The Dolefulle Ballad of Arthur Scumble; now printed from Y^e Originalle M.S. / embellished with drawyngs after Y^e Quicke

Title taken from cover.

Includes monogrammed initials 'IS' in shield, with the letters picked out in red on upper cover.

Each page carries an illustration, the first in the margin, depicting a herald holding a flag on a pole and blowing into a horn. The last five in text. These show: artist handing in his drawing; drawing a skeleton; drawing his 'Figure after the Antique'; running away with hat and glasses flying; and his body being searched after his suicide by two policemen. Illustrations 2 to 5 are signed `HSM' i.e. Henry Stacy Marks RA.

Running synopses in margins, the first reading: 'Of a yonge Artiste hight Arthur Scumble & how he takes a Drawynge to ye Academie to obtain entrance therein as a Probationere.' There follow: 'He urgeth on ye Portere ye. necessitie of a speedie Decisionne by ye. Council.', 'He commenceth Worke at ye Academie', 'But lykes it lyttle', 'He fyndeth ye Skeleton tough', 'Commenceth hys Figure after the Antique. The Cause of much swearynge', 'and wyshynge the Curator and Keeper to be in a warmer place than wold be consistent with ease and comforte', 'He groaneth in spirit', 'He completeth hys figure', 'The Council decides on ye Drawynges wyth its usual Judgmente', 'Ye Decisionne of ye Councill is adverse – rejectynge ye Drawynges', 'Ye Rage of Scumble thereat', 'and', 'Astonishmente of ye. Portere', 'In dysorder of mind & Bodye he fleeth from ye Academye', 'He commyteth Suicide', 'Ye. Ende'.

The piece is a poem in four-line stanzas, written in Wardour Street English, beginning: 'Now, lyth and listen, Students all | I come before ye here | To tell the Mischance that befell | A yonge Probationere | Merrye it was in Londonne streetes | The daye was faire to see | When sallied forth an Artiste-youth | To the Royal Academie.'