
Description
[SAVILE, Henry (1549-1622), compiler].
RERVM ANGLICARVM SCRIPTORES POST BEDAM PRAECIPVI, EX VETVSTISSIMIS CODICIBVS MANVSCRIPTIS NVNC PRIMVM IN LVCEM EDITI.
WILLIELMI Monachi Malmesburiensis de gestis regum Anglorum lib. V.
Eiusdem Historiæ Nouellæ lib. II.
Eiusdem de gestis Pontificum Angl. Lib. IIII.
HENRICI Archidiaconi Huntidoniensis Historiarum lib. VIII.
ROGERI HOVEDENI Annalium pars prior & posterior. Chronicorum ETHELWERDI lib. IIII.
INGVLPHI Abbatis Croylandensis historiarum lib. I.
Adiecta ad finem CHRONOLOGIA.
LONDINI, Excudebant G. BISHOP, R. NVBERIE, & R. BARKER Typographi Regii Deputati. Anno ab incarnatione, [1596].
Translation:
The principal writers on English affairs after Bede, edited from the most ancient manuscript codices and now appearing for the first time.
William of Malmesbury, On the Deeds of the English Kings, in five books;
by the same author, The New History, in two books;
by the same author, On the Deeds of the English Bishops, in four books;
Henry, Archdeacon of Huntingdon, Histories, in eight books;
Roger of Howden, Annals, the first and second parts;
The Chronicles of Ethelwerd, in four books; Ingulf, Abbott of Crowland, Histories, in one book.
A chronology is appended at the end.
Issued at London by G. Bishop [George Bishop], R. Nuberie [Ralph Newbery], & R. Barker [Robert Barker], printers by royal appointment. In the year since the Incarnation 1596.
London: George Bishop, Ralph Newbery and Robert Barker; 1596
Folio: 8.5 by 12.5"
Illustrated with woodcut printer’s device on title-page, 4 divisional titles printed within elaborate woodcut architectural borders, woodcut and letterpress illustration of the Great Seal of King William of Sicily,
plus numerous head- and tail-pieces and historiated initials.
[iv],[1]-520, [30, “Fasti Regum et Episcoporum Angliae…” chronological tables] fols.
Original late 16th century full limp vellum with manuscript ink title to spine.
Savile’s dedication to Queen Elizabeth I on fol. [ii].
text toned, very good condition
FIRST EDITION and Editio Princeps of the works included.
With bookplates of Daniel Rock (an English Catholic priest, ecclesiologist, and antiquarian) and St. John’s Seminary on the front endleaves.
Text in Latin (a few words or passages in English).
Henry Savile was born on November 30, 1549 in Over Bradley, West Riding of Yorkshire, the son of a relatively prosperous landowner, also Henry Savile. Savile was brought up to value learning and was tutored in the classics, reading Terence, Ovid, Virgil, Horace and Cicero in his childhood before attending Oxford University. He matriculated at Brasenose College at the age of twelve, where he excelled in mathematics and astronomy. He graduated BA on January 14, 1566 and MA on May 30, 1570. By this point, he had already been elected to a fellowship at Merton College and later held a number of college offices, including second dean, principal postmaster, and third bursar. He controversially became warden of Merton in 1585 and provost of Eton in 1596, largely due to his close relationship with Elizabeth I, resulting from his appointment in 1582 as her Greek tutor.
As a scholar, Savile is best known as the translator of Tacitus and editor of John Chrysostom, though he wrote numerous theological and mathematical texts of his own. In 1604, he was knighted by King James and appointed to work on the Authorized Version of the Bible, eventually heading the “fifth company” in translating the gospels, Acts of Apostles, and Book of Revelation. Savile is also remembered as a great contributor to the Oxford libraries and as having improved both the Eton and Merton libraries. In the latter, he tripled its holdings of printed books and introduced the continental style of bookstacking (where books stand up rather than lie flat, in the usual English style); these bookshelves remain intact. Despite an initial disagreement, Savile was great friends with Thomas Bodley, who required his assistance many times in the Bodleian Library’s early days. Savile was one of the first donors to the Bodleian and ensured the completion of
Reserve: $799.00
Shipping:
Your purchase is protected:
In the rare event that the item did not conform to the lot description in the sale, Chairish Auctions specialists are here to help. Buyers may return the item for a full refund provided you notify Chairish Auctions within 5 days of receiving the item.
Buyer's Premium
20%
1596 ENGLISH CHRONICLES H. SAVILE antique Rerum Anglicarum Scriptores VELLUM
Estimate $1,000-$1,200
Starting Price
$400
LiveAuctioneers Purchase Protection
Vetted auction houses
Secure, online bidding
Returns guaranteed for misrepresented listings
Dedicated support when you need it
Ink of Ages: 15th-19th Century Antique Books
Feb 12, 2026 9:00 AM ESTNew York, NY, United States
TOP


![1871 BIBLE in DAKOTA INDIAN LANGUAGE NEW TESTAMENT antique AMERICANA rare: Title: 1871 BIBLE in DAKOTA INDIAN LANGUAGE NEW TESTAMENT antique AMERICANA rare Description: [Bible in Dakota] Dakota Wowapi Wakan Kin The New Testament in the Dakota Language Translated from the](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/5584/406559/225807029_1_x.jpg?height=181&quality=70&sharpen=true&version=1770809809&width=181)






![1757 IL DECAMERON by Giovanni BOCCACCIO antique 5 VOLUMES ILLUSTRATED 110 plates: Title: 1757 IL DECAMERON by Giovanni BOCCACCIO antique 5 VOLUMES ILLUSTRATED 110 plates Description: Il Decamerone di m. Giovanni Boccaccio by Boccaccio, Giovanni Londra [i.e. Paris], Prault] ;](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/5584/406559/225807036_1_x.jpg?height=181&quality=70&sharpen=true&version=1770809809&width=181)







![1731-1735 LIVES OF HOLY FATHERS 4 VOLUMES antique in ITALIAN VELLUM BOUND: Title: 1731-1735 LIVES OF HOLY FATHERS 4 VOLUMES antique in ITALIAN VELLUM BOUND Description: Manni, D.M. Volgarizzamento delle vite de' santi padri. [lives of the holy fathers] 4 volumes. Florence,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/5584/406559/225807044_1_x.jpg?height=181&quality=70&sharpen=true&version=1770809809&width=181)





![1596 CATECHISMUS ROMANUS by PLANTIN PRESS antique 16th CENTURY: Title: 1596 CATECHISMUS ROMANUS by PLANTIN PRESS antique 16th CENTURY Description: [Plantin]. Fabricius Leodis, A. Catechismus Romanus, ex decreto concilii tricentini, & Pii V. Pontificis Maximi iussi](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/5584/406559/225806763_1_x.jpg?height=181&quality=70&sharpen=true&version=1770809809&width=181)






![1553 Elucidatio paraphrastica in librum D. Iob by Franz Titelmans antique VELLUM: Title: 1553 Elucidatio paraphrastica in librum D. Iob by Franz Titelmans antique VELLUM Description: Elucidatio paraphrastica in librum D. Iob... authore F. Fran [cisco] Titelmanno Hassellensi, Ordini](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/5584/406559/225807059_1_x.jpg?height=181&quality=70&sharpen=true&version=1770809809&width=181)

