The “Songs and Sonnets” of Surrey occupy only the first forty pages of vol. i.; then follow “Songs and sonnets” by Sir Thomas Wyat to p. 111. inclusive; and they are succeeded by poems “of uncertain authors,” which occupy the rest of the the first volume.  The second volume begins with “The Seconde Boke of Virgiles AEnaeis,” filling thirty pages; while “the Fourth Boke” ends at p. 57., with the imprint of R. Tottell, and the date of 1557.  “Ecclesiastes and Certain Psalms by by Henry Earl of Surrey,” which are “from ancient MSS. never before imprinted,” close at p. 81.  “Certayne Psalmes chosen out of the Psalter of David,” consisting of the seven penitential psalms, with the imprint of Thomas Raynald and John Harrington,” fill thirty pages; and to them is added “Sir Thomas Wyat’s Defence,” from the Strawberry Hill edition; which, with a few appended notes, carries the work on to p. 141.

A new title-page, at which we now arrive, shows us the intention of Dr. Percy, and the object at which he had all along aimed:  it runs thus:—­“Poems in Bland Verse (not Dramatique) prior to Milton’s Paradise Lost. Subsequent to Lord Surrey’s in this Volume, and to N.G.’s in the preceding.”  In truth, Dr. Percy was making a collection in the two volumes of all the English undramatic blank verse he could discover, prior to the publication of Milton’s great poem.  He was guilty of some important omissions, because bibliographical knowledge was not then as far advanced as at present, but he performed good service to letters as far as he was able to go; and the blank verse productions he subjoins are by George Tubervile, George Gascoigne, Barnabie Riche, George Peele, James Aske, William Vallans, Nicholas Breton, George Chapman, and Christopher Marlow.  These occupy from p. 342. of vol. ii.

This list might now be considerably increased; but my present business is only to answer the Query of “G.,” as to the nature and contents of the work.  It has been said, I know not on what authority, that Steevens assisted Percy in preparing and printing it.  I apprehend that the aid given by Steevens consisted solely in recommending the Bishop to procure certain rare productions which would contribute to the purpose.

J. PAYNE COLLIER.

May 7, 1850.

[To this we may add, that about 1767, when Bishop Percy printed these twenty-five sheets of poems of Lord Surrey and the Duke of Buckingham, it appears by a letter of the Bishop to Horace Walpole, that he presented a copy of them to Walpole, with a request for information about Lord Surrey.  The Bishop never wrote the Life of Surrey; and in 1808 the whole impression was burnt, with the exception of a copy or two that the Bishop had given to his friends.  In the letter to Walpole the Bishop says, “A few more leaves will complete that book, which with the second and Dr. Surrey’s Songs and Sonnets, &c. will be sufficient for the book.”]

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