"Therefore, sweet master, for Saint Charity."
—Note on Hamlet, act iv., sc. 5.
[Dr Bailey supposes, which is very probable, that this abbreviated or corrupt form of Jesus arose from] the letters I H S being anciently all that was set down to denote that sacred name on altars, the covers of books, &c.
It occurs also in the following passage of Erasmus's "Praise of Folie," by Chaloner, 1549:—"Lyke as many great lordes there be who set so muche by theim, as scant they can eate theyr meate, or byde a minute without theim, cherisshyng them (by iysse) a little better than thei are wont to dooe these frounyng philosophers," &c. Sig. G 2.
Again, in "Euphues and his England," 1582, p. 5:—"Unto whome he replyed, shoaring up his eyes, 'by Jis,' soune, I accompt the cheere good which mainteineth health, and the servauntes honest whome I finde faythfull."
[275] i.e., she went.
"For all i-yede out at one ere,
That in that other she did lere."
—Romaunt of the Rose.
The word is also used by Spenser and Fairfax.