[STOW, JOHN (c. 1525-1605); HOWES, EDMUND (Ed.)]. Annales, or, A Generall Chronicle of England. Begun by John Stow: Continued and Augmented with matters Forraigne and Domestique, Ancient and Moderne, unto the end of the present yeere, 1631 by Edmund Howes, Gent [sic]. N.p. [Londini: printed by John Beale, Bernard Alsop, Thomas Fawcett, and Augustine Mathewes, impensis Richardi Meighen], 1631 [i.e. 1632].
Hardcover. Reprint (second edition of the Howes amendation). Leather-bound. Thick folio (320 x 220mm), pp. [20], 537, 540-819, 819-891, 891-897, 890, 900-901, 991-1014, 1003-1050, [2], 1057-1062, [4], 1063-1087, [29] (with pagination mis-numbered throughout, this volume collates closely with ESTC S117586). Signatures: *² [par.]⁸ A-4I⁶ 4K⁴ 4L-4M⁶ 4N² 4n⁴ 4O-4P⁶ 4Q⁴ 4R⁶ 4S⁸ (4S8 terminal blank lacking). Contemporary calf covers neatly rebacked with a new spine; gilt armorial crest to upper cover; red-dyed page edges; marbled pastedowns and endpapers. English text printed in black letter. Lines of sixty-seven printed in double columns. Illustrated title-page set within architectural woodcut border. Historiated initials; head- and tail-pieces; printed marginal/shoulder notes; includes indexes - alphabetical table. Printed by John Beale, Bernard Alsop, Thomas Fawcett, and Augustine Mathewes. Beale printed the preliminaries, quires A-G, and 2A-3C; Alsop and Fawcett printed H-Z; Mathewes printed 3D-4S, cf. STC. Includes an appendix or corollary of the foundations and descriptions of the three most famous universities of England: viz. Cambridge, Oxford, and London. The matters whereof concerning the former two universities, were gathered by John Stow and supplied and continued by Edmond Howes. The third was collected and written by Sir George Buck, London, Printed by A. Matthewes, for R. Meighen, 1632: pages 1055-1087. The contribution of Sir George Buck has title: 'The third universitie of England: or, A treatise of the foundations of all the colledges, ancient schooles of priviledge, and of houses of learning, and liberall arts, within and about the most famous citie of London ... By G.B. Knight. At London, Printed by Augustine Mathewes for Richard Meighen, 1631'. Colophon at rear: 'London, Printed by A. M. for Richard Meighen, and are to sold at his shop at the Middle Temple Gate, neere Templebarre in Fleetstreet, 1632'.
The printed page numbering in this work is quite erratic. This copy has been carefully collated and compared with the description provided by the British Library and is textually complete but lacks an initial and terminal blank. The binding is very secure with the original boards having been retained - these show some scuffing and abrasions. The contents are remarkably fresh and clean with a touch of browning and a little light staining in the gutter to a small section towards the rear. Some side-notes have been shaved. There are a couple of small holes in the margins and some minor tears. Extensive inking to blank endpaper. Small armorial bookplate of F. A. Marshall to front pastedown. Overall this is an excellent copy.
Note: A tailor by trade, renowned early historian John Stow abandoned his occupation in 1560 to devote all his time to “the collection of printed books, legal and literary documents, and charters, in the transcription of ancient manuscripts, inscriptions, and the like, all dealing with English history, archeology, and literature… Some time after the death of Reginald Wolfe (the projector of Holinshed’s Chronicles) in 1573, Stow purchased Wolfe’s collections… It was not until 1565 that he produced his first Summarie of Englyshe Chronicles. The work was well received, and this monument of British history was continually updated and re-issued until 1631.
This 1631 edition is the second issue after Stow’s death: edited, continued and considerably expanded by Edmond Howes. Following the Annales, which cover the history of Britain from legendary times until the year 1631, there is an Appendix, with separate title pages, that deals with the foundations and descriptions of the three most famous universities of England: viz: Cambridge, Oxford and London. The Appendix includes an interesting list of all the ‘Arts and Sciences Read and Taught’ in the University of London, including: Law of Conscience, Calligraphie, Art Gladiatorie, Hippice – or the Art of Riding, Polemice or Art Military, Pyrotechnie, Art of Swimming, Orchectrice – or Art of Dancing, and the Art of Revels. Aside from the handsome title pages, and decorative headpieces and tailpieces, this book features a number of large decorated initials; with the exception of a few sections and passaged which are printed in italic or roman type, the book is printed throughout in black letter (gothic) type.
The work is considered as well to be European Americana, for it contains references to the voyages of Frobisher’s (1576, 1577 and 1578), Francis Drake (1580), and Thomas Cavendish (1586). It also includes a description of the English settlements in North America (1615), including Roanoke. This edition is of particular interest to Shakespeare scholars as it recounts the burning of the famous Globe Theatre in 1613, noted for its performances by Shakespeare and his associates. Additionally, it provides important Shakespearean literary references and background information - Shakespeare scholars have determined that Stow’s Annales clearly furnished ideas and imagery for Henry IV, Part II and may have been a source for a number of key passages in Henry V (see Whitaker, 144-5; Bullough IV:155ff). “Hal’s pranks have been splendidly elaborated on hints mainly supplied by Stow” (Bullough IV:177). [STC 23340. ESTC S117586. Huth IV:1404-05.]
