“_Ill haile_, Alein, by God thou is a fonne.”
Chaucer’s _Reves Tale_, v. 4087. ed. Tyr.
See too _Chester Mysteries_ (_De Del. Noe_), p. 27. Roxb. ed.
Page 114. v. 619. _to mytche_] i. e. too much.
v. 620. _mummynge_] i. e. frolicking, merriment.
Page 115. v. 622. _gest_] i. e. story. “_Gest_ or romauns.” _Prompt. Parv._ ed. 1499.
v. 623. _this worthy fest_] So in the _Coventry Mysteries_;
“At _wurthy festys_ riche men woll bene.”
and in Cavendish’s _Life of Wolsey_, “It is not to be doubted but that the king was privy of all _this worthy feast_.” p. 199. ed. 1827.
All the particulars concerning Garnesche, which I have been able to discover will be found in the _Account of Skelton and his Writings_.
v. 4. _Syr Tyrmagant_]—or _Termagant_,—a very furious deity, whom the Crusaders and romance-writers charged the Saracens with worshipping, though there was certainly no such Saracenic divinity. Concerning the name, see Gifford’s note on Massinger’s _Works_, ii. 125. ed. 1813, and Nares’s _Gloss._ in v.—So in _The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedy_, which in various minute particulars bears a strong resemblance to the present pieces _Against Garnesche_;
“_Termygantis_ temptis and Vespasius thy eme.”
—— _tyrnyd_] i. e. tourneyed, encountered.
v. 5. _Syr Frollo de Franko_] Was a Roman knight, governor of Gaul, slain by King Arthur: see _Geoffrey of Mon._ l. ix. cap. ii., _The Legend of King Arthur_, Percy’s _Rel. of A. E. P._ iii. 39. ed. 1794, &c. &c.
v. 6. _Syr Satrapas_] Neither with this, nor with the personage mentioned in the next line, have I any acquaintance.
v. 8. _haue ye kythyd yow a knyght_]—_kythyd_, i. e. made known, shewn.
“It _kythit_ be his cognisance _ane knight_ that he wes.”
_Golagros and Gawane_, p. 137, _Syr Gawayne_, &c. ed. Bann.
Garnesche had the dignity of knighthood; see _Account of Skelton and his Writings_. In the heading, and first line, of this poem, he is called _Master_; but knights were frequently so addressed. In Cavendish’s _Life of Wolsey_ mention is made of “Sir William Fitzwilliams, _a knight_,” who is presently called “_Master_ Fitzwilliams,” pp. 310, 311. ed. 1827, and of “Sir Walter Walshe, _knight_,” who is immediately after termed “_Master_ Walshe,” pp. 339, 340, and of “that worshipful _knight Master_ Kingston,” p. 374.