Beschreibung:

FOX, Edward (1496-1538), bishop of Hereford; et al.] The determinations of the moste excellent vniversities of Italy and Fraunce, that it is so vnlefull for a man to marie his brothers wyfe, that the pope hath no power to dispence therwith. [Translated by Thomas Cromwell?]. London: in the house of Thomas Berthelet, 7 November, 1531. 8° (165 x 110mm). Collation: A-L 8 M 6 N-T 8 V 4 . Woodcut titleborder [McKerrow & Ferguson 21]. (Outer and upper margin of title repaired, also corner of first few leaves; hole in I8 with loss of one letter; 2 small holes in last leaf skilfully repaired.) Early 19th-century calf (upper cover detached). Provenance : Richard Burke (early ownership inscription on verso of title); John Egan (19th-century signature on flyleaf); Cardiff Castle bookplate. The authors of this treatise defending Henry VIII's divorce were Edward Fox Bishop of Hereford, John Stokesley and Nicolas de Burgo, professor of divinity at Oxford. All three travelled abroad in 1529 and 1530 to collect the opinions of scholars at French and Italian universities on this matter. Henry rewarded Stokesley for his contribution by appointing him Bishop of London. The main body of the work, however, is the justification, based on scripture and canon law of two crucial questions: the validity of a marriage to a brother's widow, and the pope's authority to dispense with scriptural law. Originally published in Latin in April 1530, the English translation is ascribed to Thomas Cranmer. Cf. G.Elton, Policy and Police: the enforcement of the Reformation in the age of Cromwell , (1972). ONLY EDITION. STC 14287