- Title: The Religion of Protestants: A Safe Way to Salvation
- Author: William Chillingworth
- Printed by Leonard Lichfield to be sold by John Clarke under St. Peter’s Church in Cornhill
- Estimated year of printing: 1638
Notes:
Bookplate: Gerald E. Aylmer
Handwritten name on title page: W. Axon
This is the second-oldest book in my collection, at almost 400 years old. It’s in good condition, with original calfskin binding. It’s a historically relevant book, arguing in favor of Protestantism, which was a controversial topic in the 1600s.
This book and the people who created it are intertwined with the English Civil War which would begin in 1642, a few years after this book was published. The book includes a lengthy dedication to Charles I, who became King of England in 1625. Charles quarreled with the English Parliament, which sought to curb his powers, while Charles believed in the divine right of kings and was determined to govern according to his own conscience. He also was distrusted by large numbers of English citizens, who saw him as too aligned with the Roman Catholic Church. A war was waged between Charles and the armies of the English and Scottish parliaments.
The author, William Chillingworth (1602-1644), a controversial English churchman, took part in these battles in support of the King, during which he took ill and died. The printer of this book, Leonard Lichfield (1604 – 1657), was employed by the King during the war to print official declarations and other public papers. Eventually Charles surrendered to the Parliamentarian army and was captured at Oxford. After this, the printer Lichfield was ordered into heavy penalties and reduced to poverty. Charles was executed for treason in 1649, at which point the monarchy was abolished. After several years of rule by parliament, his son Charles II eventually became King in 1660 and the monarchy was restored.
This book was one in a series of back-and-forth books debating Protestantism vs. Catholicism. The Catholic Edward Knott had written a book, Charity Mistaken (1630), to which the Protestant Christopher Potter had responded by authoring a pamphlet under the direction of the King. Knott in turn responded with another book entitled Mercy and Truth (1634). William Chillingworth intervened in the debate by authoring this book in response to Knott. Overall, the book is a chapter-by-chapter, point-by-point rebuttal of the arguments put forth by Knott.
The book was previously owned by Gerald E. Aylmer (1926 – 2000), who was a noted historian of 17th century England. He was the Master of St. Peter’s College at Oxford and was the President of the Royal Historical Society between 1984 and 1988. There is also handwriting indicating it was previously owned by William Axon (1846 – 1913), who was an English librarian, antiquary, and journalist for the Manchester Guardian.
Historical context:
When this book was published in 1638, Charlies I was King of England. The Pilgrims had travelled on the Mayflower and founded Plymouth colony 18 years earlier in 1620. Harvard College was founded in 1636 and would be the recipient of the first printing press imported to what would become the United States, arriving at Boston in 1638.