Thomas Warton’s History of English Poetry contains records and stories concerning early dramatic and musical activity in Winchester, many of which have been repeated by later scholars (see, for example, Chambers, Medieval Stage, vol 1, pp 56, 361). A number of these that concern the boy bishop at Winchester College come from manuscripts that survive in the College Archives and are among the records from the college included in this collection. Unfortunately, the sources that Warton cites for some of his most interesting stories cannot now be found and may, in fact, have never existed. Certainly the suspect records give the initial appearance of being genuine. Warton gives likely sounding names for his manuscript sources, though not always where he found the manuscripts. He frequently gives what purport to be the original texts of the records, in Latin. The records thus appear to be too precise and detailed to be fabrications. However, scholars have found evidence that Warton did indeed engage in elaborate fabrication. H.E.D. Blakiston has carefully analyzed Warton’s quotations from Machyn’s Diary (BL: Cotton Vitellius F. 5) in the History of English Poetry and The Life of Sir Thomas Pope, Founder of Trinity College Oxford, 2nd ed (London, 1780) (‘Thomas Warton and Machyn’s Diary,’ English Historical Review 11, no 42 (April 1896), 282–300). Some of the passages quoted by Warton have indeed been transcribed from Machyn’s Diary, though Warton’s transcriptions show minor inaccuracies. But one lengthy passage, which describes the entertainments Sir Thomas Pope provided for Princess Elizabeth at Hatfield during Shrovetide 1556/7, including a play of Holofernes, does not appear anywhere in the extant manuscript of Machyn’s Diary. Warton offers a lengthy and complicated explanation, stating that because the manuscript had been badly damaged in the fire in Cotton’s library, he had to work from a transcript of the diary made by John Strype before the fire. Blakiston, however, argues that the manuscript was not damaged nearly as badly as Warton suggests, and further points out that the section of Machyn’s Diary covering Shrovetide 1556/7, when the play and other entertainments for Princess Elizabeth supposedly took place, is not damaged and ‘the entries from 26 Feb. to 18 March are continuous on a single leaf of the manuscript’ (Blakiston, ‘Thomas Warton,’ pp 289, 293–4, 297–9; my own examination of Machyn’s Diary confirms Blakiston’s observations).
The evidence that the Hampshire records in this appendix are fabrications is less certain than Blakiston’s evidence concerning the passages supposedly taken from Machyn’s Diary. Warton often visited his brother Joseph, headmaster of Winchester College, which gave him ready access to the college documents he used. He could well have used other Winchester documents, such as the Winchester diocesan records held by the bishop, and of course some of those documents might have been lost or destroyed in the two-and-half centuries since Warton wrote. What makes the records suspect is the very detail that makes them so attractive. Most records are laconic and matter of fact; scribes of official documents recorded only as much detail as was necessary for the purpose of the document. The records Warton quotes from surviving documents fit that pattern: records concerning the boy bishops at Winchester College include a payment in the bursar’s accounts for the feast of the Holy Innocents 1405 – ‘datis per Episcopum puerorum ij s. viij d.’ – and an entry in a 1432 college inventory for a cross on a staff for the boy bishop – ‘Item alia crux de cupro deaurato cum baculis pro Episcopo in die innocentium’ (see Winchester College Bursars' Accounts, 1405–6, and Winchester College Inventory, 1432).
The suspect records, in stark contrast, are so detailed as to be almost chatty, offering a wealth of the sort of information we would most like to know about what was performed, how, and by whom. But we find such information only rarely, and then in personal letters or journals, not in official records of the kind Warton claimed were his sources. Such documents might occasionally tell us a minstrel’s name, but not the subjects of what he sung, nor where he did it (which would have been obvious, and thus of little interest to the clerk doing the recording). So one reads with initial excitement, but also a good deal of suspicion, a record that tells us that in 1338 a minstrel named Herbert sang of the Danish giant, Colbrond, and also of Queen Emma (both local Winchester stories) in the prior’s hall. Or that two different groups of boy choristers dressed up like girls to perform in the refectory for the nuns of St Mary’s Abbey in 1441. The first of these records supposedly came from a register of the priors of St Swithun’s (a source Warton gives for several of the suspect records), the second from an account roll, neither of them documents in which we would expect to find unnecessary details (History of English Poetry, vol 1, p 89; vol 3, pp 323–5).
