Sir _Roger L'Estrange_ * * * * * THE LIVES Of the most Famous ENGLISH POETS, FROM _WILLIAM_ the _Conqueror_, to these Present Times. * * * * * _The Life of ROBERT of Glocester._ We will begin first with _Robert_ of _Glocester_, so called, because a Monk of that City, who flourisht about the Reign of King _Henry_ the Second; much esteemed by Mr. _Cambden_, who quotes divers of his old _English_ Rhythms in praise of his Native Country, _England_. Some (who consider not the Learning of those times) term him a Rhymer, whilst others more courteously call him a Poet: Indeed his Language is such, that he is dumb in effect, to the Readers of our Age, without an Interpreter; which that ye may the better perceive, hear these his Verses of _Mulmutius Dunwallo_, in the very same Language he wrote them. A Kynge there was in Brutayne Donwallo was his Nam, Staleworth and hardy, a man of grete Fam: He ordeyned furst yat theeues yat to Temple flowen wer, No men wer so hardy to do hem despit ther; That hath he moche such yhold, as hit begonne tho, Hely Chyrch it holdeth yut, and wole ever mo. Antiquaries (amongst whom Mr. _Selden_) more value him for his History than Poetry, his Lines being neither strong nor smooth, yet much informing in those things wherein he wrote; whereof to give you a taste of the first planting Religion in this Land by King _Lucius_, Lucie Cocles Son after him Kynge was, To fore hym in Engelonde Chrestendom non was, For he hurde ofte miracles at Rome, 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. We heryen ye God, we knowlechen ye Lord: All ye erye worships ye everlasting fader: Alle Aungels in hevens, and alle ye pours in yis world, Cherubin and Seraphin cryen by voyce to ye unstyntyng. Magnificat.