Colophon,
_Thus endeth these litle works compiled by maister Skelton Poet Laureat_.
12mo, n. d.
* * * * *
_Here after foloweth certayne bokes, cōpyled by mayster Skelton, Poet
Laureat, whose names here after shall appere._
(Enumeration of pieces as above.)
_Printed at London by Richard Lant, for Henry Tab, dwelling in Pauls
churchyard, at the sygne of Judith._
Colophon,
_Thus endethe these lytell workes compyled by mayster Skelton Poet
Laureat. And prynted by Richard Lant, for Henry Tab, dwellyng in Poules
churche yard at the sygne of Judith_.
12mo, n. d. On the fly-leaf of the copy which I used, but perhaps not
belonging to it, was pasted a woodcut representing the author, with the
words “Skelton Poet” (copied from Pynson’s ed. of _Dyuers Balettys_, &c.,
and the same as that on the reverse of the last leaf of Kele’s ed. of
_Why come ye nat to Courte_).
An edition printed _for W. Bonham_, 1547, 12mo, is mentioned by Warton,
_Hist. of E.P._ ii. 336 (note), ed. 4to.
* * * * *
The various editions of these “certaine bokes” contain, besides the
pieces specified on the title-page, the following poems—
“All noble men, of this take hede,” &c. [prefixed to the eds.
of _Why come ye nat to Courte_.]
“Howe euery thing must haue a tyme.”
“Prayer to the Father of Heauen.”
“To the seconde Person.”
“To the Holy Ghost.”
* * * * *
_Here after foloweth a litel boke called Colyn Cloute compyled by mayster
Skelton poete Laureate._
_Quis cōsurgat mecū adversus malignantes, aut quis stabit mecū adversus
operantes iniquitatem. Nemo domine._
Colophon,
_Imprinted at London by me Rycharde Kele dwellyng in the powltry at the
long shop vnder saynt Myldredes chyrche_.
12mo, n. d.
An edition by Kele, 4to, n. d., is mentioned in _Typogr. Antiq._ iv. 305.
ed. Dibdin: but qy.?
* * * * *
_Here after foloweth a litle booke called Colyn Clout compiled by master
Skelton Poete Laureate._
_Quis cōsurgat_, &c. (as above.)
Colophon,
_Inprinted at London in Paules Churche yarde at the Sygne of the Rose by
Iohn Wyghte_.
12mo, n. d.
* * * * *
_Here after foloweth a litle boke called Colyn Clout compiled by master
Skelton Poete Laureate._
_Quis consurgat_, &c. (as above.)
Colophon,
_Imprynted at London in Paules Churche yarde at the Sygne of the Sunne by
Anthony Kytson_.
Colophon in some copies,
_Imprynted at London in Paules Churche yarde at the Sygne of the Lambe by
Abraham Veale_.
12mo, n. d.
An edition _Imprynted at London_ by —— [Thomas Godfray]. _Cum priuilegio
regali_, is mentioned in _Typogr. Antiq._ iii. 71. ed. Dibdin.
* * * * *
_Here after foloweth a lytell boke, whiche hath to name, Why come ye nat
to courte, compyled by mayster Skelton poete Laureate._
Colophon,
_Imprinted at london by me Richard kele dwellīg in the powltry at the
longe shop vnder saynt myldredes chyrch_.
12mo, n. d. On the reverse of the title-page is a woodcut representing
two figures, one of them perhaps meant for Wolsey, the other headed
“Skelton;” and on the reverse of the last leaf is a woodcut (copied from
Pynson’s ed. of _Dyuers Balettys_, &c.) with the words “Skylton poyet.”
An edition by Kele, 4to, n. d., is mentioned in _Typogr. Antiq._ iv. 305.
ed. Dibdin: but qy.?
* * * * *
_Here after foloweth a little booke, whiche hath to name Whi come ye not
to courte, compiled by mayster Skeltō Poete Laureate._
Colophon,
_Imprynted at London in Paules churche yarde at the Sygne of the Rose by
John Wyght_.
12mo, n. d. On the reverse of the title-page is a woodcut, which I am
unable to describe, because in the copy used by me it was much damaged as
well as pasted over.
* * * * *
_Here after foloweth a litle boke whyche hathe to name, whye come ye not
to Courte. Compyled by mayster Skelton Poete Laureate._
Colophon,
_Imprynted at London in Poules church yard at the syne of the sunne by
Anthony Kytson_.
Colophon in some copies,
_Imprynted at London in Poules church yard at the syne of the Lamb by
Abraham Veale_.
