First edition of the complete collection of religious and moralizing poems by Anna Bijns (1493-1575), a nun and schoolmistress in Antwerp. Since she was a faithful orthodox Catholic, many of her poems harshly criticize Martin Luther and Protestantism in general, naming herself an "avenging angel of the insulted faith". In the margins of most poems references to specific Bible passages can be found. Her poems are so-called "refreinen", "a complex poem of a least four 15 to 19 line stanzas with an epigrammatic refrain, natural rhythm, a complicated rhyme scheme, enjambment and caesura. Bijns's refreinen are filled with extraordinarily vivid and acerbic images drawn from daily observation and well illustrate her motto 'more sour than sweet' (meer suers dan soets)" (Aercke). She is often called one of the greatest "rederijkers", an association of Dutch poets from which Bijns, being a woman, was actually excluded.
The title of the first part reads Konstighe refereynen, which was first published on its own in 1528. The second and third part are both titled: Schoone refereynen, vol schrifture ende leeringhen teghen alle ketterijen van desen tijdt.
With traces of old manuscript entries on the title-page and a small owner's label on paste-down: "H D[iericx]". Binding slightly soiled and showing some signs of wear, mainly around the foot of the spine, slightly browned throughout. Otherwise in good condition. Aercke, "Anna Bijns", in: Women's writing from the Low Countries (2010), pp. 160-161; Bibl. Belg. I, B15; Scheepers I, 20; STCV 3130083 (5 copies); cf. Mak, De rederijkers, p. 35.