Chapter IV: Part 4

There was a great suter to Meg’s mistresse, called sir James of Castile, to winne her loue: but her affection was set on doctor Skelton; so that sir James could get no grant of any fauour. Whereupon he swore, if hee knew who were her paramour, hee would runne him thorow with his rapier. The mistresse (who had a great delight to bee pleasant) made a match betweene her and Long Meg, that she should goe drest in gentlemans apparell, and with her sword and buckler goe and meet sir James in Saint Georges field[s]; if she beat him, she should for her labour haue a new petticote. Let me alone, quoth Meg; the deuill take me if I lose a petticote. And with that her mistris deliuered her a suit of white sattin, that was one of the guards that lay at her house. Meg put it on, and tooke her whinyard by her side, and away she went into Saint Georges fields to meet sir James. Presently after came sir James, and found his mistris very melancholy, as women haue faces that are fit for all fancies. What aile you, sweetheart? quoth he; tell me; hath any man wronged you? if he hath, be he the proudest champion in London, Ile haue him by the eares, and teach him to know, sir James of Castile can chastise whom he list. Now, quoth she, shall I know if you loue me: a squaring long knaue, in a white sattin doublet, hath this day monstrously misused me in words, and I haue no body to reuenge it; and in a brauery went out of doores, and bad the proudest champion I had come into Saint Georges fields and quit my wrong, if they durst: now, sir James, if euer you loued mee, learne the knaue to know how he hath wronged me, and I will grant whatsoeuer you will request at my hands. Marry, that I will, quoth he; and for that you may see how I will vse the knaue, goe with me, you and master doctor Skelton, and be eye-witnesses of my manhood. To this they agreed; and all three went into Saint Georges fields, where Long Meg was walking by the wind-mils. Yonder, quoth she, walkes the villain that abused me. Follow me, hostesse, quoth sir James; Ile goe to him. As soone as hee drew nigh, Meg began to settle herselfe, and so did sir James: but Meg past on as though she would haue gone by. Nay, sirrah, stay, quoth sir James; you and I part not so, we must haue a bout ere we passe; for I am this gentlewomans champion, and flatly for her sake will haue you by the eares. Meg replied not a word; but only out with her sword: and to it they went. At the first bout Meg hit him on the hand, and hurt him a little, but endangered him diuers times, and made him giue ground, following so hotly, that shee strucke sir James’ weapon out of his hand; then when she saw him disarm’d, shee stept within him, and, drawing her ponyard, swore all the world should not saue him. Oh, saue mee, sir! quoth hee; I am a knight, and ’tis but for a womans matter; spill not my blood. Wert thou twenty knights, quoth Meg, and were the king himselfe heere, hee should not saue thy life, vnlesse thou grant mee one thing. Whatsoeuer it bee, quoth sir James. Marry, quoth shee, that is, that this night thou wait on my trencher at supper at this womans house; and when supper is done, then confesse me to be thy better at weapon in any ground in England. I will do it, sir, quoth he, as I am a true knight. With this they departed, and sir James went home with his hostesse sorrowfull and ashamed, swearing that his adversary was the stoutest man in England. Well, supper was prouided, and sir Thomas Moore and diuers other gentlemen bidden thither by Skeltons means, to make vp the jest; which when sir James saw inuited, hee put a good face on the matter, and thought to make a slight matter of it, and therefore beforehand told sir Thomas Moore what had befallen him, how entring in a quarrell of his hostesse, hee fought with a desperate gentleman of the court, who had foiled him, and giuen him in charge to wait on his trencher that night. Sir Thomas Moore answered sir James, that it was no dishonour to be foyled by a gentleman [of England?], sith Cæsar himselfe was beaten backe by their valour. As thus they were discanting of the valour of Englishmen, in came Meg marching in her mans attire: euen as shee entered in at the doore, This, sir Thomas Moore, quoth sir James, is that English gentleman whose prowesse I so highly commend, and to whom in all valour I account myselfe so inferiour. And, sir, quoth shee, pulling off her hat, and her haire falling about her eares, hee that so hurt him to day is none other but Long Meg of Westminster; and so you are all welcome. At this all the company fell in a great laughing, and sir James was amazed that a woman should so wap him in a whinyard: well, hee as the rest was faine to laugh at the matter, and all that supper time to wait on her trencher, who had leaue of her mistris that shee might be master of the feast; where with a good laughter they made good cheere, sir James playing the proper page, and Meg sitting in her maiesty. Thus was sir James disgraced for his loue, and Meg after counted for a proper woman.”

* * * * *

_Scogan and Skelton_, 1600, a play by Richard Hathwaye and William Rankins, is mentioned in Henslowe’s MSS.: see Malone’s _Shakespeare_ (by Boswell), iii. 324.

Notices of Skelton may also be found in:—

_A Dialogue bothe pleasaunt and pietifull, wherein is a godlie regiment against the Feuer Pestilence, with a consolation and comforte againste death. Newlie corrected by William Bullein, the authour thereof._ 1573, 8vo. Of this piece I have seen only the above ed.: but it appeared originally in 1564. It contains notices of several poets, introduced by way of interlude or diversion in the midst of a serious dialogue; and (at p. 17) Skelton is described as sitting “in the corner of a Piller, with a frostie bitten face, frownyng,” and “writyng many a sharpe Disticons” against Wolsey—

“How the Cardinall came of nought,
And his Prelacie solde and bought,” &c.

(15 verses chiefly made up from Skelton’s works).—_The Rewarde of Wickednesse, discoursing the sundrye monstrous abuses of wicked and vngodly Wordelings_, &c. _Newly compiled by Richard Robinson, seruaunt in householde to the right honorable Earle of Shrewsbury_, &c. 4to, n. d. (The Address to the Reader dated 1574), at sig. Q 2.—_A Discourse of English Poetrie_, &c., _By William Webbe, Graduate_, 1586, 4to, at sig. c iii.—_The Arte of English Poesie_, &c. (attributed to one Puttenham: but see D’Israeli’s _Amen. of Lit._ ii. 278, sqq.), 1589, 4to, at pp. 48, 50, 69.—_Fovre Letters, and certaine Sonnets: Especially touching Robert Greene_, &c. (by Gabriell Harvey), 1592, 4to, at p. 7.—_Pierces Supererogation or a New Prayse of the Old Asse_, &c. [by] _Gabriell Haruey_, 1593, 4to, at p. 75.—_Palladis Tamia. Wits Treasvry Being the Second part of Wits Commonwealth. By Francis Meres_, &c., 1598, 12mo, at p. 279.—_Virgidemiarvm. The three last Bookes. Of byting Satyres_ (by Joseph Hall), 1598, 12mo, at p. 83.—_The Downfall of Robert Earle of Huntington, Afterward called Robin Hood of merrie Sherwodde_, &c. (by Anthony Munday), 1601, 4to. In this play, which is supposed to be a rehearsal previous to its performance before Henry the Eighth, Skelton acts the part of Friar Tuck.—In _The Death of Robert, Earle of Hvntington_, &c. (by Anthony Munday and Henry Chettle), 1601, 4to, which forms a Second Part to the drama just described, Skelton, though his name is not mentioned throughout it, is still supposed to act the Friar.—_Miscellanea_, written out by “Joħnes Mauritius” between 1604 and 1605—_MS. Reg. 12. B._ v.—contains (at fol. 14), and attributes to Skelton, a well-known indelicate _jeu d’esprit._—_Pimlyco, or Runne Red-Cap._ _Tis a mad world at Hogsdon_, 1609, 4to. Besides a notice of Skelton, this poem contains two long quotations from his _Elynour Rummyng_.—_Cornv-copiæ. Pasquils Night-Cap: Or Antidot for the Head-ache_ (by Samuel Rowlands), 1612, 4to, at sig. O 2 and sig. Q 3. The second notice of Skelton in this poem is as follows;

