Page images
PDF
EPUB

From a MS. in the Harleian Library.
"A Greement Aug. 16, 1715, between

Wm. Brome executor to Mr.
Urry, the Dean and Chapter of Chrift
Church Oxon, and Bernard Linfot
bookfeller; reciting the Queen's li-
cence to Urry, to print Chaucer for
14 years, from July 25, 1714, assign-
ed over by him to Lintot, Dec. 17
following. Urry dying foon after left
Brome executor. The agreement re-
cites Urry's intention to apply part of
the profits towards building Peckwater
Quadrangle. Brome affigns his right to!
the Gloffary and licence to Lintot for
remainder of the term; the Dean and
Chapter and Mr. Brome to deliver to
Lintot a compleat copy of Chaucer
and Gloffary, and to correct it, or get
it corrected. Lintot to print 1250 co-
pies, 250 on royal paper, and 1000 on
demy, at his own charge, and to fur-
nith a number of copies not exceeding
1500, and have of the profit. If the
fubfcribers did not amount to 1250,
then the remainder to be fold, and the
profits equally divided; the Dean and ◄
Chapter's fhare to be applied to finish
Peckwater Quadrangle.

1000 copies fmall paper, at 30s, 1500l.
250 large, at sos

[blocks in formation]

.6251.

£2125.

7081. 6s. öd,

Chapt, & Mr. Brome 1416), 138. 4d.

Walter Scott say, in his review of Todds edition of Spencer Mr. Food is a man of leaming and research. I with he would write Essays in the Archaeologix, and renounce editing our ancient ports. the text is absolutely bome down and overwhelmed by dull, dubious, and contradictory, comments,

is, no doubt a

again in the review of his edition of Milton - Mr Todd laborious noon, but he is miserably out of his vocation as an editor of our poets, dexc All the manuscript notes in this book, & the made before the book came

[ocr errors]

above hand, were

The College Library.

[ocr errors]

to

[blocks in formation]

THE REV. HENRY J. TODD, M. A. F. S. A.

Gower, that first garnished our English rude;

And maister Chaucer, that nobly enterprised

How that Englishe myght freshely be ennewed.

O pensyfe harte,

Skelton's Crowne of Laurell.

Remember thee of the trace and daunce

Of poetes olde, with all thy purueyaunce:

As moral Gower, whose sentencious dewe

Adowne reflareth, with fayre golden beames:

And after, Chaucer's all abroade doth shewe, &c.

Hawes's Pastime of Pleasure.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON, T. PAYNE, CADELL

AND DAVIES, AND R. H. EVANS.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

TO THE MOST NOBLE

GEORGE GRANVILLE LEVESON GOWER,

MARQUIS OF STAFFORD, K. G. &c. &c.

My Lord,

THE dedication of a Work, which consists chiefly of materials interesting to curiosity and subservient to useful criticism, will not, it is hoped, be thought obtrusive. What respects the reformers of our language, and the fathers of our poetry, may be inscribed, I trust, with absolute propriety, to him who is the friend of Literature and the head of the illustrious House of Gower. To these motives of thus addressing your Lordship, must be added the wish of gratitude to acknowledge benefits received. From your Lordship's Manuscripts many of these materials, by your permission, have been copied. While I have this opportunity to own publickly so important an obli

« PreviousContinue »