  to  God  of  Nature,  that  he  wolde  40 


172  XIV.      SIR   JOHN  MANDEVILLE. 

parforme  that  that  he  had  begonne.  And  alle  were  it  so 
that  he  was  a  payneme  and  not  worth!  to  ben  herd,  jit  God 
of  his  grace  closed  the  mountaynes  to-gydre :  so  that  thei 
dwellen  there,  alle  faste  y-lokked  and  enclosed  with  high 

45  mountaynes  alle  aboute,  saf  only  on  o  syde  ;  and  on  that 
syde,  is  the  see  of  Caspye.  Now  may  sum  men  asken,  sith 
that  the  see  is  on  that  o  syde,  wherfore  go  thei  not  out  on 
the  see  syde,  for  to  go  where  that  hem  lyketh  ?  But  to  this 
questioun,  I  schal  answere,  that  see  of  Caspye  goth  out 

5°  be  londe,  under  the  mountaynes,  and  renneth  be  the 
desert  at  o  syde  of  the  contree ;  and  after  it  streccheth 
unto  the  endes  of  Persie.  And  alle -though  it  be  clept 
a  see,  it  is  no  see,  ne  it  toucheth  to  non  other  see  :  but 
it  is  a  lake,  the  grettest  of  the  world.  And  though  thei 

55  wolden  putten  hem  in-to  that  see,  thei  ne  wysten  never 
where  that  thei  scholde  arryven.  And  also  thei  conen  no 
langage  but  only  hire  owne,  that  noman  knoweth  but 
thei :  and  therfore  mowe  thei  not  gon  out.  And  also  3ee 
schulle  understonde,  that  the  lewes  han  no  propre  lond  of 

bo  hire  owne  for  to  dwellen  inne  in  alle  the  world,  but  only 
that  lond  betwene  the  mountaynes.  And  31!  thei  ^elden 
tribute  for  that  lond  to  the  Queen  of  Amazoine,  the  whiche 
that  maketh  hem  to  ben  kept  in  cloos  mile  diligently,  that 
thei  schulle  not  gon  out  on  no  syde,  but  be  the  cost  of  hire 

65  lond.  For  hire  lond  marcheth  to  tho  mountaynes.  And 
often  it  hath  befallen,  that  summe  of  the  lewes  han  gon 
up  the  mountaynes,  and  avaled  down  to  the  vabyes :  but 
gret  nombre  of  folk  ne  may  not  do  so.  For  the  mountaynes 
ben  so  hye  and  so  streght  up,  that  thei  moste  abyde  there, 

7°  maugree  hire  myght.  For  thei  mowe  not  gon  out  but 
be  a  litille  issue,  that  was  made  be  strengthe  of  men ;  and 
it  lasteth  wel  a  .iiij.  grete  myle.  And  after,  is  there  jit  a 
lond  alle  desert,  where  men  may  fynde  no  water,  ne  for 


XIV.   (C)    THE   CONTREES  BEYONDE   CATHAY.      173 

dyggynge  ne  for  non  other  thing.  Wherfore  men  may 
not  dwellen  in  that  place :  so  is  it  fulle  of  dragounes,  of  75 
serpentes,  and  of  other  venymous  bestes,  that  noman  dar 
not  passe,  but  jif  it  be  be  strong  wynter.  And  that  streyt 
passage  men  clepen  in  that  contree,  Clyron.  And  that 
is  the  passage  that  the  queen  of  Amazoine  maketh  to  ben 
kept.  And  thogh  it  happene  sum  of  hem,  be  fortune,  80 
to  gon  out,  thei  conen  no  maner  of  langage  but  Ebrew; 
so  that  thei  can  not  speke  to  the  peple.  And  jit  natheles, 
men  seyn  thei  schulle  gon  out  in  the  tyme  of  Antecrist, 
and  that  thei  schulle  maken  gret  slaughter  of  Cristene  men. 

And  therfore  alle  the  lewes  that  dwellen  in  alle  londes,  85 
lernen  alle  weys  to  speken  Ebrew,  in  hope  that  whan  the 
other  lewes  schulle  gon  out,  that  thei  may  understonden 
hire  speche,  and   to   leden  hem  in-to  Cristendom,  for  to 
destroye  the  cristene  peple.     For  the  lewes  seyn,  that  thei 
knowen  wel,  be  hire  prophecyes,  that  thei  of  Caspye  schulle  90 
gon  out  and  spreden  thorgh-out  alle  the  world;    and  that 
the  Cristene   men   schulle   ben   under  hire  subieccion,  als 
longe  as  thei  han  ben  in  subieccion  of  hem.     And  }if  that 
;ee  wil  wyte  how  that  thei  schulle  fynden  hire  weye,  after 
that  I  have  herd  seye,  I  schalle  telle  jou.     In  the  tyme  of  95 
Antecrist,  a  fox  schalle  make  there  his  trayne,  and  mynen 
an  hole,  where  kyng  Alisandre  leet  make  the  jates :  and  so 
longe  he  schalle   mynen  and  percen  the  erthe,  til  that  he 
schalle  passe  thorgh,  towardes  that  folk.     And  whan  thei 
seen  the  fox,  they  schulle  have  gret  merveylle  of  him,  be  too 
cause  }>at  thei  saugh  never  such  a  best.     For  of  alle  othere 
bestes  thei  han  enclosed  amonges  hem,  saf  only  the  fox. 
And  thanne  thei  schulle  chacen  him  and  pursuen  him  so 
streyte,  tille  that  he  come  to  the  same  place  that  he  cam  fro. 
And  thanne  thei  schulle  dyggen  and  mynen  so   strongly,  105 
tille  that  thei  fynden  the  jates,  that  Kyng  Alisandre  leet  make 


174  XIV-      SIR   JOHN  MANDEVILLE. 

of  grete  stones  and  passynge  huge,  wel  symented  and  made 
stronge  for  the  maystrie.  And  tho  sates  thei  schulle  breken, 
and  so  gon  out,  be  fyndynge  of  that  issue.  Fro  that  lond 

1 10  gon  men  toward  the  lond  of  Bacharie,  where  ben  fulle  yvele 
folk  and  fulle  cruelle.  In  that  lond  ben  trees,  that  beren 
wolle  as  thogh  it  were  of  scheep ;  where-of  men  maken 
clothes,  and  alle  thing  that  may  ben  made  of  wolle.  In 
that  contree  ben  many  Ipotaynes,  that  dwellen  somtyme 

1*5  in  the  water  and  somtyme  on  the  lond:  and  thei  ben  half 
man  and  half  hors,  as  I  have  seyd  before :  and  thei  eten 
men,  whan  thei  may  take  hem.  And  there  ben  ryveres  and 
watres  that  ben  fulle  byttere,  three  sithes  more  than  is  the 
water  of  the  see. 

12°  In  that  centre  ben  many  griffounes,  more  plentee  than 
in  ony  other  contree.  Sum  men  seyn,  that  thei  han  the 
body  upward  as  an  egle,  and  benethe  as  a  lyoun :  and 
treuly  thei  seyn  soth,  that  thei  ben  of  that  schapp.  But 
o  grifToun  hath  the  body  more  gret  and  is  more  strong 

|25  thanne  .viij.  lyouns,  of  suche  lyouns  as  ben  o  this  half  j  and 
more  gret  and  strongere  than  an  .c.  egles,  suche  as  we 
han  amonges  us.  For  o  griffoun  there  wil  bere,  fleynge 
to  his  nest,  a  gret  hors,  (jif  he  may  fynde  him  at  the  poynt1,) 
or  .ij.  oxen  3oked  to-gidere,  as  thei  gon  at  the  plowgh.  For 

"3°  he  hath  his  talouns  so  longe  and  so  large  and  grete  upon 
his  feet,  as  though  thei  weren  homes  of  grete  oxen  or  of 
bugles  or  of  kyjn ;  so  that  men  maken  cuppes  of  hem,  to 
drynken  of:  and  of  hire  ribbes  and  of  the  pennes  of  hire 
wenges,  men  maken  bowes  fulle  stronge,  to  schote  with 

'35  arwes  and  quarelle. 

1  Omitted  in  the  printed  editions. 


XV. 

WILLIAM  LANGLAND,  OR  LANGLEY. 

A.D.    1362. 

ACCORDING  to  tradition,  William  Langland,  Longland,  or 
Langley,  was  a  native  of  Cleobury  Mortimer  in  Shropshire.  He 
must  have  been  born  about  the  year  1332,  and  have  died  about 
1400.  He  is  supposed  to  have  been  educated  near  the  Malvern 
Hills  (Worcestershire),  where  he  composed  the  first  version  of 
his  great  poem  entitled  '  The  Vision  of  William  concerning  Piers 
the  Plowman'  (Tisio  Willelmi  detPetro  le  Plowman}  shortly  after 
the  time  of  the  great  plague  which  ravaged  England,  A.D.  1361-2. 
About  the  year  1377  he  was  living  in  London,  where  he  wrote 
his  second  version  of  the  poem,  extending  it  to  three  times  its 
former  length.  Subsequently  he  returned  to  the  West  of  Eng- 
land, and  again  re-wrote  his  poem,  with  various  additions  and 
alterations,  between  1380  and  1390. 

Piers  the  Plowman  is  an  allegorical  poem,  or  series  of  poems, 
in  which  the  author  satirizes  the  vices  and  abuses  of  the  age,  the 
degeneracy  of  the  prelates  and  priests,  political  corruptions,  the 
avarice  and  rapacity  of  the  nobility,  and  the  oppression  of  the 
poor  by  the  rich.  Piers  is  intended  to  represent  the  model 
Christian,  and  is  at  times  identified  with  Christ. 

All  three  versions  of  the  poem  (A-text,  B-text,  and  C-text) 
are  being  published  for  the  Early  English  Text  Society,  edited 
by  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Skeat ;  the  first  two  volumes  have  already 
appeared.  The  following  extracts  are  from  the  A-text,  which  is 
based  upon  the  copy  in  the  Vernon  MS.  in  the  Bodleian  Library, 
the  dialect  of  which  is  Southern,  with  Midland  peculiarities. 


Ij6  XV.      WILLIAM  LANGLAND. 

{From  the  earliest  version  of*  The  Vision  of  William 
concerning  Piers  the  Plowman.'^ 

Prologus. 

IN  A  somer  sesun  •  whon  softe  was  j?e  sonne, 

I  schop  me  in-to  a  schroud  •  A  scheep  as  I  were  ; 

In  Habite  of  an  Hermite  •  vn-holy  of  werkes, 

Wende  I  wydene  in  Jns  world  •  wondres  to  here. 

Bote  in  a  Mayes  Morwnynge  •  on  Maluerne  hulles  5 

Me  bi-fel  a  ferly  •  A  Feyrie,  me  J>ouhte ; 

I  was  weori  of  wandringe  •  and  wente  me  to  reste 

Vndur  a  brod  banke  •  bi  a  Bourne  syde, 

And  as  I  lay  and  leonede  •  and  lokede  on  J>e  watres, 

I  slumberde  in  A  slepyng  •  hit  sownede  so  murie.  10 

penne  gon  I  Meeten  •  A  Meruelous  sweuene, 
pat  I  was  in  A  Wildernesse  •  wuste  I  neuer  where, 
And  as  I  beo-heold  in-to  J>e  Est  •  an-heij  to  |>e  sonne, 
I  sauh  a  Tour  on  A  Toft  •  trijely  *  I-maket ; 
A  Deop  Dale  bi-neoj>e  •  A  dungun  ]>er-Inne,  15 

W*U  deop  dich  and  derk  •  and  dredful  of  siht. 

A  Feir  feld  ful  of  folk  •  fond  I  }>er  bi-twene, 
Of  alle  maner  of  men  •  J>e  mene  and  }>e  riche, 
Worchinge  and  wondringe  •  as  )>e  world  askejx 
Suwme   puttew   hew   to   ]>e  plouj   •    &   pleiden  hem  ful 
seldene,  20 

In  Eringe  and  in  Sowynge  *  swonken  ful  harde, 
pat  monie  of  J>eos  wasturs  •  In  Glotonye  distruen. 

And  suwme  puttew  hem  to  pruide  •  apparayldew  hew 

]><rr-after, 
In  Cuntinau«ce  of  clo])i«ge  •  queinteliche  de-Gyset ; 

1  So  in  Trin.  MS. ;  Vcrn.  MS.  '  wonderliche.' 


XV.      PIERS   THE  PLOWMAN.      PROLOGUE.        177 

To  preyere  and  to  penaunce  *  putten  heom  monye,  25 

For  loue  of  vr  lord  *  liueden  ful  harde, 

In  Hope  for  to  haue  •  Heuene-riche  blisse ; 

As  Ancres    and   Hermytes   •   b#t    holdej>    hem    in    heore 

Celles, 

Coueyte  not  in  Cuntre  •  to  carien  a-boute, 
For  non  likerous  lyflode  •  heore  licam  to  plese.  30 

And  su#zme  chosen  Chaffare  •  to  cheeuen  be  bettre, 
As  hit  semeb  to  vre  siht  •  bat  suche  men  scholden ; 
And  suwme  Murbhes  to  maken  •  as  Munstrals  cunne, 
And  gete  gold  wib  here  gle  •  giltles,  I  trowe  \ 

Bote  lapers  and  langelers  •  ludas  Children,  35 

Founden  hem  Fantasyes  •  and  fooles  hem  maaden, 
And  habbej)  wit  at  heor  wille  •  to  worchen  :jif  hem  luste. 
pat  Poul  preche]>  of  hem  •  I  dar  not  preouen  heere ; 
Qui  loquitur  turptloquium  '  Hee  is  Luciferes  hyne. 

Bidders  and  Beggers  •  faste  a-boute  eoden,  40 

Til  heor  Bagges  &  heore  Balies  •  were«  bratful2  I-cro^met; 
Feynedew  hew  for  heore  foode  •  foujten  atte  ale ; 
In  Glotonye,  God  wot  •  gon  heo  to  Bedde, 
And  ryseth  vp  wib  ribaudye  •  |>is  Roberdes  knaues ; 
Sleep  and  Sleujbe  •  suwej>  hem  euere.  45 

Pilgrimes  and  Palmers  •  Plihten  hem  to-ged^res 
For  to  seche  seint  I  erne  •  and  seintes  at  Roome ; 
Wenten  for])  in  heore  wey  •  wz't/fc  mony  wyse  tales, 
And  hedden  leue  to  Iy3en  •  al  heore  lyf  aftir  3. 

Ermytes  on  an  hep  •  wib  hokide  staues,  50 

Wenten  to  Walsyngham  •  &  here'wenchis  aftir4; 
Crete  lobres  &  longe  •  \a\.  lo}>  weore  to  swynke, 
Clobeden  hem  in  Copes  •  to  beo  knowen  for  brejwen ; 

1  This  line  is  from  Trin.  MS. ;  omitted  in  Vernon  MS. 
2  Vern. '  faste';  Trin.  '  bratful.'  3  So  in  Trin.;  Vern.  'tyme.' 

*  Vern.  MS.  omits  11.  50,  51,  which  are  supplied  from  Trin.  MS. 
VOL.  II.  N 


178  XV.      WILLIAM  LANG  LAND. 

And  supine  schopen  hem l  to  hermytes  •  heore  ese  to  haue. 

I  Font  ]>ere  Freres  •  all  ]>e  Foure  Ordres,  55 

Prechinge  J>e  peple  •  for  pr0fyt  of  heore  wombes, 
Glosynge  )>e  Gospel  •  as  hem  good  like]?, 
For  Couetyse  of  Copes  *  Construe]?  hit  ille ; 
For  monye  of  J>is  Maistres  •  mowew  cloj>e»  hem  at  lyking, 
For  Moneye  &  heore  Marchauwdie  •  meetew  ofte  toged^re.  60 
Se}>J>e   charite  haj?  .be  chapmon   •   and2   cheef  to  schriuew 

lordes, 

Mony  ferlyes  han  bi-falle  •  in  a  fewe  jeres. 
But  holychirche  bi-ginne  •  holde  bet  to-gedere, 
pe  moste  Mischeef  on  molde  •  mountej?  vp  faste. 

per  pr^chede  a  pardoner  •  as  he  a  prest  were,  65 

And  brou3t  vp  a  Bulle  •  wz'tfc  Bisschopes  seles, 
And  seide  Jwzt  him-self  mihte  •  a-soylen  hem  alle 
Of  Falsnesse  of8  Fastinge  •  and  of  vouwes  I-broken. 
pe  lewede  Men  likede  him  wel  •  and  leeue}>  his  speche, 
And  comen  vp  knelynge  •  and  cusseden  his  Bulle ;  70 

He  bonchede  hem  vtith  his  Breuet  •  &  blered  heore  ei3en, 
And  rauhte  wz't£  his  Ragemon  •  Ringes  and  Broches. 

Weore  |?e  Bisschop  I-blesset  •  and  wor]?  bo]?e  his  Eres,        75 
Heo  scholde  not  beo  so  hardi  •  to  deceyue  so  ]?e  peple. 
Saue  hit  nis  not  bi  ]?e  Bisschop  *  J>at  ]>e  Boye  pr^chej) ; 
Bote  f>e  Parisch-prest  and  he  •  de-parte  ]?e  seluer, 
pat  haue  schulde  j?e  pore  parisschens  •  jif  }>at  heo  ne  weore. 
P^rsones    and    parisch- pastes  *  playne}>    to   heore   Bis- 
schops,  80 

pat  heore  Parisch  haj?  ben  pore  •  se^e  )?e  Pestilence  tyme 4, 
And  askej)  leue  and  lycence  •  at  londun  to  dwelle, 

1  Vern.  MS.  omits  hem.  2  Vern.  MS.  omits  and. 

9  Vern.  'and';  Trin.  «  of.'  *  Vern.  MS.  omits  tyme. 


XV.      PIERS   THE  PLOWMAN.      PROLOGUE.        179 

To  singe  ]>er  for  Simonye  •  for  seluer  is  swete. 

per  houe|>  an  Hundret  •  In  Houues  of  selk, 
Seriauns  hit  semej>  •  to  seruen  atte  Barre ;  85 

Pleden  for  pons  •  and  pouwdes  be  lawe, 
Not  for  loue  of  vr  lord  •  vn-losej)  heore  lippes  ones, 
pow  mihtest  beter  mete;*  J>e  Myst  •  on  Maluerne  hulles, 
pen   geten   a  Mom   of  heore   Mou]>    •   til  moneye   weore 
schewed. 

I  sauh  \er  Bisschops  Bolde  *  and  Bachilers  of  diuyn        90 
Bi-coome  Clerkes  of  A-Counte  •  be  kyng  for  to  seruen; 
Erchedekenes  and  Deknes  •  bat  Dignite  hauen, 
To  preche  be  peple  *  and  pore  men  to  feede, 
Beon  lopen  to  londun  *  bi  leue  of  heore  Bisschopes, 
To  ben  Clerkes  of  be  kynges  Benche  •  be  Cuntre  to  schende. 

Barouns  and  Burgeis  *  and  Bonde-men  also  96 

I  sau3  in  |>at  Semble  •  as  je  schul  heren  her-aftur. 

Bakers,  Bochers  •  and  Breusters  monye, 
Wollene  websteris  *  and  weuiris  of  lynen, 
Taillo^rs,  tannins  •  &  tokkeris  bobe *,  100 

Masons,  Minours  *  and  mony  ober  craftes, 
Dykers,  and  Deluers  •  j>at  don  heore  dedes  ille, 
And  driuej)  for))  be  longe  day  •  w/U  'deu  vous  saue,  dam 
Emme ! ' 

Cookes  and  heore  knaues  *  Cryen  '  hote  pies,  hote ! 
Goode  gees  and  grys  •  Go  we  dyne,  Gowe  !'  105 

Tauerners  to  hem  •  tolde  be  same  tale 
Wij>  good  wyn  of  Gaskoyne  •  And  wyn  of  Oseye, 
Of  Ruyn  and  of  Rochel  •  be  Rost  to  defye. 
Al  bis  I  sail}  slepyng^  •  &  seue  sijjes  more l. 

1  Vern.  MS.  omits  11.  99,  100,  and  109,  which  are  supplied  from  Trin.  MS. 


K  2 


l8o  XV.      WILLIAM  LAN  GLAND. 


Primus  passus  de  visione. 

What  J>is  Mou/ztein  be-Meneb  •  and  bis  derke  Dale, 
And  bis  feire  feld,  ful  of  folk  •  feire  I  schal  ow  schewe. 
A  louely  ladi  on  leor  •  In  linnene  I-clobed, 
Com  a-doun  from  be  clyf  l  '  and  clepte  me  feire, 
And  seide,  '  sone  !  slepest  bou  ?  •  Sixt  J)ou  bis  peple  5 

Al  hou  bisy  bei  ben  •  A-boute  ]>e  Mase  ? 
pe  moste  parti  of  )>e  peple  •  ]>0t  passe]?  nou  on  eorbe, 
Hauen  heo  worschupe  in  ]>is  world  •  kepe  bei  no  betere  ; 
Of  ober  heuene  ben  heer  •  holde  2  }>ei  no  tale.' 

Ich  was  a-ferd  of  hire  Face  •  bauh  heo  feir  weore,  10 

And  seide,  'Merci,  Ma  dame  *  What  is  bis  to  mene?' 

*  pis  Tour  &  Jns  Toft,'  quod  heo  •  *  treube  is  ber-Inne, 
And  wolde  bat  je  wroujten  •  as  his  word  techeb  ; 
For  he  is  Fader  of  Fei  *  }>at  formed  ow  alle 
Bobe  with  Fel  and  vtiih  Face  •  and  jaf  ow  fyue  wittes,         15 
Forte  worschupew  him  |>erwith  3  •  while  36  beoj>  heere. 
And  for  he  hihte  |>e  eorjje  •  to  seruen  ow  vchone 
Of  wollene,  Of  linnene  •  To  lyflode  at  neode, 
In  Mesurable  Maner  •  to  maken  ow  at  ese  ; 
And  Comaufldet  of  his  Cortesye  •  In  Comune  |?reo  )>inges  ;  20 
Heore  nomes  bej>  neodful  •  and  nempnen  hem  I  )>enke, 
Bi  Rule  and  bi  Resun  •  Rehersen  hem  her-aftur. 

pat  on  Clothing  is  •  from  Chele  ow  to  saue  : 
And  )>at  ojmr,  Mete  at  Meel  •  for  meseise  of  J>iseluen  : 
And   drink   whon   )?0u  driest   •   but   do  hit   not   out  of 
Resun,  25 

pat  J>ou  weor[]?]e  j>e  worse  •  whon  ]>ou  worche  scholdest. 


1  So  in  MS.  Univ.  Coll.  Oxford  ;  Vern.  '  loft.'  a  Vern. 

8  Vern.  omits  \erwitb.     Most  of  the  corrections  are  from  the  Trin.  MS. 


XV.      PIERS   THE  PLOWMAN.      PASSUS   7.         l8l 

Dreede  dilitable  drinke  •  And  Jiou  schalt  do  J>e  bettre ; 

Mesure  is  Medicine  •  J>auh  |)ou  muche  3eor[n]e. 

Al  nis  not  good  to  J>e  gost  •  J>at  }>e  bodi  lyke)), 

Ne  lyflode  to  j>e  licam  •  J>at  leof  is  to  J>e  soule.  35 

Leef  not  J>i  licam  •  for  ly}ere  him  techej), 
pat  is  )>e  Wikkede  word  •  }>e  to  bi-traye. 
For  J>e  Fend  and  \>i  Flesch  •  folewen  to-gedere, 
And  schendej)  ]>i  soule  •  seo  hit  in  j?in  herte ; 
And  for  J>0u  scholdest  beo  war  •  I  wisse  ]>e  |>e  bettre/          40 

4  A  Madame,  Merci !'  q#aj?  I  •  '  me  like})  wel  J>i  wordes  ; 
Bote  j)e  Moneye  on  J>is  Molde  •  \a\.  men  so  faste  holden, 
Tel  me  to  whom  •  ]>at  Tresour  appende]>  ? ' 
'  Go  to  ]>e  gospel/  qua))  heo  •  '  ])at  god  seij)  hiw-seluen, 
Whon  ])e  peple  him  a-posede  •  vfiih  a  peny  in  ])e  Temple,  45 
}if  heo  schulden  worschupe  }>er-mtk  •  Cesar  heore  kyng. 

And  he  asked  of  hem  •  of  whom  spac  }>e  lettre, 
And  whom  ]?e  ymage  was  lyk  •  }>at  ))er-Inne  stod. 

'  Ceesar,  ])ei  seiden  *  We  seoj>  wel  vchone/ 

Reddite  ergo  que  sunt  cesaris  cesar?',  et  que  sun/  dei  deo ]. 
'  J)e«ne  Reddite'  quaj)  God  • ' ])at  to  Cesar  falle]),  50 

Et  que  sunt  dei  deo  '  or  elles  do  56  ille/ 
For  Rihtfoliche  Resoun  ••  schulde  rulen  ou  alle, 
And  kuynde  wit  be  wardeyn  •  cure  weolj)e  to  kepe, 
And  tour  of  vr  tresour  •  to  take  hit  ^ow 2  at  nede  ; 
For  husbondrie  and  he  •  holden  to-gedere/  55 

penne  I  fraynede  hire  feire  *  for  him  ])at  hire  made, 
*  pat  dungun s  in  \a\.  deope  dale  •  }>at  dredful  is  of  siht, 
What  may  hit  Mene,  Madame  •  Ich  ])e  bi-seche?' 

'  pat  is  J)e  Castel  of  care/  quod  heo  • '  hose  comej>  \>er-Irme, 
Mai  Banne  }>at  he  born  was  •  to  Bodi  or  to  soule.  60 

per-Inne  wonej)  a  wiht  •  ]>at  wrong  is  I-hote, 

1  Vern.  omits  this  quotation.  a  Vern.  omits  3010 

9  Vern.  'doun';  cf.  Prol.  1.15. 


1 82  XV.      WILLIAM  LANGLAND. 

Fader  of  Falsness  •  he  foundede  it l  him-seluen  ; 

Adam  and  Eue  •  he  eggede  to  don  ille ; 

Counseilede  Caym  •  to  cullen  his  Broker; 

ludas  he  lapede  •  wz'tA  J>e  lewes  seluer,  65 

And  on  an  Ellerne  treo  •  hongede  him  after. 

He  is  a  lettere  of  loue  •  and  ly^ej?  hem  alle 

pat  trustej)  in  heor  tresour  •  ]>er  no  tru]?e  is  Inne.' 

pe/me  hedde  I  wonder  in  my  wit  •  what  wowmon  hit 

weore, 

pat  suche  wyse  wordes  •  of  holy  writ  me  schewede  ;  70 

And  halsede  hire  in  J?e  heiije  nome  •  er  heo  ]?eonne  jeode, 
What  heo  weore  witerly  •  j?at  wisside 2  me  so  feire. 

'  Holi  churche  Icham/  qua]>  heo  *  '  JJQU  ouhtest  me  to 

knowe : 

Ich  )>e  vndurfong  furst  •  and  J>i  feij?  J>e  tau3te. 
pow  brou^test  me  Borwes  *  my  biddyng  to  worche,  75 

And  to  loue  me  leelly  •  While  j?i  lyf  durede.' 

pewne  knelede  I  on  my  kneos  *  and  cnjed  hire  of  grace, 
And  preiede  hire  pitously  •  to  preye  for  vr  su»nes, 
And  eke  to  teche  me  kuyndely  *  on  crist  to  bi-leeue, 
pat  Ich  his  wille  mihte  worche  •  \a\.  wrouhte  me  to  Mon.    80 
'  Tech  me  to  no  Tresour  •  bote  tel  me  J>is  ilke, 
Hou  I  may  saue  my  soule  *  ]>at  seint  art  I-holde.' 

'  Whon  alle  tresour  is  l-tn^ed  •  Treuj>e  is  |?e  Beste ; 
I  do  hit  on  Deus  Caritas  •  to  deeme  )>e  so))e. 
Hit  is  as  derwor]?e  a  drurie  •  as  deore  god  him-seluen.         85 
For  hose  is  trewe  of  his  tonge  •  tellej)  not  elles, 
DoJ>  his  werkes  \er-w\h  •  and  doj>  no  mon  ille, 
He  is  a-counted  to  J>e  gospel  •  on  grouwde  and  on  lofte, 
And  eke  I-liknet  to  vr  lord  *  bi  seint  Lucus  wordes. 
Clerkes  )>at  knowen  hit  •  scholde  techen  hit  aboute,  90 

For  Cristene  and  vn-cristene  •  him  cleymej>  vchone. 
1  Vern.  omits  it.  2  Vern.  '  teche> 


XV.      PIERS   THE  PLOWMAN.      PASSUS  I.         183 

Kynges  and  knihtes  •  scholde  kepen  hem  bi  Reson, 
And  Rihtfuliche  Raymen  •  J>e  Realmes  a-bouten, 
And  take  trespassours  •  and  teijen l  hem  faste, 
Til  treu]?e  hedde  I-termynet  •  Jje  trespas  to  }>e  ende.  95 

For  Dauid,  in  his  dayes  *  he  Dubbede  knihtes, 
Dude  hem  swere  on  heor  swerd  •  to  seme  treuj>e  euere. 
pat  is  |>e  perte  profession  •  ]?at  a-pende])  to  knihtes, 
And  not  to  faste  a  Friday  •  In  Fyue  score  jeres, 
But  holdew  wzU  hem  &  wi'tA  heore  *  \a\.  asken  \>e  treuj>e,   100 
And  leuen  for  no  loue  •  ne  lacching  of  jiftus ; 
And  he  \ai  passe})  Jxrt  poynt  •  is  a-postata  in  J>e  ordre. 

For  crist,  kyngene  kyng  •  knyhtide  ten2, 
Cherubin  &  Seraphin  •  an  al  )>e  foure  ordres, 
And  jaf  hem  maystrie  &  miht  •  in  his  Maieste,  105 

And  oner  his  meyne  •  made  hem  Archaungelis 2, 
And  taujte  hem  8  J>orw  |>e  Trinite  *  treuj>e  for  to  knowew, 
And  beo  boxum  at  his  biddynge  •  he  bad  hem  not  elles. 

Lucifer  vfith  legiouws  *  lerede  hit  in  heuene ; 
He  was  louelokest  of  siht  •  aftur  vr  lord,  no 

Til  he  brak  Boxwrcnes  •  |>orw  bost  of  him-seluen. 

pene  fel  he  w*U  his  felawes  •  &  fendes  bi-comen, 
Out  of  heuene  in-to  helle  •  hobleden  faste, 
Suwme  in  }>e  Eir,  &  suwme  in  J?e  Eorj>e  •  &  suwme  in  helle 

deope. 

Bote  Lucifer  louwest  •  lijj)  of  hem  alle;  115 

For  pruide  \a\.  he  put  out  •  his  peyne  haj>  non  ende ; 
And  alle  \a\.  wrong  worchen  •  wende  J>ei  schulen 
After  heore  dej>-day  •  and  dwellen  wzU  )>at  schrewe. 

Ac  heo  J>at  worchen  \a\.  word  •  J>at  holi  writ  techej>, 
And  ende}),  as  Ich  er  seide  •  in  profitable  werkes,  120 

Mouwen  be  siker  })at  heore  soules  •  schullew  to  heuene, 

1  Vern.  '  bynden.'  2  Vern.  omits  11.  103  and  106. 

*  Vern.  omits  bent. 


184  XV.      WILLIAM  LANGLAND. 

per  Treube  is  in  Trinite  *  and  Coroune}>  hem  alle. 

For  I  sigge  sikerli  •  bi  siht  of  be  textes, 
Whon  alle  tresor  is  I-tri^et  •  Treube  is  be  beste. 
Lereb  hit  bis  lewed  men  •  for  lettrede  hit  knoweb,  125 

pat  treu)>e  is  tresour  •  triedest  on  eorbe.' 

'  Yit  haue  I  no  kuynde  knowing,'  quod  I  •  '  b0u  most  teche 

me  betere, 
Ei  what  Craft  in  my  Corps  *  hit  cumseb,  and  where.' 

'  pou  dotest  daffe/  qua])  heo  •  '  Dulle  are  bi  wittes. 
Hit  is  a  kuynde  knowynge  •  bat  kenneb  be  in  herte  130 

For  to  loue  bi  louerd  •  leuere  ben  bi-seluen ; 
No  dedly  suwne  to  do  •  dy^e  bau^  bou  scholdest. 
pis  I  trouwe  beo  treube !  •  hose  con  teche  be  betere, 
Loke  bou  suffre  him  to  seye  •  and  sebbe  teche  hit  torture  I 
For  bus  techej)  us  his  word  *  (worch  J>ou  })er-aftur)  135 

pat  loue  is  ]?e  leuest  ]>ing  •  }>at  vr  lord  aske]>, 
And  eke  )>e  playnt  of  pees ;  •  prechet  in l  ]>m  harpe 
per  }>ou  art  Murie  at  j?i  mete  •  whon  me  biddej?  |>e  5edde ; 
For  bi  kuynde  knowynge  in  herte  •  Cumse[|?]  )?er  a  Fitte. 

pat  Fallej)  to  )>e  Fader  •  ]>at  formede  vs  alle.  140 

He  lokede  on  vs  wz'tA  loue  •  and  lette  his  sone  dye 
Mekeliche  for  vre  misdede[s]  •  forte  amende  vs  alle. 
And  jit  wolde  he  hem  no  wo  •  ]>at  wroujte 2  him  J>at  pyne, 
But  Mekeliche  wz't£  mou]?e  •  Merci  he  by-soujte, 
To  haue  pite  on  |>at  peple  •  ]?at  pynede  him  to  de]?e.          145 

Her  Jjou  miht  seon  ensaumple  *  in  hymselfe 3  one, 
Hou  he  was  mihtful  and  Meke  •  )>at  merci  gon  graunte 
To  hem  }>at  heengen  him  hei$Q  •  and  his  herte  Jmrleden. 
For-Jn  I  rede  j>e  riche  •  haue  reuj>e  on  )?e  pore ; 

36  ben  mi^ty  to  mote  *  be]?  mek<?  of  %our  werkis;         150 
Eadem  mensura  qua  mensifueritis,  remeci\e\tur  uobis  *; 

1  For  '  in,'  Vern.  has  « ]>e.'  2  Vern.  '  wolde.'  8  Vern.  •  }>i-self ' 

*  Vern.  omits  part  of  11. 149,  150,  and  the  Latin. 


XV.      PIERS   THE  PLOWMAN.      PASS  US  I.          185 

For  ]?e  same  Mesure  \a\.  36  Meten  •  A-mis  o]>er  elles, 
3e  schul  be  weyen  ber-wz't>£  •  whon  36  wenden  hennes. 

For  J>au3  36  ben  trewe  of  tonge  •  &  ireweliche  winne, 
And  eke  as  chast  as  a  child  •  bat  in  Chirche  wepej>, 
Bote  36  liuen  trewely  *  and  eke  loue  be  pore,  155 

And  such  good  as  God  sent  •  Treweliche  parten, 
3e  naue  no  more  merit  •  In  Masse  ne  In  houres 
pen  Malkyn  of  hire  Maydenhod  •  j>at  no  Mon  desyreb. 

For  lames  be  gentel  •  bond  hit  it  in  his  Book, 
pat  Fey  wzUouten  fait  1  ••  Is  febelore  }>en  nou3t,  160 

And  ded  as  a  dore-nayl  *  but  )>e  deede  folewe. 
Chastite  wzUouten  Charite  •  (wite  }>ou  forsobe), 
Is  as  lewed  as  a  Laumpe  •  j>at  no  liht  is  Inne. 

Moni  Chapeleyns  ben  chast  •  but  Charite  is  aweye  ; 
Beo  no  men  hardore  j>en  )>ei  •  whon  heo  beo)>  avaunset  ;    165 
Vn-kuynde  to  heore  kun  •  and  to  alle  cristene  ; 
Chewen  heore  charite  •  and  chiden  after  more  1 
Such  Chastite  wz't^outen  Charite  2  •  worb  claymed  in  helle  ! 

Curatours  \a\.  schuldew  kepe  hem  •  clene  of  heore  bodies, 
pei  beob  cuwbred  in  care  •  &  cunnen  not  out-crepe  ;          1  70 
So  harde  heo  beoj)  wzU  Auarice  •  I-haspet  to-gedere. 
pat  nis  no  treube  of  Trinite  *  but  tricherie  of  helle, 
And  a  leornyng  for  lewed  men  •  be  latere  forte  dele. 

For  beos  beb  wordes  I-writen  •  In  be  Ewangelye, 
Date  et  dabilur  vobis  •  for  I  dele  ow  alle  175 

3oure  grace  &  joure  good  happe  •  joure  welbe  for  to  wynne, 
&  ^rwij)  knowej)  me  kyndely  •  of  )?at  I  3ou  sende. 
p^zt  is  }>e  lok  of  loue  •  \a\.  leti|>  out  my  grace 
To  counforte  J>e  earful  •  Acumbrid  wi]>  synne. 
Loue  is  ]>e  leueste  )>ingf  •  \a\.  our  lord  askij>,  180 


1  Vern.  'Treu}>e  wttiouten  Fey';  corrected  by  Trin.  MS. 

2  Vern.  '  Charite  wt't&outen  Chastite,'  absurdly. 


1 86  XV.       WILLIAM  LANGLAND. 

And  eke  ]?e  graib  gate  •  \al  go]?  into  heuene. 

For-]>i  I  seise  as  I  seide  er  •  be  sijte  of  J>ise  tixtes, 

Whan  alle  tresouris  arn  tri^ede  •  treuj>e  is  ]>e  beste. 

Now  haue  I  tolde  }?e  what  treube  is  •  \a\.  no  tresour  is  betere, 

I  may  no  leng^re  lenge  *  now  loke  be  cure  lord  V  185 


[From  ( Passus  Secundus.'~\ 

Now  Fals  and  Fauuel  •  fare]?  for}?  to-gedere, 
And  Meede  in  }?e  Middel  •  and  al  }?e  Meyne  aftur. 
I  haue  no  tome 2  to  telle  •  be  Tayl  }?at  hem  folwe)?,  160 

Of  so  mony  Maner  Men  •  bat  on  Molde  liuen. 

Bote  gyle  was  for-goere  •  and  gyede 3  hem  alle. 
So]?nesse  sauh  hem  wel  •  and  seide  bote  luyte, 
Bote  prikede  on  his  palfrey  •  and  passede  hem  alle, 
And  com  to  ]?e  kynges  Court  •  and  Concience  tolde,          165 
And  Concience  to  ]?e  kyng  •  Carpede  hit  aftur. 

*  Now  be  crz'st/  quod  ]?e  kyng  •  '  jif  I  mihte  Chacche 
Fals  o>\ur  Fauwel  •  or  eny  of  his  Feeres, 
I  wolde  be  wreken  on  ]?is  wrecches  •  ]?at  worchen  so  ille, 
And  don  hem  hongen  bi  be  hals  •  &  al  ]>at  hem  Meyn- 
tenen;  170 

Schal  neuer  mon 4  vppon  Molde  •  Meyntene  ]?e  leste, 
But  riht  as  ]?e  lawe  loke}?  •  let  fallen  of  hem  alle. 

And  Comauwde  }?e  Cunstable  *  \al  Com  at  }?e  furste, 
To  a-Tache  be  Traytours  •  for  eny  Tresour, 
Ich  note,  je  Fetere  Fals  faste  •  for  eny  kunnes  giftus,          175 
And  gurde}?  of  gyles  hed  •  let  him  go  no  former ; 
And  bringe]?  Meede  to  me  •  Maugre  hem  alle. 

1  Lines  176,  177  are  from  MS.   Harl.  875;    and  11.  178-185  from  the 
Trinity  MS.     Vern.  omits  them  all.  2  Vern.  '  while.' 

3  Vern.  'gilede.'  *  Vern.  'non.' 


XV.      PIERS   THE  PLOWMAN.      PASS  US  II.        187 

Symonye  and  Siuile  •  I  seende  hem  to  warne, 
pat  holichirche  for  hem  •  wor]>  harmet  for  euere. 
And  }if  je  chacche  lysere  •  let  him  not  a-skape,  180 

To  ben  set  on  be  pillori  •  for  eny  preyere ; 
I  bydde  bee  awayte  hem  wele  •  let  non  of  hem  ascape  V 

Dreede  at  be  dore  stood  •  and  be  dume 2  herde, 
And  wihtliche  wente  •  to  Warne  be  False, 
And  bad  him  faste  to  fle  •  and  his  feeres  eke.  185 

pewne  Fals  for  fere  *  fleih  to  be  Freeres, 
And  gyle  doj?  him  to  go  •  a-gast  for  to  dyje ; 
Bote  Marchauwdes  Mettew  wz't^  him   '   &  maaden  him  to 

abyden, 

Bi-sou^ten  him  in  heore  schoppes  •  to  sullen  heore  ware, 
Apparayledew  him  as  a  prentis  •  J>e  Peple  for  to  serue.        190 
Lijtliche  Lyjere  •  leop  a-wey  bennes, 
Lurkede  borw  lones  •  to-logged  of  Monye  ; 
He  nas  noujwher  wel-come  •  for  his  mony  tales, 
Bote  ouwr  al  I-hunted  •  and  hote  to  trusse. 
Pardoners  hedden  pite  •  and  putten  him  to  house,  195 

Wosschen   him   and  wrongen   hi*«   •  &   woundew   him   in 

cloutes, 

And  senden  him  on  sonendayes  •  w/tfc  scales  to  churches. 
And  jaf  pardun  for  pons  •  poundmele  a-boute. 

pis  leornden  J>is  leches  *  and  lettres  him  senden 
For  to  wone  with  hem 3  •  watres  to  loke.  200 

Spicers  speeken  w*"tA  him  *  to  a-spien  heore  ware, 
For    he    kewnede    him   in   heore   craft    •    &   kneu^   mony 

gummes. 

Muwstrals  and  Messagers  •  metten  wzU  him  ones, 
And  wzt^-heo[l]de  him  half  a  $er  •  and  elleuene  wykes. 

1  Vern.  omits  1. 182.  2  Vern.  'dune.' 

3  Vern.  '  ben  with  him.' 


1 88  XV.      WILLIAM  LANGLAND. 

Freres  wz't^  feir  speches  •  fetten  him  |?ennes ;  205 

For  knowynge  of  Comers  '  kepten  him  as  a  Frere ; 
Bote  he  ha]?  leue  to  lepen  out  •  as  ofte  as  him  lyke]>, 
And  is  wel-come  whon  he  wole  *  &  wone]?  wz't£  hem  ofte. 
And  alle  fledden  for  fere  •  and  flowen  in-to  huirnes ; 
Saue  Meede  ]>e  Mayden  •  no  mon  dorste  abyde;  210 

But  trewely  to  telle  '  heo  tremble de  for  fere, 
And  eke  wepte  and  wrong  hire  hondes   •  who»  heo  was 
a-tachet. 


Passus  Tercius  de  Visione. 

Now  is  Meede  ]?e  Maydew  I-nomew  '  &  no  mo  of  hem  alle, 
Wi|>  Beodeles  &  Baylyfs  •  I-brouht  to  J>e  kyng. 
pe  kyng  clepet  a  Cler[ke]  •  (I  knowe  not  his  nome), 
To  take  Meede  }>e  Mayden  •  &  Maken  hire  at  ese. 
'  Ichulle  assayen  hire  my-self  •  &  soj^liche  aposen  5 

What  Mon  in  ]>is  world  •  }>at  hire  weore  leouest. 
And  jif  heo  worche  be  my  wit  •  and  my  wil  folewe, 
I  schal  for-^iue  hire  ]>e  gult  •  so  me  god  helpe !' 

Corteisliche  )>e  Clerk  ]?o  •  as  |>e  kyng  hihte,  9 

Tok  J>e  Mayden  bi  }>e  Middel  •  &  brouhte  hire  to  chauwbre. 

per  was  MurJ?e  and  Munstralsye  •  Meede  wzU  to  plese ; 
Heo  J>at  wonej>  at  westmu;/stre  •  worschipej)  hire  alle. 

Gentiliche  with  loye  •  }>e  lustise  soone 
Busked  him  in-to  ]>e  Bour  •  \er  |>e  Buyrde  was  Inne, 
Cumfortede  hire  kuyndely  •  and  made  hire  good  chere,       15 
And  seide, '  Mourne  }>0u  not,  Meede  *  ne  make  J>ou  no  serwe, 
For  we  wolen  wy[s]sen  \>Q  kyng  *  and  |>i  wey  schapen, 
For  alle  Concience  Craft  •  and  Casten,  as  I  trouwe, 
Dat  |>ou  schalt  haue  bo)>e  my^t  &  maystrye  •  &  make  what  ]>e 


XV.      PIERS   THE  PLOWMAN.      PASSUS  III.       189 

wij)  |>e  kynge  &  |>e  comyns  *  &  ]?e  courte  bo)>e  V  20 

Mildeliche  ]>enne  Meede  •  Merciede  hem  alle 
Of  heore  grete  goodnesse  •  and  $af  hem  vchone 
Coupes  of  clene  Gold  *  and  peces  of  seluer, 
Rynges  wzU  Rubyes  •  and  Richesses  I-nouwe, 
pe  leste  man  of  here  mayne  •  a  mutouw  of  gold  *.  25 

penne  lau^ten  2  J»ei  leue  •  j>is  lordynges,  at  Meede. 
Wij)  )>at  ]>er  come  Clerkes  *  to  Cuwforte  )>e  same  : 
'  We  biddej?  }>e  be  blibe  *  for  we  beo)>  J>in  owne, 
Forte  worche  J>i  wil  *  while  vr  lyf  durej>.' 

Hendeliche  bewne  heo  •  be-hihte  hem  be  same,  30 

To  louen  hem  lelly  •  and  lordes  to  maken, 
And  in  Constorie  at  Court  •  to  tellen  heore  names. 
'  Schal  no  lewednesse  hem  lette  •  be  lewedeste  Jwrt  I  loue, 
pat  he  ne  worb  avaunset  ;  •  for  Icham  I-knowe 
per  Cunnynge  Clerkes  •  schul  Couche  be-hynde.'  35 

penne  com  \er  a  Confessour  •  I-Copet  as  a  Frere  ; 
To  Meede  j>e  Mayden  *  ful  Mekeliche  he  loutede, 
And  seide  ful  softely  *  in  schrift  as  hit  weore, 

4  pau3  Fals  hedde  folewed  )>e  •  }>is  Fiftene  winter,  40 

I  schal  asoyle  ]?e  my-self  *  for  a  suwme  of  whete, 
And  eke  be  \\  Baude  *  and  Bere  wel  J?in  ernde 
Among  Clerkes  and  knihtes  •  Concience  to  falle/ 

penne  Meede  For  hire  misdede  •  to  J>at  Mon  knelede, 
And  schrof  hire  of  hir  sumies  •  schomeliche,  I  trouwe.         45 
Heo  tolde  him  a  tale  •  and  tok  him  a  noble, 
For  to  ben  hire  beode-mon  •  and  hire  Baude  after. 

pene  he  asoylede  hire  soone  *  and  sij>  3  to  hire  seide, 
'  We  han  a  wyndow  in  worching  •  wol  stonden  vs  ful 


•  Vern.  omits  11.  19,  20,  which  are  from  Harl.  MS.;  and  25,  from  Trin.  MS. 
8  Vern.  '  tok.'  8  Vern.  omits  «)>. 


190  XV.       WILLIAM  LANGLAND. 

Woldustow  Glase  |>e  Gable  *  &  gr^ue  j?<?rinne  j>i  nome,        50 
Siker  schulde  Jn  soule  ben  •  for  to  dwellen  in  heuene/ 

'  Wust  I  }>at,'  quod  ]>e  wowmon  •  '  \er  nis  nou]?#r  Wyndou 

ne  Auter,  • 

pat  I  ne  schulde  maken  Q\ur  mende  •  and  my  nome  write, 
pat  vche  mon  schulde  seye  *  Ich  were  suster  of  house.' 

Bote  god  to  alle  good  folk  •  such  grauynge  defendet,       55 

And  sei]?,  Nesciat  sinistra  quidfaciat  dextera. 
Lete  not  )>i  luft  hond  •  late  ne  raj>e, 
Beo  war  what  j>i  riht  hond  •  worche]?  or  dele)? ; 
Bote  part  hit  so  priueli  •  J>at  pruide  beo  not  se3en 
Nouber  in  siht,  ne  in  soule  *  for  god  hiflz-self  knowej? 
Ho  is  Corteis,  or  kuynde  •  Couetous,  or  elles.  60 

For-))i  I  lere  3ou,  lordynges  *  such  writynge  36  leue, 
To  writen  in  Wyndouwes  •  of  3oure  wel  dedes, 
Or  to  greden  aftur  Godus  folk  •  whon  36  3iuen  or  doles ; 
Parauenture  36  han  •  oure  hure  J?<?rfore  here. 

For  vr  saueour  hit  seij?  •  and  him-seluen  pr<?cheb,  65 

Amen  dico  vobis,  receperunt  mercedem  suam  ; 
Here  forsojje  ]>ei  fongen  •  her  mede  forj?-wij)  \ 

Meires  and  Maistres  •  and  36  ]?at  beo]?  mene 
Bitwene  j^e  kyng  and  }>e  Comuns  •  to  kepe  ]?e  lawes, 
As  to  punisschen  on  pillories  *  or  on  pynnyng  stoles 
Brewesters,  Bakers  •  Bochers  and  Cookes ;  70 

For  ]>eose  be  Men  vppon  Molde  •  ]?at  most  harm  worchen, 
To  ]?e  pore  people  •  ]?at  percel-mel 2  buggen. 

pei  punisschen  J>e  peple  *  priueliche  and  ofte, 
And  rechej?  }>orw  Reg[r]atorie  •  &  Rentes  hem  bugge}), 
With  \a\.  J)e  pore  people  •  schulde  puten  in  heore  wombe ;  75 

For  toke  ]?ei  on  trewely  •  ]>ei  timbrede  not  so  hye, 
Ne  bou3te  none  Borgages  •  beo  36  certeyne. 

1  Vern.  omits  1.  66 ;  supplied  from  Harl.  MS. 
a  Vern.  'J>at  al  schal  a-buggen.' 


XV.      PIERS   THE  PLOWMAN.      PASS  US  III.      19] 

Bote  Meede  J>e  Mayden  •  J>e  Meir  heo  bi-soujte, 
Of  alle  suche  sullers  •  seluer  to  taken, 

Or  prcsentes  wzUouten  pons  •  as  peces  of  seluer,  80 

Rynges  wz't^  Rubyes  •  )>e  Regratour  to  fauere. 
'  For  my  loue/  quod  J>e  ladi  •  '  loue  hem  wel  vchone, 
And  soffre  hem  to  sulle  •  sumdel  a^eyn  Resoun.' 

Bote  Salamon  |>e  Sage  •  a  Sarmoun  he  made, 
To  a-Mende  Meires  •  and  men  ]?at  kepejj  |>e  lawe ;  85 

And  tolde  hem  ]>is  teeme  *  J>at  I  wol  telle  nouj?e : 

Ignis  deuorabit  tabernacula  eorum  qui  libenter  accipiunt 

munera. 

Among  J>is  lewede  men  •  jns  latin  Amountej), 
pat  Fuir  schal  falle  •  and  brenne  atte  laste 
pe  houses  and  ]?e  homes  •  of  hem  ]>at  desyre]> 
For  to  haue  jiftes  •  in  joujje  or  in  elde.  go 

Now  beo]?  36  war,  if  36  wole  •  36  maysters  of  }>e  lawe ; 
for  )>e  so]>e  schale  be  soujte  of  joure  soules  •  so  me  god 

helpe, 

pe  suffraunce  J>at  36  sufFre  *  such  wrongitf  to  be  wrou3t ; 
While  J>e  chaunce  is  in  3oure  choyse  •  cheose  36  f>e  best  *. 

pe  king  com  from  Couwseyl  •  and  cleped  aftur  Meede,    95 
And  of-sente  hire  a-swi]>e  •  Seriauns  hire  to  fette, 
And  brou3te  hire  to  boure  •  wz't^  Blisse  and  wz't^  loye ; 
wij)  myrj>e  &  wi \  mynstrasye  •  |?ei  pleseden  hir  ychoone 1. 
Corteisliche  ]>e  kyng  •  Cumsej?  to  telle, 
To  Meede  ]ie  Mayden  •  melej>  |?eose 2  Wordes :  100 

1  Unwittily,  ywys 3  '  wrouht  hastou  ofte ; 
Bote  worse  wrouhtest  Ipou  neuere  •  }>en  whon  j>ou  fals  toke. 
Ac  I  for3iue  ]?e  ]>is  gult  •  and  grauwte  |>e  my  grace; 
Hennes  to  J>i  dej?  day  •  do  so  no  more. 

1  Vern.  omits  11.  91-94,  and  1.  98  ;  supplied  from  Harl.  MS. 
a  Vera.  '  melodyes,'  corruptly.  3  Vern.  '  Qweynteliche,  qua)?  J?e  kyng.' 


192  XV.      WILLIAM  LANGLAND. 

Ichaue  a  kniht  hette  Concience  •  com  late  from  bi-}onde, 
3if  he  wilne  ]>e  to  wyf  •  wolt  J>ou  him  haue  ?'  106 

'  3e,  lord/  qua]?  Jjat  ladi  •  '  Lord l  for-beode  hit  elles  ! 
Bote  Ich  holde  me  to  oure  heste  •  honge  me  sone !' 

pewne  was  Concience  I-clepet  •  to  comen  and  apeeren 
To-fore  }>e  kyng  and  his  Counsel  •  Clerkes  and  ofyure.        no 
Kneolynge  Concience  •  to  J?e  kyng  loutede, 
to  wyte  what  his  wille  were  *  &  what  he  do  schulde 2. 

'  Woltou  wedde  j>is  wowmon/  quod  |>e  kyng  *  l  jif  I  wol 

assente  ? 
Heo  is  fayn  of  J?i  felawschupe  *  for  to  beo  }>i  make.' 

'  Nay/  quaj>  Concience  to  J>e  kyng  •  '  Crist  hit  me  for- 
beode!  115 
Er  Ich  wedde  such  a  wyf  •  wo  me  bi-tyde ! 

Heo  is  frele  of  hire  Flesch  *  Fikel  of  hire  tonge ; 
Heo  make]?  men  misdo  •  moni  score  tymes ; 
In  trust  of  hire  tresour  •  teone]?  ful  monye. 

Sisours  and  Sumpnours  *  suche  men  hire  preisen ; 
Schirreues  of  schires  *  weore  schent  }if  heo  nere.  130 

Heo  doj>  men  leosen  heore  lond  *  and  heore  lyues  after, 
And  letej?  passe  prz'sons  *  and  paye}>  for  hem  ofte. 
Heo  3eue})  }>e  layler  Gold  •  and  grotes  to-gedere, 
To  vn-Fetere  ]?e  False  •  and  fleo  where  hem  lykej). 
Heo  take]?  ]?e  trewe  bi  ]?e  top  *  and  tijej)  him  faste,  135 

And  honge])  him  for  hate  *  ]>at  harmede  neuere. 
Heo  \a\.  ben  Curset  in  Constorie  •   couwte]?  hit  not  at  a 

Russche  ; 

For  heo  Cope})  }>e  Comissarie  *  and  Cote})  }?e  Clerkes ; 
Heo  is  asoyled  as  sone  •  as  hire-self  lyke]). 

Heo  may  as  muche  do  *  In  a  Moone)>  ones,  140 

1  Vcrn.  •  God.'  8  Vern.  omits  1. 112  ;  supplied  from  Harl.  MS. 


XV.      PIERS   THE  PLOWMAN.      PASSUS   V.        193 

As  joure l  secre  seal  •  In  Seue«  score  dayes. 

Heo  is  pn'ue  wzU  )>e  Pope  •  Prouisours  hit  knowen ; 

Sir  Simonie  and  hire-self  •  asselen  }?e  Bulles ; 

Heo  Blessede  }?e  Bisschopes  *  jiou}  |>at  }>ei  ben  lewed. 

Prouewdreres,  p^rsuns  •  Preostes  heo  meyntenej? ;  145 


per  heo  is  wel  wz'tfc  J>e  kyng  •  wo  is  ]?e  Reame ! 

For  heo  is  Fauerable  to  fals  •  and  foulej?  Treu]?e  ofte. 

Barouns  and  Burgeis  •  heo  bringej?  to  serwe,  150 

Heo  Buggej)  with  heore  luweles ;  *  vr  lustises  heo  schendej?. 
Heo  lihj?  ajeyn  J?e  lawe  •  and  lettej?  so  faste, 
pat  Feij?  may  not  han  his  forj?  •  hir  Florins  gon  so  j?ikke. 
Heo  ledej?  J?e  lawe  as  hire  luste  •  &  loue-dayes  make)?, 
pe  Mase  for  a  Mene  mon  •  Jjairj  he  mote  euere.  155 

Lawe  is  so  lordlich  •  and  lo]?  to  maken  eende, 
WiU-outen  prcsentes  or  pons  •  heo  plesej?  ful  fewe. 
Clergye  an  Couetise  •  heo  Couple)?  to-gedere. 
pis  is  j?e  lyf  of  ]?e  ladi  •  vr  lord  }if  hire  serwe  1 
And  alle  j?at  Meyntene)?  hire  •  myschau«ce  hem  bytide2!    160 
For  ]?e3  pore  may  haue  no  pouwer  •  to  playne,  |?au3  hem 

smerte, 
Such  a  Mayster  is  Meede  *  A-Mong  Men  of  goode.' 

Passus  quintus  de  visions. 

pe  kyng  and  his  knihtes  •  to  j?e  Churche  wenten 
To  heere  Matyns  and  Masse  •  arid  to  j?e  Mete  aftur. 
pe/me  Wakede  I  of  my  wink  •  me  was  wo  wz't^  alle 
pat  I  nedde  sadloker  I-slept  •  and  I-seje  more. 
Er  I  a  Furlong  hedde  I-fare  •  A  Feyntise  me  hente,  5 

1  So  Trin. ;  Vern. '  vre.'  2  Vern. '  vr  lord  jif  hem  care.' 

8  Vern.  omits  '  )>e.' 

VOL.  n.  o 


194  XV.       WILLIAM  LANGLAND. 

pat  Former  mihti  not  a-fote  •  for  defaute  of  Sleep. 

I  sat  Softeliche  a-doun  •  and  seide  my  beo-leeue, 

And  so  I  blaberde  on  my  Beodes  •  }>at  brouhte  me  a-Slepe. 

pen  sauh  I  muche  more  •  J>en  I  beofore  tolde, 

For  I  sauh  J>e  Feld  ful  of  Folk  •  Jwzt  ich  of  bi-fore  schewede, 

And  Concience  wzU  a  Crois  •  com  for  to  pr<?che.  1 1 

He  preide  }>e  peple  •  haue  pite  of  hem-selue, 
And  preuede  ]>at  )?is  pestilences  •  weore  for  puire  synne, 
And  j>is  sou]?-Westerne  wynt  •  on  a  Seterday  at  euen 
Was  a-perteliche  for  pruide  •  and  for  no  poynt  elles.  15 

Piries  and  Plomtres  *  weore  passchet  to  ]>Q  grouwde, 
In  ensauwple  to  Men  •  j>at  we  scholde  do  ]>e  bettre. 
Beches  and  brode  okes  •  weore  blowen  to  ]>e  eor]?e, 
And  turned  vpward  j?e  tayl  •  In  toknyng  of  drede 
pat  dedly  Synne  or  domesday  •  schulde  fordon  hem  alle.    20 

penne  Ron  Repentaunce  •  and  Rehersed  j>is  teeme, 
And  made  William  to  weope  •  watwr  wz't^  his  e^en. 
Pernel  proud-herte  •  platte  hire  to  grounde,  45 

And  lay  longe  ar  heo  lokede  *  and  to  vr  ladi  criede, 
And  beo-hi3te  to  him  •  ]>at  vs  alle  maade, 
Heo  wolde  vn-souwen  hire  smok  •  &  setten  ]>er  an  here 
Forte  fay  ten  hire  Flesch  •  ]>at  Frele  was  to  synne : 
'  Schal  neuer  liht  herte  me  hente  •  bote  holde  me  lowe,       50 
And  suffre  to  beo  mis-seid —  •  &  so  dude  I  nemre. 
And  nou  I  con  wel  meke  me  •  and  Merci  be-seche 
Of  al  )>at  Ichaue  I-had  •  envye  in  myn  herte/ 

Lechour  seide  'Alias  1'  •  and  to  vr  ladi  criede 
To  maken  him  han  Merci  *  for  his  misdede,  55 

Bitwene  god  almihti  •  and  his  pore  soule, 
Wi)>-]jat  he  schulde  ]>e  seterday  •  seuen  jer  after 
Drinken  bote  wi'tA  J>e  Doke  •  and  dynen l  but  ones. 
1  Trin.  'dyne';  Vern.  '  eten.' 


XV.      PIERS   THE   PLOWMAN.      PASSUS    V.  t     195 

Envye  wi|>  heui  herte  *  asket  aftur  schrift, 
And  gretliche  his  gultus  •  bi-ginnej>  to  schewe.  60 

As  pale  as  a  pelet  •  In  a  palesye  he  seemede, 
I-cloJ>ed  in  A  Caurimauri  •  I  couj>e  him  not  discreue ; 
A  kertil  &  a  courtepy  *  a  knyf  be  his  side ; 
Of  a  Freris  frokke  •  were  ]>e  fore-sleuys 2. 
As  a  leek  \a\.  hedde  I-lei3en  *  longe  In  ]?e  sonne,  65 

So  loked  he  wiW  lene  chekes ;  *  lourede  he  foule. 
His  Bodi  was  Boiled  •  for  wra]>J>e  he  bot  his  lippes, 
WroJ>liche  he  wrong  his  fust  *  he  jtoujte  him  a-wreke 
Wi]>  werkes  or  w*U  Wordes  *  whon  he  sei3  his  tyme. 
1  Venim  or  vernisch  *  or  vinegre,  I  trouwe,  70 

Wallej?  in  my  wombe  •  or  waxej>,  ich  wene. 
I  ne  mihte  mony  day  don  •  as  a  mon  ouhte, 
Such  wynt  in  my  wombe  *  waxe]>,  er  I  dyne. 

Ichaue  a  neih^ebor  me  neih  •  I  haue  anuy3ed  him  ofte, 
Ablamed  him  be-hynde  his  bak  •  to  br/nge   him  in  di- 
sclauwdre,  75 

And  peired  him  bi  my  pouwer  •  I-punissched  him  ful  ofte, 
Bi-lowen  him  to  lordes  •  to  make  him  leose  Seluer, 
I-don  his  Frendes  ben  his  fon  •  w/'t^  my  false  tonge ; 
His  grase  and  his  good  hap  •  greue}>  me  ful  sore. 

Bitwene  him  and  his  Meyne  *  Ichaue  I-Mad  wra)?]>e,       80 
Bo]?e  his  lyf  and  his  leome  •  was  lost  ]?orw  my  tonge. 
Whon  I  mette  him  in  }>e  Market  *  J?at  I  most  hate, 
Ich  heilede  him  as  hendely  •  as  I  his  frend 2  weore. 
He  is  dou3tiore  }>en  I  •  i  dar  non  harm  don  him. 
Bote  hedde  I  maystrie  &  miht  *  I  Mor]>erde  him  for  euere  1  85 

Whon  I  come  to  \>e  churche  •  &  knele  bi-fore  J?e  Roode, 
And  scholde  prei3e  for  J>e  peple  •  as  |>e  prest  vs  teche}>, 


1  Vern.  omits  11. 63  and  64 ;  supplied  from  Trin. 
8  Vern.  '  his  frend  as  I.' 

0  2 


196  XV.       WILLIAM  LANGLAND. 


I  crie  vppon  my  knes  •  \ai  crist  3me  hem  serwe 
pat  ha}>  I-bore  a-wei  my  Bolle  •  and  my  brode  schete. 

From  the  Auter  I  turne  •  myn  ei^e,  and  bi-holde  90 

Hou  heyne  ha])  a  newe  Cote  •  and  his  wyf  ano]?er  ; 
pewne  I  wussche  hit  weore  myn  •  and  al  J?e  web  aftwr. 
Of  his  leosinge  I  lauhwe  •  hit  like])  me  in  myn  herte  ; 
Ac  for  his  wynnynge  I  wepe  •  and  weile  ]?e  tyme. 

I  deme  men  ]?at  don  ille  •  and  jit  I  do  wel  worse,  95 

For  I  wolde  ]>at  vch  a  wiht  •  in  })is  world  were  mi  knaue, 
And  who-so  haj>  more  |?anne  I  •  \ai  angrij?  myn  herte  *. 

pus  I  Hue  loueles  •  lyk  A  lu]?er  dogge, 
pat  al  my  breste  Bolle])  •  for  bitter  of  my  galle  ; 
May  no  Suger  so  swete  •  a-swagen  hit  vnne])e,  100 

Ne  no  Diopendion  •  dryue  hit  from  myn  herte  ; 
3if  schrift  schulde  hit  })e«ne  swopen  out  •  a  gret  wonder  hit 
were.' 

C3us,  rediliche/  quod  Repentau«ce  •  and  Radde  him  to 

goode, 

*  Serw  for  heore  suwnes  •  saue])  men  ful  Monye/ 
'  Icham  son'/  quod  Envye  *  '  I  ne  am  but  seldene  o])er,       105 
And  ])at  Make})  me  so  mad  •  for  I  ne  may  me  venge/ 

penne  com  Couetyse  •  I  cou])e  him  not  discreue, 
So  hungri  and  so  holewe  •  sire  herui  him  loked. 
He  was  bitel-brouwed  •  wz't£  twei  blered  ei^en, 
And  lyk  a  lexeme  pors  *  lullede  his  chekes  ;  no 

In  A  toren  Tabart  •  of  twelue  Wynter  Age  ; 
But  3if  a  lous  couj?e  lepe  •  I  con  hit  not  I-leue 
Heo  scholde  wandre  on  \a\.  walk  •  hit  was  so  ])red-bare. 

'  Ichaue  ben  Couetous/  quod  ]>is  Caityf  •  '  I  beknowe  hit 

heere  ; 
For  sum  tyme  I  Seruede  •  Simme  atte  noke,  115 

1  Vern.  omits  1.  97  ;  supplied  from  Trin. 


XV.      PIERS   THE  PLOWMAN.      PASSUS    V.         iqj 

And  was  his  pliht  prentys  •  his  profyt  to  loke. 

Furst  I  leornede  to  Ly^e  •  A  lessun  or  tweyne, 
And  wikkedliche  for  to  weie  •  was  myn  oj?er  lessun. 

To  Winchestre  and  to  Wych  •  Ich  wente  to  ]?e  Feire 
With  mony  maner  marchawzdise  •  as  my  mayster  hihte ;    120 
Bote  nedde  ]>e  grace  of  gyle  •  I-gon  a-mong  my  ware, 
Hit  hedde  ben  vn-sold  ]>is  seuen  $er  •  so  me  god  helpe ! 

pe»ne  I  drous  me  a-mowg  ]?is  drapers  *  my  Donet  to 

leorne, 

To  drawe  |?e  lyste  wel  along  •  ]?e  lengore  hit  semede ; 
Among  J)is  Riche  Rayes  •  lernde  I  a  Lessun,  125 

Brochede   hem   wzta   a   pak-neelde   •  &   pletede   hem   to- 

gedere, 

Putte  hem  in  a  pressour  •  &  pinnede  hem  ]>er-Inne 
Til  ten  jerdes  oj>er  twelue  •  tolden  out  |>rettene. 

And  my  Wyf  at  Westmu«stre  •  Jwzt  Wollene  clo]>  made, 
Spak  to  ]>e  spinsters  •  for  to  spinne  hit  softe.  130 

pe  pound  ]?at  heo  peysede  by 1  *  peisede  a  quartrun  more 
pen  myn  Auncel  dude  •  whon  I  weyede  treu)?e. 

I  Bouhte  hire  Barly  •  heo  breuh  hit  to  sulle ; 
Peni-Ale  and  piriwhit  *  heo  pourede  to-gedere 
For  laborers  and  louh  folk  •  \a\.  liuen  be  hem-seluen.         135 

pe  Beste  in  }?e  Bed-chauwbre  •  lay  bi  )>e  wowe, 
Hose  Bwmnede  }><?rof  •  Boujte  hit  jjer-after, 
A  Galouw  for  a  Grote  •  God  wot,  no  lasse, 
Whon  hit  com  in  Cuppemel ;  •  such  craftes  me  vsede. 

Rose  ]>e  Regratour  *  Is  hire  rihte  name ;  140 

Heo  ha]>  holden  hoxterye  •  Jns  Elleuene  wynter. 

Bote  I  swere  nou  solely 2  •  }>at  sunne  wol  I  lete, 
And  neuere  wikkedliche  weye  •  ne  fals  chaffare  vsen, 
Bote  weende  to  Walsyngtuzm  •  and  my  wyf  alse, 

1  Vern.  omits  '  by.'  *  Vern.  omits  '  solely.' 


198  XV.       WILLIAM  LANGLAND. 

And  bidde  \>Q  Rode  of  Bromholm  •  brmge  me  out  of  dette/ 

A  J>ousent  of  Men  ]?o  •  }>rongen  to-geders,  260 

Weopyng  and  weylyng  •  for  heore  wikkede  dedes, 
Cringe  vpward  to  Crist  *  and  to  his  clene  moder 
To  haue  grace  to  seche  seint  treu]?e  •  god  leue  )>ei  so  mote  I 

Passus  Sextus  de  m'stone,  vt  prius. 

Now  riden  ]?is  folk  *  &  walken  on  fote 
to  seche  J>at  seint  •  in  selcouj?e  londis  *, 
Bote  \er  were  fewe  men  so  wys  •  \a\.  couj>e  }>e  wei  )>ider, 
Bote  bustelyng  for))  as  bestes  •  ouer  valeyes  &  hulles, 
for  while  ]>ei  wente  here  owe«  wille  •  }>ei  wente  alle  amys l.    5 
Til  hit 2  was  late  &  longe  '  |>at  J>ei  a  Leod  metten, 
Apparayled  as  a  Palmere  •  In  pilgrimes  wedes. 
He  bar  a  bordun  I-bounde  *  wij?  a  brod  lyste, 
In  A  wej?e-bondes  wyse  •  I-wri]?en  aboute. 
A  Bagge  and  a  Bolle  •  he  bar  bi  his  syde ;  10 

An  hundred  of  ampolles  •  on  his  hat  seeten, 
Signes  of  Synay  •  and  Schelles  of  Galys ; 
Moni  Cros  on  his  cloke  •  and  keijes  of  Rome, 
And  ]>e  vernicle  bi-fore  *  for  men  schulde  him  knowe, 
And  seo  be  his  signes  •  whom  he  souht  hedde.  15 

pis  Folk  fraynede  him  feire  •  from  whewne  ]>at  he  coome 
'  From  Synay/  he  seide,  •  '  and  from  the  Sepulcre ; 
From  Bethleem  and  Babiloyne  •  I  haue  ben  in  bo]>e, 
In  Ynde  and  in  Assye  •  and  in  mony  oj?er  places. 
3e  mouwe  seo  be  my  Signes  •  ]?at  sittej?  on  myn  hat,  20 

pat  I  haue  walked  ful  wyde  •  In  weete  and  in  druye, 
And  souht  goode  seyntes  *  for  my  soule  hele/ 

1  Vern.  omits  11. 1,  2,  and  5;  supplied  from  MS.  Harl.  875. 
8  Vern.  omits  'hit.' 


XV.      PIERS   THE  PLOWMAN.      PASSUS    VII.      199 

'  Knowest    |>ou    ouht   A   Corseynt   •   Men   callej)   Seynt 

Treu]>e  ? 

Const  \>ou.  wissen  vs  ]>e  wey  •  wher  Jjat  he  dwelle])?' 
'  Nay,  so  God  glade  me !'  •  seide  J>e  gome  }>enne,  25 

*  Sauh  I  neuere  Palmere  *  wzU  pyk  ne  wzU  schrippe 
Such  a  seint  seche  •  bote  now  in  J>is  place/ 

'  Peter  1*  quod  a  Ploirj-Mon  •  and  putte  for]?  his  hed, 
'  I  knowe  him  as  kuyndeliche  *  as  Clerk  doj>  his  bokes ; 
Clene  Concience  and  wit  •  kende l  me  to  his  place,  30 

And  dude  enseure  me  seJ)J>e  •  to  seme  him  for  eu^re. 

Bo)>e  to  sowen  and  to  setten  •  while  I  swynke  mihte, 
I  haue  ben  his  felawe  •  ]>is  fiftene  wynter ; 
Bo]?e  I-sowed  his  seed  *  and  suwed  his  beestes, 
And  eke  I-kept  his  Corn  •  I-caried  hit  to  house,  35 

I-dyket  and  I-doluen  •  I-don  what  he  hihte, 
WzU-Innen  and  wzUouten  *  I-wayted  his  pr0fyt ; 
per  nis  no  laborer  in  ]>is  leod  •  ]>at  he  loue]>  more, 
For  j>auh  I  Sigge  hit  my-self  •  I  serue  him  to  paye. 

I  haue  myn  hure  of  him  wel  *  and  o]>erwhile  more ;          40 
He  is  J?e  presteste  payere  •  )>at  pore  men  habbej? ; 
He  wzU-halt  non  hyne  his  huire  •  ]>at  he  hit  na]>  at  euen. 
He  is  as  louh  as  A  lomb  •  louelich  of  speche, 
And  jif  je  wolle}>  I-wite  •  wher  |>at  he  dwelle j>, 
I  wol  wissen  ow  Jie  wey  *  horn  to  his  place/  45 

[From  'Passus  Septimus!'] 

f  For  kuynde  wit  Wolde  •  j>at  vche  mon  wrouhte 

WiJ>  techinge  or  wz'tfc  tilynge  •  or  trauaylynge  of  hondes,  235 

Actyf  lyf  or  Contemplatyf  •  Crist  wolde  hit  alse. 

For  so  seij?  J>e  Sauter  •  In  Psalm  of  beati  omnes, 

Labores  manuum  tuarum  quia  manducabis,  &c. z 

1  So  Trin. ;  Vern.  •  tau3te.'  2  Vern.  omits  the  Latin. 


2OO  XV.      WILLIAM  LANGLAND. 

He  }>at  get  his  fode  her  •  wzU  trauaylinge  in  Treu]?e, 
God  jiuej)  him  his  blessyng  •  jwzt  his  lyflode  so  swynkej).' 
1  Yit  I  preye  ]?e/  q#0d  pers  •  '  par  Charite,  jif  J?ou  Conne  240 
Eny  lyf  of  leche- Craft  •  lere  hit  me,  my  deore. 
For  suwme  of  my  seruau«s  •  beo]>  seke  o]>er-while, 
Of  alle  |>e  wike  heo  Worche]>  not  •  so  heor  wombe  akej).' 

'  I  wot  wel,'  quod  Hunger  •  '  What  seknesse  hem  eilej>, 
pel  han  I-Mauwget  ouwr  muche  •  ]>at  make)*  hem  grone 
ofte.  245 

Ac  Ich  hote  ]?e,'  quod  Hungur  •  '  and  ]>oti  J>in  hele  wylne, 
pat  ]>0u  drynke  no  dai  •  til  J>ou  haue  dynet  sumwhat; 

Ete  not,  Ich  hote  ]>e  •  til  hunger  J>e  take, 
And  sende  ]>e  sum  of  his  sauce  •  to  sauer  ]>e  ]>e  betere ; 
Keep  sum  til  soper-tyme  *  And  sit l  J>ou  not  to  Longe,      250 
A-Rys  vp  ar  appetyt  •  habbe  I-^eten  his  Fulle. 

Let  not  sir  Surfet  •  sitten  at  J>i  Bord ; 
Loue  him  not,  for  he  is  a  lechour  •  &  likerous  of  Tonge, 
And  aftur  mony  Metes  *  his  Mawe  is  a-longet. 
And  $if  J?ou  dijete  J>e  ]>us  •  I  dar  legge  bo)?e  myn  Eres,      255 
pat  Fisyk  schal  his  Forred  hod  •  for  his  foode 2  sulle, 
And  eke  his  cloke  of  Calabre  *  wz't£  knappes  of  Gold, 
And  beo  Fayn,  be  my  Fei]>  •  his  Fisyk  to  lete, 
And  leorne  to  labre  wij?  lond  *  leste  lyflode  Faile ; 
per  beoj)  mo  lyjers  J>en  leches  *  vr  lord  hem  amende !        260 
pei  don  men  dyjen  })Oruj  heor  drinke  •  er  destenye  wolde.' 

'  Bi  seint  Foul  I*  quod  pers  * '  ]>eos  beojj  prd?phitable  wordes ! 
pis  is  a  loueli  lesson  •  vr  lord  hit  J>e  for-jelde ! 
Wend  nou  whon  ]>i  wille  is  *  Wel  ]?e  beo  for  euwel* 
'  I  beo-hote  ]?e,'  quod  hungur  •  '  heonnes  mil  I  wende         265 
Er  I  haue  I-dynet  bi  J)is  day  •  and  I-dronke  bo]>e.' 

*  I  haue  no  peny/  quod  pers  *  '  Poletes  to  bugge, 

1  Trin.  ' sit';  Vern.  •  faste.'  »  Vern.  'lyflode.' 


XV.      PIERS   THE  PLOWMAN.      PASSUS    VII.       2OI 

Noujjer  gees  ne  grys  •  bote  twey  grene  cheeses, 

And  a  fewe  Cruddes  and  Craym  •  and  a  J>erf  Cake, 

And  a  lof  of  Benes  and  Bren  *  I-Bake  for  my  Children.     270 

And  I  sigge,  bi  my  soule  •  I  haue  no  salt  Bacon, 
Ne  no  Cokeneyes,  bi  Crist  •  Colopus  to  maken. 

Bot  I  haue  porettes  &  percyl  •  and  moni  Colplontes, 
And  eke  a  Cou,  and  a  Calf  •  and  a  Cart-Mare 
To  drawe  a-feld  my  donge  •  Whil  |>e  drouh]?e  lastej>.          275 

Bi  J>is  lyflode  I  mot  lyuen  •  til  lammasse  tyme ; 
Bi  J>at,  Ich  hope  forte  haue  •  heruest  in  my  Croft; 
pe«ne  may  I  dihte  ]ji  dyner  *  as  ]?e  deore  lyke)>.' 

Al  J>e  pore  peple  •  pese-coddes  fetten, 
Bake  Benes  in  Bred  •  ]?ei  brouhten  in  heor  lappes,  280 

Chibolles,  Cheef  mete  •  and  ripe  chiries  monye, 
And  proferde  pers  ]>is  present  *  to  plese  witA  hungur. 

Honger  eet  ]?is  in  haste  •  and  asked  aftur  more, 
pewne  J>is  folk  for  fere  •  fetten  him  monye 
Poretes,  and  Peosen  *  for  ]>ei  him  plese  wolden ;  285 

"From  \a\.  tyme  \ai  jmlke  weore  eten  •  take  he  schulde  his 

leue 

Til  hit  to  heruest  hijede  *  \a\.  newe  corn  com  to  chepynge. 
penne  was  \a\.  folk  fayn  •  and  fedde  hunger  jeorne 
WiW  good  Ale,  and  glotonye  •  and  gart  him  to  slepe. 
And  )>o  nolde  }?e  wastor  worche  •  but  wandren  aboute,       290 
Ne  no  Beggere  eten  Bred  •  J>at  Benes  Inne  coome, 
Bote  Coket  and  Cler-Matin  •  an  of  clene  whete ; 
Ne  non  halfpeny  Ale  •  In  none  wyse  drynke, 
Bote  of  }>e  Beste  and  ]>e  Brouneste  •  \a\.  Brewesters  sullen. 

Laborers   J>at  haue  no   lond   •   to  liuen  on  Bote  heore 
honden,  295 

Deyne  not  to  dyne  a  day  •  niht-olde  wortes. 
Mai  no  peny-Ale  hem  paye  •  ne  no  pece  of  Bacun, 
Bote  hit  weore  Fresch  Flesch  •  or  elles  Fisch  I-Fri3et, 


202  XV.       WILLIAM  LANGLAND. 

Bo]>e  chaud  and  pluschaud  •  for  chele  of  heore  Mawe. 

Bote  he  beo  heihliche  I-huret  •  elles  wol  he  chide,          300 
pat  he  was  werkmon  I-wrou3t  •  warie  j>e  tyme, 
And  Corse  jerne  )>e  kyng  •  and  al  his  Counseil  aftur, 
Suche  lawes  to  loke  *  laborers  to  chaste. 

Ac  while  hunger  was  Mayster  heer  •  wolde  \er  non  chyde, 
Ne  strzue  a^eyn  ]?e  statues  •  so  steorneliche  he  lokede.       305 

I  warne  5ou,  alle  werk-men  •  winnej?  while  je  mowe, 
Hunger  hiderward  ajeyn  •  hi^ej?  him  jeorne. 

He  wole  a-wake  ]>orw  watur  *  J?e  wastours  alle, 
Er  Fyue  jer  ben  folfult  •  such  Famyn  schal  a-Ryse 
porw  Flodes  and  foul  weder  *  Fruites  schul  fayle;  310 

And  so  seij)  Saturne l  •  and  sent  vs  to  warne. 

1  Vern.  '  Saturnes.' 


XVI. 

JOHN    BARBOUR. 
A.D.  1375. 

JOHN  BARBOUR  was  born,  according  to  some,  in  1316;  ac- 
cording to  others,  as  late  as  1330.  He  is  described  as  being 
Archdeacon  of  Aberdeen  in  1357.  He  died  about  the  year 
1395.  His  great  work,  entitled  *  The  Bruce/  was  partly  written 
in  1375,  as  he  himself  tells  us.  It  extends  to  more  than  13,000 
lines,  and  describes  the  life  and  adventures  of  Robert  Bruce, 
King  of  Scots,  and  his  companions.  It  has  been  many  times 
printed. 

The  latest  edition  (not  yet  completed)  is  that  published  for 
the  Early  English  Text  Society,  and  edited  by  the  Rev.  W.  W. 
Skeat  from  a  MS.  in  the  library  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge, 
written  A.D.  1487,  with  collations  from  the  MS.  in  the  Advocate's 
Library  at  Edinburgh,  written  A.D.  1489,  and  the  early  printed 
editions.  We  extract  from  this  edition  a  portion  of  the  Seventh 
Book. 

Book  VII. 

How  lohn  of  lorne  soucht  the  gud  kyng  robert  bruce 
vyth  the  sleuth-hund. 

THE  kyng  toward  the  vod  is  gane, 
Wery  for-swat  and  vill  of  vayn ; 
In-till  the  wod  soyn  enterit  he, 
And  held  doun  toward  a  vale, 


204  XVI.      JOHN  BARBOUR. 

Quhar  throu  the  vod  a  vattzr  ran.  5 

Thiddzr  in  gret  hy  went  he  than, 

And  begouth  to  rest  hym  thair, 

And  said  he  my^t  no  forthzrmar. 

His  man  said,  '  scfa'r,  that  may  nocht  be ; 

Abyde  $e  heir,  je  sal  soyn  se  10 

V  hundreth  jarnand  $ou  to  sla, 

And  thai  ar  fele  aganis  twa ; 

And  sen  we  may  noc^t  deill  wytfc  my^t, 

Help  vs  all  that  we  may  vyt^  slycht/ 

The  kyng  said,  '  sen  that  thou  will  swa,  15 

Ga  furth,  and  I  sail  vith  the  ga. 

Bot  I  haf  herd  oftsiss  say, 

That  quha  endlang  a  vatt/V  ay 

Wald  vayd  a  bow-draucht,  he  suld  ger 

Bath  the  sleuthhund  &  the  ledar  20 

Tyne  the  sleuth  men  gert  him  ta ; 

Pruf  we  gif  it  will  now  do  swa. 

For  war  jon  deuillzV  hund  a-vay, 

I  roucht  nocfa  of  the  layff,  perfay.' 

Here  the  slowth-htmd  tynt  his  sent. 

As  he  deuisit,  thai  haf  done,  25 

And  enterit  in  the  wattz'r  sone, 
And  held  on  endlang  it  thar  way, 
And  syne  to  the  land  jeid  thai, 
And  held  thair  way  as  thai  did  ere. 
And  lohn  of  lorn,  with  gret  effere,  30 

Com  vith  his  rout  richt  to  the  place 
Quhar  that  his  v  men  slan  was. 
He  menyt  thame  quhen  he  thaizw  saw, 
And  said,  eftir  a  litill  thraw, 


XVI.      THE  BRUCE.      BOOK    VII.  205 

That  he  suld  wenge  in  hy  thar  blude ;  35 

Bot  ottu'r  wayis  the  gazwmyn  jude. 

Thair  vald  he  mak  no  mair  duelling, 

Bot  furth  in  hy  followit  the  king. 

Richt  to  the  burn  thai J  passit  ar ; 

Bot  the  sleuth-hund  maid  stynting  thar,  40 

And  vau<?ryt  lang  tyme  to  and  fra, 

That  he  na  certane  gat  couth  ga. 

Till  at  the  last  than  lohne  of  lorn 

Persauit  the  hund  the  sleuth  had  lorn, 

And  said,  *  we  haf  tynt  this  trauell ;  45 

To  pas  forthir  may  nocht  avale ; 

For  the  wode  is  bath  braid  and  vyde, 

And  he  is  weill  fer  be  this  tyde. 

Tharfor  I  red*  we  turn  agane, 

And  vast  no  mair  travale  in  vayn/  50 

Vith  that  releyt  he  his  menjhe, 

And  his  way  to  the  host  tuk  he. 

Or  ellis  he  wes  slane  with  an  arrow. 

Thus  eschapit  the  nobill  kyng ; 
Bot  sum  men  sais,  this  eschaping  2 
Apon  ane  othz'r  maner  fell  55 

Than  throu  the  vading ;  for  thai  tell, 
That  the  kyng  a  gud  archer  had, 
And  quhen  he  saw  his  lord  swa  stad, 
That  he  wes  left  swa  anerly, 

He  ran  on  fut  alwayis  hym  by,  60 

Till  he  in-till  the  wod  wes  gane. 
Than  said  he  till  hym-self  allane, 

1  So  in  Edinb.  MS. ;  Camb.  MS.  •  /iame.' 

2  So  in  Edinb.  MS. ;  Camb.  '  enchaping.' 


206  XVI.      JOHN  BARB  OUR. 

That  he  arest  rycht  thair  vald  ma, 

And  luk  gif  he  the  hund  my^t  sla. 

For  gif  the  hund  mycht  lest  on  lif,  65 

He  vist  full  weill  that  thai  vald  drif l 

The  kyngzV  trass  till  thai  hym  ta ; 

Than  wist  he  weill  thai  vald  him  sla. 

And  for  he  wald  his  lord  succour, 

He  put  his  lif  in  auentur,  70 

And  stud  in-till  a  busk  lurkand 

Quhill  that  the  hund  com  at  his  hand, 

And  vith  ane  arrow  soyn  hym  slew, 

And  throu  the  vod  syne  hym  vithdrew. 

Bot  quheth/r  his  eschaping 2  fell  75 

As  I  tald  first,  or  now  I  tell, 

I  wat  it  weill,  without  lesyng, 

At  that  burn  eschapit  the  king. 

How  the  thre  men  that  bare  the  veddir  schep  thoucht 
to  haf  slayn  kyng  robert  bruce. 

The  king  has  furth  his  vayis  tane, 
And  lohne  of  lorne  agane  is  gane  80 

To  schir  Amer,  that  fra  the  chass 
With  his  men  than  reparit  wass, 
That  litill  sped  in  thair  chassing  ; 
For  thow  that  thai  maid  following 
Full  egirly,  thai  wan  bot  small ;  85 

Thair  fayis  neir  eschapit  all. 
Men  sais,  scfa'r  thomas  rawdale  than, 
Chassand,  the  kyngz'j  baner  van, 

1  Edinb.  '  dryve';  Camb.  •  rif.' 

2  So  in  Edinb. ;  Camb. '  encbaptn.' 


XVI.      THE  BRUCE.      BOOK    VII.  2OJ 

Quhar-throu  in  yngland  vyt£  the  kyng 

He  had  rychi  gret  price  and  lovyng.  90 

Quhew  the  chaseris  releit  war, 

And  lohne  of  lorn  had  met  thai#z  thar, 

He 1  tald  schir  Amer  all  the  cass, 

How  that  the  king  eschapit  was, 

And  how  that  he  his  v  men  slew,  95 

And  syne  he  to  the  vod  hym  drew. 

Quhen  schir  Amer  herd  this,  in  hy 

He  sanyt  hym  for  the  ferly, 

And  said, '  he  is  gretly  to  priss, 

For  I  knaw  nane  that  liffand  is  100 

That  at  myscheif  can  help  hym  swa ; 

I  trow  he  suld  be  hard  to  sla, 

And  he  war  bodyn  all  evynly ;' 

On  this  viss  spak  scfa'r  Amery. 

Here  iij  tratowris  metis  the  king  with  a  weddir. 

And  the  gud  kyng  held  furth  hw  way,  105 

He  and  his  man,  ay  quhill  that  thai 

Passit  owt 2  throu  the  forest  war. 

Syne  in  a  mwre  thai  enterit  ar, 

That  wes  bath  hee  & 2  lang  &  braid ; 

And,  or  thai  half  it  passit  had,  1 10 

Thai  saw  on  syde  thre  men  cuwand, 

Lik  to  licht  men  and  vauerand. 

Swerdw  thai  had  and  axis  als, 

And  ane  of  thame  apon  his  hals 

A  mekill  bundyn  weddir  bare.  115 

Thai  met  the  kyng  and  halsit  him2  thar; 

1  So  in  Edinb. ;  Camb.  *  And.' 

8  The  words  '  owt,'  •  &,'  and  •  him'  are  supplied  from  the  Edinb.  MS. 


308  XVI.      JOHN  HARBOUR. 

And  the  kyng  thame  thar  halsing  :jald, 

And  askit  thame  quhethzir  thai  vald. 

Thai  said,  '  robert  the  bruce  thai  socht, 

To  meit  vith  hym  gif  that  thai  mocht;  120 

Thair  duelling  with  hym  wald  thai  ma/ 

The  kyng  said,  '  gif  that  3he  will  swa, 

Haldw  furth  jour  vay  with  me, 

And  I  sail  ger  50 w  soyn  hym  se.' 

Thai  persauit  be  his  spekyng,  125 

And  his  effer,  he  wes  the  kyng. 

Thai  changit  contenanss  and  late, 

And  held  nor/fa  in  the  first  stat ; 

For  thai  var  fayis  to  the  kyng, 

And  thoucht  to  cum  in-to  scowkyng,  130 

And  duell  with  hym  quhill  that  thai  saw 

Thar  tym,  and  bryng  hym  thaw  of  daw. 

Thai  grantit  till  his  spek  for-thi ; 

Bot  the  kyng,  that  wes  vitty, 

Persauit  weill  be  thair  hawyng  135 

That  thai  lufit  hym  in  na  thing. 

He  said  '  fallowis,  ;he  man  all  thre, 

Forthzir  aquynt  quhill  that  we  be, 

All  be  jour-self  forrouth  ga, 

And  on  the-  sawmyn  viss  we  twa  140 

Sail  fallow  jow  behynd  weill  neir/ 

Quod  thai,  '  schir,  it  is  na  mysteir 

To  trow  in-till  vs  any  111.' 

'  Nane  do  I/  said  he,  <bot  I  will 

That  jhe  ga  forrow  vs,  quhill  we  145 

Bettir  with  othzir  knawyn  be/ 

'  We  grant/  thai  said,- '  sen  je  will  swa ;' 

And  furth  apon  thair  gat  can  ga. 

Thus  jeid  thai  till  the  nycht  wes  neir, 


XVI.      THE   BRUCE.      BOOK    VII.  209 

And  than  the  formast  cum'm  weir  150 

Till  a  vast  husbandzV  houss,  &  thar 

Thai  slew  the  veddir  at  thai  bar, 

And  strake l  fyre  for  to  rost  thar  met, 

And  askit  the  kyng  gif  he  vald  et, 

And  rest  hym  till  the  met  war  dicht?  155 

The  kyng,  that  hungry  wes,  I  hicht, 

Assentit  to  thair  speke  in  hy, 

Bot  he  said,  '  he  vald  anerly 

Betuyx  hym  &  his  fallow  be 

At  a  fyre,  and  thai  all  thre,  160 

In  the  End  of  the  houss,  suld  ma 

Ane  othz'r  fyre ;'  and  thai  did  swa. 

Thai  drew  thame  in  the  houss-end, 

And  half  the  veddir  till  hym  send ; 

And  thai  rostit  in  hy  thair  met,  165 

And  fell  ry^t  frakly  for  till  et. 

The  kyng  weill  lang  he  fastyt 2  had, 

And  had  iych\.  mekill  travale  made ; 

Tharfor  he  ete  richt  egyrly. 

And  quhen  he  etyn  had  hastely,  1 70 

He  had  to  slepe  sa  mekill  vill, 

That  he  my^t  set  na  let  thar-till. 

For  quhen  the  vanys  fillit  ar, 

The  body  vorthis  hevy  euzrmar ; 

And  to  slepe  drawis  hevynes.  175 

The  kyng  that  all  for-travalit  wes 8, 

Saw  that  hym  vorthit  slep  neidwais ; 

Till  his  fost/r-brothz>  he  sais, 

*  May  I  trast  the  me  to  valk, 

1  So  in  Hart's  edition ;  MSS.  '  slew.'  2  So  in  Edinb. ;  Camb.  '  fastyn.' 

8  So  in  Edinb. ;  Camb.  '  was.' 
VOL.  II.  P 


310  XVI.      JOHN  B ARBOUR. 

Till  I  a  litill  slepyng  tak  ?'  180 

1  3ha,  scfa'r,'  he  said,  '  till  I  may  dre.' 

The  kyng  than  vynkit  a  litill  we, 

And  slepit  nor^t  full *  ynkurly, 

Bot  gliffnyt  vp  oft 2  suddandly ; 

For  he  had  drede  of  thai  thre  men,  185 

That  at  the  tothir  fyre  war  then. 

That  thai  his  fayis  war  he  wyst, 

Tharfor  he  slepit  as  foul  on  twist. 

Heire  he  slew  the  iijj.  tratowris. 

The  kyng  slepit  hot  litill  than, 

Quhen  sic  a  slepe  fell  on  hi's  man,  190 

That  he  my<r^t  not  hald  vp  his  E, 

Bot  fell  on  slepe  and  routit  he. 

Now  is  the  kyng  in  gret  perell, 

For  slepe  he  swa  a  litill  quhile, 

He  sail  be  ded  forouten  dred.  195 

For  the  thre  tratourw  tuk  gud  hede, 

That  he  on  slep  wes  and  his  man. 

In  full  gret  hy  thai  raiss  vp  than, 

And  drew  thair  swerdz'j  hastely, 

And  went  toward  the  kyng  in  hy,  200 

Quhen  that  thai  saw  he  slepit  swa, 

And  slepand  thoucht  thai  vald  hym  sla. 

*Till  hym  thai  $eid  a  full  gret  pass 3, 

*Bot  in  that  tym,  throu  goddis  grace  3, 

The  kyng  blenkit  vp  hastely, 

And  saw  his  man  slepand  him  by, 

1  So  in  Edinb. ;  Camb.  '  bot.' 

2  Edinb.  •  Bot  gliffnyt  wp  oft';  Camb.  '  And  gluffnyt  oft  vp/ 
8  These  two  lines  are  omitted  in  Edinb.  MS. 


XVI.      THE  BRUCE.      BOOK    VII.  211 

And  saw  cuzrcand  the  tratourw  thre.  205 

Delyuerly  on  fut  gat  he, 

And  drew  his  suerd  out  and  thame  met, 

And  as  he  ;eid,  his  fut  he  set 

Apon  his  man  weill  hevaly  ; 

He  valknyt,  and  raiss  all  desaly;  210 

For  the  sleip  masterit  hym  swa, 

That,  or  he  gat  vp,  ane  of  thai 

That  com  for  to  sla  the  kyng, 

Gaf  hym  a  strake  in  his  rysyng, 

Swa  that  he  mycht  help  hym  no  mair.  215 

The  kyng  so  stratly  stad  wes  thair, 

That  he  wes  neuer  $eit  swa  stad ; 

Na  war  the  Armyng  that  he  had, 

He  had  beyn  ded  foroutyn  weyr. 

Bot  nocht-for-thi  on  sic  maneir  220 

He  helpit  hym  swa  i«  that  bargane, 

That  thai  thre  tratounj  he  has  slane, 

Throu  goddis  grace  and  his  manheid. 

His  fostzr-brothz'r  thair  wes  ded. 

Than  wes  he  vound<?r  will  of  vayn,  225 

Quhen  he  saw  he  wes  left  allane. 

His  fosfrr-brothzir  menyt  he, 

And  varyit  all  the  tothzr  thre, 

And  syne  his  vay  tuk  hym  allane, 

And  richt  toward  his  trist  is  gane.  230 


Here  the  kyng  metis  iij.  tratowris. 

Swa  hapnyt  it  that,  on  a  day,  400 

He  vent  till  hwnt,  for  till  assay 

P  2 


212  XVI.      JOHN  BARBOUR. 

Quhat  gawmyn  wes  in  that  cuntre ; 

And  sa  hapnyt  that  *  day  that  he 

By  a  vode-syde  to  sett  is  gane, 

Vith  his  twa  hundzir  hym  allane  ;  405 

Bot  he  his  swerd  ay  vith  hym  bare. 

He  had  hot  schort  quhill  syttyn  thare, 

Quhen  he  saw  fra  the  vode  cumnd 

Thre  men  vith  bowis  in  thar  hand, 

That  toward  hym  com  spedely,  410 

And  he  persauit  that  in  hy, 

Be  thair  effeir  and  thair  havyng, 

That  thai  lufit  hym  na  kyn  thyng. 

He  raiss  &  his  leysch^  till  him  drew  he, 

And  leit  his  hound*'.?  gang  all  fre.  415 

God  help  the  kyng  now  for  his  my^t ! 

For,  bot  he  now  be  viss  and  vicht, 

He  sail  be  set  in  mekill  press. 

For  thai  thre  men,  vithouten  less, 

War  his  fayis  all  vtrely,  420 

And  had  vachit  so  besaly, 

To  se  quhen  thai  vengeans  my^t  tak 

Of  the  kyng  for  lohne  cwmynys  sak, 

That  thai  thoucht  than  thai  laser  had ; 

And  sen  he  hym  allane  wes  stad,  425 

In  hy  thai  thoucht  thai  suld  him  sla, 

And  gif  that  thai  mycht  cheviss  swa, 

Fra  that  thai  the  kyng  had  slayn, 

That  thai  mycht  vyn  the  vode  agayn, 

His  men,  thai  thoucht,  thai  suld  nochi  dreid.       430 

In  hy  towart  the  kyng  thai  jeid, 

And  bend  thair  bowis  quhen  thai  var  neir ; 

1  So  in  Edinb. ;  Camb.  •  a.' 


XVI.      THE   BRUCE.      BOOK    VII.  213 

And  he,  that  dred  in  gret  maneir 

Thair  arowis,  for  he  nakit  was, 

In  hy  ane  spekyng  to  thame  mais,  435 

And  said,  '  jhe  aucht  to  shame,  perde, 

Syn  I  am  ane  and  3he  ar  thre, 

For  to  schut  at  me  on  Fer ! 

Bot  haf  ^he  hardyment,  cum  ner 

Vith  3our  swerd*>,  me  till  assay ;  440 

Wyn  me  on  sic  viss,  gif  }he  may ; 

3he  sail  weill  mair  all  prisit  be/ 

'  Perfay,'  quod  ane  than  of  the  thre, 

*  Sail  no  man  say  we  drede  the  swa, 

That  we  vith  Arrowis  sail  the  sla.'  445 

With  that  thair  bowis  avay  thai  kest, 

And  com  on  fast l  but  langar  frest. 

The  kyng  thame  met  full  hardely, 

And  smat  the  first  so  Rigorusly, 

That  he  fell  ded  doun  on  the  greyn.  450 

And  quhen  the  kyngt's  hounds  has  seyn 

Thai  men  assale  his  mastir  swa, 

He  lap  till  ane  and  can  hym  ta 

Richt  be  the  nek  full  felonly, 

Till  top  our  taill  he  gert  hym  ly.  455 

And  the  kyng,  that  IMS  swerd  vp  had, 

Saw  he  so  fair  succour  hym  maid, 

Or  he  that  fallyn 2  wes  mycht  ryss, 

Had  hym  assa^eit  on  sic  wiss, 

That  he  the  bak  strak  evyn  in  twa.  460 

The  thrid  that  saw  his  fallowis  swa 

Forouten  recou^ryng  be  slayne, 

Tuk  till  the  vod  his  vay  agane. 

So  in  Edinb. ;  Camb.  •  /ton.'  2  So  in  Edinb. ;  Camb.  •  fallit.' 


214  XVI.      JOHN  BARBOUR. 

Bot  the  kyng  followit  spedely ; 

And  als  the  hound  that  wes  hym  by,  465 

Quhen  he  the  man  saw  gang  hym  fra, 

Schot  till  hym  soyn,  &  can  hym  ta 

Richt  be  the  nek,  and  till  hym  dreuch ; 

And  the  kyng  that  ves  neir  eneuch, 

In  his  risyng  sic  rowt  hym  gaf,  470 

That  stane-ded  till  the  erd  he  draf. 

The  kyngw  menje  that  war  neir, 

Quhen  at  thai  saw  on  sic  maneir 

The  kyng  assalit  sa  suddandly, 

Thai  sped  thame  toward  hym  in  hy,  475 

And  askit  how  that  cass  befell. 

And  he  all  haly  can  thaiw  tell, 

How  thai  assaljeit  hym  all  thre. 

'  Perfay/  quod  thai,  '  we  may  weill  se 

That  it  is  hard  till  vndwtak  480 

Sic  mellyng  vith  jow  for  to  mak, 

That  so  smertly  has  slayn  thir  thre 

Forouten  hurt :' — '  perfay,'  said  he, 

*  I  slew  bot  ane  forouten  ma, 

God  and  my  hound  has  slane  the  twa.  485 

Thair  tresoune  cuwrit  thame,  perfay, 

For  richt  vicht  men  all  thre  var  thai.' 


XVII.   (A) 
JOHN    WYCLIF. 

ABOUT   A.D.   1380. 

JOHN  WYCLIF  was  born  at  the  village  of  Hipswell,  near  Rich- 
mond, Yorkshire,  about  the  year  1324,  and  died  at  the  vicarage 
of  Lutterworth,  Leicestershire,  A.D.  1384.  He  was  the  first 
Englishman  who  undertook  a  complete  version  of  the  Scriptures 
in  his  native  tongue.  This  great  work  is  supposed  to  have  been 
completed  about  the  year  1380.  Wyclif  was  the  author  of  many 
religious  treatises  written  in  English,  among  which  may  be  men- 
tioned several  sets  of '  Sermons,'  '  Fifty  Heresies  and  Errors  of 
Friars,'  and  '  Wyclif 's  Wicket.'  The  «  Select  English  Works  of 
John  Wyclif,'  edited  by  T.  Arnold,  M.A.,  have  lately  been  pub- 
lished in  3  vols.  8vo. ;  Oxford,  1871. 

The  Gospel  of  St.  Mark  (cap.  i-vi)  is  taken  from  '  The  Holy 
Bible  in  the  Earliest  English  Versions  made  from  the  Latin 
Vulgate,  by  John  Wycliffe  and  his  Followers,'  edited  by  the  Rev. 
J.  Forshall  and  Sir  F.  Madden;  Oxford,  University  Press,  1850, 
4  vols.  4to. 

Here  bygynneth  the  gospel  of  Mark. 
CAP.  I. 

THE  bigynnynge  of  the  gospel  of  Jhesu  Crist,  the  sone  of  i 
God.     As  it  is  writun  in  Ysaie,  the  prophete,  '  Lo  !  I  sende  2 
myn  angel  bifore  thi  face,  that  schal  make  thi  weye  redy 
bifore  thee.     The  voice  of  oon  cryinge  in  desert,  Make  je  3 


2l6  XVII.    (A)    JOHN   WYCLIF. 

4  redy  the  weye  of  the  Lord,  make  36  his  pathis  rijtful/     Jhon 
was  in  desert   baptisynge,   and   prechinge   the   baptym   of 

5  penaunce,  in-to  remiscioun  of  synnes.      And  alle  men  of 
Jerusalem  wenten  out  to  him,  and  al  the  cuntre  of  Judee ; 
and  weren  baptisid  of  him  in  the  flood  of  Jordan,  know- 

6  lechinge   her   synnes.      And  John  was  clothid  with  heeris 
of  camelis,  and  a  girdil  of  skyn  abowte  his  leendis ;  and  he 

7  eet  locustus,  and  hony  of  the  wode,    and  prechide,  seyinge, 

1 A  strengere  than  I  schal  come  aftir  me,  of  whom  I  knelinge  ' 
am  not  worthi  for  to  vndo,  or  vnbynde,  the  thwong  of  his 

8  schoon.     I  haue  baptisid  5011  in  water;    forsothe  he  shal 

9  baptise  3011  in  the  Holy  Goost.'    And  it  is  don  in  thoo  dayes, 
Jhesus  came  fro  Nazareth  of  Galilee,  and  was  baptisid  of 

10  Joon  in  Jordan.     And  anoon  he  styinge  vp  of  the  water, 
sayj  heuenes  openyd,  and  the  Holy  Goost  cummynge  doun 

11  as  a  culuere,  and  dwellynge  in  hym.     And  a  voys  is  maad 
fro  heuenes, '  Thou  art  my  sone  loued,  in  thee  I  haue  plesid.' 

Ja  And  anon  the  Spirit  puttide  hym  in-to  desert.  And  he  was 
in  desert  fourty  dayes  and  fourty  m'3tis,  and  was  temptid  of 
Sathanas,  and  was  with  beestis,  and  angelis  mynystriden  to 

14  hym.     Forsothe  after  that  Joon  was  taken,  Jhesus  came  in-to 

15  Galilee,  prechinge  the  gospel  of  the  kyngdam  of  God,     and 
seiynge,  '  For  tyme  is  fulfillid,  and  the  kyngdam  of  God  shal 
come  ni} ;  forthinke  jee,  or  do  ye  penaunce,  and  bileue  366  to 

16  the  gospel/     And  he  passynge  bisidis  the  see  of  Galilee,  say 
Symont,  and  Andrew,  his  brother,  sendynge  nettis  in-to  the 

17  see ;  sothely  thei  weren  fishers.     And  Jhesus  seide  to  hem, 
1  Come  366  after  me ;  I  shal  make  3ou  to  be  maad  fishers  of 

18  men.'     And  anoon,  the  nettis  forsaken,  thei  sueden  hym. 

19  And  he  gon  forth  thennes  a  litil,  say  James  of  Zebede,  and 
Joon,  his  brother,  and  hem  in  the  boot  makynge  nettis. 

20  And  anoon  he  clepide  hem ;  and  Zebede,  her  fadir,  left  in 

21  the  boot  with  hirid  seruauntis,  thei  sueden  hym.     And  thei 


XVII.    (A)    THE   GOSPEL   OF  MARK.      CAP.  I.       21 7 

wenten  forth  in-to  Cafarnaum,  and  anoon  in  the  sabotis  he, 
gon  yn  into  the  synagoge,  taujte  hem.     And  thei  wondreden  22 
on  his  techynge ;  sothely  he  was  techynge  hem,  as  hauynge 
power,  and  not  as  scribis.     And  in  the  synagoge  of  hem  23 
was  a  man  in  an  vnclene  spirit,  and  he  criede,     seyinge,  24 
'  What  to  vs  and  to  thee,  thou  Jhesu  of  Nazareth  ?  haste  thou 
cummen  bifore  the  tyme  for  to  destroie  vs  ?     Y  woot  that 
thou  art  the  holy  of  God.'     And  Jhesus  thretenyde  to  hym,  25 
seyinge,  '  Wexe  dowmb,  and  go  out  of  the  man/     And  the  26 
vnclene  goost  debrekynge  hym,  and  cryinge  with  grete  vois, 
wente  awey  fro  hym.     And  alle  men  wondriden,  so  that  thei  27 
sou^ten  togidre  amonge  hem,  seyinge,  *  What  is  this  thinge  ? 
what  is  this  newe  techyng  ?  for  in  power  he  comaundith  to 
vnclene  spiritis,  and  thei  obeyen  to  hym/     And  the  tale,  or  28 
tything,  of  hym  wente  forth  anoon  in-to  al  the  cuntree  of 
Galilee.      And   anoon   thei   goynge    out   of  the   synagoge  29 
camen  in-to  the  hous  of  Symont  and  Andrew,  with  James 
and  Joon.     Sothely  and  the  modir  of  Symontis  wif  sik  in  30 
feueris  restide,  or  lay;  and  anoon  thei  seien  to  hym  of  hir. 
And  he  cummynge  to,  reride  hir  vp,  the  hond  of  hir  taken,  31 
and  anoon  the  feuere  left  hire}  and  she  mynystride  to  hem. 
Forsothe  the  euenynge  maad,  whenne  the  sone  wente  doun,  33 
thei  broujten  to  hym  alle  hauynge  yuel,  and  hauynge  deuelis. 
And  al  the  cite  was  gaderid  at  the  jate.      And  he  helide  33 
many  that  weren  traueilide  with  dyuers  soris,  and  he  castide 
out  many  deuelis,  and  he  suffride  hem  nat  for  to  speke,  for 
thei   knewen   hym.      And   in  the   morewynge   ful   erly  he  35 
rysynge,  gon  out,  wente   in-to   desert  place,  and   preiede 
there.     And  Symont  suede  hym,  and  thei  that  weren  with  36 
hym.     And  whanne  thei  hadden  founden  hym,  thei  seiden  37 
to  hym,  '  For  alle  men  seeken  thee/     And  he  seith  to  hem,  38 
1  Go  we  in-to  the  nexte  townes  and  citees,  that  arid  there  I 
preche,  for  to  this  thing  I  came/     And  he  was  prechynge  in  39 


21 8  XVII.     (A)   JOHN   WYCLIF. 

the  synagogis  of  hem,  and  in  alle  Galilee,  and  castynge  out 

40  fendis.     And  a  leprous  man  cam  to  hym,  bisechynge  hym, 
and,  the  knee  folden,  seide,  '  jit  thou  wolt,  thou  maist  dense 

41  me/     Forsothe  Jhesus,  hauynge  mercy  on  hym,  streijt  out 
his  hond,  and,  touchynge  hym,  seith  to  hym, '  I  wole,  be  thou 

42  maad  clene/     And  whanne  he  hadde  seide,  anoon  the  lepre 

43  partide  awey  fro  hym,  and  he  is  clensid.     And  he  thretenyde 

44  to  hym,  and  anoon  he  putte  hym  out,    and  seith  to  hym, '  Se 
thou,  seie  to  no  man ;  but  go,  shewe  thee  to  the  princis  of 
prestis,  and  offre  for  thi  clensynge  tho  thingis  that  Moyses 

45  badde,  in-to  witnessynge  to  hem/    And  he,  gon  out,  biganne 
to  preche,  and  diffame,  or  pupltshe,  the  word,  so  that  nowe 
he  mijte  nat  opynly  go  in-to  the  citee,  but  be  with-out-forth 
in  deserte  placis;  and  thei  camen  to-gidre  to  hym  on  alle 
sydis. 

CAP.  II. 

1  And  eft  he  entride  in-to  Capharnaum,  after  eijte  days, 

2  And  it  is  herd,  that  he  was  in  an  hous ;    and  many  camen 
togidre,  so  that  it  tok  nat,  nether  at  the  jate.     And  he  spac 

3  to  hem  a  word.     And  there  camen  to  hym  men  bryngynge 

4  a  man  sike  in  palesie,  the  whiche  was  borun  of  foure.     And 
whanne  thei  mi^te  nat  offre  hym  to  hym  for  the  cumpanye 
of  peple,  thei  maden  the  roof  nakid,  wher  he  was ;    and 
makynge  opyn,  thei  senten  doun  the  bedd,  in  whiche  the 

5  sike  man  in  palasie  lay.      Sothely  whanne  Jhesus  say  the 
feith  of  hem,  he  seith  vnto  the  sike  man  in  palasie,  '  Sone, 

6  thi  synnes  ben  forjouen   to  thee/      Forsothe  there  weren 
summe  of  the  scribis  sittynge  and  thenkynge  in  her  hertis, 

7  '  What  spekith  he  thus  ?     He  blasfemeth ;  who  may  forjeue 

8  synnes,   no-but   God    alone?'      The   whiche   thing   anoon 
knowen  by  the  Holy  Goost,  for  thei  tho^hten  so  with-inne 
hem-self,  Jhesus   seith  to  hem,  '  What  thenken  jee  these 


XVII.   (A)    THE   GOSPEL   OF  MARK.      CAP.  II.      21 9 

thingis  in  joure  hertis?     What  is  lijtere  for  to  seie  to  the  9 
sike  man  in  palasie,  Synnes  ben  foqouen  to  thee,  or  for  to 
seie,  Ryse,  take  thi  bed,  and  walke  ?     Sothely  that  jee  wite  10 
that  mannes  sone  hath  powere  in  erthe  to  forjeue  synnes/ 
he  seith  to  the  sike  man  in  palasie,    '  I  seie  to  thee,  ryse  vp,  1 1 
take  thy  bed,  and  go  in-to  thin  house.'     And  anoon  he  roos  12 
vp,  and,  the  bed  taken  vp,  he  wente  bifore  alle  men,  so  that 
alle  men  wondriden,  and  honouriden  God,  seyinge,  '  For  we 
sayen  neuer  so/     And  he  wente  out  eftsone  to  the  see,  and  13 
al  the  cumpanye  of  peple  cam  to  hym ;  and  he  taujte  hem. 
And  whenne  he  passide,  he  say  Leui  Alfey  sittynge  at  the  14 
tolbothe,   and  he  seith  to  hym,  '  Sue  thou  me.'     And  he 
rysynge  suede  hym.     And  it  is  don,  whenne  he  sat  at  the  15 
mete  in  his  hous,  many  puplicanys  and  synful  men  saten 
togidre  at  the  mete  with  Jhesu  and  his  disciplis;   sothely 
there  weren  manye  that  foleweden  hym.     And  scribis  and  16 
Pharisees  seeyinge,  for  he  eet  with  puplicanys  and  synful 
men,  seiden  to  his  disciplis,  'Whi  joure  maister  etith  and 
drinkith  with  puplicanys  and  synners  ?'     This  thing  herd,  17 
Jhesus  seith  to  hem,  '  Hoole  man  han  no  nede  to  a  leche, 
but  thei  that  han  yuele ;    forsothe  I  cam  not  for  to  clepe 
iuste  men,  but  synners.'     And  disciplis  of  Joon  and  the  18 
Pharisees  weren  fastynge ;    and  thei  camen,  and  seien  to 
hym,  '  Whi  disciplis  of  Joon  and  of  Pharisees  fasten,  but  thi 
disciplis  fasten  nat?'     And  Jhesus  seith  to  hym,  'Whether  19 
the  sonnys  of  weddyngis  mown  faste,  as  long  as  the  spouse 
is  with  hem?     Hou  longe  tyme  thei  han  the  spouse  with 
hem,  thei  mowe  nat  faste.      Forsothe  dayes  shulen  come,  20 
whenne  the  spouse  shal  be  taken  awey  from  hem,  and  thanne 
thei  shulen  faste  in  thoo  days.     No  man  seweth  a  pacche  of  21 
rude,  or  newe,  clothe  to  an  old  clothe,  ellis  he  takith  awey 
the  newe  supplement,  or  pacche,  and  a  more  brekynge  is 
maad.     And  no  man  sendith  newe  wyn  in-to  oold*  botelis,  22 


220  XVII.    (A)   JOHN   WYCLIF. 

or  wyne-vessetis,  ellis  the  wyn  shal  berste  the  wyn-vesselis, 
and  the  wyn  shal  be  held  out,  and  the  wyne-vesselis  shulen 
perishe.  But  newe  wyn  shal  be  sent  in-to  newe  wyn-ves- 

23  selis/     And  it  is  don  eftsoone,  whanne  the  Lord  walkide  in 
the  sabothis  by  the  comes,  and  his  disciplis  bigunnyn  to 

24  passe  forth,  and  plucke  eris.     Sothly  the  Pharysees  seiden, 
'  Loo  !  what  don  thi  disciplis  in  sabotis,  that  is  nat  leeueful.' 

25  And  he  seith  to  hem,  '  Radde  jee  neuere  what  Dauyth  dide, 
whanne  he  hadde  neede,  and  he  hungride,  and  thei  that 

26  weren  with  him?     Hou  he  wente  in-to  the  hous  of  God, 
vndir  Abiathar,  prince  of  prestis,  and  eete  loouys  of  propo- 
sicioun,  the  whiche  it  was  nat  leeful  to  etc,  no-but  to  prestis 

27  alone,  and  he  ijaue  to  hem  that  weren  with  hym/     And  he 
seide  to  hem,  *  The  sabote  is  maad  for  man,  and  nat  a  man 
for  the  sabote;   and  so  mannys  sone  is  lord  also  of  the 
saboth.' 

CAP.  III. 

1  And  he  entride  eftsoone  in-to  the  synagoge,  and  ther  was 

2  a  man  hauynge  a  drye  hond.     And  thei  aspieden  hym,  jif 

3  he  helide  in  sabothis,  for  to  accuse  hym.     And  he  seith  to 

4  the  man  hauynge  a  drye  honde, '  Ryse  in-to  the  mydil/  And 
he  seith  to  hem,  '  Is  it  leeueful  to  do  wel  in  the  sabothis,  or 
yuele?  for  to  make  a  soule  saaf,  whether  to  lese?'   And  thei 

5  weren  stille.     And  he  biholdynge  hem  aboute  with  wrathe, 
hauynge  sorwe  vpon  the  blyndnesse  of  her  herte,  seith  to 
the  man,  'Holde  forth  thin  honde/     And  he  helde  forth, 

6  and   the    honde    is    restorid   to   hym.      Sothely   Pharisees 
goynge  out  anoon,  maden  a  counseil  with  Herodyans  ajeins 

7  hym,  hou  thei  shulden  lese  hym.      Forsothe  Jhesus  with 
his  disciplis  wente  to  the  see ;  and  myche  cumpanye  from 

8  Galilee  and  Judee  suede  hym,     and  fro  Jerusalem,  and  fro 
Ydume,  and  bijendis  Jordan,  and  thei  that  aboute  Tyre  and 


XVII.    (A)    THE   GOSPEL    OF  MARK.      CAP.  III.      221 

Sydon,    a   grete   multitude,   heerynge   the   thingis   that   he 
dide,  camen  to  hym.      And  Jhesus  seith  to  his   disciplis,  9 
that   the  litil   boot   shulde   serue  hym,   for  the   cumpanye 
of  peple,  lest  thei   oppressiden   hym;     sothely  he   helide  10 
many,  so  that  thei  felden  fast  to  hym,  that  thei  shulden 
touche    hym,   Forsothe    hou    many    euere    hadden    soris, 
or  woundts;     and  vnclene  spiritis,  whenne  thei  seien  hym,  ir 
felden  down  to  hym,  and  crieden,  seyinge,  *  Thou  art  the  sone 
of  God/     And  gretely  he  manasside  hem,  that  thei  shulden  1 2 
nat  make  hym  opyn,  or  knowen.  And  he  styinge  in- to  an  hil,  13 
clepide  to  hym  whom  he  wolde ;  and  thei  camen  to  hym. 
And  he  made,  that  there  weren  twelue  with  hym,  and  that  14 
he  shulde  sende  hem  for  to  preche.     And  he  jaue  to  hem  15 
power  of  heelynge  siknessis,  and  of  castynge  out  fendis.  And  16 
to  Symount  he  putte  name  Petre,     and  James  of  Zebede  17 
and  Joon,  the  brother  of  James,  and  he  putte  to  hem  names 
Boonerges,  that  is,  the  sones  of  thondrynge;     and  Andrew  18 
and  Philip,  and  Bartholomewe  and  Mathew,  and  Thomas 
and  James  Alfey,  and  Thadee  and  Symount  Cananee,     and  19 
Judas  Scarioth,  that  bitraide  hym;  And  thei  comen  to  an 
hous ;    and  the  cumpanye  of  peple  came  togidre  eftsoone,  so  20 
that  thei  mijte  not   nether   ete   breed.      And  whanne   his  21 
kynnesmen  hadden   herdde,  thei  wenten   out   for   to   holde 
hym ;  sothely  thei  seiden,  for  he  is  turnyd  in-to  wodenesse. 
And  the  scribis  that  camen  doun  fro  Jerusalem,  seiden, '  For  22 
he  hath  Belsebub,  and  for  in  the  prince  of  deuels  he  castith 
out  fendis/     And,  hem  gadrid  togidre,  he  seide  to  hem  in  23 
parablis,  *  Hou  may  Sathanas  caste  out  Sathanas  ?     And  if  a  24 
rewme  be  departide  in  itself,  the  ilke  rewme  may  not  stonde. 
And  if  an  hous  be  disparpoilid  on  it-self,  thilke  hous  may  25 
not  stonde.     And  if  Sathanas  hath  risen  ajeins  hym-self,  he  26 
is  disparpoilid,  and  he  shal  not  mowe  stonde,  but  hath  an 
ende.     No  man,  gon  in-to  a  stronge  mannes  hous,  may  take  27 


222  XVII.    (A)   JOHN   WYCLIF. 

awey  his  vessels,  no-but  he  bynde  firste  the  stronge  man, 

z8  and  thanne  he  shal  diuersly  rauyshe  his  hous.     Trewly  I 

seie  to  3011,  for  alle  synnes  and  blasphemyes,  by  whiche  thei 

han  blasfemed,  shulen  be  forjouen  to  the  sones  of  men. 

29  Sothely  he  that  shal  blasfeme  aseins  the  Holy  Gost,  shal  not 
haue  remissioun  in-to  with-outen  eend,  but  he  shal  be  gilty 

30  of  euerlastynge  trespas.'     For  thei  seiden,  '  He  hath  an  un- 

31  clene  spirit.'     And  his  modir  and  bretheren  comen,  and.  thei 
stondynge  with-oute-forth,   senten  to  hym,   clepynge  hym. 

32  And  a  cumpany  sat  aboute  hym ;  and  thei  seien  to  hym, 
*  Lo  !  thi  modir,  and  thi  bretheren  with-outen-forth  seken 

33  thee.'    And  he  answerynge  to  hem  seith,  '  Who  is  my  modir 

34  and  my  bretheren?'   And  biholdynge  hem  aboute,  that  saten 
in  the  cumpas  of  hym,  he  seith,  '  Lo  !  my  modir  and  my 

35  bretheren.     Forsoth  who  that  doth  the  will  of  God,  he  is  my 
brother,  and  my  sister,  and  modir.' 

CAP.  IV. 

1  And  eft  Jhesus  bigan  for  to  teche  at  the  see ;  and  myche 
cumpany  of  peple  is  gedrid  to  hym,  so  that  he,  styinge  in-to 
a  boot,  sat  in  the  see,  and  al  the  cumpany  of  peple  was 

2  aboute  the  see,  on  the  lond.     And  he  tau^te  hem  in  parablis 
many  thingis.      And   he    seide   to   hem   in    his   techynge, 

3  'Heere  jee.     Loo!  a  man  sowynge  goth  out  for  to  sowe. 

4  And  the  while  he  sowith,  an  other  seed  felde  aboute  the 
wey,  and  briddis  of  heuene,  or  of  the  etre,  camen,  and  eeten 

5  it.     Forsothe  an  other  felde  doun  on  stony  placis,  wher  it 
hadfde]  nat  myche  erthe ;  and  anoon  it  sprong  vp,  for  it 

6  hadde  nat  depnesse  of  erthe.     And  whenne  the  sunne  rose 
vp,  it  welwide  for  heete,  and  it  dried  vp,  for  it  hadde  not 

7  roote.     And  an  other  felde  doun  into  thornes,  and  thornes 

8  stieden  vp,  and  strangliden  it,  and  it  jaue  not  fruyt.     And 
an  other  felde  doun  in-to  good  lond,  and  jaue  fruyt,  styinge 


XVII.    (A)    THE   GOSPEL   OF  MARK.      CAP.  IV. 

vp,  and  wexinge ;    and  oon  broujte  thritty-fold,  and  oon 
sixtyfold,  and  oon  an  hundridfold.'     And  he  seide,  '  He  that  9 
hath  eris  of  heeryng,  heere.'     And  whenne  he  was  singuler,  10 
or  by  hym-silf,  the  twelue  that  weren  with  hym  axiden  hym 
for  to  expowne  the  parable.     And  he  seide  to  hem,  '  To  jou  1 1 
it  is  jouen  for  to  knowe  the  mysterie,  or  pryuite,  of  the 
kyngdam  of  God.     Sothely  to  hem  that  ben  with-oute-forth, 
alle  thingis  ben  maad  in  parablis,     that  thei  seynge  se,  and  12 
se  nat,  and  thei  heerynge  heere,  and  vnderstonde  not ;  that 
sum  tyme  thei  be  conuertid,  and  synnes  be  forjouen  to  hem/ 
And  he  seith  to  hem, '  Witen  not  jee  this  parable  ?  and  ho  we  13 
jee  shulden  knowe  alle  parablis  ?     He  that  so  with,  sowith  a  14 
word.     These  sothly  ben  that  aboute  the  weye,  where  the  15 
word  is  sowun ;  and  whenne  thei  han  herd,  anoon  cometh 
Sathanas,  and  takith  awey  the  word  that  is  sowun  in  her 
hertis.     And  also  these  ben  that  ben  sown  on  a  stoon,  the  16 
whiche  whanne  thei  han  herd  the  word,  a-noon  taken  it  with 
ioye ;     and  thei  han  nat  roote  in  hem-silf,  but  thei  ben  1 7 
temporal,  that  is,  lasten  a  lityl  tyme ;  afterward  tribulacioun 
sprongen  vp,  and  persecucioun  for  the  word,  anoon  thei  ben 
sclaundrid.    And  there  ben  other  that  ben  sowun  in  thornis ;  18 
these  it  ben,  that  heeren  the  word,  and  myseise  of  the  world, 
and  disseit  of  richessis,  and  other  charge  of  coueitise  en-  19 
trynge  ynne,  strangulen  the  word,  and  it  is  maad  with-outen 
fruyt.     And  these  it  ben  that  ben  sowun  on  good  lond,  the  20 
whiche  heren  the  word,  and  taken,  and  maken  fruyt,  oon 
thritti-fold,  oon  sixti-fold,  and  oon  an  hundrid.'     And  he  21 
seide  to  hem,  '  Wher  a  lanterne  come,  that  it  be  put  vndir  a 
bushel?    wher   not,   that   it   be   put   vpon   a   candil-stike  ? 
Forsothe  ther  is  no  thing  hid,  that  shal  not  be  maad  opyn  ;  22 
nether  ony  thing  is  preuy,  the  whiche  shal  not  come  in-to 
apert.    If  ony  man  haue  eeris  of  heryng,  heere  he.'    And  he  23 
seide  to  hem,  '  See  jee  what  jee  heeren.   In  what  mesure  jee 


224  XVII.    (A)   JOHN   WYCLIF. 

25  meten,  it  shal  be  meten  to  ;ou,  and  be  kast  to  3011.     Sothely 
it  shal  be  jouen  to  hym  that  hath,  and  it  shal  be  taken  awey 

26  from  hym  that  hath  not,  also  that  that  he  hath.'     And  he 
seide,  '  So  the  kingdom  of  God  is,  as  if  a  man  caste  seed  in- 

27  to  the  erthe,     and  he  slepe,  and  it  ryse  vp  in  ni^t  and  day, 
and  brynge  forth  seed,  and  wexe  faste,  the  while  he  wote 

28  not.      Forsothe  the  erthe  by  his  owne  worchynge  makith 
fruyt,  first  an  erbe,  or  grene  corn,  afterward  an  eere,  afterward 

29  nil  fruyt  in  the  ere.     And  whanne  of  it-silf  it  hath  broujt 
forth  fruyt,  anoon  he  sendith  a  sikil,  or  hook,  for  rype  corn 

30  cometh/     And  he  seide,  'To  what  thing  shulden  we  likene 
the  kyngdom  of  God  ?  or  to  what  parable  shulen  we  com- 

31  parisoune  it?     As  a  corn  of  seneueye,  the  which,  whann 
it  is  sowun  in  the  erthe,  is  lesse  than  alle  seedis  that  ben  in 

32  erthe  ;     and  whanne  it  is  bredd,  or  quykened,  it  styjeth  vp  in- 
to a  tree,  and  is  maad  more  than  alle  wortis,  or  erbis;  and  it 
shal  make  grete  braunchis,  so  that  briddis  of  heuene  mowe 

33  dwelle  vndir  the   shade  we  ther-of.'      And   in   many  siche 
parablis   he   spac   to   hem  a  word,  as  thei   mitten  heerc; 

34  sothely  he  spak  not  to  hem  with-outen  parable.     Forsothe 
he  expounyde  to  his  disciplis  alle  thingis  on-sidis  hond,  or 

35  by  hem-self.      And  he  seith  to  hem  in  that  day,  whenne 

36  euenyng  was  maad, '  Passe  we  a^einward/  And  thei  leeuynge 
the  cumpanye  of  peple,  taken  hym,  so  that  he  was,  in  the 

37  boot ;    and  other  bootis  weren  with   hym.      And  a  greet 
storme  of  wynd  is  maad,  and  sente  wawis  in-to  the  boot,  so 

38  that  the  boot  was  ful.     And  he  was  in  the  hyndir  part  of 
the  boot,  slepynge  on  a  pilewe.     And  thei  reysen  hym,  and 
seien  to  hym,  '  Maistre,  perteneth  it  nat  to  thee,  that  we 

39  perishen  ? '    And  he  rysynge  vp,  manasside  to  the  wynd,  and 
seide  to  the  see,  '  Be  stille,  wexe  doumb.'     And  the  wynd 

40  ceeside,  and  greet  pesiblenesse  is  maad.     And  he  seith  to 

41  hem,  '  What  dreden  jee  ? — Nat  jit  han  jee  feith  ?'     And  thei 


XVII.   (A)    THE   GOSPEL   OF  MARK.      CAP.  V. 

dredden  with  greete  dreed,  and  seiden  to  eche  other,  '  Who, 
gessist  thou,  is  this?  for  the  wynd  and  the  see  obeyshen 
to  hym.' 

CAP.  V. 

And  thei  camen  ouer  the  wawe  of  the  see  into  the  cuntree  i 
of  Genazareth,     And  anoon  a  man  in  vnclene  spirit  ran  out  2 
of  a  biryel,  to  hym  goynge  out  of  the  boot.     The  whiche  3 
man  hadde  an  hous  in  graues,  or  Uriels,  and  nether  with 
chaynis  now  miste  eny  man  bynde  hym.     For  oft  tymes  he,  4 
bounden  in  stockis  and  chaynes,  hadde  broken  the  chaynes, 
and  hadde  brokun  the  stockis  to  smale  gobetis,  and  no  man 
mi^te  daunte,  or  make  tame,  hym.     And  euer-more,  nijt  and  5 
day,  in  biriels  and  hillis,  he  was  cryinge,  and  betynge  hym- 
silf  with  stoones.     Sothely  he,  seynge  Jhesus  afer,  ran,  and  6 
worshipide  hym.     And  he,  cryinge  with  greet  voice,  seide,  7 
'What  to  me  and  to  thee,  thou  Jhesu,  the  sone  of  God 
hieste?     I  conioure  thee  bi  God,  that  thou  tourmente  not 
me.'    Forsothe  Jhesus  seide  to  hym, '  Thou  vnclene  spirit,  go  8 
out  fro  the  man/     And  Jhesus  axide  hym,  'What  name  is  to  9 
thee  ?'    And  he  seith  to  hym,  'A  legioun  is  name  to  me ;  for 
we  ben  manye/     And  he  preide  hym  myche,  that  he  shulde  10 
nat  put  hym  out  of  the  cuntreie.     Forsothe  there  was  there  1 1 
aboute  the  hill  a  flock  of  hoggis  lesewynge  in  feeldis.     And  12 
the  spiritis  preieden  Jhesu,  seyinge,  '  Sende  vs  into  hoggis, 
that  we  entre  into  hem/     And  anoon  Jhesus  grauntide  to  13 
hem.     And  the  vnclene  spiritis  entriden  in-to  the  hoggis, 
and  with  greet  bire.  or  haste,  the  floe  was  cast  doun  in-to  the 
see,  to  tweyne  thousynde,  and  thei  ben  strangelid  in  the  see. 
Sothely  thei  that  fedden  hem,  fledden,  and  tolden  in-to  the  14 
citee,  and  in-to  the  feeldis ;  and  thei  wenten  out,  for  to  see 
what  was  don.     And  thei  camen  to  Jhesu,  and  thei  seen  15 
hym  that  was  traueilid  of  the  fend,  sittynge  clothid,  and  of 

VOL.  II.  Q 


326  XVII.    (A)   JOHN   WYCLIF. 

1 6  hoole  mynde;  and  thei  dreden.     And  thei  tolden  to  hem, 
that  sayen,  hou  it  was  don  to  hym  that  hadde  a  fend,  and  of 

17  the  hoggis.     And  thei  bygunnen  for  to  preie  hym,  that  he 

1 8  shulde  go  awey  fro  her  coostis.     And  when  he  stiede  in-to 
a  boot,  he  that  was  traueilid  of  the  deuel  bygan  to  preye 

19  hym,  that  he  shulde  be  with  hym.     Sothly  Jhesus  resceyued 
hym  nat,  but  seith  to  hym,  'Go  thou  in-to  thin  hous  to  thine, 
and  telle  to  hem,  hou  many  thingis  the  Lord  hath  don  to 

20  thee,  and  hadde  mercy  of  thee/     And  he  wente  forth,  and 
bigan  for  to  preche  in  Decapoly,  that  zs,  a  cuntree  of  ten  citees, 
how  manye  thingis  Jhesus  hadde  don  to  hym ;    and   alle 

21  men  wondriden.      And  whanne  Jhesus  hadde  stiede  in-to 
the  boot  eftsoone  ouer  the  see,  myche  cumpanye  of  peple 

22  cam  togidre  to  hym,  and  was  aboute  the  see.     And  oon  of 
the  princis  of  synagogis,  by  name  Jayrus,  cam,  and  seyinge 

23  hym,  fel  doun  at  his  feet,     and  preiede  hym  myche,  seyinge, 
'  For-whi  my  doubter  is  in  the  laste  thingis ;  come  thou,  putte 

24  thin  hond  on  hire,  that  she  be  saaf,  and  lyue.'     And  he 
wente  forth  with  hym,  and  myche  cumpanye  of  peple  suede 

25  hym,  and  oppresside  hym.     And  a  womman  that  was  in  the 

26  flux  of  blood  twelue  jere,     and  hadde  suffride  many  thingis 
of  ful  many  lechis,  and  spendid  alle  hir  thingis,  and  no-thing 

27  prophitide,  but  more  hadde  worse,     whanne  she  hadde  herd 
of  Jhesu,  she  cam  in  the  cumpanye  byhynde,  and  touchide 

28  his  cloth.     Sothly  she  seide,  'For  if  I  shal  touche  or  his 

29  cloth,  I  shal  be  saaf.'    And  anoon  the  welle  of  blood  is  dried 
vp,  and  she  felide  in  body  that  she  was  helid  of  the  wound, 

30  or  sikenesse.     And  anoon  Jhesus  knowynge  in  hym-silf  the 
vertu  that  was  gon  out  of  hym,  he,  turned  to  the  cumpenye, 

31  seith, '  Who  touchede  my  clothis  ?'     And  his  disciplis  seiden 
to  hym,  '  Thou  seest  the  cumpenye  pressinge  thee,  and  seist 

32  thou,  Who  touchide  me?'     And  Jhesus  lokide  aboute,  for  .to 

33  see  hir  that  hadde  don  this  thing.     Forsothe  the  womman 


XVII.   (A)    THE  GOSPEL   OF  MARK.      CAP.  VI.      22 7 

dredinge  and  quakynge,  witynge  that  it  was  don  in  hir,  cam, 
and   fel   down   bifore   him,  and  seide  to  hym  al  treuthe. 
Forsothe  Jhesus  seide  to  her,  '  Doirjtir,  thi  feith  hath  maad  34 
thee  saf ;  go  in  pees,  and  be  saf  fro  thi  sykenes.'     3^  mm  35 
spekynge,  messageris  camen  to  the  prince  of  a  synagoge, 
seyinge,  '  For  thi  doujtir  is  deed ;  what  traueilist  thou  the 
maistir  ferthere?'     Forsothe  the  word  herd  that  was  seide,  36 
Jhesus  seith  to  the  prince  of  the  synagoge, c  Nyle  thou  drede, 
oonly  byleue  thou.'     And  he  resceyuede  not  ony  man  to  sue  37 
him  no-but  Petre,  and  James,   and  John,  the   brother  of 
James.     And  thei  camen  in-to  the  hous  of  the  prince  of  the  38 
synagoge.    And  he  si}  noyse,  and  men  wepinge  and  weilinge 
moche.  And  he,  gon  yn,  seith  to  hem, 'What  ben  jee  troublid,  39 
and  wepyn  ?     The  wenche  is  not  deed,  but  slepith.'     And  40 
thei  scorneden  him.     Forsothe  alle  kast  out,  he  takith  the 
fadir  and  modir  of  the  wenche,  and  hem  that  weren  with 
him,  and  thei  entren  yn,  where  the  wenche  lay.     And  he  41 
holdinge  the  hond  of  the  wenche,  seith  to  hir, '  Tabita,  cumy/ 
that  is  interpretid,  or  expownid,  '  Wenche,  to  thee  I  seie,  rise 
thou.'     And  anon  the  wenche  roos,  and  walkide ;  sothly  she  42 
was  of  twelue  jeer.      And  thei  weren  abaischt  with  greet 
stoneyinge.     And  he  comaundide  to  hem  greetly,  that  no  43 
man  schulde  wite  it.     And  he  comaundide  to  jiue  to  hir  for 
to  ete. 

CAP.  VI. 

And   Jhesus,   gon    out   thennis,   wente   in-to  his   owne  i 
cuntree ;   and  his  disciplis  folwiden  him.     And  the  saboth  2 
maad,  Jhesus   bigan   for   to   teche   in   a   synagoge.     And 
manye   heeringe  wondriden   in   his  techinge,  seyinge,  '  Of 
whennis  to  this  alle  these  thingis  ?    and  what  is  the  wys- 
dom  that  is  jouun  to  him,  and  suche  vertues  the  whiche 
ben   maad    by  his    hond?      Wher  this    is   not   a  smyth,  3 

Q  2 


228  XVII.    (A)   JOHN   WYCLIF. 

or  carpenter,  the  sone  of  Marie,  the  brother  of  James  and 
Joseph  and  Judas  and  Symound  ?    wher  and  his  sistris  ben 

4  nat  here  with  vs?'    And  thei  weren  sclaundrid  in  him.    And 
Jhesus  seide  to  hem,  'For   a  prophete  is   not  with-outen 
honour,  no-but  in  his  owne  cuntree,  and  in  his  hows,  and  in 

5  his  kyn.'     And  he  myjte  not  make  there  ony  vertu,  no-but 

6  heelide   a   fewe   sike   men,    the  hondis   put  to.      And  he 
wondride  for  the  vnbileue  of  hem.     And  he  wente  aboute 

7  castelis  in  enuyrown,  techinge.     And  he  clepide  twelue  and 
bigan  for  to  send  hem  bi  tweyne ;  and  $af  to  hem  power 

8  of  vnclene  spiritis,     and  comaundide  hem,  that  thei  schulde 
not  take  ony  thing  in  the  weye,  no-but  a  :jerd  oonly,  not  a 

9  scrippe,  not  bred,  neither  money  in  the  girdil,     but  schoon 
with  sandalies,  that  ben  opyn  above,  and  that  thei  weren  not 

10  clothid  with  tweie  cootis.     And  he  seide  to  hem,  '  Whidir 
euere  %ee  schulen  entre  in-to  an  hous,  dwelle  je  there,  till  56 

11  gon  out  thennis.     And  who  euere  schulen  not  resseyue,  ne 
heere  sou,  je  goynge  out  fro  thennes  shake  awey  the  powdre 

12  fro  joure  feet,  in-to  witnessinge  to  hem.'     And  thei  goynge 

13  out,  prechiden,  that  men  schulden  do  penaunce.     And  thei 
castiden  out  many  fendis,  and  anoyntiden  with  oyle  manye 

14  syke  men,  and  thei  weren  heelid.     And  kyng  Eroude  herde, 
forsothe  his  name  was  maad  opyn,  and  he  seide,  '  For  Johne 
Baptist  hath  risun  asen  fro  deed  men,  and  therfore  vertues 

15  worchen  in  hym.'    Sothely  othere  seiden, '  For  it  is  Ely;'  but 
othere  seiden,  '  For  it  is  a  prophete,  as  oon  of  prophetis/ 

1 6  The  whiche  thing  herd,  Eroude  seith,  'Whom  I  haue  bihedid, 

17  John,  this  hath   risun  fro  deed  men/     Forsothe  the  ilke 
Eroude  sente,  and  held  Joon,  and  bond  him  in-to  prisoun, 
for  Erodias,  the  wyf  of  Philip,  his  brother ;   for  he  hadde 

1 8  weddid  hir.     Sothly  John  seide  to  Eroude,  '  It  is  not  leefful 

19  to  thee,  for  to  haue  the  wyf  of  thi  brother.'    Erodias  forsothe 
leide  aspies  to   him,  and  wolde  sle  him,  and   mijte   not. 


XVII.   (A)    THE   GOSPEL   OF  MARK.      CAP.  VI.      229 

Sothly  Eroude  dred[d]e  John,  witinge  him  a  iust  man  and  20 
hooly,  and  kepte  him.    And  him  herd,  he  dide  many  thingis, 
and  gladly  herde  hym.     And  whanne  a  couenable  day  hadde  21 
fallun,  Eroude  in  his  birthe-day  made   a   soupere  to  the 
princis,  and  tribunys,  and  to  the  firste,  or  gretteste,  of  Galilee. 
And  whanne  the  doujter  of  thilke  Erodias  hadde  entrid  yn,  22 
and  lepte,  and  pleside  to  Eroude,  and  also  to  men  restynge, 
the  kyng  seide  to  the  wenche,  'Axe  thou  of  me  what  thou 
wolt,  and  I  schal  3yue  to  thee/     And  he  swoor  to  hir,  *  For  23 
what  euere  thou  schalt  axe,  I  schal  jyue  to  thee,  thouj  the 
half  of  my  kyngdom/     The  whiche,  whanne  sche  hadde  gon  24 
out,  seide  to  hir  modir,  'What  schal  I  axe?'    And  she  seide, 
'  The  heed  of  John  Baptist/     And  whanne  she  hadde  entrid  25 
anon  with  haste  to  the  kyng,  she  axide,  seyinge, '  I  wole  that 
anoon  thou  jyue  to  me  in  a  dische  the  heed  of  John  Baptist/ 
And  the  kyng  was  sory  for  the  ooth,  and  for  men  sittinge  26 
to-gidere  at  mete  he  wolde  not  hir  be  maad  sory;     but,  a  27 
manquellere  sent,  he  comaundide  the  heed  of  John  Baptist 
for  to  be  brought.    And  he  bihedide  him  in  the  prison,     and  28 
brou3te  his  heed  in  a  dische,  and  jaf  it  to  the  wenche,  and 
the  wench  }af  to  hir  modir.      The  which  thing  herd,  his  29 
disciplis  camen,  and  token  his  body,  and  puttiden  it  in  a 
buriel.     And  apostlis  comynge  to-gidere  to  Jhesu,  tolden  to  30 
hym  alle  thingis,  that  thei  hadden  don,  and  taujt.     And  he  31 
seith  to  hem,  '  Come  je  by  3ou-selue  in-to  a  desert  place ; 
reste  36  a  litel/     Forsoth  there  weren  manye  that  camen, 
and  wenten  ajen,  and  thei  hadden  not  space  for  to  etc. 
And  thei,  stijynge  in-to  boot,  wenten  in-to  a  desert  place  by  32 
hem-selue.     And  thei  sy3en  hem  goynge  awey,  and  manye  33 
knewen,  and  goynge  on  feet  fro  alle  citees,  thei  runnen 
to-gidere  thidir,  and  came  bifore  hem.     And  Jhesus  goynge  34 
out  sy3  moche  cumpanye,  and  hadde  mercy  on  hem,  for  thei 
weren  as  scheepe  not  hauynge  a  shepherde.     And  he  bigan 


230  xvn.  (A)  JOHN 

35  for  to  teche  hem  manye  thingis.     And  whanne  moche  our 
was  maad  now,  his  disciplis  camen  ny},  seyinge,  '  This  place 

36  is  desert,  and  now  the  our  hath  passid;     leeue  hem,  that 
thei  goynge  in-to  the  nexte  townes  or  vilagis,  bye  to  hem 

37  metis  whiche  thei  schulen  ete.'     And  he  answerynge  seith  to 
hem,  '  3yue  36  to  hem  for  to  ete.'     And  thei  seiden  to  hym, 
'  Goynge   bye  we   loues  with  two   hundrid   pens,  and  we 

38  schulen  ^yue  to  hem  for  to  ete?'  And  he  seith  to  hem,  'Hou 
many  loues  han  36  ?     Go  36,  and  se.'     And  whanne  thei 

39  hadden  knowun,  thei  seien, '  Fyue,  and  two  fyschis.'    And  he 
comaundide  to  hem,  that  thei  schulden  make  alle  men  sitte 

40  to  mete  aftir  cumpenyes,  vpon  greene  hey.     And  thei  saten 

41  down  by  parties,  by  hundridis,  and  fyfties.     And  the  fyue 
looues  taken,  and  two  fyschis,  he  biholdynge  in-to  heuene, 
blesside,  and  brak  loouis,  and  3af  to  his  disciplis,  that  thei 
schulden  putte  bifore  hem.     And  he  departide  two  fyschis 

42  to  alle ;     and  alle  eeten,  and  weren  fillid.     And  thei  token 
the  relyues  of  broken  mete,  twelue  coffyns  full,  and  of  the 

44  fyschis.     Sothli  thei  that  eeten,  were  fyue  thousynd  of  men. 

45  And  anon  he  constreynede  his  disciplis  for  to  sti3e  vp  in-to 
a  boot,  that  thei  schulden  passe  bifore  him  ouer  the  see  to 

46  Bethsayda,  the  while  he  lefte  the  peple.     And  whanne  he 

47  hadde  left  hem,  he  wente  in-to  an  hil,  for  to  preie.     And 
whanne  euenyng  was,  the  boot  was  in  the  myddil  see,  and 

48  he  aloone  in  the  lond ;     and  he  sy3  hem  trauelinge  in  row- 
ynge ;  sothli  the  wynd  was  contrarie  to  hem.     And  aboute 
the  fourthe  waking  of  the  ny3t,  he  wandrynge  on  the  see 

49  cam  to  hem,  and  wolde  passe  hem.     And  thei,  as  thei  sy3en 
him  wandrynge  on   the   see,  gessiden  [him]   for  to  be   a 

50  fantum,  and  crieden;     forsoth   alle   sy3en   hym,  and   thei 
weren  disturblid.     And  anon  he  spak  with  hem,  and  seide 

51  to  hem,  *  Triste  36, 1  am ;  nyle  36  drede.'    And  he  cam  vp  to 
hem  in-to  the  boot,  and  the  wynd  ceesside.     And  thei  more 


xvii.  (B)  HEREFORD'S  ENGLISH  PSALTER.    231 

wondriden  with-ynne  hem;     for  thei  vndirstoden  not  of  the  52 
looues ;    sothli  her  herte  was  blyndid.     And  whanne  thei  53 
hadden  passid  ouer  the  see,  thei  camen  in-to  the  lond  of 
Genazareth,  and  setten  to  londe.     And  whanne  thei  hadden  54 
gon  out  of  the  boot,  anon  thei  knewen  him.     And  thei,  55 
rennynge  thurj  al  that  cuntree,  bigunnen  to  bere  aboute  in 
beddis  hem  that  hadden  hem  yuele,  where  thei  herden  him 
be.     And  whidur  euere  he  entride  yn-to  vilagis  and  townes,  56 
or  in-to  citees,  thei  puttiden  syke  men  in  stretis,  and  preieden 
him,  that  thei  schulden  touche  either  the  hem  of  his  cloth ; 
and  how  manye  euere  touchiden  him,  weren  maad  saf. 


