v. 715. _How maister Gaguine, &c._] Concerning Gaguin see the _Account of Skelton’s Life_, &c. The passage here alluded to, will be found in _Roberti Gaguini ordinis sanctæ trinitatis ministri generalis de origine et gestis francorum perquamutile compendium_, lib. x. fol. cxiiii. (where the marginal note is “Balluæ cardinalis iniquitas”), ed. 1497. Cardinal Balue (whom the reader will probably recollect as a character in Sir W. Scott’s _Quentin Durward_) was confined by order of Louis xi. in an iron cage at the Castle of Loches, in which durance he remained for eleven years. But there is no truth in Skelton’s assertion that he “was hedyd, drawen, and quarterd,” v. 737; for though he appears to have deserved that punishment, he terminated his days prosperously in Italy. Page 49. v. 720. _a great astate_] i. e. a person of great estate, or rank. v. 728. _so wele apayd_] i. e. so well satisfied, pleased. v. 731. _him lyst_] i. e. pleased him. v. 732. _cheked at the fyst_] Seems to be equivalent here to—attacked, turned against the hand which fed him. “_Check_ is when Crowes, Rooks, Pyes, or other birds comming in the view of the Hawk, she forsaketh her naturall flight to fly at them.” Latham’s _Faulconry_ (_Explan. of Words of Art_), 1658. v. 733. _agayne_] i. e. against. Page 50. v. 748. _dyscust_] See note, p. 321. v. 881. v. 752. _rote_] i. e. root. v. 753. _Yet it is a wyly mouse_ _That can bylde his dwellinge house_ _Within the cattes eare_] This proverbial saying occurs in a poem attributed to Lydgate; “An hardy _mowse that is bold to breede_ _In cattis eeris_.” _The Order of Foles_,—_MS. Harl._ 2251. fol. 304. And so Heywood; “I haue heard tell, it had need to bee _A wylie mouse that should breed in the cats eare_.” _Dialogue_, &c. sig. G 4,—_Workes_, ed. 1598. v. 766. _sad_] See note, p. 264. v. 1711. v. 768. _heale_] i. e. health. v. 774. _that mastyfe ..._ _Let him neuer confounde_ _The gentyll greyhownde_] See note, p. 349. v. 478. Page 51. v. 782. _borde_] i. e. jest. v. 783. _stede_] i. e. place. v. 784. _maister Mewtas_] John Meautis was secretary for the French language to Henry the Seventh and Henry the Eighth. It appears from Rymer’s _Fœdera_ that he was allowed, in consideration of his services, to import Gascon wine and to dispose of it to the best advantage, T. v. P. iv. p. 78 (anno 1494), T. vi. P. i. p. 146 (anno 1518), ed. Hagæ; and that he was occasionally employed on business with foreign powers, T. v. P. iv. pp. 110, 113 (anno 1497). Among some, says Ashmole, who became Poor Knights of Windsor “probably out of devotion, rather than cause of poverty,” was “John Mewtes Secretary of the French Tongue (Pat. 18. H. 7. p. 1).” _Order of the Garter_, p. 161. Several unimportant entries concerning this person occur in the unpublished Books of Payments preserved in the Chapter House, Westminster. Page 51. v. 795. _a bull vnder lead_]—_lead_, i. e. a leaden seal.