Chapter 21

“That beest a bausyn hyght: a brok or agraye:Thyse thre names he hath the soth for to saye.”The Book of St. Albans, sig. D vi.

“That beest a bausyn hyght: a brok or agraye:Thyse thre names he hath the soth for to saye.”

“That beest a bausyn hyght: a brok or agraye:

Thyse thre names he hath the soth for to saye.”

The Book of St. Albans, sig. D vi.

v. 102.gose ... oliphaunt] i. e. goose ... elephant.

v. 103.ageyne] i. e. against.

Page 366. v. 110.confecture] i. e. composition.

v. 111.diffuse is to expounde] i. e. is difficult to expound: see note, p. 144. v. 768.

v. 112.make ... fawt] i. e. compose ... fault.

v. 114.motyue] i. e. motion. So in the next line but one is “promotyue,” i. e. promotion: and so Lydgate has “ymaginatyfe” for—imagination.Fall of Prynces, B. v. leaf cxvii. ed. Wayland.

v. 115.auaunce] i. e. advance.

v. 116.rowme] i. e. room, place.

v. 121.gyse] i. e. guise, fashion.

v. 122.iche man doth hym dres] i. e. each man doth address, apply, himself.

v. 124.bokis] i. e. books.

Page 366. v. 127.loke] i. e. look.

v. 129.mo] i. e. more.

Page 367. v. 133.Ageyne] i. e. Against.

v. 136.wele] i. e. well.

v. 137.rasid] i. e. erased.

v. 140.Sith] i. e. Since.

——defaut] i. e. default, want.

——konnyng] i. e. (not so much—knowledge, learning, as) skill, ability.

v. 141.apposelle] i. e. question.

“And to pouert she put thisopposayle.”Lydgate’sFall of Prynces, B. iii. leaf lxvi. ed. Wayland.

“And to pouert she put thisopposayle.”

Lydgate’sFall of Prynces, B. iii. leaf lxvi. ed. Wayland.

“Made vnto her this vncouthapposayle:Why wepe ye so,” &c.Id.B. v. leaf cxxviii.

“Made vnto her this vncouthapposayle:Why wepe ye so,” &c.

“Made vnto her this vncouthapposayle:

Why wepe ye so,” &c.

Id.B. v. leaf cxxviii.

——wele inferrid] i. e. well brought in.

v. 142.

quikly it isTowchid]

quikly it is

Towchid]

i. e. it is lively, subtly expressed: compare v. 592 and v. 1161, where the words are applied to visible objects.

——debarrid] See note, p. 237. v. 60; and compareGentylnes and Nobylyte(attributed without grounds to Heywood) n. d.;

“That reason is so grete no man candebarr.”Sig. C iii.

“That reason is so grete no man candebarr.”

Sig. C iii.

Page 368. v. 149.sittyng] i. e. proper, becoming.

v. 152.corage] i. e. encourage.

v. 153.fresshely] i. e. elegantly: see note on v. 39. p. 302.

v. 155.bruitid] i. e. reported, spoken of.

v. 156.outray] See note, p. 123. v. 87, where this passage is examined.

v. 162.Ierome, in his preamble Frater Ambrosius, &c.] The Epistle of Jerome to Paulinus, prefixed to the Vulgate, begins, “Frater Ambrosiustua mihi munuscula perferens,” &c., and contains this passage: “Unde et Æschines, cum Rhodi exularet, et legeretur illa Demosthenis oratio, quam adversus eum habuerat, mirantibus cunctis atque laudantibus, suspirans ait, Quid, si ipsam audissetis bestiam sua verba resonantem?” It may be found also inHieronymi Opp. I.1005. ed. 1609.

Page 369. v. 172.most] i. e. must.

v. 180.wele ... avaunce] i. e. well ... advance.

v. 183.thefte and brybery] See note, p. 256. v. 1242.

v. 184.pyke] i. e. pick.

Page 369. v. 186.cokwoldes] i. e. cuckolds.

v. 187.wetewoldis] i. e. wittols, tame cuckolds.

“Wetewoldisthat suffre synne in her syghtes.”Lydgate’sAssemble de dyeus, sig. c i. n. d. 4to.

“Wetewoldisthat suffre synne in her syghtes.”

Lydgate’sAssemble de dyeus, sig. c i. n. d. 4to.

v. 188.lidderons] So before,lydderyns; see note, p. 267. v. 1945: but here, it would seem, the word is used in the more confined sense of—sluggish, slothful, idle fellows.

——losels] See note, p. 209. v. 138.

