Hildersam [or Hildersham], Arthur

CLII lectures upon Psalm LI. Preached at Ashby-Delazouch in Leicester-Shire.

      Pr. by J. Raworth for Edward Brewster, London 1642 - Extensive Puritan exegesis on the most famous of the seven Penitential Psalms. Originally published posthumously in 1635 and here in its second edition, the text is decorated with woodcut head- and tailpieces and decorated capitals. Hildersam was a prominent and sometimes persecuted non-conformist divine known for his preaching; the DNB calls him a church reformer rather than a separatist. Provenance: Signature of Henry G. Weston on title-page; another inscription reads, "Betsy Colling Her Book." An early owner practiced handwriting in this volume: Several pages bear sample letters, and the final (blank) page offers additional notations (largely, a list of Colling family names) and a doodle. Folio (28.3 cm, 11.25"). [36], 815, [1] pp. (pagination skips 176-77. ESTC R20661; Wing (rev. ed.) H1978 On Hildersam, see: Dictionary of National Biography, IX, 833-35. Recent quarter calf and marbled paper-covered sides, spine with gilt-stamped leather title-label, gilt-ruled raised bands, and blind-tooled compartment decorations. Title-page institutionally pressure-stamped, with inked ownership inscription in upper portion; dedication with inked annotation in inner margin and inked numeral in lower margin; first contents page with small paper adhesion in upper portion. Pages age-toned with occasional staining; light to moderate waterstaining towards back of volume. First two leaves with margins chipped. One leaf with lower outer corner torn away, not touching text. Several pages with early inked notes and doodles as above. All edges red; fore-edge with an old "H" recording onetime shelving fore-edge out. [Attributes: Hard Cover]