27. The " Workes " Of " Edmond VValler " E?quire, " [Four lines] Imprimatur " Na. Brent. Decem. 30. 1644. " London, " Printed for Thomas Walkley " 1645.

The "Workes" of this poet "nursed in parliaments" consist of poems and speeches. The book was probably issued early in the year, having, as we see from the title-page, been licensed in December, 1644. There are copies identical in every other respect, that show a block of printer's ornament instead of the "Imprimatur," and still others with quite a new title-page, which reads: Poems," &c. " Written By " Mr. Ed. Waller " of Beckon?field, E?quire; lately a " Member of the Honourable " House of Commons. " All the Lyrick Poems in this Booke " were ?et by Mr. Henry Lavves Gent. " of the Kings Chappell, and one of his " Maje?ties Private Mu?ick. " Printed and Publi?hed according to Order. " London, " Printed by T. W. for Humphrey Mo?ley, at the " Princes Armes in Pauls Church- " yard. 1645.

New poems have been added to this last issue, and "The Table" of contents has been inserted between the poems and speeches. There is also an Epistle "To my Lady," and "An adverti?ement to the Reader" wherein we read:

"This parcell of exqui?it poems, have pa??'d up and downe through many hands among?t per?ons of the be?t quallity, in loo?e imperfect Manu?cripts, and there is lately obtruded to the world an adulterate Copy, surruptitiou?ly and illegally imprinted, to the derogation of the Author, and the abu?e of the Buyer. But in this booke they apeare in their pure originalls and true genuine colours."

We may with reasonableness see in the first variation a publisher's trick to make his book appear to have had a quick sale; while the second might indicate a transfer of the unsold sheets from Walkley to Moseley, who for some reason, perhaps an agreement arrived at with the poet, considered himself to be the authorized publisher.

Later in the same year, Moseley issued a reprint, which omitted the Speeches, and a new edition in octavo with a title-page which now reads:

Poems, &c. " Written By " Mr. Ed. Waller " [Three lines] And Printed by a Copy of " his own hand-writing. " [Four lines] Printed and Publi?hed according to Order. " London, " Printed by J. N. for Hu. Mo?ley, at the Princes " Armes in Pauls Church-yard, " 1645.

The volume has been entirely reprinted.

The Speeches appear again, but the rest of the contents remain as before. Mr. Beverly Chew, in an article on "The First Edition of Waller's Poems," says: "It is this edition that is generally called the 'first authorized edition,' but it is quite evident that all of the editions of this year stand about on the same level so far as the author is concerned." Not until the edition of 1664 do we read on the title-page, "Never till now Corrected and Published with the approbation of the Author."

Octavo.

Collation: Title, one leaf, B-H, in eights.