In this curious episode the reader will searcely fail to have brought to his remembrance the famous speeches in Hamlet, in which the melancholy Prince of Denmark apostrophizes a skull in a manner, and even in words to which some of the present lines bear a striking similarity. That Shakespeare was indebted in any respeet to Rowland for the slightest hint of the speeches referred to is highly improbable, even although we were to suppose that the poem of the "History of Guy of Warwick" was written and circulated in manuscript for some years previous to its publication in 1607; nor is it necessary to presume that Rowland derived his ideas from the work of the more distinguished poet. Reflections of this kind are common to all languages and to all literatures; and there is much in the above stanzas which may have been derived from the longer versions of the old and well-known English translation of the Dialogue between the Body and the Soul, or from some other sources of a like character.

In the twelfth canto, Sir Guy returning from the Holy Land to "let his body rest in English ground," kills Colbrond the giant a second time at Hidemead, near Winchester; and the romance concludes with the death of Guy in a cave in the arms of his wife Phelice.

Rowland was not the only writer of the seventeenth century who treated of the story of Guy of Warwick. In the Harleian collection in the British Museum, No. 5243, is preserved an elaborate poem on the subject, in twenty-six cantos, by John Lane, entitled, "The corrected historie of Sir Gwy Earle of Warwick, surnamed the hermite." This translation was completed in the year 1621, and is, to a small extent, borrowed from Lydgate. An edition of the present work, printed in 1654, 4to, is noticed by Mr. Collier in the Bridgewater Catalogue, p. 270; and copies of this edition of 1667 sold at the White Knight's sale, No. 3742, for 71. 17s. 6d.; Lloyd's do., No. 1058, for 5l.; and Sir Francis Freeling's do., No. 1987 (the present copy), for 41. 28.; edition 1679, 4to, Nassau's do., pt. ii, No. 9811, 3l. 48.; Bibl. Heber. do., pt. iv, No. 2437, imperfect, 27. 198.; edition 1682, Bibl. Heber. do., pt. iv, No. 2436, 4l.; edition 1703, Roxburghe do., No. 3229, 5l. 158. 6d.

CONNECTED WITH THE PALATINE COUNTIES OF

LANCASTER AND
AND CHESTER.
Council for the year 1878-79.

President.

JAMES CROSSLEY, Esq., F.S.A.
Vice-President.

THE REV. F. R. RAINES, M.A., F.S.A., Hon. Canon of Manchester, Vicar of

Milnrow, and Rural Dean.

JOHN E. BAILEY, Esq., F.S.A.

WILLIAM BEAMONT, Esq.

Council.

THE VERY REV. BENJAMIN MORGAN COWIE, B.D., F.S.A., Dean of Manchester. THE WORSHIPFUL RICHARD COPLEY CHRISTIE, M.A., Chancellor of the Diocese of Manchester.

LIEUT.-COLONEL FISHWICK, F.S.A.

HENRY H. HOWORTH, Esq., F.S.A.

WILLIAM LANGTON, Esq.

THE REV. JOHN HOWARD MARSDEN, B.D., F.R.G.S., late Disney Professor.
THE REV. JAMES RAINE, M.A., Canon of York, Fellow of Durham University.
FRANK RENAUD, Esq., M.D., F.S.A.

Treasurer.

ARTHUR H. HEYWOOD, Esq.

Honorary Secretary.

R. HENRY WOOD, Esq., F.S.A., F.R.G.S.,
Mem. Corr. Soc. Antiq. de Normandie.

RULES OF THE CHETHAM SOCIETY.

1. That the Society shall be limited to three hundred and fifty members.

2. That the Society shall consist of members being subscribers of one pound annually, such subscription to be paid in advance, on or before the day of general meeting in each year. The first general meeting to be held on the 23rd day of March, 1843, and the general meeting in each year afterwards on the 1st day of March, unless it should fall on a Sunday, when some other day is to be named by the Council.

3. That the affairs of the Society be conducted by a Council, consisting of a permanent President and Vice-President, and twelve other members, including a Treasurer and Secretary, all of whom shall be elected, the first two at the general meeting next after a vacancy shall occur, and the twelve other members at the general meeting annually.

