"the doubtful rack of heaven
Stands without motion."
The term scud, used by sailors, seems to express the same idea.
X. Z.
RICHARD ROLLE OF HAMPOLE.
(Vol. iv., pp. 49. 116.)
The productions of the writer known by the name of the Hermit of Hampole have been hitherto much neglected: they afford copious illustrations of ancient manners, and are very valuable in a philological point of view. I would especially name the Speculum Vitæ, or Mirrour of Life, of which I possess two MSS. in entirely distinct dialects.
Your Cambridge correspondent has shown that the Metrical Sermons contain interesting passages also illustrative of manners and as the extracts he has made have given occasion to some glossarial Queries from an Oxford correspondent, J. E., should they not be more satisfactorily answered by C. H., to whom they are addressed, perhaps the following attempt to resolve them may not be unacceptable.
1. By the devenisch most probably the Danish is meant, which we find elsewhere written Deniske, Daniske, and Danske.
2. Guystroun should be quystroun, which is used by Chaucer in the Romaunt of the Rose, and signifies a scullion, as is evident from this passage. It is from the O. Fr. quistron or cuistron. Thus in K. Alisaunder (Weber's Metr. Rom.), v. 2511.:
"Ther n'as knave no quistron