The Complete Poems of Richard Barnfield/Preface
PREFACE.
The Introduction (§ III. Editorial) gives all the information that seemed to be required as to our reproduction of these Poems of Richard Barnfield—this, the spelling of his last title-page (1605) and of his Will, preferably to Barnefeild and other variations, being adopted—now for the first time collected; but, inasmuch as for the mere nothing of biographic fact hitherto furnished concerning him, we have the satisfaction of pretty fully elucidating and illustrating his Life (§ I. Biographical), it must be permitted us to thank here various friends who have greatly aided us in the task of love. Foremost among these is Miss C. S. Burne, Loynton Hall, Newport, Shropshire, whose indefatigable intelligence in exploring every available source of information cannot be sufficiently commended. Hearty acknowledgments are similarly due to the Incumbents of St. Michael's, Stone (Rev. Eldred Woodland, M.A.), and of Norbury (Rev. Thomas Burne, M.A.), and Colonel Chester of Bermondsey, for communication of Register entries and other items. To the Rev. W. E. Buckley, M.A., of Middleton Cheney, Banbury, I am indebted for the use of various rare books and for useful references and suggestions, as well as for the pains he has taken in drawing up the tabular-statement of the Barnfield and Skrymsher Pedigrees from my materials. To the Custodians of the unique or extremely rare originals in Sion College Library, London, and the Bodleian, Oxford; and Sir Charles H. Isham, Bart. Lamport Hall, Northampton, we would offer our best thanks for the use of their several treasures. The Notes and Illustrations at close, as in nearly all our works on our early literature, are not a little indebted to Dr. Brinsley Nicholson, Woodlands Road, Redhill.
In our critical examination of Mr. J. P. Collier's erroneous (attempted) withdrawal of "As it fell upon a day," &c., from Barnfield, effective aid has been found in Mr. Charles Edmonds's most valuable and careful Introduction to his charming little fac-simile (in his Isham Reprints) of the 1593 Venus and Adonis. The fac-similes of the original title-pages and of Barnfield's autograph and monogram, and of the arms from a Harleian MS. (1241), may be accepted as literally faithful. Other points are elsewhere noticed.
St. George's Vestry,
Blackburn, Lancashire.