M. Tullii Ciceronis Epistolae Familiares

Marcus Tullius Cicero; Guilielmus Canterus; Dionysios Lambinius; Paulus Manutius

Antverpiae: Christophori Plantini, 1568

12mo. Contemporary leather. 4 raised bands. New spine label. Good binding and cover. Restoration to boards and spine. Title page restored. Writing in contemporary ink on title page. Owners names on subsequent pages with additional notation in Latin. Owners name of Samuel Willard, dated 1681 on verso of first page. Later gift inscription from his brother John Willard on first preface page. Contemporary notation and underlining occurring. Clean, unmarked pages with tanning. Loss to upper right corner of few pages. Lacking, p 401-442 and last 4 pages, and blanks. pages. With the notes of Paul Manutius, Lambinus, and emendations and explanations of places by Canter. Not in Dibdin.

Reverend Samuel Willard was a colonial clergyman. The Reverend Willard was pastor of the Third Church, Boston, from 1678 until his death. Samuel Willard played an important role in the halting of the Salem witch trials. Born in 1640 to a privileged family, Willard had a long simmering devotion to the Puritan church, a devotion he would later cultivate at Harvard College. Despite his religious fervor, Willard appears to be man of uncommon calm, as he urged caution in the accusing and trying of witches. Willard also denounced spectral evidence, claiming that the devil could impersonate even the innocent by appearing in their shape. After the trials ended, Willard was to push hard for reconciliation between the pro-Parris and anti-Parris factions of Salem Village. He strenuously opposed the witchcraft trials, and served as acting president of Harvard from 1701 to his death in 1707.