HW Home	Previous CN	View CN	View TNM	View TNI	Next CN

Line 3217-18 - Commentary Note (CN)

Commentary notes (CN):

1. SMALL CAPS Indicate editions. Notes for each commentator are divided into three parts:

In the 1st two lines of a record, when the name of the source text (the siglum) is printed in SMALL CAPS, the comment comes from an EDITION; when it is in normal font, it is derived from a book, article, ms. record or other source. We occasionally use small caps for ms. sources and for works related to editions. See bibliographies for complete information (in process).

2. How comments are related to predecessors' comments. In the second line of a record, a label "without attribution" indicates that a prior writer made the same or a similar point; such similarities do not usually indicate plagiarism because many writers do not, as a practice, indicate the sources of their glosses. We provide the designation ("standard") to indicate a gloss in common use. We use ≈ for "equivalent to" and = for "exactly alike."

3. Original comment. When the second line is blank after the writer's siglum, we are signaling that we have not seen that writer's gloss prior to that date. We welcome correction on this point.

4. Words from the play under discussion (lemmata). In the third line or lines of a record, the lemmata after the TLN (Through Line Number] are from Q2. When the difference between Q2 and the authors' lemma(ta) is significant, we include the writer's lemma(ta). When the gloss is for a whole line or lines, only the line number(s) appear. Through Line Numbers are numbers straight through a play and include stage directions. Most modern editions still use the system of starting line numbers afresh for every scene and do not assign line numbers to stage directions.

5. Bibliographic information. In the third line of the record, where we record the gloss, we provide concise bibliographic information, expanded in the bibliographies, several of which are in process.

6. References to other lines or other works. For a writer's reference to a passage elsewhere in Ham. we provide, in brackets, Through Line Numbers (TLN) from the Norton F1 (used by permission); we call these xref, i.e., cross references. We call references to Shakespearean plays other than Ham. “parallels” (//) and indicate Riverside act, scene and line number as well as TLN. We call references to non-Shakespearean works “analogues.”

7. Further information: See the Introduction for explanations of other abbreviations. Click here for more information about browsing the entries and here for more information about the special symbols used in Hamletworks. Click the question mark icon above to remove this help message.

Notes for lines 2951-end ed. Hardin A. Aasand

For explanation of sigla, such as jen, see the editions bib.

3217-8 more then theyr euen {Christen:}<Christi\|an.> Come my spade, there is no aunci-

3218 there is] See n. 2577+1

-1349 Rolle

Rolle

3217 theyr euen Christen] Rolle (-1349, p. 21): “Breke downe also envy and ire ayene thyne even cristene, whe[th]er he e riche or pore, goode of [or] badde, that [th]ou hate hym nott ne haue disdeyne of hym wilfully nethir in worde, ne in dede. Alle-so rke doune Couatise or worldely goode, [th]at [th]ou for holdynge or getynge or sauynge of itt offende not thi conscience, ne breke not charite to God and to thi even cristen, for loue of no worldely gode, but that [th]ou getiste to kepe itt and to spend itt with oute loue or vaynlikynge of itt, as reson askithe, in worship of God, and help of thyne evyn cristyne.“

[Rolle, Richard, of Hampole. (?-1349). English Prose Treatises. ed. George Perry. Early English Text Society. London: N Trübner, 1866. (PR 1119 A2 no. 20).]

part IX of the Active and Contemplative Life and the need for active, spiritual advancement.

c. 1520 apud Duffy

Duffy: commonplace book and prayer

3217 euen Christen] Duffy (1992, 2005, p.309) cites a commonplace book: "to thyn evyn Cristyn do no wronge" and a prayer wishing for "perfyte love and charyte with all myn even crysten (p. 321).

