BACON, Francis, Sir (1561-1626). Certaine Miscellany Works. London: John Haviland for Humphrey Robinson, 1629.
4 parts in one, small 4to (185 x 163 mm). (Lacking A quire, comprising: A1 blank, A2, general title, A3-4, "To the Reader"; some minor toning throughout.) Contemporary calf gilt (rebacked, some light wear). Provenance: Evelyn Philip Shirley (1812-1882), British politician (armorial bookplate).
FIRST EDITION. Certaine Miscellany Works marks the first appearance of three of the four tracts included herein: Considerations Touching An Holy Warre with Spaine, An Offer to Our Late Soveraigne King James..., and The History of the Raigne of King Henry the Eighth. The first tract in particular attracted a firestorm of controversy for its vehemently militaristic appeal for Britain to go to war against Spain. Writing in the preface (not present here), editor William Rawley criticized Bacon's essay as a "corrupt and surreptitious edition." This edition nonetheless represents the only version of this work printed in the 17th century. ESTC S100333; STC 1124.
This lot is located in Chicago.
