Author: Anon, but attributed to Peter Walsh (1618?-1688)
Title: THE ADVOCATE OF CONSCIENCE LIBERTY OR AN APOLOGY FOR TOLERATION RIGHTLY STATED shewing the Obligatory Injunctions and Precepts for Christian Peace and Charity.
Description: [London acc. to Wing], Publisher not identified 1673 . Octavo (165x105mm) in darkened calf-covered boards, neatly repaired, with remnants of original spine leather, [viii]+310pp+[2]pp blank. Titlepage missing upper right corner but text not affected, staining to lower edge throughout but not affecting text. Ink ownership dated 1750/1 at top of titlepage, another ("Catherine Sponer") on verso of final blank. Fore-edge staining/soiling, mainly to beginning and end, expecially in bottom left hand corner, but not affecting readability. Corners rounded but with good margins throughout. *Peter Walsh was born in County Kildare. He was guardian of the Franciscan friary at Kilkenny 1648-1650, and then served as chaplain to Castlehaven’s army in Munster. All Catholic clergy captured by the Cromwellians were executed and Walsh, in danger of death, fled Ireland, eventually to London where he lived obscurely until the Restoration. Walsh remained a devout adherent of the Catholic Church, but kept friendly relations with the Anglicans. He wrote (1672-1684) a series of controversial letters against Pope Gregory VII's doctrine of papal supremacy, a History of the Remonstrance (1674) and various other works critical of his fellow Catholics. This book - very rare in its first edition as here - is usually attributed to him. It argues for tolerance between religious factions, calling for true liberty of conscience. It condemns persecution in relation to religion, arguing that Catholics have as much right to be tolerated as Recusants. As long as other faiths hold doctrines that are consistant with peace and government they should be allowed to follow their conscience. Such writings put Walsh at odds with the Catholic church, but before his death in 1688 may have influenced King James II`s 1687 declaration of indulgence (referenced by Wing W627).

Keywords: Religious toleration Catholic Ireland


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