Friend to the Reader.-London, printed by express Order from the Wits for N. Brook, at the Angel in Cornhill, 1658.

Octavo, pp. 88.

£3. 13s. 6d.

After the title occurs a prose advertisement, dated from the Apollo in Fleet-Street, and humorously signed "thy loving friend Adoniram Banstittle, alias Tinder box." On sig. D 1. is a new title, "The Authors own Verse and Prose. With Marginall Illustrations on his obscurities, by a Friend to the Reader. Printed by the same Order," and on E7 is a distinct title to the two Characters.

As "Gondibert's Mistress" is mentioned in the title to these satirical poems, it has been thought by some that they were directed against Sir William D'Avenant. The matter is cleared up by Wood, who says the real object of ridicule was Samuel Austin, a Cornish man, and a Commoner of Wadham College, adding" such was the vanity of this person, that he being extremely conceited of his own worth, and over-valuing his poetical fancy, more than that of Cleveland who was then accounted by the Bravadoes the Hectoring Prince of Poets, fell into the hands of the Satyrical Wits of this university, who having easily got some of his Prose and Poetry, served him as the Wits did Tho. Coriat in his time, and published them under these titles, Naps, &c."The contributors to this collection, the names of whom are now known, were Thomas Flatman; Thomas Sprat, afterwards Bishop of Rochester; Samuel Woodford, who published a translation of the Psalms; Silvanus Taylour; George Castle; and Alexander Amidei, a Jew and Florentine by birth, who then taught Hebrew and other Languages at Oxford; he was afterwards converted, and read a Hebrew Lecture at Sion College, London. It is remarked by Warton in the preface to his edition of Milton's Minor Poems, that in the part of this volume, which enumerates the contemporary poets, not a syllable is said of Milton.

501. NEWMAN (Arthur).-Pleasvres Vision: with Deserts Complaint, and a Short Dialogve of a Womans Properties, betweene an old Man and a Young. By Arthvr Newman of the Middle Temple Gent:-London, printed by G. E. for Thomas Bayly, and are to be sold at his Shop in the Middle-row in Holbourne neere Staple Inne,

This very rare little volume, of which there are probably not so many as three extant, has an epistle dedicatory inscribed "To the Right Worshipfvll, and truely Worthy, Sir George Newman Knight;" next ensue twelve metrical lines from the author to the reader, and verses in commendation of the work, subscribed Marchadine Hunnis, Jo. Cookes, T: More, Pe: Lower (Latin), and G. Parre, the last of which are in English and Latin, and placed, designedly, at the end of the book.-Of Arthur Newman, no particulars are known, which is the more to be regretted as his productions, brief as they are, possess no common claims to attention. His verses have been justly characterized as “moral, harmonious, and pleasing." The " Dialogue of a Womans Properties," is much after the manner of Sir John Davis's Contention between a Wife, a Widow, and a Maid, printed in Davison's "Poetical Rhapsody."

The opening of the first poem "Pleasures Vision," is highly poetical:

When in the confines of the silent Night

Refreshing Sleep seis'd on each wearied wight
And did, with gentle Slumbers, and soft Ease,
The raging Motions of sad Care appease;
Husht were the moanes of haples wights opprest:
And harmless thoughts were lull'd in pleasant Rest:
Now, bad, vnquiet, and pernitious minds
Surceasd to plot their dangerous Designes :

Now, still'd was Strife, and troublesome Debate,

And pining Enuy, now forgot to hate:

And darknesse raign'd, that harmeles Sleepe might be
Hid from the Troubles which the Light doth see:
And, in the Bed whereon my selfe was laid,
There, drousie Slumbers, for their Lodging staid:
But me of Rest, deluding Morpheus 'reau'd;
And, in a Dreame my Senses so deceau'd
That, as awak't, I saw, or seem'd to see:
A perfect Man, or Gallant, one was he:
But by the strangenes of his outward show
He seem'd the last, and he was doubtles so.

VERBURY (Sir Thomas).-A Wife now the Widow of Sir Thomas Overbvrye. Being a most exquisite and singular Poem of the choice of a Wife. Wherevnto are added many witty Characters, and conceited Newes, written by himselfe and other learned Gentlemen his friends.-London, printed for Lawrence Lisle, and are to bee sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Tigershead, 1614.

