Work of his had
sold? Mr. _Burre_ returned this answer, That it sold so slowly, that it
had undone him. At which words of his, Sir _Walter Rawleigh_ stepping
to his Desk, reaches the other part of his History, to Mr. _Burre_,
which he had brought down to the times he lived in; clapping his hand
on his breast, he took the other unprinted part of his Works into his
hand with a sigh, saying, _Ah my Friend, hath the first Part undone
thee? The second Volume shall undo no more; this ungrateful World is
unworthy of it_; When immediately going to the fire-side he threw it
in, and set his foot on it till it was consumed. As great a Loss to
Learning as Christendom could have, or owned; for his first Volume
after his death sold Thousands.

It may likewise be objected, That some of these Poets here mentioned,
have been more famous in other kind of Studies than in Poetry, and
therefore do not shine here as in their proper sphere of fame; but what
then, shall their general knowledge debar them from a particular notice
of their Abilities in this most excellent Art? Nor have we scarce any
Poet excellent in all its Species thereof; some addicting themselves
most to the _Epick_, some to the _Dramatick_, some to the _Lyrick_,
other to the _Elegiack_, the _Epaenitick_, the _Bucolick_, or the
_Epigram_; under one of which all the whole circuit of _Poetick Design_
is one way or other included.

Besides, should we have mentioned none but those who upon a strict
scrutiny the Name of Poet doth belong unto, I fear me our number would
fall much short of those which we have written; for as one writes,
_There are many that have a Fame deservedly for what they have writ,
even in Poetry itself, who, if they come to the test, I question how
well they would endure to open their Eagle-eyes against the Sun._ But I
shall wade no further in this Discourse, desiring you to accept of what
is here written.

I remain

Yours,

_William Winstanley._

* * * * *

The Names of the Poets Mention'd in this Book.

_Robert of Glocester_
_Richard_ the Hermit
_Joseph of Exeter_
_Michael Blaunpayn_
_Matthew Paris_
_William Ramsey_
_Alexander Nequam_
_Alexander Essebie_
_Robert Baston_
_Henry Bradshaw_
_Havillan_
Sir _John Gower_
_Geoffrey Chaucer_
_John Lydgate_
_John Harding_
_Robert Fabian_
_John Skelton_
_William Lilly_
Sir _Thomas More_
_Henry Howard, Earl_ o