Specimens of English Prose Writers: From the Earliest Times to the Close of the Seventeenth Century, with Sketches, Biographical and Literary ...J. Bumpus, 1813 |
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Æneid ancient anon Balin Bible bishop Britain Brute called castle cause Caxton champ of battle Chaucer Christ Christian Chronicle church clergy Corin daughter death defend Dioclesian divers duke edition Edward Edward III England English evil faith father France French friars Geoffrey of Monmouth God's Gogmagog Golden Legend grace Greek hath Henry VI Henry VIII holy scripture honour horse John John Paston king king Arthur king's knight lady land language Latin learning living Lollards London lord manner master monk neral noble ordained order of chivalry person Polychronicon pope preaching prince printed queen quod reader realm reign Richard Richard II Romances saith sermon shew sir Thomas slain speak stile Testament thee ther thereof things thou tion translation truth unto Wherefore Wicliffe William Caxton wise words write written
Popular passages
Page 428 - And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
Page 257 - Christian knights; and now I dare say,' said Sir Ector, 'thou Sir Launcelot, there thou liest, that thou were never matched of earthly knight's hand; and thou were the courtliest knight that ever bare shield; and thou were the truest friend to thy lover that ever bestrode horse; and thou were the truest lover of a sinful man that ever loved woman ; and thou were the kindest man that ever...
Page 455 - He married my sisters with five pound or twenty nobles a-piece; so that he brought them up in godliness and fear of God. He kept hospitality for his poor neighbours; and some alms he gave to the poor...
Page 257 - ... and thou were the kindest man that ever struck with sword; and thou were the goodliest person that ever came among press of knights; and thou were the meekest man and the gentlest that ever ate in hall among ladies; and thou were the sternest knight to thy mortal foe that ever put spear in the rest.
Page 455 - He had walk for an hundred sheep, and my mother milked thirty kine. He was able and did find the king a harness, with himself and his horse, while he came to the place that he should receive the king's wages. I can remember that I buckled his harness when he went to Blackheath field.
Page 145 - And last of all, as heartily and as lovingly as ever father blessed his child in earth, I give you the blessing of Our Lord and of me, which of his infinite mercy increase you in all virtue and good living; and that your blood may by his grace from kindred to kindred multiply in this earth to his service, in such wise as after the departing from this wretched world here, ye and they may glorify him eternally amongst his angels in heaven. Written of mine hand, The day of my departing fro this land....
Page 456 - ... that he brought them up in godliness and fear of God. He kept hospitality for his poor neighbours. And some alms he gave to the poor, and all this did he of the said farm.
Page 456 - In my time my poor father was as diligent to teach me to shoot as to learn (me) any other thing ; and so, I think, other men did their children. He taught me how to draw, how to lay my body in my bow, and not to draw with strength of arms, as other nations do, but with strength of the body.
Page 246 - AFTER that I had accomplished and finished divers histories, as well of contemplation as of other historial and worldly acts of great conquerors and princes, and also certain books of ensamples and doctrine, many noble and divers gentlemen of this realm of England came and demanded...
Page 50 - Sheffield, a mercer, came into a house and asked for meat, and especially he asked after eggs; and the good wife answered that she could speak no French, and the merchant was angry, for he also could speak no French, but would have had eggs, and she understood him not.