[PARSONS] | De persecutione Anglicana libellus, Rome, 1582, later vellum

The Property of the Downside Abbey General Trust

[PARSONS, ROBERT]

De persecutione Anglicana libellus. Rome: Giorgio Ferrari for Bartolomeo Grassi and Cesare Ferrari (Vincenzo Accolti), 1582

8vo (160 x 107mm.), woodcut arms of Cardinal Filippo Boncompagni on title-page with the surrounding cardinal's hat printed in red, woodcut printer's device above colophon, 6 engraved plates at end, later vellum, plates slightly stained

A work on the sufferings of the English Catholics, following the trial and execution of Edmund Campion and others; for the official "versions" of the trial, see lots 9 and 11. Unlike Campion, Parsons managed to flee England and spent the rest of his life in exile.

This short treatise was printed many times in 1581 and 1582, in Latin (as here), Italian and English, in Rome, Bologna, Paris and Douai, though this is the first printing to contain the plates.

LITERATURE:

Allison & Rogers I 876; Edit16 46035

PROVENANCE:

"Juliani Blanchii", inscription on title-page dated 1757; John Burns, inscription dated July 12 1921