Anna E. C. Simoni

Henrick van Haestens

After the famous `Battle of Nieuwpoort' in West Flanders in 1600, another feat of arms was to follow in the same area: the Siege of Ostend, which lasted from 1601 to 1604. Maurits was, yet again, to play the leading role and, despite the fact that the outcome was less of a success for the young Republic of the Seven United Netherlands than the battle of Nieuwpoort had been, the result was a Spanish conquest of a city of total devastation and, by then, wholly depopulated. Nevertheless a considerable impression had been made upon the Northern Netherlands. The most weird and wonderful machines of war had been tested, whilst a variety of new military siege techniques had been brought into play. There was even talk of `the University of Ostend,' with the implication that, from a military perspective, the siege was a very instructive experience. Many, too, were the rumors and the garbled tales that began to circulate soon after the end of the affair. One example was the legend of the soldier in the Spanish army who appeared to be a woman. In this book, Dr. Simoni provides a detailed and stimulating account of the manner of, and the form by which the tales of these shocking occurrences arose soon after the events of the siege had been set down, and immediately went into print after the details had reached the North. These reports were to leave such a lasting impression in the Republic, that `Ostend' became one of the most well known feats of arms in the penultimate stages of the struggle for freedom from Spain. The book is, thus, a brilliant example of the received history of one of the most controversial events of the Eighty Years War. The role of the Leiden printer and publisher, Hendrick van Haestens, stands central to `the Ostend Story.' He provides accounts of the fighting in no less than three publications. Dr. Simoni, in this study, reaches the conclusion that Haestens' reports are deserving of a more important place than they have found thus far. It is mainly to him that we owe the provision of a clear and lively picture of the famous siege. Dr. Simoni has been working over thirty years in the Department of Printed Books in the British Library, where she originated the Netherlands` section. Numerous works from her hand have appeared about books published in the Netherlands. Her natural gifts of generosity and friendship were honored in 1991 with a `Festschrift': Across the narrow seas. Studies in the history and bibliography of Britain and the Low Countries. 27 illustrations.

Henrick van Haestens

Books

Your next favorite book is out there