H

NOTES ON OLD BOOKS

Jonson: Every Man Out of His Humour '

AVING now, through the kindness of Miss Henrietta C. Bartlett and the authorities of the Boston Public Library, obtained information respecting the American copies of the first edition of Every Man out of his Humour, 1600, I should like to add a note to the account I gave in the Library for December last (i. 153). Two copies are at present known in the United States, and in both of these sheet R consists of four leaves and contains the alternative ending, thus proving the British Museum copy to be defective, as surmised. That in the possession of Mr. H. E. Huntington is said to be a fine tall copy but wants the blank leaf, AI. That in the Boston Public Library has the headlines badly cropped but possesses the blank leaf. In both sheets P, Q, R are reported to be quarto, as in the Museum copy, but it seems that in both H is octavo like the rest of the sheets down to O, thus differing from the Museum copy. I have obtained photographs of about a dozen pages from the Boston copy (including all those in any way defective in that at the Museum) but a careful examination of these has revealed no typographical differences whatever. I may add that the alternative ending fills three pages only, R4b being blank. The compositor of the second edition here followed his copy page for page.

John Marston: The Malcontent

It may be desirable to clear up certain doubts which appear to exist respecting the order of the early impressions of the Malcontent. Of these there are three, which, without prejudice, I will designate A, B, and C.

D

A] THE MALCONTENT. | By Iohn Marston. [[ornament] | 1604. | Printed at London by V. S. for William Afpley, and are to be folde at his shop in Paules Church-yard.

Collation: 4o, A-H4, 32 leaves unnumbered. (Ar blank?) Title, Aza (verso blank). Dedication Beniamino Ionsonio poetæ elegantissimo grauissimo amico suo candido et cordato, Ioannes Marston Musarum alumnus asperam hanc suam Thaliam D. D.', A3a. Address To the Reader' signed 'Me mea sequentur fata. I. M., A3b. 'Dramatis personæ', A4. Text with head-title, Bra (ends on H4b).

Copies Bodleian (Malone 252), Dyce (6250), Huth sale (4743), all wanting AI.

B] THE MALCONTENT. | By Iohn Marston. [ornament] | 1604. | AT LONDON Printed by V. S. for William Afpley, and are to be fold at his shop in Paules Church-yard.

Collation: 4, A-H412, 34 leaves unnumbered. (AI blank but for signature 'A'.) Title, Aza (verso blank). Dedication, A3. Address signed Sine aliqua dementia nullus Phoebus. I. M.', A3b. Dramatis personæ', A4b. Text with head-title, Bra (ends on Ira). Epilogus', Irb. Prologus: An imperfect Ode, being but one staffe', I2a (verso blank). Copy: British Museum (C. 39. c. 25), having AI.

C] THE MALCONTENT. Augmented by Marfton. | With the Additions played by the Kings | Maiefties fervants. Written by Ibon Webfter. [ornament] 1604. AT LONDON | Printed by V. S. for William Afpley, and are to be fold at his fhop in Paules Church-yard.

Collation: 4o, A-I4, 36 leaves unnumbered. Title, Ara. Dedication 'Beniamini Ionsonio [&c. as before]', Arb. Address [signed as in B], A2a. 'Dramatis personæ', Azb. 'The Induction to the Malcontent, and the additions acted by the Kings Maiesties servants. Written by Iohn Webster', A3. Text with head-title, Bra (ends on 14a). An imperfect Ode, being but one staffe, spoken by the Prologue' on 14a. Epilogus', 14b. Copies British Museum (C. 12. g. 82; C. 34. e. 40), Bodleian (Malone 252), Dyce (6251, 2 copies), Trinity College Cambridge, Eton College, Huth sale (4744).

The ornamental THE and the ornament of the title-page are the same in all three impressions, so is the running-title MALECONTENT. For head-title A and B have THE MALCONTENT, C THE MALECONTENT. The unusual position of the date 1604 leaves it doubtful whether it is intended to be that of printing or not, but the play was entered in the Stationers'