Chapter 4

----While that the Pilgrims lay At _Canterbury_, well lodged one and all, I not in sooth what I may it call, Hap or fortune, in conclusioun, That me befell to enter into the Toun, The holy Sainte plainly to visite, After my sicknesse, vows to acquite. In a Cope of blacke, and not of greene, On a Palfrey slender, long, and lene, With rusty Bridle, made not for the sale, My man to forne with a voyd Male, That by Fortune tooke my Inne anone Where the Pilgrimes were lodged everichone, The same time her governour the host Stonding in Hall, full of wind and bost, Liche to a man wonder sterne and fers, Which spake to me, and said anon Dan _Pers_, Dan _Dominick_, Dan _Godfray_, or _Clement_, Ye be welcome newly into _Kent_: Thogh your bridle have nother boos ne bell; Beseeching you, that ye will tell First of your name, and what cuntre Without more shortly that ye be, That looke so pale, all devoid of bloud, Upon your head a wonder thred-bare Hood, Well arrayed for to ride late: I answered my Name was _Lydgate_ Monke of _Bury_, me fifty yeare of age, Come to this Town to do my Pilgrimage As I have hight, I have thereof no shame: Dan _John_ (quoth he) well brouke ye your name, Thogh ye be sole, beeth right glad and light, Praying you to soupe with us this night; And ye shall have made at your devis, A great Pudding, or a round hagis, A _Franche_ Moile, a Tanse, or a Froise, To been a Monk slender is your [A]coise, Ye have been sick I dare mine head assure, Or let feed in a faint pasture. Lift up your head, be glad, take no sorrow, And ye should ride home with us to morrow, I say, when ye rested have your fill. After supper, sleep will doen none ill, Wrap well your head, clothes round about, Strong nottie Ale will make a man to rout; Take a Pillow, that ye lye not low; If nede be, spare not to blow; To hold wind, by mine opinion, Will engender colles passion, And make men to greven on her [B]rops, When they have filled her maws and her crops; But toward night, eate some Fennell rede, Annis, Commin, or Coriander-seed, And like as I have power and might, I charge you rise not at midnight, Thogh it be so the Moon shine clere, I will my self be your [C]Orlogere, To morrow early, when I see my time, For we will forth parcel afore prime, Accompanie [D]parde shall do you good.

[Footnote A: Countenance.]

[Footnote B: Guts.]

[Footnote C: Clock.]

[Footnote D: Verily.]

But I have digressed too far: To return therefore unto _Lydgate_. _Scripsit partim Anglice, partim Latine; partim Prosa, partim Versu Libros numero plures, eruditione politissimos_. He writ (saith my Author) partly _English_, partly _Latine_; partly in Prose, and partly in Verse, many exquisite learned Books, saith _Pitseus_, which are mentioned by him and _Bale_, as also in the latter end of _Chaucer's_ Works; the last Edition, amongst which are _Eglogues_, _Odes_, _Satyrs_, and other Poems. He flourished in the Reign of _Henry_ the Sixth, and departed this world (aged about 60 years) _circiter_ An. 1440. and was buried in his own Convent at _Bury_, with this Epitaph,

_Mortuus sæclo, superis Superstes, Hic jacet_ Lydgate _tumulætus Urna: Qui fuit quondam celebris_ Britannæ _Fama Poesis_.

Dead in this World, living above the Sky, Intomb'd within this Urn doth _Lydgate_ lie; In former time fam'd for his Poetry, All over _England_.

* * * * *

_JOHN HARDING_.

_John Harding_, our Famous _English_ Chronologer, was born (saith _Bale_) in the Northern parts, and most likely in _Yorkshire_, being an Esquire of an eminent Parentage. He was a man equally addicted to Arms and Arts, spending his Youth in the one, and his Age in the other: His first Military Employment was under _Robert Umfreuil_, Governor of _Roxborough_-Castle, where he did good Service against the _Scots_. Afterwards he followed the Standard of King _Edward_ the Fourth, to whom he valiantly and faithfully adhered, not only in the Sun-shine of his Prosperity, but also in his deepest Distress.

But what endeared him the most to his Favour, and was indeed the Masterpiece of his Service, was his adventuring into _Scotland_; a desperate Attempt, and performed not without the manifest hazarding of his Life; where he so cunningly demeaned himself, and insinuated himself so far into their Favour, as he got a sight of their Records and Original Letters; a Copy of which he brought with him to _England_, and presented the same to King _Edward_ the Fourth: Out of these he collected a History of the several Submissions, and sacred Oaths of Fealty openly taken from the time of King _Athelstane_, by the Kings of _Scotland_; to the Kings of _England_, for the Crown of _Scotland_; a Work which was afterwards made much use of by the _English_; although the _Scotch_ Historians stickle with might and main, that such Homage was performed only for the County of _Cumberland_, and some parcel of Land their Kings had in _England_ South of _Tweed_.

Now as his Prose was very useful, so was his Poetry as much delightful; writing a Chronicle of our _English_ Kings from _Brute_ to King _Edward_ the Fourth, and that in _English_ Verse; for which he was accounted one cf the chiefest Poets of his time; being so exactly done, that by it Dr. _Fuller_ adjudges him to have drunk as deep a draught of _Helicon_ as any in his Age: And another saying, that by the fame he deservedly claimed a Seat amongst the chiefest of the Poetical Writers.

But to give you the better view of his Poetical Abilities, I shall present you with some of his Chronicle-Verse, concerning the sumptuous Houshold kept by King _Richard_ the Second, _cap._ 193.

Truly I herd Robert Ireleffe say, Clarke of the Green-cloth, and that to the houshold Came every daye, forth most part alway Ten thousand folke, by his Messes told, That followed the hous aye as thei wold. And in the Kechin, three hundred Seruitours, And in eche Office many Occupiours.

And Ladies faire, with their Gentleweomen Chamberers also and Lauenders, Three hundred of theim were occupied then; There was great pride emong the Officers, And of all men far passing their compeers; Of rich arraye, and much more costeus, Then was before, or sith, and more precious, &c.

This our Poet _Harding_ was living _Anno_ 1461. being then very aged; and is judged to have survived not long after.

* * * * *

_ROBERT FABIAN_.

_Robert Fabian_ was born and bred in _London_ as witnesseth _Bale_ and _Pits_; becoming one of the Rulers thereof, being chosen Sheriff, _Anno_ 1493. He spent his time which he had spare from publick Employments, for the benefit of posterity; writing two large Chronicles: the one from _Brute_ to the Death of King _Henry_ the Second; the other, from the First of King _Richard_, to the Death of _Henry_ the Seventh. He was (saith my Author) of a merry disposition, and used to entertain his Guests as well with good Discourse as good Victuals: He bent his Mind much to the Study of Poetry; which according to those times, passed for currant. Take a touch of his Abilities in the Prologue to the second Volume of his Chronicle of _England_ and _France_.

Now would I fayne, In words playne, Some Honour sayne, And bring to mynde; Of that auncient Cytye, That so goodly is to se, And full true ever hath be, And also full kynde, To Prince and Kynge That hath borne just rulynge, Syn the first winnynge of this Hand by _Brute_. So that in great honour By passynge of many a showre, It hath euer borne the flowre; And laudable _Brute_, &c.

These Verses were made for the Honour of _London_; which he calleth _Ryme Dogerel_, and at the latter end thereof, excuseth himself to the Reader in these words:

Who so him lyketh these Versys to rede, With favour I pray he will theym spell; Let not the rudenes of theym hym lede For to dispraue thys Ryme Dogerell: Some part of the honour it doth you tell Of this old Cytye _Troynouant_; But not thereof the halfe dell; Connyng in the Maker is so adaunt: But though he had the Eloquence Of _Tully_, and the Moralytye Of _Seneck_, and the Influence Of the swyte sugred _Armony_, Or that faire Ladye _Caliope_, Yet had he not connyng perfyght, This Citye to prayse in eche degre As that shulde duely aske by ryght.

