Richard Verstegen

Richard Verstegan (* around 1548; † 1640 in Antwerp ) (alias Richard Rowlands ) was a Dutch-English writer, editor, translator, antiquarian , emblematic , satirist and Catholic .

Life

His grandfather came from Gelderland ( Netherlands ). His father Theodore Roland Verstegen came to England as an immigrant around 1500 and took the name Rowlands . The son Richard studied English history and languages under the surname Rowland at Christ Church College , Oxford . He seems to have chosen the profession of goldsmith in London without a degree and, from the 1570s onwards, shifted more and more to printing, writing and publishing. In 1576 he published The Post of the World (from German), the first English-language travel guide for the European continent. In 1581 he printed a secret report from Stephen Vallenger about the execution of the Catholic priest Edmund Campion and had to flee to France after discovering his printing press in Smithfield . There he took his original family name again and worked as a printer and engraver .

His first major publication was a depiction of the atrocities against the apostates (Catholics) of his time ( Descriptiones quaedam illius inhumanae et multiplicis persecutionis, quam in Anglia propter fidem sustinent Catholice Christiani or Briefve description des diverses cruautez… , Paris, 1583/84) with pictures of martyrs in England. The British Ambassador to France at the time, Sir Edwin Stafford , found that the pictures were an insult to Queen Elizabeth and had the book confiscated and destroyed. Verstegen was arrested in January 1584 with the risk of being extradited. Under the influence of Cardinal Allen and the papal nuncio , he was released and went to Rome in April 1584 to seek personal assistance from the Pope. After his initial refusal (May 15, 1584) he later received a pension from Pope Gregory XIII until April 1585 . (1572-1585). After Gregor's death, Verstegen lived in Antwerp. From February 1, 1586, he received a pension from the King of Spain.

In Antwerp he published a work with images of martyrs in England, France and Holland, Theatrum Crudelitatum haereticorum nostri temporis (1587, 1588, 1592, 1604; in French, Theater de cruautez , 1587, 1588, 1592, 1607) in several editions . At that time he was the liaison with Cardinal Allen in Rome, with Catholics in England and especially with the Jesuits. He wrote various political treatises and had two replies to the “Royal Proclamation” of October 19, 1591 ( A Declaration of great Troubles pretended against the Realme ) printed: An advertisement written to a secretarie of my L. treasurers of Ingland (1592) and A Declaration of the True Causes of the Great Troubles (1592) answered by Francis Bacon . He was a major contributor to the drafting and publication of A conference about the next succession to the crown of England , in which the succession of the Spanish Infanta Isabella is advocated.

He also wrote poetic verses (e.g. Odes in imitation of the Seaven Penitential Psalms , 1601). His main work was A Restitution of decayed Intelligence in Antiquities (Antwerp 1605). He was also a gazettier for Antwerp's Nieuwe Tijdinghen (1620–1629). He probably translated and published many more works, the origins of which can no longer be traced.

He died in February or March 1640 and was buried in Antwerp on March 3, 1640.

literature

• Paul Arblaster, Antwerp & the World: Richard Verstegan and the International Culture of Catholic Reformation . Leuven: Leuven University Press, 2004.
• Edward Rombauts, Richard Verstegen, a polemist of the Contra-Reformatie . Brussels, 1933.
• Hendrik Sermon, Richardus Versteganus . Ghent, 1893.

