Bryef & Short Declaracyon Made: Whereby Every Chrysten Man May Knowe, What Is a Sacrament. Of what partes a sacramente consysteth and is made, for what intent sacramentes were instituted, and what is the pryncypall effect of sacramentes, and finally of the abuse of the sacrament of chrystes body and bloud

Full Description: TRACY, Richard. A Bryef & Short Declaracyon Made, Whereby Every Chrysten Man May Knowe, What Is a Sacrament. Of what partes a sacramente consysteth and is made, for what intent sacramentes were instituted, and what is the pryncypall effect of sacramentes, and finally of the abuse of the sacrament of chrystes body and bloud. London: Robert Stoughton, [1548]. First and only edition. Sixteenmo (5 1/2 x 3 3/8 inches; 140 x 85 mm). 30 pp. Black letter. Bound without final blank. Nineteenth-century full black morocco. Boards ruled in gilt. Spine lettered in gilt. Board edges tooled in gilt. Gilt dentelles. All edges gilt. Brown coated endpapers. Previous owner "Zion Research Library" bookplate on front pastedown. Rear pastedown with evidence of a removed bookplate. Invisible repair to the inner gutter of title-page. Spine with some rubbing. Still, overall a very good copy. "First and only edition of this treatise on the meaning and abuse of a sacrament by Richard Tracy (d. 1569), a protestant reformer, who was often in or out of favor with the court. He was a thorough scholar on St. Augustine whom he often quotes in this tract, which he wrote in November 1548 during the discussions in convocation and parliament which preceded the issue of Edward VPs first Book of Common Prayer." (Kraus). "One of two treatises published by Tracy in this year opposing transubstantiation by reference to pre-medieval traditions (particularly Augustine). The author (d. 1569) was the son of William Tracy (d.1530), who adopted Luther's religious views and who was associated with Tyndale and Frith. In a sensational episode the father's remains were exhumed and burnt at the stake by Archbishop Warham after his will-which expressed belief in justification by faith-was declared heretical. Richard inherited his father's views and wrote his first treatise in 1533. In 1535 his writings were classed as 'dangerous', and on 7 July 1546-following Cromwell's fall-his books were ordered to be burnt. William de Tracy, the murderer of Thomas a Becket, is said to have belonged to the same family" (Sotheby's) ESTC S118530. HBS 69557. $10,000. …