portraits engraved by Houbraken.-The remaining prefatory matter agrees with the title, with the addition of two pages entitled "Errors of the Press, and Conjectural Emendations of the Fairy Queen.'

638. SPENSER (Edmund).-The Works of Mr. Edmund Spenser. In six volumes. With a Glossary explaining the Old and Obscure Words. Publish'd by Mr. Hughes.-London, printed for Jacob Tonson, 1715.

This edition contains the prose as well as poetical works of Spenser, and is dedicated by the editor to the eminent John Lord Sommers, Baron of Evesham. It is not only illustrated by a glossary, but has a Life of Spenser; an Essay on Allegorical Poetry; Remarks on the Fairy Queen; Remarks on the Shepherd's Calendar, &c. It also contains engravings designed and engraved by Du Guernier.

639.

The same edition.

LARGE PAPER.—London, 1715.

Royal duodecimo, 6 vols. £3. 13s. 6d.

In addition to the usual contents, this copy is illustrated with the prints designed by Kent, for the quarto edition of 1751, and has a list of the subscribers to the royal paper.

640.

The Shepheards Calender: conteyning twelve Aeglogues, proportienable to the twelve Moneths. Entitvled, to Noble and vertuous Gentleman, most worthy of all tytles, both of learning and chiualrie, Maister Philip Sidney. (By Edmund Spenser.)-Black Letter.-London, printed by Thomas Creede, for Iohn Harrison the younger, dwelling in Pater noster Row, at the sign of the Anchor, 1597.

This is the last of the five quarto editions, and very rare.-At the back of the title, as above, are eighteen metrical lines inscribed "To his Booke," and subscribed Immerito, the signature of Spenser. Then follows a dedication, thus inscribed-"To the most excellent and learned, both Orator and Poet, master Gabriel

R R

Haruey, his verie speciall and singular good friend E. K. commendeth the good lyking of this his good labour, and the patronage of the new Poet:" this dated the tenth of April 1579. Next ensues" the general Argument of the whole Booke," and the poem commences with the month of January. To each of the twelve months is prefixed an appropriate wood cut, having the suitable sign of the zodiac in the heavens.

641. SPENSER (Edmund).-Another copy of the same edition.-London, 1597.

The title and last leaf are wanting, and some leaves are damaged in this copy.

642. SHIRLEY (James).-Poems &c. By James Shirley. Sine aliquâ dementiâ nullus Phoebus.MOROCCO.-London, printed for Humphrey Mosehey, and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Princes Armes in St. Pauls Church-yard, 1646. Octavo, pp. 184. . £6, 68.

going regularly on to p. 80, where a fresh title appears "Narcissvs, or the Self-Lover. By James Shirley" (imprint as before). Paging and signatures re-commence, and this poem in 131 sixline stanzas concludes at p. 34. What follow are prologues and epilogues; but it is worthy of remark that the pages after 46 are figured 147 to 159, where the word " Finis" occurs. The remaining part of the volume consists of sixteen leaves, with distinct signatures and pages, entitled "The Trivmph of Beavtie. As it was personated by some young Gentlemen, for whom it was intended, at a private Recreation. By James Shirley." (Imprint and date as before).—A portrait of Shirley, engraved by Marshall, with four Latin lines underneath, is prefixed to the present copy, which is a remarkably fine one.

However inconsistent the preceding description may appear, it has been carefully collated with four perfect copies and found to correspond exactly.

643. SHIRLEY (James).-Another copy.-RED MOROCCO.-London, 1646.

Octavo, pp. 184.

£5. 58.

This copy is perfect and in good condition, but certainly not equal to the preceding.-It has a fine impression of the portrait by Marshall.

Also a perfect copy, but in comparison with the preceding two, not in good condition.—It has a tolerable impression of Marshall's print.

645. STERLING (Earl of).-The Monarchicke Tragedies; Croesus, Darius, the Alexandræan, Iulius Cæsar. Newly enlarged by William Alexander, Gentleman of the Princes priuie Chamber. (Afterwards the Earl of Stirling.)-London, printed by Valentine Simmes for Ed: Blount, 1607 (pp. 408). -A Paraenesis to the Prince by William Alexander of Menstrie.-London printed by Richard Field for Edward Blount, 1604 (pp. 26).—Avrora. Containing the first fancies of the Authors youth,

William Alexander of Menstrie.-Imprint and date same as last (pp. 94).

