Vevyan, a moncke, a good requiem[18] synges;
    Can preache so wele, eche hynde[19] hys meneynge knowes 20
    Albeytte these gode guyfts awaie he flynges,
    Beeynge as badde yn vearse as goode yn prose. 
    Hee synges of seynctes who dyed for yer Godde,
  Everych wynter nyghte afresche he sheddes theyr blodde.

    To maydens, huswyfes, and unlored[20] dames, 25
    Hee redes hys tales of merryment & woe. 
    Loughe[21] loudlie dynneth[22] from the dolte[23] adrames[24];
    He swelles on laudes of fooles, tho’ kennes[25] hem soe. 
    Sommetyme at tragedie theie laughe and synge,
  At merrie yaped[26] fage[27] somme hard-drayned water brynge. 30

    Yette Vevyan ys ne foole, beyinde[28] hys lynes. 
    Geofroie makes vearse, as handycraftes theyr ware;
    Wordes wythoute sense fulle grossyngelye[29] he twynes,
    Cotteynge hys storie off as wythe a sheere;
    Waytes monthes on nothynge, & hys storie donne, 35
  Ne moe you from ytte kenn, than gyf[30] you neere begonne.

    Enowe of odhers; of mieselfe to write,
    Requyrynge whatt I doe notte nowe possess,
    To you I leave the taske; I kenne your myghte
    Wyll make mie faultes, mie meynte[31] of faultes, be less. 40
    AELLA wythe thys I sende, and hope that you
  Wylle from ytte caste awaie, whatte lynes maie be untrue.

    Playes made from hallie[32] tales I holde unmeete;
    Lette somme greate storie of a manne be songe;
    Whanne, as a manne, we Godde and Jesus treate, 45
    In mie pore mynde, we doe the Godhedde wronge. 
    Botte lette ne wordes, whyche droorie[33] mote ne heare,
  Bee placed yn the same.  Adieu untylle anere[34].

THOMAS ROWLEIE.

[Footnote 1:  hid, concealed.]

[Footnote 2:  law.]

[Footnote 3:  painted.]

[Footnote 4:  much.]

[Footnote 5:  hurt, damage.]

[Footnote 6:  sweetly.]

[Footnote 7:  cause.]

[Footnote 8:  oft.]

[Footnote 9:  holy.]

[Footnote 10:  rake, lewd person.]

[Footnote 11:  humble.]

[Footnote 12:  adder.]

[Footnote 13:  hurt, damage.]

[Footnote 14:  learning.]

[Footnote 15:  knows.]

[Footnote 16:  plucks or tortures.]

[Footnote 17:  knowledge.]

[Footnote 18:  a service used over the dead.]

[Footnote 19:  peasant.]

[Footnote 20:  unlearned.]

[Footnote 21:  laugh.]

[Footnote 22:  sounds.]

[Footnote 23:  foolish.]

[Footnote 24:  churls.]

[Footnote 25:  knows.]

[Footnote 26:  laughable.]

[Footnote 27:  tale, jest.]

[Footnote 28:  beyond.]