Chapter 18

“Your lasy bones I pretende so toblisse,That you shall haue small luste to prate any more.”The Triall of Treasure, 1567. sig. A iiii.

“Your lasy bones I pretende so toblisse,That you shall haue small luste to prate any more.”

“Your lasy bones I pretende so toblisse,

That you shall haue small luste to prate any more.”

The Triall of Treasure, 1567. sig. A iiii.

v. 1642.loute] i. e. bow, pay obeisance.

Page 279. v. 1652.at the contemplacyon] See note, p. 214, heading of Epitaph.

v. 1653.pore] i. e. poor.

v. 1657.sone] i. e. soon.

v. 1664.rowne] i. e. whisper: see note, p. 120. v. 513.

v. 1671.dyssayued] i. e. deceived.

v. 1673.wete] i. e. know.

v. 1677.I wyll haue hym rehayted and dyspysed] Our early poets frequently userehetein the sense of—revive, cheer; a meaning foreign to the present passage. In theTowneley Mysteries, we find “rehett” and “rehete,” pp. 143, 198, which theGloss.explains “to threaten;” qy. if rightly? In some copies of Chaucer’sTroilus and Creseide, B. iii. 350, is “reheting;” of which, says Tyrwhitt (Gloss.toCant. Tales), “I can make no sense.” In G. Douglas’s Virgil’sÆneidos, B. xiii. p. 467. l. 53. ed. Rudd., and in theFlyting of Dunbar and Kennedy, Dunbar’sPoems, ii. 74, 80. ed. Laing, is “rehatoure,” which has been referred to the Frenchrehair: and perhapsrehaytedin our text is—re-hated (Skelton afterwards in this piece, v. 2458, has the uncommon wordinhateth).

v. 1679.rest] i. e. remain.

Page 280. v. 1682.supplyed] i. e. supplicated.

v. 1687.But for all that he is lyke to haue a glent]Glentis frequently found in the sense of—glance; but its meaning here, as would seem from the context, is—slip, fall: and in our author’sGarlande of Laurellwe find,

“Go softly, she sayd, the stones be fullglint[i. e. slippery].”v. 572. vol. i. 384.

“Go softly, she sayd, the stones be fullglint[i. e. slippery].”

v. 572. vol. i. 384.

Page 280. v. 1688.Ye] i. e. Yea.

v. 1692.What force ye] i. e. What care ye.

v. 1695.loke] i. e. look.

v. 1698.haftynge] See note, p. 107. v. 138.

v. 1702.woke] i. e. week.

v. 1703.sone] i. e. soon.

v. 1706.Mary] i. e. By the Virgin Mary.

v. 1709.comonynge] i. e. communing, conversing.

v. 1711.sad] i. e. grave, serious, sober, discreet.

Page 281. v. 1713.doute] i. e. fear.

v. 1715.ony] i. e. any.

v. 1718.be lykelyhod] i. e. by likelihood,—as it appeared.

v. 1719.to fode] i. e. to feed with words,—deceive. So in our author’sBowge of Courte;

“Than Fauell ganwyth fayre speche me to fede.”v. 147. vol. i. 36.

“Than Fauell ganwyth fayre speche me to fede.”

v. 147. vol. i. 36.

v. 1723.reserued] i. e. retained.

v. 1725.set a gnat By] i. e. value at a gnat, care a gnat for.

v. 1738.suche maystryes gan make]—suche maystryes, i. e. such disturbances from the consequence which you assumed: and see note on v. 151. p. 238.

Page 282. v. 1745.lurden] See note on v. 423. p. 242.

v. 1748.haynyarde] A term of reproach which I do not understand: but in our author’sBowge of Courte, v. 327. vol. i. 42,hayneseems to mean—hind, slave, peasant.

v. 1749.cast] i. e. throw up.

v. 1751.bolle] i. e. bowl.

——Goddes brede] i. e. God’s bread.

v. 1754.praty] i. e. pretty.

v. 1758.Cockes armes] i. e. God’s arms: see note on v. 518. p. 243.

v. 1759.Ye] i. e. Yea.

v. 1766.ony] i. e. any.

Page 283. v. 1772.Where as] i. e. Where.

v. 1775.No force] i. e. No matter.

v. 1776.pollynge] i. e. plundering.

v. 1778.parde] i. e.par dieu, verily.

——largesse] i. e. liberality.

v. 1779.vergesse] i. e. verjuice.

v. 1782.gyse] i. e. guise, fashion.

v. 1786.taken] i. e. committed, consigned.

v. 1802.lowte] i. e. bow, pay obeisance.

