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.

How wisely and how knightly Tideus did his message.

QVod he, vnto your worthinesse My purpose is breefly to expresse The effect holly, as in sentement, Of the message, why that I am sent, It were long processe to make, But of my mattere the very ground to take, In eschuing of prolixity, And void away all superfluity, Sith your selfe best ought to vnderstond The cause fully, that we haue on hond, And eke conceiue the entent of my meaning, Of rightwisenesse longing to a king: First considered, if that ye take hede, When Edippus the old king was dede, How that your selfe, and your brother bliue, For the crowne contagiously gan striue, As mortall foen, by full great hatrede, Which of you two should first succede, Till that ye were by meanes reconciled, Ye to reigne, and he to been exiled Out of this toune for a yeares space, And then ayeine resort into his place, To reigne as king, and ye to voiden out, So as your tourn by processe cometh about, Eueriche of you patiently tendure Thentrechaunging of his auenture, Who were put out, or stood in his estate, Thereupon to make no debate, Liche the couenaunt and conuentioun, Enrolled vp by lords of the toun, Which of reason may not be denied, Sithen ye haue a yeare occupied: