seniority. To the poetical testimonies of Skelton and Hawes, cited in the title-page of this volume, might be added verses of an anonymous writer given by Speght in his edition of Chaucer on the authority of Stow, and from Speght adopted by Urry. Historical evidence presents itself in the observation of John Fox: “* As touching the tyme of Chaucer, by his owne words in the end of his first booke of Troylus and Creseide it is manifest, that he and Gower were both of one time; although it semeth that Gower was a great deale his ancient; both notably learned, as the barbarous rudenes of that tyme did geve; both great friends together; *Book of Martyrs, edit. 1583. vol. ii. p. 839. + These words are almost the same as those in Berthelet's Preface to Gower's Confessio Amantis. See p. 142. The friendship of Gower and Chaucer, which has been supposed to have commenced in their academical days, and is known to have continued undiminished for more than forty years, was dissolved before their death. The indirect sarcasm levelled by Chaucer against Gower, in the Prologue to his Man of Lawes Tale; and the suppression, in some Manuscripts, of the compliment paid by Gower to Chaucer, in the Epilogue to his Confessio Amantis; are considered as decisive proofs of broken amity. See Tyrwhitt's Introduct. Disc. Canterb. Tales, §. xiv. Whatever was the cause of this disunion, it cannot but be deeply lamented, that two such men, "with so many points of sympathy," as Mr. Godwin well observes," both in like kinde of study together occupyed; so endevoring themselves, and employing their tyme, that they, excelling many other in study and exercise of good letters, did passe forth their lives here right worshipfully, and godly, to the worthye fame and commendation of their name." Fox, I should observe, is led to this eulogium, on account of the distinguished learning of Gower and Chaucer, and of the consequent service which their talents contributed towards the Reformation. "This I mervaile," says the historian, "to see the idle lyfe of the priestes and clergyemen of that tyme, seeing these lay persons shewed themselves in these kinds of liberall studyes so industrious and fruitfully occupyed." I shall have occasion again to cite the remarks of Fox, in respect to what I shall presently and distinctly say of Chaucer. In the mean time, I will give another proof, from a very "and with so great a similarity of pursuits; both lovers of learning; both inspired, with taste; both cultivators and refiners of their native tongue, at a time when so few minds existed congenial with their own ;--that two such men, after having known each other so intimately, and mutually looked to each other for fellowship in amusement and relief in adversity duging so long a period, should come to view each other with eyes of estrangement, indifference, and disgust," Life of Chaucer, ch. xvii. curious work, of the chronological precedence shewn to Gower. It occurs in a *Dialogue, of the sixteenth century, between Medicus and Crispine; in which a Vision of the Poets "I did beholde is ingeniously described. on the other side the nine Muses, with strange instrumentes of Musicke, sittyng vnder the hille Parnasus, and Poetes sittyng vnder the grene trees, with laurell garlandes, besette with roses aboute their heads, hauyng golden pennes in their handes, as Homer, Hesiodus, Ennius, &c. writyng verses of sondrie kindes. And Lucanus sat there very high, nere vnto the cloudes, apparelled in purple, &c. "And nere them satte old Morall Goore, with pleasaunte penne in hande, commendyng honeste loue without luste, and pleasure without pride, holinesse in the Cleargie without hypocrisie, no tyrannie in Rulers, no falshode in Lawiers, no usurie in Marchauntes, no rebellion in the Commons, and vnitie emong kyngdoms." Afterwards, the character of Chaucer is thus quaintly exhibited: "Wittie Chaucer * A Dialogue both pleasaunt and pietifull, wherein is a godlie regiment against the Fever Pestilence, &c. Impr. at London, 12mo. 1573. bl. 1. To the Reader, signed W. Bullein. [Brit. Mus. 7. B. a.] pagg. 17, 18, 19, 20. satte in a chaire of gold covered with roses, writyng prose and rime, accompanied with the Spirites of many kynges, knightes, and faire ladies; whom he pleasauntly besprinkeled with the sweete water of the welle, consecrated vnto the Muses, ecleped Aganippe. And as the heauenly Spirite commended his deare * Brigham for the worthie entombyng of his bones, worthie of memorie, in the long slepyng chamber of moste famous kinges; even so in tragedie he bewailed the sodaine resurrection of many a noble man before their time in spoilyng of Epitaphes, wherby many haue loste their inheritaunce, &c. And further thus he saied, lamentyng: Courteous men do catche all that thei maie haue, euery one. Yet no buriall hurteth holie men, though beastes them de Nor riche graue preuaileth the wicked, for all yearthly power." *Nicholas Brigham, who, in 1556, erected a new and sumptuous monument in Westminster Abbey to the memory of Chaucer. See Gough's Sepulchral Monuments. Brigham was a man of learning, and a poet. See Wood's Ath. Ox. and Lambeth MSS. No. 1106. Having given these proofs of the priority usually observed, where the names of Gower and Chaucer are cited; I will not withhold an example, in which the precedence is given to Chaucer; especially as it occurs in a manuscript poem, the author of which has been inaccurately described by Casley, whom Ritson pretends to correct; and also by +Ritson himself. The Manuscript is now in the possession of Mr. G. Nicol, his Majesty's bookseller. It contains, first, the poem of Hoccleve De Regimine Principis, with an indifferent marginal portrait of Chaucer; and, then, the metrical translation of Boetius; + * Catalogue of MSS. of the Royal Library, 1734. 18. A. XIII. "A. M. T. Sev. Boetius, his 5 Books of the Comfort of Philosophy: translated into English verse by John Lydgate, A. D. 1410." + "Walton, or Waltwnem, John, canon of Oseney, translated into English verse The boke of comfort called in Latyn Boecius de consolatione philosophie, &c. The translation appears, from a manuscript copy quoted by Hearne, Præf. in Camdeni Annales, p. cxxxiii. to have been finished in 1410; conformably to another among the king's MSS. in which the work is said to be translated per capellanum Johannem, whom Casley mistook for Lydgate." Bibl. Poet. p. 39. But see the next note. " At the end of the translation is the following avowal: Explicit liber Boecii de consolacione philosophie de latino in Anglicum translatus anno dni millesimo ccccx. per Capellanum Johannem Tebaud alias Watyrbeche." |