The Eclogues of Alexander Barclay [From the Original Edition].

New York, NY Oxford University Press / The Early English Text Society, 1960. Hardcover First Edition; Second Printing. Near Fine: shows only the most minute indications of use: Mildest rubbing to the extremities; former owner's name inked at the front pastedown endpaper. Binding square and secure; text clean. Structurally sound and tightly bound, showing minimal wear: Very close to 'As New'. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 8vo. 272pp. Edited by John Cawood, and with an Introduction and Notes by Beatrice White, M.A. First Edition; Second Printing. This edition first published in 1928. Original Series, No. 175. Brown cloth over boards with gilt designs at the front panel and gilt titles at same and at the backstrip. Hardback: No DJ 'as issued'. Barclay was born in about 1476. His place of birth is matter of dispute, but William Bulleyn, who was a native of Ely, and probably knew him when he was in the monastery there, asserts that he was born "beyonde the cold river of Twede" (River Tweed, i.e. in Scotland). His early life was spent at Croydon, but it is not certain whether he was educated at Oxford or Cambridge. It may be presumed that he took his degree, as he uses the title of "Syr" in his translation of Sallust's Bellum Jugurthinum, and in his will he is called Doctor of Divinity. From the numerous incidental references in his works, and from his knowledge of European literature, it may be inferred that he spent some time abroad. Thomas Cornish, suffragan bishop in the diocese of Bath and Wells, and provost of Oriel College, Oxford, from 1493 to 1507, appointed him chaplain of the college of Ottery St Mary, Devon. Here he wrote his satirical poem, The Ship of Fools, partly a translation from Sebastian Brant. The death of his patron in 1513 apparently put an end to his connection with the west, and he became a monk in the Benedictine monastery of Ely. In this retreat he probably wrote his eclogues, but in 1520 "Maistre Barkleye, the Blacke Monke and Poete" was desired to devise "histoires and convenient raisons to florisshe the buildings and banquet house withal" at the meeting between Henry VIII and Francis I at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. He at length became a Franciscan monk of Canterbury. It is presumed that he conformed with the change of religion, for he retained under Edward VI the livings of Great Baddow, Essex, and of Wokey, Somerset, which he had received in 1546, and was presented in 1552 by the dean and chapter of Canterbury to the rectory of All Hallows, Lombard Street, London. He died shortly after this last preferment at Croydon, Surrey, where he was buried on 10 June 1552.