1679 Baker's Chronicles of the Kings of England : Dragons Monsters Wars

A chronicle of the kings of England:
From the time of the Romans government, unto the death of King James: Containing all passages of state and church, with all other observations proper for a chronicle. Faithfully collected out of authors ancient and modern; and digested into a method

By Sir Richard Baker

London; Printed for George Sawbridge, 1679. Seventh Edition. Folio. [51], 750, [42] pp. Portrait and engraved title page plus letterpress title page.

CONDITION
The binding is very worn, missing large poieces of leather to spine and boards. Front board detached but rear still attached by the hemp cords. The text block is complete with no loose pages. The important portrait of Charles is present as most copies that come on the market lack this. The portrait frontis and the engraved title page are in good condition with no repairs. Text block good throughout and pages free from foxing, stains etc. Overall good but in need of a rebind.

Richard Baker was a 16th-century English Protestant historian who is best known for his chronicle the royals of England. In 1643, Baker first published 'A Chronicle of the Kings of England' – a work that was met with considerable success. Going through a number of editions into the mid-18th-century, 'Chronicle', according to Brownley,

"provides some useful measures of the changes in English historical narratives from the civil wars to the early 18th-century. Baker thus offers a base for perspectives on an era crucial not only for the development of English historical writing itself, but also for related developments in other genres that occurred partly in reaction to changes in the form and content of narrative histories."

In other words, Baker's 'Chronicle' was a primary influence in the way historical narratives would be written from the 17th-century onward.

Curiously, Baker decided to include a plethora of minor incidents that were not included in more high-profile histories. (per Brownley)

· a feast when William I was attacked by mice who followed him until they ate him alive

· Prince Eustace IV, son of Stephen, was upset at the monks of Abbey of Bury for denying him money, so he burned their cornfields – then promptly died by the wrath of God!

· Accounts of floods, fires, frosts, and earthquakes during each reign

· "a dragon of marvelous bigness!"

· "monstrous fish" over 19 yards long

· A carpenter who was struck by lightning whose body burned for three days before being extinguished

· A monster with "a head like an Ass, a belly like a man, and all other parts far differing from any other creature."

· Descriptions of royal coronations, including Richard I

· And even a description of Henry I's bowels and brains during his funeral preparation.

(Location : Glass Cabinet 4, bottom shelf)