8. Gardebrace: French, “garde-bras,” an arm-shield; probably
resembling the “gay bracer” which the Yeoman, in the Prologue
to The Canterbury Tales, wears on his arm.
9. Confession and prayer were the usual preliminaries of any
enterprise in those superstitious days; and in these days of
enlightenment the fashion yet lingers among the most
superstitious class — the fisher-folk.
10. The knights resolved that they would quit their castles and
houses of stone for humble huts.
11. The knight and lady were buried without music, although
the office for the dead was generally sung.
12. Avisand: considering; present participle from “avise” or
“advise.”
13. Treacle; corrupted from Latin, “therisca,” an antidote. The
word is used for medicine in general.
14. The abbess made diligence: i.e. to administer the grain to
the dead ladies.