(Taken mainly from Gregory'sLife of Chatterton.)
Against Rowley.
1. So few originals produced—not more than 124 verses.
2. Chatterton had shown (by his article on Christmas games, &c.) that he had a strong turn for antiquities. He had also written poetry. Why then should he not have written Rowley's poems?
3. His declaration that theBattle of HastingsI was his own.
4. Rudhall's testimony.
5. Chatterton first exhibited theSonge to Ællain his own handwriting, then gave Barrett the parchment, which contained strange textual variations.
6. Rowley's very existence doubtful.
William of Worcester, who lived at his time and was himself ofBristol, makes no mention of him, though he frequently alludes toCanynge. Neither Bale, Leland, Pitts nor Turner mentions Rowley.
7. Improbability of there being poems in a muniment chest. 8. Style unlike other fifteenth century writings.
9. No mediæval learning or citation of authority to be found in Rowley; no references to the Round Table and stories of chivalry.
10. Stockings were not knitted in the fifteenth century (Ælla). MSS. are referred to as if they were rarities and printed books common.
11. Metres and imitation of Pindar absurdly modern.
12. Mistakes cited which are derived from modern dictionaries (Tyrwhitt).
13. Existence of undoubted plagiarisms from Shakespeare, Gray, &c.
For Rowley.
1. Chatterton's assertion that they were Rowley's, his sister having represented him as a 'lover of truth from the earliest dawn of reason.'
2. Catcott's assertion that Chatterton on their first acquaintance had mentioned by name almost all the poems which have since appeared in print (Bryant).
3. Smith had seen parchments in the possession of Chatterton, some as broad as the bottom of a large-sized chair. (Bryant.)
4. Even Mr. Clayfield and Rudhall believed Chatterton incapable of composing Rowley's poems.
5. Undoubtedly there were ancient MSS. in the 'cofre'.
6. Chatterton would never have had time to write so much. He did not neglect his work in the attorney's office and he read enormously.
7. Chatterton made many mistakes in his transcription of Rowley and in his notes to the poems. (Bryant's main contention.)
8. If Leland never mentioned Rowley it is equally true he says nothing of Canynge, Lydgate, or Occleve.
For Rowley.
1. The poems contain much historical allusion at once true and inaccessible to Chatterton.
2. The admitted poems are much below the standard of Rowley.
3. The old octave stanza is not far removed from the usual stanza of Rowley.
4. If Rowley's language differs from that of other fifteenth century writers, the difference lies in provincialisms natural to an inhabitant of Bristol.
5. Plagiarisms from modern authors may in some cases have been introduced by Chatterton but in others they are the commonplaces of poetry.
Against Rowley.
1. No writings or chest deposited in Redcliffe Church are mentioned in Canynge's Will.
2. The Bristol library was in Chatterton's time of general access, and Chatterton was introduced to it by Rev. A. Catcott (Warton).
3. Facts about Canynge may be found in his epitaph in Redcliffe Church; and the account of Redcliffe steeple—(which had been destroyed by fire before Chatterton's time) came from the bottom of an old print published in 1746.
4. The parchments were taken from the bottom of old deeds where a small blank space was usually left—hence their small size.
The PrefaceIntroductory Account of the Several PiecesAdvertisementEclogue the FirstEclogue the SecondEclogue the ThirdElinoure and JugaVerses to LydgateSonge to ÆllaLydgate's AnswerThe TournamentThe Dethe of Syr Charles BawdinEpistle to Mastre Canynge on ÆllaLetter to the dygne M. CanyngeEntroductionneÆlla; a Tragycal EnterludeGoddwyn; a Tragedie. (A Fragment.)Englysh Metamorphosis, B.I.Balade of CharitieBattle of Hastings, No. 1.Battle of Hastings, No. 2.Onn oure Ladies ChyrcheOn the sameEpitaph on Robert CanyngeThe Storie of William CanyngeOn Happienesse, by William CanyngeOnn Johne a Dalbenie, by the sameThe Gouler's Requiem, by the sameThe Accounte of W. Canynge's FeastGLOSSARY
The Poems, which make the principal part of this Collection, have for some time excited much curiosity, as the supposed productions of THOMAS ROWLEY, a priest of Bristol, in the reigns of Henry VI. and Edward IV. They are here faithfully printed from the most authentic MSS that could be procured; of which a particular description is given in theIntroductory account of the several pieces contained in this volume, subjoined to this Preface. Nothing more therefore seems necessary at present, than to inform the Reader shortly of the manner in which these Poems were first brought to light, and of the authority upon which they are ascribed to the persons whose names they bear.
This cannot be done so satisfactorily as in the words of Mr. George Catcott of Bristol, to whose very laudable zeal the Publick is indebted for the most considerable part of the following collection. His account of the matter is this: "The first discovery of certain MSS having been deposited in Redclift church, above three centuries ago, was made in the year 1768, at the time of opening the new bridge at Bristol, and was owing to a publication inFarley's Weekly Journal, 1 October 1768, containing anAccount of the ceremonies observed at the opening of the old bridge, taken, as it was said, from a very antient MS. This excited the curiosity of some persons to enquire after the original. The printer, Mr. Farley, could give no account of it, or of the person who brought the copy; but after much enquiry it was discovered, that the person who brought the copy was a youth, between 15 and 16 years of age, whose name was Thomas Chatterton, and whose family had been sextons of Redclift church for near 150 years. His father, who was now dead, had also been master of the free-school in Pile-street. The young man was at first very unwilling to discover from whence he had the original; but, after many promises made to him, he was at last prevailed on to acknowledge, that he had received this,together with many other MSS, from his father, who had found them in a large chest in an upper room over the chapel on the north side of Redclift church."
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 theTown and Country Magazinefor 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 ofSaxon atchievements, &c. p. 245.—ELINOURE and JUGA,written three hundred years ago byT. 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, asnot 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. HadRowleybeen aLondonerinstead of aBristowyan,I could have lived bycopyinghis works."
In a letter to his sister, dated 30 May, he informs her, that he is to be employed "in writing a voluminous history ofLondon,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 theGospel Magazine; theTown 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 aFac 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 theIntroductory 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 insertedA 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.]
ECLOGUE THE FIRST. p. 1ECLOGUE THE SECOND. 6ECLOGUE 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 byThomas Rowley,with a Glossary and Annotations byThomas Chatterton."
There is only one other Poem in this book, viz. the fragment of "Goddwyn, a Tragedie," which see below, p. 173.
This Poem is reprinted from theTown and Country Magazinefor 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. 23SONGE 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 forLadgate, r.Lydgate.ver. 2. r.Thatt I and thee.3. forbee, r.goe.7. forfyghte, r.wryte.]
THE TOURNAMENT. p. 28
This Poem is printed from a copy made by Mr. Catcott, from one inChatterton'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. forbrastynge, r.burslynge. 11. forvalyante, r.burlie. 23. fordysmall, r.honore.
Lydgate's answer.
No title in the vellum MS.
ver. 3. forvarses, r.pene. antep. forLendes, r.Sendes. ult. forlyne, 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 theVerses to Lydgate.
Orig.LydgateChat.Ladgate.ver. 3. Orig,goe. Chat.doe.7. Orig.wryte. Chat.fyghte.
Songe to Ælla. ver. 5. Orig.Dacyane. Chat.Dacya's. Orig.whose lockesChat.whose hayres. 11. Orig.burlie. Chat.bronded. 22. Orig.kennst. Chat.hearst. 23. Orig.honore. Chat.dysmall. 26. Orig.YprauncyngeChat.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 tooure 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 ofSyr Charles Bawdin, was probablySir 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 ofSprotti Chronica, p. 289, says only; "Itemthe 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.
Itemfor washynge the church payven ageyns } iiij d. ob.Kynge Edward 4th is comynge.}
ÆLLA, a tragycal enterlude. p. 65
This Poem, with theEpistle, Letter, andEntroductionne, 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. inChatterton'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 theTown and Country Magazine, with the following letter prefixed:
"To the Printer of the Town and Country Magazine.
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. 210BATTLE 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. 275ON 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 ofPainters, 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 inCambden'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 calledThomasby 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 theTown and Country Magazinefor 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 ordainedAcolytheby Bishop Carpenter on 19 September 1467, and received the higher orders ofSub-deacon, Deacon, andPriest, on the 12th of March, 1467, O.S. the 2d and 16th of April, 1468, respectively.
ON HAPPIENESSE, by WILLIAM CANYNGE. p. 286ONNE JOHNE A DALBENIE, by the same. Ibid.THE GOULER'S REQUIEM, by the same. 287THE 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 itkeene, as he found it so in other copies. The Reader may judge for himself, by examining theFac similein the opposite page.
