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

XI. WILLIAM DUNBAR. 40914. But/eir, without mate or peer.Feild of gold. An allusion to the arms of Scotland, viz. a lionrampant, gules, in a field or, surrounded by a tressure, which is bornedouble, and ornamented flory and counterflory with fleurs-de-lis.16. Bowgle, wild ox. See the Kingis Quhair, p. 43. st. 157,17. Fr«, anger; but vre, custom, would perhaps make better sense.Parcere, evidently copied from Virgil, ^n. vi. 853'Parcere subiectis, et debellare superbos.'18. Ah just, &c. ; as just to curlews and owls as unto peacocks, parrots,or cranes.Fowll ofravyne, bird of prey. Cf. Chaucer, Assembly of Foules, 1. 3 2 3,'That is to say, \h.e foules of ravineWere highest set, and than the foules smale.'Do efferay, for do effray, i. e. cause terror,19. Thrissil, Thistle, the Scottish emblem. Burns says, in TheAuthor's Earnest Cry and Prayer, &c.'Paint Scotland greetin owre her thrissle.'Kepit with, guarded ty. Ho furth, a misprint for gofurth. Fend thelaif, defend the rest.20. Hir fallow, fellow herself, make herself fellow.22. But ony, &c. ; springing up without any spot or blemish. Observehow Dame Nature is made to consider the Rose of England superior tothe Lily of France.25. Cullouris twa?ie, i. e. Red and "White Roses, the emblems of Lancasterand York.26. Princes, princess.Paramour, object of chivalrous affection and devotion. Observethe alliteration. Peax, peace. The con&erf, keep thee.27. With a braid, in a moment; we sometimes find at a braid in thesame sense, as in The Romaunt of the Rose, 1. 1336.Haifhard to-forrow, have heard previously, have heard already,Nynt niorow, ninth day; the very date mentioned in Sect. XIII,1. 268.(B)Dunbar desyred to be ane Freir.The second extract is entitled by Mr. Laing The Vishation of St,'Francis,' The title How Dunbar was desyred to be ane Freir,' is found'in the Bannatyne MS. There is an apparent contradiction in the idea ofthe poet's being asked to become a Franciscan friar, when he statesSt. 7 that he had worn the habit already. This may be reconciled bysupposing that he had never completed the year of his noviciate, andin