N.B. It has been thought necessary to
follow in the impression of this catalogue, the manuscript inventory left by
the proprietor of the collection, and to reproduce a part of the notes with
which each article was accompanied. M. de Fortsas catalogued his books
pele-mele, and without following any bibliographical system: for a collection
so small, a classification would have been, in fact, a useless matter. The
interruption in the series of the numbers is caused by the works from time to
time expelled from his shelves.
3 Brief discours d'un esprit, lequel, sous la forme d'un
cerf, espouvanta moult la citez de Toloze. A. Toloze, chez la veuvfe
Colomier, 1619. Small 8vo, pp.77, red morocco. (Thouvenin).
This
little book is by the famous demonographer Sebastien Michaelis. He speaks of it
several times in his Histoire admirable de la possession et conversion d'une
penitente, etc. etc. Nouvelle edition, Lyon, 1623, 8vo. See page 291 et
seq.
4 Relacion d'un voyage fait en Artois, Flandres et
Brabant, en 1625, par Henry de Tocquaille, gentilhomme poitevin. Orleans,
Jean Rousseau, 1627. 12mo, pp. 292, violet morocco with compartments, gilt
edges. (Vogel).
This Henry de Tocquaille is the son of
the brave Captain Hercule de Tocquaille whose intrepidity served Henry IV so
well after the battle Ivry.
7 Histoire de la mort glorieuse du Saint martyre (sic)
Annessens, decapite a Bruxelles le I9 de septembre, I7I9, par ordre du tiran
(sic) Prie. 8vo, pp. 50, without place or date, old calf; two worm-holes in
the lower margin.
8 Honnestes voluptez des plaisirs de la table demonstrees
peremptoirement, par maistre Bartholomte Brusile, escuier, avocat du Presidial
d' Angers. Troye, chez J. Oudot, 1639. 12mo. pp. 149, old binding in red
morocco, with the arms of Roquelaure, gilt edges.
9 Relation veritable de la surprinse de la ville de Montz
en Haynaut, par le conte (sic) Lois de Nassau, without place or date, 4to,
15 leaves without numbers, green morocco, stamped, gilt leaves.
A
curious pamphlet, containing particulars hitherto entirely unknown concerning
this episode of our revolution of the fifteenth century.
11 Histoire des antiquitez et prerogatives de la ville de
Bruges, contenant un grand nombre de chartes et documents inedits des plus
curieux, par I' abbe Moussi, predicateur de S.A.R. Bruxelles, Ermens, 1767,
4to, pp. 722.
The Abbe Moussi has also composed a history of the chateau de Marimont, which I have searched for these twenty-five years (11 November 1826).
12 Infusion polyglotte par le moyen de laquelle les
wallons acquerront une connaissance parfaite de bas-allemand en moins de six
semaines, par V.D.H. Bruxelles, Voglet, imprimeur-libraire, 1829. 8vo. pp.
45, woodcuts, unbound [i.e. paper covers].
15 Bevis ac dilucida Flandriae descriptio, per
Judocum Antonium Makens, etc. Basileae, Jo. Oporinus, 1853 [sic]. Small
8vo, pp. 124, citron morocco, gilt edges. (Vogel).
This
volume comes from the abbey of Saint Germain des Pres, at Paris. It belonged to
the famous Hotman, and contains his signature and various marginal notes.
17 Constitution de royaume d' Ivetot, 1791.
32mo, pp. 97, without place (Paris), vellum. (Courteval).
A
parody upon the Constitution of 1791.
19 Histoire de la Sainte Ampoule, conservee en la
metropole de Rheims, etc., par Dom Camusel. Rheims, imp. de Dufour,
libraire jure, MDCCLI. 8vo. pp. 122, citron morocco, gilt edges.
The
journal of Verdun speaks of this work as having been totally destroyed.
23 Assiette et description de la terre et seigneurie de
Rummen. Ensemble le lignee et descendance des seigneurs d'icelle terre, par Dom
Cornelius Van Scheepdaal. Maestricht, Jean Nypels, 1615. Small 12mo. pp.
