Also given later, in _Merry Drollery_, 1661, p. 77, and _Ditto, Compleat_, p. 82 and 369. Compare the Harleian MS. version, No. 791, fol. 59, given in our Appendix to _Westminster Drollery_, p. 38, with note. The romance of _the Knight of the Sun_ is mentioned by Sir Tho. Overbury in his _Characters_, as fascinating a Chambermaid, and tempting her to turn lady-errant. “The book is better known under the title of _The Mirror of Princely Deedes and Knighthood_, wherein is shewed the worthinesse of The Knight of the Sunne, &c. It consists of nine parts, which appear to have been published at intervals between 1585, and 1601.” (_Lucasta_, &c., edit. 1864, p. 13.) Page 40. _And will this Wicked World_, &c. We never met this elsewhere: it was probably written either in 1605, or almost immediately afterwards. Among Robert Hayman’s _Quodlibets_, 1628, in Book Second, No. 49, is an Epigram (p. 27):— Of the Gunpowder Holly-day, the 5th of November. _The ~Powder-Traytors~, ~Guy Vaux~, and his mates,_ _Who by a Hellish plot sought Saints estates,_ _Haue in our Kalendar vnto their shame,_ _A ioyful ~Holy-day~ cald by their Name._ Jeremiah Wells has among his _Poems on Several Occasions_, 1667, one, at p. 9, “On Gunpowder Treason,” beginning “_Hence dull pretenders unto villany_,” which solemnly conjures up a picture of what might have ensued if (what even Baillie Nicol Jarvie would call) the “awfu’ bleeze” had taken place. [The same rare volume is interesting, as containing a Poem on the Rebuilding of London, after the fire of 1666, p. 112, beginning “What a Devouring Fire but t’other day!”] With Charles Lamb, we have always regretted the failure of the Gunpowder Plot. It would have been a magnificent event, fully equal to Firmillian’s blowing up the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, at Badajoz; and the loss of life to all the Parliament Members would have been a cheap price, if paid, for such a remembrance. The worst of all is, that, having been attempted, there is no likelihood of any subsequent repetition meeting with better success. _Hinc illæ lachrymæ!_ Faux, Vaux, or Fawkes must have been a noble, though slightly misguided, enthusiast; for he had intended to perish, like Samson, with his victims. All good Protestants now admire the Nazarite, although they bon-fire-raise poor Guido. But then he failed in his work, while the other slayer of Philistines attained success: which perhaps accounts for the different apotheosis. As Lady Macbeth puts it: “The attempt, _and not the deed_, confounds us!” Page 44. _A Maiden of the Pure Society._ A version of this epigram is among the MSS. at end of a volume of “Various Poems,” in the British Museum: Press-mark, Case 39. a. These have been printed by Fred. J. Furnival, Esq., for the Ballad Society, as “Love Poems and Humorous Ones,” 1874. “A Puritane with one of hir societie,” is No. 26, p. 22. Page 52. _He that a Tinker_, &c.