The Lives of the Most Famous English Poets (1687) by William Winstanley

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* * * * *

THE LIVES
Of the most Famous
ENGLISH POETS,

FROM _WILLIAM_ the _Conqueror_, to these Present Times.

* * * * *

_The Life of ROBERT of Glocester._

We will begin first with _Robert_ of _Glocester_, so called, because a
Monk of that City, who flourisht about the Reign of King _Henry_ the
Second; much esteemed by Mr. _Cambden_, who quotes divers of his old
_English_ Rhythms in praise of his Native Country, _England_. Some (who
consider not the Learning of those times) term him a Rhymer, whilst
others more courteously call him a Poet: Indeed his Language is such,
that he is dumb in effect, to the Readers of our Age, without an
Interpreter; which that ye may the better perceive, hear these his
Verses of _Mulmutius Dunwallo_, in the very same Language he wrote
them.

A Kynge there was in Brutayne Donwallo was his Nam,
Staleworth and hardy, a man of grete Fam:
He ordeyned furst yat theeues yat to Temple flowen wer,
No men wer so hardy to do hem despit ther;
That hath he moche such yhold, as hit begonne tho,
Hely Chyrch it holdeth yut, and wole ever mo.

Antiquaries (amongst whom Mr. _Selden_) more value him for his History
than Poetry, his Lines being neither strong nor smooth, yet much
informing in those things wherein he wrote; whereof to give you a taste
of the first planting Religion in this Land by King _Lucius_,

Lucie Cocles Son after him Kynge was,
To fore hym in Engelonde Chrestendom non was,
For he hurde ofte miracles at Rome,
And in meny another stede, yat thurgh Christene men come,
He wildnede anon in hys herte to fonge Chrystendom.
Therefor Messagers with good Letters he nom,
That to the Pape Eleutherie hastelyche wende;
And yat he to hym and his menne expondem sende,
And yat he might seruy God wilned muche thereto,
And seyd he wald noght be glader hyt were 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 knowlechen ye Lord:
All ye erye worships ye everlasting fader:
Alle Aungels in hevens, and alle ye pours in yis world,
Cherubin and Seraphin cryen by voyce to ye unstyntyng.

Magnificat.

My Soul worschips the Louerd, and my Gott 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 has don to me grete thingis 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 riche,
Thi nom be haliid everliche,
Thou bring us to thi michilblisce,
Thi wil to wirche thu us wille,
Als hit is in hevene ido
Ever in erth ben hit also,
That heli bred that lastyth ay,
Thou sende hious this ilke day,
Forgiv ous al that we hauith don,
Als we forgiu och oder mon,
He let ous falle in no founding,
Ak seilde ous fro the foul thing. Amen.

The Creed.

I Beleeve in God fader almigty, shipper of heven and erth,
And in Jhesus Crist his onle thi son vre Louerd,
That is iuange thurch the hooli Ghost, bore 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,
None 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_ (faith 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 Acts 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 BLAUNPAYN_.

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 a good proficiency in Learning, being of great fame and
estimation in his time, out of whose Rymes for merry _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 sustentat 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 Filh, of 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, tauricaput, & 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 wife 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
_Cambridgeshire_ 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 laborious study of History, in both which he excelled all
his Contemporaries: His skill also was excellent in Oratory and
Divinity, as also in such manual Arts as lie in the Suburbs of the
liberal Sciences, Painting, Graving, _&c._ so that we might sooner
reckon up those things wherein he had no skill, as those wherein he was
skilled: But his _Genius_ chiefly disposed him for the writing of
Histories, writing a large Chronicle with great Commendations from the
_Norman_ Conquest to the Year of our Lord 1250. where he concludes with
this Distich:

_Sifte tui metas studij_, Matthaee, _quietas_
_Nec ventura petas, quae postera proferat atas._

Matthew, here cease thy Pen in peace, and study on no more,
Nor do thou rome at things to come, what next Age hath in store.

Yet, notwithstanding this resolution, he afterwards resumed that Work,
continuing it to the Year 1259. a History impartially and judicially
written, neither flattering any for their Greatness, nor sparing others
for their Vices, no not so much as those of his own Profession; yet
though he had sharp Nails, he had clean Hands, strict in his own, as
well as linking at the loose conversation of others, and for his
eminent austerity, was imployed by Pope _Innocent_ the Fourth, not only
to visit the Monks in the Diocess of _Norwich_ but also was sent by him
into _Norway_, to reform the Discipline in _Holui_, a fair Covent
therein, but much corrupted.

His History was set forth with all integrity about a hundred years ago,
by his namesake, _Matthew Parker_, (though some asperse it with a
suspition of forgery) and afterwards in a latter and more exact
Edition, by the care and industry of Doctor _William Wats_, and is at
this present in great esteem amongst learned men.

* * * * *

_WILLIAM RAMSEY_.

