Knight being sent Ambassador by King Henry the Eighth to Charles the Fifth Emperor then residing in Spain died of the Pestilence in the West Country before he could take Shipping Anno 1541. Dr. CHRISTOPHER TYE IN the writing this Doctors Life we shall principally make use for Directions of Mr. Fuller in his England's Worthies fol. 244. He flourished saith he in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth and King Edward the Sixth to whom he was one of the Gentlemen of their Chappel and probably the Organist Musick which received a grievous wound in England at the dissolution of Abbeys was much beholding to him for her recovery such was his excellent Skill and Piety that he kept it up in Credit at Court and in all Cathedrals during his life He translated the Acts of the Apostles into Verse and let us take a tast of his Poetry In the former Treatise to thee dear friend Theophilus I have written the veritie of the Lord Christ Jesus Which he to do and eke to teach began until the day In which the Spirit up did him fetch to dwell above for aye After that he had power to do even by the Holy Ghost Commandements then he gave unto his chosen least and most To whom also himself did shew from death thus to revive By tokens plain unto his few even forty days alive Speaking of God's kingdom with heart chusing together them Commanding them not to depart from that Jerusalem But still to wait on the promise of his Father the Lord Of which you have heard me e're this unto you make record Pass we now saith he from his Poetry being Musick in words to his Musick being Poetry in sounds who set an excellent Composition of Musick in four parts to the several Chapters of his aforenamed Poetry dedicating the same to King Edward the Sixth a little before his death and Printed it Anno Dom. 1353. He also did Compose many excellent Services and Anthems of four and five parts which were used in Cathedrals many years after his death the certain date whereof we cannot attain to JOHN LELAND THis famous Antiquary Mr. John Leland flourish'd in the year 1546. about the beginning of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth and was born by most probable conjecture at London He wrote among many other Volumes several Books of Epigrams his Cigneo Cantio a Genethliac of Prince Edward Naniae upon the death of Sir Thomas Wiat out of which we shall present you with these Verses Transtulit in nostram Davidis carmina linguam Et numeros magnareddidit arte pares Non morietur opus tersum spectabile sacrum Clarior hac fama parte Viattus erit Vna dies geminos Phoenices non dedit orbi Mors erit in unius vita sed alterius Rara avis in terris confectus morte Viattus Houerdum haeredem scripser at ante suum Dicere nemo potest recte periisse Viattum Ingenit cujus tot monimenta vigent He wrote also several other things both in Prose and Verse to his great fame and commendation THOMAS CHVRCHYARD THomas Churchyard was born in the Town of Shrewsbury as himself doth affirm in his Book made in Verse of the Worthiness of Wales taking Shropshire within the compass to use his own Expression Wales the Park and the Marches the Pale thereof He was one equally addicted to Arts and Arms serving under that renowned Captain Sir William Drury in a rode he made into Scotland as also under several other Commanders beyond Sea as he declares in his Tragical Discourse of the Unhappy Mans Life saying Full thirty years both Court and Wars I tryde And still I sought acquaintance with the best And served the State and did such hap abide As might befal and Fortune sent the rest When Drum did sound I was a Soldier prest To Sea or Land as Princes quarrel stood And for the same full oft I lost my blood But it seems he got little by the Wars but blows as he declares himself a little after But God he knows my gain was small I weene For though I did my credit still encrease I got no wealth by wars ne yet by peace Yet it seems he was born of wealthy friends and had an Estate left unto him as in the same Work he doth declare So born I was to House and Land by right But in a Bag to Court I brought the same From Shrewsbury-Town a seat of ancient fame Some conceive him to be as much beneath a Poet as above a Rymer yet who so shall consider the time he wrote in viz. the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth shall find his Verses to go abreast with the best