[161] [V. 42. another inch above your eye. MS.]
[162] [Ver. 45. all this long. _Shee_ not in MS.]
[178] [V. 76. the ffairest is my worldlye make.]
[180] [V. 79. there is 24 ffaire ladyes.]
[182] [V. 82, 86. that of redd gold shineth the yates.]
[187] [V. 91. Ellen was the fairest ladye.]
[190] [V. 95. shee was the ffairest ladye.]
then goe into the chamber with any ladye that weares soe ... attyre
[201] _i.e._ defiling. See Warton's _Observ._ vol. ii. p. 158.
[202] [V. 127. and tooke her in her armes 2.]
[203] [V. 130. that I may creape in att.]
this and itt drove now afterward till itt was neere the day.]
[207] [V. 140. that he may carry me the better away.]
[212] [V. 150. and heard her make her moane.]
[214] [Ver. 153. for yonder is a ghost in thy stable.]
[215] [V. 157. but up then rose Childe Waters.]
[219] _sic_ in MS., _i.e._ moaning, bemoaning, &c.
[221] [V. 170. and be of good cheere I thee pray.]
This Sonnet is given from a small quarto MS. in the Editor's possession, written in the time of Q. Elizabeth. Another Copy of it containing some variations, is reprinted in the _Muses' Library_, p. 295, from an ancient miscellany, intitled _England's Helicon_, 1600, 4to. The author was _Nicholas Breton_, a writer of some fame in the reign of Elizabeth; who also published an interlude intitled _An old man's lesson and a young man's love_, 4to., and many other little pieces in prose and verse, the titles of which may be seen in Winstanley, Ames' _Typog._ and Osborne's _Harl. Catalog._ &c.--He is mentioned with great respect by _Meres_, in his 2d pt. of _Wit's Common-wealth_, 1598, f. 283, and is alluded to in Beaumont and Fletcher's _Scornful Lady_, act ii., and again in _Wit without Money_, act iii.--See Whalley's _Ben Jonson_, vol. iii. p. 103.
The present Edition is improved by a copy in _England's Helicon_, edit. 1614, 8vo.
This little Pastoral is one of the Songs in "The Honourable Entertainment gieven to the Queenes Majestie in Progresse at Elvetham in Hampshire, by the R. H. the Earle of Hertford, 1591, 4to." (Printed by Wolfe. No name of author.) See in that pamphlet,
"On Wednesday morning about 9 o'clock, as her Majestie opened a casement of her gallerie window, ther were 3 excellent musitians, who being disguised in auncient country attire, did greet her with a pleasant song of _Corydon and Phillida_, made in 3 parts of purpose. The song, as well for the worth of the dittie as the aptnesse of the note thereto applied, it pleased her Highnesse after it had been once sung to command it againe, and highly to grace it with her cheerefull acceptance and commendation.