collected a History of the several Submissions, and sacred Oaths of
Fealty openly taken from the time of King _Athelstane_, by the Kings of
_Scotland_; to the Kings of _England_, for the Crown of _Scotland_; a
Work which was afterwards made much use of by the _English_; although
the _Scotch_ Historians stickle with might and main, that such Homage
was performed only for the County of _Cumberland_, and some parcel of
Land their Kings had in _England_ South of _Tweed_.

Now as his Prose was very useful, so was his Poetry as much delightful;
writing a Chronicle of our _English_ Kings from _Brute_ to King
_Edward_ the Fourth, and that in _English_ Verse; for which he was
accounted one cf the chiefest Poets of his time; being so exactly done,
that by it Dr. _Fuller_ adjudges him to have drunk as deep a draught of
_Helicon_ as any in his Age: And another saying, that by the fame he
deservedly claimed a Seat amongst the chiefest of the Poetical Writers.

But to give you the better view of his Poetical Abilities, I shall
present you with some of his Chronicle-Verse, concerning the sumptuous
Houshold kept by King _Richard_ the Second, _cap._ 193.

Truly I herd Robert Ireleffe say,
Clarke of the Green-cloth, and that to the houshold
Came every daye, forth most part alway
Ten thousand folke, by his Messes told,
That followed the hous aye as thei wold.
And in the Kechin, three hundred Seruitours,
And in eche Office many Occupiours.

And Ladies faire, with their Gentleweomen
Chamberers also and Lauenders,