4. That the accounts of the receipts and expenditure of the Society be audited annually, by three auditors, to be elected at the general meeting; and that any member who shall be one year in arrear of his subscription, shall no longer be considered as belonging to the Society.

5. That every member not in arrear of his annual subscription, be entitled to a copy of each of the works published by the Society.

6. That twenty copies of each work shall be allowed to the editor of the same, in addition to the one to which he may be entitled as a member.

Applications and communications to be addressed to the PRESIDENT, Stocks House, Cheetham, Manchester, or to the HONORARY SECRETARY, Penrhos House, Rugby.

VOL

First year (1843-4).

I. Travels in Holland, the United Provinces, England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1634-1635. By Sir William Brereton, Bart. Edited by EDWARD HAWKINS, Esq., F.R.S., F.S.A., F.L.S. pp. viii, 206. II. Tracts relating to Military Proceedings in Lancashire during the Great Civil War. Edited and Illustrated from Contemporary Documents by GEORGE ORMEROD, D.C.L., F.R.S., F.S.A., F.G.S., author of "The History of Cheshire." pp. xxxii, 372.

III. Chester's Triumph in Honor of her Prince, as it was performed upon St. George's Day 1610, in the foresaid Citie. Reprinted from the original edition of 1610, with an Introduction and Notes. Edited by the Rev. THOMAS CORSER, M.A. pp. xviii, 36.

Second year (1844–5).

IV. The Life of Adam Martindale, written by himself, and now first printed from the original manuscript in the British Museum. Edited by the Rev. RICHARD PARKINSON, B.D., Canon of Manchester. pp. xvi, 246.

V. Lancashire Memorials of the Rebellion, 1715. By SAMUEL HIBBERT-WARE, M.D., F.R.S.E., &c. pp. x, 56, and xxviii, 292.

VI. Potts's Discovery of Witches in the county of Lancaster. Reprinted from the original edition of 1613; with an Introduction and Notes by JAMES CROSSLEY, Esq. pp. lxxx, 184, 52.

Third year (1845–6).

VII. Iter Lancastrense, a Poem written A.D. 1636, by the Rev. Richard James. Edited by the Rev. THOMAS CORSER, M.Á. pp. cxii, 86. Folding Pedigree.

VIII. Notitia Cestriensis, or Historical Notices of the Diocese of Chester, by Bishop Gastrell. Cheshire. Edited by the Rev. F. R. RAINES, M.A., F.S.A. Vol. I. pp. xvi, 396." Plate.

IX. The Norris Papers. Edited by THOMAS HEYWOOD, Esq., F.S.A. pp. xxxiv, 190.

Fourth year (1846–7).

X. The Coucher Book or Chartulary of Whalley Abbey. Edited by W. A. HULTON, Esq. Vol. I. pp. xl, 338. Plate.

XI. The Coucher Book or Chartulary of Whalley Abbey. Vol. II. pp. 339–636.

XII. The Moore Rental. Edited by THOMAS HEYWOOD, Esq., F.S.A. pp. lxx, 158.

Fifth year (1847-8).

XIII. The Diary and Correspondence of Dr. John Worthington. Edited by JAS. CROSSLEY, Esq. Vol. I. pp. viii, 398.

XIV. The Journal of Nicholas Assheton. Edited by the Rev. F. R. RAINES M.A., F.S.A. pp.xxx, 164. XV. The Holy Lyfe and History of Saynt Werburge, very frutefull for all Christen People to rede. Edited by EDWARD HAWKINS, Esq. pp. xxviii, 10, 242.

Sixth year (1848-9).

XVI. The Coucher Book or Chartulary of Whalley Abbey. Vol. III. pp. xli-liv, 637–936.

XVII. Warrington in 1465. Edited by WILLIAM BEAMONT, Esq. pp. lxxviii, 152.

XVIII. The Diary of the Rev. Henry Newcome, from September 30, 1661, to September 29, 1663. Edited by THOMAS HEYWOOD, Esq., F.S.A. pp. xl, 242.

