730 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 
Scotland at this time as a well established form of literature, 
it may be mentioned here that James VI in his Treatise of 
Scottis Poesie (1581) recommended a for tragicall rnatres, 
Complaintis, or Testamentis this kynde of verse following, 
callyt Troylus verse.” 1 i 
In The delectable history of sundry adventures passed by 
Dan Bartholmew of Bathe (1573), George Gascoigne intro¬ 
duces Bartholmew’s ^last wyll and Testament.” 2 The poem 
is an account of Bartholmew’s love for an undeserving woman 
and of his helplessness in her hands. Although the name of 
Bartholmew is used, the poem is really an account of the poet’s 
own experience. Bartholmew meets a girl of Cressid’s kind 
and falls into her snare. He is transported with joy, and, los¬ 
ing all caution, vows eternal fidelity to her. One day he finds 
indications that she is false, and cold suspect creeps into his 
mind. His worst fears are realized, and, sick at heart, he 
gives himself up to die. Here it is lie introduces his testa¬ 
ment. He bequeaths his soul to wait on Charon’s boat; till his 
love he weary of earthly vanities and join him to cross the 
river. His body is to be interred near that of his love in order 
to protect her from the greedy worms. His heart is bequeathed 
to Care. Various provisions are made for his funeral, and 
various metaphorical bequests are made to friends and attend¬ 
ants. Wet Eyes and Wailing Words are made his executors, 
each of whom are to have ten pounds of tears for their pay. 
Sorrow is to be his last supervisor. Following the testament 
comes a “Subscription and seale” which tells the testator’s 
name and place. 
The testament is one of the most beautiful in the literature. 
The phrasing is good and the verse excellent. The poem is a 
strong psychological study of the weakness of the human heart. 
A Will or Testament is the title of a very pretty poem of 
thirty lines, written by Humphrey Gifford about 1530. 3 The 
poet’s friends are made his executors; to the world he leaves 
1 E. Arber, English Reprints, London, 1869, p. 67. 
2 W. C. Hazlitt, The Complete Poems of George Gascoigne (Roxburgh 
Library), 1869, I, 99. 
»Grossart, Miscellanies (Fuller Worthies Library) vol. I, Gifford: 
Posie of Gilliflowers, 1870, p. 65. 
