Adrianus Haemstedius & Johannes Gysius - De Historie der Martelaren, Die om het getuygenisse der Euangelischer Waarheit haar bloet gestort hebben, [...] tot den jare sestien hondert vyf en vyftig. Dese Druk vermeerdert met een VERVOLG;

Adrianus Haemstedius & Johannes Gysius - De Historie der Martelaren, Die om het getuygenisse der Euangelischer Waarheit haar bloet gestort hebben, [...] tot den jare sestien hondert vyf en vyftig. Dese Druk vermeerdert met een VERVOLG; de Ongehoorde Wreetheden [van de Franse] Reformatie [...] - Te Leyden - By De Weduwe van Jan Vander Deyster en Hendrik Vander Deyster - 1747 - 1st edition [in this form] - [6], [16], 818, [6] pp - Parchment binding - 21 x 33 cm.

Condition: Good - original binding rebound (see more info below).

Martyrs' book by Adriaen Cornelisz van Haemstede (1525-1562) with a description in words and images of the gruesome torture and executions that faithful Christians had to endure over the centuries. Illustrated with more than 150 copper engravings "tot gerief van den Lezer." With Naam-Lyst der Intekenaars" [subscribers] and indices by name and places. Cf. Auke Jan Jelsma's thesis (1970).

The text (in old Dutch) was edited by J.G.O. [= Johannes Gysius, c. 1583-1652] and "onder ieder Prentverbeelding, een korte schets der Geschiedenisse in Dichtmaat, door den Beroemden Zededichter Claas Bruin (1671-1732)." The Catholic Church gets fierce criticism in the 'Vertoog, Over de hovaardy, en opgeblasene Opperhoogheit der Pausen' [= 'Discourse, On the haughty, and puffed-up Supreme Highness of the Popes'] by the English martyrologist John Foxe (1516-1587). The first edition of this first Protestant martyrology appeared in 1559. Various reprints were subsequently published (sometimes without author's name), including editions in 1659 and 1868. 

Hardback edition in original mid-18th century binding with the title 'Martyrs' in handwriting (just visible) on the spine. The parchment is yellowed and soiled but professionally restored by master bookbinder Hans Zegveld from Nijmegen. The interior is also discolored (with a stain here and there and some repaired tears) but is in general actually very well preserved.

SOME NAMES of subscribers: Georgius van Adrichem (pastor in Sint Maarten); Jacobus Bosch ('Boekverkoper' in Rotterdam); J. Broedelet in Utrecht, H. van der Burgh in Maassluis (11 copies!) and Mr. Pieter Boddaart ('griffier' in Middelburg and the grandfather of the erotic poet Pieter Boddaert jr.). Bookshop G. de Gast from Arnhem purchased 3 books (including possibly our copy).

¶ A selection of the discussed (and depicted) saints and martyrs: Jesus Christ, Simon Peter, John the Baptist, Bible translator William Tyndale, Anneken Jans (drowned in Haarlem), Jan Hus ('burned in Konstanz'), Johanna Gray ('in London onthalst'), Lieven de Blekere ('burned in Oudenaarde') and Neesken de Greef whose "doot lighaam tot s'Hertogenbosch [werd] mishandelt."