^\\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
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 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.
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 ;:; . nioVi Jr
^ Ti-7 /-r a 7
On the Pilgrims to Canterbury.
m
,* ^6i ail! ' n&p jId.-. i >.r.:. - , . 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 . ! -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* 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. ->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, , 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;^ .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 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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