^\\EUM 
 \ 
 
 a Il2
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 THE LIVES AND WRITINGS 
 
 OF 
 
 GOWER AND CHAUCER. 
 
 COLLECTED FROM AUTHENTICK DOCUMENTS 
 
 BY 
 
 THE REV. HENRY J. TODD, M. A. F. S. A. 
 
 . Gower, that first garnislied our English rude; 
 
 And maistcr Chaucer, that nobly enterprised 
 How that Englishe myght freshely be ennewed. 
 
 Skeltou's Cromne ofLaurdl. 
 
 O pensyfe harte, 
 
 Remember thee of the trace and dannce 
 Of poetcs olde, with all thy purucyaunce : 
 As moral Gower, whose sentencious dewe 
 Adowne reflareth, with fayre golden beanies : 
 And after, Chaucer's all abroade doth shewc, &c. 
 
 Hawes's Pastime of Pleasure. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON, T. PAYNE, CADELL 
 AND DAVIES, AND R. II. EVANS. 
 
 1810.
 
 TO THE MQST NOBLE 
 
 I T 
 
 GEORGE GRANVILLE LEVESON GOWER, 
 
 ' 
 
 MARQUIS OF STAFFORD, K. G. &c. &c. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 dedication of a Work, 
 which consists chiefly of materials interesting 
 to curiosity and subservient .to useful cri- 
 ticism, will not, it is hoped, be thought ob- 
 trusive. What respects the reformers of 
 our language, and the fathers of our poe- 
 try, may be inscribed, I trust, with abso- 
 lute propriety, to him who is the friend of 
 Literature and the head of the illustrious 
 House of Gower. To these motives of thus 
 addressing your Lordship, must be added 
 the wish of gratitude to acknowledge benefits 
 received. From your Lordship's Manuscripts 
 many of these materials, by your permission, 
 have been copied. While I have this oppor- 
 tunity to own publickly so important an obli- 
 
 862071
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 gation, I am proud to record it as an addi- 
 tion to various acts of kindness from your 
 Lordship towards me ; and I have the honour 
 to subscribe myself, 
 
 with the most grateful respect, 
 
 My Lord, 
 > 
 
 t \r. 
 
 Your Lordship's much obliged 
 and faithful servant, 
 
 HENRY J.TODD. 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 
 ! 

 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 THE following Illustrations, it is hoped, will 
 gratify the lovers of our early literature ; and 
 may perhaps afford some little assistance, in 
 their researches, to those who are intent upon 
 further investigation of it. A minute account 
 of the authentick documents, which form this 
 collection, will naturally be expected. Such 
 therefore I will give; together with some re- 
 marks pertaining to the subjects, which each 
 division of these Illustrations severally ex- 
 hibits. 
 
 I. Of these the first, and most considerable^ 
 is the entire Manuscript of Francis Thynne ; 
 entitled, Animadversions vppon the Annota- 
 tions and Correctons of some Imperfect ones of 
 Impressbnes of Chaucer s Workes (sett doune 
 before tyme. and nowe) reprinted in the yere 
 
 a
 
 11 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of our Lorde *1598. This document be- 
 longs to the fine collection of curious and 
 important Manuscripts, whicji had been form- 
 ed at Ashridge by Lord Chancellor Elles- 
 mere and his descendants, more particularly 
 the first and second Earls of Bridgewater ; 
 and is now in the possession of the Marquis 
 of Stafford ; the collection having been be- 
 queathed to him by his uncle, that great but 
 unassuming benefactor to his Country, the 
 late duke of Bridgewater. 
 
 That Thynne had communicated some re- 
 marks to Speght, before a second edition of 
 Chaucer's Works was published by the latter 
 in 1602, is obvious from the address of 
 Speght To the Readers when that edition 
 made its appearance. " After this booke 
 was last printed, I vnderstood, that M. 
 Francis Thynn had a purpose, as indeed he 
 hath, when time shall serue, to set out Chau- 
 cer with a Coment in our tongue, as the Ita- 
 lians have Petrarke and others in their lan- 
 guage. Whereupon I purposed not to meddle 
 ' 
 
 * This edition of Speght .usually bears, in the title-page, 
 the date of 1597; but is described by others, as well as 
 Thynne, to have been a publication in 1598. It wa* pro- 
 bably published in the January, February, or March of 1597, 
 that is, 1597-8.
 
 INTRODUCTION. Ill 
 
 any further in this work, although some pro- 
 mise made to the contrarie, but to referre all 
 to him, being a gentleman for that purpose 
 inferior to none, both in regard of his own 
 skill, as also of those helps left to him by his 
 father. Yet notwithstanding, Chaucer now 
 being printed againe, I was willing not only 
 to helpe^some imperfections, but also to adde 
 some things : Whereunto he did not only 
 persuade me, but most kindly lent me his 
 helpe and direction. By this meanes most 
 of his [Chaucer's] old words are restored ; 
 Prouerbes and Sentences marked ; such Notes, 
 as were collected, drawn into better order; 
 and the text by old copies corrected/' 
 
 The preceding Extract, at first sight, 
 might lead us to suppose that the Manuscript 
 of Thynne could exhibit nothing but what 
 had been communicated to Speght, and con- 
 sequently what had already appeared in his 
 improved edition. But this is not the fact. 
 Of the points, discussed in Thynne's Ani- 
 madversions, few are found in Speght's re- 
 impression, which are accompanied with the 
 elaborate disquisition here given ; and several 
 are not found at all. Indeed in the Glossary 
 of Speght, under the word harrold, not only 
 that curious illustration which is here be-
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 stowed upon it, will be sought tor in vain ; 
 but the reader is dismissed with a brief ex- 
 planation, and with this notice from Speght 
 himself : " But more hereof, when time shall 
 serue, in M. F. Thins comment." Gloss. 
 edit. 1602. Other instances of this descrip- 
 tion might be cited. The reader may sa- 
 tisfy himself by a comparison of passages in 
 the Animadversions, whether critical or bio- 
 graphical, to which they apply, or were in- 
 tended to apply, in Speght's edition. 
 
 The value of Thynne's Manuscript, thus 
 exemplified, is further shewn in the interest- 
 ing description which it offers of The Pil- 
 grim's Tale. Here again I must introduce 
 the words of Speght in his Life of Chaucer ; 
 where he excites in the reader an expectation 
 which hitherto has not been gratified, and 
 has directed the critick to pursuits which 
 have not ended in success : " M. William 
 Thynn, in his first printed booke of Chaucers 
 works with one columbe on a side, had a 
 tale called the Pilgrim's tale, which was 
 more odious to the Clergie than the speach 
 of the Plowman. The tale began thus : In 
 Lincolneshire fast by a fenne : Standeth a 
 religious house who doth it kenne. The ar- 
 gument of which tale, as also the occasion
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 thereof, and the cause why it was left out of 
 Chaucer s works, shall hereafter be shewed, 
 if God permit, in M. Fran, Thyns coment 
 upon Chaucer; and the Tale itselfe pub- 
 lished, if possibly it can be found/' The 
 argument, occasion, and cause, thus speci- 
 fied, are in this Manuscript minutely exhi- 
 bited. But I will consider Mr. Tyrwhitt's 
 reasoning on the extract just cited from 
 Speght. 
 
 " It must be allowed that this description 
 
 of Mr. * Thynne's first edition, with one CO- 
 IP 
 
 lumbe on a side and a tale called The Pil- 
 grim's Tnlc, does not suit the edition printed 
 by Godfray, which is in two columns, and 
 has no Pilgrim's tale : but I observe that Mr. 
 Speght does not pretend to have seen this 
 book; he even doubts whether the tale can 
 be found. If therefore I should be able to 
 prove that the tale which he speaks of could 
 not possibly be in Mr. Thynne's first edition, 
 I presume no great stress will be laid upon 
 the other part of his evidence, in which he 
 supposes that edition to have been printed 
 with only one column on a side. It appears 
 very strange at first sight that The Plough- 
 
 * Mr. W. Tbynne, the father of F. Tbynne.
 
 VI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 man's Tale (according to Leland) should 
 have been suppressed in Mr. Thynne's edifc : 
 quia malos sacerdotum mores vehementer in- 
 crepavit, and that he should have inserted 
 this Pilgrim's Tale, which as Mr. Speght tells 
 us was still more odious to the clergie. A 
 few years after, when the reformation was 
 further advanced, in 1542, The Ploughman's 
 Tale is inserted among Chaucer's Works and 
 The Pilgrim's Tale is suppressed ! But there 
 is no occasion to insist upon these little im- 
 probabilities. Though Mr. Speght did not 
 know where to find The Pilgrim's Tale* and 
 
 the printer of the edit, in 168? assures US 
 that he had searched for it in the publick 
 libraries of both Universities, and also in all 
 private libraries that he could have access 
 unto, I have had the good fortune to meet 
 with a * copy ; it is entitled The Pilgrymes 
 Tale, and begins thus; 
 
 * " The copy of which I speak is in the black letter, and 
 seems to have once made part of a volume of miscellaneous 
 poems in 8vo. The first leaf is numbered xxxi, and the last 
 xlv. The Pilgrim's Tale begins about the middle of fol. 
 xxxi. and continues to the end of the fragment, where it 
 breaks off imperfect. The first leaf has a running title Venus 
 The Court of and contains the ten last lines of one poem, 
 and another whole poem of twenty lines, before The Pil-
 
 INTRODUCTION. VII 
 
 In Lincolneshyr, fast by the iene, 
 Ther slant an hows, and you yt ken, 
 And callyd Sempynhain of religion, 
 And is of an old foundation, &c. 
 
 There can be no doubt, I think, that this is 
 the piece of which Mr. Speght had received 
 some confused intelligence : it seems to have 
 been mentioned by Bale among Chaucer's 
 Works in the following manner, Narrationes 
 diversorum, lib. i. In comitatu Lincolniensi 
 fuit. Script. Brit. p. 526, edit. 1559- But 
 it is impossible that any one who had read it 
 should ascribe it to Chaucer ; he is quoted in 
 it twice by name, fol. 33, and fol. 45, and 
 in the latter place the reference seems to be 
 made to a printed book. The reader shall 
 judge 
 
 He sayd he durst not it disclose, 
 
 But bad me reyd The Romant of the Rose, 
 
 The thred leafe just from the end, 
 
 To the secund page ther he did me send, 
 
 He prayd me these vi stavis for to marke, 
 
 Which be Chaucer's awn hand \varke. 
 
 jj Thus moche woll our boke sygnify 
 
 That while Peter hath mastery, &c. 
 
 grim's Tale. This curious fragment was purchased at the 
 auction of Mr. West's library, in a lot (No. * 1040) of sundry 
 fragments of old black-letter books, by Mr. Herbert of Gul- 
 ston's Square, who very obligingly permitted me to examine 
 it."
 
 VJli INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Then follow four more lines from Chaucer's 
 R. R. v. 7263 6, ed. Urr. It is not usual, 
 at least, to cite MSS. by the haft and the 
 page. But if this citation was really made 
 from a printed book, The Pilgrims Tale 
 must have been written after Mr. Thynne's 
 edition, for Chaucer's translation of The Ro- 
 mant of the Rose was first printed in that 
 edition. Another passage will fix the date 
 of this composition still more clearly. In fol. 
 xxxix, xl, are the following lines ; 
 
 Perkin werbek and Jak straw 
 
 And now of late our cobler the dawe. 
 
 One would not expect to find any mention 
 of Perkin Warbeck in a work attributed to 
 Chaucer ; but, passing that over, I think it 
 is plain, that our cobler, in the second line, 
 means the leader of the Lincolnshire rebels 
 in 1536, who, as Holinshed tells us, p. 941, 
 called himself Captaine Cobler, but was in- 
 deed a Monk, njmed doctor Mackarell. The 
 Pilgrims Tale therefore was not written till 
 after 1536, and consequently could not pos- 
 sibly be in Mr. Thynne's first edition, which 
 was printed at latest in 1532." Some of 
 these -doubts and suppositions of Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt are dispersed into air, by the perspi-
 
 INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 cuous statement of Francis Thynne, in this 
 Manuscript, respecting his father's labours, 
 and the composition called The Pilgrims 
 Tale. Nor has Mr. Tyrwhitt been fortunate 
 in shewing that, where a Bacheler who dances 
 with Franchise, in the Romaunt of the Rose, 
 is said to resemble the lordes sonne ofWynde- 
 sore, " a compliment seems intended to the 
 young princes in general, rather than to any 
 particular son of Edward III, who is certainly 
 meant by the lord of Windsor ; though in 
 the French it is simply, II sembloit estre 
 jilz de Roy*." For here again the Manu- 
 script of Thynne overturns the pretended 
 simple statement of the French original, and 
 vindicates the literal accuracy of Chaucer's 
 designation. Mr. Godwin's inference, de- 
 duced from Mr. Tyrwhitt's assertion^, falls 
 accordingly to the ground. But I will not 
 anticipate too largely the contents of this 
 most interesting document. 
 
 Whether Thynne's Letter, in its present 
 form and substance, was conveyed to Speght, 
 cannot now be ascertained. If it was, Speght 
 
 * At the conclusion of Mr. Tyrwhitt's Notes on the Can- 
 terbury Tales. 
 
 t Godwin's Life of Chaucer, ch. xxiv.
 
 \ 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 neglected to avail himself of much service- 
 able aid ; if it was not, Thynne may be sup- 
 posed to have still entertained the design of 
 publishing a commentary on the poet, and 
 consequently to have given Speght only such 
 partial information and correction as we find 
 in his edition. I am disposed, however, to 
 think that the letter was received by Speght ; 
 and that the concealment of several circum- 
 stances in this Manuscript may be attributed 
 to his indifference or want of judgement, ra- 
 ther than to Thynne's supposed intention. 
 
 Of Francis Thynne, and of his works, the 
 reader will find an ample account in Antony 
 Wood's History of Oxford Writers ; where 
 the historian, having recorded the numerous 
 labours of this eminent antiquary, relates 
 that " *he [Thynne] had several Notes on, 
 and Corrections of, Chaucer's Works lying 
 by him ; with the helps of which, he did in- 
 tend to put out that author; with a com- 
 ment in our English tongue, as the Italians 
 have Petrark and others in their language. 
 But he having been taken off from that good 
 work, he did assist Tho. Speght of Cambridge 
 
 * Ath. Ox. Vol. i. Art F. Thynne, edit 1691. col. 
 319.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 with his notes and directions, as also with 
 considerable materials for the writing Chau- 
 cer's Life/' Francis Thynne was the officer 
 in the College of Arms, distinguished by the 
 title of Lancaster Herald. He died in l6ll. 
 His time appears to have been usefully em- 
 ployed in several departments of literature. 
 Of his compositions Hearne has largely avail- 
 ed himself in his " Collection of curious dis- 
 courses, written by eminent Antiquaries on 
 several heads in our English Antiquities, and 
 now * first published chiefly for the use and 
 service of the young Nobility and Gentry of 
 England," in 1720. I may not omit men- 
 tioning, that, in the same Library, which 
 now preserves his remarks on Chaucer, is a 
 manuscript volume, in quarto, of Thynne's 
 unpublished Epigrams and Emblems ; dedi- 
 cated also to Lord Chancellor Ellesmere. 
 
 * These are the discources of Francis Thynne, viz. 
 
 No. 2. Of sterling money. 
 
 No. 8. Of what antiquity shires were in England. 
 
 No. 13. Of the antiquity and etymologic of terms and 
 
 times for the Administration of Justice in 
 
 England. 
 
 No. 25. Of the antiquity of the Houses of Law. 
 No. 46. Of the dutye and office of an Heraulde of 
 
 Armes.
 
 Xll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 II. This division of the Illustrations con- 
 tains two documents ; the first of which 
 is the Will of Gower, and is of importance 
 in respect to the history of his life. We 
 have hitherto been told, * that we possess 
 no materials for the biography of this dis- 
 tinguished character ; that probably he was 
 well born ; that obscurity, however, hangs 
 over his origin ; and that an indirect proof 
 of his wealth may indeed be drawn from 
 the munificence of his conduct to the mo- 
 nastery of St. Mary Overies. To these 
 specimens of cautious recital may be added 
 the pretended date of Gower's death in 
 1402 or 1403. The Will, which we are 
 now considering, is dated in 1408 ! If the 
 knowledge of this curious document had 
 never passed from the Registry, in which 
 it is recorded ; to impute blame to those, 
 who have faithfully followed the authority 
 of -f- preceding writers, in whom confi- 
 dence may rarely be misplaced, might 
 seem fastidious. But since it appears that 
 
 * Ellis's Specimens of the Early English Poets, vol. i. 
 ch. vii. Godwin's Life of Chaucer, ch. xvii. 
 
 t Tanner, Bib. Brit. Hib. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poet. 
 Edmondson, Baronagium Genealogicum, &c.
 
 INTRODUCTION. Xlll 
 
 the Will of Gower was published in a * work, 
 anteriour to Specimens of the Early English 
 Poets by Ellis, to the Bibliographia Poetica 
 by Ritson, and to the Life of Chaucer by 
 Godwin ; in a work, I may add, which is an 
 honour to the individual who composed it, 
 and which, in matters of antiquarian re- 
 Search, more particularly in those respecting 
 biography, ought to be overpassed by no 
 one: since this, I say, is the case, the con- 
 tinuation of mistake can no longer be de- 
 fended, and ingenuity must be somewhat 
 puzzled to excuse the neglect of Mr. Gough's 
 Sepulchral Monuments. 
 
 The Will is recorded in the Register of 
 Archbishop Arundel; which is preserved, 
 among other archiepiscopal records, in the 
 Library at Lambeth Palace. The copy of 
 it, printed by Mr. Gough, is correct; but 
 wants part of the grant of administration to 
 Agnes, the wife of Gower ; which is now 
 added. 
 
 Before I offer, from this document, di- 
 rect proof of Gower's wealth ; I think it 
 right to notice the remark that he was well 
 
 * The Sepulchral Monuments of Great Britain, by Ri- 
 chard Gough, Esq. Centur. xv.
 
 XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 born, in order more fully to illustrate the 
 opinion, stated by Mr. Ellis, that Gower, 
 Chaucer, and Hoccleve, all of whom received 
 their education at the Inns of Court, were of 
 noble origin. This opinion derives weight 
 from Sir John Fortescue's Treatise De Lau- 
 dibus Legum Anglia, where, in the forty- 
 ninth chapter, he says, " Quo fit, ut vix 
 doctus in legibus illis reperiatur in regno qui 
 non sit nobilis, et de nobilium genere egres- 
 sus. In 'his revera hospitiis, ultra studium 
 legum, est quasi gymnasium omnium morum 
 qui nobiles decent. Ibi cantare ipsi addis- 
 cunt, similiter et se exercent in omni genere 
 harmonics: ibi etiam tripudiare, ac jocos 
 singulos nobilibus conveniences, qualiter in 
 domo regid exercere solent, enutriti. Ita ut 
 milites, barones, alii quoque magnates et 
 nobiles regni, in hospitiis illis ponunt filios 
 suos." An old commentator on Fortescue 
 says, that in Sir John's time " * none were 
 admitted of the Inns of Court, but men as of 
 bloud so of fortune ; since to live and study 
 there was so chargeable, that a thrifty liver 
 
 * Fortescutus Illustratus, or a Commentary on that ner- 
 vous Treatise De Laudibus Legum Anglic, written by Sir John 
 Fortescue, &c. By Edw. Waterhous, Esq. fol. Lond. 1663. 
 p. 527.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 there could not come off for less than 80 
 escues, which I take not to be as Mr. Mui- 
 caster makes it to amount to, twenty marks ; 
 but, casting the escues into those that are 
 escue vieil, worth 7s. 6d. sterling a piece, 
 comes to near 30/. a year, which in that 
 time was a good allowance, Sec." 
 
 The preceding remark may be considered 
 as a correction of what the author had else- 
 where said, respecting the necessary expenses 
 incurred by the students at those seminaries. 
 " * Anciently no man was capable of an entry 
 there but a gentleman of arms and blood; 
 and Mr. Fern sayes, he has seen an alphabet 
 about the end of Henry the fifth's time, in 
 which were the names and arms of the house 
 and family of all those who were members of 
 an Inn of Court, who exceeded not the num- 
 ber of 60, all gentlemen of perfect descents ; 
 and Fortescue tells us, that in H. 6ths time, 
 the Inns of Court had in them 200 or near ; 
 and because the expense of living there was 
 at least to every man 20 marks a year, ipsi 
 nobilium Jilii tantiim in hospitiis illis leges 
 addiscunt" woO 
 
 ftOfj&idhjg 
 
 * Discourse of Arms and Armory, by Edw. Watertious, 
 Esq. 8vo. Lond. 1660. p. 131.
 
 XVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Having shewn that, instead of 20 marks, 
 near 30 pounds a year would be requisite to 
 defray their charges, the commentator tells us 
 that the men of honour and worship, who sent 
 their children to the Inns of Court, added 
 " * to their convenient chamber decent furni- 
 ture, rich apparel, different masters for every 
 science, a full purse for every pastime, and a 
 well apparated servant to attend them, [which] 
 enhaunsed the expence of their stay there; 
 which they very willingly . ailo wed to train 
 their sons up to generous purposes of recrea- 
 tion and profession ; since as they were the 
 best of the nation that so placed them, so 
 they, having sufficient estates to defray the 
 charge of their conspicuity, expended it on 
 them in their persons and equipage. For, as 
 then, none but men of estate entred them- 
 selves at the Inns of Court, so, being there 
 entred, none almost lived but with a servant 
 to attend him when an under-bar student ; 
 which was very comely and useful, if the 
 (servant were well chosen and proved well." 
 
 From this picture of education in the time 
 of Gower and Chaucer, I pass to the con- 
 sideration of Gower's Will. The date shews 
 
 * Commentary upon Forteseue, p. 52S.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XVll 
 
 us that he was living in the early part of 
 1408. The probate of administration was 
 signed on the 24th of October in that year. 
 His bequests to the Prior, the Sub-prior, Ca- 
 nons, and Servants, of St. Mary Overies ; to 
 the four parochial Churches and their Incum- 
 bents in Southwark ; and to several Hospi- 
 tals ; bespeak his charity and piety, if not 
 his wealth. But the legacy to his wife of 
 one hundred pounds, of all his valuable 
 goods, and of the rents arising from his 
 Manors of Southwell in the county of Not- 
 tingham, and of Multon in the county of 
 Suffolk ; these, I think, undeniably prove 
 that he was rich. From the appendage to 
 the probate of administration, dated the 7th 
 of Nov. 1408, it appears also that he pos- 
 sessed bona notabilia in several dioceses. In 
 a word, from this document we learn new 
 facts in the history of the poet, illustrating 
 also, in some degree, the manners of the 
 time, as well as his rank in society. 
 
 The second article, in this division of the 
 Illustrations, is the copy of a Deed preserved 
 among the ancient records of the Marquis of 
 Stafford. To this Deed, of which the local 
 date is Stitenham, and the chronological 
 1346, one of the subscribing witnesses is 
 
 b
 
 XV111 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 John Gower; who, on the back of the Deed, 
 is represented, in the hand-writing of at least 
 a century later, to be " Sr. John Gower the 
 Poet." I offer this Deed as presumptive 
 evidence that Gower, the Poet, was indeed 
 the person, whose attestation is recorded in 
 k ; and also that he was of the House of Sti- 
 tenham. At the date of this Deed in 1346, 
 Gower was upward of twenty years of age. 
 This circumstance therefore cannot but coun- 
 tenance such appropriation of testimony. 
 Leland, Bale, Pits, and Holinshed, pro- 
 nounce the Poet a Gower of Stitenham; 
 though Francis Thynne * questions their as- 
 sertions, and Caxton -f-says that he was a 
 native of Wales. Later writers consider his 
 extraction as involved in much obscurity. 
 Yet Edmondson, in his genealogical table of 
 the Stitenham family J, places him in the 
 fourth descent of this illustrious House ; 
 though indeed he mis-states the year in 
 which he died, and cannot be justified, I 
 think, in saying that Thomas Gower, his 
 
 * Animadversions, in this volume, p. 23. 
 t In the title of his edition of Gower's Confessio Amantia, 
 1483. 
 
 J Baronagium Genealogicum, vol. iii. tab. 254. 
 See before, p. xii.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XIX 
 
 only son, was governour of the castle of 
 Mans in the times of the fifth and sixth 
 Henries. Gower died in Henry the fourth's 
 reign. But no mention is made, in his 
 Will, of any child. Yet Gower, as repre- 
 sented to us in that document, was of too 
 pious and considerate a temper to omit the 
 notice of offspring, if, at the time when he 
 bequeathed his considerable property, the 
 endearing name of father belonged to him. 
 Edmondson does not mention either name 
 of the lady, to whom Gower was married ; 
 the Christian name of whom, the Will, how- 
 ever, records. Yet Glover in his Visitation 
 of Yorkshire, preserved among the Manu- 
 scripts in the * College of Heralds, *f* de- 
 scribes this Sir John Gower (whom Edmond- 
 son calls the Poet) as married to a lady, 
 named not Agnes as in the Will, (who, how- 
 ever, might be his second wife,) but Eliza- 
 beth, daughter of Sir Edward Sadbowrughe, 
 baron of the Exchequer ; by whom his issue 
 
 * -The College of Heralds contains no other materials of 
 importance in respect to the history of Gower. It possesses, 
 liowever, an imperfect copy of the Confessio Amantie, in 
 manuscript; the gift of Henry, duke of Norfolk, in King 
 Charles the second's time. 
 
 t Glover's MSS. Yorkshire, 2. D. 5. fol. 134. b.
 
 XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 enumerated are five sons, the second of whom 
 is named John, and three daughters. I find 
 no such person as Edw. Sadbowrughe among 
 the barons of the Exchequer. The * mis- 
 taken appellation of knightly rank, by which 
 Gower is distinguished; and the confusion 
 respecting his marriage and issue; ren- 
 der therefore the derivation of his extrac- 
 tion, as given by Glover and Edmondson, 
 somewhat questionable. But the date of the 
 Deed, which we have been considering; the 
 age of Gower at the time ; and the place, at 
 which the Deed is signed, and to which it 
 refers; all seem to justify the opinion that 
 Gower was of the Stitenham family in York- 
 shire. I should not omit to observe that the 
 pretended place of Gower's nativity, Wales, 
 which -f-Caxton had asserted, was not thought 
 worthy of admission by Berthelet in his sub- 
 sequent J editions of the Confessio Amantis, 
 printed in 1532 and 1554. This implies 
 
 9 
 
 * See Thynne's Animadversions in this volume, p. 24. 
 
 f See before, p. xviii. 
 
 J Herbert implies, that Berthelet had admitted Caxton's 
 assertion in his edition of 1532, and expunged it in that of 
 1554. Typogr. Antiq. vol. i. p. 45. The Biographia Bri- 
 annica (Art. GOWER,) pretends also that Berthelet's first edi- 
 tion contained the assertion. But these are mistakes. In 
 neither of Bertkelef s editions will it be found.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXI 
 
 suspicion, at least, of the credibility due to 
 Caxton's unauthenticated mention of the 
 poet's Welch origin. Nor can I find any 
 solid ground of support for Mr. Godwin's 
 conjecture, that Gower was " * related to 
 Henry Gower, bishop of St. David's, who 
 died in 1347 ; when our poet was upward of 
 twenty years of age/' The proud tradition 
 in the Marquis of Stafford's family has been, 
 and still is, that he was of Stitcnham ; and 
 who would not consider the dignity of their 
 genealogy augmented, in enrolling, among 
 its worthies, THE MORAL GOWER! 
 
 III. This division of the Illustrations con- 
 tains An Account of some valuable Manu- 
 scripts of Gower and Chaucer, which I have 
 examined. To the antiquary and the critick 
 this labour may perhaps be found of consi- 
 derable service. It points out legitimate and 
 hitherto unemployed materials for a new edi- 
 tion of either poet. It interweaves some cu- 
 rious circumstances, respecting generally the 
 literature of elder days. Let me be per- 
 mitted to hope, that there is no reader to 
 whom this descriptive catalogue may not af- 
 ford at least a gleam of amusement, and that 
 
 * Life of Chaucer, ch. xrii.
 
 XX11 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 there are several to whom the knowledge, 
 thus communicated, of means by which dis- 
 puted passages may best be settled and an* 
 accurate text be formed, will prove a very high 
 gratification. Additions to the list of ma- 
 nuscripts, here given, no doubt, may be 
 made; for neither time nor health have per- 
 mitted that, in subserviency to this object, 
 I should examine every manuscript collection 
 in the kingdom; an undertaking indeed very 
 difficult, if possible, to be accomplished by 
 any individual. Enough is here detailed to 
 encourage in any one what w as once the * in- 
 tention of Johnson, and perhaps to assist in 
 improving (I speak however with deference) 
 what the learned Tyrwhitt has produced. 
 
 IV. Important as a re-publication of Gower's 
 poetry might be, particularly as it respects 
 the history of our language ; it is not, how- 
 
 * See the Life of Johnson, by Sir John Hawkins, and by 
 Boswellj where, in the list of publications projected by that 
 great man, is, " Chaucer ; a new edition of him, from ma- 
 nuscripts and old editions, with various readings, conjectures, 
 remarks on his language, and the changes it had undergone 
 from the earliest times to his age, and from his to the pre- 
 sent. With notes explanatory of customs, &c. and refer- 
 ences to Boccace and other authors from whom he has bor- 
 rowed ; with an account of the liberties he has taken in telling 
 the stories ; his life ; and an exact etymological glossary."
 
 INTRODUCTION. XX111 
 
 ever, probable that the work (to use a com- 
 mon phrase) would be very popular. But, 
 as Mr. Ellis observes, " * although few mo- 
 dern readers will be tempted to peruse a poem 
 of more than thirty thousand verses, written 
 in obsolete English, without being allured by 
 the hopes of more entertainment than can 
 easily be derived from the Confessio Amantis, 
 there are parts of the work which might very 
 probably be reprinted with advantage/' 
 Among these Mr. Ellis admits the Tale of the 
 Caskets, which forms a part of this fourth 
 division of the Illustrations ; and which, with 
 the extract here given from another part of 
 the poem, will interest the reader in Gower's 
 behalf. To these selections I have prefixed 
 the Preface, which is found in Berthelet's 
 f-two editions of the Confessio Amantis ; 
 as it shews the great esteem in which Gower 
 was then held, while it also offers some in- 
 genious criticism on the work, and affords 
 some notices of Chaucer also as well as 
 Gower. 
 
 With the subject of the Confessio Amantis 
 some readers of this volume may yet be un- 
 
 * Specimens of Early English Poets, vol. i. 179. 
 t In 1532, and 1554.
 
 XXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 acquainted. To such I will offer from Mr. 
 Warton a brief analysis of it. " * This poem 
 is a dialogue between a lover and his con- 
 fessor, who is a priest of Venus, and, like the 
 mystagogue in the Picture of Cebes, is called 
 Genius. Here, as if it had been impossible 
 for a lover not to be a good catholick, the 
 ritual of religion is blended with the breviary. 
 In the course of the confession, every evil 
 affection of the human heart, which may 
 tend to impede the progress or counteract 
 the success of love, is scientifically subdi- 
 vided; and its fatal effects exemplified by a 
 variety of apposite stories, extracted from 
 classicks and chronicles/' But (to add the 
 judicious remark of Mr. G. Ellis) <; -f- because 
 example is more impressive than precept, the 
 confessor illustrates his injunctions by a se- 
 ries of apposite tales, with the morality of 
 which our lover professes to be highly edi- 
 fied; and, being of a more inquisitive turn 
 than lovers usually are, or perhaps hoping 
 to subdue his mistress by directing against 
 her the whole artillery of science, the Jover 
 gives his confessor an opportunity of inci- 
 
 * Hist, of English Poetry, vol. ii. 3. 
 
 f Specimens of Early Eng. Poets, vol. i. 177.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXY 
 
 dentally instructing him in chemistry and in 
 the Aristotelian philosophy. At length, all 
 the interest that he has endeavoured to ex- 
 cite, by the long and minute details of his 
 sufferings and by manifold proofs of his pa- 
 tience, is rather abruptly and unexpectedly 
 extinguished: for he tells us, not that his 
 mistress is inflexible or faithless, but that he 
 is arrived at such a good old age that the 
 submission of his fair enemy would not have 
 been sufficient for ensuring his triumph." 
 
 Through this learned and elaborate work, 
 the poet, as Mr. Ellis adds, seems to have 
 distributed all the contents of his common- 
 place book ; several of which, I cannot deny, 
 are very opposite to sweet and honied sen- 
 tences. At the same time let it be remem- 
 bered, that when considered in the charac- 
 ter, appropriated to him by Chaucer, of 
 the moral Gower, " * he always appears to 
 advantage; is wise, impressive, and almost 
 sublime." The obscure and forgotten sources, 
 from which many of his tales are derived, 
 Mr. Warton has successfully investigated. A 
 branch of learning, popular in his time, and 
 to which he was attached ; I mean, the study 
 f romances ; is illustrated in the notes, which 
 
 * Ellis, &c. vol. i. 179.
 
 XXVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 I have added to this division, from the cu- 
 rious evidences relating to the subject, which 
 the manuscript libraries of the Archbishop 
 of Canterbury and the Marquis of Stafford 
 have afforded. Information will here be 
 found, which may serve to silence the * doubt 
 of Ritson, and to confirm the -j~ assertion of 
 Warton, that the libraries of the monasteries 
 abounded with romances. 
 
 In giving* Govver the precedence, as well in 
 what relates to the manuscripts of his poetry 
 as to the extracts which are made from his 
 works, no one will suppose me influenced by 
 any other motive than that of attention to 
 chronological propriety. He was J born be- 
 fore Chaucer. Authors, both historical and 
 poetical, in the century after the decease of 
 these poets, usually coupling their names 
 and describing their accomplishments, place 
 Gower before Chaucer ; not intending (for 
 I cannot think so badly of their taste as to 
 suppose that they preferred Gower to Chau- 
 cer,) any precedence in respect to talents, 
 but merely the accustomed tribute due to 
 
 * Metrical Romances, vol. i. ci. 
 f Hist. Eng. Poetry, vol. i. 87. 
 J 'Ellis's Specimens of Early Eng. Poets, &c. 
 See also Fox's remark in the next page.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXV11 
 
 seniority. To the poetical testimonies of 
 Skelton and Hawes, cited in the title-page of 
 this volume, might be added verses of an 
 anonymous writer given by Speght in his edi- 
 tion of Chaucer on the authority of Stow, 
 and from Speght adopted by Urry. Histo- 
 rical evidence presents itself in the observa- 
 tion of John Fox : " * As touching the tyme 
 of Chaucer, by his owne words in the end of 
 his first booke of Troylus and Creseide it is 
 manifest, that he and Gower were both of 
 one time ; although it semeth that Gower 
 was a great deale his ancient ; both notably 
 learned, as the barbarous rudenes of that 
 tyme did geve ; both great -f- friends together ; 
 
 * Book of Martyrs, edit. 1583. vol. ii. p. 839. 
 L,^ These words are almost the same as those in Berthelet's 
 Preface to Gower's Confessio Amantis. See p. 142. The 
 friendship of Gower and Chaucer, which has been supposed to 
 have commenced in their academical days, and is known to 
 have continued undiminished for more than forty years, was 
 dissolved before their death. The indirect sarcasm levelled by 
 Chaucer against Gower, in the Prologue to his Man of 
 Lawes Tale ; and the suppression, in some Manuscripts, of 
 the compliment paid by Gower to Chaucer, in the Epilogue 
 to his Confessio Amantis; are considered as decisive proofs of 
 broken amity. See Tyrwhitt's Introduct. Disc. Canterb. 
 Tales, . xiv. Whatever was the cause of this disunion, it 
 cannot but be deeply lamented, that two such men, " with so 
 many points of sympathy/' as Mr. Godwin well observes,
 
 XXV111 INTRODUCTION, 
 
 both in likekinde of study together occupyed ; 
 so endevoring themselves, and employing their 
 tyme, that they, excelling many other in study 
 and exercise of good letters, did passe forth 
 their lives here right worshipfully, and god- 
 ly, to the worthye fame and commendation of 
 their name." Fox, I should observe, is led to 
 this eulogium, on account of the distinguish- 
 ed learning of Gower and Chaucer, and of 
 the consequent service which their talents 
 contributed towards the Reformation. " This 
 I mervaile," says the historian, " to see the 
 idle lyfe of the priestes and clergyemen of that 
 tyme, seeing these lay persons shewed them- 
 selves in these kinds of liberall studyes so in- 
 dustrious and fruitfully occupyed." I shall 
 have occasion again to cite the remarks of 
 Fox, in respect to what I shall presently and 
 distinctly say of Chaucer. In the mean 
 time, I will give another proof, from a very 
 
 " and with so great a similarity of pursuits ; both lovers of 
 learning; both inspired with taste; both cultivators and re. 
 finer$ of their native tongue, at a time when so few minds ex- 
 isted congenial with their own ; that two such men, after 
 having known each other so intimately, and mutually looked 
 to each other for fellowship in amusement and relief in adver- 
 sity during so long a period, should come to view each othef 
 with eye* of estrangement, indifference, and disgust." Life 
 of Chaucer, cli. xvii.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXIX 
 
 curious work, of the chronological precedence 
 shewn to Gower. It occurs in a * Dialogue, 
 of the sixteenth century, between Medicus 
 and Crispine ; in which a Vision of the Poets 
 is ingeniously described. " I did beholde 
 on the other side the nine Muses, with strange 
 instrumentes of Musicke, sittyng vnder the 
 hille Parnasus, and Poetes sittyng vnder the 
 grene trees, with laurell garlandes, besette 
 with roses aboute their heads, hauyng golden 
 pennes in their handes, as Homer, Hesiodus, 
 Ennius, &c. writyng verses of sondrie kindes. 
 And Lucanus sat there very high, nere vnto 
 the cloudes, apparelled in purple, &c. 
 
 " And nere them satte old Morall Goore, 
 with pleasaunte penne in hande, commendyng 
 honeste loue without luste, and pleasure with- 
 out pride, holinesse in the Cleargie without 
 hypocrisie, no tyrannic in Rulers, no falshode 
 in Lawiers, no usurie in Marchauntes, no 
 rebellion in the Commons, and vnitie emong 
 kyngdoms." 
 
 Afterwards, the character of Chaucer is 
 thus quaintly exhibited : " Wittie Chaucer 
 
 * A Dialogue both pleasaunt and pietifull, wherein is a 
 godlie regiment against the Fever Pestilence, &c. Impr. at 
 London, 12mo. 1513. bl. 1. To the Reader, signed W. Bul- 
 lein. [Brit, Mu, 7. B, a.] pagg. 17, 18, 1*, 20.
 
 XXX INTRODUCTION, 
 
 satte in a chaire of gold covered with roses, 
 writyng prose and rime, accompanied with 
 the Spintes of many kynges, knightes, and 
 faire ladies ; whom he pleasauntly besprinkel- 
 ed with the sweete water of the welle, con- 
 secrated vnto the Muses, ecleped Aganippe. 
 And as the heauenly Spirite commended his 
 deare *Brigham for the worthie entombyng 
 of his bones, worthie of memorie, in the long 
 slepyng chamber of moste famous kinges; 
 even so in tragedie he bewailed the sodaine 
 resurrection of many a noble man before 
 their time in spoilyng of Epitaphes, wherby 
 many haue loste their inheritaunce, c. And 
 further thus he saied, lamentyng: 
 
 Coueteous men do catche all that thei maie haue, 
 
 The felde and the flocke, the tombe and the graue ; 
 
 And as thei abuse riches and their graues that are gone, 
 
 The same measure thei shall haue euery one. 
 
 Yet no buriall hurteth holie men, though beastes them de- 
 
 uour; 
 Nor riche graue preuaileth the wicked, for all yearthly 
 
 power." 
 
 * Nicholas Brigham, who, in 1556, erected a new and 
 fumptuous monument in Westminster Abbey to the me- 
 mory of Chaucer. See Cough's Sepulchral Monuments. 
 Brigham was a man of learning, and a poet. See Wood'* 
 Ath. Ox. and Lambeth MSS. No. 1 106.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXI ; 
 
 Having given these proofs of the priority 
 usually observed, where the names of Gower 
 and Chaucer are cited ; I will not withhold, 
 an example, in which the precedence is given 
 to Chaucer ; especially as it occurs in a ma- 
 nuscript poem, the author of which has been 
 inaccurately described by * Casley, whom 
 Ritson pretends to correct; and also by 
 f'Ritson himself. The Manuscript is now in 
 the possession of Mr. G. Nicol, his Majesty's 
 bookseller. It contains, first, the poem of 
 Hoccleve De Rcgimine Principis, with an 
 indifferent marginal portrait of Chaucer; and, 
 then, the metrical translation of J Boetius ; 
 
 * Catalogue of MSS. of the Royal Library, 1734. 18. A. 
 XIII. " A. M. T. Sev. Boetius, his 5 Books of the Com- 
 fort of Philosophy : translated into English verse by John Lyd- 
 gate, A. D. 1410." 
 
 f " Walton, or Waltwnem, John, canon of Oseney, 
 translated into English verse The boke of comfort called in 
 Latyij Boecius de consolations philosophic, &c. The transla- 
 tion appears, from a manuscript copy quoted by Hearne, 
 Praef. in Camdeni Annales, p. cxxxiii. to have been finished 
 in 1410; conformably to another among the king's MSS. in 
 which the work is said to be translated per capellanum Johan- 
 nem, whom Casley mistook for Lydgate." Bibl. Poet. p. 39. 
 But see the next note. 
 
 | At the end of the translation is the following avowal : 
 " Explicit liber Boecii de consolacione philosophic de latino 
 in Anglicum translatus anno dni millesimo ccccx . per 1 Ca- 
 pellanum Johannem Tebaud alias Watyrbeche."
 
 XXXll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of which author, we must remember, Chau- 
 cer had given a prose translation; so that 
 we may consider the precedence, bestowed 
 by this versifier of Boetius on Chaucer, 
 as a proper mark of his grateful acknow- 
 ledgment to Chaucer's having led the way 
 in the business which he had undertaken. 
 
 * I have herd speke, and suimvhat have I seyn, 
 Of dyvers men that wondir subtily 
 In meetre summe, and surnme in prose pleyn, 
 This book ban translated sufficiently 
 In to englissh tonge wol ny. 
 But I moste use the wyttis that I have, 
 Though I may not do so : yet forthy 
 With help of God the sentence schal I have. 
 
 To Chaivceer that was flour of rhetoryk 
 In englyssh tonge, and excellent poete, 
 This woot I wel, no thyng may I do lyk, 
 Though so that I of makyng entermete ; 
 And Goweer tliat craftily dooth trete, 
 As in his booke of moralite : 
 Though I to hem in makyng am unmeete. 
 Yet muste I schewe it forthe that is in me. 
 
 Mr. G. Ellis, I should observe, in his 
 Early Specimens of the English Poets, con- 
 siders the character and works of Gower 
 
 * The fourth and fifth stanzas of an Introduction preceding 
 the Prologue to this Translation. 
 
 6
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXlii 
 
 before those of Chaucer. The imitation of 
 the Confessio Amantis by Chaucer in his 
 * Man of Lawes Tale,, affords a convincing 
 proof, says Ritson, -f-that Gower is a poet 
 anteriour to Chaucer, though many of the 
 latter's pieces happen to appear with a date 
 earlier than his own. The fact is true ; but 
 the argument by which Ritson supports his 
 allegation, is false. He says, that Gower 
 expressly calls Chaucer " his disciple and 
 poete;" for that, " in the flowres of his 
 youth/' he had made for his sake " ditees 
 and songes glade." This is a grievous blun- 
 der : It is Venus, whom Gower describes, at 
 the close of his Confessio Amantis, claiming 
 Chaucer as her scholar and her bard, and as 
 having distinguished himself in her service by 
 his literary compositions. 
 
 V. In this division of the Illustrations, I 
 
 have presented, under the expectation that 
 f 
 
 * See also the Illustrations, in this volume, p. 106, 
 107. 
 
 f Metrical Romances, vol. iii. p. 323. Dr. Johnson 
 has offered a remark, that " he that reads the works of Gower 
 will find smooth numbers and easy rhymes, of which Chaucer 
 is supposed to have been the inventor ; and the French words 
 whether good or bad, of which Chaucer is charged as the 
 importer." Introduct. Eng. Dictionary. 
 
 C
 
 XXXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 they will be acceptable to every judicious 
 reader, and as a specimen of the poet's va- 
 rious talents, The Prologue to the Canter- 
 bury Tales, and The Floure and the Leafe. 
 To these I have ventured to subjoin remarks, 
 intermixed with several which have been the 
 fruits of researches successfully made by 
 Warton, Tyrwhitt, and others. Nor in my 
 own observations, I may humbly add, will 
 some interesting circumstances of original in- 
 formation be sought in vain. 
 
 They, who are little acquainted with Chau- 
 cer, will feel themselves obliged by this in- 
 vitation of their notice to his celebrated Pro- 
 logue. " * Chaucer's vein of humour," Mr. 
 Warton elegantly remarks, " although con- 
 spicuous in the Canterbury Tales, is chiefly 
 displayed in the Characters [described in the 
 Prologue] with which they are introduced. 
 In these his knowledge of the world availed 
 him in a peculiar degree, and enabled him to 
 give such an accurate picture of ancient man- 
 ners, as no contemporary nation has trans- 
 mitted to posterity. It is here that we view 
 the pursuits and employments, the customs 
 and diversions, of our ancestors, copied from 
 
 * Hist, of Eng. Poetry, voi i. 435.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXY 
 
 the life, and represented with equal truth 
 and spirit, by a judge of mankind, whose 
 penetration qualified him to discern their 
 foibles or discriminating peculiarities ; and 
 by an artist, who understood that proper se- 
 lection of circumstances, and those predo- 
 minant characteristicks, which form a finish- 
 ed portrait. We are surprised to find, in so 
 gross and ignorant an age, such talents for 
 satire, and for observation on life ; qualities, 
 which usually exert themselves at more ci- 
 vilised periods, when the improved state of 
 society, by subtilising our speculations and 
 establishing uniform modes of behaviour, 
 
 o * 
 
 disposes mankind to study themselves, and 
 renders deviations of conduct and singula- 
 rities of character more immediately and ne- 
 cessarily the objects of censure and ridicule. 
 These curious and valuable remains are spe- 
 cimens of Chaucer's native genius, unassisted 
 and unalloyed. The figures are all British, 
 and bear no suspicious signatures of classical, 
 Italian, or French imitation. The characters 
 of Theophrastus are not so lively, peculiar, 
 and appropriated." 
 
 The happy and successful manner, with 
 which Chaucer, as well in his Prologue as in ,,, 
 other parts of his Works, attacked the care-
 
 XXXM INTRODUCTION. 
 
 less fraternities of the church, has obtained 
 him the rank of a religious reformer, and en- 
 rolled him among our * ecclesiastical or the- 
 
 * Under this 'character he is expressly described, (not 
 without mis-terming him however, as others have mis-termed 
 both him and Gower, a knight,) in the list of Oxford writers, 
 prefixed to " Gabrielis Poueli, Ordovicis Britanni, Davidis 
 F. Disputationum Theologicarum et Scholasticarum de Anti- 
 christo, et ejus Ecclesia, Libri duo, &c." Lond. 1605. 
 Prsef. ad Academ. Oxon. p. 32. 
 
 Under this character also, the celebrated Henry Wharton 
 has left in manuscript a sketch of Chaucer, which is preserved 
 in the Manuscript Library at Lambeth, and was intended by 
 him as an addition to Cave's Scriptores Ecckdaslici; although, 
 in the republication of Cave's work in 1T40, this Hisforiola 
 of Chaucer (which is printed in the Appendix to the second 
 volume) is given, but not correctly, to Archbishop Tenison. 
 See MSS. Lamb. 956. The sketch is very elegant 
 
 " Vir extra controversial!! doctissimus, Poetarum vero 
 Anglicanorum facile princeps et parcns ; sui sccculi ornamen- 
 twn, inquit magnus ille Camdenus, extra omnem ingenii aleam 
 positus, et Poetastros nostros longo post se intervallo relinquens. 
 Sane is est, quern antiquis Latii Poetis non immerilo con- 
 ferre possemus, si aut saeculum ant linguam nactus esset foe- 
 liciorem; licet id in Chauceri landem haud parum cedat, 
 quod tarn rudi sevo priscorum Poetarum veneres si non assc- 
 cutus, saltern imitatus fuerit ; et horridiusculam linguae An- 
 glicanse (qualis tune temporis obtinuit) duriciem, carmine 
 ligatam, amoeniorem atque elegantiorem reddiderit Primus 
 enim omnium linguae nostrati sordes excussit, nitorem intulit, 
 -et largsl vocum molliorum aliunde invectarum supellectile 
 ditavit : id operis praecipu^ in Poematiis suis condendis IR 
 nimo habuisse visus. Unde jure de eo Lelandus :
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXVII 
 
 ological writers. The historian of the martyrs, 
 whose tribute of commendation to the labours 
 of Gower and Chaucer I have already cited, 
 thus expatiates on the religious utility of 
 Chaucer's Works. " But much more I mer- 
 vaile to consider this, how that the bishops 
 condemning and abolishing all maner of 
 English bookes and treatises, which might 
 bring the people to any light of knowledge, 
 did yet authorise the Workes of Chaucer to 
 remaine still and to be occupyed; who (no 
 doubt) saw in religion as much almost as 
 
 Anglia Chaucerum veneratur nostra Poetam, 
 Cui veneres debet patria lingua suas. 
 
 Neque solum principem apud conterraneos Poetas loci glo- 
 riam tulit : verum etiatn totum scientiarum, qua late patet, 
 circulum baud infeliciter confecerat. Dialectics ac Philo- 
 sophise baud vulgariter peritus, Historise callentissimus, Rhe- 
 tor satis venustus, Matheseos non ignarus; in rebus denique 
 Tlieologicis apprime versatus, de quibus acute atque erudite 
 sapiik disputat. Subtiliorem etenitn Scholarum disciplinam 
 probe noverat; castioris autem Theologies studio nullos fere non 
 sui temporis T/ieologos untecelluit, WlCLEFI dogmata ut pluri- 
 muni secutus, et wfucatam ac genuinam pietatem sectatus. Hint, 
 graviores Eeclesice Romance superstitiones et errores acerbe scepiut 
 vellicat ; corruptam ineptissimis commentis disciplinam ecclesiasti- 
 cam luget; Cleri luxuriant et ignaviam castigat; in Ordines autem 
 Mendicantes projectissimo ubique odio invehitur, quorum hypo- 
 crisin, ambitionem, aliaque vitia turpissima, aliquoties data operd, 
 rwilibi verb non oblatd qudvis occasione, acerrime inacctatttr."
 
 XXXV111 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 even we doe now, and uttereth in his workes 
 no lesse, and seemeth to be a right Wiclevian^ 
 or els was never any ; and that all his Workes 
 almost, if they be throughly advised will 
 testify, (albeit it be done in mirth and co- 
 vertly,) and especially the latter ende of his 
 third booke of the Testament of Love : for 
 there purely he toucheth the highest matter, 
 that is the Communion: Wherin except a 
 man be altogether blind, he may espy him 
 at the ful. Although in the same booke (as 
 in al other he useth to doe) under shadows 
 covertly, as under a visour, he suborneth 
 Truth in such sort, as both privily she may 
 profit the godly-minded, and yet not be 
 espyed of the crafty adversary : And there- 
 fore the bishops belike, taking his works but 
 for jestes, and toies, in condemning other 
 bookes, yet permitted his bookes to be read. 
 So it pleased God to blind then the eies of 
 them, for the more commodity of his people, 
 to the intent that, through the reading of his 
 treatises, some fruit might redound thereof 
 to his church, as no doubt it did to many ; 
 as also I am partly enformed of certaine 
 which knew the parties, which to them re- 
 ported, that, by reading of Chaucers Works,
 
 xxxlx 
 
 they were brought to the true knowledge of 
 religion." 
 
 Fox proceeds to lay great stress upon The, 
 Plowman's Tale, as if it were the undoubted 
 production of Chaucer. That it was not 
 written by Chaucer, the minuter researches 
 of modern criticism have * satisfactorily 
 shewn. Enough, however, of that disposi- 
 tion, for which Fox commends him, emi- 
 nently displays itself in his genuine works. 
 
 The text, which I have used in the Ex- 
 tracts from Chaucer's poetry, is -f-that of 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt in the Canterbury Tales ; 
 
 * See Warton's Hist, of Eng. Poetry, and Tyrwhitt's In- 
 troduct. Canterb. Tales. I take this opportunity of mentioning 
 a very curious edition, hitherto unnoticed, of the poem falsely 
 attributed to Chaucer. It is of the duodecimo size, in the black 
 letter, without date, and imprinted at London in Paules churche 
 yarde at the sygne of the Hyll by Wyllyam Hyll. It is en- 
 titled, The Plouumans tale compylled by syr Gejfray Chaucer 
 knyght. I have compared with the poem as printed by Urry 
 forty or fifty lines, and I found almost as many variations between 
 them. The colophon of this book is, Thus endeth tlte boke of 
 Chaunterburye Tales. This rarity belongs to the Rev. Mr. 
 Conybeare, the present Professor of the Saxon language in the 
 University of Oxford. 
 
 t See the grammatical and metrical analysis of the firfcl 
 eighteen lines of the Canterbury Tales by Mr. Tyrwhitt, 
 which deserves, as Mr. Malone has judiciously remarked, to 
 be studied by every reader of Chaucer.
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and, in the Floure and Leafe, a text de- 
 rived from collation of the first and se- 
 cond editions of Speght, and the edition 
 of Urry. The text of Urry, as Mr. Ellis 
 has * observed, exhibits the measure of 
 the verse more uniformly smooth and 
 harmonious than it is found in the early 
 printed copies. But this agreeable effect 
 being produced by unwarrantable interpola- 
 tions, changes, and omissions, (of which nu- 
 merous instances might be given in this little 
 poem,) I have followed the example and ad- 
 vice of Mr. Ellis in reverting to the black 
 letter editions. For these, he rightly adds, 
 till some able English critick, following the 
 example of the admirable Tyrwhitt in the 
 Canterbury Tales, shall have accurately re- 
 formed from a collation of manuscripts the 
 text of Chaucer's -j- remaining works, can 
 
 * Specimens of the Early Eng. Poets, vol. i. 227. 
 
 t What Mr. Godwin has offered on this subject, deserve* 
 particular attention. . " There is nothing more ardently to be 
 wished by the admirers of Chaucer, than that a correct and 
 elaborate edition should be made of his works ; and that some 
 of the same exertions should be spent upon illustrating them, 
 which have of late years been so liberally employed upon the 
 productions of Shakspeare and Milton. Mr. Tyrwhitt in- 
 deed has taken much pains, and in many instances to excel- 
 lent purposes, with the Canterbury Tales ; but nothing can be
 
 INTRODUCTION* x 
 
 alone be safely trusted, rude and faulty as 
 they may appear. 
 
 VI. I trust that I am correct, in consider- 
 ing what composes this division of the Illus- 
 trations, and to which I have given the title of 
 Poems supposed to be written by Chaucer dur- 
 ing his imprisonment, as a discovery of some 
 importance. The Poems are extracted from 
 two leaves preceding the beautiful Manuscript 
 of the Canterbury Tales, written in the fif- 
 teenth century, belonging to the Marquis of 
 Stafford. To our most curious antiquaries 
 they are unknown. 
 
 The imprisonment of Chaucer is indeed 
 proved on his own authority, though it is 
 not accompanied with a date. In his prose- 
 composition, the * Testament of Love, he 
 
 more miserable'than the condition of the printed copies of the 
 rest of our author's works. A vulgar judgement has been 
 propagated by slothful and indolent persons, that the Canter- 
 bury Tales are the only part of the Works of Chaucer worthy 
 the attention of a modern reader; and this has contributed to 
 the wretched state, in which his works are still permitted to 
 exist." Life of Chaucer, ch. xii. 
 
 * The Testament of Love, evidently an imitation of Boethius 
 de consolatione Philosophies, is' supposed by Mr. Tyrwhitt to 
 have been begun by Chaucer after his troubles, in the middle 
 part of the reign of Richard II, and to have been finished 
 about the time that Gower published his Cortfessio Amantis, in 
 the 16th year of that reign ; or at least to have been then far
 
 xlii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 pathetically represents himself " * witlesse", 
 thoughtfull, sightlesse lokynge, enduring his 
 penaunce in this derk prisonne, [supposed 
 by the biographers of the poet to mean the 
 Tower of London,] caitiflfned fro frendshippe 
 and acquaintaunce, and forsaken of al that any 
 worde dare speke." Again, he says : " -f I had 
 richesse suffisauntly to weive nede ; I had dig- 
 nite to be reverenced in worship. Power me 
 thought that I had to kepe fro min enemies ; and 
 me seined to shine in glory of renome. Every 
 of tho joyes is turned into his contrary : for 
 richesse, now have I povertie ; for dignitie, 
 now am I enprisoned ; in stede of power, 
 wretchednesse I suflfre ; and, for glory of 
 renome, I am now despised and fouliche 
 hated/' 
 
 This confinement of the poet has been at- 
 tributed to his having been concerned in the 
 affair of John of Northampton. His descrip- 
 
 advanced, as Gower mentions it by its title. Ace. of Chau 
 cer's Works. I incline to think that this composition wa* 
 written during hia troubles ; and that Chaucer bad shewn it 
 to Gower, while their friendship existed. In some Manu- 
 scripts of the Cotfeasio Amuntis, it must not be forgotten, the 
 Yery passage, which compliments Chaucer on account of his 
 Testament of Lone, is withdrawn. 
 
 * Test, of Love, edit Urr. p. 479. col. 2. 
 
 t Ibid. p. 502. col. 1.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 tion, in the Testament of Love, of the pre- 
 tences and modes of reasoning brought for- 
 ward by the party he embraced, coincides, 
 says Mr. Godwin, " * in so many particulars 
 with Walsingham's account of the proceedings 
 of John of Northampton, that it is almost 
 impossible to doubt that these were the pro- 
 ceedings in which the poet found himself so 
 deeply entangled/' That the Testament of 
 Love, which authenticates the history of his 
 durance, was not written till after the close 
 of the year 1386, may be gathered from a 
 comparison of his own words with the date 
 of the appointments to situations, bestowed 
 on others, of which he had been deprived. 
 These were the offices of Comptroller of the 
 Customs in the Port of London, and Comp- 
 troller of the Small Customs; of which the 
 former was Nf* bestowed on Adam Yerdely, 
 and the latter on Henry Gisons, in the De- 
 cember of 1386. His own words are: 
 ** JThy worldly godes ben fulliche dispente, 
 and thou berafte out of dignitie of office." 
 
 * Life of Chaucer, ch. 50, 
 
 f Proved from the Tower-Records, both in this and the 
 following instance, by Mr. Godwin. Life of Chaucer 
 ch. 50. 
 
 J Test, ed. Urr. p. 490. coL 2.
 
 xJiv 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 But the date of his imprisonment may, 
 without impropriety, be considered as some- 
 what anteriour to these deprivations. At this 
 period, -f- Vere, Earl of Oxford, the favourite 
 of the king, exercised the most unbounded 
 authority; nor ceased to influence the un- 
 happy Richard till at least towards the close 
 of the following year. 
 
 In his confinement the poet, ajs Mr. God- 
 win well remarks, " J recollected his former 
 pursuits, the cherished visions of his happier 
 days, and became again an author ;" alluding 
 to his composition of the Testament of Love. 
 Nor is it improbable that he was forbidden, 
 as Mr. Godwin adds, " the visits of his 
 friends ; but by the magick power of fancy 
 he called about him celestial visitants." Such 
 cheering visitation is indeed || avowed in the 
 first of the poems, contained in this division 
 of the Illustrations. This poem also, fre- 
 quently in the very words which describe 
 similar feelings in the Testament of Love, 
 
 f Compare all our historians, under the years 1386, 1387. 
 
 $ Life of Chaucer, ch. 50. 
 
 Ibid. 
 
 || See the poem, p. 299. 
 
 - , faithfully I belevyd 
 
 That the voyce came from the celestyall place.
 
 xlv 
 
 deplores the Joss of comforts which had been 
 enjoyed, specifies the gloomy situation into 
 which he was brought, and at the same time 
 Consoles the heart with religious sentiments. 
 * Phrases also of particular and striking im- 
 port in other parts of Chaucer's Works, are 
 found in this poem. The poem, which fol- 
 lows, presents resemblance likewise to the 
 Testament of Love in its allegorical style ; 
 for in the one lie amuses himself, in this re- 
 spect, with the name of Fere, as in the 
 other with that of Marguerite. This poem 
 is certainly intended to implore the assist- 
 ance of Vere. To whom could the author 
 address himself with better prospect of ob- 
 taining restoration to liberty, than to such 
 a man? And, considering the time and all 
 the circumstances which I have stated, to 
 whom may we impute these compositions but 
 to Chaucer ? 
 
 VII. The Glossary, which forms this divi- 
 sion of the Illustrations, is founded, with gra 
 titude, on that of Mr. Tyrwhitt, as far as re- 
 spects what is extracted from Chaucer's Pn*- 
 logue to the Canterbury Tales, and the Flower 
 and Leaf; yet not without occasional but re- 
 
 * These corresponding sentiments and phrases arc exhi- 
 bited under the text of the Poems.
 
 INTRODUCTION* 
 
 spectful difference of opinion, and not with- 
 out some augmentation. The other Extracts, 
 given from our early writers in this volume, 
 present indeed words and phrases, or allusions 
 to manners and customs, though not numer- 
 ous, which are not found in Chaucer. Of 
 such the illustration has been sought by me 
 from authentick sources. 
 
 Nor may the engravings, which accom- 
 pany this work . and are minutely correct 
 copies of what they represent, be unaccept- 
 able to the lovers of Gower and Chaucer. 
 The portrait of Chaucer is copied from the 
 Manuscript of the Canterbury Tales, belong- 
 ing to the Marquis of Stafford. Of Gower's 
 monument in the Church of St. Saviour 
 (which formerly was the Monastery of St. 
 Mary Overies) in Southwark, and of Chau- 
 cer's in the Abbey of Westminster, I direct- 
 ed the drawings to be taken on the respective 
 spots. Of these tombs the former has wit- 
 nessed the least injury. The latter is not 
 that which Berthelet describes as existing in 
 1532, but that which was erected to the 
 poet's memory in 1555 by Nicholas Brig- 
 ham. 
 
 To the Marquis of Stafford my thanks 
 liave been already tendered. It remain*
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 that I should acknowledge the similar libe- 
 rality of the Archbishop of Canterbury, in 
 permitting me to make such extracts from 
 his fine collection of manuscripts as might 
 be subservient to my design. Of this oc- 
 casion I avail myself gratefully to acknow- 
 ledge also, what none have experienced in a 
 kinder manner than I have from his Grace's 
 usual generosity, the encouragement of a pre- 
 late vigilant and zealous in the cause of lite- 
 rature. 
 
 While I claim the indulgence of the candid 
 
 for any inaccuracy which I may have stated, 
 and submit with cheerfulness to the judi- 
 cious reader the authentick documents which 
 I have collected ; however humble my labour 
 has been, I shall always think that the time 
 passed pleasantly, if not usefully, which was 
 devoted to any illustration of those writers, 
 by whom our language has been improved, 
 and to whom our reformed religion is in-* 
 debted. 
 
 flENBY J. TODD. 
 
 JM.24, 1810.
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS, 
 
 N. 1.
 

 
 .ANIMADUERSIONS 
 
 ' \ 
 
 VPPON THE ANNOTACIONS 
 
 AND CORRECTONS OF SOME 
 
 IMPERFECTONS OF IMPRESSONES 
 
 OF CHAUCERS WORKES (SETT 
 
 DOWNE BEFORE TYME AND 
 
 NOWE) REPRINTED IN THE 
 
 YERE OF OUR LORDE 
 
 1598. 
 
 SETT DOWNE BY 
 FRANCIS THYNNE.
 
 TO THE 
 RIGHTS HONORABLE HIS SJNGULER GOOD LORDE 
 
 SIR. THOMAS EGERTON, KNIGHTE. 
 
 LORDE KEPER OP THE CREATE SEALE AND MASTER OP 
 THK ROLLES OF THE CHAUNCERYE. 
 
 IT was (ryghte honorable and my verye good 
 lorde) one aunciente and gretlye estemed cus- 
 tome emongst the Romans in the height of their 
 glorye, that eche one, accordinge to their abyly- 
 tye or the desarte of his frende, did in the begyn- 
 nynge of the monthe of lanuarye (consecrated 
 to the dooble-faced godd lanus, on the fyrste 
 daye whereof they made electione of their cheife 
 officers and magistrates,) presente somme gyfte 
 vnto his frende as the note and pledge of the 
 contynued and encresed amy tye betwene them ; a 
 pollicye gretlye to be regarded for the many 
 good effectes which issue from so woorthye cause. 
 This custome not restinge in the Jymyttes of 
 Italy e, but spredinge with the Romans ( as did their 
 language and many other their vsages and lawes) 
 into euerye perticuler countrye where theyr power 
 and gouermente stretched, passed also ouer the 
 oceane into the litle worlde of Britannye, being 
 neuer exiled from thence, nor from those whome 
 eyther honor, amytye, or dutye doth combyne j
 
 FRANCIS THYNNE S 
 
 fforwhose cause lest I myghte offende in thebreche 
 of that most excellente and yet embraced custome, 
 I thinke yt my parte to presente unto yo r Lo : 
 suche poore newe-yeres gyfte as my weak estate 
 and the barren nesse of my feble sky 11 will per- 
 mytte. Wherefore, and because Cicero affirmeth 
 that he whiche hathe once ouerpassed the frontiers 
 of modesty must for euer after be impudente, 
 (a grounde which I fynde fully veryfyed in my 
 selfe, havinge once before outgonne the bourides 
 of shamefastnesse in presentinge to yo r Lord- 
 shippe my confused collectors and disordered dis- 
 course of the Chauncelors,) I ame nowe become 
 vtterlye impudente in not blushinge to salute 
 you agayne (in the begynnynge of this newe 
 yere) with my petye animadversons vppon the 
 annotacons and corrections deliuered by master 
 Thomas Speghte vppon the last editone of Chau-. 
 cers Workes in the yere of oure redemptone 
 1598; thinges (I confesse) not so answerable to 
 yo r Lordshippes Judgment, and my desyre, as bothe 
 youre desarte and my dutye doo challenge. But 
 although they doo not in all respectes satisfye youre 
 Lordshippes expectacone and my goode will, (ac- 
 cordinge as I wyshe they sholde,) yet I dobt 
 not but yo r Lordshippe (not degeneratinge from 
 youre former courtesye wontinge to accompanye 
 all youre actons) will accepte these trifles from 
 yo r lovinge wellwiller, in suche sorte as I shall 
 acknowledge my selfe beholdinge and endebted to 
 yo r Lordshippe for the same. Whiche I hope
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. . 4 
 
 yo r Lordshippe will the rather doo (with pardon- 
 ynge my presumptione) because you haue, by 
 the former good acceptance of my laste booke, 
 emboldened me to make tryall of the lyke ac- 
 ceptance of this pamphlette. Wherefore yf yo' 
 Lordshippe shall receve yt curteous (and so not 
 to discharge mee in my swete and studiouse idle- 
 iiesse) I will hereafter consecrate to yo r lykinge 
 soome better labor of moore momente,anda higher 
 subiecte, answerable to the excellencye of yo r 
 iudgmente, and mete to declare the fulnesse of the 
 dutyfull mynde and seruice I beare and owe 
 vnto youre Lordshippe; to whome in all reue- 
 rence I commytte this simple treaty ce. Thus 
 (withe hartye prayers comendinge youre estate 
 to the Almightye, who send to yo r Lordshippe 
 manye happye and helthfull yeres and to me the 
 enlarged contynuance of youre honorable favor, ) 
 I humblye take my leave. 
 
 Clerkenwell Grene 
 
 the xx of december 1599. 
 Your Lordshippes wholye to dyspose, 
 
 FRANCIS THYNNE.
 
 FRANCIS THYNNES ANIMADVERSIONS. 
 
 TO MASTER THOMAS SPEIGHTE 
 
 The industrye and love (master Speighte) 
 whiche you haue vsed, and beare, vppon and to 
 cure famous poete Geffrye Chaucer, deseruethe 
 bothe commendatone and furtheraunce : the one to 
 recompense your trauayle, the other to accom- 
 plyshe the duetye whiche we all beare ( or at the 
 leaste, yf we reuerence lernynge or regarde the 
 honor of oure Countrye, sholde beare) to suche a 
 singuler ornamente of oure tonge, as the Workes 
 of Chaucer are. Yet since there is nothinge so 
 fullyc perfected by anye one, wherein some im- 
 perfectone maye not bee founde, (for as the 
 prouerbe is Barnardus, or as others have, Ala- 
 nus non videt omnia,) you must be contented 
 to gyve me leave in dyscharge of the duetye and 
 love which I beare to Chaucer, (whome I suppose 
 I have as great intereste to adorne withe my small 
 skyll as anye other hath, in regarde that the labo- 
 rious care of my father made hym most acceptable 
 to the worlde in correctinge and augmentinge his 
 Workes,) to enter into the examinatone of this 
 new editone ; and that the. gather, because you, 
 with Horace his verse S{ quid novisti rectius iftis 
 candidus imperti, have willed all others to further 
 the same, and to accepte your labors in good
 
 10 FRANCIS THYNNl's 
 
 parte ; whiche as I most willingly doo, so mean- 
 inge but well t the worke, I ame to lett you vn- 
 derstande my conceyte thereof, whiche before 
 this, yf you wolde have vouchesafed my howse 
 or have thoughte me worthy to have byn ac- 
 queynted with these matters, (which you might, 
 well have donne without anye whatsocuer dyspa- 
 ragement to yourselfe, ) you shoulde have vnder- 
 stoode before the impressione, althoughe this 
 whiche I here write ys not nowe vppon seife- 
 will or fond conceyte to wrangle for an asses 
 shadowe, or to seke a knott in a rushe ; but in 
 frendlye sorte to bringe truthe to lighte ; a thinge, 
 whiche I wolde desire others to vse towardes mee 
 in whatsoeuer shall fall oute of my penne. 
 Wherefore I will here shewe suche thinges as, in 
 my opynione, may serue to be touched ; not 
 medlinge withe the seconde editione to an in- 
 ferior personne than my fathers editione was. 
 
 Ffirste, IN YOUR FORESPECHE TO THE READER, you 
 saye secondly the texte by written copies correct- 
 ed. By whiche worde corrected I maye seme to 
 gather, that you imagine greate imperfectione in 
 my fathers editione, whiche peraduenture maye 
 move others to saye (as some vnadvisedly have 
 sayed) that my father had wronged Chaucer. 
 Wherefore, to stoppe that gappe, I will answer, 
 that Chaucers Works haue byn sithens printed 
 twyce, yf not thrice ; and therfore by oure care- 
 Icsse (and for the most parte vnlearned) printers 
 of Englande, not so well performed as yt ought 
 
 1
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 1 1 
 
 to bee: so that of necessytye bothe in matter, 
 meter, and meaninge, yt must needes gather cor- 
 ruptone, passinge through so manye handes; as 
 the water dothe, the further yt runneth from the 
 pure founteyne. To enduce me and all others to 
 iudge his editione (whiche I thinke you neuer 
 sawe vvholye together, beinge fyrst printed but in 
 one columne in a page, whereof I will speake 
 hereafter, ) was the perfectest, ys the ernest desire 
 and love my father hadde to have Chaucers Workes 
 rightlye to be publyshed. For the performance 
 whereof, my father not onlye vsed the help of 
 that lerned and eloquent knight and antiquarye 
 S r Briane Tuke, but had also made greate serche 
 for copies to perfecte his Workes, as appereth in 
 the encle of the Squier's Talc, in his editione 
 printed in the yere 1542; but further had com- 
 missione to serche all the libraries of England for 
 Chaucers Works, so that otite of all the Abbies of 
 this Realme (whiche reserved any monuments 
 thereof) he was fully furnished with multitude of 
 Bookes: emongst whiche, one coppye of some 
 parte of his Works came to his handes sub- 
 scribed in diners places withe examinatnr Chau- 
 cer. By this Booke, and conferringe manye of the 
 other written copies together, he delivered his edi- 
 tione, fullye corrected, as the amendements vnder 
 his hande, in the fyrst printed booke that euer 
 was of his Works, (beinge stamped by the fyrste 
 impressione that w r as in Englande,) will well de- 
 clare; at what time he added manye thinges,
 
 12 FJUNCIS THYNNB'S 
 
 which were not before printed, as you nowe haue 
 donne some, of which I ame perswaded (and 
 that not withoute reasone ) the originall came from 
 mee. In whiche his editione, beinge printed but 
 with one columne in a syde, there was the Pil- 
 grymes Tale, a thinge moore odious to the 
 Clergy e then the speche of the Plowmanne; that 
 Pilgrimes Tale begynnynge in this sorte : 
 
 In Lincolneshyre, fast by a fenne, 
 
 Standes a relligious howse who dothe yt kenne, &c. 
 
 Ill this Tale did Chaucer most bitterly e enveye 
 against the pride, state, couetousnes, and extor- 
 cione of the byshoppes, their officialls, arch- 
 deacons, vicars generalls, commissaryes, and other 
 officers of the spirituall courte. The inventione 
 and order whereof (as I haue herde yt related by 
 some nowe of good worshippe both in courte and 
 country e, but then my fathers clerkes,) was, that 
 one comynge into this relligious howse walked 
 vpp and downe the churche, beholdinge goodlye 
 pictures of byshoppes in thewindowes; at lengthe 
 the manne contynuynge in that contemplatione, 
 not knowinge what byshoppes they were ; a grave 
 olde manne with a long white hedde and berde, 
 in a large blacke garment girded vnto hym, came 
 forthe and asked hym what he iudged of those 
 pictures in the windowes; who sayed, he knewe 
 not what to make of them, but that they looked 
 jyke vnto our mitred bishoppes ; to whome the old"
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 13 
 
 father replied, yt is true, they are lyke, but not the 
 same, for oure byshoppes are farr degenerate from 
 them ; and, with that, made a large discourse of the 
 bishoppes and of their courtes. This Tale when 
 kinge Henry the eighte had redde, he called my 
 father vnto hym, sayinge, " William Thynne, I 
 doubt this will not be allowed ; for I suspecte the 
 byshoppes will call thee in question for yt." To 
 whome my father, beinge in great fauore with his 
 prince, (as manye yet lyvinge canne testy fye,) 
 sayed, " yf your grace be not offended, I hope 
 to be protected by you." Wherevppon the kinge 
 bydd hym goo his waye and feare not. All whiche 
 not withstandinge, my father was called in ques- 
 tione by the byshoppes and heaved at by cardinal! 
 Wolseye, his olde enymye, for manye causes, but 
 mostly for that my father had furthered Skelton 
 to publishe his Collin Cloute againste the Car- 
 dinall, the most parte of whiche Booke was com- 
 piled in my fathers howse at Erithe in Kente. 
 But for all my fathers frendes, the Cardinalls per- 
 swadinge auctorytye was so greate with the kinge, 
 that thoughe by the kinges fauor my father es- 
 caped bodelye daunger, yet the Cardinall caused 
 the kinge so muche to myslyke of that Tale, that 
 Chaucer must be nowe printed and that discourse 
 of the Pilgrymes Tale lefte oute; and so, beinge 
 printed agayne, some thinges were forsed to be 
 omitted; and the Plowmans Tale (supposed, but 
 vntrulye, to be made by olde sir Thomas Wyat, 
 father to hym whiche was executed in the firste
 
 14 FRANCIS THYNNF/S 
 
 yere of Quene Marye, and not by Chaucer, ) with 
 much ado permitted to passe with the reste, in 
 suche, sorte that in one open parliamente (as I 
 haue herde S r lohne Thynne reporte, being then 
 a member of the howse, ) when talke was had of 
 Bookes to be forbidden, Chaucer had there for 
 euer byn condempned, had yt not byn that his 
 Workes had byn counted but fables. Where- 
 unto yf you will replye, that their coulde not be 
 any suche Pilgrymes Tale, because Chaucer in his 
 Prologues makethe not mentione of anye suche 
 personne, which he wold haue donne, yf yt had 
 byn so ; for after that he had recyted the Knighte, 
 the Squyer, the squiers Yeomane, the Prioresse, 
 her Nonne, and her thre Preists, the Monke, the 
 Fryer, the Marchant, the Clerke of Oxenforde, 
 Seriante at the lawe, Franckleyne, Haberdasher, 
 Goldsmythe, Webbe, Dyer, and Tapyster, Cooke, 
 Shypmane, Doctor of phisicke, Wyfe of Bathe, 
 Personne, and Plowmane, he sayeth, at the ende 
 of the Plowmans Prologe, 
 
 There was also a Reve, and a Millere, 
 
 A Sumpnoure, and a Pardoner also, 
 
 A Manciple, and my selfe, there was no mo. 
 
 All which make xxx persons with Chaucer. 
 Wherefore yf there had byn any more, he wolde 
 also haue recyted them in those verses. Where- 
 unto I answere, that in the Prologes he lefte oute 
 some of those whiche told their Tales; as the
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 15 
 
 Chanons Yeomane, because he came after that 
 they were passed oute of theyre inne, and did 
 ou^rtake them, as in lyke sorte this Pilgrime did 
 or myght doo, and so afterwardes be one of their 
 company e, as was that Chanons Yeomane, al- 
 though Chaucer talke no more of this Pilgrime 
 in his Prologe then he dooth of the Chanons Yeo- 
 mane; whiche I doubt not wolde fullye appere, yf 
 the Pilgrimes Prologe and Tale mighte be re- 
 stored to his former light, they being nowe loste, 
 as manye other of Chaucers Tales were before 
 that, as I ame induced to jhinke by manye rea- 
 sons. But to leave this, I must saye, that in those 
 many written Bookes of Chaucer, which came to 
 my fathers hands, there were manye false copyes, 
 which Chaucer shewethe in writinge of Adam 
 Scriuener, (as you haue noted,) of whiche written 
 copies there came to me after my fathers death 
 some fyve and twentye ; whereof some had more 
 and some fewer Tales, and some but two and 
 some three. Whiche Bookes being by me (as 
 one nothing dobting of this whiche ys nowe donne 
 for Chaucer) partly dispersed aboute xxvj yeres 
 agoo, and partlye stoolen oute of my howse at 
 Popler, I gave diners of them to Stephen Bate- 
 jnanne, person of Newington, and to diuers 
 other ; whiche beinge copies vnperfecte, and 
 some of them corrected by my fathers hande, yt 
 maye happen some of them to come to some of 
 your frendes handes, whiche I knowe, yf I see 
 agayne. And yf by anye suche written copies
 
 16 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 you haue corrected Chaucer, you maye as well 
 offende as seme to do good. But I iudge the 
 beste; for in doubles I will not resolue \vith a 
 settled iudgmente, althoughe you may iudge this 
 tedious discourse of my father a needlesse thinge 
 in setting forthe his diligence in breaking the 
 yce, and gyvinge lighte to others, who may more 
 easely perfecte than begyne any thinge : for 
 facilius est addere quam irmenire. And so to 
 other matters. 
 