In his ‘Preface,’ Warton argues that ‘a history of poetry ... must be more especially productive of entertainment and utility,’ and ‘anecdotes of the rudiments of a favourite art will always be particularly pleasing’ (History of English Poetry, pp ii–iii). His aim, he says, was to construct his history as a continuous narrative: ‘I have chose to exhibit the history of our poetry in a chronological series: not distributing my matter into detached articles, of periodical divisions, or of general heads’ (p iii). He asks readers’ indulgence for the fact that ‘the citations in the first volume are numerous, and sometimes very prolix. But it should be remembered, that most of these are extracted from antient manuscript poems never before printed, and hitherto but little known. Nor was it easy to illustrate the darker and more distant periods of our poetry, without producing ample specimens’ (p viii). We can perhaps grasp here the motivation for inventing specimens to fill gaps in the narrative when few documents have survived and those that have are frustratingly uninformative in their terseness. Certainly his extensive research in manuscript sources and his training in Latin gave him the skills he needed to create records and manuscript references that would seem authentic. The passages below have thus been included in this appendix, rather than in the main records text, and any use of them by scholars needs to take into account the concerns about their authenticity outlined here.
p 89
...It was not deemed an occurrence unworthy to be recorded, that when Adam de Orleton, bishop of Winchester, visited his cathedral priory of Saint Swithin in that city, a minstrel named Herbert was introduced, who sung the Song of Colbrond a Danish giant, and the tale of Queen Emma delivered from the plough-shares, in the hall of the prior Alexander de Herriard, in the year 1338. I will give this very curious article, as it appears in an antient register of the priory. "Et cantabat Joculator quidam nomine Herebertus CANTICUM Colbrondi, necnon Gestum Emme regine a judicio ignis liberate, in aula priorisr."...
rRegistrum Prioratus Sancti Swithini Wintoniensis MSS. pergameni in Archivo de Wolvesey Wintoniensis These were local stories. Guy fought and conquered Colbrond a Danish champion, just without the northern walls of the city of Winchester, in a meadow to this day called Danemarch: and Colbrond's battle-ax was kept in the treasury of S. Swithin's priory till the dissolution. Thomas Rudborne apud Wharton, Anglia Sacra i. 211. This history remained in rude painting against the walls of the north transept of the cathedral till within my memory. Queen Emma was a patroness of this church, in which she underwent the tryal of walking blindfold over nine red hot ploughshares. Colbrond is mentioned in the old romance of the Squyr of Lowe Degree. Signature a. iii.
Or else so doughty of my honde
As was the gyaunte syr Colbronde.
See what is said above of Guy earl of Warwick, who will again be mentioned.
Record title: Warton's The History of English Poetry,
Vol 1
Author: Warton
Work title: English Poetry, Vol 1
THE | HISTORY | OF | ENGLISH POETRY, | FROM THE | CLOSE of the ELEVENTH | TO THE | COMMENCEMENT of the EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. | TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED, | TWO DISSERTATIONS. | I. ON THE ORIGIN OF ROMANTIC FICTION IN EUROPE. | II. ON THE INTRODUCTION OF LEARNING INTO ENGLAND | VOLUME THE FIRST. | By THOMAS WARTON, B. D. | FELLOW of TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD, and of the SOCIETY of ANTIQUARIES. | LONDON: | Printed for, and sold by, J. DODSLEY, Pall-Mall; J. WALTER, Charring Cross, T, BECKET, | Strand; J. ROBSON, New Bond-Street; G. ROBINSON, and J. BEW, Pater- noster-Row; | and Messrs. FLETCHER, at OXFORD. M.DCC.LXXVIII.
pp 174–5
...
