Thus much, my dear friend, for the SACRED TEXT—­either in its original, uninterrupted state—­or as partially embodied in Missals, Hours, or Rituals.  I think it will now be but reasonable to give you some little respite from the toil of further perusal; especially as the next class of MSS. is so essentially different.  In the mean while, I leave you to carry the image of ANNE OF BRITTANY to your pillow, to beguile the hours of languor or of restlessness.  A hearty adieu.

[30] Bibliographical Decameron, vol. i. p. xxxi.

[31] Earl Vivian, and eleven monks, in the act of presenting the volume to
    Charles.

[32] Vol. i. p. lvi.-vii.

[33] The present Emperor of Russia.

[34] A very minute and particular description of this Missal, together with
    a fac-simile of the DUKE OF BEDFORD kneeling before his tutelary SAINT
    GEORGE, will be found in the Bibliographical Decameron, vol. i.
    p. cxxxvi-cxxxix.

[35] For an account of these ancient worthies in the art of illumination,
    consult the Bibliographical Decameron, vol. i. p. cxlii.-clxiv.

[36] See the OPPOSITE PLATE. [The beautiful copy of the Original, by Mr. G.
    Lewis, from which the Plates in this work were taken, is now in the
    possession of Thomas Ponton, Esq.]

[37] [It was bought at Sir Mark’s sale, by Messrs. Rivington and Cochrane. 
    See a fac-simile of one of the illuminations in the Bibliographical
    Decameron, vol. i. p. clxxix.]

LETTER IV.

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

Are you thoroughly awake, and disenchanted from the magic which the contents of the preceding letter may have probably thrown around you?  Arouse—­to scenes of a different aspect, but of a not less splendid and spirit-stirring character.  Buckle on your helmet, ... for the trumpet sounds to arms.  The Knights of the Round Table call upon you, from their rock-hewn, or wood-embowered, recesses, to be vigilant, faithful, enterprising, and undaunted.  In language less elevated, and somewhat more intelligible, I am about to place before you a few illuminated MSS. relating to HISTORY and ROMANCE; not without, in the first place, making a digression into one or two volumes of MORALITIES, if they may be so called.  Prepare therefore, in the first place, for the inspection of a couple of volumes—­which, for size, splendor, and general state of preservation, have no superior in the Royal Library of France.

CITE DE DIEU:  No. 6712:  folio. 2 vols.  These are doubtless among the most magnificent shew-books in this collection; somewhat similar, in size and style of art, to the MS. of Valerius Maximus, in our British Museum—­of which, should you not have forgotten it, some account may be read in the Bibliographical Decameron.[38] At the very first page we observe an assemblage of Popes,