• Rolf H. Bremmer Jr, "The Anglo-Saxon Pantheon According to Richard Verstegen (1605)", in The Recovery of Old English. Anglo-Saxon Studies in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries , Ed. Timothy Graham, Kalamazoo, 2000, pp. 141-172.
• AF Allison, "A Group of Political Tracts, 1621-1623, by Richard Verstegan", Recusant History 18 (1986), pp. 128-142.
• WJC Buitendijk, "Richard Verstegen as a distributor en journalist", De Nieuwe Taalgids 46 (1953), pp. 21-30.
• WJC Buitendijk, "Richard Verstegen's playsante conterfeytsels en concepten", De Nieuwe Taalgids 46 (1953), pp. 71-79.
• Samuel C. Chew, "Richard Verstegan and the Amorum Emblemata of Otho Van Veen," Huntington Library Quarterly 8 (1945), pp. 192-199.
• David Freedberg : The Representation of Martyrdoms during the Early Counter-Reformation in Antwerp , in: The Burlington Magazine (1976) pp. 132-138.
• Philip H. Goepp, "Verstegan's 'Most Ancient Saxon Words'", in Thomas A. Kirby & Henry Bosley Woolf (Eds.), Philologica: the Malone Anniversary Studies (1949), pp. 249-255.
• Peter Holmes, "The Authorship and Early Reception of a Conference about the Next Succession to the Crown of England," The Historical Journal 1980.
• FM McKay, "A Note on Richard Verstegan's Poetry," Notes and Queries 15 (1968), p. 375.
• S. Musgrove, "The Nomenclature of King Lear," The Review of English Studies 1956
• Anthony G. Petti, "Richard Verstegan and Catholic Martyrologies of the Later Elizabethan Period," Recusant History 5 (1959), pp. 64-90.
• Anthony G. Petti, "A Bibliography of the Writings of Richard Verstegan (c. 1550-1641)", Recusant History 7 (1963), pp. 82-103.
• Anthony G. Petti, "Additions to the Richard Verstegan Canon," Recusant History 8 (1966), pp. 288-293.
• Anthony G. Petti, "A New Verstegan Letter," Recusant History 12 (1974), pp. 250-253.
• JH Pollen, "Richard Verstegan", Catholic Encyclopaedia, XV. New York: 1912. p. 377. New Advent

Primary texts

• Anthony G. Petti (Ed.), The Letters and Despatches of Richard Verstegan (c. 1550-1640) . Catholic Record Society LII. London, 1959.
• R. Rowland, The Post of the World. Wherein is Contayned the Antiquities and Originall of the Famous Cities in Europe. With Their Trade and Traficke, with Their Wayes and Distance of Myles from Country to Country, with the True and Perfect Knowledge of Their Coynes, the Places of Their Mynts; with Al Their Martes and Fayres . London: Thomas East, 1576.
• [R. Verstegen], Praesentis Ecclesiae Anglicanae Typus . [Reims: Jean Foigny], 1582.
• [R. Verstegen], Descriptiones quaedam illius inhumanae et multiplicis persecutionis, quam in Anglia propter fidem sustinent Catholice Christiani . [Paris, 1583/84].
• [R. Verstegen], Briefve description of the diverse cruautez que les Catholiques endurent en Angelterre pour la foy . [Paris, 1583/84].
• [R. Verstegen], Descriptiones quaedam illius inhumanae et multiplicis persecutionis, quam in Anglia propter fidem sustinent Catholice Christiani . Rome: Francesco Zanetti, 1584.
• [R. Verstegen], Typus Ecclesiae Catholicae et signa ea cogniscitur. Typus Haereticae Synagogae et eiusdem proprietates . [Paris], 1585
• RV, Theatrum crudelitatum haereticorum nostri temporis . Antwerp: Adrianus Hubertus, 1587. Again 1588, 1592, 1603.
• RV, Theater de cruautez des hereticques de nostre temps . Antwerp: Adrianus Hubertus, 1587. Again 1588, 1592, 1607. Frank Lestringant (Ed.) Le Théâtre des cruautés 1587 . Chandeigne 1995, ISBN 2-906462-21-7
• [R. Verstegen et al.], The Copy of a Letter, Lately Written by a Spanish Gentleman to His Friend in England, in Refutation of Sundry Calumnies, There Falsly Bruited and Spred Emonge the People . [Antwerp: Joachim Trognaesius], 1589.
• RV, Speculum pro Christianis seductis . Antwerp: officina Plantiniana, 1590.
• [R. Verstegen], A Declaration of the True Causes of the Great Troubles Presupposed to be Intended against the Realme of England. Wherein the Indifferent Reader Shall Manifestly Perceave, by Whome, and by what Meanes, the Realme Is Broughte into These Pretended Perills . [Antwerprn: Joachim Trognaesius or Arnout Conincx], 1592.
• [R. Verstegen], An Advertisement Written to a Secretarie of My L. Treasurers of Ingland, by an Inglishe Intelligencer as He Passed through Germanie towardes Italie. Concerninge an Other Booke Newly Written in Latin, and Published in Diverse Languages ​​and Countreyes, against Her Majesties Late Proclamation for Searche and Apprehension of Seminary Priestes and Their Receavers . [Antwerp, Arnout Conincx], 1592.
• [Robert Persons, R. Verstegen et al.], Newes from Spayne and Holland Conteyning an Information of Inglish Affayres in Spayne with a Conference thereuppon in Amsterdame of Holland. Written by a Gentleman Travelour Borne in the Low Coutnryes, and Brought up from a Child in Ingland, unto a Gentleman His Frend and Oste in London . [Antwerp: Arnout Conincx], 1594.
• R. Doleman [= Robert Persons, et al.], A Conference about the Next Succession to the Crowne of Ingland, Divided into Two Partes. Wherof the First Conteyneth the Discourse of a Civill Lawyer, How and in What Manner Propinquity of Blood Is to Be Preferred. And the Second the Speech of a Temporall Lawyer, about the Particular Titles of All Such as Do or May Pretende Within Ingland or Without, to the Next Succession [ed. v. R. Verstegen]. [Antwerp: Arnout Conincx], 1595.
• The Primer or Office of the Blessed Virgin Marie, in Latin and English, According to the Reformed Latin . [Trans. v. R. Verstegen]. Antwerp: Arnold Conings, 1599. Again 1604, 1616.
• [R. Verstegen], Brief et véritable discours de la mort d'aucuns vaillants et glorieux martyrs, lesquelz om à faict mourir en Angleterre pour la Foy & Religion Catholicque, l'an passé de 1600 . Antwerp: Hieronymus Verdussen, 1601.
• [R. Verstegen], Cort ende waerachtich verhael van het lijden van sommighe vrome ende glorieuse martelaers, die om de H. Catholijcke Religie in Enghelandt ghedoot zijn int voorleden jaer van gratien 1600 . Antwerp: Hieronymus Verdussen, 1601.
• [R. Verstegen], Odes in Imitation of the Seaven Penitential Psalmes, with Sundry other Poems and Ditties Tending to Devotion and Pietie . [Antwerp: Arnout Conincx], 1601.
• Pietro di Lucca, A Dialogue of Dying Wel . [transl. v. R. Verstegen]. Antwerp, AC [= Arnout Conincx], 1603.
• ND [= Robert Persons], A Treatise of Three Conversions of England from Paganism to Christian Religion . [Ed. v. R. Verstegen]. [St Omer: F. Bellet for the English Jesuits], 1603.
• RV A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence in Antiquities. Concerning the Most Noble and Renowmed English Nation . Antwerp: Robert Bruneau for John Norton & John Bill zu Londen, 1605. Again 1628, 1634. Facsimile i. "English Recusant Literature 1558-1640" series, no. 323 (Ilkley: Scolar Press, 1976) ISBN 0-85967-340-5 ; i. "The English Experience" series, no. 952 (Amsterdam: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, 1979).
• Otto Van Veen, Amorum emblemata. Emblemes of Love with Verses in Latin, English and Italian . [Trans. in engl. v. R. Verstegen]. Antwerp: [Hieronymus Verdussen for] Otto Van Veen, 1608.
• [R. Verstegen], L'origine et present estat de la secte Calvinienne, comme elle est maintenant devisée en quatre principales parties . Antwerp: Robert Bruneau, 1611.
