Henry. The state of Christendom: or, A most exact and curious discovery of many secret passages, and hidden mysteries of the times. Written by the renowned Sr Henry Wotton, kt. Ambassadour in Ordinary

by WOTTON

£1,250 · Offered by Henry Sotheran Ltd

WOTTON, Henry. The state of Christendom: or, A most exact and curious discovery of many secret passages, and hidden mysteries of the times. Written by the renowned Sr Henry Wotton, kt. Ambassadour in Ordinary to the most serene republique of Venice, and late provost of Eaton Colledg. London London: printed for Humphrey Moseley, and are to be sold at his shop at the Prince’s Arms in St Paul’s Church-yard. 1657. Small folio. Contemporary speckled sheep, double fillet borders in blind, rebacked, red morocco lettering piece and gilt lettering to spine; pp. [20], 262, [2 (blank)], [2], 32, with engraved portrait of the author aged 72, woodcut initials, woodcut and typographic headpieces; bound without final blank, rear free endpaper renewed; extremities slightly worn, boards a little cuffed, two small abrasions to rear board; tiny wormholes and trails to inner margin of [*]1-Ee3 (not affecting text), to L3-ad finem (occasionally touching a few letters but not affecting legibility), and lower margin of Rr3-ad finem (far from printed surface), occasional mark; a very good, clean copy. First edition of this ambitious, densely argued work, written in 1594 but unpublished until 1657, which may, in manuscript, have been instrumental in cementing the lifelong friendship between Wotton and John Donne. The State of Christendom , written when the author was twenty-four years old, is cast as a report by an English Catholic abroad who, having ‘lived many years in voluntary exile and banishmen

• Binding: Hardcover

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