Belle, 189. To bere the belle, _i. e._, to carry the prize; a proverbial expression, which occurs also in Chaucer’s Troilus and Cresseide, 199. Belle, 18, clock. Bemys, beams. Benethe, 145, begin. Benyson, 86, benediction, blessing. Bent, subject. Bent, a bending or declivity. Berde, 300, lady, damsel. A word often applied to a young female in old English poetry. By metathesis it is brid, and hence the modern term “bride.” See Sir F. Madden’s Glos. to Havelok, in voc. Chaucer, however, in the Romaunt of the Rose, 1014, uses the word “birde” for “bride” in its present signification. Beryelys, 18, tombs. See the last edition of Dugdale’s Monast. vi. 1537, where the first portion of these mysteries has been inserted. Berynt, 316, bear. Berys, 352, bears. Be-seyn, 249, appear. Best, beast. Be-stad, 77, 329, placed, circumstanced. I am not quite certain of its meaning in the first of these instances, but the word “accomplished” will suit the context. _Vide_ Boucher’s Glossary in voc., who remarks that “no precise, constant meaning seems ever to have been attached to this word.” In the Prompt. Parv. is the following valuable notice of this word, “Be-stad, or withholdyn yn wele or wo.” Besy, busy. Besynes, business. Betake, 72, deliver, commit. See Boucher’s Glossary, in voc. _Vide_ be-teche, which appears to be exactly the same word, differing only in the spelling. Bete, 180. Bete, bit. Be-teche, 70, commit, recommend. To commit to the charge or protection of another. Betyde, 47, happen. Bett, better. Bewray, 218, betray. Bewté, beauty. By, sometimes used for “in.” Byche, bitch. Byche-clowte, 218, baggage. It is not easy to gloss this old slang. Bydyng, 22, dwelling. Bylde, 20, make. Bylle, 41, book. Birthene, burden. Bysmare, 140, 217, shameless person. Generally used as an adjective, as by Chaucer in Canterbury Tales. Byth, bite. Blaberyn, 164, 384, talk idly. “Blaberyn or speke withowte resoun, blatero,” Prompt. Parv. Ble, 20, generally means complexion. “Bryth as ble,” should probably be “bryth of ble,” _i. e._, bright of complexion. See Kyng of Tars, l. 368, “Heo that was so bryht of ble.” Blenke, blink, a wink of the eye in derision. Blere, 98, dim. Blyff, 13, _vide_ be-lyff. Blyn, 338, cease. Blythe, 24, 167, gay. Blome, 65, bloom, blossom. Blosme, blossom. Blosme, to blossom. Bobbyd, 332, struck. Boyst, 356, box. Fr. Bonden, bound. Bondmen, husbandmen. Bone, boon, prayer, request. Bone, 28, order. Boot, 30, _vide_ Bote. Boot, 29, bit. Borys, 319, boars. Borwe, borrow. Bot, but. Bote, 4, 162, salvation, safety, help. Boure, bower, chamber. Bord, table, board. Bow, bough. Bowne, 264, ready. Brayde, 231, start. “Within a brayde,” is a proverbial expression for rapidity, and occurs in Chaucer’s Romaunt of the Rose, v. 1336. See also above in the note on the word “atreyd.” Brake, 22, fern. “Filix, ferne or brekans,” Ortus Vocabulorum. “Brake herbe or ferne, filix,” Prompt. Parv.