Page 284. v. 1813.syth] i. e. since.

v. 1817.acquyte] i. e. requite.

v. 1820.solace] i. e. pleasure.

v. 1821.dyntes] i. e. blows.

v. 1822.Well were] i. e. In good condition were.

v. 1824.halse] }

v. 1825.clepe] }

Both words signify—embrace; with this distinction, that the former means properly—to throw the arms round the neck.

v. 1829.I befole thy brayne pan] i. e. I befool thy skull, head: see note, p. 100. v. 31.

Page 285. v. 1830.By our lakyn] See note on v. 341. p. 240.

v. 1831.My hawke is rammysshe] “Ramageis when a Hawk is wilde, coy, or disdainfull to the man, and contrary to be reclamed.” Latham’sFaulconry(Explan. of Words of Art), 1658.

v. 1833.warne] i. e. prevent.

v. 1835.ronner] i. e. runner.

——fole] i. e. fool.

v. 1836.iarfawcon] See note, p. 134. v. 557.

v. 1838.ydder] i. e. udder.

v. 1840.slydder] i. e. slippery.

v. 1841.for God auowe] So presently, v. 1851, “I make Godauowe:” see note, p. 109. v. 199.

——chiydder] i. e. shiver.

v. 1842.Thy wordes hange togyder as fethers in the wynde] An expression which occurs again in our author’sSpeke, Parrot, v. 295. vol. ii. 14. So too in a comedy (before quoted),The longer thou liuest, the more foole thou art, &c.Newly compiled by W. Wager, n. d.;

“A song much like thauthour of the same,It hangeth together like fethers in the winde.”Sig. D ii.

“A song much like thauthour of the same,It hangeth together like fethers in the winde.”

“A song much like thauthour of the same,

It hangeth together like fethers in the winde.”

Sig. D ii.

v. 1844.carle] i. e. churl.

v. 1848.a losell lede a lurden] i. e. one good-for-nothing fellow lead another: see note, p. 209. v. 138, and note on v. 423 of the present poem, p. 242.

v. 1849.sowter] i. e. shoemaker, cobbler.

v. 1850.Cockes harte] i. e. God’s heart: see note on v. 518. p. 243.

v. 1853.Mary] i. e. By the Virgin Mary.

v. 1854.I shall gyue you a gaude of a goslynge that I gaue]Gaudis found in the sense of—jest, trick, toy, &c.: but the line (perhaps corrupted) is beyond my comprehension.

v. 1856.reue] i. e. steward, bailiff.

v. 1858.syke] i. e. such.

Page 285. v. 1859.Sadylgose] i. e. Saddle-goose.

——Dawcocke] See note, p. 113. v. 301.

Page 286. v. 1860.garre] i. e. make, cause.

v. 1862.bytter] i. e. bittern.

v. 1864.to grame] i. e. to be angry,—or perhaps to grieve; the word being found in both senses.

v. 1865.snyte] i. e. snipe.

v. 1868.loke] i. e. look.

v. 1871.Ye] i. e. Yea.

——iapes] i. e. jests, jokes.

v. 1876.sone] i. e. soon.

v. 1882.mo] i. e. more.

v. 1886.payntyd] See note, p. 176. v. 583.

v. 1887.demenour] i. e. director: see note, p. 134. v. 553.

Page 287. v. 1891.largesse] i. e. liberality.

v. 1892.fondnesse] i. e. folly.

v. 1896.rode] i. e. rood, cross: see note, p. 206. v. 69.

v. 1898.broder] i. e. brother.

v. 1899.lokys] i. e. looks.

v. 1900.clokys] i. e. claws—clutches; see Jamieson’sEt. Dict. of Scot. Lang.in v.Cleuck.

v. 1903.quyte] i. e. requite.

v. 1904.velyarde] i. e. old man, dotard.

——dynt] i. e. blow.

v. 1906.losell] See note, p. 209. v. 138.

v. 1908.hyght] i. e. am called.

v. 1910.rughly] i. e. roughly.

v. 1912.lust] i. e. pleasure, liking.

v. 1913.lurden] See note on v. 423. p. 242.

v. 1915.set by hym a flye] i. e. value him at a fly, care a fly for him.

v. 1916.brace] See note, p. 216. v. 33.

v. 1917.loke] i. e. look.

v. 1918.to] i. e. too.

Page 288. v. 1928.carbuckyls] i. e. carbuncles.

v. 1930.lyppers] i. e. lepers.

v. 1932.Some with the marmoll to halte I them make]—marmoll, i. e. old sore, ulcer, gangrene. “Marmolla sorelovp.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. xlvii. (Table of Subst.). Skelton recollected Chaucer;

“But gret harm was it, as it thoughte me,Thaton his shinne a mormalhadde he.”Prol. to Cant. Tales, v. 387.

“But gret harm was it, as it thoughte me,Thaton his shinne a mormalhadde he.”

“But gret harm was it, as it thoughte me,

Thaton his shinne a mormalhadde he.”

Prol. to Cant. Tales, v. 387.

on which passage see Tyrwhitt’s note.

Page 288. v. 1934.brennynge] i. e. burning.

v. 1936.walter] i. e. tumble, roll. “IWalterI tumble,Ie me voystre.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. cccc. (Table of Verbes).

v. 1939.sle] i. e. slay.

v. 1945.Lydderyns] i. e.Lydder, wicked, persons: so in our author’sGarlande of Laurell, “Somelidderons, some losels,” &c. v. 188. vol. i., 369.

——set by] i. e. value, regard.

Page 289. v. 1958.franesy] i. e. frensy.

v. 1960.worshyp] i. e. honour, dignity.

v. 1961.fole] i. e. fool.

v. 1962.loke] i. e. look.

v. 1966.sadly] i. e. gravely, seriously, soberly, discreetly.

v. 1967.preposytour] i. e. a scholar appointed by the master to overlook the rest. “I ampreposyterof my boke. Duco classem.” HormanniVulgaria, sig. R viii. ed. 1530.

v. 1968.theyr wanton vagys]—vagys, i. e. vagaries, strayings. Richardson in hisDict.gives an example of this substantive (vagues) from Holinshed.

v. 1977.mo] i. e. more.

v. 1979.Howe] i. e. Ho.

v. 1980.lore] i. e. teaching.

v. 1984.vnlykynge] i. e. in poor condition of body. “The strength and lustinesse, orwell lykyngof my body.” Palsgrave’sAcolastus, 1540. sig. U iiii. “I am withered,” says Falstaff, “like an old apple-John. Well, I’ll repent, and that suddenly, while I am in someliking.” Shakespeare’sHenry IV.Part i. act iii. sc. 3.

Page 290. v. 1989.enuy] i. e. ill-will, grudge.

v. 1993.golde and fe] See note, p. 234. v. 267.

v. 1995.thought] See note, p. 101. v. 10.

v. 2004.syth] i. e. since.

——no nother] A not unfrequent form in our early writers,—i. e. none other.

v. 2005.take it in gre] i. e. take it kindly: see note, p. 95, v. 68.

v. 2006.a noble estate] i. e. a person of noble estate or rank.

v. 2014.Ye] i. e. Yea.

Page 291. v. 2026.loke] i. e. look.

v. 2034.cawdels] According to the custom of great persons. So in the ballad ofGlasgerion;

“He harped in the kinges chambere,Where cuppe andcaudlestoode.”Percy’sRel. of A. E. P., iii. 43. ed. 1794.

“He harped in the kinges chambere,Where cuppe andcaudlestoode.”

“He harped in the kinges chambere,

Where cuppe andcaudlestoode.”

Percy’sRel. of A. E. P., iii. 43. ed. 1794.

Page 291. v. 2035.mamockes] “Mammocks, leavings, wasted fragments.” Forby’sVocab. of East Anglia.

v. 2037.fayne] i. e. glad.

v. 2038.pomped] In our text at least is equivalent to—pampered.

“Thepompedclerkes with foles [fodes] delicousErth often fedeth,” &c.Hawes’sPastime of Pleasure, sig. B b iiii. ed. 1555.

“Thepompedclerkes with foles [fodes] delicousErth often fedeth,” &c.

“Thepompedclerkes with foles [fodes] delicous

Erth often fedeth,” &c.

Hawes’sPastime of Pleasure, sig. B b iiii. ed. 1555.

v. 2040.to be drawe] i. e. to be drawn over, covered.

v. 2042.shertes of Raynes] i. e. shirts made of the delicate species of linen manufactured at Rennes in Brittany.

v. 2044.happed] i. e. covered.

Page 292. v. 2054.sykernesse] i. e. security, sureness.

v. 2061.plete] i. e. plead.

v. 2064.lyther] i. e. bad,—inactive.

v. 2066.leuer] i. e. more willingly.

v. 2070.they rynne to in manus tuas queche]—rynne, i. e. run,—they quickly come to be hanged, when they sayIn manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum.

v. 2072.mary] i. e. by the Virgin Mary.

——mote] i. e. may.

v. 2073.too] i. e. toe.

v. 2077.rydlesse] In v. 2445 is “redlesse,” which properly means—devoid of counsel: but Skelton seems to use both forms in the sense of—unavailing.

v. 2080.bloo] i. e. livid: see note, p. 103. v. 3.

Page 293. v. 2093.I garde her gaspe, I garde her gle]—garde, i. e. made, caused:gle, i. e., perhaps, squint; see Jamieson’sEt. Dict. of Scot. Lang.in v.Gley.

v. 2094.daunce on the le] A fragment, it would seem, of some song:le, i. e. lea.

v. 2095.bassed] i. e. kissed.

v. 2096.the bote of all my bale] i. e. the remedy or help of all my evil or sorrow.

“God send every good manbote of his bale.”Chaucer’sChanones Yemannes Tale, v. 16949. ed. Tyr.

“God send every good manbote of his bale.”

Chaucer’sChanones Yemannes Tale, v. 16949. ed. Tyr.

v. 2097.farre fet] i. e. far-fetched.

v. 2098.louesome] i. e. lovely one.

Page 293. v. 2098.let] i. e. leave, desist.

v. 2100.patlet]—orpartlet,—i. e. a sort of ruff, or rather neck-kerchief: see Strutt’sDress and Habits, &c. ii. 368.

v. 2104.lust and lykynge] See note, p. 98. v. 23.

v. 2106.me lyst] i. e. pleases me.

Page 294. v. 2113.hardely] i. e. assuredly.

v. 2114.to moche] i. e. too much.

v. 2115.not worth an hawe] A common expression in our early poetry;

“Your wo appease which isnot worth an haw.”Lydgate’sWarres of Troy, B. ii. sig. I iiii. ed. 1555.

“Your wo appease which isnot worth an haw.”

Lydgate’sWarres of Troy, B. ii. sig. I iiii. ed. 1555.

v. 2116.to free of the dawe] Equivalent, I suppose, to—too much fooling: see note, p. 113. v. 301.

v. 2117.sad] See note on v. 1966. p. 267.

v. 2121.to to out of harre] See notes on v. 881. p. 249, and v. 921. p. 250.

v. 2123.iettynge] i. e. strutting: see note, p. 94. v. 43.

——iapes] i. e. jests, jokes.

v. 2124.mowynge] i. e. making mouths, grimacing.

——iackenapes] i. e. monkey.

v. 2132.brothell] Was formerly applied as a term of reproach to the worthless of either sex:

“Of this daye gladde was many abrothellThat myght haue an ore with Cocke Lorell.”Cocke Lorelles bote, n. d. sig. C ii.

“Of this daye gladde was many abrothellThat myght haue an ore with Cocke Lorell.”

“Of this daye gladde was many abrothell

That myght haue an ore with Cocke Lorell.”

Cocke Lorelles bote, n. d. sig. C ii.

v. 2135.Cockes armes] i. e. God’s arms: see note on v. 518, p. 243.

v. 2138.lurden] See note on v. 423. p. 242.

v. 2141.largesse] i. e. liberality.

v. 2143.conuenyent] i. e. fit, suitable.

Page 295. v. 2148.poddynge prycke] i. e. skewer that fastens the pudding-bag.

v. 2150.pot sharde] i. e. potsherd.

v. 2151.the spence of a noble] i. e. the expense or spending of a noble,—the gold coin so called.

v. 2152.c. s.i. e. a hundred shillings.

v. 2155.occupyed] Though our author, according to his occasionally pleonastic style, has in the next line but one, “occupyedand vsyd,” the words are synonymous: see note, p. 86. v. 52.

v. 2156.Ye] i. e. Yea.

v. 2159.retchlesse] i. e. reckless.

Page 285. v. 2162.rynne] i. e. run.

v. 2164.it shall not gretly skyll] See note on v. 1615. p. 262.

v. 2165.spyll] i. e. destroy.

v. 2166.some fall prechynge at the Toure Hyll] So inThenterlude of Youth, n. d.;

“By our Lady he dyd promote theTo make theprecheat the galowe tre.”Sig. B i.

“By our Lady he dyd promote theTo make theprecheat the galowe tre.”

“By our Lady he dyd promote the

To make theprecheat the galowe tre.”

Sig. B i.

v. 2168.nother they set by] i. e. neither they value, regard.

v. 2171.lusty to loke on] i. e. pleasant to look on.

v. 2172.nonnes] i. e. nuns.

