MENDOZA, Bernardino de

by Bernardino de Mendoza

£12,500 · Offered by Sokol Books

Exceptionally rare first edition of the English translation of Mendoza s guide to military strategy by Sir Edwarde Hoby, first published in Madrid in 1577 and rewritten for an edition of 1595, as a guide for the future Phillip III. The work begins as a treatise on government. Mendoza explains the offices and shapes of armies and exhorts the prince both to behave as one (he ironically owes much here to Castiglione s Courtier ) to take appropriate care and consideration in his decisions, with especial regard to defence in times of peace. The author had recently written a study of the Duke of Alva s campaigns in the Low Countries, published in 1592, and was certainly brought close to military thinking in his brilliant diplomatic career, as ambassador to England for 10 years until the execution of Mary Queen of Scots (an event he refers to obliquely) and orchestrator of the pro-Spanish Ligue in France, which he ended by arranging the marriage of Henry IV to Phillip III s sister. The Author who had served in the Netherlands under Alva, gives a clear and succinct account of the generals system. In an interesting passage on cavalry, he pronounces for the lance against the pistol, and describes the manner of handling the former arm Mendoza was the inventor of a piece of artillery made of metal, firing a shot of one pound weight, which he says would pierce a two foot wall; but neither the range or the charge is given. pp. 82-147 are on seiges; pp. 148-165 on naval matters. Cockle For

• Binding: Hardcover

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.