——noughty packis] See note, p. 203. v. 58.—If Skelton had been required to distinguish exactly between the meanings of these terms of reproach, he would perhaps have been nearly as much at a loss as his editor.

v. 189.Some facers, some bracers, some make great crackis] See note, p. 216. v. 33.

v. 192.courte rowlis] i. e. court-rolls.—Warton cites this and the next two verses as “nervous and manly lines.”Hist. of E. P.ii. 354. ed. 4to.

v. 196.rinne] i. e. run.

Page 370. v. 198.cunnyng] i. e. knowledge, learning.

v. 200.a mummynge] See note, p. 278. v. 83.

v. 201.sadnesse] See note, p. 259. v. 1382.

v. 203.faute] i. e. fault.

v. 204.to] i. e. too.

v. 205.can ... scole] i. e. knows ... school.

v. 207.fole] i. e. fool.

v. 208.stole] i. e. stool.

v. 209.Iacke a thrummis bybille] See note, p. 189. v. 204.

v. 211.agayne] i. e. against.

v. 212.dwte] i. e. duty.

v. 218.to] i. e. too.

Page 371. v. 223.lay] See note, p. 219. v. 103.

——werkis] i. e. works.

v. 227.most] i. e. must.

v. 232.condiscendid] See note, p. 237. v. 39.

v. 233.clarionar] Is used here for—trumpeter: but the words properly are not synonymous;

“Oftrumpetersand eke ofclarioneres.”Lydgate’sWarres of Troy, B. i. sig. C v. ed. 1555.

“Oftrumpetersand eke ofclarioneres.”

Lydgate’sWarres of Troy, B. i. sig. C v. ed. 1555.

and Skelton himself has afterwards in the present poem, “trumpettisandclariouns.” v. 1507.

v. 235.Eolus, your trumpet] i. e. Æeolus, your trumpeter.

“Atrumpetstode and proudly gan to blowe,Which slayne was and fro the tre doun throw.”Lydgate’sFall of Prynces, B. v. leaf cxxx. ed. Wayland.

“Atrumpetstode and proudly gan to blowe,Which slayne was and fro the tre doun throw.”

“Atrumpetstode and proudly gan to blowe,

Which slayne was and fro the tre doun throw.”

Lydgate’sFall of Prynces, B. v. leaf cxxx. ed. Wayland.

So Chaucer makes Æolus trumpeter to Fame: seeHouse of Fame, B. iii.

Page 371. v. 236.mercyall] i. e. martial.

v. 239.prease] i. e. press, throng.

v. 240.hole rowte] i. e. whole crowd, assembly.

v. 243.this trumpet were founde out] See note, p. 251. v. 977.

v. 244.hardely] i. e. assuredly.

v. 245.eyne] i. e. eyes.

Page 372. v. 248.presid ... to] i. e. pressed ... too.

v. 250.Some whispred, some rownyd] See note, p. 120. v. 513.

v. 255.quod] i. e. quoth.

v. 258.plumpe] i. e. cluster, mass. “Stode stille as hit had ben aplompeof wood.”Morte d’Arthur, B. i. cap. xvi. vol. i. 27. ed. Southey. Dryden has the word; and the first writer perhaps after his time who used it was Sir W. Scott.

v. 260.timorous] i. e. terrible.

v. 264.rowte] i. e. crowd, assembly.

v. 265.girnid] i. e. grinned.

v. 266.peuysshe] i. e. silly, foolish.

——masyd] i. e. bewildered, confounded.

v. 267.whyste] i. e. still.

——the nonys] i. e. the occasion.

v. 268.iche ... stode] i. e. each ... stood.

v. 269.wonderly] i. e. wonderfully.

v. 270.A murmur of mynstrels] So in many of our early English dramas “a noise of musicians” is used for a company or band of musicians.

v. 272.Traciane] i. e. Thracian.

——herped meledyously] i. e. harped melodiously.

Page 373. v. 274.armony] i. e. harmony.

v. 275.gree] i. e. agree.

v. 278.gle] i. e. music.

v. 279.auaunce] i. e. advance.

v. 282.Sterte ... fote] i. e. Started ... foot.

v. 285.

————lakeOf]

————lake

Of]

i. e. lack of,—less than.

v. 288.cronell] i. e. coronal, garland.

Page 373. v. 289.heris encrisped] i. e. hairs formed into curls, curling.

v. 290.Daphnes] i. e. Daphne. So our early poets wrote the name;

“A maiden whilom there was oneWhichDaphneshight.”Gower’sConf. Am.B. iii. fol. lvi. ed. 1554.

“A maiden whilom there was oneWhichDaphneshight.”

“A maiden whilom there was one

WhichDaphneshight.”

Gower’sConf. Am.B. iii. fol. lvi. ed. 1554.

“Her name wasDaphnyswhich was deuoyed of loue.”The Castell of pleasure, (by Nevil, son of Lord Latimer), sig. A iii. 1518.

“Her name wasDaphnyswhich was deuoyed of loue.”

The Castell of pleasure, (by Nevil, son of Lord Latimer), sig. A iii. 1518.

So afterwards in the present poem we findCidippesfor Cydippe, v. 885; and see note, p. 123. v. 70.

——the darte of lede] From Ovid,Met.i. 471.

v. 291.ne wolde] i. e. would not.

v. 292.herte] i. e. heart.

v. 295.Meddelyd with murnynge] i. e. Mingled with mourning.

v. 296.O thoughtfull herte] See note, p. 101. v. 10.

v. 298.loke] i. e. look.

v. 300.

the tre as he did takeBetwene his armes, he felt her body quake]

the tre as he did take

Betwene his armes, he felt her body quake]

From Ovid,Met.i. 553.

Page 374. v. 302.he assurded into this exclamacyon]—assurded, i. e. broke forth—a word which I have not elsewhere met with, but evidently formed from the not uncommon verbsourd, to rise. “Ther withinnesourdethand spryngeth a fontayne or welle.” Caxton’sMirrour of the world, 1480. sig. e v.: in that work, a few lines after, occurs “resourdeth.”

v. 306.adyment] i. e. adamant.

v. 307.ouerthwhart] i. e. cross, perverse, adverse.

v. 310.Sith] i. e. Since.

v. 314.gresse] i. e. grass. This stanza is also imitated from Ovid,Met.i. 521.

v. 315.axes] See note, p. 100. v. 9.

v. 317.raist] i. e. arrayest: see note on title of poem, p. 197.

v. 318.But sith I haue lost, &c.] Again from Ovid,Met.i. 557.

v. 324.poetis laureat, &c.] It must be remembered that formerly apoet laureatmeant a person who had taken a degree in grammar, including rhetoric and versification: and that the wordpoetwas applied to a writer of prose as well as of verse; “Poeta connyng man.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. lv. (Table of Subst.).

“Andpoetesto preoven hit. Porfirie and PlatoAristotle, Ovidius,” &c.Peirs Plouhman, p. 210. ed. Whit.

“Andpoetesto preoven hit. Porfirie and PlatoAristotle, Ovidius,” &c.

“Andpoetesto preoven hit. Porfirie and Plato

Aristotle, Ovidius,” &c.

Peirs Plouhman, p. 210. ed. Whit.

“Nor sugred deties [ditties] of Tullius Cicero.”Lydgate’sLyfe and passion of seint Albon, sig. B ii. ed. 1534.

“Nor sugred deties [ditties] of Tullius Cicero.”

Lydgate’sLyfe and passion of seint Albon, sig. B ii. ed. 1534.

Page 374. v. 328.Esiodus, the iconomicar] i. e. Hesiod, the writer on husbandry (the eds. by a misprint have “icononucar,”—which Warton says he “cannot decypher.”Hist. of E. P., ii. 352 (note), ed. 4to.) AmongMSS. Dig. Bod.147. is “Carmen Domini Walteri de Henleye quod vocaturYconomiasive Housbundria:” compare Cicero; “quam copiose ab eo [Xenophonte] agricultura laudatur in eo libro, qui est de tuenda re familiari, quiŒconomicusinscribitur.”Cato Major, c. 17.

v. 329.fresshe] i. e. elegant: see note, p. 302. v. 39.

Page 375. v. 335.engrosyd] i. e. plumped up, swollen.

——flotis] i. e. flowings,—drops: various reading, “droppes;” see notead l.(“Flotyce.Spuma.”Prompt. Parv.ed. 1499, is a distinct word.)

v. 338.Percius presed forth with problemes diffuse]—presed, i. e. pressed:diffuse, i. e. difficult to be understood; see note, p. 144. v. 768. “Skelton, undoubtedly a man of learning, calls Persius (not unhappily for his mode of thinking)a writer of problems diffuse.” Gifford’s Introd. toPersius, p. xxxi. ed. 1817.

v. 340.satirray] Is this word to be explained—satirist, or satirical?

v. 344.auaunce] i. e. advance.

v. 345.mengith] i. e. mingleth.

v. 347.wrate ... mercyall] i. e. wrote ... martial.

v. 352.Orace also with his new poetry] “That is, Horace’sArt of Poetry. Vinesauf wroteDe Nova Poetria. Horace’sArtis frequently mentioned under this title.” Warton’sHist. of E. P., ii. 353 (note), ed. 4to.

