Chapter 4

Soon after this Mr. Catcott commenced his acquaintance with young Chatterton[1], and, partly as presents partly as purchases, procured from him copies of many of his MSS. in in prose and verse. Other copies were disposed of, in the same way, to Mr. William Barrett, an eminent surgeon at Bristol, who has long been engaged in writing the history of that city. Mr. Barrett also procured from him several fragments, some of a considerable length, written upon vellum[2], which he asserted to be part of his original MSS. In short, in the space of about eighteen months, from October 1768 to April 1770, besides the Poems now published, he produced as many compositions, in prose and verse, under the names of Rowley, Canynge, &c. as would nearly fill such another volume.

In April 1770 Chatterton went to London, and died there in the August following; so that the whole history of this very extraordinary transaction cannot now probably be known with any certainty. Whatever may have been his part in it; whether he was the author, or only the copier (as he constantly asserted) of all these productions; he appears to have kept the secret entirely to himself, and not to have put it in the power of any other person, to bear certain testimony either to his fraud or to his veracity.

The question therefore concerning the authenticity of these Poems must now be decided by an examination of the fragments upon vellum, which Mr. Barrett received from Chatterton as part of his original MSS., and by the internal evidence which the several pieces afford. If the Fragments shall be judged to be genuine, it will still remain to be determined, how far their genuineness should serve to authenticate the rest of the collection, of which no copies, older than those made by Chatterton, have ever been produced. On the other hand, if the writing of the Fragments shall be judged to be counterfeit and forged by Chatterton, it will not of necessity follow, that the matter of them was also forged by him, and still less, that all the other compositions, which he professed to have copied from antient MSS., were merely inventions of his own. In either case, the decision must finally depend upon the internal evidence.

It may be expected perhaps, that the Editor should give an opinion upon this important question; but he rather chooses, for many reasons, to leave it to the determination of the unprejudiced and intelligent Reader. He had long been desirous that these Poems should be printed; and therefore readily undertook the charge of superintending the edition. This he has executed in the manner, which seemed to him best suited to such a publication; and here he means that his task should end. Whether the Poems be really antient, or modern; the compositions of Rowley, or the forgeries of Chatterton; they must always be considered as a most singular literary curiosity.

[Footnote 1: The history of this youth is so intimately connected with that of the poems now published, that the Reader cannot be too early apprized of the principal circumstances of his short life. He was born on the 20th of November 1752, and educated at a charity-school on St. Augustin's Back, where nothing more was taught than reading, writing, and accounts. At the age of fourteen, he was articled clerk to an attorney, with whom he continued till he left Bristol in April 1770.

Though his education was thus confined, he discovered an early turn towards poetry and English antiquities, particularly heraldry. How soon he began to be an author is not known. In the _Town and Country Magazine_ for March 1769, are two letters, probably, from him, as they are dated at Bristol, and subscribed with his usual signature, D.B. The first contains short extracts from two MSS., "_written three hundred years ago by one Rowley, a Monk_" concerning dress in the age of Henry II; the other, "ETHELGAR, _a Saxon poem_" in bombast prose. In the same Magazine for May 1769, are three communications from Bristol, with the same signature, D.B. _viz_. CERDICK, _translated from the Saxon_ (in the same style with ETHELGAR), p. 233.--_Observations upon Saxon heraldry_, with drawings of _Saxon atchievements_, &c. p. 245.--ELINOURE and JUGA, _written three hundred years ago by_ T. ROWLEY, _a secular priest_, p. 273. This last poem is reprinted in this volume, p. 19. In the subsequent months of 1769 and 1770 there are several other pieces in the same Magazine, which are undoubtedly of his composition.

In April 1770, he left Bristol and came to London, in hopes of advancing his fortune by his talents for writing, of which, by this time, he had conceived a very high opinion. In the prosecution of this scheme, he appears to have almost entirely depended upon the patronage of a set of gentlemen, whom an eminent author long ago pointed out, as _not the very worst judges or rewarders of merit_, the booksellers of this great city. At his first arrival indeed he was so unlucky as to find two of his expected Mæcenases, the one in the King's Bench, and the other in Newgate. But this little disappointment was alleviated by the encouragement which he received from other quarters; and on the 14th of May he writes to his mother, in high spirits upon the change in his situation, with the following sarcastic reflection upon his former patrons at Bristol. "_As to Mr.----, Mr.----, Mr.----, &c. &c. they rate literary lumber so low, that I believe an author, in their estimation, must be poor indeed! But here matters are otherwise. Had_ Rowley _been a_ Londoner _instead of a_ Bristowyan, _I could have lived by_ copying _his works_."

