[21] See ‘Notes by the Way,’ [p. 103].
[22] See Chaucer for Schools.
[23] Remembering the discussion raised as to the year of Chaucer’s birth, coupled with the tradition of his venerable looks, we may suggest that in those days men were older at sixty than now. The average duration of life was shorter, and the paucity of comforts probably told on appearance.
[24] Author of the ‘Testament of Love.’
[25] Alluding to the numerous dialects in use in England at the time.
[26] The mother should here read to the child some lines with the proper pronunciation: see Preface, [pp. x., xi.]
[27] Zephyrus, or Zephyr: the god of the west wind. It is become a name for the wind of summer.
[28] Pilgrims who have brought a palm branch from the Holy Land.
[29] Kouthe: past participle of the verb conne, to know, or to be able. It was used much as savoir is in French—to be able to do, to know how to do a thing. The verse means ‘To serve the saints they could, or they knew of, or knew how to serve.’
[30] Thomas Beket, Chancellor of Henry II. He was Archbishop of Canterbury for eight years, and was murdered by servants of the King in 1170. He was canonized, or made a saint, by the Pope, after his death, and pilgrimages were then constantly made to his tomb in Canterbury Cathedral. In those days it was usual in sickness or peril to vow a pilgrimage to the shrine of some saint who was supposed to be able to help people by interceding with God, when pilgrims prayed him to. Erasmus alludes to the quantities of offerings on Thomas Beket’s shrine, given by those who believed the saint had healed or helped them.