Biography of Pope Pius V with a plate of Lepanto

A biography of Pius V (1504-1572), pope from 1566 until his death, during which time he excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I and formed the Holy League against the Ottoman Empire. Particular attention is given to the League's victory at the Battle of Lepanto (7th October 1571): the text names the naval officers of both sides and the galleys involved. Despite being first published in 1586, this is an important edition because of the inclusion of the folding plate of the Battle of Lepanto drawn and engraved by Giovanni Battista de' Cavalieri (c.1525-1601), dated 1572. The six-line description underneath begins 'Insignis haec est illa navalis pugna quae Non. Octobri MDLXXI ad Echinades in Jonio successit in faucibus sinus Coronthiaci...'. It depicts the hand-to-hand fighting over a map of the Gulf of Corinth, with the League receiving divine aid from the Roman gods above and an allegorical figure of Christian Faith bottom left. Examples of this book complete with the folding plate are rare.