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these individuals it was written; but the Earl of Essex is supposed to have the fairest claim to the production.

XLIV.

FRANCIS DAVISON.

FRANCIS DAVISON was the eldest son of William Davison, who was secretary of state and privy counsellor to Queen Elizabeth. In 1602 he published "A Poetical Rapsodie, containing diuers Sonnets, Odes, Elegies, Madrigals, Epigrams, Pastorals, Eglogues, with other Poems, both in rime and measured verse." As a collection of Elizabethan poetry, this work has been always highly esteemed, and has gone through repeated editions. Davison, however, is introduced into these pages as one of the writers of "Divers Selected Psalms of David, in verse, of a different composure from those used in the Church," the MS. of which is among the Harleian Collection in the British Museum. Francis Davison was by far the largest contributor to this version of select psalms.

XLV.

CHRISTOPHER DAVISON.

CHRISTOPHER DAVISON was the second son of secretary Davison. Nearly all that has been ascertained about him is, that he was a member of Gray's Inn, and that he translated some of the select version of Psalms in the Harleian MS. mentioned under Francis Davison. The time and place of his death are unknown.

XLVI.

JOSEPH BRYAN.

OF BRYAN nothing more is known than that he wrote a few of the versions of the Psalms in the

Harleian MS, to which the Davisons were contributors. His name is prefixed to the Introduction to the manuscript.

XLVII.

RICHARD GIPPS,

OF GIPPS nothing more is known than that he has left versions of the first and second Psalms in the MSS. contributed to by the Davisons and Bryan.

XLVIII.

T. CAREY.

CAREY Wrote Psalm cxi. in the select version mentioned in the preceding notices. This, however, is not found in the original MS., but in a copy, "Manuscrib'd by R. Cr." This manuscript is beautifully bound in white vellum, with other original poetry; the whole being entitled "A Handful of Celestial Flowers; viz. divers selected Psalms of David in verse, differently translated from those used in the Church Divers Meditations upon our Saviour's Passion; Certain Hymnes or Carrolls for Christmas Daie; A Divine Pastorell Eglogue; Meditations upon the 1st and 13th verses of ye 17th chap. of Job. Composed by divers worthie and learned Gentlemen." The other poems in this MS. belong to a later date than that to which this selection refers.

XLIX.

GEORGE WHETSTONE.

;

WHETSTONE was a noted writer in the age of Elizabeth. His works in prose and verse are numerous: one affords a specimen for these pages. This was published in 1576, and is entitled "The Rocke of Regard divided into foure parts: the first, the Castle of Delight; the second, the Garden of Vn

thriftinesse; the third, the Arbour of Vertue; and the fourth, the Orchard of Repentance." It is from the fourth part of this volume that the extract is derived; the language of the whole of which is that of repentance for a life of folly.

L.

DUDLEY FENNER.

DUDLEY FENNER published in 1587, at Middleburgh, "The Song of Songs, that is, the most excellent Song which was Solomon's, translated out of the Hebrue into English Meeter with as little libertie in departing from the wordes, as any plaine translation in prose can vse and interpreted by a short commentarie.”

LI.

STEPHEN GOSSON.

STEPHEN GOSSON appears to have enjoyed considerable poetic reputation in the age of Elizabeth. By Francis Meres his name is mentioned in conjunction with that of Spenser; and Wood also bears testimony that he was celebrated "for his admirable penning of pastorals." Among other poems he wrote one entitled Speculum Humanum, which is printed in Kirton's "Mirror of Man's Life," which was dedicated to Anne Countess of Pembroke, and published in 1580. This latter poem is reprinted in these pages.

LII.

ANONYMOUS.

THIS author wrote a small poem, which consists only of a few leaves, entitled "The Loue of God." There is no date to it, but it bears internal evidence of having been written in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

LIII.

SAMUEL ROWLANDS.

SAMUEL ROWLANDS was the author of a great many poetical works. Among them was, "The Betraying of Christ Iudas in despair: with poems on the Passion," which was published in 1598.

LIV.

E. W.

THIS author wrote a poem entitled "Thameseidos, deuided into three bookes, or cantos," which was published in 1600. The lines extracted are from the close of the first canto.

LV.

ANN DOWRICHE.

ANN DOWRICHE wrote "The French Historie: that is, A lamentable Discourse of three of the chiefe and most famous bloodie broiles that haue happened in France for the Gospell of Iesus Christ, etc." This work was published in 1589, and at the back of the title-page are the arms of the Edgecombe family, after which follows the dedication, addressed to her "loving brother Master Pearse Edgecombe, of Mount Edgecombe in Deuon." Between this dedication and a prose address to the reader are some stanzas, which, as the pious composition of a lady, possess interest. They form an acrostic to her brother; each stanza commencing in every line with one letter of his name.

LVI.

JOHN MARKHAM.

IN 1600 a work was published entitled "The Teares of the Beloued: or, The Lamentation of Saint John concerning the Death and Passion of Christ Jesus our Saviour. By J. M.," that is, John Markham.

LVII.

JOHN DAVIES.

Two of this name appear before in this selection, but this John Davies has not been identified with either of them. He wrote "Sir Martin Mar-people: his coller of esses," from the close of which the extract under his name is derived. The work was published in 1590. No mention is made of his work by Ritson.

LVIII.

RICHARD ROBINSON.

RICHARD ROBINSON was the author of a volume entitled "A Golden Mirrour: conteyning certaine pithie and figurative visions prognosticating good fortune to England and all true English subiects. Whereto be adioyned certaine pretie poemes written on the names of sundrie both noble and worshipfull." This work was published in 1589.

LIX.

EDWARD HAKE.

EDWARD HAKE was educated under John Hopkins, the metrical associate of Sternhold, and afterwards became an attorney in the Common Pleas. He was the author of several prose and poetical works, and among others the following, from which the specimens of his poetry are derived. I. "Newes out of St. Powle's Churchyard." 2. "A Commemoration of the most prosperous and peaceable Raigne of our gratious and deere Soueraigne, Lady Elizabeth, by the grace of God, of England, Fraunce, and Irelande, Queene, etc. now newly set foorth this xviii day of Nouember, beying the first day of the xviii yeere of her Majestie's sayd raigne,1575." 3. "Of Gold's Kingdome and this vnhelping age. Described in sundry poems intermixedly placed after certaine other poems of more speciall respect, etc." 1604.

[ELIZ. POFTS.]

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