In this very very rare book ( i could locate only one copy in north america) the Jesuit Paul Zehentner examines and investigates the role of bad conscience throughout the history of the world. Included is a six page section on he Tribulations of Saint Thomas More.

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489G Zehentner, Paul. 1589-1648

Vermis malae conscientiae hominis impii domesticus carnifex suis coloribus adumbratus a Paulo Zehentner.

Monachii : München : sumptibus & formis Cornelii Leysserii electoralis typographi & bibliopolæ. 1633       $2,600

Large Octavo,7 X 4 1⁄2 inches . First Edition *8,***,A-Z8, Aa-Oo8,Pp4

This book is bound in early blind stamped full calf in an eastern (Turkish) style, all edges are gilt and there are no ‘squares’ to the binding . DSC_0004

In the worm of conscience, Zehenter divides the subject of ‘De Verme malæ conscientiæ’ into four books, Liber I is on Killing, Liber II on the non decived, and imprisoned, there are a few pages on Thomas More. Magnus Angliæ Chancellarius. here (p.162-168) Liber III Those facing Damnation, IV those who are executed, It seems that a loft of this bad conscience originates in Ægypt and Babalon.

De Backer-Sommervogel vol.VIII col.1482 no.2; Not in Gibson

 Paolo Zehentner’s play, Promontorium Malae Spei was performed and Il Convitato di pietra by Giacinto Andrea Cicognini was written around 1650. This play spawned countless commedia dell ‘arte versions. In 1658 a version featuring spectacular DSC_0005settings and borrowing heavily from Cicognini’s play was Le Festin de Pierre, ou le Fils criminel by Nicholas Drouin. The version that most directly influenced Molière was a later version of Drouin’s play by Claude Deschamps Villiers. Molière’s version was produced in 1665 and in 1676 Thomas Shadwell penned The Libertine. In 1736 Carlo Goldoni, the most famous Italian comic playwright of the day, was inspired by Molière to write Don Giovanni Tenorio, ossia Il Dissoluto. In 1758, the music for a ballet by Gluck, Don Juan order das steinerne Gastmahl was written with choreography by Gasparo Angiolini. This ballet was performed well into the nineteenth century.