Smith, Sir Thomas, alleged author, 1513-1577,
Compendious or briefe examination, A, ... (Continued, 1.)
L8oo1
The authorship of this tract is a vexed question. Anthony 4 Wood, in Fasti Oxonienses, under a notice of William Stafford (1554-1612), says, “Besides this Will. Stafford, was another . . . before him in time, author of A compendium, or brief examination of certain ordinary complaints
” Later Farmer attributed it to the younger Stafford. But William Lambarde possessed a manuscript copy in which he wrote, “Note that
this book was published in print ... by one W. S. in the yeare 1581; whearas it was long since penned by St Thomas Smythe ‘as some say), or, Mr Jhon Hales (as others thinke)... And I... have long had
this copie of it which I caused to be written out ... 1565.” Internal evidence seems to fix 1549 as the date of the original composition.
(Continued on the next card.]
This card was printed at the Boston es Public Library, October 22, 1919.