[RYVES, Bruno (1596-1677)]. Mercurius Rusticus: or, The Countries Complaint of the barbarous Out-rages Committed by the Sectaries of this late flourishing Kingdome, [Oxford], 1646, 8vo, engraved title, 19th-century morocco. FIRST EDITION.

[RYVES, Bruno [with many variants in spelling] (1596-1677)].  Mercurius Rusticus: or, The Countries Complaint of the barbarous Out-rages Committed by the Sectaries of this late flourishing Kingdome. Together with a briefe Chronologie of the Battails, Sieges, Conflicts, and other most remarkable passages from the beginning of this unnatural Warre, to the 25 of March, 1646. [Oxford: no printer], 1646. Engraved general title with "sad events of this unparraleld [sic] Warr" depicted in the border [bound with, as usual:] [John BARWICK (1612-64)].  Querela Cantabrigiensis: or, A Remonstrance By way of Apologie, For the banished Members of the late flourishing University of Cambridge. Oxford [no publisher], 1646. 2 works bound in one [see note], 8vo (145 x 92mm). Later dark blue morocco gilt, gilt edges (extremities rubbed). Provenance: old illegible signature on title; Bath Public Reference library, "presented by A. W. Page, Esq., 1923" (inscribed bookplate, inconspicuous blindstamps to first few leaves, shelf number in white ink on spine). FIRST SINGLE-VOLUME EDITION of this work by an English Royalist and cleric who became Dean of Chichester Cathedral and St George's, Windsor, where he was buried. The "Table" at the end includes sections for both "Mercurius Rusticus" and "Querela Cantabrigiensis" indicating that the two works were published together albeit with separate pagination and signatures. The first work contains a second part with its own title page (although the pagination and signatures are continuous): "Mercurius Rusticus: or, The Countries Complaint of the Sacriledges, Prophanations, and Plunderings, Committed by the Schismatiques on the Cathedrall Churches of this Kingdome." These two parts were originally published at Oxford as 21 separate 'newsbooks' (precursors of modern newspapers) between 20 May and 16 March 1664. The "sad events" depicted in illustrations on the engraved title, with page numbers indicating where the events are described in the book, include "Countiss of Rivers plundered", "A Bonfire for the voting downe Episcopacy", "Mr Jones a Min[or]: carried on a Beare", "Warder [i.e. Wardour] Castle defended by a Lady" and "Edge-hill Battle." Madan Oxford Books II, 1890; Wing R2448.