——ryn] i. e. run.

v. 2173.Freers] i. e. Friars.

——fayne] i. e. glad, joyful.

v. 2177.rechate] See note, p. 234. v. 215.

Page 296. v. 2186.brast] i. e. burst.

v. 2187.spewe and cast] One of Skelton’s pleonasms.

v. 2188.gotted ... to thy share]—gotted, i. e. gotten.

v. 2193.ye] i. e. yea.

v. 2194.to wed] i. e. for a pawn, pledge.

v. 2195.a daggeswane] i. e. a rough sort of coverlet. “Dagswayne.Lodex.”Prompt. Parv.ed. 1499. “My bedde is couered with adaggeswayneand a quylte ...gausape...”—“Somedaggeswayneshaue longe thrummes & iagges on bothe sydes: some but on one.” HormanniVulgaria, sig. g iii. ed. 1530.

——ony] i. e. any.

v. 2196.metely well]“Metely: Moyennement. Assez,”&c. Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. ccccxliii. (Table of Aduerbes). “He ismetelylerned.Mediocriterdoctus est.” HormanniVulgaria, sig. R viii. ed. 1530.

v. 2197.dele] i. e. part, bit.

v. 2198.in the deuyls date] See note, p. 116. v. 375.

v. 2201.the messe] i. e. the Mass.

Page 297. v. 2204.hose] i. e. breeches.

v. 2207.skelpe] i. e. slap, strike: see Jamieson’sEt. Dict. of Scot. Lang.

v. 2208.loke] i. e. look.

v. 2209.Cockes bones] i. e. God’s bones: see note on v. 518. p. 243.

——blysse] See note on v. 1641. p. 263.

v. 2210.dynge the deuyll]—dynge, i. e. strike, knock. So again in our author’s poemHowe the douty Duke of Albany, &c.;

“Andthe deuill downe dynge.”v. 210. vol. ii. 74.

“Andthe deuill downe dynge.”

v. 210. vol. ii. 74.

CompareThe Droichis Part of the Play, attributed to Dunbar;

“Thatdang the devill, and gart him yowle.”Dunbar’sPoems, ii. 38. ed. Laing.

“Thatdang the devill, and gart him yowle.”

Dunbar’sPoems, ii. 38. ed. Laing.

Page 297. v. 2210.holde] i. e. holden, held.

v. 2211.rede] i. e. advice.

v. 2214.wrynge thy be in a brake] Some cant expression:brake, see note, p. 168. v. 324, and note onWhy come ye nat to Courte, v. 980.

v. 2215.dawe] i. e. simpleton: see note, p. 113. v. 301.

v. 2216.fawchyn] i. e. cut.

v. 2217.cauell] “Kevil, Kephyl, A horse, contemptuously applied to a person, ‘thou girtkevil.’”The Dialect of Craven, &c. Compare Lydgate’s verses, entitled in the Catalogue,Advices for people to keep a guard over their tongues;

“I saugh akevellcorpulent of stature,Lyk a materas redlyd was his coote,” &c.MS. Harl.2255. fol. 132.

“I saugh akevellcorpulent of stature,Lyk a materas redlyd was his coote,” &c.

“I saugh akevellcorpulent of stature,

Lyk a materas redlyd was his coote,” &c.

MS. Harl.2255. fol. 132.

v. 2218.iauell] “Iauell. Ioppus.”Prompt. Parv.ed. 1499. Of this common term of contempt (which Skelton uses in other passages) the meaning and etymology are uncertain. Todd (Johnson’sDict.in v.) explains it “A wandering or dirty fellow;” shews that it is sometimes writtenjabel; and would derive it from the verb,javel,jable, orjarble, to bemire, to bedew. Nares (Gloss.in v.) refers it to the Frenchjavelle, which sometimes means “a faggot of brush-wood or other worthless materials.” The compiler of theGloss.toThe Towneley Mysteries(underHawvelle) considers it equivalent to—jabberer.

Page 298. v. 2223.iche] i. e. I.

v. 2224.Mary] i. e. By the Virgin Mary.

v. 2229.all one] i. e. all agreed.

v. 2233.rode] i. e. road, cross: see note, p. 206. v. 69.

v. 2234.blode] i. e. blood.

v. 2235.By our lakyn] See note on v. 341. p. 240.

v. 2242.acomberyd] i. e. encumbered, troubled.

v. 2243.Goddys fote] i. e. God’s foot.

v. 2244.facyd] See note, p. 216. v. 33.

v. 2246.condycyons] See note, p. 183. v. 12.

