COLYN CLOUTE.

“Fye onthis worlde, full of trechery.”

——flode] i. e. flood.

v. 2585.Ensordyd] Could only, I presume, mean—defiled: but qy., as the context seems to require, “Ensorbyd,” i. e. sucked in, swallowed?

——wawys] i. e. waves.

——wode] i. e. mad, raging.

v. 2586.brast] i. e. burst,—break.

v. 2588.hym] Must be an error of the press for “hymselfe;” compare v. 2581.

v. 2590.syttynge] i. e. proper, becoming.

v. 2591.ryalte] i. e. royalty.

v. 2593.indeuer] i. e. endure, continue, dwell.

This powerful and original poem must have been circulated in MS., probably for a considerable time, before it was given to the press; for from a passage towards the conclusion, v. 1239, we learn that those against whom its satire was directed would not “suffer it to be printed.” InColyn ClouteSkelton appears to have commenced his attacks on Wolsey.

“I could never conceive, Mr. Warton, to what Drayton alludes, in the preface to his Eclogues, where he says, that ‘the Colin Clout ofScogan, under Henry the seventh, is pretty.’ He is speaking of pastoral poetry; and adds, that ‘Barklays ship of fools hath twenty wiser in it.’ You somewhere say [Hist. of E. P.iii. 76, note, ed. 4to], ‘he must meanSkelton;’ but whatPASTORALdidHEwrite?” Ritson’sObs. on Warton’s Hist. of E. P., p. 20 (note); see too hisBibl. Poet., p. 99. I believe that Drayton did mean Skelton.Colyn Clouteis surely as much apastoralas Barclay’sShip of Fooles,—as much perhaps as even Barclay’sEgloges.

——Quis consurget mecum, &c.]Vulg. Psal.xciii. 16, where “Quis consurgetmihi,” &c.

——Nemo, Domine]Id. Joan. viii. 11.

Page 311. v. 1.

What can it auayleTo dryue forth a snayle]

What can it auayle

To dryue forth a snayle]

So inGentylnes and Nobylyte, n. d. (attributed without grounds to Heywood);

“In effect it shall no moreauayleThan with a whypto dryfe a snayle.”Sig. C ii.

“In effect it shall no moreauayleThan with a whypto dryfe a snayle.”

“In effect it shall no moreauayle

Than with a whypto dryfe a snayle.”

Sig. C ii.

Page 311. v. 9.bokes] i. e. books.

Page 312. v. 20.He pryeth and he peketh] See note, p. 244. v. 667. So Gascoigne;

“That otherpries and peekesin euerie place.”The Steele Glasse, fol. 301,—Workes, ed. 1587.

“That otherpries and peekesin euerie place.”

The Steele Glasse, fol. 301,—Workes, ed. 1587.

v. 28.fole] i. e. fool.

v. 29.scole] i. e. school.

v. 30.a thre foted stole] i. e. a three-footed stool.

v. 36.The deuyll, they say, is dede] Heywood has six Epigrams on this proverbial expression,—Workes, sig. N 2. ed. 1598. Ray gives, “Heigh ho,the Devil is dead.”Proverbs, p. 55. ed. 1768.

Page 313, v. 51.connyng bagge] i. e. bag, store, of knowledge or learning.

v. 52.hagge] See note, p. 99. v. 19.

v. 53.though my ryme be ragged] So Sir D. Lyndsay; “my ruralraggitvers.”Prol. to Monarchie,—Works, ii. 330. ed. Chalmers; and Spenser, “Myragged rimes.”F. Queene, i. xii. 23.

v. 54.iagged] See note, p. 163. v. 124.

v. 56.moughte eaten] i. e. moth-eaten.

v. 66.blother] i. e. gabble.

v. 67.The tone agayng] i. e. The one against.

v. 68.shoder] i. e. shudder.

v. 69.hoder moder] i. e. hugger-mugger.

Page 314. v. 70.faute] i. e. fault.

v. 71.ben so haut] i. e. be so haughty.

v. 72.loke] i. e. look.

v. 77.sely] i. e. silly, simple, harmless.

v. 79.wull] i. e. wool.

v. 80.Vnethes] i. e. Scarcely.

v. 82.connynge] i. e. knowledge, learning.

v. 83,A glommynge] i. e. A glumming, a looking gloomy, sour.

——a mummynge] Compare our author elsewhere;

“Men of suche maters make but amummynge.”Garlande of Laurell, v. 200. vol. i. 370.

“Men of suche maters make but amummynge.”

