Oxford, Lichfield, 1653. 8vo. In contemporary full calf. Small paper-label pasted on to top of spine. Wear to extremities, scratches to boards and corners edges of boards with loss of leather. Inner hinges split. Leaf 8 with stain, otherwise internally nice and clean. (32), 308, (2) pp.
Rare first edition of Ashwell’s ‘Fides Apostolica’, his first publication. Ashwell was an “Anglo-catholic controversialist, born in the parish of St. Martin Ludgate, 8 Nov. 1612, was the son of Robert Ashwell, of Harrow. He was a scholar of Wadham College, Oxford, 1627 graduated B.A. 4 Dec. 1632, M.A. 1635, and became fellow of his college. He was tutor in the family of Thomas Leigh, a nonconformist, but his own sympathies were of another sort. He was the friend of Heylin, who wrote, at his suggestion, on 'Parliament's Power in Laws for Religion,' which was published in 1645. He was made B.D. on 23 June 1646, and became chaplain to Sir Anthony Cope, lord of the manor of Hanwell, Oxfordshire. On the death of Dr. Robert Harris, 1658, he succeeded him in the rectory of Hanwell, where he died on 8 Feb. 1694-5.” (DNB).