Originally published in 1912, this book forms part of a two-volume set on English Dissent between 1550 and 1641. The first volume concentrates on the historical development of Dissent and the various groups who agitated against the centralized power of the Church of England. The second volume gathers together a selection of primary source documents relating to Dissenter movements. Both volumes contain a comprehensive index and illustrative figures. Together these books provide a detailed introduction to the English Dissenters that will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of Christianity.

A messiah is an individual appointed by God to a specific task of importance, and elevated to a level of far greater authority than a prophet by leading (or claiming to lead) a group or movement. The movement comes to be uniquely centered on his or her teachings, and the messiah claims spiritual and temporal authority over its followers. This book is an examination of both males and females in the Judeo-Christian heritage (excluding Jesus of Nazareth) who either claimed to be the messiah, were viewed by contemporaries as such, or are considered by a significant number of scholars to have been motivated by messianic goals. The work is arranged chronologically, with details about messiahs from before Christ through the dawn of the technological age at the end of the nineteenth century. It covers nearly 100 individual messiahs, including such Old Testament figures as King Hezekiah and Herod the Great, as well as later messiahs both obscure and historically renowned (even Queen Elizabeth I and King Charles I were touted as messiahs by certain devoted followers). Meticulously researched, the book includes an extensive bibliography.