10 - [HISTORY - RENAISSANCE] - Martin du Bellay

[HISTORY - RENAISSANCE] - Martin du Bellay "The Memoirs of Sir Martin du Bellay, Lord of Langey: containing an account of memorable events that occurred in the Kingdom of France from the year 1513 until the death of King Francis I; to which the author has appended three books and several fragments from the *Ogdoades* by Sir Guillaume du Bellay, Lord of Langey, his brother" Sl. [Geneva], for Jaques Chouet, 1594 Large 8vo. 19th-century brown half-basane. Plain spine with title in gilt letters adorned with dry-stamped arabesques. Damage to the upper cap, faded spine, scuffs, faint water stains. Title page adorned with an engraved vignette on a typographic mark, headpieces, ornate initials, and wood-engraved tailpieces. A highly sought-after edition of these major historical memoirs, printed in Geneva by Jacques Chouët. This late sixteenth-century printing brings together the writings of Martin du Bellay and the surviving fragments of the famous “Ogdoades” by his brother, Guillaume du Bellay, the original text of which was largely lost. The work constitutes a first-rate historiographical source for the study of the reign of Francis I, providing a detailed account of the Italian Wars, the rivalries with Charles V, and French diplomacy during the Renaissance. It was notably from this edition that Montaigne drew part of his historical readings and commentary. Provenance: from the library of Philippe de Volkaersbeke (bookplate) References: GLN-3914; Adams, D-990