Matthäus Waissel Chronica Alter Preusscher, 1599. Chronicle of Prussia, Teutonic Order

Gedruckt zu Königberg in Preussen : bey Georgen Osterbergern, 1599. | binding hard half leather, embossing on spine | crack at spine and small loss, rubbing and bruising of corners, rubbing of cover | erroneous folio , on pages gluing and bookbinding restorations, several pages torn, restoration of one page with handwritten text (from previous epoch), loss in page 110 (shoulder of part of text, tear), trace of moisture and stains on part of pages..., local notes, underlining and markings
Chronica Alter Preusscher Eifflendischer, und Curlendischer Historien. Von dem Lande Preussen, vnd seiner Gelegenheit: Von dem Vrsprung, vnd ankunfft der alten heidenischen Völcker, so das Land zu Preussen anfenglich besessen haben: Von iren Abgöttern, vnd heidenischem Gottesdienst: gemeinem Leben: Hochzeiten: vnd Begrebnissen. Item: Von dem Anfang des Ordens der Ritterbrüder des Hospitals S. Marien, Deudtsches Hauses zu Jerusalem: vnd, Wie dieselben erstmals in Preussen gekomen sind: das Land bestritten, vnd eingenomen: mit Schlössern, vnd Städten bebawet: zum Christlichen Glauben gebracht: vnd widerumb verloren haben. Daneben auch, wie Eifflandt, vnd Curlandt, von den Christen erstlich erfunden: bestritten: zum waren Glauben: vnd an den Deudtschen Orden gekomen sind, &c. zugleich mit beschrieben wird. Aus alten geschriebenen Historien, ordentlich verfasset, vnd menninglich zu nutz in den Druck gegeben. Durch Matthaevm Waisselivm, von Bartenstein, weyland Pfarrern zu Lanckheim.
Old Prussian, Eifflendian and Kurlendian stories, about the Prussian land and its opportunities, about the origin and arrival of the old pagan peoples

A rare old print published in Königsberg ,dedicated to the territories of historical Prussia and the knighthood of the Teutonic Order in the contents woodcuts-illustrations and coats of arms.

After Estraicher's bibliography:
On the back of the title a woodcut "Ein alter heidnischer Preusz". It depicts a Prussian man in paw prints, wearing a cap, in a kaftan, girded with a gulp, five small clubs (as if for throwing?) clutched behind it, a long, high baton in his hand. It seems to be made from nature according to the costume of the Prussian population of the late 16th century.
Dedication to mayors, councillors, judges and jurors of Prussian cities; followed by a poem about history, and the coat of arms "der alten heidn. Preussen" (two crowns on the shield of the coat of arms.) and a poem.
The work is divided as to its content into a section on the old Prussians and a section on the history of the Order (up to 1525). Both these parts are preceded by a brief geographical description of the country.
Part I ends on k. 27. It contains, among other things, an extensive description of marriages and weddings, funerals, the worship of the goat, and a sorcerous search for theft. Whether he drew everything from Grunav and Stella, or added what he could from his own observation of contemporary Prussians, would have to be checked.
Part II goes from k. 27 verso. It contains the history of Prussia in the age of the Order, arranged according to the reigns of the masters. Next to each master is given his coat of arms in a Renaissance frame (often supported by some fantastic creatures).
Of the documents, he cites on k. 145 the text of the "Bund" of cities and lands from 1440; on k. 152 the letter of Carthusian Henry Borringer to the v. master from 1428; on k. 175 the letter of the states from 1454; the text of the tribute deed from 1525. - On k. 247 he discusses the Pfaffenkrieg. - On k. 362 about the invasion of some Dutch sect "Kittelbrüderorden" into Prussia and Lithuania at the beginning of the century. XVI. I can't tell if it's not based on what oral traditions here as well?
They end with lists of chronolog. of grand masters in Prussia and Inflants, and an explanation of the coinage used in Prussia in the 16th century.