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Thick 32mo. [5.25 tall x 3.25 wide x 1.75 thick]. A rather finely bound copy of this Elzevir imprint. Engraved title page. Collates complete [789, [29]p. Pagination skips from p160-p163 as in all copies, no text lacking. A good, sound copy. Some upper water marking to the early half of the text. Minor marks or light blemishes else a nice, sound copy. The works of the Roman historian & orator Publius Cornelius Tacitus [56 - 117] as edited by Justus Lipsius [1547- 1606]. Lipsius oversaw several editions through the press, improving his text each time. Bookplate to the rear of the title of one Sr.Edw.Littleton, Bart . Three baronetcies have been created in the Baronetage of England for members of the Littleton or Lyttelton family. All three lines are descended from Thomas de Littleton, a noted 15th-century jurist. Despite differences in spelling of the title, the names of all three lines were spelt in many varied ways in the early modern period, without distinction between the different branches of the family. This can be confusing, as the range of forenames in use was very limited. The Littleton family had its origins in South Lyttleton, near Evesham, Worcestershire. With the marriage of the heiress Elizabeth Littleton to Thomas Westcote, esquire, two of Elizabeth's sons, Sir Thomas and Edmund, took the surname Lyttleton or Littleton while two others, Nicholas and Guy, retained the earlier surname; Nicholas Westcote married Agnes Vernon, the daughter and heiress of Edmund Vernon, and was ancestor of the Westcotes of Staffordshire, while Guy married the daughter of one Greenevill of Gloucestershire, and was ancestor of the Westcotes of Devon and Somerset. Edmund Littleton died unmarried. Thomas de Littleton became 'one of the great law luminaries of his country, and is immortalized by one work alone, his celebrated Treatise on Tenures. He was appointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1464, and was created a Knight of the Bath in 1475. He inherited the Frankley estates from his mother. He married Joan Burley, a wealthy heiress, who was the widow of Philip Chetwynd V of Ingestre, Staffordshire. They had three sons, William, Richard and Thomas, from whom originated three lines of landed gentry in the West Midlands, all of which acquired baronetcies in the 17th century. The greater part of the wealth of Thomas and Joan passed to their eldest son, Sir William Littleton of Frankley, Worcestershire. The Frankley line acquired a baronetcy in 1618. With the fifth baronet, the title was subsumed into that of Baron Lyttelton. Remains of Pillaton Old Hall, near Penkridge, Staffordshire. The original moated manor house became ruinous, but the Gatehouse and Chapel were restored in the 1880s. Richard married Alice Winesbury or Wynnesbury, heiress of Pillaton Hall, near Penkridge, in Staffordshire. Their eldest son, Edward, inherited Alice's lands and was vigorous in acquiring lands on Cannock Chase as it was finally deforested. He was appointed Constable of Stafford Castle for life and was High Sheriff of Staffordshire on three occasions. He was the first of the line to be knighted. All subsequent Pillaton heirs were named Edward. The Baronetcy of Littleton of Pillaton Hall was created for Edward Littleton, of Pillaton Hall, in 1627. The Baronetcy became extinct in 1812 on the death of the 4th Baronet, who had moved the seat of the family to Teddesley Hall and whose heir was a nephew, Edward John Walhouse. The latter adopted the Littleton name and inherited both the Littleton lands and the Walhouse lands and investments. A prominent politician, he became Edward Littleton, 1st Baron Hatherton. Ancestors Thomas de Littleton (died 1481). Richard Littleton (died 9 Henry VIII). Sir Edward Littleton (died 1558)- MP for Staffordshire in five parliaments. Sir Edward Littleton (died 1574) - sheriff of Staffordshire 1563 Sir Edward Littleton (died 1610) - MP for Staffordshire 1604-10. Sir Edward Littleton (died 1629) - MP for Staffordshire 1624. Seller Inventory # ABE-1708185745007
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