This _William Ramsey_ was born in _Huntingtonshire_, a County famous
for the richest _Benedictines_ Abbey in _England_; yet here he would
not stay, but went to _Crowland_, where he prospered so well, that he
became Abbot thereof. _Bale_ saith he was a _Natural Poet_, and
therefore no wonder if fault be found in the Feet of his Verses; but by
his leave, he was also a good Scholar, and Arithmetician enough to make
his Verse run in right Numbers.

This _William_ wrote the Lives of St. _Guthlake_, St. _Neots_, St.
_Edmond_ the King, and divers others, all in Verse, which no doubt were
very acceptable and praise-worthy in those times; but the greatest
wonder of him, and which may seem a wonder indeed, was, that being a
Poet, he paid the vast Debts of others, even forty thousand Marks for
the engagement of his Covent, and all within the compass of eighteen
Months, wherein he was Abbot of _Crowland_. This was a vast Sum in that
Age, and would render it altogether incredible for a Poet to do, but
that we find he had therein the assistance of King _Henry_ the Second;
who, to expiate the Blood of _Becket_, was contented to be melted into
Coyn, and was prodigiously bountiful to many Churches as well as to
this. He died about the year 1180.

* * * * *

_ALEXANDER NEQUAM_.

_Alexander Nequam_, the learnedest _Englishman_ of his Age, was born at
St. _Albans_ in _Hartfordshire_: His Name in _English_ signifies _Bad_,
which caused many, who thought themselves wondrous witty in making
Jests, (which indeed made themselves) to pass several Jokes on his
Sirname, whereof take this one instance: _Nequam_ had a mind to become
a Monk in St. _Albans_, the Town of his Nativity, and thus Laconically
wrote for leave to the Abbot thereof;

_Si vis, veniam, sin autem, tu autem_.

To whom the Abbot returned,

_Si bonus sis, venias, si nequam, nequaquam_.

Whereupon for the future, to avoid the occasion of such Jokes, he
altered his Name from _Nequam_, to _Neckam_.

His admirable knowledge in good Arts, made him famous throughout
_England_, _France_, _Italy_, yea and the whole World, and that with
incredible admiration, that he was called _Miraculum ingenij_, the
Wonder and Miracle of Wit and Sapience. He was an exact Philosopher,
and excellent Divine, an accurate Rhetorician, and an admirable Poet,
as did appear by many his Writings which he left to posterity, some of
which are mentioned by _Bale_.

That he was born at St. _Albans_, appears by a certain passage in one
of his _Latine_ Poems, cited by Mr. _Cambden_, and thus Englished by
his Translatour, Doctor _Holland_.

_This is the place that knowledge took of my Nativity,
My happy Years, my Days also of Mirth and Jollity.
This Place my Childhood trained up in all Arts liberal,
And laid the ground-work of my Name, and skill Poetical.
This Place great and renowned Clerks into the World hath sent;
For Martyr bless'd, for Nation, for Sight, all excellent.
A troop here of Religious Men serve Christ both night and day,
In Holy Warfare, taking pains duly to watch and pray._

He is thought by some, saith _Bale_, to have been a Canon Regular, and
to have been preferred to the Abbotship of _Glocester_, as the
Continuater of _Robert of Glocester_ will have it.

And Master Alisander that Chanon was er
Imaked was of Gloucestre Abbot thulk yer.
Viz. 7 Reg. Regis _Johannis_.

But this may be understood of _Alexander Theologus_, who was contempory
with him: and was Abbot of St. _Maries_ in _Cirencester_ at the time of
his death.

Bishop _Godwin_, in his Catalogue of the Bishops of _Lincoln_, maketh
mention of a passage of wit betwixt him and _Phillip Repington_ Bishop
of _Lincoln_, the latter sending the Challenge.

_Et niger & Nequam cum sis cognomine Nequam,
Nigrior esse potes, Nequior esse nequis_.

Both black and bad, whilest _Bad_ the name to thee,
Blacker thou may'st, but worse thou canst not be.

To whom _Nequam_ rejoyned,

Phi _not a foetoris_, Lippus _malus omnibus horis_,
Phi _malus_ & Lippus, _totus malus ergo_ Philippus.

Stinks are branded with a _Phi, Lippus_ Latin for blear-eye,
_Phi_ and _Lippus_ bad as either, then _Philippus_ worse together.

A Monk of St. _Albans_ made this Hexameter allusively to his Name:

_Dictus erat_ Nequam, _vitam duxit tamen aquam_.

The Elogy he bestoweth on that most Christian Emperor _Constantine_ the
Great, must not be forgot:

From _Colchester_ there rose a Star,
The Rays whereof gave Glorious Light
Throughout the world in Climates far,
Great _Constantine, Romes_ Emperor bright.

