Andrew does not confine his attention to diseases of the body, but treats also of those of the mind; as in the following instance, which may serve for a specimen of his manner:

The 174 Chapiter doth shewe of an infirmitie named Hereos.

"Hereos is the Greke worde. In Latin it is named Amor. In English it is named Love-sick, and women may haue this fickleness as well as men. Young persons be much troubled with this impediment."

After stating "the cause of this infirmitie," he prescribes the following remedy:

"First I do advertize every person not to set to the hart what another doth set to the hele; let no man set his love so far, but that he may withdraw it betime; and muse not, but use mirth and mery company, and be wyse, and not foolish."

tus.

Andrew Borde called himself in Latin, Andreas PerforaThis translation of a proper name was according to the fashion of the time; and, in the instance before us, appears to include a pun perforatus, bored or pierced.

PENNYLESS PARLIAMENT OF THREAD-BARE POETS.

́The Pennilesse Parliament of Threadbare Poets; or, the Merry FortuneTeller, wherein all persons of the four severall complexions may find their Fortunes: composed by Doctor Merryman; not only to purge melancholy, but also to procure tittering and laughing. Full of witty mirth, and delightfull recreation for the content of the Reader. London, printed for John Wright, at the King's Head in the Old Bayley—1649.”

THIS curious black letter tract, which is somewhat rare, is a very happy satire on the vices and follies of mankind, not only during the period in which it was written, but in all ages and countries. The author appears to have deeply studied man to know all his faults. The following are a few detached passages from the work:

"First of all, for the increase of every foole in his humour, we thinke it necessary and convenient that all such as doe buy this booke, and laugh not at it before they have read it over, shall be condemned of melancholy, and be adjudged to walk over Moorefields twice a weeke in a foule shirt, but no stockings at all on.

"It is also ordered and agreed upon, that such as are cholericke, shall never want woe and sorrow; and they that lacke money, may fast upon Fridayes by the statute; and it shall be lawful for them that want shoes, to weare boots all the yeare; and he that hath never a cloak, may, without offence, put on his best gowne at Midsummer.

"Likewise, we mark all brokers to be knaves by letters patent; and usurers, for five marks a-piece, shall lawfully be buried in the chancell, though they have bequeathed their

soules and bodies to the devil.

"Furthermore, it shall bee lawfull for footstooles (by the helpe of women's hands) to flye about without wings, and poore men shall be accounted knaues without occasions; and those that flatter least shall speed worst.

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'It shall be lawfull for some to haue the palsie in their teeth, in such sort, as they shall eate more than ever they will be able to pay for.

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Some shall haue such a megram in their eyes, as they shall hardly know another man's wife from their own.

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Some shall haue such a stopping in their hearts, as they shall be utterly obstinate to receive grace.

"Some sort of people shall haue such a buzzing in their eares, as they shall be enemies to good counsel.

"Some such there be that haue a sent or smell in their noses, as no feast shall escape without their companies; and some shall be so needy, as neither young heires shall get their oune nor poore orphans their patrimony.

Also, it is enacted and decreed, that some shall be so humourous in their walks, as they cannot step one foot from a foole.

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'Some so disguised in purse, as they count it fatall to haue one penny to buy their dinners on Sundays; some so burdened in conscience, as they count wrong dealing the best badge of their occupation.

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Sycophants by the statute shall haue great gifts, and good and goodly labours shall scarce be worth thanks; it is also thought necessary that maides about midnight shall see wondrous visions, to the great heartgrief of their mothers.

"And it is furthermore established and agreed upon, that they that drinke too much Spanish sacke, shall, about July, be served with a fierie facies.

The author probably alluded here to the well-known incident of Janet Geddes, the Scottish Reformer, throwing her stool at the head of a clergyman who made a vain attempt to restore, in the high church of Edinburgh, the proscribed liturgy of the episcopal church.

"But now, touching the benefit of private houses, by our rare and exquisite judgment, we think it very commodious, that those mamed men, which are of the weakest wit and worse courage, should provide themselves of good weapons to defend themselves from assaults which shall assaile them about midnight."

The tract thus concludes:

"And to conclude, since there are ten precepts to be observed in the art of scowlding, we humbly take our leave of Duke Humphries' ordinary, and he take us to the chapel of ill counsell; when a quart or two of fine Trinidado shall arme us against the gunshott of tongue-mettle, and keepe us from the assaults of Sir John Findfault. Vale! my dear friends, till my next returne."

"THE CHOICE OF CHANGE."