With respect to the three friends of Mr. Canynge mentioned in the last line, the name ofRowleyis sufficiently known from the preceding poems.Iscammappears as an actor in the tragedy ofÆlla, p. 66. and in that ofGoddwyn, p. 174.; and a poem, ascribed to him, entitled "The merry Tricks of Laymington," is inserted in the "Discorse of Bristowe". SirTheobald Gorgeswas a knight of an antient family seated at Wraxhall, within a few miles of Bristol [SeeRot. 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 theMynstrelles songesinÆlla, 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 ofSirTheobald GorgesKnt." which had been pawned to him for £160.
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 ofThomas Chatterton.
POEMS, &c.
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, 5Twayne 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
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, 15The 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
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; 25The 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
Oh! I coulde waile mie kynge-coppe-decked mees[26],Mie spreedynge flockes of shepe of lillie white,Mie tendre applynges[27], and embodyde[28] trees,Mie Parker's Grange[29], far spreedynge to the syghte,Mie cuyen[30] kyne [31], mie bullockes stringe[32] yn syghte, 35Mie gorne[33] emblaunched[34] with the comfreie[35] plante,Mie floure[36] Seyncte Marie shotteyng wythe the lyghte,Mie store of all the blessynges Heaven can grant.I amm duressed[37] unto sorrowes blowe,Ihanten'd[38] to the peyne, will lette ne salte teare flowe. 40
Here I wille obaie[39] untylle Dethe doe 'pere,Here lyche a foule empoysoned leathel[40] tree,Whyche sleaeth[41] everichone that commeth nere,Soe wille I fyxed unto thys place gre[42].I to bement[43] haveth moe cause than thee; 45Sleene in the warre mie boolie[44] fadre lies;Oh! joieous I hys mortherer would slea,And bie hys syde for aie enclose myne eies.Calked[45] from everych joie, heere wylle I blede;Fell ys the Cullys-yatte[46] of mie hartes castle stede. 50
Oure woes alyche, alyche our dome[47] shal bee.Mie sonne, mie sonne alleyn[48], ystorven[49] ys;Here wylle I staie, and end mie lyff with thee;A lyff lyche myn a borden ys ywis.Now from een logges[50] fledden is selyness[51], 55Mynsterres[52] alleyn[53] can boaste the hallie[54] Seyncte,Now doeth Englonde weare a bloudie dresseAnd wyth her champyonnes gore her face depeyncte;Peace fledde, disorder sheweth her dark rode[55],And thorow ayre doth flie, yn garments steyned with bloude. 60
[Footnote 1:Smething, smoking; in some copiesbletheynge, but in the original as above.]
[Footnote 2: deadly.]
[Footnote 3: pluck or pull.]
[Footnote 4:Surcote, a cloke, or mantel, which hid all the other dress.]
[Footnote 5: shepherds.]
[Footnote 6: abruptly, so Chaucer, Syke he abredden dyd attourne.]
[Footnote 7: affright.]
[Footnote 8: Added.]
[Footnote 9: sad.]
[Footnote 10: woeful, lamentable.]
[Footnote 11: the Devil.]
[Footnote 12: might.]
[Footnote 13: sweet.]
[Footnote 14: good, neat, genteel.]
[Footnote 15: groves, sometimes used for a coppice.]
[Footnote 16: far-seen.]
[Footnote 17: Hermit.]
[Footnote 18: violin.]
[Footnote 19: sounding.]
[Footnote 20: inn, or public-house.]
[Footnote 21: also.]
[Footnote 22: pleasure.]
[Footnote 23: annoying.]
[Footnote 24: to keep off.]
[Footnote 25: ever, always.]
[Footnote 26: meadows.]
[Footnote 27: grafted trees.]
[Footnote 28: thick, stout.]
[Footnote 29: liberty of pasture given to the Parker.]
[Footnote 30: tender.]
[Footnote 31: cows.]
[Footnote 32: strong.]
[Footnote 33: garden.]
[Footnote 34: whitened.]
[Footnote 35: cumfrey, a favourite dish at that time.]
[Footnote 36: marygold.]
[Footnote 37: hardened.]
[Footnote 38: accustomed.]
