An Excellent Poeme, upon the longing of a blessed heart: which loathing the world, doth long to be with Christ. With an Addition vpon the definition of loue. Compiled by Nicholas Breton, Gentleman. Cupio dissolui, & esse cum Christo. Imprinted at London, for Iohn Browne, and Iohn Deane. 1601. qto. 24 leaves.

Dedicated to "the fauourer of all good studies, and Louer of all vertues, the Lord North," and a short address "to the reader." A Sonnet, subscribed "H. T. Gent." speaks of two hopeful twins, which "a Rauisht soule, and longing Spirit sends:" the first has been described by Mr. Park, and the present poem forms the conclusion. Eighteen lines in English, entitled, "Ad Librum," conclude the introductory matter. "Breton's Longing," describes the worldly Prince, counsellor, souldier, &c. and their counterparts acting under heavenly grace. The following is a specimen of both characters.

"The worldly Scholler loues a world of bookes,
And spends his life in many an idle line:

Meane while his heart, to heauen but little lookes.
Nor loues to thinke vpon a thought diuine:
These thoughtes of ours (alas) so lowe encline,
We seeke to know, what nature can effect:
But vnto God, haue small, or no respect.
The Poet, with his fictions, and his fancies,
Pleaseth himselfe with humourous inuentions:
Which well considered, are a kinde of franzies,
That carie little truth in their intentions:
While wit and reason, falling at contentions,

Make wisedome finde that follies strong illusion,
Bringes wit and senses wholly to confusion. ....
The Scholler that beginnes with Christ his crosse,
And seekes good speede, but in the Holy Ghost,
Findes by his booke that siluer is but drosse,
And all his labour, in his studie lost,
Where faith, of mercy, cannot sweetly boast,
And loue doth long for any other blisse,
Then, what in God, and in his graces is.

• Censura Literaria, Vol. IX. p. 160.

And

And such a Poet as the Psalmist was,

Who had no minde but on his Maister's loue:
Whose Muses did the world in musique passe,
That onely soong but of the soules behooue,
In giuing glorie to the God aboue,

Would all worldes fictions wholly laye aside,
And onely long but with the Lord to bide."

This poem, extending to seventy-two stanzas, is followed by another of twenty-seven stanzas, entitled "What is Loue." Then follows, "Solus in toto lau dandus Deus," in sixteen sextains, english, and an unentitled conclusion in seven more.

J. H.

¶ Parnassus Biceps, or Severall choice pieces of Poetry: composed by the best Wits that were in both the Universities before their Dissolution. With an Epistle in the behalfe of those now doubly secluded and sequestred Members, by one who himselfe is none. London, printed for George Eversden at the signe of the Maidenhead in St. Pauls Churchyard, 1656. 12mo. pp. 163.

:

The dedication says "to the Ingenuous Reader: Sir, these leaves present you with some few drops of that ocean of wit, which flowed from those two brests of this nation, the two Universities; and doth now (the sluces being pul'd up) overflow the whole land or rather like those springs of Paradice, doth water and enrich the whole world; whilst the fountains themselves are dryed up, and that Twin-paradise become desart. For then were these verses composed, when Oxford and Camebridge were Vniversities, and a colledge learned then at town hall; when the buttery and kitchin could speak latine, though not preach; and the very irrational turnspits had so much knowing modesty, as not to dare to come into a chappel, or to mount any pulpits but their own. Then were these poems writ, when peace and plenty were the best patriots, and Mæcenasses to great wits; then we could sit and make, verses under our own fig-trees, and be inspired from the juice, of our own vines: then, when it was held no sin for the same man to be both a poet and a prophet; and to draw predictions no lesse from his verse then his text. [The writer, after advocating the cause of the secluded and sequestered members in a lively strain of irony, concludes) And thus far, ingenuous reader,

VOL. IV.

B.B

reader, suffer him to be a poet in his prediction, though not in his verse; who desires to be known so far to thee, as that he is a friend to persecuted truth and peace, and thy most affectionate christian servant, Ab. Wright.*

This miscellaneous collection of University Poems is compiled from the productions of the editor; Bishop Corbett; Ben Jonson; Mayne; Sir Henry Wotton; Cartwright; Dr. Wyld; Strode; L'Estrange; Alexander Brome; and Cleveland. Among the pieces which I have not traced to their respective authors, is the following

"On the Bible.

"Behold this little volume here enrol'd,

'Tis the Almightie's present to the world.

Hearken, earth, earth: each senselesse thing can hear
His Maker's thunder, though it want an eare.
God's word is senior to his work; nay rather
If rightly weigh'd, the world may call it Father.
God spake, 'twas done : this great foundation
Was but the Maker's exhalation,

Breath'd out in speaking. The least work of man
Is better then his word; but if we scan
God's word aright, his works far short doe fall:
The word is God, the works are creatures all.
The sundry peeces of this generall frame,
Are dimmer letters, all which spell the same
Eternall word. But these cannot expresse
His greatnesse with such easie readinesse,
And therefore yeeld. For heaven shall pass away,
The sun, the moon, the stars, shall all obey
To light one generall boon-fire; but his word,
His builder up, his all-destroying sword,
Yet still survives; no jot of that can dye;
Each tittle measures immortality.

