CYBOLE (R.) Liure de Saincte Meditacion en cognoissance de soymesmes. Par Robert Cybole, Docteur en Théologie et Chancellier, de Notre Dame, de Paris. 4 Octobre, 1442. A thick Folio. Morocco. With joints, silk linings. Gilt. Gorgeously bound by Bozerain, in his best style.

It is on vellum, and entirely in the autograph of the author, in French Gothic letter, and so evenly written that the style of execution of the last page is precisely as that of the first; with illuminated capitals, and three well finished miniatures; one of which is the portrait of the writer, in the act of praying, in a garden. The whole as bright as if finished yesterday.

LETTRES ESCRIPTES DE ROME AU ROY HENRY III., par Monsieur Le Cardinal de Joyeuse lorsqu'il estoit Protecteur des Affaires de France en Cour de Rome. Depuis le mois d'Aoust 1587, jusques en Auril, 1588. Neat French MS., 88 leaves. Folio. Half Russia. Gilt.

Francis de Joyeuse,-born 1562, died 1615,-stands high in the Hierarchy of France, attained to the dignities of Archbishop and Cardinal, at the age of twenty; was learned, pious, public-spirited, and distinguished as a diplomatist.

CÉRÉMONIES DES MARIAGES DES ROYS ET AUTRES GRANDS, Ordre des Séances des Etats-Généraux et des Notables. Folio. Old calf. Extra gilt.

These historical collections commence with the marriage contract of Louis XII., 1498, and are transcripts from original records. They detail the marriage ceremonies of all the Royal personages of France, from that date to 1626. This volume and the preceding one, were originally among the archives of the French government.

They describe, in the minutest detail, the marriage ceremonies of the Royal personages, for 128 years. Some passages of these narratives, though in keeping with the style and manners of the times, would rather shock our sense of propriety. I shall notice one or two instances, omitting such circumstances as would not be tolerated in print in our day. Louis XIII. was married, in Bordeaux, on the 18th of October, 1615, at the premature age of fourteen, to Anne of Austria, of the same age. Therefore, they may well be called, in the language of the narrative, "the little King and the little Queen." The ceremonies on the occasion are circum

stantially described, concluding, naturally, with the wedding night. The bridegroom and bride, immediately after an early supper, went to their respective rooms. The Queen-Mother, Mary of Medicis, remaining with the little Queen until eight o'clock, when she went to the little King's room, and said to him, "My son, it is not enough to be married: you must go and see your wife, who is waiting for you." As a dutiful son, he answered, "Madame, I was only waiting for your command; and, to prove it, I will now go along with you." He then got up, and accompanied by his mother, went to the bridal chamber, where the bed, having been previously consecrated by one of the King's Chaplains, was already occupied by the bride. The little King, with his mother, nurse, wife's nurse, and five or six household officers, entered the room. The QueenMother, approaching the nuptial bed, told the little Queen, "Daughter, this is the King, your husband, whom I bring to you: love him well, I beg you." The bride answered, in Spanish, that she had no other wish but to obey and please him and her, both. Mary of Medicis and the officers then went out of the room, leaving the two nurses with the young couple. Two hours after, the young King awoke, and called to his nurse for his night-gown and boots. As soon as they were put on, she took him back to his own room, where his officers were in waiting. He betook himself to bed, and slept soundly until morning. The little Queen went, likewise, to her own chamber, and slept on the small bedstead she had brought from Spain.

At the marriage of Gaston d' Orleans, Louis XIII.'s brother, with Mademoiselle de Montpensier, the daughter of the Duchess de Guise, which took place in Nantes, in 1626, the formal and strict etiquette which was the very essence of all State ceremonies, was sadly marred and disturbed by two proud Duchesses claiming precedence, by their respective Peerage rights, with such energy, in words, as well as in deeds, that, after jostling and pushing each other, they, for want of more effective weapons, had recourse to their finger nails. It was with great difficulty that the King succeeded in restoring order. The marriage celebration was performed by the Cardinal de Richelieu, assisted by two curates of the place, at midnight; but the happy pair were not permitted to retire to their nuptial chamber, until the following evening. After the ceremony, the Cardinal exhorted the bridegroom to prepare himself, by praying during the night, for the sacrament he was to take at daybreak, the ensuing morning: a strange way to spend one's wedding night! but stranger still, when we consider the moral character of the exhorter! As to the bride, the Cardinal "laissa à Madame de Guise le soin de faire prier Dieu Madame sa fille."

