I’m harassed by the crowd of those At Frankfort who their wares expose; And ever ask “What are you doing In prospect of the Fair ensuing? New works you’ll shew, impressions splendid, Where learning stands by Art commended?” If I say “No,” “’Tis strange, what, none? At least then promise--next but one.” Still say I “No,” expostulation Assumes the tone of indignation That Frankfort’s mart’s so strongly slighted, And faith is broken--never plighted. Again, these quidnuncs set aside, With letters, ceaseless, I’m annoyed, Italian, English, German, French, All on my studious hours entrench; “What last has been achieved and ended? What are the impressions next intended?” Nor to such modest queries stinted, Of books in print or to be printed A thousand others they propound Which e’en a prophet would confound. * * * * * Of what advantage all these letters? Not stimulants are they, but fetters, As though you’d spur a steed that’s idle Yet check his progress with the bridle. My press resists the condescension That to such foppery gives attention; Stands still and bids them longer stay for All they suggest, or even pay for. For this annoyance then--be sure Not small intent to find a cure. Of books to former fairs I’ve given, Or now project by leave of heaven, These pages few, as best may suit you, In form of catalogue salute you; Which you’ll my Rescript please to call, Addrest to none and yet to all. Henry’s complaints concerning futile and troublesome correspondence might, of course, be repeated in many a publishing office to-day, but the modern publisher is helped out of the difficulty to some extent by his stenographers and typewriters. It remains a marvel how it was possible, without any time-saving appliances, for the publishers of the fifteenth century to conduct a complicated business, to give personal labour to preparing for the press works calling for original scholarship and detailed labour, and to carry on, in autographic letters, literary and theological correspondence. The _Epistola_ gives the titles or descriptions of a number of important works which the ambitious publisher had in plan, a list, in fact, too long to be completed within the lifetime or to be feasible for the resources of any one publisher, and only a portion of which were ever brought to completion. In 1571, Henry issued, among other works, an edition of the works of Plutarch, which gives both the Greek and the Latin text, in thirteen volumes octavo. In 1572, he completed the great _Thesaurus_, the most important production of his busy life. The full title is as follows: