not so, said the fellow; for it is an old proverb, that fish should swim. Yes, said the priest, it must swim in the water. I cry your mercy, quoth the fellow, I thought it should have swam in fine ale, for I've been told so. Soon after the men of Gotham were come to shrift, and being seven, the priest knew not what penance to give. He said, If I enjoin you to pray, you cannot say your Pater-noster; and it is but a folly to make you fast, because you never eat a meal's meat. Labour hard, and get a dinner on Sunday, and I will partake of it, Another man he did enjoin to fare well on Monday, and another on Tuesday, and one after another; and one or more other should fare well one day in the week, that he might have a part of their meat. And as for alms-deeds, the priest said, you be but beggars all, except one or two, therefore bestow your alms on yourselves.

NOTE.

The composition of the foregoing tales may be easily gathered from certain allusions in them to be not more modern than the first half of the sixteenth century.

I ought to add, that William John Thoms, Esq. F.S.A. and Secretary of the Camden Society, had some time since an intention of printing these tales; but, on learning that I wished to publish them, with the greatest kindness and liberality he delivered the charge into my hands.

THE END.

G. NORMAN, PRINTER, MAIDEN LANE, COVENT Garden.

COURSE of LECTURES on DRAMATIC ART and
LITERATURE, by AUGUSTUS WILLIAM SCHLEGEL,
translated from the German by JOHN BLACK, Esq.
Editor of the "Morning Chronicle," 2 vols. fcp.
Svo. SECOND EDITION, cloth, 1840, 12s

"The present work contains a critical and historical account of the ancient and modern drama-the Greek, Latin, Italian, German, Spanish, and English. The view which the author has taken of the standard productions, whether tragic or comic, is ingenious and just, and his reasonings on the principles of taste are as satisfactory as they are profound. The acute and sensible remarks-the high tone of morality-are very admirable and exemplary; and we refer those who desire to elevate their understandings to a guide so learned and philosophical as the author of these volumes."-Edinburgh Review.

"In a few pages we reap the fruit of the labour of a whole life. Every opinion formed by the author, every epithet given to the writers of whom he speaks, is beautiful and just, concise and animated."-Mad. de Stael's Germany.

"A WORK OF EXTRAORDINARY MERIT."-Quarterly Review, Vol. 12, p. 112-146. "In this excellent treatise on the Dramatic Art, Shakspeare has found one of his ablest commentators."-Lowndes.

RELIQUES of ANCIENT ENGLISH POETRY, consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs, and other Pieces of our earlier Poets, illustrative of the Manners, Customs, and Amusements of the English People; preceded by an Essay on Ancient Minstrelsy, Notes, and Glossary, by Bishop PERCY, medium 8vo. beautifully printed, cloth, 8s 6d-or calf extra, marbled leaves, 12s

"Dr. Percy conferred on literature an inestimable benefit. He dug up m precious jewels from among the ruins of time. He excited the interest o

poet and the historian, and united, in friendly league, criticism and antiquarian science."-Edinburgh Review, Vol. i. p. 396.

"This excellent and highly interesting reprint of Percy forms a handsome volume, containing an amount of type that is usually distributed through half-adozen. The celebrated Hermit of Warkworth' is appended for the first time to the collection; and the whole forms a volume whose price and poetical character should command for it a place in every library."-New Monthly Magazine.

The most agreeable selection which perhaps exists in any language.”

G. Ellis.

"The most elegant compilation of the early poetry of a nation that has ever appeared in any age or country; every page evinces the refined taste, the genius and learning of the editor: it deserved, and has received, unbounded applause, from men fully capable of appreciating its merits."-R. H. Evans' Preface to his Old Ballads, Vol. 1, p. 11.

