The History of Great-Britain, from the first Inhabitants thereof, 'till the Death of Cadwalader.; and of the Kings of Scotland to Eugene V. and also a short Account of the Kings, Dukes, and Earls of Bretagne.in which are several Pieces of Taliessin, an antient British Poet, and a Defence of the Antiquity of the Scottish Nation . to this is added The Breviary of Britayne, written in latin by Humphrey Lhuyd . and Englished by Thomas Twyne.

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Folio. (vi),251,(xxi),52,(xxxvi)pp. Title page in red and black. Beautifully printed on laid paper with ample margins. Engraved head and tail pieces; index. Contemporary full calf; spine in 7 compartments with raised bands. Old theological college stamp on the front blank. Edges and spine tips worn; hinges neatly repaired; lettering label perished; else a very good copy and near fine internally. The first and only edition of John Lewis's History, written in the early part of the 17th century but not published until 1729. Contains a considerable amount of material on King Arthur (pp. 179-200). The main history is followed by Lhuyd's Breviary of Britayne in the translation of Thomas Twine. Rare and important. No doubt written to defend the traditional history of Wales against such critics as Polydore Vergil, to correct some statements made by Camden, and to vindicate Geoffrey of Monmouth, Lewis' History was edited by Hugh Thomas, the Brecknock genealogist and historian , who made some 'Additions' to the original work. ESTC T113293. Lowndes, p. 1352. Allibone, I, 1091. Seller Inventory # 16618

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