proverbial: cf. modern "bee in the bonnet." Here = restless,
whimsical, full of projects: see Heywood, _Works_ (E.E.D.S.), II.
385; _s.v._ Head.
BEFORN, BEFORNE (_passim_), before.
BELLS, "one would think 'twere brass, most part on't was made of
our old _bells_" (R232,_b_). People states an historical fact,
and refers to the reformation of the coinage which occurred in
the previous reign. Under Edward VI. (1547-53) the Protector
Somerset reduced the coinage to its true value and the export of
bell-metal was forbidden (2 & 3 Edw. VI., c. 37). The pence of
the coinage of 1552 (the fourth of the reign, other issues having
been made in 1546-47, 1548, and 1550: see Respublica) was both of
fine and base metal. The _fine_ penny has (on the obverse) the
king seated, with arms and cross on the reverse. The _base_ penny
has a full-blown rose (the Tudor rose) instead of the enthroned
king. Half-pence are nearly the same as the pence.
BELLY, "when the _belly_ is full the bones would be at rest"
(R216,_b_), proverbial: see Heywood, _Works_ (E.E.D.S.), II.
55,_b_.
BENEFICES, "the fifth I have by selling of _benefices_" (R221,_b_).
"I have a good _benefice_ of a hundred marks" (R225,_b_)--"they
will take no _benefice_, but they must have all" (R225,_b_),
references apparently to the prevalence of simony. Although a
bill had been passed by a parliament of Edward VI., it did not
receive the royal assent; and it was not until 1588-89, under
Elizabeth, that any serious attempt was made to remedy the evil.
BERWICK (R254,_a_), in original _Barwicke_, to rhyme with
"Warwicke."
BESENE, "so well _besene_" (N117,_b_), good appearance, comely.
"And sad habiliments right _well beseene_."--Spencer, _Fairy
Queen_ (1590), I. xii. 5.
BESIRANCE, "chwas _besirance_ your ladydom to zee" (R213,_c_),
desirant.
BET, "could not a counselled us _bet_" (M35,_c_), better. "Perhaps
he shall be _bet_ advisde within a weeke or twayne."--"Romeus and
Juliet," _Supp. to Sh._, i. 292 (Nares).
BEZEIVERS, "valse _bezeivers_" (R230,_a_), deceivers.
BIDE, "had _bide_ ne'er so little longer" (R257,_b_) bided.
BIRD'S ARSE, "clean as a _bird's arse_" (M22,_b_), a proverbial
simile not uncommon in old writers: Heywood varies it--"as bare,"
etc. (_Works_, E.E.D.S., II., 89,_a_).
BLANE, "without _blane_" (WH294,_b_), ceasing.
BLENCH, "to _blench_ his sight" (M23,_d_), deceive, hinder,
obstruct. "The rebels besieged them, winning the even ground on
the top, by carrying up great trusses of hay before them, to
_blench_ the defendants' sight, and dead their shot."--Carew,
_Survey of Cornwall_ (1602).
BLEST, "God's dear _blest_" (IP316,_c_), _i.e._ happy or blessed,
"people" being understood. Also bliss, happiness.
BLIN, "of thy prayer _blin_" (M25,_b_), cease, stop. "How so her
fansies stop--Her tears did never _blin_." "Romeus and Juliet,"
_Supp. to Sh._, i. 287 (Nares).
BLOODINGS (R221,_a_), black (or blood) puddings.
BLOTTIBUS, etc. (M30,_b_), kitchen Latin.
BOARD, BOURD, "I will _board_ her" (R195,_b_)--"to _bourd_
Respublica" (R200,_b_). Mr. Magnus says "to engage in tilting,"
but is not the sense that of Fr. _aborder_ = to accost, address,
woo. The spelling in the present text should, of course, have
been uniform. "I am sure he is in the fleet; I would he had
_boarded_ me."--Shakespeare, _Much Ado_, ii. I. "... for, sure,
unless he knew some strain in me, that I know not myself, he
would never have _boarded_ me in this fury."--Shakespeare, _Merry
Wives of_ _Windsor_, ii. I.
