John Knox - The history of the reformation of religion within the realm of Scotland - 1761

Rare edition of the famous work by John Knox (1514-1572), reformer of the Scottish Church, written between 1559 and 1567.

Published in 1761 in Glasgow, this edition includes the author's life and various pieces; an admonition to England and Scotland by Anthony Gilby, the first and second books of Discipline, an act of Parliament, and an important index.

Adorned with a beautiful engraved portrait of the author on the frontispiece.

Bound in full brown calf from the period, with spine nerves highlighted by cold lines, featuring an ochre title piece with gilded lettering.
In good condition despite the binding being slightly damaged; scuffs and epidermures, missing leather at the foot, worn-down headbands, pierced corners. Spine split for 5cm.
Two-column text. Well-preserved interior, very lightly yellowed paper, rare foxing. Discreet annotations on the front endpaper and within the text.

Knox's work has been used as a historical source since its complete publication in 1644.

In 1559, during the Scottish Reformation, the leaders of the Protestant nobility, called the Lords of the Congregation, asked John Knox to write a history of the movement. This initial work became the second book of his History. In 1566, Knox continued writing the work, notably the third part covering the events leading up to the arrival of Mary, Queen of Scots, in Scotland. He mainly worked on the first and fourth books at that time. The first covers the beginnings of the Scottish Reformation up to 1559, while the fourth deals with the events from 1561 to 1564.

The fifth book, published for the first time in 1644 by David Buchanan, covers the period from September 1564 to August 1567, up to the abdication of Mary. However, the author of this fifth book remains uncertain: some believe it was Buchanan himself, but this remains a mystery.

John Knox (born around 1514 in Haddington and died on November 24, 1572, in Edinburgh) is the reformer (or founder) of the Scottish Church through his liturgy: The Book of Common Order, which breaks with the Latin liturgical tradition. Collaborator of John Calvin, he organized the Presbyterian Church and was one of the figures of the Scottish Reformation initiated in 1528.

Provenance: Armored ex-libris bearing the mention "Fortis in Arduis". Findlay.

John Knox
The history of the Reformation of religion within the realm of Scotland.
containing the manner and by what persons the light of Christ's gospel has been manifested unto this realm, after that horrible and universal defection from the truth which has come by the means of that Roman anti Christ. Together with the life of the author, and several curious pieces ...
Glasgow, J. Galbraith and Company 1761
in-8 (22 x 17cm); 558pp