Cologne, Pierre du Marteau, 1688. 8vo. In contemporary full calf wih four raised bands and gilt lettering and ornamentation to spine. Traces from old paper-label pasted on to top of spine. Wear to extremities, parts of gilting worn off. Previous owner's name in contemporary hand to spine, otherwise internally nice and clean. (24), 262 pp.
Uncommon first French transation, published the same years as the original English of Burnet’s “Three letters concerning the present state of Italy”. Here Burnet is offering a detailed account of his travels in Italy where Pope Innocent XI offered him an audience, which Burnet declined on account of his poor knowledge of the Italian language. Gilbert Burnet (1643 –1715) was a Scottish philosopher and historian and later Bishop of Salisbury. He was fluent in Dutch, French, Latin, Greek and Hebrew.