Transcriber’s Note: Upright text within italic passages is indicated ~like this~. See end for a fuller note. Choyce Drollery. [Illustration: _1661. Vide p. 107._ _J. W. Ebsworth sc. 1876_] Choyce DROLLERY: SONGS & SONNETS. BEING _A Collection of Divers Excellent Pieces of Poetry_, OF SEVERAL EMINENT AUTHORS. _Now First Reprinted from the Edition of 1656._ TO WHICH ARE ADDED THE EXTRA SONGS OF MERRY DROLLERY, 1661, AND AN ANTIDOTE AGAINST MELANCHOLY, 1661: EDITED, _With Special Introductions, and Appendices of Notes, Illustrations, Emendations of Text, &c._, BY J. WOODFALL EBSWORTH, M.A., CANTAB. BOSTON, LINCOLNSHIRE: Printed by _Robert Roberts_, Strait Bar-Gate. M,DCCCLXXVI. TO THOSE STUDENTS OF ART, AMONG WHOM HE FOUND Friendship and Enthusiasm; BEFORE HE LEFT THEM, WINNERS OF UNSULLIED FAME, AND SOUGHT IN A QUIET NOOK CONTENT, INSTEAD OF RENOWN: THESE “DROLLERIES OF THE RESTORATION” ARE BY THE EDITOR DEDICATED. CONTENTS. PAGE DEDICATION v PRELUDE ix INTRODUCTION TO “CHOICE DROLLERY, 1656” xi § 1. HOW CHOICE DROLLERY WAS INHIBITED xi 2. THE TWO COURTS IN 1656 xix 3. SONGS OF LOVE AND WAR xxvi 4. CONCLUSION: THE PASTORALS xxxiii ORIGINAL “ADDRESS TO THE READER,” 1856 “CHOYCE DROLLERY,” 1656 1 TABLE OF FIRST LINES TO DITTO 101 INTRODUCTION TO “ANTIDOTE AGAINST MELANCHOLY,” 1661 § 1. REPRINT OF “ANTIDOTE” 105 2. INGREDIENTS OF “AN ANTIDOTE” 108 ORIGINAL ADDRESS “TO THE READER,” 1661 111 ” CONTENTS (ENLARGED) 112 “ANTIDOTE AGAINST MELANCHOLY,” 1661 113