MAGNYFYCENCE.

For if ye sadly loke,And wesely rede the BokeOf Good Aduertysement,With me ye must consent, &c.]

For if ye sadly loke,

And wesely rede the Boke

Of Good Aduertysement,

With me ye must consent, &c.]

—sadly loke, i. e. seriously look, consider. In theGarlande of LaurellSkelton mentions, as one of his own compositions,

“ItemGood Aduysement, that brainles doth blame.”v. 1186. vol. i. 409.

“ItemGood Aduysement, that brainles doth blame.”

v. 1186. vol. i. 409.

Qy. does he allude to it here?

Page 222. v. 395.auaunce] i. e. advance.

Page 223. v. 399.make] i. e. compose.

v. 405.vnhappely vred] See note on v. 95. p. 232.

“That this piece was composed subsequently to the year 1515, seems evident from the mention made in one place [v. 283] of ‘Kynge Lewes of Fraunce’ as an example of liberality [and as dead, v. 285]; and this could only mean Louis xii., who died in that year, as his immediate predecessor of that name [who died in 1483] was the most niggardly of wretches.”MS. note by Ritson on a transcript ofMagnyfycence.

Page 226. v. 4.probate] In our author’sGarlande of Laurellmention is made of

“Macrobius that did treteOf Scipions dreme what was the treuprobate.”v. 367. vol. i. 376.

“Macrobius that did treteOf Scipions dreme what was the treuprobate.”

“Macrobius that did trete

Of Scipions dreme what was the treuprobate.”

v. 367. vol. i. 376.

whereprobateis proof, meaning, or, perhaps, interpretation: but in what sense Skelton uses the word here I cannot determine, the greater part of this speech being beyond my comprehension.

v. 5.fole] i. e. fool.

v. 6.vnhappely be vryd] See note, p. 232. v. 95.

v. 9.amense] i. e., perhaps, amends.

v. 10.by] i. e. buy, acquire.

v. 16.sad] i. e. grave, serious, sober.

v. 17.lure] See note, p. 147. v. 1100.

v. 22.wonnys] i. e. dwells.

——and a man wolde wyt] i. e. if a man would know.

v. 24.Mary] i. e. By the Virgin Mary.

Page 227. v. 33.Ye, to knackynge ernyst what and it preue]—i. e. Yea, what if it prove mocking earnest: compare the preceding line, and see Jamieson’sEt. Dict. of Scott. Lang.in v.Knack.

v. 35.in the mew] i. e. in confinement,—properly, the place in which hawks were kept, or in which fowls were fattened: see note onWhy come ye nat to Courte, v. 219.

v. 36.a cue] Is explained (see Todd’sJohnson’s Dict. &c.)—a farthing, as being merely the sound ofq̄, the abbreviation ofquadrans. But Minsheu has; “Cue, halfe a farthing, so called because they set down in the Battling or Butterie Bookes in Oxford and Cambridge the letter q. for halfe a farthing, and in Oxford when they make that Cue or q. a farthing, they say, Cap my q., and make it a farthing thus qͣ. But in Cambridge,” &c.Guide into Tongues, ed. 1617.

v. 37.to] i. e. too.

Page 227. v. 39.condyssende] “ICondescendeI agre to a mater.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. cxciiii. (Table of Verbes).

v. 44.countenaunce] i. e. continence, restraint.

v. 45.let] i. e. hinder, restrain.

v. 47.corage] i. e. inclination, desires.

v. 56.parcell] i. e. part, portion.

v. 57.Ye] i. e. Yea.

v. 60.

Somwhat I coulde enferre,Your consayte to debarre]

Somwhat I coulde enferre,

Your consayte to debarre]

i. e. I could bring in somewhat to hinder, contravene, your conception of the subject. So again in our author’sGarlande of Laurell;

“Madame, your apposelle is weleinferrid,And at your auauntage quikly it isTowchid, and hard for to bedebarrid.”v. 141. vol. i. 367.

“Madame, your apposelle is weleinferrid,And at your auauntage quikly it isTowchid, and hard for to bedebarrid.”

“Madame, your apposelle is weleinferrid,

And at your auauntage quikly it is

Towchid, and hard for to bedebarrid.”

v. 141. vol. i. 367.

Page 228. v. 65.fet] i. e. fetch.

v. 72.the surpluse of my sawe] i. e. the remainder of my saying.

v. 74.where as] i. e. where.

v. 80.ryn] i. e. run.

v. 86.wonder] I may observe that the Roxburgh reprint, without authority, and against the sense, has “nowonder.”

v. 89.ken] i. e. instruct.

v. 90.wonders] i. e. wondrous.

v. 92.to] i. e. too.