In a letter to his sister, dated 30 May, he informs her, that he is to be employed "_in writing a voluminous history of_ London, _to appear in numbers the beginning of next winter_." In the mean time, he had written something in praise of the Lord Mayor (Beckford), which had procured him the honour of being presented to his lordship. In the letter just mentioned he gives the following account of his reception, with some curious observations upon political writing: "The Lord Mayor received me as politely as a citizen could. But the devil of the matter is, there is no money to be got of this side of the question.--But he is a poor author who cannot write on both sides.--Essays on the patriotic side will fetch no more than what the copy is sold for. As the patriots themselves are searching for a place, they have no gratuity to spare.--On the other hand, unpopular essays will not even be accepted; and you must pay to have them printed: but then you seldom lose by it, as courtiers are so sensible of their deficiency in merit, that they generously reward all who know how to dawb them with the appearance of it."

Notwithstanding his employment on the History of London, he continued to write incessantly in various periodical publications. On the 11th of July he tells his sister that he had pieces last month in the _Gospel Magazine_; the _Town and Country, viz._ Maria Friendless; False Step; Hunter of Oddities; To Miss Bush, &c. _Court and City; London; Political Register &c._ But all these exertions of his genius brought in so little profit, that he was soon reduced to real indigence; from which he was relieved by death (in what manner is not certainly known), on the 24th of August, or thereabout, when he wanted near three months to complete his eighteenth year. The floor of his chamber was covered with written papers, which he had torn into small pieces; but there was no appearance (as the Editor has been credibly informed) of any writings on parchment or vellum.]

[Footnote 2: One of these fragments, by Mr. Barrett's permission, has been copied in the manner of a _Fac simile_, by that ingenious artist Mr. Strutt, and an engraving of it is inserted at p. 288. Two other small fragments of Poetry are printed in p. 277, 8, 9. See the _Introductory Account_. The fragments in prose, which are considerably larger, Mr. Barrett intends to publish in his History of Bristol, which, the Editor has the satisfaction to inform the Publick, is very far advanced. In the same work will be inserted _A Discorse on Bristowe_, and the other historical pieces in prose, which Chatterton at different times delivered out, as copied from Rowley's MSS.; with such remarks by Mr. Barrett, as he of all men living is best qualified to make, from his accurate researches into the Antiquities of Bristol.]

INTRODUCTORY ACCOUNT

OF THE

SEVERAL PIECES

CONTAINED IN THIS VOLUME.

ECLOGUE THE FIRST. p. 1 ECLOGUE THE SECOND. 6 ECLOGUE THE THIRD. 12

These three Eclogues are printed from a MS. furnished by Mr. Catcott, in the hand-writing of Thomas Chatterton. It is a thin copy-book in 4to. with the following title in the first page. "_Eclogues and other Poems by_ Thomas Rowley, _with a Glossary and Annotations by_ Thomas Chatterton."

There is only one other Poem in this book, viz. the fragment of "_Goddwyn, a Tragedie_," which see below, p. 173.

ELINOURE AND JUGA.

This Poem is reprinted from the _Town and Country Magazine_ for May 1769, p. 273. It is there entitled, "_Elinoure and Juga. Written three hundred years ago by T. Rowley, a secular priest_." And it has the following subscription; "D.B. Bristol, May, 1769." Chatterton soon after told Mr. Catcott, that he (Chatterton) inserted it in the Magazine.

The present Editor has taken the liberty to supply [between books][1] the names of the speakers, at ver. 22 and 29, which had probably been omitted by some accident in the first publication; as the nature of the composition seems to require, that the dialogue should proceed by alternate stanzas.

VERSES TO LYDGATE. p. 23 SONGE TO ÆLLA. Ibid. LYDGATE'S ANSWER. 26

These three small Poems are printed from a copy in Mr. Catcott's hand-writing. Since they were printed off, the Editor has had an opportunity of comparing them with a copy made by Mr. Barrett from the piece of vellum, which Chatterton formerly gave to him as the original MS. The variations of importance (exclusive of many in the spelling) are set down below [2].

[Footnote 1: Misspelled as hooks in the original.--PG editor]

[Footnote 2: _Verses to Lydgate_.

