And the same Iohn Leland, who deseruedlie had, tasted the fruits of the kings largesse, was not vnac|quainted with the fame of his renowme, which had made it selfe knowne by restles flight to nations far and neare, some to their smart hauing felt the valor of his forces, and others submitting themselues for feare of vtter desolation. Wherevpon he became a terror to his enimies, and yet none more desirous of peace than he, if by anie other meanes (besides vio|lence) the same might haue béene obteined. Suffici|ent cannot be said in his high & merited commenda|tion, considering that as his victories were singular, so were they also manifold; and hard it is for the pen of a cunning rhetorician to paint him out according to his dignitie: howbeit the said Iohn Leland hath left in writing a proper epigram, deuised in praise of this most excellent king, by way of comparison, to his immortall commendation, as here followeth:
Comparatio in gloriam Henric [...] octaui regis po [...]entissimi.Quantum puniceis nouo rosetisCedunt vere suis rubeta spinisQuantum lilio amoenioris hortiGemmae omnes aliae nitore cedunt:Quantum caetera punicis decoroMalis poma quidem rubore cedunt:Quantum coniferis breues myricaeConcedunt quo gloria cupressis:Quantum stellig ero repressa tellusCaelo mole sua & nigrore cedit:Tantum omnes alij, celebritate,Fama, nomine, gloriá vera(Vt mittam ingenij valentiorisLumen, flumina, fulmen at viresRari iudicij tui perennes)Concedunt tibi principes sereni [...]Henrice, ô patriae tuae columnaTalis, qualis erat celebris illaOlim quam extulit Henricus triumphans.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 Of lerned men that liued in the daies of this most famous prince, we find manie, as first Iohn Colet deane of Paules, and founder of the schoole there, he was borne in London of honest parents; William Lillie borne in the town of Odiham in Hampshire, and was the first schoolemaster of Paules schoole af|ter it was erected; Thomas Linacer, or rather Lina|ker, borne in Darbie, a learned physician, and well séene in the toongs; Iohn Skelton a pleasant poet, Richard Pace that succeeded Iohn Colet in the roome of deane of Paules, Iohn Fisher bishop of Rochester of whome ye haue heard before, Thomas More borne in London of whome mention likewise is made in the life of this famous king; William Horman borne in Salisburie viceprouost of Eaton college, a learned man, as by his works it appeareth; Iohn Frith borne in London, William Tindall, of which two persons ye haue heard likewise in the hi|storie of this king; Robert Wakefield excellentlie seene in toongs, Iohn Rastall a citizen and stationer of London, Christopher Saint German an excel|lent lawier, Robert Barnes of whom also we haue made mention before.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 Sir Thomas Eliot knight, Edward Lée archbi|shop of Yorke, Iohn Leland a diligent searcher of antiquities, Anne Askew wrote certeine treatises concerning hir examinations, sir Iohn Bourchier knight lord Berners translated the chronicles of sir Iohn Froissard out of French into English, Willi|am Chubs, Henrie Standish a frier minor and bi|shop of saint Assaph wrote against Erasmus for his translation of the new testament, to his small praise as he handled the matter; Thomas surnamed Philo|melus a Londoner an excellent poet, William Grocine verie expert in both toongs Gréeke and La|tine, Thomas Spenser a Carmelite frier borne in Norwich, Henrie Bullocke, William Latimer, Yoong a moonke of Ramseie, Arnold of London wrote certeine collections touching historicall mat|ters, Thomas Lupset a Londoner a learned yoong man departed this life in the six and thirtith yeare of his age about the yeare of our Lord 1532, he wrote sundrie vertuous treatises; William Melton chan|cellor EEBO page image 978 of Yorke, Iohn Sowle a Carmelite frier of London and a doctor of diuinitie, Iohn Batemanson a Charterhouse moonke & prior of his house at Lon|don, Richard Whitford.