BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER | The Book of Common Prayer. London: Richard Jugge, [?1577]; [Bound with:] The Whole Booke of Psalmes, Collected into English Meter. London: John Day, 1575

Property from the Eric C. Caren Collection

BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER

The Book of Common Prayer. London: Richard Jugge, [?1577]; [Bound with:] The Whole Booke of Psalmes, Collected into English Meter. London: John Day, 1575

2 works bound in 1 volume, folio (11 x 7 1/2 in.; 280 x 190 mm). The Book of Common Prayer [With:] The Psalter or Psalmes of David: 2 parts in 1, general title and Psalter titles within wide decorative woodcut border, general title printed in red and black, extensive early manuscript notes to general title, almanac for years 1572 to 1606, and calendar printed in red and black, large printer's device on verso of final leaf of the first part, printed words "Queene" and "Elizabeth" struck through and replaced with "Kinge" or "James"; A2 supplied in manuscript, lacks N2, old paper repairs to approximately 30 leaves resulting in the loss of several catchwords and letters. ⁠— The Whole Booke of Psalmes: Title within wide architectural woodcut border, musical notations; lacking S3, 2 short tears. Full English blindstamped calf over wooden boards, spine with raised bands in five compartments, later red morocco label to second compartment, metal clasps and catches; lacking straps, rubbed with loss to head of spine. The consignor has independently obtained a letter of authenticity from PSA that will accompany the lot.

A scarce Elizabethan Book of Common Prayer, uniquely annotated by Sir Hugh Cholmondeley and Robert Cholmondeley, 1st Earl of Leinster, recording contemporary events, including the death of Mary Queen of Scots, and the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

The Cholmondeley family had held the lordship of Cholmondeley, in Cheshire, since the time of the Norman conquest. Hugh inheriting the estates in 1539. In 1557, he raised one hundred men (at his own expense), and joined the Earl of Derby in his expedition against an invading Scottish army. For this he was knighted by King Henry VIII. Beyond his military service, Cholmondeley also served as High Sheriff of Cheshire, Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire, Custos Rotulorum of Cheshire, and High Sheriff of Flintshire.

Sir Hugh Cholmondeley's extensive annotations in the present volume record family births and deaths, as well as sessions at which he sat, for example: "Crystmas 1586. The qtr sessyons next... to be kept at Knottysforde..." He also made note of events of national and historical importance, including the death of Mary Queen of Scots ("... the Scottyshe Quene was executed at Foddryngam in the hall thyr the viiith of Febuari 1586 about XI of the clocke"); the death of poet Sir Philip Sidney ("Sir Phyllippe Sydnays funerall was at Powles churche in London the XVth of Februarii 1586"); the death of Robert Dudley ("Robart yerle of lecester changed thys lyfe at cornebery partk in the lodge thys thurdsy the vth of September. 1588"); and the invasion of the Spanish Armada ("the Spanyshe flete wolde have invaded Englande in the begyning of Auguste 1588 & by Godds doyngs were repulsed and overthrowen by sea, and the Quenes Mats Armye by Sea").

Later notes are added in the hand of Robert Cholmondeley, Sir Hugh's son, an English Royalist and supporter of Charles I during the English Civil War. 

REFERENCE:

Book of Common Prayer: ESTC S93785; STC 16306.2, citing Cornell copy only

Psalmes: ESTC S107030l; STC 2445

(N.B: This copy of the Book of Common Prayer bears differences in collation to that cited in ESTC 93785, but is similar in having the Psalter title-page dated 1577.)

PROVENANCE:

Sir Hugh Cholmondeley (ownership inscription to title, numerous annotations in his hand) ⁠— Robert Cholmondeley, 1st Earl of Leinster (ownership inscription reading "Eliz: regni. 26. I was borne at Chroutch ende, near Higat, wensday morninge 27 of June in a:o 1584," and other annotations) ⁠— J.S. Geikie (typed label signed; label loosely inserted reading: "Presented by Sir Alexander Walker, K.B.")