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The Parlyamente of Sprytes

Written 1768 - Published 1782, 1789

(C. aged 15/16, Scrivener at Lambert's)

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site carmelite friars now colston school 1720 map bristol.jpg

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.  

 

  • 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'). 

 

  • 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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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)​​​

Chatterton's Original Handwritten Manuscript :

 

Transcript 2025 by (QE!) : 

  • Of Taylor's Transcript of the Original Ms. (above)  :  View online​

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First Printed Edition (The complete work) :

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First Printed Edition  (partial only of two verses) : 

 

​​First Printed in a Periodical (The Complete Work) :

  • European Magazine August 1789 (from Barrett)  :  View online​

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Panel 1 :

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 Chatterton's Original Manuscript

Panel 2 :

The Parlyamente of Sprytes

First Complete Printed Edition

William Barrett's History of Bristol, 1789​​

(Pages 600 - 609)

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Parlyamente of Sprytes p.602.jpg
Parlyamente of Sprytes p.605.jpg
Parlyamente of Sprytes p.606.jpg
Parlyamente of Sprytes p.607.jpg
Parlyamente of Sprytes p.608.jpg
Parlyamente of Sprytes p.609.jpg

Panel 3 :

The Parlyamente of Sprytes

First Printed Edition
(Partial printing of two verses only, as shown below)

Jeremiah Milles 1782 edition

Screenshot 2025-03-09 121640.jpg

Page 185, Lines 249-258  (line Nos. as per Taylor). 

(See Barrett in previous section above, page 609, for comparison)

Read the full page online  :  View

p.185 lines 249-258.jpg

Page 189 &190,  Lines 177-196  (line Nos. as per Taylor). 

(See Barret in previous section,

bottom of page 606 & page 607, for comparison).

Milles has split the following into two verses.

Read the full pages online : View

p.189 lines 177-180.jpg
p.190 lines 181-196.jpg

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