 UNDER THE TYTLE OP CHAUCERS FAMILYE, you 
 seme to make it probable that Richarde Chaucer, 
 vinetener of Londone, was Geffrye Chaucers fa- 
 ther. But I holde that no more than that lohne 
 Chaucer of Londone was father to Richarde ; of 
 which lohne I fynde in the recordes in Dor so Ro- 
 tulor. patent. 24. de anno 30. Ed. 1. in the 
 towre, that kinge Edwarde the firste had herde 
 the compleinte of lohne Chaucer of London, who 
 was beaten and hurt, to the domage of one thow- 
 sand pownde ; that some amountinge at this daye 
 to three thowsande pownde ; ) for whiche a comis- 
 sione went forthe to enquire thereof. Wherbye 
 yt semeth that he was of some reckonynge. But 
 as I cannot saye that lohne was father to Richarde, 
 or hee to Geffrye; so yet this much I will de- 
 liver in settinge downe the antiquytye of the 
 name of Chaucer, that his auncesters (as you 
 well coniecture) were strangers, as the etymon 
 of his name (being Frenche, in Englishe signy- 
 fyinge one whiche shooeth or hooseth a manne,) 
 
 6
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 17 
 
 dothe prove; for that dothe the etymon of this 
 worde Chausier presente vnto vs; of which name 
 I haue founde (besides the former recyted Johne) 
 one Elias Chauseyr ly vinge in the tyme of Henrye 
 the thirde and of Edwarde the firste, of whome 
 the recorde of pellis exitus in the receyte of the 
 Exchequier in the firste yere of Edwarde the firste 
 hathe thus noted: Edwardus del gratia &c. Li- 
 berate de thesauro nostro Elie Chauseyr decent 
 solidos super arreragia trium obulorum diur- 
 norum quos ad vitam suam per litteras domini 
 H. Regis patris nostri percepit ad scaccarium 
 nostrum. Datum per manum Walteri Merton 
 cancellarij nostri apud Westm. 24 July anno 
 regni nostri primo. With whiche carracters ys 
 GefFry Chausyer written in the recordes in the 
 tyme of Edwarde the thirde and Richarde the se- 
 conde. So that yt was a name of office or occu- 
 patione, whiche after came to be the surname of 
 a famelye, as did Smyth, Baker, Porter, Bruer, 
 Skynner, Cooke, Butler, and suche lyke; and 
 that yt was a name of office apperethe in the re- 
 cordes of the towre, where he is named Le Chau- 
 cer, beinge more aunciente than anye other of 
 those recordes; for in Dorso Clans, of 10. H. 3. 
 ys this: Reginaldus Mirifr*. et Alicia uxor eius 
 attornaverunt Radulfum Le Chausier contra 
 Joliannem Le Furben et Matildam uxorem eius 
 de UH9 messuagio in London: This Chaucer 
 lyvinge also in the tyme of kinge Johne. And 
 thus this muche for the antiquytye and significa-
 
 18 FRANCIS THYSNfi*S 
 
 tione of Chaucer, whiche I canne prove in the 
 tyme of Edward the 4 to signyfye also, in oure 
 Englysh tonge, bootes or highe shoes to the calfe 
 of the legge; for thus hathe the antique recordes 
 of Domus Regni Anglic, ca. 53. for the messen- 
 gers of the kinges howse to doo the kings com- 
 maundements; that they shalbe allowed for their 
 Chauses yerely iiijs. viijd. But what shall wee 
 stande vppon the antiquytie and gentry of Chau- 
 cer, when the Rolle of Battle Abbeye affirmeth 
 hym to come in with the Conqueror. 
 
 UNDER THE TITLE OF CH AUGERS COUNTRYE, you 
 sett downe that some heraldes are of opynyone 
 that he did not descende of any great howse; 
 whiche they gather by his armes. This is a slen- 
 der coniecture ; for as honorable howses and of 
 as greate antiquytye haue borne as meane armes 
 as Chaucer ; and yet Chaucers armes are not so 
 meane eyther for color, chardge, or particion, 
 as some will make them. And where you saye, 
 yt semeth lykelye, Chaucers skill in Geometrye 
 considered, that he tooke the groundes and rea- 
 sons of his armes oute of seuen twentye and 
 eight and twentye propositiones of Euclide's first 
 booke ; that ys no inference that his armes were 
 iiewe or fyrst assumed by hym oute of Geome- 
 trical! proportions, because he was sky 11 full in 
 Geometrye : for so you maye saye of all the aun- 
 cient armes of Englande, whiche consyste not of 
 any malls or vegetalls. For all other armes whiche 
 are not anymalls and vegetalls, as cheuerons,
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 19 
 
 pales, bendes, checkes, and suche lyke, stande 
 vppon geometricall proportions. And therfore 
 howe greate soeuer their skyll bee, \vhiche attri- 
 bute that choyse of armes to Chaucer, they]j had 
 no moore skyll in armes then they needed. In 
 the same title also, you sett downe Quene Isabell 
 &c. and her sonne Prince Edvvarde withe his newe 
 maried wyfe retourned oute of Henalte. In 
 whiche are two imperfections. The first whereof 
 ys, that his wyfe came oute of Henalte with the 
 prince; but that is not so, for the prince maryed 
 her not before he came into England, since the 
 prince was onlye slenderly contracted and not 
 maryed to her before his arryvall in Englande, 
 beinge two yeres and more after that contracte, 
 (betwene the erle of Henalt and his mother,) 
 about the latter ende of the seconde yere of his 
 reigne, though others have the fyrste; the so- 
 lempnytye of that mariage beinge donne at 
 Yorke. Besides, she came not ouer with Quene 
 Isabell and the Prince, but the prince sent for her 
 afterward es; and so, I suppose, sayeth Har- 
 dinge in his Chronicle, yf I do not mysconceve 
 yt, not havinge the hystorye now in my handes. 
 But whether he saye so or no, yt ys not materiall; 
 because the recordes be playne, that he sent for 
 her into Henalte in the seconde yere of his reigne 
 in October, and she came to the kinge the 23 of 
 Januarye followinge, whiche was aboute one daye 
 before he beganne the thirde yere of his reigne, 
 wherunto he entred the 25 of Januarye. And
 
 20 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 for proofe of the tyme when and whome the kinge 
 sente, and what they were allowed therefore, the 
 pellis cxitus of the Exchequier remaininge in 
 Master Warders office hathe thus sett downe in 
 the forthe daye of februarye: Bartholomeo de 
 Bur'gershe nuper misso ad partes Douor ad 
 obuiandum Jiliam comitis Hannonie consorti 
 ip-sius Regis, &c. But this recorde followinge is 
 most playne, shewing both who went for her, 
 the day when they tooke their journeye towardes 
 Henalte, with the daye when and where they 
 presented her to the kinge after their retorne into 
 Englande, and the daye on whiche they were 
 payed their charges, beinge the forthe of Marche, 
 on whiche daye yt is thus entered in the re- 
 cords of pellis exitus, Michaell. 2. Ed. 3. Rogero 
 Couentry et Lichefeld episcopo nuper misso in 
 nuntium domini Regis ad partes Hannonie pro 
 matrintojiio inter dominum Regem et Jiliam 
 comitis Hannonie contrahendo ab octauo die 
 Octobris proximt preterito, quo die recessit de 
 Notingham, ipso domino Rege ibidem existente, 
 arripiendo iter suum predictum versus partes 
 predict as usque vicesimum tertium diem Januarii 
 proxime scqucnteiu, quo die rediit ad ipsum 
 Regem predictum apud Eborum in comitatiua 
 jilie comitis Hannonie prcdicte vtroque die com- 
 putato pro cviij diebus percipiendo per diem iij 1 ' 
 vj* viij pro expensis suis. Thus muche the 
 recorde , whiche confirmethe that whiche I go 
 abcute to prove, that she came not into Englande
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 21 
 
 with prince Edwarde, and that he was not maryed 
 at that tyme, no, not contracted, but only by 
 agremente betwene the erle and his mother. Next 
 you seme to implye by a coniecturall argumente, 
 that Chaucers auncesters sholde be merchants, for 
 that in place where they haue dwelled the armes 
 of the marchantes of the staple haue bin scene in 
 the glasse windowes. This ys a mere coniecture, 
 and of no valydytye. For the marchantes of the 
 staple had not any armes granted to them (as I 
 haue bin enformed) vntill longe after the deathe 
 of Chaucers parentes, whiche was aboute the 10 
 or 12 of Edwarde the thirde; and those mer- 
 chantes had no armes before the tyme of Henrye 
 the sixte, or muchwhat thereaboutes, as I doubt 
 not but wilbe well proued, yf I be not mysen 
 formed. But admytte the staplers had then armes, 
 yt ys no argumente that Chaucers auncesters 
 were merchants because those armes were in the 
 wyndowes, as you shall well perceave, yf you 
 drawe yt into a syllogisme; and therefore you 
 did well to conclude, that yt was not materiall 
 whether they were merchants or no. 
 
 IN THE TITLE OF CHAUCER'S EDUCATIONS, yOU 
 
 saye that Gower in his booke entituled Confcssio 
 *4mantis termethe Chaucer a worthye poet, and 
 maketh hym as yt were the iudge of his workes ; 
 *n whiche booke, to my knowledge, Gower dothe 
 not terme hym a worthye poet, (althoughe I con- 
 fesse he well deserueth that name, and that the 
 same may be gathered oute of Gower comendynge
 
 <!%> FRANCIS THYNNES 
 
 hym,) nether doth he after a sorte (for any 
 thinge I canne yet see) make hym iudge of his 
 workes, (whereof I wolde be glad to be enform- 
 ed, ) since these be Gowers woordes, vttered by 
 Venus in that booke of Confessio ^mantis : 
 
 And grete well Chaucer when ye mete, 
 As my disciple and my poete: 
 For in the flower of his youthe, 
 In sondrye wise, as he well couthe, 
 Of dytyes and of songes glade 
 The whiche for my sake he made, 
 The laude fulfilled is ouer all : 
 Wherefore to hym in especiall 
 ' Aboue all others I am most holde ; 
 Forthy nowe in his dayes olde, 
 Thow shalt hym tell this message, 
 That he vppon his latter age 
 Sett an ende of all his werke, 
 As he whiche is myne owne clerke 
 Do make his Testament of Love, 
 As thou hast done thy shrift above, 
 So that my Courte yt may recorde, &c. 
 
 These be all the verses whiche I knowe or yet 
 canne fynde, in whiche Gower in that booke 
 mentioneth Chaucer, where he nether nameth 
 hym worthye poet, nor after a sorte submytteth 
 his workes to his iudgmente. But quite con- 
 trarye Chaucer doth submytte the correctione of 
 his works to Gower in these playne wordes, in 
 the latter ende of the fyfte booke of Troylus :
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 
 
 O morall Gower, this booke I directe 
 To thee, and the plulosophicall Stroode, 
 To vouchesafe where nede is to correcte 
 Of your benignityes and zeales good. 
 
 But this error had in you byn pardoned, yf you 
 had not sett yt downe as your owne, but war- 
 ranted with the auctorytye of Bale in Scriptoribus 
 .Anglic, from whence you haue swallowed yt. 
 Then in a marginall note of this title you saye 
 agayne oute of Bale, that Gower was a Yorkshire 
 manne ; but you are not to be touched therfore, 
 because you discharge your selfe in vouching 
 your auctor. Wherfore Bale hath mistaken yt, as 
 he hath donne infynyte thinges in that Booke de 
 Scriptoribus Anglie, beinge for the most parte 
 the collections of Lelande. For in truth your 
 armes of this S r John Gower beinge argent on a 
 cheuerone azure, three leopardes heddes or, do 
 prove that he came of a contrarye howse to the 
 Gowers of Stytenham in Yorkeshyre, who bare 
 barrulye of argent and gules a crosse patye florye 
 sable. Whiche difference of armes semeth a dif- 
 ference of famelyes, vnlesse you canne prove 
 that, beinge of one howse, they altered their 
 armes vppon some iuste occasione, as that some 
 of the horvse maryinge one heyre did leave his 
 owne armes and bare the armes of his mother; as 
 was accustoomed in tymes paste. But this dif- 
 ference of coates for this cause, or anye other, 
 ( that I colde yet euer lerne, ) shall you not fynde 
 in this famelye of Gower: and therefore seuerall
 
 24 
 
 bowses from the fyrst original!. Then the mar- 
 ginall note goeth further out of Bale, that Gower 
 had on his hedde a garlande of ivye and roses, 
 the one the ornamente of a knyghte, the other of 
 a poet. But Bale ys mystaken, for yt ys not a 
 garlande, vnless you will metaphoricallye call 
 euerye cyrcle of the hedde a garlande; as crownes 
 are sometymes called garlandes, from whence 
 they had their originall. Nether ys yt of ivye, 
 as any manne whiche seeth yt may well iudge ; 
 and therefore not there sett for anye suche in- 
 tente as an ensigne of his poetrye; but ys sym- 
 plye a chapplett of roses, suche as the knyghtes 
 in olde tyme vsed ether of golde, or other em- 
 broderye, made after the fashone of roses, one 
 of the peculier ornamentes of a knighte, as well 
 as his coller of SSS, his guilte swoorde, and 
 spurres. Whiche chaplett or cyrcle of roses 
 was as well attributed to knights, the lowest de- 
 gree of honor, as to the hygher degrees of duke, 
 erle, &c. beinge knyghtes, for so I haue seene 
 Johne of Gaunte pictured in his chaplett of roses; 
 and kinge Edwarde the thirde gaue his chaplett 
 to Eustace Rybamonte; only the difference was, 
 that as they were of lower degree, so had they 
 fewer roses placed on their chaplett or cyrcle of 
 golde, one ornament deduced from the dukes 
 crowne whiche had the roses vppon the toppe 
 of the cyrcle, when the knights had them onlye 
 vppon the cyrcle or garlande ytselfe. Of whiche 
 dukes crowne to be adorned with little roses,
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 25 
 
 Mathewe Paris, speakinge of the creatinge of 
 Johne erle Mortone, duke of Normandye, in the 
 the yere of Christe 1199, dothe saye, Interim 
 comes Johannes Rothomagu veniens in octavis 
 pasche gladio ducatus Norman ie cinctus est, in 
 matrice ecclesia, per ministeriil Waltheri Rofho- 
 magesis Arcliiepi, vbi Arcliiepiscopus memo- 
 ratus ante mains altare in capite eius posuit 
 circulu aureu habente in summitate per gyru 
 rosulas aureas artificialiter fdbricatas: whiche 
 chaplett of roses came in the ende to be a bande 
 aboute oure cappes, sett with golde buttons, as 
 may be supposed. IN THE SAME TITLE you saye, 
 yt semethe that these lerned menne were of the 
 Inner Temple; for that, manye yeres since, 
 master Buckley did see a recorde in the same 
 howse where Geflfrye Chaucer was fined two shil- 
 lings for beatinge a Franciscane Fryer in flete- 
 streate. This is a hard collectone to prove Gower 
 of the Inner Temple, althoughe he studyed the 
 lawe. For thus you frame your argumente. Mr. 
 Buckley found a record in the Temple, that 
 Chaucer was fyned for beatinge the Fryer ; ergo, 
 Gower and Chaucer were of the Temple. But 
 for myne owne parte, yf I wolde stande vppon 
 termes for matter of antiquytye and ransacke the 
 originall of the lawiers fyrst settlinge in the 
 Temple, I doubte whether Chaucer were of the 
 Temple or noe, vnless yt were towardes his latter 
 tyme; for he was an olde manne, as appereth by 
 Gower in Confessione ^.mantis in the xvi yere of
 
 26 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 R. 2. when Gower wroote that Booke. And yt is 
 most certeyn to be gathered by cyrcumstances of 
 Recordes, that the lawyers were not in the 
 Temple vntill towardes the latter parte of the 
 reygne of kinge Edwarde the thirde; at whiche 
 tyme Chaucer was a grave manne, holden in 
 greate credyt, and employed in embassy e; so 
 that methinketh he sholde not be of that howse ; 
 and yet, yf he then were, I sholde Judge yt 
 strange that he sholde violate the rules of peace 
 and gravytye in those yeares. But I will passe 
 over all those matters sicco pede, and leave euerye 
 manne to his owne iudgemte therein for this 
 tyme. 
 
 IN THE TITLE OF CflAUCERS MARIAGE yoil S3ye, 
 
 you cannot fynde the name of the Gentlewomanne 
 whome he maryed. Truly e, yf I did followe the 
 conceyte of others,, I sholde suppose her name 
 was Elizabethe, a waytinge womanne of Queue 
 Philippe, wyfe to Edwarde the thirde and daugh- 
 ter to Willia. erle of Henalte. But I favor not 
 their opynyone. For, although I fynde a re- 
 corde of the pellis exitus, in the tyme of Edwarde 
 the thirde, of a yerely stypende to Elizabeths 
 Chawcere, domicelle regine Philippe, whiche 
 domicella dothe signyfye one of her waytinge 
 gentlewomen ; yet I cannott for this tyme thinke 
 this was his wyfe, but rather his sister or kins- 
 womanne, who after the deathe of her mystresse 
 Quene Philippe did forsake the worlde, and be- 
 came a nonne at Seinte Helens in London, ac-
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 27 
 
 cordinge as you have touched one of that pro- 
 fessone in primo of kinge Richarde the seconde. 
 IN THE LATYNE STEMME OF CHAUCER you saye, 
 speakinge of Katherine Swyneforde, Que posted 
 nupta Jolianni Gandauensi terty Edivardi regis 
 Jilio, Lancaslric duct, illi procreavit Jilios tres 
 et vnicd Jilia. Wherbye we may inferre that 
 Johne of Gaunte had these children by her after 
 her mariage. Whiche is not so. For he had all 
 his children by her longe before that mariage ; so 
 that they beinge all illegitimate were enforced 
 afterwarde vppon that maryage to be legytymated 
 by the pope; and also by acte of parliament, 
 aboute the two and twenty the of kinge Richarde 
 the seconde ; so that you cannot saye, que posted 
 nupta procrcavit Lancastrie dud tresjilios, etc. 
 
 IN THE TITLE OF ClIAUCERS CHILDREN AND THEIR AD- 
 
 VAUNCEMENTE, in a marginall note youvouche master 
 Campdene that Barthelmewe Burgershe, knyghte 
 of the Garter, was he from whome the Burgershes, 
 whose daughter and heyre was maryed to Thomas 
 Chaucer, did descende. But that is also an error. 
 For this Barthelmewe was of a collaterall lyne to 
 that S r Johne Burgershe the father of Mawde 
 wyfe to Thomas Chaucer; and therefore coulde not 
 that S r Johne Burghershe be descended of this Bar- 
 thelmewe Burgershe, though hee were of that 
 howse. Then, in that title, you vouche oute of 
 Mr. Campdene that Serlo de Burgo brother to 
 Eustachius de Vescye built Knaresborowe Castle. 
 But that ys not righte. For this Serlo beinge
 
 28 FBANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 called Serlo de Burgo sive de Pembroke was bro- 
 ther to Johne father of Eustace Vescye, as haue 
 the recordes of the towre, and so vncle and not 
 brother to Eustace. For another marginall note 
 in that tytle you saye, that Jane of Navarre was 
 maryed to Henrye the forthe in the fourthe yere 
 of his reygne, wherein you followe a late eng- 
 lishe cronicler whome I forbeare to name. But 
 Walsingham both in his history e of Henry the 
 fourthe, and in his Ypodigma, sayeth that he 
 was maryed the 26 of Januarye in the yere of 
 Christe 1403, whiche was in the fyfte yere of the 
 kinge, yf you begynne the yere of our Lorde at 
 the annunciatione of the Virgine, as we nowe 
 doo; but this is no matter of great momente. 
 Ffourthlye in that title you seme to attribute the 
 advancement of the Pooles to William de la Poole, 
 merchante of Hull, that lente the kinge a greate 
 masse of moneye. But this William was not the 
 fyrste advancer of that howse ; because his father 
 Richarde [de \di] Poole "beinge a cheife gouernor 
 in Hull, and serving the kings, necessytye with 
 money, was made Pincerna Regis, an office of 
 great accompte; by the same gyvinge the fyrste 
 advancemente to the succedynge famelye. Where- 
 of the record to prove Ric. de la Poole Pincerna 
 Regis is founde in the pryvye scales of the elea- 
 venth yere of kinge Edwarde the thirde, in master 
 Wardoures office, the lorde treasurers clerke. 
 Where yt is in this manner: Edwardus dei gratia 
 rex Anglie et dux Acquitanie, etc. Supplicavit 
 
 1
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 29 
 
 nobis dilectuk noster Richardus de la Poole Pin- 
 cerna noster, vt quum ipse de expensis qfficii 
 Pincernarie ac omnibus aliis ojficiu illud tangen- 
 tibus, ad dicta Scaccariu afesto sancti Michaelis 
 anno regni nostri decimo, vsque ad ide festu 
 proxime sequens pltnarie computaverit, et 2090 1 ': 
 13': et 11* et vnus obulus sibi pep computu illud 
 de claro debeatur : volumus ei solution** inde sen 
 alias satisfaction^ sibi fieri competentem: Nos 
 eius supplicationi in hac parte, prout iustu est, 
 annuentcs, vobis mandamus, etc. Datu apud 
 WestmonasteriQ 14 Decembria, anno regni nostri 
 vndecimo. To whose sonne this William de la 
 Poole the older, and to his sonne Michaell de la 
 Poole (who was after Chauncelor) and to his 
 heyres, the kinge graunted fowre hundred markes 
 by yere out of the Custome of Hull, as appereth 
 in the record of pellis exitus of 46 Ed. 3. the 
 same Michaell de la Poole recevinge the arrerages 
 of that annuytye. For thus yt is entred in Mi- 
 chaelmas terme on the first of December of that 
 yere: Michaeli de la Poole jilio et Jieredi Wil- 
 lielmi de la Poole senioris per tallia levata isto 
 die continentem iij c lxx a xviij 5 l d ob. eidem Mi- 
 chaeli liberal, per compotum suum factum ad 
 Scaccariu commutator, virtute cuiusdam brevis 
 de magno sigillo Thesaurario et Baronibus Scac- 
 carii directum pro huius compoto faciendo, de 
 quodam annuo certo iiij c marc, per annu, quas 
 dominus rex Willielmo de la Poole scniori de- 
 functo, et Michaeli Jilio suo et heredibus suis de
 
 OU FRANCIS THYNNE S 
 
 corpore suo exeuntibus, de Custumia in portis 
 ville de Kingeston super Hull per lift eras suas 
 patentes concess : percipendu quamdiu vij. c 
 xxxv" xviij 5 i d ob. eidem Michaeli per compotu. 
 predictu sic debitu, etc, Dns rex mandat vt ei 
 satisfactionem vel assignationem competentem 
 (in locis vbi ei celeriter satisfieri poterit) fieret 
 et haberet, per breve de magno sigillo inter 
 mandata de termino Pasche anno quadragesimo 
 tercio, etc. So that Richarde, Michaeli de la 
 Pooles grandfather, (a magistrate of greate welthe 
 in Hull,) was the fyrste that gaue advancemente 
 to that howse ; although Wilfiam, father to this 
 Michaeli, were of lyke estate and a knyghte. 
 Neither canne I fynde (nor ys yt lyke) that 
 Michaeli de la Poole was a marchante, (havinge 
 two such welthy marchantes to his ancestors be- 
 fore hym,) notwithstandinge that Walsingha (more 
 offended than reasone, as all the Clergye were 
 against temporall menne who were nowe become 
 cheif officers of the realme; and the spyrituall 
 menne, till then possessinge those offices, dis- 
 placed, whiche bredd greate [sorenesse] in the 
 Churchmenne againste them;) sayeth that Michaeli 
 de la Poole fuerit a pueritia magis mercimoniis 
 (vtpote mercator mercatorisjilius) quam militia 
 occupatus. And yet yt may bee that he might 
 have some factors in merchandise, and deale by 
 his attorneyes as many noble menne and great 
 persons have donne. Whereuppon Walsingham 
 (who wrote longe after) might seme to call hym
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 31 
 
 41 / 
 
 merchante by reasone of other mens dealings for 
 hym, although in trooth he was neuer merchant 
 in respecte of his owne personne, (for whiche 
 they are properly called merchantes, ) as may be 
 supposed. Ffyftlye in the same title you saye, 
 that Alice, wyfe of William de la Poole duke of 
 Suffolke, had a daughter, by her seconde hus- 
 bande Thomas Montague erle of Sarisbery, named, 
 after her mother, Alice, maryed to Richarde 
 Neville sonne to Raphe Nevill erle of Westmer- 
 lande, by whome he had issue Richarde, Johne, 
 and George. But this is nothinge so. For this 
 Alice, the wyfe of Richarde Neville, (erle of 
 Sarisbery in the righte of the same Alice,) was 
 daughter of Thomas Montacute erle of Salisbury e 
 and of Alice his wyfe, daughter of Thomas Hol- 
 lande erle of Kente, and not of Alice daughter 
 to Thomas Chaucer and widdowe to William de la 
 Poole duke of Suffolke. 
 
 IN THE LATTER END OP THE TITLE OF CflAUCERS 
 
 DEATHE you saye, that printinge was brought oute 
 of Germany e in the yere 1471 being the 37. H. 6. 
 into Englande, beinge fyrst founde at Mogunce by 
 oneJohneGuthembergus, and broughte to Rome by 
 Conradus [Sweynheym] an Almayne. But the yere 
 of Christe 1471 was not the 37. H. 6. but the ele- 
 uentheof kinge Edward the fourthe ; and, as some 
 have yt, [it] was not fyrste founde at Mogunce or 
 Mentz but at Strasborowe, and perfected at Mo- 
 gunce. David Chytreus in his historye sayeth, yt 
 was fyrst founde in anno 1440, and brought to Rome 
 
 6
 
 32 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 by Henricus Han a Germane [ " cognomine La- 
 tino Callus," Maittaire Ann. Ty<p. i. 52.] in the 
 yere 1470; whereof Antonius Campanus framed 
 this excellente epigramme : 
 
 Anser Tarpeii custos Jovis, vnde, quod alls 
 Constreperes, Gallus decidit; vltor adest 
 
 Vlricus Gallus j ne quern poscantur in vsum, 
 Edocuit pennis nil opus esse tuis. 
 
 But others do suppose that yt was invented at 
 Argenterote, as do(he Mathewe Parker in the lyfe 
 of Thomas Bourchier archbyshoppe of Canter- 
 burye : whiche for the incertentye thereof I leave 
 at this tyme to farther examinatone, not havinge 
 nowe present leysure therefore. 
 
 IN THE TITLE OF THE AUGMENTS TO EUERYE TALE 
 
 AND BOOKE you write, that the Romante of the 
 Hose was made in frenche by Johne Clopinell 
 alias Johne Moone; when in truthe the booke 
 was not made by hym alone : for y t was begunne 
 by Guillaume de Loris, and fynished fourtye 
 yeres after the deathe of Loris by Johne de Meune 
 alias Johne Clopinell, as apperethe by Molinet, 
 the frenche author of the moralytye vppon the 
 Romante of the Rose, ca. 50. fo. 57. and may 
 further appere also in the frenche Romant of the 
 Rose in verse, which Chaucer with muche of 
 that matter omytted, not havinge translated halfe 
 the french Romante, but ended about the middle 
 thereof. Againste whiche Booke Gersone com-
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 33 
 
 piled another, intituled La reprobatione de la 
 JRomante del Rose ; as affirmeth the sayed Mo- 
 linet, in the 107 chapter of the sayed moraliza- 
 tion, where he excusethe Clopinell and re- 
 prouethe Gersone for that Booke, because Ger- 
 sone soughte no further meanynge than what 
 was conteyned in the outwarde letter; this Clo- 
 pinell begynnynge the JRomante of the Rose, 
 in these verses of Chaucer: 
 
 Alas my wanehoope ! nay, pardyee ; 
 For I will neuer dispayred bee: 
 Y f happe me fayle, then am I 
 Vngratious and vnworthy, &c. 
 
 Secondly UNDER THAT TITLE you saye, the worke, 
 before this last editione of Chaucer, termed the 
 Dreame of Chaucer, is mystermed, and that yt 
 is the Booke of the Duches, or the Death of 
 Blanche. Wherein you bee greatlye mysledde 
 in my conceyte; for yt cannott bee the Booke of 
 the Duches or of the Death of Blanche, because 
 Johne of Gaunt was then but fowre and twentye 
 yere olde when the same was made, as apperethe 
 by that tretyse in these verses: 
 
 Then founde I sytting euen vprighte 
 A wonder well-faringe knighte, 
 By the manner me thought so, 
 Of good inotell, and right yonge thereto, 
 Of the age of twentye fowre yere, 
 Vppon his bearde but little heare. 
 D
 
 0*T FRANCIS THYNNE S 
 
 Then yf he were but fowre and twentye yeres of 
 age, being born, as hath Walsingham, in the 
 yere of Christe 1339 the 13. of kinge Edwarde 
 the thirde; and that he was maryed to Blanche 
 the fourtene calendes of June 1359, the 33 of 
 Ed: the thirde; he was at his mariage but twentye 
 yeres of age, who within fower yeres after sholde 
 make his lamentacion for Blanche the duchesse 
 which muste then be dedde. But the duchesse 
 Blanche dyed of the pestilence in the yere of 
 Christe 1368, as hath Anonimus MS, or 1369, as 
 hath Walsingham; whiche by the first accompte 
 was the to th . and by the last the x th . yere after the 
 mariage, and sixe or at the least five yeres after this 
 lamentacion of Johne of Gaunt made in the fowre 
 and twentye yere of his age. Wherefore this 
 cannott be the Booke of the Duches; because he 
 coulde not lamente her deathe before she was 
 deade. And yf you replye, that yt pleinlye ap- 
 perethe the same treatyce to be mente of the 
 duches Blaunche, whiche signyfyeth vchyte, by 
 which name he often termeth his ladye there 
 lamented, but especially in these verses, 
 
 Her throte, as I have memoyre, 
 Semed as a round towre of yvoire, 
 Of good gretnesse and not to greate, 
 And fayre white she hete, 
 That was my ladies name righte : 
 She was thereto fayre and brighte, 
 She had not her name wronge, 
 Right fayre sholders and body longe, &c.
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 35 
 
 I will answere, that there is no necessitye that 
 yt must be of Blanche the dtichesse because he 
 sayeth her name was white; since there ys a fa- 
 melye of that denominatione, and some female 
 of that lyne myghte be both white in name, and 
 fayre and white in personne ; and so had not her 
 name wronge or in vayne, as Chaucer sayeth. 
 Or yt mighte be some other lover of his called 
 Blanche, since he had many paramours in his 
 youthe, and was not very contynent in his age. 
 Wherefore, to conclude, yt apperethe as before 
 that yt coulde not be mente of the duchesse 
 Blanche his wyfe, whiche dyed long after that 
 Compleinte. For whiche cause that Dreame of 
 Chaucer in mye opynyone may well (naye 
 rather of righte sholde) continew his former title 
 of The Dreame of Chaucer; for that, whiche 
 you will haue the Dreame of Chaucer, is his 
 Temple of Glassc; as I haue scene the title 
 thereof noted, and the thinge yt selfe con- 
 firmeth. 
 
 IN THE EXPOSITIONS OP THE OLDE WORDES, 39 you 
 
 shewe greate diligence and knowledge, so yet 
 in my opynione, vnlesse a manne be a good 
 Saxoniste, French, and Italyane linguiste, (from 
 whence Chaucer hathe borowed manye wordes, ) 
 he cannott well expounde the same to our nowe 
 vnderstandinge; and therefore (though I will not 
 presume of much knowledge in these tounges) 
 yt semeth yet to mee that, in your expositione, 
 some wordes are not so fullye and rightlye ex-
 
 36 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 planed as they mighte bee; although peradven- 
 ture you haue framed them to make sence. 
 Wherefore I haue collected these fewe (from 
 many others lefte for more leysure) whiche seme 
 to mee not to be fully explaned in their proper 
 nature, though peradventure you will seme to 
 excuse them by a metaphoricall gloose. 
 
 AKETON or HAKETONE you expounde a jackett 
 withoute sieves, without any further additone, 
 that beinge an indiffynyte speache, and therefore 
 may be entended a comone garmente daylye 
 vsed, suche as we call a jerken or jackett withoute 
 sieves. But liaketon is a slevelesse jackett of 
 plate for the warre, covered withe anye other 
 stuffe; at this day also called a jackett of plate. 
 Suche aketon Walter Stapletone, bishoppe of 
 Excester and Gustos or Warden of Londone, had 
 vppon hym secretlye, when he was apprehended 
 and behedded in the twentyeth yere of Edwarde 
 the seconde. 
 
 BESANTE you expounde a duckett. But a 
 duckett ys farre from a besante, bothe for the tyme 
 of the inventone, and for the forme; and as I 
 suppose for the valewe, not withstandinge that 
 Hollybande in his Frenche-Englishe dictionarye 
 makes yt of the valewe of a duckett, whiche 
 duckett is for the most part eyther Venetienne or 
 Spanyshe, when the besante ys mere Grekishe; a 
 ceyne well knowen and vsed in Englande (and
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 37 
 
 yet not therefore an auncient coyne of Englande, 
 as Hollybande sayethe yt was of France,) emongst 
 the Saxons before, and the Normans after, the 
 Conqueste; the forme whereof I will at other 
 tyme describe, onlye nowe settinge downe, that 
 this besante (beinge the Frenche name, and in 
 armory e rightly e according to his nature, for a 
 plate of golde,) was called in Latine Byzantium, 
 obteyninge that name because yt was the coyne 
 of Constantinople sometyme called Bizantium ; 
 and because you shall not thinke this any fictione 
 of myne owne, I will warrante the same with 
 Williame of Malmesberye in the fourthe booke 
 De Rcgibus, who hathe these wordes : Constan- 
 tinopoUs primiim Bizantiu dicta. Formam an- 
 tiqui vocabuli preferunt imperatorii nummi 
 Bizantiu dicti; where another coppye for nummi 
 Bizantiu hath Bizantini nummi; and the Frenche 
 hath yt besante or bezantine, makinge yt an olde 
 coyne of France, (when he sholde haue sayed an 
 olde coyne in France and not of France, ) of the 
 valewe of a duckett. 
 
 V 
 
 FERMENTACOE [fermentation]] you expounde 
 dawbinge, whiche cannott anye way be meta- 
 phoricallye so vsed in Chaucer, although yt 
 sholde be improperlye or harshlye applied. For 
 fermentacone ys a peculier terme of Alchymye, 
 deduced from the bakers fermente or levyne. 
 And therefore the chimicall philosophers defyne 
 the fermente to be anima, the sowle or lyfe, of
 
 38 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 the philosophers stone. Whereunto agreeth 
 Clauiger Bincing, a chimicall author, sayinge ; 
 autem vivificatione, id est, fermentacoem 3 which 
 is before tinctinge, or gyvinge tincture or color ; 
 that beinge as muche to saye as gyvinge sowle or 
 lyfe to the philosophers stone, \vherby that may 
 fermente or color or gyve lyfe to all other meta- 
 line bodyes. 
 
 ORFKAYES you expounde goldsmythes worke, 
 whiche ys as nere to goldsmythes worke as 
 clothe of golde ; for this worde orefrayes, beinge 
 compounded of the Frenche worde or and frays 
 orfryse the Englishe ; is that whiche to this daye 
 (beinge now made all of one stuffe or substance) 
 is called frised or perled clothe of gold; in La- 
 tyne, in tymes past, termed aurifrisium or auri- 
 frixorium. A thinge well knowen to the Saxons 
 in Englande before, as to theNormans after, the Coh- 
 queste;' and therefore fully e to satisfy e you thereof, 
 I will produce two auctorities of the weavinge and 
 vse thereof before the Conquest and since, wherein 
 you shall playnely see what yt was, and in what 
 accompt yt was holden, beinge a worke peculier 
 to the Englishe. The lieger booke of Elye, 
 speakinge of Ediswetha daughter to Brightnothus 
 aldermanne erle or duke of Northumberlande be- 
 fore the Conquest, sayeth ; cut tradita Coveneia, 
 locus monasterio victims, vbi AURIFRIXORIE et 
 TEXTURE secretius cum puellis vacabat; and a 
 litle after, tunica rubra purpura per gyrum et
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 39 
 
 (ib humeris AURIFRI. vndiquc circumdatum. Then, 
 after the Conquest, Mathew Paris speakethe there- 
 of aboute ornamentes to be sente to the Pope. 
 But because I haue not my Mathewe Paris here, 
 I will vouche one whose name hathe muche affiny- 
 tye with hym, and that is Mathewe Parker Archby- 
 shoppe of Canterburye, who, in the Lyfe of Boni- 
 facius Archbishoppeof that see, hathe these wordes. 
 A. Domini 1246, Rome multi Anglicani aderant 
 Clerici, qui capis vt aiunt chorealibus, et infulis, 
 ornamcntisque ecclesiasticis, ex Anglice tune 
 more gentis, ex lana tenuissima et auro artifi- 
 ciose intexto fabricatis, vterentur. Huius modi 
 ornamentorum aspectu et concupiscentia provo- 
 catus Papa, rogavit cuiusmodi essent. Responsio 
 est, AURIFRISIA appcllari, quia et eminens ex 
 panno et lana quam Angli FRYSE appellant, simul 
 contexta sunt. Cut subridens et dulcedine captus 
 Papa, Vere, inquit, (for these are the wordes of 
 Mathewe Paris whiche Jyved at that tyme,) Hortus 
 noster delitiarum est Anglia, verus puteus est in- 
 exhaustus, et vbi multa abundant, de multis multa 
 sumere licet. Itaque, concupiscentia illectus ocu- 
 lorum, litteras suas bullatas sacras misit ad Cis- 
 tercienses in Anglia Abbates, quorum orationibus 
 se devote commendabat, vt ipsi liec 'AURIFRISIA 
 speciosissima ad snum ornandum chorum com- 
 pararent. Hoc Londoniensibus placuit, quia ea 
 turn venalia habebant, tantique quanti placuit 
 vendiderunt. In whiche discourse you not onlye
 
 40 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 see that orefryes was a weved clothe of golde and 
 not goldsmythe worke, [but] that Englande had 
 before and since the Conqueste the arte to com- 
 pose suche kynde of delicate clothe of golde as 
 Europe had not the lyke; for yf yt had, the 
 Pope wolde haue made suche prouisione thereof 
 in other places, and not from Englande. And 
 because you shall not thinke that yt was onlye 
 vsed of the Clergye, you shall fynde in a Record 
 of the Towre that yt was also an ornamente of 
 the kings garmente, since the Conqueste. For, 
 in Rotulo Patentium 6. Johannis in dor so (in 
 whiche the kinge comaunded the Templers to 
 deliuer suche Jewells, garmentes, and ornamentes 
 as they had of the kings in kepinge,) are these 
 wordes: Dalmaticam cle eodem samitto vrlatani 
 de ORFREYES et cum lapidibus. Whiche is to saye, 
 the kings Dalmaticall garmente of the same sa- 
 mitte ( spoken of before, whiche was crymsone, ) 
 vrled or bordrede (suche as we nowe calle 
 garded) withe or fr eyes. 
 
 OUNDYE and CRISPE is by you expounded slyked 
 and curled, whiche sence althoughe yt may beare 
 after some sorte, yet the propryetye of the true 
 sence of oundye (beinge an especiall terme ap- 
 propriate to the arte of Heraidye ) dothe signifye 
 ivaiinge or mo~oinge, as the water dothe ; being 
 called vndye, of Latyne vnda for water- For so 
 her haire was oundye, that is, layed in rooles vpp
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 
 
 41 
 
 and downe, lyke waves of water when they are 
 styrred with the winde, and not slyked or playne, 
 etc. 
 
 You expounde not RESACER, beinge a terme of 
 Alchymye; as you leave many of them vn touched. 
 This worde sholde rather be resalgar. Wherefore 
 I will shewe you what resalgar ys in that ab- 
 struse science, whiche Chaucer knewe full well, 
 althoughe he enveye againste the sophisticall 
 abuse thereof in the Chanons Yeomans Tale. 
 This resalgar is that whiche by some is called 
 ratesbanc, a kynde of poysone named arsenicke, 
 which the chimicall philosophers call their ve- 
 nome or poysone. Whereof I coulde produce 
 infynyte examples; but I will gyve you onlye 
 these fewe for a taste. Aristotle, in Rosario 
 Philosophorum, sayethe, Nullum tingens vene- 
 num generatur absque sole et eius umbra, id est, 
 uxore. Whiche venome they call by all names 
 presentinge or signifyinge poysone, as a toade, 
 a dragon, a basilyske, a serpente, arsenicke, and 
 suche lyke; and by manye other names, as in 
 exercitacione ad turbam philosophorum, apper- 
 ethe; where aqua simplex is called venenum, 
 argentum vivum, cinnabar, aqua permanens, gum- 
 ma, acetum, urina, aqua maris, draco, serpens, 
 etc. And of this poysone the treaty ce de phenice, 
 or the philosophers stone, written in Gothyshe 
 rymynge verses dothe saye;
 
 FRANCIS THYNNES 
 
 Moribunda, corporis virus emanabat 
 Quod maternam faciem candidam foedabat. 
 
 BEGYN and BIGOTT you expounde supcrsticious 
 hypocrites. Whiche sence I knowe yt maye some- 
 what beare, because yt sauorethe of the disposi- 
 tione of those Begins, or Bcguines, for that ys 
 the true wrytinge. But this worde Begyn sholde 
 in his owne nature rightlye haue ben expounded 
 supersticious or hipocriticall wemenne, as ap- 
 pereth by Chaucer himselfe, who nombreth them 
 emongst the wemen in the Romante of the Rose 
 when he sayethe, 
 
 But empresses, and duchesses, 
 These queenes, and eke countesses, 
 These abbasses, and eke Bigins, 
 These greate ladyes palasins. 
 
 And a little after, in the same Romante, he doth 
 write, 
 
 That dame Abstinence slreyned 
 Tooke on a robe of camelyne, 
 And ganne her gratche as a Bygin. 
 A large cover-cherfe of thredde 
 She wrapped all aboute her hedde. 
 
 These wemen the Frenche call Beguynes or 
 Nonnes ; being in Latyne called BigrintE or 
 Biguina ; whose originall order, encrease, and 
 contynuance are sett downe by Mathewe Paris 
 1
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 43 
 
 and Mathewe Westm. But as I sayed, since I 
 haue not my Mathewe Paris at hand, I will sett 
 you downe the wordes of Mathewe Westmynster 
 (otherwise called Flares Historiarum or Flori- 
 legus) in this sorte. Sub eisdem diebus (which 
 was in the yere of Christe 1244, and aboute the 
 28 of kinge Henry the thirde,) quidam in Ale- 
 mania precipuc se asserentcs vitam et habitum 
 relligionis elegisse, in utroque sexu, sed maxim e 
 in mulicbri, continent iam cuius vite simplicitate 
 prqfitentes se voto private Deo obligdrunt. Mu- 
 lieresque, quas BIGRINAS vulgariter vocamus, aded 
 multiplicate sunt, quod earum numerus in vna 
 ciuitate, scilicet Colonia, ad plus quam mille as- 
 seritur ascendisse, etc. After whiche, speakinge 
 yn the yere of Christe 1250 of the encrease of 
 Relligious Orders, he sayeth, Item in Alemania 
 et Francia mulieres, quas BIGUINAS nominant, etc. 
 
 CITRINATIONE you do not expounde, beinge a 
 terme of Alchymye. Whiche citrinatione is both 
 a color and parte of the philosophers stone. For, 
 as hathe Tractatus Avicenne (yf yt be his and 
 not liber supposititius, as manye of the Alchimi- 
 call Workes are foysted in vnder the names of 
 the best-lerned authors and philosophers, as Plato, 
 Aristotle, Avicen, and suche others,) in parte of 
 the 7 chapter: CITRINATIO est quefit inter album 
 et rubrbm, et non dicitur color perfcctus : whiche 
 citrinatione, as sayeth Arnoldus de Nova Villa, lib. 
 i. ca. 5. nihil allud est quam completa digest io.
 
 44 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 For the worke of the philosophers stone, follow- 
 ing the worke of nature, hathe lyke color in the 
 same degree. For as the vrine of manne, being 
 whityshe, sheweth imperfecte digestione; but 
 when he hathe well rested, and slept after the 
 same, and the digestione perfected, the vrine 
 becomethe citrine, or of a depe yellowe color; so 
 ys yt in Alchymye: which made Arnolde call 
 this citrinatione perfect digestion, or the color 
 provinge the philosophers stone broughte almoste 
 to the heighte of perfectione. 
 
 FORAGE in one place you expounde meate, 
 and in another place fodder. Bothe whiche pro- 
 perly cannott stande in this place of Chaucer in 
 the Reves Prologue, where he sayeth, " my fodder 
 is forage." For y? forrage be fodder, then is 
 the sence of that verse, " my fodder is fodder." 
 But fodder beinge a generall name for meate 
 gyven to cattle in winter., and of affynytie withe 
 foode applied to menne and beasts, dothe onlye 
 signyfye meate. And so the sence is, " my meate 
 ys forage ;" that is, my meate is suche harde and 
 olde provisione as ys made for horses and cattle 
 in winter. For so doth this worde forragium in 
 Latyne signyfye. And so dothe Chaucer meane. 
 For the word next before dothe well shewe yt, 
 when the Reve sayeth, 
 
 I am olde, me liste not play for age, 
 Grasse tyme is donne, my fodder is for rage.
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 45 
 
 Yet metaphorically yt may be taken for other 
 than drye horse-meate, although improperlye; as 
 Chaucer hathe, in Sir Topas Ryme, where he 
 maketh yt grasse for his horse, and vseth the worde 
 rather to make vpp the ryme than to shewe the 
 true nature thereof; sayinge, 
 
 That downe he layed hym in that place, 
 To make his steede some solace, 
 And gyve hym good forage. 
 
 HERONER you expounde a certeyne kynde of 
 liawke. Whiche is true : for a gowshawke, spar- 
 rowe-hawke, tassell, &c. be kyndes of hawkes. 
 But this her oner is an especiall hawke (of anye 
 of the kyndes of longe winged hawkes ) of more 
 accoropte than other hawkes are. Because the 
 flighte of the herone ys more daungerous than of 
 other fowles, insomuch that, when she fyndeth 
 her selfe in danger, she will lye in the ayre 
 vppon her backe, and turne vpp her bellye to- 
 wardes the hawke ; and so defile her enymye with 
 her excrementes, that eyther she will blinde the 
 hawke, or ells with her byll or talons pierce the 
 hawkes brest yf she offer to sease vppon her. 
 
 The HYPPE is not simplye the redde berrye on 
 the bryer, vnlesse you adde this epitheton and 
 saye, the redde berrye on theswete bryer, (which 
 is the eglantyne,) to distinguyshe yt from the
 
 46* 
 
 FRANCIS THYNNE S 
 
 comone bryer or bramble bearinge the blacke 
 berrye ; for that name bryer ys comone to them 
 bothe; when the liyppe is proper but to one; 
 neither maye yt helpe you that you saye the 
 redd berrye, to distinguyshe yt from the blacke ; 
 for the blacke berrye ys also redde for a tyme, 
 and then may be called the redde berrye of the 
 bryer for that tyme. 
 
 NOWELL you expounde Christmasse, whiche ys 
 that feaste and more. For yt is that tyme, whiche 
 is properlye called the Advente together with 
 Christmasse and Neweyeres tyde. Wherefore the 
 true etymologye of that worde ys not Christmasse, 
 or the twelve dayes ; but yt is God with us, or, 
 oure God; expressinge to vs the comynge of 
 Christe in the fleshe: whiche peradventure after 
 a sorte, by the figure synecdoche, you may 
 seeme to excuse, placinge then Christmasse a 
 parte of this tyme of Nowell for all the tyme that 
 Nowell conteynethe. For in the same worde is 
 conteyned sometyme xx, but for the most parte 
 thirtye dayes before Christmasse, as well as the 
 Christmasse yt selfe; that worde being deduced, 
 as hathe Will. Postelltis in Alphabet. 12 Lingua- 
 rum, from the Hebrue worde Noell: for thus he 
 writethe : Noel, sonat DEUS NOSTER she DEUS 
 NOBIS ADVENIT; solitaque est hec vox cantaria 
 plebc ante Christi Natalitia viginti ant triginta 
 quodam desiderio.
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 47 
 
 PORPHERYE you expounde marble. Whiche 
 marble ys genus, but porpherye is species. For 
 as there is white and grey marble, so ys there redd 
 marble, \vhiche is this porpherye, a stone of reddish 
 purple color, distinct or interlaced with white 
 veynes as you may see in the great pillars entringe 
 into the Royal 1 Exchange or Burse in Cornhill. 
 
 
 SENDALE you expounde a thynne stuflfe lyke 
 cypres. But yt was a thynne stuffe lyke sarcenett, 
 and of a rawe kynde of sylke or sarcenett, but 
 coarser and narrower than the sarcenett nowe ys, 
 as my selfe canne remember. 
 
 TREPEGETT you expounde a ramme to batter 
 walles. But the trepegett was the same as the 
 magonell. For Chaucer calleth yt a trepegett or 
 magonell. Wherefore the trepegett and magonell 
 being all one, and the magonell an instrument to 
 flynge or cast stones (as your selfe expounde yt) 
 into a towne, or against a towne-walles, (an en- 
 gine not muche vnlyke to the catapulte, an instru- 
 mente to cast forthe dartes, stones, or arrowes,) 
 the trepegett must nedes also be an instrumente 
 to cast stones or such lyke against a wall or into a 
 towne, and not a ramme to batter walles; since 
 the ramme was no engine to flinge anye thinge, 
 but by mens handes to be broughte and pushed 
 againste the walles ; a thinge farr different in 
 forme from the magonell or catapulte, as ap-
 
 48 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 pereth by Vigetius and Robertus Valturius de Re 
 
 Militari. 
 
 
 
 WIVER you expounde not. Wherefore I will 
 tell you, a ivyver is a kynde of serpent of good 
 bulke, not vnlyke vnto a dragon, of whose kinde 
 he is; a thinge well knowen vnto the Heraldes, 
 vsinge the same for armes, and crestes, and sup- 
 porters of manye gentle and noble menne. As 
 the erle of Kent beareth a wiver for his creste and 
 supporters; the erle of Pembroke, a wiver vert 
 for his creste ; the erle of Cumberlande, a wiver 
 gules for his supporters. 
 
 AUTENTICKE you expounde to be antiquytye. 
 But howe you may seme to force and racke the 
 worde to Chaucers meaninge, I knowe not ; but 
 sure I am, the proper signyficatione of autenticke 
 is a thinge of auctoritye or credit allowed by 
 menne of auctoritye, or the originall or fyrste 
 archetypum of any thinge; whiche I muse that 
 you did not remember. 
 
 ABANDONS you expounde liberty e; whiche in 
 all Italiane, Frenche, and Spanishe, signifyeth 
 relinquere, to forsake and leave a thinge ; whiche 
 methinketh you most hardely stretche to libertye t 
 vnless you will saye that, when one forsakethe a 
 thinge, he leaveth yt at libertye ; whiche ys but 
 a streyned speche, although the Frenche Holly-
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 49 
 
 bande, not vnderstandinge the true encrgyc of 
 our tongue, hath expounded yt libertye ; \vhiche 
 may be some warrante vnto you. 
 
 VNDER THE TITLE OF YOURE ANNOTACIOKS AND 
 CORRECTIONS. 
 I 
 
 In youre Annotacions you describe, out of the 
 Prologues, the vernacle to be a broche or figure, 
 wherein were sett the instruments wherewith 
 Christe was crucyfyed, and withall a napkyn 
 wherein was the printe of his face. But the vcr- 
 nacle did not conteyne the instrumentes of his 
 deathe, but only the clothe wherein was the figure 
 of his face ; as I conceve yt with others. 
 
 Fo: 1. pa : 2. For Campaneus you woldereade 
 Capaneus,, wherunto I cannott yelde. For al- 
 though Statins and other Latine authors do call 
 hym Capaneus, yet all the writers of Englande 
 in that age call him Campaneus; as Gower, in 
 Confessione Amantis, and JLidgate in the His- 
 torye of Thebes taken out of Statius, and Chaucer 
 hym selfe in many other places. So that yt 
 semethe they made the pronuntiatione of Cam- 
 paneus to be the dialecte of our tongue for Ca- 
 paneus. Besides Chaucer is in this to be par- 
 doned, in that taking his Knightes Tale out of the 
 Thesayde of Bocas, written in Italiane and of late 
 translated into Frenche, doth there, after the 
 Italiane manner, call him Campaneus; for so the 
 
 s.
 
 50 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 Italians pronounce wordes beginninge with cap, 
 with the interposition of the letter m, pronounc- 
 inge yt camp. For that whiche the Latins call 
 capitolium, the Italians call campidoglio; and 
 suche lyke. Wherefore since yt was vniversallye 
 receved in that age to call him Campaneus, let 
 vs not nowe alter yt, but permytte yt to have 
 free passage, accordinge to the pronuntiatione 
 and wrytinge of that age ; since, in deducinge 
 wordes from one language to another, there ys 
 often additione and substractione of letters, or of 
 sillables, before, in the middle, and in the ende 
 of those wordes. Whereof infynyte examples 
 mighte be produced, whiche I nowe shunne for 
 brevytye. 
 
 : 3. pa : 2. [" Noughte comelye lyke to 
 lovers maladye of Hereos."~\ For whiche worde 
 Her eos you reade Eros, i. e. Cupide ; a very 
 good and probable correction, well gathered out 
 of Lucianc. But (salva patieritia vestra, and re- 
 servinge to myselfe better iudgmente hereafter yf 
 I nowe mystake yt,) I wolde, for the printed 
 Hereos of Chaucer, read Heroes. Whiche two 
 wordes onlye differ in misplacinge of the letters; 
 a comone thinge for the printer to do, and the 
 corrector to overpasse. For Arcyte, in this 
 furye of his love, did not shewe those courses of 
 gouernmente which the heroes, or valiante per- 
 sons, in tymes past vsed ; for though they loved, 
 yet that passione did not generallye so farre over- 
 rule them (although yt mighte in some one par-
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 51 
 
 ticulcr personne) as that they lefte to contynewc 
 the valor, and heroicke actions, whiche they be- 
 fore performed. For the Heroes shoulde so love, 
 as that they shoulde not forgett what they were in 
 place, valor, or magnanymytye; whiche Arcite, 
 in this passione, did not observe "lyke to lovers 
 malady of Heroes" Whereof I coulde produce 
 six hundred examples, (as the proverbe ys,) were 
 yt not that I avoyde tedious prolixytye. 
 
 Fo : 6. pa : 2. [" Manye a Jlorencc."^\ In 
 whiche note you expounde a flortnce to be ij 1 
 Frenche, and a gelder to be the same in Dutche. 
 Wherein you mistake the valewe of the jlorens t 
 suche as was vsed in Chaucers tyme ; whiche 
 taking the name of the workemenne, being Flo- 
 rentynes, (of the terry torye of Florence inltalye,) 
 were called Florens ; as sterlinge money took 
 their name of Esterlinges, who refyned and 
 coyned the silver in the tyme of kinge Henry the 
 seconde. For two shillinges Frenche ys not 
 equall in valewe (as I nowe take yt) to two shil- 
 linges Englishe; and much lesse equall to the 
 jlorens in Chaucers tyme., whiche was of the 
 value of three shillings, and fowre pence, or half 
 a noble ; or, at the leaste, of two shillinges tenne 
 pence farthinge, as apperethe by recorde and 
 historye; some of them being jlorens regdll. 
 Whereof you shall fynde, in the recorde of pellis 
 exit us in the Exchequer in Michelmas terme 41. 
 Ed. 3. this note: Bartholomeo de Burgershe mi- 
 liti in denariis sibi liberatis in parte solutionis
 
 53 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 8000 FLORENORUM fie scuto preti'i petii iij*. iiij'' 
 sibi debitis de HUs 30000 FJ.ORKNORUM de scuto in 
 quibus Rex -fenebatur cidem Bartliolonwo pro 
 Comite de Veniadoure prisonario suo apud Bel- 
 lum de Poyters in guerra capto, et ab eodem 
 Bartholomeo ad opus Regis einpto, vt patet per 
 litter as Regis patentes, quas idem Bartlwlomms 
 inde penes se habet. In dors. De summa sub- 
 scripta per breve de magno sigillo, inter mandata 
 de Term. Micliaelis de anno 36 x-x 11 . To the 
 valewe whereof agreeth Hipodignta Neustrite, 
 pa. 127, where, setting downe the ransome of 
 the Frenche kinge taken at Poyters to the valewe 
 of three milliones of fiorem, he sayeth, " ^ 
 whiche florens duo valebant vj s . viij d ." These^o- 
 rcns the same Walsingham in another place callethe 
 scutes or Frenche crovones, pa. 170., sayinge, Rex 
 quldein Francie pro sua -redemptione solvit regi 
 Anglic tres milliones SCUTORUM, quorum duo v&- 
 lent vnum Nobile, videlicet, sex -sotidos. Bt octo 
 denarios. Whiche scutes in lyke manner, i^ the 
 tyme of kinge Henry the sixte were of the same 
 valewe, as apperethe in Fortescues Commentaries 
 of the Lawes of Englande. But as those florens 
 for the redemptione of the Frenche kinge were 
 of the valewe of half one noble; so at the tyme 
 of that kings reigne there were also one other 
 sorte ofjlorens, not of lyke valewe, but conteyned 
 within the price of ij'. x d . q. called Jlorene re- 
 gales; as apperethe in this record, of Easter terme, 
 of pellis exitus before-sayed, where yt is thus 
 1
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 53 
 
 entred on the sixte of Julye: Guiscardo de An- 
 gles, domino de pleyne martyne, in denariis sibi 
 liberates per manus JV alter i Hewctt militis in 
 fretio 4000 FLORENORUM REGALIUM pretii petii 
 ij'. x d . q. de quibus FLORENIS REGALIBUS 7 compu- 
 tantur pro tribus Nobilibus, eidcin Guiscardo 
 debitis. Whereby you see the meanest of these 
 florens did exceed the valewe of ij s . Frenche, (al- 
 though you sholde equall that with ii s . Englishe,) 
 as yt did also in other Countryes. For in the 
 Low Countryes at those dayes yt was much aboute 
 the valewe of iij*. iiij d . beinge halfe a pistolet 
 Italiane or Spanyshe. For so sayethe Heuterius 
 Delphicus, in the Historic of Burgundye, in 
 the lyfe of Philippe le hardye, lyving at that 
 tyme, and sonne to the Frenche kinge taken pri-, 
 soner by the Englishe. Heuterius' wordes be 
 these: Illustris viri aliorumquc nobilium mors 
 adco Comitem commovit, vt relicta obsidione ex- 
 ercitus ad commeatus ducendos in proximo, loca 
 distribuerit. Decem minibus FLORENORUM ( moneta 
 Belgica est SEMIPISTOLETUM ITALICUM pendens} pro 
 Anglicani aliorwnque nobilium cadaverum rC" 
 demptione, etc. 
 
 Fo : 7. pa : 2. For unseriall you will vs to 
 reade cerriall ; for cerrus is a kynde of tree lyke 
 an oke, bearinge maste ; and therefore by your 
 correctione yt sholde be "a garland of greene 
 oke cerriall" But for the same reasone (be- 
 cause cerrus ys a kynde of oke as ys also the 
 |7 j) I judge yt sholde not be redde cerriatt, but
 
 54 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 unseriall, that ys, (yf you will nedes have this 
 worde cerriall,} a garland of greene oke not cer- 
 riall, as who sholde saye. she had a garland of 
 greene oke, but notof the oke cerriall, and there- 
 fore a garlande of oke unseriall, signifyinge a 
 garlande that was freshe and greene, and not of 
 dead wannyshe color as the oke cerriall in some 
 parte ys. For the cerrus, being the tree whiche 
 we comonly call the holme oke, ( as Cooper also 
 expoundeth the ilex to be that which we call 
 holme,) produceth two kyndes; whereof the one 
 hathe greater, and the other lesser acornes ; whose 
 leaves beinge somewhat greene on the onfe syde, 
 and of an over-russett and darky she color on the 
 other syde, were not mete for this garland of 
 Emelye, whiche sholde be freshe and greene on 
 everye parte, as were her younge and greene 
 yeres, lyke to the goddesse to whome she sacry- 
 fyced, and therefore a garland of greene oke 
 unseriall; not beinge of oke cerriall. For yf 
 yt had byn oke cerriall, yt wolde haue shewed 
 duskyshe and as yt were of deadyshe leaves, and 
 not freshe and orient as Chaucer wolde haue her* 
 garlande. And this for your expositione of un- 
 seriall, in some parte; for I wolde suppose that 
 this worde unseriall doth not vnaptly signifye 
 perfectione of color : so that the having a gar- 
 lande of greene oke unseriall, doth signyfye the 
 oke to be grene and unseriall, that is, (as some 
 do expounde this worde unseriall,} unsered, un- 
 feinged, unwithered, of freshe color, lyke unto
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 55 
 
 the oke quercus whlche hath no sered nor withered 
 color in his leafes. And yt was of nccessytye 
 that Emelye (sacryfysinge to Diana) must haue a 
 garlande of the greene oke quercus, because that 
 they whiche sacryfyced vnto Diana, otherwise 
 called Hecate, (which name is attribute to Diana, 
 as Natalis Comes affirmeth with Statins in his 
 Achilleis in his first booke sayinge, 
 
 Sic vbi virgineis Hecate lassata pharetris, 
 
 being Diana adorned with her bowe and arrowes, 
 called also Trivia because Luna, Diana, and He- 
 cate, were all one, whereof Virgil speaketh, 
 
 Tergeminamque Hecaten> tria virginis ora Diana.',) 
 
 were adorned with a crowne of the greene oke 
 quercus, because that Hecate was wont to be 
 crowned therewith, as hath Pierius Valerianus in 
 his 51 booke of Hieroglyphes, sayinge, Hecate 
 quoque QUERCU coronari solita est. For although 
 quercus be consecrate to Jupiter, because he gave 
 his oracles in the same in Sylva Dodonea, and 
 therefore called Jupiter Dodoneus; yet Antiqutye 
 adorned and crowned Diana Hecate with the same 
 crowne also. Wherefore I conclude, since Emelye 
 had a garlande of greene oke, (as Chaucer of 
 purpose addeth that worde greene to explane un- 
 seriall, whiche signyfyeth unsered, unparched, 
 unwithered in every parte, not lyke to the oke
 
 3O FRANCIS TJHYNNES 
 
 cerriall, whose leafe on the one syde is duskyshe 
 as though yt were somewhat withered,) that the 
 same word unseriall must stand unamended, as 
 well (as I sayed before) by youre owne correc- 
 tione and the nature of the worde, as for that 
 Diana, called Hecate, was crowned with the oke 
 qucrcus and not with the oke cerrus. But yf 
 you obiecte to mee that, in this place, yt must 
 be a garlande of oke cerriall accordinge to the 
 wordes of Chaucer in another place, because that 
 he in The Flower and the Leafe (newely printed 
 by you ) hath these wordes ; 
 
 I see come first all in theire clokes white 
 
 A companye that were for delighte: 
 
 Chapletts freshe of oke serriall 
 
 Newly spronge; and Trompetts they were all; 
 
 I denye that therefore in the Knightcs Tale yt 
 must be oke serriall. For yt may well bee, that 
 suchmeane persons as Trompetts might be crowned 
 with so base an oke as the serriall ys, whiche I 
 call base in respecte of the oke quercus (dedi- 
 cate to the god Jupiter) wherewithe Hecate was 
 crowned, and whereof garlands were gyven to the 
 Romans for their noble deserts in the warres, as 
 apperethe in the qucrnall crotune gyven to those 
 whiche had saved a cytyzen. Wherefore Chaucer 
 dothe rightly (and of purpose with great Judg- 
 ment in my conceyte) make a difference in the 
 chaplettes of the Trompettes and the garlande of 
 Emelye, in that the Trompetts chapletts were of
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 57 
 
 oke scrriall newly spronge, and not come to per- 
 fectione, \vhiche yet yf they had byn perfecte 
 wolde not haue byn so oryent and greene on both 
 sydes as ys the oke quercus, wherewith he wolde 
 haue this Emelye crowned; as was her goddess 
 Hecate (to whom she dyd sacryfyce) accustomed 
 to bee. For so in tymes past (as I sayed before) 
 the sacryfycer should be adorned with garlandes 
 of suche thinges, as were consecrate to the goddes 
 to whome they sacryfyccd. For whiche cause 
 also I am not moved, though Caxtone in his se- 
 conde editione do call yt an oke serriall. For I 
 knowe (notwithstandinge his fayre prologe of 
 printing that by a true copye) there be manye 
 imperfections in that Booke. 
 
 Fo : 9. pa : 1 . For ever ye you will us to reade 
 eyther. But the sence ys good, as well that they 
 dyd ryde on everye syde of hym, as of eyther 
 syde of hym. For they bothe coulde not ryde of 
 everye syde of hym, no more than they both 
 coulde ryde of eyther syde of him; and therefore 
 they two ryding on everye side of hym, canne 
 haue none other constructione than that the one 
 did ryde of the one syde and the other on the 
 other side. And therefore an over-nice correc- 
 tione, thoughe some coppies do warrant yt. 
 
 Fo: 10. pa: 1. For save only the inteliecte, 
 you woulde haue us to reade " and also the in- 
 teliecte." But yf you well consider the wordes 
 of Chaucer, (as I haue donne in all the written 
 copyes whiche I haue yet seene,) his rneaninge
 
 58 FBANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 ys net that the intellecte was wholy gonne, as yt 
 wolde bee yf you sholde reade " and also the in- 
 tellecte" for " save only the intellecte." For 
 Chaucers meaninge ys, that all his strength and 
 vitall spirites aboute his outwarde partes were 
 gonne, save only the intellecte or vnderjjtandinge, 
 whiche remayned sounde and good, as apperethe 
 after by the followinge wordes: For when deathe 
 approched, and that all outwarde senses fayled, 
 he [Arcite] yet cast eye vppon Emelye, remera- 
 bringe her, though the cheifest vitall spirit of his 
 heart and his strengthe were gonne from hym. 
 But he coulde not haue cast his eye vppon 
 Emelye, yf his intellecte had fayled hym. Yet 
 yf you liste to reade " and also the intellecte," 
 yt may after a sorte somewhat be borne withall, 
 notwithstandinge that a pointe at strength is 
 loste; and a parenthesis (Save only the intellecte, 
 without more,,) will make the sence good in this 
 sort as I have here pointed yt : 
 
 And yet moreouer from his armes two 
 The vitall strengthe is lost; and all agoo 
 (Save only the intellecte without more) 
 That dwelleth in his hart sicke and sore 
 Can faylen: When the hart felt death &c. 
 
 Fo: 10. pa : 2. For armes straughte you wolde 
 reade yt haughte; when straughte is more sig- 
 nyficant (and more answerable to Chaucers wordes 
 whiche followeth ) than haughte ys. For he 
 gpeaketh of the bredth and spredinge of the
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 
 
 5'9 
 
 boughes or armes or branches of the tree, whiche 
 this worde straughte doth signyfye, and is more 
 aptlye sett downe for stretched than this word 
 haughte, whiche signyfyeth catchinge holde, or 
 holdinge faste, or (yf you will streyne yt againste 
 his nature) stretching on heigh; whiche agreeth 
 not well with Chaucers meanynge. For these be 
 his wordes : 
 
 And twentye fadome of bredth armes straughte; 
 That is to say, the boughes were so broad, &c. 
 
 Fo : 11. pa: 1. For all forgotten is his vas- 
 salage, you wolde haue vs reade " for all for- 
 gotten is then his visage ;" a thinge mere im- 
 pertinente. For the forgettinge of his visage 
 and personage is not materiall, nor [is if] re- 
 garded of anye to haue \\isface forgotten ; but yt 
 is muche materiall (and so ys Chaucers mean- 
 ynge) that his vassalage, and the good service 
 donnc in his youthe, shold be forgotten when he 
 waxethe olde. And therefore yt must be " his 
 vassalage forgotten;" as presently after Chaucer 
 sayeth, Better for a manne to dye when he is 
 yonge, and his honor in price, than when he is 
 olde, and the service of his youthe forgotten ; 
 whiche I coulde dilate and prove by manye ex- 
 amples ; but I cannott stande longe vppon euerye 
 pointe, as well for that I wolde not be tedious 
 vnto you, as for that leysure serveth me not there- 
 unto.
 
 60 FRANCIS THYNNF/S 
 
 Fo: 13. pa: 1. For lothe you bidde vs reade 
 leefe; which annotacione neded not to haue byn 
 there sett downe, because the verye wcrde in the 
 texte is lefe. 
 
 Fo : 14. pa: 1. For knocked you reade cough- 
 ed; but, the circumstance considered., (although 
 they may both stande,) yt is more probable that 
 he [Absolon] knocked at her the Carpenter's 
 wife's] windowe, than that he coughed. For al- 
 though those wordes " with a semely sownde" 
 may haue relation to the voyce, yet they may as 
 well and with as much consonancye haue reference 
 to a semely and gentle kynde of knockinge at the 
 windowe as to the voyce; and so his meanynge 
 was by that sound e to wake her, whiche wolde 
 rather be by the noyse of a knocke than of a 
 coughe. For so he determyned before to knocke, 
 as apperethe in these verses, when he sayed, 
 
 So mote I thryve, I shall at cockes crow 
 Full privily knoc&e at his windowe : 
 
 And so apperethe by the Tale afterwards that he 
 knocked, as he did before, although he coughed 
 also at the latter tyme; for he knocked twyce. 
 
 Fo : 23. pa : 2. For Surrye you read Russye. 
 True yt is, that some written copies haue Russye, 
 and some Surrye. And therefore indifferent after 
 the written copies, and some auncient printed 
 copies before my fathers editione. But yf I shall 
 interpone my opynione, I wolde more willingly
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 61 
 
 (for this tyme) receve Surrey; because yt is 
 most lykelye that the Tartarians whiche dwelt at 
 Sara (a place yet well knowen, and bordering 
 vppon the lake Mare Caspium, ) are nerer to 
 Sorria or the countryes adioynynge called Syria, 
 than to Russia. For as Hato the Armeniane, in 
 his Tartarian Historye, sayeth, the cyttye of Sara 
 was auncyently the famous cyttye of the countrye 
 of Cumania; and the Tartarians obteyned the 
 kingdome of Syria in the yere 1240, whiche must 
 be in the tyme of the fyrst Tartarian emperor 
 called Cains canne, beinge (as I suppose) he 
 whome Chaucer nameth Cambiuscan, for so ys 
 [it in] the written copies, such affynytye is there 
 bet wen e those two names. And, as I gather, yt 
 was after that tyme that the Tartarians had warres 
 in Russia. But I leave yt indifferent at this tyme, 
 meanynge further to consider of yt. 
 
 Fo : 31. pa: 2. For these wordes, " that may 
 not save naye," you reade " there may no ivighte 
 say naye." Both whiche are good, and both founde 
 in written copies; and yet the firste will better 
 stande, in my conceyte; because {[the king of 
 Faerie] there speakinge to his wyfe, he urgeth 
 her that she cannott denye yt, because you knowe 
 yt and experience teacheth yt; so that these 
 wordes, " that cannott say naye," must be taken 
 as spoken of his wyfes knowledge, and so as good 
 or rather better than " there may no wighte saye 
 naye;" consideringe that these wordes " that 
 cannott saye naye/' do signyfye " whoe cannott
 
 62 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 saye naye/' in such sorte that this relatyve (that) 
 meanynge (whoe} must haue reference to his 
 antecedente, i. e. this worde wyfe. 
 
 Fo : 35. pa : 2. For " He cleped yt Valerye 
 and Theophraste," you saye some wolde haue vs 
 reade " Valery and his Paraphraste" But as you 
 haue left yt at libertee to the reader to iudge, so 
 I thinke yt must nedes be Theophraste, as the 
 author [of] Policraticon in his eighte booke, ca- 
 11. (from whome Chaucer borrowethe almost 
 worde for worde a great parte of the Wyfe of 
 Bathes Prologe,) doth vouche yt. For the au- 
 thor of that booke, Johannes Sarisburiensis, lyvinge 
 in the tyme of Henrye the seconde, sayethe, Fer- 
 tur author e Hieronimo Aureolus Theophrasti 
 liber de nuptiis, in quo quceritur an nir sapiens 
 ducat vxorem, etc. And the Frenche Molinet, 
 moralizinge the Romant of the Rose, and turnynge 
 it out of verse into prose, writeth, Ha si i'eussc creu 
 Theophraste, &c. Oh, yf I had beleved Theo- 
 phraste, I had never maried womanne ; for he 
 doth not holde hym wise that marieth anye wo- 
 marmr, be she fayre, foule, poore, orriche; as 
 he sayeth in his booke Atireolle; whiche verye 
 wordes Chaucer doth recyte. 
 
 Fo : 38. pa : 2. For this worde Country e you 
 will vs to reade Coventrye. But in my written 
 copies yt is, " in my Countrye" whiche I holde 
 the truer and for the sence as good yf not better. 
 
 Fo: 41. pa: 1. This worde makefile is cor- 
 rected by you, who for the same do place wakethe;
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 63 
 
 \vhiche cannott well stande. For Chaucers vvordes 
 being, " this maketh the fende," do signyfye (by 
 a true conuersione after the dialecte of our tongue, 
 whiche with beautye vseth suche transmutacione 
 as I coulde gyve you many pretye instances of,) 
 that the sence thereof ys, " the fende makethe 
 this." For whiche Chaucer vseth these wordes 
 by transpositione, accordinge to the rhetorical! 
 figure Hyperbaton. '' This makethe the fende:" 
 Whiche this? Anger: for that cometh, ys made, 
 or occasioned, by the devill. But yf yt sholde be 
 wakeihc, then must the sence bee, that this (whiche 
 is the anger he speakethe of before) waketh the 
 fende; whiche oure offences cannot do; because 
 he cannott be waked, in that he neyther slum- 
 breth nor slepeth, but alwayes watcheth and 
 howrely seeketh occasione to destroye us, lyke a 
 roringe lyone. But yf you will nedes saye " this 
 waketh the fende," that is, by conuersione after 
 this manner, " the fende waketh this," whiche 
 signyfyeth the fende waketh or styrreth this in, 
 manne; yt may, after a harde and over-streyned 
 sorte, beare some sence, whiche yet hath not that 
 energye, spirit, or lyfe, which haue Chaucers 
 wordes, " this maketh the fende." Whiche wordes 
 are in my written copies, and in all written and 
 auncient printed copies whiche I have yet scene. 
 
 Fo: 96. pa: 2. Vppon these wordes, " O 
 Hughe of Lincolne sleyne also, &c." You saye, 
 that in the.29. H. 3. eightene Jewes were broughte 
 from Lincolne, and hanged for crucyfyinge a childe
 
 64 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 of eight yeres olde. Whiche facte was in the 39. 
 H. 3. so that you mighte verye well haue sayed, 
 th",t the same childe of eighte yeres olde was the 
 same Hughe of Lincolne; of whiche name there 
 were twoe, viz. thys younger Seinte Hughe, and 
 Seinte Hughe bishoppe of Lincolne, whiche dyed 
 in the yere 1200, long before this litle Seinte 
 Hughe. And to prove [that] this childe of eighte 
 yeres olde and that yonge Hughe of Lincolne 
 were but one, I will sett downe two auctoryties 
 out of Mathewe Paris and Walsinghame; whereof 
 the fyrste wryteth, that in the yere of Christe 
 J255, beinge the 39. of Henrye the 3, a childe 
 called Hughe was sleyne by the Jewes at Lyn- 
 colne, whose lamentable historye he delyvereth 
 at large; and further, in the yerp 1256, being 
 40. Hen. 3, he sayeth, Dimissi sunt quieti 24- 
 Judcei a Turri London, qui ibidem infames tene- 
 bantur compediii pro crucifixione SANCTI HUGONIS 
 LINCOLNE. All whiche Thomas Walsingham, in 
 Hypodigma Neustria, confirmeth; sayinge, A*. 
 1255. Puer quidam Christianas, nomine HUGO, 
 a Judceis captus, in opprobrium Christiani no- 
 minis crudeliter est crucifixus. 
 
 Fo: 86. pa : 1. [Where the sunne is in his as- 
 censione, &c.] You will us to reade for the same. 
 
 Ware the sunne in his ascensione 
 
 Ne fynde you not replete of humors hotte, 
 
 For yf yt doe, &c.
 
 ANIMADVERSION^. 6 
 
 But, saving correctione, the former sence is good: 
 for these wordes, Where the sunne is in his as 
 censione, must haue relatione to the wordes of the 
 verse before, 
 
 Ye be righte colericke of complexione; 
 
 and then is the sence, that she [the fair Pertelote] 
 willed hym to purge, for that he was righte (that is, 
 extremelye and in the highest degree) colericke of 
 complexione, where (whiche signyfyethw/zm) the 
 sunne is in his ascensione. Wherefore he must 
 take heede, that he did not fynde hym repleate 
 (at that ^ty me of the sunnes being in his ascen- 
 sione) of hotte humors; for yf he did, he shoulde 
 surelye haue an ague. And this will stand with 
 the wordes Where the sunne is in his ascensione, 
 taking where for when, as yt is often vsed. But 
 yf you mislyke that glosse, and will begyn one 
 new sence, as yt is in some written copies, and 
 saye, Ware the sunne in his ascensione ne fynde 
 you not repleate, &c. yet yt cannott bee that the 
 other wordes, for yf yt doe, canne answer the 
 same, because this pronoune relative yt cannot 
 haue relatione to this worde you, which wente be- 
 fore in the lyne, Ne fynde you not repleate of 
 humors hotte. So that yf you will nedes reade 
 ware for where, yet the other parte of the fol- 
 lowinge verse must nedes be, " for yf you doe," 
 and not " for yf yt doe;" vnlesse you will saye 
 that this worde yt must haue relatione to these
 
 66 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 wordes, the sunne in his ascenstone, whiche y t can- 
 nott have, those wordes goinge two lynes before, 
 and the pronoune you ; interposed betwene the 
 same and that his correlative yt. Wherefore these 
 wordes, for yfyt doe, must nedes stande as they 
 did before, though you will correcte " Where the 
 sunne &c." and saye " Ware the sunne &c." 
 
 Whiche yf you will nedes haue, you must cor- 
 recte the rest in this sorte: 
 
 ' 
 
 ' 
 Ware the sunne in his ascensione 
 
 Thatyt fynde you not repleat of humors hotte, 
 
 j j j f 
 
 For yf y t doe, &c. 
 
 But this correctione (savinge, as I sayed, ,correc- 
 tione, ) seineth not so good as the former texte. 
 
 Fol : 86. pa : 2. Vppon these wordes, Lo, in 
 the lyfe of Kenelme we reade, you saye that Ke- 
 nelme was sleyne by his sister Quenda ; whiche 
 shoulde be Quendrida; as Williame of Malms- 
 berye and Ingulphus have. Whiche Quendrida 
 dothe signyfye Quene Drida; as the author of the 
 Antiquytyes of Seint Albons and of the Abbotts 
 thereof (supposed to be Mathewe Paris) dothe 
 expounde yt. For that author, speakinge of the 
 \vyfe of Offa the greate kinge of Mercia, (a wicked 
 and proude womanne because she was of the 
 stocke of Charles the greate,) dothe saye, that 
 she was called Drida, and being the kings 
 wyfe was termed Quendrida, id est, Regina 
 Drida.
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 67 
 
 Fo: 87. p: 1. Vppon these wordes of Taurus 
 was forty e degrees and one, you saye that this 
 place ys misprinted, as well in not namynge of 
 the signe, as of the misreckonynge of the de- 
 grees, that the two and twentye of Marche the 
 sunne is in Aries, and that but eleven degrees or 
 thereaboutes, and hathe in all but thirtye degrees. 
 In whiche, in seminge to correcte the former 
 printe (whiche in truthe deseruethe amendement, 
 but not in that order,) you seme to mee to erre, 
 as farre as heauen and erthe, in mistakinge Chau- 
 cers meanynge and his wordes, as well for -the 
 daye of the monthe, as for the signe. For where 
 you suppose that Chaucer meanethe the two and 
 twentithe daye of Marche, you mistake yt. For 
 although yt should be the 22 of the monthe, as 
 the printed booke hathe; yet canne yt not be the 
 22 daye of Marche, but must of necessytye be 
 the two and twenty the of Aprille; and so the 
 signe Taurus trulye named. But first I must 
 saye, the number of the dayes is misprinted; for 
 where yt is twentye dayes and two, yt must be 
 (and so are my written copies) thirtye dayes and 
 two; whiche must be the seconde of Maye, as 
 you shall well see by the wordes of Chaucer. For 
 whether you reckon thirtye two dayes, withe the 
 truthe, as hathe the written copye; or twentye 
 two dayes, with the printe; yet must you be- 
 gynne to reckon them from after the last of Marche* 
 For so dothe Chaucer; sayinge Marche was com 
 pleate, in these wordes :
 
 68 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 *% 
 When the monthe in whiche the worlde begin, 
 
 That bight March, when God first made man, 
 Was complete, and passed were also 
 Since Marche byganne, &c. 
 
