letters, a copy of which he brought to England and presented to the
King. This successful achievement established him in his Prince's
affections, as he was solicitous to know how often the Kings of
Scotland had taken oaths of fealty and subjected themselves to the
English Monarchs in order to secure their crown. These submissions
are warmly disputed by the Scotch historians, who in honour of their
country contend that they were only yielded for Cumberland and some
parcels of land possessed by them in England south of Tweed; and
indeed when the warlike temper and invincible spirit of that nation is
considered, it is more than probable, that the Scotch historians in
this particular contend only for truth. Our author wrote a chronicle
in verse of all our English Kings from Brute to King Edward IV. for
which Dr. Fuller and Winstanly bestow great encomiums upon him; but
he seems to me to be totally destitute of poetry, both from the
wretchedness of his lines, and the unhappiness of his subject, a
chronicle being of all others the driest, and the least susceptible of
poetical ornament; but let the reader judge by the specimen subjoined.
He died about the year 1461, being then very aged. From Gower to
Barclay it must be observed, that Kings and Princes were constantly
the patrons of poets.

On the magnificent houshold of King Richard II,

Truly I herd Robert Irelese say,
Clark of the Green Cloth, and that to the houshold,
Came every day, forth most part alway,
Ten thousand folk by his messes told;
That followed the house, aye as they wold,
And in the kitchen, three hundred scruitours,
And in eche office many occupiours,