of that Age. His Works such as I have seen and have now in custody are as followeth The Siege of Leith A Farewel to the World. A feigned Fancy of the Spider and the Gout A doleful Discourse of a Lady and a Knight The Road into Scotland by Sir William Drury Sir Simon Burley's Tragedy A Tragical Discourse of the Vnhappy Mans Life A Discourse of Vertue Churchyard's Dream A Tale of a Fryar and and a Shoomaker 's wife The Siege of Edenborough-Castle Queen Elizabeth's Reception into Bristol These Twelve several Treatises he bound togegether calling them Church-yard's Chips and dedicated them to Sir Christopher Hatton He also wrote the Falls of Shore's Wife and of Cardinal Wolsey which are inserted into the Book of the Mirrour for Magistrates Thus like a stone did he trundle about but never gather'd any Moss dying but poor as may be seen by his Epitaph in Mr. Cambden's Remains which runs thus Come Alecto lend me thy Torch To find a Church-yard in a Church-porch Poverty and Poetry his Tomb doth enclose Wherefore good Neighbours be merry in prose His death according to the most probable conjecture may be presumed about the eleventh year of the Queen's Reign Anno Dom. 1570. JOHN HIGGINS JOhn Higgins was one of the chief of them who compiled the History of the Mirrour of Magistrates associated with Mr. Baldwin Mr. Ferrers Thomas Churchyard and several others of which Book Sir Philip Sidney thus writes in his Defence of Poesie I account the Mirrour of Magistrates meetly furnished of beautiful parts These Commendations coming from so worthy a person our Higgins having so principal a share therein deserves a principal part of the praise And how well his deservings were take an essay of his Poetry in his induction to the Book When Summer sweet with all her pleasures past And leaves began to leave the shady tree The Winter cold encreased on full fast And time of year to sadness moved me For moisty blasts not half so mirthful be As sweet Aurora brings in Spring-time fair Our joys they dim as Winter damps the air The Nights began to grow to length apace Sir Phoebus to th' Antartique 'gan to fare From Libra's lance to the Crab he took his race Beneath the Line to lend of light a share For then with
sende And yat he might seruy God wilned muche thereto And seyd he wald noght be glader hyt wer ydo This English Rhymer or Poet which you will have it to be is said to have lived whilst he was a very old man and to have died about the beginning of the Reign of King John. RICHARD the Hermit COntemporary with Robert of Glocester was one Richard a Religious Hermit whose Manuscripts were a while ago and for ought I know are still kept in Exeter-Library although Exeter-House in the Strand is converted now into an Exchange This Religious Hermit studied much in converting the Church-Service into English Verse of which we shall give you an Essay in part of the Te Deum and part of the Magnificat Te Deum We heryen ye God we knowlethen ye Lord All ye erye worships ye everlasting fader Alle Aungels in heuens and alle ye pours in yis world Cherubin and Seraphin cryen by voice to ye unstyntyng Magnificat My Soul worschips the Louerd and my Gost joyed in God my hele For he lokyd ye mekenes of hys hondemayden So for iken of yat blissefulle schall sey me all generacjouns For he had don to me grete yingis yat mercy is and his nam hely He likewise translated all the Psalms of David as also the Collects Epistles and Gospels for the whole year together with the Pater Noster and Creed though there was then another Pater Noster and Creed used in the Church sent into England by Adrian the Fourth Pope of Rome an Englishman the Son of Robert Breakspeare of Abbots Langley in Hertfordshire unto King Henry the Second which for variety sake we shall give you as followeth Pater Noster URe fader in hevene rithe Thi nom be haliid everliche Thou bring us to thi michilblisce Thi wil to wirche thu us wisse Al 's hit is in hevene ido Ever in erth ben hit also That heli bred yat lastyth ay Thou sende hious yis like day Forgio ous al yat we hauith don Al 's we forgiu och oder mon He ler ous falle in no founding Ak scilde ous fro ye foul thing Amen The Creed I Beleeve in God fader almighty shipper of heuen and erth And in Ihesus Crist his onle thi son vre Louerd That is iuange thurch the hooli Ghost hore of Mary Maiden Tholede pine undyr Pounce Pilate pitcht on rode