Chapter 25

“And largelythe mountenaunce of an houreThey gonne on it to reden and to poure.”Chaucer’sTroil. and Cres., B. ii. fol. 157.Workes, ed. 1602.

“And largelythe mountenaunce of an houreThey gonne on it to reden and to poure.”

“And largelythe mountenaunce of an houre

They gonne on it to reden and to poure.”

Chaucer’sTroil. and Cres., B. ii. fol. 157.Workes, ed. 1602.

“Racynge and foynynge tothe mountenaunce of an houre.”Morte d’Arthur, B. vii. cap. iiii. vol. i. 191. ed. Southey.

v. 359.sayne] i. e. say.

v. 367.Burgonyons] i. e. Burgundians.

v. 373.

God saue my lorde admyrell!What here ye of Mutrell?]

God saue my lorde admyrell!

What here ye of Mutrell?]

—Mutrellis Montreuil; and the allusion must be to some attack intended or actual on that town, of which I can find no account agreeing with the date of the present poem. To suppose that the reference is to the siege of Montreuil in 1544, would be equivalent to pronouncing that the passage is an interpolation by some writer posterior to the time of Skelton.

v. 375.mell] i. e. meddle.

v. 380.

For drede of the red hatTake peper in the nose]

For drede of the red hat

Take peper in the nose]

i. e. For dread that the Cardinal, Wolsey, take offence.

“Heetaketh pepper in the nose, that I complayneVpon his faultes.”Heywood’sDialogue, &c. sig. G.,—Workes, ed. 1598.

“Heetaketh pepper in the nose, that I complayneVpon his faultes.”

“Heetaketh pepper in the nose, that I complayne

Vpon his faultes.”

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

Page 38.v. 383.Of by the harde arse] Compare theInterlude of the iiii Elementes, n. d.;

“Ye but yet I seruyd another worsI smotofhis leggeby the hard arsAs sone as I met hym there.”Sig. E i.

“Ye but yet I seruyd another worsI smotofhis leggeby the hard arsAs sone as I met hym there.”

“Ye but yet I seruyd another wors

I smotofhis leggeby the hard ars

As sone as I met hym there.”

Sig. E i.

v. 384.trauarse] i. e. thwarting contrivance.

Page 39.v. 386.makys our syre to glum] i. e. makes our lord (Wolsey) have a gloomy or sour look.

v. 391.go or ryde] See note, p. 125. v. 186.

v. 397.frayne] i. e. ask, inquire.

v. 401.Hampton Court] The palace of Wolsey; which he afterwards, with all its magnificent furniture, presented to the King.

v. 407.Yorkes Place] The palace of Wolsey, as Archbishop of York, which he had furnished in the most sumptuous manner: after his disgrace, it became a royal residence under the name of Whitehall.

v. 409.

To whose magnifycence, &c....Embassades of all nacyons]

To whose magnifycence, &c.

...

Embassades of all nacyons]

—Embassades, i. e. Embassies. “All ambassadors of foreign potentates were always dispatched by his discretion, to whom they had always access for their dispatch. His house was also always resorted and furnished with noblemen, gentlemen, and other persons, with going and coming in and out, feasting and banqueting all ambassadors diverse times, and other strangers right nobly.” Cavendish’sLife of Wolsey, p. 112. ed. 1827.

Page 40.v. 417.tancrete] “Tancrit: Transcrit, copié.” Roquefort’sGloss. de la Lang. Rom.

v. 418.obstract] i. e. abstract.

v. 425.Whan him lyst] i. e. When it pleases him.

v. 434.vndermynde] i. e. undermine.

v. 435.sleyghtes] i. e. artful contrivances.

v. 438.coarted] i. e. coarcted, confined.

v. 440.nutshales] i. e. nutshells.

v. 444.taken in gre] i. e. taken kindly, in good part: see note, p. 95. v. 68.

v. 449.

He bereth the kyng on hand,That he must pyll his lande]

He bereth the kyng on hand,

That he must pyll his lande]

—bereth on hand, i. e. leads on to a belief, persuades.

“Lordings, right thus, as ye han understond,BareI stifly min old husbondeson hond,That thus they saiden in hir dronkennesse.”Chaucer’sWif of Bathes Prol., 5961. ed. Tyr.

“Lordings, right thus, as ye han understond,BareI stifly min old husbondeson hond,That thus they saiden in hir dronkennesse.”

“Lordings, right thus, as ye han understond,

BareI stifly min old husbondeson hond,

That thus they saiden in hir dronkennesse.”

