Some sort there are that runne with staves, or fight in ar mour fine, [wine. Or shew the people foolishe toyes, for some small peece of Besides the noblemen, the riche, and men of hie degree, Least they with common people should not seeme so mad to bee; [meete, There wagons finely framde before, and for this matter And lustie horse and swift of pace, well trapt from head to feete, [before, They put therein, about whose necke and every place A hundred gingling belles do hang, to make his courage more. [do stande, Their wives and children therein set, behinde themselves Well armde with whips, and holding fast the bridle in their hande, [place they rou, With all their force throughout the streetes and market As if some whirlewinde mad, or tempest great, from skies should come," &c. The Spirituall Husbandrie has a preface "To the Right Honorable and Worthie Lords the Governors and Senate of Bern, Thomas Naogeorgus wisheth, &c." Dated "from Campidun the first of March, 1550." The first book contains 918 lines, and the second 978 lines of the same measure with the preceding, of which the specimens are, perhaps, more than sufficient for the whole. Conduit street. J. H. ART. LI. Discours of the present troubles in Fraunce, and Miseries of this tyme. Compiled by Peter Ronsard: Translated by Thomas Jeney, gentilman. Printed at Andwerpe, 1568. 4to. A specimen of very indifferent versification: dedicated to Sir Hen. Norris. ART. LII. The most ancient, and learned play, called The Philosopher's Game, invented for the honest recreation of the Studious. By W. F. Imprinted by Rowland Hall. 1563. b. l. 16mo. 47 leaves. UNFORTUNATELY there is a portrait of Lord R. Dudley on the back of the title-page of this little work, and as the pilfering Grangerites must be supplied, a perfect copy may shortly be reckoned unique. The above title is copied from the hand-writing of Dr. Farmer, which is more fully given in Herbert, p. 805. The work affords two new entries in the Bibliographia Poetica; that of the name of Roubothum, whose task seems to have been the dedication; and the author of the book's verdict, which may probably be assigned with justice to W. F. the translator. By the dedication "to the Ryght Honorable, the Lord Robert Dudley, Maister of the Queene's Maiestie's Horse, Knight of the most honorable order of the Garter, and one of the Queene's Maiestie's Privie Counsell, James Roubothum heartelye wisheth longe life, with encrease of godly honour and eternall felicitie." This address is in thirty-seven quatrains, or divided Alexandrines; in which is the following account of the supposed inventor of Chess. "Pithagoras did first invent this play as it is thought; And therby, after studies great, his recreation sought. Yea therby he would well refreshe his studious wery braine: And still in knowledge further wade, and plye it to his gaine. Accompting that a wicked play, wherein a man leudely Mispendes his tyme and wit also, and no good getts thereby. But greavously offendes the Lord: and so in steed of rest, With trouble and vexation great, Most games and playes abused are, and few do now remaine In good and godly order, as they ought to be certaine. For why? all games should recreat with cares and troubles than. But now in stead of pleasant mirth, great passions do arise; In stead of recreation now, revengings we practise. In stead of love and amitie, long discords do appeare: In stead of trueth and quietnes, great othes and lyes we heare. In stead of friendship, falsehode now, mixed with cruell hate, We finde to be in playes and games, which dayly cause debate. Pithagoras therfore I saye, to make redresse herein, Invented first this godly game, therby to flie from sinne. Since which time it continued hath Wherby, without a further profe, Els would not that philosopher, Have laboured with diligence, Els would not so well learned men From tyme to tyme, with travell great, At the end "Your Honour's most humble, James Roubothum." Then follows, "to the Reader. I dout not but some man of severe iudgement so soone as he hath ons read the title of this boke wyl immediatly sai, that 1 had more need to exhort men to worke, than to teach them to play; which censure if it procede not of such a froward morositie that can be content with nothing but that he doth himself, I do not only well admit, but also willingly submit myself therto. And if I could be persuaded that men at mine exhortation wold be more diligent to labour, I would not only write a treatise twise as long as this, but also thinke my whole time wel bestowed yf I did nothing els, but invent, speake, and write that which might exhort, move, and persuade them to the furtherance of the same.-If great emperours and mighty monarches of the world have not bene ashamed by wryting bookes to teache the arte of dyceplaying, of all good men abhorred, and by all good lawes condemned; have I not some colour of defence, to teache the game, which so wyse men have invented, so learned men frequented, and no good man hath ever condemned?" At the end of the address the bookseller (Roubothum) announces, "All things belonging to this game for reason you may bye, At the booke shop under Bochurch, Then follows a description of the philosopher's game (chess,) the parts, order, obsidion, and arithmetical movements, geometrical and musical proportion, triumphs, and incidental victories, interspersed with various wood-cuts and tables of numbers, concluding with a distich from Cato, at the end of "The bookes verdicte. "Wanting I have beene long truly Lo yet at last now here am I, Your labours great for to delay, Unto wisdome yet move I more: |