La moral' filosophia tratta da gli antichi scrittori [Ed. Anton Francesco Doni]. Venice, Francesco Marcolini, 1552

A rare example from the library of Edward Seymour (1537-1621), Earl of Hertford, the nephew of Jane Seymour, (third wife of Henry VIII) and husband of Lady Catherine Grey, sister of the "Nine Days Queen".

First edition in Italian of the Bidpai fables, a collection of Hindu stories which first appeared in Western Europe in the Middle Ages in a Latin translation of Johannes de Capua, based on a Hebrew version. The fables are notable for the numerous animals which are featured in both the text and the illustrations to act as a mirror for human behaviour and to teach wisdom, courtesy and the right conduct for princes. Numerous editions appeared in the 15th and 16th centuries, and it was not until after 1600 that the fables of Aesop overtook the Bidpai fables in popularity. They have a lasting influence on European literature, with its numerous fables and books of examples. Although the fables were very popular in both Germany and Spain with several editions found in the 15th century, this is their first appearance in Italy in this translation by members of the Accademia dei Pellegrini and edited by Anton Francesco Doni. It was a highly influential version and was used by Sir Thomas North in his English translation printed in 1570 under the title: The morall philosophie of Doni: drawne out of the ancient writers. London, Henry Denham, 1570 (STC 3053).

Following the advent of stable government under Henry VII, numerous cultural posts were filled by Italians including Henry's Royal librarian, and there were Italian teachers at Oxford and Cambridge, a situation which changed little after Henry VIII's break with Rome. Elizabeth I's fluency in Italian and her wish that that her courtiers should become adept in Italian culture led to an enthusiasm for books of the Italian masters on manners and the conduct of a gentleman. Notable examples of many such works are Castiglione's Il Cortegiano (translated by Thomas Hoby in 1561) and Leoni's Fior de Virtute (translated by John Larke in 1565). Prose histories also emphasised the theme of monarchical responsibility including Edward Hall's Union of the two Noble Houses of York and Lancaster (1548), of which Edward Seymour owned a copy of the 1550 edition (see below). "As a political fable The Moral Philosophy of Doni is entitled to a place within the genre, turning as it does around the deceit of counsellors and the hidden motivation that stir men to deeds dangerous to the commonwealth, even as it proffers common sense perspectives on the negotiations of daily life" (Donald Beecher, John Butler, Carmine de Blase, Sir Thomas North, The Moral philosophy of Doni,Ottawa, 2003, p. 50).

This is a very important association copy owned by one of the leading Elizabethans of the day, an important member of the Seymour family who were connected to royalty by the marriage of Jane Seymour to Henry VIII in 1536. Henry granted to the Seymour family the right to include in their coat of arms emblems from the royal arms and these were first used by the brother of Jane Seymour, Edward, lst Duke of Somerset (c. 1509 - Jan. 1552), the father of Edward Seymour, the owner of this book.

Edward Seymour, 2nd Earl of Hertford (1537-1621), was educated with the young Edward VI who was his cousin and shared with him the same birth date. No doubt he would have benefited from being taught by Edward's tutors from France and Italy and the use of the Royal Library. Contemporaries described him as an outrageously spoilt and conceited young man whose behaviour alternated between rashness and pusillanimity (H. W. Chapman, Two Tudor Portraits,1960, p. 153), and spent much of his time in idle pursuits (one of them no doubt reading books from his library such as this one). Manuscripts of the Marquis at Bath at Longleat reveal his interest in books: in 1582 Robert Smyth sent him two books of which one concerns "the poet's praise of Isotta, daughter of the Prince of Ariminium" (i.e. a poem of the tyrant Sigismondo Malatesta in praise of his mistress Isotta degli Atti, perhaps unknown), and memoranda of Sir John Thynne contain details of letters, books and musical manuscripts of Seymour (see: HRC, Seymour Papers, IV, pp. 156-7).

Edward Seymour was the nephew of Jane Seymour, the third wife of Henry VIII and in November/December 1560, he married in secret Lady Catherine Grey, the sister of the "Nine Days Queen", Lady Jane Grey, to whom Edward had once been betrothed. Queen Elizabeth was so displeased that she imprisoned everyone who had anything to do with the clandestine affair; it was an act of treason for anyone of blood to marry without the sovereign's consent. The Seymours were a particular threat since under the terms of the will of Henry VIII Lady Catherine had become next in succession to the throne after Elizabeth and Mary. Lady Catherine bore two sons in the Tower and spent the rest of her life in custody of one sort or another. After her death in 1568 Edward Seymour was to some extent relieved of royal displeasure, but warned by experience he led a generally quiet life. He married twice more, but without issue.

Two leaves (folios Q4 and R1), printed on rectos only, are supplied from another copy; Q4 has the illustration of Pietro Aretino, the self-styled "scourge of princes" and it is tempting to think that this was deliberately removed by Seymour. R1 is the title-page of the "libro terzo".

Philippa Marks of the British Library has kindly told us of three more books which bear the arms of Edward Seymour.

1. Marcus Aurelius, Aureo libro. Venice, 1562. (Emmanuel College, Cambridge: 332.2.55, donated by John Breton c. 1676).

2. Hall, The unyon of the two noble families of Yorke and Lancastre . . .London, 1550. (Cambridge University Library: R. 3. 30).

3) Vegetius, De Re Militari. Paris, 1553. (V & A, National Art Library: Clements Drawer 7).

In excellent condition.

Adams B1997. Mortimer 65. Brunet II, 813. Gamba 1370.