JOHN NORDEN. THIS old English Poet is mentioned by Ritson; but I never saw any specimen of his performance, and know of no other copy of the work below described, but that in the British Museum. "The Labyrinth or Vertues Delyght and Envies Opposite. Virtus abunde sui est proemium quicunque sequatur Eventus. Printed at London, for John Badge, and are to be sold at the Great South Doore of Paules, and at Brittaines Bursse. 1614." It is dedicated to "the Right Honourable Sir Robert Carr, Knight, Baron of Branspeth, Vicounte Rochester, Earle of Somersett, of His Majesties most honorable Privie Counsell, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, and Lord High Treasurer of Scotland." The dedication is in that style of fulsome panegyric, which distinguished and disgraced similar addressers at this period of our history, and was perhaps never more misapplied. Several complimentary verses to the author are prefixed. The following is as favorable a specimen of the Author's talents as can be given: The Bramble and the Cedar neighbours bee, The Bramble bends, breaks not, when tempests rise, Vnder the Cedars on a mountain set; The lowere trees and shrubs there shelter get, Can Honour wake, and will fowle Enuie sleep? The highest of the highest rancke is set, Whom Whom she detracteth, be he hye or low, Receiues a wound, before he feeles the blow. But who pursues another, in despite, Hurts more hymselfe, then him he aymes to smite. " ANNALIA DUBRENSIA. Upon the yeerely celebration of Mr. Robert Dovers Olimpick Games upon Cotswold Hills. Written by MICHAEL DRAYTON, Esq. JOHN BALLARD, Oxon. THOMAS COLE, Oxon. WILLIAM BOSSE, CAPTAINE MENESE, THOMAS HEYWOOD, Gent. London. Printed by Robert Raworth, for Mathewe Walbancke. 1636." This This is among our rare English Poetical Tracts. The writers were all persons of greater or less consideration in their day but that I may not extend this part of my work to undue limits, I subjoin, without any particular choice, a specimen of but one of their perform ances. "To my noble Friend, Mr. Robert Dover, on his brave Annual Assemblies upon Cotswold. Dover to doe thee right who will not strive, Ordained their games Olympic, and so named Strove for the garland in those noble times. That whilst Greece floursht and was onely then Nurse of all arts, aud of all famous men, Numbring their yeeres, still their accounts they made, Either from this or that Olympiade; So Dover from these games by thee begun Wee'l reckon ours as time away doth run, And And under written, loe this was the man, The Cotswold Shepheardes as their flocks they keepe, To put off lazie drowzinesse and sleepe, Shall sit to tell and heere this story tould, That hight shall come ere they their flocks can fould. Michaell Drayton. JOHN ROLLAND. ANE TREATISE, CALLIT THE COURT OF VENUS, devidit into four Buikes, newlie compylit by Johnne Rolland, in Dalkeith. Imprinted at Edinburgh by Johnne Ros. M.D. LXXV. Cum Privilegio Regali. THIS is in itself a most curious book, and this edition of extraordinary rarity. The following extract may induce the more inquisitive reader to examine the worke itself. LAMENTATIO |