[MORE, Cresacre]

£4,750 · Offered by Sokol Books

A good copy of the uncommon second edition of this biography of Sir - and later Saint - Thomas More, High Chancellor to Henry VIII from October 1529-May 1532, by his great-grandson. It had been erroneously ascribed to More s brother, whom Cresacre attributes the work to in the opening epistle, but the printed signature M.C.M.E points to the Latin name Magister Cresacre More Eborancensis . The work was dedicated to queen Henrietta Maria (1609-1649), who was openly and devoutly Catholic. More, who was knighted in 1521, was later Speaker of the House of Commons, High Steward of Cambridge University and Lord Chancellor a saint to the Catholic and a predecessor of Marx to the Communist (Printing and the Mind of Man 47). He was ultimately executed in 1535, largely due to his refusal to acknowledge Henry VIII as head of the Catholic Church in England. . .Cresacre More sets out his treatise in 12 chapters, exploring aspects of his forefather s education, career and character, and concludes with a short bibliographical chapter on his main written works: Life of Richard III , Utopia and rebuttal of Luther s attack on Henry VIII. The biography begins with More s early years, exploring his lineage, education at St. Anthony s and religious training under Cardinal Morton (c.1420-1500), Archbishop of Canterbury and High Chancellor. He is praised for his integrity within the legal profession and for his patience, mirth and piety. The text briefly recounts his friendships and difficult relati

• Binding: Hardcover

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.