In the sixteenth century thousands of
Christians were held captive in Turkish and Saracen prisons, and many of
these were ransomed by the charitable of Europe.
Christians were held captive in Turkish and Saracen prisons, and many of
these were ransomed by the charitable of Europe.
Spenser - Faerie Queene - 1
xxx. Percival points out the resemblance between Spenser's Charity and
Andrea del Sarto's famous painting _La Charite_ in the Louvre.
277. WHOSE PASSING PRICE, etc. , whose surpassing value it was difficult to
calculate.
292. WELL TO DONNE, well doing, right doing.
318. SEVEN BEAD-MEN, seven men of prayer, corresponding to the Seven Deadly
Sins of the House of Pride. They represent good works: (1) entertainment of
strangers; (2) food to the needy; (3) clothing to the naked; (4) relief to
prisoners; (5) comfort to the sick; (6) burial of the dead, and (7) care of
widows and orphans.
354. PRICE OF BRAS, ransom in money. _Bras_ is a Latinism from _aes_.
355. FROM TURKES AND SARAZINS.
In the sixteenth century thousands of
Christians were held captive in Turkish and Saracen prisons, and many of
these were ransomed by the charitable of Europe. Prescott tells us that
Charles V found 10,000 Christians in Tunis at its capture in 1535.
359. HE THAT HARROWD HELL. The Harrowing of Hell was the mediaeval belief in
the descent of Christ to hell to redeem the souls of Old Testament saints,
and to despoil the powers of darkness. It is the subject of an old miracle
play.
374. The reference is to the resurrection from the dead.
378. I DEAD BE NOT DEFOULD, that I (when) dead be not defiled. This prayer
was answered, for the poet received honorable burial in Westminster Abbey.
381. AND WIDOWES AYD, i. e. had charge (to) aid widows, etc.
382.