Garlande of Laurell, v. 200. vol. i. 370.

“Thhere was amonge them no worde then butmum.”Id. v. 1118. p. 406.

“Thhere was amonge them no worde then butmum.”

Id. v. 1118. p. 406.

“But play scylens and glum,Can say nothynge butmum.”v. 906 of the present poem.

“But play scylens and glum,Can say nothynge butmum.”

“But play scylens and glum,

Can say nothynge butmum.”

v. 906 of the present poem.

v. 84.iape] i. e. jest, joke.

v. 87.hole] i. e. whole.

Page 314. v. 89.the forked cap] i. e. the mitre.

“No wise man is desirous to obtayneThe forked cappewithout he worthy be.”Barclay’sShip of Fooles, fol. 236. ed. 1570.

“No wise man is desirous to obtayneThe forked cappewithout he worthy be.”

“No wise man is desirous to obtayne

The forked cappewithout he worthy be.”

Barclay’sShip of Fooles, fol. 236. ed. 1570.

v. 90.to lewd] i. e. too wicked, vile.

v. 91.all beshrewd] i. e. altogether cursed.

v. 99.For other mennes skyll]—skyll, i. e. reason: the line seems to mean—Notwithstanding other men’s reasons.

Page 315. v. 107.solfa so alamyre]—alamireis the lowest note but one in Guido Aretine’s scale of music: Gayton, in hisNotes upon Don Quixote, 1654, says (metaphorically) that Maritornes “plaid her part so wel, that she run through all the keyes fromA-la-mi-reto double Gammut,” &c. p. 83.

v. 108.premenyre] i. e. præmunire.

v. 115.heedes] i. e. heads.

v. 119.warke] i. e. work.

Page 316. v. 137.

A great parte is for slouth,But the greattest parteIs for they haue but small arteAnd ryght sklender connyngWithin theyr heedes wonnyng]

A great parte is for slouth,

But the greattest parte

Is for they haue but small arte

And ryght sklender connyng

Within theyr heedes wonnyng]

——sklender connyng, i. e. slender knowledge, learning:wonnyng, i. e. dwelling. The meaning of the passage is—a great part of this is owing to their laziness, but it is chiefly to be attributed to their ignorance, &c.

Page 317. v. 151.werkes] i. e. works.

v. 152.Ure] i. e. Urias.

v. 154.werryn] i. e. hinder, ward off.

v. 159.heery] i. e. hairy.

v. 160.Set nought by] i. e. Value not.

——ne] i. e. nor.

v. 162.mell] i. e. meddle.

v. 163.

loth to hang the bellAboute the cattes necke]

loth to hang the bell

Aboute the cattes necke]

So Heywood;

“And I willhang the bell about the cats necke:For I will first breake and ieoperd the first checke.”Dialogue, &c.sig. D 3,—Workes, ed. 1598.

“And I willhang the bell about the cats necke:For I will first breake and ieoperd the first checke.”

“And I willhang the bell about the cats necke:

For I will first breake and ieoperd the first checke.”

Dialogue, &c.sig. D 3,—Workes, ed. 1598.

SeePierce Plowman, where one of the rats proposes that a bell should be hung about the cat’s neck. Sig. A iii. ed. 1561; and Ray’sProverbs, p. 85. ed. 1768.

Page 317. v. 166.to play deuz decke] An allusion, I suppose, to some game.

v. 167.for the becke] i. e. to obey the nod of command.

v. 169.Moche herted] i. e. Much hearted.

v. 178.combred] i. e. encumbered.

Page 318. v. 181.Sho the mockysshe mare] So in our author’sWhy come ye nat to Courte;

“AndMockehath lost her shoo.”v. 83. vol. ii. 29.

“AndMockehath lost her shoo.”

v. 83. vol. ii. 29.

v. 182.wynche and keke] i. e. wince and kick.

v. 183.not worth a leke] An expression not uncommon in our early poetry:

“No fallowwourth ane leik.”G. Douglas’sKing Hart,—Pinkerton’sAn.Scot. Poems from Maitl. MSS.i. 42.

“No fallowwourth ane leik.”

G. Douglas’sKing Hart,—Pinkerton’sAn.Scot. Poems from Maitl. MSS.i. 42.

“Such loue I preise notat a leke.”Chaucer’sRom. of the Rose, fol. 130,—Workes, ed. 1602.

“Such loue I preise notat a leke.”

Chaucer’sRom. of the Rose, fol. 130,—Workes, ed. 1602.

v. 190.

