^{page 301 note 1} The best modern discussion of late-medieval English grammatical MSS is by Thomson, D., A Descriptive Catalogue of Middle English Grammatical Texts (New York & London 1979). It contains a good bibliography. A list of medieval English and European grammatical works is being published by Bursill-Hall, G. L., ‘A Check-List of Incipits of Medieval Latin Grammatical Treatises,’ Traditio 35 (1978) 439–74, and in progress.Google Scholar

^{page 301 note 2} I acknowledge gratefully the permission of the rector and fellows of Lincoln College, Oxford, to publish material from the manuscript.Google Scholar

^{page 301 note 3} Oxford: Clarendon Press, forthcoming. I am indebted to Dr. Ker for his kindness in communicating his description of the MS to me before publication. The manuscript is also discussed, and item 3a is edited, by Wilson, Edward, ‘An Unpublished Poem on Plant-Names from Lincoln College, Oxford, MS. Lat. 129 (E.),’ Notes and Queries ns 26 (1979) 504–8.Google Scholar

^{page 302 note 4} Lincoln College, Oxford, MS Lat. 129 (E.) fol. 18.Google Scholar

^{page 302 note 5} On Londe and his school see Orme, Nicholas, Education in the West of England, 1066–1548 (Exeter 1976) 38–40.Google Scholar

^{page 302 note 6} Since he transcribed item 1g at Bristol on 20 May 1428 (MS fol. 24).Google Scholar

^{page 303 note 7} MS fol. 120^v.Google Scholar

^{page 303 note 8} Worcester, Hereford & Worcester Record Office, Reg. Thomas Polton, fols. 104–5.Google Scholar

^{page 303 note 9} The Register of John Stafford, Bishop of Bath and Wells, 1425–1443, ed. T. Scott Holmes (Somerset Record Society 31; 1915) I 63, 96, 150.Google Scholar

^{page 303 note 10} London, Public Record Office, Exch. KR, Clerical Subsidy Rolls, E 179/52/147.Google Scholar

^{page 303 note 11} Salisbury, Dean & Chapter Archives, Reg. Harding, fol. 104^v.Google Scholar

^{page 303 note 12} Above, note 10. For the date of the subsidy see Calendar of Fine Rolls, 1430–7 (London 1936) 269–72.Google Scholar

^{page 303 note 13} Trowbridge, Wiltshire Record Office, Reg. William Aiscough, fol. 76.Google Scholar

^{page 303 note 14} Valor Ecclesiasticus tempore Henrici VIII, ed. J. Caley (London 1810–24) II 130.Google Scholar

^{page 304 note 15} Reg. Aiscough, fol. 82^v.Google Scholar

^{page 304 note 16} Valor Ecclesiasticus II 139.Google Scholar

^{page 304 note 17} Wiltshire Record Office, Reg. Richard Beauchamp, fol. 119.Google Scholar

^{page 304 note 18} Ibid. fol. 41.Google Scholar

^{page 304 note 19} The quotation is to be found in William of Malmesbury, De gestis regum Anglorum, ed. W. Stubbs (Rolls Series; London 1887) I 131–32.Google Scholar

^{page 304 note 20} On these schools see Orme (above, note 5) 65–78, 101.Google Scholar

^{page 304 note 21} Public Record Office, Probate Court of Canterbury, Registered Copy Wills, Prob 11/5 fol. 69^r–v (PCC 9 Godyn).Google Scholar

^{page 305 note 22} Above, note 17.Google Scholar

^{page 305 note 23} Edited by E. Wilson (above, note 3).Google Scholar

^{page 306 note 24} On these texts see Orme, Nicholas, English Schools in the Middle Ages (London 1973) 102–5.Google Scholar

^{page 307 note 25} Thomson (above, note 1) 6–8.Google Scholar

^{page 307 note 26} Ibid. 129.Google Scholar

^{page 307 note 27} On Wotton-under-Edge school see Orme (above, note 5) 190–99.Google Scholar

^{page 307 note 28} On early vulgaria see Orme (above, note 24) 98–100.Google Scholar

