Lexicon tetraglotton, an english-French-italian,- spanish dictionary... with another volume of the choicest proverbs in all the said toungs,... and the English translated into the other three... moreover there are sundry familiar letters and verses running all in proverbs... lastly, there are five centuries of new Sayings... by James Howell...

Published in 1660, the Lexicon Tetraglotton was compiled by the prolific writer and historiographer James Howell during a period of transition in English literature. Intended as a comprehensive tool for polyglots and scholars, the work was designed to bridge the linguistic divide between English, French, Italian, and Spanish. Its structure reflects a scholarly ambition to standardize European language learning in the mid-17th century, providing not only lexicon entries but also cultural context through the inclusion of proverbs and correspondence.

Howell was well-known for his wit and his ability to navigate the complex social and political climate of the Interregnum and early Restoration. His design for this volume was uniquely pedagogical, utilizing proverbial wisdom as a vehicle for language acquisition. While it was received by contemporaries as a monumental linguistic endeavor, it was also criticized for its idiosyncrasies. The inclusion of his original 'five centuries of new Sayings' highlights Howell’s desire to contribute actively to the evolution of the languages he documented, rather than acting solely as a passive lexicographer.