=Thomas Occleve= (1365-1450). "De Regimine Principum"; short poems. =Robert Henryson= (1425-1480). See biographical note, page 283. =William Dunbar= (1450-1513). See biographical note, page 283. =Gawain Douglas= (1474-1522). See biographical note, page 284. =Stephen Hawes= ( -1530), "The Pastime of Pleasure"; "Graunde Amour and la Belle Pucel." =John Skelton= (1460-1529). See biographical note, page 272. John Skelton. TO MAYSTRESS MARGARET HUSSEY. Mirry Margaret, As mydsomer flowre; Jentill as fawcoun Or hawke of the towre: With solace and gladnes, Moche mirthe and no madness, All good and no badness, So joyously, So maydenly, So womanly, Her demenyng In every thynge, Far, far passynge That I can endyght, Or suffyce to wryghte, Of mirry Margaret, As mydsomer flowre, Jentyll as fawcoun Or hawke of the towre: As pacient and as styll, And as full of good wyll As faire Isaphill; Colyaunder, Swete pomaunder, Goode Cassaunder; Stedfast of thought, Wele made, wele wrought; Far may be sought, Erst that ye can fynde So corteise, so kynde, As mirry Margaret, This mydsomer floure, Jentyll as fawcoun Or hawke of the towre. CARDINAL WOLSEY. [FROM "WHY COME YE NOT TO COURT?"] He is set so hye In his ierarchye Of frantike frenesy, And folish fantasy, That in chambre of stars{1} Al maters ther he mars, Clapping his rod on the borde, No man dare speake a worde: For he hath al the saying Without any renaying. He rolleth in his Recordes; He saith, "How say ye, my lordes? Is not my reason good?" Good!--even good--_Robin Hood_!-- Borne up on every syde With pompe and with pryde, With trump up alleluya,{2} For dame Philargyria{3} Hath so his hart in hold. Adew, Philosophia! Adew, Theologia! Welcome, dame Simonia,{4} With dame Castamergia,{5} To drink and for to eate, Sweete ipocras{6} and sweete meate. To keep his fleshe chaste In Lente, for his repaste He eateth capons stewed, Fesaunt and partriche mewed-- Spareth neither mayd ne wife-- This is a postel's{7} life! NOTES. 1. =chambre of stars.= The Star Chamber, a court of civil and criminal jurisdiction for the punishment of offences for which the law made no provision. It was so called because the ceiling of the room in which it was held was decorated with gilt stars. 2. =alleluya.= In allusion to the pomp with which Wolsey celebrated divine service. 3. =Philargyria.= Love of money; covetousness. 4. =Simonia.= Simony; buying and selling church livings.