^{page 308 note 29} Orme, Nicholas, ‘An Early-Tudor Oxford Schoolbook,’ Renaissance Quarterly 34 (1981) 15.Google Scholar

^{page 309 note 30} Orme (above, note 5) 40.Google Scholar

^{page 309 note 31} Itineraria Simonis Simeonis et Willelmi de Worcester, ed. J. Nasmith (Cambridge 1778) 178.Google Scholar

^{page 310 note 32} On Worcester's career see Emden, A. B., A Biographical Register of the University of Oxford to A.D. 1500 (Oxford 1957–59) III 2086–87.Google Scholar

^{page 310 note 33} Orme (above, note 24) 133–34.Google Scholar

^{page 312 note 34} Horman, William, Vulgaria , ed. M. R. James (Roxburghe Club 169; Oxford 1926); The Vulgaria of John Stanbridge and Robert Whittinton, ed. Beatrice White (EETS os 187; London 1932); A Fifteenth Century School Book, ed. W. Nelson (Oxford 1956).Google Scholar

^{page 313 note 35} This subject is also touched on by Orme (above, note 24) 137–41, and in ‘Schoolmasters, 1307–1509,’ Profession, Vocation and Culture in Medieval England, ed, C. H. Clough (Liverpool 1982) 236–37.Google Scholar

^{page 314 note 1} Short hors: B. J. & H. W. Whiting, Proverbs, Sentences and Proverbial Phrases from English Writings mainly before 1500 (Cambridge, Mass. 1968) H525. Y-whyped: curried. Y-flypyd: the nearest medieval verb recorded is ‘flipe’ meaning ‘to strip.’ The Latin form ‘liguritur’ means ‘licked up.’Google Scholar

^{page 314 note 2} Noun: anon.Google Scholar

^{page 314 note 3} Pond: pound. Inclusorium: is glossed in Latin ‘catabulum.’Google Scholar

^{page 314 note 4} Aposyd: questioned or examined in grammar.Google Scholar

^{page 314 note 5} The lightness of the lime-tree leaf occurs as an image in other medieval English writings (Whiting, Proverbs L139).Google Scholar

^{page 314 note 6} Exarsatum: recte ‘exossatum.’Google Scholar

^{page 314 note 7} Bymyfey: added later.Google Scholar

^{page 314 note 8} By ryst: added later.Google Scholar

^{page 315 note 10} Sponys: chips. The first two elements of the proverb are recorded elsewhere in the late 15th century (Whiting, Proverbs F187).Google Scholar

^{page 315 note 11} Ibid. C251.Google Scholar

^{page 315 note 13} Lotyth: lurk. Cribrifurum: presumably ‘a sieve of thieves.’Google Scholar

^{page 315 note 14} Wordle: world. Temito: perhaps meant for ‘timeto.’Google Scholar

^{page 315 note 15} Worl: world.Google Scholar

^{page 315 note 16} Timmarijs: presumably ‘thymy’ from Latin ‘timus.’Google Scholar

^{page 315 note 18} Kast: presumably a throw at dice or with a missile. Afore: beforehand. Poynet: a poignet (wristlet or bracelet).Google Scholar

^{page 315 note 20} Scolatiso: recte ‘scolatisat.’Google Scholar

^{page 316 note 23} Cawlestokke: cabbage stalk.Google Scholar

^{page 316 note 24} Pyppe: pip, a respiratory disease of poultry.Google Scholar

^{page 316 note 26} Lowys: loves. Spald: shoulder. A similar sentence occurs in some 15th-century vulgaria from Winchester: ‘Draper, howe louys pu a yerde of pis clothe, pe whiche ys well colowryde?’ (British Library, Add. MS 60577, fol. 73).Google Scholar

^{page 316 note 28} Belsyre: grandfather. Sowgyng: sucking.Google Scholar

^{page 316 note 29} Sanctimo: recte ‘sanctissima.’Google Scholar

^{page 317 note 32} Wornges: wrongs.Google Scholar

^{page 317 note 33} Possidiuo: perhaps intended to mean ‘in possession of.’ Pagus, ‘a district’: apparently a mistake for ‘portus,’ ‘a port.’Google Scholar

