638, and was, according to the title-page, the fourth
(English) edition. From it I edited the work, prefixing a short notice of
the author, and verifying the references to the Fathers. It was
subsequently retranslated into Italian, and has, I am informed, been much
read in Italy. Some time after this publication, I became aware of the
existence of a copy (in private hands) of the apparently first English
edition, bearing the date of 1573. This I was allowed to inspect: and I
hope hereafter to put forth another edition, in which the text of this copy
will be followed, and two or three inaccuracies which had crept into the
former impression will be corrected.

I was, however, ignorant that a single copy of the original Italian
existed; and all inquiry for it seemed to be vain. But one was near at
hand, preserved with diligent care among the literary treasures of St.
John's College, Cambridge, by the authorities there, who were well aware of
its rarity and value. By their obliging permission, I was a few days ago
permitted to examine it.

It is a small square 16mo., bound, in beautiful condition, measuring about
4-1/4 inches by 3, and containing seventy-two pages. The following is the
title-page:

"Trattato vtilissimo del beneficio di Giesv Christo crocifisso, verso i
Christiani. Venetiis, Apud Bernardinum de Bindonis. Anno Do.
M.D.XXXXIII."

From the date, it seems to be the first edition.

There is an address

"Alli Lettori Christiani.

"Essendoci venuta alle mani un' opera delle piu pie e dotte, che a
nostri tempi si siano fatte, il titolo della quale e, Del beneficio di
Giesu Christo crocifisso verso i Christiani: ci e paruto a consolatione
e utilita vostra darla [=i] istampa, e senza il nome dello scrittore,
accioche piu la cosa vi muova, che l' autorita dell' autore."

This most curious volume has been for upwards of a century in the library
of St. John's College, as the following printed notice, pasted within the
cover, will show:

"In grati animi testificationem, ob plurima Humanitatis officia, a
Collegio Divi Joannis Evangelistae apud Cantabrigienses multifariam
collata, librum hunc inter alios lectissimos eidem collegio legavit
Illustrissimus Vir, Dominicus Antonius Ferrari, J. U. D. Neapolitanus,
1744.

"Teste,
"J. CREYK."

But this is not all. The College is happy enough to possess a copy of the