Amende whan ye may,For, usque ad montem Sare,Men say ye can not appare]

Amende whan ye may,

For, usque ad montem Sare,

Men say ye can not appare]

—appare, i. e. impair. The meaning of this passage,—in which (as I have already notedad loc.) it seems probable from a comparison of the MS. and the printed copies, that Skelton used the forms “Seire” and “appeire,”—is—Amend when ye may, for it is said by every body, even as far as Mount Seir, that ye cannot be worse than ye are. The Latin words are a quotation from the Vulgate: “Et circuit de Baala contra occidentem,usque ad montem Seir.”Josue, xv. 10.

v. 194.hauke on hobby larkes] See notes, p. 258. v. 1358. p. 262. v. 1582.

v. 195.warkes] i. e. works.

v. 198.The gray gose for to sho] Hoccleve uses this proverbial expression;

“Ye medle of al thyng, ye mootshoo the goos.”Poems, p. 13. ed. 1796.

“Ye medle of al thyng, ye mootshoo the goos.”

Poems, p. 13. ed. 1796.

and Heywood has the following Epigram;

“Of common medlers.”He that medleth with all thing, mayshoe the gosling.If all such medlers were set to goose shoing,No goose need go barefoote betweene this and Greece,For so we should haue as many goose shoers as geese.”Sig. P 2,—Workes, ed. 1598.

“Of common medlers.

”He that medleth with all thing, mayshoe the gosling.If all such medlers were set to goose shoing,No goose need go barefoote betweene this and Greece,For so we should haue as many goose shoers as geese.”

”He that medleth with all thing, mayshoe the gosling.

If all such medlers were set to goose shoing,

No goose need go barefoote betweene this and Greece,

For so we should haue as many goose shoers as geese.”

Sig. P 2,—Workes, ed. 1598.

See also Davies’sScourge of Follie (Prouerbs), n. d. p. 175.

Page 319. v. 209.pranes] i. e. prawns.

v. 211.werynge] i. e. wearing.

v. 213.ne peason] i. e. nor peas.

v. 214.loke to be let lose] i. e. look to be let loose.

v. 215.gose] i. e. goose.

v. 216.

Your gorge not endewedWithout a capon, &c.]

Your gorge not endewed

Without a capon, &c.]

Equivalent to—You not digesting any thing except, &c.: see notes, p. 207. v. 78. and v. 87.

v. 218.a stewed cocke] Compare the following passage in theInterlude of the iiii Elementes, n. d.;

“Tauerner.Though all capons be gone what thanyet I can get youa stewed henThat is redy dyght.Humanyte.yf she be fat yt wyll do well.Tauerner.Fat or lene I cannot tellBut as for this I wot wellShe lay at the stewes all nyght.”Sig. B. vi.

“Tauerner.Though all capons be gone what thanyet I can get youa stewed henThat is redy dyght.

“Tauerner.Though all capons be gone what than

yet I can get youa stewed hen

That is redy dyght.

Humanyte.yf she be fat yt wyll do well.

Tauerner.Fat or lene I cannot tellBut as for this I wot wellShe lay at the stewes all nyght.”

Tauerner.Fat or lene I cannot tell

But as for this I wot well

She lay at the stewes all nyght.”

Sig. B. vi.

v. 219.

To knowe whate ys a clockeVnder her surfled[MS.surfuld]smocke]

To knowe whate ys a clocke

Vnder her surfled[MS.surfuld]smocke]

Compare Heywood’sDialogue, &c.;

“Howbeit suddenly she minded on a day,To pick the chest locke, wherein this bagge lay:...But streight as she had forthwith opened the locke,And look’t in the bagge,what it was a clocke,” &c.Sig. K 3,—Workes, ed. 1598.

“Howbeit suddenly she minded on a day,To pick the chest locke, wherein this bagge lay:...But streight as she had forthwith opened the locke,And look’t in the bagge,what it was a clocke,” &c.

“Howbeit suddenly she minded on a day,

To pick the chest locke, wherein this bagge lay:

...

But streight as she had forthwith opened the locke,

And look’t in the bagge,what it was a clocke,” &c.

Sig. K 3,—Workes, ed. 1598.

In our author’sGarlande of Laurellwe find,

“With burris rowth and bottonssurffillyng[MS.surfullinge].”v. 803. vol. i. 394.

