Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

360 NOTES.—were still found, in his day, in Great St. Mary's, Cambridge, in Bristolcathedral, and in churches at Lynn.iSo. Rageman. Alluding to the Ragman Rolls, originally 'a collectionof those deeds by which the nobility and gentry of Scotland weretyranically constrained tosubscribe allegiance to Edward I of England,in 1 296, and which were more particularly recorded in four large rollsof parchment, consisting of thirty-five pieces, bound together, and keptin the tower of London.'— Jamieson's Scottish Dictionary. See alsoHalliwell's Dictionary, where it is explained that several kinds ofwrittenrolls, especially those to which many seals were attached, wereknown by the name of Ragman or Ragman-roll. In the Prologue toPiers the Plowman (1. 75) the name is given to a papal bull. Themodem rigmarole is a curious corruption of this term.181. Tyld opon lofte, set up on high. It means that the tombs wereraised some three or four feet above the ground.182. Housed in birnes, enclosed in comers or niches.183. In the church of the Grey Friars, near Newgate, were buried, in all,663 persons of quality. Stowe says there ' w-ere nine tombs of alabasterand marble, invironed with strikes of iron, in the choir.' See preface tothe Chronicle of the Grey Friars of London; (Camden Soc, 1852),p. xxi.184. 185. The Trinity MS. omits these lines, ob\aously owing to therepetition of cladfor the nones. They are found in MS. Reg. 18. B. xvii.in the British Museum.185.' In their cognisances or surcoats of arms,'—Wartou.188. Gold-beten, adorned with beaten gold.194. Peynt til, painted tiles.'And yit, God wot, unnethe the foundementParformed is, ne of oure pavymentIs nought a tyle yit withinne our wones.'Chaucer, Sompnoures Tale, 1. 403.197. I trow the produce of the land in a great shire would not furnishthat place (hardly) one bit towards the other end ; a stronger phrasethan ' from one end to the other,' as Warton explains it. Oo properly= one.199. Cbaptire-hous. ' The chapter-house was magnificently constmctedin the style of church-architecture, finely vaulted, and richly carved.'Warton.201. With 'a seemly ceiling, or roof, very lofty.'—Warton.202. Y-peynted, painted. Before tapestry became fashionable, the wallsof rooms were painted. For proofs, see Warton's long note.203. Fraytour, refectory.