JOHN NICCOLS.

JOHN NICCOLS PILGRIMAGE; wherein is displaied the Lives of the proude Popes ambitious Cardinals, lecherous Bishops, fat-bellied Monks, and hypocriticall Jesuites.

APOC. xviii.

"It is false, it is false, Babylon that great citie, and is become the habitation of divels, and a cage of every uncleane and hateful birde."

APOC. xvii.

"And in her was founde the blood of the prophets, and of the saints, and of all that were slaine upon the earth."

Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson, for Thomas Butler and Isaac Godfrey. 1581.

This very uncommon book has three dedications :

I. Illustrissimæ serenissimæque Principi Angliæ Reginæ Elizabethæ, &c. fidei Catholicæ defensori, &c. in Latin.

II. To the indifferent Reader, in English.
III. To the Reader, in Italian.

At

At the end of the volume are these verses:

THE COMPLAINT OF A SINNER.

LIKE as the thiefe in prison cast,

With wofull wayling mones,
When hope of pardon cleane is past,
And sighes with dolefull grones.
So I a slave to sinne,

With sobs and many a teare,
As one without thy helpe forlorne,
Before thy throne appeare.
O Lorde, in rage of wanton youth
My follies did abounde,

And eke since that I knew the trueth,
My life hath beene unsounde:
Alas! I doe confesse

I see the perfecte way,

Yet frailtie of my feeble flesh

Doth make me run astray.

Aye me, when that some good desire
Would move me to doe well,
Affections fond make me retire,
And cause me to rebell.

I wake, yet am asleepe,

I see, yet still am blinde,

In ill I runne with headlong race,
In good I come behinde.

Loe thus in life I dayly die,
And dying shall not live,
Unlesse thy mercy speedily
Some succour to me give:

I die, O Lord, I die,

If thou doe me forsake,

I shall be likened unto those

That fell into the lake.

Yet though my hard and stony heart
Be apt to run astray,

Yet let thy goodnesse mee content,
So that I not decay.

Sweete God doe rule my plaints,
And sheelde me from annoy,

Then my poore soule this life once past,
Shall rest with thee in joy.

These lines are prefaced by a sort of prayer for the queen, the nobility, bishops, &c. &c.

John Niccols, the author of this singular volume, was a most eccentric character. A detailed account of him may be found in Wood, Vol. 1. p. 215. He was first a Protestant; he then went over to the Church of Rome. Returning from the continent to England, he was seized and committed to the Tower, and again recanted. Afterwards, going a second time abroad, he was apprehended and imprisoned, and a second time was reconciled to the Romish persuasion. What finally became of him I do not know, but he is said to have died miserably. How the writing of this book should ever have been forgiven him by the Roman Catholic clergy. it is not easy to imagine, as it is replete with the most

most virulent abuse of them, and scandalous representations of their licentiousness and vices.

The copy which I have used is in the collection of Lord Viscount Valentia.

Care must be taken not to confound the author of the above work with another John Niccols, who was a native of Norwich, and after having been brought up in the rigorous discipline of the Church of Rome, became a zealous Protestant.

JOHN

JOHN WEEVER.

EPIGRAMMES in the oldest Cut and newest Fashion. A twise seven Houres (in so many Weekes) Studie. No longer No longer (like the Fashion) not unlike to continue. The first seven, John Weever.

Sit voluisse sit valuisse.

At London printed by V. S. for Thomas Bushell, and are to be sold at his shop, at the great North doore of Paules. 1599. 12mo.

The above I believe to be a unique book. It is in the collection of Mr. Comb, of Henley, who obligingly lent it me.

It is inscribed,

"To the Right Worshipfull and worthie honoured Gentleman, Sir Richard Houghton, of Houghton Tower, Knight, Justice of Peace and Quorum, High Sheriffe of Lanchishire, &c. adorned with all giftes that valour may give, or vertue gaine."

The introduction is succeeded by some verses "in commendation of the worke and the author." One of these is in Greek hexameters and pentameters; one in Latin.

Of