curious tract, entitled, " De generibus ebriosorum," &c. printed at Nurenberg, 1516, 4to. Calenberg, or Calembourgh, is a village in Lower Saxony. This fragment is the history of the Parson of Calemburg, of which the following is not the least curious specimen :

"The Parson of Kalenborow had wyne in his seler which was marred, and because he would have no losse be it, he practysed a wyle to be ridde of it; and caused it to be publyshed in many paryshens there about, that the Parson of Kalenborow, at a daye assigned, wolde fle over the Rever of Tonowa frome the stepyl of his own churche. And this he proclaymed in his owne parishe also, and then he caused 11 wynges of Pecockes fedders to be made, and also he caused his noughty wynes to be brought under the churche stepyll, whereas he sholde stande for to fle over the rever. And he gave the clerke charge of his wyne because he sholde sell it well and dere to the most profyte. And when the daye was come that the Parson sholde fle, many one come theder to se the marvayle from farre contrees and than the Parson went upon the stepyll, arrayed lyke an angell, redy for to fle, and there he flickered oftentymes with his wynges, but he stode styll. In the mean whyle that the people stode so to beholde him the sonne shone hote, and they had great thurste, for the Preste dyd not fle, and he se that, and beckened to

them,

them, saying, ye good people, my tyme is nat yet to fle, but tary a whyle, and ye shall se what I shall do; and than the people went and dranke a pace of this wyn that they se there for to sell, and they dronke so longe that they coude gete no more wyne for money, and cryed out for drynke, and made great preas. And within a lyttell whyle after, the Clerke come to the Parson and sayde, Sir, your wyne is all solde and well payde for, though there had ben more. The Parson beinge very gladde of this tydinges began to flicker with his wynges agayne, and called with a lowde voyce unto the people, saing, Harke, harke, harke, is there any amonge you all, that ever se a man have wynges or fle. There stepped one furthe, and sayd, Nay, sir, nay. The Parson answered agayne, and sayd, Nor never shall, be my fay. Therefor go your wayes home every whone, and say that ye have dranke up the Parson of Kalenborow's evyll wynes, and payd for it well; and truly more than ever it cost him. Than ware the vilaynes or paysauns mervelously angry, and in their language cursed the Parson perillously, some with a myscheve and vengeaunce; and some sayd, God geve him an hundred drouse, for he hathe made amonge us many a fole and totynge ape. But the Parson cared not for all theyr curses. And this subtyle dede was spred all the countre about."

THE ANT AND THE NIGHTINGALE

The Ant & the Nightingale, or Father Hubbard's Tales. (Small Quarto) Printed by F. C. for Thos. Bushell, & are to be solde by Jeffrey Charlton, at his Shop, at the North Doore of Paules.

1604.

FOR the use of this very rare and curious little volume, I am also indebted to the kindness of Marquis Stafford.

The contents are tales, with poetry intermixed. The tales are related by an Ant to a Nightingale to save her life, the Ant having crept up a tree, and got within reach of the Nightingale's_beak. The author thus introduces his book.

Shall I tell you what, reader? but first I should call you gentle, curteous and wise, but tis no matter, theyre but foolish words of course, and better left out than printed; for if you be so, you need not be called so; and if you be not so, then were lawe against me for calling you out of your names; by John of Powles Church Yard I sweare, & that oath will be taken at any haberdashers, I never wisht this booke better fortune than to fall into the hands of a true spelling Printer, and an honest stitching Book

Bookseller; & if honestie could be sold by the bushell, like oysters, I had rather have one bushell of honestie than three of monie.

Why I call these Father Hubbard's Tales, is not to have them called in againe, as the tales of Mother Hubbard; the worlde would shewe little judgment in that yfaith, & I should say then plena stultorum omnia; for I entreat here neither of rugged beares nor apes; no, nor the lamentable downefal of the old wives platters, I deale with no such mettall. What is mirth in me is harmless as the Quarter Jacks in Powles, that are up with their elbowes foure times an houre, and yet misuse no creature living. The verie bitterest in me, is but a physial frost, that nips the wicked blood a little, & so makes the whole bodie the more wholesomer, and none can justly except at me, but some riotous vaunting Kit, or some gentleman swallowing Mal Kin*,

then

QUARTER JACKS IN POWLES.

It may be presumed from this passage, that formerly the quarters were struck at St. Paul's church clock by the figures of men, as they are now at St. Dunstan's, Fleet Street. See p. 256,

then to condemn these tales following, because Father Hubbard tells them in the small syze of an Ant, is even as much as if these two wordes God & Divil were printed both in one line; to skip it over, and say that line were naught, because the Divil were in it; Sat Sapienti, & I hope there be many wise men in all the twelve companies 3.

Yours if you reade without

Spelling or hacking

T. M."

The exordium is in verse, and is thus introduced:

Some readers may require to be informed, that lockram means some sort of coarse linen: reechy means greasy. See also Pericles Prince of Tyre.

None would look on her,

But cast their gazes on Marina's face;

Whilst ours was blurted at, and held a Malkin

Not worth the time of day.

ACT IV. Sc. 4.

That is a mean wretch, not worth saluting with good day to you.

3 TWELVE COMPANIES.

Originally the chartered city companies were only twelve in number.

Now