Thenne, kneelynge downe, hee layd hys hedde
    Most seemlie onne the blocke; 370
  Whyche fromme hys bodie fayre at once
    The able heddes-manne stroke: 

  And oute the bloude beganne to flowe,
    And rounde the scaffolde twyne;
  And teares, enow to washe’t awaie, 375
    Dydd flowe fromme each mann’s eyne.

  The bloudie axe hys bodie fayre
    Ynnto foure parties cutte;
  And ev’rye parte, and eke hys hedde,
    Uponne a pole was putte. 380

  One parte dydd rotte onne Kynwulph-hylle,
    One onne the mynster-tower,
  And one from off the castle-gate
    The crowen dydd devoure: 

  The other onne Seyncte Powle’s goode gate, 385
    A dreery spectacle;
  Hys hedde was plac’d onne the hyghe crosse,
    Ynne hyghe-streete most nobile.

  Thus was the ende of BAWDIN’S fate: 
    Godde prosper longe oure kynge, 390
  And grante hee maye, wyth BAWDIN’S soule,
    Ynne heav’n Godd’s mercie synge!

  AELLA: 

  A

  TRAGYCAL ENTERLUDE,

  OR

  DISCOORSEYNGE TRAGEDIE,

  WROTENN BIE

  THOMAS ROWLEIE;

  PLAIEDD BEFORE

  MASTRE CANYNGE, ATTE HYS HOWSE NEMPTE THE RODDE LODGE;

  [ALSOE BEFORE THE DUKE OF NORFOLCK, JOHAN HOWARD.]

PERSONNES REPRESENTEDD.

  AELLA, bie Thomas Rowleie, Preeste, the Aucthoure.

  CELMONDE, Johan Iscamm, Preeste.

  HURRA, Syrr Thybbotte Gorges, Knyghte.

  BIRTHA, Mastre Edwarde Canynge.

      Odherr Partes bie Knyghtes Mynstrelles.

EPISTLE TO MASTRE CANYNGE ON AELLA.

  ’Tys songe bie mynstrelles, thatte yn auntyent tym,
  Whan Reasonn hylt[1] herselfe in cloudes of nyghte,
    The preeste delyvered alle the lege[2] yn rhym;
    Lyche peyncted[3] tyltynge speares to please the syghte,
    The whyche yn yttes felle use doe make moke[4] dere[5], 5
  Syke dyd theire auncyante lee deftlie[6] delyghte the eare.

    Perchaunce yn Vyrtues gare[7] rhym mote bee thenne,
    Butt eefte[8] nowe flyeth to the odher syde;
    In hallie[9] preeste apperes the ribaudes[10] penne,
    Inne lithie[11] moncke apperes the barronnes pryde:  10
    But rhym wythe somme, as nedere[12] widhout teethe,
  Make pleasaunce to the sense, botte maie do lyttel scathe[13].

    Syr Johne, a knyghte, who hath a barne of lore[14],
    Kenns[15] Latyn att fyrst syghte from Frenche or Greke,
    Pyghtethe[16] hys knowlachynge[17] ten yeres or more, 15
    To rynge upon the Latynne worde to speke. 
    Whoever spekethe Englysch ys despysed,
  The Englysch hym to please moste fyrste be latynized.