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4to, pp. [584]; [fleur-de-lys]â A-4Câ , with genuine blanks at front and back; full contemporary brown calf, neatly rebacked with old gilt-decorated spine in 5 compartments laid down, red morocco label; nice copy. On the rear pastedown is mounted a leaf of ads: "Books printed or sold by Will. Leak at the sign of the Crown in Fleetstreet, between the two Temple-Gates," a double-column list of works beginning with "Yorks Heraldry," and ending with a series of "Playes," including The Merchant of Venice and Othello. Based on the books advertised, this advertisement dates ca. 1646-1655. With the engraved bookplate of Fairfax of Cameron, and the early ownership signature of "J. Tyrrell, 1663." Furthermore, on the verso of the title page Tyrrell has written a 8-line "Note" on the fate of the first edition of Cowell's "Treatise." J. Tyrrell is likely James Tyrrell (1642-1718), "a Commonwealthman and a friend of John Locke and Richard Cumberland, and a popularizer of their ideas. He is best known for his critique of Filmer's book on patriarchy and his dialogue Bibliotheca Politica between the Tory, Meanwell, and the Whig, Freeman" (oll.libertyfund[dot]org). This edition has "VVilliam Sheares" in the imprint, among other differences; A1r, column 1, line 6 ends "pro-". First published in 1607, suppressed by proclamation and burnt by order of the House of Commons in 1610 on the charge that the author advanced the opinion that the English monarchy was absolute. The book was reissued twice in 1637, with no priority apparent. Cowell (1554-1611), a disciple of William Bancroft, the bishop of London and later the bishop of Canterbury, devoted himself to the study of civil law, which he taught at both Oxford and Cambridge, where he was appointed vicar-general. Although the book won for Cowell an academic reputation, his discourses under the headings "king," "parliament," "prerogative," "recoveries," and "subsidies" were denounced "as insulting alike to the king and commons, and was burnt by the common hangman on 26 March, 1616" (see DNB). Alston XVIII, 39; STC 5901. Seller Inventory # 64399
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