Toxophiles, the schole of shootinge conteyned in two bookes. To all Gentlemen and yomen of Englande, pleasaunte for theyr pastyme to rede, and profitable for theyr use to folow, both in war and peace. [Col.] Deo gratias. Londini. In ædibus Edouardi Whytchurch. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum 1545. qto.* Of a work twice, at least, reprinted+ lately, it is only necessary to possess the reader of an omission which probably could not be supplied from the rarity of the first edition. That is the original dedication to Henry VIII. the more curious from the author's confession, that he had at that time a desire of travelling into Italy, and was in hopes of obtaining, by the dedication of his book to the king, a pension which might enable him to fulfil his desire." It follows: "To the moste graciouse, and our most drad Soueraigne Lord, Kyng Henry the VIII. by the grace of God, Kyng of Englande, Fraunce and Irelande, Defender of the faythe, and of the churche of Englande and also of Irelande, in earth supreme head, next vnder Christ, be al health, victorie and felicitie. *The above title of Ascham's Toxophilus is taken from the head of the table of Contents. The first leaf has the royal arms engraved, accompanied with Latin and English verses, as largely and with accuracy described by Herbert, p. 541: but this leaf having on the reverse the lines by Walter Haddon, that writer is scarcely correct in designating it a frontispiece. The two books are particularly noted by the capitals A and B in the running title, and a renewed pagination: the whole volume extends to Y iiij, besides eight leaves of introduction. This is certainly the first edition, though composed in the year preceding, as stated in the following title of the second edition:-Toxophilvs, the schole, or partitions of shooting contayned in ij bookes, writte by Roger Ascham 1544, and now newly perused. Pleasaunt for all Gentlemen and Yomen of England for theyr pastime to reade, and profitable for their vse to folowe both in warre and peace. Anno 1571. Imprinted at London in Fletestreate neare to Saint Dunstones Churche by Thomas Marshe, qto. Nearly verbatim by the Reverend John Walters, M. A. Master of Ruthin school, and late fellow of Jesus College, Oxford: at Wrexham, 1788. Also in the edition of Ascham's English works, published by Mr. James Bennet, sometime a schoolmaster at Hoddesdon. Herbert, ut sup. Biog. Britannica, vol. i. p. 282, note B. What "What tyme as moste gracious Prince, your highnes this last year past, tooke that your moost honorable and victorious iourney into Fraunce, accompanied with such a porte of the Nobilitie and yeomanrie of Englande, as neyther hath bene lyke knowen by experience, nor yet red of in historie: accompanied also with the daylie prayers, good hartes, and willes of all and euery one your graces subiectes, lefte behinde you here at home in Englande: the same tyme, I beinge at my booke in Cambrige, sorie that my litle habilitie could stretche out no better to helpe to forward so noble an enter price, yet with my good wylle, prayer, and harte, nothinge behynde hym that was formoste of all, conceyued a wonderful desyre, bi the praier, wishing, talking, and communicatio that was in euery mas mouth, for your Grace's moost victoriouse retourne, to offer vp sumthinge, at your home cumming to your Highnesse, which shuld be a token of mi loue and deutie toward your Maiestie, and also a signe of my good minde and zeale toward mi countrie, "This occasion geuen to me at that time, caused me to take in hand againe, this litle purpose of shoting, begon of me before, yet not ended tha, for other studies more mete for that trade of liuinge, whiche God and mi frendes had set me vnto. But when your grace's moste ioifull and happie victorie preuēted mi dailie and spedie diligencie to performe this matter, I was compelled to waite an other time to prepare and offer vp this litle boke vnto your Maiestie. And whan it hath pleased youre Highnesse of your infinit goodnesse, and also your most honorable counsel to know and peruse ouer the contentes, and some parte of this boke, and so to alow it, that other me might rede it, through the furderaunce and setting forthe of the right worshipfull and mi singuler good Master Sir William Pagette Knight, moost worthie secretarie to your highnes, and most open and redie succoure to al poore honest learned mēs sutes, I moost hum. blie beseche your Grace to take in good worthe this litle treatise purposed, begō, and ended of me onelie for this intent, that labour, honest pastime and vertu, might recouer againe that place and right, that idlenesse, vnthrifte, gamning and vice hath put them frō. "And althoughe to haue written this boke either in Latin or Greke (which thing I wold be verie glad yet to do, if I might surelie know your Grace's pleasure therein) had bene more easier and fit for mi trade in study, yet neuerthelesse, I supposinge it no point of honestie, that mi commodite should stop and hinder ani parte either of the pleasure or profite of 208 manie, haue written this Englishe matter in the Englishe tongue, for Englishe men; where in this I trust that your grace (if it shall please your Highnesse to rede it) shal perceaue it to be a thinge honeste for me to write, pleasaunt for some to rede, and profitable for manie to folow, contening a pastime, honest for the minde, holsome for the body, fit for eueri man, vile for no man, vsing the day and