88, with two plates representing the moneys of Rummen ; a very rich old binding
in purple satin, with the arms of Rummen, embroidered in silk and gold.
27 Emeranciane, ou la succession par B.D.C.T. Leyde,
1714. 12mo. pp. 298, green morocco, gilt edges.
A
romance, or perhaps a satire, of which I have not the key.
30 Le Sardanapale de ce temps (a la sphere) 1699.
12mo, pp. 304, vellum.
A
satire written in Holland, against Louis XIV. This infamous piece is by the
infamous and mysterious Corneille Blessebois, who mentions himself in the
avant-propos [i.e. Foreword]. See, about this Blessebois, the Melanges tires
d'une petite bibliotheque, p. 368).
31 Points douteux et contestables dans les genealogies et
descendances des principales familles des Pays-Bas. (Par De Azevedo.) No
place or date, folio, pp. 88, half bound.
35 Poecies de Careme (du sieur Poisson), a la Trappe,
chez Lafriture, (Mons, Henri Bottin) 1779. 12mo, pp. 264. An unfinished
volume, half bound, back and corners of blue morocco.
By
Francis Auguste Poisson, called 'the poet', born at Mons in 1725, and died in
the same city, in 1778. The favourite style of this poet of Mons was satire and
epigram, of hich, too often, the malice formed the whole point. Not content
with having carried and read his manuscript everywhere, Poisson, like others,
wished to see himself in print during his life. Unhappily for his glory, the
Council obtained information of this clandestine edition: and as some wigs of
this respectable body were treated badly enough in his rhymes, they had the
book seized before it appeared. My copy, the only one which escaped the general
burning, comes from the author's heirs.
Poisson
was as celebrated for his puns as for his verses; and to finish worthily, as he
had lived, he wished to end with a point. While they administered the extreme
unction to him, he cried out, 'Pauvre Poisson, tu es f..., on t'accommode a
l'huile.'
36 Evangile du citoyen Jesus, purge des idees
aristocrates et royalistes et ramene aux vrais principes de la raison, par un
bon sans-culotte. Arras, an III de la Republique une et indivisible. 12mo,
pp. 168. An incomplete volume.
This
volume, which must not be confounded with the evangile of Toucquet, is the work
of the famous Joseph Lebon. I received my copy from Mr. Du Rhin, of Arras, who
had taken it from the printer, and saved it from the total destruction of the
edition, which was not completed at the fall of the ferocious evangelist of the
Convention.
40 Memoire justicatif des P.P. de l'oratoire de Jesus de
Mons, indignement accuse d' heresie; ou l'on demontre la turpitude et
les intrigues de leurs ennemis. Small 4to, without place or date, pp. 94.
Very
curious, and containing many personalities against the members of the
magistracy of the times (about 1690). Bayle, in his letters, regrets not having
been able to obtain this piquant piece.
43 Les suites du plaisir, ou desconfiture de Grand Roi
dans les Pais-Bat. Au Ponent (Hollande), 1686. 12mo, pp. 152, plates, black
morocco, gilt edges.
A
libel of a disgusting cynicism on occasion of the fistula of Louis XIV. One of
the plates represents le derriere royal under the form of a sun
surrounded with rays, with the famous motto; Nec pluribus impar.
46 Les georgicques du cygne mantouan, translatees du
Latin virgilian et reduis en ryme francoise. Ensemble un discours non moins
recreatif a qui tiltre est, Le Malvoisin, par Libert Houthem, ligeois. A
Mons en Haynau, chez Rutgher Velpius, 1580. 8vo, pp. vii. 128.
Still
another work forgotten by Mr. Vanhasselt. Houthem is known by other works.
47 Disputatio philosophica, qua anonymus probare nititur
homines, ante peccatum, sexum non habuisse. Coloniae Allobr . apud J.
Tornaisium, MDCVII. 4to, pp. 48, plates, half bound, uncut.
