singularities, which the more curious collectors of Old English Poetry and Literature may desire to know. The first edition has these lines in the Title Page, which do not appear in the subsequent ones: A hundreth good pointes of good husbandry, The original letter from the author, "To the right honourable, and my speciall good Lord and Maister, the Lord Paget," differs so exceedingly in the subsequent editions, that the curious reader will not be displeased at seeing it as it was first printed. The truth doth teache that tyme must serve Of thynges most lyke to thryve or sterve, Take you, my Lord and Mayster than My My serving you thus understande, Dyd cause good lucke to take myne hande, My serving you, I know it was, Enforced this to come to passe. synce But I was at Cambridge tought, My musike synce hath been the plough, Time trieth the truth in every thing, VOL. II. A As therefore troth in time shall crave, L. 3. Ed. 1. L. 1. Ed. 1. L. 4. Ed. 1. Ed. 2. L. 5. Ed. 1. Ed. 2. STANZA 2. Such homely gift of your own marr. STANZA 4. So synce I was at Cambridge tought. I. 6. Ed. 1. Ed. 2. Expelled myrth, &c. STANZA 5. L. 5, 6. Ed. 1. And if I may my song avowe, your No man I crave to judge but I crave it judged be by you. It will hardly be necessary to point out to the reader that the first eighteen lines are an Acrostic, and form the words THOMAS TUSSER MADE ME GEORGE GEORGE CHAPMAN. Seaven Bookes of the Shades of Homere, Prince of Poets. Translated according to the Greeke, in Judgement of his best Commentaries, by George Chapman, Gent. &c. London. Printed by John Windet, and are to be solde at the Sign of the Crosse Keyes, neare Paules Wharffe. 1592. MY only motive for making mention of this book, so well known to the collectors and readers of old English Poetry, is to observe that the Museum Copy belonged to Ben Jonson, and has his autograph, "Sum Ben Jonsonii" in the Title Page. GEORGE PEELE. OF the Dramatic performances of this writer, I have before given an account in a former volume. He was also the author of the Poetical Tract hereafter described, as well as of a Collection of Tales or Jests. Both the last are of extra ordinary rarity. I know of no other copy of the first, but that which belongs to the Musuem. For the means of describing the second, which I shall do hereafter, I am indebted to Mr. George Nicol, who is always prompt and zealous to forward any undertaking which has the benefit of literature, or the gratification of the curious, in view. The subject of the tract next described, is so popular in itself, and so patriotic in its tendency, that I have, without scruple, subjoined the whole of the introductory part. On the back of the Title Page are the arms of There is also this motto: "Semper eadem." Beneath are these lines: Gallia victa dedit flores, invicta leones, TITLE PAGE. A farewell, Entituled to the famous and fortunate Is annexed A Tale of Troy Ad Lectorem. |