He was (saith one) Canon of _Exeter_, and (upon what occasion is not
known,) came to be buried at _Worcester_, with this Epitaph,

_Eclipsim patitur Sapientia, Sol sepelitur,
Cui si par unus, minus esset flebile funus;
Vir bene discretus, & in omni more facetus,
Dictus erat_ Nequam, _vitam duxit tamen aequam_.

Wisdom's eclips'd, Sky of the Sun bereft;
Yet less the loss if like alive were left;
A man discreet, in matters debonair,
Bad Name, black Face, but Carriage good and fair.

Yet others say he was buried at St. _Albans_ (where he found repulse
when living, but repose when dead) with this Epitaph,

Alexander, _cognomento_ Nequam, _Abbas_ Cirecestriae,
_Literarum scientia clarus, obiit Anno Dom._ 1217. _Lit.
Dom. C. prid. Cal. Feb. & sepultus erat apud Fanum S._ Albani,
_sujus Animae propitietur altissimus_, Amen.

* * * * *

_ALEXANDER ESSEBIE_.

This _Alexander_ was born in _Staffordshire_, say some; in
_Somersetshire_, say others; for which, each County might strive as
being a Jewel worth the owning, being reckoned among the chief of
_English_ Poets and Orators of that Age. He in imitation of _Ovid de
Fastis_, put our Christian Festivals into Verse, setting a Copy therein
to _Baptista Mantuan_. Then leaving _Ovid_, he aspired to _Virgil_, and
wrote the History of the Bible, (with the Lives of some Saints,) in an
Heroical Poem, which he performed even to admiration; and though he
fell short in part of _Virgil_'s lofty style, yet went he beyond
himself therein. He afterward became Prior of _Esseby-Abbey_, belonging
to the _Augustines_, and flourished under King _Henry_ the Third, _Anno
Dom._ 1220.

* * * * *

_ROBERT BASTON_.

_Robert Baston_ was born not far from _Nottingham_, and bred a
_Carmelite_ Frier at _Scarborough_ in _Yorkshire_: He was of such great
Fame in Poetry, that King _Edward_ the Second, in his _Scotish_
Expedition pitcht upon him to be the Celebrater of his Heroick Acts;
when being taken Prisoner by the _Scots_, he was forced by Torments to
change his Note, and represent all things to the advantage of _Robert
Bruce_, who then claimed the Crown of _Scotland_: This Task he
undertook full sore against his will, as he thus intimates in the two
first Lines.

In dreery Verse my Rymes I make,
Bewailing whilest such Theme I take.

Besides his Poem _De Belle Strivilensi_, there was published of his
writing a Book of Tragedies, with other Poems of various Subjects.

* * * * *

_HENRY BRADSHAW_.

_Henry Bradshaw_ was born in the City of _Chester_, and bred a
_Benedictine_ Monk in the Monastery of _St. Werburg_; the Life of which
Saint he wrote in Verse, as also (saith my Author) a no bad Chronicle,
though following therein those Authors, who think it the greatest Glory
of a Nation to fetch their Original from times out of mind. Take a
Taste of his Poetry in what he wrote concerning the Original of the
City of _Chester_, in these words;

The Founder of this City, as saith _Polychronicon_,
Was _Leon Gawer_, a mighty strong Gyant,
Which builded Caves and Dungeons many a one,
No goodly Building, ne proper, ne pleasant.

But King _Leir_, a _Britain_ fine and valiant,
Was Founder of _Chester_ by pleasant Building,
And was named _Guer Leir_ by the King.

These Lines, considering the Age he lived in, (which _Arnoldus Vion_
saith, was about the Year 1346.) may pass with some praise, but others
say he flourished a Century of years afterwards, _viz._ 1513. which if
so, they are hardly to be excused, Poetry being in that time much
refined; but whensoever he lived, _Bale_ saith, he was (the Diamond in
the Ring) _Pro ea ipsa aetate, admodum pius_.

* * * * *

_HAVILLAN_.

Should we forget the learned _Havillan_, our Book would be thought to
be imperfect, so terse and fluent was his Verse, of which we shall give
you two Examples, the one out of Mr. _John Speed_ his Description of
_Devonshire_, speaking of the arrival of _Brute_.

The God's did guide his Sail and Course, the Winds were at command,
And _Totness_ was the happy shore where first he came on land.

The other out of Mr. _Weever_ his Funeral Monuments in the Parish of
St. _Aldermanbury_ in _London_, speaking of _Cornwal_.

There Gyants whilome dwelt, whose Clothes were skins of Beasts;
Whose Drink was Blood; Whose Cups, to serve for use at Feasts,
Were made of hollow Wood; Whose Beds were bushy Thorns;
And Lodgings rocky Caves, to shelter them from Storms;
Their Chambers craggy Rocks; their Hunting found them Meat.
To vanquish and to kill, to them was pleasure great.
Their violence was rule; with rage and fury led,
They rusht into the fight, and fought hand over head.
Their Bodies were interr'd behind some bush or brake,
To bear such monstrous Wights, the earth did grone and quake.
These pestred most the Western Tract; more fear made thee agast,
O _Cornwall_, utmost door that art to let in _Zephyrus_ blast.