Once more this mighty word his people greets,
Thus lapp'd and thus swath'd up in paper sheets.
Read here God's image with a zealous eye,
The legible and written Deity."

J. H.

For his life see Wood's Athene Oxonienses, Vol. II. Col, 843. Wood has omitted to notice some English verses, subscribed, "Ab. Wright Art, Bac. Coll. Joan," among the complimentary writers of the Flos Britannicus veris novissimi Filiola Carolo Maria nata xvii Martii Anno M.DC.xxxvi. Oxoniæ, &c. qto.

"The liberty and requiem of an Imprisoned Loyalist:" probably the first time of its being printed. ¶ 1. Mars,

¶ Mars, his Triumph, or the description of an Exercise performed the xviii of October, 1638, in MerchantTaylors Hall, by certain Gentlemen of the Artillery Garden, London. London, printed by J. L. for Ralph Mab, 1639. qto. 28 leaves.

(Dedicated)" to the right worshipfull Alderman, Thomas Soame, one of the collonels of the city and president of the Artillery Garden, London. As also to Captain John Ven, vice-president, Mr. William Manby, treasurer. And all other the worthy captains of the city, and gentlemen of the court of assistants. Much honour'd Sir, and right worthy souldiers, the Grecians were the first that out of variety of action and long experience of warre, reduced the knowledge of arms into an art; giving precepts for the ordering of arms, and the embattelling of armies. The Romanes, who were their successours in time, so were they also of their precepts, breeding and inuring their youth to hardship, the use of armes, and the studies of the art military. So that, by their countenance and practise therein, they not onely became powerfull and terrible to others, but, in a word, reigned as sole monarchs of this mundane glory..... Neglect of discipline, and the art military have been alwayes the forerunners of destruction both to province and people. I might be infinite in examples of this nature, but then I should make my porch larger then my house. Therefore, let Rome's remissenesse be a warning to posterity; who, as it had a slow gradation in its arise by virtue, so had it degrees of falling, by neglecting discipline and art military, suffering itself to be crushed and overtrodden by every barbarous nation. This, as it reflects upon us a necessity, so it demonstrates of how necessary consequence the practice of arms is; inducing and inviting all generous spirits to endeavour the attainment of this military skill. To acquire the which the Grecians had their tactick masters, the Romanes their tribunes, and other inferiour tutors, which taught them in Campus Martius, and we our academics and military schooles of war, witnes our artillery garden with the military and martiall grounds, wherein the choice and best affected citizens (and gentry) are practiced and taught the rudiments of our militia. In times of peace so fitting them, that they may be able to stand in the day of battell, to God's glory, their own honours, and their countrey's good. (Subscribed) yours Will. Barrift."

"Mars his trivmph. The number of gentlemen employed in this exercise were fourscore, that is to say, eighteen with morions, swords, and targets, which encountred 9 against 9.

Secondly, 22 Saracens, that is to say, a captain, lieutenant, ensigne, one sergeant, pipe, a kettle-drum, and 16 select Sarracens.* Thirdly, 40 of the moderne armes, a captain, lieutenant, ensigne, 2 sergeants, 1 phife, and 2 drummnes, 16 muskettiers in buffe coats, and beaver morians, and 16 pikemen, compleatly armed in white corslets, whole pikes, and morians."

It is impossible to follow these little bands through their various evolutions, postures, and motions performed, to amuse the "nobility, aldermen, and gentry," with more dramatic effect than usually attends such exhibitions and of sufficient interest for our author to describe them minutely, adding the posture tunes. In the battle the Christians overcome the Saracens, and, being conquered, "the Turks found so good quarter and kind usage, that now they are all turned Christians, leaving that course of life, and are now either merchants or shopkeepers for the most part. Finis. Imprimatur Tho. Wykes. Aug. 28, 1639.”

J. H.

1. The History of Philosophy. By Thomas Stanley. Vol. I. 1655. Fol. II. 1656. Fol. III. 1660. Fol. All reprinted 1687. Fol. Again, 1700, and again, in 1743, in one vol. 4to.

2. Eschylus. Py the same.

Lond. 1664. Fol. 3. Poems. By the same. 1651. 8vo. †

"Their musick was a turky drumme and a hideous noisemaking pipe, made of a buffola's horn: the one half the Saracens were armed with short Barbary guns and cymiters, the other half with steel targets and cymiters on their thighs: some of the chiefest of them had broad turky daggers at their girdles, and all of them habited after the Persian and Turconian maner.The captain and lieutenant marched with large pole-axes in their hands, cymeters on their thighs, battle axes hanging on their armes, and broad daggers at their girdles.”

↑ These are

1. Poems by Thomas Stanley, Esq.

Quæ mea culpa tamen, nisi si lucisse vocari

Culpa potest: nisi culpa potest, et amasse, vocans.

Printed in the year 1651, pp. 80.

2. Anacreon, Bion, Moschus, Kisses by Secundus, Cupid Crucified by Ausonius. Venus, Vigils, Incerto Authore. Printed in the year 1651, pp. 260. At p. 79 begin Notes with the new