Add MS 40673

"HERE BEGYNNITH the Prolog of the bible (sic) off Englonde:" a poem described in Lord Burghley's hand on the vellum cover as "An exhortation to contynew ye strength of ye Navy of England in ye Narrow seas." Beg. "The trew processe of Englische polecy." First published in Hakluyt's collection of Voyages, i (1598), pp. 187- 208. The present text, like the copies in Harley MS. 271, ff. 1-25 b, and Cotton MS. Vitellius E. x, ff. 192-207, belongs to the second recension of the poem and is collated as MS. E in the most recent edition, Sir G. F. Warner, The Libelle of Englyshe Polycye, 1926, where evidence is given in favour of Adam Moleyns or Molyneux, clerk of the Council and (1446) bishop of Chichester, as author and of A.D. 1436 as the date of composition. Paper; ff. iii + 18. 10.1/2 in. x 7.3/4 in. xv cent. Table of contents (f. 1) in a 16th cent. hand. Chapter numbers and titles in red. The old numeration of the leaves begins with 32. Perhaps (see Warner, p. liv) formed part of a book belonging to Robert Glover, Somerset Herald (d. 1588). Once in the possession of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, who has added notes on cover and margins. Bookplate of Earl de Grey as above. MS. 40 at Wrest Park (H.M.C., p. 7; sale-cat., lot 630).