 Whereby you see, that you must begynne to 
 reckon the number of dayes from the tyme of 
 Marche complete; and then woulde the signe fall 
 out to be in Taurus. Yf you holde you to the 
 printe for the 22 daye after Marche, which is 
 the 22 daye of Aprill in which the sunne is aboute 
 xi degrees in Taurus; or to the written copye 
 of thirtye two dayes, which is the seconde of 
 Maye at what tyme the sunne ys also aboute some 
 xxi degrees in Taurus; the signe is not misrec- 
 koned or misnamed, as you suppose. Neither 
 canne these wordes, Since Marche beganne, helpe 
 you to reckon them from the begynnynge of 
 Marce, as you seme to doo; because they must 
 answere and be agreeable to the former wordes of 
 Chaucer, whiche sayethe Marche was complete ; 
 and, for that we shoulde not double thereof, he 
 addethe also farther, and passed 'were also since 
 JHarche beganne; where the worde beganne ys 
 misprinted for begonne, that is, since Marche be 
 gonne t this word begonne being put for is gonnc t 
 or gonne by, or departed. So that the genuyne 
 sence thereof is, When March was complete, and 
 also were passed, since March is gonne, or gonne 
 by, or departed. For, in many olde Englishe 
 wordes, this syllable be is sett before ; to make
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 69 
 
 yt more signyficant, and of force; as for veione, 
 we saye bemone; for sprincled, besprincled; for 
 dewed, bedewed, &c. as in this case for gonne ys 
 sett downe begonne. But although there be no 
 misnaminge of the signe, yet yt is true the de- 
 grees of the signe are misreckoned; the error 
 whereof grewe, because the degree of the signe 
 is made equall with the degree of the sunne as- 
 cended above the horizon, beinge at that tyme 
 xli degrees in heighte from the horizon. But to 
 remedye all this, and to correcte yt accordinge 
 as Chaucer sett yt downe in myne and other writ- 
 ten copies; and that yt may stande with all ma- 
 thematicall proportione, whiche Chaucer knewe 
 and observed there ; the print must be corrected 
 after those written copies (whiche I yet holde for 
 sounde till I maye disprove them) having these 
 wordes : 
 
 When that the month in whiche the worlde beganne, 
 That hight Marche, when God first made manne, 
 Was complete, and passed were also 
 Since Marche begonne thirty dayes and two; 
 Befell that Chanteclere in all his pride, 
 His seven wives walkings him beside, 
 Caste vp his eyen to the bright sunne, 
 That in the signe of Taurus had yrunne 
 Twentye degrees and one and somewhat more; 
 And knewe by kynde and by none other lore 
 That yt was pryme, and crewe with blisful steven; 
 The sunne, quoth he, is clomben vp on heaven 
 Fortye degrees and one, and more, y wi, c.
 
 70 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 And that this shoulde be mente xxxij dayes after 
 Marche, and the seconde of Maye, there be manye 
 reasons, besides those that Chaucer nameth; 
 which are, that the sunne was not farre from the 
 middle of his ascensione, and in the signe Taurus. 
 Further, since I am now in Chanteclere's dis- 
 course, I must speake of one worde in the same 
 deservinge correctione, whiche I see you over- 
 slipped. And because I thinke you knevve not 
 what to make of y t, ( as indede by the printinge 
 few menne canne vnderstand yt,) I will sett 
 downe the correctione of the same; being the 
 worde MereturicJce, fair corrupted for Mercen- 
 ricke, in Saxon GQejiecennyke which is the king- 
 dome of Mercia; for so was Kenelme the sonne, 
 and Kenulphus the father, both kinges of Mercia ; 
 the one reignynge 36 yeres, and the other mur- 
 dred by his sister Quendrida, as ys before noted. 
 And that yt is the kingdome of Mercia, the ety- 
 mon of the worde doth teache ; for jiyk in the 
 Saxon tongue signyfyeth a kingdome; mejicen 
 signyfyeth markes or boundes or marches of coun- 
 try es: So that Mercenricke is regnum Mercies, 
 or the kingdome of Mercia, or of the boundes so 
 called, because all the other Saxons bounded 
 vppon the same, and that lykewise vppon them; 
 since that kingdome did lye in the middle of Eng-> 
 land, and conteyned most of the shires thereof. 
 
 Fo : 90. pa : 2. For pilloure you will vs to 
 reade pellure* signifyinge furres. But although 
 the Cler^ye v.are furres, and some of them had 
 
 6
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 71 
 
 their outwarde ornamentes thereof when they 
 came to their service, as the Chanons had their 
 grey amises ; yet in this place, to shewe the 
 proude and stately ensignes of the Clergye, he 
 there nameth the Popes crowne, and the Cardi- 
 nalls pilloureSj yf J be not deceved. For euery 
 Gardinall had, for parte of his honorable ensignes 
 borne before hym, certein silver pillars ; as had 
 Cardinall Wolsey, in the tyme of kinge Henrye 
 the eighte; and Cardinall Pole, in my memory. 
 So that pilloure in that place is better than pel- 
 lure; because pilloures were a note of more 
 pride and maiestye (against whiche the Plow- 
 manne dothe enveye in those wordes,) than in the 
 wearinge of furres. 
 
 Fo: 90, pa: 2. For these wordes, With change of 
 many manner of meates, you woulde have vs reade, 
 They eate of many manner of meates. Touchinge 
 whiche, although the sence stande well, yet sure 
 Chaucer followeth this matter in many staves toge- 
 ther with this prepositione cum, (with,) and this 
 coniunctione e, (and;) as^ " With pride misledd 
 the poore,and with money filled manye a male, &c." 
 so he contynuethe yt still with that prepositione, 
 " with change of many meates;" whiche is as 
 good as the other; for euery one knoweth Chau- 
 cers meanynge to be that they eate of many 
 meates, when they haue change of many meates; 
 for why shoulde they haue change of meates, but 
 for varyetye to please the palates taste in eatynge. 
 In the next staffe, for myters moe then one or two
 
 *2 FRANCIS THYNNB'S 
 
 you teache vs to reade, " myters they vueare mo 
 then one or two;" whiche, methinkethe, nedeth not. 
 For the wearinge of their myters is included in 
 these wordes, And myters more then one or two. 
 Whiche wordes are curteyled for the verse his 
 cause, that the same mighte kepe an equall pro- 
 portone and decorum in the verse, whiche would 
 be lengthened one foote or sillable more than the 
 other verses, yf your readinge shoulde stande. 
 But yf you saye, that in this and other thinges I 
 am overstreyghte-laced and too obstinately bente 
 to defende the former printed editione, in that I 
 woulde rather allowe an imperfect sence, and 
 suche as must be vnderstoode when yt ys not fully 
 expressed, than a plain style; I will answere withe 
 a grounde of the lawe, quod frustra jit per plura 
 quod Jierl potest per pandora, and quod subin- 
 telltgitur non deest. Wherefore yt is nedelesse 
 to make that playner by additone of wordes, 
 when yt maye be as well conceyved in any rea- 
 sonable mens vnderstandinge without such addi- 
 tone. But on these and suche petit matters, I 
 will not nowe longe insiste, (being things of no 
 greate momente, ) vntill I haue further examyned 
 more written copyes to trye, whether wee shall 
 reade the olde texte or your newe correctione. 
 
 Fo : Ig2. pa : 8 t TJie lorfcs sonne of Wind* 
 sore. Vppon these wordes you saye, this maye 
 seme strange bothe in respecte that yt is not in 
 the Frenche, as also for that there was no lorde 
 Wmdsore at those dayes, But yt sejneth to me
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 75 
 
 more strange that these wordes shoulde seme 
 strange to you, not to be in the Frenche, where 
 you shall fynde them. For thus hathe the Frenche 
 written Romante, as maye appere in the old 
 Frenche vsed at the tyme when the Romante was 
 composed, in this sorte : 
 
 Pris a Franchise lez alez 
 Ne sai coment est appelles, 
 Beaus est et genz, se il fut ores 
 Fuiz au seigneur de Guindesores: 
 
 Whiche is thus englished: Next to Franchise 
 went a young bacheler, I knowe not howe he 
 was called, he was fayre and gentle, as yf he 
 had byn sonne to the lorde of Windsore Where 
 in olde Frenche this word/wzz (vsed here as in 
 manye places of that booke) is placed for that 
 whiche we wryte and pronounce at this daye for 
 jilz or Jitz, in Englishe sonne. And that it is 
 here so mente, you shall see in the Romante of 
 the Rose turned into prose, moralized by the 
 French Molinet, and printed at Paris in the yere 
 1521, who hathe the same verses in these wordes 
 in prose: A Franchise s'estoit prins vn ieune 
 bacheler de qui ne scay le nome, fort bell, en son 
 temps jilz du seigneur e de Guindesore. Whiche 
 you mighte have well scene, had you but remem- 
 bered their orthographic, and that the Latyne, 
 Italiane, Frenche, and Spanyshe have no doble w t 
 as the Dutche, the Englishe, and suche as haue aflfy- 
 pytye with the Dutche; since they vse for doble w
 
 74 FRANCIS THYKNE'S 
 
 (a letter comone to vs) these two letters gu, as 
 in Gulielmus, which we wryte Willielmus ; in 
 guerra, which we call and write warre ; in Gual- 
 terus, which we write Walter; in guardeine, 
 which we pronounce and write wardeyne; and 
 suche lyke; accordinge to whiche in the Frenche 
 yt is Guindesore for Windesore. For your other 
 conjectures, why that Chaucer shoulde inserte 
 the lordes son of Windesore, they are of no great 
 momente; neque adhuc constat that Chaucer 
 translated the Romante, when Windsor Castle was 
 in buildinge. For then I suppose that Chaucer 
 was but younge; whereon I will not stande at 
 this tyme, no more than I will that there was no 
 lord Windsore in those dayes ; although I suppose 
 that Sir William Windsore, being then a worthye 
 knighte and of great auctorytye in Englande and 
 in the partes beyond the seas vnder the kinge of 
 Englande, mighte be lord Windsore, of whom the 
 Frenche tooke notice, being in those partes, and 
 by them called seigneure de Windesore, as euery 
 gouernor was called seigneure emongst them. 
 But whether he were a baron or no in Englande, 
 I cannott yet saye; because I haue not my booke 
 of Somons of Barons to Parliamente in my handea 
 at this instante. 
 
 Fo: 171. pa: 2. By ordall, &c. Vppon whiche 
 you write thus. " Ordalid is a tryall of chastytye, 
 through the fyre, as did Emma, mother of the 
 Confessor; or ells over hotte burnynge coulters 
 of yron, barefoote, as did Cunegunde, &c." But
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 75 
 
 in this describinge definitione you have comytted 
 manye imperfectona. First, that ordall was a 
 try all by .fyre, \vhiche is but a species of the 
 ordall ; for ordalium was a try all by fyre and 
 water. Secondlye, that yt was a try all of chas- 
 tity, whiche was but parcell thereof; for the 
 ordall was a tryall fcrmanye other matters. Third- 
 lye, you saye yt was by goingc through the fyre, 
 when the fyery ordall was onlye by goinge on 
 hotte shares or coulters, or by holdinge a hotte 
 pece of yrone in the hande, and not going 
 through the fyre. Fourthlye, that Emma, mother 
 to Edwarde the Confessor, receved this tryall by 
 goinge through the fyre: but she passed not 
 through the fyre as you bringe her for an ex- 
 ample of your ordall, but passed barefoote vppon 
 nyne burnynge shares, fowre for her selfe, and 
 fyve for Alwyne bishoppe of Winchester, with 
 whome she was suspected of incontynencye ; 
 whiche historye you maye see at large in Ranul- 
 phus Higden, in his Policronicon, li : 6. ca : 23, 
 and in other authors; of whiche ordall I coulde 
 make a longe and no comone discourse ; of the 
 manner of consecrating the fyre and water; how 
 yt was vsed emongst the Saxons before, and the 
 Normans since, the Conqueste; and of many 
 other thinges belonging vnto yt. But I will 
 passe them ouer, and onlye deliver to you a 
 thinge knowen to fewe; how this ordall was con- 
 tynued in Englande in the tyme of kinge Johne, 
 as appereth in Claus. 17. Johls, m. %5, vntill
 
 yt was taken awaye by the Courte of Rome; and 
 after that, in Englande, by the auctorytye of 
 kinge Henry e the thirde, whereof you shall fynde 
 in the Towre Patent. 3. H. 3. mem. 5, where yt 
 speakethe of iudgmente and tryall by fyre and 
 water to be forbydden by the Church of Rome, and 
 that yt shoulde not be vsed here in Englande ; as 
 apperethe in the wordes of that record : Illis verd 
 qui mediis criminibus rectati sunt, et quibus 
 competeret indicium ignis vel aqua si non esset 
 prohibition, et de quibus si regnum nostrum 
 abiurarent nulla fieret posted maleficiendi sus- 
 pitio, regnum nostrum abiurent &c. 
 
 Fo: 246. pa: I. Speaking of the storke, you 
 saye that Chaucers wordes " wreaker of adulterye" 
 shoulde rather be " bewrayer of adulterye;" 
 whiche in truth accordinge to one propryetye of 
 his nature may be as you saye, but according to 
 another propryetye of his nature yt should be 
 " the wreaker of adulterye," as Chaucer hathe 
 it ; for he ys a greater wreaker of the adulterye 
 of his owne kynde and female than the bewray er 
 of the adulterye of another kynde, and of his 
 hostesse on the toppe of whose howse he har- 
 boreth. For Aristotle sayeth (and Bartholomeus 
 de proprietatibus rerum, li: 12. cap. 8. with 
 many other auctors) that yf the storke by any 
 meanes perceve that his female hath broked 
 spousehedde, he will no more dwell with her, 
 but stryketh and so cruelly beateth her, that he
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 77 
 
 will not surcease vntill he hathe killed her yf he 
 maye, to wreake and revenge that adulterye. 
 
 These and suche lyke in my conceyte are WOP- 
 thye to be touched in your ANNOTACONS, besides 
 other matters whiche you haue not handled; where- 
 of (because tyme icquirethe after all this tedious 
 treaty ce to drawe to an ende) I will not now 
 treate; but onlye speake a litle more of FYVB 
 
 ESPECIALL THINGES WORTHYE THE ANIMADVERSONS. 
 
 Of whiche THE FYRSTE ys, that you make the 
 Plowmans Tale to go next before the Persons 
 Tale, suffering the Persons corrupted Prologue 
 to passe with this begynnynge, By that the Plow- 
 mannc had his Tale ended; when all written 
 copies, (whiche I coulde yet see,) and my fa- 
 thers editione, haue yt, By that the Manciple 
 had his Tale ended. And because my father 
 coulde not see by any Prologues of the other 
 Tales, (whiche for the most parte shewe the de 
 pendancye of one Tale vppon another,) where to 
 place the Plowmans Tale, he putt yt ahqsr the 
 Persons *Tale, whiche, by Chaucers owne wordes, 
 was the last Tale; as apperethe by the Persons 
 Prologue, where the hoste sayeth, that euery 
 manne had tolde his Tale before. So that the 
 Plowmans Tale must be sett in some other place 
 before the Manciple and Persons Tale, and not 
 as yt ys in the last editone. 
 
 ANOTHER THINGE ys, that yt would be good that 
 Chaucers proper Workes were distinguished from 
 the adulterat and suche as were not his; as the
 
 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 Testaments of Cressyde, the Letter of 
 and the Balade begynnynge / have a ladye 
 whereso she be, &c. whiche Chaucer never com- 
 posed, as may sufficientlye be proved by the : 
 things themselves. 
 
 The THIRDE MATTER ys, that in youre epistle de- 
 dicatorye to Sir Roberte CeciPyou saye, " This 
 Booke when yt was first published in printe was 
 dedicate to kinge Henrye the eighte." But that 
 is not so. For the firste dedicatione to that kinge 
 was by my father, when diverse of Chaucers 
 Workes had byn thrise printed before; whereof 
 two editions were by Willm Caxtone, the firste 
 printer of Englande, who first printed Chaucers 
 Tales in one columne in a ragged letter, and 
 after in one columne in a better order; and the 
 thirde editione was printed, as farre as I remem- 
 ber, by Winkin de Worde or Richarde Pinson, 
 the seconde and thirde printers of Englande, as 
 I take them. Whiche three editons beinge verye 
 imperfecte and corrupte occasioned my father 
 (for the love he oughte to Chaucers learnyng) 
 to seeke the augmente and correctone of Chau- 
 cers Workes, whiche he happily fynyshed; the 
 same being, since that tyme, by often printing 
 much corrupted. Of this matter I shoulde have 
 spoken first of all, because yt is the first imper- 
 fectone of your paynfull and comendable labors. 
 Yet because the proverb ys Better late than 
 never, I hold yt better to speake of yt here then 
 not at all.
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 79 
 
 The FOURTHE THINGS ys, that, in the Catalogue 
 of the Auctors, you haue omitted many auctors 
 vouched by Chaucer; and therefore did rightlye 
 intitle yt, Most, and not All, of the Auctors cited 
 by Geffrye Chaucer. 
 
 The FYFTE MATTER ys in the Romanic of the 
 Rose, fo. 144, that the worde Haroldes [or Ha- 
 roltes] in this verse, 
 
 1 iS .IflJ'Jf: 
 My kinge of Haroltes shake thou be, 
 
 must, by a metathesis or transpositione of the let- 
 ters, be Harlotes, and not Haroltes, and the verse 
 thus, 
 
 dt To a^ood ttTfi- i'.ld ni ev 
 My kinge of Harlotes shalt thou be. 
 
 And so ys yt in the editone of Chaucer's Works, 
 printed in anno Domini 1542, accordinge to the 
 Frenche moralizatione of Molinet, fo. 149. -where 
 he is called " roye des Ribauldes," whiche is, 
 the kinge of Ribaldes or Harlottes or evill and 
 wicked persons ; an officer of great accompte in 
 tymes paste, (and yet vsed in the Courte of 
 France but by another name, ) in some parte be- 
 inge the office of the marshall of Englande. All 
 whiche, because you shall .not thinke I dreame, 
 (though yt may seine strange to the ignorant to 
 have so greate an officer intituled of suche base 
 persons as to be called kinge or governor of Ri- 
 bauldes,} you shall heare Johes Tyllius (in hi*
 
 80 
 
 seconde booke De Rebus Gallicis vnder the title 
 de prefecto pretorio regis) confirme in these 
 xvordes: In domesticis regum constitutionibus, 
 quos proximo capite nominavimus, Jit mentio 
 REGIS RIBALDORUM, officii domestici, quern semper 
 oportet stare extra portam pretorii, &c. And a 
 litle after the explanynge of their office, he add- 
 eth; sic autem appellantur, quid iam turn ho- 
 mines perditi RIBALDI, et RIBALDS mulieres puel- 
 l&que perdittf vocantur. REGIS NOMEN superiori 
 aut iudici tribuitur, quemadmodum magnus 
 Cubicularius dicitur Rex Mercatorum, &c. 
 Where he maketh the Re gem Ribaldorum an ho- 
 norable officer for manye causes, as Vincentius 
 Luparius in his fyrste booke of the Magistrates 
 of France doth also, vnder the title of Rex Ri- 
 baldorum et Provostus Hospitii; makinge the 
 index pretorianus and this rex ribaldorum or 
 provostus hospitii to seme all one; addinge fur- 
 ther ( after manye other honorable partes belong- 
 inge to this office) that meretricious aulicis hos- 
 pitia assignare solebat. In whiche pointe, bothe 
 for orderinge and correctinge the harlottes and 
 evill persons followinge the Courte of Englande, 
 (whiche is the duty of the Marshall,) the Frenche 
 and wee agree. Wherefore, touching that parte, 
 you shall heare somewhat of the Marshalls office 
 sett downe and founde in the Customes, whiche 
 Thomas of Brothertone (sonne to kinge Edwarde 
 the fyrste) challenged to his office of Mar- 
 shalrye; where, emongst other thinges, are these
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 81 
 
 wordes: Eorum (whiche was of the Marshall:* 
 deputyes executinge that he should ells do 
 hym selfe) virgatam a meretricious prohibere et 
 deliver are; et habet, ex consuetudine, Maris- 
 callus ex qualibet meretrice communi infra metas 
 hospitii inventa iiij d . prime die. Qua, si iterum 
 invent a in Balli"cd sud inveniatur, capiatur; et 
 cor am Seneschallo inhibeantur ei hospitia Regis 
 et Regince et liberorum suorum, ne iterum ingre- 
 diatur, &c. And so afterwarde shewethe what 
 shall be done to those women, yf they be founde 
 agayne in the Kinges Courte, in suche sorte, that, 
 as by Tillius, this Rex Ribaldorum his auctorytye 
 was over homines perditos, mulieres puellasque 
 perditas: And that yt was, by Luparius, to assigne 
 to Ribaldes lodginge out of the Courte, ( for so 
 modestye willeth vs to vnderstande, because they 
 should not offende and infecte the Courte with 
 their sighte and manners, ) so ys yt our Marshalls 
 office to banyshe those harlottes the Courte, and 
 bestowe them in some other place, where they 
 might be lesse annoyance. Wherefore I conclude 
 with the Frenche, and the former editone of 
 Chaucer in the yere of Christe 1542, that False 
 Semblance was of righte to be made kinge of 
 Harlottes, who woulde mightely be offended to 
 haue them holden of the conditions of False 
 Semblance. Nowe here be nugce in the Romante 
 of the Rose, I cannott (as the proverb ys) take 
 my hand from the table, fyndinge so manye over- 
 sightes in the two last editiones, but must speake 
 
 c
 
 83 FRANCIS THYNNE'S 
 
 of one thing more, deserving correctione, in 
 these wordes of the Romante, fo. 116 of the last 
 impresspne : 
 
 Amidde saw I Hate stonde, 
 That for wrathe and yre and onde 
 Semed tp be a Minoresse; 
 
 Where this worde Minoresse shoulde be Mo- 
 ueresse, signyfyinge a mover pr styrrer to de* 
 bate. For these be the Frenche verses in the 
 oldest written copye that euer was to be founde 
 in Englande, yf my coniecture fayle me not, by 
 the age of the Frenche wordes, which are these: 
 
 Euz euz le milieu vi Hayne, 
 Qui de courouz et datayn 
 Seinbla bien estre moueresse, 
 Et courouse et teucerresse. 
 
 Beinge thus englyshed, as of righte they oughte, 
 accordinge to the Frenche: 
 
 Amydde sawe I Hate stonde, 
 That of wrathe and yre and onde 
 Seined well to be mooveresse, 
 An angry vighte and cbyderesse. 
 
 Whiche word mooveresse the learned Molinet, in 
 his moralization of that Romant, doth turne into 
 ducteresse, a leader or leadresse; sp that they 
 agree yt shoulde not be a mmoresse, but a mop-
 
 ANIMADVERSIONS. 83 
 
 vcrcssc or leadresse of and to anger and yre; 
 anye of whose wordes will as well and rather 
 better fitt the sence and verse of Chaucer, and 
 better answer the Frenche originall and mean- 
 ynge, than the inserted worde Minoresse. 
 
 Thus hoping that you will accepte in good and 
 frendlye parte these my whatsoever conceytes 
 vttered vnto you, to the ende Chaucers Workes 
 by much conference and many iudgmentes mighte 
 at lengthe obteyne their true perfectone and 
 glorye, as I truste they shall, yf yt please God to 
 lend me tyme and leystire to reprinte, correcte, 
 and comente the same after the manner of the 
 Italians who have largely comented Petrarch; I 
 sett end to these matters; corny ttinge you to God, 
 and me to your curtesye. 
 
 Clerkenwell Greene, 
 
 the xvi of december 1599, 
 Your lovinge frende, 
 
 FRANCIS THYNNK.
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS, 
 
 . 2.

 
 TESTAMENTUM JOHANNIS GOWER. 
 
 Registro *Archiep. Arundel, Parte prima, 
 fol. 256, a. b. fol. 257. a. 
 
 IN DEI KdMiNE AMBft, Ego Johannes Gower 
 compos mentis, et in fide catholica ad misericor- 
 diam divinam domini nostri Jesu Christi ex toto me 
 commendans, condo testamentum meum sub hac 
 forma. In primis lego animam meam Deo crea- 
 tor! meo, et corpus ad sepeliendum in ecclesia 
 Canonicorum beate Marie de Overes in loco ad 
 hoc specialiter deputato. Et lego Priori dicte 
 ecclesie qui pro tempore fuefit quadraginta so- 
 lidos. Item lego Subpriori viginti solidos. Item 
 lego cuilibet Canonico sacerdoti Deo ibidem ser- 
 vienti xiij* et iiij d . ceteris vero Canonicis ibidem 
 noviciis lego cuilibet eorum sex solidos et viij d . ut 
 omnes et singuli exequias sepulture mee devocius 
 colant, orantes pro me. Item lego cuilibet va- 
 letto infra portas dicti Prioratus Priori et Con- 
 ventui servienti duos solidos, et cuilibet garcioni 
 xij d . Item lego ecclesie beate Marie Magdalene 
 xl. solidos ad luminaria et ornamenta dicte ec- 
 clesie. Item lego sacerdoti ibidem paroch. x. 
 solidos, ut oret et orari faciat pro me. Item lego 
 magistro clerico ibidem iij*. Item lego subcle- 
 rico ij s . Item lego iiij ecclesiis paroch. in Sout-
 
 00 TESTAMENTUM 
 
 \verk, viz. sancte Margarete, sancti Georgii, sancti 
 Olaui, et sancte Marie Magdalene iuxta Ber- 
 mundesey, cuilibet earum singillatim xiij*. et 
 iiij d . ad ornamenta et luminaria ut supra. Et 
 cuilibet sacerdoti paroch. sive rectori in cura 
 ibidem pro tern pore resident! et ecclesie servienti 
 sex*, et octo d . ut orent et orari pro me in suis 
 parochiis faciant et procurent. Item lego ma- 
 gistro Hospitalis sancti Thome martiris in Southe- 
 werk xl f . et cuilibet sacerdoti qui est de gremio 
 dicti Hospitalis in eodem servienti vj s . et viij d . ut 
 orent ibidem pro me. Item lego cuilibet sorori 
 professe in dicto Hospitali iij*. et iiij d . et cuilibet 
 eafiim ancille infirmos custodienti xx d . Item lego 
 cuilibet infirmo infra dictum Hospitale languenti 
 xij d . Item lego singulis Hospitalibus subscriptis, 
 viz. sancti Thome Elsingspitell, Bedlem extra 
 Byschopus-gat, seint Mary spitell juxta Westm. 
 cuilibet sorori ubi sunt sorores in dictis Hospi- 
 talibus professe una cum ancillis et languentibus 
 ibidem, ut percipiant singillatim modo ut supra. 
 Item lego cuilibet domuum leprosorum in subur- 
 biis London. decem s . ad distribuendum inter 
 eosdem, ut orent pro me. Item lego Priori de 
 Elsingspitell xl s . et cuilibet Canonico sacerdoti 
 ibidem professo sex s . et viij d . ut orent pro me. 
 Item lego ad servicium altaris in Capella sancti 
 Johannis Baptiste in qua corpus meum sepelien- 
 dum est, viz. duo vestimenta de panno serico 
 cum toto eorum apparatu, quorum unum est de 
 Blew Baudkyn mixtum de colore albo, et aliud 
 
 6
 
 JOHANN1S OWER. 89 
 
 vestimentum est de albo serico. Item lego ad 
 servicium dicti altaris unum missale grande et 
 novum eciam et iinum calicem novum, unde 
 voluntas mea est quod dicta vestimenta una cum 
 missale et calice maneant imperpetuum tantum- 
 modo ad servicium dicti altaris, et non alibi. 
 Item lego Priori et Conventui quendam. magnum 
 librum sumptibus meis noviter compositum, qui 
 Martilogium dicitur, sic quod in eodem specia- 
 lem memoriam scriptam secundum eorum pro- 
 missa cotidie hi'bere debeo. Item lego Agneti 
 uxori mee c h . legalis monete. Item lego eidem 
 iii ciphos, unum cooperculum, duo salaria, et xij 
 cocliaria de argento. Item lego eidem omnes 
 lectos meos et cistas una cum apparatu aule, pa- 
 netre, coquine, et eorum vasis et omnibus uten- 
 siliis quibuscunque. Item lego eidem unum ca- 
 licem et unum vestimentum pro altare quod est 
 infra oratorium hospicii mei. Item volo quod, si 
 dicta Agnes uxor mea diucius me vivat, tune 
 ipsa libere et pacifice, immediate post mortem 
 meam, percipiat omnes redditus michi debitos de 
 firmis Maneriorum meorum tarn de Southwell in 
 Gomitatu Nott. quam de Multon in Com. Suff. 
 prout in quodam scripto inde confecto sub sigillo 
 meo necnon sub sigillis aliorum plenius constari 
 poterit. Huius autem Testamenti facio et con- 
 stituo executores meos, viz. Agnetem uxorem 
 meam, dominum Arnaldum Savage militem, do- 
 minum Rogerum Armigerum, dominum Willel- 
 mum Denne canonicum Capelle domini Regis, et
 
 90 TEST AMENTUM, Sec. 
 
 Johannem Burton clericum. Dat. infra Prioratum 
 beate Marie de Overes in Sutwerke in festo As- 
 sumpcionis beate Marie a. dni millesimo cccc mo 
 octavo, 
 
 Tenore presencium nos Thomas, etc. Notum 
 facimus universis quod vicesimo quarto die mens. 
 Octobris anno dni millesimo GCCC**. octavo in 
 Manerio nostro de Lamhith probatum fuit coram 
 tiobis Testamentum supra scriptum pro eo etc. 
 cuius pretextu etc. Administracioque omnium 
 bonorum dictum testamentum concern, vbicunque 
 etc. dilecte in Christo filie Agneti uxori sue exec, 
 in eodem Testamento nominate commissa extitit 
 et per eandem admissa in debita forma Juris. Re- 
 servata nobis potestate, etc. In cuius rei etc. 
 Dat. die, loco, mense, et anno supradictis et nostre 
 translacionis terciodec. anno. 
 
 Noverint universi per presentes etc. quod nos 
 Thomas etc. de fidelitate dilecte in Christo filie 
 Agnetis relicte et executricis testamenti et bono- 
 rum administratricis Johannis Gower nuper de- 
 functi, cuius testamentum per nos nuper de pre- 
 rogativa nostre Cant, ecclesie pro eo quod idem 
 defunctus nonnulla bona optinuit in diversis dioc. 
 nostre Cant, provinc. dum vivebat et tempore 
 mortis sue tune extitit approbatum, et adminis- 
 tracio bonorum eiusdem dicte Agneti commissa 
 de et super administracione, etc. confidentes 
 ipsam ab ulteriori etc. In cuius rei etc. Dat. in 
 Manerio nro de Lamhith vij mo . die mensis No- 
 vemb. A. dni millesimo cccc mo . octavo, etc.
 
 DEED TO WHICH JOHN GOWER IS A 
 WITNESS. 
 
 Ex Cartis Marclilonis de Stafford. 
 
 OMNIBUS hanc cartam visuris vel audituris Ro- 
 bertus de Ranclif de STITENHAM Salutem in Domino. 
 Noveritis me dedisse concessisse et hac cartamea 
 cirographata confirmasse Johanni filio meo et 
 Emme uxori eius et heredibus de corporibus eortm- 
 dem legitime procreatis medietatem tocius Me- 
 uagii mei versus occidentem et tres bovatas terre 
 
 o 
 
 cum omnibus pertinenciis suis in villa et territorio 
 de STITENHAM. Habendum et tenendum predictis 
 Johanni et Emme uxori eius et heredibus ex cor- 
 poribus eorundem legitime procreatis medietatem 
 tocius Mesuao-ii mei et tres bovatas terre cum 
 
 ? 
 
 omnibus pertinenciis suis libertatibus et afiamentis 
 quoquo modo spectantibus de capitalibus dominiis 
 feodi illius per servicia inde debita et consueta 
 in perpetuum. Concessi eciam predictis Johanni 
 et Emme uxori eius et heredibus de corporibus 
 suis legitime procreatis revercionem alterius me- 
 dietatis Mesuagii mei et tres bovatas terre in 
 villa et territorio de STITENHAM post decessum 
 meum et Christiane uxoris mee remanentis dictis 
 Johanni et Emme uxori eius et heredibus de 
 corporibus eorundem legitime procreatis in per- 
 petuum. Et si contingat quod dicti Johannes et 
 Emma uxor eius obierunt sine herede de cor- 
 poribus eorundem legitime procreato ut predictum
 
 92 DEED TO WHICH JOHN GOWER IS A WITNESS. 
 
 est tune omnia predicta terras et tenementa 
 cum omnibus suis pertinenciis rectis heredibus 
 dicti Roberti remaneant in perpetuum. In cuius 
 rei testimonium parti huius carte cirographate 
 penes predictos Johannem et Emmam uxorem 
 eius residenti sigilla sua apposuerunt. Hiis tes- 
 tibus JOHANNE GOWER Williehno Maneres Jo- 
 hanne Aleyn Roberto deHelmesley Rogero Toures 
 et aliis. Dat. apud STITENHAM die Mercurij prox. 
 post festum Pasch. Anno dni m 1 " . ccc mo . quadra- 
 gesimo sexto. 
 
 Indorsed, 1346. Joh5s Gower, Wittnes only. 
 S r . John Gower the Poet.
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS, 
 NO. 3.
 
 OP IOMS 
 
 VALUABLE MANUSCRIPTS, 
 
 WHICH I HAVE EXAMINED, 
 
 OP 
 
 GOWER AND CHAUCER. 
 
 I. Gower's French Balades, and Smaller Poems. 
 
 OF this curious and valuable Manuscript, I have 
 thought it incumbent upon me, as a proper mark of 
 attention to the readers of the History of English 
 Poetry, to give, with considerable additions and 
 some corrections, the account which the author 
 of that elaborate and elegant Work has printed in 
 the Appendix to his second volume. The addi- 
 tions and corrections are made in consequence 
 of having been indulged, as the late Mr. Warton 
 was, with the use of this Manuscript. 
 
 In the present Marquis of Stafford's library at 
 Trentham*, there is a thin oblong Manuscript on 
 vellum, containing some of Gower's poems in 
 
 * See Warton's Mist. Eng. Poetry, rol. ii. App, lign. g. b.
 
 96 MANUSCRIPTS OF 
 
 Latin, French, and English. By an entry in the 
 first leaf, in the hand-writing and under the sig- 
 nature of Thomas lord Fairfax, Cromwell's gene- 
 ral, an antiquary, and a lover and collector of 
 curious manuscripts, it appears that this book 
 was presented by the poet Gower, about the 
 year 1400, to Henry the fourth; and that it was 
 given by lord Fairfax to his friend and kinsman 
 Sir Thomas Gower, knight and baronet, in the 
 year 1656. By another entry, lord Fairfax ac- 
 knowledges to have received it, in the same year, 
 as a present, from that learned gentleman Charles 
 Gedde esquire, of saint Andrews in Scotland: 
 and at the end are five or six Latin anagrams on 
 Gedde, written and signed by lord Fairfax, with 
 this title, " In nomen venerandi et annosi amici 
 sui Caroli Geddei." By king Henry the fourth 
 it seems to have been placed in the royal library: 
 it appears at least to have been in the hands of 
 king Henry the seventh, while earl of Richmond, 
 from the name Rychemond inserted in another of 
 the blank leaves at the beginning, and explained 
 by this note, " Liber Henrici septimi, tune Co- 
 mrtis Richmond, propria manu script." This ma- 
 nuscript is neatly written, with miniated and il- 
 luminated initials; and contains the\ following 
 pieces. 
 
 i. An English panegyrick in stanzas, with a 
 Latin prologue or rubrick in seven hexameters, 
 on king Henry the fourth. This poem, commonly 
 called Carmen de pads commendatione in laudem
 
 COWER AND CHAUCER. 97 
 
 Henrici quarti, is printed in Urry's edition of 
 t Chaucer's Works. 
 
 ii. A short Latin poem in elegiacks, which Mr. 
 Warton asserts to be on the same subject. The 
 minute title of it, however, is at the close of the 
 English poem, and does not exactly accord with 
 Mr. Warton's assertion. * Explicit carmen de 
 pads commendacione quod ad laudem et memo- 
 riam serenissimi principis domini Regis henrici 
 quarti suus humilis orator Johannes Gower com- 
 posuit. Et nunc sequitur EPISTOLA IN QUA IDEM 
 JOHANNES PRO STATU ET SALUTE DICTI DOMINI sur 
 
 APUD ALTISSIMUM DEVOCIUS EXORAT. It begins, 
 
 
 
 t Rex cell deus et dominus, qui tempora solus 
 Condidit, et solus condita cuncta regit, &c. 
 
 This is followed by ten other very short pieces, 
 both in French and Latin, in praise and comme- 
 moration of king Henry. 
 
 iii. Cinkante Balades, or Fifty Sonnets in 
 French. The title, and part of the first Sonnet, 
 are mutilated. They are closed with the follow- 
 i|Hg epilogue and colophon: 
 
 || O g<? ntile Engleterre a toi iescrits, 
 Pour remembrer ta ioie qest nouelle, 
 
 * MS. fol. 6. b. 
 
 f As hi MSS. Cott. Otho, D. i. 4. 
 
 \ Mr. Warton says, French and Engl'ub. But not one of the pieces is I 
 English. The first three are in French, the fourth in Latin, perfect, foL 7. k, 
 The remainder, fol. 8. a, 8. b, French and Latin, mutilated. 
 
 $ Mr. Warton merely says, "pan of the first is Uttgitli" 
 
 Q MS. fol. 19.
 
 98 MANUSCRIPTS Of 
 
 Qe te survient du noble Roi Henri*, 
 Par qui dicus ad redreste ta querele, 
 A dieu purceo prient et cil et celle, 
 Qil de sa grace, au fort Roi corone, 
 Doignt peas, honour, ioie, et prosperite. 
 
 Expliciunt carmina Joliannis Cower que Gattice 
 composita BALADES dicuntur. 
 
 iv. Jwo short *Latin poems in elegiacks ; the 
 first beginning, 
 
 Ecce patet tensus ceci Capidinis arcus, 
 Vnde sagitta volans ardor amoris erit: 
 
 (he second, 
 
 O natura viri, potuit quam tollere nemo, 
 Nee tamen excusat quod facit ipsa malum. 
 
 v. A French poem, imperfect at the begin- 
 ning, On the Dignity or Excellence of Mar-' 
 riage, in one book. The subject is illustrated 
 by examples. As no part of this poem was ever 
 printed, Mr. Warton transcribed one of the 
 stories. 
 
 Qualiter Jason, uxorem suam Medeam rdin- 
 quens, Creusam Crcontis regisjiliam sibi carna- 
 liter copulavitl Verum ipse cum duobus Jiliit 
 suis postea f decessit. 
 
 * Both in fol. 29. b. M5. 
 
 f Mr. Warton reads, without authority, firiit>
 
 COWER AND CHAUCER. 99 
 
 Li prus Jason qeu lisle de Colchos 
 Le toison dor pour laide de Medee 
 Conquist dont il donour portoit grant loos 
 Par tout le monde encourt la renome* 
 La ioefne dame oue soi ad amenee 
 De son pays en Grece et lespousa 
 Ffrenite espousaile dieus le vengera. 
 
 Qant Medea meulx qui de estre en repoa 
 Ove son mari et qelle avoh porte 
 Deux fils de luy lors changea le purpos 
 El qelle Jason permer fuist oblige 
 II ad del tout Medeam refuse 
 Si prist la file au roi Creon Creusa 
 Ffrenite espousaile dieux le vengera. 
 
 Medea qot le coer de dolour clooa 
 En son corous et ceo fuist grant pite 
 Ses ioefnes fils queux ot iadis en clog 
 Veniz ses costees ensi com forseuee 
 Deuant ses oels Jason ele ad tue 
 Ceo qeu fuist fait pecche le fortuna 
 Ffrenite espousaile dieus le vengera. 
 
 Towards the end of the piece, the poet intro- 
 duces an apology for any inaccuracies, which, as 
 an Englishman, he may have committed in th 
 French idiom. 
 
 Al universite de tout le monde 
 JOHAN GOWER ceste Balade envoie 
 Et si ieo nai de Francois la faconde 
 Pardonetz moi qe ieo de ceo forsvoie. 
 Jeo sui Englois ; si quier par tiele voie 
 Estre excuse mi is quoique mills endie 
 Lamour parfit < n dieu se iustifie.
 
 100 MANUSCRIPTS OF 
 
 It is finished with seventeen Latin verses, be- 
 ginning, 
 
 Owls sit vel qualis sacer ordo connubialis, 
 
 and ending, 
 
 Hmc vetus annorum GOWER sub spe meritorum 
 Ordine sponsorum tutus adhibo thorum. 
 
 After which follows the poet's relation of his 
 blindness, as in some manuscripts of the Confessio 
 Amantis, &c. 
 
 Henrici quart! primus regni fuit annus 
 Quo michi defecit visus ad acta mea, &c. 
 
 The French poem, Mr. Warton observes, occurs 
 at the end of two valuable folio manuscripts, il- 
 luminated and on vellum,, of the Confessio 
 Amantis, in the Bodleian Library, viz. MSS. 
 Fairfax, iii. And NE. F. 8. 9. Also in MSS. 
 All Souls College, Oxford, xxvi. And in MSS. 
 Harl. 3869. [Old Catalogue ] And, I may add, 
 in MSS. Trin. Coll. Cambridge, R. 3. 2. In all 
 these, and, it is probable, in many others, this 
 French poem is properly connected with the Con- 
 fessio Amantis by the following rubrick: " Puis 
 qil ad dit cy devant en JEnglois par voie des- 
 sample la sotie de celluy qui par amours aimie 
 par especial dirra ore apres en Francois a tout 
 
 7
 
 COWER AND CHAUCER. 
 
 101 
 
 le monde en general vn traitie selonc les auo 
 tours pour essamplier les amants marietz au fin 
 qils la foi de lour seintes espousailes purront per 
 fine loialtie guarder et al honour de Dieu salue- 
 ment tenir." 
 
 But the Cinqnante Balades, or fifty French 
 Sonnets abovementioned, are, as Mr. Wart >n con- 
 tinues, the curious and valuable part of Lord 
 Stafford's manuscript. They are not mentioned 
 by those who have written the life of this poet, 
 or have catalogued his works. Nor do they ap- 
 pear in any other manuscript which Mr. Warton 
 and I have examined. Ritson, in his Bibliogra- 
 phia Poetica, after mentioning these balades 
 merely as some of Gower's poems, might pos- 
 sibly induce the reader to think, that they 
 exist in Cambridge. " * Some of his smaller 
 poems are preserved in a MS. of Trinity College, 
 Cambridge; "and, it may be, in other collections; 
 but, possessing little or no merit, are likely to 
 remain in obscurity." The Trin. Coll. manu- 
 script (as I shall presently shew) possesses not 
 these rarities. 
 
 But if they should be discovered in any other 
 manuscript, Mr. Warton has ventured to pro- 
 nounce, that a more authentick, unembarrassed, 
 and practicable copy than this before us, will not 
 be produced; although it is for the most part 
 unpointed, and obscured with abbreviations, and 
 
 * Bibliog. Poet. i8o, p. 25. 
 
 \ ;^ii '-
 
 MANUSCRIPTS OP 
 
 with those mispellings which flowed from a scribe 
 unacquainted with the French language. 
 
 To say no more, however, of the value which 
 these little pieces may derive from being so 
 scarce and so little known, they have much real 
 and intrinsick merit. They are tender, pathetick, 
 and poetical ; and place our old poet Gower in a 
 more advantageous point of view than that in 
 which he has hitherto been usually seen. I know 
 not, Mr. Warton concludes, if any even among 
 the French poets themselves,, of this period, have 
 left a set of more finished sonnets : for they were 
 probably written when Gower was a young man, 
 about the year 1350. Nor had yet any English 
 poet treated the passion of love with equal deli-r 
 cacy of sentiment, and elegance of composition. 
 Mr. Warton then transcribes four of these balades 
 as correctly and intelligibly, he says, as he was 
 able ; although he confesses, there are some lines 
 which he could not exactly comprehend. The 
 verbal inaccuracies in Mr. Warton's transcripts 
 are here faithfully corrected; and the addition of 
 the 48th balade from the manuscript is also given. 
 
 BALADE XXX. 
 
 Si com la nief, quant le fort vent tempeste, 
 
 Pur halte mier se tome a ci et la, 
 
 Ma dame, ensi mon coer manit en tempeste, 
 
 Quant le danger de vo parole orra, 
 
 Le nief qe votre bouche soufflera, 
 
 Me fait sigler sur le peril de vie, 
 
 Qe st en danger fait quil mere, supplic.
 
 eOWER AND CHAUCER. ]Q$ 
 
 Hois VJuxes, sicom nous dist la geete, 
 Vers son paijs de Troie qui sigla, 
 Not tiel paour du peril et moleste, 
 Quant le Sereines en la mier passa, 
 Et le danger de Circes eschapa, 
 Qe le paour nest plus de ma partie, 
 Sest en danger fait quil mera sitpplie, 
 
 Danger qui tolt damour toute la feste, 
 Vnqes vn mot de con/ort ne sona, 
 Ainz plus cruel qe nest la fiere beste 
 Au point quant danger me respondera. 
 La chiere porte et quant le nai dirra, 
 Plusque la mort mestoie celle oie 
 Sest en danger fait quit inera supplic. 
 
 Vers vous, ma bone dame, horspris cella, 
 Qe danger manit en votre compainie, 
 Cest balade en mon message irra 
 Stst en danger fait quil mera supplic. 
 
 BALADE XXXIV. 
 
 Saint Valentin, 1'Amour, et la Nature, 
 Des toutz oiseals ad en gouernement, 
 Dont chascun deaux, semblable a sa 
 Vne compaigne honeste a son talent 
 Eslist, tout dun accord et dun assent, 
 Pour celle soule laist a covenir ; 
 Toutes les autres car nature aprenfr 
 V It coers est le corps fait obeir. 
 
 Ma doulce dame, ensi ieo vous assure, 
 Qe ieo vous ai eslieu eemblablemeat,
 
 104? MANUSCRIPTS OF 
 
 Sur toutes autres estes a dessure 
 De mon amour si tresentierement, 
 Qe riens y fait pourquoi ioiousement, 
 De coer et corps ieo vous voldrai seruir, 
 Car de reson cest une experiment, 
 V li coers est k corps fait obeir. 
 
 Pour remembrer iadis celle aventure 
 De Alceone et Ceix ensement, 
 Com dieus muoit en oisel lour figure, 
 Ma volente serroit tout tielement 
 Qe sans envie et danger de la gent, 
 Nous porroions ensemble pour loisir 
 Voier tout francs en votre esbatement 
 V li coers est le corps fait obeir. 
 
 Ma bel oisel, vers qui mon pensement 
 Seu vole ades sanz null contretenir 
 Preu cest escript, car ieo sai voirement 
 V li coers est le corps fait obeir. 
 
 BALADE XXXVI. 
 
 Pour comparer ce jolif temps de Maij, 
 
 Ieo le dirrai semblable a Paradis; 
 
 Gar lors *chantont et merle et papegai, 
 
 Les champs sont vert, les herbes sont floris; 
 
 Lors est Nature dame du paijs : 
 
 Dont Venus poignt lamant au tiel assai, 
 
 Qencontre amour nest qui poet dire nai. 
 
 * Clantont is the true reading. Mr. Ellis, who has rightly corrected Mr. 
 Warton ia the preceding line, here follows Mr. W.'s corrupt reading of 
 cbantoil.
 
 COWER AND CHAUCER. 10 
 
 * Quant tout ceo voi, -el quc ieo penserai, 
 
 Coinent Nature ad tout le monde suspria, 
 Dont pour le temps se fait minote et gai, 
 Kt ieo des aulres sui sonic ni horspris, 
 Com al qui sanz amie est vrais amis, 
 Nest pas mervaile lors si ieo mesmai, 
 Qencontre amour nest qui poet dire nai. 
 
 En lieu de rose, urtie cuillerai, 
 
 Dont mes chapeals ferrai par tiel devis, 
 Q,e tout ioie et confort ieo lerrai, 
 Si celle soule eu qui iai rnon coer mis, 
 Selonc le ponit qe iai sovent requis, 
 Ne deigne alegger les griefs mals qe iai, 
 Qencontre amour nest qui poet dire nai. 
 
 Pour pite querre et pourchacer f intris, 
 Va ten balade ou ieo tenvoierai, 
 Qore en certain ieo lat tresbien apris 
 Qencontre amour nest qui poet dire nai. 
 
 BALADE XLIII. 
 
 Plustricherous qe Jason a Medee, 
 A Deianire ou q' Ercules estoit, 
 Plus q' Eneas q'auoit Dido lassee, 
 Plus qe Theseus q' J Adriagne amoit, 
 
 * Mr. Ellis omits this stanza, in his elegant and judicious remarks cm 
 Cower, as being, from the mistakes of the transcriber, scarcely intelligiolc. 
 Specimens of the Early Eng. Poets, vol. i. 171. 
 
 f Entree, i. e. admission to the presence of his mistress. Ellis, ut supra. 
 
 \ Ariadne. 
 
 -,V. vV\ .
 
 106 
 
 MANUSCRIPTS OP 
 
 Ou Demophon quant Pbillis oublioit, 
 Te trieus, helas, qamer iadis soluie, 
 Dont chanterai desore en ir.on endroit 
 Cest ma dolour qe fuist amicois ma ioie. 
 
 Vnques Ector qama * Pantasilee, 
 En tiele haste a Troie ne sarmoit, 
 Qe tu tout mid nes deniz le lit couche 
 Amis as toutes quelques venir doit, 
 Ne poet chaloir mais qune femme y soit, 
 Si es comun plus qe la halte voie, 
 Helas, qe la fortune me degoit, 
 Cest ma dolour qe fuist amicois ma ioie, 
 
 De f Lancelot ai fuissetz remembre, 
 Et de Tristans, com il se contenoit, 
 jGenerides, Florent, || Par Tonope, 
 
 * Penthesilea. 
 
 f Sir Lancelot's intrigue with Geneura, king Arthur's queen, tnd sir 
 Tristram with la Bel Isoulde, incidents in Arthur's romance, are, as Mr. 
 Warton observes, made the subject of one of the stories of Gower's French 
 poem just cited, of which I will transcribe the first stanza ; 
 
 Communes sont la cronique et listoira 
 De Lancelot ct Tristans ensement, 
 Enqore manit lour sotie en memoirc, 
 Pour essampler les autres du present, 
 Cil qest guarin et mille garde prent : 
 Droitz est quil porte mesmes la folie, 
 Car heal eisel far autre te clastic, 
 
 \ Gener'tJety a name, says Mr. Warton, of which I know nothing, nrustbff 
 orruptly written. 
 
 Chaucer's Wife f Batle, Tale, as Mr. Tyrwhitt, Mr. Warton, and 
 others have observed, is founded on the story of Florcnt, a knight of Rome, 
 who delivers the king of Sicily's daughter from the enchantments of her step- 
 mother. His story is also in Crower's Ctnftttn dmantit, which it generally
 
 COWER ANp CHAUCER. 107 
 
 Chascun des ceaux sa loialtie guardoit; 
 Mais tu, hdas, qest ieo qe te forevoit 
 De inoi qa toi iamais mill iour falsoie, 
 Tu es a large et ieo sui en destroit, 
 Cest Tiia dolour <jc fuiti amdcoi$ ma ioit. 
 
 Des toutz les mate tu qes le plus maloil, 
 Ceste compleignte a ton oraille envoie 
 Sante me laist, et langour one recoit, 
 Cest ma dolour ye fuist amicois ma ioic. 
 
 BALADE XLVIII. 
 
 Amour est vne chose merveilouse, 
 
 Dont mills porra sauoir le droit certein ; 
 
 Amour de sot est la fbi tricherouse, 
 
 Q.e plus promette et meins apporte au mein. 
 
 Le ricbe est pouere, et le courtois vilcin, 
 
 Lespine est molle, et la rose est vrtie : 
 
 En toutz err ours amour se iustifie. 
 
 supposed to be the original of Chaucer's tale. Gower prsbably borrowed hit 
 parrative from the Gtsta Romanerum. Mr. Ellis pronounces the story, as related 
 by Gower, to possess considerable merit, and to be told iu the poet's best 
 manner. In his elegant and ingeniou' publication, Mr. Ellis has accordingly 
 given Gower's florent. Specimens of Early Eng. Poets, vol. i. 181. &c. Mr. 
 Warton here notices the romance of Le Bone Flonnce de Rome, and says he 
 knows not if this be Shakspeare's Florentiut or Florentio ; which romance Mr. 
 Ritson remarks, has not the remotest allusion to the story of Floret; Flo- 
 rence being a lady, the empereur's daughter. Observ. on the Hist, of Eng. 
 Poetry, 410. 1782, p. 38. See also Mr. Steevens on the Taming of the 
 Shre-wj A. i. S. v. who proves the deformed hag, " Ftorcntiui h>vt" to be 
 an allusion to Gower's tale. 
 
 || Par Tonofe, that is, says Mr. Warton, Partenope Parthenopeus, 
 ne of Statius's heroes, on whom there is an old French romance. Mr. Rit- 
 ton corrects this inaccuracy, by observing that the romance is that of Perte- 
 Eoper, Cvnte de Blois, a fsmsus rvaua dt fiirit ia Breach rhyme. Metr. Ro- 
 |MRcf, vol. i. p. ctr.
 
 JOS MANUSCRIPTS OP 
 
 La mier est douls, et la doulcour merdouse, 
 Labour cst ease, et le repos grievein, 
 Le doel plesant, la seurte perilouse, 
 La halt est bass, si est le bass haltein; 
 Qant len mieulx quide auoir tout est en vein, 
 Le ris en plour, le sens torne en folie : 
 En toutz errours amour sc iustifie. 
 
 Amour est vne voie dangerouse, 
 
 Le p's est loign, et loign remanit proschein. 
 Amour est chose odible et graciouse, 
 Orguil est humble, et seruice est desdeign, 
 Laignelle est fiere, et le leon humein, 
 Loue est en cage la merle est fors baine: 
 En toutz errours amour se iustifie. 
 
 Ore est amour saluage, ore est soulein, 
 Nest qui damour poet dire la sotie. 
 Amour est serf, amour est souerein : 
 En touiz errours amour se iustifie. 
 
 II. Goiver's Confessio Amantis. fol. 
 
 This valuable manuscript, illuminated and on 
 vellum, is also in the possession of the Marquis 
 of Stafford. A more ancient or more beautiful 
 copy of the poem will hardly be found. It com- 
 mences with the Epi gramma Autoris in Librum 
 warn, which is found at the beginning of the 
 poem in Caxton's edition, and at the back of the 
 title-pages (inaccurately given however) in the 
 editions of 1532 and 1554. A collation with 
 
 this manuscript of passages which I shall presently 
 
 : '* n-
 
 GOWER AND CHAUCER. 109 
 
 exhibit from the printed copies, will illustrate the 
 importance of the present curiosity. The manu- 
 script contains only this poem. It was probably 
 a present from the author to one of the Gower 
 family, soon after the completion of the work, 
 towards the close of the fourteenth century. On 
 the first leaf are three armorial shields, the bear- 
 ings on which are almost obliterated; but over 
 the largest of the three, the poet's crest, a talbot, 
 is still conspicuous. 
 
 III. Various Copies of the Confessio Amanth, 
 and of other Poems by Gower. 
 
 In the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge, 
 is a large folio manuscript, on vellum, numbered 
 R. 3. 2. and entitled Johannis Gower Poemata 
 Anglica Gallica et Latina. It was the gift of 
 Dr. Thomas Nevile, the munificent master of that 
 society in the time of Elizabeth and James I. 
 The whole of the first and part of the second book 
 are wanting in this noble copy of the Confessio 
 Amantis. At the end of this poem follow, in 
 French, the marriage-examples already noticed 
 in the account of the Trentham manuscript. To 
 these succeed a few Latin verses ; after which a 
 notice of his three principal works occurs, viz. 
 
 Quia vnusquisque prout a Deo accepit aliis 
 impertiri tenetur Johannes Gower super his que 
 Deus sibi sensualiter donavit villicationis sue ra-
 
 110 MANUSCRIPTS Of 
 
 clone secundum aliquid alleviare cupiens tres 
 precipue libros per ipsum dum vixit doctrine 
 causa composites ad aliorum noticiam in lucem 
 seriose produxit. 
 
 Primus liber Gallico sermone editus in decent 
 diuiditur partes et tractans de viciis et virtutibus 
 viam precipue qua peccator in penitendo Christi 
 misencordiam assequi potent tota mentis deuo- 
 cione finaliter contemplatur. Titulusque libelli 
 istius Speculum Meditantis nuncupatus est. 
 
 Secundus liber versibus exametris et penta- 
 metris sermone Latino compositus tractat de va- 
 riis infortuniis tempore regis Ricardi II dl . in 
 Anglia multipliciter contingentibus ubi pro statu 
 et regni composicione devocius exorat. No- 
 menque voluminis htiius quod in septem dun-* 
 taxat partes diuiditur Vox Clamantis iutitu- 
 latur. 
 
 Tertius iste liber in octo partes etc. scilicet, 
 Confessio Amantis. 
 
 The volume concludes with his Latin verse^ 
 Super multiplici viciorum pestilencia uncle tem- 
 pore Ricardi sccundi partes nostre specialiter 
 inficiebantur ; Contra Demonis astuciam in causa 
 Lollardie ; and three or four other of his brief 
 Latin poems. 
 
 There are three very ancient and valuable ma- 
 nuscripts of the Confessio Amantis, as Mr. 
 * Ellis has observed, in the Bodleian Library ; in 
 
 * Spccimcai ef the Early Eng. Poets, ad. ediuvoLL i?z.
 
 COWER AND CHAUCER. 
 
 Ill 
 
 all which the Latin memorandum of Gower's prin- 
 cipal compositions, exhibiting however in each 
 of them some variations of the language, exists. 
 To that which is numbered Fletewood NE. F. 8. 9. 
 the manuscript, which I have described, ap- 
 proaches in the present instance very nearly. Mr. 
 Ellis was not aware, that the description of Gower's 
 three principal works is printed in Casley's Cata- 
 logue of the King's Manuscripts, 1734. 
 
 Of the Speculum Meditantis I am unable to 
 give any other account, than what is found in the 
 preceding tripartite distinction. Mr. Ellis f be- 
 lieves that it has never been seen by any of our 
 poetical antiquaries : Nor does it exist in the 
 Bodleian Library. I agree with him, that Camp- 
 bell, the author of Gower's life in the Biographia 
 Brilannica, andWarton, in his History of English 
 Poetry, professing to give an account of its con- 
 tents, were deceived by the ambiguity of a re- 
 ference in Tanner ; J where, instead of the work 
 in question, a much shorter poem by Gower is 
 intended, viz. Un traitie selonc les auctours, 
 &c. (giving the marriage examples,) already 
 cited and described. In The next edition there- 
 fore of the History beforementioned, that part of 
 the description of the Speculum Meditantis 
 
 I Specimens, ut supr.i. 171. 
 
 $ Bibl. Brit. Hib. p. 336. Note b. 
 
 Sec p. 98, et seq. 
 
 6
 
 MANUSCRIPTS OF 
 
 namely, that * it enumerates the felicities of con- 
 jugal fidelity by examples selected from various 
 authors, must be expunged, or rather transferred 
 to the shorter poem. And, in the next edition of 
 the Biographia Britannica, the erroneous note in 
 the life of Gower, must be rectified. It is sur- 
 prising that, in the additions to his Bibliographia 
 Poetica, Ritson, who ridiculed the least inaccu- 
 racy in others, has not only fallen into the mis- 
 take of Campbell and Warton, but has cited, as 
 his authority, Mr. Ellis, who exposes the errour! 
 Mr. Godwin also f specifies conjugal fidelity as 
 one of the subjects of the Speculum Meditantis ! 
 
 The Vox Clamant i$t as well as the preceding 
 poem, exists only in manuscript. But it is found 
 in J several collections; and the best and most 
 beautiful copy is believed to be that, which is in 
 the library of All Souls College at Oxford. It 
 is in seven books of Latin elegiacks, written, in 
 the opinion of Mr. Ellis, with some degree of 
 purity and a tolerable attention to the prosody. 
 But, as Mr. Warton has also observed, it is little 
 more than a metrical chronicle of the insurrection 
 of the commons, in the reign of Richard the se- 
 cond. Mr. Warton proves that it was written in 
 the year 1397 by the following line in the Bod- 
 leian manuscript of the poem, (No. 294.) " Hos 
 ego bis deno Ricardi regis in anno." To the 
 All Souls College manuscript is prefixed a de- 
 
 * Hist. Eng. Poetry, ii. a. f Life of Chaucer, ch, iL 
 
 J Hist. Eng. Poetry, p. 3. Note f.
 
 COWER AND CHAUCER. US 
 
 dication in Latin verse, addressed by Gower 
 when he was old and blind, to Arundel, arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury ; which is followed by thi* 
 avowal. Hanc Epistolam subscriptam corde 
 deuoto misit senex et cecus Johts Gower reueren- 
 dissimo in Christo patri ac domino suo precipuo 
 domino TJiome de Arundell, Cantuar. Archiepo, 
 tocius Anglie primati, et apostolice sedis legato, 
 etc. 
 
 Of the esteem in which the Confessio Amantis 
 was formerly held, a particular account appears in 
 the first extract which I make from the printed 
 copies. It will be proper, however, here to no- 
 tice such other manuscripts as 1 have seen, and 
 others of note which printed authorities have re- 
 corded. 
 
 V. VI. The Confessio Amantis. 
 
 In the University Library at Cambridge, there 
 is a copy of the Confessio Amantis in folio, on 
 vellum, and numbered Dd. viii. 19. It ceases to 
 be perfect towards the close of the seventh book. 
 In the present manuscript Catalogue of the Uni- 
 versity's fine collection, it is unsatisfactorily de- 
 scribed, "An English poem in seven books /". 
 
 In the same collection, numbered Mm. 2. 21, 
 is an ancient copy of the same poem, on vellum, 
 but imperfect both at the beginning and end.
 
 
 114 " MANUSCRIPTS OF 
 
 VII. The Confcssio Amantis. 
 
 In the library of Sidney College, Cambridge, 
 there is a very curious copy of the Confessio 
 Amantis, in folio, on paper, consisting of 202 
 leaves. On fol. 202. b. follow Catonis DisticJia 
 in English verse, to fol. 208. This manuscript is 
 numbered A. 4. 1. 
 
 VIII. The Confessio Amantis. 
 
 In the library of New College, Oxford, there is 
 a copy of the Confessio Amantis, designated by 
 the following reference in the General Catalogue 
 of MSS. in Eng. and Ireland, (fol. Oxf. 1697,) 
 No. 1230. 266. 
 
 IX. The Confessio Amantte. 
 
 In the library of Corpus Christi College, Ox- 
 ford, there is a copy of the same poem, distin- 
 guished in the aforesaid Catalogue by the number, 
 1534. 67. 
 
 X. XI. XII. XIII. The Confessio Amantis, $c. 
 In the Harleian collection, Brit. Museum, No.
 
 GOWER AND CHAUCER. 115 
 
 3490. 2. is a copy of the Confessto Amantis ; so 
 is No. 6494. n. No. 7184, in the same col- 
 lection, presents the remains of a very fine copy 
 also of the Confessio Amantis on vellum, and illu- 
 minated, in large folio. This manuscript, though 
 miserably mutilated, is still well worthy, as the 
 Rev. Mr. Nares has observed, of collation; both 
 on account of its antiquity, and on account of the 
 care with which it has been written. It is be- 
 lieved to be of the fourteenth century. In the 
 same collection, No. 3869 is a copy of the same 
 poem, with a few smaller poems by Gower. 
 
 There is also in the British Museum, Cott. MSS 4 
 Tib. A. IV. a copy of the Vox Clamantis, with 
 some of Gower'a Latin poems, in folio, on vel- 
 lum. On the back of fol. 8. is a curiou& painting 
 of a man in the dress of the fifteenth century, 
 with a bow and arrow in his hand, ready to shoot 
 at a sphere; which Mr. Strutt conceived to be a 
 portrait of Gower, and has engraved and pub- 
 lished it as such in his Royal and Ecclesiastical An- 
 tiquities, where he says that the original is all 
 of one colour, viz. dark brown ; but Mr. Planta 
 has stated the fact to be, that the drapery is blue, 
 and the other parts are of different colours. In 
 Tit. A. XIV. 4. Cott. MSS. is a mutilated copy 
 of the same poem.
 
 116 MANUSCRIPTS OP 
 
 XIV. Fragments of Chaucer, some whereof 
 [were] never printed. 
 
 Such is the title of a folio manuscript, on paper, 
 in the Pepysian collection at Magdalen College, 
 Cambridge, No. 2006. It consists of 391 pages. 
 The contents are as follow. 
 
 Complaint of the Black Knight, p. 1. 
 
 Temple of Glasse, p. 17- 
 
 Prologue to the Legend of Good Women, p. 53. 
 
 Legend of Cleopatra, p. 67. 
 
 Legend of Tisbe of Babylone, p. 7 1. 
 
 Legend of Dido, p. 75. 
 
 Legend of Hipsipile and Medea, p. 88. " 
 
 Priere a Notre Dame, p. 88. 
 
 House of Fame, p. 91. 
 
 Complaint of Mars and "Venus, p. 115. 
 
 Complaint of Mars alone, p. 119. 
 
 Complaint of Venus alone, p. 1 22. 
 
 Pleyntif encountre Fortune, p. 124. 
 
 Parliament of Fowles, p. 127. 
 
 Legend of the three Kings of Colen, p. 143. 
 
 The War between Cesar and Pompey, p. 191. 
 
 A Translation of some fragments of Cato, p. 211. 
 
 Chaucer's Tale of Melibeus, p. 225. 
 
 Prologue to the Parson's Tale, p. 276. 
 
 The Parson's Tale, p. 279. 
 
 Chaucer's Recantacion, p. 377. 
 
 Complaint of Mars and Venus, p. 378. 
 
 Complaint of Anelida and false Arcite, p. 382. 
 
 L' Envoy de Chaucer a Scogan, p. 385. 
 
 Priere a Notre Dame, p. 386.
 
 GOVTER AND CHAUCER. 117 
 
 La Compleint de Chaucer a sa bourse voide, p. 388. 
 Le bon Counsel! de Chaucer, p. 389. 
 Mercilesse Beuutie, p. 390. 
 
 \ . 
 
 It is noticed, in the volume, that the pieces here 
 distinguished by Italicks are not in Speght's edi- 
 tion of Chaucer in 1602. The last of these, 
 Mercilesse Beautie, is the ballad printed by Dr. 
 Percy in his Reliques of Ancient Poetry, vol. ii. 
 No. iii. As to the pretended authenticity of the 
 rest, I will shew that, in respect to two of the 
 other three pieces, it is merely imaginary ; first, 
 by citing the close of The War bet-ween Cesar 
 and Pompey, where the author, speaking of 
 Cesar, says : " Touching y e vengyable maner of 
 his pitous murthre, I may conclude wyth hym 
 that was flour of poetes in owre Englissh tong, 
 and the first that euer elumyned owre language 
 wyth flowres of rethrick and of eloquence, / mene 
 my master CHAUCER, whiche wrote the deth of 
 this myghty emperor, saying 
 
 Wyth bodekyns was Cesar Julius 
 
 Murdred at Rome of Brutus Cassius, 
 
 When mony, land, and regne hadd brought ful lowej 
 
 Loo, who may trust fortune eny thro we! 
 
 Thus by record of my wyse prudent master afore- 
 said, &c. [AndJ by corhaundement of my maister 
 I tooke vpon me this litill and compendious trans- 
 lacon, after my lytill konnyng to put in remem- 
 brance, &c. q. J. de B." It is plain that ihis 
 pupil of Chaucer, in the preceding rhymes, al-
 
 118 . MANUSCRIPTS OF 
 
 ludes to the tragedies of great men recited in the 
 JWonkes Tale ; among which is that of Cesar ; 
 where his murder (t by bodckfns" is indeed twice 
 recorded, and a reflection on the mutability of 
 fortune, though not precisely in the words just 
 cited, is also made. The Fragments of Cato 
 likewise end with the disciple's similar acknow- 
 ledgment : 
 
 " Behold, my maister, this litill tretyse, 
 
 The whiche is full of wytt and sapience, &c." 
 
 XV. The Canterbury Tales of Chaucer. 
 
 This beautiful manuscript is in folio, illumi- 
 nated, and on vellum; and is in the possession of 
 the Earl of Egremont, by whom I have been 
 obligingly indulged with the examination of it. 
 The Tales are given in the following order, viz. 
 The Knyghtes Tale, the Milleres, the Reves, the 
 Cokes, the Shipmannes, the Prioresses, the Man 
 of Lawes, the Squieres, the Marchantes, the Wif of 
 Bathes, the Freres, the Somnoures, the Clerk of 
 Oxenfordes, the Frankleines, the Second Nonnes, 
 the Chanons Yeomannes, the Doctor of Phisickes, 
 the Pardoneres ; at the end of which, " Thus endej? 
 J>e p'donejis tale. And herebygynnej? the prologe 
 of Thopas." And after the twenty-one lines, "Here 
 bygynnej? j>e tale of Chaucer by Sir Thopace." 
 Then the Tale of Melibeus, the Monkes, the
 
 COWER AND CHAUCER. 119 
 
 Nonnes Preistes, the Manciples, the Parsones ; at 
 the end of which, " Explicit Fabula Rectoris.' 
 Then, " Here take]? fe maker of J>is booke his 
 leve." To which succeeds Chaucer's Retractation, 
 as 'it has been called: " Nowe prey I to hem alle 
 &c." After which, " Here endej> j?e boke of 
 j>e talys of Cant'bujiy compiled by GefTray Chau- 
 cer on whoos soul Jhu crist haue m f cy. Amen." 
 Underneath which words, are the arms of Percy, 
 with other bearings in the shield, encircled by 
 the garter, on one side of which is the letter 
 H, on the other the letter P; which were in- 
 tended, as I conceive, to designate the original 
 owner, the celebrated Henry Percy. This manu 
 script, on account of its age, of the attention 
 with which it appears to have been written, of the 
 care with which it has been preserved, and of its 
 various readings, is entitled to the admiration as 
 well as the nicest examination of the future editor 
 of Chaucer. 
 
 XVI. The Canterbury Tales, and other Poems. 
 
 This is a manuscript, in quarto, on paper, 
 preserved in the Library of Trinity College, Cam- 
 bridge, and numbered R. 3. 15. It is one of 
 those, which Mr. Tyrwhitt describes as having 
 been collated or consulted for the purpose of his 
 publication of the Canterbury Tales, but of which 
 he has given no particular account. It is cer- 
 
 7
 
 120 MANUSCRIPTS OF 
 
 tainly deserving of further notice; It seems to 
 have been written in the fifteenth century. These 
 are its contents. 
 
 Eight goodlie questions with theire aunswers, fol. I. 
 To the kinges most noble grace and to the 
 
 lordes and knightes of the garter, fol. 2. 
 Chaucer's Prophecy, (so termed in the table of contents,) 
 
 fol. 3. 
 
 Which three poems are printed in Urry's edition 
 of Chaucer's Works ; the last of which, the editor 
 says, is entitled Chaucer's Prophetic in a book 
 in the Ashmolean Museum, fo. 6986. ^l. p, 
 162. These prophetical stanzas, printed and ma- 
 nuscript, present no material difference from each 
 Other ; and only a slight variation in eight lines 
 which follow them, describing the characterise 
 ticks of a gentleman. { subjoin the prophecy. 
 
 Whan faithe faileth in prestes sawes, 
 And lordes hestes are holden for lawes, 
 And robberie is holden purchase, 
 And lechery is holden solace ; 
 Then shall the londe of Albion 
 Be brought to grete confusion. 
 
 Then follow the Prologue and the Canterbury 
 Tales. Jn the Knightes and the Wif of Bathes 
 Tales, the manuscript is a little imperfect. The 
 Tales, throughout this manuscript, are accompanied 
 with a marginal gloss, in red letters ; sometimes ex^
 
 GOWER AND CHAUjCER. 
 
 hibiting illustrations of no common interest. What 
 adds to the curiosity and value of this volume, is 
 a manuscript copy, at the close of it, of Pierce 
 Plowmans Creek, which has hitherto escaped ob 
 servation. 
 
 XVII. The Canterbury Tales. 
 
 This is also a manuscript, belonging to Trinity 
 College, Cambridge, numbered R. 3. 3. It is 
 in folio, on vellum, with illuminated capitals, and 
 of the fifteenth century. This manuscript has 
 been likewise rendered subservient to Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt's admirable plan. In his brief notice of it, 
 however, there is not that attention paid to the 
 contents which seems due. After the words in 
 the Squiers Tale, 
 
 And there I lefte I woll againe beginne, 
 
 there are here, as in other manuscripts mentioned 
 by Mr. Tyrwhitt, two lines : 
 
 Apollo whirleth up his chaire so highe, 
 Till that the god Mercurius bowse hefye: 
 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt reads, from the manuscripts which 
 he consulted, and I have found it so given in 
 other manuscripts, 
 
 Till that the god Mercurius howse the slie:
 
 122 
 
 This manuscript reads He flye> which Speght 
 also follows. Yet these lines cannot belong to 
 this place, according to Mt. Tyrwhitf, who is- 
 erf opinion, " that they were originally scrib- 
 bled by some vacant reader in the blank 
 space, which is commonly left at the end of the 
 Squier's Tale, and afterwards transcribed, as Chau- 
 cer's, by some copyist of more diligence than 
 sagacity." In this manuscript the two lines, pre- 
 ceded by Explicit secunda pars et sequitur pars 
 tertia, and followed by The reaste not to be 
 founde though sought in divers places, are indeed 
 the hand-writing of a scribe in the reign of Eliza- 
 beth. But they are certainly writien in the same 
 hand-writing, as the rest of a manuscript of the 
 fifteenth century is> which I shall presently men- 
 tion. See p. 129. And why might they not be 
 the opening of the third part of the Tale ? The 
 language is Chaucer's ; for thus he opens The 
 Flour e and the Lcafe : 
 
 " When that Pltebus bis chair of gold so high 
 " Had whirled up the sterrie sky aloft." 
 
 Skelton, in his Crowne of Lawrell, uses the re- 
 markable expression before us: 
 
 Item, Apollo that whirled up his chare, &c. 
 
 The Prologue of the Frankelcins Tale is thus 
 noticed in this manuscript, fol. 108. Hie in- 
 cipit Prologus de ffranlceleyn cum fabula sua de
 
 GOWER AND CHAUCER. 123 
 
 jRokkes de Brytaine. The manuscript ends im- 
 perfect in the Persones Tale fol. 130. b. 
 
 XVIII. The Canterbury Tales, &c. 
 
 In the Publick Library at Cambridge, the folio 
 manuscript of the Tales, numbered Dd. iv. 24, 
 has been collated by Mr. Tyrwhitt. It is written 
 partly on vellum and partly on paper, and is im- 
 perfect both at the beginning and end, Another 
 folio manuscript of the Tales, on vellum, in the 
 same collection, numbered li. iii. 26, engaged 
 the attention also of the same critick. The Publick 
 Library possesses another folio manuscript of 
 these poems, as 'yet uncollated, written on vel- 
 lum, and numbered Mm. ii. 5. Among the ma- 
 nuscripts enumerated as having been subservient 
 to Mr. Urry's use, there is one belonging to the 
 same collection, of which Mr. Tyrwhitt has not 
 thought proper to take any notice, and of which 
 the * account given in Urry's Preface is defec- 
 tive ; inasmuch as it makes no mention of four- 
 teen folia between fol. 482 and fol. 483, in which 
 are contained the following curious pieces of an- 
 cient English poetry, written apparently in the 
 fourteenth century, viz. The Fragment of a ro- 
 mance; Horn; and Assumpcon de notre Dame, 
 imperfect. This manuscript consists of 488 folia, 
 and is now numbered Gg. 4. 27. 
 
 * See No. XI, in the list of MSS. in the Preface to Urry's edition of 
 Chaucer.
 
 MANUSCRIPTS OT 
 
 XIX. XX. XXI. Chaucer's Troilus and Creseide. 
 
 In the Library of Bene't College, Cambridge, 
 is a beautiful copy of this poem, on vellum, 
 which is described, in the published Catalogue of 
 Manuscripts belonging to that Society, by the 
 Rev. Mr. Nasmith. 
 
 The British Museum, Harl. MSS. No. 3943 
 presents a copy of the same poem; and No. 4912 
 a part of it. 
 
 XXII. XXIII. The Compleynt of faire Anelida 
 and feds Arcite. 
 
 This poem is preserved in the Harl. MSS. Brit. 
 Mus. No. 372, and also in No. 7333 of the same 
 collection, among many of Chaucers tales and 
 other poems. Mr. Tyrwhitt, who consulted this 
 manuscript, takes no notice, however, of the 
 Anelida and Arcite being contained in it. 
 
 XXIV. A Complaint of Pitee. 
 
 To this title of the manuscript is added, " made 
 by Geffrey Chaucer the [most] aureat poete that 
 euer was fonde in our vulgare, to fore hees days." 
 MSS. Harl. Brit. Mus. No. 78. 27.
 
 GOWER AND CHAUCER. 125 
 
 XXV. XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. Chaucer's Astro- 
 labe. 
 
 Two copies of this work are in the Publick Li- 
 brary at Cambridge. And in the Library of Bene't 
 College,, there is a copy of it ; imperfect, how- 
 ever, both at the beginning and end of the ma- 
 nuscript. The Library of Trinity College, in the 
 same University, possesses also an imperfect co- 
 py; the manuscript ending with the thirty-ninth 
 chapter. 
 
 XXIX. Part of the Canterbury Tales. 
 
 This manuscript, containing part of the Can- 
 terbury Tales, is in the curious collection belong- 
 ing to Sion College, London. It is in quarto, on 
 vellum, and numbered MSS. C. 9. It contains 
 only the following Prologues and Tales, in this 
 order : the Clerk of Oxenfordes, the Wif of Bathes, 
 the Freres, and the Sompnoures. In the I'envoy 
 de Chaucer, at the end of Patient Grisild's history, 
 this manuscript agrees, in the arrangement of the 
 stanzas, with those of the best authority; as it does 
 indeed in some other respects. It exhibits many 
 various readings, and is of the fifteenth century.
 
 126 MANUSCRIPTS OP 
 
 XXX. etc. Brief, notices of other copies of tlvc 
 Canterbury Tales, S$c. 
 
 Of the manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Mr. 
 Tyrwhitt has given a valuable list. But he ap- 
 pears to have consulted no other copy in the Li- 
 braries of Colleges at Oxford,, except that which 
 is in the collection belonging to New College. 
 
 The General Catalogue of Manuscripts in Eng- 
 land and Ireland points out, however, to notice, 
 the following : In Corpus Christi College, the 
 Canterbury Tales, No. 1665. 198. In Merton 
 College, Chaucer's Works, C. 2. 9. In Trinity 
 College, Chaucer's Works, No. 1991. 54; in 
 the collection of which society, we are also * in- 
 formed, there is a copy of Urry's edition of Chau- 
 cer with brief marginal remarks in manuscript by 
 the late learned Mr. Upton, the editor of Spenser's 
 Faerie Queen e, &c. 
 