“And such a wondrous troupe the Hornpipe treads,
One cannot passe another for their heads,
That shortly we shall haue (_as Skelton iests_)
A greater sort of horned men than beasts:”

but I recollect nothing in his works to which the allusion can be applied.—_An Halfe-pennyworth of Wit, in a Penny-worth of Paper. Or, The Hermites Tale. The third Impression._ 1613, 4to. At p. 16 of this poem is a tale said to be “in Skeltons rime”—to which, however, it bears no resemblance.—_The Shepheards Pipe_ (by Browne and Withers), 1614, 12mo, in Eglogue i., at sig. C 7.—_Hypercritica; or A Rule of Judgment for writing, or reading our History’s_, &c. _By Edmund Bolton, Author of Nero Cæsar_ (published by Dr. Anthony Hall together with _Nicolai Triveti Annalium Continuatio_, &c.), 1722, 8vo, at p. 235. At what period Bolton wrote this treatise is uncertain: he probably completed it about 1618; see Haslewood’s Preface to _Anc. Crit. Essays_, &c. ii. xvi.—_Poems: By Michael Drayton Esqvire_, n. d. folio, at p. 283.—_The Golden Fleece Diuided into three Parts_, &c., _by Orpheus Junior_ [Sir William Vaughan], 1626, 4to, at pp. 83, 88, 93, of the Third Part. In this piece “Scogin and _Skelton_” figure as “the chiefe Aduocates for the Dogrel Rimers by the procurement of Zoilus, Momus, and others of the Popish Sect.”—_The Fortunate Isles, and their Union. Celebrated in a Masque designed for the Court, on the Twelfth-night_, 1626, by Ben Jonson. In this masque are introduced “Skogan and _Skelton_, in like habits as they lived:” see Jonson’s _Works_, viii. ed. Gifford: see also his _Tale of a Tub_ (licensed 1633), _Works_, vi. 231.—_Wit and Fancy In a Maze. Or the Incomparable Champion of Love and Beautie. A Mock-Romance_, &c. _Written originally in the British Tongue, and made English by a person of much Honor. Si foret in terris rideret Democritus._[148] 1656, 12mo. In this romance (p. 101) we are told that “[In Elysium] the Brittish Bards (forsooth) were also ingaged in quarrel for Superiority; and who think you threw the Apple of Discord amongst them, but Ben Johnson, who had openly vaunted himself the first and best of English Poets ... _Skelton_, Gower, and the Monk of Bury were at Daggers-drawing for Chawcer:” and a marginal note on “Skelton” informs us that he was “Henry 4. his Poet Lawreat, who wrote disguises for the young Princes”!

[148] Such is the title-page of the copy now before me: but some copies (see _Restituta_, iv. 196) are entitled _Don Zara del Fogo_, &c. 1656; and others _Romancio-Mastix, or a Romance of Romances_, &c. _By Samuel Holland. Gent._ 1660.

APPENDIX II.

LIST OF EDITIONS, &c.

_Here begynneth a lytell treatyse named the bowge of courte._

Colophon,

_Thus endeth the Bowge of courte. Enprynted at Westmynster By me Wynkyn the Worde._ 4to, n. d.

On the title-page is a woodcut of a fox and a bear.

* * * * *

_Here begynneth a lytell treatyse named the bowge of courte._

Colophon,

_Thus endeth the Bowge of courte Enprynted at London By Wynken de Worde in flete strete, at the sygne of the sonne._ 4to, n. d.

On the title-page is a woodcut of three men and a woman.

* * * * *

_Here folowythe dyuers Balettys and dyties solacyous deuysyd by Master Skelton Laureat._

Colophon,

_Cum priuilegio_.

4to, n. d., and without printer’s name, but evidently from the press of Pynson. (Consisting of 4 leaves.)

On the title-page is a woodcut representing Skelton seated in his study, crowned with a laurel wreath, and over his head, “Arboris omne genus viridi concedite lauro” (see _Memoir_, p. xlvi. note).

It contains—

The ballad, “My darlyng dere, my daysy floure,” &c.

The verses, “The auncient acquaintance, madam, betwen vs twayne,” &c.

The verses, “Knolege, acquayntance, resort, fauour with grace,” &c.

The Latin verses, “Cuncta licet cecidisse putas,” &c., with an English translation, “Though ye suppose,” &c.

The verses, “Go, pytyous hart, rasyd with dedly wo,” &c.

* * * * *

_Skelton Laureate agaynste a comely Coystrowne that curyowsly chawntyd And curryshly cowntred, And madly in hys Musykkys mokkyshly made, Agaynste the .ix. Musys of polytyke Poems & Poettys matryculat._

Colophon,

_Cum priuilegio_.

4to, n. d., and without printer’s name, but evidently from the press of Pynson. (Consisting of 4 leaves.)

On the title-page is a woodcut, the same as in the last mentioned tract, but with a different border.

It contains—

The verses mentioned in the title-page.

“Contra aliū Cātitātē & Organisantē Asinum, qui impugnabat Skeltonida pierium Sarcasmos.”

“Skelton Laureat uppon a deedmans hed yᵗ was sent to hym from an honorable Jētyllwoman for a token Deuysyd this gostly medytacyon in Englysh Couenable in sentence Comēdable, Lamētable, Lacrymable, Profytable for the soule.”

The verses, “Womanhod, wanton, ye want,” &c.

* * * * *

_Honorificatissimo, Amplissimo, longeque reuerendissimo in Christo patri: Ac domino, domino Thomæ &c. Tituli sanctæ Ceciliæ, sacrosanctæ; Romanæ ecclesiæ presbytero Cardinali meritissimo, et Apostolicæ sedis legato. A latereque legato superillustri &c. Skeltonis laureatus Ora, reg. Humillimum, dicit obsequium cum omni debita reuerentia, tanto tamque magnifico digna principe sacerdotum, totiusque iustitiæ equabilissimo moderatore. Necnon presentis opusculi fautore excellentissimo &c. Ad cuius auspicatissimam contemplationem, sub memorabili prelo gloriose immortalitatis presens pagella felicitatur &c._

_A replycacion agaynst certayne yong scolers, abiured of late &c._

_Argumentum._

_Crassantes nimium, Nimium sterilesque labruscas_
_(Vinea quas domini sabaot non sustinet ultra_
_Laxius expandi) nostra est resecare uoluntas._

_Cum priuilegio a rege indulto._

Colophon,

_Thus endeth the Replicacyon of Skel. L. &c. Imprinted by Richard Pynson, printer to the kynges most noble grace._ 4to, n. d.

* * * * *

_A ryght delectable tratyse vpon a goodly Garlande or Chapelet of Laurell by mayster Skelton Poete laureat studyously dyuysed at Sheryfhotton Castell. In yᵉ foreste of galtres, wher in ar cōprysyde many & dyuers solacyons & ryght pregnant allectyues of syngular pleasure, as more at large it doth apere in yᵉ proces folowynge._

Colophon,

_Here endith a ryght delectable tratyse vpon a goodly garlonde or chapelet of laurell dyuysed by mayster Skelton Poete laureat_.

_Inpryntyd by me Rycharde faukes dwellydg_ [sic] _in durā rent or els in Powlis chyrche yarde at the sygne of the A.B.C. The yere of our lorde god .M.CCCCC.XXIII._ _The .iii. day of Octobre_, 4to.

On the title-page is a woodcut representing Skelton seated in his study, and on the reverse of the title-page a woodcut (copied from a French print—see _Memoir_, p. xlvii. note),—a whole-length figure of a man holding a branch in one hand and a flower in the other,—having at top the words “Skelton Poeta,” and at bottom the following verses;

_Eterno mansura die dum sidera fulgent_
_Equora dumq; tument hec laurea nostra virebit._
_Hinc nostrum celebre et nomē referetur ad astra_
_Vndiq; Skeltonis memorabitur altera donis [alter Adonis]._

On the reverse of A ii. are small woodcuts of “The quene of Fame” and “Dame Pallas.” After the colophon is the device of the printer, “Richard Fakes.”

* * * * *

_Magnyfycence, A goodly interlude and a mery deuysed and made by mayster Skelton poet laureate late deceasyd._

Colophon,

_Cum priuilegio_.

folio, n. d., and without printer’s name.

In a note, vol. i. 225, I have (following Ritson and others) stated positively that this ed. was “printed by Rastell:” I ought to have said, that in all probability it was from Rastell’s press.

* * * * *

_Here after foloweth the boke of Phyllyp Sparowe compyled by mayster Skelton Poete Laureate._

Colophon,

_Prynted at London at the poultry by Rychard Kele_.

12mo, n. d. On reverse of the last leaf is a woodcut representing Phyllyp Sparowe’s tomb.

An edition by Kele, 4to, n. d., is mentioned in _Typogr. Antiq._ iv. 305, ed. Dibdin: but qy.?

* * * * *

_Here after foloweth a litle booke of Phillyp Sparow, compiled by Mayster Skeltō Poete Laureate._

Colophon,

_Imprynted at London in paules churche yerde by Robert Toy_.

12mo, n. d. On reverse of the last leaf is the same woodcut as in the ed. last described.

* * * * *

_Here after foloweth a litle boke of Phillip sparow. Compyled by mayster Skelton Poete Laureate._

Colophon,

_Imprinted at London in poules churchyard, at the sygne of the Sunne, by Antony Kitson_.

Colophon in some copies,

_Imprinted at London in poules churchyard at the sygne of the Lamb, by Abraham Weale_ [sic].

Colophon in some other copies,

_Imprinted at London in Foster-lane by Ihon Walley_.

12mo, n. d.

An edition _Imprinted at London in paules churche yerde by John Wyght_, with a woodcut of “Phyllyp Sparowes tomb” on the last page, is mentioned in _Typogr. Antiq._ iv. 379. ed. Dibdin.

* * * * *

_Here after foloweth certaine bokes cōpyled by mayster Skeltō, Poet Laureat, whose names here after shall appere._

_Speake Parot._
_The death of the noble Prynce Kynge Edwarde the fourth._
_A treatyse of the Scottes._
_Ware the Hawke._
_The Tunnynge of Elynoure Rummyng._

Colophon,

_Thus endeth these lytle workes compyled by maister Skelton Poet Laureat_.

_Imprynted at London, in Crede Lane, by John Kynge and Thomas Marche_.

12mo, n. d.

* * * * *

_Heare after foloweth certain bokes Compiled by Master Skelton, Poet Laureat, whose names here after doth appere._

(Enumeration of pieces as above.)

_Imprynted at London by Ihon Day._

Colophon,

_Thus endeth these litle works compiled by maister Skelton Poet Laureat_.

12mo, n. d.

* * * * *

_Here after foloweth certayne bokes, cōpyled by mayster Skelton, Poet Laureat, whose names here after shall appere._

(Enumeration of pieces as above.)

_Printed at London by Richard Lant, for Henry Tab, dwelling in Pauls churchyard, at the sygne of Judith._

Colophon,

_Thus endethe these lytell workes compyled by mayster Skelton Poet Laureat. And prynted by Richard Lant, for Henry Tab, dwellyng in Poules churche yard at the sygne of Judith_.

12mo, n. d. On the fly-leaf of the copy which I used, but perhaps not belonging to it, was pasted a woodcut representing the author, with the words “Skelton Poet” (copied from Pynson’s ed. of _Dyuers Balettys_, &c., and the same as that on the reverse of the last leaf of Kele’s ed. of _Why come ye nat to Courte_).

An edition printed _for W. Bonham_, 1547, 12mo, is mentioned by Warton, _Hist. of E.P._ ii. 336 (note), ed. 4to.

* * * * *

The various editions of these “certaine bokes” contain, besides the pieces specified on the title-page, the following poems—

“All noble men, of this take hede,” &c. [prefixed to the eds.
of _Why come ye nat to Courte_.]
“Howe euery thing must haue a tyme.”
“Prayer to the Father of Heauen.”
“To the seconde Person.”
“To the Holy Ghost.”

* * * * *

_Here after foloweth a litel boke called Colyn Cloute compyled by mayster Skelton poete Laureate._

_Quis cōsurgat mecū adversus malignantes, aut quis stabit mecū adversus operantes iniquitatem. Nemo domine._

Colophon,

_Imprinted at London by me Rycharde Kele dwellyng in the powltry at the long shop vnder saynt Myldredes chyrche_.

12mo, n. d.

An edition by Kele, 4to, n. d., is mentioned in _Typogr. Antiq._ iv. 305. ed. Dibdin: but qy.?