VOL

Seventh year (1849-50).

XIX. Notitia Cestriensis. Vol. II. Part I. Lancashire, Part I. pp. iv, 160, xxviii.

XX. The Coucher Book or Chartulary of Whalley Abbey. Vol. IV. (Conclusion). pp.lv-lxiii, 937– 1314.

XXI. Notitia Cestriensis. Vol. II. Part II. Lancashire, Part II. pp. lxxvii, 161-352. Plate.

Eighth year (1850–1).

XXII. Notitia Cestriensis. Vol. II. Part III. Lancashire, Part III. (Conclusion). pp. 353-621, XXIII. A Golden Mirrour; conteininge certaine pithie and figurative visions prognosticating good fortune to England, &c. By Richard Robinson of Alton. Reprinted from the only known copy of the original edition of 1559 in the British Museum, with an Introduction and Notes by the Rev. THOMAS CORSER, M.A., F.S.A. pp. xxii, 10, 96.

XXIV. Chetham Miscellanies. Vol. I. Edited by WILLIAM LANGTON, Esq.: containing

Papers connected with the affairs of Milton and his Family. Edited by J. F. MARSH, Esq. pp. 46. Plate.

Epistolary Reliques of Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquaries, 1653-73. Communicated by GEORGE ORMEROD, D.C.L., F.R.S., F.S.A., and F.G.S. pp. 16.

Calendars of the Names of Families which entered their several Pedigrees in the successive Heraldric Visitations of the County Palatine of Lancaster. Communicated by GEORGE ORMerod, D.C.L., F.R.S., F.S.A., and F.G.S. pp. 26.

A Fragment, illustrative of Sir Wm. Dugdale's Visitation of Lancashire. From MSS. in the possession of the Rev. F. R. RAINES, M.A., F.S.A. pp. S.

Autobiographical Tracts of Dr. John Dee, Warden of the College of Manchester. Edited by JAMES CROSSLEY, Esq. pp. iv, 84.

Visitations temp. Hen. VIII. The Abbaye of Whawley (for insertion in Whalley Coucher Book).

Ninth year (1851-2).

XXV. Cardinal Allen's Defence of Sir William Stanley's Surrender of Deventer. Edited by THOMAS HEYWOOD, Esq., F.S.A. pp. c, 38.

XXVI. The Autobiography of Henry Newcome, M.A. Edited by RD. PARKINSON, D.D., F.S.A. Vol. I. Pp. xxv, 184.

XXVII. The Autobiography of Henry Newcome, M.A. Vol. II. (Conclusion). pp. 185-390.

Tenth year (1852-3).

XXVIII. The Jacobite Trials at Manchester in 1694. Edited by WILLIAM BEAMONT, Esq. pp. xc, 132. XXIX. The Stanley Papers, Part I. The Earls of Derby and the Verse Writers and Poets of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. By THOMAS HEYWOOD, Esq., F.S.A. pp. 64.

XXX. Documents relating to the Priory of Penwortham, and other Possessions in Lancashire of the Abbey of Evesham. Edited by W. A. HULTON, Esq. pp. lxxviii, 136.

Eleventh year (1853-4).

XXXI. The Stanley Papers, Part II. The Derby Household Books, comprising an account of the Household Regulations and Expenses of Edward and Henry, third and fourth Earls of Derby; together with a Diary, containing the names of the guests who visited the latter Earl at his houses in Lancashire: by William Farrington, Esq., the Comptroller. Edited by the Rev. F. R. RAINES, M.A., F.S.A. pp. xcviii, 247. Five Plates.

XXXII. The Private Journal and Literary Remains of John Byron. Edited by RICHARD PARKINSON, D.D., F.S.A. Vol I. Part 1. pp. x, 320 Portrait.

XXXIII. Lancashire and Cheshire Wills and Inventories from the Ecclesiastical Court, Chester. The First Portion. Edited by the ReA. G. J. PICCOPE, M.A. pp. vi, 196.

VOL.

Twelfth year (1854-5).

