doubt not, if produced at an auction for sale, it would fetch several guineas.

8. "A REMEMBRANCE OF THE HONORS DUE TO THE LIFE AND DEATH OF ROBERT EARLE OF SALISBURY, LORD TREASURER OF ENGLAND, &c.

Imprinted at London, for John Wright, and are to bee sold at his Shop, neere Christ Church Doore. 1612."

This tribute to the memory of the Earl of Salisbury is in black letter. The Author's name is Richard Johnson. It is partly in prose and partly in verse, but unfortunately is imperfect.

A portrait of the Earl is prefixed, of the value of which I am not competent to judge.

The Bishop of Rochester purchased all the above Tracts for, I believe, half-a-crown. They would now produce a great many guineas.

DR.

DR. DEE.

THE book which I am about to describe is represented to me by Mr. Reed, as one of the scarcest in the English language.

At p. 79, we are informed that only one hundred copies were printed. That which belongs to the British Museum has a long manuscript of Dr. Dee's writing annexed to it, which seems to be a kind of continuation of the subject.

It is certainly the most rational and methodical that this singular character ever composed. The title page may be thus described:

Within an oblong scroll, at each angle of which are two roses as supporters, and in the center the crown and arms of England, are these words:

"GENERAL AND RARE MEMORIALS, PERTAYNING TO THE PERFECT ARTE OF NAVIGATION.

Annexed to the PARADOXAL Cumpas, in Playne. Now first published: 24 Yeres after the first

Invention thereof."

Round the scroll is

"Plura latent quam patent."

s 4

1

The

1

The remainder of the frontispiece, which is engraved on wood, appears to be a representation of the Triumph of England over the Armada of Spain.

On account of the extreme rareness of the book, and the whimsicality of the thing itself, I have transcribed the whole of the Advertisement and Introduction,

A necessary Aduertisement, by an unknown freend, giuen to the modest, and godly readers; who also carefully desire the prosperous state of the Commonwealth of this BRYTISH KINGDOM, and the politicall SECVRITIE thereof.

Lamentable and irkesome* are these our drery dayes: (my welbeloued cuntriman) seeing the conditions of to to many, are become such, as, to be to to curious of other † mens dooings: as though they themselues were superhabundantly perfect, or dwelt in security, of not beyng at any tyme hereafter, either surueyed, or controlled for their own.

* Veritas (vt fertur) Odium parit, Ast, tantum id fit, apud veritatis osores: ipsi etiam omnipotentis exosos Deo,

+ Cur quidem vides festucam, quæ est in oculo fratris tui, trabem autem, quæ est in oculo tuo, non animaduertis? Math. 7.

Nay,

2 Nay, seeing the subtilty and impudency of * some, is such, that they can, and dare, cunningly and craftily, conuey to themselues (or, to whom they list) the title and interest of the thanks and commendation, due to other men: who are not of so brasen visages, as to practise such ambitious fatches for themselues, or to procure such malitious disgraces, to other: but are of that myldenes of spirite, as PATIENTLY TO ATTEND THE END, which shall reueale the VERITY: when, iust gwerdon shall to euery man be distributed accordingly.

3

4

And thirdly, seeing some are so doggedly violent and vayngloriously doting, that they can not like, consent, or well suffer any od Man, beside them selues: or otherwise, then by them selues, to receiue due salary, either of credit, commendation, or liberall consideration: where their word or working (directly or indirectly) may hinder the same.

Fourthly, how pitifull is the case, that diuers, of sundry states † haue (of late) become so shameles lyers, and to some priuate mens liues, (thereby) so dangerous, that, if credit had bin giuen to them (by other than the light

* Legas & relegas librum Quintum Politicorum Aristotelis.

+ As, Κλερκ, υυδύνγ ἔμσελφ ιν θε τους Σιρ τον Βουρν Κνιγτ, Πρίδιοξ Μαχελ, δε,

hedded

5

hedded sort) of such murders and treasons, as (most diuell like) they haue imagined and reported to be and withall, (wholy, of their own hellish myndes without any spark or drop of veritie) haue fathered the same vpon the very innocent (yea, so much an innocent, as for any such thought, in his hart, at any tyine, embracing or fostering): It had bin greatly to haue bin douted that the mighty wrath of God, would not so long haue forborn the iust revenge (of so haynous abhominacions) taking, vpon, as well such wicked and principall forgers, as on other the fickle fauourers, or careles sufferers of the same, any whit to preuaile.

Seeing the Prince of darkenes hath sundry such his factors: And yet one* other kinde more wicked and abhominable than the rehearsed: which are such, as not onely, they themselues, commit diuelish horrible facts, but also practise other very fraudulent feats; And all to their priuate lucre onely: chiefly ayding and furnishing vp their own shamefull credit herein, with the cownterfeting of other honest and learned men their letters: as, written vnto them, in such their vngodly and vnlawfull affrayes: or, as falsly, reporting their conferences had with

* Υινσεντ Μυςφιν.

them,