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Mirror for Magistrates, Volume 1
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Mayster Sackuilles Induction.
The tapets torne, and euery tree downe blowen.
The effect is considered in Vol. II. p. 309. At the end of the volume is a leaf with “The ¶ contes and Table of the first parte of this Booke. ¶ A prose to the Reader, continued betwene the tragedies from the beginning of the booke to the ende. Tragedies beginning,” &c. as it stands in the former edition; and on the next page “¶ The Contentes of the second parte. ¶ A Prose to the Reader continued through the booke. Complayntes beginning,” &c. Another leaf has “Faultes escaped in the Printing,” which fill two pages.
_A Myrrovr for Magistrates.--Newly corrected and augmented. Anno 1571. Fœlix, &c. Imprinted at London by Thomas Marshe dwellynge in Fleetstreete, neare vnto S. Dunstanes Churche._[26] 174 leaves.
This edition only varies in the arrangement from the preceding, by the life of the Duke of Somerset being transposed to fall in chronological order. The addition of the signatures of several of the authors, gives a peculiar value to this impression.
The first parte of the Mirour for Magistrates, containing the falles of the first infortunate Princes of this lande: From the comming of Brute to the incarnation of our sauiour and redemer Iesu Christe. Ad Romanos. 13. 2. Quisquis se opponit potestati, Dei ordinationi resistit. Imprinted at London by Thomas Marshe. Anno 1574. Cum Priuilegio. Eights, Sig. K ii. Fol. 74. Introduction 6 leaves.
This is the best legitimate attempt to enlarge the work published by Baldwin; and the date of the first edition has escaped the research of modern bibliographers.[27] To the Title succeeds the Table of Contents on one leaf; the Epistle dedicatory to the nobility, and the address to the reader. The Authour’s Induction imitates that by Sackville, and is followed by sixteen legends, the sole production of JOHN HIGGINS.[28]
Their names follow, viz:
1. Albanact. 9. Bladud. 2. Humber. 10. Cordila. 3. Locrinus. 11. Morgan. 4. Elstride. 12. Forrex. 5. Sabrine. 13. Porrex. 6. Madan. 14. Kimarus. 7. Malin. 15. Morindus. 8. Mempricius. 16. Nennius.
At the end of Nennius the address of “the Author” concludes with the fifth Stanza:[29]
And keepe, maintaine and celebrate his praise: VVich graunted, all they vanisht quite their wayes.
Viuit post funera virtus. Finis que Iohn Higgins.
The last parte of the Mirour for Magistrates, wherein may be seene by examples passed in this Realme, with howe greuous plagues, vices are punished in great Princes and Magistrates, and howe frayle and vnstable worldly prosperitie is founde, where Fortune seemeth moste highly to fauour. Newly corrected and amended. Fœlix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum. Imprinted at London by Thomas Marshe. Anno. 1574. Cum Priuilegio. 168 leaves.
A copy having a title page with the above date is as rare as the preceding article. The particular description, with which it is mentioned in a note by Warton, seemed to make its existence certain, although there was not wanting reason for disbelief on the occasion. Even that writer considered it “improperly entitled The Last Parte,” the existence of our preceding article not being then known.
The Contents are the same as edition 1571.
The first parte of the Mirour for Magistrates.--Imprinted at London by Thomas Marshe. Anno 1575. Cum Priuilegio. 80 leaves.
This is an accurate reprint of the first edition, with an enlargement of “the Author,” at the end of Nennius, by the addition of Eleven Stanzas, and another legend concluding the volume, viz:
17 Irenglass.
The last parte of the Mirour for Magistrates.--Imprinted at London by Thomas Marshe. Anno 1575. Cum Priuilegio.
This is the edition of 1574, a circumstance that accounts for it being so little known in the original state. The part by Higgins, when it first appeared, no doubt found a rapid demand from those who possessed a copy of that by Baldwin; and therefore in the present instance an altered title, wherein a new date was substituted,[30] served to keep time with the second edition of the part by Higgins.
The first part of the Mirour for Magistrates.--Imprinted for Thomas Marshe. 1578.
Mentioned by Ritson in the Bibliographia Poetica, p. 243, and also in a manuscript list made by him of all the editions. It is stated to have contained, as before, seventeen legends. I have never seen it.
The Last part of the Mirour for Magistrates.--Imprinted at London in Fleetstreete, neere vnto Sainct Dunstanes Church, by Thomas Marsh. 1578. Cum Priuilegio. 190 leaves.
Two additional legends were introduced, viz:
28. Dame Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester. Ferrers. 29. Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester. Ferrers.
