Three hundred of theim were occupied then;
There was great pride emong the Officers,
And of all men far passing their compeers;
Of rich arraye, and much more costeus,
Then was before, or sith, and more precious, &c.

This our Poet _Harding_ was living _Anno_ 1461. being then very aged;
and is judged to have survived not long after.

* * * * *




_ROBERT FABIAN_.


_Robert Fabian_ was born and bred in _London_ as witnesseth _Bale_ and
_Pits_; becoming one of the Rulers thereof, being chosen Sheriff,
_Anno_ 1493. He spent his time which he had spare from publick
Employments, for the benefit of posterity; writing two large
Chronicles: the one from _Brute_ to the Death of King _Henry_ the
Second; the other, from the First of King _Richard_, to the Death of
_Henry_ the Seventh. He was (saith my Author) of a merry disposition,
and used to entertain his Guests as well with good Discourse as good
Victuals: He bent his Mind much to the Study of Poetry; which according
to those times, passed for currant. Take a touch of his Abilities in
the Prologue to the second Volume of his Chronicle of _England_ and
_France_.