The Countermine, or, A short but true Discovery of the Dangerous Principles and Secret Practices of the Dissenting Party, Especially the Presbyterians (1677)
Description
The Countermine, or, A short but true Discovery of the Dangerous Principles and Secret Practices of the Dissenting Party, Especially the Presbyterians (1677)
by John Nalson
Full Title: The Countermine, or, A short but true Discovery of the Dangerous Principles and Secret Practices of the Dissenting Party, Especially the Presbyterians : Shewing That Religion is Pretended but Rebellion is Intended. And in order thereto, The Foundation of Monarchy in the State, and Episcopacy in the Church are Undermined.
7 x 4 ½. In English. Printed for Jonathon Edwin, London, 1677. FIRST EDITION. Complete with all 317 pages; plus indexes, prefaces, and such. Very nicely rebacked to include the preservation of original owner’s bookplate, with recently restored boards and corners. Flat spine divided into panels by double gilt rules. Red label with bright gilt title, “SECRET PRACTICES OF THE DISSENTING PARTY.” Pastedowns and endpapers in good shape. Some browning to fore edges, especially in the first few leaves. Text mostly crisp and clean, though there may be the occasional page with some imperfection such as occasional foxing, a slight stain, or other minor quirk that comes with a book this age. Recent restorations make this a very collectable copy. First nor early editions are commonly seen in the marketplace.
John Nalson (1638 – 1686), who presents this particular work “passionately and with the prosperity of the Church, his King and Country,” was an English clergyman, historian and early Tory pamphleteer. He was an active polemical writer on the side of the Government (a “Royalist’) during the latter part of the reign of Charles II. In a petition addressed to the King in 1682, Nalson describes himself as having published “a number of treatises for the vindicating of truth and his majesty's prerogative in church and state from the aspersions of the dissenters.” The first of these was 'The Countermine,' published in 1677, which quickly went through three editions given its popularity. Though published anonymously (hence the title page), its authorship was soon discovered. The Parliament of 1678, in which the opposition, whom he had attacked, had the majority and resolved to call Nalson to account: “What you have done,” said the Speaker, “was beneath the gravity of your calling and a desertion of your profession.” Undeterred by this experience, he published several other pamphlets.
Price: $545
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Inventory Number: 78099
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