Page 376. v. 359.Boyce] i. e. Boethius.

——recounfortyd] i. e. recomforted,—comforted.

v. 360.

Maxymyane, with his madde ditiis,How dotynge age wolde iape with yonge foly]

Maxymyane, with his madde ditiis,

How dotynge age wolde iape with yonge foly]

—iape, i. e. jest, joke. TheElegiarum Liberof Maximianus, which has been often printed as the production of Cornelius Gallus, may be found, with all that can be told concerning its author, in Wernsdorf’sPoetæ Latini Minores, tomi sexti pars prior. In these six elegies Maximianus deplores the evils of old age, relates the pursuits and loves of his youth, &c. &c. Perhaps the line “How dotynge age wolde iape with yonge foly” (in which caseiapewould have the same meaning here as in our author’sManerly Margery Mylk and Ale, v. 20. vol. i. 28) is a particular allusion to Elegy v., where Maximianusinforms us, that, having been sent on an embassy, at an advanced period of life, he became enamoured of a “Graia puella,” &c., the adventure being described in the grossest terms.

Page 376. v. 365.Johnn Bochas with his volumys grete] In Skelton’s time, theDe Genealogia Deorum, theDe Casibus Virorum et Fœminarum Illustrium, and other now-forgotten works of Boccaccio, were highly esteemed,—more, perhaps, than theDecamerone.

v. 366.full craftely that wrate] i. e. that wrote full skilfully.

v. 368.probate] See note, p. 236. v. 4.

v. 372.Poggeus ... with many a mad tale] When this poem was written, theFacetiæof Poggio enjoyed the highest popularity. InThe Palice of Honour, Gawen Douglas, enumerating the illustrious writers at the Court of the Muses, says,

“Thair was Plautus,Poggius, and Persius.”p. 27. ed. Ban. 1827.

“Thair was Plautus,Poggius, and Persius.”

p. 27. ed. Ban. 1827.

v. 374.a frere of Fraunce men call sir Gagwyne, &c.]—frere, i. e. friar: concerning Gaguin, seeAccount of Skelton and his Writings.

v. 376.bote is of all bale] See note, p. 268. v. 2096.

Page 377. v. 380.Valerius Maximus by name] i. e. Valerius who has the name Maximus (to distinguish him from Valerius Flaccus).

v. 381.Vincencius in Speculo, that wrote noble warkis]—warkis, i. e. works. TheSpeculum Majusof Vincentius Bellovacensis (naturale, morale, doctrinale, et historiale), a vast treatise in ten volumes folio, usually bound in four, was first printed in 1473. See theBiog. Univ., and Hallam’sIntrod. to the Lit. of Europe, i. 160.

v. 382.Pisandros] “Our author,” says Warton, “got the name of Pisander, a Greek poet, from Macrobius, who cites a few of his verses.”Hist. of E. P., ii. 353 (note), ed. 4to. A mistake: Macrobius (Sat.v. 2.) mentions, but does not cite, Pisander.

v. 383.blissed Bachus, that mastris oft doth frame]—mastris, i. e. disturbances, strifes: see note, p. 264. v. 1738.

v. 386.sadly ... auysid] i. e. seriously, earnestly ... considered, observed.

v. 389.fresshely be ennewed] See notes, p. 144. v. 775. p. 302. v. 39.

v. 390.

The monke of Bury ...Dane Johnn Lydgate]

The monke of Bury ...

Dane Johnn Lydgate]

—Dane, equivalent toDominus. So at the commencement of hisLyfe of our Lady, printed by Caxton, folio, n. d.; “This book was compyled bydan John lydgate monke of Burye,” &c. He belonged to the Benedictine abbey of Bury in Suffolk.

Page 377. v. 391.theis Englysshe poetis thre] “That only these three English poets [Gower, Chaucer, Lydgate] are here mentioned, may be considered as a proof that only these three were yet thought to deserve the name.” Warton’sHist. of E. P., ii. 354. ed. 4to. So the Scottish poets of Skelton’s time invariably selected these three as most worthy of praise: see Laing’s note on Dunbar’sPoems, ii. 355.

v. 393.Togeder in armes, as brethern, enbrasid] So Lydgate;

“Embraced in armesas they had be knetTogyderwith a gyrdell.”Le Assemble de dyeus, sig. d iii. n. d.

