Spiera, Francesco — (Celio Secondo Curione)

8vo (6 1/8 x 3 3/4in.; 155 x 95 mm), α⁸ a-m⁸, woodcut initials, eighteenth-century half calf, spine gilt in compartments with red morocco lettering pieces; first and last few leaves worn, fore-edge of h3 cut away, binding slightly worn and rubbed.

Bishop Hugh Latimer, one of two books known from his library, presentation copy to him — Andrew Gifford (1700-1784, minister of the Baptist Church Bristol, assistant librarian at the British Museum from 1757), armorial bookplate, his library bequeathed to — Bristol Baptist College, name on lettering-piece on spine. acquisition: Maggs Bros. 

Adams S1605; a variant of VD16 F1979, which has an identical setting but states "Basileae MDL" at foot of the title-page;
M.A. Overell, "The exploitation of Francesco Spiera," The Sixteenth Century Journal 26 (1995), 619-637

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Francesco Spiera (1498-1548), a lawyer from Cittadella near Padua, became interested in Calvinism in 1542, and his house in Padua became a meeting place for Protestants both Italian and foreign. In 1548 he was summoned to Venice to face the Inquisition, in front of whom he adjured his views (in particular the Calvinist doctrine of salvation by faith alone), but he later despaired of his public recantation and the resulting mental anguish caused his death in December 1548. He became a cause célèbre of the Protestant world, and this highly charged account of his demise was written by leading Protestants of the time, in the manner of the ars moriendi tradition, and continued to be employed, particularly in England, for the next three hundred years.

It is now thought that Spiera's views were close to those of the spirituali in Italy, which included prominent figures such as Cardinals Pole and Morone, but during the 1540s the climate changed as the Council of Trent progressed and the Catholic Church became more hardline. Those present at Spiera's deathbed included Pier Paolo Vergerio, bishop of Capodistria, Matteo Gribaldi, Henry Scrymgeour of Scotland, and Sigismund Gelous of Transylvania, all Protestants. Shortly afterwards, Vergerio left the dangerous climate of Italy for good. The authors named in this volume include Curione, Vergerio, Borrhaus, Gribaldi, and Scrymgeour.