Benj. Marshall Dedication to Bishop of Worcester for "Chronological Tables", Rewriting Christian Dates!

A handwritten dedication by Benjamin Marshall to his patron, William, the Bishop of Worcester. 1p, measuring 7.75" x 10", n.p., n.d. Signed "Ben. Marshall." With flattened folds, along with dampstaining, foxing, and toning throughout. Slightly rough edges. Boldly signed by Marshall.

Written in Latin, the dedication is loosely translated to read: "Reverence in Christ the Father and Lord. William, the Bishop of Worcester, With great respect for his patron, these chronological documents were undertaken and completed under his auspices, thanks for the many benefits of your general observance and testing, he emphasizes obedience and humbly dedicates himself a most unworthy client of your patronage." 

The "Chronological Tables" is in reference to the "Chronological Tables In which are contain’d not only all the chief things of Sacred History from the Creation of the World till Christ’s Time, but also all other the most Remarkable Things of those times that are recorded in any of the Ancient Writers now extant." Benjamin Marshall was a domestic chaplain to William Lloyd (1627-1717), Bishop of Worcester. Lloyd studied for many years to revise the chronology established by James Ussher (1581-1656), Archbishop of Armagh, which marked the date of creation at 6 pm on Saturday, 23 October 4004 B.C. One of the major goals of the project was to establish the correct (fixed) dates for the major Christian festivals, with Lloyd focusing on the nativity (set as 25 December, 4 before A.D.), and calculating outward from there for the years prior to and after Christ’s birth. Although it is unclear to what extent Lloyd and Marshall worked together, the work was published under both their names ca. 1725. Lloyd wrote the whole of the lengthy appendix on the life of Christ and the decades following his death. The work is of importance because, as numerous sources for the dates used are extra-biblical, the tables act as a chronology of the whole ancient world, including Egypt, Assyria, Greece, Sicyon, Troy, Macedon, and Rome.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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