[276] A similar note was made in MS. Cotton, Otho. A. xviii., now destroyed. Todd printed the poem from this MS. in his Illustrations of Chaucer, p. 131; it belongs to the 'first group.'
[277] high head.
[278] admonishes.
[279] weighed down.
[280] The poem must have been written not many years before 1413, the date of the accession of Henry V. In 1405, the ages of the princes were 17, 16, 15, and 14 respectively. Shirley's title to the poem was evidently written after 1415, as John was not created Duke of Bedford until that year.
[281] See Furnivall's edition of Borde's Introduction of Knowledge, E. E. T. S., 1870. At p. 31 of the Forewords, the editor says there is no evidence for attributing 'Scoggins Iests' to Borde.
[282] Froissart, bk. iv. c. 105 (Johnes' translation).
[283] See Johnes' translation of Froissart, 1839; ii. 612-7.
[284] It would be decent, on the part of such critics as do not examine the MSS., to speak of my opinions in a less contemptuous tone.
[285] Unless, which is more probable, the Parliament of Foules reproduces, nearly, two lines from the present poem.