1796 JOHN HOWIE. The Pious Lives and Sufferings of Scottish Martyrs & The Judgment of Their Persecutors.

A very nice early imprint of John Howie's significant history of the Scottish Covenanters. In it, he documents both prominent Scottish figures, especially religious reformers and martyrs (like John Knox, George Wishart, Patrick Hamilton), and little-known pesrons of faith who suffered for Christ in the Scottish Reformation and The Killing Time (16th-17th centuries). Significantly, this contains the original appendix often left out in which Howie records the often ironic or horrible ways in which many of the perpetrators of the persecutions met their end.  Biographia Scoticana; Or, A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots Worthies, Noblemen, Gentlemen, Ministers, and others, from Mr. Patrick Hamilton, who was born about the year of our Lord 1503, and suffered Martyrdom at St. Andrew’s, February 1527, to Mr. James Renwick, who was executed in the Grassmarket of Edinburgh, February 17, 1688. Together with a Succinct Account of the Lives of other Seven eminent Divines, and Sir Robert Hamilton of Preston, who died about or shortly after the Revolution. As also, an Appendix, containing a short Historical Hint of the Wicked Lives and Miserable Deaths of some of the most Remarkable Apostles and the Bloody Persecutors in Scotland, from the Reformation to the Revolution. Third Edition. Corrected and Enlarged. Edinburgh. Printed by Schaw and Pillans, Hastie’s Close. 1796. 582pp + 48pp. A rather attractive copy in 18th century consolidated and heavily worn calf. Joints are quite tender. Text block very crisp, clean, and solid.