Too soone expir'd, ô worthy long to proue

The worlds great wonder, and his countries loue,

And faire ELISA midst the glistering crew,
Which as our glorious Cynthia, seemes renew'd,
Lately remouing from our fainting view,
Her presence with all graces bright endew'd,

For Latmus shade, doth spend her precious houres On Rhemes banks amidst the Myrtle Bowres.

Yet like those glistring emblems neare the pole,
Still aboue earths horizon eleuate.

May our heroicke princes name controule

The starry orders of this well rul'd state,

And Brittaines chariot as the Northern wayne, With great Arcturus ioyne her CHARLEMAIGNE

A stately burs, built in the Western strand,
Renowned Exeter farre off doth seeme:
But London, Exchange-Royall of the land,
Is the obiect of the peoples best esteeme:
So whilst the glorious Day star shines more bright,
Cleare Hesperus obscur'd doth giue no light.

Sweet-seated Sals-bury Wilshyres ornament,
Neighb'red with plaines, graced with goodly vallies,
Like some delightfull garden of content,

Watring with siluer streames her well-squar'd allies,
But that it doth more firm and surely stand,
Doth seeme another Venice in our land.

Bathe, fairely built, throughout the world is knowne For her most wholesome strength repayring springs, But she which hath so strange effects oft showne, With ill successe did lend her founder wings:

Poore

Poore worme-like creeping men she might restore: Ne'er make them borne to goe, like birds to soare.

Bristow, the marchants magazin, enclos'd
With rocky hils, by Auons streame imbrac't,
Faire by industrious workmanship compos'd,
As by great nature's wisedome firmely plac't,
Viewing her verdant marsh, may well disdaine
Romes sometimes glory, Mars his champian plaine.

Old Winchester, the auncient seate of kings
For vertue, and for valour much renowned,
So subiect unto change are earthly things,
In stead of diadem with bayes is crowned.

Where worthy Wicchams children now maintaine
The fame once known by great king Arthurs traine.

Oxford by Isis crystall streames confin'd,
And well-discerning Cambridge, Learnings payre,
Excell those lamps which once on Ida shin'd
Bright Juno shew'd, cleare Pallas, Venus faire.
But eyther of these thrice illustrious eyes,
Doth brightnes, clearenesse, fairnesse all comprise.

As that true ensigne of th' Almighties loue,
Liuely displayed in the cloudy skye,
The gazers eye astonished doth moue

To wonder at such strange varietie :

Rain-bow, resembling London, Englands blisse,
The heau'ns great mercy, and earths maruell is.
Finis.

BARNABE

BARNABE BARNES.

THE following work by this ancient English Poet is incorrectly mentioned by Ritson. The copy from which my account is taken is in the valuable Collection of the Bishop of Rochester. "PARTHENOPHIL AND PARTHENOPHE. Sonnettes, Madrigals, Elegies and Odes.

To the Right Noble and Vertuous Gentleman M. William Percy, Esquier, his deerest friend.' The Printer's name, and date of the book are torn off, but on the next leaf there is

"To the learned Gentlemen Readers, The Printer," in which address is the date of "May, 1593."

These sonnettes, Madrigals, &c. are comprehended in 146 pages, to which are subjoined, in manuscript, pages 147, 148, 149, 150; and the following six printed Sonnets, viz. To Henry, Earle of Northumberland; Roberte, Earle of Essex; Henry, Earle of Southampton; Marie, Countesse of Pembrooke; the Lady Straunge; and the Lady Brigett Manners; to the last of which, is this subscription:

"Your Bewties most affectionate servant, Barnabe Barnes."

Then

Then follows "A Table for to finde the Sonnettes, Madrigalles, &c."

In the Sonnet to the Earl of Northumberland, the Author represents his Muse "blushing at her first entrance."

In the Sonnet to the Earl of Essex, he calls his work "his First borne Babe," and makes similar allusions in the Sonnets to the other noble personages above specified.

It will be seen, by referring to Ritson's Biographia Poetica, that Barnes, at least according to Ritson's account, had published nothing so early as this work. Ritson knew nothing of this performance, neither is it mentioned by Antony Wood, nor indeed do I know where another copy is to be found.

I select a Sonnet, by way of specimen, from p. 45. It is inscribed "Sonnet LXVI." and is addressed to Content.

Ah sweet Content where is thy mylde abode?

Is it with shepheards and light harted swaynes,
Which sing upon the dounes, and pype abroade,
Tending their flockes, and calleth on to playnes?

Ah sweet Content, where doest thou safely rest?
In heaven with angels, which the prayses sing
Of him that made and rules at his behest
The mindes and parts of every living thing.

Ah

Ah sweet Content, where doth thine harbour hold?
Is it in churches with religious men,

Which please the Goddes with prayers manifold,
And in their studies meditate it then.

Whether thou dost in heaven or earth appeare,
Be where thou will, thou will not harbour here.

Many of these Sonnets, as remarked before, are inscribed to the most distinguished personages of the time; for example, "To Henry, Earle of Southampton; The most vertuous, learned and bewtifull Ladie Marie, Countesse of Pembrooke; To the right vertuous and most bewtifull Lady, the Lady Straunge; The Lady Brigett Manners."

TUSSER.

A Hundreth good Pointes of Husbandries. Imprinted at London, in Flete Strete, within Temple Barre, at the Signe of the Hand and Starre, by Richard Titler, the Third Day of February. An. 1557.

I MENTIONED in my first volume the extreme rarity of this edition, of which the Museun copy is the only one I have ever seen. On farther examination, it appears to contain some singularities,

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