Clayton, A Briefe Discourse, of Martial Discipline, Middelburg, 1587, Guilford copy

CLAYTON, GILES

A briefe discourse, of martial discipline. Contayning the office and dueties of everie officer... and private soldiours. Middelburg: Richard Schilders, 1587 

FIRST EDITION, 4to (194 x 152mm.), A-E⁴ F², title within woodcut border, woodcut initials and end-piece, inscription on title page, contemporary vellum gilt, covers with central oval designs, red morocco label on spine, glassine (torn), some minor browning, slight staining to endpapers and covers

VERY RARE. Clayton saw active service in Ireland and in the Low Countries. He emphasises the need for drilling and made use of both Machiavelli and Vegetius for this work (Anglo, Machiavelli, the first century, 2005, p.547). Richard Schilders, a printer in Middelburg, published many works in English, in particular Puritanical works.

LITERATURE:

STC 5377 (this copy and Duke of Buccleuch only); ESTC S91463; cf. Cockle 51 (1591 London edition); not found in STCN

PROVENANCE:

Frederick North, 5th Earl of Guilford (1766-1827), armorial bookplate; purchased from Bernard Quaritch, 1930, pencil note on lower endpaper

Lord Cottesloe lent this book to Quaritch in 1947 for it to be microfilmed on behalf of Columbia University.