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A book of Bristol sonnets

By H. D. Rawnsley

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“TEMPORA MUTANTUR.” JEFFERIES' BOOK-SHOP.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


19

“TEMPORA MUTANTUR.” JEFFERIES' BOOK-SHOP.

Where once with solemn phrase the royal guest
Looked on the ships, and re-arranged the tolls,
The cylinder with slide and swing unrolls
Ten thousand mandates, while the printers jest!
And where grey Cannynge, Bristol's merchant priest,
Prayed in his chapel for his children's souls,
Some mortal author, lo, the sage extols!
The cheap book-bargain, not his God, is blessed!
But under Heaven we change as in a dream!
Glad in his hall would Cannynge entertain
The swift tongued counsellors, whose breath is steam,
Who send their thoughts to post o'er land and main;
And, though the book-shelf hides, the calf-skin binds,
Would welcome at his prayers such sympathetic minds.
 

In the seventh year of Edward IV., the Merchant-Venturers petitioned for confirmation of their prerogatives, and their ordinances were renewed.

This part of Cannynge's old house is now converted into a large book-shop.

Cannynge lost both of his sons in early life; and it has been thought that their death influenced him in no small degree in his retirement from trade, and entrance into the priesthood. He died, Dean of Westbury, November 7th, 1474.