VERE, Francis.
Commentaries, being diverse pieces of service, wherein he had command. Published by William Dillingham.
London, Peter Parker, 1672 (first title-page: Cambridge, John Field, 1657). Folio. With two title-pages, the first dated 1657 with the woodcut device of Cambridge University, the second dated 1672 with a London imprint, 3 full-page engraved portraits, of Sir Francis, Sir Horace Vere and John Ogle, double-page engraved plate of Francis Vere's monumental tomb by R. Gaywood, and 6 double-page engraved maps and plans by Robert Vaugham, of the sea-coasts of Europe, the Netherlands, Cadiz and the Azores, the armies arranged for battle at Turnhout and Newport, and the siege of Ostende. Later gold- and blind-tooled dark red calf. [18], 209, [2], [1 blank] pp.
€ 3,500
The 1672 reissue of the first (1657) edition of the famous military Commentaries by Sir Francis Vere (1560-1609), one of the greatest military commanders of his time, in active service in the Netherlands from 1585.
The present copy preserves both the new 1672 title-page and the original 1657 title-page, which was probably supposed to be cancelled. Working in close co-operation with the Dutch forces under Prince Maurice of Orange, he secured the Dutch Republic step by step, helping it win independence from Spain. After James I made peace with Spain, Vere retired from active service, and spent the rest of his life in the country in England, occupying himself with the compilation of his Commentaries, written at the height of action. The style is straightforward and soldier-like, and the comments are sound and most valuable, full of interesting details and military information not easily found elsewhere.
We have not had the opportunity to directly compare the two 1657 versions of the Commentaries, but from the literature they seem likely to be two issues of a single edition, reimposed to make both a folio (ESTC R219854) and a 4to (R14801) issue.With two bookplates on the inside front board. First 3 leaves loose and restaured; several plates with restorations or tears, but still in good condition. ESTC R219854 (1657) & R9929 (1672); Hazlitt I, 437; Wing V 240 (1657) & V240A (1672).
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