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

XXII. SIR DAVID LYNDESAY. 4494561. Palmerius. Matteo Palmeri, or Matthaeus Palmerius, a learnedFlorentine, a.d. 1450, wrote an Italian poem, called Citta ' di Vita,' TheCity of Life, in imitation of Dante's Divina Commedia. He also wrotea general chronicle from the fifth century to his own times, entitled UeTemporibus, which was printed at Milan, 1475. The latter is no doubtthe work referred to. See Warton, Hist. Eng Poetry, ii. 467, 472. Therehave been twenty-three popes of the name of John ; but only one ofthese, viz. John XXII, resided at Avignon. He died a.d. 1334.4568. Clyppit crotmis, clipped heads ; i. e. the tonsure.4573, Maryit men. St. Peter was married, and so were other of theapostles ; i Cor. ix. 5.4586. Ouersene, overlooked, connived at,4592. Matt. xvii. 27. See also Rom. xiii.4595. Celistene. Possibly Celestine III, pope from 1191-1198, whocrowned Henry VI emperor of Germany. Lyndesay omits a still morestriking instance, viz. the degrading penance submitted to by Henry IV,emperor of Germany, in deference to Hildebrand (Gregory VII). Thepope kept Henry waiting for several days outside the castle of Canossa.in Modena, exposed to the inclemency of the wintry weather, inJanuary, 1077, till he was pleased to admit him to his presence.4663. The simple nun ' will thiniv it a great shame to her, unless shebe called Madame.' Chaucer (Prol. 121) says of the Prioresse,' ' whowas a Nonne,' that she was cleped madame Englentyne.'' '4667. There are of course innumerable instances of the priests beingstyled ' Sir.' It occurs, e. g., in Shakespeare, where the clown personatesSir Topas the curate ; Twelfth Night, iv. 2.4670. Defiis, not Deans, but Dans; see 1. 4672. The title Dene, Den,Don, or (more usually) Dan, is a corruption of the Latin dominus, lord.4674. Painfull ; this word is used ironically.4675. ' With double clothing to protect them from the cold,4677, ' With florid singmg in the choir.' To counter is to sing anextemporaneous part upon the plain chant; Dyce's Skelton, ii. 92.4678. ' God knows whether they buy heaven very dear, or not !4687. Persone, parson. Lyndesay s deiciiption differs widely fromChaucer's.4690. Except take ' his tithe, and afterwards spend it. But he isobliged, by reason, to preach to parishioners. Though they go withoutpreaching seventeen years, he will not go without a head of barley.'4711. Vmaist, upmost, outermost.4715. Ky, the plural of cow, is still in use provincially. For treread thre.4718. ' Although he be poo'.ly clad.'