1542? or 1548 Hall

Hall

3217 theyr euen Christen] Hall (1542 or 1548, rpt. 1904, 2:354-5): <p. 354>““Although my Chauncelor for the time beyng, hath before this time used, very eloquently and substancially, to make answer to suche oracions, as hath bene set furth in this high court of Parliamente, yet is he not so able topen and set furth my mynd and meanying, and the secretes of my hart, in so plain and amble maner, as I my selfe am and can do: wherfore I taking upon me, to answer your eloquent oracion maister Speaker, say, that wer you, in the name of our welbeloved commons hath boy praysed and extolled me, for the notable qualities, that you have conceived to be in me, I most hartely thanke you all, that yo have put me in remembraunce of my dutye, whiche is to endevor my self to obtein and get suche excellent qualities, and necessary </p. 354> <p. 355> vertues, as a prince or governor, should or ought to have, of which giftes I recognise my self, bothe bare and barrein: but of suche small qualities, as God hathe endued me withal, I rendre to his goodnes my moste humble thankes, entendyng with all my witte and diligence, to get and acquire to me suche notable vertues, and princely qualities, as you have allged to be incorporated in my persone . . . Beside this hartie kindnes, I cannot a litle rejoyse when I consider, the perfite trust and sure confidence, whiche you have put in me, as men having undoubted hope, and unfeined belefe in my good dooynges, and just procedinges for you, without my desire or request, have commited to myne ordre and disposicion, all Chauntryes, Colleges, Hospitalles, and other places specefied in a certain act, firmely trustyng that I wil ordre them to the glory of God, and the profite of the common ealth. Surely if I contrary to your expectacion, shuld suffre the ministres of the Church to decaie, or learnying (whiche is so great a juell) to be minished, or pore and miserable people, to be unrelieved, you might say that I beyng put inso speciall a trust, as I am in this cace, were no trustie frende to you, nor charitable man to mine even christian, neither a lover of the publyk wealth, nor yet one that feared God, to whom accompt must be rendered of all our doynges. Doubt not I praye you, but yor expectacion shalbe served, more Godly and goodly then you wil wish or desire, as hereafter you shall plainly perceive.”</p. 355>

Hall, Edward. The Lives of the Kings: Henry VIII. 1542[?} or 1548. ed. Charles Whibley rpt. London: T.C.&E. Jack, 1904. 2 vols. (DA 332 H25).

The relevant quotation for TLN 3217-18 [even cristen] comes from volume 2 and the 37th year of Henry VIII’s reign. On December 23, 1525, he addressses Parliament himself].

1580 Barrett

Barrett

3217 theyr euen Christen] Barrett (1580, even, #361): “equali. Par., vel. Compar, aris, m. g. ˆjos. Semblable, pareil.”

1612 Legh

Legh

3217 theyr euen Christen] Legh (1562; rev. & enl. 1612, p. 18): <p. 18> “Iesus Christ, a Gentleman of great linage (as the Genealogie of Mathew and Luke doe accord) and King of the Iewes, to redeem mankind to fulfill that place in heauen by meeknesse, that Sathaell [Satan] lost by presumption.

“For that it might bee knowne , that euen anone after the creation of Adam, there was both gentlenes se, and vngentlenes se, you shall vnderstand that the second man that was borne was a Gentleman , whose name was Abell. I say a Genleman [sic] , both of vertue and of linage, with whose sacrifice God was much pleased. His Brother Cain was vngentle , for he offered God the worst of his fruites,.” </p. 18>

1617 Minsheu

Minsheu

3217 theyr euen Christen] Minsheu (1617, rpt. 1978, even): “or plaine. b. effen, enen. T. eben, forté ab Heb: . . . eben, I. perpéndiculum: quasi res cuius omnes pártes sunt quási ad perpéndiculum æquátæ Vi. Plaine or smooth.”

