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cation of war, were condemned as contrary to the express commands of Christ. Pecock's design was to do for the English Church of his own day what was done by Richard Hooker, at a later stage of the same controversy, for the Church in the time of Elizabeth, with equal charity and greater power. Hooker wrote with more vigour in a time more vigorous, which needed arguments more valid than many which passed current among Churchmen and schoolmen of the fifteenth century. Pecock's reasoning was above the standard of his day, though it could not approach the energy of English thought in the latter years of Queen Elizabeth. He was defending also many usages and institutions against which, already in Elizabeth's day, time had proved the attack to be more powerful than the defence. Pecock's appeal to reason in aid of a right study of the Bible was, in the fifteenth century, when the balance of culture was largely on the side of the clergy, an appeal to the less educated laity to secure unity of the Church by abandoning the right of private interpretation until they were as well quali

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fied for it as the most cultivated Churchmen. The desire for a Church that should be a stronghold of Christian unity, was strong in him and strong also in those for whom the author of Piers Plowman spoke. Perhaps the best of the Lollards or Biblemen, those afterwards called Puritans, admitting differences of interpretation that must follow upon the claim of every man to draw from his Bible what he himself felt to be its truths, looked rather to unity of Christian life while on the opposite side it was felt that a necessary safeguard to the unity of Christian life lay in the unity of doctrine. It is the purpose of this volume not to set forth the arguments produced on either side, but, so far as it touches the great controversy in its successive stages and the sub-divisions of opinion, to show in men of the most opposite opinions the same search for conditions that will help a people to come near to God, the same aspiration of the soul of man toward the source of light and life. In the quotations here given from Reginald Pecock it is noticeable that while he reasoned with the Lollards, he did not look at the worst men of the party he opposed, but at the best; seeking to understand their highest view of duty; and set forth the grounds of difference between himself and them. Nowhere is there a better witness to the powerful effect produced upon the English people by Wiclif's work on the translation of the Bible, than when Pecock traces the enthusiasm against which he reasons, to the sweetness men found in the words of the Gospel coming to them in their mother-tongue, the charm that bound them to it, and that fervent yearning towards the ideal of a Christian life that it had suddenly awakened in their souls.

While men were thus contending in opinion, and the fiery zeal of many was inevitably blended with the passions of the world, two events happened that greatly affected the course of thought in the next generations. About the time when Pecock's mind was occupied with his "Repressor," and he was

falling into utmost peril for the free use of his reason, there occurred on the 29th of May, 1453—the fall of all that remained of the Eastern Roman Empire, the taking of Constantinople by the Turks; and in 1455 the production of the first printed book, a Bible (called, from its later discovery in the library of Cardinal Mazarin, the Mazarin Bible), was completed. The Fall of Constantinople scattered learned Greeks, who taught their language in Florence and elsewhere, introduced into Europe the study of Plato -in whom the most cultivated Church reformers found a strong ally-and gave impulse to the revival of learning. The Invention of Printing, by quickening and cheapening the reproduction of books, enabled every energetic thinker to touch with his mind many other men where he had before touched only one. True voices that had reached only a few were to be heard thenceforth by thousands; and the force of every strong mind, as leader of opinion in the warfare for a higher life, was to be as the force of an army, in which every copy of his printed book was as a private soldier combatant with all the genius and courage of his chief.

During the rest of the fifteenth century the new powers were coming into play. It was not until about 1474 that William Caxton brought the printing press to England, and set it up in Westminster Abbey. The diffusion of manuscript books had been from the writing-rooms of the monasteries, and when the demand upon a monastery exceeded the powers of supply by the brotherhood, professional copyists came in aid of the work of the scriptorium, and housed themselves conveniently within or near the precincts of the minster. Thus, when Caxton introduced the new method of copying manuscripts by machinery, he sought custom by setting up his business among the copyists at Westminster. It was not until 1508 that Walter Chepman set up the first printing press in Scotland.