Page 229. v. 94.other] i. e. either.

v. 95.

To you I arecte it, and castTherof the reformacyon]

To you I arecte it, and cast

Therof the reformacyon]

So Skelton again;

“Syth vnto me formest this processe iserectyd.”v. 2507 of the present drama.

“Syth vnto me formest this processe iserectyd.”

v. 2507 of the present drama.

“Arrectingevnto your wyse examinacionHow all that I do is vnder refformation.”Garlande of Laurell, v. 410. vol. i. 378.

“Arrectingevnto your wyse examinacionHow all that I do is vnder refformation.”

“Arrectingevnto your wyse examinacion

How all that I do is vnder refformation.”

Garlande of Laurell, v. 410. vol. i. 378.

He has also,

“Arectyngmy syght towarde the zodyake.”Id.v. 1. p. 361.

“Arectyngmy syght towarde the zodyake.”

Id.v. 1. p. 361.

“My supplycacyon to you Iarrect.”Id.v. 55. p. 363.

“My supplycacyon to you Iarrect.”

Id.v. 55. p. 363.

Arectin our early writers frequently signifies—impute, a meaning foreign to the present passages: in the two last cited, there can be no doubt that it is used in the sense of—raise: in the others it seems to mean—offer, refer.

Page 229. v. 103.Come of, therfore, let se] Compare Chaucer;

“——let see, come off, and say.”Court of Loue,—Workes, fol. 331. ed. 1602.

“——let see, come off, and say.”

Court of Loue,—Workes, fol. 331. ed. 1602.

andReynard the Fox; “Why tarye ye thus longe,come of.” Sig. b 7. ed. 1481: andMorte d’Arthur; “Come ofthenne sayd they alle, and do hit.” Book xx. cap. iiii. vol. ii. 394. ed. Southey.

v. 106.reason and skyll] An expression which Skelton has elsewhere; but the words are nearly synonymous. “Skyll. Racio.”Prompt. Parv.ed. 1499.

v. 113.chere] i. e. spirit,—or reception.

v. 114.intere] i. e. entire.

v. 115.Oracius to recorde] i. e. Horace to witness.

v. 117.to] i. e. too.

v. 126.Measure is treasure] Lydgate mentions this as “an olde prouerbe:” see his verses on Moderation,MS. Harl.2251. fol. 29, and his poem beginning “Men wryte of oold howmesour is tresour.” Id.2255. fol. 143.

——this] i. e. thus: see note, p. 86. v. 38.

Page 230. v. 131.Ye] i. e. Yea.

v. 133.kynde] i. e. nature.

v. 134.renne] i. e. run.

v. 137.a rest] i. e. a wrest—by which the strings of harps and other musical instruments were drawn up.

v. 138.All trebyllys and tenours be rulyd by a meyne] “Intercentus, ameaneof a songe.”Ortus Vocab.fol. ed. W. de Worde, n. d. In the notes on Shakespeare, in Todd’sJohnson’s Dict.&c.,meanis wrongly explained—tenor: what themeanwas, depended entirely on the nature of the composition.

v. 139.beste] i. e. beast.

v. 149.skyll] i. e. reason: see note on v. 106.

v. 150.sad] i. e. grave, serious, sober.

v. 151.It is no maystery] “Maystrydone by delyuernesseung tovr de souplesse, appertise.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. xlvi. (Table of Subst.); and see note, p. 113. v. 329.

“So me helpe God! queth Beues tho,Hit were no meistrime to slo,For this is the ferthe dai agonMete ne drinke ne bot I non.”Sir Beues of Hamtoun, p. 68. Maitl. ed.

“So me helpe God! queth Beues tho,Hit were no meistrime to slo,For this is the ferthe dai agonMete ne drinke ne bot I non.”

“So me helpe God! queth Beues tho,

Hit were no meistrime to slo,

For this is the ferthe dai agon

Mete ne drinke ne bot I non.”

Sir Beues of Hamtoun, p. 68. Maitl. ed.

“That islytel maystrysayd syre launcelot to slee myn hors.”Morte d’Arthur, B. xix. c. iiii. vol. ii. 369. ed. Southey.

Page 230. v. 153.herdely] i. e. firmly.

Page 231. v. 166.hyght] i. e. am called.

v. 175.Conuenyent] i. e. Fit, suitable.

——ryall] i. e. royal.

v. 178.syttynge] i. e. proper, becoming,—a word very common in our early poetry (altered unnecessarily to “fyttynge” in the Roxburgh reprint of this piece).

v. 182.his large] i. e. his range.

v. 184.hooly] i. e. wholly.

v. 189.sawe] i. e. sow.

v. 190.nother to] i. e. neither too.

