VERGIL, Polydore.
Urbinatis Anglicć Historić Libri Vigintiseptem. Ab ipso autore postremum iam recogniti, adque amussim, salua tamen historić veritate, expoliti...
Basileć [Basle]: Apud Mich. Isingrinium [Michael Isingrin] 1555. Folio in 6s, (ii), 691, (37 Index, 2) pp. Printer’s device to title and verso of final leaf, some worming and mostly light marginal damp staining at the beginning and the end, woodcut borders to two early leaves with some subtle old hand colouring, one with a small hole burnt through, bookplate of George Becher Blomfield, Canon of Chester. 19th century half calf, rather worn, spine with some cracking, marbled paper sides, a few small holes to joints. Born in Italy, Vergil came to England in 1501 or 1502 and except for a short period of imprisonment in 1515 enjoyed the patronage of the King with a series of clerical appointments. It was Henry VIII himself who asked Vergil to compose this history, and his researches led him to be in regular contact with many of the scholars of the day. Although his imprisonment had made him an enemy of Wolsey and subsequently skewed the opinions of generations of historians concerning the Cardinal, the work as a whole was massive influential. “Vergil's historical method was far in advance of anything that England had then known. Unlike preceding chroniclers, he wrote a history on modern lines, attempted to weigh authorities, and told a connected story. As an authority he is invaluable for the reign of Henry VII, with whose aims and character he thoroughly sympathised, and he realised fully the changes which marked the passing away of the middle ages... The substance of his history became... common property” (DNB). Adams V448. First published 1534 with another edition in 1546, this edition extended the period covered up to 1538.
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