The proof of the second proposition would in effect carry with it that of the first; but, notwithstanding. I choose to treat them separately and to begin with the first.
I shall premise only one postulatum, which is, that Poets of the same age and country use the same language, allowances being made for certain varieties, which may arise from the local situation, the rank in life, the learning, the affectation of the writers, and from the different subjects and forms of their compositions [2].
This being granted, I have nothing to do but to prove, that the language of the poems attributed to Rowley (when every proper allowance has been made) is totally different from that of the other English writers of the XV Century, in many material particulars. It would be too tedious to go through them all; and therefore I shall only take notice of such as can be referred to three general heads; the first consisting of words not used by any other writer; the second, of words used by other writers, but in a different sense; and the third, of words inflected in a manner contrary to grammar and custom.
Under the first head I would recommend the following words to the reader's consideration.
1. ABESSIE. E. III. 89.
Whylest the congeon flowrette abessie dyghte.
2. ABORNE. T. 45.
Snett oppe hys long strunge bowe and sheelde aborne.
3. ABREDYNGE. Æ 334.
Agylted Ælla, thie abredynge blynge.
4. ACROOLE. El. 6.
Didde speke acroole, wythe languishment of eyne.
5. ADAVE. H. 2. 392.
The fynest dame the Sun or moon adave.
6. ADENTE. Æ 396. ADENTED. G. 32. Ontoe thie veste the rodde sonne ys adente. Adented prowess to the gite of witte.