Enter Raynulph, a monk, the presenter.
RAYNULPH
What Raynulph monk of Chester can
Raise from his [Polychronicon],
That raises him as works do men
To see light so long parted with again,
That best may please this round, fair ring
With sparkling judgments [circled] in
[I] shall produce; if all my powers
Can win the grace of two poor hours,
Well a-paid I go to rest.
Ancient stories have been best.
Fashions that are now call’d new
Have been worn by more than you;
Elder times have us’d the same,
Though these new ones get the name:
So in story what’s now told
That takes not part with days of old?
Then to prove time’s mutual glory
Join new time’s love to old time’s story.
Exit.