XXXIV. The Private Journal and Literary Remains of John Byrom. Vol. I. Part II. pp. 321–639. XXXV. The House and Farm Accounts of the Shuttleworths of Gawthorpe Hall. Edited by JOHN HARLAND, Esq., F.S.A. Part I. pp. 232. Frontispiece.

XXXVI. The Diary and Correspondence of Dr. John Worthington. Vol. II. Part I. pp. 248.

XXXVII. Chetham Miscellanies. Vol. II. Edited by WILLIAM LANGTON, Esq.: containing
The Rights and Jurisdiction of the County Palatine of Chester, the Earls Palatine, the Chamber-
lain, and other Officers. Edited by JOSEPH BROOKS YATES, F.A.S., G.S., and P.S. pp. 37.
The Scottish Field. (A Poem on the Battle of Flodden.) Edited by JOHN ROBSON, Esq. pp. xv, 28.
Examynatyons towcheynge Cokeye More, Temp. Hen. VIII. in a dispute between the Lords of the
Manors of Middleton and Radclyffe. Communicated by the Rev. F. R. RAINES, M.A., F.S.A._ pp. 30.
A History of the Ancient Chapel of Denton, in Manchester Parish. By the Rev. JOHN BOOKER,
M.A., F.S.A. pp. viii, 148. Three Plates.

A Letter from John Bradshawe of Gray's Inn to Sir Peter Legh of Lyme. Edited by WILLIAM LANGTON, Esq. pp. S.

Facsimile of a Deed of Richard Bussel to Church of Evesham (for insertion in vol. xxx). XXXVIII. Bibliographical Notices of the Church Libraries of Turton and Gorton bequeathed by Humphrey Chetham. Edited by GILBERT J. FRENCH, Esq. pp. 199. Illustrated Title.

XXXIX. The Farington Papers. Edited by Miss FFARINGTON. pp. xvi, 179. Five plates of Signatures.

Fourteenth year (1856-7).

XL. The Private Journal and Literary Remains of John Byrom. Vol. II. Part I. pp. 326 and two Indexes.

XLI. The House and Farm Accounts of the Shuttleworths of Gawthorpe Hall. Part II. pp. 233–472. Portrait.

XLII. A History of the Ancient Chapels of Didsbury and Chorlton, in Manchester Parish, including Sketches of the Townships of Didsbury, Withington, Burnage, Heaton Norris, Reddish, Levenshulme, and Chorlton-cum-Hardy: together with Notices of the more Ancient Local Families, and Particulars relating to the Descent of their Estates. By the Rev. JOHN BOOKER, M.A., F.S.A. pp. viii, 337. Seven Illustrations.

Fifteenth year (1857-8).

XLIII. The House and Farm Accounts of the Shuttleworths of Gawthorpe Hall. Part III. pp. x, 473-776.

XLIV. The Private Journal and Literary Remains of John Byrom. Vol. II. Part II. pp. 327-654. Byrom Pedigrees, pp. 41 and three folding sheets; Index, pp. v.

XLV. Miscellanies: being a selection from the Poems and Correspondence of the Rev. Thos. Wilson, B.D., of Clitheroe. With Memoirs of his Life. By the Rev. CANON RAINES, M.A., F.S.A. Pp. xc, 230. Two Plates.

Sixteenth year (1858-9).

XLVI. The House and Farm Accounts of the Shuttleworths of Gawthorpe Hall. Part IV. (Conclusion). pp. 777--1171,

XLVII. A History of the Ancient Chapel of Birch, in Manchester Parish, including a Sketch of the Township of Rusholme: together with Notices of the more Ancient Local Families, and Particulars relating to the Descent of their Estates. By the Rev. JOHN BOOKER, M.A., F.S.Á. pp. viii, 255. Four Plates.

XLVIII. A Catalogue of the Collection of Tracts for and against Popery (published in or about the reign of James II.) in the Manchester Library founded by Humphrey Chetham; in which is incorporated, with large Additions and Bibliographical Notes, the whole of Peck's List of the Tracts in that Controversy, with his References. Edited by THOMAS JONES, Esq. B.A. Part I. pp. xii, 256.