THE CROWNING OF NATURE; or, the Doctrine of the Chief Medicine. An Alchemistical MS., explaining the

B

Method of procuring Elixir Vito. Illustrated by Sixtyseven Hieroglyphics. Folio. Sheep. 1656.

SEKMEDU NAMEH OF NIZAMA; or Fabulous History of Alexander the Great. With numerous Paintings. Small Folio. Original binding.

A very old and curious Persian MS., on Indian paper.

BHUGBUT GEETA. Numerous and Curious Miniature Paintings, in fine condition. A very small Volume, in the original Silk binding.

From the library of the Duke of Sussex, and with his book-plate. One of the religious narratives, in Sansorit of the Veda, which has the same authority among the Hindus as the Gospel with us.

LA VIE: Et Mort d' Oliuier Cromwel dernier Vsurpateur. 4 to. Vellum binding. Written in the latter part of the 17th Century.

Modern Manuscripts.

PRIÈRES DE LA MESSE. Beautifully written. With Thirteen Miniature Paintings, by a skilful artist. Illuminated Capitals. 8 vo. Russia. Gilt leaves.

SIR HORACE WALPOLE'S POSTSCRIPT TO THE ROYAL AND NOBLE AUTHORS. With other Articles, written in a different hand. 4 to. Boards.

These articles are Garrick's verses on Gray's Odes, Miller's Poem to Lady Waldegrave on the Death of the Duke of Ancaster, Verses to Lady Spencer, and a Catalogue of Books and Detached Pieces, which were printed at the Strawberry Hill press.

BIBLICAL HISTORIES of the Tower of Babel, the Witch of Endor, Joshua's Command to the Sun, the Divination of Augury, Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, &c. 12 mo. Green vellum. Gilt edges. Early part of the 17th Century.

Very neatly written. On the fly-leaf, in the autograph of Mrs. Catherine Southwell, is the following remark: "This Book was wrote for and given me by Doctor Grandorge."

PRAYERS FROM THE KORAN. Neatly written in Turkish. 4 to.

JAGATAI POETRY. Full of Persian words, with Pieces in the common Dialect, &c. 4 to.

THE HARMONY OF THE FOUR GOSPELS. In Chinese. With the Autograph of Dr. Robert Morrison, first Protestant Missionary to China; of the Rev. W. Medhurst, and Rev. Chas. Gutzlaff. Small Folio. Sewed.

Autographs.

CYBOLE (R). Liure de Saincte Meditacion. See p. 10.
ALBUM OF ERNICUS STAUFFER.
Russia. Gilt

12 mo.

leaves.

"Mr. Smets has, also, a number of interesting Albums: not such as loving lasses and sighing swains deposit their amorous doggerels in; but the albums of scholars, two centuries old, bearing the inscriptions of some of the most distinguished men in the 17th century.

The first we shall notice is the album of Ernicus Stauffer, containing about seventy autographs of illustrious personages. It numbers, also, a few exquisite drawings, and two emblazoned coats of arms. It is an oblong duodecimo, and was begun in 1632. There are passages in it, in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, Italian and German: written by Frederic, Duke of Wurtemburg, dated 1630; John, Count of Hainault, 1633; John Freinshemmus, a very learned, classical scholar, and the author of many works; Mathias Bernegger, Professor of History at Strasburgh; George Stewart, London; Henry Harrison, Anglicus Cantabrigiensis, 1633; with many others."-Rev. Dr. W. Bacon Stevens.

ALBUM OF A MUSICAL CLUB in Belgium. Dated 1581, 1583, and 1584. Oblong Quarto. Half-bound. Mo

rocco.

It contains the regulations of the Club, a discourse on music, poetry in its praise, &c., all in Latin; also the signatures of the numerous members, with the coats of arms, in colors, of thirteen of them.

ALBUM AMICORUM FAMILIARUM ALARDI ET FABRICII. 1624-'56. Oblong Quarto. Original Morocco binding. Gilt edges.

It contains numerous ink-and-pen drawings, some of which are very spirited and curious. In one; Luther and Calvin are disputing, and pulling each other's beard, the l'ope standing by and laughing. Also, many extraordinary specimens of calligraphy, and autographic verses, by many distinguished literary persons of that time-Frederick Spanheim, 1645; John Fabricius, 1645; John Schmidt, 1635, Matthias Nicolaï, 1634; &c., &c.