Ptolomeus the riche caused, longe agone, Lo in likewise of bookès I have store, So in likewise, I am in such a case, Though I nought can2, I would be called wise; Which may for me my bookès exercise; And say concedo to every argument Lest by much speech my Latin should be spent." In one part of the poem, Prodicus's apologue, of Hercules meeting VIRTUE and PLEASURE, is introduced. In the speech of PLEASURE, our author changes his metre: and breaks forth into a lyrical strain, not totally void of elegance and delicacy, and in a rhythmical arrangement adopted by Gray. All my vesture is of golde pure, With couverture of fine asure, * Prolomeus Philadelphus, for whom he quotes Josephus, lib. xii. z know. a fol. 2. In silver net my haire upknet, No poynt of payne shall he sustayne, To get the mede and lawde of warre; All antient satirical writings, even those of an inferior cast, have their merit, and deserve attention, as they transmit pictures of familiar manners, and preserve popular customs. In this light, at least, Barklay's SHIP OF FOOLS, which is a ge neral satire on the times, will be found entertaining. Nor must it be denied, that his language is more cultivated than that of many of his cotemporaries, and that he contributed his share to the improvement of the English phraseology. His author, Sebastian Brandt, appears to have been a man of universal erudition; and his work, for the most part, is a tissue of citations from the ancient poets and historians. Barklay's other pieces are the MIRROUR OF GOOD MANNERS, and five EGLOGES. The MIRROUR is a translation from a Latin elegiac poem, He also wrote, The figure of our mother holy church oppressed by the French king, printed for Pinson, 4to.-Answer to John Skelton the Poet.-The Lives of S. Catharine, S. Margaret, and St. Etheldred.-The Life of S. George, from Mantuan: dedicated to N. West bishop of Ely, and written while our author was a monk of Ely.-De Pronuntiatione Gallica. John Palsgrave, a polite scholar, and an eminent preceptour of the French language about the reign of Henry the Eighth, and one of the first who published in English a grammar or system of rules for teaching that language, says in his L' Eclaircissement de la language François, addressed to Henry the Eighth, and printed (fol. Lond.) in 1530, that our author Barklay wrote a tract on this subject at the command of Thomas duke of Norfolk.-The famous Cronycle of the Warre which the Romans had agaynst Jugurth usurper of the kyngdom of Numidy: which cronycle is compyled in Latyn by the renowned Romayn Sallust. And translated into Englishe by SYR ALEXANDER BARCLAY, preest, at the commaundmente of the hye and mighty prince Thomas duke of Norfolk. In two editions, by Pinson, of this work, both in folio, and in the public library at Cambridge, the Latin and English are printed together. The Latin is dedicated to Vesey bishop of Exeter, and dated "ex Cellula Hatfeld regis [i. e. King's Hatfield, Hertfordshire] iii. id. Novemb." A new edition, without the Latin and the two dedications, was printed by J. Waley, 1557, 4to.-Orationes variæ. -De fide Orthodoxa.-To these I add, what does not deserve mention in the text, a poem translated from the French, called The CASTEL OF LABOURE, wherein is riches, vertue, and honor. It is of some length, and an allegory; in which Lady REASON conquers Despair, Poverty, and other evils, which attend a poor man lately married. The Prologue begins, "Ye mortal people that desire to obtayne." The poem begins, " In musyng an evenynge with me was none." Printed for Wynken de Worde, 1506. 4to. And again by Pinson, without date. 4to. In seven-lined stanzas. By mistake I have mentioned this piece as anonymous, supra, p. 34. [Bishop Alcock's CASTEL OF LABOURE was translated into English from a French poem by Octavien de S. Gelais, a bishop, and an eminent translator of the classics into French at the restoration of learning, viz. “Le CHASTEAU DE LABOUR en rime françoise, auquel est contenu l'adresse de riches et chemin de pauvreté par Octavien de S. Gèlais, &c. Paris, Gallyot du Pré, 1536. 16mo." Our highest efforts of poetry at this period were translations from the French. This piece of S. Gelais was also translated into English rhymes by one Done, or dominus, James : the same perhaps who made the following version, "Here begynneth the ORCHARDE OF SYON: in the which is contayned the revelation of saynt Catherine of Sene, with ghostly fruytes and presyous plantes for the helthe of mannes soule. Translated by Dane James. Prynted at the cost of master Richard Sutton esquyre, Stewarde of the monssterie of Syon, 1519." For Wynkyn de Worde, in folio, with fine Gothic cuts in wood. This Master Richard Sutton, steward of the opulent monastery of Sion near London, was one of the founders of Brasenose college in Oxford.