Very rare Dutch songbook and an important contribution to Dutch poetic art, with all songs strictly based on classical metrics, and without rhyme. In his dedication to the States of Gelre and Zutphen the author presents his work as the new and perfect form for all Dutch poetry, and a model for future poets. In the preface, which in fact gives an extensive comparative study of prosody, the poet's method is explained to the reader, and most of the poems are accompanied by metrical signs. Conrad Goddaeus was Minister of the Church at Vaassen from 1634 to his death in 1658. He was a valued friend of Pieter Cornelisz. Hooft, and in the present songbook Goddaeus also transposed Hooft's Granida into the "correct metre", under the title "Rei van Jofferen".
With the (ca. 1930?) bookplate of V. de la Montagne. Binding slightly rubbed, with occasionally slight water stains, otherwise a good copy. Scheurleer, Liedboeken 170; Cat. Muziekhist. Museum Scheurleer II, p. 250; Scheepers I, 283 ("zeldzaam liedboek"); Sale Cat. J.L. Beijers, Jan. 1959 (coll. Versnel), 315; Sale Cat. Coll. Buisman 361 (imperfect copy); Wittop Koning, Harderwijker boekdrukkers, 68 & illustr. pp. 38-39; Bibl. Mij Ned. Lett. I, p. 342.