*.* "My very worthy friend Roger Gale, the Author of this and many other learned works, dyed at his seat at Scruton, co. York, June 26, 1744, aged about 72, and was by his own direction buried obscurely in the churchyard there."
The following interesting articles we reprint entire, as forming specimens of the rarities which Mr. Thorpe offers in the present Catalogue, and the tempting manner in which he presents them:—
3450 BOECEUS DE CONSOLACIONE PHILOSOPHIE, TRANSLATED OUT OF LATIN INTO ENGLISH BY MAISTER GEFFREY CHAUCER, WITH EPITAPH FOR CHAUCER IN LATIN VERSE BY STEPHEN SURIGO, POET LAUREATE OF MILAN, AT THE COST AND INSTANCE OF W. CAXTON, A MOST BEAUTIFUL AND QUITE PERFECT COPY, WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST DEFECT OR REPAIR, folio, in old Oxford calf binding, from Browne Willis's Library, £105.
PRINTED BY CAXTON, WITH HIS NAME.
*.* One of the most interesting specimens of Caxton's press. No other perfect copy, I believe, has occurred for sale. The Aleborne copy, (imperfect, wanting the Epitaph upon Chaucer, WHICH IS REPRINTED IN SOME EDITIONS OF HIS WORKS, and other leaves,) sold for 53l. 11s. It is one of the earliest productions of the father of the English press, and claims a very great additional interest from being translated by the Poet Chaucer. CAXTON gives us the following reasons that induced Chaucer to translate, and himself to print it:—"Forasmoche as the stile of it is harde, and difficile to be understoode of simple persones, therefore the worshipful Fader and first founder and embelisher of ornate eloquence in our English, I mene Maister Geffrey Chaucer, hath translated it out of Latyn, as neygh as is possible to be understande; wherin, in myne oppynon, he hath deserved a perpetual lawde and thanke of al this noble Royame of England. Thenne, forasmoche as this sayd boke so translated is rare, and not spred ne knowen as it is digne and worthy for the erudicion of such as ben ignoraunte, atte requeste of a singuler frend and gossop of myne, I, William Caxton, have done my devoir temprynte it in fourme as is hereafore made."
3653 FOX (EDWARD) BISHOP OF HEREFORD, True Dyfferens Between ye Regall Power and the Ecclesiasticall Power, translated out of Latyn by Henry Lord Stafforde, and dedicated by him to the Protector Somerset, black letter, 8vo. fine copy, morocco, gilt edges, EXTREMELY RARE, 6l. 6s.
Imprinted at the sign of the Rose Garland, by W. Copland, n.d.
*.* This extraordinarily rare volume was written by Edward Fox, Bishop of Hereford, according to Strype and Leland—see the latter's encomium upon it. Lord Herbert supposed it to have been written by King Henry VIII. It is one of the most interesting and rare volumes relative to church history. The noble translator states that it was lent him by his friend Master Morison, and finding the difference between the power regal and ecclesiastical so plainly set out, and so purely explained, that rather than his countrie should be utterly frustrated of so great fruyte as myght growe by redynge thereof, I thought it well-bestowed labour to turn it into Englishe.
3318 LANE (JOHN) TOM TEL-TROTH'S MESSAGE AND HIS PEN'S COMPLAINT, a worke not unpleasant to be read, nor unprofitable to be followed, IN VERSE, dedicated to George Dowse, 4to. remarkably fine copy, UNCUT, morocco elegant, gilt edges, EXCESSIVELY RARE IF NOT UNIQUE, 10l. 10s.
Imprinted for R. Howell, 1600.