- ADDITIONS.] written in the year 1516, by Dominic Mancini, DE QUATUOR VIRTUTIBUS. It is in the ballad stanza. Our translator, as appears by the address prefixed, had been requested by sir Giles Alyngton to abridge, or modernise, Gower's CONFESSIO AMANTIS. But the poet declined this undertaking as unsuitable to his age, infirmities, and profession; and chose rather to oblige his patron with a grave system of ethics. It is certain that he made a prudent choice. The performance shews how little qualified he was to correct Gower. Our author's EGLOGES, I believe, are the first that appeared in the English language. They are, like Petrarch's and Mantuan's, of the moral and satirical kind; and contain but few touches of rural description and bucolic imagery. They seem to have been written about the year 1514h. The three first are paraphrased, with very large additions, from the MISERIE CURIALIUM of Eneas Sylvius, and treat of the Miseryes of Courtiers and Courtes of all Princes in general. The fourth, in which is introduced a long poem in stanzas, called the Tower of Vertue and Honour, of the behaviour of riche men agaynst poetes. The fifth, of the disputation of citizens and men of the country. These pastorals, if they deserve the name, contain many * Printed as above, 1570. fol. And by Pinson, at the command of Richard earl of Kent. Without date, 4to. The Latin elegiacs are printed in the margin, which have been frequently printed. At Basil, 1543. At Antwerp, 1559. With the epigram of Peter Carmelian annexed. And often before. Lastly, at the end of MARTINI Braccarensis Formula honesta Vitæ, Helmstad. 1691. 8vo. They are dedicated "Frederico Severinati episcopo Malleacensi." They first appeared at Leipsic, 1516. See Trithemius, concerning another of his poems, Mancini's, De passione domini, cap. 995. Printed as above, 1570, fol. First, I believe, by Humphry Powell. 4to. Without date. Perhaps about 1550. * Whom he mentions, speaking of EGLOGES. EGLOG. 1. PROL. And in like maner, nowe lately in our dayes, Hath other poetes attempted the same As the most famous Baptist Mantuan The best of that sort since poets first began, And Frauncis Petrarke also in Italy, &c. Because he praises "noble Henry which now departed late." Afterwards he falls into a long panegyric on his successour Henry the Eighth. EGLOG. i. As he does in the SHIP OF FOOLES, fol. 205. a. where he says, This noble prince beginneth vertuously By justice and pitie his realme to mayntayne. He then wishes he may retake Jerusalem from the Turks; and compares him to Hercules, Achilles, &c. iThat is, pope Pius the Second, who died in 1464. This piece is among his EPISTLES, Some of which are called Tracts. EPIST. CLVI. It is properly an elegy on the death of the duke of Norfolk, lord high admiral. allusions to the times. The poet is prolix in his praises of Alcock When he went, faded the floure of al the fen; Alcock, while living, erected a beautiful sepulchral chapel * This very learned and munificent prelate deservedly possessed some of the highest dignities in church and state. He was appointed bishop of Ely in 1486. He died at Wisbich, 1501. See Whart. ANGL. SACR. i. 675. 801. 381. Rosse says, that he was tutor to prince Edward, afterwards Edward the Fifth, but removed by the king's uncle Richard. Rosse, I think, is the only historian who records this anecdote. HIST. REG. ANGL. p. 212. edit. Hearn. ! The isle of Ely. in synodo apud Barnwell, 25 Sept. 1498. To which is annexed his CONSTITUTION for celebrating certain feasts in his diocèse. Printed for Pinson, 1498. 4to. In the beginning is the figure of the bishop preaching to his clergy, with two cocks on each side. And there is a cock in the first page. By the way, Alcock wrote many other pieces. The HILL. OF PERFECTION, from the Latin. For Pinson, 1497. 4to. For Wynkyn de Worde, 1497. 4to. Again, for the same, 1501. m ALCOCK. 4to. THE ABBY OF THE HOLY GHOST ir Among Wren's manuscript Collec- that shall be founded and grounded in a tions, (Registr. parv. Consistorii Eli- clear conscience, in which abbey shall dwell ensis, called the BLACK BOOK,) the fol- twenty and nine ladies ghostly. For the lowing curious memorial, concerning a same, 1531. 4to. Again, for the same, long sermon preached by Alcock at saint without date, but before 1500. 4to. At Mary's in Cambridge, occurs. "I. Al- the end, "Thus endeth without bost, cock, divina gratia episcopus Eliensis, The Abby of the holi gost." [See MSS. prima die dominica, 1488, bonum et Harl. 5272. 3.-1704. 9. fol. 32. b. blandum sermonem prædicavit in eccle- And MSS. C.C.C. Oxon. 155. and sia B. Mariæ Cantabrig. qui incepit in MSS. MORE, 191.] Srousage of a horá prima post meridiem et duravit in VIRGIN TO CHRIST, 1486. 4to. horam tertiam et ultra." He sometimes, LIE VULGARES. MEDITATIONES PLE. A and even in the episcopal character, con- fragment of a comment upon the SEVEN descended to sport with his own name. PENITENTIAL PSALMS, in English verse, He published an address to the clergy is supposed to be by bishop Alcock, assembled at Barnwell, under the title of MSS. Harl. 1704. 4. fol. 13. 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