a collar of gold about his neck. Under
his feet the likeness of three books which he compiled; the first
named Speculum Meditantis, written in French; the second Vox
Clamantis, in latin; the third Confessio Amantis, in English; this
last piece was printed by one Thomas Berthalette, and by him dedicated
to King Henry VIII. His Vox clamantis, with his Chronica Tripartita,
and other works, both in Latin and French, Stow says he had in his
possession, but his Speculum Meditantis he never saw. Besides on the
wall where he lies, there were painted three virgins crowned, one of
which was named Charity, holding this device,

En toy quies fitz de Dieu le pere,
Sauve soit, qui gist fours cest pierre.

The second writing MERCY, with this device;

O bene Jesu fait ta mercy,
A'lame, dont la corps gisticy.

The third writing PITY, with this decree;

Pour ta pitie Jesu regarde,
Et met cest a me, en sauve garde.

His arms were in a Field Argent, on a Chevron Azure, three Leopards
heads or, their tongues Gules, two Angels supporters, and the crest a
Talbot.

His EPITAPH.

Armigeri soltum nihil a modo fert sibi tutum,
Reddidit immolutum morti generale tributum,
Spiritus exutum se gaudeat esse solutum
Est ubi virtutum regnum sine labe est statum.

I shall take a quotation from a small piece of his called the Envious
Man and the Miser; by which it will appear, that he was not, as
Winstanley says, a refiner of our language, but on the other hand,
that poetry owes him few or no obligations.

Of the Envious MAN and the MISER.

Of Jupiter thus I find ywrite,
How, whilom, that he woulde wite,
Upon the plaintes, which he herde
Among the men, how that it farde,
As of her wronge condition
To do justificacion.
And, for that cause, downe he sent
An angel, which aboute went,
That he the sooth knowe maie.

Besides the works already mentioned our poet wrote the following:

De Compunctione Cordi, in one book.

Chronicon Ricardi secundi.

Ad Henricum Quartum, in one book.

Ad eundem de Laude Pacis, in one book.

De Rege Henrico, quarto, in one book.

De Peste Vitiorum, in one book.

Scrutinium Lucis, in one book.

De Regimine Principum.

De Conjugii Dignitate.

De Amoris Varietate.

* * * * *

JOHN LYDGATE,

Commonly called the monk of Bury, because a native of that place. He
was another disciple and admirer of Chaucer, and it must be owned fa