Impr. 29: 1612: sm. 4o: pp. [8] + 18 + [2]: p. 11 beg. comprehend either: English Roman. Contents:—p. (1) title: (3–7) preface “To the Christian Reader” about Wyclif: dated “from Corpus Christi College in Oxford, Iuly 6. MDCXII,” signed “Henry Iackson”: 1–18, the sermon, on Rom. xv. 30.

For the editor see Wood’s Ath. Oxon., iii. 577. The “ancient printed copie” was neither of the two issues dated Nuremberg 1546, but the undated one (probably 1546) “overseen” by M[iles] C[overdale], though Coverdale’s preface is omitted. This was reprinted at Cambr. in 1851, and one of the others at Oxford in 1828.

1613.

1. Answer. A | BRIEFE AN-|SWERE VNTO | Certaine Obiections | and Reasons against the Descen/|tion of Christ into Hell, late/|ly sent in writing vnto a | Gentleman in the | Countrey. | [motto, then woodcut.] |

Impr. 32: 1613: the rest precisely as 1604 A.

A reissue of the sheets of 1604 A, with a new titlepage not printed at Oxford, the woodcut on title being unknown there.

2. Basse, William. GREAT BRITTAINES | SVNNES-SET, | BEWAILED WITH A SHOW-|ER OF TEARES. | BY | William Basse.

Impr. 7 (not at foot of page, but, with date, close to rest of title): 1613: (eight & four) 16o: pp. [2] + 22: Long Primer Roman. Contents:—p. (1) title: (2) short dedication “to his honourable master Sr Richard Wenman Knight”: 1–19, the poem in 8-line stanzas, one on each page, ending with “finis.”: 21–22, “A morning after mourning,” 2 more stanzas, ending with “finis.”

Extremely rare. This book has never been found except in fragments, and usually in the bindings of books. The Bodleian copy is complete: Merton college, Oxford, has nearly a complete one from its bindings: the British Museum copy was dr. Bandinel’s (Sale Catal., Aug. 1861, no. 44), and contains the first 16 (?) pages. Other fragments are known to exist, chiefly in Oxford college library bindings. The poem was reproduced in facsimile in 1872 by W. H. Allnutt (100 copies).

It seems on the whole probable that this William Basse, who was a retainer in sir R. Wenman’s house (Thame Park), is identical with the William Bas who wrote Sword and Buckler (Lond. 1602, 4o), which is a poetical defence of Serving-men against the scorn of their superiors. In Stanza 2 of the present poem is a clear reference to Bas’s Three Pastoral Elegies (Lond. 1602, 4o) in the following terms:—“Not (like as when some triviall discontents | First taught my raw and lucklesse youth to rue | Doe I to Flockes, now vtter my laments ...”. On the other hand the author of the Sword and Buckler had two sons, whereas here he speaks of his “young Muse.” Other poems by “William Basse” (Bas) prepared for the press in 1653 were printed by J. P. Collier in 1870; and contributions to the Annalia Dubrensia (1636) and Walton’s Angler, as well as an “Epitaph upon Shakespeare” are mentioned.