The Life of Sir Thomas More/Advert
Chiswick:
FROM THE PRESS OF C. WHITTINGHAM,
COLLEGE HOUSE.
M DCCC XXII.
CAVENDISH'S LIFE OF WOLSEY.
In the Press, and shortly will be published,
DEDICATED, BY PERMISSION, TO
His Grace the Duke of Devonshire,
THE
LIFE OF CARDINAL WOLSEY,
BY HIS GENTLEMAN USHER
GEORGE CAVENDISH.
NOW FIRST CORRECTLY PRINTED FROM THE
Original Autograph Manuscript.
WITH NOTES AND AN APPENDIX,
BY
S. W. SINGER.
"The fate of this most interesting piece of biography has been singularly unfortunate. Until very lately, it has only been known in editions of the work, the earliest of which was printed nearly a hundred years after its composition; and then so garbled, abridged, and altered, by the caprice of a tasteless editor, in order to serve a temporary purpose, as almost to destroy the identity of the work.
"It is seldom that we can get so near a view of a life so remarkable and eventful as that of this great courtier; and the rarity of such works increases in proportion to the remoteness of the period. But what adds to the value of this production is, that there is nowhere a more vivid and striking representation of the manners of that distant age."
Retrospective Review, No. IX.
Ten or twelve manuscript copies of this most important work are known to exist in public or private libraries, and from one of those in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth Dr. Wordsworth gave his edition. It has been the good fortune of the present Editor to have procured the undoubted authentic original copy of the work in the handwriting of the Author, George Cavendish; which, besides an improved text, contains some very curious historical poetry, relating to the eventful period in which he lived. From this a correct edition is preparing, with notes and illustrations, embellished with portraits. In Two Volumes Octavo. Which are printing at the Chiswick Press.
⁂ A very few copies will be taken off on large paper, in royal octavo, with proof impressions of the portraits; to secure which timely application will be necessary, to the Publisher, R. Triphook, 23, Old Bond Street.