BELLS, "one would think 'twere brass, most part on't was made of our old _bells_" (R232,_b_). People states an historical fact, and refers to the reformation of the coinage which occurred in the previous reign. Under Edward VI. (1547-53) the Protector Somerset reduced the coinage to its true value and the export of bell-metal was forbidden (2 & 3 Edw. VI., c. 37). The pence of the coinage of 1552 (the fourth of the reign, other issues having been made in 1546-47, 1548, and 1550: see Respublica) was both of fine and base metal. The _fine_ penny has (on the obverse) the king seated, with arms and cross on the reverse. The _base_ penny has a full-blown rose (the Tudor rose) instead of the enthroned king. Half-pence are nearly the same as the pence. BELLY, "when the _belly_ is full the bones would be at rest" (R216,_b_), proverbial: see Heywood, _Works_ (E.E.D.S.), II. 55,_b_. BENEFICES, "the fifth I have by selling of _benefices_" (R221,_b_). "I have a good _benefice_ of a hundred marks" (R225,_b_)--"they will take no _benefice_, but they must have all" (R225,_b_), references apparently to the prevalence of simony. Although a bill had been passed by a parliament of Edward VI., it did not receive the royal assent; and it was not until 1588-89, under Elizabeth, that any serious attempt was made to remedy the evil. BERWICK (R254,_a_), in original _Barwicke_, to rhyme with "Warwicke." BESENE, "so well _besene_" (N117,_b_), good appearance, comely. "And sad habiliments right _well beseene_."--Spencer, _Fairy Queen_ (1590), I. xii. 5. BESIRANCE, "chwas _besirance_ your ladydom to zee" (R213,_c_), desirant. BET, "could not a counselled us _bet_" (M35,_c_), better. "Perhaps he shall be _bet_ advisde within a weeke or twayne."--"Romeus and Juliet," _Supp. to Sh._, i. 292 (Nares). BEZEIVERS, "valse _bezeivers_" (R230,_a_), deceivers. BIDE, "had _bide_ ne'er so little longer" (R257,_b_) bided. BIRD'S ARSE, "clean as a _bird's arse_" (M22,_b_), a proverbial simile not uncommon in old writers: Heywood varies it--"as bare," etc. (_Works_, E.E.D.S., II., 89,_a_). BLANE, "without _blane_" (WH294,_b_), ceasing. BLENCH, "to _blench_ his sight" (M23,_d_), deceive, hinder, obstruct. "The rebels besieged them, winning the even ground on the top, by carrying up great trusses of hay before them, to _blench_ the defendants' sight, and dead their shot."--Carew, _Survey of Cornwall_ (1602). BLEST, "God's dear _blest_" (IP316,_c_), _i.e._ happy or blessed, "people" being understood. Also bliss, happiness. BLIN, "of thy prayer _blin_" (M25,_b_), cease, stop. "How so her fansies stop--Her tears did never _blin_." "Romeus and Juliet," _Supp. to Sh._, i. 287 (Nares). BLOODINGS (R221,_a_), black (or blood) puddings. BLOTTIBUS, etc. (M30,_b_), kitchen Latin.