But, you may be disposed to add, “has this celebrated man no collection of Books?—­no LIBRARY?  At least he must have a missal or two?” ’Tis even so, my friend.  Library, he has none:  for as “one swallow does not make a summer,” so three or four pretty little illuminated volumes do not constitute a library.  However, what he has of this kind, has been freely exhibited to me; and I here send you a transscript of some notes taken upon the spot.

I was first shewn a small missal, prettily executed in a gothic type, of the Italian form, after the models of those of Jenson and Hailbrun.  The calendar has the paintings injured.  On the reverse of the last leaf of the Calendar, we read, in roman capitals, the following impressive annotation:  DEUM TIME, PAUPERES SUSTINE, MEMENTO FINIS.  On the reverse of the ensuing leaf, is a large head of Christ, highly coloured:  but with the lower part of the face disproportionately short:  not unlike a figure of a similar kind, in the Duke of Devonshire’s Missal, described on a former occasion.[176] The crucifixon, on the next leaf but one, is full of spirit and effect.  Then commence the Drolleries:  or a series of subjects most whimsically conceived, but most sweetly touched and finished.  You cannot imagine any thing more perfect of their kind and for their size, than are the beasts, birds, insects, fruits, and flowers.  The vellum harmonises admirably, from its colour and quality.  There are several comparatively large illuminations:  some with very small figures; and two (one of St. John the Baptist, and the other of Christ mocked) are of great beauty in respect to force of colour.  The initial capitals are executed with equal attention to taste in composition, and delicacy in colouring.  This diminutive volume is only four inches high, by about two inches and three quarters wide.  It is bound in red velvet, and mounted with silver knobs, with heads of cherubim upon them.  It is fastened by a silver clasp; upon which is painted, and glazed, a head of Christ—­of the time, as I conceive.  M. Denon told me he bought this little gem of a bookseller in Italy, for 400 francs.

He has another Missal, about half an inch wider and taller, in the binding of the time, with stamped ornaments.  This exhibits flowers, fruits, and birds, in the margins; touched with great delicacy and truth.  Some of the borders have a gold ground, shaded with brown, upon which the fruit is richly brought out in relief:  others have human figures; and the border, encircling the temptation of our first Parents, has nothing superior to it—­and is really worth an engraved fac-simile:  but not in lithography! It is on the forty-fifth leaf.  One of the heads, in the border, is like that of our Edward VI.  The third illuminated ms. volume, in M. Denon’s possession, is probably the most valuable.  It is a quarto, written in the Spanish language, and bearing the date of 1553.  The scription is in red and black letters, alternately.