“With burris rowth and bottonssurffillyng[MS.surfullinge].”

v. 803. vol. i. 394.

which is cited (Dict.in v.Surfel) by Richardson, who, after quoting from Gifford that “Tosurphuleorsurfelthe cheeks, is to wash them with mercurial or sulphur water,” &c., adds that Gifford’s “explanation does not extend to the passage from Skelton.” The fact seems to be that Skelton usessurfleforpurfle, i. e. border, embroider: and I may notice that Brathwait, on the other hand, seems to employpurfleforsurfle;

“With painting,purfling, and a face of Art.”A Strappado for the Diuell, 1615. p. 150.

“With painting,purfling, and a face of Art.”

A Strappado for the Diuell, 1615. p. 150.

Page 319. v. 222.

And howe whan ye gyue ordersIn your prouinciall borders,As at Sitientes, &c.]

And howe whan ye gyue orders

In your prouinciall borders,

As at Sitientes, &c.]

Sitientesis the first word of the Introit of the Mass for Passion Sunday (“Sitientes, venite ad aquas, dicit Dominus,” &c.,Isaiahlv. 1). For this note I am indebted to W. Dyce, Esq., who further observes thatSitientesSaturday was of old, and is now abroad, the Saturday before Passion Sunday.

Page 320. v. 233.renne they in euery stede] i. e. run they in every place.

v. 234.nolles] i. e. heads.

v. 239.Pystle] i. e. Epistle.

v. 243.prymes and houres] i. e. the devotions so named.

v. 248.vagabundus] i. e. vagabonds.

v. 251.ale stake] i. e. stake set up before an ale-house by way of sign.

v. 252.welcome hake and make] An expression which I have not elsewhere met with. Ray gives amongNorth Country words, “Tohake, To sneak, or loiter:” in Hunter’sHallam. Gloss.is “Ahakingfellow, an idle loiterer;” and in a song cited by Mr. J. P. Collier (Hist. of Engl. Dram. Poet., ii. 472) from a MS. drama calledMisogonusby T. Richards, we find,—

“With Bes and Nell we love to dwellIn kissinge and inhakinge.”

“With Bes and Nell we love to dwell

In kissinge and inhakinge.”

—makeis common in the sense of—mate, companion.

Page 321. v. 262.stylla] i. e. still.

v. 263.wylla] i. e. will.

v. 264.pekes] See note, p. 129. v. 409.

v. 266.faute] i. e. fault.

v. 267.apposed] i. e. questioned, examined. “He wasapposed, or examyned of his byleue. De religioneappellatus est.” HormanniVulgaria, sig. D ii. ed. 1530.

v. 269.connyng] i. e. knowledge, learning.

Page 322. v. 284.Tom a thrum] See note, p. 189. v. 204.

v. 293.

There shall no clergy apposeA myter nor a crose,But a full purse]—clergy, i. e. erudition.

There shall no clergy appose

A myter nor a crose,

But a full purse]—clergy, i. e. erudition.

“Androgeus by kyng Mynos was sent,For he should profite incleargy,To Athens.”Lydgate’sFall of Prynces, B. I. leaf xii. ed. Wayland.

“Androgeus by kyng Mynos was sent,For he should profite incleargy,To Athens.”

“Androgeus by kyng Mynos was sent,

For he should profite incleargy,

To Athens.”

Lydgate’sFall of Prynces, B. I. leaf xii. ed. Wayland.

—apposeseems to be used in a different sense from that in whichwe have just had it (v. 267), and to be equivalent to—procure:crose, i. e. crosier.

Page 322. v. 299.a hermoniake] A term I am unable to explain.

v. 303.Ouer] i. e. Besides.

——the foresayd laye] i. e. the above-mentioned laity.

v. 305.anker] i. e. anchorite.

v. 310.

To ryde vpon a muleWith golde all betrapped]

To ryde vpon a mule

With golde all betrapped]

Perhaps, as Warton thinks (note onHist. of E. P., ii. 347. ed. 4to), an allusion to Wolsey: afterwards in this poem, the Cardinal appears to be pointed at more plainly.

Page 323. v. 312.purple and paule] An expression which frequently occurs, more particularly in ballad-poetry (considered by Percy and others as equivalent to—purple robe):paule, i. e. pall, rich or fine cloth.

v. 316.Raynes] See note, p. 268. v. 2042.

v. 317.morowes mylke] i. e. morning’s milk.

v. 318.tabertes]Tabards,—jackets or coats, without sleeves, close before and behind, and open at the sides, are still worn by heralds: but those mentioned in the text were longer,—a sort of riding-cloaks. “Tabarda garmêtmâteau.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. lxviii. (Table of Subst.). And see Du Cange’sGloss.in v.Tabartum; Roquefort’sGloss.in v.Tabar; and Strutt’sDress and Habits, &c. ii. 301.

v. 319.Theyr styrops of myxt gold begared]—begared, orbegarded, means—faced, bordered,—adorned. The line, I suspect, (see various readingsad l.) ought to stand,—

“Theyr styropswithgold begared.”

v. 321.moyles] i. e. mules.

v. 323.