Sir _John Suckling_, a prime Wit of his Age, in the Contest betwixt the Poets for the Lawrel, maketh _Apollo_ to adjudge it to an Alderman of _London_; in these words;

He openly declar'd it was the best sign Of good store of Wit, to have good store of Coyne, And without a syllable more or less said, He put the Lawrel on the Alderman's Head.

But had the Scene of this Competition been laid a hundred and fifty years ago, and the same remitted to the Umpirage of _Apollo_, in sober sadness he would have given the Lawrel to this our Alderman.

He died at _London_, Anno 1511, and was buried at St. _Michael's_ Church in _Cornhil_, with this Epitaph;

_Like as the Day his Course doth consume, And the new Morrow springeth again as fast; So Man and Woman by Natures custom This Life do pass; at last in Earth are cast, In Joy and Sorrow, which here their Time do wast, Never in one state, but in course transitory, So full of change is of the World the Glory_.

Dr. _Fuller_ observeth, That none hath worse Poetry than Poets on their Monuments; certainly there is no Rule without Exceptions; he himself instancing to the contrary in his _England's Worthies_, by Mr. _Drayton's_ Epitaph, and several others.

* * * * *

_JOHN SKELTON_.

_John Skelton_, the Poet Laureat in his Age, tho' now accounted only a Rhymer, is supposed to have been born in _Norfolke_, there being an ancient Family of that Name therein; and to make it the more probable, he himself was Beneficed therein at _Dis_ in that County. That he was Learned, we need go no further than to _Erasmus_ for a Testimony; who, in his Letter to King _Henry_ the Eighth, stileth him, _Britanicarum Literarum Lumen & Decus_. Indeed he had Scholarship enough, and Wit too much: _Ejus Sermo_ (saith _Pitz._) _salsus in mordacem, risus in opprobrium, jocus in amaritudinem_. Whoso reads him, will find he hath a miserable, loose, rambling Style, and galloping measure of Verse: yet were good poets so scarce in his Age, that he had the good fortune to be chosen Poet Laureat, as he stiles himself in his Works, _The Kings Orator, and Poet Laureat_.

His chief Works, as many as can be collected, and that out of an old Printed Book, are these; _Philip Sparrow_, _Speak Parrot_, _The Death of King_ Edward _the Fourth_, _A Treatise of the_ Scots, _Ware the Hawk_, _The Tunning of_ Elianer Rumpkin: In many of which, following the humor of the ancientest of our Modern Poets, he takes a Poetical Liberty of being Satyrical upon the Clergy, as brought him under the Lash of Cardinal _Woolsey_, who so persecuted him, that he was forced to take Sanctuary at _Westminster_, where Abbot _Islip_ used him with much respect. In this Restraint he died, _June_ 21, 1529. and was buried in St. _Margaret's_ Chappel, with this Epitaph;

_J. Sceltanus Vates Pierius hic situs est_.

We must not forget, how being charg'd by some on his Death-bed for begetting many Children on a Concubine which he kept, he protested, that in his Conscience he kept her in the notion of a Wife, though such his cowardliness, that he would rather confess Adultery, than own Marriage, the most punishable at that time.

* * * * *

_WILLIAM LILLIE_.