BOAT, "an oar in everybody's _boat_" (R235,_c_): see Heywood,
_Works_ (E.E.D.S.), II., 24,_b_; 207,_a_; 417,_c_.
BOLT, "my _bolt_ is shot" (M34,_d_), an arrow: for examples of the
proverb, see Heywood, _Works_ (E.E.D.S.), II. 58,_d_; 91,_a_;
205,_d_; 332,_d_; 370,_c_.
BOLT, "sift and _bolt_" (R207,_d_), the legal sense is probably
intended rather than redundancy for the rhyming's sake.
Oppression means that matters must be gifted and discussed
privately in order to improve their opportunities for rascality.
"And having performed the exercises of their own houses called
_boltes_, _mootes_, and putting of cases, they proceed to be
admitted and become students, in some of these four houses or
innes of court, where continuing by the space of seven yeares (or
there-aboutes) they frequent readings, meetings, _boltinges_,
and other learned exercises."--Stowe, _Survey of_ _London_,
p. 59. "The judge, or jury, or parties, or the counsel, or
attornies, propounding questions, beats and _bolts_ out the
truth much better than when the witness delivers only a formal
series."--Sir M. Hale (_d._ 1676).
BONES, see Belly.
BOOT, "he will be my _boot_" (M11,_a_), help, remedy, cure. "Ich
haue _bote_ of mi-bale."--_William of_ _Palerne_ (_c._ 1300),
627. "God send every trewe man _boote_ of his bale."--Chaucer,
_Cant. Tales_ (1383), 13,409.
BORD, "we did but _bord_" (WH298,_a_), jest: see other volumes of
this series.
BORROW, (_a_) "I shall be your _borrow_" (M ), security, pledge,
surety, protector. "Their _borrow_ is God Almighty."--Piers
Plowman (1363), 37,_b_. (_b_) see St. George.
BOURD, see Board.
BOY, see Ball.
BOYS, "shall _boys_ ... of such high matters play" (R180,_d_). Mr.
Magnus asks whether this reference to "boy-chorister-actors" may
not "have some special reference to Edward VI.'S theological
precocity."
BRAST, "the halter _brast_ asunder" (M27,_c_; also 28,_d_),
burst. "But with that percing noise flew open quite, or
_brast_."--Spenser, _Fairy Queen_ (1590), I. viii. 4.
BRAT, "a whole _brat_ to his back" (JP338,_d_), cloak, mantle.
"Ne had they but a shete Which that they might wrappen hem in
a-night, And a _bratt_ to walken in by day-light."--Chaucer,
_Cant. Tales_ (1383), 16,347.
BREADIBUS, "_breadibus ... horsibus ... firibusque_" (M5,_b_), for
bread, for horses, and for fires: a form, of dog-Latin which has
always been, and still is, popular: see Misericordia.
BRETHEL, "and thy own wife _brethel_, and take thee a leman"
(M27,_a_), _brethell_ in original: the E.E. text editors suggest
[_be_] _brethell_, that is, "if thy own wife be adulterous."
This, however, seems beside the mark of the context, as why
should Mankind be counselled to take a whore because his wife is
unchaste? May _brethel_ not be a mis-script for A.S. _betelle_
(Halliwell)=to deceive? The meaning is then clear enough and the
reading sound. On the other hand, I fail to find any authority
for Halliwell's suggestion _betelle_=deceive, mislead, in either
Anglo-Saxon or M.E. dictionaries, and the _r_ in the word
brethel, perhaps precludes the adoption of betelle, _r_ being a
highly characteristic letter. An alternative suggestion is that
brethel is meant for _brechell_, from _breken_, to break, to
injure, to vex, harass, torment, or destroy. "Breken" has among
its derivatives "brac," "brake," "brek," "breche," "briche,"
"bruche," "bruchel."