ONE of the most curious and entertaining black letter tracts extant is entitled

'The Choice of Change: containing the Triplicitie of Miuinitie, Philosophie, and Poetrie; Short for Memorie, Profitable for Knowledge, and Necessarie for Maners: whereby the Learned may be confirmed, the Egnorant instructed, and all Men generally recreated. Newly set foorth by S. R. Gent. and Student in the Vniversitie of Cambridge. TRIA SUNT OMNIA. At London, printed by Roger Warde, dwelling neere Holburne Conduite, at the figure of the Talbot. An. Dom. 1585."

Although it is not known with any degree of certainty who was the author of this volume, yet there is strong reason to believe that it was written by Dr. Simon Robson, who was made dean of Bristol in the year 1598, and died in 1617. The work is dedicated to Sir Henry Herbert, Sir Philip Sidney, and Robert Sidney, to whom "S. R. wisheth increase of vertuous qualities in the mind, of the gifts of the body, and goodes of fortune." This is followed by a short and very curious address

"To the Reader.

"1. He that knoweth not that he ought to know, is a brute beast among men.

"2. He that knoweth no more than he hath need of, is a man among brute beasts.

"3. He that knoweth all that may bee knowen, is a god amongst men.

"3. Judge indifferently.

"The triplicitie of Diuinitie, Philosophie, and Poetrie, consist each of two hundrettis, and each hundreth contains 100 instances.' A few extracts, the spelling of which we modernize, will explain the author's plan and execution.

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He that will live in quiet, must frame himself to three things, to hear, see, and say nothing.

"The philosopher, Aristotle, believed but three thingsthat which he touched with his hand; that which he saw with his eyes; that which he could comprehend in argu

ment.

"Three things which cause a man to keep his friends— if he give much; if he ask little; if he take nothing.

"Three things necessary in a flatterer-an impudent face; a steadfast colour; a changing voice.

"Trust not three things-dogs' teeth; horses' feet; women's protestations.

"Three things are uncertain and inconstant-the favour of princes; the love of women; the shining of the sun in April.

"There are three very strong things-gold, for there is no place invincible, wherein an ass, laden with gold, may enter; love, because it provoketh us to adventure our goods, life and renown, and all; labour, because it overcometh all things."

MADRIGAL.-BY LODGE.

In the library of the British Museum, there is a tract of great rarity, from which Shakespeare is said to have borrowed the plot of As you like it. It is entitled "Euphue's Golden Legacy," by Thomas Lodge, a poet of the Elizabethan age, who was also the author of a great variety of valuable publications in prose, as well as verse. Ellis, in his "Specimens of the Early English Poets," has given three of Lodge's poems from the "Pleasant Historie of Glaucus and Scilla," but has omitted to mention the following madrigal, the most beautiful, perhaps, of all his compositions. The edition from which it is transcribed is believed to be unique.

"Love in my bosom, like a bee,

Doth sucke his sweete;

Now with his wings he plays with me,
Now with his feete.

Within mine eyes he makes his nest,
His bed amid my tender breast;
My kisses are his daily feast,
And yet he robs me of my rest.

Strike I my lute-he tunes the string,
He music plays, if I do sing;
He lends me every living thing,
Yet cruel he my heart doth sting.

What, if I beat the wanton boy
With many a rod,

He will repay me with annoy,
Because a god.

Then sit thou safely on my knee,

And let thy bower my bosom be;

O Cupid! so thou pity me,

I will not wish to part from thee.”

MASSINGER.

IN the time of this excellent dramatic poet, it was not unusual for men of letters to club or to farm their talents. An established writer for the stage would frequently call in the help of authors little known to the world, to aid him in his productions; and sometimes, authors of celebrity conjointly came before the public. It is well known that Massinger wrote in conjunction with Beaumont and Fletcher; and that he was a necessitous fellow-labourer with less celebrated authors, is placed beyond all doubt, by the following affecting documents, which it is impossible to read without a sigh of regret for the distresses of such men.

"To our most loving friend, Mr. Philip Hinchlow, these: Mr. Hinchlow,

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"You understand our unfortunate extremitie, and I doe not thincke you so void of Christianitie, but that you would throw so much money into the Thames, as wee request now of you, rather than endanger so many innocent lives. You know there is xl. more at least to be receaved of you for the play. We desire you to lend us vl. of that, which shall be allowed to you; without which we cannot be bayled, nor I play any more, till this be dispatch'd. It will lose you xxl. ere the end of the next week, besides the hinderance of the next new