This
work belonged to Liebnitz [sic ], and has his signature and many autograph
notes.
48 Mes campagnes aux Pays-Bas, avec la liste, jour par
jour, des forteresses que j'ai enlevees a l' arme blanche. lmprime par
moi seul, pour moi seul, a un seul exemplaire, et pour cause. A. B., de
l'imprimerie du P. Ch. De -. No year, 8VO, pp. 202, bound in green chagrin,
with a lock of silver gilt.
A
catalogue, more than curious of the good fortunes of the Prince. The Marechal
de Richelieu gave him, without doubt, the idea of this singular inventory.
50 Il pentamerone del Cavalier Giovan Batista Basile,
ouero lo Cunto de li cunte Tratteneminiento de li Peccerille de Gian Alexio
Abbattutis. In Amsterdam, presso D. Elsevier, 1675. 12mo, vellum.
52 Histoire tres plaisante et recreative du noble chevir,
le gentil siegneur Gil de Chyn, lequel fist moult grant proeces oultre mer. On
les vend a Paris en la grand salle du palais, au premier pillier, en la
boutique de Galliot Dupre, marchant libraire de Luniversite de Paris. MDXXVI.
Small folio, black letter, 2 col. 54 leaves, brown calf.
55 Brouet confortatif pour les ames foibles en devocion ,.
ensemble un brief discours en forme de consolacion touchant les miseres de
ce temps, par Charles de Hainin licentie es droits. A Tournay, chez Adrien
Quinquet, MDCXXXI. 12mo, pp. 134, green mo., gilt edges. (Thouvenin). .
59 Histoire du Pays et Comte de Haynau, par Messire du
Mont, seigneur de Holdre. 3 vols. 12mo, pp. 300, 325, and 294, wanting
titles; green morocco, gilt edges.
We
find the name of the author in a sonnet, addressed to him by his friend Gilles
Couturiaux, printed at the beginning of the first volume. It is impossible for
us to divine why this book was not published; we have read it, without being
able to discover the concealed venom which caused it to be proscribed. In style
and criticism it is fit to be placed after its compatriot De Boussu, the
historian of Mons. The third volume, which would not have been the last, ends
with the accession of Albert and Isabella.
63 Le mystere monseigneur sainct Denys a noeuf
personaiges cest ascavoir, etc., etc., without place or date, but with a
shield upon the last leaf, with a monogram composed of the letters H. P. R.,
and surmounted by an eagle. Small folio, oblong, the form of an account book,
with 47 leaves, not numbered; old calf binding, much used.
64 L' Esteriade, poeme desdie a Son Alteze Monseigneur
Alexander Farneze, governeur et cappitaine-general des Pais-Bas, par son tres
humble servant Francois Brassart, poete laureat. A Mons en Haynau, chez
Rutgher Velpius, 1584. Small 8vo, pp. 220, red morocco, gilt edges, with the
arms of Farnese.
In
the Fleurs morales de Jean Bosquet, Montois, a Mons, chez Charles
Michel, 1587, is an ode addressed by the author to Seigneur Francois Brassart;
this is the passage which alluded to our poem:
Ronsard, defie le temps,
Par sa grave Franciade ;
Et tu surmont'ras les ans,
Par ta docte Esteriade;
Et mille poemes beaux
Malgre du temps les asseaux.
Alas!
The prediction of his confrere in poetry was vain; the author of the Esteriade,
the Belgian Ronsard, is not even cited in the memoir of Hugo Belge, by the
author of Primeveres. O vanity of Glory!
66 Description des merveilles et de la richesse inouie du
chateau royal de Binche, par M. D. B. (Monsieur de Biseaux). Binche, H.
Fontaine, imprimeur libraire, 1830. 8vo, pp. 45; blue velvet, gilt edges.
Extracted
from Etrennes Binchoises, and printed separately, one copy only; I was
present at the printing.
69 Parallele des Juifs qui ont crucifieJ. –C.. leur
Messie, et des Francois qui ont guillotine Louis XVI, leur roi. 8vo, pp.
