tune to
be chosen Poet Laureat, as he stiles himself in his Works, _The Kings
Orator, and Poet Laureat_.
His chief Works, as many as can be collected, and that out of an old
Printed Book, are these; _Philip Sparrow_, _Speak Parrot_, _The Death
of King_ Edward _the Fourth_, _A Treatise of the_ Scots, _Ware the
Hawk_, _The Tunning of_ Elianer Rumpkin: In many of which, following
the humor of the ancientest of our Modern Poets, he takes a Poetical
Liberty of being Satyrical upon the Clergy, as brought him under the
Lash of Cardinal _Woolsey_, who so persecuted him, that he was forced
to take Sanctuary at _Westminster_, where Abbot _Islip_ used him with
much respect. In this Restraint he died, _June_ 21, 1529. and was
buried in St. _Margaret's_ Chappel, with this Epitaph;
_J. Sceltanus Vates Pierius hic situs est_.
We must not forget, how being charg'd by some on his Death-bed for
begetting many Children on a Concubine which he kept, he protested,
that in his Conscience he kept her in the notion of a Wife, though such
his cowardliness, that he would rather confess Adultery, than own
Marriage, the most punishable at that time.
* * * * *
_WILLIAM LILLIE_.
To this _John Scelton_, we shall next present you with the Life of his
Contemporary and great Antagonist _William Lillie_, born at _Odiham_, a
great Market-Town in _Hantshire_; who to better his knowledge, in his
youth travelled to the City of _Jerusalem_, where having satisfied his
curiosity in beholding those sacred places where on our Saviour trode
when he was upon the Earth; he returned homewards, making some stay at
_Rhodes_, to study _Greek_. Hence he went to _Rome_, where he heard
_John Sulpitius_ and _Pomponius Sabinus_, great Masters of _Latine_ in
those days. At his return home, Doctor _John Collet_ had new builded a
fair School at the East-end of St. _Paul_'s, for 153 poor mens
Children, to be taught free in the same School; for which he appointed
a Master, an Usher, and a Chaplain, with large Stipends for ever;
committing the oversight thereof to the Masters, Wardens and Assistants
of the _Mercers_ in _London_, because he was Son to _Henry Collet_
Mercer, sometime Major; leaving for the Maintenance thereof, Lands to
the yearly value of 120_l_. or better; making this _William Lilly_
first Master thereof; which Place he commendably discharg'd for 15
years. During which time he made his _Latine_ Grammar, the Orac
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