What care they though Gil sweate,Or Jacke of the Noke]

What care they though Gil sweate,

Or Jacke of the Noke]

So afterwards, v. 857, the same terms are used to signify the labouring poor of both sexes.Jacke of the Noke, i. e. (I suppose) Jack of the Nook: see “Nocata terræ” in Cowel’sLaw Dictionary, &c. ed. 1727.

v. 325.pore] i. e. poor.

v. 331.farly] i. e. strange.

v. 332.iangle] i. e. babble, chatter.

v. 335.all to-mangle] See note, p. 100. v. 32.

Page 324. v. 337.ascrye] i. e. call out against: see notes, p. 145. v. 903. p. 152. v. 1358.

v. 341.Ware] i. e. Were. (MS. “Was:” see notead loc.)

v. 342.Poules] i. e. Paul’s.

Page 324. v. 346.trones] i. e. thrones.

v. 347.Lyke prynces aquilonis] i. e. Like so many Lucifers.

v. 352.For prestes and for lones]—prestes, i. e. sums in advance. “Prestandloan,” Sir H. Nicolas observes to me, “seem to have been used in nearly, if not precisely, the same sense in the 16th century. Perhaps, strictly,prestmeant a compulsory advance. In fiscal records it has much the meaning ofchargeorimprest.”

v. 356.tonge tayde] i. e. tongue-tied.

v. 360.shrewd] i. e. evil.

v. 362.poollynge] i. e. polling, plundering.

Page 325. v. 365.Ye make monkes to haue the culerage, &c.] A passage which I do not understand: butculerageperhaps has here the meaning which it conveys as the name of an herb, “Arse-smart.Cul-rage.” Cotgrave’sDict.

v. 373.ouerthwarted] Has been explained before (p. 211. v. 230)—cavilled, wrangled: but here it seems to mean—crossly, perversely opposed or controlled.

v. 376.fayne] i. e. glad.

v. 379.corum] i. e. quorum.

v. 388.apostataas] See note, p. 212. v. 290.

Page 326. v. 391.sely nonnes] i. e. silly, simple, harmless nuns.

v. 392.ronnes] i. e. runs.

v. 396.quere] i. e. quire.

v. 397.heuy chere] “Heavy chear, Tristitia, Mœstitia.” Cole’sDict.

v. 399.fucke sayles] So in a copy of verses attributed to Dunbar;

“The dust upskaillis, mony fillok wiihfuk saillis.”Poems, ii. 27. ed. Laing.

“The dust upskaillis, mony fillok wiihfuk saillis.”

Poems, ii. 27. ed. Laing.

and in another by Sir R. Maitland;

“Of fynest camroche thairfuk saillis.”Anc. Scot. Poems from Maitland MSS., ii. 326. ed. Pink.

“Of fynest camroche thairfuk saillis.”

Anc. Scot. Poems from Maitland MSS., ii. 326. ed. Pink.

Focke, a foresail, German. In the Expenses of Sir John Howard, first Duke of Norfolk, we find, “Item, the same day my mastyr paid to the said Clayson, for afukmaste for the said kervelle, iijs.iiijd.”Manners and Household Expenses of England, &c., p. 206. ed. Roxb.

v. 401.shales] See note, p. 97. v. 19.

v. 403.The lay fee people] i. e. the laity: see note, p. 234. v. 267.

v. 404.fawte] i. e. fault.

v. 409.Boke and chalys] i. e. Book and chalice.

Page 327. v. 417.melles] i. e. meddles.

v. 418.tytyuelles] This word occurs not unfrequently, and with some variety of spelling, in our early writers. So Lydgate;

“Tytyuyllestyrauntes with tormentoures.”Le Assemble de dyeus, sig. c i. n. d. 4to.

“Tytyuyllestyrauntes with tormentoures.”

Le Assemble de dyeus, sig. c i. n. d. 4to.

and Heywood;

“There is no moe suchtitifylsin Englandes ground,To hold with the hare, and run with the hound.”Dialogue, &c. sig. C,—Workes, ed. 1598.

“There is no moe suchtitifylsin Englandes ground,To hold with the hare, and run with the hound.”

“There is no moe suchtitifylsin Englandes ground,

To hold with the hare, and run with the hound.”

Dialogue, &c. sig. C,—Workes, ed. 1598.

Some have considered the word as derived from the Latin,titivilitium, a thing of no worth. Jamieson “suspects that it is a personal designation,”Et. Dict. of Scot. Lang.in v.Tutivillaris. InJuditium, Towneley Mysteries, p. 310,Tutivillusis a fiend; and in the Moral Play ofMankindhe represents the sin of the flesh,Hist. of Engl. Dram. Poet., ii. 297, by Mr. J.P. Collier, who says (ii. 223) that “the name afterwards came to mean any person with evil propensities,” and refers to the comedy ofRauf Royster Doyster, Skelton’s Works, and the Enterlude ofThersytes: when he objected to the derivation of the word fromtitivilitiumand proposed “the more simple etymology,totusandvilis,” he was probably not aware that some writers (wrongly) “totivillitiumvolunt, quasitotum vile:” see Gronovius’s note on theCasinaof Plautus, ii. 5, 39. ed. Var.

Page 327. v. 421.Of an abbay ye make a graunge] A proverbial expression.

“Our changes are soch thatan abbeye turneth to a graunge.”Bale’sKynge Iohan, p. 23. Camd. ed.

“Our changes are soch thatan abbeye turneth to a graunge.”

Bale’sKynge Iohan, p. 23. Camd. ed.

“To bringan Abbey to a Grange.” Ray’sProverbs, p. 174. ed. 1768.

v. 424.beade rolles] i. e. prayers,—properly, lists of those to be prayed for.

v. 429.

But where theyr soules dwell,Therwith I wyll not mell]

But where theyr soules dwell,

Therwith I wyll not mell]

—mell, i. e. meddle. So Dunbar;

“Nowwith thair sawle we will nocht mell.”Poems, ii. 52. ed. Laing.

“Nowwith thair sawle we will nocht mell.”

Poems, ii. 52. ed. Laing.

v. 434.reporte me] i. e. refer.

v. 440.the lay fee] i. e. the laity: see note, p. 234. v. 267.

Page 328. v. 447.

splendoreFulgurantis hastæ]

splendore

Fulgurantis hastæ]

From the Vulgate. “Ibunt insplendore fulgurantis hastætuæ.”Habac.iii. 11. “Et micantis gladii, etfulgurantis hastæ.”Nahum, iii. 3.

v. 456.eysell] i. e. vinegar.

v. 458.ypocras] Was a favourite medicated drink, composed of wine (usually red), with spices and sugar. It is generally supposed to have been so named from Hippocrates (often contracted, as in our author’sGarlande of Laurell, v. 1426. vol. i. 417, to “Ipocras”); perhaps because it was strained,—the woollen bag used by apothecariesto strain syrups and decoctions for clarification being termedHippocrates’s sleeve.

Page 328. v. 459.Let the cat wynke] See note, p. 168. v. 305.

v. 460.Iche wot] Seems to mean here—Each knows (not, I know); and therefore in the remainder of the line the reading of Kele’s ed., “yche,” ought not to have been rejected.

v. 467.theologys] i. e. theologians.

v. 468.astrologys] i. e. astrologers.

Page 329. v. 469.Ptholome] See note, p. 133. v. 503.

v. 474.pretendynge] Equivalent to—portending.

“What misfortune, aduersitie, or blame,Can all the planets to man or childepretende,If God most glorious by his might vs defende?”Barclay’sShip of Fooles, fol. 129. ed. 1570.

“What misfortune, aduersitie, or blame,Can all the planets to man or childepretende,If God most glorious by his might vs defende?”

“What misfortune, aduersitie, or blame,

Can all the planets to man or childepretende,

If God most glorious by his might vs defende?”

Barclay’sShip of Fooles, fol. 129. ed. 1570.

Here Skelton seems to allude to Wolsey; and from these lines (called in the Lansdown MS., see notead loc., “The profecy of Skelton”) perhaps originated the story of our poet having prophesied the downfal of the Cardinal.

v. 476.trone] i. e. throne.

v. 479.euerychone] i. e. every one.

Page 330. v. 489.bruted] i. e. reported, talked of.

v. 492.wrest vp] i. e. screw up: see note, p. 238. v. 137.

v. 493.twynkyng] i. e. tinking, tinkling.

v. 498.the lay fee] i. e. the laity: see note, p. 234. v. 267.

v. 504.to] i. e. too.

v. 515.depraue] i. e. vilify, defame.

