Traitte’ de la Politique de France, Par Monsieur P. H. Marquis de C. A: Cologne, Chez Pierre Du Mateau. 1669

Compt, Marquis de Hay: Traitte' de la Politique de France, Par Monsieur P. H. Marquis de C. A Cologne, Chez Pierre Du Mateau. 1669. 6 1/4 by 3 1/2 inches. Soft Vellum; [blank]; A12-I12; K12-L12; [blank]. Some staining but not objectionable. Closed tear on final leaf. Otherwise good condition. First Edition.

Traitte de la politique de France. Par Monsieur P.H. Marquis de C. DU CHASTELET, Paul Hay Published by Pierre du Marteau, Cologne, 1669 Woodcut vignette of globe on title. Contemporary vellum with overlapping edges; other than lacking the front free flyleaf, an excellent copy with a contemporary signature on the last blank. A rare variant edition of this anonymously published political treatise. The author criticizes the abuses of the clergy and the persecution of Protestants. He examines the French economy and offers tax reforms in order to reduce poverty and increase the population.

Paul Hay du Chastelet (1619?-1682): Du Chastelet, Paul Hay, marquis, H., P. Marquis De C. , P. H. Marquis de C

Published: A Cologne : Chez Pierre dv Marteav, 1669.

Note: Signatures: A-L¹².
Considered a fictitious imprint this work has been attributed to Pierre Elzevir, Utrecht.

Physical Description: 264 p. ; 17 cm.

Paul Hay du Chastelet Jr. (born 1619, died ca. 1682) was a military strategist and author known for writing the Traite de guerre, ou Politique militaire and the son of Paul Hay du Chastelet (1592–1636), who he is often confused with and who was one of Cardinal Richelieu's 'pamphleteers' against his enemies. Jr. was also the nephew of Daniel Hay du Chastelet (1596–1671), a priest and mathematician. Little is known about Du Chastelet's life, but a basic outline can be given. Du Chastelet, Jr. was baptized in Rennes on 30 May 1619, and received schooling at his uncle, Daniel's home. By 1646, he had married Geneviève-Élizabeth Bonneau; the ceremony was held at La Perrière; his uncle presided. Despite burning his uncle's theological writings, Du Chastelet became a fervent Catholic; he believed that the Huguenots needed to be expelled from France, and his work frequently invoked God, and implored rulers to fight for a good cause and spare non-combatants; in his most famous work, he claimed to have learnt from battles he was involved in, which has been speculated to refer to the Fronde. His date of death is unknown, with some claiming that he died as early as 1670, only a short while after the 1668 publication of his Traite de guerre, ou Politique militaire, but a more plausible estimate of his death is 1682. The Traite de guerre is notable for distinguishing between offensive and defensive warfare and for being compiled for Louis XIV of France. He is considered to be one of only two major strategists in Europe in the middle of the 17th century; the other being Raimondo Montecuccoli (wiki and other references).