Colophon in some other copies,
_Imprynted at London in Foster lane by John Wallye_.
12mo, n. d.
An edition, _Imprynted at London, in Paules church yarde at the Sygne of
the Bell by Robert Toy_, is mentioned in _Typogr. Antiq._ iii. 576. ed.
Dibdin.
* * * * *
_Pithy pleasaunt and profitable workes of maister Skelton, Poete
Laureate. Nowe collected and newly published. Anno 1568. Imprinted at
London in Fletestreate, neare vnto saint Dunstones churche by Thomas
Marshe._ 12mo.
On the reverse of the title-page are the Latin lines, “Salve, plus
decies,” &c. (see vol. i. 177); next, Churchyard’s verses, “If slouth and
tract of time,” &c. (see Appendix I. p. lxxvi.); and then the contents of
the volume are thus enumerated;
“_Workes of Skelton newly collected by I.S. as foloweth._
1. The crowne of lawrel.
2. The bouge of court.
3. The duke of Albany.
4. Speake parrot.
5. Edward the fourth.
6. Against the Scottes. [Chorus de Dys contra Scottes, &c.
Chorus de dis, &c. super triumphali victoria contra gallos, &c.]
7. Ware the hauke. [Libertas veneranda, &c. All noble men of
this take hede, &c.]
8. Howe euery thinge must haue a time.
9. A prayer to the father of heauen.
10. To yᵉ second person.
11. To the holy ghost.
12. The tunning of Elinour Rumming.
13. The relucēt mirror.
14. Why come ye not to court.
15. Colyn Clout.
16. Philip sparowe.
17. Of a comly Coystrowne. [Contra alium Cantitātem &
Organisantem Asinum, &c.]
18. Upō a deadmās heed.
19. To maistris Anne.
20. Of thre fooles.
21. En parlement a Paris.
22. Epitaphes of two knaues of dise. [Diligo rustincum, &c.]
23. Lamentation for Norwiche.
24. Against yᵉ Scottes [i. e. against Dundas].
25. Praise of yᵉ palmtre. [Diligo rusticum, &c.]
26. Bedel quōdā Belial.
27. The dolorus death of the Lord Percie Erle of
Northumberlande. [Ad magistrum Rukshaw.]
28. Epitaphium Margarete countisse de Derbi.
29. Epita. Hen. septi.
30. Eulogium pro suorum temporum.
31. A parable by William Cornishe in yᵉ Fleete.
32. Against venemous tongues.
33. Of Calliope.
How the very dull poem (31) by William Cornishe came to be inserted in
this collection, I know not: but I may just observe that it is found
(with a better text) in _MS. Reg. 18. D_ ii. where it immediately
precedes Skelton’s verses on the Death of the Earl of Northumberland.
* * * * *
“Now synge we, as we were wont,” &c.—in an imperfect volume (or fragments
of volumes) of black-letter _Christmas Carolles,—Bibliograph. Miscell._
(edited by the Rev. Dr. Bliss), 1813, 4to, p. 48.
* * * * *
_The Maner of the World now a dayes—Imprinted at London in Flete Strete
at the signe of the Rose Garland by W. Copland_, n. d.—known to me only
from _Old Ballads_, 1840, edited by Mr. J.P. Collier for the Percy
Society.
I now greatly doubt if this copy of verses be by Skelton: see Notes, vol.
ii. 199.
* * * * *
Concerning the comparatively modern edition of _Elynour Rummynge_, 1624,
4to (celebrated for the imaginary portrait of Elynour), see Notes, vol.
ii. 152 sqq.
* * * * *
Wood mentions as by Skelton (_Ath. Oxon._ i. 52. ed. Bliss)—
_Poetical Fancies and Satyrs_, Lond. 1512, oct.
Tanner mentions (_Biblioth._ p. 676)—
_Miseries of England under Henry vii._ Lond.... 4to. [Qy. is it the same
piece as _Vox Populi, Vox Dei_?]
Warton mentions (_Hist. of E.P._ ii. 336, note, ed. 4to)—
A collection of Skelton’s pieces printed _for A. Scolocker_, 1582, 12mo.
Bliss mentions (add. to Wood’s _Ath. Oxon._ i. 53)—
A collection of Skelton’s pieces _printed_ in 12mo _by A. Scholoker_, n.
d., and
Another _by John Wight_ in 8vo, 1588.