tre dead and yburiid Litcht into helle the thridde day fro death arose Steich into hevene sit on his fader richt hand God Almichty Then is cominde to deme the quikke and the dede I beleve in ye hooli Gost Alle hooli Chirche Mone of alle hallouen forgivenis of sine Fleiss uprising Lif withuten end Amen When this Richard the Hermit died we cannot find but conjecture it to be about the middle of the Reign of King John about the year 1208. JOSEPH of Exeter JOseph of Exeter was born at the City of Exeter in Devonshire he was also sirnamed Iscanus from the River Isk now called Esk which running by that City gave it formerly the denomination of Isca This Joseph saith my Author was a Golden Poet in a Leaden Age so terse and elegant were his Conceits and Expressions In his younger years he accompanied King Richard the First in his Expedition into the Holy Land by which means he had the better advantage to celebrate as he did the Arts of that warlike Prince in a Poem entituled Antiochea He also wrote six Books De Bello Trojano in Heroick Verse which as the learned Cambden well observes was no other then that Version of Dares Phyrgius into Latine Verse Yet so well was it excepted that the Dutchmen not long since Printed it under the name of Cornelius Nepos an Author who lived in the time of Tully and wrote many excellent pieces in Poetry but upon a strict view of all his Works not any such doth appear amongst them they therefore do this Joseph great wrong in depriving him the honour of his own Works He was afterwards for his deserts preferred to be Arch-bishop of Burdeaux in the time of King John about the year 1210. MICHAEL BLAVNPAYN THis Michael Blaunpayn otherwise sirnamed the Cornish Poet or the Rymer was born in Cornwall and bred in Oxford and Paris where he attained to good proficiency in Learning being of great fame and ostentation in his time out of whose Rymes for marry England as Cambden calls them he quotes several passages in that most excellent Book of his Remains It hapned one Henry of Normandy chief Poet to our Henry the Third had traduced Cornwall as an inconsiderable Country cast out by Nature in contempt into a corner of the land Our Michael could not endure this Affront but full of Poetical fury falls upon the Libeller take a tast little thereof will go far of his strains Non opus est ut opus numere quibus est opulenta Et per quas inopes sustent at non ope lenta Piscibus stanno nusquam tam fertilis ora We need not number up her wealthy store Wherewith this helpful Lands relieves her poor No Sea so full of Fish Tin no shore Then in a triumphant manner he concludeth all with this Exhortation to his Countrymen Quid nos deterret si firmiter in pede stemus Fraus ni nos superat nihil est quod non superemus What should us fright if firmly we do stand Bar fraud and then no force can us command Yet his Pen was not so lushious in praising but when he listed it was as bitter in railing witness this his Satyrical Character of his aforesaid Antagonist Est tibi gamba Capri crus passeris latus Apri Os leporis catuli nasus dens gena Muli Frons vetulae tauri caput color undique Mauri His argumentis quibus est argutia Mentis Quod non a Monstro differs satis hic tibi monstro Gamb'd like a Goat Sparrow-thigh'd sides as a Boar Hare-mouth'd Dog-nos'd like Mule thy teeth and chin Brow'd as old wife Bull headed black as a More If such without then what are you within By these my signs the wise will easily conster How little thou does differ from a Monster This Michael flourished in the time of King John and Henry the Third MATTHEW PARIS MAtthew Paris is acknowledged by all to be an Englishman saving only one or two wrangling Writers who deserve to be arraigned of Felony for robbing our Country of its due and no doubt Cambridge shire was the County made happy by his birth where the Name and Family of Paris is right ancient even long before they were setled therein at Hildersham wherein they still flourish though much impaired for their Loyalty in the late times of Rebellion He was bred a Monk of St. Albans living in that loose Age a very strict and severe life never less idle than when he was alone spending those hours reserved from Devotion in the sweet delights of Poetry and
