453

Saint Bede the Venerable (673-735)

Historie of the Church of Englande.

Antwerp: John Laet, 1565.
First English translation by Thomas Stapleton; quarto, lacking title and first leaf of Stapleton's dedication; illustrated with 3 text woodcuts (one nearly full page); a rough copy, with edges trimmed at an angle (not 90 degrees) with losses to headlines and bottom margins; some stains and amateurish embellishments of initials.

[Bound with] Thomas Stapleton's (1535-1598) A Fortresse of the Faith, Antwerp: Imprinted by Jhon Laet, 1565; quarto, contents stained and trimmed with loss; occasional exuberant marginal doodles; the two bound together in later full calf, rebacked; ex libris Warrington Museum with armorial bookplate; 7 x 5 1/4 in. (2)

Bede: STC 1778; ESTC S101386; Pforzheimer, 55; Stapleton: STC 23232; ESTC S117792.

Published while Mary, Queen of Scots reigned, these two very Catholic works saw light of day during the brief period when the Romish faith was accepted in the British Isles. By harking back to the Venerable Bede's era, Stapleton sought to reconnect the British people to their Catholic faith. He left for Douai when Elizabeth ascended to the throne.

  • Condition: Bede: *3-6 (lacking *1-2), >4, ||4, A-Z4, AA-ZZ4, AAA-CCC4. Stapleton: A4, b-z4, Aa-Rr4, Ss1-3 (lacking final leaf of table, Ss4).

    Please contact us to request a condition report:
    Devon Eastland, Senior Specialist: [email protected]
    Grace Meschery-McCormack, Cataloguer: [email protected]


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April 23, 2026 10:30 AM EDT
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