Dr. John Everard's Gospel Treasury opened, published in 1659, is dedicated by Rapha Harford "To all those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be Saints, both babes, strong men and fathers (who through the power of Christ in them) have attained to esteem it their wisdom and glory to be despised and accounted fools by the world for his sake and the Gospels: whose knowledge wisdom and gifts hath made them not Great and Something (according to the custom of the world) but Little, yea Nothing in their own esteem, who notwithstanding are the true Offspring of God, the only Right Wise and Honourable with him, and the Excellent upon Earth, Grace and Peace be multiplied. To such only are these Sermons dedicated (they knowing what these things mean) but not to the great and wise men of this world."

This volume has many pages of dedication, of which the above extract is a specimen. An Approbation, signed Thomas Brooks, M. Barker; An Imprimatur, Joseph Caril, Dec. 6, 1652; and two Testimonies by John Webster and John Cardel; An Address to the reader by R. Harford; and two copies of verses, suggested each by the Doctor's portrait: one stanza of the first will answer for the present purpose:

"For this lov'd flesh, where with yet cloth'd we go Is not the same we had few years ago;

But

But rather Something, which is taken in
To serve instead of what hath wasted been,
In wounds, in sicknesses, in colds and heats
In all excrescions and in fumes and sweats."

"The works of Mr. Abraham Cowley, &c. 1660," &c.

"It is a hard and nice Subject for a Man to write of himself; it grates his own heart to say any thing of disparagement, and the Readers Ears to hear any thing of praise from him. There is no danger from me of offending him in this kind; neither my Mind, nor my Body, nor my Fortune, allow me any materials for that Vanity. It is sufficient, for my own contentment, that they have preserved me from being scandalous, or re'markable on the defective side."

The following lines were written when Cowley was but thirteen, and he quotes them at mature age as such as he " should hardly (then) be much ashamed."

"This only grant me that my means may lye
Too low for Envy, for contempt too high.
Some honour I would have

Not from great deeds, but good alone.
Th' unknown are better than ill known.

Rumour can ope' the Grave.

Acquaintance I would have, but when't depends
Not on the Number, but the choice of Friends."

"The

12

"The second Punick War between Hannibal and the Romanes; the whole 17 books englished from the Latine of Silius Italicus &c. &c. By Thomas Ross Esq. 1661." This splendid book has an engraved and a printed title-page; the latter in red and black ink, as was customary both before and after this period. I shall give Mr. Ross's dedication to the King, and the verses under a portrait of Ch. II., which will serve as strong specimens of fervent loyalty to a Monarch who had just before been proscribed by his subjects.

"Your Majesties most Gracious Acceptance of this Poëm, when it wanted all Ornament, both of the Press and Pencil, hath Emboldened Me to this second Address, most humbly imploring, that, as Your Goodness was then both to It, and Me, the only Refuge from the Tyranny of the Times; You will, now, be pleased to protect Us, from the Envy of this censuring Age, in the Sanctuary of your Name, which will make this Copy as Immortal, as its Original, and fix on it a Character, as Indelible, as the Faith and Obedience of," &c.

"Could Hannibal, and Scipio, in whom

All the vast Hopes of Carthage, and of Rome,
Were fix'd, Revive, and see how eas'ly You,
By your sole Vertue, Kingdoms can Subdue;

How

How from the Rage of War, without the Stain Of Blood, You Sacred Crowns, and Tryumphs gain

They would no more contend, who best might claim

Priority; but yield it to Your Name.

Rome would her Gen'ral, Carthage Hers refuse, And jointly You the World's Commander chuse."

"Comedies and Tragedies written by Thomas Killigrew Page of honour to King Charles I. and Groom of the Bed chamber to King Charles II. 1664.

"To the Reader,

"I shall only say, If you have as much leasure to Read as I had to Write these Plays, you may, as I did, find a diversion; though I wish it you upon better terms than Twenty Years BanishYours,

ment

"THO. KILLIGREW."

"Poems by the most deservedly admired Mrs. Katharine Philips, the Matchless Orinda." The genuine edition of this book, 1669, published five years after the lady's death, has a very beautiful engraving of her bust by Faithorne prefixed. Several of the most eminent persons of the time sent her verses which precede her Poems.

The

7

The Earl of Orrery observes to her, "When I but knew you by report,

I fear'd the praises of th' admiring Court
Were but their Complements, but now I must
Confess, what I thought civil is scarce just:
For they imperfect Trophies to you raise,
You deserve wonder, and they pay but praise;
A praise, which is as short of your great due,
As all which yet have writ come short of you:
You to whom wonder's paid by double right,
Both for your verses smoothness and their height,"
&G.

The Earl of Roscommon to Orinda: an imitation of Horace.

5.

"Leave me upon some Lybian plain,

So she my fancy entertain,

And when the thirsty Monsters meet,

They'll all

pay homage to my

6.

The Magick of Orinda's Name,

feet.

Not only can their fierceness tame,

But, if that mighty word I once rehearse,
They seem submissively to roar in Verse."

Cowley