DOOR AND GATE BOTH GERT HE
AYE STAND OPEN, that men might se*
Enter all time at their pleasance,

Til eat or drink, or sing or dance.
Of all nations generally

Commended he was greatumly

Of wit, virtue, and largèss.

[Vol. II. p. 424.]

Many more particulars respecting tournaments may be found in the account of Sir David Lindsay's duel with "the Lord of the Wellis" (Vol. II. p. 353), and in other parts of the work.

Upon the whole, Wyntown's Chronicle is cer tainly a valuable acquisition to our stock of early literature. It is a curious specimen of language and poetry, and contains much information for the historical antiquary. The more indolent reader will perhaps be amused to observe the instances of our holy prior's credulity: as, for instance, the miracles related of St. Serf (Vol. I. p. 130); a still more singular miracle (I. 152); the story of Pope Joan (I. 165); the tales in the thirteenth chapter of book vi. (I. 194); and the story of Matilda, wife of our Henry I. which is usually applied to the Lady Godiva (II. 50). This credulity, however, was the

1 So.

characteristic of the age rather than of the writer: and a knowledge of the opinions and prejudices of mankind is always a necessary comment on their actions. From a want of this knowledge, which no ingenuity can bestow, and which, from the scantiness of original materials, no diligence can acquire, our modern surveys of history are always to a certain degree insipid. The distance from which we view the scene of action is too great; the principal groups may remain, but the features and countenances vanish. Those, therefore, who are so inquisitive as to wish for the portraits of the actors must consult the gossiping histories of contemporary writers; must associate with Froissart and Wyntown, submit to the punctilio and formality of the times, and listen to long stories with complacency and patience.

Of Wyntown's English contemporaries there is only one whose name has descended to posterity. This is THOMAS OCCLEVE, or HOCCLEVE, "a "feeble writer," says Mr. Warton," considered as

a poet and his chief merit seems to be, that his "writings contributed to propagate and establish "those improvements in our language, which were

now beginning to take place. He was educated "in the municipal law, as were both Chaucer and "Gower; and it reflects no small degree of honour

"on that very liberal profession, that its students 66 were some of the first who attempted to polish "and adorn the English tongue."

Since the publication of Mr. Warton's history, a selection from Hoccleve's poems has been printed by Mr. Mason, and has proved the justice of the foregoing criticism. The most favourable specimen of Hoccleve's poetry is his Story of Jonathas, which the reader will find in the "Shepherd's Pipe," by William Browne, author of Britannia's Pastorals.

As it is not easy to select a tolerable extract from this writer, I shall here insert two specimens of contemporary though anonymous poetry, both of which possess considerable merit. The first is taken from Mr. Ritson's very curious collection of Ancient Songs, p. 44.

"Again my will I take my leave."

Now Bairnes buirdes,' bold and blithe,
To blessen you here now am I bound;
I thank you all a thousand sithe, 2

And pray God save you whole and sound.

⚫ Bairns are gentlemen, barons; buird, bird, or bride, is a common name for young women: but perhaps the word in this place may be an abbreviation of brydest. Sax. most noble.

• Times.

Where'er ye go, on grass or ground,

1

He you govern withouten greve! For friendship that I here have found, Again my will I take my leave.

2

For friendship, and for giftes good,
For meat and drink so great plenty,
That Lord that raught was on the rood, 3
He keep this comely company :
On sea or land, where that ye be,
He govern you withouten greve;
So good disport ye han 4 made me,
Again my will I take my leave.

Again my will although I wend,
I may not alway dwellen here:
For every thing shall have an end,

And friendes are not aye y-fere. 5
Be we never so lief and dear,

Out of this world all shall we meve; And when we busk 7 unto our bier Again our will we take our leave.

Grief. 3 Cross.

• Together.

7 Go.

• Stretched.

4 Have.

6

Move, remove.

And wend we shall: I wot ne'er when,

Ne whither-ward that we shall fare:

But endless bliss, or aye to bren,

To every man is yarked yare. *
For this, I rede, 3 each man beware ;
And let our work our wordes preve,♦
So that no, sin our soul forfare 5

When that our life hath taken his leave.

When that our life his leave hath lauht,"

Our body lieth bounden by the wowe,
Our riches all from us be raft,

In clottes cold our corse is throw.

7

Where are thy friends? who will thee know?
Let see who will thy soul relieve?

I rede thee, man, ere thou lie low,
Be ready aye to take thy leave.

Be ready aye, whate'er befall,

All suddenly lest thou be kiht:

8

Thou wost 9 ne'er when thy Lord will call;
Look that thy lamp be brenning bright.

• Burn.

• Advise.

5 Forfeit, lose, destroy.

• Prepared ready.

• Prove.

Left, i. e. taken.

"Wow, is care, misery, &c; but the construction is by

no means clear.

8

Caught.

9 Knowest.