[St. 113]
p. 46, [l. 1307]. This line ought probably to run thus:
’Sir Torent praid, as was his wonne.’
[St. 115]
p. 47, [l. 1337 f.] This is SAINT Nycholas de Barr, not sir N., as the copyist has put. He was hardly a cleric, or he would have known the Boy Bishop. An English reference for S. Nicholas is Alban Butler, Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, etc., vol. vii. p. 989, Dublin, 1833. His day is Dec. 6th, consequently he is not in Acta Sanctorum; see besides Altenglische legenden, Neue folge, ed. Horstmann, Heilbronn, 1881, p. 11-16, and Barbour’s Legendensammlung, ed. Horstmann, I. p. 229-245. Barr is Bari in Italy, and Barbour, I. p. 238, l. 601 f., knew it was two syllables (cf. the rhyme þame be: Barre). Nicholas was the patron of sailors, and churches on the sea-coast in all parts of Europe were dedicated to him. Now as Sir Torrent had been in peril at sea, he offers to him. It was customary to offer garments at such shrines. See Hampson, Medii Ævi Kalendarium, I. p. 72. Hence I propose for l. 1338: A grett Erldome and a simarr. Simarr is not a common word, which makes it all the more probable here, since the uncommon words are those which are corrupted and lost. See Prompt. Parv., I. p. 75: ’chymer, abella,’ that is ‘abolla, cloak.’ M.E. simar, Fr. simarre.—Hall. I have not hesitated for a moment to introduce this sagacious conjecture into the text; also the correction of redith into tas I owe to Mr. Hall.
[St. 116]
p. 48, [l. 1353]. Cf. Kölbing’s note to Sir Tristrem, l. 2508.
[St. 117]
p. 48, [l. 1364]. We ought probably to read she instead of he.