that had wounded him.  As to that book you possess, On the Manner of Holding Parliaments, I have caused the marked passages of it to be either amended, or, if they were doubtful, confirmed, by reference to the MS. in the possession of the illustrious Lord Bradshaw, and also to the Cotton MS., as you will see from your little paper returned herewith.  In compliance with your desire to know whether also the autograph of this book is extant in the Tower of London, I sent one to inquire of the Herald who has the custody of the Deeds, and with whom I am on familiar terms.  His answer is that no copy of that book is extant among those records.  For the help you offer me in return in procuring literary material I am very much obliged.  I want, of the Byzantine Historians, Theophanis Chronographia (folio:  Greek and Latin), Constantini Manassis Breviarium Historicum, with Codini Excerpta de Antiquitatibus Constantinopolitanis (folio:  Greek and Latin), Anastasii Bibliothecarii Historia et Vitae Romanorum Pontificum (folio); to which be so good as to add, from the same press, Michael Glycas, and Joannes Cinnamus, the continuator of Anna Comnena, if they are now out.  I do not ask you to get them as cheap as you can, both because there is no need to put a very frugal man like yourself in mind of that, and because they tell me the price of these books is fixed and known to all.  MR. STOUPE has undertaken the charge of the money for you in cash, and also to see about the most convenient mode of carriage.  That you may have all you wish, and all you aspire after, is my sincere desire.  Farewell.

  “Westminster:  March 24, 1656-7.”

Of the French scholar to whom this letter was addressed there is an excellent notice in Bayle.  “EMERIC BIGOT,” says Bayle, “one of the most learned and most honest men of the seventeenth century, was a native of Rouen, and of a family very distinguished in the legal profession.  He was born in 1626.  The love of letters drew him aside from public employments; his only occupation was in books and the acquisition of knowledge; he augmented marvellously the library which had been left him by his father.  Once every week there was a meeting at his house for talk on matters of erudition.  He kept up literary intercourse with a great number of learned men; his advices and information were useful to many authors; and he laboured all he could for the good and advantage of the Republic of Letters.  He published but one book [a Life of St. Chrysostom]; but apparently he would have published others had he lived to complete them.  M. Menage in France, and Nicolas Heinsius among foreigners, were his two most intimate friends.  He had none of the faults that accompany learning:  he was modest and an enemy to disputes.  In general, one may say he was the best heart in the world.  He died at Rouen Dec. 18, 1689, aged about sixty-four years.”  How exactly this description of