The civil wars of York and Lancaster, stirring no high thought in the hearts of combatants, stayed the advance of English literature. In the reign of Henry VII. its old voice began to be heard again, although not yet with its old vigour. But in Scotland-where our northern English still cherished the spirit of independence, held a kingdom of their own, and battled, not in vain, against rulers of England who desired by conquest to make them subject to their crown-men were free to feel the impulse of the time. A few years before the close of the fifteenth century, Robert Henryson' had taken his place as one of a new group of our northern poets, and, in accordance with the taste of his time for religious allegory, wrote this poem-founded on a tale in the "Gesta Ro12 of

manorum,

1 Robert Henryson. See the volume of this Library illustrating "Shorter English Poems," pages 74-81.

2 The Gesta Romanorum was a collection of tales current in Europe in the Middle Ages, so written that they might be used, by help of an "application" added to each, as spiritual allegories for the enlivenment of sermons or otherwise in aid of the religious life. Some of the tales were old stories ingeniously applied, and others manifestly written for the purposes to which they are addressed. The collection, which is of uncertain origin, was widely used, and of course the MSS. of it differ much in substance and arrangement. The name "Gesta

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"A certain noble lady suffered many injuries from a tyrannical king, who laid waste her domains. When the particulars of it were communicated to her, her tears flowed fast, and her heart was oppressed with bitterness. It happened that a pilgrim visited her, and remained there for some time. Observing the poverty to which she had been reduced, and feeling compassion for her distresses, he offered to make war in her defence; on condition that, if he fell in battle, his staff and scrip should be retained in her private chamber, as a memorial of his valour, and of her gratitude. She faithfully promised compliance with his wishes; and the pilgrim, hastening to attack the tyrant, obtained a splendid victory. But in the heat of the contest, he was transfixed by an arrow, which occasioned his death. The lady, aware of this, did as she promised: the staff and scrip were suspended in her chamber. Now, when it was known that she had recovered all her lost possessions, three kings made large preparations to address, and, as they hoped, incline her to become the wife of one of them. The lady, forewarned of the intended honour, adorned herself with great care, and walked forth to meet them. They were received according to their dignity; and whilst they remained with her, she fell into some perplexity, and said to herself, If these three kings enter my chamber, it will disgrace me to suffer the pilgrim's staff and scrip to remain there.' She commanded them to be taken away; and thus forgot her vows, and plainly evinced her ingratitude.

APPLICATION.

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"My beloved, the lady is the human soul, and the tyrant is the devil, who spoils us of our heavenly inheritance. The pilgrim is Christ, who fights for and redeems us; but, forgetful of his services, we receive the devil, the world, and the flesh, into the chamber of our souls, and put away the memorials of our Saviour's love."

1 Serk, sark or shirt. First-English "syrce," and "serce;" " Danish "særk;" Icelandic "serkr." The Norse "berserkr" was probably so called from the old days of clothing in skins, as one who had a bear's hide for his covering. In this poem I leave the old spelling unchanged.

2 Anceane (French "ancien ") ancient, old.

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15 Gyane, giant.

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16 Cast her in his dungeon, where light she might see none; hunger and cold and great thirsting she found in to her waine, in her abode. 17 Our-tuk, overtook. 18 In schondir schuke, in sunder shook.

19 Bot gife, but if, unless.

20 Till one was beaten down.

21 Gart seik, caused scarch to be made.

22 Cunnand, engagement, promise.

23 Then broke open the prison chamber, brought home the fair one. 24 Wondit, wounded.

25 Behurit to de, must needs die.

26 Unlovesome was his body dight. First-English "dihtan," to dispose, set forth, arrange.

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Quhen that scho lukit to the serk,
Scho thocht on the persoun:
And prayit for him with all hir harte,
That lowsd hir of bandoun: 6

Quhair scho was wont to sit full merk?
In that deip dungeoun:

And evir quhill scho wes in quert,8
That wass hir a lesseun.

So weill the Lady luvit the Knycht,
That no man wald scho tak.

Sa suld we do our God of micht
That did all for us mak;
Quhilk fullély to deid wes dicht,

For sinfull manis saik.

Sa suld we do, both day and nycht, With prayaris to him mak.

MORALITAS.

This King is lyk the Trinitie

Baith in hevin and heir.9

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CHAPTER V.

FISHER, TYNDALE, MORE, LATIMER, AND OTHERS.A.D. 1500 to A.D. 1558.

