For my next heire, who with poetick breath
May in sad elegie record my death.

If so; I wish my epitaph may be
Only three words-Opinion murdered me!"

T. P.

ART. XXV. The true and perfecte Newes of the woorthy and valiaunt exploytes, performed and doone by that valiant knight Syr Frauncis Drake: not only at Sancto Domingo and Carthagena, but also nowe at Cales and uppon the coast of Spayne. 1587. Printed at London by J. Charlewood for T. Hackett. Colophon: Finis quoth Thomas Greepe.

Greepe, in his epistle dedicatory to George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, speaks of himself as a rude countryman, brought up many years in husbandry; and therefore possessing more knowledge in culturing of land than in describing the conquests of countries. A plain narration adapted to the vulgar sort of people, was what he designed, and this he evidently accomplished. The following is his matter-of-fact report of the English squadron.

The Bonaventure, a shyp royall,
Cheefe admirall then of the fleete
Sir Frauncis Drake chiefe-generall,
As by deserte, he was most meete.
Most worthy captaynes of hand and hart,
In thys boon voyage then tooke hys part.

3

The

The Primrose next, vice-admirall
Appointed by theyr best devise,
Captayne Frobisher vise-generall,

A valiant captayne, ware and wise.
Captayne Carelell they did ordayne
Liefetenant-generall on the mayne.
The Ayde, a royal! shyppe and hotte,
The Gallien wyll convict her foes,
The Sea-Dragon she spares no shott,
The Talbot barkes where-ere she goes;
The Whyte Lyon her foes will smart,
And all the rest wyll take her part.
At Plimmouth they remayned a space,
Till all their ships were furnished;
Then government, good fame, and grace,
Throughout the realme is published:
Their sayles displaide, the seas t'atchive,
September, anpo eighty-five."

A short letter is subjoined from Sir F. Drake, to his very good friend, Mr. John Fox, preacher of the Word of God: Dated "from aboord her Majesties good ship the Elizabeth Bonaventure."

ART. XXVI. A Skeltonical Salutation

Or condigne gratulation,

And just vexation

Of the Spanish nation ;

That in a bravado,

Spent many a Crusado,

In setting forthe an Armado
England to invado.

Imprinted at London for Toby Cooke. 1589. 4ta.

Such

Such is the title to this national pasquinade, in commemoration of the failure of Spain by her invincible naval armament. The iteration of metre is all that approaches in it to the style of Skelton; as the commencement may serve to shew.

O King of Spaine!

Is it not a paine

To thy heart and braine,

And every vaine,

To see thy traine

For to sustaine,
Withouten gaine,

The world's disdaine;

Which despise

As toies and lies,

With shoutes and cries,

Thy enterprise;

As fitter for pies

And butter-flies

Then men so wise?

O waspish King!

Where's now thy sting,
Thy dart, or sling,
Or strong bow-string,
That should us wring,
And under bring;

Who every way
Thee vexe and pay,

And beare the sway
By night and day,
To thy dismay,
In battle array,

And every fray?

O pufte with pride!

What foolish guide

Made thee provide

To over-ride

This land so wide,

From side to side;

And then untride

Away to slide,

And not to abide;

But all in a ring

Away to fling?" &c.

T. P.

ART. XXVII. Barclay his Argenis, or the Loves of Poliarchus and Argenis, faithfully translated out of Latin into English by Kingsmill Long, Esq. The second edition, beautified with pictures. Together with a Key præfixed to unlock the whole story. London. Printed for Henry Seile at the signe of the Tygres Head in Fleetstreet neere the Conduit 1636. Sm. 4to. pp. 719.

This volume is adorned by a print of Barclay, natus 26 Jan. 1582, obiit 12 Aug. 1621-peaked beard, and whiskers; hair turned up from the forehead; a ruff flying off from the shoulders, and flower'd vest. "D. du Monstier pinx. C. Melton sculp."

"Gente Caledonius, Gallus natalibus hic est, Romam Romano qui docet ore loqui."

H. GROTIUS.

M.P.

John

John Barclay, the author was son of William Barc lay, a learned and eminent Scotch civilian, who was born at Aberdeen 1541, and died about 1605. The son is said to have had considerable employments under King James, and particularly to have been made Gentleman of the Bedchamber to him. He quitted London in 1617, and went to Paris; and afterwards to Rome, at the invitation of Pope Paul V. where he died.

The Argenis is his most celebrated work. It was first printed at Paris in 8vo. in 1621. It has since passed through many editions, and been translated into several languages. The first English translation was published in 4to. in 1628, by Sir Robert Le Grys, at the command of King Charles I. The poetical part was translated by Thomas May, Esq. The translation by K. Long, here registered, was the second. Another appeared as late as 1772, in four volumes, 12mo. under the following title.

"The Phoenix; or, The History of Polyarchus and Argenis, translated from the Latin by a Lady" In the Preface to this, it is observed, that "the Editor has made use of both the former translations occasionally, and whenever a doubt arose, had recourse to the original."

Barclays' Latin style, in his Argenis, has been much praised, and much censured. It is said that Cardinal Richlieu was extremely fond of reading this work, and that from thence he derived many of his political maxims. It is observed, in the Preface to the last English Translation, that "Barclay's Argenis affords such variety of entertainment, that every kind of reader may find in it something suitable to his own taste and disposition: