[William Howard] - Procès de Guillaume, vicomte de Stafford, pour crime de haute trahison - 1681

First French edition of the trial of Viscount William Howard (1614-1680), translated and published in 1631, only a few months after his execution.

In 1678, he was involved in the popish plot, a false conspiracy fabricated entirely by anti-Catholics during the reign of Charles II of England, and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. He was subsequently found guilty of treason and executed.

The trial, before the House of Lords, lasted from November 30 to December 7 and was conducted with great solemnity. However, no attempt was made to assess the false testimonies of Oates, Dugdale, and Tuberville, and the viscount was, of course, condemned by 55 votes to 31. It is sad to note that all his relatives, except for one (who was Lord Mowbray, with whom he had several of the legal conflicts mentioned above), voted against him. His last letters and speeches are imbued with a serene dignity and simple heroism, which give us a high opinion of his character. His fellow prisoner and confessor, Father Corker, O.S.B., said: “He was always considered generous, very charitable, pious, sober, kind in his words, and passionate about justice.”

Bound in a solid full vellum binding with overlapping covers; smooth and unmarked spine. In very good condition. One corner slightly rubbed, discreet marks on the covers. Interior fresh and clean, about ten pages browned. Rare foxing. Good copy, uncommon.

William Howard
Trial of Guillaume, Viscount of Stafford, for the crime of high treason. Accused by the House of Commons of conspiring against the life of the King... Translated from the original English...
Pierre Marteau, Cologne, 1681
In-16 (13 x 8cm). 703pp.