BAGS, "the names of my _bags_" (R221,_a_), purses: those carried by Avarice were probably, for the sake of "business," more like small sacks; he is represented as hugging them (216,_a_), as hauling them (215,_d_), and as dragging them out (225,_d_). "... see thou shake the _bags_ Of hoarding abbots; imprison'd angels Set at liberty."--Shakespeare, _King John_ (1596), iii. 3. BALE BLISSES (JE355,_c_), probably blisses which are evil, and the reverse of blisses; with an eye on A.S. _bale_ = "fiery"; as in _bale_-fire, etc. "... bring me forth toward _blisse_ with se _bale_ here."--_MS. Cott._, _Titus_, D. xviii., f. 146_b_. BALES, "lay on with your _bales_" (M6,_a_). "Scared us with a _bales_" (M35,_d_), in the first example the manuscript has _ballys_, in the second _bales_, but I think the context in each case shows the meaning to be the same. _Bales_ = a rod or scourge, and specifically a bow: at 6,_a_ it is the minstrels who are charged to "lay on." BALL, "to it Boy, box him _Ball_" (R194,_c_), a dog: cf. 195,_d_. Halliwell says the name was given to various animals: "it is mentioned as the name of a horse in Chaucer and Tusser, of a sheep in the _Promptorium_, and of a dog in the Privy Purse Expenses of Henry VIII., p. 43." BANKET, see Junkery. BAUDERY, "sorcery, witchery, _baudery_" (R263,_d_), the manuscript has _bandery_, but? _baudery_ as in present text. If _bandery_, plotting is doubtless meant. BASH, "look thou not _bash_" (JE354,_a_), _i.e._ timidly, or with too much inattention. "No, Leonato, I never tempted her with word too large, But, as a brother to his sister, shew'd _Bashful_ sincerity and comely love."--Shakespeare, _Much Ado_ (1600), iv. I. BAST, "begat the whoreson in _bast_" (N68,_b_), fornication, adultery. "For he was bigeten o _baste_, God it wot."--_Artour & Merlin_, 7643. BE (_passim_), been. BEDLAMS, "stark _bedlams_" (R233,_c_), madmen: see other volumes of this series. BEES, "hive of humble _bees_ swarming in my brain" (R182,_c_), proverbial: cf. modern "bee in the bonnet." Here = restless, whimsical, full of projects: see Heywood, _Works_ (E.E.D.S.), II. 385; _s.v._ Head. BEFORN, BEFORNE (_passim_), before.