...In the year 1374, six Minstrels, accompanied with four Harpers, on the anniversary of Alwyne the bishop, performed their minstrelsies, at dinner, in the hall of the convent of saint Swithin at Winchester; and during supper, sung the same GEST, or tale, in the great arched chamber of the prior: on which solemn occasion, the said chamber was hung with the arras, or tapestry, of THE THREE KINGS OF COLOGNEm. These minstrels and harpers belonged, partly to the royal houshold in Winchester castle, and partly to the bishop of Winchester. | There was an annual mass at the shrine or tomb of bishop Alwyne in the church, which was regularly followed by a feast in the convent. It is probable, that the GEST here specified was some poetical legend of the prelate, to whose memory this yearly festival was instituted, and who was a Saxon bishop of Winchester about the year 1040n...
mRegistrum Prioratus Sancti Swithini Wintoniensis ut supra [vol. i. p. 89.] "In festo Alwyni episcopi.... Et durante pietancia in aula conventus, sex MINISTRALLI, cum quatuor CITHARISATORIBUS, faciebant ministralcias suas. Et post cenam, in magna camera arcuata domini Prioris, cantabant idem GESTUM, in qua camera suspendebatur, ut moris est, magnum dorsale Prioris, habens picturas trium regum Colein. Veniebant autem dicti joculatores a castello domini regis, et ex familia episcopi.... " The rest is much obliterated, and the date is hardly discernable. Among the Harleian manuscripts, there is an antient song on the three kings of Cologne, in which the whole story of that favorite romance is resolved into alchemy. MSS. 2407. 13. folio Wynkyn de Worde printed this romance in quarto, 1526. It is in MSS. Harl. 1704. II. folio 49. b. Imperf. Collegio Trinitatis Dublinensis V. 651. 14. [C. 16.] MSS. More, 37. And frequently in other places. Barclay, in his EGLOGES, mentions this subject, a part of the nativity, painted on the walls of a churche cathedrall. EGL. V. Signature D. ii. ad calcem Ship of fooles, edito 1570....
nHe is buried in the north wall of the presbytery, with an inscription.
...
Record title: Warton's The History of English Poetry,
Vol 2
Author: Warton
Work title: English Poetry, Vol 2
THE | HISTORY | OF | ENGLISH POETRY, | FROM THE | CLOSE of the ELEVENTH | TO THE | COMMENCEMENT of the EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. | TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED | TWO DISSERTATIONS. | I. ON THE ORIGIN OF ROMANTIC FICTION IN EUROPE. | II. ON THE INTRODUCTION OF LEARNING INTO ENGLAND | VOL. II. | By THOMAS WARTON, B. D. | FELLOW of TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD, and of the SOCIETY of ANTIQUARIES, | and late PROFESSOR of POETRY in the UNIVERSITY of OXFORD. | LONDON: | Printed for, and sold by, J. DODSLEY, Pall-Mall; J. WALTER, Charring Cross, J. ROBSON, | New Bond-Street; G. ROBINSON, and J. BEW, Pater-noster-Row; and | Messrs. FLETCHER, at OXFORD. M.DCC.LXXVIII.
pp 323–5 (In discussing the revival of boy bishops under Mary Tudor)
...With respect to the disguisings of these young fraternities, and their processions from house to house with singing and dancing, specified in this edict, | in a very mutilated fragment of a COMPUTUS, or annual Accompt-roll, of saint Swithin's cathedral Priory at Winchester, under the year 1441, a disbursement is made to the singing- boys of the monastery, who, together with the choristers of saint Elisabeth's collegiate chapel near that city, were dressed up like girls, and exhibited their sports before the abbess and nuns of saint Mary's abbey at Winchester, in the public refectory of that convent, on Innocent's dayq. "Pro Pueris Eleemosynariæ una cum Pueris Capellae sanctæ Elizabethæ, ornatis more puellarum, et saltantibus, cantantibus, et ludentibus, coram domina Abbatissa et monialibus Abbathiæ beatæ Mariæ virginis, in aula ibidem in die sanctorum Innocentiumr." And again, in a fragment of an Accompt of the Celerar of Hyde Abbey at Winchester, under the year 1490. "In larvis et aliis indumentis Puerorum visentium Dominum apud Wulsey, et Constabularium Castri Winton, in apparatu suo, necnon subinstrantium omnia monasteria civitatis Winton, in ffesto sancti Nicholais." That is, "In furnishing masks and dresses for the boys of the convent, when they visited the bishop at | Wulvesey-palace, the constable of Winchester-castle, and all the monasteries of the city of Winchester, on the festival of saint Nicholas."
qIn the Register of Wodeloke bishop of Winchester, the following is an article among the INJUNCTIONS given to the nuns of the convent of Rumsey in Hampshire, in consequence of an episcopal visitation, under the year 1310. "Item prohibemus, ne cubent in dormitorio pueri masculi cum monialibus, vel foemellæ, nec per moniales ducantur in Chorum, dum ibidem divinum officium celebratur." folio 134. In the same Register these Injunctions follow in a literal French translation, made for the convenience of the nuns.
rMS. in Archivo Wulvesie apud Wintoniam It appears to have been a practice for itinerant players to gain admittance into the nunneries, and to play Latin MYSTERIES before the nuns. There is a curious Canon of the COUNCIL of COLOGNE, in 1549, which is to this effect. "We have been informed, that certain Actors of Comedies, not contented with the stage and theaters, have even entered the nunneries, in order to recreate the nuns, ubi virginibus commoveant voluptatem, with their profane, amorous, and secular gesticulations. Which spectacles, or plays, although they consisted of sacred and pious subjects, can yet notwithstanding leave little good, but on the contrary much harm, in the minds of the nuns, who behold and admire the outward gestures of the performers, and understand not the words. Therefore we decree, that henceforward no Plays, Comedias, shall be admitted into the convents of nuns, &c." Super CONCILIO tomo iv. p. 852. Binius, tomo iv. p. 765.
sMS. Ibid. See supra p. 303.
Record title: Warton's The History of English Poetry,
Vol 3
Author: Warton
Work title: English Poetry, Vol 3
THE | HISTORY | OF | ENGLISH POETRY, | FROM THE | CLOSE of the ELEVENTH | TO THE | COMMENCEMENT of the EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. | TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED | TWO DISSERTATIONS. | I. ON THE ORIGIN OF ROMANTIC FICTION IN EUROPE. | II. ON THE INTRODUCTION OF LEARNING INTO ENGLAND | VOL. III. | TO THIS VOLUME IS PREFIXED A THIRD DISSERTATION | ON THE GESTA ROMANORUM. | By THOMAS WARTON, B. D. | FELLOW of TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD, and of the SOCIETY of ANTIQUARIES, and | late PROFESSOR of POETRY in the UNIVERSITY of OXFORD. | LONDON: | Printed for, and sold by, J. DODSLEY, Pall-Mall; J. WALTER, Charring Cross, J. ROBSON, | New Bond-Street; G. ROBINSON, and J. BEW, Pater-noster-Row; and | Messrs. FLETCHER, at OXFORD. M.DCC.LXXXI.
p 206
...
...In the year 1487, while Henry the seventh kept his residence at the castle at Winchester, on occasion of the birth of prince Arthur, on a sunday, during the time of dinner, he was entertained with a religious drama called CHRISTI DESCENSUS AD INFEROS, or Christ's descent in helly. It was represented by the PUERI ELEEMOSYNARII, or choir-boys, of Hyde abbey, and saint Swithin's priory, two large monasteries at Winchester....
yRegistrum Prioratus Sancti Swithini Wintoniensis MS. ut supra
Record title: Warton's The History of English Poetry,
Vol 2
Author: Warton
Work title: English Poetry, Vol 2
THE | HISTORY | OF | ENGLISH POETRY, | FROM THE | CLOSE of the ELEVENTH | TO THE | COMMENCEMENT of the EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. | TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED | TWO DISSERTATIONS. | I. ON THE ORIGIN OF ROMANTIC FICTION IN EUROPE. | II. ON THE INTRODUCTION OF LEARNING INTO ENGLAND | VOL. II. | By THOMAS WARTON, B. D. | FELLOW of TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD, and of the SOCIETY of ANTIQUARIES, | and late PROFESSOR of POETRY in the UNIVERSITY of OXFORD. | LONDON: | Printed for, and sold by, J. DODSLEY, Pall-Mall; J. WALTER, Charring Cross, J. ROBSON, | New Bond-Street; G. ROBINSON, and J. BEW, Pater-noster-Row; and | Messrs. FLETCHER, at OXFORD. M.DCC.LXXVIII.