Author: COMMINES, Philippe de
Title: Les mémoires de Philippe de Commines chevalier seigneur d'Argenton. Sur les principaux faicts & gestes de Loys XI. & Charles VIII ... Le tout reveu & corrigé sur l'édition de Denis Sauvage.
Description: Paris: la vefue Claude de Monstr'oeil, 1616. 8vo. [2], 750, [16]p. Slight marginal worming in quires Mm-Tt, not affecting text. 18th-century calf, worn at joints, edges and corners; spine gilt. Armorial bookplate of George Baird, Stichill, on front pastedown; an earlier armorial bookplate of a member of the Baird family (partially removed) on verso of title-page. Inscription "Will: Baird 1729" on free front endpaper. Early 18th-century notes in a neat hand in English (by William Baird?) relating to the text on rear free endpaper and very occasional marginalia also in his hand. A 19th-century list in pencil of 21 garden plants also on rear free endpaper. **** These Mémoires, composed at the end of the 15th century, were intended for the instruction of princes and statesmen. A man of lucid intelligence, deeply interested in the art and science politics, Comines found in Louis XI of France a kindred spirit. He shows himself a statesman of almost modern quality, with a poor opinion of the old feudal chivalry and a view of war as a great evil. He believes there should be no taxation without the consent of the taxpayers, and that the power of a monarch depends, not on the degree of his despotic power, but on the affection of his subjects. This edition is the work of Henri II's historiographer, Denis Sauvage, whose prolific output included editions of the chronicles of Froissart, Gilles, Monstrelet and La Marche, and translations of Plutarch, Gelli, Giovio, Collenuccio and Leo Hebraeus. This edition not in V.F. Goldsmith, Short title catalogue of French books, 1601-1700, in the Library of the British Museum.

Keywords: political theory, French, antiquarian


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