In the writing this Doctors Life, we shall principally make use for Directions of Mr. Fuller, in his England’s Worthies, fol. 244.  He flourished (saith he) in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, and King Edward the Sixth, to whom he was one of the Gentlemen of their Chappel, and probably the Organist.  Musick, which received a grievous wound in England at the dissolution of Abbeys, was much beholding to him for her recovery; such was his excellent Skill and Piety, that he kept it up in Credit at Court, and in all Cathedrals during his life:  He translated the Acts of the Apostles into Verse, and let us take a tast his Poetry.

  In the former Treatise to thee,
     dear friend Theophilus,
  I have written the veritie
     of the Lord Christ Jesus,

  Which he to do and eke to teach,
    began until the day;
  In which the Spirit up did him fetch
    to dwell above for aye.

  After that he had power to do
    even by the Holy Ghost: 
  Commandements then he gave unto
    his chosen least and most.

  To whom also himself did shew
    from death thus to revive;
  By tokens plain unto his few
    even forty days alive.

  Speaking of God’s kingdom with heart
    chusing together them,
  Commanding them not to depart
    from that Jerusalem.

  But still to wait on the promise
    of his Father the Lord,
  Of which you have heard me e’re this
    unto you make record.

Pass we now (saith he) from his Poetry, (being Musick in words) to his Musick, (being Poetry in sounds) who set an excellent Composition of Musick in four parts, to the several Chapters of his aforenamed Poetry, dedicating the same to King Edward the Sixth, a little before his death, and Printed it Anno Dom. 1353.  He also did Compose many excellent Services and Anthems of four and five parts, which were used in Cathedrals many years after his death, the certain date whereof we cannot attain to.

* * * * *

JOHN LELAND.

This famous Antiquary, Mr. John Leland, flourish’d in the year 1546. about the beginning of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth, and was born by most probable conjecture at London.  He wrote, among many other Volumes, several Books of Epigrams, his Cigneo Cantio, a Genethliac of Prince Edward, Naniae upon the death of Sir Thomas Wiat, out of which we shall present you with these Verses: 

  Transtulit in nostram Davidis carmina linguam,
    Et numeros magna reddidit arte pares. 
  Non morietur opus tersum, spectabile sacrum,
    Clarior hac fama parte Viattus erit. 
  Una dies geminos Phoenices non dedit orbi,
    Mors erit unius, vita sed alterius. 
  Rara avis in terris confectus morte Viattus,
    Houerdum haeredem scripserat ante suum. 
  Dicere nemo potest recte periisse Viattum,
    Ingenii cujus tot monimenta vigent.