WHY COME YE NAT TO COURTE?
This poem appears to have been produced (at intervals perhaps) during 1522 and part of the following year.
—— sadly] See note, p. 267. v. 1966: loke, i. e. look.
[Page 26.] v. 3. To] i. e. Too (as in the next seven lines).
v. 5. scarce] i. e. sparing.
v. 6. large] i. e. liberal.
v. 8. haute] i. e. haughty.
[Page 27.] v. 23. appall] i. e. make pale, make to decay.
v. 33. rage] i. e. toy wantonly (see Tyrwhitt’s Gloss. to Chaucer’s Cant. Tales).
v. 34. basse] i. e. kiss.
v. 37. corage] i. e. desire, inclination.
[Page 28.] v. 39. ouerage] Seems here to be—over-age (excessive age); while, again, in our author’s poem Howe the douty duke of Albany, &c., it appears to be—over-rage (excessive rage);
“It is a rechelesse rage,
And a lunatyke oueraye.”
v. 417. vol. ii. 80.
v. 43. a graunt domage] Meant for French perhaps.
v. 44. set by] i. e. valued, regarded.
v. 46. rynne] i. e. run.
v. 50. boskage] i. e. thicket, wood.
v. 56. defaute] i. e. default, want.
v. 58. theyr hedes mew] i. e. hide their heads; see note on v. 219.
v. 62. to] i. e. too.
v. 63. In faythe, dycken, thou krew] See note, p. 115. v. 360.
[Page 29.] v. 68. banketynge] i. e. banqueting.
v. 69. rechelesse] i. e. reckless.
v. 70. gambaudynge] i. e. gambolling.
v. 74. The countrynge at Cales]—countrynge does not, I apprehend, mean—encountering, but is a musical term (see note on heading of poem, p. 92) used here metaphorically, as in other parts of Skelton’s works. The allusion seems to be to the meeting between Henry the Eighth and Francis in 1520, when (as perhaps few readers need be informed) Henry went over to Calais, proceeded thence to Guisnes, and met Francis in the fields between the latter town and Ardres. If “Cales” is to be understood as—Cadiz (see note, p. 195. last v.) I know not any occurrence there of sufficient consequence to suit the present passage.
[Page 29.] v. 75. Wrang vs on the males] See note, p. 142. v. 700.
v. 77. grouchyng] i. e. grudging.
v. 79. talwod] “Tallwodde pacte wodde to make byllettes of taillee.” Palsgrave’s Lesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. lxix. (Table of Subst.). “Talshide or Talwood (Taliatura) is Fire-wood, cleft and cut into Billets of a certain Length.... This was anciently written Talghwode.” Cowel’s Law Dictionary, &c. ed. 1727.
—— brent] i. e. burned.
v. 81. We may blowe at the cole] See note, p. 313. v. 610.
v. 83. Mocke hath lost her sho] See note, p. 331. v. 1396.
v. 87. As ryght as a rammes horne] See note, p. 298. v. 1201.
v. 90. all to-torne] See note, p. 100. v. 32.
v. 92. Fauell] See note, p. 107. v. 134.
v. 93, Iauell] See note, p. 271. v. 2218.
v. 94. Hauell] Which occurs again in v. 604, is a term of reproach found less frequently than javel in our early writers: whether it be connected with haveril,—one who havers (see the Gloss. to The Towneley Myst. in v. Hawvelle) I cannot pretend to determine.
—— Haruy Hafter] See note, p. 107. v. 138.
v. 97. pollynge and shauynge]—pollynge, i. e. shearing, clipping,—plundering.
v. 99. reuynge] i. e. reaving.
[Page 30.] v. 101. vayleth] i. e. availeth.
v. 105. reason and ... skyll] See note, p. 238. v. 106.
v. 106. garlycke pyll] i. e. peel garlic.
v. 108. shyll] i. e. shell.
v. 109. rost a stone] So Heywood;
“I doe but roste a stone
In warming her.”
Dialogue, &c. sig. F 2,—Workes, ed. 1598.
v. 110. no man but one] i. e. Wolsey.
v. 114. cammocke] See note, p. 179. v. 30.
v. 115. This byll well ouer loked] i. e. This writing being well overlooked, examined.
v. 117. There went the hare away] A proverbial expression:
“Man. By my fayth a lytell season
I folowed the counsell and dyet of reason.
Gloto. There went the hare away
Hys dyet quod a,” &c.
Medwall’s Interlude of Nature, n. d., sig. g ii.
“heere’s the King, nay stay:
And heere, I heare [ay, here]: there goes the Hare away.”
The Spanish Tragedie (by Kyd), sig. G 3. ed. 1618.
[Page 30.] v. 118. the gray] i. e. the badger: see note, p. 303. v. 101.
v. 119. the buck] Qy. does Skelton, under these names of animals, allude to certain persons? If he does, “the buck” must mean Edward Duke of Buckingham, who, according to the popular belief, was impeached and brought to the block by Wolsey’s means in 1521: so in an unprinted poem against the Cardinal;
“Wherfor nevyr looke ther mowthes to be stoppyd
Tyll ther money be restoryd thow sum hedes be of choppyd
As thowe dyd serue the Buckke
For as men sey by the that was done
That sens had this lande no good lucke.”
MS. Harl. 2252. fol. 158.
v. 123. Ge hame] Scottice for—Go home.
v. 125. tot quot] See note, p. 287. v. 565.
v. 127. lome] i. e. loom.
v. 128. lylse wulse] i. e. linsey-woolsey,—an evident play on the Cardinal’s name.
v. 130. cule] i. e. fundament.
v. 132. warse] i. e. worse.
[Page 31.] v. 136. Bothombar] I know not what place is meant here.
v. 139. gup, leuell suse]—gup has occurred frequently before: see note, p. 99. v. 17; the rest of this slang I do not comprehend.
v. 145. nat worth a flye] See note, p. 219. v. 104.
v. 150.
Yet the good Erle of Surray,
The Frenche men he doth fray, &c.]
This nobleman (before mentioned, see note, p. 317. v. 769), Thomas Howard (afterwards third Duke of Norfolk), commanded, in 1522, the English force which was sent against France, when Henry the Eighth and the Emperor Charles had united in an attack on that kingdom. In Stow’s Annales, p. 517. ed. 1615, the marginal note “Earle of Surrey brent Morles in Brytaine. I. Skelton,” evidently alludes to the present passage of our poem. Both Turner and Lingard in their Histories of Engl. mistake this nobleman for his father.
[Page 31.] v. 158. mated] i. e. confounded (I may just observe that Palsgrave, besides “I Mate at the chesses, Ie matte,” gives “I Mate or ouercome, Ie amatte.”) Lesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. ccxcix. (Table of Verbes).
v. 163. vrcheons] i. e. hedge-hogs.
[Page 32.] v. 166. ouer shote] i. e. over-shoot.
v. 167. scutus] “Scutum, Moneta Regum Francorum, ita appellata quod in ea descripta essent Franciæ insignia in scuto.” Du Cange’s Gloss. (Ital. scudo, Fr. écu).
v. 170. wonders warke] i. e. work of wonder.
v. 175. They shote at him with crownes, &c.] On the immense gifts and annuities which Wolsey received from foreign powers, see Turner’s Hist. of Reign of Hen. the Eighth, i. 236. ed. 8vo.
v. 178. his eyen so dased]—dased, i. e. dazzled, or, according to Skelton’s distinction—dulled; for in his Garlande of Laurell we find “eyn dasild and dasid.” v. 1389. vol. i. 416.
v. 179. ne se can] i. e. can not see.
v. 185. the Chambre of Starres] i. e. the Star-Chamber.
v. 190. renayenge] i. e. contradicting.
v. 194. Good euyn, good Robyn Hood] “Good even, good Robin Hood,” was, as Ritson observes, a proverbial expression; “the allusion is to civility extorted by fear.” Robin Hood, i. lxxxvii. Warton mistook the meaning of this line, as is proved by his mode of pointing it: see Hist. of E. P., ii. 346. ed. 4to.
[Page 33.] v. 197. thwartyng ouer thom] i. e. overthwarting them, perversely controlling them.
v. 202. With, trompe vp, alleluya] i. e., says Warton, “the pomp in which he celebrates divine service.” Hist. of E. P., ii. 346 (note), ed. 4to. Compare Wager’s Mary Magdalene, 1567;
“Ite Missa est, with pipe vp Alleluya.”
Sig. A iii.
v. 203. Philargerya] i. e. Φιλαργυρία, argenti amor, pecuniæ cupiditas. She was one of the characters in Skelton’s lost drama, The Nigramansir.
v. 204. herte] i. e. heart.
v. 206. Asmodeus] The name of the evil spirit in the Book of Tobit.
v. 208. Dalyda] i. e. Dalilah.
“Unto his lemman Dalida he told,
That in his heres all his strengthe lay.”
Chaucer’s Monkes Tale, v. 14069. ed. Tyr.
See too Gower’s Conf. Am., Lib. viii. fol. clxxxix. ed. 1554, and Lydgate’s Fall of Prynces, B. i. leaf xxxiii. ed. Wayland.
[Page 33.] v. 208. mell] i. e. meddle (in sensu obsc.).
v. 212. Simonia] i. e. Simony.
v. 213. Castrimergia] “The true reading is Castrimargia, or Gulæ concupiscentia, Gluttony. From the Greek, Γαστριμαργία, ingluvies, helluatio. Not an uncommon word in the monkish latinity. Du Cange cites an old Litany of the tenth century, ‘A spiritu Castrimargiæ Libera nos, domine!’ Lat. Gloss. i. p. 398. Carpentier adds, among other examples, from the statutes of the Cistercian order, 1375 [1357], ‘Item, cum propter detestabile Castrimargiæ vitium in labyrinthum vitiorum descendutur, &c.’ Suppl. tom. i. p. 862.’” Warton’s Hist. of E. P., ii. 346 (note), ed. 4to.
v. 215. ypocras] See note, p. 285. v. 458.
v. 217. In Lent for a repast, &c.] So Roy in his satire against Wolsey, Rede me, and be nott wrothe, &c.;
“Wat. Whatt abstinence useth he to take?
Jeff. In Lent all fysshe he doth forsake,
Fedde with partriges and plovers.
Wat. He leadeth then a Lutheran’s lyfe?
Jeff. O naye, for he hath no wyfe,
But whoares that be his lovers.”
Harl. Miscel. ix. 32. ed. Park.
v. 219. partriche mewed]—mewed, i. e. cooped up. “I kepe partryches in a mewe agaynst your comyng.” Hormanni Vulgaria, sig. e ii. ed. 1530.
v. 222. ne] i. e. nor.
v. 223. a postels lyfe] i. e. an apostle’s life.
v. 224. herte] i. e. heart.
[Page 34.] v. 232. kues] See note, p. 236. v. 36.
v. 235. The sygne of the Cardynall Hat] “These allowed Stew-houses [in Southwark] had Signs on their Fronts, towards the Thames, not hanged out, but painted on the Walls, as a Boar’s-Head, the Cross Keys, the Gun, the Castle, the Crane, the Cardinal’s Hat,” &c. Stow’s Survey, B. iv. 7. ed. 1720.
v. 236. shyt] i. e. shut.
v. 237. gup] }
...
v. 239. iast] }
See note, p. 99. v. 17.
v. 240. Wyll ye bere no coles] Steevens, in his note on the opening of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, cites the present line among the examples which he gives of the expression to bear or carry coals, i. e. to bear insults, to submit to degradation. In the royal residences and great houses the lowest drudges appear to have been selected to carry coals to the kitchens, halls, &c.; see note on Jonson’s Works, ii. 169, by Gifford, who afterwards (p. 179) observes, “From the mean nature of this occupation it seems to have been somewhat hastily concluded, that a man who would carry coals would submit to any indignity.”
[Page 34.] v. 241. A mayny of marefoles] i. e. (as appears from the expressions applied to horses four lines above) a set of mare-foals, fillies.
[Page 35.] v. 257. next] i. e. nearest.
v. 261. Poppynge folysshe dawes] See note, p. 231. v. 39.
v. 262. pyll strawes]—pyll, i. e. peel.
v. 264. Huntley bankes] See note, p. 221. v. 149.
v. 269. Lorde Dakers] Thomas Lord Dacre (of Gillesland, or of the North) was warden of the West Marches. The accusation here thrown out against him (because, perhaps, he was on the best terms with Wolsey) of “agreeing too well with the Scots” is altogether unfounded. He was for many years the able and active agent of Henry in corrupting by gold and intrigues the nobles of Scotland, and in exciting ceaseless commotions in that kingdom, to the destruction of its tranquillity and good government. He died in 1525. And see notes on vv. 283, 353.
v. 270. Jacke Rakers] See note, p. 186. v. 108.
v. 271. crakers] i. e. vaunters, big-talkers.
v. 273. Stronge herted] i. e. Strong-hearted.
v. 275. To] i. e. Too.
v. 278. the red hat] i. e. Wolsey.
v. 280. lure] See note, p. 147. v. 1100.
v. 281. cure] i. e. care.
v. 283. Lorde Rose] i. e. Thomas Manners, Lord Roos. In 14 Henry viii. he was constituted warden of the East Marches towards Scotland; and by letters patent in 17 Henry viii. he was created Earl of Rutland. He died in 1543. See Collins’s Peerage, i. 465. sqq. ed. Brydges. Hall makes the following mention of him: “In this sommer [xiiii yere of Henry the VIII] the lorde Rosse and the lorde Dacres of the North whiche were appointed to kepe the borders against Scotland did so valiantly that they burned the good toune of Kelsy and lxxx. villages and ouerthrew xviii. towers of stone with all their Barnkyns or Bulwerkes.” Chron. fol. ci. ed. 1548.
v. 285. a cockly fose] A term which I do not understand.
[Page 35.] v. 286. Their hertes be in thyr hose] See note, p. 233. v. 107,—where, however, I neglected to observe that we find in Prima Pastorum,
“A, thy hert is in thy hose.”
Towneley Myst., p. 95.
[Page 36.] v. 287. The Erle of Northumberlande, &c.] i. e. Henry Algernon Percy, fifth Earl of Northumberland. In 14 Henry viii. he was made warden of the whole Marches, a charge which for some reason or other he soon after resigned: vide Collins’s Peerage, ii. 305. ed. Brydges. That he found himself obliged to pay great deference to the Cardinal, is evident from Cavendish’s Life of Wolsey, where (pp. 120-128. ed. 1827) see the account of his being summoned from the north, &c. when his son Lord Percy, (who was then, according to the custom of the age, a “servitor” in Wolsey’s house) had become enamoured of Anne Boleyn. This nobleman, who encouraged literature, and appears to have patronised our poet (see Account of Skelton, &c.), died in 1527.
v. 291. Rynne] i. e. Run.
v. 292. mayny of shepe] i. e. flock of sheep.
v. 293. loke ... dur] i. e. look ... door.
v. 294. mastyue cur] }
v. 295. bochers dogge] }
i. e. Wolsey: see note, p. 349. v. 478.
v. 296. wyrry] i. e. worry.
v. 297. gnar] i. e. snarl, growl.
v. 300. blode] i. e. blood.
v. 301. hode] i. e. hood.
v. 308. astate] i. e. estate, state, rank, dignity.
v. 312. foles and dawes] i. e. fools and simpletons; see note, p. 113. v. 301.
v. 313. eke] i. e. also.
v. 315. pletynge] i. e. pleading.
v. 316. Commune Place] i. e. Common Pleas.
[Page 37.] v. 326. huddypeke] See note, p. 255. v. 1176.
v. 327. Thy lernynge is to lewde]—to lewde, i. e. too bad, too mean. So in our author’s Speke, Parrot we find “lewdlye ar they lettyrd.” v. 296. vol. ii. 15.
v. 328. well thewde] i. e. well mannered.
v. 338. rowte] See note, p. 298. v. 1223.
v. 343. the Scottysh kynge] i. e. James the Fifth.
v. 346. stalworthy] i. e. strong, stout.
v. 347. whipling] Perhaps the same as—pipling: see note on l. 26 (prose), p. 229.
[Page 38.] v. 352. calstocke] “Calstoke. Maguderis.” Prompt. Parv. ed. 1499. “Calstocke pie de chov.” Palsgrave’s Lesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. xxii. (Table of Subst.).
v. 353.
There goth many a lye
Of the Duke of Albany, &c.]
This passage relates to the various rumours which were afloat concerning the Scottish affairs in 1522, during the regency of John Duke of Albany. (The last and disastrous expedition of Albany against England in 1523 had not yet taken place: its failure called forth from Skelton a long and furious invective against the Duke; see vol. ii. 68.) In 1522, when Albany with an army eighty thousand strong had advanced to Carlisle, Lord Dacre by a course of able negotiations prevailed on him to agree to a truce for a month and to disband his forces: see Hist. of Scot., v. 156 sqq. by Tytler,—who defends the conduct of Albany on this occasion from the charge of cowardice and weakness.
v. 356. quycke] i. e. alive.
v. 358. The mountenaunce of two houres] “Mowntenaunce. Quantitas. Estimata mensura.” Prompt. Parv. ed. 1499.
“And largely the mountenaunce of an houre
They gonne on it to reden and to poure.”
Chaucer’s Troil. and Cres., B. ii. fol. 157. Workes, ed. 1602.
“Racynge and foynynge to the mountenaunce of an houre.” Morte d’Arthur, B. vii. cap. iiii. vol. i. 191. ed. Southey.
v. 359. sayne] i. e. say.
v. 367. Burgonyons] i. e. Burgundians.
v. 373.
God saue my lorde admyrell!
What here ye of Mutrell?]
—Mutrell is Montreuil; and the allusion must be to some attack intended or actual on that town, of which I can find no account agreeing with the date of the present poem. To suppose that the reference is to the siege of Montreuil in 1544, would be equivalent to pronouncing that the passage is an interpolation by some writer posterior to the time of Skelton.
v. 375. mell] i. e. meddle.
v. 380.
For drede of the red hat
Take peper in the nose]
i. e. For dread that the Cardinal, Wolsey, take offence.
“Hee taketh pepper in the nose, that I complayne
Vpon his faultes.”
Heywood’s Dialogue, &c. sig. G.,—Workes, ed. 1598.