BRENNING, "hot and _brenning_" (N122,_a_), burning: also
_brent_=burnt: see other volumes of this series.
BREST, "till his belly _brest_" (M6,_a_), burst.
BRIARS, "all in _briars_" (JE364,_a_), in trouble, misfortune,
difficulty, doubt: see _Anon. Plays_, 2 Ser. (E.E.D.S.), 341,_a_.
BRIM, "_brim_ and hot" (R241,_d_). Magnus glosses this "brimhot":
but cf. _brim_=well-known, spoken of, public. "That thou dost
hold me in disdain, Is _brim_ abroad, and made a gibe to all that
keep this plain." Warner, _Albion's England_ (1586-1606).
BROKLETS (R183,_d_), crumbs; of Scots _brock_.
BRONT, "Titivilly would assay you a _bront_" (M39,_b_), brunt,
charge.
BROTHERN, "ye _brothern_" (M4,_b_), an old plural: cf. _childern_
still in dialect use.
BUM VAY (R211,_d_), by my faith: original spelling _vei_: cf. Fr.
_foi_.
BUNTING, "how think you by this _bunting_" (R216,_d_), Mr. Magnus
glosses this "swelling"; but is it not a term of endearment,
perhaps with an eye on the diminutive form of _bunt_="a swelling
part, an increasing cavity, the bagging of a fishing net or the
like" (_Ency. Dict._).
BURRS, "cleave together like _burrs_" (M193,_a_), proverbial.
BY AND BY (_passim_), immediately.
CAILES, "play not at _cailes_, cards, nor dice" (IP320,_b_),
ninepins (Minshew).
CALAIS, _arms of Calais_ (R217,_c_), a common oath of the period.
The French citadel was lost to the English in 1558, after an
occupation lasting for upwards of two centuries: see other
volumes of this series.
(_b_) "_hangman of Calais_" (JE359,_a_), this mention (_see
supra_) may have some bearing on the date of the play. Halliwell
in _Old Plays_ gives 1566 as the date of printing, but does not
state how he arrives at the figures: see John the Evangelist.
CAN (_passim_), able to do; does.
CAPAX, "tractable and _capax_" (WS137,_d_), capable, sharp,
knowing: Latin. "I am a trew flie; sure I can no false knackes;
Alas! master spyder, ye be to _capackes_." Heywood, _Works_
(E.E.D.S.), III., _Spider and Flie_, 1556.
CAPPER, "the scald _capper_" (N67,_c_), a cap-maker. "_Cappar_,
bonnettier."--Palsgrave, _Lang. Franc._
CAPTIVITY, "passeth our captivity" (R211,_b_), capacity: part of
People's mumble-jumble.
CAREFUL, "a _careful_ carriage" (WS173,_a_), full of care: cf.
Painful, Hateful. "By him that raised me to this _careful_
height."--Shakespeare, _Rich. III._ (1597), i. 3.
CAREN, "as _carene_" (M32,_d_), carrion. "I felte the stench of
_caren_ here present."--_Wisdom_ (E.E.T.S.), 71, 1103.
CARONOUS, "_caronous_ body" (N89,_c_), rotten: of Shakespeare
(_Julius Cæsar_, iii. 1), "That this foul deed shall smell above
the earth With _carrion_ men, groaning for burial."
CASSE, "I hung upon the _casse_" (M27,_d_), apparently a frame of
some sort.
CAT, "a _cat_ ... may look on a king" (R236,_b_); see Heywood,
_Works_ (E.E.D.S.), II., 340, _s.v._ Cat _a_.
CATCH, "Catch that _catch_ may" (R187,_b_). An early example of
this proverbial saying.
CATON (JE352,_c_), Cato, the Roman Censor: the pattern of sternness
and austere manner, he stabbed himself at Utica 46 B.C. because,
considering freedom as alone sustaining the dignity of man, he
felt himself unable to survive the independence of his country.
