The Rowley Poems Part 6

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, ent.i.tled, "_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 _aella_, p.

66. and in that of _G.o.ddwyn_, p. 174.; and a poem, ascribed to him, ent.i.tled "_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 _aella_, 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 p.a.w.ned to him for 160.

ADVERTIs.e.m.e.nT.

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

POEMS, &c.

ECLOGUE THE FIRST.

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

Then fellen on the grounde and thus yspoke. 10

ROBERTE.

Ah, Raufe! gif thos the howres do comme alonge, Gif thos wee flie in chase of farther woe, Oure fote wylle fayle, albeytte wee bee stronge, Ne wylle oure pace swefte as oure danger goe.

To oure grete wronges we have enheped[8] moe, 15 The Baronnes warre! oh! woe and well-a-daie!

I haveth lyff, bott have escaped soe, That lyff ytsel mie Senses doe affraie.

Oh Raufe, comme lyste, and hear mie dernie[9] tale, Comme heare the balefull[10] dome of Robynne of the Dale. 20

RAUFE.

Saie to mee nete; I kenne thie woe in myne; O! I've a tale that Sabalus[11] mote[12] telle.

Swote[13] flouretts, mantled meedows, forestes dygne[14]; Gravots[15] far-kend[16] arounde the Errmiets[17] cell; The swote ribible[18] dynning[19] yn the dell; 25 The joyous daunceynge ynn the hoastrie[20] courte; Eke[21] the highe songe and everych joie farewell, Farewell the verie shade of fayre dysporte[22]: Impestering[23] trobble onn mie heade doe comme, Ne on kynde Seyncte to warde[24] the aye[25] encreasynge dome. 30

ROBERTE.

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.]