CXXVII.

THOMAS MIDDLETON.

MIDDLETON was a celebrated writer in the reign of Elizabeth. His productions are chiefly secular, but he wrote "The Wisdome of Solomon paraphrased," from which our extracts are derived. This volume was published in 1597, and was dedicated to Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex.

CXXVIII.

JOHN AWDELIE

WROTE and printed as a broadside, "An Epitaphe upon the Death of Mayster John Veron, preacher."

CXXIX.

EDWARD WOLLAY

WROTE a broadside entitled, "A Playne Pathway to Perfect Rest," which was inscribed to Rowland Hayward, lord mayor of London, date 1571.

CXXX.

WILLIAM GIBSON,

THE broadside from which the extract under this author's name is derived, is not dated; but it is mentioned by Herbert as licensed to Henry Rukham in 1569.

CXXXI.

ANTHONY NIXON.

NIXON was the author of " The Christian Navy, etc.;" a work which was published in 1602, and dedicated to "John Whitgift, archbishop of Canterburie.' Nixon also wrote "Elisae's Memoriall," an extract from which is printed as the concluding piece of these volumes.

CXXXII.

ABRAHAM FLEMING.

AMONG other works he wrote 66 The Diamond of Deuotion, cut and squared into six seuerall points: namely, The Footpath to Felicitie; A Guide to Godlines; The Schoole of Skill; A Swarme of Bees; A Plant of Pleasure; A Grove of Grace. Full of many fruitfull lessons availeable to the leading of a godly and reformed life." This volume, which is part prose and part poetry, was published in 1602.

CXXXIII.

EDMOND ELUIDEN.

ELUIDEN Wrote "A Newe-yeare's Gift to the rebellious persons in the North Partes of England," which was published in 1570, and which is not mentioned by any bibliographer.

CXXXIV.

ANONYMOUS.

THIS author wrote "An Aunswere to the Proclamation of the Rebels in the North," which was "imprinted by William Seres," and published in 1569.

CXXXV.

THOMAS NELSON.

NELSON was the author of a work entitled, "A Short Discourse expressing the substaunce of all the late pretended treasons against the Queen's Maiestie and estates of this realme, by sondry traytors, who were executed for the same on the 20 and 21 daies of September last past, 1586. Whereunto is adioyned A Godly Prayer for the safetie of her highnesse person, her honorable counsaile, and all other her obedient subiects."

CXXXVI.

THOMAS NEWTON.

THE Epitaph from which the extract given in the pages is derived was printed as a broadside, and is n dated; but it is mentioned by Herbert as licensed R. Johnes in 1568.

CXXXVII.

NICHOLAS BOWEMAN

WROTE an "Epitaph on Lady Mary Ramsey, etc which was printed in 1602. One of the extracts from that work: the other is part of an Epitaph up Bishop Jewel, which was printed as a broadside 1571.

I.

QUEEN ELIZABETH.

PSALM XIV.

FOOLES, that true fayth yet neuer had,
Sayth in their harts, there is no God!
Fylthy they are in their practyse,
Of them not one is godly wyse.

From heauen th' Lorde on man did loke,
To know what wayes he undertoke:
All they were vague, and went a straye,
Not one he founde in the ryght waye;
In hart and tunge haue they deceyte,
The lyppes throwe fourth a poysened bayte;
Their myndes are mad, their mouthes are wode,
And swift they be in shedynge blode :
So blynde they are, no truth they knowe,
No feare of God in them wyll growe.
How can that cruell sort be good,

Of God's dere folcke whych sucke the blood?
On hym ryghtly shall they not call;
Dyspaire wyll so their hartes appall.
At all tymes God is with the just,
Bycause they put in hym their trust.
Who shall therefor from Syon geue
That helthe whych hangeth on our b'leue?
When God shall take from hys the smart,
Then wyll Jacob rejoice in hart.
Prayse to God.

[ELIZ. POETS]

II.

ARCHBISHOP PARKER.

PSALME XCII.

The Argument.

Of Sabbath day the solemn feast
Doth vs excyte by rest,

God's mighty workes that we declare:-
Loue him for all the best.

Bonum est confiteri.

1 A JOYFULL thyng to man it is,
The Lord to celebrate;

To thy good name, O God so hye,
Due laudes to modulate:

2 To preach, and shew thy gentlenes
In early mornyng lyght;
Thy truth of worde to testifie
All whole by length of nyght.

3 Upon the psalme, the decachord,
Upon the pleasant lute,

On sounding, good, sweete instruments, With shaumes, with harpe, with flute. 4 For thou hast ioyed my fearefull hart, O Lord, thy workes to see; And I with prayse will iust rejoyce These handy-workes of thee.

5 How glorious, O blessed Lord, Be these the factes of thine!

Thy thoughts be depe, thy counsayles hye, Inscrutable, deuyne.

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