8vo (203 x 130 mm). Engraved folding frontispiece by William Marshall depicting Charles I in a state of religious ecstasy with verses in Latin and English. (Discreet repair to frontispiece, very light toning, light stain to preliminary page). Contemporary full black morocco gilt with intricate gilt fillets and gilt arabesque at center, all edges gilt (rubbing, some light repair work). Provenance: King James II of England (1633-1701), son of King Charles I and successor to King Charles II (bound for him); Queen Charlotte of England (1744-1818), wife of King George III (note laid in, sold in the sale of her library, Christie's London, 6 July 1819, lot 3879); George Ormerod (1785-1873), noted historian (bookplate, note laid in); Reverend John Stirton (bookplate, note pasted to verso of Ormerod’s).

FIRST EDITION, second issue with mispagination on p. 93 and lacking publisher’s imprint on title page. Originally assumed to have been wholly the work of King Charles I, it was later claimed by John Gauden, Bishop of Winchester, that he had written the text himself. A masterpiece of Royalist propaganda, the book was so popular that it went through thirty-six editions in its first year of publication alone, which would lead Parliament to commission a scathing response by the poet John Milton in the hopes of suppressing Royalist sympathy among the populace; Milton’s work was published later that year as Eikonoklastes. This copy "VERY PROBABLY" BOUND FOR JAMES II," according to Edward Almack (A Bibliography of The King’s Book, 42; image of book also appears on p. 182). Wing E268.