Chapter 8
English Reprints
Finis.
Muir & Paterson, Printers, Edinburgh.
Communications to be addressed to the Editor.
Carefully Edited by
Edward Arber,
Associate, King’s College, London, F.R.G.S., &c.
Foolscap Size.
Ordinary Issue, in 8vo.
Exact and complete Texts, in Stiff Covers, with either cut or uncut edges, as desired, chiefly Sixpence or One Shilling each.
Copies with cut edges supplied, unless otherwise ordered.
Handsome and durable cases, Roxburghe style, for the same—One Shilling each.
Also, two or three of such Works collected into occasional volumes, about Half a Crown each.
Large Paper Edition (L. P.), in 4to.
The same texts, beautifully printed on thick toned paper, in Stiff Covers, uncut edges, at corresponding low prices. Published as far as Selden: the remaining works are in preparation.
Any Work or Volume may be had separately, being simply numbered herein for the sake of distinction.
The Series may be had through any bookseller, or when more convenient, may be obtained by post on remitting Stamps.
1. JOHN MILTON.
(1) A decree of the Starre-Chamber, concerning Printing, made the eleuenth day of July last past. London, 1637.
(2) An Order of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the regulating of Printing, &c. London, 14 June, 1643.
(3) Areopagitica; A speech of Mr. John Milton for the liberty of Vnlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England. London. [24 November]. 1644. Sixpence, L. P. 1s. 6d.
2. HUGH LATIMER, Ex-Bishop of Worcester.
Sermon on the Ploughers. A notable Sermon of ye reuerende father Master Hughe Latimer, whiche he preahecd in ye Shrouds at paules churche in London, on the xviii daye of Januarye. ¶ The yere of our Loorde MDXLviii. Sixpence, L. P. 1s. 6d.
3. STEPHEN GOSSON, Stud. Oxon.
(1) The Schoole of Abuse. Conteining a pleasaunt invective against Poets, Pipers, Plaiers, Jesters, and such like Caterpillers of a Commonwealth; Setting up the Flagge of Defiance to their mischievous exercise, and ouerthrowing their Bulwarkes, by Prophane Writers, Naturall reason, and common experience. A discourse as pleasaunt for gentlemen that fauour learning, as profitable for all that wyll follow vertue. London. [August?] 1579.
(2) An Apologie of the Schoole of Abuse, against Poets, Pipers, and their Excusers. London. [December?] 1579. Sixpence, L. P. 1s. 6d.
Vol. I.—Containing Nos. 1, 2, and 3; in green cloth, red edges. Two Shillings.
4. Sir PHILIP SIDNEY.
An Apologie for Poetrie. Written by the right noble, vertuous and learned Sir Philip Sidney, Knight. London. 1595. Sixpence, L. P. 1s. 6d.
5. EDWARD WEBBE, Chief Master Gunner.
The rare and most vvonderful thinges which Edward Webbe an Englishman borne, hath seene and passed in his troublesome trauailes, in the Citties of Ierusalem, Damasko, Bethelem, and Galely: and in the Landes of Iewrie, Egipt, Gtecia, Russia, and in the land of Prester Iohn. Wherein is set foorth his extreame slauerie sustained many yeres togither, in the Gallies and wars of the great Turk against the Landes of Persia, Tartaria, Spaine, and Portugall, with the manner of his releasement, and comming into London in May last. London. 1590. Sixpence, L. P. 1s. 6d.
6. JOHN SELDEN.
Table Talk: being the Discourses of John Selden Esq.; or his Sence of various Matters of Weight and High Consequence relating especially to Religion and State. London. 1689. One Shilling, L. P. 2s. 6d.
Vol. II.—Containing Nos. 4, 5, and 6; in green cloth, red edges. Half a Crown.
7. ROGER ASCHAM.
Toxophilus. The schole of shooting conteyned in tvvo bookes. To all Gentlemen and yomen of Englande, pleasaunte for theyr pastime to rede, and profitable for theyr use to folow, both in warre and peace. London. 1545. One Shilling.
8. JOSEPH ADDISON.
Criticism of Milton’s Paradise Lost. From The Spectator: being its Saturday issues between 31 December, 1711, and 3 May, 1712. One Shilling.
Vol. III.—Containing Nos. 7 and 8; in green cloth, red edges. Half a Crown.
