There is no difference between _-oun_ and _-on_ as terminations of such French words as _divisioun_, _complexioun_, &c., but _-oun_ is much the more usual form[P]. Where they occur in rhyme, the rhyme-words are usually assimilated to one another in form of spelling, but sometimes _-oun_, _-on_ rhyme together, as _division_ : _doun_, ii. 1743 f., _toun_: _condicion_, v. 2551, _constellacioun_ : _relacion_, vi. 2253 f. In the case of _an_ followed by a consonant in a tone-syllable the variation to _aun_ seems to be merely a question of spelling, and we have such rhymes as _chaunce_ : _remembrance_, ii. 893 f., _demande_ : _comaunde_, iv. 2794, _supplanted_: _enchaunted_, ii. 2491, _covenant_ : _supplaunt_, ii. 2367. In the French terminations _-ance_, _-ant_, the simple form is decidedly preferred (but _governaunce_ : _porveaunce_, Prol. 187 f., _graunt_ : _amblaunt_, ii. 1505 f.), and so also in many other words, as _change_, _strange_, _comande_, _demande_, _supplante_ (also _comaunde_, _supplaunte_). In other cases _au_ is either the usual or the only form, as _daunce_, _daunte_, _enchaunte_, _haunte_, _sclaundre_. With regard to the consonants, it should be observed that Gower consistently wrote _sch_ for _sh_ initially, so that we have regularly _schal_, _schape_, _sche_, _schewe_, _schip_, _schrifte_, and also _lordschipe_, _worschipe_, &c.[Q], in other places usually _ssh_, as _bisshop_ (also _bisschop_), _buissh_, _fissh_, _fleissh_ (also _fleisch_), _freissh_, _reisshe_, _wisshe_. The almost regular use of _h_ for _gh_ in such words as _hih_, _nyh_, _sih_, _kniht_, _liht_, _miht_, _niht_, _heihte_, _sleihte_, &c. will be spoken of later. Gower did not use _ȝ_ for _h_ or _gh_. Such forms as _miȝte_, _riȝt_, _uȝte_, _wrouȝt_, are practically unknown in the best MSS. (F has _nouȝt_ once.) On the other hand initially in such words as _ȝe_, _ȝer_, _ȝive_ (_forȝive_), _ȝong_, &c., _ȝ_ is regularly used. Only late and inferior MSS. have _y_. In regard to this letter Gower’s usage is exactly the reverse of that which we find in the _Ayenbite of Inwyt_. We have _þ_ for _th_ regularly except in the case of a capital letter being required, as at the beginning of a line, or in connexion with some foreign words and names as _thalemans_, _thevangile_, _rethorique_, _Athemas_, _Anthenor_, _Thebith_. Cases of _th_ for _þ_ in ordinary English words are very rare in F (but i. 2890, v. 2319, vii. 4203).