tie, state, and every thing,
Compared be with most within the land.

_Tale of Two Swannes_, 1590. 4_to._

I have never yet been able to ascertain whether the owner's
attachment towards VELLUM, or LARGE PAPER, Copies was the
more vehement!]

[Footnote 26: Perhaps this conclusion is too precipitate.
But whoever looks at Elizabeth's portrait, on her bended
knees, struck off on the reverse of the title page to her
prayer book (first printed in 1565) may suppose that the
Queen thought the addition of her own portrait would be no
mean decoration to the work. Every page is adorned with
borders, engraved on wood, of the most spirited execution:
representing, amongst other subjects, "The Dance of Death."
My copy is the reprint of 1608--in high preservation. I have
no doubt that there was a _presentation_ copy printed UPON
VELLUM; but in what cabinet does this precious gem now
slumber?]

[Footnote 27: Laneham gives a splendid list of Romances and
Old Ballads possessed by this said CAPTAIN COX; and tells
us, moreover, that "he had them all at his fingers ends."
Among the ballads we find "Broom broom on Hil; So Wo is me
begon twlly lo; Over a Whinny Meg; Hey ding a ding; Bony
lass upon Green; My bony on gave me a bek; By a bank as I
lay; and two more he had fair wrapt up in parchment, and
bound with a whip cord." Edit. 1784, p. 36-7-8. Ritson, in
his Historical Essay on _Scottish Song_, speaks of some of
these, with a zest, as if he longed to untie the "whip-cord"
packet.]

While the country was thus giving proofs of the prevalence of this
disorder, the two Harringtons (especially the younger)[28] and the
illustrious Spenser[29] were unfortunately seized with it in the
metropolis.

[Footnote 28: SIR JOHN HARRINGTON, knt. Sir John, and his
father John Harrington, were very considerable literary
characters in the 16th century; and whoever has been
fortunate enough to read through Mr. Park's new edition of
the _Nugae Antiquae_, 1804, 8vo., will meet with numerous
instances in which the son displays considerable
bibliographical knowledge--especially in _Italian_
literature; Harrington and Spenser seem to have been the
Matthias and Roscoe of the day. I make no doubt but that the
former was as thoroughly acquainted with the _vera