Note 314 — Chapter IV · SURNAMES OF OCCUPATION (COUNTRY). (continued 2)

We may set here our ‘Bidders,’ or ‘Ernald le Bidere,’ as he was once recorded. He was the general beggar of that day, and no doubt a rich harvest would be the result of his attendance at the fair. Piers Plowman says:—

‘Bidderes and beggares

Faste about yede,

With their belies and their bagges

Of bread ful y-crammed.’

‘Simon le Shobeggere’ (H.R.), or ‘Shoe-beggar,’ as I presume means, seems to have followed a more particular line of business.