“Embraced in armesas they had be knetTogyderwith a gyrdell.”

“Embraced in armesas they had be knet

Togyderwith a gyrdell.”

Le Assemble de dyeus, sig. d iii. n. d.

v. 395.tabers] i. e. tabards: see the earlier portion of note, p. 283. v. 318.

v. 397.Thei wantid nothynge but the laurell] Meaning,—that they were not poets laureate: see note on v. 324. p. 307.

v. 398.godely] i. e. goodly.

v. 402.enplement] i. e. employment, place.

Page 378. v. 405.The brutid Britons of Brutus Albion]—brutid, i. e. famed. So Lydgate;

“Reioyse ye folkes that borne be in Bretayne,Called otherwiseBrutus Albion.”Fall of Prynces, B. viii. fol. viii. ed. Wayland.

“Reioyse ye folkes that borne be in Bretayne,Called otherwiseBrutus Albion.”

“Reioyse ye folkes that borne be in Bretayne,

Called otherwiseBrutus Albion.”

Fall of Prynces, B. viii. fol. viii. ed. Wayland.

v. 410.Arrectinge vnto your wyse examinacion] See note, p. 237. v. 95.

v. 414.besy] i. e. busy.

v. 417.hooll] i. e. whole.

v. 420.poynted] i. e. appointed.

v. 421.pullisshyd] i. e. polished.

v. 425.mowte] i. e. might.

Page 379. v. 428.preuentid] i. e. anticipated.

v. 429.meritory] i. e. deserved, due.

v. 431.regraciatory] i. e. return of thanks.

v. 432.poynt you to be prothonatory] i. e. appoint you to be prothonotary.

v. 433.holl] i. e. whole.

v. 434.Auaunced] i. e. Advanced.

v. 439.warkes] i. e. works.

v. 444.I made it straunge] i. e. I made it a matter of nicety, scruple.

v. 445.presed] i. e. pressed.

Page 380. v. 455.prese] i. e. press, throng.

v. 460.Engolerid] i. e. Engalleried.

v. 466.turkis and grossolitis] i. e. turquoises and chrysolites.

Page 380. v. 467.birrall enbosid] i. e. beryl embossed.

v. 469.

Enlosenged with many goodly platisOf golde]

Enlosenged with many goodly platis

Of golde]

i. e. Having many goodly plates of gold shaped like lozenges (quadrilateral figures of equal sides, but unequal angles).

——entachid with many a precyous stone]—entachidmay be used in the sense of—tacked on; but qy. is the right reading “enhachid?” as in v. 40 of the present poem, “Enhachydewith perle,” &c., (and v. 1078 ofPhyllyp Sparowe,) see note, p. 302.

v. 472.whalis bone] In our early poetry “white as whales bone” is a common simile; and there is reason to believe that some of our ancient writers supposed the ivory then in use (which was made from the teeth of the horse-whale, morse, or walrus) to be part of the bones of a whale. Skelton, however, makes a distinction between “whalis bone” and the real ivory (see v. 468). The latter was still scarce in the reign of Henry the Eighth; but, before that period, Caxton had told his readers that “the tooth of an olyfaunt is yuorye.”Mirrour of the world, 1480. sig. f i.

v. 474.The carpettis within and tappettis of pall]—tappettis of pall,i. e. coverings of rich or fine stuff (perhaps table-covers): thattappettisdoes not here mean tapestry, is proved by the next line; and compare v. 787,

“With that thetappettisand carpettis were layd,Whereon theis ladys softly myght rest,The saumpler to sow on,” &c.

“With that thetappettisand carpettis were layd,

Whereon theis ladys softly myght rest,

The saumpler to sow on,” &c.

Page 381. v. 475.clothes of arace] See note, p. 192. v. 78.

v. 476.Enuawtyd ... vawte] i. e. Envaulted ... vault.

v. 477.pretory] Lat. prætorium.

v. 478.enbulyoned] i. e. studded; see note on v. 1165.

——indy blew] See note, p. 101. v. 17.

v. 480.Iacinctis and smaragdis out of the florthe they grew]—Iacinctis, i. e. Jacinths:smaragdis, i. e. emeralds (but see note, p. 102. v. 20): “Vng planché, a plancher or aflorthethat is boorded.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. iii. (Thirde Boke). “Flortheof a houseastre.”—“Gyst that gothe ouer theflorthe soliue, giste.”Id.fols. xxxiiii. xxxvi. (Table of Subst.). “I Plaster a wall orflorthewith plaster ... I wyl plaster theflortheof my chambre to make a gernyer there,Ie plastreray latre de ma chābre pour en faire vng grenier.”Id.fol. cccxviii. (Table of Verbes).

v. 483.most rychely besene] i. e. of a most rich appearance,—most richly arrayed: see notes, p. 112. v. 283, p. 295. v. 957.

v. 484.cloth of astate] i. e. cloth of estate,—canopy.

v. 487.ryally] i. e. royally.