so about matters of higher concernment that Mr. Spenser received no reward whereupon he presented this Petition in a small piece of Paper to the Queen in her progress I was promis'd on a time To have reason for my rime From that time unto this season I receiv'd nor rime nor reason This tart reflect so wrought upon the Queen that she gave strict order not witstout some check to her Treasurer for the present payment of the hundred pounds she first intended him He afterwards went over into Ireland Secretary to the Lord Gray Lord Deputy thereof and though that his Office under his Lord was lucrative yet got he no Estate Peculiari Poetis fato semper cum paupertate conflictatus est saith the reverend Cambden so that it fared little better with him than with Churchyard or Tusser before him or with William Xiliander the German a most excellent Linguist Antiquary Philosopher and Mathematician who was so poor that as Thuanus writes he was thought Fami non famae scribere Thriving so bad in that boggy Country to add to his misery he was robb'd by the Rebels of that little he had left whereupon in great grief he returns into England and falling into want which to a noble spirit is most killing being heart-broken he died Anno 1598. and was honourably buried at the sole charge of Robert first of that name Earl of Essex on whose Monument is written this Epitaph Edmundus Spencer Londinensis Anglicorum Poetarum nostri seculi fuit Princeps quod ejus Poemata faventibus Musis victuro genio conscripta comprobant Obiit immatur a morte Anno salutis 1598. prope Galfredum Chaucerum conditur qui scqelisissime Poesin Anglicis literis primus illustravit In quem haec scripta sunt Epitaphia Hic prope Chaucerum situs est Spenserius illi Proximus ingenio proximus ut tumulo Hic prope Chaucerum Spensere poeta poetam Conderis versu quam tumulo proprior Anglica te vivo vixit plausitque Poesis Nunc moritur a timet te moriente mori These two last lines for the worthiness of the Poet are thus translated by Dr. Fuller Whilest thou didst live liv'd English Poetry Which fears now thou art dead that she shall die A modern Author writes that the Lord Cecil owed Mr. Spenser a grudge for some Reflections of his in Mother Hubbard's Tale and therefore when the Queen had order'd him that Money the Lord Treasurer said What all this for a Song And this he is said to have taken so much to heart that he contracted a deep Melancholy which soon after brought his life to a period so apt is an ingenious spirit to resent a slighting even from the greatest persons And thus much I must needs say of the Merit of so great a Poet from so great a Monarch that it is incident to the best of Poets sometimes to flatter some Royal or Noble Patron never did any do it more to the height or with greater art and elegance if the highest of praises attributed to so Heroick a Princess can justly be termed flattery Sir JOHN HARRINGTON SIr John Harrington is supposed to be born in Somerset-shire he having a fair Estate near Bath in that County His Father for carrying a Letter to the Lady afterwards Queen Elizabeth was kept twelve months in the Tower and made to spend a Thousand Pounds e're he could be free of that trouble His Mother also being Servant to the Lady Elizabeth was sequestred from her and her Husband enjoyned not to keep company with her so that on both sides he may be said to be very indear'd to Queen Elizabeth who was also his Godmother a further tye of her kindness and respects unto him This Sir John was bred up in Cambridge either in Christ's or in St. John's-Colledge under Dr. Still his Tutor He afterwards proved one of the most ingenious Poets of our English Nation no less noted for his Book of witty Epigrams than his judicious Translation of Ariosto's Orlando Furioso dedicated to the Lady Elizabeth afterwards Queen of Bohemia The British Epigramatist Mr. John Owen in his second Book of Epigrams thus writes to him A Poet mean I am yet of the Troop Though thou art not yet better thou canst do 't And afterwards in his fourth Book Epig. 20. concerning Envy's Genealogy he thus complements him Fair Vertue foul-mouth'd Envy breeds and feeds From Vertue only this foul Vice proceeds Wonder not that I this to you indite ' Gainst your rare Vertues Envy bends her spite It happened that whilest the said Sir John repaired often to an Ordinary in Bath a Female attendress at the Table neglecting other Gentlemen which sat higher and were of greater Estates applied herself wholly to him accommodating him with all