* * * * *
Of Skelton’s drama, _The Nigramansir_, the following account is given by
Warton:—
“I cannot quit Skelton, of whom I yet fear too much has been already
said, without restoring to the public notice a play, or MORALITY,
written by him, not recited in any catalogue of his works, or annals
of English typography; and, I believe, at present totally unknown to
the antiquarians in this sort of literature. It is, _The NIGRAMANSIR,
a moral ENTERLUDE and a pithie written by Maister SKELTON laureate and
plaid before the king and other estatys at Woodstoke on Palme Sunday_. It
was printed by Wynkin de Worde in a thin quarto, in the year 1504.[149]
It must have been presented before king Henry the seventh, at the
royal manor or palace, at Woodstock in Oxfordshire, now destroyed. The
characters are a Necromancer or conjuror, the devil, a notary public,
Simonie, and Philargyria or Avarice. It is partly a satire on some abuses
in the church; yet not without a due regard to decency, and an apparent
respect for the dignity of the audience. The story, or plot, is the tryal
of SIMONY and AVARICE: the devil is the judge, and the notary public acts
as an assessor or scribe. The prisoners, as we may suppose, are found
guilty, and ordered into hell immediately. There is no sort of propriety
in calling this play the Necromancer: for the only business and use of
this character, is to open the subject in a long prologue, to evoke the
devil, and summon the court. The devil kicks the necromancer, for waking
him so soon in the morning: a proof that this drama was performed in the
morning, perhaps in the chapel of the palace. A variety of measures,
with shreds of Latin and French, is used: but the devil speaks in the
octave stanza. One of the stage-directions is, _Enter Balsebub with a
Berde_. To make him both frightful and ridiculous, the devil was most
commonly introduced on the stage wearing a visard with an immense beard.
Philargyria quotes Seneca and saint Austin: and Simony offers the devil a
bribe. The devil rejects her offer with much indignation: and swears by
the _foule Eumenides_, and the hoary beard of Charon, that she shall be
well fried and roasted in the unfathomable sulphur of Cocytus, together
with Mahomet, Pontius Pilate, the traitor Judas, and king Herod. The last
scene is closed with a view of hell, and a dance between the devil and
the necromancer. The dance ended, the devil trips up the necromancer’s
heels, and disappears in fire and smoke.” _Hist. of E.P._ ii. 360. ed.
4to.
[149] “My lamented friend Mr. William Collins, whose Odes will be
remembered while any taste for true poetry remains, shewed me this piece
at Chichester, not many months before his death: and he pointed it out as
a veryrare and valuable curiosity. He intended to write the HISTORY OF
THE RESTORATION OF LEARNING UNDER LEO THE TENTH, and with a view to that
design, had collected many scarce books. Some few of these fell into my
hands at his death. The rest, among which, I suppose, was this INTERLUDE,
were dispersed.”
* * * * *
In the _Garlande of Laurell_ (vol. i. 408, sqq.) Skelton enumerates many
of his compositions which are no longer extant.
PIECES ATTRIBUTED TO SKELTON.
_Verses presented to King Henry the Seventh at the feast of St. George
celebrated at Windsor in the third year of his reign_—first printed by
Ashmole (see vol. ii. 387 of the present work).
_The Epitaffe of the moste noble and valyaunt Jaspar late Duke of
Beddeforde_, printed by Pynson, 4to, n. d. (see vol. ii. 388.)
_Elegy on King Henry the Seventh_—an imperfect broadside (see vol. ii.
399).
_Merie Tales Newly Imprinted & made by Master Skelton Poet Laureat.
Imprinted at London in Fleetstreat beneath the Conduit at the signe of
S. John Euangelist, by Thomas Colwell_, 12mo, n. d. (see the preceding
Appendix.) Warton, _Hist. of E.P._ ii. 336 (note), gives the date 1575 to
these Tales,—on what authority I know not.
Other pieces might be mentioned.
MSS.
_Of the death of the noble prince, Kynge Edwarde the forth._ In a vol.
belonging to Miss Richardson Currer, which has furnished a stanza
hitherto unprinted (vol. i. 1).
_Vpon the doulourus dethe and muche lamentable chaunce of the most
honorable Erle of Northumberlande. MS. Reg. 18 D ii._ fol. 165 (vol. i.
6).
_Manerly Margery Mylk and Ale. Fairfax MS.,—Add. MSS._ (Brit. Mus.) 5465,
fol. 109 (vol. i. 28).
_Poems against Garnesche. MS. Harl._ 367, fol. 101. Now for the first
time printed (vol. i. 116).
