The unnam'd Authour (as in all a raylor)
Ocasion takes to abuse me and John Taylor
With Herbert, but wherefore I cannot telle
Nor he himselfe that wrote it very well,
For he is one whom though his will were bent,
Wanteth abilitie for his intent :

And yet he could in his bare garden stuffe,
(Which with Tobaco I doe take in snuffe)

Take liberty to name me in his Ieeres

But in his workes such plaine nonsence appeares

That I account his pen to be no slander.

He calls the Author a lad, who although he puts his name to what he writes, "deserves no approbation :"

Yet this lad

I malice not, but rather should be glad
To know him change his envy for more skill
He can't disgrace me, writing what he will.

Parker was frequently classed by other writers with John Taylor the Water Poet, and the Herbert here mentioned before also in a former part of the poem, was Thomas Herbert the author of an "elegie on the death of Thomas Earle of Strafford," 1641, 4to. Secunda Vox Populi; or the Commons Gratitude to Philip Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery," 1641, 4to, and some other scarce tracts. At the end of the poem there is a short "Postscript of fourteen lines against these paper-persecutors," for the "diurnall Lavish" and waste of paper "by these calumnious idle pamphleteeres."

There is an account of this work by Mr. Haslewood in the Brit. Bibliogr., vol ii, p. 431; and for some further notice of the author and his other publications, consult the Cens. Liter., vol. iii, p. 26, by Mr. Park. It is very seldom that this work occurs for sale. The present copy is the one from the Bibl. Ang. Poet., No. 535, priced 117. 118., which was purchased by Mr. Midgley, and sold at his sale in 1818, No. 609, for 8., to Longman, from whom it was bought by Mr. Heber. A copy was sold in Nassau's sale, pt. ii, No. 575, and one (the present copy) in pt. iv of Mr. Heber's Catal., 1782. We do not know of any other having occurred for sale of late years.

In Dark Crimson Morocco. Gilt leaves.

One of the most curious tracts of Martin Parker's is one scarcely known,

and only once, we believe, casually quoted by Mr. Park. It is entitled, Harry White his Humour, so neare as may be set forth by M. P.,

66

London, n. d., 12mo.

In which is exprest
Both earnest and jest
Let honest men buy,
And knaues let it lye:

This is not for them,

Who vertue contemne."

The only copy of this work known is preserved in the Bodleian Library, and consists of a few leaves only. The preface is preceded by the following lines:

To that great promulgater,
And neat divulgater,
Whom the citie admires,
And the suburbs desires,
M. P. wisheth happy
Successe, and ale nappy,
That with the one's paine
He the other may gaine.

The remaining part of the tract is in prose, and consists of comical opinions, each one ending with, "This is Harry Whites humour."

Dryden has alluded to Parker as a well-known ballad-maker in one of his comedies. "Hang your white pelf: sure, Sir, by your largess you mistake me for Martin Parker, the ballad-maker; your covetousness has offended my muse, and quite dull'd her" (Dryden's Comedies, 1701, folio, vol. i, p. 217).

An allusion to Parker also occurs in The Times, displayed in six sestyads, by Saml. Sheppard, London, 1646, 4to.

Each fellow now that hath but had a view

Of the learn'd Phrygians Fables groweth bold
And name of Poet doth to himself accrow:
That ballad maker too is now extol'd

With the great name of Poet.

PERROT OF PARROT, (HENRY.)-Epigrams by H. P.

Mortui non mordent.

Imprinted at London by R. B. and are to be soulde by John Helme, at his shoppe in S. Dunstan's Church-yarde. 1608.

4to.

The author's first work, entitled The Mous-Trap, a collection of epigrams, had been printed two years earlier. The present was his second publication, and is of great rarity. The epigrams are preceded by some Latin lines, "Ad Candidum Lectorem," and ten in English, "To the ungentilized Censurer." The epigrams, which are 160 in number, are not remarkable for any point or humour, and are, moreover, disfigured, like most of the other epigrammatic works of that period, by great coarseness and indelicacy. They are each of them headed with a Latin motto. The fourth relates to Whittington and his cat.

4.

Qui quondam Lixa, Lanista.

'Tis said that Whittington was rais'd of nought
And by a Cat hath many wonders wrought:
But Fortune (not his Cat) makes it appeare

Hee may dispend a thousand markes a yeare.

