Saie, Canynge, whatt was vearse yn daies of yore? 
    Fyne thoughtes, and couplettes fetyvelie[54] bewryen[55],
    Notte syke as doe annoie thys age so sore,
    A keppened poyntelle[56] restynge at eche lyne. 
    Vearse maie be goode, botte poesie wantes more, 45
    An onlist[57] lecturn[58], and a songe adygne[59];
    Accordynge to the rule I have thys wroughte,
    Gyff ytt please Canynge, I care notte a groate.

    The thynge yttself moste bee ytts owne defense;
    Som metre maie notte please a womannes ear. 50
    Canynge lookes notte for poesie, botte sense;
    And dygne, & wordie thoughtes, ys all hys care. 
    Canynge, adieu!  I do you greete from hence;
    Full soone I hope to taste of your good cheere;
    Goode Byshoppe Carpynter dyd byd mee saie, 55
    Hee wysche you healthe & selinesse for aie.

T. ROWLEIE.

[Footnote 35:  nought.]

[Footnote 36:  they.]

[Footnote 37:  esteem.]

[Footnote 38:  heraldry.]

[Footnote 39:  such.]

[Footnote 40:  unwilling.]

[Footnote 41:  much.]

[Footnote 42:  wisdom, council.]

[Footnote 43:  if.]

[Footnote 44:  perchance.]

[Footnote 45:  them.]

[Footnote 46:  Greybeards.]

[Footnote 47:  curiously.]

[Footnote 48:  lessened.]

[Footnote 49:  small.]

[Footnote 50:  that.]

[Footnote 51:  allow.]

[Footnote 52:  cart-horse.]

[Editor’s note:  ll. 15-16 See Introduction p. xli]

[Footnote 53:  broken.]

[Footnote 54:  elegantly.]

[Footnote 55:  declared, expressed.]

[Footnote 56:  a pen, used metaphorically, as a muse or genius.]

[Footnote 57:  boundless.]

[Footnote 58:  subject.]

[Footnote 59:  nervous, worthy of praise.]

ENTRODUCTIONNE.

    Somme cherisounce[60] it ys to gentle mynde,
    Whan heie have chevyced[61] theyre londe from bayne[62],
    Whan theie ar dedd, theie leave yer name behynde,
    And theyre goode deedes doe on the earthe remayne;
    Downe yn the grave wee ynhyme[63] everych steyne, 5
    Whylest al her gentlenesse ys made to sheene,
    Lyche fetyve baubels[64] geasonne[65] to be seene.

    AELLA, the wardenne of thys[66] castell[67] stede,
    Whylest Saxons dyd the Englysche sceptre swaie,
    Who made whole troopes of Dacyan men to blede, 10
    Then seel’d[68] hys eyne, and seeled hys eyne for aie,
    Wee rowze hym uppe before the judgment daie,
    To saie what he, as clergyond[69], can kenne,
    And howe hee sojourned in the vale of men.