15. An emperor Jovinian was famous in the mediaeval legends
for his pride and luxury
16. Cor meum eructavit: literally, “My heart has belched forth;”
in our translation, (i.e. the Authorised “King James” Version -
Transcriber) “My heart is inditing a goodly matter.” (Ps. xlv.
1.). “Buf” is meant to represent the sound of an eructation, and
to show the “great reverence” with which “those in possession,”
the monks of the rich monasteries, performed divine service,
17. N’ere thou our brother, shouldest thou not thrive: if thou
wert not of our brotherhood, thou shouldst have no hope of
recovery.
18. Thomas’ life of Ind: The life of Thomas of India - i.e. St.
Thomas the Apostle, who was said to have travelled to India.
19. Potestate: chief magistrate or judge; Latin, “potestas;”
Italian, “podesta.” Seneca relates the story of Cornelius Piso;
“De Ira,” i. 16.
20. Placebo: An anthem of the Roman Church, from Psalm
cxvi. 9, which in the Vulgate reads, “Placebo Domino in regione
vivorum” — “I will please the Lord in the land of the living”
21. The Gysen: Seneca calls it the Gyndes; Sir John Mandeville
tells the story of the Euphrates. “Gihon,” was the name of one
of the four rivers of Eden (Gen. ii, 13).
22. Him that harrowed Hell: Christ. See note 14 to the Reeve’s
Tale.
23. Mr. Wright says that “it was a common practice to grant
under the conventual seal to benefactors and others a brotherly
participation in the spiritual good works of the convent, and in
their expected reward after death.”