XVII.  (B). 
HEREFORD'S   VERSION    OF   THE  PSALMS. 

ABOUT    A.D.   1380. 

For  the  sake  of  comparison  with  some  of  the  Psalms  in 
Section  II.,  Psalms  xiv.,  xxiii.,  and  cii.,  in  a  Midland  dialect,  are 
here  given,  from  the  translation  of  the  Psalter  made  by  Nicholas 
Hereford ;  as  printed  in  the  Wycliffite  versions  of  the  Scriptures, 
edited  by  the  Rev.  J.  Forshall  and  Sir  F.  Madden;  Oxford, 
1850. 

PSALM  xiv  (xv).     Domine  quis. 

1  LORD,  who  shal  duelle  in  thi  tabernacle ;  or  who  shal 
eft  resten  in  thin  holy  hil  ? 

2  That  goth  in  withoute  wem ;  and  werkith  ry^ttwisnesse. 

3  That  speketh  treuthe  in  his  herte ;  that  dide  not  trech- 
erie  in  his  tunge.      Ne  dide  to  his  ne3hebore  euel;   and 
reprof  toe  not  to  a3en  hise  ne3hboris. 

4  To  nojt  is  brost  doun  in  his  sijt  the  malice-doere ; 


232     xvn.  (B)  HEREFORD'S  ENGLISH  PSALTER. 

forsothe  the  dredende  the  Lord  he  glorifieth.     That  swereth 
to  his  nejhebore,  and  desceyueth  not ; 

5  that  his  monee  $af  not  to  vsure ;  and  siftis  vp-on  the 
innocent  toe  not.  He,  that  doth  these  thingus,  shal  not  be 
moued  in-to  without  ende. 

PSALM  xxm  (xxiv).     Domini  est  terra, 

1  OFF  the  Lord  is  the  erthe,  and  the  plente  of  it ;    the 
roundnesse  of  londis,  and  alle  that  duellen  in  it. 

2  For  he  vpon  the  ses  foundede  it ;  and  vp-on  the  flodis 
befor  greithide  it. 

3  Who  shal  stesen  vp  in-to  the  hyl  of  the  Lord ;  or  who 
shal  stonde  in  his  holy  place  ? 

4  The  innocent  in  hondis,  and  in  clene  herte,  that  toe  not 
to  in  veyn  his  soule ;  ne  swor  in  treccherie  to  hys  nejhebore. 

5  This  shal  take  blessing  of  the  Lord ;  and  mercy  of  God 
his  helthe-jiuere. 

6  This  is  the  ieneracioun  of  men  sechende  God ;  of  men 
sechende  the  face  of  God  of  Jacob. 

7  Doth  awei  joure  satus,  jee  princis,  and  beth  rerid  out, 
jee  euer-lastende  satis;   and  ther  shal  gon  in  the  king  of 
glorie. 

8  Who  is  this  king  of  glorie  ?   a  Lord  strong  and  mysti, 
a  Lord  myjti  in  bataile. 

9  Doth  awei  joure  satis,  jee  princis,  and  beth  rered  vp, 
jee  euer-lastende  satis;  and  ther  shal  gon  in  the  king  of 
glorie. 

10  Who  is  this  king  of  glorie?  the  Lord  of  vertues,  he  is 
king  of  glorie. 

PSALM  en  (cm).     Benedtc,  anima  mea. 

i  BLESSE  thou,  my  soule,  to  the  Lord;  and  alle  thingus 
chat  withinne  me  ben,  to  his  holi  name  1 


xvii.  (B)  HEREFORD'S  ENGLISH  PSALTER.     233 

2  Blesse  thou,  my  soule,  to  the  Lord!  and  wile  thou  not 
forjete  alle  the  jeldingus  of  hym. 

3  That  hath  mercy  to  alle  thi  wickidnessis ;    that  helith 
alle  thin  infirmytees. 

4  That  a^een-bieth  fro  deth  thi  lif ;  that  crouneth  thee  in 
mercy  and  mercy-doingis. 

5  That  fulfilleth  in  goode  thingus  thi  diseyr;    shal  be 
renewid  as  of  an  egle  thi  5outhe. 

6  Doende  mercies  the  Lord ;  and  dom  to  alle  men  suf- 
frende  wrong. 

7  Knowen  he  made  his  weies  to  Moises ;   and  to  the 
sones  of  Israel  his  willis. 

8  Reewere  and  merciful  the  Lord;   long-abidende   and 
myche  merciful. 

9  In-to  euermore  he  shal  not  wrathen ;  ne  in-to  withoute 
ende  he  shal  threte. 

10  Aftir  oure  synnes  he  dide  not  to  vs;   ne  aftir  oure 
wickidnessis  he  jelde  to  vs. 

1 1  For  after  the  hei3te  of  heuene  fro  erthe ;  he  strengthide 
his  mercy  vpon  men  dredende  hym. 

12  Hou  myche  the  rising  stant  fro  the  going  doun;  aferr 
he  made  fro  vs  our  wickidnessis. 

1 3  What  maner  wise  the  fader  hath  mercy  of  the  sonus ; 
the  Lord  dide  mercy  to  men  dredende  hym ; 

14  for  he  knew  oure  britil  making.     He  recordide  for 
pouder  wee  be ; 

15  a  man  as  hey  his  dajes;  as  the  flour  of  the  feld  so  he 
shal  floure  out. 

1 6  For  the  spirit  shal  thmypassen  in  hym,  and  he  shal 
not  stonde  stille ;  and  he  shal  no  more  knowen  his  place. 

17  The  mercy  forsothe  of  the  Lord  fro  withoute  ende, 
and  vnto  withoute  ende,  vpon  men  dredende  hym.     And  the 
rijtwisnesse  of  hym  in-to  the  sones  of  sones, 


234     XVII>  (B)  HEREFORD'S  ENGLISH  PSALTER. 

1 8  to  hem  that  kepen  his  testament.     And  myndeful  thei 
ben  of  his  maundemens,  to  do  them. 

19  The  Lord  in  heuene  made  redi  his  sete;  and  his  reume 
to  alle  shal  lordshipen. 

20  Blisse  566  to  the  Lord,  alle  his  aungelis ;  mijti  bi  vertue, 
doende  the  woord  of  hym,  to  ben  herd  the  vois   of  his 
sermounes. 

21  Blessith   to   the  Lord,  alle  jee  his  vertues ;   see   his 
seruauns,  that  don  his  wil. 

2  2  Blessith  to  the  Lord,  alle  jee  his  werkis :  in  alle  place, 
jee  his  domynaciouns ;  blesse  thou,  my  soule,  to  the  Lord ! 


XVIII. 

JOHN   OF  TREVISA. 
A.D.  1387. 

JOHN  OF  TREVISA  was  a  native  of  Cornwall,  but  resided 
chiefly  in  Gloucestershire,  being  vicar  of  Berkeley,  and  chaplain 
to  Thomas  Lord  Berkeley.  He  is  said  to  have  been  the  author 
of  an  English  version  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments ;  of  which, 
however,  nothing  is  now  known. 

His  best -known  work  is  a  translation  of  *  Higden's  Poly- 
chronicon,'  which  was  completed  in  A.D.  1387.  It  was  printed 
by  Gaxton  in  1482,  with  a  continuation  of  the  narrative  from 
1357  to  1460. 

The  first  three  volumes  of  a  complete  edition  of  '  Higden's 
Polychronicon,'  with  Trevisa's  translation,  have  been  published 
under  the  direction  of  the  Master  of  the  Rolls ;  but  as  the 
English  MS.  selected  for  that  edition  is  not,  philologically,  a  very 
important  one,  the  contemporary  MS.  Tiberius  D.  vii.,  in  the 
Southern  dialect,  has  been  resorted  to  for  the  following  extracts. 

The  last  extract, '  The  Norman  Invasion,'  exhibits  more  of  the 
translator's  provincialisms  than  are  apparent  in  the  former  ones ; 
and  may  be  advantageously  compared  with  Robert  of  Gloucester's 
narrative  of  this  event  (p.  i)  in  the  same  dialect. 

(A)     Description  of  Britain  ;  Lib.  I.  Cap.  41. 

[Cotton  MS.  Tiberius  D.  vii.,  leaf  38,  back.     See  vol.  ii.  p.  13  of  the 
printed  edition.] 

As  Fraunce  passej>  Britayn,  so  Brytain  passe])  Irlond  yn 
fayr  weder  &  noblete',  bote  no^t  in  helthe;  For  )>is  yl[on]d  ys 


236  XVIII.      JOHN  OF   TREVISA. 

best  to  brynge  forb  tren,  &  fruyt,  &  roj^ron,  &  o}>ere  bestes, 
and  wyn  groweb  \>er-ynne  in  som  places,  pe  lond  hab 
5  plente  of  foules  &  of  bestes,  of  dyuers  manere  kunde ;  be 
lond  ys  plentuos  &  be  se  also ;  be  lond  ys  noble,  copious,  & 
ryche  of  noble  welles,  &  of  noble  ryuers  wij>  plente*  of  fysch. 
par  ys  gret  plente*  of  smal  fysch  &  of  eeles,  so  \a\.  cherles  in 
som  place  feede]>  sowes  wib  fysch.  par  bu)>  ofte  ytake 

10  delphyns,  &  se-calues,  &  balenes  (gret  fysch,  as  hyt  were 
of  whaales  kunde),  and  dyuers  manere  schyl-fysch,  among  be 
whoche  schyl-fysch  bu)>  moskles  }>at  habbeb  wij>-ynne  ham 
margery  perles  of  al  manere  colour  of  huj  \  of  rody  &  reed, 
of  pwrpre  &  of  bluj  2,  &  specialych  &  moost  of  whyyt.  par 

15  ys  also  plente*  of  schyl-fysch  \ai  me  dyeb  wi]>  fyn  reed ;  }>e 
reednes  \>er-of  ys  wondre  fayr  &  stable,  and  steynej>  neuer^ 
wij>  cold  ne  wi]>  heete,  wi}>  weete  ne  wij>  drythe ;  bote  euer  be 
etye r,  be  hu  ys  be  veyrer ;  J>ar  bu]>  also  salt  welles  &  hoote 
welles,  Jx?r-of  eornej>  stremes  of  hoot  ba]?es,  to-deled  yn 

20  dyuers  places  acordyng  for  man  &  wo/rcman,  &  for  al  maner 
age,  jong  &  old.  Basilius  sei]>  \a\.  j>e  wat^r  \a\.  eorne]?  & 
passe]?  by  veynes  of  certyn  metayl  take]>  in  hys  cours  gret 
heete.  pys  ylond  ys  plentuos  of  veynes  of  metayls,  of  bras, 
of  yre,  of  leed,  of  tyn,  &  of  seluer  also ;  yn  ]?is  ylond,  \ndur 

25  ]?e  torf  of  ]>e  lond,  ys  good  marl  yfounde.  pe  thryft  of  ]?e 
fatnes  drye)>  hym-sylf  J^r-ynne,  so  jxzt  euer  }?e  Jjykker  }>e 
feeld  ys  y-marled,  ]?e  betre  corn  hyt  wol  bere.  ])er  ys  also 
ano]?£r  maner  whyt  marl ;  ]>e  lond  ys  ]>e  betre  four  score  jer 
\a\.  \er-v\\  ys  y-marled.  Yn  J>is  ylond  growe]>  a  ston  ]>at 

30  hatte  gagates ;  jef  me  axejj  hys  feyrnesse — a 3  ys  blak  as 
gemmes  buj> ;  3ef  me  axe|>  hys  kunde — a 3  brenne]?  yn  water 
&  quenchej)  in  oyle ;  5if  me  axe]>  hys  myjt — $if  a 4  ys  yfroted 

1  Harl.  MS.  1900  reads  *  &  hewe.'  2  For  4  blw'  or  •  blew.' 

8  Harl.  MS.  1900  reads  'it,'  'hit.'  *  Harl.  MS.  'he.5 


XVIII.    (A)   DESCRIPTION   OF  BRITAIN.  237 


&  yhat,  a  *  holdej>  what  hym   neyshe])  ;   $ef  me  axej>  hys 
goodnes  —  hyt  heele}>  |>e  dropesy  &  2  hyt  be  ydrongke  ;  ytend 
yn  J>e  fuyr,  hyt  ferej)  a-way  s«?rpentes  ;  ^ef  hyt  ys  hat,  hyt  35 
holde]>  what  hym  ney^hej),  as  succinis  a  ston  ]>at  so  hatte. 
par  bu]>  scheep  }>at  bereb  good  wolle  ;  bar  bub  meny,  hertes 
&  wyld  bestes,  &  few  wolues,  b<?r-fore  scheep  bub  be  more 
sykerlych,  wib-oute  kepyng,  yleft  in  be  foold;  yn  J>is  ylond 
also  buj>  meny  cites  &  tounes,  faire,  noble,  &  ryche  ;  meny  40 
gret  ryuers  &  streemes  wib  gret  plente*  of  fysch  ;  meny  fayr 
wodes  &  gret,  wib  wel  meny  bestes,  tame  &  wylde.     pe  eor]>e 
of  bat  lond  ys  copious  of  metayl  oor  &  of  salt  welles  ;  of 
quareres  of  marbel  of  dyuers  manere  stones,  of  reed,  of 
whyt,  of  nasche,  of  hard,  of  chalk,  &  of  whyt  lym  ;  j>ar  ys  45 
also  whyt  cley  &  reed,  for  to  make  of  crokkes  &  steenes  & 
o\>er  vessel,  &  barnd  tyyl  to  hele  wib  hous  &  churches,  as  hyt 
were  in  be  o]>er  Samia,  \a\.  hatte  Samos  also.     Flaundres 
louej?  be  wolle  of  bis  lond,  &  Normandy  ]>e  skynnes  &  ]>e 
fellys  ;  Gaskuyn  ]>e  yre  &  |>e  leed  ;  Irlond  ]>e  oor  &  }>e  salt  ;  5° 
al  Europa  loue)>  &  desyrej)  }>e  whyt  metayl  of  )>is  lond. 

Brytayn  ha]>  y-now  of  al  matyr  \a\.  neode]>  bugge  &  sylle, 
o]>er  ys  neodfol  to  mannes  vse  ;  J?ar  lakkej)  neuere  salt  &  yre, 
J>ar-fore  a  vercefyowr  in  hys  metre  preysej)  |>is  lond  in  j>is 
manere  :  —  55 

Engelond  ys  good  lond  fruytfol  of  ]>e  wolle,  bot  a  kornere  1 
Engelond  fol  of  pley  !  freo  men  wel  wor)>y  to  pleye  !  Freo 
men,  freo  tonges,  hert  freo  1  Freo  buj>  alle  J>e  leden  ;  here 
hond  ys  more  freo,  more  betre  ]>an  here  tonge. 

Also  :  Engelond  hyjt  of  lond  '  flour  of  londes  al  aboute  ;'  60 
J>at  lond  ys  fol  payd  wij>  fruyt  &  good  of  hys  oune.    Straange 
men  ]>at  neode}>  )>at  lond  wel  ofte  releuej?  ;    whan  hongur 
greuej),  |>at  lond  al  such  men3  feedej>;  |>at  lond  ys  good  ynow; 

1  Harl.  MS.  1900  has  '  it/  8  For  •  an.  *  MS.  'men  such. 


238  XVIII.      JOHN  OF   TREVISA. 

wonder  moche  fmyt  bere|>  &  corn ;  j;at  lond  ys  wel  at  eese, 

65  as  longe  as  men  lyuej)  in  peese.  Est  &  west  al  lond  knowej) 
haunes  ryjt  wel  of  Engelond ;  here  schypes  foondes  &  ofte 
helpe})  meny  londes.  par  mete,  }>ar  monay,  men  habbe|> 
more  comyn  alway,  For  heer  J>#t  creftes  men  wol  gladlych 
5eue  ^yftes ;  yn  lond,  &  yn  strond,  wel  wyde  men  spekej?  of 

70  Engelond.  Lond,  hony,  mylk,  chyse  !  }>is  ylond  schal  bere 
]>e  pryse;  as  [of]  al  londes  ryjt1,  pis  ylond  ha]>  neode  to 
noone;  al  londes  mot  seech  help  neodes  of  ]>is  al-one;  of 
lykyng  \er  woon,  wondrye  myjt  Salomon ;  rychesse  \a\.  Jjar 
ys  an,  jern  wold  Octauian. 

75  Cap.  42.  In  Brytayn  buj)  hoot  welles,  wel  arayed  &  yhyst 
to  \>Q  vse  of  man-kunde.  Mayster2  of  Jmlke  welles  ys  }>e 
gret  spyryt  of  Minerua.  Yn  hys s  hous  fuyr  duyreb  al-wey 
\a\.  neuer  chaungej?  in-to  askes,  bote  ]>ar  ]?e  fuyr  slake)>,  hyt 
change))  yn-to  stony  clottes. 

80  Yn  Brytayn  bu]>  meny  wondres,  no]?eles  foure  -buj)  most 
wonderfol.  pe  furste  ys  at  Pectouw,  ]?ar  blowe}>  so  strong 
a  wynd  out  of  ]>e  chenes  of  ]>e  eor]?e  \a\.  hyt  caste])  vp 
a5e  clones  \a\.  me  castej>  yn.  pe  secunde  ys  at  Stonhenge, 
bysydes  Salesbury,  ]?ar  gret  stones  &  wonder  huge  bu|> 

55  arered  an  hy^,  as  hyt  were  jates,  so  }>at  }>ar  seme])  5ates  yset 
apon  o]>er  jates ;  noj)eles  hyt  ys  nojt  clerlych  yknowe  no]>er 
parceyuet  houj  &  whar-fore  a  buj)  so  arered  &  so  wonderlych 
yhonged.  pe  }>ridde  ys  at  Cherdhol,  \er  ys  gret  holwenes 
\ndur  eor])e ;  ofte  meny  men  habbej)  y-be  ]x?r-ynne  & 

90  ywalked  aboute  wi])-ynne  &  yseye  ryuers  &  streemes,  bote 
nowhar  conne})  hy  fynde  non  ende.  pe  feur])e  ys,  \ai  reyn 
ys  yseye  arered  vp  of  ]>e  hulles,  &  anon  yspronge  aboute  yn 
\>Q  feeldes.  Also  \er  ys  a  gret  pond,  \a\.  conteynej)  J)re  score 
ylondes  couenable  for  men  to  dwelle  ynne ;  J)at  pound  ys  by- 

1  St.  John's  Coll.  MS.  '  Of  alle  londes  richesse.' 
2  St.  John's  MS.  '  Maistresse.'  3  St.  John's  MS.  '  hire.' 


XVIII.    (A)   DESCRIPTION  OF  BRITAIN.  239 

clypped  aboute  wij>  six  score  rooches ;  a-pon  euerych  rooch  95 
ys  an  egle  hys  nest;  and  |>re  score  ryuers  eornej)  in-to  J>at 
pound  and  non  of  ham  alle  eorneb  in-to  |?e  se  bot  on.     par 
ys  a  pound  yclosed  aboute  wij?  a  wal  of  tyyl  &  of  ston ;  yn 
}>at  pound  men  wascheb  &  babeb  wel  ofte,  and  euerych  man 
feeleb  ]>e  water  hoot  o>\er  cold,  ryjt  as  a  wol  hym-sylf.     par  100 
bub  also  salt  welles  fer  fram  be  se  &  bub  salt  al  be  woke  long 
for-to  Saturday  noon,  and  fersch  fram  Saturday  noon  for-to 
Moneday.      pe  water  of  bis  welles  whanne  hyt  ys  ysode 
turne}>  in-to  smal  salt,  fayr  &  whyyt.     Also  bar  ys  a  pond,  ]>e 
water  \er-oi  haj>  wondwr  worchyng;  ffor  bey  al  an  ost  stood  105 
by  J>e  pond  &  turnede  be  face  byderward,  be  water  wolde 
drawe  hem1  vyolentlych  toward  be  pond  &  weete  al  here 
clobes ;  so  scholde  hors  be  drawe  yn  be  same  wyse ;  bote  3ef 
}>e  face  ys  a-wey ward  fram  be  water,  be  water  noyeb  nojt.   fer 
ys  a  welle  bat1  non  streem  eorne]>  bar-fram  noj^r  j^r-to,  nc 
and  jet  four  maner  fysch  bub  ytake  bar-ynne.     pat  welle  ys 
bote  twenty  foot  long  &  twenty  foot  brood,  &  nojt  deop  bote 
to  ]>e  kneo,  and  ys  yclosed  wi}>  hyj  bankkes  in  euerych  syde. 

Yn  ]>e  contray  aboute  Wynchestre  ys  a  den ;    out  of  ]>at 
den  alwey  blowej>  a  strong  wynd,  so  }>at  no  man  may  endure  1 1 5 
for  to  stonde  to-for  ]?at  den.     par  ys  also  a  pond  jnzt  turnej> 
tre  in-to  yre,  &  hyt  be  }tfr-ynne  al  a  jer ;    and  so  tren  buj? 
yschape  in-to  whestones. 

Also  \er  ys  yn  ]>e  cop  of  an  hul  a  buryel ;  eu^rych  man 
Jj0t  comejj  &  mete)>  J>at  buriel,  a  schal  fynde  hyt  euene  ryjt  of  1 20 
hys  oune  meete;  and  }ef  a  pylgrym  o]x?r  eny  wery  man  kneole]> 
|>^r-to,  anon  a  schal  be  al  fersch,  and  of  werynes  schal  he 
feele  non  nuy.  Fast  by  J>e  Ministre  of  Wynburney,  \>at  ys 
no^t  fer  fram  Bathe,  ys  a  wode  \>at  bere)>  moche  fruyt.  3^f 
\>Q  tren  of  J?at  wode  falle  in-to  a  water  o>\er  grounde  J>ata  }>ar  125 

1  The  words '  hem'  and  '  |>at'  are  supplied  from  St.  John's  MS. 


240  XVII 2.      JOHN  OF   TREVISA. 

ys  ny},  &  lygge  ])ar  al  a  ^er,  J>e  tren  teorne}>  yn-to  stoones. 
Vndur  }>e  cite*  of  Chestre  eornej)  J)e  ryuer  Dee,  ]>at  now  to- 
delej)  Engelond  &  Wales ;  }>at  ryuer  eu^rych  monthe  chaunge}) 
hys  fordes,  as  men  of  )>e  con  tray  telle]?,  &  leue})  ofte  )>e 

130  chanel.  Bote  whe]x?r  J>e  water  drawe  more  toward  Engelond 
o>\er  toward  Wales,  to  what  syde  \a\.  hyt  be,  )>at  jer  men  of 
)>at  syde  schal  habbe  J>e  wors  ende  &  be  ouerset,  and  J>e  men 
of  be  o]>er  syde  schal  habbe  be  betr<?  ende,  &  be  at  here 
aboue.  Whanne  |>e  water  chaunge])  so  hys  cours,  hyt  bodeb 

135  such  happes.  pis  ryuer  Dee  eorneb  &  come])  out  of  a  lake 
bflt  hatte  Pimbilmere.  Yn  be  ryuer  ys  gret  plente*  of  samon, 
nobeles  in  ]>e  lake  ys  neuer  samon  yfounde. 

Tak  heede  hou^  gret  lyjt  &  bry^tnes  of  God  hys  myldenes 
ha])  byschyne  Englysch  men,  seethe  \ai  hy  turnede  furst  to 

140  ry^tfol  byleue;  so  \a\.  of  no  men  yn  on  pmrynce  bu])  yfounde 
so  meny  hole  bodies  of  men  after  here  dee]),  yn  lyknes  of 
euerlestyng  lif1  }>at  schal  be  after  j)e  day  of  doom;  as  hyt 
wel  seme])  in  }>is  holy  seintes,  Etheldred,  Edmund  ]>e  kyng, 
Elphege,  &  Cuthbert.  Y  trowe  \ai  hyt  ys  y-do  by  special 

145  grace  of  God  Almy^ty,  For  }>e  nacion  }>at  ys  yset,  as  hyt 
were,  wi])-oute  ]>e  world,  scholde  take  hede  to  duyryng  of 
bodyes  wi])-oute  corrupcion  &  rotyng,  and  be  }>e  more  bold 
&  studefast  for  to  tryste  on  ]>Q  fynal  arysyng  of  ded  bodyes 
for  to  leste  euere-more  after  ]>Q  day  of  doome 

De  incolarum  linguis ;  cap.  59.     (Vol.  ii.  p.  157.) 

150  As  hyt  ys  yknowe  houj  meny  maner  people  bu})  in  ])is 
ylond,  \er  bu])  also  of  so  meny  people  longages  &  tonges ; 
no^eles  Walschmen  &  Scottes,  \al  bu})  no3t  ymelled  wi})  o]>er 
nacions,  holde})  wel  ny3  here  furste  longage  &  speche,  bote- 
jef  Scottes,  ]>at  were  som  tyme  confederat  &  wonede  wi]> 

1  The  word  'lif  is  supplied  from  St.  John's  MS. 


XVIII.    (A)   DESCRIPTION  OF  BRITAIN.          241 

\>Q  Pictes,  drawe  somwhat  after  here  speche.     Bote  |>e  Flem-  155 
mynges,  ]>0t  wonej)  in  )>e  west  syde  of  Wales,  habbej?  yleft 
here  strange  speche  &  spekej>  Saxonlych  ynow.     Also  Eng- 
lysch  men,  J>ey}  hy  hadde  fram  J>e  bygynnyng  ]?re  maner 
speche,  Souj^ron,  NorJ^ron,  &  Myddel  speche  (in  )>e  myddel 
of  J?e  lond),  as  hy  come  of  J>re  maner  people  of  Girmania ;  160 
noj>eles,  by  cozrcmyxstion  &  mellyng  furst  wij>  Danes  &  after- 
ward wij>  Normans,  in  menye  )>e  contray  longage  ys  apeyred, 
&  som  vsej)  strange  wlaifyng,  chyteryng,  harryng  &  garryng, 
grisbittyng.      pis  apeyryng   of  ]>e   bur)>-tonge  ys  by-cause 
of  twey  Jnnges: — on  ys,  for  chyldern  in  scole,  ajenes  J?e  vsage  16$ 
and  manere  of  al  oj^r  nations,  bu]>  compelled  for  to  leue 
here  oune  longage,  &  for  to  construe  here  lessons  &  here 
•fringes  a  Freynsch,  &  habbe}>,  sujjthe  J>e  Normans  come  furst 
in-to  Engelond.     Also,  gentil  men  children  buj>  ytau3t  for  to 
speke  Freynsch  fram  tyme  J>0t  a  bu]>  yrokked  in  here  cradel,  1 70 
&   connej>   speke   &   playe  wi]>  a  child  hys  brouch ;    and 
oplondysch  men  wol  lykne  haw-sylf  to  gentil  men,  &  fondej? 
wi}>  gret  bysynes  for  to  speke  Freynsch,  for  to  be  more 
ytold  of. 

pys  manere  was  moche  y-vsed  to-fore  }>e  furste  moreyn,  &  1 75 
ys  se]>the  somdel  ychaunged.    For  lorum  Cornwal,  a  mayster 
of  gramfre,  chayngede  )>e  lore  in  gram^r-scole,  &  construc- 
cion   of  Freynsch   in-to   Englysch ;    &  Richard   Pencrych 
lurnede  |>at  manere  techyng  of  hym,  &  ojj^r  men  of  Pen- 
crych ;    so  \>at  now,  |>e  jer  of  oure  Lord  a   }>ousond   }>re  1 80 
hondred  foure  score  &  fyue,  of  )>e  secunde  kyng  Richard 
after  J>e  conquest  nyne,  in  al  J>e  gram^r-scoles  of  Engelond 
childern  leuej>  Frensch  &  construe))  &  lurnej?  an  Englysch, 
and  habbej?  )x?r-by  avauntage  in  on  syde  &  desavauntage  yn 
anoj^r ;  here  avauntage  ys,  ]>0t  a  lurnej>  here  gram^r  yn  lasse  1^5 
tyme  |>an  childern  wer  ywoned  to  do— disavauntage  ys,  }>at 
now  childern  of  grarrar-scole  conne))  no  more  Frensch  J>an 

VOL.  II.  R 


242  XVIII.     JOHN  OF  TREVISA. 

can  hen?  lift  heele,  &  J>at  ys  harm  for  ham,  &  a  scholle  passe 
|>e  se  &  trauayle  in  strange  londes,  &  in  meny  caas  also. 

190  Also  gentil  men  habbe}>  now  moche  yleft  for  to  teche  hen? 
childern  Frensch.  Hyt  seme])  a  gret  wondwr  hou}  Englysch, 
}>at  ys  ]>e  burj>-tonge  of  Englysch  men  &  here  oune  longage 
&  tonge,  ys  so  dyuers  of  soun1  in  ]>is  ylond;  &  j>e  longage  of 
Normandy  ys  cowlyng  of  a-no]><?r  lond,  &  hajj  on  maiwr 

1 95  soun1  among  al  men  \a\.  speke))  hyt  aryjt  in  Engelond. 
No)>eles  \er  ys  as  meny  dyuers  man^r  Frensch  yn  ]>e  rem 
of  Fraunce  as  ys  dyuers  manere  Englysch  in  ]>e  rem  of 
Engelond. 

Also,  of  J>e  forseyde  Saxon  tonge  \a\.  ys  deled  a  ]>re,  and  ys 

200  abyde  scarslych  wi])  feaw  vplondysch  men,  &  ys  gret  wondwr ; 
for  men  of  }>e  est  wij>  men  of  ]>e  west,  as  hyt  wen?  vndwr- 
}>e  same  party  of  heuene,  acordej)  more  in  sounyng  of  speche 
})an  men  of  J>e  nor]>  wi|>  men  of  }>e  sou]?;  }>er-fore  hyt  ys 
\>at  Mercij,  J>0t  bu|>  men  of  myddel  Engelond,  as  hyt  were 

205  parteners  of  ]?e  endes,  vnd«rstonde)>  betre  J>e  syde  longages, 
Nor^ron  &  Sou^ron,  ]>an  NorJ><?ron  &  Souj^ron  vndwr- 
stondej)  eyjx?r  o]>er. 

Al  }>e  longage  of  }>e  NorJ>humbres,  &  specialych  at  3ork, 
ys    so    scharp,   slyttyng    &    frotyng,   &   vnschape,   }>at  we 

aio  Soujjmm  men  may  ]>at  longage  vnnej>e  vndwrstonde.  Y 
trowe  ]>0t  }>at  ys  bycause  \at  a  bu]>  nyj  to  strange  men  & 
aliens  ]*zt  speke])  stnmgelych,  and  also  by  cause  ]>at  )>e 
kynges  of  Engelond  wonej?  alwey  fer  fram  ]>at  contray :  For 
a  buj)  more  yturnd  to  ]>e  sou})  contray ;  &  jef  a  go]>  to  ]>e 

215  nor])  contray,  a  go])  wi})  gret  help  &  strengthe.  pe  cause 
why  a  bu})  more  in  })e  sou])  contray  }>an  in  })e  nor})  may  be, 
betre  cornlond,  more  people,  more  noble  cytes,  &  more 
pn?fytable  hauenes. 

1  Harl.  MS.  'soun';  Cotton  MS.  'soon.' 


XVIII.     (B)    THE  NORM  AX  INVASION.  243 

(B)     The  Norman  Invasion  ;  Lib.  VI.  cap.  29. 

PANNE  Harold  was  yset  op  in  )>e  kyngdom  &  J?ojte  nojt  on 
J>e  couenantes  J>at  were  y-made  bytwene  hym  &  William. 
He  huld  hym-sylf  deschargede  of  J>e  o}>,  vor  William  hys 
dou^tere  )>at  he  hadde  yspoused  was  ded  wyjnnne  age  of 
wedlok,  and  also  vor  William  was  ocupyed  wyj>  werres  in  5 
londes  J>at  wer^  nyj  hym. 

Bote  William  warnede  hym  of  couenaunt  ybroke,  &  mellede 
manas  wyj>  prayers.  Harold  seyde  }>at  a  nyse  foly  coue- 
nauwt  scholde  nojt  be  yholde,  &  namelich*  |?e  byhest  of 
o)we  menne  kyngdom,  wyj>oute  comyn  assent  of  alle  |>e  10 
senatours ;  ]?ar*  a  lewede  o|>  scholde  be  ybroke,  namelyche 
while  hyt  was  compelled  to  be  yswore  vor  nede  in  an  nedfol 
tyme. 

In  \>e  mene  tyme  William  arayej?  al  |>at  nedej?  vor  j>e 
journey,  &  geteth  assent   of  J>e   lordes  of  hys   lond,  and  15 
purchaseth  fauoure  of  Alisaunder  )>e  pope,  wyj>  a  baner  ]>at 
hym  was  sent. 

pues  were  \>e  causes  why  due  William  axede  &  chalangede 
Englond  a3enes  Harold : — pe  de}>  of  Aluredus  }>at  was  hys 
cosyn,  ]?e  sone  of  Emma,  (on  Aluredus  hadde  yproc[u]red  ae 
his  dej>) ;  J>e  secunde  )?e  exilyng<?  of  Robert  Archebyschop  of 
Canturbury ;  |>e  )>rydde  cause  was,  vor  kyng<?  Edward  hadde 
byhote  due  William  J>at  a  scholde  be  ky«g*  after  hym  ef  he 
dyede  wy)>oute  chyldern ;  &  Harold  was  yswore  to  vol-vulle 
|>at  byheste.  ^ 

pe  lordes  of  Normandy  owsaylde  a-mong^  ham-sylf  what 
were  beste  to  do  of  )>ys  journey;  &  William  ]>at  was  )>e 
due  hys  sewer,  ]>e  sone  [of]  Osbert,  .rrasaylde  to  leue  & 
vorsake  ]>e  journey,  bo]>e  vor  scarste  of  vyjtynge  men J  &  vor 

1  The  word  'men'  is  supplied  from  Harl.  MS. 

R  2 


244  XVIII.      JOHN  OF   TREVISA. 

30  stryngj>e,  hardynes,  &  sturnnes,  &  cruwelnes  of  enemyes. 
pe  o]?er  lordes  *  were  glad  hereof  &  pot  here  answers  &  her* 
wordes  oppon  bes  William  hys  moub,  al  as  he  wolde  sygge. 
Whanne  he  com  tovore  be  due,  he  seyde  bat  he  was  redy  to 
be  journey,  &  alle  be  ob*re  lordes;  banne  my3te  nost  be 

35  lordes  wyb-drawe  vor  schame. 

Whawne  due  William  &  hys  men  were  long*  ytaryed  in 
Seynt  Valeric  hys  hauen,  vor  be  wynd  was  a-jenes  ham,  be 
pupel  grucchede,  &  seyde  bat  hyt  was  a  wodnes  to  chalange 
by  stryngbe  ob*re  menne  lond,  &  namelych<?  while  God  strof 

40  a-;enes  ham,  &  God  most  gr^unte  ham  good  wynd  ef  hy 
scholde  seyle.  Duk  William  made  brynge  out  Seynt  Vale- 
ricus  hys  holy  body,  &  sette  hym  b*r-oute  vor  to  haue  wynd. 
Anone  lykyng*  wynd  vulde  be  seyles. 

pa#ne  due  Willam  cam  toward  Englond,  after*  Michel- 

45  masse  day,  &  londede  at  Hastyng*  in  a  plas  bat  hatte 
Peueneseye.  In  hys  goyng*  out  of  hys  schyp  a  slod  wyj> 
hys  o  voot  &  stykede  in  ]>e  sond ;  &  J?e  kny3t  ]>at  was  nexte 
crzede  to  hym  anon  &  seyde : — '  Now,  Ser<?  Erl,  }>0u  holdest 
Englond,  jw?u  schalt  ry3t  neulich*  be  kyng*/  panne  he 

50  chargede  ]>at  hy  scholde  take  no  prayes,  &  seyde  ]>at  a 
moste  spar*  |>ynges  J?at  scholde  be  hys  oune.  And  he2 
lefte  so  vyftene  dawes. 

Harold  come  vram  werre  of  Noreganes  &  hurde  tyjjynges 
her*of,  &  hyede  wel  vast,  &  hadde  bote  veaw  kny3tes  aboute 

55  hym ;  vor  he  hadde  ylost  meny  stalword  men  in  J>e  raj>*r 
batayl,  &  he  hadde  no3t  y-sent  vor  more  help ;  and,  ]?ey3 
a  hadde,  men  were  wro|>e  &  wolde  haue  wyj>drawe  ham, 
vor  hy  moste  haue  no  part  of  j>e  prayes  atte  batayl  of 
Noreganes.  Bote  Harold  sent  vor|>  spyes  vor  to  aweyte 

1  MS.  '  J>e  oj?er  lordes  J>e  o|>e  lordes.* 

*  'he'  supplied  from  Harl.  MS.  Several  words,  indistinct  in  the  Cotton 
MS.,  are  corrected  by  collation. 


XV III.    (B)    THE  NORMAN  INVASION.     '         245 

&  se  j?e  number  &  ]>e  strmg]?e  of  hys  enymyes.   Due  William  60 
touk  }>ues  spyes  and  ladde  ham  aboute  hys  tentes  &  hys 
pauylons,   &   vedde   ham    ry"$t    realyche,    &    sent  ham   to 
Harold  a3e. 

pawne  hy  tolde  Harold  tyj>ynges  &  seyde  ]>at  al  ]?at  were 
in  due  William  his  ost  were  prustes,  vor  hy  hadde  }?e  chekes  65 
&  bo]?e  lyppes  yechaue.  Englysch*  men  vsede  J>at  tyme 
}>e  here  of  here  owrlyppes  to-sched,  &  nojt  yschore.  '  Nay,' 
qua})  Harold,  '  hy  bej>  no  prustes,  bote  a  be)>  wel  stalword 
knyjtes.'  panne  qua))  Gurth,  Harold  hys  3ungeste  brojx?r; — 
'  why  wolt  ]>ou  vnware  vy3te  wy]>  so  meny  orped  men  ?  We  70 
swore  hym  neu?r  non  oj>;  }>anne  hyt  ys  betere  ]>at  \>ou  ]>at 
art  yswore  to  hym  wyjjdrawe  )>e  vor  a  tyme,  and  lete  vs 
}jat  bej>  no3t  y-swore  vy3te  vor  ]?e  contr^y;  and  ef  we 
habbej?  |>e  maystry,  wel  hyt  ys ;  &  ef  we  be])  outcome,  J>o 
cause  &  ]>e  qwerel  ys  saf  to  ]>e/  75 

3ut  due  William  sent  a  monk l  to  Harold,  &  profrede  hym 
}>re  weyes : — O]?er  |>at  a  scholde  leue  J>e  kyngdom,  oj>er  holde 
the  kyngdom  of  due  William  &  regne  vndyr  hym,  o]>er  hy 
tweyne  scholde  vy3te  eyjjer  wy]>  o|?er  in  J>at  querel,  in  sy3t 
of  bo}>e  ostes,  namelyche  whyle  Kyng^  Edward  was  ded,  }>at  80 
hadde  ygraunted  hym  Englond  ef  he  dyede  wy]?-oute  heyre, 
and  by  r^wsayl  &  assent  of  Stigandus  J>e  archebyschop  &  of 
\>e  erles  Godwin  &  Siward,  in  token  }>are-of  Godwin  hys 
sone  &  hys  neuew  were  y-sent  to  due  William.  Bote  Harold 
wolde  no3t  assente  to  ]?e  monk  hys 2  message,  bote  seyde  ]>at  85 
)>e  cause  scholde  be  dereyned  by  dent  of  sword,  &  prayede 
onlyche  ]>at  God  scholde  deme  by-twene  ham  tweyne. 

panne  J>e  ostes  in  eyj>er  syde  come  to  }>e  plas  of  \>e  batayl 
in  Jie  day  of  Seynt  Kalixt,  ]>e  pope,  ]?e  vourtej>e3  day  of 

1  Harl.  MS.  'monk';  Cotton  MS.  '  mon.' 

•  Cotton  MS.  '  mong  hys';  Harl.  MS.  'monkes.' 

»  Cotton  MS.  «tej)e';  Harl.  MS.  'xiiij.' 


246  XVIII.      JOHN  OF   TREVISA. 

90  October*,  in  a  Saturday,  in  ]?e  plas  J>ar  j>e  Abbay  of  Batayl 
ys  ybuld,  as  we  be]>  enformed. 

pe  ny3t  to-vor*  ]>e  batayl  Englysch*  men  3af  ham  to  songe 
&  to  drynke,  &  woke  al  ny3t.  Erlyche  a-morwe  vot-men 
w/tA  her*  axes  made  a  gret  stryng)>e  of  schyldes  &  sette  ham 

95  to-gedders,  &  hadde  y-hadde  J>e  meystry,  nadde  jje  Normans 
y-feyned  to  vie. 

Kyng*  Harold  stod  on  hys  veet  by  hys  baner  wyj>  hys 
twey  brej>ern ;  (]>at  baner  was  afterward  ysent  to  |>e  pope), 
pe  Normans  ]>e  ny^t  tovore  ]>e  batayl  schrof  ham  of  here 

100  synnes  &  were  yhousled.  Erlych*  a-morwe  vootmen  & 
archers  were  y-set  in  ]>e  batayl,  &  ]?a/me  kny3tes,  wyj> 
whynges  in  eyj>er  syde. 

Due  William  ^wzfortede  hys  men  to  }>e  batayl,  &  was 
war*  Jjat  hys  haburjon  was  ytornd  in  &  out,  &  amendede 

105  J>at  hap  wy]?  a  bourd,  &  seyde— 'pe  strmgj>e  of  an  erldom 
schal  torne  into  a  kyngdom.'  Bote,  ar  J>e  scheltroms  come 
to-gedders,  on  of  J>e  Normans  syde,  |>at  hy3te  Tailefer 
by  hys  name,  cast  hys  sword  &  pleyde  to-vore  ]>e  ostes, 
&  slou3  a  banyour  of  Englysch*  men  J>at  cam  a~3enes  hym, 

iio&  dude  eft  )>e  same  of  an  oj>er;  al-so  a  slouj  ]?e  |>rydde 
&  was  y-slawe  hym-sylf. 

pawne  anone  ]>e  scheltroms  smyte  to-gedders  wyj>  Roland 
hys  song*,  |>at  was  bygonne  in  }>e  Normans  syde.  pe 
batayl  durede  vram  vndern  of  }>e  day  to  euesong  tyme,  & 

"5  ner*  no}>er  party  wolde  wy}>-drawe ;  bote  )>e  due  hys  archers 
hadde  her*  vorj>.  pawne  J>e  due  made  a  token  to  hys  men 
J>at  hy  scholde  feyne  to  vie,  and  by  J>at  wyle  Englysch*  men 
were  bygyled  &  desarayed  ham,  as  hyt  were,  vor  to  pursywe 
&  to  rese  on  here  enymyes.  Bote  whawne  Englysch*  men 

120  wer*  so  out  of  aray,  j>e  Normans  arayede  ham  efte,  &  tornde 
a3e  oppon  ]?e  Englysch*  men  J>a\  were  out  of  aray,  &  chasede 
ham  in  eu*ryche  syde.  Atte  laste  Harold  was  y-hyt  wyj>  an 


XVIII ;    (B)   THE  NORMAN  INVASION.  247 

arewe  &  loste  hys  on  ye,  &  was  yhurt  on  J>e  breyn,  &  vul 
dou«  in  J>at  plas,  &  on  of  |>e  knyjtes  stykede  hym  in  }>e  ]>y$ 
whyle  a  lay  |>are;  J>are-vore  William  potte  ]>at  knyjt  out  of  125 
cheualry,  vor  he  hadde  ydo  an  vnkunnyng*  dede.  fat  day 
William  loste  j>re  ]>e  beste  hors  ]>at  he  hadde,  &  were  ystyked 
ry$t  vnder  hym ;  bote  he  bare  hym  so  }>at  no  blod  com  out 
of  hys  body. 

Whawne  ]>e  victory  was  ydo,  William  buryede  hys  men  Jxzt  130 
were  y-slawe,  &  gr^untede  hys  enymyes  to  do  ]>e  same,  who 
j;at  wolde,  and  sent  Harold  hys  body  to  Harold  hys  moder 
wyjjoute  eny  mede1,  as  hue  hadde  yprayed;  and  hue  buryede 
hym  at  Waltham,  in  j>e  Abbay  of  Chanons  ]>at  Harold  hadde 
yfounded.  »35 

Bote  Girald  Cambrensis  in  hys  bok,  |>at  hatte  ftenerarius, 
wol  mene  ]>at  Harold  hadde  meny  woundes,  &  loste  hys  lyft 
ye  wyj)  a  strok  of  an  arewe,  &  was  outcome  &  scapede  to  J>e 
coniray  of  Chester ;  &  lyuede  j>ar  holylich^,  as  me  trowe]>,  an 
anker  hys  lyf  in  Seynt  lames  celle,  vaste  by  Seynt  lohan  hys  140 
cherche;  &  made  a  gnzcyous  ende,  and  j>at  was  y-knowe  by 
hys  laste  confessyon ;  &  J>e  comyn  fame  in  )?at  cyt^  acordeth 
to  J>at  sawe. 

1  Harl.  MS.  'mede';  Cotton  MS.  •m>d«,' 


XIX. 

GEOFFREY  CHAUCER. 

V 
A.D.    1340 1400. 

CHAUCER  was  born  about  the  year  1340,  as  in  1386  he  deposed 
that  he  was  forty  years  of  age,  and  upwards.  He  was  frequently 
employed  in  diplomatic  service  during  the  years  1370  to  1380. 
He  died  (as  is  said)  on  Oct.  25,  1400,  and  was  buried  in  West- 
minster  Abbey.  His  writings  are  very  numerous,  but  his  most 
famous  and  best-known  work  is  the  *  Canterbury  Tales,'  which 
we  may  roughly  date  about  1390,  though  it  was -never  finished. 
Amongst  his  chief  works  we  may  specially  mention : — 

O)  'The  Dethe  of  Blaunche  the  Duchesse'  (1369),  'The 
Parlement  of  Foules,'  and  a  translation  of  '  Boethius  de  Consola- 
tione  Philosophise'  (in  prose),  in  five  books. 

(£)  '  Troilus  and  Creseide,'  in  five  books ;  '  The  House  of 
Fame,'  in  three  books. 

(c)  '  The  Legende  of  Good  Women,'  the  *  Canterbury  Tales,' 
and  a  *  Treatise  on  the  Astrolabe*  (in  prose),  written  for  his  son 
Lewis,  about  A.D.  1391. 

Several  works  have  been  ascribed  to  him  which  are  not  his ; 
amongst  them  are  '  The  Testament  of  Love,'  in  prose  and  anony- 
mous, '  The  Complaint  of  the  Black  Knight,'  by  Lydgate ;  also 
'  The  Dream,'  '  The  Flower  and  the  Leaf,'  and  <  The  Court  of 
Love,'  all  by  unknown  authors.  He  is  known  to  have  translated 
the  'Roman  de  la  Rose,'  but  it  does  not  appear  that  the  sole 
translation  of  it  now  extant  is  his.  In  the  former  edition  of  this 
work  will  be  found  the  ' Pardoneres  Tale'  and  'The  Prioresse 


XIX.      THE  MAN  OF  LA  WES   TALE.  249 

Tale,'  chiefly  from  MS.  Harl.  7334.  The  publications  of  the 
Chaucer  Society  now  enable  us  to  give  a  large  portion  of '  The 
Man  of  Lawes  Tale,'  in  which  the  Ellesmere  MS.  (denoted  by 
E.)  is  followed  verbally,  except  where  notice  to  the  contrary  is 
given  in  the  foot-notes ;.  but  in  some  instances  the  spellings  of 
the  words  have  been  altered  so  as  to  agree  with  the  spellings 
in  the  other  MSS.,  viz.  the  Hengwrt,  Cambridge,  Corpus,  Pet- 
worth,  Lansdowne,  and  Harleian. 

Here  begynnetli  the  man  of  la  we  his  tale. 

IN  Surrye  whilom  dwelte  a  companye 

Of  chapmen  riche,  and  therto  sadde  and  trewe',  135 

That  wyde-where  senten  hir  spicerye', 

Clothe's  of  gold,  and  satyns  riche  of  hewe' ; 

Hir  chaff  are  was  so  thrifty  and  so  newel, 

That  euery  wight  hath  deyntee  to  chaffare' 

With  hem,  and  eek  to  sellen  hem  hir  ware*.  140 

Now  fel  it,  that  the  maistres  of  that  sort 

Han  shapen  hem  to  Rome  for  to  wende ; 

Were  it  for  chapmanhode  or  for  disport, 

Noon  other  message  wolde  they  thider  sende, 

But  comen  hem-self  to  Rome,  this  is  the  ende';  145 

And  in  swich  place,  as  thoughte  hem  auantage' 

For  hir  entent,  they  take  hir  herbergage. 

Soiourned  ban  thise  marchantz  in  that  toun 

A  certein  tyme,  as  fel  to  hir  plesance, 

And  so  bifel,  that  thexcellent  renoun  150 

Of  themperoures  doughter,  dame  distance', 

Reported  was,  with  euery  circumstance, 

Vn-to  thise  Surryen  marchantz  in  swich  wysS1, 

Fro  day  to  day,  as  I  shal  yow  deuyse'. 

1  E.  'swich  a  wyse';  but  the  other  MSS.  omit  '  a.' 


250  XIX.      GEOFFREY  CHAUCER. 

This  was  the  commune  voys  of  euery  man —  155 

'  Oure  Emperour  of  Rome,  god  him  see, 

A  doughter  hath  that,  syn  the  world  bigan, 

To  rekne  as  wel  hir  goodnesse  as  beautee, 

Nas  neuere  swich  another  as  is  she ; 

I  prey  to  god  in  honour  hir  susteene,  160 

And  wolde  she  were  of  al  Europe  the  queene. 


In  hir  is  heigh  beautee,  with-oute  pride, 

Yowthe,  with-oute'  grenehede  or  folye ; 

To  alle  hir  werke's  vertu  is  hir  gyde, 

Humblesse  hath  slayn  in  hir  al  tirannye".  165 

She  is  mirour  of  alle  curteisye ; 

Hir  herte  is  verray  chambre  of  holynesse*, 

Hir  hand,  ministre  of  fredom  for  almesseV 


And  al  this  voys  was  soth,  as  god  is  trewe, 

But  now  to  purpos  lat  vs  turne  agayn ;  1 70 

Thise  marchantz  han  doon  fraught  hir  shippe's  newe, 

And,  whan  they  han  this  blisful  mayden  seyn, 

Hoom  to  Surrye  ben  they  went  ful  fayn, 

And  doon  hir  nedes  as  they  han  doon  yore', 

And  lyuen  in  wele ;  I  can  sey  yow  no  more.  175 


Now  fel  it,  that  thise  marchantz  stode  in  grace 

Of  hym,  that  was  the  sowdan  of  Surrye' ; 

For  whan  they  came  from  any  strange  place, 

He  wolde,  of  his  benigne  curteisye, 

Make  hem  good  chere,  and  bisily  espye*  180 

Tidynges  of  sondry  regne's,  for  to  lere 

The  wondres  that  they  myghte'  seen  or  here'. 


XIX.      THE  MAN  OF  LA  WES   TALE.  25  J 

Amonge's  othere  thinges,  specially 

This  marchantz  ban  hym  told  of  dame  distance 

So  gret  noblesse  in  ernest,  ceriously,  185 

That  this  sowdan  hath  caught  so  gret  plesance' 

To  ban  hir  figure  in  his  remembrance, 

That  all  his  lust  and  al  his  bisy  cure 

Was  for  to  loue  hir  while  his  lyf  may  dure. 


Parauenture  in  thilke  large*  book  190 

Which  that  men  clepe  the  heuen,  ywriten  was 

With  sterre's,  whan  that  he  his  birthe'  took, 

That  he  for  loue  shulde  ban  his  deth,  alias  I 

For  in  the  sterre's,  clerer  than  is  glas, 

Is  writen,  god  wot,  who  so  coude  it  rede,  195 

The  deth  of  euery  man,  withouten  drede". 

In  sterre's,  many  a  wynter  ther-biforn, 

Was  writen  the  deth  of  Ector,  Achilles, 

Of  Pompei,  luli'us,  er  they  were  born ; 

The  strif  of  Thebes ;  and  of  Ercules,  aoo 

Of  Sampson,  Turnus,  and  of  Socrates 

The  deth ;  but  menne's  wine's  ben  so  dulle, 

That  no  wight  can  wel  rede  it  atte'  fulle. 

This  sowdan  for  his  priuee  conseil  sente', 

And,  shortly  of  this  mater  for  to  pace,  205 

He  hath  to  hem  declared  his  entente', 

And  seyde  hem  certein,  '  but  he  myghte  haue  grace* 

To  han  Custance  with-inne  a  litel  space', 

He  nas  but  deed ;'  and  charged  hem,  in  hye*, 

To  shapen  for  his  lyf  som  remedye*.  210 


252  XIX.      GEOFFREY  CHAUCER. 

;•, 

Diuerse*  men  diuerse  thinges  seyden ; 

They  argumenten l,  casten  vp  and  doun ; 

Many  a  subtil  resoun  forth  they  leyden, 

They  speken  of  magik  and  abusioun  ; 

But  finally,  as  in  conclusioun,  215 

They  can  not  seen  in  that  non  auantage', 

Ne  in  non  other  wey,  saue  mariage. 

Than  seye'  they  ther-in  swich  difficultee 

By  way  of  resoun,  for  to  speke  al  playn, 

By  cause  that  ther  was  swich  diuersitee  220 

Bitwene  hir  bothe'  lawe's,  that  they  sayn, 

They  trowe  '  that  no  christen  prince  wolde  fayn 

Wedden  his  child  vnder  cure  lawe's  sweete 

That  vs  were  taught  by  Mahoun  cure  prophete'.' 

And  he  answerde,  '  rather  than  I  lese*  225 

Custance,  I  wol  be  cristned  doutelees ; 

I  mot  ben  hires,  I  may  non  other  chesS. 

I  prey  yow  holde  youre  argumentz  in  pees ; 

Saueth  my  lyf,  and  beth  nought  recchelees 

To  getten  hir  that  hath  my  lyf  in  cure,  230 

For  in  this  wo  I  may  not  longe  endure.' 

What  nedeth  gretter  dilatacioun  ? 

I  seye,  by  tretys  and  embassadrie, 

And  by  the  popes  mediacioun, 

And  al  the  chirche,  and  al  the  chiualrie',  .       335 

That,  in  destruccioun  of  Maumettrie', 

And  in  encrees  of  criste's  la  we  dere', 

They  ben  accorded,  so  as  ye  shal  here* ; 

1  Harl.,  Corp.  'argumentes*;  but  see  1.  228. 


XIX.      THE  MAN  OF  LA  WES   TALE.  253 

How  that  the  sowdan  and  his  baronage* 

And  alle  hise  lieges  shulde  ycristned  be,  240 

And  he  shal  han  Custance  in  mariage, 

And  certein  gold,  I  not  what  quantitee, 

And  her-to  founden  suffisant  seurtee ; 

This  same  accord  was  sworn  on  eyther  syde'; 

Now,  fair.e  Custance,  almyghty  god  thee  gyde !  245 


Now  wolde*  som  men  waiten,  as  I  gesse*, 

That  I  shulde  tellen  al  the  purveiance 

That  themperour,  of  his  gret  noblesse', 

Hath  shapen  for  his  doughter  dame  Custance". 

Wei  may  men  knowe  that  so  gret  ordinance  250 

May  no  man  tellen  in  a  litel  clause 

As  was  arrayed  for  so  heigh  a  cause*. 

Bisshopes  ben  shapen  with  hire  for  to  wende', 

Lorde's,  ladies,  knyghtes  of  renoun, 

And  other  folk  ynow,  this  is  the  ende' ;  255 

And  notifie'd  is  thurgh-out  the  toun 

That  euery  wight,  with  gret  deuocioun, 

Shulde  preyen  crist  that  he  this  mariage" 

Receyue  in  gree,  and  spede  this  viage. 

The  day  is  comen  of  hir  departyng,  260 

I  sey,  the  woful  day  fatal  is  come, 

That  ther  may  be  no  lenger  tariyng, 

But  forthward  they  hem  dressen,  alle  and  some* ; 

Custance,  that  was  with  sorwe  al  ouercome', 

Ful  pale  arist,  and  dresseth  hir  to  wende' ;  265 

For  wel  she  seeth  ther  is  non  other  ende. 


254  XIX-      GEOFFREY  CHAUCER. 

Alias !  what  wonder  is  it  though  she  wepte', 

That  shal  be  sent  to  strange  nacioun 

Fro  frendes,  that  so  tendrely  hir  kepte', 

And  to  be  bounden  vnder  subieccioun  270 

Of  oon,  she  knoweth  not  his  condicioun. 

Housbondes  ben  alle  goode,  and  han  ben  yore', 

That  knowen  wyues,  I  dar  say  yow  no  more. 

'  Fader/  she  sayde,  '  thy  wrecched  child  distance', 

Thy  yonge  doughter,  fostred  vp  so  softe,  275 

And  ye,  my  mooder,  my  souerayn  plesance' 

Ouer  alle  thing,  out -taken  crist  on  lofte', 

Custance,  your  child,  hir  recomandeth  ofte* 

Vn-to  your  grace,  for  I  shal  to  Surrye', 

Ne  shal  I  neuer  seen  yow  more  with  ye'.  a8o 

Alias !  vn-to  the  Barbre  nacioun 

I  moste  gon,  syn  that  it  is  your  wille' ; 

But  crist,  that  starf  for  our  sauacioun, 

So  yeue  me  grace,  hise  hestes  to  fulfille' ; 

I,  wrecche  womman,  no  fors  though  I  spille'.  285 

Wommen  are  born  to  thraldom  and  penance', 

And  to  ben  vnder  mannes  gouernance'.' 

I  trowe,  at  Troye  whan  Pirrus  brak  the  wal 

Or  Ylion1  brende,  at  Thebe's  the  citee, 

Nat 2  Rome',  for  the  harm  thurgh  Hanybal  290 

That  Romayns  hath  venquysshed  tymes  thre, 

Nas  herd  swich  tendre  wepyng  for  pitee 

1  All  the  best  MSS.  read  '  ylion.'  In  this  difficult  passage,  '  Or '  signifies 
ere,  i.  e.  before.  The  sense  is—'  when  P.  broke  the  wall  ere  Ilium  blazed, 
[nor]  at  Thebes,  nor  at  Rome.' 

*  'Nat'  is  the  reading  of  the  Ellesmere,  Hengwrt,  and  Cambridge  MSS. ; 
but  in  this  instance  it  is  probably  a  contraction  of '  ne  at,'  instead  of  being 
equivalent  to  'not/  as  usual.  The  Had.  MS.  reads  '  Ne  at'  accordingly. 


XIX.      THE  MAN  OF  LA  WES   TALE.  255 

As  in  the  chambre  was  for  hir  departynge ; 
Bot  forth  she  moot,  wher-so  she  wepe  or  synge*. 

O  firste'  moeuyng  cruel  firmament,  295 

With  thy  diurnal  sweigh  that  crowdest  ay 

And  hurlest  al  from  Est  til  Occident, 

That  naturelly  wolde  holde  another  way, 

Thy  crowdyng  set  the  heuen  in  swich  array 

At  the  bigynnyng  of  this  fiers  viage,  300 

That  cruel  Mars  hath  slayn  this  mariage'. 

Infortunat  ascendent  tortuous, 

Of  which  the  lord  is  helplees  falle,  alias ! 

Out  of  his  angle  in-to  the  derkest  hous. 

O  Mars,  O  Atazir,  as  in  this  cas !  305 

O  feble  moone,  vnhappy  ben  thy  pas ! 

Thou  knyttest  thee  ther  thou  art  not  receyue'd, 

Ther  thou  were  wel,  from  thennes  artow  weyued. 

Imprudent  emperour  of  Rome,  alias  1 

Was  ther  no  philosophre  in  al  thy  toun?  310 

Is  no  tyme  bet  than  other  in  swich  cas? 

Of  viage  is  ther  non  eleccioun  ? 

Namely,  to  folk  of  heigh  condicioun, 

Not  whan  a  roote  is  of  a  birthe  yknowe*  ? 

Alias!  we  ben  to  lewe'd  or  to  slowe.  315 

To  shippe  is  brought l  this  woful  faire  mayde* 

Solempne'ly  with  euery  circumstance. 

'  Now  Ihesu  crist  be  with  yow  alle,'  she  sayde", 

Ther  nys  no  more  but  *  farewel !  faire  Distance*  1" 

She  peyneth  hir  to  make  good  contenance',  320 

And  forth  I  lete  hir  saile  in  this  manere, 

And  turne  I  wol  agayn  to  my  matere'. 

1  E. '  come';  '  brought*  in  the  rest. 


256  XIX.      GEOFFREY  CHAUCER. 

\ 

The  mooder  of  the  sowdan,  welle  of  vices, 
Espie'd  hath  hir  sones  pleyn  entente, 
How  he  wol  lete  his  olde  sacrifices,  3*5 

And  right  anon  she  for  hir  conseil  sente' ; 
And  they  ben  come,  to  knowe  what  she  mente". 
And  whan  assembled  was  this  folk  in-fere, 
She  sette  hir  doun,  and  sayde  as  ye  shal  here*. 

1  Lordes,'  quod  she 1,  '  ye  knowen  euerichon,  330 

How  that  my  sone  in  point  is  for  to  lete 

The  holy  lawe's  of  cure  Alkaron, 

Yeuen  by  goddes  message 2  Makomete'. 

But  oon  auow  to  grete  god  I  hete, 

The  lyf  shal  rather  out  of  my  body  sterte*  335 

Than  Makometes  lawe  out  of  myn  herte  1 

What  shulde  vs  tyden  of  this  newe  lawe 

But  thraldom  to  our  bodies  and  penance  ? 

And  afterward  in  helle  to  be  drawe 

For  we  reneyed  Mahoun  oure  creance'  ?  340 

But,  lorde's,  wol  ye  maken  assurance, 

As  I  shal  seyn,  assentyng  to  my  lore, 

And  I  shal  make  vs  sauf  for  euermore  ?' 

They  sworen  and  assenten,  euery  man, 

To  lyue  with  hir  and  dye,  and  by  hir  stonde ;  345 

And  euerich,  in  the  beste  wise  he  can, 

To  strengthen  hir  shal  alle  hise  frendes  fonde ; 

And  she  hath  this  emprise  ytake  on  honde, 

Which  ye  shal  heren  that  I  shal  deuyse, 

And  to  hem  alle  she  spak  right  in  this  wyse*.  350 

1  E.  'she  seyde';  '  quod  she*  in  the  rest. 

3  'messager'  Corp.,  Petw.,  and  Lansd.  MSS. ;  but  see  the  note. 


XIX.   THE  MAN  OF  LA  WES  TALE.      257 

'  We  shul  first  feyne  vs  cristendom  to  take, 

Cold  water  shal  not  greue  vs  but  a  lite ; 

And  I  shal  swich  a  feste  and  reuel  make', 

That,  as  I  trowe,  I  shal  the  sowdan  quite. 

For  though  his  wyf  be  cristned  neuer  so  white',  355 

She  shal  haue  nede  to  wasshe  awey  the  rede, 

Though  she  a  font-ful  water  with  hir  lede.' 


O  sowdanesse,  roote  of  iniquitee, 

Virago,  thou  Semyrame  the  secounde", 

O  serpent  vnder  femynynytee,  360 

Lik  to  the  serpent  depe  in  helle  ybounde, 

O  feyned  womman,  al  that  may  confounde* 

Vertu  and  Innocence,  thurgh  thy  malice, 

Is  bred  in  thee,  as  nest  of  euery  vice  1 

O  Satan,  enuious  syn  thilke'  day  365 

That  thou  were  chased  fro  cure  heritage', 

Wei  knowestow  to  wommen  the  olde  way  1 

Thou  madest  Eua  brynge  vs  in  seruage. 

Thou  wolt  fordoon  this  cristen  mariage'. 

Thy  instrument  so,  weylawey  the  while !  370 

Makestow  of  wommen,  whan  thou  wolt  begile*. 

This  sowdanesse,  whom  I  thus  blame  and  warye', 
Let  priuely  hir  conseil  goon  hire  way. 
What  shulde  I  in  this  tale  lenger  tarye  ? 
She  rydeth  to  the  sowdan  on  a  day,  375 

And  seyde  him,  that  she  wolde  reneye  hir  lay, 
And  cristendom  of  preestes  hande's  fonge, 
Repentyng  hir  she  hethen  was  so  longe, 
VOL.  ii.  s 


XIX.      GEOFFREY  CHAUCER. 

\ 

Bisechyng  him  to  doon  hir  that  honour, 
That  she  moste  han  the  cristen  men  to  feste ;  380 

'  To  plesen  hem  I  wol  do  my  labour/ 
The  sowdan  seith,  '  I  wol  doon  at  youre  heste/ 
And  knelyng  thanketh  hir  of  that  requests. 
So  glad  he  was,  he  nyste  what  to  seye ; 
She  kiste  hir  sone,  and  horn  she  goth  hir  weye.          385 
Explicit  prima  pars.     Sequitur  pars  secunda. 

Arryued  ben  this  cristen  folk  to  londe, 

In  Surrye,with  a  gret  solempne  route, 

And  hastily  this  sowdan  sente  his  sonde, 

First  to  his  mooder,  and  al  the  regne  aboute, 

And  seyde,  his  wyf  was  comen,  out  of  doute,  390 

And  preyde  hir  for  to  ryde  agayn  the  queene, 

The  honour  of  his  regne  to  susteene. 

Gret  was  the  prees,  and  riche  was  tharray 

Of  Surryens  and  Romayns  met  yfere  ; 

The  mooder  of  the  sowdan,  riche  and  gay,  395 

Receyueth  hir  with  al  so  glad  a  chere' 

As  any  mooder  myghte  hir  doughter  dere, 

And  to  the  nexte  cite  ther  bisyde 

A  softe  pas  solempnely  they  ryde. 

Nought  trowe  I  the  triumphe  of  lulius,  400 

Of  which  that  Lucan  maketh  swich  a  bost, 

Was  roialler,  ne 1  more  curious 

Than  was  thassemblee  of  this  blisful  host. 

But  this  scorpioun,  this  wikked  gost, 

The  sowdanesse,  for  al  hir  flaterynge',  405 

Caste  vnder  this  ful  mortally  to  styngg. 

1  E. '  or';  '  ne'  in  the  rest. 


XIX.       THE  MAN  OF   LA  WES    TALE.  259 

The  sowdan  comth  him- self  soone  after  this 

So  roially,  that  wonder  is  to  telle, 

And  welcometh  hir  with  al  ioye  and  blis. 

And  thus  in  merthe  and  ioye  I  lete  hem  dwelle'.         410 

The  fruyt  of  this  matere  is  that  I  telle'. 

Whan  tyme'  cam,  men  thoughte  it  for  the  beste 

That  *  reuel  stynte,  and  men  goon  to  hir  reste'. 

The  tyme  cam,  this  olde  sowdanesse' 

Ordeyned  hath  this  feste  of  which  I  tolde,  415 

And  to  the  feste  cristen  folk  hem  dresse 

In  general,  ye  !  bothe  yonge  and  olde. 

Here  may  men  feste  and  roialtee  biholde, 

And  deyntees  mo  than  I  can  yow  deuyse, 

But  al  to  dere  they  boughte  it  er  they  ryse.  420 

O  sodeyn  wo  !  that  euer  art  successour 

To  worldly  blisse,  spreynd  with  bitternesse ; 

Thende 2  of  the  ioye  of  oure  worldly  labour  ; 

Wo  occupieth  the  fyn  of  oure  gladnesse. 

Herke'  this  conseil  for  thy  sikernesse,  425 

Vp-on  thy  glade*  day  haue  in  thy  mynde 

The  vnwar  wo  or  harm  that  comth  bihynde*. 

For  shortly  3  for  to  tellen  at  a  word, 

The  sowdan  and  the  cristen  euerichone 

Ben  al  tohewe  and  stike'd  at  the  bord,  430 

But  it  were  oonly  dame  Custance  allone. 

This  olde'  sowdanesse,  this  4  cursed  crone, 

Hath  with  her  frendes  doon  this  cursed  dede', 

For  she  hir-self  wolde  al  the  contree  lede. 

1  E. 'The';  'That'  in  the  rest. 

2  So  in  Camb.;  the  rest  have  •  The  ende.'         3  So  in  the  rest ;  E.  '  soothly.' 
*  So  in  Petw.  and  Harl.;  the  rest  omit  '  this.' 

S  Z 


260  XIX.      GEOFFREY  CHAUCER. 

Ne  ther1  was  Surryen  noon  that  was  conuerted          435 

That  of  the  conseil  of  the  sowdan  wot, 

That  he  nas  al  tohewe  er  he  asterted. 

And  Custance  han  they  take  anon,  foot-hot, 

And  in  a  shippe  al  sterelees,  god  wot, 

They  han  hir  set  and  bidde 2  hir  lerne  sayle  440 

Out  of  Surrye  agaynward  to  Itayle. 

A  certein  tresor  that  she  thider3  ladde, 

And,  soth  to  sayn,  vitaille  gret  plentee 

They  han  hir  yeuen,  and  clothes  eek  she  hadde', 

And  forth  she  sayleth  in  the  salte  see.  445 

O  my  Custance,  ful  of  benignytee, 

O  emperoures  yonge  doughter  dere, 

He  that  is  lord  of  fortune  be  thy  stere  1 

She  blesseth  hir,  and  with  ful  pitous  voys 

Vn-to  the  croys  of  crist  thus  seyde  she,  450 

'  O  cleere,  o  welful  *  auter,  holy  croys, 

Reed  of  the  lambe's  blood  ful  of  pitee, 

That  wessh  the  world  fro  the  olde  iniquitee, 

Me  fro  the  feend,  and  fro  his  clawe's  kepe 

That  day  that  I  shal  drenchen  in  the  depe.  455 

Victorious  tree,  proteccioun  of  trewe, 

That  oonly  worthy  were  for  to  bere' 

The  kyng  of  heuen  with  his  woundes  newe, 

The  white'  lamb,  that  hurt  was  with  the  spere', 

Flemer  of  feendes  out  of  hym  and  here,  460 

1  So  in  the  rest ;  E.  omits  '  ther.' 

8  Heng.  and  Camb.  'bidde';  Corp.  and  Petw.  'bidden';  Lansd.  'beden'; 
E.  'biddeth';  Harl.  «  bad.' 

8  E.  'with  hire';  but  the  rest  have  'thider.' 

*  E.  '  woful':  the  rest,  '  welful,'  '  wilful,'  '  welefnl.' 


XIX.       THE   MAN   OF   LA  WES    TALE.  26 1 

On  which  thy  lyme's  feithfully  extenden, 

Me  helpe,  and  yif  me  myght  my  lyf  tamenden.' 

Yere's  and  daye's  fleet1  this  creature' 

Thurghout  the  see  of  Grece  vn-to  the  strayte 

Of  Marrok,  as  it  was  hir  auenture* ;  465 

On  many  a  sory  meel  now  may  she  bayte* ; 

Aftir  hir  deeth  ful  often  may  she  wayte', 

Er  that  the  wilde*  wawe's  woll  hir  dryue* 

Vn-to  the  place 2,  ther  she  shal  arryue. 

Men  myghten  asken  why  she  was  not  slayn  ?  470 

Eek  at  the  feste  who  myghte  hir  body  saue'  ? 

And  I  answere  to  that  demaunde  agayn, 

Who  saued  danyel  in  the  horrible  caue', 

Ther  euery  wyght  saue  he,  maister  and  knaue, 

Was  with  the  leoun  frete  er  he  asterte  ?  475 

No  wyght  but  god,  that  he  bar  in  his  herte. 

God  list  to  shewe  his  wonderful  myracle 

In  hir,  for  we  shulde  seen  his  myghty  werkes ; 

Crist,  which  that  is  to  euery  harm  triacle, 

By  certein  mene's  ofte,  as  knowen  clerke's,  480 

Dooth  thing  for  certein  ende'  that  ful  derk  is 

To  manne's  wit,  that  for  oure  ignorance' 

Ne  conne  not  knowe  his  prudent  purueiance. 

Now,  sith  she  was  not  at  the  feste  yslawe', 

Who  kepte  hir  fro  the  drenchyng  in  the  see  ?  485 

Who  kepte  lonas  in  the  fisshes  mawe 

Til  he  was  spouted  vp  at  Nynyuee  ? 

Wei  may  men  knowe  it  was  no  wight  but  he 

1  E.  '  fleteth';  but  the  contracted  form  'fleet'  occurs  in  Heng.,  Corp.,  and 
Petw. 

2  Probably  read  'place';  Harl.  alone  inserts  'as'  after  •  ther.' 


262  XIX.      GEOFFREY   CHAUCER. 

That  kepte  peple  Ebrayk  fro  hir  drenchyng, 

With  drye  feet  thurgh-out  the  see  passyng.  490 

Who  bad  the  foure  spirites  of  tempest, 

That  power  han  tanoyen  lond  and  see, 

'  Bothe  north  and  south,  and  also  west  and  est, 

Anoyeth  neither  see,  ne  land,  ne  tree  ? ' 

Sothly  the  comaimdour  of  that  was  he  495 

That  fro  the  tempest  ay  this  womman  kepte 

As  wel  whan  she  wook  as  whan  she  slepte. 

Where  myghte  this  womman  mete  and  drinke  haue  ? 

Thre  yeer  and  more  how  lasteth  hir  vitaille  ? 

Who  fedde  the  Egypcien  Marie  in  the  caue,  500 

Or  in  desert  ?  no  wight  but  crist,  sanz  faille. 

Fyue  thousand  folk  it  was  as  gret  meruaille 

With  loue's  fyue  and  fisshes  two  to  fede. 

God  sent  his  foyson  at  hir  grete  nede. 

She  dryueth  forth  in-to  oure  occean  505 

Thurgh-out  oure  wilde  see,  til,  atte  laste, 

Vnder  an  hold  that  nempnen  I  ne  can, 

Fer  in  Northumberlond  the  wawe  hir  caste, 

And  in  the  sond  hir  ship  stiked  so  faste, 

That  thennes  wolde  it  noght  of  al  a  tyde,  510 

The  wil  of  crist  was  that  she  shulde  abyde. 

The  constable  of  the  castel  doun  is  fare 

To  seen  this  wrak,  and  al  the  ship  he  soughte, 

And  fond  this  wery  womman  ful  of  care ; 

He  fond  also  the  tresor  that  she  broughte.  515 

In  hir  langage  mercy  she  bisoughte 

The  lyf  out  of  hir  body  for  to  twynne, 

Hir  to  deliuere  of  wo  that  she  was  inne. 


XIX.      THE  MAN  OF  LA  WES   TALE.  363 

A  maner  latyn  corrupt  was  hir  speche', 

But  algates  ther-by  was  she  vnderstonde* ;  520 

The  constable,  whan  hym  list  no  lenger  seche, 

This  woful  womman  brought  he  to  the  londe ; 

She  kneleth  doun,  and  thanketh  goddes  sonde. 

But  what  she  was  she  wolde  no  man  seye', 

For  foul  ne  fair,  thogh  that  she  shulde'  deye.  525 

She  seyde,  she  was  so  mase'd  in  the  see 

That  she  forgat  hir  mynde,  by  hir  trouthe ; 

The  constable  hath  of  hir  so  gret  pitee, 

And  eek  his  wyf,  that  they  wepen  for  routhe, 

She  was  so  diligent,  with-outen  slouthe,  530 

To  serue  and  plese  euerich  in  that  place 

That  alle  hir  louen  that  looken  on  *  hir  face*. 

This  constable  and  dame  Hermengyld  his  wyf 

Were  payens,  and  that  contree  euery -where ; 

But  Hermengyld  louede  hire  right  as  hir  lyf,  535 

And  Custance  hath  so  longe  soiourned 2  there, 

In  orisons,  with  many  a  bitter  tere, 

Til  Ihesu  hath  conuerted  thurgh  his  grace' 

Dame  Hermengyld,  constablesse  of  that  place. 

In  al  that  lond  no  cristen  durste  route,  540 

Alle  cristen  folk  ben  fled  fro  that  contree 

Thurgh  payens,  that  conquereden  al  aboute 

The  plages  of  the  North,  by  land  and  see ; 

To  Walys  fled  the  cristianytee 

Of  olde  Britons,  dwellynge  in  this  He ;  545 

Ther  was  hir  refut  for  the  mene*  while. 

1  E.  and  Camb.  'in';  the  rest  '  on.'  2  Harl.  only  has  '  herberwed.' 


264  XIX-      GEOFFREY  CHAUCER. 

\ 
But  yet  nere  cristene  Britons  so  exiled 

That  ther  nere  somme  that  in  hir  priuitee 

Honoured  crist,  and  hethen  folk  bigile'd ; 

And  neigh  the  castel  swiche  ther  dwelten  three.          550 

That  oon  of  hem  was  blynd,  and  myghte  not  see 

But  it  were  with  thilke  yen  of  his  mynde, 

With  whiche  men  seen,  whan  that  they  ben  blynde'. 

Bright  was  the  sonne  as  in  that  someres  day, 

For  which  the  constable  and  his  wyf  also  555 

And  Custance  han  ytake  the  righte  way 

Toward  the  see,  a  furlong  wey  or  two, 

To  playen  and  to  romen  to  and  fro ; 

And  in  hir  walk  this  blynde  man  they  mette* 

Croked  and  old,  with  eyen  faste  y-schette'.  560 

'  In  name  of  Crist/  cryede  this  blynde1  Britoun, 

'  Dame  Hermengyld,  yif  me  my  sighte  agayn.' 

This  lady  wex  affrayed  of  the  soun, 

Lest  that  hir  housbonde,  shortly  for  to  sayn, 

Wolde  hir  for  Ihesu  cristes  loue  han  slayn,  565 

Til  Custance  made  hir  bold,  and  bad  hir  werche* 

The  wil  of  Crist,  as  doughter  of  his  chirche. 

The  constable  wex  abasshed  of  that  sight, 

And  seyde,  'what  amounteth  al  this  fare?' 

Custance  answerde,  '  sire,  it  is  Cristes  might  570 

That  helpeth  folk  out  of  the  feendes  snare/ 

And  so  ferforth  she  gan  cure  lay  declare, 

That  she  the  constable,  or  that  it  were  cue, 

Conuerted2,  and  on  Crist  made3  him  bileue. 

1  E.  '  olde  ';  Harl.  « old ';  but  the  rest  *  blynde '  or  '  blynd.' 

2  Harl.  'Conuerted';  Camb.  'Conuertid';  the  rest  '  Conuerteth.' 
8  E.  'maketh';  Lansd.  'maad';  the  rest,  'made.' 


XIX.      THE  MAN  OF  LA  WES   TALE.  265 

This  constable  was  no-thing  lord  of  this  place  575 

Of  which  I  speke,  ther  he  Custance  fond, 

But  kepte  it  strongly,  many  wintres  space, 

Vnder  Alia,  kyng  of  al  Northumberlond, 

That  was  ful  wys,  and  worthy  of  his  hond 

Agayn  the  Scottes,  as  men  may  wel  here',  580 

But  turne  I  wol  agayn  to  my  matere. 

Sathan,  that  euer  vs-  waiteth  to  bigile* 

Sey  of  Custance  al  hir  perfeccioun, 

And  caste  anon  how  he  might  quite  hir  while', 

And  made  a  yong  knyght,  that  dwelte  in  that  toun,    585 

Loue  hir  so  hote  of  foul  affeccioun, 

That  verraily  him  thoughte  he  shulde'  spille 

But  he  of  hir  mighte  ones  haue  his  wille. 

He  woweth  hir,  but  it  auailleth  nought, 

She  wolde  do  no  synne,  by  no  weye ;  590 

And,  for  despit,  he  compassed  in  his  thought 

To  maken  hir  on  shameful  deth  to  deye. 

He  wayteth  whan  the  constable  was  aweye', 

And  pryuely,  vp-on  a  nyght,  he  crepte' 

In  Hermengyldes  chambre  whil  she  slepte*.  595 

Wery,  for-wake'd  in  her  orisouns, 

Slepeth  Custance,  and  Hermengyld  also. 

This  knyght,  thurgh  Sathanas1  temptaciouns, 

Al  softe'ly  is  to  the  bed  ygo, 

And  kitte  the  throte  of  Hermengyld  atwo,  600 

And  leyde  the  blody  knyf  by  dame  Custance', 

And  wente  his  wey,  ther  god  yeue  him  meschance' ! 

1  E.  and    Heng.  'Sathans';    Harl.   'Satanas';  but   'Sathanas'  in  Corp., 
Peiw.,  and  Lansd. 


266  XIX.      GEOFFREY   CHAUCER. 

Soone  after  comth  this  constable  hoom  agayn, 

And  eek  Alia,  that  kyng  was  of  that  lond, 

And  sey  his  wyf  despitously  yslayn,  605 

For  which  ful  ofte  he  wepte l  and  wrong  his  hond, 

And  in  the  bed  the  blody  knyf  he  fond 

By  dame  Custance ;  alias !  what  myghte  she  seye  ? 

For  verray  wo  hir  wit  was  al  aweye. 

To  kyng  Alia  was  told  al  this  meschance,  610 

And  eek  the  tyme,  and  wher,  and  in  what  wise 

That  in  a  ship  was  founden  dame  Custance, 

As  her-biforn  that  ye  han  herd  deuyse. 

The  kynge's  herte  of  pitee  gan  agryse, 

Whan  he  sey  so  benigne  a  creature  615 

Falle  in  disese  and  in  mysauenture. 

For  as  the  lomb  toward  his  deth  is  brought, 

So  stant  this  Innocent  bifore  the  kyng ; 

This  false  knyght  that  hath  this  tresoun  wrought 

Berth 2  hir  on  hond  that  she  hath  doon  this  thing.      620 

But  natheles,  ther  was  gret  moornyng  8 

Among  the  peple,  and  seyn,  '  they  can  not  gesse 

That  she  hath  doon  so  gret  a  wikkednesse, 

For  they  han  seyn  hir  euer  so  vertuous, 

And  louyng  Hermengyld  right  as  her  lyf/  625 

Of  this  bar  witnesse  euerich  in  that  hous 

Saue  he  that  Hermengyld  slow  with  his  knyf. 

This  gentil  kyng  hath  caught  a  gret  motyf 

Of  this  witnesse,  and  thoughte  he  wolde  enquere' 

Depper  in  this,  a  trouthe  for  to  lere'.  630 

1  E.  'weep*';  Camb.  Corp.  Petw.  'wepte.' 
8  So  in  E.;  the  rest  'Bereth.'  3  Harl.  '  murmuryng';  see  note. 


XIX.       THE   MAN   OF  LAWES   TALE.  267 

Alias !  Custance  !  thou  hast  no  champioun 

Ne  fights  canstow  nought,  so  weylawey ! 

But  he,  that  starf  for  cure  redempcioun 

And  bond  Sathan  (and  yit  lyth  ther  he  lay) 

So  be  thy  stronge  champioun  this  day  !  635 

For,  but  if  crist  open  myr^cle  kithe, 

Withouten  gilt  thou  shalt  be  slayn  as  swithe'. 

She  sette1  her  doun  on  knees,  and  thus  she  sayde, 

'  Immortal  god,  that  sauedest  Susanne 

Fro  false'  blame,  and  thow,  merciful  mayde,  640 

Mary  I  mene,  doughter  to  Seint  Anne, 

Bifore  whos  child  aungele's  synge  Osanne, 

If  I  be  giltlees  of  this  felonye, 

My  socour  be,  for2  elle's  I  shal  dye' !' 

Haue  ye  not  seyn  som  tyme  a  pale  face',  645 

Among  a  prees,  of  him  that  hath  be  lad 
Toward  his  deth,  wher  as  him  gat  no  grace', 
And  swich  a  colour  in  his  face  hath  had, 
Men  myghte'  knowe  his  face,  that  was  bistad, 
Amonges  alle  the  faces  in  that  route' :  650 

So  stant  Custance,  and  looketh  hir  aboute*. 

O  queene's,  lyuynge  in  prosperitee, 

Duchesse's,  and  ladyes  euerichone, 

Haueth  som  routhe  on  hir  aduersitee ; 

An  emperoures  doughter  stant  allone  ;  655 

She  hath  no  wight  to  whom  to  make  hir  mone. 

O  blood  roial !  that  stondest  in  this  drede, 

Fer  ben  thy  frendes  at  thy  grete  nede ! 

1  E.  'sit';  Heng.  Camb.  Petw.  'sette.' 
8  E.  '  or  ';  the  rest  '  for/ 


268  XIX.      GEOFFREY  CHAUCER. 

This  Alia  kyng  hath  swich  compassioun, 

As  gentil  herte  is  fulfild  of  pitee,  660 

That  from  his  yen  ran  the  water  doun. 

'  Now  hastily  do  fecche  a  book/  quod  he, 

'  And  if  this  knyght  wol  sweren  how  that  she 

This  womman  slow,  yet  wole  we  vs  auyse 

Whom  that  we  wole  that  shal  ben  oure  lustise.'          665 


A  Briton  book,  writen  with  Euangile's, 

Was  fet,  and  on  this  book  he  swor  anoon 

She  gilty  was,  and  in  the  mene  whiles 

A  hand  him  smot  vpon  the  nekke-boon, 

That  doun  he  fel  atones  as  a  stoon,  670 

And  both  his  yen  braste  out  of  his  face* 

In  sight  of  euery  body  in  that  place. 

A  voys  was  herd  in  general  audience', 

And  seyde,  '  thou  hast  disclaundered  giltelees 

The  doughter  of  holy  chirche  in  heigh  presence;       675 

Thus  hastou  doon,  and  yet  holde  I  my  pees.' 

Of  this  meruaille  agast  was  al  the  prees ; 

As  mase'd  folk  they  stoden  euerichone, 

For  drede  of  wreche,  saue  Custance  allone. 

Gret  was  the  drede  and  eek  the  repentance  680 

Of  hem  that  hadden  wrong  suspeccioun 

Vpon  this  sely  innocent  Custance' ; 

And,  for  this  miracle,  in  conclusioun, 

And  by  Custances  mediacioun, 

The  kyng,  and  many  another  in  that  place',  685 

Conuerted  was,  thanked  be  cristes  grace'  1 


XIX.      THE   MAN  OF   LA  WES   TALE.  269 

This  false*  knyght  was  slayn  for  his  vntrouthe 

By  luge'ment  of  Alia  hastily ; 

And  yet  distance  hadde  of  his  deth  gret  routhe'. 

And  after  this  Ihesus,  of  his  mercy,  690 

Made  Alia  wedden  ful  solempnely 

This  holy  mayden,  that  is  so  bright  and  sheene, 

And  thus  hath  Crist  ymaad  Custance  a  queene. 


XX. 

JOHN    GOWER. 
A.D.  1393. 


JOHN  GOWER  (born  about  A.D.  1325,  died  A.D.  1408),  spoken  of 
by  his  contemporary  and  friend  Chaucer  as  the  *  Moral  Gower,' 
was  a  person  of  condition,  being  connected  with  a  knightly  family 
of  Kent,  and  possessed  of  considerable  property.  He  studied  at 
Merton  College,  Oxford,  and  adopted  the  profession  of  the  law. 
Gower  was  the  author  of  three  well-known  poetical  works,  the 
*  Speculum  Meditantis,'  written  in  French  ;  the  '  Vox  Clamantis,' 
written  in  Latin;  and  the  '  Confessio  Amantis,'  in  English  (A.D. 
1  393)-  The  *  Confessio  Amantis'  has  been  several  times  printed,  — 
by  Caxton,  in  1483;  by  Berthelette,  in  1532  ;  and  by  Pauli,  in  1857. 
The  following  extracts,  selected  from  the  Fifth  Book,  are  tran- 
scribed from  Harl.  MS.  3869,  in  the  British  Museum. 


The  Tale  of  the  Coffers. 
[Harleian  MS.  3869,  leaf  182.] 

IN  a  cromque  J>is  I  rede  :  — 
A-boute  a  king,  as  moste  nede, 
Ther  was  of  knyhtes  and  squiers 
Gret  route,  and  ek  of  officers. 
Some  of  long  time  him  hadden  serued, 
And  Jjoghten  ]>at  ]>ei  haue  deserued 


XX.      CONFESS  TO  AMANTIS.      BOOK    V.  27  J 

Auancement,  and  gon  wi]?oute; 

And  some  also  ben  of  J>e  route 

That  comen  bot  a  while  agon, 

And  ]>ei  auanced  were  anon.  10 

These  olde  men  vpon  J>is  |>ing, 

So  as  |>ei  dorst,  a^ein  |>e  king, 

Among  hemself  compleignen  ofte ; 

Bot  \er  is  noting  seid  so  softe 

That  it  ne  com]>  out  at[t]e  laste.  15 

The  king  it  wiste,  and  als-so  faste, 

As  he  which  was  of  hih  prudence, 

He  schop  j^rfore  an  euidence 

Of  hem  |?at  pleignen  in  |?at  cas, 

To  knowe  in  whos  defalte  it  was.  20 

And  al  wi|>inne  his  oghne  entente 

That  noman  wist[e]  what  it  mente, 

Anon  he  let  tuo  cofres  make, 

Of  o  semblance,  and  of  o  make, 

So  lich,  |>at  no  lif  |>ilke  J>rowe  25 

That  on  mai  fro  j?at  o>\er  knowe. 

Thei  were  into  his  chambre  broght, 

Bot  noman  wot  why  |>ei  be  wroght. 

And  natheles  \>e  king  haj?  bede 

That  J>ei  be  set  in  priue'  stede,  30 

As  he  |>at  was  of  wisdom  slih ; 

Whan  he  }>erto  his  time  sih, 

Al  priuely,  )>at  non  it  wiste, 

Hise  oghne  hondes  ]>at  o  kiste 

Of  fin  gold  and  of  fin  perreie,     .  35 

The  which  out  of  his  tresorie 

Was  take,  anon  he  felde  full ; 

That  ojjer  coffre,  of  straw  and  mull 

WiJ>  stones  meined,  he  felde  also ; 


272  XX.      JOHN   GOWER. 

\ 

Thus  be  J?ei  fulle  boj?e  tuo.  40 

So  ]?at  erliche,  vpon  a  day, 

He  bad  wtyinne,  J>er  he  lay, 

Ther  scholde  be,  tofore  his  bed, 

A  bord  vpset  and  faire  spied : 

And  ]?anne  he  let  |>e  cofres  fette,  45 

Vpon  ]?e  bord  and  dede  hem  sette. 

He  knew  ]?e  names  wel  of  tho 

The  which  a^ein  him  grucche  so, 

Boj>e  of  his  chambre  and  of  his  halle  ; 

Anon  he  sende  for  hem  alle,  50 

And  seide  to  hem  in  J>is  wise : — 

'  Ther  schal  noman  his  happ  despise : 

I  wot  wel  36  haue  longe  serued, 

And  God  wot  what  36  haue  deserued ; 

Bot  if  it  is  along  on  me  55 

Of  j?at  je  vnauanced  be, 

Or  elles  it  be  long  on  307, 

The  so]?e  schal  be  proued  nov. 

To  stoppe  wi|>  3oure  euele  word, 

Lo !  hier  to  cofres  on  J>e  bord.  60 

Ches  which  ^ou  list  of  bo|?e  tuo, 

And  witej?  wel  J>at  on  of  tho 

Is  wi|?  tresor  so  full  begon, 

That  if  36  happe  J>ervpon, 

3e  schull  be  riche  men  for  eu^re,  65 

Now  ches  and  tak  which  3ou  is  leu^re. 

Bot  be  wel  war  er  ]>at  36  take, 

For  of  J>at  on  I  vndertake 

Ther  is  no  man<?r  good  J^rinne. 

Wherof  36  mihten  profit  winne.  70 

Now  go])  togedre  on  on  assent, 

And  take))  3oure  avisement ; 


XX.      CONFESSIO  AMANTIS.      BOOK    V. 

For,  hot  I  3011  J)is  dai  auance, 
It  stant  vpon  joure  oghne  chance, 
Al  only  in  defalte  of  grace ;  75 

So  schal  be  schewed  in  Jns  place 
Vpon  3011  alle  wel  a  fyn, 
That  no  defalte  schal  be  myn/ 
Thei  knelen  alle,  and  wi)>  o  vois 

t        The  king  ]>ei  J?onken  of  ]?is  chois ;  80 

And  after  ]>at  J>ei  vp  arise, 
And  gon  aside  and  hem  auise ; 
And  at[t]e  laste  ]>ei  acorde, 
Wherof,  her  tale  to  recorde 

To  what  issue  J>ei  be  falle,  85 

A  knyht  schal  speke  for  hem  alle. 
He  knelej;  doun  vnto  J>e  king, 
And  sei)>  j>at  )>ei  vpon  )>is  ]>ing, 
Or  forto  winne  or  forto  lese, 

Ben  alle  auised  forto  chese.  90 

Tho  tok  }>is  knyht  a  ;erde  on  honde, 
And  go]?  |>ere  as  )>e  cofres  stonde, 
And  wij>  assent  of  eumchon 
He  leij)  his  serde  vpon  J>at  on, 
And  seij>  j>e  king,  hou  J>ilke  same  95 

Thei  chese  in  reguerdozm  be  name, 
And  preij>  him  |>at  }>ei  mote  it  haue. 
The  king,  which  wolde  his  honour  saue, 
Whan  he  ha]>  herd  the  co/ramim  vois, 
Ha}>  graunted  hem  here  oghne  chois,  100 

And  tok  hem  ]>ervpon  ]?e  keie  ; 
Bot,  for  he  wolde  it  were  seie 
What  good  )>ei  haue  as  j?ei  suppose, 
He  bad  anon  jje  cofre  vnclose, 
Which  was  fulfild  wi)>  straw  and  stones  1  105 

VOL.  ii.  T 


274  XX.      JOHN  GOWER. 

Thus  be  ]>ei  serued  al  at  ones. 

This  king  J>anne,  in  [}>e]  same  stede, 

Anon  J>at  o)w  cofre  vndede, 

Where  as  J?ei  sihen  gret  richesse 

Wei  more  }>an  |>ei  cov)>en  gesse.  1 10 

'  Lo !'  seij)  }>e  kyng,  '  nov  mai  je.  se 

That  ]?er  is  no  defalte  in  me ; 

ForJ>i  miself  I  wole  aquite, 

And  bere}>  je  3oure  oghne  wite 

Of  J>at  fortune  ha]>  jou  refused/  115 

Thus  was  ]>is  wise  king  excused : 

And  ]>ei  lefte  of  here  euele  speche, 

And  mercy  of  here  king  beseche. 

Aeson  regains  his  Youth  at  the  Hands  of  Medea. 
[Harleian  MS.  3869,  leaf  199,  back.] 

IASON,  which  sih  his  fader  old, 

Vpon  Medea  made  him  bold  120 

Of  arte  magiq^,  which  sche  couj>e, 

And  preij)  hire,  ]>at  his  fader  }ou]je 

Sche  wolde  make  ajeinward  newe. 

And  sche,  J>at  was  toward  him  trewe, 

Behihte  him  ]>at  sche  wolde  it  do,  125 

Whan  }>at  sche  time  sawh  \>erto. 

Bot  what  sche  dede  in  ]>at  matiere 

It  is  a  wonder  J?ing  to  hiere ; 

Bo[t]  jit,  for  j?e  nouellerie, 

I  |>enke  tellen  a  partie.  130 

Thus  it  befell  vpon  a  nyht, 
Whan  \er  was  noght  bot  sterreliht, 
Sche  was  vanyssht  riht  as  hir  liste, 
That  no  wyht  bot  hirself  it  wiste ; 


XX.       CONFESSIO   A  MANTIS.      BOOK    V.  275 

And  fat  was  at[t]e  mydnyht  tyde ;  135 

The  world  was  stille  on  euery  side. 

WiJ>  open  bed  and  fot  al  bare, 

Hir  her  tosprad,  sche  gan  to  fare ; 

Vpon  hir  clones  gert  sche  was, 

Al  specheles,  and  on  ]>e  gras  140 

Sche  glod  forjj  as  an  addre  doj>. 

Non  o)><?rwise  sche  ne  goj>, 

Til  sche  cam  to  J>e  fresshe  flod, 

And  ]?ere  a  while  sche  wi|>stod. 

Thries  sche  torned  hire  aboute,  145 

And  thries  ek  sche  gan  doun  loute  ; 

And  in  J>e  flod  sche  wette  hir  her, 

And  ]>ries  on  J?e  water  j?er 

Sche  gaspej)  wi]>  a  drechinge  onde, 

And  j?o  sche  tok  hir  speche  on  honde.  150 

Ferst  sche  began  to  clepe  and  calle 

Vpward  vnto  ]>e  sterres  alle ; 

To  wynd,  to  air,  to  see,  to  lond 

Sche  preide,  and  ek  hield  vp  hir  hond ; 

To  Echates  and  gan  to  crie,  155 

Which  is  goddesse  of  sorcerie : 

Sche  seide,  4  Helpe}>  at  j>is  nede, 

And  as  56  maden  me  to  spede 

Whan  lason  cam  J?e  Flees  to  seche, 

So  helpe  me  nov,  I  3011  beseche.'  160 

WiJ>  J>at  sche  loke]?,  and  was  war, 

Doun  fro  )>e  sky  J?er  cam  a  char, 

The  which  dragoons  aboute  drowe. 

And  )>o  sche  gan  hir  hed  doun  bowe, 

And  vp  sche  styh,  and  faire  and  wel  165 

Sche  drof  forj>  boj>e  char  and  whel 

Aboue  in  }>air  among  J>e  skyes. 

T  2 


XX.      JOHN  GOWER. 

The  lond  of  Crete  and  ]>o  parties 

Sche  soughte,  and  faste  gan  hire  hye, 

And  }?ere,  vpon  ]>e  hulles  hyhe  1 70 

Of  Othrin  and  Olimpe  also, 

And  ek  of  o|?re  hulles  mo, 

Sche  fond  and  gadrej?  herbes  suote ; 

Sche  pullej?  vp  som  be  ]>e  rote, 

And  manye  wij?  a  knyf  sche  scherj?,  175 

And  alle  into  hir  char  sche  berj>. 

Thus  whan  sche  ha]>  J?e  hulles  sought, 

The  nodes  \er  for3at  sche  nought, 

Eridian  and  Amphrisos, 

Peneie  and  ek  Spercheidos  ;  180 

To  hem  sche  wente,  and  \er  sche  nom 

Bo}>e  of  J?e  water  and  J>e  fom, 

The  sond  and  ek  ]?e  smale  stones, 

Whiche  as  sche  ches  out  for  ]>e  nones, 

And  of  }>e  Rede  See  a  part,  185 

That  was  behouelich  to  hire  art, 

Sche  tok ;  and  after  ]?at,  aboute 

Sche  soughte  sondri  sedes  oute, 

In  feldes  and  in  many  greues, 

And  ek  a  part  sche  tok  of  leues ;  190 

Bot  J>ing,  which  mihte  hire  most  auaile, 

Sche  fond  in  Crete  and  in  Thessaile. 

In  daies  and  in  nyhtes  nyne, 
Wi|>  gret  trauaile  and  wi]>  gret  pyne l, 
Sche  was  pourveid  of  euery  piece,  195 

And  tornej?  homward  into  Grece. 
Before  ]?e  gates  of  Eson 
Hir  char  sche  let  awey  to  gon, 
And  tok  out  ferst  |>at  was  J^rinne ; 
1  MS.  •  peyne.' 


XX.      CONFESSIO    AMANTIS.      BOOK    V.  377 

For  ]>o  sche  ]>oghte  to  beginne  200 

Suche  ]>ing  as  seme])  impossible, 

And  made  hirseluen  invisible, 

As  sche  j>at  was  wi]>  air  enclosed 

And  mihte  of  noman  be  desclosed. 

Sche  tok  vp  turues  of  ]>e  lond  305 

Wtyoute  helpe  of  mannes  hond, 

Al  heled  wi)>  ]>e  grene  gras, 

Of  which  an  alter  mad  \er  was 

Vnto  Echates,  ]>e  goddesse 

Of  art  magiqw*  and  ]>e  maistresse,  210 

And  eft  an  oj?er  to  luuente, 

As  sche  whiche  dede  hir  hole  entente. 

Tho  tok  sche  fieldwode  and  wrueyne, 

Of  herbes  be  noght  betre  tueyne, 

Of  which  anon  wtyoute  let  215 

These  alters  ben  aboute  set. 

Tuo  sondry  puttes  faste  by 

Sche  made,  and  wij>  J>at  hastely 

A  wether,  which  was  blak,  sche  slovh, 

And  out  }>erof  }>e  blod  sche  drovh,  220 

And  dede  into  ]>e  pettes  tuo ; 

Warm  melk  sche  putte  also  \erto 

Wi}>  hony  meynd,  and  in  such  wise 

Sche  gan  to  make  hir  sacrifise, 

And  cried  and  preide  for]?  wij>al  225 

To  Pluto  J>e  god  infernal, 

And  to  ]>e  queene  Proserpine. 

And  so  sche  soghte  out  al  )>e  line 

Of  hem,  |>at  longen  to  }>at  craft, 

Behinde  was  no  name  laft,  230 

And  preide  hem  alle,  as  sche  wel  coupe, 

To  grante  Eson  his  ferste  joujje. 


XX.      JOHN  GOWER. 

This  olde  Eson  broght  for]>  was  ]?o, 
Awei  sche  bad  alle  oj>re  go 

Vpon  peril  ]?at  mihte  falle,  235 

And  wij?  ]?at  word  |>ei  wenten  alle, 
And  leften  J>ere  hem  tuo  al  one. 
And  ]>o  sche  gan  to  gaspe  and  gone, 
And  made  signes  manyon, 

And  seide  hir  wordes  ^rupon ;  240 

So  J>at  wij>  spellinge  of  hir  charmes 
Sche  tok  Eson  in  bo|?e  hire  armes, 
And  made  him  forto  slepe  faste, 
And  him  vpon  hire  herbes  caste. 
The  blake  wether  tho  sche  tok,  245 

And  hiewh  Jje  fleissh,  as  do]>  a  cok  ; 
On  etyer  alter  part  sche  leide, 
And  wi)>  J?e  charmes  J>at  sche  seide 
A  fyr  doun  fro  ]>e  sky  alyhte, 
And  made  it  forto  brenne  lyhte.  250 

Bot  whan  Medea  sawh  it  brenne, 
Anon  sche  gan  to  sterte  and  renne 
The  fyri  aulters  al  aboute. 
Ther  was  no  beste  which  go]>  oute 
More  wylde,  ]>an  sche  semejj  }>er.  255 

Aboute  hir  schuldres  hyng  hir  her, 
As  J>ogh  sche  were  out  of  hir  mynde 
And  torned  in  an  o}>er  kinde. 
Tho  lay  \er  certein  wode  cleft, 
Of  which  ]>e  pieces  nov  and  eft  260 

Sche  made  hem  in  ]>e  pettes  wete, 
And  putte  hem  in  )>e  fyri  hete, 
And  tok  J>e  brond  wij?  al  ]>e  blase, 
And  ]>ries  sche  began  to  rase 
Aboute  Eson,  \er  as  he  slepte.  265 


XX.      CONFESSIO  AMANTIS.      BOOK   V.  279 

And  eft  wi|>  water,  which  sche  kepte, 

Sche  made  a  cercle  aboute  him  ]>ries, 

And  eft  wi]>  fyr  of  sulphre  twyes ; 

Ful  many  an  o]>er  J>ing  sche  dede, 

Which  is  noght  writen  in  }>is  stede.  370 

Bot  J)O  sche  ran  so  vp  and  doun, 

Sche  made  many  a  wonder  soun ; 

Somtime  lich  vnto  ]>e  cock, 

Somtime  vnto  }>e  lauerock, 

Somtime  kaclej)  as  an  hen,  275 

Somtime  speke]>  as  don  |?e  men. 

And  riht  so  as  hir  iargown  strange]), 

In  sondri  wise  hir  forme  change}), 

S[ch]e  seme])  faie  and  no  wowman. 

For  wi}>  ])e  craftes  })at  sche  can  280 

Sche  was,  as  who  seij),  a  goddesse ; 

And  what  hir  liste,  more  or  lesse, 

Sche  dede,  in  \>e  bokes  as  we  finde, 

That  passe))  ouer  mannes  kinde ; 

Bot  who  ])at  wole  of  wondres  hiere,  285 

What  j>ing  sche  wroghte  in  ])is  matiere, 

To  make  an  ende  of  ])at  sche  gan, 

Such  m<?rueile  herde  neu<?re  man. 

Apointed  in  j)e  newe  mone, 

Whan  it  was  time  forto  done,  290 

Sche  sette  a  caldron  on  ]>e  fyr, 
In  which  was  al  J)e  hole  atir, 
Wheron  ])e  medicine  stod, 
Of  ius,  of  water,  and  of  blod, 
And  let  it  buile  in  such  a  plit,  295 

Til  j)at  sche  sawh  }>e  spume  whyt ; 
And  |?o  sche  caste  in  rynde  and  rote, 
And  sed  and  flour,  ])at  was  for  bote, 


280  XX.      JOHN  GOWER. 

Wij>  many  an  herbe  and  many  a  ston, 

Wherof  sche  haj>  J>er  many  on.  300 

And  ek  Cimpheiw^,  pe  serpent, 

To  hire  haj>  alle  his  scales  lent ; 

Chelidre  hire  jaf  his  addres  skin, 

And  sche  to  builen  caste  hem  in ; 

A  part  ek  of  }>e  horned  oule,  305 

The  which  men  hiere  on  nyhtes  houle  ; 

And  of  a  raven,  which  was  told 

Of  nyne  hundred  wynter  old, 

Sche  tok  J>e  hed  wij>  al  |>e  bile ; 

And  as  ]>e  medicine  it  wile,  310 

Sche  tok  J>erafter  ]?e  bouele 

Of  ]?e  seewolf,  and  for  ]?e  hele 

Of  Eson,  wij)  a  ]?ousand  mo 

Of  ]>inges,  J>at  sche  hadde  j?o, 

In  )>at  caldron  togedre,  as  bliue,  315 

Sche  putte,  and  tok  ]>anne  of  olyue 

A  drie  branche  hem  wi]>  to  stere, 

The  which  anon  gan  floure  and  bere, 

And  waxe  al  freissh  and  grene  ajein. 

Whan  sche  J>is  vertu  hadde  sein,  320 

Sche  let  }>e  leste  drope  of  alle 

Vpon  j?e  bar[e]  flor  doun  falle ; 

Anon  ]>er  sprong  vp  flour  and  gras 

Where  as  j>e  drope  falle  was, 

And  wox  anon  al  medwe-grene,  325 

So  J?at  it  mihte  wel  be  sene. 

Medea  J>anne  knewe  and  wiste 

Hir  medicine  is  forto  triste, 

And  go))  to  Eson  )>er  he  lay, 

And  tok  a  swerd,  was  of  assay,  330 

WiJ>  which  a  wounde  vpon  his  side 


XX.      CONFESS  TO   A  MANTIS.      BOOK    V.  281 

Sche  made,  ]?at  }>er-out  mai  slide 

The  blod  wi]?inne,  which  was  olde, 

And  sek,  and  trouble,  and  fieble,  and  cold. 

And  )>o  sche  tok  vnto  his  vs  335 

Of  herbes  al  ]>e  beste  ius, 

And  poured  it  into  his  wounde, 

That  made  his  veynes  fulle  and  sounde. 

And  }>o  sche  made  his  wounde  clos, 

And  tok  his  hand,  and  vp  he  ros.  340 

And  ]>o  sche  ^af  him  drink  a  dravhte, 

Of  which  his  3ovj>e  ajein  he  cavhte, 

His  hed,  his  herte,  and  his  visage 

Lich  vnto  twenty  wynter  age ; 

Hise  hore  heres  were  away  345 

And  lich  vnto  J>e  freisshe  Maij, 

Whan  passed  ben  |?e  colde  schoures ; 

Riht  so  recou<?rej>  he  his  floures. 


NOTES. 


I.    ROBERT  OF  GLOUCESTER. 
(A)     Reign  of  William  the  Conqueror. 

At  present,  the  only  complete  edition  of  Robert  of  Gloucester's 
Chronicle  is  that  by  Hearne,  Oxford,  1 724,  chiefly  based  on  MS.  Harl.  201. 
There  is  some  account  of  Robert  of  Gloucester  in  Warton,  who,  however, 
quite  fails  to  appreciate  him.  Warton  gives  a  few  extracts,  and  others 
(modernised)  may  be  found  in  Chambers'  Cyclopaedia  of  Eng.  Lit.  vol.  i. 
For  the  account  of  the  battle  of  Hastings,  &c.  see  Freeman's  Norman 
Conquest,  and  Old  English  History  for  Children.  Robert  of  Gloucester 
chiefly  follows  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth.  He  alludes  to  the  canonization 
of  St.  Louis  in  1 297 ;  hence  his  work  was  subsequent  to  that  date. 
The  metre  of  the  poem,  though  a  little  irregular,  is  practically  the  same 
as  that  of  Chevy  Chase,  or  that  known  as  C.M.  (Common  Metre)  in  our 
hymn-books,  which  is  derived  from  the  old  long-line  metre  by  writing 
two  long  lines  as  four  short  ones.  This  is  why  (in  C.M.)  the  first  and 
third  lines  do  not  rime  together.  In  this  poem,  written  in  the  Southern 
dialect,  uor—for  («=/),  and  ss  =  sh.  The  verbal  inflexion  for  the  plural 
pres.  indie,  is  -etk  for  all  persons,  as,  we  iiue\>,  we  give  ;  3*  yue\>,  ye  give ; 
hit  or  heo  yuety,  they  give.  There  are  many  plurals  of  nouns  in  -en  (such 
zscandlen,  1.  472)  unknown  to  the  Northern  dialects.  Several  infinitives 
end  in  i  or  ie. 

For  another  account  of  the  Norman  Invasion,  see  Sect.  XVIII.  (B)  below 

Line  I.     'Great  hath  the  sorrow  been.'     A}>  —  ha\>;  ibe  =  i-ben,  been. 

2.  Her  &*  er,  now  and  in  former  passages.  Er  =  ere;  cf.  1.  246.  But 
probably  a  better  reading  would  be  her  &  \>ert  here  and  there,  i.  e.  in 
various  ways ;  cf.  1. 436. 

5.  Saxons  and  Englisse ;  here  Englisse  is  evidently  used  as  equivalent  to 
Angles. 

8.  Icholle=*ich  wolle,  I  will. 


284  NOTES. 

12.  'To  keep  (defend)  it  well  for  him,  and  he  well  to  him  trusted.' 

13.  Hende,  courteous.     As  \>e  hende;  like  a  courteous  man,  politely. 

1 6.  On  Harold's  oath  to  guard  William's  interests,  and  his  engage- 
ment to  marry  one  of  William's  daughters,  see  Freeman's  Norman 
Conquest,  iii.  241. 

23.  Pole  dede,  a  foolish  deed. 

25.  Watloker,  much  rather,  the  more.     Cf.  O.  E.  ofter-Iuker,  otherwise. 

28.  Nede  is  here  an  adverb  =  of  necessity,  and  is  equivalent  to  O.  E. 
nedes,  needs.  It  is  an  instrumental  case ;  see  Grein's  Anglo-Saxon  Diet, 
ii.  302. 

32.  Of-sende,  send  for ;  so  of-aksen,  to  ask  for.  'He  caused  men  to 
send  for  his  knights  from  all  (parts  of)  Normandy.' 

34.  Porchas,  property  that  they  might  win.     Horn  bede,  offer  them. 

40.  Alfred,  the  son  of  JEthelred  II,  was  put  to  death  A.D.  1036,  by 
some  followers  of  Harold.  The  crime  was  laid  to  the  charge  of  Harold's 
father,  Earl  Godwine. 

42.  Biof\>e,  behoof.     A.  S.  behdfan,  to  behove,  to  be  fit,  need. 
Witie  =  O.  E.  witen,  to  protect,  defend,  keep  ;  as  in  1.  12. 

48.  Alexander  II  (elected  pope  A.D.  1061)  acted  in  this  matter  by  the 
advice  of  Hildebrand,  afterwards  Gregory  VII. 

51.  Asoilede,  absolved,  assoiled.  O.  Fr.  assoiler,  to  acquit;  Lat  ab- 
soluere,  loose  from.  In  1.  5  2,  ssolde  =  should  go  ;  iwis  =  certainly. 

53.  Bere,  subj.  should  bear;  the  pret.  indie,  would  be  ber  or  bar. 

57.  Sein  Walri,  St.  Valery,  on  the  French  coast,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Somme. 

58.  Abide  mo,  to  await  more  (men). 

59.  Preste,  ready.     Cf.  to  press  for  a  soldier,  press-gang,  press-money, 
&c.     See  Wedgwood's  Etym.  Diet. 

65.  The  point  of  the  story  is  missed.  The  tale  went  that  William 
stumbled,  and  so  embraced  the  land  with  his  arms.  See  Sect. 
XVIII.  (B)  48. 

73.  Euerwilt,  York.    A.  S.  Eoferwic,  Lat.  Eboracum. 

74.  Iiete  =  t-yeie,  eaten.     In  the  South  of  England  the  people  say,  'I 
have  a-yeat  an  apple.' 

78.  '  As  if  he  made  no  account  of  any  one.' 

80.  In  the  battle  of  Stamfordbridge,  Harold  had  defeated  and  killed 
King  Harold  of  Norway,  Sept.  25,  1066. 

8a.  Sley,  sly,  crafty.     With  \>e  sley  cf.  \e  hende,  1.  13. 

84.  Dereyni  =  Fr.  desraigner,  try,  prove;  Lat.  derationare. 

86.  Lokinge,  award,  judgment,  decision.  *  That  he  should  place  it  at 
the  decision  of  the  pope  of  Rome.' 

88.  Wer,  whether.     Seint  Edward,  Edward  the  Confessor. 

89.  Him  take,  deliver  up  to  him. 


7.   (A)      ROBERT  OF   GLOUCESTER.  285 

103.  Mi  fader,  i.  e.  his  ancestor  Rollo,  not  his  father  Robert. 

107.  Isolde,  yielded.  It  means  'until  he  had  yielded  Normandy  to 
Richard,  then  a  child.' 

Richard  is  here  a  dative.  '  Nonne  patres  vestri  regem  Fran- 
corum  in  Rotomago  ceperunt,  et  tenuerunt  donee  Ricardo  puero,  Duci 
vestro,  Normanniam  reddidit  eo  pacto,  qu6d  in  omni  colloquutione 
Regis  Franciae  et  Ducis  Normanniae  gladio  Dux  accingeretur,  Regem 
vero  nee  gladium  nee  etiam  cultellum  ferre  liceret.'  Henry  of  Hun- 
tingdon, 762  D. 

1 1 6.  Wrastlede,  wrestled.  A.  S.  wrcestlian,  wraxlian,  to  wrestle.  The 
reference  is  to  Duke  Richard  the  Fearless,  of  whom  several  singular 
stories  are  told.  Two  of  these  may  be  found  in  Uhland's  poems ;  see 
the  translation  of  Uhland  by  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Skeat,  p.  439. 

1 1 8.  Ltfyer  =  A.  S.  lyfter,  bad,  wicked  ;  Ger.  liederlich,  loose,  disorderly. 
Wrenche  =  A.  S.  wrence,  deceit,  stratagem. 

135.  Baneur,  bannerer,  banner-bearer.  The  story  is  that  Taillefer 
(i.  e.  cutter  of  iron),  a  Norman  minstrel,  asked  to  be  allowed  to  strike 
the  first  stroke.  He  rode  before  the  Norman  army,  singing  the  song  of 
Roland,  and  tossing  his  sword  in  the  air  and  catching  it.  He  then  rushed 
on  the  English,  killed  three  men,  and  was  slain.  Uhland  has  a  ballad 
on  the  subject,  called  Taillefer ;  see  Transl.  by  Skeat,  p.  353. 

137.  Ginne,  contrivance,  skill. 

139.  Ne  dude  horn  notf,  did  nothing  to  them,  could  not  harm  them. 

142.  Agaste,  aghast,  frightened.     Gothic  w-gaisjan,  to  frighten. 

147.  'And  (the  Normans)  turned  themselves  round  quite  easily,  being 
above  the  others.' 

154.  No  wills  .  .  .  of  dunt,  no  power  of  striking.     Dunt,  dint,  stroke. 

157.  Alfor  no}t,  without  harm  to  themselves.     See  11.  159,  162,  171. 

158.  \>e  dounean  hei,  the  hill  on  high,  the  hill  above. 

165.  Aday,  in  (that)  day. 

166.  As  me  say,  as  one  saw. 

167.  Uor-arnd  is  here  a  weak  past  participle ;  so  also  vorpriked  and 
uorwounded  are  past  participles,  referring  to  the  stedes.     A.S.yrnan,  to 
run,  is  a  strong  verb,  but  the  verb  here  used  is  a  weak  one.  from  A.  S. 
cernan,  to  cause  to  run,  to  ride.     The  sentence  means,  'he  slew  three 
steeds  under  him,  as  folks  saw  (or,  as  men  say)  ;  which  were  spurred  to 
death,  ridden  about  till  tired  out,  and  severely  wounded  and  bruised 
against  the  corpses,  ere  the  battle  could  be  ended.'     See  Layamon,  ed. 
Madden,  1.  9296,  and  note  at  p.  470,  vol.  iii. 

168.  Debrused,  bruised.     O.  Fr.  bruiser,  Fr.  briser,  to  bruise,  crush. 

1 74.  Hor  no\>er,  neither  of  them.  This  nother,  contracted  and  used  as 
a  conjunction,  gives  us  nor,  just  as  other,  either,  gives  or. 

176.  An-aunter,  (it  is)  in  doubt.    An,  on,  in;  aunter,  adventure,  chance 


286  NOTES. 

1 76,  Keueringe,  recovering,  recovery.  The  O.  E.  vb.  cover  is  frequently 
used  for  to  recover. 

187.  The  story  of  Edward  the  Confessor's  vision  in  his  last  illness 
may  be  read  in  Freeman's  Norman  Conquest,  iii.  n. 

191.  St.  Calixtus,  pope,  martyred  A.D.  222.     His  day  is  Oct.  14. 

198.  An  er]>e,  into  earth,  to  burial.     Cf.  1.  205.     An  becomes  a  before 
a  consonant,  as,  a  sumere,  in  summer. 

199.  Fon,  foes.     A.  S./a,  enemy,  from^a«,  to  hate. 

201.  £?*  largeliche,  &c.,  and  liberally  proffered  him  of  her  wealth. 
210.  \en  wey,  the  way;  he  took  the  way;  i.  e.  went  his  way.     See  \>en 
in  the  Glossary.     With  11.  214-224  compare  Sect.  XVIII.  (A)  150-174. 
230.  Essie,  asked.  A.  S.  acsian,  to  ask  (see  esse,  1. 367).  Strong,  severe. 
232.  Huld  him,  he  held  or  kept  himself  quiet. 

247.  Goderhele,   (as)   a   benefit  (to);    from  gode,  good,  hele,  health. 
Cf.  O.  E.  wrotherhele,  misfortune.     The  -er  was  originally  a  dat.  fem. 
inflexion  ;  cf.  A.  S.  to  godre  hct>le,  for  a  benefit. 

248.  Into  kunde  more,  into  its  natural  root  or  stock ;    viz.  by  hei 
marriage  with  Henry  I. 

254.  St.  Nicholas'  day;  Dec.  6,  1067.  The  date  given  in  1.  249  is 
obviously  wrong.  It  should  be  1067,  not  1060. 

262.  Feffede,  endowed.  Yr.fieffer,  to  convey  the  fief  or  fee  (Mid.  Lat. 
feudum,  property  in  land  distributed  by  the  conqueror  to  his  companions 
in  arms,  as  a  reward  for  their  services)  to  a  new  owner. 

265.  Uorlore,  mined,  forlorn.  CLfrore  (Milton),  frorne  (Spenser),  for 
frozen ;  also  O.  E.  ycore,  chosen. 

279.  Debonere  =  ¥r,  debonnaire,  courteous,  affable;  cf.  1.  365.  De  bon 
aire  =  good-humoured.  Cf.  Fr.  de  mal  aire,  bad-humoured. 

285.   Weued,  altar.     A.  S.  weofod,  altar. 

287.  Hulde,  flay.     Cf.  A.  S.  behyldan,  to  flay;  hyldere,  a  butcher. 

295  As  God  yf  \>at  cas,  as  God  gave  that  hap,  i.  e.  as  God  had 
ordained. 

303.  Erles  wif  Alein,  wife  of  earl  Alan  ;  referring  to  Constance.  See 
Freeman,  iii.  659.  Cam,  Caen. 

328.  Other  MSS.  shew  nour  to  be  an  error  for  nowkar,  nowhere. 
At-route,  to  assemble  in  troops.     (See  next  line  following.) 

334.  Route,  army.     O.  Fr.  route,  crowd,  troop. 

344.  Vntuled,  uncultivated,  untilled.    The  land  laid  waste  extended 
from  the  Humber  to  the  Tees. 

345.  Adauntede,  subdued.     Fr.  dompter,  to  tame,  daunt;  Lat  domitare. 
347.  An  alle  soule  day,  on  All  Souls'  Day,  Nov.  2,  1083 ;  not  1073. 
353.  hiden  =  hides  of  land.     A  hide  of  land  was  as  much  as  could  be 

tilled  by  a  single  plough.    A  hide  is  still  used  as  a  measure  of  land  in 
Norway. 


7.    (A)      ROBERT   OF   GLOUCESTER.  287 

358.  Wife,  perhaps  for  wiste,  knew.     Al  dene,  thoroughly. 

359.  Scrit,  shortened  from  O.  F.  escrit,  F.  ecrit,  from  Lat.  scriptum,  a 
piece  of  writing. 

367.  'Whosoever  should  come  to  ask  him  for  justice  on  account  of 
any  injury.' 

368.  Ende,  end,  i.  e.  subsequent  fate. 

370.  'And  the  more  injustice  would  people  do  to  him.' 
378.  Astorede,  stored,  filled.     O.  F.  estorer,  to  build,  garnish. 

386.  1per-to,  moreover.     Hearne's  copy  reads  atuo,  in  two. 

387.  An  hunte\>,  on  hunting,  a-hunting. 

Spurnde,  stumbled.     A.  S.  spurnan,  to  kick,  stumble. 
390.  Pur  blind,  entirely  blind.  Pur— pure,  entire.   In  Wyclif,  Exod.  xxi. 
26,  it  means  '  blind  of  one  eye.'   It  has  now  the  meaning  of  almost  blind. 

408.  Ballede,  bald.    The  original  meaning  seems  to  have  been  (i) 
shining,  (2)  white  (as  in  bald-faced  stag). 

409.  Lende,  loins ;  pi.  lenden.     A.  S.  lendenu,  the  loins. 

411.  'Which  he  could  do  himself  with  his  foot,  easily,  whilst  riding 
very  fast.'     Ssete  =  shete,  shoot. 

412.  Arblaste,  arbalast;  Mid.  Lat.  arcubalista  (see-  arblasters,  1.  430), 
crossbow. 

414.  Non  vuel  —  non  uvel,  no  evil,  sickness;  in  is  de]>-vuel,  in  his  death- 
evil,  last  illness. 

416.  ay,  rich.  A. S.  &kt,  property;  <khtig,  rich.  Al  \at  ay  was,  all 
the  rich  men. 

441.  Manne  orf,  men's  cattle. 

Qualm  =  A.  S.  cwealm,  pestilence,  death,  destruction. 

450.  Sette  .  .  .  toferme=  Mid.  Lat.  dare  or  ponere  adfirmam,  to  let  on 
lease  ;  firma,  rent.  Perhaps  connected  with  A.  S.  feorm,  supper-board, 
hospitality.  Lands  were  once  let  on  the  condition  of  supplying  the 
lord  with  so  many  night's  entertainment  for  his  household. 

453.  '  If  another  came  and  offered  more,  he  would  immediately  be  in 
possession,  so  that  they  who  offered  most  ejected  many  a  one.  Were 
the  agreement  never  so  strongly  expressed,  people  bought  it  out  wrong- 
fully.' Is,  it ;  a  form  used  by  Southern  writers  in  the  ace.  fern.  sing,  and 
the  ace.  plural ;  see  Introd.  §  12.  Not  this  passage  only,  but  many  more 
in  this  extract  agree  almost  word  for  word  with  the  account  given  in  the 
(so-called)  Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle,  which  the  reader  may  consult  with 
much  advantage. 

457.  Tricherye,  treachery,  is  another  form  of  trickery. 

463.  \e  lasse,  &c.,  the  less  of  him  then  accounted,  i.  e  esteemed  him 
the  less.     Reins,  Rheims. 

464.  '  And  drove  him  to  mockery  (mocked  him),  as  people  often  do 
the  old  (.mau).' 


288  NOTES. 

468.  Edwit,  twitting,  reproach.     A.  S.  ed-witan,  to  reproach,  twit. 

470.  Chirchegong,  churching,  literally  church-going. 
Bende,  sickness,  is  another  form  of  bond. 

471.  Atten  =  at  \>en,  at  the;  before  a  consonant  it  is  atte,  as  atte  laste, 
atte  beste,  &c.     Cf.  \>an  olde  =  \>en  olde  (ace.  sing.),  the  old,  1.  464. 

482.  Medes  is  intended  for  Mantes. 

483.  '  Because  one  cannot  have  a  churching  without  lights.' 

490.  Grony,  to  groan,  complain  of  (being  ill).  A.  S.  grdnan,  to  lament. 
Groan  is  connected  with  grunt. 

494.  Leches,  surgeons,  physicians.  A.  S.  lace,  a  physician,  leech;  whence 
leechcraft.  '  His  physicians  examined  his  condition.' 

497.  Deal,  dole,  sorrow.  Sc.  dnle,  grief;  Fr.  deuil,  mourning;  Lat. 
dolere,  to  grieve. 

505.  Porchas,  probably,  personal  property;  cf.  1.  508. 

509.  Dele,  distribute.     A.  S.  dcel,  a  part,  dole,  deal. 

517.  Four  &  tuenti.     Rather  '  one  and  tuenti' ;  viz.  1066-1087. 

520.  William  died  Sept.  9,  1087. 

\)e  later  must  mean  the  last,  viz.  of  the  days  dedicated  to  St.  Mary. 
These  are  (i)  the  Purification,  Feb.  2  ;  (2)  Annunciation,  Mar.  25;  (3) 
Visitation,  July  2  ;  (4)  Assumption,  Aug.  155(5)  Nativity,  Sept.  8.  We 
might,  however,  add  (6)  the  Presentation,  Nov.  21 ;  (7)  the  Conception 
of  the  Blessed  Mary,  Dec.  8. 

525.  'Immediately  after  his  father  bequeathed  England  to  him.' 

528.  Seisine,  possession.     Fr.  saisine,  seisin,  from  saisir,  to  seize. 

(B)  The  Life  of  St.  Dunstan. 

St.  Dunstan  'was  born  in  the  first  year  of  ^thelstan,  925 l,  near 
Glastonbury,  where  his  father  Heorstan  was  a  great  Thane.  His 
mother's  name  was  Cynethrith.  As  a  boy,  he  was  taught  in  the  school 
which  belonged  to  the  Abbey  at  Glastonbury.  Afterwards  he  was  intro- 
duced to  the  court  of  king  ^thelstan,  where  he  did  not  stay  long,  as  it 
seems  he  found  enemies  there.  As  he  grew  up,  he  greatly  desired  to 
marry  a  lady  about  the  court,  whose  name  is  not  mentioned,  but  his 
kinsman  JElfheah,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  with  a  good  deal  of  difficulty 
persuaded  him  to  become  a  monk.  .  .  In  943,  King  Edmund  made  him 
Abbot  of  Glastonbury.'  Freeman's  Old  Eng.  Hist,  for  Children,  p.  164. 
See  also  the  Life  of  St.  Dunstan  in  Chambers'  Book  of  Days,  i.  653. 

Line  i.  More,  root,  stock.     Prov.  Eng.  moor,  root. 

2.  Candlemass  day  is  February  2,  or  the  festival  of  the  Purification 


1  '  The  date  is  given  in  the  Chronicle,  yet  it  can  hardly  be  right :  as,  if 
so,  Dunstan  must  have  become  Abbot  of  Glastonbury  when  he  was  only 
eighteen.' — Freeman . 


7.    (B)      ROBERT   OF   GLOUCESTER.  289 

of  the  Virgin.     Candles  were  then  blessed  by  the  priest,  lighted,  and 
carried  by  the  people  in  procession.  See  Chambers'  Book  of  Days,  i.  213. 

5.  As  me  do]>t  as  people  do  even  at  this  day. 

6.  Aqueynte,  pret.  was  quenched.     Cf.  O.  E.  adreynte,  was  drowned. 
Here  non  nuste  hou,  none  of  them  knew  how. 

7.  Herriy,  just  at  one  moment;  her  ritf,  just  at  another  moment; 
i.  e.  immediately  afterwards. 

15.  putf,  for  ]>urh,  through.     Cf.  O.  E.  \>of=thog,  though. 

1 7-   What  was,  why  was  it  ? 

22.  In  his  moder  was  ali^t,  was  descended  into  His  mother;  became 
incarnate. 

28.  7>*3,  throve.  O.  E.  the,  to  thrive,  flourish=A.  S.  \>e6n,  to  thrive 
(pret.  ]pdh,  p.p.  gelpogen,  ge\>ungeri). 

32.  Aldelm;  the  Chronicles  call  him  Wulfhelm. 

35.  Deynte,  pleasure,  dainty.  It  literally  signifies  (i)  toothsome,  nice, 
(2)  rare.  Cf.  O.  E.  daintith,  a  dainty;  Welsh  dant,  a  tooth,  dantaidd, 
toothsome,  delicate. 

37.  Bone,  petition,  prayer,  boon.    A.  S.  Mn,  prayer. 

47.  This  date  (453  years  before  925)  is  A.D.  472,  viz.  about  the  time 
of  St.  Patrick's  supposed  visit  to  Glastonbury.  Glastonbury  Abbey  was 
said  to  have  been  founded  by  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  but  there  is  no 
certain  trace  of  Christianity  in  Britain  before  the  year  208. 

51.  This  date  (A.D.  252)  is  quite  wrong.  The  date  commonly  assigned 
for  St.  Patrick's  death  is  493. 

53.  Hudinge,  secresy,  hiding;  from  O.  E.  kude,  to  hide;  whence  O.  E. 
hidels,  hudels,  a  hiding  place. 

55.  Athelwold  became  bishop  of  Winchester  A.D.  963  ;  he  died 
Aug.  i,  984. 

6 1.  Oreisouns,  orisons,  prayers.         Reste  of,  rest  from. 

64.  He  ne  kipte,  &c.,  he  took  not  of  them  no  (any)  reward. 

66.  Bedes  bede,  would  offer  prayers.     Cf.  our  phrase  to  '  bid  beads.' 

67.  At  \>reo  stedes,  in  three  places  at  once. 

73.  Treoflinge,  playfully,  triflingly.  -inge  is  an  adverb-ending  =  -ly. 
Trifle  signifies  literally  '  small  piece,'  if  derived  from  A.  S.  trifelan,  to 
pound.  But  we  also  find  in  O.  E.  the  spelling  trofle,  trufle,  as  if  from 
O.  F.  truffle,  a  gibe,  mock. 

79.  '  Until  the  tongs  were  quite  red-hot.' 

8 1.  Out-blaste,  puffed  out,  flew  out. 

82.  Wrickede,  wriggled;  probably  connected  with  writhe. 

85.  Snytte,  wiped.     A.  S.  snytan,  snite,  clean.     The  literal  meaning  of 
snite  is  to  blow  the  nose  or  snout. 

86.  '  Because  it  was  at  night,  he  could  see  no  more  (of  the  fiend  than 
just  the  nose.)' 

VOL.  II.  U 


290  NOTES. 

88.  Lifte,  air,  as  in  a-loft.    A.  S.  lyft.    Bi  \>e  lifte,  in  the  air. 

89.  Calewe,  bald-pate.     A.  S.  calu,  bald.     Eng.  callow. 

91.  As  god,  &c.,  he  might  as  well  have  been. 

Atom,  ysnyt  his  nose,  at  home,  with  his  nose  snited  (his  nose  being 
snited  or  wiped). 

92.  Hi^ede,  hastened.     A.  S.  higan,  higian,  endeavour,  hasten,  hie. 
Pose,  cold  in  the  head.    It  occurs  in  Chaucer. 


II.    METRICAL  ENGLISH   PSALTER. 

These  Psalms  are  written,  as  has  been  observed,  in  the  Northumbrian 
dialect,  in  which  the  present  indicative  of  the  verb  is  thus  declined : — 
Sing.  i.  singe;  2.  singes;  3.  singes:  Plur.  i.  singe;  2.  singes;  3.  singes. 
The  imper.  pi.  also  ends  in  ~es.  In  a  relative  clause,  the  verb  often  ends 
in  -es  when  the  relative  pronoun  with  which  it  agrees  refers  to  the  first 
person,  singular  or  plural. 

Psalm  viii. 

Line  I.  selkouth,  strange,  marvellous;  cf.  uncouth,  unknown,  strange. 
The  real  clue  to  the  sense  is  best  obtained  by  consulting  the  Latin 
Vulgate  Version ;  thus  selkouth  translates  the  Latin  admirabile. 

6.  Lof=  A.S.  Uf,  praise;  I6f-sang,  a  hymn.     The  Vulgate  has  laudem. 

17.  Mensk,  honour.  It  is  a  sb.  from  the  A.S.  mennisc,  (i)  human, 
(2)  mankind ;  whence  O.  E.  tnenske,  gracious.  The  Vulgate  has  honore. 

19.  •  Thou  hast  put  under  his  feet  all  young  ones  that  any  animal 
produces.' 

22.  In-over  is  a  translation  of.Lat.  insuper;  cf.  O.  E.  at-over,  at-above. 

24.  Forth-gone,  proceed  in,  travel  along ;  Lat.  perambulant. 

Stikes,  paths,  ways.  A.S.stig,  a  way,  path;  stigan  (pret.  stdh, 
p.p.  gestigen),  to  go,  climb,  ascend;  whence  stile  (A.S.  stigel),  stirrup 
(A.S.  stig-rdp,  i.  e.  mounting-rope),  stair  (A.  S.  stceger).  Cf.  O.  E.  stegh  = 
Prov.  E.  stie,  steye,  stee,  a  ladder. 

Psalm  xiv. 

It  should  be  observed  that  this  numbering  follows  that  of  the  Vulgate 
Version,  according  to  which  Psalm  x.  is  equivalent  to  Psalms  x.  and  xi. 
Hence  the  Psalm  xiv.  here  mentioned  is  the  same  as  Psalm  xv.  in  the 
Authorised  Version. 

Line  I.  Telde,  tabernacle.  A.S.  teld,  tent,  tabernacle;  teldian,  to  pitch 
a  tent.  Cf.  '  tilt '  of  a  cart. 


II.      METRICAL  ENGLISH  PSALTER.  391 

2.  Mone,  shall.    Icel.  mun,  shall,  may,  must :  cf.  A.  S.  gemunan,  to 
remember,  mind ;  and  cf.  Gk.  ne\\civ. 

3.  Incomes;  Lat.  ingreditur. 

Wem-les,  pure,  spotless.     A.  S.  wem,  womm,  spot,  blemish. 
9.  Es  lede,  Lat.  deductus  est.     'An  evil  person  is  brought  (led)  to 
nothing  in  his  sight.' 

13.  Okir,  usury.     Icel.  61tr,  from  auka,  to  increase,  eke. 

14.  Ouer  vnderand;  Lat.  super  innocentem. 

Psalm  xvii. 

Psalm  xvii.  is  Psalm  xviii.  in  the  Authorised  Version. 
Line  3.  To-flight,  refuge;  Lat.  refugium. 

4.  Leser,  deliverer ;  lit.  looser  or  loosener ;  Lat.  liberator. 

ir.  Um-gaf,  Lat.  circum-dederunt ;  urn-griped,  Lat.  conturbauerunt. 
The  prefix  um  =  A.  S.  ymb,  around,  about ;  as  in  O.  E.  urn-gang,  circuit, 
.um-thinke,  consider,  umivhile,  sometime,  umlap,  to  surround. 

12.  Weeles  =  weles,  wells,  torrents;  Lat.  torrentes.    A  whirlpool,  in 
Lancashire,  is  still  called  a  weele.    Burns  uses  the  form  wiel. 
Quede,  evil.     Du.  kwaad,  bad;  O.E.  quede,  the  devil. 

14.  Bisied,  were  busied  about,  i.e.  troubled  (me);  Lat.  praeoccupaue- 
runt. 

15.  Drouing,  persecution;  Lat.  tribulatione.     O.E.  drove,  to  trouble, 
persecute ;  A.  S.  drefan,  to  make  muddy,  disturb,  vex.     Chaucer  uses 
drovy,  troubled.     Cf.  1.  20  below,  where  we  find  to-dreucd,  troubled. 

21.  The  MS.  reads  of,  but  the  correct  reading  is  evidently  kqf=]pogh, 
though  ;  so  that  ]>of  \>aim  be  lath  =  though  it  be  displeasing  to  them. 
23.  Reke,  smoke,  reek  ;  Lat.  fumus.     A.  S.  ric,  Du.  rook,  smoke. 

26.  Kindled,  often  written  kinled.     Cf.  Norse  kynnel,  a  torch,  whence 
cannel  coal  (coal  that  burns  like  a  torch) ;  Wedgwood's  Etym.  Diet. 

27.  Helded,  bowed;  from  helde,  to  incline  to,  bend.     A.S.  hyldan, 
healdan,  to  incline,  bend  ;  whence  to  heel.     Prov.  Eng.  kele,  to  pour  out. 

31.  Lurking,  hiding-place,  lair.     Cf.  lurch  and  lurcher. 

33.  '  Waters  that  were  dark  of  hue  (colour,  appearance).* 

34.  Skewe,  sky.     A.  S.  scua,  a  shade,  cloud.     Cf.  Germ,  tvolke,  cloud, 
with  Eng.  welkin,  the  sky.     The  Vulgate  has  in  nubibus  aeris. 

35.  Leuening,  lightning.     O.  E.  levin,  lewenynge,  lightning. 

42.  Groundes,  foundations. 

43.  Snibbing  =  snubbing,  rebuke,  reproach. 

44.  One-sprute,  a  sprouting  or  spurting  forth.    Cotgrave  has  •  regailler, 
to  spurt  or  sprout  (as  water)  back  again.'     Swed.  spruta,  to  sprout. 

50.  Lat.  quoniam  confortati  sunt  super  me. 
64.  Loke  me,  guard  myself.     Lat.  obseruabo  me. 
69.  Halgh  for  halgh[e]  =  A..  S.  hdlga,  a  saint.     Chaucer  has  halewes, 

U  2 


292  NOTES. 

saints.  '  With  the  holy,  a  saint  shall  become  of  thee,1  i.  e.  thou  shalt  be 
a  saint.  Observe  the  future  sense  of  bes. 

79.  Unfiled,  undefiled.     Cf.  O.  E.fle,  to  defile  ;  lit.  to  foul. 

81.  Fr aisled,  tried,  purified.     Icel.freista,  to  try.     Lat.  examinata. 

89.  At  fight,  to  fight.  The  use  of  the  preposition  at  — to,  before  verbs 
in  the  infinitive  mood,  is  good  evidence  of  Danish  influence  upon  the 
Northumbrian  dialect. 

91.  For-hiling  ofhele  of\>e  =  L,a.t.  protectionem  salutis  tuae.  A.  S.  ver- 
sion, gescildnesse  hcelu  ftinre ;  Eng.  version,  '  shield  of  thy  salvation.' 

97.  Filghe  =  A.  S.  fylgean,  to  follow.    Lat.  persequar. 

Umlap,  lap  about,  surround,  seize ;   Lat.  comprehendam.     O.  E. 
wlap,  to  fold.    A  cognate  root  is  seen  in  Ital.  inviluppare;  Fr.  envelopper. 

98.  Ogaintorne,  turn  back,  return. 

To  =  unto,  until.     Lat.  non  conuertar  donee  deficiant. 
98.  Wane,  may  be  consumed.     A.  S.  wana,  lack  (as  in  wan-hope,  wan- 
ton,  &c.);  wanian,  diminish,  wane. 

102.  In  me  riseand,  them  that  rise  up  against  me;  cf.  1.  123. 

103.  0-bak  =  on-bak,  on  the  back.     The  A. S.  version  has  bee;  Lat. 
version,  dorsum  ;  Eng.  version,  necks. 

107.  Gnide  =  A..S.  gnidan,  break  (in  pieces),  rub,  comminute. 

Likant,  face,  countenance  ;  literally  the  body.  A.  S.  lie,  form, 
body ;  lichama,  the  living  body.  Winde  likam  =  the  face  of  the  wind ; 
Lat.  faciem  uenti. 

no.  Genge,  people,  gentiles ;  Lat.  gentium.  Cf.  O.  E.  genge,  troop,  in 
Havelok ;  probably  connected  with  A.  S.  gangan,  to  go.  Cf.  E.  gang. 

113.  Outen,  foreign,  strange  ;  Lat.  Filii  alieni  mentiti  sunt  mihi ;  filii 
alieni  inueterati  sunt,  et  claudicauerunt  a  semitis  suis. 

125.  Bir\>es,  nations;  Lat.  nationibus.   A.S.  ge-byrdt  a  family,  lineage. 

127.  Lat.  Magnificans  salutes  regis  eius. 

Psalm  xxiii.  (A.V.  xxiv.) 

Line  5.  Winli,  joyous,  winsome.  A.  S.  win,  pleasure;  wine,  a  friend  ; 
wynlic,  joyous ;  wynsum,  pleasant,  winsome  (Ps.  cii.  1.  5). 

9.  In  un-nait  =  Lat.  in  uano  =  O.  E.  in  ydel,  vain,  useless.  A.  S.  unnet, 
useless,  from  neolan,  to  use,  enjoy.  See  Nayte  in  the  Glossary. 

12.  Of  God;  Lat.  a  Deo  salutari  suo. 

14.  Laitand,  seeking.     O.  E.  laite,  Icel.  leita,  seek,  discover. 

26.  Ofmightes;  Lat.  uirtutum. 

Psalm  cii.  (A.V.  ciii.) 
Line  7.  Bies,  for  ogain-bies,  redeems ;   Lat.  redimit.     Cf.  O.  E.  vn\>- 


77.      METRICAL   ENGLISH  PSALTER. 

begge,  to  redeem.  The  use  of  the  verb  begge  or  bye,  buy,  for  redeem,  is 
not  uncommon  in  O.  E.  writers,  though  again-bye  (or  of-bye)  is  more  usual. 

9.  Filles,  satiates  ;  Lat.  replet. 

23.  Est  del,  eastern  part,  east.  West  del,  west.  The  del  (A.  S.  d<el) 
is  in  these  words  merely  an  affix  =part. 

25.  Reived  es  translates  the  Lat.  miseretur,  which  the  translator  seems 
to  treat  as  a  passive  rather  than  a  deponent  verb. 

28.  Schaft,  frame,  form.   A.S.  sceaft,  gesceqft,  creature.   Lat.  figmentum. 

32.  \Velyen  =  welwen,  wither.  A,  S.  wealwian,  wealowigan,  to  wallow ; 
also  to  roll  up,  dry  up,  wither.  Cf.  Germ,  welken,  to  wither. 

34.  This  line  =  Lat.  et  non  subsistet.     The  translation  is  incorrect. 

44.  Til . .  lauerd  =  L,a.t.  omnibus  dominabitur ;  lauerd  being  a  verb. 

Psalm  cm.  (A.V.  civ.) 

Line  5.  Strekand,  spreading ;  from  streke  =  A.  S.  streccan,  to  stretch. 
Lat.  extendens  caelum  sicut  pellem. 

Fel*=A..S.fel,  skin.     It  still  exists  In  fell-monger. 

6.  Overestes,  highest  parts.  The  -est  or  -ost  as  the  superlative  suffix 
of  adverbs  is  seen  in  overmost,  O.  E.  over-m-est ;  utter-est  =  utter-m-ost  and 
upperest=upper-m-ost.  Lat.  qui  tegis  aquis  superiora  eius. 

11.  Groundes  (  =  'La\..fundastt),  from  O.  E.  grounds,  to  lay  the  founda- 
tion of,  establish.    The  A.  S.  version  has  steaftelade,  made  steadfast. 

12.  Helde,  incline,  begin  to  fall;   Lat.  non  inclinabitur  in  saeculum 
saeculi. 

19.  Mere  —  K.  S.  gemdre,  boundary,  limit ;  Du.  meere,  boundary,  mere; 
connected  with  march,  a  boundary,  as  in  the  phrase  Marches  of  Wales. 

30.  Gresse,  grass.  The  Southern  dialect  generally  prefers  the  softei 
form  gers,  A.  S.  gcers.  Cf.  thrist  for  thirst,  1.  23. 

32.  Lat.  Et  uinum  laetificet  cor  hominis. 

33.  Lat.  Ut  exhilaret  faciem  in  oleo. 

36.  Yban  in  the  MS.  is  clearly  an  error  for  Lyban,  Lebanon. 

42.  Irchones  =  urchins,  hedgehogs  (we  still  have  sea-urchin),  from  F. 
herisson,  O.  F.  erifon,  from  Lat.  ericius,  a  hedgehog.  We  find  also  in 
Latin  the  forms  eres  and  erinaceus.  The  A.  S.  term  for  hedgehog  is  igil 
(connected  by  Curtius  with  the  Gk.  ixfro*). 

44.  Setel-gang  =  A.S.  setl-gong,  sell-gang,  sun-s^,  setting  (literally, 
seat-going).  The  first  element  is  retained  in  the  word  settle. 

47.  Romiand=ramand,  roaring.  A.S.  hream,  cry,  scream;  hreman, 
to  cry,  weep.  Lat.  rugientes  ut  rapiant. 

57.  Roume  =  A. S.  rum,  space,  spacious;  whence  roomy,  roam. 

Til  hende,  to  the  hands  ;  roume  til  hende,  spacious  to  the  hands,  is 
a  literal  translation  of  the  Lat.  spatiosum  manibus. 

69.  Lat.  Auertente  autem  te  faciem,  turbabuntur. 


294  NOTES. 

III.    THE  PROVERBS  OF   HENDYNG. 

There  is  a  MS.  copy  of  these  Proverbs  in  the  Cambridge  University 
Library  (marked  Gg.  i.  i),  partly  printed  in  Reliquiae  Antiquae,  i.  193; 
and  another  in  the  Bodleian  Library  at  Oxford  (MS.  Digby  86).  The 
dialect  is  mixed,  the  verbal  plurals  (indicative)  ending  in  -en  and  -e\>.  As 
to  the  subject  matter,  the  reader  should  consult  chapter  iv.  in  vol.  i.  of 
Wright's  Essays  on  the  Literature,  &c.  of  the  Middle  Ages,  and  Trench 
on  Proverbs.  There  is  also  a  great  deal  of  information  in  Kemble's 
edition  of  the  Dialogue  of  Solomon  and  Saturn  (^Elfric  Society). 
Hending  is  here  said  to  be  the  son  of  Marcolf.  Marcolf  replaced 
Saturn,  so  that  whilst  we  find  the  Dialogue  between  Solomon  and 
Saturn  in  Anglo-Saxon,  in  German  it  is  one  between  Solomon  and 
Marcolf.  These  were  traditional  philosophers,  who  held  imaginary 
discourses  for  the  purpose  of  introducing  wise  sayings.  Such  legends 
were  once  popular ;  their  origin  is  obscure.  Many  of  the  proverbs 
recur  in  several  languages,  and  some  are  still  current.  The  Proverbs  of 
Hending  are  imitated  from  the  French  proverbs  of  the  Count  of 
Bretaigne,  printed  in  'Proverbes  et  dictons  populaires,'  par  M.  Crapelet; 
Paris,  1831. 

Line  4.  Thonkes,  thinkings,  thoughts. 
6.  7s  wone,  his  wont. 

13.  The  Camb.  MS.,  which  varies  considerably  from  the  text,  has  — 
'  Wei  is  him  >at  wel  ende  mai.' 

16.  '  And  take  care  that  no  man  forbid  another  to  be  wise  and  good.1 

18.  Bue  =  beo  =  be.     Throughout  this  poem,  ue  =  eo  =  e. 

19.  Foh  =  A.S.fah,  variegated;  hence,  a  parti-coloured  dress. 
Grys  =  F.  grit,  a  kind  of  fur.    The  Camb.  MS.  has— 

'  pan  to  weri  fow  an  grise 

Wan  man  ssal  hen  wende.' 
21.  '  Wit  and  wisdom  are  a  good  support.' 

Warysoun  =  O.  F.  warison,  Fr.  guerison,  a  cure  ;  originally,  a  pro- 
tection, also,  provisions,  supply,  support.    Cf.  E.  garrison. 

24.  Confonde,  can  attempt,  can  do. 

25.  Spede,  succeed  in  learning  so  many  customs  as  he  that  hath  sought 
diligently  in  very  many  nations. 

29.  •  As  many  lands,  so  many  customs.'  In  German,  Ldndlich  sittlich. 
So  in  Chaucer,  'Eche  countre  hath  its  lawes;'  Troilus  and  Creseide,  ii. 
1.42. 

32.  Lerne.    The  rime  requires  lere,  to  learn ;  indeed  the  Camb.  MS. 
has — '  And  he  wil  mis-f>ewis  lere?    So  also  in  11.  2,  39. 

33.  Otherwhyle,  sometimes;  whyle,  like  the  Sc.  whyles,  has  occasionally 
this  signification. 


III.      THE  PROVERBS   OF  HENDYNG.  395 

35.  Woltou,  nultou,  wilt  thou  (or)  wilt  thou  not;  i.e.  willing  or  un- 
willing. Cf.  the  phrase  willy  nilly ;  see  Hamlet,  v.  1. 19. 

37.  Luef=leof=lef,  or  hue,  dear,  beloved. 

•  A  pet  child  needs  teaching.'  This  is  quoted  in  Piers  the  Plowman, 
B-text,  v.  38.  It  means  '  spare  the  rod  and  spoil  the  child.'  Cf. 
Proverbs  xiii.  24. 

44.  Bue  thefol  couthe,  be  well  known  to  thee. 

45.  '  Whoso  learns  when  young  he  loses  (it)  not  when  old.'    Cf. 
Horace,  Epist.  i.  2.  69.     Trench  quotes  a  Latin  proverb,  '  Cui  puer 
assuescit,  maior  dimittere  nescit.' 

63.  Selyfode,  good  child.     Fode  is  literally  one  fostered  or  fed. 

69.  '  A  good  child  is  easily  taught.'  This  proverb  is  quoted  by  Chaucer 
(Prioresse  Tale,  st.  4)  in  the  form  'For  sely  child  wol  alway  soone  lere.' 

75.  '  Though  it  may  appear  game  (pleasure)  to  the  body.' 

77.  'Well  fights  he  who  well  flies.'  This  occurs  also  in  the  Owl 
and  Nightingale,  by  Nicholas  de  Guildford.  Cf.  the  lines  in  Butler's 
Hudibras,  Pt.  iii.  can.  3, 1.  243  (often  wrongly  quoted)— 

1  For  those  that  fly  may  fight  again, 
Which  he  can  never  do  that's  slain.' 

80.  Gle,  music. 

81.  Tempred,  tuned. 

84.  Camb.  MS.  has—'  Ar  >ai  ben  half  ripe.' 

85.  '  A  fool's  bolt  is  soon  shot.'    In  Latin — 

•Vt  dicunt  multi,  cito  transit  lancea  stulti.' 

(MS.  Harl.  3362,  fol.  4.) 
See  also  As  You  Like  It,  v.  4.  67. 

87.  This  occurs  in  a  collection  called  the  Proverbs  of  Alfred— •  pus 
quad  Alfred  :  gif  j>u  hauist  sorwe,  ne  say  Jm  hit  ]>in  arege ; '  if  thou  hast 
sorrow,  tell  it  not  to  thy  foe.  See  Kemble,  Salomon  and  Saturn,  p.  233 ; 
or  see  p.  1 1 7  of  An  Old  English  Miscellany,  edited  by  Dr.  Morris  for 
the  Early  English  Text  Society.  The  same  collection  has  '  Sottis  bold 
is  sone  iscoten'  (Kemble,  p.  241 ;  Morris,  p.  129). 

100.  Gest  thou,  thou  shalt  go  ;  answering  to  be  thou,  if  thou  art. 

101.  'Better  an  apple  given  away  than  eaten.'    The  Camb.  MS.  gives 
the  proverb  in  two  widely  differing  forms,  as  follows:  'Bettir  is  one 
appil  iyeuin  J>an  twein  iyetin,  quod  he«ding.     Soche  man  J?ou  misth 
yeuin  }>at  betir  were  yetin,  q?<od  Marcol.'    The  latter  proverb,  attributed 
to  Marcolf,  intimates  that  you  may  give  a  thing  to  a  man  so  unworthy 
that  you  might  as  well  have  eaten  it  yourself;  which  is  contrary  to  the 
experience  of  Hending. 

103.  The  Camb.  MS.  has  a  very  different  stanza  upon  the  same 
proverb,  as  follows  : — 


296 


NOTES. 


'  Maniman  J>at  is  unwise 
Sechet  frendis  ware  non  ise  [is], 

To  spele  [spare]  his  owen  wone; 
Ac,  ar  he  mai  home  wende, 
He  seel  mete  with  unhende  [rude  men"] 

To  done  him  scam  and  sconde  [disgrace], 
"  Este  beth  owen  gledes ; "  Quod  Hending.' 

104.  Werthe  probably  means  a  host,  landlord.  Cf  Sw.  vard,  Du, 
vaard,  Germ,  wirth,  Dan.  vert,  a  landlord,  host,  innkeeper. 

109.  '  Pleasant  are  one's  own  brands '  (fireside).  '  Scintillae  propriae 
sunt  mihi  deliciae.'  MS.  Trin.  Coll.  O.  2.  45,  fol.  365. 

113.  'Though  thou  wait  for  a  surety,'  i.e.  canst  not  get  a  surety. 
The  Camb.  MS.  has — '  pouth  J?ou  bid  and  borou,'  i.  e.  though  thou 
beg  and  borrow. 

117*  '  Greedy  is  the  needy  man.'     Godles=goodless,  without  goods. 
125.  '  When  the  cup  is  fullest,  carry  it  most  carefully.'    See  Kemble, 
Sal.  and  Sat.  p.  281. 

144.  'The  tongue  breaks  bones,  though  itself  boneless.'  So  in  the 
Proverbs  of  Alfred—'  For  ofte  tunke  brekit  bon,  And  nauid  hire  selwe 
non.'  In  Latin,  '  Ossa  terat  lingua,  careat  licet  ossibus  ilia.' 

148.  Unsaht,  dissatisfied,  discontented,  unfriendly.     A.S.  saht,  peace. 
152.  'He  who  gives  me  little  is  in  my  favour;'  or, '  wishes  me  to  live.' 
'  Me  uult  uitalem  qui  dat  mihi  rem  modicalem ;'  MS.  Harl.  3362,  fol.  39. 
154.  That  is  luef=that  him  is  luef,  that  prefers. 

159.  Schenchen,  pour  out,  give  to  drink.     Germ,  schenken. 

1 60.  '  The  better  it  is  for  thee,  the  better  look  about  thee.' 
Byse  =  by-se,  look  about. 

165.  The  Camb.  MS.  ends  the  stanza  thus: — 
'  And  in  }>i  litil  wonis  wende 
Fort  J?at  [until]  crist  )>e  betir  sende 

Alle  with-oute  pride.' 

1 68.  'Under  bush  shall  men  abide  the  storm;'  i.e.  even  a  humble 
dwelling  will  keep  you  dry. 

1 73.  Treye  =  A.  S.  trega,  vexation.  The  expression  treye  and  tene  occurs 
in  Csedmon  (ed.  Thorpe,  p.  137),  and  in  William  of  Palerne,  1.  2073. 

176.  Hest  =  keghest,  highest;  nest  =  neghest,  nighest.  '  When  the  tribu- 
lation is  greatest,  the  remedy  is  nearest.'  This  proverb  is  twice  quoted 
in  the  Owl  and  Nightingale.  It  occurs  also  in  Hcywood's  Proverbs,  E 
iii.  back.  Trench  quotes  a  Jewish  proverb—'  When  the  tale  of  bricks  is 
doubled,  Moses  comes.' 

179.  The  Camb.  MS.  has— 

'  Yef  man  doth  }>e  ouht  unbein  [uncivil] 
par  Jnne  herte  is  ilende.' 


IV.      SPECIMENS   OF  LYRIC  POETRY. 

The  sense  seems  to  be  that  one  should  cease  to  benefit  those  who  repulse 
benefits  with  rudeness. 

186.  Land,  lent;  spelt  ilend  in  the  Camb.  MS. 

189.  Ene,  once.     Cf.  twi-e,  thri-e,  twice,  thrice. 

190.  Ant,  if.     Eft  bidde  mo,  again  ask  for  more. 

191.  Unfeyn,  unfain,  unwilling  (to  lend).     Camb.  MS  'unbein.' 

192.  'Seldom  cometh  a  loan  laughing  home.' 

196.  '  When  to  thee  were  loath ; '  i.  e.  when  thou  art  most  loath  to  be 
in  need. 

200.  Perhaps,  '  One's  own  is  one's  own,  and  another  man's  property 
returns  (to  him).'    Cf.  A.  S.  ed-,  back ;  but  there  is  no  other  example  of 
edne\>.     The  Camb.  MS.  has  man  his  hedwite,  i.  e.  *  another  man's  (is  a) 
reproach.'     The  sense  is  expressed  by  the  well-known  proverb — 'He 
that  goes  a-borrowing  goes  a-sorrowing.'   Mr.  Hazlitt  says—4  Heywood 
(Workes,  1562,  part  ii.  c.  4)  and  Clarke  (Parsem.,  1639,  P-  l8a)  have  it: 
Owne  is  owne  at  reckonings  end.'    See  Hazlitt's  Eng.  Prov.  p.  312.    Cf. 
'For  at  the  ending  Home  will  the  borrowed  thing;'  The  Northern 
Mother's  Blessing,  in  Hist,  of  Placidas,  ed.  Gibbs,  p.  169. 
208.  We  now  say,  '  Out  of  sight,  out  of  mind.' 
224.  '  He  is  free  of  horse  (ready  to  lend  it)  who  ne'er  had  one.' 
242.  Munte\>,  wishes  to  cross.    A.  S.  myntan,  to  purpose,  intend. 

247.  After  wille,  at  will,  after  one's  desire. 

248.  '  He  well  abides  who  can  well  endure.'    In  Italian,  '  II  mondo  e 
di  chi  ha  pazienza,'  the  world  is  his  who  has  patience.   In  Latin, '  Vincit 
qui  patitur;'   or  'Patientes  vincunt.'     In  the  latter  form  it  is  quoted 
several  times  in  Piers  the  Plowman. 

250.  'I  count  that  an  evil  (bad)  leap.'  In  the  Camb.  MS.  the  line  is — 
'  pat  ich  telle  a  lijnr  lippe.' 

256.  'Oft  haste  repenteth;'  i.e.  the  more  haste,  the  worse  speed 
(success).  Cf.  Bacon's  Essays,  No.  xxv. 

299.  Wyt  at  wolde,  wit  (wisdom)  at  command. 

300.  Ore  =  eowre,  your ;  spelt  youre  in  Camb.  MS.     Soule  bate,  soul's 
boot,  salvation  of  the  soul.    It  means,  'repent  while  you  may.'     Cf. 
Matt.  iii.  10. 

302.  Ro  -  A.  S.  r6w,  rest.    Cf.  O.  E.  rooles,  restless,  E.  un-ru-ly. 

IV.    SPECIMENS  OF  LYRIC  POETRY. 

Song  1.  Line  4.  On  hyre  lud,  in  her  language.  A.  S.  leden,  language. 
Chaucer  uses  the  same  expression  ;  Squyeres  Tale,  pt.  ii.  11.  89,  90. 

7.  He  =  hue  =  heo,  she.     This  use  of  he  is  not  uncommon. 

8.  Baundoun,  power.     Fr.   bandon,   power,   authority.     The    literal 
meaning  is  proclamation.     Cf.  Ital.  bando,  Eng.  banns. 

9.  An  hendy  hap,  a  (piece  of)  good  fortune. 


298  NOTES. 

IO.  Ichot  =  ich  wot,  I  know. 

15.  Lossum  -  lov-stim,  lovesome,  lovely. 

19.  Forsake,  refuse;  Germ,  versagen. 

20.  Feye,  near  to  die,  dead.     A.  S.  ftege,  dying. 

25.  '  At  night  when  I  turn  (in  bed)  and  watch.' 

26.  Wonges,  cheeks.     A.S.  wang,  jaw,  cheek.    Wang-tooth,  a  grinder, 
is  still  used  in  the  North  of  England. 

32.  May  =  A.S.  mceg,  maid;  mcegft  (Germ,  magd),  maid ;  cf.  Moeso- 
Goth,  mawi,  magalhs,  a  maid,  magus,  a  boy. 

38.  So  water  in  wore,  as  water  in  a  weir  or  mill-dam.  Alluding  to  the 
ceaseless  motion  of  it. 

40.  '  I  have  yearned  of  yore,'  i.  e.  I  have  long  been  in  great  anxiety 
(distress). 

43.  Geynest  under  gore,  O  most  lovely  one  under  dress,  i.e.  O  thou 
the  loveliest  that  wearest  female  apparel.     Geyn=gain,  elegant,  as  in 
un-gain-ly.     Icel.  gegn,  convenient,  suitable;   gegna,  (i)  to  meet,  (2) 
answer,  fit.     Sc.  gone,  to  suffice. 

Gore,  a  narrow  slip  let  into  a  woman's  dress;  hence  the  dress 
itself.  Chaucer  uses  the  word  in  his  Sir  Thopas,  which  is  a  parody  on 
the  language  of  songs  of  this  description. 

44.  Roune  =  rune,  song.    A.S.  run,  a  conversation.     O.E.  rowne  or 
rounde,  to  whisper  in  the  ear. 

Song  2.     5.  Sad  =  A. S.  seed,  satisfied,  sated;  viz.  with  gazing. 
17.  This  really  implies  '  I  have  no  rest  at  all ; '  see  Song  3,  1.  50. 
32.  •  Her  complexion  like  a  rose  on  its  branch.' 
36.  Burde,  lady.     This  is  merely  another  form  (by  metathesis)  of  bride. 
So  also  brid  for  bird. 

38.  Bys  =  ¥r.  bis,  purple.     Lat  byssus. 

Song  3.  5.  Under,  undern,  i.e.  the  forenoon.  See  the  parable, 
Matt.  xx.  Layamon  has  under  \>an  =  in  the  meanwhile. 

9.  Hoc  =  hook,  scythe. 

10.  Tofon,  receive.     A.S.fon,  Germ.fangen,  to  receive. 

15.  Lomen,  tools.  A.S.  loma,  tool,  utensil.  The  weaving-machine 
being  one  of  the  most  important  pieces  of  furniture  in  Old  English 
houses,  the  word  loom  received  the  special  meaning  which  it  now  has  ; 
and  from  the  weaving-machine  being  handed  down  from  father  to  son, 
we  have  evidently  the  compound  term  heir-loom,  now  applied  to  any 
valuable  hereditary  property. 

17.  Undreh,  out  of  patience,  from  drehen  (dregen),  to  suffer,  endure; 
Scottish  dree.     The  expression  a  dry^e  countenaunce,  i.e.  a  stern  un- 
moving  face,  occurs  in  Sir  Gawayn  and  the  Grene  Knight,  1.  335. 

1 8.  « So  idle  for  to  (see  them)  stand.' 


IV.      SPECIMENS   OF  LYRIC  POETRY.  299 

19-21.  'It  had  so  bestead  (happened) 

That  no  man  them  had  offered 
Their  tools  to  engage.' 
i.  e.  no  one  had  asked  their  services. 

28.  Alle  ant  some,   one  and  all.     See  this  expression  illustrated  in 
Morris's  English  Accidence,  p.  142.     It  occurs  in  Dryden. 

29.  'That  earlier  had  come  with  tools.' 

34.  Me  raht,  one  should  offer ;  pret.  subj.  of  reche,  to  reach,  offer,  give. 

44.  Leode,  men,  people.     A.S.  leod,  leoda,  a  countryman,  a  man; 
leode,  people. 

45.  This  does  not  mean,  *  I  am  not  the  less  to  be  believed,'  but '  I  am 
not  to  be  accounted  false.' 

45.  Lees  =  A.S.  leas,  false. 

51.  Un-sete,  (probably)  unsettledness,  restlessness ;  cf.  Icel.  seta,  a  seat, 
place  to  sit  down  upon. 

57.  Un-fete,  not  feat,  not  good.  Feat =Fr.  fail,  made,  done;  from 
Lat.facere,  Fr.faire.  In  1.  55,  for  mon  read  men;  the  sense  may  then 
be — '  These  men,  to  whom  Matthew  assigned  a  penny,  which  was  but  a 
small  sum,  this  blameworthy,  faulty  people,  still  they  desired  more.' 

Song  4.  I.  Come  to  toune,  come  in  its  turn.  « Cyman  to  vel  on  tune, 
venire  ad  vicem,  vel  in  vice  sua ; '  Lye's  A.  S.  Dictionary. 

7.  Him  threteth  oo,  chides  them  (the  other  birds)  continually.  The 
other  birds  sing  loudly,  but  the  thrush  is  louder  still.  Oo,  aye ;  him, 
them.  So  in  the  next  line,  huere  =  their ;  and  in  1.  10  this  =  these. 

13.  Rayleth,  puts  on  (as  a  garment).  A.S.  hragel,  a  garment;  whence 
night-rat/,  a  night-dress. 

20.  Miles,  animals  (?).     Cf.  W.  mil,  an  animal,  beast.     Or  read  males. 
Murgeth,  rejoice,  are  merry  with.     A.  S.  myrg,  pleasure ;  murge, 

joyful. 

Makes,  mates,  companions  (a  softened  form  of  which  we  have  in 
match}.     A.  S.  maca,  a  husband,  mate. 

21.  Strilteth,    runs,    flows,    trickles.     'Like    a    stream,    that    flows 
quietly,  the  moody  man  moans  (laments),  as  do  many  others  (I  am 
one  of  them)  on  account  of  a  love  that  displeases.' 

28.  '  Dews  moisten  the  downs.' 

Donketh,  from  O.  E.  donke,  to  damp,  moisten.     Milton  uses  dank 
(O.  E.  donk),  moist. 

29.  '  Lovers  with  their  secret  whispers  (come  ?)  to  give  their  decisions.' 
The  author  has  omitted  the  verb. 

35.  Wunne  weole,  this  wealth  of  joy.     Wunne  is  gen.  fern,  of  wyn  or 
wun;  A.S.  wyn,  joy,  delight.     Weole—  A  S.  wcela,  wealth,  bliss,  weal. 

36.  Fleme,  banished,  exiled.     A.  S.  fleam,  a  flight ;  flyman,  to  banish. 


300 


NOTES. 


The  first  verse  of  this  song  has  been  thus  paraphrased  : — 
'  Returning  spring  wakes  earth  to  life, 
With  twittering  birds  and  blossoms  rife, 

That  mirth  and  gladness  bring; 
Bright  daisies  deck  the  verdant  dale, 
Her  descant  pours  the  nightingale, 

Each  bird  doth  blithely  sing. 
The  throstle  pipes  his  challenge  loud, 
Naught  recks  he  now  of  winter's  shroud, 

Since  earth  is  green  with  spring : 
Aloft  he  sits  on  budding  spray; 
In  joyous  tone  he  trills  his  lay, 

Till  loud  the  woodlands  ring.' 
A  Tale  of  Ludlow  Castle,  by  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Skeat,  p.  34. 

V.    ROBERT  MANNYNG   OF  BRUNNE. 

It  may  be  remarked  that  the  French  original  is  printed  at  length  in 
Mr.  Furnivall's  edition. 

Line  5575.  St.  John  the  Almoner  was  patriarch  of  Alexandria  in  the 
seventh  century.  His  day  is  Jan.  23. 

5578.  Nygun,  a  niggard.  Norse  nyggja,  to  gnaw,  rub,  scrape; 
nuggjen,  stingy.  Sw.  njugg,  sparing.  The  same  root  is  contained  in 
niggle;  see  Wedgwood's  Etym.  Dictionary. 

5583.  Hatren,  clothes.  O.  E.  hater,  clothing;  A.  S.  hater,  clothing; 
Germ,  hader,  a  rag.  Barme,  bosom,  lap.  A.  S.  bearm. 

5589.  Many  what,  many  things  of  whatever  kind,  many  various  things. 
See  Morris's  Accidence,  sect.  213,  p.  137. 

5590.  Gatt  way.    The  word  wey  is  written  above  it  in  the  MS.     Cf. 
1.  5603. 

5593-  Jangland,  chattering,  jangling.  O.  Fr.jangler,  to  prattle,  tattle, 
jest,  lie;  Du.janken,  to  yelp.  Cf.  Piers  Plowm.  prol.  35. 

5600.  Gryl,  sharp,  stern.  O.  E.  gril,  cold,  shivering ;  Du.  grillen,  to 
shiver,  tremble. 

5605.  Bode  the  quede,  waited  for  the  evil  man. 

5629.  Halydom  =  halidom;  from  Icel.  hdligr  domr,  reliques  of  the 
saints,  on  which  sacred  (holy)  oaths  (dooms)  were  formerly  taken. 

5643.  The  to  party,  the  one  side.  The  to=thet  o  =  that  on,  that  one, 
the  one.  Cf.  the  tourer  =  thet  ou\>er,  that  other,  the  other,  1.  5651. 

5668.  *  They  had  nothing  else,  they  must  needs  (take  that).' 

5670.  Peys,  weight.  Fr.  poiser,  peser,  to  weigh;  from  poids  (Lat. 
pensum),  weight ;  whence  to  poise. 


VI.      WILLIAM   OF   SHOREHAM.  301 

5679.  Acouped=aculped,  accused,  from  Lat.  culpa;  whence  culprit  (as 
if  for  culpit),  a  corruption  of  culpatus,  the  old  Law  Latin  for  an  accused 
person. 

5706.  Kyrtyl  =  A.S.  cyrtel,  Dan.  kjortel,  a  garment,  either  for  man  or 
woman.  It  generally  means  a  petticoat  with  a  body. 

As-smeri,  at  once,  smartly,  quickly.     Cf.  as-swy]pe,  immediately, 


5721.  Grete,  wept;  see  1.  5716.     Cf.  Sc.  greet.     In  the  MS.  wepte  is 
written  above,  as  a  gloss. 

5722.  '  And  began  in  some  measure  to  leave  off.' 

5723.  'Because  that  often,  after  weeping.' 

5743.  Weyl  ys  hem,  well  is  it  for  them;  cf.  'well  is  thee,'  Ps.  cxxviii.  2 
in  the  Prayer  Book. 

5772.  Manas,  menace.     Fr.  menace;  Lat.  minae,  minaciae,  threats. 
5781.  Thys  eche  sele,  this  very  (same)  time.     Cf.  1.  5879. 
5811,  5812.  Robert  of  Brunne  must  have  read  the  Lay  of  Havel  ok 
the  Dane,  which  was  written  in  the  same  county  (Lincolnshire)  about 
fifty  years  previously.     For  in  that  lay  is  a  couplet  nearly  identical 
with  these  lines,  viz.  — 

•  Al  J>at  he  )>er-fore  tok 
With-held  he  nouth  a  ferj>inges  nok.' 

Havelok,  819,  820. 

Similarly  11.  5837,  5838  are  again  imitated  from  Havelok,  991,  992. 
5821.  Bryche,  humble,  low,  poor.     A.  S.  bryce,  fragile  (Grein). 

5827.  Ouer  skyle,  exceedingly;  literally,  beyond  reason. 

5828.  Swele,  to  swill,  wash.     A.  S.  swilian,  to  wash. 

5839.  Foiled,  foolish.  Fr.  fol,  foolish.  It  may  be  connected  with 
Spanish  falta,  a  fault;  J  "altar,  to  fail,  be  deficient. 

5887.  Stonte  =  stont,  standeth. 

5913.  Squyler,  a  swiller  or  scullion.  O.  E.  squillary,  scullery;  from 
O.  E.  stuille,  or  squille,  to  wash.  See  1.  5828. 

5923.  This  is  also  probably  taken  from  the  Lay  of  Havelok  (1.  211  2), 
who  was  recognised  as  a  true  prince  by  a  flame  that  proceeded  from  his 
mouth. 


VI.    WILLIAM  OF  SHOREHAM. 
De  Baptismo. 

N.B.    The  language  of  this   poem  is  archaic,  and  appears  to  be 
occasionally  corrupt. 

Line  i  .  *  Baptism  is  the  sacrament.' 
9.  '  What  substance  may  be  used.' 


NOTES. 


1 6.  Sithere,  cider.     Fr.  cidre;  Lat.  sicera. 

1 8.  '  Through  christening  one  may  renounce  (the  devil).' 

20,  21.  '  For  though  it  were  water  first, 

Of  water  hath  it  (now)  no  account.' 
22.  Forthe,  froth,  scum  (of  anything). 
25.  Tha}t  =  thct},  though.         Hit  wende,  may  have  esteemed  it. 

31.  Ther-inne,  i.e.  in  warm  water. 

32.  'In  what  time  (there)  falleth  in  the  year  some  ice.' 
Falthe,  happeneth,  falleth. 

34.  Ewe  ardaunt,  burning  water,  brandy,  spiiit. 
37.  Mitte  beste,  with  the  best,  very  properly. 

39.  Keschte  is  evidently  an  error  for  keste,  i.  e.  may  have  cast ;  past 
sing,  subjunctive. 

41.  His  kende,  its  true  nature.     Lest  =  loseth. 

42.  Te-tealte,  overturned,  worthless.     A.  S.  tealtian,  to  ////,  shake,  be 
in  jeopardy.     The  A.  S.  prefix  to-  is  written  te  in  Old  Saxon. 

45.  Thrinne  =  ther-inne,  therein. 

50.  Ich  wel  }>e  cristny,  I  desire  thee  to  baptize.  Wel  =  wil,  i.e. 
will,  with  the  sense  of  the  Lat.  uolo. 

52,  53.  '  For  [there]-with  to  wash  is  nothing 

That  man  cometh  to  so  easily.' 

65.  '  Without  diminution  and  (or?)  increase.' 

66.  More  (and  in  1.  69)  =  mo$e,  may ;  see  1.  1 33. 

73.  '  The  pope  (even)  would  be  in  that  case  not  in  the  least  too 
worthy  to  christen  him.'  Christening  by  midwives  was  allowed  only  in 
case  of  necessity. 

78.  %f=gef,  gave ;  see  1.  81. 

8 1.  I-leave  =  A.S.  ge-ledf,  permission,  leave. 

82.  Atfelle  =  thatfelle,  that  fell,  sinned. 

83.  Olepi  =  onlepi,  only ;  '  only  one  must  dip  him  in  the  water.' 

88.  '  But  they  take  special  heed  of  the  necessity,  that  water  (be)  cast 
once  upon  the  clothing,  but  (especially)  to  offer  (i.  e.  throw)  it  upon  the 
head  *  Or  for  On  read  No,  i.  e.  '  that  no  water  be  cast,'  &c. 

92.  Loue  is  perhaps  an  error  for  alve  =  halfe,  side,  place. 

98.  %e,  he.     His,  is. 

100.  '  That  christen  one  (child)  twice.' 

103.  For-hedeth=for-hudeth=for-hideth,  conceals. 

105.  'And  (the  priest)  does  not  forbid  the  second  (christening).' 

1 08.  Scheawith  quike,  appear  alive. 

112.  Weyeth,  depart,  turn  aside,  move.  Cf.  M.  H.  Germ,  -wegen, 
Germ,  bewegen,  to  move.  See  also  To-wawe  in  the  Glossary. 

114.  'But  men  fetch  (bring)  it  (to  church)  as  men  suppose  (it  to  be 
not  christened).'  The  words  are  obscure ;  but  it  clearly  refers  to  the 


VII.      CURSOR   MUNDI.  303 

case  of  a  child  really  baptized,  but  supposed  to  be  unbaptized.     See 
next  stanza. 

Ii6.  Ham  geine\>  te  depe,  it  behoves  them  to  dip  it. 

A  Latin,  in  Latin ;  so  also  an  Englisch,  in  English  (1.  118). 

122.  p«  =  K  thee.  'I  baptize  thee  not  again,  if  thou  art  baptized 
(already).'  Eft-sone  means  again ;  see  Sect.  XVII  (A)  cap.  ii.  v.  1 3. 

128.  Diyti,  perform  or  celebrate  them. 

1 29.  '  For  they  are  the  very  grace  of  God.' 
133.  'And  may  by  no  means  (be  so).' 

140.  I-gistned,  received  or  entertained  as  guests.  O.  E.  gest,  a  stranger, 
guest;  Goth,  gasts,  a  stranger;  Welsh  gwest,  lodging,  entertainment; 
Fr.  giste,  lodging.  See  gesttng,  lodging,  Sect.  VII.  1.  71. 

143.  'And,  except  they  be  also  anointed  at  the  font  with  oil  and 
chrism,  all  fails ;  (but,  when  this  is  done)  it  becomes  a  (true)  baptism.' 


VII.    CURSOR  MUNDI. 

(In  the  same  dialect  as  Sect.  II,  which  see.) 

A  few  readings  are  added  from  MS.  R.  3.  8  in  Trinity  College, 
Cambridge. 

Line  2.  Kinges.  The  Magi  were  called  kings.  Their  names  were 
said  to  be  Jaspar,  king  of  Tars  (Tharsis) ;  Melchior,  king  of  Arabia ; 
and  Balthazar,  king  of  Saba;  these  countries  being  suggested  by  Ps. 
Ixxii.  10.  The  names  are  given  in  Peter  Comestor's  Historia  Scholas- 
tica.  In  the  present  account,  Balthazar  is  replaced  by  Attropa. 

4.  The  Trin.  MS.  has — '  Bot  in  J>e  furste  3eer  was  hit  noujt.' 

7.  The  Cotton  MS.  omits  tua ;  but  the  Trin  MS.  has  two. 

8.  Gilden-moth,  golden-mouth,  i.  e.  Chrysostom.     The  reference  is  to 
St.  Chrysostom's  second  homily  on  St.  Matthew  (vol.  vi.  col.  637,  ed. 
Migne).     But  St.  Chrysostom  says  the  Magi  took  two  years  for  their 
journey — '  Proficiscentibus  eis  per  biennium  praecedebat  stella,  et  neque 
esca,  neque  potus  defecit  in  peris  eorum.'     Indeed  our  author  actually 
quotes  this  very  passage  below,  11.  50-54.     The  whole  of  11.  21-49  is 
also  taken  nearly  verbatim  from  the  same  passage,  which  begins — '  Au- 
diui  aliquos  referentes  de  quadam  scriptura . .  quoniam  erat  quaedam 
gens  sita  in  ipso  principio  orientis  juxta  oceanum,  apud  quos  ferebatur 
quaedam  scriptura,  inscripta  nomine  Seth,  de  apparitura  hac  stella,  et 
muneribus  ei  huiusmodi  offerendis,  quae  per  generationes  studiosorum 
hominum,  patribus  referentibus  filiis  suis,  habebatur  deducta.     Itaque 
elegerunt  seipsos  duodecim  quidam  ex  ipsis  studiosiores,  et  amatores 


3°4 


NOTES. 


mysteriomm  caelestium,  et  posuerunt  seipsos  ad  expectationem  stellae 
illius.  Et  si  quis  moriebatur  ex  eis,  filius  eius,  aut  aliquis  propinquo- 
rum . .  in  loco  constituebatur  defuncti  ...  Hi  ergo  per  singulos  annos, 
post  messem  trituratoriam,  ascendebant  in  montem  aliquem  . .  exspec- 
tantes  semper  . .  donee  apparuit  eis  [stella]  descendens  super  montem 
ilium . .  habens  in  se  formam  quasi  pueri  paruuli,  et  super  se  similitu- 
dinem  crucis.  Et  loquuta  est  eis,'  &c.  See  the  whole  passage. 

1 8.  Stern,  star.  This  is  a  Northern  form  of  the  word,  corresponding 
to  the  Southern  English  sterre ;  cf.  Goth,  stairno,  star.  The  allusion  is 
to  Numbers  xxiv.  17. 

22.  First  uncuth,  (for  a)  long  period  uncouth,  unknown.  First  =  A.S. 
fyrst,  space  of  time,  period ;  O.  ~E.frest,furstt  delay.  Trin.  MS. — '  Of  a 
ferren  folk  vncou)?.' 

25.  Among  squilk  =  amangs  quilk,  among  which.  Trin.  MS. — '  Among 
whiche.' 

34.  Biseli.  The  Cotton  MS.  has  Desselic,  but  this  seems  to  be  an 
error,  as  we  find  Bisily  in  the  Trin.  MS.,  and  Bysely  in  MS.  Laud  416. 

39.  *  When  their  harvests  were  gathered  in.' 

43.  Oxspring,  offspring,  i.  e.  generation.     '  The  custom  was  kept  up 
for  many  generations.' 

44.  It  kyd,  shewed  itself;  pret.  of  by  the,  to  shew;  cf.  1.  151.     A.S. 
c/San,  to  make  known.     Trin.  MS. — '  Til  J>e  sterre  was  to  hem  kid.' 

51.  Forth-wit  =for-wit,  before;  cf.  1.  127.  O.E.  in-wit,  within;  «/- 
wit,  without,  &c. 

53.  Scrippes,  wallets,  scrips.     Quer,  whether. 

60.  Truthes  tru,  true  pledges.     A.  S.  treowft,  a  pledge. 

61.  The  word  werld  is  frequently  written  werd  in  the  Northumbrian 
dialect ;  see  Werd  in  the  Glossary.     Hence  it  affords  a  true  rime  ioferd. 

63.  Leme,  light.     A.  S.  leoma,  ray  of  light,  flame,  g-leam. 

66.  Can  unkyth,  did  hide,  disappear  (see  1.  44). 

67.  Sant  drighlin,  the  holy  Lord. 

68.  Wfyerwin,   an   enemy,   opponent.      A.S.  wifter-winna,  a  striver 
against ;  from  wiSer,  against,  and  winna,  a  fighter.     Cf.  A.  S.  win,  war ; 
winnan,  to  contend,  struggle. 

69.  Ipof-quether,   though-whether,   nevertheless.     A.S.  fyah-hwaftere, 
yet,  moreover,  nevertheless.    It  means  '  The  kings,  however,  knew  not 
that,  but  weened  they  had  found  what  they  sought.' 

72.  Spird,  enquired.     O.E.  spere,  Sc.  speer,  to  ask. 
74.  Thoghtferli,  thought  it  a  wonder,  wondered. 
87.  Ipatful  o  suik,  that  (man)  full  of  treachery. 

103.  Gat's,  go  ye.  Spirs,  enquire  ye.  The  pi.  imp.  ends  in  -s  in 
Northumbrian. 

107.  pa*  sal  be  yare,  that  shall  be  quickly  (done). 


VII.      CURSOR   MUNDI.  305 

no.  Bon  =  boun,  bound.ready  (to  start),  from  buinn,  p.p.  of  Icel.  vb. 
bua,  to  prepare,  set  out ;  whence  bound,  in  the  expression  *  the  ship  is 
bound  for  New  York.'  Quite  unconnected  with  the  vb.  to  bind. 

1 26.  '  He  (Christ)  was  exalted ; '  lit.  made  high.    But  the  Trin.  MS.  has 
And  kud,  i.  e.  and  shewed,  instead  of  Held;  which  makes  better  sense. 
131,  132.  '  An  ointment  (balm)  of  wonderful  bitterness, 
That  (a)  dead  man's  body  is  anointed  with.' 
Smerl  =  A..S.  smerels,  ointment ;  from  smeru,  fat,  Eng.  smear. 

133.  For  rating,  for  (preventing)  decay. 

134.  •  In  token  that  he  was  a  man,  and  would  die.' 
136.  At  ans  =  at  ones,  at  once. 

141.  Conrai,  entertainment.    The  same  root  is  contained  in  Fr.  conroyer, 
to  curry,  dress  leather ;  Fr.  ar-rayer,  to  array. 
Dight,  set  in  order,  prepare. 

144.  Was,  that  was ;  the  relative  being  omitted.     Cf.  1.  229. 

150.  '  The  fourth  a  child,  much  greater  than  they.' 

1 68.  He\>ing,  scorn.     Icel.  hdftung,  contempt,  scorn. 

172.  O]>er  is  probably  an  error  for  ower,  anywhere.  The  old  symbol 
for  «/,  which  closely  resembled  ]>,  went  out  of  use  about  A.  D.  1 300. 

174.  Kyth,  country.    A.  S.  cffi,  a  region. 

1 80.  '  That  many  innocent  (ones)  should  suffer  for  it.' 

1 8 1.  Sak,  fault,  guilt ;  saccles  or  sakles,  innocent,  guiltless. 

182.  Ta  wrake,  take  vengeance. 

183.  Ant  slik,  any  such.  Slik  =  silk  =zswilk,  such;  whence  (by  dropping/) 
Sc.  sic,  such. 

1 86.  For-farn,  p.p.  offorfare,  to  perish,  be  destroyed. 
198.  Bring  o  Hue  —  bring  of  live,  bring  out  of  life,  i.  e.  kill;  a  common 
phrase.     Here  o  =  of=  off,  out  of. 

203,  204.        *  It  was  a  great  amount  of  the  number 

Of  those  children  that  were  slain.' 

Here  sume  =  sum,  amount;  quain  =  O.~E.  wane,  wone,  a  quantity,  number. 
Cf.  O.  Sc.  quheyne,  orig.  a  few,  a  small  number ;  Sc,  wheen,  an  indefinite 
number,  a  '  lot ' ;  perhaps  connected  with  O.  E.  wone,  a  quantity.    But 
sume  o  quain  may  also  mean  '  distress  of  mourning,'  where  sume  =  swem, 
grief,  and  quain  =  whining,  mourning.    The  phrase  '  sweem  of  mornynge, 
tristitia,'  occurs  in  the  Prompt.  Parv.    The  Trin.  MS.  has — 
'  pis  was  J?e  somme  in  certayne, 
Of  J?e  childre  t»at  were  slayne.' 
205.  The  number  144,000  is  taken  from  Rev.  vii. 
211.  Busk  and  ga,  get  ready  and  go.     From  Icel.  bua,  to  prepare, 
comes  at  buast  (  =  at  buasc),  contracted  from  at  bua  sig,  signifying  '  to 
bend  one's  steps'  and,  secondarily,  to  prepare  oneself;  whence  E.  busk, 
to  get  ready. 

VOL.  II.  X 


306  NOTES. 

1 1 6.  Wildrin,  wilderness;  probably  A.  S.  wild-deoren,  pertaining  to 
wild  beasts. 

217.  child  fa,  child's  foe.  The  Northumbrian  dialect  can  dispense  with 
an  inflection  in  the  gen.  singular. 

229.  Coue,  cave,  den.  Holland  translates  in  secretis  recessibus  by  'in 
secret  coves  or  nooks.'  A.  S.  cofa,  a  den,  occurs  in  the  Northumbrian 
version  of  St.  Mark's  Gospel ;  xi.  1 7.  The  Trin.  MS.  has  '  caue.' 

237.  Glopnid,  terrified.  Prov.  Eng.  glop,  gloppen,  to  stare,  feel  aston- 
ished ;  O.  N.  gldpa,  to  stare,  gape.  (Wedgwood.) 

242.  To  dede  =  \.o  the  deed,  i.e.  to  actual  fulfilment. 

243.  Probably  alluding  to  Ps.  cxlviii.  7. 
247.  Nefor-ty,  nevertheless. 

251.  Barn-site,  child-sorrow,  sorrow  that  a  mother  feels  for  her  child. 
Site  =  Ice\.  sut,  sorrow,  sin.  Cf.  1.  299. 

259.  Dute,  in  the  MS.,  is  clearly  an  error  for  lute,  to  bow  down  (1.  240). 
The  Trin.  MS.  reads  route,  to  advance,  march  on ;  or,  to  assemble. 

274.  Jeremi ;  not  in  Jeremiah,  but  Isaiah.     See  Isaiah  xi.  6,  7. 

287.  pa/  toil  resun,  that  reason  demands,  i.  e.  that  is  reasonable. 

289.  A  wet,  a  wee,  i.  e.  a  little  time  ;  see  Sect.  XVI.  1.  182. 

295.  '  Mary,  I  am  surprised  at  you  ! ' 

319.  Fra  nu  forward,  from  hence  forward. 

320.  Orcherd  =  orchard =ort-$erd.     A.  S.  wyrt-geard,  from  wyrt,  herb, 
and  geard,  yard,  enclosure.     Cf.  Mceso-Goth.  aurtigards,  an  orchard. 

322.  Of  a  prise,  of  one  value. 

329.  Strand,  stream.  This  is  not  an  uncommon  meaning  of  the  word 
in  O.  E.  writers.  The  Trin.  MS.  has  'stremes.' 

373.  O  \>air  knaing,  of  their  knowing,  i.  e.  of  their  acquaintances. 

375.  Siquar=sfye-quar  =  time-where,  time  when,  period  at  which. 

378.  Maumet,  idol.  The  O.  Fr.  mahommet,  an  idol,  mahumerie,  idolatry, 
shew  that  the  word  is  borrowed  from  the  name  of  Mahomet.  Cf.  O.  E. 
maumetry,  idolatry;  mawment,  an  idol.  It  is  often  confounded  with  mam- 
met,  a  doll,  puppet.  The  story  of  the  idols  falling  down  at  the  pre- 
sence of  Christ  is  in  the  Gospel  of  Pseudo-Matthew ;  see  Apocryphal 
Gospels,  ed.  Cowper,  p.  63.  It  occurs  also  in  the  Arabic  Gospel  of  the 
Infancy ;  id.  p.  1 79.  It  may  be  observed  that  the  untrue  and  unjust 
notions  that  the  Mahometans  were  worshippers  of  idols,  and  that  idols 
were  made  representing  Mahomet,  were  very  common  in  the  middle 
ages.  Colonel  Yule,  in  his  edition  of  Marco  Polo,  vol.  i.  p.  1 74,  quotes 

from  Weber's  Metrical  Romances  the  following  lines : 

'  Kyrkes  they  made  of  crystene  lawe, 
And  her  Maumettes  lete  downe  drawe.' — Weber,  ii.  228. 
He  adds — «  So  Correa  calls  a  golden  idol,  which  was  taken  by  Da  Gama 
in  a  ship  of  Calicut  "  an  image  of  Mahomed."    Don  Quixote  too,  who 


VIII.      SUNDAY   HOMILIES  IN   VERSE.  367 

ought  to  have  known  better,  cites  with  admiration  the  feat  of  Rinaldo  in 
cariying  off,  in  spite  of  forty  Moors,  a  golden  image  of  Mahomed.' 

379.  'But  Mary  had  taken  up  her  lodging  near  there.' 

387.  Alluding  to  Isaiah  xix.  i. 

400.  Bar  in  hir  arme.  The  Trin.  MS.  reads  bare  in  barme  (bosom, 
breast). 

407,  408.  For  or,  the  Gottingen  MS.  has  vr,  in  both  places.     The 
difficulty  is  in  the  second  or  =  vr,  the  gen.  pi.     It  means — '  What  he  does 
with  our  Gods,  he  may  do  with  us,  if  we  work  (act)  not  more  wisely.' 

408.  Wrick  should  certainly  be  work ;  and  work  in  1.  409  should  be 
wrick  =  wreke,  vengeance  ;  as  the  Trin.  MS.  reads  wreche. 

415.  Drund,  were  drowned.  The  Trin.  MS.  has  drowned,  which  is 
used  intransitively.  See  Dronkenes  in  the  Glossary. 

417.  Or-quar,  otherwhere,  elsewhere.     Cf.  O.  E.  owkar,  anywhere. 


VIII.    SUNDAY  HOMILIES  IN  VERSE. 

(A)     Homily  for  the  Second  Sunday  in  Advent. 
(In  the  same  dialect  as  the  preceding  extract.) 

There  are  at  least  seven  copies  of  these  Homilies,  but  they  do  not  all 
entirely  agree.  The  best  is  that  printed  by  Mr.  Small,  viz.  the  MS.  in 
the  Library  of  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians  in  Edinburgh.  Two 
are  in  the  Cambridge  University  Library,  marked  Dd.  i.  i  and  Gg.  5.31, 
the  latter  being  the  better.  The  others  are,  the  Ashmole  MS.  42  in 
the  Bodleian  Library,  Oxford ;  MSS.  Cotton  Tiberius  E.  vii.  and  Harl. 
4196  (British  Museum),  and  MS.  Lambeth  260.  A  few  readings  from 
the  better  Cambridge  MS.  are  given,  but  in  many  places  it  differs  con- 
siderably, and,  in  general,  for  the  worse.  The  text  of  the  Homily  here 
partly  printed  is  Luke  xxi.  25,  26. 

Line  10.3.  '  Several  versions  of  these  fifteen  signs  will  be  found,  along 
with  an  interesting  note,  in  the  "  Chester  Mysteries,"  edited  for  the  Shake- 
speare Society  by  T.  Wright,  vol.  ii.  pp.  147  and  219.  No  copy  of  the 
original  is  to  be  found,  however,  in  the  Benedictine  edition  of  Jerome's 
works,  although  nearly  all  the  versions  refer  to  Jerome  as  having  found 
them  in  some  Hebrew  MS.' — Small.  Sir  David  Lyndesay  also  enumerates 
these  fifteen  signs  from  Jerome ;  see  the  passage  printed  in  Skeat's 
Specimens  of  English,  A. D.  1394-1579,  from  'The  Monarche,'  bk.  iv, 
1.  5462.  There  is  a  chapter,  'De  signis  judicium  praecedentibus  '  in  a 
treatise  De  Contemptu  Mundi,  lib.  iii.  c.  14,  by  Pope  Innocent  III. 

113.  Tother,  i.  e.  second,  next.    See  note  to  Sect.  V.  1.  5643. 

117.  Mer&uine,  sea-swine,  porpoise. 

X  2 


go  8  NOTES. 

117.  Qualle,  whale.     The  qu  represents  hw  in  the  A.  S.  hwal,  a  whale. 
Cf.  Du.  walrus,  a  walrus,  from  wal,  a  whale,  and  ros,  a  horse. 
119.  Ber,  noise.     Cf.  Sect.  XII.  1.  43. 

126.  Werdes,  the  world's.  In  Old  Northumbrian  we  find  werd  and 
ward  for  world,  world.  See  1.  152. 

130.  Flay,  frighten.     The  printed  copy  incorrectly  has  slay.     The 
Harl.  MS.  has^oy,  which  is  supported  by  the  Camb.  MS. 
138.  Quek  —  quike>  living. 

141.  At  a  schift  (like  O.  E.  at  a  brayd)  in  a  turn,  in  a  twinkling,  in  a 
moment. 

146.  After  this  line  occur  thirty-three  Leonine  Latin  verses,  enumerating 
the  signs  once  more.  There  is  a  direction  that  these  are  to  be  omitted  by 
the  reader  when  he  reads  the  English  before  the  laity — '  quando  legit 
Anglicum  coram  laycis.' 

152.  Sa  bes  he  brem,  so  wrathful  shall  he  be.     Observe  bes,  shall  be. 
165,  167.  The  Camb.  MS.  varies  here,  and  reads — 
•J>ar  sail  }>ai  sorow  euermar  dry  [endure], 
For  J>air  sawles  sail  neuermar  dye  ; 
When  bestes  dy,  ]>air  sawles  says  [cease]  J?en; 
Why  ne  war  y t  swa  of  synfull  men  ? ' 
Cf.  note  to  1.  220. 

171.  Bird,  it  would  behove.     A.  S.  byrian,  to  become,  behove. 

Plihtful  —plightful,  dangerous. 
178.  Igain-sawe  =  ogain-sawe,  contradiction,  denial. 

183.  Falles,  suits  ;  points  a  good  moral  to. 

184.  '  Roger  of  Wendover  inserts  in  his  Chronicle  (A.D.  1072)  a  tale 
of  a  similar  character,  and  states  that  the  circumstances  occurred  at 
Nantes  about  th*t  time.    It  will  be  found  in  Dr.  Giles'  Translation 
(Bohn's  ed.  vol.  i.  p.  339)  under  the  heading  "  Digression  concerning 
the  two  Confederate  Priests."  ' — Small. 

185.  Enfermer,  the  Infirmarius  of  the  abbey,  who  had  charge  of  the 
infirmary  belonging  to  it.     Probably  we  should  read,  Was  enfermer,  als 
I  herd  say.    The  Black  Monks  were  the  Benedictines.     This  explains 
the  allusion  to  the  Rule  of  St.  Benet  (Benedict)  in  1.  238. 

190.  'For  frequently  faith  and  good-will  draw  good  companions 
together.'     After  faithe  the  word  and  seems  to  be  required,  though  absent 
in  Small's  edition. 

191.  Lufreden,  good-will,  love;  see  1.  195.     The  suffix  -reden  =  -red,a.s 
in  kin-d-red,  haired,  &c. 

192.  Pel  auntour,  fell  adventure,  it  happened  by  chance. 

197.  Telld,  shewed,  told. 

198.  Ful  hard,  &c.,  very  afflicted  I  feel  myself  (to  be).  Cf.  the  phrase 
'  to  go  hard  with  one.' 


VIII.      SUNDAY  HOMILIES  IN   VERSE.  309 

199.  To  dede,  to  death ;  i.  e.  I  am  near  death. 

220.  War  scho  ne  hafd  ben=war-ne  scho  hafd  ben,  unless  she  had  been 
(at  hand  to  help  me).  War-ne  =  were  (it)  not,  if  not,  unless;  it  is  some- 
times written  warn;  cf.  ne  war,  unless.  Cf.  A.  S.  ncere,  for  ne  ware,  were 
it  not.  See  note  to  1.  165,  and  compare  its  use  in  Sect.  X.  1.  2342,  and 
in  the  following  passages : — 

'  For  here  has  na  man  payn  swa  strang, 
pat  he  ne  has  som  tyme  hope  omang,  .  .  . 
Elles  suld  ]>e  hert,  thurgh  sorow  and  care, 
Over-tyte  fayle,  warn  som  hope  ware ;  . .  . 
And  men  says,  "  warn  hope  ware,  it  suld  brest." ' 

Hampole's  Pricke  of  Consc.  11.  7259-7266. 

227.  Lyfes,  live.  The  MS.  has  lyes,  but  the  rime  helps  us  to  the  true 
reading. 

232.  Gaf  the  gaste,  gave  up  the  ghost.     239.  Get.  keep. 
242.  Overlap,   omission,   from  O.  E.   ouerlepe,  to  leap   (skip)   over, 
omit. 

245.  Meld,  accuse.     A.  S.  meld,  evidence,  proof;  meldian,  to  betray. 
249.  •  Was  cast  up  (brought  up,  alleged)  against  me.' 

(B)     Homily  for  the  third  Sunday  after  the  Octave  of  Epiphany. 

In  the  Camb.  MS.  this  is  called  a  Sermon  for  the  Fourth  Sunday  after 
Epiphany,  the  text  being  from  Matt.  viii.  23,  as  in  our  present  Book  of 
Common  Prayer. 

Line  13.  Als  quha  said,  as  who  said;  i.  e.  as  if  he  had  said. 

21.  Strenthe,  force,  general  meaning  (of  the  Gospel  for  the  day). 

38.  Se-bare,  sea-wave.  Bares  in  1.  41  =  flows.  The  bore  in  a  river  = 
the  tidal  wave.  Cf.  Dutch  baar,  a  wave. 

43.  '  For  rich  men  of  this  world  eat  up  that  which  the  poor  procure 
by  labour.' 

51.  'And  (the)  harm  (scathe)  that  the  less  (poor  men)  suffer  at  the 
hands  of  the  more  (greater).' 

59.  Wandreth,  peril.     Icel.  vandr<2$i,  danger,  difficulty. 

86.  Nile,  refuse ;  from  Icel.  neita,  to  refuse. 

88.  « Thou  wouldst  not  be  dear  to  Him,  but  hateful.' 

94.  Bisend,  betokened.  A. S.  bysen,  example,  resemblance;  bysenian, 
to  give  an  example.  See  1.  96,  where  bi&eninges  =  tokens,  resemblances. 

114.  Thar,  where.     Wattri,  a  variation  of  attri,  poisonous. 

124.  Corsing,  dealing  (as  a  broker);  from  O. Fr.  couracier,  a  broker, 
dealer  ;  whence  '  horse-courser,''  a  horse-dealer. 

155.  Jamieson  explains  will  of  wan  to  mean  destitute  of  habitation, 
giving  a  reference  to  The  Bruce.  He  is  wrong,  for  (see  Sect.  XVI.  2,  and 
225)  the  meaning  there  is  the  same  as  here,  viz.  destitute  of  an  opinion, 


310 


NOTES. 


at  a  loss  what  to  do.  O.  E.  wille  is  to  go  astray ;  w an  =  A.  S.  wen,  weening, 
opinion.  See  the  line  following,  which  explains  the  nature  of  the 
beggar's  difficulty,  viz.  that  he  had  no  sack  to  put  the  wheat  in. 

156.  Poc  no  sek,  poke  (bag)  nor  sack. 

179.  Arskes,  water-newts.  Prov.  Eng.  ask,  a  lizard;  A.  S.  a\>exe,  a 
lizard.  Garnet  says  that  as*  is  probably  connected  with  Gaelic  easg, 
eel,  the  first  element  in  afyexe  (Ger.  eidechse),  a  lizard,  newt,  signifying 
prickly,  sharp. 

182.  Rage,  madness.     Lat.  rabies,  rage,  madness. 

184.  Speride,  closed,  fastened.     Instead  of  that  arc   he  speride,  the 
Camb.  MS.  has  he  askede  a  swerde  (asked  for  a  sword).     This  perfectly 
ridiculous  error  is  important  as  proving  that  scribes  frequently  wrote 

from  dictation.  The  two  readings,  in  the  old  pronunciation,  must  have 
sounded  somewhat  alike. 

185.  In  a  ras,  in  a  great  hurry.     Ras  =  A.  S.  ras,  a  race,  rush,  force. 
195.  'Nor  give  thou  of  thyself  any  account,'  i.e.  take  no  thought  of 

thyself. 

20 1.  Selli  radde,  dreadfully  (wonderfully)  afraid.     Cf.  1.  211. 

223.  Riped,  searched.     O.  E.  ripe,  to  try,  search ;  A.  S.  ripan,  to  reap. 

2  29.  '  And  bare  those  bones  reverently.' 

230.  Fertered,  enshrined.     O.Fr.fertere,  a  shrine. 

235.  Ferlikes,  wonders;  more  commonly  spelt  ferlies,  as  in  1.  18. 


IX.    DAN  MICHEL  OF  NORTHGATE. 

Sermon  on  Matthew  xxiv.  43. 

The  language  of  this  Sermon,  like  that  of  Sect.  VI,  is  of  an  archaic 
character,  and  represents  the  Kentish  dialect. 

To  this  Sermon  in  the  Arundel  MS.  57,  there  is  the  following  marginal 
note: — Vor  to  ssake  awey  heuinesse  /  and  drede :  and  hys  wende  /  into 
loue  of  god.  « For  to  shake  away  heaviness  and  dread,  and  turn  it  (lit. 
her,  i.  e.  dread)  into  the  love  of  God.' 

NOTE. — ea,  ie  =  e;  v  =  f;  z  =  s;  ss  =  sh.  Observe  also  that  the  punc- 
tuation of  the  MS.  is  followed,  and  differs  widely  from  the  modern 
system.  What  seem  to  be  full  stops  are  often  semicolons  or  commas, 
whilst  the  colons  and  bars  are  sometimes  hardly  equivalent  even  to  a 


Line  i.  tyllyche  one  =  this,     \3ellyche  =  A.  S.  tyllic,  \>ylc  (fry,  that;  lie, 
like),  that  like,  such.     O.  E.  thilke,  thulke,  that. 

2.  Uorbysne  =  A.S.forebysen,  example  (see  Bisend  in  the  Glossary). 


IX.      DAN  MICHEL   OF  NORTHGATE.  311 

5.  Ipolye,  suffer,  endure ;  A.  S.  \>6lian,  to  suffer. 

Dolue,  should  undermine,  dig  through,  from  delve  (pret.  dalf),  to 
dig.  The  meaning  is — '  And  would  not  suffer  that  one  should  break  into 
his  house.' 

6.  Wyl  of  skele,  the  will  of  reason. 

7.  Besteriinge,  bestirrings,  emotions. 

8.  '  Which  household  shall  be  too  (much)  slack  (slothful)  and  wilful, 
unless  the  same  father's  stiffness  (strength)  restrain  and  order  them 
(aright).' 

13.  Inwyt,  inner  wit,  inner  sense,  conscience.     Cf.  Piers  the  Plowman, 
B.  ix.  1 8. 

14.  '  For  which  treasure,  that  this  same  house  be  not  broken  through, 
chiefly  he  watcheth.' 

17.  paries,  nevertheless. 

1 8.  Kachereles,  catchpolls,  servants.     The  O.  E.  cache,  catch,  signifies 
to  chase,  or  drive  away,  being  derived  from  Fr.  chasser.     The  suffix  -rel 
is  perhaps  French.     It  occurs  as  a  diminutive  in  pickerel,  a  small  pike, 
cockerel,  a  small  cock. 

19.  Onlosti,  un-lusty,  careless,  idle;  literally,  unwilling;  from  A.S. 
lust,  lyst,  pleasure,  desire. 

21.  Sle$>e,  Sleight,  i.e.  Prudence.  The  allusion  is  to  the  four  cardinal 
virtues,  Prudence  (Slefte),  Fortitude  (Strengbe),  Justice  (Rtynesse),  and 
Temperance. 

22.  To  uorlete,  to  be  forsaken.     A.  S.for-latan,  to  forgo,  to  relinquish. 
To  wylny,  to  be  desired.     A.  S.  wilnian,  to  desire ;  wiln,  a  wish. 

23.  Bessette  =  to  be-shut,  to  shut  out. 

24.  '  Next  that,  he  setteth  Strength ;  that  Strength  should  withdraw 
the  fiends  whom  Sleight  (Prudence)  commands  (sends  to  say)  to  be  cast 
out,  that  he  (Strength)  should  withdraw  and  reprove  his  (the  man's) 
foul  lusts.' 

34.  Yso^e=ysagen,  seen. 

35.  Hetfiche  clom,   a   profound  silence.     Chaucer  uses  clom  as  an 
interjection  =  'hush  1'    It  is  evidently  connected  with  Prov.  Eng.  clamt 
clem,   to   pinch,   starve.     A.S.   clam,   bond;    Du.  klemmen,   to   pinch, 
compress. 

37.  Ich  do  you  to  wytene,  I  assure  you ;  literally,  I  do  (cause)  you  to 
wit  (know).  Wytene  is  the  gerundial  infinitive  (see  to  comene,  to  come, 
1.  40). 

40.  Abyt  nay,  abideth  not,  delayeth  not. 

45.  Chaynen  auere,  chains  on  fire,  fiery  chains. 

47.  And  hise  brenge\>,  and  (they)  will  bring  them.  Hlse,  (ace.)  them. 
Observe  the  future  force  of  the  present  form  brengefy  ;  this  idiom  is  com- 
mon in  A.  S.  We  can  still  say — '  he  comes  to-morrow.' 


312  NOTES. 

49.  pat  bye\>,  that  shall  be  to  their  right,  i.  e.  that  are  rightly  theirs. 

53.  Comste  =  comestu,  comest  thou. 

54.  Yze^e  ]>e,  sawest  thou.     pe,  thou  thyself. 

56.  Vol  ofbrene  on-fyolyinde,  full  of  intolerable  burning.  Cf.  \>olye,  in  1.  5. 

59.  Wantrokiynge,  default,  want.  Wan  =  un  (as  in  wan-hope,  despair), 
here  used  intensitively ;  trokiynge,  want ;  A.  S.  trucan,  to  fail,  abate. 

64.  Buo\>e=bo\>e,  both  (are). 
On\polyinde,  intolerable. 

74.  Y-hyre]>  =  hyere\>,  hear. 

Yue]>  youre  =  yeue\>  yeare,  give  ear,  listen. 

77.  Do  we,  &c.  This  hardly  makes  sense,  but  it  is  intended  as  a 
translation  of '  Praeoccupemus  faciem  eius  in  confessione ;  et  in  psalmis 
iubilemus  ei ; '  Ps.  xciv.  2  (Vulgate). 

82.  Hauberk.     Alluding  to  Ephes.  vi.  14. 

85.  Bonayrelyche,  well ;  the  translator  was  thinking  of  goodly  instead 
of  godly.  See  Titus,  ii.  12. 

Q i.  Hit  \>ing\>  \>et,  &c.,  it  seems  that,  &c. 

92.  Be  cas,  perchance. 

100.  Longe  godes  drede,  on  account  of  the  fear  of  God.  Longe  =  ilong, 
along  of.  Chaucer  uses  long  on,  on  account  of.  Shakespeare  has  long 
of,  Cymbeline,  v.  5.  271.  See  Longe  in  the  Glossary. 

107.  Sseawere,  shewer,  mirror ;  ssede,  shade,  shadow.     The  phrase  ac 
be,  &c.  =  but  by  (as  in)  a  glass  darkly;  i  Cor.  xiii.  12. 

108.  Onspekynde,  un-speaking,  ineffable. 
On-todelinde  —  un-to-deal-ing,  indivisible. 

ill.  Y-\>orsse,  threshed,  struck  (dazzled,  blinded).  A.  S.  \>erscan  (pret. 
\>arsc.  p.p.  ge]>orscen},  to  thresh,  beat.  Cf.  Dante,  II  Paradiso,  canto  xxxii. 

114.  Half,  side,  part. 

116.  Ssep\>es,  forms.     A.  S.  sceppan,  to  form,  shape. 

1 20.  Zodes  may  be  for  zones,  of  the  Son,  or  for  godes,  of  God. 

124.  An-he$ed=an-high-ed,  exalted.  The  an-  is  the  same  prefix  as  in 
an-hanged,  viz.  A.  S.  on. 

131.  Blef\>,  endures.     The  context  seems  to  require  bleue  =  bleuen  =  bi- 
leuen,  to  endure,  continue,  last. 

132.  Heryinges,  praises,  honours.     O.  E.  hay,  A.  S.  herian,  to  praise, 
honour  (see  1.  171.) 

135.  'For  that  which  they  saw  (only)  in  the  spirit  they  (now)  see 
fulfilled.' 

139.  Alle  preste,  all  the  proudest,  highest;  preste=pretteste,  proudest. 
A.  S.  pryt,  prut,  pride.  The  usual  meaning  of  preste  is  '  ready.' 

154.  Huyter  qualifies  clo\>inge  in  1.  155. 

155.  Nesshede,  tenderness,  delicateness.  A.  S.  hnasc,  tender,  soft,  nesk; 
whence  nasty  (O.  E.  nasty). 


X.      RICHARD  ROLLE  DE  H AMP  OLE.  313 

156.  See  Rev.  vii.  17  ;  Isaiah  xxxiii.  17. 

1 60.  See  Rev.  xiv.  3. 

164.  Lhest  =  hlest,  listeneth.    'At  their  prayers  our  Lord  arises;  to  all 
others  He  listens  sitting.' 

Hyt  lyke\>  \>et  ]>ou  zayst,  What  thou  sayest  pleaseth  (us). 

167.  Mennesse,  communion,  fellowship.     A.  S.  ge-m<ene,  communion ; 
ge-mdnnes,  fellowship.     The  ge  (  =  Lat.  con}  ==  Gothic  ga,  as  a  prefix. 

174.  Be  lyue  =  by  the  life,  in  the  life.     Unless  it  be  an  error  for  \>e  lyf, 
the  life. 

185.  Onzyginde,  un-see-ing,  invisible. 

193.  Gessynge,  may  be  for  lessynge,  diminution.     Wfyoute  gessynge,  if 
correct,  signifies  '  without  doubt.' 

196.  See  Matt.  xxv.  21. 

199.  See  Ps.  Ixxxiv.  4. 

an.  See  Romans  viii.  35. 

213.  And  o\>re,  et  cetera. 

219.  See  Romans  xii.  3.     Smacky,  to  taste,  is  a  literal  rendering  of 
sapere  in  the  Vulgate. 

224.  Malty  ere,  maker,  author. 


X.    RICHARD  ROLLE  DE  HAMPOLE. 

Line  471.  Als-tite,  as-soon,   immediately.     Tile,  soon,  is  connected 
with  tide,  time. 

483.  Forme-fader,  first  father,  forefather.   Forme  =  A.  S.  forma,  whence 
E.  former;  cf.  A.S./rwm,  first ;frym,  original;  Moeso-Goth./rwma,  first. 

498.  This,  as  well  as  the  quotation  in  1.  490,  will  be  found  in  a  trea- 
tise De  Contemptu  Mundi,  lib.  i.  cap.  7,  by  Pope  Innocent  III. 

503.  Sembland,  sometimes  written  semblant,  appearance. 

509.  Pure=pouer,  poor. 

530.  Fon,  few  (see  11.  761,  764).     The  n  represents  e  in  A.  S,featv-e, 
few.     For  the  Latin  texts  see  Job  xiv.  i,  and  v.  7  in  the  Vulgate  version. 

666.  From  the  same  treatise  by  Innocent,  lib.  i.  c.  9. 

682.  By  skille,  with  reason,  rightly. 

691.  Angers,  troubles,  grievances.      Lat.  angere,  to  strain;    angor 
anguish,  vexation. 

Yuels,  evils,  disease,  ills. 

Appayre,  impair.     Fr.  pire,  Lat.  peior,  worse. 

697.  Tynes,  loses.     Icel.  tyna,  to  lose ;  A.  S.  tedn,  loss. 

700.  Jaunys,  jaundice.     Fr.jaunisse;  from  jaune,  yellow. 

734.  See  Gen.  vi.  3  (Vulgate).    This  is  here  interpreted  to  mean  that 
man's  life  should  be  limited  to  120  years. 


314  NOTES. 

752.  Ps.  Ixxxix.  10  (Vulgate);  Ps.  xc.  10  (A.  V). 
756.  Held = eld,  age;  spelt  elde  in  1.  742. 
760.  See  Job  x.  20  (Vulgate). 

766-801.  Also  translated  closely  from  the  above-named  treatise, 
lib.  i.  c.  9. 

771.  Dysy,  dizzy.     A. S.  djsig,  foolish,  erring;  O.  E.  dizze,  to  stun. 

773.  Rouncles,  wrinkles.    Sc.  runkle,  Germ,  runzel,  a  wrinkle.    Cf.  Sw. 
rynka,  A.S.  wrinclian,  to  wrinkle.     The  root  rinc  or  rune,  crooked,  bent, 
appears  in  ring ;   Icel.  hringr,  a  circle ;    Dan.  krinkel,  crooked ;    Eng. 
crinkle,  crumple  (Sc.  crunkle),  crimp,  crank,  shrink  (A.  S.  scrincan,  Sw. 
sktynkla). 

774.  His  mynde  es  snort,  his  memory  is  short. 

775.  Hand— and,  breath.     Icel.  andi,  breath;  Sc.  aynd. 

780.  For-worthes,  come   to  nothing.     A.  S.  for-weorftan,  to  become 
nothing,  be  undone,  perish. 

781.  Monies,  falls  off,  moults.     Du.  mttiten,  to  moult. 

784.  Slavers,  slobbers,  drivels.  Icel.  slafra,  to  lick;  slefa,  slaver, 
drivel ;  whence  slow-worm  (Norse  sleva,  Icel.  slefa). 

788.  Souches,  suspects.     O.  Fr.  souchier,  to  suspect,  be  suspicious. 

790.  Hard  haldand,  hard-holding,  i.  e.  close-fisted,  stingy. 

793.  Latsom :  not  late-some,  but  wlatsom,  loath,  irksome.  A.  S.  wlcetian, 
wlatian,  to  loathe,  irk. 

797.  Lakes,  blames.     Du.  lak,  a  blemish ;  Sw.  lak,  vice,  fault. 

807.  To  ded  ward=  toward  ded,  toward  death  ;  where  ded= death. 

81 1.  Cower  agayn  =  agayn  cover,  recover. 

121 1.  Compare  Sect.  VIII  (B),  11.  93  to  112. 

1229.  Worow,  to  strangle.     Sc.  worry,  to  strangle,   choke;    Germ. 
wurgen,  Eng.  worry.    Dogs  that  worry  sheep  seize  them  by  the  throat. 

1230.  Rogg.    Sc.  rug,  to  tear  in  pieces.     Norse  rugga,  to  shake, 
rock ;  whence  rug,  rugged. 

1277.  Lates  obout-ga,  causes  to  revolve. 

1418.  A=ane,  one.  State  is  elsewhere  used  by  Hampole  (1.  716)  to 
translate  the  Lat.  status  in  Job  xiv.  2,  where  the.  Vulgate  has  nunquam 
in  eodem  statu  permanet. 

1443.  Domland,  dark,  cloudy,  is  formed  from  a  verb  domle  or 
dromle,  to  be  disturbed,  with  which  we  may  compare  Prov.  Eng. 
drotimy,  dirty;  drwnly,  muddy;  drumble,  to  be  disturbed,  confused 
(Shakespeare,  'Look  how  you  drumble;'  Merry  Wives,  iii.  3.  156). 
Sc.  drum,  dull. 

1459.  Or-litel  =  ouer  little,  very  little. 
Pas  mesur,  have  a  superfluity. 

1460.  Bigg  seems  here  to  mean  'well  furnished/     A.S.  byggan,to 
build,  inhabit.  O.  Sw.  bygga,  to  prepare,  build.  In  the  North  of  England, 


27.      LAWRENCE  MINOT.  315 

bug  or  big,  signifies  swollen,  elated,  as  if  connected  with  bulge.     Dan. ' 
bugne,  to  bend,  bulge. 

1469.  Now  eese  us  a  thyng,  now  to  us  a  thing  is  pleasant 

1818.  'In  a  certain  passage  I  find  four  reasons  written.' 

1820.  Dede  stoure,  death-struggle,  the  agony  of  death.  Icel.  slur, 
sorrow,  styrr,  tumult,  disturbance;  O. Sc.  stour,  battle,  conflict.  The 
line  means  '  One  is  because  of  the  death-struggle  so  severe.' 

1825.  In  old  woodcuts,  devils  are  often  represented  as  gathering 
round  the  bed  of  a  dying  man.  See  1.  2216,  &c. 

1890.  Dede  hand,  death's  hand.     See  Ecclesiasticus  ix.  20. 

1914.  Tile,  quickly.  Hence  titter,  more  quickly;  1.  2354.  Icel. 
/{//,  frequently,  tffir,  accustomed ;  from  tVS,  time ;  cf.  Germ,  zeit,  time, 
E.  tide,  betide. 

1917.  Ilk  a  synogke  and  lith,  each  sinew  and  joint.  A.  S.  lift,  Germ. 
g-lied,  a  limb,  joint.  Norse  lide,  to  bend  the  limbs ;  whence  lithy,  lithe 
(pliable),  lithesome,  lissome  (active,  pliant). 

2225.  Raumpe,  ramp,  paw  with  the  feet.     Ital.  rampare,  to  ramp, 
clamber ;  whence  romp,  rampage,  &c.     Cf.  Ital.  rampa,  Sw.  ram,  a  paw. 

Skoul,  scowl.     Dan.  skule,  to  cast  down  the  eyes.     Prov.  Eng. 
shelly  t  Dan.  skele,  to  squint. 

2226.  Blere,  to  put  out  the  tongue,  to  make  grimaces,  wry  mouths. 
It  is  probably  connected  with  Du.  blaeren,  to  roar,  blare. 

331 1.  A  poynt,  i.  e.  a  whit,  a  jot. 
Aftir,  according  to. 

2341.  Fild,  defiled  ;fylyng,  defiling,  occurs  in  1.  2345,  as  a  substantive. 
The  participles/and  is  in  1.  2365.   A.S.fiilian,  Du.  vuilen,  to  make/ow/ 
or  filthy;  whence  O.E.fle,  a  vile  wretch. 

2342.  'For  had  it  not  been  for  sin;'  cf.  note  to  Sect.  VIII  (A),  220. 
2353-  'In  tne  natural  likeness  that  it  behoves  to  be  in;'  i.e.  in  the 

shape  which  the  sin  ought  to  assume. 

2367.  Slolered,  bespattered.  Prov.  Germ,  schlott,  mud;  schliitten,  to 
dabble  in  the  wet  and  dirt.  Prov.  Eng.  slolch,  a  sloven ;  slutch,  mud. 
With  these  words  are  connected  Dan.  slatte,  a  slattern,  a  slut;  Germ. 
schloltern,  to  dangle,  wabble. 


XI.    LAWRENCE  MINOT. 

(A)     Edward's  Expedition  to  Brabant,  A.D.  1339. 

Line  10.  To  Goddes  pay,  to  God's  pleasure,  pleasing  to  God. 

13.  Lowis  of  Bauere;  Louis  III,  Duke  of  Bavaria  in  1294,  became 


316  NOTES. 

sole  emperor  of  Germany  in  1330,  with  the  title  of  Louis  IV;  died  in 

1347- 

20.  Duche,  i.  e.  German.  Cf.  Germ.  Deutsch.  But  it  here  seems  to 
include  Dutch  as  well. 

29.  Frith  and  fen,  forest  and  marsh  ;  Welsh  ffridd. 

35.  Made  his  mone,  coined  his  money.  Edward  obtained  enormous 
sums  from  his  parliament  for  the  expedition,  a  large  portion  of  which 
went  to  his  German  allies. 

41.  Philip;  Philip  VI,  de  Valois,  surnamed  the  Fortunate,  king  of 
France,  1328  to  1350. 

55.  Edward  III  had,  in  a  similar  manner,  taken  the  'vow  of  the 
heron,'  swearing  by  God  and  the  bird  to  shew  no  mercy  to  the  French. 

59.  Hamton,  Southampton. 

64.  Laykes  lett,  spoilt  their  sport ;  layke  is  a  game,  lark. 

68.  '  And  some  lay,  with  their  brains  knocked  out.' 

75.  Cristofer;   the  great  English  ship  called  The  Christopher,  was 
taken  by  the  French,  but  recaptured  by  the  English  in  the  great  sea- 
fight  off  Sluys,  June  22,  1340.  See  Specimens  of  English  from  A.D.  1394 
to  A.D.  1579,  ed.  Skeat,  p.  156. 
Armouth,  Yarmouth. 

93.  Great  wane,  a  great  quantity,  in  great  numbers.  Cf.  Extract  B, 
1-37. 

(B)     The  same)  continued. 

15.  Japes,  boasts.  Jape  is  a  softened  form  of  O.  E.  gabbe,  to  talk, 
boast. 

28.  Aire,  heir.  At  the  suggestion  of  James  van  Arteveldt,  Edward 
assumed  the  title  of  King  of  France,  which  he  claimed  to  inherit  from 
his  mother  Isabella,  who  was  daughter  to  Philip  le  Bel. 

40.  Ascry  =  Sw.  anskri,  an  outcry,  alarm. 

57.  Gayned  him  no  gle,  no  glee  (i.e.  song,  sport)  availed  him.  But 
gle  may  perhaps  have  the  meaning  of  fortune  of  war,  of  which  there  are 
some  examples  in  Barbour's  Bruce. 

67.  Berne,  Bohemia;  Germ.  Bohmen. 

70.  Nauerne,  Navarre. 

71.  Feld.     Mr.  Wright  alters  this  to  ferd,  i.e.  frightened;   but  feld 
may  mean  felled,  knocked  down.     Or  it  may  be  an  error  for  fled;  '  were 
(i.  e.  had)  fairly  fled  away.' 

80.  Naker,  a  kind  of  kettle-drum.  It  means,  'caused  drums  to  be 
beaten  and  trumpets  to  be  blown.' 

82.  Alblast  =  O.E.  arblast,  a  cross-bow;  Lat.  arcubalista. 
96.  '  And  caught  him  by  the  beard ; '  cf.  1.  30. 


XI.      LAWRENCE  MI  NOT.  317 


(G)     The  Landing  of  Edward  at  La  Hague,  A.D.  1346. 

2.  Merlin.  The  Romance  of  Merlin  is  one  of  the  Arthur  legends. 
A  long  English  prose  version  of  the  French  romance  has  been  edited  by 
Mr.  Wheatley  for  the  Early  English  Text  Society.  See  also  Bishop 
Percy's  Folio  MS.,  ed.  Hales  and  Furnivall,  vol.  i.  p.  417. 

9.  Bare,  boar.  This  passage  bears  a  remarkable  resemblance  to  a 
'Poem  on  Thomas  a-Beket's  Prophecies/  edited  by  Mr.  Lumby  for  the 
Early  English  Text  Society  in  1870,  in  which  we  read  (1.  50) — 

'  A  Bayre  sail  come  out  of  Berttane  wytht  so  brode  tuskis,'  &c. 

21.  Bore.  The  boar  is  Edward  III,  to  whom  the  word  his  refers  in 
1.27. 

23.  John  II  did  not  succeed  his  father  Philip  de  Valois  as  king  of 
France  till  August,  1350. 

29.  Observe  how  each  stanza  begins  by  repeating  the  words  with 
which  the  preceding  one  ended.  A  stanza  seems  wanting  after  1.  92. 

39.  Hogges.  The  landing  of  Edward  at  La  Hogue  is  described  by 
Froissart ;  see  Johnes's  translation,  bk.  i.  cap.  cxxi. 

46.  Pencell,  a  pennon,  small  banner.     Fr.  pencel. 

48.  Cane,  Caen.    See  Johnes's  Froissart,  bk.  i.  cap.  cxxiii. 

Graythest  gate,  the  nearest  way.     Cf.  Piers   the   Plowman,  ed. 
Skeat  (Clarendon  Press)  ;  note  to  Pass.  ii.  1. 103  ;  or  see  Sect.  XV.  i.  181. 

58.  Dubbed;  cf.  O. Fr.  addouber,  to  dress,  arm  at  all  points;  Fr. 
douber,  to  rig  or  trim  a  ship. 

Dance,  i.  e.  game,  action ;  see  1.  74. 

70.  0-ferrum,  afar.  Cf.  whil-om,  O.  E.  quil-um  or  um-quile,  awhile, 
formerly.  Urn,  when  a  prefix,  is  the  A.  S.  ymbe,  about.  Cf.  O.E. 
umgang,  circuit ;  urn-set,  1.  96  below.  Trench  quotes  urn-stroke,  circum- 
ference, from  Fuller. 

78.  Brak  the  brig,  broke  the  bridge.     The  French  broke  the  bridge  at 
Poissy  over  the  Seine,  and  also  many  of  the  bridges  over  the  Somme, 
except  a  few  which  they  strongly  guarded.     Edward  and  his  army  at 
last  crossed  by  the  ford  of  Blanchetaque,  near  Abbeville.     The  battle  of 
Cre9y  was  fought  almost  immediately  afterwards,  Aug.  26,  1346. 

79.  Ine,  eyes ;  spelt  eghen  in  1.  92. 

98.  'And  dealt  them  blows  as  their  reward.' 

107.  Cant,  proud.  Cf.  O.  Sw.  kant,  a  corner,  which  Ihre  says  was 
also  used  in  the  sense  of  proud,  from  an  old  expression  wara  pa  sin  kant, 
to  be  in  his  corner,  to  be  proud. 


318  NOTES. 

,    XII.     THE  ROMANCE  OF  WILLIAM  OF  PALERNE. 

The  story  is  that  prince  William  of  Palermo,  son  of  Embrons  king  of 
Sicily,  was  stolen  when  a  child  by  a  werwolf,  who  hid  him  in  a  forest  in 
Apulia,  and  tended  him  with  great  care.  He  was  there  found  by  a 
shepherd,  who  adopted  him ;  but  he  was  afterwards  adopted  by  no  less 
a  person  than  the  emperor  of  Rome,  whom,  he  succeeded  on  the  throne. 
The  werwolf  was  prince  Alphonse,  who  was  afterwards  disenchanted, 
and  became  king  of  Spain. 

Lines  3-35.  These  thirty-three  lines  are  represented  in  the  French  text 
by  only  seven  short  lines,  which  run  thus  : — 

'  Uns  vachiers  qui  vaches  gardoit, 
qui  en  cele  forest  manoit, 
el  bois  estoit  avoec  sa  proie, 
.i.  chien  tenoit  en  sa  coroie, 
de  pasture  la  nuit  repaire ; 
li  chiens  senti  lenfant  et  flaire, 
forment  abaie,  et  cil  le  hue,'  &c. 

Hence  it  is  clear  that  the  excellent  lines,  20-31,  are  original;  and  they 
shew  that  our  own  author  was  a  man  of  very  considerable  poetical 
power.  So  again,  in  1.  59 — 

'  appeles  and  alle  hinges  •  bat  childern  after  wilnen,' — 
is  entirely  his  own,  and  proves  that  he  knew  how  to  add  a  graceful 
touch  to  the  poem  he  copied  from. 
6.  Ken  =  kin,  cows,  kine. 
II.  Bayte  on,  to  set  on ;  as  in  bait  a  bull. 

14.  '  Mending  (patching)  his  shoes  according  to  custom,  as  belongs 
to  their  craft.' 

17.  Larked,  was  hiding  (for  fear).     O.  E.  dare,  to  lie  motionless;  for 
the  suffix  -li,  cf.  stal-k,  tal-k. 
Him  one,  by  himself. 

19.  To  waive  was  explained  by  Sir  F.  Madden  as  meaning  to  the  wall; 
but  it  may  be  but  one  word.  See  To-wawe  in  the  Glossary. 

33.  Feldfoute,  felt  the  smell,  got  scent.  Foute=fewt,  the  trace  of  a 
fox  or  beast  of  chase  by  the  odour. 

80.  The  letter  /,  like  r,  is  one  that  sometimes  shifts  its  place  in  a 
word.  As  we  find  brid  for  bird,  so  we  find  wordle  for  worlde;  and  wolnlt 
may  be  intentionally  put  for  wlonk.  So  also  carfti  for  crafti,  1.  3221. 

83.  No  ««3  =  «o»  «3,  i.  e.  no  egg.     So  tki  narmes  for  thin  armes,  thy 
arms,  in  1.  666. 

84.  Grinne\>.    The  MS.  has  ginne\>.    Sir  F.  Madden's  note  is—'  A  verb 
is  wanting  after  ginneth.     We  may,  probably,  supply  it  by  "  so  balfully 
he  ginneth  greue,"  or  by  some  similar  word.'    But  this  rather  spoils  the 


XII.    THE  ROMANCE   OF   WILLIAM   OF  PALERNE.     319 

rhythm  of  the  line.  It  is  possible  that  ginne}>  =  howl,  utter,  send  out, 
from  A.  S.  ginan,  to  open,  yawn.  Or  it  may  be  miswritten  for  grinne]>, 
which  is  not  an  inappropriate  word,  and  is  familiar  to  us  from  the  ex- 
pression in  the  Psalms — to  grin  like  a  dog,  i.  e.  to  grin  with  rage  and 
spite.  But  it  is  still  more  to  the  point  to  observe  that  there  is,  as  it 
were,  some  authority  for  the  grinning  of  werwolves,  if  we  compare  with 
the  text  the  following  quotation — '  pai  grennede  for  gladschipe  euchan 
toward  ofter,  as  wode  wulues  J>et  fainen  of  hare  praie.'  Morris,  Early 
English  Homilies,  p.  277  (E.  E.  T.  S.)  Cf.  also  '  The  Lyon  did  both 
gape  and  gren ; '  Bp.  Percy's  Folio  MS.,  Carle  of  Carlisle,  213. 

1 1 6.  '  The  daughter  of  the  prince  of  Portugal.' 

121.  Between  this  line  and  the  next,  the  translator  has  missed  a  por- 
tion of  the  original,  viz.  the  lines  following : — 

4  de  mult  de  gens  estoit  loee ; 
de  son  signer  avoit  .i.  fil, 
biau  damoisel,  franc  et  gentil; 
Brandins  ot  non,  ce  dist  lescris.' 

'She  was  praised  by  many  people.  She  had  by  her  lord  one  son,  a 
fine  lad,  frank  and  gentle  ;  he  bore  the  name  of  Brandins  [or  Braundins], 
as  says  the  writing.'  The  name  of  Brandins  being  so  very  like  Brande, 
the  translator  may  easily  have  lost  his  place,  and  omitted  the  passage 
unintentionally.  Braundins  is  mentioned  in  the  latter  part  of  th« 
Romance. 

132.  *  Verily  amongst  fourscore  thou  scarcely  findest  one  good  one.' 

136.  A  noynement  =  an  oynement,  i.  e.  an  ointment,  unguent.  Cf.  note 
to  1.  83.  See  1.  139. 

141.  'All  the  form  of  man  so  amiss  had  she  shaped  (transformed).' 

143-144.  '  But  truly  he  never  after  possessed  any  other  resemblance 
that  belongs  to  human  nature,  but  (was)  a  wild  werwolf.'  The  con- 
struction is  involved. 

156-160.  Here  the  translator,  finding  a  tendency  to  repetition  in  his 
original,  cuts  matters  short,  omitting  how  the  werwolf  lived  two  years 
in  Apulia,  and  grew  fierce  and  big  and  strong ;  and  how,  hearing  of  the 
treachery  of  King  Embrouns'  brother,  who  had  plotted  William's  death, 
he  resolved  to  steal  away  William  from  his  father's  court.  It  is  need- 
less to  say  that  11.  161-169  are  wholly  interpolated. 

206.  There  is  something  amiss  with  this  line  ;  it  hardly  makes  sense 
as  it  stands.  In  1.  35  the  phrase  is  '  to  hold  to  baie ; '  in  1.  46  it  is  '  to 
hold  at  a  baye.'  So  here,  if  one  may  be  permitted  to  change  '  & '  into 
'  at,'  we  have, 

'  to  haue  bruttenet  J?at  bor  •  at  \>e  abaie  sej>}>en,' 
i.  e. '  to  have  afterwards  destroyed  the  boar,  (when  held)  at  bay.' 

216.  fyurth  —  \>urght  through,  by. 


320  NOTES. 

233.  Comes  him  agayn,  comes  to  meet  him,  comes  towards  him. 
251.  In  the  original,  William  very  properly  grounds  his  refusal  on  the 
fact  that  he  does  not  know  who  the  emperor  is,  or  what  he  wants  to  do. 
'non  ferai,  sire,  et  por  coi, 
car  je  ne  sai  que  vos  voles, 
qui  vos  estes,  ne  que  queres; 
ne  se  voles  riens,  se  bien  non, 
ja  ne  me  face  Dix  pardon ! ' 

261.  'Read  wend,  and  again  elsewhere,  in  1.  5185.  This  elision  of 
a  final  d  in  such  words  as  hand,  lond,  sheld,  held,  &c.  is  by  no  means  un- 
common in  ancient  poetry,  and  arises  simply  from  pronunciation.' — 
Madden.  Cf.  han'  for  hand  in  Burns.  We  find  wend  in  1.  229. 

267-272.  Hereabouts  the  translator  condenses  his  original  with  great 
judgment.  The  '  churl's '  grumbling,  as  there  given,  is  not  very  inter- 
esting. 

278.  To  ne^h  him  so  hende,  to  approach  him  so  nearly. 
293-295.     The  French  merely  says, 

'en  ceste  forest  le  trouvai, 
asses  pres  dont  nous  somes  ore.' 
The  man  who  could  turn  this  prosaic  statement  into 

'  how  he  him  fond  in  J>at  forest '  J>ere  fast  bi-side, 
clothed  in  comly  closing  'for  (i.  e.  fit  for)  any  kinges  sone, 
vnder  an  holw  ok  '  \>urth  help  of  his  dogge ' 

had  certainly  both  poetic  power  and  a  lively  imagination.  Indeed,  the 
translation  is  very  superior  to  the  original.  It  should  be  observed  that, 
immediately  after  writing  the  two  lines  printed  above  in  italics,  the 
translator  boldly  omits  about  sixteen  lines  of  the  cowherd's  rather  prosy 
story. 

325.  Fordedes,  fore-deeds,  previous  actions.  The  word  occurs  again 
in  the  Romance,  1.  5182. 

327.  '  And  God  grant  him  grace  to  become  a  good  man.' 
329-343.  The   translator  here  follows   the  original  pretty  closely, 
giving,  however,  rather  the  sense  than'  the  exact  words. 

347.  '  This  is  not  an  error  of  the  scribe,  but  formed  by  the  same 
analog)'  as  ali^t  for  alighted,  comfort  for  comforted,  gerde  for  girded,  &c. 
It  occurs  often  in  the  Wyclimte  versions  of  the  Bible.'— Madden.  The 
very  word  comaund  (  =  commanded)  occurs  in  11.  2557  and  2564  of  the 
alliterative  Romance  on  the  Destruction  of  Troy. 
360-365.  Compare  the  original  text — 

*  Salues  moi  Heut  le  nain, 
et  Hugenet  et  Aubelot, 
et  Martinet  le  fil  Heugot, 
et  Akarin  et  Crestien, 


XIII.      ALLITERATIVE  POEMS.  331 

et  Thumassin  le  fil  Paien, 
et  tos  mes  autres  compaignons,'  &c. 

362.  Dwerth,  dwarf,  is  simply  the  translation  of  le  natn,  Lat.  nanus; 
and  just  as  dwer]>  is  written  for  A.  S.  dwerg,  so  our  author  continually 
writes  \>ur\>  for  \>w$,  through. 

364.  Kyn  =  kynd,  kind. 

365.  For  kinnesman,  we  may  perhaps  read  Thomasin  or  Thomasyn.   It 
would  improve  the  alliteration,  of  which  there  is  none  in  the  line  as  it 
stands. 

371.  Hal  alwes  —  al  halwes;  'he  commended  the  cowherd  to  Christ 
and  all  saints.' 


XIII.     ALLITERATIVE  POEMS. 

The  Deluge. 

N.B.  In  the  West-Midland  dialect,  the  2nd  and  3rd  person  sing, 
indie,  end  in  -es,  and  the  plural  commonly  ends  in  -en.  The  imperative 
plural  ends  in  -es. 

Line  235.  The  context  shews  that  \>at  o]>er  wrake  means  the  second  ven- 
geance of  God.  Lucifer  committed  three  faults :  theirs/  was  when  he  at- 
tempted to  make  himself  equal  with  God — for  this,  he  fell  from  heaven ; 
the  second  was  when  he  tempted  man — in  this  case,  the  second  vengeance 
lighted  upon  men,  as  here  said ;  the  third  (for  which  see  1.  249)  was 
when  the  sons  of  God  beheld  the  daughters  of  men,  Gen.  vi.  2  ;  where- 
upon the  third  vengeance,  the  Deluge,  came  upon  all  men  then  alive, 
except  Noah  and  his  family. 

Wyw,  men.    A.  S.  wig-a,  a  warrior ;  from  wig,  war. 

236.  Faut,  fault,     fr.faute. 

Traw\>e,  truth,  true  obedience. 

238.  Waf>>.  Here  the  symbol  written  /3,  is  probably  equivalent  to 
cz,  where  c  has  the  soft  French  sound  of  s.  This  answers  to  the  German 
sz,  which  is  merely  a  double  s.  In  Scottish  MSS.  we  often  find  wass 
written  for  was,  where  the  ss  is  made  like  a  German  sz.  Hence  fitz  = 
7?ss  or  j?s,  the  O.  Fr.  for  Lat.  filius ;  in  which  the  /  is  now  sounded,  but 
only  from  ignorance.  In  fact,  wat}  =  wacz  =  wass  =  was.  We  may  sound 
it  like  z.  In  many  MSS.  the  letters  /  and  c  are  confused. 

240.  For-gart,  lost.     It  literally  signifies  for-did,  ruined ;  from  O.  E. 
gar,  ger,  to  do,  cause,  make. 

241.  Eggyng,  instigation.     Icel.  egg,  an  edge;  eggja,  to  sharpen,  in- 
stigate ;  hence,  to  egg  on. 

VOL.  II.  T 


322  NOTES. 

243.  Defence,  prohibition.    Fr.  defendre,  prohibit;  whence  fend,  fender, 
fence. 

244.  Payne,  penalty.     Fr.  peine. 
Pertly  =  apertly,  openly,  plainly. 

246.  Drepe},  destroys.     A.  S.  drepan,  to  strike,  hew,  wound. 

249.  For-]>rast,  overwhelmed ;  from  threste,  thruste.    A.  S.  \>r<zstian,  to 
rack,  twist,  torture. 

250.  Mawgre,  displeasure.     Fr.  mal,  ill,  gre,  will,  pleasure. 

257.  Was  should  be  wern,  as  in  1.  253.  Translate  '  For  they  were 
the  sons  of  the  noble  ancestor,  the  forefather  whom  the  earth  produced, 
that  was  called  Adam,  to  whom,'  &c.  Strictly,  forme-foster  should  be 
forme-fosterz,  being  in  apposition  with  aunceterez,  but  the  position  of  the 
word  affects  its  ending. 

259.  Gayn,  suitable,  good.  Sc.  gane,  to  suffice.  Icel.  gegn,  convenient. 

260.  Boute,  without.     Cf.  O.  E.  binne,  within  ;  buve,  above. 
26  r.  For  lede  (in  the  MS.)  read  ledez,  i.  e.  men. 

263.  Lobe  to  kynde,  to  keep  to  nature,  i.  e.  observe  the  laws  of  nature. 

271.  Onfollten  wise,  after  the  manner  of  men. 

278.  In-monge^,  among      Cp.  O.  E.  in-middes,  amidst. 

282.  Forloyned,  gone  astray,  departed;  from  Fr.  loin,  far,  which  we 
have  in  pur-loin,  O.  Fr.  purloignier,  which,  literally,  means  to  delay. 

284.  Werp,  uttered ;  from  werpen,  to  throw  out,  to  utter,  speak. 

288.  Burne,  man.     A.S.  beorn,  warrior,  chief. 

297.  Innoghe  knawen,  enough  (well)  known. 

301.  Nwy,  anger;  nwyed,  grieved  (306).     x 

303.  '  Finis  uniuersae  carnis  uenit  coram  me; '  Gen.  vi.  13. 

306.  Gore,  sin,  but  literally  vileness,  filthiness.  A.  S.  gor,  dirt,  mud. 
Cf.  Eng.  gorbelly,  gor  crow  (carrion  crow). 

Gletle,  wickedness,  but   literally   filth,   dirt.     Prov.  Eng.  glut, 
slime. 

312.  Cleme,  to  daub  or  plaster  with  mud  or  clay.  A.S.  clem,  clam, 
(i)  mud,  clay ;  (2)  a  bandage,  fold ;  (3)  prison.  Du.  klemmen,  to  pinch ; 
klampen,  to  hook  together.  The  root  still  exists  in  clammy,  to  clamp, 
clumsy.  Cf.  A.  S.  lam,  loam,  clay ;  prov.  E.  cloam,  earthenware. 

318.  Vpon,  i.  e.  open.     See  11.  453,  501. 

319.  Sware  =  sqware,  square. 

320.  Dutande,  shutting ;  from  dute  =  A.  S.  dyttan,  to  shut  up,  close,  dit. 
Shakespeare  uses  dick,  another  form  of  dit — '  Much  good  dich  (fill)  thy 
good  heart,  Apemantus.'     (Timon  of  Athens,  i.  2.  73.) 

331.  Meyny  of  atfe,  household  (family)  of  eight. 
335.  Horwed,  unclean.     A.  S.  hdru,  hdrwa,  filth,  dirt 
337.  Ho-beste},  she-beasts;  ho  =  heo,  she.     An  early  example  of  this 
mode  of  expressing  gender. 


XIII.      ALLITERATIVE  POEMS.  323 

339.  Frette,  furnish.  A.  S.  fratwu,  fratu,  finery,  treasure  ;  fratewian, 
to  trim,  adorn.  Drayton  uses  fret,  in  the  sense  of  an  ornamental  border, 
lace. 

343.  Fettled,  set  in  order,  fully  prepared.     Still  in  use. 

348.  .4s  \>QU  me  wyt  lante$,  as  thou  lentedst  me  wit,  i.  e.  gavest  me 
instruction,  directedst  me. 

350.  \>rep,  gainsaying,  contradiction.  WitJtouten  \>rep,  answers  to  our 
expression  '  without  more  words  '  or  '  without  more  ado.' 

352.  Steke,  to  shut  up,  fasten.  Sc.  sleek,  to  shut.  The  pret.  stac,  closed 
up,  occurs  in  1.  439 ;  and  the  p.p.  stoken  in  1.  360. 

353-  Seyed,  passed ;  from  O.  E.  sweye,  to  go,  turn,  sway  (see  1.  420 
and  956). 

354.  Rowtande  ryge,  a  rushing  shower.  Otherwise,  rowtande  may 
signify  roaring,  from  O.  E.  route,  to  roar,  howl ;  Icel.  hrjota,  to  grunt, 
snore.  The  rendering  rushing,  connects  rowtande  with  rout,  a  gang, 
Germ,  rotte,  which  seems  different  from  rout,  a  discomfiture,  which  is  the 
Fr.  route,  from  Lat.  rupta,  a  division. 

Ryge,  shower.     A.  S.  reh,  deluge,  which  seems  to  be  connected 
with  A.S.  regen,  Goth,  rign;  whence  i,by  loss  of  g)  E.  rain. 

357-360.  'Except  you  eight  in  this  ark  stowed  (placed), 

And  seed  that  I  will  save  of  these  various  beasts. 
Now  Noah  never  ceases  (that  night  he  begins) 
Ere  all  were  stowed  and  enclosed,  as  the  command  re- 
quired.' 

362.  Whichche,  an  old  and  genuine  form  of  hutch  =  A.S.  hw<ecce, 
a  chest. 

364.  Waltes,  wells,  flows.     A.  S.  weallan,  wyllan,  to  spring  up,  boil, 
flow;  wealtian,  to  roll.     Cf.  1.  370. 

365,  366.  'There  was  soon  no  bank  that  remained  unbroken; 

The  great  flowing  deep  to  the  sky  arose.' 
Lauande,  flowing  (rapidly).   The  A.  S.  lafian,  signifies  to  sprinkle 
water ;  whence  to  lave. 

Loghe  =  A.S.  lagu,  water,  sea,  lake;  Sc.  loch. 

369.  Fon  is  the  preterite  of  the  old  verb  fyne,  to  come  to  an  end,  to 
cease,  finish;  also  spelt  Jyned,  1.  450.     It  is  unusual  for  French  verbs  to 
follow  the  strong  conjugation. 

370.  Otter-waltez,  overturns,  overwhelms. 
Vche  a,  each,  every. 

373.  Deth  mo$t  dry^e,  might  suffer  death,  could  die.     Cf.  1.  400. 

374.  Notf  dowed,  nothing  was  of  avail,  there  was  no  help. 

375.  Wylger,  more  wildly,  more  fiercely. 

379.  Bretitest,  highest,  steepest.  Sw.  brant,  steep.  Cf.  Welsh  bryn, 
a  hill. 

Y  2 


324  NOTES. 

380.  Heterly  (quickly,  hastily)  is  connected  with  A.  S.  hete,  hate ; 
hetol,  fierce ;  hettan,  to  pursue,  drive.  Cf.  N.  Prov.  Eng.  hetter,  eager, 
earnest. 

[H]aled,  rushed.     Fr.  Tidier,  to  hale,  haul,  tow. 

382.  Raykande,  advancing,  from  O.  E.  rqyke,  Icel.  reika,  to  wander. 

383,  384.  *  Ere  each  valley  was  brim-full  to  the  edges  (tops)  of  its 

banks, 
And  every  dale  so  deep,  that  it  became  choked  at  the 

brinks.' 

Lrurd-ful,  full  to  the  brim.     A.  S.  brerd,  breord,  margin,  rim,  bank. 
388.  '  Some  swam  thereon  that  expected  (trowed)  to  save  themselves.' 

390.  Kurd,  cry.     A.  S.  reor d,  speech,  language. 

391.  Hy^e,  high  grounds,  heights. 

392.  Hy^ed,  hastened,  hied.     A.  S.  higan,  to  hasten ;    Dan.  hige,  to 
pant. 

394.  Re-couerer  of  \>e  creator,  recoverer  (saviour)  of  the  creature. 

395.  Here  the  reading  \>e  masse  \>e  mase  is  probably  an  error  for  \>e 
mase,  which  is   needlessly  repeated.    The  sense  is,  that  the  state  of  con- 
fusion increased.     Ipe  mase,  a  state  of  confusion ;  cf.  Piers  the  Plowman 
(Clarendon  Press  Series),  i.  6,  iii.  159 ;    or  Sect.  XV.  i.  6,  iii.  155. 

401.  'Friend  looks  to  friend  and  his  leave  takes.'  Luf=lef,  dear, 
beloved  (one). 

406.  Hurkled,  rested,  settled.     Prov.  Eng.  hurkle,  to  squat. 

407.  Mourkne,  to  rot.     Sw.  murken,  rotten ;  murkna,  to  rot. 

408.  Perhaps — '  all  into  whom  the  breath  of  life  entered.'     It  is  a 
mere  paraphrase  of  Gen.  vii.   22 — 'Et  cuncta,   in  quibus  spiraculum 
uitae  est  in  terra,  mortua  sunt.' 

417.  My£e  =  Du.  mik,  the  crutches  of  a  boat,  which  sustain  the  main 
boom  or  the  mast  and  sail  when  they  are  lowered  for  the  convenience  of 
rowing. 

419.  Hurrolf,  oar.  Cf.  Prov.  Eng.  orruck-holes,  oar-drawing  holes, 
Eng.  rullocks,  from  Dan.  rykke,  to  draw. 

421.  Flyt,  force,  lit.  contention;  d.flytande  in  1.  950. 

424.  Nyf=  ne  +  if,  if  not. 

Lumpen,  befallen.     A.  S.  Itmpan,  to  happen. 

425.  A  lei  date,  a  true  date  (period) ;  lei,  leal,  loyal. 

433.  Ro^ly,  peaceful,  comforted,  merry,  glad.  Sw.  rolig,  pleasant, 
calm ;  A.  S.  row,  sweet.  The  sense  is  '  the  remnant  whom  the  rack 
drives  were  glad  that  all  kinds  of  animals,  so  well  lodged,  were  safely 
kept  inside.'  With  toyst  cf.  Prov.  Eng.  joist,  to  agist  or  find  a  lodging 
for  cattle,  from  O.  F.  giste,  a  lodging,  which  from  gesir,  to  lie 
down. 

438.  Lasned,  became  less;  from  O.  E.  lasse,  less. 


XIII.      ALLITERATIVE  POEMS.  325 

439.  Stange],  pools,  wells.     O.  Fr.  estang,  a  pond,  stagnant  water. 

440.  •  Bade  leave  off  the  rain,  it  abated  at  once.' 

446.  Rasse,  eminence,  is  still  used  in  the  North  oi  England  for  a 
mound,  hill-top,  and  is  an  affix  in  local  names,  as  in  Dunmail  Raise. 

449.  Kyste,  chest,  ark. 

466.  Ellez  has  here  the  force  of  if  only,  so  long  as. 

469.  Dovne  =  dovne  =  dovene,  a  female  dove  (see  1.  481).  Cf.  vixen,  a 
female  fox;  O.  E.  wolvene,  a  female  wolf. 

483.  Skyrme},  skims  or  glides  along ;  cf.  Prov.  E.  skir,  to  glide  along, 
Germ,  schurren,  to  scrape,  to  slide. 

491.  lumpred,  mourning,  misery.  Cf.  Germ,  jammer,  mourning, 
misery;  A.  S.  geomor,  sad.  See  note  to  1.  971. 

497.  Loued,  praised,  from  A.  S.  lofian,  to  praise. 

498.  Tolke,  person  (lit.  a  talker),  here  refers  to  God. 

499.  Glam,  word.     Sw.  glammat  to  chatter,  talk ;  glam,  talk. 
501.  Walt,  turned  open  soon,  i.  e.  opened  at  once ;  cf.  11.  318,  453. 
504.  \)rublande,  urging  onwards.     O.  E.  \>roble,  to  press  on. 

527.  Rengne}  30  may  be  for  rengne},  courses.  A.  S.  hring,  a  ring, 
circuit.  As  it  stands,  it  means  '  reign  ye,  continue  ye.' 

529.  'Then  was  a  separative  (i.  e.  general)  dispersion,  when  escaped 
all  the  wild  (animals).' 

Skylly  =  separative,  distinct ;  Icel.  skilja,  to  separate ;  whence  E. 
skill,  Dan.  skiel,  discernment.  Skyualde  may  be  connected  with  Icel. 
skifa,  to  cut  in  twain,  to  cleave,  Germ,  schiefer,  a  splinter. 

535.  Gorste},  places  overgrown  with  furze,  or  gorse. 

540.  '  The  four  men  (Noah  and  his  sons)  receive  the  empire  of  the 
earth." 

Destruction  of  Sodom. 

950.  Flytande,  chiding,  roaring.     A.S.ftitan,  to  scold,  quarrel. 
953.  Ridlande,  pouring,  dripping.     Ger.  rutteln,  to  shake,  sift,  riddle. 
969.  Rydelles  =  redeles,  without  advice,  uncertain  what  to  do. 
971.  %omerly  =  A.S.  geomorlic,  doleful,  sorrowful;  geomor,  sad,  grim; 
geomrian,  to  grieve,  groan,  Germ,  jammern,  to  moan. 

3«rm  =  Welsh  garm,  shout,  outcry ;  garmio,  to  set  up  a  cry. 

1009.  Ro\>un  of  a  reche,  a  rush  of  smoke  ;  reche,  reke,  vapour,  smoke. 

1010.  Vselle},  ashes.     A.S.  ysela,ysla,  sparks,  hot  ashes. 

ion.  Flot,  boiling  fat.  Icel.  flot,  grease  swimming  on  the  surface 
of  broth ;  Low.  Germ,  flot,  cream.  See  Fleet,  in  Wedgwood. 

1012.  Bet,  kindled;  from  O. E.  bete,  to  make  up  the  fire. 

1017.  Blubrande,  bubbling,  boiling  up.  Cf.  Prov.  Eng.  6/06,  blab,  a 
bubble,  drop ;  blubber,  to  bubble,  foam.  Chaucer  uses  blubber,  a  bubble. 


326  NOTES. 

1024.  Costej  ofJtynde,  the  properties  of  nature,  natural  properties. 

1029.  Schalke,  man.    A.  S.  scealc,  a  servant,  soldier,  man;  marshal  (Mid. 
Lat.  marescalus)  is  from  the  O.  H.  Germ,  m'dhre  (Eng.  mare),  horse,  and 
schalk,  a  servant.     Seneschal  is  from  Goth,  sineigs,  old  (superl.  simsta), 
and  skalks,  a  servant. 

1030.  Bro\>ely,  hastily,  quickly,  soon;  here  a  mere  expletive.    Cf. Icel. 
brdS,  haste,  brdftliga,  hastily,  soon. 

1034.  Corsyes,  corrosives.     Spenser  has  corsive  for  corrosive.     For  a 
discussion  on  this  word,  see  Notes  and  Queries,  Third  Series,  xii.  390, 
516;  Fourth  Series,  i.  62,  160;  and  Corsey  in  Nares's  Glossary. 

1035.  Alkatran  is  the  Arabic  word  for  pitch;  see  Matzner's  note  on 
Mandeville,  cap.   ix.    in  Sprachproben,   vol.    ii.   p.    207.     The  whole 
account  of  the  Dead  Sea  in  Mandeville  should  be  compared  with  that 
here  given. 

1038.  'The  bituminous  (sticky)  asphalt  that  spice-mongers  sell.' 
1041.  Terne,  lake,  tarn.     Icel.  tjorn. 


XIV.    SIR  JOHN  MANDEVILLE. 

The  MSS.  of  this  are  very  numerous ;  there  are  at  least  nineteen  in 
the  British  Museum,  and  there  are  three  in  the  Cambridge  University 
Library.  For  a  list  of  the  former  set  and  an  account  of  several  early 
editions,  see  Mr.  Halliwell's  preface.  MSS.  of  Mandeville  are  some- 
times found  in  company  with  MSS.  of  Piers  the  Plowman.  There  is  a 
modernised  version  of  Mandeville,  edited  by  Mr.  Wright,  in  'Early 
Travels  in  Palestine,'  Bohn's  Antiquarian  Library,  London,  1848.  The 
knight  is  said  to  have  spent  thirty-four  years  in  travel,  in  Tartary, 
Persia,  Armenia,  Lybia,  Ethiopia,  India,  Palestine,  &c.  His  book  may 
be  compared  with  Colonel  Yule's  new  edition  of  Marco  Polo.  The  date 
of  the  work  is  not  quite  certain  ;  for,  whilst  in  the  Cotton  MS.  it  is  said 
to  be  1356,  in  MS.  Bibl.  Reg.  17  C.  xxxviii.  it  is  1366. 


(A)     The  Prologue. 

Line  8.  Envyrone,  to  go  about.     But  the  Royal  MS.  has  honoure. 

9.  Enoumbre  him,  hide  himself;  from  the  O.  F.  '  enombrer,  obscurcir, 
cacher;'  Burguy. 

20.  Myddes  of  alle,  &c.  Jerusalem  was  supposed  to  be  the  exact 
centre  of  the  earth,  which  was  imagined  to  be  a  flat  plane,  or  else  a 
sort  of  hemisphere,  of  which  Jerusalem  was  the  highest  point.  But  it 
is  most  remarkable  that  Mandeville  himself  argues  that  the  earth  is 


XIV.      SIR   JOHN  MANDEVILLE.  327 

globular  (cap.  xvii)  and  that  it  is  possible  to  travel  completely  round  it. 
The  proof  of  Jerusalem  being  the  centre  of  the  earth  was  derived  from 
Psalm  Ixxiv.  12 ;  'For  God  is  my  king  of  old,  working  salvation  in  the 
midst  of  the  earth?  Cf.  Josephus,  Wars  of  the  Jews,  iii.  3.  5. 

21.  The  philosophre ;  Aristotle,  Nicom.  Eth.  ii.  6. 

91.  Surrye,  Syria;  Ermonye,  Armenia.  Amazoyne,  the  country  of  the 
(supposed)  Amazons,  on  the  south  coast  of  the  Black  Sea,  about  the 
modern  Trebizonde.  Chaucer  calls  it  the  regne  (kingdom)  of  Feminie ; 
Knightes  Tale,  1.  8 ;  and  says  it  was  formerly  called  Scythia.  Else- 
where Mandeville  says  it  is  beside  Chaldsea.  Inde  the  lasse  is  Northern 
India ;  Inde  the  more,  or  greater,  is  Southern  India.  The  names  of  these 
countries  vary  in  the  MSS. 

107.  And  $ee,  &c.  The  whole  of  this  last  paragraph  is  wanting  in 
nearly  every  other  MS. 

117.  Here  mynde  is  used  with  the  sense  of  memory. 


(B)     Of  the  begynntng  of  Machomete. 

Mahomet,  born  A.D.  570 ;  died  June  8,  632.  The  name  is  better  spelt 
Mohammed  or  Muhammed. 

Line  15.  Corrodane,  possibly  Koraidha,  the  name  of  a  Jewish  tribe 
whom  Mahomet  subdued. 

17.  Gadrige,  Khadija,  a  rich  widow,  whom  he  married. 

24.  Sarazines,  from  the  Arabic  sharkeyn,  meaning  the  Eastern  people; 
quite  unconnected  with  Sarah,  notwithstanding  the  assertion  in  1.  30. 

32.  Loth,  Lot.     See  Gen.  xix.  37. 

57.  Galamelle,  apparently  from  Greek  ya\a,  milk,  and  /ieXt,  honey,  a 
kind  of  mead.  This  is  possibly  '  the  sweet  liquor  or  syrup  called  Dushdb, 
which  Delia  Valle  says  is  just  the  Italian  Mostocotto,  but  better,  clearer, 
and  not  so  mawkish ; '  see  Marco  Polo,  ed.  Yule,  i.  84. 


(G)     Ibe  Contrees  beyond  Cathay. 

Line  3.  Cathaye,  China.     Bacharye,  perhaps  Bokhara. 

15.  Bernakes,  barnacles.  See  the  whole  story  explained  in  Max 
Miiller's  Lectures  on  the  Science  of  Language,  Second  Series. 

27.  Canelle,  cinnamon;  see  Romaunt  of  the  Rose,  1.  1370. 

32.  Uber,  the  mountains  of  Caucasus.  The  reference  is  to  the  pass  of 
Derbend,  on  the  Western  side  of  the  Caspian  Sea.  The  mediaeval 
romances  of  Alexander  say  that  he  shut  up  Gog  and  Magog,  and  twenty 
other  nations,  behind  a  mountain  barrier.  See  Yule's  edition  of  Marco 
Polo,  vol.  i.  p.  52. 


328  NOTES. 

33.  Lynages,  tribes;  the  lost  ten  tribes  of  the  Jews. 

36.  Alisandre,  Alexander.  The  story  of  the  twenty-two  kings  occurs 
in  the  alliterative  Romance  of  Alexander,  ed.  Stevenson  (Roxburghe 
Club),  Passus  xxvi ;  which  was  founded  upon  Pseudo-Callisthenes. 

65.  Marcheth  to,  borders  upon.     Cf.  the  phrase  the  Marches  of  Wales. 

67.  Avaled,  descended.    To  vail  is  to  lower;  cf.  'vailed  lids,'  Hamlet. 

77.  Be  be  =  be  bi;  'except  it  be  by'  (i.  e.  during). 

114.  Ipotaynes;  hippopotami  are  intended. 

120.  Griffbunes,  griffins.  A  griffin  is  a  vulture,  but  it  was  represented 
as  being  a  compound  of  eagle  and  lion.  Cf.  Spenser,  F.  Q.  i.  5.  8; 
Milton,  Par.  Lost,  ii.  943.  There  is  a  long  extract  from  Mandeville, 
with  notes,  in  Matzner's  Altenglische  Sprachproben,  part  ii. 


XV.    WILLIAM  LANGLAND,  OR  LANGLEY. 

The  portion  of '  Piers  the  Plowman '  here  printed  may  be  advantage- 
ously compared  with  that  printed  in  the  edition  published  in  the 
Clarendon  Press  Series.  There  are  many  resemblances,  and  many 
differences.  The  differences  of  spelling  in  lines  otherwise  alike  are  due 
to  the  pieces  being  printed  from  different  MSS.  It  has  been  explained 
that  there  are  three  quite  different  versions  of  the  poem.  The  portions 
of  the  A-text,  here  printed,  are  from  the  Vernon  MS.  in  the  Bodleian 
Library,  with  a  few  improvements  from  other  MSS.  This  MS.  makes 
the  dialect  more  remarkable  for  Southern  forms  than  it  should  be  ;  this 
is  due  to  the  scribe  of  that  MS.  being  a  southern  man,  as  evidenced  in 
all  the  numerous  pieces  he  has  written  out.  The  true  dialect  of  the 
author  appears  more  plainly  in  the  B-text  MS.  (Laud  581),  and  is  more 
uniformly  Midland.  The  differences  of  the  texts  are  these : — (i)  The 
A-text  contains  two  distinct  poems,  viz.  a  Prologue  and  eight  Passus  of 
'  Piers  the  Plowman,'  and  a  Prologue  and  three  Passus  of  '  Vita  de 
Dowel,  Dobet,  et  Dobest.'  (2)  The  B-text  contains  a  Prologue  and 
seven  Passus  of  'Piers  the  Plowman,'  a  Prologue  and  six  Passus  of 
'  Dowel,'  a  Prologue  and  three  Passus  of '  Dobet,'  and  a  Prologue  and 
one  Passus  of 'Dobest;'  of  these,  the  Clarendon  Press  edition  contains 
only  the  first  portion,  or  '  Piers  the  Plowman,'  properly  so  called.  (3)  The 
C-text  contains  a  Prologue  and  nine  Passus  of  Piers,  a  Prologue  and  six 
Passus  of  Dowel,  a  Prologue  and  three  Passus  of  Dobet,  and  a  Prologue 
and  one  Passus  of  Dobest.  The  Early  English  Text  Society  will  publish 
all  three  texts  in  full,  and  has  already  published  the  two  first.  But  we 
shall  here  consider  only  the  portion  of  the  A-text  here  printed,  and  the 
portion  of  the  B-text  printed  by  the  Clarendon  Press,  some  of  the  notes 


XV.       WILLIAM  LANG  LAND.  329 

to  which  we  here  quote,  and  refer  the  reader  to  the  same  volume  for 
further  information. 


Prologus. 

Line  i.  Softe,  mild,  warm ;  in  the  month  of  May. 

2.  '  I  put  myself  into  (rough)  clothing,  as  if  I  were  a  shepherd.' 
Schop,  shaped;  cf.  1.  52. 

Scheep,  a  shepherd;  a  rare  word,  but  there  are  a  few  examples. 
In  MSS.  of  the  C-text,  the  word  is  actually  written  shepherd,  at  length. 

3.  The  shepherd's  dress  resembled  a  hermit's;    the  epithet  unholy 
seems  to  express  the  author's  opinion  of  hermits,  especially  of  those 
who  roamed  about,  instead  of  staying  in  their  cells.     Cf.  1.  28. 

5.  Maluerne  hulles,  Malvern  hills,  in  Worcestershire. 

6.  '  There  befel  to  me  a  wonder,  of  fairy  (origin),  it  seemed  to  me.' 
Observe  the  phrase  offeyrye  in  Sect.  XII.  1.  230. 

7.  Wente  me.     The  exact  use  of  me  here  is  uncertain ;  it  can  either 
mean  turned  myself,  the  original  meaning  of  wcnde  being  to  turn;  or 
else,  went  to  rest  myself;  or  perhaps  me  is  an  ethic  dative,  meaning  as  far 
as  relates  to  myself.     Of  the  first  usage  there  is  an  example  in  Csedmon, 
ed.  Thorpe,  p.  56,  '  Wend  \>e  from  wynne?  turn  thyself  from  joy  ;  also  in 
the  Ancren  Riwle,  ed.  Morton,  p.  53, '  wend  te  awei,'  turn  thyself  away. 

11.  'Then  did  I  dream  a  marvellous  dream.' 

1 2.  '  And  as  I  looked  eastward,  on  high,  towards  the  sun.' 

13.  Tour,  tower.    This  Tower  is  the  abode  of  Truth,  i.  e.  of  God  the 
Father ;  the  dungeon  in  the  valley  is  the  abode  of  Satan.    This  is  ex- 
plained in  Pass.  i.  12,  61. 

1 7.  The  fair  field  is  the  world ;  Matt.  xiii.  38.  The  occupations  of 
the  various  occupants  of  it  are  next  minutely  described. 

19.  Asketh,  i.e.  as  the  way  of  the  world  requires. 

21.  Swonken,  obtained  by  labour;  \>at  in  the  next  line  =  that  which. 

29.  Carien  =  cairen,  wander  (about).  In  many  MSS.  it  is  written 
cairen.  Cf.  Germ,  kehren. 

34.  Giltles,  honestly.  The  true  minstrels  gained  their  living  honestly, 
but  most  of  the  tribe  were  a  bad  set  and  children  of  Judas ;  see  next 
line. 

36.  '  Found  out  fancies  for  themselves,  and  made  fools  of  themselves, 
and  (yet)  have  they  wit  at  their  command,  to  work  if  it  pleased  them.' 

38.  The  text  of  Paul  alluded  to  is,  'Qui  non  laborat  non  manducet* 
(2  Thess.  iii.  10) ;  but  the  poet  dares  not  quote  it,  because  every  speaker 
of  evil  against  another  is  a  servant  of  Lucifer. 

41.  Heor  =  heore,  their. 
Balies,  bellies. 


3  30  NOTES. 

41.  Bratful  Icrommet,  crammed  brimful. 

42.  Atte  alle  =  atten  ale  =  at  \>en  ale,  at  the  ale;  over  their  cups.     Ale, 
an  ale-house,  as  in  Launce's  speech  in  Two  Gentlemen  of  Verona,  ii.  5, 
'  go  to  the  ale  with  a  Christian.' 

44.  pzs,  these.  The  Robert's  men,  or  Roberdesmen,  were  lawless  vaga- 
bonds. In  the  Statutes  of  5  Edward  III,  c.  xiv,  a  class  of  malefactors, 
guilty  of  robbery  and  murder,  are  called  Roberdesmen. 

47.  Seint  leme,  St.  James  of  Compostella  in  Gallicia.  Pilgrimages  t0 
Rome  and  Compostella  were  then  much  in  vogue.  In  England,  the 
most  famous  places  of  pilgrimage  were  Walsingham  in  Norfolk  (see 
1.  51),  Glastonbury,  and  Canterbury. 

55.  The  four  orders  of  friars  were  the  Franciscans,  Augustines, 
Dominicans,  and  Carmelites.  See  Specimens  of  English,  A.D.  1394  to 
i579,ed.  Skeat,  p.  357. 

57.  Glosynge,  commenting  upon.  See  Chaucer,  Sompnoures  Tale, 
1.8o. 

As  hem  good  likeb,  as  it  well  pleases  them. 

61.  Chapmon,  pedlar.  The  friars,  instead  of  exercising  charity,  went 
about  selling  indulgences  ;  see  Chaucer's  description  of  the  Frere  in  his 
Prologue. 

65.  Pardoner.  See  Chaucer's  Prologue;  and  Massingberd's  English 
Reformation,  p.  127. 

71.  'He  banged  them  with  his  brevet  (i.e.  thrust  it  in  their  faces), 
and  cajoled  them.' 

Blered  heore  ei^en,  bleared  (blinded)  their  eyes,  cajoled  them. 

72.  Ragemon,  catalogue,  list.     The  full  expression  is  Ragman  Roll, 
now  corrupted  into  rigmarole.     The  Ragman  Roll  was  a  document  with 
many  seals ;  here  used  of  the  papal  bull. 

78.  Sometimes  the  boy  (i.  e.  young  pardoner)  and  the  parish  priest, 
instead  of  quarrelling,  agreed  to  fleece  the  people,  and  divide  the 
spoil. 

8 1.  The  pestilence  here  referred  to  is  probably  the  first  of  three,  viz. 
that  which  occurred  in  1348  and  1349.  See  note  to  Pass.  v.  1.  13.  The 
evil  occasioned  by  parish-priests,  who  neglected  their  parishes  to  go  to 
London,  is  alluded  to  by  Chaucer ;  see  the  description  of  the  Persone  in 
his  Prologue.  After  1.  83  the  B-text  inserts  no  less  than  123  extra  lines, 
which  were  added  in  the  year  1377. 

89.  Mom  —  mum,  the  least  sound  made  by  closed  lips. 

103.  Dieu  vous  sauve,  dame  Emme  (God  save  you,  lady  Emma  I)  is 
evidently  the  refrain  of  some  popular  ballad. 

105.  •  Good  geese  and  pigs  !  let's  go  and  dine  !'  This  description  is 
copied  by  Lydgate,  in  his  London  Lyckpeny ;  see  Specimens  of  English, 
A.D.  1394-1579;  p.  26. 


XV.      WILLIAM  LAN  GLAND.  331 

107,  1 08.  Oseye,  Alsace.     Ruyn,  the  Rhine.     \>e  rost  to  defye,  to  digest 
the  roast  meat. 


Passus  I. 

A  Passus  is  a  canto,  or  portion  of  a  poem. 

2,  3.  Ow,  you;  see  1.  14. 

A  loueli,  &c. ;  a  lady,  lovely  of  face.     This  is  the  Lady  Holy- 
Church,  the  poet's  instructor ;  see  1.  73. 

9.  Holde  \>ei  no  tale,  they  make  no  account. 

20.  •  Three  things  in  common ; '  i.  e.  clothing,  meat,  and  drink ;  see 
Ecclesiasticus  xxix.  28. 

36.  •  Believe  not  thy  body,  for  a  liar — this  wicked  world— teaches  it 
to  betray  thee.' 

53.  Kuynde  wit,  natural  wit,  common  sense. 

54.  Tour,  tower,  safe  place  of  custody.     Many  MSS.  have  tutour, 
custodian. 

Take  it  $ow,  bestow  it  on  you. 

61.  'There  dwells  a  wight  (Satan)  who  is  named  Wrong.' 
66.  Ellerne,  elder-tree.     Cf.  Shakespeare's  Love's  Labour 's  Lost,  v.  2. 
75.  Borwes,  sureties,  sponsors ;  viz.  at  baptism. 

83.  The  subject  of  11.  83-134  is  Truth;  that  of  11.  135-181  is  Love  or 
Charity. 

84.  'I  appeal  to  the  text— God  is  Love'  (i  John  iv.  8). 
Hose  =  hoso,  who  so. 

Not  elles,  not  otherwise  (than  the  truth). 
89.  Lucus.     See  Luke  viii.  21. 

103.  Kyngene,  of  kings ;  gen.  pi.,  which  in  A.  S.  ended  in  -a  or  ~ena. 

104.  The  reading  'and  all  the  four  orders'  is  corrupt.   The  Trin.  MS 
has  such  seuene  &  a-ano]>er,  which  is  right.     There  were  ten  orders  of 
angels:  (i)  Cherubim;  (2)  Seraphim;  (3-9)  seven  more  such;  and  (10)  one 
other  beside,  viz.  the  one  over  which  Lucifer  presided,  and  which  fell 
from  heaven  with  him;  see  1.  112. 

114.  According  to  the  popular  creed  of  the  middle  ages,  the  less 
guilty  of  the  rebellious  angels  were  permitted  to  occupy  the  different 
elements  on  earth  instead  of  being  condemned  to  the  pit. 

1-25.  'Teach  it  to  these  unlettered  men  ;  for  lettered  men  know  it.' 
130.  'It  is  thy  natural  conscience,  that  teaches  thee  in  thy  heart.' 

137.  Prechet  =  preche  it,  preach  it. 

138.  Me,  men  ;  used  with  a  singular  verb,  like  the  French  on. 
%edde,  to  sing.     A.  S.  geddian,  giddian,  to  sing. 

154.  '  As  pure  as  a  child,  that  cries  when  baptized.' 


NOTES. 

167.  '  They  devour  what  they  should  give  in  chanty,  and  then  cry  out 
for  more.' 

1 68.  Wor\>,  shall  be.     The  present  is  often  used  for  the  future. 

173.  'And  a  lesson  to  ignorant  men  to  put  off  almsgiving;'  lit.  to  be 
the  later  in  distributing. 

181.  Grafy  gate,  direct  way.  It  occurs  in  Blind  Harry's  Wallace, 
v.  135- 

Passus  II. 

158.  Fauuel=FaveI,  the  impersonation  of  Flattery;  from  O.  Fr. 
favele,  idle  talk,  E.  fable.  Occleve  also  uses  the  same  word,  and  says  of 
Favel — 

'  His  crafte  is  ay  to  sustene  the  wrong  side, 
And  fro  vertu  his  lord  to  divide;' 
and  again — 

'  But  favelle  taketh  alle  another  parte, 
In  wrong  preisyng  is  all  his  craft  and  arte.' 

Occleve,  De  Reg.  Princ.  ed.  Wright,  pp.  106  and  in. 
175.  Eny  Jiunnes  yftus,  gifts  of  any  kind. 
187.  Do\>  him  to  go,  prepares  himself  to  depart. 

192.  To-logged '=  to-lugged,  pulled  about  by  the  ear  or  hair.  Cf.  O.  E. 
Ing,  the  ear ;  Sw.  lugga,  to  pull  by  the  hair. 

194.  Hole  to  trusse,  bidden  to  pack  (and  be  off). 

206.  For  knowynge  of  comers,  to  prevent  recognition  by  travellers. 


Passus  III. 

1 8.  Conscience,  Conscience's ;  a  gen.  fern,  in  -e. 

26.  Lauren  hue  at,  took  leave  of. 

46.  Tok  him,  gave  him.     Take  in  O.  E.  often =give. 

49.  Wol  stonden  vsful  hei$e,  will  cost  us  a  good  deal. 

69.  'The  use  of  fraudulent  measures  and  weights  were  severely 
punished  in  the  middle  ages ; '  see  note  to  Myrc's  Instructions  for  Parish 
Priests,  ed.  Peacock,  p.  80. 

74.  Reche]),  grow  rich ;  richen  in  some  MSS. 

Regratorie,  regrating.  '  Regrating,'  or  the  buying  up  of  provisions 
and  other  things  cheaply,  and  selling  them  dearly,  was  one  of  the  great 
sources  of  oppression  of  the  poor  by  the  rich  in  the  middle  ages ;  we 
may  translate  it  by  retail  dealing. 

Bugge\>  hem,  buy  for  themselves. 

76.  Take  \>ei  on  trewely,  if  they  made  profit  honestly. 
Timbrede  not,  would  not  build. 


XV.       WILLIAM  LANGLAND.  333 

86.  The  quotation  is  not  from  Solomon,  but  from  Job  xv.  34. 
142.  Prouisours,  persons  who  purchased  privileges  from  Rome,  such 
as  provisions  for  holding  benefices  before  they  fell  vacant,  &c. 

154.  Lone-day es,  days  for  the  (supposed)  amicable  settlement  of  dif- 
ferences ;  see  Chaucer,  Prol.  1.  258. 

155.  'It  is  bewilderment  for  a  poor  man,  though  he  plead  for  ever.' 

Passus  V. 

4.  '  That  I  had  not  slept  more  soundly,  and  seen  more.' 

13.  There  were  three  great  pestilences  (some  count  four)  in  Edward 
Ill's  reign.     The  first  two  are  here  referred  to.     The  first  lasted  from 
May  31,  1348,  to  September  29,  1349;   the  second  from  August  15, 
1361,  to  May  3,  1362.     The  third  was  in  1369;  the  fourth  in  1375-6. 

14.  Wynt,  wind.     There  was  a  great  storm  of  wind,  from  the  South, 
on  the  evening  of  Saturday,  January  15,  1362.     This  fixes  the  date  of 
this  early  version  of  the  poem. 

44.  William,  i.  e.  the  author  himself,  as  appears  from  other  passages. 

45.  We  have  here  the  confessions  of  some  of  the  seven  deadly  sins. 
The  first  is  Pride,  represented  by  one  Pernel  Proud-heart.     Pride  comes 
first,  owing  to  the  text  '  For  pride  is  the  beginning  of  sin ;'  Eccles.  x.  13. 
The  rest  are  Luxury,  Envy,  Wrath,  Avarice,  Gluttony,  and  Sloth.  Pernel 
is  short  for  Petronilla.    In  the  A-text  the  character  of  Wrath  is  omitted. 

60.  Gultus,  guilts,  sins. 

92.  Al  \>e  web  aftur,  all  the  piece  of  cloth  from  which  the  coats  had 
been  cut  as  well. 

1 08.  Sire  herui,  Sir  Harvey.  It  seems  to  have  been  a  nickname  for  a 
skinflint.  Skelton  uses  it  (ed.  Dyce,  i.  35). 

115.  Atte  noke  =  atten  olte,  at  the  oak.  Cf.  John  Nokes,  John  at  the 
Oaks ;  John  Styles,  John  at  the  Stile. 

119.  Wych;  other  MSS.  wy.  It  means  Weyhill,  near  Andover,  in 
Hampshire,  a  famous  place  for  fairs  to  this  day.  « The  tolls  derived 
from  the  sheep-fair  form  part  of  the  stipend  of  the  rector  of  Weyhill;' 
Standard  newspaper,  October  II,  1870.  The  fair  lasts  eight  days,  be- 
ginning on  October  10. 

123.  Donet,  grammar,  elements  (of  a  subject);  from  Mlius  Donatus,  a 
grammarian,  who  flourished  at  Rome  about  A.D.  356. 

125.  Rayes,  striped  cloths;  they  were  measured  by  the  list  or  edge. 
See  Liber  Albus,  ed.  Riley,  p.  631. 

127.  Pressour,  press. 

Pinnede,  pressed  (them)  severely ;  E.  to  pen.    Cf.  pindar,  pinfold, 
pound. 

128.  Tolden,  counted. 


334 

132.  Auncel  (or  auncer).  This  old  weighing-machine  answers  exactly 
to  that  known  as  the  '  Danish'  steelyard.  His  wife,  when  paying  her 
women,  paid  them  by  weight ;  and  used  a  weight  which  weighed  too 
much. 

134.  Peni-ale.  The  commonest  ale,  sold  in  London  at  a  penny  a 
gallon.  See  Stow's  Chronicle,  p.  218;  or  Strutt's  Manners  and  Customs, 
ii.  81. 

137.  Btimmede,  tasted. 

Ther-after,  according  to  the  sample. 

145.  Rode  of  Bromholm,  rood  (cross)  of  Bromholm  in  Norfolk.  It 
was  said  to  be  made  of  wood  from  the  real  cross,  brought  to  England 
by  a  priest  named  Sir  Hugh  in  1223.  It  is  mentioned  by  Chaucer; 
Reve's  Tale,  1.  366.  The  line  means,  '  and  pray  the  cross  of  Bromholm 
to  bring  me  out  of  debt  (to  the  church).'  He  could  make  restitution  by 
offering  at  the  shrine. 

263.  Leue,  permit,  allow;  cf.  Germ,  erlauben.  Misprinted  lene  (in 
this  place)  in  Mr.  Skeat's  edition. 

Passus  VI. 

This  Passus,  in  the  B-text,  forms  the  latter  part  of  Pass.  v. 

8.  '  He  bare  a  travelling-staff  bound  about  with  a  broad  list  (of 
cloth),  which  was  wreathed  round  it  after  the  fashion  of  a  withy-band;' 
or,  «  of  a  woodbine.'  In  Harman's  Caveat  (Early  English  Text  Society's 
ed.  p.  26)  the  three  essential  parts  of  a  broom  are  described  as  'A  staff, 
a  beesom,  and  wyth,  that  wyll  wynde.'  The  withy,  wound  round  and 
round  the  besom,  binds  it  on  to  the  staff  or  broomstick ;  which  will 
explain  the  reading  withy-band.  But  the  Harl.  MS.  has  wodbyndis,  i.  e. 
of  a  woodbine,  which  was  also  called  a  withwind  or  withiewind,  and  ac- 
cordingly some  MSS.  have  the  reading  withcwyndes.  See  the  Glossary. 

n.  Ampolles,  little  leaden  phials  for  holy  water,  bought  at  different 
shrines,  and  worn  in  the  hat  to  shew  how  many  shrines  had  been  visited, 
much  as  a  traveller  brands  names  on  his  alpenstock.  People  who  went 
to  Galys  (Gallicia)  brought  home  scallop-shells.  The  vernicle  (from 
St.  Veronica)  was  a  copy  of  the  true  picture  (vera  icon  =  Gr.  €IKUJV~)  of 
Christ  miraculously  imprinted  on  a  handkerchief  preserved  in  the  church 
of  St.  Peter  at  Rome.  For  the  legend  of  St.  Veronica,  see  Chambers' 
Book  of  Days,  i.  100. 

28.  Peter,  by  St.  Peter !  a  common  exclamation ;  see  Chaucer,  Schip- 
mannes  Tale,  1.  214. 

Plou}-mon;    here  Piers  the  Plowman  first  appears;    he  signifies 
Honesty,  or  an  honest  teacher  of  men.    The  poet  afterwards  identified 


XVI.      JOHN  BARBOUR.  335 

him,  in  a  later  version,  with  Jesus  Christ ;  he  is  here  introduced  as  a 
servant  of  Truth,  i.  e.  of  God  the  Father. 

39.  To  paye,  to  His  satisfaction. 

45.  Wissen,  teach,  shew.  Piers  offers  to  shew  all  men  the  way  to  the 
abode  of  Truth ;  i.  e.  to  heaven. 

Passus  VII. 

234.  Kuynde  wit,  natural  wit,  common  sense. 

237.  Bead  omnes,  Ps.  cxxvii.  in  the  Vulgate  ;  cxxviii.  in  the  A.  V. 

246.  •  But  I  bid  thee,  quoth  Hunger,  if  thou  desire  (to  have)  thy 
health.' 

257.  Calabre,  i.  e.  a  Calabrian  fur;  a  gray  fur  with  a  black  stripe. 

269.  J>«/«=  A.  S.  \>eorf,  unleavened. 

276.  Lammasse,  i.  e.  Loaf-mass,  August  i. 

303.  Lawes.  After  the  pestilence  of  1349,  there  was  a  want  of 
labourers.  The  king  published  a  proclamation,  limiting  their  wages ; 
but  it  was  evaded,  and,  especially  in  harvest,  exorbitant  wages  were 
both  demanded  and  given. 

305.  Statues,  statutes. 

311.  Saturne.  The  influence  of  the  planet  Saturn  was  supposed  to  be 
malign,  and  to  cause  floods  and  similar  disasters. 


XVI.    JOHN  BARBOUR. 

The  poem  of  the  Bruce  is  not  divided  into  books  in  the  MSS.  The 
division  into  twenty  books  (here  followed)  was  made  by  Pinkerton. 
Jamieson  divided  the  poem  into  fourteen  books,  but  in  his  Scottish 
Dictionary  he  always  refers  to  Pinkerton's  numbering  of  the  lines,  and 
not  to  his  own.  For  further  information  about  the  meaning  of  words, 
see  Jamieson's  Dictionary.  Observe  that,  in  Lowland-Scotch  MSS., 
u,  v,  and  w  are  interchanged ;  so  that  vyth,  vod,  mean  with,  wood; 
wenge  means  venge;  mwre  is  for  mure,  a  moor,  and  so  on. 

Line  i.  The  reader  should  consult  the  notes  to  Sir  Walter  Scott's 
beautiful  poem  entitled  '  The  Lord  of  the  Isles ;'  especially  note  2  B. 

2.  Vill  ofvayn;  cf.  note  to  1.  225. 

7.  Begouth,  began.  This  corrupt  form  arose  from  supposing  a  con- 
nection between  gan  (sometimes  can) — which  was  used  as  an  auxiliary, 
like  did,  although  a  part  of  the  verb  ginnen,  to  begin, — and  the  totally 
different  word  can,  which  had  a  past  tense  couth,  now  spelt  could. 


NOTES. 

10.  Abyde  3*  heir,  if  ye  abide  here.  Observe  that  an  inferior,  speaking 
to  a  superior,  uses  the  term_ye;  the  superior  replies  with  thou  (1.  15). 

1 7.  Oftsiss  =  oftsithes,  oftentimes  ;  from  O.  E.  sith,  a  time. 

1 8.  Quha,  whosoever. 

Endlang  a  vatiir,  along  a  stream. 

27.  'And  continued  their  way  along  it';  where  held  on  =  continued, 
persevered  in. 

37.  '  There  would  he  no  longer  abide.' 
48.   Weillfer,  well  far,  very  far  off. 
65.  Lest  o)i  lif,  last  alive,  remain  alive. 

71.  Infill  a  busk  lurkand,  lurking  in  a  bush. 

72.  Quhill,  until.     Cf.  Macbeth,  iii:  i.  43  ;  and  Rich.  II,  i.  3.  122. 
At  his  hand,  close  at  hand. 

8 1.  Amer,  Sir  Aymer  de  Valence,  earl  of  Pembroke. 

87.  Randale,  Sir  Thomas  Randolph,  who  afterwards  sided  with  Bruce. 

90.  Price  and  lovyng,  honour  and  praise.  If  loving  were  intended,  the 
word  used  would  have  been  luff. 

103.  'If  he  were  attacked  (or,  challenged  to  fight)  on  equal  terms.' 

105.  This  story  is  told  in  'The  Lord  of  the  Isles,'  canto  iii.  A 
similar  story  is  told  of  Wallace. 

1 1 8.  '  And  asked  them  whither  they  wished  to  go.' 

127*  Late,  demeanour;  see  the  Glossary. 

132.  Bryng  of  daw,  bring  out  of  day,  i.  e.  kill ;  cf.  did  o  lijf,  i.  e.  did 
out  of  life,  slew  ;  Sect.  VII.  1.  191. 

135.  Hawyng,  behaviour;  literally,  having. 

137.  'Ye  must  all  three,  till  we  be  better  acquainted,  go  in  front  all 
by  yourselves.' 

139.  Forrouth,  before,  in  front;  so  also  forrow  in  1.  145.  Sw.  forut, 
before. 

142.  '  Sir,  there  is  no  need  to  believe  any  ill  (to  be)  in  us." 

145.  '  Until  we  be  better  acquainted  with  each  other.' 

148.  '  And  forth  upon  their  way  did  go.' 

160.  Here  a  is  emphatic,  and  signifies  one ;  see  1.  162. 

177.  'Saw  that  it  became  him  of  necessity  to  sleep.' 

1 79.  Valk,  awake ;  used  transitively.  The  intransitive  form  is  walkyn, 
whence  valltnyt  in  1.  210.  The  introduction  of  the  letter  n  renders  a 
verb  intransitive  in  Mceso-Gothic,  Swedish,  &c.  Thus  we  have  Sw.  vaka, 
to  watch,  vakna,  to  awake. 

1 88.  As  foul  on  twist,  as  fowl  on  twig,  like  a  bird  on  a  bough. 

192.  Routit  he,  snored  loudly;  where  he  =  high,  highly,  loudly. 

216.  So  stratly  stad,  so  closely  beset,  so  hardly  put  to  it. 

2 1 8.  Na  war,  had  it  not  been  for  his  defensive  armour. 

225.  Will  ofvayn;  for  will  of  wane.     Will  means  at  a  loss,  distracted, 


XVII.    (A)      JOHN   WYCLIF.  337 

puzzled,  whence  our  wild.  Wane  means  weening,  purpose,  design,  plan. 
Will  of  wane,  at  a  loss  for  a  plan,  not  knowing  what  to  do.  Jamieson 
explains  it  quite  wrongly.  Cf.  1. 2  above. 

423.  Cwmynys,  Comyn's.  Bruce  stabbed  John  Comyn  before  the 
high  altar  in  the  Greyfriar's  Church  at  Dumfries,  shortly  before  his  own 
accession  to  the  crown  in  1306.  See  'Lord  of  the  Isles,'  note  K. 

434.  Nakit,  naked ;  this  means,  unprovided  with  defensive  armour. 

439.  Haf^he,  i.e.  if  ye  have. 

447.  But  langarfrest,  without  longer  delay. 

455.  Top  our  taill,  top  over  tail,  head  over  heels. 

467.  Schot,  rushed ;  which  is  the  right  meaning  in  Havelok  the  Dane 
1.  1838. 

470.  '  In  his  rising,  such  a  blow  gave  him 

That  stone-dead  to  the  earth  he  went '  (lit.  drove). 

471.  Draf,  drove,  fell. 


XVII.  (A)     JOHN  WYCLIF. 

Cap.  i.  Verse  II.  And  a  voys;  Lat.  Et  uox  facta  est  de  caelis. 

T6.  Sendynge,  an  exact  translation  of  the  Lat.  mittentes.  It  must  be 
remembered  that  Wyclif  follows  closely  the  peculiarities  of  the  Latin 
(Vulgate)  version,  from  which  he  translated.  Some  of  his  expressions 
can  only  be  wholly  understood  by  examining  the  Vulgate.  Thus,  in 
verse  18,  the  phrase  \>e  nettis  forsaken  is  an  imitation  of  the  Lat.  abl. 
absolute,  relictis  retibus ;  and  so  on. 

19.  He gon forth;  Lat.  progressus;  cf.  he  gon  yn  (Lat.  ingressus)  in 
v-  a  i. 

31.  \>e  hond  ofhir  taken;  Lat.  apprehensa  manu  eius 

32.  \>e  euenynge  maad ;  Lat.  uespere  autem  facto. 
35.  Gon  out;  Lat.  egressus. 

40.  \>e  knee  f olden ;  Lat.  genu  flexo. 

Cap.  ii.     a.  Tok  not ;  Lat.  ita  ut  non  caperet  neque  ad  ianuara. 

9.  What ;  Lat.  Quid  est  facilius. 

15.  //  is  don;  Lat.  factum  est.     So  also  in  v.  23. 
19.  Sonnys ;  Lat.  filii  nuptiarum. 

26.  Loouys ;  Lat.  panes  propositionis,  i.  e.  shewbread. 

Cap.  iii.     4.  To  make  a  soul  saaf;  Lat.  animam  saluam  facere. 

10.  How  many  euere ;  Lat.  quotquot. 

21.   Wodenesse,  madness;  Lat.  in  furorem  uersus  est. 

27.  Diuersly  r  any  she,  a  translation  of  Lat.  diripiet. 

28.  For,  put  for  Lat.  quoniam. 

VOL.  n.  z 


338  NOTES. 

29.  Into  withouten  eend;  Lat.  in  aeterrmm. 
34.  In  \>e  cumpas ;  Lat.  in  circuitu  eius. 

Cap.  iv.     9.  Ofheeryng;  Lat.  audiendi. 
10.  Singular;  Lat.  singularis. 
12.  Ipat  sum  tyme ;  Lat.  nequando. 
20.   Taken;  Lat.  suscipiunt. 

34.  On-sidis  hand,  aside ;  Lat.  seorsum. 

35.  Passe  we  ;  Lat.  transeamus  contra. 

39.  Greet  pesiblenesse ;  Lat.  facta  est  tranquillitas  magna. 

Cap.  v.     2.  I'D  A^m ;  Lat.  exeunti  ei  de  naui. 
19.  To  \>me;  Lat.  ad  tuos,  i.  e.  to  thy  relations. 
23.  In  \>e  laste  \>ingis  ;  Lat.  in  extremis. 

35.  ythim  spekynge;  Lat.  adhuc  eo  loquente,  answering  to  the  (so- 
called)  dative  absolute  in  A.  S. 

36.  }>e  word  herd ;  Lat.  audito  uerbo. 
Nyle  Ipou  drede ;  Lat.  noli  timere. 

37.  Resceyuede ;  Lat.  admisit. 

38.  Sii  noyse,  lit.  saw  a  noise  ;  Lat.  uidet  tumultum. 

39.  What,  put  for  why;  Lat.  quid. 

40.  Alle  bast  out ;  eiectis  omnibus. 

Cap.  vi.     2.  Ipe  saboth  maad ;  sabbato  facto. 

5.  Vertu,  exercise  of  power ;  uirtutem. 
The  hondis  put  to ;  impositis  manibus. 

6.  Castelis  in  enuyrown;  castella  in  circuitu. 
9.  Schoon  wi]>  sandalies ;  calceatos  sandaliis. 

14.  Forso]>e,  &c. ;  manifestum  enim  factum  est  nomen  eius. 
Fro  deed  men ;  a  mortuis. 
Worchen;  operantur. 

19.  Leide  aspies  to  him ;  insidiabatur  illi. 

20.  Kepte;  custodiebat. 

26.  And  for  men,  &c. ;    et  propter  simul  discumbentes,  noluit  earn 
contristare. 

27.  A  manquellere  sent;  misso  speculatore. 
31.  Space  for  to  ete ;  spatium  manducandi. 

35.  Moche  our ;  iam  hora  praeteriit. 

36.  Leeue  hem,  send  them  away ;  dimitte  illos. 

37.  Goynge,  &c. ;  Euntes  emamus  ducentis  denariis  panes. 

41.  Et  acceptis  duobus  panibus,  &c. 

50.  Triste,  &c. ;  confidite  ;  ego  sum ;  nolite  timere. 
56.  Either  the  hem ;  Lat.  uel  fimbriam. 

How  manye,  &c. ;  quotquot  tangebant  eum,  salui  fiebant. 


XVIII.      JOHN   OF   TREVISA.  339 

XVII.  (B)     HEREFORD'S  PSALTER. 

Ps.  xiv.  Verse  I.  Eft  resten,  requiescet.     Eft,  again,  Lat.  re-. 

2.  Qui  ingreditur  sine  macula,  &c. 

3.  And  reprof,  &c. ;  et  opprobrium  non  accepit  aduersus  proximos 
suos. 

4.  The  dredende,  &c. ;  timentes  autem  Dominum  glorificat 

5.  Upon  the  innocent;  super  innocentem. 
In-to  without  ende ;  in  aeternum. 

Ps.  xxiii.     I.  Roitndnesse  oflondis;  orbis  terrarum. 
2.  Be/or  greithide  it ;  praeparauit  eum. 

4.  Toe  not  to  in  veyn  his  soule ;  non  accepit  in  uano  animam  suam. 

5.  And  mercy,  &c. ;  et  misericordiam  a  Deo  salutari  suo. 

7.  Doth  awei  $oure  $atus ;  Attollite  portas  (a  mistranslation). 

Beth  rerid  out,  eleuamini;  in  v.  9  it  is  better  translated,  viz.  beth 
rered  vp. 

10.  Lord  ofvertues;  Dominus  uirtutum.  Cf.  note  to  Mark  vi.  5. 

Ps.  cii.     I.  Blesse  to  the  Lord;  Benedic  Domino. 
2.  Wile,  &c. ;  noli  obliuisci  omnes  retributiones  eius. 
4.  A$een-bieth,  buys  back,  redeems ;  Lat.  redimit. 
Mercy-doingis,  miserationibus. 