[Footnote 39: abide. This line is also wrote, "Here wyll I obaie untill dethe appere," but this is modernized.]
[Footnote 40: deadly.]
[Footnote 41: destroyeth, killeth.]
[Footnote 42: grow.]
[Footnote 43: lament.]
[Footnote 44: much-loved, beloved.]
[Footnote 45: cast out, ejected.]
[Footnote 46: alluding to the portcullis, which guarded the gate, on which often depended the castle.]
[Footnote 47: fate.]
[Footnote 48: my only son.]
[Footnote 49: dead.]
[Footnote 50: cottages.]
[Footnote 51: happiness.]
[Footnote 52: monasterys.]
[Footnote 53: only.]
[Footnote 54: holy.]
[Footnote 55: complexion.]
Sprytes[1] of the bleste, the pious Nygelle sed,Poure owte yer pleasaunce[2] onn mie fadres hedde.
Rycharde of Lyons harte to fyghte is gon,Uponne the brede[3] sea doe the banners gleme[4];The amenused[5] nationnes be aston[6], 5To ken[7] syke[8] large a flete, syke fyne, syke breme[9].The barkis heafods[10] coupe[11] the lymed[12] streme;Oundes[13] synkeynge oundes upon the hard ake[14] riese;The water slughornes[15] wythe a swotye[16] cleme[17]Conteke[18] the dynnynge[19] ayre, and reche the skies. 10Sprytes of the bleste, on gouldyn trones[20] astedde[21],Poure owte yer pleasaunce onn mie fadres hedde.
The gule[22] depeyncted[23] oares from the black tyde,Decorn[24] wyth fonnes[25] rare, doe shemrynge[26] ryse;Upswalynge[27] doe heie[28] shewe ynne drierie pryde, 15Lyche gore-red estells[29] in the eve[30]-merk[31] skyes;The nome-depeyncted[32] shields, the speres aryse,Alyche[33] talle roshes on the water syde;Alenge[34] from bark to bark the bryghte sheene[35] flyes;Sweft-kerv'd[36] delyghtes doe on the water glyde. 20Sprites of the bleste, and everich Seyncte ydedde,Poure owte youre pleasaunce on mie fadres hedde.
The Sarafen lokes owte: he doethe feere,That Englondes brondeous[37] sonnes do cotte the waie.Lyke honted bockes, theye reineth[38] here and there, 25Onknowlachynge[39] inne whatte place to obaie[40].The banner glesters on the beme of daie;The mittee[41] crosse Jerusalim ys seene;Dhereof the syghte yer corrage doe affraie[42],In balefull[43] dole their faces be ywreene[44]. 30Sprytes of the bleste, and everich Seyncte ydedde,Poure owte your pleasaunce on mie fadres hedde.
The bollengers[45] and cottes[45], soe swyfte yn fyghte,Upon the sydes of everich bark appere;Foorthe to his offyce lepethe everych knyghte, 35Eftsoones[46] hys squyer, with hys shielde and spere.The jynynge shieldes doe shemre and moke glare[47];The dotheynge oare doe make gemoted[48] dynne;The reynyng[49] foemen[50], thynckeynge gif[51] to dare,Boun[52] the merk[53] swerde, theie seche to fraie[54], theie blyn[55].Sprytes of the bleste, and everyche Seyncte ydedde,Powre oute yer pleasaunce onn mie fadres hedde.
Now comm the warrynge Sarasyns to fyghte;Kynge Rycharde, lyche a lyoncel[56] of warre,Inne sheenynge goulde, lyke feerie[57] gronfers[58], dyghte[59],Shaketh alofe hys honde, and seene afarre. 45Syke haveth I espyde a greter starreAmenge the drybblett[60] ons to sheene fulle bryghte;Syke sunnys wayne[61] wyth amayl'd[62] beames doe barrThe blaunchie[63] mone or estells[64] to gev lyghte. 50Sprytes of the bleste, and everich Seyncte ydedde,Poure owte your pleasaunce on mie fadres hedde.
Distraughte[65] affraie[66], wythe lockes of blodde-red die,Terroure, emburled[67] yn the thonders rage,Deathe, lynked to dismaie, dothe ugsomme[68] flie, 55Enchasynge[69] echone champyonne war to wage.Speeres bevyle[70] speres; swerdes upon swerdes engage;Armoure on armoure dynn[71], shielde upon shielde;Ne dethe of thosandes can the warre assuage,Botte salleynge nombers sable[72] all the feelde. 60Sprytes of the bleste, and everych Seyncte ydedde,Poure owte youre pleasaunce on mie fadres hedde.
