O ye women! which be inclinéd
By influence of your natúre
To be as pure as gold yfinéd,
And in your truth for to endure,
Armeth yourself in strong armúre,
(Lest men assail your sikerness,)
Set on your breast, yourself t’assure,
A mighty shield of doubleness.
Chaucer was called the Morning Star of Song, and his immediate followers proved to be satellites of far less magnitude.
John Skelton, an early Poet Laureate, was of a buffoon type of humor, yet thus speaks of his own verse.