89, without place or date. (Mons, Monjot, 1794. ) Half bound, morocco back.
This
work is by pere Charles Louis Richard, Dominican, native of Blainville in
Lorraine. It cost its author, aged eighty- four, his life. He was shot the 29th
of Termidor, year 2, in the grand place of Mons, in consequence of a judgment
declared the evening before by the sieurs Bar, Defrise, and Lelievre, jugeant
revolutionnairement, en leur honneur et conscience (sic).
Among
the passages which were objected to, was the following : 'A la difference
pres, d'entre la personne de Dieu et de Louis XVI, je soutiens et je vais
demontrer que le crime des Francais, qui ont guillotine Louis XVI, leur roi,
sur passe infiniment celui des Juifs.'
'It
is proved,' says the revolutionary Areopagus, 'that the pere Richard is
entirely of contra-revolutionary principles, and of an outrageous fanaticism;
that he is the enemy of Liberty and Equality, which the victorious arms of the
French Republic have offered and brought us, and which he has sought to destroy
by the propagation of opinions as erroneous as his expressions are injurious to
the French people, to reason, and even to the Supreme Being.'
The
tribunal takes the part of Jesus Christ, in the matter of the injurious
parallel. Such consideration on the part of these gentlemen was hardly
to be expected.
A
copy of the placard containing the judgment is joined to this volume.
71 La fauvette virginale, laquelle chante les divines
perfections de la Sainte Vierge Marie, mere de Dieu, par le pere Eustache,
capucin. A Valenciennes, de l'imprimerie de Jan Vervliet, a la bible d'or,
l'an MDCXXV. 8vo, pp. 274, elegant old binding in red morocco, with the arms of
Lalaing.
With
music, in the style of La Pieuse allouette, the Philomele seraphine, and
the Rossignols liguez en duos.
75 Corpus juris civilis, cum notis Gothofredi. Amstelodami,
apud Elzevirios, MDCLXIII. Folio. Unique copy, printed upon vellum, and
divided into four volumes, with titles printed expressly. A magnificent binding
of red morocco, with compartments, and the arms of the States of Holland.
Upon
one of the guards of the first volume, a note, in Dutch, says that this copy,
the only one printed upon vellum, was made for the States of Holland, and at
their own expense. The execution of this work is admirable; and it is perhaps
the most beautiful book in existence. I bought it the 19th of February, 1802,
of an Amsterdam Jew, for the small sum of two thousand florins. My friend Sir
Richard Heber has frequently offered me a thousand pounds sterling for it.
76 Du pret a interet, dit Vsure. Avranches, chez Jean
Terbi, imprimeur, MDCLXXVII. 12mo, pp. 142; old binding of green morocco, gilt
edges.
A
manuscript note attributes this work to pere Felix Grebard, private secretary
to the famous Huet, Bishop of Avranches. This pere Grebard is also the author
of a very rare tragedy; La Mort de Henry le Grand, which I had also in
my collection, but which I got rid of, having heard that Mr. J. Ketele, of
Audenarde, had another copy.
78 Cornuelliana, ou bons mots de Mme. de Comuel. A
Paris (Hollande), 1731. 12mo, pp. 76; half binding of morocco, uncut; a spot of
ink on page 21.
79 Vijf bouken Boecij, de consolatione philosophie. At
the end: Gheprent Taudenaerde, bij Arend de Keysere de vijfden dach juli
MCCCCLXXVII. Small 4to, without numbers or catch-word; 205 leaves.
81 Memoires de l' abbe de Vatteville lequel fut
successivement colonel, chartreux, bacha, archeveque nomme de Besancon, etc.,
etc. A Cologne, chez Pierre Marteau, 1710. Small 12mo, pp. vii, and 324;
brown calf.
83 Les amours du P. C. N. L. avec Madame de C. (du
Prince Charles De Lorraine, avec Madame de Choiseul). Marimont (without doubt
Holland), 1770. 12mo, pp. 157; puce morocco, gilt edges.
