Memoirs of Sieur De Pontis; Who served in the Army Six and fifty Years, under King Henry IV. Lewis the XIII. and Lewis the XIV. Containing Many remarkable passages relating to the war, the court, and the government of those Princes.
London.
Printed by F. Leach, for James Knapton, 1694.
First edition in English.
Folio.
[8], 287pp, [1]/ Title page in red and black. Contemporary panelled speckled calf. Rubbed, joints starting, loss to head and foot of spine. Internally clean and crisp.
The first edition in English, translated by poet Charles Cotton (1630-1687) and posthumously published, of the memoirs of Sieur de Louis Pontis (1583-1670). Following a long and distinguished military career, Pontis retired to the monastery of Port-Royal in 1653 where he met Pierre Thomas du Fossé (1634-1698). The latter was responsible for transcribing these memoirs based on the testimony of Pontis. The autobiography, interspersed with numerous adventure stories intended to show Pontis' magnanimity and selflessness, and though pleasant to read, are overly romanticised and teeming with inaccuracies and embellishments.
In his The Wonders of the Peake (1681), Cotton eulogizes on his fondness for translating French military memoirs, in addition to the present work were the History of the Life of the Duke of Espernon (1670) and the Commentaries of Blaise de Montluc (1674). Other translations from the French include Corneille's Horace (1671).
In his The Wonders of the Peake (1681), Cotton eulogizes on his fondness for translating French military memoirs, in addition to the present work were the History of the Life of the Duke of Espernon (1670) and the Commentaries of Blaise de Montluc (1674). Other translations from the French include Corneille's Horace (1671).
ESTC R33977, Wing P2807.
£ 250.00
Antiquates Ref: 24800