John Heywood — The Spider and the Flie

London, The Spenser Society, 1894. Cloth. An uncommon illustrated edition of John Heywood's allegorical poem. An uncommon illustrated edition of the sixteenth century writer's allegorical poem. Although John Heywood is best known for his plays and proverbs, he was also an active musician and composer. Despite being a devout Catholic, Heywood served as a royal servant to both the Catholic and Protestant regimes of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. The Spider and the Flie is an allegorical poem in defence of the Catholic party during the reign of Queen Mary, in which the Catholics are represented as the flies, and the Protestants are figured as the spiders. Rebound in a red cloth binding. Externally, lovely, with just some very light bumping to the head and tail of the spine. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright with light spotting. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good Indeed .