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Interesting picture of warfare in the Netherlands during the Eighty-Years-War
HEXHAM, Henry.The principles of the art militarie, practised in the warres of the United Netherlands: represented by figure, the word of command, and demonstration (Part 1-3 and the Appendix to part 1).      London, Delft & The Hague, Robert Young, Jan Petersen Waelpote & Francis vander Spruyt, 1637-1640. 4 parts in one vol. Folio. Contemporary calf (rebacked). With 19 double-page, 44 full-page and 25 half-page engraved plates of instructions for the use of the musket and other weapons, military formations on the battle field, fortifications, etc. ca. 210 pp. (see collation below). The extremely rare and complete first edition (2 parts in second issues; including the extremely rare Appendix to part 1) of this highly interesting military exercise book and one of the best known military drill books of the period, describing the practices of the warfare in the Netherlands during the time that Prince Maurice and Frederick Henry were stadholders of the Dutch Republic during its struggle for independence from Spain (the so-called 'Tachtigjarige oorlog', the Eighty-Years War). Much attention is paid for instance to the battle of Nieuwpoort in 1600. The first volume deals with the training and movements of infantry troops; the second is mainly on cavalry and the third deals in part with the proper manner in which to conduct sieges. The author Henry Hexham (ca. 1585-1650) served, as so many other Englishmen, as a quarter-master in the Dutch army and page of the famous English general Sir Francis Vere. His manual was very popular and popular in both the Netherlands and England, but as these books were actually used in the field only a few copies survived. The book, however, was primarily written for English gentlemen and soldiers entering the States' service. "Hexham's long experience of warfare, and the careful selection of extracts from the best military writers of his time have contributed to render his book extremely valuable" (Cockle). The book is most richly and very attractively illustrated, with series of double-page and full-page engraved plates teaching infantry men the use of the pike and the riffle (musket), including a fine series for the cavalry. Many plates show the companies arranged on the battle field, depicting each individual soldier in full uniform handling his weapon. When the rifles are fired simultaneously, small plumes of smoke are coming from all riffles. The two movable plates illustrate the movement of a company turning on its axis (Mostly lacking but present in our copy, albeit one of them is loose). The collation of the book and its various issues is very complicated; and mostly there are also some mis-bindings. Part 1 of our copy is the second issue of the first edition, which was printed in London by M(ichael P(arsons) for M. Symons in 1637. As in other copies of this issue the dedication leaf is lacking. The Appendix (part 1a) is in its original first edition. Part 2 is a re-issue with a new title-page of the first edition, which was printed in Delft by Jan Pieters Walpole in 1638. As in other copies of this issue the dedication leaf is lacking. Probably also p. 37-40 are lacking in our copy. Part 3 is the original first edition. There are many mistakes in the pagination and sequence of binding, exactly as also in other copies, and to all probability therefore our copy is complete. A second edition of the work appeared in Delft, Ant. van Heusden, 1642 (part 3: Rotterdam, James Moxon, 1643). Collation and contents: Part 1: (Title, see above). London, Robert Young, 1639. (6), p. 1-55; x2-1, A2, A-O2 p. (1): Title (verso blank), p. (3-6): The officers and duties belonging to a foote compagnie, through all their degrees, from a private souldier to a captaine ... p. 1-8: The officers of a foot company. p. 9-55: Next followes the postures of the pike, and musket, represented by figure, having the word of command under every of them, with briefe observations on the first page , answering to the number of every figure. With 25 full-page and 52 half-page (including two movable plates) in the text and 4 full-page plates glued together bound in at the end. Part 1a: (HEXHAM, Henry). An appendix, of the quarter for the ransoming of officers of all qualities, and soldiers, concluded betweene the King of Spayne his side, and the side of the States Generall, of the united Netherlands. Together wiith the lawes, and articles of marshall discipline enacted on the States side. With their placcard of musters and other necessaries depending on the warre. Delft, Jan Petersen Waelpote, 1637. 