Our of the olde fieldes, as men saithe, Cometh all this newe corn fro yere to yere ; And out of olde bookes, in goode faithe, Cometh all this newe science that men lere. CHAUCER. CAMBRIDGE: E. W. METCALF AND COMPANY, 1.4 arvard College Library, Bequest of FRANCIS PARKMAN. 17 Jan.1894. "OWEN FELLTHAM's Book of Resolves, -a treatise full of good counsels and fine conceits." OLDYS. EDITOR'S PREFACE. THE present volume consists chiefly of selections from Owen Felltham's Resolves; a work which met with great and deserved favor on its first appearance, and kept its place before the public for nearly a century, having passed through twelve editions between 1628 and 1709. It was thought that it had strong claims to a place in this collection of old English literature, on the ground both of its style and sentiment. In the old copies it fills a folio of 344 pages, and comprises 185 chapters. These chapters are of very unequal merit ; and it has been the Editor's aim to select for republication those that exhibit most strongly the author's characteristic beauties and excellences. The chapters selected are printed without alteration, except the omission, in one or two instances, of a few objectionable words. b |