In the title for _Ladgate_, r. _Lydgate_. ver. 2. r. _Thatt I and thee_. 3. for _bee_, r. _goe_. 7. for _fyghte_, r. _wryte_.]

THE TOURNAMENT. p. 28

This Poem is printed from a copy made by Mr. Catcott, from one in Chatterton's hand-writing.

_Songe to Ælla_.

The title in the vellum MS. was simply "_Songe toe Ælle_," with a small mark of reference to a note below, containing the following words--"_Lorde of the castelle of Brystowe ynne daies of yore_." It may be proper also to take notice, that the whole song was there written like prose, without any breaks, or divisions into verses.

ver. 6. for _brastynge_, r. _burslynge_. 11. for _valyante_, r. _burlie_. 23. for _dysmall_, r. _honore_.

_Lydgate's answer_.

No title in the vellum MS.

ver. 3. for _varses_, r. _pene_. antep. for _Lendes_, r. _Sendes_. ult. for _lyne_, r. _thynge_.

Mr. Barrett had also a copy of these Poems by Chatterton, which differed from that, which Chatterton afterwards produced as the original, in the following particulars, among others.

In the title of the _Verses to Lydgate_.

Orig. _Lydgate_ Chat. _Ladgate_. ver. 3. Orig, _goe_. Chat. _doe_. 7. Orig. _wryte_. Chat. _fyghte_.

_Songe to Ælla_. ver. 5. Orig. _Dacyane_. Chat. _Dacya's_. Orig. _whose lockes_ Chat. _whose hayres_. 11. Orig. _burlie_. Chat. _bronded_. 22. Orig. _kennst_. Chat. _hearst_. 23. Orig. _honore_. Chat. _dysmall_. 26. Orig. _Yprauncynge_ Chat. _Ifrayning_, 30. Orig. _gloue_. Chat. _glare_.

Sir Simon de Bourton, the hero of this poem, is supposed to have been the first founder of a church dedicated to _oure Ladie_, in the place where the church of St. Mary Ratcliffe now stands. Mr. Barrett has a small leaf of vellum (given to him by Chatterton as one of Rowley's original MSS.), entitled, "_Vita de Simon de Bourton_," in which Sir Simon is said, as in the poem, to have begun his foundation in consequence of a vow made at a tournament.

THE DETHE OF SYR CHARLES BAWDIN. p. 44

This Poem is reprinted from the copy printed at London in 1772, with a few corrections from a copy made by Mr. Catcott, from one in Chatterton's hand-writing.

The person here celebrated, under the name of _Syr Charles Bawdin_, was probably _Sir Baldewyn Fulford_, Knt. a zealous Lancastrian, who was executed at Bristol in the latter end of 1461, the first year of Edward the Fourth. He was attainted, with many others, in the general act of Attainder, 1 Edw. IV. but he seems to have been executed under a special commission for the trial of treasons, &c. within the town of Bristol. The fragment of the old chronicle, published by Hearne at the end of _Sprotti Chronica_, p. 289, says only; "Item _the same yere_ (1 Edw. IV.) _was takin Sir Baldewine Fulford and behedid att Bristow_." But the matter is more fully stated in the act which passed in 7 Edw. IV. for the restitution in blood and estate of Thomas Fulford, Knt. eldest son of Baldewyn Fulford, late of Fulford, in the county of Devonshire, Knt. _Rot. Pat._ 8 Edw. IV. p. 1, m. 13. The preamble of this act, after stating the attainder by the act 1 Edw. IV. goes on thus: "And also the said Baldewyn, the said first yere of your noble reign, at Bristowe in the shere of Bristowe, before Henry Erle of Essex William Hastyngs of Hastyngs Knt. Richard Chock William Canyng Maire of the said towne of Bristowe and Thomas Yong, by force of your letters patentes to theym and other directe to here and determine all treesons &c. doon withyn the said towne of Bristowe before the vth day of September the first yere of your said reign, was atteynt of dyvers tresons by him doon ayenst your Highnes &c." If the commission sate soon after the vth of September, as is most probable, King Edward might very possibly be at Bristol at the time of Sir Baldewyn's execution; for, in the interval between his coronation and the parliament which met in November, he made a progress (as the Continuator of Stowe informs us, p. 416.) by the South coast into the West, and was (among other places) at Bristol. Indeed there is a circumstance which might lead us to believe, that he was actually a spectator of the execution from the minster-window, as described in the poem. In an old accompt of the Procurators of St. Ewin's church, which was then the minster, from xx March in the 1 Edward IV. to 1 April in the year next ensuing, is the following article, according to a copy made by Mr. Catcott from the original book.

