Notes

1961] THE REGEMENT OF PRINCES is a long poem on the duties of a ruler, compiled from various mediaeval works with numerous illustrations from the classics and contemporary history. It was written in 1411-1412, and addressed to Henry, Prince of Wales, afterwards Henry V. It is extant in forty manuscripts and was first printed by Thomas Wright in 1860. The present extract is from the introduction, in which Hoccleve tells his troubles to an old beggar, at whose suggestion he dedicates his poem to the Prince. At a later point Hoccleve had Chaucer's portrait inserted in the margin of his manuscript. This is extant in a few copies.

1963] fructuous entendement. Fruitful understanding.

1967] eiled. Ailed.

1968] singuleer. Particular, affecting only one.

1971] sle. To slay.
vertu. Power.
astertith. Escapes.

1972] lyfly hertyth. Vitally heartens, encourages.

1974] enlumynyng. Illumination.

1978] yment. Meant.

2073] goost. Spirit.
letterure. Learning.

2074] your excellence. Henry, Prince of Wales.

2075-76] in aventure Wyle I me putte. I will put myself in the hands of Fortune, take a chance.

2076] can but lyte. Know but little.

2078] Definite proof that Hoccleve knew Chaucer personally.

2081] verray. True.

2083] hir. Her. Death is feminine here and at l. 2101, perhaps because of the gender in Latin and French.
vengeable duresse. Malignant cruelty.

2085] Tullius. Marcus Tullius Cicero.

2087] hier. Higher.

2088] but. Than.

2090] filwedist. Didst follow.

2091] combre-world. Cumberer of the earth (i.e. Death).
slow. Slew.

2093] renne. Run.
reve. Bereave, deprive.

2101] vengeance. Outrage.

2102] had egal to the be. Had been equal to thee.

2103] yle. Isle (of Britain).

2106] for thi beste. For thy best interests. One MS. reads "for the beste."

Other poems by Thomas Hoccleve