Overburye. Being a most exquisite and singular Poem of the Choice of a Wife. Whereunto are added many witty Characters, and conceited Newes, written by himselfe and other learned Gentlemen his friends. London, printed for Lawrence Lisle, and are to bee sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Tigers-head. 1614. Quarto, pp. 64.

3.

A prose epistle to the reader, dated May 16, 1614, commences this edition, which I conceive to be the second. Next follows "A Morning Sacrifice to the author," in thirty-two lines, subscribed J. S. Lincolniensis, Gentleman, and, "Brief Panegyrickes to the author's praise," by G. R., T. B. and X. Z. Eleven six-line stanzas "On the choice of a Wife" ensue, and the poem then commences. The characters are twenty-one in number. A copy of this edition is preserved in the British Museum.

The Third Impression; with Addition of Sundry other new Characters. London, Printed by Edward Griffin for Lawrence Lisle, &c. 1614. 4to. 34 leaves.

4.

This edition contains twenty-five "Characters," and eighteen pieces of "News." See Collier's Bridgewater Catalogue, p. 223.

The Fourth Impression, enlarged with more Characters than any of the former editions. London, Printed by G. Eld, for Lawrence Lisle, &c. 1614. 4to.

Contains thirty characters and seventeen pieces of News. On Sign. F2 "The Character of a Happy

5.

Life, by H. W." (Sir Henry Wotton). This edition is described by T. Park, in a very imperfect notice of Overbury's Works, in the Censura Literaria, vol. v. p. 363, edit. 1807. A copy is preserved among Capell's books in Trinity College, Cambridge.

The Fifth Impression. London,

Lawrence Lisle, &c. 8vo. 1614.

I cannot trace a copy of this edition.

6. New and choise Characters of severall Authors: together with that exquisite and unmatcht Poeme, the Wife, written by Syr Thomas Overburie. With the former Characters and Conceited Newes, all in one volume. With many other things added to this Sixt Impression. London, Printed by Thomas Creede, for Lawrence L'isle, at the Tyger's head in Pauls Church-yard, 1615, small octavo, pp. 182.

7.

In this sixth edition, appeared the character of a Tinker, an Apparatour, and an Almanack-maker, which were claimed by J. Cocke, as his own productions, in a prefix to Stephens' Essaies, 2nd edit. 1615. "Newes from the Countrey," which in this edition is subscribed J. D. was printed as Dr. Donne's in the edition of his Poems in 1669.

The Seventh Impression. Lon

don, Lawrence Lisle, &c. 1616, small octavo, pp.

292.

8.

The Eighth Impression.

With

new Elegies upon his (now known) untimely death. London, Lawrence Lisle, &c. 1616, small octavo, Pp. 292.

9. Sir Thomas Overbury his Wife. With addition of many new Elegies upon his untimely and much lamented death. As also New Newes, and divers more Characters (never before annexed), written by himselfe and other learned Gentlemen. The ninth impression, augmented. London, printed by Edward Griffin for Lawrence L'isle, &c. 1616, small octavo, pp. 292.

This edition was twice printed in the same year. 10. The Tenth Impression. London, Lawrence Lisle, &c. 1618, small octavo.

11. Sir Thomas Overbury his Wife. With Additions of New Characters, and many other Wittie Conceits never before Printed. The eleventh Impression. London, Printed for Lawrence Lisle, and are to be sold by Henry Seile, at the Tigers-head in Pauls Church-yard, 1622, small octavo.

In the prefatory matter to this edition is a compli. mentary poem in English, "Ad Comitissam Rutlandiæ," which is not in the preceding ones. The

66

'Witty Conceites," mentioned in the title, consist of "Paradoxes, as they were spoken in a Maske, and presented before his Majesty at Whitehall;" "The Mountebankes Receipts ;" and three Mountebank's Songs.

12.

The Twelfth Impression. Dublin,

1626, small octavo.

This edition, which is mentioned in Harding and Lepard's Catalogue, 1829, p. 420, is of great rarity.

b

13.

The Twelfth Impression. Lon

don, 1627, small octavo.

Called also the twelfth impression on the title-page. See Harding and Lepard's Catalogue,. before-mentioned.

14.

The Thirteenth Impression. Lon

don, Printed for Robert Allot, and are to bee sold at the signe of the Beare in Pauls Church-yard, 1628, small octavo.

15.

The Fourteenth Impression. Lon

The Fifteenth Impression. Lon

don, Robert Allot, 1630, small octavo.

16.

don, R. B. for Robert Allot, &c. 1632, small octavo. pp. 320.

17. The Sixteenth Impression. London, Printed by John Haviland for A. Crooke, and are to be sold at the signe of the Beare in Pauls Church-yard, 1638, small octavo.

This edition contains the character of "a Dunce," not in any former impression.

don, 1664, small octavo.

Called, incorrectly, in the title-page, the seventeenth edition.

In 1673, appeared "The Illustrious Wife, viz.

that excellent Poem, Sir Thomas Overburie's Wife, illustrated by Giles Oldisworth, nephew to the same Sir T. O." I have not been able to find a copy of this rare volume in any collection, public or private. Oldisworth, it is well known, took a deep interest in everything relative to his unfortunate uncle, and his "Illustrations" of his celebrated poem, would doubtless contain some remarks of peculiar importance and value.

In 1756, appeared "The Miscellaneous Works in Verse and Prose of Sir Thomas Overbury, Knt., with Memoir of his Life. The Tenth Edition. London, Printed for W. Owen, at Homer's Head, near Temple Bar." It is a small octavo of 252 pages, exclusive of 23 pages of introductory matter.

The "Miscellaneous Works" is a mere reprint of the volume above described, without any attempt to collect the other writings of the same author. From its being called "the Tenth Edition," it is presumed that its editor was unacquainted with any edition later than the ninth. It is a very imperfect reprint, having only twelve out of the twenty pieces of "Newes" contained in the previous editions, besides many grave and important errors, that could easily, if necessary, be pointed out.

The reprint of Overbury's Wife and Characters, in the following pages, is taken from the ninth edition, of which, as I have stated, there were two im