The Life of Alfred the Great...

First edition in English. The first edition in English of Sir John Spelman's enchanting history of England's first king, Alfred the Great.

Although Alfred (c.849-899) was not the first ruler to style himself 'Bretwalda' — overlord of the Anglo-Saxons — his reign represents the beginning of the first line of unbroken kings to rule the whole of England.

The work was originally published in Latin posthumously in 1678 as Alfredi magni Anglorum regis invictissimi vita. Its author, Sir John Spelman (1594-1643) was a moderate royalist who advocated for a form of constitutional monarchy which recognised the King as head of the body politic. 'This was not to claim "a power to make lawes and lay taxes without the consent of Parliament', but only a "negative voice, that they without him may not make any lawes"' (ODNB).

First edition in English; 8vo (19.5 x 13 cm); engraved portrait frontispiece, engraved vignette title, slightly browned with moderate spotting, small loss to corner of frontispiece not affecting design, hole to margin of Q3 with loss to one or two letters, repaired tear to addenda; handsome modern sprinkled calf backed marbled boards, vellum tips, very good; [6], 238, [10]pp.

ESTC T147373.