of Ellesmere added to them the editions handed down in his family: some of these had never been even seen by previous editors of Shakespeare, and I was certainly the first that ever had them all in his hands and at the same time. I had therefore peculiar means of obtaining the information I am about to furnish; and I transcribed every old title-page with the utmost accuracy, taking care in all cases to observe capitals or italics, and the proportions of the various types employed by the printers at the latter end of the reign of Elizabeth, and in the beginning of that of James I.

It is to be remarked, that black-letter is not used in the printing of any one of Shakespeare's Works: it was not even resorted to to give variety or effect to any of his title-pages, although it was not very uncommon in his day still to employ it in plays which became especially popular. Many, if not most, of the works in prose and verse, addressed at that date to readers among the lower orders, were printed in black-letter: such was invariably the case with chap-books and ballads; and we might enumerate various dramas in the same predicament— three of them reprinted by the Shakespeare Society, viz., "Patient Grissell," and the two parts of "Edward the Fourth." Other plays by Dekker, Heywood, Munday, Chettle, Rowley, &c., were also issued in black-letter, because it was more attractive than Roman type to the popular eye.

It has generally been said, that there are twenty quarto editions of plays by Shakespeare printed anterior to the folio of 1623; but the fact is that, exclusive of "The Taming of the Shrew," the title-page of the quarto edition of which bears date in 1631, there are only seventeen quartos. Steevens, in 1766, to make up the number, added the two parts of "The troublesome Reign of King John," 1611, which nobody in modern times has imputed to Shakespeare, although "Written by W. Sh." was inserted fraudulently on the title-page by the old printer he also reprinted among his "Twenty Quartos" the two parts of the "Contention between the two Houses of

ΤΟ

The Honor of him, to whom the Noble Fraternity of Grocers, his worthy Brothers, have Dedicated their Loves, in costly Triumphs, the Right Honorable PETER PROBY, Lord Mayor of this Renowned City.

To be His Servant, that hath serv'd
Two Royal Princes, and deserv'd

So worthily of Both; the Same

Call not Service, rather Fame.

At your Lordships Command:

THO. MIDDLETON.

THE TRIUMPHS OF HONOUR AND VIRTUE.

If foreign Nations have been struck with Admiration at the Form, State, and Splendour of some yearly Triumphs, wherein Art hath been but faintly imitated, there is fair hope that things where Invention flourishes, clear Art and her graceful Proprieties, should receive favor and encouragement from the content of the Spectator, which, next to the service of his Honor and honorable Society, is the principal reward it looks for then, not despairing of that common favor, this takes delight to present itself.

And first, to begin with the worthy love of his Noble Fraternity, after his Honours return from Westminster, having received some service upon the Water, by the conduct of two Artful Triumphs, viz., The Throne of Virtue, and the Continent of India, which also by Land attends his Lordships most wished arrival, accompanied with the whole body of the Triumph, which, near upon the time of his Honours approach, are decently and distinctly placed; the first, bearing the Title of the Continent of India, a triumph replenished with

all manner of Spice-plants and trees bearing Odour, attends his Honours arrival in Paul's Church-yard: a black Personage representing India called, for her odours and riches, the Queen of Merchandize, challenging the most eminent Seat, advanceth her selfe upon a bed of Spices, attended by Indians in Antique habits: Commerce, Adventure and Traffic, three habited like Merchants, presenting to her view a bright Figure, bearing the inscription of Knowledge, a Sun appearing above the trees in brightest splendour and glory. The black Queen before mentioned lending a voice to these following words:

THE SPEECH.

You that have eyes of Judgement, and discern
Things that the best of Man and Life concern,
Draw near this black is but my native dye,
But view me with an Intellectual eye,

As Wise men shoot their beames forth, then you'll find
A change in the complexion of the mind:

I'm beauteous in my blackness. Oh ye Sons

Of Fame and Honour! through my best part runs
A spring of living Waters, clear and true,

Found first by Knowledge, which came first by you,
By you, and your examples, blest Commerce,
That by Exchange settles such happiness.
Of Gums and fragrant Spices, I confess,
My Climate Heaven does with abundance bless,
And those you have from me; but what are they
Compar'd with Odours whose scent ne'er decay?
And those I have from you, plants of your youth,
The Savour of eternal life, sweet Truth,
Exceeding all the odoriferous scent,
That from the beds of Spices ever went:
I that command (being prosp'rously possest)
The Riches and the Sweetness of the East,

To that fam'd Mountain Taurus spreading forth
My balmy Arm, whose height does kiss the North,
And in the Sea Eoum lave this hand,

Account my blessings not in those to stand,
Though they be large and fruitful, but confess
All wealth consists in Christian holiness.
To such celestial knowledge I was led,
By English Merchants first enlightened,
In Honour of whose memory, only Three
I instance here, all of this Brotherhood free;
To whose Fames the great Honour of this hour
Aptly belongs, but to that Man of Power
The first and chiefest, to whose worth so clear,
Justice hath given her Sword up for a year:
And as yon Sun his perfect splendour shows,
Cheering the Plants, and no Clouds interpose,
His Radiant Comforts, so no Earthy part,
Which makes Eclipses in a Rulers heart,
(As in that glorious Planet) must come nigh
The Sun of Justice: all such mists must fly.
Your'e in an Orb of Brightness plac'd and fixed,
And with no soil must Honour be commixed:
So to your worthy Progress Zeal commends
Your Lordship, with your Grave and Noble friends.

The Speech being ended, to add a little more help to the fainter apprehensions, the three Merchants plac'd in the Continent have reference to the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, all three being this year Brothers of this Ancient and Honourable Society which triple or three fold Honour happened to this Worthy Company in the year 1577, Sir Thomas Ramsey being then Lord Mayor, and Master Nicholas Backhouse and Master Francis Bowyer, Sheriffs; having coherence with this years Honour, matched and parallel'd with these Three their as worthy successors, the right Honorable Peter Proby, and

the generous and nobly affected Master John Hodges, and sir Humphrey Handford, Sheriffs and Aldermen.

By this time his Lordship being gracefully conducted toward the Chariot of Fame, which awaits his Honour's approach near the little Conduit in Cheap, Antiquity, a grave and reverend Personage with a golden Register-book in his hand, gives life to these words:

THE SPEECH.

"Objects of years and Reverence greet mine eye,
A Sight most pleasing to Antiquity.

I never could unclasp this Book of Fame
Where Worthies dwell by a distinguished Name,
At a more comely season: I shall tell

Things sprung from Truth, near kin to Miracle.
With that of later days I first begin,

So back into the deeper Times again :
I only touch thy memory (which I know
In thankfulness can never be found slow)
With Heavens miraculous Mercy to thy Health,
After so long a Sickness: all the wealth
Which thou with an unusuring hand hath got,
Which is not the least wonder-worthy note,
(Truth makes me speak things freely) cannot be
A greater work than thy recovery.

Nine Brethren, Senators, thy Seniors all,
Whose times had been before thee, Death did call
To their eternal Peace from this degree,

Leaving their earthly Honour now to thee:

Think and be thankful still, this seems the more.
Another observation kept in store;

For seventeen Senators since thy time were chose,
And to this minute not one dead of those.

Those are not usual notes: nor here it ends,

VOL. II.

H