P. 139, l. 16. Now, sere.] This line ought to be pointed thus,
"Now, sere, evyl thedom com to thi snowte!"
The ignorant transcriber of the MS. has written "Thedom" as a proper name, which is an evident absurdity.
P. 140, l. 30. Whylle that it dede snow.] The story of the child of snow was very popular in the middle ages, and is often alluded to. It is briefly told in Latin verse by Geoffrey de Vinsauf, Nov. Poetr. ap. Leyser, Hist. Poet. Med. Æv. pp. 901, 903; and at greater length in a French fabliau of the thirteenth century, printed in the collection of Méon, tom. iii. p. 215, analysed in Legrand d'Aussy, tom. iii. p. 84. It occurs at a later period in the celebrated collection, entitled Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles (ed. Le Roux de Lincy, Paris, 1841, tom. 1. p. 153), and in many other similar works composed in Italy and France.
P. 145. The Birth of Christ.] The Protevangelion of James is the authority for this pageant.
P. 146, l. 1. It is clepyd a chery tre.] This fable of the cherry tree is the subject of a well known Christmas carol, which has been printed by Hone, Ancient Mysteries Described, p. 90. See also Collier's Hist. Dram. Poet. vol. ii. p. 179.
P. 153, l. 2. Ulverando.] Sic in codice MS., sed forte ululando.
P. 158, l. 29. This songe begynne.] In old miniatures the shepherds are often represented playing on bagpipes.
P. 168, l. 13, to p. 170, l. 31. This is added to the original manuscript in a more recent hand.
P. 192, l. 9. Lyke as the sunne doth pers the glas.] "He lyted within her as the sonne-shyne thurgh the glas."—MS. Sloan. 3160, fol. 38.
P. 199, l. 1, to p. 200, l. 30. This is added to the manuscript in a more recent hand.
P. 199, l. 8. He.] Probably ye.
P. 199, l. 24. Ys.] Probably your.
P. 210, l. 5. I xal the shewe many a ceté.] It will be observed that, in the enumeration of countries which follows, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are mentioned, with the omission of England, a proof, perhaps, that the writer had transferred the scene of action into his own country.
