Stephen Hawes

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Folio numbers have been added by the transcriber. Reconstructions are shown in smaller type. Missing and incomplete lines are explained at the end of the text. ”

“ To tast the water whiche is aromatyke
For to cause me wryte with lusty rethoryke
Wherefore good souerayne / I beseche your hyghnes
To pardon me whiche do rudely endyte
As in this arte hauynge small intres
But for to lerne is all myn appetyte
In folowynge the monke whiche dyde nobly wryte
Besechynge your hyghnes and grace debonayre
For to accepte this rude and lytell quayre
¶ Explicit prologus. ”

“ Borders: In the surviving text, the decorative border appears along the top and sides of the first page, and around all sides of the last page. The first page probably had a lower border as well. The continuous left border was added by the transcriber.
Page A2verso
How / where / or whan I cam nothynge say
The word “cam” could be read as “cain” with missing dot, but an unambiguous letter “m” with the same defect appears several other times on this page.
Damaged Lines: The original text was published as an eight-page pamphlet. ”