with the present publication, and his adventurous life in the succeeding year.

Most of this volume is a compilation, and consists of selected extracts from his own performances. But one new essay, extending to fifteen pages, occurs with the following title: "An Interjection, occasioned by a sudden Ejaculation whilst this review of neglected Remembrances was transcribing; which shall here stand inserted, though it be no part of what was heretofore expressed or intended to be hereunto added." In this he religiously trusts to be honoured with a celestial record for all his unrequited efforts as a national and moral monitor. He at the same time breathes friendly encouragement to his fellow-citizens, while he finally ex

horts them to reform:

"When penitence brings reformation in,

It makes a blessing, what a plague had been:
Yea, then 'twill to her future weal be turn'd,
That this great City was to ashes burn'd.--
She, Phonix-like, shall gloriously arise,
Out of that rubbish wherein now she lies;
And I, who now am disrespected here,
Shall have a monument erected there."

85. "Mr. Geo. Withers Revived: or his Prophesie of our present Calamity, and (except we repent) future misery. Written by him in the year 1628. London, printed for William Marshall, at the Bible in Newgate street, 1683." Single sheet, folio.

At N° 22 of the present list of Wither's productions, this is only noticed as mentioned by Wood. I have since seen two editions: the former in quarto, with a manuscript date of 1642; the latter in folio, with a printed date of 1683. It proves, on examination, to contain a selection of extracts from the eighth Canto of Britain's Remembrancer," first published in 1628: many passages in which publication are justly described as eminently beautiful," by Mr. Brayley. See Gent. Mag. Vol. lxxx. p. 217.

$5. "Divine Poems: by way of paraphrase on the Ten Commandments. Illustrated with twelve copper

plates;

plates: shewing how personal punishments have been inflicted on the transgressors of these Commandments; as is recorded in the Holy Scripture. Never before printed. Also a metrical paraphrase upon the Creeds and Lord's Prayer. Written by George Wither, Esq. author of Brittain's Remembrancer." Ver. 8vo. 1688. Wood informs us this was first entitled Meditations on the Ten Commandments. It was republished, or at least had a new title-page, in 1697, and again in 1728: but the following explanatory prefix, by his daughter and only surviving child, did not reappear.

"To all such as have formerly been Friends to the Author.

"It was seldom my Father's practice, especially of late years, to dedicate his works to particular or great persons; and did I attempt any such thing now, I should be afraid lest I might disturb his rest in the grave. All you therefore that had a kindness as well for his person as his works, I desire to accept of my good-will in sending this relique of his abroad in publick, which, though it hath been written some considerable time, is but lately minded, or come to hand. And however it happened to be bundled up with other old writings where I found it, yet I verily believe it was designed for the press, by those many alterations he had made, which so blur'd the original copy, that I was forced to get it transcribed, before it was fit for myself or any body else to read. And having now perused it, I could not in conscience conceal such necessary truths as are therein contained, in hopes that it may take the effect himself desires in his Epistle to the reader, exprest in his prayer; believing that that good Spirit which first dictated those petitionary words will accompany them to the world's end. And then I also believe that what I have done in making this publick, will be acceptable both to God and man: which

This goes far to refute the sarcasm on Wither, cited by Granger from Dryden; that if he "rhymed and rattled, all was well."

that

that it may, shall ever be the prayer of your assured friend in all offices of love and service.

E. B."

"From my lodgings at Mr. Snowdens, a printer, at the lower end of Great Carter-Lane, the 23d of April, 1688."

An address written by Wither himself, denotes this commentary on the Decalogue to have been composed, during the visitation of the great plague, in some obscure retreat, where neither his estate nor the place he lived in, could afford the use of books; instead of which therefore he perused his own heart to see what he could read there. "For in the heart of man (he argues) the holy text of God's law was originally written, though human corruption hath now so defaced it." The copper-plate, made use of in his book, Wither acknowledges to have received, among other kindnesses, from some of his neighbours: but we are advertised by his daughter that the copper-plates mentioned by her father were lost in some of his removals from one habitation to another, so that she had been forced to get new ones made. These are but indifferently executed, from very indifferent designs. Wither's illustrations are written in twofold measures, after the following mode.

