Guillaume De Poetou dedicated the volume in 1569 to Antwerp merchants and politicians as a New Year present, with the best wishes for a happy year.© Ghent, University Library, Manuscripts and precious collections, 2419 (2). Initially a corn merchant, who after many wanderings landed in France, he became fascinated by French poetry. He came to live in Antwerp probably from 1562 onwards, revealed himself as a versatile trader-poet, and attempted through his verses to make connections in the established commercial circle to which Gentile and Grimaldi and Fiesco belonged.