—— hardely] i. e. confidently.

v. 88. Auaunce] i. e. Advance.

v. 89. chaffer] i. e. merchandise.

v. 90. I auyse you to speke, for ony drede] i. e. I advise you to speak, notwithstanding any dread you may feel. Compare Lydgate;

“And for al strengthe that gad yaf hym [Samson] before,

Thei hym captived.”

The prohemy of a mariage, &c.,—MS. Harl. 372. fol. 48.

Page 33. v. 92. quod] i. e. quoth.

Page 34. v. 94. And this an other] i. e. And this is another reason.

v. 95. not worth a bene] Bene (bean) is frequently used by our early poets to express any thing worthless: