v. 928. With, laughe and lay downe] A punning allusion to the game at cards so called.
v. 930. Sprynge of Lanam]—Lanam, i. e. Langham in Essex. In the Expenses of Sir John Howard, first Duke of Norfolk, we find, under the year 1463, “Item, Apylton and Sprynge off Lanam owyth my mastyr, as James Hoberd and yonge Apylton knowyth wele Manners and Household Expenses of England, &c. p. 180. ed. Roxb. It seems probable, however, from the early date, that the person mentioned in the entry just cited was the father (or some near relative) of the Spring noticed by Skelton. But Stow certainly alludes to the clothier of our text, where he records that, during the disturbances which followed the attempt to levy money for the king’s use in 1525, when the Duke of Norfolk inquired of the rebellious party in Suffolk “what was the cause of their disquiet, and who was their captaine?... one Iohn Greene a man of fiftie yeeres olde answered, that pouertie was both cause and captaine. For the rich clothiers Spring of Lanam and other had giuen ouer occupying, whereby they were put from their ordinarie worke and liuing.” Annales, p. 525. ed. 1615. Neither Hall nor Holinshed, when relating the same circumstance, make any mention of Spring.
[Page 55.] v. 935. He must tax for his wull] i. e. He must pay tax for his wool.
[Page 56.] v. 952. the streytes of Marock] i. e. the straits of Morocco.
“Thurghout the see of Grece, unto the straite
Of Maroc.”
Chaucer’s Man of Lawes Tale, v. 4884. ed. Tyr.
v. 953. the gybbet of Baldock] See note, p. 340. v. 75.
v. 958. mellys] i. e. meddles.
v. 972. fendys blake] i. e. fiends black.