In the table of Contents to the edition of 1559, there is entered: “Good Duke Humfry murdered, and Eleanor Cobham his wife banished,” though no articles appear of that nature in the order of reference. What occasioned them to be deferred, it would be in vain now to inquire, or conjecture.
The Seconde part of the Mirrour for Magistrates, conteining the falles of the infortunate Princes of this Lande. From the Conquest of Cæsar, vnto the comyng of Duke William the Conquerour. Imprinted by Richard Webster, Anno Domini. 1578. 72 leaves.
This title is in an elegant architectural compartment, supported by crouching satyrs, and having upon the sill “Goe straight and feare not.”
It contains 12 legends, viz:
1. Guidericus. 7. Sigebert. 2. Carassus. 8. Lady Ebbe. 3. Hellina. 9. Alurede. 4. Vortiger. 10. Egelrede. 5. Pengragon. 11. Edricus. 6. Cadwallader. 12. Harold.
The whole was the production of THOMAS BLENERHASSET, and was, if we may believe the printer’s epistle, published without the knowledge or sanction of the author. In that epistle the writer speaks of “findyng a booke already in print, entituled, The first and third part of the Mirrour for Magistrates;” which appears only a convenient alteration of the two titles already given, there not being any edition distinguished as the Third part.
The Mirour for Magistrates, wherein may be seene, by examples passed in this Realme, with how greeuous plagues vices are punished in great Princes and Magistrates, and how fraile and vnstable worldly prosperity is found, where Fortune seemeth most highly to fauour: Newly imprinted, and with the addition of diuers Tragedies enlarged. At London in Fleetstreete, by Henry Marsh, being the assigne of Thomas Marsh. 1587. Cvm privilegio. 283 leaves.
A short preface, grounded upon the prefatory epistle of 1574, is substituted for that, and followed by a metrical address from THOMAS NEWTON to the reader. Some additional legends by HIGGINS are introduced in the body of the work; and several others in continuance. Their titles are
18. Jago. 30. Hamo. 19. Pinnar. 31. Drusus. 20. Stater. 32. Domitius. 21. Rudache. 33. Galba. 22. Brennus. 34. Otho. 23. Emerianus. 35. Vitellius. 24. Chirinnus. 36. Londricus. 25. Varianvs. 37. Severus. 26. Caesar. 38. Frelgentius. 27. Nero. 39. Geta. 28. Caligula. 40. Caracella. 29. Guiderius.
On the reverse of folio 108, commences the Part edited by BALDWIN. The brief Memorial to the reader is given; and the 29 legends already named with the addition of four, viz:
30. Burdet. Higgins. 32. Flodden Field. Dingley. 31. James IV. 33. Wolsey. Churchyard.
The productions of BALDWIN and HIGGINS are here united with additional matter and corrections; and this being the last printed by either of the original editors, may be characterised, and has been now adopted, as the STANDARD EDITION.
A Mirovr for Magistrates: Being a trve chronicle historic of the vntimely falles of such vnfortvnate Princes and men of note, as haue happened since the first entrance of Brute into this Iland, vntill this our latter Age. Newly enlarged with a last part, called A Winter night’s Vision, being an addition of such Tragedies, especially famous, as are exempted in the former Historie, with a Poem annexed, called England’s Eliza. At London Imprinted by Felix Kyngston. 1610.
The Falles of Vnfortvnate Princes. Being a trve chronicle historic of the vntimely death of such vnfortunate Princes and men of Note, as haue happened since the first entrance of Brvte into this Iland, vntill this our latter Age. Wherevnto is added the famovs life and death of Qveene Elizabeth, with a declaration of all the Warres, Battels and Sea-fights, during her Raigne: wherein at large is described the Battell of 88. with the particular seruice of all such Ships, and men of note in that action. Contre fortune nul ne peut. At London, Imprinted by F. K. for William Aspley, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Churchyard at the Signe of the Parrot. 1619. also 1621. 448 leaves.
Both titles are found to the same edition. The last appears an attempt to new vamp the remainder of an unsaleable and justly depreciated article. A large part of the volume is formed from the labours of Higgins, Blenerhasset, and Baldwin, and reprinted on the laudable plan of collecting them together, by RICHARD NICCOLS. Unfortunately the original spirit and character is materially affected, if not destroyed, by his choosing to omit all intermediate matter between the legends, whether prose or verse: for the L’envoy of Higgins, and conversations of Blenerhasset and Baldwin are alike rejected. And his total want of respect for the original text, in addition to a false taste in remodelling it to please his own ear and fancy, has scarcely left a Legend that does not exhibit specimens of this unwarrantable liberty:[31] indeed it has long been known that the only value his collection now retains, is for that part completed by his own pen, which forms the remainder of the volume.
His own explanatory advertisement may be preserved here; it is addressed
TO THE READER.
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