WECKESSER ET SON FILS, bookbinder. ~ Conterfeytsel Afcomste ende Commissie van Don Ian van Oostenrijck, Gouverneur van het Neder-landt 1577.
Calligraphed manuscript on rough vellum probably 19th century imitating 16th century manuscripts. 46 leaves written in black, blue and red ink, 3 initials heightened with gold. Sm. 8vo, bound in the early twentieth century in blindstamped tan morocco by Weckesser, with central portrait of Saint George and the dragon in relief on upper boards, with lozenge blind ruling with stars in the centre of each on lower board, spine in compartments with 5 raised bands, lettered in blind, marbled paper slipcase.
The Dutch faux-16th century manuscript is probably copied from W. Baudartius - ‘Afbeeldinge ende beschryvinghe van alle de veldslagen, belegeringen ende and’re notabele geschiedenissen ghevallen in de Nederlanden’ (Depictions and descriptions of all the battles, sieges and other notable histories that occurred in the Netherlands), written in 1616.
It is about Don John of Austria who was the illegitimate son of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V who became a military leader in the service of his half-brother Philip II of Spain and was very successful particularly at the Battle of Lepanto. In 1577 he was appointed governor-general of the Netherlands and in 1578 he defeated the Protestants in the Battle of Gembloux forcing William of Orange to leave Brussels. He faced defeat 6 months later and then died of a fever soon after at the age of 31.