I am about to supply a deficiency in my last volume of _Extracts from
the Register of the Stationers' Company_ (printed for the Shakespeare
Society, 1849), and thereby set an example that I hope will be followed,
in order that various works, regarding which I could give no, or only
incomplete, information, may be duly illustrated. It is impossible to
expect that any one individual could thoroughly accomplish such an
undertaking; and, by means of your excellent periodical, it will be easy
for literary men, who possess scarce or unique books, mentioned in the
Registers and in my quotations from them, to furnish such brief
descriptions as will be highly curious and very useful.
A tract of this description has just fallen in my way, and it relates to
the subsequent entry on p. 97. of vol. ii. of my _Extracts_: the date is
22nd September, 1579.
"H. Denham. Lycensed unto him, &c. A Paradox, provinge by reason
and example that baldnes is much better than bushie heare. vj'd"
When I wrote the comment on this registration I was only acquainted with
the clever MS. ballad in _Defence of a Bald Head_, which I quoted; but I
hardly supposed it to be the production intended. It turns out that it
was not, for I have that production now before me. My belief is that it
is entirely unique; and the only reason for a contrary opinion, that I
am acquainted with, is that there is an incorrect mention of it in
Warton, _H.
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