9. JOHN LYLY, M.A.
(1) ¶ Euphues. The Anatomy of Wit. Verie pleasaunt for all Gentlemen to read, and most necessarie to remember. Wherein are contained the delightes that Wit followeth in his youth by the pleasantnesse of loue, and the happinesse he reapeth in age, by the perfectnesse of Wisedome. London. 1579.
(2) ¶ Euphues and his England. Containing his voyage and aduentures, myxed with sundrie pretie discourses of honest Loue, the Description of the Countrey, the Court, and the manners of that Isle. Delightful to be read, and nothing hurtful to be regarded: wher-in there is small offence by lightnesse giuen to the wise, and lesse occasion of loosenes proffered to the wanton. London, 1580.
Collated with early subsequent editions. Four Shillings.
Vol. IV.—No. 9; in green cloth, red edges. Five Shillings.
10. GEORGE VILLIERS, Duke of Buckingham.
The Rehearsal. As it was Acted at the Theatre Royal London, 1672. With Illustrations from previous plays, &c. 1s.
11. GEORGE GASCOIGNE, Esquire.
(1) A remembravnce of the wel imployed life, and godly end of George Gaskoigne, Esquire, who deceassed at Stalmford in Lincoln shire, the 7 of October 1577. The reporte of Geor Whetstons, Gent an eye witnes of his Godly and Charitable End in this world. London. 1577.
(2) Certayne notes of Instruction concerning the making of verse or rime in English, vvritten at the request of Master Edouardi Donati. 1575.
(3) The Steele Glas. A Satyre compiled by George Gasscoigne Esquire [Written between April 1575 and April 1576]. Together with
(4) The Complaynt of Phylomene. An Elegie compyled by George Gasscoigne Esquire [between April 1562 and 3rd April 1576.] London. 1576. One Shilling.
12. JOHN EARLE, M.A.: afterwards in succession Bishop of Worcester, and of Salisbury.
Micro-cosmographie, or a Peece of the World discovered, in Essays and Characters. London. 1628. With the additions in subsequent editions during the Author’s life time. 1s.
Vol. V.—Containing Nos. 10, 11, and 12; in green cloth, red edges. Three Shillings and Sixpence.
13. HUGH LATIMER, Ex-Bishop of Worcester.
Seven Sermons Before Edward VI.
(1) ¶ The fyrste sermon of Mayster Hugh Latimer, whiche he preached before the Kynges Maiest. wythin his graces palayce at Westmynster. M.D.XLIX. the viii of Marche. (,’,)
(2) The seconde [to seventh] Sermon of Master Hughe Latemer, whych he preached before the Kynges maiestie, withyn hys graces Palayce at Westminster ye. xv. day of March. M.ccccc.xlix. 1s. 6d.
14. Sir THOMAS MORE.
Utopia. (1) A fruteful and pleasaunt worke of the beste state of a publyque weale, and of the newe yle called Utopia: written in Latin by Syr Thomas More knyght, and translated into Englyshe by Raphe Robynson Citizein and Goldsmythe of London, at the procurement, and earnest request of George Tadlowe Citizein and Haberdassher of the same Citie. London. 1551.
[Title-page and preface only.]
(2) A frutefull pleasaunt, and wittie worke, of the best state of a publique weale, and of the new yle, called Utopia: written in Latine, by the right worthie and famous Sir Thomas More knyght, and translated into Englishe by Raphe Robynson, sometime fellowe of Corpus Christi College in Oxford, and nowe by him at this seconde edition newlie perused and corrected, and also with diuers notes in the margent augmented. London. [1556]. One Shilling.
Vol. VI.—Containing Nos. 13 & 14; in green cloth, red edges. Three Shillings.
15. GEORGE PUTTENHAM.
The Arte of English Poesie. Contriued into three Bookes: The first of Poets and Poesie, the second of Proportion, the third of Ornament. London. 1589. Two Shillings.
Vol. VII.—No. 15; in green cloth, red edges. Half a Crown.
16. JAMES HOWELL, Historiographer Royal to Ch. II.
Instructions for Forreine Travell. Shewing by what cours, and in what compasse of time, one may take an exact Survey of the Kingdomes and States of Christendome, and arrive to the practicall knowledge of the Languages, to good purpose. London. 1642. Collated with the edition of 1650; and in its ‘new Appendix for Travelling into Turkey and the Levant parts’ added. Sixpence. [June.
17. The earliest known English comedy.
NICHOLAS UDALL, Master of Eton.
Roister Doister, [from the unique copy at Eton College]. 1566. Sixpence. [July.
18. The Revelation To the Monk of Evesham. He begynnyth a mervelous revelacion that was schewyd of almighty god by sent Nycholas to a monke of Euyshamme yn the days of Kynge Richard the fyrst. And the yere of our lord. M.C.Lxxxxvi. [From the unique copy, printed about 1491, in the British Museum]. Sixpence. [July.
19. JAMES VI. of Scotland, I. of England.
(1) The Essayes of a Prentise, in the Divine Arte of Poesie. Edinburgh 1585.
(2) A Counter Blaste to Tobacco. London. 1604. Sixpence. [Aug.
Vol. VIII.—Containing Nos. 16, 17, 18, and 19; in green cloth, red edges. Half a Crown.
20. FRANCIS BACON.
A Harmony of the Essayes, &c. The four principal texts appearing in parallel columns; viz.:—
(1) Essayes. Religious Meditations. Places of perswasion and disswasion. London 1597. (10 Essays.)
Of the Coulers of good and euill a fragment. 1597.
(2) The Writings of Sr Francis Bacon Knt: the Kinges Sollicitor Generall: in Moralitie, Policie, and Historie. Harleian MS. 5106. Transcribed bet. 1607-12. (34 Essays.)
(3) The Essaies of Sr Francis Bacon Knight, the Kings Solliciter Generall. London. 1612. (38 Essays.)
(4) The Essayes or Counsels, Ciuill and Morall, of Francis Lo. Verulam Viscount St. Albans. Newly Written. 1625. (58 Essays.) Three Shillings. [Sept.
Vol. IX—No. 20; in green cloth, red edges. Three Shillings & Sixpence.
21. Sir ROBERT NAUNTON, Master of the Court of Wards.
Fragmenta Regalia: or, Observations on the late Queen Elizabeth, her Times, and Favourites. [Second Edition. London] 1642. Sixpence. [Sept.
22. THOMAS WATSON, Student at law.
(1) The Εκατομπαθία or Passionate Centurie of Loue. Divided into two parts: whereof, the first expresseth the Authors sufferance in Loue: the latter, his long farewell to Loue and all his tyrannie. Composed by Thomas Watson Gentleman; and published at the request of certaine Gentlemen his very frendes. London [1582.]
(2) Melibœus T. Watsoni, sive, Ecloga in obitum F. Walsinghami, &c. Londini, 1590.
(3) An Eglogue, &c., Written first in latine [the above Melibœus] by Thomas Watson Gentleman and now by himselfe translated into English. London, 1590.
(4) The Tears of Fancy, or Loue disdained. [From the unique copy, wanting Sonnets ix.-xvi., in the possession of S. Christie-Miller, Esq.] London, 1593. Eighteen Pence. [Oct.
Vol. X.—Containing Nos. 21 and 22, in green cloth, red edges. Half a Crown.
23. ROGER ASCHAM.
The Scholemaster, Or plaine and perfite way of teachyng children, to vnderstand, write, and speake, the Latin tong, but specially purposed for the priuate brynging vp of youth in Ientlemen and Noble mens houses, and commodious also for all such, as haue forgot the Latin tonge, and would, by themselues, without a Scholemaster, in short tyme, and with small paines, recouer a sufficient habilitie, to vnderstand, write, and speake Latin. London. 1570. One Shilling. [Oct.
24. WILLIAM HABINGTON.
Castara. The third Edition. Corrected and augmented. London. 1640. With the variations of the two previous editions. One Shilling. [Nov.
Vol. XI.—Containing Nos. 23 and 24; in green cloth, red edges. Half a Crown.
25. JOHN HALL.
Horæ Vacivæ, or Essays. Some occasionall considerations. London. 1646. Sixpence. [Nov.
26. (1) The earliest known English tragedy; and also the earliest English play in blank verse.
THOMAS SACKVILLE, afterwards Lord Buckhurst, and Earl of Dorset: and
THOMAS NORTON, of Sharpenhoe (Beds).
¶ The Tragedie of Ferrex and Porrex, set forth without addition or alteration but altogether as the same as shewed on stage before the Queenes Maiestie, about nine yeares past, vz. the xviij day of Ianuarie. 1561. by the gentlemen of the Inner Temple. London. [1570.]
Collated with the surreptitious edition ‘The Tragedie of Gorboduc,’ of 1565.
(2) SACKVILLES’s The Induction to The Complaynt of Henrye duke of Buckingham, from the second edition of A Myrrovr for Magistrates. London. 1563. One Shilling. [Dec.
27. Sir RICHARD GRENVILLE.
Fight in the ‘Revenge.’ (1) A report [written by Sir Walter Raleigh] of the Truth of the fight about the Isles of Acores, this last Sommer. Betvvixt the Reuenge, one of her Maiesties Shippes, And an Armada of the King of Spaine. London. 1591. [From the Grenville copy.]
(2) The most Honorable Tragedie of Sir Richarde Grinuille, Knight (∴)Bramo assai, poco spero, nulla chieggio. [By Gervase Markham] London. 1595. [Two copies only are known, Mr. Grenville’s cost £40.] Sixpence. [Dec.
Vol. XII.—Containing Nos. 25, 26, and 27; in green cloth, red edges. Half a Crown.
5 Queen Square, Bloomsbury, London, W.C.
June 1869.
The publication of the ‘English Reprints’ passed into the Editor’s hands on the 1st of May last. An inevitable cessation in the issue of new works ensued: but with the appearance of Howell’s Instructions, &c., the Series resumes its growth.
A few changes have been made as to works in immediate preparation. (1) Roister Doister can be published for Sixpence. (2) An early printed rarity, The Revelation to the Monk of Evesham, has therefore been interpolated. (3) Elyot’s Governor has been postponed to next year. (4) In its stead Naunton’s Fragmenta Regalia, and Watson’s ἐκατομπαθία, &c. have been inserted.
It is a great gratification to bring back from oblivion the works of so elegant a poet as Thomas Watson, of whose renown in his own age Francis Meres thus testifies in his Palladis Tamia, 1598.
‘As Italy had Dante, Boccace, Petrarch, Tasso, Celiano, and Ariosto: so England had Mathew Roydon, Thomas Atchelow, Thomas Watson, Thomas Kid, Robert Greene and George Peele.’ —p. 282, b.
‘As Theocritus in Greeke, Virgil and Mantuan in Latine, Sanazar in Italian, and the Authour of Amyntæ Gaudia and Walsinghams Melibœus are the best for pastorall....’ —p. 284, a.
There is, however, further gratulation in that S. Christie-Miller, Esq. has generously consented to the printing of Watson’s The Tears of Fancy, the unique copy of which forms one of the gems of his remarkable collection at Britwell. Altogether, therefore, the Reprint will include above 150 Sonnets, besides the Latin-English elegy Melibœus.
The temporary loan of original editions greatly facilitates the work. Gentlemen who may be willing so to trust the Editor are requested to communicate with him a considerable time in advance of date of publication.
The Series will continue perpetually on sale. Profit is sacrificed to cheapness: and cheapness aimed at, in order that purchasers may acquire not a few works simply, but the entire series. Every endeavour is made that the selection shall be representative of the national literature, as well as varied and interesting in itself: while scrupulous care is bestowed upon each book. It may not therefore be presumption to bespeak unceasing co-operation on the part of all readers of English.
The Large Paper edition will be continued in the autumn.
All communications should be addressed to the undersigned.
EDWARD ARBER.
English Reprints.
Abbreviations
Stiff Stiff Covers, either cut or uncut edges.
Cloth Bevelled green Cloth, red edges.
Paper Large paper Edition. Stiff Covers.
Summary of Issues, &c. Fcap. 8vo. Fcap. 4to.
Authors. Works. Stiff Cloth Paper
Ready. Ready. Ready.
1.
MILTON. Areopagitica. 1644.
0 6 } 2 0 1 6
2.
LATIMER. The Ploughers. 1549.
0 6 1 6
3.
GOSSON. The Schoole of Abuse. 1579.
0 6 1 6
4.
SIDNEY. An Apologie for Poetrie. 1595.
0 6 } 2 6 1 6
5.
WEBBE. His Wonderful Trauailes. 1590.
0 6 1 6
6.
SELDEN. Table-Talk. 1689.
1 0 2 6
Preparing.
7.
