Penny Dreadfuls, 1602 · page 136 of 400
Penny Dreadful Cover — page 136: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose from what appears to be a historical or genealogical narrative poem. The text discusses English royal lineage through an extended metaphor of a tree: a "Greene tree, cut from withered Stick" represents England's dynasties, with various kings (Harold, the Williams, Henry the Norman, Stephen, and Henry II) identified as different parts or stages of this symbolic tree's growth. The passage interprets a prophetic saying about England's restoration through its successive rulers, tracing descent from Norman conquest through the Plantagenet line.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ani exotlly ial a auhiisicye eth » Schiffmatik his ie Soo | - Meanes while the learned want their Meed, & none with profitheares _ The tedious Do ult,whofe artles tong doth preachtowearyeares, ~ Here could lenter ina Field of matter more then much, ? LO ae } ~ Bur geffe thatallis out of frame,and long time hati bin fiuch, ~ And what thall be let time difclofe, This onely will Leouch: < | A Greene tree,cut from withered Stick sdenided Furlongs three » From proper roote,it (hall reioyne and after fruitfull bee, Saidthenthe King,And thus doe fome expound that Prophefee : Ee "The Tree this Land,the Stock and Roote the thralled Enelihline: _ King Aaroldand the Welliams twaine the Furlongs,fome define, Henry the Normane that begot on Mamade his Engh{h Queene : Ad awdefecond Henrtes Mother,was the Trees returne to greene. King Stephen firft,chough not fo firme,did in this Tarne proceeds ; Ada fecond Henrié perfedlly reftalled Wodens Seed,