By Wood's invaluable Athenæ, we are informed that this rare little volume was the production of Clement Barksdale, who was born at Winchcombe in Gloucestershire, Nov. 1609, had his grammar learning in the free school at Abingdon, Berks, was entered a servitor of Merton College, Oxon. in Lent term 1625, but soon translated himself to Gloucester-hall, where he took his degrees in arts, received ordination, and in 1637 supplied the place of chaplain of Lincoln college at the church of All Saints. Being called from thence the same year, he was made master of the freeschool at Hereford, and soon after, vicar of Alhallows in that city. When the garrison of Hereford was surprised by the parliamentary forces in 1646, he was rescued out of the danger, and placed at Sudeley, (doubtless by the Bridges family) where he exercised his ministerial function; and afterwards sheltered at Hawling in Cotswold, where he undertook a private school with success; and where he appears to have penned his Nympha Libethris. After the restoration he was settled, by royal gift, in the parsonage of Naunton, near Hawling, and Stow on the Wold, in Gloucestershire. These he retained till the time of his death, which took place in January 1687; having lived to a fair age, says Wood, and leaving behind him the character of an edifying preacher and a good neighbour. His publications were very numerous, though few of them continue to be regarded, unless it be his Memorials of Worthy Persons and Remembrances of Excellent Men, which are chiefly compilations. The copy of his Cotswold Muse, now before me, was procured by a friend from the library of Mr. Brand, at a

Vol. II. col. 812.

high price; and as it is the only one which has met my observation, a particular statement of its contents may be acceptable. Opposite the title are the following lines:

"No Frontispiece my verses have,
But what kind readers' fansyes 'grave.
The shadow of a spreading tree
From Sirius doth the shepheard free;
He listens to a silver spring
Whose waters, as they run, do sing;
A little house, Roell, is near
A palace, when her lord is there;
The gentle lambs are feeding by,
The Muse approaching, with fair eye

Offers her bounteous hand, and sayes

Shepheard, here take this sprig of bayes:'

• Embrace me, Virgin, answers he,

I care not for thy bayes, but Thee.'

He was too bold: the Muse too coy:

She frown'd, and threw the sprig away."

On the back of the title are two extracts from the epistles of Pliny, in apology for his volume of verses; besides a preparatory motto, to conciliate the reader's good will. Then follows-"The Consecration of all :”

"To my Lady Chandos.*

"Madam, see here your Röell-Muse
Exults for joy, your name to use:

Fair,

* Qu. Jane, daughter of John Earl Rivers, and second wife to George, sixth Lord Chandos, whom she outlived, and married again: though Collins, who gives this information, contradicts himself by saying Lord Chandos was thrice married. In the year after Barksdale published his book, Lord

C 2

Fair, noble, good, * all titles due
Are understood, when I name you:
Well knowing every thing is grac'd,
That's under your protection plac'd.
She's innocent; yet flyes t' your wing
Tavoid suspicion. She doth bring.
Some men of arms, and other some,
Whose praises do from learning come.
To Ladies she hath honour done:
And, above all, yourself are one.
She hath inserted a few toyes,
To please and profit the school-boyes.
I charge her, not disturb your pray'r,
(Though some time she breaths holy ayr,
And sings the Liturgy in verse;).

Nor unseasonably rehearse:

But wait till at your vacant time

You please to listen to her rime.

When you that's good' vouchsafe to say:
That, O that word's the poets' bay!"

After six lines addressed to the same, Latin verses succeed "Preceptori suo Mro C. E. signed Hackettus, others signed Thorn, and A. S. and English compliments signatured Sackville, Stratford, Tounsend, and

Lord Chandos had a disagreement with Col. Henry Compton (grandson to Lord Compton) about a lady he recommended in marriage, whose person and fortune were below few matches in the kingdom: this difference unhappily ended in a duel, when Col. Compton fell by his Lordship's hand : which account both he and his second, Lord Arundel of Wardour, were imprisoned for some time, and at last tried, and both found guilty of manslaughter. This melancholy event and its consequences, are likely to have made a deep impression on the mind of bord Chandos, and might contribute to his immature decease; notwithstanding he is recorded to have died of the small-pox in February 1654. See Collins's Peerage.

* Alas! she did not prove good to the Brydges family! Editor.

T. B.

T. B. After a title-page to Part I. with a motto from Virgil, which adumbrates the general title—·

Nymphe, noster amor, Libethrides:

he offers a short dedication to his complimentary friends adolescentibus bonæ spei;" and gives a list of the chief names honoured by his Muse. Instead of inserting this list, I shall proceed to denote more particularly the persons to whom these short poems are inscribed; with the designation of them: those with Latin prefixes, being written in Latin.

The following introductory lines present an apology for the negligence of his poetry.

"To the Reader.

"The Cotswold Muse so call'd, to do her right,
For rustic plainesse, not for any hight,
Humbly craves pardon, if she chance to meet
Some delicate reader on her tender feet.
She tunes her innocent notes for pupils yong,
Whose fancy can't digest a verse too strong:
High poems will deter them: these may teach
And animate, because so near their reach."

"Ad Magistrum Jonesium, Coll. Æn. socium.
Doctori Greenwood, procanc. Ox.

To Dr. Warren, why he makes verses.

On the death of Mr. Charles Parry, physician, of Hereford.

To Mrs. Eliz. Williams, with Fragmenta Regalia. To Mrs. Abigail Stratford, standing silent.

Preface to a paraphrase of Grotius De Veritate, &c. To Mr. David Williams, with Instructions for

Το

Travell.

my La. C. with some papers. Another.

Upon the picture of Grotius, in one of his books, put into English.

Upon H. Grotius, and his principal works, par-
ticularly De Imperio.

Ad Jacobum Commetinum Med. cum operibus
Cratonis.

Ad Thomam Carew, apud J. C. cum Davenanti
poëmatiis.

To Mr. T. S. at his general's funeral, Colonel Myn.
To Mr. Laurence Womock, after the taking of
Hereford, 1645.

To Mr. Turner, when the Governour had given him one of his livings.

Ad D. Ro. Bosworthium, cum invitatus non veniret. On the Translations by Sir Ro. Stapylton.

On Mr. Howel's Vocal Forest.

Upon a visit of my La. C.

Upon the decease of my infant lady.

Upon the scholars succeeding souldiers at Sudeley Castle. To my Lo. C. ·

Sudeley to Rowill. Rowill to Sudeley.

Amico nobili D. Gul. Higford, cum elogiis Thuan.

The following lines in this place are worth transcribing, for the dignity of sentiment they convey.

"Mens regnum bona possidet, &c. SEN.

"Riches exalt not men on high,

Nor costly clothes of Tyrian dye;
Nor court, nor crown, nor other thing,

Is the mark proper for a King.

He, that from all base fears hath rest,
That banishes vice from his breast;

Whom