"But, above all, I then first became acquainted with Bishop Percy's Reliques of Ancient Poetry. The first time I could scrape together a few shillings, I bought unto myself a copy of these beloved volumes: nor do I believe I ever read a book half so frequently, or with half the enthusiasm."--Sir Walter Scott's Autobiography. MASSINGER'S DRAMATIC WORKS, with Notes, by W. GIFFORD, Editor of "Ben Jonson,' Ford," " Shirley," &c. medium 8vo. beautifully printed, uniform with "Percy's Reliques," with fine portrait and vignette title page, cloth extra, 13s—or calf extra,

158

"This elegant and correct reprint of Massinger, from the text of Gifford, with his critical and explanatory notes, and the general critical remarks of Dr. Ireland appended to each play-this new edition of one of the noblest of our old dramatists, merits our highest commendation, and can scarcely fail to command an extensive share of public favour. Elegantly printed, and in all other respects fitted to adorn the first libraries of the land."-New Monthly Magazine. "This re-publication of Massinger, in a convenient form, good type, and at the exceeding low price of 13s., is a most timely present to the public. But he was a poet-the last of that glorious band, the pride of England-called 'old dramatists; and this Edition gives us Gifford's Notes and Introduction, and Dr. Ireland's Criticisms, and Dr. Ferriar's Essay on his writings, these make this edition more valuable than Mr. Moxon's." Westminster Review.

SPENSER'S FAERIE QUEENE, with a Glossary, in one volume 8vo. portrait, cloth, 1841, 4s

IMAGINARY CONVERSATIONS of LITERARY MEN and STATESMEN, by W. S. LANDOR, 5 vols. 8vo. BOTH SERIES, 1828-9, cloth, 11 5s (pub. at 31 8s)

GIBBON'S HISTORY of ROME, for the use of Families and Young Persons, edited by THOMAS BOWDLER, Esq. 5 vols. 8vo. beautifully printed, bds. 1826, 17 (pub. at 21 12s 6d)

SHAKESPERIANA, a Catalogue of the Early Editions of SHAKSPEARE'S PLAYS, and of the Commentaries and other Publications illustrative of his Works, by JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.R.S., F.S.A., &c. 8vo. cloth, 3s

"This is one of the most useful little books of its kind that we have seen for a length of time. There are few readers of Shakspeare who are at all acquainted with the bibliography of his plays, but a glance over the pages of this work will enable them almost at once to obtain a good general view of the subject, the importance of which is unquestionable, however much its interest may vary with different readers. We think, too, it will prove an useful manual in the hands of the initiated in Shaksperian criticism."-Cambridge Advertiser.

"Indispensable to every body who wishes to carry on any inquiries connected with Shakspeare, or who may have a fancy for Shaksperian bibliography."-Spectator.

"The compiler is entitled to the thanks of all literary men. We think this book should be the constant companion of every complete set of the bard's works. The arrangement of the catalogue is excellent, and it forms a key to every difficulty and doubt that may arise on the text of the great poet and dramatist."-Metropolitan.

"As a student's manual, we have no hesitation in recommending it for general use; and no one who takes interest in the history of Shakspeare ought to be without such a guide."-Archæologist.

"It ought to be placed by the side of every edition. It is the most concise, yet the most copious illustration of the subject which has hitherto been given to the public."-Literary Gazette.

THE HARROWING of HELL, a Miracle Play, written in the Reign of Edward II., now first published from the original in the British Museum, with a Modern Reading, Introduction, and Notes, by JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.S.A., F.R.S., &c. 8vo. sewed, 2s

This curious piece is supposed to be the earliest specimen of dramatic composition in the English language.-Vide Hallam's Literature of Europe, Vol. 1. -Strutt's Manners and Customs, Vol. 2.-Warton's English Poetry.-Sharon Turner's England.

66

'It is a piece regularly constructed, with a sort of prologue and epilogue. After the prologue, Christ enters, and states his sufferings and design in descending into hell. Satan hears him, and enquires who it is, lest he should fonden how we pleyen here.' The Saviour declares himself, and Satan argues with him on the injustice of depriving him of what he has acquired, observing, 'Whoso buyeth anything,

Hit is hys ant his offspryng.'

i. e. 'Whosoever buys anything, it belongs to him and his offspring.' Christ contends that the apple with which Satan bought Adam was his (Christ's) property, and tells the devil that he must submit, as 'Ambes-a: s' has fallen to him; in other words, that Satan has cast the dice, and has only both aces. After much discussion the Saviour arrives at the gates of hell.

'Helle gates y come now to,
And y wole that heo* un do
Wer ys now this gateward?
Me thuncketh he is a coward."

The gateward,' or porter of hell, runs away, saying,

Ich have herd wordes stronge,
Ne dar y her no lengore stonde;
Kepe the gates whoso may

Y lete them stonde ant renne away.'