Chaucer’sWif of Bathes Prol., 5961. ed. Tyr.

“He is my countre man: as hebereth me an hande,—vti mihi vult persuasum.” HormanniVulgaria, sig. X viii. ed. 1530. The expression occurs in a somewhat different sense in our author’sMagnyfycence, see note, p. 241. v. 357:pyll, i. e. strip, spoil.

Page 41.v. 463.a cæciam] “Cæcia, σκοτοδινία [a vertigo with loss of sight].” Du Cange’sGloss.See notead loc.Qy. is “accidiam” the right reading (“Acedia,Accidia... tædium ... tristitia, molestia, anxietas,” &c. (Gr. ἀκηδία): seeDu Cange)?

v. 476.a Mamelek] i. e. a Mameluke. CompareThe Image of Ipocrisy, (a poem in imitation of Skelton, which is appended to the present edition);

“And crafty inquisitors,Worse thenMamalokes.”Part Four.

“And crafty inquisitors,Worse thenMamalokes.”

“And crafty inquisitors,

Worse thenMamalokes.”

Part Four.

v. 478.potshordes] i. e. potsherds.

Page 42.v. 483.God to recorde] i. e. God to witness.

v. 485.reason or skyll] See note, p. 238. v. 106.

v. 486.

the primordyallOf his wretched originall]

the primordyall

Of his wretched originall]

—primordyall, i. e. first beginning.

v. 490.sank] i. e. blood.

v. 491.bochers] i. e. butcher’s: see note, p. 349. v. 478.

v. 495.rowme] i. e. room, place, office.

v. 505.parde] i. e.par dieu, verily.

v. 508.saw] i. e. saying,—branch of learning. So in our author’sColyn Cloute;

“Some lernde in othersawe.”v. 734. vol. i. 339.

“Some lernde in othersawe.”

v. 734. vol. i. 339.

v. 511.quatriuials] }

v. 512.triuials] }

See note, p. 343. v. 171. This depreciation of Wolsey’s acquirements is very unjust: his learning, there is reason to believe, was far from contemptible.

Page 43.v. 517.worth a fly] See note, p. 219. v. 104.

v. 518.Haly] }

v. 519.Ptholomy] }

v. 520.Albumasar] }

See notes, p. 133. vv. 501. 503. 505.

v. 522.mobyll] i. e. moveable.

v. 526.humanyte] i. e.humaniores literæ, polite literature.

v. 533.our processe for to stable]—processe, i. e. story, account; see notes, p. 143. v. 735. p. 146. v. 969, &c. and compare our author’s Fourth PoemAgainst Garnesche, “But now myproces for to saue,” v. 157. vol. i. 131.

v. 538.conceyght] i. e. conceit,—good opinion, favour.

v. 540.exemplyfyenge] i. e. following the example of.

Page 44.v. 550.A wretched poore man, &c.] i. e. Abdalonimus (or Abdolonimus) whom Alexander made king of Sidon: see Justin, xi. 10. Cowley touches on the story at the commencement ofPlant. Lib. iv.; and in his English version of that commencement, under the title ofThe Country Life, he has greatly improved the passage.

v. 557.occupyed a showell] i. e. used a shovel: see note, p. 86. v. 52.

v. 566.renowme] i. e. renown.

v. 569.with lewde condicyons cotyd] i. e. quoted, noted, marked, with evil qualities: see note, p. 183. v. 12.

v. 570.ben] i. e. be.

v. 573.Couetys] i. e. Covetise, covetousness.

v. 575.wode] i. e. mad.

v. 576.mode] i. e. mood, passion.

v. 577.swerde] i. e. sword.

v. 579.sone] i. e. soon.

Page 45.v. 583.trone] i. e. throne.

v. 584.a great astate] i. e. a person of great estate, or rank.

v. 585.play checke mate] In allusion to the king’s being put incheckat the game of chess.

v. 586.ryall] i. e. royal.

v. 591.fynd] i. e. fiend.

v. 594.Lyke Mahounde in a play] In none of the early miracle-plays which have come down to us is Mahound (Mahomet) a character, though he is mentioned and sworn by.

v. 601.rebads] i. e. ribalds.

v. 602.beggers reiagged] i. e. beggars all-tattered.

v. 603.recrayed] i. e. recreant.

v. 604.hauell] See note on v. 94. p. 353.

v. 605.Rynne] i. e. Run.

——iauell] See note, p. 271. v. 2218.

v. 606.peuysshe pye] i. e. silly magpie.

v. 607.losell] i. e. good-for-nothing fellow, scoundrel.

v. 613.Iacke breche] i. e. Jack-ass (-arse).