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THE stream of allegorical literature flows, broadening upon its way to Spenser, and in the reign of Henry VIII. we have a religious allegory of life from Stephen Hawes, "groom of King Henry the Seventh his chamber." Stephen Hawes was a Suffolk man who studied at the University of Oxford, travelled in France, and became skilled in French and Italian poetry before he was established in favour at the court of Henry VII. A payment to "Mr. Hawse' for a play in the twelfth year of Henry VIII. may indicate that Stephen Hawes was then still living. The most important of his books was an allegorical poem in Troilus verse or Chaucer's measure, entitled "The History of Graund Amoure and La Bel Pucell, called The Pastime of Pleasure, containing the Knowledge of the Seven Sciences, and the Course of Man's Life in this World." To Henry VII. he writes in the opening

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As he rested by this image, Sloth caught his head in a net, and while he yet slept there came a royal blast of a great horn that awoke him. There were the red clouds of daybreak in the sky, and he saw riding from a far valley a goodly lady-Fameenvironed with tongues of fire as bright as any star, on a palfrey swift as the wind, with two white greyhounds before her. Espying Graundamoure, the greyhounds ran to him, and leapt and fawned upon him; their names, written in diamond on their gold collars, were Governance and Grace. The lady who followed marvelled that her greyhounds were so friendly with him, and asked his name. He was Graundamoure, who sought her direction to the Tower of Doctrine, and she-She was Fame, whose horn had blown after the death of many a champion :

"And after this, Famé gan to express

Of jeopardous way to the Tower Perilous, And of the beauty and the seemliness Of La Bell Pucell, so gay and glorious That dwelled in the tower so marvellous; To which might come no manner of creatúre But by great labour and hard adventúre."

In the other, pronounced "i' th' o'r" (see Note 12. page 84, of "Shorter English Poems").

* The y in "lady" blends as one syllable with the e in "excellent,” and the verse runs: 'nto L' Bell | Pucell | the fair lady-excellent! This running of a final y into an initial vowel is natural and common in the poets. So in "Paradise Lost," I. 141, "Though all our glory extinct and happy state."

10 Intelligible, sensible, intellectual.

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the youth to begin, and undergo his years of education in the Tower of Doctrine, whose seven stages rise from Grammar with her A B C to heavenly contemplations of Theology. Countenance was the portress who admitted Graundamoure, and showed him on the arras of the entrance-hall an image of the career before him, setting forth how in the labour towards La Bel Pucell "a noble knight should win the victory." Then the portress introduced the adventurer to the lady Grammar, into whose chamber "the right noble Dame Congruity" admitted him. Dame Grammar told him how to the wise of old it was their whole delight, for common profit of

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THE TOWER OF DOCTRINE. (From Reisch's " Margarita Philosophica," 1512.)

Unto Dame Doctrine give perfect audience,
Which shall inform you in ev'rý science."

Fame left Graundamoure with the greyhounds. He travelled on, again rested till morning, and then saw set on a rock "the royal tower of moral document," made of fine copper, with turrets that shone against the sun. It is the pilgrimage of man, whose way was first over the flowery fields of childhood till a path in life had to be chosen; the path of Active Life being chosen, fame of the prize to be won nerved

1 Nobly. Pronounced nob-l-y, as three syllables. See Dr. Abbot's "Shakespearian Grammar," section 477, "Liquids in dissyllables are frequently pronounced as though an extra vowel were introduced between them and the preceding consonant." So in "Comedy of Errors," act v., scene 1, "And these two Dromios, one in semb-l-ance;" "Coriolanus," act iii., scene 2, "Be thus to them. You do the nob-l-er." Two lines farther on "sciences" is pronounced "science," the s being merged in the similar final sound of the word.

humanity, to study the seven sciences many a long winter's night. After this she taught Graundamoure right well, first his Donet, and then his accidence. When he had been taught by Grammar, he went up to the bright chamber of Logic; and when that fair lady had instructed him, "then above Logic up we went a stair," and there was the star of famous eloquence, the Lady Rhetoric to kneel to. Rhetoric explained to him at length the five parts of her science, which was founded by Reason

"Man for to govern well and prudently;
His words to order, his speech to purify."

2 His Donet. Elius Donatus, born about A.D. 333, was the teacher of St. Jerome. He wrote an elementary book on the eight parts of speech applied to Latin, and the long-continued use of this in elementary teaching caused a Donatus, or a Donet, to become the common name for a grammar, or a first book of instruction upon any subject. We have seen (page 121) Reginald Pecock giving the name of "Donet" to a book on the First Principles of Faith.

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