[7.] stables. Standing-places (Lat. sto, to stand); meaning here the public rooms of the inn.
[8.] Or. Before, ere (A.-S. aer, ere). Compare Psalm xc. 2.
[9.] condicioun. A word of four syllables, accented on the last.
[10.] chyvalrye. The profession of a knight.
[11.] hethënesse. Heathen countries. From heath, the open country. "The word heathen acquired its meaning from the fact that, at the introduction of Christianity into Germany, the wild dwellers on the heaths longest resisted the truth."—Trench.
[12.] Alisaundre. Alexandria was taken in 1365 by Pierre de Lusignan, king of Cyprus, but was very soon abandoned.
[13.] he hadde the bord bygonne. "He had been placed at the head of the table, the usual compliment to extraordinary merit."—Tyrwhitt.
[14.] Pruce. Prussia. "When our military men wanted employment it was usual for them to go and serve in Pruce, or Prussia, with the Knights of the Teutonic order, who were in a state of constant warfare with their heathen neighbours in Lettow (Lithuania) and Ruse (Russia)."—Tyrwhitt.
[15.] Gernade. Grenada, probably at the siege of Algezir, in that country, in 1344. Belmarie was probably a Moorish town in Africa, as also was Tramassene, mentioned below. Lieys was in Armenia. Both it and Satalie (Attalia) were conquered by Pierre de Lusignan in 1367.
[16.] Greetë see. That part of the Mediterranean which washes the coast of Palestine.