Note 210 — GAMMER GURTON'S NEEDLE.
Reading edition
To swink is to work or labour; as in Spenser's "Fairy Queen," B. II., cant. vii., st. 8.
"For which men sweat and swink incessantly."
Again in "Comus," l. 293—
"And the swinkt hedger at his supper sat."
Also in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," Prol., l. 184—
"What schulde he studie, make himselven wood, Uppon a book in cloystre alway to powre, Or swinke with his hands, and laboure, As Austin byt? how schal the world be served? Let Austyn have his swynk to him reserved."
And in "Pierce Plowman's Vision"—
"Hermets an heape with hoked staves, Wenten to Walsingham, and her wenches after. Great loubees and long, that loth were to swinke, Clothed hem in copes, to be knowen from other."