He was frequently quoted by writers of this period--"_Caton_, the
grete clerke "--_Cast. Persev._ (E.E.T.S., 103, 868).
CAVEATIS, "I say _Caveatis_" (M21,_d_; 22,_b_), Beware!
CAVILLATION, "make this _cavillation_" (WH281,_d_), frivolous
objections, cavilling. "I might add so much concerning the
large odds between the case of the eldest churches in regard of
heathens, and ours in respect of the Church of Rome, that very
_cavillation_ itself should be satisfied."--Hook.
CAYME, "in that _cayme_ he was like to" (JE366,_c_), in original
_Cayme_. I can make nothing of it except that it is a misprint
for Cain.
CEPE, "speak to the sheriff for a _cepe_ coppus" (M34,_d_), _i.e._
_cape corpus_ for _capias corpus_, a writ of attachment.
_'Ch_ (_passim_) = I: _e.g._ cha = I have (ich 'a'); chad = I had;
cham = I am, etc.; see Dialect.
CHA, CHE, "_Che_ wa'r't" (R210,_c_),--"_Che_ was vair"
(R232,_b_),--"_Cha_ not be haled up" (R267,_c_). I.
CHAD (_passim_), I had--'ch 'ad.
CHAM (_passim_) I am--'ch am.
CHAMPION, "now is a _champion_ field" (R200,_d_), _i.e._ champagne
= flat open country. "Fra the thine thay went fourty dayes, and
come intille a _champayne_ cuntree that was alle barayne, and
na hye place, ne na hilles mighte be sene on na syde."--_MS.
Lincoln_, A. i. 17, f. 31. "... the Canaanites, which dwell
in the _champaign_ over against Gilgal, beside the plains of
Moreh?"--_Bible_, Auth. Ver. (1611), _Deut._ xi. 30. "The verdant
meads are drest in green, The _champion_ fields with corn are
seen."--_Poor Robin_ (1694).
CHARITY, see St. Charity.
CHAVE (_passim_), I have--[i]ch 'ave.
CHECK, "let us con well our neck-verse that we have not a _check_"
(M23,_c_), _i.e._ be hung.
CHERY-TIME, "but a _chery-time_" (M12,_a_), a short time, "like
cherry blossoms" (Furnivall and Pollard).
CHE[VI]SANCE, "the new _che[vi]sance_" (M29,_a_), _chesance_ in
original: usually _chevisance_ = treaty, agreement, bargain;
but here, as Mischief is speaking of the food and other cheer
he has stolen, the meaning may be gain, booty, plunder,
spoil. "Eschaunges and _chevysaunces_, with swich chaffare I
dele."--Langland, _P. Plowman_ (1363), 2969.
CHILL (_passim_), I will--'ch 'ill.
CHIVE, "I warrant him a _chive_" (R185,_d_), a chip, fragment: a
small standard of value. "If any _chive_, chip, or dust skip into
the eye, ... then can you not cure the eye but by removing and
drawing the said _chive_."--Barrough, _Method of Physick_ (1624.)
CHOP, CHOPE (_a_) "in nomine Patris, _chope_ ... Ye shall not
_chop_ my jewels" (M20,_a_), in both cases the original has
_choppe_; but as Nought and New Guise were funning and punning,
I have preserved the play on the words which I think was
intended--_chope_ = ch'ope (I hope) and _chop_ = cut off; but
the student can choose, and regard the first _chop_ also to mean
"cut!" "strike!" "_Chope_ you'll consider my pain."--_Misogonus_,
Anon. Plays, 2 Ser. (E.E.D.S.), 210_b_.
(_b_) "Into a deanery ... to _chop_" (R223,_d_). Mr. Magnus
glosses this as "snap"; but is it not used in the closer sense
of _to pop_? cf. _chop-church_ = (1) one who exchanges livings,
or (2) such an act of barter. "As flise at libertee in and out
might _chop_."--Heywood, _Spider and Flie_ (1556), _Works_, III.
(E.E.D.S.).
CHOULD (_passim_), I would--'ch 'ould.