 To the list of manuscripts in the British Museum, 
 described or noticed by Mr. Urry and Mr. Tyr- 
 \vhitt, the next editor of Chaucer will have to add 
 some account of an ancient copy of the Canter- 
 bury Tales, on vellum, which once belonged to 
 Mr. Ph. Cart. Webb, afterwards to the late Mar- 
 quis of Lansdowne, and was purchased, with the 
 rest of his Lordship's valuable manuscripts, in 
 1807, by the truly liberal and discerning govern- 
 ment of this country, who directed the whole col- 
 
 * See Mant's edition ofT. Warton's Works, vol. i, p. 14*.
 
 GOWER AND CHAUCER. 
 
 lection to be deposited, for the publick good, in 
 the Museum. 
 
 In the Library of the Cathedral Church of Lich- 
 field, there is a manuscript of the Canterbury 
 Tales. 
 
 Mr. Coke, of Norfolk, I have been informed, 
 possesses a fine manuscript copy of the Talcs. 
 
 Of the same poems two manuscript copies, men- 
 tioned in the preface to Urry's Chaucer, are now 
 in the collection of John P. Kemble, Esq. and in 
 that belonging to the late duke of Roxburghe; 
 the latter of which is remarkably beautiful ; and 
 is believed to have been once the property of Sir 
 Henry Spelman. Urry had seen it, but did not 
 live to go through a collation of it. Nor has it 
 been collated by Tyrwhitt. 
 
 Since describing the manuscripts of Gower, I 
 have seen another copy of the Confessio Amantis 
 in the Heralds' College. 
 
 Mr. Heber's Library, as will readily be sup- 
 posed, contains some manuscripts both of Gower's 
 and Chaucer's poetry ; which to a future editor may 
 afford employment, and of which the use, I am 
 confident, would be readily granted by the liberal 
 possessor ; of whom it will always be honourably 
 said, that, " * having not little gold in his coffer," 
 (in which respect Mr. Heber is a fortunate con- 
 trast to Chaucer's philosophical and book-collect- 
 
 * See the character of the Clerk of Oxenforde in the Pro- 
 logue to the Canterbury Tales, ver. 286, &c.
 
 128 
 
 MANUSCRIPTS OF 
 
 ing Clerk of Oxenforde, ) he wisely destined a 
 considerable part to mental gratification, and, hap- 
 pily for the interests of literature, 
 
 "On bokes and on learning he it spent." 
 
 XXXI. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, &c. 
 
 I conclude my notices of manuscripts with an 
 account of a copy of the Tales, which in no re- 
 spect is exceeded, perhaps I might say equalled, 
 by any of those already described. It was brought 
 from the late duke of Bridgewater's library at Ash- 
 ridge; and, I am persuaded, originally belonged 
 to the collegiate library of that place. It now be- 
 longs to the Marquis of Stafford. From what has 
 been said in the first of these articles concerning 
 manuscripts, and what will be related in this con- 
 cluding article, it will readily be conceded that, 
 in possessing two such manuscripts of our an- 
 cient poetry, the noble owner may be justly con- 
 gratulated by every Englishman. 
 . This manuscript is in folio, on vellum, with 
 illuminated capitals, and with figures, in the 
 margin, at the commencement of every Tale, 
 of each relater. On two leaves, preceding the 
 Prologue, are the curious Poems which form 
 the sixth division of the Illustrations in this 
 volume. The figures are drawn and coloured 
 with great care, and present a very minute deli- 
 neation of the dress and costume of Chaucer's 
 time. From the margin of the Tale of Melibeus,
 
 GOWER AND CHAUCER. 129 
 
 the drawing of Chaucer, prefixed to this work, 
 has been exactly copied. Jhe writing is of the 
 fifteenth century. It appears to me as a manu- 
 script of excellent authority. The various read- 
 ings, which it exhibits, are numerous. The order 
 of the Tales, and other circumstances worthy of 
 note in it, are as follow. 
 
 The Knyghles Tale. 
 
 The Milleres Prologue and Tale. 
 
 Over tfte figure of the Miller, in the margin, playing on a 
 bag-pipe, is written, Robin w th . the bag-pype. 
 
 The Reves Prologue and Tale. 
 
 The Cokes Prologue and Tale. 
 
 The wordes of the Hoost to the Compaignye. 
 
 The Man of Lawes Prologue and Tale. 
 
 The Wif of Bathes Prologue and Tale. 
 
 The Freres Prologue and Tale. 
 
 The Sompnoures Prologue and Tale. 
 
 The Clerk of Oxenfordes Prologue and Tale. 
 
 The Marchants Prologue and Tale. 
 
 The Squieres Prologue and Tale. 
 
 Here ts the Prologue to the Squieres Tale, as in Mr. 
 Tyj-whitt's edition of the Tales, where it first appeared 
 in print. There is, in this manuscript Prologue, a, 
 slight variation or two from Mr. Tyrwhitt's readings. 
 At the end of the Tale, are the words Explicit secunda 
 pars. Incipit pars tercia. 
 
 Appollo whirleth vp his chaar so hye 
 Til that the god mercurius hous the slye 
 
 And it must be observed, that these lines are written by 
 the same hand which wrote tte rest of the manuscript. 
 K
 
 130 MANUSCRIPTS. Of > 
 
 So that it should seem, as \f these lines were really tht 
 
 beginning of the continuation of the Squicr's " half- 
 
 , told" Tale. See also what is before said on this sub- 
 
 , j .. j . i.; >. ii 
 
 ject, p. 122. 
 
 The Frankeleines Prologue and Tale. 
 The Phisiciens Tale. No Prologue. 
 The Shipmans Prologue and Tale. 
 The Prioresses Prologue and Tale. 
 
 Behold the murye wordes of the Hoost to Chaucer, then 
 Chaucers Tale of Thopas, at the close of which is writ- 
 ten, Heere the Hoost stynteth Chaucer of "his Tale of 
 Thopas. 
 
 Chaucers Tale of Melibee. 
 The Monkes Prologue and Tale. 
 
 The tale is entitled, De casibus virorum illustrium. The 
 Monk, painted in the margin, is accompanied with two 
 grey-hcunds. At the end of the tale, Explicit Traged. 
 And, Heere stynteth the knyght the monk of his tale. 
 The Nonnes Preestes Prologue and Tale. 
 The Second Nonnes Prologue and Tale. 
 The Chanones Yemannes Prologue and Tale. 
 
 fhe first line of this Prologue may serve as a specimen of 
 the preferable reading, which this manuscript exhibits. 
 Urry reads, 
 
 Whan endid was the life of saint Cecile : 
 Tyrwhitt reads, 
 
 Whan that told was the lif of seintc Cecile : 
 This manuscript, with greater melody, 
 
 Whan toold was all the lyf of seinte Cecile. 
 
 The Manciples Prologue and Tale. 
 The Persones Prologue and Tale.
 
 GOWER AND CHAUCER. 
 
 131 
 
 At the end qf this Tale is written, Heere taketh the 
 makere of this book his levc. Then follows ffte Re- 
 tractation, as U -is called, Now preye I to hem alle, 
 &c. After which, Heere is ended tlie book of the 
 tales of Caunterbury compiled by Geffrey Chaucer of 
 
 whos soule Jhu Crist haue mercy. Amen. 
 
 : : i,n n*t\i. *ir;""' >' Vitr'td *S fcvK !} 
 
 On the cover, at the end of the volume, written 
 in a hanfl coeval with the rest of the manuscript, is 
 Chaucer's Ralade of gode counsaile, as Urry 
 terms it; of which there are copies in other col- 
 lections, as Mr. Tyrwhitt has observed. In MS. 
 Cotton. A. xviii." it is said to have been made by 
 Chaucer " upon his death-bed lying in his an- 
 guish;" but of such a circumstance Mr. Tyrwhitt 
 requires some further proof. However, as the 
 balade is admitted to be the genuine composition 
 of Chaucer, and as the anecdote of what is said to 
 have occasioned it is interesting, I will close this 
 account with exhibiting a copy of it, which, by 
 the various readings of this manuscript, corrects 
 in a few instances such of the printed copies as I 
 have examined. 
 
 ,i:V .JL.V.& ''.i .'."' ,-i -*s4 ,-rrnod M u s.sll fj 
 Flee fro the prees, and dwell with sothfaslnesse, 
 Suffise unto thy good though it be small ; 
 * For hord hath hate, and clymbyng tykelnesse, 
 Frees hath envye, and wele f blindeth oer all : 
 Savor no more than thee byhove shall; 
 
 * For is wanting in the editions of 1561, and i6o. 
 f it tint, edict. 1.561, l6oa. // brent, edit. Urr.
 
 132 
 
 * Rede wel thy self that other folk canst rede j 
 And trouthe t thee shall deliver, it is no drede. 
 
 J Tempest thee nought al croked to redresse, 
 In trust of her that turneth as a ball ; 
 For grete reste slant in lytel bisynesse ; 
 || And eke beware to spume agayn a nail : 
 Stryve nought as doth 51 the crokke with the wall ; 
 ** Demit h thy self that demest otheres dede ; 
 And trouthe thee shall deliver, it is no drede. 
 
 That thee is sent recey ve in buxomnesse : 
 The wrastlyng ft/or this world axeth a fall : 
 Here % J nys none home, here nys but wildernesse: 
 Forth, pilgrym, forth; and forth, beste, out of thy stall; 
 || || Knowe thy contree, look up, thank God of all, 
 ^^Hold the hye way, and let thy ghost thee lede ; 
 And trouthe thee shall deliver, it is no drede. 
 
 * f^eri, MS. 
 f tbety wanting in MS. 
 
 \ PainetivK not tcb croked, &c. editt. 1561, 1602, Urr. 
 "5 Crete reste ttandith, ffor, wanting,) editt. 1561, 1601, Urr. 
 || Beware also, editt. Ij6i, l6o, Urr. 
 <J a crocke with a wall, editt. 1561, 1602, Urr. 
 ** Dauntetb and dauntett, MS. 
 f^- of this world astctb, editt. 1561, i6oa, Urr. 
 Jf Here h n home, here h, editt. 1561, 1602, Urr. 
 And forth, wanting in editt. 1561, 1602. Urry reads, test. 
 U j| Looke up on bigb, editt. 1561, 1602, and Urry, who adds tby God. 
 U Wifoi tby lusts or lustt, editt. 1561, 1601, Urr.
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS, 
 
 N. 4.
 
 
 
 EXTRACTS 
 
 OJ . 
 
 ' ; 
 
 FROM TUB 
 
 CONFESSIO A MANTIS 
 
 ' ./ 
 
 or 9m I 
 
 ml ;.w : *>yr\vffi+>~)n< 
 
 G O W E R. 
 
 The Dedication and Preface from Berthelet's 
 edition of the Poem in 1532. 
 
 To the moste victorious and our moste gracious 
 soueraigne lorde kynge Henry the viij. kynge of 
 Englande and of France, defender of the feyth, 
 and lorde of Irelande, etc. 
 
 Plutarke \vryteth, whan Alexander had discom- 
 fyte Darius the kynge of Perse, among other 
 iewels of the sayde kynges there was founde a 
 curyous lyttell cheste of great value, which the 
 noble kynge Alexander beholdynge sayde, This 
 same shall serve for Homere. Whiche is noted 
 for the greate loue and fauour that Alexander had 
 vnto lernynge. But this I thynke veryly, that 
 his loue and fauour therto was not so great as your 
 gracis: which caused me, moost victorious and
 
 136 EXTRACTS FROM GOWfill's 
 
 moste redoubted soueraigne lorde, after I had 
 printed THIS WARKE, to deuyse with my selfe* 
 whether I myght be so bolde to presente your 
 hyghnesse with one of them, and so in your 
 gracis name putte them forthe. Your moste 
 hygh and moste princely maieste abasshed and 
 cleane discouraged me so to do, both bicause the 
 present (as concernynge the value) was farre to- 
 symple, (as me thought,) and by cause it was 
 other wyse my acte but as I toke some peyne to 
 prynte it more correctly than it was before. And 
 though I shulde saye, that it was not moche great- 
 ter peyne to that excellent clerke, THE MORALL 
 IOHN GOWER, to compyle the same noble warke, 
 than it was to me to prynt it ; no man will beleve 
 it, without conferringe both the printis, the olde 
 and myn together. And as I stode in this basshe- 
 ment, I remembred your incomparable clemency, 
 the whiche, as I haue my selfe sometyme sene, 
 moste graciously accepteth the sklender gyftes of 
 small value, whiche your highnes perceyued were 
 offred with great and louynge affection ; and that, 
 not onely of the nobuls and great estates, but 
 also of your meane subiectes: The whiche so 
 moche boldeth me agayne, that though I of all 
 other am your moste humble subiecte and ser- 
 uaunte, yet my harte gyveth me, that your hygh- 
 nes, as ye are accustomed to do, woll of your 
 moste benigne nature consider that I wold with 
 as good wyl, if it were as wel in my power, gyve 
 ynto your grace the most goo41jet an.$ largesj:
 
 COKFESSIO AMANTIS. 137 
 
 cite of all the worlde. And this moreouer I very 
 wel' knowe, that both the nobuls and commons 
 of this your noble royalme shall the soner accepte 
 THIS BOKE, the gladlyer rede it, and be the more 
 diligent to marke and beare awey the morall doc- 
 trines of the same, whanne they shall se it come 
 forthe vnder yoyr gracis name, whom they with 
 all their very hartes so truely loue and drede, 
 whom they knowe so excellently wejl lerned, 
 whom they euer fynde so good, so iuste, and so 
 gracious a prince. 
 
 And whosoeuer, in redynge of THIS WARKE, doth 
 consyder it well, shall fynde that it is plentifully 
 stuffed and fournysshed with manyfolde eloquent 
 reasons, sharpe and quicke arguments, and ex* 
 amples pf great auctoritee, perswadynge vnto 
 vertue, not onely taken out of the poetes, ora- 
 tours, historywriters, and philosophers, but also 
 out of the holy scripture. There is, to my dome, 
 no man but that he may, bi reading of THIS WARKE, 
 get right great knowlege, as wel for the vnder- 
 standyng of many and diuers autors, whose reson<=, 
 sayenges, and histories are translated in to THIS 
 WARKE, as for the plenty of englishe wordes and 
 vulgars, besyde the furtheraunce of the lyfe to ver- 
 tue. Whiche olde englysshe wordes and vulgars no 
 wyse man, bycause of theyr antiquitee, wyll throw 
 a syde. For the wryters of later dayes, the whiche 
 beganne to lotji and hate these olde vulgars, whan 
 they them selfe wolde wryte in our englysshe 
 fonge, were cpnstraynefl to brynge in, in their
 
 13S EXTRACTS FROM GOWER*S 
 
 writynges, newe termes (as some call them) 
 whiche they borowed out of latyne, frenche, and 
 other languages; whiche caused that' they, that 
 vnderstode not those langages from whens these 
 newe vulgars are fette, coude not perceyue their 
 wrytynges. And though oin* most allowed olde 
 an tors dydde otherwhyle vse to borowe of other 
 langages., eyther bycause of theyr metre or elles 
 for lack of a feete englysshe worde, yet that 
 ought not to be a president to vs to heape them 
 in, where as nedeth not, and where as we haue 
 allredy wordes approued, and receyued, of the 
 same effecte and strength. The whiche if any 
 man wante, let hym resorte to THIS WORTHY OLDE 
 WRYTER IOHN GOWER, that shal, as a lanterne, gyve 
 hym lyghte to wryte counnyngly, and to garnysshe 
 his sentencis in our vulgar tonge. THE WHICH NOBLE 
 AUTOUR I prostrate at your gracis feete, most lowly- 
 present, and beseche your hyghnes, that it may 
 go forthe vnder your gracis fauour. And I shal 
 ever praie, God, that is Almyghtye, preserue 
 your royal maieste in mooste longe continuance 
 of all welthe, honour, glorye, and grace infinite. 
 Amen. 
 
 To the reder. 
 
 In tyme past whanne THIS WARKE was prynted, 
 I can not very well coniecte what was the cause 
 therof, the Prologue before was cleane altered. 
 And by that mene it wold seme, that GOWER 
 dydde compyle it at the requcste of the noble
 
 CONFESSIO AMANTIS. 
 
 139 
 
 duke Henry of Lancastre. And allthough the 
 bokes, that be written, be contrary; yet I haue 
 folowed therin the prynt copie, for as moche as 
 it may seme bothe weyes, and bycause moste 
 copies of the same warke are in printe. But yet 
 I thought it goode to warne the reder, that the 
 \vriten copies do not agree with the prynted. 
 Therfore, syr, I haue prynted here those same 
 lynes, that I fynde in the wytten copies. The 
 whiche alteracion ye shall perceyue began ne at 
 the xxiii lyne in the Prologue, and goth forth on, 
 as ye se here folowyng. 
 
 In our englysshe I thinke make 
 A boke for kynge Rychardes sake, ^ 
 
 To whom belongeth my ligeance, 
 With all my hartes obeysaunce, 
 In all that euer a lyege man 
 Vnto his kynge may done or can; 
 So far forth I me recommaunde 
 To him, which all me may commaunde; 
 Preyend vnto the hygh reigne, 
 Which causeth euery kynge to reygne, 
 That his corone longe stonde. 
 
 I thynke and haue it vnderstonde 
 As it befell vpon a tyde, 
 As thynge whiche shulde tho betyde, 
 Vnder the towne of Newe Troy, 
 Whiche toke of Brute his fyrste ioye ; 
 In Themse, whan it was flowende, 
 As I by bote came rowendej 
 So as fortune hir tyme sette, 
 My lyege lord perchaunce I mettr.
 
 EXTRACTS FROM GOWER's 
 
 And so befelle, as I came nygb, 
 Out of my bote, whan he me sygh, 
 
 He bad me come into his barge. 
 
 & 
 
 And whan I was with hym at large, 
 Amonges other thinges seyde, 
 He hath this charge vpon me leyde, 
 And bad me do my busynesse, 
 That to his hygh worthynesse 
 Some newe thinge I shulde boke, 
 That he hym selfe it myght loke, 
 After the forme of my wrytynge. 
 And thus vpon his commaundynge 
 Myn harte is well the more glad 
 To wryte so as he me bad. 
 And eke my feare is well the lasse 
 That none enuy shall compasse. 
 Without a reasonable wyte, 
 To feyne and blame that I wryte. 
 A gentyll harte his tonge stylleth, 
 That it malice none distilleth, 
 But preyseth that is to be preysed : 
 But he that hath his worde vnpeysed, 
 And handleth out ronge any thynge, 
 I pray vnto the heuen kynge, 
 Fro such tonges he me shilde. 
 And netheles this worlde is wylde ! 
 Of suche ianglynge, and what befall, 
 My kynges heste I shall not falle, 
 That I in hope to deserue 
 His thonke ne shall his wyll obserue; 
 And els were I nought excused. 
 
 For that thyng may nought be refused, 
 What that a kynge hym selfe byt : 
 Forthy the symplest of my wyt,
 
 CONFESSIO AMANTIS. 141 
 
 I thynkc if that it may auayle, 
 In his seruyse to trauaile, 
 Though I syckenes haue vpon honde, 
 And long blue had, yet woll I f'onde, 
 So as I made my beheste, 
 To make a boke after his heste, 
 And wryte in suche a maner wyse, 
 Whiche may be wysdome to the wyse, 
 And play to hem that lyst to play. 
 But in prouerbe I haue herde say, 
 That who that wel his warke beginnelb, 
 The rather a good ende he vvynneth. 
 
 And thus the Prologue of my Boke, 
 After the worlde that whylom toke, 
 And eke somdele after the newe, 
 I woll begyn for to newe. 
 
 And thus I saye for these Ixx lynes there be as 
 many other printed, that be cleane contrarye vnto 
 these bothe in sentence and in meanyng. And 
 furthermore there were lefte out, in dyuers places 
 of the warke, lynes and columnes, ye and scme- 
 tyme holle padges, whiche caused that this mooste 
 pleasaunt and easy auctor coude not wel be per- 
 ceyued; for that, and chaungynge of wordes, 
 and misordrynge of sentences, wolde haue mased 
 his mynde in redynge that had ben very well 
 lerned. And what can be a greater blemysshe 
 vnto a noble auctour ? And for to preise wor- 
 thily vnto you the great lernynge of this auc- 
 tour, I tnowe my ielfe ryght moche vnable, ye
 
 EXTRACTS FROM GOWER S 
 
 shall your selfe now deme, when ye shall se hym 
 (as nere as I can) sette forth in his owne shape 
 and lykenes. And this the mene time I maye be 
 bolde to saye, that if we shulde neuer haue sene 
 his counnynge warkes, the whiche euen at the 
 full do wytnesse what a clerke he was ; the 
 wordes of the moost famous and excellente Gef- 
 fraye Chauser, that he wrote in the ende of his 
 moste speciall warke that is entitled Troylus and 
 Creseydej do sufficiently testify the same, where 
 he sayth : 
 
 O morall Cower, this boke I directe 
 To the, and to the philosophical Strode, 
 To vouchsafe, ther nede is, to correcte, 
 Of your benignites and zeles good. 
 
 The whiche noble wark, and many other of the 
 sayde Chausers that neuer were before imprinted,, 
 and those that very fewe men knew r e, and fewer 
 hadde them, be nowe of late put forthe together 
 hi a fayre volume. By the whiche words of Chau- 
 ser we may also vnderstonde, that he and Gower 
 were both of one selfe tyme, both excellently 
 lerned, both great frendes together, and both 
 alyke endeuoured them selfe and imployed theyr 
 tyme so wel and so vertuously, that they dyd not 
 onely passe forth their lyfes here ryght honour- 
 ably, but also for their so doing, so longe (of 
 lykelyhode) as letters shal endure and continue, 
 this noble royalme shall be the better, over and

 
 COMFES8IO AMANTIS. 143 
 
 besyde theyr honest fame and renowme. And 
 thus whan they hadde gone theyr iourney, the 
 one of them, that is to saye, IOHN GOWER, pre- 
 pared for his bones a restynge place in the mo- 
 nastery of * saynt J\farye Oxeres, where som- 
 what after the olcle (fashion he lyeth ryght smmp- 
 tuously buryecl, with a garland on his head, in 
 t token that he in his lyfe dayes flouryshed 
 freshely in litciature and .science. And the same 
 moniment, in remembraunce of hym erected, is 
 on the Northe syde of the ibresayde churche, in 
 the chapell of saynte John, where he hath, of 
 his o\vne foundation, a masse dayly songe. And 
 moreouer he hath an obyte yerely done for hym, 
 within the same churche, on fryday after the 
 feaste of the blessed pope saynte Gregory. Be- 
 syde on the wall where as he lyeth there be peynted 
 three virgins, with crownes on theyr heades ; one 
 of the whiche .s wrytten Cliaritie, and she hold- 
 eth this devise in her honde: 
 
 En toy qui es fitz de dieu le pere 
 Sauve soil que gist souz cest piere. 
 
 The second is wrytten Mercye, which holdeth in 
 her hande this devise : 
 
 O bone Jesu fait ta mercy 
 Al alrae dont le corps gist icy. 
 
 * Now Saint Saviour's Church, Southwark. 
 
 t See Francis Thynne's remark on this circumstance, p. 24, 
 
 6
 
 144 EXTRACTS FROM GOWER*S 
 
 The thyrde of them is wrytten Pity, whiche h6ld- 
 eth in her hand this devise : 
 
 Pur ta pile lesu regarde 
 
 Et met cest alme en sauve garde. 
 
 And there by hongeth a table, \vherin appereth 
 that who so euer praith for the soule of John 
 Gower, he shall, so oft as he so dothe, have a 
 thousande and fyve hundred dayes of pardon. 
 
 The other lyeth buryed in the monasterye of 
 seynt Peters at Westminster in an ile on the 
 south syde of the churche. 
 
 On whose soules, and all christen, lesu have 
 mercy. Amen.
 
 // 
 . 7 
 
 /A t
 
 COKFESSIO AMANTIS. 145 
 
 * 
 
 The, Tale of the coffers or caskets, fyc. in the 
 fifth book*. 
 
 
 
 In a Cronique f thus I rede: 
 Aboute a king, as must nede, 
 Ther was | of knyghtes and squiers 
 Gret route, and eke of officers: 
 Some of long time him hadden served, 5 
 
 And thoughten that they haue deserved 
 Avancement, and gon withoute: 
 And some also ben of the route, 
 That comen but a while agon, 
 And they avanced were anon. 10 
 
 These olde men upon this thing, 
 So as they durst, ageyne the king 
 Among hemself compleignen ofte: 
 But there is nothing said so softe, 
 That it ne comith out at laste: 15 
 
 The king it \viste, and als so faste, 
 
 * I prefer, in general, the text of Lord Stafford's manu- 
 script; and correct this selection from it. 
 
 t this, in all the editions. But Gower usually writes, 
 *' For in Cronike thus I rede," as in b. iii. And, " In a 
 Cronique I find thus" b. vii. 
 
 % of is wanting in all the editions, both in this and the 
 next line. 
 
 Caxton's edit. 14-83, reads and als faste; that of 1532, 
 anon so faste; and that of 1554, anon als faste. The manu- 
 script is the true reading. 
 
 L
 
 146 EXTRACTS FROM GOWER*S 
 
 As he which was of high prudence: 
 
 He shope thcrfore an evidence 
 
 Of hem that pleignen in * the cas, 
 
 To knowe in whose defalte it was; 20 
 
 And all within his owne entent, 
 
 That non ma wiste what it ment. 
 
 Anon he let two cofres make 
 
 Of one semblance, f and of one make, 
 
 So lich, that no lif thilke throwe, 25 
 
 That one may fro that other knowe: 
 
 They were into his chamber brought, 
 
 But no man wot why they be J wrought, 
 
 And natheles the king hath bede 
 
 That they be set in privy stede, SO 
 
 As he that was of wisdom slih ; 
 
 Whan he therto his time sih, 
 
 All prively, that none it wiste, 
 
 His owne hondes that one chiste 
 
 Of fin gold, and of fin perie, 36 
 
 The which out of his tresorie 
 
 Was take, anon he fild full ; 
 
 That other cofre of straw and mull 
 
 With stones meynd he fild also: 
 
 Thus be they full bothe two. 40 
 
 * Caxton, that. 
 
 f and is wanting in all the editions. 
 
 J brought, in all the editt. The manuscript is right. 
 
 Caxton reads meuyd, the ed. 1532 mated, and 1554 
 mened. The manuscript is the true reading, meynd, ineint, 
 mingled.
 
 CONFESSIO AMANTIS. 14? 
 
 So that erliche upon a day 
 He had within, * where he lay, 
 Ther should fbe tofore his bed 
 A bord up set and faire spred : 
 And than he let the cofres fette 45 
 
 Upon the bord, and did hem sette. 
 He knewe the names well of tho, 
 The whiche agein him grutched so, 
 Both of his chambre and of his halle, 
 Anon and sent for hem alle ; 50 
 
 And seide to hem in this wise. 
 
 There shall no man J his hap despise i^KtVi 
 I wot well ye have longe served, 
 And God wot what ye have deserved; 
 But if it is along on me 55 
 
 Of that ye unavanced be, 
 Or elles if it belong on yow, 
 The sothe shall be proved now: 
 To stoppe with your evil word, 
 Lo! here two cofres on the bord; 60 
 
 Chese which you list of bothe two; 
 And witeth well that one of tho 
 Is with tresor so full begon, 
 That if ye happe therupon 
 Ye shall be riche men for ever: 65 
 
 \ 
 * All the editt. then. 
 
 t fee is wanting in all the editt. 
 % Caxton, hym despyse.
 
 148 EXTRACTS FROM GOWHR's 
 
 Now chese, and take which you is lever, 
 
 But be well ware ere that ye take, 
 
 For of that one I undertake 
 
 Ther is no maner good therein, 
 
 Wherof ye *mighten profit winne. 70 
 
 Now goth together of one assent, 
 
 And ftaketh your avisement ; 
 
 For, but I you this day avance, 
 
 It stant upon your owne chance, 
 
 Al only in defalte of grace; .75 
 
 So shall be shewed in this place 
 
 Upon you all well afyn, 
 
 That no defalte shal be myn. 
 
 They knelen all, and with one vois 
 The king they thonken of this chois : 80 
 
 And after that they up arise, 
 And gon aside, and hem avise, 
 . And at laste they acorde 
 (Wherof her tale to recorde 
 To what issue they be falle) 85 
 
 A knyght shall speke for hem alle: 
 He kneleth doun Junto the king, 
 And seith that they upon this thing, 
 Or for to winne, or for to lese, 
 Ben all avised for to chese. 90 
 
 * Caxton follows Ibis reading. The others read might. 
 f makcth in all the editions. The manuscript is right, 
 take your counnel together, &c. 
 % to in all the editt.
 
 CONFESSIO A MANTIS. 149 
 
 Tho toke this knyg-ht a yerd on honde, 
 And goth there as the cofres stondc, 
 And with assent of everychone 
 He leith his yerde upon one, 
 And*seith the king how thilke same 95 
 
 They chese in reguerdon by name, 
 And preith him that they might it have. 
 
 The king, which wolde his honor save, 
 Whan he had heard the common vois, 
 Hath granted hem her owne chois, 100 
 
 And toke hem therupon the keie; 
 But for he wolde it were seie 
 What good they have as they suppose, 
 He bad anon the cofre unclose, 
 Which was fulfild fwith straw and stones ! 105 
 Thus be they served all at ones. 
 
 This king than, in the same stede, 
 Anon that other cofre undede, 
 Where as they sihen gret richesse, 
 Wei more than they couthen gesse. 110 
 
 Lo ! seith the king, now may ye se 
 That ther is no defalte^n me; 
 Forthy my self I wol aquite, 
 
 * i. e. saith to the king, 
 t of, Caxton.
 
 150 EXTRACTS FBOM GOWER*S 
 
 And bereth ye your owne \vite 
 Of * that fortune hath you refused. 
 
 Thus was this \vise king excused: 
 And they lefte off her evil speche, 
 And mercy of her king beseche. 
 
 * i. e. that which.-
 
 CONFES6IO AMANTIS. . 151 
 
 Of the gratification which the lover's passion 
 receives from the sense of hearing. In the 
 sixth look. 
 
 Right as myn eye, with his loke, 
 Is to myn herte a lusty cooke 
 Of loves foode delicate ; 
 Right so myn eare in his * estate, 
 Wher as myn eye may f nought serve, 5 
 
 Can wel myn Jhertes thonk deserve; 
 And feden him, fro day to day, 
 With such deynties as he may. 
 
 For thus it is that, over all 
 Wher as I come in speciall, 10 
 
 I may heare of my lady price: 
 I heare one say that she is wise; 
 Another saith that she is good; 
 And, some men sain, of worthy blood 
 That she is come; and is also 15 
 
 So fair ||that no wher is none so: 
 And some men praise hir goodly chere. 
 Thus every thing that I may heare,, 
 Which souneth to my lady goode, 
 Is to myn eare a lusty foode. 20 
 
 * So Caxton reads, and the MS. astute. The editions of 
 1532, 1554, state. 
 t All the eilitt. not. 
 J Caxton, eres. 
 Caxton, one. 
 | Caxton, that there is none to.
 
 152 EXTRACTS FROM GOWER'g 
 
 And eke myn eare hath, over this, 
 A deyntie feste whan so is 
 That I may heare hirselve speke; 
 For than anon my fast I breke 
 On suche vvordes as she saith, 25 
 
 That ful of trouth and ful of faith 
 They ben, and of so good disport, 
 That to myn eare great comfort 
 They don, as they that ben delices 
 For all the meates, and *all the spices, 30 
 That any Lombard couth e make, 
 Ne be so lusty for to take, 
 Ne so far forth restauratif, 
 (1 say as for myn o\vne lif,) 
 As ben the wordes of hir mouth. 35 
 
 For as the f windes of the South 
 Ben most of alle debonaire; 
 So, whan her list to speke faire, 
 The vertue of hir goodly speche 
 Is verily myn hertes leche. 40 
 
 And if it so befalle among, 
 That she carol upon a song, 
 Whan I it hear, I am so fedd, 
 That I am f fro miself so ledd 
 As though I were in Paradis; 45 
 
 * So Caxton reads, the other editions omit this all. 
 
 f Caxton, windowes. 
 
 $ Caxton, Ben most debonaire of all debonaire. 
 
 All the editions, lust. 
 
 11 Caxton, fro my lyf.
 
 CONFESSIO AMANTIS. 153 
 
 For, certes, as to myn avis, 
 
 Whan I heare of her voice the Steven, 
 
 Me thinketh it is a blisse of heven. 
 
 And eke in other * wise also, 
 Full ofte time it falleth so, 50 
 
 Myn eare with a good pitance 
 Is fedd of f reding of romance 
 OfYdoine and of Amadas, 
 That whilom weren in my cas ; 
 And eke of other many a J score, 55 
 
 That loveden long ere I was bore. 
 For whan I of her loves rede, 
 Myn eare with the tale I 1 fede, 
 And with the lust of her **histoire 
 Somtime I draw into ff memoire, 60 
 
 How sorrow may not ever last; 
 And so ^hope cometh in at last. 
 
 * Caxton, other vois. 
 t Caxton, reding and of romance. 
 J Caxton, store. 
 Caxton, redde. 
 5[ Caxton, fedde. 
 ** Caxton, history e. 
 ft Caxton, memory e. 
 
 H This is the better reading of the edit. 1 554. The MS. 
 Caxton, and 1532 read, cometh hope.
 
 NOTES 
 
 ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS FROM THE 
 COWFESSIO AMAMTIS. 
 
 On the Tale of the Coffers. 
 
 GOWER cites a Cronike as his authority for this Tale. A 
 similar story is related in the 'Gesta Romanorum ; from which, 
 many stories in Gower (it has been observed) that seem to be 
 founded upon ancient history, or as he terms it " a cronike," 
 \vill appear upon examination to be taken. See Tyrwhitt's 
 Chaucer, Oxford edit. vol. ii. 492. In the Gesta Romano- 
 nan, however, the story is told, as Mr. Warton has remarked, 
 with a much greater and a'more beautiful variety of incidents. 
 But, supposing the Gesla to have been his present authority, 
 this would appear to be not the only instance in which Gower 
 overpasses important circumstances in the original, and in- 
 troduces matters of comparatively little interest both in point 
 of moral and imagination. See War ton's Hist. Eng. Poetry, 
 Dissert, vol. iii. Ixi. Mr. Douce, in his late excellent Illus- 
 trations of Shakspeare, has conjectured that, as the English 
 Gesta appears to have been extremely well known to Gower 
 and Lydgate, and also to Occleve, it is by no means impro- 
 bable that the translation was made by one or the other of 
 them. Illustr. Shaksp. vol. ii. 422. 1 must add that Gower, 
 iftewas the translator, stands sometimes self-condemned, in 
 his Confessio Amantis, as an unobserving narrator and as a
 
 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS, &C. 155 
 
 poet who declined creditable imitation. Shakspeare, in his 
 story of the three caskets in the Merchant of Venice, judiciously 
 follows the Gesta. 
 
 But Mr. Warton has also considered the fable, which is 
 told by the hermit Barlaam to king Avenamore in the spi- 
 ritual romance of Barlaam and Josaphat, as probably the re- 
 mote but original source both of Gower's Coffers and of Shak- 
 speare's Caskets ; though he admits that Gower's immediate 
 author, if not Boccacio, was perhaps Vincent of Beauvais, 
 who wrote about the year 1290, and has incorporated the his- 
 tory of Barlaam and Josaphat, who were canonised, into his 
 Speculum Historiale. The story, as it stands in Boccacio, 
 seems indeed to be that which Gower has more closely fol- 
 lowed. In Barlaam's narrative, four chests are introduced; 
 in Boccacio's, as in Gower's, only two. But the reader 
 shall judge for himself ; as 1 will lay before him, from Mr. 
 Warton, the version of the spiritual romance ; and will cite 
 so much of the old English, translation of Boccacio, as wiil 
 illustrate the resemblance. 
 
 The romance was written originally in Greek, about the 
 beginning of the ninth century, by Johannes Damascenus, a 
 Greek monk; and translated into. Latin, Mr. Warton says, be- 
 fore the thirteenth century. Damuscenus dc Gestis Barlaam et 
 Josaphat is mentioned by Leland, Mr. Warton adds,, as one of 
 the manuscripts which he saw in Netley-abbey near South- 
 ampton. In the arcliiepiscopal library at Lambeth Palace, 
 there is now a fine copy of a translation written in the four- 
 teenth century, and entitled Rarruciones t-arie eicerpte de libra 
 Barlaam quern composuit Johannes Damascenus. No. 261. 
 This appears to have been also abbey-property. For at the 
 beginning is written, " Liber sancte Marie de Novo loco in 
 Scbirewod." Tlie story, whic.h we are examining, commences 
 in fol. 13. a. " De duabus arct-llis deauratis et plenis o&sibus 
 morluorum, et duabus pice linitis ac preciosis repletis la- 
 pidibus,"
 
 156 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 The version of Barlaam. 
 
 " The king commanded four chests to be made ; two of 
 which were covered with gold, and secured by golden locks, 
 but filled with the rotten bones of human carcasses. The 
 other two were overlaid with pitch, and bound with rough 
 cords; but replenished with precious stones and the most ex- 
 quisite gems, and with ointments of the richest odour. He 
 called his nobles together ; and, placing these chests before 
 them, asked which they thought most valuable. They pro- 
 nounced those with the golden coverings to be the most pre- 
 cious, supposing they were made to contain the crowns and 
 girdles of the king. The two chests covered with pitch they 
 viewed with contempt. Then said the king, I presumed 
 what would be your determination ; for ye look with the eyes 
 of sense. But to discern baseness or value, which are hid 
 Within, we must look with the eyes of tke mind. He then 
 ordered the golden chests to be opened, which exhaled an in- 
 tolerable stench, and filled the beholders with horrour." 
 
 From the old English translation of Bo cc ado. 
 
 DAY 10. NOVEL 1. 
 
 " Wherein may evidently be discerned, that servants to 
 princes and great lords are many times recompensed rather 
 by their good fortune, than in any regard of their dutifull 
 services. 
 
 " A Florentine knight, named Signior Ruggieri de' Figio- 
 vanni, became a servant to Alphonso, king of Spain, who, 
 in his opinion, seemed but slightly to respect and reward 
 him ; in regard whereof, by a notable experiment, the king 
 gave him a manifest testimony, that it was not through any
 
 FROM THE CONFESSIO AMANTIS. 157 
 
 defect in him, but occasioned only by the knight's ill fortune; 
 most bountifully recompensing him afterward." 
 
 [In answer to the knight's observations, that the king had 
 bestowed on one a castle, a town on another, and baronies on 
 several persons, somewhat indiscreetly; as giving bountifully 
 to men of no merit, and restraining all his favours from him ; 
 the reply and subsequent conduct of the king are what re- 
 semble the tale of Gower.] 
 
 "" Believe me, Signior Ruggieri, replied the king, if I 
 have not given you such gifts, as perhaps I have given to 
 others far inferiour to you in honour and merit ; this happened 
 not through any ignorance in me, as not knowing you to be a 
 most valiant knight and well worthy of special respect, 'but 
 rather through your own ill fortune, which would not suffer 
 me to do it ; whereof she is guilty, and not I ; as the truth 
 thereof shall make itself apparent to you. 
 
 " Sir, answered Ruggieri, I complain not because I have 
 received no gift from you, as desiring thereby covetously to be- 
 come the richer, but because you have not any way acknow- 
 ledged what virtue is remaining in me. Nevertheless, I allow 
 your excuse as good and reasonable; and am heartily con- 
 tented to behold whatsoever you please, although I do confi- 
 dently credit you, without any further testimony. 
 
 The king conducted him then into the great hall, where, as 
 he had before given order, stood two great chests fast lockt ; 
 and, in the presence of all his lords, the king thus spake. 
 Signior Ruggieri, in one of these chests is mine imperial 
 crown, the scepter royal, the mound, and many more of my 
 richest girdles; rings, plates, and jewels, even the very best 
 that are mine : the other is full of earth only. Choose one of 
 these two ; and that, which thou makest election of, upon my 
 royal word thou shall enjoy. Hereby shalt thou evidently 
 perceive who hath been ungrateful to thy deservings ; either I, 
 vr thine own bad fortune. Ruggieri, seeing it was the king's 
 pleasure to have it so, chose one of them, which the king
 
 158 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 caused presently to be opened. It proved to be the same that 
 was full of earth; whereat the king, smiling, said thus unto 
 him. 
 
 " You see, Signior Ruggieri, that which I said concerning 
 your ill fortune is very true ; but, questionless, your valour is 
 of such desert, that 1 ought to oppose myself against all her 
 malevolence. And, because I know that you are not minded 
 to become a Spaniard, 1 will give you neither castle nor dwel- 
 ling-place ; but I will bestow the chest on you, in meer de- 
 spight of your malicious fortune, which she so unjustly took 
 away from you. Carry it home with you into your country, 
 that there it may make an apparent testimony, in the sight of 
 all your well-willers, both of your own virtuous deservings and 
 my bounty." 
 
 On the second Extract from Gower. 
 
 The former extract was a specimen of Cower* s talent as a 
 narrator. This exhibits him as a poet ; and, perhaps, from 
 no part of his works could an example of greater elegance be 
 drawn than the gratification of the lover which I have cited. 
 I proceed to remark, that in the following verses ; 
 
 And if it so befalle among, 
 That she carol upon a song, 
 Whan I it heare, I am so fedd, 
 That I am fro myself so ledd 
 As though I were in Paradis; 
 For, certes, as to myn avis, 
 Whan I heare of hir voice the steven, 
 Me thinketh it is a blisse of heven ; 
 
 i 
 
 he nearly equals the tender gallantry of Petrarch, Canz. xiv. 
 
 parte l m .
 
 FROM THE CONFESSIO AMANTIS. 159 
 
 Quante volte diss' io 
 Allhor pien di spavento, 
 Costei per fermo nacque in paradiso ; 
 Cosi carco d' oblio 
 11 divin portamento, 
 E M volto, e le parole* e '1 dolce riso 
 M' haveano, e si diviso 
 Da 1' imagine vera ; 
 Cli' i dicea sospirando, 
 Q,ui come venn' io, o quando ? 
 Credendo esser' in ciel, non la, dov* era. 
 
 Nor is he far distant indeed from that grace, with which a 
 later but the loftiest poet of our country has described the 
 gratification derived from sweet sounds, in his Comus; where 
 the lady's singing is compared to that of the Syrens; 
 
 Who, as they sung, would take the prison' d soul, 
 And lap it in Elysium : Scylla wept, 
 And chid her barking waves into attention, 
 And fell Charybdis murmur'd soft applause: 
 Yet they in pleasing slumber lulfd the sense, 
 And in sweet madness robb'd it of itself; 
 But such a sacred and home-felt delight, 
 Such sober certainty of waking bliss, 
 I never heard till now ! 
 
 In the further avowal of his gratification, Gower's lover 
 says, 
 
 And eke in other wise also, 
 
 Full ofte time it falleth so, 
 
 Myn eare with a good pita nee 
 
 Is fedd of reding of romance 
 
 Of Ydoine and of Amadas, 
 
 That whilom weren in my cas j
 
 160 NOTES ON TBE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 And eke of other many a score, 
 That loveden long ere I was bore. 
 For whan I of her loves rede, 
 Myn eare with the tale I fede, &c. 
 
 Here Gower appears, as M* Warton has observed, to have 
 been a great reader of romances. See his references, already 
 cited, to the romance of Launcelot, &c. in this volume, p. 
 106. The romance of Idoyne and Amadas, here particula- 
 rised, is recited as a favourite history, among others, in the 
 prologue to a collection of legends, called Cursor Mundi, an 
 ancient poem, translated from the French. Their names also 
 occur in the old Fabliau of Gautier d' Aupais. See Warton's 
 Hist. Eng. Poetry, vol. ii. 24, and Ritson's Metrical Ro- 
 mances, vol. iii. 325. Their celebrity, as lovers, to which 
 Gower here alludes, is recorded in the romance of Emare, 
 ver. 122. edit. Ritson. 
 
 ,\ao* iiW: 4 iA* siirt .Wiiott '.-yn IQ&\ *n ,$t 
 
 Idoyne and Amadas, 
 
 With love that was so trewe ; 
 For they loveden hem with honour ; 
 Portrayed they wer with irewe-love flour, 
 
 Of stones bryght of hewe, 
 
 Wyth carbunkull and safere, &c. * 
 
 . , {hiojJiay ladoa daoH - 
 
 I have not however met with any analysis of these once fa- 
 mous memoirs of Idoyne and Amadas. The romance appears 
 to have been one of those bequeathed by Guy Beauchatnp, 
 earl of Warwick, to the Abbey of Bordesley in Worcester- 
 shire. This bequest is so curious an illustration of our ancient 
 literary history, that I have no hesitation in transcribing it 
 from the copy which exists in archbishop Sancroft's collection 
 of historical documents, written with his own hand, and ex- 
 tracted from Mr. Asbmole's Register of the Earl of Ailes-
 
 FROM THE CONFBSSIO AMANTIS. 161 
 
 bury's Evidences, fol. 110. Lambeth Manuscripts, No. 517. 
 fol. 18. b. 
 
 " A tus iceux, qe ceste lettre verront, ou orrount, Gwy 
 de Beauchamp, Counte de Warr. Saluz en Deu. Sachez 
 nous aveir bayle e en la garde le Abbe e le Covent de Bor- 
 desleye lesse a demorer a touz jours touz les Romaunces de 
 ouz nomes ; ceo est assaveyr, un Volum, qe est appele 
 Tresor. Un Volum, en le quel est le premer livere de Lan- 
 celot. E un Volum del Romaunce de Aygnes. Un Sauter 
 de Romaunce. Un Volum des Evangelies, e de Vie des 
 Seins. Un Volum, qe p'le des quatre principals Gestes de 
 Charles, e de dooun, e de Meyace, e de Girard de Viehe, 
 & de Emery de Nerbonne. Un Volum. del Romaunce 
 Emondde Ageland, e deu Roy Charles dooim de Nauntoile. 
 E le Romaunce de Gwyoun de Nauntoyl. E un Volum del 
 Romaunce Titus et Vespasien. E un Volum del Romaunce 
 Josep ab Arimathie, e deu Seint Grael. E un Volum, qe 
 p'le coment Adam fust euieste hors de paradys, e le Genesie. 
 E un Volum, en le quel sount contenuz touns des Ro- 
 maunces, ceo est assaveir, Vitas patrum au comencement; e 
 pus un Counte de Anteypt ; e la Vision Seint Pol ; & pus 
 les Vies des xii Seins. E le Romaunce de Willame de 
 Loungespe. E Autorites des Seins humes. E le Mirour de 
 Alme. Un Volum, en le quel sount contenuz la Vie Seint 
 Pere e Seint Pol, e des autres liv. E un Volum, qe est 
 appele 1'Apocalips. E un livere de Phisik e de Surgie. Un 
 Volum del Romaunce de Gwy e de la Reygne tut enterement. 
 Un Volum del Romaunce de Troies. Un Volum del Ro- 
 maunce de Willame de Orenges e de Tebaud de Arabic. 
 Un Volum del Romaunce de Amase e de Idoine. Un Volum 
 del Romaunce Girard de Viene. Un Volum del Romaunce 
 deu Brut, e del Roy Costentine. Un Volum de le en- 
 seignem 1 . Aristotle enveiez au Roy Alisaundre. Un Volum 
 de la mort ly Roy Arthur, e de Mordret. Un Volum, en 
 le quel sount contenuz les Enfaunces Nostre Seygneur, co- 
 if
 
 162 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 ment il fust mene en Egipt E la Vie Seint Edw d . E la 
 Visioun Seint Pol. La Vengeaunce n're Seygneur par Ves- 
 pasien e Titus. E la Vie Seint Nicolas, qe fust nez en Pa- 
 tras. E la Vie Seint Eustace. E la Vie Seint Cudlac. E 
 la Passioun n're Seygneur. E la Meditacioun Seint Ber- 
 nard de n're Dame Seint Marie, e del Passioun sour douz 
 fiz Jesu Creist n're Seign T . E la Vie Seint Eufrasie. E la 
 Vie Seint Radegounde. E la Vie Seint Juliane. Un Vo- 
 lum, en lequel est aprise de Enfants et lumiere a Lays. Un 
 Volum del Romaunce d'Alisaundre, ove peintures. Un 
 petit rouge livere, en le quel sount contenuz mous diverses 
 choses. Un Volum del Romaunce des Mareschaus, e de 
 Ferebras, e de Alisaundre. Les queus livres nous grauntons 
 pur nos heyrs e par nos assignes qil demorront en la dit Ab- 
 beye, &c. Escrites au Bordesleye le premer jour de May, le 
 an du regii le Roy Edw d . trentime quart/' 
 
 To the lovers of our early history, the exhibition of the 
 preceding document cannot but be gratifying. Nor may it 
 be otherwise, I trust, than serviceable to the cause of national 
 literature, if I also give a brief account of manuscripts, hi- 
 therto undescribed, containing romances which were popular 
 in the time of Gower and Chaucer ; since to those, who are 
 fond of investigating the manners and language of elder days, 
 they,may afford abundant employment, however employment 
 might be thought almost fruitless after the labours of Mr. Rit- 
 gon and Mr. Ellis in this department of learning. But the 
 subject is evidently not exhausted. 
 
 The first manuscript, which I offer to notice, is in the pos- 
 session of the Marquis of Stafford ; and was lately presented 
 to his lordship by General Leveson Gower. It is a small 
 folio j written, on vellum, apparently in the fourteenth cen- 
 tury; and is in several places mutilated or injured. The 
 contents are as follow.
 
 FROM THE CONFESSIO AMANTIS. 163 
 
 I. Kyng Richard. 
 
 This is very imperfect, and much obliterated, at the be- 
 ginning ; but wants only twelve lines to complete it at the 
 end ; closing with 
 
 Cristen men fer and nere 
 Mygt go to Jerusalem 
 To the Sepulcre and Bedlem 
 To Olyvete and to Nazareth well 
 To Jaftys and to Maiden Castel ; 
 
 and exhibiting, even in these few lines, several variations 
 (which indeed is the case throughout the poem) from the 
 printed copies. It consists of forty four leaves, containing 
 where -perfect forty lines in each page, as the manuscript 
 throughout exhibits when the poetry consists of couplets; and 
 is more complete than any manuscript copy inspected by Mr. 
 Ellis, who was obliged, in his entertaining analysis of Me- 
 trical Romances, to complete his account of Richard from the 
 printed copies. 
 
 II. Sevous of Hampton. 
 
 This is not quite perfect. It is correct for seventeen 
 leaves together ; after which are interspersed in the subse- 
 quent romances two separate leaves ; and the volume con- 
 cludes, after the fragment of Sir Degore, with thirty two 
 more leaves of this romance in uninterrupted succession. It 
 contains eleven more stanzas, antecedent to the change of tlie 
 poem into couplets, than appear to have been known to Mr. 
 Ellis.
 
 164 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 III. Florence and Blanclufloure. 
 
 This is written on thirteen leaves and a half, but is also 
 imperfect. It contains, however, upwards of three hundred 
 lines more than Mr. Ellis appears to have been acquainted 
 with ; whose account of this romance is completed from the 
 entertaining work of M. de Tressan. Ritson mentions the 
 imperfect copy of this romance as preserved in the Advocates' 
 library at Edinburgh ; and deplores the loss of another, for- 
 merly in the Cotton collection. With the existence of any 
 other manuscript copy he was not acquainted. 
 
 IV. The lattell of Troye. 
 
 This romance appears to be perfect. I have hitherto met 
 with no account of it. It fills twenty three leaves and a half. 
 The subject is divided into ten battles, at the close of each of 
 which, is a numerical notification : 
 
 Lordinges, saunz faile, 
 
 Of Troye this is the fourth bataile, &c. 
 
 And it concludes : 
 
 Now, lordinges, saunz faile, 
 Of Troye this is the tenth bataile. 
 
 Explicit bellum de Troye. This curious romance, unknown to 
 Warton, Percy, Ritson, and Ellis, will be an interesting 
 object to those who may now enter upon the subject of 
 our Metrical Romances. It seems as if Gower had been ac- 
 quainted with it; for, in the fifth book of his Cortfessio 
 Amantis, describing Achilles disguised in female apparel, 
 
 7
 
 FROM THE CONFESSIO AMANTIS. 165 
 
 though he refers in his usual manner to "a cronike" he pre- 
 
 o 
 
 sents an account somewhat similar to that of the present ro- 
 mance. Gower's description is this. 
 
 Achilles than stode nought stille, 
 
 Whan he the bright helme behelde, 
 
 The swerde, the hauherke, and the shelde, 
 
 His hertffelle therto anone, 
 
 Of all that other wolde he none. 
 
 Tbe kmghtes gere he underfongeth, 
 
 And thilke arruie, which that belongeth 
 
 Unto the women, he forsake. 
 
 And in this wyse, as sayth the boke, 
 
 They knowen than whiche he was. 
 
 For he goth forth the great paas 
 
 In to the chambre, where he luie, 
 
 Anone, and made no delaie : 
 
 He armeth hym in knightly wise, 
 
 That better can no man devise. 
 
 And as fortune sholde falle, . , .. , . . 
 
 He came so forth tofore hem all. 
 
 Let us now peruse the hero's abandonment of his disguise, in 
 The battell of Troye ; premising, that the knights, sent to 
 discover him, determine not to give him the choice of femi- 
 nine ornaments, but only that of helm, hauberk, shield, and 
 spear. 
 
 The knygtes toke counsel ech oon, 
 Or they wolde thennes goon, 
 
 That they wolde geve the maydens broche and ryng ; 
 But Achilles wolde they geve nothing ; 
 But helm, hauberk, sheld, and spere, 
 To Achilles wolde they bere.
 
 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 Whan Achilles saw that ryche thing, 
 
 He wold forsake broche and ryng. 
 
 Through kynde he wolde the armure take, 
 
 And ryng and broche he wolde forsake. 
 
 And on the morow, withoute lesyng, 
 
 The knygtes etc with Lycamedes the kyng: 
 
 And when the bord was up t'an, 
 
 The maydens daunced everychoon : 
 
 The knygtes geve the maydens broche and ryng, 
 
 But Achilles geve they nothing : 
 
 They leide before him sheld and spere, 
 
 And alle maner armor that a khygt shuld were. 
 
 Achilles beheld ful rygt 
 
 The armor that was faire and brygt : 
 
 To the armor he yede in hast, 
 
 And on him he gan it cast. 
 
 Whan -he was armyd in yren and steele, 
 
 Than at the first it liked him welle. 
 
 Than spake Achilles boldely; 
 
 Sir king, armor were wol y : 
 
 I am no woman as mot y the ; 
 
 I am a man as be ye : 
 
 In maydens daunce y wyl not ga', 
 
 But to armor brygt y will me ta* ; 
 
 Forthy, sir king, y pray the, 
 
 Dubbe me knyght for charite, &c. 
 
 V. Amys and Amylion. 
 
 This is perfect, and fills thirteen leaves. It exhibits many 
 readings differing from the copy which Mr. Ellis has used.
 
 FROM THE CONFESSIO AMANTIS. 167 
 
 VI. Sir Eglamour. 
 
 A single leaf only of this Romance. 
 
 VII. Sir Degore. 
 
 Of this Romance two leaves only, containing one hundred 
 and sixty lines.- 
 
 In the Manuscript, which I have thus described, innu- 
 merable are the variations from the readings in Mr. Ellis' s 
 printed Romances ; which may support a conjecture that the 
 Romances, here given, may be original translations and not 
 copies of other manuscripts. 
 
 To the account of this Manuscript, I have also to add that 
 of a valuable copy of the ancient Romance of Libeaus Dis- 
 conus. This " romance of price," as Chaucer calls it in his 
 Rime of Sir Thopus, has been printed by Ritson in his Me- 
 trical Romances ; and had before been analysed by Dr. Percy 
 in his Reliques of Ancient Poetry. If this copy had been ex- 
 amined by Ritson, he would have found numerous readings of 
 better note than those which the copy that he followed gives, 
 and several stanzas which that copy also wants. Though con- 
 tained in a volume, which is one of the oldest inhabitants in 
 the Lambeth library, it has escaped the notice of those to 
 whom the collection k has been familiar, and to whom the 
 investigation of our ancient literature has been among 
 their greatest pleasures; I mean, Gibson, Tanner, Percy, 
 and Warton. It is among the Lambeth manuscripts. 
 No. 306. fol 25. et seq.
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS, 
 
 N. 5.
 
 EXTRACTS 
 
 CHAUCER. 
 
 The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales from 
 Tyrwhitt's edition. 
 
 WHANNE that April with his shoures sote 
 The droughte of March hath perced to the rote 
 And bathed every veine in swiche licour, 
 Of whiche vertue engendred is the flour; 
 Whan Zephirus eke with his sote brethe 
 Enspired hath in every holt and hethe 
 The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne 
 Hath in the Ram his halfe cours yronne, 
 And smale foules maken melodic, 
 That slepen alle night with open eye, 
 So priketh hem nature in hir corages; 
 Than longen folk to gon on pilgrimages, 
 And palmeres for to seken strange strondes, 
 To serve halwes couthe in sondry londes ;
 
 172 CHAUCER'S PROLOGUE 
 
 And specially, from every shires ende 15 
 
 Of Englelond, to Canterbury they wende, 
 The holy blisful martyr for to seke, 
 That hem hath holpen, whan that they were seke. 
 
 Befelle, that, in that seson on a day, 
 In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay, 20 
 
 Recly to wenden on my pilgrimage 
 To Canterbury with devoute corage, 
 At night was come into that hostelrie 
 Wei nine and twenty in a compagnie 
 Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle 25 
 
 In felawship, and pilgrimes were they alle, 
 That toward Canterbury wolden ride. 
 The chambres and the stables weren wide, 
 And wel we weren esed atte beste. 
 
 And shortly, whan the sonne was gon to reste, 
 So hadde I spoken with hem everich on, 31 
 That I was of hir felawship anon, 
 And made forword erly for to rise, 
 To take oure way ther as I you devise, 
 
 But natheles, while I have time and space, 35 
 Or that I forther in this tale pace, 
 Me thinketh it accordant to reson, 
 To tellen you alle the condition 
 Of eche of hem, so as it semed me, 
 And whiche they weren, and of what degre; 40 
 And eke in what araie that they were inner 
 And at a knight than wol I firste beginne.
 
 TO THE CANTERBURY TALKS. 173 
 
 THE KNIGHT. 
 
 A KNIGHT ther was, and that a worthy man, 
 That fro the time that he firste began 
 To riden out, he loved chevalrie, 45 
 
 Trouthe and honour, fredom and curtesie. 
 Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre, 
 And therto hadde he ridden, no man ferre, 
 As wel in Cristendom as in Hethenesse, 
 And ever honoured for his worthinesse. 50 
 
 At Alisandre he was whan it was wonne. 
 Ful often time he hadde the bord begonne 
 Aboven alle nations in Pruce. 
 In Lettowe hadde he reysed and in Ruce, 
 No cristen man so ofte of his degre. 55 
 
 In Gernade at the siege eke hadde he be 
 Of Algesir, and ridden in Belmarie. 
 At Leyes was he, and at Satalie, 
 Whan they were wonne; and in the Crete see 
 At many a noble armee hadde he be. 60 
 
 At mortal batailles hadde he ben fiftene, 
 And foughten for our faith at Tramissene 
 In listes thries, and ay slain his fo. 
 
 This ilke worthy knight hadde ben also 
 Somtime with the lord of Palatie, 65 
 
 Agen another hethen in Turkic: 
 And evermore he hadde a sovereine pris. 
 And though that he was worthy he was wise, 
 And of his port as meke as is a mayde. 
 He never yet no vilanie ne sayde 70
 
 174 CHAUCER'S PROLOGUE 
 
 In alle his lif, unto no manere wight. 
 He was a veray parfit gentil knight. 
 But for to tellen you of his araie, 
 His hors was good, but he ne was not gaie. 
 Of fustian he wered a gipon, 75 
 
 Alle besmotred with his habergeon, 
 For he was late ycome fro his viage, 
 And wente for to don his pilgrimage. 
 
 THE SQUIER. 
 
 With him ther was his sone a yonge *SQUIER, 
 A lover, and a lusty bacheler, 80 
 
 With lockes crull as they were laide in presse. 
 Of twenty yere of age he was I gesse. 
 Of his stature he was of even lengthe, 
 And wonderly deliver, and grete of strengthe. 
 And he hadde be somtime in chevachie, 85 
 In Flaundres, in Artois, and in Picardie, 
 And borne him wel, as of so litel space, 
 In hope to stonden in his ladies grace. 
 
 Embrouded was he, as it were a mede 
 Alle ful of fresshe floures, white and rede. 90 
 Singing he was, or floyting alle the day, 
 He was as fresshe, as is the moneth of May. 
 Short was his goune, with sieves long and wide. 
 Wel coude he sitte on hors, and fayre ride. 
 He coude songes make, and wel endite, 95 
 
 Juste and eke dance, and wel pourtraie and write.
 
 TO THE CANTERBURY TALES. 175 
 
 So hote he loved, that by nightertale 
 
 He slep no more than doth the nightingale. 
 
 Curteis he was, lowly, and servisable, 
 And carf before his fader at the table. 100 
 
 THE *SQUIERES YE MAN. 
 
 A YEMAN hadde he, and servantes no mo 
 At that time, for him luste to ride so ; 
 And he was cladde in cote and hode of grene. 
 A shefe of peacock arwes bright and kene 
 Under his belt he bare Ail thriftily. 105 
 
 Wei coude he dresse his takel yemanly: 
 His arwes drouped not with fetheres lowe. 
 And in his hond he bare a mighty bowe. 
 
 A not-hed hadde he, with a broune visage. 
 Of wood-craft coude he wel alle the usage. 110 
 Upon his arme he bare a gaie bracer, 
 And by his side a swerd and a bokeler, 
 And on that other side a gaie daggere, 
 Harneised wel, and sharpe as point of spere : 
 A Cristofre on his brest of silver shene. 115 
 
 An home he bare, the baudrik was of grene. 
 A forster was he sothely as I gesse. 
 
 * So I designate this character, in opposition to Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt's assertion. See my remarks on Chaucer's pilgrims.
 
 176 CHAUCER'S PROLOGUE 
 
 THE PRIORESSE. 
 
 Ther was also a Nonne, a PRIORESSE, 
 That of hire smiling was ful simple and coy; 
 Hire gretest othe n'as but by Seint Eloy; 120 
 And she was cleped madame Eglentine. 
 Ful wel she sange the service devinej 
 Entuned in hire nose ful swetely; 
 And Frenche she spake ful fay re and fetisly, 
 After the scole of Stratford atte bowe, 125 
 
 For Frenche of Paris was to hire unknowe. 
 At mete was she wel ytaughte withalle; 
 She lette no morsel from hire lippes falle, 
 Ne wette hire fingres in hire sauce depe. 
 Wel coude she carie a morsel, and wel kepe, 130 
 Thatte no drope ne fell upon hire brest. 
 In curtesie was sette ful moche hire lest. 
 Hire over lippe wiped she so clene, 
 That in hire cuppe was no ferthing sene 
 Of grese, whan she dronken hadde hire draught. 
 Ful semely after hire mete she raught. 136 
 
 And sikerly she was of grete disport, 
 And ful plesant, and amiable of port, 
 And peined hire to contrefeten chere 
 Of court, and ben estatelich of manere, 140 
 And to ben holden digne of reverence. 
 
 But for to speken of hire conscience, 
 She was so charitable and so pitous, 
 She wolde wepe if that she saw a mous 
 Caughte in a trappe, if it were ded or bledde. 145 
 Of smale houndes hadde she, that she fedde
 
 TO THE CANTERBURY TALES. 17? 
 
 With rested flesh, and milk, and wastel brede. 
 But sore wept she if on of hem were dede, 
 Or if men smote it with a yerde smert: 
 And all was conscience and tendre herte. 150 
 
 Ful semely hire wimple ypinched was; 
 Hire nose tretis; hire eyen grey as glas; 
 Hire mouth ful smale, and therto soft and red; 
 But sikerly she hadde a fayre forehed. 
 It was almost a spanne brode I trowe; 155 
 
 For hardily she was not undergrowe. 
 
 Ful fetise was hire cloke, as I was ware. 
 Of smale corall aboute hire arm she bare 
 A pair of bedes, gauded-all with grene; 
 And theron heng a broche of gold ful shene, 160 
 On whiche wa-? first ywriten a crouned A, 
 And after, Amor vincit omnia. 
 
 Another NONNE also with hire hadde she, 
 That was hire chapelleine, and PREESTES thre. 
 
 THE MONK. 
 
 A MONK ther was, a fayre for the maistrie,, 165 
 An out-rider, that loved venerie ; 
 A manly man, to ben an abbot able. 
 Ful many a deinte hors hadde he in stable: 
 And whan he rode, men mighte his bridel here 
 Gingeling in a whistling wind as clere, 170 
 
 And eke as loude, as doth the chapell belle, 
 Ther as this lord was keper of the celle. 
 
 The reule of jseint Maure and of seint Beneif 
 
 m
 
 178 CHAUCER'S PROLOGUE 
 
 Because that it was olde and somdele streit, 
 
 This ilke monk lette olde thinges pace, 175 
 
 And held after the newe world the trace. 
 
 He yave not of the text a pulled hen, 
 
 That saith, that hunters ben not holy men; 
 
 Ne that a monk, whan he is rekkeles, 
 
 Is like to a fish that is waterles; ISO 
 
 This is to say, a monk out of his cloistre. 
 
 This ilke text held he not worth an oistre. 
 
 And 1 say his opinion was good. 
 
 What shulde he studie, and make himselven wood, 
 
 Upon a book in cloistre alway to pore, 185 
 
 Or swinken with his hondes, and laboure, 
 
 As Austin bit? how shal the world be served? 
 
 Let Austin have his swink to him reserved. 
 
 Therfore he was a prickasoure a right : 
 
 Greihoundes he hadde as swift as foul of flight : 
 
 Of pricking and of hunting for the hare 190 
 
 Was all his lust, for no cost wolde he spare. 
 
 I saw his sieves purfiled at the hond 
 With gris, and that the finest of the lond. 
 And for to fasten his hood under his chinne, 195 
 t He hadde of gold ywrought a curious pinne: 
 A love-knotte in the greter end ther was. 
 His hed was balled, and shone as any glas, 
 And eke his face, as it hadde ben anoint. 
 He was a lord fill fat and in good point. 200 
 
 His eyen stepe, and rolling in his hed, 
 That stemed as a forneis of a led. 
 His botes souple, his hors in gret estat, 
 Now certainly he was a fayre prelat. "*., 
 
 He was not pale as a forpined gost.
 
 TO THE CANTERBURY TALES. 179 
 
 A fat swan loved he best of any rost. 
 His palfrey was as broune as is a bery. 
 
 THE FRERE. 
 
 A FRERE ther was, a wanton and a mery, 
 A Limitour, a fill solempne man. 
 In all the ordres foure is non that can 210 
 
 So moche of daliance and fayre langage. 
 He hadde ymade ful many a manage 
 Of yonge wimmen, at his owen cost. 
 Until his ordre he was a noble post. 
 Ful wel beloved, and familier was he 215 
 
 With frankeleins over all in his contree, 
 
 And eke with worthy wimmen of the toun: 
 
 J 
 
 For he had power of confession. 
 . 
 
 As saide himselfe, more than a curat. 
 
 i 
 
 For of his ordre he was licenciat. 220 
 
 Ful swetely herde he confession, 
 And plesant was his absolution. 
 He was an esy man to give penance, 
 Ther as he wiste to han a good pitance : 
 For unto a poure ordre for to give 225 
 
 Is signe that a man is wel yshrive. 
 For if he gave, he dorste make avant, 
 He wiste that a man was repentant. 
 For many a man so hard is of his herte, 
 He may not wepe although him sore smerte. 230 
 Therfore in stede of weping and praieres, 
 Men mote give silver to the poure freres. 
 His tippet was ay farsed ful of knives,
 
 180 CHAUCER'S PROLOGUE 
 
 And pinnes, for to given fayre wives. 
 
 And certainly he hadde a mery note. 235 
 
 Wei coude he singe and plaien on a rote. 
 
 Of yeddinges he bare utterly the pris. 
 
 His nekke was white as the flour de lis. 
 
 Therto he strong was as a champioun, 
 
 And knew wel the tavernes in every toun, 240 
 
 And every hosteler and gay tapstere, 
 
 Better than a lazar or a beggere, 
 
 For unto swiche a worthy man as he 
 
 Accordeth nought, as by his faculte, 
 
 To haven with sike lazars acquaintance. 245 
 
 It is not honest, it may not avance, 
 
 As for to dejen with no swiche pouraille, 
 
 But all with riche, and sellers of vitaille. 
 
 And over all, ther as profit shuld arise, 
 Curteis he was, and lowly of servise. 250 
 
 Ther n'as no man nowher so vertuous. 
 He was the beste begger in all his hous: 
 And gave a certeine ferme for the grant, 
 Non of his bretheren came in his haunt. 
 For though a widewe hadcfe but a shoo, 255 
 
 ( So plesant was his In principio) 
 
 ' 
 
 Yet wold he have a ferthing or he went. 
 His pourchas was wel better than his rent. 
 And rage he coude as it hadde ben a whelp, 
 In lovedayes, ther coude he mochel help. 260 
 For ther was he nat like a cloisterere, 
 With thredbare cope, as is a poure scolere, 
 But he was like a maister or a pope. 
 Of double worsted was his semicope, 
 That round was as a belle out of the pressc. 265
 
 TO THE CANTERBURY TALES. 181 
 
 Somwhat he lisped for his wantonnesse, 
 
 To make his English svvete upon his tonge; 
 
 And in his harping, whan that he hadde songe, 
 
 His eyen twinkeled in his hed aright, 
 
 As don the sterres in a frosty night. 270 
 
 This worthy limitour was cleped Huberd. 
 
 THE MARCHANT. 
 
 A MARCHANT was ther with a forked berd, 
 In mottelee, and highe on hors he sat, 
 And on his hed a Flaundrish bevr hat. 
 His botes elapsed fayre and fetisly. 275 
 
 His resons spake he ful solempnely, 
 Souning alway the encrese of his winning. 
 He wold the see were kept for any thing 
 Betwixen Middelburgh and Orewell. 
 Wei coud he in eschanges sheldes selle. 280 
 
 This worthy man ful wel his wit besette; 
 Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette, 
 So stedefastly didde he his governance, 
 With his bargeines, and with his chevisance. 
 Forsothe he was a worthy man withalle, 
 But soth to sayn, I n'ot how men him calle. 
 
 A CLERK ther was OF OXENFORDE also, 
 That unto logike hadde long ygo. 
 As lene was his hors as is a rake,
 
 182 CHAUCER'S PROLOGUE 
 
 And he \vas not right fat, I undertake ; 290 
 
 But loked holwe, and therto soberly. 
 
 Ful thredbare was his overest courtepy, 
 
 For he hadde geten him yet no benefice, 
 
 Ne was nought worldly to have an office. 
 
 For him was lever han at his beddes hed 293 
 
 A twenty bokes, clothed in black or red, 
 
 Of Aristotle, and his philosophic, 
 
 Than robes riche, or fidel, or sautrie. 
 
 But all be that he was a philosophre, 
 
 Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre, 300 
 
 But all th..t he might of his frendes hente, 
 
 On bokes and on lerning he it spente, 
 
 And besily gan for the soules praie 
 
 Of hem, that yave him wherwith to scolaie. 
 
 Of studie toke he moste cure and hede. 305 
 
 Not a word spake he more than was nede; 
 
 And that was said in forme and reverence, 
 
 And short and quike, and ful of high sentence. 
 
 Souning in moral vertue was his speche, 
 
 And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche. 310 
 
 THE SERGEANT OF THE LA WE. 
 
 A SERGEANT OF THE LAWE ware and wise, 
 That often hadde yben at the paruis, 
 Ther was also, ful riche of excellence. 
 Discrete he was, and of gret reverence : 
 He semed swiche, his wordes were so wise, 315 
 Justice he was ful often in assise,
 
 TO THE CANTERBURY TALES. 
 
 183 
 
 By patent, and by pleine commissioun ; 
 
 For his science, and for his high renoun, 
 
 Of fees and robes had he many on. 
 
 So grete a pourchasour was nowher non. 320 
 
 All was fee simple to him in effect, 
 
 His pourchasing might not ben in suspect. 
 
 Nowher so besy a man as he ther n'as. 
 
 And yet he semed besier than he was. 
 
 In termes hadde he cas and domes alle, 325 
 
 That fro the time of king Will, weren falle. 
 
 Therto he coude endite, and make a thing, 
 
 Ther coude no wight pinche at his writing. 
 
 And every statute coude he plaine by rote. 
 
 He rode but homely in a medlee cote, 330 
 
 Girt with a seint of silk, with barres smale; 
 
 Of his array tell I no longer tale. 
 
 THE FRANKELEIW. 
 
 A FRANKELEIN was in this compagnie; 
 White was his berd, as is the dayesie. 
 Of his complexion he was sanguin. 335 
 
 Wei loved he by the morwe a sop in win. 
 To liven in delit was ever his wone, 
 For he was Epicures owen sone, 
 That held opinion, that plein delit 
 Was veraily felicite parfite. 340 
 
 An housholder, and that a grete was he; 
 Seint Julian he was in his contre. 
 His brede, his ale, was alway after on ;
 
 CHAUCER'S PROLOGUE 
 
 A better envyned man was no wher non. 
 Withouten bake mete never was his hous, 345 
 Offish and flesh, and that so plenteous, 
 It snewed in his hous of mete and drinke, 
 Of alle deintees that men coud of thinke, 
 After the sondry sesons of the yere, 
 So changed he his mete and his soupere. 350 
 Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in mewe, 
 And many a breme, and many a luce in stewe. 
 Wo was his coke, but if his sauce were 
 Poinant and sharpe, and redy all his gere. 
 His table dormant in his halle alway 355 
 
 Stode redy covered alle the longe day. 
 At sessions ther was he lord and sire. 
 Ful often time he was knight of the shire. 
 An anelace and a gipciere all of silk, 
 Heng at his girdel, white as morwe milk. 3GO 
 A shereve hadde he ben, and a countour. 
 Was no wher swiche a worthy vavasour. 
 
 THE HABERDASHER, $r. 
 
 .riiajtiz* "Ktr 'i ifoixilqnttu wcftO 
 An HABERDASHER, and a CARPENTER,, 
 A WEBBE, a DEYER, and a TAPISER, 
 Were alle yclothed in o livere, 363 
 
 Of a solempne and grete fraternity. 
 Ful freshe and newe hir gere ypiked was. 
 Hir knives -were ychaped not with bras 
 But all with silver wrought ful clene and wel, 
 Hir girdeles and hir pouches eTery del. 370
 
 TO THE CANTERBURY TALES. 
 
 Wel seined eche of hem a fayre burgeis, 
 
 To sitten in a gild halle, on the deis. 
 
 Everich, for the wisdom that he cart, 
 
 Was shapelich for to ben an alderman. 
 
 For catel hadden they ynough and rent, 375 
 
 And eke hir wives wolde it wel assent : 
 
 And elles certainly they were to blame. 
 
 It is ful fayre to ben ycleped madame, 
 
 And for to gon to vigiles all before, 
 
 And have a mantel reallich ybore. 
 
 THE COKE. 
 
 A COKE they hadden with hem for the nones. 
 To boile the chikenes and the marie bones, 
 And poudre marchant, tart and galingale. 
 Wel coude he knowe a draught of London ale. 
 He coude roste, and sethe, and broile, and frie, 
 Maken mortrewes, and wel bake a pie. 386 
 
 But gret harm was it, as it thoughte me, 
 That on his shinrie a mormal liadde he. 
 For blanc manger that made he with the best. 
 
 THE SH1PMAN. 
 
 , v ! .i-f/ 
 
 A SHIPMAN was ther, woned fet by West: 
 For ought I wote, he was of Dertemouth. 
 He rode upon a rouncie, as he couthe, 
 Aft in a goune of falding to the kittfe.
 
 186 CHAUCER'S PROLOGUE 
 
 A dagger hanging by a las hadde hee 
 
 About his nekke under his arm adoun. 395 
 
 The hote sommer hadde made his hewe al broun. 
 
 And certainly he was a good felaw. 
 
 Ful many a draught of win he hadde draw 
 
 From Burdeux ward, while that the chapman slepe. 
 
 Of nice conscience toke he no kepe. 400 
 
 If that he faught, and hadde the higher hand, 
 
 By water he sent hem home to every land. 
 
 But of his craft to reken wel his tides, 
 
 His stremes and his strandes him besides, 
 
 His herberwe, his mone, and his lodemanage, 40& 
 
 Ther was non swiche, from Hull unto Cartage. 
 
 Hardy he was, and wise, I undertake : 
 
 With many a tempest hadde his berd be shake. 
 
 He knew wel alle the havens, as they were, 
 
 Fro Gotland, to the Cape de finistere, 410 
 
 And every creke in Bretagne and in Spaine : 
 
 His barge ycleped was the Magdelaine. 
 
 THE DOCTOUR OF PHIS IKE. 
 
 With us ther was a DOCTOUR OF PHISIKK, 
 In all this world ne was ther non him like 
 To speke of phisike, and of surgerie: 415 
 
 For he was grounded in astronomic. 
 He kept his patient a ful gret del 
 In houres by his magike naturel. 
 Wel coude he fortunen the ascendent 
 Of his images for his patient. 420 
 
 7
 
 TO THE CANTERBURY TALES. 187 
 
 He knew the cause of every maladie, 
 Were it of cold, or hote, or moist, or drie, 
 And wher engendred, and of what humour, 
 He was a veray parfite practisour. 
 The cause yknowe, and of his harm the rote, 425 
 Anon he gave to the sike man his bote. 
 Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries 
 To send him dragges, and his lettuaries, 
 For eche of hem made other for to winne : 
 Hir frendship n'as not newe to beginne. 430 
 Wei knew he the old Esculapius, 
 And Dioscorides, and eke Rufus; 
 Old Hippocras, Hali, and Gallien; 
 Serapion, Rasis, and Avicen; 
 Averrois, Damascene, and Constantin; 435 
 
 Bernard, and Gatisden, and Gilbertin. 
 Of his diete mesurable was he, 
 For it was of no superfluitee, 
 But of gret nourishing, and digestible. 
 His studie was but litel on the Bible. 440 
 
 In sanguin and in perse he clad was alle 
 Lined with taffata, and with sendalle. 
 And yet he was but esy of dispence : 
 He kepte that he wan in the pestilence. 
 For gold in phisike is a cordial ; 445 
 
 Therfore he loved gold in special.
 
 THE WIF OF BATHE. 
 
 A good WIF was ther OF beside BATHE, 
 But she was som del defe, and that was scathe. 
 Of cloth making she hadde swiche an haunt, 
 She passed hem of Ipres, and of Gaunt. 450 
 
 In all the parish wif ne was ther non, 
 That to the offring before hire shulde gon, 
 And if ther did, certain so wroth was she, 
 That she was out of alle charitee. 
 Hire coverchiefs weren ful fine of ground ; 455 
 I dorste swere, they weyeden a pound; 
 That on the Sonday were upon hire hede. 
 Hire hosen weren of fine scarlet rede, 
 Ful streite yteyed, and shoon ful moist and newe. 
 Bold was hire face, and fayre and rede of hew. 
 She was a worthy woman all hire livej 461 
 
 Housbondes at the chirche dore had she had five, 
 Withouten other compagnie in youthe. 
 But therof nedeth not to speke as nouthe. 
 And thries hadde she ben at Jerusaleme. 465 
 She hadde passed many a strange streme. 
 At Rome she hadde ben, and at Boloine, 
 In Galice at Seint James, and at Coloine. 
 She coude moche of wandring by the way. 
 Gat-tothed was she, sothly for to say. 470 
 
 Upon an ambler esily she sat, 
 Ywimpled wel, and on hire hede an hat, 
 As brode as is a bokeler, or a targe. 
 A fote-mantel about hire hippes large, 
 
 6
 
 TO TUB CANTERBURY TA1>ES. 189 
 
 And on hire fete a pair of sporres sharpe. 475 
 In felawship wel coude she laughe and carpe 
 Of remedies of love she knew parchance, 
 For of that arte she coude the olde dance. 
 