The foemen fal arounde; the cross reles[73] hye;Steyned ynne goere, the harte of warre ys seen;Kyng Rycharde, thorough everyche trope dothe flie, 65And beereth meynte[74] of Turkes onto the greene;Bie hymm the floure of Asies menn ys sleene[75];The waylynge[76] mone doth fade before hys sonne;Bie hym hys knyghtes bee formed to actions deene[77],Doeynge syke marvels[78], strongers be aston[79]. 70Sprytes of the bleste, and everych Seyncte ydedde,Poure owte your pleasaunce onn mie fadres hedde.
The fyghte ys wonne; Kynge Rycharde master is;The Englonde bannerr kisseth the hie ayre;Full of pure joie the armie is iwys[80], 75And everych one haveth it onne his bayre[81];Agayne to Englonde comme, and worschepped there.Twyghte[82] into lovynge armes, and feasted eft[83];In everych eyne aredynge nete of wyere[84],Of all remembrance of past peyne berefte. 80Sprites of the bleste, and everich Seyncte ydedde,Syke pleasures powre upon mie fadres hedde.
Syke Nigel sed, whan from the bluie seaThe upswol[85] sayle dyd daunce before his eyne;Swefte as the withe, hee toe the beeche dyd flee. 85And founde his fadre steppeynge from the bryne.Lette thyssen menne, who haveth sprite of loove,Bethyncke untoe hemselves how mote the meetynge proove.
[Footnote 1: Spirits, souls.]
[Footnote 2: pleasure.]
[Footnote 3: broad.]
[Footnote 4: shine, glimmer.]
[Footnote 5: diminished, lessened.]
[Footnote 6: astonished, confounded.]
[Footnote 7: see, discover, know.]
[Footnote 8: such, so.]
[Footnote 9: strong.]
[Footnote 10: heads.]
[Footnote 11: cut.]
[Footnote 12: glassy, reflecting.]
[Footnote 13: waves, billows.]
[Footnote 14: oak.]
[Footnote 15: a musical instrument, not unlike a hautboy.]
[Footnote 16: sweet.]
[Footnote 17: sound.]
[Footnote 18: confuse, contend with.]
[Footnote 19: sounding.]
[Footnote 20: thrones.]
[Footnote 21: seated.]
[Footnote 22: red.]
[Footnote 23: painted.]
[Footnote 24: carved.]
[Footnote 25: devices.]
[Footnote 26: glimmering.]
[Footnote 27: rising high, swelling up.]
[Footnote 28: they.]
[Footnote 29: a corruption ofestoile, Fr. a star.]
[Footnote 30: evening.]
[Footnote 31: dark.]
[Footnote 32: rebus'd shields; a herald term, when the charge of the shield implies the name of the bearer.]
[Footnote 33: like.]
[Footnote 34: along.]
[Footnote 35: shine.]
[Footnote 36: short-lived.]
[Footnote 37: furious.]
[Footnote 38: runneth.]
[Footnote 39: not knowing.]
[Footnote 40: abide.]
[Footnote 41: mighty.]
[Footnote 42: affright.]
[Footnote 43: woeful.]
[Footnote 44: covered.]
[Footnote 45: different kinds of boats.]
[Footnote 46: full soon, presently.]
[Footnote 47: glitter.]
[Footnote 48: united, assembled.]
[Footnote 49: running.]
[Footnote 50: foes.]
[Footnote 51: if.]
[Footnote 52: make ready.]
[Footnote 53: dark.]
[Footnote 54: engage.]
[Footnote 55: cease, stand still.]
[Footnote 56: a young lion.]
[Footnote 57: flaming.]
[Footnote 58: a meteor, fromgron, a fen, andfer, a corruption of fire; that is, a fire exhaled from a fen.]
[Footnote 59: deckt.]
[Footnote 60: small, insignificant.]
[Footnote 61: carr.]
[Footnote 62: enameled.]
[Footnote 63: white, silver.]
[Footnote 64: stars.]
[Footnote 65: distracting.]
[Footnote 66: affright.]
[Footnote 67: armed.]
[Footnote 68: terribly.]