* * * * *

_Here after foloweth a litle booke called Colyn Clout compiled by master Skelton Poete Laureate._

_Quis cōsurgat_, &c. (as above.)

Colophon,

_Inprinted at London in Paules Churche yarde at the Sygne of the Rose by Iohn Wyghte_.

12mo, n. d.

* * * * *

_Here after foloweth a litle boke called Colyn Clout compiled by master Skelton Poete Laureate._

_Quis consurgat_, &c. (as above.)

Colophon,

_Imprynted at London in Paules Churche yarde at the Sygne of the Sunne by Anthony Kytson_.

Colophon in some copies,

_Imprynted at London in Paules Churche yarde at the Sygne of the Lambe by Abraham Veale_.

12mo, n. d.

An edition _Imprynted at London_ by —— [Thomas Godfray]. _Cum priuilegio regali_, is mentioned in _Typogr. Antiq._ iii. 71. ed. Dibdin.

* * * * *

_Here after foloweth a lytell boke, whiche hath to name, Why come ye nat to courte, compyled by mayster Skelton poete Laureate._

Colophon,

_Imprinted at london by me Richard kele dwellīg in the powltry at the longe shop vnder saynt myldredes chyrch_.

12mo, n. d. On the reverse of the title-page is a woodcut representing two figures, one of them perhaps meant for Wolsey, the other headed “Skelton;” and on the reverse of the last leaf is a woodcut (copied from Pynson’s ed. of _Dyuers Balettys_, &c.) with the words “Skylton poyet.”

An edition by Kele, 4to, n. d., is mentioned in _Typogr. Antiq._ iv. 305. ed. Dibdin: but qy.?

* * * * *

_Here after foloweth a little booke, whiche hath to name Whi come ye not to courte, compiled by mayster Skeltō Poete Laureate._

Colophon,

_Imprynted at London in Paules churche yarde at the Sygne of the Rose by John Wyght_.

12mo, n. d. On the reverse of the title-page is a woodcut, which I am unable to describe, because in the copy used by me it was much damaged as well as pasted over.

* * * * *

_Here after foloweth a litle boke whyche hathe to name, whye come ye not to Courte. Compyled by mayster Skelton Poete Laureate._

Colophon,

_Imprynted at London in Poules church yard at the syne of the sunne by Anthony Kytson_.

Colophon in some copies,

_Imprynted at London in Poules church yard at the syne of the Lamb by Abraham Veale_.

Colophon in some other copies,

_Imprynted at London in Foster lane by John Wallye_.

12mo, n. d.

An edition, _Imprynted at London, in Paules church yarde at the Sygne of the Bell by Robert Toy_, is mentioned in _Typogr. Antiq._ iii. 576. ed. Dibdin.

* * * * *

_Pithy pleasaunt and profitable workes of maister Skelton, Poete Laureate. Nowe collected and newly published. Anno 1568. Imprinted at London in Fletestreate, neare vnto saint Dunstones churche by Thomas Marshe._ 12mo.

On the reverse of the title-page are the Latin lines, “Salve, plus decies,” &c. (see vol. i. 177); next, Churchyard’s verses, “If slouth and tract of time,” &c. (see Appendix I. p. lxxvi.); and then the contents of the volume are thus enumerated;

“_Workes of Skelton newly collected by I.S. as foloweth._

1. The crowne of lawrel.

2. The bouge of court.

3. The duke of Albany.

4. Speake parrot.

5. Edward the fourth.

6. Against the Scottes. [Chorus de Dys contra Scottes, &c.
Chorus de dis, &c. super triumphali victoria contra gallos, &c.]

7. Ware the hauke. [Libertas veneranda, &c. All noble men of
this take hede, &c.]

8. Howe euery thinge must haue a time.

9. A prayer to the father of heauen.

10. To yᵉ second person.

11. To the holy ghost.

12. The tunning of Elinour Rumming.

13. The relucēt mirror.

14. Why come ye not to court.

15. Colyn Clout.

16. Philip sparowe.

17. Of a comly Coystrowne. [Contra alium Cantitātem &
Organisantem Asinum, &c.]

18. Upō a deadmās heed.

19. To maistris Anne.

20. Of thre fooles.

21. En parlement a Paris.

22. Epitaphes of two knaues of dise. [Diligo rustincum, &c.]

23. Lamentation for Norwiche.

24. Against yᵉ Scottes [i. e. against Dundas].

25. Praise of yᵉ palmtre. [Diligo rusticum, &c.]

26. Bedel quōdā Belial.

27. The dolorus death of the Lord Percie Erle of
Northumberlande. [Ad magistrum Rukshaw.]

28. Epitaphium Margarete countisse de Derbi.

29. Epita. Hen. septi.

30. Eulogium pro suorum temporum.

31. A parable by William Cornishe in yᵉ Fleete.

32. Against venemous tongues.

33. Of Calliope.

How the very dull poem (31) by William Cornishe came to be inserted in this collection, I know not: but I may just observe that it is found (with a better text) in _MS. Reg. 18. D_ ii. where it immediately precedes Skelton’s verses on the Death of the Earl of Northumberland.

* * * * *

“Now synge we, as we were wont,” &c.—in an imperfect volume (or fragments of volumes) of black-letter _Christmas Carolles,—Bibliograph. Miscell._ (edited by the Rev. Dr. Bliss), 1813, 4to, p. 48.

* * * * *

_The Maner of the World now a dayes—Imprinted at London in Flete Strete at the signe of the Rose Garland by W. Copland_, n. d.—known to me only from _Old Ballads_, 1840, edited by Mr. J.P. Collier for the Percy Society.

I now greatly doubt if this copy of verses be by Skelton: see Notes, vol. ii. 199.

* * * * *

Concerning the comparatively modern edition of _Elynour Rummynge_, 1624, 4to (celebrated for the imaginary portrait of Elynour), see Notes, vol. ii. 152 sqq.

* * * * *

Wood mentions as by Skelton (_Ath. Oxon._ i. 52. ed. Bliss)—

_Poetical Fancies and Satyrs_, Lond. 1512, oct.

Tanner mentions (_Biblioth._ p. 676)—

_Miseries of England under Henry vii._ Lond.... 4to. [Qy. is it the same piece as _Vox Populi, Vox Dei_?]

Warton mentions (_Hist. of E.P._ ii. 336, note, ed. 4to)—

A collection of Skelton’s pieces printed _for A. Scolocker_, 1582, 12mo.

Bliss mentions (add. to Wood’s _Ath. Oxon._ i. 53)—

A collection of Skelton’s pieces _printed_ in 12mo _by A. Scholoker_, n. d., and

Another _by John Wight_ in 8vo, 1588.

