they have built them a new market-place, and are now building a fayr hall for Justice; which commendable and comfortable disposition of people, there and elswhere, though it be principally ascribed to the joy and comfort that all well affected persons tooke of his Majestie's happie entrance, and peaceable government, and of the succession established in his hopefull issew; yet is not least to be imputed to the discretion and dilligence of the pastors that waken and stir up their charitie, and make them more sensible of God's good blessings bestowed on them. And the rather by this good bishop's means, the Lord of Shrewsbury hath very noblie, and like himself, contributed to this so great and necessary worke, giving a large portion of timber towards it.

Now, as I sayd, it hath pleased his majestie to place him in London, magistratus indicabit virum. This publique place (for I count the other was almost private to this,) will shew what is in the man. I neede not prognosticate, but I can wish and hope, that as he is for his person comparable to Mr. Fletcher, so he may equall Doctor Elmer in courage, Doctor

Bancroft in carefullnes, and Doctor Vaghan in his mylde demeanour, to win the love of the people; and thus much be sayd concerning the Bishops of London.

OF THE

BISHOPS OF WINCHESTER.

HAVING past Canterbury and London, both neighbors to the court, and within the verge; I thought the greatest part of my taske passed over. Howbeit, Winchester I finde also will afford some varietie of matter; and as it hath bene a place that hath had many learned men, and bred many learned, both devynes, and philosophers, and poets; so I shall take occasion in speaking of some of these that ensew, to produce some poems both. Latten and English; some made at Winchester, some of Winchester, some against Winchester; not digressing herein much from the method and manner of my author; who (as your Highnes may see) produceth good old ryming verses of fryers, both in prayse and dispraise of some of the bishops. For my purpose from the beginning, though it were chiefly to informe your knowledge with a faithfull report of some things passed in Queene Elizabeths tyme, overpassed by my author; yet was it also to sawce it in such sort, with some

varietie of matter, not impertinent, to cheere your spirit, least a dull relation of the acts of grave gray-beards to a young Prince might grow fastidious.

First, therefore, of the first bishop Wickham, whose life my author hath set out so amply and orderly, as I neede ad nothing thereto; only bycause a man that hath made so many good schollers deserves a better vearse then that on his tombe,

Willelmus dictus Wickham jacet hic nece victus; Jugiter oretis, tumulum quicunque videtis ;

and such like stuffe, which a Winchester scholler now would be scourged, if he made no better. I having this pretty poem of his whole life, made by Doctor 'Johnson, thought I could never do it or him more honor then to present it to your princely view; for as Sir Phillip Sidney curseth all dispisers of poetry, with this poeticall anathema; first, that they may bee in love, and loose their love for lacke of a sommett; next, that when they dy, their memory may dy for

5 Christopher Johnson, M. D. an eminent Latin poet, and chief master of Winchester school. He died in 1597.

want of an epitaph; so, I would wish such as wronge good poets, no worse punishment, then to have some vile vearse written of him, (whose reading, as Martiall saith, might make a mans physick worke the better with him :) such as for the most part those lazie friers were wont to wryte. For my part, though Wickhams epitaph bee but seaven or eight lynes, and this twenty times seavn, yet I must confess it were less tedious to me at this present to reade the seaven score then the seaven; and hoping it may seeme so to you, I have here annexed them.

This passage from Sidney's" Apologie for Poetrie," 1595, is rather inaccurately quoted. Sir Philip said-" Thus much curse I must send you, [the Momus of poetry] in the behalfe of all poets, that while you live, you live in love, and never get favour, for lacking skill of a sonnet; and when you die, your memory die from the earth, for want of an epitaph."