Theatre d’histoire où, avec les gra[n]ds prouesses et auentures êtranges, du noble et vertueux Cheualier Polimantes, Prince d’Arfine, se representent au vrâi, plusieurs occurrences fort rares et merueilleuses, tant de paix, que de guerre; arriuées […] es plus celebres […] païs […] du monde.

4to: [16]-588-[4] pp. (brown. throughout, occ. stains, lower corner of 5 first ff. repaired).

19th-c. half calf (corners sl. rubbed), gilt orn. spine with 5 raised bands (sl. rubbed), green leather title label. Good copy.

Rare 2nd issue with new title (1st 1610) of a chivalric "roman à clef" dedicated to the Archducal couple Albert and Isabella and relating, together with the adventures of "Polimantes", some historical events such as the abdication of Charles V, the death of Henri II in a tournament, the capture of Saint-Quentin, etc. Nice unsigned engr. ill.: title, 3 full-page pl. (allegorical figure, "Joyeuse Entrée" of Albert & Isabella and funerary monument of Philip II, also picturing Philip III and Isabella) and 59 smaller text engravings, some representing tournaments, battles or naval combats, an ostrich hunt... Some keys: "Cesar Carlipente" = Charles V, "Regimonte" = Philip II, "Reine de Meoce" = Marie de Medicis, "Paludine" = Brussels, "Pleumosie" = Flanders.
Ref. Funck 273-274. - Goldsmith (BL) B-526 = Simoni B-76. - Drujon col. 928-929. - Brunet V:771. - STCV. - BnF (with variant text of "Advertissement" in the Gallica digitised copy).
Prov. Paul-Maris Cogels (bookplate).