• [R. Verstegen], Oorspronck ende teghenwoordighen staet van de Calvinische secte, alsoo die nu versheyden is in four principale deelen . "Nae de copye printed t'Antwerpen by Robert Bruneau" [1611].
• R. Verstegen, Nederlantsche antiquiteyten met de bekeeringhe van eenighe der Selve land dead het kersten gheloove deur S. Willibrordus Apostle van Hollandt . Antwerp: Gaspar Bellerus, 1613. Again 1631 (Brussels: Govaert Schoevaerts).
• R. Verstegen, Neder-duytsche epigrammes op verscheyden sacken, soo wel om te stichen as the geest te mess. Met genuchlycke epitaphien op d'overledene poem was deur dat de levende oock sticht . Mechelen: Henry Jaye, 1617.
• R. Verstegen, De gazette van nieuwe-maren van de gheheele wereldt. Ghemenght met oude waerheden . Antwerp: Hieronymus Verdussen: 1618.
• R. Verstegen, Characteren often scherpsinnighe beschrijvinghe van de proprieteyten often eyghendommen van verscheyden persoonen . Antwerp: Willem Lesteens, 1619. Again 1622.
• R. Verstegen, Den wetsteen des verstants. Was mede door verscheyden fraye proposten, wijse responded talking end sententien, t'verstant vanden reader scherpt woordt. By een carved end in order ghestelt . Antwerp: Willem Lesteens, 1620.
• [R. Verstegen], Observations Concerning the Present Affaires of Holland and the United Provinces, made by an English Gentleman there lately Resident & since Written by Himselfe from Paris . [St. Omer: English College], 1621.
• [R. Verstegen], De mirror of the Nederlandsche miserable. Toned door a run over the war the end of the Nederlanden welvaert . Mechelen: Henry Jaye, 1621.
• [R. Verstegen], Londons Looking-glasse. Or the Copy of a Letter Written by an English Travayler to the Apprentices of London . [St. Omer: English College], 1621.
• [R. Verstegen], Anatomie van Calviniste calumnien toned in a dialogus often t'samenspreecken tussen a Brabander end a Hollander . [Antwerp: Willem Lesteens], 1622.
• [R. Verstegen], The Copy of a Letter Sent from an English Gentleman, lately Become a Catholike beyond the Seas, to His Protestant Friend in England . [St.-Omer: English College], 1622.
• [R. Verstegen], Newes from the Low-Countreyes. Or the Anatomy of Calvinisticall Calumnyes, Manifested in a Dialogue betweene a Brabander and a Holander . [St.-Omer: English College], 1622.
• [R. Verstegen], Observations Concerning the Present Affaires of Holland and the United Provinces, made by an English Gentleman there lately Resident & since Written by Himselfe from Paris. The Second Edition. Augmented with Divers New Chapters . [St.-Omer: English College], 1622.
• [R. Verstegen], A Toung-combat Lately Happening between Two English Soldiers, in the Tilt-boat of Gravesend. The One Going to Serve the King of Spayn, the Other to Serve the States of Holland . [Mechelen: Henry Jaye], 1623.
• R. Verstegen, Nederduytsche epigrammen end epitaphien van verscheyden persoonen en differente sacken, soo wel om te stichten as the geest te mess. Van nieuws ghecomponeert . Brussels: Jan van Meerbeeck, 1624.
• [R. Verstegen], De medecijne teghen de droefheyt en melancholie . [Without title page; s. Rombauts, p. 190 n.1]. 1626.
• R. Verstegen, Oorloge ghevochen met die wapenen van die waerheydt en van die talking, in twee battalions. Teghen twee valsche pretentien vande rebellighe Hollanders. Te weten: I. Dat sy zijn getrouwe patriotten, ofteniebebers van hun vaderlandt. 2. At the end of the day there is a reform earth religion . Antwerp: Jan Knobbaert, 1628.
• R. Verstegen, Recreative Beschrijvinghe van de proprieteyten often eyghendommen van de differente soorten van ambachtslieden. Servants in stede van medicamentum teghen melancolie . Antwerp: Abraham Verhoeven, 1630.
• R. Verstegen, Medicaments teghen de melancolie. Gheleghen in seeckere vraghen en answer. In eenighe kluchtighe end scherpsinnighe rescontres. End in't contradiceren van sommighe valsche, ydele end onstichtighe Nederlantsche spreeck-been . Antwerp: Hendrik Aertssens, 1633.
• R. Verstegen, Exercitien van understands in varieteyt van scherpsinnighe epigrams end epitaphies . Antwerp: Godtgaf Verhulst, 1641.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Pierre de L'Estoile, Mémoires-journaux IV, pp. 13-25.
2. ↑ Paul Arblaster, Antwerp & the World: Richard Verstegan and the International Culture of Catholic Reformation (Leuven University Press, 2004), p. 36
3. ↑ Anthony G. Petti (Ed.), The Letters and Despatches of Richard Verstegan (c. 1550-1640) . Catholic Record Society LII. London, 1959.
4. ↑ Calendar of State Papers Addenda, 1589, p. 290
5. ^ "Works," ed. Spedding, 1862, VII, 146
6. ^ Pseudonymous statement of responsibility R. Doleman ( [1] ); s. Robert Persons
7. ↑ The reign of Elisabeth III ( Memento of the original from June 13, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
8. ^ Richard W. Clement, "Richard Verstegan's Reinvention of Anglo-Saxon England", William F. Gentrup (ed.), Reinventing the Middle Ages & the Renaissance , Arizona Studies in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance 1 (1998), pp. 19-36
9. ↑ Donna B. Hamilton, "Richard Verstegan's 'A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence' (1605)", Prose Studies 22: 2 (1999), pp. 1-38.
10. ↑ WJC Buitendijk, "Richard Verstegen as a distributor en journalist", De Nieuwe Taalgids 46 (1953), pp. 21-30.