“_Wofully araid_,” &c. _Fairfax MS.,—Add. MSS._ 5465, fol. 76 and fol.
86 (Brit. Mus.): and MS. copy in a very old hand on the fly-leaves of
_Boetius de Discip. Schol. cum notabili commento, Daventrie_, 1496, 4to
(in the collection of the late Mr. Heber), which has supplied several
stanzas hitherto unprinted (vol. i. 141).
“_I, liber, et propera, regem tu pronus adora_,” &c. _MS. C.C.C._—No.
ccccxxxii. of Nasmith’s _Catal._ p. 400 (vol. i. 147).
“_Salve plus decies quam sunt momenta dierum_,” &c. _Add. MSS._ (Brit.
Mus.) 4787, fol. 224 (vol. i. 177).
_Colyn Cloute. MS. Harl._ 2252, fol. 147 (vol. i. 311).—In _MS. Lansdown_
762, fol. 75, is a fragment of this poem, “The profecy of Skelton” (vol.
i. 329).
_Garlande of Laurell. MS. Cott. Vit. E X._ fol. 200; very imperfect (vol.
i. 361).
_Speke, Parrot. MS. Harl._ 2252, fol. 133, which has supplied much now
for the first time printed (vol. ii. 1).
_Diodorus Siculus translated into English [by Skelton poet-laureat]. MS.
C.C.C._—No. ccclvii. of Nasmith’s _Catal._ p. 362.
For the following account of this MS. I am indebted to Mr. Thomas Wright:—
“MS. Corp. Chr. Camb. No. 357.
At the head of the first folio—‘Interpretatio Skeltoni poetæ Laureati,’
written in a different hand from the MS. (by Nasmith said to be by Archb.
Parker himself) over something which has been erased, but which seems to
have been ‘Prohemye of Poggius.’
At the end of this preface is written in the same hand as MS. ‘Thus
endeth the prohemye of Poggius.’ fol. 2 verso.
At fol. 3 begins ‘The prohemy of Diodorus thauctour.’ This ends at fol. 7
thus,—
¶ ‘Now we wyll enforce to begynne our processe historyall. quod Skelton.
¶ Here endeth the prohemy of all the hole processe.’
The words ‘quod Skelton’ are written in rather a different hand, and with
different ink, but apparently contemporary. I think it not impossible
that they may have been added by the original hand at another time.
It is imperfect at the end: but on a leaf bound up with it is written in
a much later hand (perhaps by Parker), ‘Hec charta de industria vacua
relicta est, ut occasio daretur juveni in litteris exercitato aggrediendi
translationem historiæ que hic diminuta est, ut sic humeri sui vires
experiatur quid ferre valeant, quidve recusent, tum cognoscet quid hic
translator prestiterit, fortassis non ita facile in hoc genere a multis
superandus.’”
Tanner (_Biblioth._ p. 676. ed. 1748) mentions the following two pieces
as extant in his day among the MSS. of Lincoln Cathedral Library (see
_Memoir_, pp. xxi, xxiii.)—
_Methodos Skeltonidis laureati_, sc. _Præcepta quædam moralia Henrico
principi, postea Henr._ viii, _missa_, Dat. apud Eltham A.D. MDI.
Principium deest.
_Carmen ad principem, quando insignitus erat ducis Ebor. titulo._ Pr. “Si
quid habes, mea Musa.”
MSS. OF PIECES ATTRIBUTED TO SKELTON.
_Vox Populi, vox Dei. MS._ 2567 Cambridge Public Library. _MS. Harl._
367. fol. 130 (see vol. ii. 400).
_The Image of Ipocrysy. MS. Lansdown_ 794 (see vol. ii. 413).
Other pieces might be mentioned.
APPENDIX III.
EXTRACTS FROM PIECES WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN, OR WHICH CONTAIN EXAMPLES OF,
THE METRE CALLED SKELTONICAL.
EXAMPLES OF THE METRE CALLED SKELTONICAL.
_The Genealogye of Heresye. Compyled by Ponce Pantolabus.
Imprynted at London In Pater noster rowe. At the signe of our
ladye pytye_ [some copies, _our fadyr Pyte_] _By Johan Redman.
Ad imprimendum solum_, 1542: another edition was printed
by Robert Wyer: vide _Typograph. Antiq._ iii. 59, 182. ed.
Dibdin (the size of them not mentioned). The author was John
Huntingdon.
