Note 32 — The Mirror for Magistrates.

To select only three may be sufficient. “I account (says Sir Philip Sydney, in the Defence of Poesy) the Mirrour of Magistrates meetly furnished of beautiful parts.” That profound critic, Edmund Bolton, says: “Among the lesser late poets, George Gascoigne’s work may be endur’d. But the best of those times (if Albion’s England be not preferr’d) for our business is, the Mirrour of Magistrates, and in that Mirrour Sackvil’s Induction,” &c. And Oldys, in his preface before The British Muse, examining the reign of Elizabeth, observes: “At that time came out the fine collection, called The Mirror for Magistrates. This piece was done by several hands. It represents pathetically the falls of many great and unfortunate men of our nation, and beautifully advises others to avoid following their example. Besides the particular praises given this work by Sir Philip Sidney and Mr. Edmund Bolton, (another judicious critick, who writes not long after him;) that it received the general approbation, appears from its having been three or four times reprinted. Every impression had new additions from other eminent hands, amongst whom the Earl of Dorset is not the least conspicuous.”