Author: Bede, Venerable.
Title: THE HISTORY OF THE CHVRCH OF ENGLANDE Translated out of Latin into English by Thomas Stapleton Student in Diuinite. Imprinted at Antwerp By Iohn Laet, at the signe of the Rape: with priuilege, Anno. 1565. First Edition in English. [14], 192, [4] leaves. 180mm x 130mm. Title page device, full-page woodcuts on H3r and V1r and half-page woodcut on N4r, all showing scenes relating to the conversion of King Ethelbert of Kent, numerous decorative intitial letters. Soiled title page with closed tear and fraying with loss to fore-edge and lacking portion across tail affecting publishers details with restoration and silking also affecting woodcut of E.R. Coat of Arms to verso within ornamental border, first leaf of dedication with sm. worm? hole, Leaf 10 with sm. closed tear, text cropped to head and fore-edge of leaves with occasional loss to running title and side-notes and affecting top line of text of preliminary leaves >1 and >4, early ownership inscription to title page, occasional marginalia. [Bound with] A FORTRESSE OF THE FAITH first planted amonge vs englishmen, and continued hitherto in the vniuersall Church of Christ. The faith of which time protestants call, papistry. By Thomas Stapleton student in diuinite. Imprinted at Antwerpe : by Ihon Laet, with priuilege, 1565. 1st Edition. 162, [2] leaves. Title page device, decorative initial letters, decorative devices. Text cropped to head and fore-edge of leaves with occasional loss to running title and side-notes and leaf numbers, last leaf with loss and restoration to blank portion, penultimate leaf silked.
Description: , 2 works bound together as issued. Sm. 4to. Some browning, rebound in modern gilt lettered tan morocco. ¶ First work STC (2nd ed.) 1778; ESTC S101386. First edition in English of this work which had been the earliest of all mediaeval historical works to appear in print and the most important work of the Monk of Jarrow. Completed in 731 the main theme, presented in literary form, is the history of the Anglo-Saxon church from St. Augustine’s mission to 731. The introduction covers the early history of England up to the Anglo-Saxon invasion and settlement and the final part contains a brief chronological summary of the important events in the body of the work, an account of Bede’s life and writings and a prayer. Bede’s grasp of historical method, his naming of authorities and other sources of information and his system of dating from the incarnation were all unique in the middle ages and are the reason why his Ecclesiastical History has retained its reputation and value. Second work STC (2nd ed.), 23232; ESTC S117792. ‘Based on material in: the Venerable Bede. Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum ... Imprimatur on verso of title page:’ Stapleton a catholic controversialist, left England soon after Queen Elizabeth’s accession in 1558. He remained in self imposed exile until his death some forty years later. His writings were highly esteemed by Pope Clement VIII and he was one of the English writers on whose information Pius V mainly relied when he issued his bull against Queen Elizabeth (1570). In the above work Stapleton exhorts the English by reference to Bede’s Ecclesiastical History and to other historical and biblical precedents to return to the traditional "Papist" faith.

Keywords: HISTORY; HISTORY


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