The Life of Sir Thomas More, Kt, Lord High Chancellour of England under K. Henry the Eighth, and His Majesty's Embassadour to the Courts of France and Germany
London: Printed for James Woodman and David Lyon, 1726. First London edition (?). Hardcover. Octavo. xxxi,336,[15]pp. Blind-tooled calf, black title-label with gold lettering. Raised bands. Binding protected by modern mylar. Frontispiece engraving of Thomas More. Title-page printed in red and black. Captivating account of the life of Sir Thomas More (1478-1535). More was an English lawyer, statesman, author, social philosopher as well as a noted Renaissance humanist. He was an important counselor to King Henry VIII and in the last years of his life serves as Lord Chancellor. More opposed Henry VIII separation from the papal church and denied that the king was the Supreme Head of the Church of England. In 1534 he was imprisoned in the Tower of London for his refusal to take the oath required by the First Succession Act which was passed by the Parliament of England in March 1534. The oath acknowledged the anti-Papal powers of Parliament in matters of religion. A year after More was arrested he was tried for treason and beheaded. Fifteen pages of Index in rear, as published. Front and rear boards almost detached but holding. Some age wear, staining and scuffing on binding. Head and tail of spine slightly chipped. Some water staining on front and rear endpapers. Sporadic foxing to first and last few pages & margins of leaves, usual rippling to pages. Binding in fair, interior in overall very good condition. g. Item #28301
Price: $500.00