A modest man 131

A meer empty wit 134

A drunkard 136

A prison 138

A serving-man 140

An insolent man 142

Acquaintance 144

A meer complimental man 147

A poor fiddler 149

A meddling-man 151

A good old man 153

A flatterer 155

A high spirited man 158

A meer gull citizen 160

A lascivious man 165

A rash man 167

An affected man 169

A profane man 171

A coward 173

A sordid rich man 174

A meer great man 177

A poor man 179

An ordinary honest man 181

A suspicious, or jealous man 183

APPENDIX.

Some account of bishop Earle[AS] 186

Characters of bishop Earle 194

List of Dr. Earle's Works 197

Lines on sir John Burroughs 199

Lines on the death of the earl of Pembroke 201

Lines on Mr. Beaumont 203

Dedication to the Latin translation of the [Greek: Eikon Basilike] 207

Inscription on Dr. Heylin's monument 211

Correspondence between Dr. Earle and Mr. Bagster 213

Inscription in Streglethorp church 217

Chronological List of Books of Characters, from 1567 to 1700 219

Corrections and additions 279

A note on bishop Earle's arms, from _Guillim's Heraldry_ 282

_Supplementary Appendix, 1897, (Durham MS., Letters of Earle and Clarendon, etc.)_ 303

FOOTNOTES:

[AS] It will be remarked, that Dr. Earle's name is frequently spelled _Earle_ and _Earles_ in the following pages. Wherever the editor has had occasion to use the name himself, he has invariably called it _Earle_, conceiving that to be the proper orthography. Wherever it is found _Earles_, he has attended strictly to the original, from which the article or information has been derived.

TO THE READER[AT].

I have (for once) adventured to play the midwife's part, helping to bring forth these infants into the world, which the father would have smothered; who having left them lapt up in loose sheets, as soon as his fancy was delivered of them, written especially for his private recreation, to pa.s.s away the time in the country, and by the forcible request of friends drawn from him: yet, pa.s.sing severally from hand to hand, in written copies, grew at length to be a pretty number in a little volume: and among so many sundry dispersed transcripts, some very imperfect and surrept.i.tious had liked to have pa.s.sed the press, if the author had not used speedy means of prevention; when, perceiving the hazard he ran to be wronged, was unwillingly[AU] willing to let them pa.s.s as now they appear to the world.

If any faults have escaped the press (as few books can be printed without), impose them not on the author, I intreat thee; but rather impute them to mine and the printer's oversight, who seriously promise, on the re-impression hereof, by greater care and diligence for this our former default, to make thee ample satisfaction. In the mean while, I remain

Thine,

ED. BLOUNT[AV].

[Ill.u.s.tration]

FOOTNOTES: