The Founder of this City, as saith _Polychronicon_,
Was _Leon Gawer_, a mighty strong Gyant,
Which builded Caves and Dungeons many a one,
No goodly Building, ne proper, ne pleasant.

But King _Leir_, a _Britain_ fine and valiant,
Was Founder of _Chester_ by pleasant Building,
And was named _Guer Leir_ by the King.

These Lines, considering the Age he lived in, (which _Arnoldus Vion_
saith, was about the Year 1346.) may pass with some praise, but others
say he flourished a Century of years afterwards, _viz._ 1513. which if
so, they are hardly to be excused, Poetry being in that time much
refined; but whensoever he lived, _Bale_ saith, he was (the Diamond in
the Ring) _Pro ea ipsa ætate, admodum pius_.

* * * * *




_HAVILLAN_.


Should we forget the learned _Havillan_, our Book would be thought to
be imperfect, so terse and fluent was his Verse, of which we shall give
you two Examples, the one out of Mr. _John Speed_ his Description of
_Devonshire_, speaking of the arrival of _Brute_.