Page 381. v. 489.enuyrowne] i. e. in compass, about.

v. 490.stode] i. e. stood.

v. 492.presid] i. e. pressed.

v. 493.Poyle ... Trace] i. e. Apulia ... Thrace.

v. 499.metely wele] See note, p. 270. v. 2196.

Page 382. v. 502.a kyby hele] See note, p. 174. v. 493.

v. 503.salfecundight] i. e. safe-conduct.

v. 504.lokyd ... a fals quarter]—lokyd, i. e. looked: “Thefalse quartersis a soreness on the inside of the hoofs, which are commonly called quarters, which is as much as to say, crased unsound quarters, which comes from evil Shooing and paring the Hoof.” R. Holme’sAc. of Armory, 1688. B. ii. p. 152.

v. 505.I pray you, a lytyll tyne stande back] So Heywood;

“For when prouender prickt thema little tine,” &c.Dialogue, &c. sig. D,—Workes, ed. 1598.

“For when prouender prickt thema little tine,” &c.

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

v. 514.the ballyuis of the v portis] i. e. the bailiffs of the Cinque Ports.

v. 519.besines] i. e. business.

v. 520.most] i. e. must.

v. 521.maystres] i. e. mistress.

v. 523.sufferayne] i. e. sovereign.

v. 525.And we shall se you ageyne or it be pryme] I have my doubts about what hour is here meant bypryme. Concerning that word see Du Cange’sGloss.inPrimaandHoræ Canonicæ, Tyrwhitt’sGloss.to Chaucer’sCant. Tales, Sibbald’sGloss.toChron. of Scot. Poetry, and Sir F. Madden’sGloss.toSyr Gawayne, &c.

Page 383. v. 531.kest ... loke] i. e. cast ... look.

v. 532.boke] i. e. book.

v. 537.supprysed] i. e. overpowered, smitten.

v. 541.the port salu] See note, p. 299. v. 1262.

v. 547.hertely as herte] i. e. heartily as heart.

v. 548.hole] i. e. whole.

v. 550.aquyte] i. e. discharge, pay.

Page 384. v. 554.moche] i. e. much.

v. 555.Affyaunsynge her myne hole assuraunce] i. e. Pledging her my whole, &c.

v. 559.stonde] i. e. stand.

v. 560.toke ... honde] i. e. took ... hand.

v. 566.iangelers] i. e. babblers, chatterers.

v. 570.moche costious] i. e. much costly.

v. 572.the stones be full glint]—glintmust mean here—slippery: see note, p. 263. v. 1687.

v. 574.yatis] i. e. gates.

Page 385. v. 585.carectis] i. e. characters.

v. 586.where as I stode] i. e. where I stood.

v. 590.a lybbard] i. e. a leopard.—“There is,” says Warton, who quotes the stanza, “some boldness and animation in the figure and attitude of this ferocious animal.”Hist. of E. P., ii. 352. ed. 4to.

v. 592.As quikly towchyd] i. e. touched, executed, as much to the life.

v. 595.forme foote] i. e. fore-foot.

——shoke] i. e. shook.

v. 597.

Unguibus ire parat loca singula livida curvisQuam modo per Phœbes nummos raptura Celæno]

Unguibus ire parat loca singula livida curvis

Quam modo per Phœbes nummos raptura Celæno]

The whole of this “Cacosyntheton ex industria” is beyond my comprehension. Here Skelton has an eye to Juvenal;

“Nec per conventus nec cuncta per oppidacurvisUnguibus ire parat nummos raptura Celæno.”Sat.viii. 129.

“Nec per conventus nec cuncta per oppidacurvisUnguibus ire parat nummos raptura Celæno.”

“Nec per conventus nec cuncta per oppidacurvis

Unguibus ire parat nummos raptura Celæno.”

Sat.viii. 129.

v. 601.Spreto spineto cedat saliunca roseto] Here he was thinking of Virgil;

“Lenta salix quantum pallenticeditolivæ,Puniceis humilis quantumsaliunca rosetis.”Ecl.v. 16.

“Lenta salix quantum pallenticeditolivæ,Puniceis humilis quantumsaliunca rosetis.”

