This change soon prevailed all through the East Midland, from Essex to Yorkshire. Burch, not the Old English burh, is the name given to Peterborough by its Chroniclers. The verbs can and cuthe are most freely employed; of old, may and might would have been used. Forms like thereafter and therein come pretty often, and altogœder is seen for the first time. King Stephen, we are told in the account of the year 1137, had treasure, but ‘scatered sotlice;’ that is, ‘dispersed it like a fool.’ This new word scatter is akin to the Dutch schetteren, which has the same meaning.
EAST MIDLAND DIALECT OF 1160.
Extract from the Peterborough Chronicle for the year 1137.
. . . . .
Þa the suikes undergæton þat he milde man was and
When
traitors
understood
softe and god and na iustise ne dide. þa diden hi alle
good
no
then
they
wunder. Hi hadden him manred maked and athes
homage
made
oaths
suoren. ac hi nan treuthe ne heolden. alle hi wæron for-
but
held
sworen. and here treothes forloren. for æuric rice man
forfeited
every mighty
his castles makede and agænes him heolden and fylden
against
þe land ful of castles. Hi suencten suyðe þa uurecce
oppressed
sore
wretched
men of þe land mid castelweorces. Þa þe castles uuaren
castle-works
were
maked. þa fylden hi mid deoules and yvele men. Þa
devils
