London: [T. Dawson] for Edward Aggas, 1578. First edition in English. Small quarto (171 x 120 mm). Modern half black morocco over marbled boards. Spine lettered and ruled in gilt. Edges speckled brown. Collating [1]-81, [1, blank]. Title within engraved border and with engraved printer's device. With engraved historiated initials. With final blank. "Anonymous. By Pierre de la Place. Printer’s name conjectured by STC" (BL). Title-page lightly toned with fore-margin a bit frayed and a small repair to upper, outer corner. Pages trimmed close at top margin, affecting some headlines and page numbers. The first 20 leaves with some marginal worming, occasionally barely touching text or affecting printed side-notes. Overall a very good copy. We could find no copies at auction in the past 35 years.

Egremont Radcliffe, rebel and alleged assassin took part in the Rising of the North of 1569. "Radcliffe was sent to the Tower of London—it was reported to Spain that he was about to make false statements against Philip and would claim that the latter planned to retaliate for English provocations. He carved his name in the Beauchamp Tower, and wrote Politique Discourses Translated out of French (1578), which he dedicated to Walsingham. It was a personal volte-face, advocating acceptance of the social and political order. He might well ask, 'who ever sawe so many discontented persons ... so many controllers of princes and their procedinges: and so fewe imbracing obedience?'" (ODNB).

ESTC S110593. (Item #3031)