Page 299. v. 2248.bracyd] See note, p. 216. v. 33.

v. 2249.defaute] i. e. default, defect.

v. 2250.to haute] i. e. too haughty.

v. 2252.pratyer] i. e. prettier.

v. 2258.gardeuyaunce] In a note on Dunbar’sFreir of Tungland,Lord Hailes observes thatgardyviansis “literallygarde de viande, or cupboard; but there it implies his cabinet;” and Mr. D. Laing adds, “rather, a portable cabinet.” Dunbar’sPoems, ii. 243. Skelton appears to use the word in the sense of—trunk: and Palsgrave has “Gardeuyans bahus.”Lesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. xxxv. (Table of Subst.)

Page 299. v. 2259.bowget] i. e. budget.

v. 2260.male] i. e. bag, wallet.

v. 2262.Your trymynge and tramynge by me must be tangyd] The reader will hardly expect that I should attempt any precise explanation of this line.

v. 2264.When we with Magnyfycence goodys made cheuysaunce]—cheuysaunce, i. e. booty: see note, p. 107. v. 100. Compare Gower;

“Right as a thefemaketh his cheuesance,And robbeth mens gooddes aboute,” &c.Conf. Am.B. v. fol. cxvi. ed. 1554.

“Right as a thefemaketh his cheuesance,And robbeth mens gooddes aboute,” &c.

“Right as a thefemaketh his cheuesance,

And robbeth mens gooddes aboute,” &c.

Conf. Am.B. v. fol. cxvi. ed. 1554.

v. 2265.wengaunce] i. e. vengeance.

v. 2266.banne and wary] “Iwarrye, Ibanneor curse,Ie mauldis.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. cccci. (Table of Verbes). Barclay is even more pleonastic than Skelton;

“And your vnkindnesweray, ban and curse.”The Ship of Fooles, fol. 22. ed. 1570.

“And your vnkindnesweray, ban and curse.”

The Ship of Fooles, fol. 22. ed. 1570.

v. 2268.Cockys bonys] i. e. God’s bones; see note on v. 518. p. 243.

v. 2270.Ye] i. e. Yea.

v. 2275.gaure] i. e. stare: see Tyrwhitt’sGloss.to Chaucer’sCant. Tales. Yet Palsgrave has “IGaureI krye,Ie hue. Howe hegaurethafter his hauke:Cōment il heue apres son oyseau.”Lesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. ccxliiii. (Table of Verbes).

Page 300. v. 2276.yll hayle] See note, p. 176. v. 617.

v. 2283.the gowte and the gyn] Ifgynmeans (as the context seems to prove) some bodily ailment, I know not what it is.

v. 2287.murre] i. e. severe cold with hoarseness.

——pose] i. e. rheum in the head.

v. 2288.requiem æternam groweth forth of his nose] Heywood has a similar expression;

“Hunger droppetheuen out of both their noses.”Dialogue, &c. sig. D 4.—Workes, ed. 1598.

“Hunger droppetheuen out of both their noses.”

Dialogue, &c. sig. D 4.—Workes, ed. 1598.

And Cotgrave; “Chishe-face... oneout of whose nosehunger drops.”Dict.

v. 2291.the halfe strete] On the Bank-side, Southwark,—where the stews were: it is mentioned in the following curious passage ofCocke Lorelles bote, n. d. (where the “wynde fro wynchester” alludes to the temporary suppression of the Southwark stews at the intercession of the Bishop of Winchester);

“Syr this pardon is newe foundeBy syde London brydge in a holy groundeLate called the stewes bankeYe knowe well all that there wasSome relygyous women in that placeTo whome men offred many a frankeAnd bycause they were so kynde and lyberallA merueylous auenture there is be fallYf ye lyst to here howThere came suche a wynde fro wynchesterThat blewe these women ouer the ryuerIn wherye as I wyll you tellSome at saynt Kateryns stroke a groundeAnd many in holborne were foundeSome at saynt Gyles I troweAlso in aue maria aly and at westmensterAnd some in shordyche drewe thederWith grete lamentacyonAnd by cause they haue lost that fayre placeThey wyll bylde at colman hedge in spaceAnother noble mansyonFayrer and euerthe halfe stretewasFor euery house newe paued is with grasShall be full of fayre flouresThe walles shall be of hauthorne I wote wellAnd hanged wᵗ whyte motly yᵗ swete doth smellGrene shall be the colouresAnd as for this olde place these wenches holyThey wyll not haue it called the stewys for folyBut maketh it strabery banke.”Sig. B iv.