necessaries and preventing his asking any thing with her officiousness She being demanded by him the reason of her so careful waiting on him I understand said she you are a very witty man and if I should displease you in any thing I fear you would make an Epigram of me Sir John frequenting often the Lady Robert's House his Wives Mother where they used to go to dinner extraordinary late a Child of his being there then said Grace which was that of the Primmer Thou givest them Meat in due season Hold said Sir John to the Child you ought not to lie unto God for here we never have our Meat in due season This Jest he afterwards turned into an Epigram directing it to his Wife and concluding it thus Now if your Mother angry be for this Then you must reconcile us with a kiss A Posthume Book of his came forth as an addition to Bishop Godwin's Catalogue of Bishops wherein saith Dr. Fuller besides mistakes some tart reflections in Vxaratos Episcopos might well have been spared In a word saith he he was a Poet in all things save in his wealth leaving a fair Estate to a learned and religious Son and died about the middle of the Reign of King James JOHN HEYWOOD THis John Heywood was one of the first writers of English Plays contemporary with the Authors of Gammar Gurton's Needle and Tom Tyler and his Wife as may appear by the Titles of his Interludes viz. The Play of Love Play of of the Weather Play between Johan the Husband and Tib his Wife Play between the Pardoner and the Fryer and the Curate and Neighbour Prat Play of Gentleness and Nobility in two parts Besides these he wrote two Comedies the Pinner of Wakefield and Philotas Scotch There was of this Name in King Henry the Eighth's Reign an Epigramatist who saith the Author of the Art of English Poetry for the mirth and quickness of his conceits more than any goqd learning was in him came to be well benefited by the King. THOMAS HEYWOOD THomas Heywood was a greater Benefactor to the Stage than his Namesake John Heywood aforesaid he having as you may read in an Epistle to a Play of his
the ground Then here it is where nought but Joy is found That the City of Florence was the ancient Seat of her Family he himself intimates in one of his Sonnets thus From Tuscan came my Ladies worthy Race Fair Florence was sometimes her ancient Seat The Western Isle whose pleasant Shoar doth face Whilst Camber's Cliffs did give her lively heat In the Duke of Florence's Court he published a proud Challenge against all Comers whether Christians Turks Canibals Jews or Saracens in defence of his Geraldines Beauty This Challenge was the more mildly accepted in regard she whom he defended was a Town-born Child of that City or else the Pride of the Italian would have prevented him ere he should have come to perform it The Duke of Florence nevertheless sent for him and demanded him of his Estate and the reason that drew him thereto which when he was advertiz'd of to the full he granteth all Countries whatsoever as well Enemies and Outlaws as Friends and Confederates free access and regress into his Dominions immolested until the Trial were ended This Challenge as he manfully undertook so he as valiantly performed as Mr. Drayton describes it in his Letter to the Lady Geraldine The shiver'd Staves here for thy Beauty broke With fierce encounters past at every shock When stormy Courses answerd Cuff for Cuff Denting proud Beavers with the Counter-buff Which when each manly valiant Arm essays After so many brave triumphant days The glorious Prize upon my Lance I bare By Herald's Voyce proclaim'd to be thy share The Duke of Florence for his approved Valour offered him large Proffers to stay with him which he refused intending as he had done in Florence to proceed through all the chief Cities in Italy but this his Purpose was frustrated by Letters sent to him from his Master King Henry the 8th which commanded him to return as speedily as possibly he could into England Our famous English Antiquary John Leland speaking much in the praise of Sir Thomas Wiat the Elder as well for his Learning as other excellent Qualities meet for a man of his Calling calls this Earl the conscript enrolled Heir of the said Sir Thomas Wiat writing to him in these words Accipe Regnorum Comes illustrissime Carmen Quo mea Musa tuum landavit moesta Viallum And again in another place Perge Houerde tuum virtute referre Viallum