perfect, 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_.