Referring to BOOKWORM's note at p. 29, I beg to observe that the
dedication negativing Bodenham's authorship of _Politeuphuia_ is not
peculiar to the edition of 1597. I have the edition of 1650, "printed by
Ja. Flesher, and are to be sold by Richard Royston, at the Angell in
Ivye Lane," in which the dedication is addressed as follows:--"To his
very good friend Mr. Bodenham, N.L. wisheth increase of happinesse." The
first sentence of this dedication seems to admit that Bodenham was
something more than patron of the work:--"What you seriously begun long
since, and have always been very careful for the full perfection of, at
length thus finished, although perhaps not so well to your expectation,
I present you with; as one before all most worthy of the same: bothe in
respect of your earnest travaile therein, and the great desire you have
continually had for the generall profit."
In Brydges' _Censura Literaria_, Bodenham is spoken of as the _compiler_
of _The Garden of the Muses_, and _editor_ of the _Wit's Commonwealth_,
the {87} _Wit's Theatre of the Little World_, and _England's Helicon_.
He seems to have less claim to be considered the author of the _Wit's
Theatre_ than of the _Wit's Commonwealth_, for in the original edition
of the former, "printed by J.R. for N.L., and are to be sold at the West
doore of Paules, 1599," the dedication is likewise addressed, "To my
most esteemed and approved loving friend, Maister J.B. I wish all
happines." After acknowledging his obligations to his patron, the author
proceeds: "Besides this History or Theatre of the Little World, suo
jure, first challengeth your friendly patronage, by whose motion I
undertooke it, and for whose love I am willing to undergoe the heavy
burden of censure. I must confesse that it might have been written with
more maturitie, and deliberation, but in respect of my promise, I have
made this hast, how happy I know not, yet good enough I hope, if you
vouchsafe your kind approbation: which with your judgement I hold
ominous, and as under which Politeuphuia was so gracious."