An awful warning to his Country is given in the following striking passage.

Great Britaine, know-a time will come to thee,
In which thy sinne shall sharply punisht be;
Therefore repent-least judgements follow fast;
First plague, then death, and use of swords at last.
Be reconcilde:-though God will not abhor thee,
Yet He prepares an angrie judgement for thee.
Thy pride, and proud contempt of God's pure word,
Makes Heaven 'gainst thee to draw a wrathfull sword.
Heaven's gracious God! be pleasde, for thine elect,
Fair Albion's good with safetie to protect:
Direct us so, that we to Thee may turne,

That then 'gainst us Thy wrath may cease to burne.
Great Britaine! doe not thou despair but mourne,
In sorrow let repentant robes be worn,

That when thou fight'st for thy Redeemer's name,

Thy deeds in warre may dignifie thy fame.

The concluding portion of this poem is directed against the perpetrators of the gunpowder-plot, and its ascription to papal influence, as

the seede that semynaries sowe,

And as the fruit that from their labours growe.

A "Song of rejoycing," for the deliverance therefrom, closes this volume of varied execution, but of reputable design.

T

Elizabetha Triumphans. Conteyning the damned prac tizes that the divelish Popes of Rome have used ever sithence her Highnesse first comming to the Crowne, by moving her wicked and traiterous Subjects to rebellion and conspiracies; thereby to bereave her Majestie both of her lawfull seate and happy life. With a declaration of the manner how her Excellency was entertained by her Souldyers into her campe royall at Tilbery in Essex: and of the overthrow had against the Spanish Fleete.

Briefly, truly, and effectually set forth; declared and handled by J. A.

Post victoriam gloria.

At London, printed by Thomas Orwin for Thomas Gubbin, and Thomas Newman.

Quarto. 22 leaves.

1588.

THIS has been reprinted in Mr. Nichols's collection of the Progresses and public Processions of Queen Elizabeth, and again in a volume of blank verse, written before Milton's, and selected by Dr. Percy. But as the first of these publications is now become very scarce, and as only four copies are said to be preserved of the second, the poem may admit of a short notice here.

The author signs himself Ja. Aske, at the end of a dedication "to the right worshipful Julius Cæsar, LL.D. chief Judge of the Court of Admiralty, and one of the Masters of the Requests to the Queen." In

a preface which follows, to the gentle reader, he calls the book his " first worke," and himself "a yong versefier." An acrostic on his Latin title thus succeeds:

E lizabeth, sole rectrix of this land,

Long time with thee hath raigned happy Peace:
In all thy deedes assisteth Pallas hand,
Zenobia-like, thy fame shall never cease.

A il other soyles throughout the wondrous world
B ehold and see thy sweete prosperitie :

E ven by thy force of late they soone were thrald,
T hat falsly bragged of their deitie.

H onour, with peace, prosperitie, and fame,
A ccord with thee, and highly praise thy name.

Triumph, O English people! leap for joy,
Redouble oft the lawding song ye sing :
I n praise of her who banisheth anoy

U nto Jehovah's altars offerings bring;

M ir, frankinscence, with every sweetest flower:
P lay on your timbrels, let your cornets sound;
H eave up your hands to Him that giveth power,
And did of late your threat'ning foes confound:
No traytors be, but honour still her name,
Sithence, for her sake Jehovah wrote the same.

In an early part of the poem, our vestal Queen is thus noticed for her natural gifts, linguar attainments, and personal beauty.

The royall state of famous English soile,

Right happy made by this their noble Queene,
Adorn'd with all the gifts which Nature can
Bestowe on any of her deerest nimphes, '.

So deare a darling is Elizabeth!

Renowned Queene of this renowned land,

And thrise renown'd by this her Virgin-Queene;
A Maiden-Queene, and yet of courage stout,
Through wisedome rare, for learning passing all.
Her mother-toong is not her only speach;

For Spanish, Greeke, Italian, and French,
With Romans toong, she understands and speakes.-
Her comely stature doth not beauty want,
Ne beauty is from seemely favour barr'd;
But both of them do (in the hyest degree
Conjoyned together) beautifie her port.

A particular report in verse is made of the Queen's speech at Tilbury to her Serjeant-Major, meaning probably her Major-General or Commander in Chief, the Earl of Leicester. It closes,

Say, Serjeant-Major! tell them from ourselfe,
On kingly faith we will performe it there.

Wit's Bedlam, where is had, Whipping cheer to cure the Mad. The Booke. Those Epigrams faine would I owe, Where every word is a word and a blow. Reproofes where they are well deserv'd must be well paide.

At London, printed by G. Eld, and are to be sould by James Davies, at the Red Crosse nere Fleete street Conduit. 1617.

Small 8vo.

THIS, though not announced in the title-page, is the presumable production of Davies of Hereford, the poetical writing-master, of whom an account may be seen in Wood.* It is marked like most of his productions by a mediocrity of talent, which leads one to hope that he was more successful in forming letters than in combining words.

A few specimens, as the book is scarce, may be acceptable. Part of it seems only compiled.

Against Gaulus, the writing country scholemaster.

Gaulus, thou writ'st thy selfe my scholer; and
Thou sai'st thou dost it scholers so to get :

But for thine owne, thou still dost shew my hand,
So thou deal'st plain, thou can'st not counterfeit.

Of Julia's Bookishness.

Julia is bookish; and doth study still

To fashion nature's favours to her will.

Her mirrour is her book, her time to pass,

And so she ever studies on her glass.

The following may recal to mind the link-boy's repartee to Pope the poet.

Of a crook-back, that desired an upright judge to right his

wrong.

A crook-back pray'd a judge to right his wrong;
Whereto the judge reply'd—” I would I could!
But oh! you have been wrong your selfe so long,
That now I cannot right you, though I would."

Ath. Oxon. I.