[Page 38.] v. 383. Of by the harde arse] Compare the Interlude of the iiii Elementes, n. d.;
“Ye but yet I seruyd another wors
I smot of his legge by the hard ars
As sone as I met hym there.”
Sig. E i.
v. 384. trauarse] i. e. thwarting contrivance.
[Page 39.] v. 386. makys our syre to glum] i. e. makes our lord (Wolsey) have a gloomy or sour look.
v. 391. go or ryde] See note, p. 125. v. 186.
v. 397. frayne] i. e. ask, inquire.
v. 401. Hampton Court] The palace of Wolsey; which he afterwards, with all its magnificent furniture, presented to the King.
v. 407. Yorkes Place] The palace of Wolsey, as Archbishop of York, which he had furnished in the most sumptuous manner: after his disgrace, it became a royal residence under the name of Whitehall.
v. 409.
To whose magnifycence, &c.
...
Embassades of all nacyons]
—Embassades, i. e. Embassies. “All ambassadors of foreign potentates were always dispatched by his discretion, to whom they had always access for their dispatch. His house was also always resorted and furnished with noblemen, gentlemen, and other persons, with going and coming in and out, feasting and banqueting all ambassadors diverse times, and other strangers right nobly.” Cavendish’s Life of Wolsey, p. 112. ed. 1827.
[Page 40.] v. 417. tancrete] “Tancrit: Transcrit, copié.” Roquefort’s Gloss. de la Lang. Rom.
v. 418. obstract] i. e. abstract.
v. 425. Whan him lyst] i. e. When it pleases him.
v. 434. vndermynde] i. e. undermine.
v. 435. sleyghtes] i. e. artful contrivances.
v. 438. coarted] i. e. coarcted, confined.
v. 440. nutshales] i. e. nutshells.
v. 444. taken in gre] i. e. taken kindly, in good part: see note, p. 95. v. 68.
v. 449.
He bereth the kyng on hand,
That he must pyll his lande]
—bereth on hand, i. e. leads on to a belief, persuades.
“Lordings, right thus, as ye han understond,
Bare I stifly min old husbondes on hond,
That thus they saiden in hir dronkennesse.”
Chaucer’s Wif of Bathes Prol., 5961. ed. Tyr.
“He is my countre man: as he bereth me an hande,—vti mihi vult persuasum.” Hormanni Vulgaria, sig. X viii. ed. 1530. The expression occurs in a somewhat different sense in our author’s Magnyfycence, see note, p. 241. v. 357: pyll, i. e. strip, spoil.
[Page 41.] v. 463. a cæciam] “Cæcia, σκοτοδινία Gloss. See note ad loc. Qy. is “accidiam” the right reading (“Acedia, Accidia ... tædium ... tristitia, molestia, anxietas,” &c. (Gr. ἀκηδία): see Du Cange)?
v. 476. a Mamelek] i. e. a Mameluke. Compare The Image of Ipocrisy, (a poem in imitation of Skelton, which is appended to the present edition);
“And crafty inquisitors,
Worse then Mamalokes.”
Part Four.
v. 478. potshordes] i. e. potsherds.
[Page 42.] v. 483. God to recorde] i. e. God to witness.
v. 485. reason or skyll] See note, p. 238. v. 106.
v. 486.
the primordyall
Of his wretched originall]
—primordyall, i. e. first beginning.
v. 490. sank] i. e. blood.
v. 491. bochers] i. e. butcher’s: see note, p. 349. v. 478.
v. 495. rowme] i. e. room, place, office.
v. 505. parde] i. e. par dieu, verily.
v. 508. saw] i. e. saying,—branch of learning. So in our author’s Colyn Cloute;
“Some lernde in other sawe.”
v. 734. vol. i. 339.
v. 511. quatriuials] }
v. 512. triuials] }
See note, p. 343. v. 171. This depreciation of Wolsey’s acquirements is very unjust: his learning, there is reason to believe, was far from contemptible.
[Page 43.] v. 517. worth a fly] See note, p. 219. v. 104.
v. 518. Haly] }
v. 519. Ptholomy] }
v. 520. Albumasar] }
See notes, p. 133. vv. 501. 503. 505.
v. 522. mobyll] i. e. moveable.
v. 526. humanyte] i. e. humaniores literæ, polite literature.
v. 533. our processe for to stable]—processe, i. e. story, account; see notes, p. 143. v. 735. p. 146. v. 969, &c. and compare our author’s Fourth Poem Against Garnesche, “But now my proces for to saue,” v. 157. vol. i. 131.
v. 538. conceyght] i. e. conceit,—good opinion, favour.
v. 540. exemplyfyenge] i. e. following the example of.
[Page 44.] v. 550. A wretched poore man, &c.] i. e. Abdalonimus (or Abdolonimus) whom Alexander made king of Sidon: see Justin, xi. 10. Cowley touches on the story at the commencement of Plant. Lib. iv.; and in his English version of that commencement, under the title of The Country Life, he has greatly improved the passage.
v. 557. occupyed a showell] i. e. used a shovel: see note, p. 86. v. 52.
v. 566. renowme] i. e. renown.
v. 569. with lewde condicyons cotyd] i. e. quoted, noted, marked, with evil qualities: see note, p. 183. v. 12.
v. 570. ben] i. e. be.
v. 573. Couetys] i. e. Covetise, covetousness.
v. 575. wode] i. e. mad.
v. 576. mode] i. e. mood, passion.
v. 577. swerde] i. e. sword.
v. 579. sone] i. e. soon.
[Page 45.] v. 583. trone] i. e. throne.
v. 584. a great astate] i. e. a person of great estate, or rank.
v. 585. play checke mate] In allusion to the king’s being put in check at the game of chess.
v. 586. ryall] i. e. royal.
v. 591. fynd] i. e. fiend.
v. 594. Lyke Mahounde in a play] In none of the early miracle-plays which have come down to us is Mahound (Mahomet) a character, though he is mentioned and sworn by.
v. 601. rebads] i. e. ribalds.
v. 602. beggers reiagged] i. e. beggars all-tattered.
v. 603. recrayed] i. e. recreant.
v. 604. hauell] See note on v. 94. p. 353.
v. 605. Rynne] i. e. Run.
—— iauell] See note, p. 271. v. 2218.
v. 606. peuysshe pye] i. e. silly magpie.
v. 607. losell] i. e. good-for-nothing fellow, scoundrel.
v. 613. Iacke breche] i. e. Jack-ass (-arse).
[Page 46.] v. 618. shrewdly] i. e. badly.
v. 621. kayser] See note, p. 247. v. 796.
v. 622.
My lorde is nat at layser;
Syr, ye must tary a stounde, &c.]
—layser, i. e. leisure: a stounde, i. e. a time, a while. Compare A Character of the insolent behaviour of Cardinal Wolsey as given by Thomas Allen Priest and Chaplain to the Earl of Shrewsbury in a Letter to his Lordshyp about Apr. 1517, among Kennett’s Collections,—MS. Lansd. 978. fol. 213. “Pleseth your Lordshyp to understande upon Monday was sennight last past I delivered your Letter with the examinacyon to my Lord Cardynall at Guilford, whence he commanded me to wait on him to the Court. I followed him and there gave attendance and could have no Answer. Upon ffriday last he came from thence to Hampton Court, where he lyeth. The morrow after I besought his Grace I might know his plesure; I could have no Answer. Upon Mondaye last as he walked in the parke at Hampton Court, I besought his Grace I might knowe if he wolde command me anye servyce. He was not content with me that I spoke to hym. So that who shall be a Suitour to him may have no other busynesse but give attendance upon his plesure. He that shall so doe, it is needfull shuld be a wyser man then I am. I sawe no remedy, but came without Answere, except I wolde have done as my Lord Dacre’s Servaunt doth, who came with Letters for the Kynges servyce five moneths since and yet hath no Answere. And another Servaunt of the Deputy of Calais likewyse who came before the other to Walsyngham, I heard, when he aunswered them, ‘If ye be not contente to tary my leysure, departe when ye wille.’ This is truthe, I had rather your Lordshyp commaunded me to Rome then deliver him Letters, and bring Aunswers to the same. When he walketh in the Parke he will suffer no Servaunt to come nyghe him, but commands them awaye as farre as one might shoote an arrowe.”
[Page 46.] v. 631. flyt] i. e. remove.
v. 635. neuer the nere]—nere, i. e. nearer.
“That they were early vp, and neuer the neere.”
Heywood’s Dialogue, &c. sig. A 3,—Workes, ed. 1598.
v. 636. daungerous dowsypere] “He hath a daungerous loke. Atollit supercilium, adducit, contrahit supercilia.”—“I can not away with suche daungorous felowes. Ferre non possum horum supercilium, vel superciliosos, arrogantes, fastuosos, vel arrogantiam, aut fastum talium.” Hormanni Vulgaria, sigs. L i, P iiii. ed. 1530:—dowsypere, i. e. lord, noble (properly, one of the Douze-Pairs of France);
“Erll, duke, and douch-spere.”
Golagros and Gawane, p. 182,—Syr Gawayne, &c. ed. Madden.
See too Spenser’s F. Queene, iii. x. 31.
v. 642. With a poore knyght] “He [Wolsey] fell in acquaintance with one Sir John Nanphant, a very grave and ancient knight, who had a great room in Calais under King Henry the Seventh. This knight he served, and behaved him so discreetly and justly, that he obtained the especial favour of his said master; insomuch that for his wit, gravity, and just behaviour, he committed all the charge of his office unto his chaplain. And, as I understand, the office was the treasurership of Calais, who was, in consideration of his great age, discharged of his chargeable room, and returned again into England, intending to live more at quiet. And through his instant labour and especial favour his chaplain was promoted to the king’s service, and made his chaplain.” Cavendish’s Life of Wolsey, p. 70. ed. 1827. According to Nash, it was Sir Richard Nanfan (father of Sir John) who was “captain of Calais, made a knight, and esquire of the body to Henry vii.” Hist. of Worcestershire, i. 85.
[Page 46.] v. 643. hyght] i. e. be called.
v. 646. mell] i. e. meddle.
v. 649. doddypatis] i. e. thick-heads.
[Page 47.] v. 651. iack napis] i. e. jackanapes, ape, monkey.
v. 652. bedleme] i. e. bedlamite.
v. 653. reame] i. e. realm.
v. 661. loselry] i. e. wickedness, evil practice.
v. 664. hart rote] i. e. heart-root.
v. 665. kote] i. e. coot (water-fowl).
v. 668. he wyll tere it asonder] So Roy, in his satire against Wolsey, Rede me, and be nott wrothe, &c.;
“His power he doth so extende,
That the Kyngis letters to rende
He will not forbeare in his rage.”
Harl. Miscell., ix. 69. ed. Park.
v. 670. hoddypoule] i. e. dunder-head.
v. 674. settys nat by it a myte] i. e. values it not at a mite, cares not a mite for it.
v. 679. demensy] i. e. madness.
[Page 48.] v. 682. mell] i. e. meddle.
v. 683. wele] i. e. well.
v. 684. How Frauncis Petrarke, &c.] “Vidi Aquensem Caroli sedem, & in templo marmoreo verendum barbaris gentibus illius principis sepulchrum, vbi fabellam audiui, non inamœnam cognitu, a quibusdam templi sacerdotibus, quam scriptam mihi ostenderunt, & postea apud modernos scriptores accuratius etiam tractatam legi, quam tibi quoque ut referam incidit animus: ita tamen, ut rei fides non apud me quæratur, sed (vt aiunt) penes auctores maneat. Carolum Regem quem Magni nomine [ed. Bas. cognomine] æquare Pompeio & Alexandro audent, mulierculam quandam perdite & efflictim amasse memorant, eius blanditiis eneruatum, neglecta fama (cui plurimum inseruire consueuerat) & posthabitis regni curis, aliarum rerum omnium & postremo suiipsius oblitum, diu nulla prorsus in re nisi illius amplexibus acquieuisse, summa cum indignatione suorum ac dolore. Tandem cum iam spei nihil superesset (quoniam aures regias salutaribus consiliis insanus amor obstruxerat), fœminam ipsam malorum causam insperata mors abstulit, cuius rei ingens primum in regia sed latens gaudium fuit: deinde dolore tantum priore grauiore, quantum fœdiori morbo correptum regis animum videbant, cuius nec morte lenitus furor, sed in ipsum obscœnum cadauer & exangue translatus est, quod balsamo & aromatibus conditum, onustum gemmis, & velatum purpura, diebus ac noctibus tam miserabili quam cupido fouebat amplexu. Dici nequit quam discors & quam male se compassura conditio est amantis ac regis: nunquam profecto contraria sine lite iunguntur. Quid est autem regnum, nisi iusta & gloriosa dominatio? Contra quid est amor, nisi fœda seruitus & iniusta? Itaque cum certatim ad amantem (seu rectius ad amentem) Regem, pro summis regni negotiis legationes gentium, præfectique & prouinciarum præsides conuenirent, is in lectulo suo miser, omnibus exclusis & obseratis foribus, amato corpusculo cohærebat, amicam suam crebro, velut spirantem responsuramque compellans, illi curas laboresque suos narrabat, illi blandum murmur & nocturna suspiria, illi semper amoris comites lachrymas instillabat, horrendum miseriæ solamen, sed quod vnum ex omnibus Rex alioquin (vt aiunt) sapientissimus elegisset. Addunt fabulæ quod ego nec fieri potuisse nec narrari debere arbitror. Erat ea tempestate in aula Coloniensis Antistes, vir, vt memorant, sanctitate & sapientia clarus, necnon comis, et consilii Regii prima vox, qui domini sui statum miseratus, vbi animaduertit humanis remediis nihil agi, ad Deum versus, ilium assidue precari, in illo spem reponere, ab eo finem mali poscere multo cum gemitu: quod cum diu fecisset, nec desiturus videretur, die quodam illustri miraculo recreatus est: siquidem ex more sacrificanti, & post deuotissimas preces pectus & aram lachrymis implenti, de cœlo vox insonuit, Sub extinctæ mulieris lingua furoris Regii causam latere. Quo lætior, mox peracto sacrificio, ad locum vbi corpus erat se proripuit, & iure notissimæ familiaritatis regiæ introgressus, os digito clam scrutatus, gemmam perexiguo annulo inclusam sub gelida rigentique lingua repertam festinabundus auexit. Nec multo post rediens Carolus, & ex consuetudine ad optatum mortuæ congressum properans, repente aridi cadaueris spectaculo concussus, obriguit, exhorruitque contactum, auferri eam quantocius ac sepeliri iubens. Inde totus in Antistitem conuersus, illum amare, illum colere, illum indies arctius amplecti. Denique nihil nisi ex sententia illius agere, ab illo nec diebus nec noctibus auelli. Quod vbi sensit vir iustus ac prudens, optabilem forte multis sed onerosam sibi sarcinam abiicere statuit, veritusque ne si vel ad manus alterius perueniret, vel flammis consumeretur, domino suo aliquid periculi afferret, annulum in vicinæ paludis præaltam voraginem demersit. Aquis forte tum rex cum proceribus suis habitabat, ex eoque tempore cunctis ciuitatibus sedes illa prælata est, in ea nil sibi palude gratius, ibi assidere & illis aquis mira cum voluptate, illius odore velut suauissimo delectari. Postremo illuc regiam suam transtulit, & in medio palustris limi, immenso sumptu, iactis molibus, palatium templumque construxit, vt nihil diuinæ vel humanæ rei eum inde abstraheret. Postremo ibi vitæ suæ reliquum egit, ibique sepultus est: cauto prius vt successores sui primam inde coronam & prima imperii auspicia capescerent, quod hodie quoque seruatur, seruabiturque quam din Romani frena imperii Theutonica manus aget.” Petrarchæ Fam. Epist., lib. i. Ep. iii. p. 10, et seq., ed. 1601.—On this story, which he found in a French author, Mr. Southey has composed a ballad: see his Minor Poems.
[Page 48.] v. 694. carectes] i. e. characters, magical inscriptions.
v. 703. Acon] i. e. Aix la Chapelle: “Acon in Almayne whyche is a moche fayr cytee, where as kyng charles had made his paleys moche fayr & ryche and a ryght deuoute chapel in thonour of our lady, wherin hymself is buryed.” Caxton’s History and Lyf of Charles the Grete, &c. 1485. sig. b 7.
v. 709. obsolute] i. e. absolute, absolved.
v. 710. practyue] i. e. practise.
—— abolete] i. e. antiquated, abolished.
[Page 49.] v. 713.
But I wyll make further relacion
Of this isagogicall colation]
—isagogicall colation seems to be equivalent here to—comparison introduced, or discourse introduced for the sake of comparison.
v. 715. How maister Gaguine, &c.] Concerning Gaguin see the Account of Skelton’s Life, &c. The passage here alluded to, will be found in Roberti Gaguini ordinis sanctæ trinitatis ministri generalis de origine et gestis francorum perquamutile compendium, lib. x. fol. cxiiii. (where the marginal note is “Balluæ cardinalis iniquitas”), ed. 1497. Cardinal Balue (whom the reader will probably recollect as a character in Sir W. Scott’s Quentin Durward) was confined by order of Louis xi. in an iron cage at the Castle of Loches, in which durance he remained for eleven years. But there is no truth in Skelton’s assertion that he “was hedyd, drawen, and quarterd,” v. 737; for though he appears to have deserved that punishment, he terminated his days prosperously in Italy.
[Page 49.] v. 720. a great astate] i. e. a person of great estate, or rank.
v. 728. so wele apayd] i. e. so well satisfied, pleased.
v. 731. him lyst] i. e. pleased him.
v. 732. cheked at the fyst] Seems to be equivalent here to—attacked, turned against the hand which fed him. “Check is when Crowes, Rooks, Pyes, or other birds comming in the view of the Hawk, she forsaketh her naturall flight to fly at them.” Latham’s Faulconry (Explan. of Words of Art), 1658.
v. 733. agayne] i. e. against.
[Page 50.] v. 748. dyscust] See note, p. 321. v. 881.
v. 752. rote] i. e. root.
v. 753.
Yet it is a wyly mouse
That can bylde his dwellinge house
Within the cattes eare]
This proverbial saying occurs in a poem attributed to Lydgate;
“An hardy mowse that is bold to breede
In cattis eeris.”