6.  Doende,  &c. ;  Faciens  misericordias  Dominus. 

9.  Non  in  perpetuum  irascetur ;  neque  in  aeternum  comminabitur. 

10.  Aftir,  according  to  ;  Lat.  secundum. 

14.  Quoniam  ipse  cognouit  figmentum  nostrum ;  recordatus  est  quo- 
niam  puluis  sumus. 

15.  Homo,  sicut  foenum  dies  eius;  tanquam  flos  agri,  sic  efflorebit. 

1 6.  Quoniam  spiritus  pertransibit  in  illo,  et  non  subsistet,  &c. 

17.  Sones  of  sones;  filios  filiorum. 

19.  His  reume,  &c. ;  regnum  ipsius  omnibus  dominabitur. 
ao.  Miyi  bi  vertue ;  potentes  uirtute. 

To  ben  herd ;  ad  audiendum  uocem  sermonum  eius. 


XVIII.    JOHN  OF  TREVISA. 
(A)  Description  of  Britain. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  Mr.  Babington's  preface  to  Higden, 
vol.  ii.  p.  viii. 

'The  natural  productions  of  the  island  are  enumerated  in  the  4ist 
chapter.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  Higden,  instead  of  stating  facts 

Z  2 


340  NOTES. 

which  must  have  come  within  his  own  knowledge,  should  have  done 
little  else  but  remand  us  to  the  classical  authors  Pliny  and  Solinus, 
and  to  earlier  medieval  writers,  as  Isidore,  Bede,  William  of  Malmes- 
bury,  Alfred  of  Beverley,  and  Henry  of  Huntingdon.  There  is  little 
or  nothing  in  their  accounts  of  the  animals,  plants,  or  minerals  of 
England  to  call  for  remarks  here.  Higden  himself  remarks  principally 
on  the  richness  of  our  ores,  marbles,  and  other  minerals ;  of  our  exports 
of  wool  to  Flanders,  of  iron  and  lead  to  Gascony,  of  salt  to  Ireland, 
and  of  white  metal  (so  Trevisa  translates  aera  nivea}  to  all  Europe. 
An  enumeration  of  some  of  the  marvels  of  England  follow,  which  may 
be  passed  over  lightly.  They  are  principally  derived  from  Alfred  of 
Beverley,  Giraldus  Cambrensis,  and  William  of  Malmesbury.  Among 
the  marvels  are  recounted  various  petrifying  springs  and  windy  caverns, 
while  others  are  of  a  magical  or  supernatural  character  in  connection 
with  lakes,  mountains,  and  caves.  In  conclusion  it  is  observed  that  in 
no  country  are  there  more  bodies  of  saints  preserved  from  corruption 
than  in  England,  as  instanced  in  St.  Etheldreda,  St.  Edmund,  St.  El- 
phege,  and  St.  Cuthbert.' 

The  English  text  of  Trevisa  in  the  '  Rolls '  edition  is  from  MS.  H.  i 
in  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge.  It  is  a  fine  MS.,  and  a  few  readings 
are  given  from  it  here.  Some  others  have  been  adopted  from  MS.  Harl. 
1900,  as  pointed  out  in  the  footnotes.  The  Cotton  MS.  (here  chiefly 
followed)  has  been  preferred  as  preserving  the  author's  own  (Southern) 
dialect ;  it  has  been  collated  for  the  '  Rolls  '  edition,  the  various  read- 
ings from  it  being  there  marked  by  the  Greek  letter  y.  Mr.  Lumby 
(vol.  iii.  p.  xxv.)  has  the  following  remarks  upon  it.  '  In  the  personal 
pronouns  the  favourite  forms  for  the  first  person  singular  are  ych,  ich, 
and  y ;  and  for  all  genders  of  the  third  person  singular,  as  well  as  for 
the  third  person  plural,  the  not  unusual  form  is  a.  [See  1.  30.]  This 
is  most  common  for  the  masculine,  and  least  common  for  the  neuter  of 
the  singular.  The  feminine  likewise  appears  as  heo,  also  the  neuter  hyt, 
and  the  plural  hy.  The  orthography  is  also  peculiar;  v  is  very  fre- 
quently used  instead  of  /,  indicating  the  Southern  character  of  the  MS., 
but  there  occurs  an  equal  number  of  instances  of  the  contrary  inter- 
change 1.  There  is  a  marked  preference  also  shown  for  forms  with  the 
vowel  combinations  eo,  eu,  uy,  aa,  ee,  oo.  The  mark  of  the  feminine 
form  in  nouns  is  as  (as  wolvas,  a  she-wolf,  godas,  a  goddess),  and  a 
frequent  form  of  the  plural  is  on  (as  rolperon,  oxen).  In  the  words  live  and 
have,  the  v  is  always  represented  by  bb,  as  lybbe,  habbe ;  and  y  by  gg,  in 
ligge  for  lay  and  sigge  for  say.  Preterites  and  perfect  participles  have 


1  There  are  no  instances  of/  being  put  for  v  in  the  extracts  here  given. 


XVIII.      JOHN  OF   TREVISA.  341 

unusual  [i.e.  the  usual  Southern]  forms,  as  hop,  leapt, /«/,  fell.  Now  and 
then  we  find  a  word  entirely  differing  from  the  reading  in  the  text  [i.e.  from 
the  St.  John's  MS.]  and  of  a  more  antiquated  character,  as  teer,  clean, 
fulled,  baptized,  eldede,  lived.'  The  word  teer  is  Welsh;  cf.  W.  ter,  pure. 

Line  i.  Passe]),  surpasses ;  Lat. '  vincit'  Throughout  Extract  A,  Tre- 
visa  follows  Higden  closely. 

10.  Balenes,  Lat.  'balaenae.'  The  words  in  parentheses  are  not  in 
the  Latin. 

13.  Margery-perles,  pearls  ;  Lat.  '  margaritas.* 

15.  Carefully  observe  the  use  of  me,  which  is  equivalent  in  use  to  the 
French  on,  signifying  men,  people.  Note  also  that  wty  would  follow 
reed  in  modern  English ;  cf.  1.  47.  The  Latin  is,  '  quibus  tinctura 
coccinei  coloris  efficitur.' 

17.  be  efyer,  the  older  it  is;  Lat.  'quo  uetustior,  eo  solet  esse  ue- 
nustior.' 

25.  ]>e  Ipryft,  the  essence,  the  most  profitable  part ;  Lat. '  desiccante  se 
pinguedinis  nucleo.' 

30.  Gagates,  is  the  Y.jayet,  and  E.jet. 

%ef  me  axe\>,  if  people  ask  about ;  Lat.  '  cuius  si  decorem  requiras. 
nigro-gemmeus  est.' 

33.  Yhat,  heated ;  repeated  in  1.  35  in  the  form  hat. 

35.  Lat.  '  calefactus  applicita  detinet,  aeque  ut  succinum.'  Trevisa 
calls  it  '  succinis,  a  stone  that  is  so  named.'  Succinum,  or  rather  sucinum, 
means  amber ;  and  there  is  clearly  the  allusion  to  the  electrical  experi- 
ment of  warming  and  rubbing  amber  to  cause  it  to  attract  very  small 
light  articles. 

48.  Lat.  'uelut  altera  Samia.'  The  words  '  £at  hatte  Samos  also,' 
i.  e.  that  is  also  called  Samos,  were  added  by  Trevisa. 

51.  Whyt  metayl,  Lat.  '  aera  niuea  ; '  meaning  tin. 

54.  A  vercefyour,  a  versifier;  not  in  English,  but  in  Latin.  The 
Latin  has  '  Unde  quidam  metricus  in  laudem  eius  sic  prorupit. 

'  Henricus  de  Praerogativis  Angliae.     Versus. 
*Anglia  terra  ferax  et  fertilis  angulus  orbis, 
Anglia  plena  iocis,  gens  libera,  digna  iocari; 
Libera  gens,  cui  libera  mens  et  libera  lingua, 

Sed  lingua  melior  liberiorque  manus.' 

Next  follow  ten  Leonine  verses,  hexameters,  and  pentameters  alternately, 
beginning — 'Anglia,  terrarum  decus  et  flos  finitimarum ' — and  ending 
(in  Trevisa)  at  the  word  iyftes  (1.  69).  After  these  six  more  lines,  by 
one  Alfridus,  beginning — 

'  Ilia  quidem  longe  celebri  splendore  beata.' 
Trevisa  begins  by  translating  these  into  prose;  but  at  1.  61  evidently 


343 


NOTES. 


begins  to  aim  at  poetry.  His  lines  are  very  irregular,  but  may  be  thus 
arranged — 

'  Strange  men  that  needeth 

That  land  well  oft  relieveth; 

When  hunger  grieveth, 
That  land  all  such  men  feedeth. 

That  land  is  good  enough; 

Wonder-much  fruit  beareth,  and  corn. 

That  land  is  well  at  ease, 

As  long  as  men  live  in  peace. 

East  and  West  all  land 

Knoweth  havens  right  well  of  England. 

Here  ships  fondes  [approach,  seek  to  come], 

And  oft  help  many  'londes.' 

Their  meat,  their  '  monay  ' 

Men  have  more  common  alway. 

For  here  that  '  creftes ' 

Men  will  gladly  give  gifts. 

In  land  and  in  strand 

Well  wide  men  speak  of  England. 

Land,  honey,  milk,  cheese ! 

This  island  shall  bear  the  prize. 
As  of  lands  aright,  this  island  hath  need  of  none; 
All  lands  must  seek  help,  needs,  of  this  alone. 

Of  liking  [pleasure]  there  the  '  woon '  [abundance'] 

Wonder  at  might  Solomon; 

Riches,  that  there  is  in, 

Yearn  (for)  would  Octavian.' 

The  word  creftes,  of  a  craft  or  trade,  is  used  here  in  a  very  singular 
manner  in  place  of  the  Latin  de  more ;  as  the  original  has  '  Nam  de  more 
uiri  sunt  ibi  magnifici.'  In  1.  72,  neodes  signifies  of  necessity,  as  usual. 

76.  Mayster;  probably  Maistresse  (as  in  the  John's  MS.)  was  intended. 
The  Latin  is  '  Quibus  fontibus  praesul  est  numen  Mineruae.' 

8 1.  Pectonn;  Lat.  '  Peccum.'  The  reference  seems  to  be  to  the 
Peak  in  Derbyshire,  as  Henry  of  Huntingdon  has  the  words  '  in  monte 
qui  uocatur  Pec; '  Monum.  Hist.  Brit.  p.  694.  In  fact,  a  short  pass  near 
Castleton  is  still  called  the  Winnats  or  Wind-gates.  Another  wonder  of 
the  Peak  is  the  chasm  called  the  Eldon-hole. 

88.  Cherdhol.  Hemy  of  Huntingdon  has  Chederhole.,  i.  e.  Cheddar 
in  Somerset ;  see  Mr.  Babington's  note,  vol.  ii.  p.  ix.  Mr.  Lumby  adds 
(vol.  iii.  p.  xxvii.)  « it  is  worth  while  to  observe  that  Ceadboldes  wigh 
is  mentioned  (Cod.  Dipl.  427,  1198)  near  Lambourne  and  Welford  in 
Berkshire,  and  seems  to  approach  more  nearly  to  the  name  in  the  text. 


XV II I.      JOHN  OF   TREV1SA.  343 

The  name  Chaddleworth  exists  still  in  that  neighbourhood,  and  close  by 
is  the  curious  natural  feature  known  as  Wayland  Smith's  cave.' 

96.  Egle  kys  nest,  eagle's  nest.  The  genitive  case-ending  in  A.  S. 
was  -es,  as  in  modern  Dutch  and  German ;  in  Early  English  it  was  -es 
or  -is.  This  ending  was  sometimes  by  careless  scribes  written  apart 
from  the  word,  so  that  we  find  sone  is  written  for  sones  (Romans  of  Par- 
tenay,  1.  38).  Conversely,  the  word  his  was  often  spelt  is  (William  of 
Palerne,  1.  8) ;  and  hence  arose  a  curious  confusion,  by  which,  at  the 
close  of  the  fourteenth  century,  such  substitutions  as  egle  hys  for  egles 
became  common.  But  besides  this,  the  use  of  his,  after  a  proper  name, 
sprang  up  independently,  for  the  sake  of  convenience  of  expression,  as  is 
apparent  from  the  later  text  of  Layamon  ;  in  which  case  it  is  not  to  be 
regarded  as  a  mistake,  but  as  an  intentional  periphrasis.  See  Sir  F. 
Madden's  •  Glossarial  Remarks'  on  Layamon,  1.  1459 ;  and  an  article  in 
the  Cambridge  Philological  Museum,  vol.  ii.  p.  245.  At  a  later  period, 
the  frequent  use  of  bis  suggested  the  use  of  her  after  feminine  nouns 
(names  especially) ;  but.  this  is  far  less  common,  and  seems  to  have 
been  rather  avoided  than  sought.  Lastly,  the  error  arose,  and  is  still 
current,  of  looking  upon  his  as  the  real  sign  of  the  genitive  case,  and 
of  supposing  eagle's  to  be  derived,  not  from  the  Old  English  egles,  but 
from  the  awkward  periphrasis  egle  hys.  The  plain  answer  to  which 
absurd  notion  is  to  remember  that  we  cannot  thus  account  for  such 
words  as  woman's,  queen's,  and  the  like;  and  that  to  suppose  his  to 
be  itself  a  contraction  of  he  his  (as,  by  the  same  rule,  it  would  be)  is  to 
offer  an  inexplicable  explanation. 

114.  There  are  actually  such  phenomena  as  wind-caverns.  '  From  a 
blowing  cave  in  the  Alleghany  Mountains  a  hundred  feet  in  diameter, 
the  current  of  air  is  so  strong  as  to  keep  the  weeds  prostrate  at  the 
distance  of  sixty  feet  from  its  mouth.  But  the  most  extraordinary 
example  is  the  great  cavern  of  Ouybe,  of  unknown  extent,  in  Central 
Asia.'  Atlas  of  Physical  Geography,  by  Petermann  and  Milner,  p.  22. 

117.  Tre  in-to  yre,  wood  into  iron.  He  evidently  means  stone,  and 
alludes  to  petrifaction.  Cf.  Hamlet,  iv.  7.  20. 

123.  Wynburney;  Lat.  monasterium  Wynburnense.  Clearly  Wim- 
borne,  or  Wimborne  Minster,  in  Dorsetshire.  But  it  must  be  at  least 
fifty  miles  from  Bath. 

136.  Pimbilmere;  the  English  name  for  the  Bala  Lake,  through  which 
the  river  Dee  runs.  The  sources  of  the  river  are  in  the  Berwyn 
mountains. 

143.  Etheldred ;  Lat.  Etheldreda.  The  day  of  St.  Etheldreda,  virgin 
and  martyr,  is  June  23  in  the  Romish,  but  Oct.  17  in  the  English 
calendar.  She  founded  a  convent  at  Ely,  and  died  as  its  abbess  A.D.  679. 
She  was  commonly  called  St.  Audry,  and  from  her  name,  as  is  well 


344 


NOTES. 


known,  is  derived  the  word  tawdry,  originally  applied  to  fineries  bought 
at  St.  Audry's  fair  at  Ely.  Compare  Tooley  Street,  named  from  St. 
Olave.  See  Chamber's  Book  of  Days,  ii.  459. 

The  day  of  St.  Edmund,  king  and  martyr,  is  Nov.  20  or  22.  He  was 
shot  to  death  with  arrows  by  the  Danes  A.D.  870.  By  St.  Elphege  is 
meant  ./Elfheah,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  martyred  by  the  Danes 
A.D.  1012. — Freeman's  Old  Eng.  History  for  Children,  p.  219.  His  day 
is  April  19 ;  see  under  that  date  in  Chambers'  Book  of  Days.  St. 
Cuthbert,  bishop  of  Lindisfarne,  died  March  20,  A.D.  687;  Chambers' 
Book  of  Days,  i.  395. 

150.  By  comparing  this  chapter  with  the  original,  we  find  that 
Trevisa  has  added  something  of  his  own,  viz.  the  passage  beginning 
with  1.  175  down  to  the  word  Frensch  in  1.  190.  The  whole  chapter  is 
of  considerable  importance,  and  has  been  frequently  quoted  from ;  for 
which  reason  Higden's  Latin  version  is  here  subjoined. 

'  Ut  patet  ad  sensum,  quot  in  hac  insula  sunt  gentes,  tot  gentium  quot 
linguae;  Scoti  tamen  et  Wallani,  utpote  cum  aliis  nationibus  imper- 
mixti,  ad  purum  paene  pristinum  retinent  idioma ;  nisi  forsan  Scoti,  ex 
conuictu  Pictorum,  cum  quibus  olim  confoederati  cohabitabant,  quip- 
piam  contraxerint  in  sermone.  Flandrenses  uero,  qui  occidua  Walliae 
incolunt,  dimissa  iam  barbaric,  Saxonice  satis  proloquuntur.  Angli 
quoque,  quamquam  ab  initio  tripartitam  sortirentur  linguam,  austrinum 
scilicet,  mediterranean!,  et  borealem,  ueluti  ex  tribus  Germaniae  populis 
procedentes,  ex  commixtione  tamen  primo  cum  Danis,  deinde  cum  Nor- 
mannis,  corrupta  in  multis  patria  lingua  peregrines  iam  captant  boatus 
et  garritus.  Haec  quidem  natiuae  linguae  corruptio  prouenit  hodie 
multum  ex  duobus ;  quod  uidelicet  pueri  in  scholis,  contra  moreni  cae- 
terarum  nationum,  a  primo  Normannorum  aduentu,  derelicto  proprio 
uulgari,  construere  Gallice  compelluntur ;  item  quod  filii  nobilium  ab 
ipsis  cunabulorum  crepundiis  ad  Gallicum  idioma  informantur.  Quibus 
profecto  rurales  homines  assimilari  uolentes,  ut  per  hoc  spectabiliores 
uideantur,  francigenare  satagunt  omni  nisu.  Ubi  nempe  mirandum 
uidetur,  quomodo  natiua  et  propria  Anglorum  lingua,  in  unica  insula 
coartata,  pronuntiatione  ipsa  sit  tarn  diuersa ;  cum  tamen  Normannica 
lingua,  quae  aduentitia  est,  uniuoca  maneat  penes  cunctos.  De  prae- 
dicta  quoque  lingua  Saxonica  tripartite,  quae  in  paucis  adhuc  agrestibus 
uix  remansit,  orientales  cum  occiduis,  tanquam  sub  eodem  coeli  climate 
lineati,  plus  consonant  in  sermone  quam  boreales  cum  austrinis.  Inde 
est  quod  Mercii  siue  Mediterranei  Angli,  tanquam  participantes  na- 
turam  extremorum,  collaterales  linguas  arcticam  et  antarcticam  melius 
intelligent  quam  adinuicem  se  intelligunt  iam  extremi.  Tota  lingua 
Northimbrorum,  maxime  in  Eboraco,  ita  stridet  incondita,  quod  nos 
australes  earn  uix  intelligere  possumus;  quod  puto  propter  uiciniam 


XVIII.      JOHN  OF   TREVISA.  345 

barbarorum  contigisse,  et  etiam  propter  iugem  remotionem  regum 
Anglorum  ab  illis  partibus,  qui  magis  ad  austrum  diuersati,  si  quando 
boreales  partes  adeunt,  non  nisi  magno  auxiliatorum  manu  pergunt. 
Frequentioris  autem  morae  in  austrinis  partibus  quam  in  borealibus 
causa  potest  esse  gleba  feracior,  plebs  numerosior,  urbes  insigniores, 
portus  accommodatiores.' 

153.  Bote  }ef,  except  it  be  that;  a  translation  of  nisiforsan. 

168.  A  Freynsch,  in  French.     See  the  passage  at  p.  9, 11.  216  to  219. 

175.  Here  begins  Trevisa's  addition.  The  furste  moreyn  is  the  first 
great  plague,  A.D.  1349.  See  note  to  Section  XV,  v.  13.  Johan  Cornwal 
was  probably,  like  Trevisa,  a  native  of  the  county  of  Cornwall ;  Pen- 
crych  certainly  appears  to  be  a  Cornish  name. 

180.  He  gives  the  date  1385,  which  he  also  calls  the  ninth  year  of 
Richard's  reign.  This  is  correct,  as  this  ninth  year  was  from  June  22, 
1385,  to  June  21,  1386. 

187.  pan  can  here  lift  hele,  than  their  left  heel  knows. 

188.  &  a  scholle  passe,  if  they  shall  cross. 

202.  Party  of  heuene,  i.  e.  degree  of  latitude ;  Lat.  *  sub  eodem  coeli 
climate  lineati.'  In  old  astronomy,  a  clima  or  climate  was  a  portion  of 
the  earth  bounded  by  two  given  lines  of  latitude ;  cf.  our  use  of  zone. 


(B)     The  Norman  Invasion. 

Compare  this  passage  with  Section  I.  and  the  Notes  to  that  section. 

9.  Nameliche,  especially,  in  particular. 

21.  Robert,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  was  deprived  of  his  bishopric 
in  1052,  at  the  time  when  Earl  Godwine  was  again  received  into  favoui 
by  Edward  the  Confessor.  He  was  succeeded  by  Stigand. 

27.  William  Fitz-Osbern  is  the  right  name;  see  Freeman's  Old  Eng. 
Hist,  for  Children,  p.  303 ;  or  Freeman's  Norman  Conquest,  iii.  258. 

48.  A  similar  story  is  told  of  Caesar  when  he  landed  in  Africa ; 
Freeman's  Old  Eng.  Hist.  p.  317. 

50.  One  of  the  Peruvian  princes  is  said^  to  have  made  a  similar 
remark,  viz.  '  We  must  spare  our  enemies,  or  it  will  be  our  loss,  since 
they  and  all  that  belongs  to  them  must  soon  be  ours ; '  Prescott,  Con- 
quest of  Peru,  bk.  i.  c.  2. 

65.  See  Freeman's  Old  Eng.  Hist.  p.  328. 

69.  See  the  same,  p.  325 ;  and  the  whole  account  of  the  battle,  pp. 

326-339- 

104.  In  and  out,  inside  out.     Bourd,  a  jest. 

136.  See  the  story,  quoted  from  Giraldus  (Itin.  Kamb.  ii.  n)  in 
Freeman's  Norman  Conquest,  iii.  758.  To  this  account  Higden  (lib.  vi. 


346  NOTES. 

p.  286,  Gale)  adds  that  the  scene  of  Harold's  penance  was  '  cella  Sancti 
lacobi,  iuxta  ecclesiam  Sancti  lohannis ; '  which  statement  Trevisa  here 

translates. 


XIX.     GEOFFREY  CHAUCER. 

A  story,  agreeing  closely  with  The  Man  of  Lawes  Tale,  is  found  in 
Book  II.  of  Gower's  Confessio  Amantis,  from  whom  Tyrwhitt  supposes 
that  Chaucer  borrowed  it.  He  observes  further  that  it  resembles  in 
many  points  The  Lay  of  Emare,  which  is  printed  in  the  second  volume 
of  Ritson's  Metrical  Romances.  The  story  also  exists  in  French  prose 
(by  Nicholas  Trivet)  in  MS.  Arundel  56,  in  the  British  Museum.  In 
some  places  Chaucer  agrees  with  this  French  version  tolerably  closely, 
but  he  makes  variations  and  additions  at  pleasure. 

The  first  ninety-eight  lines  of  the  preceding  Prologue  are  written  in 
couplets,  in  order  to  link  the  Tale  to  the  others  of  the  series ;  but  there 
is  nothing  to  shew  which  of  the  other  tales  it  was  intended  to  follow. 
Next  follows  a  more  special  Prologue  of  thirty-five  lines,  in  five  stanzas 
of  seven  lines  each;  so  that  the  first  line  in  the  Tale  itself  is  1.  134  of  the 
second  of  the  fragments  into  which  the  Canterbury  Tales  are  broken  up, 
owing  to  the  incomplete  state  in  which  Chaucer  left  them. 

In  this  extract,  such  final  «'s  as  may  be  considered  to  form  a  distinct 
syllable  are  marked  by  two  dots  above.  In  like  manner  -es  is  marked, 
when  forming  a  distinct  syllable.  There  are,  in  general,  sufficient 
reasons  for  the  full  pronunciation  of  these  final  syllables,  but  these 
cannot  here  be  stated.  The  reader  is  referred  to  Morris's  edition  of 
Chaucer's  Prologue  and  Knightes  Tale  (Clarendon  Press  Series),  p.  xliv. 
for  general  rules ;  and  to  Ellis's  Early  English  Pronunciation  for  a  full 
discussion  of  the  subject.  In  the  first  stanza,  for  example,  the  word 
trewe  is  dissyllabic,  being  plural ;  Tiewe  is  so,  because  it  is  an  oblique 
case  governed  by  the  prep,  of,  which  formerly  governed  a  dative,  though 
now  associated  with  the  idea  of  a  possessive  case ;  newe  is  so,  because 
modified  from  the  A.  S.  dissyllabic  niwe.  Chajfare  is  an  infinitive  mood, 
and  infinitives  are  commonly  marked  by  the  termination  -e  or  -en  (A.  S. 
-an).  Ware  is  dissyllabic,  being  the  A.S.  warn.  Sometimes  an  e  is 
sounded  in  the  middle  of  a  word,  as  in  wydewher  (three  syllables). 
Observe  also  clothes  (A.S.  cldftas).  In  some  French  words,  such  as 
companye,  the  pronunciation  of  the  e  final  is  less  certain,  and  seems  to 
partake  of  poetic  licence ;  yet  there  is  nothing  very  remarkable  in  the 
assumption,  since  the  same  word  contains  four  syllables  to  this  day,  and 
is  accented  on  the  penultimate,  both  in  Spanish  and  Italian ;  cf.  Span. 
compania  and  Ital,  compagnia.  Again,  such  words  as  grace,  space,  from 


XIX.      GEOFFREY  CHAUCER.  347 

the  Latin  gratiam,  spatium,  may  fairly  be  allowed  two  syllables ;  espe- 
cially when  we  find  cause  (Lat.  causam)  with  two  syllables ;  Cant.  Tales, 
4142,  5705.  Against  this  view  it  has  been  urged  that  French  words,  in 
French  poetry,  did  not  at  that  time  exhibit  a  distinct  final  -e ;  and  that 
such  a  word  as  rose,  for  example,  was  then  a  pure  monosyllable  in 
French  poetry.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  fair  to  suppose  that  such  a 
word,  when  completely  adopted  into  English,  would  become  dissyllabic 
as  in  German ;  and  hence  Chaucer  so  uses  it  in  the  Knightes  Tale,  1.  I  So. 
The  fact  seems  to  have  been  that,  in  Chaucer's  time,  the  habit  of  the 
Southern  and  Midland  dialects  inclined  to  the  pronunciation  of  the  final 
-e,  whilst  the  French  habit  inclined  to  its  suppression.  In  the  conflict, 
the  English  habit  prevailed  at  first  for  a  short  time  only,  but  was  soon 
overwhelmed,  and  succumbed  completely.  Moreover,  if  the  final  e  be 
followed  by  a  vowel,  or  (in  some  cases)  by  the  letter  h,  it  is  elided, 
or,  to  speak  more  strictly,  slurred  over  by  rapid  pronunciation.  This  is 
why  the  e  is  left  unmarked  in  the  words  divelte  (134),  ricke,  sadde  (135), 
and  riche  again  (137).  Chaucer's  lines,  if  read  with  attention,  are  beau- 
tifully melodious. 

Line  134.  Surrye,  Syria;  called  Sarazlne  (Saracen-land)  by  N.  Trivet. 

145.  The  final  e  in  Rome  is  pronounced,  as  in  1.  142  ;  but  the  words 
the  ende  are  to  be  run  together,  forming  but  one  syllable,  thende,  accord- 
ing to  Chaucer's  usual  practice;  cf.  note  to  1.  255.  Indeed,  in  1.  423, 
it  is  actually  so  spelt;  just  as,  in  1.  150,  we  have  thexcellent,  and  in  1. 151, 
themperoures. 

151.  Themperoures,  the  emperor's.  Gower  calls  him  Tiberius  Con- 
stanline,  who  was  Emperor  (not  of  Rome,  but)  of  the  East,  A.D.  578,  and 
was  succeeded,  as  in  the  story,  by  Maurice,  A.D.  582.  His  capital  was 
Constantinople,  whither  merchants  from  Syria  could  easily  repair ;  but 
the  greater  fame  of  Rome  caused  the  substitution  of  the  Western  for  the 
Eastern  capital. 

1 66.  Mirour,  mirror.  Such  French  words  are  frequently  accented  on 
the  last  syllable. 

171.  Han  doon fraught,  have  caused  to  be  freighted. 

185.  Cerlously,  with  great  minuteness  of  detail.  It  is  the  Low  Latin 
seriose,  used  in  two  senses;  (i)  seriously,  gravely;  (2)  minutely,  fully. 
In  the  latter  case  it  is  perhaps  to  be  referred  to  the  Lat.  series,  not 
serirts.  A  similar  word,  cereatly  (Lat.  seriatim)  is  found  three  times  in  the 
Romance  of  Partenay,  ed.  Skeat,  with  the  sense  of  in  due  order. 

190.  This  refers  to  the  old  belief  in  astrology  and  the  casting  of 
nativities.  Compare  Scott's  novel  of '  Guy  Mannering.' 

197.  Tyrwhitt  shews  that  this  stanza  is  imitated  closely  from  some 
Latin  lines,  some  of  which  are  quoted  in  the  margin  of  many  MSS.  of 


348  NOTES. 

Chaucer.  He  quotes  them  at  length  from  the  Megacosmos  of  Bernardus 
Silvestris,  a  poet  of  the  twelfth  century.  The  names  EC  tor  (Hector),  &c. 
are  too  well  known  to  require  comment.  The  death  of  Turnus  is  told  at 
the  end  of  Virgil's  JEneid. 

205.  'And,  briefly  to  pass  away  from  this  matter;'  i.e.  to  get  over  it 
quickly. 

207,  208.  Here  have  seems  to  be  used  as  the  form  of  the  auxiliary 
verb,  whilst  han  signifies  possession.  See  han  again  in  1.  241. 

224.  Mahoun,  Mahomet.  The  French  version  does  not  mention 
Mahomet.  This  is  an  anachronism  on  Chaucer's  part ;  the  Emperor 
Tiberius  II.  died  A.D.  582,  when  Mahomet  was  but  twelve  years  old. 

228.  I  prey  yow  holde,  I  pray  you  to  hold.  Here  holde  is  the  infinitive 
mood.  The  imperative  plural  would  be  holdeth ;  see  saueth  in  the  next 
line. 

236.  Maumettrte,  idolatry;  from  the  O.  E.  maumet,  an  idol,  corrupted 
from  Mahomet.  The  confusion  introduced  by  using  the  word  Mahomet 
for  an  idol  may  partly  account  for  the  anachronism  in  1.  224.  See  note 
to  Sect.  VII.  1.  378. 

242.  Not,  put  for  ne  wot,  know  not. 

248.  An  imperfect  line.  There  are  a  few  such  lines  in  Chaucer,  in 
which  the  csesural  pause  seems  to  count  for  a  syllable.  Scan  it  thus: — 
That  them  |  perour  |j  —  of  |  his  gret  |  noblesse  || 

255-  Ynowe,  being  plural,  may  take  a  final  e;  we  should  then  read 
th'ende,  as  explained  in  note  to  1.  145.  The  pi.  ino^he  occurs  in  the 
Ormulum. 

263.  Alle  and  some,  collectively  and  individually,  all  and  singular, 
one  and  all.  See  Some  in  the  Glossary,  and  cf.  note  to  Sect.  IV  (c).  1.  28. 

276.  Ye.  It  was  a  mark  of  respect  to  use  ye  for  thou.  It  is  most 
curious  to  observe  that,  although  Constance  says  thou  to  her  father,  she 
says  ye  to  her  •  souerayn  plesance.' 

295.  In  the  margin  of  the  Ellesmere  MS.  is  written — '  Vnde  Ptholo- 
meus,  libro  i.  cap.  8.  Primi  motus  celi  duo  sunt,  quorum  vnus  est  qui 
mouet  totum  semper  ab  Oriente  in  Occidentem  vno  modo  super  orbes, 
&c.  Item  aliter  vero  motus  est  qui  mouet  orbem  stellarum  currencium 
contra  motum  primum,  videlicet,  ab  Occidente  in  Orientem  super  alios 
duos  polos.'  The  old  astronomy  imagined  nine  spheres  revolving  round 
the  central  stationary  earth ;  of  the  seven  innermost,  each  carried  with  it 
one  of  the  seven  planets,  viz.  the  Moon,  Venus,  Mercury,  Sun,  Mars, 
Jupiter,  and  Saturn ;  the  eighth  sphere,  that  of  the  fixed  stars,  had  a 
slow  motion  from  west  to  east,  to  account  for  the  precession  of  the 
equinoxes,  whilst  the  ninth  or  outermost  sphere,  called  the  primum 
mobile,  or  the  sphere  of  first  motion,  had  a  diurnal  revolution  from  east 
to  west,  carrying  everything  with  it.  This  exactly  corresponds  with 


XIX.      GEOFFREY  CHAUCER.  349 

Chaucer's  language.  He  addresses  the  outermost  sphere  or  primum 
mobile  (which  is  the  ninth  if  reckoning  from  within,  but  the  first  from 
without),  and  accuses  it  of  carrying  with  it  everything  in  its  irresistible 
westward  motion ;  a  motion  contrary  to  that  of  the  '  natural '  motion, 
viz.  that  in  which  the  sun  advances  along  the  signs  of  the  zodiac.  The 
result  was  that  the  planet  Mars,  hurried  into  a  position  of  evil  influence, 
prevented  the  marriage. 

302.  A  planet  is  said  to  ascend  directly,  when  in  a  direct  sign ;  but 
tortuously  when  in  a  tortuous  sign.  The  tortuous  signs  are  those  which 
ascend  most  obliquely  to  the  horizon,  viz.  the  signs  from  Capricornus  to 
Gemini  inclusive.  The  most  'tortuous'  of  these  are  the  two  middle 
ones,  Pisces  and  Aries.  Of  these  two,  Aries  is  called  the  'mansion*  of 
Mars,  and  we  may  therefore  suppose  that  Chaucer  is  speaking  of  Aries, 
the  lord  of  which  (Mars)  is  said  to  fall  '  from  his  angle  into  the  darkest 
house.'  The  sign  of  Aries  rises  so  obliquely  that  the  whole  of  it  appears 
above  the  horizon  in  less  than  an  hour.  The  use  of  the  word  '  angle '  is 
technical.  The  whole  sphere  was  divided  into  twelve  '  houses,'  or  equal 
parts.  Of  these,  four  were  called  'angles,'  four  others  '  succedents,'  and 
the  rest  'cadents.'  It  seems  to  be  meant  that  Mars  was  not  placed  in 
an  '  angle '  or  lucky  '  house,'  but  in  the  unluckiest  of  the  four  '  cadent ' 
houses,  and  so  in  the  '  darkest  house '  of  all.  See  the  full  explanation  in 
Chaucer's  Treatise  on  the  Astrolabe,  ed.  Skeat ;  p.  lii. 

305.  The  meaning  of  Atazir  has  never  hitherto  been  discovered.  But, 
by  the  kind  help  of  Mr.  Bensly,  one  of  the  sub-librarians  of  the  Cam- 
bridge University  Library,  we  are  now  enabled  to  explain  it.  In  Spanish, 
the  letter  z  (or  c  before  i)  is  pronounced  like  th ;  hence  atazir  or  atacir 
is  the  Spanish  spelling  of  the  Arabic  attathir,  influence,  given  at  p.  13  of 
Freytag's  Arabic  Lexicon.  It  is  a  noun  derived  from  athara,  a  verb  of 
the  second  conjugation,  meaning  to  leave  a  mark  on,  from  the  substantive 
athar,  a  mark.  Its  use  in  astrology  is  commented  upon  by  Dozy,  who 
gives  it  in  the  form  atacir,  in  his  Glossaire  des  Mots  Espagnols  derives 
de  1'Arabique,  p.  207.  It  signifies  the  influence  of  a  star  or  planet  upon 
other  stars,  or  upon  the  fortunes  of  men.  In  the  present  case  it  is 
clearly  used  in  a  bad  sense ;  we  may  therefore  translate  it  by  '  evil  in- 
fluence.' On  this  common  deterioration  in  the  meaning  of  words,  see 
Trench,  Study  of  Words,  p.  52.  The  word  craft,  for  example,  is  a  very 
similar  instance ;  it  originally  meant  skill,  and  hence,  a  trade,  and  we 
find  star-craft  used  in  particular  to  signify  the  science  of  astronomy. 

307.  'Thou  art  in  conjunction  in  an  unfavourable  position;  from 
the  position  in  which  thou  wast  favourably  placed  thou  art  moved 
away.' 

312.  'Is  there  no  choice  as  to  when  to  fix  the  voyage?'  The  favour- 
able moment  for  commencing  a  voyage  was  one  of  the  points  on  which 


350  NOTES. 

it  was  considered  desirable  to  have  an  astrologer's  opinion.    Travelling, 
at  that  time,  was  a  serious  matter. 

314.  Roote  is  the  astrological  term  for  the  epoch  from  which  to  reckon. 
The  exact  moment  of  a  nativity  being  known,  the  astrologers  were  sup- 
posed to  be  able  to  calculate  everything  else. 

332.  Alkaron,  the  Koran;  al  is  the  Arabic  article. 

333.  Here  Makomete  is  used  instead  of  Mahoun  (1.  224).     See  Extract 
XIV  (B). 

Message,  messenger.  This  is  a  correct  form,  according  to  the 
usages  of  early  English.  In  like  manner  we  find  prison  used  to  mean  a 
prisoner,  which  is  often  puzzling  at  first  sight. 

340.  '  Because  we  denied  Mahomet,  our  (object  of)  belief.' 

356.  'She  shall  have  difficulty  in  washing  away  the  red;'  i.e.  the 
blood. 

360.  '  O  serpent  under  female  form ; '  alluding  to  the  curious  belief 
that  Satan  had  the  head  of  a  woman  with  the  tail  of  a  serpent ;  as  in 
Piers  the  Plowman,  B.  xviii.  335.  A  scorpion  was  also  said  to  have  this 
shape ;  cf.  1.  404. 

367.  Knowestow  is  probably  a  trisyllable;  and  the  olde  to  be  read 
tholde.  But  in  1.  371,  the  word  Makestow,  being  differently  placed  in  the 
line,  is  to  be  read  with  the  e  slurred  over,  almost  a  dissyllable. 

380.  Moste,  might.     It  is  not  always  used  like  the  modern  must. 

401.  See  Lucan's  Pharsalia. 

404.  There  are  undoubtedly  a  few  lines  in  Chaucer,  in  which  the  first 
foot  consists  of  one  syllable  only;  this  is  one  of  them,  the  word  But 
standing  by  itself  as  a  foot.  See  Ellis's  Early  English  Pronunciation, 
PP-  333.  649.  This  peculiarity  was  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Skeat  in  1866, 
in  the  Aldine  edition  of  Chaucer,  i.  1 74. 

421.  Pronounce  euer  rapidly,  and  accent  successaur  on  the  first 
syllable. 

438.  Compare  Trivet's  French  prose  version  : — '  Dount  ele  fist  estorier 
vne  neef  de  vitaile,  de  payn  quest  apele  bisquit,  &  de  peis,  &  de  feues, 
de  sucre,  &  de  meel,  &  de  vyn,  pur  sustenaunce  de  la  vie  de  la  pucele 
pur  treis  aunz ;  e  en  cele  neef  fit  mettre  la  richesse  &  le  tresour  que 
lempire  Tiberie  auoit  maunde  oue  la  pucele  Constaunce,  sa  fille ;  e  en 
cele  neef  fist  la  soudane  mettre  la  pucele  saunz  sigle,  &  sauntz  neuiroun, 
&  sauntz  chescune  maner  de  eide  de  homme.'  I.  e.  '  Then  she  caused  a 
ship  to  be  stored  with  victuals,  with  bread  that  is  called  biscuit,  with 
peas,  beans,  sugar,  honey,  and  wine,  to  sustain  the  maiden's  life  for  three 
years.  And  in  this  ship  she  caused  to  be  placed  the  riches  and  treasure 
which  the  Emperor  Tiberius  had  sent  with  the  maid  Constance  his 
daughter;  and  in  this  ship  the  Sultaness  caused  the  maiden  to  be  put, 
without  sail  or  oar,  or  any  kind  of  human  aid.' 


XIX.      GEOFFREY  CHAUCER.  351 

Foot-hot,  hastily.     It  occurs  in  Gower,  in  The  Romaunt  of  the 
Rose,  1.  3827,  and  in  Barbour's  Bruce,  iii.  418. 

460.  Hym  and  here,  him  and  her,  i.  e.  man  and  woman ;  as  in  Sect. 
XV.  Pass.  i.  1.  100. 

464.  See  of  Grece,  here  put  for  the  Mediterranean  Sea. 

Marrok,  Morocco ;  alluding  to  the  Strait  of  Gibraltar. 

474.  Ther,  where ;  as  usual. 

475.  'Was  eaten  by  the  lion  ere  he  could  escape.' 
491.  See  Revelation  vii.  1-3. 

497.  Here  As  seems  to  form  a  foot  by  itself.     See  note  to  1.  404. 

500.  Alluding  to  St.  Mary  the  Egyptian  (Maria  Egiptiacd)  who, 
according  to  the  legend,  after  a  youth  spent  in  debauchery,  lived  entirely 
alone  for  the  last  forty-seven  years  of  her  life  in  the  wilderness  beyond 
the  Jordan. 

508.  Northumberland,  the  district,  not  the  county.  Yorkshire  is,  in 
fact,  meant,  as  the  French  version  expressly  mentions  the  Humber. 

512.  The  constable;  named  Elda  by  Trivet  and  Gower. 

519.  Trivet  says  that  she  answered  Elda  in  his  own  language, 
'en  sessoneys,'  in  Saxon,  for  she  had  learnt  many  languages  in  her 
youth. 

525.  The  word  deye  seems  to  have  had  two  pronunciations ;  in  1.  644 
it  is  dye,  with  a  different  rime. 

527.  Forgat  hir  mynde,  had  lost  her  memory. 

531.  The  final  e  in  plese  is  preserved  from  elision  by  the  csesural 
pause.  Or,  we  may  read  plesen ;  yet  the  MSS.  have  plese. 

578.  Alia,  i.  e.  JElla,  king  of  Northumberland,  A.  D.  560-588 ;  the  same 
whose  name  Pope  Gregory  turned,  by  a  pun,  into  Alleluia,  according  to 
some  versions  of  the  celebrated  story  about  Gregory  and  the  English 
slaves. 

585.  'The  plot  of  the  knight  against  Constance,  and  also  her  subse- 
quent adventure  with  the  steward,  are  both  to  be  found,  with  some  vari- 
ations, in  a  story  in  the  Gesta  Romanorum,  ch.  loi;  MS.  Harl.  2270. 
Occleve  has  versified  the  whole  story.'  Tyrwhitt.  Compare  the  con- 
duct of  lachimo,  in  Cymbeline. 

584.  Quite  her  while,  repay  her  time ;  i.  e.  her  occupation,  action. 
Wile  is  not  intended. 

645.  Perhaps  seyn  is  pronounced  seyen,  a  dissyllable. 

660.  '  For  pite  renneth  sone  in  gentil  herte  ; '  Knightes  Tale,  1.  903. 

664.  Vs  auyse,  deliberate  with  ourselves,  consider  the  matter  again. 
Compare  the  law-phrase  Le  roi  s'avisera,  by  which  the  king  refuses 
assent  to  a  measure  proposed. 

666.  I.  e.  a  copy  of  the  Gospels  in  Welsh  or  British,  called  in  the 
French  prose  version  '  liure  des  Ewangeiles.'  Agreements  were  some- 


35* 


NOTES. 


times  written  on  the  fly-leaves  of  copies  of  the  Gospels,  as  may  still  be 
seen  in  two  copies  of  the  A.  S.  version  of  them. 

669.  A  very  similar  miracle  is  recorded  in  the  old  alliterative  romance 
of  Joseph  of  Arimathea.  The  French  version  has:— 'a  peine  auoit 
fini  la  parole,  qe  vne  mayn  close,  com  poyn  de  homme,  apparut  deuant 
Elda  et  quant  questoient  en  presence,  et  ferri  tiel  coup  en  le  haterel  le 
feloun,  que  ambedeus  lez  eus  lui  enuolerent  de  la  teste,  &  les  dentz  hors 
de  la  bouche  ;  &  le  feloun  chai  abatu  a  la  terre  ;  et  a  ceo  dist  vne  voiz 
en  le  oyance  de  touz :  Aduersus  filiam  matris  ecclesie  ponebas  scanda- 
lum ;  hec  fecisti,  et  tacui.'  I.  e.  '  Scarcely  had  he  ended  the  word,  when 
a  closed  hand,  like  a  man's  fist,  appeared  before  Elda  and  all  who  were 
in  the  presence,  and  smote  such  a  blow  on  the  nape  of  the  felon's  neck 
that  both  his  eyes  flew  out  of  his  head,  and  the  teeth  out  of  his  mouth ; 
and  the  felon  fell  smitten  down  to  the  earth ;  and  thereupon  a  voice  said 
in  the  hearing  of  all,  "  Against  the  daughter  of  Mother  Church  thou 
wast  laying  a  scandal ;  this  hast  thou  done,  and  I  held  my  peace."  ' 

693.  The  story  may  conveniently  be  broken  off  here,  with  Constance's 
momentary  happiness.  After  many  further  troubles,  the  son  of  ^Ella 
and  Constance,  named  Maurice,  succeeds  Tiberius  as  emperor  of  Rome. 
This  is  an  allusion  to  the  fact  that  a  Maurice  (who  was,  however,  a 
Cappadocian)  succeeded  Tiberius  II  as  emperor  of  the  East,  A.  D.  582. 


XX.    JOHN  GOWER. 

The  numbering  of  the  lines  in  these  extracts  is  arbitrary.  The  Fifth 
Book  is  of  great  length,  and  the  extracts  begin  at  some  distance  from 
the  beginning  of  it. 

•  Chap.  cix.  [of  the  Gesta  Romanorum  contains  the  story  of]  the  chest 
and  the  three  pasties.  A  like  story  is  found  in  Boccace's  Decameron, 
x.  i.,  in  the  Cento  Novelle  Antiche,  Nov.  Ixv.,  and  in  Gower's  Confessio 
Amantis,  lib.  v.  The  story,  however,  as  it  stands  in  Gower,  seems  to 
be  copied  from  one  which  is  told  by  the  hermit  Barlaam  to  king  Avena- 
more,  in  the  spiritual  Romance,  written  originally  in  Greek  about  the 
year  800,  by  Johannes  Damascenus,  a  Greek  monk,  and  translated  into 
Latin  before  the  thirteenth  century,  entitled  Barlaam  and  Josaphat.  But 
Gower's  immediate  author,  if  not  Boccace,  was  perhaps  Vincent  of 
Beauvais,  who  wrote  about  the  year  1290,  and  who  has  incorporated 
Damascenus's  history  of  Barlaam  and  Josaphat,  who  were  canonised, 
into  his  Speculum  Historiale.  Barlaam's  fable  is  probably  the  remote 
but  original  source  of  Shakespeare's  Caskets  in  the  Merchant  of  Venice. 
Warton,  Hist.  Eng.  Poetry,  i.  clxxiii.  ed.  1840;  i.  271,  ed.  1871. 


XX.      JOHN  GOWER.  353 

The  final  e  commonly  forms  a  distinct  syllable,  as  in  Chaucer,  except 
when  slurred  over  before  a  following  vowel.  Thus  we  have  moste,  1.  a  ; 
olde,  1.  ii ;  atte  (for  at  the},  1.  15  ;  unstet  1.  22,  and  the  like.  So  also 
hondes,  1.  34;  auancement  (four  syllables)  1.  7. 

Lines  38,  39.  Afw/7,  mould,  dust ;  meined,  mingled ;  felde,  filled. 
44.  -4  bord  vpset,  a  table  set  up  (upon  trestles). 
119.  There  are  several  peculiarities  of  expression  in  this  story  which 
can  only  be  rightly  understood  by  observing  the  language  of  the  original 
from  which  Gower  is,  to  a  great  extent,  translating.     In  this  account  he 
closely  follows  the  story  as  told  by  Ovid,  Metamorph.  vii.  164-293,  and 
the  Latin  version  should  be  compared  with  the  English  one  throughout. 
139.  'Above  her  clothes  she  wore  a  girdle.'    In  this  and  the  two 
preceding  lines,  Gower  copies  Ovid. 

•Egreditur  tectis,  uestes  induta  recinctas, 
Nuda  pedem,  nudos  humeris  infusa  capillos ; 
Fertque  uagos  mediae  per  muta  silentia  noctis 
Incomitata  gradus;'    Metamorph.  vii.  182-5. 

So  again,  the  expression  in  1.  132  above  is  Ovid's — '  Sidera  sola 
micant;'  1.  188. 

145.         'Thrice  to  thine,  and  thrice  to  mine, 

And  thrice  again,  to  make  up  nine.'    Macbeth,  i.  3. 
Ovid  has,  in  like  manner — 

*Ter  se  conuertit;    ter  sumtis  flumine  crinem 
Irrorauit  aquis;    ternis  ululatibus  ora 
Soluit ;   et,  in  dura  submisso  poplite  terra,'  &c. 
149.  A  drechinge  onde,  a  labouring,  heavily-drawn  breath. 
153-  Observe  that  a  difference  is  here  made  between  wind  and  air. 
In  exactly  the  same  way  we  find  in  Piers  the  Plowman,  B.  ix.  3,  that  the 
castle  of  man's  body  is  said  to  be  made  of  four  things,  viz.  wind,  air, 
water,  and  earth.     It  is,  however,  most  likely  that  the  use  of  these 
words  by  Gower  was  merely  due  to  the  wording  of  the  original,  as  the 
corresponding  line  in  Ovid  runs  thus : — 

'Auraeque  et  uenti,  montesque,  amnesque,  lacusque.' 
155.  Echates,  i.  e.  Hecate,  as  in  Macbeth,  iv.  i.     Ovid  has — 'tuque, 
triceps  Hecate  ; '  Metamorph.  vii.  194. 

168.  J>o  parties,  those  parts.  Thessaly  is  meant;  see  1.  192.  The 
mention  of  Crete  in  this  line  is  a  singular  mistake;  Ovid  does  not 
mention  that  island  at  all,  but  has  the  line : — 

'Despicit,  et  cretis  regionibus  applicat  angues.' 

The  sense  of  cretis  is  not  quite  certain,  but  it  is  generally  considered 
as  equivalent  to  creteis,  i.  e.  chalky.  See  the  long  note  in  Burmann's 
edition  of  Ovid. 

VOL.  II.  A  a 


354  NOTES. 

171.  Othrys  and  Olympus,  mountain-ranges  of  Thessaly. 

1 79.  Amphrysus,  Peneus,  and  Spercheus,  are  rivers  of  Thessaly  ;  the 
fourth  river  is  wrongly  called  Eridian  by  Gower.  The  original  has 
Apidanus,  which  also  is  a  Thessalian  river ;  but  the  English  poet  was 
evidently  more  familiar  with  the  Eridanus,  now  called  the  Po. 

204-208.  For  these  five  lines  Ovid  merely  has — '  et  tantum  coelo 
tegitur,'  which  Gower,  singularly  enough,  seems  to  have  understood  to 
mean  that  she  became  invisible,  and  was  covered  only  with  air;  but  it 
refers  rather  to  her  remaining  out-of-doors. 

211.  luuente,  i.  e.  Juventas,  the  Latin  name  of  Hebe,  the  goddess  of 
youth. 

214.  Fieldwode  may  be  taken  perhaps  to  mean  fieldwort  or  gentian; 
but  it  is  evident  that  Gower  obtained  the  word  by  translating  the  words 
agrestis  silua  in  the  line — 

'Has  ubi  uerbenis  siluaque  incinxit  agresti.* 

241.  Spelling  ofhir  charmes,  recital  of  her  spells. 

301.  Cimpheius,put  for  Cinyphius,  which  is,  however,  an  adjective,  and 
has  reference  to  the  African  river  Cinyphus.  Ovid  has — 

'  Nee  defuit  illis 
Squamea  Cinyphii  tenuis  membrana  chelydri.' 

303.  Chelidre,  Lat.  Chelydrus  (Virgil),  Gk.  x&v5P05>  ^^  amphibious 
and  venomous  serpent.  See  above. 

311.  Cf.          'Scale  of  dragon,  tooth  of  wolf, 

Witches'  mummy,  maw  and  gulf 

Of  the  ravin 'd  salt-sea  shark,'  &c.    Macbeth,  iv.  i. 


ADDITIONAL  NOTES. 

SECTION  XVIII  (A).  This  '  Description  of  Britain '  may  be  compared 
with  the  opening  lines  of  Robert  of  Gloucester's  Chronicle,  and  the  first 
section  of  Camden's  Remaines  concerning  Britain. 

SECTION  XIX.  295.  It  is  worth  while  to  note  the  following  passage 
in  Chaucer's  translation  of  Boethius : — '  O  ]>ou  maker  of  J>e  whele  >at 
bere>  ]>e  sterres,  whiche  J>at  art  fastned  to  Jn  perdurable  chayere ;  and 
turnest  }>e  heuene  wij>  a  rauyssyng  sweighe  and  constreinest  J>e  sterres  to 
suffren  Jn  lawe;'  ed,  Morris,  p.  21 ;  see  also  pp.  106,  no. 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 

[For  words  beginning  with  J>,  see  Th ;  for  words  beginning  with  3,  after  Y.~\ 

Abbreviations  employed,  and  List  of  Dictionaries  referred  to. 

A.  S.  =  Anglo-Saxon    (Bosworth,  O.  F.  =  Old  French  (Burguy,  Roque- 

Grein).  fort). 

Ch.  =  Chaucer  (Clar.  Press  Series).  O.  H.  G.  =  Old  High  German  (Wack- 

Dan.  =  Danish  (Ferrall  and  Repp).  ernagel). 

Du.  =  Dutch  (Tauchnitz).  P. PI.  =  Piers  the  Plowman  (ed.  Skeat, 

E.=  English    (Webster,    revised    by  or  ed.  Wright). 

Goodrich,  Porter,  and  Mahn).  Prompt.  Par v.  =  Promptorium  Parvu- 

F.  =  French     (Pick's     Etymological  lorum,  ed.  Way  (Camden  Society). 
Dictionary).  Prov.  E.  =  Provincial  English  (Halli- 

G.  =  German  (Fliigel).  well). 

Gael.  =  Gaelic  (Macleod  and  Dewar).  Sc.  =  Scottish  (Jamieson). 

Icel.  =  Icelandic    (Egilsson,    Mobius,  Sp.  =  Spanish  (Meadows). 

Vigfusson).  Sw.  =  Swedish  (Tauchnitz). 

It.  =  Italian  (Meadows).  Suio- Goth.  =  Suio- Gothic,    or    Old 

Low  Lat.  =  Low  Latin  (Ducange).  Swedish  (Ihre). 

Mceso-Goth.  =  Mceso-Gothic  (Skeat).  W.  =  Welsh  (Spurrell). 

O.  E.  =  Old  English  (Halliwell,  Strat-  Wedgwood  =  Wedgwood's    Etymo- 

mann).  logical  English  Dictionary. 

Also  adj.  adjective ;  adv.  adverb ;  num.  numeral ;  pres.  part,  present  par- 
ticiple ;  pp.  past  participle,  &c. 

The  following  abbreviations  are  used  in  a  particular  sense : — v.  verb  in  the 
infinitive  mood ;  pr.  s.,  pt.  s.  the  third  person  singular  of  the  present  or  past 
tense ;  pr.  pi.,  pt.  pi.  the  third  person  plural  of  those  tenses,  except  when 
I  p.  or  2  p.  is  added ;  imp.  s.,  imp.  pi.,  the  second  person  singular  or  plural 
of  the  imperative  mood. 

Further  information  concerning  many  of  the  words  may  be  found  in  the 
Glossaries  to  Chaucer's  Prologue  and  Knightes  Tale  and  to  Piers  the  Plow- 
man in  the  Clarendon  Press  Series,  to  which  the  reader  is  particularly 
referred. 


A,  for   an,  i.e.  one,  one  and  the  168;  on,  i  b.  3;  a  nyht,  on  night, 

same,    10.  1418;    one,  a   single,  at  night,  4  c.  25;    a  rode,  on  the 

15  i.  99;  the  Had.  MS.  has  oon.  cross,  9.  239.     A.  S.  on. 

A.S.  dn.  JL,prep.  of,  15  pr.  6.     A.S.  of. 

A,  prep,  in,  I   a.  466;    a  \>re  =  'm  A,  put  for  he,  with  the  sense  of  it, 

three,  18  a.  199;  in,  on,  6.  32,  18  a.  30;  for  he,  18  a.  188,  &c.; 

1 16;  aFreynsch,  into  French,  i8a.  put  for  they,  18  a.  185,  &c. 

A  a  2 


356 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Abaie,  in  phr.  at  be  abaie,  i.  e.  at 
bay,  when  at  bay,  12.  206;  at 
abaye,  12.  46.  O.F.  baer,  to  open 
the  mouth ;  It.  tenere  a  bada,  to 
keep  open-mouthed,  to  keep  at 
bay.  See  Bay  in  Wedgwood. 

Abaischt,  pp.  astonished  (lit. 
abashed),  17.  Mar.  v.  42;  A- 
bayste,  afraid,  10.  1430;  Abashed, 
frightened,  5.  5642.  O.F.  es- 
bahir,  to  frighten,  from  baer,  to 
open  the  mouth,  cry  ba  or  bo. 
Cf.  Prov.  Eng.  bash,  modest. 

Abashed.     See  Abaisclit. 

A-baye.     See  Abaie. 

Abayste.     See  Abaisclit. 

Abbe,  v.  to  have,  I  a.  20,  154 ; 
2  p.  pr.  pi.  Abbeb,  I  a.  4,  1 79 ; 
Abbe  y-do,  have  done,  i  a.  501. 
A.S.  habban. 

Abbeis,  sb.  pi.  F.  abbeys,  i  a.  277. 

Abbod,  sb.  abbot,  I  '  b.  58;  pi. 
Abbodes,  I  a.  397.  A.  S.  abbod, 
from  the  Lat.  abbas,  gen.  abbatis. 

Abide,  v.  to  wait  for,  i  a.  92  ;  to 
wait,  tarry,  i  a.  99 ;  pr.  s.  Abit, 
abides,  3.  248 ;  imp.  s.  Abyde,  3. 
244;  Abyd,  3.  245;  pt.  pi. 
Abide,  they  waited  for,  la.  58. 
A.  S.  abidan,  from  bidan,  to  wait. 

Aboue,  prep,  above,  i  a.  126; 
prep,  as  sb.  in  phr.  at  here  aboue 
=  at  their  exaltation,  i.e.  having 
the  upper  hand,  18  a.  134.  A.S. 
abufan. 

Abusioun,  sb.  F.  imposture,  deceit, 
19.  214.  See  Cotgrave's  F.  Diet. 

Abyme,  sb.  abyss,  13.  363.  F. 
abtme,  O.F.  abisme;  Gk.  a,  not, 
Pvffffos,  depth,  bottom. 

Abyt,  pr.  s.  abides,  delays,  9.  40. 
See  Abide. 

Ac,  conj.  but,  i  a.  95,  136;  6.  29. 
A.S.  ac. 

Accord,  sb.  agreement,  19.  244. 

Achaped,  pt.  s.  escaped,  13.  970. 
O.F.  eschapper.  See  Escape  in 
Wedgwood.  Cf.  E.  skip. 

Aclitande,  adj.  eighth,  8  a.  129. 


Acorde,   pr.   pi.   agree,    20.    83; 

Acordeb,   18  a.  202;   pres.  part. 

Accordyng,  suiting,  suitable,  1 8  a. 

20;   pp.   Accorded,    agreed,    19. 

238.     Lat.  cor. 
Acouped,  pp.    accused,    5.   5679. 

0.  F.  encolper,  from   Lat.   culpa. 
Cf.  E,  culprit,  corrupted  from  cul- 
pit  or  culpat,  Lat.  culpatus. 

Acoyed,  pt.  s.  F.  coaxed,  12.  56. 

E.  coy,  from  Lat.  quietus. 
Acse]>,  pr.  s.  demands,  9.  32 ;  asks, 

9.  33.     See  Axeb. 
Acumbrid,  pp.  F.  encumbered,  15. 

1.  1 79.     F.  encombrer,  prob.  from 
a  Teutonic  source;   G.  kummer, 
trouble. 

Adauntede,/tf.s.  subdued,  i  a.  345. 

F.  dompter,  to  tame,  Sc.  dant,  to 
subdue,  from  Lat.  domitare,  which 
is  from  domare;  cf.  E.  tame. 

Aday,  adv.  in  the  day,  1  a.  165. 

Here  a  is  for  on. 
Adde,  pt.  s.  had,  i  a.  10. 
Addre,  sb.  adder,   20.   141 ;    gen. 

Addres,  20.  303. 

Adele,  prop,  name,  Adela,  I  a.  303. 
Adelston,  Athelstan,  I  b.  23. 
Adelwold,  St.  Athelwold,  i  b.  55. 
Adonward,  adv.  downwards,  i  a. 

151. 
Adoun,  adv.  down,  i  a.  115,  398; 

15.  i.  4.      A.S.  of  dune,  off  the 

down  or  hill,  downwards. 
Adrad,/>/>.  afraid,  alarmed,  5.  5641. 

A.  S.  adrcedan,  to  dread.    We  also 

find  the  form  ofdrad. 
Adraweb,  imp.  pi.  draw  out,  10.127. 
Aferes,  sb.  pi.  affairs,  dealings,  8  b. 

242. 
Affrayed,  pp.    afraid,    frightened, 

19.  563.     F.  effroi,  terror. 
After,  prep,   according  to,  2.  cii. 

20 ;  17.  Ps.  cii.  1 1 ;  for  the  sake 

of,  for,  i  a.  240. 

After  bat,  conj.  according  as,  3.  40. 
Aftir,  prep,  according  to,  10.  2311. 
Afore,  adv.  on  fire,  i  a.  482 ;  I  b. 

12,  79. 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


357 


Agast,  adj.  amazed,  19.  677;  A- 
gaste,  terrified,  I  a.  142  ;  aghast, 
afraid,  fearing,  15.  ii.  187.  Cf. 
Moeso-Goth.  usgaisjan,  to  terrify. 
The  mod.  aghast  is  misspelt. 

Agayn,  prep,  in  an  opposite  direc- 
tion to,  towards,  12.  233;  opposite 
to,  to  meet,  19.  391.  A.  S.  on- 
gean,  against,  towards. 

Agayn  ward,  adv.  back  again,  19. 
441. 

Agh,  pr.  s.  ought,  7. 128 ;  Aght,  pt. 
pi.  ought,  10.  1836.  A.  S.  dgan, 
to  own ;  pr.  s.  ah,  pt.  pi.  ahton. 

Agh.t,  sb.  possessions,  wealth,  2.  ciii. 
56.  A.  S.  esht,  Moeso-Goth.  aihts, 
possessions ;  A.  S.  dgan,  to  own. 

Agon,  pp.  ago,  20.  9.  A.  S.  agdn, 
gone  by,  pp.  of  agdn,  to  go  by, 
pass  by,  a  contracted  form  of 
agangan,  which  is  equivalent  to 
the  G.  ergehen.  The  prefix  a-  is 
the  G.  prefix  er-. 

Agray>inge,  sb.  apparel,  9.  158. 
See  Grained. 

A-gre))ed, />/>.  arrayed,  12.  52.  Icel. 
greifta,  to  prepare,  dress. 

Agrounde,  adv.  on  the  ground,  I  a. 
441. 

Agryse,  v.  to  shudder,  to  be  seized 
with  horror,  19.  614.  A.  S. 
agrisan,  to  dread.  Cf.  E.  grisly, 
dreadful. 

Ah,  conj.  but,  3.  122, 189.    See  Ac. 

Ahte,  sb.  property,  3.  180.  See 
Aght. 

Ai,  adv.  always,  2.  xiv.  4 ;  in  ai,  for 
ever,  2.  xiv.  16;  2.  cii.  18;  til  ai, 
forever,  2. cii.  38.  A.S. aa, E.  aye. 

Ak,  conj.  but,  12.  106.     See  Ac. 

Aire,  sb.  F.  heir,  n  b.  28. 

AkeJ?,  pr.  s.  aches,  3.  93.  A.  S.  ece, 
ace,  a  pain. 

AI,  adj.  all ;  of  al  a  tyde  =  during  a 
whole  tide,  19.  510;  Al  out, 
utterly,  I  a.  405  ;  pi.  Alle,  I  a.  51. 

Al,  adv.  S.  all,  quite,  I  a.  24,  55 ; 
Al  as,  just  as,  18  b.  32. 

Alast,  at  last,  9.  157. 


Alblast,  sb.  arblast,  crossbow,  1 1  b. 
82.  Lat.  arcubalista. 

Aid,  adj.  old,  7.  9;  Aide,  10.  437. 
A.  S.  eald. 

Ale,  sb.  ale,  6.  19;.  alehouse,  15  pr. 
42.  See  the  note. 

Alein,  prop,  name,  I  a.  303. 

Algates,  adv.  all  the  same,  never- 
theless (lit.  by  all  ways,  by  all 
means),  19.  520.  A.S.  algeats. 

Alisandre,  prop,  name,  Alexander, 
I  a.  48. 

Alijt,  pp.  alighted,  I  b.  22.  A.S. 
alihtan,  to  alight,  descend. 

Alkaran,  sb.  alkatran,  13.  1035. 
Alkatran  is  a  term  employed  by 
Mandeville  to  mean  pitch. 

Alkaron,  i.  e.  the  Koran,  19.  332. 

Alkyn,  of  every  kind,  10.  7816. 

Allane,  adj.  alone;  hym  allane, 
alone  by  himself,  16.  229. 

Alle-kynez,  of  every  kind;  ofalle- 
kynez  flesch,  of  flesh  of  every  kind, 

IS-  303. 
Alle  only,  adv.  simply,  merely,  14  a. 

15  ;  Al  only,  20.  75.    Sc.  alanerly, 

for  al  anerly.     See  Anerly. 
Alle   soule   day,  All  Soul's  day, 

i  a.  347.     See  the  note. 
Almes-dede,  sb.  deed  of  mercy,  5. 

5662. 
Almesse,  sb.  alms,  19. 168 ;  Alines, 

5.  5694.    A.  S.  ailmesse,  from  Lat. 

eleemosyna,  which  again  is  from 

the  Greek. 

Almost,  adv.  almost,  i  a.  135. 
Almous,  sb.  alms,  8  b.  148.     See 

Almesse. 

Almy3ty,  adj.  almighty,  5.  5742. 
Alneway,    alway,    every   way,    9. 

141.     A.  S.  ealne,  ace.  masc.  of 

eall,  all. 
Alond,  adv.  ashore,  on  land,  I  a. 

63,64;  Alonde.intheland,  10.257. 
Along  on,  prep,  along  of,  owing  to, 

2O.  55.     A.S.  gelang,  owing  to. 

Chaucer  uses  long  on,  on  account 

of;  Shakesp.  has  long  of,  Cymb. 

v.  5.  271. 


358 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


A-longet,  pp.  (  =  of-longed)   filled 

with  longing,  greedy,  15.  vii.  254. 
Alosed,  pp.  lost,  destroyed,  13.  274. 

A.  S.  losian,  to  perish ;    also,  to 

destroy. 
Alrebest,  adv.  best  of  all,  3.  301. 

A.  S.  ealra,  gen.  pi.  of  call,  all. 
Als,  conj.  also,  13.  253  ;  as,  2.  xvii. 

87.     See  Alsua. 
Als-so,   conj.  as;   als  so  faste  =  as 

quickly  as  possible,  20.  1 6. 
Als-suith,  adv.  as  soon  as  possible, 

immediately,  7.  65.    From  als,  as, 

and  swithe,  quickly. 
Als-swa,  also,  2.  xvii.  128. 
Als-tite,  adv.  as  soon  as  possible, 

immediately,  10.  471.    See  Tite. 
Alsua,   conj.   also,    7-    2I-      A.  S. 

eall-swa,  whence  O.  E.  alsua,  als- 

swa  (2.  xvii.  128),  also,  alse,  als, 

ase,  and  mod.  E.  as. 
Alswa,  conj.  also,  10.   1235.     See 

Alsua. 
Alther-feblest,  adj.  feeblest  of  all, 

10.  746.    The  forms  aliher,  alder, 

alter,  alre,  of  the  gen.  pi.  of  all, 

are  found  in  O.  E.  frequently. 
Alwais,  adv.  always,  7.  56. 
Alweldand,  adj.  almighty  (lit.  all- 
wielding),  lie.  26. 
Alwes,  for  Halwes,  sb.  pi.   saints ; 

hal  alwes  =  al  halwes,  12.  371- 
Alyhte,  pt.  s.  alighted,  20.  249. 
Alyned,  pp.  smeared,  anointed,  6. 

144.      Cf.    Lat.   lino,  I   smear; 

A.  S.  lynd,  grease. 
Alyte.     See  Lyte. 
Amang,  prep,  among,  7.  25,  33. 
Alyue,  adv.  alive,  6.  93.     A.  S.  on 

life,  in  life. 
Amended,  pp.  made   amends  for, 

i  a.  1 06.     See  Tamenden. 
Amidde,  prep,  amid,  i  a.  103. 
Amonges,  prep,  among,  19.  650. 
Amorewe,  adv.  in  the  morning,  3. 

43;    Amorwe,  i  a.  97,  18  b.  93; 

fram  }>at  it  was  amorwe  =  from  the 

time  of  daybreak,  i  a.  163.     A.  S. 

on  morgen. 


Amounted,  pr.  s.  amounteth    to, 

signifies,  15.  iii.  87;   19.  569. 
Ampolles,   sb.  pi.   ampullae,   very 

small  bottles  for  holy  water,  15. 

vi.  ii. 
An,  conj.  and,  5.  5800;  7.  62  ;  9. 

1  08. 
An,  prep,  on,  i  b.  25  ;  6.  92  ;  in,  6. 

118  ;  \>ar  ys  an,  is  therein,  18  a. 

74;  An  honde,  in  hand,  in  their 

hands,  4  c.  15.     A.  S.  on. 
An,  art.  a,  I  a.  99  ;  An  tuo  jer  =  a 

space  of  two  years,  I  a.  251.    A.  S. 

an,  whence  E.  an,  often  shortened 

to  a.     Cf.  Lat.  unus. 
Anaunter   =   an      adventure      or 

chance  ;      anaunter    yf  =  it's     a 

chance   whether,    I  a.   176.      F. 

aventure.     See  Auntour. 
Ancres,  sb.  pi.  anchorites,  15  pr. 

28.     A.S.  dncra,  from  Gk.  ava- 


And,  conj.  if,  15.  vii.  -246;    And. 

(written  &),  if,  1  8  a.  188. 
And,  conj.  also,  2.  xvii.  71.  A.S.  and. 
Anerly,  adv.  singly,  16.  59;  sepa- 

rately, 16.  158.     A.S.  dnlice,  Sc. 

anerly,  E.  only. 
Aner^e,  adv.  on  earth,  i  a.  498  ; 

into   earth,  I  a.  198  ;    to  bringe 

aner])e  =  to  bury. 
Angers.     See  Angre. 
Angle,  sb.  an  astrological  term,  19. 

304.      The    whole    sphere    was 

divided   into   twelve    equal   parts 

called  '  houses,'  four  of  which  were 

named  '  angles.'     See  the  note. 
Angre,  sb.  vexation,  trouble,  afflic- 

tion, 10.  1284;   pi.  Angers,  10. 

691.     Still   in   use;    A.S.   ange, 

trouble  ;  Lat.  angor. 
Angre,    adj.    angry,    caustic,    13. 

1035.      Or   read   augre  —  algre, 

eager,  biting. 
An-heij,  adv.  on  high,  15  pr.  13; 

An-hei,    I  a.  158;    Anhey,    i  a. 

143.     See  An,  prep. 
An-hesed,  pp.  exalted  (lit.  on-high- 

ed),  9.  124. 


GLOSSARTAL   INDEX. 


359 


Ani,  pron.  any  one,  7.  35. 
Anker,  sb.  an  anchorite,  18  6. 140. 

See  Ancres. 

Anly,  adv.  only,  lo.  2345. 
Anon,   adv.   soon,    I  a.   68,    398. 

A.  S.  on  dnt  in  one. 
Anoy,   sb.   annoyance,   sorrow,   9. 

136.     O.  F.  noire,  Lat.  nocere,  to 

harm. 
Anoyeth,   imp.  pi.  injure  ye,  19. 

494.     See  Tanoyen. 
Ans,  adv.  once ;  at  ans,  at  once,  7. 

136.     A.S.  dnes. 
Ant,  conj.  and,  3.  1 1 ;  4  c.  6 ;  if,  3. 

190. 
Anuysed,  pp.  annoyed,  15.  v.  74. 

From  Lat.  nocere,  to  hurt. 
Aper,  vb.  to  appear,  10.  2370. 
Apert,  sb.  open  view,  that  which  is 

openly  displayed,  17.  Mar.  iv.  22  ; 

into  apert=Vv\g.  in  palam.     Cf. 

Lat.  apertus,  open. 
Aperteliche,  adv.  openly,  I  a.  372  ; 

evidently,  15.  v.  15.     See  above. 
Apeyred,  pp.  impaired,  made  worse, 

1 8  a.  162.     F.  empirer,  to  make 

worse,  from  Lat.  peius,  worse. 
Apeyryng,  sb.  injuring,  18  a.  164. 
Apon,  prep,  upon,  7.  46. 
Aposen,  v.  to   question,   examine 

verbally,  15.  iii.  5  ;  pt.  s.  Aposede, 

J5-  i-  45- 

Apostata,  sb.  apostate,  15.  i.  102. 
Apparayleden,  pt.  pi.  apparelled, 

dressed,  15.  ii.  190. 
Appayre,  v.  impair,  injure,  10.  691. 

See  Apeyred. 
Appended,  pr.   s.  belongs,  15.  i. 

43  ;   ApendeJ>,  98.     Lat.  pendeo, 

I  hang. 
Aqueynte,  pt.  s.  quenched,  went 

out   (speaking  of  light),  I  6.  6. 

A.  S.  acwencan,  to  quench. 
Aqueyntaunce,  sb.  acquaintance, 

5-  5791- 

Aquynt,  pp.  acquainted,  16.  138. 
Ar,  prep,  before,  I  a.  19;    7.  n; 

conj.  before,  ere,  I  a.  136;  6.  98. 

A.S.  dr. 


Ar,  pr.  pi.  are,  7.  24. 

Arblaste,  sb.  crossbow,  I  a.  412. 

Lat.  arcubalista. 
Arblasters,   sb.  pi.  crossbowmen, 

i  a.  430.     See  above. 
Arc,  sb.  an  ark,  chest,  8  b.  174. 
Archers,  sb.pl.  i  a.  139. 
Archinamyn,  sb.  high  priest,  14  b. 

62.     From  Lzt.jlamen. 
Are,  adv.  before,  12.  226.    See  Ar. 
Areche,  v.   to   reach   after,  strive 

after,  desire,  3.  67.     A.S.  ardcan, 

from  rdcan,  to  reach. 
Arere,  v.  to  raise,  hoist,  i  a.  60 ; 

pp.  Arered,  reared  up,  18  a.  85  ; 

lifted,  drawn,  18  a.  92  ;  Arerd,  I 

a.  76.     A.  S.  arccran. 
Arest,  sb.  stop,  stay,  16.  63.     Lat. 

ad,  re,  and  sto. 

Arewe,  sb.  an  arrow,  18  b.  123. 
Argumenten,  pr.  pi.  argue,    19. 

212. 

Arise,  pp.  arisen,  i  a.  285. 
Arist,  pr.  s.  (contr.  from  arlsetJi), 

arises,  19.  265  ;  arises,  stands  up, 

9.  163.     (Cf.  zitlende  in  1.  164.) 

A.  S.  arisan. 
Ariuede,  pt.  pi.  landed,  come   to 

shore,   I  a.    321.      Lat.  ad,   to, 

ripa,  a  bank. 
Arijt,  adv.   aright,  just,   I  6.  21 ; 

rightly,  6.  104. 
Arly,  adj.  early,  10.  1433. 
Armene,  prop.  name.     Armenia ; 

armene  hilles,  the  hills  of  Armenia, 

13-  447- 

Armyng,  sb.  armour,  16.  218. 
Arskes,  sb.  pi.  newts,  8   b.   179. 

Prov.  E.  ask,  a  lizard,  A.S.  a\>exe. 

Cf.    Gaelic    easg,    an    eel;    the 

first   element   in  A.  S.  a]>exe,  G. 

eidechse,  a  lizard,  signifies  prickly, 

sharp. 
Artou  =  art    thou,    2.    xvii.    121; 

Artow,  19.  308. 
Arwes,  sb.  pi.  arrows,  2.  xvii.  39; 

14  c.  135.     A.  S.  arewe,  arwe,  an 

arrow. 
As  =  as  if,  i  a.  142.     See  Alsua. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


Asaut,  sb.  F.  assault,  i  a.  491.  Lat. 

ad,  lo,  salio,  I  leap. 
Ascry,  sb.  outcry,  alarm,  II   b.  40. 

Sw.  anskri  (on-shriek),  alarm. 
Ase,  conj.  as,  3.  39;  Ase — ase  =  as 

—so,  3.  29. 
Asent,  sb.  F.  assent,  6.  101.     Lat. 

ad,  to,  sewft'o,  I  feel. 
Aseuele,  for  ase  uele  =  as  many,  9. 

189.     O.  E.  fele,  many. 
Asise,  s6.   assize,  judgment,   8  a. 

140. 
Askes,  sb.  pi.   ashes,    18   a.   78; 

Askez,  13.  1010.     A.  S.  asce. 
Aske)>,  />r.  s.  asks,  requires,  15.  /»r. 

19. 
Aslawe,  pp.  slain,  I  a.  136,  198. 

A.  S.  aslagen,  pp.  of  asledn,  from 

sledn,  to  slay,  strike. 
A-soylen,  v.  to   absolve,   15.  />r. 

67;  pt.  s.     Asoylede,  15.  iii.  48  ; 

Asoilede,  absolved,  I  a.  51.     Lat. 

ab,  from,  solvo,  I  loose. 
Aspaltoun,     sb.     asphaltum,     as- 

phalte,  13.  1038. 
Aspien,  v.  to  look  after,  mind,  15. 

ii.  201. 
Assalseit,  pp.    assailed,    16.  459. 

See  Asaut. 
Assay,  sb.  proof,  20.  330 ;  was  of 

assay  =  which    had   been   proved. 

F.  essayer,  from  Lat.  exagium,  a 

balance,  from  ex  and  ago. 
Assay,  v.  to  attack,  16.  440.     Lit. 

to  examine,  try,  find  out,  as  in  1 6. 

401.     See  above. 

Assayen,  v,  to  examine,  15.  iii.  5. 
Asselen,  pr.  pi.  seal,  15.  iii.  143. 
Asswy]^,    adv.    immediately,    at 

once,  5.  5710,  5931.     From  as 

and  swithe.     See  Als-suith. 
Asterted,  pt.  s.  escaped,  19.  437; 

pt.   s.    sub],    Asterte,    might    get 

away,  could  escape,  19.  475.     Cf. 

E.    start,    Du.    storten,    to    pre- 
cipitate, rush,  G.  sturzen. 
Astorede,  pt.  s.  stored,  stocked,  i 

a.  378.  O.F.  estorer,  to  build,  gar- 
nish; Lat.  instaurare,  to  repair. 


A-strangeled,     pp.      completely 

strangled,  12.  150. 
A-swit>e,  for    as    swit>e,   adv.    as 
quickly  as  possible,  15.  iii.  96. 

At,  prep,  to  ;  at  senie  —  to  serve,  7. 
266;  at  fight  =  to  fight,  2.  xvii. 
89.  At  is  the  sign  of  the  infin. 
in  Icel.  and  Dan. ;  so  Sw.  all. 
Eng.  ado  =  at  do,  i.  e.  to  do. 

At,  prep,  to,  8  b.  133  ;  according  to, 
1 3.  348 ;  from ;  at  hym,  from  him, 
5-  5599  5  see  1-  5628 ;  at  here 
myjt,  to  the  best  of  their  power, 
5-  5652- 

At,  conj.  and  demon,  or  rel.  pron. 
that,  1 6.  152,  &c. 

Atache,  v.  to  attach,  arrest,  15.  ii. 
1 74  ;  pp.  Atachet,  taken  prisoner 
(lit.  attached),  15.  ii.  212.  From 
Lat.  ad,  to,  tango,  I  touch. 

Atazir,  sb.  evil  influence,  19.  305. 
See  the  note. 

A.\>,pr.  s.  hath,  I  a.  i,  3. 

A]?e,  on  the,  9.  241. 

AJ?el,  adj.  noble,  13.  258,411.  A.S. 
(B\>el,  G.  and  Du.  edel,  noble. 

Atir,  sb.  attire,  i.  e.  preparation,  20. 
292. 

A-to,  atwo,  in  twain,  14.  c.  7. 

Atom,  adv.  at  home,  I  a.  216; 
I  b.  91. 

Atones,  adv.  at  once,  19.  670. 

At-route,  v.  to  assemble  in  troops, 
i  a.  328.  O.  F.  route,  G.  rotte, 
a  troop,  of  Teutonic  origin. 

At-stonde,  v.  to  abide,  i  a.  240. 

Atte,/or  at  the,  I  a.  73  ;  6.  141 ; 
atte  fulle  =  at  the  full,  in  complete- 
ness, 19.  203  ;  ate  laste,  at  the 
last,  20.  15;  atte  laste,  I  a.  7 ; 
18  b.  122  ;  att  alle,  in  every  way, 

12.  283. 

Attele,  v.  to  go  directly,  12.  205. 

North.  E.  and  Sc.  ettle,  to  design, 

intend;    Icel.    «//a,   to   aim    at, 

intend. 
Atten  =  at  ]>en,  at  the,  I  -a.  471. 

Here  \>en  =  A.  S.  ]>am,  dat.  of  def. 

art. 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


361 


At-uore,  prep,  before,  I  a.  53. 
A.  S.  cetforan,  close  before. 

Atwo,  a-two,  in  twain,  19.  600. 

Au,  pr.  s.  impers.  ought ;  us  au,  it 
beho'ves  us,  8  b.  69.  A.  S.  ah, 
pt.  t.  of  dgan,  to  own. 

AuailleK  jpr.  s.  avails,  6. 147.  Lat. 
ualeo,  whence  E.  value. 

Avaled,  pp.  descended,  14  c.  67. 
F.  a  val,  downwards;  Lat.  ad 
uallem,  whence  O.E.  vail,  to 
lower.  Cf.  E.  avalanche. 

Auanced,  pp.  F.  advanced,  pro- 
moted, 20.  10 ;  Avaunset,  15.  i. 
165.  Lat.  ab  and  ante,  whence  F. 
avant,  avancer. 

Auancement,  sb.  F.  advancement, 
20.  7. 

Auantage,  sb.  as  adj.  advantage- 
ous, 19.  146. 

Auarous,  adj.  greedy,  5.  5578. 
Lat.  auaYus. 

Aucht,  2  p.  pi.  pt.  (as  pr.)  ought, 
16.  436. 

Auenge,  pt.pl.  received,  I  a.  183. 
A.  S.  afon,  to  receive.  See  Fon. 

Auentur,  sb.  adventure,  danger, 
1 6.  70. 

Auere,  on  fire  (a  =  on,  uere  =  fire), 

9-45- 

Aueril,  sb.  F.  April,  4  a.  i. 

Auht,  sb.  possessions,  wealth,  8  b. 
101.  A.  S.  ceht.  See  Aght. 

Auise,  pr.  pi.  refl.  consider,  20. 
82  ;  pp.  Auised,  well-advised,  20. 
90.  F.  aviser,  from  Lat.  ad,  and 
uiso,  I  visit,  from  uideo. 

Avisement,  sb.  careful  considera- 
tion, counsel,  20.  72.  See  above. 

Auision,  sb.  vision,  I  a.  187. 

Aumenere,  sb.  almoner,  5.  5575- 
O.  F.  anmosnier,  almosnier,  from 
almosne,  the  O.  F.  form  of  Lat. 
eleemosyna. 

Auncel,  sb.  a  kind  of  steel-yard, 
known  as  the  '  Danish  '  steelyard, 
15.  v.  132.  Etym.  doubtful. 

Aunceterez,  sb.  gen.  sing,  ances- 
tor's, 13.  258. 


Auncre,  sb.  anchoress,   I   a.  485. 

See  Ancres. 
Aungeles,   sb.  pi.   angels,  2.  viii. 

16 ;   Aungels,  2.  cii.  46 ;  2.  ciii. 

9  ;  Aungelez,  13.  240. 
Auntour,  sb.  adventure,  8  a.  192. 

Fel  auntour  =  the  adventure   be- 

fel,  it  chanced.    F.  aventure,  from 

Lat,  uenio,  I  come. 
Auote,  adv.  afoot,  on  foot,  I  a.  430. 
Auow,   sb.   vow,    19.   334.      Lat. 

uoueo,  I  vow. 

Austyn,  St.  Augustin,  I  b.  50. 
Auter,  sb.  F.  altar,  13.  506;  15.  v. 

90;  19.451. 

Auyse,  v.  to  consider;  vs  auyse,  con- 
sider   with   ourselves,    deliberate, 

19.  664.     See  Auise. 
Away,  int.  away !  go  away  1  4  c. 

40. 

Awayled,  pt.  s.  availed,  12.  408. 
Awayte,  v.  to  watch,  guard,  keep 

(in  prison),  15.  ii.  182. 
A-wede,  v.  to  become  mad,  go  out  of 

one's  wits,  12.  45.    A.S.  awedan, 

to  go  mad,  from  w6d,  mad. 
A-wondered,  pp.  astonished,  12. 

310.    A.  S.  awundrian,  to  admire. 

Here  a-  =  A.S.  of-. 
Awreke,  v.  to  avenge,  i  a.  129. 
Axe}>,  pr.  s.  asks,  inquires   about, 

1 8  a.    30;    pt.pl.   Axiden,    17. 

Mar.  iv.  10 ;  imp.  s.  Axe,  id.  vi. 

22.     A.  S.  dcsian,  to  ask. 
Ay,  adv.  aye,  ever,  for   ever,   IO. 

548.     A.  S.  a,  aa. 
A.-ye,prep.  against,  9.  18.     Contr. 

from  a^en.     A.  S.  ongean. 
Ay>er    o]>er,    i.  e.    each   one   the 

other,  13.  338. 
Aywhere,    adv.   everywhere,    13. 

965  ;  Aywhore,  5.  5580. 
Ase,  adv.   again,  back,   i  a.  337  ; 

I  b.  83. 
A3een-bieth,   pr.  s.  redeems,  17. 

Ps.   102.   4;  pt.   s.     A^enboght, 

14  a.  42.     Lit.  to  buy  again. 
Ajein,  prep,  against,  20.  12,  48. 
A3einward,  adv.  again,  20.  123; 


362 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


back,  to  the  other  side,  1 7.  Mar. 

fr.  35- 
A3en,  prep,  against,  I  a.  55  ;  adv. 

back,  I  a.  89  ;  prep,  towards,  I  a. 

212.     A.  S.  ongean,  against. 
Asenboght.    See  Ajeenbieth. 
A3ens,    prep,    against,    5.     5584, 

5667  ;  A3enes,  18  b.  19,  &c. 
A3er,  adv.  in  the  year,  I  a.  399. 
Aseyn,  adv.  back,  3.  178,  188. 
A3t,  num.  eight,  13.  357  ;  Ajte,  13. 

331.  A.  S.  eahta,  G.  acht,  Du.  acht. 
Ajt,  adj.  rich  ;   al  \>at  a^t  was,  all 

the  men  that  were  rich,  I  a.  416. 

A.  S.  cehtig,  rich.     See  Aght. 
Ajte,  subj.  pt.  s.  ought,    I   a.    25. 

See  Agh. 
A3t-sum,  adj.  either  (i)  sorrowful, 

or  (2)  eight  in  all,  in  a  company 

of  eight,   13.  411.     Cf.  G.  acht, 

care,  heed.     The  former  seems  to 

be  the  right  explanation,  but  the 

O.  E.  atf,  care,  is  very  rare. 

B. 

Bad,  pt.  s.  i  p.  asked,  4  b.  9.  See 
Bidde. 

Bad,  pt.  s.  bad,  4  c.  20.    See  Bede. 

Bale;  in phr.  to  baie  =  at  bay,  12. 
35.  See  Abaie. 

Balaunce,  sb.  balance,  a  pair  of 
scales,  5.  5665. 

Bald,  adj.  bold,  7.  17.  A.  S. 
bald, 

Baldly,  adv.  boldly,  n  a.  96. 

Bale,  sb.  S.  sorrow,  12.  75 ;  destruc- 
tion, 86.  41 ;  13.  276.  A.  S. 
bealo,  bale,  woe,  evil. 

Balenes,  sb.  pi.  large  fish,  some 
species  of  whale,  18  a.  10.  Lat. 
balaena. 

Balfully,  adv.  sorrowfully,  12.  84. 

Balies,  sb.  pi.  bellies,  15.  pr.  41. 

Ballede,  adj.  bald,  i  a.  408.  The 
original  meaning  seems  to  have 
been  shining,  white  (as  in  bald- 
faced  stag).  W.  bait,  a  white  spot, 
bal,  marked  with  white. 


Ban,  sb.  bone,  8  b.  216;  pi.  Banes, 

320;    Bannes,  229.     A.  S.  ban. 
Baner,  sb.  banner,  I  a.  53,  76. 
Baneur,  sb.  a  banner-bearer,  I  a. 

135  ;  Banyour,  18  b.  109. 
Banne,  v.  to  ban,  curse,  15.  i.  60  ; 

pt.   s.    Banned,    13.   468.     A.  S. 

bannan. 

Baptym,  sb.  baptism,  17.  Mar.  i.  4. 
Bar,  pt.  s.  bore,  7.  47 ;    Bare,   5. 

5837.     See  Bere,  vb. 
Barbre,  adj.  barbarous,  19.  281. 
Bare,  sb.  boar,  n  c.  9.    See  1.  21. 
Bares,  pr.  s.  flows,  beats  noisily,  8  b. 

41.     Cf.  E.  bore,  the  tidal  wave  in 

a  river ;   I  eel.  bdra,  a  wave. 
Bargane,  sb.  business,  strife,  com- 
bat, 1 6.  221.     O.  F.  barguigner, 

to  haggle. 
Barme,  sb.  bosom,   lap,  5.  5583; 

Barm,  7.  228.     A.S.bearm. 
Barn,  sb.  a  child,   7.  46;    12.   9; 

gen.  Barnes,  12.  8l.  Mceso-Goth. 

barn,  a  child,  bairn. 
Barnage,  sb.  childhood,  13.  517. 
Barnde,  pt.  s.  burnt,  I  a.  484  ;  pp. 

Barnd,    burnt,    18    a.   47.      See 

Brende. 
Barn-site,  sb.  child-sorrow,  sorrow 

felt  for  a  child,  7.  25  r.    See  Site. 
Barntem,  sb.  progeny,  offspring,  a 

number  of  children,  7.  190.    A.  S. 

beam-team,  posterity. 
Baronage,  sb.  assembly  of  barons, 

19.  239. 

Barst,  pt.  s.  burst,  13.  963. 
Bataile,  sb.  F.  battle,  i  a.  3,  52; 

Batayle,  I  a.  72 ;  pi.  Batayles,  I. 

a.  5. 
Batede,  pt.  s.    abated,    13.   440. 

F.  battre,  E.  beat,  bat. 
Bathe,  pron.  both,  2.  viii.  21. 
Baundoun,    sb.    power,   4    a.   8. 

F.   bandon,   power.       The    orig. 

meaning    is    proclamation.      Cf. 

It.  bando,  E.  banns. 
Bausenez,  sb.pl,  badgers,  13.392. 

'  Bawstone  or  bawsone,  or  a  gray, 

Taxus,  melota.'     Prompt.  Parv. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


3*3 


Bawelyne,  sb.  bowline,  13.  417. 
Bayte,  v.  to  bait,  feed,  19.  466 ; 
also  in  phr.  bayte  on,  i.  e.  set  on, 

12.  II.     Icel.  beita,  to  feed  ;  also 
to  set  on  dogs  ;  E.  bait,  abet. 

Be,  prep,  by,  7.  23  ;  20.  96. 

Be,  subj.  pr.  pi.  if  they  be,  when 

they  be,  I  a.  285. 
Be-bered,  pp.  buried,  9.  240. 
Bebledd,  pp.  covered  with  blood, 

140.  55. 
Become,  pp.  become ;  was  become 

=  had  gone,  5.  5818. 
Bede,   v.  to   offer,   i   a.   34;    to 

proffer,  place,  put,  throw,  6.  91  ; 

pt.  s.  Bed,  offered,  I  a.  201 ;  bade, 

13.  440;  pt.  pi.  Bode,  offered,  I  a. 
454 ;  subj.  pt.  s.  Bode,  I  a.  451 ; 
pp.  Bede,  bidden,  20.  29  ;  Bedene, 
IS-  351.     A.  S.  beddan,  to  offer, 
bid;  Mceso-Goth.  biudan. 

Bede,  pt.  s.  prayed,  i  b.  66.     A.  S. 

biddan,  pt.  s.  bad.    To  bid  beads, 

is  to  pray  prayers. 
Bedene,   adv.   forthwith,    7.    188. 

Du.    bij    dien,    by     that.        See 

Bidene. 
Bedes,  sb.  pi.  prayers,  I  b.  66 ;  9. 

75.     A.  S.  bed,  a  prayer,  biddan, 

to  pray. 

Bedreden,  adj.  bedridden,  10.  808. 
Beestes,  sb.  pi.  F.  beasts,  2.  viii. 

22  ;  Bestes,  2.  ciii.  23. 
Be-for,  adv.  before,  7.  20. 
Befyl,^.  s.  befell,  5.  5581. 
Begon,  pp.   filled,  20.  63.     A.  S. 

began,  to   go  over,  follow   after, 

take  in  hand,  occupy. 
Begouth,  pt.  s.  began,  16.  7.     See 

the  note. 
Beheste,  sb.  promise,  14  a.  3.  A.  S. 

behas,  a  promise,  hces,  a  command, 

hest,  hdtan,  to  ordain. 
Behighte, pt.  s.  promised,  14  a.  57; 

Behihte,  15.  iii.  30;  20.  125.  A.S. 

hdtan,  to  order,  pt.  t.  ic  het,  ic  heht. 
Beb-ouelich,  adj.  behoveful,  neces- 
sary,   20.    1 86.      A.  S.    beh6flic, 

needful,  behofan,  to  behove. 


BehoueJ?,  pr.  s.  behoves,  5.  5650. 
Be-kenned,  pt.  s.  commended,  12. 

371- 
Beknowe,  i  p.  s.  pr.  acknowledge, 

15.  v.  114. 
Beld,  sb.  protection,  II  c.  27.     Sc. 

beild,  protection. 
Belyue,    adv.    quickly,    5.   5619. 

A.  S.  bi  life,  with  life. 
Be-menej),  pr.  s.  signifies,  means, 

15.  i.  i. 
Ben,  v.  to  be,  3.  10  ;  Bene,  2.  ciii. 

73;  Buen,  4  a.  18;  Bue,  3.  18  ; 

By,  9.  9  ;   Beo,  I  6.   20  ;  pr.  s. 

(with/w/.  sense)  Bes,  shall  be,  2. 

xvii.  69,  ciii.  28;  pr.pl.  Bes,  shall 

be,  8  .a.   124;  Ben,  are,  2.  xvii. 

122;    Be|>,  6.  76;  Bebe,  6.  57; 

BeeJ>e,  6.    143;   Bu>,   18  a.  9; 

Bueb,  3.  109  :  Bye>,  9.  46  ;  subj. 

pr.  s.  Bue,  3.  31  ;  pi.  Buen,  3.  84; 

imp.pl.  Beth,  19.  229;  ByeK  9. 

75  ;  pp.  Bue,  3.  183.     A.S.  beon, 

to    be,    commonly    with  future 

sense. 

Bend,  pt.  pi.  bent,  16.  432. 
Bende,   sb.   d.  pi.    bonds;   hence, 

distress,   I  a.  470.     A.  S.  bend,  a 

band,  a  bond. 
Bene,   sb.    petition,    3.    174;    pi. 

Benes,    9.    163.      A.  S.    ben,    a 

petition,  E.  boon. 
Benymb,  pr.  s.  seizes  upon,  sur- 

prises,  9.   30.     A.  S.    niman,    to 

take,  seize;  cf.  E.  benumb. 
Beo.     See  Ben. 

Beode,  v.  offer,  4  c.  43.  See  Bede. 
Beodeles,  sb.pl.  beadles,  15.  iii.  2. 

A.S.  bydel,  bidel,  orig.  a  messenger; 

cf.  A.  S.  6oc?,  a  message,  beodan, 


Beodemon,  sb.  beadsman,  one  who 
prays  for  another  for  money,  15. 
iii.  47.  See  Bedes. 

Beodes,  sb.  pi.  prayers,  15.  v.  8. 
See  Bedes. 

Beoheold,  i  p.s.pr.  beheld,  15 


Beohote,  i  p.  s.pr.  promise,  15-vii. 


364 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


265  ;  pt.  s.  Beohijte,  vowed,  15. 

v.  47.     See  Behighte. 
Beoleeue,  sb,  belief,  creed,  1 5.  v.  7. 
Ber,  sb.  noise,  8  a.  1 19.     See  Bere. 
Ber,  imp.  s.  i  p.  bear,  3.  122  ;  />/.s. 

bore,  i  a.  399.     See  Bere,  vb. 
Berd,  sb.  beard,  n  6.  30. 
Bere,  sb.  a  roaring  noise,  I  b.  83  ; 

violent   noise,  here   used   of  the 

barking  of  a  dog,  12.43.     Cf.  Sc. 

birr,  a  loud  whirring  sound  ;   E. 

burr,  a   rough   sound ;   Sw.   bdr, 

wind.  See  Ber,  Eire. 
Bere,  v.  to  bear,  i  a.  371  ;  pt.  s. 

Ber,  bare,  brought  forth,  i  b.  52  ; 

bore,  I  a.  134  ;  Bar,  7.  47  ;  Bare, 

5-  5837;  pt-pl-  Bere,  I  b.  10; 

subj.  pt.  s.  Bere,  la.  112;   imp.  pi. 

Berej?,  2O.  114.    A.  S.  beran,  pt.t. 

ic  fciEr. 
Berke,  vb.  to  bark,  12.  35  ;  pt.  s. 

Berkyd,  12.  48. 
Bernakes,  sb.  pi.  barnacles,  14  c. 

15.     Gael,    bairneach,  a    limpet; 

W.  brenig,  limpets. 
Bernynde,  pres.  part,  burning,  9. 

44- 
Berth,  pr.  s.  bears,  19.  620  ;  Ber>, 

20,  1 76.     See  Bere. 
Bes.     See  Ben. 

Besoght,  pt.  s.  besought,  5.  5858. 
Bessette,  v.  to  shut,  exclude  (lit. 

be-shut),  9.  23. 
Best,  sb.  F.  beast,  I  a.  375  ;  14  c. 

8;  />/.  Bestes,  i  a.  378. 
Besteriinge,  s6.  pi.  bestirrings, ' 

emotions,  9.  7. 
Bestow,  /or  best  >ow,  =  shall  thou 

be,  12.  344.  See  Ben. 
Bet,  adj.  better,  19.  311. 
Bet,  adv.  S.  better,  I  a.  14;  12. 

172;  15.  pr.  63.  A. S.  bet, better. 
Bet,  imp.  s.  beat,  3.  33. 
Bet,  pp.  kindled,    13.  1012.     See 

Bete. 

Be-taken,  v.  to  betoken,  10. 1260. 
Bete,  v.  to  amend,  make  amends  for, 

i  a.    274;    4  c.    54;   pp.     Bet, 

kindled,  13.  1012.      A.S.  betan, 


to  make  better,  kindle ;   Sc.  beet, 

to  kindle ;  E.  boot,  profit. 
Betere,  adj.  better,  i  a.  36. 
Be)>,  />r.  />/.  are,  I  a.  7  ;  Bee]>e,  6. 

143;  Be>e,  6.  57;  imp.pl.  Beth, 

19.  229.     See  Ben. 
BeJ?enchinge,  sb.  thinking  upon, 

meditation,  9.  37,  loi. 
Be-Jxmt,j>A  s.  bethought,  12.  290. 
Betre,  adj.  better;   more  betre  = 

better,  18  a.  59. 
Betwe,  prep,    between,    5.    5786. 

A.  S.  betweok. 
Bewreyyng,  pr.  pa.  accusing,   5. 

5644.     A.S.  wregan,   to   accuse. 

See  Bewray  in  Bible  Workbook. 
Beye,  adj.  nom.  mas.  both,  I  b.  44. 

A.  S.  bd. 
Bi,    conj.    by,  throughout,  6.   58 ; 

to  the  extent  of,  commensurately 

with,  15.  v.  76;  near,  12.  240. 
Bi,  v.  inf.  be,  6. '66;   imp.  s.  12. 

322.     See  Ben. 
Bicome,  v.  to  become,  3.  36 ;  pp. 

Bicome,  gone  to,  12.  222. 
Bidde,  v.  to  ask,  I  b.  38  ;  to  pray, 

15.  v.  144;  subj.  pr.  s.  Bidde,  3. 

190  ;  pt.  s.  Bad,  i  b.  39.     A.  S. 

biddan,  to  ask,  beg ;  orig.  a  weak 

vb. ;  cf.  Goth,  bidjan. 
Bidders,  sb.  pi.  beggars,  15  pr.  40. 
Bidene,  adv.  at  once,  soon,  quickly, 

2.  xxiii.  7;   2.  ciii.  74;   II  a.  77. 

Du.   bij  dien,  by  that,   thereby; 

hence,  forthwith.     See  Bedene. 
Bi-falle,    pp.    befallen,    happened, 

15.  pr.  62. 

Bies,  pr.  s.  buys,  redeems,  2.  cii.  7. 
Biforn,  adv.  before,  2.  ciii.  6l. 
Bi-gat,  pt.  s.  acquired ;  bigat  him, 

acquired  for  himself,  12.  177. 
Bigg,  adj.  wealthy  (?),   10.   1460. 

It  seems  to  be  here  connected  with 

A.  S.  byggan,   to  build,   inhabit ; 

hence,   perhaps,    built    up,    well- 
furnished,     well-endowed.        See 

Byggyng. 
Biginne,  v.  to  begin,  I  a.  38 ;  pt. 

pi.  Bigonne,  I  a.  93. 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


365 


Bihaldes,  pr.   s.   beholds,   2.  ciii. 

77- 

Biheste,  sb.  promise,  I  a.  184. 
See  Beheste. 

Biliet.     See  Bihote. 

Bihinde,  adv.  behind,  I  a.  117. 

Bihote,  v.  to  promise,  I  a.  346 ; 
pt.  s.  Bihet,  I  a.  17,  500.  A.S. 
behdtan,  to  vow,  promise. 

Bihuld,  pt.  s.  beheld,  I  b.  14. 

Bij,  v.  to  atone  for,  pay  the  penalty, 
7. 1 80.  O.  E.  aby = A.  S.  abicga'n, 
to  buy  back,  redeem;  wrongly 
written  abide  in  later  authors. 

Bi-kenned,/>/.s.  recommended,  12. 
350;  Be-kenned,  12.  371. 

Bileue,  sb.  belief,  I  b.  27. 

Bileuede,  pt.  s.  remained,  i  a. 
339;  Bileuid,  II  a.  66;  Bileuede, 
pt.  pi.  remained,  abode,  I  a.  71, 
356;  Bileuid,  II  c.  101.  Cf.  E. 
leave,  Sc.  /a//,  lave,  remnant. 
From  A.  S.  belifan,  to  remain 
behind. 

Bilfoder,  sb.  food,  sustenance,  1 2. 
8x.  Probably  from  A.S.  bylg, 
belly,  and  fodder.  Cf.  prov.  Eng. 
belly  timber,  food. 

Biliue,  ac?v.  quickly,  at  once,  12. 
248;  as  biliue  =  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble, immediately,  12.  351.  See 
Belyue. 

Bilouked,  pp.  locked  up,  shut  up, 
enclosed,  2.  ciii.  50.  A.S.  be- 
lucan,  to  lock  up. 

Bilowen,  pp.  lied  against,  accused 
falsely,  15.  v.  77.  A.S.  leogan, 
to  lie,  pp.  logen. 

BineJ^e,  adv.  beneath,  I  a.  162. 

Binom,  pt.  s.  took  away,  I  a.  380. 
See  BenymK 

BinorJ>e,  adv.  in  the  north,  I  a.  328. 

Biof  J>e,  s6.  behoof,  advantage,  bene- 
fit, I  a.  42.  A.S.  behofan,  to 

fa&OVf. 

Biqueb,  />'•  «•  bequeathed,  I  a.  504, 
525.  A.  S.  cweftan,  to  say,  ct&ufe, 
a  speech,  E.  bequeath,  bequest. 

Biquide,  sb.  S.  bequest,  I  a.  503. 


A.  S.  cwide,  a  speech,  saying, 
becweftan,  to  bequeath. 

Bird,  />/.  s.  sttfy'.  it  would  behove, 
8  a.  171.  A.  S.  byrian,  to  behove, 
lit.  to  taste;  Dan.  burde,  it  be- 
hoved, pr.  6or,  it  behoves. 

Eire,  sb.  force,  rush,  haste,  1 7.  Mar. 
v.  13.  Vulg.  impetu.  Cf.  Sw.  bor, 
a  fair  wind,  W.bur,  violence;  prov. 
E.  bur,  force.  See  Bere. 

Birolled,  pp.  berolled,  rolled  about, 

13-  959- 

Biryel,  s6.  a  burying-place,  tomb, 
17.  Mar.  v.  2.  A.S.  byrgels,  a 
sepulchre,  from  byrgan,  to  bury ; 
cf.  G.  bergen,  to  hide. 

BirJ>es,  sb.pl.  nations,  2.  xvii.  125. 
A.  S.  gebyrd,  a  family,  lineage ; 
from  beran,  to  bear. 

Bisay,  pt.  s.  ordained,  i  b.  55.  Lit. 
besaw,  saw  concerning. 

Bisend,  pp.  likened,  betokened,  8  b. 
loo  ;  signified,  8  b.  94.  A.  S. 
bysen,  an  example,  bysenian,  to 
give  an  example. 

Biseninges,  sb.  pi.  resemblances, 
8  6.  96.  A.  S.  bysenung,  a  resem- 
blance. See  above. 

Biseo,  v.  to  see  about,  ordain, 
appoint,  I  b.  60;  Bisay,  I  b.  55. 

Bi-side,  prep,  beside,  I  a.  62. 

Bisied,  pt.  pi.  were  busied  about, 
troubled,  2.  xvii.  14.  Suggested 
by  the  Lat.  prceoccupauerunt. 

Bisou3ten,  pt.  pi.  besought,  15.  ii. 
189. 

Biso3te,  pt.  s.  besought,  i  a.  200. 

Bissopes,  sb.  pi.  bishops,  i  a.  397. 
A.  S.  biscop,  from  Lat.  episcopus. 

Bistad,  pp.  established ;  hence, 
brought  about  by  force  of  circum- 
stances ;  it  was  bistad=\t  came 
about,  4  c.  19.  A.  S.  stede,  a 
place,  stead. 

Bistad,  pp.  hard  bestead,  greatly 
imperilled,  19.  649.  See  above. 

Bi-stode,  pt.  s.  approached,  came 
upon,  12.  175.  Lit.  stood  by. 

Biswikes,  pr.  s.  deceives,  2.  xiv 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


12.     A.S.  beswican,  to   deceive; 

from    swican,    to     deceive;     cf. 

swica,  a  traitor,  swic,  treachery. 
Bitake,  pp.  handed  over,  delivered, 

committed,  I  a.  II.    A.  S.  betdcan, 

to  deliver  to,  commit,  betake. 
Bitel-browed,  adj.  with  projecting 

brows,  15.  v.  109.    Cf.  E.  beetling. 
BiJjQjte,  pt.  s.  planned,  I  a.  141 ; 

Bijx>3te   him,  bethought   himself, 

I  a.    265 ;    considered,    I  b.    76. 

A.  S.  be\>encan,  to  think  about. 
Bitide,  pt.  s.  happened,  12.  7. 
Bi-ttme,  adv.  betimes,  soon,  i  a.  18. 
Bi-tok,  pt.  s.  entrusted,  gave  over, 

12.  66.     See  Bitake. 
Bitter,  sb.  bitterness,  15.  v.  99. 
Bituene,  prep,  between,  I  a.  331. 
Biturne,  v.  to  turn,  I  a.  229;  pt. 

pi.  Biturnde  horn  =  turned  them- 
selves about,  i  a.  147. 
Bitwix,  prep,  between,  2.  ciii.  22. 

A.  S.  betweox,  betwix. 
Bi-uore,    adv.    before,    I  a.    93 ; 

prep,  before,  I  a.  119. 
Bi-yorld,  prep,  beyond,  7.  24. 
Bi3endis,  prep,  beyond,  17.  Mar. 

iii.  8. 
Bi3ete,  sb.  S.   gain,  winnings,  I  b. 

84.    Lit.  what  one  can  get.    A.  S. 

gytan,  to  acquire,  get ;  begytan,  to 

obtain. 

Bi3onde,  prep,  beyond,  i  a.  255. 
Blaberde,  pt.  s.  babbled,  mumbled 

over,  15.  v.  8.     E.  blab,  babble, 

from  the  sound  made  by  the  lips. 

Dan.  blabbre,  to  gabble. 
Blake,  adj.  black,  40.  14. 
Blake,    sb.    black,    blackness,    13. 

1009. 

Blawen,  pp.  blown,  10.  685. 
BledeJ),  pr.  pi.  bleed,  6.  135. 
Blef  J»,  pr.  s.  remains,  endures,  9. 

131.     A  short  form  of  bileueth. 

Perhaps  we  should  read  bleue,  may 

remain. 

Bleis,  Blois,  i  a.  304. 
Blende, />/>.  mingled,  blended,  mixed 

all  together,  13.  967. 


Blenkit,  pt.   s.    blinked,   glanced, 

looked,   1 6.    203.     Cf.  E.    blink, 

blench,    G.  blicken,  to  look. 
Bleo,   sb.   colour,   4  d.    16.     A.S. 

bleo,  colour,  hue,  complexion. 
Blere,  vb.  to  leer,  10.  2226;  pt.  s. 

Blered,    bleared,    blinded,    15  pr. 

71;   pp.  Blered,   dimmed,   15.  v. 

109.    O.  E.  blere  is  to  put  out  the 

tongue. 
Blesseth.  Mr,  i.e.  crosses  herself, 

19.  449. 
BleJ>ely,  adv.  blithely,  cheerfully,  5. 

5767- 
Bleue,  pr.  s.  subj.  may  remain,  9. 

215.     See  Blef}). 
Blinne,    v.  S.  to   cease,   12.    55; 

Blin,  to  leave  off,  make  to  cease, 

8  a.   169;    imp.  s.  Blinne,   cease, 

12.  322.     A.  S.  blinnan,  to  cease, 

from    bi,    prefix,    and   linnan,  to 

cease. 
Blis,  imp.  s.  3  p.  bless,  II  a.  126; 

2  p.   Blisse,   2.   cii.  3;    imp.   pi. 

Blisses,  2.  cii.  45;  pp.  Blissed,  2. 

xvii.  117.     A.  S.  blissian,  to  make 

joyful. 
Blisse,  sb.  S.  joy,  2.  viii.  17 ;  glory, 

2.  xxiii.   18;    Blis,  glory,  2.  ciii. 

75.     A.  S.  blis,  bliss,  joy. 
Blissing,  sb.  blessing,  2.  xxiii.  II. 
BliJ>e,  adj.  blithe,  cheerful,  I  b.  87. 
Bliue,  adv.  quickly,  12.  372;   as 

bliue,  as  quickly  as  possible,  12. 

149;  20.  315.     For  bi  life,  with 

life,  quickly. 
Bio,  adj.  blueish,   livid,  13.  1017. 

Dan.  blaa,  Lancash.  bla. 
Blod,  sb.  S.  blood,  la.  44 ;   dat. 

Blode,  6.  134. 
Blome,  sb.  flower,  2.  cii.  32.     G. 

blume,  E.  bloom;  from  vb.  to  blow. 
Blosmen,  sb.  pi.  blossoms,  ^d.  2. 

A.  S.  blti&tna,  a  blossom. 
Blubrande,  pres.  part,  bubbling, 

foaming.    13.    1017.      Prov.    E. 

6/06,  bleb,  a  bubble,  pimple. 
B1U3,  sb.  blue,  18  a.  14.     A.  S.  bleo, 

a  colour ;  also,  blue.     See  Bleo. 


GLOSS ARIAL  INDEX. 


367 


Blynke,   v.   to    blink,   awake,    5. 

5675. 
Blynne,  v.  to  cease,  13.  440.     See 

Blinne. 
Bly>e,  adj.  glad,  5. 5620.  A.S.  blffie, 

glad ;  Moeso-Goth.  bleiths,  kind. 
Boc,  sb.  book,  40.  3. 
Bochers,  sb.  pi.  butchers,   15  pr. 

98 ;  iii.  70.     F.  boucher. 
Bod,  sb.   abiding,   waiting,   delay, 

12.  149. 
Bod,  pt.  s.  waited,  13.  467;  Bode, 

awaited,    waited    for,    5.    5605 ; 

abode,    13.    1030;     waited,    13. 

467.  A.  S.  bidan,  to  bide. 
Bode,  i  a.  454.  See  Bede. 
Bodes,  sb.  pi.  commandments,  2. 

cii.  42.     A.  S.  bod,  a  command. 
Bodworde,  sb.  message,  13.  473. 

A.  S.  bod,  a  command. 
Bodyn,  pp.  bidden,  hence,  bidden  to 

do  battle,  challenged  to  fight,  1 6. 

103.     See  Bede. 
Bogh,  imp.  s.  bow,  7.  307;  pt.  s. 

Boghed,  bowed  to,  obeyed,  2.  xvii. 

112;    Boghud,   bowed,    7.    314. 

A.  S.  bugan,  to  bow. 
Bogh,  sb.   bough,    7.   314.     A.S. 

boh. 

Boght,  pp.  bought,  5.  5607. 
Bok,  sb.   S.  book,    7.  9;    rfa/.   *. 

Boke,  I  a.  362. 
Bolle,  sb.  bowl,  15.  v.  89.     A.S. 

and  O.  Fries,  bolla. 
Boiled,  pp.   swollen,    75.    v.    67. 

Also    spelt    bolned.      See    Boln. 

Used  in  Exod.  ix.  31. 
Bolle)),  pr.  s.   swells,    15.    v.  99. 

Also  spelt  BolneJ>. 
Boln,  v.  to  swell,  8  a.  108 ;  pt.  s. 

Bolned,  swelled,  became  full,  13. 

363.     Dan.  bolne,  Sw.  bulna,  to 

swell,  bulge;  cf.  E.  bole  of  a  tree, 

boil,  a  tumour,  billow,  a  swelling 

wave. 
Bon,  adj.  (generally  boun),  bowne, 

ready,    ready    to    start,    7.    no. 

Icel.  buinn,  pp.  of  bua,  to  prepare; 

whence  bound  in  the  phrase    'a 


ship  bound  for  New  York;'  un- 
connected with  the  vb.  bind. 

Bon,  sb.  boon,  8  a.  209  ;  prayer,  8  b. 
66.  Cf.  A.  S.  6e'n,  a  prayer. 

Bon,  s6.  bone,  3.  144.     A.S.  ban. 

Bonayrelyche,  adv.  debonairly, 
reverently,  9.  85,  87.  Fr.  de 
bon  air,  of  good  mien. 

Bonchede,  pt.  s.  struck,  !5/>r.  71. 
Du.  bonken,  to  knock. 

Bond,  pt.  s.  bound,  I  a.  116;  en- 
closed, 15.  i.  159. 

Bonde,  sb.  dat.pl.  bonds,  46.  12. 

Bonde,  sb.  gen.  bondman's,  5. 
5762. 

Bondemen,  sb.  pi.  bondmen,  serfs, 

I  a.  287;  peasants,  15  pr.  96. 
Bone,  sb.  petition,  i  b.  37 ;  prayer, 

I 1  b.  46.     See  Bon. 

Bonen,  adj.  made  of  bone,  3.  141. 

A.  S.  bdnen,  bony. 
Bonk,   sb.   bank,    13.    379;    gen. 

Bonkez,  13.  483  ;  pi.  Bonkez,  13. 

363- 
Bonure,  adv.  debonairly,  politely, 

12.  332.     See  Bonayrelyche. 
Boot,  sb.  S.  a  boat,  170.  iv.  I. 
Bor,  sb.  boar,  12.  203. 

Bord,  sb.  a  table  (lit.  a  board),  20. 

Bordun,  sb.  a  pilgrim's  staff,  15. 

vi.  8.     F.  bourdon,  Ital.  bordone. 
Bore,  pp.  born,  5.  5646;  12.  240; 

Boren,  6.  98. 
Borewe,  sb.  a  surety,  3. 113.     A.  S. 

borh,  a  pledge,  loan. 
Borewyng,  sb.  borrowing,  3.  194. 
Borgages,    sb.    pi.    tenements    in 

towns,  held  by  a  particular  tenure, 

15.  iii.  77.     F.  bourg,  town,  and 

gage,  pledge. 
Borgounez,  pr.  pi.  burgeon,  bud, 

13.  1042.     O.  F.    bourgeon;   cf. 
Gael,  borr,  a  knob,  bunch,  burr. 

Borne,  sb.  stream,  burn,  13.   482. 

A.S.    burne;    cf.    G.   brunnen,  a 

well. 
Borwes,  sb.  pi.  sureties,  sponsors, 

15.  i.  75-     See  Borewe. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


Borwj,  S.  a  place  of  shelter,  12.  9. 
E.  borough,  barrow,  from  A.  S. 
beorgan,  to  hide. 

Bosk,  imp.  s.  stow,  13.  351.  O.E. 
busk,  to  get  oneself  ready,  Icel. 
btiask,  to  prepare  oneself,  from 
biia,  to  prepare.  See  Busk. 

Boske,  sb.  bush,  wood,  3.  168; 
sb.  pi.  Boskez,  bushes,  thickets, 
13.  322.  Icel.  buskr,  a  tuft  of 
hair,  bush;  cf.  It.  bosco.  The 
O.  E.  boske  is  not  derived  from  It. 
bosco,  but  is  of  cognate  origin. 

Bot,  sb.  boot ;  to  bot  =  as  a  remedy, 
for  our  good,  13.  473.  See 
Bote. 

Bot,  pt.  s.  bit,  15.  v.  67. 

Bot,  conj.  but,  however,  7*  4 » 
Bote,  except,  I  a.  45  ;  unless,  I  a. 
1 8  ;  6.  39  ;  but,  except,  I  a.  70. 

Bote,  sb.  amendment,  remedy,  3. 
176;  46.  9;  20.  298;  good, 
3.  300.  A.  S.  bot,  a  remedy, 
boot ;  from  A.  S.  bet,  better,  betan, 
to  make  better,  kindle  a  fire ;  cf. 
Sc.  beet,  to  kindle.  See  Bete. 

Bote-3ef,  conj.  but  if,  except  that, 
18  a.  153. 

BoJ>em,  sb.  bottom,  13.  1030; 
Bo|>om,  a  bottom,  vale,  13.  383; 
pi.  Bo>emez,  13.  450. 

Botles,  adv.  without  remedy,  ir- 
remediably, 12.  134.  See  Bote. 

Bouele,  sb.  bowel,  20.  311.  O.  F. 
boel,  from  Lat.  botellus,  a  little 
sausage. 

Bounte,  sb.  F.  goodness,  \a.  30; 

5-  5849- 
Bourd,  sb.  jest,  iSb.  105.     O.  F. 

bourde,   a    jest,    corrupted    from 

O.  F.  bohort,  a  tournament,  game  ; 

from  horde,  a  barrier,  E.  hurdle. 
Boure,     sb.    bower,     i.  e.    lady's 

chamber,  15.  iii.  97;  pi.  Bourez, 

bowers,  sleeping-places,  13.   322. 

A.  S.    bur,   a    bedchamber,   from 

buan,  to  dwell  in. 
Bourne,  sb.  brook,  i&pr.  8.    See 

Borne. 


Boute,  prep,  without,  12.  149,  211. 
A.  S.  butan,  without. 

Bowande,  pres.  part,  bowing,  obe- 
dient, 5.  5836. 

Bow-draucht,  sb.  bowshot  (lit. 
bow-draught),  16.  19. 

Bowe,  v.  to  bend  one's  way,  go, 
13.  482 ;  pt.  s.  Bowed,  bent  their 
way,  made  their  way,  went,  13. 
379.  See  Bues. 

Boxum,  adj.  obedient,  15.  i.  108. 
A.  S.  buhsom  (for  bugsom),  pliant, 
obedient,  from  bugan,  to  bowt 
bend. 

Boxumly,     adv.    obediently,    12. 

332- 
Boxumnes,   sb.  obedience,   15.  i. 

ill.       A.  S.      buhsomnes.       See 

Boxum. 
Boye,  sb.  young  man,  15  pr.  77. 

It  implies  contempt  rather  than 

youthfulness. 

Bo3te,  pt.  s.  bought,  i  a.  455. 
Brade,  adj.  broad,  2.  viii.  4. 
Brak,  pt.  s.  broke,  5.  5922. 
Braste,  pt.  pi.  burst,  19.  671.   A.  S. 

berstan,    pt.    t.    barst,    later    E. 

brast. 
Bratful,  adv.  brimful,   15  pr.  41. 

Sw.  brdddful,  brimful,  from  brddd, 

a  brim.     Cf.  A.  S.  brerdful,  from 

brerd,  a  brim. 
Brayde,  sb.  moment ;  at  a  brayde 

at  a  start,  in  a  moment,  13.  539; 

attack,   10.    1925 ;    pi.   Braydes, 

grimaces,  IO.  2227.     Icel.  bragft, 

a  sudden   motion,  trick,   sleight, 

look,  expression. 
Braydes,   pr.    s.   moves    quickly, 

hastens,   rushes,    12.    149.     Icel. 

bregfta,  to  start.     See  above. 
Brayinde,    pres.    part,    braying, 

roaring,  9.  79.     O.  F.  braire,  to 

bray,  roar,  W.  bragal,  to  voci- 
ferate. 

Brec,  pt.  s.  broke,  I  a.  386. 
Brede,  sb.  bread,  2.  ciii.  31,  34. 

A.  S.  bread. 
Brede,  sb.  breadth,    13.  316;    a 


GLOSS AR1AL  INDEX. 


369 


broad  space,  freedom,  2.  xvii.  53. 

A.  S.  brado,  G.  breite. 
Bref,  adj.  short,  little,  4  c.  56.     F. 

bref,  Lat.  brevis. 
Breke,  v.  to  break,  2.  xvii.  99. 
Breme,  a<#.  S.  fierce,  bold,  12.  18; 

Brem,    furious,    angry,  8  a.   152. 

A.  S.  bremman,  to  rage,  roar. 
Breme,   adv.   boldly,   loudly,  4  d. 

27.     See  above. 
Bremely,  adv.  S.  fiercely;   hence, 

loudly,  12.  23;  Bremly,  furiously, 

8  a.  128;  Bremli,  8  b.  41. 
Bren,  s6.  bran,  15.  vii.  270. 
Bren,  v.  to  burn,  8  a.  122  ;  Brenne, 

20.  251  ;  pr.  s.  Brenneb,  burns, 

1 8  a.  31 ;   pt.  s.    Brende,   burnt, 

i  6.  7;  19.  289;  />/./>/.  Brenned, 

burnt,    13.    959  ;    Brend,    n    a. 

6 1 ;  pp.  Brend,  3.  183.     See  also 

Barnde.    A.  S.  brennan,  to  burn, 

G.  brennen. 
Brene,  sb.  burning,  fire,  9.  56.  A.S. 

bryne,  a  burning. 
Brened,  pt.  pi.  burned,  13.  509. 

See  Bren. 
Brent,  pt.  s.  burnt,  2.  xvii.  24.    See 

Bren. 
Brentest,    adj.    superl.    steepest, 

highest,     13.    379.      Sw.    brant, 

steep ;  cf.  W.  bryn,  a  hill. 
Brest,  v.  to  burst,  8  b.  104. 
Breuet,s&.  brief,  letter  of  indulgence, 

i^.pr.  71. 

Breuh,  pt.  s.  brewed,  15.  v.  133. 
Breusters,  sb.  pi.  alewives,  female 

brewers,  15  pr.  98. 
Briddes,  sb.  pi.  birds,  4  d.  27 ;  12. 

23  ;  gen.  pi.  Briddes,  4  d.  2  ;  pi. 

Briddis,  170.  iv.  32.     A.S.  brid, 

a  brood,  the  young  of  any  bird  or 

animal. 
Brig,  sb.  bridge,   lie.  78.     A.  S. 

brig,  brycg,  G.  brucke. 
Brin,  v.  to  burn,  8  a.  142 ;   8  b. 

228;  II  a.  55;  pres.  part.  Brin- 

nand,  2.  ciii.  10.     See  Bren. 
Britil,  adj.  brittle,  frail,  17.     Ps. 

cii.  14. 

VOL.  II. 


Brochede,/"/.  s.  ip.  fastened  (them) 

together,  15.  v.  126.  Cf.E.  brooch, 

Gael,  brog,  to  goad,  prick. 
Brod,  adj.  broad,  4  c.  27. 
Broght,    pt.   pi.    brought,    7.    3; 

Brohte,  4  c.  5  ;  />/>.  Broght,  7.  25  ; 

/>/>.  Broht,  46.  13. 
Brond,    s6.   brand,    3.    182 ;    20. 

263  ;    pi.   Brondes,    brands,   i.  e. 

fireside,  3.  109. 
Bro^ely,  adv.  hastily,  quickly,  13. 

1030.     The   proper   meaning   of 

Icel.  braftligr  is  suddenly,  quickly  ; 

it    also    means   rashly ;    but    Sc. 

braithly  sometimes  means  violently. 

It  is  here  a  mere  expletive.     See 

Brofcel,  in  Stratmann. 
Bremen,  sb.  brooch,  18  a.  171. 
BrouBte,  pt.  s.  brought,  i  b.  50; 

Brojte,  I  a.  273;  pt.  pi.  Broste, 

I  a.  122 ;  pp.  Brou3t,  6.  76. 
Brurd-ful,   adj.  full  to  the  brim, 

brimful,    13.    383.      A.S.   brerd, 

breord,  a  brim.    See  Bratful. 
Brusten,/>/>.  damaged,  hurt  severely, 

12.   154;    (have  being  omitted). 

A.  S.    berstan,   O.  E.   bresten,   to 

burst.       Cf.    Dan.    brost,    hurt, 

damage. 
Brutayne,    Brittany,    I   a.    302. 

Brittany    was    sometimes    called 

Little  Britain  to  distinguish  it  from 

Great  Britain. 
Bruttenet,  pp.  destroyed,  slain,  12. 

206.     A.  S.  breotan,  brytan,  Swed. 

bryta,  Dan.  bryde,  to  destroy;  cf. 

A.S.   brytse,   a   fragment,  britlic, 

broken  in  pieces,  E.  brittle.     The 

n    appears    in    Sw.    brytning,    a 

fragment. 
Bryche,  adj.  reduced,  poor,  5.  5821. 

A.S.  bryce,  liable  to  break,  frail, 

vain.  (Grein.) 
Bryddez,   sb.  pi.    birds,   13.  288. 

See  Briddes. 

Bryht,  adj.  bright,  4  c.  27 ;  4  d.  26. 
Brynston,  sb.  brimstone,  13.  967. 

A  better  modern  spelling  would  be 

brinstone,   where    brin  =  burning, 

Bb 


37° 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


from  O.E.  brenne,  to  burn.     Cf. 

Sc.  brunstane.    See  Brene. 
Bry^t,  adj.  bright,  5.  5651 ;  as  sb. 

bright  one,  fair  one,  13.  470. 
Buen,  to  be,  4  a.  18;  subj.  pr.  pi. 

3.  84.     See  Ben. 
Bues,  pr.  s.  bows,  obeys,  8  b.  20. 

A.  S.  bugan,  to  bow,  bend. 
Bue>,  pr.  pi.  are,  3.  109.   See  Ben. 
Bugge,  v.  to  buy,  18  a.  52  ;  pr.  s. 

Buggeb,  buys,  bribes,  15.  iii.  151; 

pr.pl.  Buggen,  15.  iii.  72;  Buggeb, 

id.  74-     A.  S.  bicgan. 
Bughes,  sb.  pi.  boughs,  10.  680. 

A.  S.  boh.     See  Bogh. 
Bugles,   sb.  pi.  wild   oxen,   14  c. 

132.     O.  F.  bugle,  Lat.  buculus, 

dim.  of  6os. 
Buile,  v.  to  boil,  20.  295 ;  Builen, 

20.  304. 

Bulez,  sb.  pi.  bulls,  13.  392. 
Bummede,  pt.  s.  tasted,  took  a 

draught,   15.  v.    137.     Prov.  E. 

bum,  drink,  bumpsy,  tipsy.    Cf.  E. 

bumper. 

Bun,  7.  221.     See  Bon,  adj. 
Bundyn,  pp.  bound,  16.  115. 
Buo]>e,  adj.  pi.  both,  9.  64. 
Burde,  s6.  woman,  lady,  46.  36 ; 

I3-378.    A.  S.  bryd,  a  wife,  ftriYfe, 

lady.      The    opposite   change   is 

seen  in  O.E.  brid  for  bird. 
Burgeis,  sb.  pi.  burgesses,   15  pr. 

96;  iii.  150. 
Buriel,  sb.  tomb,  1 7.  Mar.  vi.  29  ; 

Buryel,  18  a.  119.     A.S.  byrgels, 

tomb,  from  byrgan,  to  bury ;  cf. 

A.  S.  beorgan,  to  hide. 
Burling,  sb.  burying,  i  a.  522. 
Burn,  sb.  stream,  16.  39. 
Burn,  sb.  man,  12.  332;  Burne,  13. 

288  ;   pi.  Burnes ;    of  burnes,  by 

men,   12.    121.      A.S.   beorn,    a 

warrior,  chief. 
BurJ>-tonge,  sb.  native  tongue,  18 

a.  192. 
Buschen,    v.     to    go,    12.    173. 

Generally  spelt  busken,  buske,  or 

busk.     See  Busk. 


Busemare,  sb.  scorn,  mockery,  i  a. 

464.     A«  S.  bysmer,  infamy,  from 

bismerian,  to  besmear;    from  W, 

by,  and  smere,  fat. 
Busk,  imp.  s.  get  ready,  7.  211 ;  />/. 

s.  Busked,  went  his  way,  12.  372; 

Buskede  him,   hurried,    12.    21; 

Busked  him,  prepared  himself  to 

go.    repaired,   went,   15.  iii.    14; 

imp.  s.  Busk,  prepare  (for  thyself), 

I3'  333-     Icel-  btiask,  to  prepare 

oneself,  reflexive  form  of  6#o,  to 

prepare.  See  Bosk. 
Busk,  sb.  bush,  16.  71. 
Bustelyng,  />res.  />ar/.  used  as  pr. 

pi.  bustle,  hurry,  15.  vi.  4. 
But,  prep,  without,  16.  447. 
But,  conj.  unless,  5-  5757  5  19-552; 

provided  that,  5.  5764;  but  if= 

unless,  19.  636. 

Bub,  pr.  pi.  are,  18  a.  9.   See  Ben. 
Buyrde,  sb.  lady,  15.  iii.  14.   A.S. 

bryd,  E.  bride.     See  Burde. 
By,  conj.  by  the  time  that,  13.  403. 
By,  v.  to  be,  9.  9;   13.  356;  I  p. 

pi.  pr.  subj.  may  be,  9.  102.     See 

Ben. 
Byclypped,  pp.  surrounded,  18  a. 

94- 
Bycome,    v.   to   become,   suit.   3. 

162 ;    />p.   Bycome,    become,   5. 

5821. 
Byd,  pr.  s.  asks,  begs  for,  3.  175. 

Put  for  byt,  contr.  form  of  bydde\>. 

See  below. 
Bydde,   v.  to   pray,   intercede,   9. 

119;   i  p.  pi.  pr.  Byddeb,   pray, 

9.     1 66.      A.  S.     biddan.      See 

Bidde. 
Byddinde,  pres.  part,  praying  to, 

9.  124. 
Byde,  subj.  pr.  s.  2  p.  abide  for, 

have  to  wait  for   (a  surety),  3. 

"3- 
Bydene,  adv.  at  once,  besides,  1 1  b. 

53.     See  Bidene. 
Bye,  subj.  pr.  s.  2  p.  buy,  5.  5793. 
Bye)?,  pr.  pi.  are,  9.  46;  imp.  pi. 

be  ye,  9.  75.     See  Ben. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


371 


Byfyl,  pt.  s.  it  befell,  5.  3873. 
Bygeten,  pp.  gotten,  gained,   3. 

221. 
Byggyng,  sb.  building,  habitation, 

13.  378.     A.S.  biggan,  to  build, 

Sw.  bygga. 
By-hest,  sb.  S.    promise,   12.  57; 

grant,  18  b.  9;  Byheste,  1 8  b.  25. 

See  Beheste. 
Byhote,  pp.   promised,    18  6.  23. 

See  Bihote. 
Byhoueb,  pr.  s.  is  needful,  3.  37 ; 

pr.    pi.    Byhoues,     behove,    are 

obliged  to,  10. 492.  A.  S.  behofian, 

to  behove. 
Bylyue,   adv.   quickly,   10.    1229. 

See  Belyue. 
Bynne,    prep,     within,    13.   452. 

A.  S.  binnan,  within ;  cf.  Sc.  ben. 
By-rad,  pp.  determined,    resolved, 

self-advised,  4  c.  22.     A.  S.  rdd- 

an,  to  advise,  determine. 
Bys,   sb.    purple,   4   b.   38.      Lat. 

byssus,  Gk.  (ivffffos. 
Byschyne,  pp.  shone  upon,  18  a. 

Byse,  imp.  s.   2  p.  look  about,  be 

circumspect,  3. 160.    A.S.  besedn, 

to  look  about. 
Bysyhede,  sb.  busyhood,  continual 

care,  9.  1 1. 
By-taht,  pp.  committed,  delivered, 

4  c.  32 ;  pt.  s.  Byta3t,  entrusted, 

gave,  13.  528.     A.  S.  betdcan,  to 

commit,  betake. 
By->an,  by  the  time  that,  12.  220. 

A.  S.  bi  \>am. 

By-thuixte,  betwixt,  6.  lai. 
Bytuene,  prep,  between,   4  a.   I. 

A.  S.  betwynan. 

O. 

Cacces,  pr.  s.  takes,  lit.  catches,  1 2. 

353J  pt>  s.  Ca3te,  i  0.385.     See 

Chacche. 
Caitifte,  sb.  wretchedness,  8  b.  30 ; 

Caytefte,  10.  529.    O.  F.  cailivete, 

from  Lat.  captivitas. 


Cald,  sb.  cold,  10,  1438. 
Calewe,  sb.  baldpate,  shaveling,  I  6. 

89.     A.  S.  calo,  bald,  E.  callow. 
Calixtes,  Saint  Calixt's,  I  a.  191. 
Cam,  Caen,  I  a.  271,  301. 
Cam,  pt.  s.  came,  I  b.  70. 
Cam,  prop,  name,  Ham,  13.  299. 
Can,  pr.  s.  knows,  20.  280.     A.S. 

cunnan,  pr.  t.  ic  can,  \>u  canst,  he 

can. 
Can,  pt.  s.  and  pi.  began ;  but  used 

as  aux.  vb.,  as  in  Can  ga  =  did 

go,  went,  16.  148;  cf.  7.  66. 
Candelmasse  day,  sb.  Candlemas 

day,  i  6.  3. 

Candlen,  sb.  pi.  candles,  I  a.  472. 
Candle,  sb.  cinnamon,    14  <?.   27. 

F.  cannelle,  dim.  of  canne,  a  cane. 
Canstow,/or  canst  thou,  19.  632. 
Cant,  adj.  proud,  n  c.  107.  Either 

from  O.  F.  coint,  neat,  pretty,  or 

from  the  O.Sw.  bant,  proud,  which 

Ihre  connects  with  the  Sw.  phrase 

vara  pd  sin  kant,  to  give  oneself 

airs,  lit.  to  be  one's  corner. 
Carayne,  sb.  carrion,  13.  459.     F. 

charogne,  from  Lat.  caro,  flesh. 
Carfuli,     adv.     full     of    anxiety, 

anxiously,  ruefully,  12.  152. 
Carien,  v.  to  wander,  go   to   and 

fro,  1 5  pr.  29.     A.  S.  cerran,  to 

turn,  G.  kehren. 
Caroin,  sb.  carcase,  86.  197.     See 

Carayne. 
Carped,  i  p.  s.  pt.  spoke,  talked, 

12.  217;  pt.  s.  Carpede,  told,  15. 

ii.  1 66.    Etym.  doubtful. 
Cas,  sb.  case,  I  a.  33 ;  circumstance, 

I  a.  36 ;  chance,  hap,  fortune,  I  a. 

So;    12.  326.     Lat.  casus,  from 

cadere,  to  fall. 
Cast,  v.  to  imagine,  contrive,   IO. 

1918;  Casten,  15.  iii.  18;  pr.pl. 

Casten,  reckon,  consider,  19.  212  ; 

pt.   s.   Caste,   threw,    I   a.    115; 

designed,    purposed,    19.     406 ; 

plotted,  19.  584;  pp.  Casten,  con- 
sidered, 10.  432.     Sw.  kasta,  to 

cast. 

Bb2 


372 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


Catele,  sb.  goods,  property,  8  b.  77 ; 

Catel,    8  b.    112;    Catelle,   price, 

14  a.  44.     See  Kateyl. 
Caurimauri,    56.   the  name   of  a 

rough  coarse  material,  15  v.  62. 

Sometimes  called  cary,  as  in  Pierce 

the  Ploughman's  Crede. 
Caytefte,    sb.    wretchedness,     10. 

529;     Caytifte,    10.    551.      See 

Caitifte. 

CaBte,  p(.  s.  caught,  I  a.  385. 
Cecile,  Cecilia,  I  a.  300. 
Cedres,  sb.  pi.  cedars,  2.  ciii.  36. 
Ceriously,  adv.  minutely,  with  full 

details,   19.   185.      The  word   is 

glossed  by  ceriose  in  the  Ellesmere 

MS.,  and  Ducange  has  '  Seriose, 

fuse,  minutatim,  articulatim.' 
Chacche,  v.  catch,  15.  ii.  167;    2 

p.  pi.  pr.  subj.   Chacche,    15.  ii. 

1 80.     F.  chasser,  to  chase,  get. 

See  Cacces. 
Chaffare,  sb.  merchandise,  5.  5797; 

19.   138;    barter,  traffic,    15  pr. 

31.     Chaff  are  =  chap-fare.     A.S. 

cedp,  a  bargain,  sale,  whence  E. 

cheap,  A.  S.  cedpian,  to  buy,  chop, 

cheapen. 

Chaffare,  v.  to  traffick,  19.  139. 
Chalenge,  v.  to  claim,  140.  64; 

Chalange,  18  b.  38  ;  pt.  s.  Chalan- 

gede,  claimed,  18  b.  18.     F.  law 

term;   from  Lat.   calumniare,  to 

accuse. 

Chamberere,s£>.  handmaid,  146. 28. 
Chapeleyns,  sb.  pi.  chaplains,  15. 

i.  164. 
Chapmanhode,   sb.  trade,  barter, 

19.  143.     See  Chaffare. 
Chapmon,  sb.  pedlar,  15  pr.  61 ; 

pi.  Chapmen,  merchants,  19.  135. 

A.  S.  cedp,  barter  ;  cf.  E.   chop, 

cheapen;  also  chap,  a  fellow;  cf. 

merchant  in  Rom.  and  Jul.  ii.  4. 
Char,  sb.  car,  chariot,  20.  162.     F. 

char,  Lat.  carrus. 
Charge,  sb.  burden,  1 7.  Mar.  iv.  1 9. 

The  usual  sense  of  O.  E.  charge ; 

from  F.  charger,  to  load  a  car. 


Charged, /#.  loaded,  5.  5606.  See 
above. 

Charyte",  sb.  charity,  5.  5737 ;  par 
charite  =  for  charity,  3.  12.  Lat. 
earns,  dear. 

Chaseris,  sb.  pi.  chasers,  men  in 
chase,  16.  91. 

Chaste,  v.  to  chasten,  15.  vii.  303. 

Chaud,  adj.  hot,  15.  vii.  299.  F. 
chaud,  Lat.  calidus. 

Chaunce,  sb.  chance,  5.  5632 ; 
fortune,  5.  5792»  circumstance, 
12.  54. 

Chaunge]),  pr.  s.  changes,  6.  23 ; 
pp.  Chaunged,  5.  5884. 

Che,  she,  12.  118. 

Cheef-mete,  sb.  chopped  food  (?) 
15.  vii.  281.  Other  MSS.  have 
chirittellis  or  cheruelys,  i.  e.  cher- 
vils; Hall,  gives  '  chife,  a  frag- 
ment.' 

Chees,  pt.  t.  chose,  140. 18 ;  Ches, 
14  a.  31.  See  Chese. 

Cheeuen,  v.  to  succeed  (lit. 
achieve),  15  pr.  31.  F.  achever, 
from  chef,  head. 

Cheld,  adj.  cold,  6.  29. 

Chele,  sb.  chill,  cold,  9.  63;  15.  i. 
23;  for  chele  =  to  prevent  a  chill, 
15.  vii.  299.  A.  S.  cele,  coldness. 

Chenes,  sb.  pi.  chines,  chinks, 
cracks,  1 8  a.  82.  A.S.  cinu,  a 
chink. 

Cheose,  imp.  pi.  choose,  15.  iii.  94. 

Chepynge,  sb.  market,  15.  vii. 
287.  Cf.  Chaffare. 

Cherche,  sb.  church,  5.  5777;  6. 
76. 

Cher,  sb.  countenance;  dreri  cher, 
sorrowful  countenance,  8  a.  235. 

Chere,  sb.  countenance,  I  b.  72  ; 
manner,  mien,  40.  15  ;  19. 
396;  demeanour,  5.  5677;  bear- 
ing, ii  b.  45.  O.  F.  chere,  the 
face ;  Low.  Lat.  cara,  face ;  Gk. 
Kapa,  the  head. 

Cherles.  sb.  pi.  churls,  peasants,  1 8 
a.  8.  A.  S.  ceorl,  a  peasant ;  Icel. 
karl,  a  man. 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


373 


Cherli,  adv.  dearly,  fondly,  12.  62. 

F.  cher,  Lat.  carus. 
Cherubin,    sb.    pi.    cherubim,    2. 

xvii.  29. 
Chese,  v.  to  choose,  19.  227;  20. 

90 ;    imp.  s.   (used  for  imp.  pi.) 

Ches,  20.  61,  184.     A.S.  ceosa«. 
Chesun,  sb.  cause,  reason,  5.  5649  ; 

occasion,  account,  7.  185.     O.  F. 

enchaison,  from  Lat.   ace.   occa- 

sionent. 
Cheventeyn,  s6.  captain,  14  a.  72; 

Cheuetayn,  13.  464.   E.  chieftain, 

captain,  from  E.  chief,  F.  chef,  Lat. 

caput,  which  is  equivalent  to  A.  S. 

heafod,  E.  head. 
Cheviss,  v.  achieve  their  purpose, 

be  successful,   prosper,  speed,  16. 

427.     See  Cheeuen. 
Chewen,  pr.  pi.  chew,  i.  e.  eat  up, 

devour,  15.  i.  167. 
Chibolles,  sb.  pi.  onions  of  a  small 

kind,    15.   vii.   281.     F.    ciboule, 

Lat.  Cfspulla,   dim.   of  cape,   an 

onion. 

Childer,  sb.  pi.  children,  2.  viii.  5. 
Chirche,  sb.  church,  i  a.  484 ;  pi. 

Chirchen,  I  a.  511. 
Cbirchegong,  sb.  churching,  i  a. 

470,  483,  488 ;  Chirgegong,  I  a. 

474.     Lit.  a  church-going. 
dairies,   sb.  pi.   cherries,    15.   vii. 

281. 
Chiualrie,  sb.  company  of  knights, 

the  knights  of  Christendom,  19. 

235- 
Chongeden,  pt.  pi.  they  changed, 

9-  W 

Christen,  adj.  Christian,  19.  222. 
Churche,  sb.  church,  i  b.  4. 
Chysly,  adv.  choicely,  dearly,  13. 

543- 

Chyteryng,  sb.  chattering,  chirp- 
ing, 1 8  a.  163.  Formed  from 
the  sound. 

Cit6,  sb.  F.  city,  i  a.  482. 

Clam,  pt.  s.  climbed,  13.  405. 

Clanlych,  adv.  cleanly,  13.  310. 

Claustres,  sb.  pi.  cloisters,  9.  152. 


Lat.  claustrum,  from  claudere,  to 

shut. 

Clef,  pt.  s.  cleft,  13.  368. 
Cleme,  imp.  s.  daub,  plaster  with 

day,  13.  312.     A.S.  cltzmian,  to 

smear ;   clam,  mud,  clay ;    South 

Prov.    E.     cloam,     earthenware. 

Connected  with  A.S.  lam,  loam. 
Clene,  adv.  thoroughly,  I  a.  358. 
Clenges,  pr.  s.  clings,  adheres,  13. 

1034.     See  Clynges. 
Clennes,  sb.  cleanness,  purity,   2. 

xvii.  67. 
Clepe,  v.  to  call,  20.  151 ;   Clepus, 

2  p.  s.  pr.  callest,  12.  249  ;  pr.pl. 

Clepe,  19.  191 ;  pt.  s.  Clepte,  15. 

i.   4 ;    Clepide,    170.    i.    20 ; 

Clepud,  12.  56;  Clepet,  15.  iii.  3; 

pp.  Cleped,  6.  134;    Clept,  14  a. 

62.     A.  S.  cleopian,  to  call  ;    cf. 

O.  E.   clappe  (Chaucer)  to   talk, 

boast. 
Clerken,   sb.  gen.  pi.   clerics',   of 

clerks,  I  a.  189. 
Cler-matin,    sb.   a   kind    of    fine 

bread  used  for  breakfast,  15.  vii. 

292.   From  clear,  fine,  and  matin, 

morning. 
Clipped,  pt.  s.  S.    embraced,   12. 

63- 
Clom,  sb.  a  profound  silence,  9.  35. 

O.E.  clom,  hush!     Cf.  Prov.  E. 

clam,  clem,  to  pinch,  starve,  A.  S. 

clam,  a  bandage,    Du.  lilemmen, 

to  pinch,  E.  clamp. 
Cloos,  sb.  a  close  place,  emprison- 

ment,  14  e.  63. 
Clottes,  sb.  pi.  clots,  lumps,  18  a. 

79- 

Clo>e,     sb.     garment,     5.     5714; 
clothing  (?),   6.    90;    Cloth,    5. 

5733- 
Clobeden,  pt.  pi.  clothed,  15.  pr. 

53- 
Clobt,  for  CloJ>,    sb.   clothing,    3. 

in. 

Cloude,  sb.  clod,  earth,  4  d.  31. 
Clouen,  pt.  pi.  cleft,  became  cloven, 

12.  965. 


374 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Cloutes,  sb.  pi.  old  clothes,  15.  ii. 