 THE PERSONE. 
 
 .cr 
 
 A good man ther was of religioun, 
 That was a poure PERSONE of a toun : 480 
 
 But riche he was of holy thought and werk. 
 He was also a lerned man, a clerk, 
 That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche. 
 His parishens devoutly wolde he teche. 
 Benigne he was, and wonder diligent, 
 And in adversite ful patient : 
 And swiche he was ypreved often sithes. 
 Ful loth were him to cursen for his tithes, 
 But rather wolde he yeven out of doute, 
 Unto his poure parishens aboute, 490 
 
 Of his offring, and eke of his substance. 
 He coude in litel thing have suffisance. 
 Wide was his parish, and houses fer asonder, " 
 But he ne left nought for no rain ne thonder, 
 In sikenesse and in mischief to visite 495 
 
 The ferrest in his parish, moche and lite, 
 Upon his fete, and in his hand a staf. 
 This noble ensample to his shepe he yaf, 
 That first he wrought, and afterward he taught. 
 Out of the gospel he the wordes caught, 500 
 And this figure he added yet therto,
 
 190 CHAUCER'S PROLOGUE 
 
 That if gold ruste, what shuld iren do ? 
 
 For if a preest be foule, on whom we trust, 
 
 No wonder is a lewed man to rust : 
 
 And shame it is, if that a preest take kepe, 505 
 
 To see a shitten shepherd, and clene shepe : 
 
 Wei ought a preest ensample for to yeve, 
 
 By his clenenesse, how his shepe shulde live. 
 
 He sette not his benefice to hire, 
 And lette his shepe acombred in the mire, 510 
 And ran unto London, unto Seint Ponies, 
 To seken him a chanterie for soules, 
 Or with a brotherhede to be withold : 
 But dwelt at home, and kepte wel his fold, 
 So that the wolf ne made it not miscarie. 515 
 He was a shepherd, and no mercenarie. 
 And though he holy were, and vertuous, 
 He was to sinful men not dispitous, 
 Ne of his speche dangerous ne digne, 
 But in his teching discrete and benigne. 520 
 To drawen folk to heven, with fairenesse, 
 By good ensample, was his besinesse : 
 But it were any persone obstinat, 
 What so he were of highe, or low estat, 
 Him wolde he snibben sharply for the nones. 525 
 A better preest I trowe that nowher non is. 
 He waited after no pompe ne reverence, 
 Ne maked him no spiced conscience, 
 But Cristes lore, and his apostles twelve, 
 
 He taught, but first he folwed it himselve, 530 
 
 luO 
 
 I,'; bnA
 
 TO THE CANTERBURY TALK. 191 
 
 THE PLOWMAN. 
 
 With him ther was a PLOWMAN, was his brother, 
 That hadde ylaid of dong ful many a fother. 
 A trewe swinker, and a good was he, 
 Living in pees, and parfite charitee. 
 God loved he beste with all his herte 535 
 
 At alle times, were it gain or smerte, 
 And than his neighebour right as himselve. 
 He wolde thresh, and therto dike, and delve, 
 For Cristes sake, for every poure wight, 
 Withouten hire, if it lay in his might. 540 
 
 His tithes paied he ful fayre and wel 
 Both of his propre swinke, and his catel. 
 In a tabard he rode upon a mere. 
 
 Ther was also a reve, and a mi Here, 
 A sompnour, and a pardoner also, 54k 
 
 A manciple, and myself, ther n'ere no mo. 
 
 THE MILLER. 
 
 The MILLER was a stout carl for the nones, 
 Ful bigge he was of braun, and eke of bones; 
 That proved well, for over all ther he came, 
 At wrastling he wold bere away the ram. 550 
 He was short shuldered brode, a thikke gnarre, 
 Ther n'as no dore, that he n'olde heve of barre, 
 Or breke it at a renning with his hede. 
 Hig herd as any sowe or fox was rede,
 
 192 CHAUCER'S PROLOGUE 
 
 And therto brocte, as though it were a spade. 555 
 
 Upon the cop right of his nose he hade 
 
 A wert, and theron stode a tufte of heres, 
 
 Rede as the bristles of a sowes eres. 
 
 His nose-thirles blacke were and wide. 
 
 A swerd and bokeler bare he by his side. 560 
 
 His mouth as wide was as a forneis. 
 
 He was a jangler, and a goliardeis, 
 
 And that was most of sinne, and harlotries. 
 
 Wei coude he stelen corne, and tollen thries. 
 
 And yet he had a thomb of gold parde. 565 
 
 A white cote and a blew hode wered he. 
 
 A baggepipe wel coude he blowe and soune, 
 
 And therwithall he brought us out of toune. 
 
 THE MANCIPLE. 
 
 A gentil MANCIPLE was ther of a temple, 
 Of which achatours mighten take ensemple 570 
 For to ben wise in bying of vitaille. 
 For whether that he paide, or toke by taille, 
 Algate he waited so in his achate, 
 That he was ay before in good estate. 
 Now is not that of God a full fayre grace, 575 
 That swiche a lewed mannes wit shal pace 
 The wisdom of an hepe of lered men ? 
 
 Of maisters had he mo than thries ten, 
 That were of lawe expert and curious : 
 Of which ther was a dosein in that hous, 580 
 Worthy to ben stewardes of rent and lond. ,* f H
 
 TO THE CANTERBURY TALES. 193 
 
 Of any lord that is in Englelond, 
 
 To maken him live by his propre good, 
 
 In honour detteles, but if he were wood, 
 
 Or live as scarsly, as him list desire ; 585 
 
 And able for to helpen all a shire 
 
 In any cas that mighte fallen or happe ; 
 
 And yet this manciple sette hir aller cappe. 
 
 THE REVE. 
 
 The REVE was a slendre colerike man, 
 His berd was shave as neighe as ever he can. 590 
 His here was by his eres round y shorn e. 
 His top was docked like a preest beforne. 
 Ful longe were his legges, and ful lene, 
 Ylike a staflf^ ther was no calf ysene. 
 Wei coude he kepe a garner and a binne : 595 
 Ther was non auditour coude on him winne. 
 Wei wiste he by the drought, and by the rain, 
 The yelding of his seed, and of his grain. 
 His lordes shepe, his nete, and his deirie, 
 His swine, his hors, his store, and his pultrie, 600 
 Were holly in this reves governing, 
 And by his covenant yave he rekening, 
 Sin that his lord was twenty yere of age ; 
 Ther coude no man bring him in arerage. 
 Ther n'as baillif, ne herde, ne other nine, 605 
 That he ne knew his sleight and his covine: 
 They were adradde of him, as of the deth'. 
 His wonning was ful fayre upon an heth, 
 With grene trees yshadewed was his place. 
 
 o
 
 194 CHAUCER'S PROLOGUE 
 
 He coude better than his lord pourchace. 610 
 
 Ful riche he was ystored privily. 
 
 His lord wel coude he plesen subtilly, 
 
 To yeve and lene him of his owen good, 
 
 And hale a thank, and yet a cote and hood, 
 
 In youthe he lerned hadde a good mistere. 615 
 
 He was a wel good wright, a carpentere. 
 
 This reve sate upon a right good stot, 
 
 That was all pomelee grey, and highte Scot. 
 
 A long surcote of perse upon he hade, 
 
 And by his side he bare a rusty blade. 620 
 
 Of Norfolk was this reve, of which I tell, 
 
 Beside a toun, men clepen Baldeswell. 
 
 Tucked he was, as is a frere, aboute, 
 
 And ever he rode the hinderest of the route. 
 
 THE SOMPNOUR. 
 
 A SOMPNOUR was ther with us in that place, 625 
 That hadde a fire-red cherubinnes face, 
 For sausefleme he was, with eyen narwe. 
 As hote he was, and likerous as a sparwe, 
 With scalled browes blake, and pilled berd : 
 Of his visage children were sore aferd. 630 
 Ther n'as quiksilver, litarge, ne brimston, 
 Boras, ceruse, ne oile of tartre non, 
 Ne oinement that wolde dense or bite, 
 That him might helpen of his whelkes white, 
 Ne of the knobbes sitting on his chekes. 635 
 Wel loved he garlike, onions, and lekes,
 
 TO THE CANTERBUHY TALES. 
 
 195 
 
 And for to drinke strong win as rede as blood. 
 Than \volde he speke, and crie as he were wood. 
 And whan that he wel dronken had the win, 
 Than wold he speken no word but Latin. 640 
 A fewe termes coude he, two or three, 
 That he had lerncd out of som decree ; 
 No wonder is, he herd it all the day. 
 And eke ye knowen wel, how that a jay 
 Can clepen watte, as wel as can the pope. 645 
 But who so wolde in other thing him grope, 
 Than hadde he spent all his philosophic, 
 Ay, Questio quid juris, wolde he crie. 
 
 He was a gentil harlot and a kind; 
 A better felaw shulde a man not find. 650 
 
 He wolde sufFre for a quart of wine, 
 A good felaw to have his concubine 
 A twelve month, and excuse him at the full. 
 Ful prively a finch eke coude he pull. 
 And if he found owhere a good felawe, 655 
 
 / " *i ' \ H 
 
 He wolde techen him to have non awe 
 In swiche a cas of the archedekenes curse; 
 But if a mannes soule were in his purse ; 
 For in his purse he shulde ypunished be. 
 Purse is the archedekens helle, said he. 660 
 But wel I wotc, he lied right in dede ; 
 Of cursing ought eche gilty man him drede. 
 For curse wol sle right as assorting saveth, 
 And also ware him of a significavit. 
 
 In danger hadde he at his owen gise 665 
 The yonge girles of the diocise, 
 And knew hir conseil, and was of hir rede. 
 
 o 2
 
 196 CHAUCER'S PROLOGUE 
 
 A gerlond hadde he sette upon his hede, 
 
 As gret as it were for an alestake : 
 
 A bokeler hadde he made him of a cake. 670 
 
 THE PARDONERE. 
 
 With him ther rode a gentil PARDONERE 
 Of Rouncevall, his frend and his compere, 
 That streit was comen from the court of Rome. 
 Ful loude he sang, Come hither, love, to me. 
 This sompnour bare to him a stiff burdoun, 675 
 Was never trompe of half so gret a soun. 
 This pardoner had here as yelwe as wax, 
 But smoth it heng, as doth a strike of flax : 
 By unces heng his lokkes that he hadde, 
 And therwith he his shulders overspradde. 680 
 Ful thinne it lay, by culpons on and on, 
 But node, for jolite, ne wered he non, 
 For it was trussed up in his wallet. 
 Him thought he rode al of the newe get, 
 Dishevele, sauf his cappe, he rode all bare. 685 
 Swiche glaring eyen hadde he, as an hare. 
 A vernicle hadde he sewed upon his cappe. 
 His wallet lay beforne him in his lappe, 
 Bret-ful of pardon come from Rome al hote. 
 A vois he hadde, as smale as hath a gote. 690 
 No berd hadde he, ne never non shulde have, 
 As smothe it was as it were newe shave ; 
 I trowe he were a gelding or a mare. 
 
 But of his craft, fro Berwike unto Ware,
 
 TO THE CANTERBURY TALES. 197 
 
 Ne was ther swiche an other pardonere. 695 
 
 For in his male he hadde a pilwebere, 
 
 Which, as he saide, was oure ladies veil : 
 
 He saide, he hadde a gobbet of the seyl 
 
 Thatte seint Peter had, whan that he went 
 
 Upon the see, till Jesu Crist him hent. 700 
 
 He had a crois of laton ful of stones, 
 
 And in a glas he hadde pigges bones. 
 
 But with these relikes, whanne that he fond . 
 
 A poure persone dwelling up on lond, 
 
 Upon a day he gat him more moneie * 705 
 
 Than that the persone gat in monethes tweie. 
 
 And thus with fained flattering and japes, 
 
 He made the persone, and the peple, his apes. 
 
 But trewely to tellen atte last, 
 He was in chirche a noble ecclesiast. 710 
 
 Wei coude he rede a lesson or a storie, 
 But alderbest he sang an offertorie: 
 For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe, 
 He muste preche, and wel afile his tonge, 
 To winne silver, as he right wel coude: 715 
 
 Therfore he sang the merier and loude. 
 
 Now have I told you shortly in a clause, 
 Th'estat, th'araie, the nombre, and eke the cause 
 Why that assembled was this compagnie 
 In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrie, 720 
 
 That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle. 
 But now is time to you for to telle, 
 How that we baren us that ilke night, 
 Whan we were in that hostelrie alight.
 
 198 CHAUCER'S PROLOGUE 
 
 And after wol I telle of our viage, - 725 
 
 And all the remenant of our pilgrimage. 
 
 But firste I praie you of your curtesie, 
 That ye ne arette it not my vilanie, 
 Though that I plainly speke in this matere, 
 To tellen you hir wordes and hir chere; 730 
 
 Ne though I speke hir wordes proprely. 
 For this ye knowen al so wel as I, 
 Who so shall telle a tale after a man, 
 He moste reherse, as neighe as ever he can, 
 Everich word, if it be in his charge, 735 
 
 All speke he never so rudely and so large; 
 Or elles he moste tellen his tale untrewe, 
 Or feinen thinges, or finden wordes newe. 
 He may not spare, although he were his brother. 
 He moste as wel sayn o word, as an other. 740 
 Crist spake himself ful brode in holy writ,. 
 And wel ye wote no vilanie is it. 
 Eke Plato sayeth, who so can him rede, 
 The vrordes moste ben cosin to the dede. 
 
 Also I praie you to forgive it me, 745' 
 
 All have I not sette folk in hir degree, 
 Here in this tale, as that they shulden stonde. 
 My wit is short, ye may wel understonde. 
 
 THE HOSTE, &c. 
 
 Gret chere made oure hoste us everich on, 
 And to the souper sette he us anon : 
 And served us with vitaille of the beste.
 
 TO THE CANTERBURY TALES. 199 
 
 Strong was the win, and wel to drinke us leste. 
 
 A semely man our hoste was with alle 
 
 For to han ben a marshal in an halle. 
 
 A large man he was with eyen stepe, 755 
 
 A fairer burgeis is ther non in Chepe: 
 
 Bold of his speche, and wise and wel ytaught, 
 
 And of manhood him lacked righte naught. 
 
 Eke therto was he right a mery man, 
 
 And after souper plaien he began, 760 
 
 And spake of mirthe amonges other thinges, 
 
 Whan that we hadden made our rekeninges; 
 
 And saide thus ; Now, lordinges, trewely 
 
 Ye ben to me welcome right hertily : 
 
 For by my trouthe, if that I shal not lie, 765 
 
 I saw nat this yere swiche a compagnie 
 
 At ones in this herberwe, as is now. 
 
 Fayn wolde I do you mirthe, and I wiste how. 
 
 And of a mirthe I am right now bethought, 
 
 To don you ese, and it shall coste you nought. 
 
 Ye gon to Canterbury ; God you spede, 77 1 
 
 The blisful martyr quite you your mede ; 
 
 And wel I wot, as ye gon by the way, 
 
 Ye shapen you to talken and to play: 
 
 For trewely comfort ne mirthe is non, 775 
 
 To riden by the way dombe as the ston : 
 
 And therfore wold I maken you disport, 
 
 As I said erst, and don you some comfort. 
 
 And if you liketh alle by on assent 
 
 Now for to stonden at my jugement : 780 
 
 And for to werchen as I shal you say 
 
 To-morwe, whan ye riden on the way.
 
 200 CIIAQCER'S PROLOGUE 
 
 Now by my faders soule that is ded, 
 
 But ye be mery, smiteth of my bed. 
 
 Hold up your hondes \vithouten morespcche. 785 
 
 Our conseil was not longe for to seche : Jj- i 
 Us thought it was not worth to make it wise, 
 And granted him withouten more avise, 
 And bad him say his verdit, as him leste. 
 Lordinges, (quod he) now herkeneth for the 
 beste ; 790 
 
 But take it nat, I pray you, in disdain ; 
 This is the point, to speke it plat and plain, 
 That eche of you to shorten with youre way, 
 In this viage, shal tellen tales tway, 
 To Canterbury ward, I mene it so, 795 
 
 And homeward he shall tellen other two, 
 Of aventures that whilom han befalle. 
 And which of you that bereth him best of alle, 
 That is to sayn, that telleth in this cas 
 Tales of best sentence and most solas, 800 
 
 ShaJ have a souper at youre aller cost 
 Here in this place sitting by this post, 
 Whan that ye comen agen from Canterbury. 
 And for to maken you the more mery, 
 I wol myselven gladly with you ride, 805 
 
 Right at min owen cost, and be your gide. 
 And who that wol my jugement withsay, 
 Shal pay for alle we spenden by the way. 
 And if ye vouchesauf that it be so, 
 Telle me anon withouten wordes mo, 810 
 
 And I wol erly shapen me therfore. 
 
 This thing was granted, and our othes swore
 
 TO THE CANTERBURY TALES. 201 
 
 With ful glad herte, and praiden him also, 
 
 That he wold vouchesauf for to don so, 
 
 And that he wolde ben our governour, 815 
 
 And of our tales juge and reportour, 
 
 And sette a souper at a certain pris ; 
 
 And we wol reuled ben at his devise, 
 
 In highe and lowe : and thus by on assent, 
 
 We ben accorded to his jugement. 820 
 
 And therupon the win was fette anon. 
 
 We dronken, and to reste wenten eche on, 
 
 Without any lenger tarying. 
 
 A-morwe whan the day began to spring, 
 Up rose our hoste, and was our aller cok. 825 
 And gaderd us togeder in a flok, 
 And forth we riden a litel more than pas, 
 Unto the watering of Seint Thomas : 
 And ther our hoste began his hors arest, 
 And saide : lordes, herkeneth if you lest. 830 
 Ye wete your forword, and I it record. 
 If even-song and morwe-song accord, 
 Let se now who shal telle tne first tale. 
 As ever mote I drinken win or ale, 
 Who so is rebel to my jugement, 835 
 
 Shal pay for alle that by the way is spent. 
 Now draweth cutte, or that ye forther twinne. 
 He which that hath the shortest shal beginne. 
 
 Sire knight, (quod he) my maister and my lord, 
 Now draweth cutte, for that is min accord. 840 
 Cometh nere, (quod he) my lady prioresse, 
 And ye, sire clerk, let be your shamefastnesse, 
 Ne studieth nought, lay hand to, every man.
 
 202 CHAUCER'S PROLOGUE, &c. 
 
 Anon to drawen every wight began, 
 And shortly for to tellen as it was, 845 
 
 Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas, 
 The sothe is this, the cutte felle on the knight, 
 Of which ful blith and glad was every wight ; 
 And tell he must his tale as was reson, 
 By forword, and by composition, 850 
 
 As ye han herd ; what nedeth wordes mo ? 
 And whan this good man saw that it was so, 
 As he that wise was and obedient 
 To kepe his forword by his free assent, 
 He saide ; sithen I shal begin this game, 855 
 What ? welcome be the cutte a goddes name. 
 Now let us ride, and herkeneth what I say. 
 
 And with that word we riden forth our way; 
 And he began with right a mery chere 
 His tale anon, &c. 860 
 
 THB END OF THE PROLOGUE.
 
 THE FLOURE AND THE LEAFE, 
 BY CHAUCER. 
 
 From the edition of Chaucer's Works in 1598, 
 ty Speght, in which the poem was first printed ; 
 compared with Speght's second edition in 1602, 
 and with that of Urry. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 A Gentlewoman, out of an arbour, in a grove, seeth a great 
 company of Knights and Ladies in a dance upon the 
 green grass. The which being ended, they all kneel 
 down, and do honour to the Daisie, some to the Flower, 
 and some to the Leaf. Afterward this Gentlewoman 
 Jearneth by one of these Ladies the meaning hereof, which 
 is this : Tltey which honour the Flower, a thing fading with 
 every blast, are such as look after beauty and worldly plea- 
 sure ; but they that honour the -Leaf, which abideth with the 
 root notwithstanding the frosts and winter storms, are they 
 which follow virtue and during qualities without regard of 
 worldly respects. . 
 
 WHEN that Pliebus his chair of gold so hie 
 Had whirled up the sterry sky aloft, 
 And in the Boole was entred certainly; 
 When shoures sweet of rain descended *soft, 
 Causing the ground fele times and oft 5 
 
 * Oft, by an apparent errour of the press, in the old edi- 
 tions. Urry, soft.
 
 204? THE FLOURE 
 
 Up for to give many an wholsome aire : 
 And every plaine was clothed faire 
 
 With new greene, and maketh small floures 
 To springen here and there in field and in mede; 
 So very good and wholsome be the shoures, 10 
 That it renueth that was old and deede, 
 In winter time ; and out of every seede 
 Springeth the hearbe, so that every wight 
 Of this season wexeth glad and light. 
 
 And I, so glad of the season swete, 15 
 
 Was happed thus upon a certaine night, 
 As I lay in my bed, sleepe ful unmete 
 Was unto me; but why that I ne might 
 Rest, I ne wist: for there n'as earthly wight, 
 As I suppose, had more hearts'ease 20 
 
 Then I; for I n'ad sicknesse nor disease. 
 
 Wherefore I mervaile greatly of myselfe, 
 That I so long withouten sleepe lay; 
 And up I rose three houres after twelfe, 
 About the springing of the day; 25 
 
 And on I put my geare and mine array, 
 And to a pleasaunt grove I gan passe, 
 Long er the bright sunne up risen was : 
 
 In which were okes great, streight as a line, 
 Under the which the grasse so fresh of hew 30 
 Was newly sprong, and an eight foot or nine 
 Every tree well fro his fellow grew,
 
 AND THE LEAF!. 205 
 
 With braunches brode, laden with leves new, 
 
 That sprongen out ayen the sunne-shene, 
 
 Some very red, and some a glad light grene. 35 
 
 Od t*w Jl ' r - *" 
 
 Which, as me thought, was right a plesaunt 
 
 sight; 
 
 And eke the briddes songe for to here, 
 Would have rejoiced any earthly wight; 
 And I, that couth not yet in no manere 
 Heare the Nightingale of all the yere, 40 
 
 Full busily herkened, with hart and with eare, 
 If I her voice perceive coud any where. 
 
 .;.; 
 
 And at the last a path of litel breade 
 I found, that greatly had not used be; 
 For it forgrowen was with grasse and weede, 45 
 That well unneth a wighte might it se; 
 Thought I, this path some whider goth, parde; 
 And so I followed, till it me brought 
 To right a plesaunt herber well ywrought, 
 
 That benched was, and with turfes new 50 
 Freshly turned ; whereof the greene gras 
 So small, so thick, so short, so fresh of hew, 
 That most like unto green wool, wot I it was : 
 The hegge also that yede in compas, 
 And closed in all the green herbere, 55 
 
 With sicamour was set and eglatere ;
 
 206 THE FIGURE x 
 
 *Wrethen in fere so wel and cunningly, 
 That every branch and leafe grew by mesure, 
 
 f& 
 
 Plain as a bord, of an height by and by, 
 
 I sie never thing, I you ensure, 60 
 
 So wel done; for he that tooke the cure 
 
 It to make, I trow, did all his peine 
 
 To make it passe all tho that men have seyne. 
 
 And shapen was this herber, roofe and all, 
 As a prety parlour; and also G5 
 
 The hegge as thick as a castle wall, 
 That who that list without to stond or go, 
 Though he would all day prien to and fro, 
 He should not see if there were any wight 
 Within or no; but one within well might 70 
 
 Perceive all tho, that yeden there without 
 In the field, that was on every side 
 Covered with corne and grasse, that out of doubt, 
 Though one would seeke all the worlde wide, 
 So rich a fielde coud not be espide 75 
 
 On no coast, as of the quantity ; 
 For of all good thing there was plenty. 
 
 And I, that all this plesaunt sighte sie, 
 Thought sodainly I felt so sweet an aire 
 Of the eglentere, that certainly 80 
 
 There is no heart, I deme, in such dispaire, 
 
 This is the old and gertuine reading. Urry reads, 
 Within. 
 
 7'
 
 AND THE LEAFE. 207 
 
 Ne with thoughts froward and contraire 
 So overlaid, but it should soone have bote, 
 If it had ones felt this savour sote. 
 
 And as I stood, and cast aside mine eie, 85 
 I was ware of the fairest medler tre, 
 That ever yet in all my life I sie, 
 As full of blosomes as it might be: 
 Therein a Goldfinch leaping pretile 
 Fro bough to bough; and, as him list, he eet 90 
 Here and there of buds and floures sweet. 
 
 And to the herber side was joyning 
 This faire tree, of which I have you told; 
 And at the last the bird began to sing, 
 Whan he had eaten what he eat wold ; 95 
 
 So passing sweetly, that by many fold 
 It was more plesaunt then I coud devise ; 
 And when his song was ended in this wise, 
 
 The Nightingale with so mery a note 
 Answered him, that all the wood rong 100 
 
 So sodainly, that as it were a sote 
 I stood astonied; *so was I with the song 
 Thorow ravished, that till late and long 
 I ne wist in what place I was, ne where ; 
 And ayen, me thought, she song ever by mine 
 ere. 105 
 
 * The old and true reading, Urry reads, and,.
 
 208 THE FLOURR 
 
 Wherefore I waited about busily 
 On every side if I her might see; 
 And at the last I gan full well aspy 
 Where she sat in a fresh greene laury tree, 
 On the further side even right by me, 1 10 
 
 That gave so passing a delicious smell,, 
 According to the eglentere full well. 
 
 Whereof I had so inly great pleasure, 
 That, as me thought, I surely ravished was 
 Into Paradise, where my desire 115 
 
 Was for to be, and no ferther passe 
 As for that day; and on the sote grasse 
 I sat me down ; for as for mine entent, 
 The birdes song was more convenient, 
 CC -f nfirt'-.Y 
 
 And more plesaunt to me, by many fold, 120 
 Than meat, or drink, or any other thing : 
 Thereto the herber was so fresh and cold, 
 The wholsome savours eke so comforting, 
 That, as I demed, sith the beginning 
 Of the world was never seen er than 125 
 
 So plesaunt a ground of none earthly man. 
 
 And as I sat the birds barkening thus, 
 Me thought that I heard voices sodainly 
 The most sweetest, and most delicious, 
 That ever any wight, I trow trewly, 130 
 
 Heard in their life; for the armony 
 And sweet accord was in so good musike, 
 That the voice to Angels most was like.
 
 AND THE LEAFE. 
 
 209 
 
 At the last out of a grove even by, 
 That was right goodly and plesaunt to sight, 135 
 I *sie where there came singing lustily 
 A world of Ladies; but, to tell aright 
 Their great beauty, it lieth not in my might, 
 Ne their array ; neverthelesse I shall 
 Tell you a part, though I speake not of all. 140 
 
 <*>ri- f t i fi-r I ) I 
 
 The surcotes white of velvet \vele f sitting, 
 They were in cladde ; and the semes eche one, -j 
 As it were in a manere garnishing, 
 Was set with emeraudes one and one 
 By and by ; but many a riche stone 145 
 
 Was set on the purfiles, out of dour, 
 Of colors, sieves, and traines round about; 
 
 As of great pearles round and orient, 
 Diamonds fine, and rubies red, 
 And many another stone of which I went 150 
 The names now ; and everich on her head 
 A rich fret of gold, which without dread 
 Was full of stately riche stones set ; 
 And every Lady had a chapelet 
 
 On her head of J [branches] fresh and grene, 
 So wele wrought, and so mervelously, 156 
 
 * Sie, i. e, saw, which often occurs; but Urry in this 
 poem a* often reads se. See the Glossary. 
 
 t The true reading, as in the old editions. Urry reads, 
 feting. See the Glossary. 
 
 J Wanting in the old editions. 
 P
 
 210 THE FIGURE 
 
 That it was a noble sight to sene; 
 
 Some of laiirer, and some ful plesauntly 
 
 Had chapelets of woodbind, and sadly 
 
 Some of Agnus castus were also, 160 
 
 Chapelets fresh ; but there were many of tho, 
 
 That daunced, and eke song ful soberly; 
 But all they yede in maner of compace. 
 But one there yede in mid the company 
 Sole by herself; but all followed the pace 165 
 That she kepte, whose heavenly figured face 
 So plesaunt was, and her wele shape person, 
 That of beauty she past hem everichon. 
 
 And more richly beseene, by many fold, 
 She was also in every maner thing: 170 
 
 On her head, ful plesaunt to behold, 
 A crown of golde rich for any king; 
 A braunch of Agnus castus eke bearing 
 In her hand; and to my sight trewly 
 She Lady was of the company. 175 
 
 And she began a roundell lustely 
 That SMS lefoyle de vert moy men call, 
 Sine et monjoly coeur est endormy ; 
 And than the company answered all 
 With voices sweet entuned, and so small, 180 
 That me thought it the sweetest melody. 
 That ever I heard in my life soothly. 
 
 And thus they came, dauncing and singing,
 
 AND THE kEAFE. 
 
 Into the middes of the mede ech one, 
 
 Before the herber where I was sitting, 185 
 
 And God wot me thought I was well bigone ; 
 
 For than I might avise hem, one by one, 
 
 Who fairest was, who coud best dance or sing, 
 
 Or who most womanly was in all thing. 
 
 They had not danced but a little throw, 190 
 When that I hearde fer of sodainly 
 So great a noise of thundering trumpes blow, 
 As though it should have departed the skie; 
 And after that within a while I sie, 
 From the same grove where the Ladies come out, 
 Of Men of armes comming such a rout, 196 
 
 As all the men on earth had been assembled 
 In that place wele horsed for the nones, 
 Stereing so fast that all the earth trembled ; 
 But for to speake of riches and [of] stone?, 
 And men and horse, I trow the large wones 
 Of Preter John, ne all his tresory, 
 Might not unneth have bought the tenth party 
 
 Of their array : Who so list heare more, 
 I shal rehearse, so as I can, a lite. 205 
 
 Out of the grove, that I spake of before, 
 I sie come first all in their rlokes white 
 A company, that ware for their delite 
 Chapelets fresh of okes seriall 
 Newely sprong; and Trumpets they were all. S10 
 
 Hi
 
 THE FLOURE 
 
 On every trump hanging a broad banere 
 Of fine Tartarium ful richely bete, 
 Every Trumpet his lords armes bere, 
 About their neckes with great pearles set 
 Collares brode, for cost they would not lete, 215 
 As it would seeme, for their scochones ech one 
 Were set about with many a precious stone. 
 
 Their horse harneis was all white also; 
 And after them next in one company 
 Came Kings of armes, and no mo, 220 
 
 In clokes of white cloth of gold richly ; 
 Chapelets of green on their heads on hye; 
 The crowns that they on their scochones bere, 
 Were set with pearle, ruby, and saphere, 
 
 And eke great diamondes many one; 225 
 
 But all their horse harneis, and other geare, 
 Was in a sute according everichone, 
 As ye have heard the foresaid Trumpets were; 
 And by seeming they were nothing to lere, 
 And their guiding they did so manerly : 230 
 
 And after hem came a great company 
 
 Of heraudes and pursevauntes eke, 
 Arraied in clothes of white velvet; 
 And hardily they were no thing to seke, 
 How they on them shoulden the harneis set; 235 
 And every man had on a chapelet ; 
 Scochones and eke horse harneis in dede 
 They had in sute of hem that 'fore hem yede.
 
 AND THE LEAFE. 
 
 213 
 
 Next after hem came in armour bright, 
 All save their heades, seemely Knightes nine; 240 
 And every claspe and naile, as to my sight, 
 Of their harneis were of red golde fine ; 
 With cloth of gold, and furred witli ermine, 
 Were the *trappoures of their stedes strong, 
 Wide and large, that to the ground did hong. 245 
 
 And every boss of bridle and paitrell 
 That they had, was worth, as I would wene, 
 A thousand pound ; and on their heades well 
 Dressed were crownes of [the] laurer grene, 
 The beste made that ever I had sene ; 250 
 
 And every Knight had after him riding 
 Three henchmen [each] on him awaiting; 
 
 *m 
 Of which every f first, on a short tronchoun, n l 
 
 His lordes helme bare so richly dight, 
 
 That the worst was worthe the ransoun 255 
 
 Of [anj] king ; the second a shield bright 
 
 Bare at his back ; the thirde bare upright 
 
 A mighty spear, ful sharpe ground and kene; 
 
 And every Childe ware of leaves grene 
 
 A fresh chapelet upon his haires bright ; 260 
 And clokes white of fine velvet they ware ; 
 Their steeds trapped and raied right, 
 
 * Urry, tappouris. 
 
 t First, inserted by Urry, to complete the sense; i. e. 
 
 tltc first of each Knight's three henchmen.
 
 THE FLOURE 
 
 Without difference as their lordes were ; 
 And after hem, on many a fresh corsere^ ; 
 There came of armed Knightes such a rout, 265 
 That they bespread the large field about. 
 
 And all they ware, after their degrees, 
 Chapelets neWe, made of laurer grene, 
 Some of [the]) oke, and some of other trees ; 
 Some in their honds bare boughes shene, 270 
 Some of laurer, and some of okes kene, 
 Some of hauthorne, and some of [the]) woodbind, 
 And many mo which I had not in mind. 
 
 And so they came, their horses freshly stering 
 With bloody sownes of her troinpes loud ; 273 
 There sie I many an uncouth disguising 
 In the array of these Knightes proud ; 
 And at the last, as evenly as they coud, 
 They took their place in middes of the mede; 
 And every Knight turned his horses hede 280 
 
 To his fellow> and lightly laid a spere 
 Into the rest; and so justes began 
 On every part abouten here and there ; 
 Some brake his spere, some drew down hors and 
 
 man ; 
 
 About the field astray 'the steedes rah. 285 
 
 And to behold their rule and governaunce, 
 I you ensure, it was a great plesaunce. 
 
 And so the justes last an houre and more; 
 
 6
 
 AND THE LEAFE. 215 
 
 But they, that crowned were in laurer grene, 
 Wanne the prise ; their dintes were so sore, 290 
 That there was none ayenst hem might susteine ; 
 And the justing alle was left of clene : 
 And fro their horse the nine alight anon, 
 And so did all the remnant everichon. 
 
 And forth they yede togider, twain and twain, 
 That to behold it was a worthy sight, 296 
 
 Toward the Ladies on the green e plain, 
 That song and daunced, as I said now right: 
 The Ladies as soone as they goodly might, 
 They brake of both the song and daunce, 300 
 And yede to meet hem with full glad semblaunce. 
 
 : 
 
 And every Lady took ful womanly 
 By the hond a Knight; and forth they yede 
 Unto a faire laurer that stood fast by, 
 With leaves lade the boughes of great brede; 305 
 And to my dome there never was indede 
 Man that had scene half so faire a tre; 
 For underneath it there might wel have be 
 
 An hundred persons, at their own plesaunce, 
 Shadowed fro the heat of Phebus bright, 310 
 
 So that they should have felte no grevaunce 
 Of raine, ne haile, that hem hurte might : 
 The savour eke rejoice would any wight 
 That had be sicke, or melancolious ; 
 It was so very good and vertuous. 81 5
 
 216 THE FLOURED A 
 
 And with great reverence they enclined low :S 
 To the tre so soot, and faire of hew; 
 And after that, within a little throw, - o-iv 
 They began to sing and daunce of new : 
 Some song of love, some plaining of untrew ; 320 
 Environing, the tre that stood upright ; 
 And ever yede a Lady and a Knight. 
 
 And at the last I cast mine eie aside, 
 And was ware of a lusty company, yfoT 
 
 That came roming out of the field wide, 325 
 
 Hond in bond, a Knight and a Lady; , 
 The Ladies all in surcotes, that richly 
 Purfiled were with many a rich stone; 
 And every Knight of greene ware mantels on, 
 
 ;mov/ f: -3 bfiA 
 
 Embrouded well, so as the surcotes were; 330 
 And everich had a chapelet on her bed, n tin' 
 Which did right well upon the shining here, . , / 
 Made of goodly floures white and red ; 
 The Knightes eke, that they in honde led. 
 In sute of hem ware chapelets everichone, 335 
 And before hem went Minstrels many one: 
 
 f . i nA 
 
 As Harpes, Pipes, Lutes, and Sautry, 
 
 Alle in grene ; and on their heades bare t i> 
 
 Of divers floures, made full craftely 
 
 All in a sute, goodly chapelets they ware ; 340 
 
 And so dauncing unto the mede they fare. 
 
 In mid the which they found a tuft that was 
 
 All oversprad with floures in compas.
 
 AND THE LEAFE. 217 
 
 Whereto they enclined everichon 
 With great reverence, and that full humbly; 345 
 And at the last there began anon 
 A Lady for to sing right womanly 
 A bargaret in praising the daisie : 
 For, as me thought, among her notes swete, 
 She saide, Si douce est la margarete. 350 
 
 Then they alle answered her in fere, 
 So passingly well, and so plesauntly, 
 That it was a blisful noise to here ; 
 But I n'ot how it happed sodainly, 
 As about noone the sunne so fervently 355 
 
 Waxe whote, that the prety tender floures 
 Had lost the beauty of her fresh coloures. 
 
 For shronke with heat the Ladies eke to-brent, 
 That they ne wist where they hem might bestow; 
 The Knightes swelt for lack of shade nie shent; 
 And after that, within a little throw, 361 
 
 The wind began so sturdily to blow, 
 That down goeth all the floures everichone, 
 sSo that in all the mede there left not one; 
 
 Save such as succoured were among the leves 
 Fro every storme that might hem assaile, 366 
 Growing under {[the] hegges and thicke greves ; 
 And after that there came a storme of haile 
 And raine in fere, so that withouten faile 
 The Ladies ne the Knightes n'ade o threed 370 
 Dry on them, so dropping [wet] was her weed.
 
 THE FLOURE 
 
 And when the storm was cleane passed away, 
 Tho in white that stood under the tre, 
 They felt nothing of the great affray, 
 That they in grene without had in ybe : 375 
 
 To them they yede, for routhe and pite, 
 Them to comfort after their great disease; 
 So faine they were the helplesse for to ease. 
 
 When I was ware how one of hem in grene 
 Had on a crowne rich and well * sitting; 380 
 
 Wherefore I demed wel she was a Quene, 
 And tho in grene oft her were awaiting: 
 The Ladies then in white that were coming 
 Toward them, and the Knights in fere, 
 Began to comfort hem and make hem chere. 385 
 
 The Queen in white, that>vas of great beauty, 
 Took by the hond the Queen that was in grene, 
 And said, Suster, I have right great pity 
 Of your annoy, and of the troublous tene, 
 Wherein ye and your company have bene 390 
 So long, alas ! and if that it you please 
 To go with me, I shall do you the ease 
 
 In all the plesure that I can or may : 
 Whereof the other, humbly as she might, 
 Thanked her ; for in right ill array 395 
 
 She was, with storm and heat, I you behight : 
 And every Lady then anon right, 
 
 * Uity, fitting.
 
 AND THE LEAFE. 
 
 That were in -white, one of them took in grene 
 By the hond; which when the Knights had sene, 
 
 In like wise ech of them [then] took a Knight 
 Cladde in arrene, and forth with hem thev fare 401 
 
 o / 
 
 To an hegge, where they anon right, 
 To make their justs they would not spare 
 Boughes to hew down, and eke trees square, 
 Wherewith they made hem stately fires great, 405 
 To dry their clothes that were wringing weat. 
 
 And after that of hearbes that there grew 
 They made for blisters of the sunne brenning, 
 * Very good and wholsome ointmentes new, 
 Where that they yede the sick fast anointing; 
 And after that they yede about gadering 41 1 
 
 Plesaunt salades which they made hem eat, 
 For to refresh their great unkindly heat. 
 
 The Lady of the Leafe then gan to pray 
 Her of theFloure, (for so to my seeming 415 
 They should be called as by their array, ) 
 To soupe with her, and eke for any thing 
 That she should with her all her people bring; 
 And she ayen in right goodly manere 
 Thanketh her [then] of her most friendly cheare ; 
 
 Saying plainely, that she would obay 
 
 * The old reading. Urry thus transposes the Ime, 
 Ointmentes very gode, wholsome, and new.
 
 THE FLOURE 
 
 With all her heart all her commaundement. 
 
 And then anon without lenger delay 
 
 The Lady of the Leafe hath one ysent 
 
 For a palfraye after her intent ^| 42j 
 
 Araied well and faire in harneis of gold ; 
 
 For nothing lacked that to him long should. 
 
 
 And after that to all her company 
 
 She made to purvey horse and every thing 
 
 That they needed, and then full * lustily 430 
 
 Even by the herber where I was sitting, 
 
 They passed all, so plesauntly singing, 
 
 That it would have comforted any wight : 
 
 But then I sie a passing wonder sight; 
 
 For then the Nightingale, that all the day 435 
 Had in the laurer sate, and did her might 
 The whole service to sing longing to May, 
 All sodainly began to take her flight; 
 And to the Lady of the Leafe forthright 
 She flew, and set her on her hond softly, 440 
 
 WTiich was a thing I marveled of greatly. 
 
 c. oT 
 The Goldfinch eke, that fro the medler tre 
 
 Was fled for heat into the bushes cold, 
 
 Unto the Lady of the Floure gan fle, 
 
 And on her hond he set him, as he wold, 445 
 
 And plesauntly his winges gan to fold; 
 
 And for to sing they pained hem both as sore, 
 
 As they had do of all the day before. 
 
 * Urry, hastily.
 
 AND THE LEAFE. 
 
 And so these Ladies rode forth a great pace, 
 And all the rout of Knightes eke in fere ; 450 
 And I, that had sene all this wonder case, 
 Thought that I would assay in some manere 
 To know fully the truth of this mattere; 
 And what they were that rode so plesauntly: 
 And, when they were the herber passed by, 455 
 
 I drest me forth, and happed to mete anon 
 Right a faire Lady, I do you ensure; 
 And she came riding by herselfe alone, 
 Alle in white, with semblance ful demure ; 
 I saluted her, and bad good aventure 460 
 
 Mote her befall, as I coud most humbly ; 
 And she answered, My doughter, Gramercy ! 
 
 Madame, quoth I, if that I durst enquere 
 Of you, I would faine of that company 
 Wit what they be that past by this arbere ? 465 
 And she ay en answered right friendly; 
 My faire doughter, all tho that passed here by 
 In white clothing, be servaunts everichone 
 Unto the Leafe, and I myselfe am one. 
 
 Se ye not her that crowned is, quoth she, 470 
 Alle in white ? Madame, quoth I, yes. 
 That is Diane, goddess of Chastit&; 
 And for because that she a maiden is, 
 In her hond the braunch she bereth [is] this, 
 That Agnus castus men call properly; 475 
 
 And all the Ladies in her company,
 
 THE FLOURE 
 
 Which ye se of that herbe chapelets weare, 
 Be such as han kepte alway maidenhede: *. 
 
 And all they that of laurer chapelets beare, 
 *Be such as hardy were, and manly indeede; 480 
 Victorious name, which never may be dede ! 
 And all they were so worthy of her hond, 
 In her time that none mighten hem withstond. 
 
 And tho that weare chapelets on her hede 
 Of fresh woodbind, be such as never were 485 
 To love untrue in word, ne thought, ne dede, 
 But aye stecifast ; ne for plesaunce, ne fere, 
 Though that they should their hartes all to-tere, 
 Would never flit; but ever were stedfast, 
 Till that their lives there asunder brast. 490 
 
 Now faire Madame, quoth I, yet I would pray 
 Your Ladiship, if that it mighten be, 
 That I might knowe by some maner way., 
 Sithen that it hath liked your beautib 
 The trouth of these Ladies for to tell me, 495 
 What that these Knightes be in rich armour, 
 And what tho be in grene and weare the flour ? 
 
 And why that some did reverence to the tre, 
 And some unto the plot of floures faire ? 
 With right gqod will, my fair doughter, quoth 
 she, 500 
 
 * This is tjie ojd reading; Urry read*, 
 
 Be such as hardy were in manly deed 
 Victorious, name which &c.
 
 AND THE LEAFE. 
 
 223 
 
 Sith your desire is good and debonaire: 
 
 Tho nine crowned be very exemplaire 
 
 Of all honour longing to chivalry, 
 
 And those certaine be called the Nine Worthy, 
 
 Which ye may se [now] riding all before, 505 
 That in her time did many a noble dede, 
 And for their worthines ful oft have bore 
 The crowne of Laurer-leaves on their hede, 
 As ye may in your olde bookes rede ; 
 And how that he, that was a conquerour, 510 
 Had by laurer alway hie most honour. 
 
 And tho that beare bowes in their hond 
 Of the precious laurer so notable, 
 Be such as were (I woll ye understond) 
 Noble Knights of the Round Table, 515 
 
 And eke the Douseperis honourable, 
 Which they beare in signe of victory ; 
 It is witnes of their dedes mightily. 
 
 Eke there be Knightes old of the Garter, 
 That in her tinoe did righte worthily; 620 
 
 And the honour they did to the laurer, 
 Is for by it they have their laud wholly, 
 Their triumph eke, and martial glory ; 
 Which unto them is more parfit richesse 
 Then any wight imagine can or gesse. 526 
 
 For one leafe given of that noble tre 
 To any wight that hath done -worthily,
 
 224 
 
 THE FLOURE 
 
 And it be done so as it ought to be, 
 Is more honour than any thing earthly ; 
 Witnes of Rome that founder was truly 530 
 
 Of all Knighthood, and deedes marvelous, 
 Record I take of Titus Livius. 
 
 And as for her that crowned is in grene, 
 It is Flora of these floures goddesse; 
 And all that here on her awaiting bene, 535 
 
 It are such folk that loved idleness, 
 And not delite in no business, 
 But for to hunt, and hauke, and pley in medes, 
 And many other such like idle dedes. 
 
 And for the great delite and plesaunce 540 
 They have to the floure, and so reverently 
 They unto it do such obeisaunce, 
 As ye may se ; now faire Madame, quoth I, 
 If I durst aske, what is the cause, and why, 
 That Knightes have the * ensign of honour 545 
 Rather by the Leafe than by the Flour? 
 
 Sothly, doughter, quoth she, this is the trouth : 
 For Knightes ever should be persevering 
 To seeke honour, without feintise or slouth ; 
 Fro well to better in all maner thing ; 550 
 
 In signe of which, with leaves aye lasting, 
 They be rewarded after their degre, 
 Whose lusty green may not appaired be ; 
 
 * So Urry reads. The old editions, sign. 
 6
 
 AND THE LEAFE, 
 
 
 
 . But aye keping their. beauty fre-h and grene; 
 
 For there n'is no storme that may hem deface, 555 
 
 Haile nor snow, winde nor frcstes kene; 
 
 Wherfore they have thi$ propertie and grace. :(/ 7f 
 
 And for the floure, within a little space, 
 
 Will be [all] lost; so simple of nature 
 
 They be, that they no grevauncemay endure. 560 
 
 eirf n brifi ; T>ff 1o ovol /m a>!oot I 
 
 And every, storme will blow them sone away, 
 
 Ne they laste not but for a season; 
 
 That is the cause, the very trouth to say, 
 
 That they may not, by no way of reason, j,^j 
 
 Be put to no such occupacion. 565 
 
 Madame, quoth I, with all mine whole ser^e, (j 
 
 I thanke you now, in my most humble wise. 
 
 lib-) f jon m^ iiorft jdi rabittm ei ll 
 
 For now I am acertained throughly 
 
 Of every thing [that] I desired ( to kBOw;^^ ., 
 I am right glad that I have said, sothly, 570 
 
 Ought to your pleasure, if ye will v me.trowyrj 
 Quoth she ayen ; but to whom doe ye owe 
 Your service? and which will ye honour, 
 Tell me I pray, this yeere ? The Leafe, or the 
 Flour ? 
 
 Madame, quoth I, although I least worthy, 575 
 Unto the Leafe I owe mine observaunce; 
 That is, quoth she, right well done certainly ; 
 And I pray God to honour you avaunce, 
 And keep you fro the wicked remembraunce 
 
 Q
 
 226 THE FLOURE AND THE LEAFE. 
 
 Of Malebouch and all his crueltie, 
 
 And all that good and well conditioned be. 
 
 For here may I no lenger now abide, 
 But I must follow the great company, 
 That ye may see yonder before you ride. 
 And forthe as I cotithe, most humbly 585 
 
 I tooke my leve of her ; and she gan hie 
 After them as fast as ever she might : 
 And I drow homeward, for it was nigh night. 
 
 And put all that I had seen in writing 
 Under support of them that *lust to rede. 590 
 O little booke ! thou art so unconhing, 
 How darst thou put thyself in prees for drede ? 
 It is wonder that thou wexest not rede ! 
 Sith that thou wost ful lite, who shall behold 
 Thy rude langage full boistously unfold. 595 
 
 * Uny, lustitrcdf.
 
 lit . 
 
 IN 
 
 NOTES 
 
 
 
 ON THEiPRECEDING EXTRACTS FROM THE 
 
 f ;>'!) HO:I 
 POETRY OF CHAUC&fi. 
 
 'to 3'jjvxFT <T .iML 
 
 nsrfi -i3iihn *-.'fi;\VjJL !>;:; . nioVi Jr 
 
 ^ Ti-7 /-r a 7 
 
 On the Pilgrims to Canterbury. 
 m 
 
 ,* ^6i ail! ' n&p jId.-. i >.r.:<J &wm *7fil 
 
 " The verj' age and body t)f the time, his form and pressure.' 1 
 
 SUAKSFEARE, Hamlec, A. 3. S. 2. 
 " ,t5f'".>. - , . jW i'; 
 
 THE KNIGHT. 
 
 ami 
 THE course of adventures of our Knight, Mr. Tyrwhitt has 
 
 observe^, may be illustrated by those of a real Kr.ight of 
 Chaucer's time. The critick has accordingly cited, from 
 Leland's Itinerary, the epitaph of " le noble et vaillant Chi- 
 valer> Matheu de Gourney," who died in 1406, at the age 
 of 96; " qui en sa vie fu a la bataille de Benanuiryn, et ala 
 apres a la siege d'AIgezire sur les Sarazines, et aussi a les 
 batailles de I'Escluse, de Gressy, de Dsyngencsse, de Peyteres, 
 de Nature, d' Ozrey, et a plusours autres batailles et asseges 
 en les quex il gaigha noblement grant los et honour." To 
 this characteristick description I may add, from " Les Tom- 
 beaux des Chevaliers du noble Ordrede laToisoa d' Or," the 
 exploits recorded on the monument also of a French Knight, 
 who lived in Chaucer's age* and died in 1449, Jean. Seig- 
 neur de Roubais, &c. " qui en son teiaps visita les Saints
 
 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 lieux de Jerusalem, S. Catharine du mont Sinai, S. Pietre 
 et S. Paul a Rome, et S. lacques en Galice, et plusieurs 
 longlains voyages et nobles ambassades, &c. et passa les 
 perils mortels de plusieurs batailles arrestees centre les Infidels, 
 c'est a 8avoir en Hongrie et Barbaric, lors qe le siege fut 
 devant la cite d'Afrique, en Prusse centre les Letaux, par 
 deux voyages qu'on dit Rezes et en Cypre, &c. avec plu- 
 sieurs autres faicts et exercice d'armes tant par mer que par 
 terre, &c." 
 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt conjectures that the choice of the poet in 
 bringing his Knight from Alexandria and Lettoive rather than 
 from Cressy and Poitiers, is to be accounted for only by sup- 
 posing, that the slightest services against Infidels were in 
 those days more honourable than the most splendid victories- 
 over Christians. It appears, from the preceding inscriptions, 
 to have been usual for military men of other countries to go 
 and serve in Pruse, or Prussia, with the Knights of the Teu- 
 tonic Order, who were in a state of constant warfare with 
 their tlien heathen neighbours in Lettow, that is, Lithuania, 
 &c. Mr. Warton, in his History of English Poetry has 
 noticed the travels of- Thomas duke of Gloucester, youngest 
 on of king Edward the third, and Henry earl of Derby, 
 afterwards king Henry the fourth, into Prussia, and their 
 ervices against the infidels of Lithuania. Many Englishmen, 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt has shewn, were at the taking of Alexandria in 
 1365; and the earls of Salisbury and Derby assisted at the 
 siege of the city of Algczir in 1 344. 
 
 Mr. Strutt, in his View of the Dresses and Habits of the 
 People of England, wisttes that Chaucer had been more par- 
 ticular in describing the dresses of the several personages, 
 whom he has introduced in his Prologue to the Canterbury 
 Tales. To the little which he has done, some interesting ad- 
 ditions may be made from a further description of the paint- 
 ings in the margins of the very curious Manuscript, No. 
 XXXI. pp. 128, 129, &c.
 
 FROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 229 
 
 The countenance of our Knight expresses great sedatenes 
 and dignity. His folded head-covering is of a dark colour. 
 His gipon is also dark, but his under-coat red, which is dis- 
 cernible through the sleeves at his wrists ; his legs in ar- 
 mour, with gilt spurs ; his dagger, in a red sheath, by his side; 
 and little points or aiglets of red tipped with gold near his 
 neck and shoulder. 
 
 THE SQUIER. 
 
 . . : .jr 
 
 The character of this pilgrim shews us, as Mr. Warton 
 has observed, the education and requisite accomplishments of 
 young gentlemen in the gallant reign of Edward the third. 
 In the personal description of the youth, Chaucer has em- 
 ployed great spirit. The rqiniature painting in the Manu- 
 script is a happy imitation of the poetry. His locks are cu- 
 riously curled, and give the idea of their being " laid in 
 presse." His short vest, with his cloak fluttering in the wind, 
 is embroidered so as to represent, in some degree, " a mede 
 alle fall offreshe floures white and rede" being of a green co- 
 lour, lined with red, on which are small white spots and or 
 naments. His pantaloons are white, the upper part adorned 
 with ermine. He wears a high light-blue cap, embroidered 
 in the front. His horse is on the gallop, and he manage* 
 him gracefully. " Wei coude he sit on hors, andfayre ride" 
 
 The custom of Squiers carving at their fathers tables if 
 abundantly illustrated by M. de St. Palaye, in his Memoirs 
 f Ancient Chivalry. 
 
 THE SQUIERES YEMAN. 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt ays, that the late Editions call this chartc.
 
 230 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 t;r the Squier's Yeman, but improperly; that the pronoun 
 hf t in the first line, viz. 
 
 ' -,.H 
 " A Yemah hadde fie, and servantes no mo," 
 
 relates to the Knight ; and that Chaucer would never have 
 given the Son an attendant, when the Father had none. I 
 differ from Mr. Tyrwhilt; and must fin-t observe, that the old 
 editions of 1542, 1561, 1598 and 1602 prefix, to the character 
 before us, the Squier's Yenuin; and with propriety. For, by what 
 law of constiuction, may a pronoun so remote from its pretended 
 .relative, "the parfit gentle Knight," (near thirty lines,) be 
 defended? Chaucer intended no such thing. The Syuier 
 is attended, as Mr. Warton observes, by a Yeoman, whose 
 figure revives the ideas of the forest laws. The Squires 
 Yeoma:i, and the only servant he [i. e. the Squire;] had attend- 
 ing him, says Mr. Strutt, bore a mighty bow. As to the Fa- 
 ther being without an attendant, it seems to me in unison 
 with his reserved and unassuming character, and as if he was 
 confident that the little services which he might want would 
 be cheerfully rendered by his Son and his Attendant. 
 
 The further illustration of a character and name, .still pre- 
 served in several parts of England, may not be unacceptable. 
 " Yeoman," says Mr. Tyrwhitt, " is an abbreviation ofyeonge- 
 man, &byouthe-\s ofyeongtkc. Young men being mostly em- 
 ployed in Ktrvice, servants have in many languages been denomi- 
 nated from the single circumstance of age; as van;, puer, garg on, 
 boy, groom." Waterhous, in his Commentary on Fortescue's 
 Treatise De Laudibus Legum Angliae, more fully explains the 
 term Yeoman, in his exposition of the word Vakcti, Comm. fol. 
 1663. p. 391. " Et Valectip/urzm^&c. Those they take to be 
 them which our Law calls Yeomen. See Stat 16. R. 2. c. 4. 
 and 20. R. 2. c. 2. These are the next order to Gentlemen, 
 termed Yeomen quasi young men, as some think, or from 
 Gemen, or Yemen, in the Saxon signifying a Commoner; so
 
 FROM THE POETRY OP CHAUCER. 231 
 
 that of old these men were of no rank above servants, though 
 Valet in the French imports quasi va lez son maistre, thence the 
 word wallet, (pera viatoria;) the bearers of this as some called 
 them Valets or Varkts, others called them Garcions, though 
 of old it was a title of better repute ; for all young persons, 
 though Gentlemen, if not Knights, and under eighteen years 
 old, were called Valets in France, as we called them Bat- 
 chelours in England. Hence Valet de Chambre, a title of ho- 
 nour, to the King. But Francis the first of France, per- 
 ceiving those that attended him to be no better than Roturiers 
 (our Yeomen) introduced Gentlemen of the Chamber; though 
 yet, in the King's palace here, the officer Yeoman remains, 
 Stat. 33. H. 8. c. 12, yet in subserviency to the Gentlemen- 
 Officers. So are Grooms another Court-word; in French 
 Valet, or Varlet. So that the texts Valecti or Valetti are such 
 of the Commoners of Countries, who hold not their land 
 sub nomine Culvertagii et perpetucz Servitutis, but having been 
 Servants, or Tenants, to great men, have either, pro bono 
 servitio impenso vel impendendo, had land given them, or by 
 industry and thrift (blessed by God) been purchasers of land 
 in fee to them and their heirs, and that in such sort for the 
 quality, and in such proportion for the value, that the Law 
 requires Jurymen to be of, &c." Mr. Tyrwhitt distinguishes 
 the application of Yeoman by Chaucer; the Chanones Yeman, 
 in the Canterbury Tales, being only a common servant; and 
 in another part, the title being given to people of middling 
 rank, not in service: So the Miller is careful "to saven his 
 estate of yemanrie" Mr. Tyrwhitt also thinks, that the ap- 
 propriation of the word to signify a small landholder, is more 
 
 modern. But compare Waterhous's observation. 
 
 1 
 
 Of the Yeoman, as no Tale is related by him, no painting 
 occurs in the Manuscript; the representations being of such 
 only as narrated adventures. See p. 128. The poet, how- 
 ever, has been sufficiently minute in the description of the 
 Yeoman's habiliments. " I concluded," says he, " that he
 
 232 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 was a forester, from his drew;" which was a coat and hood of 
 green-coloured cloth. Under his belt appeared a shaft of 
 peacock arrows, that is, arrows plumed with peacocks fea- 
 thers; -according to the practice both of a preceding and later 
 age. For Mr. Warton ha* shewn fhat, among the stores at 
 Farnham castle belonging to Way nflete bishop of Winches- 
 ter in 1471, were Arcus cum chordis, and Sagitta magna, 
 the latter of which is the title to the enumeration " de cxliv 
 sagittis magnis barbatis cum pennis pavonum;" and that, in 
 a romnutus of Gerv-tys bishop of Winchester in 1266, are 
 reck, ned among his stores at Taunton castle caudce pavonum, 
 which he supposes were used for feathering arrows : Arrows 
 with feathers of the peacock, he adds, occur in Lyd gate's 
 Chronicle of Troy, b. iii. cap. 22. edit. 1555. "In his 
 band he bare a mighty 'tow. There is a Patent, Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt observes, in Rymer, 15. R. 2. de arte sagittandi per 
 Vakttos Regis exerccnda: The Yeomen, and all other ser- 
 vants of the royal houshold, of whatever state or office, under 
 the degree of Yeoman, are ordered to carry bows and arrows 
 with them, whenever they ride, &c. in the King's train. 
 On his arm was a gay bracer, the armour commonly used by 
 archers, and in the present instance probably ornamented. 
 To his sword and buckler on the one side, and his dagger on 
 the other, are added a silver crisloplier on his breast, and 
 a baudrick or sash of green to which a horn was sus- 
 pended. Mr. Tyrwhitt cannot see the meaning of the silver 
 ornament called the " Cristqfre;" especially as by the Stat. 
 37. E. 3. Yeomen are forbidden to wear any ornaments of 
 gold or silver. No other explanation is afforded by Mr. 
 W 7 arton, than that St. Christopher was a saint who presided 
 over the weather, and was the patron of field sports. Mr. 
 Strutt supposes the ornament to have been a clasp or buckle 
 of silver, having the image of St. Christopher, with cur 
 Blessed Saviour upon his shoulders, painted or engraved 
 upon it; a subject exceedingly popular at the time the first
 
 FROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 233 
 
 Specimens of engraving were produced, and probably not 
 less so in the days of Chaucer. According to this supposi- 
 tion, the inefflcacy of the sumptuary law abovementioned is 
 certainly very glaring. 
 
 THE PRIORESSE. 
 
 Ju8L .u . r 
 
 This delicate, precise, and sentimental lady is drawn in 
 the Manuscript with a wimple neatly pinched, and a " fe- 
 tyse" or handsome cloak, which is black over a tunic of white, 
 in conformity to the dress of the Benedictine nuns. On her 
 left hand are the beads, and her right hand is uplifted, as if 
 she was desirous of calling the particular attention of her 
 hearers to what she was reciting. 
 
 The poet represents her as having been educated at the 
 school of Stratford at Bow near London ; which Mr. Warton 
 supposes to have been a fashionable seminary for nuns. This 
 is very probable. Stratford at Bow, a Benedictine nunnery, 
 was famous even then for its antiquity. I find that Philippa 
 de Mohun, duchess of York, who died in 1431, bequeathed 
 to the Prioress of Stratford five shillings, and to the Convent 
 twenty shillings; perhaps in grateful remembrance of ad- 
 vantages derived from instruction there. It must not be 
 omitted, however, that Chaucer here expresses the mean 
 opinion he entertained of the English- French spoken in his 
 time; " for French of Paris was to this Prioress unknown :" 
 Yet, as Mr. Tyrwhitt observes, it was proper that she should 
 speak some sort of French, not only as a woman of fashion, 
 (a character which she is represented to affect,) but as a reli- 
 gious person. The instructions from the Abbot of St. Al- 
 ban's in 1338 to the Nuns of Sopewell, Mr. Tyrwhitt adds, 
 were in the French language. 
 
 If, forgetful of her gentleness, she was on any occasion 
 betrayed into swearing, " her gretest othe was but by St.
 
 MOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 ( . - - 
 
 Eloy." This saint is called in Latin S. Eligius. But Mr, 
 Tyrwhitt admits that, in all the Manuscripts which he had 
 seen, the word Eloy, both here and in the Canterbury Tales, 
 is abbreviated into Lay; and that he had no authority for 
 printing the name at full length but that of Urry. Mr. Hit- 
 son is highly indignant at Mr. Tyrwhitt's choice, and in- 
 sists that Loy has been improperly discarded. And Mr. 
 Warton says that St. Loy is intended for Saint Leuis. But 
 neither Mr. Tyrwhitt nor Mr. Warton offer any further ex- 
 planation of the saint, by whom they respectively shew that 
 the lady swears. Of St. Eloy, a poet in the next century 
 after Chaucer has given some account; I mean Sir David 
 Lindsay, who, in a satirical description of saints and legends 
 in his Monarchic, says, 
 
 Sanct Eloy. he doith slaitly stand, 
 Ane new hors-schoo intill his hand. 
 
 Again, 
 
 Sum makis offrande to Sanct Eloye, 
 That he thair hors may weill convoye. 
 
 The behaviour of the Prioress at table has been illustrated 
 by Mr. Tyrwhitt, in copying the following circumstance!* 
 from the Romaunt de la Rose : 
 
 Et bien se garde qu' elle ne moeille 
 Ses doys au brouet jusqu' es jointes, &c. 
 Si sagement port sa bouchee, 
 Q,ue snr son pied goutte n'en chee 
 De souppe, ne de saulse noire. 
 Et doit si bien sa bouche terdre 
 Tant qu' el n'y laissc gresse aherdre 
 Au moins en la levre desseure.
 
 FROM THE POETRY OP CflAUCF.R. 235 
 
 I must not omit to notice this lady's rosary, to which was at- 
 tached a broche of gold, whereon was written a croimed A, 
 and under it, as a commentary on the emblem, Amor tincit 
 omnia, Love conquereth all things. To this device and 
 poesy there is some resemblance, as Mr. Ritson has also ob- 
 served, in The Squyr of Lowe Degree, ver. 211, &c. 
 
 In the myddes of your sbeld ther shal be set 
 A ladyes head, with many a frete ; 
 Above the head wrytten shall be 
 A reason for the love of me; 
 Both O and R shall be therin, 
 With A and M it shall bigynne. 
 
 Our Prioress is represented, in the Prologue, as accom- 
 panied with a Nun and three Priests. This Nun relates the 
 history, which is called, in the Canterbury Tales, the Second 
 Nonnes Tale. There is accordingly, in the Manuscript, a 
 very neat miniature of her in a dark habit with open sleeves ; 
 her wimple is nicely plaited; her hood or cowl is up, not 
 hiding, however, her face ; and her waist is girded. 
 
 The reality of the three accompanying Priests has been 
 justly questioned by Mr. Tyrwhitt, whose argument is this. 
 " As it appears evidently to have been the design of Chaucer 
 to compose his company of individuals of different ranks, in 
 order to produce a greater variety of distinct characters, we 
 can hardly conceive that he would, in this single instance, 
 introduce three of the same profession without any discrimi- 
 nating circumstances whatever; and in fact when the Nonnes 
 Freest is called upon to tell his Tale, he is accosted by the 
 Host in a manner which will not permit us to suppose that 
 two others of the same denomination were present. This 
 must be allowed to be a strong objection to the genuineness 
 of that article of the three Preestes ; but it is not the only 
 one. All the other characters are particularly described, and
 
 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 most of them very much at large, whereas the whole that is 
 said of the other Nonne and the three Preestes is contained in 
 these two lines at the end of the Prioresse's character; 
 
 Another Nonne also with hire had she, 
 
 That was hire chapellein, and Preestes three. 
 
 Where it is also observable that the single circumstance of 
 description is false, for no nonne could be a chaplain. The 
 chief duty of a chaplain was to say mass and to hear confes- 
 sion, neither of which offices could regularly be performed by 
 a nonne or by any woman. 
 
 " It appears indeed that some abbesses did at one time 
 attempt to hear the confessions of their nuns, and to exercise 
 some other smaller parts of the clerical function ; but this prac- 
 tice, I apprehend, was soon stopped by Gregory IX. who 
 has forbidden it in the strongest terms, Decretal. 1. v. tit 38, 
 c. x. ; ' Nova quaedam nostris sunt auribus intimata, quod 
 Abbatissae moniales proprias benedicunt; ipsurum quoque con- 
 fessiones in criminilus audiunt, et legentes Evangelium prae- 
 sumunt publice praedicare : cum igitur id absonum sit et 
 pariter absurdum, Mandamus quatenus ne id de castero fiat 
 cunctis firmiter inhibere.' If these presumptuous abbesses 
 had ventured to say mass his Holiness would doubtless have 
 thundered still louder against them. 
 
 " It should seem, therefore, that we have sufficient ground 
 to reject these two lines, or at least the second, as an inter- 
 polation, by which means we shall get rid of two of the 
 Priests, and the detail of the characters will then agree with 
 the gross number in the twenty fourth verse of the Pro- 
 logue, Chaucer himself being included among the nine and 
 twenty. 
 
 " My notion (I cannot call it opinion) of the matter is * 
 this, that the first of the above lines did really begin the cha- 
 racter of the Nonne, which Chaucer had originally inserted in
 
 FROM THE POETRY OF CH AGGER. 237 
 
 this place, together with that of the Nonnes Freest, at a 
 great length as the other characters, hut they were both af- 
 terwards expunged either by himself, or (more probably) by 
 those who published his work after his death, for reasons 
 of nearly the same kind with those which occasioned the sup- 
 pression of the latter part of The Cokes Tale. I suspect our 
 bard had been rather too gay in his description of these two 
 religious persons. See a little concerning the Freest, Can- 
 terb. Tales, ver. 15453 65. If it should be thought im- 
 probable that an interpolator would insert any thing so ab- 
 surd and contradictory to the Author's plan as the second 
 line, I beg leave to suggest that it is still more improbable 
 that such a line should have come from the Author himself; 
 and further, I think I can promise, in the course of the Can- 
 terbury Tales, to point out several other undoubted interpola- 
 tions," which are to the full as absurd as the subject of our 
 present discussion." 
 
 THE MONK. 
 
 Of this character the pictured representation, in the Ma- 
 nuscript, agrees in many respects minutely with the poet's. 
 His gown, with full sleeves, is black ; and his hood is fast- 
 ened beneath his chin, to which his hand is lifted, and thus 
 hides what the poet describes as fastening the hood, " the 
 curious pinne of wrought gold." His souple bootes are just 
 visible ; not sufficiently, however, to display the trimness in 
 this article of apparel, with which a smart Abbot has been re- ; 
 presented, according to Mr. Tyrwhitt, by an anonymous 
 writer of the thirteenth century : " Ocreas habebat in cruribus, 
 quasi innatse essent, sine plica porrectas." MS. Bodl. James, 
 n. 6. p. 121. 
 
 The Monks of Chaucer's time are described as loving the 
 sports of the field. Our Monk has accordingly his '/ grei- 
 houudes swift as foul of flight ;" and hunting for the hare i
 
 238 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 to have been all his lust, and to which no sacrifice of 
 expence was spared. In the Manuscript miniature he is at- 
 tended by two hounds, whose collars are blue, fastened with 
 gilded buckles. Mr. Tyrwhitt has remarked, that Knighton 
 describes an Abbot of Leicester, who died in 1311, " qui in 
 uenatione leporum inter omnes regni dominos famosissimus et 
 nominatissimus habebatur." Dccem Scriptor. p. 2631. He 
 adds indeed, that the abbot was used to assert, what perhaps 
 may have been partly true, " se non delectaese in hujusmodi 
 frivolis venationibus, nisi solum pro obsequiis dominis regni 
 praestandis, et afFabilitate eorum captanda, et gratia in suis 
 negotiis adipiscenda." Mr. Warton enumerates other in- 
 stances of the union, here .justly satirized, of an hero of the 
 chace with an ecclesiastick. Walter de Suffield, bishop of 
 Norwich, bequeaths by will his pack of hounds to the king, 
 in 1256. This was a common topick of satire. So again, 
 in Chaucer's Testament of Love, " gode houndes and many, 
 to hunte after harte and hare," are noticed among the prin- 
 cipal distinctions of the ecclesiasticks. The archdeacon of 
 Richmond, on his visitation, came to the Priory of Brid- 
 lington in Yorkshire, in 1216, with ninety-seven horses, 
 twenty-one dogs, and three hawks. See Warton's Hist. Eng. 
 Poetry, i. 282. 
 
 The golden bells on the bridle and trappings of the Monk's 
 horse are nicely delineated in the Manuscript. Of this 
 fashion, the custom was perhaps adopted by the clergy from 
 the knights ; among whom it was a particular point to have 
 their bridles well hung with bells, and of which the neglect 
 was considered as a mark of poverty and meanness. Arnaud 
 of Marsan, an old troubaudour, lays great stress upon this 
 article, in his Instructions to form a Knight : " Let his [the 
 horse's] breast be garnished with bells, well hung: Nothing 
 is more proper to inspire confidence in a knight, and terrour 
 in an enemy." Vincent of Beauvais, Mr. Warton says, 
 censures this kind of ornament in the Knights Templars : 
 
 6
 
 THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 239 
 
 " They hare bridles embroidered, or gilded, or adorned with 
 silver; afque in pectoralibus campanulas infixas magnum cmtf- 
 tantes sonitum, ad gloriam eorum et decorem." Hist. 1. xxx. 
 c. 85. But "WicklifFe, in his Trialoge, best illust'rates'Chau- 
 cer, where he inveighs against the priests for their " fair 
 hors, and jolly and gay sadeles, and bridles ringing by the 
 way, &c." Lewis's Life of Wicliffe, p. 121. Ahd War- 
 ton's Hist Eng. Poet, i. 164. 
 
 In the Manuscript, the face of our Monk is a little in- 
 jured; but it has been well done, and still sufficiently ex- 
 hibits " a lord ful fat and in good point." He wears a black 
 hat. 
 
 The sleeves of his tunic are described by the poet as edged 
 with the finest fur that could be procured; an ornament at 
 that period most probably very expensive. But our Monk 
 is evidently a n,an 6f the world rather than of the cloyster. 
 One of Wolsey's ordinances, Mr. Tyrwhitt has observed, 
 for the reformation of the Augustinian Monks in 1519, is 
 directed against the foppery here described : " In manicis sub 
 nullo modo furniris utantur aut pellibus, nisi prout iis per- 
 missum est in Statutis Benedictinis." Dugdale, Mbnast. 
 
 ii. 56*7. 
 
 ofe " >/wWfci Inoftt-. >i*) * k' :i -' *i ii-'' v .>*'MnoJ u Jsl . 
 
 THE FRERE. 
 
 The features of this sensual but merry character are Well 
 delineated in the Manuscript. Even the meaning of his 
 eyes may be noticed. His dress is black, and both the cope 
 and semi-cope or tippet are obvious ; the latter of which the 
 poet describes to be of " double worsted," as the cope of a 
 friar in Pierce Plowmans Crede is, Sign. B. i. b; and the for- 
 mer seems well adapted to hold the knives and pins, intended 
 by him as present for fair wives. 
 
 He is called a limitvur; which Mr. Tyrwhitt defines, " a 
 fryer licensed to beg within a certain district" Skinner
 
 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 imagines that the limitour was a seller of indulgences, and 
 that he received his denomination on account of his limiting 
 or fixing the price ibr each sin. Junius considers the term 
 as denoting a friar who discharged his office within certain 
 limits or bounds. See Dr. Jamieson's Diet. Scottish Lan- 
 guage, in V. Limitour. Dr. Jamieson observes, that, in the 
 Visions of Pierce Plowman, the limitour appears indeed as a 
 confessor, who, by virtue of episcopal letters, although he 
 had no parochial charge, was authorised to hear confession 
 and grant absolution within a certain district. Tyndale, in 
 his Obedyence of a Chrysten man, (which passage I find Dr. 
 Jamieson has also noted in his Appendix) gives a different 
 view of the meaning of the word : " Howbeit suche maner 
 sendynges are not worldly, as princes send tbeyr ambassa- 
 dours, no , nor as freres send theyr lymyters to gather theyr 
 brotherhedes, whiche muste obeye whether they wyll or wyll 
 not" foi, 50. a. The following illustration of the word has 
 escaped all the etymologists : Limitors, " a proprias Unites ten-is 
 imponendo, et removentibus anathemata denunciando, dicti, 
 ut verisimile est." See A Comment on the Miller's Tale and 
 the Wife of Bath, 12mo. 1665. p. 152. 
 
 But, to pass from this etymological description of our 
 Friar, let us consider what is said of his official labours. " So 
 plesant was his In Principio," that he never failed obtaining 
 the alms which he wanted. The phrase, says Mr. Tyrwhitt, 
 is commonly explained to refer to the beginning of St. John'* 
 Gospel ; but may also refer to the beginning of Genesis. In- 
 an old French romance, Vhistorie de trois Maries, he adds, 
 it seems to signify some passage in the conclusion of the 
 Mass, Acad. des Inscript. torn. xiii. p. 521, 
 
 Moult aise fui quant audio 
 Le Prestre dire In Principio, 
 Car la Messe si est finee.
 
 FROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 
 
 241 
 
 He was also of no small account at Love-days ; 'a day ap- 
 pointed for the amicable settlement of differenced being called 
 a Love-day; in proof of which Mr. Tyrwhitt cites Brae ton; 
 1. v. fol. 369. " Si ante judicium capiatur Dies Amoris;" 
 and Rot. Parl. 13. H. 4. n. 13. " Agayn the fourme of a 
 Love-day taken bytwen the same parties/' Mr. Tyrwhitt 
 says, that the Glossary (to Urry's Chaucer) calls these days 
 improperly, Meetings for pleasure and diversion ; that they 
 were meetings for business ; though it is probable that the bu- 
 siness, when finished, was usually followed by a treat given 
 to the arbitrators, &c. See the Parl. Roll already quoted. 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt also cites, from the Vision of Pierce Ptownuin, 
 part of the speech of Sloth, in ihe character of a Priest : 
 
 i f l -Mfj n: ' i%Yb\\\?i 4 ibbs jhilrn 5dJ .VMvS*. -mii W 
 
 I can holde Lovcdayes, and here a Reves rekenynge, 
 And in Cannon or in Decretals I cannot read a lyne. 
 
 1 am surprised, that the following passage in the sarrte poem 
 should have escaped the notice of the learned critick. The 
 author is inveighing against the luxury and diversions of the 
 ecclesiasticks : 
 
 And now is Religion a rfder, a romer by the streete, 
 A leader of lovedayes, and a loude beggar, 
 A pricker on a palfrey, &c. 
 
 I take our Friar to have been a leader, as termed in the pre- 
 ceding extract, or manager of these lovedays: There, says 
 the poet, he could mochtl helpe. Mr. Warton converts thtse 
 iaredayes, by a pleasant misapprehension, into levudies, which 
 he interprets ladies! Hist. Eng. Poet. i. 282. 
 
 In noticing the accomplishments of our Friar, Mr. War- 
 ton has detected two mistakes of preceding writers; the latter 
 of which is more pleasant than his own. Of these the first 
 i* the explanation, in the Glossary to Urry's Chaucer, of 
 
 B
 
 242 
 
 this wanton and merry confessor " playing on a rote"; which 
 is there said to mean, by rote; whereas a rote is a musical 
 instrument. Mr. Warton cites, in proof, Lydgate, MSS. 
 Fairfax, Bibl. Bodl. 16. 
 
 For ther was rotys of Almayne, 
 And eke of Arragon and Spayne. 
 
 And again, in the same manuscript : 
 
 Harpy s, fitheles, and eke rotys, 
 Wei acording to ther notys. 
 
 Where fitheles, the critick adds, is fiddles, as in the Prologue 
 to the Canterbury Tales, ver. 298. Fiddles indeed is the better 
 reading of Mr. Tynvhitt. Mr. Warton follows Urry's edition. 
 Many examples of the musical sense of rote might be added. 
 But I pass on to Mr. Warton's second remark, in consequence 
 of his illustration of this word : " I cannot help mentioning in 
 this place a pleasant mistake of bishop Morgan, in his Transla- 
 tion of the New Testament into Welch, printed in 1567. He 
 translates the vials of wrath, in the Revelations, by cry than, i. e. 
 crouds or fiddles, Rev. 5. 8. The Greek is 9a?u. Now it 
 is probable that the bishop translated only from the English, 
 where he found vials, which he took for viols!'* 
 
 THE MARCHANK 
 
 Chaucer informs us, that this person was clothed " im 
 tnottelee," that is, a motley-coloured garment. So the Ser- 
 geant of the Lawe is vested, ver. 330. This garment, in 
 the Manuscript, is of a bright red colour, lined with blue, 
 and figured with white and blue flowers. His tight and neal 
 boots are not forgotten by the artist; and the wearer display*' 
 them (if I may use the words of Shakpeare) " very smooth,
 
 FROM THE POETRY O* CHAUC6R. 243 
 
 Q --, ^ 
 
 like unto the sign of the leg." Nor must the nptice of his 
 spur and its enormous rowel be omitted; which, in the paint- 
 ing, exhibits the prototype of the ornament attached to the 
 heels of many of our present fashionable riders. 
 
 The Flanders beaver hat is also represented in the paint- 
 ing. The Merchant looks as if in the prime of life; and his 
 countenance bespeaks the man of business. His steed is on 
 the gallop. 
 
 The expression in his wish, that " the sea were kept" or 
 guarded, is thus illustrated by Mr. Tyrwhitt: The old sub- 
 sidy of tonnage and poundage was given to the king " pur la 
 saufgarde et custodie del mer," 12. Edw. 4. c. 3. 
 
 THE CLERK OF OXENFORDE. 
 