ASCHAM. Toxophilus. 1545.
1 0 } 2 6 2 6
8.
ADDISON. Criticism on Paradise Lost. 1712.
1 0 2 6
9.
LYLY. Euphues. 1579.
4 0 5 0 9 0
10.
VILLIERS. The Rehearsal. 1672.
1 0 } 3 6 2 6
11.
GASCOIGNE. The Steele Glas, &c. 1576.
1 0 2 6
12.
EARLE. Micro-Cosmographie. 1628.
1 0 2 6
13.
LATIMER. Sermons before Ed. VI. 1549.
1 6 } 3 0 4 0
14.
MORE. Utopia. 1556.
1 0 2 6
15.
PUTTENHAM. Arte of English Poesie. 1589.
2 0 2 6 5 0
IN PREPARATION.
16.
HOWELL. Instructions for Forreigne Travell. 1640.
0 6 } 2 6 1 6
17.
UDALL. Roister Doister. 1566.
0 6 1 6
18.
The Revelation to the Monk of Evesham. 1491.
0 6 1 6
19.
JAMES I. Essayes, &c. in Poesie. 1585.
} 0 6 1 6
JAMES I. Counterblaste to Tobacco. 1604.
20.
BACON. A Harmony of the Essayes, &c.
3 0 3 6 7 0
21.
NAUNTON. Fragmenta Regalia. 1642.
0 6 } 2 6 1 6
22.
WATSON. The ἐκατομπαθία, &c. 1582.
1 6 4 0
23.
ASCHAM. The Scholemaster. 1570.
1 0 } 2 6 2 6
24.
HABINGTON. Castara. 1640.
1 0 2 6
25.
HALL. Horæ Vacivæ. 1646.
0 6 2 6 1 6
26.
SACKVILLE. Ferrex & Porrex. 1561.
1 0 2 6
27.
GRENVILLE. Fight in the ‘Revenge.’ 1590.
0 6 1 6
Cases to hold several Reprints, 8vo size, One Shilling each.
5, Queen Square, Bloomsbury, London, W.C.
Life of Nicholas Udall, omitting formatting complexities
A brief Note of the Life, Works, and Times of Nicholas Udall, M.A. Teacher, Dramatist, Translator, Preacher.
In succession Master of Eton College, Rector of Braintree, Prebend of Windsor, Rector of Calborne, and Master of Westminster School.
* Probable or approximate dates.
There are materials extant for a good Life of Udall. Meanwhile there is Mr. Cooper’s excellent Memoir in the Shakespeare Society’s reprint of Ralph Roister Doister [see No. 5 on p. 8]; and Anthony à-Wood’s account of him, Ath. Oxon. i. 211. Ed. 1813.
1485. Aug. 22. Henry VII. becomes king.
*1504. Nicholas Udall ... was born in Hampshire, and descended from those of his name, living sometimes at Wykeham in the same county.—Wood.
1509. April 22. Henry VIII. begins to reign.
1520. June 18. æt. 14. Admitted scholar of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
1524. May 30. æt. 18. Takes his B.A. [Wood, Fasti Oxon., i. 65, Ed. 1815.]
— Sept. 3. Elected Probationer Fellow of his College.
1533. May. Whitsun Eve. æt. 27. Royal MS. 18 A. lxiv. p. 275, has two titles. (1.) Versis and dities made at the coronation of queen Anne. (2.) Hereafter ensuethe a copie of diuers and sundry verses aswell in latin as in Englishe deuised and made partely by Iohn leland and partely by Nicholas Vuedale whereof sum were sette vp and sum were spoken and pronounced vnto the most high and excellente Quene the ladie Anne, wif vnto our sourain lorde King Henry the eight in many goodly and costely pageauntes exhibited and shewed by the mayre and citizens of the famous citie of london at first tyme as hir grace rode from the Towre of London through the said citie to hir most glorious coronation at the monasterie of Westminster on Whitson yeue in th xxvth yere of the raigne of our said soueraigne lorde.
The Rev. Dr. Goodford, the present Provost of Eton, has most kindly afforded me interesting information obtained by him from the MS. records of the College; viz., the Audit Rolls and the Bursar’s Books, respecting Udall’s connection with Eton.
The salary of the Master at Eton was then £10 a year, or fifty shillings for each of the four terms. In addition, he received 20s. for his ‘livery,’ and other small sums, as for obits (i.e. attending masses for the dead) [e.g. Udall received for obits, 14s. 8d. in 1535, and the same in 1536]; and for candles and ink for the boys [e.g. Udall received for these purposes, 23s. 4d. in 1537, and the same in 1538.] If the assumed multiple of 13 truly express the relatively greater purchasing power of gold and silver more then than now: the salary and emoluments cannot be considered excessive.
1534. June 19. Udall takes his M.A. [Wood, Fasti., i. 98.]
1534-1543. æt. Udall’s name occurs in the Records spelt indifferently Woddall, Woodall or Udall. His name first appears in 26 Henry VIII., 1534, when his predecessor Dr. Richard Coxe was paid salary for three terms, and Udall received 50s. for the fourth, his first term. The payments continue on regularly so far as the books are extant, up to 1541. The Records for 1542 are missing. It was in March 1543 that occurred the robbery of silver images and other plate by two Eton scholars, J. Hoorde and T. Cheney, connived at by Udall’s servant Gregory, which resulted in Udall’s losing his place.
‘Thomas Tusser, gentleman,’ in The Author’s Life added to his Fiue hundreth points of good husbandrie, 1573, 4to, thus writes, but without giving any date, of Udall’s use of the rod:
Nicholas Vdal schole master at Eton.
From Powles I went, to Aeton sent,
To learne straight wayes, the Latin phraise,
Where fiftie three stripes giuen to mee,
at once I had:
For faut but small or none at all,
It came to passe, thus beat I was,
See Udall see, the mercy of thee,
to mee poore lad.
1537. Sept. 27. Is made Vicar of Braintree. Newcourt, Rep. ii. 89.
1542. Udall publishes a translation of the 3rd and 4th books of Erasmus’ Apophthegms.
*1543. Cott. MS. Titus, B. viii. p. 371, is a long letter, undated and unaddressed, to some one, as to ‘my restitution to the roume of Scholemaister in Eton.’
1544. Dec. 14. Resigns the Vicarship of Braintree. Newcourt, idem.
1542-1545. He is engaged with the Princess, afterwards Queen Mary and others in translating Erasmus’ Paraphrase of the New Testament into English.
‘1545, Sept. 30, at London,’ date of his Preface to Lake.
In his Pref. to John, partly translated by Princess Mary, partly by Rev. F. Malet, D.D.; Udall gives us the following account of female education in his day: which can only, however, apply to a few women, like Elizabeth, Mary, and Lady Jane Grey. ‘But nowe in this gracious and blisseful tyme of knowledge, in whiche it hath pleased almightye God to reuele and shewe abrode the lyght of his moste holye ghospell: what a noumbre is there of noble women (especially here in this realme of Englande,) yea and howe many in the yeares of tender vyrginitiee, not only aswel seen and as familiarly trade in the Latine and Greke tounges, as in theyr owne mother language: but also both in all kindes of prophane litterature, and liberall artes, exactely studied and exercised, and in the holy Scriptures and Theologie so ripe, that they are able aptely cunnyngly, and with much grace eyther to indicte or translate into the vulgare tongue, for the publique instruccion and edifying of the vnlearned multitude.... It is nowe no newes in Englande to see young damisels in nobles houses and in the Courtes of Princes, in stede of cardes and other instrumentes of idle trifleyng, to haue continually in her handes, eyther Psalmes, Omelies, and other deuoute meditacions, or elles Paules Epistles, or some booke of holye Scripture matiers: and as familiarlye both to reade or reason thereof in Greke, Latine, Frenche, or Italian, as in Englishe.’
1547. Jan. 28. Edward VI. ascends the throne.
‘1552. July 20. At Windsor.’ The date of Udall’s preface to the translation by himself and others, of T. Gemini’s Anatomy.
1553. July 6. Mary succeeds to the crown.
1554. Dec. 3. Date of a warrant dormer from the Queen to the Master of her Revels. [Reprinted in The Loseley MSS. Ed. by A. J. Kempe, F.S.A. London. 1836.] The warrant runs thus—’Whereas our wellbeloued Nicholas Udall hath at soondrie seasons convenient heretofore shewed and myndeth hereafter to shewe his diligence in setting foorth of Dialogues and Enterludes before us fo’ ou’ regell disporte and recreacion.’ ... And then goes on to authorize the loan of apparel for those purposes. Did the popularity of the Dramatist, and her personal acquaintance with him, since they had worked together on Erasmus’ Paraphrase, lead the Queen to condone the intense Protestantism of the Preacher, even to the continuing of him in favour? Udall and Ascham, two noted Protestants, are both favoured by Mary.
*1555-1556. Nov. Udall is appointed Master of Westminster School, and so continues until Mary re-establishes the Monastery at Westminster.
1556. Dec. Udall dies.
— 23. He is buried in St. Margaret’s, Westminster. Cooper, as above.
Bibliography, omitting formatting complexities
Roister Doister.
The whole of Udall’s plays were supposed to have perished [see Wood. Ath. Oxon. i. 213, Ed. 1813]. The Rev. T. Briggs, an old Etonian, in 1818, became the possessor of the now famous unique copy: which he presented to the Library of Eton College, in December of that year.
1. [?1566.] Lond. 1 vol. 4to.
? First edition of a revised text. The copy, now at Eton College, consists of 33 folios. The title-page is wanting.
2. 1818. Lond. 1 vol. 8vo.
‘Ralph Royster Doyster, A Comedy. London. Reprinted in the year 1818.’ [Ed. and privately printed by Rev. T. Briggs. 30 copies only struck off. The printer was James Compton, Middle St., Cloth Fair, London.] At the beginning is the following Advertisement:—
‘It appears from the Biographia Dramatica, that a Play called Rauf Ruster Duster was entered on the books of the Stationers’ Company in the year 1566, but that it was supposed never to have been printed: this, however, is now proved to be a mistake, a copy having been found contained in a collection of plays which was lately upon sale in London. It is true that the name is spelt somewhat differently, but it is presumed there can be no doubt of its being the piece in question. The book unfortunately wants the title-page, and the author’s name is not known. It is now in the Library of Eton College, and is here reprinted for the amusement of the reader.’
3. 1821. Lond. 1 vol. 8vo.
‘Ralph Royster Doyster, a Comedy, entered on the books of the Stationers’ Company, 1566. London: Printed by F. Marshall, Kenton St., Brunswick Sq., 1821.’ [Editor not known.]
R. Southey’s copy, with his autograph, and dated 1 Feb. 1837, is in the British Museum. Press-mark, 1344-k.
Neither of the above knew that Udall was the author. The editor of 1821 reprint writes, ‘The author, whoever he was,’ p. iv. It was Mr. Collier who connected Wilson’s quotation with Roister Doister, and so proved Udall to be its author. Writing on 14th April 1865; he thus begins the Preface of his Bibl. Account of Ear. Eng. Lit. Ed. 1865.
‘During my whole life, now rapidly approaching fourscore, I have been a diligent reader, and, as far as my means would allow, a greedy purchaser of all works connected with early English literature. It is nearly sixty years since I became possessed of my first really valuable old book of this kind—Wilson’s “Art of Logic,” printed by Richard Grafton 1551—from which I ascertained the not unimportant facts that “Ralph Roister Doister” was an older play than “Gammer Gurton’s Needle,” and that it had been written by Nicholas Udall, Master of Eton School: I thus learned who was the author of the earliest comedy, properly so called, in our language. This was my first literary discovery, made several years anterior, although I had not occasion to render it public, until I printed my Notes upon “Dodsley’s Old Plays,” soon after 1820.’*
4. 1830. Lond. 3 vols. 18mo.
The Old English Drama, A series of Plays, at 6d each, printed and published by Thomas White. Ralph Royster Doyster is the first.
5. 1847. Lond. 1 vol. 8vo.
Shakespeare Society. Ralph Roister Doister, &c., and The Tragedie of Gorboduc. Edited, with Introductory Memoirs, by W. D. Cooper, F.S.A. The text collated with the original by J. P. Collier, F.S.A.
6. 24 July 1869. Lond. 1 vol. 8vo.
English Reprints: see title at p. 1.
∴ All the previous reprints have been and now are unobtainable to most persons. It is to the most courteous and generous kindness of the present Provost and Fellows of Eton College that I am enabled to place what I hope may prove an exact text into the hands of every one. I trust also to keep it perpetually on sale: that the student of the History of our Literature may no longer lack one of the most important illustrations of the growth of English Dramatic Poesy.