![[SCOTT, Thomas (1580-1626)]. Sir Walter Rawleighs Ghost, or Englands Forewarner. Discovering a secret Consultation, newly holden in the Court of Spaine. Utricht [i.e. London?]: John Schellem, 1626.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2012/NYR/2012_NYR_02622_0119_000(scott_thomas_sir_walter_rawleighs_ghost_or_englands_forewarner_discove075102).jpg?w=1)
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[SCOTT, Thomas (1580-1626)]. Sir Walter Rawleighs Ghost, or Englands Forewarner. Discovering a secret Consultation, newly holden in the Court of Spaine. Utricht [i.e. London?]: John Schellem, 1626.
4o (178 x 133 mm). (Title with a "v"-shaped internal tear discreetly repaired, fore-corners trimmed round.) Modern speckled calf.
FIRST EDITION of an imaginary tale wherein Sir Walter Raleigh's ghost appears on earth to discover a Spanish-papist plot against the English government. The ghost visits Count Gondomar, the leading Spanish diplomat to England, and extracts from him a confession of treachery and a public recantation of his plans. "The political tracts of Thomas Scott are valuable and curious beyond most other tracts of this period, on account of the light they throw upon the policy of the latter years of King James' reign. The effect of them upon the public mind at the time must have been very great, if we may judge from the persecution of the author and the pains taken by the government to suppress them. The author was assassinated by a soldier at Utrecht in 1626" (Lowndes, p. 223). The name "John Schellem" in the imprint may be a pseudonym ("schelm"= knave), no printer of that name seems to be recorded. STC suggests the place of publication may be London, not Utrecht, as several of Scott's tracts have fanciful imprints. The Lenox copy has a portrait of Raleigh inserted, but is not present here and may not be called for. RARE: according to American Book Prices Current, the last copy to sell at auction was sold in 1976. Sabin 67586; STC 22085.
4o (178 x 133 mm). (Title with a "v"-shaped internal tear discreetly repaired, fore-corners trimmed round.) Modern speckled calf.
FIRST EDITION of an imaginary tale wherein Sir Walter Raleigh's ghost appears on earth to discover a Spanish-papist plot against the English government. The ghost visits Count Gondomar, the leading Spanish diplomat to England, and extracts from him a confession of treachery and a public recantation of his plans. "The political tracts of Thomas Scott are valuable and curious beyond most other tracts of this period, on account of the light they throw upon the policy of the latter years of King James' reign. The effect of them upon the public mind at the time must have been very great, if we may judge from the persecution of the author and the pains taken by the government to suppress them. The author was assassinated by a soldier at Utrecht in 1626" (Lowndes, p. 223). The name "John Schellem" in the imprint may be a pseudonym ("schelm"= knave), no printer of that name seems to be recorded. STC suggests the place of publication may be London, not Utrecht, as several of Scott's tracts have fanciful imprints. The Lenox copy has a portrait of Raleigh inserted, but is not present here and may not be called for. RARE: according to American Book Prices Current, the last copy to sell at auction was sold in 1976. Sabin 67586; STC 22085.