The Multitude was so Moche, it Mighte not be nombred. With that a Clerk Kneled adowne and Carped these wordes, Liege Lord, yif it you Like to Listen a while, The writer then gives a solemn lecture to kings on the art of governing. From the demand of subsidies "to susteyne his werres," I am inclined to believe this poem was composed in the reign of King Henry V., as the MS. appears from a subsequent entry to have been written before the 9th of Henry VI. The whole poem contains but 146 lines. The Alliterative Metre was no less popular among the old Scottish poets, than with their brethren on this side the Tweed. In Maitland's Collection of ancient Scottish Poems, MS. in the Pepysian Library, is a very long poem in this species of versification, thus inscribed: “HEIR begins the Tretis of the Twa Marriit Wemen and the Wedo, compylit be Maister William Dunbar.3 "Upon the Midsummer evven Mirriest of nichtis 5 4 Quairon ane Bird on ane Bransche so Birst out hir notis 6 That nevir ane Blythfuller Bird was on the Beuche hard," &c. The author pretends to overhear three gossips sitting in an arbour, and revealing all their secret methods of alluring and governing the other sex: it is a severe and humorous satire on bad women, and nothing inferior to Chaucer's Prologue to his Wife of Bath's Tale. As Dunbar lived till about the middle of the sixteenth century, this poem was probably composed after Scottish Field (described above in p. 6), which is the latest specimen I have met with written in England. This poem contains about 500 lines. But the current use of the Alliterative Metre in Scotland appears more particularly from those popular vulgar prophecies which are still printed for the use of the lower people in Scotland, under the names of Thomas the Rymer, Marvellous Merling, &c. This collection 2 Solemn. 3 Since the above was written, this poem hath been printed in " Ancient Scottish Poems, &c., from the MS. Collection of Sir R. Maitland, of Lethington, knight, of London, 1786," 2 vols. 12mo. The two first lines are here corrected by that edition. 6 Bough. seems to have been put together after the accession of James I. to the crown of England, and most of the pieces in it are in the metre of Pierce Plowman's Visions. The first of them begins thus: 66 Merling sayes in his book, who will Read Right, Although his Sayings be uncouth, they Shall be true found. One thousand and more after Christ's birth," &c. And the Prophesie of Beid: "Betwixt the chief of Summer and the Sad winter; So again the Prophesie of Berlington: "When the Ruby is Raised, Rest is there none, In like metre is the Prophesie of Waldhave: "Upon Lowdon Law alone as I Lay, Looking to the Lennox, as ine Lief thought, For Malice and Melody that Moved me sore," &c. And lastly, that entitled the Prophesie of Gildas: "When holy kirk is Wracked, and Will has no Wit, And spiritual pastours are vexed away," &c. It will be observed in the foregoing specimens that the alliteration is extremely neglected, except in the third and fourth instances, although all the rest are written in imitation of the cadence used in this kind of metre. It may perhaps appear from an attentive perusal, that the poems ascribed to Berlington and Waldhave are more ancient than the others: indeed, the first and fifth appear evidently to have been new modelled, if not entirely composed, about the beginning of the last century, and are probably the latest attempts ever made in this species of verse. In this and the foregoing Essay are mentioned all the specimens I have met with of the Alliterative Metre without rhyme; but instances occur sometimes in old manuscripts of poems written both with final rhymes and the internal cadence and alliterations of the metre of Pierce Plowman. END OF THE ESSAY. The following Song, entitled The Complaint of Conscience, is printed from the Editor's folio manuscript. Some corruptions in the old copy are here corrected; but with notice to the reader wherever it was judged necessary by inclosing the corrections between inverted 'commas.' As I walked of late by an' wood side, And his garments they were all mire, mucke, and clay. This made me muse and much 'to' desire To know what kind of man hee shold bee; 66 My name," quoth he, " is the cause of my care, 5 10 16 Then straightway he turnd him and prayd 'me' sit downe, "And I will," saithe he," declare my whole greefe. My name is called CONSCIENCE:"-wheratt he did frowne, He pined to repeate it and grinded his teethe. "Thoughe now, silly wretche, I'm denyed all releef,' 'Yet' while I was young and tender of yeeres, I was entertained with kinges and with peeres. I was ever holden in honest condition, 20 25 For howsoever the lawes went in Westminster-hall, "No incomes at all the landlords wold take, But one pore peny that was their fine, And that they acknowledged to be for my sake. 30 Ver. 1, one. MS. V. 15, him. MS. V. 19, not in MS. The poore wold doe nothing without councell mine; For nothing was passed betweene foe and friend, "Noe bargaines nor merchandize merchants wold make, But I was called a wittenesse therto; Noe use for noe money, nor forfett wold take, But I wold controule them if that they did soe; That is now entertained with all kind of people; "He brought with him three, whose names, 'thus they call,' That is Covetousnes, Lecherye, Usury, beside; 35 40 They never prevail'd till they had wrought my downe-fall. 46 To have had entertainment with some one or other, "Then went I to the Court, the gallants to winn, But the porter kept me out of the gate. 50 To Bartlemew Spittle, to pray for my sinne, They bade me goe packe; it was fitt for my state; 'Goe, goe, threed-bare Conscience, and seeke thee a mate!' Good Lord, long preserve my king, prince, and queene, With whom evermore I esteemed have been ! "Then went I to London, where once I did' dwell,' But they bade away with me when they knew my name; 'For he will undoe us to bye and to sell!' 56 60 They bade me goe pack me, and hye me for shame, But they wold not admitt me to be a chimney-sweeper. V. 35, an end. MS derided. MS. V. 43, they be these. MS. V. 46, was V. 57, wonne. MS. “Not one wold receive me, the Lord 'he' doth know. 65 And by statute wold prove me a rogue and forlorne, 71 “Then did I remember and call to my minde, 75 For thoughe' the judge us'd my name in everye ' commission,' The lawyers with their quillets wold get 'my' dis- "Then Westminster-hall was noe place for me; Soe they gave me some money my charges to beare, 80 "Next the Merchants said, 'Counterfeite, get thee away, 86 And there thou and wee most friendly shook hand; 90 us.' 'Then had I noe way but for to goe on 95 V. 77, get a. MS. |