are nourished stil with our decay. If Diogenes were now aliue to see the abuses that grow by playes, I belieue hee woulde wishe rather to be Londoner's hounde than his apprentice, because hee rateth his dogge, for wallowing in carrion, but rebukes not his seruaunt for resorting to playes that are rank poison..... They muste not thinke that I banishe recreation, because I barre them.....there are other good pastimes to be founde, if we be willing to seeke them out. .'. . . He that thinkes wanton playes a meete recreation for the ninde of man, is as farre from the trueth as the foolish Gentiles, which belieue that their gods delight in toyes; and wee which carie our money too players too feede their pride, may be wel compared to the Bath keeper's asse which bringeth him woode too make his fire, and contenteth himself with the smell of the smoke. .. . Our players since I set out the Schole of Abuse, haue trauailed to some of mine acquaintance of both Vniuersities, with fayre profers, and greater promises of rewardes, if they woulde take so much paines as to write against mee; at laste, like to Penelopee's suters, which seeing themselues disdained of her, were glad to encroch with some of her maides, when neither of both Vniuersities would heare their plea, they were driuen too flie to a weake hedge, and fight for themselues with a rotten stake. Beggars, you know, must be no choosers, hunger sauceth euery meate when fishers lay their hookes in haste, frogges will make sauory dishe. It is tolde mee that they haue got one in London to write certaine Honest excuses, for so they tearme it, to their dishonest abuses which I reuealed. It is good for him that will falsifie pictures, not too let them see the liuely creatures, that are desirous to view his worke, neither is it conuenient for him too present his excuse to any of those that haue read my Schoole, and behelde those abuses in playing places, least their eyes reprooue him for a lyar..... I stay my bande till I see his booke; when I haue perused it, I wil tel you more. Mean while I beseech them to looke to their footing that run ouer shooes in al these vanities, lest they be swallowed without recouery and wishing to my Schoole, some thriftier scholers, to players an honester occupation, and to their excuser a better minde, I take my leaue. Finis. Stephan Gosson. Cælo tegitur, qui non habet veram. Imprinted at London at the Three Cranes in the Vinetree, by Thomas Dawson, 1586." J. H. A Caueat or Warening for Common Cursetors, . vulgarely called Vagabones, set forth by Thomas Harman Esquier, for the vtilitie and profit of his natural country. Augmented and inlarged by the first first Author hereof. Whereunto is added the tale of the second taking of the counterfet crank, with the true report of his behaviour and also his punishment for his so dissembling, most_maruelous to the hearer or reader thereof. New Imprinted. Anno 1573. [Wood-cut of two rogues being whipped at the tail of a cart, with the following verses beneath :] This cart at his tayle doth draw all about, Such pylfering pickers that to it is tyed: The whip with his whickes the bloud fetcheth out, The Baudes for baudery, and Hores therein ryed. [Colophon.] Imprinted at London by Henry Middleton dwelling in Flete-streat at the signe of the Faucon and are to be sold at his shop in S. Dunstones Churchyard. An. 1573. qto. H. iij. This appears to be the third edition of a work already described, and serves to fix the precise time of the appearance of the first edition by the following passage: "Vppon Alhallonday, in the morning, last Anno Domini 1566, or my boke was halfe printed, I meane the first impression."-I believe the present impression contains an additional wood-cut with the portraits of "a vpright man, Nicolas Blunt; the cou terfet cranke Nicolas Genings,"† with the following verses for a description. "These two pictures lyuely set out, One body and soule, God send him more grace: Money or wares, as he made his race. And sometyme a mariner and a seruing man: J. H. See vol. ii. p. 515, and Earle's Microcosmography, by Bliss, 1811, p. 246. · +His picture remayneth in Brydewell for a monyment." The The Belman of London: Bringing to Light the most notorious villanies that are now practised in the kingdome. Profitable for Gentlemen, Lawyers, Merchants, Citizens, Farmers, Masters of housholds, and all sorts of seruants, to marke, and delightfull for all men to reade. Lege, Perlege, Relege. [Wood cut of the Bellman in the act of ringing through the street, with a lanthorn and long staff on his shoulder, accompanied with a dog.] Printed at London for Nathaniel Butter. 1608. qto. I. ij. 66 "The poore Belman of London, to all those that either by office are sworne to punish, or in their own loue to vertue, wish to haue the disorders of a state amended humbly dedicateth these bis discoueries:" and we believe there are few of our readers but are sufficiently acquainted with the nature of the discoveries, as the work had many impressions in the lifetime of the author, Thomas Deckar, who, according to Oldys' manuscript notes, was full threescore years of age in the year 1638." It is the first edition of the Bellman, the date of which is rather doubtfully noticed by Dr. Nott in his late valuable reprint of the Gull's Horn-book, by the same author.+ Deckar probably founded the present work upon Harman's Caveat, above noticed, enlarging it with an account of gambiers and others, to whose depredations the polished classes of society are inore exposed than to those of pilfering beggars. A single character may suffice. "An angler. "An angler is a lymb of an vpright-man, as beeing derived from him: their apparell in which they walke is co monly frieze jerkins and gally slops in the daytime, they beg from house to house, not so much for reliefe as to spy what lyes fit for their nets, which in the night following they fish for. "The third impression, with new additions: printed at London, for Nathaniel Butter, 1608.” The Gull's Horn-book, or a large portion of it, was probably reprinted, as-The young Gallant's Academy; or, directions how he should behave bimself in all places and company. As, v. In an ordinary. a. In a play house. 