I have the means of showing what Dr. Percy did with the poems of the
Earl of Surrey, because I have a copy of the work now before me.
It can hardly be said that he "prepared an edition" of those poems,
as supposed by your correspondent "G." on the authority of Watts's
_Bibliotheca Britannica_, but he made an exact reprint of the _Songes
and Sonnettes written by the Right Honorable Lorde Henry Haward,
late Earle of Surrey, and other_, which was printed _Apud Richardum
Tottell. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum_. 1557. The Bishop of
Dromere made no attempt at editing the work much beyond what was
necessary to secure an exact reimpression. He prefixed no Life of
Surrey (a point "G." wishes to ascertain); and, in fact, the book was
never completed. It contains considerably more than the reprint of the
poems of Lord Surrey, and was intended to consist of two volumes with
separate pagination; the first volume extending to p. 272., and the
second to p. 342.
As the work is a rarity, owing to an unfortunate accident, some of
your readers may like to see a brief notice of it. Watts (as quoted
by "G." for I have not his portly volumes at hand,) states that the
"whole impression" was "consumed in the fire which took place in Mr.
Nicholls's premises in 1808." This was a mistake, as my extant copy
establishes; and _Restituta_ (iii. 451.) informs us that _four_ were
saved. Of the history of my own impression I know nothing beyond the
fact, that I paid a very high price for it some twenty years since,
at an auction; but the late Mr. Grenville had another copy, which I
had an opportunity of seeing, and which had belonged to T. Park, and
had been sent to him by Dr. Percy for the advantage of his notes and
remarks. This, I presume, is now in the British Museum; whither it
came with the rest of Mr. Grenville's books, four or five years ago.
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 Ænæis," 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.