THOMSON, Ebenezer.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Select Monuments of the Doctrine and Worship of the Catholic Church in England Before the Norman Conquest. First edition thus of this elegantly produced translation of Ælfric's Easter homily regarding Protestant interpretations of the Eucharist and the doctrine of transubstantiation. Despite its Protestant orientation, the work's inclusion of the word "Catholic" in the title appears as a strategic editorial decision, intended to lend the work greater historical or theological weight. A contemporary reviewer noted: "It is here put forth with a new 'Catholic' title page, and adorned with illustrations so apt and orthodox that they might deceive the Congregation of the Index, or even the Pope and his Cardinals" (The Athenaeum, p. 201). Translations of Ælfric's Paschal homily were frequently undertaken by Protestants, who sought to align early Anglo-Saxon Christian writings with emerging Protestant theology and to question the legitimacy of Catholic doctrines. Provenance: Robin de Beaumont (1926-2023), with his bookplate and pencil annotations to the verso of front free endpaper. Beaumont was the president of the Private Libraries Association, a benefactor to the British Museum, and a prominent book collector of Victorian fine bindings.

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