Item _for washynge the church payven ageyns } iiij d. ob. Kynge Edward 4th is comynge._ }

ÆLLA, a tragycal enterlude. p. 65

This Poem, with the _Epistle, Letter_, and _Entroductionne_, is printed from a folio MS. furnished by Mr. Catcott, in the beginning of which he has written, "Chatterton's transcript. 1769." The whole transcript is of Chatterton's hand-writing.

GODDWYN, a Tragedie. p. 173

This Fragment is printed from the MS. mentioned above, p. xv. in Chatterton's hand-writing.

ENGLYSH METAMORPHOSIS. p. 196

This Poem is printed from a single sheet in Chatterton's hand-writing, communicated by Mr. Barrett, who received it from Chatterton.

BALADE OF CHARITIE. p. 203

This Poem is also printed from a single sheet in Chatterton's hand-writing. It was sent to the Printer of the _Town and Country Magazine_, with the following letter prefixed:

"To the Printer of the Town and Country Magazine.

SIR,

If the Glossary annexed to the following piece will make the language intelligible; the Sentiment, Description, and Versification, are highly deserving the attention of the literati.

July 4, 1770. D.B."

BATTLE OF HASTINGS, No. 1. p. 210 BATTLE OF HASTINGS, No. 2. 237

In printing the first of these poems two copies have been made use of, both taken from copies of Chatterton's hand-writing, the one by Mr. Catcott, and the other by Mr. Barrett. The principal difference between them is at the end, where the latter has fourteen lines from ver. 550, which are wanting in the former. The second poem is printed from a single copy, made by Mr. Barrett from one in Chatterton's hand-writing.

It should be observed, that the Poem marked No. 1, was given to Mr. Barrett by Chatterton with the following title; "_Battle of Hastings, wrote by Turgot the Monk, a Saxon, in the tenth century, and translated by Thomas Rowlie, parish preeste of St. Johns in the city of Bristol, in the year 1465.--The remainder of the poem I have not been happy enough to meet with._" Being afterwards prest by Mr. Barrett to produce any part of this poem in the original hand-writing, he at last said, that he wrote this poem himself for a friend; but that he had another, the copy of an original by Rowley: and being then desired to produce that other poem, he, after a considerable interval of time, brought to Mr. Barrett the poem marked No. 2, as far as ver. 530 incl. with the following title; "_Battle of Hastyngs by Turgotus, translated by Roulie for W. Canynge Esq._" The lines from ver. 531 incl. were brought some time after, in consequence of Mr. Barrett's repeated sollicitations for the conclusion of the poem.

ONN OURE LADIES CHYRCHE. p. 275 ON THE SAME. 276

The first of these Poems is printed from a copy made by Mr. Catcott, from one in Chatterton's hand-writing.

The other is taken from a MS. in Chatterton's hand-writing, furnished by Mr. Catcott, entitled, "_A Discorse on Bristowe, by Thomas Rowlie_." See the Preface, p. xi. n.

EPITAPH ON ROBERT CANYNGE. p. 277

This is one of the fragments of vellum, given by Chatterton to Mr. Barrett, as part of his original MSS.

THE STORIE OF WILLIAM CANYNGE. p. 278

The 34 first lines of this poem are extant upon another of the vellum-fragments, given by Chatterton to Mr. Barrett. The remainder is printed from a copy furnished by Mr. Catcott, with some corrections from another copy, made by Mr. Barrett from one in Chatterton's hand-writing. This poem makes part of a prose-work, attributed to Rowley, giving an account of _Painters, Carvellers, Poets_, and other eminent natives of Bristol, from the earliest times to his own. The whole will be published by Mr. Barrett, with remarks, and large additions; among which we may expect a complete and authentic history of that distinguished citizen of Bristol, Mr. William Canynge. In the mean time, the Reader may see several particulars relating to him in _Cambden's Britannia_, Somerset. Col. 95.--_Rymers Foedera,_ &c. ann. 1449 & 1450.--_Tanner's Not. Monast._ Art. BRISTOL and WESTBURY.--_Dugdale's Warwickshire_, p. 634.

It may be proper just to remark here, that Mr. Canynge's brother, mentioned in ver. 129, who was lord mayor of London in 1456, is called _Thomas_ by Stowe in his List of Mayors, &c.