The following are, perhaps, as good as any that can be produced in the volume, the names of the persons introduced being all fictitious:

22.

Parturiunt Montes Murem.

Dego will drawe, and stoutly stand unto it

Vpon the vtmost of his words brauado:

But being urg'd on equall termes to do it
He basely pockets vp the bastynado.

25.

Qui, modo Rusticus, olim.

Polo pickes vppe a pretty prolling trade
That hath him prouder then his master made:
But yet when all is done, the world mistakes him
For not his money, but the Tailor makes him.

40.

Linguam vis nulla domabit.

Muns skill in horses doth so much excell
As no man living breaks them halfe so well:

But see, one sillie shrew controls his art,

And worse then all those horses, breaks his hart.

135.

Pudor est sua damna referre.

Peter hath lost his purse, but will conceale it,
Least she that stole it, to his shame reveale it.
139.

Impar Impares odit.

Sotus hates wise men, for himselfe is none,
And fooles he hates because himselfe is one.

160 and last.

Sapiunt quæcunque probantur.

We make our Epigrams, as men taste Cheese,
Which hath his relish in the last farewell :
Like as the purest liquor hath his leeze
So may you harshly end the tale you tell :
The Tayle (of all things) some men ayme at most
Those that had rather fast, may kisse the post.
And thers an end.

The volume closes on the last page with six lines in English and two in Latin, hinting, in allusion to the epigrams, that those may wear them whom the cap fits.

Some of these epigrams were afterwards reproduced, and a few of them may be traced in the publications noticed in the next articles. Mr. Park has made mention of this work in Cens. Liter., vol. ii, p. 232. See also Earle's Microcosmography by Dr. Bliss, p. 276; and Bibl. Ang. Poet., p. 553, where a copy is priced 12l.; Bibl. Heber., pt. iv, 1791, 37. 19s.; Bright's do., No. 4245, 9l. 58. There is a copy in the Bodleian Library.

Fine copy. Bound by C. Lewis.

In Light Blue Calf. Gilt leaves.

PERROT OF PARROT, (HENRY).-The Mastive, or Young-Whelpe of the Olde-Dogge. Epigrams and Satyrs.

Horat.

Verba decent iratum plena minarum.

London, Printed by Tho. Creede, for Richard Meighen and Thomas Iones, and are to be solde at S. Clements Church without Temple Bar. 1615. 4to.

VOL. V. PART I.

R

On the title is a woodcut representation of the mastive, with a collar on his neck, and the motto "Mordeo Mordentem" on a label issuing from his mouth. A prose advertisement "To the Universal Reader" is subscribed H. P., whence, and from the internal evidence, the volume is usually ascribed, and we believe correctly, to Henry Parrot, rather than, as is sometimes done, to Henry Peacham. Another leaf containing six lines, "Author pro seipso," and a preliminary sonnet, "Ad Bibliopolam," conclude the introductory The epigrams number 182, and at the end of these are three satyres, and "A Paradox in praise of Warre," with a few lines of apology for the faults escaped in the printing by reason of the author's absence from

matter.

the press.

But few of these epigrams will bear quotation; and one or two only, selected as examples, will be quite sufficient:

Tempus edax rerum.

Heywood was held for Epigrams the best

What time old Churchyard dealt in verse and prose

But fashions since are growne out of request

As Bombast-Dublets, Bases, and Round-hose

Or as your Lady, may it now be saide

That looks lesse lovely then her Chamber-maide.

Indomitis ferendum.

Martinus over much commends his mare

To be the best, man ere layd legge vpon :
Wer't not for one defect (a fault that's eare)
Shee's onely subiect to oblivion:

That stumbling headlong in her course amaine
So soone forgets, as downe she falles againe.

Nuptia post Nummos.

There was a time when men for love did marrie
And not for lucre sake, as now we see:
Which from that former age so much doth varie
As all's for what you'l give? or nought must bee
So that this ancient word call'd Matrimony

Is wholly made a matter now of Mony.

Ebrius dissimulans.

Battus (though bound from drinking wine of late)
Can thus with his Oath equivocate:

He will not drinke, and yet be drunk ere noone
His manner is to eate it with a spoon.