
Thomas Chatterton Manuscript Project
The Parlyamente of Sprytes
Written 1768 - Published 1782, 1789
(C. aged 15/16, Scrivener at Lambert's)
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A view of John Young's Great House on St Augustine's back, in Bristol, bought by Edward Colston for use as Colston's Hospital, a school for 100 poor boys (established in 1710). Chatterton was a boarder at the school from 3rd August 1760 - 30 June 1767. The image is part of a sidebar to a large, later printing of Millerd's map of Bristol, the original dates to 1671. View the whole map at Wikimedia.
John Young's Great House, was built on the site of the Carmelite Friars, which is, perhaps, why Chatterton includes them in the title of his Entyrlude, 'The Parlyamente of Sprytes. An ENTYRLUDE, Plaied bie the Carmelyte Freeres at Mastre Canynges, Hys Greete Howse...
Do note that there are two 'Great Houses' mentioned above.
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John Young's Great House, on St Augustine's back (which became Colston's School), is long gone. The site now houses the Bristol Beacon (previously called the 'Colston Hall').
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Mastre Canynges' Greete Howse, which was sited on Redcliffe Street (within view of St Mary Redcliffe), was demolished in 1937 ; nothing, apart from a medieval arch and an end wall, remains. However, in the 15th century the house was great enough to welcome King Edward IV, and his entourage, as depicted in Ernest Board's painting. See the painting and a map showing the location of Canynges House : View
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The Parlyamente of Sprytes
Wroten bie T. Rowleie and J. Iscam
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An Entyrlude,
Plaied bie the Carmelyte Freeres at
Mastre Canynges hys greete Howse,
before Mastre Canynges
and Byshoppe Carpenterre,
on dedicatynge the Chyrche of
Oure Ladie of Redclefte--hight.
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The Parlyamente of Sprytes.
Wroten bie T. Rowleie and J. Iscam​
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Entroductyon bie Queene Mabbe (bie Iscamme)
Title above is verbatim as per Taylor, and British Library, f.5.
Chatterton's Original Handwritten Manuscript
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British Library, ref f.5. : View Waiting
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First Printed Edition (The complete work) :
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Barrett's 1789 edition of The History of Bristol : View
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First Printed Edition (partial only of two verses) :
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Milles' 1782 edition Rowley's Poems : View
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​​First Printed in a Periodical (The Complete Work)
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European Magazine August 1789 (from Barrett) : View online​
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The Parlyamente of Sprytes
Chatterton's Original Handwritten Manuscript
British Library, ref f.5.
This Section is Vacant​
Waiting on BL to supply a photograph of the manuscript
The Parlyamente of Sprytes
First Complete Printed Edition
William Barrett's History of Bristol, 1789​​
(Pages 600 - 609)










The Parlyamente of Sprytes
First Printed Edition
(Partial only of two verses)
Jeremiah Milles 1782 edition

Page 185, Lines 249-258 (line numbers as used by Taylor).
For comparison, see Barrett section above, page 609.
Read the full page online : View

Page 189 &190, Lines 177-196 (line numbers as used by Taylor).
For comparison, see Barret section above, bottom of page 606 & page 607.
Read the full pages online : View


The Parlyamente of Sprytes
OCR Version by (QE!) of Taylor Transcript​