Note 111 — THE CASTLE OF ROCHESTER.
Reading edition
In Anglo-Saxon, a niddering, or un-nithing—“one of the strongest terms of contempt,” says Camden. The original expressions are, “Baed that aelc man the waere un-nithing, sceolde cuman to him, Frencisce and Englisce, of porte and of upplande.” Literally, “ordered that every man who is not a mere nothing, be he French or English, in town or country, should repair to him.” Hist. of Engl. Civil and Military Transact. vol. i. 394. Nithing,—quod Latinè nequam sonat: Paris, f. 15.