 Of this interesting person, whose poverty, delight in study, 
 and inattention to worldly affairs, are eminently conspicuous, 
 Chaucer relates no other circumstance respecting the dress, 
 than that his " overest courtepy" or surcoat was thread-bare. 
 In the Manuscript, his surcoat, with the hood, is of a dirty 
 violet colour; his stockings are scarlet, and the saddle and 
 bridle on his miserable horse are of the same colour. In his 
 right hand he holds out a book, as if he was descanting on 
 its value; and under his left arm he carries other books, 
 bound in red and blue. " He looked hollow/' says the 
 poet; a circumstance which the painter has not overpassed. 
 
 Mr. Warton is of opinion, that Chaucer, in the character 
 before us, glances at the inattention paid to literature, and 
 the unprofitableness of philosophy. He explains the pas- 
 sage, 
 
 But all be that he was philosophre 
 Yet badde he but litel gold in cofre,
 
 in this manner; Yet he could not find the philosopher' s stone-. 
 His conversation, Mr. Wartou admits, was instructive ; and 
 he was no less willing to submit than to communicate his 
 opinion to others. But the same elegant and learned critick 
 has strained the poet's meaning in the following description : 
 
 Not a word spake he more than was nede, 
 '* P* y* ~-- 
 
 And that was said in forme and reverence, 
 And short and quicke, and full of high sentence : 
 
 Mr. Warton, I say, here considers the Clerk of Oxenford 
 so enslaved by his attention to logick, as to exhibit in his 
 conversation much pedantick formality, and the usage of a 
 precise and sententious style on all subjects. See Hist. Eng. 
 Poet. i. 452. What the Clerk said in forme and reverence, 
 however, has been asserted by Mr. Tyrwhitt to mean, with 
 propriety and modesty ; by whom also, ful of high sentence is 
 -apprehended to signify only/w// of high or excellent sense. Mr. 
 Tyrwhitt, in this explanation, appealed to Mr. -Warton's 
 candour; at the same time acutely observing, that the credit 
 of good letters is concerned that Chaucer should not be sup- 
 posed to have made a pedantick formality, and a precise sen- 
 tentious style on all subjects, the characteristicks of a scholar. 
 
 THE SERGEANT OF THE IAWE. 
 
 ;<., .k . s'-.i ' 
 Of this opulent and eminent person the poeticaj dress is 
 
 very plain : 
 
 > '_ 
 He rode but homely in a medlee cote 
 
 Girt with a seint of silk with barres smale. 
 
 The pictured representation, in the Manuscript, is more 
 particular. He is there drawn in a scarlet habit, with open
 
 FROM THE POETRY OP CHAUCER. 245 
 
 sleeves, and with a white hood furred ; the habit being faced 
 with blue, with small bars or stripes of red. He wears the 
 characteristick distinction of a Sergeant, which the poet how- 
 ever has not noticed, the coif. His stockings are scarlet. 
 There is a great resemblance to this official habit, described 
 in the Visions of Pierce Plowman : 
 
 i.d . ! -<nyT .*'? l;, : 3 r. 'i . ' 
 
 Shall no Sergeant for his service weare no silk hodt, 
 
 Nor pelure on his cloke for pledyng* at the barre. 
 
 , ;"! . 
 
 Mr. Warton has observed, that the perpetual importance of 
 this Sergeant, who by habit Or by affectation has the faculty 
 of appearing busy when he has nothing to do, is sketched 
 with the spirit and conciseness of Horace. 
 
 The poet says that this lawyer had often been at the 
 Parvis; a place, interpreted by Mr. Tyrwhitt, from Du 
 Cange, " a portico before a church. See Du Cange in Pa- 
 radisus. It appears from the Rom. of the Rose, in the Orig. 
 ver. 12530, that books were commonly sold au Parvis decant 
 Notre Dame at Paris. At London the Purvis was frequented 
 by Serjeants at Law. See Fortescue de Laud, leg. Ang. c. li. ; 
 1 Post meridiem curiae non tenentur; sed placitantes tune se 
 divertunt ad Pervisum et alibi, consulentes cum Servientibut 
 ad Legem et aliis consiliariis suis/ There is a difference of 
 opinion where the Parvis at London, to which the lawyers re- 
 sorted, was situated ; Somner supposes it to hare been in Old- 
 Palace-yard, before Westminster-hall, Gloss, in Decein Script. 
 V. Trtfbrium ; but others, with more probability, think it was 
 what Dugdale calls the Perryse of Paiules. When the Ser- 
 jeants had dined in any of the inns of court, St. Paul's lay 
 much more conveniently for an afternoon consultation than 
 Westminster-hall." ;4 
 
 Mr. Warton, speaking of the supposition that Parvis is a 
 contraction of Paradise, imagines the name to signify an am- 
 bulatory; many of our old religious houses having had a place
 
 246 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 ca'led Paradise. He adds, that in the year 1 300, children 
 were taught to read and sing in the Purvis of St. Martin's 
 Church at Norwich. Hist Eng. Poet. i. 453. 
 
 An extract from Waterhous's Commentary on Forlescue, 
 to which I have already referred the reader, may serve as a 
 curious illustration of the etymology of the word, which Mr. 
 Wart* in and Mr. Tyrwhitt have not brought forward, though, 
 however questionable, it deserves to be mentioned. The com- 
 mentator having cited the words " Sed Placitantes tune se 
 divertunt ad Pervisum, &c." thus proceeds. " This referre* 
 not to the Pleaders repairing to the Pervise-exercises of Aca- 
 demique origen, the same in Law that those exercises in Ox- 
 ford are, called Pervi&ice or sittings general in the Scholes in the 
 afternoon, (which Mr. Selden sayes he understood first out of 
 Mr. Wake's MUSOK regnantes,} and to which not onely young 
 Lawyers repaired to learn, but old Serjeants to teach and shew 
 their cunning; 1 say, this clause turns us not to that Pcrvise, 
 from whence the little place (whereof teaching of Schole was) 
 in the lower part of the Church was called Pervisium ; but 
 this referrs to the consultation that Clyents use to have with 
 their Counsellours and Serjeants about their Pleadings, Bills, 
 Demurrers, Rejoynders, special Verdicts, Orders ; the read- 
 ing over ot which judiciously and with intentness is called 
 Pervisum, or, as we say, perusal of them, that is, considering 
 the legality of them, comparing them with originals, making 
 briefs out of them, marshalling the evidence, and preparing 
 for tryall in Court." p. 574. 
 
 Our Serjeant is said to have received " many fees and 
 robes." The Serjeants and all the officers of the superiou r 
 Courts of Law, Mr. Warton says, anciently received winter 
 and suminer robes from the king's wardrobe. He is likewise 
 said to cite cases and decisions, " that from the time of king 
 William were fallen;" for the illustration of which Mr. 
 Warton refers to the very learned and ingenious Mr. Bar- 
 rington's Observations on the Ancient Stuiutes. I may not omit,
 
 PROM THE POETRY OP CHAUCER. 247 
 
 that Mr. Warton admires the humour of Chaucer in making 
 this lawyer introduce the language of his pleadings into com- 
 mon conversation, where, in the Canterbury Tales, he ad- 
 dresses the Hoste, 
 
 Hoste, quoth he, de par dieuxjeo astent ; 
 
 the affectation of talking French, though then general, being 
 here appropriated and in character. 
 
 THE FRANKELEIN. 
 
 The Frankelein," says Mr. Strutt, " is here delineated 
 as a true son of Epicurus : his dress, unfortunately, is not 
 described; and we only learn, that he wore an anclacc or 
 knife, and a gypsere or purse qf ivliitc silk, hanging at his 
 girdle." See Habits of the people of Eng. ii. 279. The 
 painting in the Manuscript supplies, in some degree, the de- 
 ficiency lamented. He is there drawn in a surcoat of red, 
 lined with blue, with bars or stripes of fringe or lace over it. 
 His hair and beard are snow-white. He wears a small blue 
 hat, turned up. His boots are black. His white silk purse 
 is visible, but not his knife. His left hand is on his breast, 
 as if he were relating some striking circumstance. In a word, 
 the miniature presents him as a most respectable old gentle- 
 man. 
 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt, in my humble opinion, has not sufficiently 
 illustrated the rank and character of the Frankelein. He 
 says, that Fortescue, de L.L. Ang. c. 29, describes a Franklain 
 to be a Pater familias magnis ditatus possessianibus. He 
 is classed with, but after, the miles and urmigcr, and is dis- 
 tinguished from the libere tenentes and valecti, though as it 
 should seem the only real distinction between him and other 
 freeholders consisted in the largeness of his estate. Spcl-
 
 KOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 man, in v. Frankelein, quotes the following passage from 
 Trivet's Fr. Chronicle, MS. Bibl. R. S. n. 56, " Thomas de 
 Brotherlon, filius Edwardi I. Mareschallus Angliae, apres la 
 mort de son pere esposa la fille de un Francheleyn apelee 
 Alice." The historian did not think it worth his while even 
 to mention the name of the Frankelein. 
 
 But let us attend to the very curious distinction made by 
 Waterhous, in his Commentary on Forteseue; which indeed 
 may explain other designations given by the poet to this re- 
 spectable character. \' Pater famiUas" says the commen- 
 tator, " imports one Qui sui juris est, nullique addictus 
 mancipio, called the Father of the Family; Non quodfami- 
 liam sed jus families habet, as the Lawyers say. This we in 
 England anciently called the Good Mam And the old 
 dames, in my memory, were wont to call their husbands, my 
 Good Man. Later times, more gentilized, discard that name 
 from all mouthes but those that are plebeian, and though it be 
 enunciative of Franklaynes ; that is, free liers, and owners of 
 land; in which sense, Swuine-Mote is the name of the Con- 
 z-entus libere lenentium, according to the old custom or law, 
 Suaine-motum ter in unno ; yet it is now not much set by j 
 though, from this condition of them, there are many now grown 
 into families, now called Franklin, who are men in the county of 
 Middlesex and other parts magnis ditati possessionibus ; which 
 the text expresseth, to set out this Paterfamilias by. And this is 
 an argument of much wealth. For therefore he, that is the Pater 
 familias here, is counted ditatm, because he has possessions, 
 not like those Ascripiitii, which were a sort of husbandmen 
 that bound themselves by indenture to till the ground, pro- 
 mising not to depart till their manumission ; nor as posses- 
 sours of the one onely farm or mansion tlu>y live in, but [of] 
 many farmes and portions of lands [which] they demise to 
 others, and those not only in their own county wherein they 
 Jive and in which they are members, but in other shires : and 
 not oaely Copy -hold, which is a badge of vilknage, but
 
 FROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 
 
 Freeholds; yea, and those not onely Tenancies, but even 
 capital! Messuages, and chiefe Manners; by reason whereof 
 they are drawn sometimes to beare offices in forraign Coun- 
 ties upon extraordinary occasion; and have opportunity to 
 place their children apart, when their age and their parents' 
 pleasure is they should marry, or be bestowed in a course of 
 life to live upon what, by their fatherly gift, is become their 
 own : And as many possessions, in number, so large in their 
 extent, noble in their royalty, and rich in their revenue. For 
 of this race of men, who were and are but plain Good Man, 
 and John, and Thomas, many in Kent and Middlesex espe- 
 cially, besides sparsim in every several! County, have been 
 men of Knights' estate, who could dispend many hundreds a 
 year, and yet put up to raise daughters' portions. Yea, so 
 ambitious are many of them to be Gentlemen, that they by 
 plentiful living obtaine the courtesie of being called Master, 
 and written Gentlemen ; and their posterities by being bred to 
 ' Learning and Law, either in Universities or Inns of Chan- 
 cery and Court, turn perfect sparks and listed gallants, com- 
 panions to Knights and Esquires, and often adopted into 
 those orders. And from this sourse, which is no ignoble 
 one, have risen many of the now flourishing Gentry." 
 p. 388. 
 
 The words, in the preceding extract, " by reason whereof 
 tfiey are drawn sometimes to beare offices in FORRAIGN COUN- 
 TIES upon extraordinary occasion," may be considered, in 
 some degree, as explanatory of the character, assigned by the 
 poet to the Frankelein, of a Countour ; a word, as Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt has observed, which has been changed in Urry's edi- 
 tion of Chaucer, upon what authority we are yet to learn, 
 into Coroner; which Mr. Warton, however, has adopted, and 
 illustrated, in calling it " an office anciently executed by 
 gentlemen of the greatest respect and property." Hist. Eng. 
 Poet. i. 438. Yet Countour, the genuine reading of tiw
 
 250 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 manuscripts, seems unacceptable to Mr. Tyrwhitt. " It i 
 not easy," he alleges, " to say what office is meant. I have 
 a notion that the foreman of the inquest in the Hundred-court 
 was called a Countour; but the law-glossaries do not take no- 
 tice of any such sense of the word, and I cannot at present 
 produce any thing stronger in support of it than the following 
 passage of Robert of Gloucester, p. 538; speaking of an 
 Hundred-court summoned by the Constable of Gloucester 
 Castle, he says, that 
 
 He hald this Hundred mid great-folk and honour, 
 And Adam of Arderne was is [his] chef Countour. 
 
 Though this may possibly mean thai Adam acted as ac- 
 comptant or steward of the court." 
 
 The rank of the Frankelein at the Session* of the Peace, it 
 also minutely examined by the same critick, in this remark. 
 " The justices, by the stat. 31 Ed. III. c. 1, were to be in 
 each county, ' un Seigneur et ovesque lui trois ou quatre de 
 ' meultz vauez du countee, ensemblement ove ascuns sage 
 ' de la ley/ A wealthy frankelein might perhaps be com- 
 missioned under this description; but I know not how he 
 could be a knight of the shire, as they by 46 Edw. III. were 
 to be Chivalcrs et Serjantz des meulx vauez du pait; unless we 
 suppose either that the rank of Serjant (Esquire) was as unde- 
 fined as it is now, or that his office of Justice made him an 
 Esquire within the meaning of the a ct." 
 
 The luxurious hospitality of the Frankelein has occasioned 
 the poet to bestow on him the title of seint Julian ; a saint, a> 
 Mr. Tyrwhitl has observed, distinguished for providing hi 
 votaries with good lodgings and accommodation of all sorts. 
 Simon the leper, at whose house our Saviour lodged in Be- 
 thany, is called, says Mr. Warton, in the Legends, Julian 
 the good herborow, and bishop of Bethphage. In the title of
 
 PROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 
 
 his Legend, MS. Bodl. 1596. fol. 4. St. Julian, Mr. Tyr 
 whitt adds, is called " the gode herbejour ; the Legend ending 
 thus: 
 
 Therfore yet to this day thei that over lond wende, 
 Hei hiddeth Seint Julian anon that gode herbenr he 
 
 hem sende, 
 
 And Seint Julianes Pater noster ofte seggeth also, 
 For his fader soule and his moderes, that he hem bring 
 
 therto. 
 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt refers to the pleasant Tale of Boccacio in the 
 Decameron, (Day 2. Nov. 2.) as an illustration of the virtue 
 of Julian's Pater-noster. 
 
 The precise import of Vavasour, by which name the 
 Frankelein is also designated, is often, says Mr. Tyrwhitt, a* 
 obscure as its original. See Du Cange in V. And Laconibe, 
 Diet, du vieux Lang. Fr. in V. Mr. Tyrwhitt considers the 
 word here as meaning the whole class of middling Land* 
 holders. 
 
 I will not dismiss the Frankelein without Mr. Warton's 
 happy observation, that " his impatience if his sauces wert 
 not sufficiently poignant, and every article of his dinner in 
 due form and readiness, is touched with the hand of Pope or 
 Boileau." 
 
 THE COKM. 
 
 This person has been deemed unworthy even of mention in 
 Mr. Strutt's description of English habits. The poet indeed 
 gives us no account of his dress. The painter, in the manu- 
 script, has given some delineation of this domestick character. 
 He wears a red doublet, and an apron ; in one hand he holds 
 a mall deep diah orporrenger, in the other a large three-pronged 
 fvrk. Nor has the punter forgotten to represent the monnal, or
 
 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 gangrene, on his shin; a circumstance, as Mr. Tyrwhilt ha* 
 observed, by which Jonson, in his Sad Shepherd, has also 
 described a Cook. 
 
 Of the coquinary skill, and the critical knowledge of Lon- 
 don ale, by which this character is distinguished, some de- 
 scriptive circumstances may be entertaining. Mr. Tyrwhitt 
 professes himself unable to explain what kind of ingredient 
 the poudre marchant was, which the Cook knew so ably to 
 employ. " Colgrave," he says, " mentions apouldre blanche 
 and a pouldre de due, which seem both to have been used in 
 Cookery." In the Preface to the Forme of Cury, published 
 by Mr. Pegge in 1780, some explanation occurs in the re- 
 mark on powder fort, which is there considered as " a mix- 
 ture of the warmer spices, pepper, ginger, &c. pulverised; and 
 which, if you will suppose it to be kept ready prepared by the 
 vender, may be the powder marchant, found joined [in the an- 
 cient Forme] in two places \\\\h powder-douce. This, Speght 
 says, is what gingerbread is made of; but Skinner disap- 
 proves this explanation, yet, says Mr. Urry, gives none of 
 his own." The powder-douce is thought to have been the 
 powder of galingale. See the Glossary in V. Galingale. In 
 our ancient Cookery the mortar is said to have been in great 
 request; some messes being actually denominated from it, 
 as mortrews, which Chaucer's Cook could make. See the 
 Forme of Cury, ut supra. Mr. Tyrwhitt cites, from Lord 
 Bacon's Natural History, " a mortress made with the brown 
 of capons stamped and strained;" which he considers as a 
 rich broth, or soupe, in the preparation of which the flesh 
 was stamped, or beat, in a mortar; whence is probably de- 
 rived its name, une mortreuse ; though he cannot assert that 
 be ever met with the French word. 
 
 Whether the London ale was a different sort of ale from 
 that sold in the provinces, or only better made, Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt is not able to say : but he shews that it was in request 
 above a century after Chaucer. In the account of the feast
 
 FROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCEH. 253 
 
 of Archbishop Warham in 1 504, are the following articles. 
 Lei. Collect. App. P. ii. p. 30. 
 
 De cervisia Londini iiii. dol. - vi li. 
 De cervisia ; Cant. vi. dol. prec. dol. xxv s 
 De cervisia Ang. Bere xx. dol. prec. dol. xxiii s. iv d. 
 So that London ale, Mr, Tyrwhitt observes, was lu'gher than 
 Kentish by 5s. a barrel. The potency of the ale of Soiuh- 
 wcrk, which Chaucer also celebrates, has however escaped 
 the notice of the learned critick. Of this the Poet's Miller 
 was as fond, as his Cook was of the London. And, in the 
 Prologue to his Tale, he accordingly says, (ver. 314-K edit* 
 TyrwhittJ 
 
 if that I mispeke or say, 
 
 Wite it the ale of Southwerk, I you pray. 
 
 ,i JlIU*<K> fch.fi fiUi-J{l .** ,1* 
 
 This ale, indeed, was once in proverbial renown. " Like a 
 true ale-stake/' says an old commentator on Chaucer, " he 
 [the Miller] tels you where the best ale is; and this was 
 made good long ago., as may appear by that overworn Pro- 
 verb, 
 
 The nappy strong Ale of Southwirke 
 Keeps many a gossip fra the kirke." 
 
 See A Comment upon the Miller's Tale and the Wife of 
 Bath, 12mo. Lond. 1665. p. 3. 
 
 , . .i-isi'i 1 -*} LI ' . . ii fldilir-in" 1 .sj.:.v.r M 
 
 %,jl 1 i^uoiw> 3TU -w ->.t>iUmA ii;ntT .iU .fcSI: 4 
 
 V1K> bSftOifi ' ,-.W>oa i, 
 
 THE SHIPMAK. :i ^ } 
 
 : ( 
 
 In the Manuscript^ this Pilgrim is painted in a gown of 
 dark colour, reaching to his knees; having his. dagger under 
 bis arm, suspended by ^ lace, His hevtc is truly represented
 
 254 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 at broun. He wears a furred cap, of a dark or dirty crimson 
 colour. 
 
 THE DOCTOUR OP PH1SICKE. 
 
 This Pilgrim, according to the Poet's description, was ha- 
 bited in garments of purple and light blue. In the Manu- 
 script, his surcoat is of bright purple, and his hood (which 
 reaches over his head and low over his shoulders) of blue, 
 deeply furred with white; in which kind of ornamented dress 
 a Physician is described in the Visions of Pierce Plowman. 
 The miniature represents him also pondering, as it were, on 
 the contents of a large phial. His stockings are of the same 
 colour as his surcoat. 
 
 The practices of this physician in regard to magtkc natunl 
 are illustrated by the poet, as Mr. Tyrwhitt has observed, in 
 his House of Fame, B. iii. 175. 
 ... ,S)0 n *'{*,* *,>&].; '-'Jr. jJUli 
 
 And clerkea eke, which conne wel 
 AH this magyke natwrcl, 
 That craftely do her ententes 
 To m&ken in ccrtayne ascendcntes 
 Ymages, lo! through which magyke 
 To maken a man ben hole or sc-ke. 
 
 The character of this Pilgrim, Mr. Warton has remarked, 
 preserves to us the state of medical knowledge, and the course 
 of medical erudition then in fashion. See Hist. Eng. Poet. 
 i. 439. Mr. Tyrwhitt refers those who are curious to know 
 more of the books which composed our Physician's library, to 
 the Account of Authors, &c. in Urry's edition of Chaucer, 
 Fabric. Bibl. Med. -<Et., and the Elench. Medicor. Vet. 
 apud eund. Bibl. Gr. torn. xiii. I may refer them also to 
 the very interesting and abundant information on this subject 
 in Warton's History of English Poetry, vol. i. p. 439444.
 
 FROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 255 
 
 Chaucer, he observes, having mentioned the books of the 
 Physician, could not forbear to add a stroke of satire so na- 
 turally introduced: 
 
 His studie was but litel in the Bible. 
 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt observes that the names of Hippocras and 
 Galien, which occur in the description of this character, were 
 used even by the Latin writers of the middle ages for Hippo- 
 crates and Galen ; and he cites accordingly, from Dugdale'a 
 Monasticon, torn. 1. p. 184. 
 
 Magnus eram medicus, Hypocras sum nomine dictus : 
 Alter et egregius vocitatus eram Galienut. 
 
 THE WIF OF BATHE. 
 
 This fair but not bashful Pilgrim, whose occupations and 
 turn of mind are finely delineated by the poet, appears in the 
 Manuscript with a very winning countenance. She is there 
 drawn in a blue outer garment of the petticoat kind, and in 
 a surcoat of red, with a golden girdle. The former of these 
 garments is bound round her hips, and reaches over her feet. 
 One of her spurs is visible. The stirrup of her saddle is gilded. 
 She holds in her hand a whip. She wears a wimple, not 
 unlike what has been called in modern times a mob-cap; and 
 over it a broad black hat (not indeed unlike a luckier) with 
 strings. She rides astride, unlike the Prioress and Nun. 
 
 Her art of dothmaking may be illustrated, as Mr. Warton 
 has shewn, by observing that she lived in the neighbourhood 
 of Bath; a country famous for clothing to this day. It was 
 thought no disgrace, says Mr. Strutt, for a lady of quality to 
 be a good housewife, and to superintend the making of s-^ch 
 loth as was necessary for the family ; and, in many instances,
 
 256 
 
 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING FXTRACTS 
 
 an additional quantity for the purposes of charity. He ac- 
 cordingly cites the Wif of Bathe's accomplishment in the art 
 of making fine cloth. See Habits of the People of England, 
 ii. 191. 
 
 The poet represents this jolly dame as having had hus- 
 bands at the church-door five. Perhaps the ceremony here 
 mentioned may not be obvious to every reader. Mr. Warton 
 observes, that, at the southern entrance of Norwich cathedral, 
 a representation of the espousals, or sacrament of marriage, 
 is carved in stone; for here the hands of the couple were 
 joined by the priest, and great part of the service performed : 
 here also the bride was endowed with what was called Dais ad 
 ostiutn ecclesia. See Hist. Eng. Poet. i. 437. Hearne, in 
 his Appendix to the History of Glastonbury, published the 
 form of matrimony, as celebrated at the church-door, from a 
 Missal >>ecundum usum Hereford in his possession, 1o which 
 Mr. Warton refers the reader. But this custom, as Mr. 
 Gough has also observed, was not peculiar to*Herefwd; wit- 
 ness the Missals in usum Sarum, 1503, 1526. See British 
 Topography, i. 412. The custom was, that the parties did 
 not enter the church till that part of the office, where the 
 minister now goes up to the altar and repeats the psalm. 
 
 THE PERSONS. 
 
 -;, -a ; * i?r*i.. w.: i >iics 
 
 The surcoat and hood of this amiable and venerable Pil- 
 grim are, in the Manuscript, of scarlet; such being the habit 
 of a ministering priest in England, until the time of queen 
 Elizabeth. In his countenance there is much meekness. His 
 hands are crossed upon his breast ; and round his waist is ap- 
 parently a girdle of beads. 
 
 In describing the sanctity, simplicity, sincerity, patience, 
 industry, courage, and conscientious impartiality, of this 
 excellent parish-priest, Chaucer, Mr. Warton observes, ha*
 
 PROM THE POETRY OP CHAUCER. 257 
 
 fthewn his good sense and good heart. Dryden, in his imi- 
 tation of the character, is said to have applied it to bishop 
 Ken. See Hist. Eng. Poet. i. 448. I am led to think that 
 Goldsmith had also cast his eye on Chaucer's engaging de- 
 scription, and that he accordingly transferred a trait or two 
 of the clerical character in its brightest view to the Eccle*i- 
 astick in his Deserted Village. 
 
 THE MILLER. 
 
 This Pilgrim is represented in the Manuscript, as he is by 
 the poet, in a white coat with a blue hood. The miniature 
 aptly shews him also as a " stout chorle." He is drawn 
 playing on a bag-pipe. His head is uncovered. He wears 
 a word and buckler by his side. 
 
 The poet describes him as winning the ram, the usual 
 prize at wrestling-matches; which Mr. Tyrwhitt proves by 
 a reference to M. Paris's mention of such a contest at 
 Westminster in 1222, at which the prize was a ram. A 
 very curious description of this pilgrim as a goliardeis, has 
 been thus given by the same critick. Un Goliardois, Fr. 
 Goliardus, or Goliardensis, Lat. This jovial sect seems 
 to have been so called from Golias, the real or assumed 
 name of a man of wit toward the end of the 12th cen- 
 tury, who wrote the Apocalypsis Golite and other pieces in 
 burlesque Latin rhymes, some of which have been falsely 
 attributed to Walter Map. See Tanner's Bibl. Brit, in V. 
 Golias, and Du Cange in V. Goliardus. There is a poem by 
 one of this sect in MS. Bod. 3869, James, 32, which is en- 
 titled Dicta cujusdam Goliardi Anglici, and begins thus : 
 
 Omnibus in Gallia, Anglus Goliardus, 
 Obediens et humilis, frater non bastardu*. 
 S
 
 258 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 Goliae discipulus, dolens quod tarn tardus, 
 Mandat salutem fratnbus, nomine Richardus. 
 
 The last stanza is this : 
 
 Summa salus omnium, filius Mariae, 
 Pascal, potet, vestiat pueros Goliae, 
 Et conservet socios sanctae confrariae 
 Ad dies usque ultimos Enoch et Elyae. 
 
 In several authors of the 1 3th century, quoted by Du Cange, 
 the Goliardi are classed with the joculatores et buffbnes. But 
 see the Glossary subjoined to this volume. 
 
 What Mr. Tyrwhitt proposes in explanation of the Miller's 
 thomb of gold, cannot perhaps be admitted without hesitation. 
 If the allusion, he says, be, as is most probable, to the old 
 proverb, Every honest Miller lias a thumb of gold, this passage 
 may mean, that our Miller, notwithstanding his thefts, was 
 an honest Miller, that is, as honest as his brethren. 
 
 I will not overpass the beard of our Miller, which Chaucer 
 says was broad as a spade. This decoration of the chin conti- 
 nued to be in high estimation, nearly two centuries after Chau- 
 cer; for thus, in Lyllie's Midas, published in 1592, Mofto 
 says to Dello, " I instructe thee in the phrases of our elo- 
 quent occupation, as, How, sir, will you be trimmed ? Will 
 your have your beard like a spade or a, bodkin ? a pent-house 
 on your upper-lip, &c." A, 3. S. 2. 
 
 THE MANCIPLE. 
 
 Of this respectable Pilgrim the dress and appearance, in 
 the Manuscript, are as follow. He wears a surcoat of light 
 blue, with open sleeves, lined with light brown. His beard 
 is forked. His little cap is of light brown. At his girdle de-
 
 fROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 259 
 
 pends, from a white sash, his gipcerie or purse, of a brown 
 colour also. In his right hand he holds up a small bottle. 
 
 THE REVE. 
 
 The Reve is drawn, in the Manuscript, very expressively 
 as a thin choler^ck man. He appears to have been closely 
 shaved ; his hair is rounded at the ears, and docked at the 
 top like a priest's. His garment is blue, with a hood of scar- 
 let over it. His stockings also are scarlet. His sword is of 
 an enormous size. 
 
 The whole of this character, as Mr. Warton has observed, 
 is happily pictured by the poet. " He was an officer of much 
 greater trust and authority during the feudal authority than at 
 present. His attention to the care and custody of the manors, 
 the produce of which was then kept in hand for furnishing his 
 lord's table, perpetually employs his time, preys upon his 
 thoughts, and makes him lean and cholerick. He is the 
 terrour of bailiffs and hinds; and is remarkable for his cir- 
 cumspection, vigilance, and subtlety. He is never in ar- 
 rears, and no auditor is able to over-reach or detect him in 
 his accounts ; yet he makes more commodious purchases for 
 himself than for his master, without forfeiting the good-will or 
 bounty of the latter. Amidst these strokes of satire, Chaucer's 
 genius for descriptive painting breaks forth in the simple and 
 beautiful description of the Reve's rural habitation, ver. 608." 
 See Hist. Eng. Poet, i, 451. 
 
 The poet adds, that this Pilgrim in his youth had learned 
 a good mystery or trade ; 
 
 / ''-'< He was a well good wright, a carpentere: 
 
 Unlike the carpenter of Oseney Abbey, however, whom 
 Chaucer elsewhere has delineated with inimitable force and
 
 260 NOTES ON THE-PKECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 humour. I take this opportunity of illustrating a designation 
 of the latter carpenter, as Mr. Tynvhitt doubts the authority 
 of the glossarial application. See The Milleres Tale, ver, 
 3187. 
 
 Whilom ther was dwelling in Oxenforde 
 
 A nche gnof, that gestes held to borde, 
 
 And of his craft he was a carpenter. -,\ 
 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt gives no other illustration of the unusual word 
 gnof than the following: " GnofFe, an old cuff, a miser. 
 Gloss. Urr. I know not upon what authority." Authority, 
 however, is not wanting. See A Comment upon the Mil- 
 ler's Tale and the Wife of Bath, 12mo. Lond. 1665. p. 8. 
 " A rich gnofe ; a rich grub, or miserable caitiff, as I render 
 it; which interpretation, to be proper and significant, I 
 gather by the sence of that antient metre : 
 
 The caitiff gnof sed to his crue, 
 
 My meney is many, my incomes but few. 
 
 This, as I conceive, explains the author's meaning; which 
 seems no less seconded by that antient English bard : 
 
 That gnof, that grub, of pesants blude, 
 Had store of goud, yet did no gude." 
 
 THE SOMPNOUR. 
 
 This suoimoner of offenders against the canons into the 
 archdeacon's court, is very minutely represented, as to his 
 babit and appearance, in the Manuscript. He wears a jacket 
 or surcoat of blue, and pantaloons of scarlet He has a large 
 garland upon his head, and by his side the buckler made ap-
 
 FROM THE POETRY OP CHAUCER. 261 
 
 patently of a cake, under which is his sword. In his hand 
 he holds a letter or summons, sealed. His fire-red face is 
 very conspicuous ; and the painter indeed has well expressed, 
 what the poet has given to this Sompnour, a visage fit to 
 frighten children ! 
 
 The Sompnour, Mr. Warton observes, " is humourously 
 drawn as counteracting his profession by his example : he is 
 libidinous and voluptuous, and his rosy countenance belies 
 his occupation. This is an indirect satire on the ecclesias- 
 tical proceedings of those times." Piers the Plowman had 
 before noticed this characteristick looseness of the Sompnour ; 
 reprehending particularly, in his indignant remarks on those 
 connected with the Church, " somoners and their lemmans," 
 Pass. 14. The name, it may here be observed, was after- 
 wards written summoner ; and is thus employed by 8hak>peare 
 in K. Lear with an allusion to the office of the old sompnour. 
 Milton writes it sumner ; pronouncing at the same time the 
 whole race of these persons, and of apparitors, (the word, 
 which, by the way, has been adopted in modern times for 
 sompnour s,) to be " a hell-pestering rabble." See his Ani- 
 madversions upon the Remonstrants Defence, &c. 
 
 His affectation of Latin terms, which he had picked up 
 from the decrees and pleadings of the Court, must have 
 formed, Mr. Warton says, a character highly ridiculous. 
 Compare verses 640 645. Of the Questio quid juris, which 
 he was wont to utter, Mr. Tyrwhitt's explanation is ; " That 
 this kind of question occurs frequently in Ralph de Heng- 
 ham. After having stated a case, he adds, Quid juris? and 
 then proceeds to give the answer to it. See Heng. Mag. 
 C. xi. Esto autem quod reus nullo modo venerit ad hunc diem. 
 Quid juris ? &c. See also c. xii." 
 
 He was a gentil harlot, Chaucer says ; the name harlot 
 being anciently given to men as well as women. See Francis 
 Thynne's remark in this volume, p. 19, and also the Glos- 
 sary. He had in danger the young girls (who Mr. Tynvhitt
 
 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 say* may be of either sex, girl being formerly an appellation 
 common to both,) of the diocese; that is, according to Mr. 
 Tyrwhitt's explanation, within the reach or controul of his 
 office; as in Hist. Abbat. Pipwell, apud Monast. Angl. torn. 
 i. p. 815. " Nee audebant Abbates eidem resistere, quia 
 aut pro denariis aut pro bladis semper fuerunt Abbates in 
 dangerio dicti Officialis." Du Cange cites this example in 
 V. Dangerium, where the reader may see other illustrations. 
 
 THE PARDONERE. 
 
 This Pilgrim, Mr. Warton observes, is with great pro- 
 priety made the friend and companion of the preceding. He 
 is just arrived from the Pope, with abundance of " pardons 
 from Rome al hote ;" having in his wallet, amcng other 
 relicks, the Virgin Mary's veil, and part of the sail of St. Pe- 
 ter's ship. My learned friend, George Chalmers, Esq. has, 
 in his excellent edition of Sir David Lyndsay's Poems, no- 
 ticed a collection of ludicrous relicks, deserving comparison 
 with these of the Pardonere, in the Satyre of the three 
 Estaitis, vol. ii. p. 15. The Pardonere, the same critick 
 has observed, was a frequent character in the old Moralities; 
 as in H ey wood's Four P's; viz. the Palmer, the Pardoner, 
 the Poticary, and the Pedlar. The Pardoners, Mr. Chal- 
 mers adds, " were well known characters, at the epoch of 
 the Reformation, who retailed the Pope's indulgences, for 
 profit, in every Christian country. Chaucer exposed them 
 to ridicule in England. Luther raised the indignation of 
 Germany against them. And Lyndsay tried to make the 
 Pardoner contemptible in Scotland." 
 
 Of these persons the impositions on the credulity of the 
 people were so notorious, as to occasion the check of autho- 
 rity by the decrees of several Councils, and by parliamentary 
 determination. See Du Cange in VV. kuastiarii and Quas-
 
 PROM THE POETRY OP CHAUCER. 263 
 
 tionarius; under which general names, Mr. Tyrwhitt re- 
 marks, the venders of indulgences are included. See also 
 Stat. 22. H. 8. c. 12. By which, all Proctors and Par. 
 doners going about in any country, without sufficient autho- 
 rity, are to be treated as vagabonds. 
 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt can hardly think that Chaucer meant to bring 
 his Pardoner from Ronceveaux in Navarre, and yet cannot 
 find, he says, any place of that name in England. An Hos- 
 pital Beatte Maria de Itouruyvalle in Charing, London, is 
 mentioned in the Monast. torn. ii. p. 443 ; and there was a 
 Runceval-Hallm Oxford; Stevens, vol. ii. p. 262. Whence 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt concludes, that perhaps it was the name of 
 some Fraternity. The Hospital or Chapel of St. Mary 
 Rounceval, in the Parish of St. Martin in the Fields, was un- 
 doubtedly a Cell to the Priory of Rounceveuux in Navarre ; 
 and was endowed with lands. It was suppressed, among 
 other Alien Priories, by K. Henry the fifth ; and was re- 
 edified by K. Edward the fourth, in the fifteenth year of his 
 reign, when a Fraternity was founded, according to Stow; 
 who observes (in his Survey of London) that the same had 
 been suppressed and turned into tenements. See Newcourt's 
 Diocese of London, vol. i. p. 93. See also Tanner's No- 
 titia Monastica, Middlesex, sub Rouncivull. 
 
 However lightly the character of the Pardoner may be 
 estimated, I must not omit to remark, that the Tale, which 
 the Poet occasions him to recite, is extremely interesting in 
 its dramatick and moral effect. Nor may I decline defend- 
 ing this Pilgrim from a charge, hastily made, of misquoting 
 in his Tale the commandments; the third for the second. See 
 The Canterbury Tales of Chaucer, completed in a modern 
 Version^-by the Rev. W. Lipscombe, vol. iii. p. 166. The 
 word* of Chaucer's reciter are these : 
 
 Behold and see, that in the firste table 
 Of highe Goddes hestes honourable,
 
 264 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 How that the second hest of him is this, 
 Take not my name in idel or amis. 
 
 To an elegant and correct modernization of this passage, and 
 indeed the whole of Mr. Lipscombe's version may be pro* 
 nounced as almost uniformly correct and elegant, this note 
 is subjoined. " I cannot omit remarking the keenness of 
 Chaucer's satire, who, in drawing the picture of an ignorant 
 and unprincipled priest, makes him misquote the command- 
 ments; the third for the second." 
 
 This is not the fact. Chaucer levelled no satire here against 
 his Pardoner. Those Papistical times, as well as later, coun- 
 tenanced, without shame, the omission, in the decalogue of 
 our second commandment ; and, in the decalogue thus mu- 
 tilated, the second precept is, Thou shalt not take the Lord's 
 name in vain, &c. The number of the commandments, how- 
 ever, was preserved by a division of the tenth. 1 will give a 
 proof of the division, and also a strange statement of the 
 second commandment, as they occur in a metrical Manuscript, 
 which I consider nearly coeval with Chaucer's writings. Bibl. 
 Monast. Fletewod. p. 203. 
 
 In hevene schal dwelle all crysten men 
 That knowe and kepe goddes byddings ten. 
 
 I. Thou schalt love god w lh herte entere, 
 W*h al thi soule and al thi might; 
 Other god in no manere, 
 
 Thou schalt no have by day nor nyght. 
 
 II. Thi goddes name and bautte, 
 Thou schalt not take for wel nor wo ; 
 Dismembre hym not. yut on rodetre 
 ffor ye was mad boyth blak and bio. 
 
 III. Thi holy dayes kepe weel also, &c.
 
 FROM THE POETKY OF CHAUCEH. 265 
 
 This is the division of the tenth commandment : 
 
 IX. Thi neghbores wyf yu not desyre, 
 Nor womman non thurgli synne coveyte, 
 But as holykirke wolde it were, 
 
 Right so thi purpos loke yu sette. 
 
 X. Heus nor lond nor other tliyng, 
 Thou schalt not covette wrongfully, 
 But kepe weel ay goddes biddyng, 
 And cristen feith love stedfastely. 
 
 It remains that I should describe the dress and appearance 
 of our Pardoner in the Manuscript. His long yellow hair i* 
 spread, in parted locks, upon his shoulders. His surcoat is 
 scarlet trimmed with white. His cap is also scarlet, with 
 the vernicle obvious in the front. His stockings are blue. 
 In his hand he carries the crois of laton, coloured at the 
 points, yellow, red, and blue. His prpcions wallet rests on 
 bis horse's breast, depending from the neck by white strings, 
 
 THE HOST. 
 
 Of this facetious person there is no picture in the Manu- 
 script, for the reason already given. See p. 23 1 . Yet among 
 the rest, no character perhaps can be pronounced more con- 
 spicuous than this Master of the Tabarde, where the Pil- 
 grims are assembled. " He has much good sense/' says 
 Mr. Warton, " and discovers great talents for managing and 
 regulating a large company; and to him we are indebted fop 
 the happy proposal of obliging every Pilgrim to tell a story 
 during their journey to Canterbury. His interpositions be- 
 tween the Tales are very useful and enlivening; and he is 
 something like the Chorus on the Grecian stage. He is of 
 great service in encouraging eacu person to begin his part, in
 
 266 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 conducting the scheme with spirit, in making proper obser- 
 vations on the merit or tendency of the several stories, in set- 
 tling such disputes [as] must naturally arise in the course of 
 such an entertainment, and in connecting all the narratives into 
 one continued system. His love of good cheer, experience 
 in marshalling guests, address, authoritative deportment, and 
 facetious disposition, are thus expressively displayed by 
 Chaucer. 
 
 Gret chere made our Hoste us everich on, 
 And to the souper sette he us anon : 
 And served us with vitaille of the beste. 
 Strong was the win, and wel to drinke us leste. 
 A semely man our Hoste was with alle 
 For to han ben a marshall in an halle. 
 A large man he was with even stepe, 
 ruMK A fairer burgeis is ther non in Chepe: 
 
 Bold of his speche, and wyse and wel y taught, 
 And of manhood him lacked righte naught 
 Eke thereto was he right a mery man, &c." 
 
 Of the agreement which the Pilgrims entered into, at the 
 suggestion of our Host, with respect to the number of Tales 
 that each person was to tell, this is Mr. Tyrwhitt's illustra- 
 tion ; after observing, that the Host's proposal stands thus, 
 with very little variation in all the Manuscripts : 
 
 This is the point, to speke it plat and plain, 
 That eche of you, to shorten with youre way, 
 In this viage shall tellen tales tway, 
 To Canterbury ward, I mene it so ; 
 And homeward he shall tellen other two 
 
 ; ,.*Vi' ?*! U^Mf 
 
 " From this passage we should certainly conclude, that each 
 of them was to tell two tales in their journey to Canterbury,
 
 FROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 
 
 nd two more in the journey homeward : but all the other 
 passages in which mention is made of this agreement, would 
 rather lead us to believe, that they were to tell only one tale 
 in each journey ; and the Prologue to the Parson's Talc 
 Btrongly confirms this latter supposition. The Host there 
 aays, 
 
 Now lacketh us no tales mo than on 
 
 and, calling upon the Parson to tell this one tale which was 
 wanting, he says to him, 
 
 ne breke thou not our play,. 
 
 For every man, save thou, hath told his tale. 
 
 The Parson therefore had not told any tale before, and only 
 one tale was expected from him (and consequently from each 
 of the others) upon that journey. It is true, that a very 
 slight alteration of the passage first cited would reconcile 
 that too to this hypothesis. If it were written, 
 
 That eche of you, to .shorten with youreway, 
 In this viage shall tellen tales tway; 
 To Canterbury ward, 1 mene it, o, 
 And homeward he shall tell another to 
 
 the original proposition of the Host would perfectly agree 
 with what appears to have been the subsequent practice. 
 However, I cannot venture to propose such an alteration of the 
 text, in opposition to so many manuscripts, some of them ot the 
 best note ; and therefore the reader, if he is so pleased, may 
 consider this as one of those inconsistencies, which prove too 
 plainly that the author had not finished his work." Intro- 
 duel. Disc, to the Canterb. Tah s, vii. 
 
 We must not however forget, that Chaucer himself tells
 
 268 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 two tales. And though, in the Prologue, twenty-nine Pil- 
 grims are expressly said to be the number of the company, 
 the characters described are more. See Thynne's remark in 
 this volume, p. 1 4. 
 
 The CHANON's YEMAN has obtained no place among the 
 Characters in the Prologue, yet he recites a Tale. Accord- 
 ingly a representation of his dress is found in the Manuscript. 
 He there appears in a green vest, with brown pantaloons, 
 and short or quarter boots. His head-dress is also brown. 
 Affixed to his girdle, behind him, is a wallet of no mean 
 size. 
 
 Among the Tales which remain, says Mr. Warton, there 
 are none of the PRIORESSES CHAPLAINS, the HABERDASHER, 
 CARPENTER, WEBBE, DYER, TAPISER, and HOSTE. Mr. 
 Warton certainly forgot the NONNES PREEST'S Tale ; for, 
 however objectionable the number of three Priests or Chap- 
 lains attendant on the Prioress has been thought, (see p. 235.) 
 the Character, designated by the poet as the NONNES 
 FREEST, may fairly be considered as one of the Prioress's 
 train. In the Manuscript he appears vested in a surcoat of 
 brownish purple, with a blue hood or tippet. He wears a 
 small red cap, with a knot or tassel at the top. Either his 
 garment is delicately furred at the neck and wrists, or his 
 fine linen is there apparent. The trappings of his horse are 
 coloured blue. 
 
 The PLOWMAN, we know, occurs among the Characters 
 in the Prologue ; but the Tale, which has been given to him 
 in some editions of Chaucer's poetry, is certainly not authen- 
 tick. It is wanting in the best Manuscripts. And Mr. 
 Tyrwhitt has justly rejected it. 
 
 The HABERDASHER, CARPENTER, WEBBE, DYER, and 
 TAPISER, are represented by the poet " in one livery of a 
 solemn and great fraternity," and with such other distinc- 
 tions as bespeak the wealth and the importance of London 
 citizen*.
 
 FROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 
 
 CHAUCER himself appears in the manuscript at the open- 
 ing of Melibeus's Tale, in a vest or gipon of very dark 
 violet, nearly black. His bonnet is of the same colour. His 
 anelace is gilt. His boots are black. And the trappings of 
 his pony are partially gilt. The frontispiece to this book 
 is a fac-simile of the miniature. 
 
 We have now assembled the whole party. The circum- 
 stances of their setting out are next to be considered. These, 
 Mr. TyrwhiU has observed, " are related succinctly and na- 
 turally; and the contrivance of appointing the Knight by lot 
 to tell the first tale, is a happy one, as it affords the author 
 the opportunity of giving his work a splendid opening, and 
 at the same time does not infringe that apparent equality, 
 upon which the freedom of discourse and consequently the 
 ease and good humour of every society so entirely depend. 
 The general satisfaction, which this appointment is said to 
 give to the company, puts us in mind of a similar gratification 
 to the secret wishes of the Grecian army, when the lot of 
 fighting with Hector falls to Ajax ; though there is not the 
 least probability that Chaucer had ever read the Iliad, even 
 in a translation." Introduct. Disc, ut supr. viii. The ce- 
 remony of drawing cutte occurs also in the Canterbury Tales, 
 and Mr. Tyrwhitt says that Froissart calls it tirer d la longuc 
 paille, V. i. c. 294. 
 
 In illustrating the diversions of oar ancestors, Mr. Warton 
 has stated, " that when a company was assembled, if a jugler 
 or minstrel were not present, it was their custom to entertain 
 themselves by relating or hearing a series of adventures. Thus 
 the general plan of the Canterbury Tales, which at first sight 
 seems to be merely an ingenious invention of the poet to serve 
 a particular occasion, is in great measure founded on a 
 fashion of ancient life. And Chaucer, in supposing each of 
 the Pilgrims to tell a tale as they are travelling to BecketV 
 shrine, only makes them adopt a mode of amusement 
 which was common to the conversations of bis age, I 
 
 6
 
 270 NOTES ON THE PRFCEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 do not deny, that Chaucer has shewn his address in the use 
 and application of this practice." Dissert, on the Gesta 
 Rom. Hist. Eng. Poet. iii. Ixiv. Mr. Warton's reasoning is 
 ingenious; but I suppose that Chaucer knew the practice ob- 
 erved in pilgrimages, so sarcastically noticed by his poetical 
 predecessour in Pierce Plowman's Visions : 
 
 Pilgrimes and palmers plyght hern togyther 
 For to stke S. James and sayntes at Rome : 
 They went forth theyr way wyth many ivysc tales, 
 And had leve to lye all hyr lyfe after, &c. 
 
 Or Chaucer might allude to anoiher custom, not noticed by 
 Mr. Warton or Mr. Tyrnhitt. The itinerant poets of the 
 twelfth and two following centuries, who carried about the 
 learning and amusements of the times, defrayed the expences 
 of their supper and lodgings by a Tale in verse. These 
 were not the jougleurs, the attendants upon the troubadours 
 of Provence; but the poets, and inhabitants of the northern 
 parts of France ; whose customs and tales were consequently 
 more likely to be communicated to the southern parts of Eng- 
 land. These Tales were recited in verse, as the following 
 quotation will shew. See Fabliaux et Contes des Poetes 
 Francois des xi, xii, xiii, xiv, et xv Siecles, publ. par Bar- 
 ba/an, nouv. edit, par Meon, vol. iii. Pref. p. ix, et p. 196. 
 
 A cest mot fenist cis fabliaus, 
 Que nous avons en rime mis 
 Pour conter devant noz amis. 
 
 Which words, in the opinion of a learned friend, imply that 
 the Tales were generally made in prose by the/a6fer, and put 
 into verse by the rdater ; at least, that these were sometimes 
 distinct persons. Hence, my friend observes, as these stories 
 were related in verse, there is another propriety to be noticed
 
 FROM THE POETRY OP CHAUCER. 271 
 
 in Chaucer's making all his characters speak in verse, except 
 the Parson; to enhance the gravity of whose character, a 
 Tale in prose might be thought more suitable. Chaucer's 
 own relation, I must add, of the Tale of Melibeua, is in 
 prose ; though Mr. Thomas, in his manuscript notes upon 
 Chaucer (Ed. Urr.) in the British Museum, has observed 
 that this Tale seems to have been written in blank verse. It 
 is certain, Mr. Tyrwhitt says, that in the former part of it 
 we find a number of blank verses intermixed, in a much 
 greater proportion than in any of our author's other prose 
 writings. But this poetical style is not, he thinks, remark- 
 able beyond the first four or five pages. 
 
 To return from this discussion to the practice of repeating 
 a Tale for a supper. The following illustrations will be suf- 
 ficient. See the Fabliaux &c. ut supr. vol. iii. Pref. p. 4x. 
 
 \ 
 
 
 Usage est en Normandie, 
 Que qui hebergiez est, qu'il die 
 Fable ou Chanson die a son oste. 
 Ceste costume pas n'en oste 
 \ Sire Jehans li Chapelaine. 
 
 As also in another Tale : 
 
 Et quant a vint apres souper, 
 Si commencerent a border, 
 Et center de lor aviaus 
 Leurs aventures, leurs fabliaus. 
 
 Chaucer might have borne in remembrance this custom; and, 
 instead of demanding " leurs fabliaus" after supper, might 
 prefer the relation of them on the road. But the satire of 
 Pierce Plowman, I think, presents the prototype of the 
 Tales told by the way. Yet we must not overpass the Ho*t' 
 allusion, in the promise which he makes;
 
 273 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 And which of you that bereth him best of alle, 
 That is to sayn, that telleth in this cas 
 Tales of best sentence and solas, 
 Shal have a souper at youre alle cost, &c. 
 
 I will not conclude the description of our Host, without 
 noticing the office for which the poet says he was particularly 
 qualified; that of marshall in an hall; especially as it will 
 enable me to introduce some circumstances relating to other 
 ancient customs, which, I am persuaded, will gratify the 
 reader. The marshall of the hall was accustomed to place, 
 at publick festivals, every person according to his rank. It 
 was his duty also to preserve peace and order. See Spenser, 
 F. Q, v. ix. 23. So the king, in Gower's Confess. Amantis 
 lib. viii. fol. 117. b. edit. 1532. 
 
 bad his marshall of his hall 
 
 To setten hym in such degre, 
 That he upon hym myght se, &c. 
 
 In elder times we find the marshal, on solemn occasions, re- 
 ceiving the shields and different insignia of the nobility, and 
 suspending them in halls according to the rank of their owners. 
 See the very curious and interesting Memoirs of the Irish 
 Bards, &c. by Joseph Cooper Walker, Esq. p. 24. The 
 word, however, was so connected with scenes of gaiety, that 
 Milton, we find, uses the expression of " marshall' d feast," 
 P. L. ix. 37. Even at rustick sports, and before the time of 
 Milton, the officer called marshal of the field was an attend, 
 ant. This circumstance I purpose to illustrate by some in- 
 teresting extracts from a pamphlet, of which the subject 
 lias deeply engaged the attention of all the commentators 
 on Shakspeare, but the contents appear not to have been 
 explored by any. Mr. Warton has, in a note on Shak- 
 speare's morrice.dan.ce, jnentioned the existence of this
 
 PROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCfilt. 
 
 273 
 
 tract, but nothing further. Mr. Douce, in his late Illus- 
 trations of Shakspeare, professes to have never seen a copy. 
 Indeed the information which it exhibits, ought not, 1 may 
 say would not, have been withheld, if the book had fallen in 
 the way, or had been procured by the diligent inquiries, of 
 criticks and antiquaries. But it is of extreme rarity. The 
 copy, from which I make the following extracts, is among 
 the printed books in the Pepysian collection at Magdalen 
 College, Cambridge. It is entitled, " Old Meg of Here- 
 ford-shire for a Mayd-Marian : and Hereford Town for a 
 Morris-daunce. Or Twelve Morris-dancers in Hereford- 
 shire, of twelve hundred yeares old. Lond. 1609." 4to. 
 bl. 1. It is a real account of performers of this description, 
 at Hereford, before the gentry of that county. It is dedi- 
 cated " To that renowned ox-leach, old Hall, Taborer of 
 Herefordshire, and to his most invincible weather-beaten 
 nutbrowne Tabor, being alreadie old and sound, threescore 
 yeares and upward." 
 
 This musician, Hall, is described as aged 97, and the 
 other musician, who accompanied the dancers, (Squire of 
 Hereford,) 108. 
 
 Then follow the names and ages of the 4 Whiflflers, or 
 Marshales of the field, as they are expressly denominated; 
 two of whom number 108 years each, the third 105 years, 
 and the fourth 102. 
 
 After these important personages follow the names and 
 ages of the twelve dancers; two of whom number 106 years 
 each, two 102 years each, four 97 years each, one only 96, 
 the Maide-Marian (Meg Goodwin of Erdestand) 120, and 
 John Mando, " a very good two- hand-sword man," just a 
 century, with another of the same age. They were in all 
 ighteen persons, whose united ages made 1837 years. A 
 most extraordinary spectacle. 
 
 " But/' says the writer of the pamphlet' " will you know 
 what fashion was observed amongst the Musitians, and what 
 
 T
 
 274 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 habits the Dauncers took upon them ? Here take a riew of 
 both. The Musitians, and the twelue Dauncers, had long 
 coates of the old fashion, hie sleeues gathered at the elbowes, 
 and hanging sleeues behind: the stuffe red Buffin, strip't 
 with white, girdles with white, stockings white, and redde 
 roses to their shooes : the one sixe, a white Jewes cap, with 
 a Jewell, and a long red feather : the other, a scarlet Jewes 
 cap, with a Jewell, and a white feather: So the Hobbi- 
 horse, and so the Maid-Marrion was attired in colours : the 
 Wiflers had * long staves, white and red. And after the 
 daunce was ended, diuerse Courtiers that won wagers at 
 [Hereford] race, took those colours, and wore them in their 
 hats." Sign. B. 4. b. 
 
 The company, before which they exhibited their skill, 
 consisted of Lord Herbert of Ragland, Sir Thomas Somer- 
 set, Sir Edward Swift, Sir Thomas Mildmay, and many 
 other knights and persons of distinction. For themselves and 
 their dancing they crave attention, in a metrical address, 
 from those 
 
 " servants of our mightie king, 
 
 That came from Court one hundred mile, 
 To see our race and sport this Spring, &c." 
 
 Then, recording their saltatory powers, the writer of the 
 pamphlet makes this pithy simile, Sign. C. 2. " They 
 shewed in their dauncing and mooving vp and downe, as if 
 
 
 
 Mawlborne hilles, in the verie depth of winter, when all 
 their heads are covered (insteade of white woollie cappes) 
 with snow, had shooke and daunced at some earth-quake !" 
 
 * The ensigns of their office as Mankalt,
 
 FKOM THE POETRY OP CHAUCEtf. 
 
 : 
 
 On the Floure and the Leafe. 
 
 V : 
 
 I have selected this poem, on account of its subserviency 
 
 to the illustration of Gower as well as Chaucer, and because 
 
 ii ' 
 it exhibits the powers of the latter* in descriptions of a very 
 
 different kind from what we have been considering; I mean 
 rural objects, and allegorical characters. 
 
 The poem was printed, for the first time, by Speght, in 
 his edition of 1597-8. Mr. Tyrwhilt does not think its au- 
 thenticity so clear as that of Chaucer's Dreme ; but he admits 
 that the subject, at least, is alluded to by Chaucer in the 
 
 T 1 f /I 1 IV 100 
 
 Lf gentle of Goode Women, ver. 188. 
 
 1 JM'i'f '/.'!. iJ ; t <7 i*| * J 
 
 But nathelesse, ne wene nat that I make 
 In praising of the Floure again the Lefe, 
 No more than of the come again the shefe. 
 
 The Legende abounds with avowals of Chaucer's homage to 
 the Daisy; the adoration of which is celebrated, in the 
 Floure and Leafe, by the joint chorus of Knights and Ladies, 
 answering the last line of the lady's bergeret or pastoral song, 
 Si douce est la marguerite. From Chaucer's repeated com- 
 mendations of the Daisy-flower, we must not however infer, 
 according to Mr. Tyrwhitt, that he was specially favoured 
 by Margaret, countess of Pembroke. For this notion Mr. 
 Tyrwhitt could find no other foundation than that of Speght, 
 who first started it; and who says that " it may appeare in di- 
 vers treatises by him written, as in the Prologue of the Le- 
 gend of Good Women under the name of the Daysie, and 
 likewise in a ballad beginning, In the season of Feverier." 
 Th.e ballad is among the additions made by J, Stowe to 
 Chaucer's Works in 1561, and, " like the greatest part of 
 those additions, is of very dubious authority, to use the gentlest
 
 276 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 terms; but supposing it genuine, there is nothing in it to 
 make us believe that it had any reference to the Countess of 
 Pembroke. That its commendations of the daisy ought not 
 to weigh with us is very plain from the other piece cited by 
 Mr. Speghtj for The Legendc of Good Women, in which he 
 imagines the Lady Margaret to be honoured under the name 
 of the Daisy, was * certainly not written till at least twelve 
 years after that lady's death. The Countess Margaret must 
 have died not later than 1370, as the earl's son by his second 
 wife Anne was about nineteen years of age when he was 
 killed in a tournament in 1391. Holinshed, p. 471. It is 
 possible that le Dit dc lafleur de lis et de la Marguerite, by 
 Guillaume De Machaut, Acad. des Insc. t. xx. p. 381, and 
 the Dittie de la flour de la Murgherite by Froissart, ibid. 
 t. x. p. 669, (neither of which had the least relation to the 
 Countess of Pembroke) might furnish us with the true key to 
 those mystical compliments which our poet has paid to the 
 daisy-flower." Mr. Tyrwhitt's Appendix to his Preface. 
 
 Speght had probably been led to make his assertion on 
 conjecture; concluding that personal designation must ne- 
 cessarily be intended in a word of double meaning : and he 
 perhaps congratulated himself on his ingenuity, in having 
 met with, or having heard of, what might seem to favour 
 luch conjecture, a collection of poems, by Margaret of Va- 
 lois, published under the playful title, in 1547, of Les Mar- 
 guerites de la Marguerite des Princesses. Mr. Warton ha 
 hastily followed Speght's authority. But the next editor of 
 the History of English Poetry will not be misled, after Mr. 
 Tyrwhitt's detection of this misapplied designation. 
 
 The connection of the Floure and Leafe with the poetry of 
 Gower is this. A portion of the fourth book in the Confessio 
 Amantis, written in Gower's most poetical manner, presents 
 
 * See Mr. Tyrwhitt** Imwduct. Disc, to the Canterbury Tales, for the( 
 date of the Le&ende, o. 3.
 
 FROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 277 
 
 an evident imitation of this poem. This discovery belongs 
 to Mr. Warton; whose statement will be read with pleasure. 
 See the Hist. Eng. Poet vol. ii. p. 26. " Rosiphele, a beautiful 
 princess, but setting love at defiance, the daughter of Henipus 
 king of Armenia, is taught obedience to the laws of Cupid by 
 seeing a vision of Ladies. 
 
 * Whan come was the monthe of May, 
 
 She wolde walke upon a day, 
 
 And that was er the sunne ariste, 
 
 t Of women but a fewe it wiste; 
 
 And forth she wente prively 
 
 Unto the parke was faste by, 
 
 All softe walkende on the gras, 
 
 Tyll she came J there the launde wa* 
 
 Through which there ran a great rivere ; 
 
 It thought hire fair ; and seide, here 
 
 I will abide under the shawe ; 
 
 And bad hire women to withdrawe: 
 
 And ther she stood alone stille 
 
 To thinke what was in hir wille. 
 
 She syh the swote floures springe, 
 
 She herde gladde fowles singe, &c. 
 
 And so began there a quarele 
 
 Betwene love and hire oghne herte, ,<i-x.it 
 
 Fro whiche she couthe noght asterte 
 
 And as she cast hire eie aboute, 
 
 She sigh, clad in one suite, a route 
 
 Of ladys where thei comen ride 
 
 Alonge under the wode side; 
 
 On faire amblende hors thei sete, 
 
 * The text is corrected from the MS. of Cower, No. IL 
 f That is, but a few of her wotnea knew of thi*. 
 $ There vibtrt the land was.
 
 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 That. were al why te, fajte, andgrete; 
 And everichone thei ride * on side, 
 i -,_ The sadels were of such a pride, 
 
 With perle and golde o wel begone, 
 
 So riche syh she never nope ; 
 
 In kirtels and in copes riche 
 
 Thei weren clothed alle aliche, 
 
 Departed even of whyte and blew, 
 
 With alle lustes that she knew 
 
 Thei were embrouded over al : 
 
 Her bodies weren long and smal, 
 
 The beautee of her fayre face, 
 
 Ther mai non erthly thing deface. 
 
 Corones on her hed thei bere, 
 
 As eche of hem a queene were ; 
 
 That all the golde of Cresus halle 
 
 The leste coronal 1 of alle 
 
 Ne might have boght, after the worth. 
 
 Thus come thei ridend, forthe. 
 
 The kynges doughter, which this syb,,<{j fc 
 
 For pure abasshe drewe hir adryb, 
 
 And helde hir close undir the bough. 
 
 " At length she sees riding in the rear of this splendid 
 troop, on a horse lean, galled, and lame, a beautiful lady 
 in a tattered garment, her saddle mean and much worn, but 
 her bridle richly studded with gold and jewels,; and round 
 her waist were more than a.n hundred halters. The princess 
 asks the meaning of this sfrange procession ; and is answered 
 by the lady on the lean horse, that these aje; spectres of ladies, 
 who, when living, were obedient and faithful votaries of love. 
 ' As to myself, she adds, I am now receiving my annual pe- 
 nance for being a rebel to love.' 
 
 A mark of high rank.
 
 279 
 
 PROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 
 
 For I whilom no love hadde ; 
 My hors is now so feble and badde, 
 And al to torn is myn aray ; 
 And everie yeer this freshe May 
 These lustie ladys ride aboute, 
 And I must nedes sew her route, 
 In this manner as ye now se, 
 And trusse her halters forth with me, 
 And am but as her horse-knave. 
 
 " The princess then asks her, why she wore the rrch 
 bridle, so inconsistent with the rest of her furniture, her 
 drees, and horse? The lady answers, that it was a badge 
 and reward for having loved a knight faithfully for the last 
 fortnight of her life. 
 
 ' Now have ye herd all mine answere ; 
 To god, madam, I you betake, 
 And warneth alle, for my sake, 
 Of love that thei ben noght ydel, 
 And bid hem thinke upon my bridel.' 
 And with that worde, all sodenly 
 She passeth, as it were a sky, 
 All clean out of the ladys sight 
 
 " My readers will easily conjecture the change which this 
 spectacle must naturally produce in the obdurate heart of 
 the princess of Armenia. 
 
 " There is further proof, that the Floure and Leqfe pre- 
 ceded the Confessio Amantis. In the eighth book, Gower's 
 lovers are crowned with the Flower and Leaf. 
 
 Myn eie I caste all aboutes 
 
 To knowe amonge hem who was who : 
 
 I sih where lustie Youthe tho,
 
 280 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 As he which was a capitein, 
 Before all other upon the plein, 
 Stode with his route wel begon: 
 Her heades kempt, and therupon 
 Garlandes not of one colour, 
 Some of the lefe, some of the/oure, 
 And some of grete perles were. 
 
 Having cited this obligation of Gower to the Floure and 
 Leafe, I am led to wonder at the coldness with which Mr. 
 Tyrwhitt has admitted the authenticity of Chaucer's poem. 
 See p. 215. From no other writer, however, has this sus- 
 picion derived a shadow of corroboration. The various pic^ 
 turesque occurrences, the romantick vein, throughout the 
 poem, are surely in no respect unworthy the pen of Chaucer. 
 Let us review the lively circumstances which distinguish it. 
 They are these. The gentlewoman's departure from her 
 house, on a May morning, to hear the nightingale ; her en- 
 trance into a pleasant and almost pathless grove ; her arrival 
 at a very curious arbour, where, during her repose in it, the 
 songs of the goldfinch and the nightingale successively enter- 
 tain her, and delicious odours regale her ; the sweet inter- 
 ruption of female voices, followed by the appearance of the 
 Ladies of the Leaf advancing from the neighbouring grove; 
 the profusion of their decorations; their singing and dancing; 
 the approach of the Knights of the Leaf from the same grove ; 
 their pompous procession; their justs; and the united ado- 
 ration, in song and dance, of Ladies and Knights to a lau- 
 rel-tree, the shade of which would cover an hundred persons ; 
 and in which the nightingale sings the whole service belong- 
 ing to May, To these attractive pageantries succeed the in- 
 troduction of the Knights and Ladies of the Flower ; their 
 advancing hand in hand on the wide field, proceeded by nu- 
 merous Minstrels, towards a tuft of flowers ; their reverence 
 at the spot, exhibited in one of the Ladies singing an ode
 
 FROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 281 
 
 in praise of the Daisy, and the rest of the Ladies with the 
 Knights joining in a chorus; their dances; the interruption 
 of a scorching sun, succeeded by a pitiless storm ; the con- 
 sequent destruction of those very flowers which they had wor- 
 shipped, and of those with which they were decorated ; their 
 own inability (unlike those of the Leaf that stood under the 
 laurel-tree) to find shelter; the dispersion of the tempest ; 
 the hospitality of the sager and securer party ; the explana- 
 tion of the principal personages; and the developement of 
 the morality couched under the symbols of the Flower and 
 the Leaf. See the argument of the poem, p. 203. So Mr. 
 Warton observes, the leaf signifies perseverance and virtue ; Hie 
 flower denotes indolence and pleasure. Accordingly, among 
 those who are of the party of the Leaf, are the Nine Wor- 
 thies, the Knights of Arthur's Round Table, the Twelve Peers 
 of France, and the Knights of the order of the Garter 
 then retently instituted. The procession to the tournament, 
 from ver. 204. to ver. 292. is indeed described with all the 
 prolixity and exactness of a herald; but descriptions of this 
 kind abounded in the romances of Chaucer's time; at some 
 of which, Mr. Warton thinks that Chaucer glances, not 
 perhaps without ridicule; probably regarding them with less 
 reverence, and reading them with less edification, than did 
 the generality of his contemporary readers. See Hist. Eng. 
 Poet. i. 333. I admit this to be possible as far as it re- 
 lates to Chaucer's brief heraldick notices in the Man of Lawes 
 Tale, in the description of Cambuscan's feast, and in the 
 feast of Theseus ; in none of which the allusion exceeds a 
 dozen lines. But he would not, I think, have troubled the 
 reader and himself with more than fourscore lines, for the 
 sake only of satirical application. 
 
 Dryden, we know, was so particularly pleased with this 
 poem, both for the invention and the moral, that he could not 
 hinder himself from recommending it to the reader ; and accord- 
 ingly presented it to the world in a modern version. See the
 
 282 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 Pref. to his Fables. On this version a very acute and ele* 
 gant criticism has been given by the last biographer of Chau- 
 cer. " Dryden has somewhat obscured the purpose of the 
 tale, which in th original is defective in perspicuity ; but h* 
 has greatly heightened the enchantment of its character. He 
 has made its personages fairies who annually hold a jubilee, 
 such as is here described, en the first of May : Chaucer had 
 left the species of the beings he employs vague and unex- 
 plained. In a word, the poem of Dryden, regarded merely 
 as the exhibition of a soothing and delicious luxuriance of 
 fancy, may be classed with the most successful productions of 
 human genius. No man can read it without astonishment, 
 perhaps not without envy, at the cheerful, well-harmonised, 
 and vigorous state of mind, in which its anthor must have 
 been at the time when he wrote it." Godwin, Life of Chau- 
 cer, ch 44. What lover of the English language, I may add, 
 can be otherwise than passionately grateful for the production 
 of the Flower and Leaf! 
 
 Of the homage paid to the Daisy, already noticed, a fur* 
 ther account may be thought requisite. This poetical wor- 
 ship (for from the poets the knowledge of it is gathered) is 
 said to have descended to us from the French. Froissart, 
 better known as the minute and authentick historian than as a 
 child of fancy, has betn considered by Mr. Warton as the 
 author of it. " About 1380," says the historian of English 
 Poetry, " in the place of the Provencial a new species of 
 poetry succeeded in France, consisting of Chants Koyaux, 
 Balades, Rondeaux, and Pastorales. This was distinguished 
 by the appellation of the New Poetry; and Froissart culti- 
 vated it with so much success, that he has been called its 
 author. The titles of Froissart's poetical pieces will alone 
 serve to illustrate the nature of this New Poetry : but they 
 prove, at the same time, that the Provencial cast of compo- 
 sition still continued to prevail. They are, The Paradise of 
 Love, A Panegyrick on the Month of May, The Temple of 
 
 7
 
 FROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 283 
 
 Honour, The Flower erf the Daisy, Amorous Lays, Pastorals, 
 The Amorous Prison, Royal Ballads in Honour of our Lady, 
 The Ditty of the Amorous Spinett, Virelaies, Rondeaus, 
 and the Plea of the Hose and the Violet." Hist. Eng. Poet 
 i. 465. Accordingly Mr. Wartoft thinks that the lady'* 
 Soug, in the Flower and Leaf, praising the Daisy, might have 
 been Froissart's. But Froissart, as Mr. Godwin has ob- 
 served, is not the inventor of the panegyrick of the Daisy. 
 The homage of this flower is cursorily noticed in the Court of 
 Love by. Chaucer, written in 1346; and the manuscript 
 volume of Froissart's poems in the library of the king of 
 France, is expressed in the title to consist of pieces written 
 between 1362 and 1394. See Godwin's Life of Chaucer, 
 ch. 44. While the poets fancifully exaggerated the praises 
 of (his favoured yet humble flower, it is probable that they 
 concealed under such a symbol mysteries now forgotten. Its 
 name could not but furnish exercises of this description ; the 
 French word marguerite, signifying either a daisy, a pearl, 
 pr the name of a woman. 
 
 I sliall close these remarks on the Flower and Leaf, with 
 the production of the principal part of a most ingenious and 
 elaborate criticism on a passage in the poem; which has 
 been lately printed, but not published ; by the author of 
 which, the learned Master of Caius College Cambridge, 1 
 am permitted to introduce it here. 
 
 " The song of the Nightingale has been long considered 
 as plaintive and melancholy. The late Mr. ~&x, however, 
 appears to have entertained an opposite opinion; and has 
 supported it by several arguments and authorities, in a Letter 
 addressed to Mr. Grey, and published in the Preface to his 
 History of K. James II. See Lord Holland's preface, p-. 1 2. 
 These arguments and authorities I now purpose to examine, but 
 without attempting to decide upoo the general merits of the 
 opinion which they were intended to/ defend. The words of the 
 Letter are first given, and the remarks are subjoined. In de-
 
 284 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 fence of my opinion about the Nightingales, I find Chaucer, 
 who of all poets seems to have been the fondest of the singing 
 birds, call* it a MERRY note. The passage in Chaucer is in 
 
 THE FLOWER AND LEAF. 
 
 " From the foregoing observation, I should be much in- 
 clined to suspect, that the Author was not aware of the an- 
 cient usage of the word merry. In the works of Chaucer, 
 and, I believe, in almost all old English poetry, it is fre- 
 quently employed to express what is agreeable or pleasant, 
 without having any relation to mirth. Such is plainly its 
 meaning in the following instance, Canterb. Tales, ed. Tyr- 
 whitt, ver. 14972. 
 
 Or herbe ive growing in our yerd, that mery is. 
 
 This instance may perhaps be sufficient to illustrate the more 
 vague and general application of the word *. 
 
 " A much more important point in the present question 
 is, to ascertain, if possible, that peculiar quality in sounds* 
 to which Chaucer has so frequently applied the wordm<rry; 
 and I hope to produce, what may be fairly considered as 
 that Poet's own authority for pronouncing this quality to be 
 sweetness. In the Manciple's Tale, after a short history of 
 Phebus, he gives the following account of his wonderful 
 crow, ver. 17079. 
 
 Now had this Phebus in his hous a crowe, 
 Which in a cage he fostred many a day, 
 
 * " If the Reader should be desirous of examining instances in different mu- 
 thors, he may consult the following passages : EUis's Specimens of early En- 
 glish Poetry, VoL I. p. 84. Percy's Reliques, VoL I. Adam Bell, L I. 
 Ibid, part 3. L 133. Sir Tristrem, p. 166. stan. 43. See also p. 8z. stan. 
 IO ; and, what is far more ancient than any of these, King Alfred's Transla- 
 tion of Boethius, cap. xxxi. p. 68. L 9. Ed, Oxon, 1698 > and in the original, 
 lib. iii. pros. 7. p. 009. Ed, Delph."
 
 FROM THE POETRY OP CHAUCER. 285 
 
 And taught it speken, as men teche a jay. 
 Whit was this crowe, as is a snow-whit swan, 
 And contrefete the speche of every man 
 He coude, whan he shulde tell a tale. 
 Therwith, in all this world, no nightingale, 
 Ne coude by an hundred thousand del 
 Singen so wonder *nterily and wel. 
 
 " Phebus, being afterwards enraged with this crow for tell- 
 ing some unwelcome truths, thus denounces vengeance against 
 him, ver. 11241. 
 
 And to the crowe, o false thefe, said he, 
 I wol thee quite anon thy false tale. 
 Thou song whilom, like any nightingale, 
 Now shalt thou, false thefe, thy song forgon, 
 And eke thy white fethers everich on, 
 Ne never in all thy lif ne shalt thou speke; 
 Thus shul men on a traitour ben awreke. 
 Thou and thin ofspring ever shal be blake, 
 Ne never swete noise shul ye make. 
 
 " In the Nonnes Preestes Tale, after describing a widow'* 
 habitation and mode of life, Chaucer adds, ver. 14858. 
 
 A yerd she had, enclosed all about 
 With stickes, and a drie diche without, 
 In which she had a cok highte Chaunteclere, 
 In all the land of crowing n'as his pere. 
 His vois was mericr than the mery orgon, 
 On masse daies that in the chirches gon. 
 
 * u Mtricr tban tie nightingale, seems a favourite expression with Chaucer, 
 as, besides in the passages here quoted, it occurs also in the Canterb. Tales, 
 vr. 13763."
 
 286 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 " He then proceeds to describe the virtues and accomplish- 
 ments of his amiable consort: 
 
 Curteis she was, discrete, and debonaire, 
 And compenable, and bare hireself so faire, 
 Sithen the day that she was sevennight old, 
 That trewelich she hath the herte in hold 
 Of Chaunteclere, loken in every lith: 
 He loved hire so, that wel was him therwith. 
 But swiche a joy it was to here hem sing, 
 Whan that the bright sonne gan to spring, 
 In sweete * accord : my lefe is fare in lond. 
 
 * " It may be observed, that this word accord is not used in a musical 
 sense, as equivalent to the French accord, or the English concord; but it 
 simply means correspondence, similarity, or agreement; and the passage 
 might be fully and exactly rendered, corresponding, or agreeing in sweetness. 
 Thus in the Floure and tbe Leafe : 
 
 (<&'* IK-wU Jbfk Ort^fl ^d! Hr flt'Wrafc -ill 
 
 Where she sat in a fresh greene laury tree, 
 
 On the further side even right by me, 
 
 That gave so passing a delicious smell, 
 
 According to the eglentere full well. 
 
 Here, escorting t t only means, answering to, resembling, or agreeing with. 
 The following passage from Aristophanes may perhaps be considered as in 
 point, Av. 660. 
 
 1 rt>i y flStytsAj? %uft$unv urdtiet Mivfyj 
 
 xa.ra,}.u$' rtpuv. 
 
 These observations have been made to prevent the Reader from conceiving 
 this passage to relate only to the concord, or harmony of the musick ; as those 
 words, when used technically, are only applied to certain relations, or inter- 
 valt, and successions of sounds ; and perfect concords may subsist, therefore, 
 between harsh and even disagreeable sounds. Such could not be its applica- 
 tion in this instance ; as it was obviously the Poet's intention, after having 
 described the respective accomplishments of these enchanting songsters, here 
 to mark their strong rutm&Ianee and agrtcment in sviettncts of tone ; and- this
 
 FROM THE POETRY OP CHAUCER. 
 
 " In these examples, I think it is clear, that Chaucer ba 
 himself applied the word swetc, to characterise those very 
 sounds, which he had just before denominated mery. Thus 
 the 'white crowe, that song whilom an hundred thousand 
 times more merily than the Nightingale,' is turned Hack, 
 and condemned never again to make a ' swete noise;' and 
 Chaunteclere, whose voice was ' merier than the mery orgon/ 
 is immediately after represented as singing with dame Par- 
 telote in ' twele accord.' He has, moreover, in the follow- 
 ing example, as well as in the first passage quoted from the 
 Nonnes Preestes Tale, plainly shewn that these suete or 
 nicry sounds are capable of lending a powerful and congenial 
 aid to the devout solemnity of the Church Service; and can 
 therefore, by whatever other name designated, possess no 
 degree of mirth, gaiety, cheerfulness, or levity. See Pro/. 
 Canterb. Tales, ver. 716. 
 
 But trewely to tellen atte last, 
 
 He was in chirche a noble ecclesiast. 
 
 Wei coude he rede a lesson or a storie, 
 
 But alderbest he sang an oftertorie: 
 
 For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe r 
 
 He muste preche, and wel a file his tonge, 
 
 To winne silver, as he right wel coude: 
 
 Therfore he sang the merier and loude. 
 
 " I cannot resist the opportunity of still further supporting? 
 the preceding observations, by the authority of a fragment of 
 a song preserved in a manuscript at Ely, and published in 
 Mr. Benlham's History of that place. I have produced it^ 
 both because it is a striking instance of the application of the 
 
 is managed with such address, that by two words he has converted all. those, 
 compliments, which he had lavished upon the voice of the Cock, icto linu* 
 toiad almost equal commendation of bis mistress."
 
 288 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 tvord merry, and because the old Monkish Latin * Trans- 
 lation of this fragment, in which the word merie is rendered 
 by dulce, affords a very powerful confirmation of the opinion 
 I have endeavoured to maintain. I shall only add, that the 
 introduction given by Mr. Bentham seems necessary to the 
 complete understanding of this quotation. Hist, qf Ely, 
 p. 94. 
 