Page 46.v. 618.shrewdly] i. e. badly.

v. 621.kayser] See note, p. 247. v. 796.

v. 622.

My lorde is nat at layser;Syr, ye must tary a stounde, &c.]

My lorde is nat at layser;

Syr, ye must tary a stounde, &c.]

—layser, i. e. leisure:a stounde, i. e. a time, a while. CompareA Character of the insolent behaviour of Cardinal Wolsey as given by Thomas Allen Priest and Chaplain to the Earl of Shrewsbury in a Letter to his Lordshyp about Apr.1517, among Kennett’sCollections,—MS. Lansd.978. fol. 213. “Pleseth your Lordshyp to understande upon Monday was sennight last past I delivered your Letter with the examinacyon to my Lord Cardynall at Guilford, whence he commanded me to wait on him to the Court. I followed him and there gave attendance and could have no Answer. Upon ffriday last he came from thence to Hampton Court, where he lyeth. The morrow after I besought his Grace I might know his plesure; I could have no Answer. Upon Mondaye last as he walked in the parke at Hampton Court, I besought his Grace I might knowe if he wolde command me anye servyce. He was not content with me that I spoke to hym. So that who shall be a Suitour to him may have no other busynesse but give attendance upon his plesure. He that shall so doe, it is needfull shuld be a wyser man then I am. I sawe no remedy, but came without Answere, except I wolde have done as my Lord Dacre’s Servaunt doth, who came with Letters for the Kynges servyce five moneths since and yet hath no Answere. And another Servaunt of the Deputy of Calais likewyse who came before the other to Walsyngham, I heard, when he aunswered them, ‘If ye be not contente to tary my leysure, departe when ye wille.’ This is truthe, I had rather your Lordshyp commaunded me to Rome then deliver him Letters, and bring Aunswers to the same. When he walketh in the Parke he will suffer no Servaunt to come nyghe him, but commands them awaye as farre as one might shoote an arrowe.”

Page 46.v. 631.flyt] i. e. remove.

v. 635.neuer the nere]—nere, i. e. nearer.

“That they were early vp, andneuer the neere.”Heywood’sDialogue, &c. sig. A 3,—Workes, ed. 1598.

“That they were early vp, andneuer the neere.”

Heywood’sDialogue, &c. sig. A 3,—Workes, ed. 1598.

v. 636.daungerous dowsypere] “He hath adaungerousloke. Atollit supercilium, adducit, contrahit supercilia.”—“I can not away with suchedaungorousfelowes. Ferre non possum horum supercilium, vel superciliosos, arrogantes, fastuosos, vel arrogantiam, aut fastum talium.” HormanniVulgaria, sigs. L i, P iiii. ed. 1530:—dowsypere, i. e. lord, noble (properly, one of theDouze-Pairsof France);

“Erll, duke, anddouch-spere.”Golagros and Gawane, p. 182,—Syr Gawayne, &c. ed. Madden.

“Erll, duke, anddouch-spere.”

Golagros and Gawane, p. 182,—Syr Gawayne, &c. ed. Madden.

See too Spenser’sF. Queene, iii. x. 31.

v. 642.With a poore knyght] “He [Wolsey] fell in acquaintance with one Sir John Nanphant, a very grave and ancient knight, who had a great room in Calais under King Henry the Seventh. Thisknight he served, and behaved him so discreetly and justly, that he obtained the especial favour of his said master; insomuch that for his wit, gravity, and just behaviour, he committed all the charge of his office unto his chaplain. And, as I understand, the office was the treasurership of Calais, who was, in consideration of his great age, discharged of his chargeable room, and returned again into England, intending to live more at quiet. And through his instant labour and especial favour his chaplain was promoted to the king’s service, and made his chaplain.” Cavendish’sLife of Wolsey, p. 70. ed. 1827. According to Nash, it was SirRichardNanfan (father of Sir John) who was “captain of Calais, made a knight, and esquire of the body to Henry vii.”Hist. of Worcestershire, i. 85.

Page 46.v. 643.hyght] i. e. be called.

v. 646.mell] i. e. meddle.

v. 649.doddypatis] i. e. thick-heads.

Page 47.v. 651.iack napis] i. e. jackanapes, ape, monkey.

v. 652.bedleme] i. e. bedlamite.

v. 653.reame] i. e. realm.

v. 661.loselry] i. e. wickedness, evil practice.

v. 664.hart rote] i. e. heart-root.

v. 665.kote] i. e. coot (water-fowl).

v. 668.he wyll tere it asonder] So Roy, in his satire against Wolsey,Rede me, and be nott wrothe, &c.;

“His power he doth so extende,Thatthe Kyngis letters to rendeHe will not forbeare in his rage.”Harl. Miscell., ix. 69. ed. Park.

