The text is an examination of the confessions of the conspirators in the plot against Queen Elizabeth and the role of Mary Queen of Scots in the conspiracy.
Description:
Bound in a parchment bifolium from an early thirteenth century English Latin manuscript of the Digest of Justinian, Cursive script., Imperfect: mutilated with some loss of text., On the front of the vellum wrapper is the name ""John Rigbye barrister, Cliffordes Ynne."", Pages not numbered consecutively., Several blank pages throughout., and The margins contain the glossa ordinaria of Accursius, as well as some later commentary in an Anglicana script.
Subject (Name):
Accursius, glossator, ca. 1182-ca. 1260, Babington, Anthony, 1561-1586, Elizabeth I, Queen of England, 1533-1603, and Mary, Queen of Scots, 1542-1587
Imperfect: some pages mutilated with loss of text. and The type, paper, and wooden shingle binding appear to be American, and the London imprint would therefore seem to be fictitious (the printer’s name and address, and the date 1696, occur in the preliminary matter).
Added title page, engraved, has imprint: London : W. Pickering ; New-York : C.H. Peabody, 1831., Herman Melville's copy with his manuscript notes. Won by Melville at the Albany Academy in August 1831 as the 1st premium in the 2d class in the 4th dept. Melville's name stamped on the cover in gold and label from Albany Academy awarding him the book on inside front cover. Verses in Melville's hand on front and back fly-leaves. Markings in another hand also., and Imperfect: added title page and frontispiece wanting; p. 179-180 wanting.
Publisher:
C.H. Peabody,
Subject (Name):
Melville, Herman,--1819-1891--Ms. notes and Melville, Herman,--1819-1891--Ownership