 ' The Abbot of Ely, being one of the three great Abbots 
 who held the office and dignity of the King's Chancellor, 
 each of them taking it in their course four months in the 
 year; King Canute several times took the occasion of our 
 Abbot's entering on his office, which was always on the Puri- 
 fication of the Virgin Mary, to keep that Feast with the usual 
 solemnity at the Abby of Ely. Once it happened, in his 
 passage thither by water, with Emma his Queen, being at- 
 tended by many of his Nobles ; as they drew near to Ely, 
 the King was standing up, and taking a view of the Church, 
 which was directly before him ; and whilst he was musing 
 upon it, he perceived a kind of harmonious sound at a great 
 distance, which at first he could not tell what to make of; 
 but finding it to increase as he advanced ; he listened atten- 
 tively to it, and perceived it to be the Monks in the Church, 
 inging their canonical hours. The King in the joy of hia 
 heart broke out into a song which he made extempore on the 
 occasion, calling on the Nobles that were about him to join in 
 the chorus. This Song in the English or Saxon language, as 
 used at the time, was long preserved by the Ely Monks, for 
 the sake of the Royal Author; we have only the first stanza 
 handed down to us, for the introducing of which ancient 
 fragment I have inserted the abovementioued incident. 
 
 * M The original and this translation arc recorded in the Liber Eliensii, 
 composed by Thomas, a monk of Ely, and concluded, probably, about the 
 year 1174; as Geoffry Ridel, who succeeded to this See in that year, is the 
 last contemporary Bishop whom he has mentioned, Wharton's Anglia Sacra, 
 Pref. p. 43."
 
 FROM THE POETRY OF CHAUCER. 289 
 
 e CDunechej* binne-n Gly 
 JSa Cnu* chins rieu Seji by. 
 Jiope X cmre-p noeri rhe- lanr. 
 ant> herie pe {>er GDunecher paenj. * 
 
 ' Of which our Author gives us this Latin translation : 
 
 Dulce cantaverunt Monachi in Ely, 
 Dutn Canutus Rex navigaret prope ibi. 
 Nunc, milites, navigate propius ad terram, 
 Et simul audiamus Monachorum harmoniam, &c. 
 
 ' They continued singing till they arrived at land ; and 
 soon after they met the King, and conducted him in solemn 
 procession into the Church. This was probably the first 
 time of the King's coming to Ely.' 
 
 " Before concluding this subject, it may be proper to 
 produce the passage from The Floure and the Leafe, t 
 which Mr. Fox refers : 
 
 The Nightingale with so mery a note 
 
 Answered him, that alle the wood rong 
 
 So sodainly, that as it were a sote 
 
 I stood astonied ; so was I with the song 
 
 Thorow ravished, that till late and long 
 
 I ne wist in what place I was, ne where ; 
 
 And ayen, methought, she song ever by mine ere. 
 
 In this description, there certainly appears no trace of mirth, 
 
 * " For the sake of the Reader, who may be unacquainted with the Saxo*, 
 a translation is added : 
 
 Merry sung the Monks in Ely, 
 As King Canute row'd thereby. 
 Row, my knights, the shore along, 
 Let us hear this holy song." 
 
 U
 
 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS 
 
 cheerfulness, or gaiety ; but the whole seems completely in 
 unison with the beautiful, sedate, and almost solemn opening 
 of the Eighth Book of Paradise Lost : 
 
 The Angel ended, and in Adam's ear 
 
 So charming left his voice, that he a while 
 
 Thought him still speaking, still stood fix'd to hear. 
 
 " Upon the whole, it seems plain, that the modification 
 of sound, which Chaucer meant to distinguish by the word 
 mery, was remarkable in the notes of the Nightingale, in a 
 fine voice, when singing sacred musick, and in the tones of 
 the organ, when employed in Divine Service. It must, 
 therefore, possess some property, not only common to them 
 all, but also striking and eminent in each; not slight or 
 occasional, but constant and characteristick. The Poet must 
 have appealed not to what may be found, but what must be felt. 
 Now as siveetness seems exactly to fulfil all these conditions, 
 and conform to all these restrictions, we should naturally be 
 induced to believe that to be the very quality intended by the 
 Poet, iu the various examples which have been adduced. In 
 addition to this strong argument of induction, we have the 
 direct authority of Chaucer himself, and also of the transla- 
 tion of the Ely fragment, for using, in some instances at 
 least, mery and swete as synonymous, when applied to 
 sounds. 
 
 " I shall now leave it to the taste and judgement of others 
 to determine, whether Chaucer could ever have applied the 
 word merry, in its common, or any nearly allied significa- 
 tion, to mark the peculiar excellence of the human voice, 
 when chanting the Divine Service. Or whether, if he had 
 intended to describe the voice of his supernatural birds, as 
 exquisitely merry, or cheerful, he would ever have attempted 
 to convey to the mind of his reader, an idea of the perfection
 
 ''. FROM THE POETRY OP CHAUCER. 291 
 
 of those qualities, by a comparison with the notes of the 
 Nightingale, or the Organ." 
 
 An additional illustration or two may not, I trust, be 
 thought superfluous, in, r support of the preceding remarks. 
 That the , word merry was generally used by the old English 
 poets in the sense of pleasant and agreeable, is undeniable ; 
 nor could a more pertinent instance be given than Chaucer's 
 application of it to weather : That it was also applied by our 
 poets, both before and after Chaucer's time, particularly to 
 the nightingale, will be obvious from what follows. The 
 phrase mcrier than the nightingale occurs at the beginning of 
 the ancient romance of Bevis of Hampton, at least in the 
 oldest and best copies, as in that preserved at Edinburgh in 
 the Advocates' Library, and in that belonging to the Mar- 
 quis of Stafford; from the latter of which I cite the passage : 
 
 Lordynges lysteneSS to my tale 
 It is merycr SSan ^5e nyghtyngale. 
 
 By which expression the author does not mean that his tale 
 is calculated to excite mirth, (for indeed it is a tragick tale,) 
 but that it must interest their attention; that it consists of 
 such marvellous adventures (and to hear such was the delight 
 of that age) as must render it more pleasing, more attrac- 
 tive, than the song of the nightingale. I now subjoin the 
 later illustration from A pleasaunt playne and pythye Pathe- 
 waye leadynge to a vertues and honest lyfe, no lesse prqfy table 
 than delectable, 4to. bl. 1. Impr. at London by Nicolas Hyll, 
 sans date. Sign. A. 1 . 
 
 And because the sharpe colde hys malyce had done, 
 The mauis endeuored her selfe, fyrst, her notes to tune ; 
 Next after the pleasaunt nightingale tempered her voyce, 
 Which with her mery melody euery heart doth greatly re- 
 ioyce.
 
 292 NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACT*. 
 
 The epithet, here given to the bird, shews us what the poet 
 intended in the subsequent designation of her song. A similar 
 illustration of merry, in its musical application on solemn oc- 
 casions, presents itself in that translation of the Psalms which 
 accompanies the rest of the Bible, where "the pleasant harp" 
 is substituted for " the merry harp" in the elder translation, 
 P.. 81. ver.2. 
 
 OYWli 
 
 !?or i 
 

 
 ILLUSTRATIONS, 
 
 N. 6.
 
 TA 
 
 
 J J I
 
 POEMS* 
 
 SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN BY 
 
 CHAUCER 
 
 DURING HIS IMPRISONMENT. 
 
 HALFE in dede sclepe, not fully revyved, 
 Rudely my sylfe as I lay alone, 
 With troubled dremes sore was I mevyd ; 
 
 * These Poems are found at the beginning of Lord Staf- 
 ford's Manuscript of the Canterbury Tales, on two leaves 
 before the Prologue; and written (though not in the same, 
 yet) in a coeval hand, as I have observed in the Introduction 
 preceding the Illustrations in this volume. I am here to 
 strengthen my opinion, that they are the composition of 
 Chaucer, by the juxta-position of passages, drawn from his 
 genuine writings, in unison with passages in these. 
 
 Ver. 1. Halfe in dede sclepe, &c.] The opening of the- 
 Testament of Love might be compared with the beginning of 
 this poem. From Chaucers Dreme, I cite the following pa- 
 rallel expressions,, ver. 51. ed. Urr.
 
 296 POEMS SUPPOSED TO BE 
 
 All wordly joy passed and overgone : 
 Me semyd full sore I made my mone ; 5 
 
 Mynde, thowght, resonable wyt hadde I none ; 
 Thus I lay sclomberyng a owre to my dome. 
 
 For on this wyse upon a night, 
 As ye have herd, withoutin light, 
 Not all wakyng, nefuU on slepe, 
 About such hour as lovirs wepe, &c. 
 
 He had before described himself half on slepe, and beginning 
 to dreme, ver. 22, &c. The resemblance of the first line in 
 the translation of La belle Dame sans mercy, ascribed without 
 foundation to Chaucer, is also remarkable. See Chaucer'* 
 Works, ed. Urr. p. 422. 
 
 Halfe in a dreme, not fully well awaked, 
 
 The golden slepe me wrapped under his wyng, &c. 
 
 This poem, however, is said to have been translated from 
 Alan Chartier not by Chaucer but by Sir Richard Ros, 
 MSS. Hart 372. See Mr. Tyrwhitt's distinction of the 
 genuine and supposititious Works of Chaucer, and Ritson's 
 Bibliographia Poetica, in V. Ros. 
 
 Ver. 4. All worldly joy passed, &c.] The usual lamen- 
 tation of our poet, in his Testament of Love, which, there i* 
 every reason to believe, was written in prison. " I ginne re- 
 member on passed gladnes," Test ed. Urr. p. 481. col. 1. 
 " For that me comforteth to thinke on passed gladnes," ibid. 
 " How am I now cast out of all svvetenes of blisse, and mis- 
 chevously stongen by a passed joye ! " ib. p. 502. col. 1. 
 
 Ver. 6. - resonable ivyt liadde I none ;] Like 
 
 his declaration, after pouring forth his sorrow, in the opening 
 of the same work. " Thus witlesse, &c. I endure my pe- 
 jiaunce in this derke prisonne."
 
 WRITTEN BY CHAUCER. 
 
 297 
 
 As thus I lay avexed full sore 
 In suche thynges, as of right bythe agayne nature, 
 I herde a voyce seyyng, Sclepe thow no more . 
 Aryse up, and wake to thy besy cure ; 1 1 
 
 Thy mynde, thy hert, thy body thow alure 
 To suche that wyll fall next, tho thy mynde ; 
 Take thy penne in thy hand, stedfaste and sure ; 
 Awake, awake, of comforte full blynde. 15 
 
 Thys voyce well I herde, and therto gave au- 
 
 dyens ; 
 
 I felt the entent, but I stode amased ; 
 I wyste not what it ment ; for I saw no presens. 
 Thus in pencyffenes sore was I erased, 
 And as a wytles man gretely adased 20 
 
 I gave no credence ; anon I fell in sclepe, 
 From all kyndely wyt clene was I rased : 
 So to hys wordes I toke no grete kepe. 
 
 Ver. 10. / herde a voyce seying, Sclepe thou no more;} 
 The commentators on Shakspeare will be delighted with this 
 poem, if it be only for the sake of placing the exclamation iu 
 this line under that of Macbeth, 
 
 " Methought I heard a voice cry, Sleep no more ! 
 " Macbeth hath murder'd sleep, &c." 
 
 I may be pardoned, I hope, for this digression. 
 
 Ver. 1 1 . wake to thy besy cure ;] This, I 
 
 conceive, alludes to his employment in prison, the composi- 
 tion of the Testament of Love. It is also his own phrase, in 
 the Knightes Tale, " Theseus with all his besy cure" 
 
 Ver. 20. as a wytles man &c.] See the note on ver. 
 
 6, and compare vtr. 22.
 
 298 POEMS SUPPOSED TO BE 
 
 I supposed yt to have been some noxiall fantasy, 
 As fallyth in dremes, in parties of the nyght, 25 
 Which cometh of joy, or of grevous malady,, 
 Or of robuste metes which causeth grete myght : 
 Overmoche replet obscuryth the syght 
 Of naturall reasoune, and causyth idyll thowght, 
 Makyth the body hevy where hyt was lyght. 30 
 
 So shortly to conclude ; of thys voyce I ne 
 6 &v rowght, 
 And not sclepte but a lytyll whyle, 
 
 Ver. 24. / supposed yt to have been some noxiall fantasy, 
 
 Asfalleth in dremes, &c.] The reasoning upon 
 dreams, which follows, is much the same as that adopted by 
 dame Pertelote, in the tale of the Cock and the Fox, related 
 by the Nonnes Freest of our poet, ver. 14929. edit Tyr- 
 whitt 4 
 
 Swevenes [dreams] engendren of repletions, 
 
 And oft of fume, and of complexions, 
 
 Whan humours ben to habundant in a wight . 
 
 Of other humours cond I telle also, 
 
 That werken many a man in slepe moch wo, &c. 
 
 In the Prologue to the House of Fame the causes of dreams 
 are thus also investigated, ver. 21. edit. Urr. 
 
 Or if folkis complexions 
 
 Make hem dreme of reflexions 
 
 And then are enumerated abstinence, prison, sickness, and 
 any other great distress, &c.
 
 WRITTEN BY CHAUCER. 299 
 
 But thys voyce well I herde ; to me he sayde, ' 
 Awake, and aryse, thow dost thy sylfe begyle, 
 Aryse from the place where thow art layde : 35 
 Wyth that I awoke, and from my sclepe brayed, 
 Marveling moch, and sayde Benedicite, 
 As a man unreasonable gretely dysmayed, 
 Ey, gode Lorde, what thyng may thys be ? 
 
 Hugely trobled, yet feythfully I belevyd 40 
 That the voyce came from the celestyall place ; 
 Wherefore I aryse, not gretely agrevyd, 
 And besawght God of hys especyall grace, 
 That he wolde be my socowre in this cace ; 
 Praying as yt followeth with hert and wyll ; 45 
 Arysyng full lyghtely my sylfe did I brase, 
 Makyng my prayowre undyr thys skyll. 
 
 O Reformer of mankynde, one, ij, and iij, 
 Eternall Kynge, and Prynce most emperyall, 
 
 Ver. 38. As a man unresonablc gretely dysmayed,] In his 
 grief Chaucer thus exclaims, Test, of L. p. 480. col. 1. 
 " Like to a fole naturell am I comparisoned." 
 
 Ver. 40. Hugely trobled, &c.] So, in the Testament of 
 Love, Chaucer represents himself " hugely astonied/' p. 512. 
 col. 2. 
 
 Ver. 44. in this cace ;] The cause of his 
 
 imprisonment. 
 
 Ver. 48. Reformer of mankynde, one, ij, and iij,] This 
 is precisely the manner, in which Chaucer's devotional ad- 
 dress is formed, at the conclusion of his Troilus and Creseidt :
 
 300 POEMS SUPPOSED TO BB 
 
 Veray God and man, O Blessyd Trynyte; 50 
 Which from owre mortall enemye redemyst us all, 
 And madest us free, where afore we were thrall; 
 Thorowgh dy vyne consayle of thy godhede, 
 Me to thy grace reconsyle and call, 
 Whome thow haste formyd to the figure of thy 
 manned. 55 
 
 And syth thy godhed hathe endewed me 
 Wyth vertues ij or iij full resonable, 
 Wyth wyt, mynde, resone, and volunte, 
 And other mo full delectable ; 
 Yet I confesse my sylf moste unable 60 
 
 Wyth any thynge to medle, that grounded ys on 
 prudens ; 
 
 O moral Gower, this bokc I directe 
 To the, and to the philosophicall Strode, 
 To vouchsafe, ther nede is, for to correcte, 
 Of your benignities and zeles gode : 
 And to the sothfast Christ, that starfe on rode, 
 With al mine hert of mercy er I praie, 
 And to the Lorde right thus I speke and sale j 
 
 .. . % ' 
 
 Thou one, and two, and tkre, Eterne on live* 
 That raignist aie in thre, and two, and one, 
 Uncircumscript, and all maisl circumscrive, 
 From visible and invisible fone 
 Defend us in thy mercy everichone; 
 So make us, Jesu, to thy mercy digne, 
 FQU lov qf maid and mother thine beaigne. 
 
 7
 
 WRITTEN BY CHAUCER. 301 
 
 Of eloquence but symple, my cunnynge is un- 
 stable, 
 Therefore in me there ys no grete influens. 63 
 
 But O gode Lorde, syth I knowe hyt ys thy 
 
 wyl, 
 
 As I consey ve by the voyce that thow dydest send, 
 Thy degre and comaundement trewly to fulfylle, 
 Wyth mynde, hert, and body, sewe and entend; 
 Me from all errowre kepe and defend 68 
 
 In this matyre, to the whych thow haste \vyllyd 
 
 me, 
 
 As thow from erthe to hevyn dydest ascend, 70 
 Veray God and Man, O Blessed Trynyte. 
 
 Chaucer's prayer, at the close of his Testament of Love, pre- 
 sents a resemblance also to the text. 
 
 Ver. 62. Of eloquence but symple, my cunning is unstable,"] 
 Thus Chaucer pronounces, that " his conning is thinne, and 
 his witte exiled/' Test, of L. p. 480. col. 1. 
 
 Ver. 69. In this matyre,] For which he was imprisoned. 
 
 ite doftfw ' 
 
 '
 
 302 POEMS SUPPOSED TO BE 
 
 Incepco materie cum proprietatibus Veeris, etc.* 
 
 ALL thyng ys ordaynyd by Goddys provysyon ; 
 Man and beste, ayre, wedre and wynde, 
 Water and land, with ther dysposyon ; 
 And eche in apparens schewyth theyre kynde. 
 The yere is devyded, as I wryttyn fynde, 5 
 
 In monethes, wekes, and seasonnes, iij ; 
 In which wyth xij sygnes vij planetys ther be. 
 
 Of all tymes or seasonnes, wythowte compa- 
 
 rysoun, 
 
 None ys found so gode, ne so precyous, 
 Ne none so prophetable, as ys the seasoun 10 
 Of lusty Veer ; whos carrage so oderous 
 Comfortyth every creature, and maketh them 
 
 ragyus, 
 
 * This poem is evidently intended as a compliment to one 
 of the noble house of Vere ; and there can be no doubt that Ro- 
 bert Vere, earl of Oxford, is the person complimented. He 
 was the channel, through which all the favour of Richard the 
 second passed to the people; and to him therefore the poet 
 naturally applies in his distress. The time of Chaucer's im- 
 prisonment corresponds with the period when Vere's power 
 was at its height. But this has been considered in the Intro- 
 duction. See also the note on ver. 15. 
 
 Ver. 6. In monethes, wekes, and seasonnes iij ;] Where 
 the author found this written, I am unable to shew.
 
 WRITTEN BY CHAUCER. 303 
 
 Avoydeth all dulnes, and maketh them lusty, 
 In hert and body gladde, jocounde, and mery. 
 
 Whan passyd ys all clowdy derknesse, 15 
 
 All stormy schowrs ferre fledde fro syght, 
 Than lusty Veer schewyth hys swetnesse ; 
 The wedyr cleryth, and by nature ys bryght ; 
 The mone full plesauntly gyffyth hyr lyght ; 
 Than Veer comaundyth Apryll wyth hys schowrys, 
 That may brynge forthe erbys and flowrys. 21 
 
 All trees than buddyth, aftyr fruyte bryngyth, 
 All sedys and cornys flowryth in prosperyte ; 
 The nyghtyngale, the thrystcock, merely syngyth; 
 All fowles and bestys joyeth in ther degre. 25 
 He cawsyth all thyngs full jocounde to be. 
 Who than ys so precyous, or may do more, 
 Than lusty Veer, whom I lyken to a Bore ! 
 
 Ver. 15. Whan passyd ys all clowdy darknesse., 
 
 All stormy schowrs ferre jledde fro syght, . , 
 Than lusty Veer schewyth his vwetnesse, &c.] 
 Compare the Testament of Love, p. 5O1. col. 1. Where 
 not only the scenery is similar, but the personal allusion 
 perhaps may be suspected. " O for (quod she) heven with 
 skies that foule cloudes maken and darke weathers with grete 
 tempestes and huge, makelh the mery dayes with softe shining 
 sunnes. Also the yere withdraweth floures and beaute of 
 herbes and of yerth. The same yere maketh springes and 
 jolyte. in Ver so to renovel with painted coloures, that erthe 
 semeth as gay as heven." I need not say, that the lines, in 
 this poem, from the 15th to the end of the 26th, are in- 
 Chaucer's manner.
 
 304 POEMS SUPPOSED TO BE 
 
 To thys Bore he ys not lykenyd in condicion 
 
 onely 
 
 But in properte, for properte gyffen more fruc- 
 tuous ; 30 
 
 And the Bore in that seasoune approchyth natu- 
 rally 
 
 To luste, and to lykynge, enforsyd marvelous, 
 He walketh joyyng, whettyng his tuskes ; 
 Thynkyng, as long as contynuyth veere, 
 Nevyr to obey hys enemyes for feere. 35 
 
 He hovyth ne he wanyth for wynde ne blaste, 
 He dredeth no mystys, ne stormys, ne schowrys ; 
 But standyth styfFe in tryeuth, stronge as a maste, 
 And, to the lyons obeysaunce in all howrys, 
 Redy wyth hys power to helpe, in all stowrys, 40 
 The lyon hys lorde wher he standyth in dystresse, 
 Hys natyff attendaunt on the lyonnesse. 
 
 Thys Bore may well be callyd the Bore of grace, 
 Of whom prophesyes of Antiquite makyth men- 
 cion ; 
 
 Ver. 29. To thys Bore, &c.] One of the supporters of 
 the arms of Vere, is a Boar azure, armed or. The poet 
 alludes to this heraldick distinction very plainly, ver. 56, 57, 
 and 74. By what achievement an elder Vere obtained this 
 armorial distinction, I know no more than that which the 
 poet relates. Nor has the anecdote of Aubrey the grymme 
 in Hethenesse, mentioned by the poet at ver. 69, been found 
 by me elsewhere. Aubrey, or Albericus, was a favourite 
 Christian name in the family of Vere
 
 WRITTEN BY CHAUCER. 305 
 
 Which, as hyt is sayde, wythyn shorte space 45 
 Schall in grete nede socowre the lyonne, 
 And in that batell gete hym grete renoun, ^ 
 Confounde hys mortall fone, ellys were grete 
 
 ruyth; 
 That day shall be knowen hys permanent truth, ^ 
 
 In hys persone ys founde so pure verite, 50 
 And standeth so clene wythowte transgresse, 
 That all England may joy hys nativite; 
 Of contynewing truth he standeth pereles, 
 Hys progenie never distayned with falsenes ; 
 Syth hys fyrst day he hathe contynwyd so demure 
 Unto now that he is here colowred with azure. 56 
 
 io7i*> ;>flf ni Jbnc ^ufo^ f i>fr HsfiriJ v 
 Now unto thys blew Bore honor and grace, 
 
 Joy, laude, and praysyng, fortune, and magny- 
 
 ficens ; 
 
 Criste graunt hym of grace suche joy to purchace, 
 As may be worthy unto hys reverence t 60 
 
 For evyr in fey full trouth hath ben hys perma- 
 nence ; 
 
 Wherfor now of all England he hathe avauntage, 
 Owte excepte the Blode Ryall, the most trewyst 
 lynage, 
 
 Betwyxt Veer and thys I put no divisioun : 
 
 They standyth as one ; who undyrstandyth aryght^ 
 
 " ' 
 
 Ver. 50. In hys persone ys founde so pure verite, &c.] Al- 
 luding to the motto of the Veres, Vero nil verius. The allu- 
 sion is the same, ver. 38, 49, 53, 61. 
 
 X
 
 306 
 
 Veer wan thys blew Bore throwgh grete renoun, 
 At that tyine standyng a venturous knyght, 
 Seching aventurs and provynge hys myght : 
 In Hethenesse yet they sey that Aubray the 
 
 grymme 
 Benome the blew Bore his chyefe lymme. 70 
 
 Lo! for the proves of thys wurschippfull knyght, 
 That slewe thys Bore thorowgh strengyth of chy- 
 
 valry, 
 
 All his auncestry ever syth, of veray dyew ryght, 
 Beryth hym azure enarmyd with gold, depend- 
 
 ynge by 
 
 The worschyppfull armys of the olde auncestry e, 
 Quarterly gules and golde, and in the chyef 
 
 quarter 76 
 
 A molet v poynte sylver, as I shall tell hereafter. 
 
 Beholde nowe the manhode proves, and chy- 
 
 valry, 
 
 Trowth, fortune, grace, and parfyte stedfastnes, 
 That evyr hath contynuedjn thys progenie. 80 
 Lo ! wher hyt fortuned to stand in dystresse 
 The kynge of Englande in the land of Hethynes, 
 
 Ver. 81. Lo! wher it fortuned &c.] The adventure, 
 which follows, I find thus quaintly related in Morgan's Sphere 
 Of Gentry, fol. 1661. lib. 3. p. 40. The author is describing 
 the arms of the Earl of Oxford. " Quarterly Mars and Sol 
 in the first, a mullet of six points Luna, borne by the Earls 
 of Oxford, Urania leaving the starry firmament, to become a 
 comet in the shield of Aubrey de Vcre, and lighting on hi* 
 
 7
 
 WRITTEN BY CHAUCER. 307 
 
 A knyght of thys auncestry, gouernor, of hys 
 
 puyshaunce, 
 For hys kynge thys he dydde of hys grete affy- 
 
 aunce. 
 
 J -i'- . '' 
 
 Remembryng hys manhode, comfortyd with the 
 Holy Goste, 85 
 
 Consyderyng hys fey th he drede no woo ; 
 At mydnyght he sembled the kyngs ooste ; 
 The nyght so derke not knowyng hys foo : 
 To the kynge unwyttyng that it sholde be soo ; 
 Prayng full hertlye, he fyll to the grounde, 90 
 That God wolde sende hym lyght hys enemye to 
 confonnde. 
 
 To thys prayowr so devoute God gave exaudi- 
 
 cion, 
 
 Not wyllyng hys cristened fygure utterly to be 
 spylt; 
 
 lance- point; serving to portend destruction to the Saracens in 
 the Holy Land, and becoming a blazing star to give light to 
 the whole Christian army to pursue their victory ; whereby, 
 though the day was not longer by the sun's standing still, yet 
 the night became as the day. So he beareth the mullet of 
 six points, because radiis veniet feroidioribus" The poet 
 says, of five points. And so indeed Morgan afterwards dis- 
 plays this armorial bearing, lib. 4. p. 65. This mullet, or 
 falling-star, says Guillim in his Heraldry, is usually of 
 five points, but was anciently of six ; and such he had seen 
 in divers old roll belonging to Sir R. St. George, Claren- 
 cieux.
 
 308 POEMS SUPPOSED TO BE 
 
 Every man than knelyng devowtely sayde their 
 
 orysoun ; 
 
 Lorde for thy pite' have mercy on owr gyli, 95 
 Save us, or spyll us, do as thou wilt ! 
 Thys prayowr fynyshed, ther sprange into his 
 
 shelde 
 A v poynte mollet, which lyghtnyd all hys felde. 
 
 Thus he was inspyred with the grace of the 
 
 Holy Goste ; 
 
 Hys enemyes were obscuryd, and voyde of all 
 myght ; 100 
 
 God comfortyd and chered hym and all hys oste, 
 And endewyd thys mollet with a plentuous lyght ; 
 The hethen were obscuryd and hadde no syght. 
 So he put hys enemyes to utter confusyoun, 
 Dystressyd the felde, and gate hym grete renoun. 
 
 O thow Roiall Bore, fullfyllyd with grace, 106 
 That of suche mollet nowe hathe donacion, 
 Cryste graunt the 7 contynewyng tyme and space, 
 That the mollet may resplende over eyery region, 
 Worthely and knyghtely as a lorde of renown. 
 And for the encrece of thy lyght, that hyt fall 
 not derke, 111 
 
 Ver. 99. Tims he was inspyred &c.] The mullet, says Guil- 
 lim, was supposed to represent some divine quality bestowed 
 from above, whereby men do shine in virtue, learning, and 
 works of piety, like bright stars on the earth ; and these are 
 stellce dimisse e coelo, stars let down from heaven by God.
 
 WRITTEN BY CHAUCER. 309 
 
 All England owyth to pray wyth entyer devocion, 
 Man, chylde, and wyffe, both preste and clerke ! 
 
 Amen. 
 / 
 
 Go, lytell Balade, full rude of composicion, 
 Softe and mekely no thynge to bolde; 115 
 
 Pray all, that of the 7 shall have inxpexion, 
 Thy derke ignoraunce that they pardon wolde ; 
 Sey that thow were made in a pryson colde, 
 Thy makir standyng in dysese and grevaunce, 
 Which cawsed hym the so symply to avaunce ! 
 
 Ver. 115. After Ainen, there is written, in the margin of 
 the manuscript, per Rotheley ; whom I take to have been the 
 transcriber; and who, like Chaucer's Adam Scrivener, has 
 afforded room for absolute correction as well as conjectural 
 emendation. 
 
 Ver. 114. Go, lytell Baladc, &c.] In the margin of this 
 envoy, is written, Fortune befrendely !
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS, 
 
 . 7.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Explanation of the Abbreviations by which tlic 
 Extracts from Gower and Chaucer, and other 
 Illustrations in the present Work, are cited in 
 the folio-wing Glossary. 
 
 The word vcr. denotes the verse of the poem cited, and the 
 letter p. the page referred to, in this volume. 
 
 B. Pref. Berthelef s Preface to Gower. 
 
 Ch. F. L. Chaucer's Floure and Leafe. 
 
 Ch. Prol. Chaucer^ Prologue to the Canterbury 
 
 Tales. 
 
 Ch. S. P. I. 7 Supposed Poems of Chaucer, No. I, and 
 Ch. S.P. II. S No. II. 
 
 Gow. I. . ? . The Extracts from GoWer, No. I, an<J 
 
 Gow. H. J No. II. 
 
 Gow. F. P. Gower*s French Poem*. 
 
 Gow. Test. Gower's Will. 
 
 Illustr. The Illustrations in general. 
 
 Tb. Anim. Thynne's Animadversion*. r j n ^ ,
 
 314 GLOSSARY. 
 
 A. 
 
 A, commonly called the indefinite article, is 
 really, Mr. Tyrwhitt says, nothing more than a 
 corruption of the Saxon adjective ane or an, 
 before a substantive beginning with a conso- 
 nant. It is sometimes prefixed to another ad- 
 jective ; the substantive, to which both belong, 
 being understood. Ch. Pro/, ver. 208. " A 
 Frere there was, a wanton and a mery" So, 
 in ver. 163. " Afayre for the maistrie," where 
 we should say, a fair one. Again, ver. 189. 
 " Therfore he was a prickasour, a right" that 
 is, a right one; but, in Chaucer's time, such 
 tautology, Mr. Tyrwhitt supposes, was not ele- 
 gant. Chaucer is preceded in this usage by 
 the author of Piers Plowmans Crede, edit. 1554. 
 sign. B. i. b. 
 
 a frere on a bench, 
 f A greet ehorl and a grym 
 
 That is, a grim one. 
 
 ABANDONS. See Th. Anim. p. 48. 
 
 ABLE, Fr. fit, proper. Ch. Pro/, ver. 165. 
 
 ACERTAINED, confirmed in opinion. Ch. F. L. ver. 
 568. Fr. acertener. Urry has discarded the 
 old legitimate spelling, and substitutes the mo- 
 dern ascertained. 
 
 ACCORD, Fr. agreement. Ch. Pro/, ver. 840, and 
 F.L. 132. 
 
 Fr. to agree. Ch. Prol ver. 833.
 
 GLOSSARY. 315 
 
 ACCORDING, agreeing. Ch. F. L. ver. 112. 
 
 the note, p. 286. 
 
 ACHATE, Fr. purchase. Ch. Prol. ver. 573. 
 ACHATOUR, Fr. a purchaser, a caterer. Ch. Prol. 
 ver. 570. Acatours pour acheteurs, emptores. 
 Lacombe Diet, du Vieux Lang. Fr. 
 ACOMBERD, Fr. encumbered. Ch. Prol. ver. 510. 
 ADASED, stupifiedf Ch. S. P. I. ver. 20. Dazed 
 
 is still used, in this sense, in the North of En- 
 
 gland. 
 
 ADRADDE, Sax. afraid. Ch. Prol. ver. 607. 
 ADRYH, probably from the Fr. adroit, promptly, 
 
 quickly. Gow. See Illustr. p. 278. 
 AFILE, Fr. to file, polish. Ch. Prol. ver, 714. 
 AFFYAUNCE, fidelity. Ch. S. P. II. ver. 84. Chau- 
 
 cer uses, in the Romaunt of the Rose, the verb 
 
 affie for to trust. 
 AFYN, at last. Gow. I. ver. 77. So, in the ro- 
 
 mance of Emare, ed. Ritson, Metr. Rom. vol. 
 
 ii. 242. 
 
 When they wer well at ese qfyne, 
 Both of brede ale and wyne, 
 They rose up, &c. 
 
 AGNUS CASTUS, Ch. F. L. ver. 160, &c. The emblem 
 of chastity. The ancients supposed that it pro 
 moted chastity. See Swan's Speculum Mundi, 
 edit. 1635. ch. 6. sect. 4. 
 
 AKETON, or HAKETOUNJE. See Th. Anim. p. 36. 
 
 ALE, London. See Ittustr. p. 253. 
 
 ALE, Southwark. See Illustr. p. 253.
 
 316 GLOSSARY. 
 
 ALE-STAKE, a stake set up before an Ale-house, by 
 way of sign. Ch. Prol. ver. 669. See also 
 lllustr. p. 253. Mr. Warton is mistaken in 
 supposing that Chaucer intended, by this word, 
 a may-pole, Hist. Eng. Poet. vol. i. 60. 
 
 ALICHE, alike. Gow. See lllustr. p. 278. 
 
 ALGEZIR, a city of Spain. Ch. Prol. ver. 57. 
 
 ALISANDRE, Alexandria, a city in Egypt. Ch. 
 Prol. ver. 51. 
 
 ALLER, the genitive plural of alle from the Sax. 
 ealra. Ch. Prol. ver. 588, ver. 801. The 
 former of these examples, Mr. Tyrwhitt ob- 
 serves, hir oiler, would be properly rendered 
 in Latin eorum omnium. 
 
 ALS, also. Gow. I. ver. 16. 
 
 AMBLENDE, ambling. Gow. See Iltustr. p. 277. 
 
 AMONGES, Sax. among. Ch. Prol. ver. 761. a 
 trissyllable. So Gower has amongest, Conf. 
 Am. lib. viii. fol. 187. b. 
 
 I stonde as one amongest all. 
 
 AMORWE, on the morrow. Ch. Prol. ver. 824. 
 So Chaucer writes morwe. In Pierce Plow- 
 man's Crede, we have morwetide for morrow- 
 tide, sign. A. ii. b. edit. 1554. 
 
 AND, Sax. if. Ch. Prol. ver. 768. Often so 
 used by Chaucer. 
 
 ^.NELACE, a kind of knife or dagger, usually worn 
 at the girdle. Ch. Prol. ver. 359. See the 
 Gloss, to M. Paris in V. Anelacius. In that 
 passage of M. Paris, where Petrus de Rivallis
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 is mentioned as gestans anelacium ad lumbar c 
 quod clericum non decebat, it may be doubted, 
 says Mr. Tyrwhitt, whether the wearing of an 
 anelace simply, or the wearing it at the girdle, 
 was an indecent thing in the clerk. In the 
 picture of Chaucer, which is inserted in some 
 copies of Hoccleve's De regimine principis, he 
 is represented with a knife hanging from a but- 
 ton on his breast. See MSS. Harl. 4866, Cott. 
 Qtho, A. xviii, and Mr. Geo. Nicol's MS. See 
 also the portrait of Chaucer from Lord Stafford's 
 MS. A very ingenious antiquary has remarked, 
 that the Irish skean or scian, formerly worn by 
 the Irish princes, answered to the English ane- 
 lace, and the knights' misericorde of the middle 
 ages ; and was also worn as an ornament. He 
 notices also the anelaces hanging to the girdles 
 of the Franklein and the five city-mechanicks, 
 ver. 370 ; but he adds, what indeed is highly 
 curious, that the anelace which hangs from a 
 button on the breast of Chaucer in his portrait 
 given amongst the illustrious heads, closely re- 
 sembles the Irish skean, as delineated in No. 
 XIII. of Collect, de Reb. Hib Walker on the 
 Dress of the Irish, p. 29. 
 
 ANNOY, subst. Fr. trouble. Ch. F. L. ver. 389. 
 As in the Rom. of the R. ver. 4404. ed. Urr. 
 
 Well more annoie is in me 
 
 Than is in tbee of this mischaunce. 
 
 APRIL. The month so called. Ch. Prol. ver. 1.
 
 318 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 I would prefer the reading, as in some manu- 
 scripts, ofAprylle, which might be pronounced 
 in three syllables. We should thus discard the 
 di.-gusting dissyllabick pronunciation of~ivhanne, 
 vhich Mr. Tyrwhitt indeed is not eager to de- 
 fend, although he has adopted it, in conformity 
 to his own scansion of the verse. Or we might 
 read, in three syllables, Aperyll ; which was 
 not an uncommon orthography, and thus be- 
 speaks its derivation. On a monumental stone 
 in Wednesbury hurch, C. Stafford, the word 
 is thus written. " Of your Charite praye for 
 the solles of John Comberfort gentylman and 
 Ann his wyffe : the whyche John departed the 
 Xxii day of Aperyll, in the yere of our Lord 
 God mcccclix." The old poets also have Averill. 
 
 ARETTE, Fr. to impute to. Ch. Prol. ver. 728. 
 
 ABIST, arose. Gow. See Illustr. p. 277. 
 
 ARRERAGE, Fr. arrear. Ch. Prol. ver. 604. 
 
 AVANCE, Fr. to advance, to profit. Ch. Prol. 
 ver. 246. Ch. S. P. II. ver. 
 
 AVANT, Fr. boast. Ch. Prol. ver. 227. Usually 
 written in our old Romances avaunt. 
 
 AVENTURE, Fr. adventure. Ch. Prol, ver. 846, 
 Ch. F. L. ver. 460. 
 
 AVERROIS, Ebn Roschd, an Arabian physician of 
 the twelfth century. Ch. Prol. ver. 435. 
 
 AVICEN, Ebn Sina, an Arabian physician of the 
 tenth century. Ch. Prol. ver. 434. 
 
 AUTENTICK. See Th* Anim. p, 48.
 
 GLOSSARY. 319 
 
 AYEN, AYENST, Sax. again, adv. Ch. F. L. ver. 
 105, 419, 466 ; against, prep. F. L. ver. 
 
 B. 
 
 BALLED, bald. Ch. Prol. ver. 198. 
 
 BARGARET, Fr. bergerette, a pastoral song, a song du 
 berger, of a shepherd. Ch. F. L. ver. 348. 
 
 BAREN, Sax. bore. Ch. Prol. ver. 723. 
 
 BARRE, Fr. a stripe. Ch Prol. ver. 331. Barres 
 of this kind were called cloux in French, Mr. 
 Tyrwhitt says ; and were an usual ornament of 
 a girdle. See also Warton's Hist. Eng. Poet, 
 p. 377, 426. Clavus in Latin, from which the 
 French cloux is derived, seems to have signi- 
 fied, Mr. Tyrwhitt adds, not only an outward 
 border, but also what we call a stripe. Mont- 
 faucon, t. iii. part i. c. vi. A bar in heraldry 
 is a narrow stripe or fascia. 
 
 BARRE, a bar of a door. Ch. Prol. ver. 552. 
 
 BAUDKYN, Gow. Test. p. 88. Cloth of silk and gold 
 thread. Brocade. Henry III. presented to the Ab- 
 bey of St. Alban's many vestments of the stuff 
 called baldokyn, (not of silk merely, but a sort of 
 tissue, ) one of which was called vinea from the 
 figure of a vine, and the other paradise from a 
 figure of Adam driven out : these were very 
 rich, and the ground was embroidered with 
 these figures: Richard also, the brother of
 
 320 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Henry, gave two baldokyns. See Newcome's 
 Hist, of St. Albany p. 409. Eleanor Bohun 
 Duchess of Gloucester, who died in 1399, be- 
 queathed a vestment, of which the ground is 
 " de bauJcyn blue diapres des autres colours," 
 to the Abbey of Walden. See Nichols's Collect, 
 of Royal Wills, p. 179. Baldekinum pannus 
 omnium ditissimus, cujus utpote stamen ex 
 filis auri, subtegmen ex serico, texitur. Gloss- 
 Matt. Paris, edit. Watts. See also Du Cange. 
 in V. It is mentioned as part of a rich convoy 
 in the ancient Romance of Merlin, P. ii. Ellis's 
 Metr. Romances, vol. i. 285. The convoy is 
 described 
 
 Full of ich maner prey; 
 
 Of venisoun, and flesch, and brede, 
 
 Of brown ale, and win white and rede, 
 
 Of baudekins, and purple pall, 
 
 Of gold and silver, and cendal. 
 
 BAUDRIK, a girdle or sash. Ch. Prol. ver. 116. 
 Usually a belt of leather, so called, from ban- 
 droieur, the currier who prepared the skins for 
 this purpose ; baudraius, Lat. Infim. So bait- 
 droyer, coria polire. Lacombe, Diet, du vieux 
 Lang, de France. This baudrick of the Yeo- 
 man, however, #s Mr. Strutt has observed, 
 seems to have been a sash passed over the 
 shoulder ; for Chaucer had before mentioned a 
 belt as a part of his dress. 
 
 BAUTTE. Qu. ? See Illustr. p. 264. 
 
 BB, been. Ch. F. L. ver. 44.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 321 
 
 BEGUYN. See Th. Anim. p. 42. 
 
 JBEHIGHT, Sax. assure. Ch. F. L. ver. 396. 
 
 BELMARIK. Ch. Prol. ver. 57. Mr. Tyrwhitt can 
 not find any country of this name in any au- 
 thentick geographical writer ; but observes, 
 that Froissart mentions Benamarin among the 
 kingdoms of Africa. In his note on the pas- 
 sage, he offers a reason for supposing Belmarie 
 to be a corruption of that word. 
 
 BEN, Sax. to be. Ch. Prol. ver. 141, 167. 
 
 are. Goiso. I. ver. 90, Ch. Prol. ver. 
 
 764, 820. 
 
 been. Ch. Prol. ver. 361, 465. 
 
 BENOME, took away. Ch. S. P, II. 70. From the 
 Sax. benime. As in the Rom. of the Rose, ver. 
 1509. Narcissus 
 
 was for thrust in grete distresse 
 
 Of herte, and of his werinesse, 
 That had his breth almost benomen. 
 
 BERNARD, a physician of Montpelier in the thir- 
 teenth century. Ch. Prol. ver. 436. 
 
 BESANTE. See Th. Anim. p. 36. 
 
 BESMOTRED, Sax. smutted. Ch. Prol. ver. 76. 
 
 BESY, busy. Ch. S. P. I. ver. 11. So used by 
 Chaucer, C. T. ver. 2855. See the note, p. 
 297. 
 
 BIGONE, begone. Ch. F. L. ver. 186. 
 
 BIGOTT. See Th. Anim. p. 42. 
 
 BIT, BYT, biddeth. Gow. Illustr. p. 140, Ch. 
 
 \ Prol. ver. 187. Mr. Tyrwhitt has observed, 
 that Chaucer frequently abbreviates the third
 
 322 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 person singular of the present tense in this 
 manner ; as rit for rideth ; stant for standeth, 
 &c. Gower does the same. 
 
 BLANCMANGER, a very different dish in the time of 
 Chaucer, from that which is now so called. In 
 the Ancient Forme of Cury, it is also written 
 Blomanger. The receipt for making it notices 
 rice, and capons, and almond milk, and fried 
 almonds, &c. as the component parts. See 
 Pegge's Forme of Cury, &c. p. 102. 
 
 BOISTOUSLY, roughly. Ch. F. L. ver. 595. This 
 adverb occurs in the Canterb. Tales, and the 
 adjective boistous repeatedly. 
 
 BOKELER, Fr. a buckler. Ch. Prol. ver. 1 12. 
 
 BORAS, Fr. borax. Ch. Prol. ver. 632. 
 
 BORDE, Sax. a table. Ch. Prol. ver. 52. The 
 knight is here placed at the head of the table ; 
 he hadde often begonne the horde above all 
 nations. This term of chivalry, to begin the 
 board, says Mr. Warton, is to be placed in the 
 uppermost seat of the hall. See Anstis, Ord. 
 of the Garter, i. App. p. xv. " The earl of 
 Surry began the horde in presence: the earl of 
 Arundel washed with him, and satt both at the 
 first messe. Began the horde at the chamber's 
 end ;" that is, sate at the head of that table 
 which was at the end of the chamber. This 
 was at Windsor, in 15 19. In a celebration of 
 the feast of Christmas at Greenwich, in 1488, 
 " the due of Bedeford beganne the table on 
 the right side of the hall, and next untoo hym
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 323 
 
 was the lord Dawbeneye, &c." Leland, Coll. 
 vol. iii. 237, edit. 1770. See Warton's Hist. 
 Eng. Poet. vol. i. 172. 
 
 BOTE, Sax. remedy, profit. Ch. Prol. ver. 426, 
 Ch. F. L. ver. 83. So, in Pierce Plowman's 
 Crede, the disappointed Piers exclaims, (sign. 
 B. iii. ed. 1554,) 
 
 Than seide I to my self, here is no bote, 
 
 Here pride is the Pater noster, &c. 
 
 BRACER, Fr. armour for the arm. Ch. Prol. ver, 
 111. 
 
 BRASE, make ready. Ch. S. P. I. ver. 45. 
 
 BRAST, Sax. burst. Ch. F. L. ver. 490. 
 
 BRAYED, started, awaked. Ch. S. P. I. ver. 35. 
 So, in the Canterbury Tales, ver. 4283. 
 And with the falle out of hire slepe she braide. 
 
 BREADE, Sax. breadth. Ch. F. L. ver. 43. 
 
 BRENNING, burning. Sax. Ch. F. L. ver. 408. 
 " The sunne-brenning," the burning of the 
 sun. J&renningly is used for hotly in the Can- 
 terb. Tales. See also Wiclifte's translation of 
 the Bible : "The sunne shall, not brenne thee 
 by day, &c." 
 
 BRET-FUL, brimful. Ch. Prol. ver. 689. So Mr. 
 Warton explains the word. Mr. Tyrwhitt says, 
 that the sense is much more clear than the ety- 
 mology. The etymology I confess myself at a 
 loss to illustrate ; but I can produce an example 
 of the word in Piers Plowmans Crede, and in a 
 
 Y2
 
 324 GLOSSARY. 
 
 passage which is certainly a masterly painting, 
 Sign. B. i. b. edit. 1554. 
 
 a frere on a bench, 
 
 A grete chorl and a grym, growen as a tonne; 
 With a face so fat, as a ful bleddere, 
 Blowcn bretful of breth, and as a bagge honged 
 On bothen his chekes, &c. 
 
 BRIDDES, Sax. brides. Ch. F. L. ver. 37. So 
 thridde for third, no less frequent in our elder 
 writers. 
 
 BROCHE, Fr. a kind of buckle or clasp. Ch. Prol. 
 ver. 160. Here intended for a breast-pin. It 
 was no doubt a very fashionable female orna- 
 ment, since we find not only the Prioress thus 
 decorated with it, but the knights also particu- 
 larly intent on offering the ladies in the Court 
 of Lycamedes " broche and ring," in order to 
 discover Achilles, who, they concluded, would 
 reject both " broche and ring." See the an- 
 cient romance of The Battell of Troy, cited 
 in this work, p. 165, 166. See also Jllustr. 
 p, 235. 
 
 BUXOMNESSE, obedience, humility. Ch. Illustr. 
 p. 132. From buxum, yielding; frequent in 
 our old writers. Sax. bocj*um. 
 
 BURDOUN, Fr. the bass, a humming noise, as Mr. 
 Tyrwhitt explains the word; referring to Du 
 Cange, in V. Burdo. Ch, Prol. ver. 675. 
 ff Bare a stiff burdoun," i. e. sang the base;" 
 or, as Speght's Glossary adds, " a deep base."
 
 GLOSSARY. 325 
 
 Nevertheless, some may prefer, in explanation, 
 the burden or chorus of the song. 
 BY AND BY, exactly, distinctly. Cli. F. L. ver. 
 59, 145. By and by, stgillatim, Prompt. 
 Parvulorum, as cited by Mr. Tyrwhitt. And, 
 when he cites^from the Romaunt of the Rose, 
 ver. 4581. " These were his wordis by and 
 by," as an illustration of the meaning already 
 given ; I think that he is confirmed, in his 
 opinion, by a passage in A pleasaunte Pathe- 
 ivaye leadynge to an honest lyfe, &c. bl. 1. 
 4to. sans date, Sign. A. i. b. Where a youth 
 desires counsel of an old man, who promises to 
 give it, and who gives it under regular heads : 
 the young man professes himself all attention, 
 and says, 
 
 Therfore when it shall please you, saye on by and by. 
 
 BYHOVE, Sax. to advantage. Ch. Illustr. p. 131. 
 BYTHE, beeth. Ch. S. P. I. ver. 9. 
 
 C. 
 
 CAPPE, Lai. A cap, or hood. To set a man's 
 
 cap, to make a fool of him. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 
 588. 
 CARLE, a churl, a hardy country fellow. Ch. 
 
 Prol. ver. 547. Brit, carl, a miser. Angl. 
 
 Sax. carl, masculus, rusticus. The word is 
 
 used by Spencer in both senses.
 
 326 GLOSSARY. 
 
 CARPE, to talk. Ch. Pro/, ver. 476. Lyndsay, 
 speaking of the Scotish poets says, " Stewart 
 of Lome will carp richt curiouslie." See 
 Chalmers's Lyndsay, Gloss, m V. where other 
 instances of carp, in this sense, are cited. 
 
 CAS, Fr. chance. Ch. Prol. ver. 846. 
 
 CATEL, Ch. Prol. ver. 542. Mr. Tyrwhitt here 
 interprets the word by goods, -valuable things 
 of all sorts ; that is, as we now say, chattels. 
 But perhaps the learned critick is, in this in- 
 stance, mistaken. The Plowman is described 
 paying his tithes, full faire and well, both of 
 his proper swink, that is, the tithes of his own 
 personal labour, and of his catel, that is, cattle. 
 The poet seems to intend such distinction. 
 
 CELLE, Lat. a religious house, subordinate to some 
 great abby. Ch. Prol. ver. 170. Of these 
 cells some were altogether subject to their re- 
 spective abbies, who appointed their officers, 
 and received their revenues ; while others con- 
 sisted of a stated number of monks, who had a 
 prior sent them from the abby, and who paid 
 an annual pension as an acknowledgement of 
 their subjection ; but, in other matters, acted 
 as an independent body, and received the rest 
 of their revenues for their own use. These 
 priories or cells were of the same order with 
 the abbies on whom they depended. See Tan- 
 ner, Pref. Not. Monast. p. xxvii. 
 
 CKRRIALL. See Th. Anim. p. 53. 
 
 CHANTERIE, an endowment for the payment of a
 
 GLOSSARY. 327 
 
 priest, to sing mass agreeably to the appoint- 
 ment of the founder. Cfi. Prol. ver. 512. The 
 number of Chanteries and Free Chapels (for 
 they are so classed together) before the Disso- 
 lution of Monasteries, &c. is stated to be in 
 England and Wales, as rated for the payment 
 of first-fruits and tenths, 2374. Sec Weever's 
 Funeral Monuments, fol. edit. 1631, p. 192. 
 
 CHEPE, Cheapside in London. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 756. The old distinctions of East and West 
 Chepe, however, were not confined to what is 
 now known merely as Cheapside. See Stew, 
 Newcourt, &c. " The standarde in Chcpe." 
 Fabian's Chron. ii. 334. 
 
 CIIERUBINNES FACE, Ch. Prol. ver. 626. Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt says, that H. Stephens (Apol. Herod. 1. i. 
 c. xxx.) quotes the same thought from a French 
 epigram : 
 
 Nos grants docteurs au Chenibin visage, &c. 
 
 CHESE, Sax. choose. Gow. I. ver. 61. Repeat- 
 edly so used by Chaucer, and the author of the 
 Vis. of P. Plowman. 
 
 CHEVACHIE, an expedition. Fr. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 85. Mr. Warton has hastily explained it, riding, 
 exercises of horsemanship ; and cites the Com- 
 plaint of Mars and Venus, ver. 144. edit. 
 Urr. Where Urry's glossary terms it riding in 
 state. But Mr. Tyrwhitt, in a note, observes 
 that it most properly means an expedition with
 
 328 GLOSSARY. 
 
 a small party of cavalry ; but is often used ge- 
 nerally for any military expedition. Holinshed 
 calls it a rode. See also Du Cange in V. Che- 
 valchia. Equitatio ad quam tenebantur vas- 
 salli, quando foedalis dominus pergebat in ex- 
 ercitum. 
 
 CHEVALRIE, Fr. knighthood ; the manners, exer- 
 cises, and valiant exploits, of a knight. Ch. 
 Prol. ver. 45. 
 
 CHILDE, a youth. Ch. F. L. ver. 259. Here 
 used to designate the pages or frenchmen, in a 
 preceding line ; or, more properly speaking, 
 the young esquiers of the respective knights. 
 Tristram, after being dubbed Squire by Cali- 
 dore, is called Child, by Spencer. Sir Trya- 
 moure, in the romance of that name, is also 
 repeatedly called the Child before he was made 
 a knight. 
 
 CHISTE, chest. Gow. I. ver. 34. Lat. cista. In 
 some MSS. it is \vritten kiste. 
 
 CITRINATION. See Th. A trim. p. 43. 
 
 CLAPSED, clasped. Ch. Prol. ver. 275. 
 
 CLERK, a man of learning. Ch. Prol. ver. 482. 
 So the Clerk of Oxenforde. 
 
 COFRE, Fr. a chest. Gow. I. ver. 23, &c. Ch. Prol. 
 ver. 300. 
 
 COKE, Lat. a cook. Ch. Prol. ver. 381. 
 
 COME HITHER, LOVE, TO ME, Ch. Prol. ver. 674. 
 Supposed by Mr. Tyrwhitt to be the beginning, 
 or burthen, of some kno\vn song.
 
 GLOSSARY. 329 
 
 COMPACE, COMPAS, Fr. a circle, or ring. Ch. 
 
 F. L. ver. 163, 343. 
 COMPERE, Fr. an equal, a companion. Ch. Pro/. 
 
 ver. 672. Thus Beelzebub is styled by Milton 
 
 " the bold compeer" of Satan, P. L. B. i. 127. 
 CONTRAIRE, Fr. contrary, opposite. Ch. F. L. 
 
 ver. 82. 
 COPPE, Sax. the top of any thing. Ch. Prol. 
 
 ver. 556. 
 
 
 
 CORSERE, for courser, a war-horse. Ch. F. Z. 
 ver. 264. 
 
 COSIN, adj. allied. Ch. Prol. ver. 744. 
 
 COVERCHIEFS, Fr. head-cloaths Ch. Prol. ver. 
 455. 
 
 COVINE, Fr. Secret contrivances. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 606. 
 
 COUNTOUR, Ch. Prol. ver. 361. Though this word 
 has been considered by Mr. Tyrwhitt as unin- 
 telligible, some light is thrown upon the usage 
 of it, I think, in the notes, Illustr. p. 249, 
 250. A Countour, one deputed on especial 
 business into other Counties besides his own. 
 
 COURTKPY, Teut. a short cloke, or gown. Ch. 
 Prol. ver. 292. Mr. Tyrwhitt calls it a short 
 cloke of coarse cloth, from the Teutonic kort 
 curtus, and pije penula coactilis ex villis eras- 
 sioribus. Kilian in VV. Mr. Strutt admits 
 that the courtepy was certainly an upper gar- 
 ment, and worn by women as well as men in 
 Chaucer's time ; but believes tliat it belonged 
 more properly to the former than to the latter,
 
 330 GLOSSARY. 
 
 and that, if Chaucer be correct, it was the same 
 as the cote or gown. For, in the Romance of 
 the Rose, what William de Lorris calls a cote, 
 Chaucer has translated a courtepy, meaning in 
 that place a woman's gown. 
 
 COUTHE, knew, was able. Gow. II. ver. 31. 
 Ch. Prol. ver. 392. 
 
 - known. Ch. Prol. ver. 14. 
 
 COUDE, knew, was able. Ch, Prol. ver. 94, 95. 
 
 CRAFTELY, skilfully. Sax. Ch. F. L. ver. 339. 
 So craftesman, in the Canterb. Tales, is a man 
 of skill. 
 
 CRASED, crazed, injured in understanding. Ch. 
 S. P. I. ver. 19. 
 
 CRISPE. See Th. Anim. p. 40. 
 
 CRISTOFRE, Ch. Prol. ver. 115. See Illustr. p. 
 
 CROPPES, Sax. the extremities of the shoots of 
 
 vegetables. Ch. Prol. ver. 7. 
 CRULL, Sax. curled. Ch. Prol. ver. 81. 
 CULPONS, Fr. Shreds. Ch. Prol. ver. 681. 
 CUNNYNGE, subst. knowledge. Ch. S. P. I. ver. 61. 
 CURTEIS, Fr. courteous. Ch. Prol. ver. 99. 
 CUTTE, to draw. Ch. Prol. ver. 837. See the 
 
 note, Illustr. p. 269. 
 
 D. 
 
 DAMASCENE, Johannes Mesue Damascenus, an Ara- 
 bian physician, in the eighth and ninth centu- 
 ries. Ch. Prol. ver. 435.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 331 
 
 DANGER, custody. Ch. Prol. ver. 665. See the 
 note, Illustr. p. 262. and the Rom. R. ver. 
 1470. ed. Urr. 
 
 Narcissus was a bachilere, 
 
 That love had caught in his daungcre. 
 
 DF.BONAIRE, sweet, agreeable. Gow. II. ver. 37. 
 Doux, bon, &c. Gloss. Fabliaux, &c. edit. 
 Meon, vol. i. 435. 
 
 DEIS, Ch. Prol. ver. 372. The word Deis occurs 
 so frequently in our old authors, that it may be 
 worth the while, says Mr. Tyrwhitt, to endea- 
 vour to give a more satisfactory explanation of 
 it than is to be found in the Glossaries. " I 
 apprehend that it originally signified the wooden 
 floor ( D'ais, Fr. De assibus, Lat. ) which was 
 laid at the upper end of the hall, as we still see 
 it in College-halls, &c. That part of the room 
 therefore, which was floored with planks, was 
 called the Dais, the rest being either the bare 
 ground or at best paved with stone ; and being 
 raised above the level of the other parts it was 
 often called the high Dais. In royal halls there 
 were more Dais than one, each of them pro- 
 bably raised above the other by one or more 
 steps ; and that where the King sate was called 
 the highest Dais. At a dinner, which Charles V. 
 of France gave to the Emperour Charles IV. in 
 1J77, Christine de Pisan says, Hist, de Ch. V. P. 
 iii. c. 33, cinq dois [dais] avoit en la sale plains 
 de Princes et de Barons, et autres tables par-
 
 332 GLOSSARY. 
 
 tout. et estoient les dtux grans dois et les 
 dregouers fais de barrieres a 1'environ. 
 
 " As the principal table was always placed 
 upon a Dais, it began very soon, by a natural 
 abuse of words, to be called itself a Dais, and 
 people were said to sit at the Dais, instead of 
 at the table upon the Dais. It was so in the 
 time of M. Paris. Vit. Abb. p. 1070. Priore 
 prandente ad magnam mensam, quam Deis 
 vocamus. 
 
 " Menage, whose authority seems to have 
 led later antiquaries to interpret Dais, a ca- 
 nopy, has evidently confounded Deis with 
 Ders. Ders and Derselet, from Dorsum, as 
 he observes, meant properly the hangings at 
 the back of the company, Du Cange, v. Dor- 
 sale; but as the same hangings were often 
 drawn over so as to form a kind of canopy over 
 their heads, the whole was called a Ders. 
 Christine, P. iii. c. 41. Sus chascum des trois 
 (the Emperour and the Kings of France and 
 Bohemia) avoit un ciel, distincte 1'un de 
 1'autre, de drap d'or a fleurs de lis; et par- 
 dessus ces trois en avoit un grant, qui couvroit 
 tout au long de la table, et tout dtrriere eux 
 pendoit, et estoit de drap d'or. This last del, 
 or canopy, which covered the whole length of 
 the table, and hung down behind the company, 
 was a Ders. That it was quite a different thing 
 from a Deis, appears from what follows :
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 333 
 
 A 1'autre dots [dais] auplus pres (she says) 
 seoit le Daulphin, (and others.) Et sus le 
 chief du Daujphin avoit un ciel, et puis un 
 autre .pardessus qui tou^ la table couvroit. 
 Dais here plainly means a table. The Dauphin 
 sate at the second table, and had a canopy over 
 his own head, and another which covered the 
 whole table. In short, one of Menage's own 
 cftations, if properly corrected, will fully esta- 
 blish the distinct senses of these two words. 
 Ceremon. de Godefroy, p. 335. Le Roy se 
 vint mettre & table sur un haut Ders (read 
 Deis) fait et pre'pare' en le grand salle du logis 
 Archiepiscopal, sous un grand Ders, le fond 
 du quel estoit tout d'or. He has another cita- 
 tion from Martene, de Mon. Rit. 1 i. c. xi. 
 p v 109. in which he himself allows, that Da- 
 sium, the same as Dais, must signify un 
 estrade, a raised floor. It appears from the 
 same citation, that the assent to the Dasium 
 was by more steps than one." 
 
 DEUCES, delicacies, dainties. Goiv. II. 29. Lat;. 
 delicti. Spenser uses the word delices in the 
 general sense of pleasure. Milton employs 
 delicacy in Gower's sense of delices, P. L v. 
 333. 
 
 DELIVER, Fr. nimble. Ch. Prol. ver. 88. Cfhau- 
 cer also uses deliverly for nimbly. Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt says, that the word is plainly formed 
 from the French libre; and that the Italiani 
 use suelto, or sciolto, in the same sense.
 
 334 GLOSSARY. 
 
 DEJ.VE, Sax. to dig. Ch. Prol. ver. 538. " Del- 
 
 vers and dichers," P. PI. Vision. 
 DEMURE, grave, steady. Ch. S.P. II. ver. 55. 
 DEPARTED, Fr. to part, separate. Ch. F. L. ver. 
 
 193. So in Gower, Illustr. p. 278. " De- 
 parted even of white and blew." 
 DETTELES, free from debt. Ch. Prol. ver. 584. 
 DEYER, Sax. a dyer. Ch. Prol. ver. 364. 
 DIKE, Sax. to dig, to make ditches. Ch. Prol. 
 
 ver. 538. See V. Delve. 
 DINTES, Sax. strokes, blows. Ch. F. L. ver. 
 
 290. 
 DISEASE, (disese^ Fr. uneasiness, trouble. Ch. 
 
 F. L. ver. 377. Ch. S. P. II. ver. 119. 
 DISPENCE, Fr. expence. Ch. Prol. ver. 443. 
 DISPITOUS, angry to excess. Ch. Prol. ver. 518. 
 Do, for done. Sax. Ch. F. L. ver. 448. As 
 
 in the romance of Libeaus Disconus: 
 
 Whan he hadde do that dede, 
 
 / 
 
 To Glastingbery he yede. 
 
 DOMBE, Sax. dumb. Ch. Prol. ver. 776. 
 DOME, Sax. judgement, Ch. F. L. ver. 306. 
 DONE, for do. Sax. Gow. B. Pref. p. 139. 
 DORMANT, Fr. fixed, ready. Ch. Prol. ver. 355. 
 
 This meaning Mr. Tyrwhitt illustrates from 
 
 Froissart, V. iii. c. 52. " Les vaisseaux qui la 
 
 dormoient a Pancre." 
 
 DOSEIN, Fr. a dozen. Ch. Prol. ver. 580. 
 DOUSEPERIS, Fr. The twelve peers of France. 
 
 Ch. F. L. ver. 516. Often recorded by this
 
 GLOSSARY. 335 
 
 name in our elder writers. Robert of Glouces- 
 ter, in his Chronicle, calls them dozperes. 
 Spenser has adopted, from Skelton, according 
 to Mr. Warton, the usage of this word in the 
 singular number, and likens Braggadocchio to 
 a doughty douceperc, F. Q, iii. x. 31. 
 DRAGGES, Fr. drugs. Ch. Pro/, ver. 4*28. 
 DUBBE ME KNIGHT, Illustr. p. 166. Mr. Tyrwhitt 
 supposes, that this phrase is derived from the 
 stroke, with a sword or otherwise ; which was 
 a principal ceremony at the creation of a knight. 
 It was called in French la colee, from the Lat. 
 colaphus. The word dubbe is better illustrated 
 under the word adouber, in Gloss. Fabliaux, &c. 
 edit, par Barbazan, nouv. ed. par Meon. which 
 indeed renders Mr. Tyrwhitt's derivation of 'dubbe 
 from the Islandick dubban, to strike, somewhat 
 questionable. Adouber or adoubir, then, is thus 
 explained. " Habiller, e'quiper, armer, garnir, 
 arranger, faire un Chevalier, le reveler et 
 Farmer des v&temens et armes de la Chevalerie : 
 du mot Latin adaptare, qui a ces significations, 
 et non pas d' adopt are, adopter, comme le pre- 
 tend M. Du Cange. Dans le Roman d'Auberi, 
 on lit : 
 
 Mult se hasterent pour lor maus anemis, 
 
 Raoul Vadoube qui estoit ses amis; 
 
 Premiers li cbauce ses esperons massu, 
 
 Et puis li a le branc ou costel mis, 
 
 En col le fieri, si com il ot apris.
 
 336 GLOSSARY. 
 
 E. 
 
 ECCLESIAST, an ecclesiastical person. Ch. ProL 
 ver. 710. 
 
 ELLES, else. Gow. I. ver. 57. Ch. ProL ver. 
 377. 
 
 ELOY, ST. Ch. ProL ver. 120. See Illustr. p. 
 234. 
 
 EMBROUDED, Fr. embroidered. Ch. ProL ver. 89, 
 and F. L. ver. 330. From the French broder, 
 originally (Mr. Tyrwhitt says) border. 
 
 ENARMYD, armed. Ch. S. P. II. 74. A term of 
 heraldry, signifying that the horns, hoofs, beak, 
 or talons, &c. of any beast or bird of prey 
 (being their weapons} are of a different colour 
 from those of their bodies. See also the note, 
 p. 304. 
 
 ENTREE, Fr. See the note, Gow. Fr. P. p. 105. 
 
 ENVYNED, Fr. stored with wine. Ch. ProL ver. 
 344. Here the printed copies, before Mr. 
 Tyrwhitt's edition, read mendid, which Mr. 
 Warton explains by vianded. Mr. Tyrwhitt, 
 however, having found envyned in two MSS. 
 justly preferred this reading, which is also con- 
 firmed by other MSS, Cotgrave, as Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt has observed, gives ermine in the same 
 sense, Fr. Diet. 
 
 ER, adv. Sax. before. Ch. F. L. ver. 28, &c. 
 
 ERE, Fr. to plough. Ch. ProL ver. 
 
 ERLICHE, early. Gow. I. ver. 41. 
 7
 
 GLOSSARY. 337 
 
 EROS. See Th. Anim. p. 50, &c. 
 
 ERST, first. Ch. Prol. ver. 778. Superlative 
 from the Sax.- er. 
 
 ESED, Fr. accommodated. Ch. Prol. ver. 29. 
 " Wei esed," lien aises. The later French 
 usage of aise singular, and aises plural, un- 
 accented, is in Mr. Tyrwhitt's opinion a cor- 
 ruption. 
 
 ESTATELICH, stately. Ch. Prol. ver. 140. 
 
 EVERICH, EVEKICHON, Sax. every one of many. 
 Ch. Prol. ver. 373, and F. L. ver. 151. 
 
 EXEMPLAIRE, Fr. , exemplary. Ch. F. L. ver. 502. 
 
 EYEN, Sax. eyes. Ch. Prol. ver. 152, 201. 
 
 .61 .T9v J />;^ .oruimo^i **Hi8xii.'a 
 F. 
 
 FALDING, Ch. Prol. ver. 392. According to Skin- 
 ner, who derives the word from the Angl.-Sax. 
 feald, (plica,) a kind of coarse cloth. How- 
 ever that may be, says Mr. Tyrwhitt, Helmoldus 
 speaks of indumenta lanea, probably coarse 
 enough, quae nos appellamus Faldones, Chron. 
 Slav. 1. i. c. i. Fallin in Irish, according to 
 Llhuyd, signifies a mantle. Giraldus Cam- 
 brensis, as Mr. Tyrwhitt and Mr. Walker have 
 shewn, describes the Irish clothed, in phalingis 
 lands: " Phalingis laneis quoque paUiorum 
 vice utuntur, seu braccis caligatis seu caligis 
 braccatis, et his pilerumque colore fucatis." 
 Topog. Hib. dist. 3. c. 10. From the Promp-
 
 338 GLOSSARY. 
 
 torium Parvulorum Mr. Tyrwhitt also cites Fal- 
 dyng cloth, which is there rendered amphi- 
 talus, birrus; and How cloth, as faldyng and 
 other like, which is rendered endromis and also 
 amphibalus. See Du Cange in V. 4mphibalut. 
 
 FANTASY, Fr. fancy. Ch. S. P. I. ver. 24. 
 
 FARSED, stuffed, filled. Ch. Pro/, ver. 233. From 
 the French farcir. This was formerly a very 
 common word in cookery, and is now changed 
 into forced; and we say forced-meat, instead 
 of farced. The substantive farsure was also 
 used for stuffing. See Pegge's Gloss. Forme 
 of Cury, p. 134, 136. 
 
 FASTE, faced, i. e. carried a false appearance, an 
 appearance of ignorance. Gow. I. ver. 16. 
 
 FAYRE, Sax. fair. CJi. Prol. ver. 204, 234. 
 
 fairly, gracefully. Ch. Prol. ver. 94, 
 
 275. 
 
 FEINE, Fr. to feign. Ch. Prol. ver. 738. 
 
 FEINTISE, dissimulation. Ch. F. L. ver. 549. So, 
 in the translation of Alain Chartier's La Belle 
 Dame sans mercy, ver. 387. " a mouth with- 
 out feintise" Fr. And in P. PI. Crede, edit. 
 1554. Sign. B. i. b. 
 
 And we ben founded fulliche, without feintise. 
 
 FELAWSHIP, Sax. company. Ch. Prol. ver. 476. 
 
 FELE, Sax. many. Ch. F. L. ver. 5. So, in P. 
 PI. Crede, Sign. B. i. edit. 1554. 
 
 dores ful stronge, 
 
 Fermerye, and fraitur, mthfele mo houses.
 
 GLOSSARY. 339 
 
 Again, Sign. C. i. b. "fele wise," i. e. many 
 ways. 
 
 FERE, viz. in fere, together. Ch. F. L. ver. 71, 
 351, 369. 
 
 FERME, Fr. a farm. Ch. Prol. ver. 253. 
 
 FERMENTATION. See Th. Anim. p. 37. 
 
 FERRE, Sax. further. Ch. Prol. ver. 48. The 
 comparative of fer, far. Repeatedly used by 
 Chaucer. Ferrer, Mr. Tyrwhitt observes, is 
 used at length by Peter of Langtoft. So, I may 
 add, in P. PL Crede, Sign. B. i. edit. 1554. 
 Then walkede I/errer, and went al abouten. 
 
 But the romance of Ywaine and Gawin sup- 
 ports Chaucer, ver. 435. 
 
 And I durst folovv him noferr. 
 
 FERREST, furthest. Ch. Prol. ver. 496. 
 
 FERTHING, Sax. a farthing ; any very small thing. 
 No ferthing of grese. Not the smallest spot 
 of grease. Ch. Prol. ver. 134. 
 
 FETISE, well made, neat. Ch. Prol. ver. 157. 
 
 FETISELY, neatly, properly. Ch. Prol. ver. 124. 
 
 FETTE, fetched. Ch. Prol. ver. 821. 
 
 FIDEL, Sax. a fiddle. Ch. Prol. ver. 298. See 
 also the Illustr. p. 242. 
 
 FINCH, Sax. a small bird. To pull a finch. Ch. 
 Prol. ver. 654. This was a proverbial ex- 
 pression, signifying, Mr. Tyrwhitt says, To 
 strip a man, by fraud, of his money t S$c. See 
 Rom. of R. ver. 5983.
 
 340 GLOSSARY. 
 
 If I may gripe a riche man, 
 
 I shall so pulle him, if I can, 
 
 That he shall in a fewe stoundes 
 
 Lese all his markes and his poundes. 
 
 Our maidens shall eke plucke him so, 
 
 That him shall nedenfethers mo, 
 
 See also ver. 6820. 
 
 Withoute scalding they hem pulle. 
 FLORENCE. See Th. Anim. p. 51. 
 PLOTTING, playing on the flute. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 91. The instrument is called, as Mr. Tyrwhitt 
 observes, ajloite, in Chaucer's House of Fame, 
 B. iii. 133. "The first syllable, Mr. Tyrwhitt 
 adds, for a time retained the broad sound of its 
 original : See Du Cange, V. Flauta, and Ki- 
 lian, V. Fluyte. In some copies floyting is 
 changed tojlowting. 
 
 FOLWE, Sax. to follow. Ch. Prol. ver. 530. 
 FONDE, Sax. to try. Gow. B. Pref. p. 141. So 
 used by Chaucer, Canterb. Tales, ver. 4767, 
 9284. ed. Tyrwhitt. 
 
 FOR, Sax. Conj. quia, Lat, pour ce que, Fr. 
 Because that. For that him luste to ride so. 
 Ch. Prol. ver. 102. 
 
 FOR, Sax. Prep, pro, Lat. pour, Fr. It is often 
 prefixed to verbs in the infinitive mood, in the 
 French manner. For to tellen, pour dire. Ch. 
 Prol. ver. 73. For to don, pour faire. 78. 
 For to han ben, pour avoir e*te. 754. 
 FORAGE. See Th. Anim. p. 44. 
 FORPINED, Sax. wasted away. Ch. Prol. ver. 205.
 
 GLOSSARY. 34JL 
 
 * 
 
 FORSHRONKE, quite shrunk. Ch. F. L. ver. 488. 
 For, in composition, being intensive of the 
 signification of the word to which it is joined. 
 
 FORSTER, Fr. a forester. Ch. Pro/, ver. 117. 
 Written fostere, in his translation of the Rom. 
 of the Rose, ver. 6329. And so used by Spen- 
 ser, F. Q;. iii. i. 12. 
 
 FORTHY, therefore. Gotv. I. ver. 113. As in 
 Chaucer, C, T. ver. 1843. 
 
 Andforthy I you put in this degree, 
 That eche of you shall have his destinee. 
 
 FORTUNE, Fr. to make fortunate. Ch. Pro/, ver. 
 419. 
 
 FORWORD, Sax. (foreword,) a promise, or cove- 
 nant. Ch. Pro/, ver. 831, 850, 854. Mr. 
 Tyrwhitt proposes also " made forward?' in- 
 stead of "forward," Prol. ver. 33. Which 
 Ritson adopts, English Antholog. iii. 3. But 
 MSS. of good -note read forward. 
 
 FOTE-MANTEL, Ch. Prol. veT. 474. A species of 
 petticoat, such as is used to this day by market- 
 women, when they ride on horseback, to keep 
 their gowns clean. Mr. Strutt supposes it, 
 even in the poet's time, to have been a vulgar 
 habit ; because the Prioress, riding in the same 
 company, with the Wife of Bath, had a spruce 
 cloak, which answered the same purpose. See 
 The Habits of the People of Eng. vol. ii. p. 
 377. Mr. Strutt's explanation of the cloak an- 
 swering the same purpose, is questionable ; it 
 
 7
 
 342 GLOSSARY. 
 
 is mofe probable, as he observes in a note, 
 that the fote-mantel, being a lay-habit, was 
 forbidden to the religious. 
 
 FOTHER, Sax. a carriage-load, an indefinite large 
 quantity. Ch. Prol. ver. 532. " Sixtia 
 fothra" sixty loads, Sax. Chron. In the 
 North of England f udder is thus used, and in 
 Scotland .father. See Chalmers's Gloss, to Sir 
 David Lyndsay's Poetical Works. 
 
 FRANKELEIN. See the notes, Illustr. p 247, 248. 
 
 FRE, Sax. willing, unconstrained. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 
 854. 
 
 i 
 
 FREDOM, Sax. frankness. Ch. Prol. ver. 46. 
 FRERE, Fr. a friar. Ch. Prol. ver. 208. 
 FRET, Fr. a band. Ch. F. L. ver. 152. So, in the 
 Legende of Good Women, ver. 215. ed. Urr. 
 
 She was clad in roiaH habite grene, 
 
 A. fret ofgolde she had next her here, 
 And upon that a white coroune she here. 
 
 These frets are probably the adorees bandes 
 noticed by Will, de Lorris in his account of the 
 costly head-dresses of the ladies, Horn, de la 
 Rose. 
 
 G. 
 
 GALICE, a province of Spain. Ch. Prol. ver. 468. 
 The famous shrine of St. James at Compost ella 
 was in Galicia.
 
 GLOSSARY. 343 
 
 GALINGALE, sweet cyperus. Ch. Prol. ver. 383. 
 See the note, Illustr. p. 252. 
 
 GALLIEN, Galen. Ch. Prol. ver. 433. 
 
 GATISDEN, John de Gatesden or Gaddesden, author 
 of a medical work, entitled Rosa *Anglicana, 
 in the fourteenth century. Ch. Prol. ver. 436. 
 Freind, in his History of Medicine, speaks with 
 .the utmost contempt of this physician. 
 
 GAT-TOTHED, Ch. Prol. ver. 470. This is placed 
 by Mr. Tyrwhitt among words in Chaucer 
 not understood. I think the meaning clear and 
 pointed, when we consider the disposition of 
 the person to whom the word is applied. Gat- 
 toothed, or goat-toothed, explains itself; gap- 
 toothed, which some commentators have pro- 
 posed as its substitute, gives no trait of cha- 
 racter. I need scarcely add, that gat or gate 
 is used, by our elder writers, for goat. 
 
 GAUDED, (all with grene, ) having the gaiudies 
 green. Ch. Prol. ver. 159. Some, Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt dbserves, were of silver gilt : Monast. torn, 
 iii. p. 174. Tria paria precularium del Cor all 
 cum le gaudeys argenti deaurata. So, in Gower, 
 Conf. Amant. fol. 190. 
 
 A pair of bedes blacke as sable 
 She toke, and hynge my necke about ; 
 Upon the gaudes all without 
 Was wyte of gold, pur rep9ser. 
 
 Philippa, countess of March, who died in 1381, 
 (I must add,) makes the following bequest in 
 her will. " It'm un pair des ances les gaudes
 
 344; GLOSSARY. 
 
 des croices rouges enamaylez, &c." Nichols's 
 Royal Wills, p. 100. These gawdies, or trinkets, 
 are thus noticed also in the will of Eleanor de 
 Bohun, duchess of Gloucester, who died in 
 13i)9. " Item, jeo devise a madame et mere 
 la Countesse d'Erford, un paire de pater nostres 
 de corull de cynquaunt graunts ove v gaudes 
 d'or en manere des longets, &c." 
 
 GERE, Sax. all sorts of instruments; as of cookery. 
 Ch. Prol. ver, 354. 
 
 GERLOND, Fr. a garland. Ch. Prol. ver. 668. 
 
 GERNADE, Granada. Ch. Prol. ver. 56. 
 
 GET, Fr. geste, fashion. Ch. Prol. ver. 684. 
 Here the new get, Mr. Tyrwhitt observes, is 
 the new fashion. Gette, orjett, for the Ma- 
 nuscripts differ, is used in the same sense by 
 Hoccleve, De Regim. Princip. MS. Bodl. 1504, 
 1786. 
 
 Also ther is another newe gette, 
 
 All foule waste of cloth and excessif. 
 
 GIPCERIE, Fr. a pouch or purse. Ch. Prol. ver 
 359. See also the note, Illustr. p. 247. 
 
