The number of adventures in the English Howleglas is forty-six; but they are not numbered, one being a copy of verses (given in Appendix D), and forming an additional chapter, making forty-seven. Of this copy, Signature D is missing; otherwise, excepting the corner of a leaf, it is perfect. Signatures are from A–M, worked in sheets of eight pages, equal to fifty-two pages, of which the last is a blank. It belonged at one time to Garrick, and, with other portions of his library, was transferred to the Museum, where it will be found with the Press-mark C. 21. c.
Of this book a second copy exists, as above mentioned, also in the British Museum. It is a later edition (1530), but differing in nothing from the one already described. It is, however, very imperfect, wanting Signature B and the page marked K iiii, as well as all subsequent pages, comprising L and M. This has been completed from the other copy. On the fly-leaf is the following note, which I copy:
“Such is the rarity of this volume, that only one other copy is known, viz., that in the British Museum, which is of another edition, and is also slightly imperfect (Note by the writer of the fly-leaf comment: On a more accurate inspection of the above volume, I have discovered that it wants an entire sheet, viz. c[d]), wanting the corner of a leaf. This copy was purchased at the Roxburgh sale by the late Mr. Heber, whose note will be seen on the fly-leaf immediately preceding the title.”
Mr. Heber’s note is: “1812. Roxburgh sale £14 5 0. Mem. to examine the Museum copy.”
In 1842, it was marked in Lilly’s Catalogue; and the date placed upon it by the Museum authorities is sixth of October, 1857, with the press-mark 12316 c.
The only record of any other copy of this English Howleglas, also referred to in the preface, is in a paper of Mr. Halliwell’s in the Papers of the Shakspere Society (vol. iv. p. 18, 26–28), where that gentleman describes the library of a certain Captain Cox, quoting from an account of Queen Elizabeth’s entertainments at Kenilworth, made by Laneham, clerk and keeper of the Council Chamber door.
That same Captain Cox is represented by Ben Jonson in the “Masque of Owls, at Kenelworth, presented by the Ghost of Captain Cox, mounted on his Hobbyhorse 1626,” and is made to say:
“This Captain Cox, by St. Mary,
Was at Bullen with King Ha—ry;
And (if some do not vary)