^{page 317 note 34} The proverb has not been found in English in this form; the Latin (with an internal rhyme) may be the original.Google Scholar

^{page 317 note 36} Candylmasse euyn: the day before 2 February. Fasting was encouraged on the eves or vigils of great ecclesiastical feasts.Google Scholar

^{page 317 note 37} Green sewe: probably the same as ‘sauce verte,’ a green sauce made with parsley, mint, and other herbs (Two Fifteenth-Century Cookery-Books, ed. T. Austin [EETS os 91; London 1888] 77, 110). ‘Vergys’ (verjuice) and vinegar were other popular constituents of sauces to go with veal or mutton (ibid. 13, 72, 110).Google Scholar

^{page 318 note 39} Leche fynger: the fourth or ring finger.Google Scholar

^{page 318 note 42} Flescholeve: perhaps meant for ‘flesh-leave,’ a literal translation of ‘carniprivium,’ the beginning of Lent.Google Scholar

^{page 318 note 43} Latyn: a Latin exercise.Google Scholar

^{page 318 note 45} ‘It is healthier to be loose than to be constipated.’ Laxatiuum: is glossed in English ‘laxatyfe.’ Constupatum: is glossed in English ‘costy, as a mon pat may not go to sege.’Google Scholar

^{page 318 note 46} Asyre: an ounce and a half of pure azure blue cost 2s. 6d. at Westminster in 1290 (Salzman, L. F., Building in England down to 1540 [Oxford 1967] 169).Google Scholar

^{page 319 note 49} Nudus: recte nudum.Google Scholar

^{page 319 note 50} Bowke: the nave of the church, open to the laity. A medieval priest commonly drew his hood over his head and face before hearing confession (Myrc, John, Instructions for Parish Priests , ed. E. Peacock [EETS os 31; London 1868] 27).Google Scholar

^{page 319 note 52} Gold-smyth: godl-smyth in MS.Google Scholar

^{page 319 note 53} Fyscyus: vicious.Google Scholar

^{page 319 note 55} Pe byschyp of synt dauyes: presumably Benedict Nicholl(s), bishop from 1417 to 1433. For his biography see Emden, A. B., A Biographical Register of the University of Oxford to A.D. 1500 (Oxford 1959) III 2200–1. He is not known to have had any connection with the Bristol area, but may have taken ship from the city when travelling to his diocese.Google Scholar

^{page 320 note 56} The last part of the English sentence is missing in the MS.Google Scholar

^{page 320 note 57} But: probably for ‘buth’ (are).Google Scholar

^{page 320 note 59} Grene gees: young geese. Garlic was a recommended ingredient of sauce for a goose (Two Fifteenth-Century Cookery-Books, ed. Austin, 109).Google Scholar

^{page 320 note 60} Watt schode: wet-shod. The Oxford English Dictionary records a similar usage of the term to mean ‘drunken’ in 1589.Google Scholar

^{page 320 note 61} Me: indefinite pronoun (singular or plural) meaning ‘one,’ ‘people.’ Seynt jame: Compostella in northern Spain, for which Bristol was a favourite port of departure. See, for example, The Book of Margery Kempe, edd. Meech, S. B. & Allen, H. E. (EETS os 212; London 1940) I 108–10, 310.Google Scholar

^{page 321 note 64} Walkyn: welkin.Google Scholar

^{page 321 note 72} ‘Any holy man should preach boldly to an adulterer and a deserter [in marriage], because an adulterer and a deserter are abominable to God.’Google Scholar

^{page 321 note 73} Quest: inquest.Google Scholar

^{page 322 note 74} Lolerdys: arrests of Lollards in England reached their peaks after the Lollard risings of 1414 and 1431, but went on intermittently during the 1420s (Thomson, J. A. F., The Later Lollards, 1414–1520 [London 1965] passim).Google Scholar