——lawe] i. e. low: so again in v. 2541, “nowe hy, nowelawedegre.”

v. 193.consayte] i. e. conception.

Page 232. v. 202.losyll so lyther] i. e. scoundrel so wicked.

v. 209.plenarly] i. e. fully, entirely.

v. 213.Had I wyste] See note, p. 86. v. 40.

v. 216.to fer] i. e. too far.

v. 219.defaute] i. e. default, want.

v. 226.mone] i. e. moon.

v. 230.lyghtly] “Lightlyor sone [i. e. soon]. Leuiter.”Prompt. Parv.ed. 1499: or, easily.

Page 233. v. 231.to moche] i. e. too much.

v. 233.scole] i. e. school.

v. 234.a poppynge fole]—fole, i. e. fool. “He is apopte foleor a starke fole for the nones. Homo fatuitate monstrabilis.” HormanniVulgaria, sig. P iii. ed. 1530. And see note, p. 231. v. 39.

v. 239.delyaunce] i. e. dalliance, delay.

v. 249.endure] i. e. remain, dwell.

v. 256.Here is none forsyth whether you flete or synke]—forsyth, i. e. regardeth, careth:flete, i. e. float, swim. So Chaucer;

“Himrecketh neuer whether she flete or sinke.”Annel. and Ar.,—Workes, fol. 244. ed. 1602.

“Himrecketh neuer whether she flete or sinke.”

Annel. and Ar.,—Workes, fol. 244. ed. 1602.

v. 257.lokyd] i. e. looked.

v. 259.hafter] See note, p. 107. v. 138.

Page 234. v. 260.iangelynge Jacke of the vale] i. e. chattering, &c.; see note, p. 104. v. 6.

v. 266.Mary] i. e. by the Virgin Mary.

v. 267.largesse] i. e. bounty, liberality.

v. 269.worshyp] i. e. honour, dignity.

v. 272.hyght] i. e. am called.

v. 274.Ye] i. e. Yea.

v. 280.hardely] i. e. firmly.

Page 234. v. 280.auaunce] i. e. advance.

v. 283.reporte me] i. e. refer.

——Kynge Lewes] i. e. King Louis the twelfth: see note on title, p. 236.

v. 285.syth] i. e. since.

v. 290.Jacke shall haue Gyl] So Heywood;

“Come chat at home, all is well,Jack shall haue Gill.”Dialogue, sig. F 3.—Workes, ed. 1598.

“Come chat at home, all is well,Jack shall haue Gill.”

Dialogue, sig. F 3.—Workes, ed. 1598.

Page 235. v. 295.broder] i. e. brother.

v. 296.I set not by] i. e. I value not.

——Dauncaster cuttys] i. e. Doncaster horses.—Cutwas a term for a common horse, from its having the tail cut short.

v. 297.bolte] i. e. arrow (for a description of it, see Nares’sGloss.in v.).

——shote] i. e. shoot.

v. 298.hyght] i. e. be called.

v. 300.this checke if ye voyde canne] “Checkea mery taunt.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., fol. xxiii. (Table of Subst.). “IVoydea thyng out of the way or out of syght,Ie oste.”Id.fol. ccclxxxxix. (Table of Verbes).

v. 301.to longe to scole] i. e. too long to school.

v. 302.gose] i. e. goose.

v. 303.pole] i. e. pool, water.

v. 304.fole] i. e. fool.

v. 306.Go, shake the dogge, hay] See note, p. 226. v. 28.

v. 310.to play with me checke mate] In allusion to the king being put incheckat the game of chess.

v. 311.your noble estate] Equivalent to—your noble lordship.

v. 312.recorde] i. e. testimony.

v. 314.Sad] i. e. Grave, serious, sober.

v. 318.hele] i. e. health.

v. 319.commaunde] i. e. commend.

v. 321.ony] i. e. any.

v. 322.sone] i. e. soon.

v. 323.kepe] i. e. heed, care, attention.

Page 236. v. 325.after none] i. e. afternoon.

v. 327.Whylest] i. e. Until.

v. 333.mynde] i. e. fancy.

v. 336.beholde] i. e. beholden.

v. 341.By lakyn] i. e. by our Lady:lakynis the contraction ofladykyn, little lady.

v. 346.Pountesse] i. e. Pontoise.

Page 236. v. 347.taken me] i. e. committed, consigned to me.

Page 237. v. 355.Ye] i. e. Yea.

v. 357.They bare me in hande that I was a spye] i. e. They accused me, laid to my charge, that, &c.

“This false knight, that hath this treson wrought,Bereth hire in hondthat she hath don this thing.”Chaucer’sMan of Lawes Tale, v. 5039. ed. Tyr.