The Order of Foles,—MS. Harl. 2251. fol. 304.
And so Heywood;
“I haue heard tell, it had need to bee
A wylie mouse that should breed in the cats eare.”
Dialogue, &c. sig. G 4,—Workes, ed. 1598.
v. 766. sad] See note, p. 264. v. 1711.
v. 768. heale] i. e. health.
v. 774.
that mastyfe ...
Let him neuer confounde
The gentyll greyhownde]
See note, p. 349. v. 478.
[Page 51.] v. 782. borde] i. e. jest.
v. 783. stede] i. e. place.
v. 784. maister Mewtas] John Meautis was secretary for the French language to Henry the Seventh and Henry the Eighth. It appears from Rymer’s Fœdera that he was allowed, in consideration of his services, to import Gascon wine and to dispose of it to the best advantage, T. v. P. iv. p. 78 (anno 1494), T. vi. P. i. p. 146 (anno 1518), ed. Hagæ; and that he was occasionally employed on business with foreign powers, T. v. P. iv. pp. 110, 113 (anno 1497). Among some, says Ashmole, who became Poor Knights of Windsor “probably out of devotion, rather than cause of poverty,” was “John Mewtes Secretary of the French Tongue (Pat. 18. H. 7. p. 1).” Order of the Garter, p. 161. Several unimportant entries concerning this person occur in the unpublished Books of Payments preserved in the Chapter House, Westminster.
[Page 51.] v. 795. a bull vnder lead]—lead, i. e. a leaden seal.
v. 798. Dymingis Dale] So in Thersytes, n. d.;
“Mother bryce of oxforde and greate Gyb of hynxey
Also mawde of thrutton and mable of chartesey
And all other wytches that walke in dymminges dale
Clytteringe and clatteringe there youre pottes with ale.”
p. 68. Roxb. ed.
v. 799. Portyngale] i. e. Portugal.
v. 806. calodemonyall] i. e. consisting of good angels.
v. 807. cacodemonyall] i. e. consisting of evil angels.
v. 808. puruey] i. e. provide.
[Page 52.] v. 831. euerychone] i. e. every one.
v. 838. rewth] i. e. pity.
v. 845. recorde] i. e. witness, evidence.
[Page 53.] v. 856. set by] i. e. valued, regarded.
v. 867. askrye] i. e. a shout. The verb has occurred several times before: see notes, p. 145. v. 903. p. 152. v. 1358. p. 191. v. 66.
v. 877. haute ... base] i. e. high ... low.
v. 880.
Marke me that chase
In the tennys play]
See the latter part of note, p. 205. v. 62. “Marquez bien cette chasse. Heed well that passage, marke well the point, whereof I have informed you.” Cotgrave’s Dict. in v. Chasse.
[Page 54.] v. 883. a tall man] “Tall or semely.” Prompt. Parv. ed. 1499.
v. 885. Hay, the gye and the gan] In one of his copies of verses Against Venemous Tongues, Skelton has,
“Nothing to write, but hay the gy of thre.”
v. 13. vol. i. 134,
where there seems to be some allusion to the dance called heydeguies. In the present passage probably there is a play on words: gye may mean—goose; and gan gander.
v. 886. gose] i. e. goose.
v. 887. The waters wax wan] Horne Tooke in his Div. of Purley, Part ii. p. 179. ed. 1805, citing this line from the ed. of Skelton’s Works, 1736, thus,
“The waters were wan,”
considers “wan” as the past participle of the verb “wane,”—wand, decreased; and he is followed by Richardson, Dict. in v. Wan. But “were” is merely a misprint of ed. 1736; and that “wan” is here an adjective expressing the colour of the water, is not to be doubted. So Skelton elsewhere;
“For worldly shame I wax bothe wanne and bloo.”
Magnyfycence, v. 2080. vol. i. 292.
“The ryuers rowth, the waters wan.”
Balett, v. 15. vol. i. 22.
So too in Henry’s Wallace;
“Bot rochis heich, and wattir depe and wan.”
B. vii. 814. ed. Jam.
[Page 54.] v. 888. ban] i. e. curse.
v. 891. warke] i. e. work.
v. 896. Sem ... Cam] i. e. Shem ... Ham.
v. 898. cupbord] “Cupborde of plate or to sette plate vpon buffet.” Palsgrave’s Lesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. xxviii. (Table of Subst.). It had a succession of “desks” or stages, on which the plate was displayed: see the description of a magnificent entertainment in Cavendish’s Life of Wolsey, p. 195. ed. 1827, and the editor’s note.
v. 904. alcumyn] i. e. a sort of mixed metal.
v. 905. A goldsmyth your mayre] “A.D. 1522 ... Maior, Sir John Mundy, Goldsmith, Son to William Mundy of Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.” Stow’s Survey, B. v. 129. ed. 1720.
v. 908. trotters] “Trotters shepes fete.” Palsgrave’s Lesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. lxxi. (Table of Subst.).
v. 909. potshordis] i. e. potsherds.
v. 910. shrewdly] i. e. badly.
[Page 55.] v. 914. syr Trestram] See note, p. 137. v. 634. The name is, of course, used here for a person of rank generally.
v. 916. Cane] i. e. Caen, in Normandy.
v. 917. wane] i. e. decreased.
v. 918. royals] }
v. 919. nobles] }
The coins so called.
v. 920. Burgonyons] i. e. Burgundians.
v. 928. With, laughe and lay downe] A punning allusion to the game at cards so called.
v. 930. Sprynge of Lanam]—Lanam, i. e. Langham in Essex. In the Expenses of Sir John Howard, first Duke of Norfolk, we find, under the year 1463, “Item, Apylton and Sprynge off Lanam owyth my mastyr, as James Hoberd and yonge Apylton knowyth wele Manners and Household Expenses of England, &c. p. 180. ed. Roxb. It seems probable, however, from the early date, that the person mentioned in the entry just cited was the father (or some near relative) of the Spring noticed by Skelton. But Stow certainly alludes to the clothier of our text, where he records that, during the disturbances which followed the attempt to levy money for the king’s use in 1525, when the Duke of Norfolk inquired of the rebellious party in Suffolk “what was the cause of their disquiet, and who was their captaine?... one Iohn Greene a man of fiftie yeeres olde answered, that pouertie was both cause and captaine. For the rich clothiers Spring of Lanam and other had giuen ouer occupying, whereby they were put from their ordinarie worke and liuing.” Annales, p. 525. ed. 1615. Neither Hall nor Holinshed, when relating the same circumstance, make any mention of Spring.
[Page 55.] v. 935. He must tax for his wull] i. e. He must pay tax for his wool.
[Page 56.] v. 952. the streytes of Marock] i. e. the straits of Morocco.
“Thurghout the see of Grece, unto the straite
Of Maroc.”
Chaucer’s Man of Lawes Tale, v. 4884. ed. Tyr.
v. 953. the gybbet of Baldock] See note, p. 340. v. 75.
v. 958. mellys] i. e. meddles.
v. 972. fendys blake] i. e. fiends black.
v. 974. crake] i. e. vaunt, talk bigly.
v. 975.
he wolde than make
The deuyls to quake]
So Roy in his satire against Wolsey, Rede me, and be nott wrothe, &c.;
“Yf he be as thou hast here sayde,
I wene the devils will be afrayde
To have hym as a companion;
For what with his execracions,
And with his terrible fulminacions,
He wolde handle theym so,
That for very drede and feare,
All the devils that be theare
Wilbe glad to let hym go.”
Harl. Miscell. ix. 29. ed. Park.
v. 978. fyer drake] i. e. fiery dragon.
v. 979. a cole rake] “Colerake ratissover.” Palsgrave’s Lesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. xxv. (Table of Subst.).
[Page 57.] v. 980. Brose them on a brake]—Brose, i. e. bruise, break: brake (which has occurred before in a different sense, see note, p. 168. v. 324) means here an engine of torture: “I Brake on a brake or payne bauke as men do mysdoers to confesse the trouthe.” Palsgrave’s Lesclar. de la Lang. Fr., 1530. fol. clxxi. (Table of Verbes). In the Tower was a celebrated brake known by the nick-name of the Duke of Exeter’s Daughter: see the woodcut in Steevens’s note on Measure for Measure,—Shakespeare (by Malone and Boswell), ix. 44.
[Page 57.] v. 984. a grym syer]—syer, i. e. sire, lord.
“Ryght a grym syre at domys day xal he be.”
Coventry Mysteries,—MS. Cott. Vesp. D viii. fol. 37.
v. 985. potestolate] Equivalent, I suppose, to—legate.
v. 986. potestate] “Potestat. A Potestat, principall Officer, chiefe Magistrate.” Cotgrave’s Dict.
v. 989. echone] i. e. each one.
v. 990. trone] i. e. throne.
v. 996. Folam peason] i. e. Fulham pease.
v. 997. geson] i. e. scarce, rare.
v. 1000. herbers] See note, p. 101. v. 13.
v. 1001. bryght and shene] Are synonymous: yet Spenser also has;
“Her garment was so bright and wondrous sheene,” &c.
The Faerie Queene,—Mutabilitie, vii. 7.
