163.) But there is a most excellent critique upon it in
the 'Retrosp. Rev.' for Nov. 1820 (v.p. 351.), but see also
Headley, who highly praises it. The name of Fletcher ranks high in
the list of our poets. He was born in 1584, and was the son of Dr.
Giles Fletcher, who was himself a poet; the brother of Giles
Fletcher, the author of 'Christ's Victory;' and the cousin of John
Fletcher, the celebrated dramatist."
IV. In a note on a copy of "Iter Boreale, with large additions of
several other poems, being an exact collection of all hitherto extant;
never before published together. The author R. Wild, D.D., printed for
the booksellers in London, 1668,"--the author is described as "of
Tatenill, near Burton supr Trent." The note is apparently of
contemporary date, or a little later.
This edition is not noticed by Lowndes, nor is another edition
(anonymous), of which I have a copy, the date of which is 1605 (printed
for R.J., and are to be sold in St. Paul's Churchyard). Of course this
date is a mistake, but query what is the real date? Probably 1665. The
volume concludes with the 70th page, being identical with the 72nd page
of the edition of 1668.
V. Note in the handwriting of Mr. Ford, in a copy of "Waller's Poems,"
1645 (after quoting "Rymer on Tragedy," pp. 2. and 79.):--
"The dedicatory epistle in this first and rare edition 'To my
Lady,' is omitted in all the subsequent editions, even in Fenton's
of 1729 (see Dibdin).--I find it _is_ inserted in Fenton's
edition among the speeches and letters; but he adds, in his
observations thereon, that it appears not to have been designed for
a public dedication, though why or wherefore he assigns no reason;
and he further adds, 'I never met with any tradition to what Lady
it was originally directed.' It certainly has as much the
appearance of having been intended for a dedication, _if we may
judge from internal evidence_, as such sort of things generally
have. This is the first genuine edition and very scarce. It is
priced in the 'Bib. Ang. Poet.'; at 2 gs. No. 851. The subsequent
editions are of no particular value, exception Fenton's elegant and
complete edition in 4to., which is worth about the same sum."
VI. Note in a handwriting of the 17th century, in a copy of Cawood's
edition of the "Ship of Fools," opposite to the dedication, which is
"Venerandissimo in Christo Pat
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