* * * * *

Of Skelton’s drama, _The Nigramansir_, the following account is given by Warton:—

“I cannot quit Skelton, of whom I yet fear too much has been already said, without restoring to the public notice a play, or MORALITY, written by him, not recited in any catalogue of his works, or annals of English typography; and, I believe, at present totally unknown to the antiquarians in this sort of literature. It is, _The NIGRAMANSIR, a moral ENTERLUDE and a pithie written by Maister SKELTON laureate and plaid before the king and other estatys at Woodstoke on Palme Sunday_. It was printed by Wynkin de Worde in a thin quarto, in the year 1504.[149] It must have been presented before king Henry the seventh, at the royal manor or palace, at Woodstock in Oxfordshire, now destroyed. The characters are a Necromancer or conjuror, the devil, a notary public, Simonie, and Philargyria or Avarice. It is partly a satire on some abuses in the church; yet not without a due regard to decency, and an apparent respect for the dignity of the audience. The story, or plot, is the tryal of SIMONY and AVARICE: the devil is the judge, and the notary public acts as an assessor or scribe. The prisoners, as we may suppose, are found guilty, and ordered into hell immediately. There is no sort of propriety in calling this play the Necromancer: for the only business and use of this character, is to open the subject in a long prologue, to evoke the devil, and summon the court. The devil kicks the necromancer, for waking him so soon in the morning: a proof that this drama was performed in the morning, perhaps in the chapel of the palace. A variety of measures, with shreds of Latin and French, is used: but the devil speaks in the octave stanza. One of the stage-directions is, _Enter Balsebub with a Berde_. To make him both frightful and ridiculous, the devil was most commonly introduced on the stage wearing a visard with an immense beard. Philargyria quotes Seneca and saint Austin: and Simony offers the devil a bribe. The devil rejects her offer with much indignation: and swears by the _foule Eumenides_, and the hoary beard of Charon, that she shall be well fried and roasted in the unfathomable sulphur of Cocytus, together with Mahomet, Pontius Pilate, the traitor Judas, and king Herod. The last scene is closed with a view of hell, and a dance between the devil and the necromancer. The dance ended, the devil trips up the necromancer’s heels, and disappears in fire and smoke.” _Hist. of E.P._ ii. 360. ed. 4to.

[149] “My lamented friend Mr. William Collins, whose Odes will be remembered while any taste for true poetry remains, shewed me this piece at Chichester, not many months before his death: and he pointed it out as a veryrare and valuable curiosity. He intended to write the HISTORY OF THE RESTORATION OF LEARNING UNDER LEO THE TENTH, and with a view to that design, had collected many scarce books. Some few of these fell into my hands at his death. The rest, among which, I suppose, was this INTERLUDE, were dispersed.”

* * * * *

In the _Garlande of Laurell_ (vol. i. 408, sqq.) Skelton enumerates many of his compositions which are no longer extant.

PIECES ATTRIBUTED TO SKELTON.

_Verses presented to King Henry the Seventh at the feast of St. George celebrated at Windsor in the third year of his reign_—first printed by Ashmole (see vol. ii. 387 of the present work).

_The Epitaffe of the moste noble and valyaunt Jaspar late Duke of Beddeforde_, printed by Pynson, 4to, n. d. (see vol. ii. 388.)

_Elegy on King Henry the Seventh_—an imperfect broadside (see vol. ii. 399).

_Merie Tales Newly Imprinted & made by Master Skelton Poet Laureat. Imprinted at London in Fleetstreat beneath the Conduit at the signe of S. John Euangelist, by Thomas Colwell_, 12mo, n. d. (see the preceding Appendix.) Warton, _Hist. of E.P._ ii. 336 (note), gives the date 1575 to these Tales,—on what authority I know not.

Other pieces might be mentioned.

MSS.

_Of the death of the noble prince, Kynge Edwarde the forth._ In a vol. belonging to Miss Richardson Currer, which has furnished a stanza hitherto unprinted (vol. i. 1).

_Vpon the doulourus dethe and muche lamentable chaunce of the most honorable Erle of Northumberlande. MS. Reg. 18 D ii._ fol. 165 (vol. i. 6).

_Manerly Margery Mylk and Ale. Fairfax MS.,—Add. MSS._ (Brit. Mus.) 5465, fol. 109 (vol. i. 28).

_Poems against Garnesche. MS. Harl._ 367, fol. 101. Now for the first time printed (vol. i. 116).

“_Wofully araid_,” &c. _Fairfax MS.,—Add. MSS._ 5465, fol. 76 and fol. 86 (Brit. Mus.): and MS. copy in a very old hand on the fly-leaves of _Boetius de Discip. Schol. cum notabili commento, Daventrie_, 1496, 4to (in the collection of the late Mr. Heber), which has supplied several stanzas hitherto unprinted (vol. i. 141).

“_I, liber, et propera, regem tu pronus adora_,” &c. _MS. C.C.C._—No. ccccxxxii. of Nasmith’s _Catal._ p. 400 (vol. i. 147).

“_Salve plus decies quam sunt momenta dierum_,” &c. _Add. MSS._ (Brit. Mus.) 4787, fol. 224 (vol. i. 177).

_Colyn Cloute. MS. Harl._ 2252, fol. 147 (vol. i. 311).—In _MS. Lansdown_ 762, fol. 75, is a fragment of this poem, “The profecy of Skelton” (vol. i. 329).

_Garlande of Laurell. MS. Cott. Vit. E X._ fol. 200; very imperfect (vol. i. 361).

_Speke, Parrot. MS. Harl._ 2252, fol. 133, which has supplied much now for the first time printed (vol. ii. 1).

_Diodorus Siculus translated into English [by Skelton poet-laureat]. MS. C.C.C._—No. ccclvii. of Nasmith’s _Catal._ p. 362.

For the following account of this MS. I am indebted to Mr. Thomas Wright:—

“MS. Corp. Chr. Camb. No. 357.

At the head of the first folio—‘Interpretatio Skeltoni poetæ Laureati,’ written in a different hand from the MS. (by Nasmith said to be by Archb. Parker himself) over something which has been erased, but which seems to have been ‘Prohemye of Poggius.’

At the end of this preface is written in the same hand as MS. ‘Thus endeth the prohemye of Poggius.’ fol. 2 verso.

At fol. 3 begins ‘The prohemy of Diodorus thauctour.’ This ends at fol. 7 thus,—

¶ ‘Now we wyll enforce to begynne our processe historyall. quod Skelton.

¶ Here endeth the prohemy of all the hole processe.’

The words ‘quod Skelton’ are written in rather a different hand, and with different ink, but apparently contemporary. I think it not impossible that they may have been added by the original hand at another time.

It is imperfect at the end: but on a leaf bound up with it is written in a much later hand (perhaps by Parker), ‘Hec charta de industria vacua relicta est, ut occasio daretur juveni in litteris exercitato aggrediendi translationem historiæ que hic diminuta est, ut sic humeri sui vires experiatur quid ferre valeant, quidve recusent, tum cognoscet quid hic translator prestiterit, fortassis non ita facile in hoc genere a multis superandus.’”