“Lenta salix quantum pallenticeditolivæ,

Puniceis humilis quantumsaliunca rosetis.”

Ecl.v. 16.

v. 602.loked] i. e. looked.

v. 603.presed] i. e. pressed, thronged.

v. 604.Shet] i. e. Shut.

v. 605.to] i. e. too.

v. 606.astate] i. e. estate, condition.

v. 607.quod] i. e. quoth.

——haskardis] “Haskerdeswent in the queste: not honeste men.Proletarii & capite censi: non classici rem trāsegerunt.” HormanniVulgaria, sig. n iiii. ed. 1530.

“Wyne was not made for eueryhaskerde.”Copland’sHye Way to the Spyttell Hous,Early Pop. Poetry, ii. 33. ed. Utterson,

“Wyne was not made for eueryhaskerde.”

Copland’sHye Way to the Spyttell Hous,Early Pop. Poetry, ii. 33. ed. Utterson,

who in the Gloss. queries ifhaskerdemean “dirty fellow? from the Scotchhasky.” The latter word is explained by Jamieson “dirty, slovenly.”Et. Dict. of Scot. Lang.

——rebawdis] i. e. ribalds.

v. 608.Dysers, carders] Dicers, card-players.

——gambawdis] i. e. gambols.

Page 386. v. 609.Furdrers of loue] i. e. Furtherers of love—pimps, pandars.

v. 610.blow at the cole] A friend suggests that there is an allusion here to alchemists; but I believe he is mistaken. It is a proverbial expression. So our author again;

“We mayblowe at the cole.”Why come ye nat to Courte, v. 81. vol. ii. 29.

“We mayblowe at the cole.”

Why come ye nat to Courte, v. 81. vol. ii. 29.

The proverb given by Davies of Hereford;

“Let them that bee colde, blow at the cole.So may a man do, and yet play the foole.”Scourge of Folly,—Prouerbes, p. 171.

“Let them that bee colde, blow at the cole.So may a man do, and yet play the foole.”

“Let them that bee colde, blow at the cole.

So may a man do, and yet play the foole.”

Scourge of Folly,—Prouerbes, p. 171.

and by Ray,Proverbs, p. 90. ed. 1768, seems to have a quite different meaning.

Page 386. v. 611.kownnage] i. e. coinage,—coining.

v. 612.Pope holy ypocrytis] i. e. Pope-holy hypocrites: see note, p. 230. l. 24 (prose).

——as they were golde and hole]—hole, i. e. whole. Heywood also has this expression;

“In wordsgold and hole, as men by wit could wish,She will [lie] as fast as a dog will lick a dish.”Dialogue, &c.—Workes, sig. H 2, ed. 1598.

“In wordsgold and hole, as men by wit could wish,She will [lie] as fast as a dog will lick a dish.”

“In wordsgold and hole, as men by wit could wish,

She will [lie] as fast as a dog will lick a dish.”

Dialogue, &c.—Workes, sig. H 2, ed. 1598.

v. 613.Powle hatchettis] See note, p. 98. v. 28.

——ale pole] i. e. pole, or stake, set up before an ale-house by way of sign.

v. 614.brybery, theft] See note, p. 256. v. 1242.

v. 615.condycyons] See note, p. 183. v. 12.

v. 616.folys] i. e. fools.

v. 618.dysdanous dawcokkis] i. e. disdainful simpletons, empty fellows: see note, p. 113. v. 301.

v. 619.fawne thé] i. e. fawn on thee.

——kurris of kynde] i. e. curs by nature.

v. 620.shrewdly] i. e. evilly.

v. 625.broisid] i. e. bruised, broke.

v. 626.peuysshe] i. e. foolish, silly.

——porisshly pynk iyde] “Porisshly, as one loketh yᵗ can nat se well,Louchement.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. ccccxliiii. (Table of Aduerbes):pynk iyde, i. e. pink-eyed; “Some haue myghty eyes, and some bepynkeyed ... peti.” HormanniVulgaria, sig. G vi. ed. 1530; and see Nares’sGloss.in v.

v. 627.aspyid] i. e. espied, marked.

v. 629.a gun stone] After the introduction of iron shot (instead of balls of stone) for heavy artillery, the termgunstonewas retained in the sense of—bullet: “Gonne stone,plombee,boulet,bovle de fonte.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. xxxvii. (Table of Subst.).

——all to-iaggid] See notes, p. 100. v. 32. p. 163. v. 124.

v. 630.daggid] See note, p. 163. v. 123.

v. 631.byrnston] i. e. brimstone.

