The Danish Histories, Johannes Meursius, 1638

Johannes Mersius, Historica, Danica partier et Belgica, commonly referred to as Historiae Danicae, or Danish Histories. Five parts in one volume (“omnium operum”):
 
1. Historiae Danicae, sive, de regibus Daniae, qui familiam Oldenburgicam praecessere, eorumque rebus gestis a Dano ad Canutum VI, in quo desinit Saxi, Libri Quinque Priores.
 
2. Historiae Danicae Continuatio. Sive, de regibus Daniae, qui familiam Oldenburgicam praecessere, eorum rebus gestis, a Canuto VI, in quo Saxo desinit, usque ad Christianum I, Libri Quinque Posteriores.
 
3. Historiae Danicae Libri III. In quibus res commemorantur gestae a Christiano I; ac Ioanne, ejus filio: & nepote, Christiano II.
 
4. Gulielmus Auriacus, sive, De rebus toto Belgio tam ab eo, quam ejus tempore, gestis; ad excessum Ludovici Requesensii.
 
5. Ferdinandus Albanus, sive, De rebus ejus in belgio per sexennium gestis, libri iv in quibus belli belgici principium. Additur de induciis, liber singularis, in quo ejusdem belli finis.
 
Each work printed by Willem & Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1638. That is, the first collected (small) folio of Meursius’ Historica. After appointment as professor of Greek and History at Sorø Academy at the behest of Christian IV of Denmark in 1625, as well historiographer royal, Meursius wrote the Historica, published in its individual parts between 1630 and 1638.
 
The Historiae (first three volumes) covers Danish history from the legendary figure Dano all the way to the life of Christian II. The remaining two volumes (Belgica) cover the history of the Dutch Revolt from the times of William of Orange to the Duke of Alba.
 
Ex-libris, from the Shirburn Castle (North) Library. Pages mostly clean and fresh, with some scattered foxing throughout. Occasional pen/pencil marks. Small torn hole at top of Libri Quinque Priores title page (fortunately between ‘Ioannes’ and ‘Meursius’, so no loss incurred). Front endpaper slightly loose. Contemporary binding, chipped and rubbed on edges. In all a well preserved copy of this important work.