London: for Peter Parker, 1676. Folio. Original full leather binding. Seven raised bands, with gilt ornamentation and label to spine. A little bumping and rubbing with some splitting to the spine edge. Armorial plate to the inside front board. Various inscriptions (see notes below). Frontis engraving. There is a little nicking to the edge of the engraving. Title in red and black. Closed tear to the title page. [viii], 1-576. pages. Most of the book is clean and tidy, but with a little marking to the last few pages. Overall a decent copy. A gift and legacy of the Earls of Lindsay. An old inked inscription to verso of the Frontis states "The legacy of King Charles the 1st to Montague Earl of Lindsey. L. M. Bertie." There is another copy of Bertie's signature on the book dated 1732. This would appear to be Capt. Lord Montagu Bertie (died 1753). He was the great grandson of the Earl referred to. (Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey). The term "legacy" here cannot be taken literally, and is more likely to refer to the statement to the title. Both the King and the Earl were dead by the time of publication of the book.
A large armorial plate to the inside front board states "The Hon. James Bertie esq. of Westminster. Second son to James late Earl of Abingdon 1702." These were the son and grandson of Montague the second earl
A further inscription to the inside front board states "The gift of Montague Earl of Abingdon to Charles Bertie Rector of Uffington." Charles another of the sons of the second earl (and brother of James whose bookplate is here) – so the book would appear to have moved around the family.
The important relative here is Montagu (or Montague) Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsay. He was a Royalist, courtier, Member of Parliament and Gentleman of the Privy Chamber. He fought for Charles in the Civil War and was wounded at Naseby. He remained at the side of the King through the war, his surrender, imprisonment and execution.