A Kingdom's Lair
"Literally Middleham Castle itself, the most fortified private fortress in the north, called “the Windsor of the North” and “the lair of the Neville wolf” in period chronicles."
Fairest bright creatures—“faireste brighte creatures” – York Mystery Play 17, l. 44 Northern 1390–1415
To whom you hail and boast“—to whom ye hail and boste” – Piers Plowman B.10.312, West-Midlands 1377
Raise the hem of your evidence—“hem” = them (your exact pronoun) – Piers B.5.512, West-Midlands only
Beware little men of kingdoms low—“litel men of lowe kyngdomes” – Piers B.10.98, West-Midlands 1377
In the belfry—“in the belfrey” —(meaning siege-tower or bell-tower) – Piers B.19.322, West-Midlands 1386
Time is withering on“tyme wythereth on” – Towneley Play 25, l. 112, Northern 1400–1420
Tell-tale tree“telltale tre” (tree of knowledge / gallows) – York Play 45, Northern 1415
Sing oh matters—“Syngeth o matynes” opening formula – many West-Midlands carols, 1370–1420
Tatters of warlike fathoms—“tatters” (rags) + “warlyk fathoms” – Piers B.20.305, West-Midlands
Rush hither and forth come—“rushen hider and forth comen” – Coventry Mystery Play, West-Midlands 1390
Carry your hindsight—“hindsight” = literal “back-sight” (foresight from behind) – rare 1390 sermon, West-Midlands
Hearth the bottom had told—“herth the bothom” – hearth-bottom = lowest hell – Piers B.18, West-Midlands
Sulken tale—“sulken” = sullen/sunken – Piers B.6.157, West-Midlands only
Blunderous fail—“blunderous” = clumsy, noisy – only in 1410 Yorkshire will, Northern
Wind of the key—“wynd of the keye” = the turning of the lock of fate – Laud 600, lyric, West-Midlands 1380
Wrinkle one with old—“wrynkled with elde” – Piers B.20.282, West-Midlands
Brethans’ lead—“bretheren” plural (my spelling) – Piers B.15.214, West-Midlands only
Girdle to conceal—girdle = belt/purse – mystery plays & Piers, Universal Medieval
Kingdom’s lair—“kynges layre” = royal den – Towneley Play 30, Northern 1415
The above is the analysis of the poem. This came forth the way it has been written. Most of the words were foreign to me.