127d Fuller, Thomas. (1608-1661) The Historie of the Holy Warre; by Thomas Fuller, B.D. prebendarie of Sarum, late of Sidney Colledge in Cambridge. The third edition.

Cambridge: Printed by Roger Daniel, and are to be sold by John Williams at the signe of the Crown in Pauls Church-Yard, 1647

$1,500

Folio, 10.8 x 7.2 in. Third edition. A8, B-Z6, Aa-Cc6, Dd7. The full paged, engraved frontispiece depicts the Europeans leaving their home, reaching the Temple of the Sepulchre in Jerusalem, and returning to Europe. The “Declaration of the Frontispice” describes this illustration. Also included within the text is a folding map of the Holy Land. This copy is bound in modern quarter calf over marbled boards. Overall the leaves are in good condition with only minor intermittent dampstaining that does not hinder legibility.

This was Fuller’s first book of note, it focuses on the history of the Crusades. In it, he describes the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem by the Romans under Titus; how Judea was “dispeopled of Jews” by Adrian the Emperor; the deluge of the Saracens in Syria; the causes of the “farre-spreading of Mahometanisme;” the origin and “increase” of the Turks; the Turks conquering the Saracens, and taking Jerusalem. On a philosophical level, he even approaches topics like the lawfulness of the Holy war, and “Reasons against the Holy warre.” Fuller traces the history of the holy war from the year 132 to 1298. He also includes a ‘Chronologie.’

“The chronologie is marshalled into Ranks and Files: The Ranks, or transverse spaces contain twenty years on a side; the Files, or columns directly downward, are appropriated to those several States whose names they bear.” The table that Fuller has made is very interesting and complete and is a great supplement to the prose work. There is also a fair amount in this work on the Templars, who of course were the principal soldiers in the Crusades.

Wing F-2438