Page 386. v. 632.Masid] i. e. Bewildered, confounded.

——a scut] “Scutor hare. Lepus.”Prompt. Parv.ed. 1499.

v. 635.dysour] See note, p. 255. v. 1191.

——a deuyl way] See note, p. 287. v. 672.

Page 387. v. 637.peuisshenes] i. e. foolishness, silliness: compare v. 626.

v. 639.foisty bawdias] See note, p. 192. v. 76.

v. 641.Dasyng after dotrellis, lyke drunkardis that dribbis]—Dasyingi. e. gazing with a stupified look:dotrellis; see note, p. 129. v. 409:dribbis, i. e. drip, drivel, slaver.

v. 642.titiuyllis] See note, p. 284. v. 418.

——taumpinnis] i. e. tampions,—wooden stoppers, put into the mouths of cannon to keep out rain or sea-water. InThe foure P. P.by Heywood, the Poticary tells a facetious story about “a thampyon.” Sig. D i. ed. n. d. (Fr.tampon).

v. 643.I hyght you] i. e. I assure you.

v. 644.mone light] i. e. moonlight.

v. 648.wele] i. e. well.

v. 649.auenturis] i. e. adventure.

v. 652.herber] See note, p. 101. v. 13.

v. 653.brere] i. e. briar.

v. 654.With alys ensandid about in compas] “i. e. it was surrounded with sand-walks.” Warton’sHist. of E. P., ii. 350 (note), ed. 4to. So the garden, in which Chaucer describes Cressid walking, was “sondedall the waies.”Troilus and Creseide, B. ii. fol. 152, —Workes, ed. 1602: and compare Lydgate;

“Alle thealeiswere made playne withsond.”The Chorle and the Bird,—MS. Harl.116. fol. 147.

“Alle thealeiswere made playne withsond.”

The Chorle and the Bird,—MS. Harl.116. fol. 147.

v. 655.with singular solas] i. e. in a particularly pleasant manner.

v. 656.rosers] i. e. rose-bushes.

v. 658.coundight] i. e. conduit.

——coryously] i. e. curiously. So Lydgate;

“Coriouslyand craftly to endyte.”The prohemy of a mariage, &c.—MS. Harl.372. fol. 47.

“Coriouslyand craftly to endyte.”

The prohemy of a mariage, &c.—MS. Harl.372. fol. 47.

v. 662.ensilured again the son beames] i. e. ensilvered against the sunbeams.

Page 388. v. 664.reuolde] i. e. revolved, turned.

v. 669.bet vp a fyre] See note, p. 146. v. 930.

v. 671.flagraunt flower]—flagraunt, i. e. fragrant. Compare v. 978. So Hawes;

“Strowed withfloures flagraunteof ayre.”The Pastime of pleasure, sig. A a iiii. ed. 1555.

“Strowed withfloures flagraunteof ayre.”

The Pastime of pleasure, sig. A a iiii. ed. 1555.

Page 388. v. 673.baratows broisiours] i. e. contentious bruisers,—unless (as the context seems rather to shew)broisioursmeans—bruisures, bruises.

v. 674.passid all bawmys] i. e. surpassed all balms.

v. 676.gardynge] i. e. garden.

——piplyng] i. e. piping; as in our author’sReplycacion, &c. vol. i. 207. l. 26 (prose).

v. 680.the nyne Muses, Pierides by name] So Chaucer;

“Muses, that men clepe Pierides.”The Man of Lawes Prol.v. 4512 (but see Tyrwhitt’s note).

“Muses, that men clepe Pierides.”

The Man of Lawes Prol.v. 4512 (but see Tyrwhitt’s note).

v. 681.Testalis] i. e. Thestylis. So Barclay;

“Neera, Malkin, or lustieTestalis.”Second Egloge, sig. B ii. ed. 1570.

“Neera, Malkin, or lustieTestalis.”

Second Egloge, sig. B ii. ed. 1570.

v. 682.enbybid] i. e. made wet, soaked.

v. 683.moche solacyous] i. e. much pleasant, mirthful.

v. 686.somer] i. e. summer.

——fotid] i. e. footed.

v. 687.twynklyng upon his harpe stringis]—twynklyng, i. e. tinkling. So, at a much later period, Dekker; “Thou (most cleare throated singing man,) with thy Harpe, (to thetwincklingof which inferior Spirits skipt like Goates ouer the Welsh mountaines),” &c.A Knights Coniuring, 1607. sig. D 2.

Page 389. v. 688.And Iopas, &c.] Here, and in the next two stanzas, Skelton has an eye to Virgil;

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