Dicerisque tuae clarissima Gloria stirpis A certain Treatise called The Art of English Poetry alledges That Sir Thomas Wiat the Elder and Henry Earl of Surrey were the two Chieftains who having travelled into Italy and there tasted the sweet and stately Measures and Style of the Italian Poesie greatly polished our rude and homely manner of vulgar Poesie from what it had been before and may therefore justly be shewed to be the Reformers of our English Meeter and Style I shall only add an Epitaph made by this Noble Earl on Sir Anthony Denny Knight a Gentleman whom King Henry the 8th greatly affected and then come to speak of his Death Death and the King did as it were contend Which of them two bare Denny greatest Love The King to shew his Love gan far extend Did him advance his Betters far above Near Place much Wealth great Honour eke him gave To make it known what Power great Princes have But when Death came with his triumphant Gift From worldly Cark he quit his wearied Ghost Free from the Corps and streight to Heaven it lift Now deem that can who did for Denny most The King gave Wealth but fading and unsure Death brought him Bliss that ever shall endure But to return this Earl had together with his Learning Wisdom Fortitude Munificence and Affability yet all these good and excellent parts were no protection against the King's Displeasure for upon the 12 th of December the last of King Henry the 8th he with his Father Thomas Duke of Norfolk upon certain surmises of Treason were committed to the Tower of London the one by Water the other by Land so that the one knew not of the others Apprehension The 15th day of January next following he was arraigned at Guildhall London where the greatest matter alledged against him was for bearing certain Arms that were said belonged to the King and Prince the bearing whereof he justified To be short for so they were with him he was found guilty by twelve common Juriars had Judgment of Death and upon the 19th day of the said Month nine days before the Death of the said King Henry was beheaded at Tower-Hill He was at first interred in the Chappel of the Tower and afterwards in the Reign of King James his Remainders of Ashes and Bones were removed to Framingham in Suffolk by his second Son Henry Earl of Northampton where in the Church they were interred with this Epitaph Henrico Howardo Thomae Secundi Ducis Norfolciae filio primogenito Thomae tertij Patri Comiti Surriae Georgiam Ordinis Equiti Aurato immature Anno Salutis 1546. abrepto Et Francisae Vxori ejus filiae Johannis Comitis Oxoniae Henricus Howardus Comes Northhamptoniae filius secundo genitus hoc supremum Pietatis in Parentes Monumentum posuit A. D. 1614. Sir THOMAS WIAT the Elder THis worthy Knight is termed by the Name of the Elder to distinguish him from Sir Thomas Wiat the raiser of the Rebellion in the time of Queen Mary and was born at Allington Castle in the County of Kent which afterwards he repaired with most beautiful Buildings He was a Person of great esteem and reputation in the Reign of King Henry the 8th with whom for his honesty and singular parts he was in high favour Which nevertheless he had like to have lost about the Business of Queen Anne Bullein but by his Innocency Industry and Prudence he extricated himself He was one of admirable ingenuity and truly answer'd his Anagram Wiat a Wit the judicious Mr. Cambden saith he was Eques Auratus splendide doctus And though he be not taken notice of by Bale nor Pits yet for his admirable Translation of David's Psalms into English Meeter and other Poetical Writings Leland forbears not to compare him to Dante and Petrarch by giving him this large commendation Bella suum merito jactet Florentia Dantem Regia Petrarchae carmina Roma probat His non inferior Patrio Sermone Viattus Eloquii secum qui decus omne tulit Let Florence fair her Dante 's justly boast And royal Rome her Petrarchs number'd feet In English Wiat both of them doth coast In whom all graceful eloquence doth meet The renowned Earl of Surrey in an Encomium upon his Translation of David's Psalms thus writes of him What holy Grave what worthy Sepulcher To Wiat's Psalms shall Christians purchase then And afterward upon his death the said Earl writeth thus What Vertues rare were temper'd in thy brest Honour that England such a Jewel bred And kiss the ground whereas thy Corps did rest c. This worthy