J2 ACCOUNTS, &C., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



many cases altered to that of South Germany. Luther complained bitterly of tlje various 

 piracies of his translation, in which the language was altered without his permission, 

 whilst they were issued under his name. This edition is even more rare than its original 

 of 1534. 



A rare and highly interesting edition of the New Testament in English by Thomas 

 Matthew, i.e. John Rogers, the Proto-martyr, as he is called, of the Reformation. This 

 edition bears the date of 1538 on the title-page, but is without name of place or printer. 

 In all probability it was printed by Peter Treviris in Southwark, the title-page having a 

 border known to have been used by Treviris, in 1527. The text corresponds generally 

 with that given in Matthew's Bible, 1537. 



Several rare Liturgies ; amongst them are : A Breviary of the Benedictines of the 

 German Observance, printed at Nuremberg in 1493. An extremely rare Psalter, printed 

 at Ino-olstadt about 1490. A Missal of the Benedictines of the Monastery of Monte 

 Cassino, bearing date 1507, and having the same woodcuts as that of 1506, which was 

 sold in the Didot sale. A Missal for the Diocese of Olmutz, 1505. A fine and rare 

 Pontificale, printed at Venice in 1510. A Breviary for the Diocese of Prague, 1517 ; one 

 for the Diocese of Wurtzburg, 1518, and a very fine copy of a rare Graduale, printed at 

 Venice in 1525. To these may be added a remarkable little book, in the nature of a Book 

 of Hours, printed at Naples in 1523, and compiled by Andrea Matteo di Acquaviva, 

 Duke of Atri, for the use of his family, as shown by a Brief of Pope Leo X., which 

 precedes the Office. 



Many rare books, chiefly Old English Poetry, or works illustrative of the early 

 di-amatists, were bought at the sale of Mi-. F. Ouvry. Amongst them may be mentioned: 

 " The Cobler of Canterburie ; or, an invective against Tarltons Newes out of Purgatorie," 

 London, 1608. An excessively rare and probably unique book: Thomas Cranley's scarce 

 poem: "Amanda; or the Reformed Whore," London, 1635; which furnished the title 

 for the " Amanda " group of Bagford Poems, recently published by the Ballad Society, 

 under the editorship of the Rev. J. W. Ebsworth. Drayton's "Idea; the Shepheards 

 Garland, fashioned in nine Eclogs," London, 1593. Of this poem only two, or at most 

 three, copies are known, tiake's '• A Touchestone for this time present," 1574. 

 "Father Hubburd's Tales; or, the Ant and the Nightingale," London, printed by T. C. 

 for William Cotton, 1604 ; an extremely curious and rare tract, partly in verse, containing 

 allusions to Nash and Greene, and full of illustrations of the social life and manners of 

 the time. It is ascribed by Mr. Dyce to Thomas Middleton, whose initials, T. M., are 

 subscribed to the Epistle to the Reader. " Newes from the Levane Seas. Describing 

 the many perrilous events of the most worthy gentleman, Edward Glenham," London, 

 1594. "Greene's Pandosto ; the Triumph of Time, London, 1632." This is a scarce 

 edition of the novel (first published in 1588) on which Shakespeare founded his 

 " Winter's Tale," and by which he was led into the geographical blunder of making 

 Bohemia " a desert country near the sea." According to the novel, Eglstus, King of 

 Sicilla, " provided a navy of ships and sailed into Bohemia." Heywood's " Marriage 

 Triumphe soleumized in an epithalamium on the Count Palatine and Princess Elizabeth," 

 1613. Richard Johnson's "Crown Garland of Golden Roses, gathered out of England's 

 Royal Garden," London, 1659, and also his excessively rare work : " The Nine Worthies 

 of London," London, 1592. Jordan's " Royal A.rbor of loyal Poesie," London, 1664 ; an 

 extremely rare book, and also his " Claraphll ; in a Forrest of Fancies." " Conclusions 

 upon Dances," a scarce tract by John Lowin, one of the actors In Shakespeare's plays. 

 A curious autobiography, probably unique, entiled, " An Apology : written by R. 

 Vennar, of Lincolnes Inne, abusively called Englands Joy," London, 1614. Vennar was 

 the author of a dramatic entertainment called " Englands Joy." An excessively rai'e 

 poetical tract by John Singer, a Comedian of Shakespeare's time, entitled : " Quips upon 

 Questions ; or, a Clowne's Conceite on occasions offered. By Clunnyco dc Curtaneo 

 Snuffe " \_i.e., Snuff, the Clown of the Curtain Theatre, J. Singei-] . Singer, like Tarleton, 

 was accustomed to have questions proposed to him when on the stage, to which he was 

 expected to make extemporaneous replies In rhyme. Ihese seem to have been collected 

 and published for his benefit In the above work. 



At the sale of a further portion of M. F. Didot's Library in June last, a considerable 

 number of rare books were purchased, many of which are illustrated with fine engravings 

 on wood, and ai'e valuable as examples of the progress of that art. Amongst them are 

 several books of Hours, including a very charming undescribed edition, printed by 

 Le Royer, at Paris, about 1525, with beautiful woodcuts and borders. It is bound in 

 Maioli style, with the owner's name, Marie Bechats, on the covers. Some Pageants, 

 including " Les deux plus grandes et memorables rejouissances de la Ville de Lyon pour 

 I'entree de tres-grand Prince Henri IIIL, Roy de France et de Navarre," Lyon, 1598. 

 " Entree de Loys XIII. dans sa ville d' Aries," Avignon, 1623 ; a very rare pageant, with 

 full-page engravings. " Les Ordonnances royaux sur le faict et jurisdiction de la 

 prevoste des marchands et echevlnage de la Ville de Paris," Paris, 1644 ; a presentation 

 copy to Louis XIV., with a fine engraving representing the King as a child, attended by 

 the Queen Mother, receiving the book from the Provost and Merchants. A charming 

 edition of iEsop, with illustrations by Virgil Soils, Frankfort, 1566. An edition of Seneca 



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