“This false knight, that hath this treson wrought,Bereth hire in hondthat she hath don this thing.”

“This false knight, that hath this treson wrought,

Bereth hire in hondthat she hath don this thing.”

Chaucer’sMan of Lawes Tale, v. 5039. ed. Tyr.

“IBeare in handeI threp vpon a man that he hath done a dede, or make hym byleue so,Ie fais accroyre” ... “What crime or yuell mayest thoubeare me in hande of: Quel crime ou mal me peulx tu mettre sus.” Palgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. clxii. (Table of Verbes). “Many beborne an handeof a faute, and punysshed therfore, that were neuer gylty. Plerique facinorisinsimulantur,” &c. HormanniVulgaria, sig. m ii. ed. 1530. This expression occurs with a different shade of meaning in our author’sWhy come ye nat to Courte,—

“He bereth the kyng on hand,That he must pyll his lande,” &c.v. 449. vol. ii. 40.

“He bereth the kyng on hand,That he must pyll his lande,” &c.

“He bereth the kyng on hand,

That he must pyll his lande,” &c.

v. 449. vol. ii. 40.

v. 362.

And wolde haue made me Freer Tucke,To preche out of the pylery hole]

And wolde haue made me Freer Tucke,

To preche out of the pylery hole]

Friar Tuck was one of Robin Hood’s merry companions. Concerning these lines Ritson remarks that there is “an evident allusion to some game or practice now totally forgotten and inexplicable.”Robin Hood, i. xxvi.

v. 364.antetyme] i. e. text. So in the absurd story of Skelton’s preaching,Merie Tales, (reprinted in Appendix toAccount of his Life and Writings), “I say, as I said before in myantethem, vos estis.”Tale vii.

v. 366.moche warke] i. e. much work, trouble.

v. 367.Mary] i. e. By the Virgin Mary.

v. 369.made largesse as I hyght] i. e. made donation of money according to my name (Fancy’s assumed name being Largesse, see v. 272).

v. 375.grete estates] i. e. persons of great estate or rank.

Page 238. v. 384.ye] i. e. yea.

v. 385.mesure is a mery mene] Heywood in hisEpigrammes vpon Prouerbshas ten on “Measure is a mery meane.” Sig. N iiii.,—Workes, ed. 1598.

v. 388.ryall] i. e. royal.

v. 391.oder] i. e. other.

v. 405.blunderyng] i. e. disturbance. “IBlonder, Ie perturbe.”

Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. clxviii. (Table of Verbes).

Page 238. v. 406.betake] i. e. commit, consign.

v. 411.to put the stone] i. e. to throw the stone above hand, from the uplifted hand, for trial of strength.

Page 239. v. 413.gyse] i. e. guise, fashion, manner.

v. 417.I set not by] i. e. I value not.

v. 423.lurdayne] i. e. lumpish, lazy fellow, clown,—worthless person in general.

v. 425.tappyster] i. e. woman presiding over the tap in a public house.

v. 429.can] i. e. know.

——praty] i. e. pretty.

v. 430.occupy] i. e. use: see note, p. 86. v. 52.

——kayes] i. e. keys.

v. 433.at all assayes] Occurs again in v. 2303. “At all assayes, En tous poynts, ora tous poynts.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. ccccxxxviii. (Table of Aduerbes). “He is a frendeat all assayes.Omnium horarumamicus est.” HormanniVulgaria, sig. Y iiii. ed. 1530.

v. 435.mekyll] i. e. much.

v. 444.sleyght] i. e. trick, artful contrivance.

Page 240. v. 446.fayty bone geyte] Perhaps corrupted French—fait a bon getorgeste.

v. 449.consayte] i. e. conceit, conception.

v. 453.noppe is rughe] i. e. nap is rough.

v. 455.chafer] i. e. merchandise.

v. 458.The courtly gyse of the newe iet] A somewhat pleonastic expression,—the courtly guise of the new fashion. “Gettea customeguise nouuelle.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. xxxvi. (Table of Subst.).

“Yit a poynteof the new gettto telle wille I not blyn.”Juditium,—Towneley Mysteries, p. 312.

“Yit a poynteof the new gettto telle wille I not blyn.”

Juditium,—Towneley Mysteries, p. 312.

v. 460.ferre fet] i. e. far fetched.

v. 461.ymet] i. e. met.

v. 462.Margery Mylke Ducke] See note, p. 172. v. 418.