1626 Spelman

Spelman

3217 theyr euen Christen] Spelman (1626, p. 231): <p. 231> “Emne Chrisen]] Frater in Christo. Saxonicum, quod malè intelligentes, euen Christian proferunt: atque ita editur in Oratione Henrici VIII. ad Parlamentum an. regn. 37. Sed recté in LL. Edouardi Confes. ca. 36. fratrem suum—quod Angli dicunt [OE script: emne Cristen.]” </p. 231>

Spelman, Sir Henry. Archæologus in modum Glossarii. ad rem antiquam posteriorem continentis. Latino-Barbara, Peregrina, obsoleta, et novatæ significationis vocabula, quæ post labefactatas à Gothis Vandalisq;[ue] res Europæas, in Ecclesiasticis profanisq;[ue] Scriptoribus; variarum item Gentium legibus antiquis, Chartis et Formulis occurrunt. London: Johannem Beale, 1626. London: Iohann Beale, 1626. [(Folger Library: STC 23065. )]

[Ed. I’ve checked through three words that might be usefully glossed for A.S. origins in TLNs. Thirlby mentions that Spelman errantly equates emne [OE Emne Cristen ] Cristen with fratrem suum.’(p. 231)].

1659 Somner

Somner

3217 theyr euen Christen] Somner (1659; rpt. 1970): “emne]] æquus, justus, æqualis. even, just , equall. emne-[Old English “s”]cole[OE-r]e. Condiscipulus. a school-fellow.”

[Somner, William. Dictionarium Saxonico-Latino-Anglicum 1659; rpt. 1970. The Scolar Press Limited: Menston, England, 1970. No. 247. [(Folger RR. Balcony PE 25 E5).]

A brief bio introduces the volume, regarding Somner (1598-1669). a “respected antiquarian well-known to the leading Saxon scholars of his day including Francis Junius, Archbishop Ussher, John Selden and Sir Simonds D’Ewes.” This is the first printed dictionary of Anglo-Saxon and inaugurated the study of OE].

1668 Skinner

Skinner

3217 theyr euen Christen] Skinner (1668, even): “even (as in ‘even Christian’): As. [Efen], Belg. Effen, Teut. Even, Par, Æqualis, Juxtà, Belg. Effenen, Evenen, Teut. Evenen, Exæquare, Lævigare, Complanare, Belg. Effens, Plane, Even als, . . . Non dubito quin omnia hæc corrupta sint à Lat. æquum”

mtby2 1723-33? ms. notes in pope1

mtby2 ≈ Spelman

3217 theyr euen Christen] Thirlby (ms. notes in Pope, ed. 1723 [1723-33?]): v [see] Henry the Eight’s speech to his Parliament in Spelman’s larger worke of Tithes p. 156 & Gloss. p. 194. [Q3] their even Christen: v[see] my Gloss in v [see] Christendom.”

1733 theo1

theo1 : = Spelman ; ≈ Sommer

3217 theyr euen Christen] Theobald (ed. 1733) : “All the old Books read, as Doctor Thirlby accurately observes to me, their even Christen, i.e. their fellow-Christians. This was the Language of those Days, when we retain’d a good Portion of the Idiom receiv’d from our Saxon Ancestors. Emne Christen.] Frater in Christo [Brother in Christ]. Saxonicum; quod malé intelligentes, even Christian proferunt: atq[ue]; ita editur in Oratione Henrici VIII. ad Parlamentum An. regn. 37. Sed recté in L.L. Edouardi confess. ca. 36. fratrem suum, quod Angli dicunt [OLD ENGLISH for Emne Cristen]. Spelman in his Glossary . The Doctor thinks this learned Antiquary mistaken, in making even, a Corruption of Emne; for that even or Εχen, and Emne are Saxon Words of the same Import and Significtion. I’ll subjoin, in Corfirmation of the Doctor’s Opinion, what Somner says upon this Head. Εχen, Æquus, æqualis, par, justus, even equal, alike, Emne, Æquus, justus, æqualis , even, just, equal. Emne-[word?], Condiscipulus, a school-fellow.”

1747 warb

warb ≈ theo1

3217 theyr euen Christen] Thirlby (apud Warburton, ed. 1747) : “So all the old books, and rightly. An old English expression for fellow-christians.”