 GIPON, Fr. a short cassock. Ch. Prol. ver. 75. 
 As a military habit, Strutt denominates it also 
 a gambeson. Soe Habits of the People of Eng- 
 land, vol. ii. p. 174. The gambeson is after- 
 wards called the pour point, which was first in- 
 troduced by military men, and worn by them 
 under their armour ; but, in process of time, the 
 pourpoints were faced with rich materials, and
 
 GLOSSARY 345 
 
 ornamented with embroidery; and then they 
 were used without the armour. So the knight 
 here appears in a gipon, or pourpoint, of fus- 
 tian, stained by his armour. Ibid. p. 350. Be- 
 fore Chaucer's time, the word was written 
 jupoun. 
 
 GIRLES, Sax. Young persons, either male or fe- 
 male. Ch. Prol. ver. 666. See Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt's note, Illustr. p. 262. 
 
 GLAD, Sax. pleasant. Ch. F. L. ver. 35. " A 
 glad light grene." 
 
 GNARRE, Sax. a hard knot in a tree. Ch. Prol. 
 ver. 551. 
 
 GNOFFE, a miser. This is another of the words 
 and phrases in Chaucer, which Mr. Tyrwhitt 
 pronounces not understood. But see the ex- 
 planation of it, in the notes, Illustr. ^p. 260. 
 
 GOBBET, Fr. a morsel. Ch.Prol. ver. 698. 
 
 GOLEARDEIS. Ch. Prol. ver. 562. See the note, 
 Illustr. p. 257, In P. Plowmans Vision,' this 
 character is exhibited with a distinction, which 
 has escaped the notice of Mr. Tyrwhitt. See 
 the Poem, fol. iii. 
 
 Than greued hym a Goleardeis, a gloton qf vmrdes, 
 And to the angell on hygh answered after, &c. 
 
 Compare also P. Plowmans Crede, Sign. C. i. b. 
 Trow ye that gleym of that gest, that Golias is yeald 
 
 GRAMERCY, Fr. great thanks. Ch. F. L. ver. 462. 
 Written at length grand mercy in the Canter- 
 bury Tales.
 
 346 CLOSSARY. 
 
 GRESE, Fr. grease. Ch. Prol. ver. 135. 
 GREVES, Sax. groves. Ch. F. L. ver. 367. As 
 in the Canterb. Tales, ver. 1497. Phebus 
 
 with his stremes drieth in the greves 
 
 The silver dropes, hanging on the leves. 
 
 GRIS, Fr. a species of fur. Ch. Prol. ver. 194. 
 It is not clear, Mr. Tyrwhitt says, of what spe- 
 cies of fur the gris was, only that it was one of 
 the better sorts. See Du Cange in V. Griseum. 
 
 GRUTCHED, grudged, discontented. Gow. I. ver. 
 48. Dr. Johnson cites two instances, from 
 Tusser and Ben Jonson, of this word, which he 
 pronounces corrupted for the sake of the 
 rhyme. The learned lexicographer was not 
 aware that the word had been employed by 
 Gower, and by Chaucer ; the latter of whom 
 writes it gruche or groche. 
 
 H. 
 
 HABERGEON, Fr. a diminutive of haitberg, a coat 
 
 of mail. Ch. Prol. ver. 76. 
 HALI, an Arabian Physician. Ch. Prol, ver. 433. 
 HAPPE, to happen. Ch. Prol. ver. 587. 
 HARDILY, (hardely,) Sax. certainly. Ch. F. L. 
 ver. 234. So, in the Canterb. Tales, ver. 
 7901, 
 
 And therfore wolde I do you obeysance, 
 As far as reson asketh hardely.
 
 GLOSSARY. 347 
 
 HARLOT. Ch. ProL ver. 649. See Th. Anim. 
 p. 79. And the notes, Tllustr. p. 261. Mr. 
 Home Tooke has distinguished, in a variety of 
 instances, this application of harlot to men, 
 merely as persons receiving wages on hire. 
 Evea Tlrepoevra, vol. ii. p. 150. The instance, 
 from the Sompnoures Tale, is very pointed : 
 
 A sturdy harlot went hem ay behynde, 
 That was her hostes man, and bare a sacke. 
 
 HARLOTRIES, ribaldries. Ch. ProL ver. 563. 
 
 HAUNT, Fr. custom, practice. Ch. ProL ver. 
 449. 
 
 HEGGE, Sax. hedge. Ch. F. L. ver. 54, 402. 
 So, in our old romances, bregge for bridge ,* 
 and still in the Northern parts of England 
 brig. 
 
 HEM, them, passim. 
 
 HENCHMEN, pages. Ch. F. L. ver. 252. This 
 word continued to be used in this sense to the 
 time of Milton. See his MS. Trin.'Coll. Cambr. 
 Ode at a Solemn Mustek, ver. 12. Where the 
 Cherubim are called first " sweet-winged 
 squires," then " Heaven's henshmen." 
 
 HENG, Sax. hung. Ch. ProL ver. 360, 678. 
 
 KENT, Sax. took hold of. Ch. ProL ver. 700. 
 
 HER, or HIR, Sax. their, passim. 
 
 HERBER, Sax. an arbour. Ch. F. JL. ver. 49. In 
 P. Plowmans Crede, among the conventual 
 luxuries, are reckoned " Orcheyardes and er- 
 beres," Sign. A. iiii. b.
 
 348 GLOSSARY. 
 
 HERBERWE, Sax. an inn a lodging. Ch. Pro/, ver. 
 
 767. See the note Illustr. p. 250. In ver. 
 
 405, it rather means, Mr. Tyrwhitt thinks, a 
 
 harbour. 
 HERD, HIERDE, Sax. a keeper. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 
 605. 
 
 HERE, Sax. hair. Ch. Prol. ver. 677. 
 HERONER. See Th. Anim. p. 45. 
 |!ETHENESSE, Sax. country of heathens. Ch. Prol. 
 
 ver. 49. 
 HEVE, Sax. to heave, to raise. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 
 HIE, HIGHE, Sax. high. In high and low. Ch. 
 
 Prol. ver. 819. In or de alto et basso. Barb. 
 
 Lat. Haut et las. Fr. These, Mr. Tyrwhitt 
 
 remarks, were expressions of entire submission 
 
 on one side, and sovereignty on the other. 
 HIKE, Sax. a servant in husbandry ; a hind. Ch. 
 
 Prol. ver. 605. 
 HINDEREST, the superlative of hind, Sax. hind- 
 
 most. Ch. Prol. ver. 624. 
 HIPPOCIIAS, Hippocrates. 433. See the note, Il- 
 
 lustr. p. 255. 
 
 HIRE, Sax. herself, of her. passim. 
 HONEST, Fr. means generally, according to the 
 
 French usage, creditable, honourable. Ch. 
 
 Prol. ver. 246. 
 HORSE-KNAVE, a groom. Gow. Illustr. p. 279. 
 
 See V. knave. 
 HOSTELRIE, Fr. an inn or lodging-house. Ch. 
 
 Prol. ver. 23.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 349 
 
 HOVYTH, stands still, stays. Ch. S. P. II. ver. 
 36. As in P. Plowmans Vision, fol. iiii. 
 Yet hotted there an hundred in hownea [gownes] of silke, 
 Sergeaunts, yt besemed, that semen at the barre, &c. 
 
 HUGH OF LINCOLN. See Th. Anim. p. 63. 
 HYPPE. See Th. Anim. p. 45. 
 
 I. 
 
 JANGLYNG, Sax. babbling. Gow. B. Pref. p. 
 
 140. 
 
 ILKE, Sax. same. Ch. Prol. ver. 64. 
 JULIAN, Ch. Prol. ver. 344. See the note, li- 
 
 lustr. p. 250. 
 
 K. 
 
 KENELME. See Th. Anim. p. 66. 
 
 KENE, strong. Ch. F. L. ver. 271. 
 
 KNAVE, Sax. properly a boy or man-child ; some- 
 times, a servant. Gow. Illustr, p. 279. " And 
 am but her horse-knave," i. e. their groom, 
 the attendant on their horses. So Chaucer, 
 Canterb. Tales, ver. 7230. 
 
 With footmen, bothe yemen and eke knaves. 
 In the Chronicle of England, printed by Julian 
 Notary, it is used for a man-servant. " And 
 whan the Scottes knaves saw the scomfiture
 
 350 GLOSSARY. 
 
 and the Scottes fall faste to the grounde, they 
 preckyd faste their maysters horse with the 
 sporis to kepe them from peryl, &c." See 
 Lewis's Hist, of Transl. of the Bible, p. 66. 
 KNOBBES, Sax. excrescencies in the shape of buds 
 or buttons. Ch. Prol. ver. 635. 
 
 L. 
 
 LADE, for laden. Ch. F. L. ver. 305. 
 
 LAS, Fr. a lace. Ch. Prol. ver. 394. 
 
 LATON, Fr. a kind of copper or mixed metal. Ch, 
 Prol. ver. 701. The Black Prince directs, 
 concerning his monument, in his Will, " qe 
 en tour la ditte tombe soient dusze escuchons de 
 laton, chacun de la largesse d'un pie, dont 
 les syx seront de noz armez entiers, et les au- 
 tres six des plumes d'ostruce, et qe sur chacun 
 escuchon soit escript, c'est assaveir, sur cellez 
 de noz armez et sur les autres des plumes 
 d'ostruce, houmont. Et paramont la tombe 
 soit fait un tablement de laton suzorrez de 
 largesse a longure de meisme la tombe, &c." 
 Nichols's Royal Wills, p. 67. The shields of 
 laton, or copper gilt, remain to this day on the 
 tomb of this renowned warriour in Canterbury 
 Cathedral ; but the motto on them is not, as 
 directed in the Will, houmont ; but Ich dien. 
 In our old Church-Inventories a cross of laton 
 frequently occurs. 
 
 LAURER, LAURY, Fr. laurel. CH. F. L. ver, 109.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 351 
 
 LECIIE, physician. Gow. II. ver. 40. So used by 
 Chaucer, as is the verb leche, to heal; and 
 leche-craft, the skill of the physician. 
 
 LENE, Sax. lean. Ch. Prol. ver. 289. 
 
 LERE, Sax. to learn. Ch. F. L. ver. 229. 
 
 LERED, learned. Ch. Prol. ver. 577. 
 
 LEST, LIST, LUST, Sax. pleasure. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 132, 192. 
 
 LEST, LISTE, LUSTE, Sax. to please. Mr. Tyrwhitt 
 says, it is generally used as an impersonal verb, 
 in the third person only, for it pleaseth or it 
 pleased. As in Ch. Prol. ver. 102. " Him 
 luste to ride so," i. e. it pleased him &c. 
 Again, ver. 762. ' ' Well to drinke us leste" 
 i. e. it pleased us well &c. And ver. 830. 
 " If you lest," i. e. if it please you. I differ 
 from Mr. Tyrwhitt, in respect to the last in- 
 stance. Lest is there the regular verb, agree- 
 ing with the second person ; " if you lest" that 
 is, if you choose, if you like ; from the Sax. 
 lyjtan, cupere, to desire or wish. So likewise, 
 with the third person, Sec. Nonnes Tale, ed. 
 Urr. ver.282. 
 
 Of the miracles of these crounis twey 
 Saint Ambrose in his preface lust to sey : 
 
 Where Mr. Tyrwhitt, however, reads list. 
 LETE, for LET, Sax. leave, or omit. Ch. F. L. 
 
 ver. 215. 
 LETTOWE, Lithuania. Ch. Prol. ver. 54. See 
 
 also Illustr. p. 228. 
 LETTUARIE, Fr. an electuary, Ch. Prol. ver. 428.
 
 352 GLOSSARY. 
 
 LEVER, more agreeable or preferable. Gow. I. 
 ver. 66. The comparative of lefe, or liefe. 
 Sax. Gower and Chaucer use the word very 
 often. 
 
 LICENCIAT, Lat. Ch. Prol. ver. 220. Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt thinks, that this word seems to signify 
 that the friar was licensed by the Pope to hear 
 confessions, &c. in all places, independently 
 of the local ordinaries. Compare Horn, of the 
 Rose, ver. 63616370. edit. Urr. 
 
 LICH, like. Gow. I. ver. 25. 
 
 LIMITOUR, a begging friar. Ch. Prol. 209, &c. 
 See the notes, Illustr. p. 239, 240. 
 
 LITE, Sax. little. Ch. F. L. ver. 205. 
 
 LOMBARD, a native of Lombardy. Gow. II. 31. 
 The Forme of Cury, or Roll of Ancient Cook- 
 ery, compiled in Gower's time, presents us 
 with a delicious article ycleped JLeche Lum- 
 bard; so called, says the annotator, from the 
 country. The article is certainly of an Epi- 
 curean character. This illustrates Gower's allu- 
 sion. See Pegge's Forme of Cury, &c. p. 36. 
 Lumbar d mustard is another coquinary and 
 topographical article in the same volume. 
 
 LORD, Sax. a title of honour, given to Monks, 
 as well as to other persons of superiour rank. 
 Ch. Prol. ver. 172. In ver. 830, Lordesia 
 used in the sense of Lordings. 
 
 LORDINGS, Sirs, Masters. Ch. Prol. ver. 763, 
 790. A diminutive of Lords ; the usual ad-
 
 GLOSSARY. 353 
 
 dress, with which the writers of our old romances 
 commenced their tales. 
 
 LOVE-DAYS. See the note on Ch. Prol. ver. 260* 
 lllustr. p. 241. So, as Mr. Tyrwhitt observes, 
 in Chaucer's Test, of Love, lib. vi. p. 319. ed. 
 Urr. " Maked I not a Love-day betwene God 
 and mankynde, and chese a mayde to be nom- 
 pere, to put the quarell at ende ?" And, I 
 may add, in P. PI. Vision, fol. xlv. b. 
 
 And lead forth a love daye 
 
 Religion is called " a leader of lovedayes" in 
 the same poem. See lllustr. ut supr. i<\ n , f i\f 
 
 LUCE, Lat. the fish called a pike. Ch. Prol. ver, 352. 
 
 LUSTS, for lists, colours. Gow. lllustr. p. 278. 
 
 jmq b<jititt*|ia jfoiiiw itcpomAll .tuJU. srjj moil 
 
 M. 
 
 MAIDKNHEDE, the state of maidenhood. Ch. F. L. 
 
 ver. 478. 
 
 MAISTRIE, Fr. for the maistrie. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 165. Eminent, masterly, above all other?. 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt considers this phrase as adopted 
 from the application of pour la maistrie, in old 
 French, to such medicines as we usually call 
 sovereign. Robert of Gloucester precedes Chau- 
 cer, however, in the more general acceptation 
 of the phrase, as Mr. Tyrwhitt has observed: 
 " An stede he gan prikie wel vor the maistrie," 
 : p. 553. So Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ. MS. 
 Prowde, nyce, riotous for the mayshye. 
 A A
 
 354 GLOSSARY. 
 
 MALEBOUCH, a foul mouth, an evil tongue. Ch. 
 F. L. ver. 580. Thus, in the translation of 
 Alain Chartier's La Belle Dame sans mercy, ver. 
 T41. ed. Urr. 
 
 Mulebouch in court hath grete commaundement ; 
 Eche man studieth to saie the worst he male. 
 
 See also Lacombe, Diet, du vieux Lang. Frang. 
 in V. Malebouche, which he interprets, mede- 
 sant f maledicus, and cites from Marot, 
 
 En ce que faire en secret on pretend, 
 En pleine marche malebouche \' entend. 
 
 MANCIPLE, an officer, who has the care of pur- 
 chasing victuals for an Inn of Court. Ch. Prol. 
 ver. 569, &c. The name is probably derived 
 from the Lat. Manceps, which signified parti- 
 cularly, Mr. Tyrwhitt has observed, the superin- 
 tendant of a public bake-house, and from 
 thence a baker in general. See Du Cange, in 
 V. Manceps. 2. The office still subsists in se- 
 veral Colleges as well as Inns of Court. 
 
 ^IANERE, Fr. carriage, behaviour. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 140. 
 
 MANERLY, correctly, politely, like the Prioress's 
 manere, just cited. Ch. F. L. ver. 230. 
 
 MARGARETE, MARGUERITE, Fr. a daisy. Ch. F. L. 
 ver. 350. See the Ilhistr. p. 275. 
 
 MARSHALL OF THE FIELD, explained. Illustr. p. 
 273. 
 
 MARSHALL OF THE HALL, explained. Illustr. p.
 
 GLOSSARY. 355 
 
 MARTYR, Ch. Prol. ver. 17, 772. " The holy blis- 
 ful martyr," i. c. Thomas & Becket, who was 
 murdered in 1170; whose body was buried 
 first in the undercroft of Canterbury cathedral, 
 but shortly after was taken up, and laid in a 
 most sumptuous shrine in the East end by arch- 
 bishop Langton, Becket being canonized by the 
 Pope a saint and martyr. To this shrine people 
 of all degrees, and from all parts, flocked in 
 pilgrimage. Once in 50 years a jubilee .was 
 observed, on account of the translation of his 
 body to the shrine. At the fifth celebration of 
 this kind, which happened soon after the visit 
 of Chaucer's Pilgrims, viz. in 1420, the con- 
 course of people is said to have been 100,000. 
 MSS. Eccl. Cantuar. Biblioth. C. xiii. 2. See 
 also Batteley's Antiq. of Canterbury. The ju- 
 bilee lasted fifteen days, during which the 
 visitors were well entertained. They, in re- 
 turn, loaded the martyr's shrine with offerings. 
 A very curious account of the costly presents 
 of this description, is preserved in a manuscript 
 belonging to the Cathedral Library at Canter- 
 bury ; which, among other Inventories, con- 
 tains Inventorium rerum contentarum in of- 
 jicio custodis Martyrii S. Thomte, viz. de 
 Vestimentts, Juellis, Reliquiis, &c. MSS. C. 
 xi. 5. With such superstition was Becket re- 
 garded, even so late as in the eighth Henry's 
 time, that we find at the altar of God no obla-
 
 356 GLOSSARY. 
 
 tion, at the Virgin's only 4j. 6s. Sd. at Becket's 
 
 954 6s. 3d. ! 
 MEDLEE, of a mixed stuff, or colour. Ch. ProL 
 
 ver. 330. 
 MEMOIRE, Fr. remembrance. Gow. II. ver. 60. 
 
 To draw into memorie, is also a phrase in 
 
 Gower, signifying to record or be recorded. 
 
 Conf. Am. fol. 76. 
 
 MERCENRICKE. See Th. Anim. p. 70. 
 MERY. See the notes, Illustr. p. 284 291. 
 MESURABLE, Fr. moderate. Ch. ProL ver. 437. 
 MEVYD, moved. Ch. S. P. I. ver. 4. So Chaucer 
 
 uses mevable. for movable, Rom. of the Rose, 
 
 ver. 4736-t 
 MEYND, meint, mingled. From the Sax. menge. 
 
 Gow. I. ver. 39. This continued in use till 
 
 Spenser's time, who indeed affected old words. 
 
 See Shep. Cat. July, ver. 81. 
 
 The salt Medway, that trickling stremes 
 
 Adowne the dales of Kent, 
 Till with his elder brother Themes 
 
 His brackish waves be meynt. 
 
 Chaucer has y meint, Kn. Tale, ver. 2172. 
 MINORESSE. See Th. Anim. p. 82. 
 MISTERE, Fr. trade, occupation. Ch. ProL ver. 
 
 615. 
 Mo, more. Ch.- ProL ver. 546, 810, and S. P. 
 
 I. ver. 58. Frequent indeed in Chaucer, and 
 
 our old authors. 
 MOIST, Fr. new. Ch. ProL ver. 459. Moist 
 
 is here used, says Mr. Tyrwhitt, in a peculiar
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 357 
 
 sense, as derived from musteus ; for, accord- 
 ing to Nonius, 2. 518. " Mustum, non solum 
 vinum, verum etiam novellum quicquid est, 
 recte dicitur." So, in the Canterb. Tales, 
 moisly ale is opposed to old. 
 
 MONE, Sax. the moon. Ch. Pro/, ver. 405. 
 
 MORMAL, Ch. ProL ver. 388. Mr. Tyrwhitt 
 considers this word as meaning merely a cancer 
 or gangrene; though the original, (malum 
 mortuum t Lat. mauxmorz, Fr. ) seems to have 
 signified a kind of dead palsy, which took away 
 entirely the use of the legs and feet. Hte refers 
 to Du Cange in V. Malum mortuum. See 
 also Illustr. p. 252. 
 
 MORTREWES, Ch. ProL ver. 386. See the Illustr. 
 p. 252. 
 
 MOSTE, Sax. must. Ch. ProL ver. 734, 737. 
 
 MOTE, Sax. must. Ch. ProL ver. 232. may. 
 ver. 834. 
 
 MOTLEE. See the Illustr. p. 242. 
 
 MOVERESSE. See 77*. Anim. p. 82. 
 
 MULL, rubbish. Gow. I. ver. 38. Chaucer uses 
 mullok, twice, in the same sense. 
 
 N. 
 
 NATHELES, nevertheless. Gow. I. ver. 29. 
 NAUGHT, and NOUGHT, Sax. nothing. Ch. ProL 
 
 ver. 758, 770. 
 NETE, Sax. neat-cattle. Ch. ProL ver. 509.
 
 358 GLOSSARY. 
 
 NEWE, Sax. new, fresh. Ch. Prol. ver. 459. 
 NEWE, Sax. to renew, make new. Gow. B. Pref, 
 p. 141. So Gower, in his Conf. Am. lib. vi. 
 The presents every day ben newed. 
 
 N'AD for had not. F. L. ver. 21. 
 
 N'HATH for ne hath; hath not. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 925. 
 
 NIGHTERTALE, Ch. Prol. ver. 97, night-time. From 
 the Sax. nihtern dasl, nocturna pcrtio, says 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt, who also observes that Lydgate 
 uses nightertyme. Chaucer's word, I may add, 
 is used by Hoccleve, La Male Regie, ver. 366. 
 edit. Mason. 
 
 go we now to wacche 
 
 By nightertale out of all mesure. 
 
 N'IS for ne is, is not. passim. 
 
 NON, Sax. not one. Ch. Prol. ver. 656, 682. 
 
 NONES, viz, for the nones. Ch. Prol. ver. 381, 
 and F. L. ver. 198. Mr. Tyrwhitt conceives 
 this phrase to mean for the occasion, which 
 ( frequently though not always precisely used 
 by our old writers) he supposes to have been 
 originally a corruption of corrupt Latin ; as 
 from pro-nunc came for the nurtc, and so for 
 the nonce, just as from ad-nunc came anon : 
 the Spanish entonces, he adds, has been formed 
 in the same manner from in-nunc. The word 
 indeed is frequent enough in our ancient au- 
 thors, in the sense of Mr. Tyrwhitt's explana- 
 tion. But the etymology is very questionable.
 
 GLOSSARY* 359 
 
 That of anon at least, which is assimilated by 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt to this etymology, seems to be 
 erroneous. Anon means in one (understand 
 instant or minute, ) the Anglo-Saxon an mean- 
 ing one, and on meaning in. See Erta Urepoevra, 
 vol. i. p. 523, in V. Anon, and in the old Ro- 
 mance of Ywaine and Gawin, ver. 367. onane 
 is written for anon* The reverend and learned 
 Dr. Henley, in a note on Shakspeare preceded 
 by the opinion of Mr. Tyrwhitt already given, 
 adds that the phrase is in daily use among the 
 common people in Suffolk, to signify on pur- 
 pose, for the turn. Ritson, however, refers it 
 to the barbarous Latin source of pro-nunc. 
 Gloss. Metr. Romances. In the ancient Ro- 
 mance of Ywaine and Gawin, it is written 
 nanes : 
 
 A girdel ful riche/or the nanes, 
 Of perry and of preciows stanes. 
 
 NONN*, Fr. a nun. Ch. Prol. ver. 118. 
 
 NOSETHIRLES, Sax, nostrils. Ch. Prol. ver. 559. 
 
 N'ox for ne wot, know Hot. Ch. Prol. ver. 286. 
 
 NOT-HED, a head like a nut. Ch. Prol. ver. 109. 
 Probably, says Mr. Tyrwhitt, from the hair be- 
 ing cut short. It has since been called a round- 
 head, for the same reason. 
 
 NOUTHE, Sax. now. Ch. Prol. ver. 464. The 
 use of nouthe, in this place, for now, has, in 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt's opinion, so much the appear- 
 ance of a botch, that he thinks it proper to ob- 
 serve that the word was in use before Chaucer'*
 
 360 GLOSSARY. 
 
 time ; being twice used by Robert of Glouces- 
 ter, and in one of the instances in the middle 
 of the verse. I may add, that it occurs in ano- 
 ther preceding writer. For thus, in the Ro- 
 mance of Libeaus Disconus : . . 
 
 He spak to that mayde hende, 
 To telle thyn erynde : 
 Tyme hyt were nouthe. 
 
 It is also used by Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ. MS. 
 To ryght suche conceites as I haue nowthe. 
 
 NOWELL. See TJi. Anim. p. 46. 
 
 OF, Sax. off. Ch. Prol. ver. 552, 784. 
 
 OGHNE, pron. own. Gow. Illustr. p. 277. S 
 aght and oght are written for owed. See Ritson, 
 Gloss. Metr. Rom. 
 
 OFFERTORIE, Fr. a part of the Mass. Ch. Prol. 
 ver. 712. The anthem or service chanted 
 during the offering. The Pardoner is here re- 
 presented as singing the offertorie. Ordo Ro- 
 manus : Tune canitur offertorium cum ver- 
 sibus, &c. The Cantus Offertorius is twice 
 noticed by Du Cange in V. Offertorium. 
 
 OINEMENT, Fr. ointment. Ch. Prol. ver. 633. 
 
 ON, Sax. one. Ch. Prol. ver. 343. See al&e 
 Nones. 
 
 ONES, Sax. once. Ch. Prol. ver. 767. 
 
 OR, Sax. er, before. Ch. Prol. ver. 275; 
 
 ORDALL. Sec Th. Anim. p. 74. 
 
 *
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 361 
 
 ORDIRS FOUR, Ch. Pro/, ver. 210. The four Or 
 ders of Mendicant Friars ; whose influence i* 
 thus briefly but forcibly painted, in the satiri- 
 cal poem, written somewhat earlier than 'the 
 Canterbury Tales, of P. Plowmans Crede, edit. 
 1553. Sign. A. ii. b. 
 
 first I frayned the Freres, and they me fully tolden, 
 
 That al the fruyt of the fayth was in her FOURE ORDERS; 
 And the cofres of Christendom, and the keie bothen. 
 And the lock of byleve, lieth loken in her handes ! 
 
 OREWELL, a sea-port town in Essex. Ch. ProL 
 
 ver. 279. 
 
 ORFRAYES. See Th. Anim. p. 38. 
 OVER, Sax. upper. Ch. ProL ver. 133. 
 OVEREST, uppermost. Ch. ProL ver. 292. 
 OUNDY. See Tli. Anim. p. 40. 
 OWHFRE, Sax. anywhere. Ch. ProL ver. 655. 
 O, for on ; one. Ch. ProL ver. 740. 
 
 PAAS, Fr. passage, pass. Gow. Illustr. p. 16&. 
 So, in Lybeaus Disconus : 
 
 Thys pase before kepeth a knyght, 
 That wyth ech man wyll fyght. 
 
 PACE, Fr. to surpass. Ch. ProL ver. 576. 
 PAINED, PEINED, Fr. took great pains. Ch. Prof, 
 
 ver. 139, F. L. ver. 447. 
 PAITRELL, the breast-plate of a horse. Ch. F. I*
 
 362 GLOSSARY. 
 
 ver. 246. So, in the description of the Cha- 
 nones Yemannes horse, C. T. ver. 16032. 
 About the peytrel stood the some ful hie. 
 
 And in Sir Launfal, ver. 958, ed. Ritson. 
 
 The paytrdle of her palfraye 
 
 Was worth an erldome, stoute nd gay. 
 
 Fr. poitraily Lat. perforate. 
 
 PALATIE, Palathia in Anatolia. Ck. Prol. ver. 
 65. The lordship of Palatie, Mr. Tyrwhitt 
 observes, may be explained from Froissart ; 
 who gives an account of several liauts barons 
 in those parts, who kept possession of their 
 lands, paying a tribute to the Turk. V. iii. c. 22. 
 He names particularly le Sire de Sathalie, le 
 Sire de la Police, et le Sire de Haut-Loge. 
 
 PALMERES, pilgrimes to foreign parts. Ch. Prol. 
 ver. 13. In the French fragment of the Geste 
 of Kyng Horn, the phrase un palmer peterin 
 occurs. See however both the distinction, and 
 association, of palmers and pilgrims, in the 
 notes, Illustr. p. 270. 
 
 PANTASILEE, Penthesilea, Gow> Fr. P. p. 106. 
 
 PABDE, (pardieux) a French oath. Ch. F. & 
 ver. 47. 
 
 PARDONER, Fr. a seller of pardons or indulgencies. 
 Ch. Prol. ver. 671. See the notes, Illustr. 
 p. 262. 
 
 PARFIT, Fr. perfect. Ch. Prol. ver. 72. 
 
 PARISHENS, Fr. Parishioners. Ch. Prol. vet. 484-. 
 
 PARTONOPE, Partenopex, Comte de Blois, Gow* 
 Fr. P. p. 107. 
 
 I
 
 GLOSSARY. 363 
 
 PARVIS, Ch. Prol. ver. 312. See the Illustr. p. 
 
 245, 246. 
 PAS, Fr. a foot-pace. Ch. Prol. ver. 827. Pas, 
 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt thinks, is always used by Chaucer 
 
 in this sense. 
 PASS, Fr. to surpass, to excel. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 
 450. 
 
 PELLURE. See Th. Anim. p. 70. 
 PEKIE, PERRIE, jewels, or precious stones. Gow. 
 
 I. ver. 35. So used by Chaucer. Fr. pier- 
 
 rerics. 
 PERSE, Fr. skie-coloured, of a blewish grey. Ch. 
 
 Prol. ver. 441. " Bleu tirant sur le noir, 
 
 bleu tre's fonce, bleu azure ; couleur livide, 
 
 noiratre." Roquefort, Gloss, de la Langue 
 
 Romane. See the Rom. de la Rose : 
 
 Mes deniers, ce me aemble, pers, [je pe*ds,] 
 
 Quant j'ai pour vous robes de pers, 
 
 De camelot, ou de brunette, 
 
 De vert, ou d'escarlate achette, 
 
 Et de vair, et de grig la fourre, 
 
 Ce vous fait en folie encourre, 
 
 Et faire les tours et leg roes. 
 
 See other examples, Gloss, ut supr. 
 PILLED, rather piled, Fr. pele, bald. Ch. Prol. 
 
 629. 
 
 PILLOURE. See Th. Anim. p. 70. 
 PILWE-BERE, Sax. the covering pf a pillow. Ch. 
 
 Prol. ver. 696. 
 PINCHE, Fr. to squeeze. " There coude no 
 
 whight pinche at his writing." C7i. Prol. ver.
 
 364 GLOSSARY. 
 
 328. No one, says Mr. Tyrwhitt, could lay- 
 hold of any flaw in his writings. 
 
 PITANCE, Fr. a mess of victuals. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 224. An allowance. Gow. II. ver. 51. Its 
 original meaning is an allowance of victuals, 
 given to Monasticks, in addition to their usual 
 commons. See Du Cange, in V. Pictantia. 
 
 PLEIGNEN, complain. Gow. I. ver. 19. 
 
 PLEIN, Fr. full, perfect. Ch. Prol. ver. 339. 
 
 POINT, Fr. In good point. Ch. Prol. ver. 200. 
 In good plight. 
 
 POMELEE, Fr. dappled, spotted with round spots 
 like apples. Ch. Prol. ver. 618. Pomelee 
 grey. So, in Libeaus Disconus: 
 
 Upon a pomely palfray 
 Libeaus sette, &c. 
 
 PORPHERY. See Th. Anim. p. 47. 
 
 PORT, Fr. carriage, behaviour. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 
 69, 138. 
 POST, Sax. a prop, or support. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 
 214. 
 POUDRE MARCHANT, Ch. Prol. ver. 383. See the 
 
 notes, Illustr. p. 252. 
 
 POURCHACE, Fr. to buy. Ch. Prol. ver. 610. 
 POURCHAS, Fr. acquisition, purchase. Ch. Prol. 
 
 ver. 258. See the Rom. de la R. ver. 12288. 
 
 which parallel both in sentiment and expression, 
 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt cited in a note : 
 (' >^ 
 
 Mieux vault mon pourchas que ma rente.
 
 GLOSSARY. 365 
 
 FREES, Fr. a press, or crowd. Ch. F. L. ver. 592. 
 and Illustr. p. 131. 
 
 PRETER JOHN, Prester John, Ch. F. L. ver. 202. 
 This celebrated personage was, no doubt, com- 
 mended to publick notice more powerfully, 
 in Chaucer's time, on the return of Sir John 
 Mandeville from his marvellous Voyages and 
 Travels. His Narrative (which has been often 
 printed) contains two chapters respecting Pres- 
 ter John's domains, character, &c. See ch. 
 Ixxxvi. " From this land of Bactrie men go 
 in many days' journey to the land of Prester 
 John, that is a great emperor of Inde; and 
 men call his land the Isle of Pantrore. This 
 emperor Prester John holdeth a great land, 
 and many good cities, and good towns, &c. 
 In this land of Prester John is many strange 
 things, and many precious stones so great and 
 so large, that they make of them vessels, plat- 
 ters, and cups." Compare Chaucer, 17. and 
 L. ver. 200 204. Of some great mistakes in 
 applying this title, (formerly given to the 
 kings of Tenduc, a distinct and populous king- 
 dom of Tartary, ) to the emperor of the Abys- 
 sinians, an elaborate detection may be found 
 in Heylin's Cosmographie, ed. fol. 1652. B. 
 iii. p. 202 ; where Joseph Scaliger's erroneous 
 assertion concerning Prester John, is termed 
 " a monstrous and undefensible fancy." See 
 also B. iv. p. 70. And Ludolfus's Hist, of 
 Ethiopia, B. ii. ch, i. Where the unjustly bor-
 
 366 GLOSSARY. 
 
 rowed Abyssinian title is traced to " a certain 
 Christian prince, that reigned in the utmost 
 parts of Asia, not far from the kingdom of 
 Tenduc towards Cataya; who, being of great 
 power and fame, was by the neighbouring Per- 
 sians, to signify his remarkable sanctity, called 
 Prester Khan, or Prince of the Adorers, that 
 is to say, Christians ; or, as Scaliger will have 
 it, Fristegiani, the Apostolick Prince. How- 
 ever the name is to be pronounced, we shall 
 not contend ; but this is certain, that the un- 
 skilful vulgar having learnt the name from the 
 Italians,, who at that time Were great traders 
 into the East, called him by the Italian name 
 of Prestt, or Pretegmni, or Giovanni : after 
 which the same name prevailed with all the 
 people of Europe. This his name and his fame 
 continued for some ages, though under much 
 obscurity. For few understood, that that same 
 Asiatick Prester Chan was * driven out of his 
 kingdom by Cenchi or Cynges, king of the 
 Tartars. Therefore for this reason, because 
 the Portugueses were greatly mistaken, first 
 in the name, and secondly in the thing itself;, 
 that name was given to this African king, which 
 belonged to a king reigning some ages since in 
 
 Asia, some thousands of miles distance." 
 
 ' 
 
 * " Scaliger in his Notes ad Comp. Ethiop. But by what 
 authority he writes that the Ethiopians were beaten out of 
 Asia by the Tartar*, I cannot apprehend." 
 
 7
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Heylin, not inclining to the distinction of 
 Presbyter Johannes on account of the pre- 
 tended junction of the regal and priestly cha- 
 racter in this person, prefers the Persian ety- 
 mology of Prestcgan, an apostle ; Presti- 
 giani, an apostolical man ; and thinks that the 
 title of Padescha Prcstigiani, an apostolical 
 king, was given him for the orthodoxy of his 
 faith; which being not understood by some, 
 instead of Preste-gian, they have made Priest 
 John, in Latin Presbyter Johannes ; as by a 
 like mistake, one Pregent (or Pragian, as the 
 French pronounce- it,) commander of some 
 gallies under Lewis the XII, was by the English 
 called Prior John.-Prestigian, he therefore 
 argues, and not Priest-John, is his proper 
 adjunct; contractedly but commonly called the 
 Prete by the modern French. 
 
 PRICKASOUR, a hard rider. Ch. Prol. ver. 189 
 
 PRICKING, hard riding. Ch. Prol. ver. 191. 
 
 PRIS, Fr. price. Ch. Prol. ver. 817. praise. 
 Ch. Prol. ver. 67, 237. Prize, praise, and 
 price, are all from the same original, and bear 
 the same form in the old languages, Fr. Brit, 
 and Eng. They have since varied in their 
 forms; but, as an acute critick remarks, the 
 analogy of their meaning is still obvious. Chal- 
 mers, Gloss. Sir David Lyndsay's Poet. Works. 
 See also Roquefort, Gloss, de la Langue Ro- 
 mane, in V. Pris. 
 
 PROVES, proofs. Ch. S. P. tl. 71, 77.
 
 368 LOSSARY. 
 
 PRUCI, Prussia. Ch. Pro/, ver. 53. 
 
 PULLED HEN, Chi Prol. ver. 177. I do not, says 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt in a note, see much force in the 
 epithet pulled; but, in his Glossary, he adds, 
 I have been told since, that a hen whose fea- 
 thers are pulled, or plucked off, will not lay 
 any eggs. If that be true, there is more force 
 in the epithet than I apprehended.". The soli- 
 tary manuscript reading of pullet, which he 
 notices, is, I think, merely an errour of the 
 scribe. 
 
 PURFILEB, Fr. edged, bordered. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 193, and F L. ver. 328. The French pour- 
 Jiler, Mr. Tyrwhitt remarks, signifies to work 
 upon the edge; and the Eng. pur, and the Fr. 
 pour, are generally corruptions of the Latin 
 pro. 
 
 Q. 
 
 QUENDRIDA. See Th. Anim. p. 66. 
 QUOD, said. From quethe, Sax. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 790, 839, &c. 
 
 R. 
 
 I 
 
 RAUGHT, Sax. reached. Ch. Prol. ver. 136. 
 REALLICH, royally. Ch. Prol. ver. 380. 
 REGUZRDON, Fr. in reguerdon, as their reward.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 369 
 
 GOIV. I. ver. 96. " Item nous volons qe noa 
 ancicnz servauntz miegnals de nostre hostell, 
 les queux nous n'avons point reguerdonez, 
 eient ehescun d'eaux cent sotilez, &c." Will 
 of Edm. Earl of March, Nichols's Collect, of 
 Royal Wills, p. 116. Chaucer uses regucr- 
 doned in his translation of Boethius. 
 REKKELES, Ch. ProL ver. 179. One MS. reads 
 cloisterles; to which, Mr. Tyrwhitt says, the 
 only objection is, that, if it had been the true 
 reading, there would have been no occasion to 
 explain or paraphrase it in ver. 181. Mr. Tyrwhitt 
 adds, that " the text alluded to is attributed by 
 Gratian, Decrct. P. ii, Cau. xvi. Q. 1. c.'viii. to 
 a Pope Eugenius. Sicut piscis sine aqua caret 
 vita, it a sine monasterio monachus. In P. P, 
 according to MS. Cotton. Vesp. B. xvi, ( for the 
 passage is omitted in the printed editions) a 
 similar saying is quoted from Gregory. 
 
 Gregori the grete clerk garte write in bokes 
 The rewle of alk religioun riytful and obedient 
 Riyt as fishes in a flod \vhan liera faUeth water 
 Deien for drowthe whan thei drie liggen 
 Hiyt so religious rolen and sterven 
 That out of covent or cloistre coveiten to d\velle. 
 
 " As the known senses ofrekkcles, viz. care- 
 lesy, negligent, by no means suit with this pas- 
 sage, I am inclined to suspect that Chaucer pos- 
 sibly wrote reghelles, i. e. without rule. Regol, 
 from Regula, was the Saxon word for a Rule, 
 and particularly for a Monastick Rule. Hence 
 rb
 
 370 
 
 Regol-lif ; Regularis sen Monastics vita : Rt- 
 gol-lage; Regularium lex: and in the quota- 
 
 ^ion from Orm, Essay, &c. n. 52. an reghel- 
 boc signifies the book of Rules, by which the 
 Augustinian Canons were governed." 
 
 REPENTANT, Fr. repenting. Ch. Prol. ver. 228. 
 
 REPLET, repletion. Ch. S. P. I. ver. 28. 
 
 RESAGER. See Th. Anim. p. 41. 
 
 RESPLENDE, shines. Ch. S. P. II. ver. 109. 
 
 REVB, Sax. a steward, or bailiff. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 589. See Illustr. p. 259. 
 
 REYSED, Ch. Prol. ver. 54. This, says Mr. Tyr- 
 
 vjwhitt, is properly a German word. Kilian in 
 V. Reysen: Iter facere et Ger. Militare, fa- 
 cere stipendium. Almost all the editions, and 
 several MSS. have changed the word into rid- 
 den; which indeed, Mr. Tyrwhitt observes, 
 Chaucer seems to have used in the same sense, 
 ver. 48. To this Mr. Tyrwhitt adds, " Les 
 Gandois jirent une rese sur les marches de 
 Haynault, et dedans le pays pillerent, brus- 
 lerent, et Jirent moult de maux" Mem. de 
 la Marche, p. 384. Where a note in the mar- 
 gin says, " Reyse en bas Alemand signifie un 
 voyage ou course" Here I think the marginal 
 commentator, as well as Mr. Tyrwhitt, is mis- 
 taken. Rese means rather a military expedi- 
 tion. See Roquefort, Gloss, de la Langue Ro- 
 mane : " Rese, reze ; tondu, rase ; et cours de 
 gens de guerre, excursion militaire" In a 
 of this description the knight had been 
 
 7
 
 GLOSSARY. 371 
 
 concerned. This sense removes the imputa- 
 tion of tautology in reysed being the same as 
 ridden. 
 
 RIBALDS. See Th. Anim. p. 79. 
 
 RIGHT, good, true. Ch. Prol. ver. 189. 
 
 RIGHT, truly, completely. Ch. Prol. ver. 290, 
 617. It is frequently joined to adjectives, as 
 the adverbs 'well and full are, to augment their 
 force. 
 
 RODETRE, Sax. the Cross. Ilhistr. p. 264. From 
 the Saxon ju be crux, and from its being made 
 of wood. Chaucer calls it the rodc-beam, C. T. 
 ver. 6078, ed. Tyrwhitt. 
 
 lie died whan I came fro Jerusalem, 
 And lith ygrave under the rode-beam. 
 
 ROTE, Fr. a musical instrument. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 236. See the Illustr. p. 242. According to 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt, Notker, who lived in the tenth 
 century, says that it was the ancient Psalte- 
 rium, .but altered in its shape, and with an ad- 
 ditional number of strings. Schilter in V. 
 Rotta. Ritson terms it the instrument, which 
 the French at present call la vielle, and the 
 English mandolin or hurdy-gurdy. See also 
 Roquefort, Gloss, de la Langue Romane : 
 " l$ote, instrument qu'on a appele depuis 
 vielle; il etoit monte de cinq cordes, accordees 
 de quarte en quarte." 
 
 ROUNCEVAL, Ch. Prol, ver. 671. See the note, 
 Illustr. p. 263. 
 
 bS
 
 372 GLOSSARY. 
 
 ROUNDELL, Fr. a sonnet. Ch. F. L. ver. 176. 
 
 Cotgrave defines it " a rime or sonnet that ends 
 
 O 
 
 as it begins." But Mr. G. Mason, the editor of 
 Poems by T. Hoccleve, observes that Cot- 
 grave's definition is incomplete, by making no 
 mention of the repetition of the burden in the 
 middle; and that the definition in the Diet, de 
 Trevoux, adopted by Johnson, is more to the 
 purpose ; though that does not exactly corres- 
 pond with this English relique, as it makes the 
 sonnet consist of thirteen lines, of which eight 
 accord to one rime, and five to another. The 
 roundel of Hoccleve, which is here given as a 
 curiosity, consists of fourteen lines, nine of 
 which accord to one rime. It is called, in the 
 title to the piece, chanfon. 
 
 Somer, that rypest marines sustenance 
 With holsum hete of the sonneg warmnesse, 
 Al kynde of man thee holden is to blesse. 
 Ay thankid be thy freendly governance, 
 And thy fresh look of mirthe and of gladnesse. 
 Somer, that rypest marines sustenance 
 With holsum hete of the sonnes warmnesse, 
 Al kynde of man thee holden is to blesse. 
 To hevy folk of thee the remembrance 
 Is salve and oy-nement to hir seeknesse; 
 For why we this shul synge in cristemesse : 
 Somer, that rypest mannes sustenance 
 With holsum hete of the sonnes warmnesse, 
 All kynde of man thee holden is to blesse. 
 
 ROUT, ROUTE, Fr. company. Gow. I. ver. 4. Ch. 
 Prol ver. 634, and F. .' ver. 196. In the
 
 GLOSSARY. 373 
 
 last instance it means a very large company. 
 For the poet calls it " such a rout, as [if] all 
 the men on earth had been assembled in that 
 place, well horsed for the occasion ;" and de- 
 scribes " the earth trembling under them." 
 Such, it is here worth adding, is the numerous 
 army opposed to the English forces in the ro- 
 mance of Richard Coeur de Lion : 
 
 There [where] they rode, all the earth 
 Under their horse feet it quoke. 
 
 See also' Roquefort, Gloss, de la Langue Ro- 
 rnane: "Route troupe, compagnie, ' armte ; 
 de ruta. Ainsi comme nous en aliens &. pie et 
 a cheval, une grant route de Turs vint hurter a 
 nous, &c." Joinville, Hist, de S. Louis. 
 
 HOUTIIE, Sax. compassion. Ch. F. L. ver. 376. 
 " For routhe and pite." This pleonastick phrase 
 occurs in our old metrical romances, and is also 
 used by Spenser and Milton. 
 
 ROWGHT, for r aught, cared. Ch. S. P. I. ver. 
 30. From the verb reck or recche. Rought is 
 thus used by Chaucer, Rom. R, ver. 1873. So 
 in. the romance of Sir Guy : 
 
 He ne rought with whom he mette. 
 
 -1 d A a 
 
 And P. PI. Vision, Pass. 11. 
 
 Right so, by the rode, rought you neuer 
 Where my body wer buried 
 
 RUFU*, Ch. Prol. ver. 432. a Greek physician, of 
 
 whose works some are extant.
 
 374 GLOSSARY* 
 
 S. 
 
 SAUSEFLEME, Ch. Prol. ver. 627. This expression 
 occurs in an old French book of Physick: 
 " Oignement magistrel pur sausefleme et pur 
 chescune manere de roigne." JRoigne signifies 
 any scorbutick eruption. So in the Thousand 
 Notable Things, B. i. 70. " A sawsfleame or 
 red pimpled face is helped with this medicine, 
 v &c." Two of the ingredients are quicksilver 
 and brimstone. In another place, B. ii. 20. 
 Oyle of Tartar is said " to take away cleane 
 all spots freckles, and filthy wheales" These 
 last, I suppose, are what Chaucer calls whelkes. 
 The original of the word seems to be pointed 
 out in the following passage. Vit. R. ii. & 
 
 Mon. Evesh. p. 169. " facies alba interdum 
 f 
 
 sanguinis fleumatc viciata." But MS. Bodl. 
 2463. furnishes another etymology, which I 
 think still more probable. " Unguentum con- 
 tra salsumjlegma, scabiem, &c." See Galen, 
 in Hippoc. de Aliment. Comment, iii. p. 277. 
 o texwvmreu ano 4>AErMATO2 'AAMTPOT tuu 
 rns Zav$w %ox>ij. And again, o a^tpos uxo m 4>AEr- 
 MATOS, * x 'AATKOT. Tyrwhitt's Note, and 
 Gloss. 
 
 SAUTRIE, a musical instrument. Ch. F. L. ver. 
 337. .See Rote. 
 
 SCHOLAIE, to attend school, to studie. Ch. Prol 
 ver. 304. From the old French verb escoloier,
 
 GLOSSARY. 375 
 
 ' Mr. Tyrwhitt says ; who also observes that the 
 word is used in the same sense by Lydgate. 
 
 SCOCIIONES, Fr. scutcheons of arms. Ch. F. /. 
 ver. 216. 
 
 SEINT, Fr. Ccinct. A girdle. Ch. Pro/, ver. 331'.. 
 
 SEKE, adj. Sax. sick. Ch. Pro/, ver. 18. 
 
 SEKE, Sax. to seek. Ch. Pro/, ver. 13, 17. 
 
 SEMICOPE, a half, or short, cloke. Ch. Pro/, ver. 
 264. 
 
 SENDALL, or Sendale, Ch. Pro/, ver. 442. A 
 thin silk. See Du Cange, in V. Cendalum, 
 and particularly Th. Anim. p. 47. 
 
 SENTENCE, Fr. sense, meaning. Ch. Pro!, ver- 
 308. 
 
 SERIALL, (more properly cm'a/,) belonging to 
 the species of oak called cerrus, Lat. cerro, 
 Ital. cerre, Fr. Ch. P. L. ver. 209. See also 
 Canterb. Tales, ver. 2292. Where Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt cites Boccacio, Thes. L vii. " Corona 
 di querzia cerealc." But see Thynne's long 
 and curious note, Animad. p. 53 57. Speght, 
 in his second edition, conformed to Thynne's 
 direction of unseriall in the Canterbury Tales, 
 which however later editions have rightly re- 
 jected. 
 
 SETHE, Sax. to boil. Ch. Pro/, ver. 385. 
 
 A . ' ' *J T 
 
 SEW, follow. Gow. Illustr. p.. 279. 
 
 "\ _ . , i . . 'i - * ,>r 
 
 SHAWE, Sax. a shade of trees, a coppice. Gow. 
 Illustr. p. 277. 
 
 , Sax. a bundle, a sheaf of arrowes, p. 104. 
 , Sax. handsome. Ch. F. L. ver. 270.
 
 376 GLOSSARY. 
 
 SHILDE, Sax. shield, protect. Gow. B. Pref. p. 
 
 140. 
 SHIPMAN, Sax. a mariner. Ch. Prol. ver. 390, 
 
 &c. 
 SHOPE, shaped. Gow, I. ver. 18. So Chaucer, 
 
 C. T. ver. 7120. 
 
 the tounes cnde, 
 
 To which this Sompnour shape him for to wende. 
 
 Si DOUCE EST LA MARGARETS, So sweet is the daisy. 
 Ch. F. L. ver. 350. The burden of the pas- 
 toral song in praise of the daisy, marguerite. 
 
 SIGMFICAVIT, Ch. Prol. ver. 664. The writ de 
 excommunicato capicndo, commonly called a 
 significavit, from the beginning of the writ, 
 which Mr. Tyrwhitt has shewn to be as follows. 
 te Rex Vicecomiti L. salutem, Significant 
 nobis venerabilis pater H. L. episcopus, &c. 
 Gibson's Cod. Jur. Ecc. p. 1054. 
 
 SIH, SIHBN, SIE, and SYGH, Sax. saw. Gow. I. ver. 
 32, 109. Ch. F. L. ver. 60, 78, &c. See 
 the note, p. 209. Sometimes written setgh, as 
 * in P. Plowmans Crede, edit. 1553. Sign, B, i, 
 
 Then w-alkede I ferrer, and went al abouten, 
 And sctgk halles ful heygh 
 
 SIKE, Sax. sick. Ch. Prol. ver. 426. 
 SIRE, Fr. Sieur, Seigneur. A respectful title, 
 says Mr, Tyrwhitt, given formerly to men of 
 
 . 
 
 various descriptions, as well as to knights. He 
 accordingly selects Sire knight, Ch. Prol. ver. 
 839. Sire clerk, ib. 842. Sire monk, C. T.
 
 GLOSSARY. 377 
 
 3120. Sire man of lawe, ib. 4453. It was so 
 usually given to priests, that in the time of 
 Edward IV. it crept even into Acts of Parlia- 
 ment. Mr. Tyrwhitt seems not to have been 
 aware that " the three SYRS which only were in 
 request of old, (no barren, vicount, earle, nor 
 marquesse, being then in vse, ) were Sir King, 
 Sir Knight, and Sir Priest." See A Deca- 
 cordon of Ten Quodlibeticall Questions con- 
 cerning Religion and State, &c. Newly im- 
 printed, 4to. 1602, p. 53. 
 
 SITTING, becoming, suitable. Ch. F. L. ver. 141, 
 380. The usual expression of our old writers 
 in prose as well as poetry, from Chaucer to 
 Spenser. Yet we often find it written, as a 
 pretended correction, fitting. It is used as the 
 French, il sied, it sits not, it is not becoming. 
 See Chaucer, Rom. R. ver. 750. ed. Urr. 
 
 It sate her wondir well to sing. 
 See also Spenser, F. Q. i. i. 30, i. viii. 33, &c^ 
 
 SKY, a shadow, Gow. Illustr. p. 279. Gr. *. 
 
 SLEP, SLEPE, Sax. slept. Ch. Prol. ver. 98, 399. 
 
 SLIH, sly, cunning, . ingenious, Gow. I. ver. 31. 
 Wicliflfe writes it slygh, and Chaucer's editors 
 slie or sligh. The word, is derived from the 
 Anglo-Sax, slith. 
 
 SMALL, soft, sweet. Ch. F. L. ver. 180. So, in 
 
 Fairfax's translation of Tasso's Gier. Lib. B. 15. 
 
 " 
 
 st. 62. 
 
 She warbled forth a treble small, 
 
 And with sweet lookes her sweet songs interlaced.
 
 378 GLOSSARY". 
 
 SMERTE, apparently an adverb, smartly. Ch. 
 Prol. ver. 149. 
 
 SMITKTH, smite ye. Ch. Prol. ver. 784. 
 
 SNEWE, Sax. to snow ; to be in as great abundance 
 as snow. Ch. ProL ver. 347. Gower has bi- 
 snewed, Conf. Am. lib. vi. (MS. reading). 
 
 The presents every day ben newed, 
 He was with giftes al bisnewed, 
 
 The people was of him so glad, &c. 
 . 
 
 SNIBBE, Sax. to snubb; to reprove. Ch. Prol 
 ver. 525. 
 
 SOLAS, Fr. mirth, sport. Ch. Prol. ver. 800. 
 This word is often employed in describing the 
 festivities of elder days. " She and her ladyes 
 called for their minstrells and solaced them- 
 selves with the disports of dauncing." Leland, 
 Coll. vol. v. p. 352. So, in the Romance of 
 
 xr i *-* 
 
 Ywaine and Gawin : 
 
 :l 
 
 Ful grete and gay was the assemble 
 Of lordes and ladies of that countre, 
 And als of knyghtes war and wyse, 
 And damisels of mykel pryse ; 
 Ilkane with other made grete gamin, 
 And grete solace, &c. 
 
 -SOLEMPNELY, solemnly. Ch. Prol. ver. 276. 
 
 SOMDEL, Sax. somewhat ; in some measure. Ch 
 Prol. rer. 448. 
 
 SOMPNOUR, an officer employed to summon delin- 
 quents to appear in Ecclesiastical courts, now 
 called an Apparitor. Ch, Prol. ver. 625. &c.
 
 GLOSSARY. 370 
 
 SON*, Sax. a son. Ch. Prol. ver: 79, 338. 
 
 SOOT, SOTE, SWOTE, Sax. sweet. Ch. F. L. ver. 
 117, 317, &c. 
 
 SOOTHLY, SOTHLY, truly. Ch. F. L. ver. 182, 547. 
 
 SOP, Fr. a piece of bread dipped in any sort of 
 liquour. Ch. Prol. ver. 336. So Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt defines the expression. There is Here 
 
 perhaps an allusion, however, which he has 
 
 \jn& oiuL yr.'^ij 
 
 overlooked. The poet savs a sop in vine : 
 
 * 
 
 Such is the expression in one of the old Fa- 
 bliaux, soupe en vin; which is explained, 
 " Du pain trempe dans le vin, que 1'on ap- 
 r pelle en Bourgogne une trempee." Gloss. Fa- 
 bliaux, &c. par Barbazan, nouv. ed. par Meon. 
 
 SOTE, Fr. a fool. Ch. F. L. ver. 101. 
 
 SOTHFASTENESSE, Sax. truth. Ch. Illustr. p. 131. 
 
 SOUNE, Fr. to sound. Ch. Prol. ver. 567. 
 
 SOUPE, to sup. Ch. F.L. ver. 417. 
 
 SOUPER, supper, the evening meal. Ch. Prol. 
 
 OK/A 
 
 ver. 3oO. 
 
 SOUPLE, Fr. supple, pliant. Ch. Prol. ver. 203. 
 
 SPICED CONSCIENCE. Ch. Prol. ver. 528. Mr. 
 Tyrwhitt, at first, professed not to understand 
 this expression ; but afterwards met with a pas- 
 sage, in which spiced applied to conscience, 
 seems to signify nice, scrupulous. It is in 
 Beaumont and Fletcher's Mad Lover, Act 3. 
 When Cleanthe offers a purse, the Priestess 
 t ^oX; 
 
 ,U J.
 
 380 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Fy ! no corruption 
 Cle. Take it; it is your's; 
 
 Be not so spiced; it is good gold ; 
 
 And goodness is no gall to the conscience. 
 
 1 am enabled to illustrate this expression more 
 fully by an extract from a work earlier than 
 that which Mr. Tyrwhitt cites, or at least car- 
 ries us back to remoter times. See " Ques- 
 tions of profitable and pleasant Concernings, 
 talked of by two olde Seniors, &c. 4to. Lond. 
 
 1594. p. 15. "I remember how they dallied 
 
 . . 
 
 out the matter like Chaucers Frier at the first, 
 
 vnder pretence of spiced holinesse." 
 - SPUHXE AGAIN A NAix. Ch. lllustr. p. 132. To 
 spurn against a nail ; probably a proverbial ex- 
 pression; of the same import, as to kick 
 against the pricks. N. Test. Acts ix. 5. 
 
 SCIUIER, Fr. a squire, Ch, Prol. ver. 79. 
 
 STANT, standeth. Gow. I. ver. 74, and lllustr. 
 p. 132. As in Chaucer, C. T. ver. 3695. 
 And still he slant under the shot window. 
 
 STEVEN, the sound. Gow. II. ver. 47. So Chau- 
 cer, C. T. ver. 2564. 
 
 The vois of the peple touched to the heven, 
 So loude crieden they with mery steven. 
 
 STEWE, a small pond for fish. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 .351, 
 
 STOT, Sax. Ch. Prol. ver. 617. Mr. Tyrwhitt 
 takes stot to be put here for stod, the Saxon 
 word for a stallion; although a stot signified
 
 GLOSSARY. 381 
 
 properly a bullock, as it still does in the North. 
 But see Chalmers's Gloss. Poet. Works of Sir 
 David Lyndsay, in V. Stot. " A young horse, 
 Ray and Coles. Anglo-Sax, equus vilis." See 
 also Strode, Diet. Sax. et Goth. " Stottc, 
 equus vilis: Chart, ad calc. C. R. Ben." 
 
 STRONDE, Sax. a shore. Ch. Prol. ver. 13. 
 
 STRODE, Th. Anim. p. 23, and B. Pref. p. 142. The 
 philosophical Strode, to whom, jointly with the 
 moral Gower, Chaucer directs his Troilus, was 
 probably Ralph Strode, of Merton College, Ox- 
 ford. Mr. Tyrwhitt adds, that A. Wood, who had 
 made the antiquities of that college a particular 
 object of his enquiries, says only of him, " RA- 
 DULPHUS STRODE, de quo sic vetus noster cata- 
 logus. Poetafuit et versificavit librum elegia- 
 cum vocat. Phantasma Rodulphi. Claruit 
 CIOCCCLXX." Some of his logical works are said 
 to be extant in print. Venet. 1517. 4to. Tan- 
 ner, in v. STRODJEUS. 
 
 SUFFISANCE, Fr. sufficiency, satisfaction. Ch. Prol. 
 ver. 492. 
 
 SUS LE FOYLE DE VERT MOY, SINE ET MON JOLY COEUR 
 
 EST ENDORMY. Probably the beginning of a 
 favourite French song, or rondeau. Ch. F. L. 
 ver. 177, 178. The words are, however, cor- 
 rupted; and in the Translation of the French 
 words in Chaucer subjoined to Urry's Glossary, 
 it is proposed to read, "' Sus la feuille devers 
 moy, son # mon &c." That is, " Upon the
 
 382 GLOSSARY. 
 
 leaf by me, his and my pleasant heart is 
 
 asleep." 
 
 SUSPECT, suspicion. Ch. Prol. ver. 322. 
 SWELT, Sax. fainted. Ch. F. L. ver. 360. As in 
 
 the Canterb, Tales, rer. 9650. 
 
 for the veray peine he was nie wood ; 
 
 Almost he swelt, and swouned ther he stood. 
 
 SWICHE, Sax. corruption of swilke, such. CJr. 
 
 Prol. ver. 243, 487. 
 SWINKE, Sax. labour. Ch. Prol. ver. 188. 
 
 T 
 
 - 
 
 TABARDE, Ch. Prol. ver. 20. The sign of the 
 inn, where Chaucer's Pilgrims were assembled. 
 They, says Mr. Tyrwhitt, who are disposed to 
 believe the pilgrimage to have been real, and 
 to have happened in 1383, may support their 
 opinion by the following inscription, which is 
 still to be read upon the inn now called The 
 Talbot in Southwark ; " This is the inn where 
 Sir Jeffrey Chaucer and the twenty-nine Pil- 
 grims lodged in their journey to Canterbury. 
 dnno 1383." Though the present inscription 
 is evidently of a very recent date, we might sup- 
 pose it to have been propagated to us by a SUG 
 cession of faithful transcripts from the very 
 time, but unluckily there is too good reason to 
 be assured that the first inscription of this sort
 
 GLOSSARY. 2S3 
 
 was not eaflier than the last century. Mr. 
 Speght, who appears to have been inquisitive 
 concerning this inn in 1597, has left us this 
 account of it in his Glossary, V. Tabard ; " A 
 jaquet or slevelesse coate, worne in times past 
 by noblemen in the warres, but now onely by 
 heraults ; and is called theyre coate of armes 
 in servise. It is the sigrie of an Inne in South- 
 warke by London, within the which was the 
 lodging of the Abbot of Hyde by Winchester. 
 This was the hostelry where Chaucer and the 
 other pilgrims mett together, and, with Henry 
 Baily their hoste, accorded about the manner of 
 theirjourney to Canterbury. And whereas through 
 time it hath bin much decaied, it is now by Mas- 
 ter J. Preston, with the Abbot's house thereto 
 adjoyned, newly repaired, and with convenient 
 roomes much encreased, for the receipt of 
 many guests." If any inscription of this kind 
 had been there, he would hardly have omitted 
 to mention it; and therefore I am persuaded it 
 has been put up since his time, and most pro- 
 bably when the sign was changed from the 
 Tabard to the Talbot, in order to preserve the 
 ancient glory of the house notwithstanding its 
 new title. Tyrwhitt's Introduct. Disc. C. T. 
 n. 6. 
 
 TAKEL, or TAKIL, an arrow. Cli. Prol. ver. 106. 
 Brit, tacel, tacyl. Used by Gower also. 
 
 TAPISEK, Fr. a maker of tapestry. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 364.
 
 384 GLOSSARY. 
 
 TAPSTERE, Sax. a woman who has the care of the 
 tap in a publick-house. Ch. Prol. ver. 241. 
 That office, formerly, was usually executed, 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt says, by women. See the ^Ad- 
 venture of the Pardonere and the Tapstere, in 
 the Continuation of the Canterbury Tales, p. 
 594. ed. Urr. In another place (note on C. 
 T. ver. 2019.) Mr. Tyrwhitt observes, that the 
 termination stre, or ster, was used to denote a 
 female, like trix in Latin. Thus a female 
 baker was called a bakester, a female brewer 
 a brewester, &c. as here the lady of the tap is 
 denominated tapstere. 
 
 TARTARIUM, cloth of Tars. Ch. F. L. ver. 212. 
 Chaucer mentions " clothes of Tars," in hit 
 Kn. Tale. Mr. Warton says, that Tars does 
 not mean Tarsus in Cilicia, but is rather an 
 abbreviation for Tartarin or Taftarium. That 
 it was a costly stuff appears from hence : " Et 
 ad faciendum unum jupoun de Tartaryn blu 
 pouderat. cum garteriis blu paratis cum boucles 
 et pendants de argento deaurato." Comp. J. 
 Coke, Provisoris Magn, Garderob. temp. Edw. 
 III. It often occurs in the wardrobe-accounts 
 for furnishing tournaments. Du Cange says, 
 that this was a fine cloth manufactured in Tar- 
 tary. Gloss, in V. Tartarium. But Skinner 
 derives it from Tortoria in the Milanese, and 
 cites Stat. 4. Hen. VIII. c. vi. Hist, of Eng. 
 Poetry, i. 364. Among the goods bequeathed 
 by Eleanor Bohun, duchess of Gloucester, who
 
 GLOSSARY. 38 
 
 died in 1399, is " un lit petit pur un closet de 
 blanc tartaryn &c." Nichols's Royal Wills, 
 p. 182. See also Roquefort, Gloss, de la Langue 
 Romane : Tartaire, sorte d'etoffe de Tartarie. 
 
 TECHE, Sax. to teach. Ch. Prol. ver. 310. 
 
 TEN COMMANDMENTS, alteration of, by Papists. 
 See the Illustr. p. 264. So in the Liber Fes- 
 tivalis, printed by Caxton in 1483, the se- 
 cond commandment is, that ihou take not in 
 vain the holy name of God ; and the original 
 tenth is divided into the ninth and tenth. The 
 same corruption is observable in tc The richt 
 way to the kingdome of hevine is techit heir in 
 the x comandis of God, &c. Prentit at Mai- 
 mw [in Sweden] be me Jhone Hochstraten the 
 xvi day of Oct. MDXXXUJ." The shameful 
 omission of the original second commandment, 
 common indeed in countries under Papal influ- 
 ence, can be attributed only to the absolute pro- 
 hibition of image-worship which it pronounces. 
 
 TENE, Sax. affliction, trouble. Ch. F. L. ver. 
 389. 
 
 THEOPHRASTE. See Tfy. Anim. p. 62. 
 
 THO, Sax. used as a demonstrative pronoun. Ch. 
 F.L. ver. 71. Those. 
 
 THO, then. Gow. JS. Pref. p. 139. 
 
 THRIE, THRIES, Sax. thrice. Ch. Prol. ver. 63, 
 564. Usually written thries in Gower. So 
 twies, i. e. twice. 
 
 THROW, Sax. time. A little throw, a little while. 
 Ch. F. Z. ver. 19O>dt i 
 c c
 
 386 GLOSSARY; 
 
 THRYSTCOCK, the thrush. Ch. S. P. II. ver. 24. 
 So, in the. Rime of Sir Thopas. 
 The ihrostel cok made eke bis lay, 
 The wode dove upon the spray : .'Cf.'! 
 
 He sang ful loude and clere. -.,}.} .y./><3 7: 
 
 To,, in composition with verbs, is generally/ as 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt has observed, augmentative; and 
 is frequently so employed by our poets from 
 
 v Chaucer to Milton.' Sometimes the. adverb all 
 
 Is is added. To- brent, were very hot. Ch. F. L. 
 ver. 358. To-tere, entirely destroy, F. J^: ver. 
 488. ' m jfd:; rnrg 
 
 TOFORE, Sax. before. Gow. Tllusir. p. 165. 
 
 TRACE, Fr. jf; track, or path. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 176. nlj v^ra 
 
 TRAMISSENE, a kingdom in Africa. Ch. Prol. 
 ver. 57. 
 
 TRAPPED, decorated. Ch. F. L. ver. '262. Used 
 in this sense by Spenser. 'ma . 
 
 TRAPPOURES, the cloths with which horses were co- 
 vered at tournaments. Ch. F. L. ver. 244. 
 As in the Canterb. Tales, ver. 2501. ed. Tyr- 
 whitt. " Testeres arid trappures," among a 
 variety of harneis, or armour, both useful and 
 ornamental, for man and horse. The word is 
 now trappings.* Barb; Xat. trappatura. 
 
 TREPEGETT. See Th. Anim. p. 47. mi 
 
 TWINNE, Sax. to depart from a place. Ch. Prol. 
 ver. 837. Such is the explanation arid, etymo- 
 logy here given by Mr. Tyrwhitt. . Mr. Chal- 
 mers finds the word in the -sense of.tfo-jparf or
 
 GLOSSARY. 387 
 
 separate, in R. of Brunne; but does not de- 
 liver his own opinion as to its Saxon origin. 
 No illustration of this kind occurs in Lye's Sax. 
 and Goth. Diet. I find the word explained by 
 Ritson also, to separate or part. Gloss. Metr. 
 Rom. It is there written twyn, as in R. of 
 Brunne twynne. 
 
 TYKELNESSE, uncertainty, unsteadiness. Ch. Jllustr. 
 p. 131. So, in the Can terb. Tales, ver. 3428. 
 This world is now ful tik'el sikerly. 
 
 . 
 
 V. 
 
 VALERY. See Th. Anim. p. 62. 
 
 VAVASOUR, Ch. Prol. ver. 362. See the note, 
 Illustr. p. 251. 
 
 VENERIE, Fr. hunting. Ch. Prol. ver. 166. If 
 the word, Mr. Tyrwhitt says, had in Chaucer's 
 time borne any other sense, he would hardly 
 have put it in the mouth of Emilia, Canterb. 
 Tales, ver. 2310. The relation " of dedes of 
 armes and of veneri," (i. e. hunting, the 
 chace,) forms a part of Arthur's feast in the 
 ancient romance of Ywaine and Gawin. 
 
 VERDITE, Fr. judgement, sentence. Ch. Prol. 
 ver. 789. 
 
 VERNICLE, Ch. Prol. ver. 687. The diminutive 
 ofVeronikc. Fr. A copy in miniature of the
 
 338 GLOSSARY. 
 
 picture of Christ, which is supposed to have 
 been miraculously imprinted upon a handker- 
 chief, preserved in the church of St. Peter at 
 Rome. Du Cange, in V. Veronica. Madox, 
 Form. Angl. p, 421. Testam. Joh. de Nevill. 
 an. 1386. Item Domino Archiepiscopo Ebo- 
 rum fratri meo i. vestimentum rubeum de 
 velvet cum le veronike (r. veronike) in grams 
 rosarum desuper brondata (r. broudata). It 
 was usual for persons returning from pilgrim- 
 ages to bring with them certain tokens of the 
 several places which they had visited; and 
 therefore the Pardoner, who is just arrived 
 from Rome, is represented, with a vernicle 
 sewed upon his cappe. See P. PL Vis. fol. 
 28. b. 
 
 An hundred samples on hys hatte sette, 
 Sygnes of Sinay and shelles of Calice, [f. Galice,] 
 And many a crouch on his cloke and kayes of Rome, 
 And the Vernicle before, for men should knowe 
 And se by hys signes, whom he sought hadde. 
 
 Such is Mr. Tyrwhitt's illustration. See also 
 
 Th. Anim. p. 49. 
 VERTUOUS, Fr. active, efficacious. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 
 251. 
 VIGILE, Fr. the eve of a festival. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 
 379. 
 VILANIE, Fr. any thing unbecoming a gentleman. 
 
 Ch Prol. ver. 70. Baseness, impropriety, 
 
 Prol. 742. See Roquefort, Gloss, de la Langue
 
 GLOSSARY. 389 
 
 Rom. in V. " Injure, outrage, insulte, mauvafc 
 traitement, affront." Rom, de la Rose : 
 
 Si mauldie et excommenie 
 Tous ecus qui aiment vilenie, 
 Vitainie le vilain fait, &c. 
 
 u. 
 
 UOT V, for ou. Gow. F. P. p. 103, &c. Common 
 in old French. See Gloss. Fabliaux, &c. edit. 
 Meon, vol. i. 464. "U: ou, vel; on, itbi." 
 Mr. Warton, however, chose to alter the an* 
 cient word in Gower. 
 
 UNCONNING, Sax. ignorant. Ch. F. L. ver. 591. 
 So used in the Canterb. Tales, ver. 2395. ed. 
 Tyrwhitt. 
 
 UNDERFONGETH, Sax. seizes, takes. Gow. Illustr. 
 p. 165. 
 
 UNDERGROWE, undergrown, of a low stature. Ch. 
 Prol. ver. 156. 
 
 UNNETH, Sax. scarcely. Ch. F. L. ver. 46, 203. 
 
 UNPEYSED, Fr. unweighted, unpoized. Gow. Il- 
 lustr. p. 140. So Chaucer uses peise or paise 
 for weigh f Fr. and Cr. lib. iii. ver. 1412. ed. 
 Urr. 
 
 And paised wo with joyia counierpaise. 
 
 UP, Sax. up on lond. Ch. Prol. ver. 704.
 
 390 GLOSSARY. 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 w. 
 
 
 
 WANYTH, decreases, defines, Ch. S. P. II. ver. 36. 
 
 WAN, Sax. gained. Ch. ProL ver. 444. 
 
 WA&TEL-BKEDE, white bread, or cake-bread. Ch. 
 Erol. ver. 147. Bread of a better sort; so 
 called from -wastell, the vessel, or basket, in 
 which it was carried or weighed; as it seems 
 probable from the following passage: " Octo 
 panes in tva-stclUs, ponderis cujuslibet waste-Hi 
 unius miche conventualis." Regist. Wykeham, 
 part 3. b. fol. 177. The word ivastel seems to 
 answer to the French gasteau, a cake. See 
 Lowth's Life of Wykeham, p. 68. Note on the 
 mess called Mortrell, made of milk and wastel- 
 bred. See also Gloss. Forme of Cury, in V. 
 Wastel. 
 
 WATERING OF SEINT THOMAS. Ch. Prol. ver. 828. 
 A place for 'watering horses, which Mr. Tyr- 
 whitt supposes a little out of the borough of 
 South wark, in the road to Canterbury. The 
 same place, he apprehends, was afterwards 
 called St. Thomas a Waterings, probably from 
 some chapel dedicated to that Saint. It was 
 a place of execution, he adds, in Q. Elizabeth's 
 time. ,See A. Wood, Ath. Oxon. vol. i. 229. 
 And, I may add, before her time. See Wee- 
 ver's Ancient Funerall Monuments, edit. 1631,
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 . p. 43,6. Of the Lord Thomas Fines, and his 
 
 accomplices in a murder,- in the year l. ; )41. 
 WEBBE, Sax. a weaver. Ch. ProL ver. 364. 
 WEDYR, the wether. Ch. S. P.. II. ver. J8. .y;/ 
 WEED, Sax. (wcde,) apparel, clothing. Ch. F. L. 
 
 ver. 371. 
 
 WENDE, Sax. to go. C/J. Pro/.; ver. 21. 
 WENT, for wwtf, on account of the 
 
 JP. X. ver. 150. txuD yd 
 
 WENTE, . \fENT of WENPE. Ch. ProL ver. 7 8. 257. 
 . Wenten, pi. ver. 822. 
 
 WEHEN,. Sax.. C/i. Pro/, ver. 28, ^9.., -Wcre.-.oV/ 
 WERRE, Fr. war. C%. Pro/, ver. 47. 
 W]&l&E^ v weighed. C/i. JFfr^jy^r..^. ..r^r^o-/^ 
 WHAT, Sax. Often usecj.hy ..itself, ,as a- ; or^jf j^ 
 
 terjection. Ch. ProL ver. 856. WbGt,Ji&l- 
 
 rouic bc-tlie cutte. J v .T. .;\) 
 WHELKES, Ch. Prjol. .yer^j&S^o .^e tSawtffcmc. 
 WaER,;Sax. \vhei-e. Ch. ProL \er.423. :;1 7/ 
 WINDSOR'S (LORD) SON. See .Th.. Anim. p. 72. 
 
 Where Mr. Tyrwhitt's assertion, and, from him, 
 
 Mr. Godwin's, are completely overthrown ; the 
 
 existence of lord Windsor being proved, in 
 
 contradiction to what they state. 
 WINNE, Sax. to gain. Ch. ProL ver. 715. 
 WIT, Sax. to know. Ch. Fl. L. ver. 465. So 
 
 witeth, understand ye, know ye. Gow. I. . ver. 
 
 62. and, in Chaucer, C. T. ver. 9614. 
 
 Assaieth it yourself, than may ye iviien 
 If that I lie or non in this matere.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 WITTE, Sax. understanding, capacity. Ch. Prol. 
 
 ver. 748. To my witte. 
 WIVER. See Th. Anim. p. 48. 
 WOL, Sax. to will. Ch. Prol. ver. 42, 805. 
 WOLDE, would. Ch. Prol. ver. 144, &c. 
 WONDER, Sax. wonderful. Ch. F. L. ver. 451. 
 
 The same word is used as an adjective in the 
 
 Canterb. Tales. " Wonder workes" is a phrase 
 
 employed by Caxton. 
 WONE, Sax. custom, usage. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 
 337. 
 WONES, Sax. habitations, territories. Ch. Fl. L. 
 
 ver. 201. 
 
 WONING, Sax. a dwelling. Ch. Prol. ver. 608. 
 WONNE, Sax. won, conquered. Ch. Prol. ver. 
 
 51, 59. 
 WOST, knowest. Ch. F. L. ver. 594. For wotest. 
 
 Frequent in the Canterb. Tales. 
 WRETHEN, twisted. Ch. F. L. ver. 57. See the 
 
 note on the passage. 
 WRIGHT, Sax. a workman. Ch. Prol. ver. 616. 
 
 Y. 
 
 YAP, YAVE, Sax. gave. Ch. Prol. ver. 304, 498, 
 
 603. 
 Y-BE, been. Ch. F. L. ver. 375. As in the 
 
 Canterb. Tales, ver. 10275.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 393 
 
 Y-BORE, borne, carried. Ch. Prol. ver. 380. 
 
 YEDDINGS. Ch. Prol. ver. 237. Perhaps, says 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt, a kind of song, from the Sax. 
 geddian, or giddian, to sing ; the Saxon 
 often passing into y. But afterwards he sa\ s, 
 that the Prompluarium Parv. makes ycdding 
 to be the same as gente, which it explains thus. 
 Geest or Romawnce. GESTIO. So that of ycd- 
 dinges may perhaps mean, of story-telling. 
 Some editions here corruptly read tidinges, and 
 some weddinges. Mr. Warton has strangely 
 converted the word into yelding, which he in- 
 terprets dalliance. Hist. Eng. Poet. i. 448. 
 
 YEDE, Sax. went. Ch. F. L. ver. 163, 238, 295, 
 301, 303, 322. 
 
 YEMAN, a yeoman. Ch. Prol. ver. 101. See the 
 notes, Illustr. p. 230, 231. 
 
 YEMANRIE, the rank of yeoman. See the Illustr. 
 p. 231. 
 
 YERDE, a rod or staff. Gow. I. ver. 91. Ch. Prol. 
 149. In the explanation of words, subjoined 
 to the edition of P. Plowmans Crede in 1553, 
 yerd is defined a rodd. 
 
 YEVE, Sax. to give. Ch. Prol. ver. 507, 613. 
 
 Y-FALLE, fallen. Ch. Prol. ver. 25. 
 
 Y-GO, Ch. Prol. ver. 288. gone. Go, ago, ygo, 
 gon, agon, gone, agone, are all used indis- 
 criminately by our old English writers as the 
 past participle of the verb to go. See Tooke's 
 vol. i. p. 463.
 
 394; GLOSSARY. 
 
 . 
 
 Y-PIKBD, picked, spruce. C7i. Prol. ver. 367. 
 
 Y-SBNT, sent. C/i. F. i- ver. 424. 
 
 YTBYED, tied. C/i. Prol ver. 459. Some edi- 
 tions here read y strained. 
 
 YWIMPLED, covered with a wimple. Ch. Prol. 
 ver. 472. 
 
 
 
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