Very scarce edition of Nathaniel Crouch's [Pseud. Robert Burton]. No copies on the market in any edition, and this an attractive little example. Crouch [1632-1725] was considered one of the great tale-tellers of the era; both author and bookseller, he had an eye for interesting histories at the extremities of human experience. He published works on witchcraft, supernatural phenomena, and our present work, on martyrs.
An excellent, lively narration of the various persecutions of the Albigenses and Waldensians, Hussites, Huguenots, Covenanters, etc. Naive woodcut illustrations as well.
Burton, Robert [Pseud. Nathaniel Crouch]. Martyrs in the Flames: Or, The History of Popery. Displaying the Horrid Persecutions and Cruelties exercised upon Protestants by the Papists, for many hundred Years past: In Piedmont, France with the Massacre at Paris, Orange, Bohemia, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Italy, Spain with the Bloody Inquisition, Portugal, Holland, Flanders, Ireland with the Massacre in 1641, and England. Third Edition. London. Printed for A. Bettesworth at the Red-Lyon, and J. Batley at the Dove, in Pater-noster-Row. 1729. 188pp + Catalogue.
Attractive little 12mo binding in probably 20th century bark paper binding. Slightly naive, but quite charming for al that. The frontis is present and neatly relaid, the remainder of the text is complete, including all integral woodcuts, and good, though a bit handled. Catalogue pages a bit mussed in margins, just impacting a few letters.
