lig. To the same.

Thou hast so us'd thy Pen, (or shooke thy Speare,)
That Poets startle, nor thy wit come neare.

31. Brewer (Thomas).—The Weeping Lady: or, London like Ninivie in Sack-Cloth. Describing the Mappe of her owne miserie, in this time of Her heavy Visitation; with her hearty Prayers, Admonition, and Pious Meditations, as the occasions of them offer themselues in Her Passion. By T. B. (Thomas Brewer).—Half Bound, MoRocco.—Printed at London by B. A. and T. F. 1625.

Quarto, pp. 24. . . £3. 13*. 6d.

The title is over a wood engraving which represents preaching at Paul's Cross, with a scroll issuing from the minister's mouth "Lord, have mercy on us. Weepe, Fast, and Pray."—The wood cut again appears at p. 4.

32. Baron (Robert).—'EPoronAirNiON or the Cy

frian Academy. By Robert Baron of Grayes nne, Gent.—Half Bound, Morocco, Uncut, the fore-edges being unopened.—London, printed by W. W. 1647.

Octavo, pp. 126. . . . . «£lO.

Dedicated thus:—"To the Supereminent Paragon of Art, and Literature, the truly noble James Howell, Esquire, Nestors Longevity and both worlds Felicity." Soon after Howell had received his copy of the book, he wrote a letter to Baron, who was his nephew, of which the following is a part.

"To Mr. R. Baron, at Paris. "Gentle Sir,

"I receiv'd and presently ran over your Cyprian Academy with much greediness, and no vulgar delight, and Sir, I hold myself much honor'd for the Dedication you have been pleas'd to make thereof to me, for it deserv'd a far higher Patronage: Truly, I must tell you without any Complement, that I have seldom met with such an ingenious mixture of Prose and Verse, interwoven with such varieties of fancy, and charming strains of amorous Passions, which have made all the Ladies in the Land in love with you: If you begin alresidy to court the Muses so handsomely, and have got such footing on Parnassus, you may in time be Lord of the whole Hill and those nice Girls; because Apollo is now grown unweldy and old, may make choice of you to officiate in his room and preside over them."

Howelfs Letters, vol. HI. No. 17.

33. Baron (Robert).—Pocula Castalia. The Author's Motto. Fortune's Tennis-Bail. Eliza. Poems. Epigrams, &c. by R. B. Gent. (Robert Baron.)—Morocco.—Printed by W. H.for Thomas Dring, 165O.

Octavo, pp. 156 £2. 2s.

Prefixed are commendatory Verses by Jam. Howell, Tho. Moore, in English, and by C. B. Art Baccha, in Latin. Fortune's Tennis Ball is Dedicated "To the Choicest of my noble Friends John Wroth Esquire." Howell's verses, which are quaint in the extreme, are as follow:

To the Rare, and most Hopefutt Gentleman Mr. Robert Baron, upon his Pocula Castalia.

May great ApoUo with his Holy Quire
Of charming Girles my train no more inspire,
May I ne'er fetch more naps on Pfiocis Mount,
Or drink one drop of Aganijtpes Fount,
If these Castalian cups were not to me
As Nectar, as pure Nectar from the Bee.

Your Pregnant Muse beares ripe fruit in her Spring,

Her green is yellow; If She thus take wing

To reach the Laurell, and so fast improve

The stock of Poets by such heats of love,

You may in time, where now old Phcebtts sits,
Be Lord Chief Baron of the Court of Wits.

Jam. Houiett.

34. Bradshaw (Thomas).—The Shepherds Starre, Now of late seene, and at this hower to be observed merueilous orient in the East: which bringeth glad tydings to all that may behold her brightnes, hauing the foure elements with the foure Capitall vertues in her, which makes her Elementall and a vanquisher of all earthly humors. Described by a Gentleman late of the Right worthie and honorable the Lord Burgh, his companie & retinue in the Briell in NorthHolland. (Thomas Bradshaw).—Morocco.—London, printed by Robert Robinson, 1591.

Quarto, pp. 60 £3O.

Dedicated to " The Right Honorables, and puissant Barons, Robert Deuerex Earle of Essex, and unto Thomas Lord Burgh;" then comes a prose address to the author from his brother Alexander, the publisher of the work, after which follow "I. M. Esquier, his farewell to England and to the Author;"—" The Authors farewell to England, and to his most intier friend I. M." and " T. G. (Thomas Groos) Esquire his replye to the farewell of the Author."

The following are the first fourteen lines of "Corydon's Hymne to the praise of Amaryllis."

Would mine eies were cristall fountaines
AVhere you might the shadow view:
Of my griefes like to these mountaines
Swelling for the loss of you.
Cares which carelesse are alas,
Helplesse, haplesse for they grow,
Cares like tares the number passe,
All the seed that loue doth sowe.
Who but could remember all,
Twinkling eies still representing
Starres, which pearce me to the gall,
Cause they lend no lenger lighting
And your Nectar lips alluring,
Humane sence to tast of heauen.