1765 john1

john1=warb

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1773 v1773

v1773 = john1

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1773 jen

jen=john1

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1774-79? capn

capn

3217 theyr euen Christen] Capell (1779-83 [1774]1:1:Glossary) : ”to even (AWW 1.3.3 [331]; Cym. 3.4.181. [1871] make even: also,— to make the most of. even Christian (Ham. 5.1.328-9.[3217]) fellow Christian. “

1778 v1778

v1778 = v1773 + magenta underlined

3217 theyr euen Christen] Steevens (ed. 1778) : “ So, in Chaucer’s Jack Upland : ‘If freres cannot or mow not excuse ‘hem of these questions asked of ‘hem, it semeth that they be horrible giltie against God, and ther euen christian ; &c.’ Again, in Gower, De Confessione Amantis, lib. 5. fol. 102: ‘Of beautie sighe he never hir euen.’ Again, Chaucer’s Persones Tale : “—of his neighbour, that is to sayn, of his euen cristen, &c.

1784 ays1

ays1 ≈ john1 w/o attribution

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1785 v1785

v1785 = v1778

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1787 ann

ann = v1785

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1790 mal

mal = v1785 (only the Jack Upland analogue) + magenta underlined

3217 theyr euen Christen] Malone (ed. 1790) : “So King Henry the Eighth in his answer to parliament in 1546: ‘— you might say that I, beyng put in so speciall a trust as I am in this case, were no trustie frende to you, nor charitable man to mine euen christian ,—’ Hall’s Chronicle , fol. 261. MALONE “

1791- rann

rann : standard

3217 theyr euen Christen] Rann (ed. 1791-) : “fellow christians”

1793 v1793

v1793 = v1785 ; MAL

3217 theyr euen Christen]

[Ed. This is a borrowing from v1785, not MAL, because of v1793’s continued use of Gower and Chaucer in the note, analogues that MAL excises from the note].

1803 v1803

v1803 = v1793 + magenta underlined

3217 theyr euen Christen] Steevens (ed. 1803) : “This phrase also occurs frequently in the Paston Letters. See Vol. III. p. 421, &c. &c. “That is to say, in relieving and sustenance of your euen christen ,’ &c.—Again: ‘—to dispose and help your euen christen.’ STEEVENS”

1807 Douce

Douce : Legh ; Ray’s Provers (see n. 3221)

3218ff Come my spade . . .]Douce (1807; rpt. 1839, 2:476-7) : <p. 476>“This is undoubtedly in ridicule of heraldry. Gerard Leigh, one of the oldest writers on that subject, speaks of ‘Jesus Christ, a gentleman of great linage, and king of the Jewes.’ And again, ‘For that it might be known that even anon after the creation of Adam, there was both gentlenes , and ungentlenes , you shall understand that the second man that was born was a gentleman , whose name was Abell. I say a gentleman both of vertue and of lignage, with whose sacrifice God was much pleased. His brother Cain was ungentle , for he offered God the worst of his fruites,’ &c.— Accedence of armorie , 1591, 4to, </p. 476> <p. 477> fo. 13. Another morsel of satire against the above science lurks in the very ancient proverbial saying, ‘When Adam delv’d and Eve span,Where was then the gentleman? ‘ which is found in almost every European language. It was the text on which the rebel priest John Balle preached his sermon during the insurrection of Wat Tyler. Although the first clown afterwards explains why Adam bore arms, there is still a concealed piece of wit with respect to the spade . Adam’s spade is set down in some of the books of heraldry as the most ancient form of escutcheons : nor is it improbable that the lower part of this utensil suggested the well-known form of the old triangular shields; whilst from the spindle of Eve might have originated the lozenge-like escutcheon on which the arms of females are usually emblazoned.” </p. 477>

1813 v1813

v1813 = v1803

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1819 cald1

cald1 ≈ v1813 + magenta underlined

3217 theyr euen Christen] Caldecott (ed. 1819) : “Equal, fellow. The phrase occurs throughout Chaucer. ‘Despitous is he that hath disdain of his neighbour, that is to sayn, of his euen cristen .” The Persones Tale, Tyrwh. III. 181, and ib. 207, 209, 236, 237. Mr. Steevens quotes also Chaucer’s Jack Upland, and Gower’s Confess. Amant.: ‘Of beautie sighe he never hir euen .’ Lib. V. p. 102. And the Paston Letters, III. 421, &c. as does Mr. Malone Hall’s Chronicle, fo. 261, H. VIII. to his parliament: “—you might say that I, so speciall a trust as I am in this case, were no trustie frende to you, nor charitable man to mine euen christian ,—.’

