The Parsons Guide or the Law of the Tythes Wherein is Shewed, Who must pay Tythes, and to whom, and of what things, When, and How they must be paid, and how they may be recovered at this day, and how a man may be discharged of payment thereof. The Second Edition much inlarged throughout the whole Book.

William Sheppard

Published by W. Lee, etc., London, 1670

About this Item

Second edition. [16], 99pp.; 5.75 x 3.25 in.

Very good. Rebacked with a backstrip and spine label replicating the originals, the remains of which are tucked in the back. Original boards heavily worn with chipping and splitting and extremities and some stains. Hinges tight; front free endpaper bearing long note nearly detached; rear free endpaper absent. Text almost entirely free of spotting and foxing with toning at edges and a few tiny chips to edges of title page and last leaf of text; textblock tight. Scattered notations in pencil and pen, mostly single words or signs.

"William Sheppard was one of the most prolific legal authors of the seventeenth century and certainly the most original. His diversified publications filled more space on booksellers' shelves than those of any other legal writer apart from Coke. [. . .]

[In April 1654,] Sheppard was called upon [by Cromwell and his government] to compile a manual of laws on tithe payments [. . .] His handbook, The parson's guide : or, the law of tithes, was ready for distribution by 15 June and before the year was out, the pamphlet was twice reprinted. Sheppard collected information which filled only thirty-one pages of a small pamphlet. [. . . ]

The tithe system had been under attack since the early part of the century and, although Cromwell's decision to continue their collection until another source of funding for the ministry had been found touched off criticism from tithe abolitionists, it won the support of lay impropriators among the gentry class with its re- assurance concerning Cromwell's intention to protect property rights. Sheppard reminded the reader in his introduction that while a substitute source of funds was being sought by the government, tithe collections must continue for the time being to supply the revenues needed to support a preaching clergy. He explained that 'the strife there is everywhere about the payment of tithes' and 'the ignorance of the law in this matter' had led him to prepare this informational tract, 'hoping that when men know what the law is herein, the one will not demand more nor the other offer less than what the law sets down to be due [and] much of this trouble may be prevented and some peace procured'. Assuring his readers that his guide 'doth neither justify nor condemn tithes', he could not resist adding, 'I wish they were taken away, so that first of all a more convenient way of maintenance instead thereof be provided for the minister; but this I suppose will ask time.'" [Nancy L. Matthews, William Sheppard: Cromwell's Law Reformer, 1984].

Seller Inventory # ABE-1746057361003

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Parsons Guide or the Law of the Tythes Wherein is Shewed, Who must pay Tythes, and to whom, and of what things, When, and How they must be paid, and how they may be recovered at this day, and how a man may be discharged of payment thereof. The Second Edition much inlarged throughout the whole Book.
• Publisher: W. Lee, etc., London
• Publication Date: 1670
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 2nd Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Dimensions: 3.25W x 5.75H x 0D inches 3.25 inches width by 5.75 inches height by 0 inches depth
• Weight: 1 pound
• Seller catalogs:
  • Law and Government
  • Christianity
  • British History