These editions I have not seen: the whole of the tract, however, seems
to be quoted in _A mysterye of inyquyte contayned within the heretycall
Genealogye of Ponce Pantolabus, is here both dysclosed & confuted By
Johan Bale An. M.D.XLII._ 12mo, Geneva, 1545, from which I subjoin the
following passages:
“Blynde obstynacye
Begate heresye,
By a myschaunce,
Of dame ignoraunce.
Heresye begate
Stryfe and debate.
Debate and ambycyon
Begate supersticyon.
Supersticion playne
Begate disdayne.
Dysdayne of trowthe
Begate slowthe.
Slowthe & sluggyshnesse
Begate wylfulnesse.
Wylfulnesse, verelye
Nygh cosyne to heresye,
Begate myschefe,
Father of Wyclefe,
Which ded bringe inne
His grandfather synne.
After this brother
Came forth an other;
His name to discusse,
Menne called him Husse;
He and his cumpanye
Began in Germanye.
And after that
Came in a gnat
Of the same kynde,
Whose sowle is blynde;
His name you shall here,
Menne call him Luthere.
He by his meane
Hath bannyshed cleane
Out of that coste
The Holye Ghoste,
And hath brought inne
Lyberte and synne.
Next after him,
Is his chefe lym
One Melanchtonus,
_Nequaquam bonus_.
Next after this whelpe
Came in to helpe
One Oecolampadius,
With his brother Zuinglius.
...
And for this tyme
Here endeth my ryme,
The Genealogye
Of stynkynge heresye:
Wherin I requyre
And humblye desyre
All menne ywys
That shall rede this,
Aboue all thinge
To praye for our kynge,
And the quene also
Where so euer she go,
And for the sauegarde
Of our prince Edwarde,
Whom I praye Jesu
Longe to contynewe!
Amen.”
* * * * *
From _A pore helpe_.
_The bukler and defence_
_Of mother holy kyrke,_
_And weapē to driue hence_
_Al that against her wircke._
12mo, without date or printer’s name.
“Wyll none in all this lande
Step forth, and take in hande
These felowes to withstande,
In nombre lyke the sande,
That with the Gospell melles,
And wyll do nothynge elles
But tratlynge tales telles
Agaynst our holy prelacie
And holy churches dygnitie,
Sayinge it is but papistrie,
Yea, fayned and hipocrisy,
Erronious and heresye,
And taketh theyr aucthoritie
Out of the holy Euangelie,
All customes ceremoniall
And rytes ecclesiasticall,
Not grounded on Scripture,
No longer to endure?
And thus, ye maye be sure,
The people they alure
And drawe them from your lore,
The whiche wyll greve you sore;
Take hede, I saye, therfore,
Your nede was neuer more.
But sens ye be so slacke,
It greueth me, alacke,
To heare behynde your backe
Howe they wyll carpe and cracke,
And none of you that dare
With[150] one of them compare.
Yet some there be that are
So bolde to shewe theyr ware,
And is no priest nor deacon,
And yet wyll fyre his becone
Agaynst suche fellowes frayle,
Make out with tothe and nayle,
And hoyste vp meyne sayle,
And manfully to fyght,
In holy prelates ryght,
With penne and ynke and paper,
And lyke no triflynge iaper
To touche these felowes indede
With all expedient spede,
And not before it nede:
And I indede am he
That wayteth for to se
Who dare so hardy be
To encounter here with me;
I stande here in defence
Of some that be far hence,
And can both blysse and sence,
And also vndertake
Ryght holy thynges to make,
Yea, God within a cake;
And who so that forsake
His breade shall be dowe bake;
I openly professe
The holy blyssed masse
Of strength to be no lesse
Then it was at the fyrst:
But I wolde se who durst
Set that amonge the worst,
For he shulde be accurst
With boke, bell, and candell,
And so I wolde hym handell
That he shulde ryght well knowe
Howe to escape, I trowe,
So hardy on his heade,
Depraue our holy breade,
Or els to prate or patter
Agaynst our holy watter.
This is a playne matter,
It nedeth not to flatter:
They be suche holy thynges
As hath ben vsed with kynges;
And yet these lewde loselles,
That bragge vpon theyr Gospelles,
At ceremonies swelles,
And at our christined belles,
And at our longe gownes,
And at your shauen crownes,
And at your typ[i]ttes fyne,
The iauelles wyll repyne.
They saye ye leade euyll lyues
With other mennes wyues,
And wyll none of your owne,
And so your sede is sowne
In other mennes grounde,
True wedlocke to confounde:
Thus do they rayle and raue,
Callynge euery priest knaue,
That loueth messe to saye,
And after ydle all daye:
They wolde not haue you playe
To dryue the tyme awaye,
But brabble on the Byble,
Whiche is but impossible
To be learned in all your lyfe;
Yet therin be they ryfe,
Whiche maketh all this stryfe,” &c.
* * * * *
From _The Vpcheringe of the Messe: Inprinted at Lōdon by John Daye and
Willyam Seres_, 12mo, n. d.
“Who hath not knowen or herd
How we were made afeard
That, magre of our beard,
Our messe shulde cleane awaye,
That we did dayly saye,
And vtterly decaye
For euer and for aye?
So were we brought in doubte
That all that are deuout
Were like to go withoute
The messe that hath no peere,
Which longe hath taried here,
Yea, many an hundreth yere,
And to be destitute
Of that whiche constitute
Was of the highe depute
Of Christe and his apostles;
Althoughe none of the Gospels
No mention maketh or tells,
We must beleue (what ells?)
Of things done by councells,
Wherein the high professours,
Apostlique successours,
Take holde to be possessours;
And some were made confessours;
Some of them were no startars,
But were made holi marters:
Yet plowmen, smythes, & cartars,
With such as be their hartars,
Will enterprise to taxe
Thes auncyent mens actes
And holy fathers factes.
Thoughe messe were made bi men,
As popes nyne or ten,
Or many more, what then?
Or not of Scripture grounded,
Is yt therfore confounded
To be a supersticion?
Nay, nay, they mysse the quission:
Make better inquyssicion;
Ye haue an euyll condicion
To make suche exposicion;
Ye thinke nothing but Scripture
Is only clene and pure;
Yes, yes, I you ensure,
The messe shalbe hir better,
As light as ye do set hir.
The Scripture hath nothing
Wherby profyte to bryng,
But a lytyll preaching,
With tattling and teaching;
And nothing can ye espie
Nor se with outwarde eye,
But must your ears applie
To learnyng inwardlye;
And who so it will folowe,
In goods though he may walow,
If Scripture once him swalowe,
She wyll vndo him holowe;
Wherfore no good mes singers
Will come within hir fyngers,
But are hir vnder styngers,
For she wolde fayne vndo
All such as lyueth so.
To the messe she is an enymye,
And wolde distroye hir vtterlye,
Wer not for sum that frendfully
In time of nede will stand hir by.
Yet is the messe and she as lyke
As a Christian to an heretike:
The messe hath holy vestures,
And many gay gestures,
And decked with clothe of golde,
And vessells many folde,
Right galaunt to beholde,
More then may well be tolde,
With basen, ewer, and towell,
And many a prety jwelle,
With goodly candellstyckes,
And many proper tryckys,
With cruetts gilt and chalys,
Wherat some men haue malice,
With sensers, and with pax,
And many other knackys,
With patent, and with corporas,
The fynest thing that euer was.
Alasse, is it not pitie
That men be no more wittye
But on the messe to iest,
Of all suche thinge the best?
For if she were supprest,
A pyn for all the rest.
...
A, good mestres Missa,
Shal ye go from vs thissa?
Wel, yet I muste ye kissa:
Alacke, for payne I pyssa,
To se the mone here issa,
Because ye muste departe!
It greueth many an herte
That ye should from them start:
But what then? tushe, a farte!
Sins other shifte is none,
But she must neades be gone,
Nowe let vs synge eche one,
Boeth Jak and Gyll and Jone,
_Requiem eternam_,
Lest _penam sempiternam_
For _vitam supernam_,
And _vmbram infernam_
For _veram lucernam_,
She chaunce to enherite,
According to hir merite.
_Pro cuius memoria_
Ye maye wel be soria;
Full smale maye be your _gloria_,
When ye shal heare thys storia;
Then wil ye crie and roria,
We shal se[151] hir no moria:
_Et dicam vobis quare_
She may no longer _stare_,
Nor here with you _regnare_,
But trudge _ad vltra mare_,
And after _habitare_
_In regno Plutonico_
_Et euo acronyco,_
_Cum cetu Babilonico_
_Et cantu diabolico_,
With pollers and piller[s],
And al hir well willers,
And ther to dwel euer:
And thus wil I leaue hir.”
* * * * *
From _Phylogamus_, 12mo, without date or printer’s name—of which the
title-page and five leaves are preserved in a volume of Ballads and
Fragments in the British Museum. The late Mr. Douce has written below the
title-page “Probably by Skelton;” but it is certainly not his.