th_. The suffix _-us_ appears
to be altogether peculiar to West Midland, in which it occurs
occasionally; and the same is true of _-ud_ for _-ed_ in the
preterite of a weak verb.

There is a rather early West Midland _Prose Psalter_, belonging to
the former half of the fourteenth century, which was edited for the
Early English Text Society by Dr Karl Bulbring in 1891.

The curious poem called _William of Palerne_ (Palermo) or _William
and the Werwolf_, written in alliterative verse about 1350-60, and
edited by me for the E.E.T.S. in 1867, seems to be in a form of West
Midland, and has been claimed for Shropshire; nothing is known as to
its author.

The very remarkable poem called _The Pearl_, and three _Alliterative
Poems_ by the same author, were first edited by Dr Morris for the
E.E.T.S. in 1864; with a preface in which the peculiarities of
the dialect were discussed. Dr Morris showed that the grammatical
forms are uniform and consistent throughout, and may be safely
characterised as being West Midland. Moreover, they are frequently
very like Northumbrian, and must belong to the Northern area of the
West Midland dialect. "Much," says Dr Morris, "may be said in favour
of their Lancashire origin."

The MS. which contains the above poems also contains the excellent
alliterative romance-poem named _Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight_,
evidently written by the same author; so that this poem also may be
considered as a specimen of West Midland. For further particulars,
see the "Grammatical Details" given in Dr Morris's preface to _The
Pearl_, etc., pp. xxviii-xl. _Sir Gawayne_ was likewise edited by
Morris in 1864.

It would not be easy to trace the history of this dialect at a later
date, and the task is hardly necessary. It was soon superseded in
literary use by the East Midland, with which it had much in common.

CHAPTER IX

FOREIGN ELEMENTS IN THE DIALECTS

There is a widely prevalent notion that the speakers of English
Dialects employ none but native words; and it is not uncommon for
writers who have more regard for picturesque effect than for accuracy
to enlarge upon this theme, and to praise the dialects at the expense
of the literary language. Of course there is a certain amount of truth
in this, but it would be better to look into the matter a little more
closely.

A very little reflection will show that dialect-speakers have always
been in contact with some at least of those who employ words tha