To this _John Scelton_, we shall next present you with the Life of his Contemporary and great Antagonist _William Lillie_, born at _Odiham_, a great Market-Town in _Hantshire_; who to better his knowledge, in his youth travelled to the City of _Jerusalem_, where having satisfied his curiosity in beholding those sacred places where on our Saviour trode when he was upon the Earth; he returned homewards, making some stay at _Rhodes_, to study _Greek_. Hence he went to _Rome_, where he heard _John Sulpitius_ and _Pomponius Sabinus_, great Masters of _Latine_ in those days. At his return home, Doctor _John Collet_ had new builded a fair School at the East-end of St. _Paul_'s, for 153 poor mens Children, to be taught free in the same School; for which he appointed a Master, an Usher, and a Chaplain, with large Stipends for ever; committing the oversight thereof to the Masters, Wardens and Assistants of the _Mercers_ in _London_, because he was Son to _Henry Collet_ Mercer, sometime Major; leaving for the Maintenance thereof, Lands to the yearly value of 120_l_. or better; making this _William Lilly_ first Master thereof; which Place he commendably discharg'd for 15 years. During which time he made his _Latine_ Grammar, the Oracle of Free Schools of _England_, and other Grammatical Works. He is said also by _Bale_, to have written Epigrams, and other Poetry of various Subjects in various _Latine_ Verse, though scarce any of them (unless it be his _Grammar_) now extant, only Mr. _Stow_ makes mention of an Epitaph made by him, and graven on a fair Tomb, in the midst of the Chancel of St. _Paul_'s in _London_ containing these Words;

_Inclyta_ Joannes Londini _Gloria gentis, Is tibi qui quondam_ Paule _Decanus erat, Qui toties magno resonabat pectore Christum, Doctor & Interpres fidus Evangelij: Qui mores hominum multum sermone disertæ Formarat, vitæ sed probitate magis: Quique Scholam struxit celebrem cognomine_ Jesu, _Hac dormit tectus membra_ Coletus _humo_.

_Floruit sub_ Henrico 7. & Henrico 8. _Reg. Obiit_ An. Dom. 1519.

_Disce mori Mundo, vivere disce Deo_.

_John Skelton_ (whom we mentioned before) whose Writings were for the most part Satyrical, mixing store of Gall and Copperas in his Ink, having fell foul upon Mr. _Lilly_ in some of his Verses, _Lilly_ return'd him this biting Answer;

_Quid me_ Sceltone _fronte sic aperta Carpis, vipereo potens veneno? Quid Versus trutina, meos iniqua Libras? Dicere vera num licebit? Doctrinæ, tibi dum parare famam, Et doctus fieri studes Poeta, Doctrinam ne habes, nec es Poeta_.

With Face so bold, and Teeth so sharp, Of Viper's venom, why dost carp? Why are my Verses by thee weigh'd In a false Scale? May Truth be said; Whilst thou to get the more esteem, _A Learned Poet_ fain wouldst seem, _Skelton_, thou art, let all men know it, Neither Learned, nor a Poet.

He died of the Plague, _Anno_ 1522, and was buried in St. _Paul's_, with this Epitaph on a Brass Plate, fixed in the Wall by the great North-Door:

Gulielmo Lilio, _Pauliæ Scholæ olim Præceptori primario, &_ Agnetæ _Conjugi, in sacratissimo hujus Templi Coemiterio hinc a tergo nunc destructo consepultis_; Georgius Lilius, _hujus Ecclesiæ Canonicus, Parentum Memoriæ pie consulens, Tabellam hanc ab amicis conservatam, hic reponendam curavit._

* * * * *

_Sir THOMAS MORE_.

Sir _Thomas More_, a great Credit and Ornament in his Time, of the _English_ Nation, and with whom the Learned'st Foreigners of that Age, were proud to have correspondence, for his wit and excellent parts, was born in _Milk-street_, London. _Anno Dom._ 1480. Son to Sir _John More_, Knight, and one of the Justices of the _Kings Bench_.