Tanner (_Biblioth._ p. 676. ed. 1748) mentions the following two pieces as extant in his day among the MSS. of Lincoln Cathedral Library (see _Memoir_, pp. xxi, xxiii.)—

_Methodos Skeltonidis laureati_, sc. _Præcepta quædam moralia Henrico principi, postea Henr._ viii, _missa_, Dat. apud Eltham A.D. MDI. Principium deest.

_Carmen ad principem, quando insignitus erat ducis Ebor. titulo._ Pr. “Si quid habes, mea Musa.”

MSS. OF PIECES ATTRIBUTED TO SKELTON.

_Vox Populi, vox Dei. MS._ 2567 Cambridge Public Library. _MS. Harl._ 367. fol. 130 (see vol. ii. 400).

_The Image of Ipocrysy. MS. Lansdown_ 794 (see vol. ii. 413).

Other pieces might be mentioned.

APPENDIX III.

EXTRACTS FROM PIECES WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN, OR WHICH CONTAIN EXAMPLES OF, THE METRE CALLED SKELTONICAL.

EXAMPLES OF THE METRE CALLED SKELTONICAL.

_The Genealogye of Heresye. Compyled by Ponce Pantolabus.
Imprynted at London In Pater noster rowe. At the signe of our
ladye pytye_ [some copies, _our fadyr Pyte_] _By Johan Redman.
Ad imprimendum solum_, 1542: another edition was printed
by Robert Wyer: vide _Typograph. Antiq._ iii. 59, 182. ed.
Dibdin (the size of them not mentioned). The author was John
Huntingdon.

These editions I have not seen: the whole of the tract, however, seems to be quoted in _A mysterye of inyquyte contayned within the heretycall Genealogye of Ponce Pantolabus, is here both dysclosed & confuted By Johan Bale An. M.D.XLII._ 12mo, Geneva, 1545, from which I subjoin the following passages:

“Blynde obstynacye
Begate heresye,
By a myschaunce,
Of dame ignoraunce.
Heresye begate
Stryfe and debate.
Debate and ambycyon
Begate supersticyon.
Supersticion playne
Begate disdayne.
Dysdayne of trowthe
Begate slowthe.
Slowthe & sluggyshnesse
Begate wylfulnesse.
Wylfulnesse, verelye
Nygh cosyne to heresye,
Begate myschefe,
Father of Wyclefe,
Which ded bringe inne
His grandfather synne.
After this brother
Came forth an other;
His name to discusse,
Menne called him Husse;
He and his cumpanye
Began in Germanye.
And after that
Came in a gnat
Of the same kynde,
Whose sowle is blynde;
His name you shall here,
Menne call him Luthere.
He by his meane
Hath bannyshed cleane
Out of that coste
The Holye Ghoste,
And hath brought inne
Lyberte and synne.
Next after him,
Is his chefe lym
One Melanchtonus,
_Nequaquam bonus_.
Next after this whelpe
Came in to helpe
One Oecolampadius,
With his brother Zuinglius.
...
And for this tyme
Here endeth my ryme,
The Genealogye
Of stynkynge heresye:
Wherin I requyre
And humblye desyre
All menne ywys
That shall rede this,
Aboue all thinge
To praye for our kynge,
And the quene also
Where so euer she go,
And for the sauegarde
Of our prince Edwarde,
Whom I praye Jesu
Longe to contynewe!
Amen.”

* * * * *

From _A pore helpe_.

_The bukler and defence_
_Of mother holy kyrke,_
_And weapē to driue hence_
_Al that against her wircke._

12mo, without date or printer’s name.

“Wyll none in all this lande
Step forth, and take in hande
These felowes to withstande,
In nombre lyke the sande,
That with the Gospell melles,
And wyll do nothynge elles
But tratlynge tales telles
Agaynst our holy prelacie
And holy churches dygnitie,
Sayinge it is but papistrie,
Yea, fayned and hipocrisy,
Erronious and heresye,
And taketh theyr aucthoritie
Out of the holy Euangelie,
All customes ceremoniall
And rytes ecclesiasticall,
Not grounded on Scripture,
No longer to endure?
And thus, ye maye be sure,
The people they alure
And drawe them from your lore,
The whiche wyll greve you sore;
Take hede, I saye, therfore,
Your nede was neuer more.
But sens ye be so slacke,
It greueth me, alacke,
To heare behynde your backe
Howe they wyll carpe and cracke,
And none of you that dare
With[150] one of them compare.
Yet some there be that are
So bolde to shewe theyr ware,
And is no priest nor deacon,
And yet wyll fyre his becone
Agaynst suche fellowes frayle,
Make out with tothe and nayle,
And hoyste vp meyne sayle,
And manfully to fyght,
In holy prelates ryght,
With penne and ynke and paper,
And lyke no triflynge iaper
To touche these felowes indede
With all expedient spede,
And not before it nede:
And I indede am he
That wayteth for to se
Who dare so hardy be
To encounter here with me;
I stande here in defence
Of some that be far hence,
And can both blysse and sence,
And also vndertake
Ryght holy thynges to make,
Yea, God within a cake;
And who so that forsake
His breade shall be dowe bake;
I openly professe
The holy blyssed masse
Of strength to be no lesse
Then it was at the fyrst:
But I wolde se who durst
Set that amonge the worst,
For he shulde be accurst
With boke, bell, and candell,
And so I wolde hym handell
That he shulde ryght well knowe
Howe to escape, I trowe,
So hardy on his heade,
Depraue our holy breade,
Or els to prate or patter
Agaynst our holy watter.
This is a playne matter,
It nedeth not to flatter:
They be suche holy thynges
As hath ben vsed with kynges;
And yet these lewde loselles,
That bragge vpon theyr Gospelles,
At ceremonies swelles,
And at our christined belles,
And at our longe gownes,
And at your shauen crownes,
And at your typ[i]ttes fyne,
The iauelles wyll repyne.
They saye ye leade euyll lyues
With other mennes wyues,
And wyll none of your owne,
And so your sede is sowne
In other mennes grounde,
True wedlocke to confounde:
Thus do they rayle and raue,
Callynge euery priest knaue,
That loueth messe to saye,
And after ydle all daye:
They wolde not haue you playe
To dryue the tyme awaye,
But brabble on the Byble,
Whiche is but impossible
To be learned in all your lyfe;
Yet therin be they ryfe,
Whiche maketh all this stryfe,” &c.

* * * * *

From _The Vpcheringe of the Messe: Inprinted at Lōdon by John Daye and Willyam Seres_, 12mo, n. d.