[Footnote 69: encouraging, heating.]
[Footnote 70: break, a herald term, signifying a spear broken in tilting.]
[Footnote 71: sounds.]
[Footnote 72: blacken.]
[Footnote 73: waves.]
[Footnote 74: many, great numbers.]
[Footnote 75: slain.]
[Footnote 76: decreasing.]
[Footnote 77: glorious, worthy.]
[Footnote 78: wonders.]
[Footnote 79: astonished.]
[Footnote 80: certainly.]
[Footnote 81: brow.]
[Footnote 82: plucked, pulled.]
[Footnote 83: often.]
[Footnote 84: grief, trouble.]
[Footnote 85: swollen.]
Wouldst thou kenn nature in her better parte?Goe, serche the logges [1] and bordels[2] of the hynde[3];Gyff[4] theie have anie, itte ys roughe-made arte,Inne hem[5] you see the blakied[6] forme of kynde[7].Haveth your mynde a lycheynge[8] of a mynde? 5Woulde it kenne everich thynge, as it mote[9] bee?Woulde ytte here phrase of the vulgar from the hynde,Withoute wiseegger[10] wordes and knowlache[11] free?Gyf soe, rede thys, whyche Iche dysporteynge[12] pende;Gif nete besyde, yttes rhyme maie ytte commende. 10
Botte whether, fayre mayde, do ye goe?O where do ye bende yer waie?I wille knowe whether you goe,I wylle not bee asseled[13] naie.
To Robyn and Nell, all downe in the delle, 15To hele[14] hem at makeynge of haie.
Syr Rogerre, the parsone, hav hyred mee there,Comme, comme, lett us tryppe ytte awaie,We'lle wurke[15] and we'lle synge, and wylle drenche[16] of stronge beerAs longe as the merrie sommers daie. 20
How harde ys mie dome to wurch!Moke is mie woe.Dame Agnes, whoe lies ynne the ChyrcheWith birlette[17] golde,Wythe gelten[18] aumeres[19] stronge ontolde, 25What was shee moe than me, to be soe?
I kenne Syr Roger from afarTryppynge over the lea;Ich ask whie the loverds[20] sonIs moe than mee. 30
The sweltrie[21] sonne dothe hie apace hys wayne[22],From everich beme a seme[23]; of lyfe doe falle;Swythyn[24] scille[25] oppe the haie uponne the playne;Methynckes the cockes begynneth to gre[26] talle.Thys ys alyche oure doome[27]; the great, the smalle, 35Mofte withe[28] and bee forwyned[29] by deathis darte.See! the swote[30] flourette[31] hathe noe swote at alle;Itte wythe the ranke wede bereth evalle[32] parte.The cravent[33], warrioure, and the wyse be blente[34],Alyche to drie awaie wythe those theie dyd bemente[35]. 40
All-a-boon[36], Syr Priest, all-a-boon,Bye yer preestschype nowe saye unto mee;Syr Gaufryd the knyghte, who lyvethe harde bie,Whie shoulde hee than meeBee moe greate, 45Inne honnoure, knyghtehoode and estate?
Attourne[37] thine eyne arounde thys haied mee,Tentyflie[38] loke arounde the chaper[39] delle[40];An answere to thie barganette[41] here see,Thys welked[42] flourette wylle a leson telle: 50Arist[43] it blew[44], itte florished, and dyd welle,Lokeynge ascaunce[45] upon the naighboure greene;Yet with the deigned[46] greene yttes rennome[47] felle,Eftsoones[48] ytte shronke upon the daie-brente[49] playne,Didde not yttes loke, whilest ytte there dyd stonde, 55To croppe ytte in the bodde move somme dred honde.
Syke[50] ys the waie of lyffe; the loverds[51] ente[52]Mooveth the robber hym therfor to slea[53];Gyf thou has ethe[54], the shadowe of contente,Beleive the trothe[55], theres none moe haile[56] yan thee. 60Thou wurchest[57]; welle, canne thatte a trobble bee?Slothe moe wulde jade thee than the roughest daie.Couldest thou the kivercled[58] of soughlys[59] see,Thou wouldst eftsoones[60] see trothe ynne whatte I saie;Botte lette me heere thie waie of lyffe, and thenne 65Heare thou from me the lyffes of odher menne.
