as I was well willing by this edition to doe thee ease and pleasure and so wishing thee the feare of God, the love of thy prince and countrey, and after this lyfe the fruition of perfecte felicity, I doe bid thee hartely, in Christe Jesu, farewell! 66 Thy frende, "JOHN HIGINS." Higins in his edition displaced Baldwin's dedicatory epistle, and inserted a new one of his own "to the nobility and all other in office,* dated at Wince ham the vii day of December, 1586:" and this, though it is not without some licentious alterations, is the last impression of the Mirror, which reflects any just representation of its primitive contents; for the very unfaithful though ingenious editor of the succeeding reprint in 1610, + curtailed and modernized several of the early legends to his own time and taste, as he avowed in the following advertisement "To the Reader. "To acquaint you, in briefe, with what is done in this impression; know, that the verse is in proportion, by measure, and in symphonie or rithmos in divers places amended. The storie, in some places false and corrupted, made historically true, the tragedies, wrongly inserted, disposed in their proper places, according to just computation of time: those never before collected in one volume, published in this impression. For the forme and the frame of the whole historie, I did intend to have reduced it into ante. * Reprinted in Niccols's edition. And first entitled "A Mirrour for Magistrates, &c." See the same order which I have observed in my additions: but, prevented by other reasons, I have thus digested it. The tragedies from the time of Brute to the conquest, I have left with dependencie upon that induction written by M. Higins. Those from the conquest to this our last age; that is, to the fall of the Lord Cromwell; excellently well penned by M. Drayton,* hath reference to that golden preface called M. Sackvil's Induction. After these I have placed my additions :-the falles of such princes as were before omitted, and my poem or hymne of the late dead Queene, of famous memorie. In all which I require no other gratification for my paines, but a gentle censure of my imperfections." Niccols omitted the metrical histories of James the First of Scotland, by Baldwin; Richard, Duke of Gloucester, by Segar; with James the Fourth; and the Battle of Brampton, by Dingley: and he added of his own composition a poetical induction ; with ten new histories of King Arthur, Edmund Ironside, Prince Alfred, Godwin Earl of Kent, Robert Curthoise, Duke of Normandy, King Richard the First, King John, King Edward the Second, the two young Princes, (Edward the Fifth, and Richard Duke of York) King Richard the Third. To these he prefixed the title of A Winter Night's Vision. Being an addition of such Princes especially famous, who were exempted * Drayton's Legend of Lord Cromwell had been separately published in 4to. 1607. + This seems to have been substituted by Niccols in lieu of Segar's Legend on the same subject, to which it is greatly superior. in the former Historie. By Richard Niccols, Oxon. Mag. Hall. At London, Imprinted by Felix Kyngston. 1610. From the following elegant sonnet-dedication to this part of his book, Mr. Warton* inferred that the author was on board the Lord Admiral's ship (the Ark) when Cadiz was taken in 1596. "To the Right Hon. the Lord Charles Howard, Earle of Nottingham, Baron of Effingham, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, Lord High Admirall of England, Ireland, and Wales, &c. one of his Majestie's most Honourable Privie Counsell." As once that dove (true honor's aged lord!) Hovering with wearied wings about your Arke, 'Gainst monster Envie, while she tells her storie Of Britaine princes and that royall maid In whose chaste hymne her Clio sings your glorie : Which if (great lord) you grant, my Muse shall frame Mirrours more worthie your renowned name. Your Honor's ever most humblie devoted RICHARD NICCOLS." Hist. of E. P. iii. 271. This circumstance is also recorded by Niccols in his poem of England's Eliza, p. 861, where a marginal note affirms that the author was then present An Address to the Reader on two pages, and a metrical induction extending to three leaves, follow: the ten histories, before enumerated, occupy from p. 561 to 769 of the volume. Then succeeds a new title page, with a wood-cut of Q. Elizabeth, inscribed England's Eliza: or the victorious and triumphant reigne of that Virgin Empresse of sacred memorie, Elizabeth, Queene of England, France and Ireland, &c. At London, Imprinted by Felix Kingston. 1610. Another sonnet-dedication follows this title, which (as well as the above) having been displaced from many of the copies, is here supplied. "To the vertuous Ladie, the Ladie Elizabeth Clere, wife to the Right Worshipfull Sir Francis Clere, Knt." My Muse, that whilome wail'd those Briton kings, Craves leave to strengthen her night-weather'd wings Of England's Empresse to her hymnicke string For your affect, to heare that Virgin's praise, Makes choice of your chast selfe to heare her sing: Whose royall worth (true virtues paragon) Heere made me dare t' ingrave your worthie name; In hope that unto you the same alone Will so excuse me of presumptuous blame, That gracefull entertaine my Muse may find, And ever beare such grace in thankful mind. Your Ladiships ever humblie at command, RICHARD NICCOLS." A prose address on one page, and a poetical induction on 8, precede the historical narrative, which occupies more than 90 pages. His induction exhibits the following honourable tribute to the memory of Spenser : "O did that Fairie Queene's sweet singer live, Or, if that Heaven by influence would infuse Niccols will be found a melodious verser, if not a first-rate poet; and was the author of many other productions, which remain to be mentioned. T. P.† ART. XXXIII. The play of the Wether. A new and a very mery enterlude of all maner ́wethers; made By John Heywood. Large 4to. bl. letter. The players names. Jupiter a god. Merry Reporte the vyce. The marchaunt. The ranger. The wynde myller. * In 1793, died at Lench, co. Worc. æt 101, Wm. Niccols, a labouring man, said to be the poet's descendant. Gent. Mag. LXIII. p. 282. Editor. + A new edition of the Mirror for Magistrates, containing a colla |