CHRISTENDOM, "by my _christendom_" (R196,_d_). See E.E.D.S., _Anon.
Plays_, Series 2 and 3, Note-Books, _s.v._ 4.2]
CHRISTMAS DEVICE (R179,_b_), Christmas was better kept as a
festival in olden times than in modern days, lasting at this
period from Christmas Eve to Old Christmas Day or Twelfth night.
At Court, and in the Inns of Court, high revel was kept; from
references such as the above it is clear that many a play was
specially written for, and first presented at, these festivals.
The sources of detailed descriptions are too well known to need
particular reference.
CHRISTMAS SONG (M15,_d_; 16,_a_ to _c_). Prof. Manly omits this
precious production; perhaps rightly in view of his text being
prepared for class-room use; the E.E.T. Society's issue gives it
as a matter of course, as do I.
CHURCH, "a _church_ here beside," etc. (M28,_b_), _i.e._ the abbey
larder should provide the requisite cheer.
CHURCH-STILE, "on the _church stile_" (M26,_a_), a stile in, or
leading to, the precincts of the church.
CHWAS (_passim_), I was--'ch was.
CLARIFY, "This question to _clarify_" (M5,_a_), make clear
or intelligible, answer, clear up. "A word to you I wold
_claryfy_."--_Towneley Myst._, p. 67.
CLASH, "at _clash_ and cards" (IP338,_b_), bawdy talk, gossiping,
tittle-tattle, quarrelling. "Good Lord! what fiery _clashings_
we have had lately for a cap and a surplice!"--Howell, _Lett._
(1644-45), iv. 29.
CLAWBACK, "you flearing _clawback_ you" (R188,_a_), lickspittle,
flatterer. The whole passage is a striking early instance of
sarcastic vituperation, and the gradual piling up of the weight
of abuse.
CLEAN, "a clean gentleman" (M22,_a_), fair, comely, noble: a
general appreciative. "With the _clennest_ _cumpanye_ that euer
king ladde."--_Will. of Paleren_ (_c._ 1360), 1609.
CLEPE, "if I should _clepe_ to memory" (N45,_a_), call. "I shall
inwardly _clepe_ the Lord."--Wycliffe, _Psalm_ xvii. 4.
CLERICAL, "_clerical_ manner" (M8,_b_),--"a _clerical_ matter"
(M26,_a_), clerk-like, scholarly, abstruse, learned.
CLOTHES, "the _clothes_ of thy _shoon_" (M35,_b_), generic for
fabric and material as well as for dress and apparel.
CLOUTERY, (R263,_d_). Mr. Magnus glosses this as "mending," and
probably he is right. On the other hand, a glance may be given to
the Northern _clouter_ = to do dirty work.
COBS, "the great _cobs_" (R232,_d_), a rich but grasping person, a
person of superior rank and power. "Susteynid is not by personis
lowe, But _cobbis_ grete this riote sustene."--_Occleve, MS. Soc.
Antiq._ 134, f. 267. "But, at leisure, ther must be some of the
gret _cobbes_ served likewise, and the king to have ther landes
likewise, as, God willing, he shall have th' erle of Kildares in
possession, or somer passe."--_State_ _Papers_, ii. 228 (Nares).
COCK'S (_passim_), God's. Hence _Cock's body sacred_ = God's
consecrated body.
COMMEDIENS, "as _commediens_ vor us" (R212,_a_), commodious.
COMMODITY (_passim_), advantage and many allied senses: see other
volumes of this series.
COMPANABLE, "such as be _companable_" (N62,_a_), affable, sociable,
companionable. "Frendly to ben and _compaygnable_ at al." _MS.
Fairfax 16_.
CONFORMED, see Respublica.
CONGY, "a little pretty _congy_" (N60,_d_), bow of salutation.
CONVERT, "thine eyes to me _convert_" (R238,_c_), turn, move.
CONVERTIBLE (M33,_b_), unstedfast, changeable.
