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which have been fo confidently ascribed to him, I am not yet convinced.

On the whole, I am inclined to believe, that these poems were composed by the son of the school-master before mentioned; who inherited the inestimable treasures of Cannynge's cheft in Radcliffe-church, as I have already related at large. This youth, who died at eighteen, was a prodigy of genius: and would have proved the first of English poets, had he reached a maturer age. From his childhood, he was fond of reading and writing verses: and fome of his early compofitions, which he wrote without any defign to deceive, have been judged to be moft aftonishing productions by the first critic of the prefent age. From his fituation and connections, he became a skilful practitioner in various kinds of hand-writing. Availing himself therefore of his poetical talent, and his facility in the graphic art, to a mifcellany of obfcure and neglected parchments, which were commodiously placed in his own poffeffion, he was tempted to add others of a more interesting nature, and fuch as he was enabled to forge, under thefe circumftances, without the fear of detection. As to his knowledge of the old English literature, which is rarely the study of a young poet, a fufficient quantity of obsolete words and phrases were readily attainable from the glossary to Chaucer, and to Percy's Ballads. It is confeffed, that this youth wrote the EXECUTION OF SIR CHARLES BAWDWIN: and he who could forge that poem, might easily forge all the reft.

In the mean time, we will allow, that fome pieces of poetry written by Rowlie might have been preferved_in Cannynge's cheft: and that these were enlarged and improved by young Chatterton. But if this was the cafe, they were fo much altered as to become entirely new compofitions. The poem which bids the fairest to be one of these originals is CANNYNGE'S FEAST. But the parchment-manuscript of this little poem has already been proved to be a forgery. A circumstance

cumstance which is perhaps alone fufficient to make us fufpect that no originals ever existed.

It will be afked, for what end or purpose did he contrive fuch an impofture? I answer, from lucrative views; or perhaps from the pleafure of deceiving the world, a motive which, in many minds, operates more powerfully than the hopes of gain. He probably promised himself greater emoluments from this indirect mode of exercifing his abilities:or, he might have facrificed even the vanity of appearing in the character of an applauded original author, to the private. enjoyment of the success of his invention and dexterity.

I have obferved above, that Cannynge ordered his iron cheft in Radcliffe-church to be folemnly vifited once in every year, and that an annual entertainment fhould be provided for the visitors. In the notices relating to this matter, which fome of the chief patrons of Rowlie's poetry have lately fent me from Bristol, it is affirmed, that this order is contained in Cannynge's will: and that he fpecifies therein, that not only his manufcript evidences abovementioned, but that the POEMS of HIS CONFESSOR ROWLIE, which likewife he had deposited in the aforefaid iron cheft, were also to be fubmitted to this annual inspection. This circumftance at firft ftrongly inclined me to think favourably of the authenticity of these pieces. At least it proved, that Rowlie had left fome performances in verfe. But on examining Cannynge's will, no fuch order appears. All his bequests relating to Radcliffe-church, of every kind, are the following, He leaves legacies to the vicar, and the three clerks, of the faid church: to the two chantry-priefts, or chaplains, of his foundation: to the keeper of the PYXIS OBLATIONUM, in the north-door: and to the fraternity Commemoracionis martirum. Alfo veftments to the altars of faint Catharine, and faint George. He mentions his tomb built near the altar of faint Catharine, where his late wife is interred. He gives augmentations to the endowment of his

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two chantries', at the altars of faint Catharine and faint George, abovementioned. To the choir, he leaves two fervice-books, called Liggers, to be used there, on either fide, by his two chantry-priests. He directs, that his funeral shall be celebrated in the faid church with a month's mind, and the ufual folemnities ".

Very few anecdotes of Rowlie's life have descended to pofterity. The following MEMOIRS of his life are faid to have been written by himself in the year 1460, and to have been discovered with his poetry: which perhaps to many readers will appear equally fpurious.

"I was fadre confeffour to materes Roberte and maftre William Cannings, Maftre Roberte was a man after his fadre's own harte, greedie of gaynes and fparying of alms deedes; but mafter William was mickle courteous, and gave me many marks in my needs. At the age of twenty-two years deceasd master Roberte, and by mafter William's de

Compare Willis, MITR. ABB. ii. 88. This will is in Latin, dated Nov. 12. 1474. Proved Nov. 29. It was made in Weftbury college. Cur. Prærog. Cant. Regiftr. WATTIS, quatern. xvii. fol. 125. Befide the bequefts mentioned in the text, he leaves legacies to all the canons, the chaplains and deacons, and the twelve chorifters, of Weftbury college. To the fix priests, fix almímen and fix almfwomen, founded in the new chapel at Westbury by Carpenter, bishop of Worcester. To many of the fervants of the faid college. To the fabric of the church of that college, xls. To rebuilding the tower of the church of Compton Graynefield, xls. He also makes bequefts to his almfhoufes at Bristol, and to the corporation of that town. He remembers fome of the religious foundations, chiefly the mendicants, at Bristol. He ftyles himself, nuper mercator villa Briftoll, et nunc decanus collegii S. Trin. de Weftbury. The fubdean of Westbury college is one of the executors. In this will the name of RowLIE is not mentioned. Compare

Tanner, NoTIT. MONAST. P 484. And
Atkyns's GLOUCESTERSH. p. 802.

