The deservingly honoured Sir _Philip Sidney_, in his _Defence of
Poesie_, thus writeth of him, Chaucer _undoubtedly did excellently in
his_ Troylus _and_ Crescid, _of whom truly I know not whether to marvel
more, either that he in that misty time could see so clearly or we in
this clear age walk so stumblingly after him._ And Doctor _Heylin_, in
his elaborate Description of the World, ranketh him in the first place
of our chiefest Poets. Seeing therefore that both old and new Writers
have carried this reverend conceit of him, and openly declared the same
by writing, let us conclude with _Horace_ in the eighth Ode of his
fourth Book;

_Dignum Laudi causa vetut mori_.

The Works of this famous Poet, were partly published in Print by
_William Caxton_, Mercer, that first brought the incomparable Art of
Printing into _England_, which was in the Reign of King _Henry_ the
Sixth. Afterward encreased by _William Thinne_, Esq; in the time of
King _Henry_ the Eighth. Afterwards, in the year 1561. in the Reign of
Queen _Elizabeth_, Corrected and Encreased by _John Stow_; And a fourth
time, with many Amendments, and an Explanation of the old and obscure
Words, by Mr. _Thomas Speight_, in _Anna_ 1597. Yet is he said to have
written many considerable Poems, which are not in his publish'd Works,
besides the _Squires Tale_, which is said to be compleat in
_Arundel-house_ Library.

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