In 1585 (or according to Wood and Ames, copied by Herbert and Dibdin, in 1584) Edmund Bunny printed and published the first edition of an adaptation of Parsons’ book fitted for Protestant readers “at London, by N. Newton, for Iohn Wight,” 8o. The dedication is to the archbp. of York and the preface dated 9 July 1584 at Bolton-Percy. The book was entered at Stationers’ Hall on 28 Aug. 1584. The Oxford edition before us is a reprint of this London edition with no intentional variation, except the omission of the arms of the archbishop of York on the verso of the title of the London issue. Some of the woodcut ornaments and capitals of the two issues are identical.
In “1585, Aug. 30” Parsons again put out his book in a revised and largely augmented form with a new title “A Christian Directorie” which when complete was to consist of three books, the first of which, treating of Resolution, is alone contained in this edition. The preface contains a criticism of the London issue of Bunny’s adaptation, which provoked “A briefe answer vnto those idle and friuolous quarrels of R. P. against the late edition of the Resolution: By Edmund Bunny.” Lond., 1589, 8o.
Other editions of Bunny’s adaptation of Parsons’ “Christian exercise” are 1586 (Lond., “by I. Iackson and Ed. Bollifant for John Wight,” 12o; in Herbert’s possession), 1589 (Lond., 12o: Bohn), 1594 (Lond., 24o: Bohn), 1609 (Lond., 12o: Bohn), 1615 (Lond., 12o). See also next art. Parsons’ own work was several times reprinted: and in 1591 appeared an edition of his “Christian Directorie,” anonymously adapted, as the former work, for the use of Protestants, and with the deceptive title “The second part of the booke of Christian Exercise, appertayning to Resolution, or a Christian directorie ... written by the former authour R. P.” (Lond., 12o). This was several times reprinted, as in 1592, 1594, 1598, 1615. See also Wood’s Ath. Oxon., ii. 221: and the next art.
6. Parsons, Robert. A | BOOKE OF | CHRISTIAN EX-|ERCISE APPERTAI-|NING TO Resolvtion, | that is, shewing how that | wee shoulde resolue our|selues to become Christi-|ans indeede, By R. P. | Perused, and accompanied now | with a treatise tending to | Pacification, By | EDMVND BVNNY. | [motto. The whole title is within a border.]
Impr. 2a (colophon 4): 1585: sm. 12o: pp. [30] + 492 + [2] + 140: p. 11 beg. what man, 111 Gospell, which: also p. 11 nounce all, 111 it they should: chiefly Long Primer Roman. Contents:—as preceding article, without the folded “Table” to Bunny’s treatise, viz.:—p. (1) title: (3–9) epistle: (10–19) preface: (20–29) contents: 1–491, the treatise: (1) title: 1–140 Bunny’s treatise, with colophon.
This volume is apparently identical in text (not spelling or punctuation) with the preceding art., but is entirely reset: from p. 252 of this edition (= 254 of the other) the two correspond page for page in Parsons’ treatise.
7. Prime, John. A SERMON BRIEF-|LY COMPARING THE E-|STATE OF KING SALOMON AND | his Subiectes togither with the condi-|tion of Queene Elizabeth | and her people. | PREACHED IN SAINCT MA-|ries in Oxford the 17. of Nouember, and | now printed with some small alteration, | by Iohn Prime, | 1585. | [ornament.]
Impr. 4: 1585: sm. 8o: pp. [32], signn. A-B8: sign. B 1r beg. passion, that: chiefly Pica English. Contents:—p. (1) title: (3–5) Epistle “to the Christian reader”: (6–30), the sermon, on 1 Kings x. 9: (31–32) “A praier in consideration of the former respects.”
See Wood’s Ath. Oxon., i. 653. The Epistle is dated 27 Nov. 1585, and alludes to Bilson’s book as “euen now comming foorth.”
8. Shepery, John. See 1586. S.