Eighty Years War (Dutch War of Independence) (1568-1648)
Contemporary prints and maps of the battles and sieges of the Eighty Years War
Siege of Breda, 1637
Korte / BESCHRYVINGHE VANDE STADT ENDE / Baronnie van Breda in dese Kaerte met Cyfferen ende / Letteren afgebeeldet
published 1637Engraving; printed on paper; letterpress text printed on a separate piece of paper and pasted to the bottom of the map; map and text mounted on paper (Mount Type B); gilt edge, top | Scale: 1:35,000 approx. | RCIN 722111
A map of Breda, besieged for the fifth time from 21 July to 11 October 1637 by the Dutch, commanded by Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange (29 January 1584-14 March 1647), who retook the city from the Spanish who were under the command of the Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria (May 1609-9 November 1641). Eighty Years War (1568-1648). Oriented with east-south-east to top (cardinal points).
This map shows a later stage of the siege with the approach works on the northern side of the town. The letterpress text gives a brief history of Breda together with an account of the siege and an explanation of the letters and numbers on the map.
In 1633, Captain Henry Hexham had written A journall, of the taking in of Venlo, Roermont, Strale, the memorable siege of Mastricht … VVith an exact card [i.e., map] drawne first by Charles Floyd (now ensigne) and since lessened and cutt by Henricus and Willihelmus Hondius dwelling by the Gevangen Port in the Hagh. Compiled together by Capt. Henry Hexham quartermaster to the regiment of the Lord Generall Vere …
This map of Breda continues the association of Floyd, Hexham and Hondius and was published with Hexham’s A true and briefe relation of the famous siege of Breda besieged, and taken vnder the able and victorious conduct of his Highnesse the Prince of Orange. Hexham advertised himself on the title-page of this publication as quartermaster to Colonel Goring’s regiment (George Goring, 1608-1657, Charles I’s envoy to the Prince of Orange; Memegalos p.52 et seq.). This account was printed at Delft by James Moxon and was sold by Hondius at the gevangen Port at The Hague in 1637. The entry for the map in the STC 13685 suggests that it was also issued separately with pasted-on letterpress text, as in this Royal Collection example. See York University Library; also Early English Books Online.
Charles Floyd (fl. c.1637) (cartographer) [bottom centre:] Charlis floyd auctor.
Hendrick Hondius I (1573-1650): The Hague (publisher) [bottom, right of centre, in banner:] In s’Graven Haghe / Ten huyse van Henricus Hondius anno 1637.
Watermark: Map: indistinct, coat of arms? Text: cropped: coat of arms. Mount: none.
Condition: one fold line. Pressure marks from the mounts of items which were kept above and below this map in a different collection are present on the recto and verso
Scale: 1:35,000 approx. Scale bars: Roeden van 20 voeten [99 mm =] 600 Roeden.
30.2 x 44.6 cm (image and sheet of map)
cropped (platemark)
47.2 x 44.7 cm (sheet of map and text)
51.5 x 36.9 cm (mount)
Printed title:
Korte / BESCHRYVINGHE VANDE STADT ENDE / Baronnie van Breda in dese Kaerte met Cyfferen ende / Letteren afgebeeldet. [on accompanying letterpress text, below map]
Inset:
[bottom right:] BARONNIE VAN / BREDA
Scale: 1:293,000 approx. Scale bar: Brabantsche mylen [66 mm=] 4. Size: 10.5 x 8.1 cm (image).Annotations:
George III heading: Breda 23 July 1637.
Other annotations: none.
George III catalogue entry:
Breda A Plan of Breda, besieged by the Prince of Orange 23 July 1637; by Charles Floyd, published by Hondius, 1637: with a Description.
Subject(s)
Breda, North Brabant, Netherlands (51°35'11"N 04°46'33"E)
Bibliographic reference(s)
M. McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 3009
F. S. Memegalos, George Goring (1608-1657): Caroline courtier and Royalist General, Farnham, 2013
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