“His power he doth so extende,Thatthe Kyngis letters to rendeHe will not forbeare in his rage.”

“His power he doth so extende,

Thatthe Kyngis letters to rende

He will not forbeare in his rage.”

Harl. Miscell., ix. 69. ed. Park.

v. 670.hoddypoule] i. e. dunder-head.

v. 674.settys nat by it a myte] i. e. values it not at a mite, cares not a mite for it.

v. 679.demensy] i. e. madness.

Page 48.v. 682.mell] i. e. meddle.

v. 683.wele] i. e. well.

v. 684.How Frauncis Petrarke, &c.] “Vidi Aquensem Caroli sedem, & in templo marmoreo verendum barbaris gentibus illius principis sepulchrum, vbi fabellam audiui, non inamœnam cognitu, a quibusdam templi sacerdotibus, quam scriptam mihi ostenderunt, & postea apud modernos scriptores accuratius etiam tractatam legi, quam tibi quoque ut referam incidit animus: ita tamen, ut rei fides non apud me quæratur, sed (vt aiunt) penes auctores maneat. Carolum Regem quem Magni nomine [ed. Bas.cognomine] æquare Pompeio & Alexandro audent, mulierculam quandam perdite &efflictim amasse memorant, eius blanditiis eneruatum, neglecta fama (cui plurimum inseruire consueuerat) & posthabitis regni curis, aliarum rerum omnium & postremo suiipsius oblitum, diu nulla prorsus in re nisi illius amplexibus acquieuisse, summa cum indignatione suorum ac dolore. Tandem cum iam spei nihil superesset (quoniam aures regias salutaribus consiliis insanus amor obstruxerat), fœminam ipsam malorum causam insperata mors abstulit, cuius rei ingens primum in regia sed latens gaudium fuit: deinde dolore tantum priore grauiore, quantum fœdiori morbo correptum regis animum videbant, cuius nec morte lenitus furor, sed in ipsum obscœnum cadauer & exangue translatus est, quod balsamo & aromatibus conditum, onustum gemmis, & velatum purpura, diebus ac noctibus tam miserabili quam cupido fouebat amplexu. Dici nequit quam discors & quam male se compassura conditio est amantis ac regis: nunquam profecto contraria sine lite iunguntur. Quid est autem regnum, nisi iusta & gloriosa dominatio? Contra quid est amor, nisi fœda seruitus & iniusta? Itaque cum certatim ad amantem (seu rectius ad amentem) Regem, pro summis regni negotiis legationes gentium, præfectique & prouinciarum præsides conuenirent, is in lectulo suo miser, omnibus exclusis & obseratis foribus, amato corpusculo cohærebat, amicam suam crebro, velut spirantem responsuramque compellans, illi curas laboresque suos narrabat, illi blandum murmur & nocturna suspiria, illi semper amoris comites lachrymas instillabat, horrendum miseriæ solamen, sed quod vnum ex omnibus Rex alioquin (vt aiunt) sapientissimus elegisset. Addunt fabulæ quod ego nec fieri potuisse nec narrari debere arbitror. Erat ea tempestate in aula Coloniensis Antistes, vir, vt memorant, sanctitate & sapientia clarus, necnon comis, et consilii Regii prima vox, qui domini sui statum miseratus, vbi animaduertit humanis remediis nihil agi, ad Deum versus, ilium assidue precari, in illo spem reponere, ab eo finem mali poscere multo cum gemitu: quod cum diu fecisset, nec desiturus videretur, die quodam illustri miraculo recreatus est: siquidem ex more sacrificanti, & post deuotissimas preces pectus & aram lachrymis implenti, de cœlo vox insonuit, Sub extinctæ mulieris lingua furoris Regii causam latere. Quo lætior, mox peracto sacrificio, ad locum vbi corpus erat se proripuit, & iure notissimæ familiaritatis regiæ introgressus, os digito clam scrutatus, gemmam perexiguo annulo inclusam sub gelida rigentique lingua repertam festinabundus auexit. Nec multo post rediens Carolus, & ex consuetudine ad optatum mortuæ congressum properans, repente aridi cadaueris spectaculo concussus, obriguit, exhorruitque contactum, auferri eam quantocius ac sepeliri iubens. Inde totus in Antistitemconuersus, illum amare, illum colere, illum indies arctius amplecti. Denique nihil nisi ex sententia illius agere, ab illo nec diebus nec noctibus auelli. Quod vbi sensit vir iustus ac prudens, optabilem forte multis sed onerosam sibi sarcinam abiicere statuit, veritusque ne si vel ad manus alterius perueniret, vel flammis consumeretur, domino suo aliquid periculi afferret, annulum in vicinæ paludis præaltam voraginem demersit. Aquis forte tum rex cum proceribus suis habitabat, ex eoque tempore cunctis ciuitatibus sedes illa prælata est, in ea nil sibi palude gratius, ibi assidere & illis aquis mira cum voluptate, illius odore velut suauissimo delectari. Postremo illuc regiam suam transtulit, & in medio palustris limi, immenso sumptu, iactis molibus, palatium templumque construxit, vt nihil diuinæ vel humanæ rei eum inde abstraheret. Postremo ibi vitæ suæ reliquum egit, ibique sepultus est: cauto prius vt successores sui primam inde coronam & prima imperii auspicia capescerent, quod hodie quoque seruatur, seruabiturque quam din Romani frena imperii Theutonica manus aget.” PetrarchæFam. Epist., lib. i. Ep. iii. p. 10,et seq., ed. 1601.—On this story, which he found in a French author, Mr. Southey has composed a ballad: see hisMinor Poems.

Page 48.v. 694.carectes] i. e. characters, magical inscriptions.

v. 703.Acon] i. e. Aix la Chapelle: “Aconin Almayne whyche is a moche fayr cytee, where as kyng charles had made his paleys moche fayr & ryche and a ryght deuoute chapel in thonour of our lady, wherin hymself is buryed.” Caxton’sHistory and Lyf of Charles the Grete, &c. 1485. sig. b 7.

v. 709.obsolute] i. e. absolute, absolved.

v. 710.practyue] i. e. practise.

——abolete] i. e. antiquated, abolished.

Page 49.v. 713.

But I wyll make further relacionOf this isagogicall colation]

But I wyll make further relacion

Of this isagogicall colation]

—isagogicall colationseems to be equivalent here to—comparison introduced, or discourse introduced for the sake of comparison.

v. 715.How maister Gaguine, &c.] Concerning Gaguin see theAccount of Skelton’s Life, &c. The passage here alluded to, will be found inRoberti Gaguini ordinis sanctæ trinitatis ministri generalis de origine et gestis francorum perquamutile compendium, lib. x. fol. cxiiii. (where the marginal note is “Balluæ cardinalis iniquitas”), ed. 1497. Cardinal Balue (whom the reader will probably recollect as a character in Sir W. Scott’sQuentin Durward) was confined by order of Louis xi. in an iron cage at the Castle ofLoches, in which durance he remained for eleven years. But there is no truth in Skelton’s assertion that he “was hedyd, drawen, and quarterd,” v. 737; for though he appears to have deserved that punishment, he terminated his days prosperously in Italy.

Page 49.v. 720.a great astate] i. e. a person of great estate, or rank.

v. 728.so wele apayd] i. e. so well satisfied, pleased.

v. 731.him lyst] i. e. pleased him.

v. 732.cheked at the fyst] Seems to be equivalent here to—attacked, turned against the hand which fed him. “Checkis when Crowes, Rooks, Pyes, or other birds comming in the view of the Hawk, she forsaketh her naturall flight to fly at them.” Latham’sFaulconry(Explan. of Words of Art), 1658.

v. 733.agayne] i. e. against.

Page 50.v. 748.dyscust] See note, p. 321. v. 881.

v. 752.rote] i. e. root.

v. 753.

Yet it is a wyly mouseThat can bylde his dwellinge houseWithin the cattes eare]

Yet it is a wyly mouse

That can bylde his dwellinge house

Within the cattes eare]

This proverbial saying occurs in a poem attributed to Lydgate;

“An hardymowse that is bold to breedeIn cattis eeris.”The Order of Foles,—MS. Harl.2251. fol. 304.

“An hardymowse that is bold to breedeIn cattis eeris.”

“An hardymowse that is bold to breede

In cattis eeris.”

The Order of Foles,—MS. Harl.2251. fol. 304.

And so Heywood;

“I haue heard tell, it had need to beeA wylie mouse that should breed in the cats eare.”Dialogue, &c. sig. G 4,—Workes, ed. 1598.

“I haue heard tell, it had need to beeA wylie mouse that should breed in the cats eare.”

