The Workes of the Learned and Reverend Divine John White, Doctor in Diuintie: Together with a Defence of the Way to a True Church, in answere to a Popish treatise written by T.W.P. entituled White died Blacke. By Francis White...

London: Printed [by Richard Field for Iohn Bill and William Barret] for W. Barret [and to be sold by M. Lownes, and Rich. Moore], 1624. Hardcover. Very Good+. White’s anti-papist explanation of the ‘true way,’ an important canonical work for the early Jacobean church, which likened Catholics to superstitious folk. 4 volumes in one, folio (280 x 188mm), separately titled: A defence of the way to the true church against A.D. his reply. London: imprinted by Felix Kyngston for William Barret, 1624; Two sermons. London: printed...by Joh. Hauiland for William Barret, 1624; The orthodox faith and way to the church explained and iustified...By Francis White...The second edition. London: printed...by Iohn Hauiland for William Barret. The last part was previously published in answer to Thomas Worthington, Whyte dyed black. Pagination: [36, lacking first 2 blanks], 239, [5], [24, including first blank], 58, 69-202, 201-212, 211-226, 225-230, 233-316, [blank]; [4], 36; [28], 190, [2, index] p. (erroneously as common). Signatures: 1*(6); A-Y(6); Z(2); A-Ee(6); A-C(6); D(2); A(6); B(8); C-S(6). Elaborate woodcut border title consisting of two columns grapevines and two heraldic animals. Woodcut printer’s device of Kyngston and Hauiland, and decorated woodcut headpieces and opening initials for preface and dedication leaves of each part. Portrait of White lacking as common. Full period English calf rebacked to style, gilt stamped with central lozenge and monogram IC to covers, spine labeled “White’s Workes”; (some browned edges, most severe at beginning otherwise good, sound copy with English character). Pictorial bookplate to front pastedown and ink stamp to two titles of the Pacific School of Religion. Old booksellers description affixed to pastedown; “Much information on the principles of Popery.”- Bickersteth.

John White (1570-1615), vicar and puritan divine, was royal chaplain to James I of England. White had a penchant for showing the Catholic Church as it was resisted through the ages. He thought that the two main things that drew men to “popery” were “the name of being ancient” and “the reputation of great learning.” He felt compelled to demonstrate that the Church of England had not changed its faith. This is a very curious book that exhibits some examples of folk prayers and traditions gathered by White in his time as vicar at Eccles parish, all which he considered to be superstitious belief. He attributed these in part to the continuing influence of Catholic priests, on what remained a largely Catholic local congregation. White complains about the “prodigious ignorance” he found among his parishioners. His work includes notes and references as to marriage amongst the clergy, errors and fraudulent acts of the papists or “papistrie absurd,” sermons of the Apocrypha, miracles, devils, monks and nuns. White’s work was aimed at all who sought a resolution with the one true church, and especially to his countrymen of Lancashire. Rare on market although some fine institutional copies abound.