“The note on the opposite side, signed J.B., stands for James Bindley, who may be considered as good authority for what is here asserted.  Some curious information will be found relative to the original work in ‘Diction. des Livres Condamnes,’ &c., par Peignot. tom. ii. p 319.”

III.  Note in the handwriting of Mr. Ford, in a copy of Fletcher’s “Purple Island,”, &c. 1633.

“See the lines at the end by Francis Quarles, which are ingenious and poetical.  This curious and very rare volume I purchased out of Longman’s celebrated catalogue of old English poetry, called ’Bib.  Ang.  Poet.,’ where it will be found marked L2 12s. 6d., which is what it cost me.  Mr. Montgomery, the poet, styles this poem a fantastical allegory describing the body and soul of man, but containing many rich and picturesque passages (v. his ’Christian Poem,’ p. 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.