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Bishop Carpenter, about the year 1460,was a confiderable benefactor to Westbury college. He pulled down the old college, "and in the new building, enlarged it "very much, compaffing it about with a "ftrong wall embattled, adding a fairegate with divers towers, more like unto "a caftle than a colledge and laftly, "bestowed much good land for augment"ing the revenew of the fame." Godwin, SUCCESS. BISHOPS, pag. 446. edit. 1. ut fupr. And Leland fpeaks much to the fame purpose. "Hic [Carpenter] ex ve"teri collegio, quod erat Weftberiæ, no

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vum fecit, et prædiis auxit, addito pin"nato muro, porta, et turribus, inftar caf "telli." ITIN. vol. viii. fol. 112. a. And hence it appears to be a mistake, that Cannynge, who was indeed dean while these benefactions took place, rebuilt the college. As Dugd. WARWICKSH. p. 634. edit. 1730. Atkyns, GLOUCESTERSH. p. 802. fupr. citat. p. 140.

fyre

fyre, bequeathd me one hundred marks; I went to thank master William for his mickle courtefie, and to make tender ' of my felfe to him.-Fadre, quod he, I have a crotchett in my brayne that will need your aide. Master William, faid I, if you command me I will go to Roome for you; not so farr diftant, faid he: I ken you for a mickle learnd priest, if you will leave the paryfh of our ladie, and travel for mee, it shall be mickle to your profits.

" I

gave my hands, and he told mee I must goe to all the abbies and pryorys, and gather together auncient drawyings, if of anie account at any price. Confented I to the fame, and purfuant fett out the Mundaie following for the minster of our ladie* and Saint Goodwyne, where a drawing of a steeple, contryvd for the belles when runge to fwaie out of the fyde into the ayre, had I thence, it was done by fyr Symon de Manıbrie', who in the troublesomme rayne of kyng Stephen devoted himfelfe, and was shorne.

"Hawkes fhowd me a manufcript" in Saxonne, but I was onley to bargayne for drawyngs. The next drawyings I metten with was a church to be reard, fo as in form of a cross, the end standing in the ground, a long manuscript was annexd. Mafter Canning thought no workman culd be found handie enough to do it.-The tale of the drawers deferveth relation. -Thomas de Blunderville, a preefte, al

i I much doubt, if this word now exifted, in the modern, or any, fense. Indeed, the phrafe to draw a picture might have been now known: but to draw, in its prefent uncombined ufe, had not yet acquired this meaning. So late as the reign of James the firft, a Painter was often called a picture-drawer. In antient inventories of furniture, a drawing never occurs as any fpecies of production of the art of defigning: it became a technical and diftinguishing term when that art began to attain fome degree of maturity. Piaures, although this word is now confined to a

precife fignification, would not have been
improper here. Yet the word PiЯure was
not antiently used in its prefent fenfe and
manner: but, a picture with a cloth, a table
with a picture, &c.

* I fuppofe, Worcester cathedral.
1 Or Malmesbury.

m This was not an English word at this early period it was not ufed, and for obvious reafons, till after the invention of printing. So again we have below, "the "Saxon manuscript ." These, at this time, would have been called books.

though

though the preefte had no allows, lovd a fair mayden, and on her begett a fonn. Thomas educated his foon; at fixteen years he went into the warrs, and neer did return for five years. His mother was married to a knight, and bare a daughter, then fixteen, who was feen and lovd by Thomas, fon of Thomas, and married to him unknown to her mother, by Ralph de Mefching, of the Minster, who invited, as custom was, two of his brothers, Thomas de Blunderville and John Heschamme. Thomas nevertheless had not seen his fonn for five years, kenning him inftauntly; and learning the name of the bryde, toke him afyde and disclofd to him that he was his fonn, and was weded to his own fiftre. Yoyng Thomas toke on fo that he was shorne.

"He drew manie fine drawyings on glass.

"The abott of the minster of Peterburrow fold it me, he might have bargaynd twenty marks better, but master William would not depart with it. The prior of Coventree did fell me a picture of great account, made by Badilian Y'allyanne, who did lyve in the rayne of kyng Henrie the first, a mann of fickle temper, havyng been tendred fyx pounds of filver for it, to which he faid naie, and afterwards did give it to the then abott" of Coventriee. In brief, I gathered together manie marks value of fine drawyings, all the works of mickle cunning. Mafter William culld the most choise parts, but hearing of a drawying in Durham church hee did fend me.

--

"Fadree you have done mickle well, all the chatills are more worth than you gave; take this for your paynes: fo faying, he did put into my hands a purfe of two hundreds good pounds, and did say that I should note be in need, I did thank him most heartily.-The choise drawyng, when

" This fhould have been Prior. An abbot was never the title of the fuperiour in cathedral-convents. The PRIOR OF CO

VENTRY must have been a dignitary wellknown by that name, as he fate in parliament.

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