145. Standifh's New Deons o Exere ice, 1614.... 146. Hartiib's Inventio of Engisits of Motion, 1651.. 14. 149. Silvanus Taylor's Common Good, 1652... ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 25 CENSURA LITERARIA. NUMBER IX. [Being the First Number of Vol. III.] ART. I. A Mirrour for Magistrates. Wherein maye be seen by example of other, with howe grevous plages vices are punished: and howe frayle and unstable worldly prosperity is founde, even of those whom Fortune seemeth most highly to favour. Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum. Anno 1563. Imprinted at London in Fletestrete mere to Saynct Dunstans Churche by Thomas Marshe. 4to. folios 182. ART. II. The last part of the Mirour for Magistrates, wherein may be seene by examples passed in this Realme, with how greevous plagues, vyces are punished in great Princes and Magistrats, and how frayle and unstable worldly prosperity is founde, where Fortune seemeth most highly to favour. Newly corrected and enlarged. Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum. Imprinted at London in Fleetstreete, neere unto VOL. III, B Sainct Dunstanes Church, by Thomas Marsh, 1578. Cum privilegio. 4to. folios 184. Or these two volumes, which I suspect to be very scarce, particularly the last, the former belongs to the Editor, and the other to Mr. Gilchrist. They are different editions of the same work; but the words "Last part" in the title of the second require explanation.* Warton's account is not only imperfect, but erroneous; and even Ritson's is not clearly expressed. The work, which was edited by William Baldwin, was first printed by Thomas Marsh, 1559, 4to. folios 160. The above edition of 1563, was the second; and has exactly the same contents, as Warton enumerates in the first; so that I do not understand Ritson, when he says that "to this edition was added a Second Part."+ Mr. Steevens had an edition of 1571; Herbert says there was an edition in 1574, and Farmer had an edition in 1575. In this same year 1575 (or 1574, for the edition may probably be the same) John Higgins, following Baldwin's example, began a new series of Legends commencing with an earlier period, from Albanact, the youngest son of Brutus, to the Emperor Caracalla. These he published under the following title. "The first Parte of the Mirour for Magistrates, contayning the falles of the first infortunate Princes of this lande: from the comming of Brute to the incarnation of our Saviour and Redemer Jesu Christe. Ad Romanos, 13. 2. Quisquis se opponit potestati, Mr. Park thinks it was called the last part, from containing legends posterior in point of time, to those set forth by Higgins and Blener-hasset. + But see hereafter. Warton's enumeration was probably wrong. Dei ordinationi resistit. Imprinted by Thomas Marshe. 1575. Cum privilegio." It begins with a table, reciting the several histories, 17 in number, ending with "The Tragedy of Irenglas." Next is I. Higgins's Epistle "To the nobilitie and all other in office," superscribed " Love and Live." Then another "To the Reader." Contains besides fol. 162. 4to.* It was upon this occasion that Baldwin's original publication began to be entitled "The Last Part." Nearly at the same time, Thomas Blener-Hasset compiled and published another intermediate part, which he entitled, "The Seconde part of The Mirrour of Magis trates, conteining the falles of the infortunate Princes of this Lande: from the Conquest of Casar unto the commyng of Duke William the Conquerour. Imprinted by Richard Webster, 1578." 4to. In a neat architective compartment, and on the sell, "Goe straight, and feare not." It is introduced with an epistle from the Printer to the friendly Reader." Then "The Authour's epistle unto his friende," which concludes with "Keepe these trifles from the view of all men, and as you promysed, let them not not raunge out of your private study. 15 May, 1577Tho. Blener-Hasset," 66 pages. † Warton, therefore, in his History of Poetry, III. 270, makes a great mistake in supposing these last to have been first printed in Niccols's edition, 1610. In 1578 Baldwin seems still to have kept his own work apart, as appears by Mr. Gilchrist's copy above cited. In 1587, Higgins published his own work and ⚫ Herbert, 864. + Ibid 1138. D2 Baldwin's Baldwin's together, with several additions to each part. "London, Imprinted by Henry Marshe, being the assigne of Thomas Marsh, neare to Saint Dunstanes Churche in Fleete-streete, 1587, 4to. At length the whole was digested anew by Richard Niccols, with many additions, and alterations, and printed by Felix Kyngston, in 1610. I take the following to be only a new title-page to this edition, though it has the date 1619; for other title pages occur to subsequent parts of the work, which retain the date 1610. "The Falles of Unfortunate Princes. Being a true Chronicle Historie of the untimely death of such unfortunate Princes and men of Note, as have happened since the first entrance of Brute into this iland, untill this our latter age. Whereunto is added the famous Life and Death of Queene Elizabeth, with a declaration of all the warres, battels, and sea fights, during her raigne: wherein at large is described the Battel of 88, with the particular service of all such ships, and men of note in thut action. Contre fortune nul ne peut. At London Imprinted by F.K. for William Aspley, and are to be sold at his shop in Paul's Churchyard, at the signe of the Parrot, 1619."* 4to. pp. 875. The second edition of 1563 begins as follows. "Love and Live. To the Nobilitee and all other in office, God graunt wisedome and all thinges nedefull for the preservacion of theyr éstates, Amen. "Plato among manie other of his notable sen * Warton says there was a second edition by Niccols, printed by W. Aspley; but it rather appears that the edit. of 1610 had two subsequent titles, in 1619 and 1621. tences |