Durham, April 8. 1851.
_Swearing by Swans, &c._ (Vol. ii., p. 392.; Vol. iii., pp. 70. 192.).--In
addition to what has already appeared on this subject, the following
extract from Tyrwhitt's _Glossary to Chaucer_ will, I hope, be acceptable.
"Ale and Bred. This oath of Sire Thopas on ale and bred was perhaps
intended to ridicule the solemn vows, which were frequently made in the
days of chivalrie, to a peacock, a pheasant, or some other _noble
bird_."--See M. de Sainte Palaye, _Sur l'anc. Cheval._, Mem. iii^{me}.
This practice is alluded to in "Dunbar's Wish that the King were Johne
Thomsonnis man" (MS. Maitland, st. v.):
"I would gif all that ever I have
To that condition, so God me saif,
That ye had VOWIT TO THE SWAN
Ane yeir to be John Thomsonnis man."
And so in the _Prol. to the Contin. of the Canterb. T._, ver. 452., the
Hosteler says:
"I MAKE A VOWE TO THE PECOCK, ther shall wake a foule mist."
The instance given in Vol. iii., p. 192., is recorded by Monstrelet, _Hist.
de France, Charles VII._