[Page 58.] v. 1014. The deuyll spede whitte] See note, p. 252. v. 1018.
v. 1016. rechelesse] i. e. reckless.
v. 1019. bended] i. e. banded. “A knotte or a bende of felowes.” Hormanni Vulgaria, sig. Z viii. ed. 1530.
v. 1020. condyscended] See note, p. 237. v. 39.
[Page 59.] v. 1055. Remordynge] See note, p. 193. v. 101.
v. 1056. flytynge] i. e. scolding, rating.
v. 1058. dawis] i. e. simpletons: see note, p. 113. v. 301.
v. 1059. sawis] i. e. sayings, texts.
v. 1060. gygawis] i. e. gewgaws, trifles.
v. 1066. let] i. e. hinder, obstruct.
v. 1067. maumet] See note, p. 188. v. 170.
v. 1070. crakynge] i. e. vaunting, talking bigly.
[Page 60.] v. 1077. him lykys] i. e. pleases him.
v. 1086. For all priuileged places, &c..] See note, p. 342. v. 126.
v. 1094. Saint Albons to recorde, &c..] Wolsey, at that time Archbishop of York and Cardinal, was appointed to hold the abbacy of St. Alban’s in commendam; and is supposed to have applied its revenues to the expensive public works in which he was then engaged, the building of his colleges at Oxford and Ipswich, &c.,—a great infraction, as it was considered, of the canon law.
[Page 60.] v. 1100. legacy] i. e. legatine power.
v. 1104. ben] i. e. be.
v. 1105. take] i. e. took.
[Page 61.] v. 1113. He is periured himselfe, &c.] “And York [Wolsey] perceiving the obedience that Canterbury [Warham] claimed to have of York, intended to provide some such means that he would rather be superior in dignity to Canterbury than to be either obedient or equal to him. Wherefore he obtained first to be made Priest Cardinal, and Legatus de Latere; unto whom the Pope sent a Cardinal’s hat, with certain bulls for his authority in that behalf.” ... “Obtaining this dignity, [he] thought himself meet to encounter with Canterbury in his high jurisdiction before expressed; and that also he was as meet to bear authority among the temporal powers, as among the spiritual jurisdictions. Wherefore remembering as well the taunts and checks before sustained of Canterbury, which he intended to redress, having a respect to the advancement of worldly honour, promotion, and great benefits, [he] found the means with the king, that he was made Chancellor of England; and Canterbury thereof dismissed, who had continued in that honourable room and office, since long before the death of King Henry the Seventh.” Cavendish’s Life of Wolsey, pp. 90, 92. ed. 1827. It appears, however, from the contemporary testimonies of Sir Thomas More and Ammonius, that this statement was founded on false information, and that Wolsey did not employ any unfair means to supersede Warham. The latter had often requested permission to give up the chancellorship before the king would receive his resignation. When the seals were tendered to the Cardinal, either from affected modesty, or because he thought the office incompatible with his other duties, he declined the offer, and only accepted it after the king’s repeated solicitations. See Singer’s note on Cavendish, ubi supra, and Lingard’s Hist. of Engl. vi. 57. ed. 8vo.
v. 1127.
he setteth neuer a deale
By his former othe]
i. e. he values not a bit, regards not a bit, his former oath.
v. 1130. pretens] i. e. pretension, claim.
v. 1131. equipolens] i. e. equality of power.
v. 1137. pore] i. e. poor.
[Page 62.] v. 1151.
That wyll hed vs and hange vs,
...
And he may fange vs]
—fange, i. e. catch, lay hold of. Compare Sir D. Lyndsay’s Satyre of the Three Estaitis, Part ii.;
“Sum sayis ane king is cum amang us,
That purposis to hede and hang us:
Thare is na grace, gif he may fang us,
But on an pin.”
Works, ii. 81. ed. Chalmers.
[Page 62.] v. 1163. Naman Sirus] i. e. Naaman the Syrian.
“And Naaman Syrus thu pourgedest of a leprye.”
Bale’s Promyses of God, &c. 1538. sig. E i.
v. 1167. pocky] So Roy in his satire against Wolsey, Rede me, and be nott wrothe, &c.;
“He had the pockes, without fayle,
Wherfore people on hym did rayle
With many obprobrious mockes.”
Harl. Miscell. ix. 32. ed. Park.
This was one of the charges afterwards brought against Wolsey in parliament.
[Page 63.] v. 1178. ouerthwart] i. e. cross, perverse.
v. 1181. Balthasor] “Balthasar de Guercis was Chirurgeon to Queen Catharine of Arragon, and received letters of naturalization, dated 16 March, 13 Hen. 8. [1521-2]. See Rymer’s Collect. ined. MS. Add. Brit. Mus. 4621. 10.” Sir F. Madden’s additional note on Privy Purse Expenses of the Princess Mary, p. 281. He is mentioned in the following letter (now for the first time printed) from Wolsey’s physician, Dr. Augustine (Augustinus de Augustinis, a Venetian), to Cromwell, requiring medical assistance for the Cardinal: “Honᵈᵒ Mr Crumweƚƚ, dopo le debite raccomadatione, ui mādo el prȩsente messo a posta, qual è un mio seruitore, per pregarui si da ꝑte de Monsʳ Rᵐᵒ si da parte mia instantemēte cħ ad ogni modo uogliati operar cħ mᵒ buths [Dr. Butts] & mᵒ Walter [Cromer] siano qui auāti nocte, se nō ambidoi almeno uno de loro, & l’altro potra uenir dimane, ꝑcħ res multū urget; prudēti & amico pauca. Item uorria uolontieri parlasti a mᵒ Balthasar, cħ trouasse o facesse trouare (se ꝑho in Londra nō ce ne fusse) di bona sorte di sanguisuge seu hyrudine, accio bisognādo per Monsʳ Rᵐᵒ antedetto fusseno preste & preparate, i. famelice etc & se ꝑ caso mᵒ Balthasar nō potesse o nō uolesse trouare ditte sanguisuge, & qui uenir ad administrarle (se bisognera) ui piaccia parlar a mᵒ Nicolas genero de mᵒ Marcellus, alquale ho fatto ne li tempi passati administrarle, si cħ cū l’uno o l’altro fati le cose siano in ordine, accio poi nō si perda tempo: q̃a periculū est in mora. Aspetto ur̃a risposta per el pñte almeno in inglese ma uoi medemo dimane Monsʳ Rᵐᵒ ad ogni modo ui aspetta. ditte prȩterea a li prȩfati doctori cħ portino seco qualche electó uomitiuo de piu sorte cioe debile, mediocre, & forte, accio, bisognādo, se ueggia el meglio, et nō si p̃di tempo in mādar a Londra. per el mio seruitore etiā o uero p̃ un de prȩfati doctori mādati la manna da bonuisi o da qualcħ un’ altro doue meglio se atrovera. Xp̃o da mal ui guardi. in Asher. 1529. ad. 19. gennaio. mādati etiā qualche granati & arācij
a ūri cōmādi Aug.ᵒ augⁱ.”
MS. Cott. Tit. B i. fol. 365.
[Page 63.] v. 1182. wheled] i. e. whealed, wealed, or waled.
v. 1185. It was nat heled alderbest]—alderbest, i. e. best of all,—thoroughly.
v. 1187. Domyngo Lomelyn, &c.] In The Privy Purse Expenses of King Henry the Eighth are several entries, relating to payments of money won by this Lombard from the King at cards and dice, amounting, in less than three years, to above 620 l.: see pp. 17, 32, 33, 37, 190, 204, 205, 267, 270 of that work, edited by Sir H. Nicolas, who observes (p. 316) that Domingo “was, like Palmer and others, one of Henry’s ‘diverting vagabonds,’ and seems to have accompanied His Majesty wherever he went, for we find that he was with him at Calais in October, 1532.”
v. 1192. puskylde pocky pose]—puskylde, i. e. pustuled: pose, i. e. defluxion.
v. 1197. neder] i. e. nether, lower.
v. 1201. toke ... warke] i. e. took ... work.
[Page 64.] v. 1209. To wryght of this glorious gest, &c.] If the text be right, gest must mean—guest: so in Magnyfycence; “thou art a fonde gest.” v. 1109. vol. i. 261. But perhaps the true reading of the passage is,
“To wryght this glorious gest
Of this vayne gloryous best,”
in which case, gest would signify—story: see note, p. 177. v. 622.
v. 1210. best] i. e. beast.
v. 1213. Quia difficile est, &c.] From Juvenal, Sat. i. 30.
v. 1221. ouerse] i. e. overlook.
v. 1224. Omne animi vitium, &c.] From Juvenal, Sat. viii. 140.
v. 1226. defaute] i. e. default, defect.
v. 1227. a great astate] i. e. a person of great estate, or rank.
v. 1233. fonde] i. e. foolish.
v. 1234. can] i. e. know.
v. 1235. conuenyent] i. e. fitting.
[Page 64.] v. 1238. sadnesse] See note, p. 259. v. 1382.
[Page 65.] v. 1239. lack] i. e. fault, blame.
v. 1246. it shall nat skyl] See note, p. 262. v. 1615.
v. 1247. byl] i. e. writing.
v. 1248. daucock] See note, p. 113. v. 301.
EPITOMA, &c.
