xxii Introduction. 



of his power, he openly opposed Cardinal Wolsey in the 

 heighth of his favour ; the other, that, when he came to lie 

 upon his death-bed, foreseeing the changes that were like to 

 happen in the Church as well as State, he pressed his children 

 in very strong terms to promise him solemnly, neither to 

 accept grants, nor to make purchases of abbey-lands ; which 

 it is said they did, and adhered constantly to that promise, 

 though much to their own loss." The authorities referred to 

 are Pits, De Illustribus Angliae Scriptoribus, p. 707 ; Wood, 

 Athense Oxonienses, i. col. 50 ; Fuller, Worthies, Derbyshire, 

 p. 233 ; Tanner, Bibliotheca Britannico-Hibernica, p. 283 ; 

 Chronica Juridicialia, pp. 153, 155., etc. 



The number of editions of the Book of Husbandry is so 

 large, and many of these are nevertheless so scarce, that I do" 

 not suppose the list here subjoined is exhaustive ; nor have 

 I much information about some of them. I merely mention 

 what I have found, with some authorities. 



1. A newe tracte or treatyse moost profy table for all 

 Husbandemen, and very frutefuU for all other persons to 

 rede. London : by Rycharde Pynson. 4to. (1523). See Typo- 

 graphical Antiquities, by Ames and Herbert, ed. Dibdin, ii. 

 503. This is \}s\Q. first edition, and very rare. It was described 

 by Dibdin from Heber's copy, supposed to be unique. See 

 Heber's Catalogue, part ix. p. 61. The note in Hazlitt that 

 a copy of this edition is in the Bodleian Library is a mistake, 

 as I have ascertained. It is not dated, but the Book on 

 Surveying, printed just afterwards, is dated 1523; and there 

 is no doubt as to the date. It is remarkable for an engraving 

 upon the title-page, representing two oxen drawing a plough, 

 with drivers. 



2. " Here begynneth a newe tracte," etc. (See p. xx.) 

 London, Southwark ; by P. Treuerys, 4to. (No date ; but 

 between 1521 and 1531). In the Camb. Univ. Library. This 



