I will be neither late, nor lag,
But go and come with gossips cheer,
Ere Gib, our cat, can lick her ear.’
[45]. Hence the old term, ‘flibber-gib,’ or ‘flitter-gibbett,’ employed by Latimer, Burton, &c.; and later, by Walter Scott, for one of vile propensities.
[46]. A notorious rascal named ‘Gybby Selby’ is mentioned in ‘Calendar of State Papers’ for 1562. This accords with ‘Robert Gybbyson,’ found in the Corpus Christi Guild, York, a few years earlier.
[47]. ‘Item, payde to Hew Watson, for a bawdrike to the first belle, xd.’ (1546.) (Churchwardens’ Accounts at Ludlow, Camden Soc.) ‘Item, for markynge of Hew Davis’ pew, xiid.’ (1552.) (do.)
[48]. ‘Hugyn held of the same Earl an oxgang of land.’ (De Lacy Inquisit., Cheth. Soc., p. 6.) ‘Huckin’ seems to be a corruption of ‘Hughkin.’ ‘Hughkin Byston’ occurs in ‘Wills and Inventories.’ (Cheth. Soc., i. 142.)
[49]. A servant of King Henry III. was called by the simple and only name of ‘Pentecostes.’ (Inquisit. 13 Ed. I. No. 13.)
[50]. In the old published orders for the sheriff’s annual riding in the city of York, occurs this rule among others:—
‘Also, we command that no manner of men walk in the city, nor in the suburbs by night, without Torch before him, i.e. from Pasche to Michaelmas after ten of the clock, and from Michaelmas to Pasche after nine of the clock.’ These rules are thus prefaced. ‘The sheriffs, by the custom of the city, do ride to several parts thereof every year, betwixt Michaelmas and Midwinter, that is Yoole.’ (‘Hist. and Ant. York,’ vol. ii. p. 54.) Lancashire Easter-eggs are still called Pace-eggs.—The harder ‘Paske’ is found in Wicklyffe’s Version of Matt. xxvi. 1:—‘Whaune Jhesus hadde endid all these words he seide to his disciplis, ye weten that after tweyn days, Paske schal be made.’