Page 331. v. 523.resydeuacyon] i. e. recidivation, backsliding.

v. 528.ipostacis] i. e. hypostasis.

v. 533.fore top] i. e. (as the context shews) simply,—head, pate.

v. 535.knowe and ken] A pleonasm,—unlesskenbe explained—see.

v. 542.

And some haue a smackeOf Luthers sacke]

And some haue a smacke

Of Luthers sacke]

Concerning the wine calledsack(about which so much has been written) see Henderson’sHist. of Anc. and Mod. Wines, p. 298.

v. 544.brennyng] i. e. burning.

v. 545.warke] i. e. work.

Page 332. v. 549.carpe] i. e. talk, prate.

v. 551.Called Wicleuista] From Wicliffe.

v. 553.Hussyans] i. e. followers of Huss.

v. 554.Arryans] i. e. followers of Arius.

v. 555.Pollegians] i. e. Pelagians,—followers of Pelagius.

v. 559.to mykel] i. e. too much.

Page 332. v. 564.tryalytes] i. e. three benefices united.

v. 565.tot quottes] So Barclay;

“Then yf this lorde haue in him fauour, he hath hopeTo haue another benefyce of greater dignitie,And so maketh a false suggestion to the popeFor atot quot, or els a pluralitie.”Ship of Fooles, fol. 60. ed. 1570.

“Then yf this lorde haue in him fauour, he hath hopeTo haue another benefyce of greater dignitie,And so maketh a false suggestion to the popeFor atot quot, or els a pluralitie.”

“Then yf this lorde haue in him fauour, he hath hope

To haue another benefyce of greater dignitie,

And so maketh a false suggestion to the pope

For atot quot, or els a pluralitie.”

Ship of Fooles, fol. 60. ed. 1570.

Page 333. v. 572.persons and vycaryes] i. e. parsons and vicars.

v. 576.loselles] See note, p. 209. v. 138.

v. 577.lewdely] i. e. wickedly, vilely.

v. 578.sely] i. e. silly, simple, harmless.

v. 581.mought] i. e. might.

v. 582.so dysgysed] See note, p. 205. v. 22.

Page 334. v. 597.lokes] i. e. looks.

v. 598.bokes] i. e. books.

v. 600.wroken] i. e. wreaked.

v. 602.iauell] See note, p. 271. v. 2218.

v. 604.face] See note, p. 216. v. 33.

——crake] i. e. vaunt, talk bigly.

v. 606.kayser] See note, p. 247. v. 796.

v. 607.layser] i. e. leisure.

v. 619.connyng] i. e. knowledge, learning.

——auaunce] i. e. advance.

Page 335. v. 624.dykes] i. e. ditches.

“Where the blinde leadeth the blinde, both fall in thedyke.”Heywood’sDialogue, &c.—Workes, ed. 1598, sig. G 2.

“Where the blinde leadeth the blinde, both fall in thedyke.”

Heywood’sDialogue, &c.—Workes, ed. 1598, sig. G 2.

v. 625.Set nothyng by] i. e. Value not, regard not.

v. 637.ye, shall] i. e. yea, I shall.

v. 648.shule] i. e. shovel.

Page 336. v. 654.mamockes] See note, p. 268. v. 2035.

v. 663.kynde] i. e. nature.

v. 664.Many one ye haue vntwynde] The reading of the MS., which at least gives a sense to the line:vntwynde, i. e. destroyed; see note, p. 127. v. 284.

v. 668.fote] i. e. foot.

v. 672.in the deuyll way] A common expression in our early writers.

“Our Hoste answerd: Tell ona devil way.”Chaucer’sMilleres Prol., v. 3136. ed. Tyr.

“Our Hoste answerd: Tell ona devil way.”

Chaucer’sMilleres Prol., v. 3136. ed. Tyr.

“In thetwenty deuyll way, Au nom du grant diable.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. ccccxlii. (Table of Aduerbes). “What reason is that,in the twenty deuell waye, that he shuldebere suche a rule? Quænam (malum) ratio est,” &c. HormanniVulgaria, sig. dd iii. ed. 1530.

Page 337. v. 673.ouer] i. e. besides.

v. 675.hear] i. e. hair.

v. 679.tonsors] i. e. tonsures.

v. 688.the male dothe wrye] See note, p. 142. v. 700.