A prose epistle to the reader, dated May 16, 1614, commences this edition, which is asserted by Mr. Neve in his "Cursory Remarks upon Ancient English Poets," to be the first year of its publication. Next follows "A Morning Sacrifice to the Author," in thirty-two lines, subscribed I. S. Lincolniensis Gentleman, and "Brief Panegyrickes to the Authors praise" by G. R.—T. B. and X. Z. Eleven six-line stanzas "On the choice of a Wife" ensue, and the poem then commences.-Opposite the title is a portrait of Overbury by Simon Pass.

503.

New and choise

Characters of seuerall Authors: Together with

that exquisite and vnmatcht Poeme, the Wife, written by Syr Thomas Ouerburie. With the former Characters and conceited Newes, all in one volume. With many other things added to this sixt Impression.-EXTRA.-London, printed by Thomas Creede, for Laurence L'isle, at the Tygers head in Pauls Church-yard, 1615.

Small octavo, pp. 182.

£1. 11s. 6d.

After a short address from the publisher to the reader, follow the "Briefe Panegyrickes" and the poem "Of the choyce of a Wife." In this sixth edition appeared the character of a Tinker, an Apparatour, and an Almanac-maker, which were claimed by J. Cocke as his own productions in a prefix to Stephens's Essaies, 2d edit. 1615. "Newes from the countrey," which in this volume is subscribed I. D. was printed as Dr. Donne's in 1669; it is therefore very probable that several other effusions were added by the publishers, in order to enlarge a work so often re-printed. This edition also includes a poem entitled "The Character of a happie life," by Sir Henry Wotton; and the present copy has Simon Pass's portrait of Overbury.

504. OVERBURY (Sir Thomas).-Sir Thomas Ouerbury his Wife. With addition of many new Elegies vpon his vntimely and much lamented death. As also New Newes, and diuers more Characters, (neuer before annexed) written by himselfe and other learned Gentlemen. The ninth impression augmented.-EXTRA.-London, printed by Edward Griffin for Lawrence L'isle,

The publisher's address to this edition is followed by "Elegies of seuerall Authors, on the untimely death of Sir Thomas Ouerbury poysoned in the Tower," also commendatory verses on him and his poem, by various writers, which with the poem "Of the choyce of a Wife," occupy thirty-one pages. Next follows "An Elegie on the late Lord William Howard Baron of Effingham dead the tenth of December, 1615," and "An Elegie on the Death of the Lady Rutland."-Pass's portrait is also in this copy. 505. Sir Thomas Overbury his Wife. With additions of new Characters

and many other Wittie Conceits never before Printed. The fifteenth Impression. - London, printed by R. B. for Robert Allot, and are to be sold at the signe of the Beare in Pauls Churchyard, 1632.

Small octavo, pp. 320. . . 1. 15.

In the prefatory matter to this edition is a complimentary poem in English "Ad Comitissam Rutlandiæ," which is not in the preceding ones. The "witty conceites" mentioned in the title consist of Paradoxes, "the Mountebankes Receipts," and three Songs so entitled: all these are of a burlesque description.

"In Overbury's poem of the Wife, the sentiments, maxims, and observations with which it abounds, are such as a considerable experience and a correct judgment on mankind alone could furnish. The topics of jealousy, and of the credit and behaviour of women, are treated with great truth, delicacy and perspicuity. The nice distinctions of moral character, and the pattern of female excellence here drawn, contrasted as they were with the heinous and flagrant enormities of the Countess of Essex, rendered this poem extremely popular, when its ingenious author was no more."

-Neve.

506. OLDHAM (John).-The Works of Mr. John' Oldham, together with his Remains. The Seventh Edition, Corrected.-EXTRA.-London, printed for Dan. Brown, &c. 1710.

Next to the title, as above, is another-" Satyrs upon the Jesuits : written in. the Year 1679. And some other Pieces by the same hand. London, 1710."-The present copy has a portrait by Vander Gucht, and another by Scheneker, after a painting by

Dobson.

507.

The Compositions in Prose and Verse of Mr. John Oldham. To which are added Memoirs of his Life, and explanatory notes upon some obscure passages of his writings. By Edward Thompson.-London, 1770.

508. OVIDIUS EXULANS or Ovid Travestie a Mock Poem, on Five Epistles of Ovid viz.

Dido to