And in meny another stede, yat thurgh Christene men come,
He wildnede anon in hys herte to fonge Chrystendom.
Therefor Messagers with good Letters he nom,
That to the Pape Eleutherie hastelyche wende;
And yat he to hym and his menne expondem sende,
And yat he might seruy God wilned muche thereto,
And seyd he wald noght be glader hyt were ydo.

This _English_ Rhymer or Poet, which you will have it to be, is said to
have lived whilst he was a very old man, and to have died about the
beginning of the Reign of King _John_.

* * * * *




_RICHARD the Hermit_.


Contemporary with _Robert_ of _Glocester_, was one _Richard_, a
Religious Hermit, whose Manuscripts were a while ago (and for ought I
know, are still) kept in _Exeter_-Library, although _Exeter_-House in
the _Strand_, is converted now into an Exchange: This Religious Hermit
studied much in converting the Church-Service into _English_ Verse; of
which we shall give you an Essay in part of the _Te Deum_, and part of
the _Magnificat_,

Te Deum.