[Rarebooks] FS: Robinson's anti-Catholic "Anatomie of the English Nunnery at Lisbon..." London: 1623

[Kenneth Karmiole]

Robinson, Thomas. THE ANATOMIE OF THE ENGLISH NUNNERY at Lisbon in Portugall: Dissected and Laid Open by One That Was Sometimes a Younger Brother of the Convent: Who (If the Graces of God Had Not Prevented Him) Might Have Groune as Old in a Wicked Life As the Oldest Among Them. (London): R. Milbourne and Philemon Stephens. 1623. 4to. (8),32pp. Title with a large engraving containing 4 scenes. With the preliminary leaf, "The explanation of the picture on the title," laid down. 20th century full paneled calf, antique style. Some side margins trimmed close. Outer margin of title leaf repaired with a 1/8" paper strip, with a loss of a few letters at the fore-edge.                     $1,000.00 (trade discount allowed)
This is the scarce second edition of 4 printings  before 1637, but the first to have the 4-scene engraving on the title. The author recounts the immoral practices he encountered working in the convent as secretary and Mass priest. An early example of an anti-Catholic story of debauchery and criminal behavior (illegitimate babies of the priests and nuns buried in the garden). 300 years later the same general story was popular in America in the "Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk." STC 21124.

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