A Briefe Examination for the Tyme of a certaine declaration, lately put in print in the name and defence of certaine Ministers in London, refusyng to weare the apparell prescribed by the lawes and orders of the Realme. [with] Doctissimo viro D. Martino Bucero theologiæ in academia Cantabrigiensi professori regio, Thomas Cantuariensis.

First edition. The vestments controversy ostensibly concerned clerical dress but grew to encompass the notion of Nonconformity in church practices. The debate reached a peak in 1566 with the publication of Robert Crowley’s A Briefe Discourse Against the Outwarde Apparel of the Popishe Church to which this is a response attributed to Archbishop Matthew Parker (1504-1575). The second work includes correspondence between the Bish op John Hopper (c.1495-1555), the theologian Peter Martyr Vermigli (1499-1562), and the Protestant reformer Martin Bucer (1491-1551). Description 84pp. Collation: *1-*64, *72, A-D4 Two works in one, likely printed together, usually found together. Black letter, many woodcut initials (the first ‘S’ woodcut block printed upside-down) and manicules, red edges, ink inscription in an old hand to 2*2 “The solicitours of these orders were bluddy persecutours”. Title browned, margins frayed and small portion of restoration at gutter, a few ff. closely shaved, D1-D4 with restoration and repair to upper corner and fore-margin with some loss to text. Bound with extensive handwritten extracts from John Hooper’s seven sermons (1550), plus extensive notes on other works linked to the vestments controversy and catalogue cut outs, written in a late 19th century hand. Binding - 19th century blindstamped sheepskin, gilt lettering to spine; edges worn. Provenance 1. Bt. at Egerton’s, Whitehall, 1801 (ink inscription to foot o f title). 2. M. H. Bloxam (bookplate and ink notes). 3. Rugby School Library (bookplate). 4. Fox Pointe Collection, Linda and Dr Howard Knohl (bookplate) References I: STC 10387; USTC 506527; II: STC 3962 Institutional Copies No copies recorded outside the UK and USA.…