These were all French knightes that lived in that age: But St. George, St. George the dragon did assuage. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. [France; Bevis conquered Ascapart, and after slew the boare, And then he crost beyond the seas to combat with the moore: Sir Isenbras and Eglamore, they were knightes most bold; And good Sir John Mandeville of travel much hath told: There were many English knights that Pagans did convert: But St. George, St. George pluckt out the dragon's heart. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. [France; The noble earl of Warwick, that was call'd sir Guy, Of that most ghastly dun cowe, the divell of Dunsmore heath; Besides his noble deeds all done beyond the seas: But St. George, St. George the dragon did appease. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. [France; Richard Coeur-de-lion, erst king of this land, stande. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. Henry the fifth he conquered all France, And quartered their arms, his honour to advance : He their cities razed, and threw their castles downe, And his head he honoured with a double crowne: He thumped the French-men, and after home he came: But St. George, St. George he did the dragon tame. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. [France; St. David of Wales the Welsh-1 away: For which knavish act, as slaves they doe remaine : But St. George, St. George the dragon he hath slaine. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. [France; Alluding to the fabulous Exploits attributed to this King in the old Romances. See the Dissertation prefixed to this volume. XV. ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND. THE SECOND PART, was written by JOHN GRUBB, M. A. of Christ Church, Oxford. The occasion of its being composed is said to have been as follows. A set of gentlemen of the university had formed themselves into a Club, all the members of which were to be of the name of GEORGE: their anniversary feast was to be held on ST. GEORGE's day. Our Author solicited strongly to be admitted; but his name being unfortunately JOHN, this disqualification was dispensed with only upon this condition, that he would compose a song in honour of their Patron Saint, and would every year produce one or more new stanzas, to be sung on their annual festival. This gave birth to the following humorous performance, the several stanzas of which were the produce of many successive anniversaries.* This diverting poem was long handed about in manuscript; at length a friend of GRUBB's undertook to get it printed, who, not keeping pace with the impatience of his friends, was addressed in the following whimsical macaronic lines, which, in such a collection as this, may not improperly accompany the poem itself. To this circumstance it is owing that the Editor has never met with two copies in which the stanzas are arranged alike: he has therefore thrown them into what appeared the most natural order. The verses are properly long Alexandrines, but the narrowness of the page made it necessary to subdivide them they are here printed with many improvements. : EXPOSTULATIUNCULA, sive QUERIMONIUNCULA ad ANTONIUM [ATHERTON] ob Poema JOHANNIS GRUBB, Viri rou ingeniosissimi in lucem nondum editi. TONI! Tune sines divina poemata Grubbi Quem vocitant Homines Brandy, Superi Cherry-brandy. At length the importunity of his friends prevailed, and Mr. Grubb's song was published at Oxford, under the following title: THE BRITISH HEROES A New Poem in honour of St. George By Mr. JOHN GRUBB School-master of Christ-Church OXON. 1688. Favete linguis carmina non prius Canto. Sold by Henry Clements. Oxon. THE story of king Arthur old Is very memorable, The number of his valiant knights, HOR. 5 The knights around his table in A circle sate, d'ye see: And altogether made up one Large hoop of chivalry. He had a sword, both broad and sharp, 10 Y-cleped Caliburn, Would cut a flint more easily Than pen-knife cuts a corn; From noddle down to nock. Dissected Tarquin's riddle, And whetstone thro' the middle. He was the cream of Brecknock, And flower of all the Welsh: But George he did the dragon fell, And gave him a plaguy squelsh. 15 20 [France; St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. Pendragon, like his father Jove, Was fed with milk of goat; And like him made a noble shield Of she-goat's shaggy coat: On top of burnisht helmet he Did wear a crest of leeks; 26 30 |