1973 FOLIO SOCIETY "THE GUNPOWDER PLOT" ILLUSTRATED HB BOOK & SLIPCASE (P4)

1973 FOLIO SOCIETY "THE GUNPOWDER PLOT" ILLUSTRATED HB BOOK & SLIPCASE (P4)

Great vintage Folio Society hardback book from 1973 on the Gunpowder Plot. Contains illustrations. Binding and pages inside are in superb condition especially as the book is 52 years old.

This book contains the manuscript from Father Oswald Tesimond (in translation) about The Gunpowder Plot. Father Tesimond (better known under the alias of Greenway) does not appear to have been the author of the original story, which was probably in Latin and sent to Rome, or written there, for the better information of the jesuit authorities, especially Father Robert Persons and the General. The original author is thought to have been a secular priest, but he has not been identified, nor has the date of the original manuscript been ascertained. From this original Latin, John Gerard, S. J., as we may conjecture, prepared his own version in English, adding, omitting and altering as his own experience suggested. This was probably intended for circulation among the English community in Rome and elsewhere. Tesimond prepared a similar document in Italian, likewise editing and altering according to his own knowledge and experience. This was presumably intended for circulation amongst his Italian friends of whom, by the time of writing, he may well have had a considerable number. A Yorkshireman, Tesimond was educated with Guy Fawkes and John and Christopher Wright at the free school by 'Le Horse Fayre' on the outskirts of York itself. Thus his acquaintance with the plotters began early and he was reasonably well equipped to write an Italian narrative. However, his narrative shows signs of haste, and of having been broken off about two-thirds of the way through. It has all the appearances of a first draft for a more polished effort which presumably never materialized. As an historical document, this gives it the advantage of a certain spontaneity and air of candour which might have been lost in an essay more carefully elaborated. The Italian language used, again very plausibly, is that of a man who has grown rather rusty at it. He had been some ten years away from it if he began to write it in 1607 or 1608 (he had been in England since 1597) on his return to Italy.

See photos for examples of pages inside.

(P4) - Ignore this, it is my International Shipping weight code.

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