“Syr this pardon is newe founde

By syde London brydge in a holy grounde

Late called the stewes banke

Ye knowe well all that there was

Some relygyous women in that place

To whome men offred many a franke

And bycause they were so kynde and lyberall

A merueylous auenture there is be fall

Yf ye lyst to here how

There came suche a wynde fro wynchester

That blewe these women ouer the ryuer

In wherye as I wyll you tell

Some at saynt Kateryns stroke a grounde

And many in holborne were founde

Some at saynt Gyles I trowe

Also in aue maria aly and at westmenster

And some in shordyche drewe theder

With grete lamentacyon

And by cause they haue lost that fayre place

They wyll bylde at colman hedge in space

Another noble mansyon

Fayrer and euerthe halfe stretewas

For euery house newe paued is with gras

Shall be full of fayre floures

The walles shall be of hauthorne I wote well

And hanged wᵗ whyte motly yᵗ swete doth smell

Grene shall be the coloures

And as for this olde place these wenches holy

They wyll not haue it called the stewys for foly

But maketh it strabery banke.”

Sig. B iv.

Page 300. v. 2293.motton] Long after Skelton’s time, as the readers of our early dramatists will recollect,muttonwas a favourite cant term for a prostitute.

v. 2294.Ye ... to] i. e. Yea ... too.

v. 2295.queysy mete] “Quaisyas meate or drike is,dangereux.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. xciii. (Table of Adiect.). CompareJyl of Braintfords Testament, n. d.;

“I pray you fil you not to much of themuttonI promise you that it is veryqueisy.”Sig. A.

“I pray you fil you not to much of themuttonI promise you that it is veryqueisy.”

“I pray you fil you not to much of themutton

I promise you that it is veryqueisy.”

Sig. A.

Page 300. v. 2297.In fay] i. e. In faith.

——froty] Is frequently, as here, used by our early writers for—forty.

v. 2303.at all assayes] See note on v. 433. p. 242.

Page 301. v. 2311.sleeth] i. e. slayeth.

v. 2315.bronde] i. e. brand.

v. 2316.stonde] i. e. stand.

v. 2319.lewdly] i. e. vilely, basely (but here it seems to be used as an adjective).

v. 2320.to] i. e. too.

v. 2322.fer] i. e. far.

v. 2324.loke] i. e. look.

v. 2330.agayne] i. e. against.

Page 302. v. 2332.wyte] i. e. blame.

v. 2333.rede] i. e. counsel.

v. 2335.Ye] i. e. Yea.

——ryd thy selfe] i. e. set free thyself,—despatch thyself.

v. 2336.to] i. e. too.

v. 2340.honge] i. e. hang.

v. 2342.tonge] i. e. thong.

v. 2343.throte bole] i. e. throat-bowl,—protuberance of the throat. “Throte gole orthrote bole,neu de la gorge,gosier.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. lxx. (Table of Subst.). InOrtus Vocab.fol. ed. W. de Worde, n. d. is “Epiglotum,a throte bolle.”—“It is not impossible,” says Warton, alluding to this passage, “that Despare [Myschefe] offering the knife and the halter, might give a distant hint to Spenser.”Hist. of E. P.(Em. and Ad. to p. 363 of vol. ii.) ed. 4to. SeeThe Faerie Queene, i. ix. 50.

——slee] i. e. slay.

v. 2351.to] i. e. too.

v. 2352.Out, harowe]—harowe(variously spelt) is common in our early poetry as an exclamation of alarm or sudden distress, or an outcry for help. “Interiectyons of outkrye:Haro.as Haro alarmetrahy trahy.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530, last folio. On the origin of the word see Du Cange’sGloss.in vv.Haro,Haroep; Tyrwhitt’s note on v. 3286 of Chaucer’sCant. Tales; Jamieson’sEt. Dict. of Scot. Lang.in v.Harro; and Roquefort’sGloss. to La Lang. Rom.in v.Harau.

——hyll] i. e. hell.

v. 2353.combred] i. e. encumbered, troubled.

v. 2354.sloo] i. e. slay.

——nature and kynde] A pleonastic expression.