“And we have, in G. Chapman’s Translation of the Works and Days of Hesiod, ‘Give never to thy friend an euen respect With thy borne brother.’ 450. 162, p. 32 Mhde kasignhiv ison poieisqai etairon v. 705 [to be translated: ed]

1821 v1821

v1821 = v1813

3217 theyr euen Christen]

v1821

3217 euen Christen] Boswell (ed. 1821, 21:Glossary): “fellow christian.”

1822 Nares

Nares : v1821?

3217 euen] Nares (1822; 1905): “adj. Equal. Singularly used in the phrase even Christian, for fellow Christian; a customary expression. [Cites Ham. v.1] ‘Proudly judging the lives of their even Christen, distaining other men’s virtue, envying other men’s praise.’ Sir Thos. More’s Works, fol. p. 83. ‘And where thei maie not fighte against the Turke, arise in great plumpes to fighte against their even Christen.’ Ibib. p. 277 ‘Were no trustie frende to you, nor charitable man to mine even Christian. Hall’s Chronicle, Hen VIII. p. 261

“It is in fact a remnant of older language; for Mr. Todd shows that Wickliff used even servant, for fellow-servant.”

1826 sing1

sing1 ≈ v1821 + magenta underlined ; Rolle

3217 theyr euen Christen] Singer (ed. 1826) : “Even-christian, for fellow-christian, was the old mode of expression; and is to be found in Chaucer and the Chroniclers. Wicliffe has even-servant for fellow-servant. The fact is, that even, like, and equal were synonymous. I will add one more ancient example of the phrase to those cited by Malone:—‘For when a man wol rigt knowe,Al maner of dette that he owe, Bothe to God that is ful of miyt And to his euen cristen rigt.” Hampole’s Speculum Vitæ . In Alfred’s Saxon version of S. Gregory’s Pastoralis Cura, we have epon-deow, consocius.[we’ll have to find the right runic script for “efen-theow”; thorn and yogh characters]”

1832 cald2

cald2 = cald1

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1833 valpy

valpy ≈ standard

3217 euen] Valpy (ed. 1833): “Fellow.”

1841 knti (nd)

knt1 ≈ cald2 (condensed)

3217 theyr euen Christen] Knight (ed. 1841) : “fellow christian, equal christian. The expression is used by Chaucer.”

1843 col1

col1: standard

3217 theyr euen Christen] Collier (ed. 1843) : “‘Even Christian,’ as Thirlby remarked, means fellow Christian. The expression occurs in Chaucer, Gower, and our elder writers; but no other instance of its use in Shakespeare’s time has been pointed out.”

1844 verp

verp ≈ standard

3217 theyr euen Christen] Verplanck (ed. 1844): “As, we now say, ‘Fellow-Christian.’”

1845 Hunter

Hunter

3217 theyr euen Christen] Hunter (1845, 2:261) : <p. 261> “This remarkable expression is equivalent to fellow-Christian. It is so rare that it ought to ahve ben supported by more instances of the use of it than those in the notes. In the Repertory of Records annexed to Strype’s memorials, that marked H.H. has the following clause: —’Some spiced consciences, taking pity of the poor, thought a sore matter to lose so many of their even Christians.’ In Wilson’s Rhetorique, written in 1553, ‘Beasts and birds without reason love one another; they shroud and they flock together, and shall man, endued with such gifts, hate his even Christian, and eschew company.’ Ed. 1535, p. 119. We may observe that to shroud means to crowd together for the sake of warmth, as appears by Palsgrave. It would not be easy to find many instances of the use of ‘even Christian’ later than the time of Shakespeare.” </p. 261>

1854 del2

del2 : standard

3217 theyr euen Christen] Delius (ed. 1854) : “even-christian veraltet für fellow-christian.” [“even-christian is an obsolete form of fellow-christian.”]

