THE GROUNDS & OCCASIONS OF THE CONTEMPT OF THE CLERGY AND RELIGION ENQUIRED INTO. IN A LETTER WRITTEN TO R.L.

First Edition: [8], 131, [5 advertisement] pages (Octavo: A⁴ B-I⁸ K⁴. First leaf blank; leaf A3 missigned 'A4'), period sheep, binding dry and rubbed, with both joints and hinges cracked, evidence of some later repairs, some page edges and corners creasing, light foxing or toning and occasional stains, overall good+.

First Edition of this work attributed to John Eachard, the DNB says of him and this work: "This work, which brims over with wit and humour, had a rapid sale, and passed through many editions. The author represents the contempt with which the clergy were generally regarded as being in great measure due to a wrong method of education or the poverty of some of the inferior clergy." Eachard became Master of Catharine Hall, Cambridge in 1675, and Vice-Chancellor in 1679. This copy with the armorial bookplate of James Hustler (d.1769), of Acklam, Yorkshire, England, affixed to the verso of the title page. Note in a period hand on rear free endpaper recto reading "impediment poverty 82", referring to page 82, where the author begins his discussion on the difficulties faced by poor clergy. Wing E50; ESTC R17191.

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