“I haue heard tell, it had need to bee

A wylie mouse that should breed in the cats eare.”

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

v. 766.sad] See note, p. 264. v. 1711.

v. 768.heale] i. e. health.

v. 774.

that mastyfe ...Let him neuer confoundeThe gentyll greyhownde]

that mastyfe ...

Let him neuer confounde

The gentyll greyhownde]

See note, p. 349. v. 478.

Page 51.v. 782.borde] i. e. jest.

v. 783.stede] i. e. place.

v. 784.maister Mewtas] John Meautis was secretary for the French language to Henry the Seventh and Henry the Eighth. It appears from Rymer’sFœderathat he was allowed, in consideration of his services, to import Gascon wine and to dispose of it to the best advantage, T. v. P. iv. p. 78 (anno 1494), T. vi. P. i. p. 146 (anno 1518), ed. Hagæ; and that he was occasionally employed on business with foreign powers, T. v. P. iv. pp. 110, 113 (anno 1497). Among some, says Ashmole, who became Poor Knights of Windsor “probably outof devotion, rather than cause of poverty,” was “John Mewtes Secretary of the French Tongue (Pat. 18. H. 7. p. 1).”Order of the Garter, p. 161. Several unimportant entries concerning this person occur in the unpublished Books of Payments preserved in the Chapter House, Westminster.

Page 51.v. 795.a bull vnder lead]—lead, i. e. a leaden seal.

v. 798.Dymingis Dale] So inThersytes, n. d.;

“Mother bryce of oxforde and greate Gyb of hynxeyAlso mawde of thrutton and mable of charteseyAnd all other wytches that walke indymminges daleClytteringe and clatteringe there youre pottes with ale.”p. 68. Roxb. ed.

“Mother bryce of oxforde and greate Gyb of hynxey

Also mawde of thrutton and mable of chartesey

And all other wytches that walke indymminges dale

Clytteringe and clatteringe there youre pottes with ale.”

p. 68. Roxb. ed.

v. 799.Portyngale] i. e. Portugal.

v. 806.calodemonyall] i. e. consisting of good angels.

v. 807.cacodemonyall] i. e. consisting of evil angels.

v. 808.puruey] i. e. provide.

Page 52.v. 831.euerychone] i. e. every one.

v. 838.rewth] i. e. pity.

v. 845.recorde] i. e. witness, evidence.

Page 53.v. 856.set by] i. e. valued, regarded.

v. 867.askrye] i. e. a shout. The verb has occurred several times before: see notes, p. 145. v. 903. p. 152. v. 1358. p. 191. v. 66.

v. 877.haute ... base] i. e. high ... low.

v. 880.

Marke me that chaseIn the tennys play]

Marke me that chase

In the tennys play]

See the latter part of note, p. 205. v. 62. “Marquez bien cette chasse.Heed well that passage, marke well the point, whereof I have informed you.” Cotgrave’sDict.in v.Chasse.

Page 54.v. 883.a tall man] “Tallor semely.”Prompt. Parv.ed. 1499.

v. 885.Hay, the gye and the gan] In one of his copies of versesAgainst Venemous Tongues, Skelton has,

“Nothing to write, buthay the gy of thre.”v. 13. vol. i. 134,

“Nothing to write, buthay the gy of thre.”

v. 13. vol. i. 134,

where there seems to be some allusion to the dance calledheydeguies. In the present passage probably there is a play on words:gyemay mean—goose; andgangander.

v. 886.gose] i. e. goose.

v. 887.The waters wax wan] Horne Tooke in hisDiv. of Purley, Part ii. p. 179. ed. 1805, citing this line from the ed. of Skelton’sWorks, 1736, thus,

“The waterswerewan,”

considers “wan” as the past participle of the verb “wane,”—wand,decreased; and he is followed by Richardson,Dict.in v.Wan. But “were” is merely a misprint of ed. 1736; and that “wan” is here an adjective expressing the colour of the water, is not to be doubted. So Skelton elsewhere;

“For worldly shame Iwaxbothewanneand bloo.”Magnyfycence, v. 2080. vol. i. 292.

“For worldly shame Iwaxbothewanneand bloo.”

Magnyfycence, v. 2080. vol. i. 292.

“The ryuers rowth, thewaters wan.”Balett, v. 15. vol. i. 22.

“The ryuers rowth, thewaters wan.”

Balett, v. 15. vol. i. 22.

So too in Henry’sWallace;

“Bot rochis heich, andwattirdepe andwan.”B. vii. 814. ed. Jam.

“Bot rochis heich, andwattirdepe andwan.”

