January 2, 2012

STOW’S CHRONICLE WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELIZABETHAN SOURCE BOOKS

A FOLIO EDITION OF JOHN STOW’S CHRONICLE

The Book:

John Stow; (edited and continued by) Edmund Howes . 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 this present yeere, 1631. Londini, Impensis Richardi Meighen, 1631. FOLIO. COMPLETE. [xx], 1116 p. 32 cm. 18th Century Calf and Gilt, some soiling, corner wear spine relaid, minor marginal loss to t.p. withs some creasing, upper right marginal dampstain, some occasional minor worming. Provenance: Ex-libris Herbert Watney (1843–1932) of Buckhold, Pangbourne, Berkshire (now St. Andrew’s School) [SOLD]

This is Howe’s continuation of Stow’s famous Elizabethan Chronicle. It was issued in several editions, starting in 1610, each adding to the previous to keep it up-to-date. Howe evidently labored five years on its preparation, compiling important source material firsthand including a list of all the principle fairs held throughout England and Wales (appended). 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.
This particular additional continues up to the year 1631, including many new references. 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.

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