v. 146. _tollers_] i. e. tellers, speakers.
Page 153. v. 153. _So many avayles_] An expression which I do not understand: the poem just given from _MS. Sloane_ has “So _lytle_ avayles;” see p. 201, last stanza but two.
v. 166. _tucking hookes_] Another expression which I do not understand.
v. 178. _brybors_] i. e. thieves,—properly, pilferers. “_Briboure_. Manticulus.” _Prompt. Parv._ ed. 1499; and see note on our author’s _Magnyfycence_, v. 1242.
Page 154. v. 186. _convenient_] i. e. fitting, suitable.
This poem was evidently called forth by a real event; but the name of the “hawking parson” has not transpired. According to Barclay, skill in hawking sometimes advanced its possessor to a benefice;
“But if I durst truth plainely vtter and expresse, This is the speciall cause of this inconuenience, That greatest fooles, and fullest of lewdnes, Hauing least wit, and simplest science, Are first promoted, and haue greatest reuerence, For if one can flatter, and _beare a Hauke on his fist,_ _He shalbe made Parson of Honington or of Clist_.”
I may add, that afterwards, in the same work, when treating of indecorous behaviour at church, Barclay observes;
“Into the Church then comes another sotte, Without deuotion, ietting vp and downe, Or to be seene, and to showe his garded cote: _Another on his fiste a Sparhauke or Fawcone_,” &c.
Page 155. v. 5. _abused_] i. e. vitiated, depraved.
“Be all yonge galandes of these _abused_ sorte, Whiche in yonge age vnto the court resorte?”
Barclay’s _Third Egloge_, sig. C ii. ed. 1570.
v. 8. _daw_] i. e. simpleton, fool; see note, p. 113. v. 301.
Page 156. v. 22. _dysgysed_] i. e. guilty of unbecoming conduct: so again in our author’s _Colyn Cloute_;
“They mought be better aduysed Then to be so _dysgysed_.”
v. 30. _apostrofacion_] i. e. apostrophe.
v. 35. _lewde_] i. e. ignorant, worthless.
v. 42. _Dis_] Of which Skelton was rector; see _Account of his Life and Writings_.
v. 44. _pawtenar_] “_Pautner_ [_Pawtenere_, _MS. Harl._ 221.]. Cassidile.” _Prompt. Parv._ ed. 1499. “Will. Brito: _Cassidile_ dicitur pera Aucupis in modum reticuli facta, in quo ponit quos in casse, id est, rete, cepit.” Du Cange’s _Gloss._ in v. “Pera ... anglice a skryppe or a _pawtner_.” _Ortus Vocab._ fol. ed. W. de Worde, n. d.