The first [second] [third] part of the Principles of the Art Military Practised in the Warres of the United Netherlands vnder the command of his Highness the Prince of Orange... [Part I] Delf in Holeand [Delft]: for the lovers of the noble Art Military, 1642; [Part II] London: Robert Younge, 1638 (a reissue with London title of the Delft edition of Walpote); [Part III] The Hague: Francis vander Spruyt, 1640

1638-1642. Hardcover. Very Good. Hexham’s 1642 contemporary hand-colored ‘Art Military’ on training military recruits. The first [second] [third] part of the Principles of the Art Military Practised in the Warres of the United Netherlands vnder the command of his Highness the Prince of Orange... [Part I] Delf in Holeand [Delft]: for the lovers of the noble Art Military, 1642; [Part II] London: Robert Younge, 1638 (a reissue with London title of the Delft edition of Walpote); [Part III] The Hague: Francis vander Spruyt, 1640. 3 parts in one, separately titled, folio (330 x 200 cm). [Part I]: [4], 1-40, 37-40, 45-55 [1], 12 pp., with 3 large folding plates (two extending to four pages), 9 full-page plates, and 40 part-page plates (several on one page, in some cases). All of the plates (excepting those on pp. 37-40) are in contemporary hand-coloring. The two volvelles found in some copies are not present, and there is no evidence that they ever were, but there are two ruled circles with several notes in a contemporary hand. [Part II]: [4], 18, 40 pp., with 19 plates by Hendrik Hondius, of which 15 are folding, all in contemporary hand-coloring. [Part III]: [4], 1-18, [2], 45-48, 25-32, [unnumbered], 33, 37-40, 21-28, 47-50, [4], 75, [two unnumbered], 80-81, [unnumbered], with 18 illustrations, three of which are folding plates, all in contemporary hand-coloring. Contemporary Dutch vellum gilt, with 19th century title label, all edges red; (minor thumbsoiling, three folding plates extensively creased, an old repaired tear to the first plate not affecting imagery, pagination characteristically erratic and lacking the appendix, otherwise good and generally clean, evenly and attractively colored probably by the original Dutch publishers as was common). Armorial bookplate (and shelfmark) of the great bibliophile Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex with his motto: Si Deus pro nobis, quis contra nos. (If God is for us, who can be against us?). The Duke’s library was sold in 1843 by Christie and Manson.

In 1642, the same year of this publication, the English Civil War broke out under the clashing forces of King Charles I and the 3rd Earl of Essex. At the start of the war both King and Parliamentary forces had to rapidly raise and train troops, as England had no standing army. Much to their advantage, some experienced men had fought in continental wars and brought back knowledge of how the Europeans trained their soldiers. One such man was Henry Hexham who had begun his military career as a page but spent over forty years fighting against the Spanish in the Netherlands. So important were his contributions, that Hexham has been dubbed the most vocal English proponent of the Dutch methods of war. Hexham’s Art Military provide us with a great insight into how the Civil Wars were fought and how forces were equipped from ordinary citizens at this time. The handsome production is lavishly illustrated with color tinted plates for troop movements, drill postures, fortifications, gunnery etc., most deriving whimsy in execution, and interestingly the original Dutch commands are still present in the illustrations of pike and musket drill, suggesting that Hexham recycled his engravings. A complex bibliographic arrangement, it appears that almost every extant copy of the Art Military differs in some regard, title and imprint, and there can be no definitive collation. Undoubtedly the large folding plates as found here are rare survivals, and the majority of copies lack the volvelles, which were never present in this copy. ESTC S11968 (partial match); S119732 (an exact match for plates and collation); S119734 (partial match). See also Cockle; and Spaulding and Karpinski. It was the most elaborate work published in England on military matters up to that date. This the second edition, newly corrected, the first was published 1637 (1st part) and 1638 (2nd part).