The Rowley Poems by Thomas Chatterton (inspirational books to read .txt) 📖

in the city

of Bristol, in the year 1465.--The remainder of the poem I have

not been happy enough to meet with._" Being afterwards prest by Mr.

Barrett to produce any part of this poem in the original hand-writing,

he at last said, that he wrote this poem himself for a friend; but

that he had another, the copy of an original by Rowley: and being then

desired to produce that other poem, he, after a considerable interval

of time, brought to Mr. Barrett the poem marked No. 2, as far as ver.

530 incl. with the following title; "_Battle of Hastyngs by Turgotus,

translated by Roulie for W. Canynge Esq._" The lines from ver. 531

incl. were brought some time after, in consequence of Mr. Barrett's

repeated sollicitations for the conclusion of the poem.

 

 

  ONN OURE LADIES CHYRCHE.            p. 275

  ON THE SAME.                           276

 

The first of these Poems is printed from a copy made by Mr. Catcott,

from one in Chatterton's hand-writing.

 

The other is taken from a MS. in Chatterton's hand-writing, furnished

by Mr. Catcott, entitled, "_A Discorse on Bristowe, by Thomas

Rowlie_." See the Preface, p. xi. n.

 

 

  EPITAPH ON ROBERT CANYNGE.          p. 277

 

This is one of the fragments of vellum, given by Chatterton to Mr.

Barrett, as part of his original MSS.

 

 

  THE STORIE OF WILLIAM CANYNGE.      p. 278

 

The 34 first lines of this poem are extant upon another of the

vellum-fragments, given by Chatterton to Mr. Barrett. The remainder

is printed from a copy furnished by Mr. Catcott, with some corrections

from another copy, made by Mr. Barrett from one in Chatterton's

hand-writing. This poem makes part of a prose-work, attributed to

Rowley, giving an account of _Painters, Carvellers, Poets_, and other

eminent natives of Bristol, from the earliest times to his own.

The whole will be published by Mr. Barrett, with remarks, and large

additions; among which we may expect a complete and authentic history

of that distinguished citizen of Bristol, Mr. William Canynge. In the

mean time, the Reader may see several particulars relating to him in

_Cambden's Britannia_, Somerset. Col. 95.--_Rymers Foedera,_ &c.

ann. 1449 & 1450.--_Tanner's Not. Monast._ Art. BRISTOL and

WESTBURY.--_Dugdale's Warwickshire_, p. 634.

 

It may be proper just to remark here, that Mr. Canynge's brother,

mentioned in ver. 129, who was lord mayor of London in 1456, is called

_Thomas_ by Stowe in his List of Mayors, &c.

 

The transaction alluded to in the last Stanza is related at large in

some Prose Memoirs of Rowley, of which a very incorrect copy has been

printed in the _Town and Country Magazine_ for November 1775. It is

there said, that Mr. Canynge went into orders, to avoid a marriage,

proposed by King Edward, between him and a lady of the Widdevile

family. It is certain, from the Register of the Bishop of Worcester,

that Mr. Canynge was ordained _Acolythe_ by Bishop Carpenter on

19 September 1467, and received the higher orders of _Sub-deacon,

Deacon_, and _Priest_, on the 12th of March, 1467, O.S. the 2d and

16th of April, 1468, respectively.

 

 

  ON HAPPIENESSE, by WILLIAM CANYNGE. p. 286

  ONNE JOHNE A DALBENIE, by the same.  Ibid.

  THE GOULER'S REQUIEM, by the same.     287

  THE ACCOUNTE OF W. CANYNGE'S FEASTE.   288

 

Of these four Poems attributed to Mr. Canynge, the three first are

printed from Mr. Catcott's copies. The last is taken from a fragment

of vellum, which Chatterton gave to Mr. Barrett as an original. The

Editor has doubts about the reading of the second word in ver. 7,

but he has printed it _keene_, as he found it so in other copies. The

Reader may judge for himself, by examining the _Fac simile_ in the

opposite page.

