Collation: ¶⁴2¶²A-G⁸H-I⁴K-Q⁸R⁴, paged in two portions beginning with sigs. A and K respectively. Epistle dedicatory from the author ‘To all the young Gentlemen of England’, dated ‘From my lodging in Holborne’, October 15, 1576. Address to the reader. Commendatory verses from Nicholas Bowyer, R. C., Humphrey Turner, Abraham Fleming, John Wytton. Argument to ‘the Countesse of Celants complaint’, the first poem in ‘The Castle of Delight’. The four parts begin each with separate half-title, at sigs. A 1, D 8, G 4 and K 1 respectively. Each part has an epilogue in verse. Part III has an epistle dedicatory to Lady Iana Sibilla Greye; Part IV, to Sir Thomas Cecill, each signed and dated as before. Part IV contains three poems by R. C., who may have been Robert Cudden of Gray’s Inn, a kinsman of Whetstone, at whose request one of his poems in this part was written. On the verso of the titlepage and on several other leaves is writing in an early English hand.
A Choice of Emblemes, and other Deuises, For the moste parte gathered out of sundrie writers, Englished and Moralized. And diuers newly deuised, by Geffrey Whitney. A worke adorned with varietie of matter, both pleasant and profitable: wherein those that please, maye finde to fit their fancies: Bicause herein, by the office of the eie, and the eare, the minde maye reape dooble delighte throughe holsome preceptes, shadowed with pleasant deuises: both fit for the vertuous, to their incoraging: and for the wicked, for their admonishing and amendment.
To the Reader. Peruse with heed, then frendlie iudge, and blaming rashe refraine: So maist thou reade vnto thy good, and shall requite my paine.
_Imprinted at Leyden, In the house of Christopher Plantyn, by Francis Raphelengius._ M. D. LXXXVI.
Collation: *⁴2*⁴3*2A-Z⁴a-f⁴, paged. Wanting f 4 (? blank). Large woodcut of the achievement of Robert, Earl of Leicester, on verso of titlepage. Epistle dedicatory to the same, signed and dated London, Nov. 28, 1585. Address to the reader, signed and dated Leyden, May 4, 1586. Commendatory verses in Latin from Ianus Dousa à Noortwijck, Bonaventura Vulcanius Brugensis, Petrus Colvius Brugensis, Stephanus Limbertus Anglus Nordovicensis, and in English from Arthur Bourchier. Verses of the author, headed ‘D. O. M.’ and list of errata. Part ii begins with a separate titlepage, without imprint but bearing Leicester’s crest, on sig. O 1, followed by verses on Warwick and Leicester. Woodcuts in the text throughout.