25. Poems, " By J. D. " With " Elegies " On The Authors " Death. " London." Printed by M. F. for Iohn Marriot, " and are to be ?old at his ?hop in St. Dun?tans " Churchyard in Fleet-?treet. 1633.

An entry in the Registers of the Stationers' Company shows the book to have been regularly licensed, though somewhat delayed owing to the doubts of the censor concerning the Satires and certain of the Elegies.

"13^o Septembris 1632

"John Marriott. Entred for his Copy vnder the handes of Sir Henry Herbert and both the Wardens a booke of verses and Poems (the five satires, the first, second, Tenth, Eleaventh and Thirteenth Elegies being excepted) and these before excepted to be his, when he bringes lawfull authority ... vj^d.

"written by Doctor John Dunn."

But in 1637, after two editions had been published, the poet's son, who had a somewhat unsavory reputation, addressed a petition to the Archbishop of Canterbury stating that it had been put forth "withoute anie leaue or Authoritie," and, as a result, the Archbishop issued the following order, December 16, 1637.

"I require ye Parties whom this Petition concernes not to meddle any farther with ye Printing or Selling of any ye pretended workes of ye late Deane of St. Paules, saue onely such as shall be licensed by publike authority, and approued by the Petitioner, as they will answere ye contrary to theyr perill. And this I desire Mr. Deane of ye Arches to take care."

In view of this discussion, Marriot's note in "The Printer To The Understanders," which is not found in all copies, and which, since it is printed on two extra leaves, was evidently an afterthought for late issues, takes on an added interest. It would be difficult to say whether his apologies touching on all these matters were actuated by the noble spirit in which he claims he printed the book, or to ward off anticipated criticism. One is almost tempted to try and read between the lines when he exclaims:

"If you looke for an Epi?tle, as you haue before ordinary publications, I am ?ory that I mu?t deceive you; but you will not lay it to my charge, when you shall con?ider that this is not ordinary ..., you may imagine (if it plea?e you) that I could endeare it unto you, by ?aying, that importunity drew it on, that had it not beene pre?ented here, it would haue come to us beyond the Seas (which perhaps is true enough,) that my charge and paines in procuring of it hath beene ?uch, and ?uch. I could adde hereunto a promi?e of more correctne??e, or enlargement in the next Edition, if you ?hall in the meane time content you with this....

"If any man (thinking I ?peake this to enflame him for the vent of the Impre??ion) be of another opinion, I ?hall as willingly ?pare his money as his judgement. I cannot loo?e ?o much by him as hee will by him?elfe. For I ?hall ?ati?fie my ?elfe with the con?cience of well doing, in making ?o much good common.

"How?oeuer it may appeare to you, it ?hall ?uffice me to enforme you that it hath the be?t warrant that can bee, publique authority and private friends."

The younger Donne's petition is supported by the appearance of the book itself, which was edited in a very careless fashion, without any attempt at order or relation. But, on the other hand, as Mr. Edmund Gosse has pointed out, Marriott and his edition really do seem to have had the support of the best men among Donne's disciples and friends: King, Hyde, Thomas Browne, Richard Corbet, Henry Valentine, Izaak Walton, Thomas Carew, Jasper Mayne, Richard Brathwaite and Endymion Porter, all of whom, beside several others, combined to write the Elegies mentioned on the title-page.

The printer, "M. F.," was Miles Flesher, or Fletcher, successor to George Eld, and one of the twenty master printers who worked during this most troublous period, following the famous act of July 11, 1637. He also printed for Marriott the second edition of 1635 in octavo, and the third of 1639, which, in the matter of contents, is practically the same as the second.

Marriott's first reference in the lines of the "Hexa?tichon BibliopolÆ" which follows "The Printer To The Understanders,"

refers to the portrait engraved by Martin Droeshout, issued with Death's Duell, in 1632. The whole verse seems to be an apology for the lack of a portrait in this volume. Donne was abundantly figured afterward. The Poems, printed in 1635, and again in 1639, contained his portrait at the age of eighteen, engraved by Marshall; Merian engraved him at the age of forty-two, for the Sermons of 1640; and Lombart produced the beautiful head for the Letters of 1651.

Quarto.

Collation: Title, one leaf; A-Z, Aa-Zz, and Aaa-Fff3, in fours.