USSHER, James. Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates.

USSHER, James. Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. Quibus inserta est pestiferæ adversùs Dei gratiam à Pelagio Britanno in Ecclesiam inductæ Hæreseos Historia. Ad Britannicarum Antiquitatum Collectanea Appendix Gemina. Dublin: Ex Officiná Typographicá Societatis Bibliopolarum, 1639. Quarto. pp. [xx], 1196, iv (Separate title for appendix at p. 973). Contemporary full calf Dublin binding, spine expertly rebacked. Early signature on titlepage. An excellent copy. Scarce.

STC- 24548 Sweeney 5331.

Ussher's greatest work, Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates contains the most exact account of the Church, both in Britain and Ireland, from A.D. 20 to the end of the seventh century. It was commenced at the request of King James, twenty years previously. Ussher dedicated the work to Charles I. There is a chronological index in which the events of each century are described. Dr. Elrington stated that: "to panegyrize this extraordinary monument of human learning is unnecessary; to detail its contents impossible."