WALTER HADDON. POEMATUM GUALTERI HADDONI, Legum Doctoris, sparsim collectorum Libri duo. Londini apud Gulielmum Seresium, Anno 1576, 12mo. Walter Haddon was one of the first and greatest restorers of learning in England; he was educated at Eton, and afterwards became a distinguished member of King's College, Cambridge. He was author of many works, but was in particular celebrated for his easy and elegant Latinity. This little volume, which I am about to describe, is found in the collection of the Bishop of Ely. It is of very considerable rarity, and contains not only the poems of Haddon, and those of his friends on his death; but some things also which are not in the edit. of 1567. From the manuscript in the first leaf, it appears to have formed a part of the curious and valuable library of that eminent antiquary Thomas Baker, who with many others lost their preferment and fellowships, for refusing to take the oaths of abjuration of King James. He had bequeathed it as a legacy to St. John's College, Cambridge, but the manuscript indicating this, is crossed over, whether whether by Baker, or by any other person, is uncertain. The manuscript is as follows. "Libellum hunc rarum admodum lego collegio D. Jo. Cant. Tho: Baker. Coll. Io. Socius. ejectus. The two first lines containing the bequest, as before observed, are erased, beneath the Tho: Baker, &c. is written, "Of this book I never saw another copy, nor had Mr. Rawlinson, whose business it was to enquire after books wrote by Eton College men. "By Mr. Wood it appears to be very scarce." In the next leaf in the same hand I find. "W. Haddon is buried at Christ Church, London. See his Epitaph in Stowe's Survey. Vol. i. Libiii. Page 136, Strype's edition. "De Haddone vide Lelandi Encomia, &c. Page 103, 104. "Vide Baleum de Script. Britan. Page 762, num. LXXXVII. Versu edidisse dicitur, Epistolam D. Jacobi. Lib. i. Aliquot Matthæi Capita. Lib. i. Quæ vix alibi Habentur.' The volume is introduced by some verses commendatory of the author by John Frere, M. D. From these we learn that the poems were collected by Thomas Hatcher, who was a Fellow of the College, and well known for his collections respecting the members of it. Haddon is represent ed as not inferior to Cicero in eloquence, nor to Ovid, Sedulius, Prudentius, and Juvencus, as a poet. A short sketch is next given of the author's life, which is followed by the verses subjoined, written by Haddon on himself. EJUSDEM VITA A SEIPSO CARMINE DESCRIPTA. Nona mihi vitæ cœperunt currere lustra Simplice natura vixi, neglector honorum, Lingua silens, animus res agitando frequens. Hæc est fortunæ meta suprema meæ. The poems in the first book are entirely on sacred subjects; in the second they are of a miscellaneous nature, and indicate some play fulness fulness and humour. I subjoin two on the sub ject which was often the sportive exercise of those who assisted in the revival of learning, whether it was expedient for a professed literary character to marry or to live single. UXOR NON EST DUCENDA. Omnis ætatis comitem protervam, Quæ tuum secum cupiat dolorem, 1 Quæ tuam pœnam redimat salutis Ore molestum. Quæ tuas iras, strepitus inanes Quæ tuos lusus, aconita dira Credere possit. Quæ tuas muris putat esse vires Quæ tuas Musas putet esse agrestis Carmina Fauni. Qua Quæ tuam linguam putet esse ranæ Quæ tibi caros Stygia palude Uxor temporibus, moribus, et locis. UXOR EST DUCENDA. Omnis ætatis comitem perennem Omnium rerum dominam fidelem Sumere suave est. Quæ tuum tecum doleat dolorem Quæ tuum vultum redimat salutis Ore jucundum. Qua |