Author: Eyndius, Jacobus.
Title: Chronici Zelandiae libri duo auctore Iacobo Eyndio, Domino Haemstede. [First edition].
Description: Middelburgi, Ex officina Moulertiana, Middelburgi, 1634. [22],263 pp. Engr. title page after design by A. van der Venne, engr. portrait of Jacobus Eyndius & a woodcut plate with the coat of arms of Zeeland. Contemp. full vellum. Crown 8vo. - First free endpaper is somewhat loose; attractive copy in very good clean binding . The free endpaper lists two owners, handwritten in ink: Bartholomeus Crau (with date 1665) and Pieter Boddaert (1706). The latter could be Pieter Boddaert (Middelburg, August 6, 1694 - January 24, 1760), a former Dutch lawyer in Middelburg, commissioner of the Land Law, clerk of the Leenhof of Flanders, clerk of the Admiralty, secretary of the Admiralty, poet and writer. - - Jhr. Jacob van den Eynde III (1575 - 11 September 1614), also known as Jacques van den Eynde, and better known as Jacobus Eyndius, was a Dutch poet, scientist, historian, and captain. His best known work is the Chronici Zelandiae. During his stay in Haamstede, Eyndius wrote two books in Latin: a chronicle of Zeeland, which was the first of its kind. The unfinished work fell into oblivion after Van den Eynde's death, but was later rescued by the State of Zeeland. The State brought this work back to light by publishing it under the name of Chronici Zelandiae Libri duo auctore Jacobo Eyndio, Domino Haemstede. This first edition of the Chronici, published in 1634, includes a 22-page foreword, with a dedication to the State of Zeeland and acknowledgments to the editor Jean de Brune and the printer Simon Moulert; a few poems in honor of the author, and a very short preface. The first book, which ends at page 131 in the first edition, deals with the antiquities of Zeeland. The first book is very poetical, esoteric, seldom glossing the facts, and Eyndius presents the reader with but a few citations, hors d'oeuvre, conjectures, and enigmas. He is more concrete in the second book, where, however, his style is still vague and harsh, and the author seems to be imitating Tacitus. In this work, Eyndius debunked some myths regarding the Dutch counts. On the other hand, he also made up some myths for Zeeland, such as that the pillars of Hercules were to be found there. Eyndius' work of demythologization was followed by such great names in Dutch historiography as Petrus Scriverius (1576-1660), Jan Uytenhage de Mist (1636-1668), and Simon van Leeuwen (1626-1682).

Keywords: Topography Zeeland ?Stelling Achter Toonbank / ?Stelling Achter Toonbank / VI Topografie