The First Part of the Life and Raigne of King Henrie IIII. Extending to the end of the first yeare of his raigne by I H [John Hayward] - 1599

London : John Wolfe, 1599 A good copy of this scarce work. The first edition of this work was published in 1599, and incurred the anger of Queen Elizabeth I, who had the work assessed by Francis Bacon to establish treasonous intent. John Hayward was imprisoned and second edition copies were destroyed. It was republished with the original 1599 title page in 1629 and it is likely that this copy dates from 1629 because it was published without frontispiece (which features in the late 1630's edition) and has an inverted 'e' in Teucer on the page following the title page. The half leather binding has marbled boards which look contemporary. The spine and leather corners are very worn but the book is currently sound. Page edges red. Internally: a neat ink handwritten history of the work has been written on the front pastedown (possibly 1700-1800's); free endpaper clean; title page; page entitled 'Illustrissimo & honoratissimo' (dedication to the Earl of Essex) with decorative initial capital; page of 'Faultes escaped in the Printing'; 'AP to the Reader' 4pp with decorative headpiece and initial capital; Text pp 1- 149 with decorative headpiece and tailpiece and initial capital; colophon; blank with small ink note to top - R644; free endpaper. Text is generally in good to very good condition - there is the occasional small mark and very light toning to paper. Size 18.6 x 14.5 cm. A nice copy.