^{page 322 note 75} Boythius: De disciplina scholarium 4.23, ascribed to Boethius in the Middle Ages (PL 64.1232b), but actually an anonymous work of ca. 1230–40, probably from Paris (Ps.-Boèce, De disciplina scholarium, ed. Olga Weijers [Leiden–Cologne 1976] 115). The English proverb is not listed in Whiting, Proverbs. Google Scholar

^{page 322 note 76} ‘We men of today are in the sixth millennium from the beginning of the world.’ Medieval chronologists often dated the creation of the world to 4000 b.c., so that the a.d. 1400S would fall in the sixth millennium. Ciliade: is glossed in Latin ‘millinario.’Google Scholar

^{page 322 note 77} Dewllyd: dwelt.Google Scholar

^{page 322 note 78} For: far.Google Scholar

^{page 322 note 80} ‘Unless I reply better and more perfectly to my master on the matter set by him before I leave here, I fear I shall be severely beaten.’Google Scholar

^{page 323 note 83} Crachchyd: broken.Google Scholar

^{page 323 note 85} Crupul: cripple.Google Scholar

^{page 323 note 86} Y-smete me porowout onware: smitten me thoroughly unawares.Google Scholar

^{page 323 note 88} Soculyng: suckling.Google Scholar

^{page 323 note 89} Y-sacryd: consecrated the bread and wine at mass.Google Scholar

^{page 323 note 91} Comparisonys: either the morphology and syntax of comparison in Latin, or exercises on the subject.Google Scholar

^{page 323 note 92} Calyce: Henry V was at Calais in 1415, 1416, and 1421; Henry VI was there in 1430.Google Scholar

^{page 323 note 94} Onnethe: scarcely. Sowle: sowl, any relish eaten with bread.Google Scholar

^{page 324 note 96} A peler and a defender: the parties in a law-suit which was being settled through trial by battle (Holdsworth, Sir W. S., A History of English Law [5th ed.; London 1931] I 308–10, 678–79). Tote hulle: Tothill, the area west of Westminster Abbey, part of which (Tothil] Field) was open ground (Stow, John, A Survey of London, ed. C. L. Kingsford [Oxford 19081 II 123). It was still used as a place for trial by battle in 1571 (Holdsworth, op. cit. 310).Google Scholar

^{page 324 note 97} Lygh: light. Chylle: chelle (lamp vessel). Colop: a slice of meat, e.g. bacon.Google Scholar

^{page 324 note 98} Schold: schlod in MS.Google Scholar

^{page 324 note 102} Baptisati: recte baptisari.Google Scholar

^{page 325 note 103} ‘It belongs to the clergy to stand in the chancel, but to laymen and laywomen to stand in the nave of the church.’ Naui: is glossed in English ‘bowke.’Google Scholar

^{page 325 note 104} ‘Your courtesy is weak.’ Generositas: is glossed in English ‘cortesy.’ Inualida: is glossed in Latin ‘non valet.’Google Scholar

^{page 325 note 105} Feler: more. Cule: bottom.Google Scholar

^{page 325 note 106} Fewer: feler in MS.Google Scholar

^{page 325 note 107} Y-concludyd: confuted or overcome in argument.Google Scholar

^{page 325 note 110} Prime: the third of the eight daily services or ‘hours,’ said at about 7:00 or 8:00 a.m. The association here with breaking one's fast is also found at Exeter Cathedral, where the choristers seem to have had breakfast when prime was over (Ordinate Exon, ed. J. N. Dalton [HBS 37; London 1909] I 7; Oliver, G., Lives of the Bishops of Exeter [Exeter 1861] 228). Horlage clercke: the clerk of a church responsible for keeping time and ringing to announce the approaching times of services.Google Scholar

^{page 326 note 112} Flowre and whyte grece: flour and lard. The Latin equivalents ‘similaginis’ and ‘suminis’ are in the wrong order.Google Scholar

^{page 326 note 113} Worle: world.Google Scholar

^{page 326 note 114} Worl: world. Y sum tyme: sum y tyme in MS.Google Scholar