The transaction alluded to in the last Stanza is related at large in some Prose Memoirs of Rowley, of which a very incorrect copy has been printed in the _Town and Country Magazine_ for November 1775. It is there said, that Mr. Canynge went into orders, to avoid a marriage, proposed by King Edward, between him and a lady of the Widdevile family. It is certain, from the Register of the Bishop of Worcester, that Mr. Canynge was ordained _Acolythe_ by Bishop Carpenter on 19 September 1467, and received the higher orders of _Sub-deacon, Deacon_, and _Priest_, on the 12th of March, 1467, O.S. the 2d and 16th of April, 1468, respectively.

ON HAPPIENESSE, by WILLIAM CANYNGE. p. 286 ONNE JOHNE A DALBENIE, by the same. Ibid. THE GOULER'S REQUIEM, by the same. 287 THE ACCOUNTE OF W. CANYNGE'S FEASTE. 288

Of these four Poems attributed to Mr. Canynge, the three first are printed from Mr. Catcott's copies. The last is taken from a fragment of vellum, which Chatterton gave to Mr. Barrett as an original. The Editor has doubts about the reading of the second word in ver. 7, but he has printed it _keene_, as he found it so in other copies. The Reader may judge for himself, by examining the _Fac simile_ in the opposite page.

With respect to the three friends of Mr. Canynge mentioned in the last line, the name of _Rowley_ is sufficiently known from the preceding poems. _Iscamm_ appears as an actor in the tragedy of _Ælla_, p. 66. and in that of _Goddwyn_, p. 174.; and a poem, ascribed to him, entitled "_The merry Tricks of Laymington_," is inserted in the "_Discorse of Bristowe_". Sir _Theobald Gorges_ was a knight of an antient family seated at Wraxhall, within a few miles of Bristol [See _Rot. Parl._ 3 H. VI. n. 28. _Leland's Itin._ vol. VII. p. 98.]. He has also appeared above as an actor in both the tragedies, and as the author of one of the _Mynstrelles songes_ in _Ælla_, p. 91. His connexion with Mr. Canynge is verified by a deed of the latter, dated 20 October, 1467, in which he gives to trustees, in part of a benefaction of £500 to the Church of St. Mary Redcliffe, "_certain jewells of_ Sir _Theobald Gorges_ Knt." which had been pawned to him for £160.

ADVERTISEMENT.

_The Reader is desired to observe, that the notes at the bottom of the several pages, throughout the following part of this book, are all copied from MSS. in the hand-writing of_ Thomas Chatterton.

POEMS, &c.

ECLOGUE THE FIRST.

Whanne Englonde, smeethynge[1] from her lethal[2] wounde, From her galled necke dyd twytte[3] the chayne awaie, Kennynge her legeful sonnes falle all arounde, (Myghtie theie fell, 'twas Honoure ledde the fraie,) Thanne inne a dale, bie eve's dark surcote[4] graie, 5 Twayne lonelie shepsterres[5] dyd abrodden[6] flie, (The rostlyng liff doth theyr whytte hartes affraie[7],) And wythe the owlette trembled and dyd crie; Firste Roberte Neatherde hys sore boesom stroke. Then fellen on the grounde and thus yspoke. 10

ROBERTE.

Ah, Raufe! gif thos the howres do comme alonge, Gif thos wee flie in chase of farther woe, Oure fote wylle fayle, albeytte wee bee stronge, Ne wylle oure pace swefte as oure danger goe. To oure grete wronges we have enheped[8] moe, 15 The Baronnes warre! oh! woe and well-a-daie! I haveth lyff, bott have escaped soe, That lyff ytsel mie Senses doe affraie. Oh Raufe, comme lyste, and hear mie dernie[9] tale, Comme heare the balefull[10] dome of Robynne of the Dale. 20

RAUFE.

Saie to mee nete; I kenne thie woe in myne; O! I've a tale that Sabalus[11] mote[12] telle. Swote[13] flouretts, mantled meedows, forestes dygne[14]; Gravots[15] far-kend[16] arounde the Errmiets[17] cell; The swote ribible[18] dynning[19] yn the dell; 25 The joyous daunceynge ynn the hoastrie[20] courte; Eke[21] the highe songe and everych joie farewell, Farewell the verie shade of fayre dysporte[22]: Impestering[23] trobble onn mie heade doe comme, Ne on kynde Seyncte to warde[24] the aye[25] encreasynge dome. 30

ROBERTE.