In the list of Peacham's works, which Mr. Park has given in the 9th volume of the Harleian Miscellany the Valley of Variety is omitted: as the work, therefore, of a writer highly complimented by Warton and Ellis, this little volume may deserve attention.

The imprimatur bears date March 10, 1637, (i. e. 1637-8) and is dedicated to Henry Earl of Dover, in return for many courtesies conferred upon him; and out of duty to his religious and honourable COUNTESSE, for her repeated favours to him and his since the writer was last at his Lordship's house in Broad Street. What Lord, except indeed a Lord Mayor, would now have it said that his house was in Broad Street! The intention of Peacham originally was (he tells us) to translate the whole of Pancirolla's work into English; but having kept what he had already executed till the untowardness of the times promised little reward to literature, he resolved to give this sample of the fruits before he opened the whole basket, and from the reception this met with, to perfect or abandon his primitive purpose. Times still more unpropitious to literature succeeded; and we may be sure that Peacham's story was "left half told." Whatever might have been the author's first design, he soon quitted Pancirolla; and his Valley of Variety consists of short essays on various subjects, or rather it is a collection of anecdotes and authorities connecting various subjects, divided into chapters. For this purpose the classics, particularly those of the later ages, are laid under pretty heavy contributions. The nature of the work may be judged of from the titles of two or three chapters.

Chap. I. What to thinke of the lengthe of age which men lived in former times, and shortly after the creation.

Chap. II. Of the dead sea.

Chap. IV. Of those locusts which the Scripture saith John Baptist did eate where beside, many admirable things are reported of strange and unaccustomed meats.

The XIVth chapter treats of incombustible flax, or which will not consume by fire; in which he tells us, "He had given him by an Arabian, when he lived in Saint Martin's Parish in the Fields, twenty years since, a pretty quantitie of a stuffe like flaxe, which he bad me put into the fire, but it consumed not; whether it were the kind of flaxe which the Grecians called Asbestinum, and the Latins Linum Vivum, or that flaxe of Cyprus which Podocontus, a knight of Cyprus, (who wrote an History of Cyprus, anno MDLXVI) brought to Venice, and the fire could not consume it, he professes he knew not."

1100400441

The Occasion of the Alteration of the Armes of Bohemia,

"When Vladislaus, K. of Bohemia, tooke parte with Frederick Barbarossa, and very much assisted him with men, munition, and all things necessarie for his expedition against Millan, Millan being taken, the day after the Emperor had entered into the citie, mounted upon a goodly courser, in his imperial robes, wearing the crowne which the King of England had sent him, all beset with most resplendent and prizeless jemmes, hee entred into the chief church of the citie; wherein the Archbishop of Millane sayd masse; there taking off his crowne, hee presented it to the King of Bohemia in these words: Vladis

laus, this crowne, and the honours thereunto belonging, being the gift of my loving friend the King of England, appertaineth by right unto yourselfe: for you have been both the head and foot of that victory which now I have obtained. Moreover, as a perpetuall testimonie and monument of our mutuall love and friendship unto all posteritie, give mee leave to change your single blacke eagle into a sterne lion for a lyon in strength and courage farre excelleth an eagle.' The king yeelded unto him, giving him many thankes. Then by the commandement of the Emperor a painter was sent for, who should draw this lyon in an ensigne but heare a merry jest which followed. The paynter by chance had so drawne him, that his tayle lay close between his legges, as if he had had none at all; which the Bohemians observing: And, I pray you, (quoth they to the painter) where is his tayle? this is more like an ill-favoured jack-an-apes, then a generous lyon. Hereupon despising this coward-like lyon, they desired (being much grieved) that they might have their old eagle againe. This when it was related. unto the Emperour, he fell into a great laughter, saying, It is no hard matter to finde a remedy for this, and to please the Bohemians. Wherfore he caused presently to be new paynted, a white lion, not with one taile onely, but with two, and those fairely aloft cast over his backe; which remaineth the armes of the Bohemians even to this day."

G.

The Soules immortal Crowne, consisting of seaven glo1. Vertue. 2. Wisdom. 3. Love.

rious graces.

4. Constancie.

5. Patience. 6. Humilitie. 7. Infinitenes. Devided into Seaven dayes Workes. And dedicated to the Kings most excellent Majestie. At London, printed by H. Lownes, and are to be sold by J. C. and F. B. 1605.*

"To the high and mighty Prince James, by the grace of God, King of great Brittain, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c.

To whom shall I dedicate the praise of Vertue, but to him who Vertue praiseth, which in your Majesty being made good, to the eyes of those understanding spirits, that can judge of the heavenly notes of heroicall natures (I hope) having truth for my warrant, to escape the scandall of fawning eloquence; Vouchsafe, therefore, my gracious Sovereign, in this plain poem, to peruse the labour of my heart's love, which with the service of true loyalty, I humbly lay at the feet of your Royal Majesty, beseeching the vertue of all grace, and grace of all vertue, so to bless you with his infinite blessings, that as Vertue under heaven putteth her praise under your patronage, so the Patron of all Vertue will so royallize your praise in the heavens, that to your gratious crown on earth, you may receive a crown of eternal glory.

Your Majesty's most

humble and loyal in all service

BER. N. Gent.

• Of this work, ascribed to Nicholas Breton, an account has already been given in Censura Literaria. It is here again introduced, because of the signature to the Dedication and Address, which being " Bern. N." may raise some doubt. Notwithstanding this disguise, I hesitate not to pronounce it, from internal evidence, Breton's.

To the Reader.

You that have a heart to lift your eyes above your head, and have not buried your soul in the sink of sin, take a little time to read over this little Tract, where if Vertue may invite you, Wisdom may woo you, Love may draw you, Constancy may content you, Patience may perswade you, or Humility may entreat you, you shall not pass without your payment, and make a profit of your expence: the villain cannot taste it, the fool understand it, the hatefull not love it, nor the inconstant commend it, the impatient endure it, nor the proud regard it : but I hope the best will allow it, and to thee I only leave it, who can best judge of it, will judiciously peruse it, and accordingly esteem it: there is no state taxed in it, no person abused by it, none that read it, but may have good of it, and for the good of all men I have done it. The youthfull may learn, and the aged consider what is most necessary for the soul's comfort, the rich may find treasure above their wealth, and the poor, relief in their misery: in sum to avoid tediousness, I hope you shall see Vertue truly honoured, Wisdom truly praised, Love truly described, Constancy truly commended, Patience truly proved, and God in all, truly glorified: to the tuition of whose grace, in hearty prayer for your happiness, that you may seek it only in his goodness: I leave you for this time, and for ever, till I better know you.

Your friend as I

find cause,

BER. N. Gent,