A
libel which is more stupid than malicious. The loves, like the entire person,
of our excellent Prince Governor-General, were in fact so little poetic, that
it would have been difficult to have made him the hero of a romance that would
have been readable. Mr. Barbier, to whom I showed this volume, attributed it to
Chevrier. Si non e vero e bene trovato.
8 Chronicon ecclesiae sancti Petri Lobbiensis, ordinis scti
Benedicti, ex archivis ejusdem compositum per Dom. Eugenium Lambertum Nalines,
monachum, MDCCVII. Small 4to, pp. 588, calf, with the arms of Maghe, fortieth
Abbot of Bonne-Esperance, in Hainault.
This
chronicle comes from the same press as the chronicle, equally rare of
Bonne-Esperance, of which I possess a copy upon vellum.
109 Aventures galantes du Capitaine Blainville pendant
son sejour a B ... (Bruxelles),
1746. Small 12mo, pp. 369, without indication of place. Blue morocco, gilt
edges.
Piquant
revelations (true or false) concerning the high society of Brussels at this
period, in the style of the amusements of Chevrier, but stronger.
117 Memoire sur les Comtes de Louvain, par Ernst. A
Hambourg, 1797. 8vo, pp. 37 unbound.
A
copy made up of proofs, with numerous manuscript corrections.
126 Reflexions sur la revolution de France. Mons,
Monjot, 1794. 8vo, pp. 160, half bound, back and corners of green morocco.
This
work must not be confounded with that by the Englishman Burke. These
reflections are by the Dominican Richart, the author of a great number of
pamphlets against the revolution. The volume was not completed, the entrance of
the French into Mons having interrupted the impression, and caused the ten
sheets already printed to be suppressed with the greatest care. Querard, who
has given so detailed a notice of P. Richart, did not know of the Reflexions.
127 De Mons a Vienne, par L. C. P. D. P. C. Vienne,
1835. 8vo, pp. 208, half bound, spine of puce morocco.
142 Causes qui doivent infailliblement amener la
dissolution du royaume des Pays-Bas, tel que l'ont fait les traites de 1814 et
1815. Tournai, Casterman, 1829. 8vo, pp. 89, red mor., uncut.
This
pamphlet, printed in an edition of two thousand copies, was on the point of
appearing, when the author, having made his peace with the Dutch Government,
had it ENTIRELY suppressed. A friend saved this copy for me, and up to this day
(January, 1835) I consider it UNIQUE.
149 Exposition des droits des Princes-Eveques de Liege
sur la ville de Fontaine-l' Eveque, par G. Migeot, avocat au Conseil
souverain du Hainaut. 1753. 4to, pp. 29.
I
have never been able to learn where this factum was printed, nor the cause of
its rarity.
153 Traite de l'ecriture sacree des Egyptiens, dite
ecriture hieroglyphique; suivi d'une dissertation physiologico-historique sur
l' embleme mystique dit Phallus. Par Mr. and Mme. Lescens, avec des notes
par Mr. D*****. Orleans, chez Jean Dubois, imprimeur, an XII. 4to, plates.
158 Promptuarium antiquitatum Trevirensium. Accedit
disquisitio de ecclesiae episcoporum in civitatem juribus, auctore Willelmo
comite ab Reiffenberg. Sumptibus auctoris e typog. Bernhardi Vongrasdorff.
Herbipoli, MDXXXXIX. 4to, pp. 695, plates; bound in blue velvet, with corners
and clasps of silver.
167 Les sept paysans d' Anderlue tragedie en 7 actes
et en vers, par Bidet. Mons, Monjot, imprimeur-libraire, rue de la Clef,
1807. 8vo.
172 Memoires de l' abbe D. M. R. D. F. A. L. (De
Mouson, resident de France a Liege) .A Rheims, chez Mace, imprim. jure, 1645.
12mo, in two parts of 115 and 210 pages; old binding of red morocco, with the
arms of Colbert.
This
volume is ornamented with the portraits of De Mouson, de La Ruelle, and
Warfusee, engraved by Jean Valdor, with admirable finish.
