A Continuation of the Present State of the Controversy, Between the Church of England, and the Church of Rome. Being a Full Account of the Books That Have Been of Late Written on Both Sides by Anon. [William Wake] - 1688-01-01

Printed for Ric. Chiswell, at the Rose and Crown, 1688-01-01. Hardcover. Very Good. 1688 first edition 'Printed for Ric. Chiswell, at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard' (London), 6 1/4 x 8 1/8 inches tall hardbound in blue paper-covered boards, [16], 76 pp. Complete, including first leaf bearing half-title on recto and imprimatur, 'Imprimatur, ... H. Maurice RR. in Christo P. D. Wilhelmo Archiep. Cant. a Sacr. Junii 7. 1688.,' on verso. Moderate soiling to half-title, title page and final page of text. Two inch closed tear to tip of rear blank endpaper. Otherwise, a very good copy - clean, bright and unmarked - of an important contemporary catalog of the broadsides and books in the war of words for and against Catholicism (or 'Popery,' as the Anglicans often termed it) in England. References: Wing (CD-Rom, 1996), W234; ESTC No. R12776. ~OOO~ A sequel to Thomas Tenison's and William Clagett's 'The present state of the controversie between the Church of England and the Church of Rome; or, An account of the books written on both sides' (Wing C4390). Though no author is given, this work presented for sale is attributed to William Wake (1657-1737), an Anglican priest and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1716 until his death in 1737. Wake's writings are numerous, the chief being his 'State of the Church and Clergy of England ... historically deduced' (London, 1703). In these writings he produced a massive defense of Anglican Orders and disproved the 'Nag's Head Fable' (a Catholic fiction that claimed the incumbent Archbishop of Canterbury was not consecrated solemnly) by citing a number of documentary sources. The work was written in part as a refutation of the arguments of the 'high church' opposition to the perceived erastian policies of King William and the then Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Tenison. In dealing with Nonconformism, Wake was tolerant, and even advocated a revision of the Prayer Book if that would allay the scruples of dissenters.