Details
GREATRAKES, Valentine (1629-83). A Brief Account of Mr. Valentine Greatrak's, and divers of the Strange Cures by him lately Performed. London: J. Starkey, 1666. Engraved portrait frontispiece of Greatrakes performing a cure. (Portrait just shaved and with a few small repairs, small marginal paper flaw in one leaf.)
[Bound with:]
[LLOYD, David (1635-1692). Wonders no Miracles, or Mr. Valentine Greatrates gift of healing examined. London: Samuel Speed, 1666]. (Lacking title, some soiling, some shoulder notes shaved.)
4° (190 x 144mm). Half polished calf by Leighton, with Crewe crest on front cover. Autograph letter signed from Greatrakes to Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery dated 15 August [16]65 tipped in, discussing the financial constraints that impeded his acceptance of the invitation to visit Lady Conway to relieve her of her headaches and pains in her limbs. He states that he would be happy to make the trip, if his transport and expenses can be paid. One page, folio, integral address leaf (light dampstain). Provenance: Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Baron Houghton (note stating that he purchased the Greatrakes letter in 1858); Robert, Marquess of Crewe (bookplate, binding).
FIRST EDITIONS, with an autograph letter by Greatrakes. The celebrated Irish healer, Valentine Greatrakes, already had a wide reputation (having counted Flamsteed among his early patients) when he was asked by Viscount Conway to come to England to treat his wife, Anne Conway. He arrived at Ragley, Warwickshire, in January 1666 and, while he did not cure Lady Conway, he did treat many others with much success and travelled widely. Greatrakes was not without his detractors, however, such as David Lloyd, who published the present pamphlet, Wonders no Miracles, attacking Greatrakes. Greatrakes responded by publishing A Brief Account in the form of a letter to Robert Boyle, in which he appends numerous testimonials by Boyle, Andrew Marvell and others, on the efficacy of his healing. The autograph letter included in this volume was written to Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery, under whom Greatrakes had served in the parliamentary forces. Greatrakes requests funds from his former commander, the brother of his greatest supporter, to facilitate his trip to treat Lady Conway. Greatrakes usually undertook his treatments without charge, but, as the letter makes clear, he was not in a position to pay his own costs in this case. In the end Greatrakes was paid £155 for the trip. Wing G-1789; L-2649.
[Bound with:]
[LLOYD, David (1635-1692). Wonders no Miracles, or Mr. Valentine Greatrates gift of healing examined. London: Samuel Speed, 1666]. (Lacking title, some soiling, some shoulder notes shaved.)
4° (190 x 144mm). Half polished calf by Leighton, with Crewe crest on front cover. Autograph letter signed from Greatrakes to Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery dated 15 August [16]65 tipped in, discussing the financial constraints that impeded his acceptance of the invitation to visit Lady Conway to relieve her of her headaches and pains in her limbs. He states that he would be happy to make the trip, if his transport and expenses can be paid. One page, folio, integral address leaf (light dampstain). Provenance: Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Baron Houghton (note stating that he purchased the Greatrakes letter in 1858); Robert, Marquess of Crewe (bookplate, binding).
FIRST EDITIONS, with an autograph letter by Greatrakes. The celebrated Irish healer, Valentine Greatrakes, already had a wide reputation (having counted Flamsteed among his early patients) when he was asked by Viscount Conway to come to England to treat his wife, Anne Conway. He arrived at Ragley, Warwickshire, in January 1666 and, while he did not cure Lady Conway, he did treat many others with much success and travelled widely. Greatrakes was not without his detractors, however, such as David Lloyd, who published the present pamphlet, Wonders no Miracles, attacking Greatrakes. Greatrakes responded by publishing A Brief Account in the form of a letter to Robert Boyle, in which he appends numerous testimonials by Boyle, Andrew Marvell and others, on the efficacy of his healing. The autograph letter included in this volume was written to Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery, under whom Greatrakes had served in the parliamentary forces. Greatrakes requests funds from his former commander, the brother of his greatest supporter, to facilitate his trip to treat Lady Conway. Greatrakes usually undertook his treatments without charge, but, as the letter makes clear, he was not in a position to pay his own costs in this case. In the end Greatrakes was paid £155 for the trip. Wing G-1789; L-2649.