196;  pieces,  13.965. 
Clou3tand,  pres.   part,    patching, 

cobbling,  mending,  12.  14.     See 

Clowtes. 
Clowe-gylofres,  sb.pl.  cloves,  14. 

c.  26.    F.  clou,  Lat.  clavus,  a  nail, 

and    F.    girofle,    a    clove,    Lat. 

caryophyllum,   from  Gk.   Kapvov, 

nut,  and  (f>v\\ov,  leaf. 
Clowtes,    sb.    pi.    fragments,    lit. 

patches,   13.   367.     A.  S.   clut,   a 

clout,  patch. 
Clupie,  v.  to  call,  I  a.  79.     See 

Clepus. 
Clynges,  pr.  s.  shrinks,  10.  823. 

A.  S.  clingan,  to  wither,  shrink. 
Clyppe,  v.  to  clasp ;    clyppe  to  = 

draw  closely,  13.  418. 
Cnowen,  pp.  known,  13.  373. 
Gofer,  sb.  coffer,  ark,  13.  310;  pi. 

Cofres,  boxes,  20.  23.     F.  coffre, 

Lat.  cophinus,  Gk.  K6<pivos,  basket. 
Coffyns,  sb.  pi.  baskets,  17.  Mar. 

vi.  43.     See  above. 
Cok,  sb.  cook,  20.  746. 
Cokeneyes,  sb.  pi.  cooks,  scullions, 

15.  vii.  272.      Another  interpre- 
tation is  small  cocks,  lean  fowls. 

Cf.  Shakesp.  K.  Lear,  ii.  4.  123. 
Coket,  sb.  a  kind  of  fine  bread,  so 

called   because    stamped   with    a 

coket  or  seal,  15.  vii.  292. 
Cole,  sb.  coal,  ]  3.  456. 
Colopus,   sb.  pi.  collops,  15.   vii. 

272.     Collops  are  slices  of  meat, 

beaten  and  then  cooked. 
Col-plontes,  sb.  pi.  cabbages,  15. 

vii.    273.      L.   caulis,    A.  S.   cdl, 

co/e-wort,  G.  kohl. 
Com,  v.  to  come,  7. 14;  Come,  I  a. 

84;  pt.  s.  Com,  came,  la.  60;  5. 

5606;    Come,    2.    xvii.    27;    5. 

559°;  7-  45;  pl-  Come,  I  a.  62  ; 

Com,    7.    7;    Com    by  =  arrived 

near,  came  up  with,  12.  220;  pp. 

Come,  descended,  12.314;  gerund, 

to  Comene,  to  come,  9.  40 ;  pres. 

part.  Cominde,  coming,  9.  228; 


pp.  Comen,   19.  260;    A.  S.  cu~ 

man. 
Comaundet,/*/.  s.  commanded,  15. 

i.  20;  Comande,  12.  347. 
Comandour,  sb.  commander,  19. 

495- 
Combrez,  pr.   s.   encumbers,  i.  e. 

alters,  13.  1024. 
Come,  sb.  coming,  13.  467. 
Come,  pt.   s.  came,    7.   45.      See 

Com. 
Come,  v.  to  come,  i  a.  84 ;  pt.  s. 

Come,  2.  xvii.  27.     See  Com. 
Comen,  adj.  common,  12.  6. 
Comers,  sb.  pi.  passers-by,  15.  ii. 

206.     Cf.  A.  S.  cuma,  a  stranger. 
Cominde,  pres.  part,  coming,   9. 

228.    See  Com. 
Comissarie,  sb.   commissary,   15. 

iii.  138. 
Comlyng,    sb.    a    stranger,    18  a. 

194.      A.  S.    cuman,    to    come; 

O.  H.  G.  chomeling,  a  new  comer. 
Commyxstion,  sb.  admixture,  18 

a.  161. 
Compainie,  sb.  F.  company,  i  a. 

311.   From  Low  Lat.  companium, 

a  mess,  from  cum  and  pants,  bread. 
Comparisoune,  v.  to  compare,  1 7. 

Mar.  iv.  30. 

Compers,  sb.  pi.   compeers,  com- 
rades, 12.  370. 
Comprehended,  pp.  retained,  14 

a.  118. 

Comsed,  pt.  s.  F.  commenced,  be- 
gan,   12.    37;    began    (to    be), 

proved  (to  be),  12.  194.     So  also 

parlous  =  perilous. 
Comste,  i  p.  s.  comest  thou,   9. 

53 ;  pr.  s.  Comb,  5.  5592.     See 

Com,  Come. 
Comunlych,    adv.   commonly,    5. 

5723. 
Comynde,  pres.  part,  coming,  9.  4. 

See  Cominde. 

Comynge,  sb.  coming,  9.  41. 
Comyns,  sb.pl.  commons,  15.  iii.  20. 
Con,  pr.  s.  can,  4  a.  30 ;   tfsed  as 

auxiliary  =  did,  13.  363;  pr.pl. 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


375 


Conen,    know,    14  e.   56.      See 

Conne. 

Confermeb,  pr.  s.  confirms,  6.  63. 
Coninge,  sb.  S.  cunning,  skill,  12. 

120. 

Conne,  v.  to  know,  i  a.  223;  I 
/>.  s./>r.  I  acknowledge,  I  owe,  12. 
297 ;  pr.  s.  Can,  knows,  I  a.  224  ; 
Con,  can,  3.  24;  pt.  s.  Gourde, 
12.  120  ;  pr.  pi.  i  ^.  Conne,  can, 
19.  483  ;  pr.pl.  Conen,  know,  14 
c.  8 1 ;  Conneb,  know,  18  a.  187 ; 
can,  18  a.  91;  />/.  />/.  Coube, 
could,  ia.  215;  subj.pr.s.  Conne, 
know,  I  a.  219;  pi.  Conne,  6.  106; 
A.S.  cunnan,  pr.  t.  «?  can,  pt.  t.  ic 
c#$. 

Conrai,  sb.  entertainment,  7.  141. 
O.  F.  conroi,  preparation,  from 
O.  F.  roi,  order ;  hence  F.corroyer, 
to  prepare,  curry  leather.  E. 
ar-ray  is  from  the  same  root. 

Conseil,  sb.  F.  counsel,  I  a.  27. 

Conseili,  v.  F.  counsel,  advise,  I  a. 
33  ;  pt.  pi.  Conseilede,  I  a.  72. 

Constablesse,  sb.  constable's  wife, 

J9-  539- 

Constorie,  sb.  consistory,  an  eccle- 
siastical court,  15.  iii.  32. 
Contenance,  sb.  appearance,  mien, 

19.  320. 

Contesse,  sb.  countess,  I  a.  302. 
Central,  sb.  F.  country,  i  b.  go; 

Contreie,  I  a.  76;  Contreye,  I  a. 

293 ;  pi.  Contreies,  districts,  i  a. 

263;    Contreyes,   I  a.  221.      F. 

contree,   It.   contrada,  from  Lat. 

contra,  against:    cf.  G.   gegend, 

country,  from  gegen,  against. 
Controeued,  pt.  pi.  contrived,  13. 

266. 
Conyng,  sb.  pi.  rabbits,  conies,  12. 

182.     The  form  conynges  might 

have    been   expected    here.      G. 

kaninchen,  a  rabbit,  Du.  konjin. 
Coostez,    sb.    pi.    properties;    hit 

coostez,  its  properties,  13.  1033; 

Costez,    13.   1024.      Icel.    kostr, 

custom,  habit,  circumstance. 


Cop,  sb.  top,  18  a.  119.     W.  cop,  a 

top. 
Copes,  sb.  pi.  copes,  capes  used  by 

friars,  15  pr.  53,  58. 
Copeb,  pr.  s.  gives  a  cope  to,  15. 

iii.  138. 

Coppe,  sb.  cup,  3.  125. 
Corageus,  adj.  F.  courageous,  i  a. 

77- 
Corbyal,  sb.  raven,  13.  456.    O.  F. 

corbel,  a  raven,  Lat.  corvus;  prov. 

E.  corbie. 
Corns,  sb.  pi.  corn,  harvests,  7.  39; 

Cornes,  cornfields,  170.  ii.  23. 
Corouneb,  pr.  s.  crowns,  15.  i.  122. 
Cors,  sb.  F.  course,  13.  264. 
Corse,  v.   to  curse,   15.  vii.  302; 

pp.    Corsed,    13.    1033.      A.  S. 

corsian,  cursian,  to  curse. 
Corseynt,   sb.    saint,    15.   vi.    23. 

Lit.  a  holy  body  (corpus  sanctum). 
Corsing,  sb.  exchange,  barter,  8  b. 

124.     O. F.  couracier,  a  broker; 

cf.    E.    horse-courser,    a     horse- 
dealer. 
Corsyes,  sb.  pi.  corrosives,  caustics, 

13.  1034.     A  shortened  form  of 

corrosive;  see  the  note. 
Corteis,  adj.  F.  courteous,  15.  iii. 

60;  Corteys,  12.  194. 
Cosin,  sb.  F.  kinsman,  i  a.  40, 123, 
Cost,  sb.  coast,  14  c.  64 ;  pi.  Costes, 

6.  58;  Costese,  13.  460. 
Costez,  sb.pl.  properties,  13.  1024. 

See  Coostez. 
Cote,  sb.  a  coat,   garment   (either 

for  man  or  woman),  15.  v.  91. 
Coteb,/>r.  s.  gives  coats  to,  15.  iii. 

138. 
Couche,  pr.  pi.  lie,  lie  down  apart, 

i.e.  are  left  in  the  lurch,  15.  iii. 

35.    Other  MSS.  have  clokke,  i.  e. 

hobble,  limp,  from  E.  clog. 
Coude,pt.  s.  could,  5.  5648;  Coude, 

subj.  pt.  s.  could,  were  able,  5. 

5596.     See  Conne. 
Coue,     sb.    cave,    den,     7.     229. 

Northumbrian    cofa,    a    den   (of 

thieves),  Mark  xi.  17;  E.  cove. 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Couenafole,  adj.  convenient,  suit- 
able, 17.  Mar.  vi.  21  ;  suitable, 
1 8  a.  94.  F.  convenable. 

Couer,  v.  to  recover,  10.  811. 

Coueytous,  adj.  covetous,  avari- 
cious, 5.  5577;  Couetous,  15.  iii. 
60. 

Couetyse,  sb.  covetousness,  15.  pr. 
58  ;  avarice,  15.  v.  107. 

Counforte,  v.  to  comfort,  15.  i. 
179. 

Coupes,  sb.  pi.  either  hoops,  rings, 
or  cups,  15.  iii.  23.  The  B-text 
favours  the  former  interpreta- 
tion ;  cf.  E.  cooper ;  Du.  kuiper. 
See  Coupe  in  Stratmann. 

Courtepy,  sb.  short  cloak,  15.  v. 
63.  Du.  Tiort,  short,  and  pije, 
rough  coat;  whence  E.  pea- 
jacket. 

Cou>e,  pt.  s.  knew  (how  to  do),  20. 
231;  Cou3de,  12.  120;  Cou3)>e, 
12.  118;  pt.pl.  Couthen,  could, 
2<x  1 10 ;  pp.  Cou£>e,  known, 
familiar,  3.  44.  See  Conne. 

Craft,  sb.  trade,  15.  ii.  202. 

Crafti,  adj.  crafty,  7.  17. 

Creance,  sb.  belief,  object  of  faith, 
19.  340.  O.F.  creance,  from  Lat. 
credere,  to  believe. 

Creator,  sb.  creature,  13.  394. 

Cresten,  adj.  Christian,  8  b.  31. 

Creyme,  sb.  chrism,  oil  used  in 
anointing,  6.  144.  Gk.  xpiffl*ai 
unguent,  from  xpia),  I  anoint. 

Criede,  pt.  pi.  cried,  i  a.  95. 

Crist,  sb.  anointed  one,  2.  xvii. 
129;  Crist  =  Christ,  i  b.  17;  dot. 
Criste,  6.  135.  Gk.  xp't(TTOS> 
anointed,  from  \pi<o,  I  anoint. 

Cristendom,  sb.  christening,  I  a. 
183;  6.  I ;  Christianity,  I  b.  50; 
the  state  of  being  a  Christian, 
10.  549 ;  baptism,  19.  351 ; 
Christendom,  i.  e.  Christian  lands, 
14  c.  88. 

Cristianytee,  sb.  company  of 
Christians,  19.  544. 

Cristni,   v.    to    christen,    6.    31 ; 


Cristny,  6.  37;  Cristnye,  6.45; 

i  p.  s.  pr.  Cristni,  6.  1 2  2  ;  pr.  s. 

CristneK  6.  93  ;  pr.  pi.  Cristne]>, 

6.  85  ;  pp.  Cristned,  baptized,  19. 

226. 
Cristninge,  sb.  christening,  6.  10; 

Cristnynge,  6.  49 ;  Cristnyng,  6. 

104;  pi.  Cristnynges,  6.  127. 
Crijed,  I  p.  s.  pt.  cried  to ;   crimed 

hire  of,  cried  to  her  for,   15.  i. 

77- 
Cringe,  pres.  part,  crying,  15.  v. 

262. 
Croft,  sb.   meadow,  field,   15.   vii. 

277.     A.  S.  croft. 

Croice,  sb.  F.  cross,  7.  47  ;  12.  350. 
Crokkes,    sb.    pi.     crocks,     pots, 

earthen  vessels,  18  a.  46.     A.  S. 

croc,  a  pot. 

Crone,  sb.  crone,  hag,  19.  432. 
Cronique,     sb.     F.     a     chronicle, 

20.  I. 
Crop,  sb.  top  (esp.  of   a  tree),  7. 

312;  10.  663.     A.  S.  crop,  a  top. 
Croukez,  pr.  s.  croaks,  13.  459. 
Crouning,   sb.   crowning,    corona- 
tion, i  b.  23. 
Crouny,  v.    to  crown,   I   a.  225; 

pr.  s.  Crounes,  2.  cii.  8  ;  pt.  s.  2  p. 

Crowned,  crownedst,   2.  viii.  17. 

Lat.  corona. 
Crowdest,  pr.  s.  2  p.  dost   press, 

dost  push,  19.  296.    A.  S.  crydan, 

to  crowd,  press. 
Crowdyng,    sb.    pressure,    motive 

power,  19.  299.     See  above. 
Croys,   sb.   cross,    19.   450.      See 

Croice. 
Cruddes,   sb.  pi.   curds,     15.   vii. 

269.  W.  crwd,  a  round  lump, 
Cruwelnes,  sb.  cruelty,  18  b.  30. 
Crystendom,  sb.  the  Christian 

religion,  5.  5764. 
Culuere,  sb.  a  dove,  17.  Mar.  i.  10. 

A.  S.  culfre,  a  dove. 
Cum,  v.  to  come,  7.  19  ;  pres.  part. 

Cumand,  16.  205.     See  Com. 
Cumand,  pt.  s.  commanded,  n  a. 

53- 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


377 


Cumbred,  pp.  encumbered,  15.  i. 

170. 
Cumrit,  pt.  s.  encumbered,  troubled, 

overwhelmed,      1  6.      486.       G. 

kummer,  trouble,  seems   to  have 

been   confused  with  F.  combler, 

to  heap  up,  from  Lat.  cumulus,  a 

heap. 
Cumseb,  pr.  s.  commences,  15.  i. 

128,  139  ;  iii.  99.     See  Comseb. 
Cunne,  pr.pl.  know  how  to,  15  pr. 

33;    Cunnen,   can,    15.   i.    170. 

See  Conne. 
Cuntinaunce,  sb.  appearance,  out- 

ward show,  15  pr.  24. 
Cuntre",   sb.  F.  country,  5.  5876  ; 

i5-pr.95- 
Cuppemel,  adv.  by  cupfuls,  15.  v. 

139.     Cf.  Poundmele. 
Cupydez,  sb.pl.  cubits,  13.  315. 
Curatours,  sb.  pi.  curates,   priests 

who  have  cure  of  souls,  15.  i.  169. 
Cure,  sb.  care,  endeavour,  19.  188; 

in  cure  =  in  her  care,  19.  230. 
Curteysy,   sb.  courtesy,   kindness, 

5.  5862;  Curteisye,  19.  166. 
Cusseden,  pt.  pi.  kissed,  15  pr.  70. 

A.  S.  cos,  a  kiss. 
Custome-houses,    sb.   pi.     appa- 

rently the  houses  or  shops  which 

beggars   used    to   visit   with   the 

hope  of  receiving  alms,  5.  5585. 
Cuth,  pt.  s.  knew  (how  to),  7.  30. 

A.  S.   cunnan,   to    know,   pt.   t. 


D. 

Daffe,  sb.  a  dolt,  15.  i.  129.     Old 

Sw.  dof,  stupid,  E.  deaf. 
Dai-gang,  sb.  a   day's  journey,  7. 

366. 
Dampned,    pp.    F.     damned,     5. 

5681. 
Dance,  sb.  dance  (used  ironically), 

1  1  c.  58  ;  Daunce,  74. 
Darked,  pt.  s.  lay  hid,  12.  17,  44. 

Cf.  O.  E.  dare,  to  lie  motionless, 

to  be  stupefied  ;  Du.  bedaren,  to 


cause  to  be  still;   Prov.  E.  dor, 
to  stupefy,  dor,  a  fool ;  G.  tkor,  a 
fool,  stupid. 
Daunte,  v.  to  tame,  17.  Mar.  v.  4. 

0.  F.  danter  (mod.  F.  dompter), 
from    Lat.   domitare,   intens.    of 
domare,  to  tame. 

Daw,  sb.  day ;   of  daw,  from  day, 

1.  e.  out  of  day,  out  of  life ;  bring 
of  daw,  to  kill,  16. 132;  pi.  Dawes, 
days,  12.  77. 

Dayes-ejes,  sb.  pi.  daisies,  4  d.  4. 

A.  S.  dceges  edge,  the  eye  of  day, 

a  daisy. 

Dea>es,  sb.  gen.  s.  of  death,  6.  72. 
Deawes,  sb.  pi.  dews,  4  d.  28, 
Debonere,  adj.  F.  mild,  gentle,  i 

a.  279.     F.  de  bon  air,  of  a  good 

mien. 
Debrekynge,  pres.  part,   tearing, 

17.  Mar.  i.  26.     Vulg.  discerpens. 
Debrused,  pp.  bruised,  i  a.  168. 

O.  F.  bruiserf  F.  briser,  to  break, 

bruise. 

Decipelis,  sb.  pi.  disciples,  8  b.  4. 
Ded,  pt.  s.  did,  put,  5.  5707. 
Ded,   sb.   death,   3.   8;    Dede,    2. 

xvii.  ii ;  Dede,  death's,  10. 1890; 

to  ded-ward  =  towards  death,  10. 

807;    bygan   our  dede  =  was  the 

author  of  our  death,  10.  487.  Sw. 

dod,  Du.  dood,  G.  tod. 
Dede,  pt.  s.  did,  20.  127;   put,  5. 

5776;  caused,  made,  5.5774;  dede 

translate  =  caused  to  be  translated, 

12.  167. 
Dede,  sb.  deed,  i  a.  23 ;  pi.  Dedes, 

I  a.   113;  Dedys,   5.  5667;   to 

dede  =  to  actual  fulfilment,  7.  242. 

A.S.  dad,  G.  that. 
Dede-stoure,  sb.  conflict  of  death. 

death-struggle,    IO.    1820.       See 

Stour. 
Deed,  adj.  dead,  19.  209;  pi.  Deede, 

6.  139. 
Deeme,  v.  to  judge,  decide,  15.  i. 

84.     See  Deme. 
Defalte,  sb.  fault,  20.  20,  78;  lack, 

20.  75. 


378 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Defaute,  sb.  fault,  14  a.  53  ;  lack, 

15.   v.   6.     O.  F.  dejfaute,  from 
faute  or  falle,  lack ;  Lat.  fallere, 

to  fail. 
Defence,  sb.  prohibition,  13.  243. 

See  below. 
Defendet,  pt.  s.  forbade,  15.  iii.  55. 

(Defende]?  =  forbids,     is     another 

reading.)     F.  defendre,  to  forbid; 

whence  E.  fend,  fender,  fence. 
Defye,  v.  to  digest,  15  pr.    108. 

O.  F.   deffier,    to    distrust,    from 

Lat.  fides ;   hence  O.  E.  defy,  to 

renounce,   reject ;    but   frequently 

used  in  the  sense  to  digest. 
Defygurd,  pp.  disfigured,  10.  2340. 
Deghe,  v.  to  die,  10.  813.     Dan. 

doe. 
Degyset,  pp.  F.  disguised,  15  pr. 

24. 
Deid,  pt.  s.  died,  7.  35  ;  Deide,  I  a. 

348 ;  pi.  I  a.  444.     Dan.  doe,  to 

die ;  the  A.  S.  word  is  steorfan,  E. 

starve. 

Deknes,  sb.  pi.  deacons,  15/^.92. 
Del,  sb.  F.  grief,  sorrow,  pain,  12. 

349.     See  Dool. 
Dele,  v.  to  divide,  distribute,  I  a. 

509;  to  give,  15.  i.  173;  I  p.  s. 

pr.  I  give,  175;  pr.  s.  Deles,  3. 

99;  imp.  s.  Del,  distribute,  3.97; 

pp.   Deled,    parted,    18   a.    199. 

A.  S.  dM,  a  deal,  dole,  part ;  G. 

tkeil. 

Delful,  adj.  doleful,  13.  400. 
Deliuerly,   adv.  F.    quickly,    ia. 

349;  Delyuerly,  nimbly,  16.  206. 
Deliuery,  v.  to  set  free,  liberate, 

I  a.  513.     Lat.  liber,  free. 
Delphyns,  sb.pl.  dolphins,   18  a. 

10. 
Deluers,  s&.  pi.  diggers,  workmen 

with  the  spade  15  pr.  102. 
Delytable,  adj.  F.  delightful,  140. 

54- 

Demaunde,  sb.  question,  19.  472. 
Deme,  v.  to  deem,  judge,  4  d.  30  ; 

9.  243;  to  tell,  12.  151 ;  ip.s.pr. 

1  condemn,  judge,  15.  v.  95  ;  pp. 


Demed,  considered  to  be,  deemed, 

called,    13.  1020.     A.  S.  demon, 

to    judge,    d6m,    doom ;     O.  E. 

deemster,  dempster,  a  judge. 
Demmed,  pt.  s.  became   dammed 

up,  13.  384.     A.  S.  demman,  to 

dam,  stop  water. 
Deneis,  sb.  pi.     Danish,    Danes,   I 

a.  337,  341.     This   is   a   French 

form;   the    termination  -eis  =  ais, 

ois  of  Mod.  French  =  Lat.  -ensi. 
Denemarcli,    Denmark,    i    a.   6. 

The       ending       -march  =  mark, 

boundary ;   cf.  E.  the   marches  = 

the  border-land. 

Dennes,  sb.  pi.  dens,  2.  ciii.  50. 
Dent,  sb.  dint,   stroke,  18  b.  86. 

A.  S.  dynt,  a  blow. 
Deol,  sb.  grief,  sorrow,   i  a.  497. 

See  Dool. 
Deore,  v.  to  dure,  to  endure,   i  b. 

63.     Lat.  durare. 
Deores,  sb.  pi.  dears,  lovers,  4  d. 

29. 
Departeth,  pr.  s.   parts,  becomes 

separated,    14  a.    74;  pt.  s.   De- 

partide,  divided,  17  a.  vi.  41. 
Depe,  v.  to  dip,  6.  83,  117.     A.  S. 

depart,  to  dip,  baptise. 
Depe,  sb.  the  deep,  open  sea,  3.  253. 
Depnes,  sb.   depth,    abyss,  2.  ciii. 

13- 

Der,  adv.  dearly,  8  b.  129. 

Derelych,  adv.  beautifully,  dearly, 
13.  270. 

Deres,/>r.  s.  harms.  2.  xiv.  12  ;  pr, 
pi.  Ders,  harm,  10.  1232.  A.  S. 
derian,  to  injure,  dere,  dar,  daru, 
injury;  Du.  deren,  to  harm. 

Dereyni,  v.  F.  to  fight  out,  decide 
by  battle,  I  a.  84  ;  pp.  Dereyned, 
adjudged,  decided,  18  b.  86. 
O.  F.  derainer,  deresnier,  to  try 
the  truth  of  an  accusation,  as  if 
from  Lat.  derationare,  to  reason 
out,  from  ratio,  reason. 

Derk,  adj.  dark,  15  pr.  1 6 ;  19. 
481. 

Derli,  adv.  dearly,  2.  cii.  7. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


379 


Derne,  adj.  secret,  4  d.  29 ;  Dern, 

hidden,  secret,  7.  33.    A.  S.  dearn, 

secret,  dyrnan,  to  hide. 
Dernly,   adv.  S.  secretly,   12.   17. 

See  above. 
Ders,  pr.  pi.  harm,  injure,  10.  1232. 

See  Deres. 
Derwor}>e,  adj.  precious,  15.  i.  85. 

Lit.  dear-worth ;  A.  S.  deorwurfte, 

precious. 

Desaly,  adv.  dizzily,  1 6.  210. 
Desarayed  ham,  pt.  pi.  fell  into 

disorder,  1 8  b.  1 1 8. 
Desavauntage,   sb.    disadvantage, 

18  a.  184. 
Desclosed,  pp.  disclosed,  perceived, 

20.  204. 

Descryfe,  vb.  to  describe,  10.  2305. 
Deseritede,  pt.  s.  disinherited,  i  a. 

258  ;pp.  Deserited,  i  a.  382. 
Desparpleth,  pr.  s.  becomes  scat- 
tered, 14  a.  74.     O.  E.   sparple, 

another   form   of  O.  E.   sparkle, 

Lat.  spargers.    Desparple  is  there- 
fore another  form  of  disperse. 
Despit,s6.spite,harm,  injury,  1 2. 131. 
Despitously,  adv.  despitefully,  19. 

605.    O.  F.  despit,  contempt,  Lat. 

despectus,  a  looking  down  upon. 
Desselic,  adv.  ignorantly  (?),  7.  34 ; 

cf.  A.S.  dysig.     The  Trin.  MS. 

reads  Bisily.     See  the  note. 
Destruede,  pt.  s.  destroyed,   I  or. 

338  ;  pp.  Destrued,  I  a.  344,  438. 
DeJ),  pr.  s.  doth,  does,  i  a.  464 ;  6. 

126;  deb  out  =  doeth  out,  casteth 

out,  9.  216.     A.S.  d6n,  to  do; 

pr.  s.  i  p.  ic  d6,  i  p.  \>u  dest,  3  p. 

he  d&  ;  pi.  dtfS. 
DeK  sb.  S.  death ;  dot.  s.  De)>e,  i  a. 

39,122.    A.S.  dedft.    Cf.  Dede. 
De)>-vuel,  sb.  death-sickness,  i  a. 

414.     (Lit.  death-evil.) 
Deuel,  sb.  devil,  i  a.  115. 
Devise,  v.  to  tell,  relate,  14  a.  99  ; 

Deuyse,    19.    154;    Deuice,     13. 

1046  ;  pt.  s.  Deuisit,  advised,  16. 

25.  F.  deviser,  from  Lat.  dividers, 

pp.  diuisus. 


Devisynge,  sb.  narration,  relating, 

140.114. 

Devoydynge,  sb.  banishing,  exter- 
minating, 13.  544.     O.  F.  voide, 

from  Lat.  uiduus. 
Deye,  v.  to  die,  19.  525  ;  Dye,  19. 

644;  pr.pl.  Deyeb,  6.  no.     See 

Deghe,  Deid. 
Deyl,   sb.  part,  portion ;    '  neuer  a 

deyP  =  not  a  bit,  5.  5588  ;  'euery 

deyl'  =  entirely,  5.  5738.    Cf.  phr. 

'a  good  deal.'     See  Dele. 
Deyne,  pr.  pi.  deign,  15.  vii.  296. 
Deynte",  sb.  dainty ;   hence,    great 

liking,  I  6.  35  ;  Deyntee,  pleasure, 

wish,    19.     139;    pi.    Deyntees, 

dainties,   19.   419.      From   O.  F. 

daintety     Lat.     ace.     dignitatem, 

originally  dignity,  worth. 
Dese,  pr.  s.  i  p.  die,  4  b.  36.     See 

Deye. 
DiGht,pp.  dight,  prepared,  16.  155. 

See  Dightes. 
Dester,  sb.pl.  daughters,  13.  270. 

A.  S.    dohtor,    G.    tochter,    Gk. 

0vya.TT)p. 
Did,  pt.  s.  did  o  lijf=did  off  (from) 

life,  killed,  7.  191 ;  Dide,  did,  2. 

xiv.  6;  pt.  pi.  Did  bam  =  set  them, 

put  them,  7.  33. 

Diffame,  v.  to  spread  abroad,  pub- 
lish a   rumour,    17.  Mar.   I.  45. 

Vulg.  diffamare. 
Dightes,  pr.  s.  prepares,  n  c.  36; 

pp.  Diht,  disposed,  sent,  46.  25. 

A.  S.  dihtan,  to  set  in  order,  G. 

dichten,  to  compose. 
Digne,  adj.  F.  worthy,  6.  74. 
Dihte,  v.  to  prepare,  15.  vii.  278. 
Dilatacioun,s6.  difFuseness,i9. 232. 
Dilitable,  adj.  delightful,  pleasant, 

l5-i.32. 
Dimnes,  sb.  dimness,  darkness,   2. 

xvii.  28. 
Dingnetes,  sb.  pi.  F.  dignities,  9. 

132. 
Dintes,  sb.  pi.  dents,  blows,  knocks, 

8  b.  26.     Cf.  by  dint  of.     A.  S. 

dynt,  a  blow. 


38o 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX, 


Diopendion,  sb.  a  diapenidion,  a 
sweetmeat,  15.  v.  101.  Cf.  Lat. 
Penidium,  Ital.  penidio,  F.  penide. 
The  receipt  for  making  it  is  given 
in  Notes  arid  Queries,  4  S.  vi.  202. 
It  was  used  as  an  expectorant,  and 
was  made  up  like  our  barley-sugar; 
the  deriv.  is  from  Gk.  7777107,  thread, 
twist. 

Disclaundered,  pp.  slandered,  19. 
674.  See  below. 

Disclaundre,  sb.  evil  fame,  disre- 
spect, 15.  v.  75-  Lit.  dis-slander, 
where  the  prefix  is  intensive.  F. 
esclandre,  slander,  from  Lat.  scan- 
datum,  Gk.  OKavdaKov,  offence ; 
whence  E.  scandal. 

Discreue,  v.  F.  to  describe,  15.  v. 
62;  Discryue,  lo.  1897  ;  pp.  Dis- 
criued,  10.  1901. 

Disnerite,  v.  F.  to  disinherit,  14  a, 
67. 

Disese,  sb.  lack  ot  ease,  trouble,  19. 
616. 

Disparpoilid,  pp.  divided,  17. 
Mar.  iii.  25.  The  lit.  meaning  is 
dispersed..  '  Dysparplyn.  Dissipo, 
dispergo ; '  and  again,  '  Sparplyn. 
Spergo,  dispergo'  Prompt.  Parv. 

Disport,  sb.  pleasure,  recreation, 
sport,  19.  143. 

Distresse,  sb.  F.  distress  of  others, 
i.e.  punishment,  13.  307.  Lat. 
stringers,  to  draw  tight. 

Distruen,  pr.  pi.  F.  destroy,  waste, 
15/r.  22. 

Disturblid,  pp.  troubled,  17.  Mar. 
vi.  50. 

Diuise,  vb.  to  tell  of,  describe.  12. 

CO 

oo. 

Diuyn,  sb.  divinity,  15.  pr.  90. 
Di3ete,  2  p.s.  pr.  subj.  diet,  15.  vii. 

255- 
Di3te,  pt.  s.  ordained,  6.   51 ;  pp. 

Di3t,  prepared,   12.  315;    ready, 

12.  151.     See  Dightes. 
Di3tti,  v.  to   arrange,  perform,  6. 

128.     A.  S.  dihtan,  to  order. 
Do,  v.  to  place,  put,  8  b.  157;  to 


cause,  I  b.  62;  1  p.  s.  pr.  put ;  I 
do  it  on  =  I  appeal  to,  15.  i.  84; 
pr.pl.  Does,  do,  2.  cii.  50;  pt.  s. 
Did,  put,  8  b.  174;  pp.  Do,  done, 
6.  13 ;  caused,  5.  5896 ;  pres. 
part.  Doand,  doing,  2.  xvii.  128.  • 
A.  S.  don,  G.  thun,  Du.  doen,  to 
do. 

Dogge,  sb.  a  dog,  15.  v.  98. 

Doke,  sb.  a  duck,  15.  v.  58. 

Dolue,  pt.  s.  subj.  should  dig 
through,  break  into,  9.  5  »  where 
the  Vulg.  has  perfodi  domum 
suam.  A.  S.  del/an,  to  delve,  dig. 

Dom,  sb.  doom,  judgment,  opinion, 
8  a.  100 ;  13.  1046 ;  Dome,  7.  8 ; 
2.  cii.  12  ;  pi.  Domes,  2.  xvii.  61 ; 
4  d.  30.  A.  S.  dom,  judgment ; 
Gk.  $4fus.  See  Deme. 

Domland,  pres.  part,  clouding  over, 
cloudy,  10.  1443.  From  a  vb. 
domle,  to  be  dull,  disturbed;  cf. 
Prov.E.  drumly,  muddy;  drumble, 
to  be  confused  or  disturbed ;  cf. 
Sw.  drumla,  to  be  sluggish,  Sc. 
drum,  dull. 

Don,  adv.  down,  3.  142. 

Done,  v.  to  do,  12.  320;  pr.  pi. 
Done,  do,  5.  5580;  gerund,  to 
done  =  to  do,  I  a.  426;  pp.  Don, 
made,  13.  320;  also  put,  stowed; 
don  in  =  gathered,  7.  39.  See  Do. 

Donet,  sb.  elementary  instruction, 
15.  v.  123.  O.  E.  donet,  a  gram- 
mar, so  named  from  Donatus,  a 
grammarian. 

Dongen,  pp.  knocked,  beaten,  n  c. 
74.  Sc.  ding,  to  beat,  Sw.  d'dnga, 
to  bang. 

Donkeb,  pr.  pi.  make  damp, 
moisten,  4  d.  28.  Milton  uses 
dank,  moist.  Probably  connected 
with  Du.  donker,  dark,  G.  dunkel, 
dark,  Prov.  E.  danker,  a  dark 
cloud. 

(To)  donne,  gerund,  to  do,  6.  1 26. 
Equiv.  to  Lat.  faciendum. 

D  onward,  adv.  downwards,   I  a. 


GLOSS ARIAL  INDEX. 


38i 


Dool,   sb.   sorrow,   grief,    12.   88 ; 

Del,  12.  349.     F.  deuil,  mourn- 
ing, Sc.  dule,  grief,  Lat.  dolium  in 

comp.  cordolium,  heart-grief,  from 

dolere,  to  grieve. 
Dore,  sb.  door,  6.  141. 
Doreward,  sb.  warden  of  the  gate, 

porter,  9.  21. 
Dorste,  pt.  s.  durst,  I  a.  364 ;  pi. 

Dorste,  I  a.  391 ;  Dorst,  20.  12. 

A.  S.  dear,  I  dare,  pt.  t.  dorste. 
Doten,  pr.  pi.  dote,  are  foolish,  13. 

286.     Du.  dutten,  to  take  a  nap, 

to  dote;   cf.  F.  radoter,  to  talk 

incoherently. 
Dotest,  adj.  superl.  most  doting, 

stupidest,  15.  i.  129.     See  above. 
Do>,  pr.  s.  does,  I  b.  5  ;   makes,  3. 

76 ;  pr.  pi.  do,  4  e.  52.     See  Do. 
Dovene,  sb.  dove  (a  feminine  form), 

13.    481;     spelt    Doune,     469; 

Downe,  485.     Cf.  vixen,  a  female 

fox,  O.E.  wulvene,  a  female  wolf; 

and  cf.  the  G.  fern,  termination 

-inn. 
Doumbe,    adj.    dumb,    5.    5907. 

A.  S.  dumb. 

Doun,  v.  go  down,  be  slain,  13.  289. 
Doune,    sb.    hill,    mountain,    I  a. 

158;  pi.  Dounes,  ^d.  28.     A.  S. 

dun,  E.  down,  a  hill. 
Douufalland,    pres.  part,  falling 

down,  2.  xvii.  25. 
Doungas,  pr.  pi.  descend,  2.  ciii. 

17.     Lit.  go  down. 
Dounright,   adv.   right   down,   2. 

xvii.  100. 
Doute,   sb.  F.  fear,    i  6.   8 ;   4  c. 

53;    reverence,   5.  5833;    Dout, 

fear,   lib.  88.     Lit.  doubt;    but 

almost  always  =fear  in  O.  E. 
Doutelees,    adv.    without    doubt, 

19.  226. 
Dou.3tiore,   adj.   comp.  doughtier, 

stronger,  15  v.  84. 
DouJ?e,  adj.  doughty,  brave,  noble 

(ones),  13.  270.     See  below. 
Dowed,   pt.   s.   availed,    13.    374. 

A.  S.  dugan  (pr.  s.  deah,  pi.  dugon, 


pt.  s.  dohie,  pi.  dokton\  to  avail, 
to  be  noble  or  doughty;  cf.  Sc. 
dow,  to  avail,  Du.  deugen,  G. 
taugen,  to  profit.  Wedgwood  de- 
nies the  connection  with  E.  do  in 
the  phr.  'this  will  do,'  'how  do 
you  do.' 

Dozein,  sb.  F.  dozen,  7.  35. 

Defter,  sb.  daughter,  I  a.  296 ;  pi. 
Doatren,  10.297,300.  A.S.dohtor. 

Draf,  pt.  s.  drove,  fell,  16.  471. 

Dragoun,  sb.  dragon,  2.  ciii.  6l. 

Drah,  imp.  s.  draw,  3.  178. 

Drakes,  sb.  pi.  drakes,  wild  fowl, 
4d.  19. 

Dranc,  pt.  pi.  drank,  7.  42. 

Drawand,  pres.  part,  drawing  near, 
10.  826;  Drawis,  pr.  s.  draws, 
inclines  (one),  16. 175 ;  pp.  Drawe, 

19-  339- 
Dra3e>,   pr.   pi.   subj.    they  may 

draw,  9.  51. 
Dre,  v.  to  endure,   hold  out,   16. 

181.     A. S.  dredgan,  to  endure; 

Sc.  dree. 
Drechinge,    adj.   vexing,    painful, 

deeply  drawn  (said  of  a  breath  or 

sigh),  20.  149.     A.  S.  drecan,  to 

vex,  oppress. 
Dredand,  pres.  part,  fearing,  2.  cii. 

27;   they  who  fear,  2.  xiv.  10; 

a.  cii.  22;  Dredeand,  2.  cii.  38. 
Drede,   sb.    dread;    but    we    find 

withouten  </ra&  =  Without   doubt, 

19.  196;  cf.  16.  195. 
Drede,  v.  to  fear,  3.  156;   where 

him  drede  =  fear  for  himself.   A.S. 

drckdan,  to  fear,  dr<£d,  dread,  fear. 
Drenchen,  v.  to  be  drowned,  19. 

455.     A.S.  drencan,  to  cause  to 

drink,  to  drench. 
Drenchyng,  sb.  drowning,  19.  485. 

Cf.  A.S.  drenc-flod,  a  drenching 

flood,  i.  e.  the  deluge. 
Drepez,  pr.  s.  slays,  1 3.  246.     A.  S. 

drepan,  to  wound ;  Sw.  drdpa,  to 

kill,  Icel.  drap,  a  death-stroke. 
Dressen,  pr.  pi.  prepare  (lit.  direct), 
19.  263;   Dresseth  hir=prepares 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


herself,  19.  265.     F.  dresser,  from 

Lat.  dirigere. 

Dreuch,  pt.  s.  drew,  16.  468. 
Dreued,  pt.  s.  troubled,  2.  xvii.  40 ; 

2.  ciii.  70.     A.  S.  drefan,  to  dis- 
turb,  vex,   Prov.  E.   drovy,    dis- 
turbed, dirty. 
Dre3ly,  adv.  patiently,  enduringly, 

13.  476.     See  Dre. 
Dridnes,  sb.  fear,  dread,  7.  262. 
Drif,  v.  to  drive,  follow  up,  16.  66; 

to  drife  (gerund)  =  to  be  driven, 

8  a.  229.     A.  S.  drifan. 
Drightin,  sb.  Lord,  7.  67.     A.  S. 

drihten,  the  Lord. 
Drinc,  s&.  drink,  7.  54. 
Driue>,  pr.  pi.  drive;  driue>  forj> 

=  pass   away  (the   time),    I^pr. 

103.     See  Drif. 
Drof,  pt.  s.  drove,  I  a.  239,  464 ; 

20.  166;  Drofe,  hurled,  5.  5618. 

See  Drif. 
Dronkenes,      pr.      s.      becomes 

drowned,   is  drowned,   8  b.   109. 

Sw.  drunlina,  to  be  drowned. 
Drope,  sb.  S.  drop,  I  a.  1 70. 
Drovh,  pt.  s.  drew,  20.  220;  Drou, 

1  a.  98 ;  Drou3,  pulled,  I  b.  80. 
Drouh)>e,  sb.  drought,  15.  vii.  275. 
Drouing,  sb.  trouble,  2.  xvii.  15. 

See  below. 
Drouy,  adj.  turbid,  13.  1016.  A.  S. 

drefe,  muddy ;  drefan,  to  disturb. 

See  Dreued. 
Drou3,   i  p.  s.  drew,  15.  v.  123; 

pt.  s.  Drou,  I  a.  78;   Drow,  12. 

42 ;   Drou3,  I  b.  29 ;   Droj,  I  b. 

77 ;  pt.  pi.  Drowe,  I  b.  54 ;   20. 

163.     A.  S.  dragan  (pt.  t.  drdg}, 

to  draw,  drag. 
Druisest,   2  p.  s.  pr.  art  dry,  art 

thirsty,  15.  i.  25. 
Drund,  pt.  pi.  were   drowned,   7. 

415.     See  Dronkenes. 
Drunkenes,/>r.  s.  drowns,  8b.  HI. 

Sw.    dranka,    E.    drench,    A.  S. 

drencan,  to  make  to  drink. 
Drurie,  s6.  favourite,  darling,  ob- 
ject of  affection,  15.  i.  85.     O.  F. 


druerie,  affection,  drut,  a  lover, 
from  O.  H.  G.  triuten,  to  love ;  cf. 
G.  traut,  dear. 

Druye,  adj.  as  sb.  dry,  15.  vi.  21 ; 
adj.  pi.  dry,  12.  412. 

Drytlie,  sb.  drought,  dryness,  1 8  a. 
17.  A.  S.  drugaft. 

Dry3,  adj.  sorrowful,  patient,  13. 
342.  Cf.  '  how  dree  were  the  long 
nights;'  DayofRest.no. 25^.366. 

Dry3e,  v.  to  endure,  undergo,  13. 
372;  to  suffer,  13.  1032;  Dry3, 
13.  400-,  pt.  s.  Dryjed,  continued, 
13.  491.  A.S.  dredgan,  to  en- 
dure, Sc.  dree,  to  endure. 

Dry3ly,  adv.  strongly,  vehemently, 
13.  344.  See  above. 

Dry3tyn,  sb.  a  lord,  the  Lord,  13. 
243.  295;  Dry3ttyn,  13.  344. 
See  Drightin. 

Dubbed,  pp.  dubbed,  n  c.  58; 
Dubbede,  15.  i.  96.  A.S.  dub- 
ban,  to  strike,  thump ;  E.  dub, 
a  thump ;  hence  O.  F.  adober, 
to  dub  a  knight,  also  to  arm, 
equip,  arrange. 

Dubonure,  adj.  mild,  gentle,  5. 
5800.  Seems  to  be  miswritten 
for  debonaire. 

Duo,  sb.  F.  duke,  i  a.  37,  55-  57. 

Dude,  pt.  s.  put,  i  a.  359 ;  did,  i  a. 
13,  1 8,  82;  caused,  15.  i.  97; 
pt.  pi.  Dude,  did,  i  a.  95,  102 ; 
Dude  hem  no3t,  should  do  nothing 
to  them,  i.  e.  should  not  hurt 
them,  i  a.  139.  See  Do. 

Duere,  adj.  dear,  3.  31. 

Dume,  sb.  doom,  judgment,  15.  ii. 
183.  See  Dome. 

Dungun,  sb.  dungeon,  i$pr.  15. 

Dunstan,  i  b.  i. 

Dunt,  sb.  stroke,  blow,  i  a.  154, 
165.  A.S.  dynt,  a  blow,  dent, 
dint. 

Duppe}>,  pr.  pi.  dip,  6.  86. 

Dure,  v.  F.  to  last,  19.  189;  pr.  s. 
Dure>,  lasts,  15.  iii.  29;  DuyreJ?, 
endures,  lasts,  18  a.  77  ;  pr.  pi. 
Duren,  endure,  13.  IO2I;  pt.  s. 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


383 


Durede,    15.  i.   76;    18  6.   114. 

Lat.  durare. 

Dutande,  pres.  part,  closing,  shut- 
ting,  13.  320.     A.S.   dyttan,   to 

close,    shut;     Prov.    E.    dit,    to 

close. 
Bute,  sb.  fear  (lit.  doubt),  7.  260. 

See  Doute. 
Duyryng,   sb.   lasting,   i8a.  146. 

See  Dure. 
Dwelland,    pres.    part,     abiding, 

remaining,  2.  cii.  37. 
Dwer)>,  sb.  a  dwarf,  12.  362.     Sw. 

Du.  and  G.  dwerg. 
Dwyne,  v.  to  dwindle,   10.   703; 

pr.  s.  Dwynes,  10.  707.   Sw.  tvina, 

to  dwindle. 
Dyad,    adj.    dead,    9.    239;    pL 

Dyade,  9.  243.     See  Dede. 
DyaK  sb.  death,  9.  37;    DyaJ>e, 

9-32. 

Dyeuel,  sb.  deyil,  9.  18. 
Dygne,  a<$.  F.  worthy,  5.  5718. 
Dyngneliche,    adv.    F.  worthily, 

9-  i°5' 
Dykers,    sb.   pi.    ditchers,    i&pr. 

102.      A.  S.   die,   a   A'fo,    ditch, 

mound,  dician,  to  make  a  dike, 

to  <#§•;  cf.  Gk.  Tcf^os. 
Dyssh.es,  si.  />/.  dishes,  5.  5828. 
Dysstrye,  v.  to  destroy,  13.  520. 
Dyse,  v.  to  die,  15.  i.  132.    See 

Deid. 

/>/>.   dight,   ordained,   made, 
.  243.    See  Dight es. 


E,  sb.  eye,  16.  191. 

Earen,  s6.  />/.  ears,  9.  ia.     A.S. 

ea're,  an  ear,  pi.  edran. 
Ebrayk,  adj.  Hebrew,  19.  489. 
Eche,   adj.   each,    i  a.    109;    ech 

after  o]>er  =  one  after  another,  I  a. 

96;  ech  to  o)>er  =  to  each  other, 

i  6.  9.     A.  S.  ale,  each. 
Eche,  sb.  increase,  addition,  6.  65. 

A.  S.  ecan,  to  eke,  increase ;    cf. 

Lat.  augere. 


Echedayes,  apparently  an  adv. 
on  each  day,  daily,  9.  229. 

Echedeyl,  adv.  every  bit,  entirely, 
5.  5748.  See  Dele. 

Echeu,  to  each  (one),  9.  27.  Cf. 
Lat.  motto  suum  cuique. 

Echon,  pron.  each  one,  i  a.  299  ; 
I  6.  n;  Echone,  i  a.  355;  5.  5585. 

Edne)>,  (perhaps)  returns  (to  him), 
3.  200.  The  Camb.  MS.  has  his 
hedwite=is  a  reproach,  which 
gives  some  sense.  But  the  mean- 
ing is  uncertain.  Cf.  A.  S.  ed, 
back  again. 

Edwit,  sb.  reproach,  I  a.  468. 
A.  S.  edwite,  reproach,  edwitan, 
to  blame;  from  ed,  prefix  signi- 
fying anew,  again,  and  ivite,  a 
penalty. 

Eese,  sb.  ease;  put  for  eese  is  = 
is  easy  to,  10.  1469.  Cf.  the 
use  of  F.  aise  as  an  adj.  =  glad. 

Ef,  conj.  if,  8  b.  73.  Icel.  ef,  if, 
prob.  connected  with  Icel.  ef, 
doubt,  O.  Sw.  jefwa,  to  doubt. 

Efifere,  sb.  show,  bustle,  16.  30; 
Effer,  appearance,  demeanour,  1 6. 
126;  Effeir,  16.  412.  Probably 
O.  F.  afaire,  state,  condition. 

Ef-sone,  adv.  soon  after,  I  a.  135. 
See  Eftsone. 

Eft,  adv.  afterwards,  again,  3.  190 ; 
again,  170.  iv.  i ;  Efte,  again, 
13.  248;  eft  resten  =  Lat.  re- 
quiescet,  17.  Ps.  xiv.  i.  A.S.  eft, 
again,  afterwards. 

Efter,  prep,  after,  7.  7 ;  for,  8  b. 
77.  A.  S.  after,  Sw.  efter. 

Eft-sone,  adv.  again,  6.124;  1 70. 
ii.  13  (where  the  Lat.  has  rursus). 
A.  S.  eft-sona,  soon  after ;  lit. 
after-soon. 

Eggede,  pt.  s.  incited,  instigated, 
15.  i.  63.  A.S.  eggian,  Icel. 
eggja,  to  sharpen,  excite,  incite. 
See  below. 

Eggez,  sb.  pi.  edges,  13.  383,  451, 
A.  S.  ecg,  Icel.  egg,  Lat.  acies, 
an  edge ;  cf.  Gk.  d/f/tiy. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


Eggyng,  sb.  instigation,  13.  241. 
Icel.  egging,  an  inciting,  egging 
on.  See  above. 

Eghe,  sb.  eye,  10.  818;  Eie,  I  a. 
160;  pi.  Eghen,  2.  xvii.  68;  IO. 
781.  A.  S.  edge,  pi.  eagan. 

Eild,  sb.  age,  7.  194.     See  Eld. 

Eile]?,  />r.  s.  ails,  15.  vii.  244. 

Eir,  s6.  F.  heir,  i  a.  234;  />/.  Eirs, 
la.  257-  Lat.  Jtaeres. 

Ei])er,  /row.  each  (of  two),  i  a.  91. 

Either,  adv.  even,  17.  Mar.  vi.  56. 

Eisyen,  s&.  />/.  eyes,  12.  228; 
Ei3en,  15 />r.  71.  See  Eghe. 

Ek,  conj.  also,  la.  17;  Eke,  6.  38. 
A.  S.  edc,  G.  auch,  Du.  oo£. 

Eld,  s&.  old  age,  I  a.  462 ;  Elde, 
old  age,  age,  3.  42;  IO.  742; 
15.  iii.  90.  A.  S.  yldo,  Mceso- 
Goth.  aids,  alths,  old  age. 

Elded,  pp.  grown  old,  2.  xvii. 
114.  A.S.  ealdian,  G.  altern,  to 
grow  old. 

Elderne,  sb.  pi.  ancestors,  i  a. 
101,  102,  105.  A.S.  ealdor,  an 
elder,  ancestor,  ruler;  whence  E. 
alderman. 

Eldore,  adj.  comp.  elder,  i  a.  244 ; 
superl.  Eldoste,  la.  301,  506. 
A.  S.  eald,  old. 

Eleccicvun,  sb.  choice  (an  astro- 
logical term),  19.  312. 

Elleft,  adj.  eleventh,  8  a.  135. 

Ellerne,  sb.  an  elder-tree,  15.  i.  66. 
A.  S.  ellen. 

Elles,  adv.  else,  5.  5668 ;  provided 
only,  13.  466;  otherwise  (than 
the  truth),  15.  i.  86 ;  cf.  1.  108 
below.  A.  S.  elles;  cf.  Gk.  aXXcus. 

Elringe,  sb.  a  herring,  8  b.  46. 
Probably  an  error  of  the  scribe, 
as  the  Camb.  MS.  has  herynge. 

Elper,  adj.  older,  i8a.  18.  A.S. 
eald,  old,  yldra,  older. 

Embassadrie,  sb.  embassaye,  em- 
bassy, 19.  233. 

Emeristen,  sb.  fellow-Christian,  9. 
86.  A.  S.  efen-cristen,  a  fellow 
Christian,  from  efen,  efn,  even. 


So  also  Sw.jamnchristen,  fellow- 
Christian,  fromjamn,  even,  equal. 

Emprise,  sb.  enterprise,  19.  348. 
O.  F.  emprise,  emprinse,  from 
prendre,  to  take  in  hand,  Lat. 
prehendere. 

Enchaunmens,  sb.  pi.  enchant- 
ments, 12.  137. 

Encrees,  sb.  increase,  19.  237. 

Endentur,  sb.  (as  pi.)  notches, 
crevices,  cracks,  13.313.  O.  Fr. 
endenter,  to  indent,  notch. 

Endlang,  prep,  along,  16.  27.  A.S. 
andlang,  G.  entlang. 

Ene,  adv.  once,  3.  189.  A.  S.  <zne, 
once. 

Enes,  adv.  once,  I  a.  393 ;  Ene, 
3.  189.  A.S.  dnes,  gen.  case  of 
an,  one. 

Enfermer,  sb.  attendant  on  the  in- 
firm, the  infirmarius  of  an  abbey, 
8  a.  185. 

Enflawmed,  pp.  F.  inflamed,  140. 
66.  Lzt.JJamma. 

Engelond,  prop.  n.  England,  I  a. 
1 6.  A.  S.  Engla  lond,  land  of  the 
Angles  or  English ;  where  Engla 
is  gen.  pi.  of  Angle,  Engle,  the 
Angles. 

Englissche,  adj.  English,  6.  58 ; 
Engliss,  I  a.  134;  pi.  Englisse,  I 
a.  5 ;  Englisch,  the  English  lan- 
guage, 6.  1 1 8. 

Enne,  ac.  s.  m.  of  On  =  one,  6.  100. 
A.  S.  an,  ac.  s.  m.  dnne,  anne. 

Ennok,  Enoch,  5.  5935. 

Enoumbre,  v.  to  conceal,  obscure ; 
enoumbre  him,  to  be  obscured,  14 
a.  9.  Lat.  inumbrare,  from  um- 
bra; whence  O.  F.  enombrer. 
See  Ombre,  in  Burguy. 

Enpoysened,  pt.  s.  poisoned,  13. 
242. 

Enqueri,  v.  F.  to  inquire,  i  a.  352. 

Ensample,  sb.  example,  5.  5939. 

Entente,  sb.  intent,  consideration, 
plan,  20.  21  ;  Entent,  purpose, 
19.  147.  Lat.  intenderet  to  give 
attention  to. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


Entre}>,  pr.  s.  enters,  6.  6. 
Envyrone,  v.  to  go  about,  roam 

over,  140.  8.     F.  virer,  to  turn. 
Enuyrown  j  in  enuyrown  =  in  the 

environs,  round  about,  17.   Mar. 

vi.  6. 
Eny,   adj.    any,    I  a.    124.     A.  S. 

dnig. 

Eode,  pt.  pi.  went,  came,  4  c.  46 ; 
pt.  pi.  Eoden,  went,  15.  pr.  40. 

A.  S.  eode,  used  as  pt.  t.  of  gdn, 

to  go ;  Mceso-Gothic  iddja,  I  went, 

as  pt.  t.  of  gangan,  to  go. 
Eorne>,  pr.  s.  runs,  18  a.  21;  />/. 

18  a.  19.     A.  S.  yrnan,  to  run; 

by  metathesis  we  get  A.S.  rennan, 

G.  rennen,  E.  run. 
Er,  adv.  before,  previously,  1  a.  2 ; 

i  6.    2 ;     formerly,    15.    i.    182 ; 

con/,  before,  19.  199.     A.  S.  dr, 

formerly,  ere ;  cf.  E.  early. 
Erbez,  sb.  pi.  herbs,  13.  532. 
Erchebissop,  sb.  archbishop,  I  a. 

227;  Erchebisshopp,  146.62. 
Ere,  pr.  pi.  are,  2.  viii.  4 ;  2:  xvii. 

26;    Er,  2.  xvii.  114;    10.  434. 

Icel.  3  p.  pi.  «rw,  Dan.  «re  or  #% 
Erchedekenes,  si.  pi.  archdeacons, 

iSpr.9*. 
Eremyte,  sb.  hermit,  146.  7;  pi. 

Ermytes,  15.^.50. 
Eringe,  sb.  ploughing,  15  pr.  21. 

A.  S.  erian,  Lat.  arare,  to  plough. 
Eritage,  sb.  F.  heritage,  I  a.  506. 
Erliche,  adv.  early,  20.  41 ;    Er- 

lyche,  186.  93. 
Ernde,  sb.  errand,  15.  Hi.  42.     A.  S. 

arend,   an    errand,    Mceso-Goth. 

airus,   a   messenger,   airinon,    to 

go  on  a  message. 
Erne,  sb.  eagle,  2.  cii.  10.     A.S. 

earn,   ern,   an   eagle ;     Icel.   and 

Sw.  orn,  an  eagle ;    Gk.  opvis,  a 

bird. 
Ernest,  sb.  earnest,  I  a.  131.     W. 

ern,  ernes,  a  pledge,  O.  F.  arm  or 

ernes,  from  Lat.  arrha,  arrhabo, 

a  pledge,  Gk.  appap&v. 
Er  neatly,  adv.  quickly,  13.  277. 

VOL.  II. 


Erst,  adj.  first,  4  c.  12.     A.  S.  drst, 

drost,  first,  from  <£r,  before,  ere. 
Ert,  ^r.  s.  2 p.  art,  6.  123.     A.S. 

eart,  Icel.  er/,  2  p.  s.  pr. 
Er)>eli,  adj.  earthly,  2.  xxiii.  2. 
Er-J>en,  corc/.  before,  3.  84. 
Ertou  =  art  thou,  2.  ciii.  2. 
Es  =  is,  />r.  s.  2.  viii.  3;  2.  xiv.  9, 

13;    8  a.   101;    10.  476;    Esse, 

8  a.  115.     A.  S.  is,  Icel.  es,  older 

form  of  Icel.  er,  3  p.  s.  pr. 
Eschaping,  sb.  escape,  16.  54. 
Eschapit,  pt.  s.  escaped,  16.  53; 

pt.pl.  1 6.  86;  pp.  1 6.  94. 
Eseliche,  adv.  easily,  I  a.  147. 
Esse,  v.  to  ask,  demand,  I  a.  367 ; 

pt.  s.  Esste,  asked,  I  a.  230.   A.S. 

acsian,  to  ask,  Prov.  E.  axe. 
Est,  sb.  east,  la.  128;  7.  23;  15 

pr.  15. 
Estdel,  sb.  the  east,  2.  cii.  23.   See 

Dele. 
Este,   adj.    pi.   pleasant,    3.    109. 

A.  S.  este,  benign,  mild,  &/,  grace, 

favour ;  Mceso-Goth.  ansts,  grace  ; 

G.  g-unst. 
Ester,  sb.  Easter,  I  a.  400.     A.  S. 

Eoster. 
Estrinland,   sb.   Eastern   land,   7. 

1 6. 

Ete,  pt.  s.  ate.  13.  241  ;  pi.  7.  42. 
Etteleden,  pt.  pi.   directed   their 

way,  went  straight,  12.  272.     See 

Attele. 
Euangiles,  sb.  pi.  gospels,  19.  666. 

Gk.  fvayye\tov. 
Euelez,  pt.  pi.  evils,  13.  277. 
Euene,  adj.  mean,  average,  I  a.  408. 

A.  S.  efen,  equal,  even. 
Euere,  adv.  ever,  I  a.  118.     A.S. 

dfre,  from  <£,  ever,  aye. 
Euerichon,  every  one,  19.  330. 
Euerich,  adj.  every,  I  a.  354;  6. 

69;   9.  190.     The  termination^ 

in  every  is  equivalent  to  O.  E.  ich, 

ilk,  A.  S.  celc,  E.  each. 
Eucrilkan,  every  one,  8  a.  243. 
Euermo,  adv.  evermore,  ever  again, 

i  a.  176. 

C  C 


386 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Euerwik,  prop.  n.  York,  i  a. 
73,  227,  326.  A.  S.  Eoferwic, 
Eofonuic. 

Eueryclione,  adj.  every  one,  5. 
5880. 

Euesong,  sb.  vespers,  I  a.  282 ; 
the  time  at  which  vespers  were 
sung,  4  c.  13. 

Eueyl,  adj.  evil,  5.  5685.  A.S. 
eofel,  yfel,  G.  iibel,  Mceso-Goth. 
ubils,  evil. 

Eure,  adv.  ever,  2.  cii.  37. 

Eurich,  every  one,  9.  224;  Eureich, 
every,  9.  190. 

Extenden,  pr.  pi.  spread  out,  19. 
461. 

Ewangelye,  sb.  gospel,  15.  i.  174. 

Ewe  ardaunt,  sb.  F.  burning 
water,  6.  34 ;  compare  '  fire- 
water,' Span.  '  aguardiente,'  and 
the  '  brennynge  water '  of  the 
Book  of  Quintessence,  ed.  Fur- 
nivall. 

Ewei,  adv.  away,  7.  13. 

Expowne,  v.  to  expound,  1 7.  Mar. 
iv.  10.  Lat.  exponere,  O.  F.  ex- 
pondre;  another  E.  form  is  ex- 
pose. 

Eye,  sb.pl.  S.  eyes,  i  a.  390;  Eyen, 
19.  560.  See  Eghe. 

Eyre,  sb.  F.  heir,  12.  128;  Eyer, 
12.77.  Lat.  haeres.  See  Eir. 

Ey)>er  o>er,  either  (the)  other, 
each  other,  18  a.  207  ;  cf.  18  b.  79. 

Ese,  sb.  S.  eye,  3.  207  ;  40.  14  • 
pi.  Ejen,  9.  12.  See  Eghe. 

F. 

Faa,  sb.  foe,  2.  viii.  8;  pi.  Fais, 
8  b.  74 ;  Faes,  2.  viii.  7 ;  Faas,  2. 
xvii.  10.  A.  S.  fdh,  a  foe,  enemy, 
from  feon,  to  hate.  See  Fend. 

Fader,  sb.  S.  father,  i  a.  39; 
19.  274 ;  Fadre,  2.  cii.  25  ;  gen.  s. 
Fader,  I  a.  526;  20.  122;  pi. 
Faderes,  I  a.  104.  A.S.  feeder, 
gen.  fader  or  fcederes,  the  former 
being  more  common. 


Fai,  sb.  faith ;  par  fat  = 
by  my  faith,  7.  76. 

Faie,  sb.  fay,  fairy,  20.  279.  F. 
fee,  a  fairy,  from  Low  Lzt.fatare, 
to  enchant,  from/atom,  fate, /an', 
to  speak. 

Faille,  s6.  fail,  19.  561. 

Faine,  v.  to  be  glad,  rejoice,  2.  ciii. 
76 ;  pr.  s.  Faines,  gladdens,  re- 
joices, 2.  ciii.  32.  A.S.  /<££•», 
glad,  fagnian,  to  rejoice,  E.  fain. 

Fairelied,  sb.  beauty,  2.  ciii.  3. 

Fais,  sb.pl.  foes,  86.  74;  Fayis,  16. 
86.  See  Faa. 

Fait,  sb.  action,  work  done,  15.  i. 
1 60.  F.  fait,  Lat.  factum,  E. 
feat. 

Faithe,  8  a.  191.  Either  read 
Faithe  and,  or  suppose  Fai  the  put 
for  in  faith,  or  read  Faithful. 
The  Camb.  MS.  varies,  as  in  the 
footnote. 

Falle,  v.  trans,  to  cause  to  fall,  fell, 
overthrow,  15.  iii.  43  ;  2.  p.  s.pr. 
subj.  falle  the  =  let  thyself  fall,  8  b. 

193. 

Falles,  pr.  s.  befals,  12.  14;  pr.  s. 
impers.  it  befals  naturally,  it  be- 
comes, behoves,  10.  2353 ;  it  hap- 
pens, occurs,  turns  out,  10.  553 ; 
suits,  8  a.  183  ;  falles  for  =  it  suits, 
12.  339;  FalleK  belongs,  15.  i.  50; 
pp.  Falle,  fallen,  19.  303. 

Fallow,  sb.  fellow,  16.  159;  pi. 
Fallowis,  1 6.  137. 

Fallow,  v.  to  follow,  16.  141. 

Fallynge,  adj.  falling ;  fallynge 
evylle,  falling  sickness,  i.e.  epi- 
lepsy, 146.  19. 

Falshede,  sb.  falseness,  falsehood, 
deceit,  I  a  10,  45,  49. 

Falsnesse,  sb.  deceit;  falsnesse  of 
fastinge  =  omission  of  fasting,  15. 
pr.  68. 

Falbe,  pr.  s.  falls,  6.  32. 

Famen,  sb.  pi.  foemen,  1 1  c.  39. 

Fand,  pt.  s.  found,  7.  15  ;  8  b.  176 ; 
pt.pl.  Fand,  II  a.  93. 

Fande,  v.  to   try,  experience,  10, 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


387 


1463;    to  endeavour,   10.   2228. 

See  Fonde. 
Fanding,  sb.  temptation,  2.  xvii. 

77;  pi.  Fandinges,  8  6.  82.     See 

Fonde. 
Fang,  v.  to  receive,   a.  xxiii.  II ; 

Q  b.  207.     See  Fonge. 
Fantasyes,  sb.pl.  fancies,  devices, 

ludicrous  inventions,  15.  pr.  36. 
Fantum,  sb.  a  phantom,  17.  Mar. 

vi.  49.     Vulg.  phantasma. 
Fare,  v.  S.  to  go,  I  a.  56 ;  to  go 

along,  20.  138;  pr.  s.  Fares,  acts, 

does,  behaves,  8  b.  45  ;  Fars,  fares, 

II  a.  40  ;  pr.pl.  Fare>,  go,  15.  ii. 

158  ;  pp.  Faren,  gone,  passed,  13. 

403  ;  Fare,  gone,  19.  512;  imp. 

pi.  i  p.  Far  we  =  let  us  go,  7.  57  ; 

imp.pl.  Fare,  go,  41.42.     A.  S. 

faran,   to    go,    to  fare;    cf.   E. 

wayfarer*  welfare,  farewell ;   Gk. 

n6pos. 
Fare,  sb.  doing,  business,  goings  on, 

19.  569.     See  above. 
Fast,  adv.  close,  12.  3,  293;  closely, 

5-  5885. 
Farmed,  pt.  pi.   embraced   (each 

other),  13.  399.     A.  S.  faftmian, 

to    embrace,  faftm,    a    fathom, 

closing  of  the  arms ;  cf.  Lzt.pateo. 
Faure,  num.  four,  13.  958;  Fawre, 

13.950.     A.S.feower. 
Faurtend,    adj.   fourteenth,    8  a. 

141.     A.  S.  feowerlyne,  fourteen. 
Faut,  sb.  fault,  13.  236.     F.faute, 

Span. /a/to,  a  defect,  Lzt.fallere. 
Fauuel,  sb.   the  personification  of 

Flattery,  Cajolery,  or  Deceit,  15. 

ii.  158.    O.V.favele,Lat.fabellat 

dim.   of  fabula.      Quite   distinct 

from  adj.  fauel= yellow,  bay. 
Fayle,  v.  to  be  wanting,   3.  195. 

See  Faut. 

Fayis,  sb.pl.  foes,  16.  86.  See  Faa. 
Fayn,  adj.  glad,  13.  962  ;  19.  173. 

A.  S.  fcegen,   fcegn,    glad,   fain. 

See  Faine. 

Fayn,  adv.  gladly,  19.  222. 
Fayten,  v.  to  tame,  mortify,  15.  v. 


49.      O.  F.   afaiter,    to   prepare, 

from  Lat.  affectare. 
Fe,  sb.  money,  goods,  3.  150.  A.  S. 

feoh,  Du.  vee,  G.  vieh,  Lat.  pecus, 

cattle,   property,  wealth,   whence 

E.  fee.     Cf.  Lat.  pecunia,  riches, 

from  pecus;  also  E.  feudal,  fief. 
Feaw,  adj.  few,  18  a.  220. 
Feble,  adj.  feeble,  i  0.491. 
Febli,  v.  to  grow  feeble,  I  a.  462 ; 

Febly,  I  a.  490. 
Feblore,  adj.  comp.  feebler,  i  a. 

342. 

Fecche,  v.  to  fetch,  19.  662. 
Fee,  sb.  cattle,  7.  303.     See  Fe. 
Feer,  sb.  fire,  6.  28  ;  dot.  s.  Fere, 

6.  30.     A.  S.  fir,  Du.  vuur,  G. 

feuer,  Gk.  irvp. 
Feeres,  sb.pl.  companions,  15.  ii. 

185. 

Fees,  sb.pl.  cities,  13.  960.  Fr. 
fief,  Q.V.fieu,feu,  from  O.  H.  G. 
fehu,  equiv.  to  A.  S.  feoh,  E.  fee. 

See  Fe. 
Feeres,  sb.pl.  companions,  15.  ii. 

1 68.     See  Fere,  sb. 
Feffede,  pt.  s.  enfeoffed,  i  a.  262, 

269;  provided  for,  12.  193.  F. 
fief,  O.  F.  feu,  fieu,  Low  Lat. 
feudum,  property  in  land  (whence 

E.  feudal}.    See  Fees. 
Fei,  sb.  faith,  15.  i.  14.     F./o*. 
Feire,  adv.  fairly,  in  order,  15.  i.  2 ; 

kindly,  4. 
Feisliche,   adv.   faithfully,   verily, 

12.  261;  Fei3j>ely,  12.  230. 
Fei3tful,  adj.  faithful,  12.  337. 
Feisb,  sb.  faith,  fidelity,  12.  275. 
Fel,  pt.  s.  it  befell,  19.  141 ;  Fel  to 

=  suited,  19.  149. 
Fel,  i  p.  s.  pr.  feel ;  fel  me,  feel  it 

to  myself,  8  a.  198. 
Fel,    adv.    bitterly,    severely,    13. 

1040.     See  Felle. 
Fel,  sb.  fell,  mountain,  8  a.  109; 

Felle,  1 10.    Icel.  fjall,  a  mountain, 

Sw.jjall,  a  chain  of  hills. 
Fel,  sb.  skin,  2.  ciii.  5;  15.1.  15; 

pi.  Felly  s,  1 8  a.  50.    A.  S.  fell, 

C  C  2 


388 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


Lat.  pellls,  Gk.  Tre'AAa,  a  skin  ;  E. 
fellmonger,  a  dealer  in  hides. 

Felaw,  sb.  fellow,  companion,  5. 
5856 ;  pi.  Felaws,  companions, 
5.  5621;  Felaus,  5.  5841;  Fe- 
lawes,  i  a.  40.  Icel.  felagi,  from 
fe,  cattle,  property,  and  lag,  law, 
society  ;  hence  felagi  is  one  who 
possesses  property  in  common 
with  others. 

Felauschip,  sb.  company,  8  b.  14; 
Fela3schyp,  communion,  inter- 
course, 13.  271. 

Peld,  pp.  concealed  (?)  ;  faire  feld, 
completely  concealed  (?),  II  b.  71. 
Cf.  Prov.  E.feel,  to  hide,  Moeso- 
Goth.  filhan,  to  hide  ;  but  it  may 
be  a  mere  error  tot  fled;  so  that 
faire  fled = fairly  fled  away. 

Peld,  pt.  s.  felt,  perceived,  12.  33. 

Pelde,  pt.  s.  fell,  17.  Mar.  iv.  4; 
pt.  pi.  Felden,  fell ;  felden  to  him, 
Lat.  irruerent  in  eum,  17.  Mar. 
iii.  10 ;  felden  down  to  him,  pro- 
cidebant  ei,  II.  Dan.  falde,  to 
fall. 

Pelde,  pt.  s.  filled,  20.  37. 

Pelde,  sb.  field,  a.  viii.  22;  pi. 
Feldes,  2.  ciii.  17.  A.  S.  feld, 
fild,  a  pasture. 

Peldfares,  sb.  pi.  fieldfares,  12. 
183. 

Pele,  adj.  many,  3.  5 ;  12.  5  ;  16. 
12;  adv.  much,  4  d.  10.  A.  S. 
fela, fele,  much,  many;  G.  viel, 
much  ;  Gk.  iro\.v$. 

Pelefalded,  pt.  s.  multiplied,  2. 
xvii.  40.  Latin  multiplicand. 
A.  S.  fela-feald,  manifold. 

Pelle,  adj.  fell,  severe,  cruel,  2. 
xvii.  14;  13.  283  ;  dreadful,  terri- 
ble, 10.  1820;  cruel,  8  a.  162. 
A.S.  fell,  cruel,  severe;  Du.  fel, 
cruel ;  O.  F.  fel,  cruel.  Burguy 
denies  the  existence  of  A.  S.fell; 
but  it  certainly  appears  in  A.S. 
wcelfel,  murderously  cruel,  1.  53  of 
the  Legend  of  St.  Helena,  in  the 
Vercelli  MS.  See  Pelonye. 


Pelle,  pt.pl.   fell;    at  felle  =  that 

fell,  that  sinned,  6.  82. 
Pelle,  sb.  skin,  10.  739;  pi.  Fellys, 

hides,  skins,  1 8  a.  50.     See  Pel. 
Pelonye,  sb.  crime,  19.  643 ;   en- 
mity,   II    c.    40.      O.  F.  felonie, 

cruelty ;  O.  Y.fel,  cruel ;  O.  H.  G. 

fillan,  to  torment,  to  flay  (cf.  Du. 

villen,    to    flay),   which   certainly 

seems  to  belong  to  A.S. fel,  skin. 

See  Pelle,  cruel,  and  Pel,  skin. 
Pelunlyclie,  adv.  fiercely,  angrily, 

5.  5614;  Felunly,  5.  5644.     See 

above. 
Femynynytee,  sb.  feminine  form, 

19.  360. 
Pen,  sb.  dirt,  mire,   2.  xvii.  108 ; 

marsh,  II  a.  29.     A.  S.fenn,  mud, 

zfen. 
Pend,  sb.  fiend,  devil,  6.  79;  Fende, 

5-  5643;   pl-  Fendes,  5.  5680; 

Fende   (for    Fendez),    13.    269. 

A.S.fedn,  to  hate,  fe6nd,  hating, 

an  enemy,  a  fiend,   Mceso-Goth. 
fijan,  to  hate,  fijands,  hating,  an 

enemy. 
Peng,  pt.  pi.  took  ;  feng  to  the 

flyght,  took   to  flight,   13.   377. 

See  Pang,  Ponge. 
Penyl,  sb.  fennel,  4  d.  18.  A.S. 

final,  fenol. 
Per,  adj.  far,  2.  cii.  24 ;  19.  658 ; 

on  fer  =  afar,   at  a  distance,    1 6. 

438.  A.S.feor,  far. 
Per,  adv.  far,  3.  208. 
Perd,  pp.  terrified,  afraid,  7.  62 ; 

8  b.  183.  A.S.fceran,  to  frighten, 

afered,      afraid,      terrified.       See 

Pere. 
Perde,  pt.  s.  S.  fared,  went,  12.  30 ; 

Ferd,  8  a.  231 ;  n  6.  19  ;  pt.  pi. 

Ferd,  7.  165.     See  Pare,  vb. 
Perde,  sb.  fear,  n  6.  27;  terror, 

13.  386. 

Perdnes,  sb.  terror,  10.  2231. 
Pere,  v.  to  frighten,  10.  2227;  pr. 

s.  Fere>,  frightens,  18  a.  35  ;  pp. 

Fered,  frightened,  alarmed,  2.  ciii. 

16;   86.    12.      A.S.  fctran,  to 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


389 


frighten.     Fear  is   thus  used  by 

Shakespeare. 
Fere,  adj.  whole,  sound  in  health, 

or  else,  akin  (see  next  word),  7. 

37.     Sw._/or,  stout,  lusty. 
Fere,  sb.  companion,  1  2.  364  ;  pi. 

Feres,    8  a.   162.      A.  S.    gefera, 

one    who    travels   or  fares   with 

one,  a  travelling  companion,  com- 

rade. 
Ferene,  sb.  fern,  II  b.  71.     Pro- 

nounced /errn,  with  rolled  r. 
Ferforth,  adv.  far  away,  12.  209  ; 

fully,  completely,  19.  572. 
Ferli,  sb.  a  wonder  ;  thogTit  ferli, 

wondered,  7.  74.  See  Ferly. 
Ferli,  adj.  wonderful,  8  a.  104. 
Ferlikes,  sb.pl.  wonders,  8  6.  235. 

See  Ferly. 
Ferlilic,  adv.  wondrously,  7.  52. 

See  Ferly. 
Ferly,  sb.  a  wonder,  15  pr.  6;  pi. 

Ferlyes,  IS  pr.  62.     A.S.farlic, 

sudden,    from  fcer,    fear,   sudden 

danger  ;  cf.  Du.  vaarlijk,  quickly, 

G.  gefdkrlich,  dangerous.  Sc.ferly, 

a  marvel. 
Ferly,  adv.  wondrously,  4  d  .  10; 

13.    960;    strangely,    13.    269; 

extremely,  5.  5620;  Ferlyly,  13. 

962.     See  above. 
Ferine,  sb.  rent,  I  a.  450.     O.  F. 

ferme,    Low    Lat.   Jirma,     rent, 

really  borrowed  from  a  Teutonic 

root  ;  so  that  we  also  find  A.  S. 

feorm,  provision,   food,  goods,   a 

farm. 

Ferr,  adv.  far,  7.  13,  22. 
Ferrum,    adv.  ;    on-ferrum, 

7-  368. 
Fersch,   adj.    fresh,    18    a. 

A.S.fersc. 

Ferst,  adv.  first,  6.  2,  8,  20. 
Fertered,  />/.   s.   enshrined,    8   b. 
230.      O.  F.   fertere,    a    shrine  ; 
Lat.    feretrum,     Gk.     ^fperpov. 
(Burguy.) 

Ferth,  aof/.  fourth,  10.  1828. 
Ferjjyng,   sb.    farthing,    5.    5770, 


afar, 


.    102. 


5812.     A.S.feor%ung,feor$ling, 
a  fourth  part,  feorfta,  fourth. 
Fesauns,    sb.  pi.    pheasants,     12. 

183- 

Fest,  v.  to  make  firm,  2.  ciii.  34 ; 

i  p.  s.  pr.  Festen,  I  fasten,  ratify, 

13-    327  >    PP-    Fested,    fastened, 

10.    1907 ;    Festend,    10.    1909. 

A.  S.  fcesfnian,    to    fasten,    from 
fast,  fast,  firm. 
Festes,  sb.  pi.  F.  feasts,  I  a.  401  ; 

to  feste  =  at  a  feast,  19.  380. 
Festnes,   sb.  fastness,   2.   xvii.   2. 

A.  S.  fcEstennes,  a  fastness,  walled 

town,    from  fastnian,    to    make 

fast. 

Fet.     See  Fetten. 
Fetel,  sb.  vessel,  8  b.  163.    A.  S. 

fetels,  a  bag,/<e/,  a /a/  or  t/a/. 
Fe>li,   adv.   faithfully,   verily,   12. 

132. 
Fetis,  adj.  F.  neatly  made,  12. 126. 

O.  F.  /efts,   Lat.  factitius,   from 
facere,  to  make. 
Fetisliche,    adv.    neatly ;    hence, 

carefully,  1 2.  98.     See  above. 
Fette,  v.  to  fetch,  15.  iii.  96 ;  let 

fette  =  caused  to  be  fetched,  20. 

45  J  /"•  /»'•  Fetten,  fetched,  15.  ii. 

205  ;  brought,  15.  vii.  279 ;  pp. 

Fet,    19.   667.     A.  S.  fetian,   to 

fetch. 
Fettled,  pp.  made   ready,   set   in 

order,  13.  343.   Prov.  E.  fettle,  to 

set  in  order,  Mceso-Goth.  fetjan, 

to  adorn,  make^?/  ;  allied  to  A.  S. 

felel,   a    fetter,   and   E.  fit.     See 

Diefenbach,  i.  373. 
Fetys,  adj.  well    made,   12.    225. 

Low  Lut.  factitius  (from  facere)\ 

whence  O.  F.fetis. 
FeurJ>e,  or  din.  fourth,  18  a.  91. 
Feute,   sb.   scent,    12.   90.      Also 

spelt  Foute,  q.v. 
Feuyr,  sb.  fever,  10.  700. 
Feye,  adj.  about  to  die,  dying,  4  a. 

20.       A.  S.    /<£#<?,     Icel.    feigr, 

O.H.G.feigi,  about  to  die;  Sc. 

fey. 


39° 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


Feyn,  adv.  gladly,  5.   5798.     See 

Fayn. 
Feyneden,  pt.pl.  feigned  \feyneden 

hem,  played  the  hypocrite,  l$  pr. 

42.     F.feindre,Lzt.fingere. 
Feyntise,  sb.  faintness,   15.  v.  5. 

0.  F.  feintise,    from  feindre,    to 
feign. 

Feyre,  a$.  fair,  beautiful,  5.  5655, 

5726;  A.S.fagr,  Gk.  TT^S. 
Feyre,  adv.  fair,  kindly,  courteous- 

iy.  5-  5877- 

Feyrye,  sb.  fairy  kind,  nature  of  a 
fairy,  1 2.  230 ;  a  feyrie  =  of  feyrie, 

1.  e.  of  fairy  origin,  1 5  pr.  6. 
Fejt,    sb.  fight,   13.   275.      A.  S. 

feoht,  a  fight;  G.feckten,  to  fight. 
Festande,  pres.  part,  fighting,  13. 

404.     Cf.  G.  fechten,  to  fight. 
Fieldwode,  sb.  perhaps  the  same  as 

fieldwort,  i.  e.  gentain,  20.  213. 
Fiers,  adj.  fierce,  cruel,  sad,  evil, 

19.  300. 
Fierth,  adj.  fourth,  10.  1246.    See 

Ferth. 

Fifetende,  adj.  fifteenth,  8  a.  143. 
Fiht,  v.  to  fight,  3.  72.  A.  S. 

feohtan, 
File,  v.  to  defile,  10.  2348  ;  pres. 

part.  Filand,  defiling,  10.   2365  ; 

pp.  Fild,  10.  2341.     A.S./u/anf 

to    make  foul ;    A.  S.  ful,   Icel. 

full,  foul ;  cf.  O.E.file,  a  wicked 

wretch. 
Filghe,  v.   to   follow,    pursue,    2. 

xvii.  97.    A.  S.  fylegan,  fyligean, 

to  follow. 
Fille,  sb.  4  d.  18.     Probably  wild 

thyme;    cf.  '"Fille,  serpyllum," 

in  Wright's  Vocabularies,   79.' — 

Stratmann. 

Findestow,  findest  thou,  12.  132. 
Fingres,  sb.  pi.  fingers,  2.  viii.  10. 
First,  adv.  for  a  long  time,  7.  22. 

A.S-./yrs/,  a  space  of  time,  inter- 
val; O.  E.frest,  delay,  q.  v. 
Fissches,  sb.  pi.  fishes,  2.  viii.  23 ; 

Fises,  8  a.  118. 
Fisyk,  sb.  physic,  15.  vii.  256,  258. 


Fitte,  sb.  a  fitt  or  canto  of  a  ballad, 

15.  i.  139.     A.S.jfr,  fitt,  a  song, 
fittan,  to  sing,  dispute. 
Fiate,  sb.  fight,  i  a.  87. 
Flamyn,  sb.  priest,  146.  62.     Lat. 

flamen. 
Flaumme,  sb.  F.  flame,  5.  5924 ; 

Flamme,  5.  5923.     Lzt.flamma. 
Flaundres,  Flanders,  I  a.  296. 
Flaunkes,  sb.pl.  sparks,  13.  954. 

Du.  flonkeren,  to  sparkle;  cf.  G. 
furike,  Sc.funk,  a  spark. 
Flay,  v.  to  frighten,  8  a.  130 ;  10., 

1268;    pp.  Flayed,  terrified,   13. 

960.     Icel.  fleygja,   to  cause  to 

flee,  put  to  flight. 
Fie,  v.  to  fly,  i  a.   141 ;    pt.  s. 

Flegh,   flew,   2.  xvii.  29 ;    Fleih, 

fled,  15.  ii.   1 86 ;  pt.  pi.  Flowe, 

fled,  I  a.  143  ;  pres.  part.  Fleand, 

II  c.  90;  Fleeynge,  flying,  14  e. 

17.     A.S.fledgati. 
Flees,  sb.  fleece,  20. 159. 
Fleet,  pr.  s.  (contr.  from  fleteth), 

floats,  19.  463.     See  Fletes. 
Flegh.,  pt.  s.  flew,  2.  xvii.  29;  Fleih, 

fled,  15.  ii.  1 86.     See  Fie. 
Fleis,  sb.  flesh,  8  6.  255  ;  Fleissh,    ' 

20.  246. 
Flemangrye,  sb.  Flemings'  country, 

Flanders,  II  6.  75. 
Fleme,  v.  to  drive  away,  banish, 

13.  287.     A.  S.  flyman,  aflyman, 

to  banish ;  fleam,  a  flight,  banish- 
ment. 

Fleme,  adj.  banished,  4  d.  36. 
Flemer,  sb.  banisher,  driver  away, 

19.  460. 
Fleo,  v.  S.  to  flee,  avoid,  I  b.  62  ; 

pr.pl.  Flese,  10.  1 2905^.5.  Fles, 

flew,  i  b.  88.     See  lie. 
Fletes,  pr.  s.  floats,  8  b.  29;  Fletez, 

13.  1025;  pt.pl.  Flette,  13.  387. 

A.S.ftedtan. 
Fleynge,  pres.  part,  flying,   14  c. 

137.     See  Fie. 
Fleyshe,  sb.  flesh,  3.  71. 
Fleyshlust,    sb.    fleshly    lust,    3. 

74- 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


39 1 


Flighand,  pres.  part,  flying,  2.  ciii. 

9.     See  Fie. 
Flod,   s&.   S.   flood,   sea,    3.    242. 

A.  S./rfcT;  cf.  Lat.  />/wi/m. 
Flon,   sb.  pi.    arrows,    I    a.    152. 

A.  S.  ^a,  flan,   an   arrow  ;    pi. 

fldna. 

Flor,  s6.  floor,  ground,  20.  322. 
Flot,   sb.    grease,    fat,    13.    ion. 

That  which  floats  on  the  top  of 

what    is    boiled;    Sw.  flott,    fat, 

grease,  flott,  adv.  afloat ;  Du.  vlot, 

afloat. 
Flote,  pt.  pi.   floated,   swam,    13. 

421,432.     See  Fletes. 
Fl  our  e- de-lice,     sb.     fleur-de-lys 

(French  standard),  II  b.  27.     F. 

Its,  a  lily ;    Du.  lisch,  a  water-flag. 
Floures,  sb.  pi.  flowers,  youthful 

powers,  20.  348. 
Flowen,  pt.  pi.  flew,   13.   1010; 

fled,  15.  ii.  209.     See  Fie. 
F103ed,  pt.  s.  flowed,  13.  397. 
Flwe,  pt.  s.  flew,  13.  432. 
Flyt,  sb.  contention,  force,  13.  421. 

A.  S.flitan,  to  strive,  contend. 
Flytande,  pres.  part,  contending, 

chiding,  13.  950.     See  above. 
Flyb,   pr.  s.    flees,    3.    77.      See 

Fie. 

Fo,  sb.  foe,  i.  e.  Satan,  4  c.  53. 
Fode,  sb.  S.  food,  7.  54. 
Fode,  sb.  offspring,  person,  3.  63 ; 

pi.    Fodez,    creatures,    13.    466. 

Lit.    that    which     is    nourished. 

A.  S.  fidan,  to  feed,  Sw.foda,  to 

bring   forth,  fodas,   to   be   born, 

fodd,  natal. 
Foded,  pt.  s.  supplied  (lit.  fed),  1 2. 

Fogheles,  sb.  pi.  fowls,  birds,   a. 

viii.     23;    Foghles,    2.    ciii.    25. 

A.  S.  fugel,    Mceso-Goth.  fugls, 

G.  vogel,  a  bird,  fowl. 
Fob,  sb.  variegated  or  gay-coloured 

clothing,    3.    19.      A.  S.  fah,   of 

different  colours,  Gk.  iroiKt\os. 
Fol,  adj.  S.  fall,  180.  57. 
Fol,  adv.  full,  3.  44  ;  4  c.  8. 


Folc,  sb.  S.  folk,  people,  I  a.  79, 

132  ;  I  b.  4.     A.  S.folc. 
Folde,   sb.   earth,  the   world,    13. 

251.     A.S.folde,  the  surface  of 

the  earth. 
Folden,/^.  folded,  bent,  17.  Mar. 

1.40. 
Fole,  adj.  foolish,  I  a.  23.  O.  F./o/, 

W.JfM, 

Foles,  sb.pl.  fools,  6.  25. 
Folewe,  v.  to  follow,  3.  42. 
Folfult,/>/>.  fulfilled,  15.  vii.  309. 
Folie,   sb.  F.  folly,   i  a.  21.     See 

Fole. 

Folken,  sb.  gen.  pi.  of  folk,  of  men ; 
follten  wyse,  the  manner  of  men, 

13.  271.     See  Folc. 
Follest,  adj.  superl.  fullest,  3.  125. 
Folmarde,   sb.   polecat,   13.   534. 

Properly  the  beech-martin,  from 

O.  F.  foine,   Lat.  fagina,  beech- 
mast. 
Folted,  adj.  crazed,  5.  5839.     See 

Fole. 
Foluand,  pres.  part,  following,   7. 

6  ;  pt.  pi.  Folud,  7.  63  ;  imp.  pi. 

Folus,    7.    216.      A.  S.   folgian, 

fylgian,  to  follow. 
Foly,  adj.   foolish,  1 8  6.  8.     See 

Fole. 

Fom,  sb.  S.  foam,  20.  182. 
Fomon,  sb.  foeman,  3.  87. 
Fon,  pt.  s.  ceased,  ended,  13.  369. 

From    O.E.  fyne,   to  end.      See 

Fyned,  Fyn. 
Fon,  adj.  few,  10.  530. 
Fon,  sb.pl.  foes,   i  a.  199,   258; 

i  b.  54.     A.  S.fdh  (pl./a),  a  foe; 

from/eon,  to  hate.     See  Fend. 
Fon,  v.  to  receive,  4  c.  10.     A.  S. 

f6n,  to  take  (short  for  fangan) ; 

cf.G.fangen,  Moaso-Goth./aAan, 

to  catch. 
Fonde,  v.  to  tempt,  I  b.  70 ;   to 

try,  3.  24;  4c.  21 ;  5- 5745  J  to 

endeavour  to  persuade,  19.  347; 

pr.pl.  Fondeb,  endeavour,   1 8  a. 

172.     A.  S.Jandian,  to  tempt. 
Fonde,  pt.  s.  S.  found,  5.   5616; 


39* 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Fond,  19.  607  ;  fond  him  =  found 

for  him,  provided  for  him,  12.  73. 
Fondyng,  sb.  temptation,  trial,  5. 

5865.     A.  S.  fandung,  a  tempta- 
tion.    See  Fonde. 
Foner,  adj.  comp.  fewer,  10.  765. 

See  Fon. 
Fonge,   v.   to    receive,    19.   377 ; 

pr.  s.   Fongez,    takes,   13.   457; 

pr.pl.  Fongez,   take,    13.   540; 

Fongen,    receive,    15.    iii.    66  ; 

FongeK  receive,  6.  2.     See  Fon, 

Feng. 
Fonger,   sb.  receiver,    2.   xvii.  8. 

The  Vulgate  has  susceptor.     See 

Fonge. 

Font,  i  p.  s.  pt.  found,  i&pr.  55. 
Font-ful,   sb.  a  font-ful;  font-ful 

«/ater  =  fontful  of  water,  19.  357. 
Foondes,  pr.  pi.  seek  (a  haven), 

resort,   repair,    18  a.  66.     A.  S. 

fandian,  to  try ;  O.  Fris.  fandia, 

to  visit. 
Foothot,   adv.    instantly,    on    the 

spot    (lit.     foot-hot),     19.    438. 

The  same  phrase  fut-hate  occurs 

in  Harbour's  Bruce,  iii.  418. 
For,  conj.  because,  I  a.  80 ;  19.  340; 

in  order  that,  19.  478. 
For,  prep,  against,  to  prevent,  15. 

i.  24,  &c. ;  on  account  of,  146. 

32.     A.S./or. 
For,  pt.  s.  fared,  went,  8  b.  145. 

A.  S.faran,  to  go  ;   pt.  t.  icfor,  I 

went. 

For-bede)?,  pr.  pL  forbid,  6.  105. 
Forcome,    pt.  pi.    forestalled,    2. 

xvii.  51. 
Fordedes,  sb.  pi.  previous  deeds, 

kindnesses  done  in  former  years, 

12.325.     See  the  note. 
Fordon,  v.  to  'do  for,'  undo,  15. 

v.   20 ;  Fordoon,   19.  369  ;   subj. 

pr.  Fordo,  destroy,  ruin,  2.  viii.  7. 

A.  S.  forddn,  to  destroy. 
Fore-sleuys,   sb.  pi.   fore-sleeves, 

fronts  of  the  sleeves,  15.  v.  64. 
Foreward,    sb.    covenant,    agree- 
ment, 4  c.   10,   42.     A.  S.  fore- 


wear 'd,  a  fore-ward,  or  previous 
guarantee;  Icel.  /on/oroV,  a  cove- 
nant. 

Forfare,  i  p.  pi.  pr.  perish,  8  b. 
10 ;  pt.  pi.  Forferde,  13.  1051; 
pp.  Forfarn,  destroyed,  7.  186. 
A.  S.  forfaran,  to  go  '  to  the  bad,' 
to  perish ;  cf.  Lat.  perire. 

For-ga,  vb.  to  forgo  (now  misspelt 
forego),  10.  1842.  See  Forgon. 

For-gart,  pt.  pi.  lost,  13.  240. 
From  gar,  Icel.  gbra,  to  make, 
is  formed  for-gar,  to  unmake, 
destroy,  lose ;  d.  forfeit. 

Forgete,  v.  to  forget,  2.  cii.  4. 

Forgoere,  sb.  fore -goer,  avant- 
courier,  15.  ii.  162. 

Forgon,  v.  to  forgo,  4  d.  35.  The 
modern  spelling  forego  is  wrong, 
as  the  prefix  is /or,  not/or*. 

For-hedeJ?,  pr.  pi.  hide,  conceal,  6. 
103  (or,  perhaps,  pay  no  heed). 

Forhiler,  sb.  protector,  2.  xvii.  81. 
A.  S.  forhelan,  to  conceal,  helan, 
to  hide ;  cf.  Lat.  celare,  to  hide. 

Forhiling,  sb.  protection,  2.  xvii. 
52,  91.  See  above. 

Forlesed,  pt.  s.  2  p.  destroyedst,  2. 
xvii.  104.  A.  S.  forleosan,  to 
lose,  let  go,  forl6rt  destruction, 
forloren,  destroyed,  whence  E. 
forlorn. 

For-lete,  v.  to  leave,  renounce,  4  c. 
60.  A.  S.  forlcetan,  to  relin- 
quish. 

Forlore,  pp.  lost,  n  e.  59;  Forlorn, 
8  a.  156.  See  Forlesed. 

Forloyned,  pp.  departed,  gone 
astray,  13.  282.  Fr.  loin,  Lat. 
longinquus,  far. 

Forme,  sb.  F.  form,    formula,  6. 

JI5- 
Forme-fader,   sb.    ancestor,    first 

father,    10.    483.      A.  S.  frum.t 

original,  primal,  first,  Moeso-Goth. 

frums,  a  beginning;   hence  A. S. 
forma,  E.  former. 
Forme-foster,  sb.  progenitor,  13. 

257.     See  above. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


393 


Formere-fader,    ancestor,    14  a 

27.    See  Forme-fader. 
Formyour,    sb.    former,    creator, 

i4«-37- 

Fornes,  sb.  furnace,  13.  ion. 
Forouten,     prep,     without,     16. 

195. 

Forred,  pp.  furred,  15.  vii.  256. 
Forrouth,  adv.  before,  in  front,  16. 

139  ;  Forrow,  1 6.  145.  Sw.forut, 

before. 
Fors,  sb.  force;  no  fors  =  h  is  no 

matter,  19.  285. 
Forsake,  v.  to  refuse,  40.  19 ;  pt. 

s.  Forsoc,  refused,  4  c.  6.     A.S. 

forsacan,  to  oppose,  refuse. 
For-swat,  pp.  covered  with  sweat, 

16.  2. 

Forte  =  for  to  =  to  (before  the  infini- 
tive), 6.  73  ;  15.  v.  49. 
Forte,  conj.  until,  I  6.  79 ;  3.  166. 
Forth,  prep,  along,  7.  279. 
Forb,  sb.  passage,  free  course,  15. 

iii.  153.     Vf.jfordd,  a  way ;  A.  S. 
faran,  to  fare,  go.     See  Vor>. 
Forthbringes,  pr.  s.  bring  forth, 

2.  viii.  20. 
For)>e,  sb.  scum,  froth,  6.  11.     Sw. 

fradga,  froth,  foam,  Icel.  frofta. 
Former,  adv.  further,  3.  66. 
Former,  v.  to  further,  bring  to  an 

end,  13.  304. 
Forthfare,  v.  to  go  forth,  2.  ciii. 

46. 
Forthgone,  pr.  pi.  travel,  2.  viii. 

24. 
For-H,  adv.  therefore,  2.  xvii.  10, 

125  ;    12.  255;    16.   133;    noht 

forthi  =  nevertheless,    8    b.     184. 

Here  >i  is  the  instrumental  case  of 

the  dem.  pron.  se,  seo,  \xx.t;    so 

that/orjn'  =  on  that  account,  for 

that. 
Forthinke,   imp.  pi.    repent,    17. 

Mar.  i.  15.     A.  S.  for\>encan. 
Forthirmar,  adv.  further-more,  i.e. 

further  on,  16.  8. 
Forthledand,  pres.parf.  producing, 

2.  ciii.  29. 


ForJ>rast,  pp.  killed,  slain,  13.  249. 
•    A.  S.  forfrreestian,  to  bruise,  kill, 

}>r<Estian,  to  rack,  torment. 
Forthward,  adv.  forwards,  19.  263. 
Forth-wit,  adv.  forward,   before, 

onwards,  7.  51.     Cf.  O.E.  in-wit, 

within,  ut-wit,  without. 
ForJ>-wyth,  prep,  right  before,  13. 

304.     See  above. 
For-jjy,  adv.  on  that  account,   3. 

112;  For-bi,  4  a.  26.  See  ForJ>i. 
Forthyheden,  pt.  pi.  went  forth, 

2.   xvii.    36.     O.E.  yhede,  yede, 

went,  A.  S.  ic  e6de,  I  went. 
Forfynkez,  pr.  s.  impers.  it  repents 

me,  13.  285.     See  For^inke. 
FortOtprep.  until,  i8a.  102. 
For  to,  to,  20.  243 ;  For  to,  18  a. 

1 66. 
For-travalit,  pp.  overcome  with 

toil,  16.  176. 
For-waked,  pp.    tired    out    with 

watching,  19.  596;  Forwake,  40. 

37- 

Forwarde,  sb.  agreement,  13.  327. 
Connected  with  ward  and  guard, 
not  with  word.  A.S.  for  ewe  ard, 
a  covenant  made  beforehand.  See 
Fore  ward. 

For-whi,  adv.  on  which  account, 
wherefore,  10.  733  ;  because,  744. 
Here  whi  is  from  A.  S.  hwi,  the 
instrumental  case  of  hwd,  who  ; 
cf.  Mceso-Gothic  hwe,  inst.  case  of 
hwas,  who. 

Forwit,  prep,  before,  7.  56 ;  adv. 
beforehand.  7.  207.  See  Forth- 
wit. 

Forworthes,  pr.  pi.  come  to 
naught,  10.  780.  A.  S.forweor^an, 
to  become  nothing,  perish. 

Foryhelde,  v.  to  render,  2.  xvii. 
55»  65  ;  pt.  s.  Foryheld,  2.  cii.  20. 
(Lit.for-yield.) 

Foryheldinges,  sb.pl.  retributions, 
2.  cii.  4. 

Foraelde,  subj.  pr.  s.  requite  (lit. 
for-yield),  15.  vii.  263.  A.  S.for- 
gyldan,  to  recompense,  from  gyl- 


394 


GLOSS 'A RIAL   INDEX. 


dan,  to  pay,  yield;  cf.  A.  S.  gyld, 

payment,  also,  a  guild,  club. 
For3ete,  pt.  s.  forgat,  13.  463  ;  pp. 

Fo^eten,  forgotten,  3.  222. 
Foremen,  pp.  forgiven,  17.  Mar. 

ii.  5. 
Fot,  sb.  S.  foot,  I  a.  64,  411  ;  feet 

(in  measure),  8  a.  112. 
Fot,  pr.  s.  fetches  (?),  6.  114.     An 

obscure  passage  ;  see  the  note. 
Foul,  sb.  S.  bird,  4  a.  3  ;  4  d.  6  ;  10. 

542  ;  pi.  Foules,  4  d.  10.     A.  S. 


Foulej),  pr.  s.  defiles,  reviles,  15.  iii. 

149;  pt.pl.  Fowled,  defiled,   13. 

269. 
Founde,  pi.  pi.   found,  I  a.   35  ; 

Founden,  found  out,  invented  (for 

themselves),  15.  pr.  36;  Founden, 

found,  19.  243. 
Founde,  v.  to  try,  endeavour,  6. 

56.     See  Fonde. 
Foundered,  pp.  caused  to  founder, 

destroyed,  13.  1014. 
Founs,  sb.  the  bottom,  13.  1026. 

Lat./tt«rfws,  O.  Fr./oHs,  mod.  F. 

fond. 
Founjt  =  font,  sb.  6.  85  ;  Fount,  6. 

143. 

Fourtene  nijt,  sb.  fortnight,  I  a.  71. 
Foute,  sb.  scent,  trace  of  a  beast  of 

chase  by  the  odour,  12.  33. 
Fowre,  four,  13.  540. 
Foyson,  sb.  abundance,  19.   504; 

Foysyn,  plenty,  5.  5808.     O.  F. 

foison,   Lat.  ace.  fusionem,    from 

Lat.  fundere,  to  pour  forth. 
Fra,  conj.  from  the  time  when,  7.1: 

prep,  from,   2.  xvii.   10  ;    7.  29. 

Dan.  fra,  from,  frem,  forth,  Sw. 

/ram,  forth.     In  i.  viii.  i6,/ra  is 

wrongly  made  to  mean  than  ;  this 

is  no  English  idiom,  but  due  to 

the  Latin  ab  in  the  Vulgate. 
Fraind,  pt.  s.    asked  ;  fraind  at, 

asked  of,  7.  91.     See  Frayne. 
Fraisted,  pp.  tried,  tested,  2.  xvii. 

8l.     Icel.  freista,   to  try,   seek; 

Sw.  fresta,  to  attempt,  tempt. 


Frakly,    adv.   greedily,    16.    166. 

See  Frek. 
Fram,  prep,  from,    i  a.   128;    6. 

79- 
Frame,  sb.  advantage,  benefit,   5. 

5804.        A.  S.    freoma,    fremu, 

freme,  profit,  fremian,  to  benefit. 
Fraught,  pp.  freighted ;  doon  fraught 

=  caused    to    be    laden,    19.    171* 

Sw.frakta,  to  \*de,frakt,  freight. 
Fraward,   adj.   froward,    peevish, 

10.  786. 
Frayne,  v.  to  ask,  12.  250  ;  pt.  s. 

Fraynede,  asked,  15.  vi.  16;   I  p. 

s.  pt.    asked,    15.   i.    56.     A.  S. 

fregnan,  G.  fragen,  Du.  vragen, 

Moeso-Goth.  fraihnan,    to    ask ; 

Lat.  precari,  whence  E.  pray. 
Fre,  adj.   S.   free,  liberal,  3.   220, 

224;   12.  337. 
Fredome,    sb.     S.     liberality,    3. 

222;  Fredom,  19.  1 68. 
Frek,  sb.  S.  man,  warrior,  12.  264. 

See  Freke. 
Freis,  adj.  fresh,  8  a.  121 ;  Freissh, 

20.  319. 
Frek,  adj.  bold,  daring,  n  b.  54, 

84.  A.  S.  free,  bold  ;freca,  a  hero. 
Freke,  sb.  a  man,   13.   236;    pi. 

Frekez,  13.  540.     See  Frek. 
Frele,  adj.  frail,  15.  iii.  117;  v.  49. 
Freliche,  adv.  nobly,  12.  126. 
Frely,  adj.  (i)  blameworthy,  4  c. 

57  ;     (2)   free,   noble,    12.    124. 

(i)  Icel./rjya,  to  blame;  (2)  A.S. 

fredlic,  liberal,  noble. 
Frenss,  sb.  French,  I  a.  219. 
Freo,   adj.  free,   18  a.  57.     A.S. 

fret. 

Freond,  sb.pl.  friends,  I  b.  25. 
Frest,    sb.   delay,   16.  447.     A.S. 

fyrst,  a  space  of  time. 
Fretes,  pr.  s.  eats,  13.  1040;  Fret, 

pt.  s.  ate,  12.  87;  Frete,  pp.  eaten, 

devoured,  19.   475;    Freten,   13. 

404.      Mceso-Goth.  fra-itan,    to 

devour,  where  fra  =  E.  for  as  a 

prefix,  and  itan  =  to  eat.     Cf.  G. 
fressen. 


GLOSSAR1AL  INDEX. 


395 


Frette,   imp.  s.  furnish,   13.    339. 

A.  S.fratwian,  to  deck,  adorn. 
Freyliche,   adj.   free,    noble,    12. 

360.     See  Frely. 
Frith,  sb.   wood,   n  a.   29.  Gael. 

frith,  a  deerpark,  forest,  W.fridd, 

Prov.    E.   frilh,    unused    pasture 

land,  brushwood. 
Fro,  prep,    from,    5.    5689;    conj. 

from    the   time    that,    1 1   c.   63. 

See  Fra. 
Frotyng,    adj.    rubbing,    grating, 

harsh,  18  a.  209.     F.  frotter,  to 

rub  ;  cf.  Lat.  fricare. 
Frount,   sb.    front,    forehead,    10. 

8 1 6.     Lat.  ace.  frontem. 
Fructuouse,  adj.  fruitful,  14  a.  54. 
Frut,  sb.  fruit,  I  a.  339, 439  ;  Fryt, 

13.  245. 
Fryth,   sb.   wood,   plantation,   13. 

534.     See  Frith. 
Fuir,  sb.  fire,  15.  iii.  88. 
Ful;  toful=  to  the  full,  completely, 

10.  535. 

Fule,  sb.  fool,  3.  36.     See  Fol. 
Fulhed,   sb.   fullness,   2.  xxiii.   I. 

(Lit.  ful-hood.) 
Fullefilled,  pp.  filled  full,  2.  ciii. 

35;    Fulfilled,    2.   ciii.    55,   68; 

Fulfild,  19.  660;  20,  105. 
Fulwes,  pr.  s.  S.  follows,  12.  33. 
Funden,  pp.  found,  7.  70. 
Fur,  sb.  fire,  I  b.  78 ;  3.  182. 
Fust,  sb.  fist,  15.  v.  68.     A.  S.fyst, 

G.faust. 
Furmest,  adj.  foremost,  first,  4  c. 

II. 
Furste,  adj.  first,   I  b.  23  ;    adv. 

Furst,  I  b.  47  ;  4  c.  26. 
Fur>,  adv.  forth,  5.  5905,  5916. 
Fyht,  pr.  s.  fights,  3.  77.     (Contr. 

form  offighteth;  A.S.feohtan,  to 

fight;  pr.s.  hefiht.) 
Fyl,  pt.  s.  fell,  5.  5634. 
Fylle,  sb.  fill,  3.  105. 
Fylyng,  sb.  defilement,  foulness,  i  o. 

2345.     See  File. 
Fyn,  sb.  end,  conclusion,  19.  424 ; 

20.  77.  F./n,  Lat./ws,  E.jinish. 


Fyned,  pt.  s.  ceased,  13.  450.     See 

Fon. 

FyJ?er,  sb.  a  feather,  13.  1026. 
Fyue,  adj.  five,  6.  95. 

G. 

Ga,  v.  to  go,  2.  ciii.  22.  51 ;  to  walk, 

86.   233;    io.   466;    2  p.  s.  pr. 

Gaas,  walkest,  2.  ciii.  8.  A.S.  gdn, 

Mceso-Goth.  gangan,  to  gwrg1,  go. 
Gadery,  v.  to  gather,  i  a.  478  ; 

Gadir,  io.  2221 ;  />/.  s.  Gadred,  5. 

5579.     A.  S.  gadrian,  gaderian. 
Gaf,  pt.  s.  gave,  2.  xvii.  38 ;   2  />. 

Gaf=gavest,    2.    xvii.    91,    103. 

A.  S.  gifan,  pt.  t.  ic  gaf. 
Gagates,  sb.   an   agate,   18  a.  30. 

See  Halliwell's  Diet. 
Gainges,  sb.pl.  goings,  2.  xvii.  95. 
Gais,  imp.  pi.  go  ye,  7. 1 03.   See  Ga. 
Galamelle,   sb.  mead,    14  b.    57. 

See  note. 
Galay,   sb.   galley,    II  a.    57;  />/. 

Gaylayes,  II  a.  60. 
Galiotes,  s&./>/.  small  galleys,  II  a. 

81.     It.  galeotta,  from  galea,  a 

galley. 

Galle,  s6.  gall,  bitter  drink,  3.  158. 
Galys,  s6.  Gallicia  (in  Spain),  15. 

vi.  12. 
Gamen,   sb.    play,    pleasure,    8  b. 

257  i  Gammyn,  game,  sport,  16. 

402  ;  affair,  16.  36.     A.  S.  gamen, 

a  sport,  a  game,  a  taunt,  a  scoff; 

hence  gammon. 
Gan,  />/.  s.  began,  20.  287;   often 

used  as   an  auxiliary  =  did,    i  a. 

34.     Cf.  A.S.  anginnan,  to  begin, 

pt.  t.  ic  angan. 
Gan,  pp.  gone,  8  a.  220. 
Gang,  sb.  going;    dai  gang,  day's 

travel,    7.    366.      A.S.  gang,    a 

going,  journey. 
Gangand,  pres.  part,  going  about, 

crawling,     moving,     86.      178; 

walking,  8  b.  140.     See  Ga. 
Garnade  ;    apple   garnade  =  pome- 
granate, 13.  1044.  Lat.  granatus, 

full  of  seeds,  from  granum. 


GLOSS 'A RIAL  INDEX. 


Garryng,  sb.  roughness  of  sound, 
harshness  of  voice,  1 8  a.  163. 
An  imitative  word ;  cf.  Harryng. 

Gart,  pt.  s.  caused,  15.  vii.  289. 
See  Ger. 

Gas,  pr.  s.  goes,  walks,  lo.  777. 
See  Ga. 

Gast,  sb.  spirit,  2.  xvii.  44;  IO. 
738 ;  Gaste,  2.  cii.  33  ;  pi.  Castes, 
2.  ciii.  9 ;  gaf  the  gaste  =  gave  up 
the  ghost,  8  a.  232.  A.S.  gdsf, 
the  breath,  spirit ;  G.  geist,  Du. 
geest.  The  modern  ghost  should 
be  spelt  gost. 

Gasteli,  adv.  spiritually,  8  b.  34. 
A.  S.  gdstlic,  ghostly. 

Gat,  sb.  way,  road,  5.  5590;  16. 
42;  Gate,  5.  5603;  12.372;  15. 

1.  181;   graythest   gate  =  readiest 
way,  He.  48 ;  pi.  Gates,  streets, 

2.  xvii.  108.     Sw.  gata,  G.  gasse, 
a  street;  A.S.  geat,  Mceso-Goth. 
gatwo,  a  way ;  cf.  E.  gait. 

Gayn,  adj.  suitable,  convenient,  1 3. 
259.  Icel.  gegn,  serviceable; 
Icel.  gegna,  to  meet,  suit. 

Gayned,  pt.  s.  availed,  n  b.  57. 
Dan.  gavne,  to  benefit,  be  a  gain 
to;  Sc.  gane,  to  suffice. 

Gaynliclie,  adv.  readily,  tho- 
roughly, 12.  369.  See  Gayn. 

Gedelyng,  sb.  fellow,  3.  146.  A.  S. 
gadeling,  a  companion ;  in  Mceso- 
Goth.  gadiliggs  means  a  sister's 
son,  a  nephew  (Col.  iv.  10).  Or 
it  may  be  frofh  A.  S.  gdd,  need ; 
hence,  a  needy  man. 

Gedre,  v.  to  gather,  2.  ciii.  65 ; 
pr.  pi.  Gedir,  7.  80 ;  pp.  Gedrid, 
17.  Mar.  iv.  I.  See  Gadery. 

Geineb,  pr.  s.  avails,  6.  116.  See 
Gayned. 

Gendrez,  sb.pl.  kinds  (of  creatures), 
'3-  434- 

Genge,  sb.  pi.  nations,  2.  xvii.  no. 
Cf.  A.  S.  genge,  a  flock,  E.  gang. 

Gentil,  adj.  gentle,  I  a.  1 29. 

Ger,  v.  to  cause,  make,  8  a.  148 ; 
16.  19;  2  p.  s.  pr.  subj.  Ger, 


mayst  cause,  8  a.  261 ;  Gert.  pt. 
s.  caused,  8  a.  265 ;  pt.  s.  Gart, 
15.  vii.  28q.  Icel.  gj'ora,  Sw. 
gora,  Sc.  gar,  to  cause,  make. 

Gere,  sb.  gear,  property,  7.  277. 
A.  S.  gearwa,  clothing,  gear,  gear- 
wan,  to  prepare,  gearo,  ready; 
O.E.  yore. 

Gern,  adv.  earnestly,  8  a.  201 ;  8  b. 
204.  A.  S.  georn,  desirous,  eager, 
georne,  eagerly,  geornian,  to  desire, 
to  yearn. 

Gert,  pp.  girt,  surrounded  with  a 
girdle,  20.  139.  In  the  same 
line,  vpon  means  above,  around. 

Gesse,  v.  to  suppose,  imagine,  19. 
622;  20.  no  ;  2  p.  s.  pr. 
Gessist,  17  a.  iv.  41;  pt.  pi. 
Gessiden,  17  a.  vi.  49.  Sw.  gissa, 
Dan.  gisse,  Du.  gissen,  to  guess. 

Gessynge,  sb.  guessing,  i.  e.  doubt, 
9.  193.  See  above. 

Gest,  pr.  s.  2  p.  goest,  3.  loo. 
A.  S.  gdn,  to  go ;  whence  ic  gd, 
I  go,  \>u  gcest,  thou  goest,  he 
gd%,  he  goes  ;  pi.  gdft. 

Gest,  sb.  guest,  4  b.  40 ;  pi.  Gestes, 
guests,  5.  5927.  A.  S.  gcest. 

Gesten,  pp.  lodged,  7.  379.  Sw. 
gasta,  to  lodge;  cf.  A.  S.  gcest, 
Mo3so-Goth.  gasts,  a  guest,  W. 
gwest,  entertainment  ;  but  the 
O.  F.  giste,  lodging,  is  to  be  re- 
ferred to  Lat.  iacere,  to  lie. 

Gestening,  sb.  7.  84.  See  Ges- 
ting. 

Gesting,  sb.  lodgings,  7.  71.  See 
Gesten. 

GeK  pr.  s.  goes,  9.  63.     See  Gest. 

Get,  pr.  s.  getteth,  gets,  15.  vii.  238. 

Gett,  pp.  granted;  and  hence, 
committed,  handed  over,  7.  29. 
(Lit.  £of.) 

Geynest,  adj.  fairest,  loveliest,  4  a. 
43.  Icel.  gegn,  serviceable,  suit- 
able, kindly,  gentle;  cf.  E.  un- 
gainly. See  Gayn. 

Gif,  v.  to  give,  2.  ciii.  26 ;  subj.  pr. 
s.  Gif,  2.  ciii.  64;  imp.  s.  Gif; 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


397 


no  gif  no  tale  =  take  no  account, 
heed  not,  8  b.  195.     A.  S.  gif  an. 
Gilden-moth,    prop.   n.     Golden- 
mouth,  a  translation  of  the  Greek 
name  Chrysostom,  7.  8,  21. 
Ginne,  sb.  contrivance,  I  a.  137; 
6.  133.  Short  form  of  O.F.  engin, 

contrivance,  Lat.  ingenium.  Hence 

E.  gin,  a  snare,  trap ;  also  engine, 

a  machine. 
Girde,  pt.  s.   2  p.  girtest,  2.  xvii. 

85,  101. 
Giuand,  pres.  part,  giving,  2.  xiv. 

13 ;  Giueand,  2.  ciii.  65. 
Glad,  adj.  I  a.  61 ;  comp.  Gladdore, 

I  a.  54.     A.  S.  glad. 
Glade,  subj.  pr.  s.  gladden,  2.  ciii. 

33 ;  pr.  s.  Glades,  gladdens,  2.  xiv. 

10, •  pt.  s.  Gladed,  13.  499.    A.S. 

gladian,  to  be  glad. 
Glade,  pt.  s.  glode,  glided,  7.  56. 

A.  S.  glidan,  pt.  t.  ic  gldd. 
Glam,  sb.  word,  message,  13.  499. 

Sw.  glam,  chat,  talk,  Icel.  glam, 

glamr,  a  noise,  Sc.  glamer,  noise. 
Glastnebury,    Glastonbury,    i   b. 

26,  43 ;  Glastnebure,  1  6.  40. 
Gle,  sb.  glee,  singing,  3.  80;    15. 

pr.    34 ;    sport,   1 1  a.   69.     A.  S. 

gleo,  music,  glee. 
Glede,  imp.  pi.  i  p.  let  us  gladden, 

let  us  rejoice  before,  9.  78 ;  pres. 

part.  Glediynde,  rejoicing,  9. 135. 

See  Glade  (i). 
Gledye,  v.  gladden,  9.  92. 
Glette,  sb.  dirt,  filth,  sin,  13.  306. 

O.  Friesic  gled,  G.  and  Sw.  glatt, 

slippery ;  cf.  E.  gleet. 
Gliffnyt,  pt.    s.   glanced,    gave   a 

hasty  glimpse,  looked  up  quickly 

for  a  short  time,   16.   184.     Sc. 

gliff,  a  moment ;   cf.  E.  glimpse, 

glint. 
Glod,  pt.  s.  glode,  glided,  13.  499; 

20.  141.     See  Glade. 
Glopnid,  pp.  terrified,  7.  237.  Icel. 

glupna,  to  look  downcast. 
Glosed,    pt.    s.    spoke    smoothly, 

spoke  coaxingly,  12.  60. 


Glosynge,  pres.  part,  glossing,  ex- 
pounding, 15  pr.  57. 
Glotonie,  sb.  gluttony,   i  a.    94, 

186. 
Glcmand,  pres.  part,  glowing,   2. 

xvii.  26. 
Glydande,  pres.  part,  walking  (lit. 

gliding),  13.  296. 

Gnide,  v.  to  crush,  grind,  2.  xvii. 
107.     A.  S.  gnidan,  to  rub,  break 

in  pieces. 
Gobetis,   sb.  pi.   small  pieces,  lit. 

mouthfuls,  morsels,  17.  Mar.  v.  4. 

O.  E.   gobet,    a    mouthful,    from 

Gael,    gob,   the    mouth,   whence 

also  gobble,  gabble. 
God,  as  an  inter j.  Oh  God  I  9.  73. 
God,  adj.  good,  i  6.  91 ;  Gode,  6. 

88  ;  es  godd  =  it  is  good,  8  b.  89. 

A.  S.  gdd. 
God,   sb.   goodness,   kindness,    12. 

319;  goods,  property,  i  a.  372; 

Gode,  good,  alms,  5.  5586.     A.  S. 

god,  pi.  god,  good,  goods,  pro- 
perty. 
Goddeli,  adv.  in  a  goodly  manner, 

politely,  12.  306;  Godly,   kindly, 

1 2. 169.  A.S.  godlic,  goodly,  kind. 
Goddys,  gen.  God's,  5.  5661. 
Godenesse,  sb.  goodness,  bounty, 

2.  ciii.  68  ;  5.  5872. 
Goderhele  =  fortunately   for ;    lit. 

to  the  good  health  of,   i  a.  247. 

Compare  the  opposite  expression 

wrotherhele ;    -er  is  the  old  dative 

ending  of  the   adj.  answering  to 

the  A.  S.  fern.  dat.  ending  -re. 
Godes,  sb.  pi.  good  things,  2.  cii.  9. 
Godles,  adj.  goodless,   having   no 

goods,  needy,  3.  117. 
Godnisse,  sb.  S.  goodness,  I  b.  29, 34. 
Godwine,  prop.  n.  Godwin,  i  a.  39. 
Gome,   sb.  man,   15.  vi.  25;  gen. 

sing.    Gomes,    12.    346.      A.  S. 

guma,   a   man,  Lat.   homo.     Cf. 

G.  br'dutigam,  E.  bridegroom  (for 

bride-gome"). 
Gon,  to  go,  19.  282;  pr.pl.  Gon, 

they  go,  20.  7. 


398 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


Gon,  aux.  z/&.=  did,  15.  i.  147.   See 

Gan. 
Gone,  v.  to  yawn,  open  the  mouth 

wide,    20.    238.      (There   is   no 

need   to   suppose   it  an  error  for 

grone;    see  the  phr.   'gape  and 

gane '    in    Occleve,    De    Regim. 

Princip.  st.  625.)     A.  S.  ganian. 
Gonne,  pt.  pi.  began,  I  a.  60 ;  4  c. 

60  ;  as  aw*.  =  did,  I  a.  330.     See 

Gan. 
Good,  adv.  well ;  hem  good  like)?  = 

best  pleases  them,  15.  pr.  57. 
Gorde,  pt.    pi.    rushed,    13.  957. 

O.  E.    girde,    gurde,    to    strike, 

dash;    A.  S.  gyrd,  a  rod,  yard; 

Moeso-Goth.  gazds,  a  rod,  which 

Graff  connects   with   Lat.   hasta. 

Cf.  E.  goad. 
Gore,  sb.  filth,  13.  306.     A.  S.  go'r, 

mud,    gore ;    cf.    E.   gorbelly,    a 

person  with    a  large  belly,  gor- 

crow,  a  carrion-crow. 
Gore,  sb.  part  of  a  woman's  dress ; 

hence,  the  dress   itself,   4  a.  43. 

Icel.  geiri,  a  gore  or   triangular 

strip,  a  gusset,  G.  gekre,  a  gore ; 

perhaps  connected  with  Icel.  geirr, 

A.  S.  gar,  a  spear. 
Gorstez,  sb.  pi.   gorse,    13.   535. 

A.  S.  gorst,  gorse,  furze.     Cf.  W. 

gores,  gorest,  waste,  open;  hence, 

gorse  is  a  shrub  growing  on  waste 

lands. 
Gost,   sb.  spirit,  breath,  13.  325; 

spirit,   19.  404;    gen.  Gostes,  6. 

60;  pi.  Gostes,  I  a.  187  ;  9.  128. 

See  Gast. 
Gotez,   sb.  pi.   streams,   13.  413. 

Prov.  E.  goit,  gowt,  a  ditch,  sluice, 

gutter;  Du.  goot,  a  sluice;  A.  S. 

geotan,  to  pour ;   cf.  E.  gush,  and 

Gk.  x<w. 

Go}>,  imp.  pi.  go  ye,  12.  263. 
Gotz,  put  for  goz  or  gos,  i.  e.  goes, 

IS-  325,  341- 
Goud,  sb.  good,    13.    1048.      See 

God. 
Goule,  v.  to  yell,   cry,   10.   477. 


Prov.  E.  yowl,  E.  yell;  cf.  yelp. 
Icel.  gala,  to  sing ;  whence  E. 
nightingale. 

Gowe,/or  Go  we,  let  us  go,  15  pr. 
105. 

Gowrdes,  sb.  pi.  gourds,  14  e.  7. 

Grace,  sb.  favour,  19.  176;  Grase, 
honour,  favour,  15.  v.  79- 

Gradde,  pt.  s.  shouted,  i  a.  65  ; 
cried  out,  i  b.  88.  See  Greden. 

Grai)>,  adj.  direct,  ready,  15.  i.  181. 
Icel.  grei'Sr,  ready,  G.  gerade, 
direct.  See  below. 

Grained,  pt.  s.  prepared,  2.  xxiii. 
4;  2.  cii.  43.  Icel.  greffia,  to 
furnish,  equip,  get  ready;  Moeso- 
Goth.  garaidjan,  to  prepare. 

Gram,  sb.  anger,  wrath,  2.  xiv.  7. 
A.  S.  gram,  fierce,  grama,  rage, 
fury,  gramian,  to  anger,  grim, 
rage,  grom,  fierce,  grima,  a  ghost, 
grimetan,  to  be  furious;  Du. 
grimmen,  to  snarl;  E.  grim, 
grumpy, grumble-,  cf. Gk. xp* AttC<w- 

Granand,  />res.  /or/,  groaning,  10. 
798.  A.  S.  grdnan,  to  groan  ; 
E.  groan,  grunt. 

Granti,  v.  to  grant,  I  a.  202 ;  pt. 
s.  Granted,  consented,  5.  5857; 
pt.  pi.  Graunted,  agreed,  5.  5601. 
See  Grant  in  Wedgwood. 

Grases,  sb.  pi.  grasses,  12.  27. 

Grauynge,  sb.  engraving,  15.  iii. 

55- 
Gratheli,   adv.   readily,   8  b.  loo. 

See  Grai>. 
Gray^ed,  pp.   prepared,    13.  343. 

See  Grained. 

Gray^ely,  adv.  readily,  13.  341. 
Graythest,  1 1  c.  48.    See  GraiJ?. 
Graz,    sb.    grace,   86.    131.    Lat. 

gratia. 
Greden,  v.  to  cry  aloud,  15.  iii.  63 ; 

I  p.  s.  pr.  Grede,  I  cry  out,  4  b.  4  ; 

pr.pl.  GredeK  9.69;  pi.  s.  Gradde, 

shouted,  I  a.  65.    A.  S.  gradan,  to 

cry,  grcetan,  to  weep,  Moeso-Goth. 

gretan,  to  weep,  Sc.  greit ;  cf.  Gk. 

XaAa£a,  Lat.  grando  (Curtius). 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


399 


Gredynges,   sb.  pi.   cryings,  out- 
cries, 9.  99.     See  above. 
Gree,  sb.  favour,   19.  259.     O.  F. 

gre,  from  Lat.  grains,  pleasing. 
Greithide,  pt.  s.  prepared,  1 7.    Ps. 

23.  2 ;  pt.pl.  Grei>ede,  I  a.  319. 

See  Graibed. 
Greme,   sb.   anger,  13.  947.     See 

Gram. 

Grene,  adj.  green,  unripe,  3.  83. 
Greneliede,    sb.    greenness,   wan- 
tonness, 19.  163. 
Gresse,   sb.   grass,  2.  ciii.  30;  pi. 

Greses,   8  a.    123.     A.  S.    gars, 

grtrs. 
Gret,  v.  to  lament,  8  a.  154.     See 

Greden. 
Gret,  adj.  S.  great,   I  a.  131;    6. 

99;  dot.  s.  Grete,  I  a.  77;  def. 

Crete,  I  a.  15.     A.S.  great. 
Gretand,  pres.  part,  weeping.  5. 

5716;    mourning,  10.   502;    pp. 

Grete,     wept,     5.     5721.       See 

Greden. 
Gretes,  imp.  pi.  greet,  12.  355; 

Greteb,  12.  359. 
Gretly,  adv.  greatly,  5.  5676. 
Grette,    pt.   s.  greeted,    12.    369. 

A.S.  gretan,  to  greet;    pt.  t.  ic 

grette. 
Gret-wombede,  adj.  big-bellied,  i 

a.  408. 

Gretyng,   sb.   mourning,  lamenta- 
tion, 10.  496.     See  Greden. 
Greues,  sb.pl.  groves,  20.  189. 
Griffounes,  sb.  pi.  griffins,    14  c. 

1 20.     See  note. 
Grisbitting,  sb.  gnashing,  grinding 

of    teeth,     1 8   a.     164.       A.  S. 

gristbitan,  to  gnash  the  teeth. 
Grise,  v.  to  be  afraid,  to  fear,  8  a. 

148;    8  b.  8.     A.S.  agrisan,  to 

be  afraid,  shudder,  grislic,  grisly, 

horrible. 
Grisli,  adj.  terrible,  8  a.  124,  149; 

Grislich,   horrible,   I  b.  83.      See 

above. 
Grocching,  pres.  part,  complaining, 

12.  271.     See  Grucche. 


Gronde.     See  Grounde. 
Grony,   v.   to    groan,    i   a.    490. 

A.  S.  grdnan,  to  groan,  lament. 
Grouelings,  adv.  groveling,  7.  384. 

O.  E.  groffe,  flat  on  the  ground, 

and  adverbial  suffix,  -ling,  -lings; 

ci.  flailing,  darkling,  headlong. 
Ground,  sb.  ground ;  dat.  Gronde, 

I    a.   159;    to  grounde   ibro3t  = 

ruined,  I  a.  140,  340 ;  to  grounde 

com  =  was  ruined,  I  a.   171;  pi. 

Groundes,  foundations,  2.  xvii.  20. 
Grounded,  pt.  s.  founded,   estab- 
lished,   2.   xxiii.    3 ;    2  p.  estab- 

lishedst,  2.  viii.  12  ;    Groundes,  2. 

ciii.  n   (where  the  Vulgate  has 

fundasti).     A.S.  grund,  ground, 

bottom. 
Grucche,  pr.  pi.  complain,  20.  48 ; 

pt.  s.  Grucchede,  grumbled,  1 8  6. 

38.     O.  F.    grocer,    groucer,    to 

murmur,    grumble  ;    whence     E. 

grudge. 
Gryl,  adj.  fierce,  5.  5600.     '  Grym, 

gryl,    and    horryble.      Horridus, 

horribilis;'    Prompt.   Parv.      Cf. 

G.  gravel,  a  horror,  abomination. 
Grym,  adj.  fierce,  5.  5600,  5614. 

See  Gram. 
Grys,  sb.  a  kind^of  fur,  3.  19.     So 

named  from  its  gray  colour ;    F. 

gris,  gray. 
Grys,  sb.pl  pigs,  15  pr.  105.     Sw. 

gris,  a  pig;    cf.   E.  griskin,  and 

Gk.  x°fy°s- 
Gult,  sb.  guilt,  offence,  15.  iii.  8; 

pi.  Gultus,  guilts,  faults,  15.  v.  60. 

A.  S.  gylt,    guilt,   a    debt,   from 

gyldan,  to  pay,  yield. 
Gummes,  sb.pl.  gums,  15.  ii.  202. 
Gun,  pt.  s.  did  (used  as  an  auxiliary), 

lit.  began  to,  12.  290.     See  Gan. 
Guodes,  sb.pl.  things  that  be  good, 

9-  76. 
Gurde)j,  imp.pl.  strike,  15.  ii.  176. 

O.  E.  girde,  to  strike ;    cf.  A.  S. 

gyrd,  G.  gerte,  a  rod,  switch. 
Gyede,  pt.s.  F.  guided,  15.  ii.  162. 

O.  F.  giiier,  guider,  from  a  Teu- 


4OO 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


tonic  root ;  Mceso-Goth.  witan,  to 
watch. 

Gyle>,  pr.  s.  beguiles,  3.  304. 
O.  F. guile,  guile;  A.S.  wile,  crafti- 
ness. 

Gyn,  sb.  contrivance,  machine,  i.  e. 
the  ark,  13.  491.  See  Ginne. 

H. 

Ha,  pron.  he,  9.  24. 

Habben,  v.  to  have,  3.  34  ;  6.  55  ; 
Habbe,  3.  123  ;  pr.  s.  2  p.  Hauest, 
3.  95  ;  pr.  s.  Haue>,  3.  114;  pr. 
pi.  HabbeK  3.  229;  6.  115 ;  Hab- 
bez,  13.  308.  A.  S.  habban. 

Habide,  v.  to  abide,  wait  for, 
resist,  lie.  1 06. 

Haburjon,  sb.  habergeon,  coat  of 
mail,  1 8  b.  104.  O.  F.  hauberc, 
O.  H.  G.  halsberc,  A.  S.  heals- 
leorga,  a  neck  -  defence,  from 
heals,  the  neck,  and  beorgan,  to 
protect. 

Hach,  sb.  hatch  (of  a  ship),  13. 
409. 

Hadde,/>*.  s.  had,  i  b.  30,  &c.  A.  S. 
habban,  to  have,  pt.  t.  ic  hafde. 

Haf,  v.  to  have,  7.  13 ;  &c. ;  i  p.  s. 
pt.  Hafd,  had,  8  a.  253 ;  pp.  Hafd, 
had,  8  a.  220.  A.S.  habban,  pp. 
hcefed,  hcefd. 

Hai,  sb.  grass  (lit.  hay),  2.  ciii.  29. 
See  Hey. 

Hal,  adj.  all,  12.  323;  hal  alwes  = 
al  halwes,  i.  e.  all  saints,  12.  371. 

Halde,  i  p.  s.  pr.  I  hold,  consider, 
10.  1261  ;  imp.  pi.  Haldes,  hold 
ye,  12.  106;  Haldis,  16.  123; 
pres.  part.  Haldand;  hard  haldand 
= close-fisted,  10. 790;  pp.  Halden, 
kept,  13.  244;  esteemed,  13.  276. 
A.  S.  healdan,  G.  halten. 

Haled,  pt.pl.  dragged  (themselves), 
13.  380. 

Halely,  adv.  wholly,  n  b.  92. 
A.S.  hdl. 

Halewed,  pp.  hallowed,  14  a.  5  ; 
pt.  s.  Halwede,  I  a.  53 ;  Ha^ed, 
13.  506.  A.S.  hdlgian,  to  hallow. 


Half,  sb.  region,  part  of  the  world, 
14  c.  125;  side,  9.  114;  pi.  Half 
(better  Halues),  portions,  quarters, 
13.  950.  A.  S.  healf,  a  half,  side, 
division. 

Hali,  adj.  holy,  2.  xiv.  2 ;  2.  xvii. 
17;  Halgh,  2.  xvii.  69.  A.S. 
hdlig,  G.  heilig. 

Halkez,  sb.pl.  recesses,  13.  321. 
A.  S.  hylca,  hooks,  turnings. 

Halpe,  pt.  s.  helped,  5.  5686. 
A.  S.  helpan,  pt.  t.  ic  healp. 

Hals,  sb.  neck,  15.  ii.  170.  A.S. 
heals,  G.  and  Du.  hah. 

Halsede,  I  p.  s.  pt.  besought,  con- 
jured, 15.  i.  71.  A.  S.  heals,  the 
neck,  healsian,  to  embrace,  be- 
seech. 

Halsing,  sb.  salutation,  16.  117. 
Sw.  helming,  salutation,  from 
helsa,  health.  See  Halsit. 

Halsit,  pt.  s.  saluted,  16.  116. 
Sw.  helsa,  sb.  health,  helsa,  vb. 
to  salute.  [This  word  should  be 
distinguished  from  Halsede.'] 

Halt,  pr.  s.  holds,  I  a.  465  ;  3.  79. 

Halted,  pt.  pi.  walked  as  lame,  2. 
xvii.  115.  Mceso-Goth.  halts, 
lame. 

Halwede,  pt.  s.  hallowed,  i  a.  53. 
See  Halewede. 

Haly,  adv.  wholly,  16.  477.  A.S. 
heel,  whole. 

Halydom,  sb.  relics,  5.  5629.  Icel. 
heilagr  domr  (or  helgir  domr,  holy 
dooms),  things  of  especial  holiness, 
the  relics  of  the  saints,  on  which 
oaths  were  formerly  taken. — 
Wedgwood. 

Haljed,  pt.  s.  hallowed,  13.  506. 
See  Halewed. 

Halsen,  sb.  pi.  holy  men,  saints,  9. 
244. 

Ham,  pron.  them,  6.  Il6. 

Han,  v.  to  have,  to  possess,  19. 
208.  In  the  preceding  line  haue 
occurs,  but  as  an  auxiliary  verb 
only. 

Han,  pr.  pi.  have  (i.  e.  who  have), 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


401 


12.  361 ;  sub.  pres.  pi.  have,  4  b. 

18. 
Hand,  sb.  breath,  10.  775.     Better 

spelt   and;    cf.  Sc.   afnrf,  breath, 

Lat.  anima,  Gk.  dvffjios. 
Hand ;  at  his  hand  =  close  at  hand, 

16.  72. 
Happe,   sb.  hap,   fortune,  chance, 

12.  32.     W.  Aa/>. 
Happe,  pr.  pi.  i  p.  chance,  light 

upon,  happen  to  choose,  20.  64. 

See  above. 
Harald,  prop,  name,  Harold,  I  a. 

21  ;  gen.  Haraldes,  I  a.  9. 
Harde,    adv.    strongly,    12.   301  ; 

close,  fast,  eagerly,  12.  204. 
Hardeliche,    adv.     boldly,    I    a. 

371- 
Hardi,  adj.  bold,  daring,  I  a.  in. 

O.  F.    hardi,   bold,    obviously   of 

Teutonic  origin  ;  A.S.  heard,  Du. 

Tiard,  Gk.  Kparvs,  strong. 
Hardyment,  sb.  boldness,  courage, 

16.439.     O.  F.  hardiment,  cour- 
age.    See  above. 
Hare,  their,  9.  49. 
Hares,  sb.pl.  hairs,  10.  675. 
Harryng,    sb.    growling,    snarling 

like   a   dog,    18   a.    163.      R    is 

called  the  dog's  letter  ;  R  or  arre 

represents  a  dog's  growling. 
Hasped,  pp.  fastened,  13.  419. 
Hastiliche,  adv.  hastily,  quickly, 

I  a.  528. 
Hastinge,  prop.  n.  Hastings,  I  a. 

62  ;  Hastinges,  I  a.  75. 
Hastly,   adv.   hastily,   quickly,    5. 

5747.     O.  F.   haste,   haste  ;    Sw. 

hast,  haste. 

Hastou,/or  hast  thou,  15.  iii.  IOJ. 
Hat,  sb.  hat,  15.  vi.  II,  20. 
Hat,  pr.pl.   call,  name,   13.  448; 

pt.  s.  Hat,  was  called,  II  b.  74. 

See  Hatte. 
Hatand,  pres.  part,   hating,   they 

that  hate,  2.  xvii.  104. 
HaJ?el,  adj.  as  sb.  noble  one,  13. 

409.     See  A)?el. 
Hatren,   sb.pl.   clothes,   5.   5583. 

VOL.  II. 


A.  S.  heeler,  clothing,  G.  hader,  a 
rag. 

Hatte,  pr.  s.  is  called,  i8a.  30; 
pr.pl.  Hat,  call,  name,  13.  448; 
pt.  s.  Hat,  was  called,  n  b.  74. 
A.  S.  hatan,  O.  Fris.  heta,  G.  heis- 
sen,  Du.  heeten,  to  call,  name;  also, 
to  have  for  a  name,  be  called.  The 
Moeso-Gothic  shews  that  this  is  a 
passive  form,  as  it  has  haitith,  he 
calls,  haitada,  he  is  called,  which 
occurs  in  John  ix.  16. 

Hatz,  put  for  Haz  or  Has,  13.  306; 
2  p.s.pr.  hast,  13.  328. 

Hauberk,  sb.  coat  of  mail,  9.  82. 
See  Haburjon. 

Haued,/>/.  s.  ip.  had,  8  a.  250;  2  p. 
hadst,  8  a.  225  ;  Hauid,  pt.  s.  I  p. 
had,  8  a.  220. 

Hauene,  sb.  S.  haven,  port,  i  a.  57; 
pi.  Haunes,  havens,  1  8  a.  66.  A.S. 
h&fen,  Dan.  havn,  Sw.  hamn. 

Haues,  pr.  s.  has,  8  b.  239  ;  imp.pl. 
Haueth,  have  ye,  19.  654. 

Haukes,  sb.pl.  hawks,  2.  ciii.  39; 
Hauekes,  13.  537.  A.S.  hafoc, 
Du.  havik,  G.  habicht,  W.  hebog. 

Haunted,  pt.  s.  practised,  86.  125. 
O.  F.  hanter,  to  frequent,  practise, 
either  from  Icel.  hiemla,  Sw.  h'dmta, 
to  take  home  (Burguy),  or  from 
Breton  hent,  a  path  (Wedgwood). 

Havyng,  sb.  having,  i.e.  behaviour, 
1  6.  412;  Hawyng,  16.  135. 

He,  pron.  she,  4  a.  7,  &c.  A.  S. 
heo,  she. 

He,  adv.  high,  loudly,  16.  192. 

Hee,    adj.   high,    16.    109.      A.S. 


Heengen,  pt.pl.  hanged,  15.1.  148. 
Heeued,  sb.  head,  6.  94  ;  dot.  s. 

Heuede,    6.    91.      A.  S.    heafodt 

Moeso-Goth.  haubiths,  Lat.  caput, 

Gk.  K€<pa\rj. 
Hegh,  adj.  high,  2.viii-9;  2.ciii.4o; 

superl.  Heghest,  2.  xvii.  37.     A.  S. 

hedh,D\i.hoog,G.hoch.  SeeHeh. 
Heghnes,  sb.  highness,  height,   2. 

xvii.  88;  2.  cii.  21. 

Dd 


402 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


Heli,  adj.  high  ;  an  heh  =  aloud,  4  c. 

16;  Hei,  I  a.  164 ;  pi.  Heie,  I  a. 

189;  Heye,  I  a.  177.    See  Hegh. 
Heie,  adv.  high,  I  a.  158;  Heye, 

I  a.  458. 
Heigh,  adj.  high,  great,   19.  162. 

See  Hegh. 
Heihliche,  adv.  at  a  high   price, 

15.    vii.    300.      A.  S.    hedhlice, 

highly. 
Heilede,  I  />.  5.  />/.  hailed,  greeted, 

15.   v.    83.     Cf.   Dan.    hilse,   to 

greet.     See  Halsit. 
Heind,  adj.  courteous,  7-  2«     See 

Hende,  adj. 
Heiuol,   adj.   haughty,    I  a.    406. 

Apparently    a     compound     from 

O.  E.  hei,  high,  and  uol,  full. 
Hei?,  ac?/.  high,   12.  163;  ac?/.  or 

aA/.  high,  costly,  15.  iii.  49.    See 

Hei,  Hegh. 
Hei,  sb.  health;  sawel  hei  =  soul's 

health,  8  b.  66.     See  Heie,  sb. 
Held,  pp.  poured  (out),  17.  Mar.  ii. 

22.     Icel.    hella,    O.  E.   hele,   to 

pour  out.     Vulg.  effundetur. 
Held,  sb.  old  age,  10.  756.     Better 

spelt  eld.     Cf.  Hand. 
Held,  pt.pl.  held,  I  a.  106. 
Helde,  v.  to  incline,  2.  ciii.  \i\pr. 

pi.  Heldes,  lo.  817;  pt.  s.  Helded, 

inclined,  bowed,  2.  xvii.  27.    A.S. 

hyldan,    to    incline,    bend,    Icel. 

hella,  to  pour  out ;  cf.  E.  to  heel 

over. 

Hele,  sb.  health,  10.  757;    salva- 
tion, 2.  xvii.  7 ;  pi.  Heles,  2.  xvii. 

127;  soule  hele  =  soul's  salvation, 

15.   vi.    22.     A.S.    hdlu,    halo, 

health  ;     cf.    Gk.    KO.KOS,    good, 

sound. 
Hele,  v.  to  cover,  roof,  18  a.  47 ; 

pp.  Heled,  hidden,  covered  over, 
20.  207.     A.  S.  helan,  Lat.  celare, 

to  hide,  con-ceal ;  cf.  Gk.  Ka\ia. 
Hele,  v.  to  cure,  I  b.  92  ;  pr.  s. 
Heles,  heals,  cures,  2.  cii.  6.   A.S. 
hcelan,    to    make    hale,     make 

whole. 


Heling,  sb.  salvation,   2.  xxiii.  12. 

A.  S.  "hading,  healing. 
Helpen,  v.  to  help,  4  c.  9  ;  pt.  s. 

Halpe,  q.  v. 
HelJ?e,  sb.  salvation  (lit.  health),  9. 

83- 
Hem,  pron.   them,    4  c.    8.     A.  S. 

Aeom,  dat.  pi.  of  hi,  they. 
Hend,  s6.  pi.  hands,  2.  viii.  18;  2. 

xvii.  67  ;   Hende,   2.  xvii.  57  ;   2. 

ciii.  57. 
Hende,  adv.  at  hand,  close,  near, 

12.  278. 
Hende,  adj.  courteous,  3.  17;  12. 

1 06,  348;   benign,  II  c.  34;   as 

J?e  hende  =  like  a  courteous  man, 

courteously,  I  a.  13.    Sw.  h'dndig, 

dexterous ;  whence,  polite,  cour- 
teous ;  cf.  E.  handy. 
Hendeliche,  adv.  courteously,  15. 

iii.  30;  Hendely,  15.  v.  83.     See 

above. 
Hendy,   adj.    gracious,    4  a.    9  ; 

Hendi,  40.45.     See  Hende. 
Hennes,  adv.  hence,  12.  329. 
Hente,  pt.  s.  seized,  I  b.  80 ;    15. 

v.  5;  snatched,  5.  5619;   Kent, 

12.  150;  caught,  13.  376.     A.S. 

hentan,  to  hunt  after,  seize. 
Heo,  pron.  she,  I  a.  247 ;  I  b.  13 ; 

15.  iii.  114.     A.S.  heo. 
Heo,  pron.  pi.  they,   15.  iii.  137. 

A.  S.  hi,  hig,  pi.  of  he. 
Her,  adv.  here;  her  ri3t=just  here, 

just   there,  i.e.  at  one   time,  at 

another,    I  b.   7.     A.  S.  her,   G. 

hier. 
Her,  sb.  hair,  40.   13  ;    20.   138. 

A.  S.  hcer. 
Herbergage,  sb.  lodging,  19.  147. 

A  F.   form,   from   O.  H.  G. ;    cf. 

A.  S.  here-beorgan,  to  lodge,  here- 

berga,  a  resting-place,  E.  harbour. 
Herbergeri,   sb.   lodging, 

7.  164.     See  above. 
Herbiuore,  adv.  heretofore,   i 

1 08. 
Herd,/*/,  s.  heard,  2.  xvii.  17; 

5897 ;  Herde,  2.  xvii.  106. 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


403 


Here,  pron.  of  them  ;  here  non  = 
not  one  of  them,  I  b.  6  ;  used  as 
pron.  poss.  their,  I  b.  6;  5.  5583. 
A.  S.  hira,  gen.  pi.  of  he. 

Here,  sb.  a  hair,  hair-shirt,  15.  v. 
48.  See  Her. 

Here,  sb.  army,  host,  13.  409. 
A.  S.  here,  an  army,  G.  and  Du. 
heer.  Hence,  E.  harbour,  har- 
binger, harry. 

Heremyte,  sb.  hermit,  14  6.  35. 
Lat.  heremita,  from  G.  fprjfjios,  a 
desert. 

Heren,  v.  to  hear,  3.  i  ;  pt.  s. 
Herde,  2.  xvii.  106.  See  Herd. 

Heried,  pt.  s.  harried,  despoiled, 
lie.  34.  A.  S.  here,  an  army, 
herian,  herigan,  to  act  as  an 
army,  to  ravage,  harry ;  cf.  O.  E. 
the  harrowing  of  hell  =  the  spolia- 
tion of  hell.  Christ  was  said  to 
harrow  hell  when,  after  His  cru- 
cifixion, He  delivered  thence  the 
souls  of  the  righteous,  who  had 
died  and  had  been  held  captive  by 
Satan  since  the  beginning  of  the 
world. 

Herk,  v.  to  hark,  5.  5750.  A.S. 
heorcnian,  to  hearken. 

Herne,  sb.  S.  corner,  i  a.  20.  A.  S. 
hirne,  a  corner.  See  Huirnes. 

Hernes,  sb.pl.  brains,  n  a.  68. 
Sc.  hairns,  brains,  Sw.  hjerna,  the 
brain ;  cf.  Lat.  cere-brum,  the 
brain,  Gk.  itapa.,  the  head. 

Hernez,  sb.  pi.  eagles,  13.  537. 
Properly  spelt  ernes,  from  A.  S. 
ern,  earn,  an  eagle.  See  Erne. 

