KNIGHT, Samuel

The Life of Dr. John Colet, Dean of S. Paul's In the Reigns of K. Henry VII, and Henry VIII. and Founder of S. Paul's School: With an Appendix containing some Account of the Masters and more Eminent Scholars of that Foundation; and Several Origina

      J. Downing, London., 1724. First edition. Octavo. pp. xiii (1), 494 + 2 pp Table + 4 pp Contents and Index + 11 pp List of Subscribers. Finely engraved frontispiece of Dr Colet; seven engraved plates. Full leather, professionally rebacked with nineteenth-century spine, raised bands, lettered in gilt. New endpapers. John Colet (c.1467 - 1519) anticipated Protestantism in that he attacked abuses and idolatry in the Church, believing that the study of the Bible was the only route to holiness. A case of heresy was brought against him by the Bishop of London but this was dismissed. He went on to become Dean of St Paul's. A leading exponent of Humanism and friend and patron of Erasmus, he included among his other achievements the endowment of St Paul's school in 1509-12 using the fortune he inherited from his father. Very good, internally clean, copy. Bookplate.