1856 hud1 (1851-6)

hud1 = sing1 without attribution (minus The fact . . . consocious)

3217 theyr euen Christen] Hudson (ed. 1856) : “Even-christian, for fellow-christian, was the old mode of expression; and is to be found in Chaucer and the Chroniclers. Wicliffe has even-servant for fellow-servant.” The fact is, that even, like, and equal were synonymous. I will add one more ancient example of the phrase to those cited by Malone:—‘For when a man wol rigt knowe,Al maner of dette that he owe, Bothe to God that is ful of miyt And to his euen cristen rigt.” Hampole’s Speculum Vitæ . In Alfred’s Saxon version of S. Gregory’s Pastoralis Cura, we have epon-deow, consocius.[we’ll have to find the right runic script for “efen-theow”; thorn and yogh characters]”

1856b sing2

sing2 = sing1

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1857 elze1

elze1≈ col1 without attribution

3217 theyr euen Christen] Elze (ed. 1857): "Ein alt-englischer Ausdruck für ’fellow Christian’, der bei Chaucer, Gower u.s.w. öfters vorkommt, von dem sich aber nach Collier’s Versicherung bei Shakespeare und seinen Zeitgenossen kein zweites Beispiel findet. Nares s. Even. —Die Drucke lesen meistens ’christen’, eine Form, welche durch andere gleichzeitige Beispiele bestästigt wird.—Pope und Theobald lesen: more than other christians."["AnOld English expression for ’fellow Christian,’ which occurs often in Chaucer, Gower and so on, of which, according to Collier’s assurance, one finds no second example in Shakespeare and his contemporaries. Nares see ’even.’—The texts read mostly ’christen,’ a form which was confirmed through other contemporary examples.—POPE and THEOBALD read, ’more than other christians.’"]

1858 col3

col3 = col1 + magenta underlined

3217 theyr euen Christen] Collier (ed. 1858) : “Country people often preserve our most ancient language and expressions: they yet speak of ‘even Christians.’ ‘Their’ might be your .”

COL3 : standard

3217 theyr euen Christen] Collier (2nd ed. 1858: 6: Glossary) : “fellow Christian.”

1859 stau

stau: v1821

3217 theyr euen Christen] Staunton (ed. 1859) : “This old expression for fellow christian is frequently met with in the early English writers. See the Variorum, 1821, Vol. VIII. ad l. where several examples are cited by Steevens and Malone.”

1861 wh1

wh1

3217 theyr euen Christen] White (ed. 1861) : “their equal or fellow-Christian.”

1864b ktly

ktly : standard

3217 theyr euen Christen] Keightley (ed. 1864 [1866]: Glossary): “fellow Christian.”

1864-68 c&mc

c&mc ≈ standard

3217 theyr euen Christen] Clarke (ed. 1864, Glossary)

3217 theyr euen Christen] Clarke & Clarke (ed. 1864-68, rpt. 1874-78): “An old expression equivalent to ‘fellow Christian.’ The term ‘even servant’ was formerly used as we now say ‘fellow-servant.’”

1865 hal

hal

3217 theyr euen Christen] Halliwell (ed. 1865) : “Even-christian, that is, a fellow-Christian, or neighbour.

“In the whilke es forbodene us alle manere of lesynges, false consperacye and false swerying, whare thurghe oure euene--Cristyne may lese thayre catelle.—MS. Lincoln A.i.17, f. 215.”

1869 tsch

tsch

3217 theyr euen Christen] Tschischwitz (ed. 1869): “Composita mit even, ags. ëfen, ahd. ban (pan), n.d. even, altn. iafn; dän jevn, schwed. jemn, goth. ibus, ziehen sich durth sämmtliche germ. Sprachen. cf. Ebenfild, ebenbürtig etc” [“Compounded with even, A.S. ëfen, Old High German ban (ëpan), [[New Low German?]]. even, O.N. iafn; Danish jevn, Swedish. jemn, Gothic. ibus. exhibits itself through the collected Germanic languages. Cf. Ebenbild, ebenbürtig etc.]

1870 rug1

rug1: standard

3217 theyr euen Christen] Moberly (ed. 1870): "Those who are Christians as much as they are."

