As onn a hylle one eve sittynge,
At oure Ladie’s Chyrche mouche wonderynge,
The counynge handieworke so fyne,
Han well nighe dazeled mine eyne;
Quod I; some counynge fairie hande
5
Yreer’d this chapelle in this lande;
Full well I wote so fine a syghte
Was ne yreer’d of mortall wighte.
Quod Trouthe; thou lackest knowlachynge;
Thou forsoth ne wotteth of the thynge.
10
A Rev’rend Fadre, William Canynge
hight,
Yreered uppe this chapelle brighte;
And eke another in the Towne,
Where glassie bubblynge Trymme doth roun.
Quod I; ne doubte for all he’s given
15
His sowle will certes goe to heaven.
Yea, quod Trouthe; than goe thou home,
And see thou doe as hee hath donne.
Quod I; I doubte, that can ne bee;
I have ne gotten markes three.
20
Quod Trouthe; as thou hast got, give almes-dedes
soe;
Canynges and Gaunts culde doe ne moe.
T.R.
ON THE SAME.
Stay, curyous traveller, and
pass not bye,
Until this fetive pile astounde
thine eye.
Whole rocks on rocks with
yron joynd surveie,
And okes with okes entremed
disponed lie.
This mightie pile, that keeps
the wyndes at baie, 5
Fyre-levyn and the mokie storme
defie,
That shootes aloofe into the
reaulmes of daie,
Shall be the record of the Buylders fame
for aie.
Thou seest this maystrie of
a human hand,
The pride of Brystowe and
the Westerne lande, 10
Yet is the Buylders vertues
much moe greete,
Greeter than can bie Rowlies
pen be scande.
Thou seest the saynctes and
kynges in stonen state,
That seemd with breath and
human soule dispande,
As payrde to us enseem these
men of slate, 15
Such is greete Canynge’s mynde when
payrd to God elate.
Well maiest thou be astound,
but view it well;
Go not from hence before thou
see thy fill,
And learn the Builder’s
vertues and his name;
Of this tall spyre in every
countye telle, 20
And with thy tale the lazing
rych men shame;
Showe howe the glorious Canynge
did excelle;
How hee good man a friend
for kynges became,
And gloryous paved at once the way to
heaven and fame.
EPITAPH ON ROBERT CANYNGE.
Thys mornynge starre of Radcleves
rysynge raie,
A true manne good of mynde
and Canynge hyghte,
Benethe thys stone lies moltrynge
ynto claie,
Untylle the darke tombe sheene
an eterne lyghte.
Thyrde fromme hys loynes the
present Canynge came;
Houton are wordes for to telle