The Saviour binds Satan in hell' till that come domesday,' and apparently without any resistance: he is then received by Adam, Eve, Abraham, David, St. John the Baptist, and Moses. Adam says,

Welcome louerd† god of londe
Godes sone ant godes sonde‡
Welcome louerd mote thou be

That thou wolt us come and se.'

Each of the other characters makes a speech in turn, and the epilogue warns the audience not to commit any offences that may put them in peril of hell and its pains."-Collier's History of English Dramatic Poetry, Vol. 2, p. 213.

THE MERRY TALES of the WISE MEN of GOTHAM, edited by JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.S A., post 8vo. 1s

These tales are supposed to have been composed in the early part of the sixteenth century, by Dr. Andrew Borde, the well-known progenitor of Merry Andrews. "In the time of Henry the VIII., and after," says Ant.-à-Wood, "it was accounted a book full of wit and mirth by scholars and gentlemen."

* They.

+ Lord.

‡ Messenger.

"For their quaintness and rich absurdity, these tales well deserve to be collected and thus preserved. As a purely English species of humour, they should be familiar to every one, and we are much pleased to see them in the form in which they are now presented to us. Verily the Gothamites are not yet extinct, so let all men read."-Metropolitan, May, 1840.

A FEW HINTS to NOVICES in MANUSCRIPT LITERATURE, by J. HALLIWELL, Esq. 8vo. 1839, 1s

0.

HISTORIA COLLEGII JESU CANTABRIGIENSIS, a J. SHERMANNO, Olim Pres. ejusdem collegii, edidit et notis instruxit J. O. HALLIWELL, 8vo. cloth, 1840, 2s

RARA MATHEMATICA, or a Collection of Treatises on the Mathematics and Subjects connected with them, from ancient inedited MSS. edited by J. O. HALLIWELL, Esq. 8vo. SECOND EDITION, cloth, 1841, 3s 6d

Contents.-Johannis de Sacro-Bosco Tractatus de Arte Numerandi-Method used in England in the XVth Century for taking the Altitude of a SteepleTreatise on the Numeration of Algorism-Treatise on Glasses for Optical Purposes, by W. Bourne-Johannis Robyns de Cometis Commentaria-Two Tables shewing the Time of High Water at London Bridge, and the Duration of Moonlight, from a MS. of the 13th Cent.-On the Mensuration of Heights and Distances - Alexandri de Villa Dei Carmen de Algorismo-Preface to a Calendar or Almanac for 1430-Johannis Norfolk in artem progressionis summula-Notes on Early Almanacs, by the Editor, &c. &c.

PULPIT ORATORY FOUR CENTURIES AGO; exhibited in Two Sermons, now first printed (verbatim,) from the original MS. of the date of 1432, 8vo. (only 100 privately printed,) Is

Two very curious specimens of early English orthography and punctuation. POEMS WRITTEN IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, anno 1352, by LauRENCE MINOT, now first published, with Notes and Glossary, by JOSEPH RITSON, post 8vo. pp. 242, 3s 6d (original price 10s 6d) "The first original poet in the English language."—Hallam.

PROVINCIAL DIALECTS OF ENGLAND.

"It is among our Provincial Dialects that we discover many beautiful Archaisms, scattered remnants of our language which explain those obscurities of our more ancient writers, singularities of phrase or lingual peculiarities, which have so often bewildered the most acute of our commentators. After all their voluminous research and their conjectural temerity, a villager in Devonshire or Suffolk, and, more than either the remoter native of the North countree with their common speech might have recovered the baffled commentators from their agony."-D'Israeli's Amenities of Literature.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL LIST of all the Works which have been published towards illustrating the Provincial Dialects of England, by JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, post 8vo. 1s

Very serviceable to such as prosecute the study of our provincial dialects, or are collecting works on that curious subject. We very cordially recommend it to notice."-Metropolitan.

A GENERAL DICTIONARY of PROVINCIALISMS, written with a view to rescue from oblivion the fast fading relics of by-gone days, by WILLIAM HOLLOWAY, 8vo. pp. 218, double columns, 12s 6d 1839

Containing upwards of 9000 words, with the counties indicated in which they

are used.