Chronicle, to have been written in the 15th of Edw. IV. A^{o} 1475, if
it were not, that though the date of Lydgate's death has never been
precisely ascertained, yet it is scarcely possible he could have lived
to that year.

"This yere this mayer [Robert Bassett] dyd sharpe correccion upon
bakers, for makynge of lyght brede; in so moche thatt he sett dyverse
upon the pillory," &c.

A similar circumstance might however have occurred some years before,
notwithstanding that it is not noticed by the writers of the period.

A BALADE MADE BY LYDEGATE, SENT BY A POURSYANT TO THE SHIRREVES OF
LONDON, ACOMPANYED WITH THEIRE BRETHERNE UPON MAYES DAYE, AT BUSSHOPES
WOD, AT AN HONURABLE DYNER, ECHE OF THEM BRINGGINGE HIS DYSSHE.

[_Ashmole's MSS. No._ 6943. _Vol._ 59. 2.]

Mighty Flourra, goddes of freshe floures,
Whiche clothed hast the soyle in lousty grene;
Made buddes springe with his swete showres,
By influence of the sonnes so sheene,
To do plesaunce of entent ful clene,
Unto the states whiche that now sitte here;
Hath veere doune sent hir owen doughter dere,
Making the vertue that dured in the roote,
Called of clerkes, the vertue vegytable,
For to trascend moste holsome and moste sweete,
Into the crope this saysoun so greable.
The bawmy lykour is so comendable,
That it rejoythe with the fresshe moysture,
Man, beeste, and foole, and every creature,
Whiche hathe repressed, swaged, and bore doune,
The grevous constreinte of the frostes heere;
And caused foolis for joye of this saysonne,
To cheese their mates, thane by natures loore,
With al gladnesse theire courage to restore,
Sitting on bowes fresshly nowe to synge,
Veere for to save at his home comynge;
Ful pleinly meninge in theire ermonye,
Wynter is goone, whiche did hem gret peyne;
And with theire sweete sugre melodye,
Thanking Nature theire goddesse sovereyne,
That they nowe have no mater to compleyne,
Hem for to proygne every morowneynge,
With lousty gladnesse at Phebus uprysinge;
And to declare ye hys magnifysence,
Howe vere inbringethe al felicytee,
After wynter's mighty prevolence
Avoydinge stormys of al adversytee.
For shee hathe brought al prosperitee
To alle the states of this regyoun,
At his comynge to fore youre hye renoun,
To the mighty prynces, the palme of theire victorie;
And til knighthode nowe, she dothe presente
Noblesse in armes, laude, honnour, and glorie;
Pees to the people, in al hir best entente,
With grace and mercy fully to con