Mr.
W. having said to me that Mr. Polain, of Liege, possessed a Copy of the Memoirs
of De Mouson, I went immediately (in January, 1832) to verify myself the
existence of this second Copy. I can certify that Mr. Polain has, of these Memoirs,
only the first part of 115 pages. I therefore preserve my UNIQUE COPY.
197 Specimens of early Flemish songe [sic]
of the fourteenth century, to which is prefixed an historical introduction. By
Georg. [sic] Ellis, Esq. Lond. 1809. 8vo, page I to 138, without title, but
with ten plates of music; cloth.
The
printing of this volume was never finished. The author says, in his preface,
that, during a visit to Holland, he made the acquaintance of Van Wyn and
Clignett, who called his attention to the Flemish literature. On his return to
England, he carefully collected our old songs, and wished to publish a volume
of them with the music noted. But seeing that he was not sufficiently
acquainted with the old Flemish, and that in consequence the text he gave was
extremely faulty, he caused all the copies to be destroyed.
199 Een seer sonderlinghe schone ende wonderlike historie
die men warachtich hout te syne en auctetick sprekende van eense vroumen
gheheeten Melusine: van haren kinderen en gheslachte end va haer alze
wonderlike werken. At the end of the volume. Taudenaerde gheprendt
CCCCLXXXI. 4to, with very curious woodcuts; old binding of hog's skin.
This
volume which evidently came from the press of A. De Keyser, has remained
entirely unknown; it has long lines, without catch-words. In the catalogue of
Kloss (London, 1835, p. 305, No.4273), is indicated another edition of the
curious romance of Melusine, but it was printed at Antwerp, by Gerald Leeu,
1491. Mr. Kloss is mistaken in believing that there exists only one edition of
Melusine in Flemish: besides this of ours, there is still a third (Antwerp,
1510), by Henri Eckert Van Homborch.
208 De antiquitatibus Tornaci Nerviorum erutis, presertim
de fano Cybelae disputatis isagoge, auctore Dionysio Villerio, canonico
tornacensi. Montibus Hannon apud Carolum Michel, topog. 1612. Small 8vo, of
154 leaves, with 8 plates; old red morocco, with the arms of Tournai, gilt
edges.
This
dissertation was intended to serve as an introduction to a much more extended
work, which the Prebendary Villers proposed to publish upon the antiquities
exhumed at Tournai. It is dedicated to J. Bte. Gramaye.
This
book must not be confounded with the works of Pignorius and Chifflet.
215 Rothnacum, sive de historia oppidi Rothnacensis libri
duo. Auctore Lamberto Vander Burchio ad Divam Virginem Mariam Ultrajecti
decano. Ultrajecti, ex officina Hermanni Borculoi, 1616. 12mo, 96leaves;
calf, with arms, gilt edges.
The
copy given by the author to Aubert Lemire, who, in turn, made a present of it
to Antoine Sanderus. The Library of Burgundy possesses the work of Vander Burch
upon the history of Flanders, which has in great measure remained unpublished.
Besides the present dissertation, we know only the Life of the Count Gui de
Dampirre which has been published. This last was also printed by Borculo,
at Utrecht, in 1615. (Bibliotheca Hulthemiana, Vol. IV, p. 410, NO.27, 566.)
222 Traicte des monnoyes des comtes de Flandre, ou il est
amplement parle de la fabricque de la monnoye et de la valeur d'icelle, etc., par
Olivier de Wree, Brugeois, lic. es loix. A Bruge en Flandre, chez Jean-Baptiste
et Lucas Vanden Kerchove, rue haute, a la Bible. 1640. 4to, 46 leaves and 12
plates; bound in old white vellum.
This
little work by Vredius has remained unknown to all bibliographers. The plates
represent 107 coins struck in Flanders from William Cliton down to Albert and
Isabella.
Note:
Thouvenin and Vogel (and other names in brackets following bibliographical
details) refer to well-known contemporary bookbinders.