3,5. Blacke Booke (The).—Morocco.—Bl.uU ?Utt£V-—London, printed by T. C.for lejfreyCherlton, 1604.

Quarto, pp. 44 £25.

The title is in white letters on a black ground; then follows the Epistle to the Reader, at the end of which are the initials T. M. The only poetical part of the volume consists of seventyone lines, and is intitled " A MoralL Lucifer ascending, as Prologue to his owne Play."—It would appear from the following extract that T. M. was the author of a drama called Doctor Faustus, but if performed, it probably was not published, as Christopher Marlow's " Tragical History of Doctor Faustus," appeared in quarto, the same year as this volume. "Then another doore opening rere-ward, there came puffing out of the next roome a villainous Leiftenant without a Band, as if he had been new cut downe, like one at Wapping, with his cruell Garters about his Necke, which filthy resembled two of Dericks Neckelaces: hee had a head of hayre like one of my Diuells in Docter Faustus, when'the olde Theater crackt and frighted the Audience."

36. Breton (Nicholas).—A Diuine Poeme, diuided into two partes: the Rauish't Soule, and the Blessed Weeper. Compiled by Nicholas Breton, Gentleman.—Imprinted at London, for lohn Browne and lohn Deane, 16O1.

Quarto, pp. 48 £\5.

Dedicated to the Countess of Pembroke, and consists, as the title states, of two parts, and of two distinct modes of versification: —" The ravish't Soule," which describes the devout aspirations of spiritualized affection, is written in the elegiac quatrain; and " the Blessed Weeper," which represents the sorrowful lamentation of Mary Magdalen at the tomb of our Saviour, is in seven line stanzas.

37. An Excellent Poeme, upon

the longing of a blessed heart: which loathing the world, doth long to be with Christ. With an Addition vpon the definition of loue. Compiled by Nicholas Breton, Gentleman.—Imprinted at London, for lohn Browne, and lohn Deane, 1601. Quarto, pp. 48 <£9. 9s.

Dedicated "To the fauourer of all good studies, and Louer of all vertues, the Lord North:" then follows a short address to the reader. A Sonnet, subscribed "H. T. Gent." speaks of two hopeful twins which " a Rauisht soule, and longing Spirit sends." Eighteen lines in English, intitled " Ad Librum," conclude the introductory matter. The Poem extends to seventy-two stanzas, and is followed by another of twenty-seven stanzas, entitled "What is Love;" after which comes " Solus in totb laudandus Deus," in sixteen sextains, English, and an unentitled conclusion in seven more.

38. -The Soules immortall

Crowne; consisting of Seaven glorious Graces. 1. Virtue. 2. Wisedome. 3. Love. 4. Constancie. 5. Patience. 6. Humilitie. 7. Infinitenes. Divided into Seaven Dayes Workes: and dedicated to the King's most Excellent Majestic. (By Nicholas Breton.)—At London, printed by H. Loivnes; and are to be sold by I. C. and F. B. 1605.

Quarto, pp. 68 ,£10.

39. Breton (Nicholas).—-Sir Philip Sydneys Ourania, That is,. Endimions Song and Tragedie, Containing all Philosophic. Written by N. B. (Nicolas Breton).—Half Bound.—London, printed by Ed. Allde,for Edward White, 1606.

Quarto, pp. 104 <£?.

40. Another edition of the

same work.—Morocco.—London, printed for Jane Bell, 1655.

Quarto, pp. 1O2 £,5. 5s.

Dedicated in verse to "My ever-honored Lady and Mistris Arcadian Cynthia, Maria Pembrokiana,' and then follow complimentary verses to various ladies. After the Poem are poetical addresses to Sir John Smith of Olde-Hunger, Knight, and John Stone, Esquire, Counsellor of the Law.

Little is known concerning this poet; Bishop Percy says, he was of some fame in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and in Sir E. Brydges' enlarged edition of Phillips's Theatrum Poetarum, his Ballad of Phillida and Corydon is styled " a delicious little poem ;** and proceeds., " if we are to judge from this specimen, his poetical powers, for surely he must have had the powers of a poet, •were distinguished by a simplicity, at once easy and elegant."

41. Barley-breake, or a Warning for Wantons. Written by W. N. Gent.—Title and dedication damaged.—Printed at London, by Simon Stafford, 1607.

Quarto, pp. 32. ... ,£lO. 105. Dedicated "To the Vertvovs and chaste Maiden, Mistresse Eliz. C. daughter to the Worshipfull Rob. C. Esquire, yours in seruice W. N. wisheth all fortunes smiles, with the dew of immortall felicitie."—See an account of the Poem in the British Bibliographer, vol. l.'p. 65.

42. Banquett Of Dainties; for all suche Gestes that loue moderatt Dyate.—Ulcltk Ertttf.—Mo