I ryse wythe the sonne,Lyche hym to dryve the wayne[61],And eere mie wurche is donI synge a songe or twayne[62]. 70I followe the plough-tayle,Wythe a longe jubb[63] of ale.Botte of the maydens, oh!Itte lacketh notte to telle;Syr Preeste mote notte crie woe, 75Culde hys bull do as welle.I daunce the beste heiedeygnes[64],And foile[65] the wysest feygnes[66].On everych Seynctes hie daieWythe the mynstrelle[67] am I seene, 80All a footeynge it awaie,Wythe maydens on the greene.But oh! I wyshe to be moe greate,In rennome, tenure, and estate.
Has thou ne seene a tree uponne a hylle, 85Whose unliste[68] braunces[69] rechen far toe fyghte;Whan fuired[70] unwers[71] doe the heaven fylle,Itte shaketh deere[72] yn dole[73] and moke affryghte.Whylest the congeon[74] flowrette abessie[75] dyghte[76],Stondethe unhurte, unquaced[77] bie the storme: 90Syke is a picte[78] of lyffe: the manne of myghteIs tempest-chaft[79], hys woe greate as hys forme,Thieselfe a flowrette of a small accounte,Wouldst harder felle the wynde, as hygher thee dydste mounte.
[Footnote 1: lodges, huts.]
[Footnote 2: cottages.]
[Footnote 3: servant, slave, peasant.]
[Footnote 4: if.]
[Footnote 5: a contraction ofthem.]
[Footnote 6: naked, original.]
[Footnote 7: nature.]
[Footnote 8: liking.]
[Footnote 9: might. The sense of this line is, Would you see every thing in its primæval state.]
[Footnote 10: wise-egger, a philosopher.]
[Footnote 11: knowledge.]
[Footnote 12: sporting.]
[Footnote 13: answered.]
[Footnote 14: aid, or help.]
[Footnote 15: work.]
[Footnote 16: drink.]
[Footnote 17: a hood, or covering for the back part of the head.]
[Footnote 18: guilded.]
[Footnote 19: borders of gold and silver, on which was laid thin plates of either metal counterchanged, not unlike the present spangled laces.]
[Footnote 20: lord.]
[Footnote 21: sultry.]
[Footnote 22: car.]
[Footnote 23: seed.]
[Footnote 24: quickly, presently.]
[Footnote 25: gather.]
[Footnote 26: grow.]
[Footnote 27: fate.]
[Footnote 28: a contraction of wither.]
[Footnote 29: dried.]
[Footnote 30: sweet.]
[Footnote 31: flower.]
[Footnote 32: equal.]
[Footnote 33: coward.]
[Footnote 34: ceased, dead, no more.]
[Footnote 35: lament.]
[Footnote 36: a manner of asking a favour.]
[Footnote 37: turn.]
[Footnote 38: carefully, with circumspection.]
[Footnote 39: dry, sun-burnt.]
[Footnote 40: valley.]
[Footnote 41: a song, or ballad.]
[Footnote 42: withered.]
[Footnote 43: arisen, or arose.]
[Footnote 44: blossomed.]
[Footnote 45: disdainfully.]
[Footnote 46: disdained.]
[Footnote 47: glory.]
[Footnote 48: quickly.]
[Footnote 49: burnt.]
[Footnote 50: such.]
[Footnote 51: lord's.]
[Footnote 52: a purse or bag.]
[Footnote 53: slay.]
[Footnote 54: ease.]
[Footnote 55: truth.]
[Footnote 56: happy.]
[Footnote 57: workest.]
[Footnote 58: the hidden or secret part of.]
[Footnote 59: souls.]
[Footnote 60: full soon, or presently.]
[Footnote 61: car.]
[Footnote 62: two.]
[Footnote 63: a bottle.]
[Footnote 64: a country dance, still practised in the North.]
[Footnote 65: baffle.]
[Footnote 66: a corruption offeints.]
[Footnote 67: a minstrel is a musician.]
[Footnote 68: unbounded.]
[Footnote 69: branches.]
[Footnote 70: furious.]
[Footnote 71: tempests, storms.]
[Footnote 72: dire.]
[Footnote 73: dismay.]
[Footnote 74: dwarf.]
[Footnote 75: humility.]
[Footnote 76: decked.]
[Footnote 77: unhurt.]
[Footnote 78: picture.]
[Footnote 79: tempest-beaten.]