(Colophon) Imprinted at London in Fletestrete in the House of Thomas Berthelet, Cum privilegio ad impremendum solum. Anno M.D. LXIX (sic for 1549). (See Reproduction of title-page.) Black Letter. THE EXTREMELY RARE FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH of this classic. Small 4to, dark brown levant morocco, gilt, paned sides, a blank corner or two mended, VERY FINE COPY.

£52 10s

Important as being the First English Translation of the Moriæ Encomium.

LANGLANDE (ROBERT).

3919a The Vision of Pierce Plowman. NOW FYRSTE IMPRYNTED BY Roberte Crowley, dwellying in Ely rentes in Holburne. Anno Domini. 1505 [1550]. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendu solum. [Colophon] Imprynted at London by Roberte Crowley, dwellynge in Elye rentes in Holburne. The yere of our Lorde, M.D.L. (1550). FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE with the misprinted date 1505, altered by stamp to 1550. Engraved border around title-page (see reproduction). Black Letter. Sm. 4to, morocco extra, gilt edges, AN EXTREMELY RARE AND IMPORTANT BOOK. FINE COPY.

Printer to the Reader (2 pp.).

£120

This curious poem is usually ascribed to Robert Langlande or Longland, who flourished in the early part of the XIVth century; but the authorship may perhaps be regarded as still an open question. It is one of the most remarkable productions of the age (1362-80), and in importance and interest and merit of execution ranks second only to Chaucer for the picture it presents of England in the middle ages. While Chaucer's language is that of the Court and upper classes, Piers Plowman uses the tongue of the common people, and is very valuable on that account.

"This work is a very curious and masterly production, and appears to have been composed in or soon after the year 1362. It is a kind of religious allegorical satire, in which Pierce the Ploughman, the principal personage, seems to be intended for the pattern of Christian perfection, if not occasionally for Jesus Christ himself. The mode of versification adopted by this writer is originally Gothic, and it is to be conjectured to have been a favourite poetic style with the common people down to a late period. The author of this poem became popular about the time of the Reformation, from his having lashed the vices of the clergy, both regular and secular, with a just severity, and foretold as was thought, the destruction of the monasteries by Henry VIII.-Bibliotheca Anglo-Poetica.

CHALLONER (SIR THOMAS). ERASMUS. PRAISE OF FOLIE. 1549(See No. 3919.)

LANGLANDE (ROBERT). THE VISION OF PIERCE PLOWMAN.

(See No. 3919a.)

1550.

SMYTH (NICHOLAS).

3919b ¶THE HISTORY OF HERODIAN, a Greeke Authour, treating of the Roman Emperors after Marcus, translated oute of Greeke into Latin by Angelus Politianus, AND OUT OF LATIN INTO ENGLISH BY NICHOLAS SMYTH. Whereunto are annexed, the argumentes of every Booke, at the begynyng thereof, with Annotacions for the better understandynge of the same History. William Coplande (colophon) Imprynted at London, in Fletestrete, by Wyllyam Coplande, at the Signe of the Rose Garland [1550]. FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH. Black Letter. Sm. 4to, ornamental border around title-page (see Reproduction), old calf blind tooled, a small but fairly good copy of AN EXTREMELY RARE BOOK. £16 16s

3920

TAVERNER (RICHARD).

THE GARDEN

of Wysdome conteynynge pleasaunte floures, that is to saye, propre and quike sayings of Princes, Philosophers and other sortes of men, Drawne forth of good aucthours, by Richard Taverner.

Newly recognised
and augmen-
ted.

Imprynted at London in
the Fleetstrete at the sygne

12mo. Black Letter.

of the Rose Garland
by Wyllyam
Copland.

[c. 1550.]

A few preliminary leaves stained, and one leaf Sig. F4, in facsimile, morocco extra, gilt edges, good copy. £16 16s Richard Taverner, to the Reader (1 p.).

RECORDE (ROBERT).

3920a The Pathway to Knowledg, Containing the First Principles of Geometrie, AS THEY MAY MOSTE APTLY BE APPLIED UNTO PRACTISE, BOTHE FOR USE OF INSTRUMENTES GEOMETRICALL AND ASTRONOMICALL, and also for Protection of plattes in everye kinde, and therefore much necessary for all sortes of men. (See Reproduction of title-page.) (Colophon.) Imprinted at London in Paules Churchyarde at the signe of the Brasen Serpent, by Reynold Wolfe.... 1551. FIRST EDITION. Small 4to, numerous geometrical diagrams, original vellum, RARE.

£32

The second volumé has a separate title: The Second Booke of the Principles of Geometrie, containyng certaine Theoremes, which may bee called approued Truthes. And be as it were the moste certaine Groundes, whereon the practtike Conclusions of Geometrie are founded. Whereunto are annexed certaine Declarations by Examples.

According to Professor de Morgan this work contains the first use of the term 'sine." in English. "He explains solar and lunar eclipses, promises a treatise on cosmography, and gives a description of Euclid Bk. I., Prop. IV., a method of working various questions in practical geometry, and a list of astronomical instruments in use. There is also a rough determination of the magnitude of the earth, which is said to be 21,600 miles round.”—D. N. B.

Telegraphic Address: "LYCIDAS," LONDON.