opë place for honestie to rede it; not lurking in corners for misorder to abuse it. Therefore I trust it shal apere, to be bothe a sure token of my zeele to set forwarde shootinge, and some signe of my minde, towardes honestie and learninge. Thus I wil trouble your grace no longer, but with my daylie praier I wil beseche God to preserve your Grace, in al health and felicitie: to the feare and ouerthrowe of all your ennemies; to the pleasure, ioyfulnesse and succour of al your subiectes: to the vtter destruction of papistrie and heresie to the continuall setting forth of Goddes worde and his glorye. Your Grace's most bounden scholer, Roger Ascham. ¶ A Remembrance of the Honors due to the Life and Death of Robert Earle of Salisbury, Lord Treasurer of England, &c. (Wood-cut, head of the Earl,* peaked beard and whiskers, hair in front erect, broad ruff.) Imprinted at London for John Wright, and are to be sold at his shop neere Christ Church doore. 1612. 4to. extends to sign. D. iv. Written by Richard Johnson (author of A Crowne Garland of Golden Roses, &c.) and contains a life of the Earl in prose, and at the end A Mourner's Passion for the losse of the aforesaid nobleman deceased, in verse, commencing, "The world (I see) is waxt vnkinde, At sign. Dii. an account of the funeral in prose, and at Diii. b. Of the miserable estate of worldly estates all subiect to change and times enuie. Five stanzas of six lines each. 1A Booke of Christian Prayers, collected out of the aunciet writers, and best learned in our tyme, worthy to be read with an earnest mynde of all Christians, in these daungerous and troublesome dayes, that God for Christes sake will yet be mercifull unto us. At London. Printed by John Daye, dwellyng over Aldersgate, 1581. Cum priuilegio. [Colophon.] At London, printed by John Daye, dwellyng ouer Aldersgate beneath Saint Martines. Anno 1581. Cum gratia et priuilegio Regia Maiestatis. Small 4to. The colophon is under a beautiful wood-cut of two figures of a sage and a gentleman pointing to a figure of Death recumbent on a tomb, from the centre of which springs a tree:-a label from the sage, and another written round the tree, have these words: Etsi mors indies accelerat, vivet tamen post funera virtus: in the distance a rock crowned with a castle, overhanging the sea. According to Herbert, I. 645, there was a former edition in 1578, and a later in 1590. The borders of every page of this extraordinary book are most richly adorned with an endless variety of wood-cuts, admirably designed and cut, after Albert Durer, &c. containing the life and passion of Christ. Then follow the Cardinal Virtues treading their opposites under their feet-Knowledge, Faith, Hope, Patience, Humility, Mercy, Concord, Love, Wisdom, Industry, Memory, Justice, Courage, Temperance, Sobriety, Chastity, Perseverance, Charity. These extend to sign. P. ij. Then come the Senses, Sight, Hearing, Taste, Smelling, Touching. On the reverse of Q.i. begins a representation of the End of the World, which extends to sign. R. i. Then follow the Virtues again, with a new combination of the other ornaments which accompanied each figure, on the other sides of the margin; and the Senses and End of the World in the same manner.-Last comes the Dance of Death after Holbein. At the bottom of each of these is an altar-tomb with the ensignia of mortality each inscribed with two verses. This series of figures is twice repeated; and the work ends at fol. 140. On On the back of the title is a figure of Q. Elizabeth kneeling before a table, with a book open on it-over her is a rich canopy; and about her, her arms, and many other ornaments. The preface to the christian reader is subscribed R. D. A paire of Turtle Doves; or, the Tragicall History of Bellora and Fidelio. Seconded with the Tragicall end of Agamio, wherein (besides other matters pleasing to the Reader) by way of dispute betweene a Knight and a Lady, is described this neuer before debated question, to wit: Whether man to woman, or woman to man offer the greatest temptations and allurements onto cnbridled lust, and consequently whether man or woman in that vnlawful act be the greater offender. A Historie pleasant, delightful und witty, fit of all to be perused for their better instruction, but especiall of youth to be regarded, to bridle their follies. Printed for Francis Burton, and are to be sold at his shop in Paule's-church-yard, at the signe of the Flower-de-Luce and Crowne. 1606. qto. sig. O. This romantic novel is confidently attributed to the pen of Robert Green, though his name is not any where attached to it, and the language bears all the character of a hasty effusion by that versatile genius. The present edition is the only one certainly known. The late Mr. George Steevens supposed he had seen another, and his remarks on his copy, which had before belonged to Mr. Bowle, are as follows. "V. Jackson Cat. of 1760. 2395.* Greene's Hist. of fair Bellora.-The hand-writing of Mr. Bowle. G. S. "I am well convinced that I have seen another edition of this romance, with a less crowded and circumstantial title-page, but cannot recollect where I met with it. When my course of black letter began, had I been aware of the necessity of such a precaution, I would have kept a minute register of all anonymous tracts, which, on some kind of authority, were ascribed to contemporary pamphleteers, like Greene, &c. I am how There is also another reference," v. Floneel 4327, or 4827." |