23. 'That it would be more pleasant for you to be taken prisoner in
Friesland.' This seems to point to a period when such a mishap was not
uncommon. In fact, some Englishmen were present in an expedition against
Friesland which took place in the autumn of 1396. See the whole account in
Froissart, Chron. bk. iv. cc. 77, 78. He tells us that the Frieslanders
would not ransom the prisoners taken by their enemies; consequently, they
could not exchange prisoners, and at last they put their prisoners to
death. Thus the peculiar peril of being taken prisoner in Friesland is
fully explained.
25. _Proverbes_, set of proverbs. Koch remarks--'_Proverbes_ is rather
curious, referring to a singular, but seems to be right, as _proverbe_
would lose its last syllable, standing before a vowel.' Perhaps we should
read _or proverbe_.