Herston,  prop,  name,  I  b.  24. 

Hert,  sb.  S.  hart,  i  a.  389;  12.  215; 
pi.  Hertes,  harts,  stags,  2.  xvii.  87 ; 

/  2.  ciii.  40.  A.  S.  heort,  Du.  hert, 
G.  hirsch. 

Herte,  sb.  S.  heart,  I  a.  36 ;  Hert, 
2.  xiv.  5  ;  5.  5824.  A.  S.  heorte, 
Du.  hart,  G.  herz. 

Heruest,  sb.  S.  harvest,  i  a.  55, 
59.  A.  S.  harfest,  harvest,  autumn ; 
G.  herbst. 


Heryeb,    pr.  pi.    praise,    9.    171. 

A.  S.  herian,  to  praise. 
Heryinge,  sb.  praise,  9.  205  ;  pi. 

Heryinges,  9.  132.     See  above. 
Hest,  adj.  highest,  3.  176.     A.S. 

hehst,  superl.  of  hedh,  high.     Cf. 

nest,  for  nighest. 
Heste,   sb.   bidding,   15.  iii.  108; 

command,   19.  382 ;    pi.  Hestes, 

commands,    13.    34!  ;    19.    284. 

A.  S.  h<&s,  a  command,  hdtan,  to 

command. 
Hot,  pt.  s.  was  named,  i  a.  133, 

300 ;   I  b.  24.     See  Hatte. 
Het,  pt.  s.  ordered,  i  a.  509.     See 

next  word. 
Hete,  pr.  s.  I  p.  promise,  19.  334; 

pt.  s.  Het,  ordered,  i  a.  509.  A.S. 

hdtan,  to  command,  promise. 
Hete,  subj.  pr.  s.  heat,  6.  28. 
Heterly,  adv.  quickly,  hastily,  13. 

380.   Icel.  heitr,  hot ;  A.  S.  hcefol, 

hot,    furious ;    A.  S.    hatu,    Sw. 

hetta,  heat;    A.S.    hat,  Sw.  het, 

hot. 

HeJ>,  pr.  s.  has,  6.  104;  9.  109. 
Hethen,  adj.  heathen,  19.  378. 
Hethen,  adv.  hence,  10.  509.  Icel. 

heftan,  hence. 
Hething,  sb.  scorn,  7.  168.     Icel. 

hcefta,  to  scoff  at ;  Sw.  hdda,  to 

blaspheme. 
Hette,  pp.  named,  15.  iii.  105.  See 

Hatte. 
Hetterly,  adv.   violently,   angrily, 

12.  150.     See  Heterly. 
Heu,  sb.  hue,  colour,  4  a.  13.  A.S. 

hiw. 
Heue,  v.  to  heave,  lift,    12.  348. 

A.  S.  hebban.    Cf.  haue  from  A.  S. 

habban. 
Heued,  sb.  head,  la.  126  ;  2.  xvii. 

no;  10.  675;/>Z.  Heuiddes,  lib. 

72.     See  Heeued. 
Heuede,  pt.pl.  had,  40.  u. 
Heiiene,  sb.  heaven,  i  b.  17;  gen. 

sing.  6.  3 ;  pi.  Heuenes,  2.  viii.  9. 

A.  S.  heofon.  « 

Heuened,  pt.  s.  raised,  exalted,  13. 
D  d  2 


404 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


506.     A.  S.  kafenian,  to  elevate. 

See  Heue. 

Heueneriche.     See  Heuenryke. 
Heuenryke,  sb.   the   kingdom  of 

heaven,  heaven,   10.   1898  ;  gen. 

Heueneriche,    15  pr.    27.      A.  S. 

heofonrice,  from   heofon,  heaven, 

and  rice,  a  kingdom. 
Heuidles,  adj.  headless,  II  a.  loo. 
Heute  =  h.ete,  subj.  pr.  s.  heat,  6. 

28. 
Hew,  s&.  appearance,  5.  5884;  dat. 

Hewe,  19.  137.     See  Heu. 
Hey,  sb.   grass,    17.    Mar.  vi.   39. 

Mceso-Goth.  hawi,  E.  hay. 
Heye,   adv.   aloud,    3.   204.     See 

Hell. 

Heyer,  adj.  comp.  higher,  8  a.  108. 
Heyne,  sb.  a  proper  name,   15.  v. 

91.     Cf.  G.  Hans. 
Heyt,   sb.   height,   8  a.    in.     See 

He3be. 
Hese,  adj.  pi.  high,  9.  140.     See 

Heh. 
He3lych.e,  adv.  highly,  chiefly,  9. 

15;     in   a   great   degree,  9.  35. 

See  Heihliche. 
He3>e,  sb.  height,  13.  317;  Heyt, 

8  a.  ill.     A.  S.  hedfto,  hefte. 
Hi,  sb.  haste,  7.  179.     See  Hye. 
Hi,  pron.  they,  I  b.  5  ;  6.  66;  ace. 

them,  6.  69.     A.  S.  nom.  and  ace. 

pi.  hi,  hig. 
Hicht,    I  p.  s.  pr.  promise,    assure, 

1 6.  156.     A.  S.   hdtan,   to   bid, 
promise. 

Hid,  pt.  s.  it  hid  =  hid  itself,  7.  66. 
Hiden,  sb.  pi.  hides  (of  land),  i  a. 

353.    A.  S.  hyd,  Lat.  eutis. 
Hider,  adv.  hither,  4  c.  46. 
Hiderward,  adv.  hitherward,  i  a. 

61. 
Hie  ;  in  phr.  in  hie  =  in  haste,  8  b. 

17.  Common  in  Northumbrian. 
See  Hye. 

Hield,  pt.  s.   held,    20.   154.     See 

Halde. 

Hier,  adv.  here,  20.  60.     See  Her. 
Hiere,  pr.  pi.  hear,  20.  306.     A.  S. 


hyran,    heran,    Du.    hooren,    G. 

hbren. 
Hiewh,  pi.  s.  hewed,  cut  up,   20. 

246.    A.  S.  hedwan,  pt.  t.  ic  heow. 
Hight,  pp.   named,  called,    7.    17. 

See  Hatte. 
Hiht,  pt.  s.  was  named,  86.   119. 

See  Hatte. 
Hihte,  pt.  s.  commanded,  15.  i.  17; 

bade,  15.  v.  120;  Hiht,  promised, 

8  a.  204  ;  pt.  pi.  Hight,  promised, 

7.  154.     A.  S.  hdtan,  to  promise, 

command. 
Hii,  pron.  pi.  S.  they,  i  a.  6,  7, 116. 

See  Hi. 
Hile,  v.  to  cover,  2.  ciii.  20 ;  pr.  s. 

2  p.  Hiles,  coverest,  2.  ciii.  6.  See 

Hele. 
Hiling,   sb.   covering,    2.  ciii.   13. 

See  above. 

Him-sulf,  pron.  himself,  I  a.  136. 
Hine,   sb.pl.  servants,   2.  cii.   50; 

2.  ciii.  10.     See  Hyne. 
Hinehede,  sb.  service,  2.  ciii.  30. 

See  Hyne. 
Hingand,  pres.  part,   hanging,    7. 

291. 

Hire,  poss.  pron.  her,  I  a.  24. 
Hires,  hers,  19.  227. 
Hire-selue,  pron.  herself,  3.  144. 
His,  pron.  pi.  them,  9.  183 ;   Hise, 

9.  10. 

His  =  is,  pr.  s.  6.  I,  7. 
His,  pron.  its,  6.  41 :  12.  20.   A.  S. 

his,  Tna.sc.  and  neut.  gen.  of  he. 
Hise,  pron.  pi.  them,  9.  10. 
Hisse  =  his,  pron.  2.  cii.  2. 
Hit,  pron.  neut.  s.  S.  it,  i  a.  8,  88. 

A.  S.  hit,  neut.  of  he. 
Hit,  «s£0?  as  a  g-ew.  its,  13.  264,  956. 
Hittes,  pr.  s.    reaches  (it,  i.  e.  the 

ark),  13.  479. 

Hi3e]>,  pr.  s.  rpfl.  hies,  hurries  him- 
self, 15.  vii.  307  ;  pt.  s.  Hi3ede, 

hastened,  I  b.  92  ;  came  near  to, 

15.  vii.  287.     A.  S.  higan,  to  hie, 

Du.  hijgen,  to  pant.    See  Hye. 
Hi3t,  I  p.  s.  pr.  I  have  for  a  name, 

am  named,  12.  70.     See  Hatte. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


405 


it,  pron.  it,  6.  13,  20,  146. 

Hist,  pt.  s.  S.  promised,  12.  58.  See 
Hihte. 

Ho,  pron.  who,  I  b.  77  ;  15.  iii. 
60;  whosoever,  12.  187.  (Not 
used  as  a  simple  relative).  Mceso- 
Goth.  hwas,  A.  S.  hwd,  Lat.  quis, 
Gk.  Tts. 

Ho,  pron.  she,  13.  475.     A.  S.  heo. 

Ho-bestez,  sb.  pi.  she -beasts, 
females,  13.  337.  A.  S.  keo,  she. 
See  above. 

Hobleden,  pt.  pi.  hobbled,  limped, 
15.  i.  113.  Cf.  Du.  hobbelen,  to 
jolt  about,  to  stammer,  from 
hobbel,  a  knob ;  cf.  E.  hub,  hob. 

Hoc,  sb.  hook,  4  c.  9.     A.  S.  hoc. 

Hod,  sb.  hood,  15.  vii.  256.  A.S. 
hod. 

Hoggis,   sb.  pi.    swine,    17.   Mar. 

V.  12. 

Hoi,  adj.  whole,  sound,  I  a.  413  ; 

on   hoi   hert  =  one   whole    heart, 

unanimously,  12.  163.     A.S.  hdl, 

E.  hale,  Gk.  Ka\6s. 
Holde,  adj.  faithful,  I  a.  418.  A.S. 

hold,  faithful,  friendly,  true,  from 

healdan,  to  hold  ;  cf.  E.  hold  to. 
Holde,  v.  to  hold,  i  a.  401 ;  pr.  pi. 

Holde>,  hold,  i  a.  8;  pt.pl.  Hulde, 

held,    I  a.   6 ;   subj.  pt.  s.  Hulde, 

should  keep,  la.  17  ;  pp.  Holde, 

beholden,  indebted,  12.  317.    See 

Halde. 
Hole-foted,   adj.   web-footed  (lit. 

whole-footed),  13.  538. 
Holly,  adv.  wholly,  12.  246. 
Horn,  sb.  home,    I  a.   379  ;    adv. 

home,   3.    192.      A.S.   ham,    G. 

heim,  Gk.  KWfj.os,  a  village;    cf. 

Lat.  ciuitas. 
Horn,  pron.  dot.  pi.  to  them,  I  a. 

34 ;  ace.  pi.  Horn,  themselves,  I  a. 

92,  96.     See  Hem. 
Homber,  the  Humber,  i  a.  323. 
Hond,  sb.  S.  hand,  I  a.  41,  63  ;  />/. 

Honden,  i  a.  116;    6.  121 ;   15. 

vii.  295  ;  on  honde  =  in  hand,  19. 

348.     A.  S.  hand.     See  Hend. 


Hondred,  sb.  hundred,  i  a.  320. 

Hongen,  v.  to  hang,  be  hanged, 
15.  ii.  170;  pt.  s.  Hongede,  hung, 
hanged  (in  transitive  sense),  15.  i. 
66.  A.  S.  hangian,  to  hang 
down,  hon,  to  suspend. 

Honger,  sb.  hunger,  I  a.  444. 

Hontef>,  sb.  hunting,  i  a.  387. 
A.S.  huntaft,  huntoft,  a  hunting; 
huntaft-f<er,  a  hunting  expedition. 

Honur,  v.  to  honour,  7.  60. 

Honur,  sb.  F.  honour,  6.  87. 

Hoole,  adj.  whole,  hale,  sound,  17. 
Mar.  v.  15.  See  Hoi. 

Hopand,  pres.  part,  hoping,  2. 
xvii.  82. 

Hor,  poss.  pron.  their,  i  a.  34,  36 ; 
gen.  pi.  of  them ;  hot  noj?er  = 
neither  of  them,  I  a.  174. 

Hord,  sb.  hoard,  treasure,  9.  14. 
A.  S.  hord,  heord,  wealth,  hyrdan, 
to  guard  ;  cf.  E.  herd,  Lat.  custos. 

Hordom,  sb.  whoredom,  i  a.  189. 

Hors,  sb.  pi.  horses,  18  a.  108. 
A.S.  hors,  a  neut.  sb.  of  which 
the  pi.  form  likewise  is  hors. 

Horwed,  adj.  unclean  one,  13.  335. 
A.  S.  horn,  dirt,  pollution ;  cf.  E. 
whore. 

Hose,  whoso,  whoever,  15.  i.  86. 

Hoseli,  v.  to  housel,  administer  the 
sacrament;  let  hom  hoseli  =  caused 
themselves  to  be  houselled,  I  a.  97. 
A.  S.  hfisel,  an  offering,  the  sacra- 
ment, Mceso-Goth.  hunsl,  a  sacri- 
fice ;  comp.  Sansk.  han,  to  kill. 

Hote,  adv.  hotly,  ardently,  19. 
586. 

Hote,  Ip.s.pr.  command,  15.  ii. 

175- 

Hou,  adv.  how,  I  a.  103,  105. 
Houen,  pp.  heaved,  13.  413.     See 

Heue. 
Houez,  pr.  s.  hovers,  13.  458;  pi. 

HoueK  hover  about,  15  pr.  84; 

pt.pl.  Houed,  waited  about,  1 1  a. 

83.     W.  hofio,  hofian,  to  hover, 

hang  ;  from  A.  S.  hof,  a  dwelling. 
Houres,  sb.  pi.  the  '  hours/  or  ser- 


406 


GLOSS ARIAL  INDEX. 


vices  for  particular  times  of  the 
day,  15.  i.  157. 

Hous,  sb.  house  (in  astrology),  19. 
304.  A  '  house  '  is  a  twelfth  part 
of  the  celestial  sphere,  bounded  by 
great  circles  passing  through  the 
N.  and  S.  points  of  the  horizon. 

Hous-leder,  sb.  master  of  the 
house,  2.  ciii.  39.  The  Vulg.  has 
damns  dux. 

Houues,  sb.pl.  hoods,  15  pr.  84. 
A.  S.  htife,  a  headdress,  mitre. 

Hoxterye,  sb.  huckstery,  retail 
dealing,  15.  v.  141.  G.  hoker,  a 
hawker,  a  huckster,  from  the  same 
root  as  G.  wucher,  Du.  woeker, 
O.  E.  oker,  usury,  and  Lat.  augere. 

Hu,  conj.  how,  7-  297-     A.  S.  hu. 

Huanne,  adv.  when,  9.  39.  A.  S. 
hwcenne. 

Huannes,  adv.  whence,  9.  34. 
A.  S.  hwanon,  whence. 

Hudinge,  sb.  hiding,  concealment, 
16.53. 

Hue,  />rorc.  she,  46.  31,  35.  See 
Heo. 

Hue,  pron.pl.  they,  3.  84;  4*:.  25. 
See  Hi. 

Huer,   adv.   where,  9.    38.     A.  S. 


Huere,  pron.  their,  4*?.  10,  21,  25. 

A.  S.  heora,  of  them. 
Huermyde,   wherewith,    9.    118. 

A.  S.  hwcer,  where,  and  mid,  with. 
Huerte,   s6.    heart,    3.    73.      See 

Herte. 

Huet,  pron.  rel.  what,  9.  22. 
Huirnes,  sb.pl.  corners,  15.  ii.  209. 

A.  S.  hirne,  a  corner,  hiding-place, 

Gaelic  cearn;   E.  corner;   cf.  E. 

horn.     See  Herne. 
Hul,  sb.  hill,  i  a.  146  ;  18  a.  119  ; 

/>/.  Hulles,   !5/>r.  5.     A.S.  Ay//; 

cf.  Lat.  celsus,  lofty. 
Huld,  />/.  s.    held,    esteemed,    i  a. 

258  ;  kept,  i  a.  370. 
Huld,  pt.  s.  held,  I  a.  232  ;  i  b.  13. 

See  Halde. 
Hulde,  v.  to  flay,  i  a.  287.     A.S, 


behyldan,  to  skin;    cf.  Sw.  hull, 

skin. 
Hules,  pr.  s.   covers   up,    12.    97. 

Cf.  E.  hull,  shell  of  a  pea ;   and 

see  Hele,  Hile. 
Humblesse,  sb.  F.  humility,   19. 

165. 
Hundereth,  num.  a  hundred,  1 1  a. 

94- 

Huo,  pron.  mter.  who,  9.  n.  See 
Ho. 

Hupte,  pt.  s.  jumped  about,  lit. 
hopped,  I  b.  83.  A.  S.  hoppian, 
to  leap,  dance ;  the  notion  of  re- 
stricting it  to  one  leg  seems  to  be 
modern. 

Hurde,  pt.  s.  heard,  i  a.  9,  31. 

Hure,  sb.  hire,  wages,  I  b.  64;  \c. 
25  ;  15.  vi.  40 ;  reward,  15.  iii.  64 ; 
Huire,  15.  vi.  42.  A.  S.  AyV,  hire. 

Hurkled,  pt.  s.  rested,  13.  406. 
The  original  meaning  is  to  squat, 
crouch,  as  in  Du.  hurken,  to 
squat ;  cf.  O.  E.  rouke,  to  squat ; 
prov.  E.  hurkle,  to  shrug  up  the 
back. 

Hurlande,  pres.  part,  hurling, 
rushing,  13.  413. 

Hurne,  sb.  S.  corner,  i  a.  30.  See 
Herne,  Huirnes. 

Hurrok,  sb.  an  oar,  13.  419.  Prov. 
E.  orrock,  an  oar ;    orruck-holes, 
oar-drawing  holes,  rowlocks,  rul-     ' 
locks,  from  oat ,  and  Dan.  rykke, 
to  draw. 

Hurte,  sb.  S.  heart,  i  b.  66,  68. 
See  Herte. 

Husbandis,  sb.  gen.  sing,  husband- 
man's, small  farmer's,  1 6.  151. 
Icel.  hus-bondi,  master  of  a  house ; 
bondi  (Dan.  bonde,  a  peasant)  is  for 
b&andt,  dwelling,  from  bua,to  dwell. 

Huyche,  pron.  which,  what,  9.  3; 
dat.pl.  Huychen,  9.  48.  (Of 
governs  a  dative.) 

Huyter,  adj.  whiter,  9.  154.  A.  S. 
hwlt. 

HUB,  sb.  hue,  colour,  18  a.  13  ;  Hu, 
1 8.  See  Heu. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


407 


Hwed,  pp.  hued,  tinted,  13.  1045. 

See  Heu. 
Hy,  pron.  they,  6.  99 ;  9.  45.     See 

Hi. 

Hy,  pron.  I,  3.  149. 
Hydus,  adj.  hideous,  I o.  2227.    F. 

hideux,  from   O.  F.    hide,   hisde, 

terror;  cf.  Sw.  hissnad,  shivering, 

horror. 
Hye,  sb.  haste  ;    in  hye  =  quickly, 

19.  209 ;  in  hy,  16.  6. 
Hye,  v.  to  haste ;  hire  hye,  to  make 

haste  (lit.  to  hasten  herself),  20. 

169.    A.  S.  higan,  to  hasten,  Dan. 

hige,  Du.  hijgen,  to  pant ;  cf.  Lat. 

Cl/ttS,  Gk.  KlVVfMl. 

Hyghte,  pt.  s.  was  named,  5.  5789. 

See  Hatte. 
Hyht,  pp.  promised,  46.  29.     See 

Hihte. 
Hyne,  pron.  ace.  him,  6.  73.    A.  S. 

hine,  ace.  of  he. 
Hyne,  sb.  servant,  l$pr.  39;  vi.42. 

A.S.  hina,  a  domestic,  whence  E. 

hind. 
Hynges,  pr.  pi.   hang,    10.  675 ; 

pt.  s.  Hyng,  hung,  20.  256. 
Hyt,  pron.  it,  5.  5581.     See  Hit. 
Hy3ez,  pr.  pi.  hie,  hasten,  13.  538  ; 

pt.pl.  Hysed,  hied,  hastened,  13. 

392.     See  Hi3e}>,  Hye. 

,  adj.pl.  high  (places),  heights, 

39T* 

pr.  s.  is  called,  18  a.  60  ; 
pt.  s.  Hyjt,  had  for  a  name,  was 
named,  13.  299.  See  Hatte. 

I.  J. 

The  prefix  I-  or  Y-  is  some- 
times prefixed  to  all  parts  of  a  verb, 
but  most  commonly  to  infinitives  or 
past  participles.  It  is  the  A.  S.  ge-, 
G.  and  Du.  ge-,  Mceso-Goth.  ga-, 
a  particle  of  obscure  origin. 

The  letter  J  is  hardly  ever  found 
in  early  MSS.  A  capital  7  is  used 
instead ;  hence  langelers  is  to  be 
read  Jangelers,  &c. 


langelers,  sb.  pi.  tattlers,  story- 
tellers, 15  pr.  35.  O.Fr.jangler, 
to  jest,  from  a  Teutonic  root; 
cf.  Du.  janken,  to  howl. 

langland,  pres.  part,  jangling, 
chattering,  5.  5593.  See  above. 

lapede,  pt.  s.  befooled,  cheated, 
15.  i.  65.  See  lapes. 

lapers,  sb.  pi.  jesters,  15  pr.  35. 
See  below. 

lapes,  sb.pl.  jests,  tricks,  II  b.  15; 
lapez,  13.  272.  F.  japper,  to 
yelp ;  E.  gabbe,  to  lie,  deceive, 
gabble,  from  Gael,  gob,  mouth. 

largoun,  sb.  jargon,  confused 
speech,  20.  277.  O.F.jargonner, 
to  cackle;  cf.  A.S.  cearcian,  to 
chatter,  O.  E.  chirk*  E.  creak. 

launys,  sb.  jaundice,  IO.  700.  F. 
jaunisse,  fromjaune,  yellow,  Lat. 
galbineus. 

Ibe,/>/>.  been,  I  a.  I ;  Ibeo,  I  b.  91. 

I-blesset,  pp.  blessed,  i.e.  holy,  15 

Pr-  75- 
Ibore,  pp.  born,  I  b,  2;   6.  109; 

borne,  carried,  15.  v.  89. 
Ibroke,  pp.  broken,  i  a.  28,  41. 
I-brount,  pp.  brought,  15.  iii.  2. 
Ibrost,  pp.  brought,  i  a.  140,  340. 
Iburred,  pp.  buried,  i  a.  521. 
Jch,  pron.  S.  I,  I  a.  26;    6.  118. 

A.S.  ic,  G.  ich,  Du.  ik,  Svr.jag, 

Dan.jeg,  Icel.  ek,  Lzt.ego,  Sansk. 

aham. 

Ichabbe  =  ich  habbe,  I  have,  40.  9. 
Icb.am  =  ich  am,  I  am,  4  a.  8,  37  ; 

'5-i-73- 

Ichaue  =  ich  haue,  I  have,  4  b.  28. 
Icholle  =  ich  wolle,  I  will,  I  a.  8, 

471,  472  ;  Ichcholle,  I  a.  474. 
Ichot  =  ich  wot,  I  know,  40.  10 ; 

4  d.  23. 
Ichulle  =  Ich  wulle,  I  will,  4  a.  19; 

4<?.  48;  15-  »»•  5- 
Iclepet,  pp.  called,  15.  Hi.  109. 
Icluped,  pp.  called,  i  a.  270. 
Icome,  pp.  come,  i  a.  75  ;   I  b.  i. 
Icopet,  pp.  dressed  in  a  cope,  15. 

iii.  36. 


408 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


I-cristnid,  pp.  christened,  6.  7 1 ; 

Icristned,  6.  97,  ill. 
Icrommet,  pp.   crammed,   15  pr. 

41.     A.  S.  crammian,  to  stuff. 
Idelnisse,  sb.  S.  idleness,  I  b.  62. 
Ido,  pp.    done,    made,    I   a.    22 ; 

finished,  ended,  I  a.  332 ;    (of  a 

battle)  fought,  I  a.  194. 
Idoluen,  pp.  delved,  dug,   15.  vi. 

36.      A.  S.   <fe(/tm,   to   dig  ;    pp. 

dolfen. 
I-don,  pp.  done,  caused,  made,  15. 

v.  78. 
Idyket,  pp.   ditched,  15.   vi.    36. 

A.  S.  dician,  to  make  a  dike, 
leauntez,  sb.  pi.  giants,  13.  272. 

F.   geant,    Lat.    ace.    gigantem, 

from  Gk.  71705,  from  same  root 

as  yiyvofMi,  to  be  born. 
Ifare,  pp.  fared,  gone,  15.  v.  5. 
Ifri3et,  pp.  fried,  15.  vii.  298. 
Ifuld,  pp.  filled,  i  a.  158. 
Igain,  adv.  again,  back,  8  b.  1 70. 
Igain,  prep,  against,  8  b.  68. 
Igaines,  prep,  against,  8  a.  158. 
Igain-sawe,  sb.  gainsaying,  contra- 
diction, denial,  8  a.  1 78. 
Igistned,  pp.  lodged,  6.  140. 
Igranted,  pp.  granted,  I  a.  451. 
Igurd,  pp.   girt,    I  a.    no.     A.  S. 

girdan,   to    gird ;    cf.   E.   girth, 

girdle. 
Ihaspet,    pp.      hasped,      clasped, 

fastened,   15.  i.  171.     A.  S.  keeps, 

haspe,  a  hasp. 
Ihesu,  Jesus,  i  a.  469. 
Iholde,  pp.  holden,  considered  to 

be,  15.  i.  82. 
Ihote,  pp.  called,  named,  15.  i.  61. 

See  Hatte. 
Ihure,  v.  to  hear,  i  a.  2;  pp.  Ihurd, 

i  a.  4. 
Ihuret,  pp.  hired,  paid  with  wages, 

15.  vii.  300.     See  Hure. 
Ikest,  pp.   cast,   6.   90,   92.     Sw. 

kasta,  to  throw. 

Iknowe,  pp.  known,  15.  iii.  34. 
Haste,  pt.  s.  lasted,  I  a.  163. 
He,  i&.  isle,  19.  545 ;  pi.  lies,  14  a. 


95.     F.  tie,  O.F.  isle,  It.  isola, 

Lat.  insula. 

Ileaue,    sb.    leave,    6.   81.     A.  S. 
ge-ledfa,     assent,      belief,      from 

leaf,   license,    permission ;    cf.  G. 

g-lauben,  to  believe,  erlauben,  to 

permit. 
Ileisen,  pp.    lien,    lain,    been   laid, 

!5-  v-  65.     A.  S.  licgan,  to  lie, 

pp.  legen. 
Ileue,  v.  to   believe,  15.   v.  112. 

A.  S.     lyfan,     to     believe.       See 

Ileaue. 
Iliknet,  pp.    likened,     15.   i.    89. 

Cf.  Sw.  likna,  to  compare,  liken. 
Ilijt,  pp.  lighted,  I  b.  20. 
Ilk,  adj.   each,  every,    7.  38 ;    lo. 

437  ;  same,  7.  14;  J?at  ilk,  that 

same,  12.  281.     A.  S.  <elc,  each. 
Ilka,  adj.  every,  2.  viii.  6  ;  2.  ciii. 

55.     See  below. 
Ilkan,  pron.  each  one,  2.  ciii.  35  ; 

8  a.  106.   A.S.  cdc,  each,  a»,  one. 
like,  adj.  same,  6.  120;  very,  9. 

1 08  ;  )>et  ilke  =  the  same,  9.  15. 

A.  S.  ylc,  same  ;  Sc.  ilk. 
Home,  adv.  frequently,   I  a.  319, 

440.     A.  S.  gelome,  often. 
Il-torned,  adj.  froward,  perverse, 

2.  xvii.  72.     (Lit.  ill-turned.) 
Il-tornest,  pr.  s.  2  p.  art  perverted, 

2.   xvii.    7 2.      Vulg.  perverteris. 

See  above. 

I-maket,  />/>.  made,  15.  />r.  14. 
Imange,  />r*/>.  among,  8  a.  187. 
Imaunget,  />p.  eaten,  15.  vii.  245. 

F.  manger,  to  eat. 
Imid,  prep,  in  the  midst  of,  amid, 

7.  255.     O.  E.  in  middes,  amidst; 

the  prefix  i-  =  in. 
In,  prep,  on,  7.  33. 
Income,  v.  to  enter,  2.  xxiii.  1 8, 

24;  pr.  s.  Incomes,  comes  in,  2. 

xiv.  3. 
Ine,  sb.  pi.  eyes,  1 1  c.  79.     A.  S. 

edgan,  eyes,  pi.  of  £ag"£. 
Ine,  prep,  in,  6.  13,  15;    amongst, 

9.  234.     (Better  i».) 
Infortunat,  adj.  unlucky,  19.  302. 


GLOSS  ART AL   INDEX. 


409 


In-fere,  adv.  together,  13.  399; 
19.  328.  A.  S.  in,  in,  and  gefera, 
a  comrade,  fromfceran,  to  journey, 
go.  See  Fere,  sb. 

Inguoynge,  sb.  entrance,  ingoing, 
admittance,  9.  33. 

Inmongez,  prep,  amongst,  13. 
278. 

Inne,  prep,  in,  6.  16,  38.  (Better 
in.) 

Inne,  adv.  or  prep,  in  (almost 
equal  to  therein),  I  a.  453  ;  used 
after  an  infin.  I  a.  20.  A.  S. 
innan,  adv.  within,  innan,  prep, 
within.  The  O.  E.  mne  (  =  with- 
in) is  disyllabic;  see  19.  518. 

Innoghe,  adv.  enough,  13.  297. 
A.  S.  genoh. 

In-obedyent,  adj.  disobedient,  13. 

237- 

Inome,  pp.  taken,  I  a.  76 ;  taken 
away,  I  a.  129;  Inomen,  15.  iii. 
I.  A.  S.  niman,  G.  nehmen,  to 
take.  See  Nime. 

Inou,  adv.  enough,  I  a.  203 ;  Inov, 
12.  100.  A.  S.  genoh. 

Inouer,  adv.  over  and  above,  2. 
viii.  22.  An  imitation  of  the 
word  insuper  in  the  Vulgate. 

Inouwe,  adj.  pi.  sufficient,  enough, 
15.  iii.  24.  A.  S.  genoh,  sufficient. 

Inpossible,  adj.  impossible,  14  c. 
20. 

In-spranc,  pt.  s.  sprang  into,  enter- 
ed into,  13.  408. 

In-till,  prep,  into,  1 6.  3  ;  in,  1 6.  71. 
Sw.  infill,  till,  unto. 

Inwardlie,  adv.  closely,  intimately, 
earnestly,  8  a.  255. 

Inwyt,  s&.  indwelling  wit  or  con- 
sciousness, conscience,  9.  13. 
A.  S.  inwit,  inward  sense,  con- 
science. 

lolef,  adj.  happy,  handsome,  13. 
300.  Otf.jolif,  It.  giulivo,  from 
Icel.;o7,  Svf.jul,  O.E.yule,  Christ- 
mas time. 

lone,  Seynt,  St.  John,  5.  5575. 

I-ordeyned,  pp.  ordained,  I  6.  56. 


lornay,  sb.  journey,  1 1  a.  40 ; 
pi.  lornes,  7*  366.  F.  journee, 
from  Lat.  diurnus,  daily,  dies,  a 
day. 

loye,  sb.  F.  joy,  i  b.  30,  33.  Lat. 
gaudium. 

loyst,  adj.  lodged,  13.  434.  O.  F. 
gister,  to  provide  with  a  lodging  ; 
North  E.  joist,  to  agist  or  lodge 
cattle.  See  Gesten. 

Ipli3t,  pp.  plighted,  I  a.  23.  Ob- 
serve the  omission  of  hadde,  just 
as  hdtte  is  sometimes  dropped  in 
Mod.  High  German. 

Ipotaynes,  sb.  pi.  hippopotami,  14 
c.  114. 

Irael,  Israel,  2.  cii.  14. 

Irchones,  sb.  pi.  urchins,  hedge- 
hogs, 2.  ciii.  42.  F.  herisson, 
Lat.  ericius,  eres,  a  hedgehog. 

Ire,  pron.  —  Hire,  her,  i  a.  201. 

Iredy,  adj.  ready,  i  a.  362.  A.  S. 
gerded,  ready,  G.  gerade,  direct. 

Is,    put  for    His,    his,    i    a.    14 ; 

12.8. 

Is,  pron.  fern.  ace.  it,  I  a.  455.     7s 

is  used  as  a  fern.  ace.  and  as  pi. 

pron.  by  Southern  writers. 
Ise,  v.  to  see,  I  a.  125,  174;  pt.  s. 

Isei,  i  a.  502  ;  sub),  pr.  s.  Ise,  I 

a.  128.     A. S.  geseon}  to  see;  pt. 

t.  ic  gesedh. 

Ised,  pp.  said,  i  a.  131 ;  6.  62. 
Iseo,  v.  S.  to  see,  I  b.  86 ;  pp.  Ise3e, 

seen,  15.  v.  4.     See  Ise. 
Iset,  pp.  set,  i  a.  457. 
Ise>,  pr.  pi.  2  p.  see,  I  a.  260;  pt.s. 

Isey,  saw,  I  a.  144 ;  Isei,  I  a.  161 ; 

pt.  pi.  Iseye,  I  a.  495.     See  Ise, 

Iseo. 
Iseye,  subj.  pt.  pi.  should  see,  i  a. 

47.     See  above. 
Isousteined,  pp.  maintained,  i  a. 

432  ;  Isusteined,  I  a.  374. 
Ispbused,  pp.  married,  I  a.  295, 

3°4- 
Isse,  is,  pr.  s.  2.  xxiii.  25  ;  2.  cii. 

l  ;   2.  ciii.  83.     (Miswritten.) 
Issote,  pp.  shot,  i  a.  160,  384. 


410 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


Isuore,pp.  sworn,  I  a.  28. 

It,  pron.;  pese  it  ben  =  these  are 
they,  17.  Mar.  iv.  1 8. 

It,  pron.  =  itself,  7.  44. 

Itermynet,  pp.  determined,  or  per- 
haps heard  out,  15.  i.  95. 

IJ^ej,  pt.  s.  throve,  I  b.  28.  A.  S. 
\>eon,  to  thrive ;  pt.  t.  ic  ]>edh  or 
ic  ge]>edh,  pp.  \>ungen  or  ge]>ogen. 
Cf.  G.  gedeihen,  to  thrive. 

Itrised,  pp.  tried,  15.  i.  83;  Itriset, 
15.  i.  124. 

Iturnd,  pp.  turned,  i  a.  285. 

luel,  sb.  evil,  harm,  2.  xiv.  7. 

luen,  g-ew.  />/.  of  Jews,  7.  49. 

luge,  sb.  F.  judge,  5.  5639. 

lugement,   sb.      F.   judgment,   5. 

5638- 

lumpred,  sb.  mourning,  13.  491. 
A.  S.  geomor,  sad,  G.  jammer, 
mourning;  where  -ed=O.E.  hed 
=  A.  S.  had.  Cf.  E.  God-head. 

lus,  s6.  juice,  20.  294.     Lat.  zws. 

lustise,  sb.  judge,  8  a.  146 ;  19. 
665.  See  Tyrwhitt's  Glossary. 

luuente,  sb.  Youth  (the  god  of 
youth),  20.  211. 

I-wayted,  pp.  watched  after,  taken 
heed  of,  15.  vi.  37. 

Iwis,  adv.  certainly,  I  a.  52,  67. 
Du.  gewis,  adj.  certain,  and  adv. 
certainly;  A.S.  gewis,  adj.  sure, 
foreknowing. 

Iwite,  v.  to  know,  15.  vi.  44.  A.  S. 
gewitan,  to  understand,  witan,  to 
wit,  know. 

Iwoned,  pp.  wont,  i  a.  426.  A.  S. 
gewunian,  to  dwell  in,  to  be  used 
to ;  E.  wont  is  contracted  from 
woned;  E.  wonted  is  a  form  in 
which  the  pp.  ending  is  redupli- 
cated. 

Iwonne,  pp.  won,  i  a.  35,  329. 

I-wri)>en,  pp.  wreathed,  15.  vi.  9. 
A.  S.  wriftan,  to  wreathe,  pp. 
wrffien  or  gewriften. 

I3ete,  pp.  eaten,  I  a.  74;  Ijeten, 
15.  vii.  251.  A.S.  ge-eten,  eaten. 
In  the  South  of  England,  the 


people   say,   '  I    have    a-yeat  an 

apple.' 

I3iue,  pp.  given,  I  a.  83. 
Isolde,  pp.  restored,  I  a.  107.   A.  S. 

gildan,  to  pay,  yield. 


Kachereles,  sb.  pi.  catchpolls, 
bailiffs,  9.  1 8.  Low  Lat.  cache- 
rellus,  which  Ducange  explains  as 
'  baillivus  inferioris  ordinis  apud 
Anglos,  idem  forte  quod  cace- 
pollus.' 

Kalle,  v.  to  bid,  invite,  5.  5877. 
A.  S.  ceallian,  Icel.  kalla,  to  call. 

Kan,/>r.  s.  2  p.  canst,  5.  5735. 

Kare,  sb.  anxiety,  12.  288. 

Earful,   adj.    anxious,    sorry,    12. 

373- 
Kas,  sb.  accident,  chance,  hap,  5. 

5787»  5875-     F.  cas,  Lat.  casus" 
East,  pt.  s.  considered,  5,  5683. 
Kateyl,  sb.  chattels,  goods,  5.  5747. 

Q.  F.   catel,    Low    Lat.   captale, 

capitate,    goods,    property,    from 

caput. 
Kayred,  pt.  s.  returned,   12.  373. 

A.  S.  cerran,  cirran,  to  turn,  G. 

kehren,  to  return;  cf.  Lat.  gero. 

Hence  E.  chare,  a  turn  of  work, 

charing,  work  done  by  the  job, 

and  churn. 
Kayser,  sb.  emperor,  II  a.  13.  Lat. 

Caesar. 
Kaytefes,  sb.  pi.  caitiffs,  wretches, 

8  a.  226.     O.  F.  caitif,  F.  chetif, 

from  Lat.  captivus. 
Kechyn,  sb.  kitchin,  5.  5913. 
Keises,  s&. />/.  keys,  15.  vi.  13. 
Kele,  v.  to  cool,  abate,  8  a.  259. 

A.  S.  celan,  to  cool. 
Ken,  sb.pl.  kine,  cows,  12.  6. 
Kende,  pt.   s.   shewed    (me)    the 

way,  15.  vi.  30.     See  KenneK 
Kende,  sb.  nature,  6.  23,  41,  48  ; 

pi.  Kendes,9. 181.     See  Kynde. 
Kende,  adj.  natural,  in  its  natural 

state,  6.  13,44.      See  Kynde. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


411 


Kendeliche,  adv.  naturally,  6.  27, 
29. 

Kenedride,  prop,  name,  ib.  24. 

Kenne,  sb.  kin,  6.  ib2.     See  Kin. 

Kennej),  pr.  s.  teaches,  15.  i.  130  ; 
pt.  s.  refl.  Kennede  him,  lit.  in- 
structed himself,  was  learned,  15. 
ii.  202  ;  pp.  Kenned,  taught,  12. 
343.  O.  E.  kennen,  to  make  to 
know ;  A.  S.  cennan,  to  produce, 
adduce,  vouch  the  truth,  from 
cunnan,  to  know.  See  Kende, 
pt.  s. 

Kepe,  v.  to  mark,  observe,  13. 
292  ;  Kepen  hem  =  govern  them- 
selves, 15.  i.  92 ;  pr.  s.  Kepez, 
regards,  13.  508;  pr.pl.  Kepes, 
catch,  8  b.  33;  Kepe,  regard,  15. 
i.  8 ;  Kepe])  jeme,  take  care,  6. 
88  ;  pt.  s.  Keped,  caught,  seized, 
ii  b.  96.  A.S.  cepan,  to  catch, 
keep. 

Kepe,  sb.  heed,  6.  1 19.     See  above. 

Kest,  pt.  s.  kissed,  1 2.  63.  A.  S. 
cyssan,  to  kiss. 

Keste,  v.  to  cast,  9.  25;  pt.  pi. 
Kesten,  13.  951  ;  Kest,  16.  446. 
subj.  pt.  s.  Keste,  6.  39 ;  pp.  Kest, 
13.  414.  Sw.  kasta,  Dan.  kasle, 
to  throw. 

Kete,  adj.  bold,  keen,  12.  330.  See 
Stratmann. 

Keueringe,  sb.  recovery,  I  a.  176. 
(Lit.  covering.) 

Kin,  sb.  generation,  7.  29.  A.S. 
cyn,  kin,  race. 

Kinde,  sb.  natural  shape,  12.  107. 
A.  S.  cynd,  nature. 

Kindely,  adv.  naturally,  by  na- 
tural relationship,  12.  ill.  See 
above. 

Kinedom,  sb.  kingdom,  1  a.  103, 
172 ;  reign,  i  a.  347.  Not  king  + 
dom,  but  kine  +  dom ;  where  kine 
=  A.  S.  cyne,  royal.  Kingdom 
was  a  new  compound,  formed  at  a 
later  stage  of  the  language. 

Kingrike,  sb.  kingdom,  7.  88,  90. 
A.S.  cyne-rice,  a  kingdom,  from 


cyne,  adj.  kingly,  and  rice,  rule. 

See  above. 
Kipte,  pt.  s.  received,  took,  i  b.  64. 

See  Kepe. 
Kirc,  sb.  church  ;  hali  kirc  =  holy 

church,  86.  31  ;    Kirke,  temple, 

2.  xvii.  17. 
Kiste,   sb.   chest,    20.   34.      A.  S. 

cist,  ciste,  a  chest,  coffer. 
Kithe,  v.  to  shew,  disclose,   8  a. 

195  ;  Kith,  7.   262  ;  pr.  s.  subj. 

Kithe,  may  shew,  19.  636.     A.S. 

cffian,  to  make  to  know. 
Kithing,   sb.    knowledge,   7.   280. 

A.  S.   cyftung,   knowledge.      See 

above. 
Kitte,  pt.   s.  cut,    19.   600.     W. 

cwt,  a  tail,  cwta,  bobtailed,  short, 

cwtau,  to  curtail,  to  shorten. 
Klejring,  sb.  clothing,    2.    ciii.  4. 

A.  S.  cldft,  a  cloth. 
Knaing,     sb.     acquaintance     (lit. 

knowing),  7.  373. 
Knappes,  sb.pl.  knops,  knobs,  15. 

vii.    257.       A.S.    cncep,    a    knob, 

button,   nob;    prov.   E.  knap,   a 

round  hill. 
Knaue,  sb.  menial  servant,  5.  5881; 

15.   v.   96;   19.   474;  pi.  boys, 

apprentices,   15  pr.    104.      A.S. 

cndpa,  cndfa,  a  son,  boy,  youth  ; 

cf.  G.  knecht,  kind;  and  E.  kin. 
Knaulechynge,    sb.    acknowledg- 

ing, recognition,  9.  1  76. 
Knawe,  v.   to  know,   2.  cii.  35  ; 

pr.   s.    Knawes,    2.    cii.    28  ;    pp. 

Knawen,  13.  297;  Knawyn  with, 

acquainted  with,  16.  146.     A.S. 

cndwan,  Lat.  (g~)noscere,  Gk.  71- 


Kne,  sb.  knee,  3.  223;  leyd  vnder 
kne  =  put  under  foot,  put  aside, 
forgotten.  A.S.  cneow,  Lat.  genu, 
Gk.  yovv. 

Knely,  v.  to  kneel,  i  a.  284.  A.  S. 
cneowian,  Dan.  kndle. 

Kneuj,  pt.s.  knew,  15.  ii.  202. 

Knif,  sb.  S.  knife,  I  a.  112;  Knyf, 
19.  601. 


412 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


,  sb.  knight,  I  a.  161 ;  pi. 
I  a.  32,  56.  A.  S.  cniht,  a 
boy,  servant;  G.  knecht,  a  servant. 

Knowes,  2  p.  s.  pr.  knowest,  12. 
366 ;  Knowestow  =  knowest  thou, 
19.  367  ;  Knowe)),  imp.  pi.  know 
ye;  knoweb  of  =  acknowledge, 
give  (me)  thanks  for,  15.  i.  177. 

Knowlechinge,  pres.  part,  ac- 
knowledging, confessing,  17.  Mar. 
1.5.  (Knowleche  for  acknowledge 
is  invariably  used.) 

Knowlych,  sb.  knowledge,  5. 
5786,  5890.  The  second  syl- 
lable answers  to  the  A.S.  -lac,  Sw. 
-lek,  meaning  a  gift  or  sport,  used 
in  the  composition  of  abstract 
nouns.  It  appears  again  in  E. 
wed-lock. 

Knowyng,  sb.  knowledge,  5.  5898; 
Knowynge,  recognition;  for  know- 
ynge  of=to  prevent  recognition 
by,  15.  ii.  206.  A.S.  cndwung, 
sb.  a  knowing. 

Knyttesfc,  2p.s.pr.  joinest,  19.  307. 

Koles,  sb.pl.  S.  coals,  2.  xvii.  25, 
36.  A.  S.  col. 

Kolled,  pt.  s.  hugged,  embraced, 
12.  69.  O.F.  acoler,  to  embrace, 
from  col,  Lat.  collum,  the  neck. 

Koured,  pt.  s.  cowered,  bent  down, 
12.  47.  W.  cwrian,  to  squat,  to 
cower. 

Kouthe,  pp.  known,  2.  cii.  13. 
A.  S.  cuft,  known  ;  pp.  of  cunnan, 
to  know. 

Kowherde-wif,  sb.  wife  of  a  cow- 
herd, 12.  171. 

Kud, pp.  known  (to  be),  12.  no; 
aZso  used  as  an  adj.  known;  hence, 
notable,  famous,  12.  51.  Another 
form  of  Kouthe. 

Kudde,  pt.  s.  displayed,  12.  231. 
A.  S.  cffian,  to  cause  to  know, 
make  known,  shew,  teach. 

Kueade,  sb.  evil,  9.  59.  Du. 
kwade,  evil.  See  Queade. 

Kun,  sb.  kin,  kindred,  12.  no;  15.1. 
1 66;  c/a/.Kunne,la,242.SeeKin. 


Kunde,  sb.  kind,  sort,  18  a.  5; 
nature,  1 8  a.  31 ;  natural  right, 
I  a.  308.  A.S.  cynd,  gecynd, 
nature. 

Kunde,  adj.  natural,  i  a.  234  ; 
native,  I  a.  258 ;  fitted  by  birth, 
having  a  natural  right,  I  a.  422. 
See  above. 

Kunesmen,  sb.  pi.  kinsmen,  i  a. 
123,  130.  A.  S.  cynnes  man,  man 
of  kin. 

Kunnes,  gen.  sing,  of  kind  ;  eny 
kunnes  yftus  =  gifts  of  any  kind, 
I5.H.  175.  A.S.  cynnes,  gen.  of 
cyn,  kin,  kind.  It  always  pre- 
cedes the  sb.  upon  which  it  de- 
pends. 

Kubbes,  sb.  pi.  manners,  habits, 
12.  331.  Cf.  A.S.  cyS,  acquaint- 
ance, friendship. 

Kuuere,  v.  attain,  12.  128.  O.E. 
keuer,  to  attain ;  also  used  in  the 
same  sense  as  mod.  E.  cover. 

Kuynde,  adj.  natural ;  kuynde  wit, 
natural  wit,  common  sense,  15.  i. 
53  i  kuynde  knowynge,  conscience, 
15.  i.  130.  See  Kunde. 

Kuyndeliche,  adv.  intimately  (lit. 
kindly),  15.  vi.  29. 

Kyd,  pt.  s.  shewed  (itself),  7.  44 ; 
pp.  Kyd,  shewn,  12.  321.  A.S. 
cyftan,  to  make  known. 

Kyn,  sb.pl.  kine,  cows,  12.  244. 
A.S.  cu,  a  cow,  pi.  cy,  cows, 
North.  E.  kye,  cows ;  kine  is  a 
double  plural,  formed  from  kye. 

Kynde,  sb.  nature,  13.  266;  natu- 
ral power,  10.  767  ;  Kynd,  10. 
505.  A.  S.  cynd,  gecynd,  nature. 

Kynde,  adj.  natural,  by  kinship,  12. 
241. 

Kyndely,  adv.  S.  in  his  usual 
manner,  lit.  naturally,  12.  14. 

Kyngene,  gen.pl.  of  kings,  15.  i. 
103.  The  termination  is  from 
A.S.  gen.  pi.  termination  -ena; 
as  in  wit-ena  gemdt,  assembly  of 
wise  men. 

Kyrtyl,  s6.   kirtle,   kind   of  coat, 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


413 


mantle,    5.    5706,    5712.      A.  S. 

cyrtel,  a  vest,  a  petticoat ;    Dan. 

kiortel.     It  means  properly  a  pet- 
ticoat with  a  body,  but  the  use  of 

it  varied. 
Kyst,  sb.  chest,  ark,  13.  346;  Kyste, 

13.  449.     See  Kiste. 
Kyth,   sb.    country,    7.    1 74 ;   pi. 

Kythez,    countries,    regions,    13. 

414.       A.  S.     cytS,     a     country, 

region. 
Kysn,  sb.  pL  kine,  14  c.  132.     See 

Kyn,  Ken. 

L. 

Lacchiiig,    sb.    taking,    receiving, 

15.  i.  101.   A.  S.  laccan,  gelteccan, 

to  seize ;  whence,  E.  latch. 
Lacke>,  pr.  s.  is  wanting,  3.  ill. 

Du.  lak,  defect. 
Lad,/tf.  s.  led,  4  c.  23  ;  Ladde,  18  b. 

6 1 ;  pp.  Lad,  46.  I ;  19.  646.  See 

Lede. 
Laft,    pp.     left,    20.    230.       See 

Leue. 
Lahynde,  pres.  part,  laughing,  3. 

192.     See  Lauhwe. 
Laitand,  pres.  part,    seeking,    2. 

xxiii.  14.     Icel.  leita,  to  seek. 
Lake-ryftes,  sb.  pi.  chines,  gullies, 

13-  536. 
Lakes, pr.  s.  blames,  10.  797.    Du. 

taken,  to  blame,  lak,  fault ;  A.  S. 

ledhan,  to  blame ;  cf.  E.  lack. 
Lammasse,   sb.    lit.    loaf-mass,   a 

name  given  to  August  I ;   15.  vii. 

276. 
Land,    pp.    lent,    3.    186.       See 

Lene. 
Lang,  adv.  long,   2.  xvii.  31  ;    2. 

xxiii.  20 ;  hou  lang  am  I  =  as  long 

as  I  exist,  2.  ciii.  So.      A.  S.  lang 

or  long. 
Langes,  pr.  pi.   belong,   12.   331. 

Usually   spelt    longes.      Cf.    Du. 

belangen,  to  concern,  belong,  con- 
cern, interest. 
Langmode,     adj.     long-suffering, 


patient,   2.  cii.    1 6.      A.  S.  lang- 

mdd,   patient,   from   mod,    mind, 

courage,  mood. 
Lanse,  pr.  pi.  leap  forth,  13.  966  ; 

pt.    s.    Lansed,     leapt,     jumped, 

quaked,  13.  957.     Fr.  lancer,  to 

dart,  launch. 
Lantez,  2  p.  s.,pr.  lentest,  gavest, 

13.348.     See  Lene. 
Lap,  pt.  s.  leapt,  16.  453. 
Lare,  sb.  lore,  teaching,  2.  xvii.  93, 

94.     A.  S.  Idr,  lore. 
Large,  sb.     F.  size,  13.  314. 
Large,    adj.     F.    plentiful,  6.    78. 

Lat.  largus. 
Largeliche,  adv.  liberally,  I  a.  34, 

201. 
Laser,  sb.  leisure,  opportunity,  16. 

424.     F.  loisir,  from  Lat.  licere. 
Lasned,   pt.  s.    lessened,    became 

less,  13.  438. 
Lasse,  adj.  less,   I  a.  463.     A.  S. 

Ices. 
Late,   imp.  s.   let,    5.    5905.     See 

Lete. 

Late,  sb.  manner,  gesture,  demean- 
our,  16.    127.     Icel.  lati,  voice, 

gesture. 
Latere,   adv.   later,   more   slowly, 

less  diligently,  15.  i.  173. 
Lates,  pr.  s.  lets,  10.  1277. 
Lath,  adj.  loath,  unpleasant,  2.  xvii. 

11  ;  Lathe,  loathsome,  86.  223. 

A.  S.  /d«,  sb.  evil,  adj.  bad. 
Latsom,  adj.  loath,  10.  793.     A.S. 

wlatsom,  loathsome,  loath.     A.  S. 

wlatian,  to  loathe. 
Lauande,  pres.  part,  pouring  forth 

water,  13.  366.     A.S.  la/ian,  to 

sprinkle  with  water. 
Lauer,  adj.  lower,  8  a.  115. 
Lauerd,  sb.  Lord,  2.  viii.  i,  25  ;  2. 

xiv.  10;  86.  152;  gen.  Lauerdes, 

2.   cii.  37.      A.  S.   hldford,  Icel. 

Idvarftr,   a   lord.     The  supposed 

derivation  is  from  hldf,  a  loaf,  and 

weard,  a  keeper. 
Lauerding,   sb.   lording   (dim.    of 

lord),  7.  391. 


414 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Lauerdschipe,  sb.  lordship,  domin- 
ion, 2.  cii.  53. 

Lauerock,  sb.  lark,  20.  274.  A.S. 
lawerc,  Du.  leeuwrtk. 

Lauhwe,  I  p.  s.  pr.  laugh,  15.  v. 
93.  A.  S.  hlihan,  Du.  lagchen,  G. 
lachen. 

Laumpe,  sb.  a  lamp,  15.  i.  163. 

Laujten,  pt.  pi.  took ;  lau^ten  hue 
at,  took  leave  of,  15.  iii.  26.  Pt. 
t.  of  Lacche.  See  Lacching. 

Lay,  pt.  s.  lay,  suited,  I  b.  4. 

Lay,  sb.  law,  religion;  hence, fidelity, 
46.  27  ;  religious  belief,  19.  376, 
572.  Prob.  from  O.F.  lei,  F.  hi, 
law,  rather  than  from  the  cognate 
A.  S.  lagu,  law. 

Layff,  sb.  what  is  left,  the  rest,  1 6. 
24.  A.  S.  Idf,  a  remainder  ;  Sc. 
the  lave. 

Layked,  pt.  s.  reft,  amused  him- 
self, played  about,  12.  31.  See 
below. 

Laykes,  sb.  pi.  sports,  games,  n  a. 
64;  Laykez,  pleasures,  13.  274. 
Sw.  lek,  a  game;  A.S.  lac,  game; 
North,  prov.  E.  laik. 

Layth,  adj.  loath ;  layth  thine  me, 
it  seems  loath  to  me,  I  dislike, 
8  b.  161.  See  Lath. 

La^inge,  pres.  part,  laughing,  I  b. 
72.  See  Lauhwe. 

Lebardez,  sb.  pi.  leopards,  13. 
536. 

Leche,  sb.  physician,  17.  Mar.  ii. 
17;  pi.  Leches,  physicians,  I  a. 
494;  15.  ii.  199.  A.S.  lace, 
Moeso-Goth.  lekeis,  a  physician. 

Leche-craft,  sb.  knowledge  of 
medicine,  15.  vii.  241.  See 
Leche. 

Lecherie,  sb.  fornication,  i  a.  185. 
O.  F.  lecherie,  gluttony,  debauch- 
ery, from  lecher,  to  lick ;  cf.  Du. 
lekker,  dainty. 

Leches,  pr.  s.  heals,  8  b.  234. 
Mceeso-Goth.  leikinon,  to  heal. 

Lede,  v.  to  lead,  5.  5937  ;  to  con- 
trol, 5.  5648;  to  govern,  19. 


434 ;  to  carry,  convey,  I  a.  371 ; 

pr.  s.  Lede]),  controls,  sways,  15. 

iii.  154 ;   pt.  s.  Ladde,  led,  I  a. 

479 ;    Lede,   brought,  2.  xiv.  9. 

A.  S.  Idedan,  to  guide,  lad,  a  way ; 

Icel.  left,  a  track. 
Lede,  sb.  the  people,  6.  68  ;  pi. 

Ledes,  people,    12.   195;    Ledez, 

nations,  13.  256.     In  13.  261  we 

should  perhaps  read  Ledez,  as  in 

1.  256.     A.S.  lead,  a  man;  leode, 

G.  leute,  people. 
Leden,  sb.  language,  speech,  1 8  a. 

58.     A.S.   leden,    Latin;   also  a 

language.     It  seems  a  mere  cor- 
ruption of  Latin. 

Leed,  sb.  lead,  18  a.  50.     Du.  hod. 
Leef,   imp.  s.   believe,    15.   i.    36. 

See  Leue. 
Leeful,  adj.  (leave-full),  allowable, 

17.    Mar.    ii.   26;    Leeueful,   24. 

A.  S.    leafful,   from    leaf,    leave, 

permission.     Also  spelt  lefful. 
Leefful,  adj.  (leave-full),  allowable, 

permissible,  17.  Mar.  vi.  1 8.     See 

above. 
Leelly,  adv.  leally,  truly,  15.  i.  76. 

See  Lele. 
Leendis,  sb.pl.  loins,  17.  Mar.  i.  6. 

A.  S.  lendenu,  the  loins. 
Lees,  adj.  false,  4  c.  45.   A.  S.  leas, 

false,   loose;    whence  E.  leasing, 

lying. 
Leet,  pt.  s.    let,   i.  e.  caused ;   leet 

make,  caused  to  be  made,   14  c. 

97.     See  Lete. 
Leeue,  imp.  s.  dismiss  (lit.  leave), 

17.  Mar.  vi.  36.     See  Leue. 
Leeueful.     See  Leeful. 
LeeueK  pr.pl.  believe,  15  pr.  69. 

See  Leue. 
Lef,  v.  to  leave,  forsake,  8  a.  171. 

See  Leue. 
Lefdi,  s&.  lady,  8  a.  219;  Lefdye, 

8  a.    252.     A.S.    hlcefdige,   Icel. 

lafdi. 
Lefe,  adj.  dear,  beloved,  5.  5744. 

A.  S.  leof,  dear ;  cf.  Lat.  lubet. 
Lefte,  pt.  s.   dismissed,    17.    Mar. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


4*5 


vi.  45;  remained,  18  b.  52;  Left, 
1 1  a.  38. 
Legge,  v.  to  lay,    stake,    15.  vii. 

255. 

Leide,  pt.  s.  laid,  I  b.  78. 
Lele,  adj.  leal,  loyal,  8  b.  35 ;  Lei, 

true,  13.  425;  Lele,  true,  genuine, 

ii  a.  37.     O.  F.  led,  loial,  loyal, 

from   lot,   law ;    from    Lat.   ace. 

leg  em. 
Lelliche,    adv.    truly,    12.    117; 

Lelly,    verily,    12.    95  ;     Lelye, 

truly,  8  b.  209.     See  above. 
Lely,  sb.  lily,  n  6.  91. 
Leme,  sb.  S.  gleam,  light,  7.  63  ; 

gen.    Lemes,    8  a.    215.      A.  S. 

Ie6ma. 
Len,  imp.  s.  lend,  8  b.  163.     Sec 

Iiene. 

Lend,//*,  lent,  3. 180.     See  Lene. 
Lend,  pt.  pi.  went,  came,  1 1  a.  31 ; 

pp.   Lended,    arrived,    8  b.    252. 

A.  S.  gelandian,  to  land,  arrive, 

Dan.  lande,  to  land. 
Lende,    sb.  pi.    loins,    I   a.   409. 

A.  S.    lendenu,    loins.      But    the 

E.  loin  is  from   O.  F.  logne,   F. 

longe,    from    Low    Lat.    lungus, 

Lat.   lumbus;    whence    also    Sc. 

lunyie,  loin. 
Lene,  />r.   5.   imp.   3  />.   may   he 

grant,   lend,   or   give,    12.    327  ; 

imp.  s.  Len,  lend,  86.  163  ;  pp. 

Lend,  lent,  3.  180.     A.  S.  Idnan, 

to   lend,   give,   /<z«,   a   loan.     It 

must  not  be  confused  with  Leue. 
Lenge,  v.  to  linger,  tarry,  15.  i.  185; 

to    remain,    13.     1023;    pt.   pi. 

Lenged,  dwelt,  13. 960 ;  remained, 

13. 4t  2.  A.S.  langian,  to  lengthen, 

lengian,  to  prolong. 
Lenger,  adv.  comp.  longer,  5. 5715; 

19.  521 ;  Lengere,  I  b.  33. 
Longest,  adj.  superl.  longest,  13. 

256. 
Lengore,  adj.  comp.  longer,  15.  v. 

124;  Lenger,  19.  262. 
Lent,  pp.  given,  granted,  bestowed, 

13.  256;  lent  from  =  given  away 


from,  4  a.  1 1 .      A.S.  Idnan,  to 

lend.  give.     See  Lene. 
Lenten,  sb.  spring,  4  d.  i.     A.  S. 

lencten,  spring ;  whence  E.  Lent. 
Lenpe,  sb.  S.  length,  13.  314. 
Leod,  sb.  tenement,  holding,  farm, 

15.  vi.  38.     Other  MSS.  lordship. 

Cf.   G.  lassgut,  an  estate  subject 

to  a  ground  rent ;  connected  with 

E.  leet  in  court-fee/. 
Leod,  s6.  man,  15.  vi.  6;    Leode, 

people,  4  c.  44.     A.  S.  leod,  G. 

leute,  folks.  See  Lede,  sb. 
Leof,  adj.  lief,  dear,  15.  i.  35. 
Leome,  sb.  limb,  body,  15.  v.  81. 

A.  S.  leome,  a  limb. 
Leon,  sb.  lion,  7.  264.     Lat.  ace. 

leonem. 
Leonede,  i  p.  s.  pt.  leaned,  reclined, 

iSpr.g. 
Leop,  pt.  s.  leapt,  ran,  15.  ii.  191. 

Cf.    G.    laufen,    to    run ;    A.  S. 

hledpan,    to   run,   leap,  pt.  t.  ic 

hleop.     See  Lepen. 
Leor,  sb.  face,  complexion,  15.  i.  3. 

A.  S.  hleor,  jaw,  cheek,  face. 
Leorne,  v.  S.  to  learn,  3.  26 ;  pt.pl. 

Leornden,  discovered,  15.  ii.  199. 
Leornyng,  sb.  teaching,  instruction, 

lesson,  15.  i.  173. 
Leosen,  v.  to  lose,  15.  iii.  131. 
Leosinge,  sb.  losing,  loss,   15.  v. 

93.     A.  S.  losing,  loss. 
Leouest,  adj.  liefest,  dearest,  15. 

iii.  6.     See  Lefe. 
Leoun,  sb.  lion,  19.  475. 
Lepen,  v.  to  run  (lit.  to  leap),  15. 

ii.  207;  pt.  s.  Leop,  ran,  15.  ii. 

191  ;  pt.pl.  Lep,  leapt,  86.  181. 

See  Leop. 
Lepre,  sb.  leprosy,  17.  Mar.  i.  42. 

Vulg.  lepra. 
Lepte,  pt.  s.  danced,  17.  Mar.  vi. 

22.     See  Leop. 
Lerde,  pt.  s.  taught,  12.  341.     See 

Lere,  vb. 
Lere,  sb.  countenance,  features,  ia. 

227.     A.S.  hleor.    See  Leor. 
Lere,  v.  (i)  to  teach,  2.  xvii.  94 ; 


41 6 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


pr.  s.  I  p.  Lere,  15.  iii.  61 ;  pr.  s. 

2  p.  Leres,  teachest,   2.  xvii.  89  ; 

imp.  s.  Lere,  teach,  15.  vii.  241  ; 

imp.  pi.  Lere>,  teach;    lere>  hit 

])is  =  teach  it  to  these,  15.  i.  125  ; 

also  (2)  Lere,  to  learn,  12.  119; 

19.  181  ;  ip.  s.pr.  Leres,  learnest, 

5.  5672  ;  pt.s.  Lerede,  learnt,  15. 

i.   109.     A.  S.  l&ran,   G.  lehren, 

to  teach;  A.S.  leornian,  G.  lernen, 

to  learn ;  but  Du.  leeren  has  both 

meanings,    and    so    has   prov.   E. 

learn. 
Lernen,  v.   to   learn,    3.    2.      See 

above. 
Les,  imp.  s.  loose,  deliver,  46.  12. 

A.  S.  lysan,  to  loosen,  release. 
Lese,  sb.  pasture,   i  a.  378,  381  ; 

12.    175.     A.S.   Icksu,   prov.    E. 

leasowe,  a  pasture. 
Lese,  v.  to  lose,    20.  89 ;    pr.  s. 

Lese>,    loses,    3.   45  ;    I  p.  s.  pr. 

subj.    I    may   lose,    19.    225;    v. 

active,    to    destroy,    17   a.    iii-   4 

(where   the   Vulg.    has   perdere). 

A.  S.  leosan,  to  lose,  Moeso-Goth. 
fra-liusan,  to  lose. 
Leser,  s6.  deliverer,  2.  xvii.  4,  1 2 1. 

See  Les. 
Lesewynge,  pres.  part,    feeding,- 

pasturing,  17.  Mar.  v.  II.     A.S. 

ICBSU,  a  pasture,  leasowe;    whence 

Iceswian,    to   pasture,   feed.      See 

Lese,  sb. 
Lesnesse,   sb.   remission,   9.   244. 

A.  S.  lysan,  to  loosen. 
Less,  sb.  pi.  lies,  lying,  16.  419. 
Lessi,  v.  to  become  less,  9. 130. 
Lessinge,  sb.  diminution,  9.  175. 
Lest,   pr.  s.   loses,   6.  41.      A.S. 

leosan,  to  lose ;  pr.  s.  he  lysf. 
Leste,  adj.  least,  6.  75  ;  10.  469. 
Leste,  v.  to  last,  endure,  4  b.  30 ; 

lest  on  lif  =  last  alive,  remain  alive, 

16.  65.     A.S.  l£stan,  to  last. 
Lesten,  vb.  to  listen  to,  12.  31 ; 

pt.  s.  Lestned,  listened,  5.  5897. 
Lesyng,   sb.  lying,  16.  77.     A.S. 

leasung,  a  leasing,  lie.    See  Lees. 


Let,  sb.  hindrance,  delay,  20.  215; 
resistance,  16.  172.  A.S.  lettan, 
to  hinder. 

Let,  caused ;  as  in  let  bringe  an  erjje 
= caused  to  be  brought  into  earth, 
caused  to  be  buried,  I  a.  197; 
let  crouny  =  caused  to  be  crowned, 
I  a.  225;  let  enquiri  =  caused  to 
be  inquired  into,  I  a.  352;  let 
gadery  =  caused  to  be  gathered, 
10.478;  let  ofsende  =  caused  to 
be  sent  for,  I  a.  32  ;  let  somony 
=  caused  to  be  summoned,  I  a. 
416.  See  below. 

Lete,  v.  to  cease,  4  b.  20 ;  to  de- 
sist, 5.  5722  ;  to  forsake,  19.  325  ; 
to  forego,  15.  v.  142  ;  pr.  s.  Let, 
leaves ;  let  of  =  leaves  off,  ceases, 
9.  223;  pt.  s,  Let,  caused;  let 
make  =  caused  to  be  made,  20.  23; 
pt.pl.  Let,  i  a.  97  ;  Lete,  i  b.  26; 
left,  i  a.  336.  A.S.  Icelan,  Du. 
laten,  G.  lassen. 

Leti}>,  pr.  s.  lets,  15.  i.  178. 

Lethe,  v.  to  grow  calm,  8  b.  16 ; 
pres.  sing.  subj.  alleviate,  lessen, 
8  b.  8 1.  A.  S.  l&Sian,  to  mitigate. 

Lette,  v.  to  hinder,  stop,  i  a.  481 ; 
to  keep  back,  15.  iii.  33;  pr.  s. 
Lette)),  makes  difficulties,  15.  iii. 
152;  pt.pl.  Lett,  stopped,  II  a. 
64.  A.S.  lettan,  Du.  letten,  to 
hinder. 

Lettere,  sb.  preventer,  hinderer,  15. 
i.  67.  See  above. 

Leue  ;  has  many  senses  in  O.  E.  as 
(i)  nb.  to  live,  (2)  vb.  to  remain, 
(3)  vb.  to  leave,  (4)  vb.  to  allow, 
(5)  vb.  to  believe,  (6)  sb.  leave, 
(7)  adj.  dear.  Leue  (4)  must  be 
carefully  distinguished  from  lene, 
to  lend,  with  which  it  is  some- 
times confused  by  editors  of  MSS. 

Leue,  v.  to  live,  10.  492.  A.S. 
lybban,  to  live,  G.  lebent  Du. 
leven. 

Leue,  imp.  pi.  i  p.  let   us  leave, 

5-  5945- 
Leue,  v.  to  remain ;  pt.  pi.  Leuede, 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


417 


remained,    I  a.    332,   514.     Du. 

b-lijven,  G.  b-leiben,  to   remain; 

cf.  A.  S.  Ifefan,  to  leave. 
Leue,  subj.  pr.  s.  allow,  grant,  3. 

10 ;    15.  v.  263.     A.  S.  Wan,  to 

allow,  G.  erlavben,  to  permit,  Du. 

verlof,   leave,   permission.      Leue 

and  Lene  (written  alike)  may  be 

distinguished    by   observing   that 

hue  (  =  permit)  generally  governs 

a  clause,  but  lene  (  =  lend,  give) 

takes  an  ace.  case. 
Leue,  i  p.  s.  pr.  believe,  9.  236 ; 

imp.  s.  Leue,  46.  27 ;    imp.  pi. 

Leues,  1 1  a.  1 1 7  ;    to  leue  nam  y 

nout   lees  =  I   am  not   to  be  be- 
lieved to  be  false,  4  c.  45.     A.  S. 

leafan,  to  believe,  Du.  gelooven, 

G.  g-lauben. 
Leue,  sb.  leave,  15  pr.  49  ;    iii.  26. 

A.  S.  leaf,  leave,  permission,  Du. 

verlof. 
Leue,  adj.  S.  lief,  dear,  12.  170; 

1 2.  341.     A.  S.  Ie6f,  dear ;    cf.  E. 

lief,  love. 
Leued,  pp.  furnished  with  leaves, 

in  full  leaf,  12.  22. 
Leuede.     See  Leue,  to  remain. 
Leuedi,  sb.  S.  lady,  i  a.  485 ;  4  a. 

27;  Leuedy,  46.  n  ;  Lefdi,  8  a. 

219.     A.  S]  hlcefdige,  Icel.  lafdi. 
Leuening,  sb.  lightning,  2.  xvii.  35, 

40.     Sw.  ljunga,  to  lighten ;  Icel. 

logi,  flame,  loga,  to  burn ;    Dan. 

lyn,  lightning. 
Leuere,   adj.   comp.    dearer,    i   a. 

529  ;    rather  to  be   chosen,   20. 

66  ;  Leuer,  rather,  8  a.  150.     See 

Leue,  adj. 

Leuere,  adv.  more  dearly,  15.  i.  131. 
Leues,  imp.pl.  believe  ye,  u  b.  73. 
Leues,  pr.  pi.  leave,  10.  1240. 
Leueste,  adj.  liefest,  dearest,  15.  i. 

1 80.     See  above. 
Lewed,   adj.    ignorant,    19.    315 ; 

15-  i-  173;    useless,  15.  i.  163; 

lewede    o|)  =  an    oath    taken    in 

ignorance,  1 8  6. 1 1 .    A.  S.  Icewede, 

belonging  to  the  laity. 

VOL.  II. 


Lewednesse,  sb.  ignorance,  15.  iii. 

33.     See  above. 
Leyd,  pp.  laid,  3.  223;    5.  5665; 

pt.pl.  laid,  5.  5667;  forth  leyden 

=  displayed,  19.  213. 
Leysche,  sb.  leash,  cord  for  hold- 
ing in  dogs,  16.  414. 
Lhest,  pr.  s.  listens,  9. 164 ;  pr.  pi. 

Lheste)?,   listen,   9.  173.       A.  S. 

hlislan,  to  listen. 
Libardes,    sb.   pi.    leopards,    10. 

1228. 
Libbe,  v.  to  live,  i  a.  500 ;   i  p.  s. 

pr.  Libbe,  4  a.  5.     A.  S.  lybban. 
Licam,  sb.  body,  15  pr.  30;   i.  35. 

See  Likam. 
Lich,   adj.    like,    similar,    20.   25, 

273.     A.  S.  lie,  G.  g-leich. 
Licht,  adj.  light-armed,  16. 112. 
Licour,  sb.  F.  liquor,  liquid,  6.  14, 

22,  43- 

Lieges,  sb.  pi.  subjects,  19.  240. 
Lif,  sb.   a   living   person,    a   man, 

creature,     20.    25.       The    same 

curious   use   of  the  word  occurs 

in  Piers  the  Plowman. 
Lifd,  i  p.  s.  pt.  lived,  8  a.  253  ;  pr. 

pi.  Lifes,  ii  a.  1 1 8.    See  Libbe, 

Leue. 

Liffand,  pres.  part,  living,  16.  100. 
Lift,  sb.  air,  8  a.  142  ;  sky,  7. 113 ; 

Lifte,   air,    i  b.  88.      A.S.   lyft, 

G.    Itift,    Du.  Incht,    air;    hence 

E.  aloft=on  loft,  in  the  air. 
Lift,  adj.  left,  18  a.  188. 
Ligge,  v.  to  lie,  10.  475  ;   Lig,  to 

lie  down,  II  c.  87;  pr.  s.  Ligges, 

dwells,  12.  1 66;   pr.  pi.  Ligges, 

continue,  8  a.  169;   lie,  n  a.  99. 

A.  S.  licgan,  Du.  liggen,  G.  liegen. 
Lighed,  pt.  pi.  lied,  2.  xvii.  113. 

A.  S.  ledgan,  Du.  and  G.  leugen, 

O.  E.  lig,  to  tell  lies. 
Light,  v.  to  alight,  7.  231. 
Light,   imp.  s.  enlighten,    2.   xvii. 

76 ;  pr.  s.  2  p.   Lightes,  2.  xvii. 

75- 
Lih|>,  pr.  s.  lies,  tells  lies,  15.  iii. 

152- 

EC 


4i8 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


Liht,  pp.  alighted,  settled,  46.  22. 
Likam,  sb.  face,   2.  xvii.  107;    2. 

ciii.  33,  69  (where  the  Vulg.  has 

faciem) ;  Licam,  body,  15  pr.  30. 

A.  S.  lichama,  a  body ;    from  /ic, 

body,  and  hama,  a  covering. 
Like,  v.  to  rejoice,  delight,  2.  ciii. 

82  ;  pr.  s.  impers.  Like)),  pleases, 

*5  /*"•  57  5  /*•  *•  «»/«•*•  Liked,  it 

pleased,   12.    28;    />r.   pi.   Likes 

ille  =  are  displeased,  4  <f.  24.    A.  S. 

lician,   to    be    pleased    with,    to 

delight. 
Likerous,  adj.  lecherous,    15  pr. 

30 ;  dainty,  15.  vii.  253.    Cf.  O.  F. 

lescher,    to     lick ;      Du.    lekker, 

dainty. 
Liknes,  sb.  likeness,  image,  7.  47. 

A.  S.  licnes. 

Lilie,  sb.  lily,  4  d.  17.     See  Lely. 
List,  pr.  s.  impers.  it  pleases ;    God 

list  =  it    pleases    God,    19.   477; 

hym  list  =  it  pleases  him,  19.  521 ; 

pt.    s.  hir   liste  =  it   pleased   her, 

20.  133. 

Liste,  sb.  craft,  6. 137.     See  below. 
Listely,  adv.  slily,  12.  25.      A.  S. 

listllce,  artfully,  from  list,  slyness. 
Listenes,    imp.  pi.   listen  ye,  12. 

170. 
Lite,  adj.  as  sb.  a  little,  19.  352. 

A.S.lyt,  little. 
Litel,  adj.  S.  little,  2.  viii.  15.    A.  S. 

/yte/. 
Liteled,  />/.  s.   2  />.  diminishedst, 

2.  viii.  15.     See  above. 
Lith,  sb.   limb,    10.   1917.      A.  S. 

#$,    G.   g-lied,   a    limb,    joint; 

hence    lithe,    lithesome,    lissome, 

flexible,  pliant. 
LiJ>,  pr.   s.    lies,    I  a.   466.      See 

Ligge. 
Lither,  adj.  wicked,  bad,  2.  xiv.  o. 

A.S.  #««r,  bad. 
Liue,  s&.  life,  2.  xvii.  126. 
List,  v.  to  lighten,  amuse,  12.  10. 
List,  sb.  pi.  lights,  I  6.  5,  6. 
Li3te,  cufz/.  easily,  6.  53. 
Lijtere,  crfv.  com/>.    lighter,  i.e. 


easier,  1 7.  Mar.  ii.  9 ;   a<$.  comp. 
Ii3ttere,  more  nimble,  12.  154. 
pr.s.lies,  15.  i.  115.     See  Lib. 

Lijtinge,  sb.  lightning,  i  a.  440. 

Listliche,  adv.  lightly,  easily,  i  a. 
256,  412. 

Llak,  sb.  lake,  water ;  put  for  pi. 
lakes,  13.  438. 

Lobbekeling,  sb.  a  large  fish,  8  b. 
48.  O.  E.  lob,  lumpish,  and 
keling,  a  large  cod. 

Lobres,  sb.  pi.  lubbers,  l^pr.  52. 
Cf.  Du.  lobbes,  a  booby. 

Lodez-mon,  sb.  pilot,  13.  424. 
Cf.  lode-stone,  lode-star,  from 
O.  E.  lede,  to  lead,  draw. 

Lodlych.,  adj.  loathsome,  13.  274. 
A.S.  Id'Slic,  from  ld%,  evil,  and 
lie,  like;  cf.  Du.  leed,  G.  hid, 
wrong,  harm. 

Lof,  sb.  S.  praise,  2.  viii.  6.  A.  S. 
lof,  Du.  lof,  G.  Zo6,  praise. 

Lofe,  v.  to  praise,  7.  244.  A.  S. 
Iqfian,  to  praise.  See  above. 

Lofte;  o«  /o/te  =  aloft,  on  high, 
15.  i.  88  ;  19.  277.  See  Lift,  sb. 

Loghe,  sb.  low  place,  deep,  abyss, 
13.  366.  Du.  laag,  low.  [Or 
else  it  is  a  lake,  Sc.  loch,  A.S. 
lagu.] 

Loh,  pt.  s.  laughed,  smiled,  4  a.  15. 
See  Lauhwe. 

Lok,  sb.  lock,  fastening  of  a  door, 
15.  i.  178. 

Loke,  v.  to  look  after,  find  out,  15. 
vii.  303  ;  to  guard,  keep,  2.  xvii. 
64;  to  have  regard,  pay  heed, 
13.  263;  pr.  s.  LokeJ?,  decides, 
15.  ii.  172  ;  pt.  s.  Loked,  looked, 
5-  5613 ;  pt.pl.  Lokede,  examined, 
I  a.  494 ;  imp.  s.  Loke,  look,  see, 
I  a.  127  ;  pr.  s.  subj.  Loke,  may 
protect,  15.1.  185.  A.S.  Idcian, 
to  look ;  cf.  Gk.  \fvfffffiv. 

Lokinge,  sb.  S.  decision,  i  a.  86, 90. 

Loky,  v.  to  look  after,  guard,  9.  20. 
See  Loke. 

Lokynge,  sb.  watchfulness,  protec- 
tion, 9.  i.  See  Loke. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


419 


Lomb,  sb.  lamb,  15.  vi.  43;  pi. 
Lombe,  I  a.  286.  A.  S.  lamb,  pi. 
lambru. 

Lome,  (i)  sb.  tool,  4  c.  29;  pi. 
Lomen,  tools,  4  c.  15  ;  Lomes, 
4  c.  21 ;  a/so  (2)  a  vessel  of  any 
kind,  the  ark,  13.  314,  412.  A.S. 
loma,  utensils,  geldma,  furniture ; 
E.  loom. 

Tjond,  sb.  S.  land,  country,  I  a.  3, 
ii,  27;  dat.  Londe,  6.  54.  A.S. 
land. 

Lone,  sb.  loan,  anything  lent,  3. 
192.  A.S.  Idn,  a  loan,  Du. 
leening. 

Lones,  sb.  pi.  lanes,  15.  ii.  192. 
Du.  loan,  a  lane ;  W.  llan,  a 
cleared  space ;  cf.  E.  lawn. 

Jjongetprep.  along  of,  on  account 
of,  9.  100;  is  long  on  be  =  de- 
pends on  thee,  46.  IO.  Here 
longe  —  Hong,  along  of;  A.  S.  ge- 
lang,  owing  to,  gelingan,  to 
happen.  Chaucer  has  long  on,  on 
account  of;  Cant.  Tales,  ed.  Tyr- 
whitt,  1. 16390.  Shakespeare  has 
long  of,  Cymb.  v.  5.  271. 

Longe,  adv.  long,  i  a.  126. 

Longes,  pr.  pi.  belong,  12.  360; 
pr.pl.  Longen,  belong,  20.  229; 
pr.  s.  Longe)?,  belongs  6.  24 ;  pt.  s. 
Longed,  suited,  belonged,  12.  73. 
Cf.  G.  gelangen,  to  attain. 

Longinge,  sb.  longing,  4  a.  28; 
Longyng,  4  6.  I.  A.  S.  langian, 
to  lengthen ;  also,  to  crave,  long 
after. 

Loouys,  sb.  pi.  loaves,  17.  Mar. 
ii.  26. 

Lopen,  pp.  run  off,  gone  away, 
1 5  pr.  94.  A.  S.  hledpan,  to  run, 
leap,  pt.  t.  ic  hleop. 

Lordshipen,  v.  to  rule  over,  17. 
Ps.  IO2.  19.  Vulg.  dontinabitur. 

Lordynges,  sb.  pi.  lordlings,  little 
lords,  a  contemptuous  expression, 
15.  iii.  26.  It  is  often  used  for 
our  modern  sirs,  without  any  con- 
tempt being  implied. 


Lore,  sb.   teaching,  instruction,  3, 

65 ;   learning,  I  b.  34 ;  pi.  Lores. 

3.  39.     A.  S.  Idr,  lore. 
Lore,  pp.  lost,  5.  5700,  5901.    See 

Lorn. 
Lorked,  pt.  s.  lurked,   slunk,   12. 

25.     W.  Mercian,  to  lurk  about, 

loiter ;  cf.  E.  lurch,  lurcher. 
Lorn,  pp.  lost,  10.  547;    ii  b.  92; 

1 6.  44.     A.  S.  ledsan,  to  lose,  pp. 

lor en, 
Lossom,  adj.  lovesome,  lovely,  4  a. 

15;  \d.  17.    A.  S.  lufsum,  lovely. 
Lostes,  sb.  pi.  lusts,  9.  26. 
Losyng,   sb.   perdition,    10.  1031. 

A.  S.  /os,  losing,  destruction. 
Lot,  adj.  loath,  unpleasant,  3.  196 ; 

hateful,  5.  5758;    loath,   unwil- 
ling, 15  pr.  52.     A.  S.  /aft,  evil. 
Lo)?li,   adj.    loathsome,   wretched, 

12.  50. 
Louand,    pres.  part,    praising,    2. 

xvii.  9.     See  Loued. 
Loue,  v.  to  love,  2.  xvii.  i.     A.S. 

lufian. 
Loue,   sb.  6.  92.      Apparently  an 

error  for  halue,  i.  e.  part.     Thus 

an  other  loue  =  on  another   half, 

i.  e.  on  any  other  part. 
Loued,/)/.  s.  praised,  13.  497;  pt. 

pi.  praised,  7.  332.     A.S.  lofian, 

G.  loben. 
Louedayes,  sb.  pi.   lovedays,  15. 

iii.  154.     See  the  note. 
Louelokest,  adj.  superl.  loveliest, 

15.  i.  no.     A.S.  litfiicest. 
Louelonginge,    sb.    love-longing, 

4  a.  5  ;  Loue-longyng,   5.  5866. 
Louerd,  sb.  lord,   i  a.  173;    i  b. 

2  ;   gen.  Louerdes,  I  b.  15.     See 

Lauerd. 

Louh,  adj.  low,  poor,  15.  v.  135. 
Lourede,  pt.   s.   lowered,    looked 

sour,  15.  v.  66.     Du.  loeren,  to 

peer,  leer ;  cf.  Sc.  glowre. 
Loute,   v.   to   bow,   5.   5834;    to 

bend   down,  20.   146;    Lout,  to 

bend,   lie.  97 ;   pt.  s.   Loutede, 

made    obeisance,     15.    iii.     in; 

E  e  2 


420 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


bowed   low,   15.   Hi.    37'      A.  S. 

klutan,  to  bow  ;    O.  E.  underlout, 

a  subject,  North  E.  lout,  to  bow. 
Lovyng,  sb.   praising,    praise,   1 6. 

90.     See  Loued. 
Lowkande,    pres.   part,    locking, 

closing  up,  13.441.     A.S.  locan, 

lucan,  to  lock,  fasten. 
LOB,  sb.  low  place,  deep ;    or,  lake, 

13.  441;    Lose,  13.   1031.     See 

Loghe. 
Lojen,  pt.  pi.   laughed,   13.  495. 

See  Laulrwe. 
Luc,  Saint  Luke,  I  a.  191. 
Lud,  sb.  voice,  4  a.  4 ;    on  hyre 

hid  =  in  her  own  voice,  according 

to   her  peculiar    song.     O.  H.  G. 

lut,  adj.  loud,  sb.  voice ;   cf.  Du. 

luid,   loud,    and   phr.   naar  luid 

van,  according  to  the   tenor   of, 

G.  laut,  sound. 
Lud,    sb.   person,    12.    2 1 1.      See 

Leod,  a  man. 
Ludes,  sb.  pi.  tenements,  holdings, 

12.  77.    See  Leod,  a  tenement. 
Luef,  adj.  dear,  3.  37 ;   agreeable, 

pleasant,  3. 154.     A.  S.  leaf,  dear  ; 

see  Leue. 
Luf,  adj.  as  sb.  dear  (one),  love, 

lover,  13.  401. 
Lufreden,  sb.  good-will,  8  a.  191. 

A.  S.     luf-rddan,     love,     good- 
will. 

Luft,  adj.  left  (hand),  15.  iii.  56. 
Luged,  pt.   s.   tossed   about,   was 

pulled  (or  lugged)  about,  13.  443. 

Sw.  lugga,  to  pull  by  the  hair, 

from  lugg,  a  forelock. 
Lullede,  pt.  s.  flapped  about,  lit. 

lolled,  15.  v.   no.      The   O.  E. 

loller  meant   a   man  who  lolled 

about,   a   loafer,   idle   vagabond; 

afterwards      confused     (probably 

intentionally)    with     Lollard,    a 

word  of  less  certain  origin. 
Lumpen,  pp.   happened,  befallen, 

13. 424.    A.  S.  limpan,  to  happen. 
Lurkand,  pres.  part,  lurking,  16. 

7*. 


Lurking,  sb.  hiding-place,  2.  xvii. 
31.  See  Lorked, 

Lurneb,  imp.  2  pi.  learn,  3.  15. 

Lust,  sb.  pleasure,  19.  188.  A.S. 
lust,  desire,  pleasure. 

Luste,  pt.  s.  impers.  it  pleased 
(them),  15^.37. 

Lute,  adv.  little,  i  a.  184,  219; 
wel  lute  —  very  little,  I  a.  446. 
A.  S.  lyt,  little. 

Luted,  pt.  pi.  bowed  down,  7.  240. 
A.  S.  hlutan,  to  bow,  do  obeisance. 

Lutel,  adj.  little,  i  a.  382  ;  3.  65 ; 
4  a.  3  ;  arfv.  3.  206.  A.  S.  (y/rf. 

Luther,  adj.  ill-tempered,  15.  v. 
98 ;  Luber,  wicked,  i  a.  118. 
A.  S.  ly^er,  bad ;  Sw.  lyte,  a  de- 
fect, fault,  stain.  See  Lither. 

Luyte,  adj.  little,  15.  ii.  163.  See 
Lute. 

Lybbe,  imp.  pi.  I  p.  let  us  live, 
9.  85.  See  Libbe. 

Lyche,  adj.  like,  5.  5888.  See 
Lich. 

Lyf,  sb.  leaf,  small  piece  of  instruc- 
tion, short  lesson,  15.  vii.  241. 

Lyf,  sb.  (for  Luf?),  favour;  he  my 
lyfys  on  =  he  is  in  my  favour;  or,  he 
is  for  my  life,  3. 152.  See  the  note. 

Lyfand,  pres.  part,  living,  10.  535. 

Lyfes,  pr.pl.  live,  8  a.  227.  See 
Libbe. 

Lyflode,  sb.  leading  of  one's  life, 
manner  of  life,  15  pr.  30;  sus- 
tenance, 15.  i.  1 8.  From  O.  E. 
lode,  a  leading.  Now  corrupted 
into  livelihood. 

Lyft,  adj.  left,  1 8  b.  137. 

Lyftande,  pres.  part,  lifting  about, 
shifting,  13.  443. 

Lyfte,  sb.  the  air,  sky,  10.  1444; 
13.  366.  See  Lift. 

Lygge,  pr.pl.  subj.  lie,  18  a.  126. 
See  Ligge. 

Lyht,  sb.  S.  light,  4  d .  25 ;  adj. 
light,  4  c.  33.  A.  S.  leoht,  a  light ; 
leoht,  adj.  light. 

Lyht,  pp.  lighted,  40.  12.  See 
Liht. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


421 


Lykame,  sb.  body,  bodily  frame, 

12.  227.     See  Likam. 
Lykede, />/.  s.  pleased,  3. 104.    See 

Like. 
Lyke>,  pr.  s.  impers.  it  is  pleasing, 

9.  164. 

Lykkest,  adj.  likest,  13.  261. 
Lykyng,   sb.    pleasure,    13.    239; 

satisfaction,    1 8    a.    73.       A.  S. 

licung,  will,  pleasure. 
Lykynge,   adj.   favourable,   18  6. 

43.     See  Like. 

Lylie-whyt,  lily  white,  4  b.  31. 
Lym,  sb.  lime,  18  a.  45.    A.  S.  lint. 
Lym,    sb.    limb,    10.    1912;    pi. 

Lymes,  19.  461. 
Lynages,  sb.pl.  lineages,  i.e.  tribes, 

H  c-  33- 

Lyoun,  sb.  lion,  2.  ciii.  47. 
Lype,  sb.  a  leap,  3.  250;    fat  y 

telle  an  euel  lype  =  I  count  that 

as  an  ill  leap.     A.  S.  hlyp,  a  leap, 

Du.  loop,  a  leap,  course,  race. 
Lyste,  sb.  list  or  edge  of  a  piece  of 

cloth,  15.  v.  124.     A.S.  list. 
Lyte,  adj.  as  sb.  a  little,  9. 1 1.     See 

Lute. 
Lyuen,  v.  to  live,  40.  19.     See 

Libbe. 

Lyues,  sb.  pi.  lives,  6.  109. 
Lyse,  v.  to  lie,  tell  lies,  15.  v.  117; 

Ly3en.  i£>-Pr-  49-     See  Lighed. 
Lyjere,  sb.  a  liar,  15.  i.  36;    ii. 

191;    pi.   Lyjers,   liars,    15.   vii. 

260.     See  above. 
Lyse)?,  pr.  s.  lies  (to),  deceives,  15. 

i.  67.     See  Lighed.    . 
Lyst,  sb.  light,  5.  5727. 
Ly3t,  v.  to  alight,  13.476;  pi.  s. 

alighted,    fell,    13.    235.      A.S. 

Uhlan,  to  alight,  descend. 


Ma,  adj.  more,  2.  viii.  1 1 ;  16. 484 ; 
moreover  (as  a  mere  expletive  to 
get  a  rime,  2.  xvii.  87;  cii.  48, 
53;  ciii.  40).  A.S.  md,  more. 

Ma,  v.  to   make,   1 6.  63 ;    />r.  s. 


Mais,  makes,  16.  435.  Sc.  ma, 
to  make ;  cf.  Sc.  ta,  to  take. 

Macolom,  Malcolm,  i  a.  241,  250. 

Mad,  sb.  a  mad  person,  5.  5642. 
This  is  not  a  solitary  instance  of 
the  word  mad  as  a  sb. 

Mahoun,  i.e.  Mahomet,  19.  224, 

Mais.     See  Ma,  vb. 

Maistri,  sb.  mastery,  grand  show, 
II  c.  41 ;  victory,  II  a.  113; 
Maistrie,  ascendancy,  I  a.  108. 

Maisters,  sb.  pi.  F.  masters,  I  a. 
7;  Maistres,  chief  men,  19.  141. 

Maistresse,  sb.  mistress,  20.  210. 

Mak,  v.  to  make,  7.  28;  Makye, 
I  a.  390 ;  pres.  pt.  Makand,  10. 
503.  A.S.  macian;  pt.  t.  ic 
macode,  pp.  macod. 

Make,  sb.  companion,  mate,  hus- 
band, 13.  248;  40.  18;  spouse, 
40.  39;  pi.  Makes,  4  d.  20; 
Makez,  13.  331.  A.S.  maca,  a 
mate,  match;  Dan.  mage. 

Makestow,  for  makest  thou,  19. 

371- 

Makye,  v.  to  make,  i  a.  390 ;  pt.  s. 
Makede,  i  b.  33 ;  pt.  pi.  Makked, 
made,  ii  c.  41;  pp.  Maked,  3. 
187.  See  Mak. 

Makyere,  sb.  maker,  writer,  author, 
9.  224. 

Male,  sb.  bag,  3.  96.  O.  F.  male, 
O.  H.  G.  malaka,  a  bag ;  hence 
F.  maille,  E.  mai/-bag. 

Malkyn,  sb.  (proper  name)  Malkin, 
i.-e.  Mary-kin,  dimin.  of  Mary; 
use  d  in  the  sense  of  a.  common  wo- 
man, a  kitchen-wench,  15.  i.  158. 

Man,  2  p.  pi.  pr.  must,  16.  137. 
Icel.  ek  mun,  I  must. 

Manas,  sb.  F.  menace,  threatening, 
5.  5772  ;  18  b.  8. 

Manasside,  pt.  s.  menaced,  threat- 
ened, 17.  Mar.  iii.  12. 

Mandeb,  pr.  s.  (?)  sends  forth,  4  d. 
16,  25.  O.  F.  mander,  to  com- 
mand, instruct  by  message. 

Mane,  sb.  moan,  complaint,  n  a. 
108.  A.S.  mcenan,  to  moan. 


422 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Manere,  sb.  F.  manner,  i  a.  8 ; 
I  b.  9;  kind,  I  a.  69 ;  6.  67;  on 
sic  maneir  =  in  such  a  way,  16. 
220;  pi.  Maners,  5.  5946.  0/is 
often  omitted  after  it ;  as  in  no 
maner  good,  20.69;  a  t^onerlatyn, 
19.  519;  on  maner  soun,  18  a.  194. 

Manned,  sb.  manhood,  12.  197* 
Manheid,  valour,  16.  223. 

Manly,  adv.  boldly,  12.  207. 

Manne,  gen.pl.  men's,  i  a.  441. 

Manquellere,  sb.  mankiller,  exe- 
cutioner, 17.  Mar.  vi.  27.  A.S. 
cwellan,  to  quell,  kill. 

Manyon,/or  many  one,  20.  239. 

Manywhat,  many  things,  5.  5589. 

Mararach,  i.  e.  Ararat,  13.  447. 

Marchantz,  sb.  pi.  merchants,  19. 
148. 

Marchaundye,  sb.  merchandise, 
traffic,  5.  5794;  Marchaundie, 
15. />r.  60.  From  Lat.  mercatus, 
merces. 

Marcheth, />r.  s.  borders ;  marcheth 
to,  borders  upon,  14  c.  65.  A.S. 
mearc,  a  mark,  boundary,  border- 
land. 

Marcolues,  Marcolf's,  3.  3. 

Mare,  adj.  greater,  2.  ciii.  59,  67 ; 
10.  1918.  See  Ma,  adj. 

Marewe,  sb.  morning,  4  c.  4.  See 
Morwe. 

Margery-perles,  sb.  pi.  pearls, 
1 8  a.  13.  A  reduplicated  word, 
since  Gk.  pap-yet pirrjs  is  a  pearl. 

Marrok,  i.e.  Morocco,  19.  465. 

Mas,  pr.  s.  makes,  10.  702.  See 
Ma,  vb. 

Mase,  sb.  maze,  confusion,  13.  395  ; 
a  confused  medley  of  people,  15. 
i.  6;  bewilderment,  15.  iii.  155. 

Mased,  pp.  bewildered,  19.  526. 

Mast,  adj.  greatest  (lit.  most),  7. 
97;  Maste,  II  b.  7.  A.S.  mcest, 
greatest. 

Matere,  sb.  matter,  subject,  19. 
322  ;  Matiere,  20.  127. 

Materie,  sb.  F.  material,  stuff,  6.  9. 

Matheu,  Matthew,  ^c.  i.  55. 


Maugree,  in  spite  of,  14  e.  70; 
Maugre,  15.  ii.  177*  F.  mal  gre, 
ill  will. 

Maundemens,  sb.  pi.  command- 
ments, 17.  Ps.  102.  18.  O.  F. 
mander,  to  command;  Lat.  man- 
dare. 

Maumet,  sb.  idol,  7.  378.  O.  F. 
mahumet,  from  the  name  Maho- 
met. Often  confused  with  O.E. 
mammet,  a  doll. 

Maumettrie,  sb.  idolatry,  19.  236; 
Maumentri,  objects  of  idolatry, 
7.  398.  See  above. 

Mawgre,  sb.  ill-will,  vengeance,  13. 
250.  See  Maugree. 

May,  pr.  s.  i  p.  can,  5.  5925  ;  pr.  s. 
May,  i  a.  127.  A.S.  magan,  to 
be  able,  pr.  t.  ic  mag. 

May,  sb.  maiden,  4  a.  32.  A.  S. 
mceg,  Sw.  mo,  a  maiden ;  cf.  G. 
magd,  E.  maid.  Mceso-Goth 
magus,  a  boy,  magaths,  a  girl ; 
W.  macivy,  a  boy,  magu,  to  breed, 
rear ;  Sansk.  maha,  great. 

May,  sb.  person  (lit.  man),  8  a. 
173.  A.  S.  mcecg,  mecg,  a  man. 

Mayne,  sb.  F.  household,  company, 
9.  7;  Mayny,  13.  514.  O.  F. 
mesnee,  maisnee;  Low  Lat.  mais- 
nada,  a  family ;  from  Lat.  minores 
natu,  younger  sons,  dependants, 
menials. 

Maysterz,  sb.pl.  masters,  13.  252. 

Maystrie,  sb.  mastery;  power,  15. 
v.  85;  full  power,  15.  iii.  19;  hence 
superiority,  greater  strength,  1 40. 
1 08.  For  the  maystrie  =  for  the 
greater  excellence;  cf.  Chaucer, 
Prol.  1.  165.  See  Maistri. 

Maaty,  adj.  mighty,  13.  273. 

Me,  indef.  pron.  they,  people,  I  a. 
50,  128;  i  b.  5;  9.  5;  18  a.  15; 
with  pi.  vb.  i  a.  53.  Generally 
with  a  sing,  vb.,  like  F.  on.  It  is 
contracted  from  Men,  q.  v. 

Mede,  sb.  mead  (the  drink),  6.  22. 
A.  S.  medu,  W.  medd,  meddyglyn 
(metheglin),  Gk. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


423 


Mede,  sb.  meed,  reward,  4  c.  36. 

A.S.  mid;  cf.  Gk.  fuaflos. 
Medes,  prop,  name,  I  a.  482.    Pro- 
bably Mantes. 
Medewyues,  sb.  pi.  midwives,  6. 

107. 
Medwe-grene,   adj.   green    as    a 

meadow,  20.  325. 
Meede,  sb.  meed,  reward,  bribery, 

15.  iii.  i.     See  Mede. 
Meeles,  sb.  pi.  meals,  3.  98.     A.  S. 

m£l. 
Meete,  sb.  measure,  height,  18  a. 

121.       A.S.    mete,    a    measure, 

metan,  to  jwete. 
Meeten,  v.  to  dream,  15  />r.  n. 

A.  S.  mcetan,  to  dream. 
Meine,  sb.  company,  7.  223.     See 

Mayne. 
Meined,    pp.     mingled,    20.    39. 

A.  S.   mengian,    to    mix ;     O.  E. 

ming,  to  mingle. 

Meires,  sb.pl.  F.  mayors,  15.  iii.  67. 
Meke,  v.  to  humble,  2.  xvii.  74; 

to  render  meek,  15.  v.  52;  pt.  s. 

Meked,  humbled,  5.  5827.     Du. 

muik,  soft. 

Mekly,  adv.  meekly,  5.  5834. 
Meknes,  sb.  meekness,  5.  5938. 
Meld,   v.    to    accuse,    8   a.    245. 

A.  S.  meld,  evidence,  meldian,  to 

tell ;  Dan.  melde,  to  announce. 
MeleJ),  pr.  s.  speaks,  15.  iii.  100. 

A.  S.    mcelian,    mafielian ;     Icel. 

mala,  to  speak. 
Mellede,  pt.   s.   mixed,    18  b.   7. 

O.  F.  mesler,  F.  meler,  Low  Lat. 

misculare,  from   Lat.  miscere,  to 

mix. 
Mellyng,  sb.  mingling,  18  a.  161 ; 

fighting,  1 6.  481.     See  above. 
Men,  indef.  pron.  they,  people,  3. 

158,  168.     See  Me. 
Mene,  v.  to  intend,  to  have  it  so, 

18   b.    137.      A.S.    manan,    G. 

meinen,  to  intend. 
Mene,  v.  to  mean ;  what  is  J>is  to 

mene  =  what  does  this  mean,  15 

pr.  ii. 


Mene,   adj.   mean;    mene    while, 

mean  time,  19.  546 ;  mene  whiles, 

mean  whiles,  19.  668. 
Mene,   adj.  pi.   mediators,   in   an 

intermediate  position,  15.  iii.  67. 

F.  moyen,  Lat.  medius. 
Menes,  sb.  pi.   means,   ways,   19. 

480. 
Mene>,  pr.  s.  complains,  4  d.  22. 

A.  S.  mcenan,  to  complain,  moan. 
Meng,   imp.   s.    mingle,   mix,    13. 

337.     A.  S.  mengian,  to  mix. 
Menne,  gen.  pi.  men's,  18  6.  10, 

39- 

Mennesse,  sb.  communion,  fellow- 
ship, 9.  167,  244.  A.  S.  gemcene, 
common,  gemcennes,  communion. 
The  A.S.  g*=Mceso-Goth.  ga, 
as  a  prefix. 

Mensk,  sb.  honour,  2.  viii.  17? 
Menske,  favour,  12.313;  grace, 
13.  522  ;  Mensc,  favour,  8  b.  79. 
A.  S.  mennisc,  human ;  hence, 
manly,  honourable.  Cf.  Sc.  mense, 
worthiness. 

Menske,  v.  to  honour,  4  b.  23. 
See  above. 

Menskelye,  adv.  worthily,  reve- 
rently, 8  b.  229. 

Menskful,  adj.  worshipful,  noble, 

12.  202,  242. 

Ment,  pt.  s.  bemoaned,  lamented, 

8  a.  263 ;    Menyt,  16.  33.      See 

Mene,  vb. 
Men^he,    sb.    company,    16.   51; 

Menje,  n  b.  1 1.     See  Mayne. 
Merciede,  pt.  s.  thanked,  15.  iii. 

2T.     F.  merci,  thanks. 
Mere,  sb.  limit,  boundary,  a.  ciii 

19.    A.  S.  mearc,  a  mark,  a  limit , 

gem<kre,  a  limit,  a  mere. 
Meres,  sb.  pi.  mares,  2.  ciii.  29. 
Merie,  adv.  merrily,  joyfully,  6.  u. 
Merke,  adj.  dark,  2.  ciii.  52.    A.S. 

mire,  Sw.  mork,  obscure,  dark. 
Merling,  sb.  a  small  fish,  8  b.  47. 

Possibly  derived  from  A.  S.  mere, 

a  mere,  and  ling,  a  kind  of  fish. 
Mershe,  sb.  F.  March,  4  a.  i. 


424 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


Mersuine,   sb.  pi.   porpoises,   sea- 
pigs,  8  a.  1 1 7.     A.  S.  mere-swin, 

sea-swine ;    cf.  F.  marsouin,   and 

E.  porpoise,  from   Lat.  porous,  a 

pig,  and  piscis,  a  fish. 
Merueyle,  sb.  F.  marvel,  wonder, 

5-  5631,  5912,  5929.     From  Lat. 

mirabilis,  wonderful. 
Mesaunture,  sb.  F.  misadventure, 

mishap,  i  a.  388. 
Meschaunce,   sb.   F.    misfortune, 

mischance,  I  a.  487;  Meschance, 

evil  chance,  misfortune,   ill  luck, 

19.602;  sad  circumstance,  19.610. 
Meseise,  sb.  misease,   discomfort; 

for  meseise,  to  prevent  discomfort, 

15.  i.  24. 
Message,  sb.  F.  mission,  message, 

i  a.    82;     messenger,    13.    454; 

I9-  333-     So  too  we  have  O.E. 

prison  =  a    prisoner.       Low    Lat. 

missaticum,  a  message,  from  mil- 
fere,  to  send. 
Messager,  sb.  F.  messenger,  i  a. 

74;  pi.  Messagers,  I  a.  13;    15. 

ii.  203.     See  above. 
Mest,  adv.  most,  chiefly,  i  a.  38, 

46.     See  Mast. 
Mestedel,  sb.  greater  part,  majority, 

I    a.    259.      From    O.E.    meste, 

most,  del,  part. 
Mesur,   sb.    measure,    moderation, 

10.  1459;  Mesure,  15.  i.  33. 
Mesurabul,  adj.  moderate,  1 2.  333. 
Met,   v.  to   mete,   measure;    gert 

met,  caused  to  be  measured,  8  b. 

154.     See  Meten. 
Mete,  sb.  S.  meat,  food,  i  a.  73. 

(Not  used  in  the  restricted  modern 

sense.)     Moeso-Goth.  mats,  food, 

matjan,  to  eat. 
Mete,  adj.  meet,  fitting,  13,  337. 

A.S.  mete,  a  measure. 
Meten,  v.  to  mete,  measure,  15  pr. 

88  ;  pr.  s.  Mete>,  18  a.  120  ;  2  p. 

pi.  pr.  Meten,  mete,  measure,  15. 

i.  151.     A.S.  meian,  to  measure. 
Mebe,    sb.    moderation,    mildness, 

pity,  13-  247;    Meth,  13.  436. 


A.  S.  ma^Sian,  to  measure,  mode- 
rate ;  from  melon,  to  mete. 

Mej>elez,  adj.  immoderate,  13.  273. 
See  above. 

Metinge,  sb.  measure,  9.  55.  See 
Meten. 

Meuez,  pr.  s.  moves,  13.  303. 

Mey,  pr.  s.  may,  6.  31,  34.  See 
May. 

Mey,  sb.  May ;  mey  sesoun  =  season 
of  May,  12.  24. 

Meynd,  pp.  mingled,  20.  223.  See 
Meined. 

Meyne,  sb.  F.  household,  12.  184; 
Meyny,  13.  331.  See  Mayne. 

Meyntene,  v.  to  abet,  back  up, 
15.  ii.  171 ;  pr.  pi.  Meyntenen, 
abet,  support  (in  an  action  at 
law),  15.  ii.  170.  A  legal  and 
technical  term.  From  Lat.  manu 
tenere,  to  hold  by  the  hand. 

Meystry,  sb.  mastery,  victory,  18  6. 
95.  See  Maystrie. 

Mi,  pron.  my,  I  a.  103. 

Miche,  adj.  much,  12.  117. 

Mid,  prep,  with,  i  a.  5,  10;  be- 
twix  mid  =  between  among,  2. 
ciii.  22.  A.S.  mid,  G.  mil,  with. 

Middel,  sb.  waist,  40.  16. 

Mide,  adv.  wherewith,  with,  6.  52. 
(Supplies  the  place  of  the  prep. 
mid  only  in  certain  constructions.) 

Midewinter,  sb.  Christmas,   i  a. 

399- 
Midouernon,   sb.   middle   of   the 

afternoon ;  hei  midouernon  =  fully 

the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  I  a. 

164. 

Midward,  sb.  middle,  10.  435. 
Midwinter  day,  sb.  Christmas  day, 

i  a.  226. 
Mightand,/>res./>ajV.  being  might}', 

2.  xxiii.  20;  2.  cii.  47. 
Miht,    sb.    might,    46.    21;    pi. 

Mightes,  powers,  2.  xxiii.  26;    2. 

cii.  49.     A.  S.  miht. 
Miht,  pr.  s.  2  p.  mayst,  3.123.  A.  S. 

magan,  to  be  able;  whence  ic  mag, 

I  may,  ]>u  might,  thou  mayest. 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Mihti,  for  Miht  i,  might   I,  i.  e. 

might  I  go,  15.  v.  6. 
Mikel,    adj.   great,    2.  ciii.  2,  57. 

A.  S.   mycel,    Lat.   magnus,    Gk. 

/le'yas,  Sansk.  maha,  great. 
Mikel,  adv.  much,  7.18;    Mikle, 

2.  cii.  23. 
Mikeled,  pp.  magnified,  2.  ciii.  53  ; 

pres.  part.  Mikeland,  2.  xvii.  127. 

A.  S.  myclian,  to  make  great. 
Milce,  sb.  compassion,  mercy,  i  a. 

499.     A.  S.  milts,  mercy,  milde, 

merciful,  mild. 
Milde,  adj.  mild,  meek,  I  a.  97. 

See  above. 
Mildeherted,  adj.  merciful,  2.  cii. 

15,  16. 
Miles,  sb.  pi.  either  (i)  animals,  or 

(2)  maidens,  4  d.   20.      Cf.  W. 

»m7,  an  animal,  beast,  brute ;  A.  S. 

meowle,    a    maid,   virgin.      The 

former  suits  the  context  best. 
Min,   sb.   memory,    7.   30.      A.  S. 

mynan,     to     remember ;      myne, 

memory;  cf.  Lat.  memini. 
Min,  pass.  pron.  mine,  i  a.  27. 
Mined,  adj.  mindful,  2.  cii.  29,  41 ; 

or  else  pp.  being  a  too  close  render- 
ing of  recordatus.     See  below. 
Mines,  pr.  s.  2  p.  rememberest,  2. 

viii.  13.     A.  S.  mynan,  to  bear  in 

mind,  intend,  mean. 
Ministre,  sb.  minster,  18  a.  123. 
Mir,  sb.  myrrh,  7.  130. 
Mirke,  adj.  dark,  2.  xvii.  33.     See 

Merke. 
Mirkenes,  sb.  darkness,  2.  xvii.  31 ; 

gen.  of  darkness,  2.  xvii.  76;  pi. 

Mirkenesses,  2.  ciii.  45. 
Mis,  vb.  to  miss,  lose,  II  a.  113. 
Mis-cheuing,  sb.  mishap,  i  a.  383. 
Misdo,  v.  to  do  amiss,  I  a.  500 ; 

pp.  Misdo,  done  amiss,  I  a.  106. 
Misliked,  pt.  s.  impers.  it  was  dis- 
pleasing to,  lie.  60. 
Misliking,   sb.    displeasure,    II  c. 

61. 
Misseid,    pp.     slandered,    reviled, 

15- v.  51. 


Missely,   adv.   wrongly,   12.  207. 

A.  S.  misselic,  dissimilar,  unlike ; 

cf.  Sw.  miste,  wrong,  false. 
Misselmasse,  sb.  Michaelmas,  i  a. 

191. 
Mister,  sb.  need,  8  b.  92.   Sw.  mista, 

Dan.  miste,  to  mm,  to  lose. 
Mitte  =  mid  J?e,  with  the;  mitte 

beste  =  with  the  best,  6.  37. 
Mix,  sb.  a  vile  wretch,  12.  125. 

A.S.   meox,    O.  E.   mixe,    muck, 

filth.     Similarly,  a  vile  person  is 

sometimes  called  a  felthe,  lit.  a 

filth;  Will,  of  Palerne,  2542. 
Miste,  pt.  s.  might,  could,  i  a.  91, 

138;  s«6/.  Mijte,  I  a.  124. 
Misthi,  adj.  mighty,  12.  153. 
Mo,  adj.  more,  i  a.  58 ;  6.  127; 

a/so  more  than  myself,  i.  e.  others, 

4  c.  22.     See  Ma. 
Moche,  adj.  much,  6.  39 ;  5.  5804 ; 

adv.  i  6.46;  5.  5687. 
Mochel,    adj.    mickle,    great,    12. 

367.     See  Mikel. 
Mocht,  pt.pl.  might,  16.  120. 
Mod,   sb.  mind,   3.    255 ;    Mode, 

temper,    5.    5840.       A.S.    m6d, 

mind ;  Du.  moed,  G.  muth. 
Moder,  sb.  mother,  i  a.  200;  6. 

98 ;    gen.  Moder,  i  6.  3.      A.  S. 

moder,   modor,    Du.    moeder,  G. 

mutter. 
Mody,  adj.  moody,  4  d.  22.     See 

Mod. 
Moeuyng,  pres.  part,  moving,  19. 

295- 

Moght,  subj.  pi.  pi.  could,  7.  12. 

Moises,  Moses,  2.  cii.  13. 

Mold,  prop,  name,  Maud,  Matilda, 
I  a.  245,  296. 

Molde,  sb.  mould,  earth,  4  6.  2 ; 
the  earth,  13.  279;  on  molde  = 
in  the  world,  15  pr.  64;  s6.  pi. 
Moldez,  dry  pieces  of  ground, 
13.  454.  A.S.  molde. 

Mom,  sb.  a  sound  made  with 
closed  lips,  the  least  sound  pos- 
sible, !5/>r.  89.  E.  mum;  cf. 
Gk.  f*C;  also  E.  mumble,  O.E. 


426 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


mutnmyn,  to  be   mute  (Prompt. 

Parv.). 

Mon,  sb.  man,  I  a.  134. 
Mone,  sb.  moon,   2.  viii.   II ;    2. 

ciii.  43;  4  d.  1 6.     A.  S.  mona. 
Mone,    pr.    s.    shall,    2.    xiv.    2 ; 

2/>.  mayest,  3.  166  ;  Icel.  e£  mw«, 

I  must.     See  Man. 
Mone,  sb.  money,   II  a.  35.     F. 

monnaie,  Lat.  moneta. 
Mone,   sb.   moan,    complaint,    19. 

656. 
Monek,  sb.  monk,   I  a.  82;    pi. 

Monekes,  I  a.  264.     A.  S.  munuc, 

a  monk,  Gk.  juoraxos,   solitary, 

from  fjiovos,  alone. 
Moni,    adj.    many,    I   a.   3 ;    pi. 

Monie,  I  a.  125. 
Monimon,   many   (a)   man,   i  a. 

487. 
Monion,  many  (a)  one,  I  a.  257, 

454.    (Found  in  Layamon.) 
Mont,  sb.  F.  mount,  7*  46. 
Montain,  sb.  F.  mountain,  7.  33; 

Montaine,  7.  40. 
Monyth,  sfe.  month,  13.  493. 
Mony-volde,  adj.  manifold,   i  a. 

445- 

Mooder,  sb.  mother,  19.  323. 
Moon,  sb.  moan,  moaning,  13.  373. 

A.  S.  mcenan,  to  moan. 
Mooneb,  sb.  month,  15.  iii.  140. 

A.  S.     mondft,     month,     mona, 

moon.     See  Monyth. 
Moot,  pr.  s.  must  (go),  19.  294. 
Mor,  sb.  a  moor ;    on  mor,  above 

each  moor,  13.  385. 
More,  sb.  root ;   hence,  stock,  race, 

i    a.    248;    i    6.    i.       O.  H.G. 

moraha,    a    root;    G.    mohre,   a 

carrot ;    Sanskrit   mula,   root,   is 

probably  the  same  word. 
More,  adj.  greater,  17.  Mar.  ii.  21. 
Moreyn,  sb.  murrain,  plague,  18  a. 

175.    O.  F.  marine,  murrain,  from 

Lat.  won',  to  die. 
Morewynge,     sb.     morning,    17. 

Mar.  i.  35. 
Mornyng,  adj.  mourning,  5.  5677. 


Morferde,  i  p.  s.  pt.  subj.  would 
have  murdered,  15.  v.  85.  Moeso- 
Goth.  maurthrjan,  to  murder. 

Morwe,  sb.  morrow,  I  a.  520. 
A.  S.  morgen,  morning. 

Morwnynge,  sb.  morning,  15  pr.  5. 

Moskles,  sb.  pi.  muscles  (shell- 
fish), 1 8 !  a.  12. 

Most,  adj.  superl.  biggest,  13.  254. 

Most,  pr.  s.  2  p.  must,  3.  72,  164; 
pi.  pi.  13.  407.  A.  S.  ic  mot, 
pr.  t.  of  which  the  pt.  t.  is  ic 
moste.  In  modern  E.,  must  is 
both  pr.  and  pt.  tense. 

Moste.     See  Mot. 

Mot,  pr.  s.  must,  I  a.  294 ;  6.  83 ; 
pr.  pi.  Mote,  5.  5668;  pt.  s. 
Moste,  must,  I  b.  28 ;  pt.  pi. 
Moste,  were  obliged,  I  a.  240 ; 
pr.  s.  subj.  Mote,  may,  3.  34; 
pt.  s.  subj.  Moste,  might,  i  a. 
500;  19.  380.  See  Most. 

Mote,  v.  to  cite  to  a  law  court,  to 
summon,  15.  i.  150;  pr.  s.  subj. 
Mote,  plead,  15.  iii.  155.  A.S. 
motan,  to  cite,  make  to  meet. 

Motyf,  sb.  motive,  incitement,  or 
suspicion,  19.  628. 

Mountouns,  sb.  amount,  5.  5770. 

Mourkne,  v.  to  rot,  13.  407.  Sw. 
murkna,  to  rot,  murken,  rotten; 
O.  E.  morkin,  a  wild  beast  found 
dead,  carrion ;  cf.  Lat.  morior. 

Mournen,  v.  to  mourn,  4  a.  42. 
A.  S.  murnan. 

Moutes,  pr.  s.  moults,  10.  781. 
Du.  muiten,  F.  muer,  Lat.  mutare, 
Cf.  E.  mews,  place  where  moult- 
ing falcons  were  kept. 

Mouwen,  pr.  pi.  may,  15.  i.  121 ; 
Mown,  17.  Mar.  ii.  19;  2p.pr.pl. 
subj.  Mowe,  may,  I  a.  2.  A.  S. 
magan,  to  be  able. 

Moysted,  pp.  wetted,  14  a.  55. 

Mose,  pr.  pi.  may,  6.  66;  9.  31 ; 
can,  6.  133;  subj.  pr.  s.  may  be 
able,  6.  69.  See  Mowe. 

Mx>3t  =  mot,  pr.  s.  must,  6.  13. 

Muche,  adj.  S.  great,  i  a.  I,  498. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


427 


Muchedel,  sb.  a  great  part,  I  a.  396. 

Mught,  pt.  s.  might,  10.  1906. 

Mukel,  adj.  great,  13.  366. 

Midi,  sb.  mould,  dirt,  rubbish,  20. 
38.  O.  E.  mullok,  rubbish ;  Platt 
Deutsch  mull,  loose  earth;  Flemish 
mul,  dust ;  Mceso-Gothic  mulda, 
dust,  mould. 

Mun,  pr.  s.  must,  n  a.  119. 

Munstrals,  sb.pl.  minstrels,  15  pr. 

33- 

MunteJ>,  pr.  s.  intends,  purposes, 
3.  242.  A.  S.  myntan,  to  propose. 

MurgeJ),  pr.  pi.  make  mirthful, 
make  merry  with,  4  d.  20.  A.  S. 
murge,  joyful;  myrgt  pleasure; 
myrig,  merry. 

Mulches,  sb.  pi.  mirths,  merry- 
makings, revels,  15  pr.  33. 

Mutoun,  sb.  a  gold  coin  called  a 
•mutton*  or  sheep,  15.  iii.  25. 
See  note. 

Mwre,  sb.  a  moor,  16. 108. 

Myd,  prep,  with,  3.  175;    Myde, 

9.  32.     See  Mid. 
Myddes,  sb.  midst,  14  a.  38. 
Mydlerd,  sb.  the  world,  10.  2302. 

A.  S.    middan-eard,    the    middle 
region,  the  world;   O. E.  middle- 
erd. 
Myghtfulnes,  sb.  physical  strength, 

10.  754. 

Myht,  pr.  s.  2  p.  mayst,  3.  143. 
See  Mitt. 

Myke,  sb.  the  crutches  of  a  boat, 
which  sustain  the  main  boom  or 
mast  when  lowered,  13.  417. 
Cf.  Du.  mik,  a  prong,  &c. 

Mykel,  adj.  much,  10.  439. 

Mykelhede,  sb.  greatness,  majesty, 
2.  viii.  3. 

Myldely,  adv.  mildly,  5.  5731. 

Mynde,  sb.  remembrance,  5.  5869  ; 
memory,  10.  774;  14  a.  117; 
forgat  hir  mynde  =  lost  her  me- 
mory, 19.  527. 

Mynen,  v.  to  mine,  14  c.  96. 

Mynne,  v.  to  recollect,  remember, 
!3-  436.  See  Min,  Mines. 


Mynstrasye,  sb.  minstrelsy,  15.  iii. 

98. 

Myriest,  adj.  merriest,  13.  254. 
Myrk,  adj.  dark,  10.  1435.     Icel. 

myrkr,  dark,  also  as  sb.  darkness. 

See  Merke. 

Myrknes,  sb.  darkness,  10.  7821. 
Myry,  adj.  serviceable,  13.  417. 
Myschaunce,    sb.    mischance,    5. 

5787;  inadvertent  wickedness,  5. 

5666. 
Myschief,  sb.  ill-fortune ;    at  mys- 

chief=in  danger,  1 6.  101. 
Mysdede,  pt.  pi.  misdid,  ill-treated, 

5.  5838.     See  Misdo. 
Myseise,  sb.  want   of  ease,   care, 

trouble,  17.  Mar.  iv.  1 8. 
Mysse,  adv.  amiss,  12.  141.     A.  S. 

mis,  wrongly. 

Mysseyd,  pt.  pi.  spake  ill,  5.  5842. 
Mysteir,  sb.  need,  16.  142.      See 

Mister. 

My3t,  sb.  might,  5.  5652,  5863. 
My?t,  pt.   s.   was   able,   5.  5889; 

My3te,    could,    5.    5930 ;     subj. 

My3t,  might,  5.  5602. 
Mystuolle,  adj.pl.  mighty,  9.  202. 

(Lit.  might-full.') 

N. 

Na  war,  phr.  were  it  not  for,  had 
it  not  been  for,  16.  218  ;  na  kyn 
thyng  =  in  no  degree,  16.  413. 

NabbeJ),  pr.pl.  have  not,  I  a.  264  ; 
pr.  s.  Nad  (put  for  NaS),  has  not, 
3.  144 ;  pt.  s.  Nadde,  I  a.  45 ; 
12.  119;  Nade,  3.  224;  pt.  pi. 
Nadde,  I  a.  335.  A.S.  nabban, 
not  to  have. 

Naght,  pron.  naught,  5.  5844; 
Naht,  3.  151.  A.S.  ndht. 

Naghtertale,  sb.  night-time,  7. 
222.  Icel.  ndttar-tdl ;  cf.  A..S.  niht, 
night  (G.  nacht),  and  tdl,  number, 
reckoning. 

Naht.     See  Waght. 

Nai,  adv.  no,  8  b.  165. 

Nakers,  sb.pl.  kettle-drums,  II  6. 
80.  Of  Arabic  origin. 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Nakid,  adj.  uncovered,  bare,  17. 
Mar.  ii.  4 ;  Nakit,  naked,  i.  e.  un- 
armed, undefended  by  body- 
armour,  1 6.  434.  Mceso-Goth. 
nakwaths,  naked. 

Nam,  sb.  name,  10.  482. 

Nam,  pr.  s.  i  p.  am  not,  4  c.  45. 
Put  for  ne  am. 

Nam,  pt.  s.  took,  2.  xvii.  46 ;  2. 
xxiii.  9  ;  12.368;  took  his  way, 
went,  5.  5899  (where  for  a-wey 
we  should  perhaps  read  a  wey, 
\.  e.  a  way).  See  Nime. 

Naman,  for  no  man,  7.  200. 

Namare,  adv.  no  more,  2.  cii.  35. 

Nameliclie,  acfv.  especially,  i  a. 
460,  498;  particularly,  18  6.  9; 
Namely,  5.  5647;  Namlic,  86.  241. 

Nammo,  adj.  no  more,  I  a.  508  ; 
Nammore,  adv.  no  more,  I  a.  500. 
A.  S.  nd,  no,  not,  and  md,  more. 

Namore,  for  no  more,  12.  119. 
See  above. 

Nan,  adj.  no,  2.  ciii.  58;  7.  20; 
pron.  pi.  none,  7.  24.  A.  S.  n&n, 
nan,  no  one,  from  ne,  not,  cm,  one. 

Nart,  pr.  s.  2  p.  art  not,  6.  125. 
For  «e  ar/. 

Nas  (for  ne  was),  was  not,  I  a.  27  ; 
12.278;  19.159;  nasbut  =  was 
no  better  than,  19.  209. 

Nasche,  adj.  nesh,  soft,  18  a.  45. 
See  Nesshede. 

Nat,  adv.  not,  5.  5693,  5718. 
A.  S.  ndte,  not. 

Nat  (for  Ne  at),  i.  e.  nor  at,  19.  290. 

Nat-forby,  conj.  notwithstanding, 
nevertheless,  5.  5885. 

Nab  (for  Ne  hab),  hath  not,  4  c. 
38;  15.  vi.  42.  See  Nabbeb. 

Nabeles,  adv.  none  the  less,  never- 
theless, I  a.  369.  A.  S.  nd,  not. 

Nabemo,  adv.  none  the  more,  I  a. 
101.  See  above. 

Natiuite",  sb.  F.  Nativity,  7.  n. 

Naue  (/or  Ne  haue),  have  not,  15. 
i.  157.  See  Nabbeb. 

Naust,  not,  6,  24.  Used  with  ne; 
but,  at  6.  49,  without  «e. 


Nawber,  conj.  neither,  13.  1028. 

Nayte,  v.  to  employ,  13.  531.  See 
Note. 

Naytly,  adv.  neatly,  13.  480. 

Najt,  sb.  night,  13.  484. 

Na3t,  not,  9.  76. 

Ne,  not,  i  a.  29,  &c.  Ne  is  employed 
before  the  verb,  and  nojt  after  it. 

Ne,  conj.  nor,  i  a.  69;  7.  54;  II 
a.  no.  A.  S.  ne,  not,  nor. 

Nebsseft,  sb.  appearance,  presence, 
9.  77.  Translates  Lat.  faciem. 
From  A.  S.  neb,  a  face,  nose,  or 
nib,  and  -sceaft,  E.  -sA/p. 

Nedde  (/or  Ne  hadde),  had  not, 
15.  v.  4,  i2i.  See  Nabbeb. 

Nede,  sb.  S.  need,  i  a.  33 ;  6.  70 ; 
Ned  (?),  6.  89  ;  />/.  Nedes,  neces- 
sary things,  business,  19.  174. 
A.  S.  nedd,  G.  noth. 

Nede,  adv.  needs,  of  necessity,  by 
compulsion,  I  a.  28 ;  moste  nede 
=  must  needs  be,  20.  2.  A.  S. 
nedde,  of  necessity. 

Nederes,  sb.  pi.  adders,  8  b.  177. 
A.  S.  nceddre,  an  adder. 

Nedes,  adv.  of  necessity,  n  a.  72  ; 
Nedys,  5.  5668.  A.  S.  neddes, 
needs,  from  nedd,  need. 

Nedfol,  adj.  needful,  necessary, 
compulsory,  1 8  b.  12. 

Neete,  sb.pl.  cattle,  neat,  beeves, 
2.  viii.  21.  A.  S.  neat,  cattle, 
Icel.  naut,  a  horned  beast.  Ap- 
parently, the  radical  meaning  is 
*  useful ; '  cf.  A.  S.  ntotan,  to  use, 
pt.  t.  neat. 

Nefen,  v.  to  name,  8  a.  177.  See 
Neuened. 

Ne-for-tbi,  adv.  nevertheless,  7. 
247.  See  Natforby. 

Nefur,  adv.  never,  6.  46.  A.  S. 
ncefre. 

Neghburgh,  sb.  neighbour,  2.  xiv. 
7,  8,  II.  A.  S.  neah-bur,  a 
neighbour,  from  nedh,  near,  and 
bur,  a  dweller,  a  6oor. 

Neghen,  nwm.  nine,  10.  729. 
A.  S.  nigon. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


4*9 


Neghes,  pr.  s.  approaches,  comes 

near,  2.  ciii.  78.    A.  S.  nedh,  near. 
Neh,  adv.  nigh,  near,  4  c.  13;  Nei, 

nigh,  I  a.  8 1 ;  nearly,  140.     A.S. 

nedh. 
Neidwais,  adv.  of  necessity,    16. 

177. 

Neigh,  adv.  nigh,  19.  550. 
Neist,  adj.  next,  nearest  (in  kin- 
ship), 7.  37;    acfo.  next,  7.  125. 

See  Nest. 
Nei3 ;  in  phr.  no  nei3  =  non  €13,  i.  e. 

no  egg,  12.  83. 
Nekke-boon,   sb.    neckbone,    19. 

669. 
Nel  (/or  Ne  wil),  I  will  not,  13. 

513.     A.S.  nyllan,  Lat.  nolle,  to 

be  unwilling. 
Nem,  pt.  s.  took,  13.  505 ;  imp.  pi. 

Neme,  take,  6.  119.     See  Nam, 

Nime,  Nome. 
Nempnen,  v.  to  name,  15.!.  21  ; 

19.  507 ;   pt.  s.  Nemned,  named, 

12.  368.     A.S.  nemnan,  to  name. 
Neode,  sb.  business,  4  c.  47.     See 

Nede. 
Neodes,   adv.    needs,    necessarily, 

18  a.  72. 

Neo?e,  adj.  nine,  I  b.  21. 
Ner,  acfo.  never,  3.  224;  Nere  noj?er, 

neither,  186.  115. 
Nere,  />/.  />/.  were  not,  I  a.  101 ; 

15.  Hi.  130  ;  19.  547  ;  Nere,  subj. 

pt.  s.   should   not   be,   I   a.   69 ; 

6.  46.     For  ne  were. 
Nes,  />/.  s.  was  not,  4  c.  30 ;  6.  17. 
Nese,  s6.  nose,  10.  820.    A.  S.  ness, 

a  nose,  a  ness. 

Nesshede,  s6.  tenderness,  delicate- 
ness,  9.  155.     A.S.  hncesc,   soft, 

rttfs/t ;  cf.  nasty,  O.  E.  nasky. 
Nest,  adj.  nighest,  nearest,  3.  176; 

next,  7.  5 ;    nighest  to,  10.  676. 

A.S.    nedh,    nigh,    superl.    nyhst, 

neahst,  nighest,  next,  Dan.  nast. 
Nestland,/>r£s./>crr/.  building  nests, 

2.  ciii.  38. 
Neb,  pr.  s.  hath  not,  6.  21,  35,  72. 

See  Na. 


Neuened,    pt.    s.    named,    called 

upon,  13.  410.     Icel.  nafn,  Dan. 

navn,  a  name. 
Neuere,  adv.  never,  i  a.  101 ;  Neuer 

non,  none  at  all,  1 8  b.  71. 
Neueu,  sb.  nephew,  i  a.  386. 
Neuliche,  adv.  newly,  soon,  18  b. 

49. 
New,  v.  to  renew,  i.  ciii.  74  >  /$• 

Newed,  2.  cii.  10. 
Newe,  sb.    F.  nephew,   12.    166. 

See  Neueu. 
Nexte,  adj.  nearest,  1 7.  Mar.  i.  38  ; 

19.  398.     See  Nest. 
Neynd,  adj.  ninth,  8  a.  131.     Sw. 

nionde. 
Neje,  v.  to  draw  nigh,  approach  to, 

13.  1017;    Nejh,  12.  278;  pr.  s. 

NeyjheJ),  18  a.  33. 
Nicolas   day,    St.   Nicholas    day, 

i  a.  254. 
Nigramauncy,    sb.    necromancy, 

12.  119. 
Nihtes,   adv.    at   night,   4  a.  25. 

A.  S.  nihtes,  at  night,  from  mTtf. 
Niht-olde,   adj.   a    night    old,   a 

little  stale,  15.  vii.  296. 
Nil,  imp.  s.  be  unwilling,  do  not, 

a.  cii.  4.     A.  S.  nyllant  to  be  un- 
willing ;  Lat.  nolle. 
Nime,  v.  to  take,  i  a.  391,  528; 

/>r.  pi.  Nimeb,   take,   i  a.   286. 

A.  S.    nimant     Du.    nemen,     G. 

nehmen,    to    take,    seize ;    O.  E. 

mm,  to  steal.     Hence  E.  nwm&, 

benumb,   nimble.      Palsgrave   has 

'  I  benome,  I  make  lame  or  take 

away  the   use   of  ones   lymmes, 

Je  perclose?     See  Prompt.  Parv. 

p.  358.     Cf.  Gk.  vlpfiv. 
Nis  (for  Ne  is),  is  not,  i  a.  66. 

6-  52;  12-377. 
Nite,  v.  to  refuse,  8  b.  86.     Icel 

neita,   Sw.  neka,   to  say  nay  to 

from  Icel.  net,  Sw.  «e/,  nay,  no. 
Niwe,  adj.  new,  I  a.  376.  A.S.  «m/e 
Nijt,  sft.  night,  I  a.  93,  94. 
No,  not ;   no  gif  =  do  not  give,  do 

not  take,  8  b.  195. 


43° 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


No,  con;,  nor,  5.  5818 ;  6.  22. 
Noblesse,  sb.  F.  nobility,  worthy 

behaviour,  19.  185,  248. 
Noblete,   sb.   nobleness,    richness, 

18  a.  2. 
Nobleye,  sb.  F.  splendor,  grandeur, 

I  a.  211,  403. 
Nobliche,  adv.  nobly,   i  a.   226, 

401. 
No-but,  conj.  except,  17.  Mar.  ii. 

26.     Prov.  E.  nobbut. 
UTocht-for-thi,   adv.  nevertheless, 

16.  220. 
Koght,  pron.   naught,    2.   xiv.  9. 

A.  S.    ndhl,    from    ne,    not,    and 

dht,  anything  ;   we  find  also  A.  S. 

ndwht,  from  nd,  not,  and  wuht,  a 

whit. 
Noght,  adv.  not,  2.  xiv.  6  ;    7.  4  ; 

Noht,  3.  120;  46.  19. 
Noke,  sb.  a    nook,    corner,   piece, 

bit ;  a  ferbyng  noke  =  a  piece  of  a 

farthing,  5.  5812. 
Noke ;    atte  noke  =  alien  oke,  i.  e. 

at  the  oak,  15.  v.  115. 
Nolde,  pt.  s.  would  not,  i  a.  89 ; 

9.    4;     15.    vii.    290.      For    ne 

wolde ;  but,  in  fact,  it  is  the  pt.  t. 

of  Nil,  q.  v. 
Nolle]?    (for    Ne     wolleb),    (we) 

desire  not,  9.  87.     See  Nil,  Nel. 
Nom,  pi.  s.  took,  had,  I  b.  14 ;  20. 

181;  pl.pl.  Nome,  I  a.  3;  went, 

I  a.  145  ;  pp.  Nome,  taken,  gone, 

5-  5817.     See  Nime. 
Nome,  sb.  name,  13.  297;    15.  i. 

71 ;  pi.  Nomes,  15.  i.  21.     A.S. 

nama. 
Nomon,  pron.   no    man,    nobody, 

I  a.  78;  Noman,  20.  22. 
Non,  pron.  none,  i  a.  69  ;  not  one, 

i  6.  6;    None,  no,  6.  133;    dal. 

sing.  fern.  None,  I  a.  30. 
Non,  sb.  the  ninth  hour,  4  c.  7. 
Nones ;  in  phr.  for  the  nones,  i.  e. 

for  the  nonce,  for  the  occasion, 

20.    184.       (For  \>e  nones  =  for 

)>en  ones,  where  ben  is  the  def. 

art.,  and  ones  =  once.) 


Nonne,   sb.   nun,   r  a.  301,  424. 

A.  S.  nunne,  Dan.  nonne. 
Nonnerye,  sb.  nunnery,  i  a.  272. 
Noreganes,    sb.  pi.    Norwegians, 

18  b.  53. 
Norischi,  v.  to  nourish,  bring  up, 

I  b.  26. 
Normandie,  Normandy,  I  a.  32, 

107. 

Normans,  sb.  pi.  i  a.  95. 
Norbhomberlond,  the  district  of 

Northumberland,  I  a.  325. 
Not  (for  Ne  wot),  I   know   not, 

19.  242;    12.  320;    knows  not, 

?.  28.  A.  S.  ndl,  I  know  not,  or 
e  knows  not ;  for  ne  wdt. 

Note,  sb.  attempt,  employment, 
labour,  13.  381.  A.S.  notion,  to 
employ,  notu,  use,  employment. 

Notemuges,  sb.  pi.  nutmegs,  14  c. 
27.  The  ending  muge  =  Q.  F. 
muguel,  musguet,  Lat.  muscata, 
from  muscus,  musk  ;  it  signifies 
musk-scented.  See  below. 

Notes,  sb.  pi.  nuts,  14  c.  27.  A.  S. 
hnul,  G.  nuss. 

Nobeles,  adv.  none  the  less,  never- 
theless, 5.  5663,  5891. 

Nober,  pron.  neither,  i  a.  174, 
523;  Nouther,  10.465. 

Nober . . .  ne,  conjs.  neither . . .  nor, 
7.42. 

No-thing,  adv.  nowise,  in  no 
respect,  19.  575. 

Nou,  adv.  now,  I  a.  65 ;  nov  and 
eft  =  now  and  again,  repeatedly, 

20.  260.     A.  S.  nu,  now. 
Nouellerie,  sb.  novelty,  20.  129. 
Nour,  adv.  nowhere,  I  a.  328.  Put 

for  no  wer  =  no  wher ;  see  note. 
Nout,  adv.  not,  3.  96,  100. 
Nouswher,  adv.  nowhere,   15.  ii. 

193. 
Nowj?e,  adv.  now,  12. 106 ;  Nouj?e, 

15.   iii.  86.      A.S.   nu   ba,  just 

now,  now  then. 
Noyeb,  pr.  s.  hurts,  1 8  a.  109.     F. 

nuire,  Lat.  nocere,  to  hurt.    Hence 

F.  ennuyer,  and  £.  annoy. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


431 


Noynement  j  a  noynement  =  an 
oynement,  i.e.  an  ointment,  12. 
136.  Cf.  Neij. 

Nojt,  pron.  naught;  nor  no$t  =  in 
vain,  i  a.  25;  vor  nojt  =  for 
naught,  needlessly,  I  a.  171 ;  al 
uor  nojt  =  without  receiving  harm 
themselves,  I  a.  157;  as  uor  nojt 
=  as  if  needlessly,  without  much 
resistance,  I  a.  162.  No}t  is  often 
used  to  strengthen  the  ordinary 
negative  ne;  see  I  a.  27. 

NoBt,  adv.  not,  5.  5661. 

Nu,  adv.  now,  7.  57.     A.  S.  nu. 

Nul,  pr.  s.  will  not,  3.  66;  15.  vii. 
265;  Nultou  =  wilt  thou  not,  3. 
35.  See  Nel,  Nil,  Nyle. 

Nuly  ( =  Nul  y),  I  will  not,  4  6. 
19.  See  above. 

Nummtm,  pp.  taken,  7.  84.  See 
Nime. 

Nuste,  pt.  s.  knew  not,  I  a.  357; 
I  b.  6.  Equivalent  to  ne  wuste 
or  ne  wiste,  wist  not. 

Nuy,  sb.  annoyance,  1 8  a.  123. 
See  below. 

Nuye,  v.  to  annoy,  10.  1234.  See 
Noye>. 

Nwy,  sb.  annoyance,  wrath,  13. 
301.  See  Nuy. 

Nwyed,  pp.  annoyed,  grieved, 
angered,  13.  306.  See  Nuye. 

Wyes,  adv.  nigh,  9.  40. 

Nyf,/or  ne  yf,  except,  13.  424. 

Nygun,  sb.  niggard,  miser,  5.  5578. 
Sw.  njugg,  niggardly,  nj-ugga,  to 
scrape ;  cf.  Dan.  gnidsk,  niggardly, 
from  gnide,  to  rub ;  also  E.  nig- 
gard, niggle. 

Nyht,  sb.  night,  4  c.  24.    See  Nijt. 

Nyhtegales,  sb.  pi.  nightingales, 
4  d.  5.  Lit.  singers  by  night ; 
from  A.  S.  galan,  to  sing. 

Nyle,  imp.  s.  be  thou  unwilling,  do 
not,  17.  Mar.  v.  36.  Vulg.  noli. 
A.  S.  nyllan,  to  be  unwilling ; 
whence  willy-nilly,  for  will  he  or 
nill  he. 

Nyme>,  imp.  pi.  take  ye,  9.  83 ; 


pr.  s.  Nymmes,  takes,  13.  480; 
pr.  s.  NymJ>,   receives,  takes  in, 

9.  194.     See  Nime. 

Nys  =  is  not,  19.  319.     See  Nia. 
Nyse,  adj.  silly,   18  6.   8.      O.  F. 

niais,  foolish. 
Nyste,  pt.  s.  knew  not  (put  for  Ne 

wyste),  19.  384.     See  Nuste. 
Ny-we,  adj.  new,   i  a.  173.    See 

Niwe. 
Ny3t,  sb.  night,  5.  5745  ;   Nyjte, 

i  6.  86. 

O. 

O,  adj.   one,   i  a.  324;    4  6.  40; 

one  and  the  same,  20.  24 ;  bat  o 

=  the  one,  20.  34.     Contr.  from 

O.  E.  on,  one ;  A.  S.  an. 
O,  prep,  of,  7.  26 ;    of,  off;    o  lijf, 

o  Hue  =  oft'  life,  out  of  life;    do 

o   lijf,  or  bring  o   Hue  =  to   kill, 

7.  198;  see  also  1.  191. 
O,  prep,  on,  in,  14  c.  1 25.   Shortened 

from  on,  not  from  of. 
Obak,  adv.  back,  2.  xvii.  103.    A.  S. 

on-bac,  behind,  E.  aback. 
Obeyshen,  pr.pl.  obey,  17.  Mar. 

iv.  41. 

Obout,  adv.  about,  10. 1275, 1280. 
Obout-ga,  v.  to  go  about,  revolve, 

10.  1277. 

Occean,  sb.  ocean,  7.  23. 
Occident,  sb.  West,  19.  297. 
Odde;    an   odde  =  an   odd   one,  a 

single  one,  13.  505. 
Of,  prep,  from,  out  of,  5.  5675  ;  by, 

6.  77 ;  out  of,  9.  51.     A.  S.  of. 
Of-dret,  pp.  terrified,  afraid,  9.  93. 

A.  S.  of-drcedan,  to  dread. 
O-ferrum,  adv.  afar,  u  c.  70,  89; 

On-ferrum,  afar,  7.  368. 
Offerands,  sb.pl.  F.  offerings,  7.  28. 
Offerd,  pt.  pi.    offered,   presented, 

7.  2,   41 ;    pres.  part.    Offrand, 
offering,  7.  59. 

Of-saw,  pt.  s.  perceived,  12.  49; 
Of-seye,  12.  224;  Of-seie,  12.  273. 
A.  S.  of-seon,  to  see,  find. 


432 


GLOSS ARIAL  INDEX. 


Ofscapie,  v.  to  escape,  i  a.  495. 
Apparently  a  hybrid  form ;  cf. 
A.  S.  of,  away,  and  F.  echapper, 
to  escape ;  but  the  F.  verb  is  of 
Teutonic  origin  ;  cf.  E.  skip. 

Of-sende,  v.  to  send  for,  i  a.  32  ; 
pt.  s.  Ofsente,  sent  for,  sent  after, 
15.  iii.  96.  Cf.  A.  S.  of-acsian, 
to  ask  for,  ask  after,  seek  out. 

Oftsiss,  adv.  ofttimes,  often,  1 6. 
17.  O.  E.  sithe,  a  time;  A.  S. 
sffi,  a  path,  a  time ;  Mceso-Goth. 
sinth,  a  journey,  a  time. 

Ogaines,  prep,  against,  2.  xiv.  8. 
A.  S.  ongedn,  against. 

Ogainsagh.es,  sb.pl.  contradictions, 

2.  xvii.  109. 

Ogaintorne,  v.  to  turn  again,  re- 
turn, 2.  xvii.  98. 

Ogaynes,  prep,  against,  II  a.  94; 
Oganis,  n  b.  39.  See  Ogaines. 

Oghne,  adj.  own,  20.  21.  A.  S. 
dgen,  own,  from  dgan,  to  possess, 
to  own. 

Ohttpron.  aught,  3.  221.    A.  S.  dht. 

Ok,  sb.  oak,  12.  295.     A.S.  dc. 

Okerer,  sb.  usurer,  8  b.  201 ; 
Okerere,  5.  5576;  pi.  Okerers, 
5.  5580.  See  Okir. 

Okering,  sb.  usury,  8  b.  123; 
Okeryng,  5.  5944.  See  below. 

Okir,  sb.  usury,  2.  xiv.  13.  Icel. 
6kr,  Sw.  ocker,  Du.  woeker,  G. 
ivucher,  usury,  increase ;  cf.  A.  S. 
edcan,  Lat.  auger  e,  to  e#£,  in- 
crease ;  also  E.  huckster,  auction. 

Olepi,  adv.  simply,  only,  6.  83. 
See  Onlepi. 

Olt,  adj.  old,  3.  45. 

On,  prep,  in,  i  6.  13  ;  3.  42  ;  on 
dayes  =  by  daytime,  daily,  12. 
244 ;  cf.  on  nyhtes,  20.  306 ; 
J?at  be  is  on  =  that  is  upon  thee, 

3.  88;  on  slepe  =  asleep,  16.  192. 
A.  S.  on,  in.  » 

On,  adj.  one,  I  a.  65  ;  6.  134 ;  J>at 
on  =  the  one,  I  a.  300;  On  time, 
once,  6.  90.  A.S.  an,  G.  ein, 
Lat.  unus. 


Onan,  adv.  anon,  7.  249.  A.  S.  on 
an,  in  one. 

Onde,  sb.  breath,  20.  149.  Icel. 
andi,  Sc.  aynd,  Gk.  dvefJLos  ;  cf. 
Lat.  ventus,  E.  wind. 

Onde,  sb.  jealousy,  envy,  i  b.  69 ; 
46.  1 8.  A.  S.  anda,  malice,  envy, 
andian,  to  envy. 

Onderstand,  imp.  2  p.  s.  under- 
stand, 6.  66 ;  pp.  Onderstonde, 
understood,  9.  1 8. 

Onderuonge,  v.  to  receive,  enter- 
tain, 9.  23 ;  pt.  pi.  Onderuynge, 
they  received,  9.  136;  imp.  pi. 
Onderuonge b,  receive  ye,  9.  92. 
A.  S.  under /on,  to  take. 

One,  adv.  S.  alone,  I  a.  24 ;  at//, 
alone,  12.  an.  See  On. 

Ones,  adv.  once,  12.  195. 

Onesprute,  sb.  inspiration,  2.  xvii. 
44.  The  lit.  meaning  is  spirting 
upon ;  it  is  clearly  intended  as  an 
equivalent  to  the  word  inspira- 
tione  in  the  Vulgate. 

Onfanged,  pt.  s.  received,  2.  xvii. 
92.  A.  S.  on/on,  to  receive,  from 
fdn,  to  take.  The  Vulgate  has 
suscepit.  See  Onderuonge. 