——mermoset] A kind of ape or monkey.

v. 465.fresshe] i. e. smart.

v. 469.praty] i. e. pretty.

v. 470.iet] i. e. strut; see note, p. 94. v. 43.

v. 472.pope holy] See note, p. 230. l. 24.

v. 473.sadnesse] i. e. gravity, seriousness, soberness, discreetness.

Page 240. v. 475.not worth a flye] See note, p. 219. v. 104.

v. 477.occupy] i. e. use; see note, p. 86. v. 52.

v. 478.worshyp] i. e. honour, dignity.

Page 241. v. 482.tehe wehe] See note, p. 232. v. 75.

v. 485.knokylbonyarde] Compare Palsgrave’sAcolastus, 1540; “Do I raygne here on this facion, being a swynherde amongest swyne of Boeatia. i. amongest a meyny of iacke holde my staues, orknockyldeboynyardes, beinge but of late a kynge,” &c. Sig. Y iiii.; and Heywood’sDialogue, &c.,—

“He is aknuckilbonyardvery meeteTo match a minion neither fayre nor sweete.”Sig. D 4.,—Workes, ed. 1598.

“He is aknuckilbonyardvery meeteTo match a minion neither fayre nor sweete.”

“He is aknuckilbonyardvery meete

To match a minion neither fayre nor sweete.”

Sig. D 4.,—Workes, ed. 1598.

v. 486.to] i. e. too.

v. 488.warke] i. e. work, business, matter.

v. 489.yarke] i. e. strike, lash.

v. 490.custrell] “Coustrellthat wayteth on a spearecovsteillier.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. xxvii. (Table of Subst.). “Coustillier: An Esquire of the body; an Armour-bearer unto a Knight; the servant of a man at Armes; also, a groom of a stable, a horse-keeper.” Cotgrave’sDict.

v. 492.this] i. e. thus; see note, p. 86. v. 38 (and so in the next line).

——freers] i. e. friars.

——famine] “Famen, sermo, verbum.” Du Cange’sGloss.

v. 506.By God, I haue bene about a praty pronge]—praty, i. e. pretty: in the present line at least,prongeseems to mean—prank (Dutchpronk), whatever be its signification in the following passage of our author’sColyn Cloute;

“And howe ata prongeWe tourne ryght into wronge.”v. 1196. vol. i. 357.

“And howe ata prongeWe tourne ryght into wronge.”

“And howe ata pronge

We tourne ryght into wronge.”

v. 1196. vol. i. 357.

Page 242. v. 510.pagent] i. e. part: see notes, p. 88. v. 85; p. 189. v. 190.

v. 512.by lakyn] See note on v. 341. p. 240.

v. 513.heyre parent] i. e. heir apparent.

v. 514.rome] i. e. room, place.

v. 516.to] i. e. too.

v. 518.Cockys harte] i. e. God’s heart (Cock, a corruption ofGod).

v. 521.thee] i. e. thrive.

v. 526.hyght] i. e. am called.

v. 529.large] A play on the meanings of the word,—big, and liberal.

Page 242. v. 533.cofer kay] i. e. coffer-key.

v. 535.auowe] i. e. vow: see note, p. 109. v. 199.

Page 243. v. 539.alowde] i. e. approved.

v. 554.in same] i. e. in the same place (a pleonasm,—since “togyder” precedes).

v. 561.Can] i. e. Know.

v. 562.spedde] i. e. versed.

v. 564.iapes] i. e. jests, jokes.

v. 568.ouerwharte] i. e. overthwart—cross, perverse, wrangling.

v. 569.beshrowe] i. e. curse.

v. 571.iangle] i. e. babble, chatter.

Page 244. v. 573.Ye] i. e. Yea.

v. 575.my botes and my spores] i. e. my boots and my spurs.

v. 578.Cockes woundes] i. e. God’s wounds; see note on v. 518, preceding page.

v. 580.loketh] i. e. looketh.

v. 585.iurde hayte] Words (French perhaps) which I do not understand.

v. 591.quod] i. e. quoth.

v. 592.a leysshe of ratches to renne an hare] i. e. a leash of—three—hounds to run a hare.

v. 597.prece] i. e. press.

Page 245. v. 609.to] i. e. too.

v. 625.Mary] i. e. By the Virgin Mary.

v. 628.do togyder] i. e. put it together.

v. 629.ony] i. e. any.

v. 633.wonne] i. e. dwell.

v. 635.a captyuyte] Is rather, I suspect, a misprint for, than used in the sense of—in: compare v. 2543.

Page 246. v. 639.the playnesse] i. e. the plain fact.

v. 644.thee] i. e. thrive.

v. 658.a pystell of a postyke]—pystell, i. e. epistle, letter; but I do not understand the expression.

v. 659.fonnysshe] i. e. foolish.

v. 666.freke] i. e. fellow: see notes, p. 109. v. 187; p. 178. v. 15.

v. 667.peke] “IPekeor prie.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. cccxvii. [—xv.] (Table of Verbes).

