The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian People called Quakers, intermixed with several remarkable occurrences. Written originally in Low-Dutch by William Sewel, and by himself translated into English. Now revis'd and publish'd, with some amendments

Willem SEWEL

Published by London: printed and sold by the assigns of J. Sowle, 1722

About this Item

Folio. 20th-century quarter morocco, retaining original lettering-label, Cockerell marbled boards, new endpapers. Spine slightly faded, pages a little foxed and marked. With the pencilled ownership signature of David J. Hall, writer of the author's ODNB entry. Willem, or William, Sewel (1653-1720) had English origins - his grandfather emigrated to Holland from Kidderminster - and was the author of a New Dictionary English and Dutch / Nieuw woordenboek der Nederduytsche en Engelsche taale (1691) before publishing Histori van de opkomste, aanwas, en voortgang der Christenen, bekend by den naam van Quakers (1717). "Sewel based his work on notes compiled over a long period," writes Hall (ODNB), "on the published sources he collected, and on correspondence with English Friends. The London yearly meeting appears to have gathered historical material to assist him once the English version was in prospect. His history attempted to set down, more comprehensively than previous accounts, an accurate record of the history of the Friends, and his use of George Fox's Journal may have had more influence in the eighteenth century than direct reading of the Journal. Material was added to, removed from, and edited, in the English version of the History, taking account of the views of the meeting for sufferings in London and playing down Sewel s original accounts of some of the extreme or eccentric behaviour by occasional early Friends. Regularly reprinted, his History remained a standard source until the early twentieth century, despite the publication of several other works in the intervening period.".

Seller Inventory # 30M100552

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian People called Quakers, intermixed with several remarkable occurrences. Written originally in Low-Dutch by William Sewel, and by himself translated into English. Now revis'd and publish'd, with some amendments
• Publisher: London: printed and sold by the assigns of J. Sowle
• Publication Date: 1722
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good