17th-century biography Collection of works comprising: Clarke, Samuel. The Lives of Sundry Eminent persons in this Later Age. In Two Parts, I. Of Divines. II. Of Nobility and Gentry of both Sexes. London: Thomas Simmons, 1683. First edition, folio (31.7 x 19cm), contemporary sheep, rebacked, engraved portrait frontispiece by R. White, engraved armorial plate, 10 engraved portraits in the text, binding worn, small worm-track in text from front to sig. X (never affecting more than a letter), a few sporadic worm-tracks in margins elsewhere, spill-burn in K4 affecting a word either side [ESTC R5310; Sabin 13466; Wing C4538]; Laud, William. The History of the Troubles and Tryal of the most Reverend Father in God, and Blessed Martyr, William Laud, Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury. Written by himself, during his Imprisonment in the Tower. London: Ri. Chiswell, 1695. First edition, folio (31.5 x 19.8cm), contemporary panelled calf, rebacked, engraved portrait frontispiece, title-page in red and black, advertisement leaf, light damp-stain in gutter at front [ESTC R354; Wing L586]; Hacket, John. Scrinia Reserata: a Memorial offer'd to the Great Deservings of John Williams, D.D. Who some time held the Places of Ld Keeper of the Great Seal of England, Ld Bishop of Lincoln, and Ld Archbishop of York. London: Edw. Jones for Samuel Lowndes, 1693. First edition, folio (37.7 x 22.8cm), contemporary mottled calf, rebacked, engraved portrait frontispiece, errata leaf, advertisement leaf, extra-illustrated with a contemporary engraved portrait of Williams from another work (mounted to title-page verso), front joint cracking, a few spots and marks [ESTC R9469; Wing H171]; Heylyn, Peter. Cyprianus Anglicus: or, the History of the Life and Death, of ... William [Laud] ... Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Dublin: James Carson, for John Hyde, and Robert Owen, 1719. First Dublin edition (third overall), folio (30.2 x 19cm), contemporary panelled calf, wear to binding, small worm-track in lower margin [ESTC T107058]; and 6 others (these not collated): Thomas Carte, An History of the Life of James Duke of Ormonde, 1736 (first edition, 3 volumes, folio, non-uniform bindings, ex libris the Conservative Club); William Camden, The History of ... Princess Elizabeth, c.1680 (folio, contemporary panelled sheep, rebacked, title-page supplied in facsimile, edition unknown); William Sanderson, A Compleat History of the Lives and Reigns of Mary Queen of Scotland, and of her Son and Successor James, 1656 (first edition, folio, 18th-century mottled tan calf gilt, engraved portrait of James, lacking portrait of Mary); idem, A Compleat History of the Life and Raigne of King Charles, 1658 (first edition, folio, contemporary calf, portrait of the author, lacking portrait of Charles); Edmund Ludlow, Memoirs, 1771 (4to, contemporary calf); David Lloyd, Memoires of ... those ... that suffered ... for the Protestant Religion, 1668 (folio, modern cloth, frontispiece laid down, title-page margins extended) (12)

Provenance: Professor G. E. Aylmer FBA (1926-2000), historian of 17th-century England and sometime master of St Peter’s College, Oxford (with his bookplates).