The narrative history of King James, for the first fourteen years. : In four parts. I. The state of England at His Majesties entrance, and relation it had to other parts: the lascivious courses at court; with the Lord of Northampton's coming to honour: the division betwixt the Hollander and English, betwixt the Scot and English, betwixt the English and Irish: also the rising of Somerset, his favour and greatness with the King, his parentage and descent, his fall, and the beginning of Buckingham's greatness. II. The proceedings touching the divorce betwixt the Lady Frances Howard, and Robert Earl of Essex, ... Also, the arraignment of Sir Jer. Elvis Lieutenant of the Tower, Sir Thomas Monson Knight, Anne Turner, Rich. Weston and James Franklin, &c. touching the murthering and poysoning of Sir Thomas Overbury, ... III. A declaration of His Majesties revenue with assignations and defalcations upon the same, and of all monies brought into His Majesties coffers from time to time, ... IV. The commissions and warrants for the burning of two hereticks, both holding part of the same our ranters do, being old heresies, newly revived. Also two pardons, the one for Theophilus Higgons, the other for Sr Eustace Harte..
Sparke, Michael,-1653.
M. W.
Greville, Fulke,Baron Brooke,1554-1628.
Wilson, Arthur,1595-1652.
Droeshout, John,1596-1652,engraver.
London, : Printed for Michael Sparke at the sign of the Bible in Green-Arbour.,
1651..
"The stationer to the impartial reader", a2v, signed "Mi. Scintilla", i.e. Michael Sparke. On a1v, the stationer's discussion of the authorship of this work, the stationer says: For you shall finde it had more progenitors then one or two, and that truth it self hath been the best nurse, and that carefull gentleman G.W. the worthy preserver of these and many more originals of such like nature and kinde, which have lien, like to a torch unlighted, in obscurity and darkness.
With an additional title page (pi2r), engraved: Truth brought to light and discouered by time or A discourse and historicall narration of the first XIIII yeares of King Iames reigne ... Iohn Droeshout sculp: Lon.
Printed by Richard Cotes. Printer's name from imprint of engraved title page.
In four parts; part II has a separate dated title page with title "Truth brought to light by time. The proceedings touching the divorce between the Lady Frances Howard, and Robert Earl of Essex"; pagination and register are continuous with part I. Part III has separate dated title page with title, "An abstract or brief declaration of the present state of his Majesties revenew, with the assignations and defalcations upon the same"; it begins new pagination on A1* (preceded by chi², title page and contents). Part IV has separate dated title page with title, "A true relation of the commissions and warrants for the condemnation and burning of Bartholomew Legatt and Thomas Withman"; it begins new pagination on Aa*2 (title page is Aa*1).
The first leaf bears "The emblematical title explained" on verso.
Part III may also have been issued separately (Wing A148).
Leaf V4 (p. [163-164]) is blank.
"A historical narration of the first XIV. years of King James" (p. 1-74), slightly abridged, and "Sr Francis Bacon his speech at the arraignment of the Earl of Somerset" (p. 165-176) were originally published in 1643 with title: "The five yeares of King Iames, or The condition of the state of England, and the relation it had to other provinces" (Wing W2887). This work is sometimes erroneously attributed to Fulke Greville, Baron Brooke, and is sometimes attributed to Arthur Wilson.
The [8] p. at end, signed a⁴, bears "A compleat table of the several chapters of this historical narration ... which may serve in stead of an index". Sometimes this is found bound at the beginning, following "The stationer to the impartial reader". It refers to part 1 only.
Part IV identified as Wing T2937 on UMI "Early English books, 1641-1700", microfilm reel 337.
ESTC
Wing (2nd ed.)
James VI, King of Scotland, 1566-1625
Finance, Public