Appendix III. The Complaint of King James of wer of Fame. London, 1575-4.) 287 IV. Epitaph of Sir Marmaduke Con- stable, in Flamborough Church. (Gentleman's Magazine, 1753.) 286 1791.) .......... 289 strelsy of the Border, Vol. I.)... 294 VII. The Flowers of the Forest. (The same, Vol. I.)................... VIII. Ara Heroibus qui in Prælio apud 300 IX. Letter from Pope Leo X. to Hen- ry VIII. (Rymer's Foedera.)... 302 (Chronicle, 1550.)..................... XII. Ballade of the Bataile of Floddon. (Harl. MSS. 293 and 367.)...... 366 PREFACE. THE Poem, which is now again offered to the public, accompanied with historical illustrations, and the few other poetical remains, which have descended to us, respecting the unfortunate event which it celebrates, has met with so much favour in the public eye, that no apology seems to be requisite for again producing it. No less than three editions saw the light between the years 1770 and 1790, which have all become scarce. It would be in vain to contend for any great share of poetical merit in the execution; but the unadorned and faithful manner in which the battle is narrated, and the minute detail given of circumstances, either but slightly touched upon by historians, or utterly unnoticed by them, sufficiently account for the interest excited by it. And, though the general conduct of the poem be too prolix, and the style too much that of the chro-cle ballad writers, who preceded the me polished, but also more dull tragedie-of the Mirrour of Magistrates, there are wanting passages which evince considerable vigour of versification, and spirit of narration; and are certain indications of the abilities of the anonymous author, to have composed a poem of greater merit in point of execution. His object was certainly not posthumous reputation; but to procure his fellow-countrymen of the North of England, particularly those attached like him to the noble house of Stanley, an accurate and minute account of a victory, in which they had gained so much renown. The We are entirely in the dark respecting the time in which our Minstrel flourished. date of the only ancient MS. which at present is to be found, is about 1636, as will immediately be shewn. There can, however, be little doubt, that it was produced during the preceding century. After the accession of James to the throne of England, the battle would not have been the subject of popular celebration. A remarkable instance of the deference paid to this monarch on this score, occurs in the history of the Mirrour of Magistrates. Two Poems on the subject of Floddon Field, and the death of James IV. (See Appendix, No. I.) which had been introduced into the edition of 1587, and which, in point of merit, are certainly not inferior to the generality of the legends in that collection, were omitted in the edition of 1610. The deviations which occur in the poem, from those popular historians, Hall and Holinshed, and which would probably not have occurred, had the author been acquainted with their Chronicles, might lead us to assign a much earlier date to it. One of the most interesting incidents is not at all noticed by either of them; nor have I been able to meet with it in any other chronicler of the time. The author must therefore have had some other sources of information; most probably traditions in the house of Stanley, to which he seems to have been attached. The very frequent and obvious alliteration is another, and a very strong |