ss
 
 
ll te ee hi i a ee i it i i ie tt a
 
Stafford, William, alleged author, earlier than 1554-1612,
Compendious or briefe examination, A, . . . (Continued, 1.)
L8oor
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 ae Public Library, October 22, 1919.