Page 247. v. 672.rome] i. e. room, place.

v. 679.hyght] i. e. be called.

v. 681.Ye] i. e. Yea.

v. 685.By the armes of Calys] See note, p. 118. v. 398.

v. 687.slyght] i. e. trick, artful contrivance.

v. 688.fonde consayte] i. e. foolish conceit,—fantasies.

Page 247. v. 690.sadnesse] See note on v. 473. p. 242.

v. 692.Cockys body] i. e. God’s body: see note on v. 518. p. 243.

v. 695.whylyst] i. e. until.

v. 698.quyte] i. e. acquit.

——praty] i. e. pretty.

Page 248. v. 707.haftynge] See note, p. 107. v. 138.

v. 713.geste] i. e. guest.

v. 719.hynder] “Hyndringeor harmynge. Dampnificacio.”Prompt. Parv.ed. 1499. “IHynderI hurte,Ie porte dommage.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. cclxii. (Table of Verbes).

“Lest the reporte inhinderyngof his name,” &c.Lydgate’sWarres of Troy, B. iii. sig. Q ii. ed. 1555.

“Lest the reporte inhinderyngof his name,” &c.

Lydgate’sWarres of Troy, B. iii. sig. Q ii. ed. 1555.

v. 720.hode] i. e. hood.

v. 722.fole] i. e. fool.

v. 730.lacke] i. e. blame.

v. 732.sped] i. e. versed.

v. 733.lytherly] i. e. wickedly.

v. 734.Paynte] See note, p. 176. v. 583.

Page 249. v. 737.fauell] See note, p. 107. v. 134.

——tyned] i. e. pointed, pronged.

v. 745.shrewdenes] i. e. wickedness, evil.

v. 746.grete estates] i. e. persons of great estate, or rank.

v. 748.flery] i. e. fleer.

——pretence] i. e. intent.

v. 751.bronde] i. e. brand.

v. 752.mase] i. e. bewilder, confound.

——fonde] i. e. foolish.

v. 754.bale] i. e. sorrow, trouble.

v. 755.Huffa, huffa] See note, p. 181. v. 16.

v. 756.a] i. e. he.

v. 757.Rutty bully] See note, p. 94. v. 29.

——ioly rutterkyn, heyda] Occurs in a song preserved in the Fairfax MS. which once belonged to Ralph Thoresby, and is now among the Additional MSS. in the British Museum (5465, fol. 114):

“Hoydajoly rutterkyn hoydaLyke a rutterkyn hoyda.Rutterkyn is com vnto oure towneIn a cloke withoute cote or gowneSave a raggid hode to kouer his crowneLike a rutter hoyda.Rutterkyn can speke no englisshHis tonge rennyth all on buttyrd fysshBesmerde with grece abowte his dissheLike a rutter hoyda.Rutterkyn shall bryng you all good lukA stoup of bere vp at a plukTill his brayne be as wise as a dukLike a rutter hoyda.When rutterkyn from borde will ryseHe will piss a galon pott full at twiseAnd the ouerplus vndir the table of the newe gyseLike a rutter hoyda.”

“Hoydajoly rutterkyn hoydaLyke a rutterkyn hoyda.

“Hoydajoly rutterkyn hoyda

Lyke a rutterkyn hoyda.

Rutterkyn is com vnto oure towneIn a cloke withoute cote or gowneSave a raggid hode to kouer his crowneLike a rutter hoyda.

Rutterkyn is com vnto oure towne

In a cloke withoute cote or gowne

Save a raggid hode to kouer his crowne

Like a rutter hoyda.

Rutterkyn can speke no englisshHis tonge rennyth all on buttyrd fysshBesmerde with grece abowte his dissheLike a rutter hoyda.

Rutterkyn can speke no englissh

His tonge rennyth all on buttyrd fyssh

Besmerde with grece abowte his disshe

Like a rutter hoyda.

Rutterkyn shall bryng you all good lukA stoup of bere vp at a plukTill his brayne be as wise as a dukLike a rutter hoyda.

Rutterkyn shall bryng you all good luk

A stoup of bere vp at a pluk

Till his brayne be as wise as a duk

Like a rutter hoyda.

When rutterkyn from borde will ryseHe will piss a galon pott full at twiseAnd the ouerplus vndir the table of the newe gyseLike a rutter hoyda.”

When rutterkyn from borde will ryse

He will piss a galon pott full at twise

And the ouerplus vndir the table of the newe gyse

Like a rutter hoyda.”