He was bred first in the Family of Archbishop _Morton_, then in _Canterbury_-Colledge in _Oxford_; afterwards removed to an Inn of _Chancery_ in _London_, called _New-Inn_, and from thence to _Lincolns-Inn_; where he became a double Reader. Next, his Worth preferred him to be Judge in the Sheriff of _London's_, Court, though at the same time a Pleader in others; and so upright was he therein, that he never undertook any Cause but what appeared just to his Conscience, nor never took Fee of Widow, Orphan, or poor Person.

King _Henry_ the Eighth coming to the Crown, first Knighted him, then made him Chancellor of the Duchy of _Lancaster_, and not long after L. Chancellor of _England_, in which place he demeaned himself with great integrity, and with no less expedition; so that it is said, at one time he had cleared all Suits depending on that Court: whereupon, one thus versified on him,

When _More_ some years had Chancellor been, No more Suits did remain; The same shall never more be seen, Till _More_ be there again.

He was of such excellency of Wit and Wisdom, that he was able to make his Fortune good in whatsoever he undertook: and to this purpose it is reported of him, that when he was sent Ambassador by his Master _Henry_ the Eighth into _Germany_, before he deliver'd his Embassage to the Emperor, he bid one of his Servants to fill him a Beer-glass of Wine, which he drunk off twice; commanding his Servant to bring him a third; he knowing Sir _Thomas More_'s Temperance, that he was not used to drink, at first refused to fill him another; telling Sir _Thomas_ of the weight of his Employment: but he commanding it, and his Servant not daring to deny him, he drank off the third, and then made his immediate address to the Emperor, and spake his Oration in _Latine_, to the admiration of all the Auditors. Afterwards Sir _Thomas_ merrily asking his Man what he thought of his Speech? he said, that he deserved to govern three parts of the World, and he believed if he had drunk the other Glass, the Elegancy of his Language might have purchased the other part of the World.

Being once at _Bruges_ in _Flanders_, an arrogant Fellow had set up a _Thesis_, that he would answer any Question could be propounded unto him in what Art soever. Of whom, when Sir _Thomas More_ heard, he laughed, and made this Question to be put up for him to answer; Whether _Averia capta in Withernamia sunt irreplegibilia_? Adding, That there was an _Englishman_ that would dispute thereof with him. This bragging _Thraso_, not so much as understanding the Terms of our Common Law, knew not what to answer to it, and so became ridiculous to the whole City for his presumptuous bragging.

Many were the Books which he wrote; amongst whom his _Utopia_ beareth the Bell; which though not written in Verse, yet in regard of the great Fancy and Invention thereof, may well pass for a Poem, it being the _Idea_ of a compleat Commonwealth in an Imaginary Island (but pretended to be lately discovered in _America_) and that so lively counterfeited, that many at the reading thereof, mistook it for a real Truth: insomuch that many great Learned men, as _Budeus_, and _Johannes Paludanus_ upon a fervent zeal, wished that some excellent Divines might be sent thither to preach Christ's Gospel: yea, there were here amongst us at home, sundry good Men, and learned Divines, very desirous to undertake the Voyage, to bring the People to the Faith of Christ, whose Manners they did so well like.

Mr. Owen, the _Brittish_ Epigrammatist, on this Book of _Utopia_, writeth thus;

More's _Utopia_ and _Mercurius Britanicus_.

_More_ shew'd the best, the worst World's shew'd by the: Thou shew'st what is, and he shews what should be.

But at last he fell into the King's displeasure, touching the Divorce of Queen _Katherine_, and for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy; for which he was committed to the Tower, and afterwards beheaded on _Tower-Hill_, July 6, 1635, and buried at _Chelsey_ under a plain Monument.

Those who desire to be further informed of this Learned Knight, let them read my Book of _England's Worthies_, where his Life is set forth more at large.

* * * * *

_HENRY HOWARD_ Earl of _Surrey_.

