An Easy and Compendious Introduction for reading all sorts of Histories: contrived in a more facile way then heretofore hath been published; out of the papers of Mathias Prideaux, Mr of Arts, and sometime fellow of Exeter Colledge in Oxford.

Prideaux’s textbook standard on World History with anti-papist flair described popes as good, tolerable or "Usurping Nimrods," a "Synopsis of Councels" later added by his father. 4to (195 x 140mm). Pagination: [8], 1-256, [2], 257-351, [37], 1-58 [i.e. 59], [4] p. In three parts, the last two each have a unique title, dated 1669 and 1670, respectively. The "Synopsis" has a unique title dated 1671. Signatures: A-Xx(4); Woodcut chapter headpiece on dedication and chapter openings. Period English calf. Front cover detached, edges lightly rubbed, some light browning and staining throughout. Engraved armorial bookplate of Wm. Cornwallis (about 1700), a "lost" family. The Cornwallis family, notably Charles (1738-1805), were British peers, but a relation could not be established to this earlier member. Pictorial bookplate to front free endpaper and ink stamp to title of Pacific School of Religion. Wonderful survival given its known popular use. Rare fifth edition, corrected and augmented, but generally thought to be more curious than useful. For instance, the chapters on the popes are headed "Good Bishops, Tollerable Arch-Bishops, Patriarchs, Usurping Nimrods, Luxurious Sodomites, Aegyptian Magitians, Devouring Abaddons, Incurables Babylonians." Mathias Prideaux, the son of John Prideaux, Bishop of Worcester, entered Exeter College Oxford in 1640 at the age of 15. He died of smallpox in London about 1646, possibly aged 21. Written out of the papers of Mathias Prideaux, his work was no doubt edited and published by his father John Prideaux, Bishop of Worcester and Rector of Exeter College, and reached a sixth edition by 1682. Mathias Prideaux’s Histories listed philologists and historians, along with mathematicians, philosophers, physicians, lawyers and clergy, as men who deserved mentions in "The History of Professions." This was significant recognition for those professions and Prideaux’s work nominates a sort of rising prestige of history as a learned discipline. Long before university chairs of history were common, the conviction had spread that history should be regarded as a profession as well as an art. The best medieval and Tudor chroniclers and historians were industrious, honest, and perceptive, and despite his tragically cut short life Prideaux asserted himself with the best seventeenth-century writers who stressed continuity. A time-honored and "easy" textbook standard despite the troublous times of the 17th century.…