Sir John Hawkins printed the above song (with the music) and tells us that it “is supposed to be a satire on those drunken Flemings who came into England with the princess Anne of Cleve, upon her marriage with king Hen. viii.”Hist. of Music, iii. 2. But if it be the very song quoted in our text, it must allude to “rutterkyns” of a considerably earlier period; and, as the Fairfax MS. contains two other pieces which are certainly known to be from Skelton’s pen, there is a probability that this also was composed by him.

Court. Ab.in his next speech but one says, “am not I a iolyrutter?” and (v. 846)

“My robe russhethSoruttyngly.”

“My robe russheth

Soruttyngly.”

Rutter, which properly means—a rider, a trooper (Germ.reiter,reuter), came to be employed, like its diminutiverutterkin, as a cant term, and with various significations, (see HormanniVulgaria, sig. q iii. ed. 1530; Drant’sHorace His Arte of Poetrie, pistles, &c. sig. D ii. ed. 1567). WhenCourt. Ab.asks “am not I a iolyrutter?” he evidently uses the word in the sense of—dashing fellow, gallant, alluding to his dress, on which he afterwards enlarges in a soliloquy. In v. 805Cr. Con.terms him “this iolyietter.” Compare the following passage of Medwall’sInterlude of Nature, n. d.;

“And whan he is in suche arayThere gotha ruttermen wyll saya rutter huf a galand.”Sig. d ii.

“And whan he is in suche arayThere gotha ruttermen wyll saya rutter huf a galand.”

“And whan he is in suche aray

There gotha ruttermen wyll say

a rutter huf a galand.”

Sig. d ii.

Page 249. v. 759.Decke your hofte, &c..]—hofte, i. e. head. If I rightly understand the passage,Court. Ab.desiresCl. Col.to put on his hat, or cap: see note below the text.

v. 760.Say vous, &c.] i. e.Savez vous, &c.: the last three words of the line seem to be the beginning of some French song.

Page 249. v. 761.Wyda] i. e.Oui da!

v. 763.rome] i. e. room, place.

——stonde vtter] i. e. stand out, back.

v. 765.a betell or a batowe, or a buskyn lacyd] InOrtus Vocab.fol. ed. W. de Worde, n. d., besides “Feritorium. anglice a battynge staffe a batyll dur ora betyll,” we find “Porticulus. anglice a lytell handstaff or abetyll.” For “batowe” I have proposed in a note below the text “batone” (baton), a conjecture which is somewhat supported by the preceding word; but it seems more probable that the right reading is “botowe,” i. e. boot, for the work above cited has “Ocree ... anglice botis orbotwes[ed. 1514—botowes],” andPrompt. Parv.ed. 1499 gives “Botewe. Coturnus.”

Page 250. v. 768.Jacke Hare] See note, p. 211. v. 270.

——loke thou be not rusty] i. e. look that thou be not cankered, uncivil.

v. 769.nother] i. e. neither.

v. 770.lusty] See note, p. 183, heading of poem.

v. 773.Mary] i. e. By the Virgin Mary.

v. 775.swap] i. e. swop: see Richardson’sDict.in v. “ISwappeI stryke.” Palsgrave’sLesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. ccclxxxi. (Table of Verbes).

——fotys] i. e. foots, footest.

v. 776.Ye] i. e. Yea.

——gere] i. e. apparel.

v. 780.mo] i. e. more.

v. 782.a bole of newe ale in cornys] i. e. a bowl, &c.: see note, p. 171. v. 378.

v. 784.auysed] i. e. purposed on consideration.

v. 786.rome] i. e. room, place, office.

Page 251. v. 789.Cockys harte] i. e. God’s heart: see note on v. 518. p. 243.

v. 790.for the armys of the dyce] Some cant exclamation.

v. 793.fayne] i. e. glad.

v. 795.rynne] i. e. run.

v. 796.cayser] i. e. Cæsar, or, as it is generally explained, emperor: in theCoventry Mysteries, however, a distinction is made between these terms;

“Bothe kynge andcaysereand grettempere.”MS. Cott. Vesp.D viii. fol. 113.

“Bothe kynge andcaysereand grettempere.”

MS. Cott. Vesp.D viii. fol. 113.

v. 798.quod] i. e. quoth.

v. 799.tende] i. e. attend.

v. 805.ietter] i. e. strutter,—gallant: see note, p. 94. v. 43, and note on v. 757. p. 246.

Page 251. v. 806.supplye] i. e. supplicate.

v. 810.I ne tell can] i. e. I cannot tell.

