h no copies are now
known to exist. Another rare volume is known to have existed about the
same time. A copy, the only one known, of 'The Fabulous Tales of Esope
the Phrygian' by Robert Henryson, published at London in 1577, was
formerly in the library of Syon College; for it is included in Reading's
catalogue of that college library, compiled in 1724. But its whereabouts
is now unknown. Fortunately in this case a later edition has survived.

Another mysterious volume is the treatise concerning Elizabeth Barton,
the Maid of Kent, who was burnt at Tyburn in 1534. Cranmer, describing
her story to a friend, writes: 'and a boke (was) written of all the hole
storie thereof, and putt into prynte, which euer syns that tyme hath byn
comonly sold and goone abrod amongs all people.' From the confession of
John Skot, the printer of this work, at the trial, it seems that seven
hundred copies were printed; but no copy is now known to exist.

Other works there are as yet unseen by bibliographer, such as Markham's
'Thyrsis and Daphne,' a poem printed in 1593, and the 1609 and 1612
quartos of Ben Jonson's 'Epicoene or the Silent Woman.' This last was
seen by William Gifford a century ago, but neither is now known to exist.
Or is a copy extant of Horace's 'Art of Poetry' english'd by Jonson and
published so late as 1640. Alas! the list of works by 'rare Ben Jonson'
now lost to us, it is feared, for ever, is quite a lengthy one. Who has
seen the original issue of 'Gude and Godlie Ballatis,' printed at
Edinburgh in 1546? Of this book it has been said that, after the Bible,
it did more for the spread of Reformation doctrines in Scotland than any
other volume; so presumably a fairly large edition was printed.

That the editions of some of these early-printed books, now with us no
more, were of considerable size may be judged from contemporary evidence
of their widespread popularity. Speaking of the 'Morte d'Arthur,' Mr. E.
G. Duff remarks: 'Of the popularity of the book we have striking
evidence. Of Caxton's edition two copies are known, of which one is
imperfect.[4] The second edition, printed by Wynkin de Worde in 1498, is
known from one copy only, which is imperfect; while the third edition,
also printed by de Worde is, again, only known from one imperfect copy.
It may well be, considering these facts, that there were other
intervening editions which have entirely disappeared.'

Of the thirteen early editions of Shakespeare's 'Venus an