[ELIZABETHAN LITERATURE]
METEREN, EMMANUEL VAN. A true discourse historicall, of the succeeding gouernours in the Netherlands, and the ciuill warres there begun in the yeere 1565. with the memorable seruices of our honourable English generals, captaines and souldiers, especially vnder Sir Iohn Norice knight, there performed from the yeere 1577...Translated and collected by Thomas Churchyard Esquire, and Ric. Ro. out of the reuerend E.M. of Antwerp. his fifteene bookes Historiæ Belgicae... London: Matthew Lownes, 1602. First English edition, variant 2 with Churchyard's name in full, priority unknown. Full tan morocco by Mackenzie, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers. 6 3/4 x 5 inches (17 x 12.5 cm); [12], 154, [2] pp. (the last leaf blank), collating A^(4) B^(2) C-X^(4) Y^(2). The binding a little faded and soiled, but sound, the text block cut just touching the top letter on the title and dedication, but with little or any loss, the title reinforced or restored at the gutter margin, otherwise a rather fresh copy overall.
An extremely interesting work, a translation of the Historia Belgica nostri potissimum temporis, with an account on pp. 112-118 of Drake's 1589 expedition to Portugal. The Low Country campaigns recounted here are those in which Thomas Gascoigne and Barnaby Rich, Churchyard's fellow soldier-poets, were engaged. ESTC S105716; STC 17846.