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Considered the best history of the famous Martyrs of Gorcum

ESTIUS, Gulielmus (Willem Hessels van EST).
Waerachtighe historie Van de martelaers van Gorcum, meesten-deel al Minder-broeders, die veur het Catholijck gheloove van de ketters ghedoodt zijn inden jaere onses Heeren, 1572. Eerst beschreven in 't Latijn. Ende nu in onse Duytsche taele over-gheset deur Willem Spoel-bergh.

With woodcut device of Plantin on title, and another on the verso of the last leaf, woodcut initials.

With woodcut device of Plantin on title, and another on the verso of the last leaf, woodcut initials.

With woodcut device of Plantin on title, and another on the verso of the last leaf, woodcut initials.



Antwerpen, Inde Plantijnsche Druckerije, Jan Moerentorf, 1604 (colophon: 1605). 8vo. Contemporary vellum. With woodcut device of Plantin on title, and another on the verso of the last leaf, woodcut initials. 401, (3) pp.

Rare first edition of the translation into Dutch by Willem Stoelbergh of the famous Historiae martyrum Gorcomiensium (History of the Martyrs of Gorcum), a very popular religious book among the Catholics in the Southern Netherlands. First published in Latin in 1603 at Douai (second edition Namur 1655), it was also translated into French by B. de la Grange and published in Douai in 1606 (further editions: 1616, 1668).
Willem Hessels van Est (1542-1613) was a famous commentator on the Pauline epistles and theologian, born at Gorcum, Holland, in 1542 and died at Douai  in 1613. Gorcum at that time contained about 5000 inhabitants, among who the most illustrious belonged to the family of Est, both on his father's  and mother's side. Europe was flooded with books and pamphlets violently attacking the Church. Very few writers did more to show (and that in quite and unostentatious manner) the hollowness of the reformer's Biblical arguments than Est. He received his early education at home, after which he went to Utrecht, where he studied classics at the Hieronymus School and thence proceeded to Louvain, where he spent about twenty years in the study of philosophy, theology and Holy Scripture. During the last ten years there he was professor of philosophy in one of the colleges. In 1580 he received the degree of Doctor of Theology. In 1582 he was made professor of theology at Douai, a position which he retained for thirty-one years. He was also for many years rector of the diocesan seminary and during the last eighteen years of his life chancellor of the University of Douai.
 
In 1572, while Van Est was still at Louvain, a great catastrophe befell his native town, which was captured by the Calvinists. His father, brother, and uncle were made prisoners and were in eminent danger of their lives. The father and brother escaped, but his uncle Nicolas Pieck, who was then Superior of the Franciscan convent at Gorcum, and eighteen other ecclesiastics, were taken to Brielle, on the sea-coast, and put to death at the instigation of Admiral Lumey for the Catholic Faith, with revolting brutality. Van Est wrote what is considered the best history of the Martyrs of Gorcum, who were canonized by Pius IX in 1867. From this history we learn many details about Est and his relatives.

In his present history of the Gorcum martyrs Van Est excessively praises the murderer of William of Orange, explaining this deed by Balthasar Gerards as an act of piety. The book is well produced, mainly printed in Gothic type; the dedication to Johannes Le Mire, bishop of Antwerp is in Roman, and the preface by the author in a fine Civilité type. The 'Approbatie' on the verso of the last page is dated 11 February 1604, but the colophon on the recto of the last often lacking last leaf (fol. c2recto) is dated 1605. According to Knuttel the present edition was already very rare in 1772.

Good copy with the bookplate of Chr. Koeman..- (Some marginal soiling at first lvs, ownership's entry on title erased).
B.C.N.I. 5016; Knuttel, Ned.Bibliogr.Kerkgesch., p. 92; cf. Simoni E 73-75 (Latin ed. of 1603 and French ed. of 1606 and 1618); Burgersdijk & Niermans, Bibl. Theol., 1900, nos. 4507-4508 (Latin ed. of 1603 and 1655); not in Waller, Muller, Scheepers, etc.

Related Subjects: 16th Century  Catholicism  Netherlands 

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