Impr. 160 b: 1640: (eights) 16o: pp. [40] + 363 + [5]: p. 11 beg. Poetesse was, 301 purpose, and: Pica Roman. Contents:—p. (1) title, within a border between lines: (3–7) “The Author to the Reader”: (9–34) 8 English poems to the author and book by Oxford men, one by Martin Llewellin: (35–39) “A table of the chapters”: (39) “Errata”: 1–363, the work, in 39 chapters.
See Wood’s Ath. Oxon., ed. Bliss, iii. 350, where the translator from the French into English is stated to be Edmund Chilmead. The original French edition was published at Toulouse in 1612, under the title Traité de l’essence et guérison de l’amour, and at Paris in 1623 as De la maladie d’amour, ou melancholie erotique. If Robert Burton was acquainted with the first edition of this book, as he well may have been, there can be little doubt that he has taken or imitated the general method and treatment of the subject, in his Anatomy of Melancholy: but the French author is surpassed on his own ground. The research is greater and the felicities of language more numerous and striking in Burton, while the plan is also further and distinctively elaborated. There is no mention of Burton’s book in the poems prefixed to this translation. The words underlined in the above title are printed in red, as well as “Oxford,” and “sold by Edward Forrest . 1640.” in the imprint.
9. Fletcher, John. RVLE A WIFE | And have a Wife. | a comœdy | ACTED BY HIS | Majesties Servants. | [line] | Written by | John Fletcher | Gent. | [line, then woodcut.]
Impr. 180: 1640: sm. 4o: pp. [4] + 67 + [1]: p. 11 beg. Only for present use: Pica Roman. Contents:—p. (1) title: (3) “Prologue”: 1–67, the play; (1) “Epilogue.”
This was Fletcher’s unaided composition, before the close of 1624, when it was twice performed at court. The underplot is said to be based on one of Cervantes’ “Novelas Exemplares.” See the Dict. of Nat. Biogr. under Fletcher, p. 307, col. 1. The present is the first edition, and the only quarto one.
10. ——. The Tragœdy of | ROLLO | DuKE of Normandy. | ACTED BY HIS | Majesties Servants. | [line] | Written by | John Fletcher | Gent. | [line, then woodcut.]
Impr. 180: 1640: sm. 4o: pp. [2] + 73 + [1]: p. 11 beg. But for you: Pica Roman. Contents:—p. (1) title: (2) “The Names of the Actors”: 1–73, the play.
The authorship of this play is doubtful. The first edition (Lond. 1639) was entitled “The Bloody Brother. A Tragedy. By B. J. F.” i. e. Ben Johnson and Fletcher?, and it was entered in the Stationers’ Register on 4 Oct. 1639 as by “J. B.” Massinger is also supposed to have had some share in it. See the Dict. of Nat. Biogr. under Fletcher, p. 308, col. 2.
11. H[arding], S[amuel], of Exeter college, Oxford. SICILY | AND | NAPLES, | OR, THE | FATALL VNION· | A Tragœdy. | By | S. H. A. B. è C. Ex: [line, motto, two lines.]
Impr. 119: 1640: sm. 4o: pp. [12] + 96: p. 11 beg. Cass. If the varlets: Pica Roman. Contents—p. (1) title: (2) “Dramatis Personæ”: (3) “To the Reader”, signed “P.P.”, the editor: (4–11) seven complimentary poems to the author, alluding to Shakespeare’s, Ben Johnson’s and Randolph’s deaths: (12) Errata: 1–96, the play, with epilogue.