Whom she detracteth, be he hye or low, Receiues a wound, before he feeles the blow. But, who pursues, another, in despite, Hurts more himselfe, then him he aymes to smite. " ANNALIA DUBRENSIA. UPON the yeerely celebration of Mr. Robert Dovers Olimpick Games upon Cotswold Hills. Written by CAPTAINE MENESE, THOMAS HEYWOOD, Gent. London. Printed by Robert Raworth, for Mathewe Walbancke. 1636." This This is one of the most rare of our English Poetical Tracts. The writers were all persons of greater or less consideration in their day; but that I may not extend this part of my work to undue limits, I subjoin, without any particular choice, a specimen of but one of their perform ances. "To my noble Friend, Mr. Robert Dover, on his brave Annual Assemblies upon Cotswold. Dover to doe thee right who will not strive The nimble Rider and skild Chariotere Strove for the garland in those noble times. Then to their harpes the Poets sang their rimes, So Dover from these games by thee begun And And under written, loe this was the man, The Cotswold Shepheards as their flocks they keepe, To put off lazie drowzinesse and sleepe, Shall sit to tell and heere this story tould, That hight shall come ere they their flocks can fould. Michaell Drayton. JOHN ROLLAND. ANE TREATISE, CALLIT THE COURT OF VENUS, devidit into four Buikes, newlie compylit by Johnne Rolland, in Dalkeith. Imprinted at Edinburgh be Johnne Ros. M.D. LXXV. Cum Privilegio Regali. THIS is in itself a most curious book, and this edition of extraordinary rarity. The following extract may induce the more inquisitive reader to examine the work itself. LAMENTATIO LAMENTATIO ESPERANTIE. Wa worth the time that ever I him saw, Wa worth the day that ever it did daw, To se my friend into sic thrist and thraw, Wa worth the toung that ever persewit sic law, I was to hait sa sone for to complaine, Now will ilkane hold me abhominabill, Now call they me ane Tratour tressonabill, ELIZABETH ELIZABETH GRYMESTON. THIS Poetical writer is not mentioned by Ritson, but was the author of the following work: "MISCELLANEA, -MEDITATIONS MORATIVES, by Elizabeth Grymeston. ME Non est rectum quod a Deo non est directum. London. Printed by Melch. Bradwood, for Folice Norton. 1604." This is a very rare and curious work. It is dedicated to the author's " Loving Sonne, Bernye Grymeston," and is a miscellaneous composition of verse and prose. The poetry is indifferent enough, but among the Memoratives at the end are some maxims, as good and judicious as any to be met with in Rochefoucault, or Bruyere. As for example: "The darts of lust are the eyes, and therefore fix not thy eye on that which thou mayst not desire. There is no moment of time spent which thou art not countable for, and therefore, when thou hearest the clocke strike, think there is now another houre come, whereof thou art to yeeld a reckoning. The |