NOTES.
467
Note 58.Page 247.
An extract from Gower here, may throw some light upon the game alluded to.
"And as it should then befall
That day was set of such assise[1],
That they should in the land-es guise.
(As was heard of the people say)
Their common game then play.
And cried was, that they should come
Unto the gam-e all and some;
Of them that ben deliver[2] and wite[3],
To do such mastery as they might.
They made them naked (as they should)
For so that ilke gam-e would;
And it was the custom-e and use,
Among-es them, was no refuse.
The flower of all the town was there,
And of the court also there were;
And that was in a larg-e place,
Right even before the king-es face,
Which Arthescates then hight.
The play was played right in his sight,