* * * * *

_JOHN GOWER_.

_John Gower_, whom some make to be a Knight, though _Stow_, in his
_survey of London_, unknighteth him, and saith he was only an Esquire;
however he was born of a knightly Family, at _Stitenham_ in the
North-Riding in _Bulmore-Wapentake_ in _Yorkshire_. He was bred in
_London_ a Student of the Laws, but having a plentiful Estate, and
prizing his pleasure above his profit, he quitted Pleading to follow
Poetry, being the first refiner of our _English_ Tongue, effecting
much, but endeavouring more therein, as you may perceive by the
difference of his Language, with that of _Robert of Glocester_, who
lived in the time of King _Richard_ the First, which notwithstanding
was accounted very good in those days.

This our _Gower_ was contemporary with the famous Poet _Geoffry
Chaucer_, both excellently learned, both great friends together, and
both alike endeavour'd themselves and employed their time for the
benefit of their Country. And what an account _Chaucer_ had of this our
_Gower_ and of his Parts, that which he wrote in the end of his Work,
entituled _Troilus & Cressida_, do sufficiently testifie, where he
saith,

O marvel, _Gower_, this Book I direct
To thee, and to the Philosophical _Strode_.
To vouchsafe, there need is, to correct
Of your benignitees and zeles good.

_Bale_ makes him _Equitem Auratum & Poetam Laureatum_, proving both
from his Ornaments on his Monumental Statue in St. _Mary Overies
Southwark_. Yet he appeareth there neither _laureated_ nor _hederated_
Poet, (except the leaves of the Bays and Ivy be wither'd to nothing,
since the erection of the Tomb) but only _rosated_, having a Chaplet of
four Roses about his Head, yet was he in great respect both with King
_Henry_ the Fourth, and King _Richard_ the Second, at whose request he
wrote his Book called _Confessio Amantis_, as he relateth in his
Prologue to the same Book, in these words,

As it befell upon a tide,
As thing, which should tho betide,
Under the town of New Troie,
Which toke of Brute his first ioye,
In Themese, when it was flowende,
As I by Bote came rowende;
So as fortune hir tyme sette,
My leige Lord perchance I mette,
And so befelle as I cam nigh,
Out of my Bote, when he me sigh,
He bad me come into his Barge,
And when I was with him at large,
Amonges other things seyde,
He hath this charge upon me leyde,
And bad me doe my businesse,
That to his high worthinesse,
Some newe thynge I should boke,
That he hymselfe it might loke,
After the forme of my writynge,
And this upon his commandynge
Myne herte is well the more glad
To write so as he me bad.
And eke my fear is well the lasse,
That none enuie shall compasse,
Without a reasonable wite
To seige and blame that I write,
A gentill hert his tongue stilleth,
That it malice none distilleth,
But preiseth that is to be preised,
But he that hath his word unpeised,
And handleth with ronge any thynge,
I praie unto the heuen kynge,
Froe such tonges he me shilde,
And nethelesse this worlde is wilde,
Of such ianglinge and what befall,
My kinges heste shall not faile,
That I in hope to deserue
His thonke, ne shall his will observe,
And els were I nought excused.

He was before _Chaucer_, as born and flourishing before him, (yea, by
some accounted his Master) yet was he after _Chaucer_, as surviving him
two years, living to be stark blind, and so more properly termed our
_English Homer_. His death happened _Anno_ 1402. and was buried at St.
_Mary Overies_ in _Southwark_, on the North side of the said Church, in
the Chappel of St. _John_, where he founded a Chauntry, and left Means
for a Mass, (such was the Religion of those times) to be daily sung for
him, as also an _Obit_ within the same Church to be kept on Friday
after the Feast of St. _Gregory_. He lieth 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 four Roses; an habit of purple, damasked
down to his feet, a Collar of Esses of Gold about his neck, which being
proper to places of Judicature, makes some think he was a Judge in his
old age. Under his feet the likeness of three Books, which he compiled,
the first named _Speculum Meditantis_, written in _French_: the second,
_Vox Clamantis_, penned in _Latine_: the third, _Confessio Amantis_,
written in _English_, which was Printed by _Thomas Berthelette_, and by
him dedicated to King _Henry_ the Eighth, of which I have one by me at
this present. His _Vox Clamantis_ with his _Cronica Tripartita_, and
other Works both in _Latine_ and _French_, _Stow_ saith he had in his
possession, but his _Speculum Meditantis_ he never saw, but heard
thereof to be in _Kent_.

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