"V. Honor thy Father and thy Mother, &c. (Cut of Absalom hanging on a tree, &c.)

"He that sought his Father's death,

Sonless yielded up his breath.

He that would his prince have slain,
Had his pardon sent in vain;
For although the king forgave,
Justice urg'd her due to have,
That rebellious children may
Learn this precept to obey;
And the subject stand in awe
How he sins against this law.

What of rebelling subjects will become
And graceless children, view in Absalom :
For whose offence the earth did, as it were,
Refusal make the body's weight to bear,
And Heav'n rejects it: that they might present
Him hanging for a dreadful monument:

Through

Through ages all, to warn and keep in awe
The slighters and infringers of this law."

His paraphrastic version of the Creed, &c. had long before been printed. See note on N° 11 of this List.

T. P.

[To be continued.]

Pan his Pipe: conteyning three pastorall Egloges in Englyshe hexameter; with other delightfull verses. London: Imprinted by Richard Jones. 1595. qto.

The title of this book was gathered from the Stationers' register by Mr. Warton, from him by Mr. Herbert, and from both by Mr. HASLEWOOD in the BRITISH BIBLIOGRAPHER, Vol. I. p. 501. The date, according to the licence, was 1594; but a copy of the book in his Majesty's library, ascertains it to have been published in 1595. The author was Francis Sabie. His introductory verses to the first Eclogue are not unpleasing.

"It was in the moneth of May,

All the fields, now looked gay,
Little Robin finely sang,

With sweet notes each green wood rang;
Philomene, forgetfull then

Of her rape by Tereus done,
In most rare and joyfull wise
Sent ber notes unto the skies:
Progne, with her bloody breast,
'Gan in chimney build her nest:
Flora made each place excell
With fine flowers, sweet in smell;
Violets of purple hue,

Primroses most rich in shew,

Unto which with speedie flight

Bees did flie and on them light,

And with thyme loading their thighs,

Did it carry to their hives:

Some it tooke which they had brought,
And in combs it rarely wrought.

Fish from chrystall waves did rise
After gnats and little flies:
Little lambs did leape and play
By their dams in medowes gay;
And as soon as Lucifer

Had expelde the lesser starres,
Tyterus and Thirsis hight,
Through a lattice seeing light,
Which did come from Ecus* bright,
As they lay in drowsie beds,
Up did lift their sluggish heads,
Hasting sheep from fouldes to let,
Sheep, which bleated for their meate,
Greedilie did plucke up grasse,
Sheep let out from place to place;
And by chance as heards did meet,
Shepheards did each other greete.
Thirsis looked very sad,

As he some ill fortune had,

Tyterus first 'gan to speake,

And his mind in this sort breake:" &c.

T. P.

¶Julyan Notary's 2d Edition of Caxton's Chronicle, printed in 1515.

COLOPHON" Here endeth this present Cronycle of En glonde with the fruyte of tymes. compyled in A booke. And also newely Enprynted in the ye re of our lorde god. M.CCCCC & XV. by me Julyan Notary dwellynge in Powlys chyrche yarde besyde ye westedore by my lordes palyes." It consists of folios cxxviii.

"The Prologue. †

In so moche that it is necessary to
all Creatures of Chrysten Relygion
or of fals Relygyons or Gentyles &
machomytes to knowe theyr pryn
ce or Pryncis that regne upon the

A misprint probably for Eos or Eous, i. e. Aurora. †This Prologue was first added by one sometyme scholemaster," who printed the Chronicles at St. Albans, 1483. As usual, the orthography of the two copies varies throughout. A few material alterations are noticed.

VOL. IL

&