Animaduersions uppon the annotacions and corrections of some imperfections of impressiones of Chaucer's workes 1865 edition — Text and Context

The clergy offended that the temporal men were found as wise as themselves. A merchant by Attorney is no true merchant. Alice, the wife of Richard Neville, was daughter of Thomas Montacute. He correcteth Master Speight his dates and history of printing. The Romante of the Rose began by Guillm̄ de Loris, and finished by John de la Meune. Why the dream of Chaucer cannot be the book of the Duchess. John of Gaunt, his incontinency. Doubteth master Speight’s ability in the exposition of old words, but commendeth his diligence and knowledge. Aketon or Slevelesse jacket of plate for the war. A besant is a besant, and not a duckett. Fermentacione is fermentacione, and not dawbing even metaphorically. Orfrayes not Goldsmith’s work, but frysed cloth of gold, a manufacture peculiar to the English. Oundye and Crispe meaneth wavy like water. Resager is ratsbane or arsenic. Begyns are nuns, though it cometh to mean superstitious and hypocritical women from their nature. Citrinatione or perfect digestion. Forage is old and hard provision made for horses and cattle in winter, or metaphorically, or to help out the ryme it may mean grass. Heroner is a long-winged hawk for the heron. The Hyppe is the berye of the sweet bryer or eglantine. Nowell meaneth more than Christmas. Porpherye is a peculiar marble, not marble in common. Sendale, a sylke stuffe. The trepegett is not the battering-ram, but an engine to cast stones. Wiuer or Wyvern, a serpent like unto a dragon. Autenticke meaneth a thing of auctoritye, not of antiquitye. Abandone is not liberty though Hollyband sayeth so. Of the Vernacle. Master Thynne would read Campaneus for Capaneus, and giveth reasons. Liketh the reading of Eros, but preferreth that of Heros, and giveth reasons. Of florins and their name from the Florentines. Sterling money taketh its name from the Esterlings. King John of France, his ransom of three millions of florens. Of the oken garland of Emelye. Eyther for euerye, an overnice correction. The intellect of Arcite had not wholly gone, or he would not have known Emelye. Straught, a better word than haughte. Visage for vassalage, an impertinent correction. Leefe for lothe, a nedeless correction. It is more likely that Absolon knocked than that he coughed at the window. Surrye or Russye, indifferent which. Cambuscan is Caius canne. “That may not saye naye,” better than “there may no wighte say naye.” Theophraste, not Paraphraste. The wife of Bath’s Prologue taken from the author of Policraticon. Country, not Couentry. Maketh, not waketh. Hugh of Lincoln. “Where the sunne is in his ascensione,” a good reading. Kenelm slain by Queen Drida. Master Speight mistaketh his almanack. The degrees of the signe are misreckoned, not the signe itself. Mereturicke is a corruption of Merecenrycke, or the kingdom of Mercia. Pilloures of silver borne before Cardinalls. Liketh best the old reading of “change of many manner of meates.” And also the old reading of “myters” more than one or two for the sake of the meter. The lordes sonne of Windsore is in the French Romant of the rose, but is there spelled Guindesores. Master Thynne knoweth not clearly why the Baron should be called of Windsor. The ordeal was not tryall by fier only, but also by water, nor for chastity only, but for many other matters. The fyery ordeal was by going on hote shares and cultors, not going through the fyre. The mother of Edward confessor passed over nine burnynge shares. The ordeal taken away by the court of Rome, and after by Henry III. The stork bewrayeth not adultery but wreaketh the adultery of his owne mate. The plowman’s tale is wrong placed. Chaucer’s proper works should be distinguished from those adulterat and not his. There were three editions of Chaucer before William Thynne dedicated his to Henry VIII. The first editions being very corrupt, William Thynne augmented and corrected them. Master Speight hath omytted many auctors vouched by Chaucer. It should be Harlottes, and not Haroldes. The king of Ribalds or Harlottes, an officer of great accompt in times past. Johannes Tyllius maketh mention of a Rex Ribaldorum. Also Vincentius Luparius maketh him an honourable officer. The Rex Ribaldorum was like unto our Marshall. The Marshalls duties and his powers over Harlotts and lost men. Master Thynne being a herold liketh not that false semblance should be thought one. Hate was a Moueresse or stirrer of debate, not a minoresse. Molinet calleth Hate a Ducteress, or leader.]

uppon the Annotacions and correct{i}ons of some imperfect{i}ons of impress{i}ones of Chaucer’s workes (sett downe before tyme and nowe) reprinted in the yere of our lorde 1598

Sett downe by FRANCIS THYNNE.

“Sortee pur bien ou ne sortee rien.”