 

With respect to the three friends of Mr. Canynge mentioned in the last

line, the name of _Rowley_ is sufficiently known from the preceding

poems. _Iscamm_ appears as an actor in the tragedy of _Ælla_, p.

and in that of _Goddwyn_, p. 174.; and a poem, ascribed to him,

entitled "_The merry Tricks of Laymington_," is inserted in the

"_Discorse of Bristowe_". Sir _Theobald Gorges_ was a knight of an

antient family seated at Wraxhall, within a few miles of Bristol [See

_Rot. Parl._ 3 H. VI. n. 28. _Leland's Itin._ vol. VII. p. 98.]. He

has also appeared above as an actor in both the tragedies, and as

the author of one of the _Mynstrelles songes_ in _Ælla_, p. 91. His

connexion with Mr. Canynge is verified by a deed of the latter,

dated 20 October, 1467, in which he gives to trustees, in part of a

benefaction of £500 to the Church of St. Mary Redcliffe, "_certain

jewells of_ Sir _Theobald Gorges_ Knt." which had been pawned to him

for £160.

ECLOGUE THE FIRST.

 

    Whanne Englonde, smeethynge[1] from her lethal[2] wounde,

    From her galled necke dyd twytte[3] the chayne awaie,

    Kennynge her legeful sonnes falle all arounde,

    (Myghtie theie fell, 'twas Honoure ledde the fraie,)

    Thanne inne a dale, bie eve's dark surcote[4] graie,                    5

    Twayne lonelie shepsterres[5] dyd abrodden[6] flie,

    (The rostlyng liff doth theyr whytte hartes affraie[7],)

    And wythe the owlette trembled and dyd crie;

    Firste Roberte Neatherde hys sore boesom stroke.

  Then fellen on the grounde and thus yspoke.                              10

 

  ROBERTE.

 

    Ah, Raufe! gif thos the howres do comme alonge,

    Gif thos wee flie in chase of farther woe,

    Oure fote wylle fayle, albeytte wee bee stronge,

    Ne wylle oure pace swefte as oure danger goe.

    To oure grete wronges we have enheped[8] moe,                          15

    The Baronnes warre! oh! woe and well-a-daie!

    I haveth lyff, bott have escaped soe,

    That lyff ytsel mie Senses doe affraie.

    Oh Raufe, comme lyste, and hear mie dernie[9] tale,

  Comme heare the balefull[10] dome of Robynne of the Dale.                20

 

  RAUFE.

 

    Saie to mee nete; I kenne thie woe in myne;

    O! I've a tale that Sabalus[11] mote[12] telle.

    Swote[13] flouretts, mantled meedows, forestes dygne[14];

    Gravots[15] far-kend[16] arounde the Errmiets[17] cell;

    The swote ribible[18] dynning[19] yn the dell;                         25

    The joyous daunceynge ynn the hoastrie[20] courte;

    Eke[21] the highe songe and everych joie farewell,

    Farewell the verie shade of fayre dysporte[22]:

    Impestering[23] trobble onn mie heade doe comme,

  Ne on kynde Seyncte to warde[24] the aye[25] encreasynge dome.           30

 

  ROBERTE.

 

    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,          35

    Mie 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

 

  RAUFE.

 

    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;                            45

    Sleene 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

 

  ROBERTE.

 

    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],                       55

    Mynsterres[52] alleyn[53] can boaste the hallie[54] Seyncte,

    Now doeth Englonde weare a bloudie dresse

    And 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 copies _bletheynge_, 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.]

 

ECLOGUE THE SECOND.

 

  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],                                  5

    To 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.                10

  Sprytes 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,                  15

    Lyche 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.                     20

  Sprites 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,                  25

    Onknowlachynge[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].                       30

  Sprytes 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,                         35

    Eftsoones[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;