This Poet must have had respectable connections at the end of the performance is a Copy of Verses, addressed to "The good Knight and my much honoured Scholler, Sir Philip Carey." There is also another, "To my worthy and worthily beloved Scholler, Thomas Bodenham, Esquier, Sonne and Heire Apparent of Sir Roger Bodenham, of Rotherves, Knight of the Bathe." The verses to this last personage have the following most singular subscription. Yours as whats most yours, JOHN DAVIES. STEPHEN BATEMAN. THIS Writer is introduced by Ritson in his Catalogue of English Poets; but I know of no other copy of this performance but that which is in the British Museum. TITLE PAGE. "The Travayled Pylgrim, bringing Newes from all Partes of the Worlde, such like scarce hard of before. Seene Seene and allowed according to the order appointed. Anno Domini. 1569." The Poem, such as it is, is dedicated to "The Right Worshipfull Sir William Damsell, Knight, Receyver Generall of the Queenes Majesties Court of Wardes and Lyveries." It is printed in black letter, and embellished by a great number of engravings on wood. The first chapter or section will serve as a specimen as well as any other. The mightye Jove celestiall, when first he tooke in hand That CHAOS huge, he made to fall, and formed so a land, Wherein he set and created all things as now we see. First beasts, then ma which he prepard their governor to bee, And named him in Eden grounde ADAM, that name he gave, Where nothing then could him confound till he a mate did crave. She EVE hight, a woman kinde when he awakt hir sawe As Innocents no sinne did minde till Sathan wrought their awe. That woman first she did consent, the apple for to proove, Wherby the Serpent did invent all joyes from them to moove. For their offence they were exilde out of that pleasaunt place; And Earth accursed forth did yealde the crabbed thorne a space. H 3 The The Earth then fayne were they to till, still laboring the ground; Thus Sattans drifts then thought to spill, he gave that deadly wound, Although that ADAM did offend, yet God so shewde his grace, A newe ADAM he after sent, which did all sinne deface; Such minde hath God alwayes to those that joyes his lawes to loove, And such as are his mortall foes, with plagues he doth them proove; As PHARAO, that cruell king, which did so sore oppresse The Israelites above all thing, and would not them release. It were to long all to recite, I minde them to foregoe. The swallow swift, once taken flight, then Auster straight doth bloe With nipping showres and frosts so colde, few may it long endure. But that once past, then doth unfold the sweete and pleasant showre, Whereby all things do spring and grow with sweet smell, most sweete, Till Hyems force himself doth showe the PISCES joyes in deepe. &c. &c. JOHN 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 præmium 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 addresses 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, The lower trees and shrubs there shelter get, Can Honour wake, and will fowle Enuie sleep? Whom |