102. gadeling, fellow; a term of reproach. But observe that the sarcasm lies in the similarity of the sound of the word to Gamelyn. Hence Gamelyn's indignant reply. In P. Plowman, C. xi. 297, gadelynges are ranked with false folk, deceivers, and liars.
103. 'Thou shall be glad to get mere food and clothing.'
109. ner, nigher, the old comparative form; afterwards written near, and wrongly extended to near-er, with a double comparative suffix. Cf. l. 135, 352.
a-foote, on foot; not a foot, the length of a foot, as that would have no final e.
115. schal algate, must in any case.
116. This is obscure; it may mean 'unless thou art the one (to do it)'; i. e. to give me the beating. In other words, Gamelyn dares his brother to use the rod himself, not to delegate such an office to another. But his brother was much too wary to take such advice; he preferred to depute the business to his men.
121. over-al, all about, all round, everywhere.
122. stood, i. e. which stood. The omission of the relative is common.
125. good woon, good store; plentifully.
129. for his eye, for awe of him. His is not the possessive pronoun here, but the genitive of the personal pronoun.