1872 del4

del4 = del2

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1872 cln1

cln1: standard

3217 theyr euen Christen] Clark & Wright (ed. 1872): “In Anglo-Saxon we find the compound efen-bisceop, a co-bishop, efen-esne, a fellow-servant. In Forshall and Madden’s Glossary to the Wycliffite Versions of the Bible, we find ‘euene-caytif,’ a fellow-prisoner, ‘euen disciplis,’ fellow-disciples, ‘euen-seruaunt,’ fellow-servant, and others. ‘Even cristen,’ i.e. christian, is found in Chaucer’s Parson’s Tale, p. 193, col. I. ed. T. Wright.”

cln1

3218 there is] Clark & Wright (ed. 1872): “See note 3.4.199 (2577+1)].”

1872 hud2

hud2=hud1

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1873 rug2

rug2 ≈ cln1

3217 theyr euen Christen] Moberly (ed. 1873): “The Cambridge editors [cln1] quote the old words ‘even-caitiff,’ ‘even-servant,’&c.”

1877 v1877

v1877 : ≈ theo1 (THIRLBY .; citing Nichols’s Illus. ii,229) ; ≈ v1778 (Persones Tale analogue) ; Nares (Glossary.) ; ≈ cln1 + magenta underlined

3217 theyr euen Christen] Nares (apud Furness, ed. 1877): “Nares cites Sir Thos. More’s Works, fol. p. 83: ‘Proudly judging the lives of their even Christen;’ and ‘thei maie not fighte against the Turke, [but] arise in greate plumpes to fighte against their even Christen.’—Ib. p. 277.”

3217 theyr euen Christen] Clark & Wright (apud Furness, ed. 1877): “In Anglo-saxon we find the compound efen-bisceop, a co-bishop, efen-esne, a fellow-servant. In Forshall and Madden’s Glossary to the Wycliffite Versions of the Bible, we find ‘euene-caytif,’ a fellow-prisoner, ‘euen disciplis,’ fellow-disciples, ‘euen-seruant,’ fellow-servant, and others. ‘Even cristen,’ i.e. christian, is found in Chaucer’s Parson’s Tale, p. 193, col. I. ed. T. Wright.””

3217 theyr euen Christen] Furness (ed. 1877): “Other instances are given in Caldecott ad loc., in Hunter (New Illust. ii, 261), and in The Myroure of oure Ladye (E.E. Text Soc. p. 73): ‘we ar enformed to haue . . . loue eche to other, and to al oure euen crystens.’ In a note on this passage Blunt cites: ‘Therefore Thomas that is seid Didymus, seide to euen disciplis.—Wickliffite N.T., John xi, 16; and adds: ‘The word is also spelt emecristen or emcristen, as in Piers Plowman. It occurs in Swedish in the form jämncristen, where jämn is merely the Swedish spelling of our even.”

1877 col4

col4 ≈ col1

3217 theyr euen Christen] Collier (ed. 1877) : “‘Even Christian’means fellow Christian. The expression occurs in Chaucer, Gower, and our elder writers.”

1877 Neil

Neil ≈ Hunter w/o attribution

3217 theyr euen Christen] Neil (ed. 1877, Notes): “Even means fellow, occupying the same level. So it is used by Thomas Wilson in his Rhetorique, 1535: ‘Beasts and birds without reason love one another, they shroud and they flock together; and shall man endued with such gifts hate his even Christian and eschew company?’ —p. 119.”

1881 hud3

hud3=hud2

1883 wh2

wh2 ≈ wh1

3217 theyr euen Christen] White (ed. 1883): “fellow Christian.”

1885 macd

macd ≈ standard (WH2?)

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1885 mull

mull ≈ standard

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1890 irv2

irv2

3217 theyr euen Christen] Symons (in Irving & Marshall, ed. 1890): “fellow Christian.”