20 pp.; (***)2, ):(2, ()2, )(2, [9x.]2. Part 2: HEXHAM, Henry. The second part of the principles of the art militarie, practised in the warres of the United Provinces: consisting of several formes of battell, represented by the Illustrious Maurice Prince of Orange of famous memorie, and his Highnesse Frederick Henrie Prince of Orange that now is, Lord Generall of the Armie of ... the United Netherlands, &c. Together with the order, and forme of quartering, encamping, and approching in a warre offensive, and defensive. London, Robert Young, 1639. (2), 18, 36 pp.; x2-1, A-D2, E2-1; (A)-(I)2. p. (1): Title (verso blank). p. 1-18: The severall duties of the officers of the field belonging to an army. p. 1-36: The order and forme of quartering and encamping of an armie. This text is mainly translated from Adam Freitag. The catchword 'A briefe' on p. 36 suggests the presence of a short text: "A Briefe discourse of cavallerie, or horsemen", present in some copies on p. 36-40 (f. K1-2). In those copies, however, is called for this text on the title-page of part 2: "... With a briefe discourse of cavallerie, or horsemen". In our issue these words don't appear on the title. With 14 double-page and 2 full-page plates of battle orders, etc. with 24 figures, numbered: A-W, (X-Z) with captions in French and English. The first (A/B) is signed by Hendrik Hondius and dated '1638'; and fig. 153-178 with details of fortifications on the last 3 double-page plates, plate Ii-Ll. Part 3: HEXHAM, Henry. The third part of the principles of the art militarie practised in the warres of the United Provinces, under the Lords the States Generall, and his Highnesse the Prince of Orange, treating of severall peeces of ordnance, carriages, engines, quadrants, morters, petards, as also instructions for master gunners, and canoniers with diverse instruments and materials ... Together with a list of all necessarie preparations appertayning to an armie ... (The Hague), Francis vander Spruyt, 1640. (8), 18, (19), (44), 45-48, 25-33, (34), 37-40, 21-28, 47-50, (4), 75, (76), (79), 80-81, (82) pp.; *2, x2, A-H2, I2-1, K2; F-G2, N2, (O)2, P2, Q2-1. p. (1): Title (verso blank) p. (3-5): Two dedications by Hexham: to Charles Lodowick, Prince elector (p. (3-4), and Lord Mountioye, Earle of Newport etc., dated: Delft, 20 November 1640. p. (7-8): Index. p. 1-18, (19): A briefe treatise of eight severall peeces of ordinance, Chapter 1-8. p. (44)-47: Ch. 9. Showing how a connonier shall shoot levell by the metrell of his peece ... p. 48, 25-27: The first dialogue. Betweene the master, or general of the oriance, and a captain ... p. 28-29: Ch. 10, containing the demonstration of morters and the use of them. p. 30-33, (34): Ch. 11. Treating of compositions, mixtures and ingredients for the making of your concav, or hollow granadoes ... (p. 32: Treating of a pettard ...). p. 37-40: A question propounded to the Batavian inginiers by master John Baptist a mathematician of Antwerp for the battering of a Horne-worke (p. 38: The mathematical dessolutuion upon trhis Antwerp question ... by master John Stampion. p. 21-28: Ch. 9: A Dialogue; Ch. 10. How a canonier ought to governe himselfe in making of a good shott. p. 47-50: How and in what manner a general of the ordinance ought to plant his canon in a day of battle ... p. (1-4): Ch. 10. Treating of the diverse sorts of bridges, used in the service of the Lords the States of the United Provinces (including a horse water-mill). (p. (3): The demonstration of a copper-oven, a kneading though and a bread-chest ...; p. (4): The demonstration of materials ... for the making of trenches, approches, saps, & workes of fortification). (From S. Marolois's The art of fortification, translated by Hexham (Amsterdam, John Johnson, 1638)?). p. 75, (76): The office and charge of the generall ... and all other officers ... p. (79),80-81, (82): A list of some other materials ... which the clarke of the materials uses to carry with him .. (p. 80: The waggon master generall ..., A list of the waggons ..., A list of the baggage shipps ...; p. 81: The demonstration for the quartering of the generall ... With one double-page and 2 full-page plates outside, and one double-page, 11 full-page and 2 half-page plates in the text, numbered A-R. Fair copy from the library of F.S. Scudamore Esq.- (Some margins frayed, first lvs. loose with marginal worm holes, binding a bit bumped, edges damaged).
Jähns II, p. 962-3: "Das sehr seltene und technisch interessante Werk"; Cockle, Bibl. Military books 136-137, 163-164; Wing H-1654; for Hexham: Biogr. lexicon Ned. Protestantisme 3, p. 185.
Related Subjects: 17th Century England English Militaria Netherlands Add to Shopping cart |
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All items are offered subject to prior sale. Prices are nett and in (€) EURO. VAT/BTW, postage, and insurance are not included.
Free shipping for orders over € 2,500. EU customers: if applicable, please quote your VAT number when placing orders.
Preferred mode of payment: by credit card through our secure online payment service, which is facilitated by Ogone. If you wish to make other arrangements, please contact us. Terms of sale
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