Stafford, William, alleged author, 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 printcd at the Boston es Public Library, October 22, 1919.
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