his most important work
GODWIN, Francis, Bishop.
De praesulibus Angliae commentarius:omnium episcoporm, necnon et cardinaleium eiusdem gentis, nomina, tempora, seriem, atque actiones maximè memorabiles ab ultima antiquitate repetita complexus...
London: [by William and Stansby and Elliot's Court Press,] "ex officina Nortoniana, apud Joannem Billum," 1616.
Small 4to (185 × 130 mm.), pp. [xvi], 664, 180. Woodcut device to title, large woodcut initials and head- and tailpieces, occasional later annotations. Contemporary reversed calf, spine with four raised bands, calf label lettered in gilt, expert repair to spine, joints and corners. A very good copy.
First Latin edition, expanded from Godwin's Catalogue of the bishops of England, since the first planting of Christian religion in this island, together with a briefe history of their lives and memorable actions, so neere as can be gathered out of antiquity (George Bishop, 1601). Godwin, Bishop of Landaff, was one of that group of scholars educated in the 1580s and 90s who developed a taste for history and antiquarianism and who helped to rewrite the history of the British Isles. His friends included both William Camden and Sir Robert Cotton.The Catalogue of Bishops was intended as a complete biographical register, though some of the lives run to only a few lines. It can be interpreted as one of several attempts to formalise the history of the Church of England in the face of Catholic and Puritan criticism. The Latin edition was significant as a vehicle for making this important British work available to the international audience. It incorporates the enlargements made to the Catalogue in the edition of 1615, including Godwin's discourse on the first conversion of the Britain to christianity.
STC 11947.
£650.00
US$1292.13*
* Given as a guide only. Based on an exchange rate of £1 = US$1.987896 for the day 5 July 2008 but liable to fluctuate.
5 July 2008