—— Polyphemo] In allusion to what Skelton has before said,—that the cardinal had the use of only one eye.
v. 2. Pandulphum] So he terms Wolsey, because Pandulph was legate from the Pope in the time of King John.
[Page 66.] v. 27. Mauri] i. e. Terentianus Maurus.
DECASTICHON, &c.
v. 1. maris lupus] A wretched play on words,—sea-wolf—wolf-sea—Wolsey.
v. 8. mulus] See note, p. 350. v. 510.
HOWE THE DOUTY DUKE OF ALBANY, LYKE A COWARDE KNYGHT, RAN AWAYE SHAMFULLY, &c.
[Page 68.]—— tratlande] i. e. prattling, idle-talking.
John duke of Albany (son of Alexander duke of Albany, the brother of James the Third) was regent of Scotland during the minority of James the Fifth; and this poem relates to his invasion of the borders in 1523; an expedition, which, according to Pinkerton, “in its commencement only displays the regent’s imprudence, and in its termination his total deficiency in military talents, and even in common valour.” Hist. of Scot., ii. 230. Mr. Tytler, however, views the character and conduct of Albany in a very different light; and his account of the expedition (Hist. of Scot., v. 166 sqq.) may be thus abridged. Albany’s army amounted in effective numbers to about forty thousand men, not including a large body of camp-followers. With this force,—his march impeded by heavy roads, the nobles corrupted by the gold and intrigues of England, they and their soldiers jealous of the foreign auxiliaries, and symptoms of disorganisation early appearing,—the regent advanced as far as Melrose. Having vainly endeavoured to persuade his discontented army to cross the Tweed, he encamped on its left bank, and laid siege to Wark Castle with his foreign troops and artillery. There the Frenchmen manifested their wonted courage; but the assaulting party, receiving no assistance from the Scots, and fearing that the river flooded by rain and snow would cut off their retreat, were obliged to raise the siege, and join the main body. The Earl of Surrey (see notes, p. 317. v. 769. p. 354. v. 150), who had in the mean while concentrated his troops, hearing of the attack on Wark Castle, now advanced against the enemy. At the news of his approach, the Scottish nobles being fixed in their resolution not to risk a battle, Albany retreated to Eccles, (a monastery six miles distant from Wark,) with his foreign auxiliaries and artillery; and the rest of his forces dispersed, rather with flight than retreat, amidst a tempest of snow. From Eccles Albany retired to Edinburgh, and, soon after, finally withdrew to France. His army had been assembled on the Burrow-Muir near Edinburgh towards the end of October; and its dispersion took place at the commencement of the following month.
[Page 68.] v. 19. Huntley banke] See note, p. 221. v. 149.
v. 20. Lowdyan] See note, p. 217. v. 59.
v. 21. Locryan] See note, p. 217. v. 61.
v. 22. the ragged ray]—ray seems here to be merely—array; but Skelton in his Replycacion, &c., has,
“ye dawns all in a sute
The heritykes ragged ray.”
v. 168. vol. i. 214:
and see note, p. 194. v. 170.
v. 24. Dunbar, Dunde] See note, p. 219. v. 121.
[Page 69.] v. 37. With, hey, dogge, hay] This line has occurred before, in Elynour Rummyng, v. 168. vol. i. 100.
v. 38. For Sir William Lyle, &c.] “And the seid mondaye at iij a clok at aftir none, the water of Twede being soo high that it could not be riden, the Duke sente ouer ij mˡ Frenchemen in bootis [boats] to gif assaulte to the place, who with force entred the bas courte, and by Sir William Lizle captain of the castell with c with hym were right manfully defended by the space of one houre and an half withoute suffring theym tentre the inner warde; but fynally the seid Frenchemen entred the inner warde, whiche perceiued by the seid Sir William and his company frely set vpon theym, and not onely drove theym oute of the inner warde, but alsoo oute of the vttir warde, and slewe of the seid Frenchemen x personys. And so the seid Frenchemen wente ouer the water,” &c. Letter from Surrey to Henry the Eighth,—MS. Cott. Calig. B. vi. fol. 304. Mr. Tytler says that the assaulting party left “three hundred slain, of which the greater number were Frenchmen.” Hist. of Scot., v. 169.
v. 45. lacke] i. e. blame, reproach.
[Page 69.] v. 52. reculed] i. e. recoiled, retreated.
v. 55. That my lorde amrell, &c.]—amrell, i. e. admiral,—Surrey.
[Page 70.] v. 63. With sainct Cutberdes banner] An earlier passage of the letter just cited is as follows. “At whiche tyme I being at Holy Island, vij myles from Berwike, was aduertised of the same [Albany’s attack on Wark Castle] at v a clok at night the seid sondaye; and incontynente sente lettres to my lord cardynallis company, my lord of Northumbreland, my lord of Westmereland at Sainte Cutbertes baner lying at Anwike and thereaboutes, and in likewise to my lord Dacre and other lordes and gentilmen lying abrode in the contre too mete me at Barmer woode v myles from Werk on mondaye, whoo soo dede.”
v. 68. crake] i. e. vaunt.
v. 73. ascry] i. e. call out against, raise a shout against—assail; see notes, p. 145. v. 903. p. 152. v. 1358, &c.
v. 78. stoutty] i. e. stout.
v. 91. But ye meane a thyng, &c.] That Albany aimed at the destruction of James v. was a popular rumour, but, according to Mr. Tytler, entirely without foundation.
[Page 71.] v. 101. cast] i. e. contrivance, stratagem.
v. 110. beyght] i. e., perhaps, (not bait, but) noose. Beight, bight, or bought, is any thing bent, folded: in Markham’s Masterpiece (as Stevenson observes, Additions to Boucher’s Gloss. in v.) it is used both to express a noose formed of a rope, and the bent or arched part of a horse’s neck. In Hormanni Vulgaria we find “Boughtes.... Chartæ complicatæ.” Sig. Q iii. ed. 1530.
v. 115. recrayd] i. e. recreant.
v. 120. puaunt] i. e. stinking.
v. 126. Vnhaply vred] See note, p. 232. v. 95.
v. 128. discured] i. e. discovered.
[Page 72.] v. 132. echone] i. e. each one.
v. 135. flery] i. e. fleer.
v. 146. Mell nat] i. e. Meddle not.
v. 152. byrne] i. e. burn.
v. 155. at ylke mannes hecke] i. e. at each man’s hatch, door.
v. 156. fynde] i. e. fiend.
v. 159. shake thy dogge, hay] See note, p. 226. v. 28.
v. 161.
We set nat a flye
By, &c.]
i. e. We value not at a fly, care not a fly for.
v. 163. prane] i. e. prawn.
[Page 72.] v. 164. dronken drane] See note, p. 222. v. 172.
[Page 73.] v. 165. We set nat a myght] So Chaucer;
“I nolde setten at his sorow a mite.”
Troilus and Creseide, B iii.—Workes, fol. 161. ed. 1602.
v. 167. proude palyarde] See note, p. 348. v. 427.
v. 168. skyrgaliarde] See note, p. 218. v. 101.
v. 171. coystrowne] See note on title of poem, p. 92.
v. 172. dagswayne] See note, p. 270. v. 2195. I know not if the word was ever used as a term of reproach by any writer except Skelton.
v. 182. mell] i. e. meddle.
v. 189.
Right inconuenyently
Ye rage and ye raue,
And your worshyp depraue]
—inconuenyently, i. e. unsuitably, unbecomingly: your worshyp depraue, i. e. debase, degrade, lower your dignity. “I am also aduertised that he [Albany] is so passionate that and he bee aparte amongis his familiers and doth here any thing contrarius to his myende and pleasure, his accustumed maner is too take his bonet sodenly of his hed and to throwe it in the fire, and no man dare take it oute but let it to bee brent. My lord Dacre doth affirme that at his last being in Scotland he ded borne aboue a dosyn bonettes aftir that maner.” Letter from Lord Surrey to Wolsey,—MS. Cott., Calig. B vi. fol. 316.
v. 192. Duke Hamylcar] }
v. 195. Duke Hasdruball] }
—Duke, i. e. leader, lord. So Lydgate;
“Duke whylom of Cartage
Called Amylchar.”
Fall of Prynces, B. v. leaf cxxvi. ed. Wayland.
“Duke Hasdrubal, whome bokes magnify.”
Ibid. B. ii. leaf xlv.
v. 198. condicions] See note, p. 183. v. 12.
[Page 74.] v. 209. Howe ye wyll beres bynde]—beres, i. e. bears. Compare;
“With mede men may bynde berys.”
Coventry Mysteries,—MS. Cott. Vesp. D viii. fol. 195.
“Som man is strong berys for to bynde.”
Lydgate’s verses Against Self-love, &c.—MS. Harl. 2255. fol. 10.
“That with the strenth of my hand
Beres may bynd.”
The Droichis Part of the Play, attributed to Dunbar,—Poems, ii. 37. ed. Laing.
“Makynge the people to beleve he coulde bynde bears.”
Bale’s Kynge Johan, p. 72. ed. Camd.
[Page 74.] v. 210. the deuill downe dynge] See note, p. 270. v. 2210.
v. 227. entrusar] i. e. intruder.
“But an intrusour, one called Julyan.”
Lydgate’s Fall of Prynces, B. viii. leaf ii. ed. Wayland.
v. 230. to] i. e. too.
[Page 75.] v. 237. lorde amrell] i. e. lord admiral (Surrey).
v. 240. marciall shoure] See note, p. 219. v. 133.
v. 243. derayne] i. e. contest.
v. 248. keteryng] See note, p. 218. v. 83.
v. 250. hert] i. e. heart.
v. 251. The fynde of hell mot sterue the] i. e. May the fiend of hell cause thee to die, destroy thee. (To sterue in our old writers is common in the sense of—die, perish.)
v. 255. Caried in a cage, &c.] In no historian can I find any allusion to the strange vehicle here mentioned.
v. 257. mawment] See note, p. 188. v. 170.
[Page 76.] v. 268. warke] i. e. work.
v. 270.
Therin, lyke a royle,
Sir Dunkan, ye dared]
Compare;
“By your reuellous riding on euery royle,
Welny euery day a new mare or a moyle.”
Heywood’s Dialogue, &c. sig. H 4,—Workes, ed. 1598.
“Nulla in tam, magno est corpore mica salis, There is not one crum or droppe of good fashion in al that great royls bodye. For Catullus ther speaketh of a certaine mayden that was called Quintia,” &c. Udall’s Flowers, or Eloquent Phrases of the Latine speach, &c. sig. G 5. ed. 1581. Grose gives “Roil or royle, a big ungainly slamakin, a great awkward blowze or hoyden.” Prov. Gloss.:—Sir Dunkan is a Scottish name used here at random by Skelton, as he elsewhere uses other Scottish names, see note, p. 219. v. 121: dared, see note, p. 258. v. 1358; and compare; “Daren or preuyly ben hyd. Latito.” Prompt. Parv. ed. 1499.
“Vnder freshe floures sote and fayre to se,
The serpent dareth with his couert poyson.”
Lydgate’s Fall of Prynces, B. iv. leaf cvii. ed. Wayland.
“the snayl goth lowe doun,
Daryth in his shelle.”
Poem by Lydgate (entitled in the Catalogue, Advices for people to keep a guard over their tongues),—MS. Harl. 2255. fol. 133.
[Page 76.] v. 274. sely] i. e. silly, simple, harmless.
v. 282. It made no great fors] i. e. It was no great matter, it mattered not greatly.
v. 285. a gon stone] See note, p. 314. v. 629.
v. 287. sir Topias] See note, p. 180. v. 40.
v. 288. Bas] The Bass is an island, or rather rock, of immense height in the Firth of Forth, about a mile distant from the south shore.
v. 290. [l]as] I may just notice, in support of this reading, that “a lusty lasse” occurs in our author’s Magnyfycence, v. 1577. vol. i. 276.
v. 292. I shrewe] i. e. I beshrew, curse.
—— lugges] i. e. ears.
v. 293. munpynnys] Compare;
“Syrs, let us cryb furst for oone thyng or oder,
That thise wordes be purst, and let us go foder
Our mompyns.”
Prima Pastorum,—Towneley Mysteries, p. 89
(a passage which the writer of the Gloss. altogether misunderstands), and;
“Thy mone pynnes bene lyche olde yuory,
Here are stumpes feble and her are none,” &c.
Lydgate, The prohemy of a mariage, &c.—MS. Harl. 372. fol. 45.
Munpynnys is, I apprehend, mouth-pins, teeth. Ray gives “The Munne, the Mouth.” Coll. of Engl. Words, &c.—Preface, p. x. ed. 1768: and Jamieson has “Munds. The mouth.”—“Muns. The hollow behind the jaw-bone.” Et. Dict. of Scot. Lang. and Suppl.
—— crag] i. e. neck, throat.
v. 295. hag] See note, p. 99. v. 19.
v. 296. sir Wrig wrag] }
v. 297. sir Dalyrag] }
See note, p. 189. v. 186.
[Page 77.] v. 298. mellyng] i. e. meddling.
v. 301. huddypeke] See note, p. 255. v. 1176.
v. 303. a farly freke] i. e. a strange fellow: see notes, p. 109. v. 187; p. 178. v. 15.
v. 304. an horne keke] A term which I am unable to explain.
v. 308. swerde] i. e. sword.
v. 309. the Lyon White] See note, p. 220. v. 135.
v. 316. render the] i. e. consign thee.
v. 317. the flingande fende] i. e. the flinging fiend. So in Ingelend’s Disobedient Child, n. d.;
“The flyings and [sic] fiende go with my wyfe.”
Sig. F ii.
Northern readers at least need not be informed that to fling means—to throw out the legs;
“Sumtyme, in dansing, feirelie I flang.”
Sir D. Lyndsay’s Epistill before his Dreme,—Workes, i. 187. ed. Chalmers.
v. 319. borde] i. e. jest.
v. 322. parbrake] i. e. vomit.
v. 323. auauns] i. e. vaunts. “The braging avaunts of the Spaniards be so accalmed,” &c. Letter of Wolsey,—Burnet’s Hist. of the Reform., iii. P. ii. 9. ed. 1816.
v. 324. wordes enbosed] i. e. swollen, big words.
v. 329. lewde] i. e. evil, vile.
v. 330. Sir Dunkan] See note on v. 270. p. 379.
—— in the deuill waye] See note, p. 287. v. 672.
[Page 78.] v. 336. lurdayne] See note, p. 242. v. 423.
v. 341. varry] i. e. fall at variance, contend.
v. 344. stownde] i. e. moment.
v. 348. ryn] i. e. run.
v. 352. loke] i. e. look.
v. 353. defoyle] i. e. defile.
v. 360. wele] i. e. well.
v. 366. bace] i. e. low.
[Page 79.] v. 375. cordylar] i. e. cordelier,—a Franciscan friar, whose cincture is a cord.
v. 377. to] i. e. too.
v. 380. daucockes] i. e. simpletons: see note, p. 113. v. 301.
v. 381. reme] i. e. realm.
v. 382. Ge heme] Scottice for—Go home (as before in Why come ye nat to Courte, v. 123. vol. ii. 30).
v. 383. fonde] i. e. foolish.
[Page 79.] v. 386. mate you with chekmate] In allusion to the king’s being put in check at the game of chess. And see note, p. 355. v. 158.
v. 389. pype in a quibyble] The word quibyble, as far as I am aware, occurs only in Skelton. Chaucer has a well-known passage,
“And playen songes on a small ribible;
Therto he song somtime a loud quinible.”
The Milleres Tale, v. 3331, where Tyrwhitt (apparently against the context) supposes quinible to be an instrument: and I may notice that Forby gives “Whybibble, a whimsy; idle fancy; silly scruple, &c.” Voc. of East Anglia.
v. 398. faytes] i. e. facts, doings.
v. 399. me dresse] i. e. address, apply myself.
[Page 80.] v. 406. auaunce] i. e. advance.
v. 410. nobles] i. e. noblesse, nobleness.
v. 417. rechelesse] i. e. reckless.
v. 418. a lunatyke ouerage] See note, p. 352. v. 39.
v. 420. ennewde] See note, p. 144. v. 775.
v. 431. Lyke vnto Hercules] Barclay goes still farther in a compliment to the same monarch;
“He passeth Hercules in manhode and courage.”
The Ship of Fooles, fol. 205. ed. 1570.
v. 436. foy] i. e. faith.
[Page 81.] v. 439. Scipiades] i. e. Scipio.
v. 442. Duke Iosue]—Duke, i. e. leader, lord. So Hawes;
“And in lyke wyse duke Iosue the gente,” &c.
The Pastime of Pleasure, sig. c ii. ed. 1555.
v. 448. animosite] i. e. bravery.
v. 457. to] i. e. too.
v. 459. losels] i. e. good-for-nothing fellows, scoundrels.
v. 461. astate] i. e. estate, high dignity.
v. 468. domage] i. e. damage.
v. 470. rydes or goos] See note, p. 125. v. 186.
[Page 82.] v. 475. a knappishe sorte] “Knappish. Proterve, pervers, fascheux.” Cotgrave’s Dict. “Knappish. Tart, testy, snappish.” Jamieson’s Et. Dict. of Scot. Lang.: sorte, i. e. set.
v. 477. enbosed iawes] See note, p. 301. v. 24.
v. 478. dawes] i. e. simpletons: see note, p. 113. v. 301.
v. 479. fende] i. e. fiend.
v. 487. hart blode] i. e. heart-blood.
v. 488. gode] i. e. good,—goods.
v. 494. faytour] See note, p. 195. v. 2.
[Page 82.] v. 495. recrayed] i. e. recreant.
v. 500. rede ... loke] i. e. advise ... look.
[Page 83.] v. 506. Sainct George to borowe] i. e. St. George being my surety or pledge: the expression is common in our early poetry.
v. 508. quayre] i. e. quire,—pamphlet, book.
v. 523. wrate] i. e. wrote.
—— Lenuoy] Concerning this second L’envoy, which, I believe, does not belong to the poem against Albany, see Account of Skelton, &c.
[Page 84.] v. 9. ammas] i. e. amice: see note, p. 134. v. 560.
—— Ie foy enterment, &c.] i. e. Je fie entièrement, &c.