“Who hath not knowen or herd
How we were made afeard
That, magre of our beard,
Our messe shulde cleane awaye,
That we did dayly saye,
And vtterly decaye
For euer and for aye?
So were we brought in doubte
That all that are deuout
Were like to go withoute
The messe that hath no peere,
Which longe hath taried here,
Yea, many an hundreth yere,
And to be destitute
Of that whiche constitute
Was of the highe depute
Of Christe and his apostles;
Althoughe none of the Gospels
No mention maketh or tells,
We must beleue (what ells?)
Of things done by councells,
Wherein the high professours,
Apostlique successours,
Take holde to be possessours;
And some were made confessours;
Some of them were no startars,
But were made holi marters:
Yet plowmen, smythes, & cartars,
With such as be their hartars,
Will enterprise to taxe
Thes auncyent mens actes
And holy fathers factes.
Thoughe messe were made bi men,
As popes nyne or ten,
Or many more, what then?
Or not of Scripture grounded,
Is yt therfore confounded
To be a supersticion?
Nay, nay, they mysse the quission:
Make better inquyssicion;
Ye haue an euyll condicion
To make suche exposicion;
Ye thinke nothing but Scripture
Is only clene and pure;
Yes, yes, I you ensure,
The messe shalbe hir better,
As light as ye do set hir.
The Scripture hath nothing
Wherby profyte to bryng,
But a lytyll preaching,
With tattling and teaching;
And nothing can ye espie
Nor se with outwarde eye,
But must your ears applie
To learnyng inwardlye;
And who so it will folowe,
In goods though he may walow,
If Scripture once him swalowe,
She wyll vndo him holowe;
Wherfore no good mes singers
Will come within hir fyngers,
But are hir vnder styngers,
For she wolde fayne vndo
All such as lyueth so.
To the messe she is an enymye,
And wolde distroye hir vtterlye,
Wer not for sum that frendfully
In time of nede will stand hir by.
Yet is the messe and she as lyke
As a Christian to an heretike:
The messe hath holy vestures,
And many gay gestures,
And decked with clothe of golde,
And vessells many folde,
Right galaunt to beholde,
More then may well be tolde,
With basen, ewer, and towell,
And many a prety jwelle,
With goodly candellstyckes,
And many proper tryckys,
With cruetts gilt and chalys,
Wherat some men haue malice,
With sensers, and with pax,
And many other knackys,
With patent, and with corporas,
The fynest thing that euer was.
Alasse, is it not pitie
That men be no more wittye
But on the messe to iest,
Of all suche thinge the best?
For if she were supprest,
A pyn for all the rest.
...
A, good mestres Missa,
Shal ye go from vs thissa?
Wel, yet I muste ye kissa:
Alacke, for payne I pyssa,
To se the mone here issa,
Because ye muste departe!
It greueth many an herte
That ye should from them start:
But what then? tushe, a farte!
Sins other shifte is none,
But she must neades be gone,
Nowe let vs synge eche one,
Boeth Jak and Gyll and Jone,
_Requiem eternam_,
Lest _penam sempiternam_
For _vitam supernam_,
And _vmbram infernam_
For _veram lucernam_,
She chaunce to enherite,
According to hir merite.
_Pro cuius memoria_
Ye maye wel be soria;
Full smale maye be your _gloria_,
When ye shal heare thys storia;
Then wil ye crie and roria,
We shal se[151] hir no moria:
_Et dicam vobis quare_
She may no longer _stare_,
Nor here with you _regnare_,
But trudge _ad vltra mare_,
And after _habitare_
_In regno Plutonico_
_Et euo acronyco,_
_Cum cetu Babilonico_
_Et cantu diabolico_,
With pollers and piller[s],
And al hir well willers,
And ther to dwel euer:
And thus wil I leaue hir.”

* * * * *

From _Phylogamus_, 12mo, without date or printer’s name—of which the title-page and five leaves are preserved in a volume of Ballads and Fragments in the British Museum. The late Mr. Douce has written below the title-page “Probably by Skelton;” but it is certainly not his.

“Gyue place, ye poetes fine,
Bow doune now & encline;
For nowe yᵉ Muses nyne,
So sacred and diuine,
In Parnase holy hyll
Haue wrought theyr worthy wyll.
And by theyr goodly skyll
Vppon that myghty mountayne
In Hellycons fountayne, &c.
...
O poete so impudent,
Whyche neuer yet was studente,
To thee the goddes prudente
Minerua is illudente!
Thou wrytest thynges dyffuse,
Incongrue and confuse,
Obfuscate and obtuse;
No man the lyke doth use
Among the Turckes or Jewes;
Alwayes inuentyng newes
That are incomparable,
They be so fyrme and stable:
Lyke as a shyppe is able,
Wythout ancre and cable,
Roother, maste, or sayle,
Pully, rope, or nayle,
In wynde, weather, or hayle,
To guyde both top and tayle,
And not the course to fayle;
So thys our poet maye,
Wythout a stopp or staye,
In cunnynge wend the way,
As wel by darke as day,
And neuer go astray,
Yf yt be as they saye.
O poet rare and recent,
Dedecorate and indecent,
Insolent and insensate,
Contendyng and condensate,
Obtused and obturate,
Obumbylate, obdurate,
Sparyng no priest or curate,
Cyuylyan or rurate,
That be alredy marryed,
And from theyr vow bene varyed,
Wherto the Scrypture them caried!
They myght as wel haue taryed;
I sweare by the north doore rood,
That stowte was whyle he stood,
That they had bene as good
To haue solde theyr best blew hood;
For I am in suche a moode,
That for my power and parte,
Wyth al my wyt and arte,
Wyth whole intent and harte,
I wyl so at them darte,” &c.

* * * * *

_The Copye of a letter, sent by John Bradford to the right honorable lordes the Erles of Arundel, Darbie, Shrewsbury, & Penbroke, declarīg the nature of spaniardes, and discouering the most detestable treasons, whiche they haue pretended moste falselye againste oure moste noble kyngdome of Englande. Whereunto is added a tragical blast of the papisticall trōpet for mayntenaunce of the Popes kingdome in Englande. by. T.E. If ye beleue the trueth, ye saue your liues_, &c. 12mo, and without date or printer’s name on the title-page: the copy now before me is imperfect at the end, where perhaps both are given. According to Herbert’s _Ames’s Typ. Antiq._ iii. 1582, this piece was printed in 1555.