Onlepi,  adj.  only,  9.  237.  A.  S.  <kn- 
lipig,  dnlipig,  singular,  sole,  every. 

Onlofte,  adv.  aloft,  13.  947.  A.S. 
on  lyfte,  in  the  air. 

Onlosti,  adj.  idle  (lit.  unlusty),  9. 
19.  A.  S.  unlust,  weariness,  lack  of 
pleasure,  from  lust,  pleasure,  desire. 

Onlych,  adv.  only,  5.  5764. 

Onnea]?e,  adv.  scarcely,  9.  194. 
A.S.  vnedff,  difficult,  from  unt 
not,  edft,  easy. 

On-rounde,  adv.  around,  round 
and  round,  13.  423. 

On-sidis-hond,  adv.  aside,  17. 
Mar.  iv.  34.  Vulg.  seorsum. 
Wyclif  also  uses  on-sidis-hondis, 
asydis-hond,  and  aside-half. 

Onspekinde,  pres.  part,  unspeak- 
able, ineffable  (lit.  unspeaking), 
9.  108. 

On-)?olymde,  adj.  insufferable,  in- 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


433 


tolerable,  9.  56.  (Lit.  unsuffering). 

A.  S.  \>olian,  to  suffer. 
On-to-delinde,  pres.  part.  (lit.  un- 

dividing),  indivisible,  9.  1 08.  A.S. 

to-dcelan,  to  divide  in  two. 
Ony,  adj.  any,  14  a.  33. 
Onzyginde,  pres.  part.  (lit.  unsee- 
ing), invisible,  9.  185. 
Oo,  adv.  ever,  always,  continually, 

4  a*.  7.     A.  S.  aa,  a,  ever,  ay*. 
Oon,  adj.  one,  19.  271;  tljat  oon  = 

that  one,  i.  e.  the  one,  19.  551. 
Oor,  sb.  ore,  18  a.  43.     Dan.  aare, 

G.  aoVr,  a  vein  ;   the  ore  is  the 

vein  of  metal. 
Op,  adv.  up,  1 8  b.  I.     Du.  op,  up ; 

G.  auf. 

Ope,  />r£/>.  upon,  6.  91.     See  above. 
Open,  adj.  uncovered,  20.  137. 
Openlic,  adj.  open,  manifest,  8  a. 

1 80. 
Oplondysch,       adj.       uplandish, 

countryfied,    from    the    country, 

1 8  a.  172;  Vplondysch,  200. 
Oppenes,  imp.  pi.  open,   2.  xxiii. 

15,    21  ;    pres.  part.    Oppenand, 

opening,   2.  ciii.  66.     A.  S.  open, 

adj.  open,  openian,  to  open. 
Or,  adv.  even,  only,  17.  Mar.  v.  28. 
Or,  prep,    before,   ere,   15.  v.    20. 

A.  S.  dr,  <zr,  before. 
Or,  pron.  your,  4  c.  39  ;  15.  iii.  63; 

Ore,  3.  300.     A.  S.  eower,  of  you. 
Ordayny,  pr.  s.  subj.  set  in  order, 

9.  10;  pt.pl.  Ordeinede,  ordered, 

arranged,   I  a.   72  >   Ordeind,  ap- 
pointed, 7.  31;  Ordaynt,  13.  237. 

Lat.  ordinare,  from  ordo. 
Ordeynour,  sb.  ordainer,  arranger, 

I  b.  45. 
Ordinance,  sb.  provision,  array,  19. 

250. 
Ore,  adv.  before,  formerly,  5.  5859. 

See  Or,  prep. 
Ore,  sb.  mercy,  I  a.  499.     A.  S.  drt 

grace,  favour,  honour ;    Du.  eer, 

G.  ehre,  honour. 
Oreisouns,  sb.  pi.  F.  prayers,  I  b. 

61 ;  Orisouns,  19.  596. 

VOL.  II. 


Orf,  sb.  cattle,  I  a.  441,  442.  A.S. 
yrfe,  <zrfe,  inheritance,  goods, 
cattle,  G.  erbe,  inheritance. 

Or-litel,  adj.  too  little,  10.  1459. 
Lit.  otw-little. 

Orped,  adj.  valiant,  18  b.  70. 
'Orpud,  audax'  Prompt.  Parv. 

Or-quar,  adv.  otherwhere,  else- 
where, 7.  417.  But  perhaps  read 
o-whar  =  anywhere. 

Oseneye,  prop,  name,  I  a.  278. 

Ost,  sb.  host,  army,  I  a.  98,  137 ; 
i8a.  105. 

Ostage,  sb.  hostage,  I  a.  230,  231. 

O\>,sb.  S.  oath,  la.  15,  22,41;  18  b. 
3.  A.  S.  aft. 

Ober,  conj.  or,  i  a.  84,  290;  6.  101 ; 
either,  18  b.  77.  A.S.  oftfo,  or. 

Ofer,  adj.  second,  15.  v.  118;  >at 
oj>er  =  the"  second  time,  6.  105. 
A.S.  ofter,  other,  second. 

Ober-whyle,  adv.  occasionally,  3. 
33  ;  OJjerhuyl,  sometimes,  9.  223; 
OJ>erwhile,  15.  vi.  40:  vii.  242. 

Obre,  other  things;  in  phr.  and 
oj>re  =  */  cetera,  9.  212,  213. 

Oueral,  adv.  everywhere,  in  all 
quarters,  I  a.  372  ;  I  b.  6  ;  3.  143. 

Ouercomeb,  pr.  pi.  subj.  they  may 
overcome,  9.  50;  pt.  s.  Ouercom, 
la.  104 ;  pp.  Ouercome,  I  a. 
IOI.  A.S.  ofercuman,  to  over- 
come. 

Ouerestes,  sb.  pi.  uppermost  parts, 
2.  ciii.  6.  From  oferest,  a  super, 
form  from  A.  S.  qfer,  over. 

Ouerfare,  v.  to  pass  over,  2.  xvii. 
78  ;  2.  ciii.  60.  A.  S.  oferf&ran, 
to  pass  over. 

Ouerga,  v.  to  pass  over,  2.  ciii. 
19;  pr.  s.  Ouergef),  goes  over, 
exceeds,  9.  1 1 2 ;  pp.  Ouergon, 
past,  3.  198.  A.S.  ofergdn,  to 
go  over. 

Ouerlop,  s6.  overleaping,  omission, 
8  a.  242.  A.  S.  oferhlyp,  a  leap- 
ing over. 

Ouerlyppes,  sb.pl.  upper  lips,  18  b. 
67.  Cf.  Chaucer,  Prol.  133. 

Ff 


434 


GLOSSARTAL   INDEX. 


Ouermastes,  sb.  pi.  summits,  tops, 
2.  ciii.  27.  Lit.  overmost,  or 
uppermost  places. 

Ouer-mykel,  adv.  overmuch,   10. 

I43I- 
Ouer-spradde,  pt.   s.    overspread, 

I  a.  480. 

Ouer-tan,  pp.  overtaken,  7-  ^72. 
Ouer-bwert,  adv.  across,  13.  316. 

A.  S.  ]>weorh,  G.  zwerch,  oblique, 

slanting;  Icel.  \>vert,  across,  whence 

E.  athwart,  thwart. 
Ouertlye,  sb.  openly,  8  b.  70.      F. 

ouver t,  open. 
Ouer-waltez,  pr.  s.  overflows,  13. 

370.     Cf.  A.  S.  wealtian,  to  roll. 
Ouet,  sb.  fruit,  9.  137,  234-.     A.  S. 

offEt,    ofet,    fruit.       Perhaps    we 

should  read  ine  o\iet  —  into  fruit, 

in  1.  137. 

Ought,  adv.  at  all,  2.  xvii.  105. 
Oule,  sb.  owl,  20.  305. 
Our,  prep,  over,  2.  cii.  38. 
Our,  sb.  hour,  time,  1 7.  Mar.  vi. 

35.     Lat.  hora. 
Oure,  pron.  poss.  your,  15.  i.  53; 

15.  iii.  64.     See  Or,  pron. 
Ous,  pron.  us,  6.  3,  II,  79.     A.  S. 

us,  G.  uns. 
Out,   inter j.   away!    I  b.  89.     Sw. 

hut  (interj.),  be  off !    get  away  1 

Hence  E.  hoot,  to  bid  to  go  away. 
Outbere,   v.    to    bear    out,    take 

away,  2.  ciii.  71. 
Out-blaste,  pt.  s.  puffed  out,  I  b. 

81.     A.  S.  blckstan,  to  puff,  blast, 

a  blowing. 
Oute-breyde,   pt.   s.    awoke,    5. 

5739.     See  Braydes. 
Outelede,  subj.  pr.  s.  2  p.  mayst 

bring   forth,    2.   ciii.    31.       (Lit. 

lead  out.} 
Outen,  adj.  foreign,  strange ;  used 

as  a  sb.  in  gen.  pi.  2.  xvii.  113, 

114.     A.  S.  ut,  ute,  out,  abroad, 

utan,  beyond. 

Outher,  conj.  either,  10.  494. 
Outsendes,  pr.  s.  2  p.  sendest  out, 

2.  ciii.  21 ;    imp.  s.  Outsend,  2. 


ciii.  73.  A.  S.  ut-sendan,  to  send 
out. 

Outtake,  v.  to  take  out,  deliver,  2. 
xvii.  109,  124;  pt.  s.  Outtoke, 
delivered,  2.  xvii.  47  ;  pp.  Out- 
taken,  excepted,  19.  277;  except, 
J3'  357;  Outtane,  delivered,  2. 
xvii.  77. 

Ouur,  prep,  over  ;  ouur  al  =  over 
all,  i.e.  everywhere,  15.  ii.  194. 
Cf.  G.uberall. 

Ow,  pron.pl.  you,  12.  106;  15.  i. 
2  ;  Ou,  15.  i.  52.  A.  S.  eow,  ace. 
from  ge,  ye. 

Owai,  adv.  away ;  owai  do  bam  = 
do  away  with  them,  destroy  them  ; 
2.  xvii.  108. 

Owen,  adj.  own,  3.  106,  158; 
Owe,  I  a.  215  ;  pi.  Oune,  3.  109 ; 
def.  Oune,  3.  197.  A.S.  dgen,  own. 

Oxspring,  sb.  offspring,  generation, 

7-43. 

Oyele,  sb.  oil,  2.  ciii.  33 ;  Oylle,  6. 
144.  A.  S.  cd,  Lat.  oleum. 

Ojene,  adj.  own,  9.  186;  Ojen, 
(his)  own,  9.  27.  Cf.  Lat.  pro- 
verb suum  cuique.  A.  S.  agen, 
own. 

P. 

Pace,  v.  F.  to  pass,  go ;  to  pace  of 
=  to  pass  from,  19.  205. 

Paid,  pp.  satisfied,  8  b.  143.  See 
Pay. 

Paie,  sb.  F.  pleasure,  satisfaction, 
12.  193.  See  Pay. 

Pak-neelde,  sb.  pack-needle,  15. 
v.  126.  Du.  naald,  a  needle. 
O.  E.  neeld  =  needle  occurs  in 
Shakespeare,  M.  N.  D.  iii.  2.  204  ; 
cf.  Lat.  neo. 

Palesye,  sb.  palsy,  15.  v.  61 ;  Pale- 
sie,  1 7.  Mar.  ii.  3  ;  Palasie,  4. 

Palfrey,  sb.  horse,  nag,  15.  ii.  164. 

Palmers,  sb.pl.  palmers,  i^pr.  46. 

Parauntre,  adv.  peradventure,  per- 
haps, i  a.  50,  387,  492  ;  Parauen- 
ture,  peradventure,  perhaps,  19. 
190. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


435 


Farfit,  adj.  F.  perfect,  10.  1289. 

Farisschens,  sb.  pi.  parishioners, 
15  pr.  79.  F-  paroissien,  from 
Low  Lat.  parochia,  Gk.  irapoiKia, 
from  irdpoiKos,  living  near. 

Farlement,  sb.  F.  parliament,  I  a. 
109,  112. 

Parten,  2  p.  pi.  pr.  distribute,  15. 
i.  156;  imp.  s.  Part,  give  away, 
bestow,  15.  iii.  58  ;  pi.  ParteJ>, 
share,  5.  5940. 

Parteners,  sb.  pi.  partners,  18  a. 
205. 

Farty,  sb.  F.  side,  5.  5643,  5651 ; 
a  party  =  partially,  in  some  mea- 
sure, 5.  5722;  10.  2334;  pi. 
Parties,  parts,  140.  36 ;  20. 
168. 

Pas,  sb.  passage,  8  a.  248  ;  part  of 
a  narration,  5.  5696 ;  passus, 
canto,  12.  161  ;  Pass,  a  pace,  1 6. 
203*  ;  used  as  pi.  Pas,  paces, 
movements,  19.  306.  F.  pas. 

Pases,  sb.  pi.  passes,  narrow  paths, 
10.  1239. 

Passchet,  pp.  dashed,  15.  v.  16. 
O.  E.  pash,  to  dash ;  Dan.  baske, 
to  slap. 

Passe,  v.  to  pass,  go  away,  return, 
12.  270;  to  surmount,  8  a.  in; 
pr.  s.  Passe)?,  surpasses,  1 8  a.  I  ; 
goes  beyond,  15.  i.  102  ;  pr.  pi. 
live,  15.  i.  7;  Passe])  ouer  =  sur- 
passes, 20.  284;  pres.  part.  Pas- 
synge,  surpassing,  14  a.  3.  F. 
passer. 

Fauilyoune,  sb.  pavilion,  tent, 
1 1  b.  63  ;  pi.  Pauylons,  1 8  b.  62. 

Fay,  sb.  satisfaction,  5.  5801 ;  u  a. 
10 ;  Paye,  15.  vi.  39.  O.F.paie, 
E.pay,  from  Lzt.pacare,  to  pacify, 
from  pax,  peace. 

Faye,  v.  to  satisfy,  15.  vii.  297; 
pp.  Payd,  pleased,  5.  5657  ;  18  a. 
6 1  ;  Payde,  supplied,  i  a.  368. 
See  above. 

Fayenes,  sb.  F.  (gen.  case}  pagan's, 
12.  365;  PL  Payens,  19.  534. 
See  below. 


Payne,  sb.  pain,  penalty,  13.  244. 

Payneme,  sb.  pagan,  14  c.  42. 
Norman  F.  paynem,  F.  palen,  Lat. 
paganus,  from  pagus,  a  village. 

Feces,  sb.  pi.  cups,  small  drinking- 
cups,  15.  iii.  23.  Formerly,  a 
drinking-cup  was  called  a  pece, 
lit.  a  piece.  '  Pece,  to  drinke  in, 
tasse ; '  Prompt.  Parv.  (note). 

Fees,  sb.  F.  peace,  4^.  39. 

Feine,  sb.  penalty,  i  a.  419.  Lat. 
poena. 

Feired,  pp.  injured,  15.  v.  76. 
O.  E.  appaire,  paire,  to  injure, 
from  F.  pire,  worse,  Lat.  peior. 

Felet,  sb.  ball,  15.  v.  61.  Pellets 
were  stone  balls  used  as  missiles, 
and  of  course  of  a  pale  white 
colour.  They  were  also  called 
gunstones. 

Fell,  sb.  fur,  dressed  skin,  7.  144. 
Lat.  pellis,  E.  fell,  skin. 

Pellure,  sb.  F.  costly  fur,  12.  53. 
See  above. 

Penaunce,  sb.  penance,  5.  5829, 
5867. 

Fencell,  sb.  pennon,  streamer,  1 1  c. 
46.  Also  called  pennoncel;  Lat. 
penicillus,  a  little  tail ;  whence 

E.  pencil,  orig.  a  painting-brush. 
Penez,  sb.  pi.  pens,  cribs,  13.  322. 

A.S.pyndan,  to  enclose,  impound; 

whence  E.  pen,  pound,  pindar. 
Peni-ale,  sb.  common  ale,  sold  at 

a  penny  a  gallon,  15.  v.  134. 
Pennes,  sb.  pi.  quills  of  a  feather, 

H  «•  133- 
Peny,  sb.  penny,  4  c.  27,  56;  pi. 

Pens,  pence,  5.  5579. 
Feosen,  sb.pl.  peas,   15.  vii.  285. 

A.  S.  pise ;  O.  E.  pese  (sing,  sb.), 

pi.  pesen.     The  modern  pea  is  a 

false  form. 
Fercel-mel,    adv.    by    retail,    in 

parcels  at  a  time,  15.  iii.  72.     Cf. 

Poundmele. 

Percen,  v.  F.  to  pierce,  14  c.  98. 
Percyl,   sb.    parsley,    15.  vii.  273. 

F.  persil,  Gk.  irerpoac Xivov. 

»fa 


436 


GLOSS  ART  A  L  INDEX. 


Pereye,  sb.  perry,   6.  16.    From 

Lat.  pyrus,  a  pear.     See  Piries. 
Pernel,  sb.  Pernel  (proper  name, 

shortened  from  Petronilla),  1 5 .v.  45 . 
Perrey,  sb.  F.  jewellery,    12.  53; 

Perreie,    20.    35.      F.  pierrerie, 

from  pierre,  a  stone,  jewel,  Lat. 

petra,  a  stone. 

Pers,  Peter,  5.  5576,  5590. 
Persauit,  pt.  s.  perceived,  1 6.  44. 
Perte,  adj.  apert,  manifest,  obvious, 

15.  i.  98. 
Pertelyche,    adv.    evidently,    12. 

53;  Pertiliche,    12.   291;  Pertly, 

truly,  12.  1 80;  Pertely,  complete 

ly,    12.     156.      Shortened    from 

apertlicke,    from    F.   apert,    Lat. 

apertus,  open. 
Peryl,  s6.  F.  peril,  6.  99. 
Pes,  s6.  peace,  I  a.  370,  374. 
Pesecoddes,  sb.  pi.  pea-pods,  15. 

vii.  279.     A.  S.  codd,  a  bag.     See 

Peosen. 
Pesiblenesse,  sb.  calm,  17.  Mar. 

iv.  39. 
Peter!  inter],  by  saint  Peter!    15. 

vi.  28.  So  also  in  Chaucer. 
Pettes,  sb.pl.  See  Puttes. 
Peyneble,  adj.  painful,  careful,  5. 

5802.     F.  penible,   painful,    from 

peine. 
Peynen,  v.  refl.  to  take  pains,  140. 

60 ;  pr.  s.   Peyneth   hir,   endea- 
vours, strives,  19.  320. 
Peys,  sb.  F.  weight,  5.  5670.     F. 

poids,  Lat.  pensum. 
Peysede,  pt.s.  weighed,  15.  v.  131. 

See  above. 

Phelip,  Philip,  i  a.  463. 
Pilewe,  sb.  pillow,  17.  Mar.  iv.  38. 
Pined,   pp.   tormented,  8  b.  255. 

See  below. 
Pines,  sb.  pi.  torments,  8  a.  166. 

A.  S.  pin,  pine,  pain. 
Pinnede,  ip.s.pt.  fastened  tightly, 

kept  (them)  squeezed  down,  15. 

v.  127.     A.  S.  pyndan,  to  confine, 

whence   E.  pen,  pinfold,  pindar. 

See  Penez. 


Piries,  sb.  pi.  pear-trees,  15.  v.  16. 

Lat.  pyrus,  A.  S.  pirige,  a  pear- 
tree. 
Piriwhit,  sb.  some  common  kind 

of  perry,  15.  v.  134. 
Pitaile,   sb.    footsoldiers,    infantry, 

lie.  56.    O.  F.  pietaille,  pedaille; 

from  Lat.  pes. 
Plages,  sb.  pi.   regions,    19.   543. 

Lat.  plaga. 

Plate,  sb.  plate-armour,  II  e.  46. 
Platte,  pt.  s.  threw  (herself)  flat, 

15.  v.  45.     Y.plat,  Sw.platt,  flat. 
Playne,  v.  to  complain,  15.  iii.  161 ; 

pr.  pi.  PlayneK  15  pr.  So. 
Playnt,  sb.  plant,  growing  shrub, 

X5-  i-   J37'     Badly  spelt  ;    other 

MSS.  have  plante,  plonte,  plaunte. 
Pleiden  hem,/>/.^/.  amused  them- 

selves,  played,  15  pr.  20.     A.  S. 

plegan,  to  play,  plega,  play. 
Pleignen,  pr.  pi.  F.  complain,  20. 

19  ;  pres.part.  Pleynand,  10.  799. 
Plenerly,  adv.  fully,  5.  5811.  Lat. 

plenus,  full. 
Plentuos,   adj.   plenteous,    fertile, 

abounding  in,  1 8  a.  6,  23. 
Plesance,  sb.  F.  pleasure,  19.  149 ; 

delight,  19.  276. 
Pletede,  i  p.  s.  pt.  plaited,  folded 

up,  15.  v.  126. 
Pleynand.    See  Pleignen. 
Pliht,  sb.  danger,  8  b.   So.     A.  S. 

pliht,  a  pledge,  danger  ;  E.  plight. 
Plihten,    pr.   pi.    pledge,    plight, 

agree,    15    pr.    46  ;    pp.    Pliht, 

pledged,  15.  v.  Il6.     A.  S.  pliht, 

a  pledge. 

Plihtful,  adj.  dangerous,  8  a.  171. 
Plit,  sb.  plight,  state,  20.  295. 
Plon,  sb.  plough,  3.  114. 
Plou-lond,  sb.  pi.  ploughlands  (a 

measure  of  land),  I  a.  353.     A.S. 

land  (a  neuter  sb.),  has  land  also 

in  the  plural. 
Pluschaud,  adj.  very  hot,  15.  vii. 

299.     F.  plus  chaud. 
Plyht,  pp.  plighted,  46.  28.     See 

Plihten. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


437 


Poc,  sb.  poke,  bag,  pouch,  8  b.  156. 

A.  S.  pocca,  a  bag. 
Peer,  sb.  F.  power,  I  a.  26 ;  forces, 

I  a.  309,  323;  Poeir,  I  a.  316. 
Point,  sb.  in  phr.  in  point  =  at  the 

point,  about  to  (do),  19.  331. 
Poletes,  sb.pl.  pullets,  15.  vii.  267. 

F.  poulet,  from  Lat.  pullus. 
Pons,  sb.  pi.  pence,  15  pr.  86.   See 

Peny. 
Porchas,  sb.  F.  gain,  winnings,  I  a. 

34.  5°5'     What  a  man  wins  for 

himself;  hence,  personal  property ; 

lit.  purchase. 

Pore,  adj.  poor,  5.  5582,  5595. 
Porettes,  sb.  pi.  young  onions,  or 

leeks,  15.  vii.  273.     O.  F.  poret, 

F.  porreau. 
Pors,   sb.  purse,   15.   v.    no.     F. 

bourse,  purse,  Gk.  @vpaa,  skin. 
Portingale,  sb.  Portugal,  12.  116. 
Porueid,  pp.  provided,  I  a.   150; 

pres.  part.   Porueynde,   provident 

of,  9.  75.     See  Pourveid. 
Pose,  sb.  cold  in  the  head,  i  b.  92. 

Used   by   Chaucer,  C.  T.   4150. 

F.  pousse,    shoot,    also,   asthma ; 

from  F.  pousser,  Lat.  pulsare. 
Potte,  pt.  s.  put,  1 8  b.  125  ;  pi.  pi. 

Pot,  186.  31. 
Pouce,   sb.   pulse,    lo.   822.      See 

Pose. 
Pouere,    adj.    poor,    I    a.    382 ; 

Pouer,  8  b.  1 60  ;    com/).  Pouerore, 

i  a.  294.     f.pauvre,  Lai. pauper. 
Pouert,  sb.  poverty,  5.  5756;   10. 

1222. 

Poules,  St.  Paul's,  i  a.  448. 
Pound,  sb.   18  a.  94.     Pond  and 

pound  (for  cattle)  are  both  from 

A.  S.  pyndan,  to  shut  in,  pen  in. 

See  Pinnede. 
Poundmele,    adv.   by   pounds    at 

a  time,  15.  ii.  198.  A.  S.  -m&him, 

by  pieces,  dat.  pi.  of  mal,  a  por- 
tion. 
Poure,  adj.  F.  poor,  i  6.  63.     See 

Pouere. 
Pourveid,  pp.  provided;  pourveid 


of  =  provided  with,  20.   195.     F. 

pourvoir,  Lat.  providere. 
Pownd,  sb.  pi.  pound,  pounds,  5. 

5760.  A.S./>w«c?(neut.sb.)pl./>tt«</. 
Poyle,  sb.  Apulia,  12.  156. 
Poynt,  sb.  small  portion  ;  a  poynt, 

a  single  bit,  one  mite,  10.  2311 ; 

at  the  poynt  =  conveniently  placed, 

14  c.  128. 

Prayes,  sb.  pi.  spoils,  18  b.  50. 
Prechet  (for  Preche  it),  preach  it, 

proclaim   it,   15.  i.   137.     Other 

MSS.  preche  it. 

Prees,  sb.  press,  throng,  19.  677. 
Preieth,  imp.pl.  F.  pray  ye,   12. 

164;  pr.  s.  Preith,  20.  122. 
Prentis,  sb.  apprentice,  15.  ii.  190. 
Preostes,  sb.  pi.  priests,  i  b.  56. 
Preouen,  v.  F.  to  prove,  test,  15 

pr.  38;  pt.  s.  Preuede,  proved,  15. 

v.  13.     Lat.  probare. 
Pressour,  sb.  a  press,  15.  v.  127. 
Prest,   sb.    priest,    6.    120 ;    dat. 

Preste,  6.  77  ;  pi.  Prestes,  6.  86  ; 

Preostes,  I  b.  56. 
Prest,  adj.  ready,  lie.  25  ;  Preste, 

I  a.    59.     O.  F.  prest,   F.  pret, 
ready  ;  Lat.  prasto,  quick. 

Preste,  adj.  (contr.  from  pret-ste\ 
proudest,  highest,  9.  139.  Ken- 
tish pret  =  O.E.prut.  See  Prout. 

Prestely,  adv.  F.  quickly,  12.  291. 
See  Prest,  adj. 

Presteste,  adj.  readiest,  15.  vi.  41. 
See  Prest,  adj. 

Preuede.     See  Preouen. 

Preyd,  pt.  s.  prayed,  begged,  in- 
vited, 5.  5878. 

Preyere,  sb.  a  prayer,  5.  5719. 

Price,  sb.  high  esteem,  16.  9'o; 
Pris,  prize,  4  b.  35  ;  Prise,  victory, 

II  b.    26.     O.F.  pris,   F.  prix, 
Lat.  pretium. 

Prikede,  pt.  s.  spurred,  15.  ii.  164. 
Pris,   adj.    F.    precious,    valuable, 

excellent,  12.  161.     See  Price. 
Prisons,  sb.pl.  prisoners,  I  a.  513; 

15.   iii.    132.       O.  F.  prison,   a 

prisoner. 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


Priss,  v.  to  prize ;   to  priss  =  to  be 

prized,  1 6.  99.     See  Pris. 
Priuei,  adj.  privy,  private,  I  b.  60. 
Priuelich.e,  adv.  secretly,  I  a.  24. 
Priuitee,  sb.  secrecy,  19.  548. 
Promyssioun,  sb.  promise,  14  a.  2. 
Proper,  adj.  valiant,  II  c.  25. 
Properties,  sb.pl.  peculiarities,  10. 

801. 
PropMtide,  pt.  pi.    profited,   17. 

Mar.  v.  26. 

Proued,  pt.  pi.  attempted,  1 1  c.  42. 
Prouendreres,   sb.  pi.   one   who 

holds    a    prebend,    15.    iii.    145. 

Lat.  pr&benda  (from  prcebere,  to 

afford),   a    ration,   an    allowance ; 

whence   F.  provende,   provendre, 

and  E.  provender. 
Prouisours,  sb.  pi.  provisors,  15. 

iii.  142.     See  the  note. 
Prout,  adj.  proud,  I  a.  144,  406. 

A.  S.  pr&t,  proud. 
Prowesse,  sb.  F.  prowess,  valour, 

i  a.  104,   117,    128.     F.  preux, 

valiant,  Lat.  probus. 
Prude,  sb.  pride,  splendour,  4  b.  35  ; 

Pruide,  15  pr.  23.     A.S.  pryd. 
Pruf,  imp.  pi.  i  p.  let  us  see,  let  us 

test,  1 6.  22.     See  Preouen. 
Prustes,  sb.  pi.  priests,  18  b.  65. 

See  Prest,  sb. 
Prute,  sb.  pride,   i   a.   185,  402. 

See  Prude. 
Pryue,  adj.  intimate,  5.  5919.     See 

Priuei. 
Pryuyte,    sb.     secret    matter,    5. 

5751  ;    privacy,   5.   5850.       See 

Priuitee. 
Pulte,  v.  to  thrust,  I  a.  390 ;  pt.  s. 

Pult,  put,  12.  381.     W.  pwtio,  to 

push.     In  O.  E.  we  often  find  pult 

written  for  put. 
Pupel,  sb.  people,  18  b.  38. 
Pupplische,  v.  to  publish,  make 

public,  1 4  a.  33. 
Pur  chary te,  F.    for   charity,   5. 

5611. 
Pur,  adj.  F.  pure ;  hence,  thorough, 

complete,  i  a.  174,  181. 


Pur,  adv.  completely,  i  a.  390. 

Pure,  adj.  poor,  10.  509.  See 
Pouere. 

Purpos,  sb.  design,  i.  e.  plot  of  a 
story,  19.  170. 

Puruay,  v.  to  provide  for  them- 
selves, ii  b.  33.  See  Pourueid. 

Purueance,  sb.  provision,  plan,  7. 
179 ;  also,  provision,  supply ;  water 
purueance  =  supply  or  provision  of 
water,  7.  301 ;  Purueiance,  equip- 
ment, 19.  247;  providence,  19. 
483.  See  Pourveid. 

Puttes,  sb.  pi.  pits,  20.  217;  Pettes, 
20.  221.  A.  S.  pytt. 

Puttide,  pt.  s.  put,  i.e.  led,  17. 
Mar.  i.  12. 

Pyk,  s&.  pike,  spiked  staff,  15.  vi. 
26.  A.  S.  pic,  a  point,  peak. 

Pyn,  sb.  pain,  10.  1456  ;  pi.  Pynes, 
torments,  8b.  198  ;  Pynen,  pains, 
punishments,  9.  62.  See  below. 

Pyne>,  pr.  pi.  torment,  9.  69 ;  pr.  s. 
Pyns,  torments,  10.  1928;  pt.  s. 
Pynede,  15.  i.  145.  A.S.  pin, 
pain,  pinan,  to  torment. 

Pynnyng-stoles  (rather  Pynyng- 
stoles),  sb.  pi.  stools  of  punish- 
ment, 15.  iii.  69.  O.  E.  pine,  to 
punish.  See  above. 

Pyns.     See  PyneK 

Q. 

Quain,  7.  203 ;  either  (i)  adj.  as 
sb.  number,  multitude,  quantity; 
cf.  A.S.  hwcene,  a  little,  hwene, 
somewhat  :  Sc.  wheen,  quheyne, 
quhone,  a  few,  but  also  used  for  a 
considerable  number,  a  quantity  ; 
whence  Sc.  wane,  O.  E.  wane,  a 
multitude,  a  'lot':  or  (2)  whining, 
mourning,  lamentation.  See  the 
note. 

Quaintelye,  adv.  quaintly,  i.  e. 
cunningly,  knowingly,  8  b.  248. 
O.  F.  cointe,  from  Lat.  cognitus. 

Quakand,  pres.  part,  quaking,  7. 
62. 


GLOSS ARIAL   INDEX. 


439 


Quale,  sb.  a  whale,  86.  46  ;   pi. 

Qualle,  whales,  8  a.  117.     A.  S. 

hw<zl,   a  whale;    cf.   walrus,  i.e. 

whale-horse,    from    Du.    wal    or 

walvisch,   a    whale,    and    ros,   a 

horse. 
Qualm,  sb.  plague,  wide-spread  and 

fatal   disease,    I    a.   441.      A.  S. 

cwealm,  death,  from  cwellan,  to 

kill,   quell ;    cf.   Sw.   yi/a/,   pain, 

qvalm,  sultriness,  from  qvdlja,  to 

torment,  to  render  qualmish. 
Quarelle,  sb.  a  crossbow-bolt,  14  c. 

135.     F.  carreau,  a  square,  carre, 

square,  from  Lat.  quadrum,  qua- 

tuor.     Named    from    its    square 

head. 

Quareres,  sb.pl.  quarries,  180.44. 
Quat-als-euer,   whatsoever,   8   b. 

141. 

Quatkin,  of  what  kind,  8  b.  19. 
Qua>,  said,  1 8  b.  17.     See  Quod. 
Quauende,  pres.  part,  overwhelm- 
ing, causing  things  to  quake,  13. 

324.      We   also   find    quaue  =  io 

quake,  as  in  Piers  Plowman,   B. 

xviii.  61. 
Quawes,   sb.  pi.   waves,    86.   26. 

Quawe  =  wawe,  a  wave. 
Queade,  sb.  evil,  9.   231;  Quede, 

iniquity,  2.  xvii.  12  ;  an  evil  man, 

5.  5605.     Du.  kwaad,  evil. 
Queinteliche,   adv.   curiously,  15 

pr.  24. 
Quek,  adj.  quick,  living,  8  a.  138. 

A.  S.  civic,  Lat.  tduus. 
Quelle,  v.  to  kill,  13.  324;  pr.  s. 

Quelles,   12.  179.     A.  S.  cwellan, 

to  kill. 

Quen,  adv.  when,  7.  35  ;  13.  435. 
Quer,  conj.  whether,  7.  53.     Quer 

=  wher,    a    contracted    form    of 

whether. 
Querel,  s6.  F.  quarrel,  18  6.  75,  79. 

Lat.  qnerela,  a  complaint,  queri, 

to  complain. 
Quet,  sb.  wheat,  8  6.  150;  Quete, 

157.     A.S.  hwdte,  wheat. 
Queynte,  pt.  s.  quenched,  became 


extinguished,    I    6.    ia       A.  S. 

cwencan,  to  quench. 
Quha,   pron.    whosoever,    1 6.    1 8. 

A.  S.  hwd. 
Quhethir,  adv.  whither,  16.  118. 

A.  S.  hwyder. 

Quhill,  conj.  until,  1 6.  1 06. 
Qui,  adv.  why,  8  a.  223  ;  8  6.  12. 

A.  S.  hvA. 
Quic,  adv.  quick,  alive,  living,  I  a. 

284;  Quik,  13.  324;  pi.  Quike, 

9.  242;  6.  108.     A.S.  cwic,  Lat. 

uiuus. 
Quicliche,  adv.  quickly,  I  a.  132, 

148. 
Quite,  v.  to  requite,  quit,  12.  325  ; 

to  satisfy,  pay  in  full,    19.  354. 

F.  quitter,  to  quit;  from  Lat.  quies. 
Quite,  adj.  white,  8  6.  226.    A.S. 

hwit. 
Quod,  pt.  s.  said,   19.   330.     A.S. 

cweftan,  to  say,  pt.  t.  ic  cwaft. 
Quointise,  s6.  stratagem,  i  a.  141. 

O.  F.    cointise,   from  cointe,   Lat. 

cognilus. 
Quoke,  pt.  s.  quaked,  2.  xvii.  19. 

A.  S.  cwecan,  pt.  t.  cwehte ;  a  weak 

verb. 

B. 

Rac,  s6.  storm,  driving  vapour,  13. 

433.  Prov.E.  rack,  driving  clouds. 
Bad,  pt.  s.  rode,  8  6.  25 ;  pt.  pi. 

Rade,  7.  53.     See  Bide. 
Bad,  pp.  advised,  4  b.  8.     (It  seems 

here  rather  to  mean  promised,  or 

appointed.)  A.  S.  r<edan,  to  advise, 

appoint,  reed,  counsel. 
Badde,/>/.  s.  advised,  exhorted,  15. 

v.  103;  pt.pl.  2  p.  read,  17.  Mar. 

11.  25. 

Badde,  adj.  afraid,  86.  201 ;  Rade, 
7.  348;  Rad,  86.  211.  Sw. 
r'ddd,  afraid,  r'ddas,  to  fear. 

Bade,  s6.  road,  7.  55.     A.  S.  rdd. 

Bade,  pt.  s.  rode,  1 1  c.  47  ;  pt.pl.  7. 
53.  See  Bad. 

Badely,  adv.  S.   readily,   quickly, 

12.  41. 


440 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


Rage,  sb.  F.  madness,  8   b.    182. 

From  Lat.  ace.  rabiem. 
Kagemon,  sb.  bull,  15  pr.  72.    See 

the  note. 
Baght,  pp.  reached,  7.  13;  Raht, 

pt.  s.  subj.  should  give,  4  c.  34. 

A.  S.  reccan,  pt.  t.  ic  rehte,  reahte. 
Bailed,  pp.  set  in  order,  set  in  a 

row,  II  b.  83.     E.   rail;    cf.    a 

row  of  railings.     See  Bayle>. 
Baiss,  pt.  s.  rose,  16.  414. 
Bap,  s6.  haste,  3.  256.     Du.  rap, 

Sw.    rapp,    brisk,   Sw.   rappa,   to 

snatch ;  Icel.  hrapa,  to  hasten. 
Bapli,  adv.  quickly,  8  a.  240.     See 

above. 
Bas,  sb.  race,  rush,  fast  pace,  8  b. 

185.     A.S.  rces;  cf.  E.  mill-roe*. 
Base,  v.  to  race,  run  quickly,  20. 

264.     A.  S.  rcesan,  to  rush,  race. 
Basse,   sb.   mound,  top,   13.  446. 

Prov.  E.  raise,  a  mound,  cairn. 
Bathe,   adv.   quickly,    8   a.    144; 

Ra]>e,    soon,    early,    15.    iii.    56. 

A.  S.  hr<JBft,  swift ;  E.  rather,  lit. 

quicker. 
BaJ>er,  adj.  comp.   earlier,  former, 

preceding,  1 8  b.  55. 
Bathly,    adv.    quickly,    il  c.   91. 

See  Bathe. 
Bauhte,  pt.  s.  raught,  reached,  got, 

!5/>r.  72.     See  Baght. 
Baumpe,  v.  ramp,  seize  or  scratch 

with  the  paws,    10.   2225.      Sw. 

ram,  a  paw,  rawer,  to  paw;  Ital. 

rampare,  to  claw,  rampa,  a  claw. 
Baunson,  sb.  ransom,   I   a.  361 ; 

Raunsun,  price,  5.  5765  ;  Raun- 

soun,  ransom,   14  a.  45.     From 

Lat.  ace.  redemptionem. 
Baw,  s&.  row,  rank ;  riche  on  raw, 

grand  in   array,  n  b.  79.     A.S. 

rawa,  row. 
Bawbe,  sb.  ruth,  mercy,  13.  972. 

A.  S.  hreow,  grief. 
Bayes,  sb.  pi.  striped  cloths,  15.  v. 

125.       F.    rate,    a    stripe,    Lat. 

radius. 
Eaykez,  pr.  s.  roams,   13.  465 ; 


pres.  part.  Raykande,  flowing, 
advancing,  13.  382.  Icel.  reka, 
to  drive.  N.  Prov.  E.  rake,  to  go 
about,  roam. 

Bayle)>,  pr.  s.  sets  in  order,  arrays, 
40".  13.  Du.  regelen,  to  rule, 
order,  from  regel,  a  rule. 

Baymen,  pr.  pi.  roam  about,  make 
royal  progresses,  15.  i.  93.  To 
make  a  progress  was  esteemed  a 
royal  duty ;  the  B-text  has  riden. 

Bealy,  adv.  F.  royally,  12.  352; 
Realyche,  18  b.  62. 

Beame,  sb.  kingdom,  15.  iii.  148. 
F.  royaume.  See  Bewme. 

Bearde,  sb.  voice,  cry,  9.  67.  A.  S. 
reord.  See  Burd. 

Beaue,  v,  to  deprive,  take  away, 
rob,  6.* 79.  A.  S.  reafian,  to  spoil, 
redf,  a  garment,  spoil.  See  Beue. 

Beaume,  s&.  F.  realm,  12.  135. 
See  Bewme. 

Bebouiide,  pt.  s.  rebounded,  went 
about,  13.  422. 

Becche,  v.  to  reck,  care,  3.  206 ; 
pr.  s.  I  p.  Recche,  5.  5763  ;  pr.  s. 
subj.  me  ne  recche,  I  may  not 
care,  i.  e.  I  care  not,  3.  203.  A.S 
recan,  to  reck,  rdc,  care. 

Becchelees,  adj.  careless,  indiffer- 
ent (lit.  reckless),  19.  229. 

Beche,  sb.  reek,  smoke,  13.  1009. 
A.  S.  rec,  smoke,  vapour. 

Beches,  pr.  s.  recks,  cares,  13.465. 
See  Becche. 

Bechej?  (other  MSS.  Richen),/>r./>/. 
grow  rich,  15.  iii.  74* 

Becles,  sb.  incense,  7.  127.  Redes 
=  recels  =  A.  S.  recels,  incense, 
from  recan,  to  reek,  smoke. 

Becomandeth,  pr.  s.  commends, 
19.  278. 

Beconsyled,  pp.  recovered.  14  a. 

79- 
Becouerer,   sb.    saviour,   succour, 

refuge,  13.  394. 
Bed,  sb.  counsel,  3.  7 ;  advice,  9. 

74.     See  Bede. 
Bede,   adj.   red,    i   a.    298,  384; 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


441 


blood,  19.  356.     A.  S.  read,  Gk. 
fpv9pos. 

Kede,  sb.  S.  counsel,  advice,  I  a. 
24;  ii  a.  23;  take  hire  to  rede 
=  considered  as  advisable  for  her- 
self, 12.  133;  what  ys  to  rede  = 
what  is  advisable  to  be  done,  5. 
5655.  A.  S.  reed,  G.  rath,  Du. 
raad. 

Kede,  v.  to  advise,  I  a.  48  ;  to 
harangue,  la.  99 ;  pr.  s.  I  p.  I 
advise,  5.  5793;  8  b.  159;  15.  i. 
149;  2  p.  Redes,  advisest,  7.  359; 
imp.  s.  Red,  counsel,  4  6.  24. 
A.  S.  rddan,  to  read,  to  advise. 
See  above. 

Bedeli,  adv.  readily,  12.  352 ; 
Rediliche,  easily,  15.  v.  103. 

Heed,  adj.  red ;  reed  of  =  red  with, 
19.  452. 

Beewere,  sb.  a  ruer,  one  who 
pities,  17.  Ps.  cii.  8.  A.  S.  hreo- 
wan,  to  rue. 

Befut,  sb.  place  of  refuge,  19.  546. 

Begal,  sb.  kingly  power,  regality, 
12.  282. 

Begnes,  sb.  pi.  kingdoms,  19.  181. 
Lat.  regnum. 

Begratorie,  sb.  selling  by  retail, 
15.  iii.  74.  F.  regrattier,  a  huck- 
ster. 

Begratour,  sb.  retail-dealer,  15.  iii. 
8 1 ;  v.  140.  See  above. 

Beguerdoun,  sb.  guerdon,  reward, 
recompence,  20.  96. 

Behersen,  v.  to  rehearse,  enume- 
rate, 15.  i.  22. 

Beins,  Rheims  (but  perhaps  meant 
for  Rouen),  i  a.  461,  466. 

Beke,  sb.  smoke,  2.  xvii.  23.  See 
Beche. 

Bekne,  v.  to  reckon,  19. 158;  pt.pl. 
Rekened,  reckoned,  5.  5585.  A.  S. 
recnan,  to  reckon. 

Beleyt,  pt.  s.  rallied,  16.  51 ;  pp. 
Releit,  1 6.  .91.  F.  rattier,  Lat. 
re-adligare,  to  unite  again. 

Belyues,  sb.  pi.  pieces  left,  leav- 
ings, fragments,  17.  Mar.  vi.  43. 


A.  S.    lifan,    to    leave,    remain 

behind,  with  Lat.  prefix  re-. 
Bern,  sb.  realm,  18  a.  196.      See 

Bewme. 

Bended,  pp.  rent,  86.  251. 
Beneye,  v.  to  deny,  abjure,  19.  376; 

forsake  (evil),  6.  1 8  ;  pt.  pi.  I  p. 

denied,   abjured,   19.  340.      Lat. 

re-negare. 

Beugned,  pp.  reigned,    i.e.    con- 
tinued, 13.  328  ;  imp.pl.  Rengnez, 

reign  ye,  i.e.  continue,  13.  527; 

cf.  1.  328.     But  this  is  doubtful ; 

see  the  note. 
Benkkes,  sb.  pi.  men,    13.   969. 

A.  S.  rinc,  a  soldier,  warrior. 
Benne,  v.  to  run,  12.  219.     A.S. 

rennan. 
Rentes,  sb.  pi.  rents,  revenues,  i  a. 

262,  292. 
Beparit,  pp.  (lit.  repaired)  returned, 

16.  82. 
Bepreved,   pp.    reproved,    14   b. 

56. 
Beprevynges,  sb.pl.  reproofs,  14 

a.  13. 
Bere,  v.  to  rear,   I  a.  206,  267  ; 

pt.  s.  Reride,  17  a.  i.  31  ;   Rerde, 

I  a.  271;  Rered,  lifted  itself  up, 

13.  423;  pt.pl.  Rerde,  i  a.  277; 

pp.   Rerid,  lifted,  reared,   17.  Ps. 

xxiii.  7;  Rered,  9.     A.S.  r<rra/i, 

to  rear,  raise. 
Bese,  sb.  haste,  1 1  c.  47.     E.  race, 

A.  S.  r<zs,  a  rush.     See  Bas. 
Bese,  v.  to  rush,  18  b.  119.     See 

above. 
Besoun,  sb.  F.  reason,    5.  5650; 

Resun,  7.  6. 
Beue,   subj.  pr.   s.    deprive,    take 

away  from,  4  a.  39  ;  pr.pl.  Reue, 

plunder,   take   prey,   2.  ciii.  47 ; 

pt.  pi.  Reued,  robbed,  n  a.  122; 

pr.pl.  Reues,  spoil,  rob,  10.  1239. 

A.  S.  redfian,  to  spoil,  Lat.  rapere, 

Gk.  apird^eiv ;  E.  bereave. 
Beuel,  sb.  rule,  8  a.  238 ;    Reul, 

240. 
Beuful,  adj.  pitiful,  compassionate, 


443 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


5-  5695.  57°5  ;  Rewful,  2.  cii.  15. 

See  Bew)>es. 
Beuliche,  adv.  S.  ruefully,  1  2.  86. 

A.  S.  hreowlice,  mournfully. 
Beume,  sb.  kingdom,  17.  Ps.  cii.  19. 

See  Bewme. 
Bewed  es  of  =  pities,   2.  cii.   25, 

26;    (an    overdose   rendering    of 

the   Vulgate   miseretur}  ;    pr.    s. 

ReweJ>,   causes    regret,    3.    256  ; 

imp.  s.  Revve,   pity,  4  b.  7  ;  Rew, 

4  6.  24.     A.  S.  hreowan,  to  rue. 
Bewled,  pt.   s.    ruled,    conducted 

(himself),  13.  294. 
Bewme,  sb.  kingdom,  realm,   17. 

Mar.  iii.  24.     O.  E.  reame,  rewme, 

reaume,  rem,  from  O.F.  roiaulme, 

from  a  Low  Lat.  form  regalimen, 

from  Lat.  rego,  I  rule. 
Bew)?es,  sb.  pi.   pityings,   compas- 

sions, 2.  cii.  8.      E.  ruth,  from 

A.  S.  kredw,  pity. 
Beygned,  /#,  reigned,  13.  328. 
Bibaudye,  sb.  ribaldry,  sin,  1  5  pr. 

44- 
Biche,  s6.  kingdom,  9.  228.     A.  S. 

ric,  G.  reich,  Du.  ry£,  Lat.  r£g- 

wwm. 

Bicheliche,  adv.  richly,  I  a.  402. 
Bichesses,   sb.  pi.  costly  articles, 

15.  iii.  24;    Richessis,  17  a.  iv. 

19.      E.    riches    (F.   richesse")   is, 

etymologically,  a  singular  noun  ; 

the  plural   rickesses   is   here  em- 

ployed; for  richesse,  see  20.  109. 
Bide,  v.  S.  to  ride,  7.  13  ;  pr.  pi. 

Rides,  7.55.     A.  S.  ridan,  pt.  t. 

w  rorf.     See  Bad. 
Bidlande,  pres.  part,  dripping  (as 

out  of  a  sieve),  13.  953.     A.  S. 

hriddel,  a  sieve,  a  riddle. 
Bif,  v.  to  rive,  rip,  tear,  8  b.  245. 

Icel.  hrifa,  to  snatch.    See  Biped, 

Byue. 
Big,   sb.  back,    II    c.   Si.      A.  S. 

hrycg,   E.  r«d£«,   Sc.  rigg,    Gk. 


Bightid,  pt.  s.  corrected,  2.  xvii.  93. 
Bightwisen.es,  sb.    righteousness, 


2.  xiv.   4 ;    2.  xvii.   56 ,    Right- 
wisnes,  2.  xvii.  66.     A.  S.  rihtwis, 
righteous. 
Biht,  adv.  right,  3.  151;   exactly, 

15.".  172. 
Bike,  sb.  kingdom,  2.  cii.  44.     See 

Biche. 
Biped,  pt.   s.   groped,    8  b.    223. 

Icel.  hrifa,  to  snatch,  E.  rip,  rive, 

grip,  grope,  connected  with  A.  S. 

reafian,  to  seize,   rob,  and  A.  S; 

ripan,  to  reap,  orig.  to  pluck. 
Biseand,  pres.  part,  rising,  2.  xvii. 

IO2  ;  Risand,  2.  xvii.  123. 
Biuelic,  adv.  frequently  (lit.  rifely), 

8  a.  190.     Icel.  rifr,  abundant. 
Bijt,  sb.  right,  I  a.  45  ;  Rijte,  I  a. 

84;   pi.  Rijtes,   i  a.  19.     A.  S. 

riht, 

Bist,  adj.  right,  i  a.  41,  90. 
Bijt,  adv.  right,  I  b.  7,  71. 
Bijti,  v.  to  set  right,  6.  130. 
Bijtful,   adj.   straight,   direct,   17. 

Mar.  i.  3.     Vulg.  rectos. 
Bijtleche,  v.  to  govern,  rule  over, 

12.  282.       A.S.    rihtlcBcan,    to 
govern. 

Bijtnesse,  sb.  Tightness,  justice  (a 

cardinal  virtue),  9.  26. 
Bijttes ;    in  phr.  to   )>e  ri3ttes  = 

exactly,  suitably,  12.  53.     Cf.  the 

phr.  to  set  to  rights. 
Bijttes,  adv.  directly,  immediately, 

straightway,  12.  235.    See  above. 
Bo,  sb.  peace,  quiet,  3.  302.     A.S. 

row,  Sw.  ro,  quiet,  Dan.   ro,  G. 

ruhe,  rest ;  cf.  E.  un-ru-ly. 
Bo,  sb.  S.  roe,  46.  17;    Roo,  4  c. 

50.     A.  S.  rd. 

Bobby,  v.  to  rob,  i  a.  69. 
Boberd  ]>e  Courtehese,  Robert 

Curt-hose,  I  a.  298,  507,  524. 
Bod,  pt.  s.  rode,  I  a.   387.     See 

Bad. 
Bode,  sb.  complexion,  46.  32,  \d. 

13.  A.S.  rud,  red,  rwcfo,  redness. 
Bode,  sb.  rood,  cross,   I   a.   206; 

15.  v.  145.     A.S.  r6d\  cf.  Lat. 
rudis. 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


443 


Bode-tre,  sb.  cross,  3.  9. 

Body,  adj.  ruddy,  18  a.  13.      See 

Bode. 
Bogg,   v.   to   tear  in    pieces,    10. 

1230.      Sc.    rug,    to    tear,    Sw. 

rugga,   to   raise   the    nap    upon 

cloth,    make    rough,   Sw.   rugg, 

rough  ;  cf.  E.  rugged. 
Boialler,  adj.  more  royal,  19.  402. 
Bomeseye,  Romsey,  i  a.  424. 
Bomiand,   pres.  part,   roaring,  2. 

ciii.   47.      A.  S.   hream,    a    cry, 

kreman,  to  cry  out. 
Bon,  pt.   s.   ran,   15.  v.  43.     See 

Benne. 
Bonk,   adj.   rank,   bad,    13.   455. 

A.  S.  ranc. 
Booch,  sb.  a  rock;   pi.  R.ooches, 

1 8  a.  95.     F.  roche. 
Booles,  adj.  restless,  4  c.  50.     See 

Bo. 
Boote,   sb.    root,    an    astrological 

term  for  the  epoch  of  a  nativity, 

19.  314. 
Bote,  sb.  root,  3.  303 ;    10.  664 ; 

Rot,  10.  676.     Sw.  rot;   cf.  Lat. 

radix. 
Bober,  sb.  rudder,  13.  419.     A.S. 

rofter,  a  rudder. 
Boberon,   sb.  pi.   rothers,   heifers, 

1 8  a.  3.     A.  S.  hryfter,  pi.  hryftru, 

a  heifer. 
Bobun,   sb.   rush,    13.   1009.     W. 

rhuthr,  a  rush,  assault. 
Botyng,    sb.    rotting,    18  a.    147. 

A.  S.    rotung,    a    rotting,    from 

rotian,  to  rot. 
Boucht,  I  p.  s.  pt.  subj.  would  not 

reck,  would  not  care,  16.  24.     See 

Becche. 
Bourne,  adj.  spacious,  2.  ciii.  57; 

3.  163.    A.S.  rum,  sb.  room,  adj. 

spacious ;    cf.  E.  roam,  to  wander 

abroad. 
Bonn,  sb.  S.  song,  lay,  4  a.  44; 

Roune,  4  d.  2  ;  />/.  Rounes,  mur- 
murs,  4   of.    29.      A.  S.   run,    a 

mystery,  rune,  song,  whisper. 
Bouncles,  pr.  s.  wrinkles,  becomes 


wrinkled,   IO.   773.     A.S.  wrin- 

clian,  Sw.  rynka,  G.  runzeln,  to 

wrinkle.      Cf.   E.   ring,    crinkle, 

crank,  shrink,  from  a  root  signify- 
ing crooked,  bent. 
Bounes.     See  Boun. 
Boute,  sb.  troop,  throng,  company, 

I  a.  72,  334;    Rout,  16.  31.      F. 

route,  G.  rotte,  a  rout,  throng. 
Boute,  v.  to  assemble  in  a  com- 
pany, 19.  540. 
Boube,  sb.  pity,  4  b.  8 ;    Routhe, 

19.  529.     See  Bewbes. 
Boutit,    pt.  s.    snored,    16.    192. 

A.  S.    hrutan,    to    snore,    Arw'S, 

noise,  commotion;    Icel.  ryta,  to 

grunt. 
Bowt,  sb.  stroke,   blow,  16.  470. 

Cf.  G.  ruthe,  E.  rod. 
Bowtande,  pres.  part,  rushing ;   or 

else  tumultuous,  noisy,   13.  354. 

Cf.  G.  rauschen,  to  rush,   Prov. 

rota,  a  tumult.     See  Boutit. 
Bowtes,  sb.  pi.  routs,  companies, 

13.  969.     See  Boute. 
Boje,  rough,  13.  382.     A.S.  r6h. 
Bo3ly,  adv.  roughly  ;   but  probably 

an  error  for  rwly,  rueful  or  rue- 

fully,  13.  433. 
Bude,  adj.  new  (used  of  cloth),  1 7. 

Mar.  ii.  21. 
Bueled,    pt.  s.    rolled,    13.   953. 

Dan.  rulle,  to  roll. 
Bugge,  sb.  back,  i  a.  177.     A.S. 

hrycg,  the  back,  E.  rigg,  ridge. 

See  Big. 
Burd,  sb.  cry,  noise,  13.  390.    A.  S. 

reord. 
Bwez,  pr.  s.  impers.  it  grieves,  13. 

290.     See  Bewed. 
Bwly,  adv.  ruefully,  13.  390.     See 

Beuliche. 
Bydelles,  adj.  without  counsel,  13. 

969.  A.  S.  redeleas,  without  advice. 
Byge,   sb.  rain,   torrent,    13.  354. 

Icel.  hregg,  a  storm ;    A.  S.  racu, 

rain,  a  flood ;    N.  Prov.  E.  rag ; 

cf.  also  A.  S.  hreh,  a  deluge. 
Byht,  adj.  right,  4  c.  30,  34. 


444 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


Byn,  v.  to  run,  10.  471. 

Bynde,  sb.  rind,   20.  297.      A.  S. 

rind. 
Bys,  sb.  twig,  spray,  4  b.  32.    A.  S. 

An's,  Du.  rys,  G.  ra's,  a  twig. 
Bysed,  pt.  s.  rose,  13.  509. 
Byue,  v.  to  tear,  rend,  10.  1230. 

Sw.  ryfva,  Icel.  hrifa,  to  snatch, 

E.  rive. 
Byjt  now  late=just   now,   only 

lately,  5.  5915. 
Bystez,  ao?v.  rightly,   exactly,   13. 

427. 

Bystuolle,  adj.  rightful,  just  per- 
fect, 9.  215;  Rystfol,  18  a.  140. 
Byjttwisnesse,  sb.  righteousness, 

17.  Ps.  xiv.  2. 
Byjtwys,  adj.  righteous,  13.  294. 

A.  S.  rihtwis,  of  which  righteous 

is  a  corruption. 


S. 


Sa,  adv.   so,   2.  xvii.  48 ;    7.   13. 

A.  S.  swd. 
Saaf,  adj.  healed,  made  whole,  17. 

Mar.  v.  23  ;    Saf,  v.  34.      Fre- 
quently used  for  the  Lat.  saluus. 

See  Sauf. 
Sabote,   sb.  sabbath,   17.  Mar.  ii. 

27;  pi.  Sabothis,  23. 
Sac,  sb.  crime,  guilt,  8  b.  136.    A.  S. 

screw,  strife,  sacan,  to  contend. 
Saccles,  adj.  innocent,  guiltless,  7. 

1 80.     See  above. 
Sacclesli,    adv.     guiltlessly,    i.  e. 

though  innocent,  7.  191. 
Sacrement,  sb.  F.  sacrament,  6.  I. 
Sad,  (i)  adj.  serious,  sedate,  wise, 

grave,  12.  228.  See  Sadde. 
Sad,  (2),  adj.  satisfied,  4  b.  5.  G. 

satt,  A.  S.  s<ed,  sated. 
Sadde,  adj.  pi.  discreet,   19.  135. 

W.  sad,  discreet. 
Sadloker,  adj.  more  soundly,  more 

fully,  15.  v.  4.  SeeSad(i). 
Sagh",  pt.  s.  saw,  5.  5609,  5643. 
Saghs,  sb.  pi.  saws,  sayings,  2.  cii. 

48.     A.  S.  sagu,  a  saying,  a  saw. 


Saghtel,  i  p.  pr.  pi.  become  recon- 
ciled, 10.  1470.  A.  S.  saht,  peace, 
saktlian,  to  make  peace. 

Sak,  sb.  sake,  7.  68. 

Sak,  s&.  guilt,  fault,  7.  181.  See 
Sac. 

Sakles,  adj.  innocent,  7.  182.  See 
Saccles. 

Sal,  pr.  s.  i  p.  shall,  2.  viii.  9 ; 
Salle,  2.  xvii.  6 ;  2  p.  Sal  (for 
Salt),  2.  xvii.  71  ;  3  p.  Sal,  2. 
xiv.  i;  pr.  pi.  Sal,  2.  ciii.  15; 
Salle,  2.  ciii.  14.  A.S.  ic  sceal, 
I  shall. 

Sald,/»/.  s.  sold,  8  6t  170;  pp.  8  6. 

173. 

Sale,/>r.  s.  shall,  u  c.  15.     See  Sal. 

Salm,  sb.  psalm,  2.  xvii.  126. 

Salme,  v.  sing  psalms,  2.  ciii.  80. 

Salt,  pr.  s.  2  /».  shalt,  2.  ciii.  71. 

Sal-tou  =  shall  thou,  2.  xvii.  74, 
123;  Saltou,  2.  ciii.  74- 

Samen,  adv.  together,  2.  xvii.  50; 
7.  276;  13.  400.  A.S.  samod, 
together,  G.  zusammen,  together, 
Mceso-Goth.  samath,  samana,  to- 
gether ;  from  sama,  the  same. 

Samened,  pp.  gathered,  assembled, 
2.  ciii.  49.  Cf.  G.  sammeln,  to 
assemble ;  see  above. 

Sammyn,  adj.  same,  16.  140. 
A.  S.  sama,  Sw.  samma. 

Samned,  pp.  collected,  assembled, 
13.  361.  See  Samened. 

Samon,  sb.  salmon,  18  a.  136. 

Sand,  sb.  sending,  gift,  7.  146.  See 
Sonde. 

Sant,  adj.  F.  holy,  7.  67. 

Sanyt,  pt.  s.  rejl.  crossed  himself, 
blessed  himself,  16.  98.  O.  F. 
seigner,  F.  signer,  Lat.  signare,  to 
mark  or  sign  with  a  cross. 

Sana,  prep,  without,  19.  501.  F. 
sans,  Lat.  sine. 

Sar,  adv.  sorely,  8  b.  8. 

Sare,  adj.  sore,  10.  772.     A.S.  sdr. 

Sat,  pt.  s.  sat,  i  a.  73. 

Sattel,  v.  to  settle,  8  a.  114. 

Sauacioun,  sb.  salvation,  19.  283. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


445 


Sauer,  v.  to  give  an  appetite  to, 
15.  vii.  249.  E.  savour. 

Saueth,  imp.  pi.  save  ye,  19.  229. 

Sauf,  adj.  F.  safe,  or  in  a  state  of 
salvation,  2.  xvii.  IO,  54,  73;  19. 
343;  Sauff,  6.  7.  Lat.  saluus. 
See  Saaf. 

Saufliche,  adv.  safely,  12.  256. 

Saule,  sb.  soul,  2.  xxiii.  9  ;  2.  cii. 
I ;  13.  290.  A.  S.  sdwol,  G.  seele. 

Saundyuer,  sb.  sandiver,  glass- 
gall,  13.  1036.  Sandiver  or 
glass-gall  is  the  scum  on  fused 
glass ;  sandiver  is  said  to  be  cor- 
rupted from  F.  sel  de  verre,  salt 
of  glass. 

Sauter,  s6.  psalter,  15.  vii.  237. 

Sauyte,  sb.  safety,  13.  489. 

Saxonlych,  adv.  in  Saxon  manner, 
i8a.  157. 

Sawel,  sb.  soul;  sawel  hel,  the 
health  of  the  soul,  salvation,  8  b. 
66.  See  Saule. 

Sa-we,  sb.  saying,  1 8  b.  143;  pi. 
Sawes,  saws,  sayings,  5.  5842. 
See  Saghs. 

Say,/)/,  s.  saw,  i  a.  166;  12.  228; 
17  a.  i.  16;  Sawh,  20.  126; 
Sayj,  17.  Mar.  i.  10.  See  Sagh. 

Sayn,  v.  to  say,  19.  564. 

Sajtled,  pf.  s.  settled,  13.  445. 
A.  S.  setlan,  to  settle,  sell,  a  seat, 
a  settle. 

Sajtlyng,  sb.  reconciliation,  13. 
490.  See  Saghtel. 

Scarslych,   adv.    sparingly,    18  a. 

200. 

Scarste,  sb.  scarcity,  18  b.  29. 

Scene,  adj.  bright,  beautiful,  7.  20. 
A.  S.  seine,  bright,  seine,  splen- 
dour, sheen. 

Sceu,  v.  to  shew,  7.  123. 

Schaft,  sb.  make,  structure,  2.  cii. 
28.  A.  S.  sceaft,  a  creature, 
scapan,  to  shape,  make. 

Schalke,  sb.  man,  13.  1029.  A.  S. 
scealc,  a  servant,  man  ;  Mceso- 
Goth.  skalks,  a  servant.  Hence 
E.  marshal,  i.  e.  mare-servant, 


groom,  and  seneschal,  oldest  ser- 
vant, from  Mceso-Goth.  sineigs, 
old,  sinista,  oldest. 

Schalstow,  shall  thou,  12.  325. 
Generally  written  shallow,  with- 
out the  second  s.  See  below. 

Schaltow,  shalt  thou,  12.  340. 

Schapp,  sb.  shape,  14  c.  123. 

Schathe,  sb.  scath,  harm,  8  b.  51. 

Schauing,  sb.  shewing,  revelation, 
8  a.  1  80. 

Schaw,  v.  to  shew,  8  b.  132. 

Schawes,  sb.  pi.  groves,  12".  178. 
Dan.  skov,  a  wood,  Sw.  skog, 
Icel.  skogr;  cf.  A.  S.  scua,  shade, 
E.  s£y,  i.  e.  a  cloud. 

SclieawiJ>,  pr.  pi.  appear,  come  to 
sight,  6.  108.  A.  S.  scedwian, 
E.  shew. 

Scheep,  sb.  a  shepherd,  15  pr.  2. 
See  note. 

Schel,  pr.  s.  i  p.  shall,  6.  118. 

Schelder,  sb.  shielder,  protector, 
2.  xvii.  7. 

Scheltroms,  «&./>/.  squadrons,  bat- 
talions, 18  b.  106.  A.  S.  scyld- 
truma,  lit.  a  troop-shield,  hence, 
an  'armed  company;  A.  S.  scyld, 
a  shield,  truma,  a  troop;  cf.  E. 


Schende,  v.  to  put  to  shame, 
destroy,  13.  519;  to  pillage,  15 
pr.  95  ;  pr.  pi.  SchendeJ>,  hurt, 
I5-  »•  39;  />A  Schent,  undone, 
15.  iii.  130;  destroyed,  13.  1029. 
A.  S.  scendan,  to  destroy,  G. 
schdnden,  to  dishonour. 

Schene,  adj.  shining,  bright,  lie. 
105.  A.  S.  seine,  bright. 

Schepe,  sb.pl.  sheep,  2.  viii.  21. 

Scher>,  />r.  s.  sheareth,  cuts,  20. 
175.  A.  S.  sceran,  to  shear. 

Schewed,  />p.  shewn,  i.  xvii.  41. 

Schift,  s6.  a  shift,  sudden  motion  ; 
at  a  schift  =  on  a  sudden,  in  a 
moment,  8  a.  141. 

Schille,  adj.  shrill,  12.  213;  adv. 
shrilly,  12.  37.  Du.  schel,  shrill;  cf. 
Sc.  skirl,  to  cry  with  a  loud  voice. 


GLOSS ARIAL  INDEX. 


Schilling,  sb.pl.  shillings,  8  b.  171. 
Schip-bord ;     on    schipbord  =  on 

board  a  ship,  8  b.  38. 
Schippes,  sb.  pi.  ships,  2.  ciii.  60. 
Schire,   adj.   bright,    2.    xvii.    35. 

A.S.  scir,  bright,  sheer;    Moeso- 

Goth.  skeirs,  clear. 
Schirreues,    sb.   pi.    shire-reeves, 

sheriffs,  15.  iii.  130.      A.  S.  sclr- 

gerefa,  a  shire-reeve. 
Schok,  pt.  s.  shook,  i  b.  81. 
Scholle,  pr.  pi.  shall,  must,  6.  64 ; 

/tf.  s.   Scholde,  should,  I  b.  20; 

6.  71.     A.S.  ic  sceal,  I  shall,  ic 

sceolde,  I  should. 
Schomeliche,  adv.  shamefully,  15. 

iii.  45.      But   other   MSS.   have 

shameles. 
Schon,   sb.  pi.   S.   shoes,   12.  14; 

Schoon,    17  a.  i.   7.      A.S.   sco, 

seed,  a  shoe,  pi.  sceos,  sc6s,  sceon, 

scdn,  or  gescy. 
Schop,  i  p.  s.  pt.  put  (lit.  shaped)  ; 

schop  me  into  a  schroud  =  got  me 

into  a  garment,  15  pr.  2 ;  pt.  s. 

Schop,  contrived,  20.  18;  Schope, 

created,  shaped,  II  a.  i ;  />/.  ^. 

Schopen,    shaped,   put;    schopen 

hem   to   hermytes  =  made    them- 
selves hermits,   15  pr.  54.     A.S. 

scapan,  to  shape. 

Schoppes,  sb.pl.  shops,  15.  ii.  189. 
S  chore,   sb.   a   score,  twenty,  12. 

132. 

Schorte,  adj.  short,  6.  109. 
Schot,/tf.  s.  intrans.  rushed,  dashed, 

16.  467.     A.  S.  scedlan,  to  shoot ; 

also,  to  rush,  dash. 
Schowued,  pp.  shoved,  13.  1029. 

A.  S.  scufan,  to  shove. 
Schraf,  pt.  s.   shrove,   86.   133; 

schraf  him  at  =  shrove  himself  to. 
Schred,  pt.  s.  2  p.  didst  put  on  (as 

a  garment),  2.  ciii.  3.    The  Vulg. 

has   induisti.      A.S.   scrydan,   to 

put    on,    scrud,    a    garment,    a 

shroud. 
Schrewe,  sb.  wicked  one,  i  b.  87, 

9<>»  91 J  15.  i.  118.     Cf.  E.  shrew, 


Du.  schreeuwer,  a  bawler,  brag- 
gart, from  schreeuwen,  to  cry  out ; 

cf.  also  E.  screw,  a  vicious  horse. 
Schrift,  sb.  confession,   2.  ciii.   3. 

A.  S.  scrift. 

Schrippe,  sb.  scrip,  15.  vi.  26. 
Schroude,  sb.  garment,  2.  ciii.  13  ; 

a  rough  outer  garment,  15  pr.  2. 

A.  S.  scrud,  a  garment. 
Schryue,   v.   to   confess,    2.   xvii. 

125.     A.S.  serif  an,  to  shrive,  to 

receive  confession. 
Schullen,  pr.  pi.  shall,   i.e.  shall 

go,  15.  i.  121. 

Schut,  v.  to  shoot,  16.  438. 
Sclaundrid,  pp.    scandalised,    of- 
fended,  17.  Mar.  iv.  17.     Vulg. 

scandalizantur. 
Sco,  pron.  she,  7.  227. 
Scorn,  pp.  shorn,   7.  337.      A.S. 

sceran,  to  shear ;  pp.  scoren. 
Scort,  adj.  short,  7.  364. 
Scowkyng,  sb.  skulking,  ambush, 

16.  130.     Dan.  skvlke,  to  slink; 

Du.    schuilen,    to    take    shelter, 

skulk,    lurk;     cf.    Sw.   skyla,   to 

hide,  E.  shelter,  shield. 
Scrippes,  sb.  pi.  scrips,  wallets,  7. 

53.      Sw.  skrappa,   Fr.  echarfe; 

cf.  A.  S.  sceorp,  a  loose  garment, 

sash,  E.  scarf. 
Scrit,  sb.  writing,  document,  I  a. 

359.     F.  icrit,  O.F.  escrit,  Lat. 

scriptvm. 

Scriuen,  pp.  shriven,  8  b.  253. 
Se,  v.  to  see,  2.  viii.  9.     A.  S.  seen. 
Se,  sb.  S.  sea,  i  a.  61 ;   6.  36;   Se 

halues  =  sea-coasts,  13.  1039;  pi. 

Sees,  2.  xxiii.  3.     A.S.  see,  G.  see, 

Du.  zee. 
Sealt,  s6.  salt ;  dat.  s.  Sealte,  6.  40. 

A.  S.  sea//. 

Sealte,  adj.  salt,  6.  36,  38. 
Se-bare,  sb.  sea-bore,  surge,  8  b.  38. 
Se-calues,  sb.  pi.   sea-calves,  i.e. 

seals,  18  a.  10. 
Seche,  v.  S.  to  seek,  i  a.  19;    5. 

5896;   to  visit,  15  pr.  47;  pres. 

part.   Sechende,   17  6.  xxiii.   6; 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


447 


imp.  pi.  Seche)),  seek  ye,  3.  300. 

A.  S.  s6can. 

Secre,  adj.  secret,  15.  iii.  141. 
Sede,  pt.  s.  said,  I  a.  37 ;  pt.  pi. 

Sede,  I  a.  187;   svbj.  pt.  s.  Sede, 

i  a.  85 ;  pp.  Sed,  6.  66. 
Bed,  s6.  seed,  13.  358.  A.S.  sdd, 

G.  saat,  Du.  zaad. 
See,  im/>.  s.  3/>.  may  (God)  behold, 

may  (God)  guard,  19.  156. 
Seg,  sb.  a  man;    also,  a  lad,  12. 

226.      A.S.   secg,    a    speaker,   a 

man,  from  secgan,  to  say. 
Seggen,  v.  to  say,  6.  118.      A.S. 

secgan,  Du.  zeggen,  G.  sagen. 
Sei,    2  />.  s.  pt.   sawest,  12.  276; 

/>/.  s.  Seh,  saw,  4  c.  14. 
Seide,  pt.  s.  said,  i  b.  73. 
Seidestow,  /or  saidst  thou,  12. 

267. 

Seie, />/>.  seen,  12.  264;  20.  102. 
Seien,  pr.  pi.  say,  tell,  17.  Mar.  i. 

30. 
Seiles,  sb.  pi.  sails,  i  a.  60.     A.  S. 

sfigW,  a  sail. 
Sein,   sb.   saint,    i   a.    57;    Seint, 

I  a-  43- 

Sein,  />/>.  seen,  20.  320. 
Seised,  pp.  possessed  of,  14  a.  58. 
Seisine,    sb.    F.   possession,    I   a. 

528. 

Sei\>,pr.  s.  says,  3.  218;  6.  122. 
Sei3,  v.  to  say,  12.  60;    I  p.  s.  pr. 

Seije,   I  say,  15.  i.   182.      A.S. 

secgan. 

Seij,  pt.  s.  saw,  12.  34.     See  Sei. 
Sek,  adj.  sick,  20.  334.     A.  S.  setfc. 
Sek,  sb.  sack,  8  6.  156.     A.S.  sac, 

sacc,  Lat.  saccus,  Du.  za&. 
Sekand,    />r*s.  />ar/.    seeking,    2. 

xxiii.  13.     See  Seche. 
Sekes,  pr.  s.  2  p.  seekest,  2.  viii. 

14;   subj.pr.pl.  Seke,  2.  ciii.  48. 

See  Seche. 
Seknesse,  sb.  S.  sickness,  i  a.  443 ; 

pi.  Sekenesses,  2.  cii.  6. 
Sekyng,  sb.  search,  5.  5932. 
Selcuth,  sb.  wonder,  7.  382.     See 

Selkouth. 


Selde,  adv.  seldom,  3. 192  ;  Selden, 

4  b.  5  ;  Seldene,  15  />r.  20.     A.  S. 

se/c?,  seldan,  rarely,  G.  selten,  Du. 

zelden. 
Sele,    s6.    time,    5.    5781,    5879. 

A.  S.  see/,  an  opportunity,  a  good 

time. 
Self,  adj.  very,  6.  129.    (Grace  self 

=  the  very  grace.) 
Selkouth,  adj.  strange,  marvellous, 

2.   viii.    I,   25;    Selcouthe,   8  6. 

176;    pi.   SelcouJ>e,   strange,  15. 

vi.  2.      It  signifies  little  known; 

from  A.  S.  seld,  seldom,  and  cti'S, 

known. 
Selli,    adv.    wonderfully,    greatly, 

8  b.  20 1.     A.S.  sellic,  from  seld, 

seldom,  rarely.     See  Selkouth. 
Seluer,   sb.   silver,  money,  15  pr. 

83- 
Sely,  adj.  blessed,  happy,  good,  3. 

63,    69;    simple,   innocent,   i   a. 

287 ;    13.  490 ;   blessed,  19.  682. 

A.S.   scelig,    lucky,  from   see/,   a 

good    opportunity.       Note    that 

sely  came  to  mean  innocent,  and 

then  silly  t  miserable. 
Sembeles,  pr.  s.  seems,  8  b.  54. 

F.  sembler,  Lat.  simulare. 
Sembland,    sb.     appearance,    10. 

503.     Also   spelt   semblant,  sem- 
blance, as  in  12.  228  ;  20.  24. 
Semblance,  sb.  appearance,  20.  24. 
Semble,  sb.  assembly,  15  pr.  97; 

Semblee,  14  a.  72.     F.  assembler, 

to   assemble ;    the   root    is   Lat. 

simul,  A.  S.  sam,  together ;  cf.  Gk. 

a/ia,  Sanskr.  sam. 
Sembled,  pt.  s.  assembled,   II  a. 

87. 
Seme,  v.  become,  or,  appear,  seem, 

4  *-  33- 
Semly,  adj.  seemly,  beautiful,  4  d. 

26 ;   adj.  as  sb.  comely  one,  4  b. 

6;     Semliche,    seemly,   fine,    12. 

49;   superl.  Semlokest,  seemliest, 

fairest,  4  a.  6. 

Sen,  conj.  since,  II  a.  109;   16.  13. 
Sende,  v.  S.  to  send,  i  a.  18 ;  pt.  s. 


448 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


Sende,  sent,  I  a.  13;  pt.pl.  Send, 

sent,  16.  164;   Senten,  19.   136. 

A.  S.  sendan. 

Sene,pp.  seen,  7. 19;  evident,  3.  82. 
Seneueye,  sb.  mustard,  17.  Mar. 

iv.  31.     Lat.  sinapi. 
Sent,  pr.  s.  (contr.   from  sende\>\ 

sends,  15.  vii.  311 ;   imp.  s.  Sent, 

send,  4  b.  15. 
Seo,  gerund,  to  see,  4  d.  17?  pr. 

pi.  I  p.  Seo]),  see,  15.  i.  49.    A.  S. 

seon. 
Ser,  adj.  separate,   13.  336;    Sere, 

various,  7.  6;  different,  8  a.  106 ; 

separate,    10.   761  ;    several,    10. 

1250.       Icel.     ser,     Dan.     seer, 

several. 
Seriauns,  sb.  pi.  Serjeants,  15  pr. 

85  ;  Seriauntes,  servants,  5.  5873. 

E.  serjeant  and   servant  are  one 

word. 
Sertes,    adv.    certainly,    12.    268. 

Lat.  certe. 
Seruage,  sb.  F.  servitude,  thraldom, 

5.5756,5795;  I9-368. 
Serui,  v.  to  serve,  i  b.  63. 
Seruys,  sb.  F.  service,  3.  u. 
Serwe,  sb.  sorrow,  15.  Hi.  159. 
Sese,  pr.  pi.  see,  10.  1421.     (Mis- 
written  for  Ses  or  Sets.) 
Set,  j«.  s.  2  />.  settest,   didst  set, 

2.  ciii.  45. 
Setelgang,  s&.  setting,  2.  ciii.  44. 

A.  S.   setl,   a    seat,   settle,  gang, 

a  going  ;    setlgang,  a  going  to  a 

seat,  setting. 

Se}>,  />r.  ;>/.  2  />.  see,  i  a.  1 79. 
Se|>en,  adv.  afterwards,  5.  5740  ; 

Sej^en,  12.  206.     A.  S.  sfS,  late, 

siSiSatt,  afterwards ;    cf.   G.  seit, 

since,  seitdem,  since  then. 
SeJ>J>e,  con/,  since,  12.  329;   15  />r. 

81.     A.  S.  sffifta,  since. 
Sett,  v.  to  set,  watch   game,   16. 

404 ;  pr.  s.  Settes,  sets ;  settez  on 

= lights  upon,  chooses,  13.  469  ; 

2  p.  Settes,  dost   set,  2.  ciii.  7; 

pt.  s.  Sette,  I  a.  64;  pres.  part. 

Settand,  2.  xvii.  88.     A.  S.  settan. 


Seuebe,   adj.   seventh,  i  a.  347; 

Seuend,  8  a.  127.     A.S.  seofofta, 

seventh,  from  seofon,  seven. 
Seurtee,  sb.  surety,  19.  243. 
Sewede,  pi.  pi.  F.  followed,  12. 

204.     Lat.  sequi. 
Sewer,  sb.  household  officer,  18  b. 

28.      In   Wace    he    is   called   It 

seneschal. 
Sewyngly,  adv.  in  due  sequence, 

in    order,    14  c.    I.      E.  sue,    F. 

suivre,  Lat.  sequi,  to  follow. 
Sexte,  adj.  ordin.  sixth,  8  a.  125. 
Sey,  pt.  s.  saw,  i  a.  476 ;   19.  605  ; 

Ses,  !  6-34;  Seye,  12.  26;  ^./»7. 

Seye,  19.  218 ;  pp.  Seyn,  seen,  19. 

172;  Sejen,  seen,  I5.iii.  58.  A.S. 

seon,  to   see,   pt.  t.  ic  sedh,   pp. 

gesawen. 
Seyed,  pp.  passed,  13.  353.     Lit. 

swayed;    cf.  Dan.  «/«V,  to  bend, 

svaie,  to  swing.     See  Swe. 
Seyn,  v.  to  say,  19.  342. 
Sey>,/>r.  s.  says,  5.  5576. 
Shal,  i  p.  s.  pr.  shall,  i.  e.  must  go, 

19.  279. 
Shame,    v.    to    feel     shame,    be 

ashamed,  16.  436. 
Shamlic,  adv.  shamefully,  8  a.  156. 
Shapen,  pp.   provided,    19.    249 ; 

shapen  hem  =  disposed  themselves, 

19.  142. 
Sheene,  adj.  shining,  fair,  19.  692. 

See  Schene. 
Shenchen,  v.  to  pour  out,  3.  159. 

A.  S.  scencan,  to  pour  out,  scene, 

drink ;    Sw.  skdnk,  a  bribe,  a  pre- 
sent, G.  schenke,  an  alehouse. 
Shome,  sb.  S.  shame,  3.  88.     A.  S. 

sceamu. 

Shote,  pp.  shot,  3.  85. 
Shrewes,   sb.  pi.   bad   people,  3. 

5;    wicked  men,  5.  5838.      See 

Schrewe. 
Shrife,  v.  to  shrive,  10.  2372.    See 

Schryue. 
Shul,  pr.  pi.  shall,  5.  5627  ;   Shule, 

3.  42;    pt.  s.  Shuld,   should,  5. 

5608.    See  Scholle. 


GLOSS 'A RIAL  INDEX. 


449 


Sigge,  v.  to  say,  6.  69 ;    I  p.  a.  pr. 

I  say,  15.  vi.  39.    See  Seggen. 
Sill,  pt.  s.  saw,  20.  32 ;  pi.  Sihen, 

20.  109.     See  Sei,  873. 
Sike,  pr.  s.  i  p.  sigh,  4  c.  51.    A.  S. 

sican,  Du.  zuchten,  G.  seufzen. 
Siker,  a<f/.  sure,  certain,  i  a.  30, 

67;    15.  i.  121 ;   superl.  Sikerest, 

safest,  6. 94.    Du.  zeker,  G.  sicker, 

Lat.  securus,  secure. 
Sikernesse,  s6.  security,  19.  425. 
Bile, for  swilc,  i.e.  such,  8  b.  86. 
Singular,  a$.  alone,  17.  Mar.  iv. 

10. 

Siquar,  for  si])  quar  =  time  when, 

7.  375.     Perhaps  from  A. 

time,   and    North.   Eng. 

where  =  when. 
Sire,  s6.  Lord,  2.  xvii.  37. 
Sisours,  sb.  pi.  persons  deputed  to 

hold  assizes,  15.  Hi.  129.     O.  F. 

seoir,  to  sit,  from  Lat.  sedere;  cf. 

F.  assises,  assizes,  sessions. 
Sist,  pr.  s.  2  p.  seest,  3.  40. 
Sit,  pr.  s.  sitteth,  3.  310. 
Site,    sb.    grief ;     with    site    J>am 

soght  =  visited   them   with    grief, 

brought  sorrow  upon  them,  II  c. 

65.      I  eel.   sut,  sorrow,  sy"ta,   to 

grieve. 
Site,  pr.  s.  i.  p.  sorrow,  grieve,  7. 

299.     See  above. 
Sith,   con/,    since,    19.   484.      See 

SeH>e. 
SiJ?e,  sb.  pi.  times,  i  a.  399  ;  SiJ?es, 

times,    12.    103;     15   pr.    109. 

A.S.  sift,  time,  also,  a  path ;  Mceso- 

Goth.  sinth,  a  journey,  a  time. 
Si>ere,    sb.    cider,    6.    16.      Lat. 

sicera,  Gk.  ffircfpa,  strong  drink. 
Sit>>e,   adv.    afterwards,    I   b.   79. 

See  SeH'e. 
Sixt,    2  p.  s.  pr.    seest,  15.  i.  5. 

A.  S.  \u   sikst,   thou   seest,  from 

se6n,  to  see. 
Si3,  pt.  s.  saw,  perceived,  17.  Mar. 

v.  38.    See  Sih. 
Skatered,  pt.  s.  scattered,  2.  xvii. 

39- 

VOL.  II.  G 


Skele.    See  Skille. 

Skewe,  sb.  sky,  2.  xvii.  34.  A.S. 
scua,  a  shade,  shadow,  Sw.  sky, 
cloud ;  cf.  Gk.  a/cta,  a  shade. 

Skille,  sb.  reason,  10.  1423 ;  by 
skille  =  with  reason,  rightly,  10. 
682 ;  Skele,  reason,  9.  6 ;  pi. 
Skilles,  10.  1818.  Icel.  skil,  sepa- 
ration, skilja,  to  separate,  Dan. 
skiel,  a  limit,  discretion. 

Skowtez,  pr.  s.  pries,  looks,  13. 
483.  O.  F.  escouter,  Lat.  auscul- 
tare,  to  listen. 

Skwe,  sb.  sky,  13.  483.  See 
Skewe. 

Skyle,  sb.  reason,  5.  5827.  See 
Skille. 

Skylly,  adj.  dispersing,  separat- 
ing (?),  13.  529-  See  Skyualde. 
Cf.  Dan.  skille,  to  separate. 

Skyrmez,  pr.  s.  skims,  glides 
swiftly  on  whirring  wings,  13. 
483.  Cf.  O.  E.  skir,  to  graze; 
which  in  Macbeth,  v.  3,  is  used 
for  scour. 

Skyualde,  sb.  scuffle,  scramble  (?), 
13.  529.  Cf.  Sw.  skuffa,  to  push. 
Another  explanation  is  to  make  a 
skylly  skyualde  =  a.  purpose  de- 
vised; cf.  O.  E.  skil,  reason,  and 
O.  E.  sJtyfte,  to  devise,  shift. 

Sla,  v.  to  slay,  16.  11.  A.  S.  sledn, 
G.  schlagen,  to  smite. 

Slac,  adj.  slack,  weak,  9.  9.  A.  S. 
sleac,  Sw.  slak;  cfi  Lat.  laxus. 

Slake,  v.  slacken,  become  less 
grievous,  86.  60;  pr.  s.  Slake)*, 
burns  low,  1 8  a.  78. 

Slauers,  pr.  s.  slavers,  slobbers,  10. 
784.  Icel.  slefa,  saliva. 

Slaw,  adj.  slow,  dull,  10.  793. 
A.  S.  slaw,  slow. 

Slajt,  sb.  S.  slaughter,  i  a.  459. 
A.  S.  slcege,  slaughter,  Du.  slag, 
a  blow,  slagten,  to  kill. 

Slegh,  adj.  cunning,  skilful,  2. 
viii.  10 ;  Sleghe,  sly,  cunning, 
wise,  10.  812.  Sw.  slug,  sly, 
shrewd,  slog,  handy,  dexterous. 

g 


45° 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


slojd,    mechanical     art ;     cf.    E. 

sleight. 

Sleght,  sb.  skill,  10.  2309. 
Sleie,  pp.  slain,  12.  379. 
Slepe,  sb.  sleep,  5.  5739;  on  slepe 

=  asleep,  5.  5724.     A.S.  dap. 
Slepyng,  sb.  sleep,  5.  5725. 
Sleuth,  sb.  track,  scent,  slot,  16. 

21.  Icel.s/oft,  a  track  ;  cf.  E.  slide ; 

and  sloivhound  (sleuth-hound). 
Sleube,  sb.  sloth,  i  a.  185  ;  Sleu3>e, 

J5  pr-  45-      A.S.   slau/8,  sloth, 

slowness,  from  sMw,  slow. 
Sleuthhund,  sb.  sleuth-hound,  16. 

20.     See  Sleuth. 
Sley,   adj.   prudent,   cunning,    sly, 

I    a.   82;    As    be    sley  =  like    a 

shrewd  man;   Sleje,  wary,  9.  75. 

See  Slegh. 
Slesbe,  sb.  sleight,  prudence,  (one 

of  the  four  virtues),  9.  21. 
Slih,  adj.  sly,  i.e.  cunning,  expe- 
rienced, 20.  31.     See  Slegh. 
Slik,  adj.  such,  7.  183.     Icel.  s/iTr, 

whence  slik  and  s/c;    cf.  Mceso- 

Goth.  swa-leiks,    so-like,  whence 

swilk,  sic,  suck,  by  contraction. 
Slo,  subj.  pres.  s.  2  p.  slay,  4  b.  16  ; 

/*.  />/.    Slogh,    slew,    ii    a.    6l. 

A.  S.  s/«i»,  to  smite.    See  Slou. 
Slod,  pt.  s.  slid,  186.46. 
Slonge,  pt.  pi.  slung,  i  a.  151. 
Sloterd,  pp.  bespattered,  befouled, 

10.  2367.     Cf.  E.  slutch,  sludge, 

mud,  and  slut. 
Slou,  pt.  s.  slew,  I  a.  134;   Slow, 

19.  664;  Slous,  18  b.  109;  Slovh, 

20.  219;  pt.pl.  Slowe,  i  a.  152, 
156.     See  Slo. 

Slouthe,  sb.  sloth,  19.  530.     See 

Sleube. 
Slyttyng,  a$.  piercing,  1 8  a.  209. 

A.  S.  slitan,  to  slit,  tear,  pierce. 
Smach,  sb.  smack,  flavour,  scent, 

13.    461.      A.S.    smcBc,    flavour, 

taste,     smceccan,     to     taste,     G. 

schmecken,    to    taste ;    Prov.    E. 

smouch,  a  loud  kiss,  smack  of  the 

lips. 


Smachande,  pres.  part,  smack- 
ing, smelling,  13.  955.  See 
Smacky. 

Smacky,  v.  to  taste,  to  savour, 
hence,  to  imagine,  perceive,  9. 
220;  pr.pl.  Smackeb,  taste,  9. 
170;  Smackeb,  relish,  under- 
stand, 9.  1 80.  See  Smach. 

Smal,  adj.  narrow,  40.  16.  A.S. 
smcel,  small,  thin,  narrow. 

Smart,  adj.  bitter,  13.  1019. 

Smerl,  sb.  ointment,  7.  131.  A.S. 
smerels,  ointment,  from  smeru, 
fat ;  cf.  E.  smear. 

Smerld,  pp.  anointed,  7. 132.  See 
above. 

Smert,  adj.  smart,  quick,  10. 1464 ; 
painful,  sore,  10.  1837. 

Smert,  adv.  smart,  quickly ;  as 
smert  =  immediately,  5.  5706. 

Smerte,  v.  to  smart,  3.  76 ;  subj. 
pr.  s.  Smerte,  3.  172;  it  may 
grieve,  15.  iii.  161. 

Smolderande,  pres.  part,  smoul- 
dering, 13.  955. 

Smolte,  pt.  s.  smelt  (his  way),  13. 
461. 

Smot,  pt.  s.  smote,  i  a.  133;  smot 
in  anober  tale  =  struck  into  an- 
other sort  of  talk,  I  b.  74. 

Smybbe,  sb.  smithy,  forge,  I  b.  60, 
70.  A.  S.  smitye,  a  forge,  smfS, 
a  smith. 

Snelle,  adj.  pi.  quick,  sudden, 
sharp,  8  a.  102  ;  biting,  8  b.  213. 
A.  S.  snell,  quick,  G.  scknell. 

S  nibbing,  sb.  rebuke,  2.  xvii.  43 ; 
2.  ciii.  15.  Dan.  snibbe,  to  scold, 
E.  snub ;  also  Dan.  snubbe,  to  cut 
short,  E.  snip,  nip;  whence  snub- 
nose. 

Snytte,  pt.  s.  cleaned  (the  nose), 
i  b.  85.  A.  S.  snytan,  to  blow 
the  nose,  Du.  snuiten,  to  sniff; 
cf.  E.  snort,  sniff",  snuffle,  imita- 
tions of  nasal  sounds ;  cf.  E.  snout. 

So,  conj.  as,  4  a.  38;  4  c.  n  ; 
what  so  =  whatsoever,  i  b.  38. 

Sodeynliche,  adv.  suddenly,  i  b. 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


451 


10.      F.  sotidain,  Lat.  subitaneus, 
sudden. 

Softe,  adj.  warm,  mild,  15/r.  I; 
gentle,  5.  5837. 

Softe,  adv.  luxuriously,  19.  275. 

Sogat,  adv.  in  such  a  way,  1 1  b. 
93.  O.  E.  gate,  a  way. 

Sohte,  pt.  s.  sought,  4  c.  4;  pi. 
Soght,  7.  70. 

Solempnely,  adv.  with  pomp,  19. 
317.  Lat.  solennis. 

Somdel,  adv.  somewhat,  I  a.  164, 
467 ;  18  a.  176.  A.  S.  sum,  some, 
dcel,  part,  deal. 

Some,  adj.  pi.;  hence,  alle  and 
some,  all  and  one  (modern  E.  one 
and  all),  4  <?.  28  ;  19.  263.  A 
common  phrase.  See  the  note. 

Somony,  v.  to  summon,  i  a.  416. 

Somwat,  adv.  somewhat,  I  a.  264. 

Son,  adv.  soon,  4  c.  8;  quickly, 
7.  40.  See  Sone. 

Son,  sb.  F.  sound,  12.  39.    F.  son. 

Sond,  sb.  sand,  19.  509. 

Sonde,  sb.  sending,  19.  523;  mes- 
sage, 4  b.  15;  19.  388;  a  gift 
sent,  12.  64.  A.  S.  sand,  a  send- 
ing, sendan,  to  send. 

Sender,  sunder,  10.  1230. 

Sondezmon,  sb.  messenger,  13. 
469.  See  above. 

Sone,  sb.  son,  2.  viii.  14 ;  gen. 
Sone,  son's,  6.  60.  A.  S.  sunu, 
gen.  suna. 

Sone,  adv.  S.  soon,  I  a.  64.  A.  S. 
sona,  soon. 

Sonendayes,  sb.  pi.  Sundays,  15. 
ii.  197*  A. S.  sunne,  sun;  the 
gen.  case  being  snnnan. 

Sonne,  sb.  sun,  I  b.  71 ;  4  a.  26; 
5.  5584.  A.  S.  sunne. 

Sorewe,  sb.  sorrow,  3.  116;  pi. 
Soreghes,  2.  xvii.  13.  A.  S.  sorh. 

Sori,    adj.   sorrowful,    sorry,    I   a. 

474;  Sory,  5.5732. 
Sorwe,  sb.  S.  sorrow,  I  a.  I,  190; 
Soru,  8  a.  120;    pi.    Sorwes,    2. 
xvii.  ii. 
Soster,  sb.  sister,  I  a.   244,  423; 


pi.    Sostren,    i    a.    237.       A.  S. 

swedstor. 
Sot,  sb.  a  fool,  3.  82  ;   gen.  Sottes, 

3-85. 
So]?,  adj.  true,  i  a.  50;    Soth,  19. 

1 68.     A.  S.  sj$,  true ;  Gk.  Ireos. 
So)>e,  sb.  sooth,  truth,  15.  iii.  92. 
Sothlik,  adv.  soothly,  verily,  how- 
ever, 2.  ciii.  69,  82. 
Sothnes,  sb.  truth,  2.  xiv.  5  ;   So>- 

nesse,  15.  ii.  163. 
Souch.es,  pr.  s.  suspects,  10.  788. 

O.  F.    souchier,    soucier,    to     be 

anxious,  F.  souci,  care,  Lat.  solli- 

citum. 
Souerayn,  adj.  supreme,  chief,  19. 

276. 

Soufre,  sb.  F.  sulphur,  13.  954. 
Soukand,/>r*s./>ar/.  sucking  (ones), 

2.  viii.  5.     A.  S.  sucan,  to  suck. 
Soule,  sb.  gen.  case,  soul's ;   soule 

bote  =  soul's   good,    3.    300;    pi. 

Soulen,  souls,    I  a.    268.      A.  S. 

sdivl,  soul. 

Sounyng,  sb.  sounding,  18  a.  202. 
Souferon,  adj.  Southern,  18  a.  206. 
Sou]?hamtessire,  Hampshire,  i  a. 

377- 

Sowdan,  sb.  sultan,  19.  177. 
Sowdanesse,  sb.  sultaness,  19.  358. 
Sowne,  sb.    F.   sound,    12.  210; 

Soun,  18  a.  193.     See  Son. 
Sownede,  pt.  s.  sounded,  15  pr.  10. 
Soyn,    adv.    soon,    16.    3.       See 

Sone,  adv. 
Sojt,  pt.  s.  made  its  way,  13.  510. 

(Lit.  sought.) 
Spak,  pt.  s.   spoke,    7.   27 ;    Spac, 

i  b.    72;    pi.    Spak,    5.    5589; 

Speke,  I  b.  9. 
Spakli,  adv.  wisely,  prudently,  12. 

19.     Cf.  Sc.  spae-wife,  a  fortune- 
teller, wise  woman.     Icel.  spakr, 

wise. 
Sparwes,  sb.  pi.  sparrows,   2.  ciii. 

38.     A.  S.  spearwa. 
Speche,   sb.    language,   I  a.   215; 

6.  67. 
Spede,  v.  to  succeed,  prosper,   3. 


G  g  2 


45* 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


25;    Sped,   7.   175;   pr.  s.  subj. 

Specie,    may    prosper,    ig.    259. 

A.  S.  spedan,   to    prosper,    spdd, 

haste. 
Spek,  sb.  speech,  16.  133;  Speke, 

16.  157- 
Speke,  v.  to  speak,  I  a.  215  ;pr.  s. 

Spekes,  speaks,  2.  xiv.  5;  pt.pl. 

Speke,  I  a.  216;  Speeke,  15.  ii. 

20 1 ;  Spekinde,  />m.  />ar/.  in  phr. 

J>e     spekinde  =  whilst     thou     art 

speaking,  9.  102.     A.  S.  sprecan, 

to  speak. 
Spelle,  sb.  a  story,  narrative,  8  b. 

116. 
Spellinge,   s6.    recital,    20.    241. 

A.  S.  spellian}  to  relate,  tell,  recite, 

E.  spell. 

Spende,  pt.  pi.  spent,  I  a.  94. 
Speride,   />/.    s.    sparred,    barred, 

fastened,  8  b.  184.    A.  S.  sporran, 

to  fasten,  Dan.  spcer,  a  rafter,  a 

s/>or,  a  spear;  cf.  E.  for. 
Sperling,  s6.  a  small  fish,  8  6.  48. 

Halliwell     gives     *  Sparling,     a 

smelt.'  Cf.  A.  S.  sp<zr,  small,  spare. 
Spicers,  sb.  pi.  spice-sellers  (the 

old  name  for  grocers),  15.  ii.  201. 
Spicerye,  sb.  spicery,  spices,  19. 

136. 
Spille,  v.  to  be  ruined,  3.  35  ;  to 

perish,  19.  587  ;    i  p.  s.  pr.  Spille, 

I  perish,  19.  285.     A.S.  spillan, 

to  destroy,  spill;  generally  transi- 
tive. 
Spinsters,  sb.pl.  women  who  spun, 

15.  v.  130. 
Spird,   pt.  pi.    enquired,    7.    72 ; 

Spirs,  imp.  pi.  103.     A.  S.  spirian, 

to  enquire,  track ;  cf.  Du.  and  E. 

spoor,  a  track ;  Sc.  speir,  to  ask. 
Spousi,  v.  F.  espouse,  marry,  i  a. 

1 6  ;  pt.  s.  Spousede,  I  a.  250. 
Spoushod,  sb.  marriage,  i  a.  244. 
Spouted,  pp.  voided,  19.  487. 
Sprawel,  v.  to  sprawl,  10.  475. 
Sprede,   v.  to   spread,    i  a.    145. 

Du.    spreiden,    Dan.    sprede,    to 

spread,  scatter. 


Spreynd,  pp.  sprinkled,  19.  422. 
A.  S.  springan,  Du.  sprengen,  to 
sprinkle. 

Sprungen,  pp.  risen,  2.  ciii.  49. 

Spume,  sb.  froth,  20.  296. 

Spuniande,  pres.  part,  sticking, 
sticky,  13.  1038.  Perhaps  it 
should  be  spinnande,  with  the 
same  sense ;  or  spumande,  fuming. 
Pynnand  =  sticky,  is  found  in  the 
Allit.  Rom.  of  Alexander,  ed. 
Stevenson,  p.  142. 

Spurnde,  pt.  s.  kicked,  stumbled, 
I  a.  387.  A.S.  spurnan,  to  strike 
with  the  heel,  sport  the  heel,  a 
spur;  spornincg,  a  stumbling- 
block. 

Spyllez,  pr.  s.  destroys,  13.  511. 
See  Spille. 

Spyrakle,  sb.  the  breath  of  life,  13. 
408.  Lat.  spiraculum  uitae,  Gen. 
vii.  22. 

Spyserez,  sb.pl.  sellers  of  spices, 
grocers,  13.  1038.  See  Spicers. 

Squilk,  adj.  in  phr.  amang  squilk 
=  amangs  quilk,  among  which, 

7-  25. 
Squyers,  sb.pl.  F.  squires,  5.  5873. 

O.  F.  escuyer,  a  shield-bearer,  from 

Lat.  scutum,  a  shield. 
Squyler,  sb.  dish-washer,  scullion, 

5.  5913.     A.S.  swilian,  to  wash, 

swill.    See  Swele. 
Ss,  often  used  for  Sh.  by  Southern 

scribes. 

Ssake,  v.  to  shake,  9.  225. 
Ssalt,  pr.  s.  2  p.  shalt,  I  a.  30. 
Ssame,  sb.  shame,  i  a.  124,  306. 
Ssame,  imp.  pi.  be  ashamed,  i  a. 

118. 
Sscet,  pt.  s.  shot,  i.  e.  darted  quickly 

forward,  I  a.  132.     See  Scnot. 
Sseawere,   sb.    a    shewer,   i.e.   a 

mirror,  9.  107. 
Sseawy,  v.  to  shew,  9.  I  ;  pr.  pi. 

Sseawef>,  appear,  9.   150.      A.  S. 

scedwian,  to  shew. 
Ssede,  sb.  shade;  in  ssede  =  darkly, 

9.  107. 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


453 


Ssedde,  pt.s.  shed,  spilt,  I  a.  170. 
Ssel,  pr.  s.  shall,  9.  9. 
Sseld,  sb.  shield,  9.  83. 
Ssende,  v.  to  put  to  shame,  dis- 
grace, confound,   I  a.  473.     See 

Schende. 
Scepbe,  sb.  form,  shape,  appearance, 

9.  158;  pi.  Ssep]?es,  creatures,  9. 

1 1 6.      A.  S.    sceaft,    a    creature. 

scapan,  sceppan,  to  create. 
Ssetare,   sb.-pl.   shooters,   archers, 

I  a.  159.    A.  S.  scytta,  a  bowman. 

(Perhaps  we  should  read  sselares.) 
Ssete,  i/.  to  shoot,  i  a.  412.     A.  S. 

sceotan. 

Ssip,  s6.  ship  ;  />/.  Ssipes,  I  a.  59. 
Ssipuol,  sb.  shipfuls,  I  a.  320. 
Ssire,  sb.  shire,  i  a.  354. 
Ssolde,  mcf.  />/.  pi.  should,  were  to, 

I  a.  52  ;  m  />&r.  into  jns  bataile 

. . .  ssolde  =  were  to   go  into  this 

battle ;  pt.  s.  subj.  Ssolde,  i  a.  20. 
Ssoldren,  sb.  pi.  shoulders,    i  a. 

126,     409.      A.  S.     sculder,     a 

shoulder. 
Ssolle,  pr.pl.  shall,  i  a.  126;  9. 

Ssriue,  pt.pl.  confessed,  i  a.  96. 

Ssyne]>,  pr.  pi.  shine,  9.  150. 

Stac,  pt.  s.  (of  Steke)  closed  up,  13. 
439.  A.  S.  stician,  to  stick ;  Du. 
steken,  to  stick;  Sc.  steek,  to 
fasten ;  A.S.  sticca,  a  stick,  a  stake. 

Stad,  pp.  bestead,  hardly  beset,  16. 
58,  216. 

Stalwortly,  adv.  sturdily,  1 1  b.  50. 

Stalwor)>e,  adj.  stout,  strong, 
sturdy,  5.  5865 ;  Stalword,  18  b. 
55.  A.  S.  stalweor'tS,  worth  steal- 
ing, E.  stalwart. 

Stalworjjest,  adj.  superl.  strongest, 
bravest,  13.  255.  See  above. 

Stalworthhede,  sb.  stalwartness, 
might,  2.  xvii.  I. 

Stamyn,  sb.  some  part  of  a  ship, 
probably  the  stem,  13.  486.  It 
occurs  in  the  allit.  Morte  Arthure, 
1.  3658. 

Stane,  sb.  stagnant  pool,  12.  1018. 


Gaelic  stang,    a   pool ;    cf.  Lat. 

stagnum. 

Stand,  pr.  s.  stands,  2.  cii.  23. 
Stane,  sb.  stone,  rock,  2.  ciii.  41 ; 

pi.    Stanes,    2.    ciii.    26.      A.S. 

stdn. 
Stane-ded,  adj.    stone-dead,    16. 

471. 
Stangez,  sb.  pi.   pools,    13.   439. 

Gael,  stang,  a  pool ;   Lat.  stag- 
num.    See  Stanc. 
Stant,  pr.  s.  stands,  6.  42  ;  9. 119; 

19.  618;  20.  74.     A.S.  standan, 

to  stand,  pr.  s.  he  stent. 
Stareand,  pres.  part,  staring,  1 1  a. 

67. 
Starf,  pt.  s.   died,    19.    283.    See 

Sterue. 
Stat,  sb.  state,  condition,  i  a.  494 , 

8  a.  197. 
Sta]>elnes,  sb.  stability,  2.  ciii.  II. 

A.  S.   staftol,   a   firm   foundation, 

staftolnes,  stability;  staftig,  firm, 

steady,  from  standan,  to  stand. 
Statues,  sb.pl.  statutes,  15.  vii. 

3°5- 
Staues,  sb.  pi.  staves,  sticks,  15  pr. 

50. 
Stauez,  pr.  s.  stows  away,  13.  480; 

pp.    Staued,    stowed,     13.    352; 

Stawed,  13.  360.     Du.  stuwen,  to 

stow,  to  push. 
Steaj,/>/.  s.  ascended,  9.  241.     See 

Steven. 
Stede,  sb.  place,  2.  xxiii.  6;  2.  cii. 

36 ;  pi.  Stedes,  2.  cii.  53 ;  abodes, 

9.  217.     A.S.  stede,  a  stead;  from 

standan,    to    stand ;    cf.    steady, 

stedfast. 
Steenes,  sb.pl.  vessels  or  pots  of 

stone,  i8a.  46.     'Stean,  a  stone 

jar/     Halliwell. 
Stefhede,  sb.  (stiffhood),  strength, 

9.  10. 
Stegh,  v.  to  ascend,  2.  xxiii.  5  ; 

pt.  s.   Stegh,    2.   xvii.   29.     See 

Steven. 
Stekez,  imp.  pi.  fasten,  13.  352. 

See  Stac. 


454 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


Stere,  v.  to  stir,  20.   317.     A.  S. 

stirian, 
Stere,  sb.  pilot,  helmsman,  19.  448. 

A.  S.    stedra,     one     who     steers, 

styran,  to  steer. 
Sterelees,  adj.  without  a  rudder, 

19.  439. 
Stern,  sb.  star,  7.  18;  pi.  Sternes, 

2.  viii.  II ;  8  a.   137;  II  a.  67. 

A   Northern    form    of   South   E. 

sterre ;     cf.     Icel.    stjarna,     Sw. 

stjerna,  Mceso-Goth.    stairno,  G. 

stern. 

Sterreliht,  sb.  starlight,  20.  132. 
Sterren,  sb.pl.  stars,  9. 151;  Sterres, 

19. 192.     A.  S.  steorra,  a  star,  pi. 

steorran. 
Sterte,  v.  to  start,  pass  away,  19. 

335  J  pt.  s.  Stert,   came  quickly, 

7.    288.      G.   sturz,   a    stumble, 

sturzen,  to  dash. 
Sterue,  v.  to   die,   9.   67 ;  pt.  s. 

Starf,  19.  283.     A.  S.  steorfan,  G. 

sterben,  to  die,  E.  starve. 
Steruing,  sb.  dying,  death,  2.  cii. 

7.     See  above. 
Steuen,  sb.  voice,  2.  xvii.  17;  2. 

cii.  48;   13.  360;  command,  13. 

463.     A.  S.  stefen,  a  voice. 
Steuene,  Stephen,  I  a.  272,  304, 

305- 

Stejen,  v.  to  mount,  ascend,  17. 
Ps.  xxiii.  3 ;  pi.  s.  Steaj,  9.  241 ; 
Stegh,  2.  xvii.  29 ;  pt.pl.  Stieden, 
arose,  17  a.  iv.  7.  A.  S.  stigan, 
G.  steigen,  to  climb ;  cf.  Gk.  rrret- 
X«P ;  hence  E.  stile,  stair,  stirrup, 
and  Prov.  E.  stee,  a  ladder. 

Stif,  adj.  strong,  I  a.  409. 

Stiffuly,  adv.  swiftly,  fiercely,  (lit. 
stiffly),  12.  219. 

Stih.es,  sb.  pi.  paths,  2.  viii.  24 ; 
Sties,  2.  xvii.  116.  A.S.  stig,  a 
path,  G.  steg,  a  pass ;  from  A.  S. 
stigan,  G.  steigen,  to  climb.  See 
above. 

Stiked,  pt.  s.  stuck  (fast),  19.  509  ; 
pp.  stuck,  pierced,  stabbed,  19. 
43°* 


Stint,  v.  to  stop,  leave  off,  12.  159; 

/>/.  s.  Stint,  stopped,  12.  61.    A.S. 

stintan,  to  be  blunt,  to  be  weary ; 

hence  E.  stunted. 
Stired,  pt.  s.  stirred,  2.  xvii.  19 ; 

pp.  Stired,  moved,  2.  xiv.  1 6.   See 

Stere. 
Stijynge,  pres.  part,  climbing  up, 

17.  Mar.  vi.  32. 
Stockis,  sb.pl.  stocks,  fetters,  17. 

Mar.  v.  4.     Vulg.  compedibus. 
Stode,  pt.  s.  stood,  5.  5605  ;   pi. 

Stode,  I  6.  5  ;  Stoden,  19.  678. 
Stoke,  sb.  stock,  3.  107. 
Stoken,  pp.  fastened  in,  13.  360, 

See  Stac. 
Stonde,  v.  to  stand,  I  a.  87  ;  4  e, 

1 8  ;  to  be  valid,  6.  49  ;  Stonden, 

to  cost,  15.  iii.  49.  A.  S.  standan. 
Stoneyinge,  sb.  astonishment,  17. 

Mar.  v.  42.     O.F.  estonner,   E. 

stun. 
Stonte,  pr.  s.  stands,  5.  5887.     See 

Stant. 
Stounde,  sb.  portion   of  time,   a 

while,    I  a.  99;    time,  5.  5934; 

12.  159.     A.  S.  stund,  G.  stunde, 

a  portion  of  time. 
Stouped,  pt.  s.  stooped,  5.  5615. 
Stour,  sb.  conflict,  10.  1838  ;  pi. 

Stowres,  attacks,  8  b.  55.     O.  F. 

estour,  from  Icel.  styrr,  a  battle. 
Strake,  pt.pl.  struck,  16.  153. 
Strand,  sb.  stream,  7.  329.     Used 

by  Gawain  Douglas. 
Strang,  adj.  strong,  2.  xvii.  48 ;  2. 

xxiii.  19 ;  pi.  Strange,  hard,  8  b. 

55- 
Strange}?,  pr.  s.  becomes  strange, 

20.  277. 
Stratly,  adv.  closely,  16.  216.   See 

Strayte. 
Strayny,  pr.  s.  subj.  to  restrain,  9. 

10.     Lat.  stringere. 
Strayte,  adj.pl.  narrow,  9.   152. 

F.    etroit,    Lat.    strictus,    drawn 

close. 
Strecche,  v.  to  stretch ;  strecche  on 

=  exert  (himself),  12.  219. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


455 


Streitliclie,  adv.  narrowly,  exactly, 

strictly,  i  a.  352.     See  above. 
Streijt,  pt.  s.  stretched,  17.  Mar.  i. 

41.     A.  S.  sfreccan,  pt.  t.  strehte, 

pp.  geslreht. 
Strekand,   pres.  part,   stretching, 

extending,  2.  ciii.  5.     See  above. 
Strem,   sb.   stream,   4 .  d.    21 ;   pi. 

Stremes,  rivers,  2.  xxiii.  4.     A.  S. 

s/raim. 
Strend,  s6.  generation,  2.  xxiii.  13. 

A.  S.  strynd,  stock,  race,  strynan, 

to  beget ;  cf.  Eng.  strain. 
Strengere,  adj.comp.  stronger,  17. 

Mar.  i.  7. 
Strangle,  sb.  S.  strength,  i  a.  104; 

force,  compulsion,  I  a.  22. 
StrenghJ>ed,  />/.  s.  strengthened,  2. 

cii.  22  ;  pp.  2.  xvii.  50. 
Strenkle,   v.   to    sprinkle   abroad, 

scatter,     13.     307.       Cf.     A.  S. 

stredan,  stregdan,  to  scatter. 
Strenthe,  sb.  force,  86.  ai. 
Streyt,  adj.  strait,  narrow,   14  c. 

77 ;  Streyte,  aJv.  closely,  14  c.  104. 

See  Strayte. 

Strife,  pr.pl.  ip.  strive,  10.  1470. 
Strike)?,  pr.  s.  flows,  4  d.  21.   A.  S. 

strican,    to    go,    to    continue    a 

course  :    cf.  G.  streichen,  to  pass 

over,  E.  stroke,  streak. 
Stronge,  pi.  adj.  severe,  i  a.  5. 
Stroy,   v.   to   destroy,    n  a.  48; 

Strye,    13.    307;    pr.pl    Stroies, 

8  b.  49;  /*.  s.  Stryede,  13.375; 

Stryed,  13.  1018.     Lat.  struere. 
Stud,  sb.  stead,  resting-place,   13. 

389 ;  pi.  Studes,  i  a.  373.     See 

Stede. 

Stund,  sb.  time,  short  time,  mo- 
ment, 7.  383.     See  Stounde. 
Sturioun,  sb.  a  sturgeon,  8  b.  47. 

A.  S.    styriga,    a    porpoise,    Sw. 

star. 

Sturne,  adj.  stern,  i  a.  29,  406. 
Sturnhede,  sb.  sternness,  severity, 

i  a.  280. 
Sty,  sb.  a  path,  way,  12.  212.     See 

Stihes. 


Styfest,  adj.  stiffest,  strongest,  13. 

255. 
Styh,  pt.  s.  ascended,  mounted,  20. 

165.     See  Steven. 
Styinge,  pres.  part,  mounting,  as- 
cending, 17.  Mar.  i.  10;  iii.  13. 

See  Steven. 
Stykede,  pt.  s.  pierced,  18  b.  124 ; 

pp.  Ystyked,  127. 
Stynte,  v.  to  end ;   or  pr.  s.  subj. 

may  cease,  19.  413.     See  Stint. 
Stynting,  sb.  a  stop,  16.  40.    See 

Stint. 
Stystez,  an  obvious  error  of  the 

scribe  for   Styntes,  pr.  s.   ceases, 

J3-  359-     See  Stint. 
Styje,  pr.  pi.  climb  up ;  prob.  for 

ste$e,   i.e.  climbed  up,  13.  389; 

pr.  s.  Sty$eJ>,  mounts,  170.  iv.  32. 

See  Stesen. 
Sua,  adv.  so,  7.  20 ;  Sua  }>at,  so 

that,  7.  38.     A.  S.  swd,  so. 
Suanis,  sb.pl.  swains,  7.  224.     See 

Suein. 
Suank,  pt.  pi.  laboured,  toiled,  7. 

41.     A.  S.  swincan,  to  toil. 
Succinis,  sb.  amber,  18  a.  36.  Lat. 

sucinum. 
Sue,  imp.  s.  follow,  17.  Mar.  ii.  14; 

pt.pl.  Sueden,  17.  Mar.  i.  18.     F. 

svivre,  Lat.  sequi. 
Suein,  sb.  swain,  man,   I  a.  133. 

A.  S.  swan,  a  servant,  Dan.  svend, 

a  journeyman,  servant. 
Suerd,  sb.  S.  sword,  i  a.  84,  90, 

no; pi.  Suerdes,  la.  127.     A. S. 

sweord,  swerd,  G.  schwert. 
Suete,  adj.  sweet,  4  d.  5.      A.  S. 

swet. 

Sufflsant,  adj.  sufficient,  19.  243. 
Suger,  sb.  sugar,  15.  v.  100. 
Suich,  pron.   such,  6.    27.     A.  S. 

swilc,  Mceso-Goth.  swa-leiks,  lit. 

so-like.     See  Slik. 
Suik,  sb.  deceit ;  ful  of  suik,  full  of 

treachery,   7.   87.      A.  S.  swican, 

to  deceive. 
Suikedom,  sb.  treachery,  i  a.  121. 

A.  S.  svncdom,  treachery. 


456 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


Suikelhede,  sb.  S.  treachery,  i  a. 
9.  A.  S.  swicol,  false. 

Suilk,  adj.  such,  7.  27.  See  Suich. 

Sui>e,  adv.  very,  i  a.  407.  A.  S. 
switte,  very,  swift,  strong. 

Suld,  pt.  s.  should,  7.  19;  pt.pl. 
Suld,  7.  49. 

Sulf,  adj.  self;  <&/.  Sulue,  same, 
I  a.  350. 

Sullen,  v.  to  sell,  15.  ii.  189.  A.  S. 
syllan. 

Sullers,  sb.  pi.  sellers,  tradesmen, 
15.  iii.  79. 

Suluer,  sb.  silver,  I  a.  456.  A.  S. 
seolfer. 

Sumdel,  sb.  some  deal,  some  part, 
in  some  measure,  15.  iii.  83. 

Sume,  sb.  either  sum,  quantity; 
sume  o  quain  =  sum  of  number,  i.  e. 
number;  or  sume  =  suem  =  swem, 
i.  e.  grief,  7.  203.  See  the  note. 

Surnpnours,  sb.pl.  summoners  or 
somners  (officers  who  cite  delin- 
quents before  an  ecclesiastical 
court),  15.  iii.  129.  Lat.  sum~ 
moneo. 

Sun,  sb.  son,  7.  36.     A.  S.  sunu. 

Sunne,  sb.  sin,  40.  54;  15.  v.  142; 
pi.  Sunnes,  sins,  I  a.  277.  A.  S.  syn. 

Sunne,  sb.  sun,  2.  ciii.  44,  49.  See 
Sonne. 

Suor,  pt.  s.  I  p.  swore,  i  a.  26; 
3  p.  Suor,  I  a.  468  ;  pt.  pi.  Suore, 
i  a.  417.  A.  S.  swerian,  to  swear, 
pt.  t.  ic  swdr.  See  Swere. 

Suote,  adj.  sweet,  20.  173.  See 
Suete.  Cf.  Du.  zoet,  sweet. 

Supplement,  sb.  new  piece,  patch, 
17.  Mar.  ii.  21. 

Surrye,  prop,  name,  Syria,  19. 134. 

Surryen,  adj.  Syrian,  19.  153. 

Susteini,  v.  F.  to  maintain,  up- 
hold, i  a.  31,  403;  Susteene,  19. 
160;  pt.s.  Susteinede,  I  a.  314. 

Suth,  sb.  sooth,  truth,  ii  a.  71. 
See  Sote. 

SuJ>J?e,  acfo.  afterwards,  i  a.  5,  6, 
35 ;  Sujjjje  f>at,  COM;',  since,  i  a. 
183.  See  SeH>e. 


Suun,   sb.    swoon,    7.   346.     A.S. 

swtndan,  to  languish. 
Suwep,  pr.  pi.  follow,   1 5  pr.  45  ; 

pp.  Suwed,  15.  vi.  34.     See  Sue. 
Suy^e,  adv.  very,  I  b.  7  ;  4  c.  17. 

See  Suite. 
Swa,   adv.  S.  so,   2.   viii.   12;    2. 

xvii.  40 ;  10.  509.     A.  S.  swd 
Swal,  pt.  s.  swelled,  3.142.     A.  S. 

swellan,  pt.  t.  ic  sweat. 
Sware,  adj.  square,  13.  319. 
Sware,  pt.  s.  swore,  2.  xxiii.  10. 
Swe,  pr.  pi.   sway  ;     rather   read 

sweyed,  pt.pl.  swayed,  13.  956. 

Dan.    svaie,    to    sway,    sveie,    to 

bend. 
Sweande,  pres.  part,  swaying,  13. 

420.     See  above. 
Sweigh,  sb.  sway,  motion,  19.  296. 

Du.  zwaai,  a  turn.     See  Swe. 
Swele,  v.  to  wash,  5.  5828.     A.S. 

swilian,  to  swill,  wash. 
Swelt,  v.  destroy,  cause  to  perish,  ' 

13-    332.     Cf.   A.S.  sweltan,   to 

die,  perish. 
Swere,  v.  to  swear,  5.  5629;  pr.  s. 

Sweres,  2.  xiv.  1 1.     A.  S.  swerian. 
Sweuene,  sb.  a  dream,  15  pr.  ii. 

A.  S.  swefen,  a  dream,   Lat.  som- 

nium;  cf.  Sanskr.  svapna,  sleep. 
Sweuenyng,  sb.  dream,  5.  5726. 
Swikedam,  sb.  deceit,  2.  xxiii.  10. 

See  Suikedom. 
Swikeldome,  sb.  treachery,  deceit, 

2.  xiv.  6.     See  above. 
Swith,  adv.    very,   2.  ciii.    2 ;   as 

swi]?e  =  as  quickly  as  possible,  12. 

108.     See  Sui>e. 
Swon,  sb.  S.  swan,  40.  31. 
Swonken,  pt.  pi.  worked  ;    toiled 

(to  get),  15  pr.  21.    A.  S.  swincan, 

to  labour.     See  Swynke. 
Swopen,  v.  to  sweep,  cleanse,  15. 

v.  102.     Cf.  E.  swab;  Sw.  sopa, 

to  sweep. 
Swowe,  sb.  swoon;  on  swowe  =  in 

a  swoon,  12.  87.     See  Suun. 
Swych,  adj.  such,  5.  5626,  5632. 

See  Suich. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


457 


Swynk,  sb.  toil,  10.  755. 
Swynke,  v.  to  toil,  15/^.52.  A.S. 

swincan.     See  Swonken. 
Swyre,  sb.  S.  neck,  4  a.  31.      A.S. 

sweora,  swira,  neck. 
SwyJ>e,  acfo.  very,  5.  5577.     See 


Sygge,  v.  to  say,  18  b.  32.    See 

Seggen. 
Sykerlych,  adv.  securely,  1  8  a.  39. 

See  Siker. 

Sykernes,  sb.  security,  5.  5766. 
Sylle,   v.   to  sell,   18  a.  52.     See 

Sullen. 
Symented,  pp.   cemented,    14  c. 

107. 
Syn,  conj.  since,  5.  5646,  5648; 

prep,  after,  19.  365.     Contr.  from 

Si)))jen  or  Seb)>en.     See  Sej?en. 
Syne,  adv.  afterwards,  16.  74.    See 

above.     Cf.  O.  E.  tkyne,  thence. 
Synoghe,    sb.    sinew,    10.    1917. 

A.  S.  sinu,  G.  sehne. 
Sythen,  adv.  afterwards,  10.  731  ; 

SyJ>t>en,  5.  5863.    See  SeJ>en. 
Sythes,   sb.pl.   times,    10.    1272. 

See  SiJ>e. 

Syttyn,  pp.  sat,  1  6.  407. 
Sy3,  pt.  s.  saw,   17  a.  vi.  34  ;  pi. 

Syjen,    17  a.   vi.   33.     See   Sih, 

Sei,  Sei3- 
Syjt,  sb.  sight,  5.  5864,  5890. 

T. 

Ta,  v.  to  take,  7.  182.    Sc.  ta. 
Taa,  sb.  toe,  10.   1910  ;  pi.  Tas, 

toes,  10.  683;  Taes,  778.     A.S. 

td,  Lat.  digitus,  Gk.  5a.KTv\os. 
Tab  art,   sb.  tabard,  a  short  coat, 

with  loose  sleeves,   or  sometimes 

without  sleeves,  15.  v.  in.  Often 

worn  by  heralds.     W.  tabar,  Low 

Lat.  tabarrus. 
Tades,    sb.  pi.    toads,   8  b.    178. 

A.  S.  tdde,  a  toad. 
Taile,  sb.  tail,  i.  e.  train  of  followers, 

i  a.  119. 
Taillcmrs,  sb.pl.  tailors,  \$pr.  TOO. 


Take,  v.  to  deliver,  yield  up,  i  a. 
89 ;  to  betake,  5.  5829  ;  to  pre- 
sent, 15.  i.  54;  Ip.s.pr.  Take, 
I  hand  over,  5.  5754;  p.p.  Take, 
taken,  12.  133;  imp.pl.  Take}>, 
20.72.  A.  S.  tacan,  to  take.  Ob- 
serve that  O.  E.  take  frequently  = 
give.  See  Tok. 

Taken,  sb.  token,  7.  134 ;  pi. 
Takens,  IO.  814.  A.S.  tdcen, 
a  sign,  Mceso-Goth.  taikns,  Du. 
teeken,  G.zeichen;  cf.  Gk.  5eiKVvi*i. 

Takened,  pp.  betokened,  8  b.  24. 
A.  S.  tdcnian,  Mceso-Goth.  taikn- 
jan,  to  betoken,  shew. 

Takeninge,  sb.  a  betokening, 
token,  sign,  8  a.  99 ;  Takning, 
8  a.  181.  A.S.tdcnung. 

Tale,  sb.  account ;  holde  no  tale  = 
make  no  account,  15.  i.  9 ;  of 
water  ne)>  hit  tale  =  it  holds  no 
account  as  water,  it  is  not  con- 
sidered as  water,  6.  21;  also,  talk, 
I  b.  74.  A.S.  tal,  a  reckoning, 
a  tale  ;  G.  zahl,  a  number. 

Tale,  v.  to  tell,  relate,  12.  160; 
pp.  Talde,  accounted,  10.  436. 
A.  S.  talian,  to  compute,  relate ; 
tellan,  to  tell,  to  number. 

Tamenden,  v.  to  amend,  19.  462. 

Tan,  pp.  taken,  86.  227;  Tane, 
10.  2364.  Cf.  Ta. 

Tanoyen  (for  to  anoyen),  v.  to 
annoy,  to  injure,  19.  492. 

Taper,  sb.  a  taper,  i  b.  1*2;  pi. 
Taperes,  i  b.  18.  A.  S.  taper,  a 
candle. 

Tarettes,  sb.  pi.  ships  of  heavy 
burden,  II  a.  80.  Low  Lat. 
tarida,  from  tara,  a  weight,  bur- 
den, overweight ;  hence  E.  tare 
in  commerce. 

Targes,  sb.  pi.  round  shields,  I  a. 

139- 

Tayl,  sb.  following,  mob,  15.  ii, 
1 60.  See  Taile. 

Taylefer,  i  a.  133.  (The  mean- 
ing of  the  name  is  cut-iron;  F. 
tailler,  to  cut,/er,  iron.) 


458 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


Te,  to  (before  infin),  6.  79;  adv. 
too,  6.  74.  Cf.  O.  Fries,  to,  te, 
ti,  to. 

Tech,  imp.  s.  teach;  tech  to  =  re- 
commend to,  15.  i.  81.  A.  S. 
tacan,  to  teach,  shew,  direct. 

Tech.es,  sb.pl.  marks,  signs,  13. 
1049.  F.  tache,  a  mark. 

Teeme,  sb.  theme,  short  discourse, 
text,  15.  iii.  86. 

Teijen,  v.  to  tie,  bind,  15.  i.  94. 
A.  S.  tigan. 

Telde,  sb.  tent,  tabernacle,  2.  xiv. 
i ;  2.  xvii.  32.  A.  S.  teld,  a  tent ; 
E.  tilt,  covering  of  a  cart. 

Telle,  v.  S.  to  tell,  i  a.  8,  9 ;  to 
repeat,  6.  84 ;  pr.  s.  Telb,  ac- 
counts, i  a.  219;  pr.pl.  Tellus, 
12.  198;  pt.s.  Telld,  8  a.  197. 
A.  S.  tellan,  to  tell,  to  number. 

Temporal,  adj.  lasting  but  for  a 
short  time,  17.  Mar.  iv.  17. 

Tempred,  pp.  tuned,  3.  81.  Lat. 
temperare. 

Tend,  adj.  tenth,  8  a.  133.  Dan. 
tiende,  Sw.  tionde. 

Tende,  v.  to  set  fire  to,  light,  i  a. 
472;  pt.pl.  Tende,  lighted,  I  b. 
1 6.  A.  S.  tendan,  tyndan,  Dan. 
tewcfe,  to  set  fire  to;  cf.  E.  tinder. 

Tene,  sb.  anger,  13.  283.  See 
Teone. 

Tent,  sb.  heed,  5.  5917.  Cf.  F. 
attendre,  to  attend  to. 

Teone,  sb.  S.  injury,  harm,  3.  88 ; 
Tene,  3.  173.  A.  S.  teona,  re- 
proach, harm,  tynan,  to  vex. 

Teoneb,  />r.  s.  injures,  15.  iii.  119. 
See  above. 

Teorneb,  pr.  pi.  turn,  18  a.  126. 

Teoskesburi,  Tewkesbury,  i  a.  2  78. 

Terne,  s&.  tarn,  lake,  13.  1041. 
Icel.  tjorn,  a  small  lake. 

Te-tealte,  pp.  put  in  jeopardy,  in 
danger  of  being  null  and  void,  6. 
42.  A.  S.  to-,  prefix,  and  tealtian, 
to  tilt,  shake,  to  be  in  danger. 

fa,  pron.  pi.  those,  they,  2.  xvii. 
6 1 ;  those,  them,  2.  xvii.  39,  49; 


paa,  those,  7.  2  ;  pal,  they,  7.  2  ; 
cfart.  paim,  them,  2.  xvii.  21 ;  ace. 
pam,  them,  7.  54-  A.  S.  \>d,  pi. 
nom. ;  \>dm,  pi.  dat.  of  se,  seo, 

\KBt. 

pah,  conj.  though,  3.  75  ;   4  6.  18. 

A.  S.  }>edh,  though. 
pair,  poss.  pron.  their,   7.   39,  55. 

A.  S.  bcera,  of  them. 
pair,  for  the  air,  20.  167. 
pam,  paim.     See  pa. 
pam-selue,  pron.  themselves,  7.  32. 
pan,  art.  ace.  sing.  masc.  the,  I  a. 

464;  12.  91  ;  pane,  9.  41  ;  dat. 

pi.  pan,  those  things,  9.  46.   A.  S. 

se,    seo,   b<z/,   def.   art.   and   dem. 

pron. ;  whence  the  ace.  sing.  masc. 

\>one,  \><zne,  and  the  dat.  pi.  bam, 

barc. 
pan,  adv.  then,  5.  5591;    7.  38; 

panne,  20.  329  ;  conj.  than,  I  a. 

50.     A.  S.  ]>onne,  \xenne. 
panene,   adv.   thence,    i  a.    420; 

panne,    I  a.  474.     A.  S.   bo«a«, 

thence. 
Thanes,  s£>.  pi.  thanes,  people,  13. 

448.     A.  S.  \>enian,  G.  dienen,  to 

serve.     See  peyn. 
par,  pron.  their,  2.  ciii.  24,  50;  7. 

10;  pair,  2.  ciii.  72.    A.  S.  b<mz, 

of  them,  gen.  pi.  of  se,  seo,  ]><£t. 
par,  adv.  there,  2.  ciii.  58  ;  7.  41  ; 

where,  8  a.  136 ;  where,  when,  7. 

209.     A.  S.   basr,   there,   where ; 

the    latter    signification    is    very 

common, 
pare-amang,  adv.  at  various  times, 

2.  xvii.  47. 
pare-ogayne,  there-against,  against 

it,  1 1  a.  36. 
parfore,   adv.    for    it,    5.    5766; 

barfor  =  therefore,  5.  5855  ;  par- 
fore,  therefore,  2.  cii.  1 8. 
par-in,  adv.  therein,  2.  xxiii.  2. 
Tharray,/or  the  array,  19.  393. 
par-to,  adv.   thereto,   to   that,   5. 

5857; 

par-wid,  adv.  therewith  (?),  2.  xvii. 
130;  parwith,  5.  5713. 


GLOSS  ART AL   INDEX. 


459 


pas,  pron.pl.  those,  2.  cii.  40;  2. 

ciii.  1 8.     A.  S.  \>ds,  pi.  nom.  and 

ace.  of  J>*s,  this. 
Thassemblee,  for  the  assemblee, 

i.e.  the  assembly,  19.  403. 
pat,  or/.  H£w/.  the,  I  a.  3,  n;  6.* 

48    (the   nouns   lond  and   water 

being  neuter) ;   i  b.  8  (folc  being 

neuter)  ;  )>at  on  =  the  one,  6. 134 ; 

)>at  o)>er  =  the  second,  the  other, 

6.    136;    J>at  =  that  which,   I  a. 

1 06;    7.    70;    wsec?  in  />/ace   of 

wat  =  what,  I  b.  75.      A.  S.  \><zt, 

Du.  rfa/,  G.  das. 
pat,  con;,  so  that,  7.  24,  31. 
patow,/or  that  thou,  12.  285. 
pa3,    cow;,    though,   6.   30.     A.  S. 

\>eah. 

pajles,  conj.  though-less,  i.  e.  never- 
theless, 9.  1 7 ;  pajles  yef,  unless, 

9.  19. 
pa3t=J>a3,    con;,    though,    6.    25, 

28. 
pe,  />ron.  thee,  6.  59,  125;  pei,  6. 

122;  thou  thyself,  9.  178. 
pede.    See  peode. 
pedyr,  adv.  thither,  5.  5910;  peder, 

II  a.  77.     A.  S.  \>ider. 
pei,  pron.  thee,  6.  122.     See  pe. 
pei,  co;y.  though,    i  a.  451.     See 

pa5. 
pellyche,  pron.  such,  9.  i.     A.  S. 

tyllic,  ]>yk. 
pemperour,  put  for  J>e  emperour, 

the    emperor,     12.    212  ;      gen. 

Themperoures,  the  emperor's,  19. 

151. 

pen,  art.  ace.  s.  m.  the,  I  a.  61, 
145,  210  (the  A.  S.  weg,  a  way, 
being  masculine) ;  dot.  s.  neut. 
(eie  being  neuter),  I  a.  160.  In 
the  first  case,  )>en  =  A.S.  \>one;  in 
the  last  \>en  =  \>an  =  A.  S.  \>am, 
dat.  s.  neut.  governed  by  \>oru. 

penche,  v.  to  think,  9.  133  (to 
make  sense,  we  must  read — no 
man  ne  may  uollyche  penche) ; 
I  p.  s.  pr.  penk,  I  think,  13.  304; 
subj.  pr.  s.  penche,  3.  140;  imp. 


pi.    penche,    i    a.    117.      A.S. 

\>encan.     See  poght. 
Thende,/or  the  ende,  i.  e.  the  end, 

19.  423. 
penne,  adv.  then,  3.  67, 143.  A.  S. 

\>onne,  \><Etme. 

Thennes,  adv.  thence,  19.  308. 
peode,  sb.  pi.  nations,  3.  28;  pede, 

3.    29.      A.  S.    Ipeod,   a    nation  ; 

Moeso-Goth.     tyuda,     a     nation, 

people. 

peonne,  adv.  thence,  15.  i.  71. 
per,  pron.  these,  10.  436.    See  pir. 
per,  adv.  there,  i  a.  66 ;  where,  i  b. 

4;  3.  142;  15.  i.  68.     See  par. 
per-aboute,   adv.  round   it,    i  a. 

380;  thereabouts,  I  a.  71. 
per-after,  adv.  thereafter,  i  b.  57; 

accordingly,  15.  pr.  23. 
per-an-vnder,  i.  e.  there  beneath, 

13.  1012. 
Therbiforn,  adv.  before  then,  19. 

197. 
per-biuore,  adv.  therebefore,  i  a. 

251. 
pere,   adv.   there,    I  a.   49,    no; 

where,  5.  5587;  12.  9;  whither, 

5.  5910;    pere  as  =  where  that, 
where,  i  a.  267.     See  par. 

perf,  adj.  unleavened,  15.  vii.  269. 

A.  S.  \>eorf,  ]>erf,  unleavened. 
perfor,  adv.  therefore,  5.  5720. 
per-forne,  adv.  therefore,  2.  xvii. 

8. 
per-inne,  adv.  therein,   i  a.  383 ; 

6.  31.     A.  S.  \xer-inne. 

perto,  adv.  thereto,   i  a.  44,  85 ; 

in  addition,  I  a.  114;  pertoe,  6. 

62  ;  moreover,  19.  135. 
peruore,  adv.  therefore,   i  a.   28, 

383;  for  it,  i  a.  451,  452. 
perwe,    prep,    through,    12.    107. 

A.  S.  \>nrh. 

per-wijt,  therewith,  12.  138. 
pet,  art.  nom.  s.  neut.  the,  I  a.  783, 

328  ;  pron.  that,  6.  63.    See  pat. 
Thew,  sb.  virtue,   2.  cii.  47 ;  pi. 

pewes,  good  manners,  virtues,  3. 

4;  good  conduct,  12.  189,  342; 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


manners,  3.  26;  pewej,  manners; 
his  t>ewes  =  the  conduct  prescribed 
by  Him,  13.  544.  A.  S.  \>edw,  a 
custom,  manner;  pi.  ]>edwas, 
manners,  morals ;  cf.  A.  S.  \>eon, 
to  thrive. 

Thexcellent,  put  for  the  excellent, 
19.  150. 

pey,  conj.  though,  I  a.  288;  18  a. 
105  ;  pey3,  18  b.  56.  A.  S.  J*A, 
>«z£. 

peyn,  sb.  (probably}  service,  turn; 
wycke  )?eyn  =  evil  turn,  3.  179. 
A.  S.  ]>ening,  a  service,  Ipenung, 
office,  duty ;  J>eg?»,  a  thane,  ser- 
vant; cf.  G.  dienen,  to  serve. 

pider,  adv.  thither,  2.  ciii.  60  ;  4^. 
8;  19.  144.  A.  S.  \>ider. 

piderward,  adv.  thitherward,  I  b. 
92. 

pikke,  adj.  thick,  stout,  i  a.  407. 

Thilke,  ^ro».  that,  19.  190 ;  the 
same,  that,  17  Mar.  vi.  22. 

pin,  poss.pron.  thine,  I  a.  67. 

Thine,  impers.  pr.  s.  it  seems,  7. 
in;  86.  23;  ping>,  seems,  9. 
91.  A.  S.  tyncan,  to  seem, 
appear ;  me  \>intf$t  it  seems  to 
me. 

pir,  pron.pl.  these,  7.  28,  55;  IO. 
434;  per,  these,  10.  436;  Thir, 
those,  8  a.  102  ;  16.  482.  Com- 
mon in  Scottish.  Icel.  }>eir,  they 
(masc.),  Jjcer,  they  (fern.);  from 
sa,  sut  \at,  demonst.  pronoun. 

pirled,  pt.  s.  thrilled,  drilled, 
pierced,  13.  952.  A.  S.  Tpirlian, 
to  pierce ;  cf.  Lat.  terere,  Gk. 
Tfiptiv.  See  purleden. 

pis,  pron.  pi.  these,  I  a.  470 ;  4  c. 
28;  7.  10 ;  pise,  6.  107.  A.S. 
]>est  this;  pi.  J)as,  those. 

po,  />rorc.  />/.  those,  them,  4  6.  20 ; 
4<f.  23;  9.49.  A.S.  jwf,  pi.  of 
art.  se,  seo,  £<£*;  also  used  as  dem. 
pron. 

po,  adv.  then,  i  a.  26,  49,  107; 
when,  i  a.  9,  31,  35 ;  i  b.  3. 
A.  S.  pa,  then,  when. 


pof,    conj.    though,    7.    97.      See 

Pa3. 
pof-quej>er,  conj.  yet,  nevertheless, 

7.   69.     A.S.   fyeah-kwceftere,   lit. 

though  whether,  i.  e.  however. 
Thoght,  sb.  thought,  2.  cii.  29,  51. 

A.  S.  \eaht. 
poght,  pt.  s.  thought,  5.  5610 ;  pt. 

/>/.  poghten,  20.  6;  impers.  poghte, 

it  seemed  to  him,  5.  5636  ;  pp. 

poght,  thought,  5.  5662.      A.S. 

]>encan,  to  think,  pt.  t.  ic  Ipdhte ; 

Ipincan,  to  seem,  pt.  t.  \>uhte. 
Thoghtfulest,  adj.  most  thought- 
ful, 7.  32. 
pohte,  pt.  s.  thought,  4  c.  i.     See 

poght. 
polemodness,     sb.    patience,     5. 

5831 ;   9.   77.     A.  S.  ]>olemddnes, 

from  ^olian,  to  suffer,  and  mdd, 

mood, 
polien,  v.  suffer,  4  a.  41 ;  polye,  3. 

248 ;  9.  5  ;  pr.  s.  Tholes,  permits, 

86.  35  ;  suffers,  86.  51  ;  pr.pl. 

Thol,  suffer,  8  6. 55  ;  pt.s.  polede, 

3.  8  ;  imp.  s.  pole,  suffer,  9.  221 ; 

pres.  part.  Tholand,  enduring,  2. 

cii.  12.  A.S.  \>olian,  Lat.  tolerare, 

Gk.  rXijvai,  to  suffer. 
pondringe,  s6.  thunder,  thundring, 

I  a.  440.     See  below. 
Thoner,  sb.   thunder,   2.  ciii.   16. 

A.  S.  ]>oner,  Lat.  tonitru. 
Thonered,   pt.  s.    thundered,    2. 

xvii.     37.     A.  S.     \wnerian,     to 

thunder.     See  above, 
ponke,  s6.  (thanks),  grace,  9.  233 

(cf.  Lat.  gratia  plena);   thanks, 

12.  297.  A.S.  Iponc,  favour,  thanks, 
ponkes,    s6.  pi.    thoughts,    3.   4. 

A.S.  Ipanc,  \>onc,  thought. 
ponkes,  pr.  s.  thanks,  12.  63  ;  pi. 

ponken,  20.  80. 

Thoo,  pron.  those,  17.  Mar.  i.  9. 
pore,  adv.  there,  5.  5892.  See  par. 
poru,/>r*/>.  through,  i  a.  160,  180; 

Thoru,  7.  43 ;  poru  alle  Jringe  = 

on  every  account,  wholly  (a  mere 

expletive  phrase),  I  a.  198,  322; 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


461 


thoru  kind  =  by  nature,  by  birth, 
86.  121.     A.S.  \>urh. 
poru-out,  prep,  throughout,   I  a. 

37°.  4°6- 

~por$,prep.  through,  6. 18.  A.S.  JmrA. 
pousendzij^e,    thousand   times,  9. 

72.     A.S.  si'S,  a  time. 
Poste,  /»/.  s.  seemed,  I  a.  63,  274; 

pout,  seemed  (to  him),  12.  291. 

See  poght. 
pojte,  subj.  pt.  s.  should  think,  I  a. 

15 ;  po3te,  pt.  pi.  thought,  I  a. 

276.     See  poght. 
pastes,  sb.  pi.  thoughts,  9.  7. 
Thralled,  pt.  s.  put  into  bondage, 

14  a.  46.     A.S.  Iprcel,  a  slave. 
Thraw,  sb.  time,  space  of  time,  16. 

34;  Thrawe,  a  moment,  86.  198. 

See  prowe. 
prawen,  pp.  thrown,  bent,  turned, 

13-  5i6. 
Thred,  adj.  third,  10.  1826.     See 

pridde. 
preo,  adj.  three,  I  6.  48,  67 ;  Thre, 

7.  10.     A.S.   bry,  masc. ;    \>reo, 

fern,    and    neut. ;      Mceso-Goth. 

threis,    neut.   ihrija;     Lat.    ires, 

neut.  tria. 
prep,   sb.   contradiction,    13.    350. 

A.  S.  \>reapian,  to  chide. 
Threst,    v.   to   thirst,   8   b.    103; 

Threstes,  pr.  s.  impers.  8  b.  106. 
prestelcoc,  sb.  thrustlecock,  4  d.  7. 

A.S.  Tprostle,  a  throstle,  thrush; 

G.  drossel,  Lat.  turdus. 
Threte,  v.  to  threaten,  a.  cii.  18; 

/>res.   s.    preteb,    urges,    excites, 

chides,  4  d.  7.     A.  S.  br«arfa«,  to 

urge,  threaten,  chide. 
Thretend,  adj.  ordin.  thirteenth, 

8  a.  138. 

prette,  thirty,  13.317. 
prettene,  thirteen,  15.  v.  128. 
pridde,  adj.  third,  I  a.  135.     A.S. 

\>ridda,  third. 
pries,  adv.  thrice,  6.  86 ;   Thries, 

20.  145.     A.S.  \riwa. 
Thrifty,    adj.    profitable    (to    the 

buyer),  serviceable,  19.  138. 


prinne,  adv.  therein,  6.  45. 
Thrist,     sb.    thirst,    2.    ciii.    24. 

Mceso-Goth.  thaurstei,  G.  durst, 

Du.  dorst,  A.  S.  bwrs/. 
Thritteind,  adj.  thirteenth,  7.  i. 

See  Tend, 
pritti,  adj.  thirty,  I  a.  195,  196. 

A.  S.  }>rittg. 

proliche*  adv.  vehemently,  heart- 
ily,   12.    103  ;     proly,    quickly, 

X3-    5°4  5     resolutely,    12.    127. 

A.S.  bra,  vehement,  Icel.  brdr, 

bold, 
prongen,  pt.  pi.  thronged,  15.  v. 

260.     A.  S.  \ringan,  to  press. 
prowe,  sb.  time ;    bilke  browe  =  at 

that  time,   20.   25.     A.  S.  brag1, 

braA,  a  space  of  time,  a  season, 

Gk.  rpoxos. 
prowen,  pp.  thrown  together,- 13. 

504. 
prublande,  pres.  part,  crowding, 

pressing,     13.     504.      Cf.    Lat. 

turba. 
prydde,  adj.  third,  5.  5633 ;  pryd, 

13.  249.     See  Thridde. 
pryft,  sb.  thrift,  prosperity,  5.  5625 ; 

fertilising  power,  1 8  a.  25. 
pryuen,  pp.  thriven,    well-grown, 

13.   298.      Icel.   bn/a,  to   seize 

upon,  Iprffst,  \rifast,  to  thrive. 
puderward,  adv.  thitherward,  I  a. 

78.     See  piderward. 
pues,  pron.  pi.  these,  18  b.  18.    See 

pis. 
pulke  =  bilke,  i.e.  that,  I  a.  25,  38, 

46 ;  those  things,  such  things,  15. 

vii.  286. 
punche,  subj.  pr.  s.  seem,  appear, 

3.  75.    See  Thine, 
punder-brast,  sb.   thunder-thrust, 

stroke  of  thunder,  13.  952. 
purf,    prep,    through,     I    b.    15; 

purgh,  5.  5787;    Thurgh,  2.  ciii. 

56;    pur3,   by,   13.    236.     With 

pwr/,     through,    cf.    O.E.    bo/, 

though,  and  O.E.  dwerth  =  A.S. 

dwerg,  a  dwarf. 
Thurghfare,  v.  to  pass  through, 


462 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


2.  cii.  33.     A.  S.  Ipurh-faran,  to 

pass  through. 
purleden,  pt.  pi.   pierced,    15.  i. 