Page 303. v. 2357.sautes] i. e. assaults.

v. 2361.soner] i. e. sooner.

v. 2362.luge] i. e. (I suppose) lodge, abode.

v. 2365.wanhope] i. e. want of hope,—despair. “Desperatio.wanhope.”Ortus Vocab.fol. ed. W. de Worde, n. d. “Wanhope desespoir.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. lxxiii. (Table of Subst.). In some of our early writers, however, we find a distinction made betweenwanhopeanddespair.

v. 2370.dysease] i. e. uneasiness, pain.

v. 2373.ony] i. e. any.

v. 2375.ne] i. e. nor.

v. 2383.lectuary] i. e. electuary.

v. 2387.gommes goostly] i. e. gums ghostly, spiritual.

——herte] i. e. heart.

v. 2388.To thanke God of his sonde]—his sonde, i. e. his sending,—his providential dispensation.

Page 304. v. 2392.fote] i. e. foot.

v. 2394.mode] i. e. mood.

v. 2398.dyscryue] Signifies—describe; but in the present passage it would seem to mean—discover, search, try.

v. 2406.Ye] i. e. Yea.

v. 2411.sone] i. e. soon.

Page 305. v. 2430.apayed] i. e. satisfied, pleased.

v. 2433.abylyment] i. e. habiliment.

v. 2434.aduysement] i. e. consideration, heed.

v. 2435.confyrmable] i. e. conformable.

v. 2444.to] i. e. too.

v. 2445.redlesse] See note on v. 2077. p. 268.

v. 2449.to accompte you the contynewe of my consayte] i. e. to tell you the continuation, the rest, of my conceit, conception.

Page 306. v. 2455.sad] See note on v. 1711. p. 264.

v. 2457.that is no nay] i. e. that is not to be denied.

v. 2458.inhateth] Skelton’s fondness for compound words has been already noticed (see note, p. 105. v. 31); and here most probablyinhatethwas not intended to convey a stronger meaning than—hateth.

——rennynge] i. e. running.

v. 2460.ne can] i. e. can not.

v. 2465.largesse] i. e. liberality.

v. 2467.thorowly ingrosed] i. e. (as the context would seem to shew) fully written out.

v. 2468.Pountes] i. e. Pontoise.

Page 306. v. 2469.hyght] i. e. is called.

v. 2474.to] i. e. too.

Page 307. v. 2479.ouerthrow] i. e. overthrown.

v. 2481.Ye] i. e. Yea.

v. 2485.hafters] See note, p. 107. v. 138.

——forfende] i. e. forbid, prohibit.

v. 2493.sentence] i. e. meaning.

v. 2494.corage] i. e. heart, affection.

——flyt] i. e. remove.

v. 2499.worshyp] i. e. honour, dignity.

v. 2500.sadnesse] See note on v. 1382. p. 259.

Page 308. v. 2503.I wyll refrayne you ferther, or we flyt] i. e. I will question you farther before we remove (refraynebeing here, it would seem, according to Skelton’s use of such compounds, equivalent to the simple, and not uncommon word,—frayne).

v. 2506.processe] i. e. relation, discourse: see notes, p. 143. v. 735. p. 146. v. 969. p. 194. v. 157, &c.

v. 2507.Syth] i. e. Since.

——erectyd] See note on v. 95. p. 237.

v. 2508.aforse me] i. e. exert myself, do my endeavour.

v. 2510.warkys] i. e. works.

v. 2513.largesse] i. e. liberality.

——to] i. e. too.

v. 2517.the nygarde nor the chyncherde] Synonymous terms. “Chyncheorchynchare. Preparcus.”Prompt. Parv.ed. 1499.

v. 2518.negarship] i. e. niggardship.

v. 2522.fumously adresse you with magnanymyte] i. e. hotly, vigorously provide, furnish yourself with, &c.

v. 2525.affyaunce] i. e. trust.

v. 2534.this processe] i. e. this drama ofMagnyfycence:(so presently, “this interlude” v. 2548, “this treatyse” v. 2562, “this mater” v. 2576:) see note on v. 2506, above.

Page 309. v. 2539.seke[r]nesse] i. e. security, sureness.

v. 2541.lawe] i. e. low; as in v. 190.

v. 2544.leue] i. e. willing.

v. 2550.auaunsyd] i. e. advanced.

v. 2557.lacke] i. e. fault, blame.

v. 2563.comberyd] i. e. encumbered, troubled.

Page 310. v. 2573.maysterfest] i. e. master-fast.

v. 2577.Precely purposyd vnder pretence of play]—Precely, i. e. Pressly, seems to mean here—seriously (rather than—expressly).

Page 310. v. 2583.the terestre rechery] If “rechery” be the right reading, I know not what it means. Qy. “trechery?” as before, v. 2046,

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