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Anon.
The History of the Most Remarkable Tryals in Great Britain and Ireland, in Capital Tales, Viz. Heresy, Treason, Felony, Incest, Poisoning, Adultery, Rapes, Sodomy, Witchcraft, Pyracy, Murder, Robbert, &C.
Publisher: Printed for A. Bell, in Cornhill; J. Pemberton, in Fleetstreet, and J. Brown, without Temple-Bar, London;
Date of Publication: 1715
Stock Code: 15608
First edition. Octavo, pp., [x], 452, [4] contents. Sig., [pi]1 A⁴ B-2F⁸ 2G⁴. Collated and complete. Later rose half-leather over pink and gold marbled paper; spine on five raised bands; titled in gilt and ornamented in black to compartments; black and gilt rolls to bands; later marbled end-papers. Binding strong, square, and fresh. Spotting and toning to contents. A very good copy. An early example of historical true crime, which would enjoy so much success that similar titles were continuously in print throughout the eighteenth century. In the time of pillory, public hanging, and duels to the death, the public appetite for violence and controversy was high. While reports in the press on contemporary crimes helped to whet that appetite, anthologies of notable and historic crimes such as this volume sated it further. This history of ‘the depravedness of human nature’ (preface, [I]) revives accounts of old cases, particularly concerning aristocrats and celebrities, and narrativises them in almost novelistic form. Despite the panoply of dirty deeds promised on the title-page, this edition is principally concerned with accounts of murder, treason, heresy, and trial by combat in late-medieval and Tudor England. £280.00