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Translation into English of a short description of The Netherlands

LE PETIT, Jean-François.
The Low-Country commonwealth contayninge an exact discription (sic) of the Eight United Provinces, now made free. Translated out of french by Ed. Grimeston.

Engraved allegorical title-page with Hollandia, the Dutch Virgin, at the top flanked by 6 provincial coat-of-arms (coat-of-arms of Utrecht not present); underneath a view of a Dutch harbour, woodcut head-piece and initials.

(London), G. Eld, 1609. 8vo. Nineteenth-century full gilt mottled calf, spine gilt with brown title label lettered in gold, gilt inner dentelles (by Riviere), marbled endpapers, g.e. Engraved allegorical title-page with Hollandia, the Dutch Virgin, at the top flanked by 6 provincial coat-of-arms (coat-of-arms of Utrecht not present); underneath a view of a Dutch harbour, woodcut head-piece and initials. (8), 303, (1, blank) pp.

Very rare historical and typographical work on the 'Eight' Provinces (the seven provinces and Zutphen) of the Low Countries, translated out of French into English by Edward Grimeston. This original (?) French edition is not traceable; possibly the text is translated from Le Petit's much more voluminous La Grande Chronique ancienne et moderne, de Hollande, Zelande, ... (Dordrecht, Canin, 1601), or the abridged edition: L'Histoire des Pays Bas, depuis l'an 1560 ... (1604). In 1615 Le Petit's son published a posthumous, corrected and enlarged edition by Willem Baudartius in Dutch: Nederlantsche Republycke, bestaende inde Staten so generale, als particuliere van t'Hertochdom Gelder ... (Arnhem, 1615; also known under the titles Eijghentlijcke bweshcrijvinge der Vrije Nederlandtsche Provincien ... (= engraved title), and Nederlants Ghemeenebeste, bestaende in Staeten, soo alghemeene als bijzondere ...).
Jean François Le Petit (1546-ca. 1615) is mentioned as the author on leaf A2 in the dedication by the translator Edward Grimeston to Sir Peter Manwood, dated Orléans, 10 April 1609. The dedication is followed by a table with names of cities, villages, castles etc. The running title reads 'The Belgicke Common-weale'. Le Petit started his career as clerk of the court at Béthune in Atrecht. As a Calvinist he fled to Antwerp where he entered the service of the Prince of Orange. Later he settled as a notary in Middelburg (1595-98), where he became also a well-known historian after he had published his La Grande Chronique in 1601.

Very good copy, with the bookplate of Joseph Warren Cutler pasted on inside front cover and ownership's entry in ink in the margin of f. A2: 'Joshua Favis His Book 17011(sic)'.- (Re-backed; outer margin of title-page damaged and strengthened).

Goldschmiths'-Kress Libr. 380; Bibl. Belg. III, p. 826 (L 65); Bodel Nijenhuis 31 (Dutch ed. 1615); Tiele 652 (Dutch ed.); Wind, S. de,Bibl. Nederl. geschiedschr. p. 286 (Dutch ed.); NNBW VII, cols. 954-5.

Related Subjects: 17th Century Geography History Low Countries

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