Page 252. v. 818.gyse] i. e. guise, fashion.

v. 819.we wyll be aduysed twyse] i. e. we will consider of it twice.

v. 821.crake] i. e. speak vauntingly.

v. 827.bende] i. e. band.

v. 830.tawle] i. e. brave, bold.

v. 832.defaute] i. e. default, defect.

v. 833.hawte] i. e. haughty.

v. 834.pose] i. e. rheum in the head.

v. 839.loketh] i. e. looketh.

Page 253. v. 843.gere] i. e. apparel.

v. 844.My heyre bussheth]—heyre, i. e. hair. So Barclay, alluding to the “newe fassions and disguised garmentes” of the time;

“To Ship, galants, come nere I say agayne,With your setbushescurling as men of Inde.”The Ship of Fooles, fol. 8. ed. 1570.

“To Ship, galants, come nere I say agayne,With your setbushescurling as men of Inde.”

“To Ship, galants, come nere I say agayne,

With your setbushescurling as men of Inde.”

The Ship of Fooles, fol. 8. ed. 1570.

v. 847.ruttyngly] i. e. dashingly, gallantly: see note on v. 757. p. 246.

v. 850.To daunce delyght] So afterwards, Magnyfycence, exulting in his prosperity, says, “I dawnce all in delyte,” v. 1510.

v. 852.poynte deuyse] i. e. perfectly exact: see Gifford’s note on B. Jonson’sWorks, iv. 169.

v. 855.gyse] i. e. guise, fashion.

v. 857.route] i. e. crowd, assembly.

v. 859.My sleue is wyde] So Barclay describes the young gallants of the time with “Theirsleuesblasing like to a Cranes winges.”The Ship of Fooles, fol. 8. ed. 1570. Wide sleeves are also mentioned in the following curious passage of Medwall’sInterlude of Nature, n. d. (written before the year 1500); the speaker is Pride:

“Behold the bonet vppon my heda staryng colour of scarlet redI promyse you a fyne thredeand a soft wullIt cost me a noble at one pycheThe scald capper sware sythycheThat yt cost hym euen as mycheBut there Pryde had a pull.I loue yt well to haue syde hereHalfe a wote byneth myne ereFor euer more I stande in fereThat myne nek shold take coldI knyt yt vp all the nyghtand the day tyme kemb yt down ryghtAnd then yt cryspeth and shyneth as bryghtas any pyrled gold.My doublet ys on laced byforeA stomacher of saten and no moreRayn yt snow yt neuer so soreMe thynketh I am to hoteThan haue I suche a short gownWythwyde sleuesthat hang a downThey wold make some lad in thys towna doublet and a cote.Som men wold thynk that this were prydeBut yt ys not so, ho ho abydeI haue a dagger by my sydeyet therof spake not II bought thys dagger at the marteA sharp poynt and a tarteHe that had yt in hys hartWere as good to dye.Than haue I a sworde or twaynTo bere theym my selfe yt were a payneThey ar so heuy that I am fayneto puruey suche a ladThough I say yt a praty boyIt ys halfe my lyues ioyHe maketh me laugh wyth many a toyThe vrchyn ys so mad.”Sig. c ii.

“Behold the bonet vppon my hed

a staryng colour of scarlet red

I promyse you a fyne threde

and a soft wull

It cost me a noble at one pyche

The scald capper sware sythyche

That yt cost hym euen as myche

But there Pryde had a pull.

I loue yt well to haue syde here

Halfe a wote byneth myne ere

For euer more I stande in fere

That myne nek shold take cold

I knyt yt vp all the nyght

and the day tyme kemb yt down ryght

And then yt cryspeth and shyneth as bryght

as any pyrled gold.

My doublet ys on laced byfore

A stomacher of saten and no more

Rayn yt snow yt neuer so sore

Me thynketh I am to hote

Than haue I suche a short gown

Wythwyde sleuesthat hang a down

They wold make some lad in thys town

a doublet and a cote.

Som men wold thynk that this were pryde

But yt ys not so, ho ho abyde

I haue a dagger by my syde

yet therof spake not I

I bought thys dagger at the marte

A sharp poynt and a tarte

He that had yt in hys hart

Were as good to dye.

Than haue I a sworde or twayn

To bere theym my selfe yt were a payne

They ar so heuy that I am fayne

to puruey suche a lad

Though I say yt a praty boy

It ys halfe my lyues ioy

He maketh me laugh wyth many a toy

The vrchyn ys so mad.”

Sig. c ii.

Page 253. v. 861.hose] i. e. breeches.

v. 866.hyght] i. e. am called.

v. 871.thee] i. e. thrive.

v. 872.fon] i. e. fool.

Page 254. v. 878.pore] i. e. poor.

v. 881.to to] So in v. 2121;

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