De Bello Germanico...1560

Lamberti Hortensii Montfortii Historici,

De bello Germanico libri septem: In quibus & brevitate & elegantia singulari, non pauca, a Sleidano & aliis huius Historiae scriptoribus vel praetermissa, vel non paulo aliter commemorata hactenus, diligens Lector inveniet...Accessit rerum & verborum in iisdem parecipue memorabilium index. Basle: [Johann Opporinus,] 1560. 

First Edition. 4to. (197mm x 153mm). [8],208,[16]pp. Modern 1/2 pigskin over paper boards, raised bands on spine. Title gilt on spine label, edges red; contemporary signature of "Henrii Schyrensis" on t.p., stamp with deaquisition stamp of "Bibl. Aoad. Land." on verso of t.p., light marginal stain, paper in excellent condition; housed in red cloth slipcase. Large historiated initials. Clean and tight, housed in a custom slipcase.

Additional Information: 

Hortensius (1500-1574) was a philologer, a writer of verses and a historian. He was born at Montfort in the territory of Utrecht and studied at Louvain. He was  rector at Naarden "and when that city was taken in 1572, he would have fallen a sacrifice to the military fury, had he not been preserved by the gratitude of one who had been his pupil." [Chalmers] "The life of Lambert Hortensius was spared, out of regard to his learning and genius, but he hardly could thank his foes for the boon, for they struck his only son dead, and tore his heart out before his father's eyes.  Hardly any man or woman survived, except by accident. "[Motley, The Dutch Republic.] His contemporary accounts of the wars of Charles V and the anabaptist movement are valuable contemporary historical accounts of his period.  VD 16 H5035. Adams H1001. Schottenloher 41692.

Provenance: Krown & Spellman Collection March, 2015.