148.     See  pirled. 
port,/)/,  s.  needed,  5.  5826.     A.S. 

\>earf,  need  ;    \>urfan,  to  need,  pt. 

t.  ic  \>orfte;    Icel.  \>urfa,  pt.  t.  ek 

\>urfd;  Mosso-Goth.  \>aurban,  pt. 

t.  ik  \>aurfta. 
purth,  prep,  through,  12.  295.    See 

poru. 
"pwong,  sb.  thong,  17.  Mar.  i.  7. 

A.  S.  \>wong,  \>wang. 
pyef,  sb.  thief,  9.  4. 
pyester,  adj.  dark,  9.  ill.     A.S. 

\>eos(er,  dark,  G.  duster,  gloomy, 
pyesternesse,  sb.  darkness,  9.  57. 

A.  S.  \>eosternes,  darkness. 
pynge,  sb.  d.  pi.  things,  4  a.  6. 
pyse,  ^row.  these,  6.  58.     See  pis. 
pyj,  s6.  thigh,  18  &.  124. 
Tidde.     See  Tide,  vb. 
Tide,  sb.  hour,  one  of  the  hours, 

i.  e.  of  the    devotions    so   called, 

I    a.    282 ;    season,    2.    ciii.    64. 

A.  S.   fid,    G.   zeit,    time,   hour ; 

hence  E.  tide. 
Tide,  />r.  s.  subj.  befal,  betide,  12. 

137;  pt.  s.  Tidde,  befel,  12.  198. 

A.  S.  ft'rfan,  to  happen ;  tld,  time. 
Tidinge,  sb.  tidings,  i  a.  18.     Cf. 

Icel.  tiftendi,  sb.  pi.  tidings,  from 

tffi,  time ;  G.  zeitung,  news,  from 

zeit,  time. 
Til,  />rep.  to,  2.  xiv.  13  ;  2.  cii.  12  ; 

6acKy  sp*/f  Tille,  8  a.   203 ;    to- 
wards, 12.  232.    Sw.  ////,  Dan.  til. 
Timbrede,  pt.  pi.  subj.  would  have 

built;    t.  not   so  hye,  would  not 

have   raised   such   grand    houses, 

15.   iii.   76.      A.S.    timbrian,   to 

build,  E.  timber,  building-wood  ;  cf. 

Lat.  domus,  Gk.  Se/«y. 
Tine,  v.  to  lose,  8  b.  130 ;  12.  299. 

Icel.  t$na,  to  lose,  tjnast,  to  be 

lost,  to  perish ;    whence  Sc.  tint, 

lost. 
Tirannye,   sb.   cruelty,   pride,   19. 

165. 


Tirant,  sb.  tyrant,  i  a.  366. 

Tite,  adv.  quickly,  10.  1914.  Icel. 
ttiSr,  frequent,  neut.  titt  (used  as 
adv.),  soon.  See  Tijt. 

Tithand,  sb.  tidings,  8  a.  TOO; 
pi.  Tibandes,  tidings,  II  a.  58. 
Icel.  tffiendi,  news;  A.S.  tidan, 
to  happen,  betide;  A.S.  tld,  G. 
zeit,  time ;  E.  tide. 

Tithing,  sb.  tidings,  news,  story, 
17.  Mar.  i.  28  ;  pi.  Tibinges,  12. 
250.  See  above. 

Titte,  sb.  pull,  tug,  10.  1915. 
A.  S.  tihtan,  to  draw,  tighten. 

Titter,  adv.  more  quickly,  10 
2354.  See  Tite,  and  Tist. 

Tixtes,  sb.pl.  texts,  15.  i.  182. 

Tiseb,  pr.  s.  ties,  15.  iii.  135. 

Tijt,  adv.  quickly,  12.  133.  Com- 
monly spelt  tit;  cf.  Icel.  titt,  Sw. 
tidt,  soon ;  connected  with  A.  S. 
tid,  time,  E.  tide.  See  Tite. 

TiBtly,  adv.  quickly,  12.66,  285. 
See  above. 

To,  prep,  until,  II  b.  6 ;  eonj.  till, 
2.  xvii.  98;  adv.  too,  3.  112; 
J9-  3I5  J  to  brode  =  too  far  apart, 
too  wide,  12.  II ;  to  =  up  to  the 
number  of,  17.  Mar.  v.  13.  A.  S. 
/o,  G.  zu,  Mceso-Goth.  du,  to. 

To,  num.  two,  20.  60 ;  Tuo,  20. 
61.  A.S.  twd. 

To;  in  phr.  be  to  =  bet  o  =  bat  o, 
the  one,  5.  5643;  so  also  be 
touber  =  bet  ober  =  bat  ober,  the 
other,  5.  5651. 

To-,  'prefix,  signifying  in  twain; 
frequently  used  to  give  an  inten- 
sive force.  It  answers  to  A.  S.  to-, 
G.  zer-,  Mceso-Goth.  dis-,  Lat. 
dis-;  and  must  be  carefully  dis- 
tinguished from  the  A.  S.  prefix 
to-,  signifying  towards,  which  is 
the  G.  zu-,  Mceso-Goth.  du-,  and 
is  seldom  used.  See  Toflight. 

To-barst,^/.  s.  burst  in  twain,  12. 
374.  A.S.  toberstan,  G.  zer- 
bersten,  to  burst  in  twain. 

Tobreddest,  pt.  s.  2  p.  spreadest 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


463 


out,  2.  xvii.  95.      A.  S.  tobrcedan, 

to  spread  abroad. 
To-broke,  pp.  broken   in   pieces, 

I  a.  155.     A.  S.  fobrecan,  G.  zer- 

brechen,  to  break  in  twain. 
Todele,   v.   to    separate,  9.   212; 

pr.  s.   TodeleK  separates,    18  a. 

127;  pp.  Todeled,  divided,  18  a. 

19.  A.  S.  todcelan,  G.  zerlkeilen, 
to  part  in  twain. 

TodraweK  pr.  pi.  draw  asunder, 

rend,  i  a.  287.     See  To-,  prefix. 

Todreued,  pp.  troubled,    2.  xvii. 

20.  A.  S.  todrefian,  to  disperse. 
Toflight,  sb.  refuge,  2.  xvii.  3  ;    2. 

ciii.  42.  Cf.  A.S.  tojleon,  to  flee 
to.  Observe  that  the  prefix  is 
here  the  ordinary  prep,  to  = 
towards ;  see  To-,  prefix ;  and 
cf.  G.  znflucht,  a  refuge. 

To-fore,  adv.  before,  6.  63 ;  prep. 
15.  iii.  no;  Tofor,  prep.  18  a. 
116;  Tofore,  20.  43.  A.S.  tofo- 
ran,  before. 

Toft,  sb.  a  rounded  hill,  slight 
eminence,  15  pr.  14.  From 
O.Sw.  lomt,  originally  a  cleared 
space  ;  cf.  Sc.  loom,  empty. 

To-gadere,  adv.  together,  I  a. 
1 1 6,  297.  A.S.  togadere. 

To-gedders,  adv.  together,  18  b. 
95,  107  ;  To-gydre,  14  c.  43. 

To-heuene-ward  =  towards  hea- 
ven, 12.  102. 

Tohewe,  pp.  hewn  in  pieces,  19. 
430.  A.  S.  to-hedwan,  to  hew  in 
twain,  G.  zerhaiien. 

Tok,  pt.  s.  gave,  15.  iii.  46;  20. 
101 ;  Toke,  took,  2.  xiv.  14; 
pt.  pi.  Toke,  took,  7.  71 ;  I  a. 
361  ;  gave,  I  a.  231 ;  received, 

5-  55945  P*-  pl-  subJ-  toke  t)ei 
on  =  if  they  bargained,  received 
money,  15.  iii.  76.  See  Take. 
Tokkeris,  sb.  pi.  fullers,  15  pr. 
100.  Prov.  E.  tucker,  a  fuller ; 
tucking-mill,  a  fulling-mill  for 
thickening  cloth  ;  W.  tew,  thick, 
tewhau,  tewychv,  to  thicken. 


Tolbothe,  sb.  toll-booth,  place 
where  tolls  are  collected,  17. 
Mar.  ii.  14.  Vulg.  telonium. 

Tolde,  pt.  s.  accounted,  I  a.  78 ; 
told,  i  a.  50;  siibj.  pt.  s.  i  p. 
should  account,  46.  39 ;  pt.  pi. 
accounted,  I  a.  446 ;  Tolden, 
counted,  15.  v.  128  ;  pp.  Told, 
considered  (to  be),  20.  307.  See 
Telle. 

Tolke,  sb.  a  man,  13.  498.  Lit. 
one  who  talks.  Icel.  tiilkr,  an 
interpreter,  tiilka,  to  interpret. 

Tollere,  sb.  usurer,  5.  5816,  5888. 
Cf.  A.S.  tol,  toll,  tolnere,  a  tax- 
gatherer. 

Tologged,  pp.  lugged  in  all  direc- 
tions, dragged  hither  and  thither, 
pulled  about  by  the  ear  or  hair, 

15.  ii.  192.     Cf.  Sw.  lugga,  to 
pull  by  the  hair. 

Tome,  sb.  leisure,  15.  ii.  160.    Icel. 

torn,   leisure,   l6mr,   vacant,    Sw. 

torn,  Sc.  toom,  empty. 
Tonge,  sb.  tongs,  pincers,  i  b.  77. 

79,85.     A.  S.  tange,  tongs. 
Tonge,  sb.  tongue,   3.   141,   144. 

Mceso-Goth.  ttiggo. 
Top-our-taill,  phr.  top  over  tail, 

head  over  heels,  completely  upset, 

16.  455- 

To-rent,  pr.   s.  became    rent    in 

twain,  13.  368. 

Torf,  sb.  turf,  18  a.  25.     Icel.  /or/. 
Tormentors,  sb.  as  adj.  (in  app. 

with  dyeules),  tormenting,  9.  69. 
Torn,  v.  F.  to  turn,  return,  7.  154; 

pt.  s.  Torned,  turned,  20.  145. 
To-rof,   pt.   s.    became    riven    in 

twain,  13.  964. 
Torres,  sb.  pi.  towers,  tower-shaped 

cumuli,    13.   951.      A.S.    tor,    a 

tower,  hill-top. 
Tortuous,  adj.  oblique,   19.  302. 

See  the  note. 
To-scned,  pp.  parted,    18   b.  67. 

A.  S.  to-sceddan,  to  divide. 
Tosprad,  pp.  spread    about,    scat- 
tered, I  a.  149;    spread  abroad, 


464 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


dishevelled,    20.   138.      A.S.   to- 

sprcedian,  to  spread  abroad. 
Tother;   in  phr.  the  tother  =  thet 

or  that  other,  the  second,    8  a. 

113;   the  tothir=that  other,  the 

other,  16.  186. 
Toun,  sb.  town,  i  a.  461.     A.S. 

tun. 
Toune ;   to  toune,  in  its  turn,  4  d. 

I.     See  note. 
To-uore,  prep,  before,   I  a.  417; 

To-vore,   1 8  b.   108.      See   To- 
fore. 
Tour,   sb.    a    tower,    15  pr.    14; 

tower,    stronghold,     15.    i.    54; 

where  some  MSS.  read  tutour,  i.  e. 

guardian.  F.  tour,  Lat.  turris. 
TouJ>er.  See  To,  in  phr.  f>e  to. 
To-walten,  pt.  pi.  flowed  asunder, 

overflowed,  13.  428.     A.S.  weal' 

tian,   to   roll,   reel,    weallan,    to 

well,  flow. 
To-wawe,  v.  move  or  crawl  about, 

12.    19.       The    prefix    to-   here 

means  towards  or  near  an  object, 

and  wawe*=wag,  move.     Cf.  Sc. 

wauchle,  to  toddle  about. 
Trass,  sb.  trace,  16.  67. 
Trast  (for  Traist),  pr.  s.  i  p.  trust, 

1 6.  179.     Icel.  treysta,   to  trust, 
traust,  trust,  traustr,  trusty. 

Trauail,  sb.  F.  toil,  i  a.  462,  491 ; 

Trawayle,  12.299;   Trauell,  16. 

45.     W.  trafael. 
Traueilist,    2  />.   s.  pr.  troublest, 

17.  Mar.  v.  35;    pp.  Traueilid, 
tormented,  17.  Mar.  ¥.15.   Vulg. 
uexas,  uexabatur. 

Trawed,  pt.  pi.  trowed,   trusted, 

expected,  13.  388.     See  Trow. 
TrawJ>e,  sb.  truth,  13.  236.     A.  S. 

tredwft,  truth,  troth. 
Trayste,  v.  to  trust,  10. 1431.    See 

Trast. 
Tre,  sb.  wood  (lit.  tree),  1 8  a.  117 , 

pi.  Tren,  trees,  18  a.   3.      A.S. 

treow,    Mceso-Goth.  triu,  a  tree, 

Gk.  Spvs,  an  oak. 
Treoflinge,  pres.  part,  trifling,  i  b. 


74.     O. F.  trnfier,  to  mock   at; 

trufle,  a  gibe,  scoff. 
Tresorie,  sb.  treasury,  i   a.  360, 

509. 
Tresour,  sb.  F.  treasure,  i  a.  372, 

508  ;  15.  i.  54;  Tresor,  19.  442, 

Lat.    thesaurus,     Gk.    Orjaavpos, 

from  TiOijfJii,  I  lay  up  in  store. 
Tretys,   sb.  treaty,   19.  233.     Cf. 

F.  traite,  from  Lat.  tractare. 
TreuJ>e,  sb.  fidelity,  troth,  i  a.  23 ; 

4   b.    28.      A.S.   tre6w$,    truth, 

troth.     See  Traw)>e. 
Trew,   adj.   true,   honest,   faithful, 

5.  5800 ;  pi.  Trewe,  19.  456.  A.  S. 

treowe,  true. 
Trewehede,  sb.  truth,  uprightness, 

i  a.  47. 
Treye,  sb.  affliction,  misery,  3. 173 

198.     A.  S.  trega,  vexation,  tribu- 
lation, tregian,  to  vex. 
Triacle,  sb.  a  sovereign  remedy,  19. 

479.    E.  treacle,  F.  triacle;  from 

Gk.   QrfpiaKcL  QapftaKa,   antidotes 

against  the  bites  of  animals,  from 

6rjp,  a  beast. 
Tricherie,  sb.  treachery,  i  a.  31 ; 

15.1.  172;    Tricherye,  i  a.  457. 

Probably  from  Lat.  tradere,  Prov. 

trachar,  to  betray ;  see  Traitor  in 

Wedgwood. 
Triedest,  adj.  superl.  choicest,  15. 

i.  1 26.     F.  trier,  to  select ;    from 

Low   Lat.    tritare,    to    triturate, 

from  Lat.  terere,  to  rub;    cf.  E. 

trite. 

Trinit€,  sb.  the  Trinity,  6.  87. 
Trist,  sb.  tryst,  meeting-place,  16. 

230. 
Triste,  v.  to  trust;   forto  triste  = 

to  trust,  i.e.  to   be  trusted,  20. 

328.    See  Trast. 
Triwe,  adj.  true,  faithful,  I  a.  418. 

See  Trew. 

Trijede,  pp.  tried,  15.  i.  183. 
Tritely,  adv.  excellently,  i$pr.  14. 

Lit.  choicely,    from    F.  trier,   to 

pick,  select.     See  Triedest. 
Tronen,  sb.  pi.  thrones,  9.  138. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


465 


Trost,  subj.  pr.  s.   trust,    3.   194. 

See  Trast,  Triste,  Tryste. 
Trouble,  adj.  troubled,  turbid,  20. 

334- 
Trouthe,    sb.    troth,     fidelity,    5. 

5774- 
Trow,  v.  to  believe,  13.  1049;  16. 

143;    l  p.  s.  pr.  Trowe,  15.  pr. 

34;    19.    288;    pr.    s.    Trowes, 

believes,  10.  788;  pr.pl.  Trowe, 

suppose,    19.    222  ;    me  troweK 

people  believe,  18  b.  139;  Trawed, 

expected,   13.  388.     A.  S.  treow, 

trust,  tredwan,  to  believe. 
Trowyng,  sb.  belief,  10.  789.    See 

above. 
Tru,  adj.  true,  faithful,  7.  60.     See 

Trew. 
Tru,  v.  to  trow,  believe,  7.  413. 

See  Trow. 
Truage,    sb.    tribute,    I    a.    346. 

O.  F.    truage,    truaige,    tribute, 

(Roquefort.) 
Trusse,  v.  to  pack,  pack   off,  to 

begone,  15.  ii.  194.     O.  F.  trosser, 

torser,   F.    trousser,  to   pack  up, 

lit.   to   twist   up ;    formed    from 

Lat.  tortus,   pp.   of  torquere,   to 

twist. 
Truste,  v.  to  trust,  i  a.  21 ;  pt.  s. 

Truste,   trusted,    i   a.    12.      See 

Trast,  Triste,  Trost. 
Truthes,  sb.  pi.    pledges,    7.   60. 

A.  S.  treovft,  truth,  a  pledge. 
Tryste,  v.  to  trust,  believe,  18  a. 

148.     See  Trast,  Triste. 
Tua,  adj.  two,  7.  50.     A.  S.  twd. 
Tuelf,   adj.    S.   twelve,    I    a.   19. 

A.  S.  twelf,  Mceso-Goth.  twalif. 
Tuelf t,    adj.    twelfth,    8   a.    137. 

A.  S.  twelfta. 

Tuelmonth,  sb.  twelvemonth,  7. 1 1. 
Tuelue,  adj.  twelve,  7.  31.      See 

Tuelf. 
Tuengde,  pt.  s.  pinched,  i  b.  ST. 

85.     Cf.  E.  twinge,  Sw.  tvinga, 

to  force,  constrain  ;   G.  zwingen, 

to  constrain. 
Tueyne,  adj.  twain,  two,  20.  214. 

VOL.  II.  ] 


A.  S.  twegen,  muse.,  twd,  fern,  and 

neut.,  two. 
Tuin,   num.   twain,   two,    7.  278. 

See  above. 
Tun,    sb.    town,    7.    71.       A.  S. 

tun. 
Tung,  sb.  tongue,  2.  xiv.  6.     See 

Tonge. 
Tuo,   adj.    two,    i    a.    237.      See 

Twa. 
Turne,  v.  to  turn,  i  a.  1 20 ;  pres. 

part.   Turnand,   turning,    2.    ciii. 

69.     F.  tourner,  Lat.  tornare,  to 

turn  wood. 
Turues,  sb.  pi.  turfs,  20.  205.    See 

Torf. 
Twa,  adj.  two,  2.  xvii.  68 ;    Twey, 

15.  vii.  268.     A.  S.  twd,  G.  zwei, 

Lat.  duo. 
Twinging,  sb.  affliction,  2.  xvii.  51. 

Sw.  tvinga,  to  constrain,  twinge. 

See  Tuengde. 
Twist,  sb.  bough,  16.  188.     Cf.  E. 

twig ;    it  lit.  means  a  fork  in  a 

branch,  the  root  being  the  word 

two.    See  Twyn. 
Twyes,  adv.  twice,  6. 100.    So  also 

pries,  q.  v. 
Twyn,  v.  to  part,  part  in  twain,  10. 

1823;   Twynne,  to  separate,  19. 

517 ;    to  part,    13.  402.     A.S. 

twynian,   to  doubt,  lit.  to  be  in 

twain.     See  Tuin,  Tueyne. 
Twynne  ;    in   twynne  =  in    twain, 

13.  966.     See  Tuin. 
Tyde,  sb.  hour,  time,  16.  48 ;   20. 

135.     See  Tide,  sb. 
Tyden,    v.    to    befall,    19.    337 ; 

Tyde,  12.  32$;  pr.  s.  subj.  Tyde, 

may  happen,  3.  157.     See  Tide, 

vb. 
Tyene,   sb.   sorrow,  9.  175.     See 

Teone. 
Tylle,  v.  to  prepare,  5.  5674.    A.  S. 

tiliatt,  to  till,  prepare,  assist,  exer- 
cise;   tilt  fit,  suitable,  excellent; 

til,  an  aim,  object ;    G.  ziel,  an 

aim,  zielen,  to  aim  at. 
Tyme,  pr.  s.  subj.  betide,  12.  279. 

h 


466 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


A.  S.  getimian,  to  happen ;   tima, 

time. 
Tyne,  v.  to  lose,  10.  702 ;  12.  358  ; 

16.  2 1 ;  pr.  s,  Tynes,  loses,  10. 

697 ;  pp.  Tynt,  lost,  1 6.  45.    See 

Tine. 
Tyned,  p(.  s.  fastened,    13.  498. 

A.  S.  tynan,  to  fasten  in,  to  hedge 

in,  from  tun,  a  town,  an  enclo- 
sure, a  hedge,  G.  zaun,  a  hedge, 

z'dunen,  to  shut  up. 
Tyred,    pp.    attired,    dressed,    12. 

263.     Of.  G.  zier,  an  ornament, 

zieren,  to  adorn. 

Tysyk,  sb.  phthisic,  phthisis,  con- 
sumption, 10.  701.     Gk.  (}>6ivciv, 

to  wane. 
Tyte,  adv.  soon,  10.  766;  as  tyt  = 

as  quickly  as  possible,    12.   238. 

See  Tite. 
Tything,  sb.  tidings,  17.  Mar.  i.  28; 

pi.  Tytynges,  13.  458;  18  b.  64. 

See  Tithand. 
Tyyl,  sb.  tile  (perhaps  used  as  a  pi. 

tiles),  1 8  a.  47.     A.S.  tigol,  G. 

ziegel,  Lat.  tegula,  from   tegere, 

to  cover. 

U,  V. 

V,  often  used  for  w  in  Lowland 
Scotch,  as  in  vod,  vill,  vatier,  for 
wood,  will,  water.  In  Southern 
English,  often  put  for  /,  as  in  vel, 
vure,  for  fell,  fire. 

Vachit,  pp.  watched,  16.  421.    See 

Talk. 
TJader,  sb.  father,  9.  3 ;  gen.  Uader, 

father's,  6.  59. 

Vading,  sb.  wading,  16.  56. 
Vair,  adj.  fair,  i  a.  So ;   Uair,  I  a. 

212.     A.S.fager,  fair. 
Vaire,  adj.  well,  properly,  decently, 

i  a.  198. 
Vald,  pt.  pi.  would,  i.  e.  wished  to 

go,  16.  118. 
Vale",  sb.  valley,  16.  4. 
Valeie,  sb.  F.  valley,  i  a.  157. 
Valk,  v.  to  wake  (used  transitively), 


1 6.  i 79«  A.  S.  wceccan,  Mceso- 
Goth.  wakan,  I  eel.  vaka,  to  wake. 

Valknyt,  pt.  s.  awoke,  16.  210. 
Mceso-Goth.  ga-waknan,  to  be 
awake,  Icel.  vakna,  to  become 
awake. 

Vantwarde,  s&.  vanguard,  i  a. 
155.  F.  avant,  before;  A.S. 
weard,  a  guard. 

Vanys,  sb.pl.  veins,  16.  173. 

Vanyssht,  pp.  vanished,  20.  133. 

Variand,  pres.  part.  F.  varying, 
10.  1413. 

VarJ>,  pr.  pi.  fare,  do,  act,  i  a.  283. 
A.  S.  faran,  to  fare,  go. 

Varyit  (for  Waryit),  pt.  s.  cursed, 
16.  228.  A.S.  wyrgian,  to  curse. 

Vast,  adj.  waste,  empty,  1 6.  151. 
A.  S.  weste,  empty. 

Vast,  v.  to  waste,  16.  50.  A.S. 
westan,  to  waste. 

Uaste,  ezrft/.  fast,  quickly,  i  a.  78; 
earnestly,  I  a.  95 ;  Vaste,  fast, 
tight,  i  a.  65;  Uaste,  i  a.  413; 
close,  1 8  b.  140. 

Vattir,  sb.  S.  a  water,  stream,  16.  5. 

Vaueryt,  pt.  s.  wavered,  went  to 
and  fro,  1 6.  41;  ^  pres.  part. 
Vauerand,  wandering,  roving,  vaga- 
bond, 1 6.  112.  Icel.  vdfra,  to 
roam  about ;  cf.  E.  wag,  wave. 

Vayd,  vb.  to  wade,  16.  19. 

Vayis,  sb.  pi.  ways ;  used  for  sing. 
way,  1 6.  79. 

Vayn  (for  Wayn),  sb.  weening,  de- 
sign, 1 6.  2.  A.  S.  wen,  a  thought. 
See  Vill,  and  "Wan,  sb. 

Uayr,  adj.  fair,  bright,  9.  90. 

Uayrhede,  sb.  fairhood,  i.  e.  beauty, 

9-  X57- 
Vch,  adj.  each,  4  c.  38 ;    4  cf.  6 ; 

13.  282  ;  Vch  a,  every,  15.  v.  96. 
Vchone,  each  one,  15.  i.  1 7 ;  iii.  82. 
Veaw,  adj.  few,  iS  b.  54.  A.S. 

fedw,  few,  Lat.  paucus. 
Vedde,  pt.  s.  fed,  18  b.  62. 
Veddir,    sb.    wether,    sheep,     1 6. 

152.     See  Weddir. 
Vedirs,  sb.  pi.  weathers,  10.  1415. 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


467 


Vel,  pt.  s.  fell,  befell,  I  a.  80,  393  ; 

fell,  i  a.  192. 
TJelajes,   sb.  pi.   fellows,    9.    189. 

A.  S.  felaw. 
Uelasrede,  sb.  fellowship,  9.  142. 

A.  S.  felaw,  a  fellow,  and  -raden, 

a  suffix,  meaning  state,  condition. 
Veld,  56.  S.  field;    dat.  s.  Velde, 

i  a.  84. 
Uele,  adj.  pi.  many,  9.  16,  150. 

A.S.feala,  many,  Gk.  ir6\vs. 
Ueng,   pt.  s.   received,    i  a.  253. 

A.  S.  fon,   to   receive,    pt.   t.   ic 

feng;  G.fangen,  pt.  t.fing. 
Venkquyst,  pt.  s.  vanquished,  13. 

544;  pp.  Venquysshed,  19.  291.  F. 

vaincre,  Lat.  vincere,  to  conquer. 
Uer,  adv.  comp.  farther,  I  a.  330. 

A.  S.feor,  far;  fyrre,  farther. 
Vercefyour,  sb.  versifier,  18  a.  54. 
Uere,   sb.  fire,  9.  64.      A.  S.  fyr, 

Gk.  -nvp. 
Vernicle,  sb.  vernicle,   15.  vi.  14. 

See  the  note. 
Vernisch,  sb.  varnish,    15.  v.  70. 

Another  reading  is  various  or  ver- 

geous,  verjuice. 

Verray,  adj.  very,  true,  19.  167. 
Uerst,  adj.  first,  i  a.  137 ;  Verste, 

i  a.  253. 

Verst,  adv.  first,  i  a.  4,  13. 
Vertu,  sb.  F.  power,   efficacy,  20. 

320;    kindness,  grace,  5.  5854; 

miracle,    5.   5904;    pi.    Vertues, 

miracles,  17.  Mar.  vi.   14.     Lat. 

virtus. 
Verueyne,   sb.   vervain,    20.   213. 

Lat.  uerbena. 
Vewe,   adj.   few,   I   a.   263.      See 

Veaw. 

Veyrer,  adj.  fairer,  18  a.  18. 
Viage,  sb.  voyage,  140.  77;    19. 

259 »    Vyage,    T4   °«   82.      Lat. 

viaticum,  provisions  for  the  way ; 

via,  a  way. 
Vicht   (for  Wicht),   adj.    nimble, 

vigorous,    16.    417.       Sw.     vig, 

active. 
Vifty,  adj.  fifty,  i  a.  518. 

H 


Vill   (for    Will),    adj.    lit.    wild; 

hence,  at  a  loss  ;    vill  of  vayn  = 

wild  of  weening,  i.  e.  at  a  loss  for 

a  plan,  uncertain  of  purpose,  1  6.  2. 
Villiche,  adv.  vilely,  foully,   i  n. 

40,  123,  129. 
Virago,   sb.   a   cruel   woman,    19. 

359.      Lat.   virago,  a   masculine 

woman. 
Viss,  sb.  wise,  way,  16.  140.     A.  S. 

wise,  G.  weise. 
Viss    (for  Wiss),   wise,    16.   417. 

A.  S.  wis. 

Vitaille,  sb.  victuals,  19.  499. 
Vie,  v.  to  flee,  18  b.  96,  117. 
Ulesse,  sb.  flesh,  i.  e.  the  body,  9. 

244. 
Vmbe-,  Vm-,  prefix,  around  ;  A.  S. 

ymbe,  ymb,  around  ;   G.  urn,  Gk. 


Vmbe-grouen,  pp.  overgrown  all 

round,  13.  488.     See  above. 
Vmbe-kestez,   pr.  s.   casts    (her 

eyes)  around,   looks    about,    13. 

478.     See  Vmbe. 
Vmbre,  sb.  shower,  rain,  13.  524. 

Lat.  imber. 
Vmgaf,  pt.pl.  surrounded,  2.  xvii. 

II,  13.     A.  S.  ymb-t  around,  and 

gifan,  to  give;   G.  vmgeben,  Dn. 

omgeven,  to  surround. 
Vmgang,  sb.  circuit,   a.  xvii.  32. 

A.  S.  ymb-gang,  G.  umgang,  Du. 

omgang,  a  going  about. 
Vmgriped,  pt.  pi.    encompassed, 

surrounded,  2.  xvii.  12.     G.  um- 

greifen,  Du.  omgrijpen,  to   grasp 

around. 
Vmlap,  v.  to  surround  ;    hence,  to 

catch,    a.   xvii.   97,    (where    the 

Vulg.    has   comprehendam)  ;    pp. 

Vmlapped,  wrapped  round,  2.  ciii. 

4.     A.  S.  ymb-,  about,  and  O.  E. 

wlap,  to  envelop,  wrap. 
Vmset,  pp.   beset   all   round,    10. 

1250;^.  s.  II  c.  96.     A.S.ymb, 

G.  urn,  about  ;  A.  S.  ymbsettan,  G. 

umsetzen,   Du.    omzetten,    to    set 

round. 

h   2 


468 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Vmstride,  v.  to  bestride,  n  b.  69. 
Lit.  to  stride  about,  from  A.  S. 
ymb,  G.  um,  about,  round. 

Vn-,  (i)  prefix  of  negation;  A.S. 
un-,  G.  un-,  Du.  on-,  Mceso-Goth. 
un-,  Lat.  in-,  Gk.  ova-,  av-,  a-  ; 
(2)  with  verbs  =  G.  ent- ;  thus 
vnhile  =  G.  enthullen. 

Vnauanced,/>/>.unpromoted,  20.56. 

VnblyJ>e,  adj.  unblithe,  unpleasant, 
13.  1017.  A.  S.  blifte,  joyful. 

Vnbrosten,  pp.  unburst,  13.  365. 

Vnbynde,  v.  to  unbind,  loosen, 
release,  5.  5654.  A.  S.  bindan, 
to  bind. 

Vncou£>e,  adj.  unknown,  13.414; 
Vncuth,  7.  22.  A.  S.  cuft,  known, 
from  cyftan,  to  manifest. 

Vndede,  pt.  s.  undid,  unlocked,  20. 
108. 

Vnder,  sb.  undern,  the  third  hour 
of  the  day,  4  c.  5.  See  Vndern. 

Vnderand,  adj.  harmless,  inno- 
cent, 2.  xiv.  14  ;  2.  xvii.  70  ;  2. 
xxiii.  7«  A.  S.  derian,  to  harm. 

VndergoJ>e,  pr.  pi.  undergo,  i.  e. 
incur,  6.  99. 

Vnderlaide,  pt.  s.  2  />.  subjectedst, 
2.  viii.  19 ;  2.  xvii.  102.  A.  S. 
lecgan,  to  lay,  pt.  t.  ic  lede,  ic 
legde. 

Vndern,  sb.  the  third  hour,  i.e. 
9  A.M.,  18  b.  114.  A.S.  undern, 
the  third  hour,  9  A.M.  ;  sometimes 
used  to  denote  the  period  from 
9  A.M.  to  midday ;  it  corresponds 
to  the  O.  H.  G.  untorn,  and  per- 
haps meant  an  intervening  period, 
or  time  of  rest  from  labour,  from 
G.  unter,  Lat.  inter.  The  Mceso- 
Gothic  undaurni-mats  meant  an 
early  meal,  lit.  undern-meat. 
Thos.  Nash  uses  under-meal. 

Vnders,  pr.  s.  subjects,  2.  xvii.  120. 
A.  S.  under,  prep. ;  here  used  as  a 
verb. 

Vnderstonde,  v.  to  understand,  i  a. 
2 ;  subj.  pt.  s.  Vnderstode  (with 
him  following)  should  remember 


himself,  should  consider,  I  a.  14; 
VnderstondeJ?,  imp.  pi.  remember, 
bear  in  mind,  I  a.  102,  105,  113, 
121 ;  pp.  Vnderstonde,  19.  520. 
A.  S.  understandan,  lit.  to  under- 
stand. 

Vndertoc,  pt.  undertook,  agreed, 
4c.  12. 

Vnderueng,  pt.  s.  received,  i  a. 
213,  313-  See  Vndurfong. 

Vndreh,  adj.  out  of  patience,  un- 
able to  tolerate,  4  c.  17.  A.S. 
dreogan,  to  endure,  Sc.  dree.  See 
the  note. 

Vndrestand,  v.  to  endure  (?),  2. 
cii.  34.  The  Vulg.  has  subsisfef, 
which  the  translator  turns  into 
under-stand. 

Vndurfong,  i  p.  s.  pt.  received,  15. 
i.  74.  A.  S.  under-fon,  to  receive, 
pt.  t.  ic  underfeng. 

Vndyrstonde,  v.  to  understand, 
5.  5627;  pt.  s.  Vndyrstode,  5. 

5845. 

Vnfest,  adj.  unstable,  not  firm,  2. 
xvii.  96.  A.  S.  fast,  fast,  G.fest. 

Vnfete,  adj.  bad,  wicked  (?),  4  c. 
57.  Feat=F.  fait,  made,  done, 
from  Lzt.facere,  F.faire ;  whence 
O.  F.  faicture,  the  making  or 
form  of  a  thing ;  whence  E.  fea- 
tures. Cf.  O.E.fetise,  well-made, 
neat ;  O.  F.  faictis,  Lat.  factitius. 

Vnfeyn,  adj.  displeased,  3.  191. 
A.S.fagen,  glad,  fain. 

Vnfiled,  adj.  undefiled,  2.  xvii.  79. 
O.E.file,  to  defile. 

Vn-glad,  adj.  miserable,  4  b.  4. 

Vnhappy,  adj.  unlucky,  19.  306. 
See  Happe. 

Vnhiled,  pp.  uncovered,  2.  xvii. 
42;  Vnhuled,  13.  451.  A.S. 
helan,  to  hide,  conceal. 

Vnkunnynge,  adj.  unskilful  ; 
hence,  unknightly,  cowardly,  18  b. 
126. 

Vnkyth,  v.  to  cease  to  shew  (itself), 
become  hid,  disappear,  7-  66.  If 
it  be  the  object  of  both  verbs, 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


469 


then  can  vnkyth  iV=did  hide  itself. 
A.  S.  cyftan,  to  manifest. 

Vn-loseJ>,  pr.  pi.  unloose,  open, 
i$pr.  87. 

Vnnait,  adj.  useless,  unprofitable, 
vain,  2.  xxiii.  9.  Icel.  neyta,  to 
use ;  Dan.  nyde,  to  enjoy. 

VnneJ?e,  adv.  scarcely,  I  a.  289, 
410;  12. 132  ;  Vnnethes,  scarcely, 
10.  476.  A.  S.  un-ed$,  uneasy, 
from  ed$,  easy. 

Vnright,  sb.  wrong,  injustice,  2. 
cii.  12  ;  Vnrijt,  I  a.  369. 

Vnsaht,  adj.  at  variance,  unfriendly, 
3.  148;  4*.  31.  A.S.  saht,  sb. 
peace,  adj.  peaceful ;  sahtlian,  to 
reconcile. 

Vnschape,  pp.  unshapen,  out  of 
shape,  outlandish,  18  a.  209. 

Unschilful,  adj.  unreasonable  (lit. 
unskilful),  86.  72. 

Vnsele,  adj.  unhappy,  3. 170.  A.S. 
s&l,  happiness,  scelig,  happy. 

Vnsete,  sb.  4  c.  51 ;  either  wicked- 
ness, vice,  from  A.  S.  unsidu,  want 
of  duty,  from  sidu,  manner,  cus- 
tom, duty ;  or  unsettledness,  want 
of  resting-place;  cf.  Sw.  sate,  a 
seat,  place  of  residence. 

Vn}>ewes,  sb.  pi.  vices,  3.  32. 
A.  S.  ]pedu>,  a  custom ;  pi.  \>edwas, 
good  manners. 

Vn-J?ryfte,  sb.  unprofitableness, 
evil,  13.  516. 

Vn-thryftyly,  adv.  unprofitably, 
improperly,  13.  267. 

Vntil,  prep,  to,  unto,  2.  ciii.  42. 

Vntuled,  adj.  untilled,  I  a.  344. 
A.  S.  tilian,  to  till. 

Vnwar,  adj.  unexpected,  19.  427. 
A.  S.  wcer,  wary. 

Vnware,  adv.  unwarily,  18  b.  70. 

Vnwemmed,  adj.  unspotted,  un- 
defiled,  2.  xvii.  86.  A.  S.  wem,  a 
spot,  stain. 

Vnwis,  adj.  unwise,  4  e.  40. 

Vn-worJ^elych,  adj.  ignoble,  un- 
worthy, base,  13.  305. 

Uo,  sb.  foe,  9.  79.     A.S.  fd. 


Vod,  sb.  wood,  16.  I.     A.S.wudu. 

Vode-syde,  sb.  woodside,  16.  404. 

Vol,  adj.  full,  I  a.  476,  477 ;  9.  56. 

Volliche,  adv.  fully,  I  a.  317. 

TJolnesse,  sb.  fulness,  9.  113. 

Volvulle,  v.  to  fulfil,  18  b.  24;  pp. 
Uolueld,  fulfilled,  9.  136. 

Vond,  pt.  s.  found,  I  a.  435. 

Uondinge,  sb.  temptation,  9.  231. 
A.  S.  fandung,  temptation,  fand- 
ian,  to  tempt. 

Vor,  cow/,  for,  I  a.  1 1,  23  ;  Uor,  i  a. 
41,  43 ;  prep.  1 8  b.  35.  A.  S.  for. 

Uor-,  prefix  (chiefly  before  verbs), 
gives  an  intensive  force,  or  implies 
abstraction  or  completeness,  and 
answers  to  A.S. for-,  G.  and  Du. 
ver- ;  cf.  E.  for-  in  forbid,  for- 
give, forget.  But  it  is  also  used 
for  fore-,  A.S.  fore-,  G.  vor-,  Du. 
voor-,  which  implies  precedence, 
as  in  E.  foretell,  forestall.  In 
Mceso-Goth.  there  is  some  confu- 
sion, the  prefix  four-  being  used 
in  both  senses,  but  the  prefix  fra- 
(E.  from)  only  in  the  former. 
The  words  from  and  fore  are  the 
nearest  intelligible  English  equi- 
valents to  for-  and  fore-. 

TTor-arnd,  pp.  ridden  all  about, 
I  a.  167.  (See  note  on  this 
line.)  A.  S.  tertian,  to  cause  to 
run,  to  ride  a  horse,  yrnan, 
to  run. 

Vor-barnd,  pp.  entirely  burnt,  I  a. 
448.  A.  S.forbyrnan,  to  burn  up, 
G.  verbrennen,  Du.  verbranden,  to 
consume. 

Uor-bed,  pt.  s.  forbade,  I  a.  68. 
A.S.forbeddan,  G.  verbieten,  Du. 
verbieden,  Mceso-Goth.  faurbiud- 
an,  to  forbid. 

Uorbernd,  pp.  burnt  up,  9.  65. 
See  Vorbarnd. 

Uorbysne,  sb.  parable,  9.  2.  A.  S. 
forebysen,  a  fore-example,  a  para- 
ble ;  from  fore,  before,  bysen,  an 
example. 

Vorewarde,  sb.  agreement,  cove- 


470 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


nant,  I  a.  17,  25,  455.  A.S 
foreweard,  from  fore,  before, 
weard,  ward,  guard;  cf.  Du. 
voonuaarde,  a  condition. 

Uorlete,  gerund,  to  let  alone, 
forego,  forsake,  9.  22 ;  imp.  s. 
Uorlet,  forgive,  9.  229;  I  p.  pL 
pr.  Uorletef,  9.  230.  A.  S.forle- 
tan,  to  let  go,  Du.  verlaten,  to 
forsake,  G.  verlassen. 

Uorlore,  pp.  lost,  i  a.  265.  A.S. 
forloren,  lost,  pp.  of  for-leosan, 
to  lose;  G.  verloren,  pp.  of  i/£r- 
Z/era*,  to  lose ;  Du.  verloren,  pp. 
of  verliezen,  to  lose ;  cf.  Moeso- 
Goth.  fraliusan,  to  lose;  E. for- 
lorn. 

Vorpriked,  pp.  pricked,  spurred  to 
death,  I  a.  167.  A.S.  priccian, 
to  prick,  to  spur ;  with  prefix/or-. 

TJorsuore,  pp.  forsworn,  perjured, 
i  a.  119.  A.S.  forswerian,  to 
swear  falsely ;  cf.  Du.  verzweeren, 
pp.  verzworen;  G.  verschworen, 
pp.  verschworen. 

Vorte,  prep,  till,  until,  i  a.  526; 
conj.  till,  I  cr.  164,  332,  333; 
Uorte,  I  a.  1 06.  Lit.  for  to.  See 
Vor  to. 

VorJ>,  s6.  course,  way ;  Jiadde  here 
7w)>  =  made  their  way  on,  made 
some  advance,  18  b.  116.  W. 
ffordd,  a  way,  road,  passage.  See 
For>. 

UorJ>,  adv.  forth,  I  a.  133;  VorJ?, 
i  a.  286.  A.S.  /orS,  Du.  voorf, 
forth. 

Vorthis,  pr.  s.  becomes,  16.  174; 
pf.  s.  Vorthit,  became;  hym 
vorthit  slep  =  sleep  came  upon 
him,  or,  it  came  upon  him  to 
sleep,  1 6.  177.  See  WorJ?e. 

Vor  to  =  to  before  the  infinitive,  I  a. 
14,  129;  Uorto,  la.  56,  351. 

"Dor-wounded,  pp.  wounded  se- 
verely, i  a.  167.  A.  S.  for- 
ivundian,  G.  verwunden,  Du.  ver- 
wonden,  to  wound  severely. 

TJorzofe,  adv.  forsooth,  verily,  9. 


2.     Lit.  for  sooth,  A.S.  for  sdfte, 

for  the  truth. 
Uor-zwel$e,   v.    to    swallow    up, 

devour,  9.  80.     A.S.forswelgan, 

Du.  verzwelgen,  to    swallow  up, 

G.    verschwelgen,     to     consume, 

spend. 

Votmen,    sb.  pL    footmen,    foot- 
soldiers,  18  b.  93  ;  Vootmen,  100. 
Voul,  adj.   foul,   i  a.  491.     A.  S. 

ful. 
Vounder,  adj.  wondrously,  greatly, 

16.  225. 
Vourtej^e,    ord.    adj.    fourteenth, 

186.89.     A..S.feowerteofta. 
Vouwes,    sb.  pi.    vows,    15.   pr. 

68. 
Voyded,  pt.  s.  emptied,  13.  1013. 

F.  vider,  O.  F.  vuider,  to  empty, 

from  Lat.  tiiduus. 
Voys,  sb.  voice,  rumour,  19.  155. 

F.  voix,  Lat.  ace.  uocem. 

Vp,  prep,  upon,  I  a.  411;   adv.  vp 

J>at   es   doun  =  upside   down,    10. 

673.     A.S.  vp,  upp,  Du.  op,  G. 

auf,   Mceso-Goth.  tup,   Lat.  sub, 

Gk.  £JTO. 
Vpbraiding,  sb.  reproach,  2.  xiv. 

8.     See  below. 
Vpbreyd,  sb.  reproaches,  5.  5843. 

A.  S.  upgebredan,  to  cry  out. 
Vpe,  prep,  upon,  i  a.  70,  86.   A.  S. 

uppan,  uppe,  prep.  upon. 
Vpheue,  v.  to  raise,  exalt,  2.  xvii. 

123;   />/>.   Vphouen,   exalted,   2. 

xvii.  118;    Vpehouen,  2.  viii.  3. 

A.  S.  uphebban,  upheban,  to  heave 

up,  to  raise. 

Vplondysch.     See  Oplondysch. 
Vpon,  adj.  open,  13.  318,  453,  501. 

A.  S.  open,  Icel.  opinn,  Sw.  oppen, 

G.  offen. 

Vpon,  prep,   upon ;    vpon   lofte  = 

above,  13.  318. 
Vprisinge,   sb.   resurrection,    i  a. 

469. 

Vpset,  pp.  set  up,  20. 44. 
Vpstegh,  pt.  s.  ascended,   2.  xvii. 

23  ;    pr.  pi.   Vpsteghes,    ascend, 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


471 


rise,    2.   ciii.    17.      A.  S.   stigan, 

upstigan,  to  ascend. 
Vpsteghdng,  sb.  ascent,  2.  ciii.  7. 

See  above. 
Vp-sterte,  pt.  s.  started  up,  5. 5603. 

See  Sterte. 
Vptoke,  pt.  s.  took  up,  received,  2. 

xvii.  45. 
Vp-wafte,  pt.  pi.  uprose,  upblew, 

13.  949.     Sw.  vefta,  to  fan,  blow. 

Sc.  waff,  to  blow.     See  Wafte. 
Vp-selde,  v.  to  deliver  up,  restore, 

I  a.  83.  A.S.  gildan,  to  pay, yield. 
Vr,  pron.  our,  I  a.  130  ;  15.  i.  78  ; 

Vre,  I  a.  361  ;   i$.pr.  32  ;  Vres, 

ours,  7.  406.     A.S.  ure,  of  us, 

ure,  ours. 

Vra,m,prep.  from,  186.  114. 
Vri,  imp.  s.  free,  deliver,  9.  231. 

A.  S.fredn,  to  free. 
Vr]>e,   sb.   S.  earth,  I  6.   25 ;    13. 

303.     A.  S.  eorfte. 
Vs,  s&.  F.  use,  20.  335.     Lat.  usus. 
Vsellez,  sb.  pi.  cinders,  ashes,  13. 

1010.     A.  S.  ysela,  a  hot  ember  ; 

cf.  A.  S.  asce,  ahse,  a  cinder,  ash. 
Vte-brast,  pt.  s.  burst  out,  7.  328. 

A.  S.  lit,  out,  berstan,  to  burst. 
Vtewit,  adv.  outside,  beyond  (the 

town),  7.  190.     Sc.  outwith,  out- 
side, E.  without. 
Vuel,  sb.  S.  evil,  sickness,  i  0.414; 

Dej>-vuel  =  death-sickness,  last  ill- 
ness.   A.  S.yfel,  sb.  evil,  adj.  evil, 

G.  ubel. 
Vuele,   adv.   ill,   I   a.  492.     A.S. 

yfele,  evilly. 

Vul,  pt.s.  fell,  1 8  6.  123. 
Vulde,  pt.pl.  filled,  18  b.  43. 
Vus,  put  for  Vs,  us,  13.  471 ;  140. 

58. 
Vyfti,    adj.    fifty,    I   b.    48,    51. 

A.S.fiftig. 
Vyendes,  sb.  pi.  fiends,  9.  24.  A.  S. 

fednd. 
Vyn,  v.  to  win,   gain,   reach,  16. 

429. 
Vynkit,  pt.  s.  slept,  16.  182.     Lit. 

winked ;  A.  S.  wincian,  to  wink. 


Vtrely,  acfo.  utterly;  all  vtrely  =  all 

utterly,  1  6.  420. 
Vysege,  sb.  visage,  5.  5889.     O. 

F.  visaige,  F.  visage,  from  Lat. 

uisus,  appearance,  uidere,  to  see. 
Vyjte,  v.  to  fight,  180.  79. 

W. 

W,  often  used  for  v  in  Lowland 
Scotch,  as  in  wenge  for  venge  ;  also 
for  w,  as  in  Tnw/re  for  mure,  i.e. 


moor. 

"Wa,  sb.  woe,  2.  xvii.  4;   10.  1260; 

sua  wa  was   him  =  he   had   such 

woe,    7.    176.      A.S.   wd,   woe; 

Mceso-Goth.  wail  woe! 

"Wafte,  pt.  s.  lifted  up,  raised,  13. 

453;  wafted,  bore,  13.  422.  Icel. 

veifa,  to  agitate,  move  quickly. 
Wafullie,  adv.  woefully,  8  a.  166. 

See  Wa. 
Waiour,  sb.  wager,  5.  5598,  5601. 

O.  F.  wager,  gagier,  to   pledge, 

gagiere,    a    pledge,    Low    Lat. 

uadium,  a  pledge,  from  Lat.  uas 

(gen.  uad-is),  a  pledge  ;  cf.  A.  S. 

wed,  a   pledge.     Gage   and   wed 

are  radically  identical. 
"Wait,  v.   to    watch    for,    7.    34; 

Waiten,     to     expect,     19.     246. 

Wait,  Watch,  Wake,  are  various 

spellings  of  the  same  word  ;    cf. 

O.  F.  gaiter,  to   watch,  from   a 

Teutonic  root.     See  "Wake. 
Waites,   sb.  pi.    watchmen,   spies, 

7.    169.      O.  F.   waite,  gaite,   a 

sentinel,  from   waiter,  gaiter,  to 

watch  ;  see  below. 
Wake,  v.  to  watch,  keep  awake, 

5-  5830  ;  Wakan,  to  arouse,  13. 

948  ;    Waky,   to    watch,   9.   4  ; 

pres.  part.  Wakand,  watching,  7* 

50.       A.S.    wacan,    to    awake, 

wacian,     to     watch,    Sw.    vaka, 

Mceso-Goth.   wakan,   to    watch  ; 

Sw.  vakna,   Mceso-Goth.  gawak- 

nan,  to  be  awake. 
"Waking,  sb.  watch,  17.  Mar.  vi. 

48.     Vulg.  uigiliam. 


472 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Wakynde,  pres.  part,  keeping 
watch,  9.  29.  See  "Wake. 

Wai,  sb.  wall,  2.  xvii.  78.  A.S. 
weall,  wall,  Lat.  uallum,  a  ram- 
part. 

Wald,  pt.  s.  would,  wanted,  2.  xvii. 
54.  See  Wol. 

Walls,  Wales,  I  a.  345. 

Walle-heued,  sb.  well-head,  spring, 
13.  364.  A.S.  weall,  a  well, 
hedfod,  head. 

Walle]?,  pr.  s.  rolls  about,  keeps 
turning  about  uneasily,  15.  v.  71* 
Cf.  O.  E.  walsh,  insipid,  Mceso- 
Goth.  walwjan,  Lat.  uoluere,  to 
roll. 

Walri,  prop,  name,  St.  Valeri, 
Walaricus,  or  Gualaricus,  abbot; 
(his  day  is  Dec.  12)  I  a.  57. 

Walt,  pt.  s.  rolled,  turned,  moved 
round  (on  a  hinge),  13.  501. 
A.  S.  wealtian,  to  roll,  reel. 

Walt,  12.  144.     See  Welt. 

Walter,  v.  to  roll,  flow,  13.  1027  ; 
pr.  s.  Waltez,  rolls;  waltez  of= 
rolls  off,  13.  1037;  pt.s.  Waltered, 
rolled  about,  went  to  and  fro,  13. 
415.  A.S.  wealtian,  to  roll,  reel, 
Sw.  v'dltra,  to  roll,  G.  walzen,  to 
roll ;  whence  E.  waltz. 

Waltes,  pr.  s.  wells  (out),  pours 
(forth),  13.  364.  Cf.  A.  S. 
weallan,  to  well  out ;  wealtian,  to 
roll,  wealcan,  to  roll;  weall,  a 
well ;  G.  welle,  a  wave.  See 
above. 

Wan,  pron.  dot.  sing.  neut.  which, 
I  a.  238,  242;  from  wan  =  from 
which.  A.  S.  hwdm,  dat.  neut.  of 
hwd,  who. 

Wan,  i>L  s.  won,  i  a.  456  ;  pt.  pi. 
gained  (upon  them),  16.  85;  Van, 
won,  16.  88.  A.S.  winnan,  to 
win. 

Wan,  sb.  weening,  thought,  plan, 
judgment,  86.  155.  Sc.  wane, 
A.  S.  wen,  opinion.  See  Will. 

Wand,  sb.  refusal,  7.  145.  See 
Wonde. 


Wandreth,  sb.  peril,  8  b.  59.     Icel. 

vandrce^i,  difficulty,  (Mobius). 
Wane,  subj.  pr.  pi.  wane,  fail,  2. 

xvii.  98;  imp.  pi.  3  p.  let  them 

vanish,  2.  ciii.  83.     A.  S.  wanian, 

to  wane. 
Wane,  sb.  lessening,  diminution,  6. 

65.      A.  S.    wana,    a    deficiency, 

want,    lack;    Mceso-Goth.    wans, 

lacking. 
Wane,  sb.  quantity,  number;  gret 

wane,  a  great  number,  1 1  a.  93. 

See  Wone,  sb.  a  quantity. 
Wane,  cow/',  when,  6.  62. 
Wanes,  sb.  pi.  dwellings,   haunts ; 

put  for  sing,  dwelling,  abode,  8  b. 

219.     A.S.  wunian,  to  dwell. 
Wangeliste,  sb.  evangelist,  8  6.  I. 
Wanhope,  sb.  despair  (lit.  waning 

or  lack  of  hope),  10.  2229.    A.S. 

wan-,  prefix  signifying  want,  and 

hopa,  hope  ;  Sw.  vanhopp,  despair. 
Wankyll,  adj.  unstable,  86.  97. 

A.  S.   wancol,  unsteady ;    cf.  Sw. 

vanka  omkring,  to  wander  about. 
Wanne,  adv.  when,  i  a.  310,  342  ; 

6.  85.     A.  S.  nwaenne. 
Wannes,   adv.  whence,    i  6.    15. 

A.  S.  hwonan,  whence. 
Wantrokiynge,  sb.  abatement,  9. 

59.    A.  S.  prefix  wan-,  want,  lack, 

and  trucan,  to  fail,  abate. 
Wapnid,    pp.    weaponed,    armed, 

1 1  b.  39.    A.  S.  WfEpen,  a  weapon ; 

wcepnian,  to  arm. 
War,  adj.  cautious,  prudent,  4  6. 

34 ;   wary,  13.  292  ;   aware,  20. 

161.     A.S.  wcer,  wary,  cautious; 

Mceso-Goth.  wars,  wary;  cf.  Lat. 

uereor,  Gk.  opaco. 
War,  pt.  pi.  were,  2.  xvii.  48,  50; 

7.  39  ;  2  p.  s.  pt.  subj.  wouldst  be, 
8  6.  88  ;  subj.  pt.s.  Ware  >e,  might 
be  to  thee,  3.  196. 

Ward,  sb.  regard,  7.  263.  A.S. 
weard,  a  guard,  a  watch ;  weard- 
ian,  to  take  care  of,  keep. 

Warded,  pp.  guarded,  12.  101. 
A.  S.  weardian,  to  guard. 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


473 


Ware,  sb.  ware,  things  for  sale,  19. 
140.  A.  S.  waru. 

"Ware,  v.  to  lay  out,  spend,  5.  5798. 
A.  S.  waru,  merchandise  ;  whence 
the  present  O.  E.  verb  seems  to 
be  formed.  See  above. 

Ware,  (P)  sb.  host,  collection,  2.  xvii. 
30, 41.  Thus  windesware  =  collec- 
tion of  winds.  Cf.  helleware, 
the  host  of  hell,  Ormulum,  3593. 

Wareuore,  adv.  for  which,  i.  e. 
for  it,  in  return,  I  a.  203. 

Wrariande,  pres.  part,  varying,  10. 
1447.  Lat.  uariare. 

Warie,  v.  to  curse,  15.  vii.  301  ; 
I  p.  s.  pr.  Warye,  I  curse,  19. 
372.  A.  S.  wcergian,  wyrgian,  to 
curse,  urirg,  wicked,  wearh,  a 
wicked  wretch,  a  villain. 

Warmd,  pp.  S.  warmed,  6.  30. 

War-ne,  conj.  if  not,  unless,  8  a. 
220;  IO.  2342.  O.  Fr.  ne  wara, 
O.  Sax.  ne  wan,  unless  ;  O.  E. 
warn  (Hampole) ;  war  ne  is  for  ne 
war ;  cf.  A.  S.  ncere  (  =  ne  wcere) 
were  it  not.  In  O.  Fries,  we  find 
wera  used  to  mean  but. 

Warnes,  pr.  s.  denies,  refuses,  8  b. 
70.  See  Werne. 

Warpen,  v.  to  throw,  toss,  13. 
444.  A.  S.  weorpan,  G.  werfen, 
to  throw,  E.  warp. 

Warso,  adv.  wheresoever,  10.  2368. 

Warworn,  adv.  wherethrough, 
whereby,  I  a.  170;  Ware-Jjoru, 
I  a.  294,432. 

Wary,  v.  to  curse,  13.  513  ;  i  p.  s. 
pr.  Warye,  19.  372.  See  Warie. 

Warysoun,  sb.  protection,  3.  21. 
O.  F.  warison,  garison,  surety, 
protection,  from  garir,  F.  guerir, 
to  protect,  preserve  ;  cf.  Mceso- 
Goth.  warjan  to  bid  to  beware, 
wars,  wary.  Cf.  E.  garrison. 

Wastor,  sb.  waster,  idle  spend- 
thrift, 15.  vii.  290. 

Wat,  pron.  what,  i  a.  179,  354. 

Wat,  i  p.  s.  pr.  I  wot,  I  know,  1 6. 
77 ;  pr.  s.  Wat,  he  knows,  8  b.  92 ; 


pi.  Wate,  they  know,  10.  1432. 
A. S.  witan,  to  know,  wit;  pr.  t. 
ic  wdt,  1  wot,  hi  witon,  they  wot ; 
/  wot,  like  the  Gk.  olSa,  is  a  pt. 
form  with  a  pres.  sense.  See 
Wite,  to  know. 

Water,  sb.  6.  13  ;  gen.  s.  Wateres, 
6.  23 ;  Wateris,  6.  35 ;  dot.  s. 
Watere,  6.  38;  pi.  Watres,  2. 
xvii.  33-  A.  S.  water,  Du.  water, 
G.  wasser,  Gk.  vScup. 

Watloker,  adv.comp.  more  quickly, 
sooner,  i  a.  25.  O.  E.  hwatliche, 
quickly  ;  A.  S.  hwcetlic,  sharp, 
quick ;  hwcet,  sharp,  hwettan,  to 
sharpen,  to  whet. 

Watrand,  pres.  part,  watering,  2. 
ciii.  27. 

Wattri,  adj.  poisonous,  8  b.  114. 
Northern  spelling  of  attri,  poison- 
ous, from  A.  S.  attor,  poison. 

Watz,  pt.  s.  was,  13.  238.  See  the 
note. 

Wawe,  sb.  wave,  17.  Mar.  v.  i  ; 
pi.  Wawis,  iv.  37;  Wawes,  10. 
1218;  Wawez,  13.  382.  A.S. 
WfBg,  G.  woge,  a  wave ;  cf.  Mceso- 
Goth.  gawagjan,  to  wag. 

Waxen,  v.  to  grow,  become,  3. 
148;  pr.  s.  Waxe}>,  15.  v.  71; 
pr.pl.  Waxen,  4  d.  15;  Waxe)?, 
4  d.  32  ;  pt.  s.  Wax,  grew,  I  b. 
28 ;  became,  5.  5689 ;  Waxed, 
increased,  13.  397.  A.  S.  weaxan, 
Mceso-Goth.  wahsjan,  to  grow, 
increase,  wax;  cf.  Gk.  avgaveiv. 
See  Wexe,  Wox. 

Waxlokes,  sb.  pi.  waxlike  flakes, 
J3«  IO37-  A.  S.  weax,  wax,  and 
locc,  a  lock  of  hair. 

Wayk,  adj.  weak,  10.  693  ;  Wayke, 
10.  767.  A.S.  wdc,  weak,  G. 
weich,  soft ;  cf.  G.  schwach,  weak. 

Wayte,  v.  to  watch,  13.  292  ;  pr. 
pi.  Waytes,  watch,  10.  1243; 
wayte  hire  sum  wicked  torn  = 
watch  to  do  her  some  evil  turn, 
12. 148;  wayte  aftir  =  await,  wait 
for,  expect,  19.  467.  See  Wait. 


474 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


Wa3e3,  sb.pl.  waves,  13.  404. 

We,  sb.  a  little  bit,  a  short  time,  1 6. 
182.  Cf.  Prov.  E.  weeny,  small, 
G.  wenig,  little  ;  A.  S.  hwdne, 
hwene,  a  little. 

Web,  sb.  the  whole  piece  of  woven 
cloth  from  which  the  coat  was 
made,  15.  v.  92.  A.S.  web. 

Websteris,  sb.  pi.  female  weavers, 
.15  pr.  99.  A.S.  webbestre,  a 
female  weaver ;  webbere,  a  weaver, 
webban,  to  weave. 

Weddir,  sb.  a  wether,  sheep,  1 6. 
115.  A.S.  wefter,  a  sheep,  G. 
widder,  a  ram. 

Wede,  v.  to  go  mad,  7.  176.  A.S. 
w6d,  mad,  wedan,  to  go  mad. 

Weder,  sb.  weather,  3.  168,  247; 
pi.  Wedirs,  10.  1424;  Wederez, 
storms,  13.  948.  A.  S.  weder, 
weather  ;  also,  a  storm. 

Wedes,  sb.pl.  garments,  15.  vi.  7. 
A.S.  weed,  clothing ;  still  preserved 
in  phr.  'a  widow's  weeds.' 

Weeles,  sb.pl.  waves,  whirlpools, 
torrents,  2.  xvii.  12.  The  Vulg. 
has  torrentes.  Cf.  A.  S.  weall,  a 
well,  spring;  G.  welle,  a  wave; 
A.  S.  wcel,  Sc.  wiel,  Lancashire 
weele,  a  whirlpool ;  cf.  Lat.  uoluere. 

Wees,  pr.  s.  was,  4  c.  42.  A.  S.  wees. 

Weete,  adj.  as  sb.  wet,  15.  vi.  21. 

Wei,  sb.  little  time,  a  'wee,'  7. 
289.  See  We. 

Wei,  sb.  S.  way,  I  a.  61.  A.S. 
weg,  Du.  and  G.  weg,  Lat.  via. 

Weie,  v.  to  weigh,  15.  v.  118. 

Weile,  I  p.  s.  pr.  bewail,  15.  v.  94. 

Weish,  sb.  a  man,  warrior,  12.  281. 
A.S.  wig,  war,  wiga,  a  warrior, 
man.  See  Wies. 

Wei,  I  p.  s.  pr.  will,  desire,  6.  50. 

Wei,  adv.  very,  6.  5 ;  12.  4;  com- 
pletely, 14  c.  72  ;  wel  more  = 
much  more,  i  a.  114;  wel  hyt  ys, 
it  is  well,  1 8 6.  74.  A.S.  wel. 

Welde,  v.  to  rule,  be  master  of, 
possess,  2.  viii.  21 ;  12.  76;  Weld, 
12.  135  ;  Weld,  to  have  full  con- 


trol over  his  limbs,  10.  757 ;  i  p. 

s.  pr.  Welde,  I  possess,  12.  282. 

A.  S.  wealdan,  to  wield,  govern ; 

G.  walten,  to  rule  over. 
Wele,   adv.   well,   2.  cii.   28,  29 ; 

well,  indeed,  2.  cii.  13;  5.  5782. 

See  Wel. 
Wele,  sb.  wealth,  3.  115 ;  joy,  4^. 

II ;  success,  10.  1260;  prosperity, 

19.  175.  A.  S.  wela,  weal,  wealth, 

bliss. 
Welful,  adj.  full  of  weal,  blessed, 

19.451.     See  above. 
Welkes,  pr.  s.   withers,   10.   707. 

Du.  and  G.  welken,  to  wither ;  cf. 

A.  S.  wealwian  (Lat.  uoluere),  to 

roll,  wallow,  roll  up,  wither. 
Welle,  v.  to  boil,  8 a.  166.     A.S. 

weallan,  to  well  up,  boil. 
Welles,   sb.  pi.   wells,   springs,    2. 

xvii.  41.     A.  S.  weall,  a  well. 
Welt,  pt.  s.  wielded,  possessed,  1 2. 

230;    used,  12.  142;   Walt,  12. 

144.     See  Welde. 
Welyen,  v.  to  wither,  2.  cii.  32  ; 

pt.  s.  Welwide,    1 7  a.  iv.  6.     See 

Welkes. 
Wem,   sb.  spot,  blemish,  9.  149; 

17  b.  xiv.  2.     A.  S.  wem,  a  spot, 

blemish;    Mceso-Goth.   wamm,  a 

spot. 
Wemles,  adj.  spotless,  unblemished, 

2.   xiv.   3 ;    Wemmeles,   without 

blemish,  2.  xvii.  63.     See  above. 
Wenche,  sb.  maiden,  17.  Mar.  v. 

39  ;   Wench,  vi.  28  ;  pi.  Wenchis, 

female  companions,  15  pr.  51. 
Wend.     See  Wene. 
Wende,  v.  to  turn,  9.  226;  to  go, 

I  a.  149,  238  ;  Wend,  7.  49  ;  12. 

300 ;  I  p.  s.  pr.  Wende,  I  turn,  4  a. 

25  ;  pt.  s.  Wende,  went,  I  a.  57 ; 

12.  259;  pt.  pi.  Went,  went,  7. 

50;  imp.s.  Wende,  go,  13.  471. 

A.  S.  wendan,  to  turn,  wend,  go ; 

G.  wenden,  to  turn ;  cf.  E.  wind. 
Wene,   i  p.  s.  pr.   I   suppose,   i  a. 

221 ;  2p.pr.  pi.  Wene)?,  think,  3. 

301 ;    suppose   (where    Wene\   is 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


475 


probably  singular),  6.  114  ;  pt.  s. 

Wend,  thought,  12.  229;  pt.pl. 

Wend  haf  funden  =  thought  they 

had  found,  7.  70  ;  Wende,  esteem- 

ed, 6.  2  5  .    A  .  S.  wenan,  G.  w'dhnen, 

to    think,   «/££»  ;    A.  S.   wen,    G. 

wahn,  a  fancy. 
Wenene,  acfo.  whence,  I  a.  403. 

A.  S.  hwonan,  whence. 
Wenge,  v.  to  revenge,  7.  178;  to 

avenge,  16.  35.     F.  venger,  Lat. 

vindicart. 
"Wenges,  sb.pl.  wings,  14  c.  134. 

Icel.  vangr,  Sw.  w«g"£,  a  wing; 

cf.  E.  suing. 
Wente,  ip.s.pt.  turned,  9.  127; 

/>/>.   Went,   gone,   5.   5918.     See 

"Wende. 
Weole,  sb.  weal,  happiness,  4  d.  35. 

See  Wele. 
Weorj?e,    2  ^.  s.  />r.  swfc/.   mayst 

become,  15.  i.  26.     See  Wor)>e. 
Wep,  />/.  s.  wept,  I  a.  499  ;  12.  50. 

A.  S.  wepan,   to   weep,  pt.  t.  «c 

wedp;    Mceso-Goth.    wopjan,    to 

cry  out,  to  whoop. 
Wepe,  sb.  weeping,  5.  5723.     A.S. 

wdp,  a  whoop,  cry,  lament. 
Wer,  conj.  whether,  i  a.  88.     See 

Wher. 
Werd,  sb.  world,  8  a.  152;  #*«. 

Werdes,   the   world's,   8  a.   126; 

b.    79.     Dan.   verden,   Sc.   tt/arof. 

See  Werld. 
"Were,   v.   to   wear,  3.   19.     A.S. 


in  the  second  =  prepared  to  defend 
themselves.     See  below. 
"Wereden,  pi.  pi.  guarded,  9.  148. 
A.S.  wergan,  werian,  to  defend, 
wering,  a  dam,  bulwark,  war,  a 


"Were,  subj.pt.  s.  might  be,  was,  i  a. 
50  ;  2  />.  s.  pr.  subj.  mightst  be, 
19.  308,  457;  were  it  =  whether 
it  were,  19.  143.  A.  S.  ic  was,  I 
was,  subj.  ic  ware,  I  might  be. 

Were,  sb.  doubt,  5.  5678  ;  war,  10. 
1468.  Du.  war,  confusion;  warren, 
to  confuse,  entangle,  embroil; 
hence  E.  war,  confusion,  battle. 

"Were;  either  sb.  war;  or  (more 
likely)  vb.  to  defend,  1  1  a.  95. 
In  the  first  case,  put  f>am  to  were 
c=  prepared  themselves  for  battle; 


weir  or  wear. 


"Werinisse,  sb.  weariness,  i  b.  61. 
A.S.  werignes,  from  werig,  weary; 
cf.  G.  wdhren,  to  endure. 

"Wer-inne,  adv.  wherein,  6.  10. 

Werke,  sb.  work,  2.  ciii.  51 ;  Werk, 
4  c.  23;  pi.  Werkes,  works,  2. 
viii.  10,  18;  2.  cii.  52.  A.S. 
weorc,  were,  Gk.  Zpyov. 

"Werld,  sb.  world,  7.  61 ;  Werlde, 
2.  xvii.  42;  in  werld  =  for  ever 
(in  saeculum),  2.  xvii.  130;  in 
werld  of  werld  =  for  ever  and  ever 
(in  saeculum  saeculi),  2.  ciii.  12. 
A.S.  woruld,  Icel.  verold,  world, 
from  ver,  a  man,  old,  age. 

Wern,  pt.  pi.  were,  13.  253.  A.  S. 
waron. 

Werne,  v.  to  refuse,  12.  305  ;  subj. 
pr.  s.  Werne,  3.  16.  A.S.  wyrnan, 
to  refuse,  warn ;  from  the  root  of 
ware,  wary,  beware. 

"Werp,  pt.  s.  cast ;  hence,  cast 
words,  uttered,  spake,  13.  284. 
See  "Warpen. 

"Werj^e,  sb.  either  for  Werde,  fate, 
destiny ;  or,  host,  landlord,  inn- 
keeper; or,  worth,  honour,  enter- 
tainment by  others,  3.  104.  Cf. 
(I)  E.  weird,  fate;  (2)  G.  wirth, 
Du.  waard,  a  host,  inn-keeper ; 
(3)  E.  worth,  honour. 

"Werwolf,  sb.  a  man  who  has  been 
turned  into  a  wolf  by  enchant- 
ment, 12.  15.  A.S.  wer,  a  man; 
cf.  F.  loupgarou,  which  =  loup- 
gar-wulf—  lonp-wer-wolf,  by  a 
curious  corruption. 

Wes,  pL  s.  was,  3.  3;  16.  176. 
A.  S.  was. 

"Wessclie,  v.  to  wash,  6.  52  ;  pt.  s. 
Wessh,  washed,  19.  453.  A.S. 
wascan,  wascan,  pt.  t.  ic  w6sc. 

Westdel,  sb.  the  west,  2.  cii.  23. 


476 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


Lit.  the  west  part;  A.  S.  d<el, 
a  part,  a  deal. 

"Wet,  pron.  what,  6.  9;  9.  73. 
A.  S.  AWCE/. 

Wete,  sb.  wet,  6.  26.  A.  S.  w&t, 
wet,  w<Eta,  moisture,  water. 

We^ebondes,  sb.  gen.  sing,  of 
We)?ebonde,  woodbine,  15.  vi.  9. 
'  Woodbinde,  binde  -  weede,  or 
withie-winde,  because  it  windes 
about  other  plantes.' — Minsheu. 
The  Harl.  MS.  has  wodbyndes. 

Wej^er,  sb.  sheep,  wether,  7.  275. 
A.  S.  wefter;  see  Weddir. 

Weued,  sb.  altar,  I  a.  285.  A.  S. 
weofod,  wefod,  wiofod,  wigbed, 
an  altar ;  perhaps  from  A.  S.  wig, 
an  idol,  and  bed,  a  bed  or  resting- 
place. 

Weueris,  sb.pl.  weavers,  i^pr.  99. 

"Wexe,  v.  to  wax,  grow,  12.  124; 
pt.  s.  Wex,  grew,  13.  235;  be- 
came, 19.  563 ;  pt.  pi.  Wex,  be- 
came, II  a.  106  ;  pr.  s.  subj. 
Wex,  become,  12.  266;  imp.  s. 
Wexe,  become,  17.  Mar.  i.  25. 
See  "Waxen. 

Wexinge,  pres.  part,  growing,  1 7. 
Mar.  iv.  8.  See  above. 

Wey,  sb.  way,  I  a.  145 ;  furlong 
wey  =  distance  of  a  furlong,  19. 
557.  A.S.weg.  . 

Weyen,  pp.  weighed,  15.  i.  152; 
I  p.  s.  pt.  Weyede,  weighed,  15.  v. 
132.  A.  S.  wegan,  to  weigh,  pp. 
gewegen. 

Weyef,  pr.pl.  turn  aside,  6.  112. 
Cf.  A.  S.  wecgan,  to  agitate,  to 
wag,  G.  bewegen,  to  move ;  cf. 
E.  sway. 

Weyl,  adv.  well,  5.  5596;  well, 
indeed,  5.  5587  ;  weyl  ys  hem  = 
it  is  well  for  them,  5.  5743 ;  f>ou 
art  weyl  =  thou  art  in  favour,  5. 
5853.  See  Wei. 

Weylawey,  inter j.  well  away !  19. 
37°-  A.S.  wd  la  wd,  woe!  lo !  woe ! 

Weyr,s&.  doubt,  16.219.  See  "Were. 

Weyued,    pp.    removed,     swung 


aside,    19.   308.     Icel.   veifa,    to 

swing ;  cf.  E.  sway. 
Wh-,  answers  to  A.  S.  and  Moeso- 

Goth.  hw,  Icel.  hv. 
"Wha,  pron.  who,  2.  xiv.  i,  2;  2. 

xvii.  83.     A.  S.  hwd. 
Whan,  adv.  when,  I  b.  61 ;  5.  572 1 . 

A.  S.  hwcenne,  Moeso-Goth.  hwan. 
Whannes,  adv.  whence,  I  b.  13. 

A.  S.  hwanon,  Icel.  hva'ftan. 
Whare,   adv.    where,    2.    cii.    36. 

A.  S.  hwcer,  Mceso-Goth.  hwar. 
"What,  pron.   whatever,   12.   148; 

why,  17.  Mar.  ii.  24;   what  was 

=  what  did  it  portend,  I  6.  17. 
What-swa,  whatsoever,  10.  493. 
What  tyme  =  when,  5.  5921. 
Whaut, />ron.  whatever,  6.  32. 
Wrhederward,  adv.   whitherward, 

5.     5918  ;     Whederwarde     so  = 

whithersoever,  13.  422. 
Whenne,  adv.  whence,  15.  vi.  1 6. 

A.  S.  hwona. 
Wher,  conj.  whether,  17.  Mar.  iv. 

21.     Wher,  contr.  from  whether, 

is  not  uncommon. 
Wherso,  adv.  whether,  19.  294. 
Whestones,  sb.pl.  (so  written  in 

the  MS.)  whetstones,  18  a.  118. 

A.  S.  hwcet-stdn,  a  whetstone. 
Whichche,  sb.  hutch,  ark,  13.  362. 

A.  S.  hwcecce,  a  box,  chest,  hutch. 
Wliich,r£/./>ro«.who,2O.i  19;  which 

that  =  who,  19.  479;  cf.  19.  191. 
Whiche,  adj.  what,  i  b.  9. 
Whiderward,    adv.  whitherward, 

12.  223. 
Whiles,  conj.  whilst,  3.  243.    A.S. 

hwil,  a  time,  a  while. 
Whilk,  pron.  which,  2.  xvii.  Ill ; 

2.  ciii.  1 8  ;    10.  497  ;  Whilke  j?at 

=  who,  he  who,  2.  xiv.  3.    Mceso- 
Goth.  hwa-leiks,  which,  from  hwa, 

who,  leiks,  like. 
Whilom,  adv.  once,  19.  134.  A.S. 

hwilum,  at  times,  dat.  pi.  of  hwil, 

a  while,  a  time. 
Whittore,  adj.  comp.  whiter,  4  a. 

31.     A.  S.  hwif,  white. 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


477 


Who  Jmt,  pron.  whoever.  6.  6. 

"Whose,  pron,  whoso,  whoever,  3. 
45,  203. 

Whrohte,  pt.  s.  wrought,  40.  2. 
See  Wroght. 

"Whydyrward,  adv.  whitherward, 
in  what  direction,  5.  5818,  5820. 
A.  S.  hwider,  whither. 

Whyle,  adv.  for  a  while,  4  a.  41. 
A.  S.  hwil,  a  time,  hwile,  awhile. 

Whynges,  sb.pl.  wings,  18  b.  102. 
See  Wenges. 

Wicke,  adj.  wicked,  2.  xvii.  124; 
Wic,  8  b.  36. 

Wickenes,  sb.  wickedness,  2.  cii. 
20,  24 ;  pi.  Wickenesses,  2.  cii.  5. 

Wid,  prep,  with,  6.  44.  A.  S.  wid, 
wffi. 

Wies,  sb.pl.  men,  12.  208.  See 
"Welsh. 

Wif,  s6.  S.  wife,  I  a.  303 ;  #£».  s. 
Wiues,  I  a.  315. 

Wight,  a<#.  active,  n  b.  87.  Sw. 
vig,  nimble. 

"Wight,  sb.  whit,  2.  viii.  15;  a  man, 
19.  139.  A.  S.  wiht,  a  creature, 
thing. 

Wiht,  sb.  a  wight,  being,  15.  i.  6l. 
See  above. 

Wihtliche,  adv.  quickly,  15.  ii. 
184.  See  Wight,  adj. 

Wik,  adj.  wicked,  2.  ciii.  83 ;  pi. 
Wike,  80.157.  See  Wicke. 

Wike,  sb.  week,  15.  vii.  243.  A.  S. 
wuce. 

Wiknes,  sb.  wickedness,  8  a.  160. 
See  Wickenes. 

Wildrin,  adj.  of  the  wilderness,  7. 
216.  A.  S.  wild-dedren,  pertain- 
ing to  wild  beasts;  wild-deornes, 
a  place  for  wild  beasts,  a  wilder- 
ness ;  A.  S.  deor,  a  deer,  beast. 

Wile,/r.  s.  directs,  lit.  wills,  20. 310. 

Wilk,  pron.  rel.  which,  10.  554. 
See  Whilk. 

Will,  adj.  at  a  loss,  8  b.  155.  Sc. 
will,  at  a  loss,  Sw.  vill,  erroneously, 
vilse,  astray.  Will  of  wan  = 
wandering  in  weening  or  thought, 


at  his  wit's  end,  at  a  loss  what  to 

do;    cf.  will  of  vayn,  16.   225; 

and  note  that  Sc.  will  =  E.  wild. 
Willam,  William,  i  a.  9,  31,  37. 
Wille,  pr.  s.  i  p.  will,  6.  8 ;  pr.  s. 

Wile,  6.  56. 
Wille,  sb.  will,  wish  ;  wille  of  dunt 

=  choice   of  stroke,    I    a.    154; 

pleasure,  4  d.  34  ;    after  wille  = 

according  to  their  (or  your)  liking, 

I  a.  60;  3.  247;  wty  wille  =  with 

a   will,   pleasantly,   quickly,   4  d. 

15  5  pi.  Willes,  2.  cii.   14.     A.  S. 

will,  willa,  a  wish. 
Willesfol,  adj.  wilful,  headstrong, 

I  a.  79.     A.  S.  willes  ful,  full  of 

will. 
Wilnes,  pr.  s.  desires,  12.  265  ;  pi. 

Wilnen,  long  for,  12.  59;  pr.  s. 

subj.  Wilne,  wish  for,  15.  iii.  106. 

A.  S.   wilnian,  to  long  for,  will, 

longing,  wish. 
Wincestre,   sb.   Winchester,   i   a. 

400. 
Wink,  sb.  sleep,   15.  v.  3.     A.  S. 

wincian,    Sw.   vinke,    to    beckon, 

wink. 
Winli,  adj.   pleasant,    2.  xxiii.  5. 

A.  S.   wynlic,   joylike,    pleasant ; 

A.  S.  wyn,  G.  wonne,  joy. 
Winne,  v.  to  win,  i  a.  19 ;  to  get, 

as   in  winne   in   sijt  =  to    get   in 

sight,  obtain  a  view,  12.  94.    A.S. 

winnan,   to    contend,  win,   winn, 

contention. 
Winsom,  adj.  pleasant,  propitious, 

2.  cii.  5  ;   Winsome,  pleasant,  2. 

ciii.  8l.     A.  S.  wyn-siim,  pleasant. 

See  Winli. 
Winter,  sb.pl.  winters,  years,  12. 

296.     A.  S.  winter,  a  winter ;  pi. 

winter,  years. 
Wirkeing,  sb.  working,  labour,  2. 

ciii.  52. 
Wirkes,  pr.  s.   works,    2.  xiv.  4. 

See  Werke. 

Wis,  adj.  wise,  3.  18,  79.    A.S.  wis. 
Wise,  sb.  manner,  I  a.  124. 
Wissen,  v.  to  shew,  instruct,  tell, 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


15.  vi.  24;  ip.s.pr.  Wisse,  I 
instruct,  15.  i.  40 ;  pt.  s.  Wissed, 
instructed,  12.  172;  Wisside,  15. 
i.  72.  A.  S.  wissian,  to  shew, 
instruct,  make  wise. 

Wist,  pt.  s.  knew,  12.  40  ;  />/.  pi. 
knew,  7.  69.  See  Wite,  to 
know. 

Wit,  prep,  with,  7.  3  ;  8  6.  36. 

Wit,  v.  depart,  8  a.  114.  A.  S. 
witan,  to  depart,  go  far ;  wid,  far, 
wide. 

Wite,  v.  to  know,  i  a.  351 ;  17. 
Mar.  v.  43  ;  2  ^.  />/.  pr.  subj.  may 
know,  1 7.  Mar.  ii.  10  ;  (probably 
an  error  for  Wiste,  knew,  I  a. 
358) ;  2  p.  pi.  pr.  Witen,  know 
ye,  17.  Mar.  iv.  13;  2  p.  s. pr.  subj. 
Wite,  thou  mayest  know,  12.  281 ; 
imp.pl.  Wite]?,  know  ye,  20.  62. 
A.  S.  and  Moeso-Goth.  witan,  Du. 
weten,  G.  wissen,  to  know ;  cf. 
Moeso-Goth.  w/tarc  (a  «/ea&  verb), 
Lat.  uidere,  to  see,  observe ;  E.  wit, 
weet.  The  pr.  s.  is  A.  S.  ic  wdt, 
Mceso-Goth.  ik  wait,  E.  /  wot; 
the  pt.  t.  is  A.  S.  ic  wiste,  Mceso- 
Goth.  ik  wissa,  E.  I  wist;  A.  S. 
pp.  witen. 

Wite,  sb.  blame,  20.  114.  A.S. 
w/e,  affliction,  punishment,  fine  ; 
witan,  to  punish,  to  blame.  See 
Wite,  to  keep. 

Wite,  v.  to  blame,  8  b.  85  ;  (MS. 
white),  12.  304.  See  above. 

Wite,  v.  to  keep,  guard,  preserve, 
la.  12 ;  Wite  (him),  to  preserve 
himself,  I  a.  20;  to  protect,  12. 
257  ;  pt.  s.  Wited,  took  care  of, 
12.  176;  2  p.  s.  pr.  subj.  guard, 
keep,  12.  302.  The  original  sense 
is  to  see,  observe ;  hence,  to  judge, 
blame  (see  Wite,  to  blame) ;  it 
answers  to  Lat.  uidere,  Mceso- 
Goth.  witan  (weak  verb,  pt.  t.  ik 
witaida],  to  see,  observe;  A.S. 
witan  (pt.  t.  ic  witode),  to  see, 
judge,  blame;  hence  was  formed 
the  strong  Mceso-Goth.  verb  witan 


(pt.  t.  ik  wissa),  to  know ;  A.  S. 
witan  (pt.  t.  ic  wiste},  to  know,  to 
wit.  See  Wite,  to  know. 

Witerli,  adv.  certainly,  truly,  2. 
xvii.  1 6  ;  Witerlye,  clearly,  8  b. 
247;  Witerly,  assuredly,  12.  40. 
Cf.  Dan.  vitterlig,  publicly  known. 

Witesonetid,  s*.  Whitsuntide,  i  a. 
400. 

Witeword,  sb.  covenant  (Lat.  tes- 
tamentum),  2.  cii.  40.  A.  S.  wit- 
word,  witaword,  a  counsellor's 
advice,  the  wage  of  law.  (Bos- 
worth.) 

Wif>,  prep,  by,  19.  475  ;  also  with; 
often  curiously  placed,  as  in  to 
stoppe  with  youre  euele  word  =  to 
stop  your  evil  saying  with,  20.  59. 
A.  S.  witS. 

Wiferwin,  sb.  S.  adversary,  enemy, 
7.  68.  WiTper=A..S.  wfter,  G. 
wider,  against  (cf.  E.  with  in 
withstand)  ;  win  =  A.  S.  winna,  a 
fighter,  from  winnan,  to  con- 
tend ;  hence  A.  S.  wiSerwinna,  an 
enemy. 

WiJ?-hold,  v.  to  keep,  retain,  12. 
192  ;  pr.  s.  Withhalt,  withholds, 
15.  vi.  42;  pt.pl.  With-heolde, 
detained,  kept,  15.  ii.  204 ;  pp. 
Withholden,  kept,  140.  1 1 8. 

WiJ?-outen,  prep,  without,  3.  167  ; 
Withoutyn,  5.  5937  ;  Wij?e-oute, 
6.  65.  A.S.  wife-wan,  adv.  and 
prep,  outside,  without. 

With-out-forth,  adv.  without, 
outside,  17.  Mar.  i.  45  ;  With- 
outen-forth,  iii.  32.  Vulg./om. 

WiJ?segge,  v.  gainsay,  contradict, 
I  a.  364;  pt.  s.  Wi]?-sede,  I  a.  393; 
pt.  pi.  Wijj-sede,  I  a.  280,  366. 
A.  S.  wift-sceggan,  to  gainsay. 

Wifstod,  pt.  s.  stood  beside,  stood 
over  against  (the  water),  or  per- 
haps, stood  still,  20.  144.  A.S. 
wift-standan,  generally  with  the 
sense  of  withstand,  oppose. 

WiJ5-)?at,  conj.  provided  that,  15. 
v- 57- 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


479 


Witie,  v.  to  keep,   I  a.  42.     See 

Wite,  to  keep. 
Witly,  adv.  nimbly,  12.  259.     See 

Wistliche. 
Witow  (put  for  wit    J?ou)  know 

thou,  12.  68,  300.     A.  S.  witan, 

to  know. 
Witte,  v.  to  know,  10.  813.     See 

"Wite. 
Wittes,  sb.  pi.  senses,  6.  95.     A.  S. 

wit,  mind,  wit. 
Wittow  (for  wit  f>ow)  know  thou, 

12.  375.     See  Witow. 
Witynge,  /res.  part,  knowing,  1  7. 

Mar.  v.  33.     See  Wite. 
Wiues,  pt.pl.  wives,  i.  e.  midwives, 

I  a.  471  ;  see  1.  479. 
Wijes,  sb.pl.  men,  12.  239.     See 


Wijt,  Wight,  i  a.  419. 
WiBth,  prep,  with,  12.  163. 
Wi3tlich.e,   adv.  quickly,  12.  65  ; 

greatly,   12.   310  ;    Wijtli,   soon, 

12.  265.      Sw.  wg-,   nimble,  Sc. 

wight,  active. 
Wlaffyng,  s6.  babbling,  indistinct- 

ness of  speech,  18  a.  163.     A.  S. 

w&/lan,  to  babble,  to  whiffle. 
Wlanc,  'adj.  proud,  gay,  86.  97. 

The    reading    wankyll,    unstable 

(A.  S.  wancol)  makes  better  sense. 

See  Wlonk. 
Wlatez,  pr.  s.  impers.   it   loathes 

(me),  i.e.  I  am  disgusted  at,  13. 

305.     A.  S.  wltetian,  to  loathe. 
Wlatsome,    adj.    loathsome,    10. 

2346;  Wlatsum,  13.  541.     A.  S. 

wlcetian,  to  loathe,  wl&tte,  nausea. 
Wide,  subj.  pt.  s.  would,  5.  5687. 

Here  w  =  uu  =  wu;  we  sometimes 

find  O.  E.  «///"=  wolf;  possibly  w 

is  here  sounded  like  oo  in  wool. 
Wlonk,  adj.  fine,  grand,   12.  80. 

A.  S.  wlonc,  Old  Sax.  uulanc,  ar- 

rogant, proud. 
WlyteJ>,  pr.pl.   whistle,  pipe  (?), 

4  d.    ii.     Cf.   A.  S.   klydan,  to 

vociferate. 
Wo,  adj.  sorry,  5.  5771. 


Wo,  adj.  sad,  sorrowful ;   dude  so 

wo  =  caused   to   be  so  sorrowful, 

I  a.  102.   A.  S.  wd. 
Wo,/>ro«.  who,  i  a.  127. 
Wod,  adj.  mad,  i  a.  69  ;   3.  243 ; 

12.   36;    Wode,   5.   5839;    10. 

2224.      A.  S.   w6d,    Du.   woede, 

Germ,  wuth,  Mceso-Goth.  wods, 

mad. 
Wode,  sb.  wood,  4  d.  12, 14 ;  Wod, 

1 6.  3  ;  pi.  Wodes,  i  a.  356.  A.  S. 

wudu. 
Wodenesse,  sb.  madness,  17.  Mar. 

iii.  21 ;  Wodnes,  18  b.  38.     A.S. 

wdd,  mad ;  wddnes,  madness. 
Woderoue,  sb.  woodruff,  4  d.  9. 

A.  S.     wudu-rofe,     wood -rowel, 

yellow  asphodel.     (Bosworth.) 
Woice,  sb.  F.  voice,  7.  48. 
Woke,  sb.  week,  18  a.  101.     See 

Wike. 
Wol,/>r.s.will,  3. 1 ;  19  663;  Wolt, 

wilt,  10.29;  3.  71;  Woltou  =  wolt 

fiou,  wilt  thou,  3.  35  ;  pr.  s.  subj. 

Wolle,  will,  3.  32  ;  4  a.  17  ;  pt.  s. 

Wolde,  would,   I  a.  18 ;  wished, 

I  a.  47.     A.  S.  willan,  to  wish, 

will,  pt.  t.  ic  wolde. 
Wold,  sb.  power,  rule ;  at  wolde  = 

at  command,  3.  299.     A.  S.  wald, 

power,  dominion.     See  Welde. 
Woldustow,  for    Woldust    J>ow, 

wouldst  thou,  if  thou  wouldst,  15. 

iii.  50. 

Wolle,  sb.  wool,  14  c.  9.    A.  S.  wul. 
Wolwes,  sb.pl.  wolves,  10.  1228. 
Wombe,  sb.  womb,  i  b.  3 ;  belly, 

I  a.    I2O;    pi.   Wombes,   bellies, 

15  pr.  56.     A.S.  wamb,   womb, 

belly. 
Won,  adj.  wan,   4  a.    26.      A.  S. 

wan. 
Won,   sb.    abode,    3.    106.      A.S. 

wunian,  to  dwell. 
Won,  pp.  won,  acquired,  3.  197. 
Wonand,  pres.  part,   dwelling,    7. 

243.    See  Wone,  vb. 
Wonde,  v.  to  fear,  hesitate,  4  b. 

19;    4  c.    24;    imp.  s.  Wonde, 


480 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


hesitate  from  fear,  12.  275;  re- 
frain, 6.  47.  A.  S.  wandian,  to 
fear,  blench. 

Wonder,  sb.  as  adj.  wonderful,  20. 
128,  272. 

Wonderlyche,   adv.   wonderfully, 

9-  135. 
Wondrye,  v.  to  wonder,  18  a.  73  ; 

pt.pl.  Wondriden,  17.  Mar.  i.  27. 

A.  S.  wundrian, 
Wondringe,  pres.part.  wandering, 

15  pr.  19.     Spelt   wandringe   in 

four  other  MSS.     A.  S.  wandrian, 

to  wander. 
Wone,  sb.  habit,  custom,  I  a.  505  ; 

3.  6.     A.  S.  wuna,  O.  H.  G.  wone, 

custom ;  G.  gewohnheit,  custom. 
Wone,  sb.  quantity,  number,  II  b. 

37-       Sc.    wane,    a    number    of 

people  ;  which  seems  to  be  merely 

varied  from  Sc.  quhoyn,  a  few  (A.S. 

hwene,  a  little),  which  was  after- 
wards extended  to  the  notion  of 

an   indefinite  number,  a  'lot,'  a 

quantity. 
Wone,  v.  to  dwell,  2.  xiv.  i ;  2. 

ciii.  25  ;   3.  165  ;  to  abide,  15.  ii. 

200  ;  Wonen,  to  live,  3.  25 ;  pr.  s. 

Wones,  2.  cii.  26  ;  Wons,  13.  326 ; 

Wonejj,    46.    37;    9.    14;  pt.  s. 

Woned,   12.  4;   pt.pl.   Wonede, 

18  a.  154;  pp.  Woned,  5.  5914. 

A.  S.  wunian,  G.  wohnen. 
"Waned.,  pp.  waned,  ebbed,  13.  496. 
Wonen,  pp.  won,  n  c.  71. 
Wonez,     sb.   pi.     dwelling-places, 

rooms,  13.  311;  habitations,  13. 

375.     See  Wone,  to  dwell. 
Wonges,  sb.  pi.  S.  cheeks,  4  a.  26. 

A.  S.  wang,  wong,  G.  wange,  the 

cheek,  jowl. 
Waning,   sb.    dwelling,    n    b.    2. 

A.  S.     wonung,     dwelling.       See 

Wone,  to  dwell. 
Wonne,  pt.pl.  S.  won,  i  a.  8. 
Wonnand,  pres.  part,  dwelling,  7. 

23.     See  Wonand. 
Wonte,  v.  to  want,  4  d.  34.     A.  S. 

«/a«a,  a  deficiency. 


Wonyande,  pres.  part,  dwelling, 
13.  293.  See  Wonand. 

Wonyed,  pt.pl.  dwelt,  13.  252. 
See  Wone,  to  dwell. 

Wonyinges,  sb.  pi.  dwellings,  9. 
153.  See  Woning. 

Wook,  pt.  s.  remained  awake,  19. 

497- 
Woon,  sb.  quantity,  abundance,  i8a. 

73.     See  Wone,  a  quantity. 
Woot,  I  p.  s.pr.  I  wot,  I  know,  17. 

Mar.  i.  24.    See  Wat,  and  Wite. 
Wop,   sb.   weeping,   9.   62.     A.  S. 

wop,  E.  whoop.     See  Wepe. 
Wore,  sb.  work,  I  b.  65  ;  dat.  s. 

Worke,  i  b.  62.     See  Werke. 
Worche,  v.  to  work ;  worche  on  = 

work  or  act  according  to,  12.  257. 
Word,  sb.  (for  World),  world,  15. 

i.    37.       Cf.    ward     for     world 

(  =  world)  in  Old  Lowland  Scotch. 

See  Werd. 
Wordle,   sb.  world,  i  b.    29 ;   pi. 

Wordles,   worlds ;    in  wordles   of 

wordles  (Lat.  in  sacula  saculorum) 

for  ever  and   ever,  9.  200.     See 

Werld. 
Wore,  sb.  weir ;  or,  the  sea,  4  a. 

38.     A.  S.  -war,  a  weir ;  also,  the 

sea.  The  idea  seems  to  refer  to  the 

ceaseless  flow  of  water  over  a  weir. 
Wormes,   sb.pl.   reptiles,    2.   ciii. 

58  ;  serpents,  8  b.  179.  A.  S.  wyrm, 

Lat.  uermis. 
Wornde,  pt.  s.  refused,   i  b.  40. 

See  Werne. 
Worow,  v.  to  worry,  IO.  1229.    G. 

wurgen,   Sc.  worry,   to   strangle. 

See  the  note. 
Worre,   sb.   war,    i  a.   363,   524. 

M.  H.  G.    werre,    Du.    war,   con- 
fusion.    See  Were,  doubt. 
Worri,  v.  to  worry,  make  war,  I  a. 

310,  324;  pt.  pi.  Worrede,  i  a. 

318,  325.     See  above. 
Worschipeth,  pr.pl.  honour,  15. 

iii.  12. 
Worschupe,     sb.     worship,     i.  e. 

honour,  15.  i.  8. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


481 


Wortes,  sb.pl.  vegetables,  15.  vii. 
296  ;  Wortis,  plants,  17.  Mar.  iv. 

32- 

WorJ5©,  v.  to  become,  grow  up, 
12.  327;  pr.s.  Wor)?,  shall  be, 
15.  i.  1 68;  becomes,  or  will  be, 
15.  ii.  179  ;  pt.  s.  WorJ),  became, 
I  b.  12  ;  pr.  s.  subj.  WorJ),  may 
be,  15.  iii.  34;  pr.  s.  WorTpelp,  is 
reckoned  as  being,  6.  146;  imp.pl. 
WorJ^ez,  become,  grow,  13.  521. 
A.  S.  weorftan,  G.  werden,  Mceso- 
Goth.  wairthan,  to  become. 

WorJ^li,  adj.  worthy,  dear,  12.  138 
(the  MS.  has  this  form  very  fre- 
quently; in  1.  138  it  is  miswritten 
worli);  Wor}>e!ych,  noble,  13. 
471.  A.  S.  wur'Slic,  worthy. 

Worfissipe,  sb.  worship,  9.  1 2 1. 
A.  S.  wur^scipe. 

"Wo-so,  pron.  whoso,  I  a.  367,  389. 

Wosschen,  pt.  pi.  washed,  15.  ii. 
196. 

Wot,  pr.  s.  knows,  I  a.  223;  3. 
116;  god  wot  — God  knows,  19. 
195.  A.  S.  ic  wdt,  I  know,  ]>u 
wast,  thou  knowest,  he  wdt,  he 
knows ;  from  witan,  to  know.  See 
Wite,  to  know. 

Wou,  sb.  wrong,  harm,  I  a.  364, 
378 ;  Wowe,  I  a.  459.  A.  S. 
wdh,  wog,  a  beading,  an  error, 
wrong;  ivoh,  adj.  bent,  curving; 
cf.  Mceso-Goth.  unwahs,  without 
fault,  blameless. 

Wounder,  sb.  wonder,  I  b.  1 1  ; 
adv.  wonderfully,  4  d.  32.  A.  S. 
wundor. 

"Wowe,  sb.  wall,  15.  v.  136.  A.  S. 
wdh. 

"Woweth,  pr.  s.  wooes,  19.  589  ; 
pr.  pi.  WoweJ?,  woo,  4  d.  31; 
Wowes,  4  <f.  19.  A.  S.  wdgan,  to 
woo. 

"Wowyng,  sb.  a  wooing,  4  a.  37. 
See  above. 

Wox,  pt.  s.  grew,  became,  20.  325; 
pp.  grown  (lit.  waxed),  12.  109. 
See  Wexe. 

VOL.  II. 


Wo3t  =  wot,  pr.  s.  i  p.  I  know,  6. 
45.  See  Wot. 

Wrac,  sb.  vengeance,  8  6.  188. 
See  Wrake. 

Wraht,  pt.  s.  wrought,  worked,  4  c. 
35.  SeeWroght. 

Wrak,  sb.  wreck,  19.  513.  Du. 
wrak,  adj.  cracked,  broken ; 
wrak,  sb.  a  wreck. 

Wrake,  sb.  vengeance,  13.  235* 
386  ;  ta  wrake  =  take  vengeance, 
7.  182;  misery,  8  b.  59.  A.  S. 
wrasc,  vengeance,  rvracu,  revenge, 
pain,  ivrecan,  to  wreak. 

Wrakful,  adj.  full  of  vengeance, 
13.302.  See  Wrake. 

Wrangwis,  adj.  evil,  7.  167. 
Wrong-wise,  as  opposed  to  right- 
wise  (E.  righteous). 

Wrangwislie,  adv.  wrongly,  8  a. 
247.  See  above. 

Wrangwisnes,  sb.  iniquity,  8  b. 
50. 

Wrastlede,  pt.  pi.  wrestled,  I  a. 
1 1 6.  A.  S.  wrasfUan,  to  wrestle, 
wrcestan,  to  writhe,  wrest. 

Wrath,  adj.  wroth,  angry,  2.  xvii. 
22.  A.S.  wrdft,  sb.  wrath,  adj. 
wroth. 

Wraj^ede,  pt.  s.  angered,  i  a.  398. 
A.  S.  wrdftian,  to  be  angry. 

WraJ^e-lees,  adj.  wrathless,  4  c. 
48. 

Wrecche,  sb.  a  miserable  thing,  3. 
202.  A.  S.  wrcecca,  sb.  a  wretch, 
adj.  miserable;  wraec,  revenge, 
misery.  See  Wrake,  Wreche. 

Wrecchede,  sb.  wretchedness, 
misery,  I  a.  1 88.  Wrecchede  = 
wrecche-hede  =  wretch-hood,  mi- 
sery. 

Wreche,  adj.  wretched,  8  b.  215; 
Wrecche,  19.  285. 

Wreche,  sb.  vengeance,  I  a.  492  ; 
19.  679.  See  "Wrake. 

Wreke,  v.  to  take  vengeance  on, 
7-  395  •'  PP»  Wreken,  avenged, 
15.  ii.  169.  A.  S.  wrccan,  to 
revenge,  wreak.  See  above. 

ii 


482 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


Wreker,  sb.    avenger,    2.    viii.   8. 

See  above. 
Wrekes,  sb.  pi.  vengeances,  2.  xvii. 

119.     See  Wreche. 
Wrenche,   sb.    deceit,    stratagem, 

lo.   118;  pi.  Wrenchez,  deceits, 

13.  292.     A.  S.  wrence,  deceit. 
Wreten,  pp.  written,  10.  489. 
Wreth,  sb.  wrath,  2.  xvii.  44.     See 

Wrath. 
Wreth,  v.  to  be  angry,  2.  cii.  17. 

See  Wraj^ede. 

Wrethful,  adj.  wrathful,  8  b.  188. 
Wrick,  sb.  vengeance,  7.  409.     See 

Wreche. 
Wrickede,  pt.  s.  wriggled,  I  b.  82. 

Cf.  A.  S.   wrigan,   to    move    to- 
wards ;     also    E.   writhe,    wring, 

wrinkle. 
Wring,  subj.  pr.  s.  press,  well  out, 

force    its    way,     7.    3^4.       A.  S. 

wringan,  to  wring,  press. 
Writte,  sb.  writing,  7.  25,  27,  29. 

A.  S.  and  E.  writ. 
Wroght,  pt.  s.  wrought,  2.  cii.  52  ; 

pp.    5.    5640.      A.S.   wyrcnn,    to 

work,  pt.  s.  worhte,  pp.  geworht. 
Wrong,  pt.s.  wrung,  15.  ii.  212  ;  v. 

68 ;  19.  606;  pi.  Wrongen,  wrung, 

dried,  15.  ii.  196.     See  Wring. 
Wrot,  pt.  s.  wrote,  40.  3. 
Wroj^ely,  adv.  angrily,  wrathfully, 

13.    949  ;     Wrojjly,    13.     280  ; 

Wro)?licrie,  15.  v.  68. 
Wrojjt  =  wroth,  3.  112. 
WroBte,  pt.  s.  wrought,  I  a.  364 ; 

pi.  I  a.  121.     See  Wroght. 
Wryte,  pp.  written,  5.  5633.     A.S. 

writan,  pp.  writen. 
Wryjjez,  pr.  pi.    writhe,   wriggle, 

13-  533- 
Wu,   adv.  how,    i  a.    188.     A.S. 

hu,  hwu. 

Wuch,  adj.  which,  what,  I  a.  8. 
Wuld,  pt.  s.  would,  5.  5819,  5833  ; 

subj.pt.pl.  5.  5652.     See  Wol. 
Wule,    sb.   while,    I  a.    184;    f)e 

wule  =  whilst,  i  a.  96,  no,  418. 

A.  S.  hwil,  a  while,  time. 


Wune,  pp.  won,  5.  5944. 
Wunne,  sb.  gen.  sing,  of  joy,  4  d. 

35.     A.S.  wyn,  G.  wonne,  joy. 
Wunt,  adj.  wont,  5.  5874,  5882. 

A.  S.  wune,  custom  ;    wunian,  to 

dwell,    pp.   wunod,   whence   wont 

has  been  formed ;  cf.  Dan.  vane, 

custom,  vant,  wont. 
Wurchef>,  pr.  s.  works,  4  c.  49. 
Wurne,  v.  to  refuse,  I  a.  230.   See 

Werne. 
Wurscheped,    pp.    honoured,    5. 

5852.     A.S.   wurftscipe,    worship 

(lit.  worthship). 
Wurj?e,  adj.  worth,  worthy,   I  a. 

44,  224;  WurJ>y,  5.  5851.     A.S. 

wurft,  worth,  wurfte,  worthy. 
Wussche,   i  p.  s.  pr.  wish,  15.  v. 

92.     A.  S.  wiscan,  to  wish. 
Wuste,  i  p.  s.  pt.  knew,  15  pr.  12  ; 

Wust,  15.  iii.  52 ;  pt.  s.  Wuste,  I  a. 

n.     See  Wist. 
Wycke,   adj.  bad,   3.    179.      See 

Wicke. 
Wydene,   adv.   wide,  far,   15  pr 

4.     A.S.   wide,    Icel.  vffia,   adv, 

widely. 
Wydewhere,  adv.  far  and  wide, 

19.  136. 

Wydowande,  (or  Wyndow- 
ande),  pres.  part,  withering,  dry, 
13.  1048.  North.  Prov.  E.  winny, 
to  dry ;  cf.  winnow,  and  Sc. 
windlestrae,  a  dry  stem  of  grass. 

Wyht,  sb.  wight,  4  d.  36  ;  creature, 

20.  134;  Wyght,  19.  474.     A.S. 
wiht,&  creature;  Du.  wicht,  a  child. 

Wyght,  adj.  nimble,  active,  10. 
689.  See  Wight. 

Wykes,  sb.pl.  weeks,  15.  ii.  204. 

Wykked,  adj.  bad,  wicked,  5. 
5647.  See  Wicke. 

Wylde,  adj.  as  sb.  pi.  wild  deer, 
13-  387  !  wild  animals,  13.  503. 

Wyle,  sb.  while,  I  b.  63.  A.S. 
hwil,  a  time. 

Wylger,  adj.  or  adv.  wilder,  or 
more  wildly,  13.  375.  (Appar- 
ently an  error  for  wylder). 


GLOSS ARIAL  INDEX. 


Wylle,  sb.  will ;  myd  guode  wylle 
=  willingly,   without    gainsaying, 

9.    221. 

Wylles-uol,  adj.  wilful  (lit.  full  of 

will),  9.  9.     See  Willesfol. 
Wylny,  v.  to  desire,  9/22;  pr.  pi. 

Wylne]?,  9.   116;    2  />.  s.  pr.  subj. 

Wylne,  15.  vii.  246.  See  Wilnes. 
Wylnynge,   sb.    desire,    yearning 

after,  9.  97.     See  above. 
Wylsfully,  adv.  wilfully,  wrongly, 

13.  268.     See  Willesfol. 
Wynne,  v.  to  win,  6.  131.     A.  S. 

winnan,  to  fight,  win. 
Wynt,  sb.  S.  wind,  15.  v.  14. 
Wynsord,  sb.  S.  vineyard,  4  c.  2. 
Wyrle,  or  rather  Wyrles,  pr.  s. 

whirls,  flies,   13.  475.     Cf.  A.S. 

hweorfan,  to  turn. 
Wys,   adj.   wise,  3.   10,    17.     See 

Wis. 
Wyse,  sb.  wise,  quality,  6.  35 ;  dat. 

wise,    manner,    19.    153.      A.S. 

wise,  G.  weise,  F.  guise. 
Wyssen,  v.  to  instruct,  inform,  15. 

iii.  1 7  ;  pt.  s.  Wysed,  sent,  directed, 

T3-  453-  A.  S.  wissian,  to  instruct. 

See  Wissen. 
Wyste,  pt.  s.  subj.  might  know,  93. 

See  below. 
Wyte,  v.  to  know,   15.  iii.  112; 

pr.  pi.    know,    14  a.    74 ;    pr.  s. 

Wyst,  knew,  5.  5849 ;  pt.  pi.  subj. 

Wysten,  would  know,   14  c.  55. 

See  Wite,  to  know. 
Wytene,  gerund,  to  know ;  ich  do 

you  to  wylene,  I  do  you  to  wit,  I 

cause  you  to  know,  9.  38.     A.  S. 

ie  do  eow  to  wilanne,  1  do  you  to 

wit.     See  above. 
Wyter,   adj.    wise,  4  a.    29.     Sw. 

vitter,    learned  ;    cf.    A.  S.   witol, 

wise,  from  wit,  wit. 
Wyte)>,  pr.  pi.  know,  9.  183.     See 

Wite,  to  know. 
Wyj^dras)?,  pr.  s.  withdraws,  9.  1 1  ; 

ft.  s.  subj.  Wy])dro3e,  should  with- 
draw, 9.  25. 
WyJ?zede,  pt.  s.  subj.  should  with- 


say,  deny,  refuse  entrance,  9.  26. 
A.  S.  wtfSsfEggan,  to  gainsay. 

sb.  person,  being,  13.  280; 
pi.  Wyjez,  men,  13.  235.  See 
Wijes,  Weijh. 

Y. 

Y-,  prefix,  answering  to  G.  and 
A.  S.  ge-,  Moeso-Goth.  ga-.  It  is 
usually  prefixed  to  past  participles, 
but  also  to  past  tenses  (see  Ylaste), 
present  tenses  (see  Yknau}?,  Yleue), 
adjectives  (see  Ylycne),  and  adverbs 
(see  Ylome). 

Yald,  i  p.  s.  pt.  yielded,  8  a.  244. 

A.  S.  gyldan,  gildan,  to  pay,  pt.  t. 

ic  geald ;  cf.  Icel.  gjalda,  Mceso- 

Goth.  gildan,  to  pay ;  cf.  E.  yield, 

guild. 
Yare,  adv.  readily,  soon,  7.  107 ; 

quickly,    8   b.    9.      A.S.   gearo, 

ready,     geanvian,     to     prepare, 

gearwa,     clothing,     preparation, 

gear. 
Yates,  sb.  pi.  gates,  2.  xxiii.   15, 

17,  21.     A.S.  geat,  a  gate,  door; 

prov.  E.  yate,  yetl. 
Yban,  obviously  a  mistake  of  the 

scribe   for   Liban,   Lebanon,    2. 

ciii.  36. 
Ybe,  pp.  been,    18  a.   89.      A.S. 

gebeon,  been,  from  bedn,  to  be. 
Ybore,  pp.  carried,  I  a.  204  ;  born, 

I  a.    247.      A.  S.  geboren,   born, 

geberan,  beran,  to  bear ;    Moeso- 
Goth.  gabairan,  to  bear. 
Ybov.nde,  pp.  bound,  19.  361. 
Ybroke,  pp.  broken,  1 8  b.  7. 
Ybrojt,  pp.  brought,  I  a.  392,  496. 

A.  S.  gebroht,  pp.  of  bringan,  to 

bring. 
Ybuld,  pp.   built,    18  b.    91.     Cf. 

A.  S.  byldan,  to  build. 
Ychabbe  =  ich  habbe,  I  have,  4  a. 

40. 

Ycham  =  ich  am,  I  am,  4  d.  23. 
Y-charged,  pp.   loaded,   12.    182. 
•  F.  charger,  Low  Lat.  carricare,  to 

i  i  2 


484 


GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 


load,  carry,  from  Lat.  carrus,  a 

car. 
Yche,  adj.  same,   5.   5607,   5781, 

5943.     A.  S.  ylc,  same. 
Ychoone,  i.e.  each  one,  15.  iii.  98. 
Y-clepud,    pp.    called,    12.     121. 

A.  S.    clypian,  geclypian,  to   call, 

pp.  clypod,  gedypod. 
Ycorouned,  pp.  crowned,  9.  143. 

From  Lat.  corona. 
Ycristned,  pp.  baptized,  19.  240. 
Ydemd,  pp.  doomed,  judged,  ad- 
judged,   9.    222.      A.  S.    demon, 

gedeman,  Mceso-Goth.  gadomjan, 

to  judge  ;  cf.  Gk.  Offus. 
Y-dijt,  pp.  dight,   ordered,  9.  29. 

A.  S.  dihtan,  to  arrange,  pp.  gediht. 
Ydo,  pp.  done,  made,  I  a.  15,  136; 

done,  1 8  6.  126.   A.  S.  don,  to  do, 

pp.  gedon. 
Y-dolue,  pp.  dug  through,  broken 

into,  9.  15.     A.  S.  delfan,  to  dig, 

pp.  dolfen. 

Ydon,  pp.  done,  4*?.  n.    See  Ydo. 
Ye,  adv.  yea,  19.  417.     A.  S.  gea. 
Ye  (ye),  sb.  eye,  19.  280  ;  pi.  Yen, 

19.  671.     A.  S.  edge,  pi.  edgan ; 

Du.   oog,  G.  auge,   Mceso-Goth. 

augo,  Lat.  oc-ulus. 
Yede,  pt.  s.  went,  9.   240.     A.  S. 

eode,  I  went,  Mceso-Goth.  iddja,  I 

went ;  cf.  Lat.  eo,  I  go,  Gk  clfu. 

The  A.S.  for  to  go  is  gdn,  Mceso- 
Goth.  gaggan. 
Yef,  conj.  if,  9.  3.     Icel.  ef,  if;  cf. 

Icel.  e/|  doubt,  Suio-Goth.  yefvja, 

to  doubt. 
Yef  ]>,  pr.  s.   gives,  9.    27.      A.  S. 

gifan,  to  give. 
Yeire,  s6.   S.  year,    7.   4,   5;  />/. 

Yeir,  7.  50.     See  Yere. 
Yelderes,  sb.  pi.  debtors,  9.  230. 

Lit.  yielders,  payers  ;  A.  S.  geldan, 

gildan,  to  pay.     See  Yald. 
Yeldinges,  sb.pl.  yieldings,  pay- 
ments, debts,  trespasses,  9.  230. 
Yem,  v.  to  guard,  take  care  of,  8  b. 

.250  ;  I  p.  s.  pt.  Jerned,  I  kept,  2. 

xvii.  59.     A.  S.  gyman,    to  take 


care  of,  Mceso-Goth.  gaumjan,  to 

see,  observe;  cf.  Prov.  E.  gumption. 
Yen,   sb.  pi.   eyes,    19.   552.     See 

Eghe. 
Yere,  sb.  S.  year,  7.  38 ;  pi.  7.  7. 

A.  S.  g-ear,  ger,  a  year,  pi.  gva'r  ; 

Mceso-Goth.  Jer,  Du.^'aar,  G.jahr. 

See  Yeire. 
Yet,    co«/.    moreover,    2.   viii.    17. 

A.S.^V,gjk. 
Y-ete,  pp.   eaten,   3.    101.      A.  S. 

etan,  to   eat,  pp.  eten,  geeten ;  cf. 

G.  essen,  to  eat,  pp.  gegessen. 
Yeue,  imp.  s.  3  />.  may  (he)  give, 

19.  284,  602 ;  pp.  Yeuen,  given, 

19-  333.  444-  A- s-  gifan>  to  give, 

pp.  gifen.     See  ^eue. 
Yfere,  adv.  together,  19.  394.     See 

Infere. 
Yfroted,  pp.  rubbed,  i8a.  32.     F. 

f rotter,  to  rub ;  from  Lzt.fricare. 
Ygo,  pp.  gone,  19.  599.    A.  S.  gdn, 

to  go  ;  pp.  gegangen,  gegdn. 
Yhadde,  pp.  had,  18  b.  95. 
Yhalsed,    pp.    hallowed,    9.    227. 

A.  S.  hdlgian,  gehdlgian,  to  conse- 
crate ;  pp.  gehdlgod. 
Yhat,  pp.  heated,  made  hot,  1 8  a. 

33.     A.  S.  hdtian,  to  become  hot. 
Yhe,  pron.  ye,  2.  xxiii.  16,  17,  22. 

A.  S.  ge.     See  Je. 
Yhelde,  v.  render,  repay,  2.  xvii. 

58  ;    Yheld,  to   yield,   10.    1826. 

See  Yald. 
Yhemes,  pr.pl.  keep,   2.  cii.  40. 

See  Yem. 
Yhent,  pp.  caught,  4  a.  9.     A.  S. 

hentan,   to   hunt  after,  to   catch, 

seize. 

Yhere,  sb.  pi.  years,  10.  741. 
Yherninges,  sb.  pi.  desires,  2.  cii. 

9.     A.  S.  geornnng,  an  endeavour; 

geornian,    to    desire,   yearn   for  ; 

georn,  eager ;  Mceso-Goth.  gairn- 

jan,  to  yearn  after,  G.  begehren. 
Yh.it,  adv.  yet,  2.  ciii.  78  ;  more- 
over, 10.  539. 
Yhode,  pt.  s.  went,  2.  xvii.  18  ;  pi. 

2.  xvii.  115.     See  Yod,  Yede. 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


485 


Yholde,  pp.  held,  kept,  18  b.  g. 
Thonged,    pp.    hung,    suspended, 

18  a.  88.     A.  S.  hon,  to  hang  up, 

hangian,  to  hang. 
Yhousled,  pp.  supplied  with   the 

sacramental  bread  and  wine,  18  b. 

loo.    A.  S.  huselian,  to  administer 

the  sacrament,  husel,  husl,  sacra- 
ment, offering,  Moeso-Goth.  hunsl, 

a  sacrifice. 
Yliouthe,   sb.   youth,    2.   cii.   10; 

Yhowthe,  10.  7815.   A.  S.  geoguft. 
Yhung,  adj.  young,  10.  437. 
Yhurt,  pp.  hurt,  18  b.  123. 
Y-hyerd,  pp.  heard,  9.  68.     A.S. 

hyran,  gehyran,  pp.  hyred,  gehyred. 
Y-hyre)?,  imp.  pi.  hear  ye,  9.  74. 

A.  S.  gehyran,  to  hear. 
Y-hyt,  pp.  hit,  18  b.  122. 
Yh.y3t,    pp.    ordained,    18   a.    75. 

A.  S.  hdtan,  to  command,  ordain  ; 

pp.  hdten  ;   Icel.  heita,  to  promise, 

pp.   heiti^S ;    Moeso-Goth.   haitan, 

pp.   haitans.     The   pp.   was   con- 
fused with  the  pt.  t.  ic  heht. 
Yif,  imp.  s.  give,   19.  562.     A.S. 

gifan,  to  give ;  imp.  s.  gif, 
Ykend,  pp.   engendered,    9.    238. 

A.  S.    cennan,    to    beget,   pp.   ge- 

cenned. 
Y-knau)?,  pr.  s.  knows,  9.  22  ;  pp. 

Yknowe,  known,  19.  314.     A.S. 

cnawan,     gecnawan,     to     know, 

Moeso-Goth.  gakunnan. 
Ykuenct,    pp.    quenched,    9.    67. 

A.  S.    cwencan,   to    quench  ;     pp. 

cwuncen. 
Ylaste,    pt.    s.    lasted,    i    a.    96. 

A.  S.  gd<xstan,  to   last ;   pt.  t.  ic 

gelceste. 

Yleft,  pp.  left  off,  18  a.  190. 
Ylent,    pp.    approached,    arrived  ; 

ylent  me  on  =  come  upon  me,  4  a. 

28.       A.S.    gelandian,    to    land, 

arrive,  pp.  gelanded ;  hence  ylent 

is  for  ylanded. 
Ylered,  pp.  taught,  3.   69.     A.S. 

leer  an,     to     teach  ;     pp.     leered, 

gclcered. 


Yleue,  I  p.  s.  pr.  believe,  9.  243. 

A.  S. geledfan,gelyfan,  G.  glauben, 

Du.  gelooven,  to  believe. 
Ylle,  sb.  ill,  malice,  5.  5660.     Icel. 

illr,  adj.  evil,  bad. 
Y-lokked,  pp.  locked  in,  14  c.  44. 
Ylome,    adv.    frequently,    3.    72. 

A.  S.  geldme,  often. 
Ylondes,  sb.pl.  islands,  18  a.  94. 

A.S.  igland,  an  Hand,  now  mis- 
spelt island,  from  confusion  with 

isle  from  Lat.  insula. 
Y-lore,  pp.  lost,   5.   5788.     A.S. 

ledsan,  to  lose  ;  pp.  loren  ;  cf.  E. 

lorn,  forlorn. 
Ylyche,    adj.    like,   3.    319  ;    pi. 

Ylyche,    similar,    9.    179.       A.S. 

gelic,  Moeso-Goth.  galeiki,  like. 
Ymaked,    pp.    made,    I    6.    58  ; 

Ymake  (a  very  unusual  form)  4  a. 

16;     Ymad,    I  a.    10;     9.    93; 

Ymaad,    19.  693.     A.  S.   macian, 

gemacian,  to   make,   pp.  macod, 

gemacod. 
Ymarled,  pp.  covered  with  marl, 

1 8  a.  27.     Du.  mergel,  marl. 
Ymelled,  pp.  mixed,    18  a.    152. 

O. F.  mesler,  to  mix;   from  Low 

Lat.  misculare,  Lat.  miscere. 
Y-mengd,  pp.  mingled,  mixed,  6. 

43.     A.  S.  mengian,  to  mix  ;  pp. 

gemengde,  gemenged. 
Ynemned,    pp.    named,    9.    122. 

A.  S.     nemnan,     genemnian,      to 

name;     pp.    nemned,    genemned; 

cf.    Moeso-Goth.     ganamjan,     to 

give  a  name  to. 

Ynkurly,  adv.  entirely,  16.  183. 
Ynne,  adv.  in,  3.  79.     A.  S.  innan, 

within. 
Ynoh,  adv.  enough,  3.  115;   40. 

13 ;  Ynou,   la.  73 ;  Ynou3,   I  b. 

4;   Ynow,  14  c.  29;    18  a.  157. 

A.  S.  genok,  G.  genug,  enough. 
Ynowe,  adj.  pi.  enough,  i  a.  151 ; 

Ynow,    19.    255.       Mceso-Goth. 

ganohs,  adj.  sufficient ;  A.S.genuh, 

adj.  sufficient.  (Grein.) 
Yod,  pt.  s.    went,   86.    221 ;    pi. 


486 


GLOSS ARIAL   INDEX. 


Yode,  walked,  went  afoot,  7.  53. 

See  YKode,  Yede. 
Yond,   adj.  yon,  yonder,   7-57; 

adv.    yonder,     12.    263.       A.  S. 

geond,  adv.  beyond  ;  Moeso-Goth. 
joins,  G.jener,  D.jene,  that  one; 

and  see  3one. 
Yore,  adv.   of  old,   formerly,    19. 

272.     A.  S.  geara,  formerly. 
Youre,  apparently  for  Yeare,  ear, 

9-75- 
Yowthe,  sb.  youth,  19.  163.     A.  S. 


Yprayed,  pp.  prayed,  asked,  18  b. 

133- 

Yprimisined,  pp.  marked  for  the 
first  time  with  the  sign  of  the 
cross,  6.  142.  O.  F.  primseigner, 
to  sign  with  the  cross  for  the  first 
time  ;  Lat.  primus,  first,  signare, 
to  sign.  See  Ormulum,  1.  18143. 

Y-pyned,  pp.  tormented,  9.  70  ; 
crucified,  9.  239.  A.  S.  pinan,  to 
torment,  pp.  pined. 

Yre,  sb.  iron,  18  a.  50.  A.S.  iren, 
isen,  G.  eisen. 

Yrokked,  pp.  rocked,  iSa.  170. 

Yschape,  pp.  shaped,  turned,  18  a. 
1  1  8.  A.S.  sceapan,  scapan,  to 
shape  ;  pp.  sceapen,  gesceapen. 

Yschaue,  pp.  shaven,  18  b.  66. 

Yschette,  pp.  shut,  19.  560.  A.  S. 
scyttan,  to  shut. 

Yschore,  pp.  shorn,  18  b.  67. 
A.  S.  sceran,  to  shear  ;  pp.  scoren, 
gescoren. 

Yse,  dot.  sing,  of  Ys,  ice,  6.  33. 
A.  S.  is,  G.  eis,  Du.  tjs. 

Yse,  v.  to  see,  i  a.  283  ;  pt.  s. 
Ysey,  saw,  i  a.  49  ;  i  p.  Yzej,  I 
saw,  9.  60  ;  2  p.  Yse3e  J?e  =  thou 
sawest  for  thyself,  9.  54;  pp. 
Yseye,  seen,  18  a.  90  ;  Ysoje,  9. 
34.  A.  S.  geseon,  to  see,  pt.  t.  ic 
gesedh,  or  ic  geseh  ;  pp.  gesegen. 

Y-sent,  pp.  sent,  18  b.  56,  98. 

Yset,  pp.  set;  yset  op  =  set  up, 
186.  i. 

Yslawe,  pp.  slain,  18  b.  131;  19. 


484.     A.  S.  sledn,    to   smite,    pp. 

degen,  geslagen. 
Ysnyt,  pp.  cleaned,  wiped,  i  b.  91. 

A.  S.  snytan,  to  clean  the  nose  or 

snout. 
Ysode,/>/>.  boiled,  18  a.  103.   A.S. 

seoftan,  to  seethe,  pp.  soden,  ge- 

soden,  sodden. 
Ysoht,  pp.  sought,   3.    27.     A.S. 

secan,  to  seek ;  pp.  gesoht. 
Ysoje,  pp.  seen,  9.  34.     See  Yse. 
Yspoused,  pp.  espoused,  18  b.  4. 
Yspronge,  pp.  sprinkled,  18  a.  92. 

A.  S.  springan,  to  spring,  spread 

out,  pp.  sprungen ;    sprengan,  to 

sprinkle,     pp.     sprenged.        The 

former  form  is  here  followed. 
Ysseawed,    pp,    shewed,    shewn, 

revealed,  9.  145.     A.  S.  scedwian, 

gescedwian,  to  shew,  pp.  scedwod, 

gescedwod. 
Ystyked,#>.  stuck,  pierced,  iSb. 

127. 

Yswore,  pp.  sworn,  186.  73. 
Ytaryed,  pp.  tarried,  18  b.  36. 
Ytake,  pp.  taken,  19.  556. 
Ytajt,  pp.   taught,  9.   150.     A.S. 

t<Ecan,  get<Bcant    to    teach ;    pp. 

taht,  getceht. 
Ytend,  pp.  kindled,  1 8  a.  34.   A.  S. 

tendan,  to  kindle. 

Ytold,    pp.    told,    I  a.    246;    ac- 
counted, 3.  119;  esteemed,  i8ct. 

174.      A.S.   tellan,   to   tell;    pp. 

geteald. 
Ytornd,  pp.  turned,  18  b.  104.     F. 

tourner,  to  turn. 
Yj^ez,  sb.  pi.  waves,  13.  430.     A.  S. 

>$,  y%u,  a  wave. 
Y-j?orsse,  pp.   struck,   blinded,   9. 

III.      A.S.    \>erscan,   to    thresh, 

beat ;  pp.  fyorscen. 
Yuele,  sb.  evil,  sickness,  illhealth, 

17.  Mar.  ii.  17;  pi.  Yuels,  evils, 

ills,  10.  691. 
Yuej),  imp.  pi.  give  ye,  9.  74.  Read 

yiue\. 
Yvsed,  pp.   F.   used,    18  a.    175. 

Lat.  uti,  to  use. 


GLOSS  A  RIAL  INDEX. 


487 


Ywis,   adv.    certainly,    I    a.    207, 

287.      A.  S.  geivis,    adj.    certain 

(Grein)  ;  Du.  gewis,  adj.  certain  ; 

Du.   gewis,  G.  gewiss,  adv.  cer- 
tainly. 
Ywoned,  pp.    accustomed,    wont, 

1 8  a.  1 86.  A.S.  wunian,  to  dwell, 

remain,  pp.  wvnod;  gewunian,  to 

dwell,    to    be    accustomed,    pp. 

gewunod;    whence   E.  wont  (for 

waned}.     See  Wunt. 
Y-wor]?e,   imp.  s.  3  p.   may   (it) 

become,  may  (it)  come  to  pass,  9. 

228.     A.S.  weor^San,  G.  werden, 

to  come  to  pass. 
Ywryte,    pp.    written,     9.     199  ; 

Ywriten,  19.  191.     A.S.  writan, 

gewritan,  to  write ;    pp.   writen, 

gewriten. 
Ywys,  adv.  certainly,  15.  iii.  101. 

See  Ywis. 
Ywyte)>,  imp.pl.  know  ye,  9.  3. 

A.  S.   witan,  gewitan,  to  wit,  to 

know.     See  Wite,  to  know. 
Yjen,  sb.  pi.  eyes,  5.  5614,  5886. 

A.  S.  edge,  pi.  edgan. 
Yjeue,  pp.  given,   3.   101.     A.S. 

gv/an,  to  give  ;  pp.  gifen. 
Yzes,  i  p.  s.  pt.  I  saw,  9.  72.    See 

Yse. 
Y-3yrned,  pp.  desired,  longed  for, 

4  a.  40.     A.  S.  geornian,  to  yearn 

for. 
Yzed,  />/».  said,  9.  196.  A.  S.  secgan, 

to  say  ;  pp.  gesced. 
Yzi,  v.  to  see,    9.    127;    Yzy,   9. 

142  ;  pt.  pi.  Yzejen,  saw,  9.  135  ; 

/>/>.  Ysoje,  seen,  9.  34 ;  Yzoje,  9. 

95.     See  Yse. 


3  at  the  beginning  of  words  is 
sounded  like  Y,  and  is  convertible 
with  it. 

3a,  adv.  yes,  12.  268.  A.S.  gea, 
G.  Du.  and  Mceso-Goth.  ja. 

3af,  pt.  s.  gave,  i  a.  88;  15.  »i. 
198.  See  Gaf. 


3al,  />/.  s.  yelled,  i  b.  83.  A.S. 
gyllan,  giellan,  to  yell ;  pt.  t.  ic 
gyllede ;  Du.  gillen,  to  scream, 
G.  gellcn,  to  make  a  shrill  noise. 

3ald,  />/.  s.  yielded  ;  hence,  returned, 
1 6.  117.  See  Yald. 

Bare,  adj.  yare,  ready,  I  a.  55.  See 
Yare. 

Jarkede,  pt.pl.  prepared,  i  a.  92. 
A.  S.  gearcian,  to  prepare,  make 
yare  or  ready.  See  Yare. 

Jarm,  sb.  cry,  13.  971.  W.  garni, 
shout,  outcry. 

3arnand,  pres.  part,  yearning,  seek- 
ing, 1 6.  II.  See  Yherninges. 

3ate,  sb.  gate,  5.  5604,  5909  ;  14  b. 
II ;  pi.  Jates,  18  a.  85.  See 
Yates. 

3aue.     See  3yue. 

3e,  adv.  yea,  I  a.  380;  5.  5793; 
J3-  347-  See  3a,  and  Ye. 

Je,  pron.  ye,  i  a.  2  ;  6.  119.     A.  S. 

#*• 

3e  =  he,  6.  98. 

3edde,  v.  to  play,  sing,  15.  i.  138. 
A.  S.  giddian,  to  sing,  gidd,  a 
song ;  Chaucer  has  yeddinges. 

3ede,  pt.  s.  went,  5.  5710,  5716; 
pt.pl.  3ede,  went,  5.  5777.  See 
Yede. 

3ederly,  adv.  quickly,  soon,  13. 
463.  A.  S.  edre,  quickly. 

3ef,  conj.  if,  3.  66;  6.  41.  See 
Yef. 

3ef,  pt.  s.  gave,  I  a.  43 ;  4  c.  55  ; 
6.  8 1.  See  3af  and  3eue. 

3eid,  />/.  />/.  went,  16.  149.  See 
Yede. 

3elde,  v.  to  render,  5.  5640;  to  yield, 
requite,  12.  321 ;  pr.  s.  3eldes,  re- 
turns, 12.  234;  pr.pl.  3elden, 
pay,  14  c.  6 1 ;  pt.  s.  3elde,  repaid, 
17.  Ps.  cii.  10;  pr.s.subj.  3eld, 
requite,  12.  319.  See  Yald. 

3eldingus,  sb.  pi*  (lit.  yitldings), 
repayings,  17.  Ps.  cii.  2.  Vulg. 
retributiones.  See  Yiieldinges. 

3eme,  sb.  heed,  i  ft.  29 ;  6.  88. 
A.  S.gymen,  heed,  care.  SeeYem. 


488 


GLOSSAR1AL   INDEX. 


Jerae,  v.  to  take  care  of,  12.  91  ; 

pt.  s.  %emed,   took   care   or,    13. 

464.    See  Yem. 
3eorne,  adv.   earnestly,    diligently, 

3.  27;  eagerly,  15.  vii.  288.     Cf. 

E.  yearn ;  G.  gern,  willingly.    See 

below. 
3eorne,    2   p.  s.  pr.   subj.   mayest 

yearn,   15.  i.  33.     A.  S.  geornian, 

to  yearn  for.     See  Yherninges. 
Jerd,   sb.  a  staff,  17.  Mar.  vi.   8; 

Jerde,  a  yard-wand,  a  wand,  20. 

91.     A.  S.  gyrd,  a  rod,  a  yard. 
3er,  s6.  year,  i  a.  193 ;  3ere,  6.  32  ; 

dat.  s.  3ere,  I  a.  192  ;  pi.  Jer,  15. 

v.  122.     See  Yere. 
3erne,  v.  S.  to  yearn  for,  wish  for, 

desire  to  have,  12.  58;  Jern,  i8a. 

74.     See  3eorne,  vb. 
3erne,  adv.  earnestly,  eagerly,  I  a. 

200;   3.  15;   vigorously,  15.  vii. 

302.     See  3eorne,  adv. 
3et,  adv.  yet,  6.  127;  moreover,  6. 

99;  still,  4c.  14. 
3eue,  v.  to  give,  surrender  (oneself), 

apply  (oneself),  12.  324;  to  give, 

6     101 ;    pr.  s.  3eueJ7,   gives,    3. 

147 ;  pt.  pi.  3eue,  gave,   I  b.  44 ; 

pp.  3ouen,  17.  Mar.  iv.  II  ;  imp. 

pi.   3eue>,   give,   5.  5917.     A.  S. 

gifan,  to  give,  Du.  geven,  G.  geben. 
3ha,  adv.  yea,  16.  181.     See  3a. 
3he,  put  for  zhe  =  she,  12.  119. 
3if,  cow/.  S.  if,  I  a.  23  ;  6.  71.  A.S. 

gifiif.     SeeYef. 
3iftus,  «&./>/.  gifts,  15.  i.  101. 
3iue,  v.  give,  i  a.  362  ;  pt.  s.  Jif, 

gave,  6.  78.     See  3eue. 
3o,  adv.  yea,  5.  5906.     See  3a. 
3ole,/>ro/>.  name,  5.  5789,  5792. 
3omerly,    adj.    doleful,    13.    971. 

A.  S.    geomor,     sad,     geomorlic, 

doleful;    Prov.    E.   yammer,    to 

howl. 
3one,  pron.  yonder  one,  that  man, 

5-  5893-     Moeso-Goth.^'ams,  that 

one,    G.  jener,   that.     It    existed 

also  in  A.S.  (though  not  in  the 


Dictionaries)  ;  see  Preface  to 
Gregory's  Pastoral  Care,  ed. 
Sweet,  p.  vii. 

3ong,  adj.  young,  3.  ,  45  ;  def. 
3onge,  I  a.  423  ;  comp.  3ongore, 
I  a.  505  ;  superl.  3ongost,  i  a. 
299;  3ong°ste»  I  o.  507.  A.S. 
geong,  G.  Jung,  Mceso-Goth. 


3ore,  adv.  long   since,  for   a   long 

time  since,  4  a.  40  ;  long  ago,  4  c. 

59.     See  Yore. 
3ou,  pron.  dat.  pi.  you,   la.  119; 

6.  8.     A.  S.  ge,  ye  ;  cow,  you. 
3onen,  pp.  given,   17.  Mar.  iv.  II. 

See  3eue,  3yue. 
3oure,  pron.  your,  i  a.  101,  102, 

104.     A.  S.  eower,  of  you. 
3oube,  sb.  youth,  3.  41;   12.  117; 

20.  122,  342.     A.S.  geogn^S. 
3ouun,  pp.  given,    17.  Mar.  vi.   2. 

See  3eue. 
3ow,  pron.    you,    5.    5598,    5917. 

See  3ou. 
3ude,  pt.   s.    went,    1  6.    36.      See 

Yede. 
3us,    adv.    yes,    15.    v.    103.      3US 

answers     a     question    containing 

negatives,  or  else  signifies  a  very 

strong    affirmation  ;    the    weaker 

form  is  3©>  5a>  or  3°- 
3ut,  adv.  still,   I  a,   7,  8  ;  yet,  I  a. 

169;    3ute»   sti^»   !   fl-   220;    3"t 

nou  =  still,  I  b.  5.    A.  S.  gyt,  gyta, 

yet. 
$yf,  co«;.  if,  5.  5602,  5612;  6.  43. 

See  3if,  Yef  . 
3yft,  sb.  a  gift,  5.  5602,  5626  ;  pi. 

3iftus,    gifts,    15.    i.    101.       A.S. 

gyft,  a  gift. 
3yrnden,  pt.  pi.   coveted,    desired, 

4  c.  58.     See  3eorne,  vb. 
3yt,  eo«/'.  yet,  5.  5659  ;  arfv.  yet,  5. 

5883.     See  3ut. 
3yue,  v.  to  give,   5.  5602,  5759; 

pt.  s.  3aue,  5.  5659  ;  pt.  s.   2  p. 

3aue,  5.  5736,  5737.     See  3eue. 


490  NOTE   ON  THE   GLOSS  A  RIAL   INDEX. 

municated  by  Mr.  Goodchild,  of  Penrith,  may  suffice  to  show  the  nature  of 
such  illustrations. 

Darked.  To  dark  is  still  used  in  Swaledale  (Yorkshire)  in  the  sense  of 
to  lie  hid,  as  '  Te  rattens  [rats]  mun  ha  bin  darTdn  whel  nu  [till  now]  ;  we 
hannot  heerd  tern  tis  last  fortnith.'  A  horse  that  shies  is  said  to  dark. 
Darkin  also  means  peeping,  or  sly. 

Desselic.  Dess  is  common  in  Swaledale  in  the  sense  of  to  pack  tight  or 
fit  closely  together.  Possibly  the  word  desselic  (p.  70,  1.  34),  which  is  the 
reading  of  two  MSS.,  may  mean  crowded  together,  or  gathered  closely 
together.  Cf.  Icel.  hey-des,  a  hay-stack,  W.  das,  a  stack,  dasu,  to  stack. 

Flytande.  Flite,  to  scold,  is  common  in  Swaledale.  This  word,  how- 
ever, is  not  uncommon  elsewhere. 

Foute.     A  dog  that  scents  a  hare  is  said,  in  Swaledale,  to  J out  it. 

Peyneble.  In  Swaledale,  the  word  generally  means  suitable  rather  than 
painstaking.  Ex.  '  T'  joiner 's  vara  unpanible,  we  's  hae  to  git  anuther.' 

Rayke.  In  Swaledale,  sheep  or  cattle  are  said  to  raik  when  they  extend 
themselves  into  a  line. 

Saccles.  In  Swaledale,  it  means  rather  inoffensive  than  innocent.  'When 
one  of  my  hawks  was  ill  at  Keld,  after  a  fit  of  spitefulness,  a  lad  who  was 
looking  at  it  remarked  that  "  it  leuked  vara  sackless  uu." ' 


ADDITIONS   TO   THE   GLOSSARY. 

The  following  explanations  may  be  added. 

Clause,  sb.  sentence,  19.  251. 

Held,  pp.  exalted,  lit.  made  high,  7.  126. 

Bight,  adj.  true,  140.  78,  80. 

Rise,  v.  to  have  the  upper  hand,  get  its  way,  lit.  rise,  7.  177.  We  can 
hardly  take  it  to  mean  'succeed,'  as  if  connected  with  the  A.S.  gensan,  to 
suit,  fit,  as  that  is  commonly  an  impersonal  verb,  and  seems  not  to  occur  sc 
late  as  at  this  date. 


GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


489 


Z  is  put  for  S  at  the  beginning 
of  many  words  in  Section  IX.  A 
similar  substitution  is  common  in 
Dutch. 

Zalmes,  sb.  pi.  psalms,  9.  78. 
Zang,  sb.  song,  9.  160.     A.  S.  sang, 

Du.  zang, 
Zaulen,  sb.  pi.  souls,  9.  50.     A.  S. 

sdwel,  soul,  Du.  ziel. 
Zay,  imp.  s.  say,  tell,  9.  95  ;  pr.  s. 

Zayf>,  says,  9.  2,  39. 
Zelue,  a$.  self,  very,  9.  15.     A.  S. 

sy//,  Du.  zelf. 
Zenne,  sb.  sin,  9.  30  ;  />/.  Zennen, 

9.  47.     A.  S.  syn,  sin,  Du.  zonde. 
Zent,    />r.  s.    sends     (contr.     from 

Zendeb),  9.  25.    A.  S.  sendan,  Du. 


Zette,  />/.  s.  set,  9.  21.     A.  S.  settan, 

Du.  zetfera,  to  set. 
Zeueuald,  sevenfold,  9.  170.    A.  S. 

seofonfald,  Du.  zevenvoudig. 
Zigge,  v.  to  say  (to  zigge  is  properly 

the  gerund),  9.  8.     A.  S.  secgan, 

to  say,  Du.  zeggen. 
Zigbe,    s6.    sight,   9.    129.      A.S. 

gesiht,  gesikft,  sight  ;  Du.  zzg7. 
Zikere,  adj.pl.  secure,  safe,  9.  171. 

Du.  zeker,  safe.     See  Siker. 
Zitte,  v.  to  sit,  9.  27;  pr.  s.  (con- 

tracted form),  Zit,  sitteth,  sits,  9. 


242.     A.S.  sittan,  Du.  zt'tfm,  to 

sit. 
Zofthede,    sb.    softness,    9.    155. 

A.  S.  soft  or  seft,  Du.  zacht. 
Zomdel,  sb.  some  deal,  i.  e.  partly, 

9.  172. 

Zom)>yng,  s&.  something,  9.  106. 
Zone,  s6.  son,  9.  124.     A.  S.  sunu, 

Du.  zoon. 
Zorje,  s6.  sorrow,  9.  57.   A.  S.  sor/t, 

Du.  zorg. 
Zostren,  sb.  pi.  sisters,  9.  74.    A.  S. 

sweostor,  Du.  zuster. 
Zobe,  s6.  sooth,  truth,  9.  1 1.     A.S. 

srfS. 
Zuo,  arfv.  so,  9.  29;  zuo  by  hit  = 

so  be  it,  9.  226.     A.S.  swd,  Du. 

zoo. 
Zuord,   s6.   sword,    9.    84.      A.S. 

sweord,  Du.  zwaard. 
Zuyche,  ac??'.  such,  9.  203.     A.S. 

swylc,  Du.  zz^/^,  such. 
Zuyfte,  adj.pl.  swift,  9.  201.  A.  S. 

swift. 
Zyenne,  gerund;    to    zyenne  =  to 

see,  to  look  upon,  9.  117.     A.S. 

seon,  to  see ;  gerund,  to  sedntie. 
Zyke,  adj.pl.  sick,  9.  139.     A.S. 

seoc,  Du.  ziek. 
Zykere,  adj.  pi.  secure,  certain,  9. 

203.    See  Siker. 
Zyfe,  sb.pl.  times,  9.  71.  A.S.  sift, 

a  time.     See  Sife. 
ZyjJ^e,    s6.    sight,    9.    ill.      See 

ZigJ>e. 


NOTE   ON   THE   GLOSSARIAL  INDEX. 


IT  does  not  fall  within  the  scope  of  this  present  work  to  illustrate  the  use 
of  the  old  English  words  in  this  Glossary  by  reference  to  provincial  English 
words  that  are  still  extant ;  since  such  illustration  might  easily  be  carried  out 
to  an  extent  which  would  unreasonably  increase  the  size  of  the  volume. 
The  following  remarks  upon  certain  words,  taken  from  notes  kindly  com- 
VOL.  II.  K  k 


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Concise  Etymological  Dictionary,  by  w.  w.  SKEAT. 

A  new  edition  (1901),  rewritten  throughout  and  arranged  alpha- 
betically. Crown  8vo,  6T6  pp.  5s.  6d. 

Saturday  Review : — *  Mr.  Skeat's  larger  dictionary  has  estab- 
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dictionary  we  can  only  say  that  it  is  not  less  useful  and  valuable.' 

Student's  Dictionary  of  Anglo-Saxon,  by  H.  SWEET. 

Small  4to.    233  pp.,  printed  in  3  columns.     8s.  6d.  net. 

Notes  and  Queries: — 'For  the  purpose  of  the  student,  no 
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the  light.' 

Concise   Dictionary  of  Middle   English,  from 

A.D.  1150  to  A.D.  1580 ;  intended  to  be  used  as  a  glossary  to  the 
Clarendon  Press  Specimens  of  English  Literature,  etc. ;  by 
A.  L.  MAYHEW  and  W.  W.  SKEAT.  Crown  8vo.  7s.  6d. 

Dr.  Sweet's  Grammars 

New  English  Grammar,  logical  and  historical,  in  two 
parts,  sold  separately :  Part  I,  Introduction,  Phonology  and 
Accidence,  crown  8vo,  second  edition,  523  pp.,  10s.  6d.  Part  II, 
Syntax,  crown  8vo,  second  edition,  146  pp.,  3s.  6d. 

School  World:— *  As  an  English  grammar  the  book  is  of  high 
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its  clearness  and  careful  style  make  it  as  readable  to  the  literary 
man  as  to  the  grammatical  student.' 

Short  Historical  English  Grammar.   272  PP.,  4s.  ed. 

Guardian:—'  In  the  best  sense  of  the  word  a  scholarly  book 
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on  the  teaching  of  English.' 

Educational  Times :— '  Excellent  in  every  way.' 

Primer  of  Historical  English  Grammar,  including 

History  of  English,  Phonology,  Accidence,  Composition,  and 
Derivation,  with  Specimens  of  Old,  Middle,  and  Modern  English 
added.     120  pp.     2s. 
I,  Oooo  * 


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Anglo-Saxon  Primer.  With  grammar  and  glossary. 
Eighth  edition.  126  pp.  2s.  6'd. 

Anglo-Saxon  Reader,  in  prose  and  verse.  With  grammar, 
metre,  notes,  and  glossary.  Seventh  edition,  revised  and 
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A  Second  Anglo-Saxon  Reader, archaic  and  dialectal, 
220  pp.  4s.  6d. 

Old  English  Reading  Primers,  being  supplements  to 

the  Anglo-Saxon  Readers. 

I :    Selected  Homilies  of  ^Elfric.     Second  edition.    2s. 
II  :    Extracts  from  Alfred's  Orosius.    Second  edition.    2s. 

First  Middle  English  Primer,  with  grammar  and 
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Chaucer,  with  grammar  and  glossary.    Second  edition.    2s.  6d. 

Primer  Of  Phonetics.     Second  edition  (1903).  3s.  6d. 

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Primer  Of  Spoken  English.     Second  ed.  revised.   3s.  6d. 


A  Book  for  the  Beginner  in  Anglo-Saxon. 

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A  Primer  of  English  Etymology.  By  w.  w.  SKEAT. 

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Laurence  Minot's  Poems,  edited  by  J.  HALT,  Second 
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Gospel  of  St.  Luke  in  Anglo-Saxon,  edited  by 

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8 


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