NICOLAS BRETON. ALL the pieces of this writer, both in prose and verse, are become remarkably scarce, and never fail to produce a very large sum when they are met with at auctions. Many of them are enumerated by Ames, Warton, Ritson, Ellis, &c. but I do not remember to have seen much description or mention of the following, which came into my possession by one of those accidents which occurred more frequently in the time of George Steevens, Major Pearson, Isaac Reed, and the collectors of that date, than at present. I copy the title-page : 1 "CHARACTERS upon ESSAIES MORALL and DIVINE. Written for those good Spirits that will take them in good Part, and make use of them to good Purpose. London: printed by Edw. Griffin, for John Gwillim, and are to be sold at his shop in Britaines Burse. 1615. 12mo." It is thus inscribed to Sir Francis Bacon: "To the honorable and my much worthy honored, truly learned and judicious Knight, Sir Francis Bacon, his Matie Attourney Generall, increase of honor, health, and eternall happinesse. Worthy Knight, I have read of many essaies, and a kinde of charactering of them by such as when I lookt into the forme or nature of their writing, I have beene of the conceit that they were but imitators of your breaking the ice to their inventions, which how short they fall of your worth, I had rather thinke then speake, though truth neede not blush at her blame: how for myselfe vnworthy to touche neere the rocke of those diamonds, or to speake in their praise, who so farre exceede the power of my capacitie, vouchsafe me leave yet, I beseech you, among those apes that would counterfet the actions of men, to play the like part with learning, and as a monkey that would make a fall like a man, and cannot so to write like a scholler, and am not; and thus not daring to adventure the print vnder your patronage, without your fauorable allowance in the devoted service of my bounden duty, I leauve these poore travells of my spirit to the perusing of your pleasing leasure, with the further fruites of my humble affection to the happie employment of your honorable pleasure. 66 At your service "In all humblenesse, "NICH. BRETON." There There are commendatory verses signed W. D. "Ad Authorem;" "In laudem Operis," signed W. P. and a third copy with the signature of J. B. Those by W. P. are not much amiss. IN LAUDEM OPERIS. Wordes are the pensils, whereby drawne we finde Such thoughts, such words; such words, such is the man, That like the singing larke doth mount so high, We cannot reach them with an earthly eye. "Knowledge is a collection of vnderstanding gathered in the grounds of learning by the instruction of wisdome. Shee is the exercise of memory in the actions of the minde, and the im ployer of the senses in the will of the spirit, Shee is the notary of time, and the tryer of truth, and the labour of the spirit in the love of vertue. She is the pleasure of wit, and the paradise of reason, where conceit gathereth the sweet of vnderstanding. She is the kings councellor, and the councells grace, youths guarde, and ages glory. glory. It is free from doubts, and feares no danger while the care of Providence cuts off the cause of repentance, Shee is the enemy of idlenesse, and the maintayner of labour, in the care of credit and pleasure of profit. Shee needs no aduice in the resolution of actions, while experience in obseruation findes perfection infallible, It cleares errors, and cannot be deceived; corrects impuritie, and will not be corrupted. Shee hath a wide eare, and a close mouth, a pure eye, and a perfect heart. It is begotten by Grace, bred by Vertue, brought vp by Learning, and maintainde by Loue, Shee conuerseth with the best capacities, and communicates with the soundest judgments; dwells with the diuinest natures, and loues the most patient dispositions. Hir hope is a kind assurance; hir faith is continuall expectation; hir loue an apprehension of joy, and hir life the light of eternitie; hir labours are infinite hir wayes are ynsearchable; hir graces incomparable, and hir excellencies inexplicable; and therefore being so little acquainted with hir worth, as makes me blush at my vnworthinesse, to speake in the least of hir praise I will onely leaue hir aduancement to Vertue, hir honour to Wisdome, her grace to Truth, and to Eternitie her glory." My copy of this book belonged to Mr. Herbert, as did this also which follows; by no means common, common, and in itself of no inconsiderable curiosity. The DESCRIPTION of the Low COUNTREYS, and of the Provinces thereof, gathered into an Epitome out of the Historie of Lodovico Guicchardini. Imprinted at London by Peter Short, for Thomas Chard. 1593. 12mo. It is inscribed, "To the Right Honorable my especiall Lord Burghley, High Treasorer of England, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, and Maister of hir Majesties Court of Wards and Liveries." On the back of the title-page are the following Latin verses, exhibiting a whimsical play on the name of Cecil: Siciliam memorant Romanæ antiquitus urbis, Sic vegeat vivax seros videatque nepotes, Perhaps this little volume may be considered as the more curious, from the wonderful contrast it exhibits to the state of the low countries at the present period. THE |