3. In a Tavern. 4. As he passes along the street all bours of the night. 5. How to avoid Constables Interrogatories. To which is added, the character of a Town HvFF. Together with the character of a right generous and well-bred gentleman. By S. V. Printed and are to be sold by Percivall Gilbourne at the George in Chancery lane near Fleet street. Advertisement in Protestant Mercury. Novem..25-7: 1696. The rod they angle with is a staffe of fiue or six foote in length, in which within one inch of the top is a little hole boared quite thorough, into which hole they put an yron hooke, and with the same doe they angle at windowes about midnight, the draught they pluck vp beeing apparell, sheetes, couerlets, or whatsoeuer their yron hookes can lay hold of: which prize when they have gotten, they do not presently make sale of it, but after foure or fiue daies, or according as they suspect inquirie will be made after it, doe they bring such goodes to a broker (traded vp for the purpose) who lends vpon them balfe so much money as they be worth, which notwithstanding serues the angler a while for spending money, and enriches him that buyes it for a long time after." J. H. ¶ Hymnes, or sacred Songs, wherein the right vse of Poësie may be espied. Be Alexander Hume: Wherevnto are added, the experience of the Author's youth, and certain precepts seruing to the practise of Sanctification. The table followes in the next page.* Ephes. v. 18. But be ful filled with the Spirit speaking vnto yourselues in Psalmes, and Hymnes, and spirituall songs, singing and making melodie to the Lord in your hearts. Edinburgh, Printed by Robert Walde-graue, Printer to the King's Majestie. 1599. Cum privilegio regio. qto. pp. 66. besides introduction, four leaves. The inscription of the dedication wishes: " to the faithfyll and vertvovs ladie, Elizabeth Mal-vill, Ladie Cumrie, grace, mercie, and peace, from God the father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ." And concludes with saying: "bauing composed in my youth a few songes in verse to the glorie of God!, seeing the custome of men is to dedicate their workes to their fauorites and patrones: shall it not be lawfull to me also, after the maner of men, to present vnto you (a faithfull and be "At the back of the title: the contents of this booke-1, The author's recantation.-2 Of God's benefits bestowed vpon man.— 3, A description of the day etiuall.-4, Consolation to his sorrowfull soule.-5, Praise for deliuerie of the sick.-6, Of God's omnipotencie.-7, The triumph of the Lord after the maner of men, alluding to the defait of the Spanish nauie, in the yeare 1588.8, The humiliation of a sinner.-9, An epistle to Master Gilbert Moncrieff mediciner to his majestie, containing the experience of the author's youth.-10, Christian precepts seruing to the practise of Sanctification." The last are moral sentences in prose. loued loued ladie) a part of my little labours? And sa meikle the rather, because I know ye delite in poesie yourselfe, and as I vnfainedly confes, excelles any of your sex in that art, that euer I hard within this nation. I haue seene your composi tiones so copious, so pregnant, so spirituall, that I doubt not but it is the gift of God in you. Finally, because so little a worke as this is, requires a short epistle, I take my leaue, not doubting but my good meaning shall be fauorablie accepted, Continue (good ladie and sister) in that godlie course which ye haue begun let nothing be done vpon ostentation. Loue your husband; haue a modest care of your familie, and let your cheefe care be casten vpon the Lord Jesus, who will recompense vs at his comming. To God therefore the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, be all praise for euer, Amen. At Logie the 16th of Februarie, 1598. Your brother in the Lord Jesus, Alexander Hume, minister of the Evangell." The preface is addressed "to the Scottish youth," reprehending the custom of making vain recitals and singing idle songs when they meet in company, of which, as it exhibits a faithful trait of their manners, we shall give an extract from the commencement, "To the Scottish youth. As it is a thing verie customable vnto thee, O curious youth, greatˇuly to delite in poesie, ather in playing the parte of a poet thyselfe, or by exercising thy spirit in reading and proclaiming the compositions of other men so it is as common to thy indiscreit age to make a chuse of that naughtie subiect of fleshly and vnlawfull loue. In suche sort that in princes courts, in the houses of greate men, and at the assemblies of yong gentilmen and yong damesels, the chiefe pastime is, to sing prophane sonnets, and vaine ballats of loue, or to rehearse some fabulous faits of Palmerine, Amadis, or other such like raueries and such as ather haue the art or vain poetike, of force they must shew themselues cunning followers of the ethnike poets, both in phrase and substance, or else they shall be had in no reputation. Alas for pittie! Is this the right vse of a Christian's talent to incense the burning lustes of licentious persons by such euill examples and allurements? Art thou (O miserable man) well occupied, that day and night busies thy braine to invent these things which may foster the filthie vice and corruption that naturallie is seased in the harts of all men? Was it to this end that thy maker sent thee in the world to be an instrument of wickednes? Or hes he giuen thee such gifts, and viuacitie of spirit, to be exercised in vanitie and prouoking others to vncleannes? Knowes thou not that thou must render account of euerie idle word that proceedes out of thy mouthe? And that thy vngodlie conuersation banishes the spirit of God from thee? Suffocats x 2 thy |