A Short History of Valentinus Gentilis the Tritheist, Tryed, Condemned, and put to Death by the Protestant Reformed City and Church of Bern in Switzerland, for Asserting the Three Divine Persons of the Trinity, to be [Three Distinct, Eternal Spirits, &c.]

London: E. Whitlock, 1696. Very Good. London: Printed, and Sold by E. Whitlock, near Stationers-Hall, 1696. First English Edition. Small octavo (17cm.); full contemporary speckled paneled calf, spine in five compartments; [16],134,[2]pp. (collated complete). Leather quite dried, especially at margins and spine with exposure at corners and top spine chord, textblock a bit toned and foxed, two early leaves with recent blue pencil underlining, 20th-century ex libris of the Hope Trust, Edinburgh, to front pastedown, else a Very Good, internally clean and sound example. The work is dotted throughout with small woodcut manicules and printed marginal text sometimes chattily addressed to Dr. Sherlock.

The Swiss Protestant theologian Benedictus Aretius's defense of the execution of Valentinus Gentilis in Bern in 1566, where Aretius himself was serving as professor of theology at the time of the trial. Originally written in Latin, this edition was translated "for the use of Dr. Sherlock. Humbly Tendered to the Consideration of the Arch-bishops and Bishops of this Church and Kingdom." The translation has been attributed to English theologian Robert South (1634-1716).

ESTC R006675; WING A-3629.