J. Kreihing, Emblemata Ethico-Politica (Antwerp, 1661)

With its 160 emblems this book is a veritable catalogue of mid-seventeenth life and morality. Its title advertises the book's "social-political" concern with civic morality, and embraces the whole of society from kings to beggars. The scope of this emblem book, written by a Dutch Jesuit working in Germany, is impressive. The major themes are religious faith, God, eternity, kingly conduct, war, victory, courtly life, advice to rulers, education, virtue, moderation, conscience, self-knowledge, modesty and chastity. He also treats bourgeois life and values, transience, folly, chance, vanity and satires on women. In fact, Kreihing has something to say about almost everything: gambling, gossip, gluttony, prostitution, suicide, pick-pockets, dress codes, cosmetics, nude bathing, bribery, female treachery, illicit love and taxation. The full introduction is followed by an alphabetical list of Kreihing's mottoes with their English translations. A second index lists the key motifs in the emblem pictures With its 160 emblems this book is a veritable catalogue of mid-seventeenth century life and morality, advertising 'social-political' concern with civic morality, and embraces the whole of society from kings to beggars.