The Information of Francisco de Faria, Delivered at the Bar of the House of Commons.

AUCTION 55 | Thursday, June 21st, 2012 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts Autograph Letters, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 310

(FARIA, FRANCISCO DE).

The Information of Francisco de Faria, Delivered at the Bar of the House of Commons.

On title, seal of Great Royal Crest, “Honi soit qui mal y pense.” pp. (4), 12. Unbound, housed within modern solander case. Sm. folio. Roth, Magna Bibliotheca Anglo-Judaica, p. 248, no. 1.

London: John Bill, Thomas Newcomb, and Henry Hills, Printers to the King 1680

Est: $1,000 - $1,500

Francisco de Faria was born in Pernambuco, Brazil, son of John de Faria, a Jew, of St. Giles, Belgium. The information de Faria provides here was considered essential in uncovering the infamous “Popish Plot,” a Catholic endeavor to overturn the Protestant government of England. We learn from his testimony that de Faria was recruited as an agent in Antwerp, where he made the acquaintance of several English Catholics, who convinced him to travel to London where he became pesonal assistant to the Portuguese ambassador. Along with his brother Abraham, Francisco de Faria was subsequently hired by the Portuguese as an assasin. A tale of considerable intrigue and suspense. See AJHSP, Vol. XX, pp. 115-32.