Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 8.djvu/297

 ii s. vii. APRIL 12, ma.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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1582, 21 June. On this date Ling issued his first book. This was Arthur Munday's ' The English Romayne Life.' This is a black-letter tract of 72 pp., describing the travels of the author to Home, and in the eighth chapter is a highly interesting account of the martyrdom of an Englishman at Rome in 1581 (the year before date of publication). The name of the martyr is Richard Atkins, " a Hartfordshire man."" See S. Collet's ' Relics of Literature,' 1823, pp. 352-5.

1582, 5 Nov. " Math ewe Lownes, sonne of Hugh Lownes of the parish of Asturbie in the countie of Chester," became Ling's first apprentice on this date. He was bound for ten years.

1585, January. " William hurleston, son of Richard hurleston of the citie of Bristol, cloth- worker," was boxind Ling's second apprentice for eleven years from 25 March, 1585. In Decem- ber of the same year William Hurleston was transferred to Symon Waterson, " to serue out the rest of the yeres of his apprentiship."

1591, 1 Feb. " Thomas Bushell, son of Robert Bushell of Norwiche, taylor," became another apprentice for eight years. This fellow-townsman of Ling was introduced to, and admitted to, the Stationers' Company 5 Feb., 1599.

15UI. 18 Feb. Ling was fined by the Sta- tioners' Company for " offendinge in buyinge and dispersinge of psalmes disorderly printed."

1597, March. " John Chest, son of Richard Chest of Pentlandes parishe in the countie of Hereford, husbandman," became Ling's ap- prentice for ten years ; but this is cancelled sub- sequently, and a note attached to John Chest's name : " putt away for vntruth and mys- behavior, and neuer to be made free. Done by order of the court 7 June, 1602."

1598, 1 July. Ling is sworn and admitted to the livery of the Company.

1599, 5 Feb. " John Helme, sonne of John Helme of Little Saint Bartilmewes neere West Smythfeild, Taylor, deceased," became another apprentice for nine years.

1600, 22 April. On this date Ling published William Kemp's 'Nine Daies Wonder.' The entry runs ' Kempes Morris to Norwiche.' The Bodleian copy is the only one remaining of this work, which was reissued by the Camden Society in 1840, edited by the Rev. A. Dyce. Kemp had set out from London the first Monday 'in Lent, l.V.nt. announcing his intention of dancing a morris dance from London to Norwich. This he succeeded in doing, taking twenty-three days over the journey. Much excitement was caused, and a great many street ballads issued, which annoyed Kemp so much because of their inaccu- racies that he caused Ling to issue this his " first pamphlet to the presse."

1601, 4 March. Ling was again fined for " Disorders in buyinge of the bookes of humours lettinge blood in the vayne being newe printed after y* was first forbydden and burnt." Nearly all London booksellers were fined at the same time for a similar offence.

1602, January. " Zachary Dixon, sonne of John Dixon of Staterne in the countie of Lei- cester," became apprentice ; but he evidently did not give satisfaction, for the entry is can- celled, and a note appended : " never bound, gone away and neuer to be free."

1602, 7 June. " Edward G rangier, sonne of William Grangier of Soulbie in the co. of West- morland, yeoman," bound himself to Ling as apprentice for eight years.

1603, 14 April. Ling was fined (with other booksellers) " concern inge the basilicon Doron."

1603, 5 Dec. He was again fined for " printinge a booke called the wonderfull yere without aucthoritie."

1604, 27 Feb. " Henry Poole, son of John Poole of Redd Marie in the County of Gloucester, gent.," became Ling's apprentice for eight years.

1604, 29 Oct. " John Smithe, sonne of John Smith, late of Enfield in the co. of Middlesex, yeoman," was apprenticed for eight years.

1607, 19 Nov. Upon this date Nicholas Ling's publications were transferred to John Smeth- wicke. (This bookseller was a partner with Jaggard, and had a share in the First Folio of Shakespeare and several of the separate plays. )

The following is a list of those books of Nicholas Ling's which were transferred at this date :

Master Draytons Poemes.

Euphues golden legacie.

master Greenes Arcadia.

Greenes neuer to late.

His Tullies loue.

A booke called Hamlett.

Three Sermons of Master Smythes.

Wyttes common wealth.

The taminge of A Shrewe.

Romeo and Julett.

Loues Labour Lost.

Smythes common Wealth of England.

Piers Pennyles.

Reformation of Couetousnes.

Figure of Fowre.

Englishe Romane Lyfc.

One wishes that it were possible to dis- cover how many copies of " a booke called Hamlett " remained unsold at the time of this transference to Smethwicke, and at what price they changed hands 300 years ago. At the present day but two copies of this publication, slightingly referred to by Ling as "a booke called Hamlett." are known to exist. Your correspondent should not have referred to the " First Folio" of 'Hamlet.' The book was quarto, of course. One of the two existing copies of the first ' Hamlet ' belongs to the Duke of Devonshire, and the second is in the British Museum. Of the first-named copy Sir Henry Bunbury said it was picked up by his grandfather. Sir William Bunbury, in a volume containing twelve old plays. Sir Henry Bunbury exchanged the volume with Payne & Foss for books to the value of 180Z., and it was sold by them to the Duke of Devonshire for 230/. (see Athenaeum* 18 Oct., 1856, and H. H. Furness's edition of * Hamlet ' for bibliography). The second copy was brought from Nottinghamshire by a student, who sold it (about 1856) for