Providence. An Allegorical Poem. In Three Books

First edition. Small quarto. xiii, 192pp. Frontispiece and three engraved plates by A. Walker. Nineteenth century marbled boards neatly rebacked in period-style quarter calf, gilt decorated spine, later brown endpapers. Small owner printed book label on front pastedown with faint penciled notation on front fly, chipping at the board edges, small abrasions on rear board, very good. Ogilvie became a Catholic priest in 1613 and requested to be sent to Scotland in order to preach to the remaining Catholics in the Glasgow area where endorsing Catholicism had become illegal. Disguised as a horse trader going by the name of John Watson he ministered in secret before being discovered and arrested. Refusing to pledge his allegiance to King James he was tried and hanged at the age of 36. He was canonized on October 17, 1976 becoming the only post-Reformation Scottish saint. His feat day is celebrated on October 14 throughout most of the world.