In the Homilies of 1160 we trace a new change. Foreign proper names had hitherto unbendingly maintained their Latin form in England. They were now being corrupted, owing to French influence; at pages 47 and 49 we find mention of Jeremie and Seint Gregori, At page 9 we see both the old form folc of Iudeus and the new form þe Giwis (Jews). Maria and Jacobus now become Marie and Jame. French words were being brought in most needlessly; thus we read at page 51, ‘crabbe is an manere (kind) of fissce.’
In the Essex Homilies, the French is seen elbowing out the Latin from proper names. Andreas and Mattheus become Andreu and Matheu: this eu we English could never frame our mouths to pronounce aright. What was of old written leo is turned into leun (lion); œlmesse into almes; marma into marbelstone (page 145). We find pay, mend, blame, and wait: these four are perhaps the French verbs that now come oftenest into our common use. Deciple replaces the old learning knight. An intruding letter is seen in z, (mazere is found at page 163). This z did not become common in England for nearly three hundred years.[1] Layamon wrote his long poem the Brut about 1205; but, though this was mainly a translation from the French, he seldom employs a French word, and hardly ever without good reason. Orrmin is still more of an Englishman in his scorn for outlandish words. About this time, the days of King John, one-fifth of the weighty words in a passage are such as have become obsolete in our day. Under John's grandson, this pro-
- ↑ See the Paston Letters (Gairdner), I. 510.
