ANONYME. La fausse clef de tous les cabinets des princes de l’europe

La fausse clef de tous les cabinets des princes de l’europe : ou tous les secrets les plus enfoncez sont revelez; et Rome trahïe. Matiere tres-curieuse, & du temps.

A Osnabruk, Chez Abraham Groest. 1689.

puis

L’excellente politique des Suisses dans leur neutralité conclüe en 1689. Reponse aux objections qui l’improuvent. Avec une courte déduction du mérite de la Nation & des avantages du pais. 

A Liège chez Isaac Salmeron, à l’image S. Estienne. 1689.

This pamphlet is an extremely rare edition; only one copy is listed at the BML by Worldcat, and no digitized version exists.

In-12 (154 x 90 mm). Full red morocco from the 17th century, spine with five raised bands, gilt compartments, and gilt title label. Gilt roll tooling on the edges of the outer boards and the endpapers. Boards with gilt wire borders and four fleurons at the corners. Gilt edges, marbled paper on the pastedowns. White endpapers, (first book) title page, preliminary leaf (3 leaves, dedication to the king), preface (1 leaf), 5-126 pp. (second book) title page, preface (1 leaf), 130 pp. White endpapers.

This propaganda and informational literature, characteristic of the 17th century, should not be confused with the periodical "La Clef du cabinet des princes de l'Europe" (The Key to the Cabinet of the Princes of Europe), published from 1704 to 1773.

In addition to revealing "the deepest secrets", this book allows us to glimpse the conflicts between France and Europe at the end of the 17th century.
The year of publication, 1689, was a period of great tension in Europe. Louis XIV, at the height of his power, was at war with all of Europe and faced a powerful coalition: the League of Augsburg. It was in this year that the second sack of the Palatinate took place, a strategic region in the war between the Holy Roman Emperor and his allies against Louis XIV.

It is therefore, sir, far less the defeats, outrages, and persecutions I have had to suffer here and there simply for having become suspect in Your Majesty's eyes, than the truth, whether misunderstood or decried, than the insolent remarks and base expressions with which the declared enemies of your crown, now widespread throughout Europe, explain themselves. Anonymous

Furthermore, the term “Rome betrays” in the title suggests that the second subject of criticism concerns the Church and the Pope and could be addressed to a Christian public outraged by the policies of the Sun King and his conflicts with the Pope. The attribution of this text to Eustache Le Noble (1) would tend to confirm this hypothesis, Le Noble being known for his virulent attacks against Pope Innocent XI for having aided, or at least not sufficiently hindered, the rise of William of Orange, the principal enemy of Louis XIV.

(1) Émilie Dosquet: “Everything is permitted in war, but not everything that is permitted should be done. The ‘Desolation of the Palatinate’ (1688–1689) put to the test by the law of war.”

Brunet, Imaginary Printers and Supposed Booksellers. 62.

Condition: wear, scuffing, bumped corners and spine ends – scattered foxing. Bottom of leaves J6 and L4 poorly trimmed without affecting the text, stains on leaf L2. Otherwise, fairly good overall condition.