The Percy Society. President. THE RIGHT HON. LORD BRAYBROOKE, F.S.A. Council. THOMAS AMYOT, Esq., F.R.S., F.S.A. WILLIAM HENRY BLACK, Esq. W. DURRANT COOPER, Esq., F.S.A. T. CROFTON CROKER, Esq., F.S.A., M.R.I.A. J. H. DIXON, Esq. FREDERICK WILLIAM FAIRHOLT, Esq. F.S.A. W. D. HAGGARD, Esq, F.S.A. JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, Esq., F.R.S., F.S.A., Honorary Secretary. SIR EDWARD BULWER LYTTON, BART. JAMES PRIOR, Esq., F.S. A., M.R.I.A. WILLIAM SANDYS, Esq., F.S.A. C. ROACH SMITH, Esq., F.S.A. RICHARD JOHN SMITH, Esq. THE REV. J. REYNELL WREFORD, D.D., F.S.A. THOMAS WRIGHT, Esq. M.A., F.S.A., Treasurer. PREFACE. THE little volume, a reprint of which is now offered to the Members of the Percy Society, is of so great rarity, that it is supposed by Beloe and other bibliographers to be unique. It was purchased by me at the sale of Mr. Pigott's library, at Messrs. Sotheby's, May 1847, for £4 10s., having produced about the same sum some time previously under the hammer of Mr. Evans, at Sir F. Freeling's sale. I am not aware that any other copy has occurred, but an imperfect one is preserved in the Douce collection at Oxford. With the exception of a few songs, omitted causa pudoris, the collection is reprinted entire, |