Page 338. v. 692.Ye bysshops of estates]—of estates, i. e. of great estate, rank, dignity.

v. 698.awtentyke] i. e. authentic.

v. 704.intoxicate] i. e. poison (Lat.intoxico).

v. 705.conquinate] i. e. coinquinate,—pollute, defile, defame.

v. 710.The Churchis hygh estates] i. e. the dignitaries of the Church.

Page 339. v. 728.marke] i. e. marks,—the coins so called.

v. 730.werke] i. e. work.

v. 734.sawe] i. e. saying,—branch of learning.

v. 737.pore] i. e. poor.

v. 739.frere] i. e. friar.

Page 340. v. 747.

of the orderVpon Grenewyche border,Called Obseruaunce]

of the order

Vpon Grenewyche border,

Called Obseruaunce]

The statement that Edward the Third founded a religious house at Greenwich in 1376 appears to rest on no authority. A grant of Edward the Fourth to certain Minorites or Observant Friars of the order of St. Francis of a piece of ground which adjoined the palace at Greenwich, and on which they had begun to build several small mansions, was confirmed in 1486 by a charter of Henry the Seventh, who founded there a convent of friars of that order, to consist of a warden and twelve brethren at the least; and who is said to have afterwards rebuilt their convent from the foundation. The friars of Greenwich were much favoured by Katherine, queen of Henry the Eighth; and when, during the question of her divorce, they had openly espoused her cause, the king was so greatly enraged that he suppressed the whole order throughout England. The convent at Greenwich was dissolved in 1534. Queen Mary reinstated them in their possessions, and new-founded and repaired their monastery. Queen Elizabeth suppressed them, &c. See Lysons’sEnvirons of London, iv. 464. ed. 1796.

v. 754.Babuell besyde Bery] When by an order of Pope Urban the Fourth, the Grey Friars were removed out of the town and jurisdiction of Bury St. Edmund, in 1263, “they retired to a place just without the bounds, beyond the north gate, called Babwell, now theToll-gate, which the abbat and convent generously gave them to build on; and here they continued till the dissolution.” Tanner’sNot. Mon.p. 527. ed. 1744.

Page 340. v. 755.To postell vpon a kyry] i. e. to comment upon a Kyrie eleison: (apostilis a short gloss, or note).

v. 757.coted] i. e. quoted.

Page 341. v. 779.blother] i. e. gabble.

v. 780.

make a Walshmans hoseOf the texte and of the glose]

make a Walshmans hose

Of the texte and of the glose]

So again our author in hisGarlande of Laurell;

“And after conueyauns as the world goos,It is no foly to vsethe Walshemannys hose.”v. 1238. vol. i. 411.

“And after conueyauns as the world goos,It is no foly to vsethe Walshemannys hose.”

“And after conueyauns as the world goos,

It is no foly to vsethe Walshemannys hose.”

v. 1238. vol. i. 411.

CompareThe Legend of the Bischop of St Androis;

“Of omnigatherene now his glose,Hemaid it lyk a Wealchman hose.”Scot. Poems of the Sixteenth Century, (by Dalyell), p. 332.

“Of omnigatherene now his glose,Hemaid it lyk a Wealchman hose.”

“Of omnigatherene now his glose,

Hemaid it lyk a Wealchman hose.”

Scot. Poems of the Sixteenth Century, (by Dalyell), p. 332.

“Welchman’s hose.Equivalent, I imagine, to the breeches of a Highlander, or the dress of a naked Pict; upon the presumption that Welchmen had no hose.” Nares’sGloss.in v. Unfortunately, however, for this ingenious conjecture, the expression is found varied to “shipman’s hose,”—which certainly cannot be considered as a non-entity. “Hereunto they adde also a Similitude not very agreeable, how the Scriptures be like to a Nose of Waxe, ora Shipmans Hose: how thei may be fashioned, and plied al manner of waies, and serue al mennes turnes.” Jewel’sDefence of the Apologie, &c. p. 465. ed. 1567. “And not made asa shippe mans hoseto serue for euery legge.” Wilson’sArte of Rhetorike, p. 102. ed. 1580. SurelyWelshman’s hose(as well as shipman’s) became proverbial from their pliability, power of being stretched, &c.

v. 784.broke] i. e. brook.

v. 785.loke] i. e. look.

v. 786.boke] i. e. book.

Page 342. v. 800.the brode gatus] Means perhaps, Broadgates Hall, Oxford, on the site of which Pembroke College was erected.

v. 801.Daupatus] i. e. Simple-pate: see note, p. 113. v. 301.

v. 803.Dronhen as a mouse] So Chaucer;

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