4. Does a copy exist in MS., or in print, of the sermon which Archbishop Tennison preached at the funeral of Nell Gwynne?
Mr. Editor,--I hope you intend to keep a corner for Etymologies.
Query, the origin of the word "Grog?"--And why do the people in Suffolk call a ladybird "Bishop Barnaby?"
If you can enlighten me upon either of these points, I shall feel encouraged to try again.
The following bibliographical memoranda, in the well-known hand of Dr. Farmer, occur in a copy of the edition of Drayton's _Poems_ published in 1619, in small folio, by John Smethwick, which contains "The Barons' Wars; England's Heroical Epistles; Idea; Odes; The Legends of Robert Duke of Normandie, Matilda, Pierce Gaveston, and Great Cromwell; The Owle; and Pastorals, containing Eglogues, with the Man in the Moone."
They may be of use to some future editor of Drayton, an author now undeservedly neglected, whose _Nymphidia_ alone might tempt the tasteful publisher of the "Aldine Poets" to include a selection, at least, of his poems in that beautiful series:--
"The works of Michael Drayton, Esq., were reprinted in folio, 1748. The title-page 'promises all the writings of that _celebrated author_,' but his Pastorals (p.433. &c., first published imperfectly in 4to. 1593) and many other of his most considerable compositions (Odes, the Owle, &c., see the Appendix), are not so much as spoken of. See his article in the _Biog. Brit._ by Mr. Oldys, curiously and accurately written.
"Another edition (which is called the _best_) was printed in 4 vols. 8vo. 1753. Robson, 1765.
"A Poem Triumphant, composed for the Society of the Goldsmiths of London, by _M. Drayton_. 4to. 1604. _Harl. Cat._ v.3. p. 357.
"Charles Coffey was the editor of the folio edit. 1748, he had a large subscription for it, but died before the publication; and it was afterward printed for the benefit of his widow. See Mottley, p. 201.
"The print of Drayton at the back of the title-page, is marked in Thane's Catalogue, 1774, 7s. 6d.
"N.B. The copy of the _Baron's Warres_ in this edition differs in almost every line from that in the 8vo. edit. 1610.
"It was printed under the title of Mortimeriados, in 7 line stanzaes.
"Matilda was first printed 1594, 4to., by Val. Simmes. Gaveston appears by the Pref. to have been publish't before. Almost every line in the old 4to. of Matilda differs from the copy in this edit. A stanza celebrating Shakespeare's Lucrece is omitted in the later edition.