wood cut, representing a corpse laid upon a spade and pick-axe over a grave, with emblematical accompaniments and sentences; then follows,

"The complaint of a sorrowfull soule, that loathing this earthly Tabernacle, and bewailing the miseries of this life, desireth to be dissolued, and to be with Christ. Out of S. Augustines praiers, the 20 chapter thereof, faithfully translated into English verse by W. P.

Let me depart in peace,

O Lord, I daily grone,

And loath this life I lead :
O helpe that I were gone.

In mischiefes manifold,

my Pilgrim's part I play: Oh then that I dissolued were to liue with Christ for aie. O miserable life,

and transitory plaine, Vncertaine, fully fraught,

with sorrowes, griefe & paine: Of life polluted oft,

that do my deedes display:
Oh then that I dissolved were
to liue with Christ for aie.

This life is Queene of pride,
that errors foule doth breede:

A wretched state that is,

no life but death in deede.

We yeelde to natures want,
and sundry waies decay:
O then that I dissolued were
to liue with Christ for aie.

And though the blindest man,
may soone espie this geare:
Yet with her golden cup,

which shee in hand doth beare,
She makes a meany drinke,

their folly to bewray:

O then that I dissolued were
to live with Christ for aie.

O rare and happy men,

that do despise her draught: Her pleasures vaine eschew,

and shunue her snare vncaught,

Least they by her deceiu'd
deceiue themselues I say:
O then that I dissolued were

to live with Christ for aie.

The volume is printed with flowered borders to the pages, and is a mixture of the black letter and common type.

ART. DCCCXXXIX. The Famous History of Frier Bacon. Containing the wonderful things that he did in his life; also the manner of his death, with the lives and deaths of the two Conjurers Bungey and Vandermast.

Very pleasant and delightful to be read.

Blijdschap doel, hel leven verlanghen.

With a curious wood-cut from the story of Frier Bacon's brazen head. Black letter, without date. THIS tract, containing the traditional history of this celebrated Friar, the source of many a fable, is

indeed " very pleasant to read," and is interspersed with many chansons à boire, and jocund ballads. My reason for introducing it as an object of literary attention is to copy the following chapter; which I take to be the origin, whence the author adopted the plot of the popular farce of "No Song no Supper."

"How Miles, Friar Bacon's man, did conjure for meat, and got meat for himself and his host.

"Miles chanced one day upon some business, to go some six miles from home, and being loath to part with some company he had, that he was belated and could get but half way home that night to save his purse he went to one's house, that was his master's acquaintance: but when he came, the good man of the house was not at home, and the woman would not let him have lodging. Miles seeing such cold entertainment, wished that he had not troubled her, but being now there, he was loath to go any farther, and therefore with words he persuaded her for to give him lodging that night. She told him that she would willingly do it, if her husband were at home, but he being now out of town, it would be to her discredit to lodge any man. "You need not mistrust me," (said Miles) "for I have no thought to attempt your chastity; lock me in any place where there is a bed, and I will not trouble you till tomorrow that I rise." She thinking her husband would be angry if she should deny any of his friends so small a request, consented that he should lye there, if that he would be locked up: Miles was contented, and presently went to bed, and she locked. him into the chamber where he lay. Long had not

he been a bed, but he heard the door open; with that he 'rose, and peeped through a chink of the partition, and saw an old man come in: this man set down his basket that he had on his arm, and gave the woman of the house three or four sweet kisses, which made Miles his mouth run with water to see it. Then did he undo his basket, and pulled out of it a fat capon ready roasted and bread; with a bottle of good old sack; this gave he unto her, saying, "Sweet-heart, hearing thy husband was out of town I thought good to visit thee. I am not come empty handed, but have brought something to be merry withall; lay the cloth sweet honey, and let us first to banquet, and then to bed." She kindly thanked him, and presently did as he bid her: they were scarce set at the table, but her husband returning back, knocked at the door. The woman hearing this was amazed, and knew not what to do with her old lover; but looking on her apron strings, she strait found (as women use to do) a trick to put herself free from this fear; for she put her lover under the bed, the capon and bread she put under a tub, the bottle of wine she put behind the chest, and then she did open the door, and with a dissembling kiss welcomed her husband home, asking him the reason why that he returned so quickly. He told her that he had forgot the money that he should have carried with him, but on the morrow betimes he would be gone. Miles saw and heard all this, and having a desire to taste of the capon and the wine, called to the good man. He asked his wife who that was: she told him an acquaintance of his, that entreated lodging there that night. He bid her open the door,

which he did, and let Miles out. He seeing Miles there, bid him welcome, and bad his wife set them some meat on the table: she told him that there was not any ready, but prayed him to keep his stomach till to-morrow, and then she would provide them a good breakfast.

"Since it is so, Miles" (said the good man) "we must rest content and sleep out our hunger;" "Nay, stay," said Miles, "if that you can eat, I can find you goodmeats: I am a scholar and have some art.” "I would fain see it," (said the good man) "You shall," quoth Miles, "and that presently." With that Miles pulled forth a book out of his bosom, and began his conjuration in this fashion.

"From the fearful lake below,

From whence spirits come and go,
Streightway come one, and attend
Frier Bacon's Man and Friend."

"Comes there none yet?" quoth Miles, "then I must use some other charm.

"Now the Owl is flown abroad,

For I hear the croaking Toad,

And the bat that shuns the day

Through the dark doth make her way.

Now the Ghosts of Men do rise,

And with fearful hideous Crys,
Seek revengement (from the good)
On their heads that spilt that blood:
Come some spirit, quick I say,
Night's the Devil's Holy Day:
Where e'er you be in dens or lake,

In the Ivie, Ewe, or Brake: