The objects and duties of the Record Commission are sufficiently indicated in the following extract: "To regulate and digest the records, rolls, instruments, books, and papers, in any of our public offices and repositories; and to cause to be made true and authentic copies of such records, &c., as are decayed and in danger of being destroyed, to be bound and secured; and to make exact calendars and indexes thereof, and to superintend the printing of such calendars, and original records, and papers, as they should cause to be printed." For these purposes, commissions were issued in 1801-'06-'17-'21-25, and '31: most of the members of which were eminent divines, statesmen, lawyers and authors. The greatest dissatisfaction, however, has been expressed, in and out of parliament, at the small results obtained by this great and national undertaking. The evidence before the committee of the House of Commons appointed to inquire into the cause, shows that nearly half a million of pounds were expended in the publishing of about 100 volumes!

Reprints of Old Books.

HEIR FOLLOWETH THE COPPIE of the ressoning which was betwixt the Abbote of Crosraguell and John Knox, in Mayboill concerning the Mass, in the yeare of God, a thousand five hundreth thre scoir and two yeares. Edinburgh: 1563. 4to. Boards.

GREENE'S GROATS-WORTH OF WIT; bought with a Million of Repentance. With a Preface, Critical and Biographical: By Sir Egerton Brydges. Wood-cuts. Large paper.

The first work (in quarto) printed at the private press of Lee Priory, Kent. It contains the first printed notice of Shakespeare. Only 61 printed.

Robert Greene, born about 1560, died 1592. A poet, dramatist, and miscellaneous writer: also one of the greatest wits of his times. Although he took orders, and enjoyed a living, he led a very dissolute life: often intermitted, however, by fits of repentance, under the influence of the last of which he wrote the above work. The list of his productions exceeds that of any other writer of the 16th century, which is more surprising, when his short career and time wasted in revelry, are taken into consideration.

AYLETT (Robert.) A Wife, not ready made, but bespoken, by Dicus the batchelor, and made up for him. by his fellow Shepheard Tityrus. In four Pastorall Eglogues. The Second Edition: Wherein are something added but nothing amended. 4 to. Half calf. London: 1563. Great Totham: Printed at C. Clark's Private Press.

1847.

LES AFFAIRES du Conte de Boduel. L'an M.D.LXVIII. Imprimée à Edinbovrg: MD.CCC.XXIX. 4to. Half

morocco.

One of the Bannatyne Club's publications.

Bothwell's own "Narrative of the leading events which terminated in his flight from Scotland, in 1567, and of his subsequent adventures upon the coast of Norway." Written during his captivity in the castle of Malmoe, in Sweden, where he died in 1576.

OH READ OUER D. JOHN BRIDGES, for it is worthy worke: Or an epitome of the fyrste Booke, of that right worshipfull volume, written against the Puritanes, in the defence of the noble cleargie, by as worshipful a prieste, Iohn Bridges, Presbyter, Priest or elder, doctor of Diuillitie, and Dean of Sarum. Wherein the arguments of the puritans are wisely prevented, that when they come to answere M. Doctor, they must needes say something that hath bene spoken. Compiled for the behoofe and overthrow of the vnpreaching Parsons, Fyckers, and Currats, that haue lernt their Catechismes, and are past grace: By the reverend and Worthic Martin Marprelat gentleman, and dedicated by a second Epistle to the Terrible Priests. Printed on the other hand of some of the Priests. 12 mo. Reprinted, London: 1843.

Published about 1583.

SAME TITLE.

Boards.

-Dedicated to the Confocation house. -Printed oversea, in Europe, within two furlongs of a Bounsing Priest, at the Cost and Charges of M. Marprelate, gentleman. 12 mo. Reprinted, London:

1843.

Supposed to have been criginally printed in 1548, at Middleburgh, in Zealand.

PAPPE WITH AN HATCHET. Alias, a figge for my God sonne, Or Cracke me this nut. Or A Countrie Cuffe, that is, a sound boxe of the eare, for the idiot Martin to hold his peace, secing the patch will take no warning. Written by one that dares call a dog, a dog, and made to preuent Martins dog daics. Imprinted by

John Anoke, and John Astile, for the Baylive of Withernam, cum priuilegio perennitatis, and are to bee sold at the sign of the crab tree cudgell in thwakcoate lane. 12 mo. Reprinted, London: 1844.

The original edition was printed in 1589. "Collier, in his Ecclesiastical History, II., 606, gives this pamphlet to Thomas Nash; but Gabriel Hervey assigns it to John Lily."-Isaac Reed.

HAY ANY WORKE FOR COOPER: or a briefe Pistle directed by Waye of an hublication to the reverende Eyshopps, counselling them, if they will needs be barrelled vp, for feare of smelling in the nostrels of her Maiestie and the State, that they would vse the aduive of reu erend Martin for the prouiding of their Cooper. Because the reuerend T. C. (by which misticall letters, is vnderstood, eyther the bounsing Parson of Eastmeane, or Tome Coakes his Chaplaine) [hath shewed himselfe in his last Admonition to the people of Englande] to bee an vnskilful and a beceytful tubtrimmer. Wherein worthy Martin quits himself like a man I warrant you, in the modest defence of his selfe and his learned Pistles, and makes the Coopers hoopes to flye off, and the Bishops Tubs to leake out of all crye. Printed in Europe, not far from some of the Bounsing Priestes. 4 to. Boards. Reprinted, London: 1845.

Supposed to have been originally published in 1589.

AN ALMOND FOR A PARRAT, Or Cutbert Curry-Knaues Almes. Fit for the Knaue Martin, aud the rest of those impudent Beggars, that can not be content to stay their stomakes with a Benefice, but they will needes breake their fastes with our Bishops. Imprinted at a Place, not farre from a Place, by the Assignes of a Signior Some-body, and are to be sold at his shoppe in Trouble-Knaue Street, at the signe of the Standish.

It is well ascertained that Thomas Nash was the writer of this pamphlet; and its date, 1589.

The controversy which produced the Martin Marprelate tracts was one of the most remarkable and bitter that ever agitated the government and people of England. Although carried on, on both sides, by some of the most learned men of the times, it was marked, at every stage, by the greatest scurrility and coarseness. Its spirit of opposition, secretly abetted by many of the nobility, was, however, curbed by the strong arm of power, in the latter part of the reign of Elizabeth; but it revived with increased violence under that of James I., and finally led his successor to the scaffold. The mystery attending the authorship and printing of the Marprelate tracts, was so great, that none of the authors could ever be legally identified, nor their press discovered.

SOME ACCOUNT of a Collection of Several Thousand Bills, Accounts, and Inventories, Illustrating the History of the Prices Between the Years 1650 and 1750. By James Orchard Halliwell, F. R. S., &c. 4 to. Brixton Hill: 1852.

PRESENTATION COPY. Eighty copies printed for private circulation only. The following items are taken, at random, from an Account of house expenses kept by Mrs. Archer, a lady of rank:

Decemb. ye 8th. Paid Alice half a year's wages due her ye 29th