Histoire des Troubles et Guerres Civiles du Pays-Bas, Autrement dict la Flandre. Contenant l'origine & progres d'icelle, les stratagemes de guerre, oppugnations & expugnations des villes & forteresses, aussi la barbare Tyrannie & c

by Theophile, D. L. [Carolus Ryckewaert?]

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N.p., n.p., 1582. FULL TITLE: Histoire des Troubles et Guerres Civiles du Pays-Bas, Autrement dict la Flandre. Contenant l'origine & progres d'icelle, les stratagemes de guerre, oppugnations & expugnations des villes & forteresses, aussi la barbare Tyrannie & cruauté de l'Espaignol, & Espaignolisez. Ensemble l'Estat & faict de la Religion, especialement depuis l'An 1559 jusques a l'An 1581. - - Small octavo. Pp. Title (verso blank), 3-531 (verso blank), (14). With 5 decorative woodcut initials. Side-notes, index of events. Set in Roman and Italic types. Hardcover, attractive full blonde calf, spine with 5 raised bands, gilt lettered direct in second compartment, upper board ornately blind stamped. In fine condition (paper over one inner hinge split, name clipped from blank flyleaf; very faint dampmark to few leaves, slightly frayed corner to few others). Overall an excellent copy, exceptionally well preserved, in a handsome, somewhat later binding. - - First French edition. In 1582 the Netherlands were still ruled by Spain and 'Histoire des Troubles', a clandestine publication, was published with no imprint and with its author using a pseudonym. On its title page, however, instead of a printer's device, a proud 4-line cry-freedom, 'Belgium Libertate Parta, Reviviscit' is typographically set. It is very unlikely that such a book was printed in the Netherlands under Alva's rule. It is also rather unlikely that it was printed in London, where many Dutch sought refuge, considering the strict control on all English presses at the time. The book was probably printed by a clandestine press in Emden, one of several refugee presses centred there, which set to produce anti-Spanish propaganda and smuggle it into the occupied Low Countries. No author has signed the book, but the preface is signed, with the customary 'Vostre treshumble & obeyssant seruiteur', by one 'Theophile D. L.'. Who he was, remains a mystery. In 1579 'Chronyc Historie der Nederlandtscher Oorlogen' was published. This was a translation of Adam Henricpetri's 'Niderlendischer erster Kriegen Emporungen'. The translation included extended additional material which occupied two extra volumes. This material, however, was not by Henricpetri but by his translator, one who signed 'Theophilus idiota'. For some time it was believed that Philips van Marnix, Lord of St. Aldegonde, was behind this pseudonym, but this attribution is no longer widely accepted. Recent assumptions attribute the work to Gilbert Roy (Regius), who is known to adopt the pseudonym 'Theophilus idiota'. Het Instituut voor Nederlandse Geschiedenis (ING) in The Hague attributes the work to Jean François le Petit, who also wrote the 2-volume 'La grande chronique ancienne et moderne de Hollande, Zélande ...' (Dordrecht 1601). Another, widely accepted attribution is to Carolus Ryckewaert, a Dutch refugee minister who fled to Norwich. Throughout his career Ryckewaert used the pseudonym 'Theophilus'. The letters 'D. L.' which appear in the French version are ambiguous and have been interpreted in a number of ways to support the attributions to both Ryckewaert and Roy. 'Chronyc Historie' is of major importance to Dutch historiography, representing a detailed early work on the revolt. Although violently anti-Catholic, the book gives a reliable account of the early years of the struggle. But it is the updated, revised, and enlarged French 'Histoire des Troubles' that represent the most detailed work on the period, and the only edition to describe in detail the events of that fateful year, 1581. A new and final version of the book appeared in 1583. Claiming to be a second French edition, it was in fact a pirated edition, completely rewritten with a new historiography of events set in a strong pro-Spanish light, published to deceive readers into thinking it is the original work. [For further references see B. A. Vermaseren, 'Gilb. Roy, alias Theophilus, auteur van de anonieme 'Chronyc historie' of 'Histoire des troubles... des Pays-bas' (1582)', De Gulden Passer (I958). Also: Rahlenbeck, 'Notes sur les auteurs, les imprimeurs et les distributeurs des pamphlets politiques et religieux du xvie siecle - Theophile', Bulletin du bibliophile Belge, 18 (1862).] A very important book on the Dutch revolt against Spain. Very rare. OCLC does not locate a single copy worldwide. Bodleian records a copy (attributed to Carolus Ryckewaert). KVK lists only 3 other copies worldwide. Not in the National Library of the Netherlands. [Descriptive text Copyright © Librarium, The Hague] .

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