Jacobean Devotion in Original Vellum: William Pelham’s Meditations on St John, 1625

PELLHAM, William (1567–1629).
Meditations vpon the Gospell by Saint Iohn.
London: George Purslowe for John Budge, 1625.

12mo (136 × 80 mm). Collation: A–Q¹² (lacking the first blank). pp. [14], 365. Text within ruled borders, woodcut chapter headpiece, two ornate woodcut initials. Early ink ownership inscription to head of title, “G. Burges” (possibly George Burges, 1786–1864). Small tear to upper margin of title, further small tears to G4 and L1, light worming along fore-edge, occasional creasing and faint staining.

Near-contemporary English limp vellum, yapp edges, remains of alum-tawed ties (one lace surviving, others lost), additional unused sewing holes visible, manuscript title to spine “Pellham Meditat”. Textblock slightly cocked and loosening at head, minor adhesive residue at tail. A very attractive survival in original binding.

A scarce Jacobean devotional commentary on the Gospel of St John by William Pelham, courtier and son of Sir William Pelham, Elizabethan soldier and Lord Justice of Ireland. Pelham moved in court circles under Elizabeth I and James I, serving as sheriff and receiving knighthood in 1603 after escorting the new king from Newark to Belvoir. His Meditations exemplify the sober, learned piety of early Stuart Anglican devotion.

USTC 3012256; ESTC S109985.