The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland | Page 9

desire either riches or power, yet he was capable of the grossest flattery to the reigning prince, and like an ungrateful monster insulted the memory of his murdered sovereign and generous patron. He survived Chaucer two years; Winstanly says, that in his old age he was made a judge, possibly in consequence of his adulation to Henry IV. His death happened in the year 1402, and as he is said to have been born some years before Chaucer, so he must have been near fourscore years of age: He was buried in St. Mary Overy's in Southwark, in the chapel of St. John, where he founded a chauntry, and left money for a mass to be daily sung for him, as also an obit within the church to be kept on Friday after the feast of St. Gregory. He lies under a tomb of stone, with his image also of stone over him, the hair of his head auburn, long to his shoulders, but curling up, and a small forked beard; on his head a chaplet like a coronet of roses; an habit of purple, damasked down to his feet, and a collar of gold about his neck. Under his feet the likeness of three books which he compiled; the first named Speculum Meditantis, written in French; the second Vox Clamantis, in latin; the third Confessio Amantis, in English; this last piece was printed by one Thomas Berthalette, and by him dedicated to King Henry VIII. His Vox clamantis, with his Chronica Tripartita, and other works, both in Latin and French, Stow says he had in his possession, but his Speculum Meditantis he never saw. Besides on the wall where he lies, there were painted three virgins crowned, one of which was named Charity, holding this device,
En toy quies fitz de Dieu le pere,?Sauve soit, qui gist fours cest pierre.
The second writing MERCY, with this device;
O bene Jesu fait ta mercy,?A'lame, dont la corps gisticy.
The third writing PITY, with this decree;
Pour ta pitie Jesu regarde,?Et met cest a me, en sauve garde.
His arms were in a Field Argent, on a Chevron Azure, three Leopards heads or, their tongues Gules, two Angels supporters, and the crest a Talbot.
His EPITAPH.
Armigeri soltum nihil a modo fert sibi tutum,?Reddidit immolutum morti generale tributum,?Spiritus exutum se gaudeat esse solutum?Est ubi virtutum regnum sine labe est statum.
I shall take a quotation from a small piece of his called the Envious Man and the Miser; by which it will appear, that he was not, as Winstanley says, a refiner of our language, but on the other hand, that poetry owes him few or no obligations.
Of the Envious MAN and the MISER.
Of Jupiter thus I find ywrite,?How, whilom, that he woulde wite,?Upon the plaintes, which he herde?Among the men, how that it farde,?As of her wronge condition?To do justificacion.?And, for that cause, downe he sent?An angel, which aboute went,?That he the sooth knowe maie.
Besides the works already mentioned our poet wrote the following:
De Compunctione Cordi, in one book.
Chronicon Ricardi secundi.
Ad Henricum Quartum, in one book.
Ad eundem de Laude Pacis, in one book.
De Rege Henrico, quarto, in one book.
De Peste Vitiorum, in one book.
Scrutinium Lucis, in one book.
De Regimine Principum.
De Conjugii Dignitate.
De Amoris Varietate.

JOHN LYDGATE,
Commonly called the monk of Bury, because a native of that place. He was another disciple and admirer of Chaucer, and it must be owned far excelled his master, in the article of versification. After sometime spent in our English universities, he travelled thro' France and Italy, improving his time to the accomplishment of learning the languages and arts. Pitseus says, he was not only an elegant poet, and an eloquent rhetorician, but also an expert mathematician, an acute philosopher, and no mean divine. His verses were so very smooth, and indeed to a modern ear they appear so, that it was said of him by his contemporaries, that his wit was framed and fashioned by the Muses themselves. After his return from France and Italy, he became tutor to many noblemen's sons, and for his excellent endowments was much esteemed and reverenced by them. He writ a poem called the Life and Death of Hector, from which I shall give a specimen of his versification.
I am a monk by my profession?In Bury, called John Lydgate by my name,?And wear a habit of perfection;?(Although my life agree not with the same)?That meddle should with things spiritual,?As I must needs confess unto you all.
But seeing that I did herein proceed?At[1] his commands whom I could not refuse,?I humbly do beseech all those that read,?Or leisure have this story to peruse,?If any fault therein they find to be,?Or error that committed is by me,
That they will of their gentleness take pain,?The rather to correct and mend the same,?Than rashly to condemn it with disdain,?For well I wot