ENGLAND'S HELICON.

Casta placent superis,

pura cum veste venite,

Et manibus puris

sumite fontis aquam.

AT LONDON

Printed by I. R. for Iohn Flasket, and are

to be sold in Paules Church-yard, at the

signe of the Beare. 1600.

To his loving kinde friend,

Maister Iohn Bodenham.

Wits Commonwealth, the first fruites of thy paines,
Drew on Wits Theater, † thy second sonne:
By both of which I cannot count the gaines
And wondrous profit that the world hath wonne.
Next, in the Muses Garden gathering flowres,
Thou mad'st a nosegay as was neuer sweeter:
Whose sent will sauour to Time's latest howres;
And for the greatest Prince no poesie meeter.
Now comes thy Helicon, § to make compleate
And furnish vp thy last impos'd designe:
My paines heerein, I cannot term it great,
But what-so-ere, my loue (and all) is thine.
Take loue, take paines, take all remaines in me:

And where thou art, my hart still liues with thee.

A. B.

[A collection of sententious extracts from the ancient moral philosophers, &c. printed in 1597.}

[A similar collection printed in 1598.]

[Belvidere, or the Garden of the Muses;" a selection of sentences in verse, printed in 1600 and 1610.]

$ [Printed in 1600, 4to. and 1614, 8vo.]

To his very louing Friends, M. Nicholas Wanton,

and M. George Faucet.

Though many miles (but more occasions doo sunder vs (kinde Gentlemen) yet a promise at parting dooth in iustice claime performance, and assurance of gentle acceptance would mightilie condemne me if I should neglect it. Helicon, though not as I could wish, yet in such good sort as time would permit, hauing past the pikes of the presse, comes now to Yorke to salute her rightfull Patrone first, and next (as his deere friends & kindsmen) to offer you her kinde seruice. If shee speede well there, it is all shee requires; if they frowne at her heere, she greatly not cares: for the wise (shee knowes) will neuer be other then them selues: as for such then as would seeme so, but neither are, nor euer will be, she holds this as a maine principle; that their malice neede as little be feared, as their fauour or friendship is to be desired. So hoping you will not forget vs there, as we continuallie shall be mindefull of you heere. I leaue you to the delight of England's Helicon.

Yours in all he may,

A. B.

To the Reader, if indifferent.

Many honoured names haue heretofore (in their par ticuler interest) patronized some part of these inuentions: many here be, that onely these Collections haue brought to light, & not inferiour (in the best opinions) to anie before published. The trauaile that hath beene taken in gathering them from so many handes, hath wearied some howres, which seuered, might in part haue perished; digested into this meane volume, may in the opinion of some not be altogether vnworthy the labour. If any man hath beene defrauded of any thing by him composed, by another man's title put to the same, hee hath this benefit by this collection, freely to challenge his owne in publique, where els he might be robd of his proper due. No one thing beeing here placed by the Collector of the same vnder any man's name, eyther at large, or in letters, but as it was deliuered by some especiall coppy comming to his handes. No one man, that shall take offence that his name is published to any inuention of his, but he shall within the reading of a leafe or two, meete with another in reputation euery way equal with himselfe, whose name hath beene before printed to his poeme, which nowe taken away were more then theft: which may satisfie him that would faine seeme curious, or be intreated