This Honourable Earl was Son to _Thomas Howard_ Duke of _Norfolk_, and _Frances_ his Wife, the Daughter of _John Vere_ Earl of _Oxford_. He was (saith _Cambden_) the first of our _English_ Nobility that did illustrate his high Birth with the Beauty of Learning, and his Learning with the knowledge of divers Languages, which he attained unto by his Travels into foreign Nations; so that he deservedly had the particular Fame of Learning, Wit and Poetical Fancy.

Our famous Poet _Drayton_, in his _England's Heroical Epistles_, writing of this Noble Earl, thus says of him;

The Earl of _Surrey_, that renowned Lord, Th'old _English_ Glory bravely that restor'd, That Prince and Poet (a Name more divine) Falling in Love with Beauteous _Geraldine_, Of the _Geraldi_, which derive their Name From _Florence_; whether to advance her Fame, He travels, and in publick Justs maintain'd Her Beauty peerless, which by Arms he gain'd.

In his way to _Florence_, he touch'd at the Emperor's Court; where he fell in acquaintance with the great Learned _Cornelius Agrippa_, so famous for Magick, who shewed him the Image of his _Geraldine_ in a Glass, sick, weeping on her Bed, and resolved all into devout Religion for the absence of her Lord; upon sight of which, he made this Sonnet.

All Soul, no earthly Flesh, why dost thou fade? All Gold, no earthly Dross, why look'st thou pale? Sickness, how dar'st thou one so fair invade? Too base Infirmity to work her Bale. Heaven be distempered since she grieved pines, Never be dry these my sad plantive Lines.

Pearch thou my Spirit on her Silver Breasts, And with their pains redoubled Musick beatings, Let them toss thee to world where all toil rests, Where Bliss is subject to no Fear's defeatings; Her Praise I tune whose Tongue doth tune the Sphears, And gets new Muses in her Hearers Ears.

Stars fall to fetch fresh light from her rich eyes, Her bright Brow drives the Sun to Clouds beneath. Her Hairs reflex with red strakes paints the Skies, Sweet Morn and Evening dew flows from her breath: _Phoebe_ rules Tides, she my Tears tides forth draws, In her sick-Bed Love sits, and maketh Laws.

Her dainty Limbs tinsel her Silk soft Sheets, Her Rose-crown'd Cheeks eclipse my dazled sight. O Glass! with too much joy my thoughts thou greets, And yet thou shew'st me day but by twilight. Ile kiss thee for the kindness I have felt, Her Lips one Kiss would unto _Nectar_ melt.

From the Emperor's Court he went to the City of _Florence_, the Pride and Glory of _Italy_, in which City his _Geraldine_ was born, never ceasing till he came to the House of her Nativity; and being shewn the Chamber her clear Sun-beams first thrust themselves in this cloud of Flesh, he was transported with an Extasie of Joy, his Mouth overflow'd with _Magnificats_, his Tongue thrust the Stars out of Heaven, and eclipsed the Sun and Moon with Comparisons of his _Geraldine_, and in praise of the Chamber that was so illuminatively honoured with her Radiant Conception, he penned this Sonnet:

Fair Room, the presence of sweet Beauties pride, This place the Sun upon the Earth did hold, When _Phaeton_ his Chariot did misguide, The Tower where _Jove_ rain'd down himself in Gold, Prostrate as holy ground Ile worship thee. Our _Ladies Chappel_ henceforth be thou nam'd; Here first _Loves Queen_ put on Mortality, And with her Beauty all the world inflam'd. Heaven's Chambers harbouring fiery Cherubins, Are not with thee in Glory to compare. Lightning, it is not Light which in thee mines, None enter thee but streight entranced are. O! if _Elizium_ be above the ground, Then here it is, where nought but Joy is found.

That the City of _Florence_ was the ancient Seat of her Family, he himself intimates in one of his Sonnets: thus;

From _Tuscan_ came my Ladies worthy Race; Fair _Florence_ was sometimes her ancient Seat, The Weltern Isle, whose pleasant Shoar doth face, Whilst _Camber's_ Cliffs did give her lively heat.