B. vii. 814. ed. Jam.

Page 54.v. 888.ban] i. e. curse.

v. 891.warke] i. e. work.

v. 896.Sem ... Cam] i. e. Shem ... Ham.

v. 898.cupbord] “Cupborde of plateor to sette plate vponbuffet.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. xxviii. (Table of Subst.). It had a succession of “desks” or stages, on which the plate was displayed: see the description of a magnificent entertainment in Cavendish’sLife of Wolsey, p. 195. ed. 1827, and the editor’s note.

v. 904.alcumyn] i. e. a sort of mixed metal.

v. 905.A goldsmyth your mayre] “A.D.1522 ... Maior, Sir John Mundy, Goldsmith, Son to William Mundy of Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.” Stow’sSurvey, B. v. 129. ed. 1720.

v. 908.trotters] “Trottersshepes fete.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. lxxi. (Table of Subst.).

v. 909.potshordis] i. e. potsherds.

v. 910.shrewdly] i. e. badly.

Page 55.v. 914.syr Trestram] See note, p. 137. v. 634. The name is, of course, used here for a person of rank generally.

v. 916.Cane] i. e. Caen, in Normandy.

v. 917.wane] i. e. decreased.

v. 918.royals] }

v. 919.nobles] }

The coins so called.

v. 920.Burgonyons] i. e. Burgundians.

v. 928.With, laughe and lay downe] A punning allusion to the game at cards so called.

v. 930.Sprynge of Lanam]—Lanam, i. e. Langham in Essex. In the Expenses of Sir John Howard, first Duke of Norfolk, we find, under the year 1463, “Item, Apylton andSprynge off Lanamowyth my mastyr, as James Hoberd and yonge Apylton knowyth wele [a blank left for the sum].”Manners and Household Expenses of England,&c. p. 180. ed. Roxb. It seems probable, however, from the early date, that the person mentioned in the entry just cited was the father (or some near relative) of the Spring noticed by Skelton. But Stow certainly alludes to the clothier of our text, where he records that, during the disturbances which followed the attempt to levy money for the king’s use in 1525, when the Duke of Norfolk inquired of the rebellious party in Suffolk “what was the cause of their disquiet, and who was their captaine?... one Iohn Greene a man of fiftie yeeres olde answered, that pouertie was both cause and captaine. For the rich clothiersSpring of Lanamand other had giuen ouer occupying, whereby they were put from their ordinarie worke and liuing.”Annales, p. 525. ed. 1615. Neither Hall nor Holinshed, when relating the same circumstance, make any mention of Spring.

Page 55.v. 935.He must tax for his wull] i. e. He must pay tax for his wool.

Page 56.v. 952.the streytes of Marock] i. e. the straits of Morocco.

“Thurghout the see of Grece, untothe straiteOf Maroc.”Chaucer’sMan of Lawes Tale, v. 4884. ed. Tyr.

“Thurghout the see of Grece, untothe straiteOf Maroc.”

“Thurghout the see of Grece, untothe straite

Of Maroc.”

Chaucer’sMan of Lawes Tale, v. 4884. ed. Tyr.

v. 953.the gybbet of Baldock] See note, p. 340. v. 75.

v. 958.mellys] i. e. meddles.

v. 972.fendys blake] i. e. fiends black.

v. 974.crake] i. e. vaunt, talk bigly.

v. 975.

he wolde than makeThe deuyls to quake]

he wolde than make

The deuyls to quake]

So Roy in his satire against Wolsey,Rede me, and be nott wrothe, &c.;

“Yf he be as thou hast here sayde,I wene the devils will be afraydeTo have hym as a companion;For what with his execracions,And with his terrible fulminacions,He wolde handle theym so,That for very drede and feare,All the devils that be theareWilbe glad to let hym go.”Harl. Miscell.ix. 29. ed. Park.

“Yf he be as thou hast here sayde,

I wene the devils will be afrayde

To have hym as a companion;

For what with his execracions,

And with his terrible fulminacions,

He wolde handle theym so,

That for very drede and feare,

All the devils that be theare

Wilbe glad to let hym go.”

Harl. Miscell.ix. 29. ed. Park.

v. 978.fyer drake] i. e. fiery dragon.

v. 979.a cole rake] “Colerake ratissover.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. xxv. (Table of Subst.).

