CORYATE (THOMAS)


Coryats Crudities: hastily gobled up in five moneths travells... newly digested in the hungry aire of Odcombe in the county of Somerset, and now dispersed to the nourishment of the travelling members of this kingdome, FIRST EDITION, engraved allegorical title-page by William Hole, letterpress title ("Three Crude Veines..."), 4 engraved plates (2 folding), full-page woodcut of the Prince of Wales's crest, 2 engraved illustrations (including full-page engraved portrait on p.496), the folding maps laid on linen, allegorical title and 3 plates shaved at margins, errata remargined, a few single rust marks, trimmed close to rule margins (with occasional loss to upper margins), red crushed morocco gilt by W. Pratt, g.e., joints slightly weakened [ESTC S108716; Keynes, Donne 70; Pforzheimer 218], 4to (203 x 147mm.), [William Stansby, for the Author], 1611
|"There has probably never been another such combination of learning and buffoonery as is here set forth" (Pforzheimer). In 1608 Coryate travelled, often alone on foot, through France and Italy to Venice, from where he returned via Switzerland and Germany, a journey which he drew upon for his Crudities, "which was intended to encourage courtiers and gallants to enrich their minds by continental travel". Prior to publication Coryate sought testimonials from fellow writers, and these mostly mock-heroic elegies were printed in the book. Contributors included Ben Jonson, Donne, Harington, Drayton and other members of the "Mermaid Tavern" set.