A Rationale or Practical Exposition of the Book of Common Prayer by the Right Reverend Father in God, Anthony Sparrow D.D. . . . To which are prefix'd the Lives of the Compilers of the Liturgy; and an Historical Account of its Several Reviews by the Reverend Mr. Samuel Downes

London: Printed by J. Bettenham for Charles Rivington, 1722. sixth edition (Rationale) and first edition (Lives). Leather Bound. Very Good. 5 x 7 1/2 inches. 8vo. Engraved frontispiece + combined title page in red and black + 4 leaf preface + title page (Lives) + 1 leaf (contents) + cxc + 13 page index + advertisement + title page (Rationale) + 2 leaves preface and contents + 317 numbered pages (including two additional separate titles for included works) + 15 page table and index. Pages very clean and bright with two worm tracks approx. 1/2 inch each through pages preceding A3 (in the Preface), then 3 holes diminishing to 1 through the course of the book, located at the foremargin, sometimes affecting the text, worming also at end, mostly to indices. Speckled rouging to edges. Bound in full brown calf. Both boards with gilt border and leaf motifs at corners which are bumped. Hinges starting at top and bottom but holding firm. Spine with five raised bands and extensive gilt decoration to five compartments and red spine label with title and small loss now reading "Sparro Rationa". Small loss at tail of spine. On reverse of title page is Armorial bookplate of Charles Maynard, viscount Maynard, baron Maynard of Much Easton, and baronet. ESTCT140951. The Maynard family is in the list of those who came to England with William the Conqueror and has a long and colorful history in English religious politics, including: John Maynard, one of the thirty-nine members of parliament who absented themselves rather than receive the pope's authority during the reign of Queen Mary; Sir John Maynard, who was expelled from the House of Commons and imprisoned at the Tower of London due to his attachment to the Presbyterian party in 1647; William, his grandfather, the second Lord Maynard and comptroller of the household to King Charles II in 1672 and King James II. Charles, sixth lord Maynard, was by King George III created baron Maynard of Much Easton and viscount Maynard of Essex baronet. Upon the death of Charles, first lord viscount Maynard, the title descended to the former owner of this book, and the titles of baron Maynard of Little Easton in the kingdom of Great Britain, and baron Maynard of Wicklow in the kingdom of Ireland became extinct. Charles had two brothers: William, who was killed in the American Revolution, and Henry, who embraced the profession of the church. GenUKI Peerage records