CONVICT, "_convict_ them" (M19,_a_)--"Mercy shall never be
_convict_ of his uncurtess condition" (M34,_a_), conquer,
persuade.
CONVINCED, "they shall be _convinced_" (R246,_b_), convicted: cf.
convict. "Which of you _convinceth_ me of sin?"--_Bible_, Auth.
Vers. (1611), _John_ viii. 46.
COPED, (_a_) "Christ's _coped_ curse" (M36,_a_); in original
_coppyde_: cf. _copie_, _copy_ = abundance, plenty (Trevisa,
i. 301), and _copped_, _coppyd_ = rising to a point, heaped-up
as a measure; hence "Christ's _copious_, abundant, overflowing
malediction." "This Spayne ... hath grete _copy_, and plente of
castelles."--_Trevisa_, i. 301.
(_b_) "he is so _copped_" (R213,_a_), apparently a variant of
_coppet_ = saucy, impudent, overbearing.
COPY, "change our _copy_" (R202,_b_), manner.
CORROMPT, "Is should be _corrompt_ therefore" (R256,_b_); punished
is meant, but the usual sense is "corrupted."
COUCH, "I will _couch_ you all up" (R216,_b_), conceal, hide away,
put in safe keeping. "In the seler of Juppiter ther ben _couched_
two tunnes."--Chaucer, _Boethius_, p. 35.
COURTESY, "the _courtesy of England_ is oft to kiss" (JE356,_d_).
In _The English Historical Review_ (vol. vii., p. 270) there
is an article by Major Martin A.S. Hume on "Philip's visit to
England" in 1554. The article is founded on a Spanish account
written by Andres Muñoz, a servant in the household of Don
Carlos, Philip's son, then a child. Muñoz did not himself go to
England, but probably got his account from someone, much in the
same position as himself, who did go. The writer describes how
Philip met Queen Mary at Winchester, "_and kissed her on the_
_mouth, in the English fashion_." On taking leave Philip was
introduced to Mary's ladies, all of whom he kissed "_so as not_
(says Muñoz) _to break the custom_ _of the country, which is a
very good one_." This no doubt explains the passage in the play,
but there was at law another _courtesy of England_ with which,
in the origins, it may have some obscure connection. Cowel, in
his _Law Dictionary_ (1607), describes a tenure by which, if a
man marry an inheritrix, that is, a woman seised of land, and
getteth a child of her that comes alive into the world, though
both the child and his wife die forthwith, yet, if she were in
possession, shall he keep the land during his life, and is called
tenant _per legem Angliæ_, or by the _courtesy of England_.
COURTNALS, "a zort of _courtnalls_" (R255,_d_), courtiers: in
contempt (Halliwell).
COURT SPIRITUAL (JP343,_b_), Abundance was accused of fornication,
and so came under ecclesiastical jurisdiction. These courts were
made separate to the Secular or Civil Courts in 1085, but until
the establishment of the Divorce and Probate Courts in 1857 the
Ecclesiastical Courts took cognisance of blasphemy, apostasy,
heresy, schism, ordinations, matters pertaining to benefices,
matrimony, divorces, bastardy, tithes, incest, fornication,
adultery, probate of wills, administrations, and similar matters
(Haydn).
CREANCE, "chief of His _creance_" (N45,_d_), ordinarily faith,
belief, credit, payment: I subjoin examples of each usage, but
neither seem to fit the sense. There is an alternative which
is nearer the mark, in the Latin _creans_, pr. p. of _creo_,
to create; but I find no authority beyond _creant_, which, as
far as I know, is modern: see last example. "This mayden tauzte
the _creance_ Unto this wyf so perfitly."--Gower, _MS._ _Soc.
Antiq._ 134, f. 66. "And with his precyous bloode he wroote the
bills Upon the crosse, as general acquytaunce To every penytent
in ful _creaunce_."--_Rom._ _of the Monk_, Sion College MS. "The
_creant_ word Which thrilled around us."--Mrs. Browning.
