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The earliest printed account known of a 'Rederijkers' festival

[RHETORICS - REDERIJKERS - ROTTERDAM].
Spelen van sinne vol schoone allegatien, loflijcke leeringhen ende schriftuerlijcke onderwijsinghen. Op de vraghe: wie den meesten troost oyt quam te baten, die schenen te sijn van Godt verlaten. Ghespeelt ende verthoont met octroy der Conincklijcker Ma. binnen die stede van Rotterdam bijde neghen Cameren van Rhetorijcken die hem daer ghepresenteert hebben den XX. dach in Julio Anno 1561.

With small woodcut vignette on title and 10 full-page woodcut emblematic blasons of the competing chambers of rhetoricians.

Antwerp, Willem Silvius, 1564. Sm.8vo. 19th century half red morocco with gilt title on spine. With small woodcut vignette on title and 10 full-page woodcut emblematic blasons of the competing chambers of rhetoricians. 159, (1 blank) ff. [Collation: A-V8].

First edition of a rhetorician festival held at Rotterdam, and the earliest printed account known of such a public competitive song and theatre fair organized in the Northern Netherlands. But at the end of 16th century most Northern cities also had their Rhetorician Chambers, and some famous festivals took place. This was mainly due to the Inquisition and the War against Spain which brought many literary and artistic refugees from the Southern Netherlands to the Northern Republic.
The present Rotterdam festival was organized after the model of the big festivals of the Southern Netherlands, where they were held already for centuries at Ghent, Antwerp, etc. under the name of "Landjuweel". At Rotterdam nine visiting Rhetorician Chambers competed with songs and plays on the theme: "Those who need comfort most, seem to be deserted by God". The Rotterdam Chamber "Die Blauwe Acolye" was host at this northern "Landjuweel", and its invitation card, blason and play are present in the book, but the Chamber remained as host outside the prize competition.
Competing Chambers were: "De Lelie onder de doornen" from Noordwijk, "De Goudsbloem" from Gouda, "De Roode Angieren" from Rijnsburg, "De Pellecaen", the old chamber from Haarlem, "De Wijngaertrancken", the young chamber from Haarlem, "De Roode Acolye" from Leyden, "De Rapenbloem" from Delft, "De Roode Roosen" from Schiedam, and "D'Eglantier" from Amsterdam. The play of the Chamber of the city of Rhijnsburg included a chronogram and a newly composed song with musical scores, but the winner of the festival was "D'Eglantier" from Amsterdam.

Fine copy, from the library of V. de la Montagne with his bookplate in Art Nouveau style.

Van Aken, Cat. Ned. Toneel, p. 4; Bibl. Belg. S 225; Cat. Oudere Werken Ned. Lett., U.B. Amst., 2; Machiels S 495; Belg. Typ. 4401; not in STC, or Adams; cf. Worp p. 118.

Related Subjects: 16th Century Festival Books Low Countries Splendid Ceremonies Theatre

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