Note 5 — XXIV NAMES AND SYMBOLS

John Lydgate, a monk of Bury, born 1370, left some amusing poems, very valuable on account of the insight they give into the customs of his period. One of them is an application to the Duke of Gloucester for money. Lydgate says he is dressed in black “’cause my purs was falle in grete rerage”; while his “guttes were out shake, Only for lak of plate and coyngnage.” So he “sought lechis for a restauratif, In whom I fonde no consolacione, To a poticary for confortatyf, Drugge nor dya was none in Bury towne.”