Irv2 : ≈ steevens (through caldecott?) ; clarendon ; v1877

3217 theyr euen Christen] Symons (in Irving & Marshall, ed. 1890): “Qq. have euen Christen, which perhaps would be better in the text. Steevens cites Chaucer, Persones Tale (iii. 294, ed. Morris): ‘Despitous is he that hath disdayn of his neighebour, that is to sayn, of his euencristen .’ The Clarendon Pres edd. quote from Forshall and Madden’s Glossary to the Wycliffite Versions of the Bible, such forms as ‘euene-caytiff,’ a fellow-prisoner; ‘euen disciplis,’ fellow-disciples, &c. Furness cites The Myroure of oure Ladye (Early Eng. Text Soc. edn, p. 73): ‘we are enformed to haue . . . loue eche to other, and to all oure euen crystene.’”

1891 oxf1

oxf1 : standard

3217 euen Christen] Craig (ed. 1891: Glossary): “sub. fellow Christians [Ham. 5.1.31 (3217)].”

1899 ard1

ard1 : standard

3217 euen Christen] Dowden (ed. 1899): “fellow Christian; found in Chaucer’s Parson’s Tale, in Latimer, and elsewhere.”

1906 nlsn

nlsn: standard

3217 euen Christen] Neilson (ed. 1906, Glossary)

1931 crg1

crg1 ≈ standard

3217 euen

1934 Wilson

Wilson

3217 euen Christen] Wilson (1934, 2:272): Wilson feels that Q2 offers the more “attractive reading” than F1. He observes that CAP and v1877 follow Q2

3217 euen Christen] Wilson (1934, 2:276-7): <p. 276> “That only Capell and Furness should have followed Q2 in this passage is scarcely less strange, seeing that ‘even-</p. 276> <p.277>Christen’ is a well-known expression, twice used by Chaucer in his Persones Tale (Skeat’s Oxford ed. 395, 805) as Steevens long ago notes, and also twice by Sir Thomas More, as Nares observed.1”</p. 277>

<n> <p. 277>“1Vide Nares, Glossary, ‘even’.” </p. 277> </n>

1934 cam3

cam3 : standard

3217 euen Christen]

cam3 : standard ; OED

3217 euen Christen] Wilson (ed. 1934, Glossary): “coll. sub. v. N.E.D. ‘Christen.’”

1939 kit2

kit2 ≈ standard

3217 euen Christen]

3217 theyr euen Christen] Kittredge (ed. 1939, Glossary):

1938 parc

parc≈ standard

3217 euen

1942 n&h

n&h ≈ nlsn

3217 euen

1947 cln2

cln2 ≈ standard

3217 euen Christen]

1951 alex

alex ≈ standard

3217 euen Christen] Alexander (ed. 1951, Glossary)

1951 crg2

crg2=crg1

3217 euen

crg2 ≈ standard

3217 euenl Craig (ed. 1954, Glossary)

1954 sis

sis ≈ standard

3217 euen] Sisson (ed. 1954, Glossary):

1957 pel1

pel1 : standard

3217 euen Christen]

1970 pel2

pel2=pel1

3217 euen Christen]

1974 evns1

evns1 ≈ standard

3217 euen Christen]

1980 pen2

pen2 ≈ standard

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1982 ard2

ard2 : OED ; v1877

3217 theyr euen Christen]

ard2

3218 my spade] Jenkins (ed. 1982): “Presumably = hand me my spade, rather than the vocative which the absence of the comma in Q2 might suggest.”

ard2 : Douce (see Douce above)

3218 auncient

1984 chal

chal : standard

3217 euen Christen]

1985 cam4

cam4 ≈ standard

3218 auncient

1987 oxf4

oxf4 : OED [b. even Christian: fellow-Christian; also collectively, fellow-Christians. Obs]

3217 euen Christen] Hibbard (ed. 1987): “fellow Christians ((OED)). The word is used collectively.”

oxf4

3218 auncient] Hibbard (ed. 1987): “i.e. gentlemen whose right to that title goes back to the remotest times.”

1988 bev2

bev2: standard

3217 theyr euen Christen]

3218 auncient]

1992 fol2

fol2≈ standard

3217 theyr euen Christen]

1993 dent

dent ≈ standard

3217 theyr euen Christen]