near St. Albans, on the 15th of September, 1712. in the 68th Year of his Age; and was Interred on the 8th of October in Westminster Abbey. (96) (96) (16) (96) (96) (96) (96) (96) (96) (96) (96) (96) (96) (96)4 T Mr. ROBERT GOULD. HE Poetical Works of this Author were Published about a Year after his Death, Anno 1709. In two Volumes 8vo, and Dedicated by his Widow to the Earl of Abingdon. Confifting of Songs, Love Verfes, Epiftles of Friendship, Mifcellanies, Hymeneals, Lucinals, Funeral Elegies, and Eclogues, Divine Poems, Satires and Pindarick Odes. "His Writings tho' of several kinds, the Editor " observes,are alike fitted to the Subject he treats of, "and the way he chufes to handle it in, but efpeci"cially his Satires, in which his main Talent lay, are every where fharp and poignant, which is "the more to be admired, as proceeding from fo "fmooth, fo fweet, and fo every way agreeable "a Temper. He feems to have writ with the Soli"dity of Virgil, the Sprightlinefs of Horace,and the "Tartnefs of Juvenal; tho' he knew no more of "those happy Originals than what he met with in "their feveral Tranflations. The first Poem Mr Gould Published, and which made him known by its Popularity; was that Intitled, Lo v E given over: Or, A Satire against W oMAN. This Piece met with many Antagonists, but Sold many Impreffions: tho' for a Specimen of his Vein of Satire, I think the following Lines are fome of the juftest and best he ever writ, The Strumpet, who by Proftitution Lives, T Sir JOHN GOWER. HIS Gentleman was born at Stitenham in Yorkshire, and Defcended of an honourable Family. He was bred to the Law, but having a plentiful Eftate, and prizing his Pleasure above his Profit, he quitted Pleading to follow Poetry, being the firft Refiner of the English Tongue. He was a Man of Univerfal Learning, and not only Contemporary with, but an intimate Friend of the Famous CHAUCER and likewife held in great Efteem both by King Henry the Fourth, and King Richard the Second, at whofe requeft he wrote his Book Intitled Confeffio Amantis: And Bale makes him Equitem Auratum & Poetam Laureatum, proving both, from his Ornaments on his Monumental Statue; but Stow in his Survey of London will not allow him to be a Knight, only an Efquire. He flourished before Chaucer, and was by fome accounted his Master, yet he furvived him two years, living to be quite blind, and fo might more properly be termed our * See the 2d Vol. of his Works, pag. 51. Englishs English Homer. He died Anno 1402.and was buried in St. Mary Overies Church in Southwark, on the North fide, in the Chapel of St. John, where he founded a Chauntry, and endowed it with an Yearly income for a Mafs to be daily Sung for him, ás also an Obit within the fame Church, to be kept on the Friday after the Feast of St. Gregory. Over his Tomb, is his Statue, in a habit of Purple Damask down to his Feet, (which made fome think he was a Judge in his old Age) a Collar of S.S. about his Neck, and on his Head a Chaplet, like a Coronet of four Rofes: Under his Feet the likeness of three Books, which he Compiled, the first called Speculum Meditantis, written in French, the fecond Vox Clamantis, written in Latin; and the third Confeffio Amantis, written in English, which laft was printed,by Thomas Berthelette after his Decease, and Dedicated to King Henry the Eighth. On the Wall over him, were Painted three Virgins with Coronets on their Heads, one of which named (Charity) holding this Device, En toy qui es fitz de Dieu le Pere, The fecond writing, (Mercy) with this Motto, O bone fefu fait toy Mercy A l'ame, dont le corps gift icy. The third writing, (Pity) with this Device. Pour ta pitie Jefu regarde, Et met ceft ame en Sauve garde. And near these formerly hung a Table, where in was written, that whofo Prayed for the Soul of JOHN GOWER, fo oft as he did it, fhould have a M. & D. (1500.) Days of Pardon. Hic jacet Joannes Gower Armigeri, Armiger Scutum nihil a modo fert tibi tutum, A Mr. JOHN GOWER. Schoolmafter, who lived at Caftle-Heningham in Effex, about a Century past; Author of a Poem called, The Caftle Combate. A witty Piece; received in that Age with great Applause. (96) (96) (98) (06) (96) (96) (96) (96) (96) (46) (96) 96 (96) (96) H. JOHN HARDING, Efq; UR Famous English Chronologer, an Ancient Poet; born as Bale conjectures in Yorkfhire, and defcended of a very good Family. He was equally addicted to Arms and Arts, fpending his Youth in the one, and his Age in the other: his Valour and Sted faft Adherence to the Fortunes of King Edward the Fourth, very much endeared him to to that Prince; but what placed him highest in his Majefties esteem, was his taking a Journey into Scotland, where by his Behaviour he fo far infinuated himself into the good Graces of the People,as not only to get a fight of their Records, and Original Letters; but obtained leave to Copy them, which he brought over, and prefented to the King. From which afterwards, he Collected a Hiftory of the feveral Submiffions, and facred Oaths of Fealty, openly taken by the Kings of Scotland to the Kings of England, from the Reign of King Athelstan to that Time. A Work which was made much ufe of by the English. He also wrote a Chronicle of our English Monarchs, from BRUTE to King EDWARD the Fourth, in Verfe, a very Elaborate and Exact Piece, which gained him the Reputation of one of the chief Poets in his Time. He died about the Year 1462. To Illuftrate his Poetical Abilities, and therein give you a Specimen of our Ancient Poetry, I fhall infert fome of his Chronicle Verfe, concerning the Magnificent Houfhold, kept by King RICHARD the Second. Truly I heard Robert Ireleffe fay, Clarke of the Green-Cloth, and that to the Houfhold And in the Kechin, three hundred Servitours, Three hundred of them were Occupied then; passing |