1554 - Parker, Henry - Triumph of Love

From International Robin Hood Bibliography
Allusion
Date 1554
Author Parker, Henry
Title Translation of Petrarch's Triumph of Love
Mentions A tale of Robin Hood

By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2013-07-19. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2021-01-07.

Allusion

       The fables of Isope (mooste towarde younge Lorde) are not only had in commendation amonge the Philosophers, as with Plato, Aristotle, & diuerse other of ye moste excellent of them, but also the deuines, when in theyr preachynges there cometh to theyr purpose any matter, to rehearse to the rude people, they alledge the allegorye sence of them, to the muche edification of the hearers. I saye therfore, that amonge other his wyttye fables (not to you noble gentleman vnknowen) he telleth, how that the cocke scrapynge on a doungehill, found a precious stone, and when he sawe it, disdayninge, he spurned it from hym, sayinge, what haue I to do with the, thou canste not serue me to no kynde of vse, and so dispysynge it, left it where as it laye on the dongehyll styll. Euen so there be a nomber of that sorte, that percase when they shall eyther heare redde, or them selfe reade this excellent tryumphes, of this famous clercke Petrarca, shall lytle set by them, and peraduenture caste it from them, desyrynge rather to haue a tale prynted of Robyn Hoode, or some other dongehyll matter then of this, whiche I dare affirme, yea, and the Italians do the same, that the diuine workes set aparte, there was neuer in any vulgar speech or language, so notable a worke, so clerckely done as this his worke.[1]

IRHB comments

The passage occurs in the dedication to Henry FitzAlan, Lord Maltravers (1538-56), son of Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel (1512-80). Henry Parker was 10th Baron Morley, Lord of Morley, Hingham, Hockering etc. in Norfolk. His dates, as cited in Wikipedia, are quite uncertain: "1476/1480/1481 – 3 December 1553/1556". The allusion has not been noted in previous lists or studies.

Lists

Sources

Background

Notes