S[tandard] O[perating] P[rocedure]
Having mastered the habit of scrutinizing initials, one may now
come to grips with cases. For any preliminary epistle or verses,
the first step is to check whether it bears the initials of printer
or bookseller. Richard Jones and many others were in the habit of
providing initialed forewords. Usually a glance at the imprint will
suffice, although it may be necessary to consult the Stationers'
Register. Thus judging from STC, one must consult the
Register to identify T[homas] W[oodcock] (1583-4442), but in fact
an unrecorded issue survives with Woodcock in the imprint (copies
at Folger and Harvard). One must remember that the designation
"Printer" was used loosely by editors and others. Even when the
term has a more exact significance, it may be necessary to search
beyond imprint and copyright entry to more elusive data, such as
external knowledge of business partnership:
| 1596 |
20366a |
H. C. Printer |
Henry Chettle |
| [1573] |
4712 |
J. S. |
John Stroud[9]
|
One marvels at both the courage and rashness of Stroud in signing
his foreword. One suspects that his initials conclude the formula
J. T. J. S. in a related book ([1572]-10850).
The next step is to watch for evidence within the volume itself.
Hints may appear in many forms and places. I am unfamiliar with the
proof that I[ohn] M[elton] wrote A Six-folde Politician
(1609-17805), but one is set on the right track by the preliminary
verses of I. S., which begin, "Thy tun. . . of wit & hony"—that
is, mel-tun. Reference in the text to "Barnhere" nails down
the preacher T[homas] B[ernhere] (1606-10668). Such evidence may
amount only to strong probability.
| 1575 |
12188 |
G. C. |
Later verses by G[ul.] Camden |
| 1615 |
14665 |
F. A. |
Later verses to Francis Appleby |
| 1614 |
23779 |
Sa:Cal. |
Later verses to Samuel Calvert |
| 1613 |
25891 |
Th. C. |
Later verses to Thomas Cranly |
| 1620 |
16684 |
G. F. |
Earlier verses to George Franklyn |
Mention of specific kinship may enable one to identify a dedicatee
or, conversely, an author:
| 1613 |
23067 |
Uncle, Fr. Sa. |
Francis Sanders |
DNB
|
| 1623 |
143 |
A[rchibald] S[imson] |
Mentions uncle, identifiable as Patrick Simson |
| 1626 |
18156 |
A[nthony] R[atcliffe] |
Names his sisters.[10]
|
External evidence is almost infinite in variety —as
manuscripts, contemporary allusions, clues in other books, and
knowledge of friendships. The verses before Samuel Ward's pamphlet
on the Synod of Dort (1626-25026) are by Tho[mas] Go[ad] because
the two were colleagues at Dort. Internal evidence in Harington's
Ajax books equates E. S. Esquier (1596-12772) with Philostilpnos,
while what appears to be Harington's holograph note in a Folger
copy identifies Philostilpnos as Edward Sheldon. The following
solutions by other scholars indicate varieties of evidence:
| 1616 |
18909 |
W[illiam] B[rowne] |
Browne MS. in British Museum |
| 1607 |
14783 |
I[ohn] D[onne] |
Reprinted in 1650 Poems
|
| 1629 |
1694 |
Ph[ilip] Kin[der] |
Mark Eccles, HLQ, V (1942), 299. |
| 1635 |
2418 |
E[dward] M[illar] |
Millar Patrick |
| 1593 |
22540 |
H[ugh] S[anford] |
Frances Yates, Florio
|
The following solutions are now newly advanced:
| 1635 |
12141 |
E[dward] A[lliston] |
Association in 1640-18948 |
| 1633 |
12716 |
I[ames] A[rthur] |
Echo in 1637-15717 |
| 1618 |
1635 |
E[zechiel] C[harke] |
Charke edited other Baynes works |
| 1598 |
12322 |
H. C[rooke] |
Clue in 1601-12315 |
| [1575] |
6701 |
I[ohn] F[ield] |
See dedication to 1583-15068 |
| 1597 |
19489 |
T[homas] M[annering] |
Burnt at stake same year |
| 1618 |
21221 |
S[tephen] E[gerton] |
Blackfriars parish links |
| 1614 |
841 |
Hen[ry] Gr[imston], |
Grayanus By elimination |
In solutions of this class, drudgery is a good companion, but it is
nice to have serendipity as an occasional Corinthian.
