[80] [The only ENTIRELY PERFECT copy in Europe, to my knowledge, is that in the library of the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville.]
[81] [The only copy of it in England, UPON VELLUM, is that in the Royal Library in the British Museum.]
[82] [It seems that it is a production of the GIUNTI Press. Cat. des Livr. &c. sur Vélin, vol. ii. p. 59.]
[83] [I learn from M. Crapelet that this book is a Lyons Counterfeit of the Aldine Press; and that the genuine Aldine volume, upon vellum, was obtained, after my visit to Paris, from the Macarthy Collection.]
[84] [I had blundered sadly, it seems, in the description of this book in the previous edition of this work: calling it a Theocritus, and saying there was a second copy on large paper. M. Crapelet is copious and emphatic in his detection of this error.]
[85] [I thank M. Crapelet for the following piece of information--from whatever source he may have obtained it: "The library of Henri II. and Diane de Poictiers was sold by public auction in 1724, after the death of Madame La Princesse Marie de Bourbon, wife of Louis-Joseph, Duc de Vendome, who became Proprietor of the Chateau d'Anet. The Library, was composed of a great number of MSS. and Printed Books, exceedingly precious. The sale catalogue of the Library, which is a small duodecimo of 50 pages, including the addenda, is become very scarce." CRAPELET; vol. iii. 347.
My friend M. GAIL published a very interesting brochure, about ten years ago, entitled Lettres Inedites de Henri II. Diane de Poitiers, Marie Stuart, François, Roi Dauphin &c. Amongst these letters, there was only ONE specimen which the author could obtain of the united scription, or rather signatures, of Henry and Diana. Of these signatures he has given a fac-simile; for which the Reader, in common with myself, is here indebted to him. Below this united signature, is one of Diana HERSELF--from a letter entirely written in her own hand. It must be confessed that she was no Calligraphist.
[86] [My friend Mr. Drury possessed a similar copy.]
[87] It may not be generally known that one of the most minute and interesting accounts of this assassination is given in Howell's Familiar Letters. The author had it from a friend who was an eye-witness of the transaction.