Page 57.v. 980.Brose them on a brake]—Brose, i. e. bruise,break:brake(which has occurred before in a different sense, see note, p. 168. v. 324) means here an engine of torture: “I Brake ona brakeor payne bauke as men do mysdoers to confesse the trouthe.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. clxxi. (Table of Verbes). In the Tower was a celebratedbrakeknown by the nick-name of the Duke of Exeter’s Daughter: see the woodcut in Steevens’s note onMeasure for Measure,—Shakespeare(by Malone and Boswell), ix. 44.

Page 57.v. 984.a grym syer]—syer, i. e. sire, lord.

“Ryghta grym syreat domys day xal he be.”Coventry Mysteries,—MS. Cott. Vesp. Dviii. fol. 37.

“Ryghta grym syreat domys day xal he be.”

Coventry Mysteries,—MS. Cott. Vesp. Dviii. fol. 37.

v. 985.potestolate] Equivalent, I suppose, to—legate.

v. 986.potestate] “Potestat.A Potestat, principall Officer, chiefe Magistrate.” Cotgrave’sDict.

v. 989.echone] i. e. each one.

v. 990.trone] i. e. throne.

v. 996.Folam peason] i. e. Fulham pease.

v. 997.geson] i. e. scarce, rare.

v. 1000.herbers] See note, p. 101. v. 13.

v. 1001.bryght and shene] Are synonymous: yet Spenser also has;

“Her garment was sobrightand wondroussheene,” &c.The Faerie Queene,—Mutabilitie, vii. 7.

“Her garment was sobrightand wondroussheene,” &c.

The Faerie Queene,—Mutabilitie, vii. 7.

Page 58.v. 1014.The deuyll spede whitte] See note, p. 252. v. 1018.

v. 1016.rechelesse] i. e. reckless.

v. 1019.bended] i. e. banded. “A knotte or abendeof felowes.” HormanniVulgaria, sig. Z viii. ed. 1530.

v. 1020.condyscended] See note, p. 237. v. 39.

Page 59.v. 1055.Remordynge] See note, p. 193. v. 101.

v. 1056.flytynge] i. e. scolding, rating.

v. 1058.dawis] i. e. simpletons: see note, p. 113. v. 301.

v. 1059.sawis] i. e. sayings, texts.

v. 1060.gygawis] i. e. gewgaws, trifles.

v. 1066.let] i. e. hinder, obstruct.

v. 1067.maumet] See note, p. 188. v. 170.

v. 1070.crakynge] i. e. vaunting, talking bigly.

Page 60.v. 1077.him lykys] i. e. pleases him.

v. 1086.For all priuileged places, &c..] See note, p. 342. v. 126.

v. 1094.Saint Albons to recorde, &c..] Wolsey, at that time Archbishop of York and Cardinal, was appointed to hold the abbacy of St. Alban’sin commendam; and is supposed to have applied its revenues to the expensive public works in which he was then engaged,the building of his colleges at Oxford and Ipswich, &c.,—a great infraction, as it was considered, of the canon law.

Page 60.v. 1100.legacy] i. e. legatine power.

v. 1104.ben] i. e. be.

v. 1105.take] i. e. took.

Page 61.v. 1113.He is periured himselfe, &c.] “And York [Wolsey] perceiving the obedience that Canterbury [Warham] claimed to have of York, intended to provide some such means that he would rather be superior in dignity to Canterbury than to be either obedient or equal to him. Wherefore he obtained first to be made Priest Cardinal, andLegatus de Latere; unto whom the Pope sent a Cardinal’s hat, with certain bulls for his authority in that behalf.” ... “Obtaining this dignity, [he] thought himself meet to encounter with Canterbury in his high jurisdiction before expressed; and that also he was as meet to bear authority among the temporal powers, as among the spiritual jurisdictions. Wherefore remembering as well the taunts and checks before sustained of Canterbury, which he intended to redress, having a respect to the advancement of worldly honour, promotion, and great benefits, [he] found the means with the king, that he was made Chancellor of England; and Canterbury thereof dismissed, who had continued in that honourable room and office, since long before the death of King Henry the Seventh.” Cavendish’sLife of Wolsey, pp. 90, 92. ed. 1827. It appears, however, from the contemporary testimonies of Sir Thomas More and Ammonius, that this statement was founded on false information, and that Wolsey did not employ any unfair means to supersede Warham. The latter had often requested permission to give up the chancellorship before the king would receive his resignation. When the seals were tendered to the Cardinal, either from affected modesty, or because he thought the office incompatible with his other duties, he declined the offer, and only accepted it after the king’s repeated solicitations. See Singer’s note on Cavendish,ubi supra, and Lingard’sHist. of Engl.vi. 57. ed. 8vo.

v. 1127.

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