WILLET'S MOST VALUABLE WORK

WILLETT, ANDREW.

Hexapla in Danielem, that is, A six-fold commentarie vpon the most diuine prophesie of Daniel : wherein ... sixe things are obserued in euery chapter, 1. The argument and method, 2. The diuers readings, 3. The questions discussed, 4. Doctrines noted, 5. Controversies handled, 6. Morall observations applyed : wherein many obscure visions, and diuine prophesies are opened, and difficult questions handled ... : diuided into two bookes: the first containing the historicall part of this Prophesie, in the 6. First Chapters: the propheticall, in the 6. Last.

[Cambridge], Printed for Leonard Greene (+ 2nd part: Cantrell Legge, Printer to the Vniuersitae of Cambridge), 1610.

Small folio. Nice contemporary English full calf binding with 6 raised bands to spine, compartments gilt. Blindstamped line-borders and gilt ornamented centre-pieces to boards. All edges of boards gilt. Title-label removed from spine, gilding to edges of boards occasionally worn off. Wear to extremities. Inner hinges open into the cords, binding still tight, but boards don't close properly. 18th century inventory number to verso of fist leaf. Owner's inscription, dated "Ups. 1749" (i.e. Uppsala) to title-page. Old owner's name cut off from top of title-page, far from affecting lettering. Occasional minor browning or soiling, but all in all very nice and clean. Several woodcut ornamental vignettes and initials. 1 (blank, except for signature-mark "A"), 3 ff + pp. 1-196, 2 ff. (separate dated title-page for "The second booke of this commentarie vpon the diuine prophesie of Daniel" + dedication) + pp. 197-520, 8 ff (Table of the questions & Controversies + errata) + final blank. Fully complete. Several mispaginations.

The very rare first edition (in the even scarcer variant-version with L. Greene's name as publisher in imprint) of Willet's highly praised commentary on on the prophesies of Daniel, which contains much valuable information and constitutes an important study of these, handling the most difficult questions and knotty controversies and introducing new writers and commentators. According to Lowndes, "This is considered the most valuable of all of Willet's productions."

The work is highly praised in all bibliographies and studies on the subject. It seems to be the best work on the the prophesies of Daniel and indispensible for the study of these.

"A work of much information, as it contains the opinions of many authors on each point of difficulty. The author has written comments on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Samuel, Romans, Jude, and some detached parts of books; but in none does he discover more skill or judgment than in the present work." (Williams's C.P., 5th ed., 290, quoted by Allibone, A Critical Dectionary of English Literature..., Vol III, 1871).

"All these works [i.e. the Commentaries and Expositions] of Willet, though somewhat tedious, contain valuable matter. He possessed a very considerable acquaintance with the Scriptures, and with the languages in which they were written. The work on Daniel is considered as the most valuable. " (Orme: Bibl. Bib., 469, quoted by Allibone, A Critical Dectionary of English Literature..., Vol III, 1871).

Andrew Willet (1562 -1621), born in Ely, was an important and famous English clergyman and controversialist. A prolific writer, he is known for his anti-papal works and his Calvinist, conforming and non-separatist views. He was very well known in his time, and much admired. He appeared as a witness against Edward Dering before the Star-chamber. Joseph Hall eulogised him in "Noah's Dove", and Thomas Fuller modeled 'the Controversial Divine' of his "Holy State" upon him. - For more information on Willet, please see the 7 column entry on him in the Dictionary of National Biography.

Lowndes V:2927.

Order-nr.: 52354