In the two subjoined passages (perhaps in more) of this tract, the author adopts the Skeltonic metre, though the whole is printed as prose:—

“There be many other noble menne [among the Spaniards, besides the duke of Medena-zelie] vndoubtedly very wise and politik, which can throughe their wisdome binde themselues for a time from their nature, and applye their condicions to the maners of those menne with whom they would gladlye bee frended; whose mischeuouse maners a man shal neuer knowe, till he come vnder their subiection. But then shall ye perceiue perfectly their puffed pride, with many mischeffes beside, their prowling and poling, their bribinge and shauing, their most deceitfull dealing, their braging and bosting, their flatteringe and faininge, their abominable whorehuntynge, with most rufull ruling, | their doings vniust, | with insaciate lust, | their stout stubbernnes, | croked crabbednes, | and vnmeasurable madnes, | in enui, pride, and lecherie, | which, thei saie, God loueth hartelie, | vaineglorie and hipocrisie, | with al other vilanie | of what kinde soeuer it be; | supersticion, desolacion, extorcion, adulacion, dissimulacion, exaltacion, suppression, inuocacion, and all abominacion; with innumerable moe mischeues, whiche I coulde plainlie declare, that no nacion in the world can suffer. Their masking and mumbling | in the holi time of lent | maketh many wiues brente, | the king being present, | nighte after nighte, | as a prince of moste mighte, | which hath power in his hande | that no man dare withstande: | yet if that were the greatest euil, | we might suffer it wel, | for there is no man liuing | but would suffer the king | to haue wife, sister, doughter, maide and all, | bothe great & smal, | so many as he liste, | no man would him resist; | but the worst of all the companie | muste haue my wife priuelie, | when I am present bi; | this is more vilanie, | that one muste kepe the dore; | will not that greue you sore? | & dare not speake for your life, | when another hath youre wife,” | &c. Sig. B i.

“Ye wil say, the Spaniards kepe their olde rentaking: how can that be, when euery poore man must pay yerely for euery chimney in his house, and euery other place that is to make fire in, as ouen, fornes, and smithes forge, a Frenche crowne? wil Englishmen, or can thei, suffer to be poled and pilled moste miserably, in payeng continually suche poling pence and intollerable tollages for all maner graine and breade, befe, beare and mutton, goose, pigge and capone, henne, mallard and chicken, milk, butter and chese, egges, apples & peares, | wine white and reade, | with all other wines beside, | salt white and graye? | al thinges must pay; | small nuttes and wallnuttes, | cheries and chestnuttes, | plumbes, damassens, philbeardes, and al | both gret & smal, | whatsoeuer thei maye se, | to fede the pore commenalte; | salmon and hearing; | this is a shamefull thing; | tench, ele or conger; | this shall kepe vs vnder, | and make vs die for hunger; | flounders, floucke, plaice or carpe; | here is a miserable warke | that Englande must abide | to maintaine Spanishe pride,” &c. Sig. F ii.

* * * * *

From _Doctour Doubble Ale_,—12mo, without printer’s name or date.

“Although I lacke intelligence,
And can not skyll of eloquence,
Yet wyll I do my diligence
To say sumthing or I go hence,
Wherein I may demonstrate
The figure, gesture, and estate
Of one that is a curate,
That harde is and endurate,
And ernest in the cause
Of piuish popish lawes,
That are not worth two strawes,
Except it be with dawes,
That knoweth not good from euels,
Nor Gods worde from the deuels,
Nor wyll in no wise heare
The worde of God so cleare,
But popishnes vpreare,
And make the pope Gods peare.
...
Now let vs go about
To tell the tale out
Of this good felow stout,
That for no man wyll dout,
But kepe his olde condicions
For all the newe comyssions,
And vse his supersticions,
And also mens tradycions,
And syng for dead folkes soules,
And reade hys beaderolles,
And all such thinges wyll vse
As honest men refuse:
But take hym for a cruse,
And ye wyll tell me newes;
For if he ons begyn,
He leaueth nought therin;
He careth not a pyn
How much ther be wythin,
So he the pot may wyn,
He wyll it make full thyn;
And wher the drinke doth please
There wyll he take his ease,
And drinke therof his fyll,
Tyll ruddy be his byll;
And fyll both cup and can,
Who is so glad a man
As is our curate than?
I wolde ye knewe it, a curate
Not far without Newgate;
Of a parysh large
The man hath mikle charge,
And none within this border
That kepeth such order,
Nor one a this syde Nauerne
Louyth better the ale tauerne:
But if the drinke be small,
He may not well withall;
Tush, cast it on the wall!
It fretteth out his gall;
Then seke an other house,
This is not worth a louse,
As dronken as a mouse,
_Monsyre gybet a vous!_
And ther wyll byb and bouse,
Tyll heuy be his brouse.
...
Thus may ye beholde
This man is very bolde,
And in his learning olde
Intendeth for to syt:
I blame hym not a whyt,
For it wolde vexe his wyt,
And cleane agaynst his earning,
To folow such learning
As now a dayes is taught;
It wolde sone bryng to naught
His olde popish brayne,
For then he must agayne
Apply hym to the schole,
And come away a fole,
For nothing shulde he get,
His brayne hath bene to het
And with good ale so wet;
Wherefore he may now set
In feldes and in medes,
And pray vpon his beades,
For yet he hath a payre
Of beades that be right fayre,
Of corall, gete, or ambre,
At home within his chambre;
For in matins or masse
Primar and portas,
And pottes and beades,
His lyfe he leades:
But this I wota,
That if ye nota
How this _idiota_
Doth folow the pota,
I holde you a grota
Ye wyll rede by rota
That he may were a cota
In Cocke Lorels[152] bota.
Thus the durty doctour,
The popes oune proctour,
Wyll bragge and boost
Wyth ale and a toost,
And lyke a rutter
Hys Latin wyll vtter,
And turne and tosse hym,
Wyth _tu non possum_
_Loquere Latinum_;
This _alum finum_
Is _bonus_ then _vinum_;
_Ego volo quare_
_Cum tu drinkare_
_Pro tuum caput,_
_Quia apud_
_Te propiciacio,_
_Tu non potes facio_
_Tot quam ego;_
_Quam librum tu lego,_
_Caue de me_
_Apponere te:_
_Juro per Deum_
_Hoc est lifum meum,_
_Quia drinkum stalum_
_Non facere malum._
Thus our _dominus_ dodkin
Wyth _ita vera_ bodkin
Doth leade his lyfe,
Which to the ale wife
Is very profitable:
It is pytie he is not able
To mayntayne a table
For beggers and tinkers
And all lusty drinkers,
Or captayne or beddle
Wyth dronkardes to meddle.
Ye cannot, I am sure,
For keping of a cure
Fynde such a one well,
If ye shulde rake hell:
And therefore nowe
No more to you,
_Sed perlegas ista,_
_Si velis, papista_;
Farewell and adewe,
With a whirlary whewe,
And a tirlary typpe;
Beware of the whyppe.”

[150] _With_] Old ed. “Whiche.”

[151] _se_] Old ed. “so.”

[152] _Lorels_] Old ed. “losels.”

* * * * *

From _A Commemoration or Dirige of Bastarde Edmonde Boner, alias Sauage, vsurped Bisshoppe of London. Compiled by Lemeke Auale. Episcopatum eius accipiet alter. Anno Domini. 1569. Imprinted by P. O._ 8vo (a tract, chiefly in verse and of various metres: see Notes, vol. ii. 121.)

“_The fifte lesson._

_Homo natus._