Quarto, pp. 528.

£11. 118.

Julius Cæsar and the Alexandrian tragedy first appeared in this edition, but Croesus, and Darius were printed in 1604, as well as in the enlarged volume of 1607. The Poems entitled "Paraenesis" and "Aurora," were only printed once, viz. in 1604.

After the first title to this volume follows a metrical dedication in thirteen octave stanzas "To his sacred Maiestie ;" and a complimentary sonnet by Robert Ayton. The tragedy of Darius has a proper title with imprint, "London printed by G. Elde for Edward Blount, 1604." To this are prefixed verses by John Murray and Walter Quin, also a Latin anagram by the latter. At the end of Darius are "Some verses written to his Maiestie by the Authour at the time of his Maiesties first entrie into England;" also "Some verses written shortly thereafter by reason of an Inundation of Douen, a water neere vnto the Author's home, wherevpon his Maiestie was sometimes wont to Hawke." It is remarkable that neither of these poems occur in any other edition. The "Paraenesis" is a poem of eighty-four octave stanzas. "Aurora" has a dedication "To the Right Honourable and Vertvovs Lady, the Lady Agnes Dowglas Countesse of Argyle," and comprises 106 Sonnets, among which are mingled ten songs.

In Darius are some lines similar to others in the celebrated "cloud cap't tow'rs" of Shakespeare, and to these Mr. G. Chalmers evidently alludes in his Apology:-"The Monarchicke Tragedies' of Lord Sterling, which must be allowed to have sentiments that sparkle, though no words that burn, were entitled to the honour of James's acceptance and to the higher honour of Shakespeare's adoption." Pinkerton styles Lord Sterling a masculine writer, and Dr. Anderson says of his " Paraenesis" and "Aurora" that they are almost classical performances.

646. STERLING (Earl of).-The Monarchicke Tragedies. The third Edition. By Sir W. Alexander Knight.-London printed by William Stansby, 1616.

£21.

An edition extremely rare, which varies considerably from the former ones. It commences with the dedication to James, but with alterations, after which follows the sonnet by Ayton. Next

ensues, what appears in no edition but the present, an Italian sonnet, inscribed "Al Potentissimo Rè della Gran Brettagna," and subscribed "Il Cav. Marino." Prefixed to Darius are the verses of Murray and Quin, as in the former edition, but there are in the present four Latin lines subscribed R. W. which precede the "Alexandræan Tragedy."

The present is a perfect copy, but has the page of Dram. Pers. to Croesus, in MS.

647. STERLING (Earl of).-Doomesday, or, the Great Day of the Lords Ivdgement. By Sr. William Alexander Knight.-Printed by Andro Hart, and are to be sold at his shope on the North-side of the high Street, alitle beneath the Crosse, Anno Dom.

Dedicated "To the Right Noble Robert Earle of Somerset, Viscount Rochester, Baron of Branspeth, Lord High Treasurer of Scotland," &c. &c. To this succeeds a commendatory sonnet by Drummond of Hawthornden.

This poem of "Doomes-day," is written in the octave stanza, and divided into four books, called Hours; the first comprises 119 stanzas, the second 108, the third 122, and the fourth 117.

648.

Recreations with the Mvses. By William Earle of Sterline-RUSSIA. -London, printed by Tho. Harper, 1637.

Folio, pp. 594.

£50.

The circumstance which so much enhances the value of the present fine copy of this work, is, that it possesses a most brilliant impression of the rare portrait of the Earl of Stirling, engraved by Marshall, and undoubtedly that artist's masterpiece. It is conjectured that it was engraved in order that the noble author might present a few copies to particular friends, and that the copper was then broke up-be it as it may, it is doubtful if there are so many as three now known. The present has every appearance of being a proof impression.

This volume contains "Foure Monarchicke Tragedies.""Doomes-day, or, the great day of the Lords judgement, in twelve houres;" (this it will be observed is thrice the length of the edition published at Edinburgh in 1614)-"A Paraenesis to