LA HAYE (Jean de). - Lot 40

LA HAYE (Jean de). Les Mémoires et recherches de France, et de la gaulle Acquitanique... Contenant l'origine des Poictevins, qu'aussi les faicts, gestes des premiers Roys, Princes, Comtes, & Ducs, leur genealogie, alliance, armoirie, & devise, & constitutions, escrites comme elles ont été trouvées, choses tres-rares & remarquables. Ensemble l'estat de l'Eglise, & Religion de la France, depuis l'an 436 iusques à ce iourd'huy. [Paris]: Jean Parant, 1581. - In-8, 171x105: (2 ff.), 294 pp. miscalculated 293, (9 ff.). Soft parchment, smooth spine (contemporary binding). Very rare first edition of the alleged memoirs of Jean de La Haye, baron des Couteaux, lieutenant general of the Sénéchaussée du Poitou. Accused of lèse-majesté and condemned to death, he was killed in his château de la Bégaudière in July 1575 after it had been besieged by Sieur Bourriques on the king's orders with 400 to 500 harquebusiers. Attributing the authorship of this text to the Baron des Couteaux would be totally wrong, as the publisher most certainly exploited this name to pique the public's curiosity. Nevertheless, it is an interesting document on the history of Poitou. It was reprinted in Jean Bouchet's Annales d'aquitaine in 1644. A fine copy in its original binding. It has contemporary notes on Jean de La Haye on the second white endpaper and on the errata leaf, as well as contemporary marginal notes in some margins. Spine browned, binding missing. Some light spotting. Provenance: Thevet or Thenet, with partially effaced signature at the top of the title, accompanied by the date 1582 or 1682.