CREASETH, "when she _creaseth_ again" (N44,_a_), short for
_increaseth_.
CREATURE (R. _passim_), throughout a trisyllable.
CROW, see Clawback.
CUCULORUM, "taken with a _cuculorum_" (JE352,_d_), the rhyming
exigency no doubt influenced the form of the word, but in any
case the use is obscure, probably slang now lost. Whether,
however, it originated in _cucullus_, a hood, or _cuculus_, a
cuckoo (whence cuckold), or whether the word enshrines a play on
both, I cannot say.
CUMBERLAND, see Respublica.
CURIA, etc. (M30,_c_), the proceedings of Manorial Courts were
generally headed "_Curia_ generalis tenta ibidem," etc. Mischief,
with assumed official authority, means that the document was
written in an alehouse (or where ale was plenty) with a sham date.
CUSTODITY, "in my _custodity_" (R266,_d_), custody.
CUT, "Call me _cut_" (N54,_b_), properly a gelding or any animal
with a short or cut tail, and specifically an intensive reproach.
The classical illustration to the present passage is, of course,
from Shakespeare, "If I tell thee a lie, spit in my face and call
me horse" (_1 Hen. IV._, ii. 1). Compare again, "cutted whore"
(N66_d_): see other volumes of this series.
DAINTY, "men have little _dainty_ of your play" (M13,_b_),
_i.e._ little that is agreeable or pleasant, small liking for
or delight in. "It was _daynte_ for to see the cheere bitwix
hem two."--Chaucer, _Cant._ _Tales_ (1383), 8983. "... and all
things which were _dainty_ and goodly are departed from thee,
..."--_Bible_, Auth. Vers. (1611), _Rev._ xviii. 14.
DAISY, "leap at a _daisy_" (R243,_c_), be hanged: see _Anon.
Plays_, 3 Ser. (E.E.D.S.).
DALLIATION, "leave your _dalliation_" (M5,_a_), dallying.
DALLY, "quit as a _dally_" (JE365,_b_), what "a tale of titmary
tally" (see previous line) or "quit as a _dally_" mean I am
unable to discover. The original is, "She helde me with a tale of
tytemary tally Tyll my thryfte was gone as quyte as a _dally_."
DA PACEM (M31,_d_), literally "give us peace"; here slang for a
knife or dagger: cf. modern "Arkansas toothpick" = a bowie knife,
"Meat-in-the-pot" = a gun, and similar locutions.
DARNEL, see Drawk.
DEAMBULATORY (M37,_c_), a covered walk, cloister, ambulatory.
DELECTABLE, "my talking _delectable_" (M5,_d_), pleasing,
delightful.
DELVER (_passim_), delve.
DEPARTED, DEPART, (_a_) "how I _departed_ them" (N80,_b_).
(_b_) "till death us _depart_" (WS172,_d_), _i.e._ (_a_) left
them; (_b_) till death divides, or parts: now corrupted in
the Marriage Service into "do part." "We wille _departe_ his
clothing."--_Towneley_ _Myst._, p. 228.
DESTRUCTIONS, "_destructions_ to 'member in my heart" (R234,_d_),
instructions: part of People's mangled English.
DETECTED, "ne'er of any crime _detected_" (R183,_b_), possibly here
= accused.
DEVER, "put me in _dever_" (M24,_d_), duty, service. "Do the
_deuer_ that thow hast to done."--_William_ _of Palerne_ (_c._
1360), 2546.
DEVOSE, "we must _devose_ how that we may" (WH289,_a_), devise.
DIALECT AND JARGON, see Respublica, Wealth and Health.
DINTY, "no _dinty_ to do" (N49,_d_), pleasure, liking: see Dainty.
DISEASE (_passim_), generic for absence of ease--discomfort,
annoyance, trouble, difficulty, sorrow, etc.: see other volumes
of this series.
DISPECTIBLE, "thou art _dispectible_" (M33,_c_), despicable.