The works of our ancient, learned, & excellent English poet, Jeffrey Chaucer as they have lately been compar'd with the best manuscripts, and several things added, never before in print : to which is adjoyn'd The story of the siege of Thebes, by John Lidgate ... : together with The life of Chaucer, shewing his countrey, parentage, education, marriage, children, revenues, service, reward, friends, books, death : also a table, wherein the old and obscure words in Chaucer are explained, and such words ... that either are, by nature or derivation, Arabick, Greek, Latine, Italian, French, Dutch, or Saxon, mark'd with particular notes for the better understanding of their original.

¶A goodly Ballade of Chaucer. (Book ballad)

MOther of norture, best beloved of all, And freshe floure, to whom good thrift God sende, Your childe, if it luste you me so to call, All be I vnable my selfe so to pretende, To your discrecion I recommende Mine herte and al, with every circumstaunce, All wholly to be vnder your governaunce.

Most desire I, and have, and ever shal, Thing, which might your herts ease amend: Have me excused, my power is but small, Nathelesse of right ye ought to commend My good will, which faine would entend To do you service, for all my suffisaunce Is holly to be vnder your governaunce.

Meulx vn, in hert, which never shall apall, Aie freshe and new, and right glad to dispend My time in your service, what so befall, Beseching your excellence to defend My simplenesse, if ignoraunce offend In any wise, sith that mine affiaunce, Is holly to been vnder your governaunce.

Daisie of light, very ground of comfort, The Sunnes doughter (ye hight) as I rede, For when he Westreth, farwell your disport, By your nature anone right for pure drede, Of the rude night, y^t with his boistous wede Of darkenesse, shadoweth our emispere, Then closen ye, my lives Ladie dere.

Dauning the day, to his kind resort And Phebus your Father, with his streames rede, Adorneth the morrow, consuming the sort Of mistie cloudes, that woulden overlede True humble herts, with her mistie hede, Nere comfort a daies, when iyen clere, Disclose and sprede my lives Ladie dere.

* Ie vouldray: but great God disposeth And maketh casuel by his providence, Soch thing, as mans frele wit purposeth, All for the best, if that your conscience Not grutche it, but in humble pacience * It receive: for God saith without fable, A faithful hert ever is acceptable.

Cautels who so vseth gladly, gloseth, To eschewe soch it is right high prudence, What ye sayd ones, mine hart opposeth, That my writing yapes in your absence, Pleased you moch better than my presence: Yet can I more, ye be not excusable, A faithfull harte ever is acceptable.

Quaketh my penne, my spirit supposeth, That in my writing ye find woll some offence, Min hert welkneth thus sone, anon it riseth, Now hotte, now colde, and eft in feruence: That misse is, is caused of negligence, And not of malice, therefore beth merciable, A faithfull harte ever is acceptable.

¶Lenuoye.

Forth complaint, forth lacking eloquence, Forth little letter of enditing lame, I have besought my ladies Sapience, Of thy behalfe, to accept in game, Thine inabilitie, doe thou the same: Abide, have more yet: Ie serve Iouesse, Now forth, I close thee in holy Venus name, Thee shall vnclose my harts governeresse.