[566] Built on Cape Africa, hence her name in the chronicles of the time.
[567] Berners’ Froissart (Ker, v. 361), where, however, the following passage does not appear: “Et autres ménestrels faire leur mestier de pipes et de chalemelles et de naquaires, tant que du son et de la voix qui en yssoient la mer en retentissoit toute.”
[568] Berners’ Froissart, ed. Ker, 1902, vol. v, chap. 165, 167, 170. Cf. Delaville le Roulx, “La France en Orient au XIVe Siècle,” Paris, 1886, chap. iv. At p. 14, vol. ii, a list of all the chief participants in this crusade.
[569] Langland speaks of the Saracens without cursing them; they might be saved, but for Mahomet who deceived them in anger at not being made pope; Christians ought to convert them; the pope makes indeed bishops of Nazareth, Nineveh, etc., but they take care never to visit their indocile flocks; let us not forget that “Jews, Gentiles and Saracens” are sincere in their beliefs. “Piers Plowman,” Text C, pass. xviii. ll. 123 ff.
[570] In his book is written (in French): “And know you that I would have put this little book into Latin for brevity, but because many understand Romance better than Latin, I have put it into Romance, that it be understood, and that the lords and knights and other noblemen who do not know Latin, or but little, and who have been beyond seas, may know and understand whether I speak truth or not.” Sloane MS. 1464, fol. 3, at the British Museum, a French MS. of the beginning of the fifteenth century.
[571] In his translation of Ralph Higden’s “Polychronicon,” ed. C. Babington, vol. ii. p. 161, Rolls Series.
[572] “La Manière de Langage,” ed. Paul Meyer, “Revue Critique,” vol. x., 1870, pp. 373, 382; dedication dated May 29, 1396.
[573] “Confessio Amantis,” “Complete Works,” ed. G. C. Macaulay, Oxford, 1899, ff. four vols., vol. iii. p. 253.
[574] According to him, the English, who, as history shows, have certainly improved, are wanting in perseverance, “Et hinc secundum astronomos lunam habent planetam propriam, quæ in motu et lumine est magis instabilis.” “Fasciculi Zizaniorum,” ed. Shirley, p. 270, Rolls Series. Caxton later also considers the moon as par excellence the planet of the English: “For we englysshe men ben born under the domynacyon of the mone, whiche is never stedfaste but ever waverynge.” Prologue to his “Boke of Eneydos compyled by Vyrgyle,” 1490.
[575] “Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden,” edited by C. Babington, 1869, vol. ii. pp. 166, 168, Rolls Series.